StatePoint Media -- It is time for the Illinois high school football playoffs, and there’s only one thing to make game day a bigger win: delicious game day food!
Looking to add some kick to kick-off before or after St. Joseph-Ogden or Unity's first-round home playoff game this Saturday? Take flavor and heat off the bench and put them into the game with these recipes from Frank’s RedHot, America’s number one hot sauce. Whether you’re tailgating at the game or hosting a postgame party at home, Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce, made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers, is a must-have ingredient.
Photo provided
Make your own delicious chicken wings for your next game day feast.
Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings
If you’re someone who agrees that no tailgate or watch party is complete without wings, you’re in good company.
According to Chef Jordan Carfagno of Frank’s RedHot, chicken wings are the brand’s most searched recipe during football season. And it’s no wonder, Frank’s is the original Buffalo wings sauce flavor. Anyone looking to kick their wings up a notch can try this mouthwatering recipe for a classic take on wings, and it can be made in the oven at home, or in an air fryer if you’re tailgating.
Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
•1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
• 2 and 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Mix butter and RedHot Sauce in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Arrange wings on large foil-lined pan. Bake on lowest oven rack for 30 minutes or until crispy, turning once.
3. Toss wings in sauce mixture until well coated. Serve with blue cheese and celery, if desired.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Chef Carfagno says dip recipes are gaining popularity this year, and this spicy creamy Buffalo chicken dip is the MVP of them all. Make it in the oven at home or plug in an instant pot or slow cooker for on-the-go prep.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cups Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a shallow 1-quart baking dish.
2. Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired, and serve with chips, crackers and cut up veggies.
Check out franksredhot.com for more game-day recipes and inspiration.
This football season, bring your A-game to your tailgate spread by adding the perfect blend of flavor and heat to classic fan favorites.
St. Joseph-Ogden's Carson Sarnecki, Davin Alverez, and A.J. Wells are all smiles after a big stop by the Spartan (6-3) defense during Friday's home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. SJO cemented their spot in the 2022 IHSA playoffs after defeating the visiting Panthers, 34-20. The trio, along with the rest of the team, will return to Dick Duval Field on Saturday to face Robinson in a first-round playoff game. The opening kick is scheduled for 3:00 pm. PBL, who also made the playoffs, will face the undefeated Illini Prairie Conference champions of Prairie Central in their first-round matchup. More photos from this game coming soon.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Search the PhotoNews Media archives for more photos:
EVERGREEN PARK -- It happens every year: flu season, which typically peaks between December and February. This year will mark the third flu season with another virus also circulating: COVID-19. With an updated safe and effective COVID-19 booster shot now available, health experts are urging people to get both the flu and COVID vaccines in order to protect themselves this fall and winter.
Doctors recommend patients get both their flu and Covid booster by the end of this month for maximum protection against the two viruses.
Photo: CDC/Upslash
Since 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended annual flu vaccines for everyone six months and older, with few exceptions. New this year is an added recommendation for a higher dose for those 65 and older. The CDC has also recommended the use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.
If you have not yet received your COVID-19 booster shot, or if you still have yet to receive an initial dose, it’s not too late.
"I urge everybody who is eligible to get a COVID booster to do so, and the reasons why are multifactorial. Number one is because your immunity wanes and you need to protect yourself. Number two is that the virus has changed slightly and the newest booster is most effective at protecting against those changes, " says Dr. Bill Walsh, an OSF HealthCare chief medical officer.
Dr. Walsh adds that it is important to get the seasonal flu shot as well as a COVID shot because they protect against different viruses.
"Please understand that the recommendation is for both the flu shot and the COVID shot. There is no cross reactivity even though the symptoms might be similar between COVID-19 and influenza. The influenza shot will not help against COVID, and the COVID vaccination will not protect you against influenza, " Dr. Walsh explains.
The timing of when to get your flu shot and COVID booster can be confusing. The CDC says if you haven’t yet gotten your initial recommended dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, to get one as soon as you can. Health experts typically recommend getting your seasonal flu vaccine by the end of October for best protection during the peak of flu season, and say it is safe to get both vaccines during the same visit.
