upnorth healthwatch spring 2011

33

Table of Contents

8

1417

Table of Contents

WORK AND WELLNESS:Banking on a healthier staffby Jodie Tweed

5 MARATHON MAN:Losing weight, gaining a lifeby Jodie Tweed

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D:Protecting your healthby Sheila Helmberger

20 WINTER RUNNING:Training for a marathonby Sarah Nelson

24 TIPS ON FALL PREVENTIONFall-proofing your homeby Jodie Tweed

22 PROTECT YOUR HIPS:Fractures can be life-alteringby Jodie Tweed

25 Q & A with ...Meet Arin Grinde, chiropractorby Jodie Tweed

19 PULMONARY REHABLiving life to the fullest

TAKE HEART:Quick responses save livesby Jenny Holmes

10 PRAYERS ANSWERED:Weight loss, dream fulfilledby DeLynn Howard

Publisher — Tim BogenschutzAdvertising — Sam SwansonCover design — Cindy SpilmanEditor — Jodie Tweed

HealthWatch is a quarterlypublication of the BrainerdDispatch.

Read HealthWatch online atwww.upnorthhealthwatch.com.

For advertising opportunitiescall Sam Swanson at (218) 855-5841.

E-mail your comments [email protected] or write to:Jodie TweedBrainerd DispatchP.O. Box 974Brainerd, MN 56401

Who we are

On the cover

Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly HumphreySteve Sabin, Brainerd, lost 90 pounds last year and ran his first

marathon last October.

4

shedding your excusesThe College of St. Scholastica has a new degree with your name on it. Admissions Consultants are

on hand to work with you and design a program that stays flexible to your life and schedule. Find

out why U.S. News and World Report has again ranked The College of St. Scholastica among the

best colleges and universities in Minnesota for academic excellence.

An equal opportunity educator and employer.© 2010 College of St. Scholastica, All Rights Reserved 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, Minnesota 56401

Call (888) 607-8171 or visit http://go.css.edu/bhw to get your questions answered.

5

By JODIE TWEEDHealthWatch editor

When Steve Sabin of Brainerd

watched “Biggest Loser”

Season Eight contestant

Danny Cahill lose 239 pounds to win the

reality TV show in December 2009, he was

inspired.

“Seeing his drive and focus, it really clicked withme,” Sabin explained. “He had his ups and downson the show and to see him get through it.”

For Sabin, it was time for his own life-trans-forming change. He weighed around 275, was bor-derline diabetic and had high blood pressure andcholesterol.

He and his wife, Catie, had gone on WeightWatchers about two years earlier and he had lostabout 40 pounds at the time, but he gained it allback after hurting his back and undergoing sur-gery in September 2008.

The couple moved to Brainerd fromBloomington the summer of 2009 to study in thenursing program at Central Lakes College. In

February 2009 they discovered, as college stu-dents, they qualified for reduced membership feesthrough the Brainerd Family YMCA and decidedthat this was their opportunity to make a change.

Shortly after they began working out, he noticeda brochure at the YMCA for an upcomingmarathon.

It gave him a goal to train for: To run the TwinCities marathon in October 2010.

“I thought it was crazy he wanted to do amarathon,” admitted his wife, Catie. “But when hegets into something, he goes in full force.”

“I was one of those people who thought peoplewho ran 26 miles were nuts,” Steve said with alaugh. “I absolutely hated running. In high school

New yearNew year,,New youNew you

Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey

Steve Sabin, 28, Brainerd, worked out in January at the Brainerd FamilyYMCA.

A “before” photo of Steve Sabin when he weighed 275 pounds, his heaviestweight

Brainerd man loses 90 pounds andcompletes first marathon, hopes toinspire others to change lives, too.

6

when we ran the mile, I ran 15-minute miles.”He said it wasn’t easy at first. Initially he set a

goal to run three minutes and would run one-quar-ter mile, then walk a half-mile, as he workedthrough it.

“I’d gasp for air and I just pushed through it,” hesaid.

As time went on, his endurance improved.About three weeks after he started, he was able torun two miles without stopping.

The Sabins would go work out together nearlyevery day, determined to turn their health around.

“Later on, when we have kids, we want them togrow up in a healthy home,” Catie explained.

They had joined Weight Watchers years beforeand incorporated the eating plan, along with tipsthey learned while watching “The Biggest Loser,”into healthy eating habits.

They eliminated high fructose corn syrup fromtheir diet and even though they were on a limited

budget, they purchased healthy foods, many ofthem organically grown.

They soon began to notice results but in waysthat many people may not realize. Steve used to goto the doctor at least once a month for various ill-nesses or ailments but he noticed he no longerneeded to go. He was healthier, stronger and theyboth felt they had more energy.

He used to take a nap every day but he nolonger felt the need.Within two months of running,he began to notice he no longer got shooting painsdown his hips as he used to when walking aroundlarge chain stores.

Thirty pounds lighter, Steve ran the 10K SourGrapes Run in Brainerd with a coworker fromCLC. He said just feeling the thrill of that first racemade him ready to do more.

He ran a half-marathon in St. Paul around theFourth of July. It was hot and humid, rained dur-ing most of race and he hadn’t run that far yet but

he persevered and made it to the end.“Crossing that finish line is a feeling like no

other,” said Steve. “It was like a drug.”He had lost about 65 pounds and was within 10

pounds of going below the 200-pound mark. Hisfamily and friends were amazed and proud of him.

He and Catie watched the movie “The Spirit ofthe Marathon” for motivation. She ran a 5K andthe Twin Cities Marathon 10K Run held the daybefore the marathon on Oct. 2.

By marathon time last October, he had lost 86pounds while she had lost 50 pounds.

The day of the Twin Cities marathon, Steve wasnervous and exhilarated. His goal was to finish themarathon in four hours, 10 minutes. He was onpace at the half-way mark but around 15-16 miles,he hit the wall.

“At that point, I was doing whatever I could tofinish,” he recalled. “It was just a struggle but I wastelling myself to push for it.”

“Crossing that finish line is a feeling like no other.It was like a drug.”

— STEVE SABIN


Steve and Catie Sabin, Brainerd, made the decision to get in shape andlose weight last year; he lost 90 pounds while she lost 50 pounds. Theyare shown above on June 9, 2007, at their wedding and earlier thismonth (right) at the Brainerd Family YMCA.

7

17274 STATE HWY 371BRAINERD, MN

1-800-458-0895

Rediscover hearing delightRediscover hearing delight

Experience hearing delight. The Audéo S product family stands for the most

modern technology in a design that’s as discreet as it is attractive, Phonak Audéo S

offers you better communication even in challenging situations.

� Three zooming levels to enhance hearing in challenging situations

� Automatically adapts to the ever-changing environments

� Small design with high performance

Enjoy the sounds of life – discover Phonak Audéo S: www.phonak-us.comSee us for a free hearing assessment.

Audéo SAudéo S

At the 25th mile mark, a friend met upalong the route and gave him a pep talk.At the 26th-mile mark, Steve said he gotback “in the zone.”

Within .2 miles of the finish line,Steve said he found energy from out ofnowhere and ran the rest of the way,stomping on the finish line with hishands in the air, tears rolling down hisface, as he finished.

Goal completed.“I was telling myself, ‘I swear to God,

my legs are going to fall off but I’m goingto keep going,’” he said. “It reallychanged my outlook on life. Whenthere’s something that seems like itcan’t be done, I look at how we can fixthis, how we can achieve it. It pushes meeven farther to inspire other peoplebecause this feels so good”

His health problems? Gone.Completely gone. His blood pressureand cholesterol are normal and he is nolonger borderline diabetic. When he gotthe test results back from the doctor, heposted them proudly on the wall of theirapartment.

As an officer on the CLC StudentSenate and platform representative forthe Minnesota State College StudentAssociation, Steve hopes to help studentsmake positive health changes for them-selves.His personal weight loss has givenhim confidence to be more outspoken.

He served on the food services selec-

tion committee at CLC last year, helpingto secure more nutritious lunch choicesfor students. He is working on a pro-posed project to develop an organic gar-den at the college, which could providefresh locally grown fruits and vegeta-bles to students at a reduced cost. Or thegarden could produce food that is servedin the cafeteria.

Steve is also attempting to get DannyCahill from “Biggest Loser” to be themotivational speaker at StudentSuccess Day next fall.

Both he and his wife are training torun in the Grandma’s Marathon inDuluth and the Twin Cities Marathonthis year. He also hopes to compete in anIronman triathlon in the future.

