community of Greater New Bedford, our patients, and our supporters.
The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center is a private, non-profit health care organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, representative of the economic, educational, and cultural diversity of our community.
The Greater New Bedford Community Health Foundation is the one of the charitable support arms of the Health Center. As a nonprofit, health care provider, the GNBCHC dependson the support of the community. Click the Foundation's logo above to learn more!- How you can help! Planned giving, pledges, and one-time donations are only a few of the ways that you can help us to provide the quality, compassionate health care that so many families. Click the link above to find out how you can help!
- Links and Resources for Diabetes List of diabetes related resources located on GNBCHC website.
- Bureau of Primary Health Care (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services)
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA)
- Community Health Center Clinical Provider Resources
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- Massachusetts League Of Community Health Centers
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- Coastline Elderly Services
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- United Way of Greater New Bedford
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- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks to improve the health and health care of all Americans.
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It’s vacation season once again, and if you’re like many Americans you’ll be hitting the road for a little fun and adventure. To get the most out of your trip, and to keep yourself as safe and sane as possible, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:
- Make a plan. Plan your trip in advance. While being a free spirit on the road can be fun, that doesn’t mean you have to leave the details to fate. Gather maps and brochures about the places you’re going to visit. Estimate your travel times and rest stops. And schedule the majority of your travel during daylight hours if possible.
- Set a budget. Figure out how much you want to spend and does some research before you go, so you don’t end up paying more for hotels and fuel than you want to. If possible, book your hotels before you leave. To estimate fuel costs, go to http://fuelcostcalculator.com, which combines AAA’s daily online Fuel Gauge Report and the Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel economy ratings.
- Get your car checked. Thinking of skipping that tuneup? Think again. It’s a minor task now that could become a major hassle once you’re on the road. Use a service outlet you trust. Buy or put together your own road safety kit. Include items that help you deal with both car and personal emergencies (e.g., a jack, water and antifreeze, a flare, first-aid products, a blanket).
- Don’t overdo it. Make sure you are properly rested before you set out for the day. Take breaks where you can get out of the car and stretch.
- Check the weather. Before you leave home, look at the forecast for the time and regions you’ll be traveling through. Before you set out each day, check again to see if anything has changed.
- Avoid looking like a tourist. Don’t leave maps in plain sight in your car, and don’t stand on a street corner gazing at a brochure in confusion. Both advertise your vulnerability to anyone looking for an opportunity to take advantage of your situation.
- Drive the speed limit. You don’t really gain much time by rushing, but you can get into situations that are undesirable when you’re hurrying and distracted. Also, your fuel usage is more cost-efficient when driving the speed limit.
- And don’t forget to buckle up!
Live in rooms full of light.
Avoid heavy food.
Be moderate in the drinking of wine.
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics.
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water.
Change surroundings and take long journeys.
Strictly avoid frightening ideas.
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements.
Listen to music.
–Aulus Cornelius Celsus, ca. 25 B.C.—ca. 50 A.D.
We can’t prevent all accidents from happening, but we can make smart choices about how we spend our leisure time. If you’re the type of person who loves a little pavement adventure on your skateboard, rollerblades, or freestyle bike, you already know you can easily get hurt—if you don’t take proper precautions. But have you stopped to consider the other possible consequences of your leisure-time injuries?
According to researchers at the Center for Trauma and Injury Prevention at the University of California-Irvine, the average cost per skatepark injury is about $3,200. Medical costs are around $2,100, while lost wages run about $1,100. Adults (over age 25) miss an average of 17 days of work from skatepark injuries. Once man actually lost his job because his injury prohibited him from working for weeks; subsequently, without an income, he also lost his apartment. Likewise, a piano and guitar tuner was fired for similar reasons when he fractured his forearm, the researchers report.
Before you show off on your skateboard or skip wearing a helmet when rollerblading or biking, consider the impact any potential injury could have on your ability to maintain an income. Don’t let a little fun become a life-altering event.
