Wellness Words July 2011 Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Ryan Wille, B.S.Community Health Educator THE NEW FOOD PLATE In June of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the creation of MyPlate. MyPlate will replace the food pyramid, which provided the guidelines for a healthy diet for the past 20 years. Many people found the food pyramid hard to understand and the USDA felt it was time for a change.MyPlate has four colored sections representing fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins.Next to the plate is a smaller circle representing dairy products.The USDA believes that the new design is much simpler and will assist people in adapting healthy eating habits.More information on MyPlate can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov The USDA has also provided the following 10 Tips To A Great Plate.1. Balance Calories: The first step in managing your weight is to understand how many calories you need in a day. ChooseMyPlate.gov can assist people in determining calorie goals. Physical activity also helps to balance calories.2. Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less: Take the time to fully enjoy your food. Eating too fast may lead to consuming too many calories. Pay attention to hunger cues before, during and after meals.3. Avoid Oversized Portions: Portion out foods before you eat. Use smaller plates, bowls and glasses.4. Foods To Eat More Often: Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. These foods have the necessary nutrients for a healthy diet and should be the basis for meals and snacks.5. Make Half Of Your Plate Fruits & Vegetables: Choose red, orange, and dark-green vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, along with other vegetables. Add fruit to meals as part of main dishes, side dishes or desserts.6. Switch To Fat-Free Or Low-Fat (1%) Milk: These products have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but fewer calories and less saturated fat.7. Make Half Of Your Grains Whole Grains: To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product. For example, eating whole-grain bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice.8. Foods To Eat Less Often: Cut back on foods that are high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt. This includes cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies, sweetened drinks, pizza and fatty meals like ribs, sausages, bacon, and hot dogs. Use these foods as occasional treats, not everyday foods.9. Compare Sodium In Foods: Use the Nutrition Facts labels to choose lower sodium versions of foods like soup, bread and frozen meals. Select canned foods labeled “low sodium,” “reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.”10. Drink Water Instead Of Sugary Drinks: Cut calories by drinking water or unsweetened drinks. Soda, energy drinks and sports drinks contain added sugars and calories. For more information, contact your health care provider, Littauer’s Outpatient Nutritional Counseling at 773-5413, or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Littauer secures new technology for ambulance services Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeLittauer secures new technology for ambulance servicesNathan Littauer Hospital was recently awarded a grant from the Dominic Ferraioli Foundation to purchase wireless technology/modems for our Fulton County ambulances. This technology will allow real time cardiac data to be streamed into our Emergency Care Center where doctors will analyze the data and begin the patient’s care plan. Of all medical conditions reported in Fulton County, cardiac, stroke and respiratory-related are among the highest so this technology will save time and save lives in our area.
HOSPITAL WELCOMES DR. PAUL HUSSON Posted on July 14, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota Pike Dr. Paul Husson joins the medical team at LittauerNathan Littauer Hospital announced today the appointment of Paul J. Husson Jr, MD to their medical staff. Dr. Husson is a Urologist and recently completed his residency at Albany Medical Center. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Husson join our team. He is highly-regarded in the medical community at Albany Medical Center,” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital President and CEO. “We are very proud to introduce him to our patients.”With Dr. Husson’s specialized training, the hospital will be offering a new cutting edge procedure, Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery. The surgery uses small incisions resulting in shorter recovery times. As a member of the American Urologic Association, Dr. Husson will be able to offer surgical and medical solutions to a host of urological issues, including: kidney stones, urinary tract infections, incontinence and screenings for prostrate, bladder and kidney cancers.According to the American Urological Association (AUA), 30 million individuals live with urological issues in the US, greatly affecting their quality of life and overall lifespan.Dr. Husson, an Albany native, is pleased to be practicing at Nathan Littauer explaining, “I like being in a setting that allows me to work closely with people. Working at Nathan Littauer Hospital will give me the opportunity to connect with my patients. I do not want people to feel like a number.” He concluded, “Working in Fulton County really excites me.”Dr. Husson will be seeing patients out of the Gloversville Primary Care Center. To schedule an appointment patients are urged to call: 775-4133.
