Monthly Archives: September 2014

The what, why and how of whole grains

In the past, whole grains were thought to provide nothing more than fiber, but new research reveals that whole grains offer vitamins and minerals along with antioxidants and other healthy plant-based nutrients.
WHAT DOES ‘WHOLE GRAIN’ EVEN MEAN? Whole grains are made up of all parts of the grain – the bran or fiber-rich outer layer, the endosperm or middle part, and the germ or nutrient-rich inner part. So when you eat a variety of whole grain foods, you get the best nutritional package.
WHY SHOULD I EAT WHOLE GRAINS? Whole grains provide essential vitamins and minerals and give your body the fuel it needs from the carbohydrates. Also, whole grains contain more of the dietary fiber and protective components that positively impact your health. Whole grain foods tend to have less sugar, sodium and unhealthy trans fats than non-whole grain foods. These nutritional benefits are not found in refined grains such as white flour and white bread.
HOW CAN I GET THE WHOLE GRAINS MY BODY NEEDS? A very easy rule to use when choosing whole grain foods is to check out the ‘Nutrition Facts’ on the label. For every 10 grams of carbohydrate, there should be at least one gram of fiber. That turns out to be the ratio of fiber to carbohydrate in a true whole grain: unprocessed wheat. Or you can check out that the first ingredient listed contains the word ‘whole’ as in whole wheat flour. Some products also will display one of three ‘Whole Grain Stamps,’ designed by the Whole Grains Council on foods, on the package: Good Source Stamp, an Excellent Source Stamp and a 100% Whole Grain/Excellent Stamp.

-Sara Lopinski, registered dietitician

Pain in the vein?

Your grandmother had them. Then they passed on to your mother. Now you have them. We aren’t talking about a precious family heirloom or a wedding dress. We are talking about a very real disease that causes debilitating leg cramps, disfiguring veins that are painful and occasionally bleed, and severe leg swelling that prevents you from fitting into your favorite shoes by the afternoon. In particularly bad cases, severe ulcers can form on the legs that can lead to amputation. And men can get them too!
Varicose veins are the result of years of untreated venous disease. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body, while veins carry that blood back to the heart. At any given time, nearly 80% of the blood in the body is found in the veins. Years of being on one’s feet can lead to the buildup of high pressure within the veins of the legs, causing them to dilate and the valves inside of them to malfunction. The result is congestion of blood within the legs, causing the veins near the surface of the skin to swell up and become painful and inflamed.
This underlying malfunction of the leg veins is called venous insufficiency, and it can lead to leg cramps, ankle swelling and varicose veins. The veins can become so unsightly that most people stop wearing shorts or bathing suits, thereby adversely affecting their quality of life, according to Dr. Sapan Desai, director of the SIU Vein Center. Dr. Desai is a vascular surgeon who specializes in minimally invasice vascular surgery and open vascular procedures.
Thanks to recent advances in treating venous disease, it is now possible to use minimally invasive procedures to remove the diseased vein from the inside through a tiny cut in the skin near the knee. This procedure is called ablating the great saphenous vein; it usually takes no more than 30 minutes to perform. “The pain is so little and recovery so fast that patients go home the same day and can be back at work within a day or two,” Dr. Desai says. “The improvement in quality of life is excellent for most patients, and the cosmetic outcomes from this procedure alone can make it possible to return to spring dresses and summer shorts.”
Most insurance programs will cover this procedure, especially if you have pain or debilitating swelling. You can see a specially trained vascular surgeon to provide comprehensive care for your legs. We can help get your legs back in shape and get you back into your favorite shoes.
The SIU Vein Center specializes in all aspects of cosmetic and functional vein surgery and has convenient weekday and weekend hours and appointments are available for new patients. If you would like to find out more about how SIU physicians can help your varicose veins, call 217-545-8000 to schedule your visit today.

