Overweight people should downsize their supersized bodies
Her pacemaker, for example, is the world’s smallest.
The most advanced pacemaker is also 1/10th the size of a traditional pacemaker. And it's just one example of how we're turning patients into trendsetters. Learn more about our advanced heart and vascular team at LeesburgRegional.org.
Are stem cells a miracle? Not exactly. However, stem cells are a highly effective means of repairing damaged tissue. Stem cell therapy is a non-surgical procedure that gives the body the tools it needs to heal itself naturally. Stem cells repair damaged tissue and regenerate bone, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscle. Pain lessens and range of motion increases after a simple injection—without risk of infection.
Schedule a consult today to see if you are eligible for this cutting edge therapy.
The nation’s largest dermatology practice has three locations in The Villages ® community. We now accept UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
1503 Buenos Aires Blvd., Bldg. 100
The Villages, FL 32162
352.753.2812
Dr. Michael Bond (Retiring January 2018)
Dr. Michael Wangia
Dr. Christine Moorhead
Scott Clark, PA-C
Nicole Hwa, PA-C
Dori Hite, PA-C (Coming Soon)
Lake
Landing™ 910 Old Camp Road Suite 166
Dr. Michael Burton
Al Sy, PA-C
Kimberly Neumann, Licensed Aesthetician
After graduating with Honors from Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Wangia attended University of Florida where he completed his dermatology residency serving as a chief resident. He also completed his dermatopathology fellowship training at UF where he served as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology. He was awarded “The Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award”. Today, he is committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive and individualized dermatologic therapies.
Following a storied career, marked by excellence in patient care, Dr. Bond is retiring. Please join us in wishing him well.
33.
34. Cuckoo for coconut? Give curried coconut chicken a try.
36. Have a gut feeling? How exercise affects your gut health.
38. Born to run. Running is an essential ingredient to a healthy heart.
41.
42. Mindfulness over matters. Five steps to create peace of mind.
44. True gems. 17 mood-boosting gemstones.
49.
50. Use common cents. Financial tips from expert Dave Ramsey.
51. Bank on it. Ways to decrease debt.
52. Advice worth every penny. Five
10. Publisher’s letter
11. At Your Service
12. Health matters
14. Healthy inspiration
16. Medical mysteries
62. Final impression
The holidays are over. It’s back to work and the usual grind. January and February are hectic months for me. After Christmas, I start planning birthday parties for my stepdaughter, Aubrey, my husband, Doug, and my little one, Conner—all at about the same time. Also, since we close our offices from Christmas Eve until the day after the new year, instantly, chaos begins.
Instead of getting panicked and stressed as I usually do, this year I took a different approach—taking things one day at a time. I vowed I wouldn’t get stressed about what needs to be done because life is too precious and too short not to appreciate every day.
I changed my perspective because just before the holidays, I almost lost a person very dear to my heart. She felt sluggish and not quite right, so her husband took her to the doctor. Tests confirmed she had a 99 percent blockage in her heart. If she had not seen the doctor, she wouldn’t be with us today. Thank God for cardiologists and for her family being so in tune to her health they acted quickly.
One morning, I was drinking coffee and surfing the web as I do most days, and I came across a letter from a young lady, 26 I believe, with terminal cancer. She wrote an open letter to every healthy person not
facing a terminal illness. She shared her perspective on life and what she felt was important. She shared all the things she wanted to do that she could not do—for one, having children and a family.
She lost her battle with cancer, but her letter made a profound impact on me. Her message was to enjoy every day you are given and appreciate all the love and blessings you have because you never know when it will end.
After reading her letter and almost losing someone I deeply love, I look at every day with new appreciation. So what if it gets chaotic planning birthdays for those I love? I am blessed to plan those parties. So what if the demands at work are overwhelming. I can work, I am passionate about my career, and doing what I love. When all is said and done, and we look back at our lives, we won’t remember the chaos, we’ll remember the love we shared.
Remember that when you feel the demands of your life are taking over. Stop for a minute and think, you are blessed, you are loved, and you are alive to enjoy it.
Until next month,
—Kendra Akers
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Subscriptions: Order a subscription of your favorite magazine to be delivered directly to your home for just $81. Each subscription includes 12 consecutive issues of Healthy Living, Lake & Sumter Style, or Village Style. Choose 2 or more magazines for $102 per year. To order, call 352.787.4112 or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.
Change of address: If you are a seasonal resident or have moved, send your address change request to general@akersmediagroup.com or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.
Back issues: Order a single issue by mail for $7, or 2 or more single issues for $9. To
#JAXON
VITAS Healthcare is now accepting patients in Lake and Sumter counties in need of hospice care. “We are ready to expand access to hospice and palliative care services for the Lake-Sumter community, so patients and caregivers have the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support they need at the endof-life,” says Jillian Madsen, RN, general manager for VITAS Healthcare in Lake and Sumter counties. VITAS offers hospice care at the convenience of the family or physician, care is provided at home, in a nursing home or assisted living community, team members will be dispatched at any time needed, and inpatient care is available for aggressive management of acute symptoms that can’t be done at home. It also has Lavender Touch (a gentle hand massage performed by trained volunteers); Music Memories with a certified music therapist; Paw Pals with therapy animals; Life Bio, a written, audio, or video biography of a patient, and an award-winning veterans program. The first of two offices is located at 127 N. Bay St., Suite. 200, Eustis. A second office will open in Sumter County in 2019.
Walk-in clinics are convenient and easily accessible, but with the rising costs of health care, many pharmacies have begun providing in-store services. By the end of 2017, there were more than 2,800 retail clinics, a big rise from 1,900 in 2014. The MinuteClinic at CVS Pharmacy in The Villages is at 5208 E. County Road 466; 352.751.4700. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am-6:30pm; Saturday 9am-5:30pm; and Sunday 10am-5:30pm. Closing times may vary depending on patient numbers. If you have any questions about MinuteClinic, call 1-866.389.2727.
Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares is the only hospital in Lake County and Central Florida to receive nine consecutive A grades from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization. According to the new Leapfrog hospital safety grades, FHW was one of 832 hospitals awarded an A for its commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards.
“Florida Hospital Waterman has consistently proven that our patients’ safety is our top priority,” Abel Biri, president and chief executive officer, says in a hospital news release. “We are proud of the honor and our track record. The nine consecutive A grades we have received since spring 2013 prove that our team is dedicated to providing safe, quality, and compassionate care in a patient-centered environment.”
‘‘
Florida Hospital
Waterman has consistently proven that our patients’ safety is our top priority,
—Abel Biri, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Waterman
In the midst of the construction for the new emergency department at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, a temporary walkway was built to enable patients and family members easy and quick access to the ED. The ED is still accessible through the front entrance, but this walkway provides a quicker way. The $29 million expansion of the ED is slated to be finished this spring and will nearly double the size of the current emergency room. In addition to adding 24 patient beds and a fast-track unit that can accommodate pediatric patients, three to four trauma-size rooms for critical care, a larger waiting room, and an atrium-like lobby also will be added. “This project will significantly increase our ability to build on our promise to the community to provide high-quality care and service in a modern environment that promotes healing and restoration,” Don Henderson, president and CEO of Central Florida Health, LRMC’s parent company, says in a news release. “We are thankful to the communities we serve for their continued support.”
The American Diabetes Association has a new cookbook, “Complete Month of Meals,” which makes it much easier to follow a healthy eating plan if you’re diabetic. The front of the book provides strategic information on the best foods to eat, and the back is filled with easy-to-use recipes you can mix and match to meet your cravings and your calorie content. What makes these recipes easy to use is breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes are not only labeled, the pages also are divided so you can decide what you want and have all three recipes right in front of you! Healthly Living is giving away a FREE copy of “Complete Month of Meals.” Check this link giveaway.lakehealthyliving.com beginning Feb. 1 to enter.
Adults over age 60 are more likely to get shingles, which is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It’s painful and can cause posthearpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles. The good news is you can protect yourself from shingles by simply getting a shingles vaccine from your doctor or at your pharmacy. Don’t think you might be the one to avoid it—almost one out of three people get it in their lifetime, meaning nearly 1 million Americans a year get it, with half these cases being people over age 60.
