Healthsourcemag.com

Stress Management

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:56:57 PST

Stress is defined as “any change that we must adapt to, whether it is positive or negative.” Stress is an everyday fact of life. Our adaptation to stress as a positive or negative experience is determined by how we perceive, interpret and respond. A useful metaphor is to consider the riders on a roller-coaster who experience acceleration stress. Some riders feed off the thrill and adrenaline rush of the roller coaster ride, while others hold on for dear life hoping that the ride will end quickly.

Similarly in life, there are those times the exhilaration of a challenge leads to enhancement of our performance, but when we are overwhelmed by responsibilities, our performance and enjoyment suffers. Research shows that on a physiologic level these overwhelming external threats activate our fight-or-flight response. This adaptive response works well if we are being chased by a lion in the jungle, but not so well if we perceive that the same threatening lion is chained to our desk at work every day.

Corporate Wellness Programs

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:22:52 PST

Employer Benefits - Improve employee health and improve your bottom line

Statistics show that 83% of employees have a poor diet, 65% are overweight or obese and 67% exercise little or none at all. As a result, you, the employer, are suffering from a number of “indirect” cost increases resulting from low employee productivity and escalating absenteeism that impacts your company’s overall performance.

The bottom line - your bottom line is suffering.

Additionally, unhealthy lifestyles contribute to 90% of diabetes and 80% of heart disease, conditions that contribute to significant escalations in medical expenses. Health care costs are continually on the rise - from 13% to 20% a year – and employers are absorbing that “direct” expense increase. Corporate Wellness Programs also give your staff a healthy work-life balance, which further reduces a significant number of health related issues.

Incorporating a Health & Productivity Management Strategy into your company’s Strategic Plan puts value back into human capital, delivers a measurable return on investment, and ultimately saves lives.

Health and Productivity Management

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:01:44 PST

Health and Productivity Management (HPM) has become a primary initiative in corporate culture today. Companies involved in HPM programs see investments in human capital as an opportunity, not as the cost of doing business. Each employee is an asset to that company and corporations are realizing that an investment in their employees is now a bottom line issue.

When combining corporate services such as health and fitness intervention, employee benefits, safety, and disability companies can cut health care costs and change the culture of their corporation for improved productivity.

Walking to Find a Cure

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:44:03 PST

Local residents strive to beat diabetes, one step at a time

At 8 a.m. on November 7, Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, also called Walk on the Wild Side, will take place at the Jacksonville Zoo. The walk, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, will attract about 2,000 walkers on 200 teams.

According to Step-Out coordinator Amanda Intravaia, the fundraising goal for this year is $350,000. That money helps fund research, programs and awareness for diabetes. This year’s walk will also recognize and honor walkers who have diabetes. The Red Striders will have a special edition red hat and will celebrate the day at a party tent sponsored by Pfizer.

Intravaia, who is 24-years-old, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four. “It is inspirational to me to see so many people coming together to fight something that I’ve lived with for twenty years,” she says.

Channel 4 weather man Richard Nunn is this year’s walk chair. Nunn’s passion for supporting the American Diabetes Association stems from his own family’s health challenges. “Some of them have succumbed to diabetes and some of them live with it on a daily basis,” he says. “The statistics are alarming that every few seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes and every few minutes someone dies from the disease. I want to help find a way to pass diabetes.”

It’s Time to Kick Some Butts

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:17:20 PST

Local area professionals aim to put the light out on smoking

In 1970, a pack of cigarettes cost $1.70. Today, the price is nearly $5 a pack. To date, 24 states have passed laws prohibiting smoking in public places. And as tobacco and its effects on the body receive more study, research shows nicotine’s toxins impact many of the body’s interrelated biological systems beyond the lungs and heart.

The growing financial cost, public and workplace restrictions and overwhelming medical research on the dangers of smoking are driving the number of smokers down in all categories – from 43 percent of the population in 1965 to 19.8 percent in 2007 (about 26 million men and 20 million women smoke today). Among the nation’s teenagers, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that smoking is down from 28.3 percent in 1991 to 19.8 percent in 2007.

But for those remaining 40 million people nationwide, smoking remains a tough habit to break. That’s why a number of associations, medical practices and businesses offer counseling and support groups to help tobacco users kick the habit – and they have a plethora of prescription medications at their disposal to help users overcome their physical and psychological dependence.

So Sweet

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:11:06 PST

With all the choices in sugar substitutes, it’s easy to get your sweet fix

Slide into a booth at any diner and you’re likely to find a colorful bouquet of artificial sweetener packets adorning the back edge of the table. Most of us have grown so accustomed to the familiar pink, blue and yellow squares that we hardly give them a second glance. According to the Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry, 194 million adult Americans consume low-calorie/sugar free foods and beverages.

