Upcoming event for Grace House

Oct. 12,  12:45-1:15 P.M at Grace House:

"Chair Aerobics for Seniors"- a physican therapist from Heartland Rehabilitation will demonstrate exercises you can do at home...from your chair!

http://www.heartlandrehab.com/


Week #4 Walk to Jerusalem Milage: 846.50

Total: 3211.6

Keep walking!

Alzheimer's Association

If you missed the presentation at the Grace House on Alzheimer's disease, the link below will connect you to the official site. There you will find warning signs, facts and resources.

http://www.alz.org/


Don't forget to send your "miles" to me at ltyre@stmarkjacksonville.org if you are participating in the Walk to Jerusalem program.

Stretching for Health continues on Tuesdsays in the Youth Center 5:30-6:30

Link to Walk to Jerusalem Booklet

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/26bce266cf9e228702c7a2596/files/WalktoJerusalembooklet.pdf

Walk to Jeruselum

 A great response to the "walk"! We have had over 60 people commit to the 8 week program! If you did not get a booklet, there will be more available this Sunday in Leatherbury Hall. Look for them near the bulletin board.
If you are participating, please remember to e-mail your "miles" to me each week: ltyre@stmarksjacksonville.org

Great job and keep walking!

Upcoming Events

Rally Day Health Fair!
August 28th, 11:00-1:00
Screenings: Blood pressure
                  Cholesterol $5
                  Blood Glucose $2
Wellness Informational Handouts
Bicycle Safety- win a free child's bicycle helmet

Walk to Jerusalem- 8 week walking program kicks off on Rally Day. Sign up and get a free pedometer!

Passport to Good Health app

Here's a fabulous new resource HealthyWomen has to offer: the Passport to Good Health app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad!
The Passport to Good Health app is a free application that tracks all your medical appointments, notes, recommended screenings and prescriptions in one convenient location and features helpful reminders so you never miss another appointment or due date. The Plus version, which tracks the health and wellness of your whole family, is available for a one-time fee of $1.99. HealthyWomen is excited to include this app as a valuable tool and resource for both consumers and health care providers to ensure continued health and wellness.

Men's Health Month

June is Men's Health Month. No matter how much you know about men's health, there's always room to learn more about steps to a healthier lifestyle, the top health concerns of men, and the importance of getting medical care and regular screening tests. Afterall, men not only have unique health concerns, but they also suffer from certain diseases. Worldwide, women outlive men--why? Some reasons include: men tend to smoke and drink more than women and generally have less healthy lifestyles, men do not seek medical help as often as women, and men tend to join in more fearless, risky, dangerous behaviors than women.  Men also largely define themselves by their work, which adds stress and a disconnect from their emotional side.  This can add to problems in their relationships, as well as in jobs and careeres. The good news is that many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented and treated if they are diagnosed early. You deserve to pay more attention to yourself, men! Take better care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.   

Mental Health Month

For more than 50 years, May has been Mental Health Month, a time to focus the nation's attention on promoting mental health and improving access to treatment for people with mental illness. May is also a very busy time for most people. Here are some ways to keep it together and feel good each day of this busy time of year. 1. Stretch. 2. Fly a kite. 3. Slow down. 4. Re-read a favorite book. 5. Hug someone. 6. Sing in the shower. 7. Plant a flower. 8. Have breakfast in bed. 9. Let someone do you a favor. 10. Re-arrange a room. 11. Tell someone you apprecriate them. 12. Consider your good points. 13. Watch the clouds. 14. Feel the wind. 15. Acknowlegde when you are wrong. 16. Refuse to worry for a day. 17. Invite a neighbor over. 18. Clean out your garage. 19. Say "no". 20. Make a surprise gift. 21. Listen to the night sounds. 22. Let the phone ring. 23. Learn something new. 24. Mend a quarrel. 25. Smile at your own reflection. 26. Tell someone a joke. 27. Tell someone how you feel. 28. Take a nap. 29. Whistle. 30. Dance.

