FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015

VALLEY HEALTHMONTROSE PRESS

VOL. 2, ISSUE 8

Change Matters®

with Alpine Bank’s debit card rewards

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Montrose Memorial Hospital WELCOMESJordan Luskin, M.D.UrologyBoard Eligible

Medical SchoolGeorgetown University School of Medicine,Washington, DC

Internship/ResidencyGeorgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC

Of� ceSan Juan Urology 904 South 4th Street Montrose, CO 81401 970.249.2291

Now Accepting New Patients

800 South Third Street, Montrose, CO 81401970-249-2211

MontroseHospital.com

Health tips to help you and your children prepare for the new school year

BACK TOSCHOOLHEALTH

THE TRUTH ABOUT DEMENTIA

Busting the myths associated with dementiaPage 5

VALLEY HEALTHPublisher

Vincent Laboy

Advertising DirectorDennis Anderson

For advertising information, contact Dennis Anderson at 252-7022

or via email at dennisa@montrosepress.com

Valley Health is a publication of the Montrose Press. It publishes monthly on the first Friday.

If you have a health-related news tip, contact editor@montrosepress.com.

A PUBLICATION OF THE MONTROSE PRESS

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611 East Star Ct. Montrose • www.inmotiontherapymontrose.com

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Dear pharmacist

August 1-7 is recognized as world-wide breast feeding celebration week. Breast milk has been proven through time to be superior to any other form of nutrition for infants and young children. Below are facts from the American Academy of Pediatrics:wBreast milk is a live substance

with unparalleled immunologic and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illness and diseases for both mother and baby.wBreast fed babies

have significantly less ear, GI, or respiratory infections.wSudden Infant

Death Syndrome (SIDS) death is consid-erably lower in breast fed babies. wYoung children who

were breast fed have less asthma, childhood obesity, diabetes and leukemia.wMothers who breast feed have

lower breast and ovarian cancer rates as well as faster weight loss.It is estimated that a household

can save up to $1,500 in one year by exclusively breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that if breastfeeding were increased to 75 percent, at birth and 50 percent, at six months, it would lead to a national savings of $3.6 billion a year. Breastfeeding moms who work are shown to be more reliable because infants have less chronic illnesses.

MMH offers an abundance of breastfeeding assistance at de-livery and beyond. Our nurses receive annual training on lac-tation and several nurses have additional credentials as certified breastfeeding counselors. We are fortunate to have Tina Wilson, LPN who is an International Board Certified Lactation Con-

sultant (IBCLC). We offer a free follow-up program that includes breastfeeding help and general newborn advice. Breast pumps are available on loan and we offer a dedicated lactation room for anybody in the community to use. New parents can also call 240-7272 anytime to receive telephone ad-vice on breastfeeding and normal

newborn behavior from our experienced nurses. If we are un-able to help over the phone, an appointment can be arranged to meet with our IBCLC (free).

We are proud to an-nounce that starting in August, human donor milk will be avail-able for our breastfed babies. Human donor milk is breast milk donated to the Rocky Mountain Breast Milk Bank from moms who have an abundance of

breast milk. The breast milk is tested, pasteurized, packaged into bottles, frozen and transported to our hospital to use for infants who need additional supplementation for medical reasons or by parent request.

Montrose Memorial Hospital Family Center has dedicated the month of August to celebrate breastfeeding. Every Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. we will have an open house at the birthing center. Take a tour, have a popsicle or a cup of coffee, and receive a breastfeeding support bag.

Visit MMH on Facebook and tell us what you like and what we could improve on. We hope all our friends and family know we are here to help with a positive breast-feeding experience.

Leann Tobin is the director of marketing and public relations for Montrose Memorial Hospital. l

Hospital Happenings

Dealing with PMSBY SUZY COHEN

QUESTION: My marriage is on the rocks. Recently, my husband told me, “If you don’t do something for your PMS, I’m packing my stuff and leaving!” I honestly want to get well, and I’ve tried birth control pills, Midol, countless tranquilizers and antidepressants. I feel doped and still cry a lot and feel moody. Can you help? – E.R., New York, N.Y.