You know you’re supposed to wash your hands, but have you ever stopped to consider just how critical it can be?
You might be surprised to learn that in 1881 a few sets of dirty hands changed the course of U.S. history.
On July 2 of that year a gunman attempted to kill the 20th president of the United States, James a Garfield. The would-be assassin shot the president twice, and one of the bullets lodged deeply in Garfield’s body. A well-known surgeon was called, and he probed the wound with his unwashed finger in an attempt to find and remove the bullet. Other doctors were brought in who also probed the wound with unwashed fingers. They, like most doctors of the day, knew they should wash their hands, but they chose to ignore the practice. The wound festered.
After more than 10 weeks of languishing, Garfield died—not from the bullet he had taken but from the subsequent massive infection that caused blood poisoning and eventually a heart attack. Today, medical experts believe that had the president’s doctors not invaded the wound so aggressively with their unclean hands, Garfield would likely have survived the shooting.
A president paid the ultimate price because a few MD’s didn’t take the time to perform a simple, seemingly unimportant act. The final insult: Garfield’s attending surgeons submitted a $91,000 bill for medical services rendered (that’s more than $1.8 million in today’s currency), and deemed it fair and reasonable.
Need a snack? No problem, say the folks at the AARP (www.aarp.org), just keep it healthy. If you watch what you’re doing, you can get some of the fiber and nutrients your body needs through your snacking. You can also stave off some of those between meal hunger pangs that can cause you to overeat if you let them go too long. Smart snacking could help you reduce your calorie intake if you eat smaller meals and use your snacks to keep you going in between. Keep in mind that as you age your body needs fewer calories.
Here are come suggestions for healthy snacks:
- Fruit: fresh, frozen or dried.
- Raw vegetables cut and portioned in bags. Try carrots, celery, red and green pepper. You can dip them in low-fat dressing for a little extra zing.
- Whole-wheat English muffin with apple butter with a cup of herb tea.
- Slices of angel food cake with nonfat whipped topping.
- Whole grain crackers with reduced-fat cheese or peanut butter.
- Nonfat cottage cheese or yogurt with honey.
- A handful of nuts or trail mix.
- Hummus with whole-wheat pita bread.
- A smoothie (nonfat milk or yogurt blended with fruit).
A new report by the World Cancer Research Fund has found that dietary changes are essential to reduce the risk of cancer. Here are the recommendations based on the Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective (2007) report.
- Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
- Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
- Limit consumption of energy dense food (foods high in fats and/or added sugars and/or low in fiber) and avoid sugary drinks.
- Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and pulses (the edible seeds of legumes—peas, beans and lentils).
- Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
- If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to two for men and one for women per day.
- Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).
- Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer.
- It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months and then add other liquids and foods.
- After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
A study presented at a recent American Heart Association Conference (www.americanheart.org) has found that candy in wrappers might help indulgers eat less as opposed to eating unwrapped candies. Researchers found that people who ate candies and kept the wrappers in plain sight ate only about half as many as those who did not.
Lead author Brian Wansink (author of Mindless Eating, www.mindlesseating.org) says, “Having a visual reminder of how much [you eat], keeps you honest and eating less. Your stomach can’t count, but your eyes can when they see the empty wrappers.”
It also helps to keep the candy in a less convenient location as opposed to a more convenient location, Wansink says. So for instance, in the office, you wouldn’t want to keep the candy on your desk where it’s easy to get to. Move it at least 5 or 10 feet away so that you have to get up and walk for your treats.
Not sleeping well can lead to problems, especially for older adults, research has found. Depression, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness and nighttime falls can all occur as a result of poor nighttime sleeping. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, some of the more common sleep disorders in older adults include:
- Insomnia, which affects almost half of adults 60 and older.
- Obstructive sleep apnea, which can elevate the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and cognitive problems. Snoring, a symptom of OSA, is a very common condition affecting nearly 40 percent of adults, and is more common in older people.
- Restless legs syndrome, which can cause people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep, is evident in almost 40 percent of older adults.
