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Unhappy Gut? Some People Suffer for Years Before Seeing a Doctor

By
Statepoint
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Abdominal pain? Diarrhea? An estimated 16 million Americans live with a type of irritable bowel syndrome called IBS-D (the D stands for diarrhea), and it affects both men and women almost equally. However, only 30 percent of individuals consult a physician about their symptoms.

Why is that?

“People who experience symptoms of IBS-D can feel like their symptoms are not severe enough to seek medical attention or that there isn’t anything doctors can do to help,” says Dr. Howard Franklin, vice president of medical affairs and strategy at Salix Pharmaceuticals. “But doctors want to hear about everything you are feeling so they can determine the underlying cause of your discomfort and help you find a treatment plan that is right for you.”

A closer look at IBS-D

Symptoms of IBS-D, which are different in everyone, include stomach pain and cramping, frequent diarrhea, gas, bloating and an urgency to use the bathroom. Many people experience feeling frustrated, missing out on activities because of symptoms and avoiding situations where there is no bathroom nearby.

IBS-D can be diagnosed based on symptom history, including:

• Abdominal pain at least one day a week during the last three months

• More than 25 percent of bowel movements are loose or watery (diarrhea), and less than 25 percent are hard or lumpy (constipation)

• Symptoms started at least six months ago

What could be the cause?

While the exact cause of IBS-D is unknown, and people may have IBS for more than one reason, an imbalance in the usual numbers and proportions of normally healthy bacteria in the digestive system (the gut microbiota) has been found in many people with IBS-D. The microbiota help digest and absorb food and work with the immune system as a barrier against other microorganisms that can cause disease.

“One study of 109 patients with IBS showed that 73 percent had an imbalance in their gut microbiota, compared with only 16 percent of healthy people,” says Dr. Franklin. “Other potential reasons may include previous gastrointestinal infection or food poisoning, communication problems between the brain and digestive system, a family history of IBS and other causes.”

Treatment options

There is currently no cure, but there are treatments that can help with the symptoms of IBS-D. Lifestyle changes, such as eliminating certain foods and increasing exercise, could help.

“Studies have shown that between 50 and 70 percent of patients failed to respond to either fiber or antispasmodics as a treatment therapy,” says Dr. Franklin. “There are different types of prescription treatments for IBS-D. If one isn’t working, it’s important that patients ask their healthcare professional about trying a different medicine to find what treatment is right for them.”

For more information, visit IBSDUpClose.com.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of IBS-D, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about all of them. This is the first step toward helping find a treatment plan and getting relief.

-Statepoint

AC Soccer Teams Shuffle Upcoming Schedules Roadrunners Get New Date with NTCC

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College soccer teams have had to do some reshuffling of the upcoming schedule, with the Roadrunners getting a new date for a recently suspended match with Northeast Texas Community College.

First, the Roadrunners will face Laredo College on Saturday night at 7 p.m. instead of on Sunday at 10 a.m. as originally scheduled. Saturday’s match will take place immediately following the Coastal Bend College vs. LSU-Eunice game on Jase Magers Field.

On Sunday, the Lady Roadrunners host LSU-Eunice in a non-conference match starting at 1 p.m. at Jase Magers Field.

AC’s men then will get another shot at the NTCC Eagles at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Officials suspended the Oct. 6 match between the two teams because of lightning. At the time, the Eagles led 2-1 with 35 minutes remaining in the contest, but rules require the teams to start the rescheduled match with a clean slate and play it in its entirety.

This Friday, Oct. 12, both AC teams will play at home, with the Lady Roadrunners hosting No. 1-ranked Navarro College at 5 p.m. and the men following against Coastal Bend College at 7 p.m. The Lady ‘Runners are looking to extend their program-record five-game winning streak against the high-powered Lady Bulldogs.

All games will take place at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

5 Tips to Soothe a Fussy Baby

By
Statepoint
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If you’ve ever gone to great lengths to sooth a fussy baby, you may feel like you’ve tried every trick in the book. As most new parents learn quickly, this can be one of the most challenging aspects of caring for a little one.

