By Michael Contino
Liverpool, N.Y. – How many times have you heard that going to the gym is one thing, but having a trainer makes the experience all the more worthwhile?
In the case of two 47-year old men from Central New York, they may be living proof. Healthier living proof, might I add.
Longtime friends John Last and Kevin Bush had long been going to the gym before deciding they wanted to take their health and fitness regimen to another level.
“We worked out consistently for the past ten years but we’d kind of hit a plateau,” Bush said. “And we thought we’d maybe push it above the limits.”
Already members at Liverpool's North Area YMCA, they got a trainer, Maggie Triolo, and a new program that would push them harder than anything they’d done before.
Something New
The program Maggie has created for her trainees goes against what most men consider to be a viable workout.
In addition to placing a heavy emphasis on circuit training, Maggie’s workout only sparingly uses weights. When she does, they’re often on the lighter side.
By the time the guys get to the weight portion of their session, they’re already pretty tired.
“We’re having a blast here,” Last said. “Maggie’s kicking the crap out of us.”
Of course, this is exactly the type of program John and Kevin signed up for, and it’s one that has given them tremendous results.
Many Happy Returns
For John and Kevin, training with Maggie started around five months ago, or at the beginning of the new-year. Both came in with different strengths and different areas they felt needed improvement.
In Kevin’s case, the goal was to “maybe work on our core and our stamina a little bit more.”
“Kevin’s more the strength guy. John’s more the fast-twitch, like, go-go-go,” Trainer Maggie Triolo said. “So they’ve really complemented each other well with what we’re doing.”
In addition to losing inches off their wastes and pounds off the scale, there have been other intriguing results.
“A lot of employees of mine, because I’m an owner of a company, are seeing this, and now they’re joining the Y as well, and they’re getting on the bandwagon,” Last said.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Meditation Helps Lower Stress
By Michelle Bernard / Good Medicine
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Dr. David Humphrey had back problems, an abnormal heart rate and a sleep disorder-- all symptoms of stress.
To relieve his symptoms Humphrey, a retired doctor from Syracuse, started going to Dr. Bill Cross's conscious stress reduction class which teaches meditation and mindfulness, or a cultivated awareness of your own body and feelings.
By combining mindfulness and western medicine, Humphrey's back pains have gone away and his heart rate has returned to normal.
“I reduced that stress and sleep better now. That's one of the things,” says Cross. “I've become more aware of the tension in my back and able to relax it.”
What is Meditation?
Meditation comes in many forms, but all share the following elements:
•A quiet location
•A specific, comfortable posture
•A Focus of attention (usually on your breath)
• An Open Attitude
Sanghyeon Chun has been practicing meditation for thirteen years and leads a meditation class at Syracuse University.
“Basically I put my awareness on lower abdomen, and breath, sometimes I just observe myself, without specific focal points, if some thought arrives, I just notice it,” he says. “That is meditation practice.”
Sanghyeon says that meditation helps you to be relaxed, and teaches skills to cope with daily stress.
There are many kinds of exercises for relaxation and stress, listening to music, watching TV or movies, but a distinctive point of meditation is that it trains our attention he says.
Put it into Practice
It works for Humphrey and Sanghyeon, but how can others achieve the same results?
Through practice says Sanghyeon, who is also a doctoral student in instructional design at Syracuse University.
“When you go to the gym, you need regular practice to make a good shape of your muscles,” says Sanghyeon. “Meditation is the same thing.”
Most students don't know what to expect when going to the sessions, but are often happy with its results. SU student Morgan Salvan recently attended his first meditation session and would recommend it to others looking for stress relief.
“The experience I had was a relaxing one,” says Salvan. “It made me focus on things that were much more rudimentary than a lot of things that are going on in my everyday life.”
A National Trend
An increasing number of Americans are starting to meditation sessions just like the one offered here at the university.
A recent government survey found that 9.4 percent of U.S. adults had used meditation to treat anxiety, depression and stress in the past 12 months.
Tips for Meditating
If you're one of the many Americans interested in meditation make sure to follow these guidelines from the National Institutes of Health.
•Do not use meditation as a replacement for conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem.
•Ask about the training and experience of the meditation instructor you are considering.
•Look for published research studies on meditation for the health condition in which you are interested.
•Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Dr. David Humphrey had back problems, an abnormal heart rate and a sleep disorder-- all symptoms of stress.
To relieve his symptoms Humphrey, a retired doctor from Syracuse, started going to Dr. Bill Cross's conscious stress reduction class which teaches meditation and mindfulness, or a cultivated awareness of your own body and feelings.
By combining mindfulness and western medicine, Humphrey's back pains have gone away and his heart rate has returned to normal.
“I reduced that stress and sleep better now. That's one of the things,” says Cross. “I've become more aware of the tension in my back and able to relax it.”
What is Meditation?
Meditation comes in many forms, but all share the following elements:
•A quiet location
•A specific, comfortable posture
•A Focus of attention (usually on your breath)
• An Open Attitude
Sanghyeon Chun has been practicing meditation for thirteen years and leads a meditation class at Syracuse University.
“Basically I put my awareness on lower abdomen, and breath, sometimes I just observe myself, without specific focal points, if some thought arrives, I just notice it,” he says. “That is meditation practice.”
Sanghyeon says that meditation helps you to be relaxed, and teaches skills to cope with daily stress.
There are many kinds of exercises for relaxation and stress, listening to music, watching TV or movies, but a distinctive point of meditation is that it trains our attention he says.
Put it into Practice
It works for Humphrey and Sanghyeon, but how can others achieve the same results?
Through practice says Sanghyeon, who is also a doctoral student in instructional design at Syracuse University.
“When you go to the gym, you need regular practice to make a good shape of your muscles,” says Sanghyeon. “Meditation is the same thing.”
Most students don't know what to expect when going to the sessions, but are often happy with its results. SU student Morgan Salvan recently attended his first meditation session and would recommend it to others looking for stress relief.
“The experience I had was a relaxing one,” says Salvan. “It made me focus on things that were much more rudimentary than a lot of things that are going on in my everyday life.”
