Valley Winter Health Care 2019

Winter Health January 2019 | Le Sueur County News | St. Peter Herald

Inside:  How to sanitize

a mobile phone 

Tips for living with low vision



Eating disorders by the numbers



and more!

PAGE 2

WINTER HEALTH CARE

January 2019

INJURED? WE CAN HELP. Oak Terrace Senior Living of Le Sueur has current openings in our secure Memory Care, Assisted Living and Independent Living Communities.

Warm up with us with a

$1,000 When an injury or pain in your hip, knee or shoulder threatens to slow you down, don’t wait to seek treatment. Our orthopedic team is available to provide immediate care and treatment so you can get back to enjoying life.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. Call 507-594-4700 to schedule an appointment.

mayoclinichealthsystem.org

move-in discount

Offer expires 2/28/2019.

Some exceptions apply.

CALL 507-593-8500 Oak Terrace Communities is the right choice to live and work.

Campuses in Le Sueur, North Mankato, Gaylord and Jordan.

January 2019

WINTER HEALTH CARE

PAGE 3

YOU DESERVE TO BE

COMFORTABLE!

As Low as

549

$

New Ulm Furniture has more than 20 lift chairs in stock and ready for free delivery! Available in a variety of sizes and colors, recline in style with a new lift chair from Flexsteel, Pride, La-z-boy and UltraComfort. Stop in today to choose the lift chair that’s right for you or someone you love.

NEW ULM

FURNITURE Since 1945

Save

Your Vision

Tips for living with low vision (Metro) Visual impairment affects people of all ages and all walks of life. The American Foundation for the Blind defines visual impairment, often referred to as ‘low vision,’ as any vision problem that is severe enough to affect an individual’s ability to carry out the tasks of everyday living.

Millions of people have some degree of visual impairment that requires corrective lenses, and some still struggle even while wearing glasses or contact lenses.

People with low vision can experience difficulty performing daily activities, such as cooking, shopping, reading, watching television, and more.

Some practical solutions can help people address changes in their vision.

• Use more light. After about age 60, many people require additional light to per-

form most indoor tasks as well as outdoor activities. After age 60, the pupil no longer opens as widely as it once did, which affects the amount of light that reaches the retina, where vision processing occurs. Brighten areas of the kitchen, garage, crafting table, and other areas where fine details are examined.

• Rely on darker contrasts.

Contrasting colors can make it easier to see edges and lines of demarcation. For example, use a dark tablecloth and white dishes to see table settings and food more clearly.

• Label items. Bold-colored labels or those of different shapes can help set items apart when reading containers or boxes becomes challenging.

• Use filters and shields.

Certain devices, such as lens filters and shields, can reduce glare and improve vision. Individuals also can invest in shields for their

computers or tablet screens to reduce glare.

• Choose ‘large print’ formats. At local booksellers, seek books that are available in large print. This makes it easier to enjoy reading.

• Switch bulbs at home.

The eye care resource All About Vision suggests swapping fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with warm-toned LED bulbs. These bulbs emit less blue light and can be more comforting with reduced glare.

• Invest in adaptive devices. Large-button phones with speed dial, large-print calendars, watches that speak the time, and digital home assistant devices also can help men and women overcome vision loss.

for books, movies, friends, family & seeing the world.

16 N. German Downtown New Ulm www.newulmfurniture.com (507) 354-2716 or 1-800-9NU-FURN

Many eye diseases present no symptoms in their early stages, yet early detection and treatment are key to preventing vision loss. Protect your precious vision with proper nutrition, sun protection and a comprehensive annual eye exam.

See to a bright future.

Call to Schedule Your Eye Exam Today.

Dr. Jeff Mootz.

303 Valleygreen Square Mall | Le Sueur, MN | 507-665-3366 | www.mootzeyeclinic.com

Le Sueur Community Center The Le Sueur Community Center is a year-round multi-generational facility that provides recreation activities and gathering spaces for all ages

Low vision impacts daily living, but there are ways to counter the effects of impaired vision.

Winter Health

Gymnasium

Fitness Room

Ice Arena

Indoor Pool

Racquetball & Wally-ball courts

Rec Programs

Meeting Rooms

Outdoor Pool

24-Hour Card Access for Members

Heath Insurance Reimbursement Programs Accepted

Amenities Available to Rent for Private & Group Gatherings

Follow Us on Facebook! @lesueurcommunitycenter

A special publication of the Le Sueur County News and St. Peter Herald Publisher Chad Hjellming Media Consultants Kathleen Davies Missy Daschner Gayle Stelten

Look for this section on

LE SUEUR COUNTY NEWS com

Winter Health 2019 is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Le Sueur County News and St. Peter Herald at no additional charge. All rights reserved. ©2019 All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertiser.

