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| Notice: Nothing on this page should be construed as "medical advice". |
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| PVH Promotes Hand-Washing |
February 2, 2010 Media Contact: Allison Bankston 299-4384 - (Lincoln, ME--) Penobscot Valley Hospital is promoting proper hand hygiene among all employees and doing detailed surveillance of all staff who provide regular services to patients. This close monitoring effort includes making sure that all doctors, nurses, food service workers, case manager, and others who have direct patient contact are properly washing their hands between seeing each individual.
“This is part of a nationwide effort to make sure healthcare employees are doing their part to prevent the spread of infection,” says PVH Infection Control Officer Sherry McCafferty. “It’s really everyone’s responsibility to make sure we frequently wash and sanitize our hands to avoid transmitting anything that could be harmful to another person.” McCafferty says that includes not only the staff at PVH but visitors, family of patients, and even the patients themselves.
For about a year now, PVH has been heavily promoting high hand-washing standards in the facility in Lincoln. Advanced education has been provided to staff and patients, and posters, signs, and newsletters have reminded people to make sure they wash their hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. The hospital is making hand sanitizer more accessible and plentiful with dispensers in common areas around the building.
McCafferty is also working on the effort across the state. She’s part of the Hand Hygiene Subcommittee of the Maine Infection Prevention Collaborative. The group is helping to set standards around Maine to make sure everyone is using the same tools and following the same guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and keep patients safe and healthy. |
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| 2009 H1N1 Flu: Situation Update |
December 31, 2009 - Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of December 20-26, 2009, certain key indicators decreased, others increased, and still others remained the same compared to the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:
Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally increased slightly this week over last week. This is the first increase in this indicator after eight consecutive weeks of national decreases. The increase in the percentage of visits to doctors for ILI during this is likely influenced by fewer people going to the doctor for routine health care visits during the holiday season, as has occurred during previous seasons. Overall hospitalization rates for this season were unchanged from the previous week in all age groups.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report increased over the previous week and is now back above the epidemic threshold after dipping below it last week for the first time in 11 weeks. (The epidemic threshold is the point at which the observed proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia or influenza is significantly higher than would be expected at that time of the year in the absence of substantial influenza-related mortality.)
In addition, four flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week compared to 9 reported last week: two of these deaths reported this week were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1, and two were associated with influenza A viruses that were not subtyped. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 289 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 243 due to 2009 H1N1, 44 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonal influenza viruses. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought to represent an undercount of the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths.
Four states are reporting widespread influenza activity; a decline of three states from last week. They are: Delaware, Maine, New Jersey and Virginia.
Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
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| PVH Decontamination Team |
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Left photo: PVH Decontamination Team Members Mark Robinson and Peter Merritt help a “victim” into the “decon tent” during the hospital’s decontamination team drill on November 18. Right photo: Rusty Dicker, one of four PVH Decontamination Team members at the hospital in Lincoln, suits up and goes through the steps of the process during the hospital’s decontamination drill. Team Member Rusty Burnham plays the “victim” to help the other team members practice the procedures. |
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November 23- A group of four of employees at Penobscot Valley Hospital has undergone the training to be part of a decontamination team. This group would respond during a disaster situation such as a hazardous spill or leak. Rusty Burnham, Peter Merritt, Mark Robinson, and Rusty Dicker all attended the Hazmat Operations Level Training for Hospitals on October 1 and 2 in Bangor.
This training, offered through the Northeastern Regional Resources Center, allowed the participants to learn about different types of incidents which might require a response by the “decon” team. The training reviewed how to deal with a variety of potentially hazardous substances and how to actually decontaminate an individual who has come in contact with the possibly dangerous material.
Last week, the four PVH Decon Team members held a drill using the equipment kept at the hospital for these sorts of emergencies. The drill gave the team a chance to see what additional supplies might be needed, how individual tasks can be streamlined, and what problems might arise in a real emergency.
If the PVH Decon Team was called to action, people would be directed to the decontamination area outside of the hospital. All potentially contaminated individuals would be required to go through the decontamination process. Assisted by trained staff, the people undergoing decontamination would proceed through the decon tent and into the hospital where they would be directed to receive care by the hospital’s clinical staff if needed.
“By funneling the people affected by the incident through the decon tent and then into a specific interior area of the hospital, we avoid contaminating the rest of the individuals in the building or the treatment facility, itself,” says PVH Decon Team Member Peter Merritt.
During the drill, the team reviewed the contents of the hospital’s portable “disaster trailer.” All the gear for the Decon Team is kept in this trailer. Each person’s protective gear is stored in an individual bag, so the team members can each quickly grab a bag and have all they need to get started.
The drill on November 18 helped the group pinpoint and address a number of additional challenges, such as handling the flow of vehicle and foot traffic, diverting deliveries, keeping the trailer in a move accessible location, and the need to order some additional supplies such as a battery charger, couplings, and straps.
“It’s important for a facility such as ours--removed from urban areas—to have a trained and prepared team like this,” says Merritt. “This team is now ready to deal with a broad range of potential disasters that might plague our community.”
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Holiday Heart Syndrome
Keith B. Churchwell, MD
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
he holidays bring more than gifts and good cheer. They also bring an increase in deaths from heart disease, with spikes both on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The trend is so predictable that cardiologists now refer to the “Merry Christmas Coronary” and the “Happy New Year Heart Attack.”