The Sabins offer this advice to thosewho would like to make a lasting healthchange: Take baby steps.

Steve said it helped him to set small-er exercise goals, rather than focusingon running a marathon.

They both said there is no magic pill,it just takes dedication and hard work.

He said if they can do it, you can do it.“I was right where you were,” said

Steve. “It takes that first step.”

JODIE TWEED may be reached at

[email protected] or 855-5858.

Brainerd Dispatch/

Kelly Humphrey

Steve Sabin,Brainerd, lost 90pounds last yearand ran the TwinCities Marathonin October. Heplans to run themarathon againthis year, as wellas Grandma’sMarathon inDuluth.

8

By JODIE TWEEDHealthWatch editor

When the Brainerd Savings and Loan man-agement team offered its new voluntarywellness program to employees in

January 2010, no one had any clue it would sparkan entire movement that changed the work envi-ronment and the lives of nearly everyone on staffat both the Brainerd and Baxter branch offices.

Employees were given tools and the supportthey would need to help them reach their weightloss, fitness or other wellness goals over the courseof the year. Everyone who wanted to participatewas given pedometers to track the number of stepsmade each day.The goal was to average 7,500 stepsa day, or 37,500 steps per week.Those who met thisgoal by the end of the year were given $200 andqualified for a drawing for airline tickets for two toanywhere in the lower 48 states.

The bank also provided assistance for those whowished to buy an iPod, or a similar device, up to$200, to purchase to encourage them to get out and

walk. Employees could have a portion of the iPoddeducted from their paychecks throughout theyear with the potential to receive $200 at the endof the year if they made their walking goals.

The company also offered Weight Watchers pro-gram meetings once a week at the Brainerd mainbranch and half of the membership fees were paidfor by the bank. Employees also were encouragedto join a gym or fitness club and the bank paid halfof their membership dues.

Other rewards were also given out throughoutthe year, including gift cards, and those who lostthe greatest percentage of weight each quarterreceived a $25 gift certificate.

A map of the United States was placed on thewall in the employee lunch room, where everyonewould track how many miles individuals walked.When many reached the west coast, they receiveda bottle of wine and a box of Rice a Roni. Whenthey made it back to the east coast, they earned a$1 presidential coin. In June 19 employees earned$5 chamber bucks for meeting one million steps.

Of the company’s 25 employees, 17 of them par-ticipated in the weight loss program, losing a totalof 619.2 pounds over the course of the year. Theprogram was opened up to board members andtheir spouses, who brought the total weight loss to668 pounds.A $500 donation was given to the SoupKitchen in the names of the employees when theyachieved their 500-pound weight loss goal.

Twenty employees participated in the walkingprogram. Seventeen employees met the goal ofwalking an average 7,500 steps per day andearned the $200 reward. Val Holstein won thegrand prize trip for two.

But according to several employees, they allwon. Many lost weight and at least four employeeslost enough weight to become Weight Watcherslifetime members. They shared healthy recipes,went on walks during breaks together and devel-oped a greater sense of camaraderie.

Melissa Robinson, Corrina Roux and MelissaGrondahl signed up for kickboxing classes togeth-er and are enjoying it.

Program pays offBrainerdSavings

and Loanemployees

lost 619pounds,walked22,224

miles lastyear.

Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Brainerd Savings and Loan employees Diane Warburg (left), Lisa DeRosier, Pat Femling, Val Holstein and MichelleGoeller took a walk while on break at the Brainerd main branch. The company started an ambitious wellness programlast year that employees have fully embraced.

9

2020 South Sixth Street, Brainerd • 829-1335Located in the Northern Eye Center Building

Looking your Looking your BESTBEST... ... It just feels It just feels

good.good.

largest frame selection

professional fitting

A Fully TrainedStaff Of Medical Professionals To Ensure Quality & Satisfaction.Next day service on most lenses.

“I definitely got in better shape,”Robinson said, of kickboxing. “I’mstill doing it and I really like it.”

“It’s really nice to get the aggres-sion out, get the stress out,” Rouxsaid with a laugh, of her kickboxingclasses “It’s a nice end to the day andit’s nice to have that motivation, tohave a buddy.”

Arlene Fitzpatrick, whose hus-band John is board chairman, lost 28pounds last year. She said lastChristmas she felt depressed. Herhusband told her she just wasn’therself. When she learned about thenew wellness program at the bank,she immediately signed up andstarting walking about 10,000 stepsa day.

“It has changed my life,”Fitzpatrick said. “I can now run upand down the stairs with my grand-kids. It is wonderful. John and I areboth changing our lifestyle.”

Personal banker Karen Hynes isthe oldest employee at the bank andso she said her goal was to beateveryone in the number of stepswalked. She didn’t make that goalbut she ended up walking 2,500,000steps. She developed a stress frac-ture in her foot, which required herto take a break from walking. Butshe lost 16 pounds in the process andit brought down her cholesterol byabout 30 points.

“It’s a good program and BrainerdSavings is to be commended forencouraging us,” said Hynes. “We asa group supported each other. Wedidn’t want to let the group or ouremployer down. And the more youwalked, the more you wanted towalk and stick with it.”

Sharon Magnan, deposit opera-tions specialist, lost 22.274 percentof her body weight but was narrowlyedged out of first place for percent-age lost by coworker Lisa DeRosier,who lost 22.479 percent.

“Bankers eat a lot, we werealways snacking,” Magnan said witha smile. “But if they brought insomething, it was always healthy.Everybody got into it.”

Magnan said she feels so muchbetter now. She was able to quit tak-ing one of her asthma medicationsbecause of her weight loss and exer-cise.

“I can bend over and tie myshoes,” she said. “I went on vacationin July and climbed a lot of stairsand it didn’t bother me. I want tocontinue to lose, just keeping it offand staying healthy.”

DeRosier, a loan processor, saidwatching herself lose weight eachweek was her motivation to keeppushing herself to work out and eathealthy.

“It’s changed my whole family, we

make more homemade meals thanprocessed,” said DeRosier. She, likemany of her coworkers, continued towear their pedometers each day dur-ing the winter holidays even thoughthe new challenge for 2011 hadn’tstarted yet.

Diane Warburg, vice president ofoperations, lost 50 pounds. As shestarted the walking program, shebegan to notice her body no longerached and she felt more energetic.

“Having the company support uslike this, I didn’t want to be a fail-ure,” said Warburg. “I felt, ‘I can dothis.’”

“We started this because of esca-lating health insurance costs,”explained Cathy Meyer, senior vicepresident at Brainerd Savings andLoan. “And we’re like a family. Wewant everyone to be healthy.”

Bruce Boland, chief financial offi-cer at Brainerd Savings and Loan,said not only did nearly everyone gethealthy in 2010, so did the compa-ny’s health insurance rates. Bolandsaid for the past decade the companyexperienced an average annual 15percent increase in health insurancerates, which jumped to about 20 per-cent for the last two years. This year,mostly because of the dramaticresults out of the wellness program,the company’s health insurancerates dropped by 9.72 percent.

Boland said 85 percent of the staffparticipated and met their wellnessgoals and the bank’s insurance com-pany considers 70 percent a success.He said staff have noticed otherimprovements, many said they feelthe workplace has become more pos-itive and employees have becomemore productive since they havemore energy.

“I’m just so proud of everyonesticking with it,” said Meyer. “A yearis a long time.”

The 2011 wellness programkicked off Jan. 17 and all employeeswho wanted to participate weregiven new pedometers that arelinked to a website, which chartseveryone’s individual and groupprogress. The walking goals wereincreased and placed on a multi-tiered basis so employees could com-pete at the level they felt comfort-able with. This year the programwas opened up to employees andspouses.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at

[email protected] or 855-

5858.


Melissa Robinson (left) and Corrina Roux laughed as they performed somekickboxing moves on one another, moves they learned while takingkickboxing classes paid in part by their employer, Brainerd Savings andLoan. The pair work at the Baxter branch.

10

By DeLYNN HOWARDStaff Writer

What do you do when youfinally get the onething you never

thought you would?You take a deep breath.Look up to the heavens and give

thanks.And smile.

After more than a decade of trying to conceive, Igave birth to a 7 pound, 4.6 ounce beautiful babygirl named Isabella Faith Marie Howard.

She was born July 2, 2010, at AbbottNorthwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and my lifehasn’t been the same since. I’m finally a mom. And

I couldn’t be happier.Like many young married couples, my husband,

Todd, and I were asked, “When are you two goingto have a baby?” within the first year or so of beingmarried.

