Avoid letting sickness spoil the holidays

By EMILY CALDWELL, Medical Center Communications

Contrary to popular belief, the dreary weather that accompanies the holiday season won't make you sick. But there are plenty of other features of the season that have potential to cause illness — and just as many ways to avoid catching a bug.

Sacrificing sleep is one of the most common mistakes people make when trying to fit in extra tasks and events during the holiday season, says Charles Manfresca, a family medicine physician at the Ohio State Medical Center.

"A lot of habits are not conducive to a healthy immune system, and sacrificing sleep can be one of the biggest mistakes. Sleep deprivation can affect blood pressure control, increase complications of diabetes, and exacerbate anxiety and depression, Manfresca said. "And anything that compromises the immune system will increase susceptibility to respiratory infections during this peak season."

He adds, however, "You're not going to get sick if you're not exposed to an infectious organism. So the first thing to do is reduce your chances of exposure."

The holidays pose a double whammy to wellness efforts: Most viral infections are present during colder months and more people are altering their daily routines -- and stressing their bodies -- to participate in the festivities. In addition, "everybody is stuck indoors, spreading germs to one another," noted Manfresca, based at OSU's Crown Park Family Practice.

In addition to maintaining a stable sleep schedule, Manfresca advises that frequent hand-washing or use of antibacterial hand cleansers is another top tip to avoid transmitting germs. And even if your hands are clean, it's best to avoid touching your face during the peak of sickness season because most respiratory viruses gain access to the body through the mouth, eyes and nose.

Manfresca offered these additional tips to sustain good health during the holidays:

• Maintain an exercise program.

• Get direct sunlight whenever possible to avoid seasonal depression.

• On prolonged car or plane trips, get up and move around from time to time to keep circulation flowing.

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Use disposable antibacterial products to quickly clean common areas.

• Carry prescription medications in a carry-on bag so you have your medicine in the event checked luggage is lost when traveling.

• Be cautious about drowsiness caused by over-the-counter cold medicines.

Manfresca noted in particular that patients with diabetes or high blood pressure should maintain routine doctor's office visits and continue to carefully monitor and manage their conditions because "a small indiscretion now could lead to big problems later."

"Moderation is often the key to good health," he said. "And common sense goes a long way at this time of year."

Courtesy of Ohio State Marion Carol Bowman, center, director of Ohio State Marion's Prairie Nature Center, enjoys time on the banks of the prairie pond with staff and students discussing the plant life that makes the nature center unique. Also pictured, from left, are Emily Frase, prairie program coordinator, and Brandi Deem, student worker.

Prairie Nature Center at Marion celebrates 25 years

By WAYNE ROWE, Marion Communications

Most people throughout Ohio State Marion's seven-county service region are familiar with the many facilities and classrooms that comprise the 180-acre regional campus, yet many are unfamiliar with the eight-acre plot of land the campus has reserved for an educational nature center over the past quarter of a century.

Celebrating 25 years since being established, Ohio State Marion's Prairie Nature Center hopes to use the anniversary to emphasize the area's importance both historically and as an educational resource to the university and the community.

In 1977, then-botany professor Larry Yoder discovered a clump of big bluestem on the Marion campus, a signature grass of the prairie ecosystem. Yoder was looking for a place to conduct botanical research when he found the grass. The following year, work began to preserve the important prairie species that make up the nature center today and a key part of the Marion campus was established.

In 1987, Ohio State made a concerted effort to develop the area for scientific and educational programming and, one year later, the center was declared an Ohio Natural Landmark by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

What is considered part of the original Sandusky Plains area has expanded and now includes eight acres of prairie, a shelter house, a pond with a windmill-driven well, and a propagation garden for seed and plant conservation activities.

The importance of preserving existing prairie land that includes genetic descendants of the original vegetation that made up the Sandusky Plains is two fold, according to Carol Bowman, director of the nature center.

"There are only a few remnants left in Marion County," Bowman said, referring to sparse parcels of prairie along roadsides, unmowed cemeteries and railroad right-of-ways.

"None of these is protected by the state or private groups," she explained, "so although the Marion campus prairie is a reconstructed prairie, we have only used seeds from our surrounding Sandusky Plains remnants and feel we offer a valuable genetic seed bank for those rare genotypes.

"There might come a day when Ohio State Marion's prairie is the only remaining location in Marion County where these plants may be found," she said.

