Healthy Living

Knowing your cholesterol levels and if they are too high doing something about them can limit the risk for developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and along with all other cardiovascular diseases they claim nearly 870,000 lives a year.

Cholesterol is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There are different types of cholesterol that can be measured by a blood test, and if needed treatment can include diet, exercise and medications.

Learn more about controlling your cholesterol at the Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) program this month.

Cardiologist Dr. Michael Fucci of Cardiology Associates in Norwich and at the Plainfield Backus Health Center will present “Healthy Hearts and Cholesterol: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Center.

The event is part of the ongoing Enjoy LIFE series, a partnership between Backus Hospital and the Plainfield Recreation Department to improve the health of eastern Connecticut residents.

Another upcoming event related to heart disease is the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic. People can get exercise while also raising awareness and money for research.

In addition to the walk, the event includes a health fair, free screenings from the Backus Mobile Health Resource Center, free lunch and entertainment. Participants can choose between a 2-mile or a 5-kilometer walking route.

To sign up to walk on the Backus Hospital team, call Shawn Mawhiney, Director of Communications at Backus, at 889-8331, ext. 2312 or e-mail him at smawhiney@wwbh.org.

By participating in either one of these events, you can help in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator with the The William W. Backus Hospital Education Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

With school back in session soon, children will be bringing home more than their homework – they will be carrying germs as well.

With students in close quarters, the odds of spreading germs are high. Droplets from sneezing or coughing can spread germs in a 3-foot radius.

To prevent the spread of colds and flu, parents should encourage children to use hand hygiene by covering their nose and mouth with the crook of their arm while coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands if needed.

There are other ways to combat the spread of colds and flu as well. Parents may want to provide a hand sanitizer for children to keep with them to use after coughing or blowing their nose, or touching surfaces at school.

But even the best hygiene practices might not stop your children from getting sick. To prevent the spread of illness, parents should keep their kids home if they have a fever, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.

Due to safety concerns with inappropriate dosing with over-the-counter cold medicines, parents should speak to their pediatricians before administering cold medicine. Rest and fluids are great for colds and flu, and fever reducers may be used.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending the flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older this year. The 2010-11 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N1 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. Most people will only need one shot this year, except for children who may not have been vaccinated last year.

Most adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body.

Flu vaccinations will be available at the Backus health centers and pediatricians’ offices, usually starting in October. Parents should check with their pediatrician to make sure all their children’s vaccinations are up to date.

It’s hard to tell how severe the flu season will be this year, and some of it is out of our control. But taking the necessary precautions can limit the chances of a severe outbreak.

Pam Harazim is a nurse epidemiologist at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Harazim or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

Eastern Connecticut has become an increasingly more diverse community in recent years. Norwich Public Schools report more than 30 different languages are spoken in the homes of students. There are more than 2,000 people that hail from Haiti and Cape Verde living in the Norwich area.

So how does that impact the care of patients at Backus Hospital? Language barriers and cultural differences present a significant challenge to the delivery of healthcare.

Not understanding the language can cause significant harm if a patient does not understand the discharge medications instructions. To illustrate this point, my family loves to travel. If we were vacationing in Russia and I became ill and hospitalized, how would I understand my discharge instructions for care or read the medicine bottle labels if they were written in Russian? How frightening it would be to be sick or injured and not understand what the healthcare providers are saying and doing!

So what is Backus Hospital doing to meet the challenge of providing culturally competent care to this increasingly diverse patient population?

First, we have two certified medical translation services in place: Cyracom phone interpreter service, where a dual handset phone device is brought to the bedside, and there is a three-way conversation – the healthcare provider, the patient, and the certified medical interpreter.

The other service is MARTTI (My Access to Real-Time Trusted Interpreter) a two-way visual interpreter service. Both are immediately accessible 24 hours a day, and interpreters of over 100 languages are available. These two services have literally become life-savers and help avoid serious miscommunications.

Second, we have established a Cultural Diversity Council, comprised of 13 hospital staff members. The mission of the Council is to be a resource to address issues that arise and to provide education to the staff and community about customs, health beliefs, and practices of the different cultural groups we serve. Adapting to different beliefs and practices requires flexibility, a willingness to learn, and a respect for other viewpoints.

Third, we are hosting a Multicultural Health Fair called “Connecting with Cultures” that will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the entry level conference rooms at the hospital.

This promises to be a fun and fascinating event, open to everyone in the community. There will be representatives from more than 20 cultures, with informational handouts on healthcare customs and recipes, and interesting displays at each table.

We are seeking volunteer representatives to sit at the tables for 2-hour shifts during the fair. For information or to volunteer to represent your culture, please call (860) 889-8331, ext 2495.

Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator with the Backus Education Department. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

Good news: You are ready to go home from the hospital. The doctor talks to you about how you are doing, the medications you will be taking and who to make follow-up appointments with.

Next the nurse comes in. She gives more instructions, including a list of medications. You get dressed and go home, probably tired and still not feeling 100 percent, and you think “What now?”

Now you have to remember all of the information you were provided before you left the hospital. What was my diagnosis? How often do I take the new medication? Do I take it with food, or before I eat?

Discharge instructions are vitally important when you leave the hospital. They are the moment of transition, when your healthcare provider places your health back into your hands.

The goal is to make sure that you have all of the information needed to make a successful transition.

This may seem like an easy task. Can’t it all just be written down? Writing it down does help. But, the information has to be written so it makes sense to you, is legible and not too long.

Another thing that helps is to use the buddy system. A friend or family member who also hears the information can help fill in details later.

At Backus Hospital, we have been working as a team to improve our discharge instructions. Research shows that patients who take medications as prescribed, have follow-up appointments, and know how to manage their illnesses are less likely to return to the hospital.

That’s why patients should play an active role in their healthcare. Here are some things to make sure you have before leaving the hospital:

• Legible discharge instructions.

• A list of medications, and how often to take them.

• A list of symptoms that mean you should return to the hospital or call a healthcare provider.

• Contact information for follow-up visits and questions.

It’s hard to design a process that works well for everyone. I like bullet points, others like detailed paragraphs, some people do better with pictures. The most important thing is to make sure to understand the instructions, and if not, know who to call with questions.

Bonnie Thompson, an advanced practice nurse, is Administrative Director of Organizational Excellence at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

There’s nothing better than mom’s home cooking, but there is usually room to improve on her food safety practices.

We’re halfway through the year and for many of us our New Year’s resolutions are distant memories.

And so is the lofty goal of strutting down the beach in our swimsuits or whatever it was we envisioned when we pledged to eat better and exercise more.

A free program on Monday (July 26) offered many of us hope.

A Backus Hospital exercise expert presented “Starting an Exercise Program: Getting Organized, Staying Motivated,” part of the ongoing Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) series, a partnership between Backus Hospital and the Plainfield Recreation Department. To learn more about the series and upcoming events, visit backushospital.org/enjoylife.

Here are a few tips I can offer that might help keep you get on the right track. They include:

• Set realistic goals. You can’t expect to become Arnold Schwarzenegger overnight, or expect to lose 10 pounds in a week. Those perfectly shaped people you see walking around with towels draped over their shoulders in local gyms are the exception, not the rule.

• Have fun. Running on a treadmill while staring at a wall might not do it for you. For some, adding a television or music to the equation helps. For others, they are better off finding a friend to play tennis with or doing other activities. Find what’s right for you.

• Make it easy. If you don’t like to exercise in the morning, do it at night. If you don’t like the cold, buy a treadmill. If you don’t like to run alone, find a partner. Removing barriers will increase your chances of success.

For some, time is the problem. If you simply can’t find the time to exercise, there are still some things you can do to increase your activity levels. Take the stairs instead of the elevator; park the car farther away from the grocery store; spend your lunch break walking instead of eating a cheeseburger.

Remember, when it comes to exercise, every bit counts. And we’re not just talking about adults. Childhood obesity is also an issue.

The next event in the Enjoy LIFE series will be geared towards children, teaching everything from exercise safety to backpack techniques and proper sports equipment for our youth.

“Backpack Safety and Keeping Exercise Fun and Safe,” led by Backus Rehabilitation Services physical therapist Kristin Hilliard, will be held Aug. 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Center. Hope to see you there.

Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator with the Backus Education Department. The information in this column should not replace the advice of your personal physician. To communicate with Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists, email healthyliving@wwbh.org

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently released the newest data on the Hospital Compare website. The site allows you to compare hospitals, view charts and graphs, get directions and follow a number of links to information about Medicare.

As you review the data you may realize that it is at least six months old. So, how does a bunch of numbers help keep you safe if you find yourself in a hospital in the near future? What if the hospital the ambulance takes you to doesn’t score as high as the one 10 miles away? Does this information help you receive safer care?

Like any information, the power comes in how it is used and your understanding of what it means.

Hospital Compare uses a few different types of data. One type is “Process of Care Measures.” These are the things that evidence has shown increase the chance that a patient will have good results.

Say you are going to have elective surgery on your knee. Research has shown that patients who get the right type of antibiotics within an hour prior to surgery have less chance of developing a surgical site infection. So, as you work with your doctor and hospital one question you might ask is “what medication will I receive prior to surgery?”

You also might notice that some hospitals do better at preventing blood clots than others. This is another conversation that you might want to consider having with your surgeon. “What is my risk of developing a blood clot as a result of this type of surgery? What can we do to lessen that risk?”

