Meriden and Wallingford CT Health News & Events July 2010

To read the current issue of The People’s Press – Wallingford and Meriden’s Community Newspaper in image form or to download the latest pdf go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ Summer Health & Wellness Fair to be held at the Wallingford Public Library The Wallingford Public Library, together with the Health Department, MidState Medical Center and VNA Healthcare, will host a FREE Summer Health & Wellness Fair on Monday, July 12th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Wallingford Public Library. This family-friendly event will feature information on nutrition and heart health, skin cancer awareness, Lyme disease, lead poisoning prevention, emergency preparedness, dental care, vision screening (by Wallingford Eye Care Center) and more. Interactive displays include a unique “glow light” that shows kids and parents how important it is to wash your hands properly. The Wallingford Library will also host a “book corner” featuring available books on Nutrition and Family Health. The Wallingford Park and Recreation Dept will offer an interactive fitness component. Fresh fruit and bottled water will be served. Please join us for this educational summer event where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and discuss health issues with a variety of experts and professionals. The fair will be held in the library’s Community Room on the first floor. THE BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER AND PRICELESS HUMOR CAROL CARBUTTI THE OWNER OF COMFORT KEEPERS OF WALLINGFORD, CT WOULD LIKE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER AND PRICELESS HUMOR FOR OUR HEALTHY AGING IN HOME SENIORS AND THEIR CAREGIVING FAMILIES Who would ever think that laughing can be so beneficial? Research has shown that human aging has a mind body connection that elderly parents enjoy with the benefits of laughter. Their response to it can have many unexpected health benefits. Here are a few benefits of laughter and a good sense of priceless humor: For starters research studies have shown that the ability to see humor, even in difficult situations, causes the reduction of stress reducing hormones in an elderly parent’s body. Laughter also elevates their mood by releasing endorphins in a senior’s body. This increases a baby boomers sense of well being and improves their mood while boosting their immune system. Studies show that laughter can raise the level of hormones that produce infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the effectiveness of immune cells. Seniors can also enhance brain function when they experience a bout of laughter due to an increase in their circulation which affects the amount of blood to the brain. Laughing stimulates both sides of the brain, so it also increases an aging parent’s ability to focus and retain information: the result is improved mental clarity and attentiveness. Another important study shows laughter can reduce risk or even prevent heart disease. The research found that retirees with a priceless sense of humor, found humor even in everyday situations that may cause others stress. The study found that 40% of individuals with heart disease were less likely to laugh at life's situations. Healthy aging seniors should know that a good hardy laugh is just as good as a mild workout since your blood pressure goes up and many muscles stretch while increasing your amount of oxygen. During this increase some seniors notice a higher pain threshold. After they may feel a sense of relaxation when their blood pressure decreases. Having a humorous outlook also promotes social interaction since they are the ones others want to be around. Laughing is contagious. Scientists feel that the increase in use of the abdominal muscles and utilizing more energy may attribute to a more stable blood sugar level for clients with Type 2 Diabetes. "Laughter is definitely a healing experience, and we're not talking metaphorically, we're speaking absolutely literally. Laughter is one of the best medicines you can have." Quote by Deepak Chopra There is an increasing interest in the benefits of laughter and a growing industry of programs that encourage laughing. Laughter therapy promotes laughing as a coping skill for survival. There is still much more research to be done on the health benefits of laughter. There is definitely a mind body connection with the benefits of laughter affecting human aging. Remember, priceless humor and enjoying a day with some laughter is better than a day without any laughter at all. Wallingford Health Department Resident Survey Results Submitted by Eloise Hazelwood, Director of health Introduction Each year, the Wallingford Health Department has the opportunity to apply for funding from the State of Connecticut Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. This funding was used in past years to provide a public health education program such as smoking cessation; cholesterol, or nutrition education. This last year, the funds were used to conduct a Community Public Health Survey. CT DPH required that a minimum of 400 residents complete the survey questionnaire, and the selection process and data collection methods had to be reviewed and approved in advance by DPH. The data was gathered using a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) questionnaire