• An Anton Media Group Special •
HEALTHY LIVING AUGUST 12 - 18, 2015
Anniversary For Americans With Disabilities Act The day the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin delivered a speech from the Senate floor in a way most of his colleagues didn’t understand. Harkin, the bill’s sponsor, used sign language for the benefit of his brother who was deaf and had taught Harkin this lesson: “People should be judged on the basis of their abilities and not on the basis of their disabilities.” With the country marking the ADA’s 25th anniversary this summer, Brandi Rarus, a former Miss Deaf America, remembers how important it was for people with disabilities to make it known they would no longer allow others to set limits on what they could achieve. “Those of us with disabilities face many barriers,” said Rarus, coauthor with Gail Harris of the book Finding Zoe: A Deaf Woman’s Story of Identity, Love and Adoption. “Some of those are unavoidable. I can’t listen to the
radio as I drive to work in the morning. Often, because of communication barriers, I have to work twice as hard as a hearing person. Instead of taking me five minutes to make a doctor’s appointment, it takes me 10.” But some barriers are avoidable, Rarus said. And that’s why the ADA has played such an important role in people’s lives for the last 25 years. The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities when it comes to employment issues. The ADA also requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for a disability unless it causes an “undue hardship.” Harris, a professional storyteller and Rarus’ coauthor, said that although Rarus is deaf, her life struggles are similar to everyone’s. “We can all relate to finding our place in the world and fitting in, about self-acceptance, about
Brandi Rarus being judged and judging others and how we must look past all that to fulfill our dreams,” said Harris. The U.S. Department of Labor officials said many
concerns about the ADA never materialized. According to the department: • Complying isn’t expensive. The majority of workers with disabilities do not need accommodations, and for those who do, the cost is usually minimal. In fact, 57 percent of accommodations cost nothing, according to the Job Accommodation Network, a service from the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. • Lawsuits have not flooded the courts. The majority of ADA employment-related disputes are resolved through informal negotiation or mediation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces the ADA’s employment provisions, investigates the merits of each case and offers alternatives to litigation. The number of ADA employmentrelated cases represents a tiny
see DISABILITIES on page 20A
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HEALTHY LIVING • AUGUST 12 - 18, 2015
DISABILITIES from page 19A percentage of the millions of employers in the U.S. • The ADA is rarely misused. If an individual files a complaint under the ADA and does not have a condition that meets its definition of disability, the complaint is dismissed. While claims by people with false or minor conditions may get media attention, the reality is these complaints are usually dismissed. Rarus, who became deaf at age 6 when she contracted spinal meningitis, was making strides toward success even before the passage of the ADA. Winning the Miss Deaf America crown in 1988 led to numerous opportunities. She signed the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs game. She spoke at corporate conferences and traveled the country speaking out for deaf children and building awareness of what it means to be deaf. She was also the understudy for Marlee Matlin in the play Children of a Lesser God. Her latest project is Finding Zoe. The book Rarus and Harris joined forces to write tells the story of Rarus’ early years as she learned to live with being deaf, but the focal point becomes her effort to adopt Zoe, a deaf infant caught in the foster care system. —Submitted by News & Experts
Fertility: A Place For Chinese Medicine BY ROBIN LIEBOWITZ SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and Chinese herbs, offers much to women struggling with infertility. A long anecdotal record among Chinese medicine practitioners is now being supported by research. The Chinese approach to enhancing fertility is to normalize the menstrual cycle and ensure the abundance of qi (vital energy), blood and essence. Practitioners also pay attention to harmonizing and balancing yin (expansive, cool, moistening, light and upward growing) and yang (contractive, warm, drying, compact and downward growing). Attention to the yin demonstrates the special insight of Chinese medicine. Modern fertility treatment focuses on forcing more eggs out of the ovaries at the clear expense of the woman’s yin. Indeed, most ovarian stimulating drugs are considered “very hot,” according to Chinese medicine and thus damage the yin. The result is a thin uterine lining, the absences of mid-cycle cervical fluid and a suboptimal uterine environment for the embryo. Acupuncture alone can counteract some of the side effects of ovarian stimulation, but Chinese herbs
