Hope Chest Newshopechestnews.org/files/HCN_April-August_2013_Final_1_.pdfacne-like bumps, typically...

Hope Chest News – Summer/Fall 2013

Hope Chest News

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Breathe In • Breath Out • relax • repeat • January - March 2013

The Way Statistics Decide Who Gets Organ Transplants May Be Flawed So your doctor has determined that you need an organ transplant. Now there’s some important criteria that will help determine how fast you’ll

actually receive that transplant. But is the way the data is crunched actually serving patients as well as it can? Not exactly.

The system for determining who gets a transplant varies depending on what kind of organ the patient is waiting on. Say someone needs a lung transplant. If he or she is more than 12-years-old, the United Network for Organ Sharing requires the doctor to assign a numerical lung allocation score that supposedly determines the statistical likelihood of a survival post-transplant. This is based on a number of factors, from diagnosis, to body mass to how far the person can walk in six minutes. The higher the score, the more likely the person is to receive a transplant. But if the patient is under 12, it’s simply a first-come, first-served situation that just takes blood type and proximity to the donor hospital into account. And that might not be the most fair way to determine who is privy to a life-saving procedure.

Now, using data for this purpose isn’t necessarily wrong, but it’s kind of a slippery slope. IEEE says:

Should we allocate organs to those who have waited the longest, those who are most likely to die while waiting for a transplant, or those who have the highest chance of survival? And what happens if the rules systematically exclude certain individuals?... First, prediction is not something to fear—we have always done it, it will always be imperfect, but technology can help us do it more accurately. Second, data analytics should not be a black box—we need to challenge its underlying

assumptions and values. This will allow us to gain the benefits of data while avoiding both the tyranny of the bureaucrat and the tyranny of the algorithm.

Take for example Pennsylvania 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan. She has cystic fibrosis and was originally denied a lung transplant. But if she were just a little bit older, her lung allocation score would have placed her higher on the priority list. Her parents felt it was unfair that just two data points determined that Sarah could not have a transplant, and a judge ruled in their favor. She was placed on the list with adults, and has since received a transplant and is currently recovering.

There’s no way to remove bias entirely from stats, but there is a way to use data better. Is it always right to make medical decisions based on someone’s likelihood of survival? Not exactly. That doesn’t necessarily mean we should shy away from it. But maybe we should rethink it.

IN THIs IssuE

All About the Numbers 1

5 Weird Signs 2

Getting Enough Fluids 2

HCN Golf Tournament Info 3

Hope Chest News Elections 3

Remembering Those Gone 4

Donations and Memorials 4

How Did You Celebrate? 4

Strange Medicine 5

Anniversaries 6-7

Get Out of My Face! 7

Caregiving Coping Tips 8

Great Idea 9

Pets are Good For You 9

Sleep Apnea? 10

Did You Know? 10

Upcoming Events 11

Board of Directors 11

Contact Information 11


When your body is trying to tell you something—it may go to some strange lengths.

here are five unusual warning signs that you may be vitamin-deficient. the good news: Most are fixable with dietary tweaks—all the more reason to make nutrition a top priority.

Body Cue No. 1: cracks at the corners of your mouth.

The Deficiency: Iron, zinc, and B vitamins like niacin (B3), riboflavin (B2), and B12. It’s common if you’re a vegetarian to not get enough iron, zinc, and B12.

The Fix: Eat more poultry, salmon, tuna, eggs, oysters, clams, sun-dried tomatoes, peanuts, and legumes like lentils. Iron absorption is enhanced by vitamin c, which also helps fight infection, so combine these foods with veggies like broccoli, red bell peppers, kale, and cauliflower.

Body Cue No. 2: a red, scaly rash on your face (and sometimes elsewhere) and hair loss.

The Deficiency: Biotin (B7), known as the hair vitamin. While your body stores fat-soluble vitamins

(a, D, e, K), it doesn’t store most B vitamins, which are water-soluble.

