LiveWell | Genesis Healthcare System

The perfect cup of tea

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Preparing the perfect cup of tea can take practice. Especially because there are so many types of tea and ways to prepare it. Follow the steps below and enjoy.

Green Tea – Add a tea bag or leaves just as the water begins to boil. Steep for 3 minutes uncovered. Don’t add anything for a refreshing tea flavor.

Black Tea – Add a tea bag or leaves when the water arrives at a full boil. Steep for 5 minutes covered. Add a little honey, milk or lemon to taste.

Oolong Tea – Add a tea bag or leaves when the water arrives at a full boil. Steep for 3 minutes covered. Oolong is the perfect tea for adding a citrus flavor like lemon or orange.

White Tea – Add a tea bag or leaves when the water is just under a boil. Steep for 2 minutes uncovered. White tea is best when enjoyed plain. The addition of milk, sugar, lemon or any spice is disruptive to its delicate tea flavor.

Herbal Tea – Add a tea bag or leaves when the water arrives at a full boil. Herbal tea can steep forever unless it contains a tea listed above. Enjoy plain. Adding a little honey for root herbal teas can improve the taste but will add calories.

Tips: Use bottled, freshly drawn filtered water. If you use tap water, let it run for 10 seconds before use for fresher taste. Use one tea bag or one level teaspoon of loose tea per serving. Once the tea is ready, remove the bag or leaves to avoid excessive brewing that would cause a bitter taste.

LiveWell

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 15:32

Preparing the perfect cup of tea can take practice. Especially because there are so many types of tea and ways to prepare it.

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Now open: new Genesis Orthopedic Center

Read more about Now open: new Genesis Orthopedic Center

The new Genesis Orthopedic Center opened in December 2021 at 2904 Bell St., Zanesville. Now all Genesis orthopedic providers are in one location. This makes it easier and more convenient for patients to receive high-quality orthopedic care.

All orthopedic providers in one place

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement surgery
Orthopedic surgeons fellowship-trained in hand surgery
Board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder surgeons
Board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine/physical medicine and rehab physician
Advanced practice providers
Athletic trainers
Physical and occupational therapists

Appointments not needed for Walk-in Clinic

The Genesis Orthopedic Walk-in Clinic is also in the new Orthopedic Center. If you have a minor injury like a sprain, strain, muscle pull or injured finger, the Orthopedic Walk-in Clinic is a great resource to save you a trip to the Emergency Department. Appointments are not needed. The Genesis Orthopedic Walk-in Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Therapies and imaging on-site

Need an X-ray when seeing a provider? We have it here. Prescribed physical or occupational therapy after surgery or for an injury? No need to go elsewhere. It’s all at the new Genesis Orthopedic Center.

To make an appointment with an orthopedic provider at the Genesis Orthopedic Center, call 740-586-6828. A physician’s referral is not needed.

LiveWell

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 15:19

The new Genesis Orthopedic Center opened in December 2021 at 2904 Bell St., Zanesville. Now all Genesis orthopedic providers are in one location.

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New year, new you?

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Megan Miller, D.O.

Genesis Primary Care

It’s that time of year when we recently made resolutions to lose or maintain weight. Is a New Year’s resolution the best way to manage weight? Megan Miller, D.O., Genesis Primary Care, gives us an answer and provides tips to help us achieve our weight goals.

New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are a great way to encourage change but making a resolution to lose weight isn’t always a good idea. Focusing on weight can result in giving up on the resolution easily when results aren’t seen. I encourage patients to refocus their goals towards daily attainable feats. Ideas include eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking more water (instead of sugary drinks), or being more active.

Fad diets and more

Extreme fad diets are rarely sustainable over the long term. I encourage patients to make changes to their eating habits that they can maintain forever. Even subtle changes will result in gradual weight loss over time. I encourage the concepts of intermittent fasting and low carbohydrate diets. A simple form of intermittent fasting would be to limit the hours of the day when you eat. For the best results, make it earlier in the day. For example, eat between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. or even 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Then fast the rest of the day.

For low carbohydrate diets, focus meals around lean meats like chicken, fish or lean beef and choose fresh vegetables. Avoid pastas, breads and potatoes. Shifting your food choice at meals will help you make small changes that can result in weight loss over the long run.

Nutritional plan

A balanced nutritional plan is important when trying to lose weight. Pay attention to portion size. Portions smaller than the size of your palm for meat servings and smaller than the size of your fist for most other foods are best. You also want to eat whole foods rich in natural vitamins and antioxidants, which are important for maintaining a healthy body.