5 tips to keep your farmer healthy & safe this harvest

Illinois is home to more than 76,000 famers. With an average death rate of approximately 25 people per 100,000 workers, agricultural work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As harvest begins, it’s important for farmers to put their health and safety first.
Here are five tips to keep the farmers in your life healthy and safe this harvest:

1.    Wear protective gear. Dr. Debra Phillips, director of the Rural Health Education and Research Center at SIU School of Medicine, says harvest is one of the most hazardous seasons for farmers. The Quincy family and community medicine physician says grain dust, which is a mixture of grain particles, soil, plant material, fungi, bacteria, residues from pesticides and insect excretions, is one of many reasons farmers should be extra cautious each fall. “Anytime you are around combines or grain movement, you have particulate matter, and it is not good for your lungs,” Dr. Phillips explains. Those who inhale the dust may experience anything from gastrointestinal issues and skin rashes to eye irritations and breathing problems. To prevent health issues related to grain dust, invest in protective gear such as respiratory masks and safety glasses.
2.    Apply sunscreen. Because farmers spend more time outdoors than the general population, the rate of skin cancer among farmers is much higher. To combat the sun’s harsh rays, choose a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum” and opt for SPF 15 or higher.
3.    Avoid wearing loose clothing. Anytime someone is working near an auger or power takeoff shafts, he/she should be extra cautious of getting loose clothing caught. “A lot of times this equipment is older and the protective safety guards have been taken away,” says Dr. Phillips. “Having loose clothing or strings that can be grabbed into those is a big hazard.”
4.    Schedule a prostate exam. Research has shown a link between pesticide exposure and prostate cancer. In 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that American farmers used 1,133 million pounds of pesticides. Although many farmers applied pesticides earlier in the year, it’s a good idea to remind them to see their primary doctors as harvest wraps up. Dr. Phillips stresses to farmers, “Prostate exams are one of those tests you should not put off, and you should do it yearly.”
5.    Install rollover protection structures (ROPS) on tractors. Did you know that most farm-related accidents are caused by tractors? According to the CDC, more than half of all farm-related fatalities are caused by tractors, and of those, 25% are due to tractor overturns. Consider having a ROPS installed on all tractors to prevent injuries and deaths from tractor rollovers.
-lm

The silent killer: What you need to know about carbon monoxide poisoning

It’s odorless, colorless and tasteless and can knock a grown man to the ground.

Carbon monoxide, an undetectable, toxic gas produced by motor vehicles, heaters and cooking equipment, has the potential to cause severe neurological damage and even death.

On Monday, Sept. 15, more than 140 students, faculty and staff from North Mac Intermediate School in Girard were transported to Springfield-area hospitals after a carbon monoxide leak occurred. This disturbing event is an urgent reminder for homeowners to take the necessary precautions to ensure your loved ones don’t experience carbon monoxide poisoning.

Have your heating system, chimney, flue and any oil, gas or coal burning appliances inspected by an experienced technician each year.
Install at least one battery-operated or electronic carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home. Replace the batteries when you change your clocks twice a year.
Practice an evacuation plan with kids and babysitters. Designate a safe meeting location.
Never use a charcoal grill, lantern or portable camping stove indoors.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a range of symptoms at varying severities, says Dr. Myto Duong, an SIU School of Medicine pediatric emergency physician. The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may feel similar to the flu, but without a fever. You may experience:

Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Unexplainable fatigue
Irregular breathing
Chest pain

If you suspect that you or a loved one has carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. Jason Kegg, an SIU School of Medicine emergency physician recommends taking three steps. First, get yourself, others and pets outside into fresh air. Once outside, call the fire department. The fire department has supplies to test the air quality and respirators to protect firefighters. Third, if you are showing symptoms of carbon monoxide, call a friend or an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital.

Young children, infants, fetuses and the elderly are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. Unlike adults, children may experience listlessness, irritability, nausea, vomiting and even seizures or a coma, says Dr. Kegg. Children, as well as pets, are often the first to display symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you’re unsure whether you have carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. Kegg recommends checking whether others in the home or apartment building are experiencing similar symptoms. Also, step outside of your home to determine whether symptoms improve.

