Health & Wellness

Building on the success of the first Heights Holistic Fair held in February, a second, expanded fair will be held on April 13 and 14. The fair will take place in the heart of the Coventry neighborhood, and will offer a wider range of information and activities for all ages. It will also serve as a platform to generate donations to Friends of Heights Libraries.

According to event organizer Judith Eugene of Cleveland Heights, products, services and information on holistic health and sustainable living will be offered. Experts will be on hand both days to provide information on a variety of topics.

The first Holistic Fair to be hosted in Cleveland Heights will be held Feb. 23 and 24 at The Unity Center of the Heights, 2653 South Taylor Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Visitors will have the chance to experience products and services from vendors offering aromatherapy, alternative healing products, raw food, yoga, Reiki, natural pet care, organic clothing, crystals and jewelry.

Americans held their collective breath awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka Obamacare. The answer came back on June 28: the historic reform of our healthcare system was upheld as the law of the land.

Passed by Congress in 2010 amid much sound and fury, the ACA affects almost all Americans. Whether you consider healthcare reform a piñata or Pandora’s box, it is important to understand the provisions and benefits contained in the law and how it will affect you and the people you care about.

The Heights Bicycle Coalition hosted a morning coffee and snack tent on Bike to Work Day, May 18, at the top of Edgehill Road. Over 65 cyclists stopped for coffee, pastry and fruit.

The intersection of Edgehill and Overlook roads is the busiest intersection for cyclists in Northeast Ohio. Many of the cyclist who had time to stop were going to ther jobs at CWRU, University Hospitals, The Cleveland Clinic or downtown. The project was co-sponsored by Phoenix Coffee and FutureHeights.

Although the Law of Similars may sound like something mathematical, it's actually the underlying philosophy of homeopathy, a type of wellness care that uses natural substances to stimulate the body’s immune system. The idea behind the Law of Similars is that a material that causes certain symptoms in a healthy person can, in extremely small doses, cure those same symptoms in an ill person. In other words, the thing that’s making someone sick can also help make that person better.

Area residents interested in exploring homeopathy can now visit Heights Family Health, located in The Heights Medical Center Building in the Cedar Fairmount district. Established by University Heights resident Patti Carlyle in November 2011, the practice addresses a wide range of conditions.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. In 2008, about 19.6 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 were obese.

To combat that trend, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) awarded ten grants to PTAs across the nation—including the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Council of PTAs—to implement wellness initiatives.  

In a new TV series to air on public television in February, host and narrator Dr. Richard Jackson examines the impact the built environment has on key public health indicators. The film highlights the growing recognition that decisions about land use, community design, and transportation planning have a direct effect on physical and mental health, including the rate of obesity, the incidence of chronic diseases, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and pedestrian injury and fatality.

Childhood and teenage obesity is on the rise throughout the nation. Developing healthy lifestyles is an initiative of both the national Parent Teacher Association and First Lady Michelle Obama. In an effort to support that initiative, Leading Ladies Inc., the empowerment club at Cleveland Heights High School will collaborate with the local PTA to bring the 4th annual Healthy Lifestyles Wellness Challenge to the community.

Here is a little-known fact: Judson Park, a residential retirement facility, offers a fitness program open to the public. 

Currently, 125 community members, ranging in age from 50 to over 80, participate during the week. Classes include water aerobics, power walking and arthritis exercise in the pool, strength training, pilates, yoga, and a balance clinic on land. No contract is required. There is an enrollment fee of $60, and members pay $55/month for unlimited access to classes, the pool and exercise room.

Interested in knowing more about bicycle commuting? The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition's quarterly meeting on July 20 at 7 p.m. at Dennison Park (corner of Monticello Boulevard and S. Belvoir Blvd.) will feature presentations by three experienced bike commuters. The riders will talk about how they commute to work by bike – their processes, equipment and routes.

Ohio law recognizes two types of advance directives a person can use to express their health care wishes in the event they are involved in an accident, fall into a coma, or are otherwise unable to make their own decisions. These are the health care power of attorney and the living will. The two documents are different, but both are important to have, especially if you are in a committed unmarried relationship or have religious concerns about medical procedures.

Its name comes from the Spanish for "little fly." It is so agile it can fly through a rain shower without getting wet! Only the female sucks human blood.

Commuting by bicycle is growing in popularity as more and more people recognize it as a healthy and an environmentally sound way to get to work. Experienced bicycle commuters enjoy combining their travel time with a workout. They say it is a great way to transition to and from work, arriving at work ready to settle in and having time after work to de-stress before arriving home.

Most bike commuters combine bike commuting with public transportation and/or a car.

Three local bicycle commuters give their stories below. They will also give short presentations and answer questions at the July 20 Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition quarterly meeting. (see sidebar below)

The popularity of cycling is soaring as more and more people recognize the benefits of bicycling for recreation and commuting. According to the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency, the number of bicyclists in Cuyahoga County increased by around 50 percent between 2006 and 2010.

