Health Matters Observer
FEBRUARY 2020
RENOVATE YOUR LIFE Spring cleaning doesn’t need to be just for your house. It’s important to revamp yourself, too. PAGE 2
PRACTICING EVERYDAY SKILLS
GOING INFRARED
PICTURE OF HEALTH
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SMH upgrades rehab facility.
Columnist detoxes with infrared sauna.
Ironman racer says anything can be done.
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FEBRUARY, 2020
SPRING CLEAN YOUR HEALTH
“Visualization is huge. If we don’t take that mindful moment, you could be forgetting your vision and letting life take over.” — Elizabeth Player, a Marie Kondocertified organizing consultant
Out with the old and in with the new for these healthy habits. Nat Kaemmerer
NAT KAEMMERER
McClung teaches a restorative yoga class from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesdays that’s geared toward letting you be in your body and letting go of the day.
STAFF WRITER
I
t’s time to sort out your habits. If, as Marie Kondo would say, something isn’t sparking joy, then dump it. Typically, “spring cleaning” conjures up images of boxes full of old, useless stuff and beating the dust out of the rugs. But while you’re at it, why not clean out where you have to live 24/7 — your body? Take note of some of these lifestyle changes as the weather gets warmer and the days longer. Spring cleaning could be your second chance at that failed New Year’s resolution — except this time, you’ll stick to it. Elizabeth Player, a certified KonMari consultant who owns Energetic Organizing and assists clients in the
Tampa and Sarasota areas, recommends visualizing your goals in a concrete way to keep them at the forefront of your mind. “If we don’t take that mindful moment, you could be forgetting your vision and letting life take over,” Player said. If your goal of eating healthy, exercising more or having a regular sleep schedule is out in the world instead of just in your mind, it’s harder to give up on it. Player recommends writing it down or creating a vision board. GO OUTSIDE
Being outside is free, and in the Sunshine State, vitamin D is abundant.
“Nature grounds us, and natural sunlight is very important,” Player said. “When I work with clients, one of the first things we do is open up all the blinds.” If you’re feeling stagnant as we head into spring, taking yourself outside to move in the sunshine could boost your mood twofold: Movement releases endorphins, which act as analgesics to dull your sense of pain and could give you a feeling of euphoria, and sunlight usually correlates with a higher level of serotonin, the brain chemical that makes us feel more calm and in a better mood. “Taking a daily, 30-minute beach walk changes my perspective on anything and everything,”
Longboat Key-based yoga teacher Debby McClung said in an email. For Player, a connection to nature begins in her backyard, which leads to a small lake with plenty of birds, and she loves walking, feeding the birds and connecting with the animals. “It’s very grounding to be close to nature,” Player said. GET MOVING
Want to get your endorphins flowing? Just start moving. If you’re not an active person already, and if the thought of the gym makes you sweat before you even step through the door, then start small. Even clearing a space in your house to flop down a yoga
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TRADITIONAL CLEANING Even traditional spring cleaning can provide a bodily refresher to launch you into a new season. As you’re up and cleaning, you’ll be working up a sweat and getting your heart rate up. “When we move items, we move energy,” Player said. And moving your items around can bring you a boost of energy. When you’re up and moving, your body is releasing endorphins — so you can get a mini runner’s high from tidying up. Vacuuming, dusting, mopping and sorting through your belongings are all great ways to get on your feet. “[Cleaning] gets you active,” Player said. “One of the biggest things my clients say when they hire me is that it’s hanging over them; they don’t want to do anything; they feel overwhelmed; they don’t know where to start. When you clear the clutter, it clears up that space, so you can enjoy family and enjoy home without feeling like you should be doing other things.” Cleaning also stirs up a lot of junk that’s been hanging around in your house all winter and gives you the chance to clear it out and start fresh. Dust, pet and human dander, mold and mildew (which Florida homes are especially susceptible to) might be piled up in your home and waiting to exacerbate seasonal allergies. A thorough deep cleaning could lead to breathing easier at home, literally.
