Healthy Lifetimes 2012

INSIDE:INSIDE: Take Control of Diabetes Take Control of Diabetes With Healthier Lifestyle

Five cancer-fighting tipsFive cancer-fighting tipsSTROKE!STROKE!

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H e a l t h y L i f e T i m e s February 2012

According to recent updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.8 million people, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, are

affected by diabetes. Those numbers include the 18.8 million people

who have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 7 million people who have it, but have not been offi cially diagnosed.

Also included in those most recent statistics are the 10.9 million U.S. residents, aged 65 years and older, and the approximate 215,000 younger than age 20 who had diabetes in 2010.

Diabetes comes in several forms, with the majority of sufferers having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

In Type 1 diabetes, the body fails to produce insulin, a hormone that is crucial to regulating one’s blood sugar. The disease requires a person to inject insulin to live.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to insulin and is usually managed by dietary restrictions and more exercise.

The CDC estimates that approximately 79 million people have pre-diabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than usual, but not elevated enough to result in a diabetes diagnosis.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic lower-limb amputations and new cases of

blindness among adults in the U.S., and is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.

However, those with diabetes can live long productive lives if they practice healthier lifestyles.

Cost of Diabetes The American Diabetes Association estimates that

the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $174 billion annually, with $116 billion of that amount due to direct medical expenses.

Indirect costs amount to $58 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality).

Further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational

diabetes, pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total costs, related to diabetes in the U.S., could exceed $218 billion.

The cost of caring for someone with diabetes is $1 out of every $5 in total health-care costs.

Preventing Diabetes:There is no known cure for diabetes but a full life can

be lived through following these routine steps:

• blood pressure and cholesterol control• careful self-testing of blood glucose levels• education

Take Control of Diabetes With Healthier Lifestyle

C o m p i l e d b y S h e r r i e N o r r i s

• exercise• foot care• meal planning and weight control• medication or insulin use

These positive steps will help you can stay healthier longer and reduce your risk of diabetes.

Currently, there is no verifi able way to prevent Type 1 diabetes and no effective screening test in individuals who do not have symptoms.

Who is at Greater Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?• people with impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose • people older than age 45• people with a family history of diabetes• people who are overweight• people who do not exercise regularly• people with low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides, high blood pressure• certain racial and ethnic groups such as non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders, and American Indians and Alaska natives• women who had gestational diabetes, or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth

Did you know?• About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction, and other nerve problems. • The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes. • Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. • Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults.• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.

Source:American Diabetic Association US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


An obesity epidemicB y L a u r e n K . O h n e s o r g e

More than one fourth (27.8 percent) of North Carolinians are obese, Centers for Disease Control numbers from 2010

indicate, and that poses a concern for health, Watauga County director of allied health services Jennifer Greene said.

“Children who are overweight, they are at a greater health risk for chronic diseases,” Greene said, diseases that used to only be seen in adults, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

“We’re facing a generation that potentially has a shorter life expectancy than our parents,’” Greene said.

The latest CDC numbers show 24.9 percent of adults in Watauga County suffer from obesity, a medical condition where excess body fat can cause health problems such as Type 2 diabetes. It’s a societal problem, experts say, and one that is particularly hard on the 21.2 percent of Wataugans living beneath the poverty level.

“It’s almost like a perfect storm for people in need of health care or people in need of better lifestyle choices,” Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Community Outreach director Alice Salthouse said.

Mindy Selby, the director of the Community Care Clinic, sees the connection between obesity and poverty every day.

“Many people don’t understand that,” Selby said. “They associate obesity with overeating so, if you don’t have a lot of money, how do you have the money to eat all this food? That’s not the way it works. It’s, ‘Look at this huge bag of potatoes I can get for a couple of bucks.’”

It’s also about numbers. There are just more unhealthy options, Salthouse said.

“You look at a grocery store and you have one little produce section and what, 10 aisles of the processed stuff?” Salthouse said.

Couple that with working people who don’t have time to prepare food, and the fast, unhealthy option is often the family meal.

“The first step, I think, is having a rational dialogue about it,” Salthouse said. “We as individuals need to get a better diet and get better

exercise. We need to take good care of ourselves so we’re not contributing to the whole big problem.”

Fast food restaurants nationwide are creating initiatives to stave off obesity.

“The reality is that we live in an on-the-go world where parents have limited healthy meal options for their kids on the way to and from recreational activities, school or other events,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand strategy and design, who oversees Chick-fil-A’s menu. “Our new Kid’s Meal reflects our commitment to helping parents strike a balance between nutrition, convenience and price.”

