But lately, you’ve been worried about your mom. She forgets to take her pills. She misses doctor’s appointments. She gets lost while driving. You’re starting to wonder if this is normal aging or something else. You’re also starting to wonder if this is more than you can handle alone.

A parent who might be suffering from dementia or mental illness is something those in the “Sandwich Generation”—adults caring for children but also, to some degree, their parents—may encounter.

“You’re already trying to juggle work and parenting and manage your primary household when you have to start worrying about your parents,” said Brent McCraw, Centra’s Acute Psychiatric Services director. “Are they OK? Do they need help? Is their forgetfulness a normal part of aging or something more serious? These are the questions that their adult children are faced with.”

This fall, Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital launched its Senior Psychiatric Program. The 12-bed unit is devoted to the acute mental health needs of adults ages 60 and over, serving seniors with depression and other mental illnesses, and those with dementia, a global term for a number of conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, that cause a decline in cognitive function.

It’s a place where seniors in crisis can get the help they need and go back home, usually in 10 days or less.

“Our goal is to do a good assessment and provide some stabilization to try to help maintain or improve a person’s function so they can return back home or return to the assisted-living or nursing facility,” McCraw said.

Everything about the program was designed with seniors in mind, from the calming, earth-toned decor to a “reminiscence group,” which McCraw described as sessions where patients can “think back on their life, reflect on it, talk about it and help solidify memories that are fading.”

Centra also has inpatient psychiatric units for younger adults and one for children and adolescents, reinforcing a belief that if you can receive treatment with your peers, it’s best.

“A 60-year-old depressed person is a lot different than a 20-year-old depressed person,” McCraw said. “At 60, 70 or 80, you’ve lived the majority of your life so the things you might be depressed about are different. You need to be able to talk about grief and loss. Maybe you’ve had a spouse who’s died. Maybe you’re grieving the loss of your career or home, or a lot of your friends are dying and you might be lonely.”

Patient safety is also key. Windows, lights and fixtures are tamper resistant, and there’s even a color-coded system to help patients with dementia find their rooms more easily.

Before coming to the unit, however, patients should see their family doctor. Some conditions, such as chronic pain and poor hearing or eyesight can mimic psychiatric problems.

“It may not be that Grandpa is depressed and withdrawn,” McCraw said. “He may not be able to hear so he doesn’t join in the conversation. It could be drinking, illicit drugs or prescription misuse, abuse or dependence. Certainly, when providing care it’s important to assess all the potential problems.”

Caregivers are often the first ones to question if what’s going on with a senior is more than normal aging. Their emotions can also run the gamut when elders in their care do things that frustrate or anger them. This is normal, but people need to know when to seek help.

“When you are a caregiver, you will have very positive emotions, but it’s also very normal to have negative emotions, become frustrated, overwhelmed, angry and irritable,” said Peter Betz, M.D., a board certified geriatric psychiatrist and medical director of the program. “When one starts to have an abundance of these negative emotions, they need to say, ‘How do I get relief from that?’ They need to recognize those stresses. When it leads to a lot of built-up tension and persistently built-up emotions, you’re past the point where there would need to be aid brought in.”

No one said being part of the Sandwich Generation was easy, but using the “it-takes-a-village” approach can help.

“It’s easier to make decisions collectively than to feel like you have to make them yourself,” McCraw said. “Circle the wagons with as many people as possible: healthcare providers, other family members, clergy, friends. Don’t try to go it alone.”

For more information about Centra’s Senior Psychiatric Program, call (434) 200-4444 or visit CentraHealth.com.

But for many, the holidays are a sad and difficult time of year. Loneliness, memories of holidays past and struggles for any number of reasons, such as finances, grief or addiction, can darken already stressful situations.​

The holidays pose particular obstacles for people in recovery from alcohol dependence. Although drinking may be present during functions throughout the year, multiple holiday parties tend to increase the exposure to alcohol, impairing the recovering addict’s reasoning, lessening defenses and affecting the ability to follow a recovery plan. Cravings to drink can result from exposure to alcohol itself or by socializing with those who are drinking.​

Those in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction are advised to avoid the people, places and things that trigger cravings or encourage use. Experiencing intense cravings in a situation where alcohol is easily accessed endangers sobriety.​

Similar to the alcoholic, recovering substance addicts may experience cravings brought on by contact with impaired party guests. The recovering drug addict also might be tempted to drink even if alcohol was not problematic in the past. However, this creates potential for relapse. Alcohol impairs reasoning and lowers personal defenses that have helped the addict maintain abstinence from drugs.