A research team led by Robert A. Kloner, MD, looked at death records of more than 220,000 people who had died over a 12-year period. The study, published in Circulation, found that about one-third more deaths were recorded in December and January than from June through September.
The holidays also bring a rise in hospital admissions for nonfatal cardiac events, including angina (chest pain).
IS COLD WEATHER TO BLAME?
It was once thought that cold weather was the primary reason for holiday-related heart attacks. However, the Circulation study looked only at patients in Los Angeles County, where temperatures generally are mild all year.
Cold weather can play a small role in the incidence of cardiovascular events, especially for people with existing heart disease. It can increase the body’s response to stressful conditions, which can put people at heightened risk, particularly when they engage in more vigorous activities (such as shoveling snow) than they’re accustomed to.
The holidays themselves, however, present other risks...
INCREASED ALCOHOL
People socialize more -- and drink more -- during the holidays. Excessive alcohol can be toxic to the cardiovascular system, particularly in people with heart disease. Alcohol both depresses heart function and irritates the top heart chambers (the atria). The irritation can lead to atrial fibrillation, a dangerous change in the heart’s normal rhythm.
One of my patients, a young woman who usually didn’t drink, had shared a bottle of champagne with a friend. That’s not a lot of alcohol, but within 24 hours, she went into atrial fibrillation. Fortunately, her heart rate was back to normal after 24 hours.
What to do: Don’t use the holidays as an excuse to drink more than usual. Stick to the guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association -- no more than one drink daily for women... two drinks daily for men.
LARGE MEALS
People eat more often during the holidays, and they tend to eat more, on average, at each meal. After a large meal, blood is directed to the intestines to aid in digestion. In patients with atherosclerosis (blockages in the coronary arteries that can restrict blood flow to the heart), the reduction in cardiovascular circulation can result in angina (chest pain caused by decreased blood).
Also, people tend to eat richer foods during the holidays. High-fat meals make the coronary endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) more reactive. This can cause an increase in coronary spasms, constrictions that further impede coronary circulation.
What to do...
Eat normal serving sizes, particularly if you’ve been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, angina or another heart condition. Don’t “save” calories so that you can eat more at a special meal.
Don’t add salt. Excessive sodium can cause fluid retention, resulting in spikes in blood pressure in some people. In patients with existing high blood pressure or with impaired heart function, an increase in salt can lead to increased risk for heart failure or pulmonary edema, a buildup of fluid in lung tissue.
INCREASED STRESS
The holidays are one of the most stressful times of year. People are interacting more with relatives (with whom they may or may not be on good terms)... fighting crowds at the malls... traveling... attending parties... and/or worrying about finances. There’s a direct correlation between stress and cardiovascular events. During stressful situations, people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience coronary spasms -- and sometimes chest pain, which can indicate angina or a heart attack.
There’s also a condition called stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart attack–like symptoms in response to intense stress. It is seen predominantly in women and is thought to occur when a stress-related surge of adrenaline stuns the heart. Most people recover without long-term harm, but in rare cases, it can be fatal.
What to do: Take steps to minimize holiday stress -- by not overbooking your social calendar... by walking away from (instead of confronting) unpleasant social situations... and by keeping up with regular exercise and relaxing activities.
WINTER INFLUENZA
The flu season peaks between the months of December and March. Flu is potentially dangerous for everyone, but heart patients are especially vulnerable. There’s evidence that the inflammation that accompanies flu may destabilize arterial plaque and increase the risk for clots, the cause of most heart attacks.
What to do: An annual flu vaccination is the best protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for adults age 50 and older... any adult with a heart, lung, kidney or metabolic disease (such as diabetes)... and for those with compromised immune systems.
MEDICAL DELAYS
People who are caught up in holiday excitement -- or who don’t want to spoil the holiday fun for others -- may delay seeking medical care, even if they’re having chest pain or other heart symptoms. They also are more likely to forget to take medications, such as anticoagulants and blood pressure drugs.
What to do: Stay on top of your health throughout the holiday season. Put medications in a place where you’ll see them. If you have worrisome symptoms, don’t wait until the end of the holidays -- or even the end of the day -- to get medical attention. Don’t delay -- immediately call 911.
COMMON HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
The most common heart attack symptom for men and women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it may not be severe, especially in women, who are more likely than men to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain. Symptoms for men and women include…
Chest pressure or pain
Pain extending beyond the chest to the shoulder, arm, back, jaw
Abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Sense of doom
Light-headedness or dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Unexplained fatigue
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PVH Increases Flu Prevention
October 27- Penobscot Valley Hospital is taking steps to further reduce the spread of the flu in our region. Maine is seeing an increasing number of flu cases. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cases of several strains of seasonal influenza have been confirmed, along with cases of H1N1 (swine flu). The vast majority of the U.S. is seeing widespread flu activity, with most of it being H1N1.
PVH is planning a multi-stage response to the flu, and due to the increase in flu activity, the hospital in Lincoln is currently in its initial stage—Stage I. Some of the measures the hospital is putting in effect, immediately, include:
1. No public tours of the hospital--such as bringing groups of students into the facility.
2. Cancelling hospital events which include children –PVH has cancelled its Halloween Trick-or-Treat event in which kids in the community were invited to visit the main lobby and get homemade holiday sweets from our staff. It was very sad to have to cancel this fun event, but PVH feels it’s important to minimize the spread of influenza.
