January 2014 Thrive

Concussionconundrum

Debate is on about head injuries in younger athletes and how best to prevent them.

THRiVEnc» NORTHERN COLORADO WELLNESS

January 2014

» INSIDE: MANAGE SPACE WHEN DRIVING • COOKING AT HOME KEY TO HEALTH • HEALTH EVENTS

Page 6.

THRIVENC n December 25, 20132 n HEALTH

It’s what you don’t see that makes it so impressive.

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Learn more and find a Banner Health Minimally Invasive Surgeon: www.BannerHealth.com/SmallScar North Colorado Medical Center

McKee Medical CenterSterling Regional MedCenter

December 25, 2013 n THRIVENC 3HEALTH n

«STAR-support touch and reach breast cancer survivors (Breast Cancer Support Group), 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 2 at NCMC Cancer Institute Confer-ence Room. For more information call Betty Parson at (970) 339-7137.

«Spirit Girls and Moms Too, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 4 at NCMC Auditorium, 1801 16th St. The better you prepare your daughter for those upcoming changes — physical and emotional — the easier her transition to womanhood will be. Join us for a visit with pediatricians and gynecologists from Banner Health Clinics for a discussion of normal puberty-related events and the op-portunity to ask questions in a relaxed setting. There will be treats and fun activities to enjoy for moms and daughters ages approximately 8-12. Adult admission is free for Spirit mem-bers and $10 for non-members. All girls enter free. To reserve your space call (970) 392-2222. More information at www.bannerhealth.com/NCMCspirit.

«CPR for Health Care Providers (Re-certification), 3-5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at NCMC Union Colony Room. This class is designed for licensed and non-licensed health care providers who need to recertify through the American Heart Association. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $50. To register call (970) 350-6633. Please notify one week in advance if you are unable to attend the class. Your registration will be refunded less a $10 service charge. If you are absent from the class, you will be charged a $10 service fee.

«Yoga Basics, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 6-Feb. 10. Yoga Basics is an intro-duction to the foundational poses in a beginning yoga practice. This class will focus on careful physical alignment for the creation of a safe practice. This class is best suited for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

«Yoga Flow, noon-12:45 p.m. Wednes-

days, Jan. 8-Feb. 12. Yoga Flow teaches the student to build skills into flowing sequences with a focus on combining breath with movement. This class is challenging and dynamic, for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

«Chair Yoga, 10-10:45 a.m. Mondays, Jan. 6-Feb. 10. Primarily from sitting in a chair, we focus on gentle movements coordinated with breathing exercises to facilitate greater range of motion, flexibility, and relaxation. Some stand-ing poses may be included. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

«Gentle Yoga, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 6-Feb. 12. In Gentle Yoga, the postures are pre-sented in an easy to follow, accessible manner with plenty of time for modi-fications and focus on breath work. An excellent class for seniors, those with chronic illness or injuries, those newer to yoga, or students wanting a gentle practice. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

«Body Check... What you need to know: Head to Toe, by appointment Jan. 7 and 20 at Summit View Medical Commons. This head-to-toe health assessment gives you the tools to put your health first by receiving a comprehensive set of preventive health screenings. Invest in your health today! This screening includes: Health Fair Panel (fasting blood work-please fast 10-12 hours), sleep questionnaire, lung function test, body composition, weight and Body Mass Index, hip and waist measurements, health educa-tion with a wellness specialist, EKG with results read by a board-certified cardiologist, bone density screening, Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening including: education about peripheral vascular disease, stroke, stroke pre-vention and osteoporosis prevention, ankle brachial index, ultrasound of the carotid vessels, ultrasound of the aorta (screenings are read by a board-certified radiologist). Upon

Request: Colorectal Take-Home Kit, $10, Prostate Specific Blood Antigen screening, $23. Cost for screening is $175. Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insur-ance. Call (970) 350-6070 to schedule an appointment. All results are sent to your personal physician and to you.

«PAD Screening (Peripheral Vascular Disease), 1-3 p.m. Jan. 7 and 21 at Summit View Medical Commons, 2001 70th Ave. NCMC’s Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening program offers the education and prevention proven to be the best tools for fighting vascular disease and stroke. Patients receive: ankle brachial index: evaluation of leg circulation, carotid artery disease screening: ultrasound of the carotid vessels, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: ultrasound of the aorta, CardioChek fingerstick: lipid panel, health education with a wellness specialist; health information packet. Cost is $100, payment is due at time of service. NCMC is unable to bill insur-ance. To schedule an appointment call (970) 350-6070.

«Blood Tests, 7-8:45 a.m. Jan. 8 and 22 at NCMC Entrance 6 and Jan. 17 at Johnstown Family Physicians, 222 Johnstown Ct. Dr. Wellness Services offers low-cost blood screenings open to community members. Some immunizations are also available upon request and availability. Cost varies and payment is due at time of service. NCMC Wellness Services will not bill insurance. To schedule an appoint-ment, call (970) 350-6633. Please fast 12 hours prior to blood draw.

«Be Well with Diabetes, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 13. Wellness Classroom at North Colorado Medical Center. Weld County Area Agency on Aging offers a variety of aging well self-management classes such as Be Well with Diabetes. For more information or to sign up, call (970) 346-6950 ext. 6117.

«Heartsaver CPR with AED — Wind-sor, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Windsor Recre-ation Center, 250 11th St. Taught by the American Heart Association certified health care professionals, this class covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, Heimlich maneuver, and the use of a barrier device. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course com-pletion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $48. To register call (970) 674-3500. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

«2014 Women’s Wellness Series: Passport to Health, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at NCMC Auditorium Entrance 6, 1801 16th St. Wear your toga over your clothes and celebrate the Olympics. Come with us to Greece. Diet and exercise should not be just a New Year’s resolution. Learn how to “go the distance” with gynecologist, Dr. Susan Carter and registered dietitian, Julie Gormley, RD, as they help us obtain gold medal results. Admission is free for Spirit members and $10 for non-members. To reserve your space call (970) 392-2222 and visit www.bannerhealth/NCMCspirit for costume instructions.

«Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 16 at NCMC Cancer Institute Conference Room. For more information call Julianne Fritz at (970) 350-6567

«Walk with a Doc, Jan. 18 at South En-trance of the Greeley Mall. Upcoming walks are posted at www.walking-withadoc.org.

«Safe Sitter-Greeley, 9-3 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Family FunPlex. Safe Sitter is a one-day, six-hour curriculum designed for 11- to 13-year-olds. Participants learn care of the choking infant and child, baby sitting as a business, suc-cess on the job, child care essentials, safety for the sitter, preventing injuries, injury and behavior management and

preventing problem behavior. For more information and to register call (970) 350-9400. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

«Cooking Classes, 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at NCMC Cardiac Rehab Kitchen. Come and learn a variety of fun and healthy cooking options like healthier versions of crowd pleasing favorite appetizers and game day snacks. These courses are taught by registered dietician, Mary Branom, RD. Classes are a great way to modify your cooking habits and learn about heart healthy cooking. Recipes and samples are included. Cost is $10 per class. To register call (970) 350-6633.

