FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

VALLEY HEALTHMONTROSE PRESS

VOL. 2, ISSUE 5

XNLV

2095

33800 South Third Street, Montrose, CO 81401

9 7 0 - 2 4 9 - 2 2 1 1

Montrose Memorial Hospital has been privileged to deliver healthcare services to our friends and family for over 65 years. We are thankful to the community for its support, and look forward to working together with

you as we expand our services.

Sticking Together – it’s what Friends and Family do!

Go GREEN witheStatements.

Good for the environment. Good for you.

1400 E. Main Street 970.249.0400

2770 Alpine Drive 970.240.0900

XNLV

209331

Learn about the 14th most common cause of death in the United StatesPage 8

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Montrose neurologist says keeping your mind sharp is as easy as keeping your body in shape

rUn for yoUr Mind

VALLEY HEALTHPublisher

Vincent Laboy

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 fi rst Friday.

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

A PUBLICATION OF THE MONTROSE PRESS

2

XNLV

2093

26

Hometown Service with a National Reach...

Choose the Best!!

843 South 3rd Street • 970.252.0212 • www.aerocareusa.com

Serving all of Colorado and 175 Locations Nationwide

“We are committed to growing our business by treating our customers with respect and

the highest quality of service.”

Breathe a little easierServices Provided:• Oxygen• Wheelchairs• Hospital Beds• CPAP/BIPAP & Supplies• Durable Medical Supplies

FOR MENTAL HEALTHProviding Help, Hope & Healing

centermh.org

“the first to help you up are the oneswho know how it feels to fall down.”“the first to help you up are the oneswho know how it feels to fall down.”

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!WE ARE HERE TO HELP!970.252.3200970.252.3200

24 hour (local) emergency services 252.6220

Living Life Well withChronic Conditions

Are you tired of enduring life with a chronic condition?Get ready to start enjoying life!

If you or someone you love has health problems such as chronic pain, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, asthma, high blood pressure or other chronic conditions, the Living Life Well with Chronic Conditions workshop can help you take control of your life. Caregivers encouraged to attend!

Friday’s from 1:00-3:00pmMay 22, 2015 through June 26, 2015Region 10 Conference Room300 North Cascade Ave., Montrose

FREE OF CHARGE

• Held once a week for six weeks • Set Goals• Learn from Certifi ed Leaders • Stanford‐based Program

To sign up contact Region 10 at 970-249-2436For more information see tchnetwork.org

Presented by:

XNLV

2093

40

FreeClass

dear pharmacist

This year, National Hospital Week is celebrated May 10-16. While this is an opportunity to remember the value of your com-munity hospital and the many dedicated people that staff it, I’d like to remind everyone that Montrose Memorial is much more than a hospital. It is a region-ally focused integrated health care system with many sophisti-cated capabilities and a medical staff com-prised of nearly 100 physicians and other healthcare profession-als.

Your local health care system includes an acute rehabilitation unit, a family center, cardiology, a joint replacement center, radiation and medical oncology, and extensive physical, occupational and speech therapy services. All of this, in addition to busy emergency, surgical and radiological services. Your lo-cal health care system, which is licensed for 75 inpatient beds, provides 23 medical and surgical specialties and is a level 3 trauma center. Last year, there were 2,900 admissions, 101,903 outpatients and 17,652 ER visits. In total, medical services were delivered to 55,000 people. In an effort to contin-ually evolve and adapt, a successful multiyear joint venture relation-ship with St. Mary’s Hospital and radiation therapy physicians was followed April 1st of this year with the launching of a Montrose based CareFlight program which is a regional fully integrated helicopter air ambulance service. This collab-oration provides regional residents and visitors access to emergency helicopter transport service as needed.

Having worked in several rural hospital systems, I can assure you that Montrose Memorial takes a back seat to none. This system

attracts top-notch medical profes-sionals and volunteers, including the nine-member Board of Direc-tors, all of whom live and work in Montrose. The board has added

four new faces in the last two years, and I am grateful for their gov-ernance oversight and strategic guidance.

I have heard from many local business leaders that our commu-nity’s strong health care system is as much a draw to the community as the strong school system. We’ve also heard from the talented medical professionals employed by or associated with Montrose Memorial that they are here in order to be part of a progres-

sive organization while living in a beautiful place.

I, and the Board of Directors, take the role of being one of the largest economic engines for the community and region seriously. Montrose Memorial had a $90 mil-lion operating budget last year, and the system’s balance sheet contin-ues to be strengthened including stronger cash reserves and lower debt. As a nonprofi t 501©3, excess proceeds are used to enhance services and provide extensive community benefi t. In 2014, this benefi t included providing more than $10 million in charitable care alone, not to mention the many community education and other non-compensated services that are offered. Additionally, $34 million in salaries is injected into the com-munity annually.