ANSWER: You’re not alone in the quest to manage the monthly madness. Saving your marriage is going to require a few more months of patience on your husband’s part, some compliance on your part and forgiveness for one another’s ”im-perfections.”

Hormones need to be in balance, so ask your doctor to do a hormone profile to see what your levels are for thyroid hormone, DHEA, cortisol, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. If one of these is out of kilter, the others are affected too and pre-menstrual symptoms could get out of hand. Women often try to supplement randomly with herbs and vitamins in an effort to generate production of one of these hormones, but it’s not smart. Too much of a good thing could fuel growth of cancer cells. Plus, you might sprout hair in places it shouldn’t be (like your chest) and lose it places you want it (like your head). Lovely.

A hormone specialist will know how to test you, or you can now order home test kits and take the results to your doctor. Home test kits usually involve saliva or urine

samples and some of them option-ally offer tests that require a blood spot (yes, this requires a gentle fin-ger prick). You can order hormone test kits through:

ZRT Lab (www.zrtlab.com)Virginia Hopkins (www.virginia-

hopkinshealthwatch. com)Thelate Dr. John Lee’s Web site

(www. johnleemd.com)Meridian Valley Labs (425-271-

8689 Pacific Time)If you feel irritable or moody, you

could try a little bit of magnesium (magnesium glycinate or citrate, about 200-300 mg once or twice daily). Combinations that contain calcium are fine, too. Green tea is meditation in a teacup; it contains a substance that’s instantly calm-ing. The Siberian herb Rhodiola rosea is calming, about 50-100 mg twice daily. Since tearfulness is a problem, magnesium could be particularly helpful, as well as St. John’s Wort or 5-hydroxytrypto-phan (5-HTP). These may also help you sleep better. Ask your doctor about these last two, especially if you take medications for anxiety, bipolar disorder or depression.

This is easy: Sprinkle ground up flax seeds on your food. They help curtail the effects of excessive es-trogens in the body. You could also eat bucketfuls of broccoli or take the supplemental form called I3C (also DIM) which can help safely process estrogen. Fish oil (with meals) can help reduce cramping and inflammation. There’s much more in my new book, “The 24-Hour Pharmacist.”

Suzy Cohen, RPh has been a phar-macist for 26 years. l

MMH supports breastfeeding

Leann TobinMontrose Memorial Hospital

A hormone profile can help a doctor help you with PMS.

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PediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricPediatricCompassion. Quality. Care.When your child is in need, we will be there.

Two Convenient Locati onsMONTROSE AREA947 South Fift h StreetMontrose, CO 81401970-249-2421970-249-8897 fax

DELTA AREA242 Cott onwood Street #101Delta, CO 81416970-874-7552970-874-7554 fax

w w w. t h e p e d i a t r i c a s s o c i a t e s . c o m

In 2013, 23.3 percent of children under the age of 18 were living in poverty in Montrose County, a figure 8 percent higher than the state average. Studies have shown that children from low income households are developmentally six months behind children from middle to upper-income families by the age of two. By age 5 more than half of all children living in low income families are not school ready.

The struggles of child poverty begin long before a child is born. Birth weight is often a key indi-cator of a child’s overall health throughout their lifetime. Chil-dren born at low birth weights, less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, run a higher risk of respiratory is-sues, heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes. Access to care within the first trimester can greatly reduce the likelihood of low birth weight and other condi-

tions. In 2013, 21 percent of preg-nant women in Montrose did not receive prenatal care in their first trimester citing a lack of money and insurance.

Another challenge for children living in poverty is the rate at which a child’s brain develops. More than 700 new neural con-nections are formed every second in the first few years of life. Dur-ing this stage of development, children begin building impor-tant functions such as working memory, mental flexibility and self-control. The rapid pace of brain development makes the environment they are exposed to all the more important. A study conducted by the Center for Dis-ease Control in partnership with Kiser Permanente on the effects of adverse childhood experi-ences found that exposure to four or more traumatic experiences makes children 12 times more

likely to suffer from alcoholism, drug use and depression as an adult. Events studied included so-cioeconomic hardships, parental divorce or separation, the death of a parent or witnessing domes-tic violence. Of children below the age of 6 living in low income families in Colorado, 31 percent have already been exposed to two or more adverse childhood expe-riences.

