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Why is the age for stroke patients skewing younger?
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Well-to-do and better-educated Americans have far lower rates of heart disease than the rest of the population, a new study says.
The top 20% of high-income, college-educated Americans have less heart disease risk than others, and this gap has widened over the past two decades, researchers say.
“The accumulation of economic and educational advantages appears to drive better health outcomes, rather than any single factor alone,” lead researcher Salma Abdalla, an assistant professor of public health at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a news release.
“Wealth and education cluster among a small, advantaged group, while the majority of Americans face an increased risk of heart disease,” she added.
Compared to wealthier, college-educated people, low-income folks who didn’t graduate from college have a:
• 6.3 times higher risk of heart failure due to clogged arteries.
• 3.2 times increased risk of a stroke.
• 2.3 times increased risk of a heart attack.
• 2.1 times higher risk of angina.
These disparities persisted even after adjusting for heart health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI, an estimate of body fat based on height and weight).
High income and advanced education consistently correlated with better heart health.
Even though the U.S. spends more on health care per person than any other high-income country, over-
all outcomes continue to lag behind, researchers said.
Life expectancy for the richest 1% of Americans is now 10 years higher than for the poorest 1%, researchers said in background notes.
For this study, researchers analyzed 20 years of data gathered from nearly 50,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018.
Researchers cited a number of reasons why more well-to-do people have an advantage when it comes to heart health.
Poorer folks might suffer from more stress due to their economic insecurity, while higher-income or better-educated people might have more access to healthy behaviors and activities throughout their lives, researchers said.
The well-to-do also might be
better at taking prescribed medicines, have less exposure to environmental toxins and might benefit from stronger support systems, Abdalla said.
Policies to promote broad access to economic opportunity and education are just as important as increased access to health care when it comes to protecting heart health, said senior researcher Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of public health at Washington University.
“The continued widening of health disparities in the U.S. underscores the need for action,” he said in a news release. “If we want to improve public health outcomes, we must address the root causes — economic opportunity, education and access to resources that support longterm health.”
The new study appears in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas.
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Ryan Walker, M.D.
Q: I’ve been doing this for a while, so I remember when the DaVinci robot first debuted in the major urban hospitals in Upstate New York. So seeing it make its way to a smaller rural hospital like Oswego years later is incredible. How many physicians are using it there?
A: There are seven of us now. We just got our robot in July 2024 and we started with three experienced surgeons; a bunch of us have worked at other places that had different versions of the robots. So it was myself, a general surgeon and two bariatric surgeons for the first few months. We’ve since added other two general surgeons, a third bariatric surgeon and a urologist. So now there are seven of us, five days a week, doing as many cases as we can do. We’ve opened access to the robot to urgent and emergent cases, so there’s now technically 24/7 access to the robot, if needed.
Q: What kinds of procedures are you using it for?
A: For general surgeons a lot of what we do on the robot would be gall bladders and then hernias of every variety. Those are our main cases. Our appendectomies we’re still most-
that they have a wrist at the tip of the instrument. The robotic instruments have a wider range of motion than the human wrist. It can move 90 degrees in every cardinal plane compared to 70 in one direction and 20 to 40 in others with the human wrist and it’s applied at the very tip of the instrument where it matters most. With laparoscopic instruments they’re just straight; there’s no wrist at all, so you’re very limited in your movements. That degree of freedom makes a big difference and then add in precision. If you’ve ever looked in the console, it’s a very magnified view. These instruments are very tiny, maybe a centimeter and you’re able to see millimeter movements. So you have very precise control of what you’re doing. It’s an incredible visualization and it’s 3D. There are two teeny tiny cameras applied at the tip of the scope to create true 3D images. The advantage, I think, is that the surgeon can control everything from the console. With laparoscopic surgery I might have two different assistants controlling the camera. Going back to what you said about smaller hospitals: we don’t necessarily have as much help available; being able to do this all from the
analogous to open surgery which is what most surgeons are comfortable with. Robotic surgery mimics open surgery in a lot of ways, so that comes through in the learning curve. Hernias are some of our most common operations and we learn to do them openly, laparoscopically and robotically. Taking groin hernias as an example, the learning curve for laparoscopic surgery is around 50 cases for the easier cases and around 250 for the harder ones. When we switch from laparoscopic to robotic, the learning curve is more like around 10 cases. The speed at which you can become proficient and familiar with the platform is very fast.
Q: Do you think the robot will allow rural hospitals to take on more complex cases that would otherwise be referred to a major hospital?
A: Our focus in this first year is adoption, getting everyone trained and up-to-speed and ensure quality. We want to be sure we can at minimum replicate the results we were getting from laparoscopic surgery. So we’re starting with the cases we’re comfortable. Once we’re all up to speed the next step would be as you stated; we could take on more complex cases and get better outcomes. So we can start expanding our scope of practice to more complex hernia repairs. We could start doing more colon surgeries and more foregut procedures. So you start with your bread and butter and,, as you become more comfortable, expand your services. That’s huge for a community hospital. It’s a win for everybody.
Q: From the patient’s perspective, what are the advantages of undergoing a procedure with the robot?
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A: We try to stick with what the literature supports, so they’re getting smaller incisions which usually means less pain overall and better cosmetic results compared to open surgery. We tend to see lower pain scores relative to laparoscopic surgery. Slightly lower blood loss. We want to provide the best repair possible and reduce the chance of recurrence and get back to the things they enjoy or need to do. We know we do a better job of that robotically, certainly compared to open surgery but also compared to laparoscopic.
Name: Ryan Walker, M.D.
Position: Specialty care physician lead at Oswego Health; chairman of Oswego Health’s robotics committee
Career: Before joining Oswego Health, practiced in the Albany area at both St. Peter’s Health Partners and St. Mary’s Healthcare
Hometown: Wappingers Falls (Dutchess County)
Education: Ithaca College (undergraduate), American University of the Caribbean, postgraduate training along with his chief residency at York Hospital in Pennsylvania. DaVinci-certified robotic surgeon
Affiliations: Oswego Health
Organizations: American College of Surgeons; Society of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Family: Wife, two cats
Hobbies: Boating, fishing, skiing
The inability to pay for health care has reached a new high in the United States, a new study says.
More than one-third of Americans — an estimated 91 million people — say they couldn’t afford to access quality health care if they needed it today, according to the latest West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index.
“The rising trajectory in the inability to pay for healthcare is a disturbing trend that is likely to continue and even accelerate,” said Tim Lash, president of West Health Policy Center, part of a group of nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare and aging.
“Policy action at both the state and federal level is urgently needed, or even more Americans will have to go without treatment or be forced to make painful tradeoffs between paying for medical care or paying for other necessities,” Lash continued in a news release. “The human and economic costs are enormous.”
The Healthcare Affordability Index has been tracking health care access in the U.S. since 2021, researchers said.
Its latest results show that 35% of Americans could not access quality health care if they need it.
Rates were even higher among Black Americans (46%) and Hispanic Americans (52%), results show.
Access to health care remained stable among wealthier Americans, but declined significantly among lower-income households.
About two-thirds (64%) of people earning less than $24,000 said they can’t afford health care, an 11-point increase from 2023, results show.
Likewise, 57% of households with an annual income between $24,000 and $48,000 said they struggle to afford health care, up 12 points
from 2023.
In all, about half (51%) of Americans are considered “cost secure,” in that they have faced no recent difficulty affording either health care or prescriptions, researchers found. It’s the lowest level observed since the index started in 2021.
Hispanic Americans have experienced the greatest declines in such security, with 34% saying they have no problem affording health care –down 17 points from 2021.
Black Americans experienced a 13-point drop in health care security, with 41% now saying they don’t struggle with health care bills.
Overall, about 11% of Americans, about 29 million people, are classified as “cost desperate” — meaning they are unable to afford either health care or prescriptions.
“Healthcare affordability and access continue to erode nationally, and this issue is especially acute among Black, Hispanic, and lower-income adults,” Dan Witters, a senior researcher at Gallup, said in a news release.
“White adults and those in higher-income households, in contrast, remain largely insulated from these worsening trends,” Witters added. “Among these groups, this is the widest gap in access to care we have recorded thus far, with many Americans experiencing increased hardship year over year.”
The survey was conducted online and by mail between Nov. 18 and Dec. 27, 2024, among 6,296 people 18 and older. Respondents were from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus 1.6 percentage points.
More Americans are struggling to pay for needed health care and prescriptions.
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Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, Melissa Stefanec, Eva Briggs (MD), George Chapman, Mary Beth Roach, Jennifer Faringer
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By George W. Chapman
Our new Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr. is laying off 20,000 of the 82,000 employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is closing five of 10 regional offices. The goal is to save $1.8 billion a year. Employees were informed via email accompanied by the tried and true “it’s not you, it’s me” reason. Kennedy will consolidate 28 various divisions like HHS (Health and Human Services), NIH (National Institutes of Health) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to 15 divisions under an all-encompassing brand-new moniker called “Administration for a Healthy America” or AHA. (This should not be confused
In his defense, Kennedy has this right. He is a well-known strong proponent of removing or at least reducing the amount of chemicals that are part of processed food. He is little known, however, as a critic of the FDA’s user fees which are paid to the FDA by Big Pharma. User fees make up almost half of the agency’s budget, which invites conflicts. These fees are paid every time there is an application for approval of a new drug. The fee is substantial, which limits applications by smaller upstart firms. The symbiotic wink and a nod relationship between the FDA and Big Pharma is tightened by this user fee. Both Obama and Biden have decried user fees. In fairness, to reduce the Big Pharma influence on the FDA, it has been suggested that user fees should be eliminated and 100% of the FDA budget should be taxpayer supported.
They work and it seems like everyone is taking them. But they are still very expensive. Consequently, their cost effectiveness, at current
with the American Hospital Association (AHA) or the Norwegian ‘80s pop band A-ha.)
Former Fox journalist Sara Carter, with absolutely zero experience, has been named as drug czar. Top vaccine official Peter Marks, who led operation Warp Speed, which fast tracked COVID-19 vaccine development, was unceremoniously pushed out after eight years stoking fears of “vaccine hesitancy.” About 1,900 scientists sent a letter to the administration accusing them of an all-out assault on science in response to the slashing of funding for research the administration deemed “unacceptable.”
Among hundreds of research
prices, was challenged by the JAMA Health Forum. Basically, does the lifetime cost of the drug exceed potential savings on weight-related health costs. So, beyond users looking thinner, are they cost effective? If the price comes down, cost effectiveness goes up. Fortunately, a couple weight loss drugs are on Medicare’s radar and are slated for price negotiation with manufacturers next year. But until then, you begin to understand the insurance industry’s reluctance to cover them.
projects being terminated were vaccine safety during pregnancy and the effectiveness of the shingles vax. The purge of researchers and scientists has led to a virtual US brain drain. Seizing the opportunity, Europe is offering positions to outof-work American scientists and researchers. For example, Brussels Free University has allotted $2.7 million in funding for at least 12 new post doctorate roles to “censored Americans.” Normally reticent organizations like the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and the biotech industry have expressed their fears over the erosion of scientific standards. So, all things considered, what could possibly go wrong?
worse, a year after a jury fined J&J $150 million for misleading marketing tactics for two of its HIV meds, a judge stepped in and jacked the fine up to $1.64 billion.