821 East Ferry St. • (507) 665-3325 www.cityoflesueur.com

PAGE 4

WINTER HEALTH CARE

January 2019

How mattresses affect sleep quality

(Metro) People make many renovations around their homes to improve their quality of life.

When attention turns to the bedroom, some changes can greatly affect quality of sleep.

The temperature of the bedroom, its configuration and lighting can impact a person’s ability to get a good night’s sleep.

However, the item that may bear the most influence is the mattress.

The Better Sleep Council says whether one wakes up feeling rested and healthy depends largely on the age of a mattress and its condition. A good mattress should alleviate pressure on joints while providing bodily support. It should not be a contributor to aches and pains. Mattresses that are seven years or older may need to be replaced.

A century or two ago, mattresses

were constructed of whatever people had on hand - from feathers to pine needles to straw.

That’s all changed today. But even though there are many options, it’s key for people to discover which material is right for them.

Memory foam Memory foam mattresses are relatively recent additions to the market. According to the mattress shopping resource The Sleep Judge, memory foam mattresses may eventually replace innerspring mattresses. Famous for its ability to contour to the shape of the user’s body, memory foam envelops a person and absorbs energy. This means there’s less motion transfer. That’s a big plus when sleeping with a partner who moves around in bed.

Memory foam provides a high level of pressure point relief and promotes proper spine alignment.

Innerspring Innerspring (also called coil) mattresses have been around for some time. These metal springs provide internal support. The number of coils, types of coils and distribution pattern throughout the mattress impacts how well the bed will conform to the body. These mattresses may be best for back or stomach sleepers due to their level of support. Keep in mind Gel foam Gel foam mattresses bounce that innerspring mattresses may have limited durability and may back to their original form when start to sag after just a few years. pressure is released. Hollow columns in the mattress allow for

increased air flow that improves this pressure release and enables people to sleep coolly and comfortably. Sometimes gel is paired with memory foam for a hybrid mattress.

Latex Latex mattresses are coveted due to their durability and comfort. Latex also conforms to the body, but more generally than memory foam, so it bounces back quickly. One of the biggest draws to latex mattresses is how natural they are. Latex is made from natural rubber. Cost can be prohibitive, however, as latex mattresses tend to be expensive.

Purchasing a new mattress can lead to better sleep. This is a bedroom renovation worth pursuing.

Urgent Care 1900 North Sunrise Drive | www.REHC.org

Open

Monday - Friday Noon - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Ask about $59* for sore throat w/strep test, pink eye, ear infection, rashes, bladder infection (females 12 -75 yrs.) and sports physicals *payment due at time of serivce - additional services not included

GOOD. LOCAL. FOOD. 228 Mulberry | St. Peter stpeterfood.coop

January 2019

WINTER HEALTH CARE

PAGE 5

How to sanitize a mobile phone (Metro) The most germaddled item in your home may not be the toilet or the kitchen sponge. Mobile phones pick up bacteria wherever they go. In addition, users touch their phones an average of 47 times a day according to the national average determined by a Deloitte research survey, introducing new contaminants to the device each time they do so.

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that cell phones carry 10 times more bacteria than many toilet seats, and there may be as many as 17,000 bacterial gene copies on the average high-schooler’s phone.

While cell phone safety often focuses on protecting data, smartphone users also should consider keeping their phones clean to remove the potentially harmful microbes that accumulate on phones every day.

Avoid excess moisture when cleaning cell phones, advises the home and lifestyle experts at The Spruce as moisture can damage

Start the New Year off with a New Pharmacy OPEN Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Now Serving Le Sueur internal components. Most cell phone screens have an oleophobic coating that repels oils from hands and fingers. Harsh cleansers or abrasive materials on the glass can prematurely remove this coating and/or scratch the surface.

While you clean at your own risk, many tech experts suggest a spray mixture of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol applied to a microfiber cloth to remove

surface contaminants. Don’t directly wet the phone. There also are pre-packaged cleansers sold for electronics usage. Invest in an antimicrobial cover to provide an added layer of protection for the phone.

Other ways to keep a phone clean are to wash your hands before use and to try to keep the phone away from areas that may be vulnerable to germs, such as bathrooms.

Free Delivery to Le Sueur Transferring is easy

Jill Reinhardt-Pharmacist 417 Main Street - Henderson. MN 165 W Commerce Dr Belle Plaine MN 56011

507-248-3244

952-855-4381

do you want a shovel-free winter? snow not your favorite thing?

