HealtHFebr

uary

8, 2

011 The examiner

Wellness 2-4 • CalenDaR 7-8 • FITness 9 • nUTRITIOn 10-11

• Tracey Shaffer

Women should eat for their hearts

– Page 10

Feeling blue?It may be more than just a bad day - Page 4

PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

• Larry JONeS Get outside and stay fit – Page 2

Page 2 Tuesday, February 8, 2011 wellness

We are into the middle of winter. January and February seem to last forever and snow is on the ground for a long time.

Kids and adults alike suffer cabin fever. Be-ing cooped up in the house can make you feel tired. More time is spent watching television, playing video games and using the computer. Exercise and physical activity time decreases.

It is important to stay active in the winter. More time can be spent with your children doing things that you may not have the oppor-tunity to do when it gets warmer.

When it comes to free winter activities that the entire family can enjoy, the choices are unlimited. Whether you have a limited budget, or you just like to save money, there are many activities that the entire family can enjoy. It doesn't matter if the ground is covered with snow or it is the middle of summer. There are fun things that your family can do to pass the time.

Everyone can benefit from the feelings of bonding that occur when families spend time together and it is also a great way to get in-volved in some physical activity.

Talk to your kids about what they enjoy. Then plan some winter activities around those things. To enhance learning, use chalkboards, cooking lessons, build forts out of blankets or play hide and seek indoors. You may want to search around the community for activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Independence offers many opportunities for families during the winter. For example, in

February, the Parks and Recreation Depart-ment offers a Valentine’s Day for pets, ice skat-ing at Centerpoint Community Ice, exercise classes at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center, sledding with or without snow. Many of these are free, others reasonably priced. In addition, the Tourism Department is featur-ing an exhibit of puppets and various musical events.

Winter can offer families time to do different things together. Take advantage of the oppor-tunities our city has to offer. To find low cost or free activities for you and your family, log onto www.independencemo.org.

Include the local library in your search. They have many activities during the week and weekend for children. Enjoy the outdoors or indoors and stay as active as you can during the winter months.

Spring is just around the corner.

Fun family activities for the winter days

Larry Jones is director of the Indepen-dence Health Department.

Larry Jones

Reports l Local law enforcement agencies

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Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Page 3health

Food service inspections l Jackson CountyThe Jackson County Public Works/

Environmental Health Division conducts inspections anywhere food is handled, prepared and served to the public for cities other than Independence.

Blue Springs■ Jin’s Buffet and Grill, 410 S. Missouri

7 – On Jan. 26, inspectors found the sushi on the buffet was 50 degrees. Sesame seeds were stored on a shelf with cleaning chemicals, corrected.

■ Golden Eggroll, 1800 S. Missouri 7 – On Jan. 27, personal beverage containers without lids or straws were found in the kitchen, corrected. Cooked chicken and eggrolls were found stored in cardboard boxes that previously held raw chicken as indicated by labeling on the box. Raw foods were found above cooked food in the walk-in cooler, corrected. Containers of various potentially hazardous foods were found on tables and shelves in the kitchen under no form of temperature control, discarded. An employee was observed washing dishes, pans, and glassware at the three compartment sink without a sanitation step. At time of inspection, middle sink had water with soap, left compartment had clean water for rinsing, corrected when the owner correctly set up the three compartment sink and demonstrated the correct procedure for manual warewashing.

A live roach was found on the stove by tall reach-in freezer on cook’s line. Harborage conditions observed in this area: Cooking equipment on line has grease and food debris build-up. Food debris build-up found under equipment on cook’s line. Buckets in the kitchen that were previously holding chemicals for the dish machine as indicated by the labeling, were used to hold dried food items such as corn starch, food was discarded. There were a number of open rodent bait stations in the storage room and the basement, corrected.

■ Good Day Donuts, 1713 S. Missouri 7 – On Jan. 28, inspectors found gravy in the warmer on the front counter was 120 degrees, discarded.

■ Scooter’s Coffee House, 1104 S.W. Missouri 7 – On Jan. 28, the person in charge could not describe the correct method to clean food contact utensils. Procedure that was described did not include a sanitizer

step. Corrected through discussion and demonstration.

Lee’s Summit■ Mingle, 209 N.E. Main St. – On

Jan. 24, when asked, chef did not properly identify the maximum time allowed between cleanings of food contact utensils such as the slicer, corrected. There was dried debris on slicer. When asked, chef said that it had not been cleaned since Jan. 22, corrected. There were soap containers stored on a shelf above wooden bread trays, and a food supplement was stored among dishes in the kitchen.

■ Chili’s Grill & Bar, 1688 N.E. Chipman Road – On Jan. 24, inspectors found the soft-serve mix in the soft-serve machine was 53 degrees. It was discarded and the machine was taken out of service and will not be used again at the establishment. Raw steak and chicken in the reach-in cooler to the right of the grill were 49-54 degrees, they were there for less than 2 hours so they were allowed to be put in a freezer. The reach-in cooler was accidentally left unplugged during afternoon cleaning, when plugged in the cooler was holding product at 40 degrees, corrected.