Remember the talcum powder fiasco? Thousands of cases of cancer, purportedly, were caused by the product. A bankruptcy judge has recently rejected J&J’s offer to settle all past and future cases for $9 billion. This is strike three for J&J as they tried to use the bankruptcy court to settle in 2021 and 2023 as well. To make matters
More bad news for the most expensive healthcare “system” in the world. Between the years 2009 and 2019 avoidable deaths in the U.S. increased by 33 per 100,000 people, according to the JAMA, (Journal of the American Medical Association). In all other countries in the study, avoidable deaths decreased by 23 per 100,000. In the European Union, avoidable deaths decreased by 25 per 100,000 people. All countries in the EU have national healthcare plans.
Caveat emptor. (Buyer beware.) Lower premiums are an enticing lure, but you need to really understand the benefits and what you will end up owing after an outpatient
procedure or hospitaliza tion. Your out-of-pock et will most likely far exceed any savings in your monthly premi um. Short-term health insurance companies do not have to follow rules promulgated by the Afford able Care Act for all regular plans. They do not have reduced premiums based on your income like normal plans offered on the exchange. The dollar cap on procedures and hospitalization are far below what the providers will bill. You will end up owing thousands. The insurer has the last and final word on interpreting their own unregulated rules. Shortterm insurers can request a physical and then exclude coverage for the very condition that got you to purchase short-term coverage in the first place. Most have very limited drug coverage if any at all. You are far better off paying another $200 a month or so for legitimate insurance of the exchange. Concerned that consumers will be ripped off by these short-term plans, the Affordable Care Act limited coverage to 90 days. The hope was consumers would turn to longer and more comprehensive coverage offered on the exchange. In his first term, Trump allowed these plans to cover a year. Calling them what they are, “junk insurance.” Biden knocked coverage back to four months. It is expected that once he gets around to it, Trump will allow coverage up to a year again. Are we ready for national health insurance yet?
You may have noticed it starts earlier and ends later every year. According to the HHS, (or should I say the former HHS?) you’re right. It comes with warming global temperatures. Over the past 30 years pollen, nationwide, has increased 21%. The Allergy and Asthma Foundation says 25% of adults and 20% of children suffer from seasonal allergies. The allergy season is so long now that a lot of people stay on drugs all year. Spring arrives earlier thereby giving plants more time to produce pollen. In a list ranking our top 100 cities from worse than average to better than average Wichita, Kansas, ranks No. 1 for worse than average. Boston ranks No. 1 for better than average. Albany, Rochester and Syracuse are in the middle of the ranking so basically average. Dead leaves and grass and wooded areas yield more mold so avoid those as much as possible, Allergists recommend finding out just what you are allergic to and treat accordingly with meds or injections. Nasal sprays are often misused. They are most effective on the outside of your nasal passages versus being shot straight up your nose.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse.
In celebration of National Nurses Week, we take time to recognize our extraordinary team of nurses.
We are grateful for your dedication and compassionate care for our patients.
By Gwenn Voelckers
How and why I became a life coach to help women starting over
It was totally unexpected.
I was in my 30s, married and working in the demanding field of nursing home administration when my life — my world — turned upside down.
I got divorced.
There were no children, but the split was still deeply painful. The dreams I had of building a future and family with my husband had suddenly vanished.
Everywhere I looked, it seemed like everyone else was getting married, having babies and living out the life I had imagined for myself. Meanwhile, I was alone and struggling to find my footing.
My divorce felt like a very public failure. I retreated into myself, hiding in my work, my apartment, and — worst of all — hiding from my own pain. I didn’t allow myself to grieve. I didn’t process the loss.
My world grew small and quiet, and my self-esteem plummeted.
It was my mother who noticed. She saw that I was withdrawing, shrinking from the world. One day, with loving but firm conviction, she said, “Gwenn, stop waiting for Mr. Right to come to the rescue. Go create a wonderful life on your own.”
Her words broke through my lethargy. I was ready.
That was the moment I started saying yes to life again. I rebuilt my social circle, focused on my health and fitness and began doing things that brought me joy. I explored hobbies, traveled and invested in my emotional well-being with the help of a therapist.
Slowly but surely, I reclaimed my sense of self. And my life.
Fast forward 20 years: As I approached my 50th birthday, I was living life to the fullest. I owned my own home, had a supportive network of friends and family and was flourishing at work — proudly earning my nursing home administrator license. I traveled solo with confidence and immersed myself in rediscovered loves — gardening,
music, reading and fitness.
Following my mother’s advice paid off and over time, I created a wonderful, independent life for myself. I felt whole, complete and immensely grateful.
With that gratitude came a strong desire to give back. I wanted to help others who were where I had once been — lost, alone and unsure of how to begin again.
But how could I channel that desire into something meaningful?
That’s when I hired a certified life coach.
I was familiar with therapy, which had helped me in the past, but this was different. While therapy often focuses on healing from past wounds, a life coach helps you clarify your goals, discover your strengths, and create a vision for your future.
Coaching is forward-focused and action-oriented. It was exactly the kind of help I wanted.
Together, my life coach and I began a journey of discovery. Through a series of probing questions, reflection exercises and honest conversations, I began to uncover my path. Early on, we explored a few directions, but none seemed to spark any real excitement.
Then she asked, “What are you good at? What are you proud of?”
Without missing a beat, I said, “I’m really good at living alone.”
Her eyes lit up. “Tell me more.”
As I described how I had built a full, rich, independent life, I could feel something shift. I came alive. My life coach noticed it, too. We realized that my lived experience — the confidence and contentment I had cultivated over the years — could serve as a guidepost for others.
That was the spark we had been looking for.
I began my new journey by writing this monthly column for In Good Health about the realities and joys of
living alone. I share stories, tips and encouragement for readers navigating life on their own.
From there, I developed a curriculum for a three-part “Alone and Content” workshop designed to help women in mid-life rediscover themselves after divorce or the death of a spouse.
I hosted the workshops in my home — a deliberate choice. I wanted to show women what a joyful, empowered life alone could look like. The response was powerful. Women opened up. They connected. They began to see new possibilities for their own lives.
Then COVID-19 hit and, like so many others, I had to change direction. I took that time to reflect and reimagine. I knew I wanted to continue doing this good work, to keep helping women navigate the challenges of building a life on their own . . . but what?
So, I did something big: I became a certified life coach myself.
At 70, becoming a life coach felt like coming full circle. I have walked the path, learned the lessons and now I am ready and officially certified to help others chart their own course.
My focus will be on supporting divorced or widowed women who are seeking to rebuild their lives on their own terms.
As a certified life coach, I help women identify their personal goals and take meaningful steps forward through a four-week jump-start coaching program.
Together, we’ll identify what matters most to you and set clear, achievable goals in one or more of these areas:
• Reconnecting with your inner strength and identity
• Making changes that reflect your desires — not others’
Bausch + Lomb has recently announced a voluntary recall of intraocular lenses on its enVista platform due to the potential for an acute postoperative inflammatory reaction.
All lots of the following intraocular lens models in the United States are included in the recall: enVista Aspire, enVista Aspire Toric, enVista Envy, and enVista Envy Toric, as well as enVista monofocal and enVista
The recall was issued in response to reports of toxic anterior segment syndrome, or TASS, an acute ster-
ile anterior chamber inflammatory reaction that usually develops 12 to 48 hours after surgery. All patients with reported cases of TASS due to the enVista lenses responded quickly to treatment. No patients needed to have the lenses removed. Bausch + Lomb is still investigating the cause of the complications reported.
“As much as we believe in the enVista platform, patient safety will always be our No. 1 priority. Surgeons and patients trust Bausch + Lomb, and I believe that this voluntary recall is the best thing we can do
expectations
• Cultivating joy and fulfillment in everyday life
• Pursuing long-postponed dreams or interests
• Learning how to feel at home in your own company
• Creating meaningful connections and a sense of community
My own story is proof that it is not only possible to survive after loss — it is possible to thrive. I’ve known loneliness and uncertainty, and I’ve also come to know what it feels like to come out the other side — stronger, wiser, and whole.
There is a way forward, and you have the power to create a life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and uniquely your own.
Working with a life coach changed my life. Now, it’s my turn to help others change theirs.
If my story speaks to you and you’re curious about how life coaching might help you create your next chapter, I’d love to hear from you. Just send me an email introducing yourself, and we’ll take it from there.
I’ll follow up with a brief telephone conversation to ensure we’re a good fit and to help clarify your goals.
On your mark, get set, JUMP!
Gwenn Voelckers is the author of "Alone and Content," a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. She welcomes your comments about this column and topic suggestions for future columns at gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com
to honor that trust,” Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, said in a statement. “These reports represent only 1 to 2% of implanted lenses, with a positive prognosis for everyone involved. We look forward to identifying a root cause and bringing the enVista platform back to market.”
Patients who have undergone cataract surgery should contact their eye care professional immediately if they experience eye discomfort. Meanwhile, eye care professionals should continue to closely monitor cataract surgery patients for at least 48 hours after surgery and instruct patients to call the office immediately if they develop new or worsening symptoms.
Several nonprofit health plans are calling on Congress to protect older adults in Upstate New York.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, CDPHP and MVP Health Care have come together to urge elected officials to pass bipartisan legislation that will protect Medicare Advantage benefits and access to care for hundreds of thousands of members.
Without relief, nearly 450,000 Medicare Advantage members in Upstate New York may face increased premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, and fewer choices as health plans battle the financial effects of unprecedented changes to the Medicare wage index.
“We remain grateful for the support and leadership of those in Congress who continue to fight for older adults in our communities,” said Jim Reed, president and CEO of Excellus BCBS. “We have faith that New York’s congressional delegation will find a solution to avoid catastroph-
ic consequences for nearly 450,000 Medicare Advantage members with not-for-profit health plans in Upstate New York.”
What’s at stake?
A 2023 change in how the federal government sets hospital reimbursement rates for Medicare has resulted in significant financial losses for nonprofit health plans in Upstate New York.
Changes to the Medicare wage index resulted in $1 billion in new federal funding for Upstate New York hospitals. However, the federal government did not give health plans a corresponding premium increase, leaving the nonprofit plans to absorb hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The plans cannot sustain these growing losses, especially as they also struggle with the escalating costs of health care.
“We applaud the Trump administration and leaders at CMS for
acknowledging the rising cost of care in the 2026 Medicare Advantage Rate Notice released on Monday [April 7],” said Brian O’Grady, president and CEO of CDPHP. “While the rate notice included more funding to help health plans with the rising costs of care, it did not address the financial shortfalls caused by changes to the Medicare wage index.
