Health Articles

As life's events unfold, the inevitable aches and pains associated with injury, illness, and age eventually set in and affect our quality of life. Experiencing pain is expected, but living with pain is not necessary and in most cases physical therapy can significantly reduce or relieve pain.

One of the most common pain complaints we hear is related to low-back pain (LBP), which accounts for 2.5 to 3 percent of all physician visits in the United States. It is responsible for an estimated $85 billion in healthcare costs nationally.

Most patients with LBP are seen by their primary physician and often time will be referred to undergo diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and MRIs to help determine the root cause of the pain. These tests more often help identify pathology such as degenerative discs, bulging discs, herniated discs, spurs and arthritis.

Pain associated with such conditions is a more complex experience than what images and pictures of your body can portray. Referrals from your primary provider to physical therapists, who are specifically trained to treat low-back pain with interventions such as manipulation, exercise, and most importantly education about pain and a patient's unique pain experience, will help develop and execute a treatment plan that will address the cause of the pain.

At Portage Health, we develop an independent management program for our patients that are not solely dependent on medications. Although medications can help to control pain, the key objective is regaining pain-free movement as quickly as possible without dependence on medication. A physical therapist, working in concert with your primary physician, will work to find a long-term solution to your pain problems.

Another important component to therapy is timing and the introduction of physical therapy as an integral part of the treatment plan has been shown to be a crucial element in a patient's recovery from low-back pain. Delaying physical therapy goes against current research as several studies have shown reduced costs and improved outcomes with early physical therapy.

In people who receive physical therapy within 30 days after initial physician visit for acute low-back pain, there is decreased likelihood of injections or surgery compared to patients who waited longer to get physical therapy. Also, the use of frequent office visits regarding LBP is significantly lower among people who receive physical therapy within 30 days. That means less money out of your pocket to pay for co-pays.

No matter what influences you to seek physical therapy, early access to physical therapy referrals is the best and most direct way to achieve your goal. We take pride in knowing that our patients receive evidence-based, quality care focused on patient values. We strive for the best clinical outcomes, and we empower patients to have active, pain-free lifestyles. Our focus is to get you back to doing the things that are most important to you, and we can get you there faster.

Mallory Rojewski has her doctoral degree in physical therapy from Grand Valley State University, and serves Copper Country residents out of the Portage Health Rehab office in Calumet.

 

Dr. Carl Smoot is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease and sleep medicine. He sees patients at the Portage Health Sleep Disorders Center in Hancock. Learn more about him at portagehealth.org/smoot, or about the Sleep Disorders Center at portagehealth.org/sleep.

An average person sleeps about a third of the day, roughly six to 10 hours. That time is actually the most important part of the day, as it determines mental and physical health for the remainder of the day.

Sleep determines your alertness, school or work performance, growth, muscle strength and repair, personality, ability to interact with others, control of diabetes and cholesterol, and the development of vascular disease. That list, while lengthy, is only a glimpse into the effect sleep has on your life.

The control of sleep has been determined by changes in our brain’s development over millions of years. Basically, humans are programed to wake with bright light (sunlight in the morning), and begin to get sleepier as the light fades in the evening. Any change from this can cause sleep disturbance. Shift workers prove that. Especially something like the “Southern Swing Shift,” which includes rotating between days, nights and afternoons. Studies have shown that shift workers like that live much shorter lives than those who do not work rotating shifts.

Sleep over a range from teenage to old age is 7.5 to 9.5 hours per night. There are people that sleep less, and others who need more sleep to feel rested. Being rested means a person is continuing to be alert in the most boring of situations.

The best way to take control of your sleep is to set the wake time in the morning the same every day. Waking up within a half hour of the same time every day will help you feel more rested than ever. That includes weekends, and even nights when you went to bed later than usual. This applies to adults, teens and children. Many parents feel that they are doing their children and teens a favor by allowing them to sleep in during the summer and on weekends, but that is definitely a mistake. This allows sleep to lose cycling control. This can have a profound effect on school performance.

One of the reasons for this is because the lowest point in a person’s body temperature during a 24-hour day cycle is about an hour prior to wake. This point sets the timing of all hormone secretion except that of the thyroid. Disturbances of sleep cycling can cause short stature, lack of energy, poor healing of connective tissue (muscle, ligaments, tendons, etc.), mental illness, poor job or school performance, etc.

Many sleep specialists think that most, if not all, problems associated with fibromyalgia can be due to abnormal sleep cycling. Mainly from a lack of deep sleep, which is when our bodies secrete growth hormones. Lack of adequate sleep can make weight control and blood sugar control much more difficult as well.

