Wellness Words August 2017 Posted on August 14, 2017 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson, RN BSCommunity Health EducatorThe Sensitive GutWhen your digestive system, also known as your gut, is running smoothly, you tend not to think about it. Once trouble begins, your gut, like a squeaky wheel, suddenly demands your attention. According to the CDC, an estimated one in four people has frequent digestive issues. Additionally, aging takes a toll on the GI tract. Aging muscles, including digestive muscles, contract more slowly and move their contents at a more leisurely pace.A “sensitive stomach” is a term commonly used to describe a range of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The actual stomach is a hollow sac and is only one part of the GI tract. Digestion in the upper gut actually starts in the mouth and proceeds through the esophagus to the stomach and then to the small intestine. The lower gut proceeds from the second part of the small intestine through the colon (bowel) to the anus. Digestive problems can be found in any of these organs.Some common digestive issues include but are not limited to:Acid Reflux or GERD: This commonly presents with heartburn. Symptoms worsen after eating certain foods or drinks or when lying flat.Gastritis: Symptoms may include gnawing stomach pain, indigestion, bloating, nausea and belching.Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A condition commonly marked by abnormal bowel habits (episodes of diarrhea or constipation) with abdominal bloating and pain.Diverticular Disease: Refers to diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis presents with bloating, lower abdominal discomfort and constipation. Diverticulitis symptoms include abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, nausea, vomiting and fever.Food Intolerance: Some of the more common intolerances include…1. Lactose Intolerance – found in milk products.2. Gluten Intolerance – found in wheat and other grains.3. Fructose Malabsorption – found in fruits, fruit juices and some other drinks.4. Sorbitol Intolerance – a type of sugar found in diet foods and drinks and sugarless gum.5. Nut Intolerance – may include a specific nut or all nuts. Nuts are found in many products and are difficult to keep out of your diet.There are many other conditions that present in your gut. Sometimes they are called “functional” which means there is no disease or abnormal structural problem. But don’t be discouraged if your doctor can’t find anything wrong. Your symptoms are real and there are things you can do to improve your digestion.Eat smaller meals, but more often.Eat in a slow, relaxed manner.Remain upright after meals.Avoid bedtime snacks.Stay away from carbonated beverages.Learn the foods that trigger your symptoms and AVOID them.Lose weight if you need to.Check your medications with your physician or pharmacist. Ask if any of the medications could trigger or worsen your symptoms. Include all medications you take regularly, even over-the-counter medications.A sensitive gut can cause many unpleasant symptoms. If you have any questions, write your symptoms down and contact your health care provider.For more information, you may contact HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our new wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Littauer’s 21st “Images of a Woman” Women’s Wellness Conference is a healthy tradition Posted on July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer is hosting its 21st annual Women’s Wellness Conference, “Images of a Woman,” on Wednesday, August 9 at the Holiday Inn, 308 N. Comrie Ave., Johnstown. Two sessions are being offered: noon to 2:30 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m. This highly anticipated women’s conference has become a tradition in the community sharing good health for over 20 years.HealthLink Littauer is pleased to present Arsyl De Jesus, M.D. as the keynote speaker for this special event. Dr. De Jesus is a radiation oncologist with New York Oncology Hematology in Amsterdam. She will be sharing a very candid point of view in her presentation – “Attitude of Gratitude: Confessions of an Oncology Doctor.”Arsyl De Jesus, M.D. , Oncologist“I am pleased to have this opportunity to share a most personal and poignant side of cancer and cancer care. As a radiation oncologist, I am faced with pain, suffering and negativity every day,” states Dr. De Jesus. “I believe that we can lift ourselves and others when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I hope that by showing them how I cope with the challenges of caring for the sick, how I manage my day to day, I will be able to enlighten and inspire others.”Included at the event will be various vendors, massage therapy, reflexology, raffles and a buffet style meal. Seats are still available for this highly-anticipated woman’s conference, but call now to secure your seat. Tickets are $35. You can reserve by visiting HealthLink Littauer at 2 Colonial Court in Johnstown or by calling (518) 736-1120.