"There are many times when you get more than one vaccine. Most of the time when you get a tetanus shot, it also includes pertussis. Many of the vaccinations pediatricians give to children have more than one vaccine in each shot. So, it is standard and normal for more than one vaccine to occur at a time, " Dr. Walsh says.
Dr. Walsh adds getting both shots done at once alleviates having to make multiple trips to your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. But this route may not be for everyone.
As with all vaccinations, there are mild side effects that both vaccines can cause, such as joint or muscle pain, fatigue, and chills. If you have experienced side effects from vaccines in the past and it took a couple days for them to subside, you may opt to get the vaccines at separate times.
"You know yourself best. If you are certain that you will get them both despite not getting them at one appointment, then that is completely fine, too. You may want to space them out because sometimes you have side effects. There have been a lot of questions about whether to get them both in one arm or in different arms so you have different injection sites. That really boils down to personal preference, " advises Dr. Walsh.
The important thing is making sure you do get both of these vaccinations to protect both yourself and your loved ones. Because the holiday season is approaching, you may have holiday gatherings on your calendar over the next few months. If you get your flu shot in October but choose to wait to get your COVID-19 booster at a later date, Dr. Walsh recommends getting it at least two weeks before any large gatherings in order to ensure the best protection against the virus.
To schedule your seasonal flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster, make an appointment with your primary care provider or local pharmacy. Talk to your primary care provider if you have any questions about either vaccine.
Unity's Brock Suding flexes after the Rocket's homecoming game against Rantoul Township on October 7. The Rockets will host Harrisburg as their first-round opponent in the 2022 IHSA football playoffs. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
URBANA -- Unity (8-1), who earned a first-round home playoff game, will host Harrisburg at Hicks Field. Kickoff will be announced early next week. This is the fifth consecutive playoff appearance for the 2021 Class 3A runner-up team. The Rockets have lost just two of their last 20 football games in the past two years.
The Bulldogs finished third in the Southern Illinois River-to-River conference and is making their first playoff appearance in Class 3A since the 2011-2012 season. Last fall, the team finished 5-5 in the 4A bracket.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph-Ogden guaranteed their spot into the 2022 playoffs picking up their sixth win with a 34-20 win over Paxton-Buckley-Loda. The Spartans will host Robinson, who also finished the regular season, 6-3. The school's official Twitter feed announced a game time of 3pm on Saturday, October 29.
The survivor advances to face the winner of the contest between #2 seed Benton and Olympia in the second round the following week.
Six of the nine football teams in the Illini Prairie Conference made the first-round cut. In addition to SJO and Unity, Bloomington Central Catholic, Prairie Central, Monticello, and Paxton-Buckley-Loda are all in the hunt for a state football title game appearance at Memorial Stadium in November.
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
You won’t get rich collecting Social Security, not even close. However, you don’t want to mess it up either. The system was never intended to be your total retirement income but to many it’s their only source of retirement income. You don’t want to make it your only source of income for your senior years but you definitely want it in your income portfolio.
Social Security recipients will receive an 8.7% increase in their monthly income starting in January. The average increase will fall between $150 to $250 per month. This will buy you a tank of gasoline or a sack of groceries. The increase will help about 70 million retired Americans.
Inflation has devoured Americans’ paychecks as groceries, fuel, rent and now interest rates have skyrocketed. By the time the January increase comes around you probably will have lost most of your increase to these and medical costs associated with Social Security.
Pay all you can into Social Security. Too many young adults buy into the rationale that Social Security doesn’t pay much or won’t be around when they retire. On some level it will be around and you’ll need it when you retire.
Business persons, farmers, hospitality people, clergy and others make a big mistake in finding ways to only show a small income when they file their taxes. This reduces the amount of taxes owed and lowers how much paid into Social Security. When retirement comes these people become very sad when they find out they will only receive a minimal amount of Social Security income.
One minister friend opted out of paying into Social Security because of religious objections.
When he was 70, he had almost zero retirement and worked up until his death. Another ministerial friend claimed very little salary and received very little in Social Security payments when he retired. He spent his last couple of years cleaning hotel rooms and working at Kentucky Fried Chicken trying to survive. A farmer acquaintance worked hard for many years but doesn’t collect a penny in Social Security benefits. You have to pay into it to collect it so don’t short-change yourself.
