Summer 2020
A publication of
est. 1851
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Recognize signs of heart attack in women Many people are familiar with the image of a heart attack sufferer clutching his or her chest or feeling surprising, tingling sensations in his or her left arm. While those symptoms are common, heart attacks can produce a wide array of symptoms, and some of them may actually be much less apparent than chest pain or tingling in the left arm. That’s especially so for women. The organization Go Red for Women, which highlights women’s heart health during the month of February, advises that many symptoms women can experience when suffering from heart disease may be overlooked or misunderstood as signs of less threatening conditions. However, jaw pain, nausea, pressure, and sweating all may be indicative of a heart attack. A failure to recognize that and act quickly could prove fatal. The American Heart Association says that heart disease is the foremost killer of women in the United States. The Heart and Stroke Foundation says heart disease and stroke kill 31,000 women in Canada annually. Despite those figures, many women are unaware of the threat of heart disease and its symptoms. Heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked by a buildup of a substance called plaque in the coronary arteries. Heart attack can strike any woman, though women who deal with high stress, are overweight or are heavy smokers are at the greatest risk. SYMPTOMS OF HEART ATTACK Symptoms of heart attack in women generally are more subtle than in men. These can include but are not limited to: • shortness of breath as though you just ran a marathon
• a feeling of a squeezing rope tied around the upper back • dizziness • lightheadedness or actual fainting • unusual fatigue • neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or abdominal discomfort • indigestion • perspiration HOW HEART ATTACKS ARE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN Women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries, but in the smaller ones that supply blood to the heart,. This is a condition called coronary microvascular disease, says the Mayo Clinic, and it may be why symptoms are more vague and not as apparent in women as they are in men. Women also can have symptoms while resting or even when asleep, and emotional stress can trigger heart attack symptoms in women. A woman’s risk for heart disease increases if she has diabetes, has experienced mental stress or depression, smokes, has gone through menopause, has had complications during a pregnancy, has an inflammatory disease, and/or is physically inactive. Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously and schedule a check-up with a doctor to discuss risk and heart health. Women who suspect or notice any symptoms of heart attack should not hesitate to call for help. If you suspect you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately; do not drive yourself. Women can learn more about heart disease at www.heart.org.
Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
| HEALTH MATTERS
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Preventive care involves safeguarding mental health as well Preventive care is often looked at through the needs people need to do to protect their physical well-being. For example, a healthy diet and routine exercise, while beneficial to mental health, are often viewed as lifestyle choices that can make people feel better physically. But taking steps to protect one’s mental health also is vital to a long, productive life.
• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that positive mental health and mental wellness can have a profoundly positive impact on a person’s life. Positive mental health can help people realize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MY MENTAL HEALTH? Learning to recognize the early warning signs of mental health problems can help prevent such problems from escalating and compel people to seek help. The DHHS advises anyone feeling these signs or recognizing these signs in others to seek help for themselves or their loved ones:
• Pulling away from people and usual activities • Having low or no energy • Feeling numb or as if nothing matters • Unexplained aches and pains • Feeling helpless or hopeless • Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared • Yelling or fighting with family and friends • Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships • Persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head • Hearing voices or believing things that are not true • Thinking of harming yourself or others • An inability to perform daily tasks, such as taking care of your children or getting to work or school
Taking steps to protect one’s mental wellness is a vital component of preventive care. More information about mental health is available at www.mentalhealth.gov.
Why annual checkups are so important Nutritious diets and routine exercise are two hallmarks of a healthy lifestyle. Combining the two can lower people’s risk for various diseases and contribute to a high quality of life. But food and physical activity are not the only things people should do to improve their chances of living long, healthy lives. Preventive care is important. One of the most effective principles of preventive care is to schedule an annual checkup with a physician. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, routine health exams and tests can find problems before they start. During annual check-ups, doctors may notice some red flags, such as high cholesterol, that men and women won’t detect on their own. These warning signs could be increasing people’s risk for disease and/or discomfort. Many of these red flags are undetectable without proper screenings, which is why annual checkups are integral to maintaining one’s health. Annual checkups also serve as a great time for adults to be screened for certain cancers. The American Cancer Society notes that cancer screenings are used to find cancer before a person develops symptoms. That’s a vital benefit of annual checkups, as cancers caught in their early stages are more easily treated. In addition, catching cancer before it has metastasized greatly improves patients’ prognosis. Another reason to schedule annual checkups is that they make perfect opportunities for patients to discuss their family histories with their physicians. This is especially important for adults over 40, as
age and family history are significant risk factors for a host of conditions and diseases. Men and women concerned about conditions and diseases that their family members have had can discuss those concerns with their physicians during their annual checkups. Physicians can then recommend ways for patients to balance their risk, calming patients’ concerns and giving them a road map to reduce their risk for conditions and diseases that seem to
run in their families. Annual checkups are as vital a component of a healthy lifestyle as nutritious diets and routine exercise. By scheduling annual checkups with their physicians, adults can closely monitor their overall health and potentially uncover issues before they escalate into major health risks.
