Crossroads Magzine Healthy Living 2018

Crossroads 2018 Healthy Living

Magazine

Youngster doesn’t let health issues get him down

Living Free Healthy Medical Clinic keeps serving others

MRHC nutritionist offers tips for a healthier you

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CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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Crossroads

What's Inside

Magazine

Calendar of Events - Page 7

A Daily Corinthian Publication | Healthy Living 2018

Simple steps can boost heart health - Pages 9, 13

EDITORIAL Publisher Reece Terry

Getting on track, staying on track - Pages 10, 11

Editor Mark Boehler

Solutions for a better night’s sleep - Pages 20-31

Contributors Mark Boehler Becky Sharpe Metro Services Bobby L. Smith Zack Steen L.A. Story

Nine-year-old’s health issues don’t get him down - Pages 22-25 Good health remains an investment - Pages 27-29

ADVERTISING Advertising Director Tom Tiernan Sales Representatives Derinda Nunley Barb Smith

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Creative Designer Marissa Ferreira

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Crossroads Magazine is published by the Daily Corinthian, 1607 Harper Road, Corinth, MS. A complimentary 10,000 issues are distributed in the Crossroads area. The contents of Crossroads Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without consent of the publisher. Crossroads Magazine shall not be held liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical or publication errors. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertsing and to alter advertising copy or graphics deemed unacceptable for publications. For additional copies of Crossroads Magazine, contact the Daily Corinthian at 662-287-6111.

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On the Cover

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calendar february/ march/april

1

FEBRUARY

Delta Waterfowl Banquet, Crossroads Arena, 5:30 p.m.

1-6

Corinth TheatreArts presents “The Wizard of Oz”, Crossroads Playhouse

3 10

Corinth Symphony Orchestra

Mother & Son Carnival, Franklin Courtyard, 6 p.m.

Kiwanis Father-Daughter Ball, Crossroads Arena, 6 p.m.

Shoals Community Theatre, Florence

16 23-24

Mickey Gilley & Johnny Lee in concert, Corinth Coliseum, 7 p.m.

24 2

Mega Monster Mania 2K18, Crossroads Arena

Miss Corinth Pageant, Corinth Coliseum, 3 p.m.

MARCH Travis Tritt in concert, Kiwanis Father-Daughter Ball

3 24 10

Corinth Symphony Orchestra presents An Evening in Old Vienna, Corinth Coliseum, 7 p.m.

24 Pioneer Day, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo

APRIL 17th annual Photo Contest submission deadline, Crossroads Museum

19-21

Shiloh: The First Great Battle of the Civil War, Shiloh National Military Park

21 13-14 29-30 www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Museum Alive!, Crossroads Museum TN River BBQ & Music Fest, Green Acres RV Resort, Savannah 17th annual Photo Contest exhibit, Crossroads Museum

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Simple steps can boost heart health Heart disease is a formidable foe.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 800,000 deaths every year. The Government of Canada notes that heart disease is the second leading cause of death in that country, annually accounting for tens of thousands of deaths. (Note: Canada’s population is slightly more than one-tenth the population of the United States.)

While heart disease exacts a devastating toll on the United States and Canada, its reach extends far beyond North America, as the American College of Cardiology notes that cardiovascular disease accounts for 31 percent of all deaths across the globe.

In spite of the prevalence of heart disease, men and women are not helpless against it. In fact, there are many ways for men and women to

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reduce their risk for heart disease.

1. Maintain a healthy weight.

The American Heart Association reports that between 60 and 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Carrying around extra weight takes a toll on the body, increasing a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. Overweight or obese men and women can work with their physicians to develop a plan for effective, long-term weight loss, a plan that will likely include a combination of diet and routine exercise.

2. Understand and manage blood pressure.

The AHA notes that high blood pressure, a common condition affecting roughly one in three Americans, is often referred to as “the silent killer” because it does not necessarily produce symptoms. Blood pressure measures the force pushing outward Please see HEART | 13

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Renew commitment to becoming a healthier you

BY BECKY SHARPE FOR CROSSROADS MAGAZINE It’s another new year and I’m here again to plead my case for why you should renew your commitment to becoming a healthier you.

My advice may be different than what you see on the latest magazine or talk show. I’m not going to tell you about the number one food you should avoid, or the magic superfood that will boost your metabolism.

