November St. Louis Healthy Cells 2011

Alternative HospiceTeaching the Art of Living and

Dying Well page 12

A Good Nights Sleep Leads to a Healthier Lifestyle page 10

An Eco-Friendly Family Planning System page 21

JDRF Rallies for Continued Support of Diabetes Research page 23

NOVEMBER 2011 FREE

HealthyCellsm a g a z i n Ewww.healthycellsmagazine.com

areaPromotingHealthier Living in Your Community • Physical • Emotional • Nutritional

GREATER ST. LOUIS

TM

November 2011 — Greater St. Louis Area — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3

This Month’s Cover Story:Volume 1, Issue 8

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NOVEMBER 2011

Healthy Cells Magazine is intended to heighten awareness of health and fitness information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for medical attention. See your healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment. The opinions, statements, and claims expressed by the columnists, advertisers, and contributors to Healthy Cells Magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.

Healthy Cells Magazine is available FREE in high traffic locations throughout the Greater St. Louis area, including major grocery stores, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and health clubs. Healthy Cells Magazine is published monthly and welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.

Mission: The objective of Healthy Cells Magazine is to promote a stronger health-conscious community by means of offering education and support through the cooperative efforts among esteemed health and fitness professionals in the greater St. Louis area.

Healthy Cells Magazine is a division of:

1711 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615 Ph: 309-681-4418 Fax: [email protected] • www.healthycellsmagazine.com

For information about this publication, contact Mike Kelly, owner at 314-558-0860, [email protected]

I wish to thank all the advertisers for their support of Healthy Cells Magazine’s mission to bring positive health related information to our readers. Because of their generosity we are able to provide this publication FREE to you.

– Mike Kelly

Teaching the Art of Living and Dying Well pg. 12

Financial Health:Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

Emotional:“Exploring The ‘F’ Words”

Nutritional:Eating for Two

Physical:A Good Night’s Sleep Leads to a Healthier Lifestyle

Body Wellness:“Do I Really Need Physical Therapy?”

The Right Dose:Medicines… Use Them Safely

Communication:How to Talk to Your Doctor or Nurse

Local Meetings:New Support Group for Cerebral Aneurysm Patients

Patient Healthcare:Migraine Management

Environmental Health:An Eco-Friendly Family Planning System

Insurance:Be SAFE. Be SURE

Diabetes Awareness Month:JDRF Rallies for Continued Support of Diabetes Research

Prevention:Tips For Reducing Low Back Pain

Holistic Healthcare:Integrating Traditional and Complementary Medicine for Better Health

In The Community:Jingle All the Way to the Finish Line


financial health

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifi-cation information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Personal identification information includes your

name, your social security number, or credit card/debit card ac-counts. The FBI has reported that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. The crime of identity theft can take many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit or debit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector. Here are helpful tips to protect yourself from identity theft, especially as we enter the holiday season:• Ask you bank, doctor’s office, other businesses, and your em-

ployer how they use and protect your personal information.• Never carry your social security card or number, birth certificate

or passport unless necessary.• Do not put your address, telephone number or driver’s license

number on a credit card receipt.• Do not put social security number or phone numbers on your

checks.• Never give identifying information such as social security or

bank account numbers to anyone that you do not know over the phone or on the Internet.

• Shred all personal documents before placing them in the trash.• Keep your financial records out of sight.• Check your monthly credit card statements for charges that you

do not recognize or did not make.• Carry only the credit cards that you plan to use. Keep others

in a safe place.

Reporting the theft and fraudulent use of your identity is the first step in your fight to reclaiming your identity. If you feel you are a victim of identity theft, call the authorities immediately. According to the FBI, if you are a victim, you can take the following action:• File a report with your local police or the police in the community

where the identity theft took place.• Call the ID Theft Clearinghouse (FTC) 1-877-IDTHEFT to report

the theft. • Stolen mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspector at the following

web site: http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect.

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

Submitted by Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries

• Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Fill out affidavit template provided by FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

• Contact the fraud departments of three primary Credit Bureaus and re-quest that they place fraud alert in their system on your behalf.

• Equifax, Fraud Alert 800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com; for credit report dial: 800-685-1111

• Experian, Fraud Alert 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com; for credit report dial: 888-397-3742

• TransUnion, Fraud Alert 800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com; for credit report dial: 800-916-8800

• You are entitled to a free annual credit report under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act: 877-322-8228 or www.annualcreditreport.com.

• Social Security Administration (SSA) 800-269-0271.• Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Complaint Center - www.

ic3.gov.• Investments at www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml or write to the SEC at: SEC

Office of Investor Education and Assistance, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Wash-ington, DC 20549-0213, or call 202-942-7040.

• Phone services www.fcc.gov/ccb/enforce/complaints.html or 1-888-CALL-FCC.

We hope that you never have to take advantage of the reporting infor-mation we have provided.

Page 6 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Greater St. Louis Area — November 2011

emotional

This column is the first of a trilogy in which we will probe some of the myths and mis-information about three words that are very important in the process of Grief Recovery®. The words are

FORGIVENESS, FEAR, and FAMILIARITY. Forgiveness is the subject of this month’s column. It is almost a pleasure to write about forgiveness rather than talking about it. There is no subject that provokes more argument, more rigid-ity, or more pain than the idea of forgiveness. In fact, if forgiveness were not such an important stepping stone to successful Grief Recovery®, we would not bring it up at all. Forgiveness is one of the least under-stood concepts in the world, and is especially problematic in English speaking countries. Most people seem to convert the word forgive into the word condone. The definitions in our Webster’s Dictionary illustrate the problem.

FORGIVE.... to cease to feel resentment against [an offender].

CONDONE.... to pardon or overlook voluntarily; esp: to treat as if trivial, harmless, or of no importance.

If we believe the two words to be synonymous, it would be virtually impossible to forgive. The implication that we might trivialize a horrible event is clearly unacceptable. However, if we used the top definition of forgive we would be on the right track. For example, a griever might harbor a tremendous amount of re-sentment against the person who murdered his/her child. That resent-ment might create and consume a lot of energy which in turn might mask the pain and sadness about the death of the child. As long as the griever stays focused on the murderer they may find it impossible to

“Exploring The ‘F’ Words” #1 Forgiveness

Healthy Cells magazine is pleased to present the eighth in a series of feature articles on the subject of Grief Recovery®. The articles are written by Russell P. Friedman, Executive Director, and John W. James, Founder, of The Grief Recovery Institute. Russell and John are

co-authors of WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE - For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses - Harper Collins, June 2001, and THE GRIEF RECOVERY HANDBOOK - The Action Program For Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses

[Harper Perrenial, 1998]. The articles combine educational information with answers to commonly asked questions.


grieve and complete their relationship with the child who died. The re-sentment, or lack of forgiveness of the murderer gives more importance and energy to the murderer than to the child. Successful recovery from the pain caused by loss requires that we focus our energy on complet-ing our relationship with our loved one who died. By not forgiving the murderer we almost guarantee staying incomplete with the child. Grief is the normal and natural emotional response to loss. It is essen-tial to correctly identify the loss — the death of the child — so the actions of completion can begin. The example about the murderer and the child can be applied to the perpetrator and the victim of any kind of event. If the death of a loved one was a suicide, you might need to forgive them for taking their own life, so that you could then complete what was emotionally incomplete for you when they died. Forgiveness is not our objective. Forgiveness is one of the tools we may need to employ in order to complete the relationship that

ended or changed, due to death or divorce or other life circumstance. The subject of forgiveness is massive and carries with it many, many beliefs, passed on from generation to generation. We offer this col-umn and the following questions and answers to help you determine if the definitions that were taught to you are helpful to you or if they need some updating.