From the sage advice of Mary Poppins, “just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” to the popular teen phrase, “sweet,” most of us associate sweetness with goodness. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture reports that the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than double the recommended amount. For diabetics, dieters and others looking to decrease their sugar intake, artificial sweeteners are a welcome alternative.

Sally Clifton, MSH, RD, LD/N, Clinical Dietitian at Shands Jacksonville and President of the Jacksonville Dietetic Association, agrees sweeteners are a wonderful way to satisfy cravings without raising blood sugar. She believes they are beneficial to a diabetic diet if used correctly. “Moderation is really the key. By eating small amounts throughout the day and sticking with recommended serving sizes, these products can be incorporated into a balanced diet.”

Meal Planning Tips for People with Type 2 Diabetes

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:08:58 PST

A little forethought can make all the difference

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a visit with a diabetes educator or a dietitian can help you learn how to modify your diet and help manage your diabetes.

Awareness, education and putting what you learn into practice are the keys to better diabetes management. Some simple reminders and guidelines can help you get started:

Exercise! According to Jodi Brindisi, RD, at Baptist Health, “Exercise is so important. The recommendation for daily exercise time has been increased to 60 minutes a day,” she says. Breaking the time up into ten minute increments throughout the day makes it possible. “It is important because physical activity helps you control your blood sugar level,” says Brindisi.
Consistent meal planning! “Everyone should have a small meal or a snack every four hours,” says Brindisi. “Plan for those meals and also plan for healthy snacks.”
Check your blood sugars regularly so you can best plan your meals and snacks.

Have a Stress-Free and Healthy Thanksgiving

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:20:05 PST

Quick tips for a happy holiday

If you are overwhelmed by the thought of buying, cooking, baking and cleaning for the upcoming holiday, HealthSource has some shortcuts that might help.

Make a list of what needs to be done. If you have family, get them on board to help and delegate the tasks.

Do the basic housecleaning ahead of time – but remember that your house will need more cleaning after the holiday. On the big day, make sure the bathrooms are neat and supplied, and the rooms are clutter-free. Save the real clean up for afterward.
Decide on your menu and make a shopping list. Get your coupons in order ahead of time.
Set the table and decide what serving dishes you plan to use the day before. Put sticky notes with the name of each dish to make things even easier when serving time comes.
Make desserts ahead of time and freeze if possible.
Prepare your turkey the night before and store it in the fridge. Just make sure it sits out at room temperature for two hours before cooking.
If doing the whole dinner is too overwhelming given your amount of time, then ask people to bring a dish. Most people have Thanksgiving favorites anyway, so ask them to bring their favorite.
Grocery stores have Thanksgiving dinners to go also. Enjoying the holiday is more important than making dinner from scratch. If buying Thanksgiving causes less stress then it is worth it.

Diabetes Research and Advancements in Care

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:15:45 PST

The cure for diabetes is a good way off, partly because the explosive growth of the disease has turned attention to its early detection, halting its progression and preventing complications. “If you identify the problem early enough, exercise and weight loss can be thought of as a partial cure,” says J. Gary Evans, M.D., who is involved in research for Northeast Florida Endocrine and Diabetes Associates.

While prevention holds the greatest promise, Dr. Evans and others are looking into the different pieces of the diabetes puzzle. “There are various classes of diabetes medications, each of which work slightly differently than the others,” says Dr. Evans. “In combination they often compliment each other.”

Diabetes is a dynamic progressive disease and often requires the addition of one or more medications to achieve insulin control. Data shows that some medications, such as Metformin, reduce the risk of progression. “Where Metformin reduces sugar output from the liver, another class of medications, such as Sulfonylureas, stimulate insulin production from the pancreas,” explains Dr. Evans. “Another class of medications called TZDs, such as Actos, is an insulin synthesizer. It helps the tissue, muscles and blood cells respond more effectively to the patient’s own insulin.”

The Diabetes Imperative

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:12:28 PST

As diabetes sweeps through the population, physicians and patients are learning more about the disease and how best to fight its debilitating complications

With one in three Americans at risk for diabetes and the country facing pandemic growth of the disease, you’d think everyone knows all about it. But they don’t. In fact, millions of Americans are well on their way to developing diabetes and don’t even know it. Doctors say that it’s imperative for Americans to learn about the disease so they can prevent becoming diabetic and minimize its damage if they do become diabetic.