«Heartsaver CPR with AED, 7-9 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Family FunPlex. The class is taught by American Heart Association-certified health care professionals and covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, the Heimlich maneuver, the use of a barrier device, and AED hands-on training. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $48. You can pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

«Heartsaver First Aid, 4-6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Family FunPlex. Taught by the American Heart Association-certified health care professionals, this First Aid class provides participants with an under-standing of first aid basics, medical emergencies, injury emergencies & environmental emergencies. Upon completion of the course, partici-pants will receive a Heartsaver First Aid course completion card. The cer-tification is valid for two years. Cost is $45. You can pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

JANUARY HEALTH EVENTS

Turn to Events on P.4


«CT Heart Score, 1-2 p.m. Monday-Friday at NCMC. Provides a non-invasive test that accurately measures the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. The procedure begins with a fast, painless computed tomography CT exam. CT, more commonly known as CAT scanning, uses X-rays and multiple detectors to create interior images of the heart. The heart score program includes a 10-minute consultation with a wellness specialist, focusing on cardiac risk factor education, identifi-cation of non-modifiable and modifiable risks and lifestyle behavior change options. Cost is $199. Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insurance. Call (970)

350-6070 to schedule an appointment.

« Living Well with Diabetes Pro-gram, by appointment or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland, Windsor and Johnstown. Education offered for patients with diabetes, and their care givers or families, to provide knowledge, skills and tools to successfully manage their diabetes. Topics include nutrition, activity, monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping, reducing risks, weight loss, insulin, or consid-ering insulin pump therapy. Cost varies, insurance billing available. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

«Diabetes and Pregnancy information, by appointment or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland,

Johnstown and Windsor. Group and individual sessions for women with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes to teach skills needed to care for themselves during pregnancy. Topics include: healthy eating, being active, blood glucose monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping and reducing risks. The goal is to help you and your baby stay healthy. No referral needed for group sessions, referral from provider is required for individ-ual appointments. Individual appointments billable to insur-ance. Cost is $10 per class. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

«Pulmonary Rehabilitation — Lung Disease Management Education and Exercise, For more information call (970) 350-6924.

Events from P.3

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One of the best forms of protection for a driver is space, the distance between you and the other traffic.

Managing the space is key to being a defensive driver. In order for any driver to be able to react to situations that come up, it is important to leave some distance around your vehicle — front, back and on the sides — if possible. The most critical distance is the space you leave between you and the ve-hicle in front of you. A recommend-ed rule is 3 to 6 seconds.

How do you measure seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you? While following at a constant distance, identify a stationary object like a sign or a tree and wait until the vehicle in front of you has passed that object. Count one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand until your vehicle comes to the object. Speed matters. The faster you are traveling, the more space is needed to maintain that cushion.

Young drivers need to know how much space they have in front of them and to maintain a minimum of 4 seconds. If anything out of the ordinary happens, the young driver will need enough of an interval to see it, decide what to do and then execute their decision. This all hap-pens quickly, and with little space, it is almost impossible to avoid a crash.

Controlling speed is a driver’s best friend when it comes to driv-ing safely. If there is an obstacle in your path, a change in speed is the first response. The car will respond differently depending on the condi-tions on the road and the condi-tions of the tires. Some conditions that would require action are traffic

flow, time of day, traffic controls, weather conditions, visibility, lane width, roadway conditions and speed limits. During inclem-ent weather, the rule is generally to reduce the speed by at least a third of the posted speed limit and maintain a larger space cushion. By managing your speed, you can control the space between your car and other cars or obstacles.

The more space you leave, the more likely the person behind you will leave more space, as well. Use your signals when you are going to do a lane change or turn. It is how you communicate your intentions to other drivers. Covering the

brakes is another strategy, where you place your foot lightly on the brake pedal without applying any pres-sure. The brake lights go on, and it signals the driver be-hind you that you are slowing down. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, particu-larly if the driver behind you is following too closely. If

they are not paying attention, they could hit you from behind.

It is important to teach your young driver to be aware of what is going on around them at all times. Teaching them to drive in the right lane is a good place as it provides a road shoulder as an option, and they can maintain the speed limit. Remember space will always be your friend, and you will get into the habit of maintaining a safe distance cushion. Eventually, it will become second nature, no matter what the traffic conditions.

Lyn Tausan is a retired school ad-ministrator and resides in Greeley with her husband. She is the mar-keting/public relations specialist for DRIVE SMART Weld County.

MANAGING SPACE AROUND YOUR CAR KEY TO SAFE DRIVING

Lyn TAUSAN

DRIVE SMART

Because so much of the national discussion lately has focused on health, the Affordable Care Act and its troubles, you might think that health insurance is all that matters when it comes to making people healthy. It isn’t. That good health is more than health care was a point I heard many times on my recent Fulbright fellowship visit to Canada, and it’s a topic we don’t talk much about in the U.S.

I visited a doctor in Toronto who has created a simple brochure — he calls it a poverty tool — to help doctors think about poverty during office visits and help their patients cope. For example, the tool tells docs to factor poverty into an assessment of a patient’s risk factors, say for diabetes.

The Canadian Medical Association held town hall meetings this year in several cities, and partici-pants identified nutrition and food security, income, housing and early childhood development as the main drivers of good health.

A major Canadian study has found that provid-ing private apartments for homeless people who are mentally ill has made a difference in the quality of their lives and social functioning. Plus they use more health services in their communities rather than in more expensive hospitals. Redirecting ser-vices to less expensive community facilities is a goal in Canada, as well as in the U.S.

Wherever I went, I heard a lot about what the nation can do to improve the health of what Cana-dians call their aboriginal populations. The health problems — diabetes, mental illness and obesity — that plague Canada’s native populations are the same ones Native Americans face. But I don’t hear many people in U.S. health care circles talk much about our native populations.

And I heard more talk about what can be done to improve the health of Canadians in general than I heard complaints about their infamous waiting lists for cataract or hip replacement surgery. Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCoteau, a physician on the faculty at the University of Manitoba, told me that education contributes to every health outcome from kindergarten on, and if people are poorly educated, that deprives them of good health from the beginning.

“The impact to the country of reducing wait times to improve population health is minimal,” she said.

Throwing more money into medical services and using more of the “newest” medical services and “greatest” technology doesn’t always bring better health as we can see from the latest international survey from The Commonwealth Fund, a New York City philanthropic organization focused on health care. (Full disclosure: The foundation funds Thinking About Health columns.)

For more than 10 years, the Fund has surveyed patients in 11 countries about cost, access and quality, and each year, contrary to our widespread belief that we have the best health system in the world, the U.S. comes up short. For starters, the U.S. spends more per person on medical care than any other country. This year spending hit $8,508 per person compared to $5,669 in Norway, the next highest spender. When it came to spending on administrative costs for insurance, the U.S. led the way spending $606 per person compared to France and Switzerland, which spent $277 and $266.