Total sleep and control of sleep cycling and timing are important aspects of your health. This should be discussed with your primary care provider at every visit. If there is a significant problem, then a consultation with a sleep specialist should be considered. The difference sleep can have in your life is profound, and could be just the thing you need to help turn your mental or physical health around.

This is a wellness colum that appeared in the Dec. 20, 2012 Daily Mining Gazette.  

 

As January approaches, most people intend to begin the New Year with many well-intended resolutions. This year, we ask you to commit to making your health a priority and focus on just one or two lifestyle changes that will truly influence the quality of life experienced by you and your family.

At Portage Health, we've made our resolution to be focused on combating obesity. Studies have shown that nearly 35 percent of our population is obese. This is the result of inactivity, poor diet, other chronic health concerns and an overall lack of awareness of how to eat properly, get adequate exercise and rest and prepare healthy and delicious foods while still maintaining your budget.

We recognize that lifestyle change takes commitment and hard work. We also know that unless we all work to make this necessary lifestyle choice - for ourselves and our loved ones - the alternative and consequences of such choices simply aren't good.

Portage Health is here for you with many resources to help evaluate your current health status, develop a plan of action that will empower you to reach your goals and to support you as you make changes in how you choose to live your life. The reality is this is not about exercise. It is about living a healthier and more fulfilling life. For some, that means simply toning muscle and better developing core strength in order to perform everyday activities easier, and with less pain. Others may have significant weight loss goals. No matter what you want to achieve, we are here to help you reach your goals.

The Portage Health Fitness Center offers much more than just gym memberships, we offer everything from group exercise classes to kettlebell training; indoor cycling to cycle fusion; and many aerobic workouts including zumba, yogalates, mat pilates, core combo and many others. Classes are affordable and convenient. Plus, your first class is always free.

To help you discover what will work best for you, the fitness center is offering free Introductory classes in January. Join us Mondays, at 6:45 p.m. to learn how to use the following equipment with good form.

• Jan. 7 - Indoor Cycling
• Jan. 14 - Kettlebells  
• Jan. 21 - Bosu/Stability Ball
• Jan. 28 - TRX Suspension/Resistance Bands

Classes will be led by one of our three full-time certified personal trainers: Emily Kunnen, Susan Rosemurgy and Amanda Altobelli. Each trainer is dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness goals, whatever they may be. One-on-one packages along with buddy training are available at affordable prices.

The only question that you need to answer is, if not now, when!?

For a detailed list of classes or to schedule a time to discuss your health goals with one of our trainers, visit portagehealth.org/FitnessClasses or call 483-1776.

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department has reported that there have not been any meningitis cases due to infected epidural steroid injections in our region.

The outbreak is due to a product that has not been used in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, according to the WUPHD.

Information from the CDC

Please follow the following link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for more information and details about the Multi-State Meningitis Outbreak:
http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis.html 

TV6 coverage of the issue in relation to the Upper Peninsula

See uppermichigansource.com for the full story:

A press release from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department

Proper wound care is an important health concern, but often is overlooked or dismissed by patients.

One rule to abide by is that by the 30-day mark of an open sore on your body, it should be visibly healing. If it's not, at this point, it's no longer an open sore. It has become a chronic wound.

This is an upsettingly common problem, and is especially prevalent and dangerous among diabetics. In some situations, ulcers can become limb- or life-threatening.

At the Portage Health Advanced Wound Care Center we often see people who have been ignoring or dealing with such sores for months upon months without professional guidance.

They're toughing it out, hoping for the best.

As a professional in the field, I can tell you that is not a good idea.

In many situations, giving it more time will cause nothing but more problems. Some of these problems are serious.

If a wound worsens to extreme levels, a patient may develop an infection that leads to amputation. Three out of four lower-body extremity amputations to diabetic patients began as non-healing ulcers.

It can get worse. Some ulcers have five-year mortality rates as high as 55 percent.

That mortality rate is worse than colon cancer, which has a five-year rate just under 50 percent. Colon cancer is considered one of the more dangerous forms of cancer.

Health care is often about being proactive, and an open sore that isn't healing is no different. Getting treatment early on can make all the difference.

Our team will provide a comprehensive assessment of the problem. We have physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who have extensive wound care-specific certification, training and experience, diabetes and lymphedema experts and access to Dr. Jonathon Brueggeman, a podiatrist with specific interest, education and experience in wound care.

After assessing the issue, our staff provides specialized tests, treatments and dressings that will promote healing, and see patients through the entire healing process.

Much of what we do with patients is educate them on the situation they're in. After an initial meeting, our team will continue to work with a patient until they've improved. If needed, we can provide surgical options.

At the advanced wound care center, our goal is to help patients get back to the life they were living before the open sore became a chronic wound. The best way for a patient to fully heal is to be proactive. At 30 days, call your family doctor. Talk to them openly about the symptoms you're dealing with and work toward moving on with your life.