Keep in mind, some of the most effective methods to get a baby to relax, stop crying and get some sleep, are the safest and the simplest.

• “Shush, shush, shush.” A “shhh” mimics the sounds of a cozy, comfy womb, which can have a calming effect on fussy babies. Try this simple tip in a rocking chair.

• Togetherness. A baby carrier or wrap creates close comfort between parent and child, soothing your baby while giving you an endorphin boost. This is a great technique when you need two hands to move about the house, or want a comfortable way to breastfeed. For added convenience, check out innovative baby carriers that slip on like t-shirts, such as the Baby K’tan wrap, which has a unique, double-loop design and is available in soft, natural and breathable fabrics.

• Make some noise. Making noise may sound counterintuitive when it comes to creating an ideal sleep environment, but the reality is that consistent background noise helps recreate the comfort of the womb. Whether it’s white noise or soft music, find what works best for your baby. Check out versatile baby sleep apps that feature a variety of sound settings, such as fans, chimes and car rides, or classical music and lullabies, set on loops for consistent sleep.

• Wrap up. Celebrated for its role in fostering healthy sleep, swaddling provides a secure, soothing feeling for newborns, along with many other benefits. Talk to your pediatrician about the safe, proper way to swaddle, and be sure to use a fabric that allows for continuous airflow to avoid overheating. For a versatile choice, the Baby K’tan Newborn Swaddle is a good bet. Made from a breathable stretch cotton, it can be used to swaddle now, and can be easily repurposed into a blanket or nursing cover as your baby grows.

• Stick to the program. It will take some getting used to, but putting your baby on a consistent schedule will mean less fuss when it’s time to put your baby down for naps and at bedtime. Whether it’s singing your baby a song or snuggling and reading, creating a parent-child routine will help signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep.

Soothing a crying baby can feel like an uphill battle. Luckily, there are plenty of natural, effective ways to calm a fussy little one, from old tricks to new tools.

-Statepoint

Special Needs Pets: Can I Adopt a Heartworm-Positive Dog?

By
Statepoint
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Every year, an estimated 3.3 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters, with roughly half that number subsequently adopted by pet owners. These include shelter dogs with special medical needs that can make them harder to place. Dogs with heartworm infection are a common example.

What is heartworm disease and how do dogs get it?

Heartworm disease is a serious disease spread by infected mosquitoes that is estimated to affect more than one million dogs, cats and ferrets in the U.S. The incidence of heartworm disease in shelter dogs is thought to be higher than in other dogs because stray and surrendered pets are less likely to have received prior veterinary care or to have been on routine heartworm prevention. Meanwhile, natural disasters like hurricanes — which occur in areas of the country where heartworm rates are already high — can lead to increased numbers of heartworm-positive pets needing adoption when flooding and pet displacement drive up infection numbers.

Not every aspiring pet owner is equipped to provide the extra care a special-needs pet requires; however, with proper treatment, heartworm-positive pets can be excellent candidates for adoption. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) advises prospective adopters to obtain important information from veterinarians and shelter personnel when considering this step. Key points are understanding how heartworm infection is spread, how treatment works and what kind of care owners will be required to give dogs undergoing treatment.

What to know when adopting a heartworm-positive dog:

• Dogs with heartworm disease can be successfully treated and go on to live normal lives. However, treatment must be initiated as soon as possible to minimize permanent damage to the dog’s heart and arteries.

• A dog with heartworm disease cannot directly infect another pet. Nevertheless, an infected, untreated dog can become a source of infection to other pets if it is bitten by a mosquito, so prompt treatment is needed.

• Heartworm treatment requires months of therapy and multiple medications administered under a veterinarian’s care. Heartworm treatment can also be costly. Some shelters are able to cover all or some of these costs prior to adoption, while others can’t afford to do so. Dogs undergoing treatment also need to be kept on cage rest to minimize treatment complications.

