Thursday, February 11
9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Two locations:
Benton: Northside Church of Christ
Bryant: Bryant Fire Department

Please support our local banks and community by helping increase the number of blood donors in Saline County. Don’t let the weather keep you away! It may be cold outside, but it will be warm inside with lots of free cookies and treats! Your single donation could save up to three lives.

As the US observes American Heart Month in February, Saline Memorial Hospital plans to offer education and preventative health screenings to encourage heart health in our community. Please help us spread the word.

Take part in the following special events:

Heart Healthy Meals
February 15-19

SMH will serve special heart healthy meals in the SMH Cafeteria. Free recipes cards will be available with nutritional content.

Health Screenings
February 23, 8:00-11:00am

SMH Health Education Building
SMH staff will offer the following health screenings for only $12. The public is invited to participate.

-Cholesterol Screening (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, & ratios).

-Blood Pressure

-Blood Sugar (glucose)

-BMI (body mass index)

(Dieticians will be available to discuss nutritional and diet information)

The Beat Goes On 5K Run/Walk
February 27

Visit www.salinememorial.org for race info and forms.

Some things never change. Snow brings out the “kid” in all of us. Saline Memorial staff members took advantage of the winter wonderland on Monday by creating a SMH snowman.

Although these fluffly flakes make beautiful pictures and great snowmen, it can cause problems getting to and from work. However, the SMH Facility Services team worked overtime to ensure nurses and staff were available to care for our patients during the bad weather. Special thanks to Mr. James Tully who drove around picking up our staff in the snow and ice. Also, thanks to Everett Buick Pontiac GMC who provides a large sports utility vehicle during icy and snowy conditions to ensure SMH co-workers get to work.

Open to the public:

There will be a FREE diabetes class/support group with a
certified diabetes educator, Ashley Steele, RD, LD, CDE

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
5:30pm
Saline Memorial Hospital Health Education Building-Classroom 1
Free blood sugar meters

There will be discussion around general diabetes and nutrition.

So you made it over the river and through the woods to grandmothers’ house, or wherever you go for Christmas. And now have ventured into a New Year with all the promise that it brings, with possible resolutions of being a better person. We may vow to have less eating or at least make better choices, more or at least some exercise, or stop those things that are known to be bad for us. Here’s a seemingly simple proposal that can impact many areas of your life such as your health, energy, productivity and happiness. Get some sleep.

The seemingly simple part is that many of us don’t get enough sleep, whether it is due to the lives we lead, bad sleep habits or due to a sleep disorder. Another factor in the equation is that many of us do not associate our lack of energy, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, or sadly even our lack of sleep, to our sleep. With the busy lifestyles that we lead or a possible disorder disrupting our sleep, the fact remains is that many of aren’t getting a good night’s sleep. And since many sleep disorders, as well as poor sleep habits are years in the making, we may not notice until they have reached a milestone. This may come as a lost job or relationship, heart attack or high blood pressure episode, or an automobile or job accident due to fatigue.

There are over 80 sleep disorders recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. They range from the common such as insomnia or sleep apnea, to the rare such as night terrors or sleep paralysis. Most sleep disorders result in a lack of sleep leading to tiredness and fatigue, decreased productivity, increased irritability and decreased ability to fight illness.

So you can’t go to sleep, or stay asleep? It could be Insomnia, which is the inability to initiate or maintain sleep. Realistically it can be the inability to turn your brain off to go to sleep or back to sleep once awakened. It is often a secondary problem to pain, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, shift work, or a number of other sleep issues. Approximately 60% of Americans have true insomnia at some point in their lives, but less than 10% have chronic insomnia. Treatments include improved sleep habits, treatment of a primary sleep disorder, and medication if needed.

Or maybe you snore which is no big deal, right? (except to those around you)

Wrong. You could have Sleep Apnea, a disorder in which you have pauses in breathing during sleep. This is a very serious disorder affecting approximately 10% of Americans, and may occur hundreds of times per night. It is caused by a narrowing in the throat, which collapses during sleep, and is usually associated with snoring. It can lead to severe daytime sleepiness and fatigue, morning headaches, memory loss and mood swings. Untreated sleep apnea also causes high blood pressure and heart disease, and has been linked to a higher incidence of stroke and diabetes. It can be treated with either CPAP therapy (a small nasal mask worn during sleep), minor oral procedures, or by simply sleeping on your side if the condition is mild.