Editor's note: Dr. Wade Liston, DO, is the medical director of the Portage Health Advance Wound Care Center in Portage Health's main location in Hancock. On Sept. 13, Liston was the expert presenter at the "Wild on Wounds" annual educational conference in Las Vegas. Learn more at portagehealth.org/liston.

 This is a wellness column that appeared in the Aug. 9, 2012 Daily Mining Gazette.  

What choices have you made today that will contribute positively to your health? Were you physically active today? Did you fuel your body wisely? Did you get ample sleep last night? Did you avoid harmful substances, wear your seatbelt or helmet, and wash your hands regularly? Although we don’t often realize it, many minor decisions that we make throughout each day produce our personal lifestyle. Personal lifestyle, research shows, has a significant impact on our health and quality of life.

Of course, no one expects that you pick the healthy choice every time, but if you are truly committed to living a healthier lifestyle, you must create a plan of attack to make the healthier choice more often. This might not always be easy – change is often difficult. If you aren’t currently living a balanced and healthy lifestyle, this isn’t going to just come naturally starting tomorrow. It’s going to take some serious willpower to make those healthier decisions.

Traditionally health care organizations have focused on a reactive approach. Hospitals have been a beacon of trust and hope in an emergency; health care professionals save lives and help manage chronic conditions. In this capacity, these care providers will be here for years to come. But now, Portage Health and many forward-thinking providers across the world are focusing on a more proactive approach. If we each take the steps to take care of ourselves now, we may not be limited by the chronic disease or have to take the chance of surviving an emergency in the future.

Portage Health is working hard to make sure we are supporting this proactive approach in both community members and staff members. Our employee wellness program, which was created in 2009, provides tools and encouragement to assist staff members in making more of the healthy choices and less of the not-so-healthy choices. We’ve taken several steps to ensure our work environment is conducive to better decision making. Staff members support each other and challenge each other to reach health goals.

Of those staff members who had goals to make improvements, more than 40 percent of them improved blood pressure, more than 30 percent improved blood glucose and more than 20 percent lowered body mass index. That was just last year. More importantly, many participants report that they are feeling better and more confident, while having the ability to do things they couldn’t do before. These improvements are made possible by individuals making lifestyle changes and addressing issues with a primary care provider when necessary.

The American Heart Association has deemed us a Fit Friendly Company at the platinum level. In 2011, less than 350 companies nationwide were awarded this prestigious, most distinctive achievement. This is an affirmation that we’re doing something right as we work right here under our own roof to improve the health of our community.

Employee wellness has been gaining attention throughout the years, but more so in recent times as healthcare costs continue to escalate, as well as national rates of obesity and chronic disease. It’s clear that we need to take action to make those day-to-day healthier decisions. We need to choose to live healthier lifestyles. Start making your plan for a healthier life today, and avoid more serious problems tomorrow.

Editor’s note: Joni Erkkila is the wellness coordinator at Portage Health, the only “Platinum Level” Fit Friendly company in the Upper Peninsula.

While spring seems synonymous with allergies, several irritants arrive in the fall and take their toll on allergy sufferers. But several steps can help curb symptoms.

Ragweed, pigweed, plantain, sheep sorrel, sagebrush, and other weeds produce enormous amounts of the pollen that plagues allergy sufferers. Molds and late-blooming trees can also cause allergies in the fall.

Parts of the country with a wet summer season can experience more weed pollen and mold growth fueled by the moisture.

Allergy symptoms typically begin in early childhood, and often peak between the ages of 20 to 40.

The likelihood that a person will have an allergic reaction depends on a variety of factors, including family history. Many sufferers don't consult with a doctor about managing their allergies, and allergy symptoms are often confused with colds.

Allergic reactions are often mild but some, such as asthma, could be life threatening.

The more common milder symptoms include a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, wheezing, a sore throat, nasal congestion, and coughing.

Skin irritations and breathing problems can also develop. Over time, even mild symptoms can cause sinus headaches, fatigue, insomnia and problems with concentration and work performance. They can also increase the risk of ear infections and sinusitis.

To help prevent allergies or make them less severe, it's useful to get a test to determine exactly what you're allergic to and take steps to avoid contact with it as much as possible.

Stay indoors helps. Keep your windows closed, wash your bedding regularly, and wash your hair and shower before going to bed. It's also a good idea generally to keep your house as clean as possible.

Talk to your provider about the options for treatment. There are a number of drug treatments available both over-the-counter and by prescription, including nasal steroids, antihistamines and decongestants. It's important to start taking the medications before you develop symptoms. If you still don't get relief, ask whether allergy shots might be another approach.