Health & Wellness Journal HEALTH
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March 2016
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Creating Change in Your Community
Study: Exercise Can Be Bad for Your Teeth By Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Exercise does a body good, or most of a body, according to a new study.
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Lover Compton
What Are You Going to Change for National Nutrition Month? By Rhonda Dallas March is National Nutrition Month, and making changes this month towards a healthier lifestyle is a great start to a new lifestyle.
PAGES 4-5
Lover Compton Heals the Community Through Love & Joy Personal Care Homes
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Intracellular Calcium Integrates Complex Signaling to Control Stem Cell Activity By d-mars.com News Provider When it comes to the latest in biotechnology, ScienceDaily is a great source for information PAGE 20
In the Community...
Media Day Workout with Juan Diaz and George Foreman
PAGE 10
Tiffany Davis Hosts the Black Nurses Association of Greater Houston’s April 2016 Luncheon
No man, who continues to add something to the material, intellectual and moral well-being of the place in which he lives, is left long without proper reward. – Booker T. Washington
March 2016 3
Journal Behind The
Publisher’s Message
MR. D-MARS
SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis
VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black
“Creating Change in Your Community” is the theme for this issue of the d-mars.com Health Journal. It’s vital that you not only take care of your own health, but show compassion for those with health concerns in the community. You would be surprised that a little bit of kindness goes a long way to make someone’s day. Lending a helping hand to those with health needs helps make for a better community. The cover story for this issue is on Lover Compton. Compton is a familiar and well-respected name in the community and industry. With a genuine loving spirit, she lives up to her name, providing quality care to those battling mental challenges through Love & Joy Personal Care Homes. Compton founded Love & Joy over 20 years ago in the greater Houston area as a safe haven for those dealing with mental challenges. Under Compton’s leadership, Love & Joy provides the compassion, encouragement, and patience necessary for client needs to be properly met. As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dawn Paul
PHOTOGRAPHY
Contents
L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes
LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Angel Rosa
DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ruth Caggins, PHD, RN Rhonda Dallas Carson Easley, RN Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade d-mars.com News Provider
Bringing Love Back into the Community..........................................................................................................................................................4-5 How Black Men Can Succeed in IT Careers Study............................................................................................................................................ 6 Science Proves Need for Omega-3s....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Time to Review and Renew Those New Year’s Wellness Plans................................................................................................................... 8 Mental Health America of Greater Houston........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Study: Exercise Can Be Bad for Your Teeth........................................................................................................................................................ 12 What Are You Going to Change for National Nutrition Month?.................................................................................................................. .14 Insight for Developing Healthy Habits.................................................................................................................................................................16 5 Tips...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 In the Community.......................................................................................................................................................................................................18 Stem Cell Regulation.................................................................................................................................................................................................20 Better Detection of Concussion in Young Football Players........................................................................................................................20
MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “Every choice in life either moves you forward or keeps you stuck.” – Oprah Winfrey
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March 2016
Bringing Love Back into the Community By Dawn Paul
Associate Editor
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hen it comes to healing and health, Lover Compton is a familiar and well-respected name in the community and industry. With a genuine loving spirit, she lives up to her name, providing quality care to those battling mental challenges through Love & Joy Personal Care Homes (Love & Joy). Compton founded Love & Joy over 20 years ago in the greater Houston area as a safe haven for those dealing with mental challenges. Under Compton’s leadership, Love & Joy provides the compassion, encouragement, and patience necessary for client needs to be properly met. In addition, Love & Joy has a desire to assist the clients and their families to be more independent and integrate in the community. The Love & Joy motto is "Bringing love back into the community." Compton’s true and proven commitment to the greater Houston, Brazoria, Galveston, and Fort Bend areas is something very necessary when it comes to addressing mental challenges that many members of our community face. Love & Joy provides quality and efficient home and community-based services to people with a mental disability, no matter what level. Their commitment to treating each client with respect, dignity, and love is stellar. They are known for their dedication to the patient. Their partnerships are helping to improve
“Love & Joy has more than 25 years of experience providing those battling mental challenges with a safe place for the proper treatment and care that they deserve. My continuous hope is that we are able to assist them with the stimulation of their mental growth and integration into society.”
— Lover Compton
quality of life. Love & Joy supports those with disabilities, so they can have a sense of independence, regardless of their disability. With more than 25 years of experience, Love & Joy has learned to listen to the needs of the client and their families and continuously strives to ensure that all of their
services have the patient as priority. Compton has always had the spirit of entrepreneurship. She says, “The desire for being an entrepreneur started early in life for me. At the age of 8, I was taken in by a neighbor who owned a salon. I assisted her whenever she asked me to help. I was very excited to be a part of the
salon and knowing that one day I would own my own business.” After graduating from the 10th grade, she moved in with her sister and brother-in-law, and they owned sever businesses. “Thinking back now, I was always surrounded
CONTINUED on page 5
Lover Compton spoke to d-mars.com about Love & Joy: Talk about the approach Love & Joy has when it comes to addressing the needs of the mentally ill and displaced.
