Focus On Health

Walking to get � t

Preventing injury when exercising

Spring allergies – things to know

Healthy vision tips

Reducing stroke risk

A SUPPLEMENT TO TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWSPAPERS • APRIL 24, 2014

PAGE S2 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014135594

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Focus on Health

What’s inside…

TIMES BEacon rEcord nEWSPaPErSPUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief

GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rachel Shapiro

EDITOR Heidi Sutton

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Mandracchia

ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR David R. Leaman

ART AND PRODUCTIONJanet FortunaBeth Heller MasonWendy Mercier

INTERNET STRATEGY DIRECTOR Rob Alfano

BUSINESS MANAGER Sandi Gross

BUSINESS OFFICE Meg Malangone

CIRCULATION MANAGER Courtney Biondo

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Terri Caruso

Times Beacon record newspapers are published every Thursday. Address: PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Telephone: 751–7744. Email address: desk@tbrnewspapers.com; fax: 751–4165; website: www.northshoreoflongisland.com. Entire contents copyright 2014.

4 . . . . . . . . . . Dealing with diabetes

5 . . . . . . . . . . . Walking: The old way to get fit is new again

7 . . . . . . . . . . . Preventing injury when exercising outdoors

10 . . . . . . . . . Spring allergies: Five things you should know

11 . . . . . . . . . Asthma triggers change with the season

12 . . . . . . . . . Getting kids to try whole grains

13 . . . . . . . . . Exercise those ears

14 . . . . . . . . . . . Healthy vision: Five important tips

15 . . . . . . . . . Reducing stroke risk

16 . . . . . . . . . Create a vitamin garden

PAGE S4 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 201413

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Focus on Health

Stepping out for spring? People with diabetes should check their feet first

Spring is finally here and it’s an ideal time to get outside and be more physically active. For those with dia-betes, regular exercise helps increase circulation and is a critical part of staying healthy. But, before lacing up your sneakers, remember these im-portant steps to ensure your feet are in shape:

* Get the green light from your health care provider. Discuss the type of phys-ical activity that’s best for you and ask your provider to examine your feet. In general, your feet should be profession-ally examined four times each year.

* Be mindful of everyday foot care. Sometimes, people with diabetes have serious foot problems yet feel no pain. This may be due to nerve damage, a long-term complication of diabetes. Everyday self care includes inspecting your feet for scratches, cracks, cuts or blisters and washing and drying them carefully, especially between the toes.

* Wear socks and well-fitting shoes. Because of the higher risk of foot prob-lems among those with diabetes, avoid going barefoot, even indoors. Wear socks and shoes that fit properly.

* If you do notice a problem, it may be a foot ulcer. Ulcers occur most of-ten on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers may also

appear on the sides of the foot. Keep in mind, while some ulcers may not hurt, every ulcer should be seen by your health care provider right away.

* Get foot ulcers treated. If you have a foot ulcer, innovative treatments can help, such as EpiFix, a wound care product from MiMedx, used exten-sively to rapidly and effectively heal diabetic foot ulcers. EpiFix is a dehy-drated human membrane allograft that delivers essential wound healing growth factors, enhances healing and reduces inf lammation and scar tissue formation.

* Let it heal. If you have an ulcer, help it to heal by staying off your feet. Walking on an ulcer may worsen the problem by making the wound larger or migrating it deeper into your foot.

“Foot problems, including ulcers, are common among people with dia-betes, but they don’t have to hold you back if you take the proper precau-tions and seek early treatment,” says Dr. Matt Garoufalis, president at Phy-sicians Surgery Care Center, Chicago, Ill., and immediate past president of the American Podiatric Medical As-sociation. “Before you step out to en-joy the spring weather, have your feet checked by a health care provider to make sure you’re good to go.”

Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining oral health. In addition to preventing dental cavities and remov-ing tartar that contributes to gum dis-ease, dental checkups can alert patients to other potential health problems. For example, symptoms of periodontal dis-ease may be indicative of the presence of diseases that stems from outside of the mouth, including diabetes.

Diabetes, a condition of uncon-trolled blood sugar or insulin produc-tion, can affect many areas of the body, including the mouth. Diabetics face a high risk of oral health problems because of fluctuating levels of blood sugar, which impairs white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s main defense against disease and are dispatched when a virus or bacteria is present. Should white blood cells be rendered less effective, the body’s de-fense system is compromised and in-fections can occur in the mouth and elsewhere.

Those with diabetes may com-plain of certain oral symptoms. Un-controlled diabetes can result in a decrease in saliva flow, which leads to dry mouth. Saliva is important to wash away bacteria in the mouth.

