FREE Sinus Screening

Are you suffering from chronic sinus problems such as runny nose, itchy eyes, loss of smell or taste, headaches, or dizziness? These are common complaints, but solutions are available to help treat your symptoms.

Come take advantage of a free screening at Sentara Potomac Hospital and learn what treatment options are available. The screenings will be conducted by board-certified ear, nose and throat physicians specially trained in minimally invasive sinus surgery techniques, including balloon sinuplasty.

The Sinus Screening will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. in The Potomac Center, Suite 130 (medical office building next to Sentara Potomac Hospital).

This screening is free but an appointment is required. Click here to register or call 703-221-2500.

Wellness Wit and Wisdom

By Maureen Deutermann, MSN, R.N.
Director of Community Education

It seems like life just keeps getting more and more hectic and stressful. Even positive change causes stress. No time to think about anything as mundane as healthy food choices, right? WRONG! In periods of stress, even more attention should be paid to how we are fueling our bodies. Why? When under stress, we need more of all nutrients and in particular B vitamins, which contribute to the functioning of the nervous system, and calcium, which offsets the production of lactic acid from tense muscles.

Ironically, when under stress we often give in to the temptation of allowing healthy nutrition to take a nosedive.We are so busy and distracted that we may end up grabbing some pretty unhealthy grub. What’s a stressed out team member to do?? Here are some suggestions:

Adopt a nutritional “mantra”; anything that triggers you to think before you eat. “Garbage in garbage out” might do the trick!

Be prepared. Instead of becoming so ravenous that you find yourself wildly emptying quarters into the nearest vending machine, spend some time the night before planning and packing healthy snacks and lunches.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals to keep blood sugar levels steady. Include sources of protein as well as carbohydrates in your snacks to give your energy level more staying power. Low fat cheese, peanut butter, and hard boiled eggs are good sources of protein. Team with whole grain bread, crackers or pretzels for the carb part of the equation.

Avoid or consume in moderation: Caffeine, which can increase nervousness, impairs sleep, and sucks up your reserve of B vitamins. Alcohol: also depletes B vitamins and can be disruptive to sleep, not to mention affecting judgment/thought processes.

Avoid concentrated sugar/sweets, which can cause an immediate surge in blood sugar only to ultimately result in an extended “low”: translation: you may start out with a zing but an hour or two later you may find yourself crashed into your computer keyboard. Not a good thing!

Think fresh and “whole” rather than processed. Whole grain products and fresh fruits and vegetables will supply adequate amounts of magnesium and Vitamins B and C, all of which are needed even more in times of stress. Don’t rely on a multivitamin to take the place of good nutrition; they can be helpful but can’t replace the health benefit of whole fresh foods.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to get enough sleep, take time to exercise, play, read, socialize; in short, take good care of yourself.

Reference: uhs.uga.edu/stress/nutrition; holistic-online.com/stress/stress_nutrition

Remembrance Ceremony

Commemorating infant and pregnancy loss

In honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Sentara Potomac Hospital is holding a Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, October 17, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Worship Room.

Please join us for speakers, poetry read by parents, music, commemoration and refreshments. Everyone who has experienced an infant and pregnancy loss, regardless of when or how the loss occurred, is invited to attend. It is our hope that the Remembrance Ceremony brings comfort to grieving parents, family members and others in our community.

For more information, please call Chaplain Carol Wille at (703) 583-3003.

Men’s Health Solutions

A free seminar for those coping with erectile dysfunction (ED)
and bladder control problems

More than five million American men live with bladder control problems and more than 30 million have some form of erectile dysfunction (ED), which can significantly impact quality of life for them and their partners.

The good news is that nearly every man can be successfully treated for these conditions and there is usually more than one option to choose from. Please join us for a free educational seminar to discuss the latest solutions for erectile dysfunction and male urinary incontinence.

A wide range of treatment options, from new medications to the latest surgical solutions, will be discussed. Also, patients will be attending to share their stories of successfully treating these conditions and will be available to answer your questions. Your spouse or partner is welcome and is strongly encouraged to attend.

Men's Health Solutions will be held on Saturday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m. in the Hylton Education Center at Sentara Potomac Hospital. This is a free event, but please register by calling 1-877-433-2873.

