An active lifestyle may not be the proverbial fountain of youth, but it can lower the risk of certain physical ailments and help people live better longer.
“As an older adult, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It can prevent many of the health problems that seem to come with age. It also helps your muscles grow stronger so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities without becoming dependent on others.”
The National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging recently launched a new initiative aimed at helping older Americans stay fit. Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign designed to help people fit exercise and physical activity into their daily life.
“Being physically active is vital to maintaining health and independence as we age,” the NIH says. “The Go4Life campaign encourages sedentary older adults to reap health benefits by making physical activity part of their daily lives.”
Go4Life seeks to motivate older adults to become physically active for the first time, return to exercise after a break in their routines or build more exercise and physical activity into weekly routines.
“If we want to become a healthy and fit nation, we need to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin said in a press release announcing the new program. “Go4Life provides older adults with the tools and resources to get moving and keep moving. With the release of the National Prevention Strategy, we are moving our health care system from a focus on sickness and disease to a focus on wellness and prevention.”
Older adults need to exercise
Despite proven health benefits, exercise and physical activity rates among older people remain low, the NIA says. About 30 percent of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity, compared to about 25 percent of those ages 65 to 74, and 11 percent for those age 85 and older.
ST. PETERSBURG -The merger of three of Florida’s independent, not-for-profit blood centers, Community Blood Centers of Florida Inc., Florida’s Blood Centers Inc. and Florida Blood Services, Inc. is complete and they are now one organization.
The merged organization will operate as OneBlood Inc.
CLEARWATER - As local health departments nationwide strive to protect the public from infectious diseases, bioterrorism, natural disasters, and other public health threats, the National Association of County and City Health Officials has recognized the Pinellas County Health Department for its ability to respond to public health emergencies.
PCHD met the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready, a unique partnership between NACCHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We are proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness," said Claude M. Dharamraj, MD, MPH, FAAP, the health department's director. "We will continue to improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in Pinellas."
"NACCHO commends the Pinellas County Health Department for being a model of public health emergency preparedness," said Robert Pestronk, executive director of NACCHO. "The public health system is making great strides thanks to the good work of leaders in local public health preparedness such as this one."
Thousands of dental emergencies - from injuries, to a painful, abscessed tooth - take place every day. Would you know what to do if your child broke a tooth or had a tooth knocked out while playing outdoors? What if you had a bad toothache in the middle of the night and couldn’t get to the dentist until the next day? Knowing what to do can lessen the pain and save a tooth that might otherwise be lost.
Keep your dental office phone number and an emergency phone number where the dentist can be reached after hours with other emergency numbers, such as your family doctor and fire and police departments. Some families post these numbers on the refrigerator door or inside a kitchen cabinet door near the phone. Call the dentist immediately for instructions on how to handle a dental emergency.
Toothache: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to remove any food or other debris that may be caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth. This could burn gum tissue. If the toothache persists, try to see the dentist. Don’t rely on painkillers. They may temporarily relieve pain, but your dentist should evaluate the condition.
Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth: Try to find the tooth! This may not be as easy as you think if the injury took place on a playground, basketball court or while skateboarding, so try to stay calm. Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse the root in water if the tooth is dirty. Don’t scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If it’s possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket while you head to the dentist. Time is critical for successful reimplantation, so try to get to your dentist immediately.
LARGO - Learn and Succeed, the newest network of the Health and Human Services Coordinating Council for Pinellas County, was introduced to community leaders at the council’s annual Leadership Summit, held Jan. 20 at the Gus Stavros Institute in Largo.
The new network is a collaboration of the Coordinating Council and the Juvenile Welfare Board Children’s Services Council. With a focus on the needs of children, the mission of the network is to ensure all residents have the opportunity to acquire the skills, training and education necessary to be economically self-sufficient, productive contributors to society.
David Lawrence Jr., who chairs the Children’s Movement of Florida, spoke passionately about the rights of children, delivering a rousing speech to rally the community around the cause of children and to make youth the No. 1 priority. Lawrence, the former publisher of the Miami Herald who is also the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and is a University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness at the University of Florida, pointed to the need for Pinellas County to find ways to fund the programs that equip children for future success.
“I will argue that, believing in all children, we help ourselves,” he said, pointing to the power of early investment. “Why should every child not dream in America?”
CLEARWATER - As part of its commitment to providing advanced, top quality heart care, Morton Plant Hospital recently opened its Valve Clinic for the treatment of complex heart valve disorders such as aortic stenosis.
Staffed by a multidisciplinary team of diagnostic and interventional cardiologists, as well as cardiothoracic surgeons, Morton Plant Hospital’s new Valve Clinic has created a collaborative approach to specialize in the treatment of complex heart valve disorders. The clinic is believed to be the first of its kind in the region offering a comprehensive, multidisciplinary methodology.
