Did you hear that Martin Memorial is offering VitalStim?
It’s a non-invasive therapy that uses an electrical current to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. Electrical stimulation has been used for a long time by physical therapists to treat larger muscles (arms, legs). But it’s only been recently that speech language pathologists started using it for treating swallowing concerns.
Dysphagia (or difficulty swallowing) is prevalent with the elderly and people that have had strokes, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, head injuries or degenerative neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Symptoms can include coughing during or after eating, choking on foods or liquids, pain during eating or the sensation that something is stuck in the throat.
If not managed, swallowing problems can lead to aspiration pneumonia, which is caused by food going down into the lungs. It’s a very serious condition and one of the leading causes of death in the elderly.
VitalStim is a therapy that helps to re-educate the muscles for swallowing. The electrical current is delivered by specifically designed electrodes which are placed in the neck area. Under the direct guidance of a speech pathologist, the patient practices swallowing exercises that cause the swallowing muscles to contract. With repeated therapy the muscles are re-trained and the quality of the swallowing function improves.
Patients frequently feel improvement in six to 20 sessions. All across the country, speech pathologists using VitalStim are reporting great success with patients, especially patients who did not find success with traditional therapy.
--Cindy Irish
Lead Speech Pathologist
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Healthy Living isn’t Always Easy
Getting healthy is killing me.
Like a lot of people, the New Year was my D-Day for healthy living. Gone were the bad ol’ days, when I could do whatever I wanted and eat what I wanted and exercise if I wanted. It was time for discipline. For fitness. For exercise. For nutritious eating.
It wasn’t like I was starting from scratch. I exercised and ate OK before, but certainly could have done better. And it wasn’t like I was going on a boot camp-style regimen. A little more exercise. An extra leaf of lettuce on my foot-long sub.
But it’s been tougher than I thought.
I decided to train for the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart” 5K by following the program provided on this blog by Fleet Feet co-owner and resident expert Susan Hastings. I’ve survived that so far, but the big runs are coming up. If you see a large man sprawled across a treadmill at the Treasure Coast Health and Fitness Center, just tell my mom I loved her.
I also decided to start playing basketball again in the 35-and-over league at the YMCA after a year-long layoff. In the first week I hurt my ankle. The second week I re-injured it, so to get the swelling down I’ve spent more time on ice than a polar bear. Of course, they’re endangered too, so we have that in common.
Then there was my bid to drink less coffee. That’s been rough. You never want to admit that something has a grip on your entire existence, but that seems to be the case. Coffee, I didn’t realize, is really black gold. It nourishes, it energizes, it keeps us from falling asleep in the middle of meetings or from getting headaches late in the day.
The worst thing is, all this healthy living doesn’t seem to be working. My pants fit the same. I am not bursting, Incredible Hulk-like, out of my shirt with impressive new muscles. Rather than bouncing around with energy, I’m falling asleep on the floor much earlier than I used to.
After reading Jane Reynold’s blog on Friday, I could identify with the people who tend to give up the ghost after a few weeks of sweat equity, washed down with a glass of carrot juice. Her advice was encouraging, so I’ll keep plugging along.
Still, I’m assuming the big returns are right around the corner. That’s why I’m getting ready to strap the running shoes on for a 2 ½-mile run right after I write this. Good health, I’m sure, is right around the corner.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Like a lot of people, the New Year was my D-Day for healthy living. Gone were the bad ol’ days, when I could do whatever I wanted and eat what I wanted and exercise if I wanted. It was time for discipline. For fitness. For exercise. For nutritious eating.
It wasn’t like I was starting from scratch. I exercised and ate OK before, but certainly could have done better. And it wasn’t like I was going on a boot camp-style regimen. A little more exercise. An extra leaf of lettuce on my foot-long sub.
But it’s been tougher than I thought.
I decided to train for the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart” 5K by following the program provided on this blog by Fleet Feet co-owner and resident expert Susan Hastings. I’ve survived that so far, but the big runs are coming up. If you see a large man sprawled across a treadmill at the Treasure Coast Health and Fitness Center, just tell my mom I loved her.
I also decided to start playing basketball again in the 35-and-over league at the YMCA after a year-long layoff. In the first week I hurt my ankle. The second week I re-injured it, so to get the swelling down I’ve spent more time on ice than a polar bear. Of course, they’re endangered too, so we have that in common.
Then there was my bid to drink less coffee. That’s been rough. You never want to admit that something has a grip on your entire existence, but that seems to be the case. Coffee, I didn’t realize, is really black gold. It nourishes, it energizes, it keeps us from falling asleep in the middle of meetings or from getting headaches late in the day.
The worst thing is, all this healthy living doesn’t seem to be working. My pants fit the same. I am not bursting, Incredible Hulk-like, out of my shirt with impressive new muscles. Rather than bouncing around with energy, I’m falling asleep on the floor much earlier than I used to.
After reading Jane Reynold’s blog on Friday, I could identify with the people who tend to give up the ghost after a few weeks of sweat equity, washed down with a glass of carrot juice. Her advice was encouraging, so I’ll keep plugging along.
Still, I’m assuming the big returns are right around the corner. That’s why I’m getting ready to strap the running shoes on for a 2 ½-mile run right after I write this. Good health, I’m sure, is right around the corner.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, January 25, 2008
Resolution Progress Report
We’re a month into the New Year. How is everyone doing with his or her New Year’s resolutions to get fit and to lose those extra pounds? I for one can tell you that it is not easy. I regret every piece of holiday candy and every extra scooping of potatoes. It’s a lot easier to add those extra pounds than it is to lose them.
