HealtHMay

3, 2

011 The examiner

• NUTRITION 9 • WELLNESS 2-10 • CALENDAR 11-12• LARRY JONES Free

asthma advice | Page 3

HEALTH HELPWhen home care should become a consideration – Page 4

• DR. JEFF HERSHChicken pox and pregnancy | Page 7

Page 2 Tuesday, May 3, 2011 wellness

816-561-30032790 Clay Edwards Dr., Ste 600

North Kansas City, Missouri 64116

816-303-240019550 E. 39th Street, Ste. 410Independence, Missouri 64057

Back Row (L-R):Ernest Neighbor, MD

Knees & Hips Trauma, Total Joint Replacement

Alexandra Strong, MDSports Medicine, Knees, Shoulders

Paul Nassab, MDSubspecialty Hand, Upper Extremity,

Shoulder & ElbowRaymond Rizzi, DPM

Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Surgery Christopher Wise, MD

Subspecialty Trauma, Acetabular Hip Fracture

Seated (L-R):Craig Satterlee, MD

Subspecialty ShoulderRobert M. Drisko, II, MD

Subspecialty Spine,Total Joint Replacement

Not Shown:Ann Lee, MD

Physical Medicine & Rehab

Quality Orthopedic Care ProvidersThe Jackson County Public Works/Environmental

Health Division conducts inspections anywhere food is handled, prepared and served to the public for cities other than Independence.

Blue Springs■ Kentucky Fried Chicken, 211 S. Missouri 7

– On April 18, inspectors found mashed potatoes, corn and gravy in the prep area steam table were 101-124 degrees. This steam table was unplugged. Since these food items had been in this location for less than an hour, they were reheated to 165 degrees and placed on the steam table once heated.

■ Northern Lights Pizza, 1221 S.W. Missouri 7 – On April 18, a number of ready-to-eat potentially hazardous foods in the reach-in cooler were not date marked; corrected.

■ Trouser Mouse, 625 B Mock – On April 20, raw chicken was found above vegetables in the walk-in cooler; corrected.

■ Linq Food Mart, 1501 S. Missouri 7 – On April 20, bags of pasta and drink powder were found stored right next to cleaning chemicals on store shelf; corrected.

■ La Quinta, 3402 N.W. Jefferson – On April 21, inspectors observed utensils and food contact sur-faces were washed, rinsed and put on a cart to air dry with no sanitization step. Establishment has only one functional drain plug and couldn’t properly set up the three compartment sink.

Buckner■ Shell Foodmart, 10 S. Central – On April 18, 

several mouse droppings were observed in the cabinet under the soda fountain, behind the white reach-in freezer across from the pizza oven, on the floor in the kitchen back room, and on a shelf holding cans and jars of food in the kitchen back room.

Grain Valley■ Long Shots, 112 E. AA Hwy. – On April 21, 

mouse droppings were observed on the bottom shelf in the dry storage area, on top of the reach-in refrig-erator under the pizza oven and under the north end of the bar.

Lake Lotawana■ The Lake House Pub, 27909 E. Colbern

Road – On April 22, an ash tray and cigarettes were observed on a shelf next to food in the kitchen, and a bottle of soda was observed in the ice container behind the bar; corrected.

Lee’s Summit■ Mr Goodcents Subs & Pasta, 1321 N.E.

Douglas – On April 18, condensation was observed dripping on unpackaged ham in the meat display cool-er. The ham was discarded and all other foods close to the drip were moved to another cooler.

■ Prairie View Elementary, 501 S.E. Todd George Road – On April 18, inspectors found the reach-in cooler holding cheese and cookie dough was 54 degrees, and American cheese was 44 degrees. All potentially hazardous food was moved to another refrigerator.

Lone Jack■ China King, 105 E. Battlefield – On April 19, 

inspectors found MSG stored in a bucket that previ-ously held dish detergent, as indicated by the labeling on the bucket; discarded.

Oak Grove■ Oak Grove 70 Truck Stop-Blimpie’s, 301 S.W.

First St. – On April 21, a personal beverage container was found without a lid or straw on the clean equip-ment storage shelf; corrected.

■ Oak Grove Senior Center, 1901 Broadway – On April 21, no sanitizer was detected in the dish machine final rinse (0 ppm available chlorine).

Raytown■ Subway, 10300 E. Missouri 350 – On April 

21, inspectors found the sanitizer was not the correct strength in the wiping cloth bucket; corrected to 300 ppm during inspection.

■ Taco Bell/LJS, 9021 E. Missouri 350 – On April 21, employee in the drive through was observed putting on chap stick, then making drinks for customers without washing hands. Corrected by discussion.

– Jillayne Ritchie

Food safety inspections l Jackson County

Food safety inspections l Independence

The City of Independence Environmental Health Division conducts inspections anywhere food is handled, prepared and served to the public within city limits. Critical violations must be handled within 72 hours.

■ Old Mexico Restaurant, 1032 E. 23rd St. – On April 18, inspectors found raw steak stored above a container of uncovered butter and raw vegetables; items were discarded.

■ Charley’s Grilled Subs, 18813 E. 39th St. – On April 18, the back hand-washing sink soap dis-penser was empty; corrected.

■ Great American Cookies, 18813 E. 39th St. – On April 18, inspectors found the back hand sink portable soap dispenser was empty; corrected.

■ Taco Bell, 105 Independence Center Drive – On April 18, inspectors observed the inspection was not posted and they could not produce the previous inspection; corrected.