3. Minimize the number of children in the hospital—please do not bring your children to the hospital unless they need treatment in the Emergency Department. Employees are also being asked to not bring their children into the hospital unless they need treatment.
4. Please wear a mask if you are ill—each person entering PVH will be screened by the Patient Registration Department, and if you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, you will be asked to wear a mask. This includes patients, visitors, and staff. People are also being encouraged to use hand sanitizer which is located in each waiting room at PVH and at many other locations around the hospital.
5. Strict standards for staff—PVH is monitoring the health of employees carefully, and if they fall ill with flu-like symptoms, they are being asked to stay home until their fever stays away for 24 hours without the use of fever inhibitors (such as Ibuprofen).
Additional actions may be taken by the hospital in the future if the number of flu cases increases significantly. Some of those additional steps would likely include designating a certain entrance of the hospital for people who have flu-like symptoms, establishing a specific flu-care area of the hospital, and temporarily suspending some services to free up additional staff to care for a larger number of ill patients. Again, these additional plans will only be put in effect if the number of cases significantly increases.
The symptoms of the flu include: fever (Temperature higher than 100° F (37.8° C)), sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you only have a few of these symptoms you may still have some form of the flu. Screeners at healthcare facilities are watching chiefly for people who are coughing and have a fever.
Most people are able to recover from the flu at home. “If your child has a fever but no breathing or eating difficulties, you do not need to bring that young person to the Emergency Department,” says PVH Chief of Emergency Medicine David Dumont, MD. “Call your family provider first, if you have any questions.”
Good health habits can help prevent the spread of the flu. Please remember to:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Consider vaccination.
PVH is holding a public seasonal flu clinic on Friday, October 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 12 noon in the specialty clinics on the second floor of the hospital. Because the hospital has a limited supply of the seasonal flu vaccination, appointments are required. Please call 794-7270 to reserve your spot. |
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OCTOBER IS Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
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This week marks the end of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Penobscot Valley Hospital is has been observing the month by helping to educate people in the community about the risk factors and treatment options available. Since the observance was first recognized, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older, and breast cancer rates have gone down.
PVH has a highly experienced mammography staff in the PVH Imaging Department:
The PVH Mammography Department (Imaging) is ACR accredited (American College of Radiology).
The hospital is an FDA certified mammography facility.
All of the mammography technologists at PVH have obtained advanced level certification in mammography, which means that they have completed the advanced training in mammography and have passed a registry examination in the specialty. This testing is administered through the AART (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists).
All of the PVH Technologists are licensed by the state of Maine.
The PVH Technologists have almost 50 years combined experience in mammography.
PVH uses physicians from Spectrum Radiology for the interpretation or reading of mammography--the same service which read mammography for some of the larger hospitals in Bangor. By utilizing the same top-notch service used by larger hospitals in the region, PVH ensures that people in the Lincoln Lakes Region don’t have to travel far to get the same level of quality.
The hospital in Lincoln is also committed to making sure people have access to the testing. That’s why PVH participates in the MBCHP (Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program). Women who qualify can receive free Mammograms, Clinical Breast Exams and PAP tests.
Comfort is always a concern, as well. “At Penobscot Valley Hospital, the staff uses MammoPad technology,” says PVH Imaging Services Director Heather Hines. “It’s a soft foam pad placed over the image receptor. The pad makes it warmer and softer for the patient during an exam.” PVH also does Bone Densitometry (Bone Mineral Density) testing.
Most insurance companies require a physician referral for mammograms except for Medicare. Medicare allows patients to self refer for screenings but only if it has been a full twelve months since the person’s last screening. You can schedule a mammogram by calling PVH Central Scheduling at 794-7270.
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| From Left to Right—Radiology/CT Technologist Jennifer Ward, Imaging Services Director Heather Hines, and Radiology/CT Technologist Melissa Grant - P.V.H. Photo |
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BLUEBERRY JUICE MAY HELP COMBAT OBESITY |
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September 18 - Canadian scientists have revealed that biotransformed blueberry juice holds great promise for treating obesity and diabetes.
The research team from the Universite de Montreal, the Institut Armand-Frappier and the Universite de Moncton have found that juice extracted from North American lowbush blueberries, biotransformed with bacteria from the skin of the fruit can help fight obesity and diabetes. "Results of this study clearly show that biotransformed blueberry juice has strong anti-obesity and anti-diabetic potential," said senior author Pierre S. Haddad, a pharmacology professor at the Universite de Montreal's Faculty of Medicine. "Biotransformed blueberry juice may represent a novel therapeutic agent, since it decreases hyperglycemia in diabetic mice and can protect young pre-diabetic mice from developing obesity and diabetes," Haddad added.
In the new study, the researchers tested the effect of biotransformed blueberry juice on a group of mice prone to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and hypertension. It showed that incorporating biotransformed blueberry juice into the water of mice reduced their food intake and their body weight. "These mice were an excellent model that closely resembles obesity and obesity-linked type 2 diabetes in humans," said Haddad. "Consumption of fermented blueberry juice gradually and significantly reduced high blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. After three days, our mice subjects reduced their glycemia levels by 35 percent," said Tri Vuong, lead author and recent PhD graduate from the Universite de Montreal's Department of Pharmacology. Biotransformation of the blueberry juice was achieved with a new strain of bacteria isolated from the blueberry flora, specifically called Serratia vaccinii, which increases the fruit's antioxidant effects. "The identification of the active compounds in biotransformed blueberry juice may result in the discovery of promising new antiobesity and antidiabetic molecules," Haddad added.
