Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Great Time, Great Cause: Martin Memorial LifeSavers Prepare for Goombay Bash

Summer is upon us, which means the Martin Memorial LifeSavers’ annual Goombay Bash is right around the corner.

This year’s event takes place July 18 from 7-11 p.m. The tropical-themed event will feature live reggae music from “Sweet Justice,” raffles, food and libations. And the 2009 Goombay Bash will also feature a new, bigger location to accommodate the growing number of guests: Four Fish Marina, located at 2225 N.E. Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach.

“The Goombay Bash really has distinguished itself as one of the most dynamic events of the year,” LifeSavers co-chair Missy DuBois said. “It is extremely fulfilling to see so many members of the community come together and make a difference.”

Since its inception in 2002, the Goombay Bash has brought in $364,530 for the Martin Memorial Foundation. Those funds are used to purchase technology, equipment and renovations at the Martin Memorial Maternal-Child Department. Last year’s event attracted 348 people and raised $78,000, which was used to purchase a variety of equipment ranging from a fetal monitoring system for a delivery room, to cribs and sleeper chairs.

This year the LifeSavers are looking to raise $90,000 – enough to fund the committee’s entire “wish list” for the maternal-child department. So far the LifeSavers are well on their way, thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. That includes: Big Kahuna sponsors, Balfour Beatty Construction, Metcare-Humana and the Pedersen Family Foundation; Junkanoo sponsor, Wellmed Medical Services; We Be Jammin’ sponsor, Eddie Huggins Land Grading Company; venue sponsors, Eventmakers International and Four Fish Marina; patio sponsor, Paradise Home and Patio; design sponsor, Tara Biek Creative; in-kind sponsors, New England Fish Market, Mrs. Peters Smokehouse and Triangle Bar/Grill, Liquors.

“This is such a worthwhile cause that affects so many people on the Treasure Coast,” co-chair Katie McCarthy said. “The bar has been raised over the years to create an exciting, successful event and we look forward to continuing that legacy.”

Tickets are $75 if purchased by June 30, $100 after that date. To purchase tickets for the Goombay Bash or for information on sponsorship opportunities, visit Martin Memorial’s Web site at mmhs.com, or call the Martin Memorial Foundation at (772) 223-5634.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

When It Comes to Healthy Eating, Do Your Homework and Ignore All of the Hype

As a dietitian I am amazed at how much nutrition information is out there and unfortunately it’s not all good. In fact, it really is quite overwhelming and very misleading.

Just picking a multivitamin is no longer only a question of your demographics: men, women, or over 50? These days, multivitamins can be chosen based on what body part you want to protect: your heart, prostate, breasts, bones or maybe to increase your brain functioning.

Today the market is flooded with nutrition advice and claims. I like to call it the “claim game” and the key of the game is for you find out what is fact and what is claim – and believe me there are many claims. So how do you decipher the facts versus the claims?

The key is to be informed. Speak with your doctor and ask for a referral to visit a registered dietitian. Often, insurance companies will cover this. Each day I meet with patients who are looking for a quick fix or a supplement to help with this and that. I tell them to save their money, encourage them to exercise and we work out a plan to eat healthy based on their lifestyle and medical needs.

Unfortunately, there is no miracle drug (although drug companies are hard at work with this one). The bottom line is this: good health means maintaining a healthy weight for you, which involves eating right and exercising. In fact, in a recent survey of 400 doctors, 94 percent of them believe that nutrition plays a role in preventing, treating and managing chronic diseases such as diabetes.

So just think: you might be able to get off some of that medication if only you changed your eating habits. Take it from me, I see first hand that it really does work.

As for deciphering facts versus claims, you need to look at the research and data that supports it. One study isn’t enough, there needs to be continuously supporting studies and the larger the sample size the better. Also we need to look at how the study is being conducted and who is conducting it. Is it the company itself? Well, how convenient it is that we got good results.

To sum it up, the industry wants one thing – to make a profit and they do this by marketing their products to you. So be educated and do your homework. Use government or accredited Web sites and ask for a referral to a registered dietitian who can save you time and money while helping make you healthier!

Not a bad deal.

--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Want to Improve Your “Brain Fitness?” Give It a Mental Workout With These Tips

What does the term “brain fitness” mean? When we talk about “fitness” we are usually referring to anatomy below the neck. But research is revealing the importance of “brain fitness” – stimulating and exercising our brains to slow down the age-related declines in memory, mental speed and decision making that affect most people.

Even more exciting is the research showing that staying mentally “fit” may give us protection against possible diseases that affect our brains. The more information you feed your brain, the more you are developing a cognitive reserve against dementia.

The human brain is a miraculous thing. There is a term called “plasticity” which refers to the brain’s ability to change or reorganize itself. If we are talking about successful aging we may be referring to challenging the brain by learning a new skill. Research has shown that brains grow when learning something novel.

Or we may be talking about brain damage and recovery. The brain compensates for damage by reorganizing or rewiring and forming new connections between intact neurons. However, in order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity. As noted above, the brain is able to adapt and change during normal aging or even after a brain injury.

