Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAIDPlatteville, WIPermit No. 7

T.J. Samson Community Hospital1301 N. Race St.Glasgow, KY 42141

JUN

E 2020

Healthy fast foodKeep portable, healthy snacks—like fruit, nuts or popcorn—handy when you’re at work. They can help you resist less nutritious vending machine fare. American Heart Association

Locally grownPut local foods on your plate as much as you can. Visit a u-pick farm, shop at a farmers market or sign up for produce deliv-ery from a local farm. U.S. Department of Agriculture

Protect your feet from the heatStaying well hydrated can help keep your feet from swelling in the summer heat. Drinking plenty of water helps your overall health too. American Podiatric Medical Association

Do you wake up in the morning—maybe with a headache or dry mouth—feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep? Does

your partner complain about your loud snoring or tell you that you often gasp for breath at night while you sleep?

If so, you may have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the muscles in the upper airway can relax, causing the airway to narrow or close, and breathing is disturbed. It’s a potentially serious sleep dis-order that raises the risk of stroke and heart disease, among other medical conditions.

Traditionally, doctors have diagnosed ob-structive sleep apnea with an overnight sleep study done in a hospital or clinic sleep lab, which is available at T.J. Regional Health.

But there’s an increasingly popular alter-native: an at-home sleep test. “It gives many people a convenient, more comfortable and cost-effective means of evaluation,” says Kimberly Bowman, APRN, a T.J. Regional Health nurse practitioner who specializes in sleep medicine.

Home testing is already available in sur-rounding counties, and T.J. Samson is ex-panding those services to Russell County.

HOME TESTING VERSUS AN IN-LAB TEST A home sleep apnea test is a very simplified breathing monitor that tracks oxygen levels and also measures airflow and breathing patterns and heart rate.

In contrast, an in-lab test gives a more thorough assessment of sleep issues and is monitored by a sleep technologist. It cap-tures many more signals, including brain waves for sleep, muscle tone, and eye and

leg movements. Unlike a home

test, which is only used to diag-nose obstructive and central sleep apnea, an in-lab sleep study can diagnose other sleep disorders.

You’re a can-didate for a home test if your doctor sus-pects you have obstructive sleep apnea. But it’s not appropriate if you have certain lung or heart conditions, such as heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “Then the results of a home test aren’t al-ways likely to be conclusive,” Bowman says.

If home testing is an option, the sleep medicine team at T.J. Regional Health will show you how to use the equipment. Your test kit will include a portable sleep moni-tor, a finger oxygen probe, a chest belt and a nasal cannula.

The results are interpreted by our sleep team, which includes a board-certified sleep medicine physician. If the results are un-clear, you may need an in-lab sleep study.

If you do have obstructive sleep apnea, you’ll receive a personalized care plan. That treatment may include making lifestyle changes; using a positive airway pressure (CPAP or BIPAP) machine, which delivers a stream of compressed air while you sleep to help keep your airway open; or having surgery.

“Treating sleep apnea—whether detected at a hospital or at home—can truly improve your quality of life and help protect you from serious complications,” Bowman says.

Kimberly Bowman, APRNT.J. Sleep Medicine

AT-HOME SLEEP TESTINGIs it a good choice for you?

Home care Primary care June 2020 3 2 DESTINATION HEALTH

Often the best healing happens at home in the comfort of familiar surroundings. That’s

why T.J. Samson Home Health is committed to helping you—or a loved one—recover safely at home after an illness, injury or hospital stay.

“Our expert home health team can help you regain your health and independence and reduce your risk of a repeat or unplanned hospital admission,” says April Pennington, RN, T.J. Samson Home Care Mar-keting Liaison.

Here’s a look at the compre-hensive home care the T.J. Samson team can deliver. Services include:

Skilled nursing. Working closely with your doctor, a registered nurse will develop a personalized care plan to help you mend. De-pending on your needs, T.J. Samson Home Health nurses may provide wound or ostomy care, intravenous or nutrition therapy, and more. They can also:

●●●●● Make sure you’re taking the right medicine at the right time. That’s especially important after a hospi-tal stay, when your medicine may change.