The Discovery Channel Comes to Sentara Potomac Hospital

The Discovery Channel filmed part of an upcoming documentary at Sentara Potomac Hospital. The documentary, called “Overcoming Obstacles in Treating Your Diabetes,” is set to air on Oct. 2, 9 & 16 at 8:00 a.m. on the Discovery Channel (Comcast channel 53 in Prince William County). The documentary follows several diabetes patients through their experiences related to their diabetes treatment, education and management.

One of the subjects in the documentary is Sheri Danner-Murphy, a 43-year-old mother of two from Woodbridge who spent time in Sentara Potomac’s Intensive Care Unit due to complications from diabetes. While she was in the hospital she was encouraged to follow-up her care by enrolling in Sentara Potomac Hospital’s Diabetes Management Program so that she could receive the proper diabetes education. Sheri has since enrolled in the Diabetes Management Program and is excited about finally taking control of her disease.

During the two-day filming, the Discovery Channel interviewed members of the hospital’s Diabetes Management team including diabetes educators Robyn Johanson, R.N., Nadine Young, R.D., and Barbara Warren, R.N., as well as Dr. Ericka Walker and inpatient educator Donna Weaver, R.N.

FREE Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening

If you experience leg pain, particularly when walking or exercising, that usually disappears after a few minutes of exercising; you may have Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD. PAD affects the body’s blood vessels, especially in arms, legs, feet and hands.

In addition to leg pain, other symptoms of PAD can include: numbness and tingling in the lower legs and feet; coldness in the lower legs and feet; or ulcers or sores on the legs or feet that don’t heal. This screening is for adults who are currently not being treated for PAD.

The screening will be held on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in The Potomac Center, First Floor (next to Sentara Potomac Hospital). The screening is free but an appointment is necessary. Click here to schedule your appointment or call 703-221-2500.

Wellness Wit and Wisdom

By Maureen Deutermann, MSN, R.N., Director of Community Education

When I was a kid, it wasn’t going back to school that I dreaded (I was actually kind of a nerdy kid), but the fact that my dad was usually the one sending us off to school, as mom worked early. Don’t get me wrong, my dad was a prince of a guy, but he believed in launching us into those hallowed halls of learning with a good “stick to your ribs” breakfast on board. That usually meant the “o” word….oatmeal. I not only didn’t like oatmeal, the stuff made me literally gag.

My solution was to dig in and get it over with as soon as possible; confessing my oatmeal aversion to my sweet dad was not an option. Unfortunately, sweet dad took my gobbling as a sign of enthusiasm and would invariably plop another helping in my bowl…sigh. Then there were his boiled tongue sandwiches cleverly smuggled into my lunch sack…but that’s another story.

The point is: dad was not only sweet but wise, knowing that a good breakfast was important for energy, concentration, and learning in general. Another school year is upon us. For those of us with students at home, our efforts may be concentrated on securing new outfits, backpacks and school supplies. We would do well to take stock of what we’re putting into our little scholars as well!

Here are a few nutrition tips to help ensure a successful and healthy school year:

• By all means provide your children with a healthy breakfast before they board the bus. Include protein (egg, milk, peanut butter), whole grains (toast, whole grain cereal), and fruit. Beware of the sugar bombs being passed off as cereal!

• Lunch time is a challenge as you won’t be around to play food Gestapo. Check out your child’s lunchroom menu ahead of time, if possible, and help him/her make healthy choices. If you pack your child’s lunch you’re more in control, but make sure it’s something your child will eat. For years I packed an apple in with my son’s typical peanut butter sandwich and chips (yes chips…no one’s perfect!). It was only when one of the “lunch ladies” at his school casually informed me that the apple was consistently used for hoop practice that I switched to grapes. To this day grapes are the preferred fruit of choice for my now college-aged son. Who knew???

• Ah dinnertime: you’re tired, the kids are tired, let’s fly through McDonald’s. Right? Wrong! If you can’t remember the last time you all sat down at the dinner table together, a new school year is a great time to start. Children who regularly eat dinner at home with their parents have lower risk of substance abuse, lower stress and anxiety levels, and higher levels of self esteem, not to mention higher grades than their “take-out” peers.

This year, make sure your beloved scholars are packing good nutrition into their school days; you may just see a surprise payoff at report card time! Reference: http://www.casafamilyday.org/