The Fix: reach for more cooked eggs, salmon, avocados, mushrooms, cauliflower, soybeans, nuts, raspberries, and bananas.

Body Cue No. 3: red or white acne-like bumps, typically on the cheeks, arms, thighs, and butt.

The Deficiency: essential fatty acids and vitamins a and D.

The Fix: Increase healthy fats. Focus on adding more salmon and sardines, nuts like walnuts and almonds, and seeds like ground flax, hemp, and chia. For vitamin a, pile on leafy greens and colorful veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and red bell peppers.

Body Cue No. 4: Tingling, prickling, and numbness in hands, feet, or elsewhere.

The Deficiency: B vitamins like folate (B9), B6, and B12. this problem is directly related to the peripheral nerves and where they end in the skin. these symptoms can be combined with anxiety, depression, anemia, fatigue, and hormone imbalances.

The Fix: Seek out spinach, asparagus, beets, beans (pinto, black, kidney, lima), eggs, mussels, clams, oysters, and poultry.

Body Cue No. 5: crazy muscle cramps in the form of stabbing pains in toes, calves, arches of feet, and backs of legs.

The Deficiency: Magnesium, calcium, and potassium. If you’re training hard, you can lose more minerals (and water-soluble B vitamins) through heavy sweating.

The Fix: Eat more bananas, almonds, hazelnuts, squash, cherries, apples, grapefruit, broccoli, bok choy, and dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and dandelion.

By Q by equinox, published May 09, 2013

5 Weird Signs You’re Vitamin-Deficient

How caN I makE suRE I’m gETTINg ENougH FluIds EvERy day?

Be sure to consume plenty of liquids every day, especially water. Water helps you digest food, absorb nutrients from food, and then get rid of the unused waste. Drinking plenty of water every day may help with constipation and dehydration. check with your doctor if you’ve been told to limit how much you drink.

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. take sips of water throughout the day.

• Besides water, other good choices are unsweetened tea, low-fat or fat-free milk, and 100 percent fruit juice.

• eat fresh fruits and vegetables, which have a high moisture content.

• have a cup of low-fat soup as an afternoon snack.

• When you take your meds, drink a full glass of water.

• have a glass of water before you exercise or go outside to garden or walk, especially on a hot day.

• limit beverages like sodas and sports drinks that are high in added sugars.

• If you drink alcohol, limit the daily amount to 1 drink for women and 2 drinks for men.

• If nighttime trips to the bathroom are a problem, consider limiting your fluid intake near the end of the day.

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Hope Chest News – Summer/Fall 2013 5

STRaNGE MEDiCal TESTSWeird Medical Tests You Can Try Right Nowhave you ever wondered why your doctor asks you to do odd things like touch your nose during an office visit, then scribbles notes in your chart? It’s because there are many physical tests that can tell whether your body is functioning as it should. While we tend to leave it to doctors and medical tests to figure out if something’s wrong, we can actually use many of these checks ourselves to determine whether all systems are go. here, five odd medical tests you can do at home.

The Diamond Test or “Schamroth’s Sign” What it tests for: cardiovascular, lung, or other diseases

how to do it: hold up (or down) both index fingers and turn them so the nails are facing each other. press the nails together and you should be able to see a tiny, narrow, diamond-shaped space between your nails where the nails come flat together but the nail beds don’t touch each other.

What it means: If your nails are rounded over and can’t press flat together, it’s a sign of “clubbing,” a thickening of the fingertips that occurs when not enough oxygen is circulating in the bloodstream. clubbing can be a sign of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure, or of lung disease, lung infection, or lung cancer.

What to do if you fail: look closely at your fingers for other signs of clubbing. Measure the thickness of your fingertips all the way around; if they’re clubbing, you’ll notice that

they’re noticeably thicker above the top knuckle than below it. clubbing is important to bring to your doctor’s attention to monitor your heart and lung health.

Finger Measurement Test What it tests for: Osteoarthritis, and other things...

How to do it: hold your hands flat and look closely at the lengths of your fingers in relation to each other. Is your index finger shorter than your ring finger?