Using the “Process of Care Measures” discussed on the website can provide you with a list of items to discuss with your provider prior to or at the time of your hospitalization. This will help assure that you are receiving the best evidence-based care appropriate to your individual situation.

But remember, not all of these measures are appropriate for all patients, so talk with your healthcare provider about how to optimize your care.

No matter what hospital you end up in, you want to make sure you are one of the people counted as having received the best possible care appropriate for your situation.

Using the information on the Hospital Compare site is a wonderful starting place for ongoing conversations with your healthcare provider.

Receiving safe, effective healthcare requires continuous teamwork. You as a patient or family member are an integral part of that team.

Bonnie Thompson, an advanced practice nurse, is Administrative Director of Organizational Excellence at The William W. Backus Hospital. The information in this column should not replace the advice of your personal physician. To communicate with Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists, email healthyliving@wwbh.org

No matter how you weigh the statistics, obesity levels are on the rise. Local, state and national statistics all lead to one conclusion – as a society we are getting heavier, which can lead to long term health problems.

According to a recent Backus health assessment to determine the health needs in the community, more than 40 percent of residents surveyed in Windham and New London Counties are overweight, higher than the national average of 36.3 percent. Recent state and national studies draw the same conclusions.

Why is this important? Because being overweight leads to serious and expensive health issues – from diabetes to heart disease. Much to the surprise of many, obesity is responsible for more deaths every year than breast cancer and colon cancer combined. It is a health epidemic that is grossly under-rated.

How did we get to where we are today? It’s a long story, but can be summed up this way: We have gone from a society of hunter-gatherers to farmers to consumers.

Food, and lots of it, is easier than ever to get, with thousands of new food products introduced each year – much of it unhealthy. And unlike thousands of years ago, we don’t have to work very hard to get it.

Portions are getting larger, food labels are difficult to decipher, and many of us do not have the time to be as active as we should be.

We all need to be proactive to reverse this trend. Many of our children are overweight, and studies how 75 percent of overweight children remain that way as adults.

Backus Hospital has had a long-standing commitment to improving the eating and exercising habits of the community. From websites dedicated to nutrition to our recent Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) community education program, we want to improve the health of the community.

Now we are offering another option – the Backus Weight Loss Center. It combines nutritional counseling, psychiatric screenings, support groups and weight loss surgery when appropriate. The surgery is only offered to patients who are considered severely obese and have tried other options to lose weight.

To learn more about the new weight loss center, the only one of its kind in eastern Connecticut, we are offering community education events beginning July 20 from 6-7 p.m. at the Backus Outpatient Care Center at 111 Salem Turnpike. Other sessions are scheduled for August and September, and registration is required by calling 860-425-8740.Or, visit www.backushospital.org/bariatrics.

Whether you are a candidate for surgery or would be better off with a diet and exercise program, I urge you to take advantage of the free advice that will be offered. Our community’s health is at stake.

Mark Tousignant, MD, is a minimally invasive general surgeon with Backus Physician Services and Medical Director of the Backus Weight Loss Center. The information in this column should not replace the advice of your personal physician. To communicate with Dr. Tousignant or any of the Healthy Living columnists, email healthyliving@wwbh.org

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it causes damage without creating symptoms. Many people may have high blood pressure for years without knowing it, and during this time damage to the organs, such as the blood vessels, the heart, and kidneys can occur, which could ultimately lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.

Screening for hypertension is quick, easy, and painless, and is performed right in your doctor’s office. The American Heart Association recommends adults maintain a blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). This means systolic readings of less than 120 mm Hg AND diastolic readings of less than 80 mm Hg.

Although there is no cure for hypertension (in most cases), it is a disease that is usually manageable.

If your resting blood pressure falls in the pre-hypertension range (systolic between 120 and 139 mm Hg OR diastolic between 80 and 89 mm Hg, your doctor will often recommend lifestyle modifications, such as:

1) Eating a healthy diet. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends the following Heart Healthy Diet Guidelines. You should eat:
• 8-10% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
• 30 percent or less of the day’s total calories from fat.
• Less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
• Limit sodium intake to 2400 milligrams a day.
• Just enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood cholesterol level (Ask your doctor or registered dietitian what is a reasonable calorie level for you).

2) Increasing physical activity. In general you should gradually work up to an aerobic session lasting 20 to 30 minutes, at least three to four times a week. Exercising every day or every other day will help you keep a regular aerobic exercise schedule.

3) Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, your blood pressure rises as your body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure—and losing weight has the biggest effect on those who are overweight and already have hypertension.
If your doctor recommends that you lose weight, there are a variety of healthcare professionals who can help get you on the right track. People who are slowly gaining weight can either gradually increase physical activity to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or reduce caloric intake, or both, until their weight is stable.

