Category: Brandpoint

2018-03-05T10:01:01

(BPT) – Every day, consumers are bombarded with buzzwords when selecting groceries — natural, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and so on. Coupled with news headlines about the environmental impacts of growing, raising and catching food, it’s no wonder many of us are becoming more confused about which choices are right for our diets, our budgets and the environment. And nowhere is this issue more confounding, perhaps, than in the seafood section.

Fish and seafood are flavorful sources of protein, and the variety and versatility of the ocean’s bounty is no mystery. What may be considered a mystery is whether all the options in front of us are sustainably sourced. Some are labeled wild, others farm-raised, but questions remain given the limited information provided and the fact that mislabeling can occur (an independent study of the open global market found an average mislabeling rate of 30 percent for all fish and seafood).

With the world’s growing demand for seafood, ocean environments are increasingly strained. The livelihoods of approximately 10 percent of the global population are supported by the oceans through artisanal and commercial fishing careers. Overfishing — when too few adult fish remain to breed for a healthy population — has been an issue for some species, and it can decimate fish stocks and habitats as well as the fishing communities and economies that rely on a healthy supply.

Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing continues to occur around the world and can exacerbate overfishing problems. IUU fishing generally disregards quotas and the environment, as does destructive fishing, which may expose delicate ecosystems to explosives or chemicals.

Fortunately, industry groups have developed standards and certifications to help us navigate the murky waters and find some clarity. For 20 years, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), for instance, has been refining its science-based standards for certifying sustainable fisheries and introducing traceability in its efforts to keep the oceans wild and teeming with life for generations to come. And, seafood that has been determined to meet the MSC’s stringent standards is marked with an easily identifiable blue fish label.

By looking for the trusted blue fish label, seafood shoppers can be assured that their purchase:

* Represents only wild fish or seafood from fisheries assessed by an independent third party to meet strict science-based criteria.

* Supports sustainable fishery practices and good management that adapts to changes in the environment.

* Traces back to a certified sustainable fishery and is kept separate from non-certified fish and seafood.

* Features correct labeling, providing peace of mind while selecting food for the dinner table.

Of course, not all certification labels are the same. To make a truly informed choice, you might consider doing a little homework before deciding which label to seek and support with your shopping and dining-out dollars. Several well-regarded international organizations maintain best practices for food production, sustainability and traceability, providing recognition of certification and ecolabeling programs that meet them. Organizations like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), ISEAL Alliance (the global memberships association for sustainability standards) and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) are all considered reputable sources for more information.

With a little research, you can gather information that helps ensure the seafood you put on the table can be traced to its source and verified as wild and sustainable. At the same time, its enjoyment can be guilt-free: each purchase provides incentive for more fisheries, retailers and restaurants to join the movement to support transparency, traceability and sustainability in our food system. By speaking with their wallets, consumers have the power to track their seafood from ocean to plate and keep it wild.

2018-02-22T09:01:00

(BPT) – There is no disputing that digital health technology and connected devices can produce massive amounts of data. But that data, on its own, is not always particularly useful.

The real value comes from translating that data into personalized and actionable information and putting it into the hands of people, in real time, whose health might depend on those facts and figures.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members with Type 2 diabetes may be eligible to utilize new wearable technology to help monitor their glucose levels 24/7 via the convenience of a cell phone. They can also connect directly with a health coach to seek individual support, share information and make behavior changes to improve their health.

Announced in mid-January with DexCom, Inc., the leader in continuous glucose monitoring, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, this innovative pairing — high-tech, real-time wearable monitors with direct access to diabetes coaches — will be available to eligible plan participants across multiple regions throughout this year.

Here’s how the blend of high-tech and high-touch care supports people managing Type 2 diabetes:

1. Dexcom’s Mobile Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGM) technology consists of a sensor — usually worn on the abdomen — that continuously reads glucose levels just beneath the skin.

2. A transmitter sends the data to a smartphone, which processes and displays updated data every five minutes and can reveal relationships between eating, exercise and blood sugar that are difficult to observe with only test strips and a glucose meter.

