KRISTIN’S THREE MOTIVATIONS FOR WALKING

• I have increased energy level. Exercise raises dopamine in your body and gives you more stamina and motivation.

• It keeps my emotional swings during menopause more manageable. During exercise, the body releases endorphins, which produce a feeling of euphoria and combats these ups and downs. Walking is therapy for my mind. As I walk, I talk out loud. I get through any challenge I may be facing by giving myself the same advice I would give a dear friend.

• Walking is a natural stress reliever. When I let anything take this time away, it has a direct impact on my physicality, and after prolonged deprivation, has had catastrophic effects.

“Men no longer need to suffer from frequent urination because they are getting older,” says Dr. James Young, a down-toearth urologist with thirty-three years of experience in treating men with prostate problems in Lake County. Although the cause of these symptoms is most likely an enlarging prostate (BPH), a normal part of the aging process in men, treatment options are more numerous and less invasive than those offered to our fathers and grandfathers.

Years ago there were two options for treating an enlarged prostate: surgical excision via an open operation (knife) or much more commonly by performing a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), commonly referred to as a “roto-rooter” by patients and physicians. Both required hospitalization as well as major anesthesia and could be fraught with complications such as bleeding, infection, loss of bladder control and even death.

“In my career I have performed over 3,000 TURPs; however, I no longer perform any,” says Dr. Young. “There are presently too many excellent alternatives to consider a hospital operation for the vast majority of patients with BPH.”

“When I see a new patient I perform a physical examination and properly evaluate the patient’s symptoms, thus diagnosing the underlying problem(s),” he says. “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 BPH 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.

One such option is Prostiva-RF Therapy, a procedure performed by Dr. Young in his office under local anesthesia that usually takes less than thirty minutes. Prostiva utilizes low level radiofrequency energy to ablate (destroy) the obstructing component of the enlarged prostate. “I am very happy with the results I have achieved for my patients using Prostiva-RF Therapy,” says Dr. Young, who has successfully treated more than 2,400 patients with this procedure.

“Medtronic is a $13 billion-a-year, publicly traded corporation that perfected the technology for Prostiva and produces the necessary hardware. Recently, Medtronic produced an educational DVD for international distribution to inform patients and physicians worldwide regarding the benefits of Prostiva therapy. Seven of the eight patients featured on the DVD are my patients. I am very proud Medtronic selected my practice to feature the benefits of Prostiva-RF Therapy. However it is sort of a bad news/good news thing. The bad news is neither my patients nor myself received a penny for our participation. The good news is Medtronic gave us all the DVD’s we want, so if anyone wants one all he needs to do is drop by my office at 801 Northshore Drive in Eustis, and we will give him one!”

And with an office staff with nearly as much experience as the doctor, (many have worked with Dr. Young more than twenty 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 patient’s time as much as we do our own,” adds Dr. Young. “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 getting up at night and can’t get back to sleep because you are thinking about what may be wrong with you, it’s time to check in with Dr. Young and have him check you out.

“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,” he says. JAMES

Practicing in Lake County for over 33 years with extensive experience in evaluation and management of prostate problems.

What’s on Healthy Living’s menu this month? We’re serving up some important nutritional information for you to chew on.

WRITERS: JAMES COMBS+SHEMIR WILES

Your diet affects both your body and mind. It plays an instrumental role in how you look physically and how you feel mentally. Fact is, you can spend five minutes with someone and determine if he or she is receiving proper nutrition just by assessing the body and determining the mood.

Eating isn’t about fulfi lling our appetites in the moment; it’s about sustaining a healthy life.

Why?

Simple. Nutrition benefits our health on a cellular level. The human body has trillions of cells, which form body tissue and make up the organs, such as the heart, liver and lungs. Without proper nutrition, cells cannot operate efficiently and the functions of tissues and organs become compromised. That can result in disease. Conversely, when you feed your cells proper nutrients, you help your entire body function optimally.

January is when many people begin an important journey to a healthier lifestyle. Since nutrition is undoubtedly the most important component to healthy living, we’re offering some assistance.

This comprehensive nutrition guide is full of tasty tidbits, flavorful facts and succulent statistics to help you make wiser food choices. It offers the perfect recipe for a happier, healthier life. Bon appétit.

Water is unquestionably the most important nutrient we can give our bodies. A human can last weeks without food, but only five to seven days without water. The roles of water in the human body are endless. For starters, it washes away dirt and grime in our eyes, keeps our joints lubricated, helps regulate temperature and maintains electrolyte balance.