Unless you’ve been dancing up a storm, or just stepped off an amusement park ride, the sensation of dizziness is anything but pleasant.  It can be frustrating and upsetting because just when you thought you were through with it , it recurs.  You don’t know what brings it on or how to stop it.  It slows you down and it may get worse if it’s not treated.  You may even begin to believe you’re imagining things.

            According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, dizziness is the second most common complaint heard in doctors offices after lower back pain.  There are as many causes to dizziness as there are symptoms.  While the cause is not always easy to pinpoint, it’s best not to ignore the symptoms.  They can cause you to fall, bump into things or otherwise hurt yourself. A bad fall can cause a host of other problems and injuries.  In a few worst case scenarios, depending on where you are when the symptoms occur, you could lose your job and your income, or injure others if you’re operating a machine or driving. 

            Some people suffer with dizziness for years without seeking a solution, sometimes because they think that nothing can be done for them.  They just chalk it up to aging.  The first step in controlling or eliminating dizziness is to describe your symptoms to your primary care physician.  Organic causes for dizziness include various inner ear dysfunctions, high or low blood pressure, heart, brain, metabolic or neurological disorders, infections or diseases.  Some medications or combinations of medications can cause dizziness in certain people as well.  Psychiatric illness can also cause dizziness.  Your physician may be able to treat your dizziness directly in any number of ways or they may refer to a specialist.  If your diagnosis is vertigo or spinning, however, you may need to consult an Otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist or ENT) or a Neurologist.

            With vertigo, you may have the sensation of movement, or rocking or you may feel as if you or the room you are in is spinning.  You may also have ringing in your ears and/or feel lightheaded or woozy.  There are several types of vertigo, the most prevalent being Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).  While this is often one of the easiest forms of dizziness/vertigo to diagnose, it is often the most debilitating.  Neurologists and ENTs have found that BPPV is usually successfully treated with physical therapy.  The treatment is performed at an outpatient physical therapy facility.  The physical therapist performs a four-minute process which repositions crystals in the inner ear.  One of these procedures may resolve BPPV altogether!  Usually, you will need to visit the physical therapist for a few of these procedures and a set of specific follow-up exercises that you can do at home.

            Physical therapy is also successful in treating other types of vertigo.  Patients perform habituation exercises, repeating frequent tasks in a controlled environment, to re-train the neurological system.  They gradually learn to perform regular tasks without experiencing the symptoms of dizziness, until they reach the point where they can manage this function or movement optimally in their daily routines.

            If symptoms of chronic dizziness are slowing you down, be confident that help is available.  You can get this under control.  Describe your symptoms to your physician to determine the cause of your dizziness.  Consult an ENT or Neurologist if necessary and ask them to refer you for physical therapy if appropriate.  Save that dizzy feeling for the dance floors and amusement parks!

For more information, please contact Riverside Rehabilitation at 1-800-514-3878 or visit: www.riversiderehab.com.

A non-profit, member supported center for the arts in historic Easton, PA, the State Theatre Center the Arts includes a 1,500 seat performance hall, the Acopian Ballroom and the Brown-Daub Gallery. 

 This year marks the State Theatre’s 85^th Season which includes national touring acts like John Tesh, Jesse Cook, Shrek the musical, Riverdance, Johnny Mathis, Sandy Hackett’s Rat Back Show, Marie Osmond, Bobby Vinton, Yanni, Tommy Tune & the Manhattan Rhythm Kinds , Beauty & the Beast and so much more!

 The Brown-Daub Gallery features works by local fine artists in conjunction with the Arts Community of Easton.  The Gallery is open 90 minutes prior to most performances and during intermissions.

 A free trolley service is offered to and from the Easton Parking Garage for all performances, courtesy of Good Shepard Rehabiliation.

 The State Theatre is also the only theatre in the country to produce a live television show, The FREDDY© Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in local high school theater, for which it received an EMMY® in 2005.  The program is also the subject of a feature length documentary film, Most Valuable Players, which was selected for the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) Documentary Club and premiered nationally on September 8, 2011.

