By now most people know that diabetes is a problem in the United States. They know that obesity rates are climbing and that Type 2 diabetes – which accounts for approximately 90 percent of the cases – is often linked to being overweight.
Most people know that diet and exercise can reduce those levels. They know that diabetes can lead to countless health problems, including heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney disease.
And yet, a report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the rate of new diabetes cases nearly doubled in the United States over the past decade. In West Virginia, which saw the highest rates, roughly 13 out of every 1,000 adults were diagnosed with the disease. In Minnesota, which was lowest in the study, five of every 1,000 had diabetes.
The study did a state-by-state review of new diagnoses, which revealed that southern states saw the greatest surge in new cases. That included Florida, which had the third highest number of annual new cases from 2005-07 with approximately 139,000.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. The rate of diabetes, in particular Type 2, continues to grow. That’s why people who are most at risk – people who are overweight, sedentary, have a family history or genetic predisposition such as race – need to monitor themselves.
After reading the study results and knowing that I have a family history for diabetes, I took this test on the American Diabetes Association’s Web site. My risk currently is low, though I need to lose some weight. But as the ADA notes, there are nearly 24 million Americans with diabetes and nearly a quarter are unaware they have the disease.
Studies like this should be a wakeup call. Take this quick, easy test to see if you’re at risk. If you are, talk to your doctor and work to modify your lifestyle as necessary, rather than become another statistic in the next study.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
New Baby Brings New Fitness Challenges
For years, I fought the battle of the bulge through hours of working out: long sessions on the StairMaster, lifting weights, maybe doing the occasional sit-up. The workouts weren’t always a model of efficiency – I was single for much of that time and even when I got married, my wife often joined me at the gym. That meant plenty of time for leisurely workouts, chatting with fellow gym rats or reading complimentary magazines between sets.
So while I usually continued to eat too much, I figured I would be OK if I continued sweating. And even if I wasn’t gaining weight, at least I was holding the line.
But that’s all beginning to change now.
About two weeks ago, I became a new dad. And since kids aren’t particularly self-sufficient upon birth, I’m trying to be a responsible father and help my wife take care of our son during this particularly challenging (and time-consuming) moment. All of which has meant exercise has been as non-existent as sleep.
I mentioned this to Lani Kee, manager of the Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing. She sent me this article found on MedicineNet.com in reply, which seems to hit exactly the points I’m experiencing. The first two paragraphs summed it up:
“Parents and exercise are not usually words you see in the same sentence. From the moment you step on the physical and emotional roller coaster known as parenthood, your needs often must come second to the needs of your children. Exercising, as a parent, becomes a much more difficult task.
“This is true whether you’re in the throes of sleep-deprivation with a newborn or stay busy driving your children from school to soccer practice, tennis matches, and piano lessons. Even people who had a strong commitment to exercise before having children will struggle to find consistent time to stay fit once they become parents.”
So how can I break that cycle? The article provides eight tips, which range from being active all day to defining your priorities and seeking support groups that can free you up to work out. It also notes that simply getting exercise is critical – it’s quality, not quantity that counts.
That is essentially the message from fitness guidelines recently announced by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The New York Times’ article about the guidelines has a segment about the importance of finding time to exercise, even if you don’t have much to spare. The article even provides an example of how you can accomplish that goal.
I’ll be working on that tonight when I get home – in-between diaper changes and burpings.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
So while I usually continued to eat too much, I figured I would be OK if I continued sweating. And even if I wasn’t gaining weight, at least I was holding the line.
But that’s all beginning to change now.
About two weeks ago, I became a new dad. And since kids aren’t particularly self-sufficient upon birth, I’m trying to be a responsible father and help my wife take care of our son during this particularly challenging (and time-consuming) moment. All of which has meant exercise has been as non-existent as sleep.
I mentioned this to Lani Kee, manager of the Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing. She sent me this article found on MedicineNet.com in reply, which seems to hit exactly the points I’m experiencing. The first two paragraphs summed it up:
“Parents and exercise are not usually words you see in the same sentence. From the moment you step on the physical and emotional roller coaster known as parenthood, your needs often must come second to the needs of your children. Exercising, as a parent, becomes a much more difficult task.