The study is published in the International Journal of Obesity.
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| NOVEMBER IS AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH |
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November is American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For years, the American Diabetes Assocation has used this month as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and its serious complications. For more about diabetes, CLICK HERE for a PDF fact sheet. |
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| Help Prevent the Flu |
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Lincoln - Now that school is back in session and colder weather is creeping into Maine, healthcare outlets are beginning to see more cases of the flu. Penobscot Valley Hospital, Health Access Network, and Millinocket Regional Hospital are urging people to follow the recommendations from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A few simple steps could help you prevent the spread of the flu and other illnesses this season.
Here are some key tips to remember:
1. Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot: the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. Seasonal flu shots are beginning to be available to the public, but production has been slowed by the manufacturing of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. Watch for community flu clinic announcements, or speak to your doctor for information on getting vaccinated. H1N1 vaccinations are expected to be available later this fall.
2. Avoid Close Contact: avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are ill, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
3. Stay Home When You Are Ill: if possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
4. Cover Your Mouth and Nose: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. If you donÕt have a tissue available, cough into your sleeveÑnot your hand, so you can avoid transferring the germs to the surfaces you touch.
5. Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, and Mouth: germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Wash Your Hands: washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
7. Practice Healthy Habits: avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, try to manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
To learn more, talk to your doctor or visit this CDC webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/ |
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H.U.S.H. Initiative at PVH
"Helping Us Support Healing" Making A Difference
September 15 - PRESS RELEASE: “H.U.S.H.” has become the magic word at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, and the hospital’s new campaign to promote healing and increase patient comfort is making a difference. “H.U.S.H.” stands for Help Us Support Healing, and it’s the winning slogan for the hospital-wide effort to diminish excessive noise. “We ran a contest for a slogan for our quietness campaign,” says Inpatient Services Director Melissa Pelkey. “We had some great responses from staff, and the winner was Sandra Tolman with the acronym H.U.S.H.”
A 2007 study by the Center of Health Design at Texas A & M University showed that noise can have an adverse affect on patient healing and that hospitals can be extremely noisy places. The study showed that peak noise levels can result in sleep loss, elevated blood pressure, exhaustion, and longer hospitalizations. Noise can also have negative effects on caregivers, leading to increased fatigue, difficulty with communication, increased stress, and quicker burnout. In short, noise is a harmful agent in the ongoing pursuit of providing quality healthcare.
The concept of “H.U.S.H.” is simple: improve patient care and overall satisfaction by implementing various noise reduction measures around the hospital. A hospital committee is currently working to improve the noise levels at PVH, and signs have been posted in the waiting areas of the building and in staff lounges reminding everyone to keep the noise down to a minimum. The committee also came up with other creative ideas such as putting the slogan on hospital computers to remind staff of the importance of quietness in the healing process and developing buttons that can be worn by staff to promote the program.
Individual departments are also considering what they can do to help. For instance, the PVH Maintenance Department recently oiled the wheels on carts, and squeaky doors are being fixed. Nurses are using a timer available on their computers and beepers to make sure they reach IV pumps prior to them beeping in a patient’s room. Emergency Room personnel are trying out a new kind of headset to decrease the amount of overhead paging in the building. Through the committee’s plans, staff will also be encouraged to wear soft-soled dress shoes to decrease the walking noise in the hallways.
Penobscot Valley Hospital is hoping that the “H.U.S.H.” campaign will help increase patient satisfaction and patient comfort as well as improving the work environment for hospital staff. Pelkey says, “In the end, the improvements could not only lead to happier patients but better healthcare and quicker healing.”
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Patient Registration Department Director Robert Coyle wears one of the new H.U.S.H. buttons designed to help staff promote a quiet atmosphere to enhance patient comfort.
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NEW STATE WEB SITE COMPARES MEDICAL COSTS
Maine Health Data Organization Sets Up Web Site
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July 31- Welcome to the state agency's new HealthCost Web site, which puts you a mouse click or two away from information that not too long ago would have been virtually inaccessible to the typical health-care consumer.
We're talking an array of hospital procedures ranging from a chest X-ray to a bronchoscopy.
We're talking price comparisons that show which hospitals and other medical facilities charge the most, which charge the least and which fall somewhere in between.
We're talking what various insurance plans pay for each operation or diagnostic test, as well as what you can expect to pay if you're one of the estimated 118,000 (and counting) Mainers who don't have health insurance. |
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EMMC Provides Access to PVH |
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July 7 - Doctors, nurses, and other care providers at Penobscot Valley Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center are sharing confidential information through secure, remote access. PVH was the first hospital in the region to benefit from EMMC’s plan to improve the safety, quality, and continuity of health care. It’s also a key component of EMMC’s Outreach program, which links EMMC physicians with patients’ primary care providers.
PVH has “read-only” access to the information recorded by nursing care managers and attending or primary care providers who work through EMMC. The Lincoln hospital can only access information on mutual patients.
