Wallingford and Meriden Health News, Events and Activities October 2007

Brought to you by MidState Medical Center

Welcome to The People's Press - Your Town, Your News, Your Views! We are the #1 Single Copy Newspaper for Wallingford and Meriden Connecticut – Health News and Events for October. SOFT TOUCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT MIDSTATE MidState Medical Center provides “Soft Touch” relaxation rubs for patients. This is a free service provided by MidState volunteers who are trained by a licensed massage therapist in the technique of therapeutic relaxation rubs. The volunteer provides these soothing relaxation “rubs” to patients’ hands and feet. Research shows that “Soft Touch” aids in the healing process by increasing circulation, relieving a patient’s anxiety, increasing endorphins, and just simply feels good! This program is rated extraordinarily high on patient satisfaction surveys. Additional volunteers are needed to meet the high volume of patient requests for this service. Those interested in becoming a “Soft Touch Volunteer” are asked to call Diamond Belejack, Manager of Volunteer Services at 694-8572. Prospective volunteers must complete an application process, have a personal interview, and attend all four mandatory two-hour “soft touch” training evening sessions in October . MidState’s For the Health of It Program Gets Big Response Last spring MidState Medical Center added a new program to its lineup of Bariatric classes designed to promote weight loss and healthy living. The six-week series, For the Health of It, attracted such a good response that the team decided to run the program again this September. “This program is really for everybody. Participants learn how to develop healthy relationships with food,” said Karen Darley, program developer and Clinical Social Worker at MidState. The For the Health of It Series is a comprehensive weight-loss program consisting of six components including three on emotional factors, two on nutrition, and one on exercise. Darley teaches three weeks of the program, focusing on the psychology of change, the mind-body connection, and stress management. In the psychology of change module, she explains how to manage triggers, which are those things that may cause us to overeat like a particular situation, emotion, person, or environment. We ultimately have much greater control over how we respond to these things and learning healthy, alternative strategies is key to coping most effectively, said Darley. Darley also intuitively illustrates the relationship between how a person feels and what that person might choose to eat. “People may manage anger by eating crunchy food,” she said. One participant, Meg Cavanaugh, of Meriden, enjoyed the class so much the first time around that she plans on taking it again. She said, “The psychology piece was incredible. It was like Karen was inside my head. I really believe for me it’s the piece that was missing.” There is one point that is stressed throughout all of the three emotion-centered modules: mindfulness. Most people don’t eat with awareness; they don’t taste or really experience the foods they are eating. Meals are often completely finished in 10 or 15 minutes. Darley tries to change that, however, with a unique demonstration. “I go out and buy the best strawberries I can find—big, juicy, red ones. Every person gets a strawberry, but they have to look, feel, and smell it before eating. The level of satisfaction is greater when you actually taste your food,” said Darley. For the next two weeks, registered dietitians teach participants how to eat healthy. They learn tips for dining out and how to eat on vacation, how to shop for groceries, and sample meals that are easy to prepare on a daily basis. Basics like the food pyramid and food journals are all discussed. In the final installment on exercise, a clinician from the Eastern Rehabilitation Network instructs participants on how to find an exercise regimen that works for them. The clinician also takes participants to the hospital’s wellness center to demonstrate how to work the cardio equipment and the safe way to lift weights. Many times, people have a fear of the gym because the equipment seems so complicated and daunting. The program infuses practical elements like the gym demonstrations to enhance everyone’s comfort level. Cognitive restructuring, or changing the way a person thinks, is the key to a successful exercise program. Darley commented on the need get people to think different about exercise saying, “I think they know they hate it [exercise], so you have to find something you like to do.” Overall, the program incorporates several factors needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “The program put me in the right direction—I’ve lost 27 pounds,” Meg said. The For the Health of It series begins on Wednesday, September 19 and runs consecutively until October 24. The entire series will be held at MidState Medical Center from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Speakers include Anne Young and Lisa Pranger, Registered Dietitians; Keith LaChance, Physical Therapist; and Karen Darley, Clinical Social Worker. Call Karen Darley at 203-694-8343 to register. MidState Medical Center Treats Pediatric Sleep Disorders A good night’s sleep is essential for the