3. Diabetes coaches help participants interpret the transmitted data and give guidance on how to change behavior pertaining to nutrition and exercise to help keep glucose levels in a safe range.

4. Participants also receive an activity tracker to help them understand and act upon data gathered by the wearable device.

5. Glucose data summaries can be shared with participants and their primary care providers to help foster better care coordination, which ideally may result in increased glucose control, reductions in medications and an empowered approach to managing diabetes.

“With more than 27 million people nationwide living with Type 2 diabetes, there is urgent need to address this epidemic in new ways,” said Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “Continuous glucose monitoring can be a game changer for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans, as the data can be translated into personalized information that can be acted upon in real time.”

To learn more about UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, visit UHCMedicarePlans.com.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

Y0066_180216_124040 Accepted

2018-03-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – –

2018-02-22T06:01:00

(BPT) – They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But for millions of low-income children across the country, the low-cost or free lunch they get at school is the most nutritious, most filling meal they will eat.

In 2016, over 30 million kids across the U.S. received low-cost or free lunches at their school. With such a wide-ranging impact, school meal programs play a huge role in the well-being of our nation’s young people.

According to Wilder Research, nearly one in six children in the state of Minnesota live in food-insecure households. Many of these kids rely on school lunch to get the nutrients they need. To make sure these needs are met, one school district in the state has been blending nutrition with trends in popular culture to create a dynamic program that is getting kids excited about healthy food while also creating better eating habits.

Jr. Iron Chef

Question: In an urban school district, how can the idea behind a popular television show be used to raise awareness of healthy meal options?

In essence, this is what happened when Miguel Lopez, a seventh-grader at Anwatin Middle School, along with seven other teams and 16 other students, competed alongside eight professional chefs in one of Minneapolis Public Schools’ “Jr. Iron Chef” competitions.

Modeled after the popular television show, where teams compete to create the most appetizing dish, this three-year-old program was designed in cooperation with Cargill to teach students about good nutrition and meal preparation. Students from across the district were invited to compete — just as popular celebrity chefs on TV do — in live cooking competitions.

“This night was not so much about the competition, but about what these students have learned about how to prepare good meals on their own,” said Minneapolis Public Schools’ Director of Culinary and Wellness Services, Bertrand Weber. “We wanted to apply the Iron Chef concept to help improve our students’ health and well-being. Yes, it was a cool night, but the hope is that they will go home and do this for themselves and their families versus choosing less healthy meal options.”

While the Jr. Iron Chef competition was getting students all over the district revved up, Cargill and Minneapolis Public Schools were weaving another popular culinary trend into the district’s nutrition and wellness programs: food trucks.

Nutrition on wheels

Parked outside the venue where Jr. Iron Chef was held was a shiny, new food truck purchased with a recent $75,000 grant from Cargill to Minneapolis Public Schools. This is the school district’s second food truck. The first one hit the road in 2013 and became so popular that it quickly exceeded capacity.

The trucks are staffed by the school district’s nutrition and culinary staff, to bring nutritious meals to students, especially when school is not in session.

The trucks also appear at district-run wellness seminars and cooking demonstrations.

“The value of these food trucks has been recognized by Minneapolis Public Schools and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),” said Cargill Vice President of Corporate Responsibility Michelle Grogg. “It’s been a successful strategy that community and state partners have found to improve their capacity to reach food-insecure children when school is in and out of session.”

In the summer of 2017, Minneapolis Public Schools served approximately 400,000 free meals and snacks to Minneapolis youth. This coming summer, Minneapolis Public Schools’ two food trucks will operate at a total of eight summer feeding sites in conjunction with community youth and physical activity programming.

A new example

As school lunch plays such an important role for millions of urban, low-income students, the importance of steering these kids toward eating more nutritious, wholesome meals cannot be overstated. Though it can be hard to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables, the creative and forward-thinking programs put on by the Minneapolis Public Schools point in a fun, and promising, direction.

