Health Ministry
Following the model of Parish Nursing, our Health Ministry Team will be working with, and through, members of Faith to provide care to the bodies, minds, and spirits of our members and friends.
Health Ministry can take many directions, often focusing on education and expressing God’s love through simple acts of caring and compassion. Everyone will have the opportunity to both participate in, and receive benefits from, the work of the team. Below are some of the projects we have initiated:
Health Ministry Minute: “Snipits” of health related information in our bulletins, newsletters, and online updates.
Friendly Freezer: Frozen meals made/donated by members of Faith delivered to members who would benefit from a prepared meal.
Share a Ride: Need a ride to church? Willing to drive someone to church? Contact Cindy Zimmermann to be a volunteer driver or to request a ride.
Holiday Recipes: During the Season of Advent, the Healthy Ministry Team is distributes a collection of healthy holiday recipes.
Health Ministry Minute
Beware of Supplement-Medication Interactions
If you’re taking a prescription medication and you’re also taking a dietary supplement, tell your doctor about it. That’s the message routinely sent by health experts. But the message doesn’t seem to be getting through. For example, a recent Mayo Clinic study of nearly 2,000 participants found that 40 percent were using dietary supplements. However, when researchers looked at these participants’ medical records, they found that nearly 75 percent of the records didn’t mention their use of dietary supplements.
Why is it so important that doctors know about your supplement use? For your safety. Some dietary supplements have the potential to interact negatively with certain prescription drugs. They can either increase the action of your medication, which could cause an overdose, or prevent your medication from working properly. Either situation could harm your health.
Don’t take chances with your health. If you’re taking a prescription drug and a dietary supplement, let your doctor know. Bring a list of the names and doses of any supplements you take to your next doctor’s appointment. This is especially important if you’re taking one of the supplements or types of drug listed here.
Common Interactions:
According to the Mayo Clinic study, some of the most common dietary supplements with a potential for negative interaction include:
- Garlic
- Valerian
- Kava
- Ginkgo
- St. John’s wort
The researchers also identified four classes of prescription drugs most likely to be negatively affected by a person’s supplement use:
- Anti-clotting drugs
- Sedatives
- Antidepressants
- Anti-diabetic agents
From Mayo Clinic Health Quest and the ELCA. Want more information? Visit www.elcaforwellness.org