■ Wing Lee Chinese Restaurant, 910 Ather-ton Road – On April 19, inspectors found the meat on the cook’s line was 50 degrees, discarded. Dipper 

well was not turned on, this can create bacteria in the water where the scoop is held, corrected. Duct tape was found on the hand sink handle in the bathroom, replace with appropriate washable handle. Facility was operating without paper towels, so the facility was temporarily shut down so paper towels could be obtained and proper hand washing could be per-formed.

■ Benny’s Bar B-Q LLC, 10839 E. U.S. 40 – On April 25, inspectors observed a manager eating french fries directly from fry basket in kitchen. Eating is not allowed in the kitchen or dish wash areas as the hand to mouth contact can spread disease. An employee was observed drying hands on a cloth towel; use single use paper towels. Paper towel dispenser in the kitchen was empty. No manager was on duty upon arrival; a manager with an Independence Food Manager card must be on duty at all times.

■ Fazoli’s, 19008 E. 39th St. – On April 26, inspectors could see daylight at the top and bottom of the back door. Manager is in process of ordering a new door, will recheck May 26.

– Jillayne Ritchie

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Page 3wellness

When you think of asthma, do you think of someone who wheezes and carries an inhaler with them? Should children or adults with asthma avoid exercise? These are some of the things people think about when they hear they or their child has asthma.

More than 20 million people in the United States have asthma and deal with these issues daily. This health problem is the reason for almost half a million hospitalizations each year and can affect any person regardless of race, age or gender. The treatment for asthma symptoms costs Americans billions of dollars each year.

Young children and infant asthma sufferers can be challenging as they often cannot com-

municate fully when needing help. They may cry or be fussy before they show any symptoms

like wheezing or shortness of breath. Wheez-ing and shortness of breath are later signs that their small airways are tightening.

If you have a young child with asthma and find you are spending much time and energy taking them to the doctor or the emergency room, take heart.

The Independence Health Department has staff trained in asthma education who can meet with you and your child one-on-one for consultation regarding your child’s asthma. The consultation is free and includes a packet with information developed by the Southeast Missouri State University Center for Environ-mental Analysis and University of Missouri School of Medicine Asthma Ready Program.

In the packet is a DVD about asthma and the young child. This DVD is for you to keep and review.

During the consult, the nursing staff will take time to talk with you about all the aspects of your child’s asthma such as triggers, warn-ing signs, environment and medications. This consult is not meant to replace your doctor’s instructions but to enhance them and make you more confident in dealing with your child’s asthma.

If you feel like you need just a little extra help in your child’s asthma control, call us at 816-325-7185 to schedule a free consult. Staff is here to help you and your family lead a healthy and active life.

Larry Jones is director of the Indepen-dence Health Department.

Larry Jones

Asthma consultation can benefit kids, parents

“Please excuse me, I gotta go – again!”Overactive bladder can wreak havoc on

daily activities. I have a patient who says, “I know the location of every restroom in Inde-pendence!” Studies show that men and women with urinary problems are generally embar-rassed about their symptoms and typically suffer more than two years before discussing it with their physicians. What do you know about overactive bladder?

True or false1. Nighttime urination is normal. 2. About 5 percent of men have overactive

bladder. 3. Surgery is usually recommended for

overactive bladder. Overactive bladder can affect young and

old. It is estimated that 20 percent over the age of 70 experience OAB, but many women begin experiencing symptoms in their 20s and 30s. Women have higher rates of overactive bladder than men at all ages. Race is not a risk factor. The symptoms of overactive bladder include urinary frequency, strong urge to urinate, urinating at night and sometimes leakage of urine. Symptoms are often dismissed as a nor-mal part of aging, but overactive bladder is not a normal condition at any age.

The normal bladder will signal the need to void after holding about 1 to 1-1/4 cups of urine. Can’t find a toilet? You can control the urge to void until the bladder fills to around 2-1/2 cups, at which time you will be desper-ate for a toilet. Overactive bladder is a conse-

quence of abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the urinary bladder, the reser-voir for urine.

When there is random, uncontrolled con-traction of bladder muscles, there is strong urge to urinate, regardless of the amount of urine. “Didn’t I just go?” Typically patients feel a strong urge to use the toilet only to discover that they void a small amount.

This pattern may be repeated several times during the day and also at night, disrupting restful sleep.

Diagnosing overactive bladder is rather straightforward. It involves comprehensive review of medical history and symptoms fol-lowed by examination. Pelvic examination for women and prostate examination for men pro-vide additional information. Imaging studies are often not necessary.

The general approach to treating overactive bladder falls into three broad categories: medi-cations, bladder training and surgery. Medi-cations target hyperactive bladder muscles, essentially calming them and decreasing the sensation or urge to urinate. These medica-tions are generally well-tolerated and can have an enormously positive influence on daily life. Some common side effects include dry mouth, dry eyes and constipation. Most often, patients prefer these inconveniences over those related to frequent urination.

Bladder training basically involves pur-posefully increasing the time interval between voiding and retraining the muscles to be more relaxed. Surgery is rarely indicated, unless there is an anatomic cause for the overactive bladder symptoms.

Lifestyle changes can help to control symp-toms. Limiting caffeine and fluids can reduce urinary frequency. A large abdomen compress-ing on the bladder reduces capacity, leading to more frequent urination. Obesity is a risk factor for overactive bladder and even modest amounts of weight loss can be beneficial.

Outdoor life, including walks in parks, cycling, fishing and golf, can be more fully enjoyed when overactive bladder is controlled. Social activities with friends are more appeal-ing when one doesn’t have to worry about quick exits to a restroom. The American Uro-logical Association has more information at www.urologyhealth.org. It’s not embarrassing. It’s just waterworks.

Answers: 1. F 2. T 3. F

Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill can be contacted at lori.boyajian-oneill@hcahealthcare.com.

