Geisinger Doctor Discusses Headache Pain By Geisinger neurologist Abigail Chua, DO How to stop waking up with a headache: Ever realized your head is pounding before you even get out of bed in the morning? Waking up with a headache is — well, a pain. Here’s why they happen and how you can find relief. Like other common symptoms, headaches vary in cause and strength. Some intense headaches can last for hours. Others might be a minute or two of dull but manageable discomfort. Most headaches are grouped into primary and secondary categories. Primary headaches are usually caused by pain sensors in your head that aren’t working right. These headaches may run in your family. Or you might get them from foods you eat (or don’t eat enough of), alcoholic drinks or changes in sleep patterns. Primary headaches are what most people have. The good news is, these types of headaches are preventable and treatable. The two most common kinds: Tension headaches – This type causes mild pain around the head, face or neck. Migraine headaches – This neurological disease can cause sharp pain on one side of the head and may last for hours or even days. Secondary headaches are typically caused by underlying medical conditions, including: Dehydration – Not drinking enough fluids on a regular basis contributes to headaches. Medication overuse – Taking too much of a variety of medications — like Tylenol or forms of ibuprofen, ironically — can make your head hurt. For most people, morning headaches result from lifestyle factors. The good news: You can adjust those to ease your pain. Lack of sleep, whether due to insomnia or just an occasional restless night, often leads to waking with an aching head. Others include: Dehydration Poor sleep quality Medication side effects Sleep apnea Jaw clenching or teeth grinding If poor sleep quality is causing your headaches, your doctor may recommend some changes to your sleep routine. Besides getting a better night’s sleep, minor adjustments to your daily routine to reduce the frequency of morning headaches. Simple changes you can make include everything from skipping that extra glass of red wine after dinner to drinking more water before bed. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to make your morning headache go away. Hydrate: Drink lots of water to start the day. Dehydration can bring on a headache or make an existing one worse. Dim the lights: Many people are sensitive to bright light, especially early in the morning. Give your eyes and head time to adjust. Use a cold compress: Grab a bag of frozen veggies or a cold pack and put it on your forehead or the back of your neck. The cold eases pressure and can soothe a morning headache. Try light massage: It’s simple — but effective. Use your fingers to apply gentle pressure on the part of your head or neck where you’re having pain. This trick can help relieve a tension headache. Get plenty of sleep: Some headaches are related to sleep apnea or other factors causing a lack of quality rest. Try going to bed a little earlier to give your body more time to rest. Digging out the root cause is the first step in treating your early morning headaches. If you’ve tried to troubleshoot on your own with no success, it’s time to talk to your doctor — especially if you have frequent or daily morning headaches. Once you and your doctor determine the right treatment plan, you can wake up refreshed, rested and ready to take on your day. For more health and wellness tops, visit Geisinger.org/balance.
NAMI Northeast Begins Walk-and-Talk Series NAMI Northeast Region Executive Director Marie Onukiavage met recently with outdoor professionals in the community to connect on a new series of monthly walks to highlight help provided by NAMI while encouraging participants to experience the healing power of nature. NAMI will collaborate with Ski Shack owner and yoga instructor Melissa Roberts on planning locations and having Melissa offer stress-relieving breathing techniques and guidance on walking trails. Marie met recently with Melissa and Paul Bechtel, Lackawanna County Director of Parks & Recreation, who provided information and input on parks throughout the county that offer beautiful trails for everyone to explore as they attempt to unplug from daily stressors and plug in to the peace and tranquility that exists among the trees and greenery. NAMI encourages everyone in the community to join them on June 26 at 6 p.m. at Camp Freedom as they highlight men’s mental health and the importance of talking about it openly to remove stigma. NAMI will share information and resources available and nonprofit Camp Freedom personnel will spotlight the many wonderful services they provide, along with leading a walk on their scenic property.