4) Managing stress. After you've identified the cause of stress in your life, the next step is to learn techniques to help you cope. There are many techniques you can use to manage stress. Some of which you can learn yourself, while other techniques may require the guidance of a trained therapist.

5) Limiting alcohol intake. Numerous studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption helps protect against heart disease by raising HDL (good) cholesterol and reducing plaque accumulations in your arteries. Alcohol also has a mild anti-coagulating effect, keeping platelets from clumping together to form clots. Both actions can reduce risk of heart attack but exactly how alcohol influences either one still remains unclear.
On the other hand, drinking more than three drinks a day has a direct toxic effect on the heart. Heavy drinking, particularly over time, can damage the heart and lead to high blood pressure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy (weakened heart), congestive heart failure, and stroke.

6) Avoiding tobacco smoke. The negative effects of smoking are well documented, and it can lead to a wide range of health problems from cancer to heart disease to death. One of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease is to avoid tobacco smoke.

If your resting blood pressure falls in the hypertensive range (systolic over 140 mm Hg and diastolic over 90 mm Hg), then your doctor will likely prescribe antihypertensive medications in addition to lifestyle modifications.

Managing hypertension requires a lifelong commitment to working with your doctor to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Remember that doing so will help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and serious kidney diseases, as well as reducing your risk of premature death.

Dr. Michael J. Fucci is a cardiologist on the Backus Medical Staff with an office at the Plainfield Backus Health Center and member of Cardiology Associates of Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Dr. Fucci or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

Waiting in line at the hospital isn’t usually something we applaud. But watching hundreds of people line up for free bicycle helmets at Backus Hospital’s Safety Camp recently made me proud.

As manager of our trauma program, I have seen firsthand the damage that can be done to children who don’t wear helmets while biking or skateboarding.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, children ages 5-14 account for about one-quarter of all bicycle-related deaths and more than half of all bicycle-related injuries.

More often than not these injuries are to the head, and while children are typically resilient when it comes to broken bones or even internal injuries, the healing capacity of the brain is limited. The skull protects the brain, but it can only do so much and sometimes people with traumatic brain injuries never recover.

That’s why wearing a bicycle helmet is so important, and why we hold Safety Camp each year and give out free helmets. Thank you to everyone who donated items and helped organize the event. I want to especially thank those who took the time to make sure helmets were properly fitted, as we don’t just hand the helmets out -- we make sure that they are properly fastened.

Having a helmet that is too small, too large or not properly fitted is the equivalent of having no helmet and could even add to the damage.

And no matter how tempted you might be, never let a child ride without a helmet.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, children are more likely to be injured on residential streets, close to home. That’s probably because when we are involved in casual activities in familiar places we are more likely to let our guard down.

My advice? Don’t ever don’t ever let your guard down. The one time you do could be the last.

Gillian Mosier is a registered nurse and manager of the Trauma Program at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Mosier or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be a daunting task. The first question is where do you begin?

Start with determining whether you are overweight or not.

For women, it’s 100 pounds for the first five feet of height, and five pounds per inch above that. For example, 125 pounds would be healthy for a five-foot, five-inch female.

For men, it’s 106 pounds for the first five feet of height, and six pounds per inch above that. For a male who is six feet tall, a healthy weight would be 178 pounds.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) provides a healthy weight range, determines if your weight is considered overweight or if your weight is considered obese.

Losing weight safely is always a balancing act, and keeping it off can be even harder. The bottom line is to lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than you expend.

Crash diets aren’t going to work in the long run. You need to be in it for the long haul, so if you eat 250 calories less per day you could lose a 1⁄2 pound per week, or 500 calories less per day would equal 1 pound of weight loss per week. If you do this, and are physically active for 30-60 minutes per day, you should be in good shape.

Losing weight isn’t just about the calories and exercise – eating healthy is a must. That’s why I recommend that you become familiar with the Food Guide Pyramid at www.mypyramid.gov.

It offers information on grains, portion control, vegetables, fruits, meats/beans, milk and fats.

Speaking of fats, they aren’t off limits. You actually need fats in your diet. But if you can, try to get most of your fats from fish, nuts and vegetable oils. Limit solid fats, such as butter and margarine.

Reading nutrition labels is also important. Check them closely to avoid saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and food with lots of added sugar.

If you would like to learn more about healthy eating, please attend Backus Hospital’s “Ask the Dietitian” session on June 23 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Department. Part of the hospital’s ongoing Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) series, you can register by calling 860-889-8331, ext. 2495. See you there!

Sarah Hospod is a registered dietitian in the Food and Nutrition Department at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Hospod or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

Are your eyes getting tired looking at the computer? Having trouble sleeping? Here is some information to help avoid problems that can occur due technology overload.