Holidays also are more difficult for those without close relationships. They may be estranged from family and friends or saddened by the loss of a loved one. Those new to recovery may find their first non-using holiday difficult because they have no idea how to celebrate without their drug of choice.

Tips for coping

​Planning and support are vital at all times, but especially during the holidays, for those in recovery.

​• Planning: Recovering substance abusers should avoid functions where alcohol or other drugs are present. For times when one cannot avoid an event (such as a business dinner or family gathering), a safety plan should be put in place. Relapse occurs more easily if one is run down, therefore the most important element of a safety plan is to take care of oneself in all ways, never becoming too hungry, angry, lonely or tired (also known by the acronym, HALT). Driving to the event rather than relying on others provides the opportunity to leave at any time should the situation become difficult. It’s also important to have a standard response ready should a drink be offered, such as “No thanks,” “I can’t, I’m a designated driver” or “I’m not drinking anymore.”​

Safety plans work for everyone—not only for those in recovery. Abstain from drinking if driving.​

• Support: Making and maintaining sober relationships, such as those found through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are of great value during recovery, especially during the holidays. Calling a sober friend or sponsor to discuss plans for the evening and committing to talking to them after the event helps solicit feedback for unexpected obstacles, reiterates the commitment to abstinence and provides accountability.

Family and friends​

Family and friends often tend to take on problem-solving “for” their loved ones rather than “with” their loved ones. For instance, a family member may decide to tell others no drinking is allowed or assign someone to monitor the addict at all times during the party. Although none of these actions is bad in itself, it is better to involve the recovering person in decisions impacting his or her sobriety.​

The alcoholic/addict is ultimately responsible for making healthy versus unhealthy choices. Excluding the person from these decisions removes an opportunity to reflect on their recovery plan. Open communication allows the recovering person to share their perspective and offers the family a better understanding about how to be supportive. Working together in this way reduces tension and helps everyone enjoy the holiday.

Resources for help​

Evaluation by a trained professional is recommended for anyone struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction. For more information or assistance, visit www.recoveratpathways.com or contact AA/NA groups at www.aa.org or www.na.org.  The admissions staff at Centra Pathways Treatment Center is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions related to addiction and recovery. Call (434) 200-4455 or toll-free, (866) 749-4455.

“After hearing all that the hospital staff did for him and his family, from the doctors to the housekeeper, it made me realize that incredible goodness can come from this horrible disease and in that goodness is healing,” Sheaffer said.

From then on, she knew she wanted to make fighting cancer her life’s work.

Fast-forward to the present and she is now the community liaison for Centra in Lynchburg. Her role at Centra is multi-faceted and one of her greatest joys is doing research and brainstorming ideas for new programs to implement at the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center.

Centra has a proven track record of commitment to people whose lives have been affected by disease. In recent years, the cancer center has invested in programming for patients that not only seeks physical healing from disease, but holistic care for the mind, body, spirit and community. After researching many different kinds of integrative therapy, Sheaffer discovered that writing has proven to be one of the most beneficial therapy options. According to two studies published in Oncology Nursing Forum, the process of writing has proven emotional benefits as well as physical benefits.

“It allows for personal reflection, decreases stress, anxiety and depression,” Sheaffer explained.

Patients, survivors, and caregivers experience all of these emotions.

“It’s good to have a safe place where they can write down what they’re feeling,” Sheaffer said, adding that physical health benefits include “decreased physical symptoms, less pain, decrease in doctor visits and decrease in blood pressure.”

To lead the program, Sheaffer enlisted Lynchburg College professor, Dr. Jeri Watts, who teaches a writing seminar that Sheaffer had taken previously as a graduate student. With the addition of social worker, Tammy Anderson, the trio was set to forge ahead with plans for the writing workshop.

“The Power of the Pen: Healing through Writing” kicked off on October 5 with 18 participants. The group was a mixed bag of men, women, patients, survivors and caregivers of all ages. Dr. Watts led the participants in writing exercises through prompts such as “there was a time when…” The participants were encouraged to follow in whatever direction their writing led them. There is no “good” or “bad” writing in the workshop. Participants are simply encouraged to write truthfully.