■ Waffle House, 1699 N.E. Douglas St. – On Jan. 24, in the most eastward reach-in cooler, there was a pan filled with water, and there was a corresponding slow leak from a fixture directly above the pan. Repair so that waste water from the cooler is properly diverted for disposal.

■ Lakewood Oaks Golf Club, 651 N.E. St. Andrews Circle – On Jan. 25, ranch salad dressing, made by establishment, in downstairs bar had a date of Nov. 30, 2010, discarded.

■ Jerry’s Bait Shop, 302 Main St. – On Jan. 26, inspectors found no detectable sanitizer in the final rinse of the dishwashing machine, corrected.

■ Sakura Sushi, 860 N.W. Blue Parkway – On Jan. 28, mayonnaise in a plastic bottle was stored on a sushi area prep counter. The operator identified this product as of Japanese origin, and obtained from a distributor, Yamasho in Chicago. From this inspector’s previous contact with that distributor, he learned that this product must be refrigerated after its package has been opened. The product was discarded.

– Jillayne Ritchie

Page 4 Tuesday, February 8, 2011cover

BLUESI

t is important to know when emotional and physi-cal changes brought on by the change in seasons are more serious than a pass-

ing dislike.Seasonal affective disorder, or

SAD, affects many of us. Its symp-toms are depression, lethargy and trouble “getting going” during the change of seasons, particularly during this time of year when the days are noticeably shorter and the temperature drops. It can also lead to cravings for certain types of food, such as carbohydrates, which tend to exacerbate the cycle.

The difference between SAD and other forms of depression is that SAD is markedly seasonal. It comes generally in late autumn and often is felt until early spring, at which point it begins to pass.

It should be noted that there is another form of SAD that comes during the spring and lasts through the summer, but the causes and treatments for this rare form are less understood.

Longing for the sunThe cause of classic fall and

winter SAD is believed to be the decrease in sunlight, which leads to lower production of vitamin D and decreased production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates moods and general feelings of well-being.

While taking vitamin D supple-ments is important for anyone who does not naturally have enough exposure to vitamin D, people with SAD respond best to full-spectrum light therapy. With this therapy, a person can get the

light he or she needs to improve the body’s delicate balance of sero-tonin and melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, resulting in greatly diminished effects or even elimination.

Here is how it works: A full-spectrum light box should ideally be used first thing in the morning for 20 or 30 minutes. A person does not need to sit directly in front of or next to the light box, but it should be within an arm’s reach. It can be positioned on a table while a person watches television or reads the newspaper or a book. It can also be placed on a counter during a person’s morning groom-ing routine.

Things to noteIt is important to be consistent

with its use. Turning the light

box on every once in a while, even during different hours of the day, will not likely yield the optimal result, nor will moving around the room while the light box sits on a counter.

It is also important to note that some people will not fully respond to light box therapy and will require treatments similar to those used in patients with depres-sion, such as talk therapy and antidepressant medication.

Steve Bernardi is a compound-ing pharmacist and Dr. Gary Kra-coff is a registered pharmacist and a naturopathic doctor at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center in Waltham, Mass. Contact them at steveandgary@naturalcompound-er.com or 781-893-3870.

Why feeling ‘down’ in winter can be caused by more than just a bad week

By STeve Bernardi and dr. Gary KracoFFGateHouse News Service

More than the HealtH watcH

IN THE NEWS

Easing kids’ cold and flu symptoms

Any parent who has sat up through the night with a sick child knows easing the discomforts of cold and flu is the No. 1 priority.

Dr. Tanya Remer Altman, a pediatri-cian, best-selling author and spokes-woman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers tips:

■ Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Ask your pediatrician about the nasal spray form for kids.

■ Serving sick children chicken soup not only gives them the benefit of nourishment while their bodies are fighting a virus, but studies show it has anti-inflammatory properties as well.

■ Tissues with lotion can help prevent chapping from frequent nose blowing.

■ To relieve a stuffy nose, try a few drops of nasal saline and gentle suction-ing.

– ARA

NEW RESEARCH

Multiple sclerosis may be genetic

Women who have multiple sclerosis are more likely to have a gene associat-ed with the disease than men. Research has shown that the number of people diagnosed with MS has been rising, and the rate has been rising faster for women than for men. The cause of MS is not known, but evidence suggests that it is triggered by environmental factors in people who are genetically suscep-tible to the disease.

— American Academy of NeurologyLook for this symbol to see features available ONLY to our print subscribers.

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Page 6 Tuesday, February 8, 2011nutrition

Dedicated to caring for our community

Exceptional occupational,

physical & speech therapy

along with custodial care.