A National Trend
An increasing number of Americans are starting to meditation sessions just like the one offered here at the university.
A recent government survey found that 9.4 percent of U.S. adults had used meditation to treat anxiety, depression and stress in the past 12 months.
Tips for Meditating
If you're one of the many Americans interested in meditation make sure to follow these guidelines from the National Institutes of Health.
•Do not use meditation as a replacement for conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem.
•Ask about the training and experience of the meditation instructor you are considering.
•Look for published research studies on meditation for the health condition in which you are interested.
•Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Health reporters: Keep it fresh, accurate
Excerpts from WABC-TV New York medical news producer Graciela Rogerio and Health News Review's Gary Schwitzer on "The Potential Harm of Health News." The two spoke to a crowd of mostly young health journalists in electronic news (radio, TV, digital) settings at the 2010 RTDNA summit in Las Vegas.
The music bed beneath their voices is annoying and too loud, but what they say is valuable for all aspiring journalists, especially those who want to be health reporters.
The music bed beneath their voices is annoying and too loud, but what they say is valuable for all aspiring journalists, especially those who want to be health reporters.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Meditation as Medicine
Many of us are facing increasing pressure and stress these days...especially with our busy schedules and heavy workloads. However, as Good Medicine reporter Max Cole tells us, there might be something you can do to help take a load off.
Meditation as medicine from CP2E on Vimeo.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Don’t Ditch the Dairy
By Sarah DiGiulio
Doctors agree dairy is an essential part of a healthy diet – even for the lactose intolerant. Concerns that dairy-free diets increase calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, two essential nutrients for healthy bones, led the the U.S. National Institutes of Health to publish a consensus statement in February recommending most lactose intolerant individuals do not need to eliminate dairy completely and the condition may be incorrectly over-diagnosed.
Lactose intolerant individuals can drink the equivalent of one cup of milk, along with a meal, without noticing symptoms, says Dr. Robert Dracker, Syracuse pediatrician. Taking lactaid pills with dairy and spreading dairy consumption throughout the course of the day also ease the cramping, gas and diarrhea associated with lactose intolerance.
The more dairy you ingest, the better your small intestine can break down the sugars found in dairy, Dracker says. But, dairy-light diets decrease the small intestine’s ability to digest dairy and cause the gastrointestinal discomfort. “If you slowly increase the amount of milk you’re ingesting, you can increase your ability to tolerate milk product,” Dracker says.
Cutting out milk, cheese and yogurt completely could lead to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies because these dairy products are the best food sources of the two nutrients. Some foods, like breads and orange juice, can be calcium-fortified. But, dairy still has the edge, Dracker says. Besides being nutrient-packed, it’s cheap and protein rich.
Erika Mahoney suffered from stomachaches for as long as she can remember, says the junior broadcast journalism major at Syracuse University. “When I was little, I called it the bubble, because I didn’t know what it was,” she says.
Her doctor put Mahoney on a dairy-free diet for two months during the second grade. But, cutting out dairy did not ease her symptoms. Mahoney was later diagnosed with Celiac Disease, a gastrointestinal disorder that prevents the body from digesting gluten, the protein found in grain products.
Health experts worry lactose intolerance is being over-diagnosed because gastrointestinal diseases, like Celiacs and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, share the same symptoms, according to the NIH statement. Doctors often assume lactose intolerance before trying more extensive tests Celiacs and IBS tests, says Dr. Philip Holtzapple, Syracuse gastroenterologist. “It’s easy to tell people to get off dairy and see how you feel,” he says.
After being correctly diagnosed with Celiacs, Mahoney found many other individuals with her disorder who had first been told to go dairy-free. “I started going to support groups – classic story – every single person had been diagnosed with lactose intolerance,” she says.
The body needs calcium for bone development – both in kids as their bones grow, and in adults to maintain bone density, preventing fractures and osteoporosis. The body uses vitamin D to help absorb calcium. “Our bodies are constantly breaking down bone and rebuilding,” Dracker says. “In order to do that, you need an adequate supply of calcium.” And, newer research shows vitamin D may also help protect the body against diseases like multiple sclerosis and immune disorders.
For healthy bones, Holtzapple recommends adults get 1200 to 1500 milligrams of calcium per day, about 4 or 5 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt.
Lactose intolerance - overdiagnosed? from CP2E on Vimeo.
Doctors agree dairy is an essential part of a healthy diet – even for the lactose intolerant. Concerns that dairy-free diets increase calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, two essential nutrients for healthy bones, led the the U.S. National Institutes of Health to publish a consensus statement in February recommending most lactose intolerant individuals do not need to eliminate dairy completely and the condition may be incorrectly over-diagnosed.
Lactose intolerant individuals can drink the equivalent of one cup of milk, along with a meal, without noticing symptoms, says Dr. Robert Dracker, Syracuse pediatrician. Taking lactaid pills with dairy and spreading dairy consumption throughout the course of the day also ease the cramping, gas and diarrhea associated with lactose intolerance.
The more dairy you ingest, the better your small intestine can break down the sugars found in dairy, Dracker says. But, dairy-light diets decrease the small intestine’s ability to digest dairy and cause the gastrointestinal discomfort. “If you slowly increase the amount of milk you’re ingesting, you can increase your ability to tolerate milk product,” Dracker says.
Cutting out milk, cheese and yogurt completely could lead to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies because these dairy products are the best food sources of the two nutrients. Some foods, like breads and orange juice, can be calcium-fortified. But, dairy still has the edge, Dracker says. Besides being nutrient-packed, it’s cheap and protein rich.
Erika Mahoney suffered from stomachaches for as long as she can remember, says the junior broadcast journalism major at Syracuse University. “When I was little, I called it the bubble, because I didn’t know what it was,” she says.
Her doctor put Mahoney on a dairy-free diet for two months during the second grade. But, cutting out dairy did not ease her symptoms. Mahoney was later diagnosed with Celiac Disease, a gastrointestinal disorder that prevents the body from digesting gluten, the protein found in grain products.