About one-third of Americans spend a lot of time dealing with insurance paper work and fighting with their carriers over claims. In countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, which have competitive insurance markets, far fewer citizens spend less time on insurance hassles. For instance, only 17 percent of Germans complain about insurance matters. Both Americans and Ca-nadians report longer waits for primary care when they are sick.

Given those stats, it’s hardly surprising that 75 percent of Americans said the system needs funda-mental changes or should be rebuilt. If and when the Affordable Care Act is successfully implement-ed, some of these problems are likely to get worse because the system still will not have fundamentally changed, and some patients will shoulder higher out-of-pocket costs.

As patients, consumers of health care, or just ordinary Americans, we need to think about our health care system more broadly and ask what are we getting for all the money we spend. And if we decide to keep the title of the world’s biggest health care spender, exactly what are getting for all that money?

The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and distributed through the Nebraska Press Association Founda-

tion, the Colorado Press Association and the South Dakota Newspaper Association.

There’s more to good health than health careBy Trudy LiebermanRural Health News Service


Caitlyn’s mother, Dawn Olson, who had also been Caitlyn’s coach since her Mighty Mites days, said the first concussion was a surprise, the second one seemed like just bad luck, and the third one was the final straw that pushed the family to take Caitlyn out of soccer permanently. A year and a half after her last con-cussion, Caitlyn still strug-gles with daily headaches, and her mom is working to help educate coaches, play-ers, parents and teachers on the importance of properly treating concussions.

“Whether we’re doing classes for coaches or par-ents, the whole goal is to keep kids safe,” said Olson, who helps organize North Colorado Medical Center’s concussion education class-es as director of business development. “The more we can educate about the symptoms, how important rest is, I think we can avoid all those devastating inju-ries that can happen and avoid the long-term effects. It’s all in the best interest of

kids.”Olson played soccer in

college, and she passed on her love for “the beautiful game,” as it’s often called, to her two daughters.

“I’ve been playing since I was like 4,” Caitlyn said. “I’ve gone from a low-level to such a competitive level of soccer, so I’ve seen it all. Soccer meant a lot to me be-cause I’d played it my whole life.”

After Caitlyn’s first con-cussion, Olson, a former athletic train-er who worked at NCMC, had been educated on concussion protocols, and she knew how important it was to take Caitlyn out to avoid re-inju-ry. Olson said she followed doctors’ orders, giving Cait-lyn plenty of mental and physical rest as she recov-ered from each concussion, and it was difficult to watch Caitlyn get another concus-sion and then another.

“That’s where it’s frustrat-ing to me because we did all of that with Caitlyn,” she said.

Dr. Christy Young, a gen-eral neurologist at NCMC who treated Caitlyn, said it’s critical for concussion patients to rest until they’re free of symptoms like head-aches, dizziness and balance issues before returning to studies, work and activity. Otherwise, they run a higher risk of a more serious brain injury or even Second-Im-

pact Syndrome — severe, permanent brain damage or sudden death after suffering a second concussion before the first heals.

“Any of these symptoms that aren’t quite right, you’re putting (the child) at risk,”

Young said. “They’re going to have a higher risk of get-ting hurt over and over.”

Later in life, children who suffer from concussions that don’t heal are more likely to have seizures, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“Most people aren’t thinking of that with their 10-year-olds,” Young said.

Young said concussions are tricky and dangerous, especially with children, whose brains are still de-veloping. She said it’s often difficult to convince parents their children aren’t ready to go back to play, especial-ly when concussions aren’t diagnosed with something you can see, like a brain scan or X-ray.

The report released by the Institute of Medicine discusses another challenge in diagnosing and proper-ly healing concussions: the idea that young athletes face a “culture of resistance” when it comes to reporting injuries and staying on the sidelines, the Associated

Press report-ed. Millions of children and teens play or-ganized sports, but it’s not clear how many get concussions, in part because many aren’t di-agnosed.

Young said rest, both physical and mental, is the key to safely healing a con-cussion. She said she refers patients to therapy to help them fully recover.

“The big picture is that it’s going to be time, and

CONCUSSION CONUNDRUMBy WHITNEY PHILLIPS

[email protected]

CAITLYN OLSON, 14, WATCHES as a putt rolls toward the hole as she prac-tices with her indoor putting machine at her home in Greeley. Caitlyn began playing golf after multiple concussions prevented her from continuing soccer.

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA POLSON/[email protected]

G reeley teen Caitlyn Olson was 12 when she suffered her first con-cussion after colliding with another soccer player as the two girls both went for the ball.

Her next one came four months later, after another player booted the ball hard during a Bootlegger Soccer Club match, hitting Cait-lyn in the head. Her third concussion came a year after her first, when she headed a ball.

A new report shows that little is known about concussions in children and teens, like Caitlyn, who participated in sports before high school. The report, released earlier this year by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council called for a national system to track sports-related con-cussions and start answering questions about how often younger athletes suffer concussions and how best to prevent them, among other topics, according to the Associated Press.

“The more we can educate about the symptoms, how important rest is, I

think we can avoid all those devastating injuries that can happen and avoid the long-term effects. It’s all in the best interest of kids.— DAWN OLSON, Caitlyn’s mom, who helps organ-ize North Colorado Medical Center’s concussion ed-ucation classes as director of business development


that you just have to kind of watch out for red-flag symptoms and then get them into therapy,” she said.

Olson said advances in research have revealed bet-ter ways to safely deal with concussions, but it’s diffi-cult to get everyone — par-ents, coaches, teachers and even doctors — on the same page. Olson said coaches are often working with old information, like the out-dated belief that you have to keep concussions patients awake or wake them every hour.

“It’s better to just let them rest,” Young said.

Olson said it’s also diffi-cult for teachers and parents to understand that mental rest is as crucial as avoiding physical activity. Teachers often assume that allowing a concussion patient to read is better than having them study hard, but reading and watching TV can be just as harmful.

Olson said Caitlyn took final exams after one of her concussions, but doctors told her any kind of stress and strenuous study is a bad idea.

“You just have to forget about the school work,” Ol-son said.

Olson said recently passed legislation has im-proved how coaches and parents deal with concus-sions. The Jake Snakenberg Youth Sports Concussion Act — passed in 2011 and named for an Aurora teen who died suddenly after getting a second concussion — now requires that kids get clearance from a doc-

tor before returning to play and requires coaches to get training on identifying con-cussions.

Before that law went into place, Olson said there were no uniform requirements in Colorado for dealing with kids who get concussions. It was up to coaches and par-ents to decide when a child was ready to go back in the game.

“Having the Jake Snaken-

berg legislation pass has really changed that,” Olson said.

The Institute of Medicine report recommends that sports organizations adopt rules to reduce the risk of injuries. The research coun-cil supports the idea of de-veloping a hit limit that could be used to regulate the number of hits a player gets in a certain period of time, although there’s no

indicator of how many hits are too many hits, the AP reported.

Olson said as she helps coordinate classes to edu-cate others on concussions, she hopes to spread the word about the importance of rest over a long period of time after a concussion.

“I don’t think I would be as passionate about it if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve seen the long-term effects of

what can happen,” she said, noting that Caitlyn is final-ly starting to show signs of healing.

