Hospital employees from Parkway Regional Hospital sported the color RED during National Go Red for Women Day, Feb. 3, 2012. This is a day when women are encouraged to take the time to think about their health and how to reduce their risk for heart disease. For more information visit goredforwomen.org
By Jeffrey T. Silverman, M.D., Cardiologist Hillview Clinic
According to the American Heart Association, more than 80 million Americans have some form of heart disease. Four culprits----smoking, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol----play a major role in contributing to heart disease by causing inflammation in the heart’s arteries.
Prevention is key
If you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, quit. You’ll also protect those around you from secondary smoke (what everyone else inhales when you smoke) and tertiary smoke (the residue on clothing, food, utensils, toys and more).
Diabetes and insulin can irritate the arteries and cause blockages, which reduce the flow of blood and the oxygen and nutrients it carries to the heart muscle and, ultimately, to the rest of your body. Controlling blood sugar and insulin levels are key to supplying your body with the nutrients it needs.
Likewise, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood pressure also affect your blood vessels, and when controlled, the potential for blockages is reduced. Start by making these basic changes to your diet:
Limit salt or salt substitutes
Avoid fried foods
Cut out cookies, cake, candy, ice cream and crackers
What about carbs?
Did you know that there’s a difference in the types of sugars you eat? Foods contain good (complex) and bad (simple) carbohydrates. Good carbohydrates are difficult for the body to break down, so they take longer to elevate blood sugar. Bad carbohydrates break down easily and can quickly elevate blood sugar. Examples of good carbs that I recommend eating are:
Beans, such as lentil beans and soy beans
Fruits
Low-fat yogurts
Vegetables
Whole grains
Wild or brown rice
Avoid bad carbs, which include table sugar, corn syrup, fruit juice, candy and baked goods made with white flour.
What’s a heart healthy diet?
Here’s what I recommend for a healthy heart:
Vegetables---all you want, all day long. Prepare them hot or cold, but not breaded or fried. Limit sugary vegetables like legumes, corn, beans and peas.
Six ounces of skinned chicken or fish a day. Limit red meat, veal, pork or lamb to six ounces a few times a month.
Three fruits a day, but watch out for certain fruits that contain more sugar than other varieties. One banana is so sugary it equals two fruits; 12-14 grapes or raisins equal one fruit.
A small amount of fat-free milk and cheese each day.
I also recommend walking, but check with your doctor before you start. Vitamins are also good, but only if your doctor agrees.
You’ll soon feel better and eventually look better. You may also improve unhealthy blood tests and blood pressure results and help yourself to good heart health.
Get Moving Fulton County
Are you, your friends or coworkers looking to get active, lose a few pounds or make some new goals? Do you need a supportive environment to help you with lifestyle changes? Are you motivated by competition? Do you need help with your New Year’s resolutions? Would you just like to embrace a healthier life style? If you answered yes, then you need to sign up for Get Moving Fulton County provided by Fulton County Cooperative Extension Service. This program will allow individuals and/ or teams to choose a supportive or competitive track or both! The Competitive track will be the Biggest Loser type competition with *new* physical activity tracking, optional weekly weigh in and virtual challenges. A point system will be used to determine weekly and overall winners. The Supportive track will include bi-weekly meetings (Mondays at 6:00) with optional weigh in, including opportunities for education, physical activity and recipe tasting. Get Moving will begin on February 13 and last for 12 weeks ending April 30th. Informational Meetings will be held on February 6 at 6:00 at the Fulton County Extension Office and February 9th at 6:00 at Fulton First Baptist. Preregistration is required by February 10. If you would like to participate or need more information please call 236-2351or 627-1837. Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
Water Sampling volunteers needed in Fulton County
Volunteers sample surface water in a Commonwealth-wide program. In the Purchase, plus counties such as Trigg east of the Lakes, sampling is done under the Four Rivers Watershed Watch(FRWW). Laboratory work is conducted by Hancock Biological Station, Murray State University.Spring sampling was impaired in Fulton County this year because of extensive flooding.
"ph" and conductivity measurements are done on-site while E-Coli and Phosphorous testing is done in the lab. First, the good news: "ph" or acidity measured in the FRWW were generally within bounds. Conductivity is an electrical conductivity test driven primarily by mineral salts and carbon dioxide content: of fifty-six(56) FRWW samples, a Mud Creek sample ranked one of the five worst. E-coli problems are driven mostly by human and animal wastes: of 49 samples meeting rigorous Lab acceptance criteria, a Mud Creek sample was one of the seven worst by a wide margin above the remaining 41 samples tested. Total phosphorous contributes to algae bloom and can adversely affect aquatic life: of 51 lab results the four samples taken from Mud Creek and Little Mud Creek were topped by two other samples to comprise the worst half dozen, all other samples were distantly low in phosphorous by comparison to the top six.
There are several other tests conducted on-site by water samplers such as temperature of air and water, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, along with several visual observations such as aquatic life and land use.
Anyone wishing to become a volunteer water sampler should contact 270-559-4422 or 270-474-2272. Early contact will ensure a spot in next spring's certification training for volunteers.
STOLEN!
ANTIQUE JOHN DEERE PEDAL TRACTOR!