Since it takes a loss of 3,500 calories a week to lose just one pound, this is not the time to give up. It doesn’t happen easily and late January is the time many begin to lose hope and interest and become discouraged. Here are a few tips to help you stay focused on your goals:
1. Set realistic goals for yourself
Many people say, “Jane, I will workout seven days a week…” Although I would love to see them every day, that kind of a schedule is just too difficult for most people to maintain. You are setting yourself up to fail. My advice is to go four to five days a week at a time day that is both convenient and enjoyable for you.
2. Vary your workout routines
Try different classes. Martin Memorial Health and Fitness Centers offer many differen
t classes including Zumba for the Latin beat, kickboxing, senior fitness, yoga and tai chi just to name a few. Don’t limit yourself to just the treadmill or weights. You just might have fun and meet a few new friends in group exercise classes.
3. Try personal training
Think about it. You’ve never worked out with fitness equipment. Most of us were not born with an intimate knowledge of the equipment and it’s easy to become intimidated. The health and fitness centers always offer a free training session when you join.
Sometimes a few extra sessions with a personal trainer (like Nancy Aldrich, shown at left) will help you set realistic goals and develop a long-term plan. Some of the advantages of a trainer are:
· Injury prevention
· Accountability
· Partnership
· New workouts
So, here’s to a great year of health and fitness. Remember that you’re not doing this just for the outward appearance – your heart and lungs will thank you as well.
--Jane Reynolds, certified personal trainer, health and fitness instructor
Since it takes a loss of 3,500 calories a week to lose just one pound, this is not the time to give up. It doesn’t happen easily and late January is the time many begin to lose hope and interest and become discouraged. Here are a few tips to help you stay focused on your goals:
1. Set realistic goals for yourself
Many people say, “Jane, I will workout seven days a week…” Although I would love to see them every day, that kind of a schedule is just too difficult for most people to maintain. You are setting yourself up to fail. My advice is to go four to five days a week at a time day that is both convenient and enjoyable for you.
2. Vary your workout routines
Try different classes. Martin Memorial Health and Fitness Centers offer many differen
t classes including Zumba for the Latin beat, kickboxing, senior fitness, yoga and tai chi just to name a few. Don’t limit yourself to just the treadmill or weights. You just might have fun and meet a few new friends in group exercise classes.3. Try personal training
Think about it. You’ve never worked out with fitness equipment. Most of us were not born with an intimate knowledge of the equipment and it’s easy to become intimidated. The health and fitness centers always offer a free training session when you join.
Sometimes a few extra sessions with a personal trainer (like Nancy Aldrich, shown at left) will help you set realistic goals and develop a long-term plan. Some of the advantages of a trainer are:
· Injury prevention
· Accountability
· Partnership
· New workouts
So, here’s to a great year of health and fitness. Remember that you’re not doing this just for the outward appearance – your heart and lungs will thank you as well.
--Jane Reynolds, certified personal trainer, health and fitness instructor
Martin Memorial Hospital South Health and Fitness Center
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Get Ready to Cross the Finish Line
This is the fourth and final installment from Susan Hastings, co-owner of Fleet Feet Sports Stuart running store, to help you train for the second-annual “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.” The run takes place Feb. 9 and proceeds will benefit the Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial.
Wow! It’s hard to believe we’re down to the last two weeks of training. If you’ve been following the training plan you are well on your way to running our 5K on Feb. 9 and we’re very excited.
We’ve talked a little about the generalities of starting a running program and some of the injuries that can take place. We’ve also talked about hydration and nutrition, but keep in mind that all of this was just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more that you can learn if you really want to make the most of your running. You can also get up, roll out of bed, and go out for a run, it’s that simple.
One thing that I want to get across to everyone, with this being my final blog, is that running a 5K is not just for “fast” runners. A lot of people at their first 5K, me included, can be very intimidated by the thought of showing up at a race sticking out like a sore thumb.
That just doesn’t happen.
I remember my first local 5K and I was a nervous wreck; everyone was nice and friendly and didn’t look at me like I had a third eye, I was just another ‘runner’ (little did they know I had never done this before) and I was treated warmly and made to feel like part of the group. Everyone understands that you have to start somewhere, we all did.
Something else we try to get across here at Fleet Feet is that we are all just normal people here who happen to enjoy running. Some of us are fast and win in our division (Candy). Some of us pound out half and full marathons like there is no tomorrow, not too fast and not too slow (Lissette). And some of us just get out and run a few miles a week at whatever pace we feel like (me and Al).
When someone walks through our door we try to make them feel welcome and let them know that we are here to help. We aren’t here to look down our nose and make fun of people who want to begin a walking or running program.
So let’s get on with our final two weeks of the training schedule – when you finish this you are no longer a beginner! You will be ready to sign up for the Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.
Please, if you have any questions, you can email me at susan@fleetfeetstuart.com
Week 7: (Only jogging, no walking from this point on; however, you can vary the pace of the jog). 2 ½-mile jog. Same workout all three days
Week 8: 3 mile jog. Same workout all three days
Congratulations! You are now ready for a 5K!