• Hearing. Cell phones and other similar devices can be used to play music that if louder than 85 decibels can damage hearing. The sounds heard through the earphones used with these devices can reach 100 decibels or more. That’s loud enough to start damaging your hearing after only 15 minutes. If you can’t hear someone next to you talking in a normal tone of voice, turn it down. The volume is too loud.

• Computer vision syndrome. Computer use may cause dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches and nearsightedness. Try to minimize glare, and after 20 minutes of use rest your eyes for a minute by looking away from the screen. The display on a computer screen is only 72 dpi and a printed copy is easier to read.

• Insomnia. Cell phones, computers, etc. should not be used within 1 to 2 hours of bedtime as they can keep you from sleeping. These devices emit a form of light that mimics daylight. If you use them too close to bedtime it tricks your brain into thinking it’s time to be awake.

• Concentration. Carnegie Mellon University scientists found that merely listening to a conversation on a cell phone reduced the amount of brain activity devoted to driving by 37%. This is most likely due to the extra attention needed to comprehend spoken words. British researcher Nick Reed found texting while driving slows reaction time more than alcohol.

• Texting tendonitis. This repetitive motion can trigger pain and swelling in your hands and wrists. To avoid this, limit texting and switch hands and fingers often.

Dr. Paul H. Deutsch is board-certified in Internal Medicine, a member of The William W. Backus Hospital Medical Staff and in private practice in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Dr. Deutsch or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org

The Great Invasion is upon us. Soon, 105 Junior Volunteers will arrive at The William W. Backus Hospital, as they do every year at this time.

Their energy permeates our hospital hallways, their habit of traveling in pairs draws smiles from staff, and we are preparing for a very busy — and very rewarding — summer. We strive to make the Junior Volunteer Program a positive experience. We have a simple goal in mind: that they will help us in our mission of improving the health of the community, and consider Backus Hospital as a future employer.

Our summer Junior Volunteer Program has evolved to include career exploration. In addition to their regular duties (admitting, discharging, transporting specimens, helping on nursing floors) Junior Volunteers are encouraged to network with staff, find advocates and mentors. Helping high school students explore careers in healthcare and finding people who will help them through this process has become a major focus.

Whether a Junior Volunteer wishes to be a nurse or a surgeon; an accountant or information technology specialist; an engineer or a communicator, we make sure they know that Backus has a need for their expertise. Junior Volunteers can return to our community, live a full life and have a rewarding career as a Backus employee.

Many Connecticut youths leave our region and our state after college to pursue careers elsewhere. This “brain drain” is a vexing situation. Why are they leaving Connecticut? Do they think they cannot find jobs here, that it is too expensive to live here, or that we are not “happening” enough? Community hospitals are as dependent on the community for employees, volunteers and vendors as the community is dependent on us for excellent healthcare. Our futures are intertwined — and volunteer programs can serve as a vital link to creating the workforce of the future.

Our goal is to show high school students they can find a rewarding career at Backus Hospital, one that will be challenging and rewarding financially as well as professionally. And what do you mean, “We are in the middle of nowhere?” We’re within reasonable driving distance to New York and Boston — a short six-hour flight from San Francisco and Paris! We are the center of it all!

Please join me in welcoming this year’s crop of junior volunteers. We should all welcome them, and embrace them, because, after all, one day, they may be taking are of us!

Mary Rahaim is the Director of Volunteer Services at The William W. Backus Hospital.
Email Ms. Rahaim and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

We are all well aware of the obesity problem in the U.S. Here is a startling statistic: sixty-eight percent of us are overweight, and 33.8% are obese, according to the CDC.

The recommendation to “eat less and exercise more” is easily said, but not as easily accomplished. Anyone who has embarked on a program to eat healthier and increase their exercise discovers very quickly that doing it alone is extremely difficult.

To sustain a healthier lifestyle, it inevitably helps to join forces with friends, family members, or co-workers. It’s like a built-in support group; one team member doesn’t want to disappoint the others. This is why weight loss programs like “Thin’s In” or Weight Watchers are so successful.
Based on this premise, The William W. Backus Hospital and the Plainfield Recreation Department are organizing an “Active Challenge” as part of a year-long community initiative, “Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise).”

Residents are invited to form either a family team or an adult team:
• Family teams can be one or two adults, and children under age 18.
• Adult teams will consist of at least four people, with a maximum of 8.
• Every team will choose a captain, as well as a name for the team.
• Family teams will receive a “passport to the Active Challenge” delineating many activities designed to improve nutrition and increase activity.
• Family teams will receive disposable cameras to record activities in their passport.
• Every team that completes or fills out a passport will receive a prize.
• Adult team members will each receive a pedometer and a journal to record daily milestones such as number of steps recorded, a food log, weekly weight, etc…

Team registration will be held June 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Center, with a private weigh-in of each member of the adult teams.