“Writing can take you to emotional places….Sometimes it’s a naming of that weight and sometimes it’s a lifting weight off the shoulders. It’s a first step to healing,” Watts encouraged participants.

Both Watts and Sheaffer observed the bond between participants in the workshop. Participants may not have known each other before but because of shared grave experiences and the bond created through expressive writing, participants deeply connected with one another.

Sharon Freeman says she was “thrilled” at the opportunity to take the workshop.

“After the writing session, many elected to read excerpts from their stories. Hearing their life altering experiences and the depth of sharing touched everyone in the room,” she said.

According to Watts, the “big dream” for the workshop is that the patients’ writings will be compiled together and printed as a testament to each person’s courage and strength.

“The Power of the Pen” just held two additional sessions on October 19 and November 7, and plans to hold more in 2012. As a pilot program, the workshop will receive feedback and evaluation before future plans are made.

As for those like Freeman who have already participated in a workshop, the hope of the organizers is that each person will be inspired by what comes out of them, while also giving them renewed hope for the future.

“I know I will never take my ‘ordinary life’ for granted again,” Freeman said.

Why is it so hard for people to quit? The way tobacco is grown, mixed and processed today has made cigarettes more addictive than ever before. Nicotine is so highly addictive that the majority of smokers who try to quit typically require multiple efforts.

What is the most effective way to quit? Different methods work for different people. Nicotine replacements such as patch, gum or lozenge can help avoid withdrawal, while working on behavior modifications. Non-nicotine containing medications to help with smoking cessation are Chantix and Zyban, available by prescription. The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can heal and the less likely you are to get sick from tobacco use.

Today, there are now as many ex-smokers in the U.S. as current smokers. However, smoking is the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability and death nationwide. The percentage of Americans who smoke has decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 19.3 percent in 2010. Half of adults who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases and, for every smoking related death, another 20 people suffer with a smoking-related disease. The health consequences of tobacco use include heart disease, multiple types of cancer, pulmonary disease, adverse reproductive effects and the exacerbation of chronic health conditions.

There is no safe level of smoking, according to the Report of the Surgeon General. Just smoking three or less cigarettes a day increases the risk of heart disease-related death by 64 percent. Even second hand smoke increases the risk of coronary artery disease by 25 to 30 percent at the lowest exposure. Interestingly, the risk of atherosclerosis is more than double for women than men. In addition, women smokers have a 25 percent higher risk of heart disease than men.

Need more information and help on quitting smoking? Smokers can receive free assistance by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visiting www.smokefree.gov. Centra also offers six-week “Be Tobacco Free” classes at various times throughout the year. For more information, call (434) 200-3812.

The cancer begins in the prostate, which is a small gland beneath the bladder. Depending on the stage of the cancer, it can spread beyond the prostate to nearby organs or to other parts of the body. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime; the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2011, 240,890 new cases will be diagnosed. However, if caught early, prostate cancer is very treatable, and 97 percent of those diagnosed will be survivors. The key is detecting the cancer early and getting treatment as directed by your physician.

Several factors are taken into account when deciding a patient’s best screening and treatment options. The patient’s age and overall condition, combined with the clinical stage of the disease, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level, and the Gleason Grade of the tumor, all play a role in the treatment decision.  PSA is a protein that consists of normal and malignant prostate tissue. PSA levels are measured with a simple blood test and can indicate the extent of the disease. The Gleason Grade compares how different the prostate cancer is from normal prostate cells and can determine the pattern of cancer and the aggressiveness of the cells.

Treatment for prostate cancer consists of robotic surgery—such as with the da Vinci Surigcal System—traditional, open radical prostatectomy, external beam therapy, brachytherapy, cryotherapy and active surveillance. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are also offered as treatment options for more advanced cancers.

The most important action for men to take is to have a conversation with their primary care physician to learn more about their risks and screening options. Generally, men should have annual screenings, beginning at age 50. Factors like genetic make-up and race can increase the risk for prostate cancer. African-Americans and those with a family history should begin their screenings at age 40. For men, the conversation with their physician about risks and screening options is the most crucial step they can take for prostate health.