It had only been a year! What was the rush? I

How Dispatch

staffer DeLynn

Howard lost

weight and had

her daughter after

trying for more

than a decade to

conceive a child.


Brainerd Dispatch staff writer DeLynn Howard, husband Todd and daughter Isabella, six months,posed for a family photo in their southeast Brainerd home. The Howards tried for more than 10 yearsto conceive a child.

Becoming

Bella’smom

11

The first family photo of Brainerd Dispatch staff writer DeLynn Howard, husband Todd and daughterIsabella Faith Marie was captured moments after her birth on July 2, 2010, at Abbott NorthwesternHospital in Minneapolis.

was 24. We had plenty of time.But as that year turned to two, then three, four,

and so on, I began wondering the same thing.When were we going to have a baby?I’m sure a lot of overweight people can relate —

going to the doctor is not a fun task. Add fertilityissues on top of it, and, well, the doctor was not aplace I visited often.

When I finally convinced myself to go in and getchecked out, I got a doctor who didn’t bother lettingme know the results of tests she did. The next doc-tor I tried never returned phone calls with answersto several questions I had regarding medicationshe prescribed me. And the third was so rude, Ivowed I would never go back to her.

Finally, I found a doctor I felt I could trust. Ispoke openly and honestly with her about mydesire to have a baby and my struggles of beingoverweight most of my life. She asked if I had everconsidered having the gastric bypass surgery. I washonest and said of course I had.

Besides being overweight, I had an underactivethyroid and high blood pressure. I was also diag-nosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)which is an endocrine disorder that causes numer-ous cysts to form along the outer edge of theovaries and can make becoming pregnant difficult.

I was prescribed medication for my ailments,along with a birth control pill to regulate my men-strual cycle. My doctor also suggested seeing a die-titian for tips on healthier eating with an empha-sis on weight loss.

After a few visits with the dietitian, I felt thatwasn’t working for me and went a different route.

I decided to give Weight Watchers a try and

12

began doing it with a friend. She lost about 55pounds over the course of a year. I lost like 8pounds.

Clearly, that wasn’t working for me either.I was at my wit’s end. My doctor said that I was

basically “spinning wheels” as nothing was reallyworking for me. She knew of my efforts and appre-ciated my willingness to try different things butbecause of some of those other health issues I wasbattling, things were not working in my favor.

I asked her if it would be OK to stop taking mybirth control pill. I was curious if I could even havea regular menstrual cycle on my own. And ofcourse, I wanted a baby.

She told me it was fine to stop taking it but thatbeing overweight was still going to be a factor forme in trying to get pregnant.

Of course, she was right.Todd and I continued to pray about becoming

parents. We both felt it was something God hadplanned for us. Of course, we wanted it to happenin our time. We thought we’d waited long enough.But of course, God is sometimes slow, but he’snever late.

One day, out of nowhere, I had severe stomachpains after eating. It was so bad, I had to go to theER. After having an ultrasound, it was determinedI had a gall bladder attack and would need my gallbladder removed.

A few weeks later, as I was sitting in the sur-geon’s office waiting for him to come in and checkmy incisions, I saw a poster advertising weight losssurgery.The surgeon who removed my gall bladderwas the same surgeon who performed the gastricbypass surgery.

I took this as a sign and told myself I was will-ing to do anything to have a baby.

Without telling anyone, I went to an informa-tional seminar regarding the surgery. There, I meta woman who would eventually become a goodfriend.

I made an appointment to meet with ChristineSchultz, bariatric nurse coordinator at EssentiaHealth’s St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd,and deemed May 20, 2009, as the first day of therest of my life.

The plan was to follow a 1,600-calorie diet of allthe essential food groups, drink at least 100 ouncesof water a day and increase my activity.

And to add to that, in order to even have the sur-gery, my insurance company required me to lose 40pounds first.

So, the challenge was on.After the first month, I lost 18 pounds.I had never had this kind of success on any diet

before. And trust me, I’ve tried a lot of diets in mylifetime.

In fact, it didn’t even seem like a diet. It was abalanced way of eating foods that were good foryou. What a concept!

I kept a food journal and met with Schultzmonthly to weigh in and discuss the previousmonth’s eating habits and amount of increasedactivity.

I’d love to say that I became a runner or a walk-er or a yoga fanatic. Nope. Didn’t happen. I didincrease my activity some but my success camefrom following the diet closely.

While on this healthier path, I wondered whatelse I could do to help achieve my goal of gettingpregnant. I spoke with a good friend of mine

Isabella Howard may only be six months old, but she has brought more joy to her parents andextended family than they could have ever imagined.

regarding her struggle with infertili-ty. She suggested I take somethingcalled FertilAid for Women, a naturalsupplement which provides all theingredients of a prenatal multivita-min and a science-based herbal fertil-ity enhancing supplement. My friendtook it for three months and got preg-nant. I consulted with my doctor whosaid it was fine to take but it probablywouldn’t help me. Because of myfriend’s success, I didn’t think it couldhurt, so I began taking the supple-ment.

At the 12-week mark of my newlifestyle, I had lost 42 pounds. Withmy continued success, Christine and Italked about the possibility of me notgoing through with the surgery. I washonest and told her I didn’t think Iwanted to do it. She agreed. She saidthey (the doctors and nurses in theprogram) didn’t want people to havethe surgery if weight loss could beachieved without it. Granted, I stillhad a long way to go, but I was doingit all on my own with nothing to lose(but weight, of course!)

Christine explained she could stillsubmit everything to my insurancecompany and see if I would even beapproved. That way, if I did receiveapproval, I had a whole year to decidewhether or not to go through with it.

I continued losing weight on myown, following the diet plan, and afternearly six months, I had lost 63.3pounds.

In a letter sent to me dated Nov. 5,2009, I got the approval from myinsurance company to have gastricbypass surgery. But, of course, God isalways in control and had a differentplan for me.

One day later, on Nov. 6, I foundout I was pregnant.

It was the answer to literally yearsof prayer.

After all this time, I still don’tthink I can put into words what I felt

as I looked down at that digital preg-nancy test and saw the word“Pregnant.” When you’ve been told“no” for so long, you begin to questionwhether you’ll ever see a “yes.” It wasoverwhelming to say the least.

I was very emotional, of course,and to make matters worse, I washome alone. My husband left the daybefore to go deer hunting. He wasgoing to be gone more than a week.How was I going to keep this fantas-tic news to myself for that long?

On Nov. 15, I got to do something Idreamed of doing for so long — I toldTodd our prayers were answered. Hewas going to be a daddy. I will neverforget that moment.

We went to the doctor and foundout we were due in July. I would benearly 12 weeks around Christmas sowe decided to wait and surprise ourfamilies with the news then, some-thing I had always dreamed of doing.

On Christmas Eve, as the Howardfamily gathered for the annual familyphoto, I announced I wanted a picturewith my camera and proceeded toattach it to the tripod. Everyone linedup and a spot was left for me to jumpin before the camera flashed. Whatthe family didn’t know was that Iflipped my camera to video, gave Toddthe high sign and he announced,“DeLynn’s pregnant!” The eruption ofpure joy was forever captured on thatvideo. Our family members’ expres-sions were priceless.

The next morning, Christmas Day,we presented my family with a gift —a framed photo of Todd and I withthe words “We’re having a baby!”printed across the top. Unbeknownstto them, we filmed their reaction aswell.

I still cry watching those videosand cannot wait to share them withIsabella when she’s older. I hope itwill provide her with a glimpse of howmuch she was loved and wanted by so

many people before she was evenborn.

And, you know, just when Ithought my weight loss journey wastemporarily over because of the preg-nancy, I surprised myself by losing atotal of 80 pounds from May 2009 toJanuary 2010.

I ended up gaining about 35pounds during my pregnancy and lostabout half of that after Isabella wasborn.

I have to admit, getting back on

the dieting horse has been hard witha new baby and the responsibilitiesthat come with having her in our livesnow.

But it’s time to switch gears for2011. My motivation to lose weightbefore was so I could have a baby.

Now that Isabella is here, I want tobe here for her — for a very long time.

DeLYNN HOWARD can be reached at

[email protected] or 855-

5850.

13

We Offer:• Aids to Daily Living• Bathroom Adaptive Equipment• Breast Pumps • CPAP and BiPAP Machines • Diabetic Supplies • Emergency Call Systems• Enteral Equipment and Supplies• Incontinence Supplies• Lift Chairs • Mastectomy products • Oxygen and Respiratory Equipment • Power and Manual Wheelchairs • Scooters • Specialty Beds• Wound Care Products• Adult & Pediatric Nebulizers• Compression Stockings/Items• And So Much More!

