5. Health

Articles

Communications Help Couples Cope With Serious Illness (March 1998)

"Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Many couples face devastating news when doctors have diagnosed a partner with a serious illness or disease that has life-threatening consequences. Part of successful coping is to go through it together.

Why is it so important for an ill person to talk about their emotions? Talking is a form of coping. Deep communication is a buffer to stress. By talking to your spouse, you try to make sense ...

The PSA Era In Men's Health (April 1998)

It's been a year since I was in the throes of deciding what to do about my newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Looking back, those where trying times. I had a radical prostatectomy on May 15, 1997. I had good results. To date the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test has revealed no new cancer.

I interviewed nurse David Knudson and Dr. Henri Lanctin of the Prostate Health Center at MedCenter One is Bismarck, North Dakota for background on prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer i ...

Three Experts Talk About LD (January 1997)

I wrote a column about Girard Sagmiller's first hand account on what it was like to grow up with a learning disability. To find out what the experts had to say about learning disabilities, I contacted three psychologists who are nationally known

Exercise: Snake Oil Or Castor Oil? (August 1996)

Exercise is a habit. It is a wonderful habit. It is modern day snake oil - good for whatever ails you. It is an almost perfect remedy: a health inducer, stress reducer and self-confidence booster.

The trouble with exercise is that it i

Bringing Hospice Care To Rural Communities (January 1996)

Many terminally ill people choose to die at home with the support of hospice volunteers and professionals. I have found hospice people to be dedicated, caring and special. A rare thing in our society - hospice care is a cutting edge movem

The Wife Of An Alzheimer Patient Gives Advice (April 1999)

I received a manuscript of a book, "An Alzheimer's Primer," from an old friend, Emily McLaws, who lost her husband Monte to Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms first appeared, though unrecognized at the time, in 1987. Nine long years later, Monte passed away. These are some conclusions she draws from her experience.

Advice On How To Deal With Chronic Pain (February 1999)

I visited with psychologist Carl Westphal, a former colleague who moved from Fargo ND to Washington DC, about his specialty in working with patients who have chronic pain problems. He shared his ideas and advice on how people can cope with their problems.

Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be Fattening (June 2001)

This article describes recent research that shows people eat more when confronted with a variety of foods than if they had just one food to eat. We have taste specific satiety. Our varied and abundant North American diet, the land of all-you-can-eat buffets, presents opportunities for overeating.

What I've Learned About Type II Diabetis (March 2002)

This article summarizes key points in preventing or managing Type II Diabetis. Dr. Farmer relates his personal experience with this disease.

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	Val Farmer 35 Years of Counseling General Topics VIII. Meeting Life's Challenges 5. Health Login Articles Communications Help Couples Cope With Serious Illness (March 1998) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans." Many couples face devastating news when doctors have diagnosed a partner with a serious illness or disease that has life-threatening consequences. Part of successful coping is to go through it together. Why is it so important for an ill person to talk about their emotions? Talking is a form of coping. Deep communication is a buffer to stress. By talking to your spouse, you try to make sense ... The PSA Era In Men's Health (April 1998) It's been a year since I was in the throes of deciding what to do about my newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Looking back, those where trying times. I had a radical prostatectomy on May 15, 1997. I had good results. To date the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test has revealed no new cancer. I interviewed nurse David Knudson and Dr. Henri Lanctin of the Prostate Health Center at MedCenter One is Bismarck, North Dakota for background on prostate cancer. Prostate cancer i ... Three Experts Talk About LD (January 1997) I wrote a column about Girard Sagmiller's first hand account on what it was like to grow up with a learning disability. To find out what the experts had to say about learning disabilities, I contacted three psychologists who are nationally known Exercise: Snake Oil Or Castor Oil? (August 1996) Exercise is a habit. It is a wonderful habit. It is modern day snake oil - good for whatever ails you. It is an almost perfect remedy: a health inducer, stress reducer and self-confidence booster. The trouble with exercise is that it i Bringing Hospice Care To Rural Communities (January 1996) Many terminally ill people choose to die at home with the support of hospice volunteers and professionals. I have found hospice people to be dedicated, caring and special. A rare thing in our society - hospice care is a cutting edge movem The Wife Of An Alzheimer Patient Gives Advice (April 1999) I received a manuscript of a book, "An Alzheimer's Primer," from an old friend, Emily McLaws, who lost her husband Monte to Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms first appeared, though unrecognized at the time, in 1987. Nine long years later, Monte passed away. These are some conclusions she draws from her experience. Advice On How To Deal With Chronic Pain (February 1999) I visited with psychologist Carl Westphal, a former colleague who moved from Fargo ND to Washington DC, about his specialty in working with patients who have chronic pain problems. He shared his ideas and advice on how people can cope with their problems. Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be Fattening (June 2001) This article describes recent research that shows people eat more when confronted with a variety of foods than if they had just one food to eat. We have taste specific satiety. Our varied and abundant North American diet, the land of all-you-can-eat buffets, presents opportunities for overeating. What I've Learned About Type II Diabetis (March 2002) This article summarizes key points in preventing or managing Type II Diabetis. Dr. Farmer relates his personal experience with this disease. Next Page