The average Social Security payment in 2022 is $1,614. Many people who worked less years and paid less collect less than this amount. Some Americans who worked longer, earned more income and paid more into the system are collecting $3,345 per month. Again, these numbers will increase in 2023 by 8.7%.
Sometimes people retire too early. A friend retired at 62 and received $1100 per month in Social Security income. At that time, he would have collected several hundred more if he could have worked just three more years.
Pay into an Individual Retirement Account, 401k and anything else you can. You can’t live big just on a Social Security check, but pay as much as possible into the system now because it will be helpful later.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
Urbana -- With regular season play ending today, four Sentinel area volleyball teams will compete for a regional volleyball title starting next week. St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity, Urbana and University High each have the opportunity to bring home a championship plaque.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Mikyla Haley pass the ball to the setter in St. Joseph-Ogden's home volleyball match against Teutopolis earlier this season. The Spartans are the #1 seed in their regional when the IHSA state series starts next Monday.
Earning a #9 seed, Urbana (3-21, 2-8) will open their postseason play against fellow Big 12 Conference foe Danville. The two teams will square off on Monday at Rantoul Township High School in the regional's solo quarterfinal match scheduled to start at 6pm.
The winner advances to face Normal University in the Class 3A regional semifinals. Earlier in the season, Tigers fell in straight sets on the road, 25-20, 25-21, to the Vikings (6-25, 3-7) in conference action on September 29.
U-High (5-19, 1-4) will take on Armstrong on Tuesday, October 25, at 7:00 pm to start their postseason run in the St. Thomas More regional. Should the #11 Illineks defeat the #5 seed Trojans, they will face the winner between LeRoy and Schlarman in the Class 1A bracket on Wednesday.
Unity (12-15-2), who finished 4-4 in the Illini Praire Conference, will also take the court in Arthur to face #7 seed St. Teresa. Earlier in the season, despite five kills from JJ LeFaivre, and six apiece from teammates Kaitlyn Schweighart and Emmalee Atkins, the Rockets dropped the regular season meeting between the two teams 2-1.
The winner advances to Tuesday's 6pm semifinal against the host Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond. The Lady Knights boast an impressive 23-4 record and won the Lincoln Prairie Conference title with a perfect 9-0 record.
Earning a bye into the semifinals in the Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin regional #1 seed St. Joseph-Ogden plays their first postseason match against the winner of Monday's contest between Hoopeston Area and Oakwood. The SJO program outscored both teams by a combined 100-65 points during the season.
A win on Tuesday, will then pit the Spartans against either Paris or BHRA in the regional title match.
Evergree Park -- If you do not have the social media app TikTok on your phone, chances are you know people who do. In fact, a recent poll showed that about 80 million Americans use TikTok, with the age of users ranging from kids and teens to adults over 50. While the popular app is mainly used for entertainment purposes, some videos masquerading as wellness content have prompted responses from health experts.
Alleged health "hacks” – ranging from storing avocados in water to mouth taping – have gone viral on the app since its inception. These videos, which are not created by medical experts, become a concern when the alleged hack is deemed dangerous or unsafe. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the Benadryl Challenge, where teens were overconsuming the drug to the point of hallucination. Now, another "hack” involving over-the-counter medication has prompted the FDA to issue a warning once again.
If you are experiencing cold-like symptoms, it is important to read the labels of any over-the-counter medications
The so-called "NyQuil Chicken Challenge,” where people cook their chicken in at least half a bottle of NyQuil, is causing some people to believe this to be a safe and effective way to take the medication when you are sick. Medical experts like Anne Orzechowski, an OSF HealthCare family medicine APRN, say otherwise – and are urging individuals to avoid participating.
"Sometimes more is more, but more is definitely not more when it comes to medication. You want to stay within the right dosage. It won’t necessarily work better for you. So if you were to eat half a chicken with half a bottle of NyQuil, I don’t know that would necessarily do anything other than be extremely toxic and possibly send you to the emergency room,” Orzechowski says.