mat and get some stretching in will help you clear the clutter in your mind. “As long as it’s somewhere you can feel tranquil, it will make you feel better to get into your practice,” Player said. “Any time you can make even the smallest space a sanctuary, it helps your mental and emotional state.” As the weather gets warmer, the beach gets even more tantalizing. And as it happens, it can be the perfect workout studio for running, yoga or body weight strength workouts. Player uses fitness app Asana Rebel because its range of yoga-based workouts can be done anywhere, anytime. There are ways to get strong without the gym, too. Use resistance bands to strengthen your lower body, or try a body weight workout that can be done anywhere. Examples include burpees, planks, squat jumps, jumping jacks or lunges — all of which get your heart rate up and can be done in the sunshine. BUILD ROUTINES
Now is your chance to become one of those morning people you’ve heard so much about. Start a simple morning routine for yourself. If you’re hitting snooze half a dozen times, challenge yourself to get up by the third snooze. Once you’ve mastered that, actually start getting up on first alarm. “First thing I do [in the morning] is open up my blinds and say, ‘Good morning, morning!’” Player said. Don’t think about on what’s going to stress you out that day right when you wake up. Although it might feel like what you “should” do to keep yourself on the right track, immediate stress is not a good foundation on
“Fresh foods clear out the old and make way for new healthy habits that allow us to feel lighter.” — Debby McClung, Longboat Key yoga teacher
which to build your day. Instead, start your day with just a few minutes of positive thought. “When your day begins with words of encouragement, kindness, loving thoughts for yourself and others, the stress has a lighter feeling,” McClung said. As the day closes, start cutting out blue light from devices earlier and earlier, and get into a routine of calm breathing and thinking. Letting go of the day’s stress makes way for another day. EAT CLEAN
Of course, food is fuel, and we all know we should be eating more fresh, healthy food. Although you might be enjoying that quick cheeseburger you grabbed on the
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way to work in the moment, the processed meat, cheese and bread aren’t doing anything great for you in the long run. “When we go shopping, the rainbow of hydrating foods have such a way of luring us in,” McClung said. This spring, give in to the temptation of the rainbow, and give your body the natural nutrients it craves with a produce-packed grocery list. Tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, peas, oranges, kale, cucumbers, carrots and broccoli are all in season right now and can be found at various stands at the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch weekend farmers markets. “Fresh foods clear out the old and make way for new healthy habits that allow us to feel lighter,” McClung said. Try literally cleaning out your fridge and pantry to spring-clean those not-so-healthy foods — like those packed with extra sugar — out of your diet. Refresh your home with farmers market fruits and veggies. A walk in the morning plus fresh food plus sunshine equals a home run for bodily spring cleaning.
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Physical therapist Dr. Julia Figueroa (right) points out the objective of a Hocoma Lokomat-based game to stroke patient Ronald Serres. In this game, Serres must walk a certain speed to collect coins before a CPU opponent.
Patients strap into the Bioness Vector, on the ceiling, to practice walking and falling safely without the stress of their full body weight. The tinted squares on the floor help patients mark the distance they’ve traveled.
Rediscovering independence Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Rehabilitation Pavilion has everything from mailboxes to groceries to help patients relearn everyday activities.
BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER
G
aining your everyday life back after a brain injury, amputation, broken hip or something similar is usually difficult and often requires intensive rehabilitation. So what better way to regain the abilities needed for everyday life than by practicing the usual tasks that make up an average day? That’s the main concept behind
Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s 74,000-square-foot Rehabilitation Pavilion. Opened in April 2017, the building has a 54-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility, where patients stay an average of about 10-14 days as they regain the skills needed to go about their lives once more. It also has a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. Perhaps the most important accomplishment of the Rehabilitation Pavilion is bringing all the care that rehab patients need
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under one roof. Professionals from physical and occupational therapists to psychologists, nurses and speech pathologists work together to guide patients through the recovery process, said Dr. Alexander Bajorek, the medical director of Rehabilitation Services. “Every aspect of a patient’s life, from when they wake up in the morning to when they go to bed, is specifically addressed from a medical standpoint [and] a psy-
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EXTRA, EXTRA “Awash with natural light and colors, the walls are adorned with nature-inspired works by local artists. Each corridor has alcoves with built-in benches and motivational quotes from Theodore Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Walt Disney, Jon Bon Jovi and others.” — Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Photos by Brendan Lavell
A putting green sits in the Rehabilitation Pavilion’s “mobility garden.” Patients can also use the mobility garden for gardening and practicing opening and closing a mailbox.