“Our local, not-for-profit plans will continue to battle the effects of the wage index, which has left the future of our great health plan — and the 75,000 older adults who entrust us with their care — in jeopardy.”
About the reintroduced legislation
Last May, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), alongside several members of Congress, introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen Medicare Advantage plans in Upstate New York.
Since Congress did not act on this legislation or a broader package of health care policies before the end of the previous Congress in December 2024, the legislation is being reintroduced by Rep. Tenney as well as Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY26), Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Congressman John Mannion (NY-22), Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25), Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19), Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20).
Additionally, Congresswoman Tenney and members of the Upstate New York delegation have co-signed a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking it to make this correction using its existing statutory authority.
The legislation would adjust the amounts reimbursed to health plans to ensure regional, nonprofit Medicare Advantage plans remain viable and members maintain access to robust benefits and access to quality care.
“We thank Congresswoman Tenney and our bipartisan Congressional delegation for supporting this imperative legislation,” said Chris Del Vecchio, CEO of MVP Health Care. “This bill will authorize CMS to make a region-specific Medicare adjustment to level the playing field for local, not-for-profit, community-based plans. It will ensure that MVP can continue to innovate with our community provider partners and provide critical benefits to our Medicare members.”
Albert S. Hartel, M.D.
Even though it is impossible to completely hide from the Rochester allergen onslaught, there are likely things you may be unknowingly doing that are making your allergies and asthma worse and amplifying the effects of exposures.
Allergic inflammation is cumulative and builds up so that the obvious things that give you symptoms may only be part of the problem.
Identifying all contributors can give you more cushion and significantly reduce symptoms and naturally minimize medication requirements.
1.Not Washing with HOT Water.
To kill the millions of dust mites crawling on your bedding, warm water doesn’t cut it.
Washing sheets at 140°F kills 100% of dust mites, while washing at 104°F eliminated just 6.5%. Don’t forget to wash the blankets and comforters too.
2.Getting the Cheap Air Filters.
Skimping on your furnace filter can be costly in terms of symptoms. HEPA certified filters are the most effective for reducing allergens and can filter out 99.7% of all particulates in the air that pass through them. Regular vacuuming and using small room HEPA air purifiers will also help — particularly in the bedroom and living room.
3.Getting a “Hypoallergenic” Dog. The term “hy-
Physician Albert S. Hartel specializes in pediatric and adult allergy and immunology. He is the president of Allergy Asthma Immunology of Rochester. For more information, visit https://aair.info or call 585-442-0150.
poallergenic” was a great marketing ploy by breeders. But unfortunately there is truly no such thing. Hair vs. fur makes no difference, as the allergen comes from skin, saliva and urine. The average “hypoallergenic” dog makes as much allergen per square inch of skin as any other dog. However, smaller dogs do have less skin surface area. Any dog means more allergen and also more pollen trucked in from outdoors.
4.Blaming it All on Germs.
If you need antibiotics for sinusitis or bronchitis every spring or fall, it’s likely more than just bad luck. Everyone gets sick, but if the cycle repeats itself the same time every year, its likely cyclic allergic inflammation making you more prone. If every cold and infection tends to spiral into the chest, that is also suspicious for underlying chronic allergic or asthmatic inflammation.
5.Open Windows.
When windows are open, outdoor pollen drifts inside and deposits all over your carpet, furniture and car upholstery and continues to induce symptoms, even after window is closed. Air conditioning is an excellent filter in the home and even in the car can reduce pollen by 30%.
6.Ignoring the Pollen Count.
Pollen counts report daily levels of allergens which can fluctuate greatly. The only Rochester pollen count is done by AAIR and can be checked by following us on Facebook.
7.Having Another Drink.
During fermentation of beer, wine and liquor, yeast and bacteria produce histamine, which can cause or enhance allergy symptoms. Red wine and beer contain the most histamine.
8.Stuffed Animals.
Stuffed animals are loaded with millions of dust mites and when they are in bed, the dust mites are also getting cozy with your kids. Anything that can’t be cleaned immediately should be washed weekly in super hot water or put in the freezer twice a week. Encasing the pillow and mattress also helps substantially reduce dust mites.
9.Letting Stress Build Up.
A recent article correlated persistent emotional stress with more frequent allergy flares. People with a negative mood also had more and allergy symptoms over the course of the study.
10. Plopping on the Couch After Spending Time Outdoors.
It feels good to kick back and relax after an outdoor run, heavy yard work, sporting events or just coming in to beat the heat. However, you bring in microscopic pollen on your clothes and hair. This gets left on bed and furniture for re-exposure for days. Showering at night also helps reduce the reservoir inside your house. Pets and even family members who aren’t allergic are trucking it in too.
11. Overmedicating.
The best treatment plan is to reduce exposures and minimize medications. More symptoms shouldn’t mean reflexively piling on more each year or long-term daily steroid inhalers. The best way to combat allergies and asthma is to find out exactly what you are allergic to and consider allergy shots to naturally turn off your body’s overreactions and chemical release. Shots can lead to long-term relief and often the ability to stop with continued benefit.
Air purifiers clean the air in a room by drawing in the air, trapping the airborne pollutants within it, and then pushing filtered, clean air back into the space.
Some of these airborne particles, such as pollen, pet dander and mold spores, are irritants that can aggravate people’s allergies.
These particles can make their way into our bodies as we breathe, causing runny noses, watery eyes and other adverse reactions in people who are sensitive to the allergens.
So do air purifiers help with allergies? In short, yes, they can, but only to a certain extent.
Air purifiers can be effective at trapping the small particles that trigger allergies, preventing them from circulating in the air and then being inhaled.
However, these devices are not a complete solution, according to physician Payel Gupta, an assistant professor at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York and a
national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. “Each device has its limitations, and individual responses can vary,” she said.
Aneta Ivanova, a pediatric allergy nurse consultant for the Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in Birmingham, England, agrees with that statement.
“Air purification is often recommended as a component of environmental improvement for patients with allergic respiratory disease, but there is little medical evidence to support that air purifiers help directly to significantly reduce allergies or respiratory symptoms,” Ivanova said. “There is a need for larger randomized control trials to be able to scientifically prove the true effectiveness [of these devices],” she said. (Randomized controlled trials include a placebo group, for comparison, and can provide direct evidence that an intervention relieves specific symptoms.)
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities can perplex those not affected by them.
Some people may even try to “slip in a little” of the offending food in a dish thinking that the person with a special diet is being overly picky for avoiding it.
Beyond being disrespectful of others’ wishes, this is a dangerous line of thought.
Bodily responses to restricted foods can range from skin issues to GI upset to anaphylaxis and death. To better understand why food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities are so important, it’s vital to recognize the differences and similarities among them.
“Many people have adverse reactions to various foods they eat,” said Haidy Marzouk, ENT, otolaryngologist and allergist at St. Joseph’s Health. “This can vary from bloating and heartburn to life threatening reactions and there is a spectrum of symptoms in between. Many can term these events as intolerance or allergy, but the two are quite different.
“When we talk about food allergies, it is a term very specific to an overactive immune response from the body to a food item that it should not consider to be foreign,” Marzouk said. “These reactions are most often
fairly immediate after ingestion but can range to a few hours after ingestion. They will usually involve IgE antibodies to the food. Symptoms of this type of reaction can involve swelling, hives, difficulty breathing and abdominal symptoms. These reactions can progress to be life threatening in some cases.”
Common food allergens include peanut, shellfish, wheat, tree nut, eggs, dairy, sesame seed, peach, banana, avocado, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, celery, strawberry, garlic, mustard seed, aniseed and chamomile. According to Food Allergy Research and Education, about 33 million people in the US have a food allergy. Some of these will be outgrown; others are lifelong.
For those that have a food allergy that’s not outgrown, the patients who experience anaphylaxis must continue to completely avoid the food and using medication such as epinephrine, antihistamines and corticosteroids can help in case of accidental exposure. Those who have a non-life-threatening response such as digestive issues should also avoid the reactive food and can manage responses with different medication and strategies in case of exposure.
Some food allergies can be minimized with medication. It may not
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Food allergies can cause serious, life-threatening reactions such as anaphylaxis upon exposure. The FDA recently approved Xolair (omalizumab) for people age older than 1 for reducing food allergy reactions. Anaphylaxis is when the patient’s immune system releases chemicals to cause the body to go into shock. The blood pressure plummets. The person struggles to breathe and presents with a fast but weak pulse, flushed skin and possibly nausea and vomiting. Administering
epinephrine is lifesaving and the patient should go to an emergency room as a follow-up.
Although people who have life-threatening food allergies should avoid exposure to allergenic food, Xolair can help reduce the reaction in case of accidental exposure.
Xolair is not a new medication; it’s been used for asthma treatment since 2003.
“Anaphylaxis or life-threatening allergic reactions, is often mediated by an IgE antibody,” said Haidy
mean the patient is free to eat the allergenic food, but the medication can offer protection in case of accidental ingestion.
Healthcare providers can use medical tests to confirm allergies. It’s not as cut-and-dried with intolerances, but more like trial and error. Using an elimination diet and food journaling can help patients detect when symptoms appear. Patients can also learn their limits and triggers. For example, someone with lactose intolerance may not be able to drink a milk shake but can have a small amount of cheese.
“Food sensitivities can have other mechanisms involved that do not involve an immune response,” Marzouk said. “For example, people can lack digestive enzymes needed to digest certain foods resulting abdominal symptoms and/or brain fog, as in the case of lactose intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Other people can be more sensitive to chemical irritants in the GI tract, such as caffeine. Although these reactions are uncomfortable, they are not considered allergies.”
As with food allergies, people with food intolerances should also avoid the offending foods. For lactose intolerance, patients can take overthe-counter enzyme supplements
Marzouk, ENT/otolaryngologist and allergist at St. Joseph’s Health. “Studies found that treatment with omalizumab reduced severe reactions in people who had accidental exposure to foods they were severely allergic to in small amounts in comparison to placebo.”
Patients receive an injection every two to four weeks. They can receive the injection at a doctor’s office or administer it themselves at home. Marzouk explained that it works by blocking the immunoglobulin E (IgE). The immune system produces this antibody, a protein, as a response to a possible attacker but mistakes harmless foods as invaders.
Xolair works by increasing the amount of allergen required to trigger a reaction such as anaphylaxis.
“It is not a cure for food allergies and does not replace the need to carry an EpiPen and use it when necessary,” Marzouk said. “It is only shown to reduce risk of life-threatening reaction with accidental
such as Lactaid with their first bite of dairy to aid in its digestion. Wheat allergy triggers a systemic response to exposure. However, celiac disease, triggered by eating wheat and some other grains, is an autoimmune disease that over time causes damage to the small intestine and can impact things like nutrient absorption. Patients may have bloating, flatulence, constipation, headaches, depression, fatigue, gastrointestinal pain and joint pain. Healthcare providers can test for celiac disease.
People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity may test negative for celiac but by the process of elimination find that they feel better when they avoid or at least minimize gluten in their diet. NCGS isn’t an immune disorder.
