Heartbeats: Yoga Loka to hold annual open house

• Yoga Loka in Frenchtown will hold its 12th annual open house on Jan. 3.
• Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management will hold a Healthy Plate, Healthy Weight class.
• Nine Hunterdon Healthcare physicians were recently rated among New Jersey’s Favorite Kids’ Docs.
• Dr. Propa Ghosh has joined the practice of Hunterdon Urology Associates.

Yoga Loka will hold its 12th annual open house on Jan. 3.

Newcomers to Yoga as well as enthusiasts to the ancient practice are invited to spend a day experiencing what yoga and other self-improvement techniques can inspire. All events and classes are free.

There will be yoga classes at various levels as well as Yoga for Back Care, an Introduction to Meditation, and a talk on the healing benefits of Tai Chi with Judi Hason. Hason will also present a sample Tai Chi class that all can participate in. Janise Nelson will present a talk on how yoga supports a healthy DNA and other medical information.

A mixed level yoga class in the afternoon will be accompanied by Heidi Breyer on keyboard. Throughout the day, Catherine Lent will be offering free henna designs and Jodi Dinnerman of Lightsource Chiropractic will be offering adjustments for donations which will be made to the Frenchtown Food Pantry.

Visitors can sign up for future workshops and purchase class blocks at discounted prices. Introduction to Yoga, Yoga for Back Care, Introduction to Meditation, Yoga for Men are some of the special workshops that will be take place in the new year. There will also be drawings for hourly door prizes, including $10 gift cards that can be used at any location in Frenchtown.

The classes begin at 1 p.m. with a therapeutic yoga class taught by owner and senior instructor, Bonnie Pariser, who is a certified Yoga Therapist. Mats and other props will be available at the studio for those who do not have them to bring.

The New Year always inspires the desire for self improvement and these free classes, presentations and class discounts are incentives for those who are interested in beginning a practice.

The full schedule is posted at www.yoga-loka.com.

Yoga Loka is at 34 Bridge St. in Frenchtown. For more information, call 908-268-7430.

Hospital receives designation

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick has been designated as the first Adolescent Center of Excellence for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in the world, by the international Surgical Review Corporation.

The designation recognizes that BMSCH and its surgeons are providing exceptional care and are dedicated to continuously improving patient safety and success.

Obesity is an epidemic that affects more than 12.5 million children and adolescents in the United States, and the incidence of morbid obesity is continuing to grow exponentially each year. Bariatric surgery, also known as metabolic surgery, at BMSCH is a key health tool that helps adolescents aged 15 through 21 who are suffering from obesity and obesity-related health issues, and have several failed attempts at weight management.

Qualifications adolescents must meet in order to be considered for these surgeries include having a BMI of 50 or more, or having a BMI of 40 with physical and emotional obesity-associated problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, joint pain, asthma, fatty liver and more.

In order to be eligible for surgery, adolescents also must have reached skeletal maturity, have documentation of at least one physician-supervised diet plan in the past five years or participated in the Healthy Challenge weight awareness program, have no uncontrolled psychiatric illness, no history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year, and must be committed to participating in the post-operative exercise and support programs.

Through the program, BMSCH and RWJUH help patients to achieve their health goals through pre-operative preparation, multidisciplinary evaluation, nutrition education, bariatric-specific support group topics, lifetime follow-up, exercise programs and encouragement at every avenue of their progressing journey to help patients perceive, believe and achieve their health and weight loss goals.

Designation as a Center of Excellence supports the hospital’s commitment to exceeding the highest standards and protocols by providing safe and lasting care to its bariatric patients in an environment that is dedicated to their comfort and dignity.

In order to be named the world’s first Adolescent Center of Excellence for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, BMSCH met standards set in place by the Surgical Review Corporation. Requirements include: an institutional commitment to excellence, surgical experience of performing at least 80 qualifying bariatric surgery procedures in the preceding 12 months, a program medical director of bariatric surgery, an assistant medical director of pediatrics, an assistant medical director of pediatric surgery, interdisciplinary team, a full complement of consultative services, complete line of equipment and surgical instruments to provide appropriate perioperative care for patients, proper surgeon qualifications and a commitment to ongoing medical education, a surgical team and support staff, patient education and support programs, and a long-term patient follow-up program to consistently monitor and track outcomes, complications and comorbidities for bariatric surgery patients.

BMSCH’s program only allows a surgeon of excellence (SOEMBS), as designated by the Surgical Review Board, to perform surgery on its adolescent patients. A surgeon of excellence has performed at least 125 qualifying bariatric surgery procedures in his or her lifetime, with at least 50 cases performed in the preceding 12 months and exceeds the national benchmarks for complications.