4600 Little Blue Pkwy., • Independence, MO 64057

Not everyone plans on going into a nursing home,but when the time comes,

we will be there to care for you or your loved one.

Admissions: 816-405-2838Phone: 816-795-7888

By david BlicK, Md, FaccCardiologist, The Carondelet Heart Institute at St. Mary's Medical Center

It’s Heart Month, and Uncle Sam wants you

to take better care of yours. The government just released new dietary

guidelines. In addition to getting more healthy foods into your diet, such as vegetables, fruits and fish, the guidelines also call for less of others things, such as saturated fats and, in particu-lar, salt.

A study released last month by the Institute of Medicine suggests Ameri-cans need to cut their salt intake by 3 grams, or a half teaspoon per day, and the federal government is on the bandwagon. This means your daily sodium intake should be less than 2,300 mil-ligrams for most of us, and further reduced to 1,500 milligrams for people who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African

American, have hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Currently, Americans consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day or about 1½ tea-spoons – twice as much as we need.

The study estimated that 100,000 deaths annually could be prevented if the country could reduce its sodium intake. And while you might be able to avoid the salt shaker – and the amount you cook with-what about the salt from processed and prepared food? Who would guess that a cup of corn flakes has more salt than an ounce of potato chips? Or that a typical 4-inch oat-bran bagel has more than 500 mg of sodium?

The food industry relies on sodium for fla-vor enhancement and preservation and cites surveys showing foods labeled low-sodium are often unpopular with consumers. And yet, a recent study states that less than one in three of us bother to check sodium levels of the foods we eat.

The FDA last month called on food com-panies to reduce salt content and several of the industry’s biggest names – Kraft, Heinz, General Mills, Sara Lee and Campbell’s – have

announced slow rollbacks of 10 to 25 percent of sodium content over the next five years. But be careful. Foods labeled “reduced sodium” or “light in sodium” may still contain a lot of salt. For example, regular canned chicken noodle soup contains about 1,100 mg of sodium per cup, while the reduced-sodium version may still have 820 mg per cup.

In the grocery store, fresh is always best so stick to shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and seek whole natural foods. In restau-rants, avoid soups and sauces, and ask your waiter to ask the chef not to add any extra salt to your meal.

Your taste for salt is acquired, so you can learn to enjoy less. Decrease your use of salt gradually and your taste buds will adjust. After a few weeks of cutting back on salt, you probably won’t miss it and some foods may ac-tually taste too salty for you.

Start by using no more than 1/4 teaspoon of added salt daily, and then gradually reduce to no salt add-ons. As you use less salt, your pref-erence for it diminishes, allowing you to enjoy the taste of the food itself, with heart-healthy benefits.

Salt is the latest target for healthy hearts

DAVID BLICK

Items for the Health Calendar may be e-mailed to jill.ritchie@examiner.net or mailed to: The Examiner, P.O. Box 459, Independence, Mo. 64051, attention Jill Ritchie. The following items are for Feb. 9 through 16, unless otherwise stated.

SpotlightsBlue SpringsEMOTIONAL WELLNESS SERIES, 6:30 to 8

p.m. Feb. 15, First Christian Church, 701 N.W. 15th St. Topic: Perception vs. Reality – Lived experience of recovery with Simon Messner, MSW, and Petra Robinson, CPS. Contact 816-229-8400 or info@fccbsmo.org.

IndependenceHEART HEALTHY STORE TOUR, 4:30 to 5:30

p.m. Feb. 16, 23rd Street Hy-Vee. Tour the aisles and learn what foods to eat to boost your heart health. No registration required. For information, call 816-500-6778.

KIDS’ COOKING CLUB, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17, 23rd Street Hy-Vee. Kids will learn cooking basics and prepare some tasty treats. Cost, $3 per child. Register and payment due by Feb. 16. For information, call 816-500-6778.

KIDS’ COOKING CLUB, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Noland Road Hy-Vee. Kids will prepare chocolate-covered cherry milk, mini heart pizza snackers and Valentine parfaits. Cost, $3 per child. Registration and payment due by Feb. 16. For information, call 816-510-5694.

Kansas CityMISSOURI LEAGUE FOR NURSING INC.

workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Thursday, North Kansas City Hospital. Topic: Geriatric clinical update. Cost, $125 for members; $160 for non-members, and an addition $15 if registering on-site. To register, call 573-635-5355 or visit www.mlnmonursing.org.

Addiction groupsIndependenceSTRAIGHT TALK, NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS,

8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, First Baptist Church. Narcotics Anonymous Help Line: 531-2250.

LIvING FREE – AL ANON meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1723 Appleton Ave. 461-0039.

Blue SpringsALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, meetings

available daily, most sessions are closed, and there are beginner meetings also, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner). There is a total of 29 meetings per week. For times, call 228-7921.