●●●●● Educate you and your family about how to manage your condi-tion, including a chronic health problem like diabetes or heart fail-ure or a slow-healing wound. “You’ll gain the confidence and know-how you need to keep improving,” Pen-nington says.

Perhaps most crucial: “Our nurses will keep a close watch on you so that your doctor is immedi-ately aware of any change in your condition,” Pennington says. “That way your doctor can adjust care if necessary and keep you on the path to recovery.”

What’s more, a nurse is always on call 24/7. Should you need advice or assistance, it’s quickly available.

Physical, occupational and speech therapy. Highly experi-enced T.J. Samson Home Health therapists can help you recover from a fall, joint replacement surgery, stroke or other health problem. They can help you regain strength and mobility, the ability to do everyday tasks, and lost communication skills.

Personal care. If you need as-sistance with basic personal needs, such as bathing, grooming and dressing, home health aides will lend a helping hand.

Social work services. Medical social workers can evaluate your full range of needs—from financial assis-tance to help with transportation—and connect you with appropriate community resources. “We care for the whole person, not merely their condition,” Pennington says.

And that care is as compassion-ate as it is comprehensive. “Our caregivers truly have caring hearts,” Pennington says. “That shows in the deep bonds that so often develop between our staff and the patients and families who trust us with their care.”

Extra precautions in place for COVID-19T.J. Samson Home Health is taking every possible precaution to protect our caregivers and our patients and their families from the spread of COVID-19. For example, we are:

■ ■ Requiring every in-home nurse and provider to pass a daily health screening before being approved for patient visits.

■ ■ Employing the use of telehealth technology whenever appropriate. ■ ■ Conducting risk assessments on every patient who is referred to our service

or is currently in our service. ■ ■ Requiring personal protective equipment when treating patients with posi-

tive COVID-19 tests or those under home monitoring for coronavirus.

5 facts to know about cortisone shotsYour doctor has advised a shot of cortisone—a type of corticosteroid. Here are five key facts to know.

1 They’re a fast, efficient way to

ease inflammation. The shots mimic the effect of cortisol. It’s one of your body’s anti-inflammatory hormones made in the

adrenal glands.

2 They may be part of an

arthritis treatment plan. Often, doctors inject cortisone shots directly into a joint. This treats the inflammation

inside the joint, which helps ease pain, swelling and stiffness.

Commonly injected joints include the knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, and small joints of the hands and feet.

3 They treat other conditions too.

For example, the shots may ease tendinitis, bursitis and gout. They may also be used to

manage disorders in which the immune system attacks itself, such as lupus.

4 Their benefits may be tempo-

rary. Symptom im-provement from joint injections often only lasts for a few months. Since repeated joint injections may increase cartilage loss, doctors may only give these

shots two or three times a year.

5 It’s important to consider pos-

sible risks. Cortisone shots raise the risk of glaucoma, cataracts, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about possible complications before getting a shot.Sources: American College of Rheumatology; Arthritis Foundation

Another reason to control your blood pressure

High blood pressure i s a ser ious threat to your k idneys

Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering your blood and keeping your body functioning properly. So it’s important that your kidneys stay healthy. One way to do that is to make sure your blood pressure stays within a nor-mal range. Blood pressure that is too high can cause kidney disease.

Blood pressure is the force of your blood as it flows through your blood vessels. When blood pressure is too high, blood vessels stretch so the blood can flow through them more easily. This stretching damages blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the kidneys.

Kidneys with damaged blood vessels don’t remove wastes and extra fluid through your urine like they should. In turn, the extra fluid that accumulates in blood vessels may cause blood pressure to go even higher, creating a dangerous cycle.

High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S.

SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASELike high blood pressure, kidney disease does not have symptoms—at least not in its early stages. You may notice swelling in your legs, feet or ankles. This is called edema, and it is caused by a buildup of extra fluid and salt that healthy kidneys would expel.

In its later stages, kidney disease may cause:

●●●●● Loss of appetite.●●●●● Nausea.●●●●● Vomiting.●●●●● Fatigue.●●●●● Trouble concentrating.●●●●● Problems sleeping.●●●●● Increased or decreased urination.●●●●● Generalized itching or numbness.●●●●● Dry skin.

