Break Bad Health Habits

So now that its officially too late to withdraw my challenge to get healthy
by giving up one bad habit (in case you didn’t read the Point of View I promised to quit smoking by
May 18; did I say what year?), I guess I need to consider just how I am going to manage this no small
task. I’ve been smoking since before I was 16. I’m 52! Darn!!
Did I say that out loud? And it just so
happens that I am not quick to turn to pharmaceutical assistance. So gum, patches and pills are all out.
Hmmm….research is required. GTHN (Getting to healthy now.) TTYL.

Don't stress over filing your taxes: Tips on where to go for free help

Benjamin Franklin's famous quote "The only thing certain in life are death and taxes" may have an element of truth to it, but that doesn't mean doing your taxes has to cause so much stress that you'd rather be 20-feet under.

It's a given that non-health related events in our lives - such as filing taxes - causes health issues resulting from the stress tied to it. Even the U.S. federal government realizes that tax season can cause undue stress, and offers tips on its website on how to deal with it. Read more here.

I'm here to tell you there are places in the Greater Springfield area where you can get FREE help with you're taxes,  or at least offer free information on how to make the process a lot easier.

Springfield Partners for Community Action:


Springfield Partners for Community Action's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides FREE income tax filing assistance to low-to-moderate income taxpayers, and to taxpayers who are disabled or speak limited English. The service is provided up through April 15. You must call for an appointment. Walk-in services are not provided. For a listing of VITA sites see below.

Income eligibility guidelines are $21,660 for a family of one; $29,140 for family of two, $36,620 for a family of three, $44,100 for a family of four, $51,589 for a family of five, and so on following the federal poverty guidelines.

VITA helps working families take advantage of all of the tax credits available to them, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and education credits. Volunteers help prepare basic, current year tax returns for eligible taxpayers free of charge.

2011 VITA sites in Springfield:

• Springfield Partners for Community Action, 619 or 721 State St., (413) 263-6500.
• Moxon Apartments Community Room, Indian Orchard, 20 LaFrance St., (413) 263-6500
• 1199 SEIU, 20 Maple St., (877) 409-1199
• Open Pantry, 2460 Main st., (413) 263-6500
• Hampden Bank, 19 Harrison Ave., (413) 263-6500
• Goodwill Industries, 475 Sumner Ave., (413) 263-6500
• Farris Mitchell Education Development Center, Brightwood, 103 Division St., (413) 785-4500
• Barton Neighborhood Center, 160 Nursery St., (413) 785-4500.

For seniors who need help

For seniors, tax preparation locations in the Springfield area are offered through the AARP Tax-Aide Program. Locations for tax preparation services are at the Good Life Center, Greenleaf Center and Pine Point Center.

To schedule an appointment at the Good Life Center, call (413) 787-6785. One hour appointments are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. every Thursday through April 7.

To schedule an appointment at the Greenleaf Center call (413) 750-2873, Appointments will be for 45-minutes at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays through April 12.

To schedule an appointment at the Pine Point Center call (413) 732-1072. Appointments will be held during the afternoons up through April 13.

Don't let the annual task of filing taxes get you under the weather. Seek help first and good luck.

Snow shoveling tips to protect your heart and back

Use caution when shoveling snow. Dress warmly and be safe.

I wrote a blog earlier this season about the best way to handle the rage of Old Man Winter. Since he and Mother Nature teamed up to drop mounds of snow on us this week with the seasons first official nor'easter, I thought what better time than now to repeat some handy tools on how to protect yourself from serious health challenges that occur during the winter -- heart attacks, back injuries and frost bite.

Every year, physicians and staff at Baystate Medical Center advise people on the ill effects of improper shoveling, frost bite and other maladies that occur during the winter months. As the area's only and largest trauma center, BMC in Springfield treats an increasing number of patients who incur heart attacks, back injuries and severe frostbite during New England's harsh winter season.

"If you haven't already, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself on how to protect your heart while removing that often beautiful, but heavy white stuff," said Dr. John Santoro, vice chairman, Emergency Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, on the Baystate Health news website. "Persons who have coronary artery disease and other illness should avoid exposure to cold weather, especially when shoveling."  Anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of a heart attack should be brought to the Emergency Department immediately.

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Pressure or pain in the chest, arms or neck
• Nausea.
• Lightheadedness.
• Sweating or feeling clammy.
• Unusual fatigue. 

Unusual exertion from shoveling snow can also cause severe back pain for those with healthy and bad backs, and result in pain in the hips and knees. A standard shovel full of snow weighs about 16 pounds. Shoveling 10 times every minute for ten minutes  alone is equivalent to lifting about 1,600 pounds after 10 minutes of shoveling.

For the elderly and disabled, shoveling snow and experiencing long periods of time in the cold is an even more harmful combination. We need to be neighborly and help them out. Get a youngster in the neighborhood to shovel their walkways, or call the city to inform them that snow removal services are needed. 

Winter and Snow Removal Safety Tips:

• Dress warmly with a hat, gloves, winter coat, scarf and boots. There are many agencies in Greater Springfield that provide free winter outerwear including the Salvation Army, the Springfield Rescue Mission, the Survival Center in Indian Orchard, area Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters and area churches.
• Stretch before you begin to shovel. Use the proper technique which means using a medium-sized ergonomically-designed shovel. Pick up smaller amounts of shovel on the blade and lift with your legs, not your arms.
• If you have a driveway, clear the snow build up at the base of the driveway near the street first while your strength is greatest; then clear the snow from the middle of the driveway pushing out to the sides from the middle. It's easier and results in less wear and tear on your body.
• Lastly, if you simply don't have the strength, physical wellness or stamina to shovel snow, then don't. Don't be too prideful to ask for help. It's better to seek help from someone then face a possible life-threatening health challenge because you didn't.

Now, let's all zip our coats and buckle down for Mother Nature's impending season of winter treats.