A
PEDAL TRACTOR & TRAILER LIKE THE ONE IN THE PICTURE WAS STOLEN FROM
A SHED AT THE HOME OF TOMMY & GLENDA TUCKER DURING THE NIGHT ON
JANUARY 24, 2012. THIS IS A TOY THAT HAS BEEN PLAYED WITH BY 3
GENERATIONS OF KIDS & WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT RETURNED TO US. IF
ANYONE SEES THIS, PLEASE CALL THE SOUTH FULTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 731- 479-1311
Up
To $10,000 in Grants Available for College Education at Mid-Continent
University
A college education is more affordable
than many people may think. Financial aid comes in many forms. Many Kentucky
residents may qualify for Federal and one or more State Grants. A grant is not
a loan and will not have to be repaid. State grant monies are running out
earlier every year. It is important to apply for grants as soon as possible
after January 1, 2012. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Grant funds
are designed to assist students with the cost of tuition, books, and fees. With
state and federal grants, many students attend Mid-Continent University at
little or no cost. Financial aid loans and often grants are available to make
going back to college affordable. To be considered for Financial Aid, ALL
students must complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA. Completing the FAFSA does not
require you to enroll in school.
The
Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG) provides need-based grants to qualified
Kentucky residents to attend regionally accredited private colleges like
Mid-Continent. This grant (up to $3,000/yr) is available for most MCU students,
even those with high incomes. In addition to KTG, the CAP state grant (up to $1,900/yr) and Pell federal grant (up to $5,550/yr) are available to those who
qualify but have lower income guidelines. State grant funding is based on a first-come,
first-serve basis… typically gone by February. It is important to fill out
a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ immediately or we
can assist you at any of our info sessions at no cost to you. This does not
commit you to going to college; it is just a way for you to determine how many
grants you could qualify for. In addition, MCU works with employer
education-reimbursement plans as well as military tuition assistance
programs.
Mid-Continent
University ADVANTAGE has provided a path for thousands of adults to reach their
life-long goal of a college degree. Currently there are over 1,800 adults
enrolled in 29 different locations across Kentucky and southern Illinois, with
additional students also enrolled in our online degrees. Why is this program
reaching so many people? Adults in ADVANTAGE have a common regret: not earning
their college degree at the traditional age. When a second chance comes along,
many vow not to make the same mistake twice and finally “just do it.” With a
one night a week schedule and affordable tuition, adults finally have a way to
earn their college degree.
If
one night a week doesn’t work for you, some of our graduates earn their degrees
completely online. If you would like more information about our online program
email online@midcontinent.edu.
If
you or someone you know would like details, stop by one of these information
sessions:
Tuesday, January 31st anytime between 4:00 – 6:00 PM at
Fulton County Public Library located at 312 Main St. in Fulton
Thursday, February 2nd anytime between 4:00 – 6:00 PM at
The Citizens Bank located at 1522 Union City Highway in Hickman
If
you are unable to stop by one of the above sessions or in the event of
inclement weather, please contact advantage@midcontinent.edu
or call the university toll free at 1.888.MCU.GRAD.
Mid-Continent University is a private,
non-profit, Southern Baptist affiliated organization. MCU is regionally
accredited and headquartered in Mayfield, Kentucky. If you are interested in
information about enrolling in ADVANTAGE, email advantage@midcontinent.edu, visit www.midcontinent.edu or call
1-888-MCU-GRAD.
Fulton City Commission listens to citizens' complaints
At a relatively short meeting Monday night, the Fulton City Commission were all ears as local citizens were in attendance to voice their opinions on certain issues. At the beginning of the evening Mayor Elaine Forrester asked for a moment of silence in honor of Hickman's Mayor Charles Murphy, who was tragically murdered early Monday morning. The meeting's highlights included Bob Craven coming before the commission to discuss the city's portion for the airport expansion. It was evident that a misunderstanding had occurred between the parties as City Manager Steve Freedman stated that he believed the County said they would cover the City's portion, and Mr. Craven had thought differently. He recommended that the county and city get together and finish the grant application to send in to the PAD office, that will supposedly cover the local share for the expansion. The city plans to contact the PAD office to figure out exactly what they need to do. Another citizen approached the commission to discuss the issues of the city's occupational license and the number of distressed homes in town. Dave Palama, a landlord with nine properties in Fulton and a Fulton County resident, doesn't feel that the 2% tax that comes with operating a business in town is necessary. The commission agreed that this would be something that would be looked at around the budget planning period. "I think the city is harmed by the tax, and it's very intrusive," says Freedman. Mr. Palama also brought up a few houses that were in horrible condition and the commission was well aware of them. The city currently has 49 condemned properties and Steve Freedman spoke about plans to get with City Attorney Allison Whitledge and prioritize the list of condemned house and start the costly process of condemnation.
Other actions taken during the meeting include:
Approved minutes of a regular meeting held on Monday, January 9th, 2012
Approved Vouchers
Appointed Tim Hacker to FIDA Board
Accepted Hal Klein's resignation from Twin City Ambulance Board. He is moving to South Fulton and would no longer be able to be a Kentucky member on the board.
Appointed Darcy Linn to the Twin City Ambulance Board
Announced that South Fulton approved all contracts in regards to Parkway Regional Hospital taking over operation of the Twin City Ambulance Service, still awaiting City of Hickman and Fulton County approval.
