Say What?!: Helpful tips for Healthy Ears.

As we age our ears age as well. We may find it difficult to hear others during conversational speech, or we may notice that we have to turn the TV volume up a few notches than normal. Small signs like these may indicate experience of a hearing loss. Hearing loss due to aging, also known as Presbycusis is very common among adults age 65 and older. Because Presbycusis affects both ears gradually, most people do not realize that they've lost some hearing until they get a hearing test--or until a family member complains about having to repeat everything to them. Although somewhat inevitable, there are easy ways to help prevent significant hearing loss so that it does not affect one's quality of life. Here are some useful prevention tips:

1.) EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE !-I know I know, you've heard this one before. But who would of thought that your physical activity would have an effect on your hearing. Well it  does! According to a study by Dr. Sharon Curhan, MD "women who walked two hours per week had a 15 percent lower risk of hearing loss than those who walked less than one hour per week." As we know, regular exercise keeps the pounds down which helps maintain a healthy body weight. Dr. Curhan believes that the
relationship between a healthy weight and hearing is due to the cochlea's (important structure of the ear that he) dependence on blood supply, which can be affected by weight.


2.) QUIT THE HABIT-Put down the cigarettes for good! And for those of you curious about them don't start the bad habit. Along with lung disease and other respiratory issues, cigarette smoking can also affect your hearing. According to a study by the University of Manchester in England, smokers have a 15% greater risk of hearing loss compared to non-smokers. Even those who smoked on occasion had a higher risk. This study also showed that those smokers who quit smoking reduced their risk of hearing loss and going deaf.

3.) TURN DOWN THE NOISE-It's important to avoid everyday loud noises. Professionals suggest carrying foam earplugs at all times. It's also important not to blast your iPod or MP3 player. Most of these devices can reach 110dB in noise level, which can cause permanent damage to your hearing. When using headphones, we tend to crank the noise level to cancel out external sound. So next time you want to jam to your favorite song, invest in noise cancelling earplugs or headphones that are structured to block out external noise for you.

These are just a handful of helpful tips to keep your ears happy and healthy. Regular hearing tests conducted by your Audiologist are also helpful when caring for your ears.


-Natasha Gaston

Palliative Care: What's That?

  Palliative Care is comfort care designed for persons who have a serious or life-threatening

disease. Palliative care focuses on communication, timely access to care, intense symptom control, flexibility with interventions, high quality of life, and the patient’s wishes.

Patients can begin to receive palliative care from the time of diagnosis or from a few months before their passing. This type of care focuses on symptom control, comfort, and pain control to keep one

functional rather than trying to cure the disease. This type of care seems to fit well with patients who have Sickle Cell Disease Anemia and it may be an important option to consider for yourself or your

children. Palliative Care can be available in many places including hospitals, outpatient clinics,    long-term care facilities, hospices, or even in the patient's home.

    Palliative care includes medications, massage, therapy, relaxation techniques, music therapy,

acupuncture, aromatherapy, energy restoration, dietary changes, emotional/spiritual support and guidance. It also includes refusing some treatments because they will not improve the person’s overall quality of life.

    Speaking with a patient who has Sickle Cell and Avascular Necrosis of both hips (bone rubbing on bone), palliative care seems like a smart option. This patient takes only two pain medications, exercises by walking everyday, and uses deep tissue massage to get some relief. He is also faced with the option to have hip replacement surgery done but refused because it would not improve his quality of his life at this point. Take the time to research your own options….palliative care may be the right option for you or your loved one’s specific medical needs! Mr. Carl Webster is a member of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and he can be reached at, carl211@msn.com.