“Every aspect of a patient’s life, from when they wake up in the morning to when they go to bed, is specifically addressed from a medical standpoint [and] a psychosocial standpoint.” — Dr. Alexander Bajorek, medical director of Rehabilitation Services
chosocial standpoint,” Bajorek said. “And through that team coordination, we get them to an independent level.” Also, the facility is attached to the main hospital, so medically complex rehab patients who need access to their providers can get attention easily. And in the event that urgent medical help is required, it’s a short commute. Before the Rehabilitation Pavilion opened, SMH had a similar program to the one it runs today. However, the program was confined to the ninth and 10th floors of another hospital building. This meant smaller bedrooms that were not private, smaller hallways and less specialized and advanced equipment and machinery. At the Rehabilitation Pavilion,
each bedroom is its own private apartment, and there’s space in each room for patients to host a family member overnight. In fact, Bajorek said some guests say it’s like staying in a hotel. Each apartment, like just about everything in the facility, is designed to help inpatient guests practice the skills they will need to rediscover their independence. For example, every unit has a full kitchen where patients can learn to cook for themselves again, and SMH staff can help with tasks including getting dressed in the morning. “The best neuro-recovery and neuroplasticity occurs when the movement or something that you’re teaching a patient is meaningful and functional,” Bajorek
said. “So I could tell you to do 100 bicep curls, and your brain will think it’s basically meaningless. But if I teach you to take a spoon and put it in your mouth and eat, one of the most functionally meaningful things to any patient, your neuro-recovery will be much quicker and much more meaningful.” This strategy extends far outside the patients’ apartments. Where did you think they get the food with which they learn to cook? Patients can go to the grocery aisle and practice grabbing items from different shelves. They can climb in and out of a miniature half-car that can be adjusted by height to simulate anything from a sedan to a pickup truck. There’s a set of stairs leading to a doorway, so they can try entering and exiting their house. The stairs are higher than regulation, so patients who live in houses that were built before more recent codes went into effect are prepared. Outside in the mobility garden, there’s a mailbox, a hose for people who want to practice
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gardening and even a small putting green — because this is Florida, after all. When it comes to therapy, Director of Rehabilitation Services Laura Magnusson said hundreds of hours of research were poured into making sure the facility had research-backed equipment that will improve patients’ outcomes. This includes the Bioness Vector, a track on the ceiling of a hallway that can reduce how much weight patients feel as they are walking, complete with visual markers on the floor that show how far they’ve traveled. There’s also the Hocoma Lokomat, which is a similar device that can also emphasize weight on one side or the other. Roland Serres has been using the Lokomat after a stroke that has affected him on the left side. SMH uses the device to test his speed, range of motion and hip/ knee extension. It also comes with a screen that the patient uses to play games with the objective of hitting specific speed or distance goals. Although he admitted to being tired quickly, Serres is able to walk at least 800 meters with the help of the Lokomat, as opposed to about five or 10 steps on his own. The Rehabilitation Pavilion itself and the SMH team that operates it gives patients access to a wide array of experts who create a plan to help them and a built-in support system of staff members and other patients. What better way is there for patients to regain their lives than by practicing everyday life?
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SCREEN TIME Under age 2: None Ages 2-5: Less than an hour Ages 6+: Find a consistent limit that’s appropriate for your child, but ensure it doesn’t replace time for sleep or physical activity.