What it means: a recent study at the university of nottingham in england found that if a woman’s index finger is shorter than her ring finger, she’s more than twice as likely as others to develop osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

What to do if you fail: Be on the alert for signs of osteoarthritis such as knee, hip, shoulder, or back pain. If you do develop pain and suspect osteoarthritis, you might mention the finger length research to your doctor.

The Nose Test and the Heel Test What it tests for: neurodegenerative disease

How to do it: Hold your arm out, finger extended. close your eyes and try to touch your nose with your finger. then do it again with the other hand. you should be able to do this smoothly and accurately. next, lie down and run the heel of one foot up and down the shin of the opposite extended leg.

What it means: these are two components of basic neurological testing, which evaluates coordination and fine motor movement indicative of the health of the cerebellum, the

part of the brain that governs motor movement, coordination, balance, and muscle tone. Failure to do the nose and heel tests accurately can be one sign of a neurodegenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor or lesion.

What to do if you fail: Try these tests several times before you conclude something’s wrong, as many factors can affect it. If you regularly fail to get your finger anywhere near your nose, alert your doctor.

The “Prayer Position” Test and the Pinky Tests What it tests for: Rheumatoid arthritis

How to do it: Hold your hands in the position for traditional prayer, with the fingers and palms flat and touching. See if your pinky finger stands straight, as it’s supposed to.

What it means: If you aren’t able to place your hands flat against each other, it suggests that either your wrists don’t bend flexibly or your fingers and knuckles aren’t straight. this is a possible indicator of rheumatoid arthritis (ra), which makes joints swell and stiffen and fingers become gnarled or bent.

What to do if you fail: If you suspect you’re developing rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease, schedule a visit with your doctor. Before you go, survey your family to determine if there’s a family history of ra, which often has a genetic basis.

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the hope chest news annual Golf tournament was held at Gross national Golf course on Saturday, July 27, 2013. all the golfers enjoyed green fees, carts, snacks, door prizes and lunch. there were team and individual prizes. the weather didn’t cooperate but we still had tons of fun with over 100 golfers who helped to raised a bucket of dough to aid transplant recipients and their families.

We had a dedicated golf committee and an army of volunteers who made it all possible.

We are always looking for volunteers and sponsors, so any and all input is appreciated.

the golf tournament is the major fund raiser for our organization and helps support transplant patients and their families. For further information please contact hal Wenaas - 320-221-0682 - [email protected] or Sandy aubitz - 952-881-1471 - [email protected]

hope chest news held elections this spring to fill vacancies on the hcn Board of Directors. We welcome new members Wally preissing, Gary Grev, and Gary Burns. We send off out-going member, Gary Broberg with a huge thanK yOu for his dependable service as treasurer. not only had he held positions on the board he has faithfully attended support group meetings, participated in numerous events and compassionately reached out as mentor and friend whenever he’s needed — remarkably with a laid-back sense of humor that puts others at ease. Sue Martin and ralph loftus had kindly stepped up to fill in positions as president and Vice president, respectively, until we could reorganize after new elections. We most certainly are glad to know that they will continue on as directors until their terms are up. you can count on seeing both Sue and ralph at support group meetings where they regularly share in making everyone feel welcome. again, our thanks to both Sue and Ralph.

Current HCN Officers / Board of Directors:

President: Wally preissing

Vice-President: Tom Fuller

Secretary: Gayle Stone

Treasurer: Gary Grev

Communications: elllen Varney

Directors: Sue Martin, Fern Olson, Jan ankeny, Jeff richert, Gary Burns and ralph loftus.

