If you find yourself scratching your head not because you’re confused but because it itches, take note. Millions of people get head lice each year. Head-lice infestations are common in schools. In the United States, it is believed that about 6 to 12 million children between three and 12 years of age get head lice each year. And children are kind to share lice with parents, siblings and caregivers. 

What causes head lice? 

Head-to-head contact (think selfie poses) is the most common way to get head lice. The lice move from one person to the next by crawling. They cannot fly or jump. Having head lice does not mean you are dirty. Lice don’t care if your hair is squeaky-clean or in need of shampoo; it’s human blood they are after, which they need to survive. 

It’s possible to get head lice by sharing everyday objects infested with lice, such as hats, scarves, coats, hair accessories, brushes, combs and towels. You can also get lice by resting your head on a bed, pillow, couch, chair, or rug that someone with head lice used.  

Treatment 

Sometimes, simply using a special comb can remove the lice and nits (eggs) from hair. While time-consuming, studies show that combing injures the lice, so they rarely survive. 

There are over-the-counter lice shampoo treatments. Because the active ingredients have remained the same for years, new generations of head lice are becoming resistant. “If you are unable to get rid of the lice, there are prescription strength options,” said Katie Billingsley, APRN-CNP, Genesis Primary Care, New Lexington. “Lice is easily spread, so it’s important to be sure to eliminate all of them, including the nits.”   

If you find yourself scratching your head not because you’re confused but because it itches, take note. Millions of people get head lice each year.

Zanesville, Ohio 08/26/2022 – Ethan Lepi of Boy Scout Troop 187 in Baltimore, Ohio, presented a unique piece of history to Genesis. Lepi renovated a stained-glass window from the Good Samaritan Chapel as his Eagle Scout project that took three years to complete due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lepi placed the window under glass, framed it and added backlighting to create a beautiful art piece. The art was placed in the outdoor courtyard of the Genesis Cancer Care Center, where patients and visitors view it from the waiting room. The project involved other updates to the courtyard, including a new reading bench and a wheelchair-accessible picnic table. Members of Boy Scout Troop 187 assisted in assembling the bench and table.

“We are grateful to Ethan to the hard work he dedicated to transforming this piece of our history into a beautiful work of art,” said Pebbles Thornton, Director of Genesis Cancer, Palliative Medicine and Hospice Services. “Our patients and visitors are appreciative of this spiritual and inspirational art. We are also grateful to the members of Boy Scout Troop 187 for their assistance.”

To learn more about the Genesis Cancer Care Center, visit genesishcs.org/cancer.

Stained Glass from Good Samaritan Chapel Benefits Patients

While sea captains might be accustomed to inhaling salt daily, most of us could stand to limit our salt intake. Just like the sea water surrounding the captain’s ship, salt comes at us from every point on the compass. 

In the early days of exploration, food used to be packed in salt so it wouldn’t spoil during travel, but now we have huge freezers and salt’s still everywhere, especially frozen foods. Blimey! More than 70% of the sodium we eat comes from processed and prepackaged grub. There’s also an ocean of salt in breads and rolls, pizza, sandwiches, cold cuts and cured meats and soup.  

Salt and sodium are different. Sodium occurs naturally in foods or is added during manufacturing. Table salt is a 40 to 60% mix of sodium and chloride. One teaspoon of salt has 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which each crewmate is supposed to have each day. Most of that is in what the chief cook prepares. Many people add about 1,100 milligrams extra per day. Shiver me timbers!  

We all need a teaspoon of sodium a day for health but diets any higher in sodium are associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), which burdens your heart. Increased blood flow can harm your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. It raises the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and blindness. Not exactly ship-shape! 

Sure, there are sodium substitutes. Many contain a lot of potassium, which is bad for those with kidney disease. Check with your family doctor before trying salt substitutes. And sea salt? There’s very little sodium difference between sea, table or kosher salt.  

Salt’s boring, anyway! Sea captains have sailed every ocean blue and found many great alternatives like cider vinegar for vegetables — salads and sauces. Allspice really gives lean meats and stews a kick in the britches. Try cayenne pepper on eggs and nutmeg on fruits, potatoes, chicken and fish. 

The list goes on but remember the American Heart Association and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans support a long list of good foods. Take it from the old salt, there are no saltshakers in the mess hall, and no-one’s jumped ship yet! 

Salt and sodium are different. Sodium occurs naturally in foods or is added during manufacturing. Table salt is a 40 to 60% mix of sodium and chloride. One teaspoon of salt has 2,300 milligrams of sodium.

If you find yourself on the verge of vomiting or are rushing to the bathroom with a bad case of diarrhea, you’re probably not analyzing what caused it – you just want to get it over with and feel better.  

Taking care of bathroom business is clearly the first priority. But finding out whether you have a stomach bug (caused by a virus) or food poisoning caused by a bacteria, like E. coli or salmonella, is important.  

Why? Knowing what made you feel rotten can reveal a few things, namely: how long the illness is likely to last, how you can care for yourself at home and how to know if things are bad enough that you should seek medical care. 