“This is true whether you’re in the throes of sleep-deprivation with a newborn or stay busy driving your children from school to soccer practice, tennis matches, and piano lessons. Even people who had a strong commitment to exercise before having children will struggle to find consistent time to stay fit once they become parents.”
So how can I break that cycle? The article provides eight tips, which range from being active all day to defining your priorities and seeking support groups that can free you up to work out. It also notes that simply getting exercise is critical – it’s quality, not quantity that counts.
That is essentially the message from fitness guidelines recently announced by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The New York Times’ article about the guidelines has a segment about the importance of finding time to exercise, even if you don’t have much to spare. The article even provides an example of how you can accomplish that goal.
I’ll be working on that tonight when I get home – in-between diaper changes and burpings.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Last Stop for Sleep Apnea Freight Train
For years my husband thought the freight train sound I make when I sleep was just noise – loud noise that kept him awake all night. He never imagined that loud snoring could be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night.
Sick and tired of feeling nauseous and exhausted all day, I had a sleep study conducted at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Based on the results of the study, my doctor recommended a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to help me breathe properly during sleep. The machine features a mask that is placed over the nose and pushes air through the airway with enough pressure to prevent apneas from occurring.
Using the machine took a few weeks to get used to, but now it’s part of my nightly routine. I have been using a CPAP for over a month and I can’t believe the results. Not only has it eliminated the snoring completely, I wake up feeling rested without headaches and nausea. I can’t recall the last time I slept through the night before using the CPAP and now my husband and I both get a good night’s sleep. More importantly, I don’t lose valuable oxygen during the night that can lead to serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease or memory problems.
I want to thank the staff at Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center for giving my husband and me some much needed peace and quiet!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
Sick and tired of feeling nauseous and exhausted all day, I had a sleep study conducted at the Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Based on the results of the study, my doctor recommended a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to help me breathe properly during sleep. The machine features a mask that is placed over the nose and pushes air through the airway with enough pressure to prevent apneas from occurring.
Using the machine took a few weeks to get used to, but now it’s part of my nightly routine. I have been using a CPAP for over a month and I can’t believe the results. Not only has it eliminated the snoring completely, I wake up feeling rested without headaches and nausea. I can’t recall the last time I slept through the night before using the CPAP and now my husband and I both get a good night’s sleep. More importantly, I don’t lose valuable oxygen during the night that can lead to serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease or memory problems.
I want to thank the staff at Martin Memorial Sleep Disorders Center for giving my husband and me some much needed peace and quiet!
--Landy Tiffany
Marketing Coordinator
Monday, October 13, 2008
Halloween Brings Scary Treats
Boo! It is that time of year again. I think you know where I am going with this. We are heading into the most frightening holiday of the year. HALLOWEEN!
I am not afraid of those adorable little goblins that will be ringing my doorbell on Oct. 31. I am more frightened about my willpower.
Those cute little “snack-sized” Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers – and we cannot forget my favorite, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. They are so innocent. How could one serving size (and who can stop at one?) be so frightening? Well, I am here to report the cold hard facts about what you need to do the burn off those innocent mini sized candy treats.
--10 pieces of candy corn is equal to 70 calories. You will need to do 30 push-ups and 3 minutes of mountain climbers.
--One mini Tootsie Roll equals 30 calories. Try 30 squats and 30 ab crunches.
--A 2-ounce candy bar equals 280 calories. Ride a bike at 10 mph for 40 minutes.
Remember to plan ahead and limit yourself to only one candy bar. A 3.14 ounce bag of M&M’s is 440 calories (about 4.5 miles of walking at a moderate pace.) These calories contain 19 grams of fat and 56.5 grams of sugar. If you take in too much sugar, your ability to burn fat shuts down.
When the trick or treaters come knocking on my door this Halloween, I will not be handing out king sized candy bars. I do my best to buy candy at the last minute. I also buy things I do not like. I have never been a big fan of sweet tarts, nerds, or sour patch gummies. My goal is to NOT eat the candy before the trick or treaters arrive at my home.