 For a full schedule or more information, call 1-800-999-STATE or online at www.statetheatre.org

Senior LivingPlus independent living apartments feature the latest supportive technologies, designed with your comfort and safety in mind. Choose from four unique floor plans. Our apartments have convenient full kitchens, easy laundry facilities, broadband and Internet service. You’ll enjoy leading-edge technologies, such as programmable thermostats and specialized lighting controls, as well as the peace of mind that comes with having a 24-hour call system.

Our Senior LivingPlus apartments are remarkably affordable. This is the perfect place to enjoy the safe–but independent–lifestyle you deserve…. A variety of cultural and recreational programs are available for your enjoyment. Call 570.426.4000 now to discover why Senior LivingPlus is the perfect choice for you! www.diakon.org/pocono

Be My Valentine Passion Ade from
Carolyn’s kitchen
Equal parts of lemonade, simple syrup, Bacardi

Clams Casino  Dip   from Beth’s kitchen

Two cans minced clams with broth

¼ cup chopped green pepper

¼ cup onion

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 cup panko bread crumbs

2 Tbs olive oil

Six strips partially cooked and cut up bacon

Sauté peppers and onions until transparent

Then add garlic for one minute

Combine first four ingredients in a mixing bowl, and place in casserole or
oven proof serving dish

Mix panko and olive oil cover rest of ingredients evenly

Top with bacon

Heat in 350 degree oven for twenty minutes until crumbs brown evenly and dish
is heated.

Serve with crackers of choice

Mandarin Orange Salad from Holly’s kitchen

Dressing:

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper sauce

dash pepper

Salad:

1/2 cup slivered almonds

3 tablespoons sugar

4 cup torn lettuce

4 cups torn spinach

1 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup green onions, sliced thinly

1 – 11 ounce can mandarin orange segments well drained

Combine all dressing ingredients; shake well, refigerate 1 hour to combine flavors. In skillet cook almonds and sugar over medium heat until sugar melts and coats almonds, stir frequently. Pour onto foil; cool. In large bowl combine remaining salad ingredients except almonds
& orange segments; toss gently. Add almond & orange segments and pour dressing over salad. Toss gently. Makes 10 – 1 cup servings

Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownies from Andrea’s kitchen

4 eggs                 2 c. sugar              2/3 c. vegetable oil    

12 Tbsp. dark cocoa            2 tsp almond extract               1  1/3 c. flour

1 tsp baking powder          1/2 tsp salt           1 jar maraschino cherries w/o the stems

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Beat eggs until thick and lemon colored.
Gradually add sugar and beat until well blended. Stir in all ingredients except
the cherries.

Spray mini muffin pans with non stick spray. Pour each cup about 1/4 full.
Place a cherry in the center of each cup. Fill in the space over and around each cherry with more batter so each muffin cup is about 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in brownie batter (not cherry) comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pan.

You have worked hard to create a comfortable lifestyle for your loved ones and having a financial plan that includes trust and estate planning is critical. Have you educated your family about your final wishes?

Involving your family in the estate planning process can:

• ·         Prepare them to carry out your final wishes
• ·         Ensure a smooth transition of your assets
• ·         Prevent major legal issues and family disputes

Regardless of your assets, whether it is the cash in your wallet, property or more, someone will inherit these things

An estate plan can help you:

• Communicate your wishes
• Protect your family
• Reduce your taxes

Educating your family about your estate plan can provide them the reassurance and guidance to understand the reasons behind your final wishes. 

Are you concerned about estate tax liability?

After applying your basic estate planning options, you may want to consider starting a lifetime gifting program to reduce the size of your estate. Gifting during your life can remove assets and their future appreciation from your estate.

There are several gifting options available for you to consider, including:

• Annual exclusion gifts
• Medical or educational gifts
• Charitable gifts

A well-planned program or lifetime gifts to family, friends and charity can save estate and gift taxes, preserve more of your assets for your family and other heirs, and ensure your property goes to the people you want to have it.

Please contact me at 570-595-7447 to schedule an appointment to discuss your financial goals and estate planning options.

“It’s a real privilege to be recognized by our peers with this award,” said David Biddison, Director of Operations.  “I believe the judges recognized our commitment to promoting an active lifestyle, ensuring the highest quality homes and delivering exceptional customer service.”