HQAA AccreditedCertified Mobility Specialists and Nursing Team Members on staff!

218.825.7331 • 888.577.7331314 Charles Street • Brainerd, MN 56401

Sales Service Rentals Supplies

Medicare & most payors accepted

“Quality Home Medical Equipment & Supplies with Great Service For More Than 10 Years!”

On Nov. 15, I got to do something Idreamed of doing for so long — I told

Todd our prayers were answered. He wasgoing to be a daddy. I will never forget

that moment.

14

By Jenny HolmesHealthWatch correspondent

Every parent’s worst nightmare came true overone year ago for Jeanne Ward. Fortunately, thenightmare ended better than anyone could’veimagined and drove home the importance of quick-thinking and life-saving skills.

In June of 2009,Ward’s son Michael - a junior atPequot Lakes High School - was at an eveningpractice of the Patriots basketball team. Playinghard, Michael went up for a layup, collided withother players, then hit the wall on his descent andfinally the floor. Stunned, Michael got to his feetand made it half court before collapsing and goinginto cardiac arrest.

Jeanne Ward recalled the events as they wereshared with her since she wasn’t at the practice;but she says a bit of confusion ensued as manythought he had hit his head and/or fainted.Someone dialed 911 on a cell phone while everyonewaited, not knowing exactly what had happened.Soon after, Pequot Lakes Police Officer JoshGartner arrived and found Michael’s heart hadstopped beating. With an Automatic ExternalDefibrillator, Gartner shocked Michael and,Jeanne says, ultimately saved her son’s life.

Michael was airlifted to St Cloud Hospital andput into an induced coma combined with a coolingtherapy to reduce swelling on his brain. After just36 hours, Michael was awakened and was surpris-


Colette Larson, a flight nurse with North Air Care, serves as the Take Heart program coordinator forEssentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd.

How to

SaveA

LifeThe Take Heart programempowers individuals

to learn life-saving skills.

1514211 Firewood Dr., Baxter • (218) 828-4770

A Wonderful A Wonderful Place For Place For

Families To Families ToGather.Gather.

��

ingly coherent, Jeanne recalled.“It was a miracle, really,” Jeanne said. “We’re

pretty lucky that he came out of it.”Far too often, victims of cardiac arrest don’t

have the same favorable outcome that Michael did;primarily due to the fact that bystanders eitherdon’t know CPR or are too afraid to perform it untilmedical personnel arrive. But a program devel-oped by cardiologists is aiming to turn that aroundby giving the public the tools they need to save alife.

Five years ago, St Cloud cardiologist Dr. KeithLurie paired up with several colleagues, all frus-trated with the outcome of cardiac arrest victims.Statistics show that less than one-third of cardiacarrest victims are administered CPR before anambulance arrives. Less than 5 percent who sufferfrom cardiac arrest, without immediate interven-tion, survive. And of those who do make it, manywill suffer long term neurological effects frombeing without oxygen too long.

In 2005, a pilot program was started in foursites - two in Minnesota, one in Ohio and one inTexas. Developing a curriculum simple to learn,follow and remember; the team began to trainbystanders to initiate CPR and use an AED. TakeHeart America incorporates American HeartAssociation guidelines while implementing a sim-plistic approach to administering hands-only CPR.

Colette Larson, a flight nurse with North AirCare, serves as the Take Heart ProgramCoordinator for Essentia Health-St Joseph’sMedical Center. Larson was hired in July 2010when SJMC got on board with the Take Heart pro-gram. On the heels of opening the new Brainerd


This training device helps people learn how to use an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, tohelp save a life during those critical minutes when a person’s heart stops. CPR and AED traininghave become part of inservice training for teachers and coaches in many school districts.

16

Lakes Heart and Vascular Center, the hospitalfound community education to be a pivotal piece ofwhat they were all about. And Take Heart was aperfect example of teaching the community theimportance of quick response and intervention inthe event of a cardiac emergency. Made possible in2010 with a grant from the CentraCare HealthFoundation in St Cloud and the generosity of localdonors, SJMC hopes to sustain this program foryears to come. In fact, they have a $50,000 chal-lenge grant for next year from CentraCare HealthFoundation, so are looking to the community fordonations and support to meet this match.

Again, the Take Heart program teaches hands-only CPR. Larson said many studies have foundthat you don’t necessarily need ‘conventional CPR’to make a difference.The hands-only theory is sim-ply doing chest compressions on the victim untilemergency personnel arrive. Larson said, often-times, there is enough oxygen in the bloodstreamfor the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest to sus-tain tissues, if CPR is performed immediately.

“Doing something is better than doing nothing,”she said, emphasizing the importance of publicknowledge and comfort to step in and help. “Fear ofdoing something wrong is usually the most com-mon reason people don’t learn or administer CPRin an emergency. So my comeback to that is a per-son who’s in cardiac arrest is dead.You can’t do anyworse than that. If you don’t do something youcan’t turn that process around. Second most com-mon answer I get is ‘I don’t know what to do.’People feel they have to be certified in CPR to doit.”

But Larson said that’s where the Take Heartprogram makes such an impact. Sessions are shortand simple, generally lasting 20 minutes. AnAnytime Kit provides each learner with an inflat-able torso. And after a 20-minute session with atrained instructor, anyone can save a life, Larsonsaid. However, it is important to note that comple-tion of the Take Heart program does not meetrequirements for CPR certification as needed insome professions.

“It just gives a resource to empower individualsto assist in a cardiac arrest situation,” Larson said.

As part of her position with Essentia Health,Larson does outreach education, working withhealth classes at local school districts and other

interested organizations around the area. Larsonsaid some communities have CPR Sundays atchurches where people are gathered. Other masstrainings have been offered at the Mall of Americawhere several hundred people were trained in oneday and at the Minnesota State Fair.

“The whole idea is to reach a very broad base ofpeople. The training sessions are short. They’resimple.

The idea is it doesn’t have to be a formal class.You can set up anywhere, anytime.”

Larson’s life has certainly come full circle, as shebegan her career as a health teacher at FranklinJunior High School in Brainerd from 1994 to 1997and now finds herself back in the health classroom,emphasizing the importance of life-saving skillswith ninth grade students.

“Math, English, science are all core subjects inschool. CPR also should be,” Larson said. “It’s oneof those core pieces that could be incorporated intohealth classes in a user-friendly form like this withthe Anytime Kit and continue in the curriculumyear after year.”

More than one year and a miraculous storylater, Jeanne Ward would certainly agree. Michael,now a freshman at the University of MinnesotaDuluth majoring in Mechanical Engineering andstill playing intramural basketball, is one of thelucky ones who could live to tell the importance ofimmediate response.

“He has come a long, long way in all of that,”Jeanne said. “While he’s doing just fine, some don’tsurvive. We are one of the lucky ones.”

Ward said many changes have been implement-ed in school districts since Michael’s accident. CPRand AED training have become part of inservicetraining and is often required of both teachers andcoaches. But Ward feels everyone should take partin some sort of CPR training like the Take Heartprogram.

“You never know when a friend, a family mem-ber, even a complete stranger could collapse,”Jeanne said. “To know you could make a differencein their life, you could save their life - this is some-one’s child or spouse. Someone’s sibling. If youcould save that life, it’s really priceless.”

Jeanne said she realizes CPR alone doesn’t nec-essarily save a cardiac arrest victim and, therefore,also urged people to make themselves comfortable

with an AED.“But if a machine isn’t available, if all you can do

is CPR until someone gets there - even that is bet-ter than doing nothing.”

As part of the Take Heart program, EssentiaHealth is taking requests from nonprofit organiza-tions that have community gathering places andare interested in deploying automated externaldefibrillators and receiving training. The programand equipment will be provided free of charge toselected nonprofit groups, and is funded in part bySt. Joseph’s Foundation, CentraCare HealthFoundation and from private donations. Donationsto help support and continue this program can bemade to St. Joseph’s Foundation, located at St.Joseph’s Medical Center, or through the website —www.brainerdlakeshealth.org.

JENNY HOLMES is a former reporter with the Brainerd

Dispatch and owner of Silver Bullet Communications. She lives

in Nisswa with her husband, two children and dogs.


The Take Heart program teaches hands-onlyCPR, to teach everyone how to do chestcompressions until emergency personnel arrive.

“Doing something is better than doing nothing. Fear ofdoing something wrong is usually the most commonreason people don’t learn or administer CPR in an

emergency. So my comeback to that is a person who’s incardiac arrest is dead. You can’t do any worse than that.

