Wellness Words September 2019 Posted on September 16, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Ovarian CancerSeptember is ovarian cancer awareness month! Did you know that ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer that affects the female reproductive system in the United States?What Is Ovarian Cancer?According to the American Cancer Society, cancer develops when cells in the body start to grow out of control. Ovarian cancer occurs in the cells of the ovaries, which are reproductive glands found only in women.The ovaries are made up of three kinds of cells including epithelial, germ and stromal cells. Each of these cells can develop into cancerous tumors. The most common types of ovarian cancer include epithelial ovarian tumors, germ cell tumors, and ovarian stromal tumors.Know the Risk Factors The American Cancer Society lists several risk factors that can increase a woman’s chance of developing ovarian cancer including:Age – As you age your risk for developing ovarian cancer increases. Ovarian cancer rarely occurs in women under the age of 40 and almost half of all ovarian cancers affect women age 63 or older.Weight – If you are overweight or obese, you have a greater risk of developing ovarian cancer as well as other types of cancer.Age of Pregnancy – If you have children later in life (after age 35) or do not have a full-term pregnancy your risk for ovarian cancer increases.Hormone Replacement – If you take estrogen after menopause, there is an increased risk of ovarian cancer, especially if taken alone for at least five years.Family History – If your mother, sister or daughter has or has previously had ovarian cancer, you have a greater risk of developing it, too.Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian CancerCommon signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pain in your belly, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly and urinary problems such as urgency or frequency. Symptoms are more likely to occur when the cancer has spread, however they can also occur in early-stage ovarian cancer.These symptoms may be present in women who do not have ovarian cancer, so it’s important to pay attention to any symptoms that are out of the ordinary or begin to occur more frequently. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer may include fatigue, upset stomach, back pain, pain during sex, constipation, changes in your period, and swelling in the belly with weight loss.Protection and DetectionThe American Cancer Society recommends that women receive regular health exams including a pelvic exam for early detection of ovarian cancer. Women with ovarian cancer found in the early stages have a greater rate of survival than those found in the later stages.If you experience any signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer, make sure to report them to your healthcare professional. If you’re at high risk for developing cancer, talk with your doctor – they may suggest testing to help find or rule out ovarian cancer.For more information on ovarian cancer, contact your healthcare provide or call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words August 2019 Posted on August 13, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant “Healthy” Starts In The GardenAccording to Harvard Health and the University of New Hampshire, there are many reasons to grow your own food! Gardening can be beneficial to your health, the environment, and can even help save you a few extra dollars throughout the summer and fall months.Gardening For Nutrition When you grow your own food, you not only increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, but you also consume a greater amount of nutrients. Prior to being sold in grocery stores, produce goes through a long process of being shipped and delivered across the country, and is not always picked at peak times. During the shipment and delivery process, fruits and vegetables often lose many beneficial nutrients.If you grow your own produce, you’ll be able to pick your fruits and vegetables when they are ripe, providing you with fresh, flavorful options that are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to fuel your body. Having your own garden also allows you to eliminate pesticides and other contaminants that are used on grocery store produce.Gardening For Physical ActivityAccording to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should get at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week as well as two days of muscle-strengthening activities each week. The CDC considers gardening, including weeding, digging, hoeing, raking and planting a moderate aerobic activity and therefore can help improve heart health, flexibility and body strength. Regular physical activity can also improve your body’s immune system, help decrease stress and heart rate, and boost your mood.Vitamin D An outdoor garden is a great way to increase your sun exposure and get more Vitamin D! Vitamin D is important for maintaining strong bones and teeth and can help protect against certain chronic diseases. The CDC recommends always protecting your skin when in the sun by using a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 before going outside.Help The EnvironmentShipping and delivering produce throughout the country requires long travel times that rely on fossil fuels and increases pollution of the environment. If you grow a garden you can help reduce transportation and decrease the harmful effects of pollution.Save Money While it may seem costly to start your own garden, in the long run it can actually help you save money. According to the UNH, buying seeds, plants and a few supplies to maintain your garden can yield a great amount of produce in the summer and fall months. This allows you to avoid those extra charges tacked on to produce for growing, harvesting, shipment and delivery.Spice Up Your Meals The CDC recommends filling half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. There are endless amounts of produce to grow in an at-home or community-based garden, and many ways to use your fruits and vegetables during meal time.Try these simple ways to add your fresh-grown produce from the garden to your meals:Zucchini Noodles – Instead of pasta, use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles and substitute them in your favorite pasta dish.Summer Salads – Put a little summer twist on your salad by topping fresh greens with strawberries, blueberries or blackberries.Cauliflower Pizza Crust – Try making a cauliflower pizza crust with fresh-from-the-garden cauliflower, a couple of eggs, grated low-fat parmesan and low-fat mozzarella cheese, along with your favorite seasonings.Kale Chips – Bake kale in the oven with a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper for a nutritious, crispy snack.Extend Your Harvest While many think that late summer means the end of gardening, it’s actually the perfect time to plant cool-weather vegetables. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, many vegetables thrive just as well in cooler weather than in warmer weather, and some even taste better after a frost. Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsnips, carrots and brussel sprouts get sweeter from cooler weather and can survive in the ground longer without much harm from the cold.To determine the best plants to grow, check the “days to harvest” information on the back of seed packets. In general, your vegetables should be grown just prior to the first frost of the season. The Farmer’s Almanac lists several fast-growing vegetables that are ideal for late-summer planting including:Squash and ZucchiniCucumbersLeaf LettucesRadishesSnap Peas and Snow PeasSpinachBroccoliIf you’d like to learn more about gardening or are preparing for a fall harvest, visit the United States Department of Agriculture’s website for up-to-date resources at https://www.nal.usda.gov/home-gardening.For more information on good health, contact HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120 or email healthlink@nlh.org. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words July 2019 Posted on July 15, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Kidney Health What are the kidneys and why are they important?The kidneys are two bean–shaped organs located below the rib cage that lay on each side of the spine. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), these organs are part of the urinary tract and play an important role in filtering blood and removing waste from the body. Healthy, properly functioning kidneys filter about 150 quarts of blood every day or about a half cup every minute.The kidneys work to remove acid produced by the body and aid in maintaining a normal balance of water, salts and minerals like sodium and calcium in your blood. If this balance is disrupted, nerves, muscles and other tissues in the body may not work properly. Aside from filtering blood and removing waste, the kidneys also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells and keep bones strong and healthy.Common Kidney Problems Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure are two common health problems involving the kidneys. The NIDDK defines chronic kidney disease as a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and unable to filter blood and eliminate wastes properly. Often, this disease gets worse over time and can lead to a buildup of waste in the body.Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to function and is usually diagnosed when kidney function has dropped below 15% percent of normal ability. If kidney failure occurs, a person usually requires treatment to replace the job of the kidneys. Treatment may include some form of dialysis where a machine filters the blood, or a kidney transplant to replace a damaged kidney with a healthy one.Keeping Your Kidneys HealthyYou are more likely to develop kidney disease if you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, so it’s important to prevent and manage these conditions. To keep your kidneys healthy, the NIDDK recommends:Making nutritious food choices – Choose heart healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, cut back on added sugars and reduce salt intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day.Add physical activity into your routine – Aim to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity or more on most days of the week. If you are not currently active, make sure to check with your healthcare professional before starting a new activity routine.Maintain a healthy weight – This will aid in preventing many chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.Get enough sleep – Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow your body to rest and recharge.Quit smoking – Talk with your healthcare provider and make a plan to stop smoking.Limit alcohol – Drinking alcohol can lead to weight gain and increase blood pressure. If you drink, limit yourself to one drink per day. This would equal about 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.Reduce your stress – Managing stress can help improve emotional and physical health. Try a yoga class or relaxation technique like deep breathing.Manage diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease – If you have any of these chronic conditions, it’s important to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check to prevent kidney damage. Talk with your healthcare professional about where your numbers should be and make sure to take all medications as prescribed.If you would like to learn more, attend a special program entitled ‘Kidney Health’ presented by Dr. Soo Gil Lee, Nephrologist of American Renal Associates Dialysis Center on July 24 in Littauer’s Auditorium.You are invited to join us for a buffet-style luncheon at 11:30 for $6 or attend the presentation only at 12 noon at no charge. To attend, call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120 or email healthlink@nlh.org. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words June 2019 Posted on June 17, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Breathe Easy All Summer LongAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one out of seven American adults suffers from some form of chronic lung disease. The two most common chronic lung diseases that affect Americans include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 14.8 million cases of COPD and 25 million cases of asthma across the United States.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to a group of chronic, or lifelong, lung conditions that block the airways and make it more difficult to breathe. COPD includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. According to the CDC, common symptoms of COPD include frequent coughing or wheezing, excess phlegm or mucus, shortness of breath and trouble taking deep breaths.AsthmaThe American Lung Association (ALA) defines asthma as a chronic lung condition that causes swollen and inflamed airways, making it harder to move air into and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, certain things in the environment can worsen your symptoms, causing an ‘asthma attack.’ While most people develop asthma as a child, asthma can begin at any age. Sometimes symptoms can lessen for a period of time and develop more severely again later in life.Seasonal Effects With summer weather just around the corner, it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of hot and humid weather conditions, high pollen levels and grassy, weedy environments on your lungs. For someone with chronic lung problems like COPD or asthma, the heat, humidity, grass and weeds that go hand-in-hand with summer can greatly affect the lungs, causing a flare up of symptoms.According to the ALA, inhaling hot air can increase inflammation of the airways and trigger the onset of respiratory symptoms, especially in those with COPD or asthma. Similarly, high pollen levels and grassy areas can act as irritants for your lungs, constricting the airways and making it more difficult to breathe.PreventionIf you have COPD or asthma, the ALA recommends these tips for minimizing flare-ups during the summer:Check the weather and pollen forecasts to avoid spending too much time outside during a heat wave or time of high pollen levels.Keep out of the sun by wearing loose, cool clothing and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. If you plan to go outside, avoid staying in the sun for long periods of time.Pack a bag of essentials to carry with you at all times. Make sure to bring your quick–relief medications with you.Drink plenty of water to prevent from becoming dehydrated. If you would like to learn more, attend a special program entitled ‘Breathe Easy’ presented by Littauer’s Pulmonary Rehab Services on June 26 in Littauer’s Auditorium.You are invited to join us for a buffet-style luncheon at 11:30 for $6 or attend the presentation only at 12 noon at no charge. To attend, call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120 or email healthlink@nlh.org. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words May 2019 Posted on May 13, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant ArthritisAccording to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 54 million adults in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis, affecting 26% of women and 19.1% of men. Due to its wearing effects, about half of those with arthritis are limited in their abilities to perform everyday tasks. What is Arthritis?The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases defines arthritis as joint inflammation. However, the term “arthritis” can be used to classify any disorder that affects the joints. A joint occurs where two bones meet, such as your ankle, knee or elbow.There are many different kinds of arthritis but the most common forms include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and reactive arthritis. Causes of ArthritisThe cause of arthritis depends on the type of arthritis a person is diagnosed with. Some arthritic conditions, like osteoarthritis, are caused by everyday wear and tear on the body while others, like rheumatoid arthritis, are caused by a flaw in the body’s immune system.Research shows that certain genes can also increase the risk for developing arthritis. If you have a gene connected to arthritis, often times something in your environment will trigger the onset of the condition. Environmental triggers may include a virus, a stressful situation or an injury. Symptoms of ArthritisCommon symptoms of arthritis include:Pain, redness, heat or swelling in your jointsDifficulty moving aroundFeverWeight lossTrouble breathingRash or itch Many of the symptoms of arthritis can also be symptoms of other conditions. If you experience any of the above symptoms, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider.Living with ArthritisArthritis is a chronic condition, meaning it is long-term and cannot be cured. If you are diagnosed with arthritis, there are many things you can do to help manage your symptoms including:Educating yourself: Learn more about your condition and the steps you can take to be a good self–manager. HealthLink Littauer offers two evidenced-based programs that will help you learn the tools to better manage your arthritis including the Chronic Disease Self–Management Program and the Pain Self–Management Program. These cover everything from nutrition and physical activity to stress management and problem solving.Taking medications as prescribed: Taking medications exactly as they are prescribed can help prevent complications and promote effectiveness.Exercising: Exercise can help reduce joint pain and stiffness.Using heat and cold therapy: Use of heat or cold therapies can reduce joint pain and swelling.Practicing relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques may help relax your muscles and reduce pain.Utilizing splints, braces or other assistive devices: Splints and braces aid in supporting your joints while assistive devices can help you perform everyday tasks like putting on shoes or opening a jar.Remember to speak with your healthcare provider about treatment plans and options. They can give you the best plan of action to manage your condition.For more information, contact your healthcare provider or HealthLink Littauer. If you are interested in attending a Chronic Disease Self–Management or Pain Self–Management Program, call us at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center on 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words April 2019 Posted on April 15, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Testicular Cancer AwarenessWhat Is Testicular Cancer?According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer occurs when cells in the testicles begin to grow out of control. The testicles are made up of many different kinds of cells, all of which can develop into one or more forms of cancer. Therefore, it’s important to know the type of cell testicular cancer begins in as well as the type of cancer.There are multiple types of testicular cancer. However, the most common type is a germ cell tumor. The American Cancer Society categorizes germ cell tumors into two different forms including seminomas and non-seminomas.Seminomas are more likely to occur in men ages 30 – 50 and usually grow and spread more slowly than non-seminomas. Non-seminomas are more likely to occur in men anytime from their late teens into their early 30’s and usually grow and spread more rapidly than seminomas. Other less common forms of testicular cancer include stromal tumors, Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors. What Are The Risk Factors For Testicular Cancer?A risk factor is anything that changes your chance of developing a disease – some risk factors can be controlled like diet and lifestyle, while others, like age or family history, cannot. A few risk factors that make men more likely to develop testicular cancer include:An undescended testicle – when one or both testicles fail to move from the belly into the scrotum before birth.Family history of testicular cancer – having a father or brother with testicular cancer.HIV infection.Carcinoma in situ of the testicle – a condition in which cells look abnormal under a microscope but have not spread outside of where they are formed.Having previously had testicular cancer.Age – about half of all testicular cancers occur in men ages 20 – 34.Certain races/ethnicities – testicular cancer is four to five times more common in white men than African-American or Asian-American men.Signs & SymptomsSome men have no signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, but others may experience: A lump on the testicleA swollen testicle or an increase in size of the testiclePainHeaviness or aching in the lower belly or scrotumSore breasts or an increase in breast sizeThere are a number of non-cancerous conditions that cause similar signs and symptoms of testicular cancer. If you experience any of the symptoms noted, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Prognosis & PreventionA prognosis is the chance of recovery or outcome of a health condition. The prognosis for testicular cancer depends on the type of testicular cancer and the stage it is in. Fortunately, testicular cancer can usually be cured with treatment.In general, the sooner you diagnose cancer, the better the outcome. Be sure to visit your healthcare provider on a regular basis and contact them if you experience any signs or symptoms of testicular cancer.For more information on testicular cancer, talk to your healthcare provider or call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center on 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