In the event of carbon monoxide poisoning, the best medicine is oxygen. Medical providers can provide high flow oxygen, which will rid the blood of carbon monoxide more quickly than fresh air alone.

Remember, Illinois law requires areas where people sleep to have carbon monoxide detectors. Know the symptoms and protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning.

–lm

5 tips to get picky eaters to try veggies

Got picky eaters at home? Are you picky too?
“Experience has taught me that kids and adults can actually learn to like a wide variety of food; it’s all about familiarity and role modeling,” says SIU dietician Cindy Yergler. Yergler says that the more we are exposed to a wide range of food tastes in a series of positive experiences, the more foods we will learn to enjoy. “Parenting held many challenges for me but by using certain strategies, my now adult children (one a registered dietitian) learned to eat and enjoy a variety of food.”
Yergler recommends parents of picky eaters follow these steps:
1. Be a role model – Take a look at yourself and what you are eating. If your diet consists of ramen noodles and fast food, expect your children to be interested in the same. Children mimic the adult role models in their lives, in all areas – including food choice. They may not do what you say, but they will often do what you do!
2. Get kids involved in food – Buy a cookbook with simple, kid-friendly recipes that include veggies and fruits. Select a recipe together and shop for the ingredients.
3. Be adventurous – Plan an outing to the farmers market or a country farmstand to purchase a new vegetable or fruit. Allow your child to select a new “vegetable or fruit of the week.” Together, prepare the food item and have a family taste test!
4. Try and repeat – Encourage sampling of all food and do so with repeated exposure. Allow a very sensitive child to politely dispose of the bite into a napkin if it is too distasteful to swallow. It will be important to repeat this process with the same food several times. Eventually, many children (and adults) will actually enjoy the food.
5. Mix it up – Combine the “new food” with a familiar food. For example, mix zucchini with corn, asparagus with carrots or raspberries with sliced bananas. Before long the entire family will be eating better and enjoying meal time more.

reference, Appetite Journal, October 2010.

-rb, cy

Flu season is around the corner… Protect your family!

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The leaves blaze with new colors as the weather becomes cooler. We relish the comfort from a favorite cozy sweater to ward off a chill on a walk or at the football game.
As hearty Midwesterners, we also know the changing season is a golden opportunity to plan for what’s ahead. Take precautions to assure your family stays healthy as the days grow shorter.
The fall is the beginning of flu season. Influenza can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in those 65 or older or 2 years of age and younger. Some medical conditions can cause higher risk for complications from the flu.
In addition to protecting yourself, getting a flu vaccine each year can:

Protect the people around you
Protect those at greater risk of getting seriously ill, such as older adults, people with chronic health conditions, young children and infants
Reduce risk of hospitalizations and deaths

SIU Center for Family Medicine wants to be the first line of defense in keeping you and your family healthy this flu season and throughout the year. We are a Federally Qualified Health Center and have the opportunity to serve all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
Please make an appointment today to receive your flu vaccine.
Contact us for more Information or to make an appointment.
Phone: (217) 545-8000
Primary Location #1:
SIU Center for Family Medicine Clinic
520 N. 4^th Street
Springfield, IL 62702
Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 8 am – 7 pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
Location #2: SIU Center for Family Medicine Primary
Care Clinic at the Noll Medical Pavilion
5220 South 6^th Street Road, Suite 1500
Springfield, IL 62703

By Laura Castelon, SIU Center for Family Medicine

Could a Soda Tax Curb Childhood Obesity?