Caitlyn said quitting soc-cer was devastating, but with support from her fami-ly, she’s found other ways to stay active and have fun.

“I can’t replace soccer be-cause it had such a big im-pact on my life, and it still is a big part of me, but I have kind of found golf, and golf kind of fills that place in me,” she said.

After a leadership camp this past summer, Cait-lyn said she’s been starting some special projects — like a big-brother, big-sis-ter program called Super Siblings — at Frontier Academy, where she’s an eighth-grader.

“I was always captain of the team,” Caitlyn said. “I was always the motivator. When I couldn’t play soccer anymore I kind of didn’t re-ally have that place where I could be a leader anymore, so I was trying to find plac-es where I could be a leader outside of soccer.”

Caitlyn said she wants other kids who suffer con-cussions to know that it’s not worth it to stay in the game if they feel like they may have a concussion. She said she encourages them to just sit out and to know that it’s not the end of the world if a concussion puts your fa-vorite sport to an end.

“When a door closes an-other one opens, and you can always find something else that maybe you’re bet-ter at or you like better, be-cause I know I did.”

CONCUSSION CONUNDRUM

CAITLYN OLSON, 14, WATCHES as a putt rolls toward the hole as she prac-tices with her indoor putting machine at her home in Greeley. Caitlyn began playing golf after multiple concussions prevented her from continuing soccer.

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA POLSON/[email protected]

» Concussion symptomsDr. Christy Young, a general neurologist at North Colorado Medical Center, says anyone with the following symptoms following a possible concussion should avoid high-risk physical activities and strenuous mental activities: headaches, nausea, fatigue, visual problems, balance problems, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, numbness or tin-gling, vomiting, dizziness, feeling foggy, problems concentrating, feeling slowed down, irritability, sadness, feeling more emotional, nervousness, drowsiness, sleeping more or less than usual, trouble falling asleep. Anyone who has symptoms of a concussion should see a physician, as soon as possi-ble and preferably within two weeks of the impact.

» Red-flag symptomsWhile many concussion patients don’t need to go right to the emergency room, Young said anyone who experiences any of the following symptoms should go to an emer-gency room: headaches that worsen, seizures, neck pain, feeling very drowsy, can’t be awakened, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, can’t recognize places or people, increasing confusion, weakness or numbness in arms or legs, unusual behavior change, increasing irritability, loss of consciousness.

Debate is on about head injuries in younger athletes and how best to prevent, treat them


DIETITIANS: COOKING AT HOME IS KEY TO HEALTHY LIFESTYLET he New Year is

quickly approach-ing, and many

people are planning their resolutions. The registered dietitians at North Colo-rado Medical Center hope one of your resolutions will be to start eating more home-cooked meals.

According to the US-DA’s Economic Research Service, food away from home as part of a house-hold’s daily expenditures has increased since 1970, reaching its highest point of 48.7 percent in 2012. It is a trend Mary Branom, registered dietitian at NCMC, thinks is happen-ing because people are bus-ier than ever, often juggling work, children, activity schedules, commuting and more.

“It is hard to meet your health goals when you are relying mostly on fast food or convenience foods,” Branom said. “Eating out or eating processed food limits you from being in control of how the items are prepared.”

Branom notes that the registered dietitians at NCMC often hear the same concern coming from their clients: it takes too long to prepare dinner. However, all of the dietitians have the same piece of advice.

“The secret to success is planning ahead,” Branom said.

Some of the key planning tips Branom and the dieti-

tians suggest include writ-ing down a week’s menu, doing a week’s worth of grocery shopping at a time and preparing fruits and vegetables beforehand.

Once her clients over-come the time-related ob-stacles, Branom believes they start to see the bene-fits related to home cook-ing.

“Cooking at home can save you money, too. My favorite trick is to make

extras on purpose to use leftovers as ‘planned overs,’ ” Branom said. “The left-over top round roast can become tomorrow’s beef barley soup.”

In a Cambridge study published in 2012 in Pub-lic Health Nutrition, re-searchers discovered a link showing people who cook their own meals tend to live longer. Another study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutri-

tion found the women they surveyed were significantly happier and less stressed after cooking at home.

Besides the obvious health benefits, studies have shown a positive im-pact on the social lives of families. In fact, the Na-tional Center on Addic-tion and Substance Abuse at Columbia University conducted a survey that showed teens whose fami-lies ate together frequently were less likely to use alco-hol, drugs and cigarettes.

“Obviously, not every meal will be made from scratch. Adopt the ‘more often than not’ rule of thumb,” Branom said. “My motto is ‘Strive for prog-ress, not perfection.’ ”

Jason Webb is a public relations specialist for

Banner Health.

By Jason WebbFor The Tribune

» Cooking classesNorth Colorado Medical Center offers cooking classes to community members to teach them how to prepare healthy meals. Held in the Cardiac Rehab Kitchen, each class runs from 6-7:30 p.m. at a cost of $10. Classes scheduled are:» Jan. 22: “Appetizing Appetizers” » Feb 11: “Italian Made Lighter”» March 12: “Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas”For more information, go to www.bannerhealth.com/ncmc and go to the Community Wellness pages. To register for a class, please call (970) 350-6633.

» Healthy home cookingThe NCMC dietitians offer a variety of tips to help their clients have healthy, home-cooked meals:» “My suggestion is plan, plan, plan and make things ahead of time.”

— Diane Braithwaite

» “One tip I tell patients is to take some time once a week or after grocery shopping to wash, trim cut and peel fresh produce and put it into storage containers in the refrigerator, so that it is ready to go when you want to throw together a quick meal.”

— Mollie Shipman

» “A tip I give our patients is to focus on sauces or sides. You can cook a few chicken breasts or pieces of fish up ahead of time and then make that protein into different meals by adding a different salsa, sauce or fun side dish. I pick one thing to make the focus of the meal in-stead of trying to be ‘Top Chef’ and make a fancy main dish, salad and side, which is too time consuming.”

— Desiree Pina

» “Check out low-sodium, heart-healthy crockpot recipes. Prep the food the night before, throw it in the crockpot the next morning, and your dinner is cooked by the time you get home.”

— Kelli Schrader

» “Keep salad prepped in bowl in refrigerator and just add fixings when ready to eat. Having breakfast for dinner is easy – scrambled eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit and yogurt.”

— Elizabeth Bracken

» “I like to batch-cook a single ingredient to be used all week. For example, I poach a whole chicken with chopped onion, garlic and carrots, which can be shredded and used in a variety of meals over the week. Some can be put into some chicken broth made while poaching the chicken with some frozen veggies to be-come an ‘instant’ soup served with a salad and some whole grain bread or fruit. Another night, some can be mixed with low-fat sharp cheddar and made into que-sadillas to be served with salsa and fruit salad.”

— Stephanie Tarry-Yoo

» “I prep all of the meals for the week on Sundays. This means washing and cutting all the fruits and veggies that will be used for the meals throughout the week. After they are prepped I put them into separate containers that are pre-portioned for each meal — for example, all the veggies for fajitas in one container, all the fruits for smoothies in another container, and all the veggies for the kabobs in another. This makes the final meal prep much quicker.”