So before you take a bite of that snickers bar, remember the price of each piece. Is it worth it?
--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician, Group Exercise Instructor
I am not afraid of those adorable little goblins that will be ringing my doorbell on Oct. 31. I am more frightened about my willpower.
Those cute little “snack-sized” Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers – and we cannot forget my favorite, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. They are so innocent. How could one serving size (and who can stop at one?) be so frightening? Well, I am here to report the cold hard facts about what you need to do the burn off those innocent mini sized candy treats.
--10 pieces of candy corn is equal to 70 calories. You will need to do 30 push-ups and 3 minutes of mountain climbers.
--One mini Tootsie Roll equals 30 calories. Try 30 squats and 30 ab crunches.
--A 2-ounce candy bar equals 280 calories. Ride a bike at 10 mph for 40 minutes.
Remember to plan ahead and limit yourself to only one candy bar. A 3.14 ounce bag of M&M’s is 440 calories (about 4.5 miles of walking at a moderate pace.) These calories contain 19 grams of fat and 56.5 grams of sugar. If you take in too much sugar, your ability to burn fat shuts down.
When the trick or treaters come knocking on my door this Halloween, I will not be handing out king sized candy bars. I do my best to buy candy at the last minute. I also buy things I do not like. I have never been a big fan of sweet tarts, nerds, or sour patch gummies. My goal is to NOT eat the candy before the trick or treaters arrive at my home.
So before you take a bite of that snickers bar, remember the price of each piece. Is it worth it?
--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician, Group Exercise Instructor
Friday, October 10, 2008
Is the Economy Making You Sick?
Keeping track of the news recently is enough to make anyone feel sick to their stomach. Watching the roller-coaster stock market is enough to give you a headache. And for people who are watching their investments dry up and blow away, it can be downright depressing.
Literally.
As the United States’ and the global markets continue their freefall, it has led some people to speculate on the effect it has on people’s overall health.
The World Health Organization announced on Thursday that the financial crisis could lead people with mental health issues to have an even more difficult time coping with them. The WHO suggests that people who suffer from depression or bi-polar disorder could be vulnerable to the gloomy news coming from the financial markets, increasing anxiety over whether they will have a job or resources.
In her New York Times health column, Well, reporter Tara Parker-Pope writes that the evidence is somewhat mixed on how economic downturns affect people’s health. In fact, there can actually be benefits to difficult financial times – for instance, people tend to spend more time with their families, which can potentially enhance their children’s health. And more people are cooking from scratch rather than eating prepared foods because of the latter’s higher costs, which can have a positive impact on their health.
One of the biggest issues, Parker-Pope writes, is the effect a financial downturn has on access to health care. People losing jobs also means people losing health care benefits. That can affect preventative care as well as treatment for illnesses. With nearly 50 million Americans already uninsured, those are the kind of numbers that can make you sick.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Officer
Literally.
As the United States’ and the global markets continue their freefall, it has led some people to speculate on the effect it has on people’s overall health.
The World Health Organization announced on Thursday that the financial crisis could lead people with mental health issues to have an even more difficult time coping with them. The WHO suggests that people who suffer from depression or bi-polar disorder could be vulnerable to the gloomy news coming from the financial markets, increasing anxiety over whether they will have a job or resources.
In her New York Times health column, Well, reporter Tara Parker-Pope writes that the evidence is somewhat mixed on how economic downturns affect people’s health. In fact, there can actually be benefits to difficult financial times – for instance, people tend to spend more time with their families, which can potentially enhance their children’s health. And more people are cooking from scratch rather than eating prepared foods because of the latter’s higher costs, which can have a positive impact on their health.
One of the biggest issues, Parker-Pope writes, is the effect a financial downturn has on access to health care. People losing jobs also means people losing health care benefits. That can affect preventative care as well as treatment for illnesses. With nearly 50 million Americans already uninsured, those are the kind of numbers that can make you sick.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Officer
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
New Month Brings New Opportunities
Oct. 1 is usually an interesting time here at Martin Memorial.
