OST-SS-01-30-2014

A1

A SPECIAL SECTION OF

WINTER ISSUE 2014

Rumleys volunteer at CCH snack shop for more than 20 years

By AMY HANSEN

OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com

If you’re looking to snack on something sweet at Clarke County Hospital, Mary Anne and Eugene Rumley are the people who can help you out.

Mary Anne, 82, and Eugene, 83, have been managing the snack shop at Clarke County Hospital for more than 20 years. Their work is all volunteer.

“I felt like it’s something that’s needed,” Mary Anne said.

Starting out Mary Anne said she is the reason the

couple started to volunteer their time at the hospital.

“I retired. I thought, ‘I’m not going to stay home,’” Mary Anne said. “I’d worked for the public for a long time. So, I’d already belonged to (Clarke County Hospital) Auxiliary.”

Mary Anne was a pharmacy technician.

When an opportunity to volunteer at the snack shop presented itself, Mary Anne took it.

“I said, ‘Well, I don’t know why I can’t’ (and) here we still are,” Mary Anne said.

Please see RUMLEYS, Page 2

A2 Page 2c — Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014

RUMLEYS: Continued from Page 1

Mary Anne made a joke about twisting Eugene’s arm to help her volunteer at the hospital’s snack shop.

“She got to where she had bit off more than she can chew,” Eugene said.

Eugene helps a lot with carrying heavy snack items, such as soda. The Rumleys try to be at the snack shop every day of the week

around 3 p.m. and stay till around 5 p.m.

Popular items The snack shop offers a variety of candy, snacks, fruit snacks and sodas.

One of the most popular items sold at the snack shop right now is Mountain Dew. “You never can tell. One week it’ll be one thing and the next week it’ll be something else,” Eugene said.

“Most generally, Mountain

“And, Eugene, I know he does, too. He enjoys it,” Mary Anne said.

Eugene added, “It gives you something to do, I guess, and get out of the house.”

Mary Anne said they see themselves volunteering at the hospital until they aren’t physically able to do it anymore.

“Until we can’t do it and they kick us out,” she joked.

Dew and Pepsi will be your bigger sellers.”

The snack shop is located inside the gift shop at Clarke County Hospital, but Mary Anne said the gift shop is managed by different people.

Meeting people According to Mary Anne, one of the things she likes best about volunteering at Clarke County Hospital is interacting with people.

Top technologies guide for mature drivers mobile technologies is to continue your education,” said Julie Lee, AARP Driver Safety vice president and national director.

“Increasing your awareness of changes to automobiles, traffic laws and roadway designs and learning how they impact your driving may bolster safety, comfort and improve confidence behind the wheel.”

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OST photo by AMY HANSEN

Pictured is the fridge at the snack shop at Clarke County Hospital. One of the most popular items the snack shop sells is Mountain Dew.

YoUR

it has 10 animated videos that demonstrate how the technologies work. It can be found on the AARP Driving Resource Center at www.aarp.org/drc.

“Learning about vehicle technology is an important component of feeling empowered, confident and safe behind the wheel,” said Jodi Olshevski, gerontologist and executive director of The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence.

“The Top Technologies for Mature Drivers tool is a great way for drivers to see how these technologies can be used to enhance the driving experience.”

Recent research shows 55 percent of drivers over the age of 50 plan to buy or lease another vehicle in the next five years, indicating that more and more drivers will encounter new technologies in their vehicles.

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A3 Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014 — Page 3c

What you don’t know about pain can hurt you Five things you should know about dealing with pain (BPT) — You may not like it, but when you feel pain, your body is trying to tell you something. In most cases, it’s to stop what you’re doing. (“Ouch, that stove is hot!”) That’s why some pain is necessary and can prevent us from seriously injuring ourselves. But, at times, pain also can be intolerable, becoming constant and negatively impacting your quality of life.

“Understandably people want to alleviate their pain,” said Jane C.K. Fitch, M.D., president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). “Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide temporary relief from minor pain such as headaches and muscle aches. But in many cases, the reasons for and extent of pain are complex and there’s more to safe pain control than popping a pill.”

If you or a loved one suffers from chronic pain, it’s important to learn the best way to treat it, according to ASA. Here are some things you should know about pain: • Address pain when you first feel it: Acute pain is the type you feel after cutting your finger or breaking a bone. It hurts but eventually the pain goes away. When pain doesn’t subside and lasts for several months, it can be considered chronic.