— Kristyn Clark

» “I teach both patients and outside clients through my own business to use the microwave with scratch cooking to make delicious, nutritious meals quickly.”

— Jen Sajbel

FOR THE TRIBUNE


TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY 2013ACUPUNCTURE

PHYLLIS HAMAR, L.A.C.Master of Science, Traditional Chinese MedicineNCCAOM Board Certified710 11th Ave., Ste. 106Greeley, CO 80631970-539-0324

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC5623 W. 19th StreetGreeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011Fax: (970) 353-9135Professionals: Richard Budensiek, DO; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Angela Mill, MDWebsite: www.bannerhealth.com

ALLERGY AND ASTHMA

COLORADO ALERGY & ASTHMA CENTERS, P.C.7251 W. 20th Street, Bldg N, Ste 1Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 356-3907

1136 E. Stuart St, Bldg 3, Ste 3200Ft. Collins, CO 80525Phone: (970) 221-1681

4700 E. Bromley Ln., Ste 207Brighton, CO 80601Phone: (303) 654-1234www.coloradoallergy.comProfessionals: Dr. Daniel LaszloDr. John James

NORTHERN COLORADOALLERGY & ASTHMAGreeley Phone: (970) 330-5391Loveland Phone: (970) 663-0144Ft. Collins Phone: (970) 221-2370www.NCAAC.comProfessionals: Dr. Vel Kailasam, MDKrishna C. Murthy, MDLoran Clement, MDMichael Martucci, MD

ALZHEIMER’S/SKILLED CARE

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN708 22nd StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)352-6082Fax: (970)356-7970Web Site: www.good-sam.com

GRACE POINTE1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 304-1919www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY5300 29th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)353-6800Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

ASSISTED LIVING

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970) 352-6082Fax: (970) 356-7970www.good-sam.com

GRACE POINTE1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 304-1919www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY5300 29th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)353-6800Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

THE BRIDGE ASSISTED LIVING4750 25th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)339-0022

AUDIOLOGYALPINE ALL ABOUT HEARING1124 E. Elizabeth Street, #E-101Fort Collins, CO 80524Phone: (970)221-3372Fax: (970)493-92373820 N. Grant AvenueLoveland, CO 80538Phone: (970)461-0225Fax: (970)593-0670Web Site: www.allabouthearing.comProfessionals: Renita Boesiger, M. A., CCC-A Rachel White, M. A., CCC-ACheryl Hadlock, M. S., CCC-A

AUDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES2528 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-2881Professionals: Robert M. Traynor, Ed. D. F-AAA; Karen Swope, M. A. CCC-A

MIRACLE-EAR2404 17th Street Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)351-6620

749 S. Lemay Avenue, Suite A1Fort Collins, CO 80524(970)221-5225

UNC AUDIOLOGY CLINICGunter Hall, Room 0330Greeley, CO 80639Phone: (970)351-2012/TTYFax: (970)351-1601Web Site: www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic.htmProfessionals: Diane Erdbruegger, Au.D., CCC-A;Erinn Jimmerson, M.A., CCC-AJennifer Weber, Au.D., CCC-A

BALANCE

LIFE CARE CENTER OF GREELEY- ASCENT4800 25th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)330-6400Professionals: Cozette Seaver, PT;Leslie Vail, PT

CARDIAC VASCULAR SURGERY

CARDIAC, THORACIC & VASCULAR SURGERY (NCMC)1800 15th Street, Suite 340Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)378-4593Fax: (970)378-4391Professionals: Lyons, Maurice I. Jr. DORichards, Kenneth M. MDTullis, Gene E. MD

CARDIOLOGY

CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE (NCMC)1800 15th Street, #310Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970) 392-0900Professionals: James H. Beckmann, MD;Harold L. Chapel, MD;John Drury, MD;Lin-Wang Dong, MD;Cynthia L. Gryboski, MD;Cecilia Hirsch, MD;Paul G. Hurst, MD;Brian Lyle, MD;Randall C. Marsh, MD;Arnold Pfahnl, MD; James E. Quillen, MD;Gary A. Rath, MD;Shane Rowan, MD;Ahmad Shihabi, MD;Stephen Zumbrun, MD

HEART FAILURE CLINIC (NCMC)(970) 350-6953Missy Jensen, FNP-C

DENTISTRYASCENT FAMILY DENTALScott Williams, DMD3535 W. 12th Street, Suite BGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)351-6095www.dentalgreeley.com

JULIE KAVANAUGH, D.D.S.3400 W. 16th Street, Suite 8-EGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)351-0400www.drjuliekav.com

RALPH R. REYNOLDS, D.M.D., M.D.Oral Surgery7251 W. 20th St.Building H, Suite 2Greeley, CO 80634(970) 663-6878www.reynoldsoralfacial.com

ENDOCRINOLOGY

ENDOCRINOLOGY CLINIC (NCMC)1801 15th Street, Ste 200Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)378-4676Fax: (970)-378-4315www.bannerhealth.comProfessionals: Nirmala Kumar, MDKimberly Rieniets, MDCorinn Sadler, MD

FAMILY PRACTICE MEDICINEBANNER HEALTH CLINIC1300 Main StreetWindsor, CO 80550Phone: 970-686-5646Fax: 970-686-5118Providers:Jonathan Kary, M.D.Trina Kessinger, M.D.Anthony Doft, M.D.

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC100 S. Cherry Ave., Suite 1Eaton, CO 80615Phone: (970)454-3838Professionals: Marianne Lyons, DOLance Barker, DO, Internal Medicine

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC222 Johnstown Center DriveJohnstown, CO 80534Phone: (970)587-4974Professionals:Cara Brown, MDJ.Matthew Brown, MDJoseph Gregory, MDCourtney Isley, MDStephen Kalt, MD, Internal MedicineThomas Kenigsberg, MD

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY,LLP-CENTRAL2520 W. 16th St.Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 356-2520Professionals: Joanna H. Branum, M.D.;Ann T. Colgan, M.D.;Jennifer D. Dawson, D.O.; Douglas A. Magnuson, M.D.;Lori A. Ripley, M.D.;Andrew P. Stoddard, M.D.;D. Craig Wilson, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY,LLP-COTTONWOOD2420 W. 16th StreetGreeley ,CO 80634 Phone: (970) 353-7668Professionals: Christopher T. Kennedy, M.D.; Daniel P. Pflieger, M.D.; Mark D. Young, M.D.; Stacey L. Garber, M.D.Amy E. Mattox, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY,LLP-WEST6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 101Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 378-8000Professionals: Daniel R. Clang, D.O.; Tamara S. Clang, D.O.;R. Scott Haskins, M.D.;Mathew L. Martinez, M.D.; Chima C. Nwizu, M.D.;Michelle K. Paczosa, D.O.; Jeffery E. Peterson, M.D.;Kyle B. Waugh, M.D.;Charles I. Zucker, M.D.