Health experts worry lactose intolerance is being over-diagnosed because gastrointestinal diseases, like Celiacs and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, share the same symptoms, according to the NIH statement. Doctors often assume lactose intolerance before trying more extensive tests Celiacs and IBS tests, says Dr. Philip Holtzapple, Syracuse gastroenterologist. “It’s easy to tell people to get off dairy and see how you feel,” he says.
After being correctly diagnosed with Celiacs, Mahoney found many other individuals with her disorder who had first been told to go dairy-free. “I started going to support groups – classic story – every single person had been diagnosed with lactose intolerance,” she says.
The body needs calcium for bone development – both in kids as their bones grow, and in adults to maintain bone density, preventing fractures and osteoporosis. The body uses vitamin D to help absorb calcium. “Our bodies are constantly breaking down bone and rebuilding,” Dracker says. “In order to do that, you need an adequate supply of calcium.” And, newer research shows vitamin D may also help protect the body against diseases like multiple sclerosis and immune disorders.
For healthy bones, Holtzapple recommends adults get 1200 to 1500 milligrams of calcium per day, about 4 or 5 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt.
Lactose intolerance - overdiagnosed? from CP2E on Vimeo.
Health Concerns Over Splenda Not So Sweet
By: Dontré Conerly
Syracuse, NY—Now the #1 artificial sweetener on the market, Splenda is advertised as a low-calorie sweetener, perfect for diabetics, dieters, and the health-conscious, but limited human clinical trials reject the claim and recent studies warn of several adverse side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, and gastro-intestinal issues.
To make its claim that it is a no-calorie sweetener, Splenda’s marketing hinges on the fact that in animal trials the sweetener passes through the body undigested; therefore, it adds no calories or carbohydrates. However, in animal trials and the short-term human trials (none longer than six months), the sweetener was absorbed 15% of the time, causing the side effects listed above. This absorption loophole is also the crux upon which the sweetener was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
First discovered by scientists looking to make a new pesticide, Splenda is a man-made artificial sweetener that starts from sugar, but is altered by the addition of chlorine molecules to its chemical make-up. Its properties are changed from sucrose (a natural sugar) to sucralose, a potentially dangerous substance.
Syracuse University junior, Malisa Gobuty, relies on Spenda to help maintain her weight. She uses the sweetener in her beverage, on many foods, and cooks with it. It’s this long-term, heavy usage that concerns many, who say that extended usage can cause harm. But, for Gobuty, it’s about maintaining her health and figure.
“They say cell phones will kill you,” she quips. “For me, it’s about monitoring my calorie intake
Registered nutritionist and dietitian at Natur-Tyme in East Syracuse, Laurel Sterling Prisco, warns against using Splenda as a weight-loss supplement in one’s diet.
“When something is rejected by the body, like Splenda,” she says, “it can get stored in the fat cells.” This ironic protection by the body can actually work against dieters. “It gunks up fat cells [where we store toxins] and can keep them from shrinking when you’re trying to lose weight,” she says.
There have been many calls for Splenda to be removed from the market. Chief amongst its opponents is Dr. Mercola, who not only believes Splenda should be pulled from the market, but believes the FDA does not take enough of a role in ensuring the safety of food it approves. In his book, Sweet Deception: Why Splenda®, Nutrasweet®, and the FDA May Be Hazardous to Your Health, Mercola claims to have done independent research to prove the dangerous side effects of Splenda and other sweeteners.
If his claims are true, his research would be amongst the longest human trials of the sweetener.
Splenda’s manufacturer, McNeil Nutritionals, denies the allegations that Splenda has any negative side effects and has put up a page on its site to quell the fears. They maintain that Splenda is 100% safe.
Syracuse, NY—Now the #1 artificial sweetener on the market, Splenda is advertised as a low-calorie sweetener, perfect for diabetics, dieters, and the health-conscious, but limited human clinical trials reject the claim and recent studies warn of several adverse side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, and gastro-intestinal issues.
To make its claim that it is a no-calorie sweetener, Splenda’s marketing hinges on the fact that in animal trials the sweetener passes through the body undigested; therefore, it adds no calories or carbohydrates. However, in animal trials and the short-term human trials (none longer than six months), the sweetener was absorbed 15% of the time, causing the side effects listed above. This absorption loophole is also the crux upon which the sweetener was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
First discovered by scientists looking to make a new pesticide, Splenda is a man-made artificial sweetener that starts from sugar, but is altered by the addition of chlorine molecules to its chemical make-up. Its properties are changed from sucrose (a natural sugar) to sucralose, a potentially dangerous substance.
Syracuse University junior, Malisa Gobuty, relies on Spenda to help maintain her weight. She uses the sweetener in her beverage, on many foods, and cooks with it. It’s this long-term, heavy usage that concerns many, who say that extended usage can cause harm. But, for Gobuty, it’s about maintaining her health and figure.
“They say cell phones will kill you,” she quips. “For me, it’s about monitoring my calorie intake
Registered nutritionist and dietitian at Natur-Tyme in East Syracuse, Laurel Sterling Prisco, warns against using Splenda as a weight-loss supplement in one’s diet.
“When something is rejected by the body, like Splenda,” she says, “it can get stored in the fat cells.” This ironic protection by the body can actually work against dieters. “It gunks up fat cells [where we store toxins] and can keep them from shrinking when you’re trying to lose weight,” she says.
There have been many calls for Splenda to be removed from the market. Chief amongst its opponents is Dr. Mercola, who not only believes Splenda should be pulled from the market, but believes the FDA does not take enough of a role in ensuring the safety of food it approves. In his book, Sweet Deception: Why Splenda®, Nutrasweet®, and the FDA May Be Hazardous to Your Health, Mercola claims to have done independent research to prove the dangerous side effects of Splenda and other sweeteners.
If his claims are true, his research would be amongst the longest human trials of the sweetener.
Splenda’s manufacturer, McNeil Nutritionals, denies the allegations that Splenda has any negative side effects and has put up a page on its site to quell the fears. They maintain that Splenda is 100% safe.