If you don’t do something you can’t turn that processaround. Second most common answer I get is ‘I don’t

know what to do.’ People feel they have to be certified inCPR to do it.”— COLETTE LARSON

By Sheila HelmbergerHealthWatch correspondent

Much has been made in recentyears about the possible health bene-fits of vitamin D.

Two health care professionalsfrom Riverwood Health Care Center,nurse practioner Janet Larson andfamily practice physician Dr.Timothy Arnold spent months con-ducting their own research. Eventhey were surprised at their findingsand how the evidence stacked up foradding this important ingredient toour daily vitamin program.

Arnold and Larson began theirstudy about two and a half years ago.The partners were a good fit. “Wework together at the satellite clinicand we are both very much into evi-dence-based practice,” said Larson,“We’re always looking at ways toimprove our practice and keeping upto date on the latest research. Dr.Arnold came across an article writtenby Dr. Michael Hollick, about cancerchanges in the area of Vitamin D andhe said, ‘You have to take a look atthis.’ The numbers were astonishing.”The two wanted to learn more.

Larson said that many of thereports coming out of other countries,like Finland, were way ahead of theinformation we have in the UnitedStates and they have already madegreat medical advances with its use.Incorporating vitamin D in Finlandshowed an overwhelming decrease indiabetes in children and the supple-ment has become key in treatingother conditions such as asthma.Larson also said one study geograph-ically graphed the highest instance ofdiagnosis for colon cancer, prostatecancer and MS. “The majority is inthe north,” she said, “For many dis-eases the further north you go thehigher rates of instance.” Vitamin Dhas also been found to directly affectdiagnosis in heart disease and multi-

ple sclerosis and diseases in whichthe auto-immune systems areimpacted. Low levels of vitamin Dshow a connection to colon, prostateand breast cancer, along with a corre-sponding higher death rate. Researchproved a significant reduction inbreast cancer among women whohave adequate levels of vitamin Dand studies show a 50 percent chanceof dying within 10 years if a breastcancer patient’s vitamin D level islow upon diagnosis. It also offers sig-nificant results in regard to autismand other behavioral changes in chil-dren.

Although its name says it is a vita-min, Larson said she and Arnoldlearned it really works more as a hor-mone. “We all know how potent hor-mones are to changes in cellularmetabolism. If you don’t have enoughit will change cells.”

The levels of vitamin D we needfrom person to person varies withage, body weight, percent of body fat,latitude, skin coloration, season of theyear, use of sun block and our gener-al health. As with most things thatare good for us — too much can bebad. Larson said even as physiciansthey have to use caution when pre-scribing it. “We can’t all go out andtake high doses,” she said. The start-ing point is to know what your levelsare in the first place. People really doneed to know their levels. Don’t justpick up a supplement and start tak-ing it.” You can request the test fromyour clinic or tests are availablethrough the mail from various med-ical websites that will give you your

current levels. The normal reading islisted at 30. Larson said ideallythey’d like patients to be at 60 to 70.

Food and sunlight are two wellknown sources but even though vita-min D is found in many foods often

the levels aren’t enough to make adent in our daily requirement. “Whatyou can get from foods is a trace. It’snot enough. There’s probably no wayyou could eat enough to change yourlevel but it is part of a well balanced

17

*This offer is good thru February 28, 2011. Offer good for adults and children. For new patients only. It may not be combined with any other offers and is not valid for emergency office visits. Must present this ad at time of visit. Patient must have personal financial obligation to qualify for this offer. NOTE: Any additional procedures or treat-

ments are optional and will be charged at our customary fees.

13495 ELDER DR. SUITE 100BAXTER (NEXT TO HOME DEPOT)

218.454.0523www.greenhavendental.comwww.greenhavendental.com

DR. CLINTON L. ROBERTS, DDS

Forthum Rd

Elde

r D

r

HWY 210

HW

Y 3

71

Glory Rd

Did you lose $1,000 or morelast year in dental benefits?last year in dental benefits?

FREE Dental Exam! FREE Dental Exam!FREE X-rays!FREE X-rays!**

WithNitrousfor yourcomfort

Call now to schedule an appointment for yourself,your child, or the entire family!

Dr. TimothyArnold (farleft), afamilypracticephysician atRiverwoodHealth CareCenter inAitkin, spentmonthsconductingresearch onVitamin DwithRiverwoodnursepractitionerJanet Larson(left).

The benefits

of Vitamin

D

18

diet,” says Larson. Salmon, sardines and otheroily fish are the best sources. Many of our otherdaily foods are now fortified with it such as milk,orange juice, infant formulas, yogurts, butter,margarine, cheeses and cereals. Most bottles andfoods will say they contain vitamin D3. It’s thesame thing but it’s metabolized easier.

The importance of exposure to sunlight cannotbe downplayed but the mixed message is thatsunscreen and sun protection is just as impor-tant. Although Larson and Arnold determinedthat some sun exposure is definitely beneficial it’sstill important to limit our exposure and use sun-screen.

“You need to consider the time of day and typeof sunshine you are getting.” Larson said. Findingthe balance is crucial. Your body can make 10,000units of vitamin D in 10 minutes of sun exposure

without sun protection products but after thatshort amount of time it’s important to apply sun-screen to protect against sunburn and skin can-cer. From November through April, Minnesotaresidents get almost no vitamin D productionfrom sunlight. Ironically, children and youngadults exposed to some sunlight show a reducedrisk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a reducedrisk of death from malignant melanoma once itdevelops, as compared with those who have theleast exposure to sunlight.

Larson says there is still much work yet to bedone to learn more about Vitamin D and she andArnold support the need for more studies. “One ofthe most noticeable everyday benefits of the vita-min,” says Larson, “is it diffuses aches and painsthat are persistent. It’s not a joint or a muscleache per se that often times completely goes away.

But it affects our level of energy and mood.”Already it’s become an important part of her

work. “Being in family practice and mentalhealth,” Larson said, “often the first treatmentbegins with vitamin D with fish oil.”

Vitamin D is a powerful tool in fighting some oftoday’s most tragic ailments. It also remains non-prescription and inexpensive. The cost is lessthan a penny a dose.

SHEILA HELMBERGER lives in Baxter and contributes to

several publications. She and her husband Kirk have three

children.

.

Your body can make 10,000 units of vitamin D in 10

minutes of sun exposure without sun protection products

but after that short amount of time it’s important to apply

sunscreen to protect against sunburn and skin cancer. From

November through April, Minnesota residents get almost no

vitamin D production from sunlight.


Medical researchers continue to uncover the benefits of Vitamin D. Low levels of Vitamin D show a connection to colon, prostate and breast cancer,along with a corresponding higher death rate.

19

Skilled medical care for total peace of mind.

For complete home health services, including skilled medical care, trust thepeople who’ve been here helping your neighbors since 1984. Remember, there is a difference.

(218) 829-9238 | (888) 221-5785www.gnhomecare.com

We’ll be there.

Hazel Jensen was planning a large Christmasgathering in her cozy home near Crosslake. Shewas hosting her five children, 11 grandchildrenand one great-grandson, plus the guests her chil-dren and grandchildren often bring along.

Jensen says she has the energy to cook a turkeyand prepare a big meal from her garden’s produce.That’s because the 76-year-oldwoman, diagnosed with emphyse-ma, is part of the new PulmonaryRehabilitation Program atEssentia Health-St. Joseph’sMedical Center.

“This is an excellent program.Now I feel good and I’m happy. I’mreally looking forward toChristmas,” Jensen said lastmonth. “The rehab staff help usunderstand what’s going on in ourlungs. The object is to make themost of the lung capacity we have. We’re learningto live with that and live to the fullest.”

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is thefourth leading cause of death in the United States.COPD, often called emphysema and chronic bron-chitis, is a lung disease that makes it hard tobreathe.

“We’re giving patients the tools they need tomanage their disease,” explained Karla Provost,director of Respiratory Care and Cardiopulmonary

Rehab. “Not only do we have patients participatingin twice-weekly sessions, but we have many spous-es who are the primary caregivers who come in forthe educational aspects of our program.”

The pulmonary rehab team, which includesProvost, respiratory therapists, a cardiac rehabnurse and Dr. Greg Davis, medical director of

Pulmonary Rehab, creates an indi-vidual treatment plan for eachpatient. The team teaches breathingtechniques and exercises that focuson increasing endurance andimproving strength. Patients alsoget nutritional guidance, coachingon the proper use of medicationsand education on pulmonary dis-eases. The program is offered threetimes a day on Tuesdays andThursdays. Each session is an hourand 45 minutes.

