Happy New Years

Here's to a Happy and Healthy 2012!

 

 

Washington Regional Alcohol Program and AT&T are offering free cab rides up to $30 for anyone over 21 this New Years.  Call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) or dial #8294 (TAXI) if you’re an AT&T customer. The holiday SoberRide program offers free rides from 10 PM to 6 AM.

United State of Pop 2011

One of the best things about the new year!  DJ Earworm's Yearly Mash Up.

Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?

Here is one from the archives!  Better late than never. 

On September 24, 2011 the NY Times published an article looking at whether or not junk food was cheaper than whole foods prepared at home.  While it might seem like high calorie, nutritionally void foods are cheaper, the truth is that home cooked meals tend not only to be healthier, but cost less money.

There is also the argument that if you can drive to the nearest fast-food restaurant, you can just as easily drive to a grocery store.  There are actually five fast food restaurants for every grocery store in the US.  Similarly many say that it just takes too much time, but you could also use the time to cook instead of driving to dinner or waiting for something to be delivered. 

“Once I look at what I’m eating,” says Dr. Kessler, “and realize it’s not food, and I ask ‘what am I doing here?’ that’s the start. It’s not about whether I think it’s good for me, it’s about changing how I feel. And we change how people feel by changing the environment.”

What will we need to bring about change?  It looks like it will need to be two fold: cultural and political. 

The cultural lies in celebrating real food; raising our children in homes that don’t program them for fast-produced, eaten-on-the-run, high-calorie, low-nutrition junk; giving them the gift of appreciating the pleasures of nourishing one another and enjoying that nourishment together.

Political action would mean agitating to limit the marketing of junk; forcing its makers to pay the true costs of production; recognizing that advertising for fast food is not the exercise of free speech but behavior manipulation of addictive substances; and making certain that real food is affordable and available to everyone. The political challenge is the more difficult one, but it cannot be ignored.

Want to eat healthy on a budget?  The USDA Recommends the Three P's:

1. Plan
2. Purchase 
3. Prepare

Top 11 Health Stories for 2011

What kind of a blog would this be if there was no countdown?  Here are the links of my Top 11 Health Stories for 2011.  Disclaimer: I used several top 10 lists to create my own. 

1. Prostate exams could do more harm than good
2. HHS Overrules FDA on Plan B Age Limit
3. Link between vaccinations and Autism is found to be invalid
4. 13 people died after eating contaminated cantaloupes 
5. Cell phones may or may not cause cancer
6. First full face transplant happens in the US
7. Alzheimers is redefined 
8. The fish you are eating, might not be the fish on the menu
9. The food pyramid is redesigned, AGAIN
10. There is a shortage of lifesaving drugs
11. Top officials say that women under 50 do not need a mammography

Christmas Wrap Up!

Well I hope that Santa was as good to you as he was to me!

Elise played elf for the morning

This is posted mostly so you can see the outfit she is wearing

While there were several present highlights the top:

Donations to my Bike and Build Ride

BUILT Neoprene Fishnet One-Bottle Tote (go Elise)

Wine Charms for all occasions like these light bulbs

 Mom and Memere were busy at work getting dinner together

And the motto of the evening was "Why use six glasses when it will fit into three?"

Santa, Shouldn't You Be At The North Pole

This morning we headed out bright and early (okay, 9am) for the Annual Holiday Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament.  When I showed up, no joke my partner looked like a skinny Santa Clause; white beard and red baseball cap.  I am sure he would have showed up in a red suit if he was allowed to wear colors on the court. 

While the tennis was not best tennis my partner and I had played, we did get lovely parting gifts for playing in the tournament, so not a total loss.  

If I don't talk to you all sooner, have a fantastic Christmas!!

Taking a Mental Health Break

Tomorrow morning I am heading out of town for vacation.  

The blog will probably be down for the next few days still be up and running as I soak up some Florida rays!  

 

 Enjoy the rest of your holiday season.  

I will be back in time for one last New Years Eve Eve post because the dental clinic is OPEN!!