Kids’ screen time leaves lasting mark Local physicians explain how excessive technology use can negatively impact children.
LIZ RAMOS STAFF WRITER
Technology is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. Students use it in school, kids are watching more movies and videos and playing video games, and social media has increasingly
become the way to communicate with one another. But what impact does hours of screen time have on children? Spending hours staring at a screen can cause negative impacts on a child’s physical, mental and social emotional health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children younger than 18 months to 2 years old avoid digital media use, and for children 2 to 5 years old, screen time should be limited to one hour per day. “Technology is not a bad thing if used appropriately,” said Kerry Gaylord, the director of child development for the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. Early Learning Coalition provides and coordinates the services of school readiness programs to help children develop needed skills to achieve educational success, support parents as their child’s teacher and improve the quality of services in the community. Dr. Jose Tavarez with First Physicians Group in Lakewood Ranch said one problem with too much screen time is the effect on brain development. “The development the brain is supposed to go through is different; it’s slower,” Tavarez said. “We do know [that for] some kids, when they have excessive screen
time, speech could be delayed, and social skills could be delayed.” Pam Parmenter, the director of early learning for the coalition, said a child’s development benefits from the ability to manipulate real items, such as blocks, that will help develop a sense of spatial relationship, which will in turn assist when trying to understand math, science and engineering. Technology usage also impedes children’s ability to develop social and emotional skills necessary to develop relationships with others. “You’re not really interacting with people when doing it virtually versus learning the nuances of social and emotional cues and developments,” Gaylord said. Kids spending less time outdoors and more time inside using digital devices also causes issues for a child’s physical health. “The kids, instead of playing outside, jumping around, they’re sitting in front of a screen,” Tavarez said. “Passive screen time is really dangerous.” Dr. Ashley Masuga, a Lakewood Ranch optometric physician, said children spending more time inside on devices rather than outside increases the chances of developing myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, the inability to see far away.
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Masuga said technology usage causes dryness of the eye because people “probably blink 50% less” when staring at screens. Other impacts include eye irritation and eye strain. “I think it’s really important to limit use,” Masuga said. “If you tell children it’s potentially harmful to their eyes, I think children will listen to you, and you can create minimal time.” The blue light coming from screens can affect children’s sleep patterns as well. Looking at screens within two hours before going to sleep causes children to have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, Tavarez said. A lack of sleep can then affect a child while at school because the child might not be able to stay awake during class or might not be as focused. He suggests setting up screenfree times and making screenfree zones in the home, such as in the child’s bedroom and the kitchen and dining area. Tavarez stresses that meal times should be technology-free to promote family interactions. Masuga said eye doctors recommend taking several visual breaks when using technology. “We recommend for every 20 minutes on a device, take 20 seconds off the device looking 20 feet away,” she said. “It allows the eye to actually have breaks, and that can really help in reducing some of [the impacts] as well.” If parents want to introduce digital media to their youngsters, Gaylord, Parmenter and Tavarez suggest ensuring parents are involved in the media usage. “If I were to sit down, and ideally, you’d want to sit down with an educational-type program or tool, with a child shoulder-to-shoulder,
I’m now interacting with them,” Gaylord said. “That in itself is what lends to teaching them those social skills and emotional skills in helping to scaffold that type of development and bonding.” Tavarez said parents have to be what he calls “media mentors” to their children by sitting with them and explaining what they’re watching. Stopping the video to talk about the concepts being introduced allows for an opportunity to deepen a child’s thought process, analysis, creative thinking and problem solving, Parmenter said.
“We recommend for every 20 minutes on a device, take 20 seconds off the device looking 20 feet away. It allows the eye to actually have breaks, and that can really help in reducing some of [the impacts] as well.” — Dr. Ashley Masuga, a Lakewood Ranch optometric physician
Sometimes parents use technology as a way to keep children from being bored or to distract them, so parents can complete tasks around the home, such as washing dishes, making dinner or doing laundry, but Gaylord and Parmenter said common household chores can also be used as a time to learn, have fun and stay away from technology. “Children don’t become problem solvers by leaving them alone,” Parmenter said.