in combination offer many more favorable results. Research is available, documenting the benefits of using Chinese herbs during ovarian stimulation, according to Zhenjiang Journal of Chinese Medicine. Today acupuncture is used to support in vitro fertilization (IVF) success; practitioners find that more women would benefit from using both acupuncture and Chinese herbs. A woman who is just a few days away from an IVF embryo transfer may have had multiple medicated cycles and be in significant imbalance, probably much more so than before she started the fertility drugs. The exclusive approach of Western medicine seems to be to overactivate the ovaries and ignore the other issues that may truly be the root of the infertility. One such patient in question is a 33-year-old family practice doctor who believed she was infertile. Infertility is failure to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception. She did not meet that definition. She tried to conceive for six months before seeing a doctor and then for two more months. She then consulted a reproductive endocrinologist who told her she was infertile because of a high FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
level. Then she did her own research and found that acupuncture was a key part of infertility treatment. She sought infertility treatment from an acupuncturist and conceived successfully. High FSH can indicate menopause or poor ovarian responsiveness. In the treatment of infertility with IVF, an FSH level measured on day three of the menstrual cycle is predictive of fertility within the IVF cycle. However, one measurement is not enough to base predictions on. Lab values vary, and FSH levels are known to fluctuate with factors, like stress and illness. The patient was told that she was infertile based on one FSH test; if so, that was an unwarranted diagnosis. Then, during acupuncture treatment, the FSH levels dropped and she was able to get pregnant. Each of these pathologies can be treated with Chinese herbs and acupuncture. If the woman elects to proceed with advanced reproductive intervention, her chances of sustaining a full-term pregnancy will be greatly enhanced by utilizing herbs and acupuncture. Robin Liebowitz is a New York State licensed acupuncturist. For more info, visit www.roslynacupuncture.com.
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HEALTHY LIVING • AUGUST 12 - 18, 2015
More Advances In Hepatitis Research Just when we thought that hepatitis C treatments were finalized, the FDA approved two new therapies last week and we learned about other therapies that will be approved in 2016. Hepatitis C, as we know, is the most common cause of chronic viral disease and is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Hepatitis C is not one disease but rather a family of diseases termed genotypes. These genotypes have been named by number, such as genotype 1 or 2. Genotype 1 is the most common genotype in the U.S., affecting about 75 percent of the patients with hepatitis C. In prior years, this was the most difficult to treat but new therapies introduced over the past two years have led to across-the-board cure rates of 95 percent or better. With the genotype 1 problem solved, attention has been given to treating the other genotypes that are less common in the U.S. but are common in certain parts of the world. Genotype 3 is the third most common genotype found in the U.S., affecting less than five percent of the
patients with hepatitis C in the U.S., but it is the second most common genotype seen throughout the world, affecting more than 50 million people, predominantly in East and Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Genotype 3 is the type of hepatitis C most likely to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer and for the past 2 years, has been the most difficult to cure, especially if cirrhosis is present. The approved therapy for genotype 3, since 2013, has been a combination of two pills, sofosbuvir and ribavirin, taken for 24 weeks. This therapy has a cure rate of approximately 90 percent for all patients, except those patients with cirrhosis who were previously treated with interferon-based regimens in whom a 60 percent cure rate is described. This therapy, which is well tolerated, contains ribavirin, which can cause anemia and make people feel tired. Earlier this month, the FDA approved a new treatment for genotype 3, which is also a combination of two pills, sofosbuvir and daclatasvir. What is the advantage of this regimen? First, the treatment is only for 12 weeks instead of 24. Second, there is no ribavirin so this regimen has virtually no side effects, other than an occasional headache or some fatigue.