--Susan Hastings
To hear Susan Hastings talk more about training for the The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K, as well as the health benefits of running, listen to the Jan. 14 edition of Martin Memorial Healthcast. To access the Healthcast, visit www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Wow! It’s hard to believe we’re down to the last two weeks of training. If you’ve been following the training plan you are well on your way to running our 5K on Feb. 9 and we’re very excited.
We’ve talked a little about the generalities of starting a running program and some of the injuries that can take place. We’ve also talked about hydration and nutrition, but keep in mind that all of this was just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more that you can learn if you really want to make the most of your running. You can also get up, roll out of bed, and go out for a run, it’s that simple.
One thing that I want to get across to everyone, with this being my final blog, is that running a 5K is not just for “fast” runners. A lot of people at their first 5K, me included, can be very intimidated by the thought of showing up at a race sticking out like a sore thumb.
That just doesn’t happen.
I remember my first local 5K and I was a nervous wreck; everyone was nice and friendly and didn’t look at me like I had a third eye, I was just another ‘runner’ (little did they know I had never done this before) and I was treated warmly and made to feel like part of the group. Everyone understands that you have to start somewhere, we all did.
Something else we try to get across here at Fleet Feet is that we are all just normal people here who happen to enjoy running. Some of us are fast and win in our division (Candy). Some of us pound out half and full marathons like there is no tomorrow, not too fast and not too slow (Lissette). And some of us just get out and run a few miles a week at whatever pace we feel like (me and Al).
When someone walks through our door we try to make them feel welcome and let them know that we are here to help. We aren’t here to look down our nose and make fun of people who want to begin a walking or running program.
So let’s get on with our final two weeks of the training schedule – when you finish this you are no longer a beginner! You will be ready to sign up for the Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.
Please, if you have any questions, you can email me at susan@fleetfeetstuart.com
Week 7: (Only jogging, no walking from this point on; however, you can vary the pace of the jog). 2 ½-mile jog. Same workout all three days
Week 8: 3 mile jog. Same workout all three days
Congratulations! You are now ready for a 5K!
--Susan Hastings
To hear Susan Hastings talk more about training for the The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K, as well as the health benefits of running, listen to the Jan. 14 edition of Martin Memorial Healthcast. To access the Healthcast, visit www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Is Work Making You Sick?
So I’m watching the NFL playoffs with my wife yesterday, steaming bowls of Grampa’s homemade chili and hunks of cornbread sitting in front of us, when an ad comes on for Monster.com.
In it, dawn is approaching. Anonymous suburbanites, sluggish and unshaven, disheveled and distraught, take up whatever weapons are at hand (satellite dishes, for example) to wage battle against an unseen foe. It seems to be a horrible, fiendish creature and the battle promises to be epic.
The hideous foe? The sunrise. And what does it bring? Monday morning.
The tag line for the employment Web site is, “Don’t fight Monday,” implying that it can help you find a job you’ll like so much that you won’t dread going to work.
But what if there were good reasons not to go to work? What if work was making us sick, instead of simply making us sick of work? The good folks at CNN.com were kind enough to give us some proof that our jobs can, in fact, make us ill.
The story suggests that everywhere you look, cold and flu germs are lurking, waiting for the chance to infect you.
Your computer keyboard? A haven for germs. Your telephone? Might as well call the doctor right now. It even suggests that you use a knuckle on certain frequently touched surfaces such as the “copy” button on a photocopier or the buttons on an elevator.
As is so often the case when the conversation steers to germs, the best defense is hand washing. The expert quoted in the CNN story also suggests wiping down your desk and work surfaces with disinfectant to kill the germs before they get you.
However, if that important report is past due or your boss insists on moving up a project deadline, maybe a little cold and flu isn’t that bad.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
In it, dawn is approaching. Anonymous suburbanites, sluggish and unshaven, disheveled and distraught, take up whatever weapons are at hand (satellite dishes, for example) to wage battle against an unseen foe. It seems to be a horrible, fiendish creature and the battle promises to be epic.
The hideous foe? The sunrise. And what does it bring? Monday morning.
The tag line for the employment Web site is, “Don’t fight Monday,” implying that it can help you find a job you’ll like so much that you won’t dread going to work.
But what if there were good reasons not to go to work? What if work was making us sick, instead of simply making us sick of work? The good folks at CNN.com were kind enough to give us some proof that our jobs can, in fact, make us ill.
The story suggests that everywhere you look, cold and flu germs are lurking, waiting for the chance to infect you.
Your computer keyboard? A haven for germs. Your telephone? Might as well call the doctor right now. It even suggests that you use a knuckle on certain frequently touched surfaces such as the “copy” button on a photocopier or the buttons on an elevator.
As is so often the case when the conversation steers to germs, the best defense is hand washing. The expert quoted in the CNN story also suggests wiping down your desk and work surfaces with disinfectant to kill the germs before they get you.
However, if that important report is past due or your boss insists on moving up a project deadline, maybe a little cold and flu isn’t that bad.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, January 18, 2008
Making Health Changes in 2008
Are you ready for change?
We’re not talking about a new change in our presidency here, but a new change in you! We are almost a month into the New Year and while many of you are still in the resolutions mode, have you actually made healthy changes? What unhealthy baggage from 2007 you will leave behind?
There is a plethora of health information out there for you to consume, whether it’s from the Internet, TV and print ads, or your wheat-germ eating, marathon-running, healthy neighbor. Despite this saturation-information age, the healthy path for you can still be misguided, and what works for one person will not work for the next.