Those kinds of promises sell magazines, but if they offered longterm health benefits, believe me, we’d all be doing them. I’m going to tell you what you already know.

Good nutrition and good health is about adopting simple, everyday habits in which you can stick. This means honoring your lifestyle, tastebuds and habits in a way that nourishes and takes care of your body. There are so many messages out there, many of which make us want to criticize and punish our own bodies. Before you dig into those body torturing exercise rouPA G E 1 0

tines or restrictive diets, I want you to think about these few things.

Unless you have a medical necessity, it is not a good idea to cut out entire food groups. As a registered dietitian, I am obligated to provide diet advice backed by credible research. You may find headlines touting the amazing or devastating health effects of one certain ingredient or another, but often that research is based on a small number of subjects, or even on mice, and there is not enough evidence to support changing your own habits.

There are many diets that suggest you should drastically reduce or cut out carbs, fat or meats.

These diets all work the same say, by creating a calorie deficit. You will lose weight initially, in the form of water and muscle. Unfortunately, once you’ve had enough and decide you need a slice of pizza, the weight will come back quicker than ever.

The reason is that lean tissue, i.e. muscle mass, is your body’s metabolism booster. When you lose muscle, your metabolism slows down and you gain weight more quickly than before.

That’s not to say there’s nothing you can do. In general, a healthy diet includes all food groups in great variety. Focus on adding more non-starchy vegetables, choosing proteins that are lean and low sodium, choosing dairy that is low-fat, and choosing more whole grain/ high fiber foods than simple carbohydrates. Avoid “drinking” your calories in the form of sugar sweetened beverages, juice, alcohol or coffee creamers. Focus on noticing when you are hungry and full. Make eating an enjoyable, social occasion by bringing the family together for a meal at the table, no television or CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

phones. Instead of preparing your “diet” meal that you eat while everyone has something else, why not serve a healthy meal everyone can enjoy?

Avoid punishing your body with restrictions or negative self-talk.

Ideally, you want to have a positive relationship with food, one that allows you to enjoy food, without using it as an emotional crutch or restricting it to the point of feeling deprived. We all have times when life becomes busy and stressful, making us more likely to reach for convenience high-calorie foods. In order to combat these moments of weakness, I recommend manipulating your food environment so the healthier choice becomes the easiest. Look at your home, your cupboard, your counters, your desk at work. Do you have candy or chips within plain sight?

How about fruit?

Place the healthier choices in places where you will see them, while hiding away the foods in which you want to eat less.

When you need more specific nutrition information, please seek validated sources, such as Eatright. org, The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association, or the assistance of a registered dietitian. If you need a specific roadmap to get on track, I recommend looking into the Dash Diet or the Mediterranean diet.

Both are reasonable, well balanced, and provide a sustainable, longterm eating pattern that promotes www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

Getting on track, staying on track

heart health and weight management. Meal tracking apps and weighing weekly are also great ways to stay on track.

Whether you have a clean bill of health or have been diagnosed with a chronic illness, it is important to invest in your health just as surely as you would invest in your retirement plan. There should be www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

no “end goal” when it comes to your health.

It’s not about the numbers on the scale or comparisons to some CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

sort of imagined ideal.

This year, find physical activity that brings you joy, foods that nourish your body and focus on enjoying life, not obsessing over perfection.

(Becky Sharpe is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Dietition at Magnolia Regional Health Center.)

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HEART CONTINUED FROM 9

on the walls of blood vessels as they carry blood oxygen to the body’s organs, and the force created as the heart rests between beats. Over time, the arterial walls of people with high blood pressure may become stressed and develop weak spots or scarring that makes them vulnerable to the buildup of plaque. Plaque buildup can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke. Blood pressure can rise as a person ages, so managing blood pressure involves routinely checking it and making certain changes, such as eating healthier foods and exercising more often, if it is high.

3. Control cholesterol levels.

High levels of low-density lipoprotein, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, can increase a person’s risk for heart disease. The AHA notes that excessive amounts of cholesterol

can be deposited into the arteries as plaque. When that happens, it leads to a condition known as atherosclerosis, or a narrowing of the inside of the artery walls. That narrowing leads to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Men and women should get their cholesterol levels checked at least once every four to six years beginning at age 20. Men and women who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol should recognize that cholesterol is only found in animal products, so a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in animal products can provide a simple way for men and women to lower their cholesterol. A more thorough and detailed plan to lower cholesterol levels should be discussed with a physician.