To learn more about BSMCH, visit www.bmsch.org or learn about RWJUH at www.rwjuh.edu.

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by industry stakeholders and dedicated to advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of surgical care worldwide. Initially focused on bariatric and metabolic surgery. For more information, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

Healthy Plate, Healthy Weight

Hunterdon Healthcare’s Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management will hold a Healthy Plate, Healthy Weight class.

The four-week program is designed to jump start weight loss and help you get on track to create a healthier you. Facilitated by a registered dietitian, this program will be offered on four consecutive Mondays. A series of monthly talks addressing other topics related to weight management and good health will be offered throughout the year for an additional fee.

Classes will start Jan. 5 or March 2. Registration is required. The fee for the four-week session is $50. Senior citizens or Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management patients will receive a 20 percent discount.

All classes will be held at the Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management, located at 9100 Wescott Drive, Suite 102 in Flemington.

For more information or to register, call 908-237-6920.

Physicians recognized

Nine Hunterdon Healthcare physicians were recently rated among New Jersey’s Favorite Kids’ Docs and were recognized in New Jersey Family magazine.

These physicians were exclusively nominated by New Jersey parents on the magazine’s website, www.njfamily.com. The physicians that appeared on the list include:

Developmental Pediatric Associates of Hunterdon

• Audrey Mars, developmental pediatrician

Phillips-Barber Family Health Center

• Melissa Burgos, family practice physician

Hunterdon Pediatric Associates (HPA)

• Mitchell Clarin, pediatrician and medical director for HPA

• Michael Coraggio, pediatrician

• Wayne Fellmeth, pediatrician

• Jody Kroon, pediatrician

• Donna Krupinski, pediatrician

• Kevin B. Roche, pediatrician

• Allen Rushton, pediatrician

If you are looking for a physician, call Hunterdon Medical Center’s Physician Referral Service at 1-800-511-4462 or visit www.hunterdonhealthcare.org.

Ghosh joins practice

Dr. Propa Ghosh has joined the practice of Hunterdon Urology Associates, a specialty practice operated by Hunterdon Healthcare.

The office is at 121 Route 31, Suite 1200, Flemington.

Ghosh is working with Dr. Allen Kern, urologist, who has been on the medical staff at Hunterdon Medical Center for more than 30 years. The practice provides urological care for adults and children.

Ghosh is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is fellowship trained in robotics and minimally invasive surgery, with additional expertise in kidney and prostate cancer. She earned her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where she won the Compass Award for scoring in the top 10 percent of her graduating class in Clinical Skills Assessment, as well as the Renaissance Student Award for her ability to integrate and excel in the arts. She then completed her general surgery residency and urology residency at Maimonides Hospital, followed by a fellowship in robotics and minimally invasive surgery at Montefiore Medical Center.

Ghosh is also the medical director for robotic surgery at Hunterdon Medical Center.

“Urologic surgery is extraordinarily innovative, pushing frontiers of what we are capable of achieving,” Ghosh said in a prepared statement. “The introduction of Robotic Surgery at Hunterdon Medical Center demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to providing their physicians with new technology to offer their patients advanced procedures in our community,” Ghosh said.

To schedule an appointment with Ghosh, call Hunterdon Urology Associates at 908-782-0019. To learn more about Robotic Surgery at Hunterdon Medical Center, visit www.hunterdonroboticsurgery.com.

Living life with Tourette Syndrome

Soccer superstar Tim Howard recently appeared on the cover of Parade Magazine, while his partners in Somerville worked on details for their joint Leadership Academy.

A new biography, “The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them,” highlights Howard’s successes. In the book, Howard describes the strength he takes from living life with Tourette Syndrome.

The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is part of the story. “We are proud of Tim and this media blitz is quite fitting,” Executive Director Faith W. Rice said in a prepared statement, “He is a champion for millions of soccer fans worldwide — but we know him best as a champion for the untold millions living with TS.”

Howard sits on the NJCTS Board of Directors and has lent his name, talent and encouragement to many projects over the years, and in 2014 NJCTS and Howard launched a game-changer. The Tim Howard NJCTS Leadership Academy debuted last summer. The intensive weekend of workshops, lectures and team-building activities is designed with empowerment, resilience, and self-advocacy in mind.

“We gather leading experts and young adults successfully living with TS to deliver and advanced understanding and set of key life skills and tools to help teens ages 14-17 reach their best potential,” Rice said in the statement. “It’s something near to Tim’s heart and our pilot launch continues to reap results.”