Exercise

Daily exercise is important to be healthy and aids in weight loss when you are also following a healthy diet. I recommend 30 minutes of exercise every day. Cardio-type exercise is preferred. For those who are just starting out on an exercise program, a brisk 30-minute walk is the easiest way to get started. After some time, as you become more in shape, increasing your pace (even jogging) will help increase cardio intensity. Incorporating yoga, Pilates or some simple stretching in between workouts helps reduce stress and increase flexibility. These are important for overall health.

Keeping the weight off

If you want to maintain your current weight, be consistent. Try to get the same amount of sleep and drink plenty of water daily. Carve out your 30 minutes of exercise and focus on making good food choices. Try to eat early in the day. Also take time to relax and reduce stress each day.

Consult your physician

If you are considering drastically changing your eating habits or starting an exercise routine, I recommend consulting your physician first.

LiveWell

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 13:38

Dr. Megan Miller's tips for weight loss.

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Welcome New Physicians

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Abdul Dada, M.D.
Genesis Primary Care

Doctor of Medicine: Saint James School of Medicine in Anguilla
Family Medicine Residency: AMITA Health Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois

“Medicine is changing from a physician to a patient-centered approach,” said Abdul Dada, M.D., who joined Genesis Primary Care as a family physician in September. “We now ask patients for input on their treatment,” he said. “This is a great way to practice because if patients are reluctant to do something the physician tells them, they may not do it. However, if patients are involved in the medical decision making, they will be more inclined to do what helps them.”

Dr. Dada chose family practice because it covers the entire scope of medicine. “This is the type of medicine I want to be a part of,” Dr. Dada said. “I want to be a physician who can treat any patient with any problem. Typically, primary care physicians can treat most patients’ problems.”

“A common misconception about what I do is that I just prescribe medications and tell people to go on about their day,” Dr. Dada said. “This is not how family medicine works. We are in a field where communication and working together is of utmost importance.” He said rarely does a patient arrive, tell him his or her symptoms and leave the office with a prescription.
“During visits, I talk to the patient about things they may be going through to get to know them better,” Dr. Dada said.

Dr. Dada enjoys playing basketball in his free time. “I try to play three or four times a week, and I’m in a league right now,” he said. “I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I could be doing anything and enjoy it as long as I am with the people I love.”

Dr. Dada is located at Genesis Primary Care, 1210 Ashland Ave., Zanesville and is accepting new patients. His office phone number is 740-454-0370.

Dany Abou Abdallah. M.D.
Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine

Doctor of Medicine: Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon
Board-certified: Pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine
Sleep Medicine Fellowship: The Medical College of Ohio, The Toledo Sleep Disorders Center in Toledo, Ohio
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellowship: SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York
Internal Medicine Residency: Cleveland Clinic Health System in Cleveland, Ohio

A good night’s sleep is critical, according to Dany Abou Abdallah, M.D., who joined Genesis Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists in September. Most Americans are sleep deprived; however, Dr. Abou Abdallah said studies strongly support the potential dangers of sleep deprivation on cognition and work performance. Unfortunately, taking a nap will not solve sleep deprivation. “The best resolution for lack of sleep is to have a restful and regular sleep-wake schedule,” he said.

The field of critical care medicine and its disciplines fascinated Dr. Abou Abdallah during his training in internal medicine. He chose pulmonary medicine as his second specialty so he could treat critically ill patients whose condition affects their respiratory systems. “My background in pulmonary medicine enables me to treat patients who have acute lung diseases and manage those who have chronic respiratory diseases,” Dr. Abou Abdallah said.

“I chose to specialize in sleep medicine after I noticed sleep or lack of sleep can affect my patients’ chronic lung diseases or vice versa,” Dr. Abou Abdallah said. The field of sleep medicine is quite extensive and encompasses other sleep-related conditions such as insomnia and narcolepsy.

“My best time is spent around my wife and two young boys,” Dr. Abou Abdallah said. His hobbies include skiing, jogging, soccer and ping-pong. Dr. Abou Abdallah brings more than 20 years of experience to Genesis. He is located in the Genesis Pulmonary/Critical Care Specialists office, 945 Bethesda Drive, Suite 260, Zanesville. The office phone number is
740-586-6888. Dr. Abou Abdallah is accepting new patients. A referral is required.

LiveWell

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 13:31

Meet our new Primary Care and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine providers.

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Wintertime Blues: Are They Real?

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It’s chilly outside, and the days are getting shorter. Do you dread winter because you get the blues? If you had the blues or felt depressed the past two winters but feel better in the spring and summer, you may have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression that occurs during the same season each year.

Can SAD be prevented?