Chick-fil-A launched its new meal in January, complete with four grilled chicken nuggets and

fruit. The new option is estimated to have 60 percent less calories and 85 percent less fat than a typical hamburger and fries combination.

McDonald’s restaurants plan to automatically add apple slices in its Kid’s meals, a change officials say will be available nationwide by March.

Parents can opt out of fries altogether by request and double the fruit.

But will new fast food choices makea difference? Not by themselves, experts say.

“It’s not just one thing,” Greene said. “It really is about balance.”

It’s about finding time for physical activity and encouraging kids to make healthier choices, she said.

And, even people who aren’t obese are impacted by the epidemic, as more sick people means higher health care expenses.

“Think about the cost of health insurance,” she said. “Think about future employers that might want to add jobs, but the health insurance is expensive.”

It’s a society problem, she said, and one that needs to be looked at by society as a whole.

Salthouse would agree.“The first step, I think, is having a rational

dialogue about it,” Salthouse said. “We, as individuals, need to get a better diet and get better exercise.

“We need to take good care of ourselves so we’re not contributing to the whole big problem.”

‘It’s a society problem and

one that needs to be looked at by society as a

whole.’J e n n i f e r G r e e n e


STROKE!B y K e l l e n M o o r e

Being in the company of television icon Dick Clark, author Charles Dickens or actress Sharon Stone might not sound too shabby.

But there is one thing they share that is not worthy of envy. All three suffered from a stroke.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the primary cause of adult disability, according to the American Stroke Association.

While that’s a slight improvement from last year, when stroke was the third leading cause of death, it’s still so common that a stroke occurs in the U.S. every 40 seconds on average.

North Carolinians are especially vulnerable as members of the “stroke belt,” a stretch of southeastern states where death rates due to stroke are about 50 percent higher than the rest of the country.

“What we want to impress upon people is, take this seriously,” said Gillian Baker, vice president of marketing and business development for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. “You can’t live without your heart; you can’t live without your brain.”

The good news is that, if treated quickly, the symptoms of stroke can be mitigated. Even better, being mindful of the risk factors can sometimes lessen the potential that a stroke will happen in the first place.

Am I at risk?

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is more common as you age. For each decade of life after age 55, the chance of having a stroke approximately doubles, according to the organization.

Family history also can help forecast your risk. Some strokes can be symptoms of disorders passed down from parent to child.

Race is also involved, as black people have a higher risk of death from stroke than white people. And while strokes occur more often in men than in

women, women account for more than half of the deaths.

Finally, prior strokes, “warning strokes” and heart attacks are strong predictors of additional stroke problems.

While none of those risks can be altered, there are some things you can change or control in your own life to decrease the risk of stroke.

High blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, artery disease, high cholesterol, a poor diet, inadequate physical activity and obesity are all factors that increase a person’s risk of stroke.

However, stroke can happen when it’s least expected, even in children.

What are the signs of stroke?

When a person has a stroke, they might experience sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg. They might have confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty seeing.

If they’re on their feet, stroke could cause walking difficulty, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

Finally, stroke could be accompanied by a sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

The best thing to do is immediately call 911.

What is the treatment?

If possible, record the time when stroke symptoms appear. A powerful clot-busting drug is sometimes effective if given within three hours of the symptoms.

The drug, called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, can help reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

When you survive a stroke, it’s likely to leave behind physical, communication, emotional or behavioral effects.

Rehabilitation is a vital part of recovery for many stroke survivors and, for some, can help bridge the return to independent living.

The key to dealing with stroke is knowing the symptoms, and a simple acronym, FAST, can help.

F = Face. Have the person smile, and see whether one side of the face droops.

A = Arms. Have the person raise both arms, and notice whether one drifts downward.

S = Speech. See whether speech sounds strange or slurred. Watauga Medical Center asks people to repeat the phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

T = Time. If you notice any of these signs, time is of the essence. Call 911 or get to the nearest hospital.

Linda Bretz of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, left, takes the blood pressure of hospital volunteer Kitty Lumpkin during a health event at the Boone Mall.

PHOTO BY KELLEN MOORE


Steps to good foot careB y K e l l e n M o o r e

By age 70, the average person will have walked enough steps to traverse the globe four times, according to the American Podiatric Medical

Association.So it’s no surprise that even healthy people often

have problems with the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons or skin of their feet.

