NEWSROOM

NLH Blog

Wellness Words January 2010

HealthLink Littauer’s

WELLNESS WORDS

Submitted by Sue Cridland RN BSN

Director of Community Education

 

THE SCOOP ON SNOW SHOVELING SAFETY

It happens every winter in certain parts of the county … snow falls, usually leaving piles of the stuff to clear from your sidewalks and driveway. Consider the following before you grab your shovel after a major snowfall!

The good news is that snow shoveling counts as moderate physical activity according to the 1996 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health. We all should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity of some kind on most days of the week. (Brisk walking or social dancing are other ways to fit in moderate physical activity during cold winter months.)

The bad news is that researchers have reported an increase in the number of fatal heart attacks among snow shovelers after heavy snowfalls. This rise may be due to the sudden demand that shoveling places on an individual’s heart. Snow shoveling may cause a quick increase in heart rate and blood pressure. One study determined that after only two minutes of shoveling, sedentary men’s heart rates rose to levels higher than those normally recommended during aerobic exercise.

Shoveling may be vigorous activity even for healthy college-aged students. A study performed by researchers at North Dakota State University determined that, based on heart rate, shoveling was a moderately intense activity for college-aged subjects most of the time but was vigorous activity during about one-third of their shoveling time of 14 minutes.

Shoveling can be made more difficult by the weather. Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body. There also is the risk for hypothermia, a decrease in body temperature, if one is not dressed correctly for the weather conditions.

Who should think twice about shoveling snow?

Those most at risk for a heart attack include:

  • Anyone who has already had a heart attack
  • Individuals with a history of heart disease
  • Those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels
  • Smokers
  • Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle

Should you rush out and buy a snow blower?

Not necessarily. Not everyone who shovels snow is going to have a heart attack. Snow shoveling can be good exercise when performed correctly and with safety in mind.

Also consider back safety when shoveling snow. Even if you exercise regularly and are not at risk for heart disease, shoveling improperly could lead to a strained back. If you’ve been inactive for months and have certain risk factors, use some common sense before taking on the task of snow shoveling.

So here’s the scoop on how to be heart healthy and back friendly while shoveling this winter:

  • If you are inactive and have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor before you take on the task of shoveling snow.
  • Avoid caffeine or nicotine before beginning. These are stimulants, which may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict. This places extra stress on the heart.
  • Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is just as big an issue in cold winter months as it is in the summer.
  • Dress in several layers so you can remove a layer as needed.
  • Warm up your muscles before shoveling, by walking for a few minutes or marching in place. Do some gentle stretching before you begin because warm muscles will work more efficiently and be less likely to be injured.
  • Pick the right shovel for you. A smaller blade will require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your body. There are also ergonomically designed shovels which may decrease the work load.
  • Begin shoveling slowly to avoid placing a sudden demand on your heart. Pace yourself and take breaks as needed.
  • Protect your back from injury by lifting correctly: Stand with your feet about hip width for balance and keep the shovel close to your body. Bend from the knees (not the back) and tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Avoid twisting movements. If you need to move the snow to one side, reposition your feet to face the direction the snow will be going.
  • Most importantly — listen to your body. Stop if you feel pain!

The preceding was edited from an article by North Dakota State University Extension Staff in November 1999: Jocey Mathern, Program Assistant and Julie Garden-Robinson Ph.D. L.R.D., Food & Nutrition Specialist.

For more information on health and wellness, you can call us at 736-1120, e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re celebrating 20 years of being your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.

Littauer offers advice on happiness

The REverand Bonnie Orth speaks about happiness

The Reverand Bonnie Orth speaks about happiness

First published by the Leader Herald. January 3, 2010.

A recent study made headlines when it reported residents of New York, compared to people in other states, are the unhappiest people in the nation.

However, that doesn’t mean people in the state cannot be happy.

Ernest Gagnon, the director of community services for the Fulton County Mental Health Clinic, said while money doesn’t bring happiness, a certain level is necessary. People tend to be unhappy when they cannot meet certain basic needs, such as having a warm house and being able to feed themselves.