Love & Joy is a small but exemplary provider program that offers state of the art treatment and service to the behavioral health and mental retardation community. We are dedicated to providing quality services, community involvement, protection of rights, and individualized planning and care to our consumers and their families. We are committed to excellence in our field by ensuring effective communication, managing individual services, and mandating proper training to our consumers so they have the skills necessary to live healthy lives and institutionalization free.
Talk about Love & Joy’s clients.
Our clients are family to us. We have clients at
our facilities that have been with us for more than 15 years. They feel safe in the environment and know that it is home. They are excited about meeting with the doctors, dentists, psychologists, and many other service professionals that are there to ensure that clients receive the best care possible.
Talk about the medical professionals who work with Love & Joy.
The medical professionals who work with our clients are a part of the Love & Joy family. The medical staff is experienced and specialized in servicing a mass population of individuals who are diagnosed with all levels of mental retardation. We are committed to working in partnership with our consumers in achieving their employment goals and allowing them to live independently. We have
25 years of care experience working with medically dependent and dually diagnosed individuals with various behavior problems. We have three registered nurses on staff with multiple years of experience, including our Director of Nursing and CEO, Yvonne Jacobs, RN, who oversees all medical care for our consumers. Our Day Habilitation program is licensed by the State of Texas. We strive to provide the best quality care to our consumers by helping them achieve their goals, medically and socially, as well as assisting them with community integration. We also have the following medical professionals that are a part of the Love and Joy family: Primary Care Physician Dr. Raymond Adedepoe, Vision - Outreach Eye Care, Bemaj Pharmacy – Maureen
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CONTINUED from page 4 by African-Americans who owned their own business. I remember learning that it was possible for African-Americans to own their own business,” she adds.
Not only did she have a spirit of business savvy, but a spirt for the community. By the time she graduated Kashmere High School, she knew that she wanted to help those who were less fortunate. Compton has a personal history with
family members who have battled mental challenges. People who suffer from mental illness often are ignored and forgotten, and many times have a difficult time finding and receiving proper services. “This population needs the most assistance from our community. They are a part of our community, and we cannot continue to turn them away by not providing them with the quality care that they need and deserve,” Compton expresses. Seeing a lack of compassion in the industry for those with disabilities, Compton was energetic to open Love & Joy. Compton says, “Even today, there is a lack of empathy for people who are mentally challenged. They are sensitive to the environment’s tendency to ignore them and therefore, they seek help from people that they know will assist them.” Compton feels that the need to help this population starts in our own community. “We see, and then do not see this population on a daily basis, and many times do not think twice about how we can give of ourselves to provide assistance to another human being,” she says. Love & Joy is committed to the care of those battling mental challenges, and their genuine love for what they do allows them to listen to needs and find solutions.
Love & Joy’s services include: (Individuals who receive HCS funding status qualify for these services) • Residential Options: Supported Home Living/Own Home (Respite Optional), Supervised Living, • Residential Support Services, Foster/ Companion Care • Day Habilitation Therapies: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy • Professional Services: RN Nursing, Dietary, Audiology, Dental (up to $1000 per plan year), Adaptive Aids, Minor Home Modifications, Behavioral Support, Supported Employment, Social Work • Room and Board • Hot nutritional meals including snacks • Exercise and recreation • Social learning and spiritual
and Marina, Dentist - Dr. Phyllis Morgan, Dentist - Dr. Joe Eckord, Registered Nurses Yvonne Jacobs, Gloria Pigner, and Beverly Willis, Psychiatrist - Dr. Festus Uzokwe, Psychologist - Dr. Thomas Mann, Neurologist - Dr. Johnnie Rose and Dr. Suphra Bhatt, Cardiologist - Dr. Glover Johnson, and Endocrinologist - Dr. Eric Orzeck.
Someone who has had a bad experience with adult day care, group homes, and assisted living, how do you let them see that Love & Joy is not going to give them that experience? We work with you and your loved one to assist with needs such as assistance with transportation to medical appointments and locating doctors. We hold meetings for
general support and provide instructive and useful information. We have a convenient location for ease of submitting documents and a host of other HCS needs. We have immaculate group homes in safe and beautiful neighborhoods that are handicap accessible. Our day habilitation program is structured to cater for all ages and offers music therapy, goal training, social inclusion into the community, special event activities, field trips, and breakfast, lunch and dinner. We take every individual need seriously and strive to provide sincere quality service. Everyone matters, and we treat each individual with respect, dignity, compassion, and we assist them with being as independent as possible.