Whether a person experiences a food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity, the hardest foods to eat safely are those with complex ingredient lists. Some ingredients go by different names than many consumers are accustomed to. Potluck dinners can feel like minefields. Most people find it’s easiest to bring their own dishes so they know that it has been prepared without cross contamination from foods that harm them.
exposure.”
The side effects are minimal. Xolair has no contraindications and has shown 0.1% risk of side effects in children, including mild injection site pain and fever. None of the reactions were severe enough to warrant discontinuation of the medication. Reaction data among adults is limited.
People interested in Xolair for themselves or their children should discuss the medication with their healthcare provider.
Another recent advance in food allergies is oral immunotherapy for young children. This involves gradually increasing exposure to reduce reaction extremes and potentially introducing the food to their diet. Oral immunotherapy could possibly mean that eventually, the allergy could be minimized in its effect or even eliminated. But this type of therapy should only be undertaken with a healthcare provider’s approval and guidance.
By Anne Palumbo
Although strawberries are available year-round, nothing celebrates the warmer weather in Upstate New York quite like homegrown strawberries.
From our festivals to our u-pick farms to our shortcakes, life seems sweeter with fresh strawberries around.
It stands to be more nutritious, too, since our consumption goes way up when strawberry season is in full swing.
“Bursting with vitamin C” rarely comes to mind when one thinks of strawberries, but indeed this delicious fruit does.
Here’s a sweet surprise: One cup of sliced strawberries provides over 100% of our daily needs (nearly twice that of an orange).
Widely known for its immune-boosting and wound-healing benefits, vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes unstable molecules that can harm cells and tissues. Too many of these unstable molecules—generated internally through normal cell metabolism and externally from environmental pollution (air, sun, smoke, etc.)—can lead to a wide range of health problems, including cancer, heart disease,
Crust:
diabetes and more.
Recent studies suggest that daily consumption of this antioxidant superstar may also improve memory, enhance mental wellbeing, and lower the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Contrary to their sweet flavor, strawberries have a low glycemic index (GI), which means they cause a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar, making them safe for people with diabetes and better for the rest of us, too.
More good news: You’re less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you satisfy your sweet tooth with natural foods like strawberries over highly refined foods like sodas, candy and cookies that put your pancreas through the wringer by causing big spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels.
Strawberries are also a delicious way to support heart health and manage cholesterol.
Recent studies suggest that regu-
Choose firm, medium-sized, deep red berries with bright green caps. Buy organic if possible. Wash strawberries only when ready to be eaten or used (moisture can lead to mold growth). Store unwashed berries in refrigerator; best eaten or used two to three days after purchase.
lar consumption of strawberries (1 or more cups a day) potentially reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing inflammation, and helping to keep blood vessels in tiptop shape.
1½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup cold butter, cubed
3 tablespoons ice cold water, plus more as needed Or:
1 refrigerated pie crust (9-inch)
Filling:
3 cups sliced, fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Egg wash: 1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water; sugar for sprinkling
1. Make the crust: Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl. Cut the butter into ½-inch cubes. Next, cut the butter into the flour using a food processor (my preferred method) or pastry cutter, just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs slightly smaller than a pea. Add
the water and toss until the flour is moistened and comes together a little, adding another tablespoon of water if the dough seems dry. (If using a food processor, slowly pulse in spurts.)
2 Dump the pastry onto a lightly floured work surface and, using your hands, work the dough into a ball. Flatten it into a thick 1-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. (If using a store-bought pie crust, thaw according to package directions.)
3. Meanwhile, prepare the strawberry filling: Gently toss the filling ingredients together in a medium bowl until combined. Cover and refrigerate. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle (ok if edges break and the shape isn’t perfectly round).
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
Transfer dough to the prepared baking sheet.
5. Spoon the fruit (discard any juices) into the center of the dough, leaving a 2-inch border all around. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the filling, overlapping the dough as necessary. Press gently to seal the edges. Brush the crust edges with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
6. Refrigerate the shaped galette for at least 15-20 minutes as the oven preheats.
7. Preheat oven to 400F. Bake galette until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 35-40 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream (optional). Cover and store leftover galette in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
By Mary Beth Roach
ricia Peter-Clark is president and chief executive officer of ConnextCare and as such she oversees a healthcare network with nearly 300 employees; locations in Pulaski, Mexico, Parish, Central Square, Phoenix, Fulton and Oswego; and a school-based health center program in the Pulaski, Sandy Creek, Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, Mexico, Fulton and Oswego school districts. The final numbers for 2024 were 31,545, up more than 2,000 patients from the year before.
She talks about ConnextCare’s newest facility, which opened in
downtown Oswego on March 31.
Q: Can you explain ConnextCare to our readers who might not be familiar with the services that your organization offers?
A: ConnextCare is a federally qualified health center, which means that we receive some federal funding to ensure that there are health centers in what they determine is underserved areas. Our main health center, in Pulaski, has 30 clinical exam rooms. We’ve got several advanced practice providers and physicians.
We operate primary care acute walkin services. We have an external respiratory care center. And then we also have mental health services, regular counseling as well as adult and pediatric psychiatry. And we have our dental practice.
Q: What does the new location in Oswego offer patients?
A: Patients can expect to see the most modern approach to healthcare that you can have anywhere in our county. The team spent a lot of time talking about healthcare now and in the future and wanted a space that was what you would see in a modern healthcare facility. At the end of each set of six exam rooms on the primary care floor is a nursing care team office or a nurses’ pod. The strategic positioning of the nursing care team offices directly across the hall from the providers they are each working with enhances care coordination between provider teams as well as communication. When a provider comes out of an exam room and needs clinical support, they have a team of staff working within their clinical pod to support them.
Q: What other services can patients find at this new location?
A: One of the biggest additions that we’re very proud to be able to offer is dental care. We have seven dental operatories, which will be on the second floor. We’ll have a dentist there and a couple of dental hygienists to see patients for routine, preventive care, as well as any kind of treatment. In addition to primary care and dental, we are going to be transitioning our mental health team there. Right now, we have one mental health counselor who works in our office that will transition there. We hired a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. She will be ful time in the new location.
Q: What prompted the move from your old location on George Street in Oswego to this new location on East First Street?
A: We’ve been growing as an organization and really looking at what the needs are in our community. One of the biggest needs has been oral health and expansion for primary care. The current space did not have the availability for us to be able to really grow.
Q: You alluded to looking at the needs of the community. What do you see as some of the bigger health needs that should be addressed?
“One of the biggest additions that we’re very proud to be able to offer is dental care. We have seven dental operatories. We’ll have a dentist there and a couple of dental hygienists to see patients for routine, preventive care, as well as any kind of treatment.”
A: It’s just the overall access to care. This facility — when you go from 10 exam rooms to 18 — has the opportunity to be able to open up to more patients. We serve patients regardless of what your insurance is. Patients with Medicaid-Medicaid Managed Care and Medicare insurance often face increased challenges with accessing essential services, as providers elect not to participate with these plans. The new Oswego location will address access to primary care for patients with these plans but also access to dental services. Our local partners have shared numerous concerns over consumer-access to dental care, particularly for those older than 65, so this location offers an opportunity for those without a current dental home to establish care with us.
Q: It has been mentioned that this new location will be more accessible for people who might rely on bus transportation?
A: One hundred percent. When you look at needs assessment, transportation is a real barrier. Even if you have Medicaid coverage and you have the opportunity to call and ask for a ride or get a ride provided, it’s a barrier because you have to rely on the coordination of the service, the reliability and the time. And so, when we looked at trying to find the right place that would be centrally located, the convenience to the patients was a big piece of that. This facility downtown has sidewalks; is conveniently located between all the different public housing that’s in the community and welcomes the walkins. ConnextCare is looking to adjust how we provide services in that space to be more conducive to what our community is looking for.
By Melissa Stefanec MelissaStefanec@yahoo.com
f you are planning a Mother’s Day celebration for the special mom(s) in your life look no further.
But before I share my pro tips with you, you have to sit through a history lesson.
Since 1914, Mother’s Day has been a national holiday in the United States. The creation of this holiday was championed by a woman named Anna Jarvis, who took her inspiration from minor celebrations that honored mothers.
Jarvis advocated for a national holiday honoring women, since most existing holidays celebrated men.
She coordinated her first, official Mother’s Day celebration in 1908 at a local church. The goal of this day of observation was to recognize the sacrifices made by mothers. After that celebration in 1908, Jarvis kept campaigning. Her holiday caught on and President Woodrow Wilson created a federal holiday in 1914.
Why am I bothering you with this rather unexciting history lesson?
Because it gets a lot more interesting.
Jarvis grew to despise the monster that her well-intended creation became. Once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, the wolves of capitalism and commercialism circled Mother’s Day like the spring fawn it was. Jarvis, disgusted with what her modest celebration had become, started actively campaigning against Mother’s Day.
She started suing businesses that were profiteering off the holiday, litigating flower shops, candy makers and other businesses and organizations. She even pushed to have Mother’s Day removed as a federal holiday.
Jarvis was unsuccessful in rescinding the holiday (and reversing its commercialization). However, her spirit lives on in every mom who dreads Mother’s Day just a little bit. I am one of those mothers.
Some people may wonder why a mother would dread Mother’s Day, but it’s really quite easy. Mother’s Day is often just another day for mothers to plan, coordinate, wrangle and engage. Sure, flowers, chocolates, brunches and little gifts are nice. But most moms don’t get what they really want — a break from the demands.
I know that most gentlemen out there want their mothers, mother figures, partners and mothers of their children to have a nice Mother’s Day. The problem is, commercialization and profiteering have taken the reins.
Common knowledge would have you believing that moms want flowers, jewelry, restaurant meals, fine confections, makeup or accessories. All of those things are fine.
If that is what the lady in your life truly wants, please deliver. However, I will wager most moms don’t want to be showered in gifts or attend a lunch at a chaotic
restaurant. I think most moms want two things: to be able to decompress and to feel loved and valued.
So, if you are looking to make Mother’s Day beautiful for your own mother or partner, here are three easy steps to make that happen.
Ask her what she wants that can’t be bought
Challenge the mom in your life to tell you what non monetary gift she would ask for if she knew she could have just about anything. Would it be a whole day spent with her loved ones where she didn’t cater to anyone? Would it be a whole morning alone to drink tea and read a novel? Would it be a solo hike to clear her head? Would it be an activity without her young children? Would it be to have help around the house with something she has been putting off? Would it be to have you accompany her to an event she loves? There are a lot of options, but you will never know if you don’t ask.
Ask her what her ideal Mother’s Day looks like
And don’t let her off easy with answers like, “anything the family wants to do” or “I just want to spend time with my kids” or “I have to figure out what my mother or mother-in-law wants to do.” Press her on the topic. If she is struggling to find an answer, ask her what her ideal Mother’s Day doesn’t entail. Maybe it’s food prep. Maybe it’s traveling to three different places. Whatever it is, don’t let it happen. Make sure her Mother’s Day is full of things she wants and not full of things she doesn’t want.
