Fire Fair at Crossway on Saturday
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: Health
The Scarsdale Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week with their annual Fire Prevention Fair. The event will be held at Fire Station 3, 56 Crossway, on Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, rain or shine!
Live fire demonstrations will illustrate the dangers of unattended cooking and improper fire extinguishment. There will be antique and modern fire apparatus on display, interactive lessons from the fire-safety trailer, bounce houses, refreshments, and a firefighter read-aloud to guarantee fun for the whole family. Guests are also encouraged to bring their own fire extinguishers from home for a complimentary inspection and hands-on training.
The Fire Prevention Fair is a great opportunity to meet our career and volunteer firefighters, who are eager to share key messages from this year’s campaign, Fire won’t wait.
Plan your escape:
• Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place for everyone at a safe distance from your home.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and once at night.
For more information, please contact the Scarsdale Fire Department at 914-722-1215.
Why You Should Avoid Ultra Processed Foods
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
- Category: Health
By now most of us have heard that eating processed foods can be bad for our health, but with our busy schedules and fast paced lives, cooking meals from whole foods is often easier said than done. We have all found ourselves at some point in time, giving in to the ease of serving packaged muffins for breakfast or heating up a frozen pizza for dinner. When it seems that nearly all foods are processed in one form or another (The Department Of Agriculture defines processed foods as any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, blanched, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed or packaged — anything done to them that alters their natural state) how unhealthy can processed foods actually be?
It turns out that there are varying levels of processed foods and not all processed foods are as equally unhealthy for us. Minimally processed foods such as fruits and vegetables that have been washed and prepared to sell in a store are of course, still considered a healthy choice. However foods that have been significantly altered with additives like preservatives and food coloring are much more harmful. In fact, a study recently published in The British Medical Journal links the consumption of ultra-processed foods to a rise in heart disease and cancer. As the report identifies, “Most ultra-processed foods are made, sold, and promoted by corporations, typically transnational, that formulate them to be convenient (ready to consume), affordable (low cost ingredients), and hyper-palatable, and thus liable to displace other foods and also to be over-consumed.” Since it seems processed foods permeate almost every aisle of the grocery store, how are we supposed to make healthy choices for ourselves and our families?
To help simplify and make sense of all the information on ultra-processed foods we turned to Scarsdale nutritionist Christine Jones-Howard, RDN, CDN. Ms. Jones-Howard is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about eating and moving for optimum health and enjoys sharing achievable, practical nutrition and movement strategies with her clients. She can also provide recipes and shortcuts for healthy meals to minimize processed foods. Furthermore, Ms. Jones-Howard counsels her clients on: Weight Loss/Management, IBS, SIBO, IBD, Reflux, Celiac Disease, Sports Nutrition, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, PMS. PCOS and menopause. Ms. Jones-Howard graciously answered the following questions:
Q: What foods are considered ultra processed?
J-H: Ultra processed foods are foods that have several ingredients added to them like sodium, emulsifiers, fats, sugars and additives. Some examples of ultra processed foods are hot pockets, hot dogs, some frozen meals, protein shakes, packaged baked goods, soft drinks and fast food.
Q: Are less processed foods O.K. to eat?
J-H: Yes, less processed foods are fine to eat. They include canned foods like tomatoes, beans, tuna.
Q: What should consumers look for on labels?
J-H: Consumers should avoid processed foods with high amounts of sodium, added sugar, food dyes and hydrogenated fats.
Q: What are some healthy alternatives to processed snacks?
J-H: Alternative snacks:
Plain Greek yogurt with fruit, nuts and seeds
Cottage cheese with fruit and nuts
Hummus with carrots
Roasted edamame
Q: What is your suggested diet for an average person?
J-H: I like to recommend that people challenge themselves to include more fruits and vegetables into their diet. They should also consume appropriate portions of lean protein at least 3 times a day. In my sessions I customize tips based on the client’s preferences and lifestyle. This typically includes whole foods and lightly processed foods.
Since people with different genders, sizes, ages and activity levels need different things, I can't give you specifics, but every meal should include fruits/vegetables, a small to moderate serving of high fiber carbohydrates and a small to moderate serving of a lean protein. I provide specific meal compositions to people once I've evaluated them.