Hilltop’s Child and Family Ser-vices is working to help children in Montrose County overcome these challenges associated with poverty and provide them with a chance at lasting success. The programs at Hilltop work with low income and at-risk families to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of early child-hood development. The goal is to create positive, healthy environ-ments for children to grow up in. Staff works with new mothers to

gain access to quality prenatal and family health care, trans-portation and translation ser-vices for doctor’s appointments. The Baby and Me Tobacco Free program provides education, support and up to a year in free diapers to encourage new moth-ers to stop smoking. In addition to their own programs, staff can also refer individuals and fami-lies to a wide variety of commu-nity services. Last year Hilltop’s Children and Family Services provided support to almost 300 pregnant women and at risk families across Montrose County and continues make a difference today.

All of Hilltop’s Child and Fam-ily Services are provided free.

To learn more visit htop.org or call (970) 252-7445.

*All statistics provided by the 2015 Kids Count in Colorado an-nual report

Poverty can affect child’s health

BY CASSANDRA STEWART

Cosmetic dentistry has begun to make a name for itself as it has proven to be an relatively easy way to en-hance people’s appearance and overall function of the mouth, teeth or smile.

Procedures vary, as some can be subtle and painless while others can require major oral surgery. Teeth whitening is an example of a simple form of cosmetic dentistry.

Registered dental as-sistant Heidi Ellington at Montrose Family Dentist said she believes cosmetic dentistry is becoming more common, particularly for women.

“Typically cosmetic dentistry is to improve and restore the feel and appear-ance of the mouth inside and out,” she said. “It is very common to the female demographic to improve appearance such as teeth whitening,” she said.

Ellington added cosmetic dentistry could include bridgework, crowns, ve-neers, orthopedic work and teeth reshaping.

Montrose Family Dentist offers and specializes in dental implants, which are alternatives to dentures, Ellington said. These can be a form of cosmetic den-tistry and is less invasive and less expensive.

“Implants is a form of cosmetic dentistry that helps the function, appear-

ance and health of the mouth, she said.”

Because cosmetic den-tistry isn’t always neces-sary, oftentimes insurance companies will not cover these procedures.

Ellington added patients looking into cosmetic dentistry are required to go through basic check-ups. As a result of this, Ellington said it is a good way to also find any other underlying problems in the mouth.

Cosmetic dentistry is for more than looksCOSMETIC DENTISTRY IS GROWING IN POPULARITY, ESPECIALLY AMONG WOMEN

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Now is the time to make sure your children are up-to-date on the immuniza-tions they need for school.

Colorado law requires that children attending public school be vaccinated to protect them and their communities from serious diseases. If your children are not fully vaccinated, they may be excluded from school.

Getting kids vaccinated is one of the most impor-tant things parents can do to protect their children’s long-term health, accord-ing to a news release from Montrose County.

“Immunization is safe and effective at prevent-ing communicable disease since the beginning of vac-cination programs in the 20 th century, millions of lives have been saved,” the release says.

Widespread immuniza-tion has even led to the eradication of some life-threatening diseases such

as polio and smallpox.Immunization also keeps

communities healthy. When most of the people in a community are vac-cinated, it keeps infectious disease from spreading. This protects people who cannot fight disease nor-mally, including infants, the elderly and people with medical conditions. Diseas-es like chickenpox, which are usually not serious for healthy children, can be

deadly to these immuno-compromised people.

There is a lot of unfound-ed and misleading infor-mation about the risks of immunizations, especially on the Internet. The best place to go for information on your family’s health is your doctor. The consensus of the medical community is that immunization is the best choice for nearly every child. Vaccines, like any medicine, may cause

side effects. However, the vast majority of side ef-fects are minor, such as a sore arm or low-grade fever, and go away within a few days. Serious side effects are so rare that it is hard to tell whether they are caused by the vaccine. Extensive research shows that the risk of vaccines causing serious harm or death is profoundly small, and getting vaccinated against disease is much

safer than getting the disease.