“It’s great to see two popular trends in food being applied to the nutritional needs of our students,” says Grogg. “We hope it doesn’t stop here and we hope other communities around Minnesota and the U.S. learn from our successes.”

2018-03-13T16:01:00

(BPT) – An estimated 4.4 percent of adults have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the U.S. — which means that when applied to the full U.S. adult population aged 18 and over, approximately 10.5 million adults are estimated to have ADHD. Medication is not appropriate for all individuals diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Many of these adults struggle with symptom management as they go through their day.

On June 20, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved MYDAYIS^® (mixed salts of a single-entity amphetamine product), an extended-release treatment for ADHD in patients 13 years and older. Mydayis is not for use in children 12 years and younger. In clinical studies, Mydayis demonstrated improved attention up to 16 hours after dosing, beginning at 2 to 4 hours, compared to placebo. Attention was measured using the Permanent Product Measure of Performances (PERMP), a skill-adjusted math test that measures attention in ADHD. Mydayis is now available for appropriate patients by prescription.

Mydayis, other amphetamine containing medicines, and methylphenidate have a high chance for abuse and can cause physical and psychological dependence. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child for signs of abuse and dependence before and during treatment with Mydayis. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs. Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the differences between physical and psychological dependence and drug addiction.

Mydayis is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it contains amphetamine that can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Keep Mydayis in a safe place to protect it from theft. Never give Mydayis to anyone else, because it may cause death or harm them. Selling or giving away Mydayis may harm others and is against the law.

“The recognition and treatment of ADHD have gone through significant developments in the past 20 years as we’ve come to understand more about how symptoms may impact a patient’s day,” said Dr. Theresa Cerulli, Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School. “The availability of multiple, different ADHD treatments, including Mydayis, provides healthcare professionals with different tools they can consider using as part of their patients’ management plans.”

As the understanding of ADHD and the ways it impacts people continues to evolve, it is also important for healthcare professionals to have a range of treatment options to help address the needs of their individual patients. Mydayis provides healthcare professionals with another option for their appropriate patients who may seek an extended-release treatment that helps address their individual needs. People living with ADHD should work with a healthcare professional to determine whether a pharmacological treatment is appropriate for them, and if so, which one helps meet their individual needs.

For more information about Mydayis, talk to your healthcare provider and visit www.MYDAYIS.com.

What is MYDAYIS^®?

Mydayis is a prescription medicine for ADHD in patients 13 years and older. Mydayis is not for children 12 years and younger.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Abuse and dependence. Mydayis, other amphetamine containing medicines, and methylphenidate have a high chance for abuse and can cause physical and psychological dependence. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child for signs of abuse and dependence before and during treatment with Mydayis.

Tell your healthcare provider (HCP) if you or your child have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs. Your HCP can tell you how physical and psychological dependence and drug addiction are different.

Mydayis is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it contains amphetamine that can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Keep Mydayis in a safe place to protect it from theft. Never give Mydayis to anyone else, because it may cause death or harm them. Selling or giving away Mydayis may harm others and is against the law.

Who should not take Mydayis?

Do not take Mydayis if you or your child is:

• allergic to amphetamine or any of the ingredients in Mydayis. See Medication Guide for a list of ingredients.
• taking or have taken a medicine for depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitor [MAOI]) within the past 14 days.

Serious problems can occur while taking Mydayis. Tell your HCP:

• if you or your child have heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems. Sudden death has occurred in people with heart problems or defects taking stimulant medicines. Sudden death, stroke and heart attack have happened in adults taking stimulant medicines. Your HCP should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting Mydayis. Since increases in blood pressure and heart rate may occur, your HCP should regularly check these during treatment. Call your HCP or go to the ER right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Mydayis.

• if you or your child have mental (psychiatric) problems, or a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. New or worse behavior and thought problems or new or worse bipolar illness may occur. New psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, or seeing or believing things that are not real) or new manic symptoms may occur. Call your HCP right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems during treatment, especially hearing voices, seeing or believing things that are not real, or new manic symptoms.