Ecumen Prairie Hill and Sand Prairie Senior living communities offer winter and short-term stays.

Experience a maintenance-free winter with us, or anytime. As our resident, you’ll enjoy a private apartment home, life-enriching activities, delicious home-cooked meals, anytime dining, concierge service for rides to appointments and peace-of-mind with 24 hour care.

1&2 bedroom Apartments Available Now!

Call Kristi at 507-484-2216 for a tour or additional information.

ecumenprairiehill.org and ecumensandprairie.org

PAGE 6

WINTER HEALTH CARE

Eating disorders by the numbers (Metro) Millions of people are affected by eating disorders, which can be life-threatening illnesses. The National Eating Disorders Association says there has been unprecedented growth of eating disorders over the last 20 years, and research into this medical condition continues to be under-funded.

T he pressures to remain thin and fit continue to be profound and problematic, spurring new generations of people to develop poor body image perceptions and behaviors.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa are perhaps well known, but the ‘eating disorder’ classification also encompass other conditions. These can include binge eating, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, and ‘diabulimia,’ which is a deliberate insulin underuse in people with type 1 diabetes for the purpose of controlling weight.

To shed further light on

these often hidden conditions, here are some eye-opening statistics and information, courtesy of data culled by both NEDA and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD).

• At least million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.

• Cardiovascular impairment is one of the primary symptoms of eating disorders, as consuming fewer calories than one needs can break down muscles in the body - including the heart.

• urging depletes the body of important chemicals called electrolytes, which play a role in maintaining heartbeat and muscle contraction.

• ating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

• ood restriction and purging by vomiting interferes with the ability of the stomach to empty normally, which can affect

the digestion of nutrients. This can lead to bacterial infections, blocked intestines from undigested food and bloating.

• Binge eating can cause the stomach to rupture, leading to potentially life-threatening circumstances.

• Both malnutrition and purging can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

• AR I goes beyond ‘picky eating.’ Children do not grow out of it and frequently become malnourished because of the limited variety of foods they will consume.

• About percent of females and 16 percent of males with type 1 diabetes exhibit behaviors indicative of eating disorders.

• Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, the average age of onset for binge eating disorder was and for both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.

Anyone with a loved one who they suspect has an eating disorder should contact a family physician for immediate assistance.

MEDICARE PLANS THAT FIT YOUR LIFE Get help from an expert to make sure you have the coverage you need.

January 2019

Canned food myths debunked

The perception that canned foods are ‘processed’ foods often leads people to believe they’re full of unsavory ingredients.

The term processing is used to describe any food that has been changed from its natural form.

So removing corn from a cob counts as processing, as is baking or boiling potatoes. Canned foods are preserved by heating the items and sealing them under Myth #1: Canned foods are not as pressure. No other preservatives identified the top 10 food catare needed to keep them fresh. healthy as fresh foods. egories that contribute to high Fresh foods, once harvested, have a finite shelf life. Plus, once Myth #3: Can linings are danger- sodium diets. Pizza, cured meats, cold cuts, and rolls made the list, fruit or vegetables are picked, ous. while canned foods did not.

There has been controvertheir vitamin and mineral content decreases each day that they sy concerning BPA-containing are not consumed. Many canned plastics for many years. Even Myth #5: Canned foods foods are picked and processed though the Food and Drug Ad- do not taste good.

Because foods are canned on the same day, helping to retain ministration, as well as other when they are at peak freshnutrients at their peak and lock international food safety agenness and ripeness after harvest, them in for many months. Also, cies, has evaluated the extensive they retain full flavor if properly according to the Hy-Vee super- body of science and continue to stored. market chain, sometimes canned affirm BPA’s safety in food packfoods are packed with additional aging, some manufacturers are nutrients, such as increased lyco- voluntarily moving away from it. Myth #6: All dented cans are Consumers can find many foods unsafe. pene in canned tomatoes.

Cans can become dented packed in cans with non-BPA in transit.

Drop a can and linings. However, even foods Myth #2: Canned foods are it will dent.

But that doesn’t packaged in BPA are considered full of preservatives. necessarily mean foods inside safe for consumption. dented cans are unsafe to eat.

If a can is bulging or if the top Myth #4: Canned foods or bottom of the can moves or are full of sodium.

Some canned foods will contain makes a popping sound, the salt as an added ingredient to im- seal has probably been broken prove taste and act as a freshness or compromised by bacteria preservative. But canned foods and should be thrown out. do not rank among the biggest Canned foods are safe offenders in regard to excessive and can make for valuable adamounts of sodium. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and ditions to any pantry.