“Sometime or another, everyone will have an issue with their feet,” said Dr. Paul Zimmerman of Boone Podiatry.

Among the most common ailments he sees regularly are plantar fasciitis or “heel pain syndrome,” ingrown toenails, bunions, hammertoes, diabetic ulcers, sports injuries and fractures.

But caring for feet is fairly simple — one of the main things Zimmerman advises is to simply keep an eye on your feet.

Wearing shoes that fit, practicing good hygiene, trimming nails straight across regularly and avoiding too much foot soaking can help ward off problems, he said.

The dreaded heels“It’s surprising how many of the problems I see

are related to shoe wear,” Zimmerman said.Some of the biggest culprits are high heels,

which can send trouble past the foot and ankle, up the body into the knees, hips and lower back.

In fact, a study published earlier this year in The Journal of Applied Physiology found that regular heel-wearers exhibited unusual walking patterns even when they took off the heels. That motion

included shorter, more forceful strides with toes pointed.

The study found that their calf muscle fibers shortened and were under greater strain than the non-heel wearers.

Zimmerman said he recommends most to his patients a good running shoe that is supportive, light and breathable.

“A lot of my female patients will roll their eyes,” he said.

DiabetesFoot care and shoe selection is especially

important for the roughly 26 million people in the United States who have diabetes.

Diabetes can cause nerve damage and lead to a loss of feeling in the feet, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Nerve damage, or neuropathy, can hurt, but it also can lead a person to not feel a foot injury occurring.

Diabetes also can cause the skin to become very dry and cracked or form calluses faster.

In worst-case scenarios, ulcers or infections can lead to amputation.

Foot care for diabetics is not much different than the nondiabetic’s process. Zimmerman recommends inspecting all surfaces of your feet every day or, if you’re not physically able, to have someone else look them over.

Don’t soak them too often to avoid dry skin, and check the warmth of your shower water with a hand if you have a loss of sensation, he said.

Dr. Paul Zimmerman of Boone Podiatry examines a client’s feet during an exam.

PHOTO BY KELLEN MOORECONTINUED ON PAGE 8


For most of human history, man ran just fine without shoes.

Even modern history has had its share of barefoot stars, including Olympian Abebe Bikila, who won his first marathon gold in 1960 without shoes and set a world record of 2:15:17.

Today, some avid runners are returning to the basics and pushing barefoot running once again.

Advocates of barefoot running say that modern running shoes actually contribute to injuries and diminish the foot’s natural strength.

Dr. Paul Zimmerman of Boone Podiatry said he has seen some runners — especially the younger ones — find success with barefoot running.

“If your feet are biomechanically sound, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems running barefoot,” he said.

But even Zimmerman says he sees people in his office who have lacerations, tendonitis or other problems tied to barefoot running, especially among those who run barefoot on hard, manmade surfaces.

David Nieman, director of the ASU Human Performance Laboratory, said running without shoes is more of a media fad than a scientifically based movement.

Outside the scientific community, Nieman also draws from his own experiences as a

runner of 58 marathons to date.Nieman said when he began running

marathons in the 1980s, the shoes were heavy and bulky. They since have been dramatically improved by some of the world’s best biomechanics experts and researchers, he said.

“Now, they’re so light, despite the great support, that it’s as close to barefoot

running as you need to get,” Nieman said. “It’s almost a nonissue, because the shoes are so good.”

The Skeletal Biology Lab at Harvard University has been investigating the benefits and risks of regular and barefoot

running. Their tests confirmed that barefoot runners tend to

land on the forefoot or midfoot rather than the heel and therefore

do not have sudden impacts related to heel strikes.

“Consequently, runners who forefoot or midfoot strike do not need shoes with elevated cushioned heels to cope with these sudden, high transient forces that occur when you land on the ground,” the lab found.

However, the researchers are quick to acknowledge that more studies are needed to determine whether shoes or barefoot running cause other types of injuries.

So, until runners have more information, it’s up to each one to find what works best — and to take steps to avoid injury either way.

The barefoot debate

Diabetes-geared shoes are an extra plus due to their extra support and

insoles.Finally, visiting a podiatrist for

regular checkups is advised.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7FOOT CARE

Prevention efforts focus on smoking

B y J e s s e e C a m p b e l l

As public awareness on the detrimental effects of tobacco use continue to grow

nationwide, local healthy living advocates say the dangers posed by usage should not be downplayed.