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WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH? Mental Health or Emotional Health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It can reflect the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships and your ability to deal with difficulties and manage your feelings. Challenges in Life Situations/ Common Complaints
Financial difficulties • Loss of a Loved One and/or Independence • Lifestyle Changes Inability to ask for help • Changes in Sleep or Appetite Feelings of Hopelessness, Loneliness, Anger, Sadness, Fear, Being Overwhelmed and/or the Loss of Life’s Purpose
BENEFITS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDE TOOLS FOR YOU TO:
• Enhance your whole well-being: physical, emotional, and spiritual • Build effective decision-making and problem solving skills • Ability to identify and replace negative behavior and thoughts with healthy coping skills • Build better family and friends relationships
The Perry Mental Health Team offers our community: • Group Therapy • Individual Therapy • Resource Referrals
Family Health Clinic: 815-875-4531 Senior Behavioral Wellness: 815-876-2004 www.perrymemorial.org/mentalhealth
Scott Arbaugh, MD Kris Menzel, LCPC Angie Hughes, LCPC Senior Behavorial Wellness Team
Dave Roden, LCSW
Ariel Pozzi, LCSW
Ozlem Dubouskas, MD Pediatric Telepsychiatry
Suraya Kawadry, MD Adult Telepsychiatry
HEALTH MATTERS | Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
Mental health is just as important as physical health.
Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
| HEALTH MATTERS
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How to stay fit when social distancing Many people consider their gyms much more than a place to exercise. A gym can be a great place to socialize while trying to stay healthy. Having friends or fellow fitness enthusiasts around also can provide the motivation many people need to stay the course and achieve their fitness goals. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association says more than 70 million consumers visited health clubs in 2017. That marked a record high since IHRSA began tracking data in 1987. Fitness memberships also are popular in Canada. GoodLife, the largest fitness club in Canada, has 400 different locations and more than 1.5 million members. Fitness centers were among the many non-essential businesses forced to shutter as a result of COVID-19, forcing fitness enthusiasts to find new ways to stay mentally and physically fit. Many creative ideas have surfaced. ONLINE CLASSES An internet connection is all that’s necessary to find a number of workouts that can be streamed from the comfort of home. The streaming website YouTube can be a gold mine for free workouts. Some cable service providers also may have On Demand fitness channels or rentals that can mirror some of the classes taken at the gym. SOCIAL APPS Gym-goers can inquire whether their gyms are offering alternative programs. For example, Jersey Strong, a fitness chain in New Jersey, began live-streaming many of its popular group fitness classes via a special Facebook page. Class instructors guide classes from their own homes or from empty gyms. Other gyms may provide links to subscriber-based gym training workouts free of charge. THE GREAT OUTDOORS Even though some parks, beaches and trails have been closed, workouts can take place in and around the neighborhood. Jogging or walking can be excellent cardiovascular exercises, as can taking a bicycle ride for a few miles down neighbor-
hood streets. People who live in rural areas can run through forested land or even farmland. Pushups, sit-ups, planks, and other body weight exercises can be done right in the backyard. Before making a decision about whether or not to be active outside, be sure to check the latest guidance from your local health department and community or state leaders. REMOTE SPORTS Videos of city dwellers playing tennis across roof tops for much-needed air and exercise have emerged in recent weeks. Similar benefits can be achieved with a game of catch, volleyball or racquet sports over fences with neighbors, provided limits on participants are placed and social distancing is maintained. Staying fit during COVID-19 restrictions takes some ingenuity, but it’s certainly possible to maintain your overall health. In fact, some people have found they now have more time to exercise than they did before.
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HEALTH MATTERS | Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
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Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
| HEALTH MATTERS
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The rise of telehealth services Getting sick once meant traveling to a physician’s office only to sit in a waiting room with fellow underthe-weather individuals. Few if any people like leaving home when they’re feeling ill, and thanks to technology, many no longer need to do so. Telehealth services, which the Massachusetts Medical Society defines as the delivery and facilitation of health and health-related services including medical care, provider and patient education, health information services, and self-care via telecommunications and digital communication technologies, are revolutionizing the healthcare industry. In many instances, patients need not leave the comfort of their beds or sofas to be diagnosed and treated. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology says telehealth, which is a broader scope of remote healthcare services than telemedicine, can utilize everything from videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless phone communications. Many providers and insurance companies now offer some method of telehealth services. Consider some of these statistics. • The American Telemedicine Association says more than one-half of all hospitals in the United States have a telehealth program. • Forty-eight states require payers to cover telehealth, says the Center for Connected Health Policy.
