d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal 01

Inaugural Issue

Health & Wellness Journal Health

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Medical

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Wellness

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research

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fitness

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Lifestyle

Time for Change

INSIDE

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

OCT. 15 - nov. 15

Edition

Healthy Lifestyle Changes Start Today!

Lose up to

3430lbs In days with Beta HCG Ultimate!

Health Insurance Starts Working Better for Texas Children and Families

By Anat Kelman Shaw Health Insurance Starts Working for Children and Families.

Dr. Heather Brown Orthodontics

PAGE 6

Kim Roxie Lamik Makeup

Easy and fun health and wellness activities for the workplace

By Christina R. Grochett Tips for fun and simple activities to implement as part of an employee wellness program.

PAGE 7

Photography by Grady Carter

MR. D-MARS & Tamyra Comeaux, MD, NMD

“The Wellness Revolution�

Camille G. Cash, M.D. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Monica Lamb Wellness & Life Coach 3-Time WNBA World Champion team up with Mr. D-MARS

Eye to Eye with Dr. Romea The Vision Dealer Healthy eyes, clear vision and proper eyehand co-ordination is essential for good academic performances PAGE 31

Dr. Dwayne Williams Sleep Center of Kirby

Maudria Fitchett, R.N. Nurturing Home Healthcare

Dr. Milton Moore Moore Unique Dermatology

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Hypertension: The Silent Killer

The ommunity

By Dr. Olufunke Odetunde Statistics in the USA indicate that African Americans have a higher incidence of hypertension than other ethnicities.

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Kharmnesia & Nirvana Compounding Solutions Pharmacy

Mira Miles Scriptlink Pharmacy

Alison Scott Cuillier Lasting Impressions Dental

HIGHLIGHT

See pg. 6

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Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr. SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis JR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Jr. EDITING CONSULTANT ReShonda Tate-Billingsley ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla OPERATION COORDINATOR Brandale Mills SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jones PHOTOGRAPHY Leon Galbreath Grady Carter MARKETING CONSULTANTS Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ghuzzala Malik (Faith) Myron Davis DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cynthia Nickerson Monica Lamb Alison Scott Dr. Dwayne Williams Charles Swindell Anat Kelman Shaw Dr. D.L. Jones Christina Robinson Grochett Dr. Milton D. Moore Wykesha C. Hayes, M.Ed Brandale Mills T.Q. Doyle Maudria Fitchett Heather Haukaas Elvia Valdez Craig Anthony Nicholas Noel Pinnock E. H. Davis Dr. Olufunke Odetunde

It is my pleasure to present our introductory issue of the d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal! Over the past year, the d-mars.com enterprise has grown beyond expectation, venturing to new arenas while building on our expertise. We hope that the addition of this journal will help provide a relevant and concise source of health and wellness information targeted to the Houston area’s diverse community of color.

The d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal is committed to delivering credible information to the community through strategic connections with reliable experts in the health and wellness industry, positioning the Health & Wellness Journal to be a leading resource to anyone seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We hope the Health &Wellness Journal becomes a leading resource to anyone seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Again thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com When you support d-mars. com, 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.

CONTENTS Dr. Tamyra Comeaux: Teaching Clients a Healthy Way to Lose Weight……. 4 Teaming up to Promote Healthy Changes...............……………………......... 5 Health Insurance Starts Working Better for Texas Children and Families….. 6 Good Health is Good Wealth……………………………………………….…… 6 Easy and Fun Health and Wellness Activities for the Workplace……………. 7 Student Athletes “Play it Safe” by Wearing Mouth Guards………………….. 8 Sleep – The Cornerstone Good Health…………………………………………. 13 Water or Soda?.............................................................................................. 14 Skin Conditions Unique to African-Americans………………………………… 14 Maintaining Health Leadership Skills…………………………………………… 15 Nurturing and Educating the Community………………………………………. 16 Creating Solutions, One Compound at a Time………………………………… 21 Health is Our True Wealth: The “Pappa Dubb” Lifestyle……………………… 21 Creating a Network of Support for Breast Cancer Awareness...................... 22 Enough is Enough………………………………………………………………… 23 Life Rewards Those Who Take Action…………………………………………. 24 Script Link Pharmacy – The Pharmacists That Delivers……………………… 24 Saving Lives With Organ Donations…………………………………………… 29 Health & Awareness 2010……………………………………………………….. 30 Eye to Eye with Dr. Romea - The Vision Dealer............................................ 31 Award-Winning Gospel Artists to Perform And Promote Stroke Awareness. 32 Free Health Texts for New and Expectant Moms.......................................... 32 Hypertension The Silent Killer…………………………………………………… 34