DO YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?If you have high blood pressure, talk to your health care provider about your risk for kidney

disease. Your provider might want to do some tests of your urine and maybe a blood test to determine early signs of kidney damage.

The best way to avoid or slow progression of kidney disease is to lower your blood pressure. You can do that with medications and also changes in your lifestyle, such as:

●●●●● Following a healthy eating plan that in-cludes reducing sodium (salt).

●●●●● Getting regular physical activity. ●●●●● Losing weight if you’re overweight. ●●●●● Quitting smoking if you light up. ●●●●● Reducing stress.

Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health

The other skin cancersWhat to know about basal and squamous cel l cancers

You’ve probably read a few sto-ries about melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. But you may not have read much about two far more com-mon skin cancers.

Basal and squamous cell skin cancers (or carcinomas) are the most prevalent types of skin cancer. They start in the top layer of skin and are usually caused by sun exposure.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMASThese skin cancers make up about 8 out of 10 skin cancer diagnoses. They usually develop on sun-exposed areas of the body—often the face, head or neck.

Basal cell carcinomas usually grow slowly. Rarely do they spread

to other parts of the body. But if not treated, a basal cell carcinoma can invade bone or other tissues.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMASAbout 2 out of 10 skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Like basal cell cancers, squamous cell carcino-mas appear on sun-exposed parts of the body, including the face, ears, neck, lips and backs of the hands.

Squamous cell cancers are more likely than basal cell carcinomas to spread to other parts of the body.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?Skin cancer looks like an abnormal area of skin. It can be: pink; red and swollen; peeling; bleeding or look-ing like an open sore; or thick and crusty.

Not all skin changes are cancer. But show your health care provider any changes to your skin that you think might be abnormal.

RISK FACTORSAs mentioned before, the biggest risk factor for basal and squamous skin cancers is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Tanning beds also use UV rays. That’s why tanning beds are not a safe alternative to sun tanning.

Other risk factors include:●●●●●Having fair skin. ●●●●●Being male.●●●●●Being older. The risk of both cancers goes up with age. ●●●●●Having been previously diagnosed with either basal or squamous cell skin cancer.

TREATMENT OPTIONSDifferent types of surgery are often used to treat both basal and squa-mous cell cancers, depending on the size and locations of the tumor.

Other possible treatments for these cancers include radiation therapy and skin creams that can kill cancer cells.Sources: American Cancer Society; UpToDate

T.J. Samson Home Health

Helping you heal where you’re most comfortable

T.J. Samson Home Health services are available in Barren, Hart and

Metcalfe counties. Call 270-651-4430 to learn more about how they might help you or a loved one.

Wellness Safe summerJune 2020 5 4 DESTINATION HEALTH

Ouch! You got me. What’s worse than buzzing, biting mos-quitoes? The diseases they sometimes spread. Here are some ways you can protect yourself.

Don’t give mosquitoes an

opening.Use window or door screens, and repair or replace screens as

needed. Or run your air conditioner, if available. Reduce

mosquito breeding sites.

Get rid of standing water, such as in empty flower-

pots, plant trays, buckets or other containers. Change

birdbath water weekly.

Show less skin. When outdoors, skip the shorts and tank top. Wear long-sleeve shirts (tuck-in style for better protection),

pants and socks whenever possible.

Mosquito menace: Beat the bite

Keep bugs away.Use EPA-registered

insect repellent with an active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Read the label directions and warnings before using

bug spray.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Know their M.O.Mosquitoes are active

both day and night and live indoors and

outdoors.

From pasta to breads to cere-als, foods made from grains are dietary staples. But for people with celiac disease, many of these foods are off-limits because they can’t tolerate gluten—a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASECeliac disease is a disorder in which the body’s immune sys-tem reacts to gluten by attacking the lining of the small intestine. This damage keeps the body from absorbing many important nutrients.

People of any age can get ce-liac disease, and the tendency to develop it often runs in families. Symptoms include:

●●●●● Abdominal pain or bloating.●●●●● Diarrhea or constipation.●●●●● Extreme tiredness.●●●●● Weight loss.