Gum inflammation can occur be-cause diabetes causes blood vessels to thicken, slowing the flow of waste and nutrients from bodily tissues. An increase in bacteria and the compro-mised state of white blood cells makes for the perfect environment for peri-odontal disease.

Furthermore, uncontrolled diabe-tes can make it more difficult for the mouth and other areas of the body to heal. Therefore, there may be recur-rent mouth infections, sores and other symptoms of irritation.

The American Diabetes Association says that not only are people with dia-betes more susceptible to serious gum disease, but serious gum disease may have the potential to affect blood glu-cose control and contribute to the pro-gression of diabetes. Many people are unaware they have diabetes until an oral health exam raises a red flag that warns of uncontrolled blood sugar.

Those who are aware of their dia-betes should take treatment seriously to keep blood sugar levels in check. It is vital for diabetics to maintain oral health to reduce the risk of infections of the mouth that can spread else-where throughout the body.

Diabetes and dental health

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1979

Focus on HealthWalking: The old way to get fit is new again

With so many fitness trends, you might not think of walking as good exercise. If you’re not thrusting a kettlebell over your head, push-ing a tractor trailer tire or shaking your hips to a Top 40 dance beat in a scheduled group class, you’re not cutting it, right? Well, not so fast. Walking is actually a great way to get in shape. In fact, if you walk often enough and fast enough, the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other can satisfy your body’s daily requirement for aero-bic activity.

Walking may just seem like an old method of exercise; it certainly is tried and true. But quite the op-posite of outdated, it seems to be making a resurgence in the health, fitness and medical worlds as a low-cost solution to the nation’s ongo-ing health care crisis.

Renowned medical expert Dr. Andrew Weil is an advocate of walking as a crucial method of pre-ventive care. He advocates walking as a low-risk means to optimum health.

“With a consistent, brisk walk-

ing routine, you can boost your im-mune system, help manage weight, improve your mood and help ease depression, as well as improve cho-lesterol levels, lower blood pressure and prevent osteoporosis,” says Weil. “The additional benefits may be endless.”

The walking movement is grow-ing: The Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention reports that be-tween 2005 and 2010, the number of adults who walked for 10 min-utes or more at least once a week rose from 56 to 62 percent - an in-crease of almost 20 million people.

Need more convincing reasons to walk onto the bandwagon? Here’s why walking for exercise is so ideal:

• Walking is what your body is designed to do.

• Among all forms of aerobic ex-ercise, walking carries the least risk of injury.

• You can walk almost anywhere, any time.

• Nearly everyone can walk, and it’s something you can do through-out your life.

• It’s free.

• There’s no special skill, train-ing, or equipment needed — all you need is the right footwear.

The buzz about walking has even reached the stars. Fitness trainer to celebrities such as Kate Walsh, Pink and Stacey Kiebler, Juliet Kaska has been known to start many of her high-profile clientele with a consistent walk-ing routine.

Kaska recommends walking as a great baseline for any fitness pro-gram, but reminds her followers to “invest in a good pair of walking shoes. They will do wonders for your posture and joints. Minimiz-ing the impact of each step. Look for lightweight flexible shoes and be sure to replace them often, espe-cially if you’re walking every day.”

As you develop your walking program, set your own pace. As a general rule, taking 10,000 steps a day is a great goal for improv-ing your overall physical, emo-tional and mental fitness. But the journey, as they say, begins with a single step. There’s no better time than now to begin.

Stock photoWalking is a great way to get in shape.

PAGE S6 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014©

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Focus on HealthHow to prevent injury when exercising outdoors

Many people take advantage of nice weather by exercising in the great outdoors. Some might skip the treadmill at the gym in favor of run-

ning at the park, while others join recreational sports leagues for some exercise and fun in the sun.

But exercising outdoors carries its share of risk. Unlike gyms where machinery clearly advises members about proper form and warns against lifting excessive weight, Mother Nature comes with no such warning labels. As a result, it’s up to men and women to make injury preven-tion a priority when taking their exercise routine outside. The following are a handful of preventive measures that can help exercise enthusiasts avoid injury as they attempt to get or stay fit in the great outdoors.

* Study the terrain. Part of the danger of exercising out-doors is that, unlike a gym fitted with machines designed for the sole purpose of exercise, nature’s terrain is unpre-dictable. Safety features you take for granted at the gym, such as padded floors, are nonexistent outdoors.

In addition, certain areas in nature might not be suit-able to all athletes. For example, mountain biking is a popular sport, but not all mountain biking trails are the same. Some trails are ideal for beginners, while others are best ridden by more seasoned riders. When your outdoor exercise regimen will be taking you off the beaten path, be sure you know the terrain before you start your workout.