MR. D-MARS D-MARS.com Business Journal Tip of the Month “The Greatest Wealth is Health” - Virgil

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7322 Southwest Fwy, Suite 806 Houston, Texas 77074 713-272-9511 . Phone 713-272-6364 . Fax 1-800-453-8752 . Toll Free www.d-mars.com 3.

Dr. Tamyra Comeaux: Teaching clients a healthy way to lose weight

By Cynthia Nickerson, Contributing Writer

Dr. Tamyra Comeaux always wanted to know what makes people tick. As a child, her career goal was to become a psychiatrist. But that changed as she began studying medicine.

“As I went through medicine I wanted a bigger puzzle to figure out and pregnant women are a puzzle - the medical part, counseling part, surgery part, “ she says.

Dr. Comeaux has earned a Medical Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, a Masters in Holistic Nutrition and a Naturopathic Medical Degree. After completing her residency in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Comeaux began her medical career in 2000 as an obstetrician gynecologist on Houston’s north

side and is now a board certified Ob/ GYN who is interested in preventing, as well as helping treat female problems using the least invasive and disruptive methods possible.

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provides a comprehensive health assessment that is personal to you and addresses your health concerns and through a combination of bioidentical hormones, diet plans, and natural supplements, designs a specialized program for each client. And above all else, Dr. Comeaux says she doesn’t give her clients anything she wouldn’t use herself.

“I have always used herbal remedies, even as a child. When I caught a cold, it was vitamin C and chicken soup. So everything I offer here in my office, I have tried.”

Dr. Comeaux also offers her version of the HGC diet, a weight loss method utilizing the HGC hormone and restricting patients to 500 calories per day.

“You basically start living off your Through the years, Dr. Comeaux’s own fat and you don’t get hungry bepractice has evolved and expanded. cause the doses of HGC suppresses Now, she spends a lot of time helping patients, men and women, lose weight and focus on general wellness or preventive measures -measures that are desperately needed in the African-American community.

Medical research consistently indicates that African-Americans do not live as long as other races, mainly due to improper diet, lack of exercise and stress.

“I help my patients eat right, not to look a certain way or fit into a certain size, it’s about staying alive long enough to see your grandchildren,” said Dr. your appetite.”

Comeaux.

Dr. Comeaux’s method provides a Comeaux counsels patients on very specific eating plan and even lists weight loss and weight man- types of beauty and skin care products agement as well as diagnosing patients must use in order to get the hormonal imbalances and al- maximum benefit from the diet. lergies. She has written four While it appears very challenging, books and has her own line of Dr. Comeaux has about a hundred pavitamins produced to address tients a year who successfully complete a variety of medical problems. the HCG diet and lose upwards of 30 “Patients would come in pounds in the first month. with a lot of issues that there Dr. Comeaux, who is a member is no pill for. For example men have Viagra to help with sex drive, but there is no equivalent for women. Women would complain about fatigue, and hot flashes. There is really no reliable pill for that so I would discuss a certain vitamin.”

Comeaux sought the additional degrees in nutrition and naturopathic medicine to further her knowledge about vitamins and natural healing. She aimed to get people to stop wasting their money on vitamins and supplements they didn’t need. She www.

of the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine, also diagnoses hormonal imbalances, allergies and other disorders that may be corrected with dietary changes.

