Wellness February 2020

CHILTON COUNTY

February 2020

ROBOTICS INSIDE WHAT IS PICKLEBALL? MAKING GOAT CHEESE UNDERSTANDING IRLEN SYNDROME

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PICKLEBALL Sport gains local following

TABLE OF CONTENTS SAY “CHEESE!”

5

Goat cheese offers health benefits

PICKLEBALL

10

Sport gains local following

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING AND EXERCISE

17

Diet and exercise are each vital components of a healthy lifestyle

IMPROVED RECOVERY

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Surgeon uses robotics in surgery

THE VARIOUS TYPES OF ARTHRITIS

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Arthritis affects hundreds of millions of people across the globe

IRLEN SYNDROME

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How this disorder impacts sight

GET SCREENED

31

Maplesville resident shares colorectal cancer journey

ON THE COVER: Dr. James Worthen uses robotics in surgery.

ADPH ADVISES RADON TESTING Winter is the best time of the year to protect yourself and your loved ones from exposure to radon

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOAT CHEESE

calcium phosphorus copper selenium magnesium niacin (vitamin B3) Source: healthline.com

Goat milk not only supplies a wonderful palate of flavorful and distinctly tangy cheeses but gives a wide range of health benefits to the consumer. This fresh chevre cheese is from Asher farm.

Say “Cheese!”

Goat cheese offers health benefits STORY AND PHOTOS BY ELISABETH ALTAMIRANO-SMITH

G

oat cheese comes in a wide variety of flavors and textures, from soft and spreadable fresh cheese to salty, crumbly

aged cheese. Although it’s made using the same coagulation and separation process as cheese made from cow’s milk, goat cheese differs in nutrient content.

Clanton residents Wayne and Anita Andrews of Asher Farm breed Nigerian Dwarf Goats (which produce rich milk) with Saanen Dairy Goats (which are known

for the quantity of milk.)

Each nanny goat produces up to two gallons of milk per day. Asher Farm uses herbal medicines and vitamins to heal and boost the goat’s health and immune system.

In return, the goats supply

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milk for a wonderful palate of flavorful and distinctly tangy cheeses that give a wide range of health benefits to the consumer.

“Farming has always been part of my life,” said Anita.

“My grandparents, Fonzi and

Ida Mae Mullins were tenant farmers for Jimmy Durbin.

They grew peaches, peanuts and watermelons. I wanted to get back to that kind of lifestyle.”

Anita begins every morning with milking and feeding the

farm animals. Some mornings are raining and below freezing, but Anita laces up her boots and heads to the milking barn. The nanny goats are eager to be milked and run with delight to the milking machine. Anita begins by

After the goat milk mixture has rested for a day, Anita carefully sifts out the clumps of curds that have solidified, placing them into a butter muslin cloth to drain for an additional 24 hours.

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cleaning the udder with a natural disinfectant. The milking of each goat takes approximately 20 minutes. Afterward the disinfectant is reapplied to the udder to protect against mastitis — an infection common in lactation.

“It is amazing that in nature, God created each baby goat to have a natural enzyme in its saliva which protects the mother against mastitis,” Anita said “That enzyme keeps the mother and udder safe, and there isn’t a need

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Anita hugging “Lady� the nanny goat.

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Milking for cheese: A serving of goat cheese provides calcium, phosphorus and copper — nutrients that are essential for healthy bones. for the disinfectant in the wild.”

After milking, Anita sets the stainless-steel urns into a hotwater bath to begin making the cheese. The milk is warmed until its temperature reaches 86 degrees. When the milk reaches the desired temperature, rennet and a mesophilic culture are added and the mixture is left to sit for 24 hours. Goat cheese is known as Chevre, (pronounced SHEV; French for “goat cheese”), and begins to coagulate in this process becoming thicker.

Chevre cheese provides healthy fats, including medium-chain fatty acids, which can make a person feel satisfied and benefit weight loss, according to registered dietitian Jillian Kubala in a Healthline article. The medium-chain fatty acids quickly break down and are absorbed by the body, making them less likely to be stored as fat.

Although the recommended serving size for goat cheese is small, eating just one ounce provides a good source of selenium, magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3). A serving of goat cheese also provides cal-

cium, phosphorus and copper — nutrients that are essential for healthy bones.

Goat cheese can also contain a wide variety of probiotics. Diets rich in chevre show promoted digestive health, reduced inflammation and boosted immunity. Goat cheese is also easier for the body to digest.