QUESTION: What if I have built up a resistance to the word forgive, is there any other way of approaching the issue?

ANSWER: We recently helped someone who couldn’t even say for-give. She called it the “F” word, which inspired this column. We gave her the following phrase: I acknowledge the things that you did that hurt me, and I am not going to let them hurt me anymore.

QUESTION: Is it appropriate to forgive people in person?

ANSWER: An unsolicited forgiveness will almost always be perceived as an attack, therefore it is almost always inadvisable. It will usually provoke a new issue that will create even more incompleteness. The person being forgiven need never know that it has happened.

Next Month: “Exploring The ‘F’ Words” — #2 — Fear

Forinformationaboutprogramsandservices,writetoTheGriefRecovery Institute,P.O.Box6061-382ShermanOaks,CA91413.Call818-907-9600orFax:818-907-9329.Pleasevisitourwebsiteat:www.grief-recovery.com.

“Grief is the normal and natural

emotional response to loss. It is essential

to correctly identify the loss so the

actions of completion can begin.”


nutritional

A healthy eating plan for pregnancy includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods. In January 2005, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly

released the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines outline recommendations to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease through nutritious eating and physical activity. The rec-ommendations include some of the nutritional needs of pregnancy. For more information about food groups and nutrition values, visit: http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines.

How many calories should I eat? Eating a variety of foods that provide enough calories helps you and your baby gain the proper amount of weight. During the first 3 months of your pregnancy, you do not need to change the number of calories you get from the foods you eat. Normal-weight women need an extra 300 calories each day dur-ing the last 6 months of pregnancy. This totals about 1,900 to 2,500 calories a day. If you were underweight, overweight, or obese before you became pregnant, or if you are pregnant with more than one baby, you may need a different number of calories. Talk to your health care provider about how much weight you should gain and how many calo-ries you need.

Each of these healthy choices has about 300 calories:• 1 cup of fat-free fruit yogurt and a medium apple• 1 piece of whole-wheat toast spread with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter• 1 cup of beef and bean chili sprinkled with 1/2 ounce off cheddar

cheese (You can also substitute various vegetables for the beef.)• 1 cup of raisin bran cereal with 1/2 cup of fat-free milk and a small

banana• 3 ounces of roasted lean ham or chicken breast and 1/2 cup of sweet

potatoes• 1 flour tortilla (7-inch), ½ cup of refried beans, 1/2 cup of cooked

broccoli, and 1/2 cup of cooked red pepper

Why is gaining a healthy amount of weight important? Gaining a healthy amount of weight may help you have a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery. It also may help you have fewer pregnancy complications, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, con-stipation, and backaches.

How much weight should I gain during my pregnancy? Talk to your health care provider about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy. General weight-gain recommenda-tions listed below refer to weight before pregnancy and are for women expecting only one baby.

If you are: You should gain:underweight about 28 to 40 poundsnormal weight about 25 to 35 poundsoverweight about 15 to 25 pounds obese at least 15 pounds

Gaining too little weight during your pregnancy makes it hard for your baby to grow properly. Talk to your health care provider if you feel you are not gaining enough weight. If you gain too much weight, you may have a longer labor and more difficult delivery. Also, gaining a lot of extra body fat will make it harder for you to return to a healthy weight after you have your baby. If you feel you are gaining too much weight during your pregnancy, talk with your health care provider. Do not try to lose weight if you are pregnant. If you do not eat enough calories or a variety of foods, your baby will not get the nutri-ents he or she needs to grow.

Do I have any special nutrition needs now that I am pregnant? Yes. During pregnancy, you and your growing baby need more of several nutrients. By eating the recommended number of daily servings from each of the five food groups, you should get most of the nutrients you need. Be sure to include foods high in folate, such as orange juice, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, beans, and fortified breads and break-fast cereals. Or get it in a vitamin/mineral supplement. To help prevent birth defects, you must get enough daily folate before as well as during pregnancy. Prenatal supplements contain folic acid (another form of fo-late). Look for a supplement that has at least 400 micrograms (0.4 mil-ligrams) of folic acid. Although most health care providers recommend taking a multi-vitamin/mineral “prenatal” supplement before becoming pregnant, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, always talk to your health care provider.

Can I continue to follow my vegetarian diet during pregnancy? Yes, you can continue a vegetarian-eating plan during pregnancy, but talk to your health care provider first. To make sure you are getting enough important nutrients, includ-ing protein, iron, vitamin 812, and vitamin 0, your health care provider may ask you to meet with a registered dietitian who can help you plan meals. Your health care provider may also recommend that you take supplements.

Tips for Healthy Eating Meet the needs of your body and help avoid common discomforts of pregnancy by following these tips:

Eating for TwoWhat is a Healthy Eating

Plan for Pregnancy?


• Eat breakfast every day. If you feel sick to your stomach in the morning, choose dry whole-wheat toast or whole-grain crackers when you first wake up even before you get out of bed. Eat the rest of your breakfast (fruit, oatmeal, cereal, milk, yogurt, or other foods) later in the morning.

• Eat high-fiber foods. Eating whole-grain cereals, vegetables, fruits, beans, whole-wheat breads, and brown rice, along with drinking plenty of water and getting daily physical activity, can help you prevent the constipation that many women have during pregnancy.

• Keep healthy foods on hand. A fruit bowl filled with apples, bananas, peaches, oranges, and grapes makes it easy to grab a healthy snack. Fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables make healthy and quick additions to meals, as do canned beans. Be sure to choose canned fruits packed in their own juices. Also, rinse canned beans and vegetables with water before preparing, which helps remove excess salt.

• lf you have heartburn during your pregnancy, eat small meals more often, eat slowly, avoid spicy and fatty foods (such as hot peppers or fried chicken), drink beverages between meals instead of with meals, and do not lie down soon after eating.

• If you have “morning sickness,” or hyperemesis, talk with your health care provider. You may need to adjust the way you eat and drink, such as by eating smaller meals more frequently and drinking plenty of fluids. Your health care provider can help you deal with morning sick-ness while keeping your healthy eating habits on track.