To meet the needs of the commu-nity, we value your input simply give us a call or stop by and give us your feedback. We need to hear that we are meeting your needs and expectations.

Steve Hannah is the CEO of Mon-trose Memorial. To learn more, visit http://www.montrosehospi-tal.com.

hospital happenings

steve hannahMontrose Memorial Hospital

Help prevent diabetesHere’s a surprise. Brand new

research published in the February 2015 Journal of Medical Food sug-gests that coconut water improves diabetes. The catch is that it was a rat study, not a human study. Nev-ertheless, many animal model stud-ies extrapolate to humans so don’t dismiss the research just yet OK? The rats in the study got diabetes from a potent compound called alloxan. Even though alloxan has only been proven to induce diabe-tes in rats, I’m bothered by the fact you’re eating alloxan every single day without knowing it! Soon, I will list a few other ideas (vitamins and medications) to protect you from alloxan.

Alloxan is a potent compound that destroys beta cells in rats. The question is can it do that to hu-mans?

Alloxan is pervasive in our food supply and there’s a ton of research correlating its ability to induce diabetes in clinical trials, that’s why it’s used in all the stud-ies. Trust me, they are not giving all these lab rats a plate of muffi ns, they are using “alloxan monohy-drate” and injecting it. Then the rats get diabetes, and testing be-gins. Alloxan is a by-product of the fl our-bleaching process that makes fl our “white.” You can make a choice to buy unbleached or whole wheat fl our, instead of white fl our that might be contaminated.

Next and this is very important, you can eat nutrient-rich foods that support healthy blood sugar and

counter alloxan-induced damage.My top list now: 1. Vitamin C found in citrus

fruits2. Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6 found

in leafy greens (B complex has full range of bioactive B vitamins)

3. Folate or vitamin B9 found in leafy greens

4. Zinc because it helps with vi-sion and skin

5. Selenium because it protects the liver from alloxan (the research is here)

6. Lipoic acid is a supplement that helps with nerve pain

Now back to coconut water, we know it is an awesome electrolyte replenishment drink! But it’s not just great for people with diarrhea or those who sweat. Thanks to new research, we see that coconut water reduces blood sugar levels as well as hemoglobin A1c levels (in alloxan-induced diabetic rats). It stops the glycation process that elevated blood sugar causes.

That’s good because glycation ages you faster and here, some-thing so natural and tasty impedes the “rusting” in your body. Change your diet back to a more pristine and straight-forward diet. Do you want to keep eating a known poison or not? That’s what it boils down to. There’s a more informa-tion at www.DiabetesSummit.net if you care to learn more from this online event which was broadcast last month.

Suzy Cohen, RPh has been a phar-macist for 26 years.

Montrose Memorial continues to adapt and evolve

3

By Katharhynn heidelBerg

It can be sudden, or gradual; severe, or mild — and it appears in several forms.

Arthritis, the inflammation of tissue around joints, afflicts more than 52 million American adults and is considered the nation’s leading cause of disability, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“A little film of tissue separates bone from bone. That’s what becomes inflamed,” Dr. Robert Brethouwer, a recently retired Montrose physician, said. Because of the inflamed tissue, a bit of fluid can form, which sometimes must be drawn off.

Typical characteristics are pain and stiffness in or around one joint or more.

There are a host of causes and a variety of types of the disorder, en-compassing fibromyalgia, gout and systemic lupus erythematosus. The CDC says that among adults, more than 150 conditions are considered arthritis or “other” rheumatic conditions.

Arthritis occurs in children, too, though experts appear to disagree

on a good definition of what consti-tutes it. The CDC considers child-hood arthritis an “umbrella term,” and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to be the most prevalent. Other types are juvenile chronic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, affects the entire joint, involves the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments and bone, per the CDC. These tissues break down, leading to pain and stiffness in the joints. Onset is gradual and most commonly affected are knees, hips, spine and hands.

“The most common is osteo-arthritis and the least common is rheumatoid, which is a real problem to treat. It can be acutely severe,” Brethouwer said.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition and systemic inflammatory disease that presents in multiple joints, according to information from the CDC. Pain, swelling and redness are common symptoms.