After the milk mixture has rested for a day, Anita carefully sifts out the clumps of curds that have solidified, placing them into a butter muslin cloth to drain for an additional 24 hours.

“The last step is to add salt to the cheese,” said Anita.

“The salt protects against the growth of bacteria and helps the cheese dry.”

The ending result is a lovely, white spreadable cheese with a unique tangy flavor.

Andrews will host a cheesemaking class March 12, 6-8 p.m. at 703 Newport Avenue in Clanton. Cost is $25 and includes materials, instruction and sampling. Preregister by contacting Anita Andrews at (205) 479-9291.

For more information, visit www.themarketatnewport.com.

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Pickleball Sport gains local following 10 Wellness

Pickleball is growing in popularity in Chilton County thanks to the sport being added at the YMCA.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE

P

ickles and staying out of the kitchen may not be words Chilton County is used to hearing associated with exercise or sports.

However, these are words associated with the YMCA’s

newest sports opportunity — pickleball.

The net sport — which really has nothing to do with food — has been described as a cross between tennis and ping pong.

“It came into being because two (men) came

home to their families, they were staying together for a trip and their kids were bored out of their mind,” pickleball player David McCary said. “All they had was some badminton (net) material, some ping pong

paddles and a Wiffle Ball, so they rigged up the net, and they started hitting and playing it.”

These men were Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell, according to the

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David McCary demonstrates a serve.

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USA Pickleball Association website.

The family enjoyed it and continued playing until it grew to a following large enough for the establishment of leagues, the USA Pickleball Association and a national championship.

McCary said the name of the activity came from the family’s dog Pickle because he kept taking the ball as they played. “It became popular in the retirement community in Florida particularly,� McCary said. “... Anyone from 8 to 80 can play it effectively. When they have competitions, it is divided into age groups.�

While the Y court is indoors, there are many places in the country that have outdoor courts. The lines resemble a tennis or badminton court. “You play to 11 and you have to win by two,� McCary said. “You can play doubles or singles.�

Women and men can play on the same team and against each other.

Similar to tennis, if the serving team hits the ball into the back of the court, and the opposing cannot return it, then the serving team gets a point. “You can’t get a point unless you are serving,� MCary said.

If the ball goes out of bounds, hits the net or bounces twice, a point is lost. When both players on the serving team lose a point, the other team gets to serve.

McCary became interested in the game as a way to stay active during the winter when it is too cold to play tennis.

Although he had never played the game, McCary said he knew of some community members who had been introduced to the game during gym class. “The game helps your footwork and your hand speed which is good for tennis,�

McCary said. “You can get a

Chris Ferguson prepares to serve. In pickleball, serving must be under hand and contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist.

David McCary and Chris Ferguson stand in the back court as they wait for the serve.

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Bryan Petty serves.

Players must stand outside the court to serve.

Ben Martin prepares to serve.

good bit of cardio, too.”

Several of the other players also have a background in tennis, while others have a background in ping pong.

Player Jason Harley compared the game to racquetball.

“It’s quick paced like racquetball is,” Harley said. “If you like any kind of paddle sport, ping pong, tennis or racquetball you are probably going to enjoy this.”

A major component of the game is hand-eye coordination.

Players must be conscious of their feet so they do not step into the kitchen, the name given to the square of the court closest to the net, unless the ball has bounced there.

A major difference between pickleball and tennis is the way the ball bounces.

Harley said the Wiffle Ball does not bounce as high

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as the tennis ball, so there is more running toward the ball than waiting for it to come to the player.

“No one wants to get beat 11 to nothing, so the challenge is to find someone to play with at your skill level,” McCary said.

As Chilton County’s interest in the game increases, opportunities to play will increase.

“We hope to have a little bit more of an organized league soon, and we are talking about trying to do a tournament in the spring,” YMCA CEO Lori Patterson said.

Offering the sport had been an idea of Patterson’s about two years before she found the right people interested in it “We have a lot of fun,” McCary said.

In the summer of 2019, Patterson talked to McCary and some other Y members

Jason Harley prepares to serve.

Serves are made diagonally in pickleball.

Jason Harley hits the ball during a game of doubles.

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about starting the sport and planning began in earnest.

“It’s the most fun game I think I have ever played,” McCary said.

To launch the opportunity, the Y hosted a pickleball instructor to introduce community members to the game.

Harley said he has enjoyed learning a new sport with friends.