More information about heart disease and how to combat it can be found at www.heart.org.

In spite of the prevalence of heart disease, men and women are not helpless against it. In fact, there are many ways for men and women to reduce their risk for heart disease.

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Community volunteers make local free medical clinic work

BY L.A. STORY FOR CROSSROADS MAGAZINE Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic began as one retired doctor’s desire to help others, but it took a community to make it happen.

And, it to takes a community to keep it running.

The Living Free Medical Clinic first opened in 2014. The idea of a free clinic was driven by retired Corinth physician, Dr. Tom Sweat, now in his early nineties, who still sees patients.

All of the staff -- both licensed

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and unlicensed medical professionals -- and clerical staff, are volunteers.

“All these people here ... they all come because they are dedicated to helping people ... and they have the heart for being servants and giving to other people. That is what it takes and I’m sure that is what motivated Dr. Sweat to do this. Here he sits with the ability to heal and cure. He could go home and sit for the rest of his life and not do this, but he chooses at the age of 91 to push himself down here to do it,” said Living Free Medi-

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

cal Clinic board member Ann White.

The clinic was created to help people who have no health insurance, no medicaid, no medicare and no other payer source.

The need for help is readily apparent.

On a recent visit to the facility, located at 2601 Getwell Road, one can clearly see the need. The waiting room was already full by 12:45 p.m. as the clinic functions on a first come, first served basis.

Moving past the triage area, the clerical and medical vol-

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Opposite page Free medical clinic founder Tom Sweat, M.D., talks with his daughter, Anne Sweat Thompson, M.D. at the clinic.

Thompson practices family medicine in Johnson City, Tenn. and returns to Corinth to volunteer at the clinic.

Photos by Mark Boehler

unteers rushed past each other with quick greetings as they get ready for an exhausting four hours.

“Most of the time we come out of here barely dragging,” said Ann Carroll, R.N. The twinkle in her eye reveals that she loves what she does. She looked ready to jump into action when the first patient was to be called.

Pre-med student Amy Madjlesi was pulling patient charts as she prepared to follow the doctor around as he saw patients. The student is a medical anthropologist, who lives and works in the Memphis area. She has been going back to college in preparation to go to medical school. She volunteered to learn with Dr. Sweat. She chose to volunteer at the free clinic for specific reasons.

“Primary care is so different. Every patient is different so you never know what’s going to

come in the door. It’s a good learning experience because there’s such a wide variety of things,” said Madjlesi.

A staff member goes into the waiting room just before the first patient is called and leads everyone in a prayer.

Then, the already busy clinic, gets a great deal busier.

The clinic is only open on the second Wednesday and the fourth Saturday of the month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Board member Ann Walker has been part of the clinic from the beginning.

“The way it started was, when Dr. Sweat retired, I retired. We were just having a conversation one day. I was working with the Easom Outreach Foundation and Dr. Sweat had been talking to people around town about the need for care for people who didn’t have health

Volunteer Amy Madjlesi checks a patient file at the free clinic. A pre-med major at the University of Memphis, the Corinth native volunteers at the free clinic.

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insurance.

“At Easom, we were trying to do some outreach programs and as part of our program, we wanted to do something like a family resource center where we would do health coaching, but we knew if we got into that we would need a physician component to it,” Walker explained.

She, Sweat and the Easom Foundation put their heads together.

“He wanted it to be a place that was a central location with easy access and that fit in with Easom’s plans for start up of new nonprofits to give them a place to stay.

Kind of incubating new start ups.

So, therein became the partnership between the Easom Foundation and the Healthy Living Free Clinic,” said Walker.

She said in the beginning they began to pull together details such as what days the facility would be open, what the hours of operation would be and what kind of volunteers would be needed.

“We called up on a lot of people who previously worked at the hospital, and people who had a lot of organizational skills, that’s how we got Ann White. We knew she had exceptional organizational skills. We got licensed volunteers

and unlicensed volunteers and had to get training for both ... and then there was the paperwork,” said Walker.

“The first time I knew about Dr. Sweat’s idea ... well, you know how he is ... he looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’ve got a job for you,’” White recalled with a laugh.

The clinic would — and still does — need funding.