Gagnon said relationships – whether they are with friends, family or a romantic relationship with another person – are important to happiness.

While relationships can bring great joy, if things go wrong they also can bring pain.

“We are seeing an increasing number of people coming [here] due to financial stress, which has caused marital stress,” he said.

Gagnon recommends people try and be active to increase their happiness. A satisfying activity tends to make people happier than sitting around, he said.

The study, which compared self-described pleasant feelings with objective measures of good living, found people who described themselves as happy had a reason to feel fine.

The places where people are most likely to report happiness also tend to rate high on studies comparing things like climate, crime rates, air quality and schools.

The happiness ratings were based on a survey of 1.3 million people across the country by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It used data collected over four years that included a question asking people how satisfied they are with their lives.

Economists Andrew J. Oswald of the University of Warwick in England and Stephen Wu of Hamilton College in Clinton, Oneida County, compared the happiness ranking with studies that rated states on a variety of criteria ranging from availability of public land to commuting time to local taxes.

Probably not surprisingly, their report in the journal Science found the happiest people tend to live in the states that do well in quality-of-life studies.

To the Rev. Bonnie Orth, happiness is a state of mind that requires more to achieve than purchasing products advertised in magazines and on TV.

“Happiness is in us,” she said. “We have the ability to change, to be happy.”

Orth, the pastoral care coordinator for Nathan Littauer Hospital and the minister at Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church, said her experiences have shown her happiness often begins with gratitude.

She has visited Central America as part of her work. What has surprised her is seeing how poor people who live in conditions worse than our own can be so happy. She described sitting down to a meal with a group of people who might not normally have a lot of food, but were happy to share with her.

“They were just so grateful that I was there,” Orth said. “It always humbles and amazes me.”

When the survey was released, many people latched on to the fact that residents in sunny, outdoorsy states – such as Louisiana, Florida, Hawaii – described themselves as being happier.

Orth questioned that. She wondered, if sunny weather makes people happy, then why would the state of Washington be at 36 on the list? It has a major city – Seattle – that is justifiably famous for the amount of dreary, rainy weather it gets.

Then there is California, which came in at 46.

Orth said if people want to be happier, they should give something away “with no strings attached.”

Whether it be an item, advice of their time, people can effectively give themselves to others, she said.

“People who are the happiest are those that do for others,” Orth said.

Dorothy Burdick, 81, of Johnstown was at Nathan Littauer Nursing Home on Wednesday visiting her husband Edward, 84.

Dorothy met Ed at the Littauer complex in 1999, when her mother was ill. The two were married a year later.

“Finding the right partner in life,” is how Dorothy described what has made her happiest.

Edward, who said his “best happiness” has been over the last 10 years, said the couple gets along great. Of course, they argue every once in a while.

“I’m just too stubborn,” he said.

“No you’re not,” Dorothy said with a laugh.

The state ranking No. 1 in happiness was Louisiana, home of Dixieland music and Cajun/Creole cooking.

Oswald urged a bit of caution in that ranking, however, noting that part of the happiness survey occurred before Hurricane Katrina struck the state, and part of it took place later. Nevertheless, he said, ”We have no explicit reason to think there is a problem” with the ranking.

Rounding out the happy five were Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona.

At the other end of the scale, last in happiness – is New York state.

As if to illustrate the reasons for the state’s last place ranking, residents attending a meeting last month in Queensbury unleashed their anger and cynicism at a state government they described as corrupt, self-dealing and too quick to increase taxes. It was a tirade that had one lifelong resident saying he was ready to flee ”this stinkin’ state.”

Oswald suggested the long commutes, congestion and high prices around New York City account for some of the unhappiness.

He said he has been asked if the researchers expected that states like New York and California would do so badly in the happiness ranking.

”I am only a little surprised,” he said. ”Many people think these states would be marvelous places to live in. The problem is that if too many individuals think that way, they move into those states, and the resulting congestion and house prices make it a non-fulfilling prophecy.”

Tourism

Officials involved in the local tourism industry sounded doubtful the study’s results would have much of an effect on people visiting the area from outside the state.