This system streamlines the care management process and allows for better communication, as well as minimizing the chances of errors and duplication of care. As the Clinical Coordinator of Information Services for PVH, Kathy Schneider, RN says, “The program ensures that providers have the opportunity to review all the results, medications, and procedures performed for a patient under the other facility’s care.”
“Although this is a pilot project, the initial results are encouraging, and additional facilities are requesting the electronic medical record (EMR) access for their licensed providers,” says Eric Hartz, MD, EMMC’s Chief Medical Information Officer. “In a new generation of EMR, this interconnectivity is instrumental in meeting the changing needs of the people served by the hospitals of our region.” |
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Get Ready!
The CDC and Utah health department have issued a prediction on the severity of the second wave of this year's flu.
"CDC is now estimating that the novel H1N1 virus will be “Category 2” in severity. They are closely watching the situation in the Southern Hemisphere for validation of this estimate.
• A category 2 pandemic has the following characteristics:
• Case fatality ratio of 0.1 percent to less than 0.5 percent.
• Between 90,000 and 450,000 deaths in the U.S.
(compared with estimated 35,000 deaths during a typical
influenza season).
• Excess death rate of between 30 to less than 150 per
100,000 people.
• Illness rate of between 20 and 40 percent.
• Similar to 1957 pandemic."
In a normal year we lose about 35,000 to flu. These are the youngest, most elderly and those with other illnesses already when they get the flu. Here's the link:
http://health.utah.gov/epi/h1n1flu/sitrep062409.pdf |
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| Flu Map |
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The Right Fit for Your Bike |
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Walk Before You Run |
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May 26 - Dozens of employees at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln are participating in a wellness event called “Walk before You Run.” Each year, the hospital sponsors an internal wellness contest of some sort to promote regular exercise and healthy choices.
In the “Walk before You Run” contest, which started on May 11, teams of four hospital employees keep track of their total time spent exercising for two months. At the end of the contest on July 10, the team with the most cumulative hours of exercise will win. Each member of the winning team will receive a gift card for new sneakers. The second and third place teams will also win prizes.
The “Walk before You Run” contest was designed to precede the hospital’s “5K Run/Walk for Wellness” which takes place on Sunday, July 19 during the 1009 Riverdrivers Homecoming Festival in Lincoln. The contest will begin at 8:00 a.m. outside the PVH Rehabilitation and Wellness Center (across from Marden’s) Registration will start at 7:15 a.m.
“We’re hoping that PVH employees will use this hospital-wide, wellness contest to train and get ready for the Run/Walk this summer,” says hospital spokesperson and PVH Employee Wellness Committee Chair Allison Bankston. “If people are not used to exercising on a regular basis, this bit of friendly, co-worker competition may entice them to do more to get in shape and stay fit and healthy.”
Even if you’re not a hospital employee, Bankston says this is a great time to start exercising more often and getting ready for the 5K Run/Walk for Wellness in July. “For some people, the 5K Run/Walk for Wellness is a serious competition, but for others, it’s an internal struggle. It’s a matter of overcoming your fears and realizing you can walk or run that distance. You just have to try, and believe in yourself.”
Physical activity and its benefits differ, depending on the type of exercise, but in general, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults get two hours and thirty minutes (150 minutes total) of moderate aerobic activity every week as well as muscle and strength-training activities on two of more days a week.
That may seem like a lot, but you don't have to do it all at once. Not only is it best to spread your activity out during the week, but you can break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. As long as you’re doing your activity at a moderate or vigorous level for at least ten minutes at a time, you should see benefits from the exercise.
To get things started, the CDC recommends going for a ten-minute brisk walk, three times a day, five days a week. This will give you a total of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, which is the recommended amount. |
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PVS Celebrates Nurses Week
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National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. The purpose of this celebration is to give thanks, recognition, and acknowledgement to nurses and to remind the public of nursing’s contribution to the health and well being of our community and our nation. This year’s theme, “Nurses, Building a Healthy America,” reflects the commitment nurses make every day.
Nursing is a profession which is often described as both an art and a science. Nursing embraces dedicated people who have a wide variety of interests, strengths and passions, and the industry provides a vast array of possibilities for new nurses.
Nurses work in many work areas, including hospitals, school-based health centers, homeless shelters, physician practices, emergency department, nursing facilities, and many other venues. They have many roles: caregivers, researchers, educators, etc. Regardless of the function, nurses do their best to serve their communities with a strong commitment to patient safety.
This year, PVH’s nursing staff is focused on several key issues, including pain management, falls prevention, noise reduction to enhance healing, and improving patient satisfaction. Several new brochures are helping promote these efforts and keep our patients informed of how the hospital can best serve them.
PVH offers a wide variety of programs and services in addition to emergency and inpatient care including babysitting courses, CPR and First Aid training, and childbirth education. PVH nurses are putting a lot of energy into quality improvement—pinpointing and accomplishing specific goals for each department.
Chief Nursing Officer Karen Mueller says the hospital has been strengthening its ties to the community by involving local schools. “We’ve been working with Husson College, Region III and other organizations to reach young nursing students and provide mentoring and internship programs.” Mueller says the PVH nurses are also quite active in their communities, donating their time to local churches, non-profits, schools, and civic organizations.