INTRODUCING
Third, this regimen is less expensive than the previous 24-week regimen which hopefully will improve access to care. Unfortunately, the response rates are almost identical to the prior therapy, with cure rates only about 60 percent for previously treated patients with cirrhosis. We still have some work to do in this group. Genotype 4 is uncommon in the U.S., but is a common type in Egypt, North Africa and the Arabian peninsula. In 2013, treatment with pegylated interferon, ribavirin and sofosbuvir for 12 weeks was approved and cure rates with this regimen reached 96 percent. This was a major advance but the regimen still contained interferon, an injection that no one wanted. I can understand why. Earlier this month, the FDA approved an all-oral regimen of paritaprevir, ritonavir and dasabuvir (Technivie) rolled up into one pill, plus ribavirin for a 12-week treatment duration. This regimen has been shown in studies to have 100 percent cure rate for genotype 4. This is a tremendous advance for this type. With so many advances in hepatitis C, what populations are left to conquer? The current biggest challenge is treating those patients with advanced kidney disease in whom all current
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Dr. David Bernstein therapies cannot be used. As research would have it, there are new hepatitis C drugs on the horizon which can safely and effectively treat patients with kidney disease. These therapies, called grazoprevir and elbasvir, are likely to be approved in early- to mid-2016 and offer cure rates to kidney disease patients with genotype 1, similar cure rates as those without kidney disease. It is looking quite promising that all hepatitis C should be able to be cured. The main obstacle remains the many insurance companies who refuse to pay for lifesaving therapies. Hopefully, that will change in the near future. Science and research have done their part, now it is up to the payers to step up and do the right thing. David Bernstein, MD, is chief of division of hepatology of medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
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HEALTHY LIVING • AUGUST 12 - 18, 2015
Expose Yourself To Your Fears And Conquer Them BY JEREMY SKOW
SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
As they entered the creepy forest Dorothy Gale, in The Wizrard of Oz, asked the Tin Man nervously: “Do you suppose we’ll meet any wild animals?” He replied sagely, “… mostly lions, tigers and bears.” Now, if Dorothy were in genuine danger of being savagely mauled and torn to shreds by razor sharp claws and pointy fangs it might be appropriate for her to be quaking in her ruby slippers. But what if the woods were actually only comprised of a bunch of trees and perhaps a cowardly lion? Some of us might feel content never choosing to find out if the danger is real or not and that’s okay. Others may feel that fears like this negatively impact their life. If you find yourself feeling like the latter, you may want to confront and conquer your fears. Exposure Therapy has been shown to be the most effective anxiety treatment for people with many anxiety disorders. While it involves practicing with what you fear, in order to become less afraid,
Jeremy Skow it is not simply about “getting used to” the fear. It’s about retraining your brain to stop sending the fear signal when there isn’t any actual danger. People struggle against anxiety attacks and phobias because they recognize that their fears are exaggerated and illogical. They try hard to talk themselves out of the fear. When they realize that doesn’t help, they try to avoid what they fear, which only intensifies it. The amygdala is the part of our brain responsible for fight or flight decisions. The amygdala works quickly because speed is vital in protecting you against threats. The intellectual area of our brain, the cerebral cortex, may
be well suited for speechwriting and philosophy but is not fast enough to keep us safe from danger. By the time your cerebral cortex processed your circumstances you would be lion, tiger or bear food. Contrarily, your amygdala’s response would be so swift that you would only become aware of it once you felt its effects in your body (panic sensations) and in your behavior (duck, run, escape). Your amygdala doesn’t care how many times it scares you unnecessarily. It just aims to keep you alive. Therefore, if you experience phobias and anxiety attacks, and want to overcome them, it is the amygdala you need to reprogram. The amygdala learns by association. It may associate heights, enclosed spaces and wild animals with danger. It doesn’t learn by conscious thought, which is why you can’t simply talk yourself out of a phobia. The fear memory is stored as a conditioned fear and can only be diminished by more conditioning, not logic or reason. Since your amygdala only learns when it spots something it considers dangerous, it can only learn new lessons
when you are afraid. Therefore, if you stay away from what you fear your amygdala will continue to mistakenly associate danger with those possibly benign fears and will never have the opportunity to learn something new. Your amygdala only learns from experience. If you run away from your fears, you are teaching your amygdala that you should avoid your fears to be safe. To teach your amygdala something new you have to expose yourself to a trigger that gets you afraid. If that trigger is heights, find a lofty place. Then stay with your fear until the fear begins to diminish. You will be teaching your amygdala that it had gotten you all worked up for no reason. It can learn that enclosed places aren’t the danger it had been conditioned to believe. With time and repetition, which is referred to as systematic desensitization, it will develop a new conditioning that lets you get on with your life unencumbered by this phobia or anxiety attack. Jeremy Skow has a private practice in Great Neck. Contact him at www. mentalhealthcounselingny.com, 516-322-9133 or jskow@lmhcny.com.
