FOCUS ON THIS

PICTURE PERFECT

Quitting smoking is just one way to reduce your risk of cataracts. Page 3

With technological advances, there are many paths to getting that photo-worthy smile. Page 4

FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2014

VALLEY HEALTHMONTROSE PRESS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 5

Silke Printz Steps OutAfter Her Successful HipReplacement from MMHAstute and particular, and after looking into surgeons and hospitals, Silke chose to have her hip replacement surgery at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

“The procedure went beautifully. I knew from the beginning that I wanted the surgery done close to home at Montrose Memorial. The Joint Replacement Center has an excellent pre-surgery class that thoroughly explained everything I needed to know and it was very important to me that MMH has a signi�cantly lower infection rate than other western slope hospitals. Also, Mountain View Therapy provides focused, specialized care to get patients back to the highest level of performance in the shortest time possible.”

Call Montrose Memorial Hospital today to learn more about the area’s most innovative Joint Replacement Program at 970-252-2995.

SURVIVING THE SUMMER HEAT

Check out our tips for avoiding heat

stroke, dehydration and sunburns as you have fun this season

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

VALLEY HEALTHPublisher

Francis Wick

Business ManagerRanae Weber

Managing EditorJustin Joiner

Advertising directorDennis Anderson

For advertising information, contact Dennis Anderson at 252-7022

or via email at dennisa@montrosepress.com

Valley Health is a publication of the Montrose Press. It publishes monthly on the first Friday.

If you have a health-related news tip, contact Justin Joiner, managing editor, at editor@montrosepress.com.

A PUBLICATION OF THE MONTROSE PRESS

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www.Montrose.Hamptonlnn.com 970-252-3300 Next to the Airport

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If you, or someone you know is in an abusiverelationship, call our 24-hour crisis lines:

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Montrose Memorial Hospital is happy to introduce two new family medicine physicians to our com-munity. Both physicians will join San Juan Family Medicine which is located on East Star Court behind the Star Drive-in. They will begin seeing patients later this summer; however, they are ac-cepting new patients and appointments now at 240-0378.

Zachary Barton, MD, completed a degree in engineering from BYU, attended medical school at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas and completed his family medicine residency in Waco Texas. Dr. Barton and his wife have two sons and are excited to move to our mountain town and experience the advantages of a smaller com-munity. He looks forward to having new adventures in Montrose and exploring the outdoors.

Randy Shelton, DO, completed medical school at Lincoln Memo-rial University-Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Har-

rogate, Tenn. He then finished his residency at Carolinas Health-care System in Blue Ridge, North Carolina. Dr. Shelton was born and raised in Western Colorado and

enjoys hiking, biking, water and outdoor activities. He’s been married for more than seven years and they have a son and a daugh-ter.

Having these two physicians join our medical community will help fill the void that will be left by Dr. Tim Sullinger who is closing his practice at the end of this month. Dr. Sullinger has been an active member of our medical staff since June of 2001. His

patients have fond memories of motorcycle rides to celebrate mile-stones, great political discussions and soccer field trauma care. We wish Dr. Sullinger and his family all the best as they launch into their new adventures.

Leann Tobin is the marketing and public relations coordinator for Montrose Memorial Hospital. l

Hospital Happenings

Leann TobinMontrose Memorial Hospital

Q: My brother, father, and uncle all died of a heart attack in their early 50’s so I’m getting nervous. How can I help myself now?

– G.H., Decatur, IllinoisA: I commend you for your

enthusiastic quest for wellness. After writing this column 14 years, one point I cannot stress enough: Inflammation is THE primary underlying factor contributing to cardiometabolic risk.

When I say “inflammation” I’m not referring to swollen fingers – I mean full body (systemic) inflam-mation. Think of it as a fire driving up your insulin (bad), messing your hormone balance (bad), increasing pain-causing compounds called cytokines (bad) and squeezing off blood flow to your major organs, like the brain and heart.

Health care today emphasizes medications to treat symptoms of heart disease, rather than trying to put the fire out. One example is with cholesterol reducing drugs. Fine by me, but medication alone doesn’t put out your smoldering systemic fire. Same thing with insulin resistance, detected easily in a blood test. Take all the blood sugar reducing medications you want to, they won’t put out the fire (inflammation) either. This is covered entirely in my Diabetes Without Drugs book, where I help you avoid becoming a “number junkie,” a person who chases down numbers with medications. The assumption is that it equals good health! It doesn’t.

