living - TownNewsbloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/starbeacon.com/... · 2014. 9. 17. · elderberry syrup, zinc and oscillo-coccinum can mitigate symptoms of the flu, there’s

living

Kids & ExerciseHow to encourage kids to be

more physically active

Fall 2014

Reducing Your Riskfor Alzheimer’s

Enjoy aFlu-Free Winter

2 — HEALTH WATCH Star Beacon, Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Star Beacon, Wednesday, September 17, 2014 HEALTH WATCH — 3

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When today’s par-ents reflect on theirchildhood, manylikely recall seem-ingly endless daysspent playing out-doors.

But when today’s kidsbecome tomorrow’s par-ents, chances are their rec-ollections won’t recallnearly as much time spentidling the days away underthe sun.

According to the Centersfor Disease Control andPrevention, roughly 17 per-cent of American childrenand adolescents betweenthe ages of 2 to 19 areobese.

The rise in overweight orobese children is likely abyproduct of several fac-tors, not the least of whichis that many of today’s kidsprefer to play a video gameon the couch instead ofgoing outdoors and beingphysically active.

The potential ramifica-tions of youngsters choos-ing a more sedentarylifestyle are dangerous, asit increases their risk for:

• high blood pressure• high cholesterol• type 2 diabetes• respiratory ailments• and joint problems.Parents know it’s not

always easy to get kids tobe more physically active.But the following are a fewtips parents might find use-ful when encouraging theirkids to embrace a moreactive lifestyle.

■ Give toys that encour-age physical activity. Kidslove toys, and their toyswill often dictate how theyspend their days.

Instead of buying the lat-est video game console,give kids toys that encour-age them to be active.

This can include balls,bicycles, jump ropes, oreven a backyard swingset.Kids who embrace theseactivities at a young ageare more likely to continuedoing so into adolescenceand adulthood.

■ Reduce time spent infront of the television.Parents who can effectivelyminimize the amount oftime their child spends infront of the television,whether reducing their timespent watching televisionor playing video games,will likely be more suc-cessful at instilling a loveof physical activity as well.

The American Academyof Pediatrics recommendsparents limit their child’stime in front of the televi-sion to one to two hoursper day, and that includes

the time children spendplaying video games.

To further reduce kids’time watching TV, don’tallow televisions in theirbedrooms, as that will onlymake it harder to monitorjust how much time kidsare spending in front oftheir TVs.

■ Remember that physi-cal activity should be fun.Not all kids are athletic,and some will likelybemoan participating inrecreational sports leagues.

But that doesn’t meanparents should give up onencouraging physical activ-ity. Instead, find a physicalactivity that your childfinds fun and encourage hisor her participation.

This might be nontradi-tional kids’ sports likecycling or jogging or activ-ities like dancing, hiking oreven bird watching.

Once a child exhibits ahealthy interest in a physi-

cal activity that you havedeemed safe, encourage it.

■ Set a positiveexample. Kids, especiallyyounger children, look upto their parents and oftentry to emulate what Momand Dad are doing.

Parents can make themost of that adoration bysetting a positive exampleand being physically activethemselves.

Go for a nightly bike rideor a walk around the neigh-borhood with your young-sters in tow.

Or put that ellipticalmachine in the basement togood use.

Whatever physical activi-ty you choose, you can betyour children will expressan interest in it as well, andthat’s a great way to makethem more enthusiasticabout having a healthy andactive lifestyle.

Healthy Tip of the DayAlways use bothshoulder straps.Slinging abackpack overone shouldercan strainmuscles.

How to encourage kids tobe more physically active


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Spending significanttime in close proximityto others indoors canmake people more sus-ceptible to the flu.

As a result, winter, when peopletypically spend more time indoorsthan outdoors, is often dominatedby the sniffling and sneezing syn-onymous with the flu. But menand women can take steps to pro-tect themselves from the flu thisseason.

■ Get a flu shot. Some peopleprefer to avoid getting a flu shotbecause they want to build uptheir natural immunities or theybelieve the shots can make themsick.

But most flu shots contain aninactive virus that will not makeyou sick, and will only triggeryour body’s immune systemresponse to a foreign invader.

It can take a couple of weeks for

full immunity to develop, so it’spossible to still get sick even aftera flu shot has been administered.

Also, a flu shot does not guaran-tee recipients won’t get the flu.People can still get the flu afterreceiving a flu shot, as it may beanother strain of the virus. But flushots are largely effective.

■ Quit smoking. Smoking ciga-rettes and cigars can affect theimmune system and also compro-mise the body in a number of dif-ferent ways.

Smoking can disable mecha-nisms in your breathing passage-ways that serve as natural repel-lants to the flu. These include thehairs on the lungs that brush awaycontaminants.

Smoking also can create holes inthe lining of lower air passages,and such holes can make peoplemore susceptible to illness, includ-ing the flu.

Smokers who get the flu typical-

ly find that the flu further compli-cates their ability to breathe.

■ Avoid sick people. Whenthose around you are sick, it isbest to keep your distance, espe-cially when those people have theflu.

The Centers for Disease Controland Prevention state that peoplewith the flu can spread it to othersup to six feet away.