“Too many of us eat like we are on a cruise, with an unlimited buffet. When we are in our 20’s, you can get away with that. But once you hit age 30, our bodies say, ‘I’m out!’”

That is when ailments such as high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes began creeping up on people; AfricanAmericans are suffering from these problems more than most.

“Vitamins will work for everybody but the same vitamin doesn’t work for everybody.”

Whether you need significant weight loss, want to drop 10 pounds or just feel better, you’ll find great advice

in one of Dr. Comeaux’s books or her website: www.naturalwomenscare.com.

Dr. Comeaux explains why her chosen career is so important to her: “When I leave this world, I want people to say she changed my life. If I had not met here, I wouldn’t be better today.

For more information visit www.naturalwomenscare.com or email info@naturalwomenscare.com or call 832.237.4200

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The ommunity

HIGHLIGHT

By Monica Lamb Contributing Writer

R

emember when you were young and summer time came to an end and the school bells of fall returned.

Some of us groaned for a minute, but we settled in to what was inevitable – Change. Change in our schedules, focus, routines, and goals. Time was out for sleep-late, play-all-day, and gigglethe-nights-away days of summer. It was time to get back to work.

Once we grew up, there were no automatic signals to let us know when it was time to change patterns, habits and routine. No one gives us the gentle nudge that it is time to wake up and get

started…until now.

D-mars.com brings to you Houston’s premier health and wellness journal, the tool which provides the wake up call to help us to shake off the blues of poor health habits, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating choices, chronic illness and disease.

The time is now for us to take control of our own health and wellness by becoming proactive and involved in the day-to-day decisions of what we do and consume. Our lives and legacy depend on it. No one can do it for us. The fact is we must roll up our sleeves and get to work. But there is good news – you are not alone! D-mars.com and the expert team of contributors will provide you with valuable information, helpful hints and insightful solutions as we start the

Monica Lamb is a Wellness Coach and can be found at www.mlwellness.org.

D-Mars and Monica Lamb encourage healthy lifestyles.

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journey to Change.

I have served our community for years as an Ambassador for health and wellness.

Fighting against health disparities and sharing health education has not always been a cake walk, but it is surely the most rewarding community work I perform. As a contributor, I am most pleased to be a part of the encouraging, educating, uplifting word of Change Our community will enjoy news, articles and exposure to trends that will save and enrich our lives.

My history and accomplishments in sports provides the framework to structure our journey into optimal health and wellness as your personal Wellness Coach. As such, we will begin by exploring and scouring the city for new and innovative as well as time tested methods for achieving favorable outcomes. Because your state of wellness reaches across all areas of your life, your health, your mental condition, your spiritual state, your associations and habits, it is important to be broad minded in your approach to positive outcomes. I am excited and confident that we will get off to a great start (preseason), establish awesome practices (regular season) and ultimately achieve our goals (win the Championship!).

So be encouraged and Welcome the Change!

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Health Insurance Starts Working Better for Texas Children and Families TEXAS CAN ENROLL 700,000 ELIGIBLE CHILDREN RIGHT NOW Anat Kelman Shaw Contributing Writer Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that were meant to curb the worst excesses of the insurance industry take effect on September 23, 2010. In response, Dr. Laura Guerra-Cardus, Interim Executive Director of Children’s Defense FundTexas released the following statement: “Starting today, children who are sick can no longer be denied health coverage. Parents can keep their children on the family health insurance plans through age 26, and new insurance plans must provide free preventive care, so insurance is more about keeping kids and families healthy, than only fixing problems after they arise.

“Today’s changes will help roughly 1 million young Texans continue to

have access to quality health care until they can find a job where they are offered insurance benefits of their own, and an estimated 270,000 Texas children who have, until now, been at risk of being denied health coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Parents will now be able to take advantage of these provisions during their next employee benefits open enrollment period.

“Health reform also maintained and strengthened the CHIP and Medicaid programs by ensuring that CHIP continues through at least 2019 and Medicaid benefits for children are protected.