Across the nation, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month—a perfect time to schedule that doctor’s appointment and prostate cancer screening. Just as communities across the nation turn pink in October for breast cancer awareness, during September, the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center and the greater Lynchburg region will Paint the Town Blue.

Throughout the month, people can take part in prostate health educational events, such as “blue days” in various organizations and colleges. Select paint stores are even handing out prostate cancer information with every gallon of paint they sell; other stores are giving 10 percent off blue items.

If you are a part of an organization that would like to be involved in Paint the Town Blue and raise awareness about prostate cancer during September, please contact the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center at (434) 200-6093. Whether it’s a “Dress Blue” day, a restaurant only using blue napkins, schools passing out blue ribbons or a blue postcard going to employees reminding them about prostate health, there is always a way to promote prostate cancer awareness.

More information on prostate cancer screening and treatment is available online at cancer.centrahealth.com and at the Bertram R. Schewel Library, located at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center. Centra also provides a Prostate Nurse Navigator who helps guide patients and their family members through the cancer journey by explaining the process, answering questions, scheduling appointments, advocating for the patient and providing supportive resources before, during and after treatments. Contact the nurse navigator at (434) 200-6267.

Dimmi.com is a social networking site creating by Consolidated Shoe Company, based in Lynchburg. With a slogan of “Feel Better,” Amy Gallagher, Director of Marketing at Consolidated, describes Dimmi as “a form of social networking that is designed for anyone who is going through any personal grief or crisis or disease, or is just passionate about a cause.”

Translated as “tell me” in Italian, Dimmi is designed to be a place where people of all walks of life can link up and talk about a disease or a cause they themselves or someone close to them is currently fighting through or has overcome.

“The unique thing about Dimmi that sets us apart from other social media sites is that we’re really there for everyone who’s involved in the process,” Gallagher explained. “We understand the importance of sharing information and sharing stories and being able to connect with people who share in your passion or your fight or your cause, because there is such an important part of the healing process that comes through talking.”

Born out of a personal loss, Gallagher says Dimmi and its message hits close to home for the team at Consolidated Shoe Company. The organization has been working to create Dimmi for the past two years, spurred on by the legacy of Dick Carrington, a member of their team and brother of Consolidated’s CEO, who passed away from A.L.S. (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 1997.

“He left behind a wife and beautiful children, and a whole company that was inspired by his fight. His whole family has worked very hard to raise awareness about A.L.S. and this is just something that our company can do now because of the way we are set up and how technology minded we are. We are merging the personal, family relationship that we have with the technology platform to create this social networking site,” Gallagher said.

Currently, Dimmi is fully functional but Gallagher says it has a big challenge to overcome—gathering enough users to get the site out of its current state in Beta, and officially launching it on a larger scale.

“If you think of [Dimmi] as a pool of people, the more people you have in the pool, the more chance that you’ll be able to have a good, viable connection—a truly, from-the-heart, helpful connection,” she said. “The goal really is to have as many stories and as many inspiring, helpful, ‘Feel Better’ resources and mentalities as possible.”

In order to attain these vital connections on Dimmi, Gallagher says she has set a goal of gathering 10,000 independent users to the site.

“That’s a big goal. Once you get to that number of users, the site really kicks into high gear and the true purpose of the site—which is to allow people to share their story and then connect with other people that have similar stories and can be empowered by your story—starts to work when you get your users up,” Gallagher said.

In order to attain their goal, Consolidated is turning to those they know best—their own local community—for help to reach the 10,000 users mark.

“Because it is so personal to us, we trust it with our community first,” Gallagher said. “We are working with local business and business leaders and trusted members of our community to help us build our user base up.”

In the past several months, the Consolidated team has been busy at work to see their vision for Dimmi through. Gallagher has met with representatives at some of the largest organizations in the region, including Centra, Liberty University, AREVA, Genworth and Randolph College, to garner support and rally new users for Dimmi from each company. So far, she says the response has been very encouraging.

“Everyone is trying to find a way to help us spread the message, either personally or through their professional network or business,” Gallagher said. “That’s the cool thing about being a business in Lynchburg, is that power and ability to do some pretty amazing things at a grassroots level before you take things to a national or global level.”

