Bright Light? Imitate Night!

Sunglasses have become a staple of modern culture; not just during the summer, but throughout the year. Children and adults from all different lifestyles can be seen wearing these darkened spectacles, but what is it that sunglasses actually do? And, how did sunglasses come to be such a popular expression of style?

Did you know: Sunglasses were first used by judges in Chinese courts to conceal their facial expressions while questioning witnesses?! While they serve a significantly different purpose today, sunglasses have become an important part of eye protection. Here's why:

Sunglasses minimize the exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays that cause both short and long term ocular problems. Experts suggest wearing sunglasses that relflect or filter out 99-100% of UVA and UVB light. This light, having wavelengths of 400 nanometers (a unit of length in the metric system), can be blocked with sunglasses labeled UV400.

Light is broken into three different types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA has longer wavelengths and passes through glass easily. UVB rays are the most dangerous, as they don't go through glass. These types of rays make sunglasses a must. UVC rays don't reach the earth because of atmospheric blockage.

Utilizing polarized and anti-reflective sunglasses greatly reduces severe glare. Light that is reflected from surfaces like a flat road or smooth water is generally horizontally polarized. The horizontally polarized light from these surfaces is blocked by the vertically oriented polarizers in the lenses of these types of sunglasses. Anti-reflecting coatings reduce glare that comes from light reflection off the back surface of the sunglass lenses. Both of these types are of great benefit when doing activities on water, snow, or driving.

History of the Style

The beginning of this article mentions the first known uses of sunglasses by Chinese courts. But what about from there on? Information from Sunglass Internationals notes that the turn of the 20th century caused the widespread use of sunglasses as early silent movie stars began wearing them before filming to shield their eyes from the stage lights.

Cheap sunglasses (not the ZZ Top song!) were first manufactured in 1929 by an American man named Sam Foster, whose primary purchasers were beach goers in New Jersey. This was the defining time of sunglasses as a fashion accessory. Polarized lenses crept into the scene in 1936 from developer Edwin Land, who patented the Polaroid filter.

The biggest promotion for the accessory use of sunglasses is thought to be from WWII, when prominent military figures such as General MacArthur were seen wearing them. The popular wartime image made them a desirable item for youth and young adults.

Ever increasing styles, materials, and varieties of sunglasses are being made everyday. Remember: eye damage is cumulative, meaning it increases from year to year, so the sooner you protect your eyes, the better.

For more information on eye protection, eye damage, and medical conditions or treatments, visit our complete online health library.

New Mallwalkers Program Set for July 27

"Take Charge of Your Health" will be the presentation topic for the next Franciscanfit -- Steps to Good Health monthly Mallwalkers program.

The free program, sponsored by Franciscan Alliance hospitals in northern Indiana and Westfield Southlake mall, is scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m., July 27.

The public is invited to attend a 9 a.m. presentation of the program theme offered by Jean Kim, M.D., an endocrinologist at the Franciscan Hammond Clinc. Dr. Kim will discuss diabetes, osteoporosis and bone disease.

Glucose and blood pressure screenings also will be provided by the nursing staff of the Franciscan Hammond Clinic.

New Mallwalkers members are welcome to register for the program, which takes place on the mall’s lower level, outside of JC Penney, on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Regular walkers hours are 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and 9 to 11 a.m., Sundays.

For more information, call (800) 931-3322.

Franciscan Alliance hospitals in northern Indiana include Franciscan Physicians Hospital LLC in Munster, St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond, St. Anthony Health-Michigan City and St. Anthony Health-Crown Point.

Managing Your Stress with Simple Techniques

Stress--noun [stres]:

1. special emphasis or significance attached to something
2. mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension

Stress is a daily factor in most, if not all, of our lives. Stress can provide benefits to an individual's life, being a source of motivation or a stimulant of the sympathetic nervous system, causing an individual to have a "fight or flight" response.

While positives can and do exist in relation to stress, its much more often known as a source of negative feelings like worry, panic, anxiety, depression, and even heart disease.

Avoiding stress whenever possible and learning how to manage the stress that's unavoidable is integral to leading a happy and healthy life. By following the available advice and strageties for dealing with stress, we can help eliminate and manage the things that damage our emotional and physical health.

