Healthy Diet Month

How to get rid of those extra holiday pounds...

Tired of lugging all that excess weight gained over the holidays? So is Pam Emke, a family nurse practicioner at Kneibert Clinic. Emke has come up with her own sensible way to rid herself of the extra 10 pounds gained over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

"You want to maintain as close as possible a low fat and low cholesteral diet and do some form of exercise every day," Emke says.

"Watch the amount you eat with each meal - three meals a day, sensible portion," she says. And most importantly, "Don't go back for seconds!"

"Exercise is important. If you can't walk outside, find a place indoors, Wal-Mart,the Black River Coliseum or work out at the PARC," she adds.

Emke says she has entered a water aerobics class at the Black River Coliseum that she plans to attend three evenings a week. "That's exercising the painless way," she says.

An article in the January 2001 edition of Prevention magazine suggests preparing your favorite foods with fewer calories to lose weight.

Here are some ways to save on calories:

• Buy lean portions of beef and on occasion subsitute tuna for beef
• Opt for grilled chicken over fried chicken at burger places
• Buy healthy convenience foods such as reduced-fat hot dogs, low-fat frozen dinners, or stir-fry meals
• Choose healthier junk foods, such as a burrito instead of a hot dog, or toasted pita crips and hummus instead of chips and dip.

Online Resources:

ediets.com - Get the latest health and diet related news and information from eDiets.com. Read articles on health, nutrition, and fitness written by leading health experts.

Just What Is a Healthy Diet? - "The Healthy Diet For a healthy diet you need to eat a wide variety of foods in moderate-sized portions that give your body the nutrients and energy it needs. You also need to limit foods in your diet that can be harmful to your body. ..." NBCi.com HealthGate

Making Resolutions Stick in 2001: Small Changes Can Make Big Differences - WebMD

Events in Health Care:
(Source: Missouri Hospital Association's 2001 Promotional Calendar)

January 2001

January 1-31, Fat Free Living Month. Healthy living is achievable. Try for at least one month to reduce the fat in your diet. Fat Free Living Inc. is devoted to helping others "take the fat out" in the hope of preventing many of the diseases associated with high-fat cholesterol diets. The first month of the New Year is the perfect time to change your life.fatfreeliving.com.

January 1-31, January Diet Month. This is designed to promote the importance of getting back on a healthy eating plan after the winter holidays and is held annually during January. For more information, see: The Popcorn Board, popcorn.org.

January 1-31, March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month. During the month of January, the March of Dimes makes a special effort to increase the public’s understanding of the causes and prevention of birth defects, the leading cause of infant mortality. Publicizing its research, conducting educational campaigns and targeting advocacy all are part of the month’s activities. For information on how to promote Birth Defects Prevention Month, see: modimes.org.

January 1-31, National Bath Safety Month. The goal is to raise awareness of the potential hazards that exist and to encourage people to conduct a bathroom safety audit. For more information, see: homecareamerica.com.

January 1-31, National Eye Care Month. Early detection of serious eye disease can save your vision. In January, ophthalmologists around the country urge everyone to know their risk factors for eye disease and to have eye exams at regular intervals. For more information on eye disease, risk factors, prevention and treatment, see eyenet.org. 

January 1-31, National Glaucoma Awareness Month. More than 2 million people suffer from glaucoma. Nearly half do not know they have the disease because it causes no early symptoms. Prevent Blindness America, preventblindness.org.

January 1-31, National Thyroid Awareness Month. Each January, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists kicks off a yearlong educational effort about thyroid disease. This initiative is designed to educate both consumers and patients about the important role of the thyroid gland. Materials are available upon request. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, aace.com.

January 1-31, National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. This month honors regular blood donors and encourages others to become blood donors. American Association of Blood Banks, aabb.org.

January 21-17, National Nurse Anesthetists Week. This week provides recognition for the nation’s 27,000 certified registered nurse anesthetists who administer more than 65 percent of the anesthesia in the United States each year. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, aana.com.; Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists, moana.org

Archive:

January 2001 HealthWeb - Healthy Diet Month, Express Flu Shots Available Now, Glaucoma Awareness Month

December 2000 HealthWeb - Colorectal Cancer, Arthritis Update

November 2000 HealthWeb - Information and links on Diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease and Lung Cancer

October 2000 HealthWeb - Mammography Day, Flu Vaccines, Save Your Back

September 2000 HealthWeb - Healthy Aging, Sickle Cell Disease, Eeek! Head Off Head Lice

Flu Shots Available

Vaccinations Quick, Easy

Flu shots are now available for all at Kneibert Clinic. An express service allows patients to get a flu shot quickly without an appointment.

This year's influenza vaccine had been in short supply earlier this winter. Shots were being made available only to those most in need, such as elderly and at-risk patients. There is no longer a shortage, and vaccines are available for all who want them, says Rick Wilson, chief pharmacist at Kneibert Clinic.

To get a flu shot, come to second floor registration and you will be directed to our flu shot clinic.

Flu shots are just $14 and take only a few minutes.

Related Resources:

Influenza Prevention and Control - Centers for Disease Control vaccine and antiviral information, current influenza surveillance

MayoClinic.com - Colds and Flu - What To Do If You've Got Asthma

Glaucoma Awareness

Silent Eye Disease Can Cause Blindness

Glaucoma is an eye disease, and if left untreated it can cause blindness. It often has no symptoms, so regular eye exams are important.

If you have glaucoma, fluid around the eye doesn't flow normally and pressure builds up inside your eye and can damage your sight.

"Most of the time there aren't any symptoms," says Brad Stuckenschneider, M.D. at Kneibert Clinic.

On occasion glaucoma can result from an associated eye condition or trauma. Occasionally there is blurred vision or halos around lights. In most instances, people don't have any symptoms until very late in the disease.

"Damage is permanent," he says. " If caught too late, nothing can be done to reverse it. Treatment can be done to halt any further progression of vision loss.

"Early detection is most important. If caught and treated early, most people can preserve their eyesight."

Stuckenschneider says in 85 to 90 percent of the cases of glaucoma he treats, the glaucoma is controlled with eye drops, 7 percent require laser treatment and 3 percent require glaucoma filtration surgery.

"We do the surgery at the hospital," he says.

"I think most studies show between three and five percent of the population have glaucoma. The number goes up with age," Dr. Stuckenschneider says.

"I recommend after age 50 people have eye exams every couple of years and after age 60, every year," he says.

Online Resources:

glaucoma.org - Glaucoma Research Foundation

Glaucoma Awareness Month - National Eye Institute