• BBC Research indicates that telehealth makes up roughly one-quarter of the healthcarerelated technology market. • The American Medical Association says nearly 75 percent of all doctor, urgent care and emergency room visits could be handled safely and effectively over the phone or via video. • Beckers Hospital Review says 82 percent of millennial patients surveyed would rather have a telemedicine visit than an inperson consultation. • Around seven million people use telehealth services across the globe, according to eVisit.
specialists in that field.
Telehealth can connect rural providers and their patients to services at other sites and promote patientcentered health care. With a shortage of some medical specialities in rural areas, telehealth can play an important role in ensuring all patients get access to care they need. But the benefits do not only extend to rural patients. Individuals who are elderly and/or those who have mobility issues and cannot travel easily can benefit from telehealth services. Furthermore, any patient with a rare condition may no longer have to travel long distances to consult with
™
Telehealth applications and programs on smartphones, tablets or laptops can make it easy for people to monitor their health. These apps can enable patients to do things like track health measurements, share information with clinicians, manage chronic illnesses, and set medication or appointment reminders. Patients also can communicate with providers to get health information through patient portals or to refill prescriptions effortlessly. Telehealth is changing the face of medicine and utilizing technology in unique ways.
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Expecting parents must make a host of important decisions before their children enter the world. Finding the right pediatrician is one of the decisions that expecting parents, especially those who are expecting their first child, may find challenging. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that pediatricians have special training in the health and illnesses of children from birth through adolescence and into the young adult years. In many instances, parents trust the same pediatricians to look after their children’s health for years on end, making the choice of pediatrician a highly important one. In recognition of that importance, the AAP facilitates the process of finding board-certified pediatricians via the “Find a Pediatrician” tool on the HealthyChildren.org website. Similary, the Canadian Paediatric Society, via the website CaringForKids. cps.ca, provides links to various organizations that can help parents find pediatricians for their children. The AAP recommends that expecting parents interview pediatricians to learn more about them. Pediatricians are accustomed to such interviews and will likely be happy to schedule visits with expecting parents (or parents who are looking for new pediatricians to care for their children). During such meetings, the AAP advises parents to ask the following questions. • Which medical school did the pediatrician attend and where did he or she undergo postgraduate or residency training? • What are the pediatrician’s current hospital appointments? This is an important question as it can indicate which hospital a child would be admitted to in the event that the youngster had to be hospitalized. Parents may prefer certain hospitals and may want to find a pediatrician who is affiliated with those preferences.
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• Where is the pediatrician’s office located? Parents who rely on public transportation should determine if a pediatrician’s office is accessible by bus or train. Many parents also prefer pediatricians who are local, as that can make doctor’s visits more convenient, especially in the case of sick visits. • Who returns phone calls? Parents of newborns often have many questions in the first few months of their child’s life, and some may feel more secure knowing the child’s pediatrician will be the one returning their calls. • Is this a group practice? If so, how often will my child see our preferred pediatrician? And who covers for the doctors during vacations or times when the preferred pediatrician is out of the office? • What are the short notice visitation policies? These policies will indicate how accessible a pediatrician is when children develop spur-of-the-moment issues like colds, sore throats, etc. Many parents prefer practices that have daily walk-in hours.
Dr. Lori Schultz, Dr. Dennis Farrell, Dr. Jarred Farrell
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• Which insurance does the practice accept? When interviewing pediatricians, parents should not hesitate to ask any questions they have. A good pediatrician will welcome all questions and patiently answer each one.
682 East Peru St. • Princeton, IL • (815) 875-4408
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, & Fri 8am-12pm, 2pm-5pm • Sat 8am-12pm SM-PR1788125
HEALTH MATTERS | Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
How parents can find the right pediatrician for their children
Bureau County Republican / bcrnews.com • Saturday, June 27, 2020
| HEALTH MATTERS
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You probably already know that IVCH orthopedic surgeons Dr. Robert Mitchell and Dr. Connor Kasik are both skilled in using Mako Robotic Arm-assisted Technology when performing joint replacement surgery. What you may not know is their expertise in a wide variety of other orthopedic procedures that can result in faster recoveries and better outcomes. Here’s a partial list of what they do: • Mako Total Hip and Knee Replacements • Partial Knee Replacement • ACL Reconstruction • Meniscus Repair and Removal of Damaged Knee Cartilage • Fractures • Arthritis • Minimally Invasive Arthroscopic Surgery of the Hip, Knee, and Shoulder • Sports Related Injuries
• Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Instability • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Joint, Ligament, Tendon and Cartilage Injury • Nerve and Tendon Problems • Masses and Growths
920 West Street, Suite 211 • Peru, IL
Call Illinois Valley Orthopedics for an appointment today. (815) 223-2143
Dr. Connor Kasik Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Robert J. Mitchell Orthopedic Surgeon
ivch.org/orthopedics