It's important to first categorize stress as it pertains to internal and external factors. Internal factors include physical things (infections, illness, inflammations) or psychological (intense worry or fear). External factors include adverse physical conditions (pain, hot/cold temperatures) or stressful psychological environments.

Furthermore, A.D.A.M. online health content notes that stress can be chronic (long-term) or acute (short-term). Acute stress generally provokes the fight-or-flight response, where a situation is perceived as an immediate danger. Chronic stress generally refers to those perceived dangers or stresses that occur over time, such as ongoing work pressures or relational problems.

Managing Your Stress

As you begin learning ways to manage your stress, be sure to work at implementing them in your daily routine. Establish mental cues that help you remember how and why you're managing your stresses. Some of the ways to manage your stress include the following:

• Remove yourself from the stressful situation: Give yourself a break from the situation, if possible. Even if it's only for a moment, try to remove yourself from the situation.
• Don't overwhelm yourself: learn to take tasks one at a time; don't concentrate on the entire workload ahead of you.
• Work off stress: pick up an activity such as exercise, bicycling, or running. Physical activity not only relieves stress, but it's good for your overall health!
• Manage stress through meditation or relaxation techniques: meditation and relaxation can help you release your stress and anxiety and renew your feelings of ease.
  
• Use a Coach: ask for someone to assist you in giving perspective and resolving problems.
  

A host of ways to resolve stress exist and are available to you through the internet. For more information on stress symptoms, causes, complications, and treatment, visit the stress category of our A.D.A.M. Online Health Library.

An Economic Anchor to our Community

As we inch past the half-way mark of 2011, it's important that we pause and reflect on the impact our organization has had on the local economy and our community.

First, we are proud of the high quality, efficient health care we provide to our community. Our hospital stands ready to care for you with open doors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Every year, we serve thousands of individuals and endeavor to keep our community healthy, strong, and vibrant. This record of service is, and will always be, our most valuable contribution to the community.

Less often recognized is the hospital's contribution to the local economy, such as the people it employs and the impact of it's spending. Franciscan Physicians Hosiptal plays a vital role in the economic vitality of the community. It is a major source of employment and purchaser of goods and services, while providing health care that allows people to be productive citizens.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital:

• Provides well-paying consistent employment
• Stimulates the local economy with the purchases of goods and services
• Improves infrastructure with capital expenditures and physical improvements
• Pays real estate taxes
• Makes donations to local charities
• Contributes over $6 million annually in Social Accountability and Outreach Programs
• Works with neighborhood civic and cultural groups
• Ensures safety during an emergency or disaster
• Attracts visitors to the area, including vendors, patients, physicians, and students who utilize services in the community

We think it is important to recognize the role our hospital plays in supporting the local and state economies. Our resolution for the approaching year is to continue growing, keep families healthy, improve quality of life, and continue to be a stable economic anchor working hand in hand with our community.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital's Economic Benefits (2009) are determined by the Indiana Hospital Association. They are:
Jobs provided: 240
Economic Impact:
Supply Purchases: $23,975,000
Capital Spending: $2,456.000
Total Impact: $44,860,000
Employment: 169
Total Payroll: $11,048,000
Money spent by employees on groceries, clothing, mortgage, rent, and other expenses: $18,429,000
FPH annual spending: $14,373,000
In 2009, FPH spent $1,472,000 on buildings and equipment
Capital spending at FPH generates approximately $2,456,000 for the local economy.
In 2009, FPH spent $241,971 on renovation and landscaping, all contracted locally.
2009 Hospital Stats:
Inpatients: 895
Outpatients: 7,276
(All numbers based on 2009 estimates by the Indiana Hospital Association).

As you can see, hospitals provide much more economic vitality to the local community than meets the eye. Franciscan Physicians Hospital offers these figures to provide awareness of how much they influence the community and surrounding areas. For more information and our complete online health library, visit: http://www.franciscanphysicians.org/Index.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=1.