Tips For Total Mind And Body Wellness BY MELODY POURMORADI SPECIALSECTIONS@ANTONMEDIAGROUP.COM
As human beings, we are far more powerful and creative than we give ourselves credit for. Our minds have the capacity to create something out of nothing by using thoughts to produce powerful manifestations in our physical bodies. Have you ever noticed that simply thinking about an emotional experience can bring tears to your eyes? How about the way your heart starts to beat when you watch a scary movie? These are powerful illustrations of the mind-body connection at work—a thought in your mind can produce a physical symptom in your body. Once we become aware of our power, we can harness it to be used in positive ways in order to create desired biological outcomes. Here are some of my tips for Total Mind-Body Wellness: Mind Your Internal Script What is the inner dialogue that runs through your head at any given moment? Is it self-serving or self-sabotaging? Chances are that if your internal dialogue is harmful you will subconsciously act in ways that will reinforce those negative thought patterns. The result: physical pain, emotional unrest and mental exhaustion. Inversely, if your self talk is positive and uplifting,
you will naturally elevate your overall physical condition. The next time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, try replacing it with something more gentle and loving. An effective way to keep yourself accountable to challenging your mental chatter is by putting an elastic band on your wrist and switching it from one hand to the next every time you have a negative thought. This will really bring attention and awareness to how frequently it happens for you and encourage you to create new thought patterns. Learn to Relax Your Mind Explore new and creative ways to relax your mind. If you can learn to control your brain’s tendency to overthink and overanalyze, you will be rewarded with physical calm and quietude. Practicing mindfulness is one of my favorite ways to combat this. Mindfulness is the art of bringing your awareness to and enjoying this very moment. We don’t have the ability to change events in our past and we certainly can’t control what is to come in the future. This lack of control often weighs on us causing outer body unrest. Understand that your power and your peace lie in the present moment. Recalibrate and elevate your energy by using your senses to connect to what is going on for you right now. What do you hear? How do you feel? What sensations
are you experiencing In your body? This is where your your focus needs to be. Use this tool whenever you feel like your “future tripping” and losing the value of the present moment to manage the levels of stress on your body. Visualize Optimal Health When you start experiencing symptoms of pain and overall physical discomfort, try visualization, one of the mot powerful tools available to you. Create an image in your mind of what health looks like and feels like for you. Use your imagination to create so clear a picture of what your personal definition of healthy feels like that you will actually question if it’s actual reality and sooner rather than later, it will be. Studies have shown that mental practice can very strongly affect outcomes. Athletes have been using visual imagery for years to outperform their competitors and effectively practice their craft. Use this powerful tool with the belief and conviction that it can work for you, too. Breathe Through It Mind, body and breath are very intimately connected. Your breath is like a lighthouse that can bring you home and keep you centered in moments of anxiety or distress. The most simple breathing techniques can lower blood pressure, calm a racing heart or aid
Melody Pourmoradi in digestive health. The next time you find that feelings of overwhelming stress are taking over your body, make the conscious decision to breathe slowly, deeply and quietly. If today you can become aware of your breath for 15 seconds or more, you will have taken a measurable step toward expanded health and elevated communication between your mind and body. Nourishing your mind as well as your body is one of the most important things you can do for overall health. Remember, your mind is far more powerful than you realize and all of the support and guidance that you need to manifest this is already within you. Use this and all of your new tools to your advantage to create total body health. Melody Pourmoradi is a women’s wellness & lifestyle coach. Her newest passion project has been creating Girl Power, an empowerment workshop series for young girls.