The exact causes are unknown, but may be down to a flawed im-mune response. Medications, sur-gery and exercise have been shown to reduce pain and disability, per

the CDC.The disease can progress in one

cycle (one episode the ends within two to five years, due to treatment or early diagnosis); multiple cycles (disease’s activity fluctuates) and progressive — increasing in sever-ity and unrelenting.

Lupus is also an autoimmune dis-ease. In it, the immune system gen-erates antibodies to cells, leading to inflammation and tissue dam-age, according to the CDC. Causes are believed linked to genetic, environmental and hormonal fac-tors. Lupus can affect joints, skin, internal organs and blood vessels.

Other diseases in the arthritis spectrum are gout and fibromyal-gia.

Gout is joint inflammation result-ing from the body depositing uric acid crystals in body tissues and fluid; medications, alcohol and some foods are known to trigger the overproduction or under-ex-ceretion or uric acid. Gouts stages are: asymptomatic; acute flares; inter-critical segments and chron-ic. It is associated with increased risk for kidney stones.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread, abnormal pain, sleep

disturbance, fatigue and mental distress. Other symptoms include morning stiffness, and tingling/numbness in hands and feet.

Arthritis is likely to affect most people at some point, but you can decrease risks by managing your weight, avoiding joint injuries in sports, treating infections and be-ing aware of the risks involved in occupations that involve hard labor or heavy lifting.

Although it may seem counterin-tuitive, cardiovascular and weight-training exercises are good for even a body with arthritis — just be sure to consult with your health care provider before embarking on an exercise regimen.

Early diagnosis usually improves the ability to manage the disease. Visit your doctor if you experience joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

“Everyone is going to get it,” Brethouwer said. “Some people, it doesn’t bother that much. We all have different degrees of pain we live with. But osteoarthritis is with all of us, to a degree.”

The information used above comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/ar-thritis.

‘everyone is going to get it’Arthritis can lead to pain and stiffness in the joints, including your hands.

Early diagnosis can help manage pain associated with arthritisXNLV

2090

10

Colorectal cancer can be prevented - not just

detected - with colonoscopy

Taking new patients!Colorectal Cancer Facts

4

Montrose neurologist: Staying active necessary for brain

By alan lewis gerstenecKer

Retirement. At 25, it seemed a lifetime away, and it was, mostly. Back then, you were on top of your game. Smart. Witty. Quick with a come-back.

Now, a lot of seniors — those at the tail end of the baby-boomer generation and beyond — are staring at retirement, and wondering whether they’ll have the same intelligence and wit they did at 25. The answer is no, as the aging process that diminishes muscle-mass with the pass-ing decades also affects the brain. Those sharp comebacks that once rolled off the tongue now emerge at a lesser degree and may take longer to materialize. However, not all is lost, said Mon-trose Neurologist Dr. Michael Hehmann.

Hehmann has been a neurologist for nearly 25 years, 20 of which has been serving patients through Montrose Memorial Hospital.

“In terms of prevention of dementia, there are certain things that are very important,” Hehm-ann said. “Just as you will exercise for the heart, you must for the brain. Exercise will not only reduce the risk of heart attack, but it can reduce the risk of dementia and stroke.”

Hehmann stressed the importance of physical activity, in moderation and befitting a person’s age.

“Go out for a good walk for 15 to 20 minutes at a brisk pace, three to four times a week,” he said.

Hehmann also stressed the importance of per-sonal relationships.

“It’s important to reflect on memories, get with family and friends and have social interaction,” Hehmann said. “It’s very important not to be secluded. Non-interaction should be avoided.”

Hehmann also said maintaining a good diet is necessary.

“Diet is especially important,” Hehman said. “I would tell people to follow a Mediterranean diet, moderate portions of fruits and vegetables.”

The Mediterranean diet represents a nutrition-al recommendation originally inspired by the traditional eating patterns of Greece, southern Italy and Spain. The principle aspects include proportionally high consumption of olive oil, le-gumes, unrefined cereals, fruits and vegetables, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of dairy products (mostly cheese and yogurt), moderate wine consumption and low consumption of meat and meat products.

“It’s not a proven diet,” Hehmann said. “How-ever, it makes sense. A lot of these health studies just take so many years.”

And then, Hehmann stated what seniors have come to realize.

“So much of this has to do with family histo-ry,” he said. “Certainly, there are things we can do, but health history has much to do with it.”

Exercise, healthy

diet not only good for

heart but brain, too

XNLV

2087

88XNLV

2087

88

816 S. 1st Street, Montrose (970) 249-2533 • www.drsharlenemartinson.com

Our Of� ce has been a Family Tradition for 35 Years

SHARLENE MARTINSON, DDS

A Beautiful Smile...Just in time for Summer!