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation, with nearly one in three Harris County children lacking coverage. These reforms – and others that will follow – will help many of those children and young adults have a better chance to see a doctor and get the care they need.

“Some families will see these benefits right away, for others they will be phased in over the next three years.

But half of uninsured kids (more than 700,000) here in Texas don’t have to wait another day, because they’re already eligible for Medicaid and CHIP cover-

age. Their parents may not know they qualify, or they may have trouble navigating the enrollment system. We can all play a part in connecting these kids to the health coverage they need to grow and thrive. Visit www.cdftexas.org to learn how you can help.”

GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD WEALTH

By Dr. D. L. Jones Contributing Writer So can exercising regularly actually save you money? The answer is, yes!

Exercise can end up saving you tons of money. Most people know that when you exercise you greatly impove your health and gain physical endurance.

Exercise has been proven to prevent and manage diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer. When there is less sickness and physical injuries, there are less doctor visits and medications to take. Exercise Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

is also great for improving your mood and reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. This also helps to save you money by fewer doctor visits and less medication.

In most cases, many people who exercise also like to live a healthy lifestyle.

This includes maintaining a healthy and well balanced diet.

When this type of diet is maintained, there are often less convenience food and junk food purchases. This really adds up when you account for fast food meals, the price of prepared food in grocery stores, and the price of junk food. When you take that off of your weekly budget, it saves you cash. People who exercise and make an effort to live a healthy lifestyle sometimes get a discount on insurance too.

Exercising and living a healthy lifestyle cannot only improve your health, but also your finances.

Investing in exercise could save you from extreme situations like financial disaster. When a person is in good shape, they are 2 times more productive www.

than their co-workers. They also use 7-10 days less of sick leave and they will pay $330 less in health care.

Here is another sad statistic; the National Health Institute has found that cancer costs the United States roughly $180 billion each year. This cost is on the rise. People that do not live active lifestyles are at an increased risk for developing almost every type of cancer imaginable. Obese employees cost their employers about $13 billion in lost wages, production costs, and health care costs. The obese employee can also expect to pay about $1,500 more in health care costs than their co-workers that are not overweight.

When a person is in good health, they visit the doctor less and they don’t need to spend as much money on medications. This is important as we age because the body starts to decline and it is not as healthy. If you invest in daily exercise, you will increase your life expectancy and the chance that you may need to be placed in a rest home someday.

Another argument that occasionally presents itself is that people can’t afford to exercise or join a gym. Truth be known, is exercise really going to COST you money? Or could it be that exercise will actually SAVE you money?

The real question should be ‘Can

you afford NOT to exercise?’

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Easy and Fun Health and Wellness Activities for the Workplace

By Christina Robinson Grochett, University of Phoenix – Houston Vice President

exercise more fun and a lot easier. Time spent exercising goes faster and, with someone to share the success and struggles with, individuals can stay motivated.

University of Phoenix Houston campus encourages employees to participate in exercise activities during their lunch hour. The University’s implementation of Tennis Shoe Tuesdays provides employees with the opportunity to bring in their sneakers and go for a brisk walk around the campus, and Wii Wednesdays where departments play Wii Fit games to strengthen their exercise and team-building skills offer fun, easy activities where people can burn a few caloincrease productivity in the workplace. ries through their day.

Snack Light Did you know that inactivity is the second leading preventable cause of death (second only to tobacco use) in the United States? In an effort to battle these staggering statistics, 85% of U.S. businesses have created health and fitness programs. These employee initiatives help alleviate the negative impacts of unhealthy employee behavior, such as obesity, smoking, and injury on healthcare costs.

There is no right way to approach workplace wellness programs, but successful programs include commitment from management, employee involvement and resources, for health, wellness and safety that align with the organization’s mission, vision and values.

Here are a couple of fun and simple activities to implement as part of an employee wellness program. University of Phoenix Houston campuses created these activities as part of our health and wellness program we launched several years ago.

Walking Encourage employees to do more walking by skipping the elevators and parking farther from the door. Walking is an easy exercise that has long-term benefits including strengthening your heart, reducing your risk of diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer, and improving fitness and physical function.