Patients diagnosed with chronic diseases canstruggle with anxiety or depression, and that’s whythe Brainerd program offers psychological andsocial support as well.

“We are hearing great things from our patients,”Provost said. “They say they’re able to put many ofthe techniques we teach into good use. Many ofthem feel stronger, they can walk farther and theydon’t get as short of breath.”

Provost credited Davis as the driving force

behind the program that launched in November.“Our community didn’t have any type of health

and wellness program for pulmonary patients,”Provost said. “Dr. Davis was seeing these patientsand realized there was a need. He knew it was agood fit for our community.”

For patients like Jensen, the program has beena lifesaver.

“I was hospitalized three times this year and Ialmost died in August,” Jensen said. “When I heardthis rehab program was in the works, I was thefirst to sign up. Everybody here is in the same boatand you get inspired by the people you work outwith. Now, I’ve got much more energy.”

KarlaProvost

Dr. GregDavis

Pulmonary Rehab program transforming lives

To learn more about thePulmonary RehabilitationProgram, contact KarlaProvost at (218) 828-7481 [email protected].

20

By SARAH NELSONStaff Writer

Sixteen weeks. That’s the amount of

time it takes most people to train

for a marathon. In most places it’s

enough time to watch one season change

to the next, but in Minnesota you get

three. Three seasons.When I started training in August for my

December marathon I had lots of sunlight andwarm temperatures. So warm in fact, that I devel-oped pneumonia and later exercise-induced asth-ma before I even got into the bulk of my marathonmiles. Thank you, Minnesota.

Over the next four months leading up to myrace temperatures plummeted to near frigid condi-tions. I found myself running in freezing rain,wind, slush, and of course snow. By the time I waspacking for my race, there was four inches of snowon every trail in the greater Brainerd lakes area.

Most people, including most runners, would saythere’s an easy solution to beating the wintermonths — run indoors. Unfortunately, I don’t dotreadmills. They serve their purpose, but mostdays, the revolving floor is either painfully boringor a potential health hazard, so I’ve decided to takemy chances in the great outdoors.

I’ve never lived in a place with weather soinclement that it could potentially create a gapinghole in my running calendar, and really there is noreason to let it. Winter running is actually kind ofpeaceful. The sounds are different than any othertime of year, the smells are different, and there arefew things more beautiful than a morning run isfalling snow. Besides maybe running on tropicalbeaches, but you have to work with what you’vegot.

After freezing my face and nearly losing a cou-ple of appendages to the frigid air, I’ve learned afew key things about surviving winter running.

Get in (the right) gear. My first few marathontraining seasons in Northern California meantvery little investment in winter running gear. I did-n’t need it. Then I moved to the frozen tundra. Ittook one brisk November morning of running inshorts and without gloves, to learn cold weatherrunning requires cold weather clothing.

I’m a simplistic runner. I don’t carry a massivewater pack or a utility belt. It’s pretty much meand my watch. I’ve found that good socks and lightgloves along with the proper layers are plenty tostay warm without overheating. A good rule ofthumb is to remember it’s OK to start out your runa little cool. There’s nothing worse than carryingall of the layers you peel off after they warm you uptoo much. Stick to synthetics since cotton tends toretain water which can freeze and make you cold-er. Wool is warm, but itchy. Synthetic fabric wicksaway moisture and dries much faster than nature-made.

I run in a base layer tight and a shell pant toblock wind. I wear three layers on top — shortsleeve fitted tech shirt, a looser long sleeve and anouter layer. That’s it. If it’s really cold I might use adown vest to keep my core temperature up.

Make sure your head is covered and you’re goodto go.

Protect your feet. Running in the snow is agreat workout in the same way running in thesand is a great workout. The uneven surfacerequires effort from your entire body in order tostay upright. The difference is, snow is wet andslippery, and when it freezes, it can be pretty haz-ardous. Invest in a pair of all-weather runningshoes that will provide enough traction to keep youon your feet and not affect your gait in extremeweather. I am a big fan of Newton’s Momentumtrail shoe. They provide the traction needed forwinter running, plus they are warm and as water-proof as a running shoe gets. Wet feet are nevergood, but wet cold feet in negative temperaturesare miserable.

When snow turns to ice, it’s a good idea to throwa pair of Yaktrax on your running shoes. They arelike chains for your feet that provide extra tractionby digging into the ice.

Cover your mouth. My first real winter runwas on a sunny, windy winter day. I decided to testmy lung capacity by doing a tempo run in thefreezing temperatures. Bad idea.After spending anhour breathing in freezing oxygen, my lungs feltlike they were on fire, and not in a good way. By thetime I got home I had no voice, a lingering coughand a sore, and probably frozen, throat.

Breathing in frigid air kicks your immune sys-tem into high gear as it tries to defend itselfagainst the elements. You can’t (and won’t) actual-ly freeze your lungs, but the extra mucus your bodyproduces might leave you hacking away for the lastfew miles.

If you’re going to brave the elements to get yourmorning run in, make sure you include a scarf or aneck warmer with your cold weather gear. Youcould go really extreme and sport one of thosebank-robber style face masks. You might scare theneighbors a little, but your head will stay warm.

Safety first. Most would agree that the biggestwinter running hazard is ice. It’s hard, slipperyand very unforgiving after a fall. If you do take aspill on the ice, just go with it. Try to tuck yourhead and keep your arms close to your body. Carry

Baby, it’s cold outside:Running through thefrigid winter months

Brainerd Dispatch/ Steve Kohls

Sarah Nelson, Brainerd Dispatch staff writer,California native and Minnesota resident, bravedfreezing rain, snow and subzero temperatures tokeep up her marathon training schedule throughthe winter months.

21

We provide quality care for anyone who needs assistance at all levels, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.

439269

Assisted Living

HERITAGEHOUSEOF PEQUOT LAKES

Heritage house is designed to encourage resident involvement in all aspects of living. Each resident is individually assessed, and your loved ones will enjoy our home like environment in a serene country setting. We encourage you to call us and come take a tour.

We provide quality care for anyone who needs assistanceat all levels, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.

2 miles south of Pequot Lakes on

County Road 107(218)568-4673www.heritagehouseofmn.com

Enjoy your lifeyour identification and a cell phone just in case you get lost or stuck and need tocall for help.

Unique to running in Minnesota is that winter running coincides with thestart of hunting season. Do not be mistaken for wildlife. Make sure you can beseen. If you plan to run in an area that is open game for hunters wear bright col-ors. I’ve spent many Saturdays in my blaze orange vest feeling a little foolish,that was until deer hunting opener this year, when I ran into a couple of armedhunters on the same trail. The last thing I wanted to do was give them the ideathat Bambi was running behind them.

Last, don’t forget the sunscreen. Just because arctic sun means really colddays, doesn’t mean it won’t cause sunburn. Protect your skin just like you wouldin the summer.

Winter running is definitely not for the faint of heart. It requires a little extraplanning and usually extra clothing, but coming from a native Californian, it’snot that bad. One of the biggest perks is if you do find yourself running inwarmer climates during the winter months, you’ll feel like the tough guy whocan brave temperatures in shorts and a T-shirt when the average runner showsup in their arctic gear. That makes it all worth it.

SARAH NELSON may be reached at [email protected] or 855-5879. Follow

Sarah’s blog at www.brainerddispatch.com/blog/sarah-nelsons-blog.

Photo/William Nelson

Brainerd Dispatch Staff Writer Sarah Nelson (left) finished her fourthCalifornia International Marathon in December with longtime running partner,Heather Riggs.

22

Protect yourself from

FALLBy JODIE TWEEDHealthWatch editor

Debby Felske wishes she could say

she fractured her hip while

downhill skiing — one of her

favorite winter pastimes — or at least

something a little more exciting than

what actually happened.“It just makes you feel like such a klutz,” Felske

said with a smile.Felske, 61, heard her alarm go off at 6 a.m. Dec.

14 and stepped out of bed to head toward the bath-room, only to end up getting her foot tangled in herbed sheets. She fell to the floor and immediatelyfelt herself going into shock due to the excruciatingpain. The only other person at home was her 5-year-old grandson who was asleep and she wasafraid she would pass out because of the pain.

She pulled the bedspread on top of her to warmherself and was able to crawl her way to a phone tocall her husband, Dave, who was already at work.He and their son, soon followed by an ambulance,were on the way and Felske was taken to EssentiaHealth’s St. Joseph’s Medical Center where ortho-pedic surgeon Dr. Benjamin Robertson determinedshe fractured her hip. He performed surgery on herthat night.