Even if you have found something that interests you, doesn’t break your bank and sounds good, are you ready for change? Are you ready to do your part? Leading behavioralists tell us that behavior modification or behavior change comes in stages. One of those theories, called “Stages of Change” breaks it down into the following categories. Ask yourself which stage you are in:
· Pre-contemplator – individual not considering change
· Contemplator – individual favors change but hasn’t adopted an action plan
· Planning – individual selected a strategy but hasn’t used it yet
· Action – attempts are being made (stop smoking, lose weight, adhere to the doctor’s advice, etc.)
· Maintenance – individual makes deliberate attempts to continue the change behaviors
Then, there’s lapse and relapse, a temporary or permanent return to the previous behavior (back to smoking, eating high fat, not taking medications as prescribed). You need to call out for help if you are in these stages!
Statistics tell us that the further down the change continuum you are, the better your chances of success in adopting permanent change.
If you are a pre-contemplator or contemplator, it may not be a good idea to lay down money on a weight-loss program until you are ready for change. You may serve your needs better by reading more materials, checking out options, asking more questions. All the health education programs offered to you won’t make a difference until you are ready for change.
If you are in the planning stage, now is the time to sign up for a behavior modification program, such as our HealthyLIFE weight-management programs or our Living Tobacco Free program. You are ready for change and should jump into action, because you will get a return on your investment. If you are in the action and maintenance phase, good for you! Keep doing what you are doing and continue to create a healthy environment for yourself.
So, if you are ready for change, then it’s time to sign on the dotted line!
--Lani Kee
Manager, Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
‘Total Cancer Care’ is Here
Each year, scientists and physicians find innovative technologies and treatments that improve cancer care.
Today, Martin Memorial announced that it will partner with Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen in an exciting new research project called Total Cancer Care. Moffitt and selected affiliates such as Martin Memorial are developing a research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
The goal of the program is to individualize cancer care by studying the molecular makeup of tumors. Currently, if a person comes in and is diagnosed with colon cancer, that person receives the same treatment as most everyone else who has colon cancer. It’s a kind of “one size fits all” treatment.
The Total Cancer Care project is looking to identify the genetic makeup of different kinds of tumors. That way, if a person comes in with colon cancer that has specific genetic codes, a physician can identify those and prescribe a treatment that has been shown to work specifically for that variety of colon cancer.
Through TCC, tumor tissues from thousands of patients across Florida will be collected and the biological markers unique to each tumor identified. Researchers will then analyze patients’ responses to specific treatments.
It is an exciting project to be a part of, and could help benefit patients from the Treasure Coast. The entire research staff at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center look forward to working with Martin Memorial staff physicians, the Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen, and members of our community in this thrilling new endeavor.
--Christina Cullinane
Clinical Research Coordinator of Total Cancer Care
For more on Total Cancer Care listen to Dr. Timothy Yeatman, M2Gen president and chief scientific officer, and Lee Moffitt, founder of the Moffitt Cancer Center, talk about the project on Martin Memorial Healthcast. The podcast will be available Jan. 21 by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Today, Martin Memorial announced that it will partner with Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen in an exciting new research project called Total Cancer Care. Moffitt and selected affiliates such as Martin Memorial are developing a research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
The goal of the program is to individualize cancer care by studying the molecular makeup of tumors. Currently, if a person comes in and is diagnosed with colon cancer, that person receives the same treatment as most everyone else who has colon cancer. It’s a kind of “one size fits all” treatment.
The Total Cancer Care project is looking to identify the genetic makeup of different kinds of tumors. That way, if a person comes in with colon cancer that has specific genetic codes, a physician can identify those and prescribe a treatment that has been shown to work specifically for that variety of colon cancer.
Through TCC, tumor tissues from thousands of patients across Florida will be collected and the biological markers unique to each tumor identified. Researchers will then analyze patients’ responses to specific treatments.
It is an exciting project to be a part of, and could help benefit patients from the Treasure Coast. The entire research staff at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center look forward to working with Martin Memorial staff physicians, the Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen, and members of our community in this thrilling new endeavor.
--Christina Cullinane
Clinical Research Coordinator of Total Cancer Care
For more on Total Cancer Care listen to Dr. Timothy Yeatman, M2Gen president and chief scientific officer, and Lee Moffitt, founder of the Moffitt Cancer Center, talk about the project on Martin Memorial Healthcast. The podcast will be available Jan. 21 by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Blog a Reminder that ‘Cancer is Relentless’
Depending on whom you ask, the Internet either brings people together through access to information and ideas, or it causes us to shy away from interpersonal contact since we have an electronic lifeline to millions of people around the globe without leaving our homes.
Then you read a blog like the one written by Leroy Sievers, a journalist who worked for ABC and CBS News, and it reminds you of how powerful a medium the Internet is. In May 2006, Sievers began writing a blog called “My Cancer” that is posted five times a week on http://www.npr.org/, documenting his battle against cancer.
In the nearly two years that he has been blogging, Sievers has developed a loyal following, one that has devotedly traced his progress and regressions. He has tackled the issue of cancer with humor and insight, facing the idea of his own mortality with a sense of dignity, courage and stubbornness.
I don’t recall when I started reading the blog, but it’s been more than a year. In that time Sievers has been given a cancer death sentence, struggled through advanced treatments, been declared essentially cancer free, then been told that the cancer has returned.