Flu viruses are spread mainly bydroplets of bodily fluids expelledduring coughing, sneezing andeven talking

This is why doctors recommendthat anyone who has the flu stayhome from work or school untilthey are fully recovered.

■ Be especially cautious whenpregnant. According to Dr.Cameron Wolfe, an infectious dis-ease specialist at Duke UniversityMedical Center, women who arepregnant are at a higher risk ofcomplications and even death

from influenza.Doctors don’t fully understand

why, but many feel that becausethe flu can compromise awoman’s ability to breathe well,this makes it difficult for oxygento be passed on to the fetus.

Pregnant women should speakwith their obstetricians about thesafety of the flu shot.

■ Get plenty of rest and goodfood. Adequate sleep and ahealthy diet can bolster yourimmune system.

It’s important to stay hydrated,eat fruits and vegetables rich invitamin C and prioritize getting agood night’s sleep each night.

■ Beware of homeopathicremedies. Always check with adoctor before adding any naturalremedies to your flu-fightingrepertoire.

While some supplements likeelderberry syrup, zinc and oscillo-coccinum can mitigate symptoms

of the flu, there’s no solid evi-dence that these items offer anypreventative value.

Homeopathic remedies also caninterfere with medications or maybe dangerous to a developingfetus, so do not take these sub-stances without first checking witha doctor.

Easy ways to enjoy a flu-free winter

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During your visit, you should be given a hearing test in a soundproof area. It will tell the hearing spe-cialist what type of hearing loss you have so a hearing aid can beprogrammed specifically for you. Try before you buy. Ask for ademonstration of the hearing aids recommended for you. You maybe able to put a disposable plug on the tip of a behind-the-ear hear-ing aid and program the device to your hearing loss so you can ex-perience how it works. Get it in writing. Get a signed copy of acontract that outlines the model and make of hearing aid - and theprice, trial period, any nonrefundable fees, as well as, the warranty.Most manufacturers allow a 30 day trial period.

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Alzheimer’s dis-ease affects mil-lions of peopleacross the globe.

In the United States alone,the Alzheimer’s Associationestimates one in eight oldermen and women has thedisease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death inthe country.

Few families have notbeen affected byAlzheimer’s disease, andmany relatives of those withthe disease fully understandthe role family history canplay. Research into the dis-ease is ongoing, and it’salready yielded valuableinformation that may helpreduce the prevalence ofthis devastating disease inthe years to come.

One byproduct ofresearchers’ efforts is thediscovery that it may bepossible to prevent or delaythe symptoms ofAlzheimer’s diseasethrough the implementationof a combination of healthylifestyle choices.

The following are a fewhealthy habits that may helpmen and women reducetheir risk for Alzheimer’s.

■ Exercise regularly.Researchers examined

roughly 700 70-year-oldparticipants, all of whomwere born in 1936.

Each participant receivedan MRI at age 73. Thosetests revealed that the par-ticipants who were morephysically active showedless brain shrinkage andfewer white matter lesions,both of which are indicatorsof Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Research &Prevention Foundationreports that physical exer-cise reduces a person’s riskof developing Alzheimer’sby 50 percent and can evenslow further deterioration inthose who have alreadybegun to develop the cogni-

tive problems associatedwith Alzheimer’s.

■ Eat healthy.A heart-healthy diet is also

brain-healthy, andresearchers have found apotential link between heartdisease and Alzheimer’sdisease.

Researcher Larry Sparksof the Sun Health ResearchInstitute in Arizona and for-merly of the Kentucky med-ical examiner’s office stud-ied brain tissues with a goalof finding early signs ofAlzheimer’s disease.

He discovered that thosewho had the telltale plaquesof Alzheimer’s disease alsohad heart disease, suggest-ing heart disease may be aforerunner of brain diseaseslike Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Associa-tion feels this link betweenthe two will only growstronger in the years tocome, suggesting that aheart-healthy diet thatreduces a person’s risk ofheart disease may alsoreduce the risk forAlzheimer’s down the road.

■ Mental stimulation.Mental stimulation can

help the brain stay sharp,and men and women whofind ways to stay mentallystimulated can reduce theirrisk of developingAlzheimer’s.

Embrace activities thatrequire communication andinteraction with others, andfind time for additionaltasks that can stimulateyour brain.

■■ Remain socially active.Staying socially active

into older adulthood isimportant for a variety ofreasons, not the least ofwhich is that research hasindicated the brain func-tions better when men andwomen are not isolatedfrom others.

Memory and cognition arestronger when peopleremain socially active andengaged in their society, soretirees should look forways to revive their sociallives as a means to protect-ing their brains from theonset of Alzheimer’s ordementia.

Trouble understand-ing visual images

and spatial relationships

■ For some people, havingvision problems is a sign ofAlzheimer’s.■ They may have difficultyreading, judging distance and determining color orcontrast, which may cause problems with driving.

What’s a typical age-related change?Vision changes related to cataracts.

New problemswith words in

speaking or writing. ■ May have trouble following orjoining a conversation.■ May stop in the middle of aconversation and have no ideahow to continue or they may repeat themselves.■ May struggle with vocabulary, have problemsfinding the right word, call things by the wrong name What’s a typical age-related change?Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Misplacing thingsand losing the

ability to retrace steps ■ May put things in unusualplaces.■ May lose things and be unableto go back over their steps to findthem again.■ May accuse others of stealing. This may occurmore frequently over time.What’s a typical age-related change?Misplacing things from time to time and retracingsteps to find them.