Felske, like other hip or knee patients admittedto the hospital, was placed within the care of theGeriatric Fracture Program, which started inJanuary 2009. It’s a national program that stan-dardizes care for joint recovery patients. She andthe other joint recovery patients — there wereseven knee replacement patients and one other hipfracture patient when she was there — were

admitted after surgery to the Joint WellnessCenter where they are able to recover as a group.Each patient is co-managed by an orthopedic sur-geon and a hospitalist to help manage pain andreduce the time spent waiting for surgery. Thisallows for a faster and better recovery.The averagehospital stay for joint recovery patients has been

shortened from 5 1/2 days to 4 days as a result ofthis program. All joint replacements are scheduledon Mondays and Tuesdays to allow patients torecover together.

Physical therapy starts the first day after sur-gery and continues on a daily basis. They also eatlunch together and a family member is encouraged


Dr. Benjamin Robertson, orthopedic surgeon at Northern Orthopedics in Brainerd, discussed DebbyFelske’s recent hip fracture. Felske got her foot tangled in her bedding, tripped and fractured her hip.This is a very common reason for hip fractures.

S

23

Shower Doors • Replacement Screens & Storms • Window Glass • Cabinet Glass

Tabletops • Custom Mirrors • Store Fronts • Plexiglass

Commercial Lock & Key • Door Closures & Hardware

Your Only Locally Owned Full Service Glass Company

829-2881 1-800-726-844518441 State Hwy 371 • Brainerd MN

A U T O M A T I C D O O R S

to come and learn how to help the patient with physical therapy at home.Early mobilization is important after a fracture or joint surgery to begin the

recovery process. Felske said it helped to have others to keep her motivated buther greatest motivation was getting home as soon as possible.

“I’m really in good health, I don’t get colds and I don’t get the flu,” Felskesaid. “It’s pretty scary that a fall like that could do so much damage. It showedme it could happen to anyone.”

Dr. Benjamin Robertson, who implanted three four-inch screws permanent-ly into her right hip, said Felske is younger than many of the hip fracturepatients he sees. On a typical weekend, he and the other orthopedic surgeonswill treat an average of two hip fractures a weekend, or about 120-140 hip frac-ture patients a year.

“The reason we see fractures as people are older is not enough calcium andvitamin D,” Robertson said. “We look as our bones as being a storage place forour calcium. If we don’t get enough through our diet, it takes it from the bones.”

Robertson said osteoporosis is a silent disease, you don’t know you have ituntil you get a fracture.

Hip fractures can be life-altering and deadly, particularly for the elderly.

Robertson said 80 percent of those with hip fractures are admitted to a nurs-ing home at least on a temporary basis. Of those, 30-40 percent will end up ina nursing home on a long-term basis.

Robertson said a hip fracture is often the start of a spiral in declining healthfor a patient. It can create more confusion in an elderly patient and other med-ical issues can be exacerbated, in addition to the hip pain.

More than 90 percent of hospitalizations for hip fractures are for those 65years and older. Women have a one in seven chance of having a hip fractureduring their lifetime, while men have a one in 17 chance, according to theAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Women are 8 percent and men18 percent more likely to die within a year following a hip fracture than otherwomen and men their age.

The AAOS reported that most hip fracture patients who previously lived ontheir own will require assistance from their family or other care. About half ofthem will now require a cane or walker to move around.

Robertson said it’s important that families help protect their parents orgrandparents by making changes in their homes to prevent falls that couldcause fractures.

“It’s a hard discussion to have, it’s essentially like you are childproofing thehouse for your parents,” said Robertson. “But it’s real important if they’re liv-ing independently.”

Robertson said most falls occur when people trip on throw rugs or get theirfeet tangled in a blanket, falls around the home, much like what happened toFelske. The other common cause of hip fractures is falling on ice.

Even though Felske was tested three years ago and has a good bone densi-ty, she will need to monitor her bone health because she now has an existingbreak.

Robertson told Felske she likely wouldn’t be able to downhill ski this winterbut would have to wait until next year.


Dr. Benjamin Robertson, orthopedic surgeon at Northern Orthopedics inBrainerd, pointed to the area where Debby Felske fractured her hip.

24

Reducing the risk of

fallsMost falls occur at home and most fractures

result from a fall at home. Falls can lead to a tragicloss of older people’s independence and mobility.

Simple changes in your home can cut your riskof falling in half.

Below is a list of areas that should be evaluatedin your home.

Stairs and steps:• Make sure light switches are at both the top

and bottom of the stairs.• Provide enough light to see each step and the

top and bottom landings.• Keep flashlights nearby in case of a power out-

age.• Install full length handrails on both sides of

the stairway and be sure to use them.• Do not leave objects on the stairs.• Consider installing motion detector lights that

turn on automatically and light your stairway.• Put non-slip treads on each barewood step.• Do not use patterned, dark or deep pile carpet-

ing. Solid colors show the edges of steps more clear-ly.

• Repair any loose stairway carpeting or boardsimmediately.

Bathrooms:• Install grab bars on the bathroom walls near

the toilet and along the bathtub and shower.• Place a slip-resistant rug adjacent to the bath-

tub for safe exit and entry.• Mount a liquid soap dispenser on the bathtub

or shower wall.• Place non-skid adhesive textured strips on the

bathtub and shower floors.• Use a sturdy, plastic seat in the bathtub if you

are unsteady or cannot lower yourself into the tub.• Use a raised toilet seat if the seat on your toi-

let is too low.• Replace glass shower doors with non-shatter-

ing material.• Make sure there is adequate lighting in the

bathroom, install a night light.Bedrooms:• Clear clutter from the floor.• Place a lamp and flashlight near your bed.• Install night lights along the route between

the bedroom and the bathroom.• Sleep on a bed that is easy for you to get in and

out of.• Keep a telephone near your bed.Living areas:• Arrange furniture to create pathways between

rooms.• Remove low coffee tables, magazine racks,

footrests and plants from pathways in rooms.• Install easy-access light switches at entrances

to rooms. Glow in the dark switches may be helpful.

• Eliminate loose area rugs if possible or securethem with double-faced tape, tacks or slip resistantbacking.

• Keep electric and telephone cords out of path-ways. Do not hide them underneath rugs, though.

• Eliminate wobbly chairs and tables.• Do not sit in a chair or on a sofa that is so low

that it is difficult to get out of.• Place carpeting over concrete, ceramic or tile

floors to lessen the severity of injury should you fall.• Repair loose wooden floorboards immediately.• Avoid wrapping your legs in blankets that may

tangle and trip you when you stand up.

Kitchen:• Remove throw rugs.• Immediately clean up any liquid, grease or

food that is spilled on the floor.• Store food, dishes, and cooking equipment at

easy-to-reach waist-high level.• Don’t stand on chairs or boxes to reach upper

cabinets. Use only a step stool with an attachedhandrail.

• Repair loose flooring.• Use non-skid floor wax.

Information provided by Northern Orthopedics.


Debby Felske of Brainerd got her foot caught in her bedsheets last month and she tripped, falling onher right hip and causing a fracture. This is one of the more common accidents that cause hipfractures. She now has three four-inch stainless steel screws permanently implanted in her hip.

25

Can you share a little bit about yourself? I am from East Grand Forks, which is where I

graduated from high school. I then attended andgraduated from Bemidji State University where Imajored in biology with minors in psychology andbiochemistry. I obtained my doctor of chiropracticdegree from Northwestern Health SciencesUniversity. I currently work at two clinics. I haveowned/operated Walker Wellness Chiropractic(WWC) in Walker for almost one year. Services atWWC include: Chiropractic treatment, acupunc-ture, variety of physiologic therapeutics, Thai yogamassage, raindrop therapy, aromatherapy, and theB.E.S.T. technique. I also work at RennekeChiropractic and Physical Therapy in Brainerd. Ihave worked there for four-and-a-half years, how-ever, the clinic has been providing chiropracticservices for over 60 years. There are three chiro-practors at this clinic.We also have a physical ther-apist and physical therapy assistant, as well asseveral massage therapists on staff. We offer chi-ropractic treatment, acupuncture, physical thera-py, and massage therapy.

What are the common injuries or issues thatyou are seeing this time of year in your chiro-practic patients?

This time of year we treat a lot of patients afterthey slip and fall or injure themselves while shov-eling snow.

Are there things we can do to prevent thesetypes of injuries?