administered by random telephone interviews and in-person interviews conducted randomly at community-wide events such as Celebrate Wallingford and the Wallingford Youth and Family Day at Doolittle Park. We were very fortunate to have a local resident, Nada Shaarbaf, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student intern from Walden University, help with the survey design and conducting the interviews, thank you Nada! We appreciate your hard work and MANY hours! We wanted to share some of the results as a “thank you” to all the residents who completed the survey. Demographics: Of the 400 Wallingford residents surveyed · 80% have lived in Wallingford more than 5 years · 83% were white, non Hispanic · 60% were married · Age breakdown of respondents was: 18 to 25 years old 6% 26 to 35 years old 11% 35 to 60 years old 49% 60 years or older 34% · 54% did not have any children in the household. · 91% of the respondents spoke English as their primary language and 25% stated they spoke a 2nd language Calculated Body Mass Index Based on respondents’ stated height and weight Body Mass Index scores were calculated and categorized as Healthy, Overweight and At Risk. When asked what preventative health services they thought the town of Wallingford should provide, 65% stated Nutrition/Exercise Programs. So what are our Next Steps or but another way, now what do we do with the survey information? The Health Department is working with several partners as part of the YMCA Pioneering Healthier Communities, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to address policy changes in a community to improve our overall health status, especially physical activity and nutrition. First Lady Michelle Obama has taken on combating childhood obesity as a national cause. One of our goals as we move forward is to explore policy options that work. Programming is wonderful but we need to make sure we support policy change to have a sustainable or long term impact on a growing concern (no pun intended). Based on the number of respondents in our survey, Wallingford is part of the national average when it comes to being overweight (35%). We don’t want to be a part of that “average”; we want to be a part the Healthy and Active percentage. There are many opportunities in our community to Get Moving! The YMCA and the Wallingford Park and Recreation Department (and many local gyms) offer reduced rates for families, young children or even summer passes. Our Wallingford center is used by many folks for an evening stroll; all you need is a comfortable pair of sneakers! Why not start charting your steps and challenge yourself or a neighbor to see who can walk the most steps by Labor Day? I know we don’t want to think about the fall, but we are going to host a non competitive Family Fun Walk at the start of Celebrate Wallingford. We need you help! The Wallingford Health Department would love to hear your idea for our community, together we can Motivate to Move! Drop us a line or call with your input, 203-294-2065 or wlfdhealth@sbcglobal.net To read the current issue of The People’s Press – Wallingford and Meriden’s Community Newspaper in image form or to download the latest pdf go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ Meriden Health Department News and Events Summer Fun for the Whole Family! It’s summertime – the season of popsicles, sidewalk chalk, cookouts and fun in the sun! The kids are out of school, adults are on vacation and it’s time for outdoor activities such as riding bikes and camping. Keep the family entertained all summer long with these activity ideas from the Meriden Health Department: 1. Take a hike! Meriden has many wonderful hiking trails for hikers and walkers of all activity levels. The Meriden Land Trust has updated hiking trail maps on their website - www.meridenlandtrust.com. Turn your trip into a scavenger hunt by looking for different flowers and birds! Before you head out, make sure you apply bug spray - especially if you are going to be hiking at dawn or dusk. Read the label carefully and follow directions for use. 2. Visit a farmer’s market! Farmer’s markets across Connecticut will be opening soon. Learn where your food comes from by visiting a local market or farm. Plan a weekly family meal with the fresh produce you purchase. Visit www.buyctgrown.com for a list of local farmer’s markets. 3. Hit the beach! Planning a trip to the beach this summer? Don’t forget to pack sunscreen (check the expiration date and if it is waterproof/sweat proof), aloe, your sunglasses, a hat, and, if you have one, a beach umbrella. If you are staying closer to home and relaxing poolside, make sure young children are always supervised by an adult when they are in the pool no matter how well they can swim. 4. Family cycling trip! Tune up those bikes and plan an afternoon of bike riding with your family. Review the rules of the road and safety tips before you head out. Tips are available at the Health Department; we also sell adult and child bike helmets for only $7.50 – call 203-630-4234 for more information. 