Introduction to Colonoscopy Part I

 Colonoscopies are on the list of important medical check-ups for people over 50 years old. And, they may be the most dreaded and avoided of all the regular tests. The good news is we have met with a really terrific doctor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital who gave us some wonderful information to make this test less stressful and more successful.

We thought that some background information about the reason for having a colonoscopy (co-lin-aws-cah-pee) and some basic information about the procedure would be useful before going into the preparation process. After some research we found an article that we thought described it very well. Excerpts from the website, coloncleansers.com, which we found through a Google search main is our source of information. 

“…There are many benefits to a colonoscopy” and since the test looks inside your colon, it can tell if there are any signs of concern …Your colon is your lower (or large) intestine. A colonoscopy is performed using a colonoscope, a flexible, fiber-optic cable connected to a small camera.”

“Your doctor may have several reasons for wanting to perform a colonoscopy.  Usually …it is used to screen for colorectal cancer.  You may be surprised to know that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer, with lung cancer being the most common.  This kind of cancer often starts in small masses of cells called polyps on the walls of your colon.”

“While the polyps are small and are just starting to grow, there are typically no symptoms to speak of.  But over time, usually after five to ten years, these tiny polyps can turn into a cancerous growth.  It is recommended that people who are over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy once every five years, whether they have any symptoms or not.  Through a colonoscopy, your doctor can identify, locate, and remove any precancerous polyps that could be growing in your large intestine.”

“… The more anxious you are, the more difficult it will be for the operator to perform your colonoscopy.  To ensure that you remain as calm as possible, it is likely that your doctor will offer you sedatives to keep you relaxed, but not asleep. You will be lying on your left side throughout the colonoscopy.” 

Now we will take a little breather, let you absorb this information and invite you to read the real news, the great preparation ideas for your next colonoscopy.

Yoga and Massage

On Wednesday night this week we struggled to find enough yoga mats for our Stress Reduction Through Massage and our newly started Yoga class. Two big classes full of folks making a statement about taking better care of ourselves. Yeah! Way to go! We want to thank L Ruth Federman from our Chelsea neighbor, the Breathing Project and our own Anna Kuchinsky of Horticulture for bringing their expertise to FH!

While It Is Still A Tad O’ Winter

Seasons are changing quickly at High Point Farm. Last Fall’s spinach survived the snow outside the High Tunnels and is starting to send new leaves up already.  Life inside the tunnels is quickening as well.

But the Winter Gardening question lingers … how can you garden in winter?  In January a small brave Garden Group went to the farm with numerous chores to do. We offer here an  answer.

Lake Through the Trees

Old High Tunnel Through Untouched Snow

David Unloads Compost Scraps From the Gator

Ateeta Uncovers the Straw Pile for the Compost

A Luxurious Pile of Berry X'lent Cafe Food Scraps

Next a Layer of Alpaca Manure

Lastly we put the pile to bed with a layer of straw.

Path Marked with Sticks

David Unzips the New High Tunnel

Look At Those Vegetables!!!

In the Office Garden

Syphilis, Another of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Syphilis is a disease caused by a bacterium known as Treponema palladium. The disease is transmitted by either sexual contact or by an infected mother to her unborn child.

Syphilis is hard to diagnose and may take 3 months to appear after the initial infection.

The disease has three stages of which the first two are extremely infection.

The first stage has painless ulcers, chancres, where the syphilis organism has entered the body. This may be on the vulva, cervix, penis, mouth or around the anus.

Untreated the ulcers will heal between 2 to 6 weeks, and progress to the secondary stage. The symptoms of this stage include a flu like illness, a non itchy patchy or extensive rash on the body, flat warty lesions on the vulva or around the anus in both sexes, white patches on the tongue or roof of the mouth or patchy hair loss.

This stage is extremely contagious and can be transmitted sexually to a partner. The first two stages if treated, syphilis will be cured and not progress to a latent or third stage.

If suspected of having this disease you should go to your doctor or a health clinic. Syphilis is diagnosed by a blood sample or a smear from fluid from a lesion or a physical exam of genitals in males and an internal exam in women.

An initial blood test can be negative and must be repeated in 3 months.

Sexual contacts should be informed and tested.

Any sexual contact should be avoided and lesions on the skin, sores or rashes are contagious until one is adequately treated. This treatment is as advised by your doctor or health clinic.

In spite of treatment a blood test can still be positive for antibody titers and a doctors certificate will be needed to explain that the individual has been adequately treated.

The latent stage lasts for years and can course damage to the heart or nervous system. Even if treated adequately the damage caused may remain.

A condom decreases the chances of getting syphilis but since it may not cover all sores or rashes there is a chance of getting the disease. Adequate treatment does not prevent reinfection from subsequent exposure.

Congenital syphilis is transmitted from an infected mother to her unborn child. If found to be positive for syphilis, a mother can be treated during her pregnancy.

Sexually transmitted diseases

                                  Sexually Transmitted Diseases

                                                    STDS

 

     For the sake of brevity and clarity only a short discussion of each topic will

be made. The information comes from the internet and by no way is meant to replace a healthcare professional’s advice and treatment. Also one disease will be discussed each week for the sake of clarity.

     Gonorrhea: A STD caused by a bacterium known as Neisseria gonorrhea.