• if your child is having slowing of growth (height or weight). The HCP should check your child’s height and weight often while on Mydayis, and may stop treatment if a problem is found. Mydayis is not for children 12 years and younger.

• if you or your child have circulation problems in fingers and toes (peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon). Fingers or toes may feel numb, cool, painful, sensitive to temperature and/or change color. Call your HCP if you or your child have any of these symptoms or any signs of unexplained wounds appearing on fingers or toes while taking Mydayis.

• if you or your child have a seizure. Your HCP will stop treatment.

• if you or your child have symptoms of serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, coma, or changes in mental status; problems controlling movements or muscle twitching, stiffness, or tightness; fast heartbeat; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Call your HCP or go to the ER if symptoms occur. Serotonin syndrome may occur if Mydayis is taken with certain medicines and may be life-threatening.

• if you or your child are or become pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Mydayis may harm your unborn baby.

• if you or your child are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while taking Mydayis. Mydayis passes into breast milk.

What should I avoid during Mydayis treatment?

• Avoid drinking alcohol during treatment with Mydayis.

What are possible side effects of Mydayis?

The most common side effects of Mydayis include:

• trouble sleeping
• decreased appetite
• dry mouth
• increased heart rate
• anxiety
• nausea
• irritability
• weight loss

For additional safety information, click for Medication Guide and discuss with your healthcare provider.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Mydayis is a registered trademark of Shire LLC.

2018-03-13T08:01:00

(BPT) – Suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, Gloria Stephens became extremely bloated and could barely walk, so she knew something else was wrong. She soon learned that her kidneys were failing, and she joined the ranks of the 1 in 7 people with kidney disease. Often called a “silent killer,” kidney disease can cause a person to lose up to 90 percent of kidney function and not even know it.

For National Kidney Month this March, Fresenius Kidney Care — a leading dialysis provider with more than 2,400 centers nationwide caring for more than 190,000 people — urges people to understand the symptoms of kidney disease and what to do if you suspect you may be at risk.

“I tell all of my friends and anyone I meet — you’ve got to ask questions,” recommends Gloria, 69, of Jacksonville, Florida, who now goes to a Fresenius Kidney Care center to receive her life-saving dialysis, which filters her blood because her kidneys no longer function effectively. “You’ve got to know what’s going on in your body.”

Here’s what you should keep in mind to protect yourself from kidney disease:

1. Know Your Risk. As Gloria learned, the two leading causes of kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes. Other risk factors include family history of kidney failure, kidney stones, smoking, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Your age — especially if you are over 50 — overall health and even ethnicity can also put you at greater risk for kidney disease. If you are African American, Hispanic or Native American, you may be more prone to the risk factors that lead to kidney disease.

2. Recognize the Symptoms. Signs and symptoms of kidney disease often occur after the condition has progressed, so early detection is key to maintaining kidney health. Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your urine, or if you’re experiencing fatigue, itching, swelling in your hands or feet, shortness of breath or pain in the small of your back. Make sure your loved ones are aware of the symptoms, too, because they may notice something you don’t.

3. Get Screened Regularly. If you are at risk for kidney disease, you should be screened by your doctor at least once a year, including blood and urine tests like glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Your estimated GFR (eGFR) is calculated using blood as well as taking into consideration age, weight, body size and gender. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the greater the benefit of treatment.

4. Focus on What Matters Most. While there are many reasons to get healthy, you should focus on what’s important to you, whether it’s spending time with family and friends or doing an activity you love. You’re more likely to stick with a care plan if you have a goal.

“There are a number of things you can easily do to get healthier and decrease your risk of kidney disease, starting with regular testing,” says Dr. Jeffrey Hymes, chief medical officer at Fresenius Kidney Care.

After Gloria was diagnosed with kidney disease, she didn’t expect to walk, drive or live alone again. But she draws strength from her family, stays active and is able to do all of those things. “I get myself to do something every day. If you don’t let negative things turn you around, you’ll be successful,” said Gloria, who is active in her sorority and church and volunteers with children. “The person who I think gives me the greatest amount of encouragement is my little 7-year-old grandniece named Kendall. It’s wonderful when you have a little person in your heart and in your life to keep you going.”

