FInSide 3 CanCer Care SKIPPING THE TRIP 4 BreastFeeding THE BEST CHOICE FOR MOM AND BABY

6 driving TEACH YOUR TEEN HOW TO BE SAFE ! Feeding tHe HungrY ONE WOMAN’S MISSION

message from the Ceoaugust is one of my favorite months. warmer weather is upon us, and hopefully you and your loved ones have had a safe and fun summer.

Since our last issue of Health Scene, there have been quite a few changes at St. Joseph and redwood memorial hospitals.

the major news during the 2009 fi scal year was, of course, the nationwide recession. like so many other organizations, hospitals took a signifi cant hit as a result of declining investment portfolio values and philanthropic contributions, combined with increasing bad debt (patients not paying co-pays and other medical fees) and increasing volumes of medi-Cal and medicare patients.

despite dropping philanthropic contributions throughout the nation, St. Joseph hospital is nearing the $10 million mark for the new north-east tower capital campaign—an incredible achievement in a recession. we are still looking to surpass $12.5 million, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the health system based in orange, and we are ex-tremely grateful to the support our community has expressed.

as you may have seen in the media recently, we are not immune to the recession, and to help St. Joseph health System (SJhS) suc-cessfully weather the recession, hospital leaders have made several important changes throughout the health system. the good news for St. Joseph and redwood memorial hospitals was that, while other hospitals in SJhS were subject to workforce reductions, no layoffs are planned at either St. Joseph hospital or redwood memorial hospital. however, wages at both hospitals will be frozen through the end of this fi scal year (June 2010).

we made these changes in an effort to proactively offset the effects of the recession on SJhS and its staff. many employees have approached me to express gratitude for the wage freezes rather than seeing their jobs, or the jobs of their colleagues, cut. keeping our staff of nearly 1,300 employed in good-paying jobs is something we are proud of and something we are doing our very best to secure during this tough economic time. by protecting these jobs, we are also securing vital health care services for you and your family, friends and neighbors.

our health system has weathered two world wars, the great de-pression and other nationwide economic recessions. we are confi dent that the adjustments we recently made will enable us to successfully continue our mission to provide you with the high-quality, compassion-ate health care you have come to know.

we will continue to update you on SJhS’s fi nan-cial progress as the year continues.

have a blessed autumn,

Joe markpresident and Ceo

For Ruth Garciacelay, of Eureka, gardening in her yard was becoming increasingly diffi cult, and she thought it was due to advancing age. But aft er a visit to her doctor and some tests, it was clear she would need heart valve replace-ment surgery. ✦ “I had a serious wake-up call about my health,” Garciacelay says.

my life’

Heart Institute at St. Joseph Hospital off ers complete cardiac care

“Had I not gone through the surgery, I would have had a heart attack, because the aortic valve couldn’t do its job anymore. I wasn’t get-ting enough blood or oxygen with the blood, and damage would have been done to the heart muscle.”

Garciacelay decided to stay here in Humboldt County to have the surgery.

“I knew I had to stay here,” she says. “I wanted to stay here. Th e technology is here. Everything your doctor needs is here.”

“From cardiologist Dr. James Quillen to cardiac surgeon Dr. Joachim Postel to the nursing staff , the hospital, and the Sisters and staff of St. Joseph who knew that we needed this technology in Eureka—

thank you for saving my life,” Garciacelay says. “Th ey gave me back my life.”

an ounce of prevention To care for your heart, there is no substitute for prevention: mak-ing healthy lifestyle choices like getting enough exercise and keeping an eye on your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Also, be sure to talk to your primary care provider about your cardio-vascular health.

To see video of Garciacelay and other car-diac patients, or to learn more about the Heart Institute at St. Joseph Hospital, go to

www.stjosepheureka.org and visit the Heart Institute page.

another liFe Saved: ruth garciacelay had heart valve replacement surgery at the heart institute.

Joe markpresident and Ceo

‘They gave me back

®

J O U R N A L O F W E L L N E S S A N D G O O D H E A L T H C A R E ● S U M M E R 2 0 0 9

Nonpro� t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPortland, OR

Permit No. 2901

St. Joseph Hospital 2700 Dolbeer St. Eureka, CA 95501

Redwood Memorial Hospital 3300 Renner Drive Fortuna, CA 94450

for patients and the hospital alike, according to the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM). For example:

Working with other medical experts—including a ●patient’s primary care doctor—a hospitalist makes sure

Coping with a major health problem can be a little like finding yourself in a strange, new city. It sure would be nice to have a guide.

Fortunately, when it comes to health care, such guides are available. They’re called case managers.

“Basically, it’s our job to help patients navigate the health care system,” explains Jeff Frater, RN, BSN, CCM, president of the Case Management Society of America.

Case managers help patients better communicate with doctors and other caregivers. They also can help explain treatment options and assist with questions about insurance.

“People want to get the best care,” Frater says. “They want to know what their options are, which treatment is best and how the cost will be covered. Case managers can help with those issues.”

GettinG the help you need How do you find a case manager? There are a few different ways.

In most cases, a case manager is assigned by a person’s health plan, Frater explains.

“If a person has a condition that requires multiple treatments and seeing multiple specialists, a plan might assign a case manager to help coordinate a person’s care,” he says.

For example, a case manager may be helpful if a person has diabetes or is being treated for cancer. A case manager can help ensure cooperation between a person’s primary doctor and various specialists.

A patient can also ask a health plan to assign a case

manager, Frater adds. In other cases, a doctor may request a case manager.

And in hospitals it’s common for a patient to have a discharge planner. This is a case manager who helps ar-range rehabilitation and follow-up care, if needed, when a patient leaves the hospital.

Health plans generally cover the cost of a case manager if they assign one. You’ll want to check about coverage if you request the services of a case manager yourself.

While case manager is an unfamiliar term to many people today, Frater expects that will change in the future.

“People are becoming more involved in their own health care. They’re looking things up online. They want to know more about their treatment options,” he says. “In time, you may see more people engaging their own case managers in order to get the care they want.”

Talk to your doctor or health plan if you think a case manager could help you.

hospitalists can help shorten a patient’s

hospital stay and reduce readmission rates.

Hospitalists

different kind of medical expertSpeCialiStS abound in medicine. Cardiologists, neurologists and rheuma-tologists are just a few of the familiar ones.

But there’s a newer medical specialty that may be less well known.

Unlike doctors who are experts at treat-ing specific organs or diseases, doctors in this field focus instead on a specific kind of patient—one who’s in the hospital.

These doctors are called hospitalists. Their job is to coordinate the care of people in the hospital—and it’s no easy task. That’s because people who go to the hospital these days are typically sicker and require more complex medical care than those who were hospitalized years ago.

Among these patients, serious health problems or chronic diseases—such as emphysema, congestive heart failure, dia-betes or kidney disease—are common.

the benefits Hospitalists differ from other medical specialists in another im-portant way. Unlike doctors who spend most of their time tending to patients in a private office, hospitalists are based at the hospital.

Having these experts on-site pays important dividends

Case managers

helpinG you naviGate your health care

H o s p i t a l s

a patient gets the right treatment at the right time. He or she can see a patient quickly and as often as needed. That can be crucial for someone coping with a complex or quickly changing medical condition.

A hospitalist can meet with patients ●and their families to provide medical counseling and education.

Because they work in the hospital ●full time, hospitalists are familiar with the hospital staff and are well versed in hospital procedures. This experience can help hospitalists coordinate hospital sys-tems, improve quality and control costs for patients.

Some hospitalists help develop medical ●guidelines for hospitals and help improve patient safety and satisfaction.

Hospitalists can help shorten a patient’s ●hospital stay and reduce the need for readmission.

more to come Hospitals across the country are seeing the benefits of hos-pitalists.

In 2004, there were nearly 13,000 prac-ticing hospitalists, reports the SHM. That number is expected to jump to more than 30,000 in the near future. Experts predict virtually every hospital with 100 beds or

more—and many smaller facilities—will one day use hospitalists. With growth like this, don’t be surprised if you’re helped by one of these specialists the next time you’re in the hospital.

a case manager can help ensure cooperation between

a person’s primary doctor and various specialists.

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 2 H E A L T H S C E N E

For many years, osteoporosis has been associated with postmenopausal women. Today, however, the bone dis-ease is aff ecting younger people of both genders because of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and poor diets.

With the need for bone density screenings on the rise, Redwood Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Fortuna is proud to debut its new bone density scanner.

“Th e fact of the matter is, everyone is at risk for osteo-porosis,” says Dom Previte, director of radiology at RMH. “Our new bone density scanner will better enable us to evaluate a person’s risk for fracture.”

Using ultrasound instead of x-ray is preferable because it does not expose patients to any radiation. Additionally, the new bone density scanner is small and lightweight, meaning RMH can take it to local health fairs—including the upcoming Eel River Valley Family Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Fortuna.

During a scan, the patient places his or her heel on a platform on the machine. It sends sound waves through the heel bone and records the amount of feedback.

“Th e amount of feedback tells you the quality of the heel bone, which is a good representation of other bones in your body,” says RMH x-ray technologist Lyne Hagan. Hagan says the heel bone has the body’s biggest propor-tion of trabecular bone, the type of bone found in the spine and hips, which is most commonly aff ected by osteoporosis.

Hagan points out that the machine is only a screen-ing tool, not a diagnostic tool. She says that anyone who gets a bone density scan should follow up with his or her clinician or primary care provider.

To learn more, visit www.redwoodmemorial.org.

As the Eel River Valley celebrates Fortuna’s annual Apple Harvest Festival in early October, apple fans will also have an opportunity to learn about their health and get low-cost medical testing. Redwood Memorial Hospital’s Eel River Valley Family Health and Resource Fair, Fortuna’s biggest communitywide health event of the year, will take place the same day, Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Rohner Park Fireman’s Pavilion.

Th e health fair will feature low-cost medical testing,

1To date, the Blueprint for Excellence campaign has raised an astounding 10 million to help pay for a new patient care facility! For more information, call the St. Joseph Hospital (SJH) Foundation offi ce at 707-269-4200.2In the Eureka area, we are actively seeking qualifi ed candidates in cardiology; emergency medicine; ear, nose and throat (ENT); family practice; general and vascular surgery; internal medicine; neurosurgery; obstetrics/gynecology; and pulmonology. We are looking for an orthopedic surgeon in the Fortuna area.3Avatar International recently recognized RMH with the research fi rm’s 2008 Exceeding Patient Expectations award.

� ink medically, heal locallyLocal treatment is the ‘silver lining’ for cancer patientsLiving in a rural area like Humboldt County means sometimes leaving the area for goods and services not available locally.

However, as several residents have recently experi-enced, living on the North Coast does not mean sac-rifi cing high-quality cancer treatment and technology. Eureka resident Pete LaCount knows this full well. Aft er LaCount started feeling ill last fall, he received a surpris-ing diagnosis: prostate cancer.

“I just wasn’t feeling myself,” he says, adding that it never crossed his mind he might have cancer.

LaCount pursued radiation oncology at St. Joseph Hospital (SJH) and couldn’t be happier with the care he received.

“Once you walk through the doors at St. Joe’s, you’re going to feel you’ll be cared for extremely well,” LaCount says. “Dr. Michael Harmon has a special gift with people, to communicate with them and make them feel very comfortable.”