Now, Gallagher is asking that any local business or individual who wants to take part in growing Dimmi get in touch with her to get started. With a long-term vision of helping millions of people, she says that Dimmi has the potential to do a great amount of good, both here in Lynchburg, and far beyond it. But, she also contends that the power to bring it to life starts right here in this area.

“How rare is it to have an opportunity to have involvement in a project like this that you can have a tie back to?” she asked. “I think a lot of people in Lynchburg know Consolidated Shoe Company and know the Carringtons and had a personal connection with Dick, so I think that people will be passionate and excited about it. Right now, it’s just a matter of getting this network in front of people who really need it and letting them use it and help spread the word on a really grassroots level to make sure that the message is an important one.”

Visit Dimmi.com to learn more. For information about how to get involved in growing Dimmi, contact Amy Gallagher at amy.gallagher@consolidatedshoe.com.

We often think an injury is going to get better on its own, but a lot of times it doesn’t. Sometimes the body just needs a jumpstart to begin the healing process, and that’s when physical therapy and rehabilitation can play important roles in getting you back to work or play in the shortest amount of time possible.

Whether you’re experiencing post-surgical rehabilitation, a balance disorder or a sports- or work-related injury, rehabilitation and physical therapy can help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit physical disabilities.

Time is of the Essence

A frequent comment physical therapists hear from their patients is, “I wish I had come to you sooner. I waited for months thinking this would get better and was miserable with pain and not being able to perform my daily functions.”

Relieving discomfort and inconvenience though aren’t the primary reasons that therapists want to see patients sooner rather than later. Our bodies are great healers and heal well when we can address the injury before it cascades down and causes additional problems. Oftentimes, swelling can block the body from healing, or a muscle is tight or a joint won’t move. Therapies can address and alleviate the problem and get our bodies to the point where they can continue healing themselves.

Pain Reduction

Pain is one of the ways our body tells us that something is amiss and that we should stop doing whatever is causing it. But, while pain is a great warning sign, it can also prevent us from performing our daily activities and responsibilities as well as we’d like or even at all, whether at work, home or play.

Physical therapists have a number of options available that are clinically proven to reduce pain, from electrical stimulation treatment to ultrasound to specific exercises. While not all pain can be eliminated completely, it can often be reduced significantly so the patient can return to work or their hobby.

Work Injury Programs

Physical therapy and rehabilitation play important roles in treating injured employees and helping them return to a specific level of functionality. At the same time, it’s also integral in helping employees avoid injury in the first place, or if an injury has already occurred, preventing the same injury from reoccurring.

Job simulation, sometimes even using the exact items that an employee uses, enables work rehabilitation professionals to develop a customized treatment plan that fits each person. It also allows them to see how an employee works, and from that, understand how an injury occurred so that they can make recommendations for preventing them in the future and suggest an exercise program to strengthen the employee.

Exercise’s Role in Healing and Preventing Injury

Physical therapists oftentimes start patients on a home exercise program from the very first visit. Because patients are away from physical therapists more than they’re with them, it is critical that they be able to work on their own and continue to progress during their clinical time with their physical therapist. That exercise could be focused on improving endurance and cardiovascular strengths or the specific functions tied to their jobs through a work hardening program.

Patients often meet with a physical therapist from two to eight hours a day as part of a very rigorous schedule to address flexibility, strength, function, cardiovascular issues, as well as endurance. The goal is to reduce or eliminate their pain, prevent the injury from recurring, and return them as quickly as possible to work and to living the life they want to live.

The Evidence Speaks for Itself

There have been numerous studies conducted over the years that examined results for injured patients who went through a physical therapy or rehabilitation program as part of their healing and compared them to patients who tried to heal themselves. Those studies consistently show that patients who went through a rehab program achieved a higher quality of functionality faster than patients who didn’t go through rehab. And, given the fact that insurance usually covers the costs associated with physical therapy, there really aren’t strong arguments for not seeking therapy.

Preventing Injury in the Workplace

Physical therapy and rehab professionals also play an important role in helping employers ensure the safety of their employees through injury prevention. By conducting an ergonomic assessment and providing job coaching and pre-work screening, therapists can help employers better determine what an employee can do physically, whether he or she is a new hire or looking to return to work after an injury. How well do they perform on stairs? What is their wrist strength? How much weight can they lift from the floor to their waist? All these questions help employers match employees to the right job, and ultimately reduce the likelihood of a workplace injury.