The award was one of 5 that Traditions of America communities across Pennsylvania won in December, and one of 25 that Traditions won in 2011. “It’s an honor to be recognized for housing excellence,” said Biddison, “because excellence is what Traditions of America strives for when designing our 50+ active lifestyle communities. By listening to our customers and staying ahead of national trends, we’ve created floor plans and amenities that delight homebuyers.”

Biddison noted that Traditions of America at Hanover has been recognized as a leader in 50+ housing in other ways as well. The community had previously been celebrated as one of the Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire magazine. And, he said, “Despite the economy, our community layout, amenities and clubhouse have consistently attracted new home buyers in 2011. We’ve sold more homes this year than last.”

Many of these sales have been fueled by Traditions’ HomeFree sales program, one of several programs the developer has introduced to eliminate the stress that comes with buying a new home when you have one to sell.  The Traditions of America Resale Manager provides professional help, obtaining value estimates and marketing proposals with the best Realtors in the Lehigh Valley, negotiating listing agreements. The company also arranges for staging and assists with all aspects of your move. In the last two years, the Resale Manager has helped more than 300 active adults sell their houses and move to one of five Traditions communities in Pennsylvania.

Tours of the community run from the Welcome Center located at 5000 Liberty Blvd,
Bethlehem, PA  18017.  The information center is open from 10am – 5pm, daily. For more details or to schedule a tour, visit www.TOAHanover.com.

• ·         Stay away from tobacco – There is no safe form of tobacco.  If you smoke or chew tobacco, stop!  Encourage the people around you to quit. 
• ·         Get to and stay at a healthy weight – Being overweight can raise your risk of many different types of cancers.  Watching your portion sizes is an important part of weight control.  Read labels and try to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• ·         Get moving – Adults should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, on 5 or more days of the week. 
• ·         Eat healthy – Eat a variety of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.  Choose whole-grain rice, bread, pasta & cereal over processed (refined) grains. 
• ·         Limit how much alcohol you drink – Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day and women should have no more than 1 drink per day.
• ·         Protect your skin – About 90% of skin cancers diagnosed each year could be prevented with proper sun protection.  Know your skin – Be aware of all moles & spots and report any changes to your doctor right away.
• ·         Know yourself and your risks – You may be at increased risk for cancer because of the choices you make and because of your family history.  You should talk about these with your doctor.
• ·         Get regular check-ups – Regular screening tests can find some cancers in their earliest stages – when they are small, have not spread & are easier to treat.

Everyday lifestyle changes can decrease your cancer risk.  For more information about cancer, contact your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345, or visit www.cancer.org.  We want to help you stay well.

Call 570-443-8425 or visit www.jfbb.com for all resort information
and current ski conditions.

Submitted by Riverside Rehabilitation

 People over 50 are more likely to experience back pain due to spinal stenosis than from other causes.  Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes pressure on the spinal cord or a narrowing of the openings where the spinal nerves leave the spinal canal.   As a person ages, the discs become drier and start to shrink, reducing the space between vertebra.  Simultaneously, spinal bones may develop arthritis and other long-term inflammation which may affect the ligaments and spinal joints. As the disc degenerates, stress goes to the spinal joints and ligaments that aren’t designed to take on the new loads.  This shifting of the load to bony joints leads to bone spurs.  Spinal stenosis may also occur due to arthritis of the spine, bone diseases, herniated discs, injuries or spine tumors.  Most of these are more typically conditions of people middle-aged and older. 

Symptoms of spinal stenosis are often on one side of the body and include numbness, cramping or pain in the back, buttocks, thighs, calves, neck, shoulders or arms and/or weakness in part of a leg or arm, as well as poor balance.  Occasionally, an incontinent bowel and/or bladder is a symptom of spinal stenosis.  Often, symptoms will get worse slowly over time. Walking or standing usually aggravates the symptoms and sitting relieves them. 

When your back pain does not go away or sometimes increases, sitting is not the answer! This can lead to losing mobility.   You need to contact your physician to determine the source of the pain.  If spinal stenosis is the cause, your physician has a number of treatment options depending on the type and severity of your condition, from anti-inflammatory medications, to surgery, if all else fails. Your physician may refer you for physical therapy to help decrease your symptoms while maintaining function.  Physical therapists will get you moving and keep you going with activity modifications. They will instruct you on proper posture and may utilize a stationary bike or aquatic therapy. 