Deb Auspelmyer, the president of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, said she does not think many people take ranking such as this too seriously.

She noted while N.Y. residents do face more challenging circumstances than some other states – such as higher taxes, colder weather – that breeds a sense of determination in the people here.

Terry Swierzowski, the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s vice president and director of tourism and communications, said she hoped it would not hurt tourism in the area.

“People sometimes overlook the resources available to them in a community, and I’d hope that wouldn’t happen here,” she said.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

Littauer adds latest technology to website

To launch The New Birthing Center, Littauer has used the latest technology to showcase the spa like setting. We added a virtual tour (provided by Coldwell Banker) and a new photo gallery, streaming media and a new commercial. See all the media here:

Take a virtaul tour

View the photo gallery

See the news coverage of the Center

Read about all our features

Arrange a tour

See our “Delivering moments like this” campaign

If you have any questions about the new center please contact us at 773-5533.

Littauer’s fundraising event ranked as one of the most successful in region

Littauer’s THE EVENT holds rank with area’s largest organizations

Gloversville, NY…Nathan Littauer’s Foundation annual fundraising gala reached a distinctive threshold last week; It was ranked as one of the top fundraising events in the region. THE EVENT, The Foundation’s annual gala, now in its eighth year was listed as the 25th most successful fundraising event by The Business Review’s Book of Lists. “The List” is a compendium ranking the most successful fundraising events by net revenue per single event.

According to Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development, “In 2009, THE EVENT raised $84,000 which is nearly 50% of our annual commitment to the Hospital.” She added, “And this figure of $84,000 is above and beyond our $4.5 million dollar capital campaign donations. THE EVENT is a signature gala for our region. Our wonderful cause coupled with tight fiduciary management makes it a success, year after year.”

“This is just one more example of how our community tirelessly supports our hospital” explained Laurence E. Kelly the Hospital’s CEO and President. He continued, “Even during a global financial crisis, our supporters dug deep and gave. While most organizations had to reconfigure or abandon philanthropic campaigns, we exceeded our fundraising goals.”

“The List” was published by The Business Review’s, print edition for the week of December 11-17th, 2009.

XXX

The Birthing Center at Littauer is OPEN!

Our New Birthing Center at Littauer is a destination maternity center for any family. Unlike any in our region it combines, state of the art technology with a spa-like setting.

Gloversville, NY…It took 13 tons of sheet rock, 1000 feet of oak trim, 1800 feet of wire, 50 gallons of paint, $1.2 million dollars, 3 miles of wire and 162 days to complete the New Birthing Center at Littauer. And the final results are dramatic. As Susan Kiernan, Vice President of Development likes to point out, “When you step into our New Birthing Center you would never guess you were in a hospital.” From the pendant lighting to the private whirlpool birthing suites, the Hospital is certain new families will be delighted with the results. Littauer will officially celebrate the Center’s opening with a slate of activities. The Hospital will host a ribbon cutting Tuesday, December 15th at 4:45 pm, and will show off the center to the public at 5:30 pm that same day. The Hospital will also be unveiling a donor wall at 5:35 pm featuring the donors who made the project and other improvements at the hospital possible. Patients will start using the unit later that week.

“The Center is probably one of the most highly-anticipated projects we have ever launched.” stated Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s President and CEO. He continued, “It started with a desire to replace our aging maternity unit with a state-of-the-art new center.” Leadership at the hospital traveled to a hospital in Colorado and toured their maternity center and emergency department in August of 2008. He explained, “We brought back a lot of ideas. Staff did a lot of research about what families were looking for in a birthing center. And when we set our goals and objectives for 2009, this project was at the top of our list.” He added, “It is more than gratifying to see it completed, and even surpassing our expectations.”

Kim Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health, who has been heading up the project for Littauer agreed noting, “We really talked to our families. I poured over pictures of successful maternity centers and others read research about successful maternity centers. We found four common themes emerged. Families wanted: safety and services; luxury; privacy; and a sense of freedom. So in essence we built a center around that.” Ms. Colvin explained, “We agonized over every detail right down to the color, amenities and carpet pile. And I think that shows.” She added, “What we are delivering to the community on Tuesday is one of the best centers I have ever seen. It certainly will be an asset to our region.”