To adequately reduce your risks, I recommend proper diagnostic testing first. The way we measure blood pressure is wrong. The Brit-

ish are ahead of us, they do 24-hour monitoring as standard procedure. That’s excellent because one office pressure won’t tell you what’s go-ing on centrally, in the brain and heart, it only measures peripheral pressure. You never want your CRP to go over 3 mcg/ml because this blocks the angiotensin II receptor, cranking out enormous amounts of oxidative stress (think fire). The B vitamins reduce CRP so a B-complex is a good idea. Addi-tionally, consider potassium, 3 to 5 grams per day (absolutely ask your doctor). Physicians sometimes pre-scribe beta blockers. As a general rule they don’t do anyone a favor, and are known to increase diabetes by about 5 percent a year.

More simple stuff. Vitamin B6 is a natural calcium channel blocker, mild diuretic and it improves insu-lin resistance. Awesome, consider-ing it’s 10 dollars a month if you take 100-200 mg per day. Also alpha lipoic acid, about 200mg three times daily. It improves endothelial dys-function, and insulin resistance; used with Acetyl L-carnitine, it’s a one-two punch. You’ll need a little biotin on board to prevent deple-tion from the alpha lipoic acid. My suggestions are intended to shine a flashlight of hope. I hate when people are told “Let’s wait and see.” Wait for what? A heart attack? If you like how I think, it’s because I attend medical seminars offered by the Institute for Functional Medi-cine. Find a doctor at their website (functionalmedicine.org) where they ‘speak this language.’ Just click on “Find a Practitioner” or call 800-228-0622 for more informa-tion. l

Dear pharmacist

Vitamin B6 is a natural calcium channel blocker, mild diuretic and it improves insulin resistance

Millions of people are affected by cataracts, which Prevent Blind-ness America says is the most common cause of vision loss for individuals over the age of 40. In the United States, there are more cases of cataracts than glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration combined.

The prevalence of cataracts makes some wonder if they can be prevented. According to The Mayo Clinic, studies have yet to deter-mine a way to prevent cataracts or even slow their progression. How-ever, eye doctors and other experts say that certain strategies can help keep the eyes and the body healthy, which may keep cataracts at bay.

Regular eye examinationsVisiting the eye doctor on an

annual basis, or as recommended by an optician or ophthalmolo-gist, can help detect cataracts and eye problems early on. This helps prevent vision loss and enables patients to take proactive steps to treat their cataracts. Cataract surgery, which is now a common procedure and can usually be done with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, is a common way to treat cataracts. During cata-ract surgery, the lens inside the eye that has become cloudy from cataract formation is removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL, to restore clear vision.

Protect the eyesAlways wear sunglasses with UV

protection, particularly glasses that block UVB rays, when spend-ing time outdoors. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Remem-ber, ultraviolet rays can be present even when it is cloudy outdoors, so make it a point to don your sun-glasses before stepping outside.

Quit smokingSmoking affects eyesight and

eye health. Research suggests that smoking increases a person’s

chances of developing cataracts. The lenses of the eyes are mostly made up of arranged proteins, and sometimes these proteins stick together, breaking their careful formation and affecting the trans-parency of the lens. Cigarette smoke can damage the proteins in the lenses, causing them to stick together more readily, increasing the chance that cataracts develop.

Manage diabetesAlthough the reasons why are

still not fully understood, individ-uals with diabetes mellitus face a greater risk of developing cata-racts. That risk may be elevated by as much as 60 percent. When increased blood sugar enters the lenses of the eyes, sorbitol forms, and both this and fructose can build up in the lenses. Increased sugar causes water to be absorbed inside the lens, resulting in swell-ing and increased cloudiness. By treating high blood-glucose levels, those with diabetes may be able to keep cataracts from forming.

Improve the dietA healthy diet should be a prior-

ity for everyone, including people at a greater risk for cataracts. Eating foods high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, selenium and vitamins C and E may help pre-vent cataracts. That’s because antioxidants help the body to fight free radicals, which can contribute to cataracts later in life.