We express our appreciation to all who participate in the success of hope chest news, a non-profit organization of volunteers who serve to assist patients and families associated with the university of Minnesota lung & transplant program. In future issues of hope chest news newsletter we will be featuring individuals on our hcn Board of Directors so you might get to know each of us a little better, thereby opening up greater communication in ways we may better assist the organ transplant community. We always value your feedback. If you

wish to receive the hope chest news newsletter or have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to contact any of our members on the hcn Board or call the university of Minnesota lung transplant Social Worker, Marget Schmidtke at (612) 273-5796 or 1-800-478-5864. Should you wish to receive information (with your approval upon your request only) we use “Bcc” (blind copy) in our online mailings to honor confidentiality when sending hcn announcements or newsletters, keeping your e-mail address secure.

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HCN Golf Tournament

HOpE CHEST NEWS HOlDS ElECTiONS

FORE!


to honor the memory of the lives of lung transplant recipients who have passed, andy and connie Kronholm - Maplewood, Mn made a generous annual contribution to hope chest news.

In memory of Ed Aubitz: robert Diaz - Minneapolis, Mn Jane Mathison - ames, Ia Dennis and Donna Welton - Burnsville, Mn

To Honor the Memory of Brent DeBoercurt Bloemendaal - luverne, MnDiane DeBoer - Steen, MnBarb & James Mcclure Minneapolis, Mn

To Honor the Memory of Byron Opstadnancy Opstad Weldon - Sauk rapids, Mn

To Honor the Memory of Al JarnotDouglas & Julene (Jarnot) anderson Donation made on the anniversary of Julene’s father’s transplant date (6-5-’08). Sadly, he passed away on April 19, 2013.

For Charles From Beverly Gauthier - rochester, Mn

Other donations gifted to Hope Chest News include the following: Brett & heather abrahamson - plymouth, Mn Douglas J. anderson - alexandria, Varodney and Sandra Brekke - litchfield, MnGary and Barb Broberg - Mendota heights, MnJanet Messner - Brownton, Mn.Gayle Godfrey - little canada, Mn Floyd & Sally hansen - White Bear lake, Mn Doug radtke - hutchinson, nD curt Bloemendaal - luverne, Mn Bob & Susan Mullens - Morehead, Mn nash Finch co. - Fargo, nD – On behalf of fellow employee Bob Mullens robert Smith - lauderdale, Mn rosemary Kelly & phillip Sosnowski - Mpls, Mn Mark Sprout - Mpls, Mn

How Did You Celebrate? this is how Michelle Gascoigne from South Dakota celebrates her lung transplant. Michelle received her double lungs on July 27th of 2012, and she has been riding in style ever since.

Generous Donations and Kind Memorials

Remembering Those Gone It is with heavy hearts that we remember ron Bowman, (Sl, 3/20/07, #344). ron passed away peacefully august 12, 2013. age 63. Survived by loving wife, cathy; sons, Mike (fiancee nikki) and adam; mother, hazel Bowman; brother, roger (coleen) Bowman, and many other loving family and friends.