The architect for the hospital project was David Souers of Optimus Architecture located in Kingston, New York. They created an Adirondack-inspired center for Littauer replete with oak trim, wood styled floors, granite hued ceramic tile accented with a palette of greens and golds and finished with wrought iron lighting.

The new unit has been dubbed “The NEW Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer” and it now holds three labor and delivery rooms and 7 postpartum rooms. The Hospital also made improvements to their surgical room for mothers delivering by C-Section. The new unit boasts the following amenities in a spa-like setting: private rooms with private baths, hydrotherapy-whirlpool tubs, wireless internet service, birthing suites with overnight accommodations for partners, pregnancy and newborn education, 24/7 hour anesthesia, highest patient satisfaction scores, a flat screen TV in every room, kitchenette for families, interpreter services, family-centered care, expertly decorated rooms in a restful environment, soft lighting, sitting room/family lounge, take-out gourmet meals, lactation counselors and nurses trained in breastfeeding support, experienced and compassionate midwives and doctors, an education room, a secure nursery, and all attended to by nationally certified nurses.

And the center will be opening just in time according to Mr. Kelly, “We are expecting a holiday baby.”

To learn more about the New Birthing Center people are encouraged to visit the hospital’s website at www.nlh.org. Families hoping to deliver in the near future are encouraged to attend the hospital’s open house Tuesday at 5:30 pm or by arranging a tour by emailing the hospital at baby@nlh.org or by calling: 518-773-5494.

Moms delivering at Littauer get big send off

Nicole Skiff looks through her gift bags moments before she leaves.

Pampered gifts are well received

With the opening of the newly renovated maternity center quickly approaching, families who have been inconvenienced by the maternity construction have been given royal treatment by Littauer staff. Littauer has made sure that those mothers delivering during the transition phase do not feel slighted. “Each family has been given a bevy of very well-planned and thoughtful gifts.” stated Kimberly Colvin, Manager of Maternal Child Health. “We wanted to thank them for their patience as we rebuilt our maternity unit.” She added, “We had to relocate our maternity department during the construction phase. It was a huge undertaking.”

 

“I would say on the whole, few families even noticed the difference.” stated Hospital spokesperson Cheryl McGrattan. She added, “The staff really went the extra mile to make the temporary maternity unit as comfortable as possible. I do know however, everyone is anxious to get into our new maternity unit.” The hospital moved the unit to the second floor in the pediatric area during the renovation phase.

As a gesture of appreciation, families were given a new combination web, video and digital camera, a construction hat for the baby, chocolates and perhaps best of all, a meal to take home. When a family is ready for discharge, a culinary-trained chef arrives at their room with a complete meal to take home in an eco-friendly bag. For the occasion, the hospital chef Rick Wells created grilled chicken penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh bread and chocolate truffles. The meals come with an ingredient list and also reheating instructions. Ms. Colvin notes, “The meals were such a huge hit I think we are going to continue it even after our grand opening.”

Kim Colvin explained, “When we researched the best gifts for mothers, time-and-time again, they said that getting a meal from a neighbor or family member was the best gift of all. And I thought, ‘Well, we have always thought of our hospital as neighborly’ and the idea was born.” The nurses state that mothers are thrilled. Ms. Colvin notes, “It also gives me a certain sense of relief knowing that a good meal is going home with these very nervous and exhausted families.” She concluded, “I do not know of any other hospital in the region that does this.”

And Nicole Skiff would agree. She delivered her baby at Littauer during the renovation phase and she was more than happy to receive the gifts. But according to Nicole Skiff it was the meal that was most meaningful. She explained, “I was thinking, ‘what can I do for dinner tonight?’ and here it is!”

With the renovation phase almost done, Littauer’s President and CEO, Laurence E. Kelly announced last night at a Hospital event, “I am sure we will have a baby in our new maternity unit before Christmas!” Announcements about the grand opening are expected shortly.

xxx