In learning to deal with cancer with a diary, a book was born.
Story: Barry Eaton and Anne MorjanoffWhen Barry was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and thyroid, our joint effort evolved slowly. Due to the bombardment of medical information, Barry made audio recordings. There was so much information, it became overwhelming. Using an audio diary proved indispensable. With it, we revisited the consultations or differing advice for clarification.
The diary became a weekly update of Barry’s experiences as he recounted the physical effects of treatment or noted responses to emotional ups and downs through various stages of therapy. Anne kept notes for follow-up on reactions Barry had to treatment or to help him process issues such as blistering skin on his neck during radiation.
Barry navigated hurdles with everyone from practitioners to oncologists to dentists and dietitians. Eventually, Barry opted to combine mainstream and holistic methods. His saving grace was a program of meditative practices and natural healing therapies, including hypnotherapy, visualisation, and frequent sessions on a crystal healing bed (loaned to him from a member of the John of God Centre in Brazil).
“The Joy of Living: Postponing the Afterlife” wasn’t in our thoughts until much later. Our main objective was full attention to the treatment process and significant events. At first, they communicated with Skype and phone, but when treatment began in earnest, Anne went to be with Barry.
Her role came to the forefront when Barry couldn’t think clearly. She knew the bigger picture and kept him on track. While he dealt with everyday effects of his condition, she helped with decisions, such as whether to remove the other half of his thyroid.
Personality foibles came into play and had to be handled. Writing from personal viewports helped us compare notes and clarify memories. We included post-cancer activities such as dietary changes and a much-needed holiday. When it came to jotting down important issues, and recording our experiences, however, we understood the far-reaching potential of passing on useful hints to others on a similar path.
We found a way through this life crisis—from facing initial fears to recovery. Also important was getting back to our “normal” routine—though we wondered if anything would be normal again. We are now writing about travel and cancer together.
WELL-KNOWN RADIO AND TV personality at ABC and commercial stations in Sydney, Australia, Barry Eaton also is an author, journalist, and documentarian. Anne Morjanoff was a caregiver for her mother and father and eventually made it a career. A student of numerology and symbolism, she
That place right now is The Heart of the Villages. Our physicians and medical professionals have been treating Central Floridians for years with a level of exemplary cardio care that comes straight from the heart. We’re in a new location now, but our hearts are where they’ve always been—with you and the health of your family.
New location! The Oaks Professional Center, 8575 NE 138th Lane Call today for a consultation at 352.674.2080 heartofthevillages.com
Life is precious when your heart’s in the right place.
Whenever most of us hear a sneeze, we have an urge to say, “Bless you.” It doesn’t matter if you know the other person, it’s an unwritten rule you must say it. There are several theories on how that practice got started.
One is it came from a time when people thought the soul was formed of air residing in the head. According to the Everyday Mysteries website, “a sneeze, therefore, might accidentally expel the spirit from the body unless God blessed you and prevented this from occurring. Some ancient cultures also thought sneezing forced evil spirits out of the body, endangering others because these spirits might now enter their bodies. The blessing was bestowed to protect both the person who sneezed
Again, this was rejected, particularly by people who use lots of pepper and wanted to keep their souls.
A more recent idea is your heart stops and “Bless you” gets it going again. That doesn’t happen, either. Scienceabc.com says. “However, it feels like the heart has stopped because immediately prior to the sneeze, a great deal of pressure builds up in the chest, and that short-lived spike affects the rhythm of your heartbeat…it certainly doesn’t keep the heart from beating.”
There are many other fun facts about sneezing or “sternutation” if you want to impress somebody. For example, sneezes can travel at a speed of 100 mph and the wet spray ve feet. Also, many of us sneeze when exposed to sudden bright light.
Back to the practice of saying, “Bless you.” It goes back to the sixth century from Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great). At that time, bubonic plague (the Black Death) was rampant and claimed an estimated 25 million to 50 million people. rst symptoms of Black Death was coughing or sneezing, so Pope Gregory I suggested people say, “God bless you” or “Bless you” in the hopes the sneezer would not succumb to the disease. Or, maybe it was t of sternutation, your soul won’t escape and your
com/32306-does-your-heart-really-stop-when-you-sneeze.html
“Does Your Heart Stop When You Sneeze?” scienceabc.com, July 2017. scienceabc.com/humans/does-your-heart-stop-when-you-sneeze.html
“True or False: Your Heart Stops Beating When You Sneeze (and Other Common Beliefs About Sneezing,” Health Library, Winchester Hospital, Winchester, Massachusetts. winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=157001
As men mature, the prostate grows from a walnut-sized gland to sometimes as large as an orange. This growth causes outflow problems from the bladder in the passing of urine, resulting in symptoms from a slow stream, getting up at night to urinate, or even worse—the constant urge to urinate, even to the point that urination begins before they reach the bathroom. These inconvenient, and often embarrassing symptoms, can be resolved by proper treatment of the enlarged prostate.
Dr. James Young is a very successful urologist who has been practicing in Lake County since 1982. “The treatment of BPH (an enlarged prostate) has always been my focus, and that is the primary reason I moved to Florida when I finished my medical training as Chief Resident of Urology at the University of Arkansas. I looked at Florida as being the largest ‘prostate ranch’ in the United States, so I began my practice from scratch in Eustis in 1982.”
For many decades, the only treatment for BPH was a surgical procedure, the TURP, more commonly referred to by men as a “roto-rooter.” Dr. Young performed more 3,000 of these procedures, however they were very invasive, required anesthesia, hospitalization, and could have serious complications, including massive bleeding and at times, death. Then medications were approved that relieved symptoms but after a period of time, the medications lose their effectiveness or caused side effects, usually sexual in nature. There had to be a better way.
In the late 1990’s a new procedure, transurethral
needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA) was approved by the FDA. “I was never a fan of jumping on new technology quickly because, as we know, not everything delivers the results as promised,” says Dr. Young. However, after the procedure was used for five years, Dr. Young began doing TUNAs, later known as Prostiva RF therapy. This procedure was done in the office under local anesthesia with few complications. The procedure worked by inserting wires into the prostate, then low frequency radio waves were transmitted through the wires and heated prostate tissue to 115 degrees Celsius. This heat was transmitted in a conductive manner (radiate from the wires) but the heat dissipated rapidly as it traveled away from the wires. The heat was reduced by the formula of 1/r2 with r being the distance from the wires.
Basically, cores of prostate tissue surrounding the wires were destroyed. Dr. Young had tremendous success with Prostiva RF therapy and ultimately did almost 3,000 procedures. His success with Prostiva gave him the distinction of being placed on
Castle Connelly’s Top Docs list for five consecutive years.
However, more than five years ago, Dr. Young heard rumors of a new technology that was similar in some ways, but completely different in others. This new therapy was FDA approved in 2015 and was known as Rezum. “Even though I have a reputation for not jumping on new technology, I completely understood the science behind Rezum, so as soon as it was available to me, I switched to this procedure immediately.
The science driving this technology is fascinating. Using low frequency radio waves, water is transformed into steam and then nine seconds of steam is infiltrated into the prostate tissue, once again in the office under local anesthesia. The major difference is the heat is transferred in a convective, as opposed to conductive manner.
As Einstein said, “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed.” So once the steam is infiltrated into the prostate, and returns to liquid, it releases all the energy that changed the water into steam. This is a tremendous amount of energy and destroys much
more prostate tissue than the conductive heat did conveyed by Prostiva. There is much less discomfort with Rezum and when patients leave the office (usually in under 30 minutes), they experience no pain what so ever.
Since June 2016, Dr. Young has performed just under 300 Rezum procedures, almost twice as many as any other urologist in the United States and many, many more than any other urologists in the state of Florida. “The results have been so amazing and the patients have been so happy that Healthgrades.com notified me that based on my recent reviews and clicks on my site, I am now ranked in the top 100th percentile of all urologists in the United States. While I am very proud of that, it is also very humbling. I personally think this is biggest leap forward in the treatment of BPH that I will see in my lifetime.”