Unfortunately, acute pain — such as from surgery — can become chronic if it’s not treated correctly by physicians because the nerves may be injured or become

hypersensitive to the stimuli causing the pain. Learn more about physicians who specialize in pain medicine and how they manage pain by visiting physician-paincare.com.

• Chronic pain is common: About 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which can seriously interfere with their quality of life, according to the Institute of Medicine.

The most common sources of chronic pain are headaches, back pain and arthritis pain in the joints, such as knees and hips.

• Pills are not always the right solution: If you are someone suffering from chronic pain, there are many alternatives beyond traditional oral pain medication to provide you with relief.

Serious pain sometimes may be alleviated or minimized by injections or appropriate use of medication(s). In addition, other non-medication methods can help alleviate pain, such as acupuncture, physical therapy, psychological therapy and electrical stimulation — which short circuits pain by stimulating nerve fibers ei-

ther through the skin or, in some cases, via an implanted device in the spine (and no, it’s not painful).

• Anxiety equals more pain: People who feel anxious-before they have surgery are more likely to feel higher levels of pain afterward. That’s why before a procedure patients are evaluated. Questions regarding their care are answered and physician anesthesiologists often administer medications to help reduce a patient’s anxiety, in addition

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• Pain medicine requires specialist care by a physician: Pain medications are strong, the spine and nerves that register pain are delicate and everyone’s anatomy and pain tolerance is different. Pain treat-

ment is complex and it can cause more harm if it is not provided by a skilled pain medicine specialist such as a physician anesthesiologist, who has the training and expertise to diagnose and treat each individual patient safely and effectively.

Care provided by a pain specialist is effective be-

cause it is individualized to each person. Therefore, it’s important that pain medication be taken only by the person to whom it was prescribed. If you are prescribed pain medications from a skilled pain medicine specialist, be sure to safely store and dispose of prescription medicines once you are finished with them to ensure they are not accessible to anyone else.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recently released a list of specific tests or procedures related to pain medicine that are commonly ordered but not always necessary as part of Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation. The list identifies five targeted, evidencebased recommendations that can support conversations between patients and physicians about appropriate pain care. To view the list, visit physician-paincare. com.

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A4 Page 4c — Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014

Dealing with dry eye — more common than you think (BPT) — They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but did you know eyes also say a lot about your health? A number of eye ailments are limited to the eye, but often they can be an indicator of a systemic problem. Dry eye — a common condition in which the tear ducts make insufficient tears for lubricating and nourishing the eye — can be either.

Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing comfortable and clear vision. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or have a poor quality of tears.

Each blink of the eyelids spreads tears across the front surface of the eye.

Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter in the eye, and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear.

Common symptoms of dry eye The Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, estimates that 40-million Americans are affected by dry eye and associated ocu-

lar surface diseases. The prevalence of dry eye increases with age, yet despite its prevalence, dry eye remains under diagnosed.

People with dry eye may experience symptoms of irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes, a feeling of something in their eyes, excess watering and blurred vision. Advanced dry eye can even damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.

Common causes of dry eye Dry eye has many causes, including Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), which accounts for approximately 70 percent of cases. The meibomian glands are located in the eyelids, and secretions from these glands are crucial in preventing rapid tear evaporation. Failure to produce or secrete oil will affect the quality and stability of the tear film, resulting in dry eye symptoms.

Contact lens wearers are particularly susceptible to dry eye as soft lens materials require additional lubrication, and a balanced tear film is vital to successful lens wearing. Additionally, med-

icated eye drops may exacerbate dry eye in contact wearers. Up to 50 percent of contact lens wearers discontinue use due to discomfort often caused by dry eye, according to estimates from the Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses.

During the winter months, many experience dry eye as humidity levels drop and home heating systems activate, resulting in drier air.

This often causes tears to evaporate more quickly.

Additional factors leading to dry eye include medications that can reduce the amount of tear produced in the eye, medical conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis and refractive eye surgeries, such as

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manage dry eye. However, inflammation is a systemic process and needs to be addressed from within the body. Artificial tears and rewetting drops may offer temporary relief, but this only alleviates the symptom. Eye vitamins, such as EyePromise EZ Tears, attack the cause instead of the symptom, and provide rapid dry eye relief by reducing inflammation and improving tear composition.