In a state where the golden leaf is tightly woven with culture and tradition, nearly 1.5 million smokers light up every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 26 percent of those people fall into 18-24 age range.

As a state, 22 percent of the adult population in North Carolona is current cigarette smokers.

The prevalence of smoking across the United States varies from as low as 9.3 percent to as high as 26.5 percent in some states. North Carolina ranks 38th among the states in the country for smoking.

Ashe County is currently 1 percent higher than the state average.

Despite increased anti-tobacco usage campaigns, such as the Tobacco Reality Unfiltered movement, the CDCP reports that

10.8 percent of children between 12 and 17 smoke.

Locally driven incentives to decrease the prevalence of smoking, and in turn second-hand effects, has made some headway in recent years, although cuts in state funding could impede cessation rates.

“Smoking has definitely decreased over the last several years, but that has sort of leveled out in the past couple of years,” said Teri VanDyke, of the Northwest Tobacco Prevention Coalition. “Funding for our local quit line is only available through this July because legislation abolished the Health and Wellness Trust fund that funded it.”

That is bad news for smokers who want to quit, because, as VanDyke said, tobacco is “one of the most addictive substances known to man,” holding more power of control than users of cocaine and heroine.

Long-term effects of smoking can be dire, said VanDyke.

“Most people think lung cancer is CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

H e a l t h y L i f e T i m e s

Alternative medicine is a life-changing experience, experts say, both on the practitioner and the patient. Just ask

acupuncturist Dr. Michael Goopta, a former engineer in New York and New Jersey.

The city life, with its fast pace stresses, was his world. That was before Sept. 11, 2001.

“I had this premonition that I should not go into the office that day,” he said.

That’s when two planes hit the World Trade Center, the very place he had been working.

“After that, I felt like I should do something different,” he said. “It was like a born again experience.”

Goopta quit his job and went to acupuncturist school in New Jersey.

“It’s fulfilling,” he said. “I feel like I’m really helping people.”

After vacationing in Boone, he knew the High Country was where he wanted to live. Four years ago, he and his wife, Carole Bollini, started an acupuncture office in Boone.

Two months ago, he changed his philosophy. Instead of individual rooms, he created a community space at Boone Community Acupuncture Clinic (www.booneclinic.org), with comfortable lounge chairs so that multiple patients can be treated at once. His treatments start at $20.

“It’s community spirit,” he said, comparing the communal experience to what individuals feel at a “pub after work.”

“People go to a pub and feel good,” he said. “It’s the same idea.”

Only instead of alcohol and conversation, the treatment is relaxation in the form of a few needles.

“The needles are 1/10 to 1/20 the size of a normal hypodermic needle,” he said.

And patients, even those traumatized by childhood immunization experiences, seldom feel the prick. The needles are used once and disposed of.

Acupuncture isn’t just stress relief. It treats everything from kidney problems to fibromyalgia, and is often used in conjunction with traditional medicine such as chemotherapy.

“Acupuncture has been there for 5,000 years,” Goopta said. “All those diseases that are currently there were there 5,000 years ago also, only their names have changed.”

Ruby Sexton has been using acupuncture for the past six months to treat her fibromyalgia. Traditional medicine failed to relieve her pain.

“It helps you relax and helps with the emotional side of it,” she said. “It calms you down and makes you feel better. It’s helped me deal with life better.”

Acupuncture treatments once a week have “greatly reduced” her

pain, a welcome change after suffering from fibromyalgia for the past 15 years.

Pharmacist Tom Taylor uses acupuncture to deal with pain in his knees and back.

“It works great for me,” he said.Goopta isn’t surprised.“It’s been around longer than traditional

medicine,” he said.And in the High Country of North Carolina, the

procedure is particularly popular, in part due to the proximity of the Jung Tao School in Sugar Grove, a place where people study to become practitioners of acupuncture and other forms of alternative treatment (www.jungtao.edu).

February 2012

the highest risk posed by smoking, but it is actually heart disease,” said VanDyke.

Smoking can also create a multitude of other complications, including stroke, respiratory issues, and other types of cancer.

VanDyke said a statewide cessation help line is unique in that it is “like having a personal counselor” and the chances of quitting smoking for good are doubled if callers take advantage of free nicotine replacement that is offered until supplies last.

Health hazards caused by secondhand smoke to nonusers who are exposed to the harmful carcinogens can be devastating to their well-being, too.

Part of VanDyke’s position includes advocacy within local governments to pass smoke and tobacco free policies.