After you listen to her, make and execute the plans for the day
Once you’ve asked some questions and listened to the responses, get into planning mode. I can say with almost certainty that most moms want a break from their many obligations. Most moms don’t want to plan, shop, call, coordinate and throw a party that is meant to honor the many sacrifices they make for their families. As an important person in your mother’s or partner’s life, you should take charge (as long as she is OK with that).
The mass commercialization and overplanning of Mother’s Day can make the holiday feel forced, trite or stressful.
When Anna Jarvis envisioned a holiday to honor mothers, she wanted to honor the many sacrifices mothers made for their families.
Perhaps the greatest sacrifice and gift our mothers give us is the gift of their time. So, this year, listen to the moms in your life. Then give them the gift of your time.
Say hello to a convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. ConnnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services - family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, substance use disorder treatment and social work all under one medical group. Patients within our network can visit any of our seven locations at any time.
ConnextCare also offers medical, dental and mental health services at nine School Based Health Centers in five Oswego County school districts.
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Central Square (315) 675-9200 Fulton (315) 598-4790 Oswego (315) 342-0880 Pulaski (315) 298-6564 Parish (315) 625-4388 Phoenix (315) 695-4700 Mexico (315) 963-4133
Every year, from May 6-12, nurses are recognized for their service and dedication to caring for others and improving the health of patients nationwide. Throughout the National Nurses Week, healthcare organizations celebrate their teams
and people across the nation thank the nurses who have made a difference in their lives. In Good Health—Rochester's Healthcare Newspaper profiles two local nurses who are tes tament of the work nurses do every day in the field.
For Oswego Hospital nurse, observing caring professionals drew her to the profession
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Anurse should have a really solid reason to engage in a profession that requires so much from a person both physically and emotionally.
For Terri Hammil, registered nurse and director of infection prevention and environmental services at Oswego Health, observing the character of nurses attracted her to the career.
When she was 15, her sister experienced a car accident.
“I think watching the nurses inspired me,” Hammil said. “The empathy and dedication the nurses had made me realize I wanted to be part of such a meaningful profession.”
She began working in nursing homes on the weekend in high school and eventually attended nursing school and started working at Oswego Health in 1991 as an LPN. She later completed the education to work as a registered nurse. She worked in the medical-surgical department and eventually became the department head and later the nursing supervisor. In 2009, her employer asked her to go into infection prevention.
“A lot of nurses say the rewards change as to what they get back,” Hammil said. “I liked the opportunity to provide comfort and support in the most challenging times. Now as my career progresses, I’m not as much at the bedside. Now I know my work direction impacts public health and patient safety. It’s a different type of drive.”
She enjoys the constant learning curve and daily challenges of nursing, along with the knowledge that nursing offers numerous different career paths, from bedside to teaching. In her current role, Hammil likes the interdisciplinary collaboration among doctors, nurses, administrative staff, lab technicians and the local health department.
“I like working with people to come up with policies that really make a difference in our hospitals and in our community,” Hammil said. “I like to see those positive changes.
“I influence policy and people. I have drive and compassion to promote a culture that prioritizes infection prevention for staff and senior leadership and our community.”
Hammil noted that many times, patients won’t remember their nurse’s name but will remember how their nurse made them feel.
“When I was a young nurse, I once saw someone in the grocery store,” she recalled. “She said, ‘You don’t remember me, but you held my hand when I had my first heart attack.’ That’s the best kind of reward. It stuck with me. Throughout your career, you’ll run into people like that.”
She views infection control as protecting staff, visitors and patients. Hand washing and cleaning hightouch surfaces are integral parts of infection control, strategies “drilled into us as nurses,” Hammil said. “I’m also making sure everyone is engaged in the process. In my education with staff, it drives home the ‘why’ of what we’re doing so they do it every single time.”
Hammil believes that the continual growth a nurse experiences in the career should interest more people, as it “gives you an opportunity for continual growth. There’s not a nurse that can’t have a job somewhere.”
She encourages anyone in high school who is considering a nursing career to participate in the New Vision program at Oswego, which allows students to spend time with healthcare professionals so the students can see if healthcare is a good fit for them.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Suzanne Buck, registered nurse in the pediatric emergency department at Upstate University Hospital, has always enjoyed caring for people and helping them. That’s what attracted her to the career.
“My mother was my encouragement and rock to give me the confidence to apply to nursing school,” Buck said.
Her support was important. At many nursing schools, hundreds of students apply for a limited number of spots. In addition, the academic rigor of nursing school challenges even top students to excel.
Despite these kinds of difficulties, Buck earned her LPN in 1987 at then Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital and then her RN. Buck worked at Crouse in telemetry and neurosurgery and later the emergency room. In 1994, she moved to Upstate’s emergency department.
For a year, she worked at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital and Georgia Baptist in Atlanta when her husband’s work transferred him to Atlanta. In 1997, she returned to Upstate and has worked there ever since, first in the ER and for the past eight years primarily in the pediatric ER.
Her draw to help people “has remained unchanged throughout my career. I will always be there for family, friends and anyone that needs me. Nursing is a fulfilling and rewarding career. I care for my patients from my heart. I love my patients and career more each day. I am a strong, confident, respected and competent leader.”
As an ER nurse, Buck has a different day every day. This kind of diversity “has brought extraordinary experiences to my career,” Buck said. “I will never take my nursing cap off as I walk out of the hospital; I will always help someone who is in need.”
She has transported a patient who was rejecting a new liver to Boston by plane; delivered a baby; pulled a patient out of the waiting room bathroom after an attempted suicide; performed CPR in a grass field for over an hour on an Army soldier after a serious motorcycle accident; and went to Stony Brook for 19 days during the pandemic to give relief to the overworked nurses.
But what she considers most important is her underlying traits that nursing has helped her develop.
“I am compassionate, respectful, adaptable, passionate for learning, have strong critical care skills and collaborate well with others,” Buck said.
She hopes that more people looking for a career or a career change view nursing as a diverse career for anyone, regardless of age, gender and current level of education. For one thing, nursing offers opportunities, from bedside care to community care, to teaching, to education and leadership.
Buck encourages anyone who is interested in nursing to “shadow at a healthcare facility to ensure nursing is the career you want,” she said. “Explore different schooling opportunities and whether you want bedside nursing or an advanced degree for nursing administration.”
Crouse Health nurses make a difference — to our patients, families, and our community.
We’re proud to honor them during Nurses Week — and every day — for their dedication, passion and commitment to the best in patient care.
Thank you for making every moment matter.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If your feet hurt, not much else matters. As you grow older, foot pain tends to worsen. Fortunately, you can reduce foot pain.
Chris Guzzi, doctor of physical therapy at Oswego Health, offered a few tips.
“The aging population generally becomes more sedentary as they age, which can lead to joint stiffness and weakness. Inactivity is correlated with loss of mobility and strength, just like the saying, ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it.’
“There are many ways to strengthen the feet without over-stressing the tissue and causing more pain, such as towel scrunches in the seated position to improve the musculature on the plantar aspect of the foot — intrinsic foot muscles. This helps provide the foot with improved arch support and stability surrounding the foot and ankle. Exercises that strengthen the ankle will also redistribute force through the joint and provide improved stability, such as using resistance bands in a seated position to work the ankle in different planes of motion.
“Another less-known principle is the importance of having good core-abdominal strength and good hip strength. Proximal stability
promotes distal mobility, meaning your extremities will function better if you have strong central support. Lateral hip strength plays a massive role in how the knees and ankles are positioned and strengthening these muscles can significantly improve the force distribution down the body’s kinematic chain into the ankles-feet.
“It is the same principle as the one mentioned above concerning disuse. Soft tissue extensibility decreases as we age, so it’s important to stretch to prevent excessive muscle-soft tissue tightness. Stretching also helps the joints to become looser, which also stiffens as we age due to arthritic-degenerative changes and loss of fluid within the joint spaces, in conjunction with a sedentary lifestyle. Gentle calf stretching in a seated or standing position can improve muscle tightness in the calf musculature and joint stiffness in the ankle-foot and help decrease pain over time.
“A good way to self-massage is to place a rolling pin or a soup can on the floor and roll the foot over it gently to massage the tissue and stimulate blood flow to the area to help warm-relax the soft tissue. This
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is beneficial for pain relief and is generally used as an adjunct to strengthening and stretching activities.
“Balance is another area that decreases as we age, dramatically impacting the elderly.
Training balance will help improve muscular control surrounding the ankle-foot, knee, hip and core-abdominal musculature. Improving the muscular power and stability surrounding these areas can help decrease pain over time, as the body will function more cohesively. Balance training also has an impact on decreasing falls in the older population. The CDC states, ‘In 2019, 83% percent of hip fracture deaths and 88% of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hip fractures
were caused by falls.’ Balance training can significantly reduce the risk of falling in the elderly population, which can help to decrease morbidity and mortality from injuries acquired from falling.
“Some movements are better than no movement. Starting slow and gradually increasing activity level is beneficial, but listening to the body is essential. If symptoms and soreness last more than a few days after activity, it likely indicates the activity is too much for the body to handle. Resting and taking breaks are OK. Too much activity can worsen pain, but too much rest will only worsen the issues, causing the pain to worsen. It’s all about finding balance with rest and activity.”
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Short of inventing a time machine and traveling back to your youth to start healthful habits, the best time to begin adopting healthful habits is now. It’s never too late to make changes that can improve your health.
“It’s never too late, even in your 70s or 80s, to take care of your health,” said geriatrician Sharon Brangman, on the faculty at SUNY Upstate Medical University. “Your body will always respond to things you’re doing to maintain health.”
The American Heart Association’s 2018 study “Impact of Healthy Lifestyle Factors on Life Expectancies in the US Population” looked at five different healthy lifestyle behaviors and drew correlations between total lifespan and the age at which people adopt these healthy behaviors. The study looked at how many years people would gain if they changed lifestyle behaviors.
1. Move more.
People who are active typically enjoy a better quality of life than
healthy can engage in activities such as walking, swimming and using fitness bands and weight machines.
“Probably the most important thing is exercise and movement,” said Brangman, who is also a distinguished service professor, chairwoman of geriatric medicine and director of the Upstate Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease.
“A lot of people cannot afford to get a personal trainer or join a gym but get some help in creating an exercise program.”
Many local gyms offer Silver Sneakers programs as part of Medicare coverage. Selecting an activity that’s enjoyable helps make it something you can stick with, according to Season Bonino, physical therapist and clinical associate professor at Nazareth University. Don’t just become a “weekend warrior.”
that you go to the gym and lift heavy weights and run on the treadmill. Just doing little things like standing while you fold laundry. Even that makes a difference.”
2. Kick the habit.
Tobacco products offer no benefit and cause tremendous harm.
“If you smoke, quit smoking,” said April Ho, lead dietitian at URMC’s Center for Community Health & Prevention. “Compared to individuals who smoked a pack a day — 15 to 24 cigarettes daily — those who quit smoking by age 65 lived on average 2.5 to 3 years longer.”