Recognizing this trend, Cleveland Heights City Council proclaimed May “Bike Month." This proclamation highlights a key strength the city can build on. According to various government studies, Cleveland Heights has the busiest bicycle routes in the region. It also ranks high both locally and nationally, in bicycle usage for commuting.

The Cleveland area is experiencing a local food revolution. More and more opportunities are cropping up for residents to purchase healthy foods grown by local farmers and producers, and consumers are learning more about the bounty of this region.

The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition will host its quarterly meeting at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 21, at Jimmy O’Neill's Tavern, 2195 Lee Road. Doug Bahniuk, voted one of Cleveland's Most Interesting People by Cleveland Magazine (Jan, 2011), will discuss long distance bike touring and his work to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. CHBC board members will also talk about progress in local bicycle advocacy.

Last October it was announced that Cleveland Clinic would be closing the Level II trauma center at Huron Hospital, and trauma cases would be moved to a new facility at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. This announcement came as a shock to many East Cleveland residents who view the trauma center as an important part of their community and its health and safety. The closing of the trauma center will have an effect on many other suburbs, including Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

A new neighborhood-quality metric is commanding the attention of home buyers, according to such influential publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and–The Heights Observer.

The news is that home buyers are paying more attention than ever to walkability. Fewer and fewer people in the market for a house want large lots in remote places, where little is going on. Several factors make walkable neighborhoods more attractive, including a desire to avoid traffic congestion, an aversion to having to drive everywhere, and rising oil prices. Walkable neighborhoods also tend to have vibrant street life and a friendly character.

It's time once again to reflect on your goals for the New Year. If getting fit and healthy is on your list for 2011, then it's time to join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) program.

Robert Carson, martial arts instructor at the Cleveland Heights Community Center and director of NEON Health Services, was promoted to master level, fifth degree black belt at the 2010 World Kuk Sool Association Tournament and Master Demonstration in Houston, Texas.

Seven of Carson’s students also attended and earned first degree black belts: Tony Calabro and daughter Sydney; David Pritts and daughter Ava and son Will Pritts; Caroline Koepke; and Nate Wilson. Carson and his students all live in Cleveland Heights.

 

Some people do it just to get off the couch and improve their health. Some people do it because their life has been touched by a blood cancer and want to make a difference. And some people do it for the camaraderie and the fun of being with others. For whatever reason, when you join Team in Training it gets us all closer to a world without cancer.

No doubt you’ve heard statements like these: "Kids don’t get enough exercise" and "Teenagers spend most of their free time on the couch or on the computer while eating junk food." Unfortunately, they are all too true! Childhood and teen obesity is on the rise across the nation. Developing healthy lifestyles has become a major initiative of the national Parent Teacher Association and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Sad to see the summer farmer's market season coming to an end? Can’t get enough of those delicious fresh vegetables? The Geauga Family Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is expanding its program to include the winter season. Enliven holiday meals with certified organic goodness, laugh at Northeast Ohio’s winter as you enjoy local produce, or just get your fix of the good stuff as long as possible (next summer season is only 35 weeks away).

“Where does it go?” Citizens of Northeast Ohio can now get the answer to this popular–yet seldom asked–question.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is opening its doors to the general public at its “Where Does It Go?” open house on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Guests are invited to take a walking tour of the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant, where all Cleveland Heights water goes for processing. The tour will include an overview of the extensive process required to clean water, how garbage and waste are managed, and how public health and the environment are protected in the process.

The Racquettes will be hitting those tennis balls again this summer. We encourage women who love tennis and camaraderie to join us from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cain Park tennis courts. This group has been around since the 1970s and prides itself on its inclusiveness and diversity. We have fun while honing our serves, lobs and cross-court strokes, and we reward ourselves at the end of the season with a scrumptious lunch at a local Cleveland Heights eatery.

The second annual Miracles Happen 5K Run/Walk is set for Sunday, May 23 through the scenic streets of Cleveland Heights.

The event will benefit the Diana Hyland Miracle Fund, whose mission is to advance research for recurrent breast cancer -- focusing on new theories, trials and treatments aimed at managing the cancer and extending lives.

The Miracle Fund was created in memory of Diana Hyland of Shaker Heights who sadly lost her battle with the devastating disease of metastatic breast cancer on Oct. 27, 2008. 

Emotional support is available for those who lost family members in the Haitian or Chilean earthquakes at the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center.

“Losing a loved one in a natural disaster such as these devastating earthquakes can shatter one’s sense of well-being,” said Diane Snyder Cowan, bereavement center director.” Seeking individual counseling or a support group can help.”

With the introduction of a new Health Starts Here initiative, a multifaceted program including education, support tools and store events that support healthy eating, Whole Foods Market is now deepening its commitment to healthy eating. To kick off the initiative and unveil the Cedar Center store’s newly constructed Health Starts Here reference hub, health partner Rip Esselstyn (author, The Engine 2 Diet) will visit University Heights in May for a series of community events.

The "Engine 2 Challenge" Public Program and Reception, on Monday, May 3, 7 to 9 p.m., takes place at John Carroll University's Dolan Center for Science and Technology, and is an engaging and inspiring presentation by the author and Texas firefighter, whose 28-day lifestyle plan can help with weight loss, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of disease.