In 2015, the Academy will take place from Aug. 6 to 9 at Rutgers University. Applications are available at www.njcts.org. Admission is competitive and is open to teens ages 14 to 17 who have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

For more information about Tourette Syndrome, NJCTS or the Tim Howard NJCTS Leadership Academy, visit NJCTS.org.

Prenatal and Post-partum Yoga Class

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Maternity Department in Somerville is offering a new Prenatal and Post-partum Yoga Class.

The class will be held from 1 to 2:15 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 8, at the hospital’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, 30 Rehill Ave., Somerville. The cost is $10 per class.

Led by Tara Drumgool, a registered nurse who is a certified pre- and post-natal fitness instructor, the class will help new and expectant mothers build strength and flexibility and relieve stress. Exercises are specially modified to accommodate physical limitations of women who are pregnant or who recently had a baby. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and a bottle of water.

Medical clearance from a physician is required to participate.

Register by calling 908-704-3766 or register online at www.rwjuh.edu/somersetevents.

Check presented to RWJ Rahway Foundation

PSEG recently presented a $4,000 check to RWJ Rahway Foundation for the Mobile ICU Radio Replacement Project.

Marlene H. Lubinger, president, RWJ Rahway Foundation, said in a prepared statement that “these new radios will meet the new FCC guidelines and help the Hospital’s first responders meet the needs of our patients and the community.”

A supporter of the Hospital for many years, PSEG has contributed to the Hospital’s Emergency and First Floor Renovation Projects and cardiac telemetry.

If you would like to make a donation to RWJ Rahway Foundation, or for information on how to leave a legacy of good health care to the community, call the Foundation Office at 732-499-6135 or email foundation@rwjuhr.com.

Free monthly vaccines for children

The Bernards Township Health Department conducts a free monthly Vaccines for Children program to administer childhood immunizations as proscribed by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

The program is held in conjunction with the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and the NJ Vaccines for Children Program.

Immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases are given to all children from birth through age 18 who are uninsured or awaiting insurance coverage. Children served by this program must live in Bernards, Bernardsville, Chester Borough, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and Peapack-Gladstone.

These clinics are conducted the second Tuesday of each month at St. James Church, 184 S. Finley Ave. in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards.

Further information is available at www.bernardshealth.org or by calling the Bernards Township Health Department at 908-204-2520. For an appointment, call the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills at 908-766-0180.

Library subscribes to database

The East Brunswick Public Library has subscribed to the Rosen Teen Health & Wellness Database.

The database was created just for teens to learn about topics that matter most to them. Teens will find articles about dating, sexual health, drug and alcohol abuse, academic pressure, bullying, depression, eating disorders, and more. Articles are written in a language and style that appeals to teens. The database can also be used for research papers about the human body and social issues. There’s even a “Share Your Story” articles written by teens, and an advice column called “Ask Dr. Jan.”

The database can be found on the library’s main website at www.ebpl.org and also the health portal at www.wellinks.org.

For more information, call 732-390-6767 or go to the library’s website at www.ebpl.org and click on “News & Events.” Follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EBLibrary1, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eastbrunswicklibrary.

Horizon CareOnline created

As part of an ongoing commitment to improve its members’ health-care experience through innovation and technology, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ) has created Horizon CareOnline.

Horizon CareOnline is a no-cost telehealth benefit that offers access to a board certified, licensed doctor online 24 hours a day, seven days a week — and no appointments are needed.

“Horizon recognizes that there are times when individuals cannot get to a doctor quickly or easily when they get sick, so Horizon CareOnline will go a long way to adding convenience to receiving care from a licensed physician,” Christopher M. Lepre, senior vice president, market business units, Horizon BCBSNJ, said in a prepared statement.

Horizon CareOnline is available at no cost share to individual policy holders — and family members on their policies — who purchase Horizon products through the Federal Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) or directly from Horizon BCBSNJ. The service is offered through American Well, a telehealth services company that brings healthcare into the homes and workplaces of patients.

Beginning Jan. 1, members can access Horizon CareOnline on their laptop or desktop computers by signing up at Horizon.Amwell.com, or calling 1-855-818-DOCS (3627). Smart phone and tablet users can enroll by downloading American Well’s free Amwell app from the iTunes Store or Google Play. Members are then able to select from a list of doctors, including Spanish-speaking physicians, for their virtual visits. Doctors on Horizon CareOnline for BCBSNJ members are board certified and NJ licensed and credentialed.

Horizon CareOnline is one of many ways that Horizon BCBSNJ is making health care more convenient through technology. For more than a decade, Horizon BCBSNJ has offered members a 24/7 registered nurse phone service. Members on the go can also use Horizon BCBSNJ’s mobile app, which allows users to create a virtual ID card, review the status of a claim, find a network physician and access other health insurance benefits.