Speak with fellow outdoor enthusiasts about which trails or courses are best for someone of your skill level and adhere to their recommendations. When exercising on a trail for the first time, bring a friend along so some-one can go get help should an accident happen.

* Stay hydrated. Dehydration is another cause of injury when athletes exercise in the great outdoors. Gyms have water fountains that allow members to take a drink of wa-ter when they’re thirsty. That water can help prevent de-hydration, which can be painful and greatly increase your risk of injury. When exercising outdoors, be sure to bring along enough water so you can stay hydrated regardless of how far away from civilization you may find yourself.

* Honestly assess your abilities. When exercising out-doors, it’s easy to overdo it. Warm air and sunshine have a way of encouraging athletes to prolong their workout routines or push themselves a little harder. But pushing yourself past your limits can considerably increase your risk of injury.

Stock photoWhen exercising outdoors, stick to terrain that your body can handle to avoid injury.

While it’s easy to stay within your limits when exercis-ing indoors, where the environment may encourage you to cut a workout short rather than extend it, it’s easy to overextend yourself outdoors when the weather is nice. So it’s important to make an honest assessment of your abili-ties before beginning an outdoor exercise regimen. Once you know what your body can and can’t handle, you can tailor your outdoor workout to one that makes the most of nice weather without putting your health at risk.

* Don’t challenge Mother Nature. One of the biggest

risks with regard to exercising outdoors is the tendency some athletes have to ignore the elements. Avoid working out in especially cold or hot weather, as such conditions are not conducive to exercise. Extreme weather also re-duces the number of people outside, which means there won’t be as many people around to help you if you suffer an injury, lose your way or need help with your gear. Ex-ercising outdoors is a great way to enjoy nice weather, but limit such workouts to those times of year when tempera-tures are most conducive to outdoor activity.

PAGE S8 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014

There is Potential for Rehabilitation Short-Term or Long-TermWhether a resident requires short-term or long-term care, the goal of the Rehabilitation Team at Oak Hollow Nursing Center and Lakeview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is to re-establish and/or maintain function, quality of life and independence for activities of daily living (dressing, eating, and bathing) for their residents.

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Focus on HealthSpring cleaning?

Don’t overlook your medicine cabinet As temperatures warm and f low-

ers blossom, Mother Nature’s renewal often inspires us to refresh our own surroundings. It’s officially time for spring cleaning, but as you focus on scrubbing f loors, refreshing draper-ies and dusting every surface in sight, don’t forget about one area critical to your health and happiness: your med-icine cabinet.

Your medicine cabinet is the work-horse of your bathroom, meaning it can quickly become a chaotic mess of bottles, pastes, brushes and other items you need every day. It’s time to cut through the clutter and refresh this area so you can find everything you need in an instant.

Too many things stacked together makes it difficult to see everything in the medicine cabinet. Take the time this spring to get organized and focus on items you really need. Go through your cabinet and remove unused and expired items that are taking up valu-able space, including makeup, cough syrup and prescription medicine.

Once you’ve cleared old and unused items, take the things you use regular-

ly and group similar products together to make it easier to find what you need. For example, on the first shelf, place pastes and brushes, on the second shelf shaving supplies, and designate the top shelf for medications.

Not only is it important to re-evaluate the contents of your medi-cine cabinet, it’s worthwhile to think ahead so you’re always prepared. When it comes to small things like in-sect bites, cuts and stubborn coughs, staying organized and anticipating the unexpected is key.

At the start of each season, consid-er what you might need. For example, spring is a good time to stock up on allergy medicine, antiseptic for bug bites and new bottles of sun block. For prescription medications, consider signing up for your pharmacy’s auto-refill program so you never forget an important refill again.

Spring cleaning is a great way to rein-vigorate your home and life. Remember to include organizing your medicine cabinet on your to-do list so that you’re prepared for all the adventures that await in the season to come.

PAGE S10 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014

130103

Focus on HealthFive things you should know

about spring allergies

April’s showers bring May flowers but they also bring on sneezing, runny noses and watery eyes for

some of the 50 million Americans with allergies. The spring allergy season be-gins in some regions of the country as early as February and can last into the summer months.

The most common spring allergy cul-prits are pollens from a variety of trees and grasses, as well as mold, accord-ing to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology — ACAAI.

“Because there can be millions of pol-len particles and mold spores in the air, finding allergy relief can seem nearly impossible for some,” says allergist Dr. Michael Foggs, ACAAI president. “But by knowing what triggers your allergy symptoms and how to avoid these aller-gens, you can be on your way to a sneeze-free season.”