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26
BE HEART SMART February is Heart Month, and HealthConnection celebrates with an interactive presentation led by the cardiac team at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. The event is free to attend, and audience questions are encouraged. Presentation is from 10-11:30 a.m. at SMH, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For information and to RSVP, call 9177011, or email HealthConnection@SMH.com.
SATURDAY, FEB. 29
PARKINSON’S EXPO This annual, daylong event features several nationally renowned Parkinson’s experts to help educate, engage and empower those in the Parkinson’s community. Doors open at 8 a.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Event is free. To register, visit NeuroChallenge.org/expo.
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN 10K/5K Take Stock in Children of Manatee County’s annual 10K/5K will start and finish at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The 10K and 5K are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., and a kids fun run starts at 7:30 a.m. The post-race party will feature food, entertainment, raffles, age group awards and kids’ activities. For information, visit TakeStockInChildren.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
ORTHOPEDIC SYMPOSIUM Four orthopedists from 360 Orthopedics and Coastal Orthopedics will speak on shoulder pain, arthritic knee pain and treatment for back pain. The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch, 7230
University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch. For more information and to register, visit LakewoodRanchMedicalCenter.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
JOURNEY TO WELLNESS SYMPOSIUM From 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, come listen to national and local speakers discuss new treatments and insights into emotional well-being. The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness and help erase the stigmas of mental health and addiction. Event is free. Visit SunshineFromDarkness.org to register.
MONDAY, MARCH 16
BRAIN HEALTH MATTERS! The Brain Health Initiative, an effort to promote brain health and complete a decades-long study of brain health, is educating the public with a lecture series. Hear from Dr. Uma Naidoo, a psychiatry instructor at Harvard Medical School and the director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, on the integration of food, mental health and medicine. Time and location are to be announced. For information, visit BrainHealthInitiative.org/events.
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“The goal is to sweat out harmful toxins in the body, and Blufit Manager Tina Trieu said people can burn anywhere from 200-600 calories in a 55-minute session.”
Brynn Mechem
The infrared therapy pods can reach temperatures as hot as 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
Infrared saunas a hot way to release toxins Our reporter tests out an infrared sauna to see if there are health benefits. BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER
Journalism is a strange profession. Some days you’re working until 11 p.m. covering a meeting where the list of public speakers seems never-ending. Some days you take photos of turtles on the beach. And some days you find yourself basically naked in a contraption designed to make you sweat and questioning if you somehow
fell into Dante’s sixth circle of hell— you know, the one where heretics are condemned to eternity in flaming tombs. Said contraption was an infrared therapy pod at Sarasota’s Blufit Recovery & Nutrition, which has been offering the service since 2017. The pod heats a person with infrared lights that heat the body from within, unlike a traditional sauna, which heats from the surrounding air. The goal is to sweat out harmful toxins in the body, and Blufit Manager Tina Trieu said people can burn anywhere from 200-600 calories in a 55-minute session.
The treatment is also said to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, boost digestion and improve sleep. Some studies have examined the use of infrared saunas in treatment for certain health issues, such as high blood pressure, or to promote muscle recovery with promising results. Further, a study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that repeated thermal therapy improves heart functionality in patients with coronary risk factors. Trieu, however, said the biggest benefit is the detoxification.
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I don’t mean it was Florida in August hot. I mean I sweat more than I have in my entire life. The ironic part? My machine was set on 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature is 158. But it was also relaxing. I love having an excuse to not check my phone for an hour during the business day. I love lying around and doing nothing, especially when I’m getting paid. Although I enjoyed the relaxation, I’m unsure of the detox benefits. In the waiting room, however, I ran into Sarasota resident Jennifer Lajeunesse, who has used Blufit’s infrared pods to do an annual detox since 2018. She does 10 sessions in the month of January each year as part of a 21-day detox and then receives the treatment periodically throughout the year. “It’s great because not only do you get the infrared benefits, but it also vibrates and massages you,” she said. “It’s a good way to cleanse the body and feel refreshed.” I didn’t feel exceptionally cleansed of toxins when I left the pod — maybe I need to do more treatments — but I did feel refreshed. My heart rate had increased, I had taken a muchneeded relaxation break, and my skin even had a nice glow. That evening I fell asleep quickly, though I did wake up feeling like I’d been stranded in the desert for a week. So if you give this therapy a try, keep a bottle of water handy.