She doesn’t recommend avoiding NyQuil altogether. In fact, there are many benefits to taking the medication.
"I recommend it for people who have a viral syndrome. If you’ve got a cough, congestion, or body aches it covers all of those three things, which is nice, instead of having to take Tylenol and cough medicine and a decongestant separately,” advises Orzechowski.
If you are experiencing cold-like symptoms, it is important to read the labels of any over-the-counter medications before consuming them. A typical dose of NyQuil is 30 mL (about two tablespoons or two liquid capules) by mouth every six hours, and it is only recommended for adults and children 12 years and older. You should not have more than four doses in a 24-hour period.
The problem with this particular "hack” is not the NyQuil itself, but rather the way it is being consumed because there is no way to know for certain just how much you are ingesting.
"It’s hard to dose it. I don’t know if you even could, because it’s being evaporated by the heat. The Tylenol in it would be way over the recommended dosage so it would be very bad for your liver. As it cooks, there would be fumes of the medication, which can’t be good for your lungs. You would be breathing in that medication as it boils in the pan, which has to be extremely unhealthy. The toxicity of it is just pretty dangerous,” Orzechowski explains.
Because it is not possible to know how much NyQuil is in each bite of the chicken, the smallest amount can have damaging effects on the body.
"It could range from having a bite and being fine to having liver failure and needing to head to the ER right away, especially if a kid found it and ingested it because their livers are so much tinier. They could absolutely be very harmed by it, if not killed,” warns Orzechowski.
The bottom line? Don’t cook your chicken in NyQuil. And if you have teens at home who use TikTok, Orzechowski recommends talking to them about the dangers associated with viral videos like this one and others that are deemed to be health "hacks.”
Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about any over-the-counter medications. Your provider can tell you which ones they recommend for you and your family, in addition to how much should be taken and when. If at any time you think you or a loved one might be having a negative reaction to NyQuil or any over-the-counter medication, go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room, or call 911.
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Reports are pointing to an 8.9% raise for Social Security recipients. While it won’t feel like enough, it may buy you a sack of groceries or a tank of gasoline. This is a big maybe on the gasoline as California reports prices of over $8 per gallon.
Some of our government leadership is crying because Saudi Arabia is cutting their oil production by 2 million barrels a day. This means less oil for everyone in the grand oil supply pool. I don’t understand why anyone in our government would want to do business with the Saudis.
Buying oil from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela or any foreign entity is crazy. Why don’t we use our own oil? I’m all for green energy but we aren’t quite there yet. Make electric cars and drive them. Utilize solar energy and else anything that we can to help preserve this planet and its resources. Regardless, our country still needs oil. As long as we need oil, it would be wiser and much more cost effective to use our own oil. Put Americans back to work drilling our oil and selling it to foreign countries.
Our government has been draining our own oil reserve to try to keep the price of gasoline down. This doesn’t seem to be working very well. Plus, it puts our country at risk. When China and Russia decide to attack us, we need to be able to put fuel in our jets and ships. That would not be a good time to have to go back to Saudi Arabia and beg for oil.
We should utilize a full arsenal of energy from electric cars and a grid to supply the power. Utilize our oil, wind, natural gas and coal. Once our country can do everything without oil or coal, then we can move on from those resources. Being dependent on getting them from foreign nations doesn’t make sense, especially when we have the resources.
A loaf of bread will eventually cost Americans their 8.9% Social Security increase. Ukraine has been one of the world’s leading providers of wheat. Having Russia in control of Ukraine, a major source of the bread supply, along with their major supply of natural gas is bad news for the world.
The Crimea bridge that was recently bombed between Russia and Ukraine should have been bombed on day one by Ukrainians. Ukraine must do whatever it takes to thwart Russia’s ongoing destruction of their country. The news has been filled with fear that Russia will go nuclear in their efforts. When the nations start hurling nuclear bombs you won’t need to worry about gas, groceries and cost of living adjustments because this planet can only take so much.
