Health

A Pathway to Healing

Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

A nursing program on Oahu is working towards bringing diversity into the medical field. It’s not only lifting disadvantaged students out of poverty and onto a pathway towards nursing, but it will soon provide services on Molokai.

According to the Windward Community College (WCC) website, Native Hawaiians make up 29 percent of the state population, but only 3.5 percent of the Registered Nurse (RN) workforce. Jamie Boyd, one of the first Native Hawaiian RNs in the state to earn a PhD, said she was frustrated by the lack of Hawaiian representation in nursing classrooms. To address this disparity, Boyd took action and in 2007 started the Pathway Out of Poverty nursing program at Oahu’s WCC to help Native Hawaiians become registered nurses.…

Molokai Fitness: Warming Up

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

Do you warm up properly before you start your exercise, and cool down at the end?

A good warm-up helps increase your heart rate before you start your exercise, it raises your body temperature and increases the blood flow to your muscles to get your muscles ready for action. This will help you burn more calories during your exercise. It will also help minimize potential muscle tears and injury, and can also help improve your muscle strength.

A warm-up also helps you focus more on your workout, and that will lead to a more effective workout and better results. …

Community Care Partners

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Daria M. Gray, Speech Pathologist

During my visits to Molokai last November and again this past March, I saw the challenges facing care partners struggling to meet the needs of their kupuna who live at home.  It takes great patience and a lot of encouragement to help restore the abilities and skills that have been lost due to the challenges brought about by aging, stroke, brain injury or surgery.  It also requires new ways to adapt daily activities and communication to meet changing needs.  Through the process of rehabilitation, a speech pathologist addresses these concerns through individualized treatment programs.…

Molokai Fitness: Attention to Drinks

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

Are you really thinking about what you’re doing to improve your health?

This week I’d like to pull your attention to drinking. No, not alcohol – this would probably take quite a few articles… I want to talk about other canned drinks.

When you drink coke, soda or most other canned pop drinks, do you know how much sugar you’re taking? Without even realizing it you’re taking on average between 25 and 49 grams sugar (1 tablespoon is 12 grams!).

Within 20 minutes of drinking your blood sugar level shoots up, your liver responds and your insulin levels increase.…

Molokai Fitness: Weighing Yourself

Thursday, May 8th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

When was the last time you weighed yourself? Don’t be scared! It’s your own body; you need to know everything about it. Check your weight once a week – make sure it’s always at the same time of day (for example, always first thing in the morning), and wear the same clothes every time. Then write it down.

You need to keep track of your weight. If you need to lose some weight, then think about it this way: imagine you are holding a glass of water for five minutes. That’s no problem, right? Let’s say 10 minutes – now maybe your arm starts getting tired.…