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“If you don’t detox your body, toxins from smoking, drinking, sugar, fried food, etc., will stay in your body,” Trieu said. Gulp. Aside from not smoking, I’m not doing my body many favors. The idea of using a sauna as a detoxification method has drawn controversy throughout the medical field. A study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health said sweat can release some toxins from the body, but doctors generally say it is the job of the kidneys and liver, not sweat, to release toxins. Before I got in, Trieu explained the pod would have a massage for my upper body and legs, a stressreducing blue light above my head, a vibrating panel on my middle section that is said to reduce fat and cellulite, and, of course, the infrared light. This pod is a sauna on health-centric steroids. After ensuring that I didn’t have disqualifying circumstances — such as a pregnancy, a pacemaker or osteoporosis — I was led to a room and asked to strip down. Then it was time to sweat. Before I tell you about my experience, let me share some facts about myself: I’m always cold. I keep a blanket under my desk at the office. I wear fleece pajamas to bed … in Florida. For 15 years I was a softball catcher in the muggy Missouri humidity. In layman’s term, it takes a lot for me to sweat. This pod was hot.
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CHOOSE 1: 4 GUEST VOUCHERS to use for the year ($100 value) 6 VOUCHERS FOR FREE CARTS for the year ($100 value) AND CHOOSE 1: FREE LOCKER for a year ($100 value) FREE BAG STORAGE for a year ($100 value) FREE SLEEVE OF GOLF BALLS each month of membership ($100 value) FREE PUTTER ($100 value)
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FEBRUARY, 2020
LIFESTYLE RX
HEALTH MATTERS
LESSONS FROM
THE HEART The middle-aged population needs to become more aware and start taking precautions against cardiovascular disease.
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT By Freya Robbins, Founder, Financial Wellness Center These were the words right out of my daughter’s mouth as I reminded her that I would not be around forever. This represented an opportunity for me. Yes, an opportunity to discuss how we might coordinate events and living situations, finances etc., for her brother, who has epilepsy, upon my death or when I become unable to care for him. The conversation ended abruptly. Why do we resist having these difficult conversations? It is difficult, awkward and uncomfortable talking about the loss of someone, especially when they are alive and we don’t want to think about death, loss, emptiness, aloneness or any of the other negative attributes that go along with our situation. When we are very young, we aren’t even aware that these conversations will be necessary and quite honestly children shouldn’t need to worry about having conversations about the death or illness of a loved one. As we get older and experience the illness and loss of people close to us, we will be more in tune with the need and the desire to have these conversations and the benefits of discussing these difficult issues. Knowing there’s a need and being an adult doesn’t make us want to have the conversation anymore, though. Most times we will avoid having the conversation about losing someone close to us. Really, who does welcome that conversation? Loss is grief and one of the first stages of grief is denial, which is why we avoid the conversation. That is one reason why it’s better if we can deal with the issues before there is a crisis. Make decisions when we are calm and can focus on options. Reminding my daughter that I won’t be around forever is very emotional for her. Not only will I be gone, but she knows she will be left alone and will have the added responsibility of overseeing her brother’s affairs. I hurt too and feel bad for her even thinking about it. We still need to have the conversation, though. Have you ever thought about
KRISTINE NICKEL
what might happen if we don’t have these conversations?