A new study from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine suggests that charging just a penny more per ounce of soda and other sugary beverages could prevent or reduce childhood obesity by 2.4 % in the next 20 years.
This tax, in combination with after school physical activity programs and a ban on advertising fast food to children, could be voted on as soon as November in some west coast cities.
While a noticeable change in childhood obesity rates may take years to be seen, researchers are hopeful of these future federal policies. Childhood obesity has led to a number of health-related issues and is estimated to cost the U.S. $14 billion annually in direct health expenses, according to the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research.
“Obesity is considered dangerous for children because we are seeing more conditions that are typically thought to be seen only in adults,” says SIU pediatrician Dr. Marthe dela Cruz. “For example, we’re seeing an increase in Type II diabetes in children, which down the road can lead to cardiovascular problems, renal problems, kidney issues, vision problems and possibly the need for dialysis and loss of limbs.”
In the U.S., nearly one in three young people between ages two and 19 is considered overweight or obese. In Illinois, that number is even higher, with approximately 35 percent of children ages 10 to 17 carrying extra pounds.
Parents have a number of ways to encourage healthy behavior at home:

Set small goals. For example, instead of eating fast food three times a week, try to eat it only once a week.
Plan an hour of physical activity each day. It can be as simple as taking a post-dinner walk or as fun as cranking up the music and dancing together.
Limit the time kids spend on computers and mobile devices or watching TV.
Involve the entire family and motivate each other to eat healthier. Start by scheduling family dinners.
Limit portion sizes or allow children to decide how much goes on their plate. Research shows that children end up eating about 25% less if they put their own food on the plate. Adults tend to be used to larger portions.
Prepare at least five fruits and vegetables each day.
Provide children with healthy snack options, such as yogurt or popcorn.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and opt for milk or water instead.
-lm

Help through the journey of infertility

One in eight US couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility — the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth. That translates to tens of thousands of couples in Illinois suffering from infertility.
The SIU Fertility and IVF Center recently celebrated five years of treating infertility issues in both women and men. More than 1,500 couples have been served by the Center in this time, and approximately 750 babies have been born to patients of the Center. Team members at the Center include faculty and staff from ob/gyn and urology, psychologists, geneticists and licensed dieticians, providing men and women with evaluation and treatment options.
“Our goal is to help women and men find answers and get the support they need to make important medical decisions and address the medical, emotional, social and economic challenges infertility can present,” said SIU ob/gyn Dr. Ricardo Loret de Mola, medical director of the SIU Fertility and IVF Center.

A few quick facts about infertility:

Approximately 85-90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures.
Fewer than 3% need advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
12% of married women have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining pregnancy. (2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth, CDC)
A couple ages 29-33 with a normal functioning reproductive system has only a 20-25% chance of conceiving in any given month (National Women’s Health Resource Center).

An event is planned to celebrate with those who have become parents with the help of SIU’s IVF Center and to allow others to meet the team that could help them through their infertility journey.
When: Sunday, September 7
Where: Erin’s Pavillion at Southwind Park, 4965 S. 2^nd Street in Springfield
Time: 3-6 pm
Light refreshments will be served.
Read an article here about SIU’s Fertility and IVF Center. http://www.siumed.edu/pubs/aspects/37-3/feature3.html
Resources: http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/home-page.html
www.siumed.edu/fertility

-rb

Beat the back-to-school stress

New backpack full of supplies, shiny, new gym shoes, new clothes, new lunch box . . . back to school time is full of new and fun things for kids. For some children, however, back to school brings on stress and anxiety. But parents can take steps to help.
Children often have difficulty with the shift in routine and experiencing anxiety at this time is normal, according to SIU psychologist Dr. Glen Aylward. “If this is the first time the child is going to school, or if the child is going to a new school, there are a lot of adjustments going on such as changes in the schedule and demands for doing homework,” he says. “If there were previous issues such as ongoing problems or social issues the previous school year, this kind of re-awakens those.”
Dr. Aylward gives the following tips to help children adjust to the changes:

increase the child’s familiarity with the new situation prior to school starting – visit the new school and meet the teacher, if possible
start re-adjusting sleep and wake schedules ahead of time
take a positive approach and sell the good parts about school

If the child’s anxiety continues and causes a major negative impact on family interactions, parents should consult a school counselor, psychologist or their family physician. The child may be referred to a mental health professional.