Montrose County Health and Human Services of-fers immunizations for infants, children, teens and adults, including free vaccinations for children who qualify. Parents can bring their children in for vaccinations required for daycare or school, and adults can receive booster vaccinations or travel shots. MCHHS immuni-zation nurses can also answer questions about vaccine safety.

The immunization clinic is located at the Montrose Health and Human Ser-vices building at 1845 S. Townsend Ave. Appoint-ments are available Mon-day, Tuesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Walk-ins are available Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 252-7079 to schedule an ap-pointment.

County encourages people to get immunizedIMMUNIZATION ALSO KEEPS COMMUNITIES HEALTHY. WHEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY ARE VACCINATED, IT KEEPS INFECTIOUS DISEASE FROM SPREADING. THIS PROTECTS PEOPLE WHO CANNOT FIGHT DISEASE NORMALLY, INCLUDING INFANTS, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS. DISEASES LIKE CHICKENPOX, WHICH ARE USUALLY NOT SERIOUS FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN, CAN BE DEADLY TO THESE IMMUNO-COMPROMISED PEOPLE.

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ASK THE DIRECTOR: What is a green burial?Green burial emphasizes simplicity and environmental sustainability. � e body is neither cremated nor prepared with chemicals such as embalming � uids. It is simply placed in a biodegradable casket and interred without a burial vault. � e grave site is allowed to return to nature. We have a good selection of biodegradable caskets. We encourage families to explore their options when thinking about green burials and preplanning is key.With all my love, support and hope,

- Megan Hess & family Megan HessOwner

Cell (970) 275-5288

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Montrose Memorial Hospitalwel-comes Jessie Neitzer as the new director of quality and risk man-agement.

Neitzer received her MBA in health care and her bachelor of science in business management from Adams State University. She comes to Montrose from South-west Health System, Inc. in Cortez where she served at the director of quality, risk management and compliance.

Neitzer is excited to join the team at Montrose Memorial Hospital to help foster and continue the great work that is already being done. She enjoys being a team builder, using data to make improvements, help facilitate growth and foster a culture of patient safety.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with the staff and medical staff at Montrose Memorial. We are fortunate in a small communi-ty to have such skilled profession-als who are not only very compe-tent but compassionate as well. We are taking care of our friends and family and we want to be sure they receive the care and service they expect and deserve. It was clear when I came for my interview, and in the first week I have been here, that there is strong commitment to quality, patient safety and continu-al improvement. I am excited to be a part of that culture. I am fortu-nate to have the opportunity to join the Montrose Memorial family, ” Neitzer said.

One of the most important parts of improving quality and customer service is being a good listener. The hospital is listening to what its patients have to say in a variety of ways, including patient surveys. Patients and families should know that the hospital has an open door and welcome suggestions, com-ments, concerns, and recognition, according to a news release from the hospital.

“We welcome the opportunity to make improvements and the chance to recognize our staff and medical staff when they have made your experience exceptional. We encourage you to leave your com-ments and compliments on our website at www.MontroseHospital.com or call us at 240.7397,” the release says.

Before getting into de-bunking a few myths about dementia, let’s talk a little about what dementia is.

Dementia is a broad group of illnesses that af-fect the brain, not a spe-cific disease. It is a broad word like “cancer,” and like there are many differ-ent kinds of cancer, there are over 70 different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most com-mon cause of dementia and vascular dementia (occurs after a stroke) is the second most common cause of dementia.

Brain damage, Parkin-son’s disease, thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies are also causes of dementia. Some causes of dementia are reversible and others are not.

Myth No. 1: Dementia is a normal part of aging.

Dementia is most cer-tainly not a normal part of aging. As we age our ability to recall memories slows down, we have more memory “slip-ups,” we have trouble multi-tasking, and it takes us much longer to learn new things. Just as our sight, hearing, and physical abilities change with age, so does our brain and these are normal. Los-ing our short-term memo-ry, having trouble commu-nicating, losing our ability to reason, and personality changes are symptoms of dementia and are not nor-mal parts of aging.

