Happy Fall, Y'all!!

     Can you feel it?  Fall is FINALLY in the air.  It's refreshing, to say the very least.  Fall is one our absolute favorite times of year.  Unfortunately, down here in LA (Lower Alabama, for all you folks not familiar with the Southern vernacular), we don't get to enjoy much of a Fall season.  Our seasons are mainly "hot as blue blazin" followed by a couple of weeks of nice, crisp air that flow right into "colder than a ___ (insert your favorite comparative, often inappropriate, analogy here) ".

     But when that little bite in the air appears, you know that Fall is officially here.  Football is in full swing.  Pumpkins begin popping up all over, and the gorgeous colors of autumn mums decorate many a door step.

     Fall is a great time to take a walk or jog through your neighborhood.  Not only can you enjoy a decent temperature for your activity, but the beauty of the scenery around you is a great incentive.  The kids can still be found out in the yards after school and in between soccer, football, or fall baseball practice; enjoying the last weeks of evening sunshine before time changes and takes away their late-in-the-day light.  It's that time of year when the fair comes to town and if you live in just the right place, you can smell the peanuts coming out of the ground.  

     Unfortunately, for some of you, those peanuts and the ragweed in the air only mean torture for you and your allergies.  Fall allergy season can be brutal on allergy sufferers.  A daily oral antihistamine is a good option for most people with fall allergy symptoms.  Those chronic allergy sufferers may need something in addition to a daily antihistamine.  A steroid nasal spray (there is now one over-the-counter) added with the daily oral antihistamine can often be just the ticket.

     Unfortunately, there is a lot of concern with much more serious health issues these days.  The Ebola virus and Enterovirus-D68 have been making headlines and have everyone concerned.  We want you to have the best information possible, so we've added great information sheets from the CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health to our website.  Go here to view those:

     Also, the CDC website and ADPH website have great information.

     Now that school is back in full swing, your kids are exposed to more and more.  Unfortunately, head lice has made a resurgence among school-age children.  It seems that head lice has become resistant to many of the over-the-counter products out there these days because people aren't following the directions properly.  Most cases will require a second treatment to kill any newly hatched lice from eggs that did not get removed with the first treatment.  It is important to follow instructions on packages or doctor's directions very closely.  Prevention is important.  Children need to be instructed not to share hats, scarves, hair brushes, or any other items that touch the head.  Also, they should avoid head-to-head contact with other children during play.  Also, when a person has become infected with lice, all bed linens, clothing, furniture, and brushes must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.  Learn more about treatment and prevention at: http://www.headlice.org/

     The end of October is always a fun time for kids and a stressful time for parents.  All the Fall Festival and Halloween activities are sure to keep the kids all hyped up.  Just make sure that you are diligent when it comes to inspecting any candy your child gets.  If it is opened or appears altered in any way -- THROW it away!  Any homemade treats should only be enjoyed if you are well acquainted with the person who made them and trust them implicitly.  Your kids' health is not worth risking politeness.  If your child has food allergies, make sure they know what they can and can not have.  The best policy is to tell them they can not have any treats until  you have looked at them first.  Remember costume safety is important, as well.  All those cute costumes may look nice, but if they aren't safe -- STAY AWAY.  

     Whatever fun things await you this fall, remember to be safe and stay healthy.

Sliding into Summer

     The way the weather has been in Pike County lately, some days feel like the middle of July, while others feel like we're back in February.  That sounds about right around here.  I think, however, that our summer-like days are soon to be more plentiful than not.  Spring has begun fading into those hot, humid dog days we are accustomed to from summer in Pike County.

    Fortunately, the pollen counts are dwindling, too.  Soon, all the beautiful flowers of spring will wither under the scorching June heat.  But that means, sunscreen is ESSENTIAL to heading outside for any length of time.  Only a few minutes in the summer heat can damage your skin.  More than just painfully red, sunburn indicates damage.  In addition to increasing the risk of skin cancer, unprotected sun exposure can increase aging, making skin appear "older" and more wrinkled AND contribute to dehydration.

Get the facts on sun exposure here:

Remember to protect children from the sun, especially.  Their sensitive skin is much more prone to damage if not protected.  Use sunscreen with at least SPF of 30 or greater and hats, shirts and/or cover-ups whenever possible.  And just because a sunscreen says waterproof does NOT mean it lasts all day!!  Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours while exposed to the sun, and directly after sweating a good deal or swimming.

Get more info on Skin Cancer Facts from the American Cancer Society here: 

     Summer can be a busy, crazy time, just like any time of year, but for me it gets a lot less hectic without going to and fro with my kids.  If you have young ones, you can probably relate.  So for me, summer is a great way to get back on that exercise plan I've been too busy to maintain throughout the school year.  While the weather outside is getting less conducive to outdoor recreation, it doesn't mean workouts are impossible.  The best times of day to go for a walk or run are the early morning or late evening hours.  With the sunlight lasting longer, there's an even greater chance to involve the whole family.  Get the kids out of the house after dinner and stroll around the neighborhood.  A brisk walk at least 3 times a week will make a HUGE difference for everyone in the family's health.  Eating healthier is easier, too.  Use the added daylight hours to grill.  The kids can play outside while you cook up the evening meal.  