Knowing more about the spring al-lergy season can also help you fight symptoms. ACAAI allergists have put together the five things you should know about spring allergies.

Allergies are on the rise. Every year more adults and children are diagnosed with allergies. There are several specu-lations about this increase, including climate changes and increased allergy awareness. Studies have also shown pol-len counts are gradually increasing. Even if you’ve never had allergies in the past, you can develop them at any time. That lingering cold may be allergies and you should see your local board-certified al-lergist for testing and treatment.

It matters when you medicate. If you fall victim to spring allergies annually, you should begin taking your medica-

tion two weeks before symptoms typi-cally begin. Keep an eye on the pollen counts in your area. Even if the tempera-ture doesn’t feel like spring, there could already be pollen circulating in the air. To be better prepared, you can track your symptoms with mynasalallergy-journal.org.

There isn’t a cure, but there is some-thing close. Unfortunately, there is no cure for spring allergies. However, im-munotherapy — allergy shots — pro-vides symptom relief while modifying and preventing disease progression. Im-munotherapy can also be tailored for an individual’s needs. So if you’re allergic to pollens, dust and pets, allergy shots can provide you with relief from these aller-gens.

Symptoms can be severe. Runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing aren’t the only symptoms of spring allergies. If you are coughing, wheezing and have trouble breathing, asthma might be one of your allergy symptoms. In fact, an estimated 75-85 percent of asthma sufferers have at least one allergy. Asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Aside from avoiding allergens, you should also be under the regular care of an allergist and use medi-cations as prescribed.

When in doubt, get checked out. Not every cough is due to a respira-tory infection. And colds shouldn’t be blamed for every runny nose. If you find yourself battling unwanted symptoms for more than two weeks, it is likely time to see an allergist to get tested, diag-nosed and treated. Allergies and asthma are serious diseases and that’s “nothing to sneeze at.” Misdiagnosis and inappro-priate treatment can be dangerous.

Stock photoKnowing more about spring allergies can help you fight the symptoms.

APRIL 24, 2014 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • PAGE S11

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Focus on HealthSeasons change, so do asthma triggers

Across the country, 25 million Ameri-cans are living with asthma. As the winter months come to an end and the spring makes its arrival, the change in seasons can be problematic for adults and children with asthma. It’s impor-tant for asthma patients to understand the triggers of each season to prepare for symptoms as the temperature changes.

Asthma patients know the symptoms: coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing and tightness in the chest. The cause of these symptoms is inflammation, or swelling, of the large and small airways in the lungs. During an attack, the air-ways become narrower and tightened, making it hard to breathe and reducing the flow of oxygen to other parts of the body.

In addition to environmental trig-gers, cold and flu viruses can be a se-rious problem for people with asthma. Asthmatics are not more likely to con-tract the flu virus, but because they may have swollen and sensitive airways in the lungs already, contracting the flu may cause further inflammation and trigger symptoms.

With spring bringing warmer tem-peratures, asthmatics have new triggers

to pay attention to. Allergens from flow-ers and trees and the change in tempera-ture can trigger an attack in people with asthma.

“Asthma is a condition that requires attention year-round. Patients should be aware of their seasonal triggers,” says Dr. Nemr Eid, a pediatric pulmonologist

from Louisville, Ky. “It’s important that I maintain communication with my pa-tients and keep them on-track with their asthma management plans from season to season.”

Being smart about asthma manage-ment includes working with your health care professional to create an asthma

action plan that can be adapted to the season. This potentially life-saving tool includes notes for what to look for dur-ing an attack, emergency contact infor-mation and proper treatment methods. To download an asthma action plan, visit www.GetSmartAboutAsthma.com. The Get Smart About Asthma website serves as an educational cen-ter for patients and caregivers to find important asthma-related information such as types, triggers and treatment plans.

Asthma symptoms and severity varies from person to person. While some re-quire treatment with a rescue inhaler for the quick onset of symptoms, others use a controller medication for daily asthma management, which can help prevent symptoms and reduce the use of a rescue inhaler. Knowing and implementing the method for treating asthma symptoms is something every person with asthma should be familiar with. Patients should work closely with their health care pro-fessionals to identify a treatment plan that works for them. Before seeing a doc-tor, visiting getsmartaboutasthma.com can help inform and prepare patients for their asthma treatment discussion.

Stock photoAsthma symptoms vary from person to person.

PAGE S12 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014

A clinical study to evaluate a topical treatment for Actinic Keratosis on the trunk and extremities is currently being conducted.