LaCount says that although having cancer was a life-altering experience, he was glad he could be treated in his hometown.

“Th ere is a silver lining to the cloud, I guess, when it comes to cancer, and that was the experience at St. Joseph’s,” he says.

the right tools for the job What impressed cancer survivor Wendie Wallace about her cancer treatment at SJH was the cutting-edge technology. Wallace, who upon receiving her cancer diagnosis immediately thought about leaving the area for treatment, was pleasantly surprised to fi nd a variety of options available at SJH.

“I thought that I would possibly get better treatment options if I went to another town,” she says. “Th is is not the case. Th ey use the same equipment here at St. Joseph’s radiation oncology department that they use at Stanford.Th at made me feel really comfortable.

“I don’t believe that you’ll fi nd a higher caliber of people or better treatment options anywhere,” she says.

To learn more about the Cancer Program at SJH, go to www.stjosepheureka.org and click on the link under “Our Services.”

on the lookout: rmh x-ray technologist lyne hagan prepares to take a bone density reading.

4SJH now off ers gastric electric stimulation for pa-tients with neuromuscular stomach disorders. It in-volves the use of a gastric pacemaker to help stimulate peristalsis.5Raising the Bar: Th e last structural steel beam for the new SJH Northeast Tower was raised into place in May and commemorated with a special ceremony with employees, physicians, community members and elected offi cials. Construction continues as we progress toward the projected opening in early 2011. For updates, go to www.stjosepheureka.org.6Benefi t Ball: Redwood Memorial Foundation’s premiere annual fundraiser is set for Saturday, Nov. 7. For more in-formation, call the Foundation offi ce at 707-725-7270.

On the horizon: Eel River Valley Health Fairincluding blood draws and tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, anemia, glucose and bone density. Wellness information also will be available from a variety of private and nonprofi t agencies, as well as county departments that support healthier lifestyles.

For more information about the Eel River Valley Fam-ily Health and Resource Fair, call 707-764-5239. Visit

www.redwoodmemorial.org or www.stjosepheureka.orgfor the latest in health care news and information.

Osteoporosis: Everyone is at riskRedwood Memorial rolls out new bone density scanner

H O S P I TA L H I G H L I G H T S

What’s in the works at SJH and RMH

pete and diana laCount wendie wallace

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 3 H E A L T H S C E N E

n e W s , v i e W s & t i p sh e a l t h t a l k

W e l l n e s s

breaSt milk iS a remarkable food. It has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water and protein that babies need.

But breastfeeding offers more benefits to babies than just good nutrition.

For instance, breast milk contains antibodies—something formula doesn’t have—that can boost a baby’s immune system and help protect him or her from a va-riety of illnesses, including ear infections, diarrhea and pneumonia.

lifelonG benefits Studies suggest that the benefits of breastfeeding may last long past infancy.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), breastfeeding may protect babies from developing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), obesity, diabetes and some cancers.

Breastfed babies may also have an advantage when they eventually enter the classroom.

Breast milk contains important fatty acids that help an infant’s brain develop. And research suggests that children who were breastfed score slightly higher on IQ tests and

do better in school than do kids who weren’t breastfed.

mom benefits too Breastfeeding is good for you as well as your baby.

For instance, your body releases hormones when you breastfeed that help you and your baby bond. Plus, the extra calories you burn while nursing can help you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight sooner than if you don’t nurse. Breastfeeding can also help:

Make your life easier. Not having to prepare formula ●saves time and money.

Reduce your risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer. ●It may also reduce the risk of hip fractures and osteopo-rosis after menopause.

Return your uterus to the size it was before your ●pregnancy.

food for a year The longer you breastfeed, the bet-ter it is for your baby.

The AAP recommends that babies get only breast milk for the first six months of their lives. And they should continue to get breast milk, along with other appropriate food, until they’re at least a year old.

But even if you can only nurse for a short time, your ba-by’s immune system will still benefit from breast milk.

Not every woman can breastfeed her baby, of course. But for those who can, breast milk is the perfect food for baby’s first year.

the abcs of vitamin dWhat we know—and don’t know—about the sunshine vitaminmention vitamin d, and strong bones probably come to mind. We’ve known for decades that children who get too little vitamin D can develop rickets, a soft-bone disease that can make legs bow as kids grow.

Insufficient vitamin D can mean bone problems for adults too. It can lead to osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) or osteomalacia (softening of the bone) as men and women age.

But vitamin D’s effect on health may go beyond bones. Getting recommended levels of vitamin D may help pre-vent diabetes, some cancers, heart disease, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

“We have a lot of exciting research going on in these areas,” says Mary Frances Picciano, PhD, a senior nutrition research scientist with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements. “But we don’t yet have conclusive results.”

Where to find it Vitamin D is known as the sun-shine vitamin because when ultraviolet light from the sun hits the skin, it triggers production of vitamin D

in the body. You don’t need much exposure—10 to 15 minutes of sunlight twice a week on your face, hands or arms without sunscreen is enough. Any more than that, and you increase your risk of skin cancer.

Vitamin D also is found in some fatty fish, such as tuna and salmon, and in cod liver oil. Especially important sources include vitamin D-fortified foods, such as milk, some cereals, orange juice and yogurt.

Supplements help many people get the levels of vita-min D that they need.

Among those who may need supplements are older adults, people who get little exposure to the sun, dark-skinned people, and people who have problems absorbing fat or who are obese.

hoW much is enouGh? Good question—and one future research may answer more clearly, Dr. Picciano says.

“We have pretty good evidence that having too little vitamin D can cause problems for children and adults,” says Dr. Picciano. “Where there is great controversy is, Will higher levels of vitamin D protect against or prevent certain diseases? Are there definite health outcomes as-sociated with various levels of vitamin D for different populations?”

For now, “The best advice we can give patients is to fol-low the government guidelines for vitamin D,” she says.

For adults, the NIH and other groups recommend:Ages 19–50: ● 200 international units (IU) daily, or the

equivalent of two 8-ounce glasses of fortified milk.Ages 51–70: ● 400 IU daily.Ages 71 and older: ● 600 IU daily.

have questions about breastfeeding? call our breastfeeding care line

at 707-445-8121, ext. 7536.

Kids require vitamin D too, supplements may be neededFor years, parents got this advice: babies and children need 200 international units (iu) of vitamin d a day.

but the american academy of pediatrics (aap) recently doubled that amount. the new recommenda-tion: 400 iu of vitamin d a day for infants, children and adolescents.

the reasons, according to the aap, include both well-known benefits and emerging ones. vitamin d not only helps build strong teeth and bones but also may protect kids against certain chronic illnesses later in life.

to make sure children get enough vitamin d, the aap recommends supplements of 400 iu a day for:

breastfed and partially breastfed infants, beginning ■

in the first few days of life. breast milk contains very little vitamin d.

all nonbreastfed infants and older children who ■

consume less than 1 quart (32 ounces) of vitamin d-fortified formula or milk a day.

adolescents who do not get 400 iu of vitamin d per ■

day from food.doctors sometimes prescribe even higher doses

of vitamin d for children with special medical condi-tions (such as fat malabsorption) or who take certain medicines (such as antiseizure medications).

pregnant women should be tested for vitamin d levels and may want to take supplements too, the aap recommends.

Breast milk

the perfect food for baby

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 4 H E A L T H S C E N E

You chose the decor and furniture. You have space for your hobbies, projects, plants and garden. Your best memories were made there. All of these are reasons your home is important to you. ✦ As you age, however, it may become more and more difficult to remain independent and in your home. Needs and abilities change over the years, but homes—unless modified—don’t change with them.

Living with family or moving to a nurs-ing home used to be a matter of course for people who had trouble living alone, re-ports the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC). But now there are many ways to modify your home to meet your changing needs—that is, to age in place.

make a plan “Most people want to be able to age in place,” says Peter Bell, execu-tive director of the NAIPC. “They want to stay in a home they’re comfortable in and in a community they know.”

Unfortunately, people are often faced with the reality of making home modifica-tions after an injury or illness strikes.

“People coming home from the hospital are rushing around trying to figure things out,” says Bell. “Or people are deteriorating slowly, and they have to rely on an adult child who may live in a different state.”

It’s better to plan ahead, says Bell. That way, you can anticipate problems that might arise and find out what resources are available. “Ideally, you should be think-ing about these issues before you retire or [right now] if you’re already doing remod-eling on your home,” he says.

Start by thinking about any illnesses you have, such as diabetes or heart disease, suggests the National Institute on Aging. Talk with your doctor about how these

humboldt home infusion makes it easier to receive various treatments in the comfort of your own home. to learn more, call 707-441-0178.

Regular checkups can help you stay in your homean important step for aging in place is to see your doctor on a regular basis. he or she can help you manage or avoid certain chronic illnesses and their com-plications, allowing you to remain independent well into old age.

as part of your checkups, your doctor may recommend tests for:

vision, including glaucoma. ■

Cancer, diabetes, alzheimer’s ■

disease and osteoporosis.blood pressure and blood fats, ■

such as cholesterol.depression. ■

Your doctor may also recom-mend shots for flu, pneumonia and hepatitis b, and he or she may test your balance and leg strength.

at your appointment, be sure to talk with your doctor about any medications you are currently tak-ing, advises the american geriat-rics Society.

drug interactions may lead to balance problems, which could cause a fall and rob you of your in-dependence. Your doctor can help you identify and treat problems that can lead to falls.

regular checkups can help you stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. but according to the national institute on aging, checkups are just one part of healthy aging. it’s also important that you: ■ eat a healthy, balanced diet. ■ exercise your body and mind. ■ Quit smoking, if you do smoke.

hom

e sw

eet

hom

econditions may impact your lifestyle in the future. Will it be hard for you to move around? Will you be able to cook? Will you need help getting dressed or taking medication?

“If staying in your home is the goal, it shouldn’t be left to happenstance,” cau-tions Bell. “It should be something you plan for.”

make over your home Some places in the home tend to be particularly prob-lematic as people become less mobile, says Bell. Here are a few suggestions on how you can improve access and safety in these key areas of your home:

Install grab bars, nonslip flooring, an ●elevated toilet seat and a walk-in shower in the bathroom.

Make sure storage space, sinks and ●countertops are easy to reach.

If someone will be using a wheelchair ●or scooter, aim for a floor plan that allows for easy maneuvering of the device.

Replace steps leading to the front door ●with a ramp or graded sidewalk.

Make sure walkways and stairways ●have plenty of light.

If you garden, try building raised beds ●for easier access to plants.

Have at least one bedroom and one full ●bathroom on the main floor.

make contact Services and personal care are another important part of plan-ning to age in place. “You might need help having the house cleaned,” says Bell, “or

getting seasonal things done—like chang-ing heating filters and window screens and removing leaves and snow.”

You might also need help with personal care, such as bathing, cooking or getting dressed. A friend or family member may be able to help with these tasks. Or you might consider hiring a home-health aid.

You’ll also want to find out about other resources available to you. For example, are there people in your community who could mow your lawn or do your grocery shopping? Are there local government agencies or nonprofit organizations that offer special programs or services for older adults?