“You burn a lot of energy,” Harley said. “You burn a lot of calories doing this. We usually play for about two hours.”

The competitive nature of the game also appealed to him.

“Because it is quick paced, it is even fun to sit and watch guys play,” Harley said. “I just really enjoy it.”

He said after about three games he felt comfortable with the game.

Kevin Gray wanted to give the sport a try because he

Shannon Welch swings at an incoming ball.

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enjoys competitive games, and he knew several of the people who were playing.

“It is a fun way to get in exercise without feeling like you are having to go to an exercise activity,” Patterson said. “It’s a fun competition.”

While the Y provides all of the necessary equipment, some of those who play on a regular basis have purchased their own paddles.

Pickleball courts are open at the YMCA Mondays 3-6:15 p.m., Tuesdays 3-5:15 p.m., Thursdays 3-5:15 p.m. and Fridays 3-6:30 p.m. Those who are not a member of the Y can come and try out the game for free. After that, there would be $5 per game.

More information about pickleball and the national following is available at the USA Pickleball Association website usapa.org.

The relationship between eating and exercise

D

iet and exercise are each vital components of a healthy lifestyle. While these components tend to be looked at separately, diet and exercise are actually interconnected.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, adequate food and fluid should be consumed before, during and after exercise.

Following that advice can help men and women maintain their blood glucose concentration during exercise, which allows them to maximize their performance and improves their recovery time.

Some people understandably may feel that eating before exercising seems counterintuitive, as food may contribute to feelings of sluggishness that would make it hard to maximize a workout. But what people eat, and drink, prior to working out is important, as the right foods can make a positive impact while the wrong foods can have the opposite effect.

The American Heart Association and the ACSM recommend hydrating with water prior to working out.

The ACSM recommends drinking between two and three cups of water two to three hours before exercising.

Adults accustomed to working out in the early morning can try to wake up earlier so they can give their bodies time to hydrate before they begin exercising. It is also important to continue hydrating during a workout, as the ACSM recommends drinking between 1/2 and one cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes

during a workout (amounts can be adjusted based on variables such as the weather and individuals’ body sizes).

After a workout, the ACSM recommends drinking two to three cups of water for every pound lost during the exercise session.

Food also plays a vital role in maximizing a workout and improving recovery time.

The AHA recommends fueling up on healthy carbohydrates, such as whole-grain cereals, whole-wheat toast or low-fat or fat-free yogurt, two hours before exercising.

Doing so might pose a problem for early morning exercise enthusiasts, and in such instances the AHA advises eating a piece of fruit such as an apple or banana five to 10 minutes before beginning a workout. Avoid saturated fats and a lot of healthy protein prior to working out, as it takes longer for these fuels to digest in the stomach. Until foods are digested, muscles may not get all of the oxygen and energy-delivering blood they need during a workout, so it’s best to stick with foods that the body can digest more quickly.

The Mayo Clinic notes that it’s also important to make food a part of your post-workout routine. Eating a postworkout meal that contains both carbohydrates and protein can aid muscle recovery and replace glycogen stores that help increase energy levels after working out.

The most effective way to exercise involves healthy foods, which can improve performance and lead to quicker post-workout recovery.

“Diet and exercise are each vital components of a healthy lifestyle. While these components tend to be looked at separately, diet and exercise are actually interconnected.”

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St. Vincent’s Orthopedics, PC

Improved recovery Surgeon uses robotics in surgery

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An illustration of a knee implant used in a full replacement surgery and an image of a patient’s knee are displayed on the monitors.

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STORY BY JOYANNA LOVE | PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE

M

edical technology has given doctors better tools for serving their patients.

For St. Vincent’s Orthopedics surgeon Dr. James Worthen, robotics has offered an improved way to do knee replacement surgeries.

Worthen said using robotic technology makes the surgery more precise with

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less recovery time required.

“The robotic technology gives us an ability to be more exact with some of our steps in the operation in a knee replacement,” Worthen said.

This precision means “better function, faster recovery, which I have witnessed, and, hopefully, better longterm results with possibly longer lasting replacements,” Worthen said.

“The robotic technology gives us an ability to be more exact with some of our steps in the operation in a knee replacement.”

James Worthen

Dr. James Worthen hopes to one day offer full joint replacement surgeries at St. Vincent’s Chilton, but for now patients can have their pre-operation and postoperation needs taken care of there.

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“The technology has made our surgery more precise and reproducible,” Worthen said.