TheWeight-controlInformationNetwork(WIN)isaserviceoftheNationalInstituteofDia-betesandDigestiveandKidneyDiseases(NIDDK)oftheNationalInstitutesofHealth,whichistheFederalGovernment’sleadagencyresponsibleforbiomedicalresearchonnutritionandobesity.AuthorizedbyCongress(PublicLaw103-43),WINprovidesthegeneralpublic,healthprofessionals,themedia,andCongresswithup-to-date,science-basedhealthinformationonweightcontrol,obesity,physicalactivity,andrelatednutritionalissues.Pleasevisitwww.win.niddk.nih.govformoreinformation.

provides holistic end-of-life healthcare by integrating complementary care with conventional medicine. Our

program offers support and guidance to the grieving and empowers patients, families and our community with

information and education.

‘Teaching the Art of Living and Dying Well ’

DeSotoand surrounding area

866-266-3421 636-343-3839 866-391-8548St. Louis

and surrounding area Cuba

and surrounding area

A l t e r n a t i v e H o s p i c e

Alternative Hospice stands ready to serve as your emotional and spiritual guardian angels during this diff icult time.

Dr. Edward S. Levy, MD Specialist in Urogynecology, Gynecology & Obstetrics

( Surgical & non-surgical treatment of bladder control problems

( State-of-the-art treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

Promoting Female Pelvic Health since 1995

314-686-4990816 S. Kirkwood Road Suite 100 ( Kirkwood MO 63122

Is urine leakage or pelvic floor damage affecting your life?You deserve treatment.


physical

The science of sleep medicine is evolving at a rapid pace, and the effect that healthy sleep has on an individual’s quality of life has garnered growing attention in the past five years. According to

a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, more than 40 million Americans suffer from some type of sleep disorder that prevents a good night’s sleep, and for many individuals, the symptoms of a sleep disorder go unrecognized and untreated. Sleep is essential to good health. Increasingly over the last few years, research links sleep disorders with health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. By addressing a sleep disorder, an in-dividual is likely not only to save on health care costs, but also improve their overall health and quality of life.

Organizations like Clayton Sleep Institute (CSI) are able to custom-ize testing and treatments on an individual level, with close evaluation of each patient and a customized plan of treatment designed for each individual according to his or her specific diagnosis. In the long run, this improves patient compliance with treatment which in turn improves patient health. It also saves money for the patient by identifying the appropriate care quickly. For example, many patients have a serious sleeping disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, (OSA) which causes interruptions to breath-ing multiple times during sleep and is often accompanied by habitual snoring or gasping for air. OSA can be life-threatening and agonizing, and it is not a “one size fits all” condition. Each patient needs the appro-

A Good Night’s Sleep Leads to a Healthier Lifestyle

By Matthew Uhles, MS. RPSGT


priate sleep test—sometimes in our lab and sometimes at home—to provide a clear diagnosis of that particular person’s sleep apnea. Once a diagnosis is developed, a sleep medicine professional will work with the patient as appropriate to select and fit the right treatment option for the patient. Possible treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea include CPAP machines, dental appliances, positional therapy, surgery and Provent. Insomnia is another sleeping disorder that can have a critical ef-fect on an individual’s quality of life. It is a quite common health issue as more than 30 million Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. This results in an estimated $30 billion in lost productivity annually, a very se-rious statistic in today’s economy. A person who suffers from insomnia averages 15.8 days of absenteeism while someone who does not have this issue merely averages 1.6 days. CSI developed its Insomnia Cen-ter to create treatment plans specifically designed for each individual patient. The center takes an objective systematic approach in identify-ing underlying reasons for a person’s insomnia and has developed a proprietary process for developing treatment for each patient.

Providing information to the public and to sleep medicine profes-sionals is an important part of contributing to improved care for patients with sleep disorders. CSI sponsors an annual national conference for medical professionals here in St. Louis, called Updates in Sleep Medi-cine to present the latest thinking and trends from some of the most influential physicians and scientists in the field. In addition, the sleep medicine professionals at CSI engage in community outreach by ad-dressing students and families at health fairs. Topics range from im-portance of sleep for overall health and well-being to dangers of drowsy driving. As sleep medicine continues to develop data that support the links between sleeping disorders and a variety of health problems, keep-ing the medical community and the public informed is critical. Sleep-centric organizations like CSI are essential to meeting the demands of physicians whose patients suffer from sleep disorders. Learn more about sleep by visiting the Clayton Sleep Institute at www.claytonsleep.com, and be sure to consult with your physician if you have problems sleeping that are interfering with your physical or emotional wellbeing.

MatthewUhlesistheOperationDirectoroftheClaytonSleepInstitute(CSI).CSIisaleadingindependentinstitutiondedicatedtoallaspectsofsleepmedicineandsleephealth.CSIservespatients,physiciansandbusi-nesspartnersthroughfourpracticeareas:TheSleepClinics,TheInsomniaCenter,TheResearchCenterandTheKnowledgeCenter.CSImanagessevensleepclinicsinfourmarketsandservesanationalcommunityofsleepprofessionalsthroughUpdatesinSleepMedicine,anannualconfer-ence.Learnmoreatwww.claytonsleep.com.

“By addressing a sleep disorder, an individual is likely not only to save on health care costs, but also improve their overall

health and quality of life.”

1 in 8 Americans is struggling with hunger. Including people like your neighbor’s child playing outside, the parking attendant at your job, or the coffee shop employee around the corner. Who’s the 1 in 8 in your life that needs help?

Go to feedingamerica.org to see how your support can help those in need.

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feature story

Our Complementary Program is led by our Licensed Massage Therapists, but all of our staff par-ticipates in complementary care. Along with medical care, we inte-grate therapies like aromatherapy, touch therapies, acupressure, re-flexology, energy work, guided im-agery, visualization, music, sound, pet therapy, prayer, meditation, and a peaceful presence. We provide our complementary care to all of our patients as part of our standard of care. We have had the privilege to serve over 900 patients without using IV’s for pain. In addition to complementary care, we have the opportunity to work with a pharma-cist who is qualified to make medi-cations up in a topical form when the patient can no longer swallow.

It began as a vision and made its début to the public in October of 2005 in Fenton, Missouri. Who are we? We are a community hospice program that teaches the art of “living and dying well.” Our goals are comfort, quality of life, physical, emo-

tional, psychosocial, spiritual support, and bereavement support for our families. We are advocates for our patients, implement person centered and individualized care, provide education and information so families can make informed decisions at the end of life, and help our patients and families witness a peaceful passing, with dignity and respect. Mary Magill, the founder and Executive Director at Alternative Hospice believes that the body, mind and spirit are all inter-related, and her hope is that each family we journey with sees the “body, mind and spirit in rhythm” in their loved one, at life’s end. She also believes that one of the greatest things human beings cannot live without is “nurture.” Many of our elders come to us with “Failure to Thrive.” Our hospice has a 20% discharge rate among the seniors we serve because of our holistic philosophy. What brings patients to “failure to thrive” is often “depression.” Our challenge is to help them move beyond the depression. Chronic pain is another issue. If we take the edge off of chronic pain, they may eat, sleep better and attend more activities. Our program picks up where conventional medicine leaves off and together, it is a great relationship that serves our patients and families well.