Decreased or poorjudgment

■ May experience changes injudgment or decision-making.For example, they may use poorjudgment when dealing withmoney, giving large amounts totelemarketers.■ May pay less attention to grooming or keepingthemselves clean.What’s a typical age-related change?Making a bad decision once in a while.

Withdrawal from workor social activities

■ May start to remove them-selves from hobbies, socialactivities, work projects or sports.■ May have trouble keeping upwith a favorite sports team orremembering how to complete a favorite hobby.■ May also avoid being social because of thechanges they have experienced.What’s a typical age-related change?Feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

Changes in moodand personality

■ Mood & personalities of peo-ple with Alzheimer’s can change. ■ Can become confused, suspi-cious, depressed, fearful or anxious.■ May be easily upset at home, work, with friendsor in places where they are out of their comfortzone.What’s a typical age-related change?Developing very specific ways of doing things andbecoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Confusion withtime or place

■ Can lose track of dates,seasons and time passage.■ Have trouble understandingsomething if it is not happeningimmediately.■ May forget where they are or how they gotthere.What’s a typical age-related change?Getting confused about the day of the week butfiguring it out later.

Difficulty completingfamiliar tasks at

home, at work or at leisure ■ Find it hard to complete daily tasks.■ May have trouble driving toa familiar location■ Managing a budget at work or remembering therules of a favorite game.What’s a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on amicrowave or to record a television show.

Challenges in planningor solving problems

■ Some people may experiencechanges in their ability to devel-op and follow a plan or work withnumbers.■ Have trouble following a famil-iar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.■ Difficulty concentrating and take much longer todo things than they did before.What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancinga checkbook.

Memory loss thatdisrupts daily life.

■ Most common signs ofAlzheimer’s is memory loss.Also, forgetting:■ Recently learned info.■ Important dates or events■ Asking for the same info. over and over■ Needing to rely on memory aids or family mem-bers for things they used to handle on their own.What’s a typical age-related change?Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, butremembering them later.


How to reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease10 EARLY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER’S

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STAYING PHYSICALLY active as you age can pre-vent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Childhood vacci-nations are issuedto help preventchildren from get-ting sick by build-ing their immunityto diseases thatwere once prolific.

But in the wake of confus-ing information regardingthe safety of vaccinations,particularly the concern thatsome may be linked to theonset of autism, more andmore parents are opting outof having their childrenvaccinated.

Many diseases that areeffectively prevented bysimple vaccines havecropped up once more. Thiscan be attributed to childrensimply not getting fullyvaccinated. Nearly 80 per-cent of parents are uncom-fortable about having theirchildren vaccinated, accord-ing to a survey analyzed byresearchers at the CDC.Pain from the needle itselfand uncertainty about thesafety of vaccines is leadingmany parents to forego

shots or delay certain vacci-nations until their childrenare older. It is estimated thatroughly 8 percent of Ameri-can children are now notgetting regular vaccinationsor doing alternate sched-ules, and 2 percent are notgetting shots at all.

Some parents would liketo have their children vacci-nated but have postponedroutine visits due to unem-ployment and subsequentloss of health insurance.Some areas have even fellvictim to budget cuts thathave led to shortages ofnecessary vaccines.

In 2008, the Centers forDisease Control and Pre-vention issued an alertregarding Haemophilusinfluenza type b, commonlyreferred to as Hib. Fivechildren in Minnesota con-tracted the disease, three of

whom who were not vacci-nated.

The CDC also reportedthat there were 17 outbreaksand 222 cases of measlesreported in 2011. A diseasethat was essentially wipedout in North America isnow showing up again andthe numbers are rising. Dr.Jason Bowling, an infec-tious disease specialist, saidthat in 2011 the UnitedStates had the highest num-ber of measles cases of anycountry in the last 15 years.Although it is likely thatmost of the cases were con-tracted outside of the coun-try, kids who haven’t beenvaccinated are highly sus-ceptible to measles onset asa result, potentially leadingto a greater number of out-breaks in the United Statesand Canada.

Whooping cough, or per-

tussis, is a highly infectiousrespiratory disease that wasonce considered eradicatedbut has also made a resur-gence. Various states acrossthe country have reportedmany whopping cough out-breaks, to the point that ithas been labeled an epidem-ic once more. Health offi-cials in Washington statehave said that the numberof outbreaks from spring2012 are the highest sincethe 1940s. While whoopingcough is usually not fatalamong older children andyoung adults, it can be verydangerous for infants.

Most health professionalsagree that vaccinations areimportant to the well-beingof the child and the commu-nity, providing the safestway to prevent certain dis-eases or reduce their severi-ty.


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Sleep is a naturalprocess designedto recharge thebody and mind.Although somepeople find no dif-ficulty in settlingdown for the night,many others pro-fess to have peri-odic or chronicsleep problems.

But before asking doctorsto reach for their prescrip-tion pads, men and womenstruggling to fall asleep atnight may want to considersome all-natural remediesto help them get a goodnight’s rest.

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention rec-ognize insufficient sleep asa public health epidemicthat can result in difficultyperforming daily tasks,hypertension, depression,and even obesity.