Radiology Groups Merge to Improve Services

Effective Aug. 1, Imaging Associates of Indiana (IAI) will provide radiology services for Franciscan Alliance Northern Indiana Region hospitals.

IAI represents a merger of three radiology groups currently serving Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City, Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer and Hammond and Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point.

The merger forms a larger radiology group of greater capability that will serve those hospitals and associated services, as well as Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

"The agreement came about due to the need to grow our radiology groups in order to offer greater radiology specialty services and to provide an improved platform upon which to recruit new radiologists as the need arises," said James Callaghan, M.D., president of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City, who was instrumental in forging the agreement, along with staff physician Richard Dobben, MD.

"They also benefit from the Picture Archiving and Communications System in which radiologists from one of our hospitals are able to read images from our other hospitals."

IAI will provide 24-hour, seven-day-per-week coverage. Its Picture Archiving and Communications System is expected to allow reading of imaging studies across hospital lines effective in mid to late September.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital Awarded HFAP Accreditation

Franciscan Physicians Hospital was awarded accreditation from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), an independent, recognized accreditation authority. It earned this distinction after HFAP conducted an extensive and objective review of the hospital's quality and safety standards.

"We're always very proud to have this distinction," said Lisa Leckrone, Risk Management Director at Franciscan Physicians Hospital. "Our community comprises individuals with health care experience from many different providers. It's important that we establish a well-rounded, consistent environment in which they can place trust and pride. I believe we've done that, and the HFAP is one outlet for us to provide those elements."

The HFAP is one of only three national voluntary accreditation programs authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to survey all hospital and other medical facilities for compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation.

The HFAP is a non-profit, nationally recognized accreditation organization. It has been accrediting healthcare facilities for more than 60 years and under Medicare since its inception. Its mission is to advance high quality patient care and safety through objective application of recognized standards. Its accreditation is recognized by the federal government, state governments, managed care organizations, and insurance companies. For more information, go to: www.hfap.org.

Help Us Support Our Troops!

TO THE "TROOPER" IN YOU:

It's important that we remember to thank our soldiers during this patriotic time of year. In celebrating the dedication and endurance our troops display in fighting for out freedom, Franciscan Physicians Hospital and the Franciscan Hammond Clinic are having a soldier care package collection for our troops.

The collection will run from July 11th through August 12th, 2011. Dropoff areas are:

Franciscan Physicians Hospital
Hospital Lobby: Rear Entrance
701 Superior Ave.
Munster, IN 46321

AND

Franciscan Hammond Clinic
Main Lobby
7905 Calumet Ave.
Munster, IN 46321

Please look for the bin marked "Designated Drop-Off Area" when bringing items.

In collecting for the troops, both organizations are looking for the following items or similar:

• Plastic jars/Peanut Butter
• Skin lotion
• Chap stick
• Playing cards
• Paperback books; new or used
• White socks
• Hard candy
• Self-opening cans of snacks (Pringles, etc....)
• Drink additives (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Kool-aid, etc....)

Please help us as we work to show our love and appreciation for all that our troops do. Many thanks go out to those who contribute their time, effort, and resources into putting these gifts together, and even more thanks to the troops fighting for our freedom.

For more information, contact Andrew Mullins, Community Outreach Specialist, at (219)922-4200 ext. 5346.

Your Joints and You: Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle

27 million: Does that seem like a large number? How about 27 million people suffering a painful condition.

That’s the estimated number of American adults age 25 and over with osteoarthritis, according to A.D.A.M. Online. While joint health may seem like a minor detail in the rush of life, treatment and prevention at a young age can help to decrease later effects on the body.

Prevention, the easiest and most beneficial step, begins with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and a healthy weight. These key ingredients to joint health provide benefits to many other aspects of life as well.

Exercise benefits joint health by supporting bone density, improving muscle strength, and improving joint flexibility.

While prevention is important, it’s also very important to know the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis so individuals are aware if they suffer from it. Symptoms include:

• Aching or stiffness
• Worsening during activity and improving during rest
• Occurring intermittently
• Grating sensation when joint is moved
• Bony growths on the margins of joints

While no wholly curing treatment for osteoarthritis exists, there are treatment options that can reduce pain, improve flexibility and increase overall quality of life. These treatment options include:

• Lifestyle modifications
• Non-drug approaches such as exercise, weight loss, and physical therapy
• Medications
• Surgery

Why does osteoarthritis occur?