Name Date Type No

Carol Stimmel 04/23/93 SL 49

Barry Dyre 04/01/96 DL 45

M. Douglas Weasley 04/01/96 SL 112

Thouy Bouanien 04/12/97 DL 56

Tracy Macius 04/05/99 DL 85

Thomas Goldspring 04/11/00 SL 189

Shawna Ristau 04/02/02 DL

Francis Steinke 04/13/02 DL

Mary Davis 04/16/03 SL 253

Andy Kronholm 04/16/03 SL 254

Jody Ogden 04/01/05 DL 155

Deborah Klietz 04/03/05 SL 287

Rhonda Cannon 04/06/06 SL 320

Richard Berg 04/08/06 SL 321

Harriette Wock 04/11/06 DL 179

Carrie Hanner 04/05/07 DL

Paula Karnuth 04/30/08 H 648

Elizabeth Johnson 04/20/09 DL 214

Marilyn Jacob 04/05/10 SL 390

Ken Jones 05/01/86 HL 1

Anna Piet 05/24/90 HL 20

Fran Kaye 05/26/93 H 275

Carla Landreth 05/21/94 SL 77

John Marino 05/23/94 DL 24

Greg Hules 05/25/97 DL 58

Kathie Justice 05/25/98 DL 75

Vincent Voelz 05/14/99 DL 86

Kathryn Foss 05/22/99 DL 87

Gene T. Phillips 05/23/99 SL 166

Darla Querry 05/16/02 DL

Karen Ness 05/15/03 SL 256

Gene Schrunk 05/22/03 DL 133

Jim Audsley 05/23/03 DL 134

Bill Guthrie 05/30/03 SL 261

Kathleen Edmunds 05/02/04 SL

Daniel Tix 05/09/04 DL 148

Susan Saffel 05/18/04 DL 145

Ellen Weinand 05/27/04 SL 274

JoAnn Miller 05/01/05 DL 157

Thomas Bodmer 05/31/05 SL 289

Name Date Type No

Darrell Ehrike, Sr. 05/31/05 SL 290

Mike Olson 05/19/06 SL 324

Lonny Walker 05/23/06 SL 326

Viola Poeschl 05/02/08 SL 360

Randy Forslund 05/06/09 DL 215

Jacalyn (Jaci) McVey 05/15/10 SL 393

Barbara Hinzman 06/17/89 SL 107

Larry Luttrell 06/07/91 SL 22

Robert Miller 06/03/94 HL 32

Sandra Johnson 06/21/94 DL 25

JJames West, Phd 06/18/95 SL 95

Shawna Waulk 06/19/96 DL 46

Russell Hong 06/21/97 HL 39

Robert Miller 06/09/98 DL 76

Ann Fuhr 06/14/00 SL 191

Margert Doyle 06/19/00 DL 94

Jeannine Santholzer 06/19/00 DL 93

Leslie Fallstrom 06/25/05 SL 293

Larry Kershaw 06/26/05

Todd Cram 06/22/06 SL 327

Jennifer Beitz 06/25/06 DL 181

Worth Littlejohn 06/02/07 SL 346

Vern Jackson 06/20/07 SL 347

Denise Fuller 06/23/07 SL 348

Allen Jarnot 06/05/08 SL

Gloria Heideman 06/25/08 SL 364

Renee M. Holzapfel 06/25/08 SL 365

Cindy Roy 06/16/10 DL

Dan Oien, Jr 07/08/89 HL 11

Brian Stainbrook 07/07/91 HL 24

Jean Dunson 07/04/94 SL 79

Lucille Benson 07/15/94 SL 82

Clarice Hanson 07/13/97 HL 40

Sarah Buan 07/07/99 SL 319

Jo Elliott 07/14/99 DL 88

Patty Wagner 07/30/99 DL 89

Pat Strohmeier 07/01/00 DL 96

Shawn Swartz 07/14/00 DL 97

Suzie Seever 07/20/00 DL 98

Chris Trainer 07/15/01 DL 113

ANNIVERSARIEStransplant anniversaries april to august

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Name Date Type No

Shirley Freel 07/18/01 DL 114

Barb Peterson 07/01/03 DL 137

Wanda Hinrichs 07/03/03 DL 136

Richard Ludgate 07/03/03 SL

Ed Schuck 07/03/03 SL

Lyle Derry 07/25/03 SL 266

Charles Larsen 07/25/03 SL

Roy Stubbs 07/19/04 DL 146

Gary Broberg 07/28/05 SL 294

Scott Roth 07/30/05 DL 158

Candace Sprout 07/06/06 DL 182

Polly Davis 07/27/06 DL 183

Dan Schreyer 07/27/06 SL 329

Mark Nyman 07/25/07 DL 199

Alice Wishard 07/29/07 SL 350

Matthew Todd 07/01/08

Fred Amrhein 07/09/08 SL 367

Kathleen Fredin 07/07/09 DL 216

Marilyn O’Brien 40367 SL

Mary Ahern 08/02/96 SL 115

Name Date Type No

Doris Griemes 08/12/97 SL 137

John MacLaren 08/18/98 DL 80

Jim Melander 08/14/99 SL 167

Duane Lokken 08/03/00 SL 198

Deva Randall 08/06/00 SL 200

Ronald Hicks 08/28/00 DL 99

E. Margaret Resch 08/16/01 SL 213

Denise Kitchen 08/04/03 DL 141

Deb Werkman 08/05/03 DL 139

Darlene Johnson 08/25/04 SL

Richard Phinney 08/25/04 SL

Charlotte Storsteen 08/05/05 SL 296

Karen Taylor 08/07/05 SL 297

Michael Schowalter 08/08/05 SL 298

Clyde Craite 08/26/06 DL 186

Denise Johnson 08/31/06 SL 330

Ronald Aman 08/01/07 HL

Jane Mathison 08/06/08 SL 370

Leo St. Pierre 08/08/11 SL 405

Veronica Peterson 08/31/11 SL

ANNIVERSARIEStransplant anniversaries april to august

Anxious People Need More Personal SpaceBy Douglas Main

how close it too close? new research shows that anxious people tend to have larger personal spaces.