- Establish a routine sleep schedule.
- Avoid using the bed for anything other than sleep and intimacy.
- Avoid substances that disturb your sleep, like alcohol or caffeine.
- Avoid daytime naps. If you must take a nap, limit the time to less than one hour and no later than 3 p.m.
- Stick to rituals that help you relax each night before going to bed. This can include things like a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
- Don’t take your worries to bed. Bedtime is a time to relax, not to hash out the stresses of the day.
- If you can’t fall asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity. Return to bed only when you are tired.
- Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little on the cool side.
Husband see, husband do, and vice versa, a study has found. Researchers say that if one spouse adopts a new health behavior, if one the other is likely to do the same. So if one spouse exercises, quits smoking or drinking, or gets a flu shot, the other spouse is likely to follow suit.
Yale University researchers, who looked at data from more than 6,000 individuals and their spouses from the Health and Retirement Study, conducted the study. The changes in health habits were most noticeable when it came to smoking and drinking, often spurred by outside cues, and patient-directed preventive behavior, such as a doctor’s referral to get a flu shot, researchers say.
Smokers were five times more likely to quit smoking if their spouse quit, when controlling for other relevant factors. Drinkers were also five times more likely to quit drinking alcohol if their partner didn’t drink. The good news is that the health of a family can be enhanced by the behavior of a spouse, but the opposite can also be true: A spouse can mirror destructive behaviors as well. These facts should be considered in trying to help families reach optimal levels of health.
A new test has been developed to determine whether certain toxins are present in fermented foods. According to the American Chemical Society, “out of the blue” headaches could be the result of consuming some fermented foods. The list of possible offenders: red wine, cheese and chocolate. The problem is believed to reside in toxins known as biogenic amines, which are known to trigger a range of symptoms in sensitive individuals—including pounding headaches and dangerous spikes in blood pressure. Researchers in California say they have developed a fast, inexpensive way to test foods for these toxins and help those who react to them, according to the ACS journal Analytical Chemistry. The new technique involves a florescent dye, a microchip and a laser beam. Researchers say they envision that the test could be engineered into a PDA or other handheld device. Consumers could easily use it in the home or at a restaurant; the device could be available to consumers in the near future.
There’s currently a rising popularity in “healthy” foods, but obesity rates are going up at the same time. Why?
Researchers Pierre Chandon (INSEAD, France and Brian Wansink (Cornell University) set out to determine why we are eating healthier food and still gaining weight.
Chandon and Wansink found that it’s most likely due to the “health halo effect”, meaning when consumers hear that there’s a fast-food restaurant that has “low-calorie” foods, they over generalize that all or most of the foods in the restaurant are “healthy.” And that’s just not the case.
In fact, consumers estimated that sandwiches from “healthier” fast-food restaurants contained 35 percent fewer calories than they actually had. And not only that, but as a result of their underestimation, consumers then felt it was okay to load up on beverages, side dishes and desserts containing up to 131 percent more calories when the main course they ordered was advertised as “healthy” as compared to when it was not.
But in their study, Chandon and Wansink found the sandwiches positioned as healthy already contained 50 percent more calories than the “unhealthy” sandwiches.
What’s a consumer to do? One strategy is to examine whether “low-calorie” claims by restaurants apply to the particular foods you plan on ordering. Learning to think of food in terms of the number of calories rather than whether it is a “good food” or a “bad food.”
The findings were originally published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Researchers at the Ohio State University have found that extracts from avocado appear to thwart oral cancer cells, killing some and preventing some from progressing into actual cancers.
The extracts came from Haas avocados, the kind that have the blackish-purplish skins and are widely available in most supermarkets.
Lead author of the study Steven Ambrosia said that avocados are full of beneficial antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, such as vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, fiber and unsaturated fats. Other good news about avocados is they are sodium free, contain no trans fats, and are low in saturated fat, making them healthy for just about everyone.