More information about the benefits of physical therapy and rehabilitation are available by contacting Centra Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Specialists at (434) 797-1384 or by visiting www.centrahealth.com.

Quitting is possible, however, as evidenced by the fact that today there are as many ex-smokers as there are current smokers. To be successful at ending your nicotine addiction, you must have a plan in place that takes baby steps toward quitting.

Today, the health risks associated with smoking are common knowledge. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. Not as well known, though, are the benefits—immediate and long-term—that accompany smoking cessation.

Health Benefits

Your heart rate drops 20 minutes after quitting. One year after quitting, your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. Five to 10 years after quitting, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker. Ten years after quitting, your lung cancer risk is about half that of a smoker’s.

Smokers who quit help those around them, too. The American Lung Association estimates that second-hand tobacco smoke is responsible for more than 50,000 deaths annually, primarily from lung cancer and coronary heart disease, and that exposure is particularly dangerous over extended periods of time, such as in the workplace.

Workplace Benefits

The reasons to help employees stop smoking go beyond the most important reason of improving everyone’s health. In addition to those health benefits, business owners who encourage smoking cessation and offer the tools necessary to help employees see results send a positive message to all employees that they truly care about them as people.

Helping employees become tobacco-free also improves productivity as smokers miss an average of 6.16 work days annually due to illness compared to 3.86 days for non-smokers, not to mention the hidden costs associated with lost productivity due to frequent smoke breaks.

Employers’ costs for both employee health and life insurance coverage also can see a negotiated reduction when employees stop smoking. At the same time, costs associated with caring for a workplace facility can also decrease when the workplace is tobacco-free. Smoke-free buildings stay cleaner, furnishings last longer and there’s a decreased risk of fires from improperly discarded cigarette butts.

Implementing a Smoke-free Workplace

People don’t like to be told what to do, particularly when it involves giving up a habit to which they have a physical addiction. That’s why advance notice and baby steps are perhaps the two most important components to a successful smoking cessation program.

Start by giving employees four to six months notice that the workplace is moving toward being tobacco-free. Arrange for and communicate the various incentives that would accompany the move to being tobacco-free. Perhaps most importantly, give smokers plenty of support and avoid stigmatizing them as they journey toward becoming smoke-free. Timing the implementation of a no smoking policy to coincide with a special event—such as the Great American Smokeout and Kick Butts Day—can help ease the transition.

Help for Long-time Smokers

Quitting smoking doesn’t automatically and immediately erase the increased health risks smokers face, particularly for long-time or heavy smokers. But, thanks to a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 2010 and medical technology available locally, high-risk smokers have a new weapon in the early detection of lung abnormalities and lung cancer: The Screening Lung CT Scan.

Using this new screening procedure, delivered through a modern, spiral CT scanner, patients in the study showed a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths as compared to patients screened with a chest X-ray. The results were so surprising that the Institute stopped the study early and instead issued guidelines to the medical community for screening smokers.

Stopping isn’t Easy, but the Benefits are Undeniable

Ending a nicotine addiction is one of the most difficult journeys a smoker will undertake, and it isn’t a walk in the park for the people around them either. However, a carefully planned and implemented program that includes options for nicotine replacement products, behavior modification, support and understanding, a smoke-free workplace, Screening Lung CT Scans and a desire to stop smoking all add up to improved health, reduced costs and most importantly, more ex-smokers living longer lives.

For more information on smoking cessation and Centra’s cancer and cardiac care, please call 1.877.MDLINK1. For more information on the Screening CT Lung Scan and to schedule an appointment, call 434.237.4091. David Cannon, M.D., practices internal medicine at Medical Associates of Central Virginia, which is online at centralvamd.com.

From time to time, we get pulled away from our jobs due to an illness. It could be a short-lived cold, symptoms of something more serious, or perhaps signs and symptoms were missed early on and a larger health issue has arisen. In this day and age of increased business pressures, you could feel overbooked and overtired, and you wonder how you could squeeze in one more appointment during the day, such as a visit with your physician.

While you make an effort to maintain a healthy diet, a regular exercise program and an adequate amount of sleep, making and keeping your doctor’s appointment may tend to fall off your radar. Then several years slip by, and you no longer have a good baseline for your health or know if a health issue is developing.

