Racing heart could be more than wine’s effect

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:34

QWhenever I drink a little too much wine, I find that I wake up at night and my heart seems to race for a while. Can wine do that?

AThe short answer is yes. But, first, it sounds like you haven’t told a doctor about this. And you should—immediately. What you’re describing could be atrial fibrillation. The risk of atrial fibrillation increases with age, particularly after age 60.

Atrial fibrillation—also called AF or AFib—is the most common form of irregular heartbeat. It is an abnormal heart rhythm originating in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. The rate of impulses through the atria can range from 300 to 600 beats per minute.

Because the atria are beating rapidly and irregularly, blood does not flow through them...

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Book offers strategy tip for disciplining kids

Written by Joyce Kyle Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:33

Discipline is a difficult part of parenting. All children need limit setting and clear expectations of behavior. They are in training for about 18 years and parents are the trainers.

Many parents ask me about spanking. I really don’t feel spanking is a very effective training tool and we, as parents, don’t need to inflict pain in order to take control.

Thomas W. Phelan came up with a positive discipline method called “1-2-3 Magic.” It is easy to learn and teaches children how to make good choices and decisions. I recommend Phelan’s book and also his video.

Here is a concise picture of his method.

(1) Give the child a request or warning regarding what you want them to do or not do.

(2) If the child did not respond, begin...

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Reusser has a heart for his home town

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:51

Cardiologist Layne Reusser: “It’s fun to give something back to the community. These outreach clinics have been an integral part of our group’s practice.” One of Hillsboro’s own has gone on to establish his own cardiology practice in Wichita, but he still finds time to come home and lend a helping hand.

Cardiology physician Layne Reusser makes the trek once a month to consult with patients in the Hillsboro and Marion area.

“It’s fun to give something back to the community,” Reusser said. “These outreach clinics have been an integral part of our group’s practice.

“Almost everybody in our group does outreach clinics.”

The monthly trips have also given him the chance to visit his family in the area.

“In the early years, it wasn’t quite so busy, so I could spend some time out on the farm,” he said. “Now it’s gotten busier, and Mom has moved into town, but I...

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With advancing age comes fewer fevers

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:49

Q I remember having lots of fevers as a kid, but, now that I’m older, I don’t get them like I used to. What gives?

AThe immune system doesn’t function as efficiently in older adults as it does in younger people. The body’s fever response to infection is not always automatic in elderly people. More than 20 percent of adults over age 65 who have serious bacterial infections do not have fevers.

This brings us to germs, which are defined as microbes that cause disease. Infectious diseases caused by microbes are the leading cause of death.

Microbes are microscopic organisms that are everywhere. Some microbes cause disease. Others are essential for health. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi or...

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