In Ashe County, tobacco use is forbidden in county maintained buildings and within 50 feet of the Department of Social Services. West Jefferson has a similar policy and recently expanded it to include playgrounds and shelters, said VanDyke.

Although Lansing does not have a written policy to address smoking, it does forbid it at town hall, said VanDyke. Jefferson is the only municipality that still allows smoking in designated smoking areas in town buildings.

“I don’t know of any other towns like that,” said VanDyke. “The majority of places in the High Country don’t allow smoking.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8SMOKING

North Carolinians ready to quit smoking in 2012 may call the Quit-lineNC at (800) QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) any time from 6 a.m. until 3 a.m., seven days a week, to sign up for over-the-counter medication and support. Callers who sign up for the four-call program will develop a personalized quit plan with a quit coach and may receive up to eight weeks of medication mailed to their homes.

AcupunctureB y L a u r e n K . O h n e s o r g e

H e a l t h y L i f e T i m e s

Cancer is a scary reality for many of us. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer will kill 577,190 people in 2012, and

it is hard to know when it will strike. Fortunately, health-conscious individuals need not sit back and wait for the dice to roll. There are steps they can take to weight those dice and avoid becoming part of that statistic.

Dr. Charlie Baker has practiced medicine in Avery County for 32 years. Thousands of people throughout the region have placed their own health and the health of their loved ones in his hands. According to Baker, there are a few simple rules that anyone can follow in order to lower cancer risk and stay healthier overall.

Avoid Tobacco: We have heard it before, but is smoking really the biggest threat out there? According to Baker, the most important factor in avoiding cancer is avoiding tobacco. “Maintain a tobacco-free life: not just smoking avoidance, but tobacco avoidance. That includes dipped tobacco,” said Baker, although he did explain that smoking carries some of the greatest risk. “Smoking is the worst because by the time it gives you cancer, it is usually too late when they diagnose it.”

Keep alcohol moderate: A little red wine is a staple of some cancer-fighting diets, but the key word, according to Baker, is “little,” because excess alcohol consumption carries its own risk factors for causing cancer. “Maintain alcohol in light or

moderate doses. Specifically, stick to one or two drinks each day at most,” said Baker.

Do not skip your checkups: Early detection is key when it comes to avoiding and surviving cancer, which makes the regular checkup one of the best things a person can do to avoid becoming one of ACS’s predicted 577,190 cancer deaths this year.

“What I suggest to my patients is a physical every other year in their 40s and yearly after that,” said Baker. “Specifically, a colonoscopy after age 50, even if there is not a family history. For women, it is important to get pap smears regularly and mammograms beginning in their 40s.”

Get the Gardasil vaccination: “Another preventative measure that should receive some emphasis is the Gardasil vaccine,” said Baker, explaining that the vaccine eliminates some risk factors from an early age. “Gardasil is the vaccine we are offering to kids after the age of 12. It can prevent the HPV virus, which causes cervical cancer in females and sometimes oral cancers in men.”

Maintain a healthy diet: Baker’s fifth cancer-fighting tip is as simple as eating right. Sticking to a healthy diet can reduce cancer risk by helping to maintain a healthy weight and ensuring your body has what it needs to keep its defenses ready.

“I recommend the Mediterranean diet, it helps you avoid red meat,” said Baker.

February 2012

Five cancer-fighting tipsB y M a t t h e w H u n d l e y


Exercise has numerous physical, mental and emotional benefits, but more than half of North Carolina adults do not engage in

recommended amounts of physical activity.Research shows that physical activity results

in a lower risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and cancer; prevention of weight gain or weight loss; improved cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness and balance; reduced depression; better cognitive function; better sleep patterns; and increased energy, according to Be Active North Carolina.

According to the Appalachian District Health Department, 46.4 percent of the state’s adults get the recommended amounts of physical activity. The High Country in particular may present barriers — some real, some perceived — to regular exercise.

“I think the lack of facilities (presents challenges) to a degree,” said Stephen Poulos, director of the Watauga County Parks & Recreation Department. “I know we have some private clubs … but I think there are people who can’t afford the private clubs.” And the mountain weather, especially in the winter, can prove to be inhospitable — or at least discouraging — for outdoor exercise.

An indoor recreation center, in fact, is the No. 1 recommendation in the department’s 10-year master plan, published in 2010.

Parks and recreation departments, schools and other organizations offer a number of local facilities and programs for exercising, including

numerous parks, swimming pools, an ever-expanding trail system, adult and youth sports teams and equipment rentals.

