We were in the largest medical crisis I had ever seen, and I’m both honored and humbled that I witnessed the little and large fights towards life and healing. When families were grieving, I was by their side and offered an ear or a blanket. When miracles happened and I saw patients come back from the edge, I was filled with joy and humility. Working at Genesis during the pandemic is the hardest and most rewarding experience I have ever had. When I can be there for others, I feel like I can take on anything no matter how tough or intimidating. 

Thank you to my amazing team and to the staff in the Genesis Emergency Department for pushing me to be my best and keep people safe, happy and healthy. Without them, none of this would 
be possible. 

Stay awesome!
-Genesis R.N.

Read their stories and share your story

After two long years of dealing with a pandemic, a few Genesis team members wrote letters to document their experience. Their words are heartbreaking and inspiring. We are eternally grateful for what our doctors, nurses and all Genesis team members have done to help our community. 

Read more at genesishcs.org/COVID-19Blog and submit your own story to share with the community.

Read a letter written by a Genesis R.N.

If you suffer from allergies, you may think you only need to worry about flowers, pollen and pets. Did you know that dust mites are one of the most common allergy triggers? Dust mites are microscopic insect-like pests that are everywhere.

To reduce dust and dust mites follow these tips for the:

Air

• Don’t use window or attic fans, which bring pollen, mold spores and other allergens inside.
• Use air conditioning instead of opening windows.
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This can help remove allergens and tobacco smoke from the air in your home.

Furniture and carpets

• Use dust-proof pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and dust mites.
• Remove stuffed toys, wall hangings, books, knickknacks and artificial flowers.
• Avoid wool blankets and down quilts.
• Avoid carpet, rugs and upholstered furniture that collect dust.
• Occasionaly steam clean carpets. 

Floors

• Damp-mop hard floors once a day.
• Dust and vacuum once or twice a week.
• Use a dry cloth to wipe hard surfaces such as countertops and tables weekly.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a double-thick bag.
• Wear a mask to avoid dust mites stirred up during cleaning.
• Keep humidity less than 50% in your home. Dust mites don’t do well in dry conditions.

Did you know that dust mites are one of the most common allergy triggers?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups almond or coconut milk
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
• 1 small banana
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1/4 cup ice, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Top with additional blueberries, serve and enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1 - 15 ½ ounces can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 9 ounces corn, cooked, fresh or frozen, thawed if frozen
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 medium avocado, diced
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• ¼ cup red peppers, diced
• ¼ cup lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon cilantro (fresh, minced, or more to taste)
• Salt and pepper, to taste, optional
• 1 jalapeno, diced, optional
• 1 head Romaine, Boston or Bibb lettuce, optional

Directions:

• Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, red pepper and cilantro in a large bowl.         

               Squeeze and stir in fresh lime juice and olive oil. Add jalapeno and salt and 
               pepper as desired.

• Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Add diced avocado just 

         before serving. 

• Serve over a bed of lettuce or in lettuce cups for a great vegetarian meal or over 

         grilled chicken as a salsa.

Nutritional information(per serving):

Total fat: 3.8 g    
Carbohydrate: 13 g    
Fiber: 4.4 g    
Sugar: 1.7 g    
Sodium: 220 mg    
Protein: 3.3 g

Try this fresh, flavorful salad.

What do you know about avocados? Take this quiz to find out.

What do you know about avocados? Take this quiz to find out.

Meet our new urologist, Clifford B. Maximo, M.D., FACS; and cardiologist Getachew Zeleke, M.D., FACC.

The Zanesville United States Bowling Congress (USBC) recently presented a check for $5,300 to Genesis Cancer Services for its Breast Cancer Fund. The money was raised during the Strike Out Breast Cancer event held by the Zanesville USBC in February. 

“Genesis Cancer Services is grateful to the Zanesville USBC and its bowlers for their support of breast cancer patients in our community,” said Pebbles Thornton, Director of Genesis Cancer Services. “This generous donation will be used to provide our patients with the high-quality breast cancer and breast health care we provide to our patients.”

Photo caption: Tammy Ansbery-Hildenbrand, Strike Out Breast Cancer event chairperson, right, presents a check for $5,300 to Pebbles Thornton, Director, Genesis Cancer Services. 

Proceeds of Strike Out Breast Cancer Event.

We all know we should embrace a healthy lifestyle. Good nutrition … exercise … taking care of our bodies … these are the tenets we should follow. But it isn’t always easy. And for those who are overweight, there is often a struggle to find a diet plan that works long-term.  

