| What's Up 11/26
Coat and sweater drive. The Elizabeth City Women’s Club is holding its annual Coat and Sweater Drive through Dec. 30. Bring clean and "gently" used coats, sweaters, hats and mittens to Elizabeth City Pet Nutrition Center, 201 E. Ehringhaus St., or Puddleducks, 406-B S. Griffin St., Elizabeth City. For more information call 338-8862 or 338-6883. NCDC accepting after-school applications. Northeastern Community Development Corp. has a few vacancies remaining in its After School Program. The program is open to children in grades K-3 and participants are provided homework assistance, structured play, enrichment activities, and arts and crafts opportunities. To register, call 338-5466, ext. 21. Adopt a Northside student for Christmas. Northside Elementary School is seeking persons to help underprivileged students have a merry Christmas.
'Tis the Season for Allergic Reactions
MILWAUKEE-With the holiday season just around the corner, millions of Americans are preparing to decorate their homes, gather for feasts and travel to visit relatives. However, for allergy and asthma sufferers, the holiday season presents several potential triggers, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). "Whether it's feasting on holiday meals, setting up your Christmas tree, or visiting your pet-owning relatives, allergy triggers may be lurking inside of our warm, cozy homes this time of year," said Alisa M. Smith, PhD, FAAAAI, vice-chair of the AAAAI's Indoor Allergen Committee. "Unfortunately, with busy schedules, travel time and the stress of the holidays, it is easy to forget to take the proper care when dealing with allergies and asthma.
The Village Network wins 2007 Agency of the Year
WOOSTER -- The Village Network's recent award marked "a very special occasion for all of us," Executive Director Jim Miller said at a reception honoring the distinction of the Alliance for Children and Families "2007 Agency of the Year" National Award. "We were quite surprised when we heard we were going to be the national recipient of the agency of the year," Miller said. John McCord, president of the board of trustees, said the Village Network is no doubt "the envy of the other 370 organizations (eligible to win the award)." McCord commended the contributions of sound board decisions and generous donors who "fund many of the new initiatives" for which the Village Network was recognized. He also acknowledged "hard work and sacrifices" by all those involved with the facility.
New technology allows joint replacement on younger patients
Joint replacement surgery once was reserved for older patients suffering from knee or hip pain usually related to arthritis.
But the face of the joint replacement patient is changing, skewing younger than ever before, and the phenomenon is changing the field, according to orthopedic surgery experts.
Since joint replacement's inception in the 1970s, surgeons traditionally have been reluctant to replace joints in people younger than 70 because the devices lasted no more than 10 years. The younger the patient, the more revision surgeries would be necessary as the replacements wore out.
But now, people in their early 60s, 50s and even 40s are finding relief from the debilitating pain of arthritis with improved replacement devices, new surgical procedures and techniques, making longer lasting, more functional replacements a reality, surgeons said.
Preventing diabetes is even better than treating it
America is in the grip of a diabetes epidemic. About 21 million people have the disease, and many more have pre-diabetes. And all the indications suggest that the prevalence of diabetes will continue to soar in the years ahead. Elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels define diabetes. A fasting blood sugar reading of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher is enough to diagnose the disease, and levels between 100 and 126 indicate pre-diabetes. But since diabetes is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, visual loss and memory loss, it's much more than a simple blood sugar problem. Treatment can help protect diabetics from many of the complications that cause disability and premature death. But preventing diabetes from developing in the first place is even better.
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