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Archive for October, 2011
St. Mary’s Online WELLNESS CENTER™ Front Page is Now Available!
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Bone Health
Your bones are living tissue. They can get stronger with exercise and weaker without it. As your body ages, bones naturally start to weaken. But bone loss is not inevitable. Eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, and doing weight-bearing exercise can do you and your bones a whole lot of good.
Keeping Bones Healthy
We don’t think much about our bones until something goes wrong. But as we age, our bones start to thin and the risk of breaking a bone increases. Learn how to keep up bone health.
Exercise More Important to Bones than Calcium
Which do you encourage your daughter to do more: drink milk or be physically active daily? A longitudinal study shows that exercise is even more important than calcium for bone health.
Breaking News — One in TWO People Will Break a Bone
Every 14 seconds in the United States, someone breaks a bone. And one of every two Americans will break a bone before age 65. What can you do to protect your bones?
Managing Osteoarthritis Pain in Your Hands
Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common. It is especially prevalent in the hands and fingers of people over age 50. You can usually find ways to manage the pain.
Calcium Guidelines for Children
Most children between the ages of 8 and 19 are not getting enough calcium in their diet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Learn the best sources of this vital mineral and what it takes for it to strengthen bones.
Sleep
Stretch and wake up refreshed. Ahhh. It’s great when it happens. And it can be misery when it doesn’t. Whether you’re unable to fall asleep at night or you’re sleeping restlessly, learn how to get the sleep you crave and your body needs.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your well-being. Here are 13 tips you can use to improve your quality of sleep.
Improving Sleep During Menopause
A lack of sleep can leave any woman feeling irritable. And while there are many causes for loss of sleep, menopause is a common one. What can a woman do to get restful sleep during this phase of her life?
How Can I Sleep When There’s a Baby in the House?
Along with all the fun and joy of a new baby can come sleep deficiency. But don’t worry. There are many things you can do to help your baby (and you) sleep longer and better at night.
Foods to Help You Sleep
If you’re having trouble sleeping, have you thought about what you’re eating? Some foods can affect your sleep. And some can even help you sleep better.
Can Lack of Sleep Lead to Chronic Disease?
A lack of sleep on a regular basis may not only lead to feeling cranky. It might also lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Sleep is important! Learn how to get the rest you need.
First Aid
Falls. Cuts. Burns. Poison. Sudden illness. There’s almost no end to the things that can go wrong. So it’s important to be prepared as best you can. Brush up on basic first aid with an online Red Cross class. Read these articles. And always call 9-1-1 quickly when things look serious.
First Aid for Every Burn
Burns hurt – even when they’re relatively minor. But some are more than just a little painful. Some are life-threatening and need immediate medical care. Learn what to do for burns of all shapes, sizes, and severities.
Stopping a Nosebleed
What should you do when your child runs to you with a nosebleed? Stay calm, and follow these simple steps.
Just a Bump on the Head?
It’s more common to get a head injury while playing soccer than while playing any other sport. And if a head injury is not recognized early and treated properly, the consequences could be serious.
Senior Moment — Or Something More?
In people age 60 and older, brief gaps in conversation, periods of confusion, blank stares, or being unresponsive are often chalked up to harmless forgetfulness, or “senior moments.” But these might actually be signs of epilepsy. Learn what to do.
First Aid for Sprains, Strains, and Broken Bones
Can you tell the difference between a broken bone, a strain, and a sprain? And what should you do if you suspect such an injury?
Alive in Lewiston a Costumed Celebration of Local Food, Music, and Art this Friday at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
Friday, October 28, 6:30 pm
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center
208 Bates Street
Lewiston, Maine
As local gardens wind down, you’re invited to wind up and celebrate the bountiful growing season in full costume. Whether you come as a zombie, a tomato, some combination of the two, or something totally different, you’re invited to sit back, relax and take in the sounds of local musicians and the taste of a multi-course meal featuring locally grown ingredients. NOTE: there will be a costume contest so don’t forget to dress up! Audience members get to decide who the winner is – winner will take home yummy Lots to Gardens’ treats!
Tickets for Alive in Lewiston are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $5 for kids, and $5 for Lots to Gardens’ youth and community gardeners. If these prices don’t work for you but you really want to come, call or e-mail Lots to Gardens. We hope you’ll join us for this fun, family-friendly event. NOTE: space is limited – To be guaranteed a space please register in advance by calling (207) 513-3844. Early registration ends Thursday, October 27th at 10:00 pm.
A group of young local performers and gardeners known as De’ Hillview Groupsing will start off the night sharing “some rock and some roll”. The group has performed at Hillview’s annual Holiday show and Art Show and is known for singing African Folk tunes as well. Members of the group have different levels of experience, but all are required to attend one singing lesson each week to participate in the group. The only qualification for being in the group is “a great beat”.
The Maine Squeeze According Ensemble, known for playing eclectic music from around the world, will also be sharing their tunes. Whether they’re squeezing out jazz, blues, klezmer, zydeco, or traditional French Canadian they’re sure to make your feet move.
