Your Health News and Events for August 2007

Health News and Events for August Sponsored by MidState Medical Center

MidState Events Open Bereavement Support Group Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:30 * 6:30pm

This professionally facilitated interfaith group is open to all bereaved members of the community. The purposes of the group are to assist people in understanding grief as a natural response to loss, to allow the expression of feelings, to provide mutual support and to effect appropriate life adjustment to loss.

MidState Medical Center, 883 Paddock Ave., Meriden Rev. Trudy Brady, 203-265-3971 Donations to MidState VNA & Hospice gratefully accepted

Hispanic Breast Cancer Support Group Thursdays, August 16, September 20, 2007 6:30-8:00pm

"Spanish-speaking women with a diagnosis of breast cancer are invited to join group leader Virginia AvilesCancer Care Conference Room Diane Lafferty, LCSW 203-694-8669 Cataract Awareness Month August is Cataract Awareness Month, and MidState Medical Center is providing you with ways to reduce your risk of developing the eye disease. While older age is the most common factor associated with cataracts and more than half of Americans will experience a cataract by age 80, there are things you can do now to lower your risk. The National Institutes of Health list the following as contributors to cataracts: Tobacco. Smokers develop cataracts earlier. While the risk slowly declines after you quit, it never returns to average. Alcohol. Alcohol consumption slightly increases the risk of cataracts, and the more you drink, the greater the risk. Sunlight. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can increase risk. Protect your eyes with sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat. Diet. There’s some evidence that a well-balanced, low-fat diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables may help reduce your risk of cataracts. Leafy green vegetables, in particular, seem to pack the right nutrients and antioxidants needed to lower your risk. While cataract surgery is never an emergency procedure, if vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, you may want to consider cataract removal. Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Could You Have a Sleep Disorder? If you are spending enough time in bed and still wake up tired or feel very sleepy during the day, you may be one of the estimated 40 million Americans with a sleep disorder. MidState Medical Center’s Sleep Care center has issued some information from the National Institutes of Health related to healthy sleep. The most common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea (sleep-disordered breathing), restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. Although sleep disorders can significantly affect your health, safety, and well-being, they can be treated. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these signs of a sleep disorder: ■ You consistently take more than 30 minutes each night to fall asleep. ■ You consistently awaken several times each night and then have trouble falling back to sleep, or you awaken too early in the morning. ■ You often feel sleepy during the day, you take frequent naps, or you fall asleep at inappropriate times during the day. ■ Your bed partner says that when you sleep, you snore loudly, snort, gasp, make choking sounds, or stop breathing for short periods.

■ You have creeping, tingling, or crawling feelings in your legs or arms that are relieved by moving or massaging them, especially in the evening and when trying to fall asleep. ■ Your bed partner notices that your legs or arms jerk often during sleep. ■ You have vivid, dreamlike experiences while falling asleep or dozing. ■ You have episodes of sudden muscle weakness when you are angry or fearful, or when you laugh. ■ You feel as though you cannot move when you first wake up. Keep in mind that children can have some of these same signs when they have a sleep disorder, but they often do not show signs of excessive daytime sleepiness. Instead, they may seem overactive and have difficulty focusing or doing their best in school. MidState Medical Center’s Sleep Care program can answer any questions you may have about the benefits of a sleep study to determine the causes of your sleep problems. For information, contact MidState’s Sleep Care program at 1-800-SLEEP-RX. Meriden Movers – A Community Walking Program Starting September 17, 2007

Are you ready to get fit? If so, do the "local" motion and become a Meriden Mover!

The Meriden Health Department will be starting a walking program September 17, 2007. Walking is one of the healthiest and most convenient forms of physical activity. Residents will be encouraged to enroll in the 3-month program for better health. Program participants will receive:

* A pedometer and walking log to track their steps.

* A t-shirt half-way through the program.

* Free health screenings, including blood pressure, weight, resting heart

rate, flexibility, and body composition, at the beginning and end of the program (optional, must enroll by September 5 to participate in the health screenings).

* Weekly motivational emails with walking tips and healthy recipes. · Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 "Movers"! · Pedometers and t-shirts will be limited to the first 100 people to register.

Walking teams are highly encouraged. For more information about the program, please contact Lea Crown, Health Educator, at 630-4238, or by email at lcrown@ci.meriden.ct.us. This program is funded through the United Way of Meriden & Wallingford Venture Grant Program. Stop Tobacco Addiction Today! Smoking Cessation Program Offered at Meriden Health Department Attention smokers! Do you want to quit smoking? If so, the Meriden Health Department will be holding free smoking cessation programs starting in September. Individual and group counseling will be available. Each program will last for 8 weeks; both day and evening classes will be offered. Participants will receive: • Free nicotine replacement therapy (either patches or gum)* • Free counseling • Free support and tools to help you quit smoking For information on the upcoming program, please contact Debbie at 630-4104. *Some exclusions may apply Mobile Mammography Van Submitted by the Wallingford Health Department The Yale New Haven Hospital will have its Digital Mobile Mammography Van located at the VNA of Wallingford, 135 North Plains Industrial Rd., on September 17th from 7:30-4:00 pm. Appointments are required. To be eligible for screening on the van, patients must meet the following criteria: 40 yrs or older Must not have any current breast problems (lumps, redness, swelling etc.) Must not have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 5 yrs Must not be pregnant or nursing in past 3 months No previous mammogram within the last 12 months The van is staffed by certified mammography technologists and out-fitted with state-of-the-art digital equipment. Proving women the opportunity of screening services in their community saves time and encourages preventive health care. The fee is based on your insurance and and/or a sliding fee if you do not have medical insurance. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Yale New Haven Breast Imaging Services directly at 203-688-6800 or the Wallingford VNA at 269-1465 (scheduling is through YNHH only).