Many medical conditions can be prevented if you and your physician respond to risk factors, and health problems can be better treated if you react to their early signs and symptoms. While many people believe that an annual physical is necessary for maintaining optimum health, there is convincing evidence that a yearly complete physical with standard lab work and other testing, such as an electrocardiogram, does not guarantee better health outcomes when the exam and testing is done regardless of your age, symptoms, risk factors, or basic state of health. For complicated reasons, more testing is not always better.

It is, however, very important to know that there are many medical problems that do not cause symptoms we might notice, such as high blood pressure, certain kinds of cancer, diabetes or high cholesterol. These medical problems have great potential to cause real harm or even premature death if not detected and treated early. Furthermore, many individuals are at greater risk for having these problems because of other behaviors or risk factors, such as smoking or family medical history.

For these reasons, experts in preventive health care suggest that the usual “annual physical” be replaced by periodic, not always annual, wellness assessments and screenings that concentrate on the types of exams and testing that should be provided for someone, based on his or her characteristics, habits and risk factors. This sort of individualized service has been shown more likely to improve a person’s health, while minimizing the potential harm of unnecessary, uninformative and sometimes very expensive testing. Remember, though, that when it comes to the care of infants and children, regularly scheduled and sometimes very frequent routine medical visits are needed.

A healthy 25-year-old woman with good health behaviors and healthy parents does not need to be tested every year for most chronic diseases, especially if she has no symptoms.

On the other hand, a 50-year-old overweight smoker whose parents have diabetes and heart disease is at very high risk for having significant medical problems, many of which will not cause symptoms he would notice. He would certainly benefit from knowing his cholesterol level, blood pressure and blood sugar, being helped to quit smoking and lose weight and even having a screening test for colon cancer, among other things. Ideally, he would have known his risks long before he was 50, and been effectively supported in his efforts to improve his health.

The types of exams, health screenings and interventions that are most likely to truly benefit an individual in terms of a longer and better life are not always obvious, and are sometimes debatable. However, there are a great many tests and interventions that are not at all controversial. One of the more authoritative and extensively researched sources of information about suggested screening tests and health interventions is the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. Anyone can browse these recommendations on the internet at http://epss.ahrq.gov/ePSS/search.jsp. Visitors to this Web site can specify their age and sex to produce a list of screening tests and interventions both recommended and not recommended for them. These recommendations are graded according to the level of evidence that supports them, and the Web site provides extensive education links and tools for risk assessment.

For people who are insured by Medicare, there are a number of routinely covered preventive services, including some immunizations. This benefit includes a “Welcome to Medicare” physical, and as of 2011, annual wellness visits. The primary purpose of these visits is not to manage chronic diseases you may have, but to ensure that you are receiving the appropriate screening tests and preventive services and to allow your primary care provider to assess your health risks. More information can be found about these benefits on the Web at www.medicare.gov/welcometomedicare/exam.html.

We encourage you to set aside the time to schedule a wellness visit with your primary care provider. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are looking for a physician or specialist in Central or Southside Virginia, visit the Centra Medical Group online at cmg.centrahealth.com or call Centra’s Find a Physician service, which is available 24/7, at 1-877-MDLINK1.

March is often a month that brings us the hope of better things to come—longer, brighter days, the end of the winter and the welcomed start of spring. But March is more than that: it’s also “Save Your Vision Month,” which makes it an ideal time to take a good look at your eye health (you probably don’t think of that as much as you should, do you?) and what you can do to save your vision.

Hopefully, you do think of your eye health often enough to get regular check-ups and eye exams, are knowledgeable on your family history of eye health, wear sunglasses always when you’re outside and eat lots and lots of carrots. Okay, so the carrot thing may not guarantee 20/20 vision, but all of these things can help save your eyesight.

So this month, we challenge you to do your part to “save your vision.”

Eye Exams

“Probably the most important thing you can do to help save your vision is getting routine eye exams on a yearly basis,” Dr. Landon Colling, an ophthalmologist from Harman Eye Center, said. “It’s definitely a good safety precaution and insurance for your overall eye health to get yearly exams.”

Dr. Darin Bowers from Piedmont Eye Center agrees that routine eye exams are one of the best things to do to protect yourself. He stresses the importance of these exams because some eye diseases are silent.

