The Genesis Women’s Boutique at the Genesis Cancer Care Center received a 3-year mastectomy certification from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC). The program recognizes patient care facilities that provide a high level of care for mastectomy fitting services. 

“We are pleased to earn the ABC certification in mastectomy care,” said Pebbles Thornton, Director of Cancer, Palliative Medicine and Hospice Services at Genesis HealthCare System. “This demonstrates our commitment and dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our patients.”

Genesis met ABC’s high standard of criteria and completed extensive reviews, including an on-site survey. Staff members were required to be certified or licensed to provide the highest organizational and clinical care standards. This is the third consecutive mastectomy certification the Genesis Women’s Boutique has earned.

For more information about Genesis Cancer Services, click HERE.

The Genesis Women’s Boutique at the Genesis Cancer Care Center received a 3-year mastectomy certification from the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC).

A refreshing dip in the pool can do more than cool you off. There are benefits to swimming that will make you want to find a way to jump in a pool year-round.  

According to Swimming.org, exercising in water makes your body work harder and uses all the muscles in your body. Thirty minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land because of the water’s resistance. That same 30 minutes of a leisurely swim can burn more than 200 calories, double the number of calories for the same time spent walking.  

There are benefits to exercising in a pool, even if you're not a swimmer. Try water walking; working against the water's resistance is good for your muscles and helps keep you flexible. Aquatic exercise classes can be in the deep end of a pool with flotation devices or the shallow end of a pool. Try a class with a trainer who leads a group through a set of exercises with special water weights or pool noodles.  

Consider lap swimming if you're generally healthy and your doctor says it's OK. But start slowly. For example, swim for five or 10 minutes, a few times per week. Gradually increase the amount of time each week and note how many laps you can do within that time. 

Water supports up to 90% of the body’s weight, which makes a pool a joint-friendly spot to exercise. Heated pools, typically 82 to 88 degrees, can help soothe joint and muscle pain while your body reaps the benefits of exercise.   

“When you exercise in water, it can ease joint stiffness, decrease pain and swelling, and improve your range of motion,” said Shehla Atiq, M.D., fellowship-trained rheumatologist, Genesis Rheumatology Care Center. “It may be more comfortable to move in water when you’re in pain.”  

If sweating is your reason for inactivity, throw water on that excuse. You won’t feel sweaty in a pool, no matter how hard you work out, because the water constantly cools you down. Go ahead, get your feet wet.  

A refreshing dip in the pool can do more than cool you off. There are benefits to swimming that will make you want to find a way to jump in a pool year-round.

Natural products and everyday pantry items make perfectly good ingredients for an at-home facial. 

Natural products and everyday pantry items make perfectly good ingredients for an at-home facial. 

Cholesterol is a silent disease and common enough that Stephen Knox, M.D., board-certified family medicine, Genesis Primary Care, addresses the problem with patients every day.

“Without testing, we can’t tell if our cholesterol levels are too high or too low until we have a big problem,” Dr. Knox said. “That’s why I talk about this multiple times per day. The great news is, with the right steps, we can prevent and correct issues and have healthier lives.”

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, yellowish fatty substance found in the blood. While the body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, too much of it can accrue over time. As extra cholesterol gathers, plaque forms within blood vessels and arteries and increases the chances of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

The liver, the largest gland in the body, makes and clears cholesterol for our bodies. We also get cholesterol from foods we eat, specifically animal-based products. 

The good, the bad and the great news related to cholesterol.

Although bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, leads to fatty buildups in arteries, not all cholesterol deserves a bad rap. Good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, carries bad cholesterol back to the liver, so it can be broken down and removed from the body. 

To determine good and bad cholesterol levels, everyone over the age of 20 should have a routine blood test once every five years.

“Ideally, we want high HDL and low LDL, and that can take effort,” Dr. Knox said. “But don’t worry. You can lower your cholesterol. A good place to start is with your family doctor.”

Lifestyle upgrades to lower cholesterol.

