Month: March 2022

2022-03-06T22:05:05

(BPT) – Gratitude has been shown to help kids and adults practice resilience through tough times by focusing on the positive emotions that come with spending quality time with family and friends. That’s why character education matters.

Throughout the year, it’s important to find opportunities to reflect and think of ways to relieve the stress of today’s world and infuse gratitude and thankfulness into your family members’ lives.

Try one of the following five ways suggested by Joy Turner, Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care vice president of education, to help you practice gratitude with your children and family:

1. Head offline

Dedicate some time during the week to spend offline — no electronics. Cell phones, video games, computers and tablets give short-term happiness. Spending time together making memories is what brings long-term happiness. As a family, share the things that make each other feel happy. Include non-tangible items such as spending time doing activities you enjoy.

2. You’ve got mail

You may not be able to spend time with every single person you’re thankful for. Have everyone in the family write a thank-you letter to someone they care about. It can even be a note to a friend you’re thankful for who lives far away. Be prepared with stationary or greeting cards and stamps. Then, take a family walk to the mailbox or a trip to the post office after dinner to send them together.

3. Create a gratitude jar

Invite your family to jot down things they’re grateful for on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Help your child use crayons and markers to make them more colorful and fun. Then, go around the table picking them out and taking turns reading them. Make sure to write the year of when you created the jar — year over year, you can look back on past jars. You’ll have a big collection before you know it.

4. Home is where the heart is

Part of practicing gratitude is realizing that there are others who are in need. If you can, safely support a local group that helps people who are experiencing homelessness or gather food to take to a local food bank. Help someone in your community you know is struggling. Find a local organization that can help you make an impact and engage your child in the critical life lesson of giving back to those in need.

5. The grand finale — dinnertime

Prepare your meals as a family! Bonding happens during these activities. The act of preparing food with your family is great for your well-being and teaches children to be thankful and appreciative. It also provides a time to reconnect with family and focus on what is important in your lives.

With some resilience and a grateful attitude, you may create a new gratitude habit that will help your child’s character development. If you run out of ideas or want to practice other key character traits, head over to Kiddie Academy’s website to download the Character Essentials Activity Book.

2022-03-06T16:13:21

(BPT) – Planning any travel adventures? If you love the outdoors and have an interest in the history of the West, opportunities abound for a bucket list-worthy trip to Casper, Wyoming — a popular stop on the way to legendary Yellowstone National Park. And 2022 is a remarkable year to visit, as the area celebrates three memorable milestones in its history.

Here are three great reasons — and notable anniversaries — for putting Casper and Yellowstone at the top of your 2022 travel list.

1. Yellowstone National Park turns 150

Speaking of bucket lists, Yellowstone is a top destination for travelers from around the globe. One hundred fifty years ago, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park, with its unique geological and hydrothermal wonders, along with spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife.

Whether you fly into Casper/Natrona County International Airport or begin your Wyoming adventure as an epic road trip, Casper, Wyoming, is the ideal starting point for your Yellowstone vacation. With affordable lodging, smaller crowds and small-town Wyoming charm, you can enjoy local eats and brews, visit hiking and biking trails on Casper Mountain or fish the North Platte River. After making the most of outdoor activities in the area, you’ll be able to enjoy dining, culture and nightlife before continuing on your wilderness adventure in Yellowstone, starting at the park’s south, east or northeast entrances.

To help you plan your trip, with plenty of tips and local advice to make the most of your excursion, order your free planning kit at VisitCasper.com.

2. 40 years of amazing music and sporting events at the Ford Wyoming Center

The biggest venue in Wyoming, the Ford Wyoming Center has seen every famous music act that has played the state over the past 40 years. The beautiful, state-of-the-art complex is built high on a hill overlooking Casper, Casper Mountain and the scenic North Platte River.

Because of the arena’s multiple breakout rooms and first-in-class technology, the venue has hosted everything from rodeos and other sporting events to Broadway shows and all the top bands. You can visit FordWyomingCenter.com/Events to see what’s coming up in 2022 and snag some tickets ahead of your visit.