KENNETH M. OLDS6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 208Greeley ,CO 80634Phone: (970)330-9061

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC5623 W. 19th StreetGreeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011Fax: (970) 353-9135Professionals: Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Jacqueline Bearden, MD;Tong Jing, MD; Janis McCall, MD;Frank Morgan, MD;David Puls, D.O. www.bannerhealth.com


TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY 2010TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY 2013FUNERAL SERVICES

ALLNUTT & RESTHAVEN FUNERALSERVICES702 13th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 352-3366650 W. Drake Road, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 482-3208 8426 S. College Avenue, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 667-02022100 N. Lincoln, Loveland, CO Phone: (970) 667-11211302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO Phone: (970) 586-3101

GASTROENTEROLOGY

DOWGIN, THOMAS A., MD.CENTERS FOR GASTROENTEROLOGY7251 W. 20th St., Bldg JGreeley, CO Phone: (970)207-97733702 TimberlineFt. Collins, CO Phone: (970)207-97732555 E. 13th Street, Suite 220Loveland, CO Phone: (970)669-5432Website: www.digestive-health.net

NORTH COLORADO GASTROENTEROLOGY (NCMC)2010 16th Street, Ste. AGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)378-4475Fax: (970)378-4429Professionals:Tong Jing, MDMark Rosenblatt, MDAhmed M. Sherif, MDYazan Abu Qwaider, MD

HEALTH AND FITNESS

STUDIO Z FITNESS3483 W. 10th Street, Unit AGreeley, CO313-6924 or 388-7956

WORK OUT WESTHealth & Recreation Campus5701 W. 20th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: 970-330-9691www.workoutwest.comHOME HEALTH CARE

CARING HEARTS HOME HEALTHCARE6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 207Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)378-1409

REHABILITATION AND VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION2105 Clubhouse DriveGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 330-5655Fax: (970) 330-7146Web Site: www.rvna.infoProfessionals: Crystal Day, CEO

HOSPICE

HOSPICE OF NORTHERN COLORADOAdministration Office2726 W. 11th Street RoadGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)352-8487Fax: (970)475-0037

PATHWAYS HOSPICE305 Carpenter RoadFt. Collins, CO 80550Phone: (970)663-3500Fax: (970)292-1085 Web Site: www.pathways-care.org

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVINGGRACE POINTE1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 304-1919Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY5300 29th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)353-6800Website: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVING W/SERVICES

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN708 22nd StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)352-6082Fax: (970)356-7970Web Site: www.good-sam.com

FOX RUN SENIOR LIVING1720 60th AvenueGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)353-7773Fax: (970)330-9708Web Site: www.good-sam.com

INFECTIOUS DISEASEBREEN, JOHN F., MD (NCMC)1801 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)350-6071Fax: (970)350-6702

INTERNAL MEDICINEBANNER HEALTH CLINIC2010 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)350-5660www.bannerhealth.com Professionals:Danielle Doro, MD Giovanna Garcia, MD

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIESBANNER HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (NCMC)Phone: (970)506-6420

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

NCMC - BEHAVIORAL HEALTHDr Patricia Al-Adsani, Child and Adolescent PsychiatryBanner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine2010 16th Street, Suite CGreeley, CO 80631Banner Health Clinic- Windsor1300 Main StreetWindsor, CO 80550

Shawn Crawford, LPCBanner Health Clinic 222 Johnstown Center DriveJohnstown, CO 80534Banner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine2010 16th Street, Suite CGreeley, CO 80631

Stephanie Carroll, LCSW, CACIIIBanner Health Clinic1300 Main StreetWindsor, CO 80550Banner Health Clinic Fossil Creek303 Colland DrFort Collins, CO 80525

Elise Pugh, LPCBanner Health Clinic Westlake 5623 W 19th StGreeley CO 80631Banner Health Clinic1300 Main StreetWindsor, CO 80550

Susan Goodrich, LCSW Banner Health Clinic-Loveland PediatricsLoveland PediatricsLoveland COBanner Health Clinic- Windsor1300 Main Street Windsor CO, 80550

Renee Rogers, LMFTBanner Health Clinic1300 Main StreetWindsor, CO 80550Banner Health Clinic303 Colland Drive, Fossil CreekFort Collins, CO 80525

NEPHROLOGYGREELEY MEDICAL CLINIC1900 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970) 350-2438Professionals: Donal Rademacher, MD

NEUROLOGY

CENTENNIAL NEUROLOGYDr. David Ewing7251 W. 20th Street, Unit CGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 356-3876

NEUROLOGY CLINIC (NCMC)1800 15th Street, Suite 100BGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970) 350-5612 Fax: (970) 350-5619Professionals: Barbara Hager, MDTodd Hayes, DOWilliam Shaffer, MDChristy Young, MD

NEURO-SURGERY BRAIN & SPINE

BANNER HEALTH NEUROSURGERY CLINIC1800 15th St., Suite 130Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)350-5996Professionals:David Blatt, MDBeth Gibbons, MD

NURSING HOME REHABILITATIONCENTENNIAL HEALTH CARE CENTER1637 29th Ave. PlaceGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 356-8181Fax: (970) 356-3278OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

BANNER HEALTH GYN CONSULTANTS1800 15th St., Suite 130Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)353-1335Professionals:Susan Carter, MD

BANNER HEALTH OB/GYN CLINIC2410 W. 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)352-6353Professionals:Neil Allen, MDLaurie Berdahl, MD

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC5623 W. 19th StreetGreeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011Fax: (970) 353-9135Professionals: Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Janis McCall, MD;Frank Morgan, MD;David Pols, D.O. www.bannerhealth.comONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

CANCER INSTITUTE (NCMC)1800 15th Street,Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-6680Toll Free (866) 357-9276Fax: (970)350-6610Professionals: Jeffrey Albert, MDElizabeth Ceilley, MDBrian Fuller, MDBenjamin George, MDSamuel Shelanski, MDKerry Williams-Wuch, MDAlice Wood, MDAriel Soriano, MDOPTOMETRY

FOX HILL VISION CLINIC2001 46th AvenueGreeley, CO 80634(970) 330-7070Professionals: Dr. Nancy Smith, ODDr. Tarry Harvey, ODWebsite: www.foxhillvision.comORTHODONTICS

GREELEY ORTHODONTIC CENTER2021 Clubhouse Dr., Suite 110Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 330-2500Fax: (970) 330-2548E-Mail: [email protected]: www.DoctorK.comProfessionals: Dr. Gary J. Kloberdanz

ORTHODONTIC ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY, PCProfessionals: Bradford N. Edgren, DDS, MS3400 W. 16thSt., Bldg 4-VGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 356-5900Website: www.drbradsmiles.com


TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY 2013ORTHOPEDICS

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS 5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101Greeley, COPhone: (970)348-0020Fax: (970)348-0044Web Site: www.bannerhealth.comProfessionals: Randy M. Bussey, MDRiley Hale, MDDaniel Heaston, MDThomas Pazik, MDKelly R. Sanderford, MDSteven Sides, MDLinda Young, MD

PEDIATRICSBANNER HEALTH CLINIC6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 201Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)350-5828www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Amanda Harding, MDJames Sando, MD

