The Press-Dispatch

C-6 Wednesday, May 7, 2014 The Press-Dispatch The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, May 7, 2014 C-7 C-4 Health and Wellness Wednesday, May 7, 2014 The Press-Dispatch H e alth & W e lln e ss A speciAl section for tHe press-DispAtcH 2 pAges Serving PiKe and SUrrOUnding COUnTieS WeDnesDAy, MAy 7, 2014 Subscribe to The Press-Dispatch Starting at just $27 for local subscribers. Call 354-8500 today! Foods to supplement workouts Diet and exercise go hand-in- hand for adults looking to reduce their risk for heart disease and cancer. A great workout routine is made even better by a healthy diet, and a healthy diet is even more effective when paired with an active lifestyle. While that's certainly not revelatory, men and women might be surprised to learn they have different nutri- tional needs, so a diet that might satisfy women's needs will not necessarily do the same for men. When tailoring their diets, men should be sure to include nutrients that prevent prostate cancer and help them maintain muscle mass. The right nutrients also can help men boost their im- mune systems, prevent bone loss and strengthen their cardiovas- cular systems. While many foods provide nutritional benefits to both men and women, the fol- lowing are some foods that can be especially beneficial to men. • Bananas: Rich in potassi- um, bananas can aid in protein metabolism, boost the immune system, help with the formation of red blood cells and help the nervous system operate at op- timal capacity. Bananas are a  great source of vitamin B-6, and  because they're so easily porta- ble, bananas make a great mid- day snack or preworkout bite to eat on your way to the gym. In addition to providing ample po- tassium, bananas also are rich in magnesium, and diets rich in both potassium and magne- sium can reduce a person's risk of stroke. Though women suf- fer more strokes each year than men, the National Stroke Associ- ation notes that is likely because women live longer than men and stroke typically occurs at older ages. Stroke incidence is high- er in men than women at young- er ages, so men, especially those with a family history of stroke, should include bananas in their growing problem obesity during pregnancy a Changes to the body are ex- pected during pregnancy, and weight gain is one of the changes most often associated with preg- nancy. But excessive weight gain  during pregnancy can cause com- plications for a woman and her ba- by. The American Congress of Ob- stetricians and Gynecologists re- ports that more than 50 percent of pregnant women are over- weight or obese. Many women begin their pregnancy intending to eat healthy throughout their pregnancy. But those good inten- tions can get pushed aside when morning sickness makes it hard to stomach certain foods. In addi- tion, craving certain foods for no apparent reason can make it hard to stay on course. Other women may already be overweight at the onset of pregnancy and continue to gain weight. Women who have not lost pregnancy weight from a previous child may begin their subsequent pregnancy at a disadvantage. Contrary to popular belief, a woman does not need to dou- ble her calorie consumption to provide nutrition for her baby. Nor should she gain too much weight. According to BabyCent- er and the Institute of Medicine, the amount of weight a woman should gain during her pregnan- cy depends on her starting weight and her body mass index, or BMI,  which measures the relationship between height and weight. If a woman's pre-pregnancy BMI is  in the healthy range, she should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. Underweight women should gain between 28 and 40 pounds. Those who are overweight or obese should gain between 11 and 20 pounds. But  the amount of women gaining 40 pounds or more during pregnan- cy has increased by 29 percent over the last 30 years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Many of these women did not begin their pregnancies with a healthy BMI. Gaining too much weight dur- ing pregnancy puts a woman and her fetus at risk for complica- tions. Extra pounds can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, early-stage heart dis- ease, type 2 diabetes, and oth- er issues. Preeclampsia, gesta- tional diabetes and postpartum weight retention are other con- siderations. In terms of the fetus, cesarean delivery, stillbirth, pre- maturity, congenital anomalies, and childhood obesity are com- mon among babies born to over- weight mothers. What's more, obese women may not be able to elect for anesthesiology, like an epidural or spinal anesthesia, Continued on page C-5 Continued on page C-5 The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, May 7, 2014 C-5 Enhancing Lives Through Innovative Healthcare From recovery care and wellness to management of long-term health conditions, Golden LivingCenter - Petersburg offers a full spectrum of innovative programs and services, provided by compassionate, dedicated staff. These include 24-hour skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, private rehab to "Home Suites" and provides both inpatient and outpatient therapy services. For a tour or more information, please contact us. ™ Golden LivingCenter - Petersburg 309 West Pike Avenue Petersburg, IN 47567 (812) 354-8833 www.GoldenLivingCenters.com/Petersburg This facility welcomes all persons in need of its services and does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation or source of payment. GLC-09973-12 N293 H Food H obesity during pregnancy a growing problem Continued from page C-4 Continued from page C-4 STOP!!!! It takes 3 minutes to subscribe to Call 354-8500 diet. • Broccoli: Broccoli can  help men reduce their risk of heart disease and can- cer, the No. 1 and No. 2 kill- ers, respectively, of men 35 and older. Broccoli is a great  source of a phytochemi- cal known as sulforaphane, which can help men reduce their risk for both prostate and colon cancer. Brocco- li also may help men lower their levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to an increased risk of stroke. • Soybeans:  Soybeans  can be an integral part of a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and such diets can help men reduce their risk of heart disease. In addition, soybeans con- tain a substantial amount of isoflavones, which pro- mote a healthy prostate and lower men's risk of prostate cancer. Men should con- sider soy products such as soy nuts, soy milk and soy cheese to increase the nu- tritional value of their diets. • Oysters: Oysters are  widely considered a del- icacy, but few may know that oysters also make for a healthy addition to a nu- tritious diet. That's be- cause just a few oysters per day can deliver the recom- mended daily intake of zinc, a powerful antioxidant that research has shown can pro- tect men against the kind of cell damage that leads to prostate cancer. Men may also experience improved sexual function by includ- ing more zinc in their diets, as research has shown that zinc can help improve sperm counts. • Whole grains: Whole  grains are rich in fiber, vi- tamins and minerals, which can help men improve heart health, build muscle and maintain a healthy weight. Whole grains that are rich in soluble fiber, such as oat- meal, are strong sources of B vitamins that help men  lower their low-density li- poprotein, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Whole grain products that contain at least three to five grams of fiber per serving can pack a powerful punch for men looking to improve the nu- tritional value of their diets. Men and women benefit differently from various nu- trients, vitamins and min- erals, and men might be surprised to learn just how healthy certain easily pre- pared foods can be. Ask SHIP: Will Medicare pay for dental, vision visits? Q: I have Medicare. Will it pay for my dentist office visits or my vision and hearing screenings? A. Original Medicare is health coverage and does not cover routine eye ex- ams, glasses, or contacts. Medicare does, however, cover an annual glaucoma test if you are considered at risk. It also covers cata- ract surgery and one pair of post-surgery eyeglasses from a Medicare-approved provider. It might also cover an annual test for diabetic retinopathy and screenings for macular degeneration. Original Medicare may pay for medically necessary dental services that are re- lated to other Medicare- covered procedures or inju- ries and will only pay Medi- care-approved providers. Original Medicare does not cover hearing screen- ings, hearing aids, or fit- tings. You Part B does cov- er diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doc- tor order the for treatment of a medical condition oth- er than hearing loss. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medic- aid, check your individual plan to see if additional vi- sion, dental or hearing ser- vices are covered. The following chart also lists resources that may be able to help. Vision • Local  Lions'  Club  chapters may have pro- grams to assist those with severe vision impairment. https://directory.lion - sclubs.org/ • EyeCare America®, a  service of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides free eye exams and up to one year of care for low-in- come individuals who qual- ify. www.eyecareamerica. org or 1-877-887-6327. Dental • Local dental schools  sometimes provide low- er costs services as train- ing to new dentists and hy- gienists. www.ada.org/267  .aspx  or  www.adha.org/ dental-hygiene-programs • The  Dental  Lifeline  Network offers free, com- prehensive dental treat- ment to vulnerable peo- ple, including the elderly and those with disabilities. http://dentallifeline.org/ • Community  Health  Centers supported by the Health Resources and Ser- vices Administration pro- vide health services, in- cluding dental care, to those with limited income. http://findahealthcenter. hrsa.gov Hearing • Sertoma is a civic ser- vice organization that con- nects people with hearing assistance. www.sertoma. org/page.aspx?pid=335 • The  Foundation  for  Sight and Sound, through tis Help America Hear Pro- gram, provides hearing aids for those with limited financial resources. If you have questions about your Medicare cov- erage or anything else re- lated to Medicare, contact SHIP for help. Call 1-800 - 452-4800. during delivery because ob- scured physical landmarks and excessive layers of fat can make administration