Myth No. 2: Dementia is memory loss.

Memory loss is the most noticeable symptom in the

early stages of dementia, but it is not the only symp-tom. Family and friends usually notice the memory loss first because it is usu-ally (depends on what is causing the dementia) the first area of the brain to be affected. Dementia is the loss of normal brain function, which affects all areas of cognition includ-ing memory, perception, judgment, organization, language, reasoning, abstraction and attention. Memory is the first notice-

able area affected, but as dementia progresses all areas of cognition can become impaired and may eventually be destroyed.

Myth No. 3: Only older people can get dementia.

Dementia can be caused by physical injury to the brain, severe alcohol abuse, depression, medication side effects, thyroid prob-lems, poor diet, vitamin deficiencies and certain infections. These do not discriminate by age. Early onset or younger onset Al-

zheimer’s can affect people as young as 30. According to the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and 200,000 of them are younger than age 65.

This article was submit-ted by Kylynn Wilson, the marketing and admissions director at Crossroads Se-nior Living, Delta. She may be reached at (970) 874-1421 or by email at kwilson@crossroadsalc.org.

Busting myths about dementiaMEMORY LOSS IS THE MOST NOTICEABLE SYMPTOM IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEMENTIA, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY SYMPTOM.

Montrose Memorial Hospital welcomes director of quality and risk management

“I AM EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE STAFF AND MEDICAL STAFF AT MONTROSE MEMORIAL. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY TO HAVE SUCH SKILLED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE NOT ONLY VERY COMPETENT BUT COMPASSIONATE AS WELL.”

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1-844-VOA-4YOUToll Free Confidential Help Line

Helping people live healthy, safe and productive lives.

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BY KENDRA DORR

New clothes, fresh haircuts, the early morning rush, and back-packs stuffed with school sup-plies– the back to school frenzy is all too familiar to families with school-age children. Ready or not – it’s that time again – time to get back into a healthy routine for a new school year. All the stress

associated with the change from easy living during summer to the structure of the school year, can be minimized with a few simple healthy habits for meals and sleep. Whether or not you have children at home, everyone can start a healthy new schedule as the days shorten and the weather cools down.

Forming a meal schedule is a good place to start, and an effec-tive way to get kids back-on-track with healthy habits. Setting the alarm a little earlier allows time for a healthy breakfast — a great start to the day. Fast, healthy choices can include fruit and nut bars, fresh fruit, and smoothies. Make-ahead whole grain pan-

cakes or muffins can be frozen and are easy to heat and eat. Sit-ting down at relatively the same time each night for dinner instead of everyone eating at odd hours and choosing unhealthy foods is vital to good nutrition and to good sleep habits. Children crave structure, and this is an easy way to start good life-long habits.

Children who do not sleep well are more likely to get into trouble at school and have difficulty con-centrating and learning. Lack of sleep can impact a child’s behav-ior, including: being over emo-tional, showing aggression, being cranky, or needing an afternoon nap. In teens, lack of sleep can limit the ability to learn, listen, concentrate, and solve problems. Lack of sleep can also contribute to acne and other skin problems. It can make teens impatient with teachers and family members, cause weight gain, and can con-tribute to illness and accidents. Poor sleep habits are also tied to weight gain in adults. Adults should get an average of seven to eight hours of sleep per night, and school-age children need about 10 hours. An adequate sleep schedule is sometimes a challenge to maintain. A good place to start is with a consistent night-time ritual that allows the body to get in sync with its natural sleep and wake patterns. Adequate sleep is vital to well-being. It can help protect mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

The change from summer to fall often leads to less physical activity. To curb this, try limiting everyone’s time in front of the TV and computer or choose apps for your kids that are fun and teach healthy habits and valuable life skills. Sign kids up for fall sports such as soccer, dance, and martial arts. Better yet, start a new eve-ning tradition - take a family walk or bike ride after dinner.