Although Appalachian State University’s indoor recreation facilities are not available for public use, the university provides resources to assist community members in developing healthy exercise routines.

The Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science in the College of Health Sciences operates a Community Testing Program available to community members for a fee.

“Community members can receive research quality fitness testing at low cost,” said Paul Gaskill, chairman of the HLES department. Tests for resting metabolic rate (rate of caloric consumption), VO2 maximum/treadmill/cycle ergometer (heart and lung fitness), body mass index (BMI-ratio of bone and muscle tissue to adipose tissue), strength and flexibility and bone density are available.

HLES also operates a physical education program on Tuesdays and Thursdays for children who attend local home schools.

The Be Active-Appalachian Partnership at ASU, with support from Be Active North Carolina and Blue Cross Blue Shield, promotes physical activity and lifetime fitness for citizens of Western North Carolina.

Among other programs, the partnership offers a lending library enabling anyone to check out equipment such as pedometers, scooters, archery

Exercise for health, mood and energy

B y A n n a O a k e s

A brisk walk is a great way to exercise daily. PHOTO COURTESY ASU NEWS BUREAU

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12


sets, skateboards, tennis sets, spooner balance boards, geocaching sets, disc golf, yoga cards and badminton sets.

Watauga County Healthy Carolinians is a community health coalition supported by the Watauga Medical Center. Watauga Healthy Carolinians’ efforts include Boone’s Biggest Winner weight loss program, group exercise classes and “Feel the Beat, Move Your Feet,” a dance event.

As part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative led by the Centers for Disease Control, the Appalachian District Health Department is working to implement joint-use agreements to increase resident access to facilities for physical activity; promote North Carolina’s Eat Smart, Move More campaign; support businesses in the development of physical activity policies; and encourage childcare programs to increase physical activity requirements to a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes per day.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11EXERCISE FOR HEALTH

A physical education class tries out the Elementary and Middle Class Plus Skate Pack. The Be Active-Appalachian Partnership was the fi rst organization in North Carolina to purchase the skateboarding pack for use in the public school system.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BE ACTIVE-APPALACHIAN PARTNERSHIP

Where to Work OutBelow are several exercise facilities that are located in Watauga,

Ashe and Avery counties. But remember, you can exercise anywhere — in your front yard, in your living room or walking around your neighborhood.

GYMS/REC CENTERS• Mountain Hearts Center, 200 Hospital Ave., Jefferson, (336) 846-0744

• Little’s Health and Fitness Center, 1114 N.C. 194 N., West Jefferson, (336) 846-7474

• Curves, 249 Wilson Drive, Boone, (828) 263-0007; 409A S. Main St., West Jefferson (336) 846-2610

• Broyhill Wellness Center, Boone Heights Drive, Boone, (828) 266-1060

• Watauga County Swim Complex, 231 Complex Drive, Boone, (828) 264-0270

• Anytime Fitness, 148 N.C. 105 Extension, Suite 101, Boone, (828) 386-1100

• The Gym, 253 New Market Centre, Boone, (828) 355-9988

• Buckeye Recreation Center, 206 Grassy Gap Creek Road, Beech Mountain, (828) 387-3003

• Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, (828) 898-8753 To purchase a community membership to recreation facilities, stop by the Offi ce of Student Development, located in the Cannon Student Center

• Williams YMCA of Avery County, 436 Hospital Drive, Linville, (828) 737-5500

• Rock Gym, 185 Shady St., Newland, (828) 733-8266

PARKS• Lansing Creeper Trail Park, 9281 N.C. 194, Lansing, (336) 384-3938

• Ashe County Park, 537 Ashe Park Road, Jefferson, (336) 982-6185

• Memorial Park, 1036 Main St., Blowing Rock, (828) 295-5222

• Brookshire Park, Brookshire Park Road, Boone, (828) 264-9511

• Rocky Knob Park, U.S. 421 east of Boone, (828) 264-9511

• Greenway Trail, 141 Complex Drive, Boone, (828) 268-6200

• Old Cove Creek School, 207 Dale Adams Road, Sugar Grove, (828) 297-2200

• Bethel School, 138 Bethel School Road, Bethel, (828) 297-2240

• Valle Crucis Community Park, 2918 Broadstone Road, Valle Crucis, (828) 963-9239

• Adventure Trail Park, 301 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, (828) 387-3003

• Tate-Evans Park, 200 Park Ave., Banner Elk, (828) 898-5398

• Riverwalk Park, Beech Street, Newland, (828) 733-2023

OTHER• Rock Dimensions (climbing wall), 131-B S. Depot St., Boone, (828) 265-3544

• All-Out Fitness Camp, meets at Greenway Trail, Boone, (828) 773-6482


Many sports fans see college student-athletes play their sports, but don’t think about

what it takes for those athletes to stay on the field or on the court.