CHAPEL HILL AL-ANON, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9 a.m. Saturday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

BLUE SPRINGS ALATEEN, 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

RaytownNEW DAY AL-ANON, 10 a.m. Wednesday, Blue

Ridge Trinity Lutheran Church. 353-5446.

Bereavement groupsBlue SpringsWIDOWED PERSONS support group, 7 to 8:30

p.m. Monday, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Annex A. 224-0677 or 229-8093.

INDEPENDENTS SINGLES MINISTRY grief support group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, First United Methodist Church. 228-3788.

ADULT BEREAvEMENT support group, sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center, 1:30 to 3:30

p.m. several times throughout the year, Vesper Hall. To register, 655-5490.

Lee’s SummitGRIEF DISCUSSION GROUP, 7 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Lee’s Summit Christian Church.OtherINFANT LOSS GROUP, sponsored by Carondelet

Health. 655-5582.

FitnessIndependenceGENTLE TAI CHI for those 50 and older, 6

p.m. Monday, The Palmer Center. Free. 325-6200.LOW IMPACT EXERCISE, 9 a.m. Mondays,

Wednesday, Friday, Fairmount Community Center. 254-8334.

WAKE UP WORKOUT, 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, The Palmer Center. 325-6200.

WALK TO THE BEAT, 8 a.m., Monday-Friday, Fairmount Community Center. 254-8334.

PEPPI exercise classes, 10:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, The Palmer Center. Free. To register, 325-6200.

PEPPI exercise classes, 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Fairmount Community Center. To register, 254-8334.

PAvEMENT POUNDERS 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Friday, The Palmer Center. 325-6200.

SITTIN’ FIT chair exercises class, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, The Palmer Center. Free. 325-6200.

STRETCH AND TONE, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, The Palmer Center. Cost, $1. 325-6200.

ZUMBA GOLD, dynamic workout to Latin and international rhythms, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Palmer Center. Cost, $2. 325-6200.

TAI CHI by the Three Dragons Way, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sermon Center. Cost, $35 for a four-week session; $40 for a 5-week session. 325-7370.

WALK TO THE BEAT, 2 to 3 p.m. Friday, The Palmer Center. Free. 325-6200.

Blue SpringsSWIMNASTICS, 9 to 10 a.m. Monday,

Wednesday, Friday; 8 to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Centennial Pool-Plex. Cost, $3.75 per visit. 228-0137.

THERAPEUTIC SWIM, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Centennial Pool-Plex. Cost, $3.75 per visit. 228-0137.

CROSSTRAINER AEROBICS, 9 to 10 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $2.50 per class. 228-0181.

PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EXERCISE classes, 9:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 300 N.W. Mock Ave. 655-5400.

WEIGHT ROOM for ages 50 and older, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $10 per month; $2 per visit; $96 for a year. 228-0181.

YOGA — For beginners and beyond, 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $2.50 per

health Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Page 7

healthCALENDAR YourTAKe how do you keep from

getting a cold?

BaIlee summersIndependence“I get plenty of rest and try to stay warm.”

alex zachgO“I take cold medicine if I get sick.”

elIzaBeTh FrITchIndependence“I make sure I eat right and stay warm if I go outside.”

– Kelly Evenson

More on PaGe 8

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class. 228-0181.YOGA-GENTLE FLOW, 6:45 to 8 p.m. Tuesday,

Vesper Hall. Cost, $8 per visit, $48 for six classes. 228-0181.

TAI CHI, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $2.50. 228-0181.

STRETCHING EXERCISE, 10 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $1.50. 228-0181.

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM for older adults, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and Friday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $1 per session. 228-0181.

STRETCH AND TONE, 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Vesper Hall. Cost, $2.50. 228-0181.

AQUA-AEROBICS, noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Centennial Pool-Plex. Cost, $3.75 per visit. 228-0137.

RaytownTAI CHI, 11 a.m. Thursday, elliott Place

Retirement Community. Free. 313-6800.Kansas CityWALK AND TALK, 7 to 10 a.m. Monday-Friday,

Ascension Lutheran Church, 4900 Blue Ridge Blvd. 358-1919.

PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise), 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Truman Medical Center-Lakewood. 373-4415, ext. 1175.

MiscellaneousIndependenceMATERNITY UNIT TOURS, Centerpoint Medical

Center. Call 751-3000 for dates and to register.FOOD HANDLER/MANAGER PERMIT training

classes, food handler classes, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays at Truman Memorial Building, 1 and 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Independence Health Department; manager class, 9 a.m. Monday. There is a fee. To register, 325-7803.

SALvATION ARMY SEEING HELP (SASH), 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, The Salvation Army building. There will be games, speakers or descriptive video movies, plus a meal. 461-4869 or 373-3363.

Blue SpringsBREAK TIME CLUB, sponsored by Shepherd

Center of Blue Springs, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Timothy Lutheran Church. For older adults with some physical and/or mental limitations. A donation of $10 to the cost of the program is suggested. 228-5300.