Teaching The Art of Living and Dying Well

By Mary Magill, Alternative Hospice


We avoid rectal medications related to dignity, and IV’s and injections because they cause discomfort. We also provide complementary care to the “caregiver,” if needed or desired. As a company, we take it a step further and provide it for our staff. You cannot be the best you can be if you have issues. We encourage them to stop by the office, receive complementary care, and then visit their patients. It is well known that caregivers are so giving to others, but they often forget giving to one self. After awhile it drains you. We call that “Compassion Fatigue!” You cannot give without replenish-ing. Because we care about the body, mind, and spirit relationship of our staff, we have very little staff turnover, which is a blessing for our patients in receiving a high quality of care and continuity of care. Medicare does not reimburse hospice for Complementary health-care. Alternative Hospice supports the program with donations and fund raisers. Your donation could make all the difference! 100% of our donations go into patient need. Examples would be: this summer was an exceptionally hot one; we were able to buy a room air conditioner for two families we served. We planned and presented an art show for a patient artist who had never had an art show, and we made it happen. The patient was able to join us for a short time, and we sold two of his paintings! We took a patient to a Cardinal game, buy clothes for those that have very little clothing and no family…hospital gowns don’t do a lot for self-esteem and dignity! Some of our funds go into providing the best Medical and Complementary Healthcare that we can for our patients. Our team is lead by our Medical Director, Dr. Joseph Flaherty, Department of Geriatrics at SLU Medical School. We also have two

Associate Medical Directors: Dr. Ragendra Gavini in the St. Louis area and Dr.Musa Modad in the Cuba area. Together they have over 65 years of medical experience…we are blessed. One of their duties is to participate at our team meetings where we discuss our patient’s care and needs. They are also available by phone 24-hours-a-day, and serve our patients well. Just as being born is an act of nature and a sacred event, so too is death and dying an act of nature and a sacred event. We in the United States are one of the world’s worst cultures in dealing with death and dying. Why and when did we stop celebrating? It is part of the life cycle. What better way to leave this world than to celebrate ones life with joy, honor, respect, dignity, and that peace that passes all under-standing, while they are still with us! It is normal to grieve the loss of someone we like or love. Alterna-tive Hospice can help. A healthy way to heal from a loss is to keep telling your story and remembering. No one and/or nothing can steal your memories from you. They are a gift especially for you for all time! You will never fill or replace the void, but you can go on living in spite of it, and Alternative Hospice is available to help you through this process whether you encountered our services or not. We also do outreach and serve our communities.

Alternative Hospice is always looking for volunteers to share their gifts with others. For more information on

Alternative Hospice’s philosophy opportunities, or for a free consultation, please call 636-343-3839.



body wellness

Whether you have suffered from a recent injury, may be having recurring, chronic pain from a past injury or inherited medical issue, or simply have a nagging ache or pain that just won’t

seem to “go away;” you may be surprised to learn what warrants the need for physical therapy and the many alternatives available to you within the realm of physical therapy to truly fix just what it is that ails you. Let’s start with the basics… What is physical therapy? In addition to rehabilitation following surgery, physical therapy is the care and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries or congenital (in-herited, or otherwise born with) issues relating to the muscles, ten-dons, ligaments and joints. Essentially it is the treatment of disease, injury, disability or chronic pain by using a wide variety of physical and mechanical means such as massage, regulated specific exercise and water, heat, light and electrical therapies. Physical therapists are spe-cifically trained to treat a broad spectrum of illness and injury. The practice of physical therapy is a healing art. While it certainly complements an individual’s treatment by a physician, in large part what sets physical therapy apart from traditional medicine is that we put our hands on people to facilitate healing. “There is nothing more basic in healing, than healing with the hands. This is why I repeatedly see patients return, and why I so often see their children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and friends,” says Fred Shinn, MS, PT.

Who needs physical therapy? The majority of patients we see as therapists are those who have had surgery, have been injured, have inherited or congenital muscu-loskeletal disorders causing chronic pain, and problems caused by overuse of muscle groups. Overuse really brings us a wide range of patients since few are immune to the overuse of a specific muscle group. This is why we so often treat athletes, welders, typists - people from all walks of life working in a wide variety of industries - all due to reasons of overuse of muscle groups over an extended period of time, and for reasons of posture tendencies commonly seen within certain lifestyles and job related activities. Knowing you have a sprained ankle, a torn rotator cuff or a blown out knee is an easy call to make in seeing a physical therapist for treat-ment, however what do you do when you have those recurring “aches and pains?” The types that keep coming back, the types that cause you such pain it prevents restful sleep, the types that cause you pain the moment you step out of bed – even the types you may brush off as “no big deal” since they have become such a part of your daily living, you hardly even notice just how much the pain is taking away from your quality of everyday living.

The “Rule of Three:” • You have experienced musculoskeletal pain(s) for more than 3 consecu-

tive weeks, the chances of you getting better on your own are very slim.

“Do I Really Need Physical Therapy?”What You Need to Know about Physical Therapy and Physical Fitness

By Mary Elizabeth Beary, Monroe Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine

• You have experienced musculoskeletal pain(s) for more than 3 con-secutive weeks, the pain stops, yet tends to recur over any period of time, or

• You have experienced at least three episodes of pain, with each one lasting less than 3 weeks.

If you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms above, this is the time to get to your doctor immediately for a referral to a physical therapist or for a prescription for physical therapy. These are the types of pain that by their location, level of pain, and patterns of recurrence that, “left to their own design they will only continue to get worse and worse,” says Shinn. Physical therapy has grown into a mainstream medical commod-ity for a reason – it works. Its benefit is not limited to any age group, any work-related group, or any particular lifestyle. There are no areas limiting a person from the need for physical therapy or physical fitness. They go hand in hand. The old adage, “listen to your body” is true. The question is, will you? We hope that you do.