everybody has a “personal space,” or a protective invisible bubble around their body to keep themselves safe from unwanted intrusions — like flying shoes, or perhaps close-talkers.

But how big is this space? a new study shows that the size of the

space varies among people, but generally has a boundary that begins 8 to 16 inches in front of the face.

the researchers also found that anxious people tend to need a larger personal space, according to a study published aug. 27th in the Journal of neuroscience.

“there is a pretty robust correlation between the size of the personal space and the level of anxiety of the subject,” said study researcher Giandomenico Iannetti, a neuroscientist at the university collegelondon.

the results seem logical — one can imagine that an anxious person would be less inclined to want to cram into a crowded subway car or a packed party, said Michael Graziano, a researcher at princeton university who wasn’t involved in the study. But the relationship has never been so clearly shown and quantified as in the new study, Graziano told liveScience.

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GET OuT OF My FaCE!


Caregiver Coping Tips to Help Make You a Better Caregiver

Educate yourself - Find out all you can about the disease itself and the nature of its course. Before you take on the role of a lifetime, you need to know what you are getting yourself into and one way to do that is through education.

Ask for help - One of the biggest mistakes a caregiver can make is to think that they can do it all by themselves. this do-it-yourself attitude will quickly lead to burnout. Most people would be glad to help, if only you would ask.

Take a time out - Feeling irritable, angry, sad or resentful? Then you need a time out. Similar to asking for help, learning how to take a time out when you feel the need is essential to your health and well-being. Get a massage or just spend time with a friend. a little change of pace will go a long way.

Exercise - If exercise sits low on your priority list, you may want to move it back up to where it belongs – at the top. exercise can help reduce tension, increase your energy level and improve your mood. exercise can be your salvation and lack of it, your destruction. a brisk walk requires nothing but a sturdy pair

of tennis shoes and a few minutes of your time, yet the rewards are abundant.

Get enough rest - lack of sleep can cause you to feel exhausted, and to have a short fuse. lack of sleep may also leave you susceptible to all sorts of physical and emotional ailments, such as migraine headaches, depression and a weakened immune system. If you find you just can’t relax at night due to the strain of the day, try drinking a cup of warm milk before bedtime or some hot, herbal tea. take a warm bath. read your favorite book. Getting a full night’s rest will help you sustain your energy so that you can be a better caregiver to your patient.

Eat properly - a balanced diet is a fundamental part of any healthy lifestyle. eating nutritious foods not only provides you with the energy you will need to take care of yourself, but to care for someone else, as well. remember, too, not to skip meals. Get back to basics with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Watch your salt and sugar intake. Drink plenty of water. eat less red meat and more chicken or fish. Finally, avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Join a support group - Because others have already walked the road that you are starting on, a good support group can help to

guide the way for you. Support groups provide social interaction which you may be lacking due to your role as caregiver. Support groups can give you a much needed outlet to share your feelings in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Finally, support groups can offer encouragement and offer suggestions and advice.