Not too sweet from CP2E on Vimeo.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Little League injuries on the rise
By: Sara Sultanik / Good Medicine
April 8, 2010
Syracuse N.Y -- April showers may bring May flowers, but they have also brought the beginning of little league season here in Syracuse.
But while kids and parents dust off those gloves and bats, coaches and medical professionals want them to know about the risks associated with playing baseball at a young age.
In March, the University of Tokushima in Japan released a study which concluded that youth baseball injuries were on the rise. Especially for kids between the ages of eight and twelve.
Overuse Injuries
According to the study, twenty-five percent of youth baseball players between the ages of eight and twelve had elbow pain.
And most of these injuries happen to throwers: “[I]t’s because they’re starting playing at a younger age,” said Dr. Marc Pietropaoli, a Skaneateles based sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, “They’re playing year round...and there are less and less athletes that are specializing in one sport they’re specializing a little too early.”
Pietropaoli discussed that the more sports a child plays, the less likely they are to develop injuries because a child will be using more muscles when playing multiple sports.
And since a child’s bones have not fully grown yet, they are more susceptible to soreness and pain.
How to Prevent These Injuries
Dr. Pietropaoli said good coaching was an effective way to reduce the chance of developing injuries.
And at Perfect Practice indoor baseball facility, they have tried to do just that: “We want to make sure whatever technique it is whether it’s running or throwing, hitting...that they learn properly,” claimed owner of Perfect Practice Mike DiPaulo, “We’re going to make sure that they understand that technique is very important in injury prevention.”
At Perfect Practice many kids come out each day to learn the correct baseball technique and throwing mechanics to make sure they don’t end up on the bench this baseball season instead of out on the field.
The Risk Won’t Keep Them Away
At Perfect Practice, the kids learned to warm up and stretch out their muscles so they won’t get sore.
And because of this training, some of the young boys did not seem to worry about the risk of injury: “You could get hurt walking down the street you could get hurt playing soccer you could get hurt doing pretty much anything but you cant live your life that way,” stated thirteen year old Jonah Badiab.
And seventh grader John Teixiera believed he knew how to take of himself: “if you stretch properly and stay prepared and stay loose you’re not going to get hurt as easily. A loose body is much more durable than a tense body,” he said.
And Dr. Pietropaoli stated that parents should not worry because overall, baseball is a very safe game. But everyone involved should just be educated about the risks.
Little League injuries from CP2E on Vimeo.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Washing Out The Green
By Michael Contino
Syracuse, N.Y. - There are many ways one can go green, and that includes the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.
These "green cleaning" items can benefit your health through the removal of certain harmful chemicals that can among other things, worsen chronic ailments.
"I have a pretty significant case of asthma going," said Michelle "Kiki" Brown, a Syracuse resident who uses green cleaning products. "I have to be very careful with the materials I use in my home."
Spotting a Fake
The Local Effort
Ask anyone who knows about Greenwashing and they'll all have a similar answer as to why it happens: certification can be very expensive, going as high as thousands of dollars per year.
One local company doing it anyway is Brophy Services Incorporated, a Building Services Contracter in Syracuse.
Owner Eileen Brophy says her certified products will not only be healthier for clients but it will make her company unique.
"There are no companies in my line of work that are lead certified. You take a $25-30 million dollar a year company like Janitronics and Matrix that are my competitors. They aren't lead certified," Brophy said.
Among the harmful chemicals not in Brophy's new products are Sodium Silicate, which irritates the eyes and skin, and Ammonium Hydroxide, which effects the eyes and respiratory tract.
To Gosson's knowledge, she's the only supplier in "at least a 500-mile radius" to go green the legitimate way.
Syracuse, N.Y. - There are many ways one can go green, and that includes the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.
These "green cleaning" items can benefit your health through the removal of certain harmful chemicals that can among other things, worsen chronic ailments.
"I have a pretty significant case of asthma going," said Michelle "Kiki" Brown, a Syracuse resident who uses green cleaning products. "I have to be very careful with the materials I use in my home."
"You can keep your body healthier, you can keep your lungs healthier," said Richard Kampos, owner of Syrause's Green Cleaning Technologies about the benefits of using Green Cleaning Products. "Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and if you're using products that are potentially toxic, you're taking in carcinogens."
Not All Green
Then again, a product you think of as green may be just as toxic as the cheaper, regular products. That's because many manufacturers put fake green logos on normal products and sell them as environmentally friendly.
"Most distributors, manufacturers, private label companies, will put a maple leaf on it [the product] or a nice green hue to it with a brook or a creek running through it," said Michael Gosson, owner of Parish Maintenance Supply in Syracuse, which sells green cleaning products to companies in the area.
Though not every company partakes in "Greenwashing," it is something to be aware of if you're considering going green in the cleaning department.Spotting a Fake
With so many companies putting green logos on their products, how does the average person determine if a given product is real or not? Gosson's answer is simple: outside approval.
"Unless it has some independent certification, the only person that can state with all empirical data that it's green is a third party. Otherwise, you can say whatever you want," Gosson said.
Among Gosson's certified products is the Activeon Ionater Pro, which can clear the H1N1 Virus off of surfaces while using only tap water. It's part of an entire line of Parish products under the heading of "Chemical Free Cleaning."The Local Effort
Ask anyone who knows about Greenwashing and they'll all have a similar answer as to why it happens: certification can be very expensive, going as high as thousands of dollars per year.
One local company doing it anyway is Brophy Services Incorporated, a Building Services Contracter in Syracuse.
Owner Eileen Brophy says her certified products will not only be healthier for clients but it will make her company unique.
"There are no companies in my line of work that are lead certified. You take a $25-30 million dollar a year company like Janitronics and Matrix that are my competitors. They aren't lead certified," Brophy said.
Among the harmful chemicals not in Brophy's new products are Sodium Silicate, which irritates the eyes and skin, and Ammonium Hydroxide, which effects the eyes and respiratory tract.