3. National Historic Trails Interpretive Center celebrates 20 years

If you’ve always been fascinated by the legends of the American West, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper will be right up your alley — or wagon trail. Founded 20 years ago, the center commemorates American Indian history and the early explorers, with an emphasis on the many historic trails that have gone through Casper, including the famed Oregon, Mormon, California and Pony Express trails, as well as the Bridger and Bozeman trails. You can still see some of the remaining ruts of these trails in the area today, allowing you to imagine the legendary journeys of everyone from fur trappers and homesteaders to ranchers, miners and more as they traveled west.

Hands-on, interactive and family-friendly exhibits in seven galleries, plus an 18-minute multimedia program, all help to tell the many stories of the rich history of the region. And the best news? There is no fee to visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.

When you’re ready to travel, Casper has plenty of wide-open spaces and things to do, all while practicing social distancing. To help ensure your health, safety and well-being, travel responsibly. If you plan to travel to Wyoming and don’t feel well, stay home and reschedule your visit for a later date. Many businesses may request that you wear a mask indoors, so it’s recommended to pack two per person for your trip.

Learn more about all the exciting adventures that await you in Wyoming at VisitCasper.com.

2022-03-04T16:01:00

(BPT) – By Joe Dillon | President, Emerson InSinkErator

Americans spent more money on food at home than in restaurants in 2020, halting a restaurant spending trend that has been steadily rising over the past decade. This return to the home kitchen is likely to stay, as 7 out of 10 Americans say they intend to continue cooking at home more, even as restaurants and the world open back up for diners.

Cooking at home has substantial benefits – more quality time with family, greater control over ingredients – but many home cooks find themselves grappling with a new challenge: food waste. The United Nations found global food waste has risen to a mind-boggling 1 billion tons per year. In the United States, households waste nearly one-third of all food purchased.

This level of excess is a hard fact to swallow in a country where more than 1 out of 10 people lack access to an affordable, nutritious diet – and the impacts of food waste have a ripple effect. Food sitting in trash cans isn’t simply a limited resource thrown away: It actively harms the environment by generating methane when it breaks down in landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. In the United States alone, the production of lost or wasted food generates the equivalent of 32.6 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions.

So what can be done when we consider that food waste is an inevitable part of preparing food? After all, even the most conscientious home cook will still find themselves with banana peels, strawberry stems and corn cobs that must be discarded.

Every individual can have an impact on this global issue. Here are three places to start that can add up in a big way.

1. Make a list – and stick to it. Too often, food waste begins in the supermarket when consumers head into the store without a clear plan. Some people may plan what they’ll make for dinner each day and shop accordingly. Others may know their family loves cheesy broccoli and buy it weekly, with loose plans to work it into the rotation. The only right way to approach food planning is choosing what works for each individual family. Being realistic – will the kids really eat Brussels sprouts on Tuesday and Thursday? – can help cut down on food waste by leaving it in the store aisles for someone else to buy.
2. Shop your refrigerator first. Crisper drawers are badly named: Even the crunchiest carrots will turn limp and soggy when forgotten in the back of the refrigerator. Consumers can cut down on food waste if they take inventory of the refrigerator before heading to the grocery store – and even before making their grocery list. Is there celery that passed its “ants on a log” prime that’s just right for minestrone? Could the strawberries that have seen better days sing in a smoothie? By being intentional about using food that was already purchased, consumers can cut down on their own food waste – and have an excuse to get creative in the kitchen.
3. Choose the right way to dispose of food. When home cooks do have food waste, there are better options than the trash can. Food scraps in the trash generate bacteria and germs that can multiply and affect the hygiene of a kitchen. These food scraps are also bound for landfills, where they’ll contribute to damaging the ozone layer.