It's best to minimize the processed meats to once a week or once every two weeks. Being as varied as possible is really the best for health. So sandwiches one day, salads with chicken, fish or hard boiled eggs on other days and maybe a nice chili or curry dish on another day.
For more information on how to avoid ultra-processed foods and adopt a healthier, whole-food diet please see www.nutritionistforhealth.com or follow Ms. Jones-Howard’s food adventures at https://www.instagram.com/cjoneshoward.rdn/
Even armed with all of this information, it can still be a struggle to find the time to shop for and prepare healthy meals all week long. Some Scarsdale families have turned to meal delivery services who make eating healthily a whole lot easier. Here are a couple local establishments that come highly recommended:
Not only does Estelle Gourmet provide a weekly meal service, she also offers cooking classes where students learn to cook classic french recipes.
In addition to weekly Family Dinners, Danny’s Catering also offers single dinner delivery service.
Fractured Elbow? Surgery Might Not Be Required
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: Health
Regular exercise is of course one of the foremost priorities for most people. Dedication to a regular routine is fundamental. So it was that Nisa Lee recently completed a 30-mile bicycle ride ¬– despite having fallen and, unbeknownst to her, fracturing her right elbow.
“I was at a stop light on Broadway in White Plains and just fell off,” she says with a laugh. “I was on a road bike that has clip-on pedals,” which can be cumbersome. “I had actually fallen several times prior to that time. It didn’t help that I was on Broadway at the height of rush hour, which had already put the fear into me!”
Having persevered in finishing her 30-mile trek, Ms. Lee was well aware of the pain in her elbow. After a visit to an urgent care facility, which fitted her with a splint, she found Dr. Michael A. Schwartz, an orthopedic surgeon at White Plains Hospital through her health insurance network.
“She’d fractured the radial bone in her elbow,” Dr. Schwartz explains. “But the fact that she is very active with exercise and yoga, along with having a great, positive attitude and good energy, helped a lot. She is very fit, physically and mentally.”
Viewing Ms. Lee’s X-rays, Dr. Schwartz was able to treat her without performing an operation and – most important, she says – without prescribing painkillers.
“There was definitely pain, don’t get me wrong,” she laughs. “But I didn’t want any of that. And he and I share a philosophy about health and wellness, to let the body heal itself when possible, which is pretty uncommon. That made a huge difference to me.”
Instead, Ms. Lee was put on a physical therapy regimen to regain motion as soon as possible. “We were very proactive,” Dr. Schwartz affirms. “It’s very important to start physical therapy with something like this quickly, to avoid stiffness developing.
All told, PT took about six weeks at Motion Physical Therapy, which like White Plains Hospital is an affiliate of the Montefiore Health System. “Since I’m right-handed, and I injured by right elbow, it was a little frustrating,” she says. “I couldn’t cook, slice and dice, and a lot of other things. But fortunately through technology I could still communicate through texts and emails.”
By following the doctor’s instructions, and by diving into PT with an approach similar to what she employs when exercising (five to seven times a week), the White Plains resident had fully recovered within the prescribed period.
“She healed very well, and now has full range of motion again,” Dr. Schwartz says. “There’s no pain, and she’s back to all of her activities.”
“He was fantastic,” Ms. Lee enthuses, “as was everyone I saw. Three of my four children were born at White Plains Hospital, so I was already very familiar with it – it’s the hospital.”
Dr. Michael A. Schwartz is an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine and shoulder specialist at White Plains Physicians Associates, seeing patients in our White Plains and New Rochelle offices. To make an appointment, call 914-849-7897.
Heads Up! Recognizing and Dealing with Sports-Related Concussions
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- Written by Dr. Steven Andelman
- Category: Health
The following was written by Dr. Steven Andelman, Orthopedic Surgeon
The arrival of football season – professional, amateur, and school-based – unfortunately brings with it a rise in concussion and suspected concussion cases. But it’s not just on the gridiron that such injuries can occur: any contact sport, including hockey, soccer and lacrosse (and even baseball, wrestling and basketball), understandably sees higher incidences of concussions than non-contact sports.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a concussion as “a type of traumatic brain injury – or TBI – caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.”