JAMES W. YOUNG III, M.D. Board-certified UrologistPracticing in Lake County since 1982 with extensive experience in evaluation and management of prostate problems.
If you are a first-time patient of Dr. Young, you will receive a detailed examination.
“When I see a new patient I perform physical examinations and properly evaluate the patient’s symptoms, thus diagnosing the underlying problem(s),” Dr. Young said. “Next, I describe to the patient what’s normal and then explain what is abnormal with him. Lastly, I teach him his treatment options. If I’ve done a good job of teaching, he will select the correct option for himself.”
While prescribing medications for enlarged prostate can be done by primary care physicians, only urologists are trained to thoroughly evaluate the bladder and prostate (including ruling out prostate cancer), as well as providing extremely effective minimally invasive, office-based therapies as alternatives to lifelong medical therapy.
With an office staff with nearly as much experience as
the doctor (many have worked with Dr. Young for 25 years), you don’t spend a great deal of time waiting to see him.
“We pride ourselves in being timely in seeing our patients. We respect our patients’ time as much as we do our own. Patients appreciate this; many of our patients tell me I have the best office staff on the planet. I consider that a huge compliment.”
So if you are waking up at night and have difficulty falling back asleep because you’re worried what may be wrong, then it is time to check in with Dr. Young and have him examine you.
“Many men accept frequent bladder urges as part of aging. And while it is part of the aging process, it’s not like death and taxes. There is something you can do about it.”
Although his ticker was once a ticking time bomb, the beat goes on for a Mount Dora man who thrives in the gym.
When 32-year-old Jbo
Harrison struts into Mount Dora’s Fitness CF, grown men and women freeze in amazement. They admire his powerful frame. They stare in awe as he deadlifts 495 pounds, squats 405 pounds, and bench presses 355 pounds.
The gym is his home away from home, and his reward is a perfectly sculpted body—rippling six-pack abs, bulging biceps, and muscular legs.
But the physical feature that defines Jbo the most is a large scar that runs the length of his chest. It tells a dramatic story of a man who overcame a debilitating health condition that left him on death’s doorstep.
Those who hear his inspiring story would never question Jbo’s heart, even if the one beating in his chest once belonged to someone else.
Jbo is a personal trainer. He’s also a heart transplant survivor. For
several years, anguish and pain were constant companions as he traveled the tumultuous terrain of a heart transplant journey. This is the guy who once needed a machine to maintain his heart’s pumping ability. This is the guy who less than five years ago endured two breastbone-splitting heart surgeries. This is the guy who opted for death because his muscular frame had whittled away to nothing.
Through it all, he persevered and returned to a full, active life. He may not outlive some family members and friends—the American Heart Association says the median heart transplant survival rate is eight to 12 years—but life expectancy is the last thing on his mind. In fact, he already has elected not to undergo a second heart transplant operation. He’s just thankful for each new day and focuses on living the remainder of his life with purpose and passion.
“I plan to get 20 years out of this heart,” he says. “By then, there will be many others out there needing a new heart. I don’t want to be greedy since I’ve already been given a heart that extended my life. Everybody has a timeline in life, but most people don’t know their timeline. I know my timeline. Every day I wake up is another day counting down to that 20-year mark. That alone fuels me to spend time in the gym and do what I love doing because we don’t know what tomorrow holds.”
Jbo, a native of Auburn, Alabama, became an avid fitness enthusiast at age 15 when he began training under the legendary Bill Kazmaier, who won three World’s Strongest Man titles.
Within several years, Jbo appeared in three bodybuilding competitions, allowing him to display his awesome
physique and express himself from the heart, much like a dancer does at a recital. He continued his strict weightlifting tness regimen while serving four years in the United States Marine Corps and well into his 20s.
Then, on Nov. 7, 2012, life changed in a heartbeat. That morning, Jbo visited the gym and completed a 495-pound dead lift. Several hours later, he landed in the emergency room after coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath. “My lungs were full of fluid, and my blood pressure was 60/30,” he says. “I felt terrible.”
Like his other muscles, his heart had become enlarged— nearly three times its normal size. Jbo, then 26, was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, a progressive disease where the heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened, causing the heart muscle to begin dying.
Jbo was hospitalized again in late November that year and eventually transported via jet to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where doctors could better monitor and care for his failing heart. Doctors counseled him he would need a heart transplant but would rst need to undergo a surgery to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted. The mechanical pump keeps patients alive until a donor
His rapidly progressing condition left him bedridden and unable to work. Jbo lost it all—his bodybuilding, his freedom, and his desire to live. He opted against the LVAD surgery and instead chose to be transported to the hospital’s hospice unit, where doctors could keep him sedated and pain-free for the last few days of his life.
For him, death was a far better option than adapting to a
“Doctors told me with the LVAD surgery, I couldn’t drive, couldn’t be by myself, and couldn’t lift weights the way I used to,” he says. “If I’m going to live life, I’m going to live it how I’m used to doing it. I don’t do anything half-assed; I’m certainly not going to live life half-assed.”
Then came a last-minute, life-saving plea from his father,
“I came home from the hospital on a Friday to pay a few bills, and I talked to my mom about Jbo,” says Melvin, a retired police captain with the Opelika Police Department in Alabama. “She told me to go back to the hospital and tell him to have the procedure done. So I went back and said, ‘How can you drift off peacefully and stand in front of your
maker when He’s giving you a life-saving apparatus?’”
Jbo, who was raised solely by his father, was touched by those heartfelt words and agreed to undergo surgery. A teary-eyed Melvin sprinted to the nurse’s station and shared the good news.
“We were all ecstatic,” Melvin recalls. “I called my mom and she started crying. It was the happiest moment of my life. The nurses brought in grape juice, and we all toasted each other to celebrate Jbo’s decision.”
For Jbo, the decision came in the nick of time. His heart failure was considered end-stage, meaning the disease no longer responded to conventional therapies such as medication. Had he waited several more days, doctors said his heart
would’ve been in such bad shape that the surgery no longer would have been an option.
Still, he wasn’t optimistic going into the procedure in January 2013.
“The nurses started shaving me and rubbing me with a disinfectant, and I said it won’t matter because I’m going to die in surgery,” Jbo says. “When I woke up and saw a bright light and white ceiling tiles, I said to myself, ‘I made it to heaven.’ Then I felt excruciating pain and said, ‘Damn, I’m in hell.’ Then a nurse leaned her head over me and told me, ‘Hi.’ I said, ‘Holy crap, I’m alive!’”
Alive, yes. Comfortable, no. A tangle of tubes, IVs, and machines were attached to all parts of his body—a large catheter in his neck to monitor pressure in his
heart, IVs in his arms to deliver medications, and a catheter in his bladder to drain urine. The intrusive surgery also left him with chest discomfort because doctors had to crack his sternum to implant the device. He lay bedridden for weeks.
“After the surgery, I held some resentment toward my dad,” Jbo says. “I felt like a shell of a man. I was down to 193 pounds, which is the smallest I had ever been in my adult life.”
He also had to accept that his heart no longer produced a natural pulse.
The LVAD helps the main pumping chamber of the heart—the left ventricle—circulate blood to the rest of the body. A cable inserted through the skin connects the pump to a control unit and battery pack worn outside his body. Quite literally, it was his lifeline until a donor heart could be found.
“It was like being a kid again because I had to take 50 pills and also had to carry around a huge battery pack whenever I got out of bed because the LVAD has to be plugged in and charged at all times,” Jbo says.
After some time, though, the extra effort was no longer an inconvenience because of what the pump provided in exchange: a ticket out of the hospital and a return to freedom and some sense of normalcy. He was discharged in late February 2013, marking the first time he had been out of a hospital in four months.
He soon returned to a familiar place—the gym.
“At first, I was embarrassed to work out with a battery pack attached to my body,” he says. “However, it got to the point where I no longer gave a damn what others thought. I learned how to live with it, and after a while it really wasn’t that bad. I was back doing what I loved. I had a doctor’s appointment every 30 days, and if my numbers were off, they would hospitalize me. When I was in the hospital, I worked out with medicine balls.”