So you like to dance? But at bedtime it may be Restless Legs Syndrome, an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. This may present as a mild “creepy/crawly” feeling in the legs, up to a major discomfort or cramping at bedtime or during the night. Your legs may jerk hundreds of time per night, each time waking your brain eating away at your sleep time. Up to one third of the population has RLS, with a higher incidence in the elderly. It can effectively be treated with medication, exercise, massage or heat therapy.

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. And if you are getting that much sleep, but aren’t feeling restored in the morning, then you may have one of the above disorders or one of the other 78. Following the eight tips below may be a start to better sleep. But if they don’t help, or you suspect you may have a disorder, a visit to our Sleep Disorders Center may unravel the mystery as to why you never feel rested. A simple consult with Dr. Timothy Cook, the Center’s Medical Director, may be all you need to resolve the issue and get you sleeping and feeling better. If testing is required, the process is also simple, covered by insurance, and you get to sleep through it. A night at the Sleep Center can truly change your life for the better.

8 Tips for Better Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation

• Maintain a regular bed and wake time, even on weekends. It helps “train” the body for better sleep.
• Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as a hot bath, reading or listening to music.
• Create a sleep-friendly bedroom that is dark, quiet, cool and comfortable.
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillow.
• Use your bedroom for sleeping, not for a living room or office.
• Finish eating at least 2-3 hours prior to your regular bedtime.
• Exercise regularly, but finish at least 3 hours prior to bedtime.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco products one to two hours before bedtime, and caffeine within 6-8 hours of bedtime.

For more information about how to improve your sleep in 2010 or to arrange a sleep study, call the Saline Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorders Center at (501) 776-6197.

The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it a surplus of cookies, cakes, pies, stuffings, dips, and sauces. We all look forward to the holidays, but does this mean we have to take a holiday from healthy eating and exercising? The traditional foods that we’ve all come to enjoy have become a mainstay during the holidays, but they bring with them a hefty amount of calories and fat. With so many parties and events during the holidays, it’s not feasible to think we’re going to pass up every piece of pumpkin pie or cup of eggnog. So what’s the solution for those of us who can’t afford to add inches to our waistline?

Fortunately, there is still a way to enjoy those holiday foods without packing on the pounds. You can replace high-calorie foods with low-fat options or you can adjust your recipes.

• For dips, sauces, and pie toppings, try using non-fat yogurt or fat-free sour cream.
• When cooking with eggs, use egg substitutes or use two egg whites in place of one egg.
• Use evaporated skim milk rather than whole milk, cream, or whipping cream
• Use low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth in your mashed potatoes to decrease the fat
• Top casseroles with almonds instead of fried onion rings
• Use reduced-fat cheeses in salads and casseroles
• Replace oil with applesauce when baking
• Use three tablespoons of cocoa powder and one tablespoon of oil to make a healthier baking chocolateUse whole grain bread for stuffing and add barley or wild rice to increase the fiber content
• Gravy – refrigerate the gravy to harden the fat and skim the fat off. This will remove roughly 56g of fat per cup!
• Dressing – use less bread and add more onions, garlic, celery, and vegetables and use low-fat low-sodium chicken broth to moisten it.
• Turkey – remove the skin from the turkey and save 11 grams of saturated fat per 3 oz. serving!
• Green Bean Casserole – cook fresh green beans with potatoes instead of cream of mushroom soup and top with almonds rather than fried onions.

Paying close attention to your meals is only half the battle. During the holidays, we often travel to see family and friends therefore, breaking our exercise routine. All of the early morning boot camps and aerobic’s classes we’ve be so dedicated to throughout the year can easily be forgotten. Below are a few ways to help incorporate exercise into your holiday activities.

• Set a fun goal. For example, vow to exercise every day (or every other day) for a month straight. Or aim to walk a mile for every $10 you spend on gifts. Why not treat yourself to a stress reducing “prize” when you meet your goals. Go get a massage or a manicure.
• Schedule a hard workout on a day when you’ll be attending a party later that night. It’s a great idea to burn calories beforehand so you won’t feel guilty for enjoying hor’dourves or glass of wine.
• Register for a race. There are several 5K charity events around the holidays. With a date and goal in mind, this should motivate you to get active.
• Get a partner to work out with, preferably someone with the same goals you have.

Take time to enjoy all the holidays have to offer. Just remember that a few small changes, and a conscience mind can help make the season a lot more enjoyable.

References: ADA’s Public Relations Team, American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide and www.Eatright.org.

The second round of statewide mass vaccination clinics designed to immunize Arkansans against both seasonal and H1N1 influenza will begin next Monday, December 7, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced.

The unprecedented effort will continue through December 18. During the two-week period, clinics will be held in nearly every county, according to Randy Lee, Director of ADH’s Center for Local Public Health.