In the beginning, Walker said the clinic received some funding from the CARE Foundation, some seed money from Easom Foundation and from the Magnolia Regional Health Center Foundation. She said United Way was

Right College pre-med major Amy Madjlesi prepares for the day at the free clinic with patient advocate Gene Jackson.

Opposite page Northeast Mississippi Community College pre-med student Matt Wood gets some advice from Dr. Tom Sweat during the free medical clinic.

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instrumental in helping them get started in the beginning, but the clinic did not become a United Way agency for a variety of reasons and they moved away from that organization, but she expressed gratitude for their help with the clinic’s inception.

“As you can see, there were a lot of community partners who got us started ... and there are those who keep us going. A lot of our funding is through Magnolia Hospital Foundation and private donations,” said Walker.

She added that MRHC was also good for providing some x-ray and lab services, but the

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clinic staff does try to get the patients on the hospital’s charity program. Dr. Patrick Tucker provided the use of their current facility and generously provides some other services, she said.

“At first we were not a legit non-profit and operated under the Easom Foundation nonprofit status, but with the help of (attorney) Bill Davis, we were able to write and get our own 501(c)(3) designation as a nonprofit,” said Walker.

While they do want to be a teaching resource to the community, they find themselves treating a wide variety of pa-

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

tients.

“A large part of our patient population has chronic conditions — even though they do come in for acute conditions and symptoms like cold, flu, inner ear problems — we primarily manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure, hypertension and diabetes,” said Walker.

However, they do manage to teach healthy lifestyles wherever they can, Carroll pointed out.

“Most people who have chronic illnesses — like diabetics — know just about as much about their illness as we do. For those who may be newly diabetic, or

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Healthy Living Free Clinic voluteers (from left) Michelle Pettigrew, C.L.P.N.; Ann Carroll, R.N.; and Micaela Sanders, R.N. get ready for a Saturday afternoon to see patients. not familiar with being diabetic, we try to do diabetic teaching, we also do some diet teaching and healthy heart teaching.

“We teach them how to use the blood glucose monitors, help them understand the importance of watching their blood pressure and their blood sugar and what to eat ... We try to do that for everybody,” said Carroll.

Criteria for those using the clinic include: • Services will be provided to people with no health insurance, no Medicare, no Medicaid and other payer source.

• Services are provided on a firstcome, first-serve basis and no appointments will be taken.

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The clinic will see adults and children — 12 years and older.

All service providers in the clinic are volunteers.

The clinic is open on the second Wednesday and the fourth Saturday of the month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The clinic staff and the board all projected a firm sense of dedication, but there was also a sense of the wistful. They have hopes people will continue to send donations to help the clinic continue to do its work — taking care of those with no health insurance.

Walker and White expressed their greatest hope — there will be more physicians who will come forward to help take on the responsibility as CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Sweat has. They said there have been several area physicians who have helped from time to time, but they hope there will be some who will make it his or her mission like Sweat has done.

“In a perfect world, we would love to see more physician involvement in the free clinic. It’s a special work and I hope to see it go on for a long time,” said Walker.

(Donations to the Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic are tax deductible. For those who would like to donate to the clinic, donations may be made to: Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic c/o Martha Sharpe, 2601 Getwell Rd., Suite 3, Corinth, Miss.

38834.) www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

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Simple solutions for a better night’s sleep

Sufficient sleep can have a dramatic, positive impact on a person’s quality of life. Developing a good sleep routine and employing additional strategies can help sleep-deprived men and women get more restful nights’ sleep.

The importance of a good night’s sleep is well-documented. Numerous studies have found that the effects of a good night’s sleep go beyond boosting energy levels and improving alertness. A better sex life, less chronic pain and an improved mood are just a handful of the documented benefits that a good night’s sleep can provide.

As important and beneficial as sleep is, many adults in the United States simply aren’t getting enough rest. A 2016 study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than one-third of American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. Those findings are based on guidelines

from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society that recommend adults between the ages of 18 and 60 sleep at least seven hours each night.

Getting a more restful night’s sleep requires concerted efforts on the part of adults who are falling short of seven hours each night. But the following are some simple ways for adults to start getting more rest.

• Stick to a routine seven days a week. People tend to alter their sleep routines based on the day of the week, with many going to bed later at night and sleeping in later in the morning on weekends.