The Dime Bank Transitions to ‘.Bank’ The Dime Bank recently transitioned their website from thedimebank.com to thedime.bank domain to provide customers with an even more secure banking experience. This change provides another layer of enhanced security and verification requirements to reduce the risk of cyber threats and enable The Dime Bank to provide a greater level of digital security. The American Bankers Association (ABA) reports that banking has consistently been one of the most targeted industries for phishing for over a decade. The accessibility of publicly available, unregulated, and affordable domains like .com and .net allow malicious entities to acquire similar-looking domains effortlessly for conducting business email compromises, phishing, and spoofing attacks, resulting in data breaches, identity theft, and financial fraud. The Dime Bank’s email addresses and website URL will now use ‘.bank’ as their ending. Thedime.bank has enhanced security requirements which help mitigate the risk for fraud. There is an extensive vetting process in place so that only legitimate banking institutions can utilize ‘.bank’, thereby preventing bad actors from creating imposter domains. To verify the authenticity of The Dime Bank’s emails and website, customers can easily spot the ‘.bank’. With the ‘.bank’ in place, consumers can quickly confirm emails and websites are real, and avoid interactions that could lead to identity theft and financial fraud. This authentication is also an additional layer of protection for internal and vendor communications, helping to further secure against potential breaches. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich stated, “Customer security is a paramount concern at The Dime Bank, encompassing both personal and financial information. The ‘.bank’ domain is a gated domain, like .gov, and is exclusive for verified banks. Providing cutting-edge technology that caters to customers’ need for high-speed convenience along with security remains a key consideration in all our choices. By transitioning our domain name to ‘thedime.bank’ from ‘thedimebank.com’, customers can interact with confidence when they see the ‘.bank’ at the end of The Dime Bank’s email address and website URL.” Emails from thedimebank.com will be forwarded to the new thedime.bank addresses, and the website previously ending in ‘.com’ will now redirect to the new ‘.bank’ site. Customers are advised to update their address books and bookmarks for thedime.bank.
Johnson College to Hold Instant Enrollment Decision Day Johnson College is hosting an Instant Decision Day for prospective students on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both the College’s Scranton and Hazleton campuses. To register to attend, visit johnson.edu/instant. During the Instant Decision event, Johnson College will provide prospective students with an immediate enrollment decision. Students must supply their high school and/or college transcripts. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes a Johnson College application before attending. Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from instant decisions.
Lackawanna County and Chamber Hold Press Conference to Unveil Strategic Partnership Aimed at Expanding Business and Workforce Development Scranton, PA–June 11, 2024 — Lackawanna County and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announce a joint press conference to be held at The Chamber on Wednesday, June 12, at 9 a.m. Lackawanna County Commissioners Bill Gaughan, Matt McGloin, and Chris Chermak, in conjunction with the Chamber President Bob Durkin, will unveil a partnership on Wednesday, June 12, in which the partnership aims to expand the county’s business and workforce development through two strategic initiatives. “I am encouraged and proud to unveil this partnership between Lackawanna County and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. For far too long we have duplicated efforts, and with this partnership we can be stronger together and make greater impacts in our County in training our workforce, supporting our existing businesses, and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurial growth here at home. It is our job to create opportunity for our residents and what better way than in collaboration with the Chamber due to their successful history. We look forward to working hard together and celebrating success moving forward”, said Commissioner Bill Gaughan At the press conference, the Commissioners and Chamber leadership will present a multi-year plan, and under the partnership, the Chamber will take on the primary role of managing business development, marketing and lead management for Lackawanna County. Lackawanna County will continue to work in tandem with the Chamber on all opportunities to support workforce training, small businesses and the growth of entrepreneurship within the county through both collaborative ideas and financial investments. In addition, working in collaboration with the Lackawanna County Planning and Economic Development department will allow both organizations to streamline processes, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure a coordinated approach to economic development. “I am really excited about the initiatives unveiled here today, and the positive and collaborative relationship we have forged with the County Commissioners. This underscores our collective commitment to maximize the resources available to strengthen our regional economy, for the good of all the citizens of Lackawanna County”, said Chamber President Bob Durkin.
UNC to Hold Pine Brook NPP Community Celebration United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) invites the public to our Pine Brook NPP Community Celebration. This event celebrates the significant contributions of our Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) investors: Cottera Energy, FNCB Bank, and Peoples Security Bank & Trust. The celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 21, 2024, from 2 PM to 4 PM, at the Capouse Corner Green Space, 1371 Capouse Avenue at New York Street in Scranton. The event will feature food, games, a plant giveaway, and fun activities for the community to enjoy. We ask attendees to bring a book to donate to the Little Free Library located in the space. This celebration highlights the generous $50,000 annual contributions from Cottera Energy, FNCB Bank, and Peoples Security Bank & Trust through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). These contributions, totaling a $900,000 investment over six years, are instrumental in our ongoing efforts to rebuild, restore, and revitalize the Pine Brook community, a designated Elm Street Community through the Pennsylvania Keystone Communities program. Anyone interested in attending this celebration, please RSVP to Chrissy Manuel at cmanuel@uncnepa.org or call her at 570.878.5643.
