Introducing Franciscan Senior Promise

We are proud to announce a brand new program called Franciscan Senior Promise!

This program offers health and wellness education for individuals age 55 and older. Members receive discounts, travel opportunities, and social activities planned just for them, along with many other benefits.

Please tell your friends and relatives about this exciting program and encourage them to attend our kickoff event! It takes place at Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond, 5454 Hohman Ave, Hammond, from 9 a.m. to noon in the 8th Floor Conference Center on Thursday, Nov. 10.

Open house participants will enjoy free health screenings and information, a continental breakfast and giveaways.

To learn more about the program and its benefits, visit franciscanstmargaret.org.

November & December Health Education Classes!

Franciscan Hammond Clinic invites you to join them for a host of health education classes held at the specialty center, 7905 Calumet Ave., Munster. Unless specified, all classes are held in the 3rd floor meeting room.

November Classes

Diabetes Support Group: The Latest Technology

Thursday, November 10th at 6 p.m.
Ever wonder how that pizza affected your blood sugar? Fingersticks and A1C testing give only part of the picture. Join Julie Knepper, Diabetes Clinical Manager, as she discusses how Continuous Glucose Monitoring identifies glucose patterns that help your healthcare provider fine-tune your diabetes treatment. Register in advance to be eligible for door prizes.

Weight Management Class

Monday, November 14th at 6:30 p.m.
Are you considering weight reduction surgery? The Franciscan Hammond Clinic has an ongoing weight management class for those interested in weight loss through bariatric surgery. The class meets each second Monday of the month and is free of charge to participants. A one time fee of $25 is accessed for the book and supplies. Physician referral is required.

December Classes

Healthy Holiday Cooking and Baking

Thursday, December 8th at 6 p.m.
Lighten up for the holidays! Learn how to modify your favorite recipes to make them healthier to eat. Join Registered Dietitian JoAnn Franczek as she shows you how to create fun, easy and healthful appetizers and find easy ways to lower calories on your dessert table. Attend to sample her sugar-free holiday cookies and delicious dips. Please register in advance!

Weight Management Class
Monday, December 12th at 6:30 p.m.
Are you considering weight reduction surgery? The Franciscan Hammond Clinic has an ongoing weight management class for those interested in weight loss through bariatric surgery. The class meets each second Monday of the month and is free of charge to participants. A one time fee of $25 is accessed for the book and supplies. Physician referral is required.

To register, call (219)836-5800 or 1-800-279-8700
Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m.- Noon.
Register for any of the classes online at www.franciscanhammondclinic.org!

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month.

The early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be overlooked because they resemble signs of natural aging. However, extreme memory loss or other cognitive changes that disrupt normal life are not typical signs of aging. In addition, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease do not begin abruptly; they develop gradually and worsen over the course of months or years.

Older adults who begin to notice a persistent mild memory loss of recent events may have a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI may be a sign of early-stage Alzheimer's in older people. Studies suggest that some, although not all, older individuals who experience such mild memory abnormalities can later develop Alzheimer's disease.

Patients may be aware of their symptoms or may be unaware that anything is wrong. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that everyone learn these 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Memory changes that disrupt daily life. Forgetfulness, particularly of recent events or information, or repeatedly asking for the same information
• Challenges in planning or solving problems. Loss of concentration (having trouble planning or completing familiar tasks, difficulty with abstract thinking such as simple arithmetic problems)
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
• Confusion about time or place. Difficulty recognizing familiar neighborhoods or remembering how you arrived at a location, confusion about months or seasons
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. Difficulty reading, figuring out distance, or determining color.
• Language problems. Forgetting the names of objects, mixing up words, difficulty completing sentences or following conversations
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. Putting objects back in unusual places, losing things, accusing others of hiding or stealing.
• Impaired judgment and decision making. Dressing inappropriately or making poor financial decisions
• Withdrawal from work or social activities. No longer participating in familiar hobbies and interests.
• Mood and personality changes. Confusion, increased fear or suspicion, apathy and depression, anxiety. Signs can be loss of interest in activities, increased sleeping, sitting in front of the television for long periods of time.

Source: A.D.A.M. Health Library. For more information on Alzheimer's disease be use to check out our In-depth Report.