Actinic Keratoses (Sun Spots) is a common skin problem caused by sun exposure. Persons with damaged skin are likey to have Actinic Keratoses and therefore may be eligible for entry into this clinical study. To be eligible, you must: •HaveActinicKeratosesonyourtrunkorextremities; •Beatleast18yearsold;and •Beabletoattendupto8visitstothisclinicoverapproximatelya10weekperiod.All study visits will be performed and study medication and procedures

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Focus on HealthIs it really possible for kids to like whole grains?

We know. Whole grains are good for us, offering fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. But can they really be tasty enough for our kids to enjoy? And how do we add them to more of our meals?

The answers may be as close as your nearest elementary, middle or high school. Schools across the country are introducing whole grain breads, pastas, rice, pizzas and tortillas. Starting July 1, 2014, all of the grain-based offerings in the lunch line will be at least 51 per-cent whole grain.

Anthony Geraci, director of Nutri-tion Services at Shelby County Schools near Memphis, Tenn., oversees one of the country’s largest school districts, serving more than 155,000 students in 270 schools. In 2012, he proactively anticipated the United States Depart-ment of Agriculture’s new school meal requirements and changed all of the district’s grain offerings to whole grains. Now, breads and muffins are baked fresh from scratch. Simultane-ously, Geraci established a mandate of customer service, focusing full at-tention on serving the district’s daily student customers.

One of the most successful ways Geraci and his team have introduced new, healthy items is the “no thank you bites.”

“Trying something new can be a bit unsettling to kids,” says Geraci. “We decided to ask our youngest customers to choose whether or not to try a new, healthy item by offering it to them in a small sample cup. If they choose not to try it, they simply say ‘no thank you,’ and move on. But if they do try the item, they receive a star sticker and are invited to a monthly ‘constel-lation party for the stars.’ We’ve found this to be a fun way to test new items as well as get feedback on our new offerings.” Schools are offering kid-friendly favorites like pizza and stir fry with brown rice that fit into their whole grain-rich menus.

You can easily carry whole grain

“goodness” into your own kitchen too. Consider whole grains your blank can-vas, says Susan Moores, a Twin Cities-based dietitian. “They’re a great start-ing point for creating delicious meals that are incredibly beneficial to your and your kids’ health.”

According to Moores, whole grains are the type of carbohydrates your body wants. “Whole-grain carbohydrates are an excellent source of energy for the brain,” she says. That’s important for kids at school. Plus, studies show whole grains contain their own, unique set of phytonutrients, which can rival the phytonutrients found in fruits and veg-etables. Phytonutrients are substances found in plant foods that research strongly suggests promote good health — think resveratrol in grapes and lyco-pene in tomatoes, both antioxidants.

To add whole grains to your home menus, Moores suggests teamwork. “Kids are naturally curious about food, they’re interested in being in the kitch-en and in learning how to cook. Lever-age that and the fun when everyone is trying a food for the first time.”

To amp up the f lavor of grains, cook them in broth or juice, and make a pilaf with chopped onions, add-ing chopped vegetables, corn or even dried fruit. Finish with seasoning. Whole grains work as a side dish, in a casserole, in soups or as part of a re-freshing spring salad.

It might take time to make the change, but stay the course. “The rule of thumb: it can take 10 to 12 intro-ductions to a new food before a child chooses to give it a go,” Moores says. “Whole grains taste best with the com-pany they keep. Partner them with fa-vorite foods and ingredients to make them a sure win on two fronts: taste and health.”

With the help of schools that are leading the way in introducing kid-friendly whole grain options, we’ll all be enjoying the benefits that come with eating whole grain foods.

Stock photoCafeteria menus will soon offer a lot more whole grain items.

Try this whole grain recipe from The Culinary Institute of America:

Brown Rice Pilaf YIeLD: 10 portions INGreDIeNTS:

• 1 1/2 cups long-grain converted brown rice • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 small onion, minced • 3 cups liquid: vegetable stock, chicken stock or water

• 1 bay leaf • 1 thyme sprig • Salt, to taste • Ground pepper, to tasteDIreCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat the oil in heavy-gauge medium pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until tender and translucent, 5-6 minutes. Add the rice and saute over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until aromatic and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the stock, bay leaf and thyme sprig to the rice and bring to a simmer, stirring to prevent the rice from clumping together or sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Cover the pot and cook in a 350 F. oven until the rice is tender and has ab-sorbed all the liquid, about 30 minutes. remove the rice from the oven, and allow it to rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, and use a fork to fluff the rice, remove the bay leaf and thyme sprig, and set aside in a warm spot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on a warm plate.

