Progress - Health & Fitness

healthand

fitness

A special section of the REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Progress

Page B2 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

WATSONVILLE — With the approach of the harvest sea-son, the staff and volunteers of the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust (Health Trust) are hard at work to prepare for the 32nd Annual Evening of Wine and Roses fundraiser which will take place from 6–9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Crosetti Building, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at $75 each at www.pvhealthtrust.org or by call-ing the Health Trust office at 761-5639. Limited tickets will be sold at the door for $85 each.

Back by popular demand this year is the addition (with a separate ticket purchase) of a Winner’s Choice Vacation Raffle. Tickets are $100 each and only 300 will be sold. The winner of this luxury trip for two with airfare will get to choose from one of three excit-ing vacation destinations and book travel within 12 months of winning.

“The excitement is starting to build for this popular raffle,” said Kathleen King, Health Trust CEO. “The Health Trust will pay the trip value taxes on behalf of the winner, making this raffle prize a tremendous value.”

All three vacation pack-ages include airfare. (Some blackout dates apply around national holidays). The lucky winner can choose from:

• Cancun, Mexico, five- night, all-inclusive Hyatt Re-sort;

• Whistler Ski Getaway for three nights at the Fairmont Chateau in Vancouver, Canada, and

• Ultimate Escape to Maui or Kauai for four nights at one of two luxurious resorts

“As always,” King added, “the Evening of Wine and Ros-es will offer all the signature elements our supporters have come to expect at this popular fall fundraiser.”

These include distinguished wines from more than 20 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries as well as a wide array of tempt-ing gourmet hors d’oeuvres provided by 18 area restau-

rants and caterers. Beautiful roses and other flowers culti-vated in the Pajaro Valley will be displayed throughout the evening and rose bouquets sold by the dozen. In addition, an exciting live and silent auc-tion offers guests an opportu-nity to bid on gourmet dinners, gift items, collectibles, original art and special wine varietals.

In keeping with a more re-cent event tradition estab-lished in 2008, the Health Trust has produced a colorful Wine and Roses commemorative poster which will be available for purchase at the event. The original painting used to create this year’s poster was contrib-uted by talented local artist Priscilla Martinez and will be offered to the highest bidder during the event’s exciting live auction.

“We owe a t remendous debt of gratitude to the par-ticipating wineries, restau-rants, rose growers, artists, volunteers, local business sponsors and thousands of community residents who’ve shown their generous sup-port over so many years,” said King.

The Evening of Wine and Roses is the major special event fundraiser of the Pa-jaro Valley Community Health Trust, a 501 (c) 3 public benefit health care foundation. Event proceeds help to support healthcare services for low-income Pajaro Valley families.

The mission of the Health Trust is to improve the quality of life and health for all the people of the Pajaro Valley. The Health Trust’s funding priority areas include various health care initiatives: diabetes and its contributing factors; oral health prevention and access; health professions; and ac-cess to care. The Health Trust emphasizes three population groups with its health care funding and advocacy efforts, including: farm workers and their families, low-income and underserved individuals, and youth, ages 0-21. Using event proceeds and other funds, the Health Trust provides grants to local nonprofit organizations and supports other activities that address health care needs

in its current priority areas.A diverse, local 23-member

Board of Directors provides oversight and stewardship of the Health Trust’s assets, and works with a staff of 10 to carry out the organiza-tion’s programs and services, including operation of the Diabetes Health Center (a diabetes self -management education and prevention program). In addition to grant making, the Health Trust uses other approaches to achieve its mission, including county-wide and regional health plan-ning efforts, convening around area health care issues, work-ing with other organizations to leverage funding for the Pa-jaro Valley, health advocacy and in-kind grant making through the donation of con-ference space and nonprofit administrative services.

For information about the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, or for Wine and Roses tickets and informa-tion, contact the Health Trust at 761-5639 or visit www.pvhealthtrust.org.

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian file

Jordan Turetsky (left) of Santa Cruz gets a sample of a 2007 Pinot Noir from Dave Tudor at the Storrs Winery table during the 2012 Evening of Wine and Roses, a fundraiser for the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust.