$93 off for childrenMUST PRESENT COUPON. EXP 5/31/15

Includes FREE home teeth whitening kit!

$120 offHablamos Español

New Patient SPECIAL

XNLV

2087

88

XNLV208790

611 East Star Ct. Montrose • www.inmotiontherapymontrose.com

In Motion •Therapy

• Hand Therapy • Speech Therapy

• Sports Medicine• Physical Therapy

Now seeing patients at our new Ridgway Location!

Call for details (970) 249-1646

5

XN

LV20

9334

PediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricCompassion. Quality. Care.When your child is in need, we will be there.

Two Convenient Locati onsMONTROSE AREA947 South Fift h StreetMontrose, CO 81401970-249-2421970-249-8897 fax

DELTA AREA242 Cott onwood Street #101Delta, CO 81416970-874-7552970-874-7554 fax

w w w. t h e p e d i a t r i c a s s o c i a t e s . c o m

Here are additional helps for mind improve-ment:

Have fish once a week People who eat fish once a week have a 60

percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to research. The reason is DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in large quantities in the brain and in cold-water species of fish, such as salmon, tuna and cod. A study recently found that a weekly seafood-based meal may slow cognitive decline by 10 percent a year—the equivalent of turning back the clock three to four years.

Take a daily brain break When it comes to the brain, the one factor

we often neglect is mental stimulation. We are creatures of habit and tend to engage in the same activities and behavior patterns. In fact, the brain “prefers” novelty and unex-pected events. When a person mentally chal-lenge themselves on a regular basis, they can maintain good intellectual potential as well as reduce our risk for age-related memory loss. Challenge yourself with brain games, scientifi-cally developed to give your mind a workout. From Mah Jongg to Sudoku, you won’t know which gave is your favorite until you try them all.

Keep family meetings If persons doubt the power of staying con-

nected, consider this: Experts now believe that socializing, like other forms of mental exercise (such as crossword puzzles), may build cogni-tive reserve—a reservoir of brain function you draw from if and when other areas of your brain begin to decline. Regular socializing also keeps your brain sharp by reducing cortisol, the destructive stress hormone.

Maximize your workouts Aside from eating a healthy diet, one of the

most important ways to preserve your brain health is through regular exercise. Cardiovas-cular activity pumps more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, which is like giving a car a shot of gasoline. With that blood comes nutrients such as glucose, which fuels every cell in the brain. Daily workouts also have long-term benefits. Cardio exercise strengthens blood vessels and helps prevent illnesses that impair cognitive function, like stroke.

Keep happy thoughts Experts know that positive emotions have

a beneficial effect on the ability to process information and are linked to better brain health during the long term. In 2007, one study found that people who frequently experience positive emotions were 60 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, while another found that older adults with lower lev-els of chronic stress scored better on memory tests. If you’ve had a bad day, simply press

“eject” on your mental DVD player and pop in a feel-good memory instead, says Crook. Think about a time in your life when you were utterly happy. Rehearse the scene as though you were reliving it, complete with the dialogue, sights, smells, and feelings.

Don’t sweat what you forget Know what and when to forget. A daily over-

load of information often makes us think our memory is declining, and we have memory loss when in fact it’s simply glutted with too much useless data. Most of the information that comes at us every day is, frankly, not worth remembering. A fit brain will efficiently screen out and discard worthless or meaningless data so it can remember what’s important. For example, the faster you forget your old PIN or access code, the quicker and more accurately you will recall your new numbers.

Take a nap Go ahead, doze off during your lunch break.

Napping for as little as six minutes can im-prove your memory. During the course of 60 minutes, three groups of volunteers stayed awake for the entire hour, got in just six min-utes of sleep, or took a 30- to 45-minute nap. On a word recall test afterward, all of those who slept outperformed those who didn’t —but surprisingly, the six-minute nappers did just as well on the memory exam as those who snoozed longer.

6

An Affordable Alternative to Assisted LivingDon’t Spend Another Day Isolated, Alone, and Struggling

For you or your loved ones

• Live Comfortably & Be Independent • Be Safe • Be Secure • Dine on Excellent, Fresh Meals • Enjoy Convenience, Activities & Assistance

• Bring Your Pet! • Respite Care Available

Call Heidi or Sigi for more information970-249-2435 • info@springcreekchalet.com

2710 Sunnyside Road, Montrose

springcreekchalet.comResort Style Retirement You’ll Call Home

XN

LV20

9532

Open House Saturday, May 9th

9am - 12pmFirst 20 Customers will receive

a canvas bag with valuable gifts from local stores including a

free cup of coffee from A&Y Art Gallery!