It is an up and down ride that anyone who has been touched by cancer can identify with. My father died of mesothelioma in 1997. My grandfather died of liver cancer seven years before. Cancer runs in my family like a toxic river, so over the years I have become more cognizant of the disease and its devastation.
That’s why Sievers’ blog last week left me saddened. His cancer continues its aggressive march and his doctors indicate he may be running out of miracles. As he puts it, “cancer is relentless.”
Still, his work has inspired countless people around the world. The readers of his blog have become a family, supporting each other and providing strength to him and others like him. On the day Sievers told his audience that the cancer was becoming more aggressive and treatment options were slim, 250 people sent in comments offering support and prayers.
Cancer is relentless. So are the people determined to fight it. That includes physicians and scientists, patients, their families and friends. Hopefully someday there’ll be no need for a person like Leroy Sievers to document a battle against cancer.
Until then, the fight continues.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Then you read a blog like the one written by Leroy Sievers, a journalist who worked for ABC and CBS News, and it reminds you of how powerful a medium the Internet is. In May 2006, Sievers began writing a blog called “My Cancer” that is posted five times a week on http://www.npr.org/, documenting his battle against cancer.
In the nearly two years that he has been blogging, Sievers has developed a loyal following, one that has devotedly traced his progress and regressions. He has tackled the issue of cancer with humor and insight, facing the idea of his own mortality with a sense of dignity, courage and stubbornness.
I don’t recall when I started reading the blog, but it’s been more than a year. In that time Sievers has been given a cancer death sentence, struggled through advanced treatments, been declared essentially cancer free, then been told that the cancer has returned.
It is an up and down ride that anyone who has been touched by cancer can identify with. My father died of mesothelioma in 1997. My grandfather died of liver cancer seven years before. Cancer runs in my family like a toxic river, so over the years I have become more cognizant of the disease and its devastation.
That’s why Sievers’ blog last week left me saddened. His cancer continues its aggressive march and his doctors indicate he may be running out of miracles. As he puts it, “cancer is relentless.”
Still, his work has inspired countless people around the world. The readers of his blog have become a family, supporting each other and providing strength to him and others like him. On the day Sievers told his audience that the cancer was becoming more aggressive and treatment options were slim, 250 people sent in comments offering support and prayers.
Cancer is relentless. So are the people determined to fight it. That includes physicians and scientists, patients, their families and friends. Hopefully someday there’ll be no need for a person like Leroy Sievers to document a battle against cancer.
Until then, the fight continues.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Friday, January 11, 2008
Finding Out if Cancer is All in the Family
There has been an increasing awareness of genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer in the recent years – testing that is available at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center.
The area where genetic testing awareness is lacking is in colon cancer. There is a test available to detect hereditary causes of colon cancers in families, which may heavily impact screening and prevention.
There are three genes that, if mutated, may leave a person susceptible to colon cancer early in life, along with other cancers. The red flags of personal and family history include:
· Colorectal cancer before age 50
· Endometrial cancer before age 50
· Two or more HNPCC related cancers in an individual or family
HNPCC, or Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer, is a syndrome that increases an individual’s chance of developing colorectal, endometrial and other cancers. Other HNPCC related cancers are gastric, ovarian, ureter/renal pelvis, biliary tract, small bowel, pancreas, brain and sebaceous adenoma.
The syndrome of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) may leave an individual with an almost 100 percent chance of developing colorectal cancer. This syndrome is suspected when a person has 100 or more colon polyps. Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (AFAP) is a form of FAP, where a person has 10 or more colon polyps.
Screening for these syndromes is an essential step in the prevention of colorectal and certain other cancers. A simple blood test is all it takes to uncover a hereditary cancer syndrome in a family. If your personal and/or family history is suggestive of any of these syndromes, call your doctor, or myself at 223-5945 ext. 1669.
--Lindsay Mattino
Clinical Research Coordinator and Lung Cancer Navigator,
Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center
The area where genetic testing awareness is lacking is in colon cancer. There is a test available to detect hereditary causes of colon cancers in families, which may heavily impact screening and prevention.
There are three genes that, if mutated, may leave a person susceptible to colon cancer early in life, along with other cancers. The red flags of personal and family history include:
· Colorectal cancer before age 50
· Endometrial cancer before age 50
· Two or more HNPCC related cancers in an individual or family
HNPCC, or Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer, is a syndrome that increases an individual’s chance of developing colorectal, endometrial and other cancers. Other HNPCC related cancers are gastric, ovarian, ureter/renal pelvis, biliary tract, small bowel, pancreas, brain and sebaceous adenoma.
The syndrome of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) may leave an individual with an almost 100 percent chance of developing colorectal cancer. This syndrome is suspected when a person has 100 or more colon polyps. Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (AFAP) is a form of FAP, where a person has 10 or more colon polyps.
Screening for these syndromes is an essential step in the prevention of colorectal and certain other cancers. A simple blood test is all it takes to uncover a hereditary cancer syndrome in a family. If your personal and/or family history is suggestive of any of these syndromes, call your doctor, or myself at 223-5945 ext. 1669.
--Lindsay Mattino
Clinical Research Coordinator and Lung Cancer Navigator,
Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Eat, Drink and Keep Running!
This is the third of four installments from Susan Hastings, co-owner of Fleet Feet Sports Stuart running store, to help you train for the second-annual “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.” The run takes place Feb. 9 and proceeds will benefit the Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial.