Also on June 9, the first in a monthly series of community education events will feature Backus Registered Dietitian Sarah Hospod, who will present “Healthy Eating: It’s Easier than You Think!” She will discuss healthy snacks, calories, how to read nutrition labels, and more. This presentation is open to all and joining a team is not necessary.

Registration is requested for this free presentation by calling 860-889-8331, ext 2495.
For more information on the teams or the nutrition presentation, email enjoylife@wwbh.org or call Backus Education Department registered nurse Lisa Cook at 860-889-8331, ext. 7404 or Plainfield Recreation Department Director Myra Ambrogi at 860-564-1819.

Let’s focus on the positive, team up for a healthier lifestyle, and enjoy life in the process.

Alice Facente is a registered nurse and clinical educator with the Education Department at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. E-mail Ms. Facente and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

Doctors’ handwriting has been the butt of jokes since the invention of the prescription pad, but it is no laughing matter. Poor handwriting is the culprit in a significant number of medication and other healthcare related errors. Thankfully, protecting yourself from this type of mistake is easier then deciphering hieroglyphics.

Computers dominate most professional fields today and healthcare is no different.

Every hospital, doctor’s office, and pharmacy uses computers in nearly all aspects of patient care. Yet even today, the handwritten medical chart and prescription pad is the most common way a physician communicates orders to nurses, pharmacists and even fellow doctors.

And it is not that doctors handwriting is really any worse then the average Joe, it’s just that what they are writing about is much more important and carries a higher risk of harm when misinterpreted. The Institute of Medicine’s report on medication errors stated that 7,000 patient deaths occur each year because of medication errors, and poor handwriting is a leading cause of those errors.

Taking the pen away is one solution that many experts advocate. E-prescribing, using a computer device to write prescriptions, is growing every day and is currently available to many physicians right in their office and links directly with local pharmacies. Using their computer or a hand-held device, doctors can electronically write a prescription and instantly send it to the pharmacy of your choice without ever needing to put pen to paper.

Besides just eliminating poor penmanship from the prescription writing process, E-prescribing software can also warn the physician of potential drug interactions and dosage errors as well. In hospitals E-prescribing is known as Computerized-Physician Order Entry (CPOE), and it is changing the way medications are prescribed there as well. Backus Hospital has a successful pilot program running now and plans to launch it throughout the institution.

Although E-prescribing is gaining popularity and cures the problem of poor handwriting, it also creates a few new problems as well; the most common one being termed “selection error.” The prescriber may accidently push a wrong button, or choose a medication name that looks just like the one they intended. How can you protect yourself from any of these errors? Do you need your own E-prescribing device? The answer is no, a simple pad and pen will do.

If your doctor is writing you a prescription, either on paper or electronically, make sure they tell you exactly what the medication is, what it is for, how you should take it, and how many times a day to take it.

Write this information down yourself (hopefully you can read your own handwriting, something I have trouble with that). Then when you are at the pharmacy picking up your prescription and going over the directions with the pharmacist, you can refer to what you have written and make sure what the doctor told you the prescription was going to be for, is exactly what the pharmacist is dispensing. If something is different, have the pharmacist call your physician to clear up any discrepancies.

Michael Smith is a pharmacist and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Pharmacy Services at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. E-mail Mr. Smith and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

Americans live for ice cream especially when it is warm. Summer and ice cream go together. Should you treat yourself?

As we already know, how much and how often is the key according to the Food Guide Pyramid: All foods can potentially fit into a healthy, balanced diet. So where does ice cream fit?

Disappointingly for some folks, the pyramid does not count ice cream as a serving from the milk group. Yes, it does contain calcium although it contains more calories and potentially a high fat content depending on what kind you choose as compared to a glass of milk or a serving of leafy greens.

Ice cream is an example of those daily discretionary calories that the pyramid allows. Use your discretionary allowance with some thought because it is fairly small and it depends on your calorie or energy needs to support a healthy weight as well.

Portions sizes in the U.S. have increased in size over the past 30-40 years as this correlates with the increase in obesity rate. Food is available anywhere and everywhere we go, not to mention the aisle-long frozen treat section at the market.

What’s more, food establishments are often judged on the quantity and not necessarily the quality of a product.

For example, a trip to Dairy Queen is planned for an ice cream treat and when you get there, you find that you only have to spend a few dollars for dinner and ice cream. One can order off the Sweet Deals Menu, their version of a value menu, and for only $3 you can pick any two items, including cheeseburger, hot dog, French fries, onion rings, small sundae, etc. Pick any three items for $4; any four items for $5 -- that’s $5 for 1,300 calories (not including the choice of side salad) for a meal, what a deal! This is the total energy needs for some of us or a large percentage of energy needs for others.