Sites of infection include the cervix, urethra, rectum, anus and throat.

      Symptoms are not evident in 50% of women. In women there made a discharge from the vagina, burning sensation upon urinating, or an irritation or discharge from the anus.

      In men there may be a discharge from the penis, burning on urinating, or an irritation from the anus.   

      Gonorrhea is passed on by vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex.

If suspected you should go to your doctor or health clinic for help.

       Tests for gonorrhea include cultures, swabs with smears or rapid testing.

Treatment is with any number or antibiotics. A discussion of sex partners will be done as they are at risk of getting the disease.

        A follow up exam is needed to check that the infection has cleared.

        Complications in women include Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy or premature births.

         A pregnant woman who has Gonorrhea may pass it to her baby. The baby may get a gonoccocal eye infection which must be treated to prevent blindness.

          In men painful inflammation of the testicles and prostate gland may develop. Epididymitus, an inflammation of the tubes which bring sperm to the semen, can cause sterility.

          In addition there may be a narrowing of the urethra or abscesses which cause painful and difficulty urination.

          Prevention includes safe sex practices, fewer sex partners, frequent visits to a doctor or health clinic, and the use of latex or polyurethane condoms which prevent 99% of cases.

 

What are Vitamins

                                                  What are Vitamins

 

Vitamins are various water-soluble or fat-soluble organic substances essential in minute amounts for normal growth and activity of the body. They are obtained naturally from plant and animal foods. Except for few exceptions cannot be made by our bodies. It is impossible to sustain life without all of the essential vitamins.

 

Vitamins are NOT replacements for food. By themselves they contain no calories. They are not replacements for protein, fats, minerals or carbohydrates or other nutrients. You cannot stop eating, take vitamins are expect to remain healthy.

 

Vitamins are multifunctional. They energize our metabolism, regulate our metabolism, help blood clot when we bleed, enable cell growth and help us to see in color instead of black and white.

 

The water-soluble vitamins are those that dissolve in water. Examples are Vitamin C and Vitamin B. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body for long periods of time. These vitamins travel through the body and whatever your body doesn’t need is excreted in the urine. They need to be replaced daily.

 

The fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the liver or body fat until your body needs them. Examples are Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K and Vitamin D. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the liver for up to six months.

 

Vitamin deficiencies occur when the body does not have enough of a vitamin it needs. These can lead to certain symptoms or illnesses which can be corrected by either eating the foods which contain the vitamin which is lacking or taking the appropriate vitamin supplement.

 

It is best to get vitamins from the foods which we eat. If you believe you are not getting enough of a vitamin, consult a doctor before taking a vitamin supplement. Vitamins may not be absorbed even though we are eating them. If this is the case your doctor will need to determine the reason for this. Taking too much of the fat-soluble vitamins can cause serious diseases so do NOT do it.

 

 

 

Wholesome healthy living:   One ounce of prevention is better than tons of medications. Our lives must make progressive even there is setback and negativity. We need to search for our misdeeds to correct to improve ourselves then we can improve the world around. We appreciate gentle polite rebuke to better our selves.

We should walk more instead of driving, climbing stairs instead of elevators, go volunteering instead of watching TV.  Instead of smoking, breathing on flowers, oranges, and herbs.

Working three days a week is a surefire to relieve modern living stress. American government pass new law to make four days work per week.

Fashion Industry

The Fashion Industry

 

I am nuria Kelly and I am a fashion designer, I make clothes like  example:

Tops skirts dresses hand bags it is more than just what I have said it takes

A lot  of energy to do these things it takes skills you have to know the people

Measurements  you have to put a lot into it. It  is a skill that you must know

It is not a skill where you could just get on a machine and think that you could sow

You have to be trained for you have to go to school for it sewing is a professional

Skill you have to know once they teach you. It is a good skill but every body cannot be a seamstrice. But I am a seamstrice that know how to sew and design clothes.

 

 

 

Nuria Kelly

Fountain House member gets spooky job

Hi. This is Dan Marshall. I am happy to announce that I now have a job at Skull Island Scream Park haunted attraction in Fishkill, NY. This attraction consists of 4 parts which are Killer Clown Carnival, Ship Wrecked, Davey Jones Locker 3-D, and Zombie Underground. I will be playing the role of one of the fearful zombies, but as to what my role is, you’ll have to come visit and get scared in person to find out. We will be open every Fri., Sat., and Sun. for the month of October until our last day which is Saturday Nov. 1st. General admission is $20.00. Also, on Oct. 13th and 26th, we will be having Kid’s day from 12-5 PM in which we tone down our scares for our younger audience. Admission for Kid’s day is $10, and children 2 and under are free. I hope to see (and scare) anyone who wishes to come visit and watch me perform. Have a haunted Halloween season!

Dan Marshall

Health of the Future

More people are more conscious of healthy living. People who drink bottled water or exercise, people recycle and use compost. Elderly people are living longer and are being more productive. McCain himself is 73 years young and if he were to win he would be the oldest candidate to become president. In my opinion, more people believe in God and believe in more traditional values, especially messianic. The world historically has focused on becoming one universal collective.

I believe everyone will become healthier, stronger, and live longer. Physical, spiritual, and social health should unite and add to wholesome healthy living.

By,

Yaakov Simcha