   Composting can be a viable option for many families, as can a garbage disposal. Many may not realize it, but using an advanced garbage disposal like Emerson’s InSinkErator is an environmentally sustainable choice for food waste. InSinkErator garbage disposals grind even the toughest foods into tiny pieces. From there, food waste is sent through a home’s wastewater plumbing to treatment facilities equipped to handle the small particles. In many cases, wastewater facilities are able to use specialized equipment called anaerobic digesters to capture the methane from food breaking down and turn it into renewable energy. This is a win for consumers who want to do their part – and a win for the environment as well.

Food waste is a challenge that every family faces. But with the right information and food-waste fighting tools like the InSinkErator at your disposal, every household can make an impact.

Joe Dillon is president of Emerson’s InSinkErator business. Since its inception in 1938, garbage disposal inventor InSinkErator has kept 80 million tons of food waste out of landfills.

2022-03-04T16:01:00

(BPT) – This content is sponsored and provided by Myovant Sciences and Pfizer Inc.

Testing and Treatment

The American Urological Association (AUA) prostate cancer screening guidelines suggest men 55 to 69 years old make decisions about getting screened for prostate cancer based on a discussion with their doctor.^[6] Men with a family history of prostate cancer and Black men may be at a higher risk for prostate cancer and can think about getting screened at an earlier age.^[6]

If cancer is detected, healthcare providers may suggest different treatment options based on the results of test findings, the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health.^[7] For example, some men with early-stage prostate cancer may be able to consider active surveillance instead of beginning treatment right away. Their doctor will perform regular testing to help determine if the cancer is growing and if treatment may be necessary.^[7] For advanced disease, first-line treatment often includes androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which can lower levels of testosterone – a hormone that drives prostate cancer.^[7] There are a few different types of androgen deprivation therapy, including medications, as well as surgical options like orchiectomy (surgical castration).^[7] It’s important for patients to work with their doctors to understand and assess each option and determine what is best for them.

2022-03-04T10:01:00

(BPT) – Throughout the nation, pandemic restrictions are easing as COVID-19 cases drop. By now, we are familiar with mask mandates and vaccine card requirements, but how has the pandemic impacted our healthcare delivery system?

Recognizing the need for patients to receive the care they need, and healthcare systems to have maximum workforce flexibility during the pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in early 2020 announced temporary regulatory waivers for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), including suspending physician supervision requirements and allowing CRNAs to practice across state lines. Governors also removed barriers to CRNA practice, granting state healthcare systems better flexibility — actions that saved lives and enabled CRNAs to provide patients with much-needed care.

CRNAs are highly skilled, advanced practice registered nurses licensed and certified to deliver anesthesia and administer pain management. It takes a minimum of seven to eight years of education and experience to prepare a CRNA — education that includes an undergraduate nursing degree, critical care experience and anesthesia education. CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is delivered, from hospitals and pain management centers to dental offices, public health centers and the U.S. military.

As the pandemic wanes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may consider rescinding the temporary waivers that increased the ability of CRNAs to provide high-level care to patients in need. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) argues that reinstating regulations that have been proven to be unnecessary during the pandemic will reduce access to care for many patients, as well as drive up healthcare costs. The AANA is urging the White House to make permanent the removal of physician supervision for CRNAs, so that CRNAs can practice to their full licensure and provide patients with the care they need when they need it.

“CRNAs play an essential role in ensuring patients have access to critical anesthesia services, especially in rural and other underserved populations,” said AANA president Dina Velocci, DNP, CRNA, APRN. “The waiver revealed the need for healthcare professionals to work at the top of their ability and highlights the crucial role CRNAs play in our healthcare system.”

The fight against COVID-19

A study conducted by the AANA demonstrated how the removal of barriers to practice for nurse anesthetists allowed them to provide necessary care to patients with COVID-19.

CRNAs have been practicing independently under stressful conditions across America throughout the pandemic, providing their expertise and invaluable support in triage and rapid systems assessment, airway and ventilator management, vascular volume resuscitation, placing of invasive arterial and central lines and monitors, overseeing complex hemodynamic monitoring, emergency preparedness and resource management — all crucial for COVID-19 treatment.