FredShinn,foundingpartnerandCEOofMonroePhysicalTherapy&SportsMedicinehasbeenaphysicaltherapistfornearly30yearsandbringsawealthofexperienceandcredentialstohispractice.ThesixSt.Louismetroarealocationsofferawidevarietyofphysicaltherapyservicesincludingsportsmedicine,athletictraining,andoverallphysi-calwellness.Formoreinformationaboutourlocationsandservices,pleasevisitourwebsitehttp://www.asapt.org,orcontactusbyphoneat618.281.9699.


the right dose

When Jerry, age 71, came home from the drug store with his latest prescription, he placed all his pill bottles on the kitchen counter and counted them. “I take five different medications,

and you take four,” he said to his wife. “We need a system. We need to know what medicines we have, what they’re for, and when we should take them.” Modern medicine has made our lives better in many ways. It has helped us live longer, healthier lives, but people over 65 have to be careful when taking medications, especially when they’re taking many different drugs.

What Are Medicines? What Are Drugs? Some people refer to the pills, liquids, creams, or sprays they take as “medicine,” and other people call them “drugs.” Both words can mean:• Medicines you get from a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.• Pills, liquids, or creams you buy without a prescription to use now and

then, for example, for aches and pains, colds, or heartburn.• Vitamins or dietary supplements you take regularly.• Drugs you get without a doctor’s prescription are called over-the-

counter medicines. Because mixing certain medicines can cause problems, be sure to let your doctor know about all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking.

At Your Doctor’s Office If you’ve gone to your doctor because you don’t feel well, the doc-tor might decide a medicine will help and will write a prescription. Be sure you:

• Tell your doctor or nurse about all the medicines you take whenever a new drug is prescribed.

• Remind your doctor or nurse about your allergies and any problems you have had with medicines, such as rashes, indigestion, dizziness, or mood changes.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About A New Medicine• What is the name of the medicine, and why am I taking it?• How many times a day should I take it? At what times? If the bottle

says take “4 times a day,” does that mean 4 times in 24 hours or 4 times during the daytime?

• Should I take the medicine with food or without? Is there anything I should not eat or drink when taking this medicine?

• What does “as needed” mean? • When should I stop taking the medicine?• If I forget to take my medicine, what should I do?• What side effects can I expect? What should I do if I have a problem?• Understand how to take the medicine before you start using it. Ask

questions. It might help to write down the answers. Ask Your Pharmacist Your pharmacist is an important part of your healthcare team. If you have questions about your medicine after you leave the doctor’s office, the pharmacist can answer many of them. For example, a phar-macist can tell you how and when to take your medicine, whether a drug may change how another medicine you are taking works, and any side effects you might have. Also, the pharmacist can answer ques-tions about over-the-counter medications. Try to have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy so your records are in one place. The pharmacist will keep track of all your medications and will be able to tell you if a new drug might cause problems. If you’re not able to use just one pharmacy, show the new pharmacist your list of medicines and over-the-counter drugs when you drop off your prescription.

When you have a prescription filled:• Tell the pharmacist if you have trouble swallowing pills. There may

be liquid medicine available. Do not chew, break, or crush tablets without first finding out if the drug will still work.

• Make sure you can read and understand the name of the medicine and the directions on the container and on the color-coded warning stickers on the bottle. If the label is hard to read, ask your pharmacist to use larger type.

• Check that you can open the container. If not, ask the pharmacist to put your medicines in bottles that are easier to open.

• Ask about special instructions on where to store a medicine. For ex-ample, should it be kept in the refrigerator or in a dry place?

• Check the label on your medicine before leaving the pharmacy. It should have your name on it and the directions given by your doctor. If it doesn’t, don’t take it, and talk with the pharmacist.

Formoreinformationpleasevisitwww.nih.gov

Medicines... Use Them Safely


communication

How to Talk to Your Doctor or Nurse

Waiting in your doctor’s office can make you feel nervous, impatient, or even scared. You might worry

about what’s wrong with you. You might feel annoyed because you’re not getting other things done. Then when you see your doctor or nurse, the visit seems to be so short. You might have only a few minutes to explain your symptoms and concerns. Later that day, you might remember something you forgot to ask. You wonder if your question and its answer matter. Knowing how to talk to your doctor, nurse, or other members of your health care team will help you get the information you need.

Tips: What To Do• List your questions and concerns. Before

your appointment, make a list of what you want to ask. When you’re in the waiting room, review your list and organize your thoughts. You can share the list with your doctor or nurse.

• Describe your symptoms. Say when these problems started. Say how they make you feel. If you know, say what sets them off or triggers them. Say what you’ve done to feel better.

• Give your doctor a list of your medications. Tell what prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and other supplements you’re taking.

• Be honest about your diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol or drug use, and sexual history. Not sharing information with your doctor or nurse can be harmful!

• Describe any allergies to drugs, foods, pollen, or other things. Don’t forget to mention if you are being treated by other doctors, including mental health professionals.

• Talk about sensitive topics. Your doctor or nurse has probably heard it before! Don’t leave something out because you’re worried about taking up too much time. Be sure to talk about all of your concerns before you leave. If you don’t understand the answers your doctor gives you, ask again.

• Ask questions about any tests and your test results. Get instructions on what you need to do to get ready for the test(s). Ask if there are any dangers or side effects. Ask how you can learn the test results. Ask how long it will take to get the results.

• Ask questions about your condition or illness. If you are diagnosed with a condition, ask your doctor how you can learn more about it. What caused it? Is it permanent? What can you do to help yourself feel better? How can it be treated?

• Tell your doctor or nurse if you are pregnant or intend to become

pregnant. Some medicines may not be suitable for you. Other medi-cines should be used with caution if you are pregnant or about to become pregnant.

• Ask your doctor about any treatments he or she recommends. Be sure to ask about all of your options for treatment. Ask how long the treatment will last. Ask if it has any side effects. Ask how much it will cost. Ask if it is covered by your health insurance.

• Ask your doctor about any medicines he or she prescribes for you. Make sure you understand how to take your medicine. What should you do if you miss a dose? Are there any foods, drugs, or activities you should avoid when taking the medicine? Is there a generic brand of the drug you can use? You can also ask your pharmacist if a ge-neric drug is available for your medication.

• Ask more questions if you don’t understand something. If you’re not clear about what your doctor or nurse is asking you to do or why, ask to have it explained again.

• Bring a family member or trusted friend with you. That person can take notes, offer moral support, and help you remember what was discussed. You can have that person ask questions, too!

• Call before your visit to tell them if you have special needs. If you don’t speak or understand English well, the office may need to find an interpreter. If you have a disability, ask if they can accommodate you.