Because being a caregiver can be a difficult job, not everyone can do it. Know your limitations and if you find that you are not cut out for it, don’t beat yourself up. Good intentions aside, doing what is best for yourself and your loved one is most important, even if it means finding a more suitable caregiver to fill your shoes.

For more information about caregiving resources, visit the eldercare locator, a nationwide, information assistance directory supported by the agency on aging. you can contact them toll-free at 1-800-677-1116 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m and 11 p.m. eastern time.

Caregiver Coping Tips


pets may help reduce your risk of heart diseasehaving a pet might lower your risk of heart disease, according to a new american heart association scientific statement.

“pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease” said Glenn n. levine, M.D., professor at Baylor college of Medicine in houston, texas, and chair of the committee that wrote the statement after reviewing previous studies of the influence of pets.

research shows that: pet ownership is probably associated with a reduction in heart disease risk factors and increased survival among patients. But the studies aren’t definitive and do not necessarily prove that owning a pet directly causes a reduction in heart disease risk.

“It may be simply that healthier people are the ones that have pets,

not that having a pet actually leads to or causes reduction in cardiovascular risk,” levine said.

Dog ownership in particular may help reduce cardiovascular risk. people with dogs may engage in more physical activity because

they walk them. In a study of more than 5,200 adults, dog owners engaged in more walking and physical activity than non-dog owners, and were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended level of physical activity.

Owning pets may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and a lower incidence of obesity.

pets can have a positive effect on the body’s reactions to stress.

“In essence, data suggest that there probably is an association between pet ownership and decreased cardiovascular risk,” levine said. “What’s less clear is whether the act of adopting or acquiring a pet could lead to a reduction in cardiovascular risk in those with pre-existing disease. Further research, including better quality studies, is needed to more definitively answer this question.”

even with a likely link, people shouldn’t adopt, rescue or buy a pet solely to reduce cardiovascular risk, levine said.

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Great idea For Gently used Equipment and left Over SuppliesIf one has medical equipment and supplies that are no longer needed, the Fairview Medical Missions would love to have them. From IV poles, supplies, lymphedema wraps, etc. they will put them to good use and they are thrilled to have them.

http://www.fairview.org/communityhealth/Medicalmissions/Giving/index.htm

Call Paula at 612-706-4559 and she comes and picks them up.


With sleep apnea, your breathing is disrupted while you are asleep. The results range from short-term sleepiness to long-term risks for diseases. You’d be surprised by how common this condition is — and how it can affect you.

1. Many people have sleep apnea but don’t know it, Sleep apnea is more common than you think because it often goes undiagnosed, says Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, MS, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center. That’s particularly true for the most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when your airway gets blocked or constricted while you sleep.

2. It’s not just for overweight men who snore, while there’s some truth there — obesity is a major risk factor, and it does affect more men in general — the stereotype falls apart with age. “Most people don’t know this,” Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer says, “but after menopausal age, women are as likely to be affected as men.”

3. It may seem like depression, fatigue or something else, Why is sleep apnea so often overlooked? Because its symptoms are so broad. Beyond sleep disruptions, you may also have depression, fatigue, trouble concentrating, a dry mouth and sore throat, or any number of other symptoms.

“We have patients diagnosed with depression, but something is just not quite right,” Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer says, as an example. “They don’t respond to treatment for depression, but the depression improves when sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated.”

4. Sleep apnea can lead to serious complications, Sleep apnea disrupts more than just your good night’s sleep and hard day’s work. Over time, it’s a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other serious conditions. If you have symptoms — or a spouse or partner notices that you repeatedly stop breathing at night — ask your doctor about having an overnight sleep study. Such studies are the only way to accurately

diagnose sleep apnea, especially since so many symptoms overlap with other conditions.

5. You can do something about it, There are ways to deal with sleep apnea. Weight loss can often help. So can avoiding alcohol and other sedatives and making a change in sleep habits. “For some people, simply avoiding sleeping on the back makes a difference.”