Jbo, who turned 27 in the hospital, was getting ready to go to the gym in July 2013 when the phone rang.
“We’ve found a heart,” the caller on the other end informed him. “Do you want it?”
He responded, “Absolutely!”
The average wait time between LVAD surgery and heart transplant surgery is 180 days. For Jbo, it took 179 days. Some might call it coincidence or good luck. Melvin Harrison calls it divine intervention.
Melvin had lost his 83-year-old mother two months earlier.
“Before her death, she told me that she’d love to be around to see Jbo get a new heart,” Melvin says. “However, she said that if she did die, she was going to go to heaven and lobby God for a new heart for Jbo. The day after we buried
her, UAB called and said they have a donor heart.”
Unfortunately, that donor heart went to another patient. But when Melvin drove his son to UAB Hospital in July, he knew this time would be different thanks to a “sign from above.”
“During the drive to the hospital, it was raining but the sun was shining,” Melvin says. “I looked at Jbo and told him that the rain is tears from heaven from the person donating the heart, and the sunshine represents a new life for you.”
The donor heart matched. Jbo was wheeled into the operating room and seven hours later had a new heart. He spent several days in the coronary care unit hooked to intravenous medications to suppress the immune system and prevent rejection of the donor heart. In addition, he underwent repeated heart biopsies to monitor for signs of rejection.
After a six-week hospital stay, nothing was going to keep him from getting back to the gym.
“The first day after I got out of the hospital, I told my dad I’m driving to the gym. My tags had expired, and I had no insurance. My dad begged me to let him ride along. I said, ‘OK, but don’t touch my radio, don’t tell me I’m driving too slow, and don’t touch the windows,’” Jbo says. “I was on the treadmill for seven minutes and got winded. I went back home and slept.”
Melvin gave his son an emotional, uplifting speech shortly after Jbo returned home.
“After his heart transplant, I reminded him that I was in a bad motorcycle accident in 2009,” Melvin says. “I should’ve been killed, but God left me on this planet for a reason. I told him that reason was so that I could go through this ordeal with you every step of the way. Then I told him that God kept you on this earth for a reason and it will be revealed.
There’s something special in life you’re supposed to do.”
Those words proved prophetic when Jbo settled in Mount Dora four months after his surgery. He moved there because he met a woman online, but it was his new career that ultimately won his heart. Jbo became a personal trainer at Fitness CF. Instead of focusing solely on himself, he now helps others become healthy and physically fit.
“I’ve always been into working out,” he says. “Fitness is my calling. I enjoy helping people reach their goals. It’s something I feel comfortable doing, and I’m pretty good at it.”
Kevin Rockwell agrees. The 25-yearold teacher at Triangle Elementary School in Mount Dora began training under Jbo four months ago in hopes of losing weight before his wedding in July. So far, he has shed 16 pounds.
“When I was filling out my paperwork to join the gym, I asked one of the employees who he would recommend for a personal trainer,”
Kevin says. “Without hesitation, he said, ‘Jbo’s the guy you want to see.’ He’s a very fun guy, and he’s always upbeat and walking around the gym high-fiving everyone. I don’t think of him as a heart transplant survivor; I think of him as Jbo.”
He even invited Jbo to speak to his second-grade class.
“I always talk to my class about him, and my students keep asking when he’s going to come,” Kevin says.
Jennifer Elkins, a 46-year-old Tavares resident, has equal admiration for Jbo. She began training under him two years ago and has lost 35 pounds.
“Considering everything he has been through and what he looks like today helps me realize there are no good excuses not to work out,” she says. “I told Jbo in the beginning that if I ever get bored I would stop coming. Training under him is never boring because he mixes things up and keeps me motivated. Anyone who trains under him is a lucky person.”
Jbo leads by example, spending six days a week lifting, power squatting, and sweating his way to the sculpted, powerful body he has today. Sometimes it’s to the chagrin of friends worried about him damaging his heart.
“I just agree with them because there’s no sense in arguing,” he says. “I tell people I’m too dumb to die. We only have one life, and I spent enough time in the Marines having to listen to others telling me what to do. Nothing is going to keep me out of the gym. Considering all things, I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m fitter than a lot of people who have no health issues.”
That was evident at a powerlifting competition in December, where Jbo took first place in his weight class after deadlifting 525 pounds.
Inside his powerful body once pumped a heart with half the strength of an average man’s.
Today, he has the heart of a champion.
My biggest achievement is being a father to my daughter, Harper Sparrow Harrison, who recently turned 3. She brings an incredible amount of joy to my life.
--Jbo Harrison
There’s a big, wide world out there, but if sagging lids are keeping you from experiencing it fully, it might be time to consider blepharoplasty, a safe, quick surgery to gently lift sagging eyelids that can block peripheral vision, and make you look more tired than you feel.
Shelby Terpstra, DO is a leading provider of upper and lower corrective and cosmetic eyelid surgery designed to promote better vision and a more refreshed and vital appearance.
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READ
The open-heart surgery program at Florida Hospital Waterman was established in 2011 and has since grown to provide Lake County residents access to the most advanced cardiac care close to home. With the support of the community, the open heart surgery program has expanded and because of that growth, Florida Hospital Waterman has cared for more than 1000 hearts.
PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Dr. Gary Allen, Chief of Surgery, helped start the program in 2011. A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Allen specializes in coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery, mitral valve surgery, and lung surgery.
Dr. Wistar “Tim” Moore III, recently joined the cardiac surgery program at Florida Hospital Waterman. A boardcertified cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Moore specializes in coronary artery bypass surgery, minimally invasive methods of mitral valve surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR.
Cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and stroke collectively remain the leading cause of death in the world and the United States.
With Dr. Allen and Dr. Moore’s combined experience, Florida Hospital Waterman offers patients access to some the most advanced heart care including coronary bypass, valve, aneurysm, thoracic and arrhythmia surgery and more.
Florida Hospital Waterman uses an interdisciplinary model, which means there is an active collaboration among the surgery, critical care, cardiology, nutrition, rehabilitation and pastoral care teams, providing patients contemporary, high-quality cardiac care.
“Having highly experienced physicians available close to home helps create a more positive patient experience,” explains Dr. Allen. “Being near and convenient to your family and
friends, church members and primary care doctor is invaluable.”
“Independent surveys are sent out to patients we take care of and our patient experience scores are very high” Dr. Allen says.
In addition to the medical care teams that work with each patient, other members of the team provide support including care mangers. Care managers are engaged at the outset of patient care. They help every step of the way—insurance, understanding diagnosis, and making plans for additional care such as going to a rehab facility.
“It’s very important that you put the patient at the center of the process and realize you’re doing the work you were gifted to do,” says Dr. Moore. “I personally pray with each patient before their surgery.”
“As part of caring for the whole heart, we offer spiritual support and services such as health screenings and diagnostics, cardiac rehabilitation and health and lifestyle education,” explains Dr. Allen.
Florida Hospital Waterman makes available the Donald & Audrey Conry CREATION Health Center to support programs and functions which promote lifestyle transformation through education, intellectual, or charitable activities and understanding the spiritual interconnection of whole person health. A host of whole person health programs are offered to meet the needs of the community.
In addition, Florida Hospital Waterman offers community outreach in the form of screenings and education about prevention and risks for heart disease specifically—family history, age, weight, and fitness – as well
as the importance of receiving early heart attack care.
Heart attacks have “beginnings” that can occur weeks before the actual attack. Community education focuses on intervention during these beginnings to help prevent acute myocardial infarction
ed as major risk factors for heart attack. It is heart attack symptoms be evaluated and
“The value that we bring is we are a connector to that system. Third-level, or tertiary care, is the most complex type of care—heart/lung transplant, patients that require unique services, or someone who’s going to be in the hospital for weeks or months,” Dr. Allen says. “Because we’re part of a seamless system with extensive resources, it’s not a difficult or complex transfer.