●●●●● An itchy skin rash.●●●●● Bone or joint pain.●●●●● Hair loss.●●●●● Lactose intolerance—

a problem digesting milk products.

If you think you have celiac disease, talk to your doctor, since other conditions share simi-lar symptoms. There are several blood tests that can help diag-nose the disease. A biopsy of tissue from your small intestine can confirm it.

AVOIDING GLUTENIf you are diagnosed with celiac disease, there is only one treat-ment: avoiding foods made with gluten. That requires reading food labels carefully and not eating any food that contains wheat, rye or barley.

Gluten is also found in less obvious ingredients, such as semolina, farina and graham

flour. Gluten is even in some medicines and supplements, and it may also be in processed foods, such as:

●●●●● Soups.●●●●● Sauces.●●●●● French fries.●●●●● Soy sauce.●●●●● Processed lunch meats.

Fortunately, rice, corn, mil-let, quinoa and many other grains contain no gluten. So you can eat foods made with those grains. And more and more gluten-free foods are available in stores and restaurants.

It’s important to remember that celiac disease is a serious condition—unless you eat a gluten-free diet, you will damage your small intestine. Your doctor or a dietitian can help you stay gluten-free.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; UpToDate

Access to health care at the click of a button

T.J. Regional Health clinics are now offering visits via tele-health, an interactive audiovi-sual system that allows patients to access quality health care from the comfort of their own homes. Patients who need refills, follow-up appointments or new consultations with a specialist can call the T.J. Health Pavilion or any T.J. clinic to schedule a virtual visit. These visits are conducted on a smart-phone, tablet or computer with almost no wait time, and they are covered by most insurance plans.

Because HIPAA compliance is a top priority, T.J. telehealth visits are conducted securely to ensure strict patient privacy and confidentiality.

As part of the visit, the doc-tor, nurse practitioner or physi-cian assistant has the ability to order lab work, x-rays, and other tests if they are urgently needed. Patients can also schedule an in-person visit with their provider, if it is deemed emergent or necessary.

Celiac disease: When gluten is a problem

60 85 90 95 100 105 110 120 140 150

48 MILLION Number of Americans with hearing loss in one or both ears.

It’s a noisy world out thereNoise exposure adds up over t ime

HOW LOUD ARE EVERYDAY SOUNDS?

Normal conversation

dB dB dB dB dB dB dB dB dB dB

Heavy city traffic

Gas lawn mower

Motorcycle Woodshop Portable digital music player at

max volume

Loud concert

Siren Jet taking off

Firecrackers and firearms

Over time, exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can cause hearing loss.

2

THE SHOUT TEST Having to shout to be heard over a loud noise means it could be hurt-ing your hearing.

Number of minutes it takes for hearing loss to happen when sounds are 110 dB or higher (like at a rock concert).

SOUND ADVICETo protect your hearing from loud sounds:

Lower the volume.

Wear earplugs or earmuffs.

Move away from the

noise.Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

1 2 3

Sound is measured in decibels (dB).

Sunglasses: Pick the perfect pairSlipping on the right pair of shades can make you feel celebrity cool. But sunglasses are more than a fashion statement. Their main purpose is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause cataracts and macular degenera-tion, a leading cause of blindness.

To choose wisely, remember these tips: Keep it 100. Look for a tag that says the

sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

Go big. Oversized and wraparound shades help block UV rays from the side. And that can mean less sun damage to your eyes.

Know what matters. Dark lenses, tints and mirror coatings don’t affect UV protection. Always check the label to be sure. Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology; National Eye Institute

Simple steps for safe grillingSummer and grilling go hand-in-hand. But summer is also a prime time for food poison-ing because the bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses multiply faster in warm weather, and cooking outdoors poses more challenges for handling food safely.

These six simple steps can help protect you and your family from food poisoning the next time you fire up the grill:

1 Start with a clean grill. Always remove charred food from the grill before

cooking.This reduces the risk that fresh foods will be

exposed to bacteria.

2 Refrigerate. Keep meat, poultry and fish in the fridge until you’re ready to grill.

Then only take out what you’ll cook right away.