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian file

Juana Gomez (left) samples the aroma of a bouquet of Avant-Garde roses at the Evening of Wine and Roses with the help of Isabel Estolano in 2006.

Evening of Wine and Roses

approaches

Contributed

Contributed

REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, September 29, 2015 — Page B3

STRAIGHT WHITE TEETH

Making a Lasting impression: Nearly one-third (29%) of Americans say the first aspect of someone's face they typically notice is his or her teeth, and 24% say this is also the facial aspect that they remember the most after meeting someone.Straight Teeth = Success: When looking at images, Americans perceive those with straight teeth to be 45% more likely than those with crooked teeth to get a job when competing with someone who has a similar skill set and experience. They are also seen as 58% more likely to be successful, as well as 58% more likely to be wealthy.

Love at First Sight: Those with straight

teeth are seen as 57% more likely than those with crooked teeth to get a date based on their picture alone.Crooked Teeth = Dull Social Life:

Nearly two in five (38%) Americans would consider not going on a second date with someone who has misaligned teeth.Straight Teeth = Good Personality:

Those with straight teeth are 21% more likely to be seen as happy, 47% more likely to be viewed as being healthy and 38% more likely to be perceived as smart.

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“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Teresa A Nice Smile Goes a Long Way:

Nearly three in four (73%) Americans would be more likely to trust someone with a nice smile than someone with a good job, outfit, or car.

The Want List: Close to three in five (57%)

Americans would rather have a nice smile than clear skin. What's more, 87% would forego something for a year in order to have a nice smile for the rest of their life; more than one-third of these folks would give up dessert (39%) or vacations (37%).

(BPT) — Millions of people each year find themselves in transition with their health care coverage. They may be leaving an employer and considering COBRA coverage, or may be nearing retirement and planning to enroll in Medicare. They may be able to use Medicaid for their children’s health care coverage or an exchange plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace with lower costs from subsidies.

“The world of choosing health care coverage is becoming very complicated, especially for peo-ple making life transitions,” says Tricia Blazier, personal health and financial planning director for Allsup. “Many people may not realize the true alternatives and options they have available, mainly because it’s unfamiliar territory.”

Cost is a top concern, accord-ing to a Healthline survey of 490 U.S. consumers. More than half of survey respondents, or 50.8 percent, said they would rather avoid seeking medical treat-ment than face the high costs or coverage limits with their health plans.

“Unfortunately, people find themselves in murky waters when trying to make good health insurance decisions for their families and their financial situations,” Blazier says.

“The scary thing is that your decisions could make it more difficult for you or your family to access medical services when you need them most,” she says.

People often are unfamiliar with their plan’s terms, costs and provisions. It’s especially complicated when trying to make decisions about transi-tions between coverage, such as leaving employer coverage for COBRA or an exchange plan, or choosing between Medicare alternatives.

Following are four reasons to consider seeking help with the health benefits coordination process.

1. Protect your spouse and dependents. Benefits coordina-tion refers to matching your families’ needs with the health plans available to them. One example may be a family where

the breadwinner has experi-enced a disability. “If your fam-ily income drops significantly, it may be a case where your children can use the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) while you use COBRA or an exchange plan during the transition to something else,” Blazier says.

Another example is a retiree who is leaving work-provided health coverage for Medicare coverage. “If your husband or wife was using your retiree health plan, then they may be able to purchase a Marketplace exchange plan for less cost while you join Medicare.”

2. Avoid gaps in health in-surance coverage. Transitions between health coverage, such as when leaving an employer for disability or retiring, can be complicated to navigate. “There are time limits for mak-ing choices about your cover-age, such as electing COBRA or choosing a Marketplace exchange plan,” Blazier says.

As individuals move to fed-eral insurance programs, such as Medicare, there are program rules and processes that can add to the confusion. “You want to make sure you under-stand how timing works as you transition from group health to another form of healthcare coverage,” Blazier says.

