YourHealth
By Christine Evans

Eat to Improve Your Mood
Feeling blue? Pop a piece of chocolate in your mouth and turn your mood around.

While chocolate’s mood-boosting abilities can be overstated – think of the movies you have seen where a woman eats an entire box of chocolates and quickly recovers from a broken heart – the physiological benefits of chocolate and other foods are well documented.

Chocolate releases endorphins, a natural stress reliever, throughout the body. It’s also rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid which is connected to the production of serotonin, long-believed to be a mood regulator and the primary chemical found in many antidepressants. But, what if you want to boost your mood but don’t want the calories associated with chocolate?

Try some of these other mood-lifting foods:

Milk – Even low-fat and nonfat milk contain Vitamin D, which has been used to treat people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Whole grain rice or pasta – Boosts serotonin levels and, because your stomach will feel full for a longer period of time, you’ll theoretically be happier.

Broccoli – Rich in stressrelieving B vitamins as well as folic acid, which has a positive impact on mood disorders. Bananas – High in potassium, which helps soothe feelings of anxiety, irritability and stress.

Blueberries – Full of vitamin C, which promotes a healthy immune system and is a stressfighter.

Omega 3 fatty acids – Found in fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, mackerel and trout, as well as in many nut oils. This substance helps nerve cells communicate with one another, which is vital for maintaining good mental health.


A Bad Night’s Sleep or a Sleep Disorder?
With the switch to daylight savings time earlier this month, you might be feeling extra groggy in the morning as your body adjusts to an hour less sleep at night. But how do you know if your bad night’s sleep is an occasional annoyance or a moreserious sleep disorder?

Carol O’Korn, lead sleep technologist at The Washington Hospital’s Sleep Center, contends that some of the signs of a possible sleep disorder include:

• Daytime irritability or sleepiness

• Difficulty staying awake when sitting still, such as when watching TV or reading

• Falling asleep sometimes while driving

• Difficulty paying attention or concentrating at work, school, or home

• Performing below your potential in work, school, or at sports

• Often get told by others that you look tired

• Memory difficulties

• Slower reactions

• Emotional outbursts

• The urge to take a nap almost every day

• Increase in caffeinated beverages consumption

“Often it’s the person’s spouse or significant other who will first suspect a sleep disorder,” Ms. O’Korn, a registered therapist and sleep technologist, suggests. “The snoring continually keeps them awake and they urge their partners to get help.”

Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea – a disorder that briefly and repeatedly interrupts a person’s breathing during the sleep cycle. Those who suffer with sleep apnea will often feel tired during the day and may actually find themselves dozing off in potentially dangerous situations, such as when driving or operating machinery.

Because of the breathing and sleep disturbances, sleep apnea can also cause memory and mood problems as well as being a precursor to hypertension and heart disease.

Ms. O’Korn says Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is another common sleep disorder that has received much publicity lately because of the increased advertising of new prescription medications. RLS is a disorder that is characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs when they are at rest. Since the symptoms are most severe in the evening and nighttime, sleep is usually disrupted.

Insomnia, which is the most frequent sleep complaint of most Americans, is the inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, or waking up not feeling restored or refreshed. Insomnia is considered chronic if it occurs for a month or more.

For a sleep disorder diagnosis, most physicians will prescribe a sleep study. At The Washington Hospital’s Sleep Center located at the W.R. Cameron Wellness Center, there are four rooms that operate seven nights a week. The Sleep Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.


Do You Know the Signs?
According to a recent study conducted in 14 states by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a high number of adults don’t recognize the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

Because half of all heart attack victims die within an hour of experiencing the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital, the recognition of heart attack warning signs followed by immediate action are crucial to survival.

The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.

Other symptoms. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat or feeling nausea or light–headedness. If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, you should call 9–1–1 immediately.


Cancer Care Commendation
The Washington Hospital’ cancer program has received a Three- Year Approval Commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACOS).

The Washington Hospital is one of more than 1,400 CoCapproved cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Receiving care at a CoCapproved cancer program ensures that the patient will receive:

• Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-theart services and equipment

• A multidisciplinary, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options

• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options

• Access to cancer-related information, education and support

• Cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up, ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.

Remembering My Lai
A Vietnam veteran visits Chartiers Valley high school to recount one of the darkest chapters in U.S. military history.

Unlikely Friendships
A trip to one of Africa’s most desperate countries teaches a CV student that people aren’t so different after all.

Officer of the Year
Scott Township’s Police Department unanimously names Alan Ballo its top cop.

Advertisers be a part of our next issue!
View more information about advertising
 in The Chartiers Valley Source 
at www.mcmags.com

Coming Soon!
The Chartiers Valley Resource Directory
Your guide to the Chartiers Valley area!
  Community and township information,
 school district information and schedules
 and The Directory for business.

For more information about 
The Chartiers Valley Resource Directory
 and to learn about advertising opportunities 
e-mail or call us at 412.257.0340

All information contained in this publication is protected by copyright, and is owned by either McKee Magazines, Inc or a third party. Any and all information, trademarks, trade names, logos, designs and images are protected by U.S. Copyright and Trademark Laws. Reproduction, distribution, transmission or other unintended use of the material contained herein is prohibited without the express permission of the publishers of McKee Magazines.  All rights reserved.

The views, opinions and commentaries contained herein are not necessarily those of McKee Magazines, Inc.

Also publishers of The Peters Township Source, The South Fayette Source, and The Northern Washington Source.