Littauer celebrates World Breastfeeding Week with an event on Aug. 2 Posted on July 26, 2017 by Dakota PikeThe Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer Hospital, together with Lactation Consultant Nancy Quinlan, RN, IBCLC is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, (Aug. 1 through 7), with a special event for families. On Aug. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., Littauer will host a special evening for lactation supporters, new or expectant moms with their families. The event will be held at the Littauer Surgical Center, located in the hospital at 99 E. State St., in Gloversville. Refreshments will be served and mothers are welcome to share their stories and socialize.“This is Littauer’s way of reaching out to the community to celebrate the wellness breastfeeding offers new babies and mothers,” said Cheryl McGrattan, Littauer VP of Marketing and Communication.The theme for 2017 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) has been announced: Sustaining Breastfeeding Together. ILCA is partnering with organizations to promote the role that breastfeeding plays in valuing our wellbeing. The Birthing Center at Littauer supports Sustaining Breastfeeding Together.For further information about the event, or to schedule a consultation, call Nancy Quinlan at (518) 775-4101.Littauer Lactation Consultant Nancy Quinlan, RN, IBCLC serving cake at last year’s World Breastfeeding Week Celebration at NLH
Littauer is designated an ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center Posted on July 26, 2017 by Dakota PikeNew lung cancer screening at Littauer can save lives– Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home has been designated a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology (ACR).The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation is a voluntary program that recognizes facilities that have committed to practice safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.“It has been scientifically proven that early detection saves lives,” states Littauer’s Chief of Radiology, Dr. John Mastrangelo. “This low-dose lung screening has so much potential, and is a life-saving technology we are using here at Littauer.”According to Dr. Mastrangelo, the benefits of the low-dose chest CT allows for earlier detection identifying questionable sites that are overlooked by x-rays. Earlier detection allows for better treatment options and a better chance of survival.“It’s good to know we have an exceptionally skilled staff here at Littauer and we work well together as a team,” continues Dr. Mastrangelo. “Low-dose chest CT’s are saving lives on a daily basis and the scan takes about ten seconds.”No one understands this better than Priscilla Person, Littauer’s diagnostic imaging office coordinator, who lost two close family members to lung cancer. Person has been a proponent of the low-dose lung screening and instrumental in advocating for this service, bringing its importance to the forefront at Littauer.“They were exhibiting no symptoms,” said Person. “By the time they were screened, it was too late and they only survived for weeks after their diagnosis.”In order to receive this elite distinction, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in computed tomography in the chest module, as well as undergo a rigorous assessment of its lung cancer screening protocol and infrastructure. Also required are procedures in place for follow-up patient care, such as counseling and smoking cessation programs.Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography scans, and appropriate follow-up care, significantly reduces lung cancer deaths. In December 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended screening of adults aged 55 to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cancer killer – taking the lives of more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.The ACR, founded in 1924, is one of the largest and most influential medical associations in the United States. The ACR devotes its resources to making imaging and radiation therapy safe, effective and accessible to those who need it. Its 36,000 members include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.For more information about the Lung Cancer Screening Center designation, visit: acr.org/Quality-Safety/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Center. To find out if you’re a candidate for low-dose lung cancer screening, call Littauer Diagnostic Imaging at (518) 773-5520.Priscilla Person, left, Littauer’s diagnostic imaging office coordinator and Donna Boswell, Littauer Senior CT Tech
Wellness Words July 2017 Posted on July 24, 2017July 25, 2017 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson, RN BSCommunity Health EducatorTicks: Summer Pests With Serious ConsequencesSummer has arrived in all its glory. We relish the warm weather and the many outdoor activities it allows. However, we must also contend with some of the pests of the season. Bugs and flying insects can become very annoying, bees and wasps are often frightening, and we won’t even talk about ants!There is another common summer pest than can be much more than a nuisance. Certain species of ticks found in our area can carry Lyme and other diseases. Cornell University researchers published a recent study that found Lyme disease in the Northeastern U.S. is rising at significant rates. This disease can be severe and sometimes fatal, but there are steps we can take to protect ourselves from coming into contact with these summer pests.Ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They also cling to tall grasses, brush and shrubs no more than 12-18 inches off the ground. Ticks are most prevalent from April through September with August and September being peak season. There are many species of ticks but the black legged tick is the one that carries Lyme disease. These ticks are about the size of a poppy seeds to sesame seeds. They are much smaller than the also common dog-tick.In order to protect ourselves from ticks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:Wear light colored long pants and long sleeved shirts, closed toe shoes, and tuck the legs of the pants into your socks.Use bug spray – 20% or greater DEET is recommended. Do not spray repellent under clothes.Treat clothing with a product containing permethrin. Do not spray it on your skin.Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails and avoid dense woods and bushy areas.Avoid sitting directly on the ground or stone walls.Keep long hair tied back.Check for ticks after being outdoors. Do a full body check (especially warm areas) and bathe as soon as possible.Check your animals for ticks.How to safely remove a tick:Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick.After removing it, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or warm, soapy water.Dispose of the tick by submersing it in alcohol, wrap it in tape or flush it. DO NOT crush the tick with your fingers.If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms with a fever up to several weeks after being bitten, be sure to contact your physician. Tell your provider about your recent tick bite, when it occurred and where you most likely acquired the tick. It is important for you and your family to be tick-free to prevent Lyme disease. Being vigilant is your best prevention!For more information, contact your county health department, NYS Department of Health at nysdoh.gov, or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at nlh.org, or visit our new wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
