SPECIAL CARE FOR HARD-TO-HEAL WOUNDS

A TESTTHATCOULDSAVEYOURLIFEIF YOU’RE 50 ,NOTHING ON YOURTO-DO LIST SHOULDOUTRANK GETTING ACOLONOSCOPY.PEOPLE STILL DIE NEEDLESSLY FROM ONE OF THEmost preventable ills: colorectal cancer. But you can protectyourself against this major killer. Yes, exercise and a low-fat,high-fiber diet can help. But getting a colonoscopy to detectthe disease early, when it can best be treated, is your bestpreventive measure.Doctors use colorectal screenings to examine for polyps(tissue growths on the inner wall of your intestines) and earlystage cancers before they cause symptoms. And while not allpolyps become cancerous, almost all cancer growths comefrom polyps, which is why it’s important to screen for them.“Colon cancer is one of the biggest problems facing both menand women over 50 years of age,” says Holyoke Medical Centergastroenterologist Mary Norris, M.D. “It is the second leadingcause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Some people are at ahigher risk and should be screened at an age younger than 50,including those with a personal orfamily history of colorectal canceror polyps. Getting your colonoscopy screening done means takingcharge of your health. Identifyingand removing potentially precancerous polyps will decrease your risk ofdeveloping colon cancer.”Colorectal cancer is one form ofmalignancy that is almost alwayscured if it’s caught early. So if you’re50 or older—or if you’re younger butyou have an increased risk for theMary Norris, M.D.6disease—there’s simply no good reason not to get screened.And the best screening tool, doctors agree, is a colonoscopyevery 10 years. Unlike other screening methods, colonoscopy isboth diagnostic and therapeutic, because polyps and cancerousgrowths can be removed during the procedure.“One of the biggest concerns people have about getting acolonoscopy is the fear of discomfort and invasiveness of theprocedure; this is understandable,” says Dr. Norris. “Every person is dealt with at their own pace. Sedation is used for mostpeople to ensure comfort during the procedure. Prior to makinga decision of having a colonoscopy, you will have time to discussall those concerns with your doctor. Our patients’ needs andconcerns are very important.”“Scheduling a colonoscopy is easy,” adds Dr. Norris. “Atthe initial appointment, you will discuss your medical historyand the need for a colonoscopy—whether it is age related ora different health factor. At the end of your visit, and once yourquestions have been answered, a procedure is scheduled foryou. Typically, the exam is scheduled within four to six weeksfrom your initial visit.”If you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, oryou have inflammatory bowel disease or adenomatous polyps(those more likely than other types to become cancerous), moreaggressive screening may be appropriate. Talk to your doctorabout the screening schedule that’s right for you.❯❯ To schedule an appointment at HMCGASTROENTEROLOGY, please call 413.540.5048.AUGUST 2016 RO\ RNHB OOB B' 5 LQGG 0

RAISEACTIVE KIDSHELPING CHILDREN BE FIT DOESN’T HAVE TOCOST A LOT, BUT THE PAYOFF IS HUGE.TODAY’S KIDS ARE HEAVIER ANDless fit than kids used to be. Accordingto the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, roughly 17 percent of childrenand adolescents aged 2 to 19 are obese,a figure that has almost tripled since1980. What’s more, only one in threechildren achieves the minimum amountof physical activity (60 minutes) neededeach day to grow up to a healthy weight,according to the President’s Council onFitness, Sports & Nutrition.What’s changed? For one thing, thesimple suggestion to “go outside andplay” now works only for those luckyenough to have both neighborhoodfriends who are home and adults aroundto keep an eye out. For another, thenumber of digital options, iPads andespecially smartphones, now means kidsdon’t actually have to leave the house—or even the couch—to be social.And to add to the problem, schoolshave cut back on recess, and sportsleagues are becoming more competitive. This leaves the child with averagesports skills on the sidelines.“When children learn to be active,and get the daily activity they need forat least one hour each day, they growup to become healthier adults,” saysCarole Kohen-Diniak, D.O., FAAP withWestern Mass Pediatrics. “Studies haveshown that sufficient exercise can helpchildren learn better in school andsleep better at night. It also helps tokeep their weight at a healthy level.”The good news is that all of the badtrends can be countered by parentaleffort. That means doing things likehiking on weekends, playing catch andbeing active when you take kids to theplayground. In addition, there are otheroptions for busy parents:❯❯ Find an exercise or sport your childenjoys. Checkthe local Y oryour recreation programfor low-costclasses.❯❯ Allow kidsto walk to andfrom school,if possible.❯❯ Put yourchild in chargeof walking the Carole Kohen-Diniak, D.O.dog.❯❯ Crank up the music and sing anddance as you clean together.❯❯ Encourage biking or walking withfriends as opposed to texting.❯❯ Check on-demand cable listingsor YouTube for free fitness classes towatch and follow along.❯❯ Encourage an exercise journal.(A fitness/nutrition log is available atpresidentialyouthfitnessprogram.org aspart of the Parental Resource Guide.)Experts acknowledge that, giventhe demands on parents’ time, makingfamily fitness a priority is easier saidthan done. It may help to know thatthese activities are among the mostimportant things you can do for yourchild. The American Heart Associationreports that physical activity influencesweight, reduces blood pressure, raisesHDL (“good”) cholesterol, reduces therisk of diabetes and some kinds ofcancer—and leads to greater self-confidence and higher self-esteem. Makea plan to raise active kids!❯❯ WESTERN MASS PEDIATRICScan be reached at 413.534.2800.VALLEY HEALTH & LIFE RO\ RNHB OOB B' 5 LQGG 7 0

