Monday, December 31, 2012
Follow your heart to a healthier life
When my children became adults they moved to Utah and
California to pursue their dreams.
Consequently, my husband and I spend a lot of time on
airplanes, visiting them as often as possible.
In an effort to
pass the time, I like to be friendly and engage my seatmates in conversation.
Unless, of course, the person pulls a hood over their face and pretends to
sleep even before take-off. I can
take a hint. But in most cases my
experience has been very positive.
I have met the most fascinating people.
Our most recent trek was to San Francisco, a six-hour
flight. The window seat was
occupied by a woman of about 55 years old who was on her way to a small
business seminar in San Francisco.
She was a genuinely happy person, with a positive attitude
who revealed that in the past she had a very responsible job that she
hated. She earned a good salary,
but had no job satisfaction. Her husband was deceased and she was raising her
two children alone. She seemed to be constantly sick from one illness or
another.
As soon as they
were grown and on their own, she quit her job to pursue her dream of owning her
own business. It was a struggle
getting started, and she still doesn't make as large a salary as she once did,
but she said her physical health improved dramatically once her emotional
health did. "I wouldn't go
back to a job I hated for all the money in the world."
Coincidentally, the in-flight magazine featured an interview
with actor Hugh Jackman. He told of his early life and career and how he acted
strategically instead of making choices from the heart. "I wish someone had told me
earlier that it's OK to follow my bliss," he said.
When I worked for Hospice, I often asked my patients if they
had any words of advice for me. It
was no secret that they were at the end of life, and they invariably said they
wished they had started working on their "bucket list" earlier. The
most content people were able to say they truly enjoyed their family, friends
and occupations. It was sad to
witness people who didn't pursue their dreams and sorely regretted it.
Colin Powell has been quoted as saying, “A dream doesn't
become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” Indeed, it is not always easy, but my
children are pursuing their dreams and we have never seen them happier.
Hugh Jackman said, "whatever we do in life, if it's
from the heart, the result is irrelevant. It's the journey that matters. I'll
only follow my heart from now on."
Sounds like good advice for us all.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. 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.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Reassure your children following Sandy Hook shootings
It is not a stretch to say that almost everyone in the state
and our nation is shocked and saddened by the Sandy Hook Elementary School
shooting in Newtown that killed 20 children and six adults.
These events
can be frightening for children and parents, especially when they occur
relatively close to our own community.
While young children may not fully grasp the intensity of the event,
questions arise and our children need to be comforted and have their questions
answered.
While we are all trying to regain our strength and continue
to support our loved ones, here are few tips that might help parents and
guardians:
• Reassure your children that they are safe in their home and
in their school. Emphasize that schools are safe and secure.
• Make time to talk with your children and validate their
feelings, whatever those feelings may be. Explain that all feelings are ok when
a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings and help put them into
perspective. Children may not always express themselves readily. Watch for
clues, for example clinging more than usual, and encourage them to talk..
Observe for any changes in behavior, sleep pattern and appetite.
• Keep your explanation appropriate to the age of the child.
Elementary school kids need brief, simple information and lots of reassurance.
Middle school children will need more details about whether they are truly safe
and what is being done to keep them safe. High school students will need to be
aware of their environment and follow safety guidelines. They should
communicate any strange activity or possible loophole in the security that they
see to appropriate authorities.
• Review safety procedures, including following guidelines and
knowing whom to go to when they feel threatened.
• Limit exposure to continuing media coverage. Often in cases like this, media can
inundate us with graphic images that can be disturbing for children as well as
adults.
• Maintain a normal routine. Keeping a regular schedule can be
reassuring. Encourage children to eat healthy and get plenty of sleep. Ensure
that they keep up with their school work and extracurricular activities, but
monitor for any sense of being overwhelmed.
If you are concerned or need further information, your
pediatrician can offer further
suggestions and resources.
Dr. Ravi Prakash is a member of the Backus Hospital Medical Staff and a private practice
pediatrician. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Dr. Prakash or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The costs of smoking go even beyond your health
There can't be one person left in the world that doesn't know smoking is a health hazard. The effects of tobacco and nicotine have been well documented:
Lung cancer, bladder cancer, asthma, emphysema, circulatory
problems, not to mention prematurely wrinkled skin, bad breath, yellow teeth,
and tooth and gum disease.
Yet the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention statistics reveal that in Connecticut, 15.9%
of the adult population — over 428,000 individuals — are current cigarette smokers,
and 9.8 % of youth ages 12-17 years smoked a cigarette in the past month.