Source:www.womenshealth.gov


local meetings

On September 13, 2011, SSM Neurosciences Institute (NSI) held its first St. Louis An-

eurysm Support Group Meeting at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton. Group founder Connie Pickering, a Nurse Practitioner for NSI, lead the group of six patients, along with their families and loved ones, and several hospital staff in an interactive two-hour discus-sion about the various aspects of their aneurysm experience. Topics ranged from symptoms to diagnosis to treatment, and included ongoing emotional, social, and psychological issues. The ability of the attendees to share their burdens, to empathize, and thus to feel less alone regarding their unique problem, began to en-lighten everyone in the group. Each patient confirmed a very positive experience, and planned to attend future Support Group Meetings. Meetings are planned on an ongo-ing basis bimonthly, with the next scheduled for Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 6:30PM. Each meeting will feature a guest speaker and light refreshments will be provided. Any-body with a cerebral aneurysm or AVM (arteriovenous malformation), whether treated or not, and family or loved ones of these people, even if deceased, is encouraged to attend. A cerebral aneurysm can be described as a blister, weakness, bubble, or balloon arising from one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. Precise statistics are uncertain, but most sources estimate roughly one of every hundred people harbors a cerebral aneurysm, and that the annual risk of bleeding from an aneurysm is approximately 1%--higher for larger aneurysms, and less for smaller ones. Bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm in the brain is a catastrophic event, resulting in death by 30 days in up to 50% of people, and disability in up to 50% of survivors. Most aneurysms are discovered only after they have bled, resulting in a sudden “worst headache of one’s life,” nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, seizure, loss of consciousness, pain upon seeing bright light, and other symptoms. Many aneurysms are also found incidentally during brain scans for unrelated reasons; infrequently aneurysms may cause head-aches, eye problems, face pain, or other symptoms before they rupture.

Cerebral aneurysms may be treated in two general ways—open brain surgery, or from within the blood vessels themselves. Open brain surgery, called craniotomy, involves dissecting between and underneath the lobes of the brain to the aneurysm, and generally placing a metal clip across the neck of the aneurysm to pinch it off so blood can no longer enter the aneurysm, while preserving the normal arter-ies around it; this surgery is often termed “clipping.” Surgery within the blood vessels, or endovascu-lar surgery, involves guiding small tubes called catheters usually from large arteries in the groin up to the aneurysm in the brain with the goal of “plugging up” the aneurysm from the inside, often with small metallic wires called “coils;” this procedure is thus often called “coiling.” Each procedure has its own risks, advan-tages, and indications depending on the patient’s age, health, and aneurysm status, such as whether it is ruptured, where it is, what size, shape, and other considerations. Late effects from cerebral an-eurysm bleeding, and from the treatments for either ruptured or un-ruptured aneurysms, may vary from no symptoms to headache, depression, psychological or emo-tional problems, paralysis, memory trouble, and more. Neurosurgical

diseases such as these require complex equipment, experienced staff, and hospitals and doctors dedicated to treating such patients both in the hospital and afterwards. The Neurosciences Institute at SSM St. Clare Health Center demonstrates just such an ongoing commitment with its new Aneurysm Support Group.

Dr.ArmondLevyisoneofonlyasmallnumberofneurosurgeonsnationwidewhoisexperiencedinbothclippingandcoilingofaneu-rysms,aswellasmanyotheradvancedneurosurgicaltechniques.FormoreinformationabouttheAneurysmSupportGroup,pleasecontacttheSSMNeurosciencesInstituteatSt.ClareHealthCenterat636-496-3900,oratwww.ssmhealth.com/neuro.

New Support Group for Cerebral Aneurysm Patients


U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

CS221687C

Stop Germs! Stay Healthy! Wash Your Hands

Keeping hands clean is one of the most

important things we can do to stop the

spread of germs and stay healthy.

WHEN? • Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone who is sick

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal or animal waste

• After touching garbage

HOW? • Wet hands with clean, running water

and apply soap.

• Rub hands together to make a lather. Scrub the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails.

• Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse hands well under running water.

• Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry. For more detailson handwashing,

visit CDC’s HandwashingWebsite at

www.cdc.gov/handwashing


patient healthcare

Americans are all too familiar with the head-aches caused by daily life, but nearly 30 million Americans experience more than

“just a bad headache.” Migraines are different from the everyday headache and are character-ized by throbbing head pain, usually located on one side of the head, often accompanied by nau-sea or vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound. Typically, migraine sufferers’ work with a doctor to treat their condition, and discussions during these office visits play an important role in developing a patient’s migraine management plan. Findings from a new national survey re-leased by the National Headache Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline suggest that migraine patients could be doing more to make the most out of their medical visits. The survey of 1,218 migraine patients and 533 doctors found that patients saw their doc-tors an average of six times in the past year, but 70 percent of these visits were related to other health conditions. Despite this, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of patients reported migraines were discussed during visits where migraine was not the primary reason for the visit. “The survey results show patients and doc-tors are having important conversations about migraine management; however, these conversations are not always robust or the primary purpose of a patient’s visit, making discussion points unclear,” says Robert Dalton, executive director of the National Headache Founda-tion. “By giving patients and doctors tools to guide conversations, we can help patients and doctors make the most of the limited time they have to talk about migraines.” Here are some steps patients can take to help have better conver-sations with their doctor about migraines:• Prepare for a conversation with your doctor so you get everything

out of it that you want. Keep a migraine diary. Be organized, specific, direct and ready to talk details. Be prepared to provide information on your migraine history and general medical history. Track your attacks and how you treat them. Note the date, length of each migraine, se-verity, symptoms, triggers and impact on your life. Track medication taken, when, for how long and how effective it was in relieving pain and symptoms.

According to the survey, almost all doctors (96 percent) agreed that tools such as a migraine diary, medication usage tracker, pain severity scale or symptoms checklist would help them have more meaningful conversations with their patients about migraines. Like-

Talking With Your Doctor is a Key Component of Successful

Migraine Management

wise, 70 percent of patients said they would find such tools helpful when talking with their healthcare provider about migraines.

• Visit a physician specifically about your migraines. Call the National Headache Foundation for a state-by-state list of member physicians or visit www.headaches.org.

• If you are taking medication to treat your migraine attacks and are still experiencing migraine pain, you owe it to yourself to let your doctor know. Sometimes solving the problem starts with asking the right questions: Do you want more relief from your migraine medicine? Do you ever take more than one medicine to treat a single migraine attack? Do you ever need more than one dose of your prescription migraine medicine to treat a single migraine attack? If you answered yes to any of these questions, tell your doctor.

Additional survey data and tools to help patients prepare for doctor visits can be found at www.lowerthepain.com and www.headaches.org.