Homeless Vigil on the Winter Solstice

Every year on Winter Solstice (December 21), the National Coalition for the Homeless and homeless service providers around the United States sponsor the National Homeless Person' Memorial Day to call attention the plight of people who are homeless.  This evening is chosen because it is dark the longest; the sunsets at 4:31 today.

The vigil memorializes, with a bronze plaque under a busy downtown overpass, those who have died while living on the street.  Since 1991, Pittsburgh has lost 120 people.  This year only one person is known to have died on the streets (this does not include the number of people who are taken off the streets and brought to the hospital before they die).  While this number is significantly less than those in the past, it does not diminish the value of this person's life. 

Something to think about as we enter into the Holiday Season.

America's Health Rankings

Overall health in the US has not improved over the last year. 

How depressing is that statement?

The United Health Foundation recently published their most recent findings to create the America's Health Rankings.  Want to geek out for a few hours and compare state data?  Want to see which states have the best and worst health outcomes?  Look at incidence rates?  This is the site for you!

One of the things I came across was a section on preventable hospitalizations.  Sadly many of the under and uninsured US population uses the Emergency Department for their primary health needs instead of seeing their PCP.  Preventable hospitalizations is defined as the discharge rate from hospitals for conditions for which good outpatient care can potentially prevent the need for hospitalizations.  These include conditions such as adult asthma, congestive heat failure, COPD.  These rates highly correlate with general admission and reflect the tendency for a population to overuse the hospital setting as a site for care.  The 3-D map is a bit hard to read, but go by the number written in the states; one is the best 50 is the worst. 

The national average is 68.16 per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. 

The best is Hawaii with 25.6 and the worst is Kentucky with 103.8



In good news, smoking down 41% since 1990.  On the flip side, 1 in 6 still smoke. 

Budget Outcome for AmeriCorps and Service

As 2011 comes to a close that means that Congress needs to approve the 2012 FY Budget.  Over the past few months rumors of cutting or eliminating national service programs like AmeriCorps State and National, the Senior Corps and NCCC have been circulating.  It looks like The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has secured $1.03 billion for the upcoming year. 

Below is the breakdown of the numbers:

• VISTA was cut $3.9 billion to $95 million.
• AmeriCorps State & National was cut $4 million to $345 million.
• Senior Corps remains at $207.9 million
• NCCC was increased $3 million to $31.9 million to relocate the Maryland campus as proposed by the Senate.
• The Volunteer Generation Fund remains at $3.99 million.
• The Social Innovation Fund was cut by $5 million to $44.9 million.
• State Commissions were cut by $3.5 million to $13.5 million.
• The National Service Trust was increased to $212 million.

Thanks to ServeNext.org for leading the charge in keeping programs like AmeriCorps afloat. 

23 1/2 Hours

I found a great 9.5 minute video on prevention!  A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our health" in a completely new way and through a super cool video.

After all his research, he decided upon the "best intervention" because it worked for s many different health problems i.e. hyper-tension, obesity, anxiety, depression, hip fractures in post menopausal women, decrease lower of death, fatigue, QUALITY OF LIFE. 

Best thing to do is be active for 30 minutes a day, nothing more than an hour is needed.  It just has to be walking, nothing crazy. 

Non exercise is the leading risk factor in many of the chronic diseases:
Obesity + NO exercise = bad health outcomes
Obesity + exercise = improved health outcomes

The presentation ended with a question to the audience:  Can you just limit sitting and sleeping to 23.5 hours a day?  i.e. Can you get up and move for at least 30?

Be the Change: Save a Life

Last week, ABC News debut their program Be the Change: Save a Life a year long project that spans three continents and nine countries.  Each of the stories looks at the six major health problem which the poorest of the poor face on a daily basis.  And give simple ways that people can help those most in need.  Many of the reporters were surprised how little needed to be done to make major changes in a person's life!

The program is about 40 minutes, but definitely worth it!