Keep in mind there is still something you can do to make a difference – vote. Clear your calendar for voting. If you don’t vote then don’t complain about our government, inflation, rising interest rates, gasoline prices and more. I know it doesn’t feel like your one vote matters, but it truly counts. The only way you can bring about change is to clear your schedule, take the time, and vote.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
StatePoint Media -- As the leaves turn more colorful and tempertures begin to drop. Little critters are going to be looking for somewhere warmer to avoid the fall chill. If you hate the idea of bugs in your home, you’re in fine company -- 1 in 3 Americans have seriously considered burning down their own home after experiencing a bug infestation, according to a new survey.
The study, commissioned by Zevo and conducted by OnePoll, found that 66% of respondents are willing to do “nearly anything” to get rid of bugs at home -- including fumigating their entire home (51%), throwing the nearest thing at it, no matter what that nearest thing is (43%) and even DIYing a flamethrower (35%). Others have changed their diet and lifestyle to avoid sightings at home, with 59% saying they will even refrain from keeping fresh fruit in their homes or buying houseplants out of fear that it will attract flying insects.
Photo:Pexels/Francisco Sanchez
In fact, some people would rather just leave it all behind and start over somewhere new. More than half of respondents (52%) have considered moving because of bug infestations, and of those who considered that option, 69% actually followed through and packed up their things.
When it comes to putting up with bugs, there are a number of home woes people would prefer to live with, including broken appliances (29%), creaky floors (26%), broken windows (26%), not having television connections (25%) and even rodents (24%).
Giving how bugged by insects people are, it’s no wonder that they have come up with some pretty creative and expensive ways to try to deal with the problem, with 48% of survey respondents having turned to DIY “hacks” and the average person spending $177 on creating homemade methods to deal with bugs. Some of the methods mentioned by respondents include using cinnamon, coffee grounds and even maple syrup to get rid of bugs. One person even recalled pouring gasoline on bugs to drown them.
Of course, many of these homemade solutions produce iffy results at best or are downright dangerous. The bug biology and behavior experts at Zevo say that if you want to rid your home of pests, there are much easier and more effective ways to go about it that don’t involve putting your home on the market and relocating. Here’s an effective two-pronged approach you can try for killing bugs and preventing future infestations:
1. Go worry-free. Most traditional insect sprays on the market today use synthetic pyrethroids as their active ingredients, which can have a noxious smell and make a room uninhabitable after spraying. For a solution that’s safe for people and pets when used as directed, check out Zevo Instant Action Sprays, which rely on essential oil to target and shut down biological pathways found in insects. The brand carries four different sprays to target everything from cockroaches and ants to yellowjackets and crickets.
2. Safeguard entry points. Pests enter the home most typically through windows, doors and the garage. Check screen doors and windows for tears, and patch or replace them. You can also plug Zevo Flying Insect Traps into outlets in areas where bugs typically gather in your home, like kitchens, bathrooms, garages and entryways. The traps use a combination of UVC and blue light to attract and trap flying insects, offering continuous defense for up to 45 days or until the trap is full.
To learn more about defending your home against insects, visit zevoinsect.com.
The next time you spot bugs, put down the gasoline can and the flamethrower. Simple, worry-free solutions exist that can help you maintain a bug-free home and your sanity.
Sleeping on your back contributes to snoring and blockages, especially as you age and the muscles in the throat become looser. Sleeping on your side could help improve your sleep quality.
by Jay Hancock Kaiser Health News
I woke up in a strange bedroom with 24 electrodes glued all over my body and a
plastic mask attached to a hose covering my face.
The lab technician who watched me all night via video feed told me that I had
“wicked sleep apnea” and that it was “central sleep apnea” — a type that
originates in the brain and fails to tell the muscles to inhale.
As a journalist — and one terrified by the diagnosis — I set out to do my own
research. After a few weeks of sleuthing and interviewing experts, I reached
two important conclusions.
First, I had moderate apnea, if that, and it could be treated without the
elaborate machines, mouthpieces, or other devices that specialists who had
consulted on my care were talking about.
Second, the American health care system has joined with commercial partners to
define a medical condition — in this case, sleep apnea — in a way that allows
both parties to generate revenue from a multitude of pricey diagnostic
studies, equipment sales, and questionable treatments. I was on a conveyor
belt.