Most have tried fad diets over the years. It seems there’s a new one every day. Recently, there has been a lot of attention to a diet called intermittent fasting. If you’re thinking of trying it, you should arm yourself with knowledge and talk with your doctor first. 

What is intermittent fasting? 

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that includes hours or days of no or little food without depriving you of essential nutrients. There are different patterns to choose from with intermittent fasting. These include alternate day fasting, 5:2 intermittent fasting (fasting two days each week), and daily time-restricted fasting feeding (such as eating only during a six-hour window). 

Studies point to health benefits 

Intermittent fasting is being heavily researched with some exciting outcomes. The diet is more sustainable because it can be a lifestyle change. Before trying an intermittent fasting diet, you should talk with your doctor. You may also benefit from working with a registered dietitian on the appropriate length of fasting but the general recommendation is 16:8 (fast for 16 hours, non-fast for 8 hours, following a healthy diet).  

Evidence from decades of research points to wide-ranging health benefits of intermittent fasting, according to a National Institute of Aging (NIA)-conducted review of the research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Still, more research is needed on whether intermittent fasting benefits or is even feasible when practiced over the long term, such as for years. 

Intermittent fasting benefits that research has revealed: 

• Thinking and memory. Studies discovered that intermittent fasting boosts working memory in animals and verbal memory in adult humans. 

• Heart health. Intermittent fasting improved blood pressure and resting heart rates as well as other heart-related measurements. 

• Physical performance. Young men who fasted for 16 hours showed fat loss while maintaining muscle mass. Mice who were fed on alternate days showed better endurance in running. 

• Diabetes and obesity. In animal studies, intermittent fasting prevented obesity. And in six brief studies, obese adult humans lost weight through intermittent fasting. 

• Tissue health. In animals, intermittent fasting reduced tissue damage in surgery and improved results. 

People who should steer clear of trying intermittent fasting: 

• Children and teens under age 18. 

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

• People with diabetes or blood sugar problems. 

• Those with a history of eating disorders. 

Eating behaviors can be hard to change 

There are behaviors that can be hard to break with intermittent fasting, including the three-meals-a-day plan that most people follow. Food is everywhere, all day long. Discipline is key in shifting to a new eating pattern. Many physicians and nutritionists do not think intermittent fasting should be followed. Physicians who endorse intermittent fasting often encourage their patients to adopt a gradual, phased-in schedule in consultation with a dietitian or nutritionist. 

Talk to your doctor 

As with any eating plan you may be considering, you should talk with your doctor before beginning. Eating plans that work for some do not work for all. Your doctor is the expert in helping you find the eating plan that is right for you.  

Recently, there has been a lot of attention to a diet called intermittent fasting. If you’re thinking of trying it, you should arm yourself with knowledge and talk with your doctor first.

100% of physicians recommend not using cotton swabs to clean ears; 100% of people use cotton swabs to clean their ears  

Ears are self-cleaning. Say what? It’s true. Our ear canals are self-cleaning. As the skin of the ear canal sheds, the wax is carried to the outer part of the ear canal and drains from the ear. By itself.  

Normally, earwax is a self-draining liquid that does not cause problems. Earwax helps filter dust, keeps the ears clean and protects the ear canal from infection. Skin, sweat, hair and debris, such as dirt and shampoo, are held together with a fluid secreted by glands (ceruminous glands) inside the ear canal and form earwax (cerumen).  

Everyone makes earwax, but the amount and type are genetically determined just like hair color or height. Smaller or oddly shaped ear canals may make it difficult for the wax to get out of the canal. This can lead to wax impactions.  

The outer half of the ear canal produces the earwax, so unless it’s pushed in, it will not become deeply impacted. Attempts to clean the ear with cotton swabs, a finger or, well, anything smaller than your elbow, pushes ear wax deeper. The ear canal can become blocked (impacted) by pressing the wax against the eardrum.  

Impacted earwax can cause some hearing loss or other problems, like ringing in the ears (tinnitus) a full feeling in the ears, or vertigo – a sense of motion or dizziness when you aren’t moving. If you have pain in your ear, call your physician. 

If it feels like you have an excess of earwax but you’re not in pain, there are home remedies that don’t involve a cotton swab or an elbow: 

• Buy an over-the-counter earwax removal kit. 

• Make your own removal solution. Soften and loosen the earwax with warm mineral oil or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of room-temperature water, Place two drops of the fluid, warmed to body temperature, in the ear twice a day for up to five days. Be sure to warm the fluid because cold fluid can cause pain and dizziness.  

Ears are self-cleaning. Say what? It’s true. Our ear canals are self-cleaning. As the skin of the ear canal sheds, the wax is carried to the outer part of the ear canal and drains from the ear. By itself.