Saturday, December 10, 2016

Dr. Anderson Celebrates National Violin Day to raise Sickle Cell awareness


Photo Courtesy of the Delaware Music School

             Dr. Anderson Celebrates National Violin Day at the Delaware 87ers Basketball game this Tuesday, December 13th at the University of Delaware Bob Carpenter Center at 6:30pm to raise Sickle Cell Awareness.
Did You Know?  National Violin Day is celebrated annually on December 13th.   This holiday honors the bowed-string instrument which is also known by my beloved grandmother Lillie as the ‘fiddle’.  The violin is part of the string family which includes the viola, cello and bass and the highest pitched instrument of the family. 

I started out playing in Warner Elementary school when I was introduced to the violin through a robust arts and music programs.  Back then, taking up an instrument and active participation in the music and arts program was a required element as part of the student’s overall academic success.  A study at Northwestern University demonstrated that the exposure to music programs physically stimulated the brain and improved a child’s speech processing language skills.   Another benchmark study in Music City, Nashville Tennessee also confirms the biopsychosocial and academic benefits to students who are involved in music programs.  The results showed that students engaged in music programs outperformed their peers on every indicator-grade point average, graduation rate, school attendance and discipline and ACT scores.  In addition the above findings also found that students reported had a positive attitudes in their behavior, personal lives and in school.  Today, as public school budgets are being cut, crunched and stretched, the first programs to be considered for cuts are arts and music programs.  

Staying actively involved in the music community over the years has enriched my life tremendously.  This includes playing a variety of music genres that includes classical, baroque, folk, country, jazz and stretching to hip-hop has which has also expanded my appreciation of the cultural impact of the arts in our daily lives.  In the words of social justice advocate and folk singer Peter Seeger, “my job is to show folks there’s a lot of good music in this world, and if used the right it may help save the planet.”    Music has the power to unite people together who have an interest for a particular cause through song which can result in positive change.  It is also invaluable tool for education, mobilization, social cohesion.



The opportunity to play at an 87ers basketball game center stage to raise Sickle Cell Awareness brings  this cause for accessible high quality holistic comprehensive compassionate care to the forefront.

Join Dr. Nina Anderson as she plays the National Anthem on the violin on December 13 to support TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Center at the Bob Carpenter Center at 6:30 pm for pre-game ceremonies. 



Dr. Nina Anderson is a founding member of the Umoja Strings, Executive Director of TOVA Community Health Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center and an Affiliated Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware.  Portion of ticket proceeds benefit the TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center.  To purchase tickets go to www.sevens.com/promo (Type in Promo Code:  TOVA)    #NationalViolinDay.   

                                                                   TOVA Community Health

                                                                Sickle Cell Specialty Center
                                                                          Wilmington, DE
                                                               www.tovacommunityhealth.org

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Join TOVA at Bowlerama for a Holiday Bowling Fundraiser

TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Center
601 New Castle Ave
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 655-6187 ext. 500
www.tovacommunityhealth.org

Dr. Anderson gets tested for Sickle Cell Trait at UD's Health Disparities class

    

                                                   Dr. Anderson's lecturing at Dr. Cooper's Health Disparity class

                                                                University of Delaware-Home of the Blue Hens       

        Dr. Cooper who is a University of Delaware Professor in Biology asked me to Guest Lecture in the University of Delaware's Health Disparities class.  I spoke openly and honestly about the perils of providing Holistic Comprehensive Compassionate adult care to people living with Sickle Cell Disease and the historic political perspective of race and Health Disparities.  The class seemed to enjoy the lively dialogue and also offered a perspective of a patient of mine who shared her personal experiences.       
   Although I was told that I did not have the Sickle Cell Trait as a child, I took it upon myself to get tested.  I also tested out a new investigational rapid point of care sickle cell trait test called,
 SickleScan.   BioMedomics is a point-of-care diagnostics company that aims to provide novel, rapid point-of-care tests to aid in the diagnosis of critical diseases. Find out more about this product at, www.biomedomics.com 

                              What is your Trait Status?
          
This person screen positive for the Sickle Cell Trait-Can you see the Lines?

                                                                         
                                                      All the best,  Dr. Nina Anderson
TOVA Community Health
Sickle Cell Specialty Center
Wilmington, DE
www.tovacommunityhealth.org
(302) 655-6187 ext. 500-phone
(302) 655-6606-fax

Sunday, December 4, 2016

How is your Spiritual Health?


www.healthholisticliving.com
      Some people are skeptical that religion or belief in a higher being can have any influence on a person’s health and well-being. Some studies have shown a connection between Spirituality and Health. According to FamilyDoctor.org, positive beliefs, comfort, and strength gained from religion, meditation, and prayer can contribute to healing and a sense of well-being. Having good Spiritual Health might not cure your physical health problems but it might help you handle the stress and underlying psychological problems that come with a chronic illness.

   So, what is Spirituality and Health? It’s a broad concept with different meanings for different people. In general, it’s a connection to something bigger than ourselves to keep one in balance and in harmony in their daily life. From the beginning of mankind, there has been a history of turning to a higher power for a person’s overall well-being.

   The University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing gives several reasons why spirituality is important for health. They note reflective practices are important because they take the focus off of self and place it elsewhere. This is helpful for mental health and accompanying physical health. The Center lists meditation, prayer, yoga, and journaling as helpful.  No matter your specific religion or faith, most of us believe in a higher power to which we can turn in times of stress and illness. However, spirituality may help to improve your physical health. If in fact, it can help a sick person feel better, then it is a good thing.

                                                            Donna Monroe, MS
                                              TOVA Community Health
                                                       Sickle Cell Specialty Center
                                                               Wilmington, DE
                                                      www.tovacommunityhealth.or
                                                           (302) 655-6187 ext. 500
                                      Holistic    Comprehensive   Compassionate Care

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Is Addiction a Disease?

zmescience.com

    Addiction is typically not viewed as a disease amongst many, but rather, is associated with a personal choice that may lead to a risky lifestyle. Using drugs is usually a person’s choice, but continued used can lead to brain changes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” Like other chronic conditions like Diabetes, Heart Disease, Sickle Cell Disease and etc., addiction is defined as a chronic health condition because it is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental, genetic and biologic factors (National Institute of Drug Abuse).
    Addiction involves changes in how the brain functions when the body craves pleasure chemicals like Dopamine. Most addictive substances cause an elevated level of these chemicals to be released when exposed to a pleasurable stimulus. Ultimately, continued exposure to a substance will alter the brain’s nervous system that controls reward, memory and motivation. Overtime, people may neglect their own health and well-being and loose interest in daily life activities, craving the substance to feel in balance.
     Once the brain’s nervous system is altered, there will be a loss of control of one’s behavior resulting in physical signs of addiction such as shaking, rebound pain, irritability, nausea and vomiting. Other experts argue that people with mild substance abuse have the potential to willingly quit such use and recover without treatment. However, people with more severe addiction can require intense treatment and lifelong support from family and friends. Ultimately, a person suffering with addiction is responsible for seeking treatment and maintaining recovery. Addiction may not be a choice, but a chemical imbalance resulting in how the brain’s nervous system and other body systems function. But there is hope….Recovery from addiction is best achieved through a combination of self-management, mutual support, and professional care provided by trained and certified professionals. For more information go to, www.drugabuse.gov. Choose Wisely.
                                                           
                                                               Paris Davis, BA
                                              TOVA Community Health
                                                        Sickle Cell Specialty Center
                                                   www.tovacommunityhealth.org
                                                        (302) 655-6187 ext. 500