While sleeping pills canbe effective, they pose therisk of dependence and alsomay carry with them dan-gerous side effects. Someindividuals have driven orengaged in other potentiallydangerous activities whileunder the influence ofsleeping pills. No such sideeffects have been associat-ed with natural remedies.

Insomnia can often betraced to anxiety and anoveractive mind. However,it also may be a side effectof medication or a symp-tom of a larger condition.Speak with a doctor ifinsomnia becomes chronicor problematic.

When lifestyle changes,such as limiting caffeineintake or creating a sleephygiene program, fail toproduce the desired results,the following natural reme-dies, when used as directed,may help men and womenget a better night’s rest.

Explore natural sleep remedies■ MEDITATIONFocusing on breathing and employing visualization

may help relax the body into a state where it can driftoff to sleep. In addition to calming the mind, meditationcan reduce stress and hormone levels. Picturing a relax-ing scene and focusing on all the senses involved in thatscene may put you in a peaceful state of mind thatmakes it easier to fall asleep.

■ DISTRACTIONAlthough there are conflicting reports as to whether

reading or watching television before going to be canbe a help or a hindrance, some people with insomnia dofind these actions can help induce sleep. Choose a bookor a program that isn’t stimulating to distract yourselffrom anything that is causing distress. Doing so can cre-ate a state of relaxation that makes it easier to fallasleep. Use the sleep timer to automatically turn off theTV after a set number of minutes, so you are not woken from sleep by a loud showafter drifting off.

■ AROMATHERAPYCalming scents can relax the body. Preliminary

research suggests that lavender essential oil may length-en total sleep time, increase deep sleep and help peoplefeel refreshed in the morning, particularly for womenwho have a more acute sense of smell than men. Put afew drops of lavender on a pillow before retiring to bed,or take a relaxing bath with the oil mixed into the bathwater.

■ MAGNESIUMMagnesium is a natural sedative. Foods rich in magnesium include dark green, leafy

vegetables, almonds, whole grains, and legumes. Magnesium supplements also areavailable, and these are usually taken in a specific ratio with calcium.

■ LEMON BALM: This herbal supplement and teaworks in a similar method to valerian. It is said to relieveanxiety and calm nerves, which could be infringing onyour ability to fall asleep.

■ ACUPUNCTURE: A study from researchers at theUniversity of Pittsburgh concluded that acupuncture maybe an effective treatment for insomnia. The study foundthat five weeks of acupuncture increased melatonin secretion in the evening andimproved total sleep time.

■ MELATONIN SUPPLEMENTSA naturally occurring hormone that regulates your sleep-wake

cycle in the brain, melatonin is produced when darkness falls.According to a Journal of Sleep Research study, time-release mela-tonin supplementation was effective in reducing sleep latency andimproving sleep quality. Lower doses of melatonin have beenshown to be as effective as higher doses, so less is often more withmelatonin.

■ VALERIANValerian is a natural herbal remedy that grows in the form

of a tall, flowering grassland plant. The roots are ground toproduce the supplement that could assist with sleep. TheMayo Clinic notes that several small studies indicate thatvalerian may reduce the amount of time it takes to fallasleep and help you sleep better.

Other studies have shown valerian to be no more effec-tive than a placebo.

However, with relatively few side effects, valerian maybe worth a try.

It’s rumored that W.C.Fields once said the bestcure for insomnia is to geta lot of sleep. Easier saidthan done, at least for the40 percent of Americanswho are sleep deprived.

Americans spend about$24 billion on everythingfrom teas that are sure tobring the sandman to thedoor to room-darkeningcurtains and the elusiveperfect pillow (or pillows,plural — on average, weall use two). Once upon atime, Ovaltine (yes, themilk flavoring) was mar-keted as an insomnia cure.It’s not, but that didn’t stopthe sleepy from giving it atry.

The act of sleeping haslong been a mystery to us.Why do we do it, and whydo we need it? And whatwould happen if we spentall that time awakeinstead? Imagine all thethings you’d get accom-plished if you didn’t sleep.

Adults need, on average,between seven and ninehours of sleep every night.Most adults only averageabout six and a half hours

of sleep a night during theweek. We’re just a littlelazier on the weekends(sleeping an average of anadditional 52 minutes onSaturdays and Sundays)

Sleep deprivation can bea result of a sleep disorder,and as many as some 70million of us live withinsomnia, sleep apnea,periodic limb movementdisorder (PLMD) or anoth-er of the more than 70 rec-ognized sleep disordersthat steal away our 40winks.

Late hours at work,working the night shift,pets in the bed, kids, apartner’s snoring and evenpain or acid reflux mayalso leave you fatigued.Suffer from a mood disor-der? Depression and sleepdeprivation are knownbedfellows.

No matter which reasonis to blame, all of thissleep deprivation puts us atrisk for both short- andlong-term problems,affecting our health, mood,memory, cognitive abilitiesand reaction time.

JERRY COOKE / Corbis

W.C. FIELDS, comedian and insomnia expert.

How sleepdeprivation works


Diet and exercisemake great bedfel-lows for men andwomen looking tolive a healthierlifestyle.

A combination of ahealthy diet and regularexercise makes it easier formen and women to maintain

a healthy weight while low-ering their risk of variousailments, including heartdisease and diabetes.