A 2000 article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlighted two Har-vard University studies that noted the role of lutein and zeaxanthin in the development of cataracts. The studies noted that individuals whose diets were high in lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods had a 19 to 22 percent lesser chance of developing age-related cataracts than those who do not incorporate these foods into their diets in high quantities. Foods that are high in lutein and zeaxanthin include green vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, collard greens, kale, mus-

tard greens and peppers, winter squash and eggs.

Cataracts tend to be most notice-able when vision begins to grow cloudy. However, cataracts also can cause glares and halos; a myopic shift, in which a person who was once nearsighted becomes far-sighted, and vice versa; drop in color vision; lens discoloration; and poor night vision. Those expe-riencing these symptoms should have an eye examination to con-firm or rule out cataracts. l

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Is it possible to prevent cataracts?

Cataracts tend to be most noticeable when vision begins to grow cloudy.

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BY DAVE SEGAL

It’s possible to have a brand new smile built for you through cosmetic dentistry, but you have to keep a few things in mind. While dental work done to improve your looks can be quite effec-tive, the costs range from hundreds to thou-sands of dollars, according to Dr. Joe Stucky, of Montrose. “If you’re going to do a smile-makeover with a set of veneers, you’re probably talking about several thousand dollars. Whiten-ing of the teeth, re-contouring of the teeth, those procedures can be done for less than two hundred dollars.”

Also, Stucky advises that you don’t count on your dental insurance to cover the costs. “Every in-surance plan is different, and some are better than others, but my experience has been most insurance companies do not cover cosmetic procedures.”

Stucky emphasizes that cosmetic dentistry can have dramatic results for people who have experi-enced significant tooth loss. “I’ve actually had people say ‘This is like an instant facelift.’ I’ve had people tell me that just when you’re rebuilding their bite to the proper height, it’s like you’ve taken ten years off of them. Wrinkles go away, and they have better proportion to their face. “

Techniques that can enhance your smile include:Whitening — this is the most common cosmetic dental

procedure. It can be done with over-the-counter products. How-ever, it’s usually much more successful if done by a dentist.

Tooth reshaping — also known as stripping, re-contouring, or sculpting, it involves removing part of the tooth’s enamel to im-prove its appearance. It can get rid of small chips, and change the shape, length, and position of the tooth.

Bonding — a dental composite material is applied to a tooth, then shaped, hardened, and polished.

Dental bridges--these are false teeth inserted into gaps left by miss-ing teeth. Two crowns are attached to each side of the false tooth to hold it in place.

Veneers — thin porcelain laminates that are bonded to discolored teeth that don’t respond to whitening. They can also fill in gaps between teeth.

Gum lift — this is a procedure to raise and shape your gum line and make your teeth look longer and more symmetrical.

Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty, according to the American Dental Association. It can be performed by general dentists, but Stucky says it helps to take advanced classes. “You need some special training when it comes to designing the smile so it looks right and symmetrical,” he ex-plained. “This is where art and science definitely come together. You are balancing the science of the dentistry and the art of the dentistry.

“I’ve taken a lot of classes, but they’re a week at a time, or a weekend class. However, it has added up to at least a few hundred hours of class-room work.” Stucky also said that he has done a lot of independent read-ing and study about cosmetic dentistry over the past 20 years. l

Several ways to sharpen your smile

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MONTROSE AREA947 South Fift h StreetMontrose, CO 81401970-249-2421970-249-8897 fax

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Back to School

Acid reflux is one of the more common, not to mention painful, side effects of gastroesophageal re-flux disease, or GERD. The Florida Hospital estimates that more than 60 million adults in the United States suffer from symptoms of acid reflux each month, and almost half experience symptoms every day. Finding relief can be chal-lenging, but there are a variety of treatments available, including some drug-free alternatives.

There is no cure for acid reflux, but there are ways to manage the condition and prevent permanent damage to the esophagus. Many people rely on proton-pump inhibi-tors, or PPIs, to keep acid reflux at bay. PPIs are one of the more commonly prescribed medications for acid reflux, and while they may be beneficial for short-term treat-ment of acid reflux, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently cautioned against prolonged use of PPIs. Many acid-stopping medications can inhibit nutrient absorption, reduce resistance to infection and may cause vitamin deficiencies. They also have been shown to increase the risk of bone fractures and dementia.

Rather than taking medication, some people might be able to make certain lifestyle changes to relieve acid reflux.