Mueller says the hospital provides a great atmosphere for learning and professional development. She says, “Nursing is a very rewarding career. Our nurses are committed to working to improve health care and patient safety. This is evident in the quality of nursing care provided and the compassion shown to our patients, their families and to each other. We, here at PVH, are very proud of our nurses and appreciate the work that they do every day.”
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Update on situation: May 6, 2009
The ongoing outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) continues to expand in the United States. CDC expects that more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths from this outbreak will occur over the coming days and weeks.
CDC continues to take aggressive action to respond to the expanding outbreak. CDC’s response goals are to reduce spread and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by this emergency.
CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation.
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept athttp://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.
Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).
How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.
How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. We recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.
What is CDC doing in response to the outbreak? April 29, 2009, 10:55 PM ET
CDC has implemented its emergency response. The agency’s goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by the new virus. CDC continues to issue new interim guidance for clinicians and public health professionals. In addition, CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak.
What epidemiological investigations are taking place in response to the recent outbreak?
April 29, 2009, 10:55 PM ET
CDC works very closely with state and local officials in areas where human cases of H1N1 (swine flu) infections have been identified. In California and Texas, where EpiAid teams have been deployed, many epidemiological activities are taking place or planned including:
Active surveillance in the counties where infections in humans have been identified;
Studies of health care workers who were exposed to patients infected with the virus to see if they became infected;
Studies of households and other contacts of people who were confirmed to have been infected to see if they became infected;
Study of a public high school where three confirmed human cases of influenza A (H1N1) of swine origin occurred to see if anyone became infected and how much contact they had with a confirmed case; and
Study to see how long a person with the virus infection sheds the virus.
Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
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PVH Celebrates Lab Week
Shortages affect nearly 50% of medical labs in the U.S |
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April 21, 2009 - "Working in a medical laboratory is a great career,"says Karen Sullivan of Milford who has been a Medical Laboratory Technician for a year and a half. "I never really saw myself as a people person, but I love interacting with our patients." Sullivan is one of the many employees at PVH celebrating National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
Sullivan originally went to college for forestry and spent about three years in that field before going to work at Lincoln Pulp and Paper for nearly two decades. Unfortunately, she was one of the many mill employees in the state who have been laid off in recent years. Sullivan was able to take advantage of job retraining funds through the state of Maine. She went back to college the University of Maine at Augusta and got her Associates Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.
"I loved going to school the second time around,"says Sullivan."It’s very different when you go back to college as an adult. Your level of commitment and priorities have changed, and it’s actually much more enjoyable."
Sullivan says she would encourage young people who are interested in science to seek a career in lab work."You’re always learning something new, and the healthcare field is growing so rapidly; there will be lots of great opportunities in the years to come."
While Sullivan has fewer than two years under her belt as a Medical Laboratory Technician, Brenda Brehaut of Lincoln has been with the lab at PVH for more than 30 years."I couldn’t afford dental hygiene school,"says Brehaut who has two sisters in the dental field."Instead I went to Eastern Maine Vocation Technical Institute in Bangor and then interned at Thayer Hospital as a microbiologist. Now I’m very glad my career went in the direction it did."
Brehaut, who is a Medical Laboratory Technologist, says what she loves most about working in the PVH lab is that she is constantly intellectually challenged."Technology and testing procedures changed so rapidly that the work really keeps you on your toes."When asked if she would recommend the career to young people, she said yes but with some careful consideration."The biohazard risk is high. It’s a tough field in which you have to constantly be learning new things, so you have to be a person who can multi-task and learn quickly."
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week was created to celebrate the contributions of lab workers in the medical community and to recognize their indispensable work on behalf of patients. Lab work is a foundational element of evidence-based medicine and enables healthcare workers to perform their jobs more successfully. Even though it’s fascinating work, nearly 50% of the medical labs in the U.S. report staffing shortages.
In fact, The U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 13,800 medical laboratory professionals will be needed each year through 2012 just to fill vacant positions. Unfortunately, only 4,000 individuals are graduating in these fields each year. Schools are graduating 30 percent fewer students than ten years ago and 56 percent fewer students than 20 years ago.
PVH Lab Director Scott Warner is proud of his department at the hospital in Lincoln. The lab has had two state reviews in a row with no deficiencies."This is highly uncommon,"says Warner."Our lab employees have a lot of mutual respect for one another, and they work wonderfully as a team." Together, the lab staff has a combined total of nearly 165 years of experience just at the Lincoln hospital. Many of the employees have worked in other lab environments, as well. The PVH Laboratory Department also includes:
Techs
Helen McReavy
Luann McPhail
Nicole Piche
Shawne Drummond
Lucie Mallett
Amy Kimball
Richard Gagnon
Janice Anderson
Angela Coulombe (per diem)
Phlebotomists
Misty Slomienski
Andrea Munson (per diem)
Tanya Niles (per diem)
Nationwide, more than 280,000 Medical Laboratory Professionals conduct and interpret tests that help preserve lives and improve the overall health of communities. |
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Medical Laboratory Technologist Brenda Brehaut has been with PVH for more than 30 years. |
Karen Sullivan is a Medical Laboratory Technician at PVH. |
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Alcohol Awareness
April Is Alcohol Awareness Month |
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April 13
- In the United States, sixty percent of women have a least one drink a year, but it’s the next statistic that is more startling. Among those who do drink, 13 percent have more than seven drinks a week. This level of alcohol intake is above the recommended limits published in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.nutritian.gov).