A few tips to keep in mind to prevent falling:• One should wear shoes that provide good trac-

tion.• Take your time while walking to your destina-

tion.• Pay attention to the surface you are walking

on as a seemingly dry surface can be quite slippery.• Dress warmly. Being cold can cause you to

hurry, as well as tense your muscles which canaffect your balance.

• Be careful and aware when getting in and outof your vehicle.

A few tips to prevent snow shoveling injuries:• Shoveling snow is an aerobic activity. If you

are out of shape, do not exercise regularly and/orhave a medical condition you should consider hir-ing someone to do your snow removal.

• Warm up your muscles with 10 minutes oflight exercise prior to shoveling.

• Use a shovel that is comfortable for yourheight and strength.

• If possible, push the snow rather than liftingit. If it is necessary to lift the snow, use proper bio-mechanics; squat with your legs apart, knees bentand back straight. Lift with your legs, do not bendat the waist.

• Avoid throwing the snow over your shoulderor to the side as this requires a twisting motion

that stresses the back. Most people injure them-selves by bending at the waist, lifting and twisting.

You also perform acupuncture. What is it usedto treat?

Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety ofconditions. I most commonly use acupuncture inconjunction with chiropractic treatment to treattension headaches, migraine headaches, neck andupper back pain, muscle spasm, low back pain andneuropathy.Acupuncture also works really well for

knee pain.Is acupuncture painful?Acupuncture needles are not like the needles

that are used to draw blood so getting acupuncturedoes not feel the same as giving blood. The needlesthat are used to draw blood are hollow and shearthe skin as they go in, whereas, acupuncture nee-dles are extremely thin, smooth and solid. Somepeople feel nothing at all when the needle goes in.Most commonly people feel a small pinch when theneedle goes in. This small pinch can be followed bya dull ache around the needle. The ache can varyfrom slight to more intense.

How does acupuncture work?In order to understand how acupuncture works

you have to think about the body and healing in adifferent way.Acupuncture is based on the thoughtthat energy flows in certain, specific pathways inthe body. If these paths are blocked, symptomsoccur. These energy paths can be blocked by trau-ma, repetitive stresses, or emotional stress. Theacupuncture needles are placed in specific pointsalong the blocked pathways to free up the energyso that the energy can flow freely and the body canheal itself. If the body can heal itself, the symp-toms go away.

Does acupuncture seem to becoming morewidely accepted?

I feel that it is. It seems there are two groups ofpeople who want to try acupuncture. People in thefirst group are people that prefer to treat their bod-ies more naturally because they do not want to usechemicals when there is a natural alternative. Thesecond group are people that have tried everythingto heal their painful condition and nothing hashelped, so they turn to acupuncture and/or chiro-practic care as a “last resort.”

What do you enjoy most about your job?I really love my job. I enjoy interacting with a

wide variety of people. I enjoy seeing those peoplewho are in pain get well and stay well. I enjoy thatchiropractic care allows people who are healthystay healthy. I enjoy that I can help people to healnaturally, without the use of prescription medi-cines. I enjoy educating people about nutrition aswell since good nutrition plays such a large role inoverall well-being. I also love the fact that I am notstuck behind a desk day in and day out.

What types of activities do you like to do whenyou’re not working?

I really enjoy being outside — each seasonbrings different activities. Winter brings crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and watching hockeygames. Spring, summer and fall bring running,boating, kayaking, and wakeboarding. I have twodogs that make me walk them every day no mat-ter what the weather. I also enjoy reading. I justreally enjoy living life!

- Jodie Tweed, HealthWatch editor


Arin Grinde offers chiropractic services in bothWalker and Brainerd.

Q & A with Arin Grinde

DIRECTORYSERVICESERVICE

The Feet People7837 Excelsior Road Baxter, MN 56425

Phone 218-822-3026 Fax 218-829- 8554

BOARD CERTIFIED PEDORTHISTS

Michael Smith and Mary Jo Hamilton

hospital urgent care clinics specialists

we take your health... personally

garrison

mcgregor

aitkin

RIVERWOODHEALTHcare.com(218) 927-2121888-270-1882

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

Brainerd & Crow WingBrainerd & Crow WingPublic TransitPublic Transit

Providing Economical Transportation to all

the Residents of Brainerd,Baxter, and all

Crow Wing County.

Call 825-7433Call 825-7433or Toll Free 1-866-925-7433or Toll Free 1-866-925-7433

PHARMACIES

ON THE MEDICAL CAMPUS IN CROSBY.

218-546-7000888-487-6437www.cuyunamed.org

Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery(MIMIS): 218-54-MIMIS or 888-546-4343

ORTHOTICS

TREATMENT

Steve Kappes, RPh OwnerSteve Kappes, RPh OwnerNow located in the New Town Square

Crosslake, MN 56442M-F 9:00-5:30 Sat 9:00-1:00

Phone: (218) 692-2502Toll Free: (800) 595-7312

Email: [email protected]

Digital Kiosk & Unique Gifts

Crow Wing CountyDetox Center 2 1 8 - 8 5 5 - 5 1 2 7 2 1 8 - 8 5 5 - 5 1 2 9 • Detoxification • Assessments

•ReferralsCall for DWI Assessments.Licensed Counselors & Nurses24 Hours 7 Days a week

DDooccttoorrss oonn ccaallll 2244/77

ACCOUNTING

A Caring Place to LiveBrainerd

(218) 855-6617Pine River

(218) 587-4333

Assisted Living Homes for Medical and Memory Care.

Each home features 16 private rooms, each with its own private bath.

Carole Paulson15229 Edgewood Drive #130

Baxter, MN 56425phone: (218) 829-1524

fax: (218) 825-8392www.caroleaccounting.com

&P.A.

HEALTH CAREASSISTED LIVING

Diamond Willow

SENIOR CARE

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS INTO OUR SERVICE DIRECTORYSERVICE DIRECTORYCall Ashly at 855-5828

or email: [email protected]

“Welcome Home to Harmony House”

A Division Of Horizon Health In Pierz

1-800-224-6451

MEMORY CARE SERVICES• Nurse Visits • Meals & Snacks

• Laundry • Housekeeping • Transportation

Brainerd • Little Falls • Motley • Pierz

ASSISTED LIVING

HEALTHWATCHHEALTHWATCH

26

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hcare.hcarare.hlthlthhealthealahhome hhome hmmmmomomh m hour at-hour at-hour a h lthltlthlthhehhoh lthltht-taa cacuu ee e lth elthhoooo aaaaaaour at-home he re.lthlthhlthlthehhhohht-home he ltt he re.heae ehomommur r caaeaaaaoo cacurur e e eeoooo at-home he hc re.

I love my job.

My clients thrive

in their own

homes and

I know mycare is making

a realDIFFERENCE.The smiles and

the warmth I

get in return—

that’s the best

part of all.

—Cheryl Christensen, HHA Home Care Team Member

“

”

218-894-1515 • www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com

Y O U R H O M E F O R H E A L T H C A R E

Home CareHOSPITAL I CLINICS I SENIOR SERVICESASSISTED LIVING • CARE CENTER • HOME CARE • HOSPICE

PEACE OF MIND & PERSONALIZED CARELakewood Health System’s Home Care creates feelings

of peace and contentment for the entire family. We’ll

be right by your side, providing the best care for your

loved one in the place they’ve always called home.

Care and support for advanced illnesses are also

available for your family.

CALL 218-894-8080 FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION.

27

- Kathy and Dr. Steven Bardolph, retired OrthopedicSurgeon, double knee replacement patients

“Our new joints allow usto do the things we enjoy.”

If you or someone you love wants to regain an active lifestyle,call 218-828-7332.

At the Joint Wellness Center, located in Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center, we take a proven, group-focused approach. Coached by a friend or loved one, patients work together towardfaster recovery.

• More than 300 knee and hip replacement surgeries annually• Seven board-certified surgeons from Northern Orthopedics• Private rooms• Most patients walk the day after surgery, climb stairs on day two,

and go home day three• Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacementSM by Blue Cross

and Blue Shield

Replace Hip or Knee Painwith Active Living.

Northern est.

1975 Orthopedics, Ltd.

“We hike, bike, kayak, cross country ski and snowshoe.And we’re 65! We couldn’t do that if we hadn’t had ourknees replaced. We’re so impressed with the Joint Trailprogram at the Joint Wellness Center.”

28

upnorth healthwatch spring 2011

Documents

lifealteringby jodie

excusesthe college of

homeby jodie tweed22

jodie tweedbrainerd

healthier staffby jodie

brainerd frombloomington

west college drive

brainerd family ymca