The future for the open heart surgery program at Florida Hospital Waterman includes being a heart-valve center of excellence where it will be possible to do more minimally invasive procedures.
“Though minimally invasive surgery has been done for 20 years, it has gone through several evolutions,” explains Dr. Moore. “Not every patient is a candidate for this procedure, however,
Florida Hospital Waterman is part of specialized hospitals.
February is American Heart Month and Florida Hospital Waterman is providing several free educational and fun events open to the community.
Come enjoy a heart-healthy breakfast and an open discussion of women’s health topics from heart disease to hormones, nutrition, stress and more at the 5th Annual Women’s Hot Topic Breakfast on Friday, February 2, 8 – 11 a.m. at the Tavares Pavilion on the Lake.
You can learn how to save a life at the Community CPR Class being held
in conjunction with Lake EMS on Wednesday, February 7, 4 – 6 p.m. at the Eustis Community Center. And lastly, you and your loved ones can explore treatment options for irregular heartbeats at the Waterman Wellness Presentation by Dr. Miguel Bryce, MD. on Thursday, February 22 at 1 p.m. in the Mattison Conference Center at Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares. R.S.V.P. is required for each event by calling 352-253-3635 or visiting FHWatermanHeart.com
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Jaime Brenkus is a physical wellness ambassador for Evergreen Wellness (myeverygreenwellcom.com). Recognizing that Baby Boomers are reaching the point where they need to keep moving, he has this suggestion for an easier fitness routine. Sit and get fit. Do at least 20 repetitions of each exercise.
1. Place your hands behind your head, crunch forward, and then lean back while keeping feet on the ground.
2. Place your hands behind your head again, but this time, do side bends.
3. Rotate your body side to side with more twists.
4. Scoot to the edge of the chair. Bring your knees into your chest and lower your legs to the starting position.
A perfect meal made in one pot. → DIFFICULTY: EASY | SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
14½ ounces coconut milk
½ TEASPOON salt
½ TEASPOON pepper
2 TEASPOONS curry powder
½ TEASPOON ground ginger
1. Place chicken breasts in slow cooker.
2. In a small bowl, mix together coconut milk, salt, pepper, curry powder, and ginger. Pour over chicken in slow cooker.
3. Cook on low for 6 hours.
—Jaime Alonso
I received my initial training and certification as a wellness coach at Spencer Institute. I continued my training as a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s cutting-edge health coach training program. I studied more than 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willet, chair of nutrition at Harvard University; Geenan Roth, best-selling author and expert on emotional eating; and other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.
At Total Nutrition and Therapeutics, I help you create a “sustainable” lifestyle change. Meeting you where you are in your journey and equipping you with practical tools to grow and learn new strategies; teaching you how to shop and plan meals; helping you create new ideas; and learning how to eat out are a few of the hands-on lessons you receive. I teach you how to live well for life!
‘‘
“My favorite thing to do is teach how to cook easy, healthy, budgetfriendly meals with minimal ingredients!”
Has your current shower seen better days? Have you been exploring the possibility of a shower replacement? If so, don’t put yourself through the hassle of hiring different tradesmen to complete such a project. The Floor Shoppe is your one-stop shop for your shower replacement. In fact, we can help you with everything from demolition, waterproofing, and ceramic tile installation to plumbing fixtures, grab bars, and frameless glass doors.
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Exercise doesn’t just affect muscles and joints.
Story: Dr. William B. Miller Jr.
Millions of Americans are serious about fitness because we have long been told of its benefits. It is well established that consistent exercise promotes long-term health by lowering blood pressure, improving glucose tolerance, and assisting in weight management. Most people who exercise report an additional positive: physical activity improves their mental outlook. Recent reports go even further: regular exercise may delay the onset of dementia for those who are prone.
However, those are not the only systems that are affected. Modern research has documented many substantial changes that occur with exercise in our gut microbiome, which is being reshaped due to metabolic changes that incur from regular moderate exercise. Exercise is associated with an increase in gut microbial diversity, which is associated with an improved metabolic profile and a strengthened immune system. This shift is believed to result from an increase in a particular bacterial strain, bifidobacteria, that is essential for optimum health and whose levels tend to decline with age. Exercise provides a valuable boost.
Although most people exercise in the moderate range, there are increasing numbers of recreational and elite performance athletes who engage in high levels
of physical exercise to enhance performance. Extreme exercise is associated with
challenges, of course, including a 10 to 20 percent increase in heart size and an increased potential for cardiac arrhythmias. More recent evidence suggests there also is a general immune deficiency associated with prolonged exertion. In fact, it is common for elite athletes at the peak of training fitness during preparation for major sporting events to be prone to respiratory illnesses and a range of gastrointestinal symptoms. It has been documented that among ultramarathoners, there is an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infection during periods of heavy training and the oneto two-week period after marathon-type race events. Previously, it had been supposed that the depressed immune function coincident with strenuous exertion and heavy training was a byproduct of dietary deficiencies in
protein, carbohydrates, or specific micronutrients. However, there is new evidence for a surprisingly different common denominator for this set of problems that is centered within the gut microbiome.
Extreme exercise is associated with gut-related immune deficiency from increased permeability of the intestinal cells that line our gut. This disruption leads to the common symptoms of nausea, bloating, cramping, pain, diarrhea, and even bleeding. Under the chronic stress of exerciseinduced muscle fatigue and dehydration, the intestinal cells cannot sufficiently counteract and detoxify the free radicals that are being produced by extreme exertion. In these circumstances, some of the less desirable products of ongoing gut microbial metabolism cross the gut lining barrier—a condition known as endotoxemia. Extreme endurance training has is associated with a rise in inflammatory markers in the body and a breakdown of gut integrity. These are known pathways toward chronic disease. Fortunately, there is a way to counteract these negative effects. Several studies indicate a benefit from prebiotic and probiotic supplements for serious recreational and elite
athletes. For example, prebiotics, such as oligo-fructose enriched insulin, increase the number of the beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacillus in the colon. These bacteria protect against pathogens and antioxidants and stimulate the immune system.
A specific byproduct of bifidobacteria metabolism, butyrate, is an essential metabolite in our colon that helps maintain the energy supply of the body cells that line the colon and protects gut integrity. It is now known that increasing the proper microbes in your gut enhances these protective effects.
The good news for recreational and endurance athletes is there are convenient means to prevent the most common non-muscular complications of strenuous exercise. Certainly, the best advice for your optimum health is to exercise in moderation and support those efforts with a balanced and nutritious diet. But, if you insist on pushing toward even higher levels of athletic performance, part of your exercise regimen should include a daily supplement to boost your gut microbes, which are among your most important athletic partners.
Several studies indicate a benefit from prebiotic and probiotic supplements for serious recreational and elite athletes.
Everyone knows that running is good for your heart, right? Well, almost everyone. There are those doubting Thomases who seem to believe our hearts have a certain fixed number of heartbeats and once these are used up, you die. For them, the secret to a long life is not more exercise but less. It just makes sense that running is beneficial to our hearts. When you run, you exercise not just your legs and body but your heart as well. Exercise makes muscles stronger, and your heart is a muscle. Therefore, exercise such as running strengthens your heart and if your heart is stronger, you live longer. The logic is unassailable.
Ah, but this is the human body and people are complex and things are rarely ever so simple. What is the truth about running and your heart? Is running good or bad for your heart? Is there such a thing as too much running? How much is that? Should people run at all?
I believe the answer to the last question is a resounding “Yes!” Running, or some other form of regular exercise, has too many benefits backed up by too much science to say otherwise.
The real question for many people is: how much is enough? For some, the question becomes: how much is too much? It seems to be a natural progression for many
Writer: Dr. Richard T. Bosshardt
runners to gradually increase their weekly mileage. The popularity of long-distance races, from 10k (approximately six miles) to half-marathons, full marathons, and beyond attest to this. In 1975, there were just over 16,000 people in the United States who finished a marathon. By 2015, that number ballooned to more than half a million. Are all those people putting their hearts at risk by running so much?