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Diagnosing dry eye An eye care professional can diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive eye examination, including testing with special emphasis on the evaluation of the quantity and quality of tear production. Testing

may include a review of the patient’s history to evaluate dry eye symptoms, any health problems, medications being taken or any environmental factors that could be causing dry eye, according to the American Health Journal. Your doctor will perform an external examination of the eye to check the structure of the eyelid and the quality and composition of your tears.

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A5 Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014 — Page 5c

Boomers: Have you heard about this health test?

(BPT) — Eating well, exercise, sleep — these are all things we can control when it comes to our health.

But unfortunately, some health-related things are out of sight, and therefore, often out of mind. Hidden health issues can escalate for years before becoming potentially life-threatening.

For example, the term “silent killer” refers to fatal medical conditions that often exhibit no warning signs. High blood pressure is one such condition that many people are familiar with, but there is another very serious condition that most people have never heard of: abdominal aortic aneurysm.

More than 1 million people are living with an undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm — also known as AAA (pronounced “triple A”) — and it’s the thirdleading cause of death in men 60 and older. The good news is that AAA can be managed and treated if found in time through a simple ultrasound screening test — so it’s important for boomers to know the risk factors for themselves and their loved ones so they can ask their doctor about screening, if necessary.

What exactly is AAA? AAA is a balloon-like bulge in the body’s main artery that can burst unexpectedly. The problem

with AAA is there are no symptoms, and when the aneurysm ruptures, only 10 to 25 percent of people will survive.

Tony Thomas of Detroit, Mich., is one of the lucky survivors. One morning Thomas woke up feeling great, and with no warnings, suffered a ruptured AAA. He was reading a newspaper, suddenly felt a gurgle on the right side of his back and quickly become incapacitated. His daughter called an ambulance and he was rushed to emergency surgery.

Today, Thomas feels very fortunate to have survived a ruptured AAA. He has partnered with a non-

profit, AAAneurysm Outreach, to become an advocate for their ambassador program - made possible by Medtronic, Inc. - spreading the word about AAA risk factors and the importance of screening.

A quick and painless ultrasound screening of the abdomen, similar to a pregnancy ultrasound, can easily detect the condition. In just a few minutes, a doctor can determine if AAA is present and if corrective action is necessary. The good news is at least 95 percent of AAAs can be successfully treated if detected prior to rupture through screening and most health plans cover AAA screening tests

at no cost for people who fit the risk profile.

So who is at greater risk of developing AAA? Risk factors associated with this condition include: • Age: Individuals 60 or older are most likely to develop this condition.

• Gender: AAAs are between five to 10 times more common in men than in women. However, research shows AAA may be more deadly in women.

• Family history: 15 percent of those with AAA have close relatives with the condition.

• History of smoking: Tobacco users are eight times more likely to be affected than non-smokers.

• Other health conditions: Including clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol.

“I want to urge others to learn about AAA and get screened if they are at risk.

I didn’t have that opportunity when I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery,” Thomas said.

“It’s important for others to know that a simple ultrasound screen can help save your life.”

If you or a loved one may be at risk for AAA, ask your doctor about a simple ultrasound screening. Visit www.AOutreach.org to learn more.

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A6 Page 6c — Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014

Hearing aids for the rock-and-roll generation enjoyed the most has resulted in losing the ability to hear the full range of treble tones, bass notes and subtle virtuosity of the music loved so much. The good news is that with today’s hearing aids, it’s possible to bring music back.

Many baby boomers are reluctant to seek treatment for hearing loss because they still envision hearing aids as the devices their parents used: clunky-looking things that made everything equally loud and unnatural-sounding. But, modern hearing aids have come a long way.

More than just amplification — sound quality While listening to music as loudly as possible was always an essential part of rock-and-roll culture, boomer fans also demanded the highest possible quality every instrument in balance, every voice crystal-clear. If

this was you, you may be understandably reluctant to trust hearing aids to provide a listening experience free of distortion and that “tinny” sound.

Modern hearing aids are designed with quality in mind. Instead of simply raising the volume on sound, they balance and direct the sounds wearers want to hear, lifting them above unwanted noise and transmitting them in as pure a form as state-of-the-art technology can provide. The most advanced hearing aids have technology that can even detect if you are in a car, at a concert, in a noisy restaurant, or having a cozy conversation — and then shapes the sound for that environment.

Many boomers have tin-

nitus (also known as that annoying ringing in the ears with no outside cause), thanks to all those rock concerts or time served in the armed forces. Many hearing aids include tinnitus therapy features that can bring relief. This feature can significantly improve your life while the hearing aids enhance your hearing.