Consistency is the key to rein-forcing healthy habits, and will lead to a happier and healthier school year.

BY CASSANDRA STEWART

There are many types of skin conditions out there in which many people suffer from. Taking care of the skin and making proper precautions to protect it is necessary for everyone.

Brittani Currier, clinic manager at Montrose Dermatology, said the risk of a person having a skin condition at a time in their life is common.

“Skin conditions in gen-eral are pretty common, in most cases it has to do with hygiene and taking care of the skin,” she said.

While there are many obstacles our skin over-comes, there is condition known as psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that many people suffer from.

When the immune sys-tem sends faulty signals that tell skin cells to recre-ate too fast, the body does not shed the excess skin

cells it piles up causing an inflamed rash and spots of psoriasis to form. The skin becomes inflamed and itchy, Currier said. She added that there are ‘trig-gers’ something that will cause a person’s psoriasis to inflame again overtime.

Sometime people who suffer from the disease later get affected with pso-riatic arthritis.

Currier said millions of people suffer from psoria-sis, however the chronic

disease is treatable. “Some cases of psoria-

sis are more severe than others,” she said. “There are many ways to treat the symptoms but no way to officially ‘get rid’ of it.”

Genetics are a factor why a person gets psoria-sis but also is age Currier said.

“There are many ways doctors believe someone gets psoriasis but we know for sure it is not conta-gious.”

She added stress also pertains to why someone gets the skin disease.

This is true for local resi-dent Audra Scheibler who has had psoriasis since she was a child.

Scheibler said her pso-riasis is related to stress but also has a relative who had it before.

“It’s something I’ve dealt with since I was a child. The older I got the longer apart my flare-ups were. But when my skin would

flare-up it would be very painful,” she said. “Some-times I would itch my skin raw and it would last for a few months.”

Scheibler said she tried prescribed tropical creams for her psoriasis but often would create more pain.

“I found what works best for me is managing my stress and most of all avoidance,” she said. “My psoriasis is usually triggered by chlorine so I avoid pools and also not disturbing my skin with other harmful chemicals.”

Currier suggests people to talk to their doctor or local dermatologist for precautions or any rash that could pertain to it. She also added living in higher elevations it is important to keep the skin moisturized and the body hydrated.

“Hydration and mois-turizing is crucial for the skin,” she said.

Solutions for beating back to school stress – for kids and adults

Feeling uncomfortable in your own skin“IT’S SOMETHING I’VE DEALT WITH SINCE I WAS A CHILD. THE OLDER I GOT THE LONGER APART MY FLARE-UPS WERE. BUT WHEN MY SKIN WOULD FLARE-UP IT WOULD BE VERY PAINFUL,” SHE SAID. “SOMETIMES I WOULD ITCH MY SKIN RAW AND IT WOULD LAST FOR A FEW MONTHS.”

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VISITTODAY FORA TOURAND FREELUNCH

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629 East Star Court • Montrose, CO 81401 • 970-249-3330 www.HansenAndAmundson.com

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Monday - Friday Appointments Available • 7am - 5pm

New Patientand Emergency

Appointments available daily.

Dr. Douglas L. Hansen

Dr. Hansen looks forward to continuing to practice and provide the community with “Dentistry with Integrity” for years to come!

A big thank you to our wonderful team, patients and colleagues who have helped lead to his success!

Dr. Douglas L. HansenCelebrating 25 years of Dentistry in Montrose!

Congratulations from Dr. Peter B. Amundson, Dr. Jillian T. Horkan and the Dental Team

If you had, let’s say, six days to take a family vacation, you might not decide to spend four-plus days driving? You might not – but some people (our family) might have recently done this. I would advise against it.

Our vacation already had a few knocks against it. For example, usually a great family vacation won’t start

with the guy at the tire shop telling you that your tires are danger-ously thin. (This isn’t a point that actually goes anywhere. Nothing bad happens.) I’m pretty sure the tire guy was just hoping for a sale. He said he was terribly fearful I wouldn’t make it for two days driving in Montrose. Two-thousand miles in more than 100-degree heat later and my husband was right, they were fi ne. But it’s always fun to worry for 50 hours that the tire shop guy is going to win that argument.