In addition, many services and assis-tive technology products are available for a cost.

“A good place to start is to hire a profes-sional geriatric care manager to do a home assessment,” suggests Bell. “They can help you develop a plan for aging in place.”

Financial options, such as insurance policies and reverse mortgages, can help people pay for long-term in-home care, reports the National Council on Aging. Reverse mortgages allow people to bor-row against home equity without making payments for as long as they live in the home.

more ideas To learn more about how best to age in place, go to these websites:

www.naipc.org ● .www.nia.nih.gov ● .www.ncoa.org ● .

As Dorothy would say, there’s no place like home

i na G i n G p l ace

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 5 H E A L T H S C E N E

F e a t u r e

F a m i l y H e a l t H

Prevention tipslack of movement is one of the main risk factors for pressure sores. So moving when possible and avoiding prolonged pressure on the body is important for preventing pressure sores.

people not totally bedridden should be encouraged to move from

the bed to a chair and to stand and walk occasionally.

those who are bedridden require special care.

they may need help in doing range-of-motion exercises. and when in bed, they should be turned from their side to their back to their other side approximately every one to two hours.

other things that can help prevent pressure sores include: sheepskin or egg carton-style foam bed coverings, an air mattress, and pillows or foam wedges that can be placed to keep bony areas of the body from being in direct contact with one another or the bed.Sources: agS Foundation for health in aging; national hospice and palliative Care organization; national institute on aging

though You maY not realize it, skin is an organ—the largest organ of your body. And much as your kidneys or liver can break down and malfunction, so too can your skin. The result may be a pressure sore—a potentially serious medical problem.

A pressure sore, also known as a pressure ulcer, is an injury to the skin that’s usually caused by sitting or lying in one place too long. This constant pressure on the skin reduces blood flow to the skin and surrounding tissues.

Initially, affected skin may become discolored and warm. But if something isn’t done to relieve pressure

on the skin, a sore can form. Damage that begins on the skin can ultimately work its way to deeper tissues—such as muscle, tendon and bone—and infection becomes a danger. Some infections may be life-threatening.

Aside from immobility, other risk factors for pressure sores include poor circulation and unhealthy skin.

The sores usually develop on bony areas of the body, such as the heel or hip. Other areas where they commonly form include the base of the spine, the shoulder blades, the

teenage drivers

teach them to be safeaS a parent, you want to keep your teen as safe as possible—and that includes when he or she is behind the wheel.

When parents pay close attention to their teen’s driv-ing habits and impose strict limitations on driving, they reduce the teen’s incidence of: ● Risky driving behaviors. ● Traffic violations. ● Crashes.

Why they’re at risk Teen drivers may lack judg-ment and experience. They often underestimate dangers and overestimate their skills. Many of them drive too fast, drive under the influence of alcohol or refuse to use seat belts, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The result: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 16- to 20-year-olds in the U.S., reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What you can do To help your teen avoid becoming a driving statistic, the AAP recommends that you:

Limit where and when your teen can drive. Nighttime ●driving is exceptionally dangerous for teens, especially after 9 p.m. Certain freeways or intersections in your area may also be particularly unsafe. Help your teen plan driving times and routes to stay safe.

Make sure your teen gets plenty of practice time. Most ●drivers’ education programs only offer about six hours of actual driving time. Much more practice is needed

back and sides of the knee, and the back of the head.If you discover a pressure sore, you should contact

your doctor. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are three things that will help a pressure sore heal: 1relieving the pressure that caused the sore. That means trying to position your body in a way that avoids having bony areas in contact with a mattress when lying down. Using pillows and foam pads may help.

When sitting in a chair or wheelchair, it’s best to sit upright and straight. This allows for easier movement. When you’re unable to move by yourself, someone should help you change your position at least every hour.2treating the sore itself. Keeping the sore clean and removing dead tissue from the wound is important. Your

doctor may do this or show you how to do it.Generally, pressure sores are kept covered with a ban-

dage or special dressing. Antibiotics or antibiotic oint-ments may also be used. 3improving your nutrition. Getting enough calories, protein and other nutrients is necessary for your body to heal. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can help you make sure you’re eating as well as you should.

Pressure sores will shrink as they heal, and new tissue that appears light red or pink and looks lumpy and shiny may start growing. This can take several weeks.

Be sure to notify your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection. These may include: thick yellow or green pus, foul odor, swelling, and tenderness. The earlier you catch a sore and start treatment, the better.

pressure sores

care and viGilance soothe skin Wounds

for a young person to be a safe driver.

Consider signing your teen up for additional driv-ing lessons if you don’t have the time to help—or don’t want to help—him or her practice driving.

Ask yourself if you’re a ●good role model for safe driving. Your teenager may pick up your driving hab-its, so make sure they’re good ones.

Driving agreements are another thing that can help keep teens safe.

These contracts set out the rules a teen driver must follow, such as: ● Always keep your focus on the road. ● Never drive with more than one friend in the car. ● No talking on your cell phone while driving. ●  Definitely no drinking and driving.

These contracts work best if they also contain specific consequences for violating rules.

For more tips and a sample contract, go to

www.aap.org and type “teen drivers”

into the search box.

the urgent care clinic in eureka is a great place to quickly get your

wounds checked. call 707-269-3610.

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 6 H E A L T H S C E N E

DigestJournal

Antibiotics: Use wiselyYou’re sick with a cold, and you’re hitting the truly miserable stage of the illness. You crave a remedy to make you feel bet-ter as quickly as possible.

Many people think an antibiotic is such a remedy. But antibiotics don’t treat vi-ruses, and viruses are what cause common illnesses such as colds and fl u, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibiotics can’t help you get better or prevent other people from getting the virus.

Antibiotics are an appropriate treat-ment, however, for bacterial infections, such as strep throat, tuberculosis and many types of pneumonia.

antibiotic resistance You may ask: What harm can there be in taking anti-biotics, even if they aren’t exactly what I need?

Using antibiotics when you don’t need them contributes to the growing problem of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

And because of this resistance, some infections now have to be treated with stronger antibiotics. In the future, it is pos-sible that some bacteria will be resistant to

all types of antibiotics, reports the CDC.

What you can do When it comes to re-lieving your cold and fl u symptoms, slow and steady treatments work best. To start feeling better: ● Drink plenty of fl uids. ● Get lots of rest. ● Use a cool mist humidifi er or vaporizer. ● Take over-the-counter medicine to reduce discomfort from aches and fever. Ask your doctor which medicine is right for you.

You can help stop the spread of viral ill-nesses by washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others while you’re sick.

See your doctor if your symptoms sud-denly get worse or last a long time.

Online help for reducing cancer riskAre you doing everything you can to pro-tect yourself from cancer? Th e American Cancer Society (ACS) makes it easy to fi nd out.

Go to the Great American Health Challenge at www.cancer.org/

greatamericans to learn how cancer screen-ings and lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk.

Th e site includes an online tool that shows you which cancer screening tests you need and when. And it details how eating right and exercising can help pro-tect your health.

Th is is all vital information. Research shows that screenings and lifestyle changes have a big impact on preventing cancer deaths.

According to the ACS, screening tests for colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate and other types of cancer can help detect problems early, when they are typically most treatable.

Nutrition and exercise are important because up to a third of U.S. cancer deaths each year are linked to poor diet or being overweight.

The Health Challenge site explains how eating fewer fats and more fruits, vegetables and whole grains helps reduce cancer risk. And it stresses the importance of exercising 30 minutes or more daily to maintain fi tness and a healthy weight.

Finally, the site includes tips on how to quit smoking—one of the most impor-tant steps you can take to help prevent cancer.

Pay the site a visit. And remember, your doctor can give you more tips on reduc-ing your risk for cancer and other serious conditions.

Texting: R U doing it safely?Words can get you into trouble, especially in the age of cell phones and text mes-sages. We can share words almost anytime and anyplace. But these new technolo-gies have introduced new dangers to our physical well-being.

Injuries and deaths related to sending text messages at inappropriate times are on the rise, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Teens and young adults, in particular, have been injured when they’ve been texting while walking, driving, biking and in-line skating.

Trips and falls may result in minor in-juries to the face, chin, mouth and eyes. But injuries can be fatal when people who are texting don’t pay attention to cars or pedestrians.

Words to the wise To help prevent injuries from using cell phones and other electronic devices, try these tips from the ACEP:

Talk with your hands free, using an ●earpiece or a speaker.

Never text or use a handheld cell phone ●while driving or motorcycling.

Follow the cell phone laws in your city ●and state.

Avoid calls or text messages while en-●gaged in physical activities, such as walk-ing, biking, boating or in-line skating.

Keep your cell phone in an easy-to-●fi nd place to avoid rummaging through a purse or bag. And when in your car, use your cell phone only when safely parked, or else have a passenger use it.

If your phone rings while driving, allow ●it to go to voice mail. Respond later when you are safely parked.

Turn off your phone or device when ●incoming calls or messages might be dangerous or simply embarrassing.

an upside to miGraines There may be at least one positive aspect to an other-wise painful and debilitating condition: Women who have migraines appear to have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Researchers looked at data from two large studies to determine the relation-ship between a history of migraine head-aches and the incidence of breast cancer in women after menopause.

They found that women who experi-enced migraines had a 30 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to women with no history of migraines.

Experts suspect the link has to do with � uctuating hormone levels.

“While these results need to be interpreted with caution, they point to a possible new factor that may be related to breast cancer risk. This gives us a new avenue to explore the biology behind risk reduction,” says Christopher Li, MD, PhD, one of the authors of the study.Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, Vol. 17, No. 11

GinkGo doesn’t help memory Ginkgo biloba is widely touted as an herb that can help keep your memory sharp. However, a major study—called the Ginkgo Evalua-tion of Memory study—found the herb did not prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

The study included 3,069 people age 75 and older. At the start of the study, 482

of the participants already had mild cog-nitive impairment. The rest had normal memory function.

Half of the study participants were randomly assigned to take a twice-daily dose of 120 milligrams of extract of ginkgo, while the rest received a placebo.

After an average follow-up of 6.1 years, 523 people in the study had been diagnosed with dementia. The rate of dementia between the ginkgo group and the placebo group was virtually identical. There was also no difference between the two groups on how quickly those with mild cognitive impairment progressed to dementia.

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 300, No. 19

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 7 H E A L T H S C E N E

h e a l t h t a l k n e W s , v i e W s & t i p s

Mark CarterChapala CaféCher-Ae-HeightsCherry Blossom Pastry ShopCurley’s GrillCoast Seafoods CompanyCoco & CuvéeCypress Grove ChevreShanda DanielDave Keating PhotographyDetail DoctorDogwood Estates WineryEager Beaver TreeBruce and Faye EmadEureka OxygenFin-n-FeatherGallagher’s Irish ShopJeff and Mary GlavichRory and JoAnn HansonGeorge and Kathy HayesHealthSPORTHolly Yashi DesignHopkins Fine PortraitureHoward and Jan HuntHurricane Kate’s

St. Joseph Hospital FoundationtriButesIn memory of George and Marie

BakerDave and Ronda Keating

In memory of Elizabeth BrownP. K. and L. M. CoxEmily Dalton, MDCarol DanielsEd and Eileen DavenportEureka PediatricsJenifer and John Sullivan, MD

In memory of Elsie KnudsenSt. Joseph Hospital Volunteers

In memory of Bob LewisSt. Joseph Hospital Volunteers

In memory of John NunesTh omas Quigley

In memory of Ruby OliveriaFrank and Jean Arruda

In memory of Dora PhillipsDale and Diana Phillips Jr.