“If there’s one thing people need to know, it’s that eye diseases like glaucoma are silent diseases—patients don’t even know they have the symptoms—but regular eye exams can help diagnose any problems before it’s too late,” Bowers said.

“Some eye diseases are not painful,” Colling concurred. “But because most people go to the doctor when they’re in pain, they may not think to go to the eye doctor because with some eye diseases there aren’t noticeable.”

One of those silent diseases is glaucoma, an eye disorder where the optic nerve suffers damage, impacting vision in the affected eyes and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. It often occurs in older patients. Another eye disease often seen in this same age group is macular degeneration, which is a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. In addition, Bowers said presbyopia is a common eye condition that hits most people in their early 40s. This is a condition where a person’s focusing power reduces to the point that it begins to bother people when looking at things up close.

“It’s important to know if you have a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration,” Bowers said. “Family history can play a role in whether or not you could get one of these diseases.”

“Family history is important, too, because it’s genetic whether or not a person needs glasses,” Colling explained.

Something else the staff at Harman Eye Center pointed out that can play a role in your eye health—whether or not you’re a diabetic.

“Diabetes can really affect eyesight if you’re not careful,” Colling said. “So if you do have diabetes, get an eye exam at least once a year, no matter your age.”

Healthy Eyes

While it’s important to get regular eye exams and be checked for eye diseases, it’s also important to take proper steps to help your vision every day. Because we’re more tuned in than ever before, many of us spend hours in front of the computer at work or texting on our cell phones and all of that can cause eye strain.

“One of the most common things I see is dry eyes, which can be a cause for eye strain,” Bowers said. “If you’re working in front of a computer or doing a lot of reading, you may not blink as much, so your eyes are drying out.”

Colling encourages patients to just sit back and take breaks throughout the day, and as silly as it may sound, remind yourself to blink.

Dry eyes can make your eyes feel tired, which is a common cause of eye strain. Eye strain is one of the most common workplace hazards and can happen to anyone, of any age. It can also be associated with a tension-type headache and the more you use your eyes, the more uncomfortable it gets as time goes on.

“If you do sit in front of a computer for long time, take several breaks throughout the day,” Bowers said. “Another simple way to help is to get over-the-counter artificial tears, keep them at your desk and use them a few times throughout the day.”

Another cause of eye strain can simply be because your eyes aren’t able to focus like they used to, and your eyes start to fatigue as you age (presbyopia). As you work to maintain that focus, your eyes just start to tire out.

“Sometimes, simple, over-the-counter reading glasses with a light prescription can help,”  Bowers said.

To keep your eyes healthy, make sure you’ve got the right prescription for your glasses and contacts. If you haven’t had your eyes checked in a few years, you could need new glasses or contacts, but are still wearing the wrong ones. And the wrong prescription can definitely aggravate your eyes.

Something else to think about at your workplace—the placement of your computer monitor.

“The height of your computer monitor can affect your vision,” Colling said. “It’s best to actually put the screen below eye level. If it’s above eye level, you’re constantly looking up and that can create dryness or more strain.”

If you have a window in your office, sometimes the glare from the computer screen can force you to refocus more. You can minimize the glare with screens that help cut down on the glare.

Because everyone doesn’t sit behind a computer screen for work, Colling points out that anyone working in any hazardous areas must wear proper eye protection. That’s one of the easiest ways to protect your eye health in the workplace.

The Option of LASIK

If you do wear glasses or contacts and are ready for a change, you may want to consider the option of LASIK surgery. LASIK has been around for almost two decades and both Harman Eye and Piedmont Eye Center offer it. As Colling explained, it carries a very high satisfaction rate.

“LASIK can really reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contacts for patients,” he said. “It can really improve quality of life for patients, especially those who are near-sighted or very active, or athletes who want to play sports and not have to wear glasses.”

Far from being beneficial just to athletes, Colling says that many of his patients report back excellent results.

“People who have this surgery come back and tell us how they can wake up in the middle of the night and see, without that dependency of glasses,” he said. “It really frees patients and can make such a difference in people’s lives.”

So, as you think of the good things that March usually brings, remember to get that eye exam, to update your prescription for your glasses or contacts and to take care of your vision. After all, you want to be able to see all the good things that are coming.