• Dogs can become re-infected if they’re not protected. The AHS recommends year-round heartworm prevention to all pets, as well as annual testing. Fortunately, heartworm prevention is affordable, effective and safe.

For more information on understanding heartworm disease in dogs, visit heartwormsociety.org.

While heartworm disease is a serious medical condition, compassionate owners who are willing to invest the necessary care and resources in treatment can enable heartworm-positive dogs to live full and happy lives.

-Statepoint

Lady Roadrunners Blast Northeast Texas Lightning Suspends Men’s Game

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Jerissa Grimes (10) finds room to run during Saturday’s match against Northeast Texas Community College. Grimes scored three goals to lead AC to a 10-0 win at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

The Angelina College Lady Roadrunners on Saturday were on fire – and on target.

AC’s ladies launched a barrage of long-distance kicks all match long, connecting for 10 of them in a 10-0 blasting of Northeast Texas Community College Saturday at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin.

The men’s game was suspended because of lightning with NTCC leading 2-1 with 35 minutes to play in the match. No makeup date has been announced yet.

From the opening kick, the Lady ‘Runners were on the attack, attempting several tries from long range before Jerissa Grimes finally found the net with her first of three goals. Along with the Grimes hat trick, AC got two goals each from Jasmin Keller and Sasha Moreira and a goal each from Bety Hernandez, Daisy de Boer and Bailey Bowers.

In a change of typical tactics, the Lady Roadrunners took nearly every shot from far outside the box. NTCC’s keeper thwarted a few, including several on-target blasts from de Boer, but AC never let up in securing its fifth conference win – two full games ahead of the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Roadrunners will host another key match in league play when they host Paris College Monday at 5 p.m. The Roadrunners follow against the Dragons at 7 p.m. at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu

Texas Forestry Museum’s Fall Festival & Halloween Scavenger Hunt

By
Ezra McMullen
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The Texas Forestry Museum invites you and your family to come to the museum’s Fall Festival. On Friday, October 26th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm the museum will have a photobooth, mini hayrides, and caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. Also, there will be plenty of fall games for the kids such as pumpkin ring toss, pick a pop, plinko, and more. The event is free to the public. The event is sponsored by Huntington State Bank and Timber Pro Forest Service. Photos will be taken at the event for promotional materials.

Also, the museum will have its Halloween Trails Scavenger Hunt again this year. Families are invited to hunt for Halloween characters and win fun prizes. It will be available starting on Monday, October 22nd through Wednesday, October 31st during museum hours. This is a free event, and we hope to see your family there!

The Texas Forestry Museum, a private non-profit organization, is located at 1905 Atkinson Dr. in Lufkin. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. For more information on the Texas Forestry Museum and its scheduled events, please call 936-632-9535 or visit our website at www.treetexas.com.

Hands-on Ways Kids Can Get Creative at Home

By
Statepoint
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0

Want to take play time up a notch at your house? Consider offering kids opportunities to explore their creativity, support STEM learning, and pick up important skills through hands-on experiences.

“There are many ways to foster excitement in children to learn, while encouraging them to explore and experiment with their creativity,” says Evan Buzzerio, chief marketing officer of Horizon Group USA, a leader in the creative DIY marketplace.

Here are some fun ideas to get started:

• Chemistry Lab: For a fun, fizzing and slimy reaction, check out FIZZYGLOOP, a DIY kit available in Unicorn, Confetti, Holographic and other fun themes that includes all the ingredients needed to create a foaming, slimy goo.

Or, transform your play space into a scientific laboratory. Create oozing, slimy spheres that kids can pop and squish to reveal gooey centers, with a new DIY kit just for kids called OOZ-O’s, which are available in themes like Mermaid, Unicorn, Galaxy and Monster, and help introduce basic chemistry principles.

• Tactile Fun: Whether it’s making and playing with slime or using a stress ball, tactile fun can build strength in arms, hands and wrists and improve motor skills in fun, mess-free ways.