Jason Robey thinks about it all the time. It’s Robey’s job to make sure Appalachian State’s men’s basketball players are able to take the court throughout the entire season.

Robey is the director of Athletic Training Services at Appalachian State. He specializes in men’s basketball and women’s golf. Robey said several factors are involved in keeping the Mountaineers healthy.

Two factors — education and a healthy diet — are important in keeping the Mountaineers on the court.

“The biggest thing is encouraging the athletes that if something is bothering them, if it’s their back or their hamstring or anything, to let us know as soon as possible,” Robey said. “The sooner we know, if it’s not severe, the faster we can react and the faster they can recover. If they don’t tell us, it may take longer to recover.”

Robey said prevention is the best way to treat any injuries or illnesses. He said a good working relationship with the strength and conditioning coach can help prevent an injured player from re-injury.

Appalachian State recently lost strength coach Mike Kent to Colorado State. Kareem Young is the interim director of strength and conditioning. Robey, who did his undergraduate work at the University of Akron and graduate work at Louisiana-Monroe, originally came to Appalachian State when a friend, Jeff Dillman, was the strength and conditioning coach.

“If you have a good strength and

conditioning coach to work with, it can make the athletes more flexible and they can help prevent injuries. He may see somebody doing something mechanically wrong, and he can address it then. Preventing injuries is the biggest thing you can do,” he said.

Robey said the Mountaineers have not had a major injury in men’s basketball this season. Last year was different. Appalachian State struggled with injuries, including a season-ending knee injury to 6-foot-10 center Ike Butts.

“Last year was probably the worst

Education and proper diet build healthB y S t e v e B e h r

for me professionally as far as injuries,” Robey said. “There were a lot of different things like ankle sprains that kept them out for a week. A guy would tear his calf muscle and be out for four weeks. It was nothing serious as far as it being season-ending, but when guys are getting small injuries, they have a tendency to add up.”

The small injuries can be more frustrating than the ones that end a season. Coaches can understand when a player isn’t available for the rest of a season.

When a player is trying to get back on the court, a coach may put pressure on a trainer to get the players back to health. Robey said Appalachian State’s coaching staff understands that players get hurt and that the training staff does its best to get them back on the court as quickly as possible.

Robey said if it’s a muscle sprain or soreness, some times a cold whirlpool could help.

“The guys who get hurt are

usually the starters, but (coaches) understand and we try to get them back out there as soon as we can. We’re not ones to just let them sit around and just miss games. We deal with it and we go.”

It’s also important for the athletes to eat well, especially during the season. Robey said the players use so much energy and they need so much strength, that they burn lots of carbohydrates and proteins.

Robey said that he can’t control everything that the athletes eat. He can control what they eat at different times, especially during road games. The Mountaineers get plenty of pasta, baked potatoes and rice for carbs, and chicken and sometimes steak for protein.

“Diet is one of the biggest things that determines what foes on with body performance,” Robey said. “You need the right amount of carbs for energy and protein to build the muscle back. It’s one of the most important things as far as injury prevention and recovery.”Jason Robey is the director of Athletic Training

Services at Appalachian State. PHOTO BY ROB MOORE


Community Outreach Offers A Wealth of Healthy Opportunities

The Community Outreach Department of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, with offices in Boone, is one the area’s

primary sources for answers to — and assistance with — a number of today’s most complex questions and concerns regarding health care.

Under the outreach umbrella, three unique programs serve some of the most often overlooked and under served health-care needs in our mountain region.

The department’s staff members are healthcare professionals who are committed to making life better for those in their service area in the following categories.

I. Healthy CaroliniansWatauga County Healthy Carolinians is a

community health coalition supported by Watauga Medical Center.

The partnership is comprised of key community leaders, agencies and health-care providers who have come together to mobilize resources around a shared vision of health and safety.

The mission of WCHC is to improve the health of area residents through interagency collaboration and community action.

This arm of the outreach efforts has dedicated committees that address each of the following

Community reaches outB y S h e r r i e N o r r i s

topics: • Suicide Prevention: evolved from the

adolescent health group, this group works to educate the community and provide prevention efforts for suicide and prevention.

