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How Healthy Are You?
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Mid Coast Hospital is the lead agency for Access Health |
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December 2011/January 2012 |
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From the Director's Desk
There are many reasons the holiday season often wreaks havoc on our healthy habits. Holiday foods are not often the healthiest, with sweet temptations surrounding us. The days are getting shorter, making it
difficult for some of us to get moving. And the stress of the season sometimes drives us to unhealthy choices. Hopefully, you'll find some tips in this month's newsletter to keep you on a healthier path!
For a fun reminder of how to stay healthy during the holiday season, I encourage you to listen to the "12 Ways to Health" from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In good health,
Melissa Fochesato |
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This Month's Spotlight:
The Holidays and Alcohol | |
Safe Celebration Tips for the Holiday Season
How can you make this holiday season a healthy and safe one? Make responsible choices about alcohol and send a clear message that underage drinking is unacceptable by following these simple tips:
- Let your children know what you expect: Tell them that adults may be drinking during the holidays but under no circumstances are they allowed to drink alcohol.
- Offer alternatives: At holiday gatherings: offer non-alcoholic drinks, and foods and activities not involving alcohol.
- To lower the risk of alcohol poisoning: throw out partially empty alcoholic drinks. Children love to imitate adults, and if they have access to leftover drinks, they may taste the contents.
- Model responsible behavior: make sure guests who have been drinking do not drive.
- Check In: If your teens are going to a holiday event, make sure the event will be alcohol and drug free. Check with the party planners to see how they plan to keep alcohol out.
- Be sure your teen knows how to reach you before they leave the house, and make sure they have at least one other trusted adult's phone number with them in case they can't reach you.
- Limit Access: If you have alcohol in your home, keep track of it - know what and how much you have, and keep it where it is not accessible to teens. Alert police if you have information about where/how teens are getting alcohol in your community.
- Know the laws: Make sure other parents and older siblings who may be home from college understand Maine's furnishing laws and never serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Click on this link for more on Maine Liquor Laws.
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| Healthy Eating |
Decorate Your Plate with Reds & Greens this Holiday Season! 
 Access Health has partnered with restaurants from our local community to serve up healthier holiday recipes. Celebrating with food doesn't mean that you have to indulge in rich, calorie dense and unhealthy eating choices. We encourage people to experiment with healthier holiday recipes, and asked local chefs to show us how. Beale Street Barbecue, Solo Bistro Bistro, Henry & Marty, Back Street Bistro, and Wildflours Bakery provided some delicious healthy holiday dishes without sacrificing an ounce of taste, and kindly donated the recipes to Access Health for public distribution.
So cook up some of these mouth watering recipes and help us spread the word, healthy tastes great! Download our Healthy Holiday Recipes booklet or pick one up while you are shopping at Hannaford and Morning Glory Natural Foods in Brunswick and Brackett's and Bath Natural Market in Bath where you can also pick up local, healthy ingredients. Give your taste buds the gift of health! |
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Physical Activity | |
Enjoy the Winter Outdoors! 
The holidays are here and we know it's all too easy for physical activity to disappear from that "To Do" list. Perhaps it gets crowded out by holiday shopping, baking and wrapping. Although the holidays are about enjoying and celebrating the festivities, it's not uncommon to get run down from all the hustle and bustle! One of the greatest benefits of physical activity is the stress relieving benefits. Here are a few quick ideas that can keep your body moving this month:
- To add steps to your day, look for a parking spot furthest away instead of the closest space.
- Make your own holiday decorations this year. Take the family for a walk in the woods to gather your own boughs, pine cones, and bittersweet.
- Keep kids active during school vacation by sledding, skating or taking a walk! Search for some local family-friendly walks on HealthyMaineWalks.org
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| Tobacco | |
Quitting for the New Year?
Most tobacco users try several times to quit before they are successful for the long term. You can increase your chances of staying quit by considering the following:
- Why did you resume using tobacco after previous attempts to quit? Chances are you can come up with some clues to your personal challenges of staying tobacco free.
- Alcohol use: For many, drinking alcohol is a trigger to smoke. It also lowers your resistance to say no to tobacco. Since smoking and drinking go hand in hand in the bar scene, you may choose to avoid the environment for a while.