Give details on Love & Joy’s success rate. Love & Joy has a 100% success rate. As
activities and programs • Three recreational trips outside the facility monthly • Assistance with maintaining all medical appointments • Certified medical staff 24 hours a day • Transportation
Love & Joy’s partnerships include: • The United Way • The Home Depot • The Houston Food Bank • The Houston Furniture Bank • Longhorn Steakhouse – Pearland • Olive Garden – Pearland • FedEx Office and Print Center – Letty Robles • TACTICAL TEE’S – Nathaniel Trevino • Chase Dowell Interior Design • Alma Allen – Texas House of Representatives • Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church • Brentwood Baptist Church • Houston Astros • Professional Flooring Supply – PFS • Houston Texans YMCA • City of Houston
Compton’s dream started with one halfway house that grew into 11 homes, 1 daycare center, in home providers, and a state-of-the-art facility designed to house 140 individuals, and there are plans for expansion. Compton’s continuous hope is that Love & Joy is able to assist clients with the stimulation of their mental growth and integration into society. The Love & Joy motto is “Bringing love back into the community.” When those with mental challenges have nowhere to go, Love & Joy is there. For more on Love & Joy Personal Care Homes, please visit www.loveandjoy.org.
stated before, we have clients that have been with us for more than 15 years. Most clients do not want to leave their home and some do not leave. Sometimes we have family members that miss their loved one and take them home to provide care for them until they transition.
This is not something you do alone, but a family-run business, as your daughters are also involved in this business. Talk about you passing on this business knowledge to your daughters.
I raised my children to take pride in giving back to the community and helping those that are less fortunate than themselves. Both daughters followed me into the business, and each found their niche in the business. I wanted to instill the legacy of “Bringing Love Back into the Community.”
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March 2016
How Black Men Can Succeed in IT Careers Study Finds That Cumulative Experiences Develop IT Skills By d-mars.com News Provider
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hen it comes to the latest in career information related to the health industry, ScienceDaily is a great source for information. Expanding the range of black men's career options in an increasingly technology-oriented world will help alleviate high unemployment and poverty they often experience, according to a study examining the career paths of successful black men in college. The study comes at a time when minority college students who take STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) jobs may earn at least 50 percent more than their peers studying humanities or education, yet black men comprise only 2.2 percent of those working in information technology (IT) occupations. Funded by the National Science Foundation, researchers from Washington State University and Pennsylvania State University studied 25 undergraduate black men enrolled in IT disciplines in four historically black colleges and universities to see what motivated them to achieve academically, attend college and pursue IT careers. Participants were also asked to reflect upon how their gender and ethnicity shaped their educational experiences and career choices.
learned from parents or through social conditioning, are long-lasting and are transferable to other fields besides IT, the researchers said. As an example, one participant said growing up in a manufacturing town influenced his pursuit of an IT career. That environment gave him perspective about how things should work, which fueled his interest in the technology behind the manufacturing. Others credited their IT career success to technical, leadership and problemsolving skills instilled in them by their families, college professors, military colleagues and sports activities. 'Manhood training' and 'black experience' "One very interesting skill emerged that we refer to as 'manhood training,' or skills that endure through the life history of the individual," said K.D. Joshi, a WSU management, information systems and entrepreneurship professor. "This is a critical learning experience that is important in building any career, not just an IT career."
She said the positive effects of manhood training were evident when participants commented about how much they valued their grandfathers' influence in helping them develop a strong work ethic and financial skills at an early age. The researchers said another important discovery was the participants' resistance to the negative effects of the "black experience" on their lives and careers. The black experience includes negative experiences, such as frequent encounters with police or gang activity, as well as positive experiences, such as having more opportunities because of their underrepresentation in IT. "The men in our study acknowledged the presence of the black experience as something powerful and unique but frequently dismissed or rejected its effects on their lives and careers," said Joshi. "These young black men's ability to embrace these experiences to generate a more positive outlook was remarkable."
Implications for educators "The broader impacts of our study
For more, please visit ScienceDaily at www.sciencedaily.com. Story Source: The above article is reprinted from materials provided by Washington State University.
Motives for IT academic and career success The researchers found that an accumulation of experiences over time motivated black men to develop skills, such as resilience, that are valuable in IT careers. The researchers refer to these experiences give black men "a type of capital that is often less available to black women and other ethnic males. Skills may be
Science Proves Need for Omega-3s
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By d-mars.com News Provider
here’s no denying proper nutrition and a balanced diet are essential for good health. Yet with research on diet and lifestyle recommendations constantly evolving, it can be difficult to make sense of the varying news reports and seemingly endless barrage of information. Fortunately, when it comes to omega-3s the fundamental science is clear: Omega-3s, which are considered essential fatty acids, are necessary for human health. Since the body can’t make them on its own, it’s critical to obtain this important nutrient through your daily intake of omega-rich foods, pri-
include helping policy makers create innovative interventions revealing how and which social structures enable or constrain black men's IT-related career choices," said Joshi. "This research may also be used to sensitize teachers and school counselors to the unique career development needs experienced by black men that can help their recruitment into STEM related careers." Ultimately, the study's findings may increase the much needed STEM workforce while expanding career options for black men who are disproportionately affected by economic downturn. Co-authors include Lynette Kvasny, associate professor of information sciences and technology, Pennsylvania State University; P. Unnikrishnan, doctoral student, WSU; and Eileen Trauth, professor of information sciences and technology, Pennsylvania State University. The study exemplifies the interdisciplinary work of WSU's Grand Challenges, areas of research addressing some of society's most complex issues. The study is also in keeping with the theme of the challenge on Opportunity and Equity, which aims to promote an informed and equitable society, expand individual opportunity, and advance social justice.