 Physical therapists will also teach you exercises and stretching techniques to help reduce pain, improve flexibility and strengthen your neck and core muscles.   Forward bending exercises increase the size of the compressed passageways providing temporary relief from pain and strengthening the surrounding muscles to improve stability.  Backward bending exercises strengthen the muscles of the back that hold the spine in extension.

The core refers to the major muscles in the midsection of the body consisting of the entire spine, pelvic girdle and hip joints.  Twenty-nine different muscles attach to these key anatomical parts.  The core is extremely important because it’s the location of the body’s center of gravity and where all movement begins.  Core muscles are divided into two categories:  deep muscles that stabilize the spine and superficial muscles that move the spine.  Lack of core development can result in a predisposition to injury.  A stronger core makes your entire body more structurally sound and can make you feel smarter, younger and better all over.  Keeping strong core muscles also ensures that your inner organs and central nervous system stay protected as you move through your day.  People with the strongest core muscles experience far less back pain than those with weak cores.  Those who don’t sit properly, engaging their cores, often suffer from compressed spinal discs.  When you strengthen your upper back and shoulders, you pull the muscles back and down which removes any “hunch backs” making you look taller and thinner.  Research has shown that a strong core keeps your body aligned so that you can function properly, delaying the aging process. Having a stable and aligned spine allows the brain to receive the body’s messages more efficiently, thereby improving mental function.  Stabilizing your core also hones your fine motor skills, so you can react quickly and stay balanced on unstable surfaces. 

Many people with spinal stenosis are able to be active for years with the condition, although they may need to make some changes in their activities.  A key change they need to make is developing and maintaining a strong core.

For more information, please contact Riverside Rehabilitation at 1-800-514-3878.

Christmas:

Bethlehem has a special place in the hearts of Christians everywhere. This time of year, you can follow the glowing star to Pennsylvania’s Christmas city to find holiday joy close to home. ArtsQuest’s popular holiday marketplace returns November 17 to kick off the holiday season. Recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the world, Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans, the heart-warming sounds of live Christmas music, delicious food and more. Be sure to stop by the glassblowing booth, where beautiful ornaments and decorations are always being made. You can even try your hand at making your own glass ornament, perfect for gift giving or the family Christmas Tree. Christkindlmarkt has a brand new location at PNC Plaza on the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus on Bethlehem’s SouthSide.

Once you have experienced Pennyslvania’s Christmas city of Bethlehem, head north to the downtown area of Stroudsburg. With its many unique boutiques and delicious restaurants, you could spend an entire weekend sampling all it has to offer. Once the tree is lit during the annual ceremony November 25, Stroudsburg is alive with sights, sounds, and tastes of the holidays. Sample hot cocoa, cider, and sweet treats from Grandpa’s Bagels as you take a ride on the horse and carriage. Greet Santa on the sidewalk as you visit local artists making special Christmas crafts. Carolers will fill your heart with warmth while the crisp Pocono air kisses your cheeks.

For an Old Time Christmas, trek to the southern end of the Poconos to the quaint, historic town of Jim Thorpe. There, you are transported to the Victorian era where Jim Thorpe jumps right off the pages of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Street carolers sing in chorus while horse-drawn carriages transport riders through the beautifully adorned Victorian streets. Decorated store fronts invite visitors inside to discover unique items and ideal gifts for their loved ones. Visiting Jim Thorpe during the holidays is like taking a step back in time to relive festive childhood memories—it’s a Christmas of yesteryear. Each weekend in December there are new events to discover. Each visit, a brand new experience awaits at every Bed & Breakfast, museum, and restaurant. A holiday surprise awaits at every corner.

Whether you are seeking a quick visit with old St. Nick, a sweet taste of holiday treats, or the familiar lyrics of traditional carolers, you can find it in the small (and not so small) towns of Pennsylvania. From the Lehigh Valley through the Pocono Mountains, over the river and through the woods, a Christmas celebration awaits.

Check out these websites for a detailed listing of all local holiday events.

www.christmascity.org

www.artsquest.org/christkindlmarkt  

www.stroudsburg.net

www.PoconoMap.com

www.poconoliving.net

www.CarbonCountyMap.com

www.jimthorpe.org