Another thing most vacations shouldn’t have: A mix-up of schedules between your husband and his sister. No one could have told him he shouldn’t trust his sister in being organized and sure of her dates. (Because, she’s not notoriously disor-ganized. Yes, she is, notoriously). So, a week-and-a-half of time off from work turns into only six days of vacation.

The third knock against it would then be my in-laws. These are honestly, the best people. Good,

kind, intelligent, hardworking, awesome people. They are the earth from which sprang my husband.

But, my in-laws, well, have you heard the saying: “Too many chiefs and not enough Indians?” With this bunch, it’s all Indians. They are a bunch of confused, hap-hazard, wandering indians and not a chief in the bunch. It is a village desperate for its leader, and when a leader arrives they immediately recognize the lack of credentialed skill, dis-miss said leader and return to wandering. Again.

I have been the leader. It has been that bad. I’m not leader material. I am, at best, upper to middle management.

Perhaps, and solid customer service. Solid, but not the leader. I have neither been inspired to start a movement nor build a widget or plan an event. Birthday parties stress me out. That’s my leadership level. And, in this group, I can wind up leading. It’s tragic.

My husband is leadership material, but something happens when the Indians are running amok, and he has a lifetime of frustration to mentally call upon, so he disassociates. (He has alternating waves of goofy and grumpy.) So, the guy I married because of his quick think-ing, confi dent, leadership is suddenly a rudderless, drifting, vessel just waiting for the smoke to clear.

So, four-plus days of driving, one-and-a-half days of family, and yes, it absolutely was worth it. Cousins got to play together. We got to bond with the family we see too rarely. And there was a lake. Water is the solution to everything in July.

Good people, good food – comedic family dynamics. This is the beau-tiful magic of family.

And it’s never happening again.

ON THE JOB TRAINING

TWYLA RIGHTER

Family vacations can be most memorable

family) might have recently done this. I would advise

Our vacation already had a few knocks against it. For example, usually a great family vacation won’t start

with the guy at the tire shop telling you that your tires are danger-ously thin. (This isn’t a point that actually goes anywhere. Nothing bad happens.) I’m pretty sure the tire guy was just hoping for a sale. He said he was terribly fearful I wouldn’t make it for two days driving in Montrose. Two-thousand miles in more than 100-degree heat later and my husband was right, they were fi ne. But it’s always fun to worry for 50 hours that the tire shop guy is going

Another thing most vacations shouldn’t have: A mix-up of schedules between your husband and his sister. No one could have told him he shouldn’t trust his sister in being organized and sure of

cations can be most memorable

her dates. (Because, she’s not notoriously disor-

For example, usually a great family vacation won’t start with the guy at the tire shop telling you that your tires are danger-

ously thin. (This isn’t a point that actually goes anywhere. Nothing bad happens.) I’m pretty sure the tire guy was just hoping for a sale. He said he was terribly fearful I wouldn’t make it for two days driving in Montrose. Two-thousand miles in more than 100-degree heat later and my husband was right, they were fi ne. But it’s always fun to worry for 50 hours that the tire shop guy is going

Another thing most vacations shouldn’t have: A mix-up of schedules between your husband and his sister. No one could have told him he shouldn’t trust his sister in being organized and sure of

cations can be most memorable

8

The Perfect Smile for the WHOLE Family!

Providing ALL your DENTAL needs & wants under ONE roof

New PatientsAlways Welcome!

www.danielhatchdds.com

Call Us at: (970) 249-4301

www.facebook.com/Dr.DanHatch 1127 E. Main St • Montrose, CO 81401

FREE DENTURE EVALUATION & panoramic xray by mentioning this ad!

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As summer vacation winds down, thoughts turn from jaunts to the beach to readying for a new school year. To-do lists include many of the typical tasks that precede going back to the classroom, including shopping for new clothes, purchas-ing school supplies and finishing summer reading assignments.