Waverly Community House Tennis Camp and Lessons Waverly Comm Children and Youth Clinics: June 17 – August 2 If you are participating in extended Comm Camp, tennis can be included. Please contact Diane at (570) 586-8191 to register. If you are not participating in extended Comm Camp, you may still register. The fee is $70. Beginner: 1-2PM Intermediate: 2-3PM Private and Semi-Private Lessons: Private and semi-private lessons are available, please contact Diane at (570) 586-8191 to register. Private: $40/Hour; $25/30 Min SEMI: $30/Hour/Person
The Wright Center and NE PA AHEC Workshop Collaboration Nevena Barjaktarovic, M.D., a dually board-certified physician in internal medicine and rheumatology at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, will present a free educational session on lupus for Northeast Pennsylvania primary care and emergency room doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC) is sponsoring the internal medicine didactic session, which will be held from 8-10 a.m., Wednesday, July 31, in The Wright Center for Community Health – Scranton Auditorium, 501 S. Washington Ave. Participation is limited and registration is required by Friday, July 19. To register, visit bit.ly/3QRJqTf. Participants may join in person or virtually through Webex video conferencing. The video conferencing link will be provided after registration. The session is a part of the American College of Rheumatology Rural Health Outreach Project, aimed at improving lupus referral, diagnosis, and treatment in underserved communities. It also will help raise awareness among health care providers of lupus signs and symptoms, what to do if lupus is suspected, and when to consider lupus in the differential diagnosis for individuals at high risk. About 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, 90% of whom are women, with about 16,000 new cases annually, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among Black, Hispanic/Latina, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander women than white women. Those with lupus can experience significant symptoms, including pain, extreme fatigue, hair loss, cognitive issues, and physical impairments that affect every facet of their lives. Many suffer from cardiovascular disease, strokes, disfiguring rashes, and painful joints. For others, there may be no visible symptoms. Dr. Barjaktarovic specializes in diagnosing and treating a broad spectrum of rheumatic and inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, gout, joint pain, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and lupus. She also serves as a physician-faculty member at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, where she mentors residents and fellows. A Clarks Summit resident, Dr. Barjaktarovic joined The Wright Centers in 2020 and earned her medical degree from the Medical School of Belgrade University, Serbia. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at James J. Peters VA Medical Center, affiliated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and her rheumatology fellowship training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, also in the Bronx.
Geisinger-led Study on Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs A recent Geisinger-led study has determined that GLP-1s, a popular class of weight loss and diabetes drugs, may make it unsafe for patients to undergo a common gastroenterology procedure. Researchers from Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine collected data from 2019 to 2023 on 35,183 patients who had esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures. An EGD, or upper endoscopy, is one of the most common diagnostic procedures to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. Among 756 patients with diabetes who took GLP-1s and had an EGD, those patients were: Four times more likely to have retained food in their stomach during the procedure About three times more likely to have aborted procedures Twice as likely to need a repeat EGD Among 166 patients without diabetes who took GLP-1s and had an EGD, those patients were: About five times more likely to have retained food in their stomach Five times more likely to have aborted procedures As likely as nonusers to need another EGD GLP-1s, such as the popular Ozempic medication, decreases how fast the stomach empties, regardless of a patient’s diabetes status, the study found. “Having food in the stomach during one of these procedures can increase the risk as well as decrease the ability of your doctor to perform a complete examination,” said Amitpal S. Johal, M.D., Geisinger chair of gastroenterology and one of the co-authors of the study. The researchers cautioned that clinicians responsible for scheduling and performing EGDs on patients taking GLP-1s, should carefully assess the impact of the medication on the procedure’s safe completion, stating “healthcare providers must consider the implications of delayed gastric emptying when planning an EGD for GLP-1 patients.” “If you are taking a medication for weight loss, please let you doctor know before scheduling a procedure,” Dr. Johal said.
