|
February is Heart Health Month How can I get a healthier heart right now? The answer is very simple according
to Nieca Goldberg MD, medical director of New York University's Women's Heart program. Her answer is "By simply leading
a healthier life." Small, steady changes in your life mean a stronger, more efficient heart. "More than half of
heart disease is preventable, and studies have shown that 90% of heart attacks in women are preventable. "The secret
includes eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and legumes; maintaining a healthy weight; exercise and
not smoking. There is the added bonus that these activities will help other parts of the body, including
the colon, lungs, and skin.
Women's Fellowship is pleased to have Kathleen Harper MD, Cardiologist as their speaker
at 12:00 noon on February 21st. All are invited. Sign up to attend.
As Parish Nurse, I have just received news
that the Center for Disease Control is concerned about the increase in cases of Whooping Cough "Pertussis". They
recommend that people speak with their health care providers to discuss the vaccine which is available. The CDC is recommending
the Petussis Vaccine for pregnant women, infants and young children, pre-teens and teens, and adults of all ages. I
think that includes everyone. for more information: www.cdc.gov/pertussis
FLU SHOTS It's flu season again. Time to get your flu shot? Many pharmacy chains are advertising that they
are giving flu shots already. Is it too soon to get the shot? When is the best time to get one? My unofficial
answer is to get it approximately twelve months after the one you got last year. It takes about two weeks to build up immunity, so getting the
flu shot early in October or early in January would still give protection if the flu season follows its typical pattern. The Center for Disease Prevention and Control
(The CDC) recommends everyone over six months of age should receive the flu vaccine, unless they have unusual allergies and
medical conditions.
Tick
Removal
Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. From a School Nurse … "I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a
tick. This is great because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes,
in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc. Apply a glob of liquid soap to
a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20); the tick will come out
on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique
has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for
me."
"Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife
call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and
immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"
Please pass on. Everyone needs this helpful hint.
SAFETY WHILE SWIMMING
Supervision is important. The 10/20 rule should be followed. A supervising adult needs to be able to scan the entire pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water in 20
seconds.
Rescue devices must be present. Flotation devices such as toy and inflatable
swimming aids are not safety devices. These can easily puncture and deflate.
UL-LISTED life preservers should be nearby.
Always drain small wading pools after children are done
playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water. Remove all toys when you leave the pool area, these may attract children to the unattended pool.
Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers
handy.
BARBECUE HINT
"Serve food on a clean surface" This seems simple.
Remember to bring the hamburgers and steaks to the grille on one platter, but provide a second
platter for the cooked meat.
Raw and cooked meat and poultry should never share the same platter.
Utensils that are used on the raw meat and poultry should not be used on the cooked meat and
poultry. Raw meat and poultry have bacteria that will spread to the cooked product.
Prevent Food Poisoning- When in doubt, throw
it out!
Enjoy barbecuing
and stay safe.
But just
in case of accidental poisoning …. 1-800-222-1222
· 24
Hours a Day
· Free and
Confidential
· Staffed by
Poison Experts
· Interpreters
Available in All Languages
ALLERGY HOT SPOTS IN THE HOME
Homes that are super-clean and tidy can still hide nasty allergy triggers.
l. 70 % of potted plants give off mold spores.
Try not to over-water them.
2. Washing machines can harbor mold spores, causing
problems when they are used. This can be remedied by washing an empty load with
8 ounces of bleach and hot water leaving the door open to let the machine dry thoroughly.
3. Some people are allergic to the scent of perfumed
candles.
4. On windy days, many allergens can fly in the
open windows. Severely allergic people should open their windows for 15 minutes,
for a blast of fresh air, and then close windows to prevent maximum allergens. An
air conditioner should be considered for severely allergic people.
5. Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites, which
can trigger many allergic responses. Stuffed animals can be washed in hot water
or they can be put in a freezer. Dust mites are highly sensitive
to cold environments.
6. Bath mats harbor 10 times more dust mites
than the floor it is lying on. Wash them frequently
and keep them as dry as possible.
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY IN 10 EASY STEPS
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes
age, weight, and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull
you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer,
the cell phone, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle, "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you
gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move
on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants,
hobbies,
whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve
it. If it is unstable, improve it. If
it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the
mall, to another state, or a foreign country but not to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
PASTORAL COUNSELING CENTER OF TRUMBULL
Rev. John Sandel continues as Executive Director and Counselor of the Pastoral Counseling Center of Trumbull. He can be reached
at 203-386-9345 for information or confidential counseling.
COMMUNITY ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING
Have
you been feeling irritated, tired. Or just not interested in your work or other activities that once engaged you? Has drinking, working, or some other activity started to serve as an unhealthy escape? If this describes you or someone in your life, depression may be the culprit. Depression affects both genders; however, a man’s experience of depression may
mirror these descriptions rather than the feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and excessive guilt that are traditionally seen
as symptoms. While it may not seem that depression can be a ‘man’s’
problem the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 6 million men suffer from a depressive disorder every year.
The
Pastoral Counseling Center of Trumbull invites you to either screen yourself or to encourage
a friend or family member to screen themselves for a variety of common mental health conditions. The screenings are free, anonymous, and only take a few minutes.
To take a screening please visit our website www.thecounselingcentre.org and click on the listing
for depression/anxiety/alcohol screening. For more information you can also go
to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/fact-sheets.shtml
HOW
TO HELP YOURSELF IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED
Depressive
disorders make one feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative
thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part
of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect the actual circumstances. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins
to take effect. In the meantime:
~Set
realistic goals in light of depression and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.
~Break
large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.
~Try
to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive.
~Participate
in activities that may make you feel better.
~Mild
exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious, social, or other activities may help.
~Expect
your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.
~It
is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding
to make a significant transition—change jobs, get married or divorced—discuss it with others who know you well
and have a more objective view of your situation.
~People
rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.
~Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative
thinking that is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression
responds to treatment.
~Let your family and friends help you.
Especially
for Women!
St.
Vincent’s Swim Women’s Imaging Center
Mobile
Digital Mammography Screenings 203-576-5500
Free and low cost Mobile Mammography Screenings
to those who qualify. Thanks to funds raised by St. Vincent’s Swim Across
the Sound, the SWIM Women’s Imaging Center offers free screening sites at various offices, community centers, churches
and synagogues and local government facilities throughout Fairfield county. Most insurances are accepted. Financial assistance is available
for those who are not insured and/or have financial limitations.
For those with insurance, mammograms are low-cost, subject only to deductible and co-pay.
Appointments
ARE necessary.
Evening
appointments are available.
Physician
order and insurance card (if you have one) must be brought with you to the appointment.
To schedule
an appointment or for more information, please call 203-576-5500.
Why get
a mammogram? Mammography gives a distinct advantage of early
detection of breast cancer. Fortunately, breast cancer is highly detectable through
digital mammography. The earlier it’s discovered and treated, the better
the chances are of survival.
What
are the American Cancer Society recommendations?
Women
over 40: get an annual mammogram, obtain an annual clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional,
and perform monthly breast self-exams.
Women
20-39: Obtain a clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional every three years, and perform
monthly breast self-exams.
Why switch
to digital? Digital mammography transfers images to a computer
so they can be electronically enhanced. Your doctor can zoom in, magnify and
optimize different parts of the breast tissue. It gives your physician
viewing options never before possible: better visibility at skin line, greater image flexibility,
faster results, shorter exam times, fewer call backs, and less anxiety. It takes
10 to 15 minutes … less than half the time of the traditional film-based mammography.
Go to www.stvincents.org/healthservices/womensimaging/mobilemammoschedule.cfm
for more information and upcoming screenings.
|