As a journalist who spent years covering the business of health care, I found
there was more motivating my expensive testing cascade than concerns about my
health.
It all began with a desire for answers: I had been feeling drowsy during the
day, and my wife told me I snored. Both can mean obstructive sleep apnea. With
obstructive sleep apnea, the mouth and throat relax when a person is
unconscious, sometimes blocking or narrowing the airway. That interrupts
breathing, as well as sleep. Without treatment, the resulting disruption in
oxygen flow might increase the risk of developing certain cardiovascular
diseases.
So I contacted a sleep-treatment center, and doctors gave me an at-home test
($365). Two weeks later, they told me I had “high-moderate” sleep apnea and
needed to acquire a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine, at
a cost of about $600.
Though I had hoped to get the equipment and adjust the settings to see what
worked best, my doctors said I had to come to the sleep lab for an overnight
test ($1,900) to have them “titrate” the optimal CPAP air pressure.
“How do you treat central sleep apnea?” I worriedly asked the technician after
that first overnight stay. She said something about an ASV (adaptive
servo-ventilation) machine ($4,000). And one pricey lab sleepover wasn’t
enough, she said. I needed to come back for another.
(Most procedures and devices mentioned in this article were covered or would
have been covered by insurance — in my case, Medicare, plus a supplemental
plan. Unnecessary care is a big reason Americans’ insurance costs — premiums,
copays, and deductibles — tend to rise year after year.)
As a journalist who spent years covering the business of health care, I found
there was more motivating my expensive testing cascade than concerns about my
health.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, or AASM, a nonprofit based near
Chicago, decides what is sleep apnea and how to treat it. Working with sleep
societies around the world, it publishes the International Classification of
Sleep Disorders, relied on by doctors everywhere to diagnose and categorize
disease.
But behind that effort lie considerable conflicts of interest. Like so much of
U.S. health care, sleep medicine turns out to be a thriving industry. AASM
finances its operations in part with payments from CPAP machine manufacturers
and other companies that stand to profit from expensive treatments and
expansive definitions of apnea and other sleep disorders.
Corporate sponsors for Sleep 2022,
a convention AASM put on in Charlotte, North Carolina, with other professional
societies, included many of those companies, plus
Philips Respironics
and ResMed, two of the biggest
CPAP machine makers.
In a statement, AASM spokesperson Jennifer Gibson said a conflict-of-interest
policy and a non-interference pledge from industry funders protect the
integrity of the academy’s work. Industry donations account for about $170,000
of AASM’s annual revenue of about $15 million, she said. Other revenue comes
from educational materials and membership and accreditation fees.
Here’s what else I found. Almost everybody breathes irregularly sometime at
night, especially during REM sleep, characterized by rapid eye movement and
dreams. Blood oxygen levels also fluctuate slightly.
But recent European studies have shown that standards under the International
Classification of Sleep Disorders would doom huge portions of the general
population to a sleep apnea diagnosis — whether or not people had complaints
of daytime tiredness or other sleep problems.
A
study in the Swiss city of Lausanne
showed that 50% of local men and 23% of the women 40 or older were positive
for sleep apnea under such criteria.
Such rates of disease are “extraordinarily high,” “astronomical,” and
“implausible,” Dr. Dirk Pevernagie, a scientist at Belgium’s Ghent University
Hospital,
wrote with colleagues two years ago
in a comprehensive study in the Journal of Sleep Research.
“Right now, there is no real evidence for the criteria that have been put
forward to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and rate its severity,” he said in
an interview.
Likewise, 19% of middle-aged subjects in a
2016 Icelandic study
appeared to have moderate to severe “apnea” under one definition in the
International Classification of Sleep Disorders even though many reported no
drowsiness.
“Most of them were really surprised,” said Erna Sif Arnardóttir, who led the
study and is running a
large European program to
refine detection and treatment of apnea.
Nevertheless, the official
AASM journal recommends
extremely broad screening for sleep apnea, looking for patients who have what
it defines as illness. Everybody 18 and older should be screened every year
for apnea if they have diabetes, obesity, untreated high blood pressure, or
heart disease —
even if they have never complained
about sleep problems, the group says.