Osteoarthritis is generally a slow process that occurs when the cartilage in a joint deteriorates. Cartilage is a slippery tissue that coats the ends of bones, providing a cushion during muscle movement.

In the early stages of deterioration, the surface of cartilage becomes inflamed and swollen. As the joint continues to lose molecules and other tissues, it starts to lose water. Eventually, fissures and pits appear in the cartilage.

Further progression leads to further loss of cartilage. With the individual still using the joint(s) everyday, increased damage and injury occur. Eventually, with large amounts of cartilage destroyed, bone ends leave the joint unprotected and injury occurs more rapidly.

Am I at risk?
There are lots of risk factors that can affect the 27 million Americans living with osteoarthritis. These include:

• Age: While the disease can affect anyone, it rarely occurs in individuals younger than 40.
• Gender: When the disease does occur in individuals younger than 45, it occurs more frequently in men. After 45, it develops more often in women. Research suggests that women may feel greater muscle and joint pain than men.
• Obesity: Obesity is defined as being 20% over one’s healthy weight. Because of increased weight on the joints, obesity places individuals, particularly women, at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis.
• Work/Leisure Factors: Work and leisure that pose increased stress on joints and muscles present risks for developing osteoarthritis. These include repeated stressful motions, such as lifting, climbing, or carrying heavy objects.

Changing Your Risk Factors for the Better

Options are available to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis starting today. The first is considering an occupational change, if your job poses added risk to joint deterioration. People in occupations with repetitive and stressful movement should try to reduce the trauma by adjusting work areas, substituting tasks, and reducing overall wear on joints.

Exercise is another important step to reducing your risk factors. Moving joints equal healthy joints, and prolonged periods of inactivity cause the arthritic joint to stiffen and adjoining tissue to waste away; a process called atrophy. Moderate exercise with low-impact aerobics helps to reduce stiffness, increase flexibility, promote weight loss, and improve overall strength. Improving strength leads to increases in balance and endurance, which can both assist in the reduction of osteoarthritis.

Three types of exercise are best for those with osteoarthritis:

• Strengthening exercise
• Range-of-motion exercise
• Aerobic, or endurance, exercise

Weight reduction is of significant benefit for those who are obese or overweight. An in-depth report on weight loss and diet showed that losing 5 lbs. of weight can eliminate 20 lbs. of stress on the knees. This happens because knees sustain 3 to 5 times your body’s weight when descending stairs or other declines.

Heat and ice treatments are an option for those experiencing inflamed joints. Ice can be applied when a joint is inflamed for 20-30 minutes to reduce swelling. Heat treatments, such as lying in a bath or applying a heat pad, can also help to reduce stiffness and pain.

Further options include mechanical aids, pain management, herbs and dietary supplements, and acupuncture. A range of options are available to assist in reducing the impact of osteoarthritis on your everyday health.

For more health and wellness information, visit our complete online health library.

WorkingWell Offers Heart Health Screening for Women

Heart disease, often thought of as a man's problem, is the number one killer of women. In fact, more women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

WorkingWell wants women to get smart about their heart health today!

Risk Factors
Many heart disease risk factors can be controlled by making changes in your lifestyle and, in some cases, by taking medications. Risk factors include:

• Existing coronary heart disease (heart attack, bypass surgery, heart stents)
• Stroke or carotid artery disease
• Blocked arteries in your legs
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Cigarette smoking
• Poor diet
• Lack of regular exercise
• Overweight
• Family history of heart or vascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol levels

The Women's Cardiovascular Health Screening program at WorkingWell makes it easier than ever to know your risk. Screenings include:

• Lipid Profile blood draw**
• FBS (fasting blood sugar blood draw)**
• Blood Pressure Check
• BMI (Body Mass Index measurement

Cost is $25 (fee must be paid in cash or credit at time of screening). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 866-552-WELL (9355).
**Requires fasting 8-10 hours prior to lab draw.