Women are often the caregivers of the family. After taking care of kids, spouses, aging parents, or even friends, we some-times forget to take care of ourselves! Each year, Mother’s Day kicks off National Women’s Health Week, a time for women to focus on their own health, and take steps to stay as healthy as they can be. Some of the suggestions for living a longer, healthi-

er life include: Healthy Eating – A

healthy diet can reduce your risk for all kinds of chronic disease, including heart disease and cancer. Aim for at least 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables daily, drink plenty of wa-ter, and try to avoid empty calories like sodas and sweets.

Active Living – Did you know that just 30 minutes of brisk walking each day

can lower your risk of breast cancer? Walk, bike, dance, swim – it doesn’t matter what you choose, just get moving!

Mental Health – There is a strong connection between mental and physical health. Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, maintaining a strong social network, and managing your stress with healthy interventions like exercise or medita-

tion instead of alcohol or overeating.

Yearly Wellness Exams – This yearly visit is an op-portunity to discuss family history, address any chang-es in your health status and take care of all recom-mended health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that women continue cervical cancer screening until at

least age 65. Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for both breast and colorec-tal cancer, so these screen-ings should continue for as long as a person is in good health.

Women, take action this week to protect your health!

For more information, or to take the National Wom-en’s Health Week pledge, go to womenshealth.gov/nwhw.

Women’s Health Week puts focus on screeningTake care of yourself by getting enough sleep, maintaining a strong social network, and managing your stress with exercise or meditation.

7

top books for hEalthy living

‘EAT TO LIVE’By Joel Fuhrman,

M.D.The physician

author is also a nutritional researcher and offers a six-week food plan for good and improved health.

The back cover summarizes the contents and states, “When the ratio of nutrients to calories in the food you eat is high, you lose weight. The more nutrient-dense food you eat the less you crave fat, sweets and high-calorie foods.”

The contents offer simple explanations why this advice works.

‘Running for Beginners’By John Radcliffe

“Running for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to Start Running for Weight Loss and Better Mental Health” covers a variety of running tips and tricks to help people lose weight.

It includes clear ways of measuring BMR, BMI and the weight of your body depending on your age and height.

‘FORKS OVER KNIVES’

By Del Sroufe and Isa Chandra MoskowitzThe premise is

simple: If you want to lose weight, lower cholesterol and prevent (or perhaps reverse) chronic conditions including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, the right food is the best medicine.

Research has proven that eliminating meat, dairy, saturated oils and fats results in improved health.

Wholesome fruits and vegetables plus grains and legumes and 300 seasonally-inspired healthy recipes include a Very Berry Smoothie, Stir-Fried Noodles with Spring Vegetables, Grilled Eggplant Steaks and Apricot Fig Squares.

‘Big Book of Exercises’

By Adam CampbellThe “Men’s Health

Big Book of Exercises” serves as a high-quality workout guide for anyone (including women) who want to get in shape. It features a comprehensive collection of exercises for people who are new to workouts and those who are veterans of fitness. The 48-page muscle manual also includes exercise findings in science and small tips.

‘FAT CHANCE’By Robert H. Lustig,

M.D.Summarized as

a way to beat the odds against sugar, processed food, obesity and disease the author refers to obesity and chronic disease as a pandemic and offers strategies to recover health.

He writes about children worldwide who will not know a normal childhood because of lack of good nutrition.

He states that according to the World Health Organization the percent of obese humans globally has doubled in the past 28 years, and obesity’s contribution to the burden of chronic disease is equal to, if not greater than, that of smoking.

1630 S Main St Delta, CO 81416970-323-6658

lukemcgaha@yahoo.commorrismonument.com

Hours: M-F 8am-5pm | Evenings & Weekends by Appt

Morris Monument

XNLV

2099

33

A memorial dedicated to a loved one is, for most people, the most enduring purchase they will ever make.  Expected to last hundreds of years longer than any purchase including your home, consideration and care should be

put into selecting the perfect memorial.

Morris Monument is a second generation monument shop that was founded in 1990. We love helping our customers � nd that special memorial that will pass on their loved ones legacy. Our experience, craftsmanship, and selection ensures you will receive the perfect memorial, of the highest quality, at the best value price. We have quality memorials to � t every

budget. Please navigate our website for some ideas regarding color and shapes… and see a small selection of what’s possible in our memorial gallery, or come by our showroom in Delta, Colorado to see our large

selection of inventory. We’d be honored to assist you in this most important of decisions. We’ll be here when you are ready.