Here’s the smart scoop: It can be tough to leave an ice cream shop with a right size treat. A few easy modifications can help you indulge without the bulge:

• Order the kid’s size or a single scoop or even try skipping the cone.
• Hold the toppings, because a tablespoon or two of chopped candy bars or crushed cookies can add up 150 calories more to your treat.
• Scattered among most ice cream shops’ regular offerings are lighter options such as low-fat and low sugar ice cream, sorbet, sherbet and frozen yogurt. These varieties trim calories by limiting fat. Request a sample of the lighter options to make sure you would enjoy a regular serving size.

So have a healthy summer and no doubt enjoy your favorite frozen treat by perhaps modifying your portion or your frequency of indulgence. Try a local made ice cream; go for quality, not quantity. What’s more, take a closer look at your overall diet and evaluate how you can take advantage of all the fresh, local fruits and vegetables available to meet the pyramid’s suggestion of nine servings per day. Now that’s the true summer treat.

Sarah Hospod is a registered dietitian in the Food and Nutrition Department at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your personal physician. E-mail Ms. Hospod and all of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

Over the years we’ve made many advances in stroke care, but one thing remains the same: the sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

And I’m not just talking about life or death. In fact, most people don’t die directly from strokes, but they must live with the disabling after effects for the rest of their lives. The long-term impact can be devastating to patients and their loved ones.

That’s why it is so important to educate the public on the risk factors and warning signs of stroke, especially because May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke, with 795,000 strokes annually. It is the No. 1 cause of disability and the No. 3 cause of death. The good news is 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Lack of exercise
• Alcohol abuse
• Obesity

The bottom line with strokes is time is of the essence. If you believe you or someone you know is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.

• Symptoms of a stroke can be remembered through the acronym FAST:
• Face: Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Does one arm drift downward when both arms are held up?
• Speech: Is speech slurred?
• Time: If a person shows any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

The William W. Backus Hospital is a state-designated Primary Stroke Center, meaning it offers rapid, comprehensive, evidence-based stroke care. But even the best program in the world doesn’t have a chance if too much time is lost.

Cindy Arpin, is a registered nurse and Stroke Coordinator at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Ms. Arpin or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

Ladies, have you ever wondered why a man sometimes doesn’t seem to hear or understand what you said?

A study at the University of Sheffield and published in the journal NeuroImage may provide the answer.

These researchers found differences in the way male and female brains process voice sounds. The results of this study demonstrate that, in the male brain, the perception of male and female voices activates different brain regions.

The guys could easily hear and understand other men’s voices. However, women have a greater natural melody in their voices and possess a more complex range of sound frequencies than a male voice.

The men in the study had a harder time deciphering them and really hearing what a woman was saying. When they heard the female voices, they had to decipher them using the part of the brain that processes music — a more complex process than is used in the part of the brain that analyzes a male voice.

This process may worsen as we age, or lose some of our hearing for other reasons.

Also, Dr Michael Hunter, co-author of the study noted that voices allow the brain to determine various factors about a person´s appearance, including their sex, size and age.

It is much more complex than most people think and is an extremely important tool for determining someone’s identity without having to see them.

So, in summary, when listening to a woman’s voice, a man must make an extra effort subconsciously or consciously, to concentrate on what he is hearing. If he can’t (or won’t), then I guess he has an excuse for selective hearing.

Dr. Paul H. Deutsch is board-certified in Internal Medicine, a member of The William W. Backus Hospital Medical Staff and in private practice in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Dr. Deutsch or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

In a recent study published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers found that junk food can be as addictive as cocaine or heroin.

As part of a 40-day experiment, one group of rats were fed a nutritionally balanced diet while another group of rats were given a diet consisting of bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, frosting and chocolate.

As would be expected, this group of rats eating junk food gained more weight. They also became less active than the other rats.

In addition, they would eat this food even if given a mild electric shock, and refused to eat when their diet was replaced with a nutritionally balanced diet.

The researchers attributed this behavior to the release of dopamine by the brain, which occurs naturally in varying amounts, giving us the feeling of satisfaction or pleasure as a response to different enjoyable experiences, such as eating desserts.

Dopamine is the same chemical that is released in large amounts in cocaine and heroin addicts.

When dopamine is released in excess amounts, an alteration in brain chemistry occurs such that more stimulus is needed to produce the same results. Thus, the compulsive eating of junk food in order to obtain the same pleasure.

While, experiments in rats may not be directly applicable to humans, it may help explain a contributing factor to human obesity.

Junk food is addicting and can lead to weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle. This may be why you “can’t eat just one.”