April is Alcohol Awareness month, and S.P.R.I.N.T. for Life in Lincoln and Penobscot Valley Hospital are asking people to consider how much alcohol they consume and what impact it may be having on their health.
Even in small doses, alcohol can have negative effects on women - much more so than in men. No amount of drinking is 100 percent safe all of the time for every woman. There are many factors that contribute to how risky the drinking is for any one woman, including pre-existing conditions.
How Much Is Too Much?
The Dietary Guidelines define moderate drinking as no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. Those same guidelines say that drinking even just one more drink per day for women can increase the risk for motor vehicle crashes, other injuries, high blood pressure, stroke, violence, suicide, and certain types of cancer. Government guidelines also show that some people should not drink at all, including:
· Anyone under age 21
· People of any age who are unable to restrict their drinking to moderate levels
· Women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant
· People who plan to drive, operate machinery, or take part in other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination
· People taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
So why do women have different standards than men when it comes to how much they drink? That’s because women are at greater risk than men for developing alcohol-related problems. Alcohol passes through the digestive tract and is dispersed in the water in the body. The more water is present, the more diluted the alcohol. Generally, men weigh more than women. That means women tend to have less water in their bodies than men. Consequently, a woman’s brain and other organs are exposed to more alcohol and to more of the toxic byproducts that result when the body breaks down and eliminates alcohol.
Alcohol and Young Women
Research from the U.S. Department and Health and Human Services shows about 37 percent of 9th grade girls (who are normally about 14 to 15 years old) admitted to drinking in the past month. The rate is even higher for 9th grade boys. Despite the fact that the drinking age is 21 in every state, the reality is that many adolescents do consume alcohol.
Drinking is one of the leading causes of deaths among teens, but it also makes young women more vulnerable to sexual assault and unsafe and unplanned sex. Government statistics also show that young people who began drinking before the age of 15 have a 40-percent higher risk of developing alcohol abuse or alcoholism some time in their lives than those who wait until they are 21 to begin drinking.
The Long Term Effects
Long-term health problems from heavy drinking include liver, heart, and brain disease; suppression of the immune system; and cancer. Because women are more likely to become pregnant in their twenties and thirties, this age group faces the greatest risk of having babies with the growth and mental impairments of fetal alcohol syndrome, which is caused by drinking during pregnancy.
When older women engage in heavy alcohol consumption is places them in a new category of at risk individuals. Many women over 50 are on medications to control blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and other conditions, and alcohol can cause dangerous reactions when combined with these medications.
Many other problems can emerge with heavy alcohol consumption, including:
· Endangering yourself and others while driving under the influence
· Missing work or skipping child care responsibilities
· Being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol
· Continuing to drink even though there are ongoing alcohol-related tensions with friends and family
Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a chronic disease which can be progressive and life threatening. For more information on how to help a loved one with his or her dependence on alcohol or to get help for yourself, talk to your primary care physician.
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HEALTH INSURANCE - MAINE HIGHEST IN N.E.
Could Be Lower With Competition
Here are a few quotes for monthly premiums for a family of five in New England:
Maine (Anthem) |
$2,720 ($3,000 deductible) |
$32,640/year* |
New Hampshire (Anthem): |
$1,518 ($3,000 deductible) |
$18,216/year |
Connecticut (Anthem): |
$1,693 ($3,000 deductible) |
$20,316/year |
Massachusetts (Blue Cross): |
$1,521 ($2,000 deductible) |
$18,252/year |
* FYI - The median household income in Maine is $47,160.
What's one cure for the high cost of individual health insurance? Competition, like they have in other states. Contact your State Legislators.
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Study: Lots of red meat increases mortality risk
CHICAGO (AP) - The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer. The federal study of more than half a million men and women bolsters prior evidence of the health risks of diets laden with red meat like hamburger and processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts. |
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HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS
March 23 - Today the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released research showing that since 1994, average nationwide costs paid by an employee for an individual health insurance premium have risen nearly eight times faster than average U.S. incomes. In addition, 6 million more workers are uninsured today than 15 years ago. |
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Burn More Calories by Walking Slower |
A new study has found that obese individuals who walked one mile at a leisurely pace burned more calories than if they walked a mile at their normal pace. In addition, those who walked at two miles per hour rather than three miles per hour reduced the load on their knee joints by up to 25%. The message is that by walking more slowly, obese individuals can burn more calories per mile and may reduce the risk of arthritis or joint injury.
- Ray Browning, PhD - University of Colorado at Boulder
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Higher Levels of Vitamin D May Protect Against Cancer in Men |
Researchers from Harvard University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recently conducted a study to evaluate the possible effects of vitamin D on the incidence of cancer in men.
This study included nearly 48,000 men involved in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The researchers assigned levels of vitamin D according to dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, body fat, geographic residence, and leisure-time physical activity (these factors are associated with plasma-levels of vitamin D). The participants completed questionnaires regarding these and other factors.
Men with lower levels of plasma vitamin D had an increased risk of developing cancer as well as death from cancer compared to those with higher levels:
Men with a low level of vitamin D had a 17% higher risk of developing any type of cancer within their lifetime than those with high levels of vitamin D. Men with low levels of vitamin D had a 29% higher incidence in death from cancer than those with high levels of vitamin D.
