Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine

Baby, it’s cold outside, and that dry, crisp air is not forgiving to the skin. If your skin is dry, flaky,
tight or chapped, SIU dermatologist Dr. Stephen Stone shares how you can give your skin a little break.

There’s more than one type of humidifier, but at the most basic level, the device emits water vapor into a space to increase the level of humidity. When used correctly, humidifiers can help to alleviate dry skin, chapped lips, nose bleeds and other pesky cold-weather conditions. They can even help to reduce some snoring!

Humidify – “When it gets dry enough, the moisture on our skin evaporates into the air,” says Dr. Stone. “Any way you can add humidity to the air in an environment in which you spend a lot of time is going to be helpful.” Dry air can lead to dry skin, chapped lips and nose bleeds. If you have a whole-house humidifier installed on your furnace, turn it up a bit in the winter time. Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom to increase the moisture while you sleep.

Cool it off – Though you might be tempted to bask in the humidity created by a scorching hot shower, Dr. Stone warns that although the heat of the water feels good at the moment, it actually damages the skin by taking away the body’s natural oils. This is especially damaging to older people because their oil glands produce less than when they were younger. He also recommends keeping your bath routine short; staying in the water for too long can also dry out the skin.

Keep it mild – Use mild cleansers on your face and body. You may need to invest in a gentler product during the winter. There are many new moisturizing body washes available, which may be more moisturizing to the skin than bar soaps.  Deodorant soaps and products with alcohol or fragrance can irritate skin.

Moisturize – Dr. Stone recommends consistently applying a moisturizer after bathing to seal in moisture. Creams and ointments usually alleviate dry skin better than lotions, and ingredients such as lactic acid, urea, lanolin, glycerin and alpha hydroxy acids have been known to help soothe dry skin. Dr. Stone also recommends using a small amount of petroleum jelly on your hands before bed if your hands are especially dry or chapped.

Watch what you wear – When it’s cold, cover up! Exposure to cold wind can chafe and dry skin. As you layer, keep in mind that wool and itchy fabrics will irritate the skin. Use mild detergents on the clothing that is close to the skin.

Don’t forget the lips – Keep lips from drying and cracking by using a lip balm, preferably one with SPF 30, throughout the day. Before bed, put on a little petroleum jelly.

Be hands on – Treat your hands as well as the rest of your body. Wear gloves when you’re outside and apply hand cream after each hand washing. Wear waterproof gloves if your hands will be submerged in water or you work with harsh cleaning products. Petroleum jelly before bed can help too.

Copyright ©SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine

The bustling holiday season is here, but the next few days offer a reminder to say two simple words that mean a lot: “Thank you.”

Thank you to

• Our health care providers who support the heath care needs of the community
• Our faculty who continue to motivate our learners
• Our learners who continue to strive for excellence
• Our staff who work collaboratively and creatively
• Our researchers as they work toward innovate cures and therapies
• Our community for choosing SIU HealthCare
• Our benefactors for giving back to SIU School of Medicine so that we can continue our mission of assisting the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs.

Copyright ©SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine

SIU School of Medicine’s Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network (CMMHRN) is helping children, teens and their families through a new type of therapy – trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

More than 175 children and teens have received trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy through the Trauma Informed System of Care Learning Collaborative, an effort made possible by a $100,000 donation from The Poshard Foundation and an $80,000 grant from the SIU School of Medicine Rural Health Initiative.

According to CMMHRN clinical director Ginger Meyer, MSW, LCSW, abused children referred to the program, on average, experience more than three different types of trauma, most often sexual and emotional abuse, before receiving help. Nearly two-thirds of these children, ages 3 to 18, experience some form of post-traumatic stress.

The short-term treatment model consists of 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. The therapy assists youth and parents in learning new skills to help process thoughts and feelings related to traumatic life events; managing and resolving distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related traumatic life events; and enhancing safety, awareness, parenting skills and family communication.

Part of the innovative therapy involves the child creating a “trauma narrative.” A trauma narrative serves as a method for the child to learn to tolerate remembering without significant distress and to arrive at a true and helpful way of understanding what the trauma means in their life so that it can be put in the past.

When children can’t yet find the words to express their trauma, therapists encourage them to draw or paint. “Implementing play therapy and art therapy into their sessions can really amplify the positive effects of the trauma therapy,” Kim Honey, LCSW, a member of the Collaborative who is trained to provide the trauma-focused therapy.

The CMMHRN and partner agencies formed 19 care teams that trained 65 clinicians on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. “This treatment is not just a model of therapy but a unique process of maintaining hope for many kids who may have lost hope due to childhood trauma,” says Honey.

“When you know you can help those children, it feels really good,” Meyer says. “The medical care and therapy the Network provides is one of the first steps to healing.”

To learn more about the CMMHRN and some of the teens who have been helped by this therapy, click here.

Copyright ©SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine

Imagine having to ask someone to tie your shoes because bending over means you can’t breathe. Not being able to “catch your breath” means that you can’t take a long, hot shower or do simple chores like vacuuming without supplemental oxygen. Those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) live with these scenarios each day. COPD is expected to become the third leading cause of death worldwide by the 2030s, according to a 2013 report from the World Health Organization.

COPD is a common lung disease that causes difficulty breathing. The two main forms of COPD include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Emphysema progressively destroys the lungs. Most patients with end-stage emphysema are very limited in their daily activities: Their breathing is labor intensive, and they rely on supplemental oxygen.

Help for patients with end-stage emphysema
SIU School of Medicine has one of five [LM1] programs in the United States offering the only known surgery to help those with end-stage emphysema. Drs. Stephen Hazelrigg and Traves Crabtree are SIU cardiothoracic surgeons who perform lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Dr. Hazelrigg has performed more than 500 lung volume reduction surgeries on patients from 13 different states since 1993.