Littauer offers heat-related illness information to local coaches Posted on July 13, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeNLH aims to keep local children safe while participating in summer sports.Littauer’s Sports Medicine and Rehab Team will host a seminar Nov 30.Gloversville, NY — As summer sports camps start throughout the area, Nathan Littauer Hospital’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team is reminding local sports teams about the dangers of heat-related illness and dehydration. The hospital is offering a free 45 minute seminar “Beat the Heat” to coaches in the area to address the issue of heat-related illness and dehydration. The program, headed by William Oates, Director of the Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Team and STOP Sport Injuries liaison explains, “The goal here is to make sure our kids stay safe as the temperatures rise.” He added, “We have a real passion to keep our kids safe while they are on the field. With heat-related illnesses on the rise, we wanted to give as much information to local teams as possible.” Classes can be arranged at the hospital or at a central location.As a physical therapist and former athlete Mr. Oates said, “At this time of the year we are very concerned about dehydration. The risk that an athlete will become dehydrated, or suffer a more serious heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, is always present, but increases dramatically when the heat index is high and we have hot, humid conditions.”Studies show that between 50 and 75 percent of girls and boys attending summer sports camps are significantly dehydrated, according to three University of Connecticut studies. The studies found that 25 to 30 percent of the campers studied showed signs of serious dehydration, putting them at increased risk of heat-related illnesses. (Uconn, 2006)Littauer warns that having sports drinks and water available are not enough. According to research, campers were dehydrated despite the availability of water and sports drinks, frequent breaks and coaches’ encouragement to stay hydrated. Oates said, “What a team needs is a hydration plan.”“The children, ages 9 to 16, also suffered significant dehydration despite an overwhelming display of knowledge and positive attitudes about healthy hydration habits”, said Douglas Casa, a Certified Athletic Trainer and Director of Athletic Training Education at U Conn and lead researcher in the studies.“Most campers thought they were doing a pretty good job of staying hydrated during the day, but their thirst level during practice was not a good indicator of their hydration status,” Casa said. “Obviously, there’s a gap between their knowledge and their actual behavior.” (Momsteams.com)“Unfortunately you cannot use thirst as an indicator of dehydration.” explained Oates. “Dehydration can occur before an athlete gets thirsty. We want young athletes to be well-hydrated so they can avoid athletic performance issues or worse, be at risk for heat-related illnesses”Studies also show that heat-related deaths are rising. The critical importance of hydration for athletes was highlighted by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research’s Annual Survey of Football Injuries, which reported 13 heat-related deaths among middle school and high school football players in 2006, the highest total since 1936. (UNC.edu)“Now there are even apps on Iphones and smart phones to address dehydration.” explained Mr. Oates. To see get more information about the “Beat the Heat” program at Littauer please contact William Oates at 773-5540.Some facts:* Dehydration can begin when an athlete loses as little as 1 percent of body weight. In a 70-pound child, that is less than 1 pound of weight lost through sweat; (University of Missouri Extension)* Dehydration effects performance: as little as a 2% decrease in body weight from fluid loss (e.g. 1.2 lb for a 60-lb athlete) can lead to a significant decrease in muscular strength and stamina; (Bar-OR, Dotan, “Voluntary hypohydration in 10 to 12 year old boys”).* Children don’t tolerate heat and humidity as well as adults and get dehydrated very easily; (Berning and Nelson, “Nutrition for Sport and Exercise”, 2005)* Children have a lower sweating rate; (Berning and Nelson, “Nutrition for Sport and Exercise”, 2005)* Children experience greater heat production in exercise and has less ability to transfer this heat from muscles to the skin; (Berning and Nelson, “Nutrition for Sport and Exercise”, 2005)* Dehydration is common in kids playing sports. (Bar-OR, Dotan, “Voluntary hypohydration in 10 to 12 year old boys”).XXX About Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home:Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home located in upstate New York. Littauer provides the finest in state-of-the-art technology and a caring, dedicated staff of health care professionals. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. The Littauer medical staff brings amazing technical expertise and competence to the residents of Fulton County and the surrounding communities. To learn more, please visit www.nlh.org.
Fulton County Federal Credit Union Cares for Kids Posted on July 1, 2011August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeBirthing Center and Pediatric manager, Kelly Hartz (pictured far left) accepts a check from (left to right) Timothy R. Myers, President/CEO of Fulton County Family Credit Union, Vince LaPorta, Chairman of the Board, Deb Shepard, VP of Marketing Business Development, and NLH’s Susan Kiernan, VP of Development looks on.Nathan Littauer Hospital accepted a donation this month from the Fulton County Federal Credit Union. The donation of $2,000 is earmarked for the hospital’s pediatric unit. The donation is the culmination of a campaign the Fulton County Federal Credit Union participates in called “Credit Unions Care for Kids”, the bi-annual statewide community involvement program of the Credit Union Association of New York. For ten years, FCFCU has been selling a plush toy and donor acknowledgement cards to benefit Nathan Littauer Hospital. The staff at the Credit Union sells the plush toy and explains their purpose towards helping children. “This donation is truly a tribute to the Credit Union staff and the countless credit union members who support our hospital. We are honored that Fulton County Federal Credit Union would enlist their members in such a project to benefit our hospital and ultimately the children of Fulton County.” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Hospital CEO and President. This donation will be used for the pediatric unit. Accepting the donation was Kelly Hartz, Manager of the Birthing Center and Pediatric unit. She explained, “As many families can tell you, being in a hospital with a child is a particularly stressful time. Donations like this allow us to make their environs more comfortable and therapeutic.”