5FOOD MYTHS,BUSTEDSOME OF WHAT YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT HEALTHY EATING MAY BE FOLKLORE.HERE ARE FIVE WIDESPREAD BELIEFS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MYTHS.MYTH #1Frozen veggiesare less nutritiousthan fresh.Foods begin to lose theirnutritional value the minute they’re picked. Most“fresh” foods have lostmuch of their worth by thetime they reach our plates.Flash freezing, however,retains nutrients at theirpeak, as well as antioxidants and other beneficialplant chemicals. Eatinglocal is the best way toeat fresh. Most studieshave looked at a 10- to14-day lag time betweenharvesting and testing. Ifyou’re eating local foodsooner than that, it willhave almost as muchnutrition as its flash-frozencounterparts.8AUGUST 2016 RO\ RNHB OOB B' 5 LQGG 3 0

MYTH #2Bananas are fattening.We’ve long known bananas are a rich source of potassium, butthey also have a reputation for being high in sugar and therefore a threat to one’s waistline. That’s a bum rap. Fruit is not fattening. It’s the added sugar in processed foods like soft drinksand baked goods that adds unnecessary calories. A banana isa great source of Mother Nature’s finest nutrition. One bananais packed with nutrition and worth every calorie. Bananas are aterrific way for active people to replenish glycogen stores andget a quick energy boost.MYTH #4MYTH #3Mini-meals are betterthan three big ones.Evidence doesn’t supportit makes a difference inmaintaining a healthy weight.Rather, it’s the total numberof calories—not how youspread them out—that counts.If the calories are the same, mealfrequency is really a matter of lifestylechoice. What is important: not skippingbreakfast. Studies show that women who missbreakfast do more impulse snacking. When snackingis unplanned, you’re vulnerable to whatever food isaround when you get hungry, such as doughnuts ata meeting. When you plan your meals, you can snackon things like fruits and nuts on your schedule.Foods like celeryhave “negativecalories.”You may have heardthat some foods are solow-cal that the energy ittakes to chew and digestthem more than makesup for the calories theycontain. But the truth is thatnothing you eat can subtractcalories. A food like celery hasonly a few calories per stalk to begin with. No matter how vigorouslyyou chew, those calories neverreach zero or become a negativenumber. Nonetheless, crisp andfiber-rich foods are wise choicesfor a healthy diet.MYTH #5Cooking vegetables lessensall their nutrients.While it’s true that water-soluble vitamins like B and Cdiminish when cooked in water, fiber and minerals arenot affected by cooking. You can minimize nutrient lossby steaming or boiling for a short time in a covered potwith a small amount of water. Even better, try microwaving, grilling or roasting your local veggies to maintainmore nutrient value. No matter how you cook them, vegetables are a key component of a sound diet.VALLEY HEALTH & LIFE RO\ RNHB OOB B' 5 LQGG 9 3 0

ON-THE-CLOCKWORKOUTSIN A TIME CRUNCH? TRY ONE OF FITNESS EXPERT JESSIE PAVELKA’SSUGGESTED 10-, 20- OR 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS.ACCORDING TO THE CENTERSfor Disease Control and Prevention,exercising in shorter bursts throughout the day still does your bodygood. We asked star personal trainerJessie Pavelka to design workoutroutines of three different lengths togive you a chance to choose whatworks best for you. (Remember:Always check with your physicianbefore starting an exercise routine.)1010-MINUTEWORKOUT“Even though 10 minutes isn’t a lot of time, you can still get your bloodpumping and your heart rate up,” says Pavelka. “For great results, tryinterval training on a treadmill.” Walk for 1 minute at a moderate to fast pace. Jog or sprint for 1 minute. Repeat this pair of steps four more times.KICK IT UP A NOTCH! “If you’re in good shape, challenge yourself byincreasing speed and incline.”AUGUST 2016 RO\ RNHB OOB B' 5 LQGG 3 0

20-MINUTEWORKOUTPHOTOGRAPHY: DEREK WIESEHAHN; MODEL: LAUREN COZZA“Here’s a quick routine you can do on your lunch hour that helps burn fat and build

frequent infections and was hard to heal. “They had to clean it out, and they used different products to bring it to a healing stage,” Carol says. “Now they have me on collagen, and that’s helping it heal even better so that’s great. And the staff has been great. They treated me with respect and friendliness, and you couldn’t ask for