Lori

Boyajian

O'Neill

SPORTS AND WELLNESS

Overactive bladder not normal at any age

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Briefly l Local

New location for Hackleman Chiropractic in Blue Springs

Hackleman Chiropractic has opened a new location inside of Club 7 Fitness in Blue Springs. Clinic owner Dr. Andy Minor, D.C., has been honored with Integrity Management’s prestigious Five Star Qual-ity Service Award.

The Service Award was developed by Integrity Management as a means of pro-moting and publicizing superior chiroprac-tic clinics that excel in patient treatment, customer service and professionalism. Clinics must go through an extensive exam-ination and are graded on things such as punctuality, patient communication, equip-ment, the quality of services provided and patient satisfaction in order to even qualify for the award. This award was established to provide a uniform grading system that rates quality in chiropractic clinics across the country.

When you visit one of Hackleman’s location, you’ll be seeing Dr. Minor, Dr. Nichole Hilt or Dr. Cary Minor. For more information, visit www.hacklemanchiro-practic.com.

– Jillayne Ritchie

Page 4 Tuesday, May 3, 2011cover

Has it been a while since your teeth have been cleaned?

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Basic Dental Cleaning $79Valued at $174 (Savings of $95)

Dental Centers of MissouriDr. Dianne Caprio DDS

16641 E. 23rd St. • Independence, MO 64055816.833.2700 • www.modentistry.com

LET US HELP.

816-373-7900The ScoTTSdale cenTer17020 e. 40 hwy., SuiTe 9independence, Mo 64055

www.JacksonCountyAudiology.com

Please call TODAY for your appointment!

May is NationalBetter Hearing Month

Take This Simple Test- Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?- Do you feel you can hear people but some times can’t understand them?- Are you missing key words while having conversation in a crowded restaurant or at a family gathering?- Does your spouse/family think the TV volume is too loud?- Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?

If you answeredyes to anyof these

questions,call us

TODAY!

By Dr. Robert Schreiber and Pat Kelleher GateHouse News Service

B y 2030, nearly 72 million people in the U.S. will be 65 or older. And we’re living

longer: A recent report by the Cen-ters for Disease Control charted U.S. life expectancy in excess of 78 years, the highest it’s ever been.

Additionally, chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s are affecting more people. Currently, about 8 million Americans require some kind of medical care in the home, a number that will jump dra-matically as people live longer, want to stay at home avoiding nursing homes or other living arrangements, and pressure mounts to control soar-ing health-care costs.

If you’ve thought of home care for yourself or a loved one, here are some things to consider.

• StaRt by obSeRving. Sometimes people don’t realize that their parents or elderly family members can’t do the things they once did. Look for warning signs. Is Mom or Dad having memory or vision problems, trouble walking or is taking many medications? Is the person having difficulty with the normal activities of daily life? If the answer to any of those is yes, it may be time to proceed.

• SPeak uP. When you’ve identified the need for help, let someone know. Talk to the individual’s physician about your concerns. Many referrals to home-care services first come from geriatricians or primary-care doctors.

• identiFy what you’ll need. Home health care services are more com-plex and numerous than before. Will you need skilled assistance such as nursing or physical therapy? Help with meals and hygiene? Or just housekeeping activities? This is a critical step, as it determines not only what kinds of care the individual needs but also the cost of care.

• ConSult an exPeRt. You needn’t face these decisions alone. Professional home care agencies can assess needs, iden-tify resources and develop care plans for a person’s specific situation.

• allow CaRe FoR the CaRegiveR. Most home care – up to 80 percent by

some estimates – is provided by family members, juggling work with the care of their own families and that of their par-ents or other family members. Caregiv-ers often become burned out and don’t realize it. If the primary caregiver gets sick and there’s no back-up plan, the system of care collapses. One of the key things to remember about home care is that it’s not only taking care of the pa-tient, it’s taking care of the caregiver.

• a team eFFoRt iS beSt. To do the best job for the patient, everyone involved must play key roles. It takes a team ap-proach, with health professionals, home-care aides, the family and the patient, so when something goes wrong, everyone can be alerted.

• oveRSee and advoCate. Family members must remember to oversee the care that’s given and to advocate for the patient. You want your family member to get the right care, and that comes from constant oversight and advocacy. If you see something you don’t think is right, speak up and get it corrected.

Robert Schreiber, M.D., is a geriatri-cian and physician-in-chief of Hebrew Senior Life in Boston; Pat Kelleher is ex-ecutive director of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. Email comments to PhysicianFocus@mms.org.

Is it time to consider home health care? What to know

HELPAT HOME

Hope Network holds 5K run, family fitness walkSubmitted to THE EXAMINER

Children living in food insecure homes, a mother and child sleeping on the floor, hot meals for hungry families – these are just a few of the needs in the community. Hope Network’s mission is to reach out, meet needs and change lives by providing for those in need of food, clothing, shelter and medical care.

In 2010, Hope Network provided $505,000 worth of community services to those in need. By taking that first step in the 5K Run for Hope and Family Fitness Walk, you will help provide hope to those feeling hopeless.

This years 5K Run For Hope is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at First

Baptist Raytown, 10500 E 350 Highway, Ray-town. You may register online at www.hopefor-raytown.com or obtain a registration brochure from several area businesses, including Hy-Vee in Raytown and Independence (Noland Road location), Dick’s Sporting Goods in Lee’s Sum-mit, Advanced Eyecare, Rick’s Auto Clinic, Starbuck’s (Summit Woods Crossing location), Smith Bros. Hardware, SERC (South Raytown location), HMH AutoSports and the Hope Net-work offices, 10500 East 350 Highway, Raytown, MO 64138.