We know that hard physical exercise causes muscle damage and it is the repair process that makes the muscle stronger. Body builders who wish to build bulky muscles have known this for years. Again, the heart is a muscle and working it hard, as happens in running longer distances, can result in similar muscle damage and repair. Studies of dedicated long-distance runners who have run for decades show that this phenomenon is exceedingly rare. It seems that running’s benefits for the heart outweigh the negatives.
Another concern is that running can lead to accelerated atherosclerosis with calcium-rich plaques in the arteries around the heart in some runners. What is interesting is that these plaques tend to be harder and more stable than the softer plaques found in non-runners. The softer plaques are more subject to breaking apart, traveling downstream and blocking arteries, leading to a heart attack. Studies have repeatedly shown that running is more protective of the heart than not running.
The hearts of people who run regularly are different from those of non-runners’ hearts. Runners’ hearts have thicker heart muscle, pump more blood with each heartbeat, and, therefore, beat more slowly. The enlargement of runners’ hearts raised concerns that this might be detrimental to heart function in that it could predispose runners to a heart attack or potentially dangerous, even fatal, irregular heart rhythms.
Non-runners love to point out the instances where a runner simply dropped dead while running. This seems proof positive that running is an inherently dangerous activity. The most famous example is the late Jim Fixx,
credited with sparking the running boom of the 1970s with his best-selling book, “The Complete Book of Running.” He dropped dead of a massive heart attack during a routine run. Many studies have addressed this issue. Most deaths while running occur in those with some form of unrecognized heart disease not caused by the running. With more than 500,000 running marathons each year and many times this running regularly, it is inevitable some will have undiagnosed heart issues and a few will die while running.
Jim Fixx is a perfect example. A postmortem review of his medical history showed he was a formerly obese, ex-smoker whose father had his first heart attack at age 35 and died at 43. Fixx was, therefore, a classic example of someone at high risk of a heart attack. When he died at 52, it is likely that running, rather than shortening and ultimately ending his life, actually helped him live, not just longer, but better as well.
That last one is important. Runners give all sorts of reasons why they run. They feel better, more energetic, feel less stress, enjoy getting outdoors, enjoy the camaraderie of other runners, feel more in tune with their bodies, maintain better control of their weight, and the list goes on. Some, like me, run because they love it; they cannot imagine life without running.
Running increases the quality of life now, not just in some distant future. Even if I believed running might shorten my life by a few years, I know I would still run because it makes my life better today.
Fortunately, in addition to all the other benefits of getting out for a regular run, numerous studies confirm that, on balance, running is good for our hearts and what’s good for our hearts is good for longevity.
In terms of numbers, running five to 10 minutes per day yields proven cardiac benefits. Running more than 30 miles per week yields benefits, but relatively few people have the desire, time, or ability to run more than this routinely. The sweet spot for most people is somewhere between these two extremes. If you are middle-age or older, always check with your doctor before beginning a running program.
The hearts of people who run regularly are different from those of nonrunners’ hearts.ABOUT THE WRITER → Rick Bosshardt, MD, FACS, has been a contributing writer for Healthy Living for many years. A plastic surgeon with the degree from the University of Miami, where he also attended the school of medicine. His surgical training was done at the United States Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. He and his wife, Sally, have three grown children and attend First Baptist Church in Leesburg.
The focus of our practice is to provide the very best surgical care available to patients. We are committed to achieving this goal through continuing education and training in most current robotic and laparoscopic techniques. It is our belief that all patients deserve the best medical care available. We provide the most advanced, compassionate surgical care that has helped thousands live longer, healthier, happier lives.
For more information:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of serious disability for adults. Because they affect the brain, they can also affect the body. However, strokes are preventable. Much of what the CDC offers as prevention methods apply to many other conditions, too.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Physical activity such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes.
• No smoking.
• Limit alcohol.
• If you have high blood pressure, take your medication as indicated by your doctor.
Being mindful means being intentional in your thinking.
Story: Kristy S. RodriguezLife is stressful. With never-ending to-do lists, we feel overwhelmed easily. You find yourself feeling tense, stressed, anxious, or depressed. How do you relieve some of this tension in simple ways without adding one more thing to your to-do lists? Physically, mentally, and emotionally relieve stress by bringing more mindfulness to your day with these five simple ways:
BE MINDFUL AT THE TABLE. It’s easy to say “be mindful,” but it’s a lot harder to actually do it, especially when it comes to eating. When you eat, focus on your food instead of television or your phone. Chew your food thoroughly and taste it. Notice the smell, colors, and texture of the food. A bonus is lighting a candle at the table while you’re eating.
SLOW DOWN. There is benefit from a slower pace in life. Find a few simple ways to slow down every day. Try disconnecting. Turn off email and place your phone on airplane mode, even if for only five minutes a day. Practice eating, walking, and driving slower and get out in nature.
ONE THING AT A TIME. Multitasking is a myth. Focus on one thing at a time. Concentrate on whatever you’re doing at the moment and nothing else.
BREATHE DEEPLY. Notice your breathing. By focusing on your breath you are practicing mindfulness, calming your nervous system and relieving stress. Do this often throughout the day.
SCHEDULE TIME FOR YOURSELF. Now, bring it all together. Once you’ve freed up some time and have a plan for what to do with it, protect that time and space. Schedule blocks of time in your calendar for self-care—to meditate, work out, or nap. Aim to make some time, every day, just for activities that are good for your well-being. Make a date with yourself, and if you write it down, you are more likely to keep it.
ABOUT THE WRITER → Kristy S. Rodriguez, pre- and postnatal wellness expert and advocate, is the owner and founder of Pure Nurture, a business devoted to educating and inspiring women to nurture and nourish themselves through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life. As a holistic health coach and registered yoga teacher specializing in pre- and postnatal wellness, Kristy works with individual clients as well as teaching classes and workshops, both in person and online. Connect with her at purenurture.com or instagram.com/purenurture.
Do you believe a gemstone can change your mood and outlook on life?
Many people believe that a gem’s vibrations are on a wavelength in tune with our own energy and emotions, and being in physical contact with those gems causes energy to flow.
Gems have long been used as part of a healing process.
Story: JC May
Many ancient civilizations used gemstones for healing and mental health. If you could use a change in your mental wellbeing, you may want to try the powers of gems and crystals for yourself.
Here are 15 gemstones said to encourage or inhibit various thoughts and feelings. Could they help you?
ALEXANDRITE
Alexandrite is known as a color-changing gem with a different hue depending on light conditions. This gem is intended to promote confidence and better self-image. It would be a great choice if you’re nervous about a presentation.
AMETHYST
This beautiful stone comes in an array of purples. It is used to keep a clear head and to soften mood swings.
BERYL
This gemstone is found in many different colors. Use it for energy, physical and mental.
CLEAR
This is the spectacular clear or white gemstone you think of as a crystal. It is known for all kinds of healing properties. Use it for general mental health and balance.
CORAL
Coral used in jewelry and as décor is a special type of coral found in the ocean. It is a beautiful red or orange color. This gem is known for granting mental clarity and also can be used to keep nightmares away.
You can find garnet in a number of colors, but it is typically a deep, dark red. Some garnets will change color depending on the light. Garnet promotes creativity and free thinking. Use it for problem solving or when you need an imaginative solution.
Hematite is related to iron and is typically seen in steel gray or black. It helps keep emotions in balance and can be used in meditation for relaxation.
Jade is known for its attractive green color and is prominent in Asian art. You’ll find it carved into various shapes. Jade is helpful for creating a sense of peacefulness in your heart and mind.
This stone is useful for people who struggle with depression. It actually includes lithium, which is a well-known antidepressant. Lepidolite is found in a variety of pinks and purples.
Malachite features bands of green. It is used to clear your mind and bring a sense of calm.
ONYX
Onyx is usually black but also can be found in red. It is excellent for keeping your focus while you make decisions, particularly regarding romantic relationships.
Just the sight of gorgeous pink tourmaline can lift your spirits. This gem spreads joy and is perfect to wear when you are feeling a bit down.
This stone features an unusual but appealing pink and black color scheme. Rhodonite is used to help people through times of trauma. It can be helpful during intense events and in processing the trauma after it has occurred.