Here are the key differences between the two illnesses: 

• Food poisoning: Caused by eating food that’s been contaminated by bacteria, viruses or parasites. E coli and salmonella are two types of food poisoning.  

• Stomach virus: Caused by viral infection that targets your digestive system. 

If you’re trying to figure out what happened to you, know this: many symptoms of food poisoning and stomach bugs are the same – vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and fever. But there are some differences, such as: 

• If you have food poisoning like E. coli, symptoms usually appear just a few hours after eating contaminated food.  

• If you’ve recently had a meal with others and they’re feeling sick, too, you probably have food poisoning. 

• If you have a stomach bug, you’ll probably feel better in a day or two: food poisoning can last much longer, up to 10 days. 

If you have food poisoning or a stomach bug, staying hydrated should be a top priority. Take small sips of water, suck on ice chips or sip broth throughout the day to stay hydrated. Just make sure to avoid sugary drinks – although it seems like they might help, they can actually cause dehydration. Also, on the road to recovery, take your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever or fever reducer as needed. And make sure to take advantage of one of the best remedies there is – lots of rest. 

Get medical help if you have bloody stools and/or: 

• Diarrhea that lasts for more than three days 

• Fever over 100.4°F (in adults) or above 101°F (in kids)  

• Are noticing signs of dehydration, like extreme thirst 

• Vomiting  

Here are the key differences between the two illnesses.

If you’ve watched more weight loss workouts than you’d like to admit or eaten grapefruit for breakfast lunch or dinner, then read on to learn tips for successful weight loss.  

Do you: 

• Eat too many refined grains (white bread or rice)? 

• Eat big portions? 

• Skip meals? 

• Eat a lot of meals away from home? 

• Graze all day on high-calorie snacks? 

• Frequently drink high-calorie coffee drinks, juice drinks or regular soda? 

• Consume too much alcohol? 

• Eat for emotional reasons? 

• Eat in front of the screen like your phone or computer? 

Changes are coming 

• OK, let’s get real. Pick at least one habit from above and work on changing this habit. For example, try limiting sweets and treats to only 200 calories a day, cutting out fried foods or only eating out once per week. 

• Replace the old habit with a new lower calorie habit, such as trying new fruits or vegetables or a new type of exercise class. 

On track 

• Self-monitor. You can do it. Studies show that people who self-monitor their meals lose more weight and keep it off.  

• Weigh yourself. The most successful “losers” tend to weigh themselves about once a week.  

If you’ve watched more weight loss workouts than you’d like to admit or eaten grapefruit for breakfast lunch or dinner, then read on to learn tips for successful weight loss.

Chronic pain persists, sometimes for years. How individuals experience pain varies widely. For some, it can feel like a dull ache; for others, a burning or throbbing sensation. Regardless of how you describe it, chronic pain is debilitating and can interfere in daily activities. It also causes other functional and psychological symptoms, such as fatigue, trouble sleeping and mood changes. 

Tips on how to manage your chronic pain:  

• Move. We know: You hurt. You don’t want to move. However, physical activity helps in several ways. Exercise builds strong muscles and bones. Exercise also releases endorphins—feel-good hormones—so you can better cope with pain. Finally, being active prevents obesity. 

• Try physical or occupational therapy. Physical therapy treats pain through movement, with strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, and occupational therapy gives you skills and strategies to manage pain. 

• Relax. Meditation and other relaxation techniques help you better manage stress (being in pain is stressful) and reduce tension that can aggravate pain. 

• Stay engaged. Spending time with family and friends, and engaging in activities that bring you pleasure, help take your mind off pain and remind you of the positive aspects of life. 

• Explore complementary health modalities. Medical literature provides some support that complementary approaches, such as acupuncture, massage and yoga, may be helpful in alleviating lower back and arthritis-related pain, and relaxation training and biofeedback may reduce pain associated with migraines and chronic headaches. 

• Stop smoking. It’s bad for your health, and nicotine can make some pain medications less effective. 

• Practice good self-care. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and limit sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight and get plenty of sleep. 

Are you living with chronic pain? Here are some tips to help manage it.

This salad is the definition of summer and easy to make. Cut fresh peaches, cilantro, citrus and jalapenos and mixed with black beans for a fiber-rich side salad.  

Ingredients 

• 2 fresh peaches, finely chopped  

• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped  

• 1/4 red onion, finely diced  

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced  

• 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained  

• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro  

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin  

• Sea salt to taste  

• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped 

• 2 tablespoons lime juice  

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 

Directions  

• Mix peaches, red bell pepper, onion and jalapeno pepper together in a bowl; gently fold in black beans and cilantro. 

• Season with cumin and sea salt. 

• Fold in avocado and drizzle salad with lime juice and olive oil. 

• Let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving. 

Nutritional information (per serving)  

Serving Size: ½ cup 

Calories 117 
Fat 5 g 
Fiber 5 g 
Protein 7 g 

This salad is the definition of summer and easy to make. Cut fresh peaches, cilantro, citrus and jalapenos and mixed with black beans for a fiber-rich side salad.