F
ebruary is more than just a month spent celebrating past presidents and sending valentines. For many years, the month has also been designated as a time to turn our attention to heart disease. And one of the outstanding health care achievements over those past years, actually decades, has been the decline in death rates from cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke. Over the past 60 years, that death rate has declined by 70%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As we process through the difficult conversations, we are likely to discuss some of the things she is worried about and the answers will become clear. It is likely that the outcome will be that she will not be as worried if there is a plan in place. Yes, she might grieve the idea of losing me in the future, but the reality is we will all die at some point. I would rather have as much as possible planned for and put it in place to save any hardship for everyone after I am gone even if it does mean “We really need to talk about it.” This is my story, but we all have very similar stories about what we avoid. It might be about a relationship that is on the rocks. Or it might be about the normal aging of a loved one and where will they live and who will take care of them.
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW
Alarmingly, recent statistics show that the death rate is in park. It has fallen only 4% during the past eight years. What is even more surprising and alarming is that the death rate is rising for middle-aged Americans. Given the reduction in smoking and the plethora of medications to control blood pressure and statins to control high cholesterol, it was assumed that cardiovascular disease would fall below cancer as the leading cause of death. That has yet to happen because of the rise of the disease in middle-aged patients. And what is the culprit? Dr. Steven Nissen, of the respected Cleveland Clinic, recently told The Wall Street Journal that cardiovascular disease patients nowadays not only are younger but also are more obese, are much less likely to be smokers
Recently I worked with a mature woman who was not married and who lived with a family member who “took care of everything”. When this family member of hers died suddenly, she found herself in a tizzy and she could not cope. She could not take care of her home, her finances, and she was totally unaware of what her next steps would be. She was unable to drive. She began finding out that her family member did not have a valid Will and the home that they lived in together might not be hers as she believed it would be. “But she always took care of everything, she said.” Or so she thought. Because I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, we will be hosting a monthly gathering to discuss difficult conversations. I would be honored if you would like to join us at, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It”.
Freya Robbins, Founder Financial Wellness Center 3580 S. Tuttle, Sarasota 941-957-9300
Join us for a free support & discussion group, “I don’t want to talk about it!” Thursday, Feb 27, 5:30-7 PM RSVP at financialwellnesscenter.me 318212-1
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“Statistics today bear out what we see in everyday life: Close to 40% of U.S. adults over the age of 20 are obese, another 32% are overweight, and more than 9% have diabetes, according to the CDC.” and include more women. Statistics today bear out what we see in everyday life: Close to 40% of Americans over the age of 20 are obese, another 32% are overweight, and more than 9% have diabetes, according to the CDC. Many health care professionals see obesity as the new cigarette smoking in terms of cardiovascular disease. And in terms of the wave of this disease in middle-aged people, researchers only have to look in the rearview mirror. Obesity began rising across the U.S. population in the early 1980s. And Type 2 diabetes followed. The bottom line is that one of America’s greatest achievements over much of the past century — a huge decline in death rates from heart disease and strokes — is in the process of being reexamined. Although anti-smoking campaigns, the aforementioned medications and surgical advances have extended millions of lives, new strategies to combat overweight and obesity, which can cause Type 2 diabetes, will need to be developed. Stressing the need for weight loss and increased exercise has not shown to gain traction with many people. One of the issues is that the middle-aged population does not see themselves as being at
HEALTH MATTERS
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FEBRUARY, 2020
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Journey to Wellness Symposium SATURDAY, MARCH 14 • 8:45 a . m . – 12:15 p . m . VA N W E Z E L P E R F O R M I N G A R T S H A L L
3 CEU credits (at no charge) for RNs, LPNs, APRNs, LCSWs, LMHCs and LMFTs
National and local mental health scientists and speakers will address new treatments, discoveries, and insights into the emotional well-being of your child, loved one, family member or friend. A Q&A will follow the program. The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness of mental health and addiction disorders and help to erase the stigma.
Doors open at 8 a.m.; there will be tabling by community resources.
Free and open to the community. More information and registration at SunshineFromDarkness.org.