- Recognize danger: Learn to recognize signs there may be DANGER AHEAD. Perhaps you will find yourself thinking about tobacco more and more. Irrational thoughts such as "just one won't hurt" start crossing your mind. These are the signs that you are heading into dangerous territory.
- Over confidence: After a few days you may feel great and think that medications you are taking are no longer necessary. Remember that the medications are a way of helping you not use tobacco while you are changing your habits and rituals. Stay the course of treatment for the best results.
- Healthy lifestyle: Eating well (including breakfast), as well as getting daily exercise and adequate amounts of sleep will help you resist urges. Concerns about weight gain can be addressed by eating a balanced diet and crunchy snacks. Exercise burns calories, gives you some "feel good" chemicals, and gives you a new ritual to replace the old.
For more ideas, call the Maine Tobacco HelpLine at 1-800-207-1230. |
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Second Hand Smoke | |
Staying Free of Second Hand Smoke
For some of us, it's not easy to say no to visitors and family members who want to smoke in our homes. But remember, their smoke affects your health and comfort; here are some ideas for asking them to stop.
- If you live with a smoker, ask him or her to smoke outside. Explain your are concerned about the health risks.
- Put up a non smoking sign on your front door for the holidays. (contact Access Health, 373-6973 for a free sign).
- Don't allow smoking in the car.
- Ask smokers who visit not to smoke in your home. Try saying:
- "I know it's hard when you don't smoke, but I know you care about our health. I'd like to ask you to smoke outside from now on. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but this is really important."
- "Cigarette smoke is really bad for my allergies (or my child's asthma, my husband's heart condition, etc.), would you mind smoking outside? I would really appreciate it."
- "Cigarette smoke really gives me a headache, can you please not smoke while we are in the car? Thanks so much."
For more information on second hand smoke visit:
Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine |
| Chronic Disease Management | |
Know Your Risk!
Chronic diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes) are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost 1 out of 10 Americans or about 25 million people. Four behaviors-lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption-are responsible for much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic diseases. To find out if you are at risk of any of these diseases, take a personal health assessment at KeepMeWell.org sponsored by the Healthy Maine Partnerships program at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| Substance Abuse Prevention | |
Medication Drop Boxes Coming To Your Area!
In October 2011, approximately 633 participants in the Brunswick/Harpswell and Sagadahoc County area dropped off unused and expired medications to a collection site sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Maine took back nearly 7 tons of unused and expired medications! Per capita, Maine had the highest yield in the United States.
The next U.S. DEA sponsored take back event will be held on April 28, 2012. However, the Brunswick/Harpswell and Sagadahoc County area will soon see medication drop boxes placed in local police departments.Your local healthy Maine Partnership, Access Health and Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) will be purchasing medication drop boxes to help reduce prescription drug abuse in our communities. You will soon be able to drop off any expired and unused medications in your own town anytime! More information coming soon.
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have tripled in the last ten years. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55 percent of prescription drug users reported they got their drugs free from family or friends and 11.4 percent bought their drugs from family or friends. Let's all continue to work together to help reduce prescription drug abuse and overdoses in our community! For more information on substance abuse download Your Teen & Prescription Drugs from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse. |
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Lead Poisoning Prevention | |
Lead in Consumer Products
Lead has been commonly used for thousands of years because it is widespread, easy to extract, easy to work with and resistant to corrosion. Unfortunately lead is also toxic. In the past, lead has been used in many every day products including paint, gasoline, toys, pottery, candle wicks, costume jewelry and Christmas decorations. Since the 1970's it is no longer used in gasoline or most household paints but you can still find lead in many products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and The Centers For Disease Control list products that have been recalled due to high lead content. So, please, take a moment and make sure what you are buying or using for decorations hasn't been recalled.
To check recalls, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or click on the CDC Lead Recall site. |
| Access Health | |
Access Health works with communities to encourage and support healthy and happy lives, with a focus on:
- Physical Activity
- Healthy Eating
- Tobacco Prevention & Cessation
- Reduction of Second Hand Smoke
- Chronic Disease Management
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Lead Poisoning Prevention
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Access Health
66 Baribeau Drive, Suite 5A
Brunswick, ME 04011
Phone: 207-373-6973
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