In memory of Shirley Rader-Spinas

Th omas Quigley

In honor of St. Joseph Hospital Volunteers

Th omas Quigley

in-kind donors Th e 1031 Group AbraxasAbruzzi & Plaza GrillAmerican Cancer SocietyAmerind Bay Clothing Co.Avalon RestaurantTim and Lisa Ayers Baroni DesignsBay Tank & Boiler WorksBaywood Golf and Country ClubJess BedoreBella BasketsBelle StarrBenbow InnBien PadreBlissJohn and Mary BustamanteLisa BustamanteCafé WaterfrontCalCourts Fitness CenterCarriage Carwash

Mark HuschleLaura Hutton-LamersInside SportsJitter BeanJohn’s Fine CigarsTimothy and Kimberly LaneyLike Nobody ElseLinden & Company SalonTh e Linen ClosetLoleta Cheese Co., Inc.LonNe’s Edible Artistry

& Espresso BakeryLooking Glass House Restaurant

and BarLost Coast BreweryLost Whale Bed & Breakfast InnMad River FarmLynn McKennaMcKinleyville Ace HardwareKen and Marita MusanteMyrtle Avenue Pet CenterDick and Jeanne NashJack and Wynona NashNickelodeon Family SuitesNorth Valley Bank

Northcoast Co-opNorthCoast KnitteryOriginal Basket BoutiqueRebecca and Mark Pardoe, MDHank and Cathy Ray PiersonPlaza DesignRamones Bakery & CafeRefl ections SalonDennis ReinholtsenJoe RogersRustic West Trading Co.SassafrasDave and Jackie SaundersonScotia InnSea Breeze Candy & TeesSea GrillSee’s Candy Community FundSequoia Personnel ServiceShafer’s Ace HardwareSherwood Forest NurseryShine Salon & SpaBud and Liana SimpsonJames L. SmithTh e Spa at Personal ChoiceSpotlight Video

St. Joseph Health System FoundationSt. Joseph Hospital, Administration

Department St. Joseph Hospital, FinanceSt. Joseph Hospital, Lab ServicesSt. Joseph Hospital, Materials

ManagementSt. Joseph Hospital, Nutrition

ServicesSt. Joseph Hospital, Public Relations

Department St. Joseph Hospital, Quality

ManagementSt. Jospeh Hospital, Radiology St. Joseph Hospital, Short Stay UnitSt. Joseph Hospital, Support Services

Department St. Joseph Hospital VolunteersYanni StefanakisSuki BoutiqueSun Valley Floral FarmsCongressman Mike Th ompson Toy BoxTrinidad InnVellutini Baking Company

Venlo ChocolatesVern’s FurniturePatricia WaldronWayne Maples Plumbing

& Heating ServicesXtreme Limousine Service

CasH donors Alfred and Julie AbrahamsenLisa AbsherBen and Diane AdanDorie AhboltinWilliam and Catherine AlexanderClaire AllenLowell and Esther AllenMickey AllenNorman and Sylvia AllenPeggie AllenDonna AlvaradoCaterina AmatoBob AmbrosiniDavid AndersenCarmen AndersonPati AndertonElsie Andrews

please accept ourplease accept our

St. Joseph Hospital and Redwood Memorial Hospital are able to off er quality health care to our community because of your generosity and support. Th anks to you, our faithful donors, the possibilities are endless for health care in Humboldt County. Please accept our gratitude for your contribution, and join us in recognizing our many donors from April through June , .

longtime humboldt County resident Jerry Carlson wanted to support construc-tion of St. Joseph hospital’s northeast tower, but he wanted to give an asset instead of cash. So he gave an incredibly generous gift that will benefi t the hospital now and in the future: his house in eureka.

Carlson’s gift is called a retained life estate. he transferred ownership of the house to the hospital and receives a signifi cant tax deduction but will remain in his home until his death.

thank you, Jerry, for your wonderful gift to St. Joseph hospital. Your generos-ity will benefi t humboldt County residents for years to come.

Supporting the capital campaign with a retained life estate gift was the right choice for Carlson. but there are many ways to support the hospital, including charitable gift annuities, wills and bequests, and charitable remainder trusts. each way of giving has advantages, including signifi cant tax savings and deduc-tions and avoidance of capital gains taxes.

to learn more about giving options through the St. Joseph hospital Founda-tion, call paul mcginty at 707-269-4200.

many thanks, Jerry!You don’t have to write a check to make a difference

st. JosepH Hospital Foundation

where the heart iS: Jerry Carlson generously donated his home to help St. Joseph hospital build the northeast tower.

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 8 H E A L T H S C E N E

D o n o r s

Patricia AndrewsRita AndrewsRegina AnglinAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousAnna AntonsenLaurie AriasJohn and Valerie ArminioKathy ArmstrongPhillip and Sally ArnotDavid Aronovici and

Kathryne DelormeFrank and Jean ArrudaFrank and Irene ArrudaMohammad AttaranPaul Augustine Jr.Donald and Lujean AvantJohn AveggioJames and Jessica BaerLetitia BaileyLloyd and Phyllis BaileyBrian and Laurel BakerEdgar BaldockSandra and Norman Ball, DDSLisa BarkerBeryl BaronJeff BarrowsEugene BartlettGina BartlettPatrick Myers and

Ms. Emilia BartolomeuMarilyn BazorAmy BeardRod and Theresa BeardStephen and Ellie BeckmanJesse BednarReva BehlerElizabeth BenedekGarrett BenedekTom and Carol BenninghovenBonnie BensonRobin BermanBrenda BernaldMelvin and Leola BerningRobert BertholfRobert and Mary BesanceneyRoxane BessetteDavid Best and Esther ParaschakKelly BettigaKurt and Sherie BialousDaniel BideauxRichard and Elda BillingtonLarry and Linda BiondiniRene BirnbaumDavid BitgoodKelly BlackleyMary BobbittRyan and Melissa BodeSandra BolenNickolas and Devon BollanJacob and Ashley BoltonJames and Margie BonhoteFloyd and Julie BoninoAngelique BostonCarol BowdenDave and Kirsten BownsJoleen BoydDanny and Maureen BradburyAlexis BragiaNora Malone BragiaVince BragiaStephani BrainardCarolyn BrandenburgRobert and Lori BranniganSusan BraytonLoran and Maria BriggsJulie BrimmGerald and Nancy BrooksDon BrownErin BrownRichard BrownRuby BrownBucksport Auto SpotVirgil and Rose BuhlerMary BullwinkelHeather BurchamTeresa BurgaraKatherine BurgessErik and Sherie BurmanPhil BurtonBernard and Kristine BushMary BustamanteAndy Butch and Susan Vogt-ButchSteve and Debbie ButlerJames CabreraRonald CainCaledonia PlumbingCalifornia Insurance Center

Bonnie HamantStanley and Anita HamillJanet HamiltonRobert and Rose HamlinJanet HansenKarla HansenMorgan HansonRory and JoAnn HansonJudi HarriganCindy HarrisLeslie HartSister Patricia Hartman, CSJMichelle HastingLinda HatchBrent and Paulette HawkinsGeorge and Kathy HayesRobert Hayhurst and

Lynn Creaghe-HayhurstHealthSPORTRaymond and Terry HeinzeSharon HelardWendy Helm-GallantMarc HigginsJames HiglenRichard HildrethKaren HillM. Barbara HillJoseph and Audrey HinchJanyce HinckleyKenneth HoardAnnette HoltCarol HolzbergerRobert and Katherine HookDavid HornbrookJessica HowardMark and Ruth HowellBobbie HribalDavid and Michele HubbardJerry and Susan HubbardJoni HubbardRobert HuggHumboldt Moving and StorageHumboldt Neurological Medical

Group, Inc.Humboldt Radiology Medical GroupHoward and Janeth HuntHunter, Hunter & HuntKristie HunterCourtney Hunt-MuntherLoretta HuuskoPamela IorgCletus and Eileen IsbellRenee Jackson

Geraldine JamesM. R. JamesGeorge and Carolyn JanssenDenise JavetTamara JenkinsonRonald and Dee JenningsSandra JensenJerold Panas, Linzy & Partners Inc.J.L.F. Construction, Inc.Steven and Ann JohnJulie JohnsonKay JohnsonRichard and Andrea JohnsonRonald and Janice JohnsonPeter and Jennifer JohnstonApril JonesJohnny and Corliss JonesMike and Mary JordanThomas and Dawn JorgensenRaymond and Rhea JustRichard and Sherilyn JzattPhilip Kable and Diana Christensen

KableRebecca KalalDora KaliamosRodney KaloostianJill KamrudBruce KaneKaplan McLaughlin DiazWilliam and Nancy KayWinston and Edna KayaClarence KayesDave and Ronda KeatingSusan KeeleKevin KelloggHugh and Fern KellyDennis KendallStephen KennedyPeter and Sharmon KenyonJames and Karen KerseyPeter KesslerAndrew KienitzMary KingstonRobert and Peggy KirkpatrickJordan KlineElden and Nancy KnaufSpencer and Stephanie KochEunice and Alvin Koog Sr.John KoontzKramer Properties, Inc.Kevin and Jenny KrauseDonald and Joyce KudrnaTed LaBelle

Ilene CallahanToni CamarataKathy CameronDavid CampbellCampton Electric Supply, Inc.Arlene CapederGene Owens and

Joan Capobianco-OwensMelanie CarlNancy CarterTom CartwrightFrank and Libby CernyJean ChamberlainLyndsey ChamberlainDean and Leslie CharltonVeronica CherryAlan ChinBen and Mui Shi ChinBill and Sally ChinoCity Ambulance of EurekaCity Garbage Company of EurekaStephen and Jan ClaasenDebra ClarkSigrid ClarkArmeda ClausenKevin CloughertyCoast Central Credit UnionCoastal Pathology Medical

Associates, Inc.Colburn ElectricLacey ComerJerrold and Lorraine ComfortCommunications Cabling SystemsDonald ComstockKenneth and Linda CookMartha CookCurt Cooper and Sarah LauderdaleEd CooperFrank and Wanda CopeRebecca CorcovelosNicholas CorderoGary and Catherine CormierNancy CorralAngie CossolottoJohnny and Barbara CoxLee CoxP. K. and L. M. CoxRobin and Lynda CraigDavid and Julie CraneAlice CroneChristine CrueyKate H. CruzTimothy and Julie CruzChris, Kim and Nathan CumbowAmy CurtisSuzan DailyMike DakisEmily Dalton, MDShanda DanielCarol DanielsEd and Eileen DavenportDavid L. Moonie & Co., LLPMichael Davies-HughesChristina DavisJohn and Maralee DavisJudith DavisRachel DavisRobert and Judy DavisKenneth and Jean DavlinDiane DavyCarla Dean-BeersDenise DeemsCarrie DeGutisJohn and Violet DeimVirginia DelGrandeJames DementLawrence Denning, DDSAudrey DesilvaEdgar and Evelyn DickinsonAmy Dillon-SewellRon DiLuigiRose DinsmoreTracy DominickEmma DonovanGrant DorseyLiz DouglasRobert and Carolyn DowningSharron DuerfeldtEric and Susan DuganBrent and Jill DuncanGeraldine Dunn and Laural HansonTony DupeireJason DurantSally DwelleyDavid DwyerValarie EachusWesley and Linda EdwardsNorm and Sharon EhrlichRonald and Carolyn Eldridge

