TERRE HAUTE — Where there’s a DEXA machine, there’s a body mass index scan. DEXA, which stands for Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, checks for osteoporosis, which is a decrease in bone density and bone mass. But it can also do other things.
“Basically,” says Julie Manning Dooley, practice manager of all kinds of departments at AP&S; Clinic, “it tells you your total fat composition.”
So? Well, it has all kinds of applications, including weight-reduction treatment, growth hormone treatment, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, anabolic steroids therapy, anorexia, Cushing’s syndrome, exercise, muscular dystrophy, disorders such as AIDS and cancer, and malabsorptive syndromes. It can also be used to determine the water content of body tissues in situations such as kidney disease.
Knowing where fat is located is also useful when it comes to determining cardiovascular disease risk, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, Dooley says.
But a lot of people just use it to get a baseline before beginning a weight loss and/or exercise program to determine how they’re progressing, in which case your insurance won’t cover it. However, it’s only $75 for a scan at AP&S.; Appointments are made through the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at (812) 242-3115. It’s OK, men: You can get one, too.
• • •
“Exercise,” they tell you. Exercise to lower your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Exercise for heart health. Exercise for mental health. It seems that whatever ails you, one of the recommendations is to exercise.
Now there’s another reason to exercise: stroke prevention. In a study that began in Iceland 40 years ago, called the Reykjavick Study, researchers found that men who exercised or played sports in their 40s and 50s experienced a decrease in the risk of having strokes ranging from 50- to 70 percent, depending on the area of the brain.
While women who exercised experienced a decrease in the risk of stroke, it wasn’t as high as that in men, ranging from 25- to 50 percent. Data were presented at a recent meeting of the International Society for Vascular Behavior and Cognitive Disorders in San Antonio, Texas.
No, you don’t have to exercise 24/7. The researchers defined exercise as engaging in physical activity for one or more hours a week. That should be quite doable for most of us.
While exercise may not cure the common cold — that I know of anyway — it seems to be helpful in lowered your risks in an ever-expanding list of ailments. In short, it couldn’t hurt. It might even help. So put those walking shoes on, join in a game of soccer, go swimming or something and start lowering all of those health risks.
• • •
A skull and crossbones on iPods? Maybe not, but they can cause some damage, and not just permanent hearing loss from having the volume too high.
A letter published in the July 12 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine tells of a 37-year-old man listening to his iPod while out jogging in a thunderstorm. Seems that lightening struck a tree next to him. The man landed about 8 feet from the tree, with second-degree burns on his chest and left leg, and there were burns that began on his chest and traveled up his neck and sides of his face, ending where the earphones from the iPod were positioned. The insides of his ears were burned, membranes were perforated, and his lower jawbone was broken on both sides.
Oh, and he experienced severe hearing loss.
What are the chances? Admittedly, pretty low. Just in case, however, you might want to leave it at home if it’s storming.
• • •
All bathroom doors should open out. Most people say they wash their hands before leaving the bathroom, but they’re not all being honest. While 91 percent of adults asked said they washed their hands after using the bathroom, only 82 percent were found to do so when observers loitered around in bathrooms around the country to do a count.
In the battle of the genders, women won out, with 90 percent of them washing their hands compared to only 75 percent of the men.
The worst place when it came to hand-washing was Turner Field in Atlanta at 74 percent, with New York City’s Penn Station close behind at 79 percent. The best place? Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where 89 percent of the people washed their hands before leaving the bathroom.
When you do wash your hands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says to use warm water and soap and rub your hands together for 20 seconds—about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. (Sing it to yourself, please.) And shut off the faucet with the paper towel you used to dry your hands. No soap and water? Hand sanitizer will do in a pinch.
But then there’s that bathroom door. That’s why I say bathroom doors should open out; so you can bump it open with your elbow or something. You may have washed your hands, but what about the last person who touched that knob, lever or bar? Especially if you’ve been to an Atlanta Braves game.
Health & Fitness
Health Matters: Machine helps find your body mass index
- Health & Fitness
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Measles confirmed in Central Indiana
State health officials have confirmed two cases of measles in Hamilton County and have identified an additional two probable measles cases in Boone County.
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Planned Parenthood offers cholesterol testing
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Health Department plans public flu shot clinic
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Maple Center offering therapeutic yoga classes
The nonprofit Maple Center for Integrative Health will offer therapeutic yoga classes starting Feb. 18.
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Visiting Angels receives ‘Best of Home Care’ award
Visiting Angels announced that it has been recognized with Home Care Pulse’s “Best of Home Care” distinction. Awarded to the top 25 percent of agencies nationwide in client and employee satisfaction scores from Home Care Pulse, the senior care provider, located in Greencastle, is now ranked among a select few of the best agencies in the country.
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Essence of Red event to support heart health in Valley
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Pfizer recalls 1M birth control packs after mix-up
Birth control pills are known to be nearly 100 percent effective when taken properly, but a recall of the drugs could send a shudder through women of childbearing age.
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Dine with martial arts expert at Senior Center
Senior Education Ministries, Inc. has scheduled Rise and Shine Dine with a Doc from 8 to 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Wabash Senior Citizen’s Center at 300 S. Fifth St. in Terre Haute.
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Clark County planning spring 5K/Biathlon
Clark County Park District Trails Coalition’s fundraising spring 5k and biathlon — a 3.1-mile run and 15-mile bike ride — is planned for April 21 in Mill Creek Park in Marshall, Ill. The event will also feature a 1-mile fun run/walk.
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Indiana Blood Center plans February drives
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Dining with Diabetes classes to begin Feb. 27
The Purdue Extension-Vermillion/Parke County Offices are offering Dining with Diabetes sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning Feb. 27 at the Parke County Extension Office, Rockville. The program will run through March 19.
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People On Wheels’ Ms. Wheelchair Indiana Pageant is now accepting entries for its 2012 program.
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Red Cross seeks disaster volunteers, offers training
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Disaster volunteers serve on local, community focused response teams that meet with clients and serve their emergency needs 24 hours a day. -
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Vigo Early Head Start students receiving hearing screenings
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College schedules sanitation and safety class
Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill., will offer a sanitation and safety class, and sanitation refresher course (RST 1601) beginning Feb. 1.
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Paris Hospital Laboratory receives accreditation
The Paris Community Hospital Laboratory recently received national recognition for its quality of service and commitment to excellence.
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Maple Center announces spring CHIP
The nonprofit Maple Center for Integrative Health announces the 2012 spring schedule for the Complete Health Improvement Program.
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Planned Parenthood announces new hours
Planned Parenthood of Indiana will offer new hours of service for its Terre Haute health center.
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Riley Foundation chooses Wabash Valley student's artwork for calendar
Eleven-year-old Trenton Williams has a long history with Riley Hospital for Children.
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ISU, prof receive patent for agent that boosts immune system
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Dine with ear, nose and throat specialist
Senior Education Ministries Inc. has scheduled Dine with a Doc from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Wabash Senior Citizen’s Center at 300 S. Fifth St. in Terre Haute.
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Maple Center invites public to annual meeting/dinner
The Board of Directors of the nonprofit Maple Center for Integrative Health invites supporters and all who are interested in integrative/holistic community health education programs and clinical services to attend the annual board meeting and dinner Feb. 7. The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at First Financial Conference Center, 4353 S. Seventh St., Terre Haute.
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Register now for winter blues bike ride
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Hospital calls on community to donate blood
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Session on the basics of Alzheimer’s is Tuesday
“Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics,” a free workshop on Alzheimer’s disease, will be conducted from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Rockville Public Library.
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