Editorialandothersupport for thesurveywasprovidedby theNationalHeadacheFoundation,withfunding,developmentandothersupportprovidedbyGlaxoSmithKline.


environmental health

We are all becoming increasingly aware and concerned

about pollutants that con-taminate the environment and therefore we are mak-ing healthier eco-friendly purchases. We consider the external environment when making decisions for our-selves and families. We are conscious about how food choices, waste disposal, pest control and cleaning products can impact the environment and our own health. Yet, are people con-cerned about introducing potentially dangerous chemi-cals into the body and the environment when it comes to planning their families and birth control? If you are concerned about this, you will be happy to be introduced to an eco-friendly system of family plan-ning with no side effects or pollutants to the individual or the environment. It is called the Creighton Model Fertility-Care System™. This model of family planning, developed and published in 1980 by a group of researchers in the St. Louis area led by obstetrician/gynecolo-gist Dr. Thomas Hilgers, depends on the woman’s external observation of body changes. This method is taught in a standardized format by specially trained registered nurses who are Fertility Care practitioners at Mercy Hospital St. Louis (formerly St. John’s Mercy Medical Cen-ter) and is used to avoid pregnancy (99.5% method effective) or to achieve pregnancy, providing a window into the hormonal changes in a woman’s body without any side effects. The information tracked on a charting system is also used by medical professionals to diagnosis and treat common reproductive issues such as infertility, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormonal imbalances. Its effectiveness in treat-ing women’s health issues is based on identification of the underlying cause of the condition - resulting in appropriate treatment. With this system women are empowered to be partners in their health care as well as having a healthy and effective family planning method. The Creighton Model FertilityCare System™ is easy to learn and inexpensive with no side effects. Its effectiveness depends on prop-

erly learning the system. Beginning with a group introductory session, learning and confidence continues through individual private follow-up sessions with the woman and/or couple provided by the Fertility Care Practitioner. The woman learns how to make the external observations and how to describe them in a standardized way, allowing the couple to use the method in the way they choose. Couples state that attending these follow-up sessions is benefi-cial and essential to aid in understanding the system and learning this healthy life-style. Communication between the man and woman is en-hanced as they discuss their decision about how to use the method in a given cycle to avoid or to achieve pregnancy, resulting in 89% continuing to use the method at the end of one year.

AtMercyHospitalSt.Louis,more than4,300women/coupleshavebeentaughtthismethodoffamilyplanning.Formoreinformationortoscheduleanintroductorysessiontobeginlearningthismethod,pleasecall(314)[email protected].

Creighton Model Fertility Care ServicesAn Eco-Friendly Family Planning System

By K. Diane Daly, RN, CFCE


insurance

Before you hit the road this winter, make sure your car and car insur-ance are ready for the journey.

Planning ahead can help avoid mishaps that could ruin your vacation. According to an April 2011 survey released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), 40 per-cent of Americans incorrectly believe their car insurance will cover the replacement of personal items stolen from their vehicle. “The truth is, these items must be covered by your homeowners or renters insurance policy to be reimbursed if they are stolen or damaged,” NAIC president Susan E. Voss said. One-third of Americans also believe their auto insurance covers a rental car, according to the NAIC survey. The NAIC recommends checking with your insur-ance agent to make sure you have ade-quate car insurance when driving a rental.

Top 5 Auto Insurance Tips• Confirm your car insurance is active and

premiums are up-to-date. Have a current copy of your insurance card in the car.

• Select liability limits that are appropriate to your financial circumstances. If you are found to be at-fault in an accident and purchased insufficient limits, your personal assets are at risk for the remaining financial obligation.

• If renting a car for the trip, check your policy to see if it includes cover-age. Verify potential coverage limitations, and make sure you are not duplicating benefits from your existing insurance policies.

• Verify your homeowners or renters insurance covers the theft of per-sonal items from a car.

• Check if your policy includes roadside assistance.

If you are unclear about your car insurance coverage or would like to learn how to lower car insurance costs, visit www.InsureUonline.org or contact your state insurance commissioner. Find your state com-missioner at www.naic.org.

Rental Insurance — Do You Need It? Car rental companies typically offer these products at the counter. Check to see if they duplicate existing coverage before purchasing. • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is also referred to as a Loss Damage

Waiver (LDW). If you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, you will likely not need this additional protection. Colli-sion insurance covers the cost of repairs or the actual cash value of the vehicle, if damaged in a crash or rollover.

• Liability Insurance covers medical expenses and damages to an-other person’s property as a result of a car accident caused by the insured’s negligence. If you are adequately insured on your own car, you may consider forgoing this.

• Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage to the renter and pas-sengers for medical bills resulting from a car crash. If you have adequate health insurance and disability income insurance, or are covered by personal injury protection under your own car insurance, you will likely not need this additional insurance.

• Personal Effects Coverage provides for the theft of personal items inside the rental car. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy, it generally covers this already. If you frequently travel with expensive jewelry or sports equipment, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a floater under your home or renters insurance policies so the items are fully protected when you travel.

Car Tips for Your Winter Trip

PhotocourtesyofGettyImages


diabetes awareness monthinsurance

Thanks to significant research advances in re-cent years, people living with type 1 diabetes have received better treatments and therapies.

Scientists have made headway in uncovering the possible cause of the disease, and in their efforts to find ways to prevent, treat, or reverse the autoim-mune disease and its complications. Despite this progress, we still have a long road ahead of us to identify a cure that will eliminate type 1 diabetes once and for all. Diabetes of all types continues to grow at an alarming rate - in the last 30 years, the number of people with diabetes has skyrocketed to over 38 mil-lion people in the United States alone, including as many as three million Americans living with type 1 diabetes. This represents over 60 million American family members affected by diabetes. The cost of diabetes is staggering - one of every five health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes, and one of every three Medicare dollars is attributed directly to diabetes. The national price tag for diabetes is at an astound-ing $174 billion per year and that cost is estimated to triple in the next 25 years without dramatic changes in how diabetes is managed, prevented or cured. Sustained scientific commitment and funding for research are needed to ensure we reach our goal of eliminating diabetes and its complications. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to priority issues for those of us determined to bring about an end to type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the leader in research for the treatment, cure and ultimate prevention of diabetes. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of dia-betes science worldwide. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in 22 countries in 2010. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time for communities to rally together and talk about diabetes, how serious it is, how to best manage it and how to fund the research to cure it.

Callusandjoinintheconversation.JDRFMetroSaintLouis/GreaterMissouriChapter–(314)729-1846.

JDRF Rallies for Continued Support of Diabetes Research

By M. Marie Davis, Executive Director, Juvenile Diabetes Research FoundationMetro Saint Louis/Greater Missouri Chapter

MissouriGovernorJayNixonSalutesJDRF.—PhotobyGlennLevy


Tips For Reducing Low Back PainHave an aching back?