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COVER STORY

Nine-year-old’s health issues don’t keep him down

H

BY ZACK STEEN FOR CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

olden Nickels may be one of the coolest kids in town.

The nine-year-old can play a killer riff on an electric guitar, cut a rug like Michael Jackson and jam out on a washboard. He can draw and paint like a budding Picasso. He’s pretty good at Minecraft, can kick butt in karate and loves his little brother, Grayson.

But he’s different than most kids his age.

Holden has Type 1 diabetes, but that’s not all.

Several years of misdiagnosis has caused the energetic, happy fourth grader some pain and frustration, and the worst part, he can’t help any of it.

In addition to juvenile diabetes, Holden suffers from several chronic neurological disorders, including Tourette’s Syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

He’s doing the best he can with his daily challenges.

Even with endless bullying and misunderstandings at school, he’s a straight-A, advanced student who loves to learn.

“I try not to let what anyone says or does bother me,” said the youngster. “I’m happy with me. I have no choice not to be.”

It started more than three years ago.

Parents Mia and Fred Nickels had began noticing their six-year-old little boy acting differently. Certain foods Holden ate were making him hyperactive and causing symp-

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toms they now know are related to diabetes, but at the time made no sense.

Holden remembers what it was like.

“I was constantly having to run to the bathroom and always very hungry and thirsty,” he said.

The family couldn’t even take a trip across town without having to make a pit stop.

“We knew something was wrong, and no matter how many times a doctor told us Holden was fine, we knew he wasn’t,” said Mia. “We took him to the ER multiple times and were referred to several specialists. He got so tired of having to give blood, and getting no answers.”

She believes that something in Holden’s genetics may have contributed to the delay in diagnosis.

It was a local doctor who finally figured it out.

“Dr. Erica (Noyes) saved me,” said Holden. “If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

With a blood sugar level over 600, the family rushed Holden to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where their new journey would begin.

“I was scared, but at least they gave me a little pack of Legos at the hospital,” Holden said with a laugh.

The Nickels’ lives changed dramatically in the months following the diagnosis.

“It was like bringing home a newborn. We had to learn how to take care of him all over again and keep him safe with a life-saving drug, that could also harm him if the dosage was off, even slightly,” said Mia.

The drug is insulin and Holden receives anywhere from four to eight shots of it each day.

“We have to be very, very vigilant,” said Mia. “I really don’t know how he has never went into DKA.” DKA or Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a serious life-threatening complication that occurs when the body produces high levels of blood acids and develops when the body can’t produce enough insulin.

With chronic illness comes anxiety for both the child and the parent. Holden wears a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor to ease some of the burden. The small device inserts under the skin and sends a blood sugar level to a transmitter he wears on his belt which transmits readings every five minutes to his mother’s cell phone and smartwatch.

Holden loves to dance and listen to music.

Photos by Sue Elam/On Location Photography

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It was like bringing home a newborn. We had to learn how to take care of him all over again and keep him safe with a life-saving drug, that could also harm him if the dosage was off, even slightly.

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Holden has also become very hypersensitive to high and low blood sugars and can almost always tell when a problem is occurring.

“If I feel myself getting low, I try to fix it quickly. When it happens, I feel my mood change. I’m hyper when my sugar is too high, shaky when it’s too low,” said the blond haired boy. “Some of my friends at school don’t understand. They’ll say ‘chill out’, but it’s just something I can’t turn off.”

School is an issue.

While certain foods trigger Tourette’s Syndrome and other foods trigger high blood sugar, Holden hardly eats anything out of a package.

“He takes his own food – made from scratch – to school everyday,” said Mia. “We just can’t risk him eating a trigger food and it’s not fair to expect the school to monitor his food allergies.”

He has tried hard to shake off the past, because since pre-school he’s always appeared to be uncontrollable to some teachers and even though he’s much better now, it still haunts him.

“No one understands. They think I’m just acting out or trying to get attention, but I can’t help it. I’ve been punched in the lip because of my Tourette’s. Just because I can’t stand still or I blurt something out that I didn’t mean to say,” said Holden, sadly.

With middle school on the horizon, Holden’s parents are concerned.

“We’ll just have to see how it plays out. There’s a lot of factors – new teachers, new principal and an older building that could trigger some of his environmental allergies,” she said.

Two friends who always have Holden’s back are John Edward Orman and John Burton Labas.