If you’ve been following the training schedule you’re about halfway through. Congratulations! The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K is five weeks from Saturday. You should be going at your own pace and your own level; don’t let peer pressure cause you to do things that your body doesn’t want to or isn’t ready to do.
I’ll talk a little about nutrition and hydration in this blog but I will say you have some excellent nutritionists at Martin Memorial and if you have any serious questions due to dietary restrictions you should talk to them. I’m just going to give you some tips that might help you as you build up your mileage.
One of the things that we have to worry about in our climate is hydration. Having water to drink during your run is a must as you start going over the two-mile mark. Even in the milder winter months your body needs water – just because you’re not sweating doesn’t mean that you don’t need to drink water.
There are several things you can do to make sure you have water available:
· Choose a running route that has a park or golf course around it and there is always water available.
· Leave a bottle every mile or so on your route. Find a bush or tree or even an electric box and put a bottle of water there. Just remember to pick your trash up after you finish your run.
· There are also different products you can buy (of course we carry them at Fleet Feet) that you can fill with water and carry with you.
Water is typically fine when you are running three or four miles but if you decide you want to add to your distance you should also have an electrolyte replacement drink. As you sweat you lose important electrolytes and these products are made to replace them.
As for your eating habits, now is not the time to try the Atkins diet. Your body needs carbohydrates to give you energy and as you run longer you need to replenish those carbs when you are on the road. For a 5K, usually a healthy diet with the right mix of complex carbohydrates, protein and some fat will be what you need.
Having said that, please don’t eat the high fiber that is good for you right before your run – do it several hours ahead so your body can run its course if you know what I mean.
Now we’ll get on to your next two weeks of training:
Week 5
Day 1: ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk for a total of two miles.
Day 2: ¾-mile jog, ½-mile walk, ¾-mile jog, for two miles total
Day 3: 2-mile jog, no walk.
Week 6
Day 1: ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ¾-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, for a total of 2 ¼ miles.
Day 2: 1-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, 1-mile jog, for 2 ¼ miles total.
Day 3: 2 ½-mile jog, no walk.
Happy New Year and happy running!
--Susan Hastings
To hear Susan Hastings talk more about training for the The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K, as well as the health benefits of running, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast on Jan. 14. To access the Healthcast, visit www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
If you’ve been following the training schedule you’re about halfway through. Congratulations! The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K is five weeks from Saturday. You should be going at your own pace and your own level; don’t let peer pressure cause you to do things that your body doesn’t want to or isn’t ready to do.
I’ll talk a little about nutrition and hydration in this blog but I will say you have some excellent nutritionists at Martin Memorial and if you have any serious questions due to dietary restrictions you should talk to them. I’m just going to give you some tips that might help you as you build up your mileage.
One of the things that we have to worry about in our climate is hydration. Having water to drink during your run is a must as you start going over the two-mile mark. Even in the milder winter months your body needs water – just because you’re not sweating doesn’t mean that you don’t need to drink water.
There are several things you can do to make sure you have water available:
· Choose a running route that has a park or golf course around it and there is always water available.
· Leave a bottle every mile or so on your route. Find a bush or tree or even an electric box and put a bottle of water there. Just remember to pick your trash up after you finish your run.
· There are also different products you can buy (of course we carry them at Fleet Feet) that you can fill with water and carry with you.
Water is typically fine when you are running three or four miles but if you decide you want to add to your distance you should also have an electrolyte replacement drink. As you sweat you lose important electrolytes and these products are made to replace them.
As for your eating habits, now is not the time to try the Atkins diet. Your body needs carbohydrates to give you energy and as you run longer you need to replenish those carbs when you are on the road. For a 5K, usually a healthy diet with the right mix of complex carbohydrates, protein and some fat will be what you need.
Having said that, please don’t eat the high fiber that is good for you right before your run – do it several hours ahead so your body can run its course if you know what I mean.
Now we’ll get on to your next two weeks of training:
Week 5
Day 1: ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk for a total of two miles.
Day 2: ¾-mile jog, ½-mile walk, ¾-mile jog, for two miles total
Day 3: 2-mile jog, no walk.
Week 6
Day 1: ½-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ¾-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, ½-mile jog, for a total of 2 ¼ miles.
Day 2: 1-mile jog, ¼-mile walk, 1-mile jog, for 2 ¼ miles total.
Day 3: 2 ½-mile jog, no walk.
Happy New Year and happy running!
--Susan Hastings
To hear Susan Hastings talk more about training for the The Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K, as well as the health benefits of running, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast on Jan. 14. To access the Healthcast, visit www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Consider Your Plate in 2008
Well, it’s a new year, full of promise and potential – and, oh yes, resolutions. One resolution I would encourage you to make is to “consider your plate in 2008.”
The word “consider,” according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, means: to think about carefully; to think of especially with regard to taking some action. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, eat more healthfully, or something to that effect, this is a great place to start.
Many people grab food when they are hungry, not thinking about what they are going to eat until they hear their stomach growling. A good start in considering your plate is to grocery shop once a week (twice if you run out of fresh produce or the occasional miscellaneous item), using a list.
If you plan your meals in advance, you won’t find yourself in the kitchen or in the supermarket line, after a long, hard day at work, wondering what the heck you are going to make for dinner. You also are less likely to find yourself headed for the drive-through or the take-out menu if you know in advance what you are going to prepare for dinner.