To Gosson's knowledge, she's the only supplier in "at least a 500-mile radius" to go green the legitimate way.
Washing out the green from CP2E on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Different Shades of Tan
By Michael Contino
Syracuse, N.Y. - If always having a tan is important to you, then living in Syracuse may prove challenging.
With clouds frequenting the air to winters that usually surpass 100 inches of snowfall a year, there simply aren't too many summer days between November and March.
Many in the area go to local tanning beds to make up for their perceived Vitamin D deficiency. At the same time, not every tanning bed or tanning salon is alike, and there are a few things people should know about tanning before stepping into a booth.
Fast Facts
It doesn't take much searching to find long-standing medical arguments against going tanning. Among the established health risks of tanning is overexposure to ultraviolet, or UV radiation, which can lead to Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
Here's a fact on tanning you probably didn't know, it comes from Dermatologist Dr. Joyce B. Farah.
"In cloudy cities such as Syracuse the clouds filter at best 15 to 20 percent of the UV radiation. So you're still getting 80 percent of radiation coming through."
On the Side of Caution
Melanoma can appear after going tanning only a couple of times, as Kelly Covert of Baldwinsville, NY found out the hard way.
At the age of 24, she had just started going tanning when she discovered "a large mole" on the back of her leg that ended up being "a malignant melanoma, the worst kind."
Now Covert is in full remission, but the tanning incident sticks with her today.
"I've been going to a dermatologist ever sicne, every six months, getting check-ups," Covert said.
Different Viewpoints
Something separating local tanning Salons from one another is how far they go to prevent people they know shouldn't be tanning from tanning anyway.
Syracuse Tanning Salon Hakna Matata, led by owner Joe Contini, takes a very active role in monitoring it's customers. This includes a "skin type" survey which determines how long one should tan, structured tanning plans and dertailed electronic records of each customer.
It's important to note Hakuna Matata is a Tanning Salon only, unlike another local Salon like Garbo's, which also operates as a Hair Salon. Contini says there's a big difference between the two.
"You know hair salons right now, you go into a hair salon, it's mainly a cash business," Contini said. "You go in the back room, and you tan in a bed that's not controleld by anything."
At Garbo's, owner Dominick Barbano says his staff urges people with light skin or family histories of Melanoma not to tan, but in the end, it's up tot he idnividual to make the final choice at to whether or not to go tanning.
"It's all about self responsibility, and being responsible for your own behavior," Barbano said.
What's Next
In Congres right now is the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act. It would encrease tanning regulation, especially in terms of limiting UV radiation and increasing the size of warning size on tanning beds.
Opinions on the risks of tanning go from it being an absolute danger to your health, to it being something that simply needs more regulation and even an industry that should simply be left alone.
"There are no benefits to tanning and tanning booths, there are only risks." Dr. Farah said.
"We need to put alittle restriction on tanning salons, and you know, a lot of people at tanning salons are going to go nuts on me but, we really should," Contini said.
"The governmetn has no business in my decision maknig process," Barbano said. "It's really important that we as individuals decide what's right for us."
Syracuse, N.Y. - If always having a tan is important to you, then living in Syracuse may prove challenging.
With clouds frequenting the air to winters that usually surpass 100 inches of snowfall a year, there simply aren't too many summer days between November and March.
Many in the area go to local tanning beds to make up for their perceived Vitamin D deficiency. At the same time, not every tanning bed or tanning salon is alike, and there are a few things people should know about tanning before stepping into a booth.
Fast Facts
It doesn't take much searching to find long-standing medical arguments against going tanning. Among the established health risks of tanning is overexposure to ultraviolet, or UV radiation, which can lead to Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
Here's a fact on tanning you probably didn't know, it comes from Dermatologist Dr. Joyce B. Farah.
"In cloudy cities such as Syracuse the clouds filter at best 15 to 20 percent of the UV radiation. So you're still getting 80 percent of radiation coming through."
On the Side of Caution
Melanoma can appear after going tanning only a couple of times, as Kelly Covert of Baldwinsville, NY found out the hard way.
At the age of 24, she had just started going tanning when she discovered "a large mole" on the back of her leg that ended up being "a malignant melanoma, the worst kind."
Now Covert is in full remission, but the tanning incident sticks with her today.
"I've been going to a dermatologist ever sicne, every six months, getting check-ups," Covert said.
Different Viewpoints
Something separating local tanning Salons from one another is how far they go to prevent people they know shouldn't be tanning from tanning anyway.
Syracuse Tanning Salon Hakna Matata, led by owner Joe Contini, takes a very active role in monitoring it's customers. This includes a "skin type" survey which determines how long one should tan, structured tanning plans and dertailed electronic records of each customer.
It's important to note Hakuna Matata is a Tanning Salon only, unlike another local Salon like Garbo's, which also operates as a Hair Salon. Contini says there's a big difference between the two.
"You know hair salons right now, you go into a hair salon, it's mainly a cash business," Contini said. "You go in the back room, and you tan in a bed that's not controleld by anything."
At Garbo's, owner Dominick Barbano says his staff urges people with light skin or family histories of Melanoma not to tan, but in the end, it's up tot he idnividual to make the final choice at to whether or not to go tanning.
"It's all about self responsibility, and being responsible for your own behavior," Barbano said.
What's Next
In Congres right now is the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act. It would encrease tanning regulation, especially in terms of limiting UV radiation and increasing the size of warning size on tanning beds.
Opinions on the risks of tanning go from it being an absolute danger to your health, to it being something that simply needs more regulation and even an industry that should simply be left alone.
"There are no benefits to tanning and tanning booths, there are only risks." Dr. Farah said.
"We need to put alittle restriction on tanning salons, and you know, a lot of people at tanning salons are going to go nuts on me but, we really should," Contini said.
"The governmetn has no business in my decision maknig process," Barbano said. "It's really important that we as individuals decide what's right for us."
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tanning in CNY: Too Hot to Handle?
February 2010
By Sara Sultanik / Good Medicine
SYRACUSE N.Y. -- With the cold weather and lack of sun light in the winter months here in Central New York, you may like heading to the tanning bed.