well-being of adults, but it is even more critical for a developing child. The National Institutes of Health recommends that children ages 7-11 get at least nine hours of sleep each night for optimal health and functioning. Unfortunately, many children do not get the recommended number of hours of sleep each night. A child’s disrupted sleep can be due, in part, to a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that 3% of children aged 2-8 have obstructive sleep apnea. How do you know if your child is suffering from a sleep disorder? Nancy Keiluhn, RRT, RPSGT, Pediatric Specialist at MidState Medical Center’s Sleep Care center, offers some signs and symptoms to look for in determining if a child is affected by a sleep disorder. “We call it failure to thrive,” said Keiluhn. This symptom is specific to obstructive sleep apnea because children can actually burn extra calories at night trying to breathe, resulting in improper weight gain. Children who are underweight or do not seem to be growing may be plagued by disrupted sleep in general. In deep sleep stages, a child’s body secretes special growth hormones that sustain the child’s weight and height. If sleep is disrupted, however, hormone secretion may be decreased and the child may not grow as well. Another major sign to look for is hyperactivity. Keiluhn emphasizes that “this one question can give you a boat load of information.” While most adults who go without sleep would be sluggish the following day, many children are hyperactive. Consequently, many children who have a sleep disorder could potentially be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These children may be disruptive in school, inattentive during daily activities, or have mood swings with irritable behavior. A recent study in first grade students found that 18% of the students in the lowest 10% of the class academically had obstructive sleep apnea.. Treatment of the disorder lead to significantly improved school performance and a decrease in hyperactivity. Children with obstructive sleep apnea may snore with intermittent pauses, gasps, or snorts, stop breathing for brief intervals during sleep, and have restless sleep, sweating, and recurrent bedwetting. Yet a child doesn’t have to suffer with a sleep disorder. Sleep Care at MidState Medical Center offers a state-of-the-art facility geared towards the special needs of children to help diagnose and treat a potential sleep disorder. If a child has problems sleeping, a nighttime sleep study may be beneficial to help correct the problem. “It is important that sleep issues in children be discussed. Parents may not bring sleep issues to the attention of their pediatrician feeling their child may grow out of it,” said Keiluhn. During a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, a child’s sleep pattern will be recorded, including disrupted breathing, snoring, leg movements, heart rhythm, and oxygen levels. A small video camera in the room will also record what occurs during the night. The sleep study requires that small sensors, called electrodes, be placed on your child’s head and other areas. For example, electrodes are placed next to each eye to determine dream sleep, on the chest to read heart rate, and on the legs to detect movement. The electrodes, however, are completely painless and easily applied. While MidState’s Sleep Care center can treat children ages 5 and older, any child under the age of 18 must have a parent accompany them for the nighttime sleep study. Sleeping accommodations are made available to the parent. Our sleep studies take place in a home-like atmosphere to ensure the utmost comfort of the child and parent/guardian. “Properly diagnosing and treating the disorder can result in the resolution of daytime symptoms,” said Keiluhn. And that can make everyone sleep a little better. For more information, contact Sleep Care at Midstate, 1-800-SLEEP-RX or visit www.midstatemedical.org. About MidState In quarterly patient satisfaction surveys (conducted by an independent, national research company), MidState consistently rates among the top hospitals in Connecticut and the nation. Conveniently located just minutes off Rte. 691 in Meriden, CT, MidState offers free and safe parking, as well as private inpatient rooms. Services include general surgery, emergency medicine, MidState Medical Group Walk-in Center for urgent care needs, and state-of-the-art care in centers dedicated to Cancer Care, Wound and Hyperbaric Care, Family Birthing, Sleep Care, Digestive Health, Pain Management, and Cardiac Care.For information, call 203 694 8200, or visit www.midstatemedical.org. To find a MidState Doctor, call: 1 866 MMC 5678 MidState Makes Varicose Vein Procedure Easier Barbara Molis of Meriden has had protruding veins, leg heaviness, and discomfort associated with varicose veins for years. In recent months, her symptoms seemed to get worse by the week, especially when she was standing. That was before June, when Barbara underwent a procedure at MidState Medical Center to treat her varicosities. The procedure is medically termed radio frequency ablation, a minimally invasive practice by which doctors shut down the troublesome vein with radio frequency waves. The waves deliver heat to the vein at lower temperatures than laser treatments, causing the collagen in the