You’re not alone.

prevention

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most com-mon reasons people

see physicians. About one in four adults reported hav-ing LBP lasting at least one whole day in the past three months. Most often, the pain is caused by strain on bones, muscles, or ligaments. While low back pain usually gets better after a few weeks of proper treatment, there are ways you can re-duce or avoid it. Prevention begins with lifting heavy objects carefully, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly. If you have pain, make an ap-pointment with your physi-cian to locate it and rule out a serious problem. Tell your physician if you are having weight loss, fevers, weakness or loss of feeling in your legs, or any other symptoms. Treatment options for LBP include med-ications, heating pads, exer-cise, or physical therapy. Remaining active is more effective than bed rest. If you need to have bed rest to alleviate severe pain, return to normal activities as soon as possible. Doctors often order diagnostic imaging tests for patients with LBP that is not associated with any serious underlying disease. But after re-viewing the clinical evidence, the American College of Physicians (ACP) — a national organization of internal medicine physicians — says that doctors should avoid this common practice. “In most patients without serious underlying disorders, there is substantial improvement within a few days to a month with exercise and medications,” says Dr. Virginia Hood, president of ACP. ACP found that diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans do not improve the health of patients with LBP that is due to strain on muscles, bones, or ligaments. About 85 percent of patients fall into this category. Some evidence even suggested there are increased risks for patients getting unnecessary diagnostic imaging tests. These tests usually lead to further unnecessary tests, referrals, follow ups, and in-

terventions that have no positive impact on the clinical outcomes of patients. Radiation exposure due to imaging tests can even increase risk for cancer over time. ACP recommends that diagnostic imaging tests be reserved for select higher-risk patients who have major risk factors for or signs of spinal conditions, such as spinal stenosis, sciatica, vertebral compres-sion fracture, cancer, or infection, or those who are candidates for invasive interventions. For more information, visit www.acponline.org. ACP’s recommendations are part of its High Value, Cost-Con-scious Care initiative, which is designed to help physicians provide the best possible care to their patients while reducing unnecessary health care costs without impacting patients’ health. “Unnecessary diagnostic imaging tests are all too common and a significant component of our nation’s escalating health care costs,” says Dr. Hood. “More testing does not mean better care. The best way to maintain effective care is to identify and eliminate wasteful practices that don’t help patients or may even cause harm.”


holistic healthcare

Integrating Traditional and Complementary Medicine

for Better HealthBy Sharon K. Hepburn PT, THE INNER CONNECTION

Eastern medicine verses Western medicine, West-ern medicine verses Eastern medicine; trying to figure out which is right for you can leave one very

confused! Which way is truly more beneficial? Both! The trend in healthcare today is WHOLISTIC medi-cine, and while the term applies to having a team of doc-tors and therapists in communication with each other, it also applies to evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient from all paradigms including Eastern and West-ern. How would one go about having a relationship with traditional medicine and Complementary and Alterna-tive Medicine (CAM)? The first step is to talk with your medical provider and state your wish to try an alterna-tive treatment, which are abundant in the St. Louis area. Next, find a reputable CAM provider (acupuncturist, homeopath, CranioSacral therapist, energy work) and before going in, interview him/her by phone. Ask if they have working relationships with traditional medical doc-tors. You will know right away if a practitioner is willing to practice WHOLISTICALLY or just alternatively. When you find a competent practitioner, an open dialogue among all of your health care providers should be pur-sued. Seventy-two year old Virginia states: “I have been receiving [CranioSacral and Unifield] therapy for 10 years and all the originals aches and pains I initially had; I no longer have or complain about. Emotionally, I feel calmer and more connected to myself. Physically, all my MD’s and friends cannot believe that I am not on any arthritis medicine at my age and I do not complain of aches or discomfort as my friends do. I attribute it to these alter-native treatments.” Even medical doctors are recognizing the impor-tance of holistic healthcare. “As a licensed medical doctor for 40 years, I know how important taking care of your health is. With the rise of managed care and insurance not covering many procedures, it is of utmost importance that individuals take charge and implement proactive programs to maintain good health,” states Patricia A. Killeen, MD. As health care needs change and as health insurance companies pay for less, a lot of Americans are following the example of other in-dustrial nations and taking control of their health care needs. Not all CAM therapies are covered by insurance but people around the globe realize they are still an important aspect of healthcare. The benefits of wholistic healthcare far outweigh the minimal cost.

So, take that first step! Do you want to try an alternative way to treat your pain? High blood pressure? Do you want to decrease your medicine intake and feel better? Start researching a Complementary Alternative Medicine Practitioner today!

SharonK.HepburngraduatedfromSt.LouisUniversity20yearsagowithaBSinPhysicalTherapy.WithseveralhundredhoursofCAMtraining,shenowhasherownclinic,THEINNERCONNECTIONlocatedinWebsterGrovesintheAcupunctureandWellnessCenter.Tofindoutmoreinformationaboutherpractice,visitthewebsiteatwww.theinner-connection.netorcallforafreephoneconsultationat314-918-1555.


in the community

Arthritis is much more widespread than imagined, 50 million Americans, one out of five adults, and approximately 300,000 children. In Missouri alone, arthritis affects more than 1.4 million

people. In order to diminish those staggering numbers, this holiday season people are taking steps to fight the disease at the Arthritis Foundation’s annual St. Louis Jingle Bell Run/Walk. Over a thousand runners and walkers will hit the pavements. Wearing holiday themed costumes or tying jingle bells to their shoelaces all to support the fight against the nation’s leading cause of disability. The St. Louis event will take place Sunday, November 20th at Harrah’s Casino. Participants can either run or walk a 5 kilometer route with team members. Registrations fees are as follows: $25.00 standard registration (thru November 15), $30.00 week of registration (November 16-19), $35.00 day of registration, $20.00 youth registration (14 and under) and a $5.00 tot-trot (5 and under). All involved can celebrate the season with the great feeling of giving. Funds raised from the event will go directly towards research, health education and government advocacy to improve the lives of people with arthritis. “The prevalence of arthritis in our nation is surging, and we cannot ignore it. Events like the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis help bring the community together to raise awareness and funds that are critical to the advancement of research, health education and government advo-cacy,” says John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation.

In addition, to all the fun activities scheduled for the day, we have an honoree chair this year, Kasey Ray, who is a 22 year old living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Kasey has been participating in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for 3 years now. She stated, “I learn to live my life WITH arthritis. It does NOT live my life. I am truly blessed with such great family and friends. They are my support staff and I keep them close for comfort, encouragement, and a smile.” The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk offers a three-mile fun run or a three-mile walk with activities for the entire family including: a tot trot for those 5 and under, photos with Santa and a dog costume contest. Awards will be given to the best costume, the largest team and the top individual fundraiser. Statistics show that walking for 30 minutes regularly, can greatly reduce your risk for certain forms of arthritis. So gather your friends and family and sign up to participate in this year’s St. Louis Jingle Bell Run/Walk. Make this holiday season a little jollier by helping fight a disease that affects the lives of so many individuals in this nation. Those who raise $100 or more are rewarded with the choice of a runner’s hat or messenger bag as an incentive prizes. In addition to the incentive prize, one lucky St. Louis participant will win a 7-night stay in a 5-star beachfront condo in Sandestin, Florida.

FormoreinformationonhowtoparticipateintheSt.LouisJingleBellRun/Walk,pleasecontactElainaJacksonatejackson@arthritis.orgor314-991-9333X1305.

Jingle All the Way to the Finish Line

Documents

November St. Louis Healthy Cells 2011