PEDIATRIC REHABILITATIONBANNER REHABILITATION CENTER1801 16th StreetGreeley, COPhone: (970)350-6160Fax: (970)378-3858

PERSONAL RESPONSE SERVICE

BANNER LIFE LINE (NCMC)2010 16th Street, Suite CGreeley, CO 80631Phone: 1-877-493-8109(970) 378-4743

PHYSICAL THERAPY

HOPE THERAPY CENTER(Formerly North Colorado Therapy Center)2780 28th AvenueGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)339-0011Website: www.GCIinc.orgProfessionals: Chris Denham, PT; Kryste Haas, OT;Kathie Hertzke, PTA;Moni Kohlhoff, PT;Alex Luksik, PTA;Jeanne Rabe, PT;Howard Belon, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

NORTHERN COLORADOREHABILITATION HOSPITAL 4401 Union StreetJohnstown, CO 80534Phone: (970) 619-3400Website: [email protected]

PODIATRYFOOT & ANKLE CENTER OF NORTHERN COLORADO P.C.1931 65th Ave., Suite AGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 351-0900Fax: (970) 351-0940

4401 Union StreetJohnstown, CO 80534Phone: (970) 443-0925Web Site: www.footandanklecolorado.comProfessionals: Daniel J. Hatch, D.P.M. Mike D. Vaardahl, D.P.M.

PULMONARY/CRITICAL CARENORTH COLORADOPULMONARY (NCMC)1801 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)392-2026Professionals: Kelli Janata, DORobert Janata, DODavid Fitzgerlad, DOMichael Shedd, MDDanielle Dial, NP

PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

CERTIFIED PROSTHETICS &ORTHOTICS, LLC (GREELEY LOCATION)1620 25th Avenue, Suite AGreeley, CO 80634Phone: 970-356-2123Fax: 970-352-4943

HANGER PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS7251 West 20th Street, Building MGreeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-9449 Fax: (970)330-42172500 Rocky Mountain Avenue, Suite 2100North Medical Office Building Loveland CO 80538 Phone: (970) 619-6585 Fax (970) 619-6591Website: www.hanger.comProfessinal: Ben Struzenberg, CPOMichelle West, Mastectomy Fitter

REHABILITATION

ASCENT AT LIFE CARE CENTER 4800 25th StreetGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)330-6400Website: www.lcca.comProfessionals: Annie BennettLeslie Vail

BANNER REHABILITATIONPhone: (970)350-6160


PEAKVIEW MEDICAL CENTER5881 W. 16th St.Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)313-2775Fax: (970)313-2777

SKILLED CARE/REHAB

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN708 22nd StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)352- 6082Fax: (970)356-7970Website: www.good-sam.com

GRACE POINTE1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970) 304-1919Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

SPORTS MEDICINE

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS 5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101Greeley, COPhone: (970)348-0020Fax: (970)348-0044Web Site: www.bannerhealth.comProfessionals: Randy M. Bussey, MDRiley Hale, MDDaniel Heaston, MDThomas Pazik, MDKelly R. Sanderford, MDSteven Sides, MDLinda Young, MD

NORTH COLORADO SPORTS MEDICINE1801 16th StreetGreeley, COPhone: (970)392-2496

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

BANNER REHABILITATION CENTER1801 16th StreetGreeley, COPhone: (970)350-6160Fax: (970)378-3858


UNC SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CLINICGunter Hall, Room 0330 Greeley, CO 80639Phone: (970)351-2012/TTYFax: (970)351-1601Web Site: www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic.htmProfessionals: Lynne Jackowiak, M.S., CCC-SLPJulie Hanks, Ed.DPatty Walton, M.A., CCC-SLP

SURGERY GENERAL & TRAUMA

BARIATRIC SURGERY (NCMC)1800 15th Street, Suite 200Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)378-4433866-569-5926Fax: (970)378-4440Professionals: Michael W. Johnell, MD

SURGERY WESTERN STATES BURN CENTER (NCMC)1801 16th StreetGreeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)350-6607Fax: (970)350-6306Professionals: Gail Cockrell, MD Cleon W. Goodwin, MD BURN

SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY PC (NCMC)1800 15th St. Suite 210 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-8216Toll Free: 1-888-842-4141Professionals: Molly Decker, DO;Michael Harkabus, MD; Jason Ogren, MD;Samuel Saltz, DO; Robert Vickerman, MD

URGENT CARE

SUMMITVIEW URGENT CARE2001 70th AvenueGreeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)378-4155Fax: (970)378-4151www.bannerhealth.comProfessionals: Susan Beck, MDThomas Harms, MDSusan Kelly, MDAmy E. Shenkenberg, MDLinda Young, MD

UROLOGY

MOUNTAIN VISTA UROLOGY5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 106Greeley, CO 80634Phone: (970)378-1000Professionals:Curtis Crylen, MDDavid Ritsema, MDJames Wolach, MDwww.bannerhealth.com

VEINS

VEIN CLINIC (NCMC)1800 15th Street, Suite 340Greeley, CO 80631Phone: (970)378-4593Fax: (970)378-4591Professionals:Maurice I. Lyons Jr., DOKenneth M. Richards, MDGene E. Tullis, MD


Miller, a co-researcher at Michigan, that the noise-induced hearing loss prevention concoction could be available within two years.

In another study funded by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation,researchers Dr. Robert Floyd and retired Army surgeon, Dr. Richard Kopke, M.D., discovered a combination of two compounds stopped damage to the inner ear caused by acute acoustic trauma – something like an IED exploding. Although they did not indicate what the compounds were they felt that,“This is a very exciting finding,” said Dr. Floyd, who holds the Merrick Foundation Chair in Aging Research at OMRF. “The research is still at a pre-clinical stage, but we’re hopeful that we soon can begin testing in humans.

More recently, Dr. Kathryn Campbell's work at Southern Illinois University involves the use of an antioxidant called D-methionine, a component of fermented protein

that is found in yogurt and cheese. The antioxidant, in concentrated doses, has been found to improve some forms of hearing loss and even prevent hearing loss before the exposure to noise. "We've been able to show in animal studies that if we give it before and after noise exposure, that we can get pretty full protection from noise-induced hearing loss," Campbell said. According to Campbell and her colleagues will continue their studies by looking at the effects of varying dosages of D-methionine on animal subjects exposed to different noises. They have already found that the drug can be given up to seven hours after the noise is experienced and still be effective. "It doesn't mean it's going to work for long-standing hearing loss, but it does mean that in the early stages, you could intervene and keep it from becoming permanent," she said. The research will then move into determining if even more time can elapse before the drug is given and the hearing loss becomes permanent. In a discussion in November 2012 Dr. Campbell stated that the human clinical trials with the U.S. Army are in the early planning stages, Campbell said.

So, with AuraQuell in field tests to defend against noise-induced hearing loss, the D-methionine possibilities also in clinical trial, and the ongoing stem cell research reported by Hearing International (www.hearinghealthmatters.org) last fall, a "morning after" pill for that tinnitus and noise induced hearing loss created the night before may soon be a simple swallow away.