                                                    Is Palliative Care an Option for You?
                                       

                                 Gina Marchesiello, University of Delaware Nursing Student & Mr. Carl Webster

Farmers Markets are Booming in Delaware

Farmers Markets are Booming in Delaware! After leaving work on Fridays, I head to the famers market to buy fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and seafood. Open markets have wall to wall vendors and serve swarms of people who wait in line to buy from local businesses which support our local economy. Take a ticket and wait patiently for someone to shout out your number to personally serve you. What you get is, access to high quality food and the most fresh seasonally grown produce. Although, buying meats and produce grown without pesticides, chemicals and hormones may be more costly, to me it is worth the extra expense. Secretary of Agriculture., Ed Kee states, "Over the last few years, we have seen an incredible rise in people wanting to eat healthy and buy fresh, local foods for themselves and their children (News Journal)." Delaware has the 13th highest obesity rate in the country with over a 31.1% adult obesity rate (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). Recently, there has been a push to get farmers’ markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The policy has seen a positive response with the total value of SNAP redemptions at farmers’ markets and food stands reaching an all-time-high. Today there are more farmer's markets accepting Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards around the country. This program would benefit working families and allow them to make healthier choices buy purchasing high quality foods. For more information on famers markets near you, go to www.tovacaresblogspot.com.

                               What tips can you share for staying Healthy during the summer months?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the Ashes: Where a Seed Finds Life

   Do not miss a powerful story about a father who was incarcerated fights to re-connect with his son when he was released after serving a long-sentence in prison.  Coley & Ahmarr's story is told through their Artistic Healing Presentation of Out of the Ashes: Where A Seed Finds Life!

Out of the Ashes: Where a Seed Finds Life
Patty Harris - 302-507-4623
Event Coordinator: Booking Agent: Promoter

www.artistichealing.eventbrite.com

 

All the best,

Dr. Nina

Does Healthcare Have a Diversity Problem?

Does Healthcare Have a Diversity Problem?

High Altitude may expose risk to student with Sickle Cell traveling abroad to Cusco Peru

   A young man with Sickle Cell Disease-SC type was awarded funding to study abroad for the summer in Cusco Peru.  I received a letter from the program director that the location where the student was staying in Cusco Peru was situated 10,000 feet above sea level. Being that he has experienced problems with his Spleen in the past, I cautioned against this trip.  He was so upset with me that there was a possibility he could have sickle cell complications from his trip and travel.  It is unknown if the young man will have access to supplemental oxygen, a local hospital or clinic that could provide IV hydration, pain management and transport if needed.  I am also unsure of how many hematologists are in Peru take care of persons with sickle cell. 

   Would you as a parent want your child (this young man) taking a study abroad experience to Cusco Peru?

         Risk of Altitude Exposure in Sickle Cell Disease

 

SUSAN CLASTER, MD, Boston, MUKULLA J. GODWIN, RN, and STEPHEN H. EMBURY, MD, San Francisco

The risk of altitude-induced hypoxemia causing

painful crisis was determined 

in a group of 45 predominantly adult patients with sickle cell disease. The

patients were divided into two groups: those with hemoglobin (Hb) SS and
those with Hb SC or Hb S /3-thalassemia. Altitude exposures were divided into
airplane travel and mountain visits, and the latter subdivided into stays at 4,400 or 6,320 ft. The average risk of crisis was higher for both groups while in the mountains (37.9 percent and 56.6 percent, respectively) than it was during airplane travel (10.8 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively). The latter group had more splenic crises than the former group and also had a greater risk at 6,320 ft (65.9 percent) than at 4,400 ft (20.0 percent). Patients with sickle cell disease are at high risk of crisis in the mountains, and we advise those with intact spleens to breathe supplemental oxygen during air travel.,
November 1981 (135)-Western Journal of Medicine.

Cusco, Peru

Conozca su Estatus en Referencia a los Rasgos la Anemia Celulas Falciformes

Know Your Sickle Cell Trait Status

Conozca su Estatus en Referencia a los Rasgos la Anemia Celulas Falciformes

Did You Know,

1 in 100 Hispanics carry the Sickle Cell Trait and can pass

on Sickle Cell Disease to their Children.  The fastest growing ethnic group of people living with Sickle Cell Disease in the U.S. are Hispanics.

I want to thank Olga Matias, MSW (Medical Social Worker) for helping TOVA translate the Sickle Cell Trait pamphlet into Spanish.  Olga has a Global Health background and has worked in Puerto Rico serving  the adult Sickle Cell population. 

All the best, Dr. Anderson