The findings were first published in the journal Seminars in Cancer Biology.
Eating together establishes good habits later in life, researchers at the University of Minnesota say. In the study, more than 1,500 participants were surveyed once during high school, then again when they were 20 years old. Participants were asked questions about how often they ate with their families, how much they liked sitting down to dinner with family and friends, if they had a tendency to eat and run, and how often they ate breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The researchers say that those who ate meals with families as adolescents were more likely to eat fruit, dark green and orange vegetables and drank fewer soft drinks as young adults. The frequency of family meals during adolescence also predicted eating meals more frequently as adults. Those who experienced more family meals were more likely to have higher intakes of key nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and the like.
The researchers say the results show that structured meal times with family are associated with improved diet quality for young adults. Families should be encouraged to share meals together as often as is practically possible, they say.
The results were originally published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Researchers at Rutgers University have found drinking soda which contains high-fructose corn syrup could contribute to the development of diabetes, especially in children.
Scientists tested beverages containing the syrup and found high levels of reactive compounds that previous studies have found have the potential to trigger cell and tissue damage which can cause diabetes.
“People consume too much high-fructose corn syrup in this country,” lead researcher Chi-Tang Ho, professor of food science at Rutgers University, said. “It’s in way too many food and drink products, and there’s growing evidence that it’s bad for you.”
The findings were first reported at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Did you know that high blood pressure affects 65 million Americans? That’s one in three American adults. Blood pressure is the force of blood against the artery walls. The measure of blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—systolic pressure (when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (when the heart relaxes between beats). Healthy blood pressure is when the systolic number is below 120 and the diastolic number is below 80. Having high blood pressure can be dangerous because it can make the heart work too hard, and the high force of blood flow can harm arteries and organs, such as the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes. Developing high blood pressure is something most Americans have to deal with at some point in their lives, because even if you’re 55 and have normal blood pressure, you still have a 90 percent lifetime risk for developing high blood pressure. Source: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — click here for a free download of the guide.
There are many things you can do to help control blood pressure. Here are a few steps you can take:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Be moderately physically active most days of the week.
- Follow a healthy eating plan, which includes foods lower in sodium.
- Drink alcohol only in moderation.
- If you have high blood pressure, take your prescribed medication as directed.
- Here are some of the DASH eating plan tips for reducing salt and sodium in your diet.
- When buying condiments, choose low or reduced sodium versions, or no-salt added versions.
- Eat more vegetables. If you choose frozen or canned, make sure you buy low-sodium or no-salt added.
- Eat fresh poultry, fish and lean meat, rather than canned, smoked or processed types.
- When choosing a breakfast cereal, choose ones that are lower in sodium.
- Limit cured foods, such as bacon and ham; foods packed in brine, such as pickles, olives and sauerkraut; and condiments, such as mustard, horseradish, soy or teriyaki sauce.
- Cook rice, pasta and hot cereals without salt. Cut out instant or flavored rice, pasta and cereal mixes, which usually have added salt.
- Choose lower sodium versions of convenience foods, and in general cut back on frozen dinners, mixed dishes such as pizza, packaged mixes, canned soups or broths, and salad dressings—because these items often have lots of sodium.
- Rinse canned foods such as tuna or beans before using to remove some of the sodium.
- Learn to use spices for flavoring rather than salt. Cook with herbs, spices, lemons, limes, vinegar or salt-free seasoning blends.
- Cut your salt intake in half.
- Move the salt shaker away from the table.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, your blood pressure could increase. Specifically if you’re middle-aged and sleep less than five hours a night, you may be increasing your risk of high blood pressure, a 2006 study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and College of Physicians and Surgeons found.
“People who sleep for only short durations raise their average 24-hour blood pressure and heart rate,” says James Gangwisch, of the psychiatric epidemiology training program at the Mailman School and lead author of the study. “This may set up the cardiovascular system to operate at an elevated pressure.”