A heightened awareness ofwhat makes for a healthyand unhealthy diet coupledwith the increased availabil-ity of healthy foods hashelped many peoplesmoothly transition to ahealthier diet. But many

people still struggle to findtime to exercise every day.Commitments to work andfamily can make it difficultto squeeze in regular work-outs, and the call of thecouch is often more appeal-ing than a trip to the gym atthe end of a long day jug-gling both personal and pro-fessional obligations. Butexercise is integral to ahealthy lifestyle, so it’simportant that men andwomen take steps to incor-porate exercise into theirdaily routines.

■ Figure out whenyou’re free. Finding freetime is perhaps the biggesthurdle adults must clearwhen attempting to exercisemore. Track your dailyschedule for a week or two,making note of down timesduring the day when youmight be able to squeeze in30 to 60 minutes of exer-cise. If you notice you’respending your lunch hourscatching up on personalemails or surfing the Inter-net, then consider joining agym near your office andturning those lunch hoursinto workouts. If yourmornings are not dominatedby getting the kids ready forschool, then wake up a halfhour earlier each morning tosqueeze in some time on thetreadmill. You likely have

some down time withregard to your daily sched-ule, and identifying suchtime is the first step towardmaking better use of it.

■ Make it a team effort.Daily exercise is not justgood for adults; it’s greatfor kids, too. Parents look-ing to fit more physicalactivity into their daily rou-tines should considerinvolving their children,many of whom are dealingwith a fitness crisis of theirown. According to a 2014report in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Associa-tion, childhood obesity hasmore than doubled in chil-dren and quadrupled in ado-lescents over the last threedecades, putting youngstersat increased risk for cardio-vascular disease, predia-betes, bone and joint prob-lems, and sleep apnea. Par-ents can make daily exer-cise a family affair, whichincreases the time theyspend with their childrenwhile ensuring their kidsstay fit as well. Men andwomen without familiesalso can make daily exer-cise a team effort by work-ing out with a friend or sig-nificant other. The buddysystem often proves motiva-tional, encouraging men andwomen to exercise even onthose days when the couch

is calling.■ Make exercise more

interesting. Many workoutroutines fall by the waysidebecause they simply do notengage men and women nomatter how motivated theyare to lose weight. An houron the treadmill can seemlike an eternity to certainmen and women, who canbenefit by choosing work-out routines that are lessmonotonous.

For example, Zumba is acombination of dance andaerobic exercise that isgrowing in popularity. Inlieu of spending an hour onthe treadmill or ellipticalmachine, Zumba partici-pants get an equally if notexceedingly challengingcardiovascular workout thatmany find more fun thantraditional aerobic exercisethanks to its incorporationof dance.

For those without suchhappy feet, bring a tabletalong to the gym and catchup on your favorite televi-sion shows or a good book

during your cardiovascularroutines. The more interest-ing you find your workoutroutine, the more likely youare to find time for that rou-tine every day.

■ Choose an accessibleroutine. When planningyour workout, make it asaccessible as possible.While sports like kayakingand mountain bike racingmake for great exercise,such activities are not readi-ly accessible to many work-ing professionals with busyschedules.

Join a gym that’s only ashort drive from home, orpurchase some gym equip-ment you can set up in yourown home. The more acces-sible a workout routine is,the more likely you are toembrace that routine.

The call of the couch canbe difficult to ignore. Butthe side effects of a seden-tary lifestyle can be grave,so men and women shouldwork to find ways toinclude exercise in theirdaily routines.


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How to beat the couch potato curse


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Nearly everyonefeels down at onepoint or another.But when feelingsof sadness stretchon and are accom-panied by othersymptoms, normalsadness mighthave given way todepression.

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention esti-mate depression affects onein 10 American adults atdifferent levels.

Many sufferers of depres-sion believe it is a personalweakness and somethingthey should be able to con-trol, but mood disorders arerecognized mental illnessesthat say nothing about aperson’s strength of charac-ter.

Often brought on unex-pectedly, mood disorderslike depression cannot betraced to a single rootcause.

Many within the medicalcommunity believe depres-sion is genetic, and often-times doctors treatingpatients for depression dis-cover a history of depres-sion among their patients’immediate family members.

Many different genes mayact in combination to causea mood disorder.

In 2011, a British teamisolated a gene that appearsto be prevalent in familiesin which multiple memberssuffer from depression.

The chromosome, 3p25-26, was found in more than800 families with recurrentdepression.

External factors also canplay a role in the onset ofdepression.

According to the CDC,certain groups are more

likely to meet criteria fordepression than others.These include women, peo-ple ages 45-64, African-Americans, Hispanics, andpeople with less than a highschool education.

The following symptomsappearing together is oftenan indicator of depression:

■ feelings of sadness andloss

■ feelings of irritability■ loss of pleasure in usu-

ally enjoyed activities■ changes in sleeping pat-

terns, such as insomnia orsleeping too much

■ difficulty concentrating■ frequent headaches■ noticeable lack of moti-

vation■ anxiety and panic

attacks■ withdrawal from friends

and family■ inability to make deci-

sions■ recurring thoughts of

suicide or self-harmPeople exhibiting symp-

toms of depression shouldfirst reach out to their pri-mary care physicians, whocan begin a preliminarydiagnosis and look forsymptoms indicative ofdepression.