Diabetes upsets our regular metabolism, the chemical reactions and processes our body normally executes to keep us healthy. In the case of diabetes, that involves the processing of sugar. Glucose is the type of sugar our body uses as its main source of energy and it comes from carbohydrate foods. The pancreas normally controls sugar levels by producing insulin, an energy-storing hormone that pulls blood sugar out of the bloodstream and saves it in the cells as fat. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to insulin, our sugar levels rise.

The Color Pink

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:37:28 PST

Four Women – Four Stories – One Amazing Message

If you see more pink than usual this month it’s because October is breast cancer awareness month and pink is the color for that support. Awareness is essential because breast cancer is the most common cancer in women – and it strikes young and old alike. The earlier it is detected, the greater the chance for survival. “We are detecting it so much earlier due to the advancements in technology and that’s the reason why about 95 percent of breast cancer patients survive it,” says Jeri Millard, who runs “In the Pink,” a new boutique for women living with cancer. It is located at 522 North Third St., Jacksonville, Beach. www.jaxinthepink.com.

“In the United States this year, more than 200,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 people will die from the disease,” says Millard, who also serves as the chair of the Beaches Making Strides Against Breast Cancer committee. “As we continue to educate women and young girls about the disease, this number will decrease due to knowledge, which in turn leads to early detection.”

Cooking Tips for Health Conscious Eaters

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:35:12 PST

Simple ways to turn everyday meals into healthy feasts

Do you have a favorite recipe that you’d love to prepare in a more heart healthy way, retaining the flavors while reducing the fat, sugar, and sodium? Tina Bost, RD/LD, Clinical Dietitian – Outpatient Transplantation, Instructor, Mayo Clinic, has five key guidelines that can make even your most decadent favorites more heart healthy.

Reduce the amount of fat, sugar and sodium.

· Fats: “For baked goods use half the butter, shortening or oil and replace with unsweetened applesauce, prune puree or mashed banana,” says Bost.

· Sugar: Reduce the amount of sugar by one-third to one-half and add spices such as cinnamon, cloves, allspice or nutmeg. Or add vanilla or almond flavoring. “These additions will enhance the natural sweetness of the food,” explains Bost.

· Sodium: For main dishes, eliminate salt completely. For baked goods, Bost suggests that you reduce salt by half in baked goods that don’t require yeast. “With yeast baked goods, salt is necessary for leavening,” says Bost.

Healthy Breakfast Options

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:29:16 PST

Great ways to start the day

“It’s important to make the daily breakfast effort instead of finding reasons to skip it,” says Catherine Wallace, RD/LDN, pediatric clinical dietitian at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “It’s not easy to make yourself eat breakfast if you aren’t used to it. Give yourself time and try to eat within an hour of getting up.”

For those who exercise first thing in the morning, eating a regular breakfast may be too much before a workout, but at least have a half piece of whole grain toast. “That gives your body a little energy and then the rest of breakfast can come after the workout,” says Wallace.

According to Wallace, a healthy breakfast should consist of whole grains, good sources of fiber with three grams of fiber or more per serving, low fat dairy, lean proteins, healthy fats (which are monounsaturated and/or polyunsaturated fats) and fruits and/or vegetables. Some of her specific recommendations include:

Help! I’ve Fallen Off the Diet Wagon

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:21:02 PST

What to do if you’re a diet dropout

Was that crash the sound of you falling off the diet bandwagon….again? We start out so gung-ho, sure that this time we are going to stick it out, drop those pounds and fit into those smaller size outfits, but then what happens? If that sounds like you and you are a diet dropout yet again, maybe it’s time to think about dieting a little differently.

Think lifestyle change, not diet. The word “diet” makes us think of something temporary and goal related. Maybe you’re looking for short-term success when the aim needs to be long-term, lifetime goals.

Get a clear vision. The first and hardest step is the decision to make changes because you are ready to do so and not because you feel like you have to do make the change. Eating habits and activity levels may both need to change. Make a list of what you need to change as well as what you can exchange it for. For example, you may need to change what you eat for breakfast or replace an unhealthy meal with a healthy one. Or you may need change your after dinner dessert habit to a walk around the block.

Clear the Clutter and Clear Your Mind

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:19:23 PST

Quick tips to make de-cluttering simple

Current economic worries have our minds in enough of a tizzy, and cluttered surroundings can add even more clutter to the mind. Fortunately, HealthSource found a simple and inexpensive way to lower stress levels – de-clutter!

One easy way is to spend a few minutes each day getting your house or office uncluttered. You may decide to start with a room, part of a room or even a desk. The point is to pace yourself, set easy to reach goals and then reach them. The result might be less clutter and a less stressed mind for you.