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Holden has a big collection of hats and colorful bowties. (Opposite page) The ukulele is one of many musical instruments Holden likes to play.

“We call each other cousins,” said Holden. “We all have the same first name and we were all born within six months of each other. They care about me.”

He also prides himself as being a sharp dresser.

“I like clothes. I like to match,” he said.

His mother thinks it’s another part of his Tourette’s Syndrome, which oftentimes impacts ones need to feel in control of your surroundings and situations.

Nonetheless, the boy has impeccable style with a full collection of fancy hats, bow and neck ties, shoes and even a special gold plated Peabody Duckmaster cane, a gift from Lansky Brothers, in Memphis, Holden’s favorite place to stop after their frequent trips to LeBonheur.

“It’s all about keeping him busy,” said Mia.

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Holden does best when he’s constantly moving or doing something.

With a strong love for all things music, the diehard Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars fan takes guitar, dance, voice and piano lessons after school. His dad, Fred, also recently enrolled him in karate lessons.

When he’s at home, he’s normally dancing in the hallway with tunes blaring.

While he can’t stand certain noises, he said, “I love Maty Noyes.”

“Her voice is so calming,” he said about the Corinth native who has signed a record deal. “She’s relaxing to me.”

Many afternoons after school, Holden will close his bedroom door, plug in his amp and just play. With six guitars (all with their own femalecentric name), drums, harmonica, ukulele and a new mixing table, he has plenty of ways to express himself.

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“Music makes my ears feel good.

It’s like my escape from life and all the worry,” he said.

Fred and Mia are the ones who really worry.

“It’s very stressful for us,” said Mia. “I worry every day that if something happens to me, then what will happen to him. Thankfully he knows the names of all his medications and knows what he can and can’t eat, but still ... it’s like I’m in a race to make sure he knows how to take care of himself.”

In March, Holden will go back to Le Bonheur for his first round of genetic testing.

“Hopefully these tests will help shed more light on all of his conditions ... hopefully we’ll find out something that might make his life easier,” said Mia. Until then, Holden Nickels will continue jamming into the future.

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Becky Sharpe cuts up some celery in the hospital cafeteria kitchen.

Opposite page: The Magnolia Regional Health Center nutrition team includes Becky Sharpe, Amber Chaney and Cassie Tidwell. They are all Registered Dietition Nutritionists and Licensed Dietitions.

Photos by Mark Boehler www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

SHARPE

BY BOBBY J. SMITH | FOR CROSSROADS MAGAZINE For dietitian Becky Sharpe, good nutrition is an investment in the future.

“People put money in the bank to save for retirement, and I believe you absolutely should do that, but what good is that money if you can’t spend it and do the things you want to do if you’re not feeling well, if you’re in the hospital, or if you have a lot of health conditions?” asked Sharpe.

“It’s just as important to take care of your body and invest in good

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health.”

As a clinical dietitian at Magnolia Regional Health Center, Sharpe spends a great deal of time educating patients on a healthy diet in terms of their particular health conditions. For example, if a patient has undergone an open heart surgery, she will tell them about a heart-healthy diet.

A patient in a diabetic emergency will learn about a healthy diabetic diet. Patients dealing with congestive heart failure will learn about a

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Becky Sharpe serves up some soup in the hospital cafeteria.

low sodium diet.

“People are here for a number of reasons, and I’ll go and see them and make sure their nutritional needs are being met at the hospital. Our older patients having surgery are at an increased nutrition risk, so we want to make sure they’re eating well,” Sharpe said. “It’s very important to make sure their nutrition is adequate.”

Part of her job also involves seeing to the needs of patients who cannot eat, such as those at risk for aspiration or other reasons that require the use of a feeding tube.

Sharpe describes herself as a “people person.” She enjoys talking with people, and her favorite part of the job is its educational element, especially talking with her patients one-on-one.

“I love it when I can help them see that eating healthy is not a punishment. It’s not going to make their life terrible,” she said. “It’s attainable, it’s doable and it can be enjoyable.”

Practicing good nutrition, she said, doesn’t have to mean squeezing all the enjoyment out of life or imposing difficult restrictions. Moderation is the key.