A doctor also can perform

blood work to rule out otherconditions that may be con-tributing to problems withmood, such as hormonalchanges or illnesses.

Some doctors may referpatients to a mental healthprofessional who is muchmore qualified to treatmood disorders.

A mental health profes-sional will likely conduct aninterview with the patientand pay considerable atten-tion to the patient’s medicalhistory.

Treatments range frommedication to talk therapyto cognitive-behavioraltherapy.

Those who do not respondto more conventional treat-ments can discuss furtheroptions with their doctors.

Patients who are pre-scribed an antidepressantmedication should expectseveral weeks to passbefore the medication isfully effective.

Antidepressants are notuniversally effective, andpeople being treated fordepression or another mooddisorder should not growdiscouraged if one course oftreatment is ineffective.

Many treatment optionsare available to people withmood disorders.

Get on the road to recoveryby identifying depression


DEPRESSION IS a treatable condition affecting mil-lions of people.

By DAREN BAKTMCT News Service

WASHINGTON —The primary focusof the federalschool meal pro-grams should bemeeting students’needs. But for thatto happen, theremust be recogni-tion that parents -not the first lady orCongress - knowwhat’s best fortheir children.

Unfortunately, the schoolmeal standards that started

to go into effect two yearsago under the Healthy,Hunger-Free Kids Act of2010 ignore parents in favorof a federal government thatthinks it knows everything.

Those who dare to speakagainst these standards havequickly felt the wrath ofMichelle Obama and herminions in the administra-tion.

It’s not just policy-makerswho have felt the ire of thefirst lady. The School Nutri-tion Association, represent-ing more than 55,000school nutrition experts,sent a letter to the first ladyexpressing “disappointmentregarding your July 22ndcomments disparagingschool nutrition profession-

als.”The new meal standards

try to micromanage everyaspect of what’s served tochildren, including placingsevere restrictions on calo-ries, nutritional content andportion sizes.

Some schools have left theprogram, willing to sacrificeits massive subsidies inexchange for freedom fromits excessive restrictionsand costs.

The assumption underly-ing these new standards isthat the federal governmentmust control nutritional pol-icy in the schools becauseparents can’t be trusted toteach their children how tomake dietary choices thatmeet their unique needs.

Proponents claim that par-ents need help because theycan’t ensure their kids areeating properly at school.

Of course, parents can’tknow every single thingthat their children eat atschool, but this doesn’tmean parents haven’t pro-vided their children with thenecessary knowledge tomake informed choices

But even assuming thatschools need to limit foodchoices, this doesn’t justifyfederal control.

Parents concerned aboutthe food provided to theirchildren at school are muchbetter off going to localofficials to address theseissues.

They will generally getthe chance to meet with theofficials and have theirvoices heard.

Parents aren’t going to getvery far trying to convinceD.C. bureaucrats about theirspecific concerns.

Local officials who wouldlike to help have their handstied with these new stan-dards because they don’thave the necessary flexibili-ty to address many con-

cerns.If the new standards pro-

vided greater flexibility tostates and local authorities,it would not only help offi-cials better meet the needsof their students, but alsoempower parents by givingthem a greater say in thefood provided through mealprograms.

The federal standards haveencountered a lot of criti-cism from nutrition officialsas well as students.

The independent Govern-ment Accountability Officesurveyed state nutrition offi-cials and found that localschool food authorities hada slew of real-world con-cerns about the lunch stan-dards, ranging from“increased plate waste” —bureaucrat speak for uneat-en food — to the costs ofmeeting the new federaldietary code.

The School Nutrition

Association has echoedthese concerns. The Nation-al School Board Associationcautioned, “School boardscannot ignore the highercosts and operational issuescreated by the rigid man-dates of the Healthy,Hunger-Free Kids Act.”

The mandates are soexcessive that some schoolshave reportedly raided theirteaching budgets to coverthe extra costs.

Worse, students are dis-gusted by the food providedto them.

Nothing, it seems, noteven the mounting evidenceof the program’s failure,will be allowed to slow itsimplementation.

And that’s a shame. Wash-ington always hungers forpower, but these federalmeal standards aren’t fit forpublic consumption. Theyneed to be scrapped.


HEALTH, MIND & BODY

Restore Harmony And Balance

to

For more information contact: Marlene K. Burke, RN, BSPA, HTCP

Hummingbird Wellness Center Phone: 440.812.1132

Wellness & Total Learning

Center 715 W. 30th St.

Ashtabula, OH 44004 (440) 997-5353

www.wtlcashtabula.com

Parents, not bureaucrats,should decide what kids eat

The chickenpoxvirus never leavesthe body and it cancome back as thepainful rash ofShingles.

If you’ve had chickenpox,you can get Shingles at anytime. It doesn’t matter howhealthy you feel. Shinglescan strike when you leastexpect it and can cause ablistering rash.

The Shingles rash can lastup to 30 days, and for mostthe pain lessens as the rashheals. But some people whodevelop Shingles experi-ence long-term nerve painthat can last for months,even years.

■ As you get older,you’re at increased riskfor Shingles.