Worthen has an office at St. Vincent’s Chilton and has expanded the services offered there, so that Chilton County patients only have to go to the Birmingham office for a full replacement knee or shoulder surgery.

Terri Connell with the Clanton office said initially patients had to go to Birmingham for CT scans and much of the preoperative things needed.

“Now, we have gotten to where we can do the lab tests, EKG and CT for surgeries,” Brenda Cleckler, LPN coordinator for the Clanton office, said.

In addition to the pre-surgery elements needed for total knee replacements, St. Vincent’s Orthopedics Clanton office can also handle tendon repair, meniscus repair and minor surgeries

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for knees, hands and ankles.

“With Kendall Roper (PA-C) there (in Clanton),” Worthen said. “We offer someone at least four days a week to handle orthopedic injuries and issues.”

After a surgery, physical therapy and post-surgery care can be done in Clanton.

The Clanton office had 129 patient office visits in the first two and a half weeks of 2020. In that time, there were about 10 full knee replacement surgeries.

Pain and injuries are the main reasons patients come to the orthopedic office.

“If it is arthritis, it is usually something that they have been dealing with for a while,” Worthen said.

Some of his patients come to the office as a referral from another physician.

Arthritis is the main reason someone would need a total joint replacement surgery. Other treatments are

The left image shows a shoulder with arthritis.

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Dr. James Worthen works in the St. Vincent’s Orthopedics office in the outpatient wing of St. Vincent’s Chilton. offered by the office to treat arthritis, but Worthen said when the joint deteriorates to a certain point, nothing else can be done, except to replace the joint.

“We replace the surfaces that have broken down,” Worthen said. “By replacing the surfaces, we made a broken gear (into) a new gear that works.”

He said a knee or shoulder surgery can allow a patient the mobility “to do things they haven’t done in a long time.”

Knee replacement surgery is much more common than shoulder replacement surgery.

“The type of approach I take with the knee allows for a faster recovery time where it doesn’t involve one of the main tendons of the knee, meaning avoiding the quadriceps,” Worthen said.

St. Vincent’s Orthopedics is exploring opportunities for expanding the use of

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robotics in the practice to include in shoulder surgery.

“It should be available in the next few years,” Worthen said.

Even before this technology is available, Worthen already uses a unique approach to shoulder surgery.

“For shoulder replacements, I do a special kind of surgery that in minimally invasive and does not go through tendons that are routinely cut for replacement,” Worthen said. “I do not cut the tendons, so that allows for faster recovering and less of a chance of patients hurting themselves during the recovery.”

An average month can see five to 15 complete knee replacement surgeries for Clanton patients.

A long-term goal for the Clanton location would be to make full joint replacement surgeries available onsite.

The various types of arthritis

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rthritis affects hundreds of millions of people across the globe. The Arthritis Foundation notes that more than 50 million adults in the United States have some type of arthritis, while the European League Against Rheumatism estimates that rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis affect more than 120 million people in the European Union.

In Canada, the Canadian Community Health Survey found that 16 percent of Canadians age 15 and older were affected by arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that arthritis is not a single disease. In fact, the word “arthritis” is something of an umbrella term and an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease.

While these conditions may produce some common symptoms, such as swelling, pain and stiffness, learning to distinguish between some common types of arthritis can help men and women manage their conditions more effectively.

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, which is sometimes referred to as “degenerative joint disease” or “OA,” is the most common chronic condition of the joints. The symptoms of OA vary depending on the joints that are affected, but pain and stiffness, especially first thing in the morning or after resting, are common. OA can affect the hips, knees, fingers, or feet, and those with OA may feel limited range of motion in their affected areas. Some with OA may hear clicking or cracking sounds when the affected joints bend, and pain associated with OA may be more intense after activity or toward the end of the day.

Inflammatory arthritis Inflammatory arthritis occurs when the immune system, which can employ inflammation to fight infection and prevent disease, mistakenly attacks the joints with uncontrolled inflammation. Such a mistake can contribute to joint erosion and even organ damage.

Psoriatic arthritis, which the Arthritis

Foundation notes affects roughly 30 percent of people with psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis are two examples of inflammatory arthritis. Genetics and environmental factors, such as smoking, may trigger instances of inflammatory arthritis.

gle joint, are the most common symptoms of infectious arthritis, which is most likely to affect the knee, though it can affect the hips, ankles and wrists. Some people with infection arthritis may also experience fever and chills.