Nationwide healthcare benefits from CRNAs working to their full ability

Even apart from the pandemic, nurse anesthetists are among the most utilized healthcare providers in the U.S., according to a report from the CMS. In fact, CRNAs play an essential role in ensuring that more patients have access to critical anesthesia services.

“Nurses do most of their demanding work out of the public eye, particularly advanced practice registered nurses like CRNAs whom patients generally only see when they need surgery,” said Velocci. “The COVID pandemic changed that, with more CRNAs working in ICUs and other critical care environments. And data shows that removing physician supervision does not impact quality of care, and can increase healthcare costs.”

A study published by the National Academy of Medicine confirmed that lifting barriers for CRNAs to fully use their training and expertise increases health equity and access to care for underserved communities across the U.S.

Need for caring delivery of anesthesia

CRNAs are members of one of the most trusted professions, according to a Gallup poll. And trust is essential for patients undergoing difficult medical procedures.

“CRNAs expertly care for the whole patient, not just their condition,” added Velocci. “They are with the patient from the beginning of a procedure, through surgery, and in the post-op recovery room, making patient care more affordable and accessible.”

People undergoing anesthesia often experience worry best alleviated by a human, caring approach. A recent AANA Foundation study about patient perceptions of anesthesia found that anxieties regarding anesthesia (or about their children undergoing anesthesia) were mitigated when patients and families could communicate face-to-face with anesthesia providers.

The most effective techniques for alleviating fears about anesthesia included communication with health providers around their specific issues, such as pain tolerance. For patients undergoing local anesthesia where they remain conscious throughout, receiving a good description of everything that would happen and talking directly with their provider were the most effective methods to reduce anxiety.

CRNAs implement effective techniques to relieve anxieties and improve the patient experience using sensitivity and empathetic communication.

To learn more about the vital role of CRNAs and how they can best serve U.S. healthcare needs moving forward, visit aana.com.

2022-03-04T09:05:00

(BPT) – As you get older, you might take steps to develop healthy habits, whether exercising, eating healthier or limiting your consumption of alcohol. But did you know that there are steps you can take to help with your brain health? Such preventive measures might even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s — and the good news is, you might be doing these things anyway, like working on puzzles or trying to get a good night’s sleep.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. In fact, someone in the United States develops the disease every 65 seconds, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. More than 6 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s — a number now projected to reach 7.2 million by 2025.

Along with learning more about the disease, these five simple steps could possibly improve brain health, reduce risk of disease and help delay the potential onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

1) Use it or lose it. Whether it’s crossword puzzles, reading or painting, keeping your brain mentally stimulated may help keep it young.

2) Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to problems with memory and cognitive abilities. Sleep is essential for brain maintenance, like removing built-up toxins in your brain.

3) Stay social. Isolation or loneliness in older adults is associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and a 26% increased risk of all-cause mortality, according to the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Engaging in activity clubs can help you increase your social interaction and help you stay active.

4) Make healthier lifestyle choices. Studies show moderate exercise can help improve brain function, especially in the areas responsible for learning and memory. Improving these parts of the brain may fight pre-Alzheimer’s changes often seen in midlife. Talk to your health plan about fitness programs that may be available at no additional cost. Other lifestyle choices, like eating a healthy diet, may also help reduce cardiovascular risk while helping to slow brain aging.

5) Manage chronic illnesses. Common diseases in older adults, such as diabetes and heart disease, may affect brain function. Talk with your health care provider about treatment plans to help you manage chronic conditions.

In addition to these five steps, it is important to have a memory screening completed each year. Having a record of your brain function year to year may help your health care practitioner diagnose memory disorders earlier.

Memory screenings can be performed during your Annual Wellness Visit, which is free to anyone on Medicare. Make sure to ask your physician to perform a memory evaluation the next time you visit the doctor’s office.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members can also take advantage of the HouseCalls program, which offers an annual health and wellness visit in the convenience and privacy of your home, at no additional cost. A HouseCalls licensed practitioner can conduct a memory screening and refer you to additional care, if needed.

If you feel like you or a loved one might be suffering from symptoms of dementia, contact your health care provider.