The campus prairie is the only educational nature center in the county, therefore, the only resource available for the many area residents and groups who visit.

"We provide tours and classes for schools; community groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H groups and garden clubs; and anyone with a profound interest in the educational programming we offer," Bowman said. "We have many community people who come on their own to the prairie just to walk around and enjoy nature."

Because of the importance of the nature center as a research and educational facility and its delicate flora, its usage is restricted to daylight hours with public access granted through prior permission only.

Educational impact

Emily Frase, program coordinator for the center, feels one of the most crucial roles the prairie plays is as an educational tool for grades K-12, as well as college-level courses.

The center currently offers educational programs that correlate with the Ohio Department of Education science standards put in place in 2002. Educational programming on animal habitats, caretakers, insects, Native Americans, plants, fast plants, sensory awareness, the web of life and general prairie tours are all set up to fit current Ohio school curriculum.

"Our impact on the children we have taught may not be seen for years, but it is vitally important," Frase said. "For example, for an 18-year-old who decides to go to college to learn more about our natural world, or decides to major in an area of natural resources, the prairie offers them a real-life laboratory for learning."

Bowman said many biology instructors at Ohio State Marion bring their classes to the prairie, so the university considers it a land lab for those classes.

"We have many student workers who are getting valuable hands-on training in their prospective fields," she said.

According to Bowman, the Prairie Nature Center also has been the site for numerous research projects and publications for undergraduate and graduate students and even doctoral students.

Cheryl Johncox, a sophomore natural resources major at Ohio State Marion and student worker for the prairie, feels the experience she has gained working in the field will be invaluable.

"I'm doing the job that my degree is for, so I'm receiving on-the-job training and getting my education at the same time," Johncox said. "After earning my degree, I will have the experience to go right into my career."

For more information on tours and educational programming at the nature center, contact Bowman or Frase at (740) 389-OSUM (6786).

News briefs

Recent news items in an abbreviated format.

Poet Citino is winner of 2004 Governor's Award

The Ohio Arts Council Board has selected Ohio State English Professor David Citino as a recipient of the 2004 Governor's Award for the Arts in Ohio. Citino, who is the university's Poet Laureate, was selected as the winner in the individual artist category.

Citino began his teaching career at Ohio State Marion in 1974, and moved to the main campus in 1985. He is the author of 12 collections of poetry. Among Citino's many awards and honors are an Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, the Alumni Association's Professional Achievement Award, the Ohio Poetry Day Association's 1993 Ohio Poet of the Year Award, an Ohio Arts Council Major Artist Fellowship, and a Fellowship in Poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts. He also received the Nancy Dasher Award from the College English Association of Ohio and the Bjornson Award for Distinguished Service to the Humanities from the Ohio Humanities Council. The College of Humanities also honored him with its most prestigious prize, the Exemplary Faculty Award.

The Governor's Awards for the Arts in Ohio is a statewide program that showcases and celebrates Ohio artists, arts organizations, arts patrons and business support of the arts. The program is presented by the Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation.

Zadnik named interim dean of optometry

Barbara Snyder, interim executive vice president and provost, has recommended to President Karen Holbrook and the university's Board of Trustees the appointment of Karla S. Zadnik as interim dean of the College of Optometry. The appointment is effective Jan. 1 and will continue until a permanent dean is appointed. Zadnik is the Glenn A. Fry Professor in Optometry and Physiological Optics. "Her strong support from colleagues and knowledge of the college and the university will allow the college to continue to move forward during this interim period," Snyder said.

Foster named developmental coach of the year

Jim Foster, head women's basketball coach, has been named the 2003 USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year by the USA Basketball Executive Committee. Junior shooting guard Caity Matter earned a spot as part of the 2003 USA Basketball Team of the Year, which also was selected by the executive committee.

Both Foster and Matter have been nominated by USA Basketball for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Developmental Coach of the Year and Team of the Year awards, respectively, which will be announced by the Olympic committee at a later date.

Irvin receives national teaching award

An Ohio State faculty member has been named one of the best teachers among colleges of food and agriculture in America. Keith Irvin, who teaches genetics and other courses in the Department of Animal Sciences, is the north central regional recipient of the prestigious Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences award. He received the award recently at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges held in New Orleans and is one of only eight regional and two national winners. The award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

Irvin has taught at Ohio State since 1975.