Reporters interviewed:

• A graduate student whos class project was to create an incubator for pre-mature babes which would cost under $200 (usually costs upwards of $20,000)
• Plumpy Doz which combats stunting which leads to lower IQ and ability to work for a livable wage
• Bringing clean drinking water to slums in India
• A club owner leaving his world to volunteer in Africa to eventually start up a thriving NGO which brings clean water to small villages.  You can donate your birthday to help fund water project with Charity Water.  $20 can give a village water for 20 years.  CRAZY
• Using horses to bring life saving HIV/AIDS medication to villages too remote for cars or motorbikes 
• A refrigerated camel?

Want to get involved, or find somewhere you can donate money to help alleviate some of the suffering.  Check out The Million Moms Challenge.

Stay tuned because they will be bringing up dates and new stories from the field in coming months!

Childhood Obesity Rates Down In NYC

I know that I post a lot here on childhood obesity, but I guess it is something that has always been of interest, especially since there is a real need for primary and secondary prevention in this area if we have any change in curbing the overweight and obese prevalence/incidence rates in this country. 

Recent studies have showed that the childhood obesity rates in NYC have decreased by 5.5% over the last five years; this translates to about 6,500 fewer obese children.  For anyone who has been following this health epidemic, 5.5% is a HUGE accomplishment and presents an interesting case study for the rest of the country.  It should be disclosed that there were higher percentages in Caucasian and Asian children compared to African American and Hispanic children. 

Why has NYC been so successful?  Well one of the main reasons is that Bloomberg has really made it one of his top priories over the past few years.  That has lead to:

• An aggressive advertising campaign against sugary sodas
• Healthier options in school lunches, including salad bars
• Limits on bake sales
• Strict limitations on school vending machines contents

It is also interesting to note that the same limitations on school vending machines will be implemented in all city buildings.   There has also been a 2.5% decrease in childhood obesity in Los Angeles County. 

To read more, check out the NYT article, Obesity Rates Fall for New York Schoolchildren

Homeless Vets

Over the past few months, I have been astounded by how many Vets we have had come through out clinic doors.  While the VA does take care of many men and women who have served, there is still a large number that are going underserved for a variety of reasons.  There are an estimated 107,000 vets staying on the streets on any given night! 

Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.

I don't know about you, but to me that is A STAGGERING NUMBER!  Sadly, veterans are more likely to remain homeless compared to their non-veteran counterparts. 

• Veterans reported being homeless an average of 5.7 years, compared with 3.9 years reported by non-veterans.
• Among the 12,500 people who said they had been homeless for more than two years, veterans averaged nine years, compared with 7.3 years for non-veterans.
• Of those, 3 out of 4 veterans reported a substance abuse habit, and nearly two-thirds reported a serious physical health condition.
• Homeless veterans were 11% more likely than non-veterans to suffer from a life-threatening condition, including liver or kidney disease, or frequent frostbite.
• A federal report found that veterans under 30 were twice as likely to become homeless as non-veterans of the same age.

General Facts from the most recent report from the U.S. Interagency Council on the Homeless:

•     23% of the homeless population are veterans
•     33% of the male homeless population are veterans
•     47% served Vietnam-era
•     17% served post-Vietnam
•     15% served pre-Vietnam
•     67% served three or more years
•     33% were stationed in war zone
•     25% have used VA homeless services
•     85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
•     89% received an honorable discharge
•     79% reside in central cities
•     16% reside in suburban areas
•     5% reside in rural areas
•     76% experience alcohol, drug or mental health problems
•     46% are white males, compared to 34% of non-veterans
•     46% are age 45 or older, compared to 20% non-veterans

The Route Has Been Planned

This afternoon I decided to plot where exactly I will be this summer on a map.  The trip will include

• 11 States:  Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California
• 78 days on the road (7 weeks)
• 16 Build Days, including 5 in NOLA
• 4 days off to explore and take a breather

Want to check out all of the stops we will be making?  Chick here for the link to the map.

Need a Friday Feel Good Story

A co-worker brought this story to my attention, but it seems like it has also gone viral on Facebook. 

It seems like a woman in Omaha, NE is playing Santa this season paying off people's Kmart layaway accounts.  Turns out she payed 50 people's bills, before she made her way to the checkout counter and paid for a cart of toys and started to hand out $50 to shoppers. 