Washington State University. (2016, January 12). How black men can succeed in IT careers: Study finds that cumulative experiences develop IT skills. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 1, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160112102016.htm
marily oily fish, or supplements.
Let’s take a deeper look at the science behind omega-3s. With a number of gold-standard studies to point to, experts believe EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), the two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, help reduce risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The rate of research on omega-3s seems to be accelerating as scientists find consistent evidence of the beneficial effects of this essential nutrient. In fact, of more than 30,000 scientific papers on omega-3s published on PubMed, there are roughly 3,200 clinical trials examining the impact of omega-3s on heart health, specifically. Here are a few research highlights: • In the last 10 years, every meta-
analytical review that considered the whole body of human clinical evidence for cardiac or coronary death consistently found a significant benefit to omega-3 consumption. • Since 2004, there have been 13 meta-analyses linking omega-3s and the decreased risk of cardiac and coronary death. • Results show fish oil consumption reduces cardiac death risk between approximately 10-30 percent. • A recent meta-analysis on EPA and DHA’s impact on blood pressure found fish oil can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and even benefit people who don’t have high blood pressure. The totality of evidence consistently shows EPA and DHA omega-3s reduce the risk of cardiac and coronary death, keep triglycerides in check and help maintain healthy blood pressure. How-
ever, it’s important to understand there is not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health and disease prevention. Beyond a healthy and balanced diet, an individual’s age, health status and history, and lifestyle are important considerations when it comes to deciding if supplements may help fill a specific nutrient gap that cannot or is not otherwise being met. When deciding how to increase your daily intake of omega-3s, it’s important to take an individualized approach. Talk to your doctor about your personal deficiencies and requirements, and be realistic and truthful about your diet and daily intake of omega-3s and other important nutrients. If you decide supplementation is right for you, take the time to do you research and invest in high quality omega-3 supplements. Your health is worth it. – BPT
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March 2016
Time to Review and Renew Those New Year’s Wellness Plans By Carson Easley, RN
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Contributing Writer
s this New Year rolls into the third month, this is a good time to review your goals for health and wellness. Many of us have set goals for better or improved wellness behaviors for the upcoming year. However, after about three months, the goals, along with the enthusiasm often fade. Consider this a call for renewal, and take stock of where you are and where you would like to be at this time next month. Ask yourself, “Have I been mindful of my wellness resolutions?” On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most successful and 1 being least successful, how would you rate yourself on incorporating your wellness initiatives into your lifestyle? Be truthful with yourself. Your self-rating is for your knowledge only, and the number you determine from your self-evaluation can be the springboard to motivate you to get back on track or to keep moving forward on the right track. If you determine that you are at a 10 or comfortably close, then good for you.
Unfortunately, many of us have not been able to maintain those wellness goals, and there are many reasons for this. Career, education, and family responsibilities are just a few of the stressors from adult obligations that we experience on a daily basis. Another issue often experienced is that we have too many wellness initiatives. Overwhelming yourself can cause you to push things back, as there is just not enough time in the day or during the week. Now is a good time to take a critical look at that list of lofty wellness goals set at the beginning of this year, and determine one or two that can be the focus for this month. After you achieve these attainable goals, add more from your
original list. Remember, it is not a race, but a process for sustainable change. It is well documented in healthcare that some risk factors for illnesses are genetically acquired, but do not fall into the mindset that there is nothing that can be done about it. There are lifestyle acquired risk factors, such as excessive weight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle that can negatively impact chronic illnesses. However, these factors can be managed by making healthy lifestyle changes. Focus on living and be proactive in developing tactics that support wellness. So if your goal is weight reduction, what are things you can do consistently that can set you on the path to achieving
this goal? It can be as simple as having breakfast to kick-start your metabolism, so that your body burns energy more efficiently throughout the day. Plan your breakfast menu to be low in saturated fats and sugars, but high in proteins and fiber. Make sure you take advantage of “good fats,” like olive oil or nuts. This can result in feeling fuller longer and reduced snacking and late night eating. Also, add additional steps and physical activity throughout the day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Another great tip is that if you are not in a profession that does not entail a lot of physical activity, then make it a point to get up every hour or so to walk around your office or workspace. We are made to move. The lack of adequate movement during the day can lead to weight gain, which can affect our joints and long term mobility. Look at this as an opportunity for setting yourself up for success. Nothing generates more successful behavior than a successful experience. Think about the outcomes that you want to achieve with your wellness initiatives, such as feeling better, looking better, having more energy or lowering acquired risk factors. There is no need for grand schemes or great expense. It’s as simple as making the choice to create the change you want to achieve. Carson Easley, RN is a member of the Black Nurses Association of Greater Houston (BNAGH).
