Comments for Healthy Memphis http://commercialappeal-web.com/health Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:52:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 Comment on Bicycle Commuting in Memphis by Yvette http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2007/11/19/bicycle-commuting-in-memphis/#comment-831 Yvette Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:30:50 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2007/11/19/bicycle-commuting-in-memphis/#comment-831 I commute by bike to work and I love it. Going to work is a bike ride! My morning commute is mostly quiet and solitary as I leave the house at around 6:15 am. The bulk of my ride is on Peabody as I work at Methodist hospital. I get really funny looks from people at the hospital as I walk in wearing my cycling shorts and scrub top. Although most seem to be getting used to the sight now. Used to it, but all the same looking at me like I'm crazy. ?? When I am out riding whether it is to work or just for fun I too 'take the lane' especially on Central Avenue between parkway and just past the underpass going toward the U of M area. For some reason cars just really try to kill me there if I leave them room but if I take the whole lane they go wide around me. Go figure. Go By Bike!! I commute by bike to work and I love it. Going to work is a bike ride! My morning commute is mostly quiet and solitary as I leave the house at around 6:15 am. The bulk of my ride is on Peabody as I work at Methodist hospital. I get really funny looks from people at the hospital as I walk in wearing my cycling shorts and scrub top. Although most seem to be getting used to the sight now. Used to it, but all the same looking at me like I'm crazy. ??
When I am out riding whether it is to work or just for fun I too 'take the lane' especially on Central Avenue between parkway and just past the underpass going toward the U of M area. For some reason cars just really try to kill me there if I leave them room but if I take the whole lane they go wide around me. Go figure. Go By Bike!!

]]> Comment on Talk to the Expert by Dr. Teresa Cutts http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-830 Dr. Teresa Cutts Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:05:41 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-830 Hey Cecelia: I totally agree that Nike, TN is a gift to the city. Corporations that offer employees strategies for becoming less stressed and healthier result in a "win-win" for both employers and employees (and these benefits often extend to employee families). Hey Cecelia: I totally agree that Nike, TN is a gift to the city. Corporations that offer employees strategies for becoming less stressed and healthier result in a "win-win" for both employers and employees (and these benefits often extend to employee families).

]]> Comment on Talk to the Expert by Cecilia http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-829 Cecilia Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:59:36 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-829 It sounds like we are very fortunate to have such a progressive employer as NIKE in the Memphis area. Healthy and alert employees are bound to create a better product or service than workers who are preoccupied by health matters, stress, or other personal matters. NIKE seems to understand what a valuable asset its employess are. NIKE also showed an appreciation for the health of our Mid-South youth when they sponsored the SHAPING AMERICA'S YOUTH town hall meeting hosted by the Healthy Memphis Common Table in 2006. It sounds like we are very fortunate to have such a progressive employer as NIKE in the Memphis area. Healthy and alert employees are bound to create a better product or service than workers who are preoccupied by health matters, stress, or other personal matters. NIKE seems to understand what a valuable asset its employess are. NIKE also showed an appreciation for the health of our Mid-South youth when they sponsored the SHAPING AMERICA'S YOUTH town hall meeting hosted by the Healthy Memphis Common Table in 2006.

]]> Comment on Talk to the Expert by Dr. Teresa Cutts http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-828 Dr. Teresa Cutts Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:07:07 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/09/01/talk-to-the-expert-4/#comment-828 Hi Readers: This week in discussing how employee absence or presenteeism (body is at work, while mind and spirit is not..), I'd like to share some good news about a local Memphis employer. I offer a "shout out" to Nike, TN, a loyal employer in Memphis, who actually won the the American Psychological Association's National Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award for large-not-for-profit companies in March 2008 and several of their staff accepted the award at a dinner reception in DC. No workplace is perfect, but Nike, TN won this prestigious award for lots of innovative ways they partner with their employees. They provide on-site Fitness Center and Cafeteria, as well as Employee Assistance Programs and Lunch and Learn series. They sponsor on site Health Fairs annually and give long-term employees paid "sabbaticals" for up to 2 months, to renew and recharge energy for work. They have casual dress on Friday and annually allow employees to "shop" at the Nike company store for shoes and other products, as well as alternate or flex work schedules. Nike, TN provides a Matching Gift program for volunteer hours for community service or dollars for not-for-profit organizations. They sponsor LifeCare support, which offers helps with eldercare, childcare, parenting, financial, legal, advocacy, as well as educational and daily life issues. Congratulations Nike, TN, for giving Memphis something about which to be proud! We need the good news. Hi Readers: This week in discussing how employee absence or presenteeism
(body is at work, while mind and spirit is not..), I'd like to share
some good news about a local Memphis employer. I offer a "shout out" to
Nike, TN, a loyal employer in Memphis, who actually won the the American
Psychological Association's National Psychologically Healthy Workplace
Award for large-not-for-profit companies in March 2008 and several of
their staff accepted the award at a dinner reception in DC.