Advance planning will potentially save you not only fat and calories, but money as well. It helps to keep track of how much milk, produce, etc, you use during a typical week. Keep a magnetized note pad on your refrigerator and add items when you run out of them. Try to organize your list by store section or food category; you will be a lot less likely to forget something this way.
Meal planning is not difficult – it actually makes life a lot easier. Start with meals that are easy to make. Do you enjoy grilling? Are one-pot meals just your style? When you shop (from your list, remember?) buy enough for two meals so that you have leftovers for the next night, or lunch the next day.
Leave complicated meals for weekends – weekdays warrant speed and simplicity. Try a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and add your own vegetables and starch. You will have a quick, healthy meal in 20 minutes or less.
Remember to plan the entire meal. Check the weekly supermarket circulars in the newspaper to see what healthy foods are on sale and if need be, consult a cookbook or search on-line for some new recipes before you hit the store. Pork tenderloin may be on sale but if you don’t know how to cook it that won’t do you much good. Also, a piece of fish is a great source of protein, but what about your side dishes? Be sure that you have all of the ingredients you need for the meal you are planning to prepare.
I hope that 2008 will be your best year yet. I promise that it will be a lot less complicated and a lot more healthy if you consider your plate and plan ahead.
-- Rosemarie Lembo James
Clinical Director, Nutrition Services
The word “consider,” according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, means: to think about carefully; to think of especially with regard to taking some action. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, eat more healthfully, or something to that effect, this is a great place to start.
Many people grab food when they are hungry, not thinking about what they are going to eat until they hear their stomach growling. A good start in considering your plate is to grocery shop once a week (twice if you run out of fresh produce or the occasional miscellaneous item), using a list.
If you plan your meals in advance, you won’t find yourself in the kitchen or in the supermarket line, after a long, hard day at work, wondering what the heck you are going to make for dinner. You also are less likely to find yourself headed for the drive-through or the take-out menu if you know in advance what you are going to prepare for dinner.
Advance planning will potentially save you not only fat and calories, but money as well. It helps to keep track of how much milk, produce, etc, you use during a typical week. Keep a magnetized note pad on your refrigerator and add items when you run out of them. Try to organize your list by store section or food category; you will be a lot less likely to forget something this way.
Meal planning is not difficult – it actually makes life a lot easier. Start with meals that are easy to make. Do you enjoy grilling? Are one-pot meals just your style? When you shop (from your list, remember?) buy enough for two meals so that you have leftovers for the next night, or lunch the next day.
Leave complicated meals for weekends – weekdays warrant speed and simplicity. Try a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and add your own vegetables and starch. You will have a quick, healthy meal in 20 minutes or less.
Remember to plan the entire meal. Check the weekly supermarket circulars in the newspaper to see what healthy foods are on sale and if need be, consult a cookbook or search on-line for some new recipes before you hit the store. Pork tenderloin may be on sale but if you don’t know how to cook it that won’t do you much good. Also, a piece of fish is a great source of protein, but what about your side dishes? Be sure that you have all of the ingredients you need for the meal you are planning to prepare.
I hope that 2008 will be your best year yet. I promise that it will be a lot less complicated and a lot more healthy if you consider your plate and plan ahead.
-- Rosemarie Lembo James
Clinical Director, Nutrition Services
Friday, January 4, 2008
Be Tobacco Free in 2008
The Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing has been getting the usual calls at this time of year for smoking cessation classes (amongst the other “behavior change” programs such as weight management, diabetes education and stress management).
What is unusual are some of the newer reasons why smokers want to quit. Aside from the health implications, we are hearing more smokers say it has become very uncomfortable to smoke in public nowadays. As much as we health educators love the culture shift, we still have to remember that smokers, just like non-smokers, all have ways of dealing with stress and health habits.
Studies have shown that people stop smoking more easily when they know exactly why they’re quitting. Maybe you don’t want to smoke around your kids. Or you’re tired of that smoker’s cough. Or you can’t afford it anymore.
It helps to have a practical, effective method to follow. You need an approach that makes you feel ready for the challenge. A good first step is to end your emotional ties to smoking. Write a “goodbye” letter to cigarettes. It may sound like a silly thing to do, but it’s another way of putting your reasons to quit front and center. It’s something you can use in the future when you’re feeling the urge to light up.
The second thing to do is prepare by cleaning up your surroundings and creating a smoke-free environment. Once you remove the reminders of smoking, you’re a big step closer to being ready for the big day. We bet you’ll have a great feeling of satisfaction when you’re done, like when you clean out your closets or garage.
The next thing to do is create a cigarette-free zone. Don’t put yourself in the path of temptation. Go through every place where you may have cigarettes and get rid of them. Oh, and get rid of those butts in the ashtray too (and while you are at it, throw out the ashtray).
Before you think that you can’t do any of this on your own, sign up for our next living tobacco-free class. We will guide you and support you in your quitting efforts: 75 percent of our participants stay tobacco free. The next session begins Jan. 17. For more information, call us at (772) 223-4916.
--Lani Kee
Manager, Center for Health and Healing
To hear Lani discuss tips on how to reach your New Year’s resolutions such as quitting smoking or losing weight, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast. You can access the weekly podcast by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
What is unusual are some of the newer reasons why smokers want to quit. Aside from the health implications, we are hearing more smokers say it has become very uncomfortable to smoke in public nowadays. As much as we health educators love the culture shift, we still have to remember that smokers, just like non-smokers, all have ways of dealing with stress and health habits.