3. Avoid penalties or unan-ticipated extra costs. Penalties are particularly important with certain types of health insur-ance coverage. For example, Medicare has penalties that apply to Part B and Part D coverage when individuals miss those enrollment win-dows. Another example is the coordination when moving to Medicare from a high-risk deductible health plan (HDHP) and a health savings account (HSA). “These are more com-plicated pieces of the puzzle when you are transitioning between types of health cover-age, so it’s important to talk to a health benefits specialist,” Blazier says.

4. Discover more options and better alternatives. While working, many people de-

faulted to a choice of health insurance plan f rom their employer. Transitioning to other coverage can open up new opportunities. “It’s p o s s i b l e t h a t y o u , y o u r spouse and your children will each have a different type of health care coverage

because it ’s available and it makes financial sense,” Blazier says. Specialists in health benefits coordina-t ion also can supplement the assistance individuals get through their employer’s human resources team.

For all of these reasons, it

can be vital to work with a health benefits coordination specialist. Choosing health care benefits is an extremely personal decision, affected by var iab les such as the person’s health and medical needs, financial situation, family situation and place

of residence, to name a few.“The ultimate benefit from

seeking help with health ben-efits coordination is that you will feel more confident in the coverage you do have,” Blazier says. “You can get the medical care you need -when you need it.”

Health insurance hurdles? 4 times to ask for help

Page B4 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

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REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF REPORT

W A T S O N V I L L E — On Sunday, the United Way of Santa Cruz County, in partnership with Jovenes SANOS, the County of Santa Cruz and the City of Watson-ville, held the Third Annual Family Fitness Challenge Day.

The free event, held at Ram-say Park in Watsonville, fea-tured activity stations hosted by local businesses and orga-nizations. Families engaged in activities such as soccer, yoga, zumba, crossfit, biking and football.

Families were given a punch

card that upon completion were entered into the event’s raffle.

According to the United Way, Watsonville faces a childhood obesity rate of 49.3 percent in comparison to 31 percent in the city of Santa Cruz. In order to address these disparities, Jóvenes SANOS, a Watsonville youth-based advocacy and leader-ship group, a project of the United Way, is committed to changing this reality for youth and families.

For information, visit www.familyfitnesschallengeday.weebly.com.

Fitness Day challenges families

to get in shape

Photos courtesy of United Way of Santa Cruz County

Watsonville faces 49.3 percentchildhood obesity rate

REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, September 29, 2015 — Page B5

(BPT) — Salt, or sodium chlo-ride, is essential for life. In fact, no mineral is more essential to human survival than sodium because it allows nerves to send and receive electrical impulses, helps your muscles stay strong, and keeps your cells and brain functioning. However, sodium chloride (salt) is a nutrient that the body cannot produce, and therefore it must be eaten.

The average American eats about 3,400 mg per day of sodium, according to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Sur-vey. You may have heard that this is too much, but according to new research, it may actually be on the low side of the healthy range. A 2014 study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tested sodium consumption in more than 100,000 people in 17 countries. The study found that the healthy range for sodium con-sumption was between 3,000 and 6,000 mg per day. Eating more than 7,000 mg per day of sodium increases your risk of death or cardiovascular incidents, but not as much as eating less than 3,000 mg per day. The low salt diet was significantly more harmful than the high salt diet.

Salt has many health benefits.The other component of salt,

chloride, is also essential to survival and good health. It pre-

serves acid-base balance in the body, aids potassium absorp-tion, improves the ability of the blood to move harmful carbon dioxide from tissues out to the lungs and, most importantly, it supplies the crucial stomach acids required to break down and digest all the foods we eat.

Because the level of salt consumption is so stable, it is an ideal medium to use for for-tifying other essential nutrients such as iodine. Iodized salt first produced in the U.S. in 1924 is now used by 75 percent of the world’s population to protect against mental retardation due to Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). Iodine is an essential element in healthy human life, enabling the function of thyroid glands to produce needed hor-mones for proper metabolism. When children in the womb don’t get enough iodine from their mother, fetal brain devel-opment may be impaired. Dur-ing pregnancy, iodine deficiency can cause a child to develop learning disabilities and mental retardation as well as develop-mental problems affecting his speech, hearing and growth.