Prenatal/Infant/Child programsIndependenceWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 404-6460 or 257-2335.

Blue SpringsWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 220-1007.

BLUE SPRINGS/LEE’S SUMMIT TOUGH LOvE support group, for families dealing with unacceptable adolescent behavior, 7:30 to 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, First Christian Church. 913-492-1200.

MOMS & MOMS-TO-BE prenatal and postnatal class, 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, Family YMCA. 224-9620.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING SESSION, 7 p.m. Thursday, St. Mary’s Medical Center. Fee. For reservations, 913-384-1000.

Kansas CityWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 404-9740 or 923-5800.

Screenings/ImmunizationsIndependenceBLOOD PRESSURE for those 50 and older,

9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Palmer Center. Free. 325-6200.

BLOOD PRESSURE checks for those 50 and older, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Palmer Center. Free. 325-6200.

Grain ValleyIMMUNIZATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE

CLINIC, sponsored by the Jackson County Health Department, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Grain Valley Community Center. Blood pressure checks and childhood immunizations are free. TB tests and payable vaccines by appointment only. 404-6443.

Support groupsIndependenceDOMESTIC vIOLENCE GROUP for men, 6 to 8

p.m. Monday, Family Conservancy of eastern Jackson County. 373-7577.

CARING COMMUNITIES KINSHIP, 7 p.m. Monday, Cler-Mont Community School. LiLi Moe, 796-6041.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Fairmount Community Center. Lead by Monica Benson. 254-8334.

PARKINSON’S, 3 p.m. Tuesday, The Fountains at Greenbriar. Call Desiree Rogers at 257-5100.

CAREGIvERS SUPPORT GROUP, 2 p.m. Thursday, Centerpoint Medical Center Cafeteria, private dining room. Call 698-7584 to register.

CHADD – PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Trails West Library. Call Teresa, 796-3659.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sermon Center. 252-4987.

vOID (victims Of Impaired Drivers), 6 to 7 p.m. business meeting; 7 to 9 p.m. support meeting, Friday, Walnut Gardens Community of Christ, 19201 R.D. Mize Road. Call 816-536-2853.

CARING COMMUNITIES DIvORCE AND STEP FAMILY, 6:30 p.m. once a month, days vary, Blue Hills elementary School. 796-6290.

Blue SpringsOvERCOMER’S OUTREACH 12-STEP, 7 to 8

p.m. Monday, Blue Springs Assembly. 229-3298.DIABETES, 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, St. Mary’s

Medical Center Birthing Center Conference Room. 655-5244.

CANCER support group, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, First United Methodist Church, Room 100. Call 229-8108.

CAREGIvERS, sponsored by Shepherd Center

of Blue Springs, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Timothy Lutheran Church. 228-5300.

PARENTS OF NICU BABIES, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, St. Mary’s Birthing Center. Moms delivering at other facilities are welcome. 655-5574, option 5.

BREASTFEEDING, offered by St. Mary’s Medical Center, 10 a.m. Thursday, 206 Mock Ave., Suite 101. 655-5574.

HOLDING ON TO HOPE, for parents who have had a child die, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, every other month, Timothy Lutheran Church. Call Nancy Nowiszewski, 228-5300, ext. 320.

CHRISTIAN 12-STEP RECOvERY PROGRAM, 7 p.m. Friday, Blue Springs Christian Church. Call Steve, 229-7311, ext. 243.

Lee’s SummitDEALING WITH LOSS, 1 p.m. Monday, John

Knox Village, Ambassador meeting room. Call Darlene Gutshall, 347-2310.

STROKE, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Lee’s Summit Hospital. 969-6900.

DIABETES, sponsored by Lee’s Summit Hospital Health Connection, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lee’s Summit Christian Church. 524-9416 or 347-0147.

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Village Care Center Conference Room. Call elisabeth Tyler, 347-2491.

ARTHRITIS AND FIBROMYALGIA, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, every other month, Lee’s Summit Hospital. 753-2220.

Kansas CityEMPOWER KIDNEY DISEASE CLASSES, 5 to

7 p.m. Tuesday through 2011, North Kansas City Hospital. Call 842-0076 to register.

Women’s IssuesBlue SpringsMOM TO MOM LUNCH CLUB, a support

group for new moms, 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, St. Mary’s Medical Center Professional Building, 300 Mock Ave. 655-5585.

LA LECHE LEAGUE OF BLUE SPRINGS, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Parkview Church. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 254-5992 or Stephanie, 833-0250.

IndependenceLA LECHE LEAGUE, Jackson County A.M.

Group, 10 a.m. Thursday, Trails West Public Library. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 254-5992.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT GROUPS, sponsored by the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA), 6:30 to 8:30 Monday. For locations, call Karen Costa, 252-8388, ext. 16.