Another essential requirement parents must find time for is completing their children’s health screenings and immunizations so youngsters can return to school.

Health screenings may include, but may not be limited to, routine physical exams, eye exams and dental cleanings. Each school dis-trict may have its own set of health requirements that must be met in order for children to attend school.

Many schools require that chil-dren are up-to-date with all immu-nizations before they can begin a new school year. While the issue of vaccinations has inspired debate in recent years, parents should recognize that many schools will only exempt students from receiv-ing certain vaccinations due to religious reasons. For a list of state vaccination requirements and pos-sible exemptions for schools in the United States, visit www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqmt.asp.

Students who have specific learning disabilities or medical conditions that require classroom modification should obtain recent documentation from any therapists or specialists prior to beginning

a new school year. Doing so facili-tates the process of setting up pro-cedures within the school while ensuring children have what they need to excel in the classroom. All parents may want to ask doctors to provide copies of medical and immunization records so that schools will have the most recent copies on file.

Parents should schedule eye examinations well in advance of the first day of school so they have ample time to fill new prescriptions for youngsters before school begins. This ensures kids won’t be starting off on the wrong foot because of vision problems that could already have been addressed.

Parents of adolescents or stu-dents on the verge of adolescence may want to address the subject of bodily changes before the school year begins anew. Address which changes can be expected, including the start of menstruation for girls. This will help children better un-derstand what is happening when they witness changes in themselves and fellow classmates and give them a chance to receive accurate information rather than gossip from their peers.

Keep in mind that health screen-ings conducted in advance of the school year may not preclude students from school-sponsored screenings. Schools may offer their own vision and hearing screen-ings and may take physical mea-surements to ensure students are growing on schedules in line with normal development.

STATEPOINT MEDIA

You want the best for your kids. As role mod-els, parents and caregivers play a vital role in children’s health — teaching kids about health-ful foods and making sure they get enough daily physical activity.

More than one third of children and adoles-cents are overweight or obese, according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion statistics. But childhood obesity, which is associated with elevated risks of high cholester-ol, high blood pressure, bone and joint problems and sleep apnea, amongst other adverse health effects, can usually be prevented.

“August, which is Kids Eat Right Month, is the perfect opportunity for families to focus on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles,” says Marina Chaparro, registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

To help, Chaparro is offering parents and caregivers tips they can use to promote healthy habits.wShop smart. Get your children involved in

selecting the food that will appear at the break-fast, lunch or dinner table. Be adventurous by picking a new food every week.

wCook healthfully. Involve your children in the preparation of all meals with age-appropriate tasks. Getting your kids involved helps teach them about food, and may entice them to try new foods they helped prepare.

wEat right. Breakfast is a critical meal. Make sure no one in the family skips it -- including you. In the evening, sit down together as a fam-ily to enjoy dinner and the opportunity to share the day’s experiences with one another. Re-search indicates that families who eat together have a stronger bond, and children have higher self-confidence and perform better in school.

wPlan wisely. When planning meals, start by filling half the plate with fruits and vegetables, choosing low-sodium options. Make sure at least half the grains your family eats are whole grains. For beverages, choose water over sugary drinks, and opt for fat-free or low-fat milk. Also, be mind-

ful of appropriate portion sizes.

wGet moving. After meals, get moving togeth-er. Aside from being a great way to spend time together, regular physical activity strengthens muscle and bones, helps to achieve a healthy body weight and supports learning. It can also help develop social skills and build self-esteem. Kids are encouraged to be active for 60 minutes per day.

wConsult an expert. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can deliver the highest level of nutrition counseling. Consider consulting an RDN to ensure your family is getting needed nutrients with a meal plan tailored to your fam-ily’s lifestyle and busy schedule. To search for an RDN in your area, to find more healthful eating tips, recipes and videos, and to learn more about Kids Eat Right Month, visit KidsEatRight.org.

As a parent, you are highly influential, and habits formed early on could potentially last a lifetime. Take steps to steer kids to a path of good health.

Healthy eating for ‘Kids Eat Right’ month

Add health screenings to back-to-school checklist