What are some things we can do to keep our brains fit?

  • Eat well. Omega-3 fatty acids (which are found in salmon, kiwi and walnuts), folic acid (spinach, orange juice and yeast), flavonoids (cocoa, green tea, citrus fruits and wine) and antioxidants (broccoli, nuts, berries) are some ideas.
  • Exercise your body. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times! Thirty minutes a day, five times a week appears to be the recommended amount. Some say this is the single most beneficial activity you can do for your brain.
  • Learn new activities.The point of having a brain is to learn and adapt to new challenges in the environment. Novel experiences challenge the brain. Learning a new language, playing an instrument, taking a course or learning a new hobby are good activities.
  • Laughter. Sounds funny (no pun intended) but when we laugh, we bring oxygen to our brains that “freshens” up our thinking. Tension, on the other hand, inhibits learning.
  • Software, high-tech games and Web sites. There is software such as: Mindfit, Posit Science, Brain University and Brain Spa. Nintendo’s Brain Age/WII Big Brain Academy, Mattel’s Radica Brain games are examples of high-tech games. And there are plenty of Web sites: My Brain Trainer, Braingle, Lumosity, Brain Matrix and Mind Machine to name a few.
  • Games and puzzles. There are numerous books and games that target brain fitness, such as table puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, brain teasers, board games and card games.
  • Other activities to do. Sing, dance, eat/write/brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, travel, read, watch less TV, listen to audio tapes, meditate, do yoga, cook a foreign dish and get plenty of sleep. The list goes on and on.

The bottom line is: the brain craves stimulation. Feed it.


--Cindy Irish, MS, CCC/SLP
Lead Speech Pathologist

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Am I at Risk for Diabetes? Ask Yourself These Questions to Determine Risk

The question of “am I at risk for diabetes”can begin to be answered by asking a few questions and understanding some key risk factors, signs and symptoms.

First, are you overweight? If so, you are certainly not alone. Unfortunately, this condition puts you at greater risk for getting type 2 diabetes and the many other health problems related to it. In fact, like millions of other Americans, you might already have the disease and not even know it. The human cost of diabetes alone is devastating: It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Diabetes is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it can slowly harm your body over a long period of time, which can happen without you even realizing it.

Over time, diabetes can lead to many other health problems, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Nerve problems
  • Stroke
  • Blindness
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Amputation
  • Kidney disease
  • Gum infections

Other risk factors other than being overweight associated with type 2 diabetes include:

  • Older age
  • Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes
  • History of diabetes in the family
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Impaired glucose tolerance
  • Native American, African American, or Hispanic heritage

What are the symptoms of diabetes? You might have no signs or symptoms, or your symptoms might be so mild that you don’t notice them, or have some symptoms but not suspect that they are related to diabetes. The following is a list of some of the symptoms you may encounter.

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased hunger
  • Fatigue much of the time
  • Increased urination, especially at night
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
  • Dry skin
  • Increased infections or sores that won’t heal

If you are over 45, you should get tested for diabetes. Diabetes is initially diagnosed with a blood test after you haven’t eaten for eight hours, usually overnight. If your results are high, you and your doctor can start to bring them down through changes in diet and exercise and, if necessary, with the help of medications.

If you are younger than 45, you can still ask to be tested for diabetes. You should make getting tested a priority if you are overweight or obese and have one or more of the risk factors listed above.

Understanding what type 2 diabetes is and whether you are at risk will help you make decisions about your long-term health needs.

Until next time, keep moving, watch your portions and live your life to the fullest!

--Maureen Daniello RN, CDE
Program Coordinator, Diabetes Education
Center for Health & Healing

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Health is Wealth In This Economy and Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

We are all painfully aware of the downturn in the economy and most of us have had to adjust and “tighten our belts.” We live in a world where money is important, but we also know that you cannot put a price tag on good health.

Although there are circumstances beyond our control regarding certain health issues, we still do have the ability to change some things through exercise and diet.

I have had the pleasure and opportunity to help people make lifestyle changes through exercise and diet modifications. For example, Americans consume far too much salt in their diets. Sodium is an important factor in weight gain, high blood pressure and other critical aspects of health.

Sodium in the body “holds on” to water. This water adds weight and puts a strain on the heart, lungs, kidneys and just about every organ. Therefore, sodium intake is something that is controllable and does not cost a thing.

However, it is not always easy. For example, specifying “no salt please” at a restaurant does not guarantee a low sodium content. Just the other day my husband thought he was ordering a healthy meal. I quickly Googled the name of the restaurant chain and discovered his “healthy” meal contained 820 milligrams of sodium. As a point of reference, less than 2,000 milligrams is the maximum recommended daily allowance.

Along with diet modifications, exercise plays a key role in staying healthy. Maintaining and starting an exercise program will not solve every problem but it certainly lowers many health risks. It seems to me that our members must realize this because our enrollment remains strong and the level of activities at our centers remains high. I personally attribute this to the family atmosphere at our centers and our highly qualified staff.

Exercise is a good way of relieving the stress of finding a new job and coping with this economy. So while we cannot necessarily control the economy, we can take control of many aspects of our health through diet and exercise.