But simple changes won’t work for many people, which is why PAP (positive airway pressure) therapy — a mask that promotes airflow during sleep — is such a popular treatment. If your doctor diagnoses sleep apnea and prescribes PAP therapy, be prepared to commit to the treatment.

5 Surprising Facts About Sleep Apnea

CoffeeAccording to Consumer Report (February 2007), taste testers preferred McDonald’s coffee over Starbucks’s.

An American on average eats • 120 pounds of potatoes each year • 22 pounds of tomatoes each year • 20 pounds of apples each year.

Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day.

WineDoes price determine the quality of wine, or does quality of wine determines the quality of wine? Researchers at California Institute of Technology scanned brain activity during wine taste testing. When they placed a $45 price tag on a $5 wine bottle, taste testers’ brain scans showed more pleasure than when the real price tag of $5 was left on the bottle.

It takes licking 10 stamps to consume 1 calorie.

DID YOU KNOW?


HOpE CHEST NEWS BOaRD OF DiRECTORS aND OFFiCERS

WHO SHOulD i CONTaCT FOR

Wally preissing, president 651-787-0940tom Fuller, Vice president 651-636-3497Gary Grev, treasurer 763-258-7900Gayle Stone, Secretary 651-587-7236ellen Varney, Director & communications 906-524-7845

Jan ankeny, Director 612-868-6482Sue Martin, Director 952-432-4231Fern Olson, Director 952-432-1422 Jeff richert, Director 651-603-7863Gary Burns, Director 715-684-9709

upCOMiNG EvENTS

In the Hospital: Any Board memberFinancial Assistance or to obtain your transplant number: Marget Schmidtke, thoracic transplant Social Worker at 612-273-5796 or 1-800-478-5864 Personal information: Such as street address, e-Mail address, transplant date, transplant number, patient passing away send an e-Mail to [email protected]: [email protected]

U of M Support Group meeting is on Mondays at 11 a. M. in the conference room of the Bridges cafeteria at u of M Fairview. there is no morning meeting on the 1st Monday of each month.

Monthly Evening Support Group is held at 7 p. M. on the 1st Monday of each month in the conference room of the Bridges cafeteria at u of M Fairview.

Caregivers Support Group is held on the 1st Monday of each month at 6 p. M. in the conference room just past the elevators on the 8th floor at u of M Fairview.

Monthly Meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of Directors on October 21, november 18 and December 16 at 12:30 p. M. in the conference room of the Bridges cafeteria at u of M Fairview.

Sioux Falls Support Group is on the 3rd thursday of each month at 7 p. M. the meetings are held in the cancer Institute at McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls.

For more information contact June Schneider at 605-339-3067

See hopechestnews.org for more information.

Cystic Fibrosis Education Day nov. 2, 7:30 am – 3:00 pm

at the commons hotel on the Minneapolis uofM campus. this annual cF education day presented by uofM faculty. For questions contact [email protected]

Community Days Coupon Booklets these herbergers coupon Booklets are a great fundraising opportunity For $5 we get $10 back! look for more info coming soon! the sale weekend is november 15 & 16.

Looking Back to Move Forward Transplant Gala

Friday, Oct. 19, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Mcnamara alumni center university of Minnesota campus 200 Oak St. Se. – Minneapolis

call 612-672-7272 to register or for more information see uofMMedicalcenter.org/50years

Life After Transplant Patient Education Conference.

Saturday, Oct. 19, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Mcnamara alumni center university of Minnesota campus 200 Oak St. Se. – Minneapolis

call 612-672-7272 to register or for more information see uofMMedicalcenter.org/50years

the Board members and their duties and contact information are as follows:

contact any of the Board members with ideas, concerns or questions.


Hope Chest NewsPO Box 13040Minneapolis MN 55414

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THE FINE PRINT Hope Chest News is published quarterly by Hope Chest News, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contents are not to be reproduced without permission. The information contained in Hope Chest News is not intended to be a replacement for or substitute to professional medical advice. Professional health care providers should always be consulted in regard to any concerns or questions you may have about your condition.

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