The statistics are sobering. According to the CDC:
• 1.6-3.8 million sports- and recreation -related concussions occur each year in the U.S.
• 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly
• Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. In football, brain injuries account for 65% to 95% of all fatalities. Football injuries associated with the brain occur at the rate of one in every 5.5 games. In any given season, 10% of all college players and 20% of all high school players sustain brain injuries
• 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury
• 5% of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their sport
Concussions can occur at any age; various studies estimate that as many as 1.9 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur every year among kids 18 and younger. Last year, a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) report estimated that girls’ chances of sustaining a concussion is 1.88 times higher than boys, with one reason being that the circumference of a female’s neck is generally about 30% smaller than a male’s.
Symptoms of a concussion can vary widely, from a nagging headache, dizziness, and difficulty maintaining balance to nausea and vomiting, convulsions and, if not properly treated, even death.
Fortunately, concussions today are taken much more seriously than in the past; even as little as 10 years ago, it was not uncommon to hear that an athlete had “had his bell rung” when he appeared dazed – or was even unconscious – after an on-field collision. That perception was more or less eliminated during the 2010s, when the NFL instituted concussion protocols, wherein a player suspected of possibly suffering a concussion is immediately removed from the game and examined by a medical professional. If a concussion is confirmed, the player must undergo a five-step process before being allowed to return to the field.
Most sports played at high schools or in extracurricular leagues have their own concussion protocols in place. In the case of younger children, who may play in a park-and-recreation soccer league, for instance, there may not be a medical professional on hand. In such cases, the child should be removed from the game and, if symptoms persist, they should be taken to a healthcare facility. If the child has lost consciousness, it is imperative to get them to an emergency room immediately.
It should be noted that losing consciousness is not the only symptom of a concussion; over 90% of those who sustain one do not lose consciousness. Similarly, you do not necessarily have to take a blow to the head; any sudden jerking of the head, such as what happens in a whiplash injury, can also be a cause.
Preventing concussions can be complicated. Helmets in contact sports are usually mandatory, but while they can offer some protection, a severe hit can still result in a concussion. The NFL experimented with “Guardian Caps” during its preseason, a soft-shell, padded covering that goes on the outside of the regular NFL helmets. According to the NFL, wearing a Guardian Cap can result in at least a 10% reduction in severity of impact if one player is wearing it, and at least a 20% reduction in impact if two players in a collision are wearing it.
However, the NFL season is continuing without the cap and, as mentioned, the threat of a concussion remains even when wearing such equipment.
An untreated concussion can have significant effects, sometimes lifelong and even life-threatening. If you suspect that you or a family member has suffered one, I urge you to see a medical professional as soon as you can. As always, safety is the key.
Dr. Steven Andelman is an orthopedic surgeon at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates who specializes in adult and pediatric sports medicine. For an appointment, call 914-849-7897.
914: An Area Code and a Date to Remember
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- Written by Daniel Love
- Category: Health
On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 or “9/14,” the Mario Cuomo Bridge was lit in gold in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Representatives from the Pediatric Cancer Foundation attended to recognize children in Westchester and beyond who are battling cancer, and to acknowledge the work that is being done to eradicate this dreadful disease.
This year’s bridge lighting event featured Pediatric Cancer Foundation's Child Ambassador, Emily Levy, who participated virtually.
Representing Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the lighting left to right were Terry Z. Feldman (PCF Board member); Stefanie Mittman (PCF Medical Liaison) and husband, Brian Mittman, Nancy Joselson (PCF Director), Jayne Maslansky (PCF Board member) with husband, Harris; Jennifer Love (PCF Volunteer), Cheryl Reiss (Grandmother), Olivia Smith (bonus or stepsister), Mark Smith (bonus or stepdad), Zach Smith (bonus or stepbrother) who gathered together in front of the bridge ahead of the gold lighting.
Emily’s siblings Zach and Olivia flipped a ceremonial switch on behalf of their sister at 8:30 pm.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month PCF hosted several fundraising events in September. A Back to School bake sale was held at the Westchester Mall on Saturday, September 10th. In addition to the bridge lighting on 9/14, PCF also hosted a Shop ‘N Shuffle which combined a day of canasta and mah jongg with a boutique at the Metropolis Country Club.