It doesn’t matter howhealthy you feel, because

age is a risk factor for Shin-gles. The immune systemcan weaken as we age, soviruses can resurface.There’s no real way to pre-dict if or when it will hap-pen to you. But the factsclearly show, as in thegraph, the number of casesof Shingles increases aspeople get older.

■ Shingles is caused bythe same virus that causeschickenpox.

Even though chickenpoxsores heal, the virus thatcaused chickenpox, calledvaricella, remains in yourbody. This virus lies dor-mant in your nervous sys-tem, and it’s the job of yourimmune system to suppressit, or keep it from comingback. But age and other fac-tors can weaken theimmune system, allowingthe varicella virus to resur-face as Shingles, a painful

rash that’s also called her-pes zoster. This is why youcan only get Shingles ifyou’ve had chickenpox.

■ You cannot get Shin-gles from someone whohas it.

Shingles cannot be passedto another person by sneez-ing, coughing, or casualcontact. The only way toget Shingles is by first hav-ing chickenpox.

However, if a person hasnever had chickenpox andhas direct contact with theShingles rash when it is stillblistering, he or she can getchickenpox, which can laterresurface as Shingles.

It’s a simple fact that yourimmune system can weakenwith age and your chancesof developing the Shinglesrash increase as you getolder. Vaccination is notrecommended for peoplewho are allergic to any of

the ingredients inZOSTAVAX (Zoster Vac-cine Live), and people whohave a suppressed immunesystem or have specifichealth conditions.

■ One in five peoplewho get Shingles willexperience long-termnerve pain.

Most people recover fromthe nerve pain of Shinglesas the rash heals. But one infive people who developShingles will experiencepostherpetic neuralgia, orPHN–nerve pain that candevelop even after the rashheals, which can range frommild to severe and debilitat-ing. This nerve pain can lastfrom a few months to sever-al years.

Out of every four patientswho get Shingles, one per-son will experience one ormore complications, someof which may be serious.


AN AVERAGE case of Shingles can look like on theback.

AN EXAMPLE of a typical Shingles rash on the arm.

IN SEVERE cases, Shingles blisters can occuraround the eye and sometimes in it. This can lead toeye infections and even some vision loss.

IN THIS close-up of the Shingles rash, you can seethat the rash develops into blisters, similar to those ofchickenpox.

Learning about Shingles


Why this crab’s blood could save your lifeBy KIERON MONKSFor CNN

During World WarTwo, soldierslearned to feartreatment as muchas enemy bullets.

Unsanitary conditions andequipment in field hospitalsmade open wounds a breed-ing ground for bacteria thatkilled thousands, particular-ly the fast-acting and barelydetectable gram-negativestrains that caused toxicshock syndrome, meningi-tis, and typhoid.

Today, vast improvementsin medical hygiene havegreatly reduced the odds ofpatients being poisoned onthe treatment table. And oursafety is protected by anunlikely source — thebright blue blood of thehorseshoe crab.

The helmet-shaped crea-ture has developed a uniquedefense to compensate forits vulnerability to infectionin shallow waters. Whenfaced with toxins producedby bacteria, amebocyte cellsin the blood — colored blueby their copper-based mole-cules — identify and con-geal around the invadingmatter, trapping the threatinside a gel-like seal thatprevents it from spreading.

Nature’s method is nowutilized on a grand scale.Over 600,000 crabs are cap-tured each year during thespring mating season, to“donate” around thirty per-cent of their blood in ahandful of specialist facili-ties in the United States andAsia. The blood is worth$60,000 a gallon in a globalindustry valued at $50 mil-lion a year.

An extract has been usedin the industry-standardlimulus amebocyte lysate(LAL) contamination testsince the 1970s — replacinga rabbit-based system.

Forty-five minutes of expo-sure to the crab’s blood isenough to reveal endotoxinsfrom gram-negative bacteriawhich otherwise avoiddetection, and is sensitiveenough to isolate a threatthe equivalent size of agrain of sand in a swim-ming pool. The U.S. Foodand Drug Administration(FDA) requires that intra-venous drugs and any med-ical equipment coming incontact with the body mustfirst pass through the crab’sblood, from needles to sur-gical implants includingpacemakers. As a result,thousands more of us sur-vive such procedures.

The method is establishedbut undergoes constantimprovement, according toJohn Dubczak, GeneralManager at Charles RiverLaboratories, which manu-

factures and globally dis-tributes LAL products.

Charles River has adaptedthe system into a moreresource-efficient, handheldkit requiring as little as fivepercent of the blood solu-tion. Such systems can beapplied outside the lab andbreak new frontiers, such ason a trip the InternationalSpace Station.

“The test was used todetermine if certain types ofbacteria were present onvarious space station sur-faces,” said Norman Wain-wright, the facility’s direc-tor of Research and Devel-opment. Further, the systemcould “help perform biolog-ical studies necessary for anextended human presence inspace, from crew health andspacecraft environmentalstudies to the search for lifeelsewhere in the solar sys-

tem.”The blood is finding other

uses on Earth too. Japanesescientists have devised atest for fungal infectionswith it, and further researchis developing anti-viral andanti-cancer treatmentthrough the same principleof isolating and trappingthreats.

As the applications andtheir value multiplies,efforts have increased todevelop alternative tests,rather than rely on harvest-ing the crabs.