Same day registration will begin at 8 a.m. on race day. The $30 entry fee for runners and walkers includes a race T-shirt, certified/accu-rate marked course, and electronic timing/

results. Race awards will be given in several categories for the 5K run.

New to the 5K Run for Hope & Family Fit-ness Walk will be a vendor area where race participants will be able to cool down with ven-dor refreshments and pick up vendor samples and information while awaiting race times.

If you just cannot make it this year but want to support Hope Network, the “Dream Team” option is for you. Simply mail your con-tribution to Hope Network, Attn: Dream Team, 10500 East 350 Highway, Raytown MO 64138. Those who would like to volunteer at the 5K may sign up online or call Lisa at 816-268-1514. For more information on Hope Network, please visit our website at www.hopeforraytown.com.

Page 6 Tuesday, May 3, 2011 wellness

Renew also offers services to refresh your mind and rejuvenate your spirit with a facial or massage in our Spa. Renew is located in a separate area with a private entrance, and equipped with state of the art equipment and furnishings that are geared towards enhancing each step of your recovery.

A truly innovative concept in post-acute care, designed especially for women, doesn’t just meet the needs of those recovering from an acute ill-ness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process.

Carmel HillsLong Term Care

Our long term care services are designed for individuals who need 24 hour nursing care. These residents may be chronically ill, frail, or experiencing a very slow recovery from an illness or injury. Our long term care units offer private and semi-private rooms including room furnish-ings, multiple common areas and dining lounges. We offer respite care or vacation care that allows families an opportunity to take a brief break from the demands of round- the- clock care giving.

Sunset Place at Carmel Hills

The dedicated Alzheimer’s Unit offers dedicated, caring and com-passionate staff well trained to assist residents in living their lives to the fullest. We offer structured activities designed to maximize interaction with each resident. Personalized behavioral manage-ment designed to encourage par-ticipation in a calm environment. We provide semi private and pri-vate rooms, complimentary cable television, nutritionally balanced meals and rehabilitation services.

For those seeking short term med-ical and or rehabilitative services, we focus our efforts on working closely with patient and fam-ily and strive to achieve the most successful functional outcomes. Our nursing team is support by licensed therapists who provide physical, occupational, and speech therapies. This dedicated team works together to design individu-alized care plans tailored to each patients specific needs. We be-lieve our best results are achieved when we work together

Renew at Carmel Hills

810 E. Walnut • Independence, MO816.461.9600

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation appoints new director

The Kansas City Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation announced the appointment of a new executive director, Leslie High, CFRE, who will be responsible for board development and major gift fundraising.

With her leadership, High brings more than 10 years experience in major gift fundraising, most recently from Truman Medical Center of Kansas City, where she helped raise more than $3.6 million for TMC Lakewood’s “Hello Baby!” capital campaign. Prior to her years as Direc-tor of Philanthropy at Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation, High was the Director of Volunteer and Auxiliary Services at TMC Lakewood and worked in Volunteer and Auxil-iary Services at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics.

High is a graduate of the University of Indi-ana School of Fundraising and Certified Fund Raising Executive International in Alexandria, Va., which is the premier provider of profes-sional certification of proficiency in fund raising. She received her graduate certificate

in Health Care Administration from Avila Uni-versity in Kansas City and her Bachelor of Sci-ence degree in Human Resource Management from Friends University in Kansas City.

To contact the Kansas City Chapter, call the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at 816-472-7997 or visit jdrfkansascity.org.

Free health screenings provided by St. Mary’s Medical Center

St. Mary’s Medical Center is hosting a free health fair on Saturday, May 7, at the Indepen-dence Center food court.

In addition to giveaways, free health infor-mation and news about services provided by St. Mary’s, the medical center will sponser free health screenings.

Stop by from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for blood pres-sure and blood sugar checks, foot screening, BMI analysis, balance testing, grip strength testing, oxygen level checks and bone density tests. For more information, contact Cyndi Fahrlander, 816-655-5361.

– Jillayne Ritchie

healthSHORTS

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Page 7wellness

Q: My friend’s wife is pregnant and came down with the chicken pox. Is this serious?

A: Before routine vaccination began in 1999 (with an update to the recommended vaccine schedule in 2005), chicken pox (caused by the varicella virus) used to be a very common childhood illness, affecting more than 4 million American children every year. Although it is generally a mild illness during childhood, 50 to 100 kids would still die from it every year and thousands had to be hospitalized.

Since routine vaccination began, this 90 percent effective vaccine has very significantly reduced the incidence of childhood chicken pox. Having fewer kids infected with chicken pox also reduces the chance that susceptible adults (those who are not immune to it) will be exposed to the varicella virus.

About 1 in 2,000 women get chicken pox dur-ing pregnancy, although, as just noted, this is ex-pected to become less common now that there is universal vaccination. When a pregnant woman gets chicken pox the possible health affects to both the mother and fetus must be considered.

Although chicken pox is generally mild dur-ing childhood, complications from it are much more common in adults (including pregnant

women) with the disease. For example, up to 20 percent of adult chicken pox patients develop varicella pneumonia with symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, fever and even respiratory compromise. This pneumonia is more severe in pregnant women. Untreated, up to 40 percent of pregnant women with varicella pneumonia die, although with appropriate treatment this is reduced to less than 15 percent. Therefore, treat-ment with anti-viral medication (such as acyclo-vir) is recommended. Although there is no data showing benefit from acyclovir treatment for pregnant women with chicken pox but without

pneumonia or other complications, the overall safety profile of acyclovir during pregnancy and its known efficacy for varicella pneumonia mean it is sometimes recommended for asymp-tomatic women.