3 Separate. Don’t use the same platter, cutting board or utensils for raw and

cooked foods. For example, use one plate for bringing raw meat, poultry or fish to the grill and a different one for taking cooked food off the grill. That way bacteria in raw food and its juices can’t contaminate cooked food.

4 Use a food thermometer. That ensures that you’re cooking meat, poultry and fish

to a high enough temperature to kill bacteria. Cook whole cuts of red meat, like beef and lamb, to 145 degrees, and then let it rest for three minutes before serving. Also cook:

●●●●● Fish to 145 degrees.●●●●● Hamburgers and other ground beef to

160 degrees.●●●●● Poultry to 165 degrees.

5 Mind your marinade. Marinades are a good way to flavor raw meats, fish and

poultry. It may be tempting to use any leftover marinade on the food after it has been cooked. But marinade may harbor harmful bacteria. If you don’t want leftover marinade to go to waste, boil it before you reuse it.

6 Don’t make dish towels do double-duty. Using the same one several times to

clean your hands and spills on the grill can spread germs. Use paper towels or disposable wipes instead. Reach for a dish towel only if you’re going to dry clean dishes or your hands after washing them.Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Agriculture

Diabetes SafetyJune 2020 7 6 DESTINATION HEALTH

Hand sanitizers: 5 do’s and don’tsYou always want to keep your hands as germ-free as possible. But if you regularly reach for hand sanitizer, it pays to know a few key facts. Start with this one: Washing your hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds is typically the best way to clean your hands.

If you can’t get to soap and wa-ter, a hand sanitizer can be a good choice. Even so, you have to use the right product—in the right way—to get the most out of it.

Here are some good-to-know tips:

1. Do use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It should contain at least 60% alcohol. Sanitizers without alcohol may only keep germs from multiplying instead of killing them.

Also, be aware: Even an alcohol-based sanitizer doesn’t get rid of all types of germs. Washing with soap and water is better at removing:

●●●●● Norovirus, the leading cause of food poisoning.

●●●●● Some parasites.●●●●● Clostridium difficile, which causes

severe diarrhea. 2. Do check for dirt. If your

hands are dirty or greasy, hand sani-tizers may not work well. Stick to handwashing, if possible.

3. Don’t rely on hand sanitizers to remove harmful chemicals. It’s unlikely that sanitizers can remove chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals. If you've come in contact with them, wash your hands care-fully with soap and water. Or call a poison control center for directions.

4. Don’t rush. Use enough sanitizer to cover all parts of your hands and fingers. Then rub your hands together until they feel dry—that should take about 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers may not be as ef-fective if you rinse or wipe them off before your hands are dry.

5. Do be careful around kids. Keep hand sanitizers out of the reach of young children, who might mistake them for food or candy. Last year alone, U.S. poison control centers received more than 17,000 calls about hand sanitizer exposure in kids 12 and younger. A child who swallows even a small amount of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer could be at risk for alco-hol poisoning. That can be deadly in severe cases.Sources: American Association of Poison Control Centers; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DIYers: Know your way around

3 home hazards

1 2

3

POWER TOOLSPower tools are designed to make jobs easy, but

they can also cause serious injuries. To reduce the risk, always:

●●●●● Use the tool for its intended purpose.●●●●● Aim the edge of a cutting tool away from your

body.●●●●● Keep cords away from anything that could dam-

age them, like heat or sharp edges. Never yank or carry a tool by the cord. And keep cords out of walkways.

●●●●● Unplug tools when they’re not in use or when you’re servicing them.

●●●●● Keep electric tools away from damp or wet jobs unless they’re made for that purpose.

●●●●● Use double-insulated tools, made with nonmetal-lic cases.

●●●●● Use appropriate eyewear, footwear, earplugs, dust masks and gloves.

LEAD PAINTHomes built before 1978 probably contain

lead-based paint. Common repairs like sanding, cutting and replacing windows can create dan-gerous lead dust. When inhaled or swallowed, that dust can cause serious health problems in kids and adults.

If the paint is in good condition, leave it alone. If it’s flaking or peeling, hire a trained specialist to remove it.