May is Stroke Awareness Month

A stroke can be defined as similar as a heart attack, but it occurs in the brain. It happens when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain becomes blocked by a clot or bursts. As a result, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it begins to die. You are more likely to have a stroke if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, have a family history of stroke, use tobacco, get migraine headaches, have diabetes, are overweight, or do not exercise. Signs that a stroke may be occurring include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg-especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and sudden severe headaches with no known cause. When you suspect that you or someone else may be experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately! Every second counts!

Celebrate the Gift of Your Body

Happy Easter to all! Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate new life! In the busyness of life we tend to forget about the marvels of life around us. Our bodies are one of these marvels. Psalm 139 reminds us that God has knit us together in our mother's womb. What an awesome event! How often we forget what a miracle of life we are. Is it not a daily miracle that your digestive process can turn ordinary food into nourishment, energizing and giving you strength? Think about the miracles of breathing oxygen every minute of every day, your blood racing through the blood vessels with proper distribution to all parts of your body, and your brain being the first telegraph system sending messages to the rest of your body. Truly, the body is full of miracles. You sit. You walk. You run. You talk. You see. You hear. You touch. You smell. You taste. All- miracles! Take a few moments today to thank your loving Creator for designing such a fragile, beautiful work of art as our bodies.

Smile to Relieve Stress

Did you ever think that smiling can improve your health? A smile can subtract years from your face and say more about you than hours of conversation. Smiling can also tone three groups of facial muscles, and firm , supple muscles make for a healthier complexion. Smiling can stimulate glands, hair follicles and blood, all of which nourish and revitalize your skin. A smile is a wonderful thing to behold! So give somebody a gift- and get an instant facelift.

Health and Wellness Advisory Council Presentations

Please join us for:

"Christian Meditation- Beginning the Journey" Sunday, March 13th 10:00-10:45 AM in the chapel

"Young at Brain" Wednesday, March 16th 12:30-1:30 PM at the Grace House

Check the E-pistle and your church bulletin for more information.

Hope to see you there.

National Nutrition Month

Since March is designated as National Nutrition Month, it is timely to share some wisdom about nutrition. Good nutrition begins with the choices we make at the supermarket. Nutrition-conscious shoppers follow a few simple strategies to make sure they bring home healthy foods. Smart shoppers arrive at the store well-fed to avoid buying junk food because of hunger rather than common sense. They shop around the perimeter or outer aisles of the store, where the fresh produce and dairy products are usually located. With a full cart, they are also more likely to skipped the processed and packaged food in the inner aisles. Because they stick to a shopping list, they are less tempted to buy "bargains" that don't really fit their needs. Smart shoppers check food labels and skip porducts with empty calories in the ingredients such as foods high in fat and refined sugar. Further shopping tips for sound nutrition are to: avoid heavily processed or instant foods and packed mixes, choose whole grain breads and pastas, check expiration dates on perishable items, shop for fresh produce twice a week so the nutrients are not lost during a long storage period. Good nutrition at the supermarket is not really complicated. Once you know the basics, it becomes sound nature to look at food from a nutritional standpoint.

Staying Healthy Through Gardening

It's that time of year to get everything ready to plant a garden. This activity may not occur to you as a health benefit, however, there are studies showing that people engaging in even a "leisure time" physical activity for an average of 50 minutes a day were healthier than those who did little or nothing at all. Not only are there physical benefits to gardening, there are a few mental benefits as well:
A garden shows us the miracle of birth and rebirth.
A garden reminds us the value of intention-plan, prepare, nurture.
A garden gives the courage to take a leap of faith, trusting each seed we sow will sprout, grow and flourish.
A garden reminds us that process can be everything.
A garden teaches us patience.
A garden lets us work the soil, teaching us that everything is interrelated and interdependent.
Why not enjoy the company? It's never too late to plant a garden!