Advanced wireless technology — stay connected Many digital hearing aids feature telecoils, FM, Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies that allow hearing aids to connect to telephones, iPods and other MP3 players, cellphones and assistive listening systems.

By using a combination of hearing aids and streaming accessories, digital hearing aids can connect to almost

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(BPT) — Baby boomers grew up listening to The Who’s Live at Leeds and other albums with liner notes that admonished young rockers to “play it loud” or “turn it up.” For the generation that grew up blasting stereos until the bedroom windows rattled and attending rock concerts that left ears ringing for a week or more, it’s little surprise that many are experiencing hearing loss.

Numerous conditions, including illnesses, medications and exposure to loud noise can cause hearing loss in people of any age. But, when it comes to members of the baby boomer generation, there is little doubt that excessive noise exposure is the most common culprit. In fact, an estimated 26 percent of boomers have been diagnosed with hearing loss.

It’s unfortunate that the very thing this generation

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When the music fades — what to do next Here are the three basic steps for confronting your hearing loss: 1. Accept hearing loss for what it is. It doesn’t matter if your hearing loss is the result of too many rock concerts in your youth or simply aging, it is not a weakness or personal failing. It’s a medical condition, like any other, and shouldn’t be ignored or covered up.

2. Contact a hearing care professional. Your personal physician can probably provide a referral or you can go online to locate a hearing care professional in your area. Schedule an appointment and get your hearing tested. Once you know whether you are dealing

with mild, moderate or profound hearing loss, you can discuss treatment options.

3. Accept that treatment may involve getting hearing aids. Most hearing care professionals today recognize two hearing aids are most often required, so that your hearing is made equal in both ears (binaural hearing).

Don’t let vanity keep you from wearing hearing aids any more than you would allow it to keep you from wearing glasses to improve your vision. These discreet, yet powerful devices can put you back in step with the rest of the world. More importantly, you’ll soon be able to enjoy those old vinyl albums stored in your attic again and party like it’s 1969.

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A7 Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014 — Page 7c

Alzheimer’s caregivers: Tips to take care of yourself, too (BPT) — Taking care of an ill loved one is never easy, but for the 15 million Americans who provide care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the emotional and financial toll of caregiving can be overwhelming. Last year, caregivers provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care for AD patients, amounting to $216 billion of care, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. They often experience emotional stress, depression, health problems of their own and a loss of wages, the Association reports.

“It’s important for caregivers to take care of themselves as well, and to help those they care for find treatment options that can make it easier for both patient and caretaker to better manage Alzheimer’s symptoms,” said Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, associate professor of neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment Program at Weill Cornell Medical College and a respected AD researcher who has several family members with the disease. “Just as there is no one solution for managing Alzheimer’s symptoms, caregivers need to employ a suite of tactics in coping with their responsibilities - from stress-relieving habits and regular medical care for themselves, as well education about nutritional therapy and medication for patients.”

Caregivers should keep in mind that helping themselves stay well is also helping the people for whom they’re caring. If you’re tak-

ing care of a loved one with AD, here are some ways you can help both yourself and the person in your care: • Therapy to mitigate AD symptoms — Coping with common symptoms of AD such as disorientation, forgetfulness and emotional imbalances are among the most stressful aspects of caregiving. Helping patients

mitigate those symptoms can improve the quality of life for both the patient and caregiver. Some medications show promise in helping reduce symptoms, and a new medical food, Axona(R) by Accera, Inc. can further help some mild to moderate patients mitigate symptoms, especially when used in tandem with

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Axona helps by providing the brain of mild to moderate AD patients with an alternative to glucose - the “food” which fuels brain function. A brain affected by AD doesn’t process glucose into energy as efficiently as a healthy brain, creating a condition known as diminished cerebral glucose metabolism (DCGM)) which most often occurs in the areas of the brain involved in memory and thoughts.

The easy-to-mix, once-daily prescription medical food Axona helps provide brain cells with an alternative energy source, which may help ease the effects of DCGM and enhance memory and cognitive function in AD patients. Doctors and caregivers of AD patients who use Axona report patients appear more alert and engaged in daily activities and interactions with others.

• Seek support — Caregivers provide a tremendous amount of support for both patients and those who love them, but they can use support too. If you are a care-

giver, join a support group where you can connect with people whose experiences and emotions parallel your own. You can find a support group through the Alzheimer Association’s website, www.alz.org. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends, too.