• Pay attention to the foods you eat. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and even raisins, can increase the amount of acid in the stomach. Choose foods that are less likely to aggravate symptoms and can alleviate pain and flare-ups. Foods that will absorb acid are safe bets. For example, oatmeal is a filling, hearty food that can combat acid problems. Stick to lean poultry that is baked, broiled or grilled. Remove the fatty skin, as it may cause digestive issues.

• Use natural digestion enhanc-ers. Remember those homespun remedies Mom used to whip up when you had an upset stomach? They can be equally effective for acid reflux. Ginger root has long been used to calm the stomach. Ginger can be made into tea or added to recipes and smooth-ies. Fennel, a licorice-flavored vegetable, may improve stomach function. Some people like to eat it after a meal to aid digestion. Parsley has been used as a medici-nal herb to settle the stomach for thousands of years. Parsley can add flavor to meals and serve as an attractive garnish.

• Stock up on apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has uses be-yond flavoring in favorite recipes. It also can soothe acid reflux symp-toms. It’s believed the vinegar plays a role in maintaining healthy bacteria in the stomach, and that this bacteria eases digestion. Try mixing one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into four ounces of water to drink before, during or after a meal. Apple cider vinegar also can be spread on salad.

• Practice portion control at mealtime. Overindulging at meal-time can cause intestinal discom-fort, which may contribute to acid reflux. Opt for more frequent and smaller meals instead of larger infrequent ones. Also, remain up-right for two to three hours after eating to promote good digestion.

• Elevate your head. If acid

reflux symptoms tend to strike at night or while you are lying down, elevating your head in bed can help. Use pillows to prop yourself up or find another way to keep your head elevated until symptoms subside.

• Shed some pounds. Many doc-tors recommend weight loss to alleviate acid reflux. Losing 10 to 15 pounds can decrease pressure on the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the muscle at the band of the stomach

and esophagus. • Quit tobacco products. Smokers

have a higher incidence of GERD than nonsmokers, so quitting smoking may help alleviate acid reflux symptoms. Even if stopping smoking has minimal effect on your acid reflux, it will still im-prove your overall health.

• Drink more water between meals. Water hydrates the body and flushes out toxins that can build up in the digestive tract. Wa-ter also may help dilute stomach

acid. However, do not drink tons of water with a meal, as this may stimulate the stomach to produce more acid to maintain digestion. Chewing gum when water is not available can stimulate saliva production. Saliva is naturally alkaline and can counteract the overproduction of acid.

Acid reflux can be a nuisance or downright painful. Before reach-ing for medication, consider a few lifestyle changes to alleviate acid reflux. l

Natural ways to alleviate acid reflux• Stock up on apple cider vinegar. apple cider vinegar haS uSeS beyond flavoring in favorite recipeS. it alSo can Soothe acid reflux SymptomS. it’S believed the vinegar playS a role in maintaining healthy bacteria in the Stomach, and that thiS bacteria eaSeS digeStion.

6

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Summer sunshine is generally good for you. It helps your body build up necessary levels of vitamin D, while lifting your mood and inspiring you to get

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BY DAVE SEGAL

7

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It’s important to select the appropriate type of sunscreen, and to use it in the most ef-fective way. The sun radiates two types of rays that affect people, ultra-violet A (UVA) and ultra-violet B (UVB). Over-exposure to UVA rays cause your skin to age more quickly. UVB causes it to burn. Your sunscreen must protect you from both, according to dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Haley, of Montrose.

“Look for SPF 30-plus with either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredi-ents. That is all that matters. The rest of the variables are basically cosmetic elegance including texture, tint, and scent of a product,” she said.

SPF stands for “Sun Protec-tion Factor.”

Haley recommends applying sunscreen to your lips, and wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes. She also advises patients to be wary of a false sense of security. “ I recom-mend choosing the right sun-screen and applying it daily to all exposed areas, even in the winter. Many people will over-look their neck and hands or think that if they are not doing outside activities, sunscreen applica-tion is not necessary.” Of course, if you are planning to spend a lot of time outside, Haley suggests that you do it “early in the morning before 10 a.m., wearing sun protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to cover the neck and ears is recom-mended in addition to sunscreen.”

It’s also important to remem-ber that UVA rays can pass through glass and damage your skin even when you are inside your home or vehicle. “The majority of skin cancers that I see on a daily basis over the past 16 years as a physi-cian are on the left side of the face from driving.