It’s better to completely eliminate sources of tobacco rather than shifting from cigarettes to vaping or from cigars to chew. No form of tobacco use is safe. The New York Quitline (www.nyssmokefree.com) can offer free resources that help.
closely they aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, those who achieved the highest quintile of adherence, the top 20% of participants by age 65 lived on average 3.5 years longer than those in the lowest quintile of adherence, the bottom 20%.”
Focus on whole foods, produce, lean sources of protein and healthful fats like those sourced from produce.
4. Eat less.
As people tend to become more sedentary in older adulthood, it’s easy to let pounds pile on. Cutting back on calories represents an effective strategy in weight management. A primary care provider can help set a good calorie range.
5. Hydrate sufficiently.
“What can you do every day in your house to keep you flexible and more mobile?” she asked. “Do 10 sit-to-stand movements one to two times per day as that helps with the strength in your legs.
3. Eat right.
9.75” WIDE X 6.69” HIGH
“Even if you’re home all day,
Your body relies on the right nutrients to rebuild damaged cells and ward off illness.
Drinking half your weight in ounces daily should provide enough hydration. A 150-pound person should drink 75 ounces of water, for example. Try livening it up with a splash of fruit juice. But try to minimize sugary and caloric beverages. Many older adults under-hydrate to
At Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY, you are never just a diagnosis or a number. We see you...the whole person, with passions, hopes, dreams, histories, and loved ones who share in your journey. From diagnosis, to treatment, to survivorship – our personalized care focuses on truly understanding and planning for your unique needs. We provide genuinely compassionate support, collaborating with you, your family, and caregivers every step of the way. Learn more about HOA today. We’ll see you and care for you – body, mind and spirit.
By Jim Miller
As auto insurance rates across the country continue to rise for all drivers, seniors can face an even bigger price hike, once they reach their 70s and their driving skills begin to decline.
Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce your premiums. To find out what discounts may be available to you, contact your auto insurer and inquire about these options.
• Increase your deductible: Paying a higher deductible could save you big on premiums. For example, raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can bring your annual premiums down by 15-20%, on average.
• Adjust your coverage: If you’re driving an older vehicle, you may want to consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage if your premium is more than 10% of the car’s value. Collision insurance covers damage to your car if you’re involved in a crash (or if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run) and com-
prehensive covers damage caused by acts of nature (such as storm damage), vandalism, theft or fire. But if you’re scaling back to liability coverage, make sure you have enough to pay for damages out of pocket if you’re in an accident or your car sustains damage due to weather, theft or another non-collision event.
discounts usually kick in when your annual milage drops below 7,500 or 10,000 depending on your provider.
• Bundle policies: If your auto insurance policy is issued by a different company from the one insuring your home, call each insurer and ask if bundling the policies would be cheaper.
workers’ unions, large employers or membership organizations such as AAA, NARFE, AARP, etc. You could even qualify for savings based on the college you attended or the fraternity or sorority you belonged to decades ago.
• Take a defensive driving course: Some insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts — between 5% and 15% — to drivers who take a refresher course to brush up on their safety skills. Organizations such as AARP (aarpdriversafety.org), AAA (aaa.com/stop) and The National Safety Council (nsc.org) provide these classes, for around $20 to $30 and they can be taken online.
• Sign up for driver monitoring: Some insurers offer discounts based on how and when you use your car. They will monitor things like your acceleration, braking habits, driving speeds and phone use, via smartphone app or a device that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port. Drivers can be rewarded anywhere from 10% to 30% for safe driving.
• Improve your credit: You may be able to lower your car insurance premium by paying your bills on time and reducing the amount of debt you carry. Insurers look at how their customers manage credit to get an idea of risk and to price policies. Better rates are given to those with good credit scores, typically 700 or above.
• Report your mileage: Most insurers offer discounts to customers who drive limited miles each year, which is usually beneficial to retirees who drive less because they don’t commute to work every day. These
In addition, many insurance providers also offer discounts to drivers who do not have any violations or accidents for three or more years.
• Ask about membership discounts: Many insurers offer discounts through professional associations,
• Comparison shop: To find out if your current premium is competitive with other insurers, shop around through insurance marketplace websites like TheZebra.com, Insurify. com, Lemonade.com or Policygenius. com. Or use an independent agent (see trustedchoice.com/agent) to help you compare.
FCMG reminds our senior patients to schedule an annual exam and stay in touch with your clinician afterwards! In addition to yearly physicals, we offer:
• Endocrinology, including diabetes testing, care and education
• Sleep lab and treatment of sleep disorders
• Clinical Programs (Chronic Care, Palliative Care, Intensive Care and Transitional Care Management)
• And so much more!
All provided in one of 30 comfortable, conveniently located, and family-friendly offices across CNY! Call 315.802.5178 or visit fcmg.org today!
Cardiovascular disease is a general term that refers to many different types of heart problems.
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. In fact, one American dies from heart disease every 33 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These are common types of heart disease and risk factors you need to keep in mind.
heartbeat)
Arrythmias are heart rhythms in which heartbeats are faster than normal (tachycardia), slower than normal (bradycardia) or skipped.
Doctors liken arrythmia to a mechanical malfunction: While it's usually not serious, it may sometimes be a sign of bigger issues.
Atherosclerosis is a common heart disease in which a fatty substance known as plaque builds up in your arteries.
Also known as hardening of the arteries, the condition develops as cholesterol, fat, blood cells and other contents accumulate in artery walls.
This causes the arteries to narrow, reducing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to tissues and organs in the body.
Atherosclerosis can lead to blood clots, chest pain, chronic kidney disease, as well as heart attack, aneurysm or stroke.
A heart attack is a life-threatening health emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. Also known as a myocardial infarction, a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood that brings oxygen to a part of the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked.
There is an urgent need to restore blood flow to the heart quickly. Otherwise, the heart may be deprived of oxygen, and the organ will begin to die.
Heart attacks are very common. As many as 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year, according to the CDC. That's why it's important to recognize the symptoms and react quickly. Major symptoms include chest pain, feeling weak or faint, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, one or both arms or shoulders and shortness of breath. Women may also have other symptoms, including
By Eva Briggs, MD
You may have heard our new secretary of health and human services touting vitamin A as a treatment for measles. It’s not effective unless the patient is deficient in vitamin A. So, what is vitamin A and what is its function?
Vitamins are molecules that the body requires in small quantities in order for metabolism to work properly. Scientists suspected a substance of some type was required for health as far back as 1819, when French physiologist François Magendie observed that malnourished dogs developed corneal ulcers and were at increased risk of death. Other scientists eventually identified and isolated the substance in the early 1900s and in 1920 it was named vitamin A. Vitamin A, along with vitamins D, E and K, is fat soluble. This means that dietary fat is required for its absorption. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is found in fish, meat and dairy products. Beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment found in plants, is a proto-vitamin. This means the body can convert it into the active form of vitamin A. Common sources are carrots, cantaloupe, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables and winter squash.
Dietary retinol is commonly attached to a fatty acid molecule,
tiredness that won't go away, nausea and vomiting.
Congestive heart failure, also known as heart failure, is a common heart problem in the U.S. Roughly 5.7 million Americans live with the disease, and 670,000 more cases are diagnosed each year, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
Congestive heart failure occurs when your heart muscle is too stiff, weak or damaged to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
It may come on suddenly or develop over time and can lead to other health problems, including liver or kidney damage and cardiac arrest.
A stroke is a permanent injury to the brain caused by the blockage or bursting of a blood vessel.
Those caused by a blockage are called ischemic strokes, and those caused when a blood vessel bursts are known as hemorrhagic strokes. Because they are treated differently, emergency doctors must work quickly to determine which type is happening when a patient has stroke symptoms.
Understanding the warning signs and acting fast are essential. Remember the acronym, FAST, which stands for face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, time to call 911.
For those who survive a stroke, most improve afterward, even though the injury it caused is permanent.
This is the most common type of heart disease in the U.S., according to the CDC.
Also known as coronary artery disease, this condition occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is limited because of plaque buildup caused by waxy cholesterol in the coronary artery walls.
For many people, its first sign is a heart attack. Other warning signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations and fatigue.
Causes for these heart-related diseases vary, but they are often linked to genetics, lifestyle and other illnesses.
Eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and using alcohol only in moderation or not at all are keys to preventing heart disease.
Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that heart disease may develop. Besides a family or personal history of heart disease, these include:
• Cholesterol or blood lipid problems
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Smoking, vaping or tobacco use By wire services
forming retinyl esters. Enzymes in the intestines break the retinyl esters back into the components: retinol plus a fatty acid molecule. Then the retinol passes into the body. Humans don’t have a mechanism to suppress absorption of excess vitamin A or to excrete the surplus in the urine. This is why too much vitamin A accumulates and reaches toxic levels. For example, polar bear liver contains very high concentrations of vitamin A. People have become sick with vitamin A excess after eating polar bear liver.
There are three syndromes associated with too much vitamin A. Acute vitamin A toxicity happens when someone consumes excessive vitamin A over a short period, commonly from supplements or highdose supplements. (Or rarely polar bear liver.) Symptoms include liver injury, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision and incoordination. Chronic vitamin A toxicity occurs when a patient takes in too much vitamin A over a prolonged period. This can happen either from dietary sources such as too much liver or from long-term use of vitamin A supplements. Symptoms include skin and nail damage, bone and joint pain, fatigue, enlarged liver and bone injury such as osteoporosis and hip
fractures. Birth defects, called teratogenesis, is the third syndrome of excess vitamin A. Affected children may have central nervous system defects, heart malformations, facial abnormalities and urinary tract issues.
The correct amount of vitamin A has many functions in the human body. It affects the eyes in two ways. Vitamin A is essential for synthesizing the pigments in the retina. An early sign of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Vitamin A is also important for the cells that form the surface of the conjunctiva and cornea. Vitamin A deficiency can cause corneal ulceration and blindness. Normal vitamin A levels promote immune function.
Low vitamin A levels can leave individuals susceptible to infectious diseases.
This is where the idea that vitamin A treats measles arises.
Yes, in areas where vitamin A
deficiency is common, supplementation helps patients combat measles. But vitamin A deficiency is rare in United States. Extra vitamin A won’t help those who are not deficient but too much lead to illness as described above. In fact, there have already been cases of children with vitamin A toxicity in Texas due to at-home attempts to treat measles. There is one thing proven to prevent measles. That’s vaccination.
From 2011–13 to 2020–22, stroke jumped by 14.6% among adults aged 18 to 44 years old and by 15.7% among people aged 45 to 64 years.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of long-term adult disability, according to the American Heart Association. Historically, the age of onset is usually 65-plus.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states in an online report that prevalence among younger patients is increasing.
From 2011–13 to 2020–22, stroke jumped by 14.6% among adults aged 18 to 44 and by 15.7% among people aged 45 to 64.