     Vegetables are ever plentiful right now, so you can get them fresh and provide a variety of healthy options for you and your family.  Don't have your own garden?  Why not start one?  In addition to the exercise benefit from working in a garden -- the tasty rewards you get when it's harvest time are hard to beat.  It's not too late to get some plants in the ground now for a summer harvest.  Others need to wait to July or August for a Fall harvest, but that gives you plenty of time to prepare between now and then.  Check out this very handy information sheet from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0063/ANR-0063.pdf

     And don't worry -- even if you are like me and have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is -- there's hope for a fresh veggie summer.  Pike County has no shortage of vegetable growers who are happy to help you out!  Check out the Pioneer Farmer's Market behind First Methodist Church (the corner of Oak and Academy Street) for home-grown produce from folks you know right here in Pike County.  What a win - win that is -- supporting your local growers and getting a healthy meal for yourself and your family!

     Need some ideas on what to do with those fresh vegetables (and fruits) you have now?  No problem!  Here's a few recipes to try this summer!

For Starters:

     Try this fiesta-inspired salad with beans, corn, and avocado

Pinto, Black, and Red Bean Salad with Grilled Corn and Avocado

Put the veggies on center stage with this yummy dish:

Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomato Tian

Refresh yourself with a delicious and nutritious drink:

Blackberry Limeade

Finish it off with this yummy treat that even the kids can pitch in to help make:

Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt

     

Marching Towards Spring

     March is here!  That means spring is just around the corner.


     The most exciting thing about that, to me, is that the bitter cold weather of this past season is soon to be behind us.  The bad thing, if you're like me, is that soon all that springtime pollen will be floating around and that can do a number on allergy problems.  If you have allergy issues, the best solution is prevention.  Start those allergy medications early.  If you have mild to moderate symptoms, a daily over-the-counter oral antihistamine may work well for you.  If your symptoms tend to be more moderate to severe, you may need an inhaled nasal steroid spray with or without the oral antihistamine.   Your doctor or other healthcare provider can help you decide what medications will be best for you.  As with any medication, consistency is key.  You must take it daily to see the most benefit.  

     March is also a big month for National recognition months.  Here are just a few of the observations for March:

National Nutrition Month
 
     What a great way to kick of spring...getting healthy!  The most important component to ANY healthy lifestyle is proper nutrition!  Eating right is essential, but that's the point...eating.  You can not starve yourself healthy.  Can NOT!  The Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition's website provides a wealth of information on eating right.  They offer links to great reading materials to learn more; there are links to resources; and even games for kids to help them learn about proper eating.  Trust me -- it is NEVER too early to teach your kids the fundamentals of proper nutrition.  A child who makes healthy choices becomes an adult who makes healthy choices.  If we can hope to change the nation's obesity problem, we must start with the children so that they can effect change on generations to come.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

     Did you know that among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States?  Every year about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 50,000 die from it.  As shocking as that statistic may seem -- the even more shocking fact is that many of these deaths could have been prevented if only they were detected earlier.  Even though recommendations have encouraged more and more people over fifty years of age to get screened for colon cancers, there are still people not getting screens according to national guidelines.  Talk to your doctor about how you can be screened for problems.  Everyone over fifty should get screened.  If you have a family history of colorectal disease, you are at even greater risk and should not delay seeing your doctor for more information.  Go HERE for more info!
     Either of our general surgeons here at TRMC, Dr Rick Gill or Dr Tom Peurifoy are always available to schedule your colonoscopy.  Dr Gill's office can be reached at (334) 770-2222 and Dr Peurifoy's office can be reached at (334) 670-5568.  

Women's History Month

Irish - American Heritage Month (St Patrick's Day)

St Patrick's Day in Troy is usually celebrated in quite a fun way.  Stay tuned to our facebook page for updates on any fun events in the area!






     And this year: Mardi Gras falls on March 4, giving credit to March coming in like a lion, huh?

Happy Heart's Month!

     February is, of course, the time of year we celebrate love.  Valentine's Day is a big part of February, but it's also the time we set aside to remember heart health.  February is National Heart Month and that means it's the perfect opportunity to make sure your heart is healthy.

     Once thought to be a men's health issue, but we now know that heart disease is the number one killer in women.  In fact, the American Heart Association has a whole campaign devoted to women's heart health.  


   

Go Red for Women is a campaign the AHA launched in 2004 to create awareness and educate women about the deadly dangers facing their hearts if they didn't act to change.  Go Red is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle and education women on the risk factors and prevention techniques they need to reduce the rate of death by heart disease in our country.  This program has sparked an incredible response and engaged thousands of women to take charge of their lifestyle and become healthier and reduce their risk for heart disease.


Keep your heart healthy.  Following a heart-healthy diet and exercise program is your best prevention plan against heart disease.  The American Heart Association website is full of great information to help in your journey.

Also, stop by our Nuclear Medicine department for more information on the services we provide to help make sure your heart is healthy.

Here are a few tips from their Heart Month brochure to ensure a healthy, happy heart:

Tips for Managing Your Risk for Heart Disease at Any Age from American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women website Htto://www.goredforwomen.org In your 20’s: · know early numbers that impact your heart health (blood pressure, total cholesterol) · Check your family history · DON’T SMOKE and avoid second-hand smoke · Drink alcohol in moderation · Choose birth control carefully  (talk to your doctor about risks and benefits of all birth control methods) In your 30’s: · Tame Stress · Make time in the day for yourself · Choose birth control carefully In your 40’s: · Strive for more work/life balance and less stress · Make your wellbeing a priority · Get regular checkups In your 50 ‘s: · Monitor changes in your body and keep an open dialogue with your doctor · Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, body mass index) · Watch what you eat (low-fat, low-sodium, fiber-rich) · Get physical (If you aren’t already exercising, you should be getting at least 30 minutes a day in) In your 60’s and beyond: · Know your risk (maintain regular check-ups and stay informed) · Stay active