The risk for the fetus depends on when during gestation the mom becomes infected. Chicken pox infection early in pregnancy may increase the rate of miscarriage. It may also cause a congenital syndrome which can include neurologic and/or eye defects, malformations of the limbs, growth retardation (in utero) and/or other birth defects. This syndrome occurs in less than 2 percent of infants whose moms were infected in the first or second trimesters of preg-nancy, but does not seem to occur from infection during the third trimester.

It is possible to monitor the fetus of a woman who gets chicken pox for certain congenital ab-normalities using ultrasound. Amniotic fluid or fetal blood can also be tested, and although these can identify whether the fetus developed the in-fection they cannot say whether or not the fetus will have congenital abnormalities.

When mom develops symptoms from chicken pox infection late in the third trimester of pregnancy (a week before delivery to just after

delivery) there is up to a 50 percent risk of the baby being born with neonatal chicken pox. These babies develop a rash about a week after birth, and seem to have a severe form of the disease (likely because they do not have a strong immune system and they no longer benefit from their mom’s immune system after birth) with up to a 25 percent mortality rate. Treatment with immune globulin just after birth may mini-mize the severity of illness for these babies.

If a susceptible pregnant woman is exposed to chicken pox, treatment with immune globulin can minimize the risk of serious complications by minimizing the severity of any illness that develops. It may also reduce the risk for the fetus developing congenital syndrome (for expo-sures late in pregnancy).

Women considering becoming pregnant should be tested (a simple blood test) to see if they are immune to chicken pox. If they are not they should be vaccinated, and although there have been no complications documented from vaccination during pregnancy the Centers for Disease Control recommend waiting at least one month after vaccination before becoming pregnant. Vaccination is not recommended for women known to be pregnant.

Chicken pox dangerous for pregnant mom and babyDr. JeffHersh

COLUMN

Dr. Jeff Hersh writes this column for Gate-House News.

As the outdoor world gets into full swing, it’s not just flowers and plants that are bloom-ing.

Allergies to the release of pollen and molds in the air have one in four of us grouching about the dark side of spring and summer. For some, however, breathing issues are much more serious than a seasonal complaint.

In the United States, more than 22 million people have asthma, and nearly 6 million suf-ferers are children. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, causing periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. Many of these episodes happen at night or early in the morning. Asthma can’t be cured, and though you may often feel fine, it can flare up at any time.

Today’s knowledge and treatments allow most people with asthma to manage the dis-ease. They live normal, active lives and sleep through the night without interruption from asthma. The key is anticipating and control-ling asthma triggers, or things that can cause asthma flare-ups, such as allergies, irritants and even exercise and weather change. It’s also important to develop a medication control plan with your doctor.

Bronchitis is another condition where breathing tubes (bronchial) that carry air to your lungs become inflamed. There are two types, acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute bronchitis usually begin three or four days after coming down with a cold or flu and include coughing, mucus, a mild fever and general tiredness. Most cases last two to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis is a serious, long-term medical condition occurring at least three months per year in two consecutive

years. Smoking is the most common cause, followed by pneumoconiosis (long-term inhala-tion of industrial dust or fumes). Early diag-nosis and treatment, combined with quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, can improve your quality of life. However, the chance for complete recovery for patients with severe chronic bronchitis is low.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a major cause of disability and a leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million people now suffer from COPD. Many more people have the disease without knowing it, as it often goes undiagnosed. COPD includes two main conditions, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

In emphysema, the walls between the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing them to lose their shape and become soft. This dam-age can also destroy the walls of the air sacs themselves, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones, reducing the amount of gas exchange in the lungs. In chron-ic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is con-stantly irritated and inflamed. This causes the lining to thicken. Lots of thick mucus forms in the airways, making it hard to breathe.

COPD has no cure yet, and doctors don’t

know how to reverse the damage to the air-ways and lungs. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the dis-ease. Many patients benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. It is a medical therapy combin-ing education and exercise and, much like cardiac rehabilitation, many patients start the program during their hospitalizations. In general, those enrolled in pulmonary rehabili-tation meet twice a week for two-hour sessions for eight weeks.

Participants not only learn about the diseases they’re living with, but also coping techniques – breathing techniques, infection control, medications management, etc. After completing the initial program, participants can continue with maintenance.

I recommend pulmonary rehabilitation to patients because it has shown to help keep them out of the hospital. The program at St. Mary’s Medical Center is organized and moni-tored by respiratory therapists with years of experience. Members of the group support each other and celebrate the success of indi-viduals. And as with any exercise program, sharing the experience with others makes it much more likely that you’ll continue.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Page 9 wellness

Dr. Anthony Migliazzo

GUEST COLUMN

Dr. Anthony Migliazzo is a pulmonary specialist at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs.

Allergies can trigger pulmonary problems

DEAR DR. BLONZ: We have two chil-dren. Our daughter is 14 and our son is 11. Our daughter eats very well, almost like an adult, but I am writing in the hopes you can provide some strategies for our son. He’s in great health and is physically active aside from loving anything with technology, but he refuses to eat what the rest of the family eats, wanting instead to only eat from a small selection of foods. His main food is macaroni and cheese. – M.C., St. LOuIS, MO.

DEAR M.C.: Parents with concerns about the diets of their children should never feel that they are alone. Four out of five parents have similar issues. It’s easy to get frantic about what children eat as you see them get excited over macaroni and cheese but turn up their noses at anything on the menu that would lend some balance.

It helps to think what children goes through as they sit down at the table every day and are told, in effect, “this is what you’re eating for dinner.” Imagine how you would react if every

time you sat down in a restaurant, the waiter handed you dish without letting you order.