One approach uses anelectronic chip that providesan alert when in contactwith contaminants.

Another system using liq-uid crystals, developed bythe University of Wiscon-sin-Madison, could offersimilar detection ability atlower cost.

The blood is crucial forhuman health issues but thebiomedical industry needsto keep the populationsteady.

The urgency may increasewith reports of horseshoecrab numbers declining, fora variety of reasons, withthe world’s largest popula-tion in Delaware Bayreportedly reduced bybetween 75 percent and 90percent in the last 15 years.

Although there are welfareprocedures in harvesting theblood, between 10 to 30percent of donor crabs diein the process.

One recent study showedthat survivors are alsoimpaired after release andoften incapable of mating,further threatening the pop-ulation.

“It’s difficult because theblood is crucial for human

health issues but the bio-medical industry needs tokeep the population steady,”says Christopher Chabot, abiology professor at Ply-mouth State, who led thestudy. “We suggest decreas-ing the time they are out ofwater, and maintaining anambient temperature fortransportation ... there is alesser mortality rate if youkeep them cool.”

Ultimately, Chabotbelieves an alternative isnecessary to reduce thestrain on the population,through both conservationprograms and the develop-ment of a synthetic substi-tute.

It is not clear what expirydate there is on the lifesav-ing services of the horse-shoe crab, but without itmedicine faces a return tothe dark ages.

NEARLY 50 years ago, scientists discovered the horseshoe crab’s clotting-response to bacterial toxins. Now, its blood is harvested in hugequantities, to be used in a test to ensure medical products are not contaminated.

By EDVIGEJEAN-FRANCOISCNN

A child throwing aball. On the face ofit, a simple act, butfor four-year oldHannah Mohn thisis a milestone.

Hannah was born with theneuromuscular diseasearthrogryposis, whichmakes her joints curve andmuscles extremely weak.She can’t lift her arms veryhigh without help.

“We knew about fivemonths into the pregnancythat something was notright,” says Hannah’s moth-er, Jennifer Mohn.

“We were told that theydid not believe that shewould survive birth and thatwe should really think aboutwhat we wanted done andmake arrangements for theday that she were to beborn.”

Hannah survived, but withsevere challenges and along road ahead.

Jennifer explains: “Whenwe saw my pediatrician ...for one of her first visits,she said even if her legsdon’t work well enough forher to walk, the biggestthing that we need to workon is making sure that herhands and arms are workingto the fullest extent, becauseif she has use of her handsand arms, she will be ableto care for herself. If shedoesn’t have the ability touse her legs, she can at leastuse a wheelchair. And thatstuck with me.”

Hannah’s chance at a nor-mal life came aged 18months, when she visitedthe dupont Hospital forChildren in Wilmington,Delaware — a leading hos-pital in the United States.She began using a devicethe hospital designed, calledthe “WREX” — roboticarms made from 3-D print-ing.

“WREX stands for Wilm-ington Robotic Exoskele-ton,” explains WhitneySample, a research designengineer at the hospital.“Most of the kids that wedeal with have neuromuscu-lar issues that affect theirability to raise their arms.So they have a lot of diffi-culty getting their hand totheir mouth, doing typicalactivities of daily living —combing their hair, scratch-ing their nose ... so it allowstheir arm to pretty muchfloat.”

The WREX uses specialelastic bands to give achild’s arm a weightlessfeeling. “The mechanism issimilar to how a luxo lampworks to make it ‘effortless’to move and position thehead of the lamp,” saysSample.

It’s a life-changing device,and one that’s benefittedhugely from 3-D printing.

Even after 25 yearsdesigning devices for thosewith disabilities, Sample

still gets emotional whenchildren he has helpedthank him for the differencehe’s making.

When one child was givena school assignment to writea story about their personalhero, they chose to writeabout Sample.

Arthrogryposis is a condi-tion that affects one in3,000 children born in theUnited States, according tothe American Association ofNeuromuscular and Electro-diagnostic Medicine. Thedupont Hospital for Chil-dren says it sees a littlemore than 30 new caseseach year.

“The next step, we think,

is when we could put smallmotors in these joints thatthe child would control witheither a twitch of the muscleor perhaps a laser. We don’tknow quite how might it becontrolled, but we see thatthat is the future of theWREX,” said Dr. WilliamMackenzie, chair of thehospital’s orthopedicsdepartment.

The device has helpedimprove Hannah’s move-ments, even when she is notusing it.

“The biggest change thatwe’ve seen is the ability forher to reach up higher andthe ability to sustain that,”says Jennifer. “Her elbows

are typically stuck at hersides and that’s where she’sbeen limited to raising herarms and reaching forthings.

“She’s gaining musclestrength in her arms that shehasn’t had. It definitelyteaches her about thingswith different textures andcolors, shapes and wherethings go and how thingswork.”

Teaching her, and openingup a future that knows nolimits.

“Up to this point therehasn’t been much that shehas let stop her. Whatever itis, she’s going to achieveit.”


Christopher R. Phillips, D.D.SCasey J Hammond, D.D.SMichael Rodriguez,D.D.S

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FOUR-YEAR-OLD Hannah Mohn uses a "robotic exoskeleton" to help lift herarms.

Robot exoskeletonlets girl lift her arms,reach for the stars


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