MSG: Monosodium Glutamate and You

Various and sometimes even conflicting research can be seen in relation to MSG, or Monosodium Glutamate. MSG is a salt of the amino acid--Glutamic Acid (glutamate). It is also an excitotoxin, along with Aspartame; these excitotoxins excite the nervous system and brain cells to the point of deterioration. Naturally produced by the body, MSG is considered good by some and bad by others; the distinction lies in its origin. Let's first look at the composition of MSG.

Glutamate is one of many amino acids used by the body and linked into the chains of protein in the body. In a simple explanation, some amino acids float freely by themselves and link into proteins to serve important functions; such as being a neurotransmitter which carries nerve cell impulses through the body. Further, some amino acid neurotransmitters like glutamate trigger nerve cells to fire, while others such as taurine and gamma amino butyric acid tell the firing cells to cease firing. This balance, affected directly by glutamate levels, is very delicate. Opponents to MSG argue that glutamate added to foods is bad. Proponents would say otherwise, arguing that MSG is exactly like the glutamate in the human body, and is therefore good. Problems lie in both the amount of MSG ingested, which affects balance levels, and whether the MSG was processed where it may contain contaminants. If processed MSG was the same as the natural glutamate produced by the body, there would be no need to split the amino acids apart to form "free" glutamate; a process known as "hydrolysing."

Talk of MSG's origination and effects on the body tie into the use of MSG. This product is not a preservative; rather, it makes the body think that a certain food is high in protein and nutritious. Thus, the MSG can change your body's perception of both taste and nutritious content. One affect of MSG on the body is its ability to stimulate the pancreas, which produces insulin. Insulin breaks down carbohydrates in food; when insulin is produced without carbs to break down, your blood sugar drops and your appetite, reacting to that drop, increases. If you follow the conclusion that MSG exacerbates or certain diseases, reduce your consumption to decrease your chance of disease. Lori Granich, registered dietitian with Franciscan St. Margaret Health, says "it's a controversial topic, but the USDA says that MSG is safe for human consumption. There's no real evidence of the harmful effects in moderation."

Find Us on Facebook!

Stay connected with all the northern Indiana hospitals of Franciscan Alliance on Facebook!

As a fan, you will receive the latest hospital news, breaking health news, videos, service line promotions, events and regular updates from St. Anthony Health in Crown Point and Michigan City, St. Margaret Health in Hammond and Dyer and Franciscan Physicians Hospital in Munster.

Our Facebook page also integrates links to our online Health Resources, Twitter updates, YouTube vidoes and our latest Blog posts.

We want this to be an engaging source for sharing information and conversing with the communities we serve as we continue to strive to provide the best overall care to our patients and their families.

"Like" us today @ facebook.com/FranciscanNWI!

And remember…you can also connect with us via Twitter (@FranciscanNWI) and YouTube (youtube.com/FranciscanNWI).

Franciscan Hammond Clinic Health Fair - Nov. 5

Franciscan Hammond Clinic will host a health fair from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 5 at its specialty center location, 7905 Calumet Ave., in Munster, Indiana.

The free program will offer chair massages and health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids, bone density, foot, body mass and oxygen levels, to the public. Flu shots will be available.  

Informational booths, giveaways and refreshments will be provided.  Free raffles include a bicycle for children and Juvederm treatment for adults.

For more information, call (219) 836-5800, or visit: www.franciscanhammondclinic.org.

Latest Edition of Franciscan Focus is Here!

The Fall/Winter 2011 edition of the Franciscan Focus magazine is here!

In this issue:

• Treat Your Ticker - A proactive approach to heart health 
• Open Heart Surgery - Putting fear to rest 
• Hospital News & Notes
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Introducing “Spirit of Women“

About the digital edition
Each page is viewable in an interactive, user-friendly format. As you read through the magazine, just click on the arrows to turn the pages and while you are on a specific page, you can…

• Print, bookmark, even make virtual notes on whatever strikes you. Just click on the Tools icon at the top.
• Share a page or selection of pages with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, email and other social networks, using the Share icon.
• Click on the links provided in articles to be taken directly to the corresponding website.

To get started, click on the "flipping pages" image or here.

We’d love to hear your feedback about Franciscan Focus! Feel free to email comments or questions to Julia.Huisman@franciscanalliance.org.