“This is especially alarming since stroke rates among the population overall is declining,” said physician Grahame Gould, board member with the American Heart Association and neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology at Upstate University Medical Center. “We don’t know exactly why this is occurring, but we have learned that, aside from regular stroke risk factors, young people also have increased stroke risk associated with non traditional risk factors like migraine headaches, heavy alcohol consumption, blood clotting disorders, autoimmune disease and kidney failure.
“Possibly, we are also seeing higher rates because of increased sedentary lifestyle and poor diet among younger populations who do not think about or learn about stroke, further putting them at risk because of under diagnosis and delayed
Why is the age for stroke patients skewing younger?
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
treatment.”
People can mitigate 90% of stroke risk by addressing modifiable conditions.
The CDC states that only 24.2% of adults who are currently 18 and older meet the physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity, compared with 31% in 2000. The National Institutes of Health states that US obesity rates have tripled over the past 60 years — and onset of obesity has shifted younger than ever.
Physician Fahed Saada, section chief of neurology at St. Joseph’s Health, said that tobacco use — especially vaping — is widespread among even teenagers.
“We’re seeing more young people with strokes, which challenges the notion that stroke is an older person’s condition,” he said.
Saada wants more providers to screen younger teens for tobacco use, drug use and vaping, as “research shows they harm their blood vessels, increase clotting and raise blood pressure,” he said. “Studies including a 2022 analysis from the American Medical Association have linked vaping to a significantly higher stroke risk compared with non users, sometimes surpassing regular cigarettes in some age ranges.”
He also noted that sedentary lifestyles and diets heavy in processed foods are shifting the timeline to earlier onset for higher stroke risk.
When these risk factors manifest earlier, the patient experiences higher risk for stroke earlier since the damage occurs earlier.
These effects are especially ruinous in that younger people remain unaware of the risk factors and they don’t seek routine healthcare like physicals.
“Many younger adults have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol — often without realizing it,” said Joshua Onyan, registered nurse and stroke program manager at Upstate University Hospital. “These conditions can silently damage blood vessels over time, increasing the risk of stroke.”
Why go to the doctor when you feel fine?
Most in this age range are busy launching careers and starting families.
“Many people work long hours at desks and don’t get enough physical activity,” Onyan said. “A lack of exercise can contribute to weight gain, high blood pressure and poor circulation, all of which increase stroke risk.”
To an extent, physicians look at other factors when younger adults experience stroke such as clotting disorders, autoimmune conditions (many of which tend to present during young adulthood) and pregnancy.
“While these cases are less common, they highlight the need
for awareness and early detection,” Onyan said.
Genetic factors can put people at higher risk. A study by the NIH in 2021 indicates that about half of the factors for stroke are non modifiable such as age and genetics and the other half are modifiable. Black people are at higher risk for experiencing
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m a divorced 68-year-old childless cat lady and have been thinking a lot lately about who will look after me when I get older and my health falters. What resources are available to solo seniors like me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person to be my emergency contact, as well as lookout for my health, financial matters and living arrangements in my elder years?
Solo Ager
This is a very common concern for the 22 million solo agers across the United States who don’t have adult children or other family they can depend on to watch out for their well-being. Here are some tips and resources that can help you plan ahead.
While older adults who have children or are married usually name offspring or spouses as proxies and decision makers, solo agers most often choose a sibling, niece or nephew or rely on a trusted friend or neighbor.
Whomever you choose, talk to them first to make sure they’re up for the task.
If, however, you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable with, or who is willing to take on that responsibility, you can hire someone.
One of the best resources for this is an aging life care manager.
These are trained professionals in the area of geriatric care who often have backgrounds in nursing or social work and can serve as your emergency contact, oversee your care and even act as your executor. They can also connect you with professional legal and financial services in your area that can help you manage your affairs.
Aging life care managers typically charge anywhere from $100 to $300 an hour, depending on their location and experience. To search for an expert near you, visit aginglifecare.org.
If you can’t afford this, there are other reliable sources you can turn to for specific help. For example, if you haven’t already done so, you need to prepare a basic estate plan (including a power of attorney, advance directive and a will) to ensure your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated and when you die.
To help you prepare these documents, your best option is to hire an experienced estate planning attorney, which can cost anywhere between
$500 and $2,000. He or she may also be able to act as your power of attorney or executor, or help you locate a professional in your area that can.
To locate someone, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (naepc. org) have online directories to help you search.
If you need help with bill-paying there are services like SilverBills (silverbills.com), or you can work with a daily money manager (aadmm. com) who, in addition to paying bills, can handle tasks like balancing your checkbook and organizing tax information. And to help you navigate care and senior housing options there are certified senior advisors (csa.us).
It’s also a good idea to meet with a financial adviser to help figure out what services and living arrangements you can afford and what steps you can take to ensure that your financial resources last your lifetime. If you don’t have an adviser, you can find a fee-only, fiduciary financial planner trough the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors at napfa.org.
Some other helpful resources you can turn to include Aging Alone Together (dorotusa.org/agingalonetogether), a program offered by DOROT, which is a nonprofit social services organization that provides practical ways to help solo agers prepare for the future. They are offering a free, six-session virtual workshop (offered weekly) via Zoom starting April 24th.
Also see Navigating Solo (navigatingsolo.com), a national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo-ager groups in the U.S.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
You can take steps to reduce risks. It’s not that complicated, say experts
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Age and genetics play part in your stroke risk. However, you can help mitigate even an elevated stroke risk with lifestyle modifications.
Physician Fahed Saada, section chief of neurology at St. Joseph’s Health, recommends the Mediterranean style eating, which includes plenty of produce, cooking with olive oil instead of butter, whole grains instead of white and focusing on chicken, fish and other white meat instead of red meat.
“Eat fewer fried foods which cause hardening of the arteries,” Saada said. “No excessive red wine and moderation in everything.”
Ultra processed, prepackaged foods typically contain elevated levels of sodium, which raises risk of high blood pressure, a stroke precursor. Too much alcohol raises blood pressure.
Saada also encourages avoiding
sugary beverages. Check the nutrition facts on labels for a food or beverage’s sodium and sugar content.
Moving also matters.
“All you need is 20 minutes of walking five days a week to get your heart going and start a healthy lifestyle,” Saada said. “As soon as you commit yourself to a specific focus, a little aerobic activity will go a long way versus going to the gym and committing yourself to going to the gym. People live a busy lifestyle.”
Take a walk during your lunch break and another with the family after dinner. Perform strength training movements a few times per week.
Sleep also factors into stroke risk.
“Sleep is incredibly important,” he added. “Make sure you get adequate sleep, about seven hours. Get good sleep. If you are snoring and obese, you have to be evaluated for a sleep study to make sure you don’t have obstructive sleep apnea.
Get treated for it; it’s an indicator for stroke. You deprive your brain of oxygen with sleep apnea.”
Unmanaged, chronic stress can by extension raise stroke risk. Saada said that the constant elevated cortisol level is linked to cardiovascular disease, even in people who are young.
Exercise can help reduce stress, along with other forms of self-care. Take time to engage in pleasurable activity daily, along with taking vacation time off from work.
Weight affects stroke risk.
“Obesity — BMI of 30-plus — is linked to a two- to four-fold increase in stroke risk,” said physician Wendy Scinta, medical director at Medical Weight Loss of New York in Fayetteville. “Losing just 5% to 10% of your weight can significantly reduce this risk.”
Knowing your numbers can help keep track of your stroke risk. Blood pressure is “super important,” said physician Grahame Gould, board member with the American Heart Association, and neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology at Upstate University Medical Center. “High blood pressure is a killer and it is so common. Our doctors can also help us control our blood cholesterol levels and treat
other medical problems that increase stroke risk.”
Clots traveling through blood vessels to the brain cause strokes. Plaque inside blood vessels can cause clots when the plaque breaks free. Unmanaged diabetes and high cholesterol can contribute to stroke risk because these “can harm your blood vessels,” said Joshua Onyan, registered nurse and stroke program manager at Upstate University Hospital. “Work with your doctor to manage them.”
The aforementioned Mediterranean diet can help reduce cholesterol by up to 20% but may not be enough to make a difference for older people, those who have had a stroke or heart attack or people with other risk factors. Prescribed medication can help.
Unmanaged type 2 diabetes can also raise stroke risk, as it increases plaque in the blood vessels. Controlling Type 2 diabetes through proper diet and exercise, along with any prescribed medication can help reduce the patient’s stroke risk.
Another lifestyle factor is smoking.
“Smoking damages blood vessels and increases stroke risk,” Onyan said. “If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting.”
Originally touted as safer and even a means of cessation, vaping is neither of these.
n Baseline and monitoring testing for chemotherapy and other hearing – harmful medications
n Hearing measurements for personal (medical, communication) or occupational (OSHA, DOT, law enforcement) purposes.
n Hearing protection counseling and devices for loud recreational (music listening, hunting, motor sports, landscaping) and occupational (professional musicians, fire and police personnel) activities.
n Hearing aid selection, fittings and repairs
n Tinnitus evaluations and treatment.
n If you have any questions or concerns regarding your hearing or how to protect it.
Christopher Community, Inc.
Eysaman (CCI) recently appointed Jeffrey Eysaman as its new president and chief sxecutive officer. With a distinguished background in nonprofit leadership and community development, Eysaman brings a strong passion for service, innovation and strategic growth to his new role at the helm of the Syracuse-based affordable housing non profit organization.
Eysaman most recently served as executive director of the Thomas M. Menino YMCA in Boston (2024–2025), following leadership roles with the YMCA of Central New York, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse, and Peaceful Schools.
His achievements include being a TEDx speaker at Onondaga Community College in 2018; receiving the NYS Senate Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Civic Virtue from Senator Rachel May in 2019; and graduating from the LeadForward Leadership Program (2022) and the YMCA of the USA Emerging Global Leaders Institute (2023).
As president and chief executive officer, Eysaman will oversee the overall management, operations,
Crouse Medical Practice continues to grow in E. Syracuse, with the expansion of the endocrinology and cardiology suites at 5000 Brittonfield Parkway.
and strategic direction of Christopher Community. He will lead the organization in executing its mission and vision, promoting growth and sustainability, and ensuring financial health and operational efficiency across more than 70 properties and 3,300 housing units.
Eysaman and his family reside in the Strathmore neighborhood in the city of Syracuse. He lives there with his wife, Deka, and their two sons, Max (8) and Micah (2). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from The College of Saint Rose.
Oswego Health recently
announced the appointment of Andrea Doviak as The Manor’s new executive director and administrator at Seneca Hill. In her new role, the registered nurse will assume responsibility for directly overseeing The Manor’s 120-bed skilled nursing facility, ensuring that the high standard of resident care and services remains a top priority.
Under her leadership, Oswego Health is committed to maintaining its reputation for providing exceptional care in a compassionate, pa-
tient-centered environment. Doviak served as interim executive director and administrator from August to November 2022 and from February 2025 until now.