No workplace is perfect, but Nike, TN won this prestigious award for
lots of innovative ways they partner with their employees. They provide
on-site Fitness Center and Cafeteria, as well as Employee Assistance
Programs and Lunch and Learn series. They sponsor on site Health Fairs
annually and give long-term employees paid "sabbaticals" for up to 2
months, to renew and recharge energy for work. They have casual dress
on Friday and annually allow employees to "shop" at the Nike company
store for shoes and other products, as well as alternate or flex work
schedules. Nike, TN provides a Matching Gift program for volunteer hours
for community service or dollars for not-for-profit organizations. They
sponsor LifeCare support, which offers helps with eldercare, childcare,
parenting, financial, legal, advocacy, as well as educational and daily
life issues.

Congratulations Nike, TN, for giving Memphis something about which to be
proud! We need the good news.

]]> Comment on LaVelle Finishes a Very Wet 3-State, 3-Mountain Challenge. by Jane Fadgen http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/05/05/lavelle-finishes-a-very-wet-3-state-3-mountain-challenge/#comment-827 Jane Fadgen Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:44:42 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/05/05/lavelle-finishes-a-very-wet-3-state-3-mountain-challenge/#comment-827 Dear Anthony, Thank you for keeping the bicycling issue in the news. I agree that cyclists and motorists have a responsibility when sharing the road; however I am curious where you got the statistic that more than 70 percent of bike-car collisions result from unsafe bicycle riding. I wonder if this was the officials’ opinion. To many people, biking in Memphis is an unsafe act period. They feel that the roads are for cars and that if a bike is trying to share, then they are taking an unsafe chance. They may be right, but I hope for the value of our city that this will change. On July 3rd my husband, Danny Fadgen, and I were riding at 4:45 am down Germantown Pkwy, realizing that traffic is very scarce at this time. We had bright red flashing tail lights, bright white front lights, reflective gear, helmets with rear mirrors and we were riding on the shoulder of a very well-light section when a motorist veered off the road and struck my husband from behind. Probably the most disturbing part of this is that the motorist then slowly steered around my husband and eased on down the road without stopping. Danny was seriously hurt and I administered emergency care, called 911, and reported the incident to the officials. We were taken to The Med for emergency treatment. Apparently, sometime after the incident the motorist returned and was issued a ticket. Again, no drug or alcohol testing was performed and no arrests were made. I was told there were no grounds for taking these actions. The ticketing officer apparently unclear on the law, initially wrote the ticket for not maintaining a safe outlook (a city charge) and the prosecutor changed the charge to the maintaining a 3 foot passage while passing a bicyclist (a state charge) at the mandatory court appearance. I agree that motorists and bicyclist have a responsibility. I am a motorist who is shocked at the way many of my fellow motorist drive. Many are aggressive or talking on their cell phones, in hurry and simply not paying attention. But I am a cyclist who is also shocked at the lack of safety precautions of many. I see parents riding with their children while making the children wear helmets, not setting the example themselves. I’ve seen bikers riding side by side in groups of 2’s, 3’s and more on busy or narrow streets. I’ve seen the disregard for road laws. We do need education, for the motorists, bicyclists, police officers and citizens. Instead of a course on sharing the road after an accident, maybe we need to include the course on license renewal. Awareness is the problem! We also need more bike-safe routes, lanes and areas to commute and ride. I would love to ride without the fear of cars. Again, thank you for keeping the issue in the news, if nothing else, Danny and I feel that some good has come from his accident. We do not feel it is of value to make this a bicyclist vs. motorist issue. Instead of pointing blame, we’d like to see everyone working together to solve a growing problem in our community. Thanks! Jane Fadgen Dear Anthony,
Thank you for keeping the bicycling issue in the news. I agree that cyclists and motorists have a responsibility when sharing the road; however I am curious where you got the statistic that more than 70 percent of bike-car collisions result from unsafe bicycle riding. I wonder if this was the officials’ opinion. To many people, biking in Memphis is an unsafe act period. They feel that the roads are for cars and that if a bike is trying to share, then they are taking an unsafe chance. They may be right, but I hope for the value of our city that this will change.
On July 3rd my husband, Danny Fadgen, and I were riding at 4:45 am down Germantown Pkwy, realizing that traffic is very scarce at this time. We had bright red flashing tail lights, bright white front lights, reflective gear, helmets with rear mirrors and we were riding on the shoulder of a very well-light section when a motorist veered off the road and struck my husband from behind. Probably the most disturbing part of this is that the motorist then slowly steered around my husband and eased on down the road without stopping. Danny was seriously hurt and I administered emergency care, called 911, and reported the incident to the officials. We were taken to The Med for emergency treatment. Apparently, sometime after the incident the motorist returned and was issued a ticket. Again, no drug or alcohol testing was performed and no arrests were made. I was told there were no grounds for taking these actions.
The ticketing officer apparently unclear on the law, initially wrote the ticket for not maintaining a safe outlook (a city charge) and the prosecutor changed the charge to the maintaining a 3 foot passage while passing a bicyclist (a state charge) at the mandatory court appearance.
I agree that motorists and bicyclist have a responsibility. I am a motorist who is shocked at the way many of my fellow motorist drive. Many are aggressive or talking on their cell phones, in hurry and simply not paying attention.
But I am a cyclist who is also shocked at the lack of safety precautions of many. I see parents riding with their children while making the children wear helmets, not setting the example themselves. I’ve seen bikers riding side by side in groups of 2’s, 3’s and more on busy or narrow streets. I’ve seen the disregard for road laws.
We do need education, for the motorists, bicyclists, police officers and citizens. Instead of a course on sharing the road after an accident, maybe we need to include the course on license renewal. Awareness is the problem! We also need more bike-safe routes, lanes and areas to commute and ride. I would love to ride without the fear of cars.
Again, thank you for keeping the issue in the news, if nothing else, Danny and I feel that some good has come from his accident. We do not feel it is of value to make this a bicyclist vs. motorist issue. Instead of pointing blame, we’d like to see everyone working together to solve a growing problem in our community.
Thanks!
Jane Fadgen