“Patients like Gloria show that focusing on what you love is a powerful factor in coping with kidney disease,” says Dr. Hymes. “Kidney patients and their care teams should address both the physical and emotional aspects of their health and focus on their ‘why’ as part of their treatment plan.”

Learn more about kidney disease by visiting www.freseniuskidneycare.com.

2018-03-12T15:19:01

(BPT) – Raising backyard chickens has been a growing trend in the United States over the past several years. Consumers crave choice in their family’s diet, which often includes food they have grown or raised themselves. Raising a backyard flock helps consumers have more control over the eggs their family eats, but bringing home chicks for a backyard flock is just the beginning.

The happiest backyard chickens have the healthiest diets, and the best eggs come from hens eating the most nutritious feed. Today, we are increasingly focused on the impact food has on our family’s health. Hobbyists like to feed their flock the way they feed themselves: non-GMO, organic, soy-free, omega-free and all natural.

Having a say in what goes into the food their family eats is one of the main reasons people choose to raise backyard chickens. There are 2.9 million households in the U.S. raising chickens, and 62 percent of backyard hobbyists anticipate adding to their flock in the next three years. Raising chickens is a way to extend food supply, and hobbyists don’t plan to scale back.

Providing healthy food for your family begins with the source. Nutrena poultry feed makes it easy by using wholesome ingredients in its selection of affordable, homegrown, healthy poultry feeds. By providing your chickens with the highest-quality nutrition, you’re sure to have the freshest eggs for that Sunday morning family breakfast.

With companies like Whole Foods Market reporting 426 percent growth in non-GMO sales from 2010 to 2014, it’s evident that consumers want to know what they’re eating. That’s why Nutrena also offers a USDA-certified organic line of poultry feed that is non-GMO.

The Nutrena poultry feed portfolio includes three different feed lines for each type of poultry hobbyist. Whether you’re starting your chicks, supporting your layers or raising meat birds, Nutrena poultry feed offers the nutrition they need.

For more information about the full line of Nutrena feed, visit NutrenaWorld.com.

2018-03-12T09:01:01

(BPT) – Hearing loss is often referred to as a silent disease. It doesn’t hurt and it often occurs so gradually over time that you barely notice the insidious damage it does. As a result, hard-of-hearing people often delay seeking treatment for their hearing loss.

Here are seven reasons you shouldn’t make that mistake.

1. Hearing loss can be a sign of a more serious illness

While in most cases hearing loss is a result of aging and excessive noise exposure, it can also be a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition. Some of these include tumors, cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. As such, hearing loss should never be dismissed.

2. Untreated hearing loss hurts your career and earning potential

Thinking about hiding your hearing loss at work because it makes you look incompetent and old? Think again! Misunderstanding instructions and asking people to repeat themselves all the time makes others question your ability to do your job. Minimizing communication breakdowns at work by wearing hearing aids will ensure that hearing loss doesn’t become a roadblock for your career.

3. Untreated hearing loss hurts your relationships with loved ones

Did your hearing loss cause you to miss out on a private joke with your pals? Or did you inadvertently hurt your grandchild’s feelings because you didn’t hear them calling you? Since good communication is vital to any close relationship, hearing loss can be hardest on the ones we love the most. Left unresolved, mounting resentment and frustration eventually strains your most cherished relationships.

4. Untreated hearing loss leads to rise in fall risk

Did you know that (along with vision) good hearing also helps you maintain spatial orientation and balance? This is why research has shown that those with even a mild untreated hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling than people with good hearing.

5. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia

There is a growing body of evidence linking untreated hearing loss to physical changes in the brain, accelerated rate of cognitive decline, and cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, at least one long-term study shows wearing hearing aids reduces cognitive decline. Why would you take chances?