“I don’t encourage people getting obsessed with their food. Just think of it as a healthy way to nourish your body,” Sharpe explained. “It makes your life

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too difficult to have any kind of rigid rules, like you have to get the calculator every time you eat. You’re nourishing your body -- we don’t want to punish ourselves, either.”

She emphasized the preventative value of practicing good nutrition and how this can make all the difference in one’s later years.

“We think about all the years ahead of us and we want to be able to use them to the fullest,” said Sharpe. “Really taking care of your body before there’s a problem can help you feel better and enjoy your life a whole lot longer.”

Sharpe, 34, grew up in Starkville. After high school she attended Mississippi State, where she earned a degree in Sociology. Her interest in nutrition came with the birth of her first child.

“First I wanted to, of course, lose the baby weight after pregnancy like anybody does, but I started really looking into improving my family’s nutrition and got into making foods for my baby,” she remembered. “I was about 26 then and I was a stay-athome mom, and I decided then I wanted to go back to school to be a dietitian.”

Balancing school work with the demands of taking care of her family, Sharpe completed her education.

Her biggest support came from her daughters, Anna and Mary. She remembers studying for her organic chemistry class with her daughters sitting next to her drawing molecules.

Now Anna and Mary are her biggest fans -- and fellow ambassadors for good nutrition.

“They’re always telling everybody how much they like vegetables and fruit and to drink water. I’m very proud of them,” she said. “Of course they do like sweets when they get a chance, as well.”

After completing her studies in an online program from Kansas State University, Sharpe did her internship work at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She was recruited by Magnolia Regional Health Center during a national nutrition conference in Nashville.

She felt right away that she had made a wise choice in joining the MRHC team.

“I was really impressed by the supportive camaraderie,” she said. “It’s been a good move.”

She has also fallen in love with Corinth.

“I found out they have bluegrass music here with Pickin’ on the Square -- I’m in love with it -- and that was one of the big deciding factors as well,” she said.

“I love it here.”

(Prentiss County resident Bobby J. Smith is a freelance writer and contributor for Crossroads Magazine and the Daily Corinthian.)

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SLEEP CONTINUED FROM 20

But the National Sleep Foundation notes that going to bed at the same time each day, including weekends, helps people feel more sleepy at bedtime and fall asleep quickly.

• Avoid alcohol before going to bed. Alcohol can make people feel sleepy, but that effect is short-lived. The sleepiness many people feel after consuming alcohol wears off quickly, and that can lead to interruptions in sleep.

• Avoid stimulants in the late afternoon and at night.

Alcohol is a depressant that can affect the quality of sleep a person gets. But stimulants can also make it hard to get a good night’s sleep. Nicotine acts as a stimulant in small doses, so smokers should stop smoking that last cigarette before bedtime if they’re not getting decent or adequate sleep. Caffeinated beverages also should be avoided in the late afternoon and at night because caffeine stimulates the nervous system and can make it difficult to fall asleep, even if it’s been several hours since that last cup of coffee.

• Take short daytime naps. Some people find that daytime naps improve the quality of their nighttime sleep. TA 2015 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that short naps can reduce stress.

Reduced stress levels can make it easier to fall asleep at night. Limit naps to between 20 and 30 minutes, as naps that stretch on too long may interfere with nighttime sleep.

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Inset, visitors can get a view of Cozumel history at El Castillo Stitch.

CHANGES IN LATITUDE Company offers non-stop flights from Nashville to Cozumel

BY BOBBY J. SMITH | FOR CROSSROADS MAGAZINE As all Caribbean travelers and Jimmy Buffett fans know, the best thing for a change in attitude is a change in latitude.

Crossroads area residents will soon have a new option for getting a change in latitude with non-stop flights from Nashville to Cozumel, Mexico.

It’s hard to believe folks in the Crossroads area can travel to Nashville one day after work and be having breakfast on the beach the next morning in Cozumel.

The Atlanta-based company Vacation Express will offer non-stop service from Nashville International Airport to Cozumel -- a tourist hub located on Mexico’s largest inhabited island -- from May 29 to June 18, 2018. The flights will depart on four-night rotations on various days of the week.

Located in the Caribbean off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is a popular

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tourist destination known for its balnearios (seaside resorts) and plentiful opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. The majority of Cozumel’s citizens live in the town of San Miguel de Cozumel, population 77,236. Cozumel is believed to have been settled by the Maya early in the 1st millennium AD, and a number of Maya ruins still stand on the island, the most extensive of which are located at San Gervasio near the island’s center.