“The 10 minute bursts of outdoor exposure walking to

and from places adds up to hundreds of hours of sun ex-

posure through-out the year,” Haley explained.

Tanning salons won’t hit you with sunburn-causing UVB rays, but they will dose you with a lot of UVA rays, the der-matologist said. These are the so-called “aging rays” that can give you a nice tan in the short run, but that not-so-nice leathery

look later in life. There is also a connection

between sunburn and mela-noma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. “Having five or more blistering sun-burns during your lifetime is going to double your risk of melanoma,” Haley said. “Sunburn does some long-term DNA damage which can lead to skin cancers, age spots,

sagging skin, and deep, coarse wrinkles.”

Sadly, melanoma is on the rise, said Haley.

“The incidence of melanoma has been steadily increasing for the past 30 years,” she said. “It is not the most common skin cancer, but it causes the most deaths. One in 50 Ameri-cans will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime.”

It is not necessarily a death sentence. “If recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable,” the doctor explained. “When not caught early, a melanoma spot the size of a dime can spread to other parts of the body where it becomes hard to treat.”

Melanoma is the most com-mon form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old.

There are several less dan-gerous, but more common, types of skin cancer, accord-ing to Haley. Research shows that “One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.

Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun.”

She also said, “Sometimes, skin cancer can be obvious with a pink or black, bleeding rapidly growing lesion. More frequently, though, the earli-est signs of skin cancer are subtle, presenting as a “pim-ple” that won’t go away or “an ugly duckling” spot that looks different than anything else on your body. Remember that even the worst cancer is treatable if it is diagnosed and treated early.”

The dermatologist has some encouraging words for people who haven’t yet developed good sun protection habits. “It’s never too late to start us-ing the proper sun protection. I’ve seen patients in their 60s and 70s decrease the number of skin cancers and pre-can-cers that they develop through the initiation of proper sun protection.” l

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Incidents of melanoma have been steadily increasing for 30 years.

Dr. Jennifer Haley

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WE MUST BE OUT OF OUR MINDS!

BY DAVE SEGAL

You can lose weight, gain strength and have a lot of fun at the Montrose Aquatic Center this summer. Located at 25 Colorado Ave., in Montrose, the center has a large variety of pool-centered activities, according to Aquatics Coordinator Liz Gracesun.

Gracesun said that many of them are designed for physical fitness.

“As far as keeping healthy, we have eight different water aerobic classes we run throughout the day, and throughout the week. I spe-cifically teach our ‘Twinges in the Hinges’ class; it’s an authorized program, endorsed by the Arthri-

tis Foundation,” she said. Her class is designed to improve

the range of motion in all of your joints. “We see a lot of people with hip replacements, or needing to have hip replacements, who come into the water because it’s low-impact. They’re able to exercise longer because of the buoyant effects of the water.”

The center also offers a “Water Walking” class for people who need to lose weight. “We’ve had people come in who are morbidly obese, and just water-walk every day. I think we had one lady lose over 150 pounds over the course of a year,” said Gracesun.

There is also aquatic help avail-able for people who can’t walk.

“We have people who are paraple-gic who are able to come in and move in the water and exercise in the water that way. And, the water just transforms them.”

Naturally, the center offers a full range of swimming classes, for everyone from toddlers and par-ents to would-be lifeguards scuba divers.

“We have swimming lessons that run throughout the year, not just in the summer,” she said. “We have a heavy concentration in the summer. We have seven summer sessions that run through the be-ginning of June through August. We have classes in the morning and the evening,” said Gracesun. “We have home-school lessons in

the middle of the day. We also have lessons on Saturdays. We try to be flexible as far as the scheduling. We also have private and semi-private lessons. And, we’ve added several water-safety events.”

The prices for these classes and events vary. Since the Aquatic Center is part of the Montrose Recreation District, you can get specific cost and time details, plus registration forms, online at www.montroserec.com/446/Aquatics. “We’ve got reasonable prices that, as we move forward into the new rec center, will stay very similar to what we have now,” said Gracesun.

You can phone Liz Gracesun at 970-249-7705 ext. 575 for more infor-mation. l

BEING FIT IS FUN AT AQUATIC CENTER The Montrose Aquatic Center offers a variety

of classes to help with physical fitness. (Dominic Valente/Daily Press)

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(StatePoint) Parenting a teenager can be an uphill battle. In addition to the problems you may have faced in your youth, a new host of issues are pre-sented by texting, sexting, social media and cyberbul-lying, point out experts.