Infectious arthritis Bacterium, a virus or a fungus that enters the joint may trigger inflammation and lead to infection arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that the most common bacteria to cause infection arthritis is staphylococcous aureus, or staph. The majority of infectious arthritis cases occur after an infection somewhere else in the body travels through the bloodstream to the joint, though some infections may enter the joint directly through a puncture wound near the joint or during surgery near the joint. Intense swelling and pain, typically in a sin-

Metabolic arthritis The body produces uric acid to break down purines, a substance found in many foods and in human cells. But some people produce more uric acid than they need, which they then struggle to get rid of quickly. As a result, uric acid can build up. The Arthritis Foundation notes that this buildup can lead to the formation of needle-like crystals in the joints that cause sudden spikes of extreme pain.

Arthritis can affect people of any age, race or gender. More information about the various types of arthritis is available at www.arthritis.org.

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Irlen Syndrome

Gage Matheny, age 10, tests out colored lenses designed to help those with Irlen Syndrome during a screening.

28 Wellness

How this disorder impacts sight STORY BY EMILY REED | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

T

hose suffering light sensitivity, reading issues, headaches or migraines, attention and concentration problems or problems with depth perception may be at risk for Irlen Syndrome.

While not a commonly recognized or well-known problem, Irlen Syndrome affects roughly 14 percent of the general population. “Is it more prevalent than asthma and heart disease,� said certified Irlen screener

Riley Fair Matheny, age 11, reads a page during a screening for Irlen Syndrome.

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Kelley Matheny. Matheny presented details about the syndrome at a Clanton Lions Club meeting last year.

“Thirty-five percent of those suffering from concussions or traumatic brain injuries develop Irlen Syndrome,” Matheny said.

The syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder, and is not considered an optical problem, according to The Irlen Institute.

“It is a problem with the

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brain’s ability to process visual information,” the The Irlen Institute website states. “This problem tends to run in families and is not currently identified by other standardized educational or medical tests.”

Matheny spends time raising awareness for the syndrome, which runs in her family.

Her husband Michael and two children, Riley and Gage, have Irlen Syndrome, and Matheny said finding the syndrome and correcting it with colored lenses has been a life-changing thing for her family.

For those wishing to find out more about the syndrome and if their symptoms could be part of the diagnosis, a self-test is available on irlen.com.

Those taking the self-test would have their answers forwarded to Matheny, or other certified screeners, who could then review the responses and determine whether a screening is necessary.

Individuals can then be screened for the syndrome by a certified screener.

“If the person has Irlen Syndrome, they are given a specific-to-them colored overlay to use while reading,” Matheny said. “Overlays are very helpful, but as reading takes place in only a small portion of the day, the person with Irlen Syndrome is left to suffer the effects of Irlen Syndrome for the rest of the day.”

Matheny said the next step is Stage Two, which is where

individuals are evaluated for lenses, which is a very precise process, involving the different frequencies of color that are mixed until the exact combination for a person is found.

“Lenses correct the frequencies of light that the individual cannot process which, in turn, corrects the ‘side effects’ of Irlen Syndrome for the entire day,” Matheny said. “These glasses are worn from the time you get up until the time you go to bed. A visual prescription can be added and contacts are also available.”

According to the Irlen Syndrome website, many individuals go undiagnosed, but about 50 percent of those with the syndrome have reading and learning difficulties, and 30 percent of individuals can have ADHD or autism.

Other issues can involve brain injuries, chronic headaches and migraines.

An awareness week is celebrated in October and those choosing to recognize the syndrome can turn out their fluorescent lights at school, work or home for one minute on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. to show support and recognition of the syndrome.

For anyone wishing to be screened or additional information can contact Matheny at 334-300-4511 or kelleymatheny@gmail.com.

Additional information about the syndrome can be found at www.irlen.com.

Get screened Maplesville resident shares colorectal cancer journey STORY BY MALLORY HILL, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

S

Sandy Pearce shares her colon cancer story to encourage others to get screened.

andy Pearce, like so many others, was quite shocked upon hearing the words “you have cancer” in December 2012.

“I was feeling so good,” said Sandy. “I never once felt bad, so I was shocked.”

At the age of 54, Sandy was experiencing some sporadic bleeding but didn’t think it was anything to be concerned of at the time.

At her annual checkup, she mentioned the symptom to her physician who recommended getting a colonoscopy just to be certain it was not anything serious.

While in the waiting room, her husband Bill overheard a nurse’s conversation.

“I’ve got to tell a family, a patient who is otherwise healthy as a horse, that she has cancer.”