Mark Ellis, MDBruce and Faye EmadRobert EmersonWilliam EngelsWilliam and Myrna EubanksEureka PediatricsEureka Readymix—Eureka Sand &

Gravel Co.Brenda EuryTeresa EvansJames FairbrotherTony and Carole FarlanChristy FausoneDoris FearrienAlicia FeigenDouglas and Paula FeldenTeresa FerrellMarc FerroMarilyn FieldCindy FinckFine Lines PaintingJoanne FiniganRobert and Sandra FisherLinda Fite-MartinCarol FlackusCherie FleekPeggy FloradayJames Floss and Ann Bolick-FlossAmber FlowersJean FlynnMikkel FoisyJeremiah and Cynthia FoleyAudrey FooteHarry and Marilou ForsbergHomer FosdickVirginia FoxJoe FranceschiSusan FraserVene and Joy FrazierRobert FrechouDawn Fredrick-SeibertMaureen FreemanDaniel FreitasJoAnne FrickMargaret FriedmanJames FritzV. and Nancy FrostJackie and K Fulgham, MDRalph and Shirley FullmerFundamental SolutionsIrene FunkDennis GagnonOwen and Ruth GailarJudy GallagherAlice GarabedianDolores GardnerHalby and Laurie Garrison Janette GarrisonNaomi GatlinGeorge Petersen Insurance AgencyMichele and Eric Gerdes, MDEdge GerringRaymond GhilarducciErnest and Nathalie GiacominiRon and Karen GiacominiVicki GibneySteve GilbertTim Gilbride-ReadLeslie GildersleeveJudith GilkeyKaren GirardAlfred GladdenJeff and Mary GlavichLavada GlavichRaymond GlavichAnn GlennWarren GneccoDelbert and Mary GoodwinJohn and Teri GoossensJerry GravesAida GreenEldin GreenGreen’s PharmacyCharlotte GreenwoodJohn Greenwood, DDSAnne GriffithMichael GrimaldoRyan GriswoldSherry GriswoldDavid GroeEvelyn GroutMargaret GuckeenR. Renee GuilleminPaul and Katherine Gurnee Sr.Viola HagueLaura HaigJulie HallMartin and Marlene HallAlan K. Hallsted

sJH Foundation

the St. Joseph hospital Foundation held its fifth annual golf Classic fundraiser with a dinner and auction on June 25 and a 36-team tournament on June 26 at baywood golf and Country Club.

the two-day event raised $111,000, which benefits construction of St. Joseph hospital’s new northeast tower. the capital campaign has surpassed the $10 million mark!

we are so thankful to the many community residents and businesses that sup-port the new patient tower and are looking forward to reaching and even passing our first-phase goal of $12.5 million!

Above expectations (and better than par)

—Continued on page 10

Michelle LaffranchiJenny LaMontCarolyn LaneTimothy and Kimberly LaneyTamara LangfordMary LangleySummer LaSalleRichard and Carol LauerJames LauffenburgerMaureen LawlorBen and Paula LawsonAustin and Hughlette LedbetterHeather LeinenJeannette LenihanLes Schwab TiresElliott LevinWarren LevitinLife LineJacqueline LightnerMarilyn LilleyMegan LindbergAmelia LittlepagePatrick LockeSivert and Olga LogArlene LongnickelVictor and Carol LonoAlvin and Sharon LopezHenry and Bonnie LorenzoChristine LougherLinda LucchesiJoin Luh, MD, and

Madeleine Ramos-Luh, MDJohn and Sara LundstromHenry and Betty LutjeGary and Peggy MacyMad River Lumber, LLCKristin MadoniaJames MadsenWilliam and Sandra MadsenMary Ellen Mahoney, MD, and

Luther Cobb, MDLoralee MaloneAmber MangrumAnita MarakSusan MarchChristopher and Dora MarchiThomas and Linda MarlowElizabeth MartinJeannie MartinMarta MartinezJoe MasseiJulie and John Mastroni, MD

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 9 H E A L T H S C E N E

the redwood memorial Foundation will present its annual fundraiser, the benefit ball, on Saturday, nov. 7, at the river lodge in Fortuna. the benefit ball is a spir-ited and fun event featuring live and silent auctions, dinner, dancing and more—all in support of redwood memorial hospital (rmh).

last year, the event raised nearly $130,000 from ticket sales, raffle tickets, donations, live and silent auction proceeds, and a generous $25,000 donation from the mclean Foundation. the proceeds went toward rmh’s new 32-slice Ct scanner. mark your calendar for this entertaining event!

Join us for fun and fundraising!rmH Foundation

Elizabeth MathisJorge MatiasRigoberto Matias-MendezMatsen Insurance BrokersRichard and Rhonda MatteoliHenry and Willa MauroRichard MaxwellSam MaynardAudrey MaynorKaren MayvilleSam McAnearChris and Jessica McBethAndrew and Jo Ann McBridePeggy McCaddonElizabeth McCartneyDennis and Karen McClellandPamela McClendonTimothy McCollisterLeo and Doris McConnellDebbie McCrackenTroy McCulloughJonathan and Stephanie McDonaldNeil and Karen McDonaldGerald and Joan McDowellDebbie McFarlandDaryl and Donna McGowanLynn McKennaDorothy McKnightBeth McPhersonDonna McQueenRichard and Ann McWhorterKen and Lynne MeeceSalvador and Petra MejiaTito and Virginia MelaraBob MeltonMike and Amber MeltzerRobert and Ina MelvinOscar MendezAlicia MendozaMercer Fraser CompanyChester MerklinRenee Mesmer-GulleminKelley MetcalfShirley MichelsonRoberta MickelsonTony and Shalise MilesJudy MillerRichard and Joan MillerHelen MillsSylvia MilotaShirley MinerMargaret MirandaMoneris SolutionsSue MontenegroChurratha MooreElsie MooreJames and Kathleen MooreRussell MoreyJames and Gay MorrisonJohn and Beverly MorrisonAndrea MosiejM. J. and Janette MuldoonJeffrey and Courtney MuntherJudith MurphyKenneth and Jerri MurphyLaddie and Mary Lou MurrayRobert and Colleen MurrayKen and Marita MusanteKimberly MyersJoseph MylerGlen Nagy and Ann WarnerJessica NajeraWanda NaylorEstred NelsonMarian NelsonNew Life Service Co.Bryan and Gail NewmanJeanne NicoldsDorthy NieriJose NietoNightHawk—Radiology ServicesEdward and Joan NilsenAllan and Carole NilsonNorth Bay Drywall & Plastering, Inc.North Coast Emergency PhysiciansNorthern California Blood BankBill NowelsJulia NunesStephanie NylundO & M IndustriesErrin and Brenda OdellKelly and Flora O’DonaldJames and Joan O’HaraCarolyn OldsGuadalupe Olea

Joan O’LearySamuel and Pearl OlinerDonna OlivieriBrian OlsonChelsea OppJulia OrrGregory OrsiniJulie OwensWayne PalmroseRebecca and Mark Pardoe, MDParson’sSue PattersonPaul Nicholson, State Farm

InsuranceJim PeakerSuzzanna PearlPearson’s GroceryJames PellDarlynn PellegriniCharles PenaMichele PergandeMarian PerryJack and Linda PerssonPete Belak ConstructionDane and Veronica PetersenCharles and Carol PettyAndrea PfaffPG&E CorporationDale and Diana Phillips Jr.Don PidgeonWilliam and Irene PiechJohn Pieratt and

Judy Scripter-PierattHank and Cathy Ray PiersonRobert and Sara PillowJames and Fumiko PlottsGeorge and Patricia PonnayKathleen PowellDomenic PreviteCurtis PrevostDaniel and Karen PriceJanett PriceCheryl PriesDeborah ProctorValarie PulkkinenCharles QueenThomas QuigleyLaurie and James Quillen, MDDonald and Nancy QuintrellJoe and Stacy RandolphJanet RauDoris RavelliCharles and Alicia RaylRedwood Capital BankRedwood Glass & WindowsRedwoods Abbey, Inc. Cistercian

MonasteryAndrea ReedBonnie ReedJohn and Nilda RegaloJames ReidJames and Mary RennerLawrence and Merryl RennerPenny RennerRenner PetroleumKaren RenzRogan RiceRuth RiceJack and Michele RiekeMichael RingMaria RiosLarry RobertsSusan RobertsJeff RobisonDiana RochaMargaret RochaMaryanne RochaTony and Lucy RochaYvonne RochaPeg RocheMarisa RodriguezJoe and Michele RogersLois RogersMichael and Lorin RogersDenna RolicheckMaria RosalesLauri RoseConnie RossJan RowenRonald and Orbie RowlandJoseph and Karen RussJessica RussellAndy and Yvette RyboltAndrew SadieNancy and Kamran Sahrakar, MDMichael and Georgia SalmonRobert and Barbara SampsonChris Sandell

—Continued from page 9

Brian SandersJosefina Santos-MaesKim SantscheDave and Jackie SaundersonMarylou ScavardaKaren SchaeferDavid Schlosser and Kay CutcheonAnn SchmalzDesiree SchmidtMarlys and Carl Schrieve, DDSAnn SchulerRaymond and Cathy SchultzNita SchwartzJane SchwarzJoan SchwenkXeff and Meri ScolariJanice ScottRussell ScudderChloe SecorBarbara Seehafer JohnsonMarlys SeitzerJohn and Leslie SelvageEugene and Betty SenestraroJenifer ShaferBertha ShawBrenda ShawJed ShermanLisa ShirkSHN Consulting EngineersWilliam and Dorothy ShreeveTraci SilerGermana SilvaRebecca SimoneDan SimoniSisters of St. JosephSisters of St. Joseph of Orange Skanska USA Building, Inc.Elaine SkellyShirley SkinnerCindy SlaterBarbara SmithConstance SmithJames L. SmithLauri SmithToni SmithNatalia SobotaRobert SomersBob and Marie SorciLoretta SorensenGinger SoteloDebra SoulsburgElizabeth SouzaWarren SpaldingNick and Sherril SpanosSt. Joseph Hospital VolunteersJason StaffordFrancesco and Caterina StagnoliPietro StagnoliMarie Stamm, Charitable TrustElizabeth StandleySharen StandridgeVan and Patricia StanleyStaples—The Office StoreSuzan Stark Victor StarrSteven StauchRobert StennettBruce and Mary StephensGordon and Tammy StephensSteve’s Rental BusinessWilliam and Marilyn StewartTeri StitesMarvyn and Phyllis StockelDale and Cindy StocklyEmily StoneWanda StoneRichard and Deborah StorrePatricia StrepyHelen StrombergStephen StruthersMaryruth StubbsJames SullivanJenifer and John Sullivan, MDBrett SumnerJens SundJan SurrellSysay SyvoravongEvelyn SzpiechTim TalbertShannon TauzerJoyce TaylorRobin TeegardenJames TenneyDelores TerryBetsy ThomasThomas and Kim ThomasChuck ThompsonWendy Thorpe