“Through the valve clinic, we are combining the expertise of cardiovascular surgeons, diagnostic cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and other cardiac care experts to develop comprehensive care and treatment plans for our patients,” said John Ofenloch, M.D., FACS, in a press release. Ofenloch is a cardiothoracic surgeon and physician member of the Morton Plant Hospital Valve Clinic team. “It is the team approach with physicians partnering together across specialties that truly makes the difference.”
The Valve Clinic will be the first step for patients with severe aortic stenosis who may be candidates for the newest breakthrough in treatment, the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure.
CLEARWATER - As part of recognizing Heart Health Awareness Month in February, Morton Plant Mease will present a free heart health fair Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Aging Well Center at The Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Road.
The fair is designed to help raise awareness and education of heart disease to achieve and maintain cardiovascular health. In addition to the seminars, free health screenings will be offered at the heart health fair including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol and glucose screenings.
Health screenings will be offered 10 a.m. to noon. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Renaissance Speakers Club meeting CLEARWATER - The Renaissance Speakers Club meets on Fridays, 6:15 p.m., at 210 S. Fort Harrison Ave.
Learn public speaking and leadership skills that help when applying for work and advancement opportunities in one’s job.
Call Sharon at 542-2718.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Fridays through the end of April from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net.
VFW Post 2550 hosts a fish and shrimp fry DUNEDIN - The Dunedin-Palm Harbor VFW Post 2550 hosts a fish and shrimp fry every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 360 Douglas Ave. The post sponsors bingo each Wednesday and Friday. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Bingo starts at noon. The public is invited.
Call 733-6107.
Paradise Bazaar PASS-A-GRILLE - Paradise Bazaar, Friday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., next to Paradise Grille on Pass-A-Grille Beach at Ninth Avenue and Gulf Way. For more information, email ParadiseBazaar@yahoo.com.
Griefshare Support Group ST. PETERSBURG - The Griefshare Support Group will meet Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 6 through March 30, at Cornerstone Community Church, 6745 38th Ave. N.
A professional DVD is shown each week. A discussion follows the screening. Vivian Killion, parish pastor, acts as the group’s facilitator.
Call 343-7747.
Friday Morning Market TREASURE ISLAND - The weekly Friday Morning Market is again under way and will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place and 106th Avenue, through April 13.
The event features over 40 vendors, live music, food, jewelry, and arts and crafts.
Parking is free.
The Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors the market.
Morton Plant life coaching workshop CLEARWATER - Morton Plant Mease will present the Creating Your Blueprint for Success workshop Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Morton Plant Hospital, Powell Cancer Center, first floor conference room, 303 Pinellas St., Clearwater.
Certified life and wellness coach Elizabeth Nelson, M.A., COL Wellness Coach, will offer a life coach assessment and will create a plan to prioritize life goals and implement results during 2012. The interactive workshop will focus on creating a blueprint that serves as a roadmap to identify potential challenges that conflict with personal, professional, or physical goals and ways to overcome and take action to successfully manage change. Participants will leave with a completed blueprint for successfully implementing change in at least one life area.
Cost is $20 a person. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited and preregistration is required.
For information or preregistration, call 953-6877 or visit www.BayCareEvents.org.
St. Brendan’s Navigators yard sale CLEARWATER - The St. Brendan’s Navigators will host its sixth annual yard sale Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, 8 a.m., at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, 245 Dory Passage.
The church will be accepting donations of tools, books, clothes, sports items, electronics, toys, artwork, and other items Feb. 8-10 in Mulligan Hall. To request pickup for large items, call Jim Corrigan at 596-1640 or Joe Quinn at 443-5812.
Valentine’s crafts and parties CLEARWATER - There will be two Valentine’s craft programs and parties on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Clearwater libraries for youth and teens. The events are as follows:
- Clearwater East Branch Library, 2251 Drew St., 2 to 3:30 p.m. There is a Valentine’s party for youth and teens, including Valentine’s crafts, card making and poetry.
- Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., 2 to 3:30 p.m. Children and their families are invited to create Valentines, draw sidewalk chalk Valentines and enjoy special treats. School age children may register to make Valentine’s Day crafts with Miss Connie.
The events are free. To register, call 562-4970 or visit www.myclearwater.com/cpl.
Dunedin's Green Market DUNEDIN - Green Market is open Saturdays through the end of July from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. Vendors offer a wide variety of items including: produce, cheeses, plants and herbs, local honey, all natural pet treats, organic products, nuts, olive salad, pastries and orchids. Free entertainment and parking is available at the Dunedin Green Market. For information, contact the Market Manager, Richard Kendler, at 692-5353 or email GreenMarketManager@verizon.net
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