Because the onset of winter is predictable, people with a history of SAD might benefit from starting treatments before the fall season to help prevent or reduce depression. Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If the sun is shining, try to get outside. Being active, especially early in the day, may help you have more energy and feel less depressed. Symptoms come and go at roughly the same times every year, which is an easy way to track when it’s time to add to your physical activity.

What causes SAD

Scientists don’t fully understand what causes SAD, but research indicates it might be from reduced activity of the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Research also suggests that sunlight controls the levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels. In people with SAD, this regulation does not function properly, resulting in lower serotonin levels in the winter.

Other findings suggest that people with SAD produce too much melatonin, a hormone that is essential for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle. In people with SAD, the changes in serotonin and melatonin levels disrupt normal daily rhythms. As a result, they can no longer adjust to the seasonal changes in day length, leading to sleep, mood and behavior changes.

Vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. Few foods in nature provide vitamin D, but it’s in egg yolks and canned fish. The body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight on the skin. With less daylight in the winter, people with SAD may have lower vitamin D levels.

Who gets SAD

Millions of adults may suffer from SAD, although many might not know they have the condition. SAD occurs more often in women, and it is more common in those living farther north, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter. It’s most common in people between the ages of 15 and 55, and the risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age. In most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood and sometimes runs in families.

Treatments are available that can help many people with SAD. Talk to your healthcare provider about which treatment is best for you.

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

LiveWell

Behavioral Health

Wed, 12/08/2021 - 10:41

Do you dread winter because you get the blues? If you had the blues or felt depressed the past two winters but feel better in the spring and summer, you may have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

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(Quiz) Is your home contagious?

Read more about (Quiz) Is your home contagious?

Home is a refuge to feel safe and comfortable. However, it is easy to overlook cleaning certain items often enough to keep your home safe. Learn more by taking our quiz below.

Wellness

LiveWell

Mon, 11/22/2021 - 09:20

Home is a refuge to feel safe and comfortable. However, it is easy to overlook cleaning certain items often enough to keep your home safe.

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After-school dinner on the go

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Your daughter is at cross-country practice until 5:30 p.m. Your son has a soccer game at 6 p.m. When you get home, you need to wash laundry if you don’t want your house to smell like a locker room.

It will be late, and everybody will be hungry. Actually, starving if you listen to your children. The easy thing to do is stop at the drive-thru for their favorite combo meal or order a pizza. However, frequently eating out can create unhealthy eating habits. Teenage athletes often burn through excess calories, but as they age and slow down, those habits will stay with them, and it can eventually lead to weight gain, heart disease and diabetes.

You know how important nutrition is, especially to teenagers, and even more so for teenage athletes. So, plan and prepare meals with various healthy foods to eat on the go and when they get home.

To make it easy for everyone, place each meal in a separate safe-togo package. Then on the way out the door, everyone can grab their lunch, dinner, or snack to avoid getting hangry.

For athletes, include food high in calcium and iron. The calcium will support strong bones and help avoid fractures while they are running, jumping and falling. Iron found in lean meat, fish, chicken and leafy green vegetables will carry oxygen to the muscles.

Also, include protein for muscle growth and carbohydrates to give them energy. It’s tempting to slip a candy bar or soda into a meal to make children happy but avoid adding sweets so they can prevent the crash that comes after consuming sugar.

“Eating healthy during busy sports seasons takes planning. If you do, you’ll help your family in the long run by helping them avoid illness and lessen their chances of injuries. You’ll also get to see them perform at their top level,” said Anastasia Gevas, D.O., Genesis Primary Care.

Nutrition

LiveWell

Wed, 09/08/2021 - 10:44

You know how important nutrition is, especially to teenagers, and even more so for teenage athletes. So, plan and prepare meals with
various healthy foods to eat on the go and when they get home.

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Tips to prevent children's sports injuries

Read more about Tips to prevent children's sports injuries

While you can’t protect your young athlete from every injury, you can try to minimize the risk with a few basic steps.

When you’re the parent of an active child, you know that injuries are a part of the game. While you can’t protect your young athlete from every injury, you can try to minimize the risk with a few basic steps.

“It’s important to begin by making sure your child can participate in sports. We recommend children have a sports physical before they start – even if they’re younger than junior high age,” said Thai Trinh, M.D., fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeon, Genesis Orthopedic Sports Medicine. “If your child has an illness or problem with lungs, heart, vision, hearing, strength or movement, we can tell you how you can manage the problem so your child may still be able to be active.”

Reduce common injuries

Most sport-related injuries are from impact, overuse or poor body mechanics. To reduce your child’s risk of injury, you can:
• Always use the right safety gear. Learn about the proper fit of that gear. Replace it as your child grows.
• Make sure your child learns proper form and technique from a class, trained coach or athletic trainer.
• Teach your child to take pain and tiredness seriously and not ignore or “play through” it.

