========================= JeffNEWS, October 5, 1994 ========================= You and Your Health Catch This Terrific Fall Lineup! -------------------------------- Jefferson's Health Awareness Program has a terrific lineup of classes for you beginning Tuesday, October 18. Your biggest problem will be to choose from among them. Featured are high- and low-impact aerobic dance, step aerobics, slide aerobics, conditioning, aqua exercise, martial arts, yoga and maternity fitness. Look for the schedule in interoffice mail, and then register between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Health Awareness Office, Suite 100, 1015 Chestnut Street, or at the Activities Office, B-100, Jefferson Alumni Hall. For information, including fees, call 6319. Here's a reminder about two other courses: o "The Healthy Eating: Fueling for Optimal Living" program, which teaches basic nutrition principles, takes place either five Mondays from noon to 1 p.m., starting October 17 in 107 Bluemle Life Sciences Building, or on five Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., starting October 18 in 204 Jefferson Medical College. The fee for employees is $15. If you attend all five classes, you receive a $10 rebate. Preregistration is required by October 14. For a registration form or more information, call the Health Awareness Program at 6319, and look for the flier in interoffice mail. o The Environmental Health and Safety Lecture Series continues. All lectures will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in 207 Jefferson Alumni Hall. Wednesday, October 5 - Indoor Air Quality: Concerns and Realities: Nick Pinnizzotto, laboratory safety officer Tuesday, October 11 - Fire Safety: Robert Shewbrooks, facility safety officer Thursday, October 13 - Accident Reporting and Investigation (to introduce the new employee accident form): Sam Pinnizzotto, accident investigator and prevention coordinator To reserve your seat at any of these lectures, call the Health Awareness Program at 6319. Coping With Attention Deficit Disorder -------------------------------------- Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is typically thought of as a childhood problem that disappears with age, but kids with the condition most often continue to show symptoms into adulthood. "ADD is a group of behaviors, or a syndrome, that is not fully understood," says Gregg E. Gorton, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior. "We do know that ADD is two or three times more common in males and that it always begins in childhood and continues into adulthood." There is strong evidence that ADD has a hereditary link, too. People with ADD are easily distracted, have difficulty staying focused on one task or thought, are impulsive, and sometimes hyperactive or restless. Hyperactivity is less prevalent among girls, who instead often seem quietly distracted or spacey. "Untreated children with ADD can't sit still at their desks, walk in line with other children or focus on the day's lesson," says Dr. Gorton. "When they grow up, they often leave a trail of unfinished chores and tasks around the house and move from job to job." While there is no cure for ADD, treatment for adults includes medication, counseling and behavior therapy, or a combination of all three. Counseling can involve educating adults about their condition, teaching them coping skills and aiding them in dealing with the anger and grief that is often associated with a diagnosis of ADD in adulthood. "Many adults who were not diagnosed as children often feel personally responsible for their condition," says Dr. Gorton. "They feel they should have been able to do something about their condition sooner, in order to spare themselves and their loved ones years of pain and worry. Counseling can help them get past these feelings." With behavior therapy, patients become aware of when they begin to feel restless or distracted, and then learn how to stop the feeling and regain focus. Channeling their distraction into creative outlets, such as art, music or writing, can also help adult ADD sufferers cope. The Hip Alternative to Joint Pain --------------------------------- The graying of America means an increase in the demand for eyeglasses, hearing devices and hip replacement surgery. In addition to improving quality of life for elderly patients, total hip replacement can relieve healthcare costs to society. "Surgery and rehabilitation of a debilitated hip keeps people active and out of nursing homes," says Richard Rothman, MD, chairman of the department of orthopaedic surgery. Someone who complains of severe and intolerable pain in the hip, groin or thigh area; has difficulty standing and walking; and has lost hip function is a candidate for a total hip replacement. If medication and physical therapy fail to alleviate the pain or discomfort, surgery is recommended. Changes in the design of the hip prostheses have contributed to the high success rate -- 96 percent -- of this procedure. Poison Prevention Tips ---------------------- If you have a toddler running around the house, you can never be too careful about keeping hazardous products out of reach. Household products such as furniture polish and drain cleaner are obvious "poisons" to keep away from young children. But Sylvester Mobley, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Jefferson, warns that pharmaceutical products, such as iron tablets and antidepressants, can also be harmful to children if swallowed. Even household plants can be perilous to your toddler. Their high pH level can cause mouth burns if swallowed. To help keep your child safe, Dr. Mobley recommends putting all medicines in bottles with child-proof caps and placing them in tamper- proof cabinets. Store cleaning products on shelves out of the reach of children. Have ipecac syrup, a drug which induces vomiting, on hand. Always call a pediatrician, family physician or poison control center before administering the ipecac, however. Zapping Zits As An Adult ------------------------ Some things you never outgrow, like acne. To their consternation, many adults experience acne, despite the popular belief that it comes and goes with the teenage years. "Adults are susceptible to acne at any time, and they may or may not have had it as teens," says Eric Bernstein, MD, assistant professor of dermatology. The causes of adult acne are unknown, although, as with most skin problems, stress usually makes acne worse. Women are likely to experience an acne flare-up during menstrual periods, pregnancy and during menopause, when their hormone levels are raging and rapidly changing. So what can you do to prevent pimples from leaving their ugly mark on your face? Dr. Bernstein offers these hints: o Keep your skin clean and avoid acne-inducing hair and facial products, which can clog the pores and worsen acne. Wash skin with a mild, nondrying cleanser. o Maintain a good diet for general health, but remember there's no good clinical evidence that shows you can "fix" acne through your diet. o Topical antibiotics prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter preparations including benzoyl peroxide or alpha-hydroxy acids can help clear up pimples. o Glycolic peels, in which a dermatologist applies a glycolic acid solution to the face, are the wave of the future in acne treatment. o If you have acne, don't be embarrassed. With so many treatment options, a dermatologist can help save your face before the condition worsens or scarring develops. Discussion of Depression Set for October 7 ------------------------------------------ Just listen to the news or read a newspaper any day, and you'll realize that depression is an illness with very serious consequences if left untreated. To learn what the symptoms are and what steps to take once you recognize them, the department of psychiatry and human behavior welcomes Jeffersonians and the public to a free slide presentation and discussion of depression by department faculty. The event, which will take place Friday, October 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Psychiatric Associates clinic in the 15th floor conference room at 1201 Chestnut Street, is being held in conjunction with the observance of National Mental Illness Awareness Week. To reserve your seat, call 8420. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------