For more information about Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, visit www.HorizonBlue.com. For further details on American Well, visit www.americanwell.com.

Association announces Founding Membership

Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey, a leader in Home Nursing Care, announces Founding Membership in the North Jersey Health Collaborative to help build and strengthen healthier communities.

Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) has served the home health care needs of patients in Morris County since 1898. Today, VNA’s service area has expanded to include Hunterdon County and VNA has become one of New Jersey’s most recognized leaders and innovators in the field of home health care. Appreciating the importance of combining the knowledge and expertise of public health and community organizations with the clinical expertise of health care institutions, VNA chose to become a founding member of the North Jersey Health Collaborative (NJHC).

The mission of the NJHC, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, is to “coordinate efforts and resources of public health, health care and other organizations to maximize our impact on the health status of our communities and minimize avoidable illness, injury and hospitalization”. Members of the NJHC share the belief that by using their collective resources and expertise, the health of northern New Jersey’s residents will be positively impacted.

In order to make resources and information regarding the health trends of northern New Jersey residents easily accessible, the North Jersey Health Collaborative established North Jersey Health Matters, www.njhealthmatters.org. This online resource provides tools for extracting, comparing and utilizing health data, which help to build and strengthen communities.

For more information about the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey, visit www.vnannj.org or call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748).

For further details about the North Jersey Health Collaborative, visit www.njhealthmatters.org.

‘Natural high’

A “natural high” has the same effect as a drug induced high without the harmful side effects that drugs and alcohol can cause, according to a prepared statement from Ridge Against Alcohol & Drugs (R.A.A.D.).

A natural high is a euphoric and excited feeling due to a certain activity or sport, not induced by drugs or other unnatural substances. And science has proven, it really has the same effect as a drug-induced high.

To understand what a natural high truly is, you first have to understand the scientific difference between a drug induced high and a natural high.

For example, marijuana contains the active ingredient Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. When marijuana is smoked, THC enters the blood stream, and circulates the body until it reaches the brain. Once it gets there, it acts on cannabinoid receptors and within minutes the user feels a sense of euphoria or a “high.” Their heartbeat quickens, the senses are intensified, and they experience a sense of pleasure and peace.

A drug-induced high can last from one to four hours, but it can have damaging short and long term effects on the body. Some short term effects are a lack of concentration or coordination, anxiety, dry mouth, vision distortion, and bloodshot eyes. These can be especially dangerous if the person is driving. People who smoke marijuana are at more risk of having respiratory issues, developing lung cancer, and frequent chest colds.

Natural highs provide that same feeling of euphoria without the damaging short and long term effects. Sports are especially great examples of natural highs. For example, a runner’s high is when the runner feels a sense of euphoria, pleasure, and invincibility which is very similar to the feeling of a drug-induced high. This is because when you’re engaged in athletic activity, your body exerts endorphins and molecules such as anandamide in the brain resulting in that feeling of elation. The best part, is that there are no harmful effects.

Another benefit of natural highs is that they are not addictive. For example, if there were two people who wanted to get high, they could both do it but one might choose to watch a funny movie and laugh while the other chooses to do cocaine. Both of them would get high. However, it is the coming down off of the high that is different. When a person comes back from a natural high, he or she is at the same level he or she used to be at; their baseline. The person who used chemical drugs however, is lower than his or her original starting point; below baseline. Eventually, the person who used cocaine can get back to his or her threshold, but only if they use drugs to do so. If they continued to use cocaine or any other kind of chemical drug, his or her body eventually would not be able to handle it and he or she could never get back to the starting point and might even be stuck at a certain point lower than his or her baseline.

Natural highs can be anything that gives a sense of pleasure. Some examples are laughing, singing, painting, and hiking. One thing R.A.A.D does for a natural high is have a cupcake war in a park. They each bring some cupcakes and put them all in one place with them in a circle around the cupcakes. On the count of three, they all run in and grab some of the sugary ammo. They then start to smack, splat and squish the cupcakes onto each other.

For more information on Ridge Against Alcohol & Drugs, contact Municipal Alliance Grant Coordinator Kaitlin Kordusky at 908-204-2523 or email alliance@bernards.org. The mission of the Bernards Township Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse is to provide consultation, programs, training and resources to members of the Bernards Township community with the goal of preventing and reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through education, support of events and programs and presence in the community.

For more information and to view results from the Student Stressors or American Drug and Alcohol Survey, visit www.bernardsalliance.org.

Heartbeats is compiled by Editorial Assistant Bradley W. Wadlow. Follow him on Twitter @Brad_WadlowMyCJ. Email items for Heartbeats to Bradley W. Wadlow at health@MyCentralJersey.com.