OtherHOPE HOUSE INC. weekly support groups,

open to any female who has been or is now involved in an abusive relationship. For times and location, call the hotline at 461-4673.

– Jillayne Ritchie­

healthCALENDARPage 8 Tuesday, February 8, 2011 health

Renew also offers services to refresh your mind and rejuvenate your spirit with a facial or massage in our Spa. Renew is located in a separate area with a private entrance, and equipped with state of the art equipment and furnishings that are geared towards enhancing each step of your recovery.

A truly innovative concept in post-acute care, designed especially for women, doesn’t just meet the needs of those recovering from an acute ill-ness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process.

Carmel HillsLong Term Care

Our long term care services are designed for individuals who need 24 hour nursing care. These residents may be chronically ill, frail, or experiencing a very slow recovery from an illness or injury. Our long term care units offer private and semi-private rooms including room furnish-ings, multiple common areas and dining lounges. We offer respite care or vacation care that allows families an opportunity to take a brief break from the demands of round- the- clock care giving.

Sunset Place at Carmel Hills

The dedicated Alzheimer’s Unit offers dedicated, caring and com-passionate staff well trained to assist residents in living their lives to the fullest. We offer structured activities designed to maximize interaction with each resident. Personalized behavioral manage-ment designed to encourage par-ticipation in a calm environment. We provide semi private and pri-vate rooms, complimentary cable television, nutritionally balanced meals and rehabilitation services.

For those seeking short term med-ical and or rehabilitative services, we focus our efforts on working closely with patient and fam-ily and strive to achieve the most successful functional outcomes. Our nursing team is support by licensed therapists who provide physical, occupational, and speech therapies. This dedicated team works together to design individu-alized care plans tailored to each patients specific needs. We be-lieve our best results are achieved when we work together

Renew at Carmel Hills

810 E. Walnut • Independence, MO816.461.9600

FroM PaGe 7

wellness Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Page 9

Raymond Rizzi, D.P.M.Foot and Ankle Surgery Specialty

Raymond Rizzi, D.P.M., attended the California Collegeof Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. He did his residency at Kaiser Permanente and Legacy Hospital in Portland, OR. As a visiting scholar, Dr. Rizzi continued to advance training in ankle and foot reconstruction in Washington at Southwest Medical Center, Harborview

Medical Center, and University of Washington.

816.303.2400Centerpoint Medical Center Campus

19550 E. 39th Street, Suite 410 Independence, MO 64057

816.561.3003North Kansas City Hospital Campus2790 Clay Edwards Drive, Suite 600

Kansas City, MO 64116

Office Hours:Monday - Friday

8:30-5:00

For humans, hands are a miracle of engi-neering, strong for gripping, delicate for fine grasping. For bacteria, molds and viruses, human hands are a miracle for different rea-sons.

A perfect transport vehicle for germs, hands are a primary source of infection.

The average hand harbors more than 1,500 bacteria per square centimeter (an area smaller than a dime), ready to be transported to eyes, mouths or other objects. Hand hygiene is the enemy of germs, but plain soaps, anti-bacterial soaps or alcohol-based hand sanitiz-ers, which is best?

Hand sanitizing, what do you know?1. Anti-bacterial soap kills more bacteria

than plain soap. 2. Alcohol-based hand washes are better

than soap. 3. Soap and warm water is the first and best

choice for hand hygiene. Each time we touch something we deposit

and collect germs. Hand washing with regular soap and warm water is the single most effec-tive method of decreasing rates of hand-borne infections. Yet, we are not slaves to the sink.

Studies show that 20-25 percent of us do not wash our hands after toileting, even though more than 90 percent of us say we do. Think about that the next time you greet someone with a handshake, touch a door handle or pick up a telephone.

Because hands harbor so many germs, many recommend phasing out the social cus-tom of hand shaking.

Fingernails are the most contaminated area

of the hand and deserve special attention and the use of a nailbrush. Outbreaks of infection in hospitals have been traced to the contami-nated fingernails of healthcare workers. In response, some hospitals have rules limiting the length of fingernails of their employees.

Plain soap and warm water is recommend-ed as the first choice for hand hygiene. Liquid soap is superior to bar soap, which harbors germs. Soap should be lathered and hands rubbed together vigorously for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. The friction dislodges germs from creases and crevices. Hand wash-ing has not been shown to decrease the rates of flu, because the influenza virus is primarily transmitted by breathing contaminated air droplets.

Antibacterial soap offers no advantage over plain soap and may lead to the development of resistant bacteria. Antibacterial soaps must be left on hands for at least two minutes to kill or damage bacteria and they are not effective against molds and viruses. When was the last time you left soap on your hands for two min-utes? How about your (my) kids? How about never.

More than $120 million is spent on ethyl

or isopropyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers annually, and sales are growing. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based sanitizer can be an acceptable second choice when selected and used properly. These prod-ucts should contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective and are not recommended when hands are visibly soiled. Applying an amount of sanitizer that will remain on the hands for at least 20 seconds before evaporating neces-sary for best results. A little dab and quick hand rub are not adequate.