ASBESTOSAsbestos may be found in insulation, sid-

ing and ceiling tiles installed in the 1950s to 1970s. Inhaling the fibers can harm your lungs over time. If your home contains asbestos, it’s best not to disturb it. But if you have to, ask a trained professional for help.

Getting ready to tackle some home improvements? Before you bust out that utility belt, it’s important to learn how to safely deal with three potential sources of injury and illness that could throw a wrench in your project.

Sources: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; American College of Emergency Physicians; American Lung Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Sunscreen: A primer for parents Heads up moms and dads: Even a few serious sunburns raise your child’s risk of skin cancer. What’s more, most of the sun damage to skin occurs in childhood.

To use sunscreen properly, keep these tips in mind:

Avoid exposing babies younger than 6 months to direct sun. The best way to protect their delicate skin is to keep them in the shade. Dress them in a wide-brimmed hat and lightweight cloth-ing that covers their arms and legs.

Even if it’s cool or cloudy, kids still need sunscreen. Clouds don’t block the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Not every sunscreen will do. The American Academy of

Dermatology recommends sun-screen that offers broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, has a sun protection factor of 30 or higher, and is water-resistant.

You need to think ahead. Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin 15 minutes before going outside.

One application may not be enough. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off.

It’s important to be thorough. When applying sunscreen, cover ears, noses, feet and hands, and the backs of knees.

Additional sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Type 1 diabetes: What every parent should knowWhen stories are written about diabetes, the focus is often on type 2 diabetes because it is by far the most common form of the disease.

But there is another type of diabetes that de-serves attention—one that parents, in particular, need to know about—and that is type 1 diabe-tes. It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens and young adults and is a lifelong condition that must be carefully controlled.

HOW IT DEVELOPSType 1 diabetes is caused by the lack of insulin, a hormone that moves sugar from the bloodstream into cells to be used for energy. Without insu-lin to move it into cells, sugar builds up in the bloodstream.

Signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes are mainly caused by the inability to use that sugar for energy and by excess levels of unused sugar spilling into the urine, leading to dehydration.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include:●●●●● Hunger, sometimes severe.●●●●● Weight loss.●●●●● Increased thirst.●●●●● Increased urination. This is easily missed in

infants who are not yet toilet trained. It can also cause accidents in children previously toilet trained.

●●●●● Fatigue.●●●●● Irritability.

HOW IT IS DETECTED AND TREATEDIf you think your child might have type 1 diabe-tes, see your child’s primary care provider (PCP) right away—it’s important to find the disease as early as possible. The PCP can diagnose the dis-ease by checking your child’s blood and urine.

Type 1 diabetes is treated with regular daily in-jections of insulin, which are delivered with small syringes and tiny, short needles that are almost painless.

Blood sugar levels need to be checked several times a day with a finger stick. Blood sugar is measured when a tiny drop of blood is placed on a strip that’s inserted into a home glucose meter.

HOW YOU CAN HELPIf your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you can help your child by giving him or her a lot of love and support. Children with the disease can lead happy and healthy lives if the disease is kept under control.

Work with a diabetes educator to create a healthy eating plan that will help manage your child’s diabetes and will include food that every-one in the family can enjoy. And make staying active a family priority.

Let your child know that many successful people—from Olympic athletes to rock stars and famous actors—have diabetes. The disease has not held them back from their dreams, and it shouldn’t hold your child back either.Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Diabetes Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

If you are pregnant—or planning on becom-ing pregnant—it’s important to know the facts about gestational diabetes. Here are 8 key points to understand.

1 Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during

pregnancy. It means that a woman’s blood sugar is too high.

2 The disease is usually diagnosed in the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy using a

blood test.

3 High blood sugar levels during preg-nancy can cause problems for a baby,

such as:●●●●● Being born too early.●●●●● Weighing too much.●●●●● Having low blood sugar right after birth.●●●●● Having breathing problems.

4 Gestational diabetes can also cause problems for a woman during preg-

nancy, such as:●●●●● Labor difficulties.●●●●● Cesarean delivery.●●●●● Heavy bleeding after delivery.●●●●● Preeclampsia, or dangerously high blood

pressure. Preeclampsia can lead to the baby being delivered early before fully grown.