AASM “continually evaluates the definitions, criteria and recommendations used
in the identification of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders,” Gibson said
in the statement. Meanwhile, routine screening by primary care doctors “is a
simple way” of gauging whether a high-risk patient may have obstructive sleep
apnea, the statement said.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an authoritative body that reviews
the effectiveness of preventive care, takes a conservative view, more like
that of the European researchers, concluding there is
“insufficient” evidence
to support widespread screening among patients with no symptoms.
After all my reporting, I concluded that my apnea is real, though moderate. My
alarming reading in the overnight lab — diagnosed quickly as central sleep
apnea — was a byproduct of the testing machinery itself. That’s a
well-described phenomenon that occurs
in 5% to 15% of patients.
And when I looked closely at the results of my at-home diagnostic test, I had
an epiphany: My overall score was 26 breathing interruptions and blood-oxygen
level declines, on average, per hour — enough to put me in the “high-moderate”
category for apnea. But when I looked at the data sorted according to sleeping
positions, I saw that I scored much better when I slept on my side: only 10
interruptions in an hour.
So I did a little experiment: I bought a $25 pulse oximeter with a smartphone
app that records oxygen dips and breathing interruptions. When I slept on my
side, there were hardly any.
Now I sleep on my side. I snore less. I wake up refreshed. I’m not daytime
drowsy.
None of my specialists mentioned turning on to my side — known in medical
parlance as “positional therapy” — though the intervention is recognized as effective by many researchers.
“Positional patients … can sleep in the lateral position and sleep quite
well,” said Arie Oksenberg, a sleep researcher formerly at Loewenstein
Hospital in Israel.
But it’s not easy to find this in
the official AASM treatment guidelines, which instead go right to the money-making options like CPAP machines,
surgery, central apnea, and mouth appliances.
“Positional therapy is an effective treatment option for some patients,” said
the AASM’s Gibson. But she said there are concerns about whether patients will
sleep on their sides long term and whether trying to stay in one position
might cause sleep interruptions itself.
It’s true that And it often takes
practice. (Some people tape a tennis ball to their pajamas to keep them off
their backs.) Even conservative sleep doctors say CPAP machines are the best
solution for many patients.
But there is a largely overlooked alternative.
“Are we missing a simple treatment for most adult sleep apnea patients?” was
the name of a
2013 paper
that Oksenberg and a colleague wrote about positional therapy.
In my case, the answer was “yes.”
Jay Hancock is a former KHN senior correspondent.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a
national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues.
Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major
operating programs at KFF (Kaiser
Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing
information on health issues to the nation.
Urbana -- More than seven million people are walking the Earth with a new knee or hip.
And if you’re suffering from debilitating pain, the thought of becoming total joint replacement patient seven million one is probably appealing. But James Murphy, MD, says try not to think about it until your mid-60s.
And Dr. Murphy, an orthopedic surgeon at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois, should know. He comes from a long line of orthopedic surgeons and has been immersed in the field for decades.
Joint injuries
Generally speaking, a joint is where two bones meet in the body to allow movement.
Dr. Murphy explains that joint injuries can come suddenly, like one during a basketball game, and those are often treated with a brace or surgery. Joint injuries can also develop over many years – the wear-and-tear injuries. Treatments for those include medication, injections or surgery.
Replacement
Every person has unique joint health circumstances, but Dr. Murphy advises you wait until at least age 65 before considering a total joint replacement. He says if you get the surgery at, say, age 40, you may just have to do it again in 15 or 20 years.
Photo provided
Dr. James Murphy Orthopedic Surgeon OSF HealthCare
Until then, try the aforementioned treatments: medication (over-the-counter or prescription), braces or injections by a health care provider. Losing weight helps, too. Dr. Murphy says dropping five pounds equates to taking 25 pounds of pressure off your knees.
Dr. Murphy also says holistic remedies like black cherry juice or turmeric have been proven to help.