It turns out that the woman had just lost her husband, and in his memory she was trying to bring the Christmas spirit to families and individuals who are down on their luck. 

"You know, 50 bucks may not sound like a lot, but I tell you what, at the right time, it may as well be a million dollars for some people," Graff said.

Diabetes Check and Teeth Cleaning All Rolled Into One?

As I am going through my google reader this morning at the dental clinic, I came across an article that discussed the possibility of integrating Diabetes screenings at the dentist. 

Their major argument, is that many Americans who see their dentist every year, do not see a primary health care physician.  Dentists see about 13 million patients a year and could help capture a great number of the 55 million people who do not see their PCP yearly. 

In the us nearly 9% of Americans have diabetes and nearly 1/3 of the population is prediabetic.  One of the hardest parts of the disease is that many Americans don't even know they have the disease.  Sheila Strauss began to think about ways in which screenings could be implemented into routine dental appointments.  One idea was to have the patient answer a short survey to see if they were at risk.  If a person screened positive the dentist or dental hygienist could mention that they might want to see their PCP.  Other screenings could include blood pressure and cholesterol tests. 

So far there do not seem to be a large American dentists who screen for Diabetes, and there is currently some push back because they cannot bill for those services.  Similarly there might be some worry from primary care specialists that dentists may be stealing their business.  I had never thought about the fact that you never have your blood pressure and/or weight taken when you get your teeth cleaned.  But with a huge push for medical homes, it does make sense to incorporate dental health.  Dental health correlates with overall health and quality of life. 



Playing Santa

This morning the Crew met up at 8 am to help deliver toys around Pittsburgh with the National Guard and the Salvation Army.

 Maria Playing Santa

Unpacking the truck!

The morning consisted of a lot of driving, spending 5-10 minutes dropping off toys and then getting back in the car.  80 miles later all of the drop spots had their toys.  While many of us thought the day was a bit of a wash, we were able to put things in perspective when we started to look at the long term picture.  One of the members shared with us that when she was younger she had been one of the kids who received toys from a similar organization.  It is amazing to see how the kindness of others can truly impact another person's life.  This is what it is all about!

What helped was that later that night, Maria, Emma and I were able to go back to one of the locations and sort the toys by families.  This evening (and done dinner at Panera) definitely turned the mood around  Sadly all of the pictures I took were deleted on my phone so I will try to snag some before all the clients show up on Saturday. 

BIG NEWS HERE PEOPLE!!!

So most of you know that on my 30 Before 30 List, one the biggest challenges I have is to bike across the United States.  Well, I come here today people to tell you duirng the summer of 2012 I will be able to cross that off my list!!!

I have been accepted to Bike and Build, a fantastic organization who raises money and awareness for affordable hosuing.  Over the last eight seasons, this organization has been able to contribute $3.4 million to housing groups to fund projects planned by young adults.  As participatns bike across the country, they stop every few days to help build homes, talk with locals and bring awareness to the affordable housing movement.

My big adventure starts May 13th (give or take a few days) and we will be reaching the West Coast during the first week of August!  Below is a picture of all the trips - I am on the yellow one.  For a detailed list of stops, bike/build days click here.  Over the course of the trip we are hitting 10 states!!

What I am super excited a bout is that I will get to spend 6 days in New Orleans.  The last time I was there was with a GW Alternative Spring Break Project.  We worked with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.  While there I will definitely be stopping by Cafe du Monde for some chicory coffee and beignets.

To complete the trip I am responsible for raising $4500 so stay tuned for how to help!!

National Aviary

Usually when you hear the word national before any kind of museum or zoo, you would think Washington, DC (maybe it is just me), so i was intrigued to learn that the National Aviary was located just a short walk away from my house.  In keeping with my one touristy thing a weekend, I figured what better way to spend a morning than to walk around with some birds. 

While I do not have a fear of birds, it was a bit unnerving at times to have them flying inches from your face, especially with some of the bigger ones. 