“Say the right thing and you’ll open up lines of communication. Say the wrong thing and it could lead to a fight or silent treatment,” says Joani Geltman, child develop-ment and parenting expert and author of “A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens: Talking to Your Kids About Sexting, Drinking, Drugs, and Other Things That Freak You Out.” (AMACOM).

Geltman offers her “Top Ten Parenting Tips.”

• Encourage teens to think independently. Restrain yourself from being chief problem solver, so they can make good choices even when you’re not around.

• Try not to ask a zil-lion questions. You won’t get the answers you want anyway. Engage them in a conversation on a neutral topic before you start the interrogation.

• Refrain from going on the “lecture circuit.” Model what it means to be a good person so you don’t need to tell them. They will “get it.”

• As uncomfortable as it may be, you have to talk about sex. Do it with hon-esty, and understanding, not judgment. Talk about your own experiences when you were a teen, especially those moments of which you are the least proud so that they will feel freer to share their ques-tions and worries.

• When it comes to alco-hol and drugs, make your house safe. Again, have honest discussions, sans

judgment. Help them to anticipate new situations and problem solve about ways to stay safe.

• Don’t rule with an iron fist. This may have worked when the kids were younger, but teens need to be part of the rule mak-ing. Most kids are actually pretty reasonable when given the opportunity to have some control.

• With their input, set

limits with phones, com-puters and video games. Just like you let them eat only a few pieces of Hal-loween candy a night when they were younger, you need to see these devices in the same way.

• Express your appre-ciation and pride in your teens. Not for the good test scores or grades neces-sarily, but for moments of kindness and hard work.

There’s nothing more im-portant than an out of the blue “you’re a good kid, and maybe I don’t tell you that enough.”

• Find some fun with your teen. Hang out, watch TV, order pizza, go to the driving range, play a video game, listen to music, go get manis and pedis, bake a cake, take the dog for a walk, go shopping -- any-thing that may give you

a moment, maybe just a moment, of sweetness with your kid.

More parenting insights and information about the book can be found at joani-geltman.com.

When it comes to teenag-ers, the stakes can be high, with scary, emotional and even legal consequences. By being open and recep-tive, you can help navigate these treacherous waters. l

Ten tips for parenting teens today

Refrain from going on the “lecture circuit.” Model what it means to be a good person so you don’t need to tell them. They will “get it.”

WITH THEIR INPUT, SET LIMITS WITH PHONES, COMPUTERS AND VIDEO GAMES. JUST LIKE YOU LET THEM EAT ONLY A FEW PIECES OF HALLOWEEN CANDY A NIGHT WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, YOU NEED TO SEE THESE DEVICES IN THE SAME WAY.

As enjoyable as summer can be, there are many people who, come the end of August, are glad to see summer near-ing its end. Such people may enjoy cold weather or may simply find their toler-ance for high temperatures and humid afternoons is starting to wear thin.

Regardless of one’s personal opinion about the dog days of summer, the often unforgiving climate synonymous with late summer is a considerable safety risk for people of all ages. Tempera-tures approaching or exceeding the tri-ple digits coupled with intense humid-ity can be dangerous, and it’s important that men, women and kids emphasize safety as summer winds down.

• Check seating before sitting down. You don’t have to spend time outdoors to get burned when summer tem-peratures soar. Something as simple as sitting down on a surface exposed to the sun can cause burns. Before sit-ting down in a car, on a bench or other surfaces exposed to the heat, check the seats by touching them with your hand. Brief contact with your hand is not likely to result in a burn, and you should be able to gauge whether a seat is safe to sit on or too hot. Parents should always check their children’s car seats before placing youngsters in the car.

• Lock car doors at all times. Kids might be more amenable to summer heat than their parents are, but that doesn’t meaning playing outside isn’t a potential threat to youngsters’ health. In addition to more standard precau-tions like applying sunscreen to young-sters before they go outdoors and ensur-ing they drink enough water, make sure the doors to all vehicles on your proper-ty are locked. Whether they’re seeking a respite from the hot summer sun or simply playing with friends, kids might climb into cars when mom and dad aren’t looking, and that can put young-sters in precarious positions, especially if the vehicle’s windows are rolled up.