Prevention released a study that (Metro) The affordability of canned foods entices many people to stock up on the essentials.

However, there are some people who still harbor concerns about the safety of canned foods. Getting to the truth about canned foods can assuage some of those concerns and help those on the fence stock up on these budgetfriendly staples.

Michelle Lund, D.D.S. Bethany Whittier, D.D.S. Kyle J. Rasmussen D.D.S.

Carolyn Mager & Casey West (507) 934-6050 | TTY 711 mnbusinesscenter.net

Blue Partner

SM

E L I T E

217 Nassau Street • St. Peter • (507) 931-5646

Blue Cross offers Cost, PPO and PDP plans with Medicare contracts.

Enrollment in these plans depends on contract renewal. Plans are available to residents of the service area. You can also call Blue Cross for plan information or to enroll: 1-877-662-2583, TTY users call 711, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Central Time daily.

H2461_051418_JJ03 CMS Accepted 05/18/2018 H5959_051418_JJ04 CMS Accepted 05/18/2018 S5743_051418_FF02_MN CMS Accepted 05/18/2018 Authorized independent agent/agency for Blue Cross ® and Blue Shield ® of Minnesota and Blue Plus®, nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Sign up for new membership and get 3 months free! *

Call Today! 507-934-4604 100 Dodd Road, St. Peter www.anytimefitness.com *Must bring in the ad to redeem.

January 2019

WINTER HEALTH CARE

PAGE 7

Understanding the jargon of health insurance (Metro) The world of healthcare can be confusing to navigate. Before the prevalence of health maintenance organizations and various other health and wellness insurance groups, obtaining medical assistance involved going to the doctor and then paying the bill. But today people must navigate copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and savings plans, which can make it difficult to understand what’s going on with your insurance company.

Healthcare is standardized in some areas of the world and publicly financed with little to no out-of-pocket costs for participating citizens. Elsewhere, access to health insurance is provided through employers or government assistance programs or individually purchased.

Understanding some health insurance-related jargon is a great way to better educate oneself about the industry.

• Benefit period e benefit

period refers to the duration of time services are covered under your plan. It is usually a calendar year from the point of start to end. It may begin each year on an anniversary date when you first received coverage.

• Coinsurance is is a percentage of the cost of services rendered in specific areas outlined by the health plan that you are responsible for after a deductible is met. For example, a plan may cover 85 percent of costs, with patients responsible for the remaining 15.

• Copayment copay A copayment refers to the flat rate you pay to a provider at the time you receive services. Some plans do not have copays.

• eductible e amount you pay for health services before the insurance company pays. You must meet a set limit, which varies by plan and provider, before insurance will kick in and cover the remaining costs during the benefit period. Many plans have

a $2,000 per person deductible.

This deductible renews with each calendar year.

• A health maintenance organization offers services only with specific providers. Referrals from a primary care doctor often are needed to see specialists.

• SA A health savings account enables you to set aside pre-tax income up to a certain limit for certain medical expenses.

• Long-term care insurance A specific healthcare plan that can be used for in-home nursing care or to pay for the medical services and room and board for assisted living/nursing home facilities.

• etwork provider is is a healthcare provider who is part of a plan’s network. Many insurance companies negotiate set rates with providers to keep costs low. They will only pay out a greater percentage to network providers.

• on-network provider A healthcare provider who is not part of a plan’s network. Costs may be higher if you visit a nonnetwork provider or if you are not covered at all.

• A preferred provider organization is a type of insurance plan that offers more extensive coverage for in-network services, but offer additional coverage for out-of-network ser-

vices.

avigating health insurance is easier when policy holders understand some common industry jargon.

Furniture that Adjusts

to Your Needs!

For easy access to stand with ease just by pushing a button.

Starting at $799.00 (No Sales Tax) Where Our Product, Price & People Make the Difference.

Power activated.

Reclining with a touch of a button!

Starting at $699.00

iComfort beds available with Adjustable Bases!

Adjustable Bases Starting at $799.00

Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-5:30pm; Thurs. 8am-7pm Sat. 9am-4pm 106 Ferry St., Le Sueur 507-665-2238 Follow us on Facebook www.wise-furnitureco.com

PAGE 8

WINTER HEALTH CARE

January 2019

Le Sueur

15

22

Dermatology

MANKATO CLINIC DANIELS HEALTH CENTER

LOCATED AT RIVER’S EDGE CAMPUS

N. Washington Ave.

Sunrise Dr.

Bro

adw

Mankato

ay

Av e.

169

99