Doviak joined Oswego Health in April 2022 as a clinical registered nurse, and since then, she has proven herself to be a reliable, capable and dedicated leader.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Roberts Wesleyan College and has been a licensed RN since 1995. She earned her nursing home administrator license in 2015.
Before joining Oswego Health, Doviak was the administrator and director of nursing at Morningstar Care Center.
ConnextCare recently welcomed
mental health counselor Susan Valazza to its growing team of mental health providers. Valazza will work out of the of the schoolbased health center at APW Elementary School.
“ConnextCare is thrilled to add a mental health provider within the school-based health center program,” stated Tricia Peter Clark, President and CEO at ConnextCare.
“Susan will be an invaluable resource for the students in the APW district and truly enhance our ability to support students and their families with the highest level of care, expertise and compassion.”
ConnextCare offers school-based
services in six school districts within Oswego County.
Nascentia Health recently announced its recognition as the 13th best company to work for in New York in 2025, as ranked by Best Companies Group.
Best Companies Group evaluates organizations across the state based on company culture, employee satisfaction, benefits and workplace policies through a comprehensive employee survey and organizational assessment. Since 2004, the program has spotlighted top employers committed to creating positive work environments.
“I’m incredibly proud of all that our team has accomplished over the past year. Being recognized among the top companies to work for in New York is an honor,” said Cheryl Manna, chief operating officer of Nascentia Health. “We’ve made it our mission to deliver care where it’s needed most — right in the comfort of our patients’ homes. This achievement is a direct reflection of the compassionate, personalized care our dedicated staff provides every day. As we look ahead, we remain committed to setting the standard for excellence and innovation in homebased health care.”
In addition to its top 15 Best Companies to Work for in New York ranking, Nascentia Health also received the 2025 Spirit Award. Nascentia Health is one of Central New York’s largest home healthcare agencies, offering in-home skilled nursing and therapies and home health aides.
• Crouse Medical Practice – Endocrinology is in a brand-new space, moving all endocrinology providers and staff into one 7,500 square foot location. This will support the continued growth of this service line.
• Crouse Medical Practice –Cardiology has expanded the current office at Brittonfield to support the
addition of new providers and staff. The new office is nearly twice the size and includes a new space for additional stress test and echocardio gram studies.
Learn more about endocrinology and cardiology at Crouse Medical Practice at crousemed.com.
CMP offers primary care and specialty care out of 19 locations throughout Central New York. In addition to primary care, clinical ser vices offered through CMP include general surgery; cardiology; OBGYN; endocrinology; pulmonology; neurosurgery; neurovascular; diabe tes care; stroke care; bariatric; mater nal fetal medicine; plastic surgery.
Crouse Hospital’s community engagement team provides hands-on CPR training to SU Football Coach Fran Brown and members of his football staff.
“With 100 team players and 50plus staff members, we all need to be equipped to do this at any moment,” says Coach Brown.
May 3, 10, 24
The Memory Care Corral has started up again at a new location at Sunshine Horses on Verplank Road in Clay. This innovative program provides the Central New York community with therapeutic equine activities for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers.
Guided sessions with horses provide both the individual with dementia and the caregiver with therapeutic, non riding activities. No horse handling experience is necessary. These 60-to-90-minute sessions enable both participants to better communicate and support each other. Both the individual with memory loss and the caregiver can experience reduced isolation, depression and stress. Research has shown that the human-horse connection helps participants feel relaxed, confident, and happy.
The Memory Care Corral program has been the outcome of a collaboration of several organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for those with memory loss and their caregivers. The training of volunteers has been provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York chapter. Start-up funding has been provided by the Athelda Fund, a family fund dedicated to enabling individuals living with dementia to remain at home and engaged in their community for as long as possible.
The spring sessions are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays at Sunshine Horses, 3721 Verplank Road in Clay in the following days: May 3, 10, 24, June 7 and 21.
All sessions are for both the individual with memory loss and their caregiver.
Sessions are $10 per person ($20 per session for the two participants). Pre-registration is requested by emailing sunshinehorsesinc@gmail. com or calling 315-453-9380 and leaving a message or going to the events page at www.sunshinehorses.org.
May 7
HOA sponsors forum on women’s cancer prevention, treatment
Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA) presents an educational forum on women’s cancer, prevention and treatment from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. The presentation takes place at HOA’s office at 5008 Brittonfield Parkway in East Syracuse. It is free and open to the public with a light dinner served at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required at hoacny.com/news-events or 315472-7504, extension 1303.
HOA experts in women’s cancer
will lead the forum. They are medical oncologists Iqra Choudary, Santosh Kumar and Anita Pudusseri.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a discussion with the presenters. Additionally, representatives from local cancer support organizations and medical practices caring for women’s cancers will staff information tables for attendees.
“Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. Hosting a community education seminar on women’s cancer prevention and treatment is an opportunity to empower individuals with the information they need to take proactive steps toward better health,” said HOA CEO Jennifer Pichoske. “Early detection and prevention can save lives, and we are committed to ensuring that every woman has access to the latest research, resources, and support to make informed decisions about her well-being.”
Elmcrest Children’s Center announced the debut of its newest youth development initiative, the H.E.A.T. theater program (Highly Empowered Amazing Talent)—a transformative experience that uses the power of the performing arts to build confidence, leadership and self-expression in young people.
As part of Elmcrest’s 180th anniversary celebration, youth participating in the H.E.A.T. program will premiere an original dinner theater production May 10, at Elmcrest’smain campus (960 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse). The evening will begin with a four-course Italian dinner at 5 p.m. followed by a performance at 5:30 p.m.—both created and led entirely by Elmcrest youth.
The H.E.A.T. program is more than just a performance—it’s a platform for growth. Youth involved in the program have taken on every role in the production, from writing and acting to costume design and stage management. Through this immersive experience, participants are developing communication skills, emotional awareness, teamwork, and the courage to share their stories in front of a live audience.
“Theater has a powerful way of unlocking potential,” said Diane Nappa, executive director of Elmcrest. “The H.E.A.T. program gives our youth the opportunity to be seen, heard, and celebrated. It’s not just about putting on a show—it’s about showing them that their voice matters.”
Tickets are now available to the public for $20 per person or $50 for a family four-pack. This project is made possible with funds from the Tier Three Project Support program, a regrant program of the County of Onondaga with the support of the
county executive and administered by CNY Arts and other generous donors.
For tickets or to learn more, visit https://elmcrest.org/theatreprogram.
The Central New York Area Health Education Center (CNYAHEC) is presenting the screening of “All the Lonely People” from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, May 12, at Kallet Theater, 4842 Jefferson St., Pulaski. Filmmakers and local stakeholders will be in attendance. The public is invited to attend the free screening.
The film follows a handful of people from different walks of life as they overcome social isolation and chronic loneliness, a condition that is affecting millions more of people after COVID-19. The documentary includes the stories of New York residents Ari Rossen and Tony Westbrook living in an urban area. Another cast member, Mary Hill, an 89-year-old caregiver in Shropshire, England, faces isolation in the rural countryside. The film includes teenager Khiloud Alegab who at one point stayed isolated in her room for weeks at a time.
“Those are just a few of the people who I personally identified with as I dealt with my own loneliness.” says, Stu Maddux, the director of the film.
Researchers believe the effects of loneliness on our health are as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The added stress of feeling alone increases heart disease and even earlier onset of dementia.
For more information on how to attend please visit: https://linktr.ee/ CNYAHEC, then select the “All The Lonely People” tab.
The CNY Senior Housing & Information Expo, presented by Wel care and Velocity Clinical Research, is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, May 22, at the CNY Regional Market F-Shed. The event brings together over 60 vendors offering information and resources for people over 55 and their families.
The provides an opportunity for individuals to explore a variety of services and housing options available for seniors in Central New York. Attendees will have access to a wide range of experts and professionals from various fields, including senior housing, healthcare, financial planning, Medicare insurance, and more.
The event, sponsored by Community Living Advocates, will also feature live music, door prizes and giveaways.
The CNY Senior Housing & Information Expo is free to attend and open to the public.
For more information, visit www. communitylivingadvocates.com/seniorhousingexpo2025.
Central New York Lyme & TickBorne Disease Alliance is sponsoring its Legs Against Lyme Walk at 10. a.m., May 31, at the Long Branch Park in Liverpool.
The event is designed to raise awareness for Lyme disease and raise funds that directly support efforts in research, education and patient support. According to the nonprofit the challenges of Lyme and other tickborne diseases extend beyond initial treatment. Persistent and often debilitating symptoms can significantly affect daily life.
The organization urges people, while enjoying the outdoors, to use an effective tick repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and conduct thorough tick checks after any time spent outside. If you find a tick or develop symptoms like a rash, fever or unexplained fatigue, don’t delay in seeking medical attention.
Visit https://cnylymealliance. org to learn more about how you can get involved, volunteer and register for the walk.
Local cancer survivors and their caregivers will take the celebratory first lap at the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Central NY presented by Upstate Cancer Center at Delta Lake State Park in Rome on Saturday, June 14. However, local survivors are encouraged to register now to receive their free cancer survivor T-shirt by mail prior to the event.
Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers are encouraged to join the celebration at Relay For Life. As the survivors walk, other participants will cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. Each cancer survivor also receives a free commemorative T-shirt by mail, as well as other gift items the day of the Relay.
The Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals come together to honor, celebrate, and raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer. Money raised will help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver and would like to be part of the Relay For Life event, you are urged to pre-register for free by visiting RelayForLife.org/CNY or simply call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 and tell them you want to walk the survivor lap at your local event. Your T-shirt will then be mailed to you after you register. There is no charge to the survivor for the shirt or the postage. There is also no charge to enter Delta Lake State Park for Relay participants or supporters.
Hybrid Nurse Aide Training Program ELEMENTAL MANAGEMEN OUP
Hybrid Nurse Aide Training Program ELEMENTAL MANAGEMENT GROUP
Hybrid Nurse Aide Training Program ELEMENTAL MANAGEMENT GROUP
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Equip your facility with our unstoppable HYBRID CNA program, empower your team to deliver top-notch care with the strength of a champion.
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Are you looking to improve morale by increasing your direct care PPD? Reach out to us to hear more
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Are you looking to captivate and motivate the newer generation by offering unique and rewarding training opportunities?
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Are you looking to captivate and motivate the newer generation by offering unique and rewarding training opportunities? Look no further contact us today
CONTACT:
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Peg Reith BSN, RN
Phone: 315-529-3267
Phone: 315-529-3267
CONTACT:
Email: CNA_Training@elementalmgt.com
Email: CNA_Training@elementalmgt.com
Peg Reith BSN, RN
Phone: 315-529-3267
Email: CNA_Training@elementalmgt.com
Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY, is proud to be a Magnet® hospital.
This prestigious recognition honors Bassett’s commitment to nursing excellence and community. At Bassett Healthcare Network, we deeply value nurses – as caregivers, as leaders, and as innovators.
Thank you to our extraordinary nurses – this Nurses Week and always!
Be part of something bigger. Bassett.org/careers