Ear Candling….A Triumph of Ignorance Over ScienceWhile ear candling is an obscure procedure in many parts of the world, there are places where al-ternative medicine advocates use the procedure to address many ear problems. Consensus of ear candling practitioners, who may be barbers, beauticians, witch-es, voodoo priests or quacks, suggests that the candles work by creating a vacuum that draws the cerumen (earwax) blockage out of the ear. Even if the practice worked for cerumen removal; Roazen (2013), an emergency physician, notes that proponents claim that ear candling does a lot more, including removal of impurities from the inner ear, the facial sinuses, or even the brain itself, all of which are somehow mysteriously connected to the ear canal. Below is a list of the functions that ear candling is purported to perform:

To professionals, such as otolar-yngologists, family practitioners, and audiologists who routinely assess and treat auditory and other disorders, this procedure sounds like quackery. Neverthe-less, ear candling as a means of removing ear wax has become a popular alternative medicine therapy and many patients have been led to believe the process actually removes the cerumen. Although the technique seems strange to educated people in the West, consider that in some parts of the world, such as India, cerumen removal is conducted by street vendors and a recent Japanese trend is for a Geisha to remove the wax, offering a sort of EARotic cerumen removal ex-perience. These other procedures notwithstanding, most profes-sionals feel that ear candling is a procedure that does not remove wax and may have some undesir-able results.

HistoryAlthough ear candling is said to be an ancient practice, its origin and history are quite unclear. Places and cultures as diverse as China, Egypt, the pre-Columbian Americas, Tibet, the Hopi Indian tribe, and even the mythical Lost City of Atlantis have been men-

tioned as places that originated the practice. No one Place seems to know for certain, but the Hopi Tribal Counsel has publicly stated that the Hopi people do not nor have never practiced ear candling. Who really knows how long this procedure has been around, possibly even practiced by witches, such as those at The Mother Moon, who call them-selves the Real Witches of Orange County. So it appears that people in many cultures have been ear candling for quite some time and no one really knows who is responsible or when it began.

Ear Candling ProcedureMost ear candles sold in the United States are manufactured here or in Canada and retail for between $2 and $10. They can be made of linen or cotton (often unbleached, as practitioners claim that chlorine is bad for the ears) soaked in wax or paraffin and allowed to harden. Ironically, one manufacturer uses only pure beeswax, claiming that paraffin is carcinogenic. Some candles are colored, which is controversial in ear-candling circles, though the color of pure beeswax varies. Home varieties include wax-soaked newspaper and cones of pottery into which herbal smoke is blown. Some waxes contain herbs or other substances, including sage, chamomile, rose, rosemary, burdock root, osha root, periwinkle, jojoba, quassia bark, yucca root, or honey.Probably to avoid difficulty with the FDA, White Egret, Inc., offers candles, plate guards, a 73-page manual, a 30-minute videotape, flame-retardant cloths, ear oil, and an otoscope. Its wholesale flyer states that its candles are “for entertainment only” and that its kits “supply you with everything you need for a safe and effective session of enter-tainment.” The ear candling procedure itself involves putting a hollow cone-shaped device or “candle,” typically made of linen or cotton soaked in wax or paraf-fin, in the ear canal, and lighting it on fire. The person undergo-ing the procedure lies on his or her side. A paper plate or other

collection device is placed above the ear, and the candle is inserted through a hole in the plate into the ear canal. The candle is lit, and trimmed as it burns down. After the candle burns down and is removed from the ear, a cotton swab is used to clean visible wax from the ear, and oil is sometimes applied as a finishing touch.This reminds this author of the classic Doors hit,…..Come on Baby Light My Fire! The process usually ends with a sort of “ear-wax looking substance inside the candle. The problem is that this material is likely a result of the process of burning the candle and not earwax. In the picture, the left labeled “control” is burning the candle without insertion in the ear and the right labeled “used in patient” is after the ear candling procedure and the mate-rial inside the candle is identical.

What About the FDA?The Food and Drug Administra-tion (FDA) has prohibited ear candle manufacturers or practi-tioners from advertising that ear cleaning candles can cure ear aches, sinus infections, tinnitus, headaches, vertigo or other health problems. In 2010, the FDA notified consumers and healthcare providers of its warning not to use ear candles as they can cause serious inju-ries, even when used according to the manufacturer’s direc-tions. They cite concerns about the advertised claims by alter-native medicine and ear candle manufacturers that a burning ear candle draws ear wax, “impurities” or “toxins” out of the ear canal. They also cite concerns about other claims for ear candles that include relief from sinus and ear infections, headache and earache, as well as improved hearing, “blood purification,” improvements in brain function, and even cure cancer.While the FDA has received reports of burns, perforated eardrums and blockage of the ear canal that required outpa-tient surgery from the use of ear candles, they have found no valid scientific evidence to sup-

port the safety or effectiveness of these devices for any medical claims or benefits. To make matters even worse, some ear candles are being advertised for use with children. According to the FDA warning, children of any age, including babies, are likely at increased risk for injuries and complications if they are exposed to ear candles. Small children and infants may move during the use of the device, increasing the likeli-hood of wax burns and ear candle wax plugging up the ear canal. Also, their smaller ear canal size may make children more suscep-tible than adults to injuries.

What DoProfessionals &Researchers Think?As one might imagine, profes-sionals are totally skeptical about this procedure and there are a few research studies on this topic. One, published in Laryn-goscope by Seeley et al (1966) denies that any vacuum effect

takes place as a result of lighting an ear wax candle, and that ear candling is more likely to result in wax deposits dripping into the ear. In their study, tympanomet-ric measurements (measures of ear canal pressure) in a model demonstrated that ear candles do not produce negative pressure. While their clinical trial as limited eight ears there was no removal of cerumen from the ear canal. Candle wax, however, was depos-ited in the ear canals of some of the subjects. A more recent study by Ernst (2009) surveyed 122 otolaryngologists who identified 21 ear injuries resulting from ear candle use. Their conclusion was that ear candles have no benefit in the management of cerumen and may result in serious injury. These results led Ernst (2009) to call ear candling a “triumph of ignorance over science.”

Robert M. Traynor is the CEO and practicing audiologist at Audiology Associates, Inc., Greeley, Colorado with particular emphasis in amplification and operative monitoring. Dr. Traynor holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado (BA, 1972, MA 1973, Ed.D., 1975), the University of Phoenix (MBA, 2006) as well as Post-Doctoral Study at Northwestern University (1984). He taught Audiology at the University of Northern Colorado (1973-1982), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1976-77) and Colorado State University (1982-1993). Dr. Traynor is a retired Lt. Colonel from the US Army Reserve, Medical Service Corps and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the University of Florida, the University of Colorado, and the University of Northern Colorado. For 17 years he was an Audiology Consultant to major hearing instrument and equipment manufacturers providing academic and product orientation for their domestic and international distributors. A clinician and practice manager for over 35 years, Dr. Traynor has lectured on most aspects of Audiology in over forty countries.

Author’s Bio:Robert M. Traynor,

Ed.D., MBA, FAAA

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January 2014 Thrive