6. Untreated hearing loss can cause social isolation and depression

When you have a hard time hearing, social activities with friends and family start to become more embarrassing than fun. Your natural recourse may be slowly withdrawing from these activities that you once enjoyed. No wonder, then, that untreated hearing loss frequently leads to social isolation and even depression.

7. Treating hearing loss is easy and painless

Given all these reasons why untreated hearing loss is bad, here’s one piece of good news: Getting treated for hearing loss is easy! Unlike other serious medical conditions that may require surgeries or painful treatments, having your hearing loss evaluated and treated with hearing aids is easy and painless. In fact, most people who finally start to wear hearing aids regret that they didn’t seek treatment earlier.

2018-03-12T08:07:01

(BPT) – The Pill is the most popular form of contraception. There are over 35 varieties available to the more than 10 million women who have been prescribed the Pill in the U.S. These statistics would not be possible without thought leaders rallying together for progress in women’s reproductive healthcare.

2018-03-12T08:01:01

(BPT) – The longer you live the more likely you will develop a medical condition that requires surgery or a procedure. In fact, half of all people 65 and older will have at least one surgical procedure in their lifetime. And along with common potential side effects from anesthesia during surgery such as nausea, chills or muscle aches and itching, older patients are at risk for confusion or short-term memory loss. But, rest assured, there are steps seniors can take to minimize these side effects.

“The aging brain is more vulnerable to anesthesia and surgery, but there is research that provides guidance to decrease these risks,” said James D. Grant, M.D., M.B.A., FASA, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). “Older patients should talk with their physician anesthesiologist prior to surgery about their entire medical history and any memory problems they’ve had in the past, so an anesthesia plan can be developed that ensures their safety and reduces the chance of side effects or complications.”

Two anesthesia-related surgery risks more common in older people include:

Postoperative delirium — This is a temporary condition that causes the patient to be confused, disoriented, unaware of their surroundings and have problems with memory and paying attention. It may not start until a few days after surgery, comes and goes, and usually disappears after about a week.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) — This is a less well understood but more serious condition that can lead to long-term memory loss and make it difficult to learn, concentrate and think. Because some of these problems are already common in elderly people and may be the sign of an underlying long-term cognitive decline, the only way to determine if a patient actually has POCD is to conduct a mental test before surgery.

Researchers in anesthesia care continue to study and learn more about these conditions and how to prevent or reduce the effects.

During Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 11 to 17) ASA offers six tips for seniors to help limit confusion after surgery:

1. Ask your physician to conduct a pre-surgery cognitive test — an assessment of your mental function. The physician can use the results as a baseline for comparison after surgery.

2. Be sure your caregiver, a family member or friend stays or can visit with you as you recover, carefully observes your physical and mental activity after surgery and reports anything troubling to your physician.

3. Check with your physician before taking medications after surgery that can affect your nervous system, such as those for anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms or sleep aids.

4. If you wear hearing aids or glasses, ask that they be made available as soon as possible after the procedure.

5. Request a hospital room for recovery with a window if possible, so you can tell whether it’s day or night.

6. If you will be staying overnight in the hospital, pack a family photo, a clock and a calendar, or other familiar objects from home, to help you readjust.

In 2016, ASA launched the Perioperative Brain Health Initiative, which has engaged a multidisciplinary group to work with health care providers, payers and the public to create better access to care that minimizes the impact of pre-existing conditions that may impair mental thinking or intellectual abilities, and optimizes patients’ cognitive recovery and their experience before, during and after surgery for adults 65 and older.

To learn more about preparing for surgery, visit asahq.org/wscpreparingforsurgery. You also can download and print Preparing for Surgery: An Anesthesia Checklist to take with you to visit your physician anesthesiologist prior to surgery, as well as when you go to the hospital or outpatient clinic for the surgery. A brochure on seniors and anesthesia is also available for download. To learn more about the critical role physician anesthesiologists play before, during and after surgery, visit www.asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 52,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology.

ASA is committed to ensuring physician anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of patients before, during and after surgery to provide the highest quality and safest care every patient deserves. For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. Like ASA on Facebook; follow ASALifeline on Twitter.