vein’s lining to break down. The result—no more pain, heaviness, or bulging veins. “It was great,” said Barbara. The office-based procedure can be conducted in 30 minutes to one hour and requires no sedation, said Daniel Schwartz, MD, MidState Medical Center. Though patients must wear compression hose temporarily following the surgery, they are able to resume normal activity immediately. “I took a trip to American Girl in New York City the week after the procedure,” said Barbara. Barbara was hesitant about the trip at first, but her doctor encouraged her to go. Results are almost immediate as well. Patients can notice a difference in as little as two days following surgery. Barbara commented, “I have no more pain and tiredness.” This procedure is a far cry from what used to be done to treat venous insufficiency. In a more dated procedure, vein removal was the norm. Doctors had to surgically strip out the vein, frequently causing the patient pain and bruising. Results were not favorable either. “The vein reopens in up to 52% of cases,” Dr. Schwartz said. Radio frequency ablation is less painful and much faster. It is performed by first using ultrasound technology to find the best location to enter the vein. Then a catheter is inserted into the diseased vein. The radio frequencies delivered to the vein close it immediately, redirecting blood to deeper, healthy veins. MidState physicians have performed over 30 radio frequency ablation procedures since the hospital started offering them in October 2006. The hospital has also organized a vein center in response to the growing need for vein disease treatment. MidState’s Vein Center is comprised of four MidState doctors: Daniel Schwartz, MD, general and vascular surgeon; Jack Huse, MD, general surgeon; Harry Hajedemos, MD, Assistant Medical Director of Radiology; and Gary Dee, MD, Medical Director of Radiology. Approximately 80 million Americans suffer from venous insufficiency, and another 20 million experience symptoms associated with reflux (blood traveling in the wrong direction), but only 1.2 million of these individuals seek treatment. Vein centers have been an emerging concept in the last six years, and doctors are beginning to better understand the effect of vein problems. Bulging varicose veins are the well-known characteristic of venous insufficiency, but people can experience other problems without having physical manifestations. Pain, heavy legs, tingling, swelling, and fatigue of the legs are all signs that valves are poorly functioning. The Vein Center at MidState will assess patients’ vein problems through a specific staging process and then propose appropriate treatment. Advanced ultrasound technology and a comprehensive examination will be used to determine a diagnosis. Most insurance companies will cover the radio frequency ablation procedure with confirmation of symptoms and diagnosis and if conservative therapies like compression hose have continually failed. Treating venous insufficiency and varicose veins has not always been this simplistic, but patients no longer have to suffer with pain. Dr. Hajedemos said, “The technology makes it easy to treat.” It’s Flu Season, Cover That Sneeze, Stay Healthy Submitted by the Wallingford Health Department Changing seasons, changing temperatures also means changing our attitude about personal health. Is it just a cough, just a sneeze or is it really influenza? I’m sure we have all heard people say that they don’t get the “Flu shot” because you can get the flu from the vaccine. NOT TRUE! Each year the strain of influenza changes, so each year there is a new strain of vaccine to prevent the Flu. The vaccine contains noninfectious killed viruses and cannot cause the flu. If you are already developing a respiratory illness such as a cold, this illness may present after you receive your vaccine but it is unrelated to the vaccine. Getting the Flu Vaccine is no guarantee that you won’t get the Flu! Hand hygiene (proper and frequent hand washing), covering your sneeze or cough with a tissue (use it once and toss it) or your shirt sleeve will help stop the spread of viruses. Catch it before it spreads! The best time to receive the flu vaccine is during October or November, early in the season to prevent the illness from developing. The flu vaccine is the primary method for preventing influenza and its potential severe complications. Epidemics of influenza typically occur during winter months and have been responsible for an average of 36,000 deaths per year in the US. Who should get the flu vaccine? Persons aged 50 or older, young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, people who work with the public, and all medical professionals. Individuals with a known allergy to eggs or persons currently experiencing an acute illness should not receive the flu vaccine. In addition to the flu vaccine, persons 65 years and older or individuals with suppressed immune system should also receive the pneumonia vaccine. Both vaccines may be given at the same time. Unlike the flu vaccine, the pneumonia vaccine is generally given only once, unless your primary provider indicates that a one-time revaccination is required. So go out and enjoy the crisp air, but be safe, be smart and over That Cough! Make sure you COVER YOUR COUGH or Sneeze with your bent arm (imagine