An alternative is to involve your child in menu planning. Discuss food options and ask for input. Because you have two children, let them take turns. It also helps to have them

along on shopping trips. Let them have a snack before you go so they won’t be famished while they walk the aisles at the market. Asking your children to pick out vegetables or fruits is a way to increase the odds that they’ll eat them at the meal.

Once you’re home, think of ways they might help with meal preparation. Whether it’s making a lunchtime sandwich, helping mea-sure ingredients or simply arranging food on a serving plate, being involved before the meal can increase satisfaction with what’s to come.

When a child balks at eating all that’s served, it’s best to let them pass on foods in which there is no interest. The use of coercion or the dangling of rewards makes the food as something not worth considering on its own merits. It also sets up future confrontations by letting children know there’s a possible reward if they hold out long enough. Avoid always offering to custom-cook a new meal whenever the prepared menu is rejected. Try to have some bread or fruit on the table so they can pick at these while they watch the rest of the

family enjoy the meal. If food refusals or other behavioral quirks are treated as a challenge to your authority, mealtime degenerates into a power struggle.

Missing an occasional meal, failing to eat from all the food groups on a daily basis, or never touching the spinach or broccoli are not signs of impending malnutrition. The body has amazing powers to conserve needed nutri-ents, and then make the most of them when they finally appear. There’s no way to predict how anyone’s sense of taste and preferences develop. Food fetishes and phobias are a fact of life that tend to go away with time.

Talk to other parents. Finding out what your children’s peers enjoy can influence what they choose to eat. It also helps to know what they eat when over at other houses.

In the end, aim to instill a sense of appre-ciation for all that’s involved in bringing food to the table – in a supportive family setting. Add a nudge toward a healthy food selection, plus the example you set, and you’re on track for promoting good eating habits.

Tips for parents of picky eaters

Ed Blonz, Ph.D., is a nutrition scientist and author. Send questions to: “On Nutrition,” Ed Blonz, c/o Newspaper Enterprise Asso-ciation, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. E-mail him at ed@blonz.com.

EdBlonz

ON NUTRITION

Page 10 Tuesday, May 3, 2011 wellness

healthCALENDARItems for the Health Calendar may be e-mailed to

jill.ritchie@examiner.net or mailed to: The Examiner, P.O. Box 459, Independence, Mo. 64051, attention Jill Ritchie. The following items are for May 4 through 10, unless otherwise stated.

IndependenceDIABETES STORE TOUR, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 9, 

23rd Street Hy-Vee, 1525 E. 23rd St. Tour the aisles to learn about healthy eating, carbohydrates, label read-ing and portion sizes. No registration required, meet at the customer service desk.

BLOOD SUGAR SCREENINGS, 9 to 11 a.m. May 11 at Noland Road Hy-Vee, U.S. 40 and Noland Road; or 4 to 7 p.m. May 11 at 23rd Street Hy-Vee, 1525 E. 23rd St. Hy-Vee dietitians will give you a free blood sugar check and discuss nutrition tips for blood sugar control. No registration required.

KIDS COOKING CLUB, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 12, Noland Road Hy-Vee, U.S. 40 and Noland Road. Kids will prepare strawberry muffins, Nut Butter-flys, and baked asparagus with Parmesan cheese. Cost, $3. Reg-istration deadline: May 11. Call 816-510-5694.

Blue SpringsBEGINNER TAI CHI, 8:05 to 9:05 p.m. Thursdays, 

May 5-June 23, Vesper Hall. Cost, $49. Call to register.STRETCH & MOVEMENT – geared for teens

with special needs, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 5-26, Vesper Hall. For ages 15 and older. Cost, $30. Call to register.

FITNESS CLASSES, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation. The following classes will be held at Club 7 Fitness, 1241 S. Missouri 7. All classes are $40. To register, call 228-0137.

YOGA FLOW, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, May 4-June 22; or 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sundays, May 8-June 26.

BODYPUMP, 6:35 to 7:35 p.m. Thursdays, May 5-June 23; 8 to 9 a.m. Saturdays, May 7-June 25; or 9 to 10 a.m. Sundays, May 8-June 26.

BODYVIVE, 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesdays, May 4-June 22; or 9:05 to 10 a.m. Saturdays, May 8-June 26.

Kansas CitySUSAN G. KOMEN 3-DAY WALK FOR THE CURE

Fundraising Auction, 1 p.m. May 15, Alexander Majors Home, 8201 State Line Road. Items for bid include Royals vouchers, Chiefs autographed photo, wicker sofa, dinner gift certificates and more. All pro-ceeds go to research, funding mammograms and com-munity programs. Cash transactions only. Call Debbie at 816-246-3905.

Addiction groupsIndependenceSTRAIGHT TALK, NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, 

8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, First Baptist Church. Narcotics Anonymous Help Line: 531-2250.

LIVING FREE – AL ANON meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1723 Appleton Ave. 461-0039.

COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMITTEE, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Independence Police Building.

Blue SpringsALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, meetings available 

daily, most sessions are closed, and there are beginner meetings also, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner). There is a total of 29 meetings per week. For times, call 228-7921.

CHAPEL HILL AL-ANON, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9 a.m. Saturday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

BLUE SPRINGS ALATEEN, 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

Raytown

NEW DAY AL-ANON, 10 a.m. Wednesday, Blue Ridge Trinity Lutheran Church. 353-5446.

Bereavement groupsBlue SpringsWIDOWED PERSONS support group, 7 to 8:30 

p.m. Monday, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Annex A. 224-0677 or 229-8093.