5. Have some backyard fun! There are many adventures waiting for you and your family in your own backyard. Classic games like horseshoes, bocci, water balloon toss and hide and seek are fun for the whole family. Use your imagination and come up with your own fun games the whole family can enjoy! Whatever you do this summer, have fun and be safe! If you have any questions please contact the Meriden Health Department Community Health Education office at 203-630-4238. Become a fan of the Meriden Health Department on FACEBOOK! Do you live or work in Meriden? Do you have a Facebook account? If you answered “yes” to these questions, consider becoming a fan of the City of Meriden Health Department! On our Facebook page we will be posting: The latest public health news and updates for Meriden, including timely health and wellness tips · · Notices of upcoming community events and services, including our flyers · · Photos from community events Search for us under City of Meriden Health Department. Encourage other residents to sign up! If you have any questions please call the Community Health Education office at 203-630-4238. Save the Date! Community Wednesday Block Party to be held July 14! A community block party will be held on Wednesday, July 14, from 10:00am-4:00pm at the Meriden HUB. All of Meriden is invited! The purpose of this event is to bring the City of Meriden a day of festivities along with positive resources, interactive activities and information from community organizations. This event will also be broadcast live on Hot 93.7! This event is being sponsored by the Meriden Housing Authority, the Meriden/Wallingford NAACP and the Meriden Health Department. If it rains the party will be held on Wednesday, August 18. If you have any questions, contact Teri Ramos at Meriden Housing, 203-235-0157 ext. 229. A Special Day for Special People The 40 th annual "Special Day for Special People" picnic for Meriden senior citizens and long term care residents was held on Saturday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hubbard Park. The program opened with a flag-raising ceremony by the Meriden Antique Veterans and musical entertainment was provided from the band shell by Vinnie Carr throughout the day. Seniors enjoyed a picnic, bingo with prizes, and dancing with volunteers from Lincoln Middle School. Our thanks to the community businesses, the Meriden City Council, the Advisory Board on Aging, and all the volunteers who made this event possible. "The Facts about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue! Some things on the web just aren't true" By Kimberley Linstruth-Beckom I came across a rather upsetting Tweet this afternoon about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. It was a shock to read and even scared me a bit, but before I go into great detail about the actual tweet, let me delve a little into what I think a responsible journalist is. I’ve touched on this subject in my book Fibro and Fabulous The Book for a very important reason. You see, the internet has change the way people get their information. This can be a very wonderful and positive thing because many average joes have been able to publish articles or blogs. That’s a great positive because you get fresh perspectives on subjects and most of the time these perspectives are not biased due to adverting. There is a down side, however, and this one can cause a major problem in society to the point of chaos if we as a people don’t do something about it. The down side is misuse of information due to lack of research. A journalist who taught one of my journalism classes once said, “You could be the best writer in the world, but if you don’t research your subject, you will look like a fool.” I took that statement to heart because misuse of information can cause panic in a society, especially when it comes to health matters. If you misinform a group about a health issue, you can cause a lot of panic and undue stress. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get into the Tweet. The Tweet was about how Canada will not take donated blood from people who suffer from Fibromyalgia. Being the Fibro and Fab gal that I am, the Tweet got my attention. I clicked on the link and was directed to a blog that informed me of a particular study that was done finding a link between a retrovirus (XMRV) and Fibromyalgia. The virus is apparently related to the AIDS virus. That’s some scary information for a Fibro sufferer to hear, wouldn’t you think? I mean, does this mean that Fibromyalgia is fatal? Can this beast now be linked and passed onto my children? The answer is no. There is still no conclusive evidence linking Fibromyalgia to fatality, in fact, they can’t even link Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue to this “AIDS like” virus. An editorial (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/feb25_1/c1099) published on February 25, 2010 from BMJ, a publication that boasts “helping doctors make decisions”, explains a new study that failed to find a link between the virus and Chronic Fatigue. Most retrovirologists, as the editorial states, are used to seeing a study in its infancy linking a virus to a disease only to fail once additional testing is done. This link is now no different. The editorial goes further in explaining that two additional studies, one from the UK done by BMJ with 168 participants, and one Dutch study with a few participants, also found no conclusive evidence linking Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue to XMRV. There have only been a total of four studies done on this to date and the latter three are in conflict with the original study done on