Cars can quickly turn into ovens during the late summer swoon, and kids can easily succumb to the heat if they climb into an unattended vehicle on a hot day.

• Limit strenuous activities. Adults may find late summer is the ideal time to get outdoors and go for a run or enjoy a little sun-soaked exercise. Some may want to get a little sun or simply enjoy the sensation of sweating off a few pounds as they jog around the neighbor-hood. But strenuous outdoor activities should be kept to a minimum once the dog days of summer arrive. Heat stroke and dehydration are real possibili-ties when adults and kids overextend themselves on hot days, so keep physi-cal activity to a minimum on especially hot days.

• Stay hydrated. Late-summer heat can take a toll on the body, which needs water to stay cool. On days when the summer heat is especially hot, be sure

to drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty. The body’s cooling system can fail in extreme heat or when conditions outside are especially hu-mid, leaving men, women and children susceptible to dehydration. One way to gauge if you are drinking enough water is to look at the color of your urine. If your urine is clear like water, then you’re likely drinking enough water. When urine is a darker color like the color of apple juice, then you likely need to drink more water. Dizziness, an elevated heart rate and nausea are each symptoms of dehydration, particularly on hot days.

The end of summer means cooler weather is just around the corner. But end-of-summer heat can be very dan-gerous, and men, women and children should take precautions so summer’s last heat wave does not take a potential-ly dangerous toll on them. l

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

SURVIVING THE

The end of summer can be a bittersweet time of year. To some, summer is the most enjoyable time of year, marked

by shorter hours at the office and family vacations. For kids, summer is a time when homework is set aside in favor of rest and relaxation.

Limiting strenuous activities to times of day when the weather is at its most cooperative is one way for active men and women to avoid succumbing to summer heat.

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TOP BOOKS FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Beyond Training

by Ben GreenfieldThis book explores

little-known facts about nutrition and lifestyle tactics designed to help with issues such as brain fog, gas, low libido and insomnia. The book is for people who are already off the couch and working to improve their lives, but need some extra help shedding a few pounds or crossing the finish line in a marathon.

High Price by Carl Hart

The book is Hart’s memoir explaining how he went from growing up in one of Miami’s toughest neighbors to becoming a neuroscientist. The book tells of his self-discovery and how he escaped a life of crime and drugs. He goes into detail about the effects of drugs on pleasure, choice and the brain.

The Power of Habit

by Charles DuhiggPulitzer Prize-

winning businesses reporter Charles Duhigg takes readers on a journey that highlights scientific discoveries that reveal why people do what they do. He explains how turning your physical fitness around is a matter of knowing how habits work and are formed. By harnessing the science of habit-forming people can change their lives.

The Skinny Rules

by Bob Harper and Greg Critser

Bob Harper, who is best known for his role as a coach on the “Biggest Loser” television show, has put together simple rules for getting thin. The book acts as a guide to weight loss with simple-to-follow rules. In the book, Harper offers menu plans and tips on what foods to stock up on.

Faith-based Fitness

by Kenneth H. CooperThis Christian look

at fitness merges physical and spiritual activity. Health is not just about being physically fit, but also spiritually healthy. The book aims to help people lower their risk for heart disease, reduce their chances for cancer and handle stress while balancing their emotional outlooks. At its core, the book shows why belief in God can lead to better health and fitness.

(StatePoint) Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a danger to skin and eyes year-round, playing a contributing factor to skin damage, skin cancer and eye disor-ders like cataracts. With people spending more time outdoors in the summer months, it’s a great time to protect your family.

“The more time you spend outdoors without protecting your eyes, the greater your risk for ocular damage,” says Dr. James Winnick, an optometrist with VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits company in the United States.

Rather than avoid the problem entirely by seek-ing refuge inside, take steps to mitigate your risk in the sun.

Consider risk factors

While all people need to protect their eyes from UV radiation, some popula-tions are more sensitive than others to the sun. For example, children don’t yet have the natural protection in their eyes that adults have, so they get most of their exposure before they are 18. Additionally, people

living with diabetes have increased light sensitivity.

No matter who you are, protecting your eyes outdoors is crucial, say experts.

“One of the most con-venient ways to ensure you’re constantly protect-ing your eyes from UV rays and excess light is to opt for photochromic lenses, which are lenses that darken automatically to changing sunlight condi-tions when outdoors,” says Winnick. “These lenses can be especially useful

for kids and adults who have trouble remembering to switch from their regu-lar glasses to sunglasses throughout the day.”