Backus Health System Registered Respiratory Therapist
Annette McDonald, one of the certified facilitators for the American Lung
Association "Freedom From Smoking" cessation classes, has prepared a
list delineating the consequences of smoking on the wallet. This might provide more of an incentive
to quit.
At $8.50 per pack, if you smoked one pack per day it costs:
• $59.50 per week
• $255 per month
• $3,102.50 per
year
• $15,512.50 in five years
• $31,025.00 in 10 years
What can you buy if you saved that money instead of smoking?
• One pack of cigarettes = eight songs for your iPod on iTunes
at 99 cents per song
• In one week you would have enough money for dinner for two.
• In one month you would have enough money for a car payment.
• In one year you would have enough money for a vacation.
• In 5 years you
could buy a compact car.
• In 10 years you would save enough for a down payment on a
house.
When some people see these figures, it can have a bigger
impact than hearing health hazard statistics. No matter how you look at it — the cost of smoking is
not worth it, healthwise or in our pocketbook.
Start the new year right by taking a smoking cessation
class, which are offered at local hospitals. Quit smoking and start reaping the
health as well as the financial benefits.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. 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.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Quirky traits can translate to success
At one time or another, haven’t we all secretly suspected
that we were exhibiting signs of “going a little crazy?”
When I was a
little girl, my mother often said to me, “You’re either laughing hysterically
or crying – there is no in-between with you.”
She was right; I did seem to always be behaving at one
extreme or the other. When I was older and took Psychology 101 in college, I
wondered if I was exhibiting signs of bipolar disorder.
Recently, I was
very comforted to read an article in the March 2012 issue of Reader’s Digest,
entitled, “The Upside of Being a Little Nuts.” Psychiatrists tell us that all behavior occurs on a
spectrum. For instance, we all
worry about things at times, but some of us are crippled by frequent panic
attacks. The article described the
very good news that people diagnosed with certain disorders can also possess
desirable qualities and useful characteristics.
For example, people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
are more likely to be hardworking and diligent. People with OCD thrive in situations and occupations that
have strict rules and guidelines and require focus and concentration, like
accountants and business managers.
Someone with anxiety disorder is more likely to be
sensitive, attentive to others, and compassionate. The author of this Reader’s
Digest article suggests that highly anxious people are also hyper-vigilant, so
they make good surgeons, dentists, and bankers.
People with mild bipolar disorder are more likely to be
creative. Artists, musicians, and
writers tend to be prone to mood swings, but this can be their forte. When they
are manic, their creativity is maximized.
Well, I can attest to that one. When I am exceedingly happy, I can write health columns,
draw pictures, paint in watercolors, cook gourmet dinners for 10 and plant the
garden — all in one day.
Other days, when I feel disappointed and down, I can’t even make a
breakfast omelet — a bowl of cold cereal is all I can manage.
Many people who have Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism, are also good problem solvers. They may be socially awkward, but their
ability to focus is intense. They make good engineers and scientists. Los Angeles Psychiatrist Dr. Soroya
Bacchus reports that, “Numbers and concrete science really make sense to them.”
The good news for all of us is that behavior we suspected
was “a little nuts” can actually be an asset that can benefit and be valued by
society.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. 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.
Monday, December 03, 2012
Sleep tight, live right
Studies show that getting proper rest and a good night’s
sleep may actually strengthen the immune system. A healthy immune system is vital, especially as we are in
the midst of cold and flu season.
Registered nurse Sheryl Ness, Mayo Clinic Nurse Educator,
offers some simple strategies that may assist you in getting a good quality
sleep:
• Create good sleep habits. This includes going to bed at the
same time every night and waking at the same time every morning. Most people
need an average of 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
• Incorporate a relaxing bedtime routine of a few minutes of
meditation, quiet music or easy yoga stretches before you go to bed.
• If you need to nap during the day, try to nap in the
mid-afternoon and limit your nap to 30-60 minutes at the most.
• Watch your total caffeine intake all day; especially limit
drinking coffee, tea or sodas with caffeine in the afternoon and evening hours.
• If you do have problems falling to sleep after a few
minutes, get out of bed and try reading or doing another relaxing activity
until you feel sleepy again.
• Create a good sleep environment. The bedroom should be quiet
and relaxing; try using ear plugs and window shades if needed.
Backus Hospital Pharmacist Ryan Jones acknowledges that
stress can make sleep difficult.
“Try to remove any stressful or worrying thoughts from the
forefront of your mind before going to bed,” he said. “If the next day’s tasks have you
stressed, make a list of them before bed. This simple act helps clear the mind
of stressful thoughts for the night.”
If all of these measures fail, discuss with your primary
care provider the possibility of sleep aids or medication.
Alice Facente is a community education nurse for the Backus
Health System. 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.