MHA Houston Receives $2M to Help Transform Regional School Behavioral Health By d-mars.com News Provider
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ental Health America of Greater Houston has received more than $2 million from Houston Endowment to establish The Center for School Behavioral Health at Mental Health America of Greater Houston. This award, dispersed over three years, will enable The Center to engage schools and child-serving organizations from every municipality and county in the Greater Houston region. It is expected to increase the capacity for prevention, early identification, and treatment of behavioral health concerns among students and transform the landscape of school behavioral health in the Greater Houston region. The National Institute of Mental Health reports the onset of half of all mental illnesses occurs by age 14 and a total of 75% of these illnesses begin by
age 24. According to Texans Care for Children, nine out of 10 students classified as having an emotional disturbance in Texas public schools were suspended
or expelled from school. And, while rates in teen suicide in Texas have gone down in recent years, suicide remains the third leading cause of death in young people
aged 15-24 in Texas. Using the Collective Impact model, The Center for School Behavioral Health at Mental Health America of Greater Houston will serve as a “living laboratory” for incubating innovative, cost-effective and replicable best practices to improve the behavioral health of students, while also providing highly specialized professional development opportunities, technical assistance and community education, research, stigma reduction and awareness, advocacy, and policy analysis. Mental Health America of Greater Houston, established in 1954 by philanthropist, Ima Hogg, is the area’s longest serving mental health education and advocacy organization focused on shaping the mental health of people and communities in the areas of children and education, integrated health care, chronic illnesses, women, suicide prevention, veterans and aging. www.mhahouston.org
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March 2016
Study: Exercise Can Be Bad for Your Teeth
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Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Contributing Writer
xercise does a body good, or most of a body, according to a new study. German dental researchers set out to explore the impact of endurance training on oral health, and what they found might be bad news for the “hard-core.” A group of 70 participants - half triathletes, half non-athletes, with an average age of 36, underwent an oral examination, had their saliva tested while sitting, and answered questions about their diet (including sports drink consumption), exercise, and oral habits. Fifteen of the athletes additionally had their saliva tested while running for about 35 minutes. The athletes were found to have a higher risk of dental erosion. And while both groups had the same cavity prevalence, the more training time an athlete logged, the more likely he suffered from cavities, Runner’s World reports. But sports drinks weren’t found to be the culprit. What they found was a difference in spit, and a fairly surprising one at that, says lead researcher Dr. Cornelia Frese. At rest, the participant’s saliva, which helps protect teeth, was the same in terms of volume and chemical makeup. But things began to change as the athletes started working out: Saliva production dropped. This means their mouths got drier, explains the New York Times, and it happened even if they were consuming liquids. Further, “saliva pH increased significantly,” per the study, which the Times reports may encourage tartar plaque growth. But don’t hang up the sneakers. Frese notes that the study was a small one, and that the athletes it studied were pretty intense: Their mean weekly exercise time was nine hours. (In other teeth-related news, doctors found an extra tooth in a man’s nose.)
Your Workout Might Be Giving You Cavities A solid workout can do wonders for your health. From keeping you at a healthy weight to improving your mental health, physical activity is a key component to a healthy lifestyle. But according to a July 2014 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, physically active people might need to pay extra attention to their oral health. The study, done by the School of Dental Medicine at the University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany, found an increased risk of dental erosion in athletes. The study of 35 triathletes and 35 non-exercisers included oral exams and assessments, saliva testing, a question-
naire about eating, drinking, and oral hygiene habits, plus training time increased, so did the prevalence of dental erosions; and, according to a subsample of athletes participating in an incremental running field test, saliva flow rates decreased when intensity increased and saliva pH slightly increased. When you add into the mix the carbs and sugar in sports drinks and protein bars that you’re likely consuming before and after working out, your mouth now has the perfect environment for cavities explains Dr. Jessica Emery, cosmetic dentist and owner of Sugar Fix Dental Loft Chicago. “Sugar feeds the decaycausing bacteria. Our defenses against this bad bacteria lives in our saliva,” Dr. Emery says, “so lower saliva rates make it harder for your mouth to keep itself clean. The way you breathe, plus becoming dehydrated as you sweat both contribute to this dry ‘runner’s mouth’.” So what does this mean for you? “Any athlete will experience dry mouth from time to time,” says Emery, “but the effects seem to be more prevalent in runners since they don’t always have access to water, and distance runners can be outside for hours on end in the elements which can also exacerbate the symptoms.” This doesn’t mean you should stop lacing up and hitting the pavement to maintain your pearly whites. There are a few things you can do to eliminate a workout’s effects on your teeth: Stay hydrated. This is your best defense against runner’s mouth, since your body needs a water supply to produce saliva. Drink water before, during, and after workouts. “If you are a distance runner, consider increasing your salt intake, which allows your body to retain water,” Emery suggests. Pop a sugar-free mint or gum postworkout. Emery says, “This will get rid of the dry mouth and allow your saliva glands to start working again.” But sug-
ar-free is key. Sugar will just encourage bad bacteria to grow and make matters worse. Brush and floss regularly. Brush and floss twice a day like you’ve been taught. And if your mouth is feeling especially rank after a run, brush and floss then, too. If you notice any sensitivity or pain, go see your dentist. “Oral hygiene is something everyone
needs to take seriously when considering their overall health,” notes Emery. Runners and athletes may just need to pay a little extra attention to theirs. Schedule your oral exam today! For breakthrough dental technology, please call us at 832-304-2447, or visit us on the web at www.cosmeticdental texas.com.