~ Morris Monument

We also offer: Sign engraving, address rocks, pet memorials,sandblasting, and glass etching.

MorrisMonumentHighestQualityBest Value

The Cottages of Hilltop gives youthe independence and freedom to make

the most of your retirement

L O C A L L Y O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D B Y H I L L T O P

(970) 434-2111 • TheCottagesGJ.org

INDEPENDENT LIVINGOur single-level patio homes offer privacyand luxury. The open living plans feature two bedrooms, two baths,vaulted ceilings, contemporary kitchens, gas fireplace, covered patioand one-car garage.

CAREFREE LIFESTYLE Enjoy the freedom of maintenance-freeliving with paid utilities, weekly housekeeping, snow removal, lawnmaintenance and a customized meal plan at our Commons orFountains dining rooms.

PEACE OF MIND Each residence includes a 24-houremergency response system. Plus, we offer a choice offlexible care options and services to meet yourchanging needs.

Retirement livingwith the emphasis on

living

s or

VISITTODAY FORA TOURAND FREELUNCH

XNLV

209336

8

XNLV208779

XNLV

2095

35

Montrose Rehab at Valley Manor 1401 S Cascade Ave, Montrose • 970-249-9634

Amenities:• Private rooms with private

baths, TV and phone• Individualized physical,

occupational and speech therapies

• Spacious and well-equipped clinic

• Massage therapist on staff

Our professional team works with you to restore your maximum health and

physical functioning, so you can return to doing the

things that are most important to you!

Call today for a tour or more information.

Regroup, Renew, Rehab!The Therapy Team at Montrose Rehab at Valley Manor is here to

help you reach your full rehab potential!

Pictured left to rightRoy Icasiano - Physical Therapist

Certified Manual Therapist, Kinesiotape Certified Practitioner, Pain ManagementHannah Peters - Occupational Therapist

Restoration of Daily Activities, Home Safety and Independence, Mental WellnessSharon Pilcher - Physical Therapy AssistantBalance Training, Bal-A-Vis-X, Fall Prevention

Lynda Mihavetz - Physical Therapist, Director of RehabFunctional Neurological Treatment for Alzheimer’s/Neurological Disorders,

Orthopedic ManagementChristi Masimer - Speech Therapist (not pictured)

LSVT LOUD Certification, Dysphagia Treatment

By Katie langford

Every day, the hu-man brain is deluged in chemicals that send messages to different areas of the brain and body, dictating every-thing from mood and appetite to sleep and movement. A disrup-tion or lack of these chemicals can have a variety of ill effects, and for 50,000 people in the U.S. every year, it means a diagnosis of Parkinson’s dis-ease.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease start when nerve cells in the brain that pro-duce dopamine — a chemical that’s re-

lated to movement and gratification — start to break down and die. Without dopa-mine, people develop tremors, stiffness and slowed movement, among other symp-toms.

No one knows what causes Parkinson’s and there is cur-rently no cure for the disease, but Mon-trose neurologist Dr. Michael Hehmann said there are a wide variety of treatments that make the disease manageable.

“It’s not a death sen-tence,” Hehmann said. “It doesn’t destroy the mind or thinking, but

patients will experi-ence progressing symptoms over many years.”

Parkinson’s affects around one million people in the U.S. total.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the preva-lence of Parkinson’s has risen steadily since tracking began in 1973, but this can also be attributed to

increased awareness, more accurate diag-noses and an aging population.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological disease, and as of 2003, it is the 14th most common cause of death in the United States.

“Most of our pa-tients with Parkin-son’s are on medica-tion and they don’t look any different,

but those patients still have a lot of other symptoms,” Hehm-ann said. “There’s a lot of patients with Parkinson’s where the medication doesn’t work very well in the very wide spectrum of the disease.”

While medication can improve symp-toms, they do not halt the progression of the disease. Despite this, Hehmann said

he’s hopeful about the future of Parkinson’s research.

“There’s a lot of ongoing research for Parkinson’s, and I think soon we’ll have even more treatment options, and hopefully a cure,” he said.

Hehmann said one of the most impor-tant parts of treating Parkinson’s is treat-ing the emotional toll a chronic disease can take. There is a monthly support group meeting for peo-ple with Parkinson’s at 2 p.m. every fourth Monday on the confer-ence level of Montrose Memorial Hospital.

Understanding Parkinson’s diseasePARKINSON’S IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON NEuROLOgICAL DISEASE, AND AS OF 2003, IT IS THE 14TH MOST COMMON CAuSE OF DEATH IN THE uNITED STATES.