Something as simple as picking up laundry or groceries, or sitting with a patient for an hour while you run errands doesn’t take much time away from someone else’s schedule, but it could give you a much-needed break.

• Keep an organized schedule — Routine can be very comforting for AD patients, and a schedule can help caregivers stay on track and feel less stressed by day-to-day demands.

Online calendars or apps for your mobile device can help you keep a schedule and stay organized. Be sure to schedule in some time to give yourself a break, along with doctor’s appointments and medication timings.

• Avoid isolation — Withdrawal from society is

common among dementia patients and can take a toll on those caring for them.

Caregivers can feel isolated, too. It’s important to connect with others. Seek social interaction that will benefit you and your loved one with AD, whether it’s attending a weekly prayer meeting or a regularly scheduled dinner with family members.

• Keep things in perspective — The Alzheimer’s Association outlines five key things to remember: Don’t take behaviors personally; stay calm and patient; realize pain can be a trigger for behavior; don’t argue; and accept upsetting behaviors as part of the disease. Remember, your loved one can’t control his or her disease, but you can control your reaction to disease-related behaviors.

To learn more about Axona, visit www.about-axona. com/. For more information on AD, including tips for caregivers, visit www.alz. org.

• Dr. Richard Isaacson is a paid scientific advisor/consultant for Accera, Inc.

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A8 Page 8c — Osceola Sentinel-Tribune — Thursday, January 30, 2014

Boomers: Are you asking your doctor these critical heart health questions?

(BPT) — A healthy heart is key to ensuring you can live life to the fullest no matter what your age. Even if you’re committed to taking care of your heart health, the amount of information available can be overwhelming, and you may not be aware of the most important topics to discuss with your doctor.

Perhaps no one understands this better than Dr. Lee Friedman, a radiologist from St. Petersburg, Fla. When his doctor told him he needed a pacemaker, his heart health wasn’t the only thing affected; it could have affected his career too. Because historically pacemakers had not been approved in the U.S. for use with MRIs, Friedman worried he would no longer be able

to work in radiology where he is around MRIs all day.

He was also concerned he would not be able to get an MRI himself - a common medical diagnostic procedure - if he needed one in the future.

Friedman asked his doctor many questions and learned that a Medtronic pacemaker with SureScan Technology was recently FDA-approved for use in an MRI environment. He was able to keep his job and today works closely with his physician to ensure ongoing heart health.

Your doctor is your No. 1 resource for understanding important heart health concerns during your golden years. Make an appointment to talk to your physician and be sure to ask these five crit-

ical heart health questions: 1. What is my risk for cardiovascular disease?

By 2030, the American Heart Association projects that more than 40 percent of Americans will have some form of cardiovascular disease. This spike in numbers is largely due to the aging baby boomer population.

Your doctor can give professional insight into risk factors, some of which include family heredity, obesity, diet and diabetes.

2. Are my numbers normal for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index?

Similar to how a roadmap guides you from point A to point B, the results of preventive screenings give your doctor insight on your heart health today and where

it might be in the future.

Important screenings and numbers to know include cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index. Ask your doctor if you’re in the normal range or if you should make lifestyle changes.

3. What foods and supplements can I take to support heart health?

Diet plays an important role in the health of the heart, and boomers who eat nutritious meals can help keep their heart beating strong for years to come. Foods known to support heart health include anything containing whole grain, fresh fruits such as berries and oranges, and fresh vegetables like kale, carrots and tomatoes. Also ask your doctor about heart-

healthy supplements that might be a good addition to your diet, such as an omega-3 or vitamin D supplement.

4. What are some exercises and physical activities I should consider?

Just like your biceps or your calves, your heart is a muscle, and therefore it needs to be exercised to stay strong. Talk with your doctor about your current level of physical activity and what exercises you should add to your routine. Even small changes can have a big impact on maintaining appropriate body weight and heart health. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking in the back of the lot rather than the front - you’ll instantly boost your physical activity.

5.

Will I ever need a pacemaker?

You may not think you’ll ever need a pacemaker, but statistics show that the number of people getting them is on the rise. If you are diagnosed with a slow heart beat - also known as bradycardia - you may need a pacemaker. Remember, an estimated 50 to 75 percent of people with a pacemaker may need to undergo an MRI scan at some point of their lives, so a pacemaker that is MRI compatible may be a wise choice.

Boomers can make a difference when it comes to heart health by taking a proactive role in working closely with their doctor and asking the right questions.

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