APRIL 24, 2014 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • PAGE S13

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Seasonal Allergies? Try Acupuncture

Experts say the long wet winter this year isn’t stopping the pollen counts. Tree pollen, and mold are abundant in the March and April months, and next comes grass, and ragweed during the months a� er.  Stop the allergies before they ruin your outdoor seasons by trying acupuncture.

Allergies occur when your body is in contact with an object that is recognized as a threat, even if it isn’t. During an allergic reaction your body’s immune system starts to develop antibodies to try and protect itself from the foreign object. 

Acupuncture helps to quiet the parts of immune system that are over stimulated by the exposure of seasonal irritants. � is East Asian medicine technique that has been around for thousands of years is known to boost a person’s immune system. In addition to preventing allergy symptoms from occurring, acupuncture can also diminish an attack from escalating. Acupuncture can relieve symptoms of sinusitis, itchy red eyes, sneezing, cough, runny nose and hay fever. 

As a licensed acupuncturist on long island, I have two practices located in Port Je� erson and Smithtown where I specialize in seasonal and food related allergies, I recommend preventing the allergies before they start by getting acupuncture.  

Elizabeth M. Folk  MSOM, L.Ac, LMT • 631.751.7744 ext. 125

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Healthbeat

Focus on Health

There are hundreds of benefits from daily exercise. Science has shown that daily aerobic exercise improves brain function, helps maintain a healthy car-diovascular system, helps regulate insulin levels and slows aging. Good health en-ables a person to experience and enjoy life to its fullest and a critical aspect of well-ness is hearing.

“Good hearing enables us to effortlessly communicate with others throughout our lives,” says Dr. Kathy Landau Goodman, audiologist and chairperson of the Audi-ology Awareness Campaign, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of hearing care. “Just as a healthy body is fostered through proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest and good hygienic practices, so is the abil-ity to hear well.”

What can affect hearing health? Lan-dau Goodman says lack of adequate aerobic exercise, obesity, poor nutrition, cardiovascular problems, smoking, noise exposure, frequent use of pain relievers and exposure to organic solvents have been associated with a higher risk for hearing loss.

There are actions people can take that can help maintain the ability to process and understand speech when communi-

cating with others. For example, people who regularly play musical instruments maintain their ability to better process and understand the sounds they hear in daily communication.

The following list of healthy hearing practices may help prevent or reduce hear-ing loss in adults and children and help maintain hearing fitness:

1. Sustain aerobic exercise 20 to 30 min-utes five days a week.

2. Eat five vegetable/fruit servings per day to get adequate antioxidants and mag-nesium.

3. Maintain normal weight.4. Eliminate smoking and reduce expo-

sure to second hand smoke.5. Reduce frequent use of over-the-

counter pain relievers, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

7. Reduce intensity and length of expo-sure to loud music from mp3 players or smartphones and replace stock earbuds with noise cancelling or noise reduction earphones or earbuds.

8. Wear hearing protection when ex-posed to noise at work, at home or during recreational activities and events.

9. Reduce exposure to organic solvents such as toluene, styrene or xylene as the combined exposure with noise increases the risk of hearing loss.

10. Do not purchase loud toys for children.

11. Play a musical instrument.-Just as annual health checkups are

important to maintain physical health, annual hearing checkups are essential. Unfortunately, many people do not get an-nual hearing tests. This may be one of the reasons hearing loss is often untreated.

Untreated hearing loss is associ-ated with decreased household income, mental decline, depression, social iso-lation and quality of life. In addition, people with even a mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling compared to people with normal hearing.

Exercise those ears: Simple ways to keep your hearing in shape

Stock photoAerobic exercise may help prevent hearing loss.

PAGE S14 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014

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Vision plays an important role in daily life — every waking minute, the eyes are working hard to see the world around us. Are you taking important steps to ensure the health of your eyes for years to come?

Forty percent of Americans worry more about losing their eyesight than their ability to walk or hear, according to the American Optometric Association’s annual American Eye-Q survey. AOA conducts Save Your Vision Month an-nually in March to help people preserve vision throughout their lifetime.

“It’s easy to incorporate steps into your daily routine to ensure healthy eyes and vision,” says Dr. Mitchell T. Mun-son, president of the AOA. “Eating right, protecting against UV rays and visiting your local eye doctor on a yearly basis are just a few things that can help keep your eyes and vision strong.” Consider these five steps for a lifetime of eye health:

1. Schedule yearly exams.Eye care should begin early in life.

The AOA urges parents to bring infants 6 to 12 months to their local optometrist for a thorough assessment. Under the Affordable Care Act, vision coverage is part of the pediatric essential health benefit. Millions of children up to age 19 now have access to yearly comprehensive eye exams and follow-up care and treat-ment, such as eyeglasses, through their local doctor of optometry. Comprehen-sive exams performed by an optometrist not only evaluate a patient’s vision, but can also detect certain serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

2. Protect against UV rays.Long-term exposure to the sun poses

significant risk not just to your skin, but to your eyes as well. No matter what the season, it’s extremely important to wear sunglasses, choosing a pair that blocks more than 95 percent of UVA and more than 99 percent of UVB radiation.