Men with low levels of vitamin D had a 45% higher incidence of death from cancers affecting the digestive system than those with high levels.
The researchers concluded that men with low levels of vitamin D appear to have significantly higher rates of cancer as well as death from cancer than men with high levels. Patients may wish to speak with their physician regarding their individual variables that affect vitamin D levels.
Reference: Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Rimm E, et al. Prospective Study of Predictors of Vitamin D Status and Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Men. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2006; 98: 451-459.
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TIPS & WARNINGS ABOUT VITAMINS |
Taking a high-potency multivitamin/mineral complex is the easiest way to supplement. B vitamins are best taken together as a full B complex, unless you have a health problem that warrants extra dosages of a single one. Vitamin C may be taken along with a multivitamin for a larger dose. Take vitamin supplements with meals. Doses of over 3,000 mg of vitamin C may cause diarrhea in some people, and very high doses may interfere with results from certain medical tests.
The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can be toxic when consumed in large doses over a prolonged period of time. Taking 100,000 to 200,000 IU of vitamin A for six to eight months can be toxic. Vitamin D can be toxic at doses of 1,000 to 3,000 IU. At doses of 1,800 IU, vitamin E may interfere with blood clotting. Menadione, a form of vitamin K (K3), may produce a type of anemia at large doses. Use caution if taking B3 doses higher than 1,000 mg. B5 causes diarrhea if more than 1,000 mg is taken. B6 may have some side effects in doses over 500 mg. Paba-paraaminobenzoic acid may be toxic at more than 12,000 mg per day.
NOTE: If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
For recommended daily allowances, CLICK HERE.
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Study: People With Type O Blood Have Lower Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
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WASHINGTON, March 2009
— People with type O blood have a much lower risk for pancreatic cancer, while those with type B blood have the worst risk, researchers said on Tuesday in a study that may help explain what causes one of the deadliest kinds of cancer.
Compared to people with type O, those with blood type A have a 32 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer, those with type AB have a 51 percent higher risk and those with type B have a 72 percent higher risk, the researchers found.
The findings, appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, were based on 107,503 men and women whose health has been tracked since the 1970s and 1980s.
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Could hot cocoa be the next "wonder drug" for high blood pressure? |
According to recent estimates, nearly 1-in-3 American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama, hypertension doesn't even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70. Is it because they eat less salt? No. Kuna Indians eat as much, if not more salt, than people in the U.S.
Is it due to their genes? No. Kuna Indians who move away from the islands are just as likely to suffer from high blood pressure as anyone else!
So what makes these folks practically "immune" to hypertension -- and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer?
Harvard researchers discovered they drink about 5 cups of cocoa each day. That's right, cocoa!
Studies show the flavonols in cocoa stimulate your body's production of nitric oxide --boosting blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. In fact, one study found cocoa thins your blood just as well as low-dose aspirin!
So, it just might be cocoa. More studies are being done.....
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Stress May Turn Germs Hostile
It has long been known that stress has a direct immuno-suppressive effect. New research is demonstrating another angle on this issue – stress can turn on gene switches in bacteria that turns them from harmless to hostile.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered the specific gene signal on E coli that causes it to activate into a hostile organism. It turns out that this gene signal is turned on by human adrenaline. We are just beginning to learn the complex nature of interactions that take place in our digestive tracts. This information is likely to apply to many more organisms than E coli, as stress is a common theme related to survival.
For example, parents quarrelling in front of their children often wind up with sick kids. I have seen Candida albicans flare up from stress in many people – even when they are doing their best to keep sugar and junk food in check. It now appears that our own stress chemicals can activate gene switches that lead to a hostile situation.
Adrenaline dampening nutrients like quercetin may help prevent the adverse influence of stress within the digestive tract – a good tip for those who have a lot of stress on a regular basis.
- Byron Richards, CCN
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Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month |
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men and women, but it is 90% treatable when detected early. Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, is encouraging people who are over 50 and those who are younger but have risk factors to consider asking your doctor about a colorectal screening.
Colorectal cancer includes cancers of the colon and rectum, and there are often no symptoms. Consequently, screenings are extremely important.
Symptoms:
Blood in the stool
Constipation
Fatigue
Change in bowel movements
Stools that are more narrow than usual
Feeling as if bowel hasn’t emptied completely
Abdominal discomfort such as frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Reasonless weight loss
Risk Factors:
Age
Physical inactivity
Alcohol consumption
Personal or family history of colorectal cancer and/or polyps
Smoking
Poor nutrition
Being overweight
Lower Your Risk:
Eat more fiber, fruits, and veggies and cut back on red meat
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day five or more days per week
Get screened, regularly, once you reach age 50, earlier if you have more risk factors.
For more information on colorectal cancer visit: www.mainepublichealth.gov.
For more tips on a healthier lifestyle, visit www.whatyoudomatters.org, a website provided through your local Health Maine Partnerships, including SPRINT for Life in Lincoln.
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| Legal Disclaimer: The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the web master is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with our readers. The webmaster does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well-being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this web site. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of online publication, based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information on this web site to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The web master (dba Rand Advertising LLC) is not responsible for errors or omissions. |
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