He knew immediately that she was speaking of his wife.

Immediately following diagnosis, Sandy began chemotherapy and radiation in attempts to shrink the tumor prior to surgery. Her doctor prescribed the chemotherapy drug Fluorouracil (5FU), a commonly-used drug to treat colon cancer, which was synthesized by longtime American Cancer Society research grantee Charles Heidelberger, PhD, in 1958. Sandy’s tumor

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“Have A Colonoscopy…

Don’t Wait Until You Have Problems. I wish there was as much awareness for colorectal cancer as breast cancer. Colon cancer can be prevented.”

Sandy Pearce

32 Wellness

responded well to the treatment, and her doctors were amazed that it was almost gone.

In April 2013, Sandy underwent surgery to remove what remained of the tumor. In August, she once again began chemotherapy and completed her treatment in November.

“The hardest part of my entire journey was having to tell my children,” expressed

Sandy. “I was blessed with so many people to care for me. I received cards from family members, friends, and even strangers.”

A third-grade teacher at Maplesville Elementary, Sandy found additional support in her students, who presented her with a living locket to encourage her and remind her how much they love and care for her.

Seven years after her diag-

nosis, Sandy is doing well and continues to see her oncologist twice a year for blood work and undergoes routine colonoscopies. She never hesitates to share her cancer journey with others because she knows that she can help lead someone to a lifesaving procedure.

“There is such a stigma surrounding colonoscopies,” she explained.

“They aren’t as bad as people think they are. If a polyp is found during a colonoscopy, it’s removed.

Removing the polyp prevents colon cancer.”

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Sandy is sharing her cancer journey in collaboration with the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Go Blue Day on March 6. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. when men and women are combined, but it doesn’t have to be. When adults get screened for colorectal cancer, it can be detected early when treatment is most likely to be successful, and

in many cases, it can be prevented altogether.

About 1 in 3 adults ages 50 and older are not getting tested as recommended by the American Cancer Society. Compounding the problem is that there is an alarming new trend in which cases of colorectal cancer are rising in adults under 50.

“I wish I could walk around wearing a sign that reads ‘HAVE A COLONOSCOPY… DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE PROBLEMS’,” added Sandy. “I wish there was as much awareness for colorectal cancer as breast cancer. Colon cancer can be prevented.”

Sandy and the American Cancer Society are asking everyone to participate in Go Blue Day on March 6 by wearing blue and sharing your photos on social media using the hashtags #AlabamaGoBlueDay and #AttackingCancer.

For more information about colorectal cancer, please visit cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.

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Wellness 33

Alabama health department advises radon testing STORY BY J.R. TIDWELL, EDITOR

W

inter is the best time of the year to protect yourself and your loved ones from exposure to radon, said the Alabama Department of Public Health in a release.

According to the ADPH, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.

“The Environmental Protection Agency estimates radon causes 21,000 deaths

in the U.S. a year,” David Turberville, director of the Office of Radiation Control, Alabama Department of Public Health, said. “The best time to test for radon is during the colder months, when your home is closed and radon levels are likely to build to their highest concentrations. This is the time of year to test your home for cancer-causing radon gas, and we encourage you to test your home.”

High levels of radon have been found indoors in several areas across the state, though it appears to most common in

homes in the Tennessee Valley in northern Alabama and the Appalachian Mountain foothills in Jefferson and Shelby counties through Cleburne County.

“Because radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks through the breakdown of uranium, testing is the only way to know the radon level in a home,” said the ADPH. “Radon test kits weigh only a few ounces and cost about $25. Testing for radon should be done on the lowest level of the home on which the occupants spend time, so a finished basement or a basement containing a workshop is a good place to test. Kitchens are not recommended testing areas.”

“Testing directions are on the kit, and it only takes a

few days to obtain a sample,” Turberville said. “It is easy to perform a radon test on your home.”

While radon test kits are available at many larger home improvement stores, Alabama homeowners can order kits online through the National Radon Program Services at sosradon.org.

If test results show radon levels above what is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and ADPH, homeowners are urged to install a radon remediation system.

These usually cost between $1,500-$2,500 depending on the size of the home.

For more information on radon, radon testing and protection from the gas, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/radon.

“The best time to test for radon is during the colder months, when your home is closed and radon levels are likely to build to their highest concentrations. This is the time of year to test your home for cancer-causing radon gas, and we encourage you to test your home.”

David Turberville

34 Wellness

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