--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician
Hospital South Health and Fitness

Monday, June 15, 2009

Martin Memorial Auxiliary Hosts Thrift Shop Sale to Raise Cancer Center Funds

The Martin Memorial Auxiliary will be hosting a sale at its thrift shop in Stuart to raise money for the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center.

The sale takes place June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Auxiliary thrift shop, located at 2195 S.E. Ocean Blvd. in the Smithfield Plaza in Stuart. All proceeds from the sale of the clothing, as well as the majority of the proceeds from all other sales at the thrift shop that day, will go to the cancer center.

Most of the items for sale are designer clothing, evening and casual wear that belonged to Arlene Hallman, a former patient at the cancer center who died from uterine cancer in November 2008. Ms. Hallman had battled cancer for many years and was grateful to the staff at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center for the care she received.

“She was very much into fashion and a very beautiful lady,” said her sister, Margie McCord, who will also be distributing information about uterine and ovarian cancers. “She had a very beautiful wardrobe, so I wanted to do something that would not only help give back to the cancer center, but also bring some awareness about uterine and ovarian cancers.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer of the uterus accounts for six percent of all cancers for women in the United States, making it the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. About 21,500 new cases of ovarian cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2009, and nearly 15,000 women will die as a result of the disease.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Support Groups Provide Cancer Patients, Their Caretakers an Invaluable Resource

Come one, come all. Where? To support groups!

The Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Memorial provides myriad support groups for different diagnoses. Support groups are a wonderful way to meet people who share your experience with cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, and are also a place for family and caregivers to gain support.

Paulette Craft, the social worker at our cancer center, says support groups “offer hope, information and emotional support; they are a safe place to share feelings and concerns about coping with cancer for patients and families.”

Support groups are often facilitated by a clinical social worker. Paulette says they prepare for this role in graduate school with “special courses, training and practicum.” This leaves the social worker well qualified to make the time during a support group as beneficial as possible.

Support groups serve many purposes. Paulette tells us they are “a place to learn coping skills from one another, gather emotional strength for present and future struggles, and become more effective advocates for their own needs as cancer survivors.” They not only offer emotional support, they offer useful patient to patient information.

Patients may learn, according to Paulette, “ways to live with cancer and side effects of treatments; and ways to see that others successfully resume full, active lives.” Patients and families may find the information regarding support groups on the second floor of the cancer center. That includes a monthly calendar listing locations, times and contact information. Many of the support groups meet monthly, except for the general cancer support group, which meets weekly on Wednesdays.

For more information on support groups, please call Paulette Craft at (772) 223-5945, ext. 3719.

-- Lindsay Mattino, RN, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Genetics Nurse Educator

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Dealing with Diabetes: First Step in Managing it is Knowing, What is Diabetes?

Hello and welcome to your bi-weekly informational blog on diabetes. My name is Maureen Daniello, and I am a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator. I’m also the program coordinator of the diabetes education department here at Martin Memorial.

My objective is to inform you about this disease, how it is diagnosed and the different options available to treat diabetes. Also, I will be keeping you up to date with the latest developments in the management of diabetes.

Although you will be able to find excellent resources for diabetes through the blog, this is not to replace your physician visits, lab tests or nutrition counseling. Research has shown that managing blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol protects your future health. Making good choices, learning all you can and working closely with your health care team will help you prevent or delay complications from diabetes.

With that being said I welcome you and hope you enjoy reading about the different topics which will be presented throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me at info@mmhs-fla.org.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which blood-glucose levels are above normal. When we eat, most of the food turns into glucose (sugar). Our bodies then use this the glucose for energy. An organ in our body, the pancreas, makes a hormone called insulin. This hormone helps the sugar get into our cells.

If you have diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, doesn’t use the insulin properly or, not enough insulin. So without insulin, or the insulin not working properly, your blood glucose rises. As a result, sugar builds up to dangerous levels in your blood.

Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death. However, if you have diabetes, you can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of related health problems. You can still lead a long, healthy life with diabetes; it is self manageable and ultimately it’s up to you to take charge.

There are three major types of diabetes:

· Type 1 diabetes used to be called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells. These are the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood sugar. If you have type 1 diabetes you must have insulin delivered to your body by injection or a pump in order to live.

· Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce it.

· Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed in some women during pregnancy. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing diabetes in the next five to 10 years.

· Other types of diabetes result from specific genetic conditions (such as maturity-onset diabetes of youth), surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections and other illnesses. Such types of diabetes account for one to five percent of all diagnosed cases.

· Pre-diabetes is the stage that occurs before a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but they are not high enough to be diagnosed with ‘diabetes.’

So, as you can see, there are many types of diabetes which can affect people at any age. I hope this helps you understand the basics of how the human body works and the different varieties of this disease. My next segment will discuss who is at risk for developing diabetes, what the symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, along with who should be tested.

Until next time my friends, keep moving, watch your portions and live your life to the fullest!
--Maureen Daniello, RN, CDE
Program Coordinator, Diabetes Education