LEE AND BOB PETERSON FOUNDATION’S SUNSHINE FROM DARKNESS PRESENTS
INSPIRING HOPE DINNER
SATURDAY, MARCH 14 • 6:30 – 10:30 p . m . • RITZ-CARLTON, SARASOTA
risk for cardiovascular disease. It is seen as a disease for older people. And that cohort still accounts for most of the cardiovascular deaths, but the rate of death for people 75 and older has actually fallen. Experts say that younger people need to become more aware and take precautions
against cardiovascular disease — especially women. According to the CDC, heart disease has become the No. 1 cause of death for women in the U.S.; it has surpassed lung and breast cancer. For more information and additional resources, visit Heart. org for a decade-by-decade primer on creating heart-healthy habits. Kristine Nickel is a marketing communications consultant. For more than 30 years, she has relieved her stress by writing features for publications across the country.
Ron Suskind
Steve Ford
Proceeds to benefit mental health services of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare and First Step of Sarasota, and cutting-edge brain research
Purchase tickets today at SunshineFromDarkness.org Media Sponsor
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“The bottom line is that one of America’s greatest achievements over much of the past century — a huge decline in death rates from heart disease and strokes — is in the process of being reexamined.”
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ABOUT ED RYMER Age: 68 Neighborhood: Golden Gate Point Job: Investor Favorite food: Steak & Mushrooms Best advice: It can be done.
Whitney Elfstrom
Ed Rymer, 68, believes that anything you try can be done.
Believe in yourself At 68, Ed Rymer has completed six Ironman triathlons, including the 2019 World Championship Ironman.
WHITNEY ELFSTROM STAFF WRITER
Ed Rymer said he’s in better shape at 68 than he was at 20. Perhaps that’s because in the past 13 years he’s competed in six Ironman triathlons, including the 2019 World Championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. “I’m no spring chicken,” Rymer said. “It’s pretty rare just
to do an Ironman, let alone being almost 69. I know it’s a gift that I can even do it. It takes discipline, but on the other hand, I think anybody can do it.” The Ironman is made up of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile marathon run. How does one decide not only to participate in the Ironman, which is commonly revered as
one of the most difficult races in the world, but also compete in six? Rymer said his passion for the event stems from his love of the discipline that comes along with his training. Rymer isn’t a lifelong lover of health and fitness and said they only made sporadic appearances in his life while growing up. He played baseball as a child, and in high school he dabbled in football and wrestling. It wasn’t until he was in his 40s that health and fitness became a main focus for him, Rymer said. His desire to participate in an Ironman competition developed after he heard that his daughter’s friend competed in one. “I remembered when she couldn’t even run a marathon, and it inspired me that if she could do it, then I could do it,” he said. “That was around age 56.” A true believer in putting his mind to something and coming out the other side stronger, Rymer believes that anyone who decides to — and who also has the time and discipline — can compete in an Ironman or anything they seek to do. For someone who says he’s competitive by nature, spending
his time training for the competition made sense. He linked up with an Ironman trainer, bought a triathlon bike and devoted his time to being the best he could. A typical Ironman training session for Rymer could look like waking up before sunrise to complete a 100-mile bike ride in the form of three loops from his Golden Gate Point home, to the north end of Longboat Key, down to the south end of Lido Beach and back. Or it could be swimming laps in the YMCA pool — something he said he excels in now but can remember a time when he could barely do more than a few laps. “I can remember not being able to swim five laps when training for my first Ironman,” Rymer said. “I can remember that day. I had run marathons prior to deciding to compete, but I had never really swam.” Focusing on his “why” keeps Rymer going. He said he competes in the hefty triathlons to set a good example for his four children and seven grandchildren, who watch him compete in his races. Although he’s taking the year off from competing in any Ironmans, Rymer said he still works out four or five days a week to keep his mind clear and to keep a base fitness level. “The training instills a discipline that you can hold on and continue to do, whether it be for health or all other aspects of your life or your mind,” Rymer said. “The more you use your body, the better it gets. The more you use your mind, the better it gets. There’s all kinds of ancillary benefits, other than just the pride of doing it.”
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