• Crafty Science: Kids can learn the science of soapmaking with YOU*NIVERSE Sparkling Squishy Soap kits, by creating colorful soaps that are squishy to the touch in fun, moldable shapes like pizza, a smiley face and donuts.

• Kitchen Help: Get kids involved in the kitchen. From shelling peas to kneading dough, there are lots of tasks children can do that help build motor skills. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to teach kids cooking basics and facts about nutrition.

• Rock Science: Inspire a love of geology and the scientific process with a home geology set, such as the Discovery Galactic Fizzing Dig kit, which allows children to create fizzing, bubbling reactions to unearth and study six real gemstones using a mallet, chisel and magnifying glass.

Helping kids explore the world around them can start right at home. Luckily, hands-on, creative play is one of the best ways to learn.

-Statepoint

AC Soccer Teams Hosting Crucial Conference Matches on Saturday, Monday Scramble for Playoff Positioning over the Next Two Weeks

By
Gary Stallard
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Gabriel Bradford (12) of Angelina College races ahead of a Jacksonville defender during a recent game. The Lady Roadrunners, who have won three straight, host key conference games on Saturday and Monday at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Angelina College’s Josue Salazar tees off from the box during a recent game. The Roadrunners, winners of three straight, host crucial conference games on Saturday and Monday at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, both Angelina College soccer teams are heading into a meat grinder of a conference schedule – with very little margin for error.

The grind kicks off on Saturday, with both AC teams hosting Northeast Texas Community College.

The Lady Roadrunners (8-4, 4-3), third in conference play, hold a single-game lead over Saturday’s opponent. AC’s ladies have won three straight, beating Jacksonville 10-0, Mississippi Gulf Coast 5-0 (Gabriel Bradford with two goals, and Stefany Lopez, Italli Suarez and Daisy de Boer with one each) and Pearl River College by a 2-1 score, with Lopez and de Boer accounting for the Lady ‘Runner scoring.

NTCC’s Lady Eagles are 6-5, 3-4 on the season, having lost their past two games. Jennifer Paz leads her team with 12 goals.

Back on Sept. 8, the Lady ‘Runners took a 3-1 win over the Lady Eagles in Mount Pleasant.

The Roadrunners have also put together a three-game winning streak, dispatching Jacksonville 8-2 and taking a 9-4 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast and a 7-0 win over Pearl River, with Othonn Ruy notching two goals and Jesus Cerda, Fernando Marquez, Brad Lowes, Dadwin Hernandez and Chris Mendez adding one each.

Cerda and Ruy lead the Roadrunners in scoring with seven goals each. Ruy’s six assists also lead the team, giving him 20 points for the season.

The Eagles of NTCC are lodged in second place in the conference standings, having won three straight to build a 10-2-1, 7-2 record. In the previous meeting between the Roadrunners and Eagles in Mount Pleasant, NTCC pulled out a 3-0 win.

For the ‘Runners to make the post season for the first time in program history, they’ll have to continue their recent hot streak. After struggling early in the year, the team has come together well, outscoring opponents 24-6 over the past three games.

Saturday’s action kicks off with the Lady Roadrunners at 1 p.m., with the men following at 3 p.m.

On Monday, AC’s teams will host Paris College in a women/men doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.

All games will take place at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin.

Gary Stallard’s e-mail address is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Composting – How to put it together

By
Cary Sims
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While the practice of composting has been around for at least a couple thousand years, it has been since the mid 1900’s that much of our scientific knowledge of the composting process has been figured out.

Away from science, you have to look no further than at the ground of any undisturbed forest around here. The fallen leaves, pine needles, branches and other organic material decomposes without the guidelines you read. It will take longer, several months longer, but the process will occur naturally.

The nursery industry and many home gardeners want compost in several weeks to a few months. To have that quick a product, composting processes can be followed to have the correct carbon to nitrogen ratio and the proper amount of moisture. Below, I will skip the details of the science and provide more of a fundamental approach for those new to the concept.