This mystical, white stone often is used in sculpture and other forms of art. Use this stone to bring positivity into your life and heart.
Turquoise is known for its blue-green color and often is used in jewelry. This is an excellent stone for anyone who suffers anxiety. It is used to decrease episodes of panic.
What if you develop sudden onset severe back pain, more unbearable than you ever imagined? If your pain is new or feels different from the chronic back pain you may already be experiencingwhich is currently being treated with exercise, pain medicines, and injections - it is recommended that you should visit your doctor or urgent care center immediately, because you may have a vertebral compression fracture in your spine. If you are able to pinpoint your pain with the touch of a finger to a specific vertebra, it is important to act quickly or it may become too late to repair it.
What is a compression fracture and why is time of the essence? A compression fracture is when a vertebrae cracks and becomes compressed or somewhat flatter than it was before the fracture. Think of an elderly person with a hunchback or curved spine. A hunchback, medically known as kyphosis, is often caused when the bones become frail and brittle from osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and the vertebrae begin to fracture one by one. As these vertebrae fracture, they become misshapen. The rectangular vertebrae become triangular or wedge-shaped, eventually creating a curve in the spine.
Once a vertebrae fractures it will heal on its own, but it takes several weeks or even months to do so, during which time the pain is often unbearable. In the past, doctors would put patients in a brace and prescribe medication, often in the form of narcotics, to help ease this pain. When
the compressed vertebrae heals on its own, it heals in its compressed state or compresses even further, sometimes flattening completely and reducing the height of the individual. At this point, nothing can be done to restore its integrity since the bone has hardened or scarred, making it impossible to fix.
Compression fractures can also be caused by an impact such as a fall, or from cancer which has metastasized to the spine. Unfortunately for many, a compression fracture can be a first indication of cancer, so do not ignore this sign - get a consultation immediately. If you had an X-ray, CT, or MRI indicating a compression fracture, insist that your physician acts quickly to refer you to a specialist for a kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty.
With a procedure called kyphoplasty, kyphosis can be a thing of the past! A Kyphoplasty procedure can stop pain instantly in over 95% of patients, as well as prevent further collapse of the vertebrae.
During the procedure, the physician uses image-guidance in the form of a C-ARM (which is a live X-ray) to obtain access and inject a plastic cement into the vertebrae to restore the integrity of the bone, often stopping pain completely and preventing further damage. The procedure is performed under conscious sedation and takes approximately 30 minutes under the expertise of an experienced specialist, such as an Interventional Radiologist. Although other specialists are now performing this procedure, an Interventional Radiologist should be your first choice, since they pioneered this procedure, and any imageguided procedure should always require a person trained in radiation safety.
Interventional Radiologists believe that limiting X-ray exposure to patients is crucial, which is something often overlooked by other physicians. An Interventional Radiologist such as Dr. Mark Jacobson, uses a mere fraction of the typical radiation exposure used by other specialists, including other radiologists. An Interventional Radiologist also uses minimally invasive surgical techniques with the least number of punctures (usually one per vertebra) and the smallest needles possible, thereby enhancing safety and reducing healing and recovery times.
In the case where a compression fracture is caused by a cancerous lesion, an Interventional Radiologist can also biopsy the bone and perform a radiofrequency ablation to alleviate pain prior to the kyphoplasty (this is not a replacement for, but complimentary to radiation treatments, because if a patient is in less pain, the treatments can be tolerated better).
This is why it is imperative to understand that not just anyone should perform your kyphoplasty, but someone
ABOUT DR. MARK JACOBSON Dr. Jacobson has performed nearly 1000 kyphoplasties in his Lady Lake
only because of the number of procedures performed and numerous happy patients, but also because of his participation in the research of radio-frequency ablation of cancerous spine tumors. Local, as well as out of town physicians entrust Medical Imaging & Therapeutics for treatment of their
of Medicine as an Interventional Radiology training center for physicians in the interventional radiology residency and fellowship program.
nancial advisor’s fi creating a household budget. You can fi doing that at free-fi offers a budget planner worksheet, free budget spreadsheet, monthly budget worksheet, help in creating a budget, and household budget spreadsheet. The best way to control household expenses is with a budget and to get everyone in the family involved in the process.
Advice for old debts and investing with online apps.
Dear Dave,
My wife co-signed on a loan for an old boyfriend ago. Now, a collection agency is after her for the remaining $5,000. We make about $90,000 a year combined, and our attorney recommended 7 bankruptcy. bankruptcy scares me. Is there a better way to handle this?
—Jeffrey
Dear Jeffrey, Your attorney doesn’t sound very bright. A bankruptcy stays on your record for years. It’s just plain stupid to consider trashing your financial life over $5,000. This collector bought the loan for pennies on the dollar. It’s an old debt, and that means there are very low expectations for collection. At the same time, your wife did co-sign for the loan. If you have the money, and you can pay it off without hurting yourselves financially, do it. That’s the right thing, both morally and legally. If you don’t have
that kind of cash on hand, try haggling with them. See if you can get them to agree to settle for $2,500. Remember to get this agreement in writing before you send them a dime, and do not give them access to your bank account.
Chances are they’ll threaten to sue and all that stuff, but my guess is you can work out something on an old loan like this. It may take a couple of weeks and a little patience, but that’s a small price to pay if it saves you $2,500.
Sorry, but you guys will have to pay something to make this go away. And
I hope it teaches you both a valuable lesson — never cosign on a loan!
—DaveAPPS AND STOCKS?
Dear Dave, What do you think about online investing apps, and the way they allow you to jump in and out of stocks for really low fees?
—Anonymous
Dear Anonymous, I don’t think about them, and I don’t use them. And I don’t play single stocks-period. There’s a ton of research out there showing that people who play individual stocks on their own or with their broker, or with a golfing buddy see a rate of return of about 7 percent on average. You can make anywhere from 10 to 14 percent, on average,
with good growth stock mutual funds. I could probably play single stocks more intelligently than most people, but why? If the average is noticeably less than I’m seeing with my mutual funds, why bother going there? Plus, with a mutual fund portfolio, you’ve got someone who does this kind of thing for a living managing and researching your
investments for you in your best interest. I don’t have an app on my phone that lets me trade stocks, nor do I plan on getting one. There’s nothing wrong with apps, in general, but I’ll never recommend jumping in and out of single stocks as a method of investing.
—Dave
Getting out of debt is never easy, but it is possible.
Story: Jenn ChonilloDebt can be a tool that savvy consumers use to gain frequent-flyer points with their credit card reward programs or to improve their credit score to buy a home. However, the other side of debt becomes a shackle to many individuals and families. Credit cards and student loans that once brought opportunity can strangle the monthly budget with no sign of stopping until they decide to get rid of debt.
Though debt reduction is difficult, there is a method that’s effective but often avoided because people are uncertain of its effectiveness. It’s the snowball method.
The debt snowball is a five-step method of debt reduction.
• Step 1: List all debt in order from smallest balance to largest.
• Step 2: Pay the minimum payment on all the debts from smallest to largest.
• Step 3: After paying all other monthly necessities (food, clothing, etc.), take the remainder and apply it to the smallest debt until it’s paid off.
• Step 4: As you pay off each small debt, apply the minimum payment and all extra money toward paying off the next smallest debt.
• Step 5: Repeat the steps until you are debt-free.
For many people in debt, this is one of the easiest ways to get out of debt. This makes it so simple the entire family, including the children, can work together to pay off the debts.
The reason the debt snowball works well for many families is because it is based on human psychology. Everyone enjoys seeing progress. By having small goals, you see progress made quickly. This allows families to make the necessary changes to increase their intensity toward their ultimate goal.
Unfortunately, this simple program of debt reduction does have problems. Many financial gurus believe contributions to retirement and college savings programs should halt while reducing debt. For those opposed to the snowball method, the loss of the interest in a retirement plan is enough of a detriment that they oppose the method entirely. However, many experts state that contributions should stop only for the first two years. Others dislike the debt snowball because they believe families should focus on paying off high-interest debts before small debts.