Kathleen TimmDavid and Josephine TomJacob and Torum Tomlinson-WoodNancy TompkinsCarl and Dolores TorgersenAlvin and Sarie TosteJoe and Anna TosteTransbay Fire Protection, Inc.Robert and Patricia TrittenMichael and JoAnn TullyDeborah and Martin TurkisHarry and Lois TurnerLucy TysonCarl and Leanna UlrichKarla UlrichUnion Labor Health FoundationUnited Association of Journeymen

and Local 290Alfredo UrbinaBertha ValenciaFred and Dana VanniKaren VarnerAntonio VelezNick VenemaKathleen VertarLilly VictorineRonald Nancy VictorineRobin VisserDiana VogtBarbara VossHarry WagnerShirdon Wagner Jr.Patricia WaldronLinda WallJanet and Victor Wallenkampf, MDJean WalzElizabeth WardellMary WarnerJoAnn WarzynskiLaurie Watson Stone and

David StoneWayne Maples Plumbing and

HeatingJames WeaverGinger WeberSigrid WeirWesley and Sandra WeirTerri WelchWest Coast ImagingPamela WestTheodore WesterholdKaren WheelerMarc WhinnemEllen WhiteAlice WhitsonMark and Susan WhittakerJames WiddoesBarbara WiebellRoger and Caroline WilcoxRachel WildClarisse WilkensonHoward and Delia WilkesDavid and Marilyn Wilkins

Roslyn WilkinsonDorman and Faye WillardRon WillhoiteCaroline WilliamsDavid L. WilliamsRex WilliamsWilliam Williams and Jane

Jennison-WilliamsWilliamson Financial GroupJ. O. and Patricia WillisCharles and Mary WilsonDean and Amanda WilsonRuth WilsonEdwin WinburnJacob WinfreyKen and Ronda WittenbergW.N. Tetrault Co., Inc.Todd and Anjulissa WolffSheldon and Emily WolinWendy WoodwardAngela WorkmanYanni Stefanakis JewelryJames and Margie YatesYellow Dragon Machine ShopWilliam YocomJennifer YoungSing YoungMarilyn and George Zibilich, MDRon and Candy ZiegenbeinStanford and Helen ZiganPeter ZizzaBarbara ZumwaltJudith Zyskowski

Redwood Memorial FoundationtriButesIn memory of Shirley BarsantiRoy and Barbara Shumard

In memory of Phyliss BoyerHans and D. Gerstacker

In memory of Bessie CarcelloElma Burns

In memory of Jay DinsmoreAmerican Airlines

Federal Credit UnionBob and Gloria DinsmoreLaura Hussey Jessica McKnightChristina Montoya

In honor of Donald Magness, RCP

Dean and Leslie Charlton

In memory of Catherine NelsenCharles and Marilyn Dillard

redwood memorial Foundation held its fourth annual eel river valley idol on Saturday, aug. 1, at the winema theatre in Scotia. the event, which raises funds for the Foundation, featured performers of all ages competing against each other for the title of eel river valley idol 2009.

For the past four years, this fun family event has attracted a variety of tal-ented contestants, including jugglers, magicians, singers, dancers, storytellers, comedians and musicians. this year was another success, with all proceeds benefiting patient care at redwood memorial hospital.

Idols for Redwood memorial

In memory of Darrel PalmerRedwood Memorial Hospital

AdministrationLawrence and Merryl Renner

in-kind donorsEel River Brewing Company

CasH donors American Airlines

Federal Credit UnionRod and Theresa Beard Brenda BernaldRoxane BessetteLarry and Linda BiondiniHeather BurchamElma BurnsDean and Leslie CharltonCharles and Marilyn DillardBob and Gloria DinsmoreTracy DominickGrant DorseyChristy FausoneSusan FraserJoAnne FrickJudy GallagherHalby and Laurie GarrisonHans and D. GerstackerMarc HigginsCarol HolzbergerLaura Hussey Tamara JenkinsonClarence KayesCarolyn LaneElizabeth MartinJoe and Mary MasseiChristina MontoyaOur 365 Share MoreDomenic PreviteDeborah ProctorCharles QueenJoe and Stacy RandolphJanet RauRedwood Memorial Hospital

AdministrationJames ReidRendezvous Music & VendingLawrence and Merryl RennerLauri RoseConnie RossJessica RussellRoy and Barbara ShumardJames L. SmithSharen StandridgeJanet and Victor Wallenkampf, MDElizabeth WardellMarc WhinnemMark and Susan Whittaker

D o n o r s

S u m m e r 2 0 0 9 H E A L T H S C E N E 0

piece by piece The Northeast Tower project at St. Jo-seph Hospital (SJH) is taking shape and starting to look like the beginnings of a new medical facility. Scheduled for completion in early 2011, the project is in its second year of construction, and the site has transformed from a parking lot to a huge hole in the ground to a founda-tion and steel frame.

Workers have secured the metal decks, welded the frame and poured concrete � oors for every level of the new three-story building.

In May, a special ceremony—called Raising the Bar—commemorated placement of the � nal structural beam.Employees, volunteers, physicians, the community and elected of� cials were invited to attend the event and autograph the beam.

“This was an important milestone for St. Joseph Hospital and for the North Coast community,” says Joe Mark, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System–Humboldt County. “We’re building a patient tower that will ultimately meet the health care needs of Humboldt County residents for generations to come, and what better way to mark this occasion than to have the com-munity come out and have a hand in creating a piece of local history.”

lookinG ahead Ultimately, the Northeast Tower at SJH will be a state-of-the-art facility totaling 100,000 square feet. The new building will feature an expanded emer-gency department, a surgical suite with eight operating rooms and a catheterization lab, 40 patient care beds, an intensive care unit, and new reception and waiting areas for patients and visitors.

The building is moving forward thanks to the gener-ous support of our community and our family of employ-ees, physicians, volunteers and board members, who have contributed nearly $1.8 million as of the end of June. So far, community response has been incredible, with some generous businesses, organizations and pri-vate donors who —together with the family campaign—are helping to raise more than $10 million toward construction of the new patient tower.

A partnership between St. Joseph Hospital (SJH) and local philanthropist Betty Chinn is helping to feed hun-gry people in our community. Staff members from the nutrition services department at SJH are working with Chinn to coordinate distribution of unsold food items that would otherwise be discarded.

Waste not, want not Chinn arrives at SJH every evening with her refrigerated truck to salvage both hot and cold food items that were not purchased but are still nutri-tious and ready to eat. She distributes the items in the St. Vincent de Paul parking lot.

“It is so exciting to work with Betty, a person who has done so much for our community, to share resources that would have otherwise gone to waste,” says Larry Roberts, director of nutrition services at SJH. “While we make every eff ort to avoid food waste, there is no real way to perfectly predict how much food will be consumed on a given day, and that’s where Betty comes in. Our staff in nutrition services is thankful this food is being used for such a wonderful purpose.”

compassion on a mission Chinn’s legacy of caring extends well beyond the partnership with SJH. Twenty years ago, Chinn began using her paycheck to buy food and other items for people in need. Over the years, her ef-forts to help the community have grown to include a small group of people and organizations that help her distribute food, clothing, blankets and more to people in need.

One of the bestRMH named among Top Ten Healing Hospitals

Redwood Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Fortuna has joined an exclusive group of hospitals nationwide. Last spring, the Nashville-based Baptist Healing Trust recog-nized RMH as among the Top Ten Healing Hospitals in the United States for 2008.

Th e Healing Hospital recognition was created to honor hospitals and leaders that have made special commitments to developing cultures that promote excellent healing environments. Th is year’s selection committee reviewed hospitals coast to coast before making its fi nal decision.

ninth in the nation RMH earned the No. 9 spot on the

panel’s list of top healing hospitals. Th e selection panel singled out the hospital for its Cornerstones program. This three-day orientation program focuses on the hospital’s patient-centered Journey philosophy, which forms the foundation for all services and outreach the hospital provides.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for our eff orts to provide patients with the best healing environment we can,” says Joe Mark, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System–Humboldt County. “Th is recognition is validation of what we at Redwood Memorial know in our hearts to be true.”

a healing journey Started in 2001, the Journey phi-losophy is rooted in the concept of providing the best environment possible while keeping the patient and their loved ones at the center of the decision-making process. Th rough services like the labyrinth and healing gardens,

massage, and music and pet therapies, the hospital strives to heal the entire being—mind, body and spirit.

Another ministry from St. Joseph Health System also made the top 10 list: St. Joseph of Orange Hos-pital, which earned the No. 2 spot.

Visit www.red woodmemorial.org

for more information about its programs and services.

redwood memorial hospital nurse mary pearson helps new mother erica Caulkins and her baby girl, havilee.

Today, Chinn stays true to her original mission by distributing food from the back of her truck twice a day, seven days a week, nearly 365 days a year, at St. Vincent’s. Last fall, Chinn was among those recognized by California fi rst lady Maria Shriver as a recipient of the distinguished Minerva Award for shaping, strengthening and serving her community.

“We strive to do as an organization what Betty Chinn is able to do as an individual: provide compassionate care for those in need in our community,” says Joe Mark, CEO of St. Joseph Health System–Humboldt County. “We have

Feeding the hungrySJH helps Betty Chinn serve homeless

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an angel in our midSt: every evening betty Chinn packs up unsold food from the SJh café to distribute to homeless persons in the community. visit us at www.stjosepheureka.org to

learn more about the progress of the northeast tower and how you can give.

so much in common. We both care deeply for the people in our community who struggle just to fi nd a good meal and a warm place to sleep. We are both committed to providing compassion and care, and we both want to see unused resources—be it extra clothing or blankets or food—go to good use.”

For more information, go to www.bettysblueangel.com.

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DigestJournalSafety � rst when mowingEvery year, hundreds of thousands of peo-ple—many of them kids—end up in hos-pital emergency departments and doctor’s offi ces because of mowing accidents.

Yet almost all injuries related to lawn mowing are preventable, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Orthopae-dic Surgeons (AAOS).

Most injuries are caused by debris fl y-ing up from under the mower, according to one study.

Other common causes of injuries in-clude burns and falls.

Th e following advice for avoiding lawn mower accidents comes from the AAP, AAOS and others.

kids and mowing ● Keep children out of areas being mowed.● Kids should be at least 12 years old before they are allowed to use a nonrid-ing mower, and at least 16 if it’s a riding mower.

Don’t let kids ride as passengers on ●mowers.

Some things you know are just too loud, like the sound of a jackhammer as it bur-rows into a road or sidewalk. Th at, for sure, hurts your ears.

But how about those power tools you routinely use for home repairs? Or the car stereo that your teen insists must be cranked all the way up? Are those sounds too loud?

Probably.All of the above are examples of every-

day sounds that have the potential to harm your hearing. Th e longer you are exposed to a loud noise—or the closer you are to it—the more damaging it can be.

Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB)—the higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Continuous exposure to sound at or above 85 dB can cause hearing loss. Th e safest way to protect your ears is to always wear hearing protectors—such as special earplugs or earmuff s—anytime you’re around loud or potentially damag-ing noise.

mowing attire ● Wear safety goggles and ear protection.

Wear closed-toe shoes with nonskid ●soles—not sandals.

Wear long, close-fi tting pants.●

mowing know-how ● Avoid mowing in reverse whenever possible.

Clear the area of toys, sticks and other ●debris before mowing.

Don’t mow wet grass.●Also, turn the mower off and wait for

the blades to come to a complete stop be-fore: ● Crossing gravel. ● Adjusting the grass catcher or chute. ● Walking away from the mower.

noise decibel level

whisper, quiet library 30

normal conversation, sewing machine 60

busy traffi c, vacuum cleaner 70

lawn mower, shop tools, truck traffi c 90

Snowmobile, chain saw, pneumatic drill 100

Car stereo, band practice 120

Jackhammer 130

Firearms, jet engine 140

Firecracker 150

Is it too loud?

Just how loud is that noise?this chart lists the average decibel levels for some common noises.

Sources: american academy of otolaryngology–head and neck Surgery; american Speech-language-hearing association; national institutes of health

many unaWare of smokinG, bladder cancer link Smoking is well recognized by the public as a cause of lung cancer, but relatively few people know that the habit can also lead to bladder cancer.

That’s the � nding of researchers who reviewed studies conducted between 1975 and 2007 on the relationship be-tween smoking and bladder cancer.

While 98 percent of people knew that smoking was related to lung cancer, just 36 percent knew that lighting up was linked to bladder cancer. What’s more, only 22 percent of people with bladder cancer knew that smoking was a risk fac-tor for the disease.

If all smokers gave up cigarettes, it’s expected that bladder cancer incidence would decrease by at least 50 percent, the researchers wrote. That highlights the need for better communication about the risks of smoking and for doctors to encourage patients who smoke to quit.The Journal of Urology, Vol. 180, No. 1

food diary may aid WeiGht loss Keeping records of what you eat may help you lose weight.

In a study of 1,685 people, research-ers compared strategies for maintaining weight loss over a 30-month period.

Among those strategies were attend-ing weekly group weight-loss sessions led by nutrition and behavioral counselors, getting moderate exercise for at least three hours per week, and following the DASH diet—a low-fat eating plan that emphasizes fruits and vegetables. Participants were also asked to maintain food and physical activity diaries.

Nearly 70 percent of those taking part lost approximately 9 pounds or more within six months.

People who lost the most weight had attended the most group sessions, had spent more time engaged in physical activity and had completed more food records per week when compared to those who lost less weight.

Writing down what they ate may have encouraged participants to eat less, researchers speculated.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 35, No. 2

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Fshould kitty stay or go?according to allergy expert mitchell grayson, md, the official advice to people with dog or cat allergies is to get rid of their pet.

but reality is somewhat different.

“most people would rather keep their pet and find a different allergist. Few actually give up their pet,” says dr. grayson, a fellow of the ameri-can academy of allergy, asthma & immunology (aaaai).

but if you have severe allergies, you just may need to find another home for your pet.

if your symptoms are mild, however, and you’re willing to put up with some inconvenience, you can minimize your pet’s impact with these steps:

restrict your pet to as ■

few rooms as possible.keep your pet out of ■

your bedroom at all times.don’t hug or kiss your ■

pet.isolate litter boxes ■

away from living areas.use a hepa filter in your ■

heating and air condition-ing units to help remove pet allergens. a separate hepa or electrostatic air cleaner can also help.

wash your hands after ■

touching the pet, and have all members of your family do the same—anyone can transfer pet dander to someone who is allergic.

if you decide to remove a pet from your home, don’t expect allergy symp-toms to disappear quickly. unless you make changes such as removing carpets and upholstered furniture, it can take months for lev-els of allergens to equal those in houses without pets.

For people with nasal allergies, even a bad cold can seem like a better deal than the misery allergies can cause. ✦ That’s because colds have an important advantage over allergies—they end. Allergies, however, can be a year-round threat. ✦ In fact, nasal allergies—also known as hay fever—can take a serious toll on quality of life. ✦ “Na- sal allergies are so serious for some people that they can’t go to school or work,” says Mitchell Grayson, MD, a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

a sneeze for all seasons Nasal allergies happen when sub-stances called allergens touch the lining of the nose, causing the mem-branes to become inflamed. The resulting sneezing, sinus congestion, and itchy, watery eyes often occur in the spring.

But spring isn’t the only allergy season. According to Dr. Grayson, the timing for seasonal allergies depends on which vegetation is releasing pollen into the wind.

“A basic timetable is trees in the spring, grass in the summer and weeds in the fall,” says Dr. Grayson.

Substances not tied to the seasons can also cause problems. Perennial allergens—such as molds, dust mites and animal dander—trigger nasal allergies for sensitive people all year long.

“Many people have both seasonal and perennial allergies,” says Dr. Grayson. “When pollens diminish in the late fall, their symptoms don’t go away.”

Nasal allergies are common in people with a close relative who has any kind of allergy—including allergies that trigger skin reactions and allergies to medications.

sleepy and miserable A runny nose and itchy eyes can be annoy-ing. But allergies can do more than bother your nose and eyes.

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the AAAAI, nearly a third of children with allergies reported problems getting a good night’s sleep. Adults with allergies also reported missing sleep and feel-ing tired and irritable as a result.

Allergies trigger nearly 17 million doctor visits and 2 million lost school days each year, reports the AAAAI. Among chronic diseases, nasal allergies are a leading cause of missed work.

take control Whether your allergy triggers float through the breeze or live in your house, keeping them at a distance is your first step toward avoiding symptoms.

Your allergist can help you identify your triggers with a skin or blood test. Then you can put these steps from the AAAAI to work:

Try to stay indoors when the pollen count or humidity is high. ●You can check pollen counts in your region at www.aaaai.org.

visit the allergy center under “health resources” and “travel and health” on our website.

allerGies

Don’t mow lawns or rake leaves, since this can stir up pollens or ●molds.

Keep windows closed at night. Air conditioning can help reduce al- ●lergens by cleaning and drying the air.

Vacuum carpets once or twice a week. Consider replacing carpet ●with other types of flooring—such as wood or tile—that are better for people with allergies.

Avoid locations where mold is likely—for example, damp basements, ●garages and dense forests.

Besides trying to avoid your triggers, you can treat your allergy symp-toms. Over-the-counter medicines—such as antihistamine pills or nasal sprays—can help. Prescription medicines, including nasal corticosteroid sprays, may work for stubborn symptoms.

Allergists may also prescribe immunotherapy, or allergy shots. This long-term therapy—lasting three to five years—may allow you to reduce the amount of allergy medicine you take or to stop taking it altogether.

breathe easier Controlling nasal allergies can take some effort. But the important message is that better breathing is possible.

“People can get so used to having a clogged nose that they forget what it’s like to breathe freely,” says Dr. Grayson. “But people with nasal aller-gies can control their symptoms and live a normal life.”

to sneeze at

nothinG

nasal

F e a t u r e

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DigestJournal

Caregiver relieF: don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to de-stress. Find some stress reducers that work for you. need some extra help? See the back page for a list of resource centers.

Caring for youA caregiver’s job is never easy. And some-times one of the most important parts of the job—taking care of yourself—is also the hardest one.

If you’re like many other caregivers, you’re probably not getting enough sleep or eating as healthfully as you should. You may not be exercising. And you might not have taken the time to see your doctor for a checkup in far too long.

Your health is on the back burner while you put your loved one’s needs fi rst. Th at may seem inevitable given the circum-stances. But living this way sets you up for trouble in the long run.

Studies have shown that caregivers are at increased risk of developing serious health problems, such as depression, anxi-ety, heart disease and high blood pressure. At the same time, caregivers are far less likely to get medical care than noncaregiv-ers when they need it.

Rather than pushing yourself until you burn out—which doesn’t help you or your loved one—you need to make time to care for yourself.

Here are some tips on how to do that from the Family Caregiver Alliance and other experts:

Do the healthy things. See your doctor ●for regular checkups. Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet. And get regular ex-ercise, even if you can only fi t in a few minutes here and there throughout the day—it all adds up.

Accept support. If someone off ers to ●sit with your loved one, to run errands or to clean the house, say yes. Keep a list of things your friends and family can do for you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

O R G A N I C F O O D S

Understanding your choicesOrganic products go way beyond the produce section. You can fi nd everything from organic pancake mix to organic cooking oil on store shelves.

So how do organic products stack up against conventional ones?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic meat, eggs and dairy products come from animals that aren’t given antibiotics or growth hormones. Th e animals must also be fed organic feed and be given access to the outdoors.

buckle up for baby—and yourself When pregnant women properly wear seat belts, they protect both their lives and the lives of their unborn babies.

Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed 57 car crashes involving pregnant women. They included estimates of the crash direction, severity, whether the mother properly used a seat belt and the pregnancy outcome.

Pregnant women who properly wore their seat belts experienced signi� cantly fewer fetal deaths and serious complica-tions after crashes compared to pregnant women who didn’t wear a seat belt or used one improperly.

Some pregnant women may fail to use a seat belt because they think the lap belt may injure rather than protect their unborn baby in a crash.

To buckle up safely, pregnant women are advised to position the lap portion of the seat belt under their abdomen.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vol. 450, No. 4

Organic foods must be grown accord-ing to the following standards set by the USDA:

With fertilizers that don’t contain syn-●thetic ingredients or sewage sludge.

Without the use of most standard ●pesticides.

Without biotechnology or ionizing ●radiation.

In addition, farms and other places that handle or process organic food must be inspected and certifi ed by the USDA to be allowed to label foods organic.

Th e USDA has three categories for or-ganic products. Th e labeling requirements for each category are based on the amount of organic ingredients in a product. Th e categories are:

100 percent organic—made only with ●organic ingredients, which means the prod-ucts can carry the USDA organic seal.

Organic—made with at least 95 per-●cent organically produced ingredients. Th ese products can also carry the USDA organic seal.

Made with organic ingredients—made ●with at least 70 percent organic ingredi-ents. Th e products can be labeled made with organic ingredients, but they can’t carry the USDA seal.

Foods labeled free-range, natural or hormone-free are not the same as or-ganic foods. Th ese labels are not USDA certifi cations.

All in all, organic foods are not neces-sarily safer or healthier than other foods, reports the USDA. Eating a variety of foods—including plenty of fruits and vegetables, organic or not—is what’s most important to your health.

To learn more about organic foods, visit the USDA’s National Organic Pro-

gram website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

flavored milk a nutritious choice for kids Milk—whether it’s � avored or plain—does a child good.

Researchers compared nutrient intake levels and body mass indexes (BMI—a measure of fatness) of 7,557 U.S. chil-dren and adolescents 2 to 18 years old.

They found that the children who drank plain or � avored milk had signi� cantly higher intakes of nutrients—such as cal-cium, vitamin A, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium—than did the children who didn’t drink milk. The milk drinkers also had a lower or similar BMI compared to the kids who didn’t drink milk.

