CHICAGO, IL – April 5, 2018 – Dr. Terry Mason, Chief Operating Officer over the Cook County
Health Systems, came to The Loretto Hospital last Wednesday in honor of
National Nutrition Month, to shed light on the dangerous eating habits
of Americans as a cause for many chronic diseases, in particular those
in communities that are stricken with poverty, poor access to quality
health care and grocery stores. According to Dr. Mason, chronic illnesses
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even
many cancers can be reversed, and even prevented, with “Life-Style
Nutrition”, also known as a plant-based diet.
“Diseases such as a heart attack is a misleading term. A heart attack
rarely has anything to do with the heart early on. It’s a problem
with the blood vessels (which are blocked) that feed the heart. I would
say that is not the cause but the effect. You have to look at what was
in the blood that caused the blood vessels to get blocked in the first
place. And, it came from what the person ate,” Dr. Terry Mason said
during his lecture in an auditorium with standing room only of medical
students, physicians, patients, Austin community residents and employees
of the hospital.
Compared to the general population, underserved populations are disproportionately
affected by chronic diseases, according to a report issued by the Illinois
Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. About
70 million Americans are at risk of high blood pressure, the leading cause
of more than half of all heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure cases
in the United States each year, which also increases the risks of kidney
failure and blindness. These possibilities run nearly 40 percent higher
in the African-Americans than in whites. In addition to heart disease,
African-Americans are 50 percent more likely than whites to suffer from
cancer, and are more likely to die from it. Likewise, Hispanic-Americans
are also disproportionately affected by chronic diseases. Hispanics in
the U.S. are 50 percent more likely than whites to suffer from diabetes,
and the incidences of diabetes among Native Americans in more than twice
that of white Americans. The highest incidence of diabetes in African
Americans occurs between 65- 75 years of age. Both groups have higher
rates of end-stage renal disease, caused by diabetes, and they are 40%
more likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.
“It shouldn’t matter where a person lives to receive access
to quality health care. It should be a standard for every citizen in the
United States and in every community in the Chicagoland area to receive
the same level of excellent care,” said The Loretto Hospital CEO
George N. Miller, Jr.
As for the general health status of people living in The Loretto Hospital
service area which includes Austin, East and West Garfield Parks, and
North and South Lawndale, only 39 percent of adults rate their health
as good. About 62 percent were told they have high blood pressure; 85
percent present one or more have cardiovascular risks; and about 3.5 of
all respondents had been diagnosed with some type of cancer, as reported
in the last Community Health Needs Assessment completed by the Metropolitan
Chicago Healthcare Council on behalf of The Loretto Hospital.
“People living just 20 minutes North of The Loretto Hospital have
a life expectancy of more than 20 years greater than a resident in the
Austin Community. One’s zip code should never dictate the type of
care they receive. Most importantly, it certainly should not determine
whether an individual lives or dies because they lack access to the best
health care and health education.” Miller said. “So, one of
the ways we plan to improve health outcomes in the communities we service
is by ensuring that we bring on programs and services that meet their
needs and that help cure these illnesses”, he said.
One of the new health care programs includes expanding the hospital’s
diabetes program by bringing on Certified Diabetes Nurse Clinician and
Education Nancy Rodriquez. She is also certified in plant-based nutrition
through Life-Style Nutrition through the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine out of Washington, DC. The Physicians Committee combines the
clout and expertise of more than 12,000 physicians with the dedicated
actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around
the world to dramatically change the way doctors treat chronic diseases
such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The goal is to empower
patients to take control of their own health. With this knowledge, Rodriquez
holds monthly seminars at the hospital, and consults with patients and
Loretto team members on a one-on-one basis, about their nutrition options
to prevent and even to reverse chronic diseases. Options include Life-Style
Nutrition, Diabetes Undone, and the American Association of Diabetes Education
(AADE) certified program. Each program promotes the importance of consuming
more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and a variety of beans as a primary
source of nutrition. According to Rodriquez, The Loretto Hospital is the
one of the only hospitals in Illinois using the
Life-Style Nutrition approach issued by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
“I felt led by God to be here. Little by little our patients, administration
and employees are now embracing this new lifestyle change. To make a program
like this happen, you have to have the synergy from everyone in order
to make it successful. As a result, I have seen dramatics results by implementing
these programs. I am seeing patients’ blood pressure reduce. I am
seeing people lose weight. I am seeing individual’s H1C levels reduce.
It’s like Dr. Mason said, people who adopt these plant-based lifestyles
are getting healthier and a better quality of life,” Rodriquez said.
“It’s as simple as drinking more water – we are 70 percent
water – and eating the foods that God made, more natural green foods
like fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Terry Mason said during his lecture.
In addition to holding monthly hour-long nutrition seminars to help patients
combat chronic illnesses, CEO Miller has begun speaking at local-area
churches and community-based organizations to spread the word about the
Life-Style Nutrition program, as well as what’s on the horizon for
The Loretto Hospital. He has also made a vow to take certain food items
off the hospital’s menu such as pork products like bacon and hot dogs.
“At The Loretto Hospital, we will continue to advocate on behalf
of our patients and for this community. Advocates push for change, fight
for equality, and promote excellence. It is our goal to set the precedent
of how health care is delivered by safety net hospitals across this Nation,”
Miller said.
To learn more about The Loretto Hospital’s Life-Style Nutrition Program,
call 773-854-5218. For a replay of Dr. Terry Mason’s lecture on
Fighting Chronic Disease with Life-Style Nutrition, visit us on Facebook at
facebook.com/Lorettohospitalchicago.