Treatments for high cholesterol include medication and lifestyle changes. Your family doctor will work with you to identify the best pathways to better health while considering medical history, risk factors and health goals.

Risk factors for having high cholesterol include gender (males tend to have higher levels than females), age (cholesterol levels commonly increase with age), poor diet, obesity, smoking and diabetes.

“We can’t control all of the risk factors for high cholesterol like genetics, but we can take control of our diet, activity levels and smoking habits,” Dr. Knox said. “Lifestyle changes can make a major difference in our cholesterol level and overall health.”

Dr. Knox suggests these three lifestyles changes to lower cholesterol levels:

1.       Quit smoking. A non-smoking 55-year-old non-diabetic male with low good cholesterol and high total cholesterol has a 10.8 percent chance of having heart disease or a stroke in the next 10 years. If that same person is a smoker, the risk of heart disease or stroke jumps to almost double at 19.5 percent.

2.       Improve diet choices. Eating less high-processed sugary foods and carbohydrates and consuming more fruits and green vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels. Also, when choosing to eat animal products, pick leaner meats like fish and chicken instead of fatty red meats.

3.       Increase activity levels. When it comes to exercise, Dr. Knox said anything is better than nothing. A recent study showed that 60 minutes per week of moderate activity levels improved cholesterol levels. So, take your activity to the next level and spur cholesterol improvement.

To schedule an appointment and have your cholesterol levels tested, call your family doctor. If you don’t have a family doctor, call Genesis OneCall at 740-455-7500.

Nearly 29 million Americans have high cholesterol, meaning cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL, yet many people don’t know about their condition.

This tangy, spicy version of corn on the cob is sure to be a hit at your next summer cookout.

We have a lot of pressure in our day-to-day life, like work, home, kids, traffic. And annually, for one out of eight adults, there is the added pressure from sinuses. If you get a headache that feels like it’s in your forehead, on either side of your nose, in-between your eyes or in your upper mouth, it might be your sinuses.  

 What purpose do sinuses serve?  

You know they serve a purpose, but when the only time you notice your sinuses is when they are causing pain, you wonder why they exist. Our sinuses lighten the weight of our head, humidify and heat the air we inhale, and keep out potentially harmful dirt, allergens and other particles in the air. They are hollow air spaces in the bones behind your eyes and nose that connect to the nose through small, narrow channels.  

How do sinuses get infected?  

For many, the inflammation starts when viruses or bacteria infect your sinuses (often during a cold) and begin to multiply. Part of the body’s reaction to the infection causes the sinus lining to swell, so the sinuses cannot function properly. The infection is referred to as sinusitis and can also be called rhinosinusitis because the symptoms involve both the nose and the sinuses.  

Simple tips to prevent infections are similar to ways to prevent catching a cold. Drink plenty of fluids; frequently wash your hands; consume vitamin C; blow your nose frequently instead of sniffing; avoid cigarette smoke; and don’t let your nasal passages get too dry. Try to keep your nose cleared out but not dried out by using a nasal spray or humidifier.  

How to treat 

There are many over-the-counter medications for the sinus infection that is not getting worse and lasts less than 10 days.  

To help ease the symptoms, there are home remedies such as: 

• Drink plenty of fluids 

• Run a humidifier in your bedroom at night while you sleep 

• Inhale steam by bending over a bowl of boiling water and put a towel over your head 

• Put a warm towel over your nose 

If you feel worse or the symptoms are prolonged, call your doctor.  

We have a lot of pressure in our day-to-day life, like work, home, kids, traffic. And annually, for one out of eight adults, there is the added pressure from sinuses.

You exercise more often than most people clean their bathrooms. You don’t have any more time to dedicate to fitness. However, you might be able to exercise better … and save time.  As with any exercise routine, consult your doctor before you begin. He or she can provide recommendations for starting an exercise program and alert you to warning signs of when you should take it easy.  

Take our quiz to learn more.  

You exercise more often than most people clean their bathrooms. You don’t have any more time to dedicate to fitness. However, you might be able to exercise better … and save time.  Take our quiz to learn more.