 

Be An Organ Donor

There was a recent presentation at my son's high school regarding organ and tissue donation. It brought up lots of conversation at the dinner table. Here are some facts: A new name is added to the natural transplant waiting list every 14 minutes. About 16 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. One organ donor can save the life of at least eight people. Donation and transplantation can save lives, yet the need for organs far exceeds the supply.  There were over 23,000 transplants last year and over 12,000 donors. Thousands of more critically ill patients could been helped if more organs were available. How can you become a donor? Tell your family your decision. It's that simple. Those who want to become donors may also indicate their decision on their driver's license or carry a donor card. Regardless of previous medical conditions, most people can become organ donors. Organ donation is a gift that proves hope can come out of a tragedy...out of death, new life.


My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13).


If you are not a donor, why not consider it?

Health Hearts for Valentines

On February 14th, we will be celebrating Valentines Day, so it seems appropriate to talk about heart health. The heart needs more than a healthy diet and regular exercise to heal. It also needs intimacy. There has been a radical shift in our culture over the past 50 years. We've seen a breakdown in the family. Spending time with friends and loved ones is a basic human need, as basic as eating, breathing, and sleeping. That need often goes unfulfilled in our culture and it threatens our survival. Six ways to heal your heart include: 1) Sharing your feelings with a family or friend, joining a support group, or keeping a personal journal. 2) Learning how to forgive. Forgiving others doesn't excuse their behavior, but it frees you from the negative effects of anger on yourself. 3) Helping others. Doing volunteer work or just lending a helping hand is a powerful tonic for isolation and lonliness.4) Strengthen your spiritual life by attending church or taking time for daily prayer. 5) Touching others with respect, whether a hug or a handshake is heart healthy. 6) Making a committment. Committement to another gives you a safe zone in which you can be vulnerable. As we celebrate Valentine's Day, find a new way to reach out and love someone! There is a great reward-your own heart health.

Next Blood Pressure Check will be Sunday, February 13 between the 8:45 and 11:00 services in the back of Leatherbury Hall.

Nation Blood Donor Month

January is National Blood Donor Month. Thousands of patients at our hospitals are now living healthy, productive lives because blood donated by people like you was available when they needed it. This blood supply, on which we all depend, is now in jeopardy. The primary threat to our blood supply is a shortage of healthy blood donors. You and your family may never need blood, or never experience surgery, accidents or disasters. But if you do, safe blood will be available for you only if healthy prople continue to give blood to maintain the supply. Donating is safe, simple and satisfying. Your body contains about 10-12 pints of blood and the blood you give is quickly replaced. The entire process usually takes about 30 minutes and less than 10 minutes for the actual blood donation. Blood donors should be between 17 and 75 and weigh at least 110 lbs. You can visit the Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance website at bloodalliance.com to get information on where you can donate. They have 14 different locations today! Usually after the holidays, the supply of blood is critically low. So, let one of your New Year's Resolutions be to "give the gift of life". You'll be glad you did.    

New Year's Resolutions

By now, many of us have made and broken New Year's Resolutions. Don't feel bad. Out of 10 people, eight won't keep their resolution for more than one month. Most resolutions involve some sort of fitness. Whether it is starting to work out, losing weight or changing a diet, they are most often directed at making us feel better about ourselves. Here are some keys to making your resolutions last: 1. Pat yourself on the back. It's hard to stick to your resolutions because benefits are delayed. 2. Avoid temptations. Avoid those places where you have overeaten, smoked, or drank and find something else to do. 3. Talk to friends and family who will support a change in behavior. 4. Stay around positive people who will encourage you. 5. Leave negative situations. 6. Finally, don't be discouraged by an occasional slip-up. Just accept the fact that you slipped and pick up again with your resolve to change.

Blood Pressure Checks this Sunday, 1/16/11 between the 8:45 and 11:00 services in the back of Leatherbury Hall.