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HEALTHY LIVING • AUGUST 12 - 18, 2015 ADVERTORIAL
Super Medical Technology Comes To Long Island rable imaging technologies like MRI
MSKUS has also become an indispensable tool in tracking the course of therapy, making it critical in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease which actually destroys joint tissue, causes excruciating pain, and disfigures hands and feet. It not only allows doctors to watch the disease progression, but also shows how well specific medications are working so that each patient’s therapy is individualized and optimized.
What MSKUS does is simple: with the touch of a transducer — a handheld wand — to the skin, it painlessly renders a photo of the joint beneath that is so detailed it shows not only damaged tissue but actually reveals the destructive inflammatory pro“It’s an amazing technology,” says cess itself. Richard Blau, M.D., medical director You can’t do that with an X-ray. For at the Arthritis Institute of Long Is- an MRI, you’d have to make a sepaland in Hicksville, “and in my field, rate appointment with a radiologist it’s revolutionizing diagnosis and and lie inside a claustrophobic tube Since first bringing MSKUS to the therapy in a way I can only compare for half an hour to get the same in- Institute in December 2012, Dr. Blau to the invention of the stethoscope.” formation. If you walk into Dr. Blau’s has seen more than 500 of his patients achieve satisfying results with Dr. Blau’s field is rheumatology, the office with a sore shoulder, on the it. treatment of diseases and injuries of other hand, he can tell you within the joints, which means everything a few minutes if you have a muscle “This is cutting-edge science — realfrom a simple carpal tunnel syn- strain, bursitis, a separation or a torn ly the kind of thing you’d see in Star Trek,” Dr. Blau says. “But it’s real, and drome to the most devastating forms rotator cuff before you leave. of arthritis. He also uses the imaging technology it’s available right now at the Institute.” “We’re now seeing great results in 80 to guide injectable drugs with an acpercent of our patients with osteo- curacy never before achieved. That’s Dr. Richard Blau is a board-certified arthritis of the knee. Those kinds of important for medications like Hy- Rheumatologist. He is the medical results were unheard of a couple of algan, which some doctors call the director and founder of the Arthritis “WD-40” for the joints, because to Institute of Long Island and author years ago,” says Dr. Blau. be effective, you have to inject it into of the bestseller arthritis self-help The technology is called musculo- a space deep in the joint that’s only 1 book, Too Young to Feel Old. His skeletal ultrasound or MSKUS, and to 2 mm wide — barely bigger than a office is located at 120 Bethpage Rd., while the concept has been around pinhead. Hicksville. The phone number is for a while, it has recently become 516-932-7777. so advanced that it is fundamental- “Studies have shown that even the ly altering the way Dr. Blau practices most highly skilled doctors accurately get this kind of medicine to exactly medicine at the Institute. the right spot only three out of four Here’s why: times when they rely solely on their • It’s incredibly accurate own judgment and guesswork,” Dr. • It radically improves results Blau says. “With MSKUS, we can be • It’s painless accurate almost 100 percent of the • It’s portable time.” • It’s five times cheaper than compa-
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Ever notice how big medical breakthroughs seem to make it into television, magazines, radio and Internet news, but somehow never find their way into your local doctor’s office? Well, now one has. And it’s dramatically changing people’s lives on Long Island.