The CDC recommends that soap and water precede the use of hand sanitizers. Many states require food handlers in restaurants, schools, and grocery stores to wash their hands with soap and water before applying hand sanitizers.

The convenience of hand sanitizers has made them very popular, but they are no substitute for plain old soap and warm water. In spite of our advanced technology and new products, when it comes to hand hygiene, what was good for your grandmother is good for you.

Answers: 1. F 2. F 3. T

Your hands: Are they giving germs a free ride?

Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill can be contacted at lori.boyajian-oneill@hcahealthcare.com.

Lori

Boyajian

O'Neill

SPORTS AND WELLNESS

The 79 people entered the Bott Insurance first-ever Texas Hold’ em Poker Tournament Saturday evening at the Blue Springs Elks Lodge, were looking for a chance to win the $1,000 grand prize, or one of eight other cash prizes.

Patty Bott, the event organizer, stated “Alzheimer’s touches so many lives, most people know of someone that has been affected. There is currently no cure for this disease, and

I just wanted to do my part to help.”The silent auction generated $1,550, contrib-

uting to the total donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of $5,400.

Bott, along with 15 friends and family volun-teers, organized and facilitated the fundraiser, and food was donated by Bott’s friends at SCC Mortgage, Dena McLean and Jackie Hill.

The tournament was managed by KC Hol-dem, www.kc-holdem.com.

Bott has committed to making this an annual event and hopes to double her donation next year.

“This was just the first year, but I’m encour-aged by the response I received. I’m sure next year will be even bigger! I am so appreciative of everyone who participated in the event as well as those who donated items for the auction.”

– Submitted to The Examiner

Texas Hold ’em night raises

money to fight Alzheimer’s

disease

Page 10 Tuesday, February 8, 2011

healthSHORTS

nutrition

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Tawna Noftzger, Receptionist

Women at risk of heart disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death

among American women. In fact, more women die from heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. When blood pres-sure is too high, the heart works harder than it should. Other risk factors for developing heart disease include cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, overweight, physical inactivity and diabetes.

The more risk factors that you have, the greater your risk. You can reduce your risk by making a few changes to your lifestyle and diet.

■ Eat for heart health. Your diet should include a variety of foods from all food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats. Reducing total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol is key to heart-healthy eating. You can reduce saturated fat by remov-ing skin from poultry, choosing extra-lean meats and switching to low-fat dairy. Replace unhealthy fats with heart-healthy monounsatu-rated fats like olive, canola and peanut oil. Try margarines with no trans fats, no-fat or low-fat salad dressings and sandwich spreads.

■ Lose weight. If you are overweight, you are at risk for heart disease. Weight loss can improve your blood pressure and blood choles-terol and decrease your chances of developing diabetes. To take off the pounds, go beyond a diet and make permanent changes to your eating habits. For example, eat 5 fruits and veg-etables each day, drink 3 glasses of skim milk each day, eat 3 servings of fish per week, and

eat 3 servings of whole grains each day.

■ Be physically active. Don’t forget the exercise. Even low to moderate activity, if done on a regular basis, can help reduce blood pres-sure and control diabetes. Dancing, yard work, housework, gardening, walking, biking, swim-ming or aerobics can help burn calories, tone muscle and control appetite. Try one or more of these activities every day.

■ Use less salt. Most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods and table salt. Check labels for the amount of sodium in each serving. Many experts advise a total daily sodi-um intake of about 2,400 milligrams. Throw

out the salt shaker and try seasoning foods with herbs, spices and lemon juice. Check with your physician for a specific recommendation for salt (or sodium) level.

GriLLEd TUna

wiTH CHiCkpEa and SpinaCH SaLadServes 41 Tbsp olive or canola oil1 Tbsp garlic, minced (about 2-3 cloves)2 Tbsp lemon juice1 Tbsp oregano, minced (or 1 tsp. dried)12 oz. tuna steaks, cut into 4 portions (3 oz.

each)For salad:1/2 can (15 oz) low-sodium chickpeas (gar-

banzo beans), drained and rinsed1/2 bag (10 oz) leaf spinach, rinsed and

dried1 Tbsp lemon juice1 medium tomato, rinsed and cut into

wedges1/8 tsp salt1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Preheat grill pan or oven broiler (with rack 3 inches from heat source) on high tempera-ture. Combine oil, garlic, lemon juice, and oregano, and brush over tuna steaks. Marinate for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all salad ingredients. (Salad can be made up to 2 hours in advance and refrigerated.) Grill or broil tuna on high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork (to a minimum internal tempera-ture of 145 degrees F). Serve one tuna steak over 1 cup of mixed salad.