Salt is also a vital component of hydration. After exercise, it is critical to replace both water and salt lost through perspira-tion during exercise. That is

why all athletes make sure they are consuming sufficient salt during and after a workout. Ex-pectant mothers and seniors, in particular, need to guard against under-consumption of salt. High-er-salt diets have also been used successfully to combat chronic fatigue syndrome. Asthma suf-ferers, particularly in Eastern Europe, are often treated by having the person spend time in salt mines or salt caves. This is because the unique microclimate, containing ultrafine salt particles helps clear the lungs.

Low salt diet mythsLow salt diets can be espe-

cially harmful for the elderly. In older people, mild hypona-tremia (low sodium concentra-tion) is the most common form of electrolyte imbalance in the blood. Indeed, several recent medical papers found a direct relationship between hypona-tremia and unsteadiness, falls, bone fractures and attention deficits. Elderly people on low salt diets often experience lack of thirst which leads to dehydra-tion and they experience loss of appetite that leads to a host of health problems.

Falls are one of the most seri-ous problems for the elderly and about a third of people older than 65 fall at least once every

year. Fall-related injuries in the elderly are associated with numerous psychological and physical consequences and are a leading cause of bone break-age and hip fractures, which can lead to complications and permanent disability or death. More than 5 percent of all hospi-talizations in people older than 65 years are due to fall-related injuries. Sadly, the research shows that in assisted living facilities where almost all resi-dents are given low-salt diets, the rate of falls and fractures are three times as great as in the normal home environment.

Salt and life expectancyIt is well documented that the

Japanese and the Swiss enjoy some of the longest life expec-tancy rates of anyone in the world. It is less known however, that they also have among the highest rates of salt consump-tion. A review of peer-reviewed medical research around the world indicates that if people were to actually consume the low levels of salt recommended in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, they would put their health at risk. Fortunately, most Ameri-cans — including the elderly — when left to their own choice consume salt within the healthy range.

The dangers of a low salt diet

Brandpoint

(BPT) — Jack Whelan never missed his daily power walk. But at 58, he began to lose pace and grew concerned. Were his headaches and occasional nosebleeds normal signs of age, or were they something else?

In 2006, after discussing his symptoms with his doctor, Whelan was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkin lym-phoma, a blood cancer. After reviewing treatment options, Whelan made the decision to explore participating in a clinical trial.

Taking part in clinical trials helps doctors and scientists better understand how can-cer cells respond to different treatments, what character-istics to look for to diagnose cancer sooner and how certain cancers might be prevented. Clinical trials can also offer the chance for patients to receive investigational treatments that might offer some improvement over standard treatment.

Over the past nine years, Whelan has participated in seven clinical trials to treat his disease, and encourages

other people with cancer to take an active role in exploring treatment options, including clinical trials.

“I warn other people with cancer against taking a ‘car-wash’ approach, or passively accepting whatever is ad-vised,” Whelan says. “I under-stand that not every person will make the same decision to participate in multiple tri-als, but it’s important to get a second opinion, be proactive about your care and explore all your options.”

According to research from the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Re-search Participation, many people who are aware of can-cer clinical trials are hesitant to participate due to common misconceptions. For example, some fear they won’t receive quality care in a trial setting. Others are hesitant to join a trial because they think they might be in a study group that receives no treatment at all. Further, many people lack information about clinical tri-als available for their specific type of cancer. In fact, in one

survey of people with cancer published in the Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, only 16 percent were aware of trials relevant to their disease, and 65 percent noted this lack of awareness as the chief barrier to their participation in a study. Low awareness and participation is a major reason why less than half of all clinical trials achieve minimal enrollment, delaying important new studies to test potential new medicines and treatment approaches.

Whelan was aware of clini-cal trials and engaged his doctor in a discussion about multiple treatment approach-

es. Today, he is focusing on spending time with his wife and six grandchildren.