Wrapping up the evening will be the Juke Joint Devils, “an old time, hard driving, hard swinging blues band that never fails to get the crowd jumping.” Hailing from Portland, the Devils’ music is rooted in the blues of Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans and West Coast Swing. The band features 2011 International Blues Challenge finalist Tom O’Connell on harp and vocals and Gerry Byrne on bass, with Stefan Iris on guitar and Pete Shorey on drums.
Attendees will also learn about the Youth Food Bill of Rights, a declaration written by 130 youth from around the country at the annual Rooted in Community(RIC) conference in Philadelphia this past July. Four youth from Lewiston participated in the development of the original Youth Food Bill of Rights. After attending RIC they brought the idea back to Lewiston and led their co-workers at Lots to Gardens in developing their own Youth Food Bill of Rights for Lewiston. The 21-item declaration includes demands for less processed food in school lunches, an end to chemical and pesticide use on food, and more land for youth and community gardeners to grow food.
See you there!
Staff at St. Mary’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders share their thoughts and memories of Lorena Du Bois
Monday, October 17th, 2011
Staff at St. Mary’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders share their thoughts and memories of Lorena Du Bois, who helped make October 13 Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day! They also wore Purple in honor of Lorena and “her day.”
“Everyone has a purpose in life, a mission to achieve. One person’s journey was to live fully each and every day and bring awareness to a disease that affects so many lives. To have the strength and courage to battle your own illness and stand on the front lines of public awareness to bring light to a day that never was-means the world to those who cared for her and those she never met. So, on this day our team wears purple as we celebrate Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day!”
“Love of life, courage, strong spirit, kindness, love for family, pleasant smile, strong will for living, a joy to care for.”
“Lorena had a smile that never faded. Her whole face lit up when she spoke of her family and her life. She always pushed herself to the outer limits.”
“I remember her dancing when she got good news about her lab results. She told me a story about zip lining and she was so excited. When she told the story she was overcome with emotion reliving the event. Lorena’s love, strength, courage have made me believe that this life is a journey to enjoy.”
“Lorena was one of the most loving, caring souls that I had ever met. She had a zest for life and a love for her family that was second to none. She was determined never to let her disease interfere with anything she set her mind to doing. She was a ray of sunshine, even on cloudy days. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.”
St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion Nurse Earns Certification
Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Katherine Walker-Leighton, RN
St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion is proud to announce Katherine Walker-Leighton, RN has earned her certification in Gerontological Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Gerontological nurses care for older adults focusing on maximizing their functional abilities while promoting, maintaining, or restoring their physical and mental health. Katherine earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Maine in 2008. She has been at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion since 2009.
St. Mary’s Center for Physical Rehabilitation Offers Free Posture Screenings
Monday, October 10th, 2011FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/04/11
In celebration of National Physical Therapy Month, St. Mary’s Center for Physical Rehabilitation will be offering free posture screenings on Monday, October 17, 2011 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at their location at the St. Mary’s Medical Building on 15 Gracelawn Road in Auburn. Each screening will last between 15 and 20 minutes. The posture screen will include a photo that the participant will take home so that they can see what their posture looks like. The therapist will assist participants to get into a good posture so they can see what it feels like. There will be education on what good posture is, the impacts of poor posture, and some general postural exercises.
Space is limited! Please call St. Mary’s Center for Physical Rehabilitation at
753-3070 to schedule your free appointment.
St. Mary’s Chefs Soirée a Success
Thursday, October 6th, 2011The 6th Annual Chefs Soirée was held on Friday, September 30, 2011 at St. Mary’s Health System’s Nutrition Center of Maine. The guests sampled cheeses from Balfour Farm in Pittsfield and dined on Lobster Ravioli and Mediterranean Chicken prepared by Chefs Paul Landry and David Moyse of Fish Bones American Grill. Chefs Dan Caron made and Katie Ligouri of the Green Ladle created a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Torte.
While enjoying each of three courses, the guests watched interactive cooking demonstrations, a hallmark of the evening’s events. Fish Bones and the Green Ladle chefs, both of Lewiston, brought a high level of enthusiasm and excitement to the night.
Proceeds from the Soriée will support the Nutrition Center and its programming. The event grossed in excess of $20,000. Based on the belief that good health relies upon access to healthy food, the Nutrition Center is a true ‘community center.’ It is home to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Community Cooking Education Programs, the Somali Nutrition Education Initiative and Lots to Gardens. For more information on the Nutrition Center and its programming contact: 207-513-3848.
Bishop Malone to speak at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
“Who is my neighbor? Reflections on travels with Catholic Relief Services”
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center invites you to hear Bishop Richard J. Malone share reflections about his travels to the Congo and Haiti as part of his role on the board with Catholic Relief Services on Tuesday, October 18 from 4:00-5:00 pm at our Lepage Conference Room, 99 Campus Avenue, in Lewiston. All are welcome!