But a new bipartisan bill, the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act could, if passed, change the way many people tan. The bill would allow the government to set controls on the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the beds as well as set limits on the amount of time tanners can stay inside the machines.
All of this to reduce to risks of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
A Triathlete’s Tale
Kelly Covert of Baldwinsville was only twenty-four when she was diagnosed with skin cancer and she stated she headed to the tanning beds a few times before she was diagnosed, “I dont think it was the only reason that i got skin cancer but it certainly did not help me at all and I would never do it again.”
Kelly is now an advocate for preventing young people from using tanning beds. She does not want people to end up in the same position she was in. She said, “You know the risks and they still do it which is shocking to me but i just people are going to make their own decisions but as long as they know what they’re up against...then that’s the choice that they have to make.”
Aren’t There Any Health Benefits to Tanning?
According to dermatologist Dr. Joyce Farah, this is not the case, “There are absolutely no health benefits to being in a tanning booth,” she said, “none that have been documented whatsoever.”
Dr. Farah claimed that even in cloudy cities such as Syracuse, 80 percent of the sun’s radiation still shines through so Central New Yorkers should still be getting a good amount of Vitamin D, even in the winter months.
But Isn’t Every Salon Different?
According to Joe Contini, owner of Hakuna Matata salon in Syracuse, his salon is different than most because his employees are certified under the International Smart Tan Network.
Contini said, “We need to put a little restrictions on tanning salons...people should be certified”
Contini claimed his salon will not allow individuals who are too fair skinned to tan at his salon.
But Dominick Barbano of Garbo’s Salon in Syracuse said it is ultimately the tanner’s decision, “Act responsibly, do it in moderation, you’ll be fine.”
It is unknown at the time if the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act will be put into place. But experts have said, even if less radiation is emitted by these machines, tanners may come into the tanning salons more often to get the same skin tone.
Eating Healthy in Hard Times
By V. Michelle Bernard/Good Medicine
High produce prices are making it hard, but not impossible for New Yorkers to eat healthfully.
High Costs, Low Nutrition
It’s no secret that the recent economy has impacted every aspect of American life, including nutrition. Feeding America, a national network of 203 food banks, including several in Central New York, has said that one in eight Americans have needed help buying groceries this year. To add to the problem, produce prices have recently increased while prices for snack food seem to have gone down according to a recent American Dietetic Association study.
Although the high calorie snack options seem to offer a better deal, it is a better long-term deal to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, making the decision to eat healthfully even harder for low income Americans.
Balanced Budget & Checkbook Possible
Registered dietician Karen Ertel said there are many options for low income families to make sure they’re eating healthfully including using government subsidized programs and food banks for those who qualify.
Ertel, a dietician at the Syracuse Community Health Center, has noticed that a lot of people on strict budgets leave the vegetables out of their diet, but there are cheaper ways to get your servings of vegetables including canned and frozen vegetables.
Cutting down on the amount of meat eaten is another way to stretch the food budget, said Ertel.
“When you cut down on your meat portion sizes you actually do open a pretty good part of the budget to use for other things,” she said.
She also said eating staples such as rice and beans can add good nutrition, while keeping the budget low.
Reaching Out For Help
Jeanette Stanard is part of one of the many families from Central New York who are making their food dollars stretch by visiting the Food Bank of Central New York’s fresh food giveaways, like the one at the 1st Ukrainian Pentecostal Church in Camillus.
Stanard hasn’t been working since her daughter was born last summer. But going to giveaways, like the one in Camillus, has allowed her to provide more diverse and nutritious food to her family.
“The cost of living and the cost of food is outrageous,” said Stanard. “And going to pantries and fresh food giveaways, such as this, forces you to eat healthy. There’s normally fresh foods as well as baked products, milk, cheese, a lot of real healthy ingredients,” she said.
Last year alone, more than 2.1 million New Yorkers, such as Stanard, were served by food banks.
Tips
Not everyone can qualify to visit food banks, but that isn’t an excuse not to eat vegetables and fruit.
Eat healthfully on a budget by following these tips from registered dietician Karen Ertel:
• It’s OK to buy frozen vegetables and some canned vegetables. They provide almost as many nutrients as the fresh.
• Try to buy in-season and locally grown produce
• Buy and eat less meat
• Replace soda with water or sugar free drinks
• Buy cheap, yet healthy staples such as rice and beans
For more tips on eating healthfully on a budget click here.
High produce prices are making it hard, but not impossible for New Yorkers to eat healthfully.
High Costs, Low Nutrition
It’s no secret that the recent economy has impacted every aspect of American life, including nutrition. Feeding America, a national network of 203 food banks, including several in Central New York, has said that one in eight Americans have needed help buying groceries this year. To add to the problem, produce prices have recently increased while prices for snack food seem to have gone down according to a recent American Dietetic Association study.
Although the high calorie snack options seem to offer a better deal, it is a better long-term deal to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, making the decision to eat healthfully even harder for low income Americans.
Balanced Budget & Checkbook Possible
Registered dietician Karen Ertel said there are many options for low income families to make sure they’re eating healthfully including using government subsidized programs and food banks for those who qualify.
Ertel, a dietician at the Syracuse Community Health Center, has noticed that a lot of people on strict budgets leave the vegetables out of their diet, but there are cheaper ways to get your servings of vegetables including canned and frozen vegetables.
Cutting down on the amount of meat eaten is another way to stretch the food budget, said Ertel.
“When you cut down on your meat portion sizes you actually do open a pretty good part of the budget to use for other things,” she said.
She also said eating staples such as rice and beans can add good nutrition, while keeping the budget low.
Reaching Out For Help
Jeanette Stanard is part of one of the many families from Central New York who are making their food dollars stretch by visiting the Food Bank of Central New York’s fresh food giveaways, like the one at the 1st Ukrainian Pentecostal Church in Camillus.
Stanard hasn’t been working since her daughter was born last summer. But going to giveaways, like the one in Camillus, has allowed her to provide more diverse and nutritious food to her family.