5 You’re at increased risk for developing gestational diabetes if you:

●●●●● Are overweight.●●●●● Had gestational diabetes during a prior

pregnancy.●●●●● Have a parent or sibling with type 2

diabetes.●●●●● Have prediabetes. You have high blood

sugar but not high enough to be diabetes.●●●●● Are African American, American Indian,

Asian American, Latina or Pacific Islander American.

●●●●● Have a hormone disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome.

6 You can lower your likelihood of developing gestational diabetes before

you become pregnant by losing extra weight and exercising regularly.

7 If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you may need to take insulin

or other medications during your pregnancy.

8 Gestational diabetes goes away after childbirth. However, you are at higher

risk for developing regular diabetes later in life once you’ve had gestational diabetes.Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; National Institutes of Health

Do you know the risks of gestational diabetes?

Events8 DESTINATION HEALTH

EDUCATION

American Heart Association Adult CPR/First AidClasses are offered quarterly. For dates and times, please call the Continuing Education Department at 270-651-4355. Learn heartsaver CPR skills for people 8 years and older (adult) and basic first aid. $65 for each class. Classes are held in the T.J. Samson Community Hospital fourth-floor classroom.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Health Screenings at the PavilionWednesday, Aug. 26, 7 to 9 a.m.

■ ■ Lipid panel: $20■ ■ Blood sugar: $1■ ■ Bone density: $5

Call the Continuing Education Department at 270-651-4355.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Bariatric Surgery SeminarFirst Monday of each month, 6 p.m.Informational seminar on the benefits of bariatric surgery, hosted by Patrick Klapheke, MD. For information, call 270-659-5945.

PARENTING

Childbirth Prep and Newborn Care Four-week session, Wednesdays, July 1 through July 22Register in your second trimester. Classes are held in the T.J. Samson Community Hospital fourth-floor classroom. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

Introduction into Parenting Class Wednesday, June 3, 6 to 8 p.m.The course will cover newborn care more in-depth: swaddling, burping, bathing and car seat safety. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

Saturday Childbirth Class Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

SUPPORT GROUPSAll support groups are free.

A Stroke AheadFirst Tuesday of each month, 4:30 p.m. A neuro support group for people who have had a stroke or suffered some other type of brain trauma. For more information, please call Emily Grinstead at 270-659-5650.

Bariatric Support GroupThird Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m.For people in the process of having bariatric surgery or who have already had the surgery. For more information, please call Megan Asberry at 270-659-5945.

Bereavement Support GroupThird Monday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m.For people who have lost loved ones. Call Emily Boston at 270-651-4430.

Grandparents Support GroupThird Friday of each month,11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Sponsored by Glasgow/Barren Counties Family Resources and Youth Services Center. Call Tammy Lindsey at 270-651-1327.

Oncology Support GroupCall for next day and time.Group sessions are offered quarterly. Open to individuals affected by all types of cancer. The group is formed to give family, caregivers and survivors the support and strength to move forward together. For dates and times, call Amy Stephens at 270-659-5893.

Our focus at T.J. Samson Community Hospital is on

your family’s health. Events may change due to the

COVID-19 pandemic. Please call ahead to confirm.

Unless otherwise noted, all classes and

support groups take place in the Community

Center of the T.J. Health Pavilion. For more

information, please call 270-651-4355.

TJSAMSON.orgFind a Doctor Get connected to the right physician for you and your family. Our provider directory makes it easy to search by name or specialty.

Health Library Find reliable, up-to-date health information and learn more about related services and events.

Event Calendar Learn about screenings and health classes and sign up online.

Bookmark itHere’s your 24/7 source for the latest in health care informa-tion. At work or at home, you can connect with the resources you need, including doctors in your area, health education classes, support groups and more.

TJSAMSON.org: the health information you need—at your fingertips.

DESTINATION HEALTH is published as a com mu nity service for the friends and patrons of T.J. SAMSON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL1301 N. Race St. Glasgow, KY 42141270-651-4444

Information in DESTINATION HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider.

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2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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D E S T I N A T I O N HEALTH

JUNE 2020