3. Give your eyes a break from digital device use.

Two-thirds of Americans spend up to seven hours a day using computers or other digital devices such as tablets and smart phones. This constant eye activity increases the risk for computer vision syndrome and can cause problems such as dry eye, eyestrain, headaches, neck and/or backache and fatigue. The AOA recommends that people practice the 20/20/20 rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away).

In addition, a poorly designed com-puter station can also contribute to eye-strain. Be sure to correct factors such as improper lighting or uncomfortable seating, viewing angles and reading or working distances to eliminate visual stress and discomfort. The AOA website provides a helpful diagram on how to set up your desktop computer/laptop.

4. Eat your greens.As part of a healthful diet, eat five

servings of fruits and vegetables each day — particularly the leafy green vari-ety. Six nutrients — antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vi-tamins C and E, and the mineral zinc - have been identified as helping to protect eyesight and promote eye health. Since the body doesn’t make these nutrients naturally, it’s important that they are in-corporated into a daily diet and, in some cases, supplemented with vitamins.

5. Practice safe wear and care of con-tact lenses.

More than 40 million Americans use contact lenses to improve vision. While some adhere to the medical guidelines for wearing contacts, many are breaking the rules and putting their vision at risk. Contact lens wearers who don’t follow their optometrist’s recommendations for use and wear can experience symptoms such as blurred or fuzzy vision, red or ir-ritated eyes, pain in and around the eyes or, a more serious condition in which the cornea becomes inflamed, also known as keratitis. For more information, visit-contactlenssafety.org.

Stock photoComprehensive eye exams can detect serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Five tips for a lifetime of healthy vision

APRIL 24, 2014 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • PAGE S15

Focus on HealthNew treatment for atrial fibrillation reduces stroke risk

More options for people with a potentially deadly heart rhythm disorder

Doctors at the Stony Brook Heart Institute Electrophysiology Lab are using a new nonsurgical

technique called the LARIAT Suture De-livery Device to treat patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot tolerate blood-thinning medication.

A-Fib is the most common heart rhythm disorder that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat fast and erratically. An estimated 2.7 million Americans are living with the disor-der and, if uncontrolled, can have seri-ous consequences, including stroke and early death. Currently, the condition accounts for more than 20 percent of stroke-related deaths.

Patients are normally given blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) and other anticoagulants to manage their condition by preventing blood clots. However, patients must rigorously manage the level of the drugs in their blood. For most patients, these blood thinners are very effective in reducing the risk of stroke, but there is a potential for bleeding which in some cases can be serious.

For those individuals who cannot tol-erate blood thinners due to prior bleed-ing or those who are at a high risk for bleeding, the LARIAT procedure can safely reduce the risk of stroke without

any further bleeding risk.The LARIAT procedure is a nonsur-

gical, minimally invasive technique that uses sutures to tie off the left atrial ap-pendage of the heart. This area of the heart is the primary source of blood clots leading to stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

With the patient under general anes-thesia, physicians guide two catheters into the patient’s heart to seal the left atrial appendage with a pretied suture loop — similar to a lasso — with the LARIAT device. Rather than a surgical procedure, the technique uses a needle to introduce catheters into the heart.

“In the past there weren’t any alter-natives that we could really offer these types of patients,” said Dr. Roger Fan, associate professor in the Department of Medicine and director of Arrhyth-mia Consult Service. “The LARIAT is a great alternative to the possibility of a lifetime of blood thinners which can have some serious side effects like GI bleeds, as well as an alternative to inva-sive open-heart surgery.”

On Dec. 3, 2013, Fan and his team at the Stony Brook Heart Institute complet-ed their first LARIAT procedure with-out having to spread the ribcage or cut through bone to reach the heart.

About Stony Brook University Heart InstituteStony Brook University Heart Institute is located within Stony Brook

University Hospital as part of Long Island’s premier university-based medi-cal center. The Heart Institute offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular dis-ease. The staff includes 50 full-time and community-based, board certified cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, as well as 350 specially trained anesthesiologists, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respi-ratory therapists, surgical technologists, perfusionists and other support staff. Their combined expertise provides state-of-the-art interventional and surgical capabilities in 24-hour cardiac catheterization labs and surgical suites. And while the Heart Institute clinical staff offers the latest advances in medicine, its physician-scientists are also actively enhancing knowledge of the heart and blood vessels through basic biomedical studies and clinical research. To learn more, visit heart.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

Photo from SBU Heart InstituteDr. Roger Fan, associate professor in the Department of Medicine and director of the Ar-rhythmia Consult Service in the Electrophysiology Lab at the Stony Brook University Heart Institute.