Dr. Paul H. Deutsch is board-certified in Internal Medicine, a member of The William W. Backus Hospital Medical Staff and in private practice in Norwich. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Dr. Deutsch or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

The likelihood that a child has autism is much higher than many people realize.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1 in every 110 American children has been diagnosed with autism, including 1 in 70 boys. It is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

According to autismspeaks.org, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a variety of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by difficulties in communication, social impairments, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.

Autism spectrum disorders can range from mild forms to severe forms. However, although autism spectrum disorders vary significantly in presentation and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic class and affects every age group.

As a registered nurse with two nephews diagnosed with ASD, I can assure you that ASD can affect any family. It is difficult to come to terms that your beloved child may have a problem but I can reassure you that being properly informed and obtaining early intervention is crucial.

This is why The William W. Backus Hospital Education Department has organized a community education program, “Could My Child have Autism?” as part of its ongoing Family Matters series. The free program will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm May 13 in the Backus Hospital entry-level conference rooms. To register, call (860) 889-8331 Ext 2495. Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician Dr. Dumont-Mathieu will discuss recognizing the signs, getting a diagnosis and accessing resources, and a Backus Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department will be on hand to talk about the pediatric services it offers, including speech therapy.

A child’s parents or primary caregivers usually are the first to notice signs of ASD. One of the most common signs of autism is impaired social interaction. This can be noticed as early as infancy.

Children with ASD also tend to start speaking later than other children, may not respond to their name and often avoid eye contact. They may refer to themselves by their name instead of “I” or “me.” They have difficulty interpreting what other people are feeling or thinking because they do not understand social cues, such as tone of voice, or facial expressions. These children also do not know how to interact and play with other children. Many children with ASD engage in repetitive movements such as rocking or twirling, or in self-abuse behaviors such as biting or head banging.

Scientists are not certain about what causes ASD, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. There is no cure for autism but early therapies and intervention can make extraordinary differences in a child's development. How a child is functioning now may be very different from how he or she will function later on in life.

Lisa Cook is a registered nurse with the Backus Hospital Education Department. This advice should not replace the advice of your personal physician. E-mail Ms. Cook or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.

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What does it mean to heal? Webster’s Dictionary lists the primary definition of “healing” as “to make or become healthy, sound or whole.” This describes perfectly the therapeutic potential for a patient experiencing a Healing Touch session.

Healing Touch is an energy medicine in which the practitioner uses light or near-body touch to clear, balance and energize the human energy system in an effort to promote healing for the mind, body and/or spirit.

Healing Touch works with the body’s energies to support the natural ability to heal. In this time of high-tech medicine, it is used to complement traditional treatments by providing the patient with a time to relax, re-focus and resolve any feelings of anxiety and fear that often accompany a hospital visit. Amid the machines, tests and pills, a gentle, loving touch can be the ideal experience to help restore the balance of mind, body and spirit.

Although they are often thought of as synonymous, healing is not the same as curing. Healing is about being in balance and may sometimes refer to the acceptance of difficult life events, repairing relationships or releasing old wounds. Curing is the absence of disease and symptoms.

It is possible for a person to be cured but not healed, healed but not cured. Experiencing Healing Touch can help both patients and family members release stress and find acceptance during difficult times.

Patients, family members, nurses or physicians can request that I give sessions to hospitalized patients by calling me at 860-889-8331 or by calling our Center for Healthcare Integration at 860-889-8331, ext. 2483. I also teach classes for people who want to learn the technique.

As a registered nurse and a Healing Touch practitioner, I am truly humbled when I am asked to give a healing session. Healing Touch is like an intimate dance between the “healer” and the “healee” — from the first light touch given by the Healer a connection is formed. As the session continues the Healer works from the heart to follow founder Janet Mentgen’s vision of doing “whatever is for the client’s highest and best good.”

Healing Touch is performed with a passionate desire to bring peace and tranquility to the mind and spirit — and physical comfort to the body.

I frequently see patients who are visibly frightened, and can see and feel their energy change during a session. Often a healing session provides the only time of true rest and relaxation for long-term patients, and the changes that occur in their physical and emotional demeanors tell me that they had a necessary and gratifying experience.

When I am able to use Healing Touch to assist someone in releasing their pain and reach a calm, peaceful state, the gifts of energy balance are received by both the patient and myself.

Healing Touch has many beneficial outcomes for patients, family members and even healers. It helps us strive, in an uncomplicated way, for our own healing. It helps us find balance in our lives and to truly embrace all the ways in which we define what it means to heal.

Paula Novak, a registered nurse and certified Healing Touch practitioner, is the Clinical Coordinator for Healing Touch and Integrative Care at The William. W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Ms. Novak or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.