CH-UH students proudly help with preparations for MedWorks event

Too many Northeast Ohio residents have to do without health care because they lack insurance. So when students in the A.V.I.D. program at Cleveland Heights High School were asked to volunteer their time to help with the preparations for the upcoming MedWorks event to be held at the Cleveland Free Clinic, they happily volunteered.

Do you know where your food comes from? Would you like to find a more sustainable way to bring food to your table? The Geauga Family Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is bringing fresh, organic produce to several pick-up points throughout the Heights for the 2010 season.

Cleveland Heights High School, in cooperation with the cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights, will be offering community swim programs starting April 6 and running through June 5.

People always ask me how I stay young and active.  Here are a few tips that have worked for me.

Dementia means "deprived of mind." It is not a disease itself, but a range of symptoms that characterize several diseases and conditions, all of which are identified by declining intellectual functioning that goes beyond normal aging. The decline is severe enough to interfere with the ability to perform routine day-to-day activities.

“Dad, who is this,” I asked pointing to a recent photo. “That’s you,” my father answered. “Who am I,” I asked. “You’re my daughter.” After what seemed like an eternity, my father looked at me with sheer sadness and pain. “I don’t know your name.” I took his hand. “It’s OK, Pop.”

"Your father tried to cut the grass this morning with his car. He thought it was the riding mower," my mother said. "Well," I replied, "at least he didn’t cut the grass too short." She laughed briefly, then began to cry. "It’s getting harder," she said. "I know mom . . . I know."

You and your mate don’t have to be separated by land or sea to feel like you’re in a long distance relationship. Sometimes even living in the same house can feel miles apart. Different work shifts, busy schedules and fatigue can separate you. When this happens, a simple technique called "romance telepathy" can go a long way to keep you and your mate feeling connected.

My first exposure to romance telepathy was serendipitous. My mom had died in 1995 and I was cleaning out her attic. I opened an old shoebox to discover over 100 letters my dad had written to her during World War II. In one of the letters, he suggested romance telepathy as a way to stay connected to her. Here is an excerpt from that letter:

The inaugural Miracles Happen 5K Run/Walk on May 31 drew 400 participants who enjoyed the scenic route through Cleveland Heights from Beaumont School to Nighttown.

The event raised more than $55,000 to benefit the Diana Hyland Miracle Fund, whose mission is to advance research for recurrent breast cancer -- focusing on new theories, trials and treatments aimed at managing the cancer and extending lives. The goal of the Fund is to raise $1 million to partially establish an Endowed Chair in Metastatic Breast Cancer Research at University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center under the direction of Dr. Paula Silverman.

"What can I do to protect myself from Alzheimer's?" is a tricky question to answer, since there is no “magic bullet” to prevent people from developing this devastating disease that affects approximately 4.5 million people in the U.S.

The standard response, based on current research, is: eat a healthy diet — lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low amounts of saturated fat — control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, exercise your body and brain, and cultivate a close network of friends and acquaintances.

A recent study comparing the long term effects of social, physical and cognitive activity in mice showed that cognitive activity was the best protector against developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the future. 

Cleveland boasts some of the strongest medical resources in the country but has thousands of residents who go without necessary medical treatment. Cleveland Heights resident Zac Ponsky is doing something to change that.

He is organizing many of the area's world-class physicians, dentists and optometrists to provide the uninsured and the underinsured with access to free health care on May 2 and 3 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

Walk+Roll, a fun event that encourages people to walk and bicycle in their daily lives, is coming to the Heights.  On Sunday, July 19, from 1 to 5 p.m., the City of Cleveland Heights will host its first Walk+Roll in Cain Park.

Do you dread winters in the Heights? Have you been sitting on the couch alone, shoveling in Doritos, while dodging invitations from friends? If you find yourself unusually unmotivated, eating and sleeping more and socializing less, you might be one of many affected with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Join us for an Open House on Oct. 23, 2008 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Please come see what sets Homewood Residence Rockefeller Gardens apart from the competition.  You will have the opportunity to meet the staff, visit with our residents, ask questions, and tour our beautiful community.

Complimentary refreshments will be served at 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Karlene or Angela at 216-321-6331.

The newly formed Cedar Hill Walking Club departs at 6:00 a.m. Mon-Fri. from Starbucks at Cedar and Fairmount and returns by 7:00 a.m. You'll get a great workout and still have plenty of time to get ready for the work day. There are numerous routes to choose from and they are all beautiful. Join us and start your day feeling great! One hour destination walks include University Circle (Wade Oval or Reflecting Pool), Case Western University Campus, Little Italy, Coventry, Shaker Square, Shaker Lakes, and many more, as yet, uncharted routes. Great opportunity to see fascinating sculptural art and amazing architecture as you get a wonderful aerobic workout. For more information, contact Tawny Ratner at tawnyratner@yahoo.com. or Michelle Anselmo at chicagofrogs@mac.com.