How the surgery works
To relieve the stress on the diaphragm and help the patient breathe more easily, the surgeon makes three small incisions and removes the most damaged part of the upper lobe of the lung. Removing the damaged areas allows the remaining healthy tissue and surrounding muscles to work more efficiently. Without the damaged area, the lung shrinks down, and the diaphragm can relax and move up and down more easily.  “It doesn’t seem to make sense, but it works,” Dr. Hazelrigg says. “Many of these people are out of options; no other medications can help them.”

Relief and breathing improvement varies from person to person. Some patients may feel like they are breathing better during the hospital stay, but it usually takes a few months. Patients report after a month that they are able to do things such as shower more easily or walk through the house without supplemental oxygen. LVRS typically improves breathing by 40-50 percent. “This is a dramatic improvement in the lives of these patients,” Dr. Hazelrigg says.

There’s nothing like a good, deep breath and now even some who suffer from COPD will be able to breathe easier thanks to this life-saving surgery.

Learn more about Dr. Hazelrigg and watch a video about how LVRS changed one woman’s life. Read more about this surgery in SIU’s Aspects magazine. 

Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

SIU’s Center for Family and Community Medicine has grown into a powerhouse of care across the region. Learn more in this article.

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine

This Turkey Day, give thanks for gluten-free alternatives and a little creative thinking. Just because you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice your favorite traditional Thanksgiving meals. SIU School of Medicine’s Sibyl Cox, a registered dietician specializing in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, offers her favorite tips for keeping your tummy content this holiday season:

Tip #1: Pass on the stuffed turkeys.
Some turkey brines or marinades as well as injections can contain gluten, so making sure the bird is gluten-free is important. Butterball reports its fresh and frozen turkeys are gluten-free. Look for free-range or organic turkeys as an option.

Tip #2: Use gluten-free flour to thicken gravy.
Use an alternative to wheat flour, such as the gluten-free flours or cornstarch that you already use in baking.

Tip #3: Use gluten-free bread and broth to make stuffing.
Replace gluten-containing bread with your favorite gluten-free bread. Be sure any broth used to make the stuffing is also gluten-free. Or, try a gluten-free cornbread mix like Bob’s Red Mill and make a cornbread stuffing.

Tip #4: Whip up casseroles & vegetable dishes with gluten-free, cream soups.
Your gluten-free cornbread mix can be used to make corn casserole. Del Monte advertises its creamed corn is gluten-free, but always read labels. Gluten-free, cream soups can be used to make green bean casserole.  Also, casseroles can be topped with crushed up potato chips for crunch instead of bread crumbs. Opt for an easy veggie dish by roasting your vegetables with olive oil, salt and pepper, and then you don’t have to worry about gluten at all.

Tip #5: Choose frozen, gluten-free crusts for dessert.
Gluten-free flour blends can be used to make a pie, or you can purchase a frozen gluten-free pie crust. Another option is using gluten-free graham crackers for a graham cracker crust. Or simply go crustless; pumpkin pie is delicious this way as well.

Tip #6: Avoid cross-contamination.
To avoid confusion, separate and label gluten-free options. Use separate utensils for these foods and explain that a utensil used in gluten-free food cannot be used in another food, including things like crackers. Even placing a gluten-containing roll on a plate can result in cross-contamination for those who need to eat gluten-free.

Tip #7: Make family aware.
Consider hosting Thanksgiving, and let your guests bring flowers, drinks, table settings or other needed items. Or, offer to help whoever is cooking so that they’ll feel more comfortable with making gluten-free foods, and you’ll feel more comfortable eating them. Let friends and family know that many foods they may not be aware, including cheeses, soups, soy sauce, gravies, seasoning packets and broths, can contain gluten.

Also, take a moment to inform them about cross contamination and ask that if they are going to make a gluten-free food to be sure to do this before making other foods. Offer to bring your favorite gluten-free food so you know you will have something to eat. This is a great time to educate people about celiac disease and gluten.

Copyright ©SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Know the signs:

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine

Spring forward – fall back.  This Sunday marks the day when we get to turn back the hands of time an extra hour. While it’s tempting to use the extra time to catch up on sleep, consider using your extra time getting yourself and your family prepared for the cold months ahead.

Appetize
Food for thought: Pumpkin pie and Christmas cookies are right around the corner, but you can plan some healthy options to help keep the winter weight away. Use your extra hour to plan out some healthy menus for the year. Get the slow cooker ready and freeze portions to help save cooking time during busy nights.

Winterize
It’s not too early to check the safety supplies in your car. Be sure you have a box with an ice scraper, tow rope, blankets, water, non-perishable food, gloves, hats, flashlight and batteries, candle and matches, first aid kit, shovel and any needed medications.

Organize
If you have a fireplace, be sure your chimney has been professionally cleaned. Have your gas lines checked if you have a gas fireplace. If you have a wood burning fireplace, it’s a good time to stock up on wood. Change your furnace filter and grab a couple extra to have on hand. Check your outdoor surroundings for areas that might be safety hazards when the snow and ice arrive.

Moisturize
Dry winter air is hard on the skin and makes breathing more difficult for some. Sanitize your humidifiers with vinegar and hot water so they’re ready to go when the cold hits.
Exercise
Take a brisk Sunday morning walk, rake the leaves or go for a bike ride. Getting up, moving and enjoying the daylight will help your body reset its natural clock.

Surprise
Opportunities abound to help others in the community. Make an effort to help neighbors clean their yard or serve dinner at the breadline.

Analyze
Enrich your mind: Plan a visit to a local museum, library or historical site or just take an hour to read that book you keep putting off. 

Copyright ©SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

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