Children who drank � avored milk did not consume more added sugars in their diets than did the other children.

Researchers write that � avored milk may be more appealing to some children than plain milk, and drinking it may help ensure that they get more of the nutri-ents milk provides.Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Vol. 108, No. 4

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respond to pain has helped scientists develop better pain relievers. For example, serotonin and other natural painkillers may be synthesized in labs to make pain medications, reports the NIH.

Other advances in understanding and managing pain:brain imaging. Technologies such as MRI and PET

scans allow doctors to see which areas of the brain are involved in pain. Images have revealed that pain aff ects both the emotional and sensory parts of the brain.

For example, researchers have found that fear may lower pain tolerance and make pain more intense, while attentive care may raise the pain threshold and ease pain.

Channels. Researchers are working to develop drugs that would allow doctors to aff ect nervous system cells’ gatekeepers, called channels, which let electrical sig-nals into the cells. Th e ability to manipulate individual channels may lead to drugs that can target only the pain messages in cells. Th ese drugs wouldn’t hinder other cell functions and wouldn’t cause numbness or paralysis.

molecular genetics. Doctors are learning the relation-ship between certain genetic mutations and how people experience and react to pain.

plasticity. When you’re hurt, your body’s messag-ing system becomes rewired, making new contacts and changing how your nervous system cells communicate. Scientists are beginning to understand how the body adapts to pain, which may provide new therapies for chronic pain.

when You Stub your toe on the cof-fee table, the pain seems immediate.

But during that brief instant between injury and hurt, an incredibly complex messaging system kicks into action.

When your toe hit the table, pain recep-tors on your skin triggered an impulse that traveled an electric pathway to your spine and, ultimately, your brain. A message was sent with the help of neurotransmitters—chemicals that communicate impulses between cells in the pathway.

Diff erent neurotransmitters send dif-ferent kinds of information. For instance, glutamate seems to help move pain signals, while serotonin helps block pain. Other body chemicals, such as endorphins, also play a role in pain responses.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), compared to men, women tend to:

Recover more quickly from pain. ●Be more willing to seek help for pain. ●Be less likely to allow pain to control ●

their lives. Th ese diff erences may be due in part

to hormones such as estrogen and testos-terone. For example, research shows that the male hormone testosterone may be linked to higher pain tolerance. Th ey may also be related to cultural and psychological diff erences between men and women, reports the NIH.

persistent pain Stubbing your toe is the kind of pain that usually goes away in time. Pain that is limited in time and severity is known as acute pain.

Injury and illness oft en cause acute pain. It’s your body’s way of alerting you to the possibility of damage to itself. Mostly, you can fi gure out the cause of acute pain, and treatment is usually eff ective.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, can be diffi cult to treat. Chronic pain persists over time and is generally considered a disease itself. Headaches, low-back problems, cancer and arthritis are some common causes of chronic pain. Rarely, acute pain can become chronic.

the future Understanding how the body and brain

n e u r o l o G y

the cause of your pain and how severe it is will help your doctor decide how the pain is treated.

Your doctor may recommend:anti-infl ammatories, such as ■

aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen. they help reduce pain and fever.

nonaspirin pain relievers, such as ■

acetaminophen. they ease pain but do not reduce infl ammation.

opioids (morphinelike drugs). ■

they can relieve acute pain, cancer pain and sometimes chronic pain.

antidepressants. these drugs ■

help ease certain kinds of pain, treat depression and improve sleep.

antiseizure drugs. they help ■

relieve shooting pain from damaged nerves.

local anesthetics. Shots of these ■

drugs can reduce swelling, irritation and muscle spasms.

nerve blocks. Shots of these ■

drugs help numb groups of nerves that are causing pain in an area of the body.

physical and aquatic therapy. ex-■

ercises and other treatments, such

as massage and whirlpool, can re-duce pain and improve functioning.

acupuncture. thin needles stuck ■

into certain points on the skin can reduce pain.

Surgery. this may be used when ■

pain is not helped by other treat-ment.

also, getting emotional support—from a support group or mental health counselor, for example—can be a helpful part of managing pain.Source: american Society of anesthesiologists

What We knoW about pain

these common treatments may help ease your pain

the many faces of painpain is not limited to one simple defi nition. instead, it’s a range of sensations—from dull to sharp, from momentary to lasting, from harmless to dangerous.

Some common causes of pain are:

headaches. these include ■

migraines, cluster headaches and tension headaches.

arthritis. this disorder causes ■

infl ammation of the joints and soft tissues.

Surgery. after some proce-■

dures, pain control medicine may be needed.

disk problems or other back ■

conditions.Sciatica, a condition that ■

causes pain in the leg along the sciatic nerve.

Sports injuries, including ■

sprains, strains and bone breaks.paralysis, repetitive stress in-■

juries, spasms and strains. these

can cause muscle pain ranging from severe to mild.

tumor growth and cancer treat-■

ment, such as radiation. neuropathy from nerve injuries. ■

these may be caused by trauma, amputation, chemotherapy, diabe-tes or other diseases.

Shingles, an infection that can ■

trigger severe skin pain.burns. ■

damage to muscles or joints ■

used for chewing and talking, caus-ing jaw pain.

trauma from various injuries.■

Source: national institutes of health

understanding how the body and brain respond to pain has helped scientists

develop better pain relievers.

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Stroke Support GroupFirst Monday of the month, 10 to 11 a.m.General Hospital campus, Conference Room (second fl oor)For more information, call Susan Brayton at 707-445-8121, ext. 5655.

COMMUNITY Eel River Valley Family Health and Resource FairSaturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Fireman’s Pavilion in Rohner ParkFree and low-cost screenings and tests, plus other health and safety information.

RESOURCE CENTERSBlue Lake Prescription assistance programs, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal, AIM and Renters Re-bate paperwork assistance. Get health care referrals, hygiene supplies and more. Call 707-668-5239 to learn more.

Eureka Prescription assistance programs, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal and AIM. Get health care referrals, hygiene supplies and more. For more information, call 707-442-5239.

LoletaPrescription assistance programs, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal and AIM. Get health care referrals, hygiene supplies and more. Call 707-845-0464 for more information.

Rio Dell Business counseling, mobile medical ap-pointments, vocational counseling, kids’ clothes closet, hygiene supplies and more. Call 707-764-5239 to learn more.

Willow CreekHealthy Families, Medi-Cal, pharmacy and food-stamp paperwork assistance. Get clothing vouchers, emergency food and more. Call 530-629-3141 to learn more.

CHILDBIRTH CLASSES AT SJHTo register, call 707-269-3605. For a complete list of classes, visit our website, www.stjosepheureka.org. Llame al 707-269-3605 para obtener información acerca de nuestras clases en español.

Breastfeeding WORKSFirst Wednesday of the month, 6 to 8 p.m.This fun class is designed for breastfeed-ing mothers planning to return to work. Topics include choosing a pump, collection and storage, back to work basics, and more.

Movie NightFirst Friday of each month, 6 to 8 p.m.Join us for a showing of birth video favor-ites. The program is different each month.

Basic Infant/Child Life SupportTuesdays, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, 6 to 10 p.m.This class teaches the principles of infant and child resuscitation.

Hospital Orientation■ Tuesdays, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, 6 to 7:30 p.m.■ Sundays, Aug. 23, Sept. 27, 2 to 3:30 p.m. An in-depth look at the birthing rooms at the Childbirth Center at St. Joseph Hospital.

Prepared Childbirth Class■ Sundays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 1, 5 to 7 p.m.■ Mondays, Aug. 24 to Oct. 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.This six-week course is designed to pre-pare expectant couples for the emotional and physical aspects of childbirth. Com-fort measures and breathing techniques are taught.

Prenatal YogaFridays, 1:30 to 3 p.m.Stretching, strengthening, and relaxation are taught to help prepare for labor. Bring a blanket or mat.

CHILDBIRTH CLASSES AT RMHTo register, call 707-725-7325. Las clases acerca del embarazo adoles-cente, la educación prenatal, la actuali-zación para el parto y el amamantamiento están disponibles en español también.

Breastfeeding ClassTuesdays, Aug. 25, Oct. 20, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Infant Massage and CommunicationTuesdays, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, 4 to 5:30 p.m.Nurture the natural process of parent/infant interaction.

The Parent ConnectionEvery Tuesday, 4 to 5:30 p.m.A place where moms and dads can gather at any stage of pregnancy for education and group discussions.

Prepared Childbirth■ Every Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ■ One-day class: Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Includes information on labor and delivery, relaxation, breathing techniques, medica-tion and anesthesia, and cesarean births.

CALENDARCALENDAREventsEventsofofHEALTH AND WELLNESSPre-op Joint ClassSept. 1, Oct. 6Covers what to expect during and after joint surgery. Contact the rehabilitation offi ce at 707-441-4457 for more information.

Diabetes Support, EurekaFirst Wednesday of the month, 6:30 to 8 p.m., General Hospital campus, Burre Room, FreeEach month brings support with up-to-date information and guest speakers to assist and help those with diabetes manage their disease.

Kris Kelly Health Information Center (KKHIC)Open Monday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m., St. Joseph Hospital campus, Evergreen Lodge The KKHIC is designed to help people make informed decisions about their lifestyles and health care and also to re-duce the uncertainty about diagnosis and treatment. Staff members are available to assist in searches if needed. For more information, visit www.kkhic.org.

Mended HeartsSecond Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m.St. Joseph Hospital, Conference room 1Call Stan at 707-443-2529.

Mobile Medical VanMondays and Wednesdays for medical needs, Tuesdays for counseling9 a.m. to 3 p.m.St. Vincent Dining Facility Walk-ins only.

For a complete listing of classes, please visit our website at www.stjosepheureka.org or www.redwoodmemorial.org.

Look us up at www.stjosepheureka.org or www.redwoodmemorial.org.

Summer 2009

St. Joseph hospital. . . . . . . 707-445-8121

redwood memorial hospital 707-725-3361

Community resource Centers

(eureka, Fortuna, willow Creek, blue lake,

rio dell and loleta) . . . . . . 707-442-5239

heart institute

(information line) . . . . . . . . 707-269-3770

Cancer program . . . . . . . . . 707-269-4242

the Surgery Center. . . . . . . 707-444-3882

CONTACT US

®Information in HEALTH SCENE

comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any

concerns or questions about speci� c content that may affect your health, please contact your

health care provider.

Models may be used in photos and illustrations.

Copyright © 2009 Coffey Communications, Inc. HST24032h

For more about our services, classes and events, visit us online at www.stjoseph

eureka.org or www.redwoodmemorial.org. For questions and comments about

Health Scene, please call 707-269-4264 or e-mail laurie.watson-stone@stjoe.org.

HEALTH SCENE is published as a community service for the

friends and patrons of ST. JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM–

HUMBOLDT COUNTY (SJHS–HC), 2700 Dolbeer St., Eureka, CA

95501-4799, telephone 707-445-8121,

www.stjosepheureka.org, www.redwoodmemorial.org.

Joe markPresident and CEO, SJHS–HC

laurie watson StoneVP Fund Development and Public Relations, SJHS–HC

bob branniganVP and COO, St. Joseph Hospital

Joe rogersVP and COO, Redwood Memorial

Hospital