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March 2016
What Are You Going to Change for National Nutrition Month?
By Rhonda Dallas
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Contributing Writer
arch is National Nutrition Month, and making changes this month towards a healthier lifestyle is a great start to a new lifestyle. Statistically, we spend January and February trying to keep up with our New Year’s Resolutions of losing weight and eating better. By March we have fallen off of this commitment. Well the good news is that we can start right back up again in March. Don’t give up on yourself, and don’t throw in the towel so quickly, but give it one more month. As we all know, February is National Go Red Month where we spend time talking about cardiovascular diseases, but truth be told, a great deal of heart disease is caused by the way we eat and our lack of exercise. I encourage all of us to get started or keep going this month. Some of the obstacles that could be hindering us are not having enough time, not having a place to work out, and no access to healthy food or healthy recipes. The excuses can end right now,
as I am your motivator to get started. Our days have become so busy with work, family, and other obligations. We are suffering from overload, because we see so much coming towards us every second from everywhere, and this tends to overwhelm us to the point of not keeping track of our very own health. This month has been dedicated to give us an opportunity to purposefully start or increase our vitamins, increase our fruit and vegetable intake, and get adequate sleep. We must ask ourselves the question, “What is causing me not to
be able to spend healthy quality time with myself?” and “What is hindering me from changing my lifestyle?” These are questions that we must take out the time to answer for ourselves. We must make time in our schedule to eat better, work out more, and even decrease our use of social media to increase that face to face interaction that makes for healthy relationships. Vitamins and supplements are a great start and can help increase our stamina and increase our metabolism, which gives us the energy to think and live
healthier. Another way to increase your energy and decrease health risks is to just get out there today and start walking in your very own neighborhood. We tend to sabotage ourselves by overthinking and feeling like we need new clothes, etc. to get started. It only takes one step at a time to begin your journey of living a healthier lifestyle. I started some time ago and made a promise with myself every day to live better today than I did yesterday. Individuals can start a group in their very own area of influence and take a stand to live a healthier lifestyle. Become a leader of healthcare in your very own community. Take a stand for those you love and those you live right next door to. As a family, you can make eating right and exercise a part of your family time. Decrease the amount of TV, social media, and video games, and come together to exercise, cook, and create healthy conversations. I love when families spend time together by interacting with each other in the kitchen or on the walking trails. There is something healthy by just smiling and spending time with others. Our day to day stress will be reduced. There’s no better time than now to start a healthy lifestyle. A certified health and wellness life coach can help you with a healthy lifestyle. Contact Rhonda Dallas at rhondadallascoaching@gmail.com for your coaching session. Get started today!
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March 2016
Insight for Developing Healthy Habits By Ruth Caggins, PHD, RN Contributing Writer
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ave you ever wondered why it is so difficult to change problematic behaviors even though you earnestly want to make that change? It seems that all you have to do is say, “I am going to start an exercise program. I will do it on Monday.” In other words, “Just do it.” However, I suggest that before you begin your exercise program, you should consider what will make your change in behavior lasting. Having an understanding of what lasting change involves is the first step. Developing insight into what is required to make change last is the key. Insight into the process of change has come from examining research on behavioral change that was written over a thirty-five year period. The outcome of that comprehensive literature review was the development of The Transtheoretical Model by Prochaska and DiClemente in 1983. They called it transtheoretical, because it transformed the blending of many theories into a usable model that could guide self-assessment, planning and follow-through for a step-by-step approach to changing bad habits to good ones and/ or developing good habits where none existed. They found that people go through a series of stages when changing their behavior. Some stages last longer than others, sometimes people may fall backward to
an earlier stage, then resume progress. However, the goal is not to give up, but to identify where you are and then take steps to regain momentum toward developing healthy habits.
The Stages of The Transtheoretical Model are: 1. Not Ready Stage (Precontemplatation) 2. Getting Ready Stage (Contemplation) 3. Ready Stage (Preparation) 4. Action Stage (Implementation) 5. Maintenance Stage (Habit Formation) 6. Termination Stage (Routine Use of the New Habit).
The development of a new habit requires repeating a behavior over and over again for at least 6 weeks. Getting encouragement from family, friends, coaches or trainers is essential motivation to continuing the work of change. Understanding what is involved in change and the barriers you may face is critical to reaching your goal of developing a healthy habit. Once you form a new habit, it becomes second nature. You don’t have to think about it. It is a part of your life. Let’s look at how Sam, age 39, worked through these stages to make exercise a regular part of his life. He confided in his sister that he had less energy and had started to gain weight. He knew he needed
to make a change, but he was not ready. One day he was walking up the steps at his job and he labored to catch his breath after ten steps. He was embarrassed, because his co-workers called him a slow poke. After seeing his doctor, he found out that he had mild hypertension (Getting Ready). His doctor told him that weight loss would greatly improve his stamina. He further suggested that Sam needed to modify his life style to lose weight, maintain the weight loss, and cut back on his salt intake. Sam remembered that his dad had a heart attack when his dad was 40 years old. Sam loved his wife and two children and wanted to be there for them (Ready Stage). So, he decided to joined a fitness club and asked his wife to go with him (Action Stage). They made a schedule and rearranged they lives
5 Tips for a Fabulous, Healthy 2016 5 Tips for a Fabulous, Healthy Fall By d-mars.com News Provider
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ow that the holidays are behind us and spring is fast approaching, it is the perfect time to take control and make small changes that will improve your overall health. However, many of us struggle with sticking to a healthy diet and fitness routines and health regimens.