“The cost of living and the cost of food is outrageous,” said Stanard. “And going to pantries and fresh food giveaways, such as this, forces you to eat healthy. There’s normally fresh foods as well as baked products, milk, cheese, a lot of real healthy ingredients,” she said.
Last year alone, more than 2.1 million New Yorkers, such as Stanard, were served by food banks.
Tips
Not everyone can qualify to visit food banks, but that isn’t an excuse not to eat vegetables and fruit.
Eat healthfully on a budget by following these tips from registered dietician Karen Ertel:
• It’s OK to buy frozen vegetables and some canned vegetables. They provide almost as many nutrients as the fresh.
• Try to buy in-season and locally grown produce
• Buy and eat less meat
• Replace soda with water or sugar free drinks
• Buy cheap, yet healthy staples such as rice and beans
For more tips on eating healthfully on a budget click here.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, June 22, 2009
Good Medicine Webisode 2
Good Medicine Webisode 2 from CP2E on Vimeo.
This webisode of Good Medicine is hosted by Beth Croughan. Reporters are Torie Wells, Megan Rowls, Beth Croughan and Chris McGrath. Directed by Mike DeSumma.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Good Medicine Webisode 1
Good Medicine Webisode 1 from CP2E on Vimeo.
Good Medicine is a health news program produced by the Spring '09 broadcast journalism health reporting students at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Cynthia Schweigert hosts and reports for Webisode 1. Featured reporters are Chris Shepherd, Megan Rowls and Amy Aaronson. Directed by Mike DeSumma.
Friday, May 1, 2009
No Health Insurance
No Health Insurance
Graduation season is approaching fast meaning many students who do not have jobs or going into higher education will have to get off their parents health insurance in a couple of months. Stephanie Berzenski is graduating with a master degree and is worried about not having a job once she graduates.
“It’s just scary because it's a lot of things that I have taken for granted I have medication now. My monthly birth control pill some skin medications for pimples for what I guess took for granted because I always had them covered under my parent’s health insurance policy. But come August you know that's gone so if I need to continue on more medication I need to come up with a plan,” said Stephanie Berzenski.
Erin Parks in a graduating senior, she is not only worried about finding a job but finding a job with good benefits.
“I have to really look for a job that has health benefits because I can't afford to not have health insurance with all the prescriptions I have to fill,” said Erin Parks
Parks was diagnosed with Type I diabetes earlier this year. She as many supplies she uses every day.
“Yea my supplies are definitely expensive because it is stuff that I have to use daily many times throughout the day. So it really adds up,” said Erin Parks
Health Insurance Options
John Catanzarita, Jr. President of Benefit Consulting Group in Syracuse says students should sit down with their parents and look at what’s included in their health insurance coverage under their parents. Then compare the rates to other insurance plans. He also says the state of New York has many health insurance options, such as Family Healthy Plus and Healthy New York.
“ These couple of stories I’m talking about now are income sensitive, so obviously if they don’t have a job they wouldn’t have income,” said John Catanzarita, Jr.
He also says don’t risk not having health insurance and it’s better to be insured than to not be.
Graduation season is approaching fast meaning many students who do not have jobs or going into higher education will have to get off their parents health insurance in a couple of months. Stephanie Berzenski is graduating with a master degree and is worried about not having a job once she graduates.
“It’s just scary because it's a lot of things that I have taken for granted I have medication now. My monthly birth control pill some skin medications for pimples for what I guess took for granted because I always had them covered under my parent’s health insurance policy. But come August you know that's gone so if I need to continue on more medication I need to come up with a plan,” said Stephanie Berzenski.
Erin Parks in a graduating senior, she is not only worried about finding a job but finding a job with good benefits.
“I have to really look for a job that has health benefits because I can't afford to not have health insurance with all the prescriptions I have to fill,” said Erin Parks
Parks was diagnosed with Type I diabetes earlier this year. She as many supplies she uses every day.
“Yea my supplies are definitely expensive because it is stuff that I have to use daily many times throughout the day. So it really adds up,” said Erin Parks
Health Insurance Options
John Catanzarita, Jr. President of Benefit Consulting Group in Syracuse says students should sit down with their parents and look at what’s included in their health insurance coverage under their parents. Then compare the rates to other insurance plans. He also says the state of New York has many health insurance options, such as Family Healthy Plus and Healthy New York.
“ These couple of stories I’m talking about now are income sensitive, so obviously if they don’t have a job they wouldn’t have income,” said John Catanzarita, Jr.
He also says don’t risk not having health insurance and it’s better to be insured than to not be.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Health Insurance For Graduates
By Torie Wells
No Job=No Insurance:
Erin Parks is a graduating senior. She’s a biology major, excited to get her first job. But at the beginning of this semester, she knew something was wrong.
"I lost about twenty pounds in two weeks. I was very fatigued. I couldn't muster the strength to get up and go to class. I was very thirsty all the time couldn't get enough water," she said
Erin was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. Now, her blood sugar is under control. But the cost of her medical supplies makes having health insurance a necessity.
"It’s not just about finding a job now. It's about finding a job that has good health care," she said.
It's the story of hundreds of graduates who are looking for a job, in a failing economy. No job means no health insurance. And come graduation they're off mom and dad's plan. Stephaine Berzenski is a healthy graduate student. But she's worried too.
"Under my dad's prescription we only have to pay a co-pay of 5 dollars each for each prescription. But with the regular price, one would cost me $153.75 a month and the other would cost $322.62," she said.
But, it's not just expensive. We spoke with a representative from Families USA who said people without coverage can even be turned away from health care.
There is Help:
But, there are options. The first step is to jump online and see what your state offers. Often there are inexpensive options. In New York, there are a couple.
“Healthy NY is one program. And there's another, family health plus, it's almost like a Medicaid type program," said John Catanzarita Jr. He’s the President of Benefit Consulting Group in Syracuse.
