Hofstra offers free Sandy victims therapy

Sandy distress

Hofstra University's Child and Family Trauma Institute is offering free, short-term counseling for Long Islanders who have suffered loss and hardship as a result of superstorm Sandy. Intern-psychologist Robert Cavera says there are ways to recognize if a person needs help: Is it challenging for them to make immediate decisions or plan ahead? Have they lost hope for a better future? Are children having bad dreams? These problems are associated with severe emotional distress and may take time to surface, Cavera said. For information, call 516-463-5660.

Fast no more?

Current practice calls for patients to fast at least eight hours before having their cholesterol levels checked, but Canadian researchers report that may be unnecessary. "For routine screening, fasting for cholesterol is largely unnecessary," because it has only a slight effect on test results, said lead researcher Dr. Christopher Naugler of the University of Calgary. "Eliminating fasting as a general requirement for cholesterol testing could greatly increase convenience for patients without significantly altering test results."

-- HealthDay