Avoid high-risk activities

Some activities are so high-risk that child health experts warn strongly against them. These include boxing, driving or riding on motorized bikes and vehicles and using trampolines. Even with constant adult supervision and protective netting, many children are injured on them.

Wear safety gear

Safety gear helps protect your child. Before your child starts a new activity, get the right safety gear and teach your child how to use it. Depending on the sport or activity, your child may need these items:
• Helmets help protect against injury to the skull. Brain damage is still possible even when a helmet is worn. Use a helmet for any activity that can cause a fall or an impact to the neck or head, such as bike riding, football, baseball, ATV riding or skateboarding.
• Shoes help protect feet from injury. Sandals or flip-flops are not safe for bike riding. Some sports require special shoes for support and safety.
• Mouthguards help prevent mouth and dental injuries. Use a mouth guard for sports such as basketball, football, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics, baseball and soccer.

Prevent dehydration and heat-related illness

When your child is active and not drinking enough fluids, dehydration is a risk. The muscles get tired quickly, and your child may have leg cramps while walking or running. Playing hard and sweating without drinking fluids can cause dehydration and overheating. To prevent dehydration, teach your child to:
• Do activities during the coolest times of the day.
• Drink water throughout the day, every day.
• Drink extra water before, during and after exercise.
• Take breaks and drink at least every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise.
• Stop and rest if dizzy, lightheaded or very tired.
• Wear clothes that help cool the body.
• Water is the best choice for children and teens. A sports drink may be helpful if your child has exercised intensively or for a long time.

Fitness

LiveWell

Wed, 09/01/2021 - 11:56

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Lighten the load

Read more about Lighten the load

A roomy backpack may seem like a good idea, but the more space there is to fill, the more likely your child will fill it. When it comes time to buy a backpack and load it with school supplies, you might want to keep a few of these tips in mind:

Comfortable to wear and carry:

Wide, padded shoulder straps provide the most comfort. Make sure your child uses both straps when carrying the backpack—using one strap shifts the weight to one side and causes muscle pain and posture problems.

Sized correctly for kids:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a child not carry more than 15% to 20% of his or her weight. Instead of guessing, use your scale to weigh the loaded pack. Also, a backpack should not be wider than your child’s torso or hang more than 4 inches below the waist.

Offers good organization:

Compartments in the backpack are an excellent way to distribute weight evenly. Pack the heaviest items closest to the back. “One way to avoid muscle strain and back pain is to use a backpack correctly,” said Nathaniel Amor, D.O., board-certified neurosurgeon, Genesis Neurosurgery Group. “If your child leans forward with the backpack on, it’s too heavy.” An alternative to strapping on a backpack is pulling a bag on wheels. If you’re uncomfortable with the heavy load in your student’s backpack, check with your local school to see if wheeled bags are allowed.

Wellness

LiveWell

Wed, 08/25/2021 - 11:47

When it comes time to buy a backpack and load it with school supplies, you might want to keep a few of these tips in mind.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Answers for Women and Mothers

Read more about COVID-19 Vaccine Answers for Women and Mothers

In the latest issue of LiveWell Kristy Ritchie, M.D. from the Genesis OB/GYN Group and Genesis Primary Care provider Kevin Frank, M.D. answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccines:

Q: Should you get the vaccine if you are thinking about getting pregnant?

A: Definitely. Pregnant women who get COVID-19 are at a higher risk for hospitalization, breathing problems and more. Getting COVID-19 while pregnant also increases the risk for babies to be born early and other health problems.

Q: If you are pregnant, should you get the COVID-19 vaccine?

A: Ongoing data demonstrates the vaccine is safe for pregnant women and unborn children. However, pregnant women should discuss the vaccine with their obstetrician.

Q: Should breastfeeding mothers get the COVID-19 vaccine?

A: Generally, yes. The vaccine will help protect the mother and her infant if she is breastfeeding. This is also a conversation mothers should have with their healthcare provider.

Q: Does the COVID-19 vaccine impact your ability to conceive in the future?

A: The vaccine does not affect the ability to get pregnant or to have a healthy child. As with all pregnancies, it’s best to be as healthy as possible, including getting all appropriate vaccines.

Q: Should children 12 years and older get the COVID-19 vaccine?

A: Everyone who is eligible should get the vaccine. Wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing has slowed the spread of COVID-19 but cannot stop it. The fastest way to return to normal is for everyone who is able and eligible to get the vaccine.

Q: How safe is the COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 and up?

A: The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine for individuals 16 and up. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children 12 and up for emergency use. The vaccine was also previously approved and used for children 12 years of age and up in Canada.