Both programs are determined based on income, and cost about $250 a month. They're usually cheaper than the alternatives, like COBRA, or buying insurance on your own. COBRA’s a program where you to continue to pay into your parent's plan, but your costs double. So, if you pay $100 a month under the family plan, you'd pay about $200 as an individual. Take that route and you could be paying up to $400 a month. But that's cheaper than private insurance which can cost between $600 and $1200.
Playing with Fate?
Another option is not having insurance.
“As much as someone doesn't have income, it’s way better, I think, than rolling the dice," said Catanzarita.
He said that one accident, sudden illness, or trip to the hospital without coverage, and you could lose everything. The best plan is to sit down with your parents and compare the options. That's exactly what Erin's doing. Her life depends on it.
"I check my blood sugar 4-5 times a day to make sure it's ok. That's how I keep myself healthy and feeling good," she said.
No Job=No Insurance:
Erin Parks is a graduating senior. She’s a biology major, excited to get her first job. But at the beginning of this semester, she knew something was wrong.
"I lost about twenty pounds in two weeks. I was very fatigued. I couldn't muster the strength to get up and go to class. I was very thirsty all the time couldn't get enough water," she said
Erin was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. Now, her blood sugar is under control. But the cost of her medical supplies makes having health insurance a necessity.
"It’s not just about finding a job now. It's about finding a job that has good health care," she said.
It's the story of hundreds of graduates who are looking for a job, in a failing economy. No job means no health insurance. And come graduation they're off mom and dad's plan. Stephaine Berzenski is a healthy graduate student. But she's worried too.
"Under my dad's prescription we only have to pay a co-pay of 5 dollars each for each prescription. But with the regular price, one would cost me $153.75 a month and the other would cost $322.62," she said.
But, it's not just expensive. We spoke with a representative from Families USA who said people without coverage can even be turned away from health care.
There is Help:
But, there are options. The first step is to jump online and see what your state offers. Often there are inexpensive options. In New York, there are a couple.
“Healthy NY is one program. And there's another, family health plus, it's almost like a Medicaid type program," said John Catanzarita Jr. He’s the President of Benefit Consulting Group in Syracuse.
Both programs are determined based on income, and cost about $250 a month. They're usually cheaper than the alternatives, like COBRA, or buying insurance on your own. COBRA’s a program where you to continue to pay into your parent's plan, but your costs double. So, if you pay $100 a month under the family plan, you'd pay about $200 as an individual. Take that route and you could be paying up to $400 a month. But that's cheaper than private insurance which can cost between $600 and $1200.
Playing with Fate?
Another option is not having insurance.
“As much as someone doesn't have income, it’s way better, I think, than rolling the dice," said Catanzarita.
He said that one accident, sudden illness, or trip to the hospital without coverage, and you could lose everything. The best plan is to sit down with your parents and compare the options. That's exactly what Erin's doing. Her life depends on it.
"I check my blood sugar 4-5 times a day to make sure it's ok. That's how I keep myself healthy and feeling good," she said.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
One Star Care
Growing old is not always easy, and for Betty and William Dwight who are in their early eighties, it only got harder as their health got worse.
"I just pass out on the floor and don't even know it" says Betty.
Betty went to the hospital, but the insurance stopped paying. William couldn't take care of her anymore. He says "They brought me in because I was so exhausted from taking care of her."
She had to be moved to a nursing home. Rosewood Heights Health Center was their only option.
"There was no other place. This was the only bed open at the time she had to leave the hospital," says William Dwight.
The Dwights were not able to choose their nursing home. Many have the same experience. But for those who can choose, the Federal Government is looking to make that decision easier.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid, Kerry Weems, says the rating system is used to "provide families a straightfoward assessment of nursing home quality, with meaningful distinctions between high and low performing homes."
Rosewood Heights Health Center is one of thirteen nursing homes in the Syracuse area that were rated.
"What you'll find is that maybe with the exception of one or two, everybody is one out of five stars," says Rosewood Heights Director, Paul Scarpinato.
In fact five were rated higher. But Rosewood Heights is among the eight that got the lowest rating. To determine the overall rating, surveyors look at three areas: Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality Measures.
Scarpinato says it's difficult to compare nursing homes.
"You're going to find that you're not comparing apples to apples. The size of the facility, the complexity of folks they take in, do play into the information that shows up in the Quality Measures as well as staffing."
Scarpinato says there's more to choosing a nursing home than just looking at a star system."Rely on your five senses, which means you gotta go visit. You need to go take a look a walk through, go see what's going on for yourself. Go look at the condition of the building, the rooms, see the interaction of the staff and the residents," says Scarpinato.
Even the best ranked five star facilities, like the Nottingham says families do have several things to consider when choosing. Tracy Engle is the director of the Nottingham, she says "I'd walk into the facility, what does it look like, what does it smell like? I would look at the activities calendar."
"Yes we are a five star facility, some of the other facilities, that didn't get five stars, I don't think it's an accurate representation of the care they provide," says Engle.
And the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Kerry Weems agreed with that in his news release, saying "this system is not intended to be the only tool families use in selecting the right nursing facility for a loved one."
But it is a tool that's available, not only to choose, but to know one measure of the facility you or your loved one has already been placed in.
William and Betty Dwight agree that no place is perfect.
"You got some good help, and you got some mediocre help," says William.
In their short time at Rosewood Heights, they say they have experienced both.
"We were all night without an aid or anybody. And we need to ring the bell usually to go to the John, because we need help," says Betty Dwight.
"From eleven o'clock to 8 o'clock this morning, nobody," says William.
"Yeah, we had to hold it or foget it," added Betty.
But they say overall they are treated well and taken care of. Still, the had no choice but to go to a place that has the lowest rating, one star.
Scarpinato says he wants to improve Rosewood Heights, but it's not the number of stars he's interested in. "I'm going to focus in on our day to day operations. The residents that we have, the systems that we have, the financial reimbursements that we have, and make the best shot at improving our health inspections and quality measures," says Scarpinato.
To compare nursing homes in your area, or to find out more information please visit http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteriaNEW.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C7%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home&CookiesEnabledStatus=True
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