“Some people think that clinical trials are a last resort, but this does not have to be the case,” Whelan says. “Cancer is a nasty, nasty thing to have, but I just have this confidence that science is going to help me get through this.”

For more information about cancer clinical trials, including information on some of the common misconceptions and ways to discuss cancer clinical trials with your doctors and loved ones, visit ACT (About C l i n i c a l Tr i a l s ) a t w w w.LearnAboutClinicalTrials .

org. There you will find help-ful videos and perspectives from experts from the medi-cal community, more stories from people l ike Whelan, who have part icipated in clinical trials. ACT was cre-ated by Genentech and the American Cancer Society to help people learn more about clinical trials and ac-cess informative resources to help them make educated de-cisions about their treatment. ACT is available to everyone and requires no enrollment or registration.

Clinical trials: Common con-cerns vs. truths

• Will I be an experiment?

Cancer clinical trials are devel-oped with the highest medical and ethical standards, and participants are consistently treated with care and respect.

• Will I receive a placebo? Cancer clinical trials rarely use a placebo alone if an effective treatment is available.

• Is this my last resort? Tri-als can study everything from prevention to early- and late-stage treatment, and may be an option at any point after your diagnosis.

• Wil l I receive qual i ty care? Many procedures are in place to help you receive quality care throughout your experience.

Cancer clinical trials: An option often overlooked

(BPT) — Dorien “DJ” Garnett loved sports, especially bas-ketball. From the moment he learned to walk, he had a ball in his hand. By the time he was 2, he had outgrown every little tikes basketball set his parents could find for him. As Garnett continued to grow, he realized that basketball was his true passion and he played it literally until the moment he died.

It was 2009, and Garnett was on the court playing basketball with his team. The group had just broken for a timeout, and as he headed back to court with his teammates, Garnett suffered a cardiac arrest, collapsed and died.

He was only 17.

Parents should not ignore the risks factors

Tragically, stories like Gar-nett’s are more common than one may think. Today, cardio-myopathy remains the leading cause of heart transplants and sudden cardiac arrests among youth under the age of 18. Re-search also shows that sudden cardiac arrest remains the top cause of death among children on school property nationwide.

Many parents do not realize the risk cardiomyopathy pres-ents for their children, or they may believe their children are too young to be at risk. Garnett’s example is proof, however, that the threat of cardiomyopathy is very real for children, and it can affect any child regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.

Getting more children with cardiomyopathy identified, properly diagnosed and treated is a priority for Lisa Yue, a

mother who lost two young chil-dren to the disease. She formed the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) the only national lay group focused on research, education, awareness, and advocacy for all forms of cardiomyopathy affecting in-fants, children and teens. CCF urges everyone to “Know Your Heart.” This includes know-ing yours, your child’s, and all family members’ heart history, as well as the symptoms and warning signs that will help prevent cardiac arrest before it is too late. You can learn more at www.childrenscardiomyopa-thy.org.

Warning signs and next steps for parents

Garnett’s family did not know about his cardiomyopathy until it was too late. As a healthy, reg-ular teen - who enjoyed sports, music and making people laugh - his family never had reason to believe there was anything wrong with him. And across the country there are thousands of other children just like him unaware of any possible risk.

Spotting symptoms can be dif-ficult as they vary based on the type of cardiomyopathy a person may have and the stage of the dis-ease. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeats (rapid, pounding or fluttering), dizziness, light-headedness or fainting and swelling of the legs, ankles and feet caused by fluid buildup.

To learn more about the signs, symptoms and risk factors as-sociated with cardiomyopathy, visit www.childrenscardiomy-opathy.org.