The clinics will be administering H1N1 vaccine to everyone – not just priority groups at risk for serious complications from H1N1 flu – while supplies last, including children needing second shots for full protection, Lee said.

The dates, times, and locations of the upcoming mass flu clinics are posted on the ADH Web site, www.healthyarkansas.com.

There is no charge for the vaccine. Persons choosing to be vaccinated at the clinics sponsored by ADH are asked to bring their health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or ARKids First cards so ADH can file with their insurance providers.

Lee said the decision to open the upcoming clinics to all comers was made because “it appears that we will have adequate H1N1 vaccine to offer to everyone and substantial amounts of seasonal vaccine to offer also.”

The second round of clinics follows the most ambitious vaccination effort in Arkansas history earlier this fall. Thousands more individuals have been vaccinated at school clinics in districts throughout the state. These will continue, as previously scheduled, until schools recess for the holidays.

Children less than 10 years old should have a second H1N1 shot and children less than 9 years old who have never before been vaccinated for the seasonal flu should have a second seasonal flu shot. The first and second shots should be given at least four weeks apart.

The H1N1 vaccine is produced in the same manner as regular seasonal flu vaccine and in the same manufacturing plants. The H1N1 vaccine simply contains a different strain of influenza virus. Reactions to all flu vaccines may include a mild soreness or redness near the site of the shot and perhaps a little fever or a slight headache. A flu shot cannot give you the flu.

However, a few persons–individuals with a severe allergy (i.e., anaphylactic allergic reaction) to hens’ eggs and individuals who previously had onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome – should not receive flu vaccinations for health reasons. Additionally, infants less than 6 months old cannot be vaccinated.

The symptoms of seasonal and H1N1 flu are the same. Symptoms include fever greater than 100 degrees, headaches and body aches, coughing, sore throat, chills, fatigue, respiratory congestion, and, in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.

Both H1N1 and seasonal flu are highly contagious. Each is easily spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or by touching a hard surface with the virus on it and then touching the nose or mouth.

According to ADH, people can best avoid catching the flu by remembering the three C’s:

• Clean – properly wash your hands frequently
• Cover – cover your cough or sneeze
• Contain – contain your germs by staying home if you are sick

To avoid spreading the flu, persons who are sick should limit their contact with others and remain at home until they feel better and until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.

Complete flu information is available on the ADH Web site, www.healthyarkansas.com, or by calling 1-800-651-3493.

The Saline Memorial Health Foundation is gearing up for the third annual “A Holiday Affair”, a community festival for holiday goods and crafts. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, from 7:00am – 4:00pm and Thursday, December 3, from 7:00 am – 3:00 pm in the Health and Education Building at Saline Memorial Hospital (SMH).

“We invite everyone to come see the wonderful items our vendors have to offer,” said Brandie Jones, SMH Foundation Director. “We have more vendors than ever before and we’re really excited about hosting this event. It’s a great opportunity to get your Christmas shopping done early without having to leave the community.”

A percentage of the proceeds benefit the Foundation’s “Greatest Needs Fund”, which supports the purchase of capital equipment, new technology, expansion/renovation programs and program development for Saline Memorial Hospital.

Holiday gifts, Christmas themed products, jewelry, and children’s items will be featured. Vendors’ booths and items include bath gels and spa products, jewelry, Christmas and holiday decorations, custom embroidery, gourmet food baskets, holiday arrangements and wreaths, and general décor.

“Something new we’ll be offering this year is gift wrapping,” said Jones. “Our volunteers will help wrap your gifts while you shop.”

Local vendors include: K Chenault Designs, Touch Tone to Reading, Angelic Buttons-N-Bows, Jewels by Park Lane, Southern Living at Home, Tastefully Simple, CJ’s Unique Glassware, Viva La Frames, Creations by Lou, Homemade Candy, Personal Pizzazz and Whimsy Tin, Gold Canyon Candles, Designs by Ella, Accessories and More, Art Guild of Saline County and Giggles and Wiggles and more.

For more information, please visit www.salinememorial.org or contact the Saline Memorial Health Foundation Office at (501) 776-6743 or foundation@salinememorial.org.

We would like to thank everyone who helped with the Saline Memorial Home Health Thanksgiving food drive. We had 14 departments that collected canned goods and other non-perishable items and some even decorated their boxes! A special thank you goes out to the Coffee Shop staff who helped sell tickets and keep up with the raffle and Walmart for the discount on turkeys and hams for this years baskets.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity, at least 21 families had a much nicer Thanksgiving meal.