In the study, 24 percent of people ages 32 to 59 who slept for five or fewer hours a night developed hypertension compared with 12 percent of those who got seven or eight hours of sleep. The analysis was based on data gathered from 4,810 people.
When compared with people who slept seven or eight hours a night, those who slept five or fewer hours a night also exercised less and were more likely to have a higher body-mass index (a measurement to assess body fat). They were also more likely to suffer from diabetes, depression and daytime sleepiness.
Another finding of the analysis was that high blood pressure often goes undetected. Of those who had high blood pressure, 30 percent were unaware of the fact.
The study originally appeared in Hypertension: Journal of the American Health Association.
The conventional wisdom when it comes to anorexia and bulimia has been that they were disorders that struck girls and young women. But according to Alexander Sackeyfio, a psychiatrist and eating-disorder specialist at the Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., it can happen to anyone at any stage of life. /doctors now agree that a growing number of older women are being diagnosed with eating disorders (Yale Medical Group).
Anorexics tend to be preoccupied with their body weight and shape and often suffer from anxiety, perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Bulimics tend to be more depressed and impulsive, and sometimes suffer from other substance abuse issues.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder, says Doug Bunnell, clinical director of the Renfrew Center in Wilton, Conn. That rate is somewhere between 10 to 15 percent, he says.
Doctors say they are seeing more middle-aged and even older women coming in for treatment for eating disorders. Many believe the women have suffered from eating disorders earlier in life but have not previously sought treatment. Others believe that menopause and other issues older women face, such as grown children leaving home, can set off eating disorders.
Local Friends, the auxiliary group of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Foundation, and Master Chef George Karousos, Chairman of the Foundation, hosted a fundraising Murder Mystery Dinner Show at the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford. For the uninitiated, the event was a complete surprise. Actors of the theater company, Mystery Café, performed right on the dining room floor, in between the tables. If anyone thought that the murder mystery would be serious, what they got was a fast-paced comedy. Audience members from every table played various roles and like the actors, very often strayed from the script adding to the hilarity of the performance.
Taking part in the evening’s entertainment were members of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Foundation Board Members including Chairman and President George Karousos, Secretary Phil Paleologos, John Enright, Sr, John Lobo, Guillermo Gonzalez. M.D., and Executive Director Robert E. Nochimow. Also attending were members of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center Executive staff and Board of Directors: Peter Georgeopoulos, D. Karen Enright, Rose A. Yates, Board Chair, Deborah Jenkins, Gerard Kavanaugh, and Golf Committee Chairman Jean Desrosiers.
The funds raised by the Foundation provide continuous support for the high quality health care given to the adults, children, and elderly of the community regardless of their ability to pay.
>>>Click here for a slideshow of this event from
SouthCoast Today.>>>
As we reflect on the close of another year we cannot help but be affected by the many generous expressions of sharing and goodwill that have been shown to the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center and its patients. It has been an extraordinary time in which we saw 26 years of dreaming and planning for an expanded downtown campus fulfilled. It would not have been possible without the support of public and private funding and individual donations - it would not have been possible without you.
This is the time for not only looking back but to looking ahead to the dreams and plans as yet unfulfilled. There are always those in our community who face an insecure future regarding their health. This means we must remain committed to building and developing our health care services to the community. We turn to you to help us make sure that those who need help, get help. I urge you to share with the least fortunate and most vulnerable members of our community in a tangible way with a generous donation during this holiday season.
We wish each and every one of you a holiday filled with happiness, good cheer, and, above all, peace. May you enjoy a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year.
Sincerely on behalf of the health center family,
Peter Georgeopoulos
Acting President &
CEO/CFO
According to the American Heart Association, there’s lots of room for improvement when it comes to physical activity and students. Data from 2005 showed that only 43.8 percent of males and 27.8 percent of females in grades 9-12 met the recommended levels of physical activity.
That same year, more than 21 percent of high school students reportedly played video games or used a computer for something other than schoolwork for three or more hours per day.
And more than 37 percent of all students watched television three or more hours on an average school day.