]]> Comment on Get Advice and Sign Up to Help by Edwina http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/04/23/get-advice-and-sign-up-to-help/#comment-825 Edwina Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:34:15 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/04/23/get-advice-and-sign-up-to-help/#comment-825 There are many blogs and i just found yours while doing some searches, what are the odds, thx for the info There are many blogs and i just found yours while doing some searches, what are the odds, thx for the info

]]> Comment on Ask the Expert by Teresa Dawson MSN, RN http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/08/05/ask-the-expert-7/#comment-822 Teresa Dawson MSN, RN Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:27:06 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/08/05/ask-the-expert-7/#comment-822 To L.T.,Concerning your wife. I am thrilled that your wife did not ignore her symptom of chest pain and saw her doctor for evaluation because heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and chest pain may be the first recognized symptom. Sometimes calcium deposits on the spine(back bone)can be part of the normal aging process but, only a doctor can know if that is the case with your wife. I encourage you to have your wife call her doctor and ask about the calcium deposits. To L.T.,Concerning your wife. I am thrilled that your wife did not ignore her symptom of chest pain and saw her doctor for evaluation because heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and chest pain may be the first recognized symptom. Sometimes calcium deposits on the spine(back bone)can be part of the normal aging process but, only a doctor can know if that is the case with your wife. I encourage you to have your wife call her doctor and ask about the calcium deposits.

]]> Comment on Ask the Expert by LT http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/08/05/ask-the-expert-7/#comment-821 LT Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:19:28 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/08/05/ask-the-expert-7/#comment-821 Recently my wife had a physcial and her doctor had an X-ray performed because she has been having chest pains. He found calcium deposits in her back and around her stomach. What does this mean? Is she in any immediate danger? What should we do to get rid on these? How are they formed? b70 Recently my wife had a physcial and her doctor had an X-ray performed because she has been having chest pains. He found calcium deposits in her back and around her stomach. What does this mean? Is she in any immediate danger? What should we do to get rid on these? How are they formed? b70

]]> Comment on Ask the Expert by LT http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/07/14/ask-the-expert-5/#comment-820 LT Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:18:19 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/07/14/ask-the-expert-5/#comment-820 Recently my wife had a physcial and her doctor had an X-ray performed because she has been having chest pains. He found calcium deposits in her back and around her stomach. What does this mean? Is she in any immediate danger? What should we do to get rid on these? How are they formed? LT Recently my wife had a physcial and her doctor had an X-ray performed because she has been having chest pains. He found calcium deposits in her back and around her stomach. What does this mean? Is she in any immediate danger? What should we do to get rid on these? How are they formed? LT

]]> Comment on Week 2, with Better Weather by DJ Watson http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/07/16/week-2-with-better-weather/#comment-819 DJ Watson Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:31:53 +0000 http://commercialappeal-web.com/health/2008/07/16/week-2-with-better-weather/#comment-819 Hi Megan, I love reading your entries - so where is week 3? Did you fall off the waggon? I hope not. We still had many participants show up even though there was an orange threat level air quality warning in Memphis and we are leaving it up to each individual if they want to run in that or not. Hope everyone is doing well in their training and getting one more workout in this week - can you believe next Monday is week 4????? DJ Hi Megan,
I love reading your entries - so where is week 3? Did you fall off the waggon? I hope not. We still had many participants show up even though there was an orange threat level air quality warning in Memphis and we are leaving it up to each individual if they want to run in that or not. Hope everyone is doing well in their training and getting one more workout in this week - can you believe next Monday is week 4?????

DJ

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