XNLV

2093

27

970.874.76811501 East 3rd Street • Delta, CO 81416-5003

www.deltahospital.org

Emergency – Trauma Level IV

Providing Delta County Families with high qualitymedical services for the past 100 years.

Services OfferedInpatient & Outpatient, Same Day Surgery • Medical and Intensive Care

Clinical Laboratory • Stork’s Landing (Labor & Delivery)Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy • Endoscopy Services

Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation • Registerd Dietician/Diabetes Educator Radiology – CT Scan, PET-CT, MRI, X-ray, Bone Density, Ultrasound, Nuclear

Medicine, Stereotactic Breast Biopsy, Digital Mammography

Annual Health Fairs held in Delta County communities

DCMH FacilitiesColorow Family Medical Care - Olathe/Delta - DCMH Family MedicineDelta - DCMH Primary Care - Hotchkiss/Paonia - DCMH Primary Care

Pediatrics & Family Practice - DCMH Urgent CareDelta-Montrose Home Health Services - Grand Mesa Oncology Infusion Center

Grand Mesa Rheumatology - Internal Medicine AssociatesPremier Women’s Healthcare of Delta

Stay Close to Home and Family,We are Here for Your Health(970) 874-2222

DCMH Urgent Care - 874-7696

9

XNLV208766

National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 10th, and will be celebrated through May 16th, 2015. This week-long health observance encourages women to make their

health a priority and take manageable steps for longer, healthier, happier lives:

F Get Active—try for 30 minutes a day, every day F Eat Healthy—fill your plate with fruits and veggies F Take care of your mental health—reach out to a friend F Schedule yearly Well Woman Exams to take care of preventive screenings and stay on track with your health goals.

For more information on how YOU can celebrate National Women’s Health Week,

visit womenshealth.gov/nwhw.

This ad is a reminder from the American Cancer Society.

Preventive cancer screenings save lives. Don’t delay, make your appointment today!

1-800-227-2345/www.cancer.org

THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF BIRTHDAYS.™

Call ustoday for a

courtesy home evaluation.You’ll be glad

you did!

543 East Second Avenue, Suite 1E The Mears Building

Our professional team of nurses, therapists, certified home health aides and personal care providers will help patients and their caregivers regain and maintain their independence at home!

Our services include:• 24-Hour On-Call Access• Skilled Nursing – Pediatric & Geriatric• Pre and Post Op Surgery Care• Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy• Homemaking & Personal Care• Social Work Services

XNLV

208787

May is National Nurses Month. PASCO Southwest would like to thank

all of our hard working nurses for their dedication and service!

Call ustoday for a

courtesy home evaluation.You’ll be glad

you did!

Our services include:• 24-Hour On-Call Access• Skilled Nursing – Pediatric & Geriatric• Pre and Post Op Surgery Care• Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy• Homemaking & Personal Care• Social Work Services

Working parents tend to have hectic schedules, and those respon-sibilities often impede on the time moms and dads get to spend with their families. Many parents strive to make more time for their fami-lies, and doing so can prove a great-er reward than any promotions or bonuses earned at the office.

For those parents whose efforts to achieve better work-life balances re-main works in progress, the follow-ing are a few ways to free up more time for those people who matter the most to you.

• Stop working. Once you leave the office for the day, resist the tempta-tion to pick up your smartphone and check your email or listen to your voicemail messages. Smart-phones have made it easier than ever before to stay connected to the office. But many working profes-sionals feel this convenience has a significant downside, making them feel as if they are working round-the-clock, even during moments that were initially earmarked as family time. Working parents who want to make the most of the

time they have with their children should ignore their smartphones during dinner or the time they spend hanging out with their kids or helping them do their home-work. You can always sneak a peek at your emails when the kids go to bed.

• Shake things up. If your list of responsibilities is truly taking time away from your family, don’t be afraid to shake up your routine. For example, instead of cooking dinner alone, involve the kids so you can get some extra time in with them. If you like to go on a nightly jog around the neighborhood, let the kids accompany you on their bicycles so you can still get your exercise without having to sacrifice time spent with your children.

• Propose changes at work. Work is one of the biggest consumers of parents’ time.

• Move closer to the office. Many parents are determined to

spend more time with their fami-lies, and those willing to make a few adjustments can find that goal is not as difficult as it seems.