According to licensed psychologists Carol Lahey, Ph.D., who is in private practice on Park St. in Jacksonville, most people agree that they have a calmer feeling and less anxiety when their surroundings are neat and organized. “When you are in an organized, peaceful, and serene state it is easier to focus on what you need to do. When there are piles of things around you they can easily distract,” she says.

Pushing Forward

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:15:16 PST

From prevention and detection to treatment and reconstruction, the latest data and technological advancements bring more hope to patients affected by breast cancer

Sometimes the simple things make the biggest difference – even in breast cancer prevention.

Now, recent data reinforces the importance of healthy lifestyle choices in reducing the risk of breast cancer development, explains Edith A. Perez, M.D., medical oncologist and director of the Mayo Center’s Breast Clinic. Moreover, the latest studies reveal that regular exercise and a healthy weight also lower the risk of cancer recurrence.

“We need to concentrate more on lifestyle issues,” Dr. Perez says. “It needs to be part of our day-to-day recommendations for patients.”

Though the chemical explanation for the connection to breast cancer prevention is still somewhat elusive, Dr. Perez notes that changes in insulin resistance and estrogen levels resulting from physical activity and proper caloric intake may affect the relationship.

Reducing the Risk of SIDS

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:59:07 PST

Community rallies to prevent leading cause of infant mortality

Community members – doctors, hospitals, non-profit organizations and civic groups – are rallying to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), a leading cause of death for infants through their first year of life and particularly between ages 2 to 4 months. SIDS is a sleep related disorder that’s a subcategory of a broader definition taking hold nationally called SUIDS (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome).

“SIDS is the most preventable cause of infant mortality, and after the first month of life, is one of the leading causes of infant mortality,” said Carol Brady, executive director for the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition. “We know what to do, and if the families would just do it, we could change that.”

Although the number of infant deaths due to SIDS appears to be declining, the rate of infant deaths in Jacksonville is higher than that for the rest of the state; and, similarly, the state infant mortality rate (IMR) is higher than that for the nation. Perhaps even more disturbing, the infant mortality rate is higher among blacks and other minority populations that it is with whites.

Surgery Jitters?

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:57:14 PST

Pre-surgery hypnosis may relieve anxiety and promote faster healing

Facing surgery can be stress producing on many levels, from worrying about the procedure itself to the possible pain and discomfort afterward. Along with those concerns, fear about life after surgery and the healing process may also pop up. There is a lot jumping around in your mind right now, and really, who can even consider relaxing when facing surgery no matter how big or little the procedure?

“Pre-surgery hypnosis may help to alleviate the fear and stress of a looming surgery,” says Life Coach and hypnotherapist Carol Waters, who specializes in stress management. She believes hypnosis is a powerful tool for change.

“Most people are anxious before surgery,” says Waters. “They may already have an illness or be in pain, and their bodies are tense. The goal of hypnosis is to help relieve the anxiety, promote relaxation and hasten the healing time.”

What a Pain

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:54:50 PST

Today’s treatment options give chronic pain sufferers a chance for a normal life

Life with chronic pain is impossible to imagine unless you have suffered it personally. “I lived with chronic pain for 40 years,” says DeMont Seagrave. “Part of the pain is hereditary, but at 19 I cracked my sacrum in two places. Doctors thought I wouldn’t walk again.”

Seagrave did walk again. And he enjoyed a genuinely dynamic life that included nine years playing with the New York Yankees and two subsequent careers in construction and restaurant ownership. But finally the pain was so constant and intense that he had to give up his business. “I didn’t smile or laugh and was always a grouch. I couldn’t load the dishwasher without sitting in a chair,” he says.

Millions suffer similarly to Seagrave. In fact, the National Center for Health Statistics estimates 76.2 million people live with chronic pain, costing annually in healthcare and lost productivity nearly $100 billion.

Childhood Immunization: Success Under Siege

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:52:32 PST

Vaccines protect your child and society from deadly diseases, yet some parents are bucking this proven system

Childhood immunization is the greatest success story in modern public health. “Just imagine life without vaccinations,” says Randy Thornton, M.D., with Jacksonville Pediatrics. “Polio paralyzed 10,000 children annually in the United States. German Measles caused birth defects and retardation in up to 20,000 newborns. Measles infected 4,000,000 people annually and killed 3,000 children,” explains Dr. Thornton, a pediatrician affiliated with Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

“If there’s anything pediatricians are behind, it’s vaccinations,” says David L. Wood, M.D., Professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville. “It has dramatically changed the practice of medicine. Even things like ear infection rates are going down because of these vaccines.”