risky. It's also more difficult for doctors to conduct ultra- sounds on obese or over- weight women, making it challenging to track the ba- by's well-being. Nutritionists warn that good eating habits during pregnancy should begin as early as the first trimester. Too often pregnant wom- en do not realize they have a problem until they've al- ready gained weight. Com- pounding the issue is that many OB/GYN doctors do  not readily discuss appropri- ate weight gain with preg- nant patients. Weight gain may be an afterthought to blood tests, genetic testing and lifestyle options doctors mention early on in the preg- nancy. Many women feel that pregnancy is a chance to eat without regard to diet and a time to enjoy foods that may normally be off-limits. How- ever, this could be a recipe for excessive weight gain. Doctors offer these rec- ommendations for keeping healthy during pregnancy: • Only consume an extra  300 calories per day and not until the second and third trimesters. • Aim for 30 minutes of  exercise most days of the week. • Stock the refrigerator  with healthy, fast snacks. • Track  calorie  intake  to make yourself more ac- countable. • Lose weight before you  become pregnant again. • Talk to a nutritionist  if you need help managing meals. • Make  breastfeeding  part of your postpartum plan. Breastfeeding burns  around 500 calories per day. reduce your risk of hearing loss Though it's difficult for many people to imagine liv- ing in a world in which their hearing has been compro- mised, hearing loss is a sig- nificant medical issue that affects millions of people across the globe. Accord- ing to the National Insti- tute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, among adults ages 65 and  older in the United States, 12.3 percent of men and nearly 14 percent of wom- en are affected by tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ears that can be intermittent or continuous and can vary in loudness. Some are quick to assume hearing loss is a natural side effect of ag- ing, and while the relation- ship between age and hear- ing loss is strong, that does not mean men and women cannot take steps to protect their hearing and maintain it well into their golden ears. • Limit  workplace  ex- posure to noise. Overexpo- sure to noise while on the job is a leading cause of se- vere hearing loss, yet mil- lions of people encounter hazardous levels of noise during a typical workday. For example, mechanics are routinely exposed to loud noise that stems from power tools or motor vehi- cle engines. This does not mean mechanics should take up a new trade, but they should approach the workday with a goal of pro- tecting their hearing. Me- chanics and other profes- sionals who are routine- ly exposed to workplace noise can wear protectors that cover their ears or ear- plugs that reduce the im- pact of noise on their ears. • Discuss side effects  of medications with your doctor before taking them. Many people may be sur- prised to learn that cer- tain medications can cause hearing loss. Some cancer drugs and certain antibiot- ics can cause hearing loss, including loss that may be permanent. In addition, when used regularly, non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and acetami- nophen can increase a per- son's risk of hearing loss. Some side effects related to hearing loss may disappear when a person stops taking the medication that is con- tributing to those side ef- fects, but that's not always the case, so it's best to dis- cuss any potential side ef- fects of medications with your physician before tak- ing anything. • Be especially careful  when enjoying recreation- al activities that put hearing in harm's way. Some cele- bratory activities are aug- mented by fireworks, and while fireworks may pro- vide some stunning visual appeal to celebrations, that appeal could be coming at the expense of your hear- ing. Hearing loss is some- times caused by exposure to loud and sudden nois- es, such as those made by fireworks. When attending celebrations that include fireworks, stay as far away from the fireworks as pos- sible and wear earplugs if necessary. Shooting enthusiasts may also be putting them- selves in harm's way. When visiting a shooting range or going on a hunting trip, pro- tect your ears with head- phones or ear plugs. The sudden pop of a gun or ri- fle can cause irreparable ear damage if you haven't already taken steps to pro- tect your ears. • Limit use of person- al music players. Though it's hard to predict how many of today's young peo- ple will suffer hearing loss down the road, it's fair to as- sume hearing loss figures will be on the rise. That's thanks in large part to in- creased usage of personal music players and smart- phones and their accom- panying earbuds and head- phones that allow music fans to crank up their fa- vorite tunes at all hours of the day regardless of loca- tion. The louder and long- er a person listens to music through headphones or ear- buds, the greater that per- son's risk of hearing loss may be. Those who want to protect their hearing for the long haul should lim- it their use of headphones and earbuds, and be sure to keep the volume down when they are using such devices.

• Cover