Protection for entire family

Photochromic lenses are a great way to ensure everyone in the family is getting automatic and con-stant protection from UV radiation — whether it’s playing in the backyard or walking from the car into the office. And an added

benefit is that your eyes will be much more com-fortable in all light condi-tions, helping reduce eye strain and squinting.

Choose wiselyIt’s important to look for

a brand of photochromic lenses that both darken and fade back quickly. For example, a new type of photochromic lenses called sunsync starts darkening within seconds of UV ex-posure and returns to clear within just minutes of go-

ing indoors. More informa-tion about sunsync lenses can be found at www.vsp.com/sunsync.

Reflected light is a concern

Sunlight is reflected off water, sidewalks, build-ings — almost everything — and it goes in every direction. While sunglasses and photochromic lenses protect from UV light pass-ing through the front of the lenses, a new trend in eye protection takes on the back side of lenses as well.

A special anti-reflective treatment can now be added to the back of lenses that helps prevent UV radiation from reflecting off of them and into your eyes. The great news is that some lens brands, like UNITY, offer this “back-side UV” treatment at no additional cost depending on the options you choose for your new photochromic lenses.

Don’t wait for UV expo-sure to get the best of you. Just as you use sunblock, you should have some protection for your eyes throughout the day. This summer, take steps to bet-ter protect your family. l

Photochromic lenses are a great way to ensure everyone in the family is getting automatic and constant protection from UV radiation.

Protect your family from harmful UV rays

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BY DREW SETTERHOLM

Nurse midwives have long been thought of as primarily serving the health world by delivering newborn babies, but at Montrose Memorial Hospi-tal’s nurse midwife services department, care extends to nearly all aspects of women’s health.

All members of nurse midwife services at Montrose Memorial hold a minimum education of a master’s degree in nurs-ing, Director Debra Chapman said, and all are certified nurse midwives. The nurses can perform yearly gynecological exams, family planning, health mainte-nance, and counseling on a variety of health topics.

“We do almost all women’s health,” Chapman said. “Women forget that we can do their birth control, their peri-menopausal, their postmenopausal care, besides delivering the babies.”

When it comes to the practice they are most known for, midwives focus on pro-viding a delivery that suits each client.

“That’s our focus is we’re here to sup-port the women, because it’s their birth, not ours,” Chapman said.

There is a prevalent misconception that women who use a midwife cannot receive pain medication or an epidural, Chapman said.

“That is just so not true. If they don’t want one (an epidural), obviously we’ll go along with that. But if they want one, we’ll make sure they get it,” she said.

One quality that sets nurse midwife services apart from other care options is the amount of time nurses spend with clients before, during and after deliver-ing a new child, providing counseling and education.

“That’s probably one of the biggest draws for us is that we’re able to spend more time with moms, because that’s what they want,” Chapman said.

The department accepts all insurances including Medicaid and self-pay, with a sliding fee payment schedule available; the department does not have the cre-dential requirement to accept Medicare, Chapman said, primarily because there

are very few clients of Medicare age seeking services.

For all health services that are beyond what nurse midwives can provide, the department has connections with local obstetricians and gynecologists and can provide consultation and referrals. Cli-ents are also welcome to a free consulta-tion with nurse midwife services at Mon-trose Memorial, to find more information on services and if it fits their needs.

Chapman, who delivered her 1,000th baby in May, said she has remained

in the nurse midwife practice for her lengthy career simply because she enjoys the clients and her work.

“I just really like our patients — we have a really great clientele and it just really makes my job easier,” Chapman said. “It’s just a fun job to have, and that’s why I keep doing it.”

The nurse midwife services depart-ment is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1-5 p.m. For appointments and more in-formation, call 970-252-2542. l

More than deliveryNurse midwife services encompass

scope of women’s health

Debra Chapman, director of nurse midwife services at Montrose Memorial Hospital, sits with a newborn delivered May 28, 2014. It was Chapman’s 1,000th baby delivered in her career. Nurse midwife services extend well beyond delivering newborns to include nearly all aspects of women’s care. (Courtesy photo)

Midwife services at Montrose Memorial Hospital include much more than delivery. The services encompass a large portion of women’s health.