After walking by the Bald and Sea Eagles the first stop was the Grasslands which had more than a dozen different kinds of birds from grassland and savannah habitats.  The first thing I saw was a warning sign:

There were two African Grey Parrots hanging out - both were bread in captivity here at the National Aviary in 2001.  This species of bird is also one of the best mimics in the world and can repeat other animal sounds in the forest and human speech as well.  

I walked through a set of double doors and found the wetlands.  I almost fell over when they had a whole (min) flock of American Flamingos or fandingos as I used to call them when I was a kid (I used to be obsessed with them).  As a fun fact, flamingos are not indigenous to the United States.  The ones that people see in Florida are escapees with some coming from Yucatán Peninsula and others coming from Cuba.  

Then off to the Rain Forest where I was greeted by two Victoria Crowned Pigeons.  Thankfully they have been around humans enough that they sat in the middle of the sidewalk and didn't move as I tried to pass them.  These birds commemorates Queen Victoria and while the word pigeon is in their name, they can become as large as turkeys.  

Hyacinth Macaw and a Green-winged Macaw.  Both are considered to be very threatened species.

The best part was probably Penguin Point.  This indoor/outdoor exhibition lets you get up close and personal with some African Penguins.  While I was a bit too old, there are dome bubbles that allow you to pop up and see the penguins in their habitat.  Not going to be in PGH for a while?  Have no fear because you can check them out on the World Wide Web.  

All in all it gave me something to do, but was not worth the admission feel that I paid for.  Hopefully I will have better luck with the zoo/aquarium in a few weeks. 

12 Days of Christmas

Back in high school the seniors had a morning meeting tradition around the holiday time.  Not only did friends get to start announcing acceptances into college, they would also lead the upper school students and faculty in the 12 Days of Christmas twelve days before we were let out for the winter break.


Now we all know that I am IN LOVE with pretty much anything a cappella.  So now that we are officially 12 days away from Christmas, I thought I would share one of my favorite holiday songs, 12 Days of Christmas sung by Straight No Chaser.  They started up in college and over the last few years have become YouTube sensations and put out a few albums. 

You should also check out their Holiday Spirits album - probably one of my favorite things to play around this time!

Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

Trying to save yourself from yourself this holiday season? 

I just tried these cookies from Skinny Taste and they were great!!

A word to the wise - use a bit more flour when rolling out the dough because it can get a little sticky!

Christmas Tree Mobile

Hauling a Christmas Tree into any urban home an be a bit of a challenge, so why not put up a Tree Mobile.  A great, and fairly easy new idea I found the other day over on the Not Martha Blog.  The best part is that it can be taken down and easily stored until the next yea.  Maybe burn an evergreen candle in the background.  While it might not be just like the original, it does allow for a pretty cool alternative. 

A view from underneath

A Little Strapped For Cash

Try out some of these homemade gifts!

Marble Magnets

A Tiny Gingerbread House That Perches on the Edge of Your Mug

Homemade Truffles

Coasters Made Out of Maps

Photo Cubes

Sake Box Planters

 Gift in a Jar

Optional Hours

In order to be eligible for the AmeriCorps Educational Award, we are all required to complete 1700 hours within our year of service.  Realizing that we might have other interests or want to learn about new fields, we are allowed to do 100 outside service hours in Allegheny County.  For the next few months I have a few things lined up and am pretty excited to start up after the New Year:

• Cuddling at Magee Hospital
• Severe Weather Emergency Shelter
• Prevention Point

Winter Service Slump

Yup the time has arrived ... the Winter Service Slump has kicked in, and it seems like it has hit all of the AmeriCorps members!

All of us were unsure of what Dannai (the program coordinator) was talking about during our interview and week of pre-service orientation.  All of us hit the pavement all charged and ready to change the world, or at least Pittsburgh.  Reality has kicked in over the last few weeks for us all as we all have fallen into a routine or come up against challenges with our organization and/or clients.  Thankfully the training meeting on Friday gave us a change to check in with each other and get a game plan for the New Year. 

I figure what better way to switch things up than to start on some of my optional service hours and to take a glass blowing class.

9 Days Until Vacation!