To help you stay healthy this season, here are five tips that you and your family can follow: Exercise regularly. This may seem "easier said than done" however, don't let winter get in the way of your exercise routine. Get creative and adjust where and how you work out. For example, take that evening walk on your lunch break instead, take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible and look into indoor fitness options for those days when it's too cold to exercise outside. Raise Vitamin D levels (even when the sun doesn't shine). With colder temperatures and shorter days you may not be getting that daily dose of sunlight for Vitamin D, which is essential for maintain-
ing strong bones and supporting your immune system**. However, there are other ways to bolster your Vitamin D intake no matter the season. Research from the makers of Centrum multivitamins shows that the majority of U.S. adults know sunlight to be a source of Vitamin D, but few can name other sources. Less than half of U.S. adults are aware of other sources of Vitamin D including: fish (43 percent), egg yolks (36 percent) and beef liver (32 percent). Vitamin D has numerous health benefits and may help reduce the risk of some of the top health concerns of adults including osteoporosis. Add a multivitamin. Though the
weather outside may be frightful, your health and nutrition can be delightful. While it may be a challenge to eat healthy during the winter, look for ways to incorporate healthy carbs, whole grains and winter produce to your diet. If you're having a difficult time getting key nutrients from food alone, consider adding a multivitamin to your daily regime. Centrum multivitamins offer essential vitamins and minerals to support your nutritional health - now with higher levels of Vitamin D3*, the body's preferred form of Vitamin D**. Stay hydrated. Heat and summer sweat have you reaching for the water
so that they exercised four hours each week. They noticed improvement in their muscle tone and strength. Sam began to enjoy the changes he experienced (Habit Formation). He noticed that he looked forward to his exercise sessions and felt a letdown if he missed exercising (New Habit Formation). If you are interested in learning more about how to use The Transtheoretical Model, Prochaska has developed a web site called The Pro-Change Suite. He has included a self-help Health Risk Assessment that produces a Personal Health Report which identifies your stage of behavioral change, highlights your strengths and areas for improvement, and lays out a plan just for you. For further knowledge, go to pro-change. com/myhealth-lifestyle-management. I have taken my self-help Health Risk Assessment. I look forward to seeing you as you progress on your way to better health.
Reference:
Prochaska, J.O., Evers, K.E., Castle, P.H., John, J.L., Prochaska, J.M., Rula, E.Y., Coberley, C., & Pope, J.E. (2012). Enhancing multiple domains of wellbeing by decreasing multiple health risk behaviors: A randomized clinical trial. Population Health Management, 15(5), 276-286. Ruth Caggins, PhD, RN is a member of the Black Nurses Association of Greater Houston.
during the warmer months but in the winter - not so much. Even though the seasons change, your water consumption shouldn't. Most people need to drink between six and eight glasses of water every day, so if you're falling below this number, drink up. You'll be heathier for it. Get adequate sleep. It's a known fact that sleep is critical for our mental health and physical wellbeing - it's our body's natural way to recover and rest up. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. While it may be difficult to turn in early, there are things you can do to ensure a full night's sleep. For starters, give yourself enough time to wind down at the end of the day and remove distractions from your sleeping space (this includes your electronic devices!). Now is the perfect time to reset and recharge your healthy habits. Follow the tips above and you'll be able to handle any snow, rain or gloom that winter weather throws your way. To learn more about Centrum multivitamins, visit www.centrum.com/centrumsilver-multivitamin. *Versus prior formulas of Centrum and Centrum Silver products only. **These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. – BPT
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Intracellular Calcium Integrates Complex Signaling to Control Stem Cell Activity Seminal Discovery Reveals New Mode of Stem Cell Regulation By d-mars.com News Provider
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hen it comes to the latest in biotechnology, ScienceDaily is a great source for information. Adult stem cells ensure continuous regeneration of tissues throughout our entire life. But the activity of these stem cells has to be carefully controlled in order to support regeneration without cancer. How this balanced control is achieved and maintained as the organism ages remains a critical question in stem cell biology. Publishing in Nature, researchers at the Buck Institute have identified a new mode of stem cell regulation. Working in the fly gut, senior scientist Heinrich Jasper, PhD, and colleagues show that stem cells adjust their proliferative activity in response to a wide variety of signals via intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling. Mechanisms that control the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and proteins that respond to intracellular Ca2+ changes thus emerge as master regulators of stem cell activity. Adult stem cells in the gut exist in a very active environment, they are continually bombarded with signals -- from diet, the microbiome, and from invading bacteria and other stressors. Should the cells spring into regenerative action and divide or remain poised for future needs? Jasper says a Ca2+ sensitive gene regulatory system integrates these stimuli to control intestinal proliferation by influencing the oscillation of Ca2+ levels within the cells. “These findings help explain how stem cells are able to respond to such a wide range of stimuli,” said Jasper, who is also the Chief Scientific Officer at the Buck Institute. “The fact that one variable -Ca2+ -- is integrating all of these signals was quite an exciting and surprising