Image from SBU Heart InstituteLeft, the left atrial appendage is a sac attached to the left upper chamber of the heart where blood clots and strokes originate from in patients with atrial fibrillation. The LARIAT procedure is a minimally invasive procedure to close the left atrial appendage to decrease the risk of stroke. 1. A magnetic wire is inserted into the heart through the groin vein, and matched to another wire from the outside of the heart, inserted from a needle stick into the chest wall. 2. The LARIAT suture is advanced across the magnetic wire connection, to the base of the left atrial appendage. 3. The suture is tied down, closing the left atrial appendage. 4. Over time, the left atrial appendage dissolves

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PAGE S16 • FOCUS ON HEALTH • APRIL 24, 2014

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Focus on Health

It’s a well-known fact that few Americans actually get the recommended daily dose of vitamins. Many turn to over-the-counter supplements to fill in nutri-tional gaps. But wouldn’t it be better — not to mention tastier — to get needed nutrients from what you eat? This season, why not turn your vegetable and herb gar-den into a “vitamin garden?”

Fortunately, many vitamin-packed vegetables and herbs are easy to grow. Hardy, bountiful varieties make it even easier to claim vitamin victory in your veggie gar-den. Studies show that gardeners tend to eat more fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners, and nothing beats the flavor and freshness of home-grown veggies, fruits and herbs. In addition to the many health benefits gardening delivers, such as gentle exercise, fresh air and sunshine, growing your own vegetables can help ensure you meet vitamin requirements.

While gardening is great exercise, starting a garden is ac-tually an easy task. With just an hour a day, you can start a small backyard garden, or even grow your own vegetables in pots. Just start with transplants, instead of seed; they’ll save time and effort, and provide you with an earlier har-vest. Choose a sunny spot with good drainage, and make sure the soil is in shape to receive plants by soil-kit testing, and amending when necessary. Feed your food plants, wa-ter regularly and don’t forget to patrol for pests.

Ready for your garden? Try these gardener-friendly, high-powered vegetables and herbs that can ensure your diet is full of flavorful, vitamin-rich foods:

• Basil - Low in calories and cholesterol-free, basil is a rich source of many essential nutrients, minerals and vi-tamins. It contains exceptionally high levels of beta-caro-tene and vitamin A.

• Oregano - High in antioxidants, oregano has both an-tibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Rosemary - Another antioxidant herb, rosemary is used to fight inflammation. It’s a good source of vitamin A, thiamin and magnesium.

• Spinach - Spinach contains more than half the rec-ommended daily value of vitamin A and is high in vita-mins C, K , E, folate, manganese, magnesium, iron and potassium. Naturally low in calories, spinach grows well in spring, summer and fall, producing high yields of large, nutrient-rich leaves.

• Tomatoes - Considered a super food, tomatoes deliver high doses of vitamins C, A, K and B6, and minerals such as potassium and lycopene. Hugely versatile, they’re a great ingredient in a variety of culinary styles, or equally yummy eaten on their own.

Turn your ‘victory garden’ into a ‘vitamin garden’

Grow high-nutrition veggies, herbsStock photo

• Peppers - Another versatile veggie available in a wealth of varieties, peppers deliver fiber, folate, manga-nese, potassium, copper and vitamins A, C, K and B6. Many types are very easy to grow, and others, like the Giant Marconi, deliver high yield and produce early in the season.

• Squash - Popular and prolific varieties like zuc-chini and yellow squash require minimal care to pro-duce hefty harvests. Green zucchini deliver vitamins C, K and B6, as well as folate, manganese and potas-sium. Yellow squash — either crookneck or straight neck — are easy to grow, early to mature and particu-larly high in vitamin C.

And what’s the one vitamin every single veggie and herb in your garden delivers? You can count vitamin D, the true “sunshine vitamin,” among the nutrition-al benefits of vegetables, herbs and gardening. While you’re outside working in the garden, your body is turning all that sunlight into much-needed vitamin D.

Added to the vitamin value of veggies and herbs are the exercise and relaxation that derive from gardening. This summer, why not focus on growing your vitamins rather than getting them from a bottle? They’ll taste better than anything that comes from the pharmacy, plus you’ll reap health, wellness, and the many mental and physical benefits of gardening.