How to find more time for family

XNLV210653

Oncology

PROUD PARTNER WITH

Joanne Virgilio, DOMedical Oncologist

Ruth Higdon, MDGynecological Oncology Surgeon

OncologyGrand Valley

970-254-3180 • YourCommunityHospital.com

Your Choice

For

Diane Melancon, MDOncologist/Internist

10

The Perfect Smile for the WHOLE Family!

Providing ALL your DENTAL needs & wants under ONE roof

New PatientsAlways Welcome!

www.danielhatchdds.com

Call Us at: (970) 249-4301

www.facebook.com/Dr.DanHatch 1127 E. Main St • Montrose, CO 81401

FREE DENTURE EVALUATION & panoramic xray by mentioning this ad!

XN

LV20

9333

Teen dating violence is a prevalent problem, including in our commu-nity. Hilltop’s Tri-County Resources is addressing the teen dating violence issue head on. Tri-County Resources, which provides domestic violence services in Montrose, Delta and Ouray counties, has exten-sive experience and re-sources in helping women and children escape dan-gerous situations while providing them the support and advocacy they need to rebuild their lives.

Teens are not impervious to the dangers of violence in intimate relationships. Chip Meneley, Program Supervisor of Tri-County Resources, gives hundreds of community presenta-tions a year about teen dating violence. Law enforcement, teachers and students, families and individuals are educated about warning signs and

the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. “What we’re seeing with teen dating vio-lence are the same patterns of coercion and control that we see in adult cases,” Meneley said.

Offenders may exhibit behaviors such as jealousy, possessiveness, control-ling, threats, stalking, demanding passwords to social media accounts, isolating the partner, and physical violence. They are typically narcissistic, see themselves as victims and minimize these actions in front of others. Mene-ley says, “To teens, their peer group is the most important thing to them. It’s a time when they’re separating from parents, so oftentimes it’s difficult for parents and teachers to know about intimate partner violence. But there are signs to look for.”

Parents, educators and

friends may notice several behavioral changes of a teen in an abusive relation-ship, such as receiving a high volume of communi-cation in a short amount of time (texts and phone calls), grades dropping, withdrawal, substance abuse, being secretive, hesitant to spend time with the family if the partner isn’t there, or stops doing things they love. “Abuse is a learned behavior, and they do it because it works, it gets results and they get

what they want,” Meneley added.

Meneley is working with law enforcement to make a shift in how all domestic violence and sexual as-sault cases are handled. He would like to see more thorough investigations into the offenders past rela-tionships to find a pattern of abuse. Less than 2 per-cent of sexual assaults are reported and only 1 percent of victims see it all the way through to trial because cases are difficult to pros-

ecute. The offender usually argues that the encounter was consensual and peers can be reluctant to talk.

“The number one thing that will help them through is if they are believed. Validate what she’s feeling. It helps healing and cuts down on the extent of trau-ma,” Meneley explained. “Ultimately, our goal is to focus on the accountability of the offender and not tolerate domestic violence and sexual assault in our community.

tri-county addresses teen dating violence

ASK THE DIRECTOR: Our Community Cares... Join us Tomorrow for the Valley Lawn Cemetery Clean-Up!We invite you to come and help your community! Because of the recent demise of Valley Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery, there is a ‘community clean-up day’ at the cemetery to prepare it for Memorial Day. Event: Valley Lawn Cemetery CleanupDate: Saturday, May 2, 2015 Time: 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.Location: Cemetery, Highway 550 SouthBring your brush trimmers, gardening gloves, positive attitudes and smiling faces! Lets make sure that all the graves are prepared for the holiday.Donations are gladly accepted and can be dropped o� at Sunset Mesa, located at 155 Merchant Drive, in Montrose (behind the Montrose Ford dealership).Together we can make a di� erence! With all my support, love and hope

— Megan Hess & family

Megan HessOwner

Cell (970) 275-5288

Donations are gladly accepted and can be dropped o� at Sunset Mesa, located at 155 Merchant Drive, in Montrose (behind the Montrose Ford dealership).

With all my support, love and hope — Megan Hess & family

Donations are gladly accepted and can be dropped o� at Sunset Mesa, located at 155 Merchant Drive, in Montrose (behind the Montrose Ford dealership).

— Megan Hess & family

XNLV

2093

29

155 Merchant Drive • (970) 240-9870 • www.SunsetMesaFuneralDirectors.com

TRI-COuNTy SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT www.HTOP.ORg, CALL (970) 249-02486 FOR NON-EMERgENCy HELP, OR CONTACT A TRAINED ADVOCATE AT ONE OF THE 24-HOuR CRISIS LINES AT:DELTA: (970) 874-4941MONTROSE: (970) 249-2486OuRAy: (970) 626-3777