pulling a cape up to your mouth like Bat Man) so as not to spread the germs in your hand. We call that proper cough etiquette. For vaccine clinic schedules, contact the Wallingford Health Dept. at 294-2065, the Wallingford VNA at 269-1475 or the CT ALA 1-888-NO-TO-FLU. AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFERS TRAINING COURSES IN WALLINGFORD The South Central Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently accepting registrations for upcoming Health & Safety courses. The American Red Cross Community First Aid and Safety courses are designed to help responders feel more confident in their ability to act appropriately in the event of an emergency. The program includes information on topics such as First Aid, CPR, and preventing disease transmission. The program is comprised of courses for adult, child, and infant care. All training courses will be held at the Wallingford/Meriden Branch office of the American Red Cross located at 144 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Details for each course are listed below: Please pre pay by calling (203) 265-6721 or register on-line at www.arcsct.org. CPR - Adult - to be held on October 10, 2007, from 6:00pm-10:00pm Learn to overcome any reluctance to act in emergency situations and to recognize and care for life-threatening respiratory or cardiac emergencies in adults. CPR - Adult certification valid one year. No prerequisites. 4 HOURS. Standard First Aid with CPR - Adult, Child and Infant - to be held on October 15 & 16 2007 from 5:30pm to 10:00pm (both nights). Learn to overcome any reluctance to act in emergency situations and to recognize and care for life-threatening respiratory or cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants. Provide the lay responder with the knowledge and skills necessary in an emergency to help sustain life and to minimize pain and the consequences of injury or sudden illness until professional medical help arrives. Two certifications include CPR - Adult, Child & Infant valid one year and Standard First Aid valid three years. When class is held in two sessions, attendance is required at both sessions to receive certification. No prerequisites. 9 HOURS CPR – Adult, Child & Infant Review - to be held on October 20, 2007 from 9:00am – 1:00pm. The purpose of a review course is to give individuals the opportunity to review the course content within a formal class setting. A copy of your current CPR – Adult, Child & Infant certification must be presented with registration. If you do not own a revised 2006 textbook you must purchase one for an additional fee. 4 HOURS Connecticut Child Care - to be held October 24 & 25, 2007 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm (both nights). This course instructs adults in how to administer first aid and CPR – Child & Infant, how to prevent accidents and injuries, how to recognize communicable diseases, child abuse, Lyme disease and how to respond to such situations. The State of Connecticut approves this course for licensed home day care providers. Also appropriate for parents of young children, nursery school teachers and camp counselors. Two certifications include CPR – Child & Infant valid one year and CONNECTICUT CHILD CARE valid three years. No prerequisites. 8 HOURS Know Your Status: National Latino / Hispanic AIDS Awareness Day On October 15, 2007 the Meriden Health Department will honor National Latino and Hispanic AIDS Awareness Day. This day is a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and marks the first day of what has become an annual observance in the fight against AIDS. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate by language, color, sexual preference, or country of origin. One cannot tell if someone has HIV by just looking at them; status is only known by getting tested. The Meriden Health Department encourages everyone to become more educated about HIV and AIDS. The Meriden Health Department offers free, confidential testing and counseling to all interested individuals. The department offers the OraSure test, in which test results are available in twenty minutes. Educational information is also available. All services are available in English and Spanish. Call Abby Torres, HIV Counselor / Bilingual Educator, at (203) 630-4176 for more information or to make an appointment. FLU VACCINATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH MERIDEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT The Meriden Health Department will offer the influenza (flu) vaccine on the following dates: October 17, 2007 9:00am – 12:00pm Meriden Senior Citizens Center 22 West Main Street (Seniors over 60 years of age and chronically ill residents encouraged to attend) October 24, 2007 2:00pm-5:30pm Meriden Health Department 165 Miller Street (Open to all Meriden residents, including City of Meriden and Board of Education employees) October 30, 2007 9:00am-11:00am Harbor Towers 60 Hanover Street (Seniors over 60 years of age and chronically ill residents encouraged to attend) The cost of each inoculation is $20.00. Medicare Part B will be accepted. Any persons allergic to eggs or any part of the flu vaccine are not eligible for the vaccination. All vaccination dates are by appointment only. Please call the Meriden Health Department at 630-4234 to make an appointment.