Fortunately, both the Harvard Business Review and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management researched the snowball method. Both well-respected schools came to the same conclusion—the snowball was best for consumers. They found people who used the snowball method were more likely to become debt-free. Researchers believed small accomplishments help them continue toward their goal.
If you’re looking to get out of debt, consider trying the debt snowball. It could be the way you finally become debt-free.
If your New Year’s resolution involved your finances, you are not alone. Vows to get fiscally fit are second only to promises to get physically fit.
Like those promises to diet and eat right, getting fiscally fit can be much harder to practice than to say. It is not enough to say you will improve your finances in the coming year—you must take specific actions to make that promise a reality. Here are five steps you can take to get fiscally fit:
TRACK DAILY SPENDING. You cannot improve your finances until you know where you are now. Establish a starting point, one you can use to improve in the year to come. Track spending daily; it’s a real eye-opener. Whether you carry a notepad or record information in your smartphone, tracking every penny is a vital to establishing an effective budget.
USE THE ACCUMULATED DATA TO CREATE A MONTHLY BUDGET. Once you know how much you are spending and on what, use the information to create a realistic budget. Having a starting place lets you plot a better course. Are you eating out too much? Cooking your own meals is less expensive. If you need that morning cup of gourmet coffee, invest in a high-end home coffeemaker.
PUT YOUR SAVINGS ON AUTOMATIC. Plug the leak in your wallet by designating funds every month for savings. This is essential to good budgeting. Paying yourself first will improve your finances in the coming year.
SHIFT SOME OF YOUR SPENDING INTO CASH. Credit and debit cards might be a little too convenient. It is easy to overspend when all you do is sign your name. Shift some of your daily spending into cash. A cash-only diet is revealing and will help improve your financial situation.
BOOST THE INTEREST RATES ON YOUR SAVINGS. Increasing what you earn not only brightens your financial future, it’s the easiest way to boost interest rates on your savings. Shop for a better rate for your savings, whether it’s big or small.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to change your financial life. It is never too early, or too late, to live a more fiscally fit lifestyle; however, the sooner you get started, the more impressive the results will be.
Why is Outpatient gaining popularity?
“Same-day ” or ambulator y joint replacement surgery is on the rise in the United States Predictions are by 2027 over 50% of joint replacements will be done as an outpatient. Why the shift? What are the risks and benefits? Are you a potential candidate? Read on for more information
What is Outpatient Joint Replacement?
Outpatient surgery assumes the patient spends less than 23 hours at a facility. Currently, Florida laws do not allow for overnight stays at Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), so for now, it means going home the same day as surger y. It could mean a hip, knee, partial knee, or shoulder replacement.
With the advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and pain management most total joint patients spend less than 2 days in the hospital. For a certain subset, there is an ability to go home the same day. Outpatient is not for ever yone and is decided by the patient and surgeon on a case by case basis.
What are the required factors for outpatient?
1. Engaged healthy patients: patients with significant medical problems or those with a less healthy body weight are ideally done at the hospital to allow overnight observation. The younger, healthier patients are better candidates.
2. An at-home support system: there must be help at home for the therapy and discharge from the ASC. If you live alone it may be difficult to go straight home from surger y
3. Pre-op and post-op preparation: training on crutches or a walker before surger y, preparing the house, and exercises after are extremely important to allow rapid recover y
4. Pain management: the evolution of pain control relies on the avoidance of heavy narcotics so fewer side effects of nausea, vomiting, and other things
5. Minimally invasive surgical techniques: surger y must be efficient with limited tissue damage and less pain.
Yes, studies have shown that outpatient joint replacements in the right patients are not only safe but generally leads to better patient satisfaction than surgeries at the hospital.
Generally, the overall cost is much less than in hospital stays, which can lead to thousands of dollars of savings for a patient.
Do most insurances plans cover this?
Insurances, including Medicare, are moving more and more towards reimbursing for outpatient joints. It depends on the private insurer currently, with Medicare only allowing outpatient total knees, and those have to be done at the hospital, although Medicare currently allows outpatient partial knee replacement.
How do I know if I am a candidate?
Talk to your TOI surgeon. They can
discuss the different options with you to determine if outpatient joint replacement surger y is right for you.
Meet Gary, Osprey Lodge’s bus driver –voted one of our top employees by residents and associates! From driving the bus for resident appointments and trips, to playing a round of pool, or performing an impromptu ballroom dance, Gary is a big part of “Lodge Life.” He makes our residents feel special every day!
Come
presented by
Celebration Dinner • May 4
The Savannah Center
Celebration Dinner - $60 For
When it comes to surgery, I want the best options available to me. The Robotic Surgery Program at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital includes surgeons trained in roboticassisted surgery. Robotic surgery may offer the advantages of:
• Improved surgical precision
• Less pain and scarring
• Less blood loss and risk of infection
• Shortened hospital stay
• Faster recovery
Having access to the most advanced surgical options close to home is why I choose Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.
I choose a team of talented surgeons skilled in robotics. I choose Orlando Health.
Story: James Combs
I’m going to treat my friends to unlimited doughnuts because the fatter they get, the skinnier I’ll look. For many years, I thought this was the ultimate diet plan.
That’s sort of a joke. And I told that because I’m addressing fat people this month. Before I get started, let me preface this by saying I’m one of you. Yes, I know what it’s like to pull out a sticky note at Subway and pretend that second sandwich you’re ordering isn’t really for you. I know what it’s like to always want a second cheeseburger, a second slice of pie, or a second anything.
With that said, I have to get something off my chest—and it’s more than 100 pounds of unwanted fat. It’s time that those of us in the fat fraternity start taking necessary steps to downsize our super-size bodies. I’m not asking you to seek what society deems as the perfect body; I’m asking you to make a lifestyle change so you can achieve a healthier and happier you.
I’ve used the same excuses to justify my obesity as you have. It’s my genetic destiny. I’m just big boned. Fast food is easier and more convenient. We all know deep inside those excuses are hogwash. We’re big because of what—and how much—we choose to put in our mouths. And then we fail to work it off. It’s that simple. Unlike chocolate cake, those words are hard to swallow, but they’re words we must digest.
I know being obese means we have a lot on our plates. First, we’re more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, and God knows what else. Second, we’re the last frontier in tolerable prejudices. Unlike age, race, religion, and sex, federal and state laws do not make it illegal to discriminate against obese people.
Should we expect people to treat us decently? Of course. Should we expect those same people to embrace obesity as the new norm? Absolutely not.
And neither should we. After all, we are blessed with options. The first—and most important—option is to look in the mirror and admit we have a problem rather than pretend we’re victims of some unfixable health issue. Once we scrap the victim role, we can take responsibility for our own health. While few of us accept our current bodies, we can build a body we choose to accept. And we don’t have to go at it alone. There is plenty of help out there for the overweight and obese. After months of pounding the pavement, pumping iron, and skipping happy hour, we’ll feel more confi appearance and just feel better, period. We can lose the “plump and proud” façade because we’ve transformed into a person
So, the next time someone asks me why I’m fat, I will no longer say it runs in my family. I’ll be honest and say it’s because nobody in my family runs.
In and around The Villages, a basic 400-square-foot apartment in a assisted living facility can start at $36,000 per year. Even those who have adequately planned for retirement may find this expense unbearable.
Fortunately, there is another option being offered by Hometown Builders, a local Certified General Contractor based in Wildwood.
Multigenerational is the term used to describe these specialized living spaces that can accommodate your mom or dad, your son or daughter who’s just getting started in life, or just old friends and neighbors from back home that love to visit any time of the year. Its living area that is close enough for you to check in on your loved one with ease but private enough where everyone enjoys their own space.
Experience. For more than 80 years, we’ve proudly cared for the healthcare needs of our community. That experience is just one of the reasons more Lake County residents trust Florida Hospital Waterman for their emergency Center of Excellence, and the only hospital in the region to earn an A-rating for patient safety
you and your family when you need it most. Learn more about our commitment to building a healthier Lake County at .com
If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency-get help immediately. Call 911 and get to the closest emergency department.