• Access to Healthcare/Safety Net: works with existing community partners’ including Appalachian Healthcare Project, Community Care Clinic and the United Way to help those without resources for health care.

• Diabetes: supports Watauga Medical Center’s accredited Diabetes Self-Management Program and other community diabetes education initiatives.

Watauga Healthy Carolinians is also involved in other community wide health efforts, including, but not limited, to the following:

• Boone’s Biggest Winner: a 12-week weight loss program focusing on more of a whole-foods diet accompanied by regular exercise. It is open to the public with sessions held at the Broyhill Wellness Center.

• Project Lazarus Program: a community coalition for the prevention of prescription drug overdose and death.

• Senior Center Health Promotion: screenings, health presentations and discussions and exercise classes at area senior centers.

• ENERGY: Employee Wellness Program for Boone, Blowing Rock, and Avery Chamber of

Commerce members.• Community CPR classes.• Community health fairs and screenings.• Serves as a resource for health and socio-

economic statistics.

II. Appalachian Healthcare ProjectThe Appalachian Healthcare Project is a

collaborative effort of the medical community to provide complimentary health-care for the low income and/or uninsured residents — those who have slipped through the safety net — in Watauga and Avery counties.

The project enrolls persons who meet program guidelines and coordinates health-care on their behalf. The coordination of health-care includes assigning patients to a primary care provider, managing referrals to specialist, and obtaining medications for the patients.

The medical care providers donate much needed care to those who qualify.

The program targets individuals who meet the following qualifications:

• Total household income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

• No access to health insurance, to include Medicaid, Medicare or private health insurance

• Resident of either Watauga or Avery county.• Chronic medical condition.

III. Farmworker Health ProgramThe Farmworker Health Program works to

empower farmworkers and their families in Avery, Caldwell and Watauga counties through health education and access to quality comprehensive health-care, while promoting mutual understanding between communities.

What it does:• Provides outreach and health education to

farmworker camps;• Organizes clinical services;• Addresses language, cultural and

transportation barriers to health-care for farmworkers.

For more information, in Watauga County, call (828) 268-8961; in Avery, call (828) 737-7725

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Allison Lipscomb, Farmworker Outreach director, registers a participant at a local health fair.

PHOTO BY SHERRIE NORRIS


TAKE STEP TWO: A new message on healthB y K e l l e n M o o r e

You’ve heard the traditional messages about eating healthy and moving more.

Now, it’s time to Take Step Two, according to the N.C. Division of Public Health.

The division, along with Communities Putting Prevention to Work, launched a new campaign in January that advocates for community improvements and collaboration to make healthier choices easier.

The pilot initiative is under way in Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga and Pitt counties and overlaps with the goals of the Eat Smart, Move More N.C. campaign.

“This is a little different, because it’s really educating the broader public about things that we can do to create a healthier community — not just our own individual behavior,” said Jennifer Greene, director of allied health for the Appalachian District Health Department.

The program provides suggestions across four general areas: built environments, children’s health, healthy local food and worksite wellness.

• Built environments refer to the man-made places such as sidewalks, playgrounds, parks and roads and encourage ways to improve and enhance

health via those places.• Children’s health focuses on changes in

schools and day cares that make them healthier places for

children to spend the day.• Healthy, local food

encourages mobile markets, community-supported agriculture and increased

partnerships with local markets to make healthy food easier to find.

• Worksite wellness shares ways to encourage activity in

the workplace.“We want to make the healthy choice the easy

choice,” said Peggy Albertson, communications specialist for Communities Putting Prevention to Work. “So often the reason people do not make a healthy choice is because there is none. Residents are often more than 10 miles from fresh produce, so the easier choice is fast food. Or people have to

drive to a park for their children to play outside. We want people to be involved in making their community a better place for all.”

In the High Country, certain steps are already under way. Collective garden sites are available at some Watauga County schools and communities, with others planned for the future.

Advocates are working with local government leaders to encourage sidewalks and bike lanes as part of new road projects.

Several High Country farms also offer CSA programs, which allow residents to receive a weekly supply of fresh produce or sometimes even meat, cheese and bread for a set price.

The potential for expanding and building upon those existing avenues is enormous, Greene said.

“It feels like the timing is right,” she said. “There’s a lot of energy around really supporting our local economy.”

To find ways to improve your community for everyone’s benefit, visit TakeStepTwo.com.

The website provides dozens of tips and information about specific ways to make healthier communities.

Healthy Lifetimes 2012

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