Know your child’s heart

Page B6 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

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By ERIK CHALHOUBOF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

APTOS — Sports medicine expert Jacob Benford focuses on three areas of treatment that are unique in Santa Cruz County, helping athletes find a non-surgical way to mend their injuries. Dr. Benford, who has been prac-ticing non-surgical sports medicine in the county for more than 10 years, is the team physician for the Santa Cruz Warriors, UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College and helps most high schools. With Precision Sports Medi-cine, located on Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus in the Precision Wellness Center, Dr. Benford specializes in three areas: com-prehensive concussion manage-ment, orthobiologics and muscu-loskeletal ultrasound. With evolving understanding of how to diagnose and manage

concussions, Precision Sports Medicine works with school ad-ministrators, coaches and trainers to discuss the best way for a con-cussed athlete to return to school and sports. For patients with prolonged symptoms, Precision Sports Medicine utilizes western and eastern medicine philosophies for rehabilitation. Dr. Benford also practices or-thobiologics, a type of regenera-tive medicine that is fast-growing in the medical field. PRP uses the patient’s own blood, the platelets are concentrated and then in-jected into the injured area. Each platelet is rich in growth factors, promoting healing, Dr. Benford said. “It utilizes the body’s own healing properties,” he said. Stem cell therapy is also available, which can be used to heal chronic conditions. The third area of expertise

is musculoskeletal ultrasound, which provides an image to evalu-ate a patient in movement to see how muscles, ligaments and ten-dons are functioning. The process uses no radiation and is painless, Dr. Benford noted. “It’s really good with evaluating some areas of the body,” he said. Precision Physical Therapy & Fitness moved into the Cabrillo College Health and Wellness facil-ity thanks to a partnership in 2012. The Precision Wellness Cen-ter opened in August 2012. The 11,000-square-foot facility, part of the overall 58,925-square-foot complex, contains equipment for cardio and weight training: treadmills, bench presses, ellipti-cal machines and more. Exercise, sports training and movement classes are also available. To make an appointment with Precision Sports Medicine, call 295-5858.

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

Jacob Benford specializes in comprehensive concussion management, orthobiologics and musculoskeletal ultrasound.

An expert in sports medicine

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

A woman gets coaching for a series of exercises while enjoying the breeze at Capitola Beach.

Flu fighters: Busting three sickening flu myths

(BPT) — Ready for this year’s flu season? You may think you know a lot about flu preven-tion and treatment — but being wrong about the flu can make you downright ill. Here are three myths about the flu, and the truth behind them.

Myth 1: Cold weather will give you the flu.Fact: Although flu cases com-

monly peak in January or Feb-ruary, and the “season” usually lasts from early October to late May, it is possible to get the flu at any time of year. During cold weather, people are inside in confined spaces for greater amounts of time. This, com-bined with bringing germs home from work or school, creates more opportunities for the flu to spread.

Myth 2: If you’ve had a flu shot, you can’t get

sick.Fact: It takes about two

weeks for the flu vaccination

to fully protect you, and you could catch the virus during that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the flu vaccine protects against spe-cific strains expected to be prevalent in any given year, it’s also possible for you to be exposed to a strain not cov-ered by the current vaccine. Finally, the vaccine may be less effective in older people or those who are chronically ill, the CDC says.

Myth 3: Once you’ve treated a surface with

a disinfectant, it is instantly flu free.

Fact: Disinfectants don’t work instantly to kill germs on surfaces. In fact, some antibacterial cleaners can take as long as 10 minutes to work. And they have to be used correctly. First, clean the surface and then spray it again, leaving it wet for the time specified on package

directions. Anything less and you may not kill the flu virus, exposing yourself and others to illness.

If you’re including anti-bacterial cleaning in your flu-fighting efforts, look for a product that works much faster, like Zep Commercial Quick-Clean Disinfectant. Available at most hardware a n d h o m e i m p r o v e m e n t s tores l ike Home Depot , Quick Clean Disinfectant kills 99.9 percent of certain bacteria in just five seconds, and most viruses in 30 sec-onds to two minutes. To learn more, visit www.zepcommer-cial.com.

The flu virus can live up to 24 hours on surfaces such as counters, remote controls, video game controllers, door knobs and faucets. Use a household cleaner that disin-fects to clean these high-touch surfaces to help prevent your family from spreading the cold and flu.