NUMBeR tO KNOw

18.5 In 2009, the prevalence of binge drinking among those with incomes of

$50,000 or above was 18.5 percent, while binge drinking among those with incomes of $15,000 or less was 12.1 percent.

— CDC.gov

STOcK.XchNG

Tracey Shaffer, RD, LD, is a Hy-Vee dietitian at the Blue Springs location The information provided should not be con-strued as professional medical advice. e-mail her at1033dietitian@hy-vee.com.

Tracey

Shaffer

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

NEW RESEARCH

Motor crashes favor menIn 2007, non-Hispanic white men were two to

three times more likely to die in motor vehicle crashes than were non-Hispanic white women. The gender difference was similar in other race and ethnic groups.

– CDC.gov

CHIldREN’S HEAlTH

More sleep regulates body weightWhen children are given the opportunity to

sleep more, like on weekends and holidays, the extra sleep tends to mitigate the adverse effects of irregular sleep on weekdays. A new study examined the effects of duration and regular-ity of sleep schedules on Body Mass Index and

metabolic regulation in children.Obese children experienced shorter and

more irregular sleep on weekends, and they were less likely to experience "catch-up" sleep on weekends. The combination of less sleep and more variable sleep patterns was associ-ated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Study authors conclude that promoting longer and more regular sleep, aimed at families, may help children maintain a healthy body weight.

– American Academy of Pediatrics

SENIOR HEAlTH

At-home rehabilitation a successKnee replacement patients undergoing

telerehabilitation – a unique Internet-based postoperative program that can be conducted from the patient's home – experience the same results as patients who undergo traditional

postoperative rehabilitation, according to a new study. It is becoming a popular alternative for patients who have no access to traditional reha-bilitation centers.

“The concept for telerehabilitation is a decade old; however, well-conducted research studies demonstrating its benefits and potential are rare,” said study author Dr. Trevor Russell. “This study offers measurable evidence that such technology can be used to provide effective rehabilitation services for knee replacement patients.”

– American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Did you know?The World Health Organization now rec-

ommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months to achieve optimal growth.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Page 11nutrition

Don’t count on EDTA pillto lower risk of a stroke

DEAR DR. BLONZ: A half-page article in my local paper was about a pill contain-ing an amino acid that flushes plaque out of the arteries and lessens the risk of a stroke or heart attack. The article called it EDTA, saying that it has been in use for a long time and there are many stud-ies attesting to its effectiveness. Are you familiar with this? If so, how does it com-pare to angioplasty? Are there any side effects, and what is the risk of a reoccur-rence? – H.C., via e-mail

DEAR H.C.: This wasn’t a news article. It was a promotional advertisement for a dietary supplement. You will probably see a “Paid Advertisement” notation along the border. There also should be a disclaimer box stating that the product was neither approved nor designed to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The product is being portrayed as being able to prevent heart disease. It is deceit-ful to boast a health claim and then have a “we don’t really mean this” disclaimer in tiny print. Let’s look at the science here and the questions you have posed.

EDTA (short for ethylene di-amine tetra-acetic acid) is a compound that has can bind with, or chelate (KEY-late), unwanted heavy-metal minerals such as arsenic, lead, cad-mium, manganese, iron, and calcium. There is an FDA-approved use for EDTA in intravenous (IV) chelation therapy for heavy metal poison-ing, metabolic conditions where minerals accu-mulate, or diseases where access to certain minerals is a part of the progress of a disease. The mention of “many studies” relates to this use of IV EDTA.

There has been interest in whether IV EDTA might be helpful against heart disease, where blood flow becomes limited due to a buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) on the arteri-al wall. There is, however, a dearth of objective evidence to support this type of therapy.

Studies in the February 2003 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiol-ogy and the Jan. 23, 2002, issue of JAMA, as

well as review studies in the Cochrane Review (2005), and later in the journal BMC Cardiovas-cular Disorders (November 2005), have all con-cluded that there is no data to support efficacy claims for IV EDTA in cardiovascular disease. The National Institutes of Health launched a study of IV EDTA chelation in 2002, but the result are not expected until 2012. (See tinyurl.com/4c8tbc4 for details.)

But here we have to step back even more because the product in your advertisement is a dietary supplement, not an IV treatment. EDTA is very poorly absorbed by mouth. As it works its way through your digestive system, the EDTA is just as likely to grab on to any mineral and make it unavailable for the body. Some of the EDTA that makes its way in may simply grab onto the first available mineral in the blood stream and have no effect on arterial plaque. This may explain why there is no objec-tive evidence to support the safety and efficacy of oral chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease.

The main effect will be on your pocketbook, but there could be an additional risk if needed health care is postponed. Think carefully and discuss your alternatives with your physician.

ed Blonz, Ph.D., is a nutrition scientist and author. Send questions to: “On Nutrition,” ed Blonz, c/o Newspaper enterprise Asso-ciation, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. e-mail him at ed@blonz.com.

EdBlonz

ON NUTRITION