Over 300 restaurants, over 50 hotels and almost 400 vacation rentals cater to visitors’ needs. The island offers a wide variety of water activities, from trips on a tourist submarine to kitesurfing and parasailing.

Scuba diving is a popular attraction in Cozumel, the home of Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park. The geography of the island protects a number of healthy

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Ocean wildlife is one of Cozumel’s draws, which makes it a destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Cozumel is also famous for its beaches, including Palancar.

coral reefs from the open ocean. The island is also a popular stop for Caribbean cruise ships and offers many dockside stores which sell everything from Cuban cigars and souvenir knick-knacks to tequila and T-shirts.

And the best part? The average daily temperature in Cozumel in May and June is 80 degrees.

In addition to the new non-stop flights to Cozumel, Vacation Express is bringing back non-stop service from Nashville to Grand Bahama Island for another fournight travel option. These flights will depart on various days of the week from May 24 to July 3.

Grand Bahama lies 53 miles from the coast of Palm Beach, Fla. Cruise ships and the resort area of Port Lucaya produce the mainstay of the island’s economy.

Travelers to both destination will fly on a Boeing 737 airliner operated by Swift Air LLC. Early departures and late returns will maximize visitors’ time on the beach.

Those returning from Grand Bahama will be pre-cleared for Customs and Immigration, eliminating the need to navigate time-consuming checkpoints once they return to the U.S. For over 25 years Vacation Express has specialized in affordable vacation packages in the Caribbean. It offers vacation packages to over 30 Caribbean destinations.

Note there is a $10 fee when booking the flight.

(Travelers can book flights through their travel agent or by phone seven days a week at 1-800-309-4717 or online at vacationexpress.com. A service fee of $10 applies when booking through the Vacation Express Call Center.) www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

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What is a silent stroke?

The brain is a complex organ responsible for controlling many different bodily functions. When working at optimal capacity, the brain is a wonder to behold. When illness or trauma affects the brain, various parts of the body may not work as they should.

One of the more devastating things that can affect the brain is stroke.

Stroke describes a sudden stoppage of blood from reaching the brain.

Harvard Medical School states that if a large number of brain cells are starved of blood supply, they can die.

With their demise, a person’s memory and ability to speak and move can be compromised.

While many strokes come on suddenly, certain factors may indicate a person is at risk. Such factors may include prior heart attacks, genetics, high blood pressure, smoking, or a prior stroke. However, in a particular

type of stroke — a “silent stroke” — symptoms are far more subtle and difficult to spot.

Silent cerebral infarction, often referred to as “SCI” or “silent stroke,” is a brain injury likely caused by a blood clot interrupting blood flow to the brain, offers the American Stroke Association. Silent strokes increase risk for other strokes and can be a sign of progressive brain damage. A silent stroke is typically only noticed as a side component of an MRI of the brain. Many times patients do not recall having a stroke and never felt any symptoms.

According to a study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, silent strokes are quite common and can have serious consequences.

Researchers have found that silent stroke is associated with impairments in tests of cognitive function rather

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Silent stroke may not exhibit any symptoms, making it more difficult to detect. than movement-oriented performance tests like rising from a chair. Almost 50 percent of studied silent strokes affected frontal circuit components of the brain, such as the frontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Lesions in these brain structures compromised executive functions and were related to vascular dementia. Another study showed associations between silent stroke and visual field deficits, weakness in walking on heels, history of memory loss, migraines, and lower scores in cognitive function tests.

The “silent” part of a silent stroke also refers to the areas of the brain that the stroke affects. Experts at Harvard Medical School explain that an interruption in blood flow destroys areas of cells in a part of the brain that is “silent,” meaning that it doesn’t control any vital functions. Researchers say that, over time, the damage from silent strokes can accumulate, leading to more and more problems with memory. Collectively, silent strokes become silent no longer.

There are certain ways to reduce the risk of any type of stroke, including: • managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels • quit smoking • reducing the risk of diabetes and/ or effectively treating the condition • losing weight to prevent obesity • exercise to avoid a sedentary lifestyle • taking a low-dose aspirin or a drug that prevents blood clots.

Silent strokes largely go unrecognized but can lead to significant brain injury. Getting the facts can help men and women reduce their risk for silent stroke. www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com

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