INDEPENDENTS SINGLES MINISTRY grief sup-port group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, First United Methodist Church. 228-3788.

ADULT BEREAVEMENT support group, spon-sored by St. Mary’s Medical Center, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. several times throughout the year, Vesper Hall. To register, 655-5490.

OtherINFANT LOSS GROUP, sponsored by Carondelet 

Health. 655-5582. 

MiscellaneousIndependenceMATERNITY UNIT TOURS, Centerpoint Medical 

Center. Call 751-3000 for dates and to register.Food handler/manager permit training classes, food 

handler classes, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays at Truman Memori-al Building, 1 and 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Independence Health Department; manager class, 9 a.m. Monday. There is a fee. To register, 325-7803.

Blue SpringsBREAK TIME CLUB, sponsored by Shepherd Cen-

ter of Blue Springs, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Timothy Lutheran Church. For older adults with some physical and/or mental limitations. A donation of $10 to the cost of the program is suggested. 228-5300.

Prenatal/Infant/Child programsIndependenceWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who 

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 404-6460 or 257-2335.

Blue SpringsWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who 

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 220-1007.

BLUE SPRINGS/LEE’S SUMMIT TOUGH LOVE support group, for families dealing with unaccept-able adolescent behavior, 7:30 to 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, First Christian Church. 913-492-1200.

MOMS & MOMS-TO-BE prenatal and postna-tal class, 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, Family YMCA. 224-9620.

Kansas CityWIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who 

are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 404-9740 or 923-5800.

Screenings/ImmunizationsIndependenceHEALTH SCREENINGS for those 50 years and

older, 10 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Palmer Center. Screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure and dia-betic foot screenings. Free. 325-6200.

Blue SpringsSCREENINGS, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday. St. 

Mary’s Medical Center is sponsoring free glucose, blood pressure and diabetic foot screenings. 

Grain ValleyIMMUNIZATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE

CLINIC, sponsored by the Jackson County Health Department, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Grain Valley Com-munity Center. Blood pressure checks and childhood immunizations are free. TB tests and payable vaccines 

By BILL ALTHAUSBill.althaus@examiner.net

Cali Norris received a double-dose of good news last Thursday night.

First, she found out that her grandmother – who is battling breast cancer – was able to welcome visitors to her home for the first time since February.

Cali and her family made the visit to Sharon Norris’ home when the youngster received even better news.

Cali is a member of the Fort Osage High School soccer team, and the Indians are host-ing a Pink Out at approximately 7 p.m. this Thursday. The event will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and will honor Sharon Norris, who found out Thursday that she had been cleared by her doctor to attend the event.

“Oh my goodness, I am so excited that Grandma Lala gets to go to Pink Out,” Cali said.

Wait a minute.Grandma Lala?Cali and her mom, Kami Norris, laughed.When Cali was a little girl, Sharon did

her best to teach her music by teaching the youngster music notes.

“You know, like la, la, la, la, la, la, la,” Cali said. “So she became Grandma Lala. And she’s going to the Pink Out! I can’t wait.”

There have been several other area Pink Outs, where respective high school teams sport pink gear and honor cancer survivors, but this will be the first at Fort Osage.

“I got a call from Cali’s mother, who wanted to know if we could collect items for a garage sale that will go toward the Norris’ donation to the Susan G. Komen Founda-tion, and I said of course,” Fort Osage soccer coach Andrew Fletcher said.

“I have a ball with pink markings that we are going to use to start the game. And while the girls must wear their uniforms because

of MSHSAA (Missouri High School State Activities Association) regulations, they are going to be wearing pink head bands and have pink tape on their shoes – they’re going to be decked out in pink.

“It should be a lot of fun and a special night for Cali and her family.”

Sharon Norris has an aggressive form of breast cancer that requires chemotherapy, followed by surgery, more chemo and radia-tion treatments.

“It’s been very tough on our family,” Kami Norris said. “Mom was diagnosed in Febru-ary and immediately began treatment. We got the idea for a garage sale because my hus-band (Fort Osage teacher Josh Malecki) and I are going to walk in the 3-Day for the Cure Susan G. Komen event in Chicago.

“It’s $2,300 per person to enter the event, so we need to raise $4,600. I called Andrew Fletcher to see if we could collect garage sale items and has just bent over backwards to help. He had the idea for the Pink Out, and I think he’s as excited as we are.”

Fletcher said several parents have said they would donate items ranging from furni-ture to television sets.

“And a couple of parents have trailers, so we can take all the items to the garage sale site,” Fletcher said. “It’s all coming together.”

Anyone who would like to donate an item to the garage sale can bring it to the game this Thursday.

Fort Osage soccer to ‘pink out’ for teammate’s grandmotherSharon Norris has

been battling breast cancer since February

“(Coach Andrew Fletcher) has just bent over backwards to help. He had the idea for the Pink Out, and I think he’s as excited as we are.”Kami NorrisMother of Cali Norris

by appointment only. 404-6443.

Support groupsIndependenceDOMESTIC VIOLENCE GROUP for men, 6 to 8 

p.m. Monday, Family Conservancy of Eastern Jackson County. 373-7577.

CARING COMMUNITIES KINSHIP, 7 p.m. Mon-day, Cler-Mont Community School. LiLi Moe, 796-6041.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Villages of Jackson Creek-Memory Care. Free and open to the public. Call Monica Benson, 478-5689.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Red Lobster. 833-4151.

MOMS OFF METH, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, First Christian Church, Room 206. Free. Terri, 210-9574.

CARETAKER’S OF PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S, 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Comprehensive Mental Health Services. Call Pat Aldridge, 254-3652, Ext. 222.