patients from the 1980’s in the Lake Tahoe area of New York. There are several more tests to be done before XMRV is ruled out, however, the prognosis so far does not look good for the little theory. What’s sad is that Canada and Australia have decided to forgo blood donations from those who have Chronic Fatigue (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/07/blood-donations-chronic-fatigue-virus.html). This news is sad because this one study that isn’t even conclusive has really caused a lot of fear. The caution that the Canadian Red Cross is doing is for good reason. During the 1980’s tens of thousands of Canadians were infected with either HIV or Hepatitis C after receiving blood from the Red Cross. Perhaps some of you out there are a little too young to remember the tremendous blood scare the HIV virus caused, but it’s one I remember. I personally wouldn’t mind the ban for a little while if it makes people safe. After all, that’s the true reason why we donate blood to begin with. Whether Canada is truly right in the ban is really a mute point at this time since there isn’t any unequivocal evidence stating that this ban isn’t needed. What this is showing, however, is that people need to be very careful as to what they print. People, and now, even countries may depend on it. MidState Medical Center to offer Support Group for Stroke Survivors MidState Medical Center announces the initiation of its Stroke Support Group, an interactive group designed to assist stroke survivors and their caregivers in learning more about stroke and recovery issues, as well as share common challenges and experiences. The group will be facilitated by Pat Giannelli, ACNS, PMHCNS, FNP, MidState’s Neurology Services APRN. The Stroke Support Group will be held the first Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Conference Room 7 at MidState Medical Center. The first planned session is scheduled for June 2nd. ALLOW ME TO AGE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I repeat myself BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Your favorite work was “why?” PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I tell the same story I just told a few minutes ago BUT REMEMBER WHEN: I read you the same story over and over each night PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I cannot remember your name BUT REMEMBER WHEN: The only name you could say was mine PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I move with a slow and unsteady gait BUT REMEMBER WHEN: I held both of your hands as you tentatively took those first steps PLEASE… PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I have stains on my clothes after a meal BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Taste and texture were explored as you learned to feed yourself PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: Hygiene matters are not always within my control BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Patience, praise and encouragement helped you to conquer “potty training” PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: A special diet requires extra time and planning BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Formula gave way to baby food and later to cutting table food into tiny pieces PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: Taking me with your requires extra equipment BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Playpens, highchairs, strollers and a diaper bag were all a necessary part of any outing PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I express fear and anxiety in unfamiliar places and circumstances BUT REMEMBER WHEN: I watched with a lump in my throat as you were introduced to all of the important “firsts” PLEASE DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH ME WHEN: I plead with you not to be left alone BUT REMEMBER WHEN: Leaving you with a caretaker was cause for tears for both of us. FROM COMFORT KEEPERS IN WALLINGFORD, CT MidState Medical Center to offer Well Child Clinics for Town of Wallingford MidState Medical Center, in conjunction with VNA Healthcare, will be offering “Well Child Clinics” to the residents of Wallingford beginning in July. “Well Child Clinics” promote the good health of children and provide both health education and counseling on children’s growth and development, nutrition, minor illnesses, safety, and more. They are designed to provide vaccines and school physicals for children aged birth through 18 years (or high school completion) that are un/underinsured. Wallingford’s "Well Child Clinics" are scheduled for July 22nd and 29th. Appointments will be taken at the end of June. Community Health Services assistance programs are available to Wallingford residents based on financial need (initial intake requires proof of income). Call 203-886-6435 for an appointment. In addition, Nutritional Services will be provided through the Meriden Health Department. Wallingford residents may schedule an appointment directly at the Meriden Health Department (203-630-4245). For more information, please contact Eloise Hazelwood, Director of Health for the Wallingford Health Department, at 203-294-2065. To read the current issue of The People’s Press – Wallingford and Meriden’s Community Newspaper in image form or to download the latest pdf go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/