Studies have shown that people stop smoking more easily when they know exactly why they’re quitting. Maybe you don’t want to smoke around your kids. Or you’re tired of that smoker’s cough. Or you can’t afford it anymore.
It helps to have a practical, effective method to follow. You need an approach that makes you feel ready for the challenge. A good first step is to end your emotional ties to smoking. Write a “goodbye” letter to cigarettes. It may sound like a silly thing to do, but it’s another way of putting your reasons to quit front and center. It’s something you can use in the future when you’re feeling the urge to light up.
The second thing to do is prepare by cleaning up your surroundings and creating a smoke-free environment. Once you remove the reminders of smoking, you’re a big step closer to being ready for the big day. We bet you’ll have a great feeling of satisfaction when you’re done, like when you clean out your closets or garage.
The next thing to do is create a cigarette-free zone. Don’t put yourself in the path of temptation. Go through every place where you may have cigarettes and get rid of them. Oh, and get rid of those butts in the ashtray too (and while you are at it, throw out the ashtray).
Before you think that you can’t do any of this on your own, sign up for our next living tobacco-free class. We will guide you and support you in your quitting efforts: 75 percent of our participants stay tobacco free. The next session begins Jan. 17. For more information, call us at (772) 223-4916.
--Lani Kee
Manager, Center for Health and Healing
To hear Lani discuss tips on how to reach your New Year’s resolutions such as quitting smoking or losing weight, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast. You can access the weekly podcast by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Beating Weight Loss to the Punch
So here we are again, the holidays are over and I’m starving.
A couple of times each year I come up with the great idea that I need to lose a few pounds and get into some sort of quasi-shape. A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I was listening to “Morning Express” with Robin Meade on CNN and heard a story that put that great idea in my head.
The story related how the “average” American gains about five to seven pounds during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year. It occurred to me that I must be better than the average American because I can gain that much weight just looking at a Thanksgiving turkey.
I started thinking about it. Why wait until January to lose those holiday-acquired pounds? I thought if I could somehow lose seven pounds in that same time, plus the seven pounds that I won’t gain, that’s like a 14-pound swing. How awesome is that?
Here’s my plan. Eat sensible portions, more fruit and veggies, keep away from the Chex-mix, say no to candy, drink water instead of wine with dinner, no nibbling when I’m cooking (pre-eating) and start jogging again.
Portion control has always been my weakness, so the best way to control it is to have my wife fix my plate since I will always put too much on it if left to my own devices. Changing the food in my diet has not been too hard. In Nancy Reagan’s words, “Just say no!”
I heard a great tip to help out in the kitchen if you nibble when you cook: chew gum while you are cooking. You won’t want to stuff turkey in your mouth if you are chewing gum because that’s just nasty.
Finally, the jogging. Let me tell you, I am no natural born runner. I’m starting slow, a couple of miles at a time and I’m alternating between jogging and a rapid walk using the street lights on the road side as a measurable gauge of when to run and when to walk. I’ve been doing this three or four times a week since Thanksgiving and it is getting easier each week.
I’ve even decided to run the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.” The run takes place Feb. 9, 2008 and proceeds will benefit the Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial. The last time I ran in a race was during my senior year of high school in 1986. It’s motivating having made the commitment to run in the race, I’m just looking to finish somewhere among the pack.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress. So far, so good.
--John Romano, RN, BSN
Nursing Director of Medical Surgical and Neuroscience Services
A couple of times each year I come up with the great idea that I need to lose a few pounds and get into some sort of quasi-shape. A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I was listening to “Morning Express” with Robin Meade on CNN and heard a story that put that great idea in my head.
The story related how the “average” American gains about five to seven pounds during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year. It occurred to me that I must be better than the average American because I can gain that much weight just looking at a Thanksgiving turkey.
I started thinking about it. Why wait until January to lose those holiday-acquired pounds? I thought if I could somehow lose seven pounds in that same time, plus the seven pounds that I won’t gain, that’s like a 14-pound swing. How awesome is that?
Here’s my plan. Eat sensible portions, more fruit and veggies, keep away from the Chex-mix, say no to candy, drink water instead of wine with dinner, no nibbling when I’m cooking (pre-eating) and start jogging again.
Portion control has always been my weakness, so the best way to control it is to have my wife fix my plate since I will always put too much on it if left to my own devices. Changing the food in my diet has not been too hard. In Nancy Reagan’s words, “Just say no!”
I heard a great tip to help out in the kitchen if you nibble when you cook: chew gum while you are cooking. You won’t want to stuff turkey in your mouth if you are chewing gum because that’s just nasty.
Finally, the jogging. Let me tell you, I am no natural born runner. I’m starting slow, a couple of miles at a time and I’m alternating between jogging and a rapid walk using the street lights on the road side as a measurable gauge of when to run and when to walk. I’ve been doing this three or four times a week since Thanksgiving and it is getting easier each week.
I’ve even decided to run the “Fleet Feet Run for Your Heart 5K.” The run takes place Feb. 9, 2008 and proceeds will benefit the Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial. The last time I ran in a race was during my senior year of high school in 1986. It’s motivating having made the commitment to run in the race, I’m just looking to finish somewhere among the pack.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress. So far, so good.
--John Romano, RN, BSN
Nursing Director of Medical Surgical and Neuroscience Services
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