It’s the beginning of the new fiscal year, which means it’s something of a new start for the health system. Fall is in the air – according to the calendar at least – which means the snowbird season is just around the corner. And that means the holiday season isn’t far behind.
But this Oct. 1 also brings a couple of additional reasons to be excited.
First and foremost is the beginning of a new era. Oct. 1 marks the first day of Mark Robitaille’s tenure as president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. Mark, who has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the health system since 1991, was named to the position in September by the Martin Memorial Board of Directors.
Mark assumes the role as Martin Memorial is poised to continue building on the growth and accomplishments it has achieved in recent years. The health system is seeking to build a new hospital in the Tradition development and will open the Emergency Center at St. Lucie West in August 2009 to provide access to much-needed health care in western St. Lucie County.
Martin Memorial has also worked closely with institutions such as the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and Moffitt Cancer Center to develop clinical medical trials, as well as the Martin County Life Sciences Initiative to bring new opportunities in the burgeoning field of bioscience research. Mark has been at the forefront of these efforts and will continue to ensure that Martin Memorial is a valued partner in bringing medical research to the region.
Martin Memorial is also on the forefront of another health initiative on the Treasure Coast. Starting Oct. 1, the entire health system will be tobacco free. That means tobacco use is not permitted at any Martin Memorial facility – inside or out – by patients, Associates, physicians, volunteers, visitors or vendors.
Each year, tobacco use is linked to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. Diseases related to smoking, including heart disease and cancer, are the most preventable causes of death around the world. That’s why numerous hospitals and healthcare providers across the state and the country have instituted smoke-free workplaces. Two other area hospitals – St. Lucie Medical Center and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center – are also planning to go tobacco free by Jan. 1, 2009.
Patients who smoke can consult their physician on whether a smoking cessation product – such as nicotine gum or patches – would be a viable alternative. Nicotine replacement products are available at the outpatient pharmacies at both Martin Memorial hospitals.
The Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing also offers an outstanding smoking cessation program, called Living Tobacco Free, for anyone who wishes to quit.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
It’s the beginning of the new fiscal year, which means it’s something of a new start for the health system. Fall is in the air – according to the calendar at least – which means the snowbird season is just around the corner. And that means the holiday season isn’t far behind.
But this Oct. 1 also brings a couple of additional reasons to be excited.
First and foremost is the beginning of a new era. Oct. 1 marks the first day of Mark Robitaille’s tenure as president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. Mark, who has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the health system since 1991, was named to the position in September by the Martin Memorial Board of Directors.
Mark assumes the role as Martin Memorial is poised to continue building on the growth and accomplishments it has achieved in recent years. The health system is seeking to build a new hospital in the Tradition development and will open the Emergency Center at St. Lucie West in August 2009 to provide access to much-needed health care in western St. Lucie County.
Martin Memorial has also worked closely with institutions such as the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and Moffitt Cancer Center to develop clinical medical trials, as well as the Martin County Life Sciences Initiative to bring new opportunities in the burgeoning field of bioscience research. Mark has been at the forefront of these efforts and will continue to ensure that Martin Memorial is a valued partner in bringing medical research to the region.
Martin Memorial is also on the forefront of another health initiative on the Treasure Coast. Starting Oct. 1, the entire health system will be tobacco free. That means tobacco use is not permitted at any Martin Memorial facility – inside or out – by patients, Associates, physicians, volunteers, visitors or vendors.
Each year, tobacco use is linked to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. Diseases related to smoking, including heart disease and cancer, are the most preventable causes of death around the world. That’s why numerous hospitals and healthcare providers across the state and the country have instituted smoke-free workplaces. Two other area hospitals – St. Lucie Medical Center and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center – are also planning to go tobacco free by Jan. 1, 2009.
Patients who smoke can consult their physician on whether a smoking cessation product – such as nicotine gum or patches – would be a viable alternative. Nicotine replacement products are available at the outpatient pharmacies at both Martin Memorial hospitals.
The Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing also offers an outstanding smoking cessation program, called Living Tobacco Free, for anyone who wishes to quit.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
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