“Black cherry juice is something I’ve had patients swear by. They’ve taught me about it,” Dr. Murphy says. “So, I don’t think you need a doctor’s advice for [holistic remedies] like that. But, seeing a doctor in conjunction with all that is a good idea because there might be some things that can be added.”
When it’s time for surgery, here’s what you can expect.
First, your doctor will want to know about anything that may complicate the procedure. This includes a history of urine infections or recent or upcoming dental work (beyond a normal checkup).
“They’re drilling into the tooth, and there could be bacteria from your mouth that can get into your bloodstream. If that makes its way to a total [replaced] joint, it could be devastating,” Dr. Murphy says, because our immune system can’t fight bacteria when it attaches to metal.
“So that can be avoided with a simple antibiotic prescription around the time of the dental work,” he says.
On surgery day itself:
“What a joint replacement entails is making an incision and safely dissecting all the way down to the joint,” Dr. Murphy explains. “Then, shaving away the arthritic joint and replacing it with an implant that’s made of metal and plastic.
“And that becomes your new knee, hip or ankle.”
Recovery
Dr. Murphy says what used to be a five to seven day stay in the hospital is now two to three days thanks to advances in the field.
“It’s better for the patient, for their experience and their outcome, to get out of the hospital quickly,” Dr. Murphy says. “There are different things we do as far as pain control and therapy to get people in and out of the hospital as quick as is safe after surgery.”
Dr. Murphy advises patients to work on range of motion in the first couple weeks post-surgery. That’s at home and with a physical therapist. After week three, most patients start to notice a difference. By two months, they feel like they have a normal life again.
And it’s important to define “normal life,” Dr. Murphy says.
“[New joints] are meant to walk. They’re meant to walk as far as you’re willing to walk,” Dr. Murphy says. “They’re not meant for the cutting aspect of basketball, tennis or those kind of sports.
“Golf is perfectly fine. Swimming is great. Riding a bike is perfect. Rowing is great. It’s just the pounding on the knee that you want to avoid.”
Six ways Trump's budget will damage rural Americans' way of life
Right now, Congress is working on a giant, fast-track bill that would make historic cuts to basic needs programs to finance another round of tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.
PONTIAC - People everywhere are conquering their cabin fever and are enjoying the great outdoors after a long, bitter winter. But before you head out for that hike, health care experts remind you to take precautions to avoid tick bites. Read more . . .
Social Security recipients will receive an 8.7% increase in their monthly income starting in January. The average increase will fall between $150 to $250 per month. This will buy you a tank of gasoline or a sack of groceries. The increase will help about 70 million retired Americans.
Inflation has devoured Americans’ paychecks as groceries, fuel, rent and now interest rates have skyrocketed. By the time the January increase comes around you probably will have lost most of your increase to these and medical costs associated with Social Security.
Pay all you can into Social Security. Too many young adults buy into the rationale that Social Security doesn’t pay much or won’t be around when they retire. On some level it will be around and you’ll need it when you retire.
Business persons, farmers, hospitality people, clergy and others make a big mistake in finding ways to only show a small income when they file their taxes. This reduces the amount of taxes owed and lowers how much paid into Social Security. When retirement comes these people become very sad when they find out they will only receive a minimal amount of Social Security income.
One minister friend opted out of paying into Social Security because of religious objections.
When he was 70, he had almost zero retirement and worked up until his death. Another ministerial friend claimed very little salary and received very little in Social Security payments when he retired. He spent his last couple of years cleaning hotel rooms and working at Kentucky Fried Chicken trying to survive. A farmer acquaintance worked hard for many years but doesn’t collect a penny in Social Security benefits. You have to pay into it to collect it so don’t short-change yourself.
The average Social Security payment in 2022 is $1,614. Many people who worked less years and paid less collect less than this amount. Some Americans who worked longer, earned more income and paid more into the system are collecting $3,345 per month. Again, these numbers will increase in 2023 by 8.7%.
Sometimes people retire too early. A friend retired at 62 and received $1100 per month in Social Security income. At that time, he would have collected several hundred more if he could have worked just three more years.
Pay into an Individual Retirement Account, 401k and anything else you can. You can’t live big just on a Social Security check, but pay as much as possible into the system now because it will be helpful later.