SARCOIDOSIS support group, 7 p.m. Thursday, Trinity Episcopal Church. Call Jon Egger, 309-0381.

VOID (Victims Of Impaired Drivers), 6 to 7 p.m. business meeting; 7 to 9 p.m. support meeting, second Friday, Walnut Gardens Community of Christ, 19201 R.D. Mize Road. Call 816-536-2853.

CARING COMMUNITIES DIVORCE AND STEP FAMILY, 6:30 p.m. once a month, days vary, Blue Hills Elementary School. 796-6290.

Blue SpringsOVERCOMER’S OUTREACH 12-STEP, 7 to 8 p.m. 

Monday, Blue Springs Assembly. 229-3298.ARTHRITIS LECTURE SERIES, 10 a.m. Thursday, 

Family YMCA. Topics: Fibromyalgia, living with arthri-tis, rheumatoid arthritis and more. 224-9620.

DIABETES, 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, St. Mary’s Medical Center Birthing Center Conference Room. 655-5244.

CHADD (Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Disorder), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Care Net Clinic. Call Jessie Roggenbach, 228-6222.

CANCER support group, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, First United Methodist Church, Room 100. Call 229-8108.

PARENTS OF NICU BABIES, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thurs-day, St. Mary’s Birthing Center. Moms delivering at other facilities are welcome. 655-5574, option 5.

BREASTFEEDING, offered by St. Mary’s Medical Center, 10 a.m. Thursday, 206 Mock Ave., Suite 101. 655-5574.

CARDIAC REHABILITATION support group, Thursday, St. Mary’s Medical Center. Time varies, call 655-5433.

BucknerCARING COMMUNITIES ADHD PARENTS, 7 p.m. 

Thursday, 13 Sibley Road. Call Ms. Gordan, 650-4415.Lee’s SummitDEALING WITH LOSS, 1 p.m. Monday, John Knox 

Village, Ambassador meeting room. Call Darlene Gut-shall, 347-2310.

SELF-HELP GROUP FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, 7 p.m. Thursday, Cass Browning Commu-nity Center. Call Pauline Felkins, 524-7702.

RaytownAUTISM AND ADHD, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, First 

Baptist Church. Call Johnna, 525-2931 or Janet, 478-8117.

DIETARY INTERVENTION NETWORK FOR AUTISM (D.I.N.A.) meeting, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, First Baptist Church. 419-3705.

CANCER, 7 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church Fel-lowship Hall. 525-9876.

Kansas CityEMPOWER KIDNEY DISEASE CLASSES, 5 to 7 

p.m. Tuesdays through 2011, at several area hospitals. 

Call 842-0076 to register. EMPOWER KIDNEY DISEASE CLASSES, 5 to 7 

p.m. Tuesday through 2011, Truman Medical Center-Lakewood. Call 842-0076 to register. 

Weight ManagementIndependenceTOPS MO. 291, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Monday, St. 

Michael’s Episcopal Church. 461-0811.TOPS MO. 251, 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Maywood Bap-

tist Church. 478-0723 or 252-2392.TOPS MO. 331, 5 p.m. Tuesday, College Park Com-

munity of Christ. 254-7075.TOPS MO. 24, 9 a.m. Thursday, New Walnut Park 

Church. 373-6146 or 650-5262.TOPS MO. 100, 9 a.m. Thursday, Farview Restora-

tion Branch. 356-5278.TOPS MO 0062, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Northeast 

Baptist Church. 254-9455.TOPS MO. 892, 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Nativity of 

the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. 356-9219.TOPS MO. 482, 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Calvary Pres-

byterian Church. 452-3029.HEALTHY REFLECTIONS, 10 a.m. Thursday, Ser-

mon Center. 325-7370.OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS,  10 to 11:30 a.m. 

Monday, Maywood Baptist Church. Handicap acces-sible. Call Wanda G., 833-2632.

LOVE ME SLENDER, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Van Horn Health Source. 418-4070.

CEA-HOW (Compulsive Eaters Anonymous-

H.O.W.), 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Unity Church of Indepen-dence, 14304 E. 39th St. 1-800-672-6715.

Blue SpringsTOPS MO. 772, 10 a.m. Tuesday, First Baptist 

Church West Annex. 350-1554.Lee’s SummitOVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, 7 p.m. Monday, 

Unity Village, Administrative Building, Room 221. Call Lisa, 833-2636.

CEA-HOW (Compulsive Eaters Anonymous-HOW Concept), 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, First Presbyterian Church. Call Lisa at 679-7009 or visit www.ceahow.org.

RaytownOVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, 4 p.m. Sunday, 

Quiet House, 65th and Elm. 353-2691.OtherOVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, a 12-step program 

for compulsive eaters. 913-383-5933 or www.overeat-ersanonymous.org.

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays, or 7 to 7:45 p.m. Thursdays. Cost, $35 for 12-week class, with $25 going in the pot for top three losers. To register, 800-262-2152.

Women’s issuesIndependenceWOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT GROUPS, sponsored 

by the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA), 6:30 to 8:30 Monday. For locations, call Karen Costa, 252-8388, ext. 16.

– Jillayne Ritchie

health Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Page 11

YourTAKE Does your employer offer health tips? If so, do you think they should?

MARLA TARPENNINgBucknerYes, my boss does. It’s given by email. It’s just a bunch of sugges-tions, tips, things like that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.

JENNIfER EPPERSoNBlue SpringsNot as a whole, but individually, yes – I’m pregnant. She gives me advice about that.

RALPH HABBENBlue SpringsI don’t know if they ever gave me health advice, but I think it would be beneficial if the workplace did.

– Jeff Martin

healthCALENDAR