We can simplify the composting process greatly by breaking the ingredients into two parts. We’ll talk in terms of “green” and “brown” materials that you put into a compost pile.

Greens are the nitrogen source. Green materials are colorful, freshly cut and contain moisture. They provide nutrients and moisture for the compost workforce. Your vegetable kitchen scraps, fresh lawn clippings, the pile of weeds you just pulled out of your garden, or other fresh trimmings from your landscape are “greens”.

Browns are the carbon source. Browns provide energy and are also used for absorbing excess moisture and giving structural strength to your pile. Browns would be the leaves that are just now beginning to fall. Pine needles that you gather or old dried out clippings would be a brown ingredient.

At the very simplest, mix 1-part green materials to 2-3 parts brown materials. With lots of leaves (brown material) coming available soon, some gardeners use what they need for the current amount of greens they have and set the remainder of the leaves aside to mix with fresh green trimmings or kitchen vegetable scraps as the greens become available.

You will layer these greens and browns together in an area that is no smaller that 3 ft wide and 3 ft deep. Put a layer of browns first, then alternate greens and browns until you have a pile that is no shorter than 3 ft high.

Volume is crucial to home composters. When constructing yours, make it no smaller than 3 ft wide by 3 ft deep by 3 ft tall. This volume will ensure that you can have enough heat to kill off weed seeds and sterilize diseased plant tissue or other harmful pathogens.

The real workhorse that you don’t even have to add is bacteria and fungi. These are the aerobic bacteria that will create heat as they oxidize the carbon materials present. There are certain types of aerobic bacteria that can heat up the compost pile to as high as 150 F! Numerous gardeners have seen their own piles so warm that it generates steam as it goes about its work.

If you do want to add bacteria or fungus, I wouldn’t recommend purchasing those products. The microorganisms they are selling are already present on the leaves, food scraps and other material you are adding to the pile. If you want to add an inoculant, activator or other additive, simply sprinkle in a shovel full of your best soil and you will have more than enough microorganisms.

It is an interesting process. Not all compost piles reach a very high temperature, so do not be discouraged if yours does not. Be sure to turn your pile every week or two. Under the best conditions, you’ll have useable compost in a month or two, while a pile of unmanaged leaves will take a year or more.

Make the Most of your Health Insurance

By
Misty Boggs
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During the fall and as the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Early October is a good time to review your outstanding health care needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts.

“In considering their health care needs, people should also consider the best strategy for using their available health insurance plan benefits,” said Kyle Swift, CEO of Woodland Heights. “Take advantage of unused benefits to complete outstanding treatments or recommended tests or procedures before the year ends.”

Most health insurance plans have a deductible requirement—a predetermined amount of healthcare expense that must be covered before the plan begins paying the majority of (if not all) remaining expenses. Swift says it’s crucial to know how close you are to meeting your deductible—or if you’ve already met it “because once you reach that threshold, you have a limited window of opportunity to obtain health care services and have the bulk of that expense covered by your plan. Remember: a new year brings a new deductible,” he says.

The close of 2018 also affects individuals who have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)—which are pre-tax dollars set aside primarily for health-related expenses. The Internal Revenue Service requires those funds to be spent—or forfeited—by December 31. It’s a “use it or lose it” proposition, says Swift.

If you have been putting off scheduling care, such as an annual check-up, allergy testing, or knee-replacement surgery, it would be wise to check your deductible status and your FSA balance to see if there’s money to be saved, encourages Swift.

“It’s important to schedule services promptly so there is enough time to have the test or elective procedure done before the end of the year. Getting everything squared-away by early December will help ensure the services you receive are considered part of your 2018 coverage,” he says.

Every health plan is different. It is important to know how your plan works so you can get the most from your benefits.

Talk with your physician to see what you can get done before your deductibles start over. If you do not have a physician, visit WoodlandHeights.net. To schedule an appointment, call 936-637-8618.

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