discovery in stem cell biology with implications for our understanding of various cancers and a range of degenerative diseases.” Postdoctoral fellow Hansong Deng, PhD, determined the wide-ranging significance of Ca2+ signaling after discovering that intestinal stem cells have receptors that sense L-glutamate, and that dietary L-glutamate stimulated stem cell division and gut growth in the flies. Deng teamed up with Buck Research Professor Akos Gerencser, PhD, (codirector of the Institute’s imaging core) who was able to image live stem cells in the fly gut. Surprisingly, they discovered that Ca2+ levels oscillate regularly in stem cells and that L-glutamate regulates stem cell activity by triggering a sustained increase of Ca2+ within the cell. Research showed that this change in Ca2+ levels in stem cells was not limited to the response to L-glutamate, but was also observed when these cells became activated in response to other stimuli, including infection and tissue damage. In addition, the scientists found that el-
evating Ca2+ by genetically perturbing Ca2+ pumps in the stem cells resulted in a strong, continuous proliferative response. A sustained elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration thus emerged as a universal and required characteristic of activated stem cells, and Deng found that the activation of stem cells by Ca2+ was accomplished by Ca2+-sensitive protein phosphates and transcription factors. The researchers say this universal role of Ca2+ in stem cell activation suggests that these cells use the intracellular Ca2+ concentration as a gauge to respond dynamically to the multitude of signals vying for their attention. Jasper says that in the future, his lab plans to explore the role of this regulatory system in influencing stem cell based diseases and age-related dysfunctions in the gut and other high-turnover tissues, adding that the work has important implications for how environmental challenges influence such diseases. L-glutamate, for example, is the most abundant naturally-occurring amino acid in the
body and is involved in many metabolic processes. Dietary sources of L-glutamate include beef, chicken, fish and eggs. Its sodium salt is also known as the flavor enhancer MSG, which was fed to the flies in this study. Jasper says this study provides an interesting new angle to our understanding of the effects of the widely-used ingredient. “We’ve shown in the fly that supplementing a proteinrestricted diet with MSG stimulates the proliferation of stem cells. Supplementing the same diet with high concentrations of MSG, on the other hand, impaired stem cell activity, indicating that at these high concentrations MSG may cause stem cell toxicity. Whether the effect of MSG on stem cell proliferation is a good or bad thing is another story,” he said. “Supplementing the diet with low levels of MSG might just be supporting regeneration or it might be causing stem cells to proliferate too much, facilitating the development of gastrointestinal cancers. It’s an open question that needs more study, especially in vertebrates.” For more, please visit ScienceDaily at www.sciencedaily.com.
Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Hansong Deng, Akos A. Gerencser, Heinrich Jasper. Signal integration by Ca2 regulates intestinal stem-cell activity. Nature, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/nature16170 Buck Institute for Research on Aging. (2015, December 2). Intracellular calcium integrates complex signaling to control stem cell activity: Seminal discoveryreveals new mode of stem cell regulation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 1, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202142203.htm
Better Detection of Concussion in Young Football Players By d-mars.com News Provider
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hen it comes to the latest in sports medicine information, ScienceDaily is a great source for
information. Researcher Christian Duval, PhD, and his team have developed a new, simple and non-invasive approach to create a biomechanical and cognitive profile of football players and more quickly and accurately detect concussions in these individuals. Christian Duval and his post-doctoral student Hung Nguyen, PhD, work at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de
Montréal, which is affiliated with the University of Montreal. They presented their preliminary research findings at the International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support, which was held in Lisbon from November 15 to 17. For their study, Christian Duval's team performed a dual-task assessment using simultaneous biomechanical and cognitive tests to evaluate the players every week. Thanks to a markerless motion capture system, this approach let them establish a unique profile for each person in just seven minutes and detect signs of concussion in a player before the medical team could. Developing such a fast and effective test is critical, as repeated impact on the young brain
over time leaves damage similar to that caused by dementia. "We had the players walk while avoiding obstacles and while executing cognitive tasks. The combination of these two results established each individual's personal signature. Our measurements let us quickly detect concussion symptoms that could go unnoticed by health care professionals or by the young athletes themselves. The test we developed also simulates game situations, because in football, players are stimulated both physically and intellectually," explained Christian Duval. In a sport in which many concussions go undetected, this approach could help health care professionals to not only better detect these brain injuries but also
systematically monitor all players during the season to detect or monitor those who sustain a concussion to determine when they are ready to get back out on the field. For more, please visit ScienceDaily at www.sciencedaily.com. Story Source: The above article is reprinted from materials provided by the University of Montreal. University of Montreal. (2015, November 24). Better detection of concussion in young football players. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 1, 2016 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151124113023.htm
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