To encourage employees to walk more, the University’s Houston campus gave employees pedometers and challenged them to walk a certain number of steps each day.

Teams Working in pairs or groups makes Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

Snacking isn’t a bad thing; except when eating fatty foods with low nutritious value. Get rid of the potato chips and chocolate bars in the break room. Instead offer healthy snacks such as fruits, granola bars, high-fiber and low sugar cereal, yogurt and vegetables and dip.

The University’s Houston campus offers a healthy snack cart for employees to encourage healthy eating.

These snacks have improved employees’ moods, boosted energy, and satisfied cravings. This makes for a positive, highenergy work environment.

Christina Robinson Grochett is the State Vice President/ Director of South Texas for University of Phoenix. An accomplished leader and champion of higher learning, she was selected as a 2010 Women of Influence

by Houston Woman Magazine and one of the Top 10 business women by the American Business Women’s Association in 2008.

Under her leadership, the Houston campuses

were selected as a 2009 Best Place to Work

by The Houston Business Journal and were awarded with the 2009 and 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Awards from the City of Houston for Workplace Flexibility and Innovation.

Healthcare Fair With busy work and family schedules, some professionals find they do not take the time to learn about simple health and wellness activities. To help educate employees, businesses can host a wellness fair and invite local organizations to present their healthy products and services.

University of Phoenix hosts a free health and wellness fair for its employees each year. More than 45 organizations have attended to provide flu shots, health screenings, fitness and nutrition advice and tips on keeping individuals and families healthy. More than 60 percent of employees have attended the fair. It has been so successful that the University has opened it to students and alumni.

The key to a successful health and wellness program is management leadership and support. If employees feel they are receiving support to live a healthier lifestyle they tend to respect their employer more and work harder. Ultimately, employee wellness programs can boost morale, improve health and fitness and www.

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Dr. Heather Brown Teaches Student-Athletes to “PLAY IT SAFE” by Wearing Mouth Guards proven to increase athletic performance by helping reduce stress, increase strength and speed up reaction time.

Statistics reveals that more than five million teeth are injured or knocked out every year; 13-39 percent of them are due to sports injuries. To reduce these numbers, Dr. Heather Brown and staff are proud to team up with the Houston Texans Ambassadors to spread this “PLAY IT SAFE” message.

Wheatley student athletes had the opportunity to learn, meet players and they even walked away with autographs.

Wayne and Kathleen Blount, parents of Wildcat’s center (Wayne Blount II), stressed how important it is for their son to wear a mouthguard to also protect his

left to right: Cornelius McFarland, Toosdy Owen, Wayne Blount, Dr. Heather Brown, Eric Brown & Corey Bradford

Board certified orthodontist, Dr. Heather Brown, and former Houston Texans Pros, Eric Brown, Corey Bradford and JJ Moses took a trip to Phillis Wheatley High School to educate student athletes about the importance of wearing mouthguards during sports.

Head Football Coach, Cornelius McFarland, was on board with helping bring awareness to the students.

Dr. Heather Brown Orthodontics is encouraging student athletes to “PLAY IT SAFE” by wearing mouthguards while participating in sports. Believe it or not, injuries to the mouth and face are the #1 sports-related injuries. The good news is that many of these injuries

can be prevented by wearing an athletic mouthguard. Studies show that mouthguards prevent 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college sports alone. Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards during sports. Most athletes who buy mouthguards get them from sporting goods stores, but many of them are uncomfortable and usually end up tossed in a gym bag. “Store-bought” mouthguards offer the least amount of protection against oral injuries and brain concussions. On the other hand, custom athletic mouthguards offer the greatest amount of protection and are by far the best choice.

Some custom mouthguards have

braces. Athletes that are in orthodontic treatment should wear mouthguards to prevent injury but also to prevent damage to braces, which can prolong treatment. Call today to schedule a FREE exam for a custom athletic mouthguard.

If you would like Dr. Brown and the Houston Texans Ambassadors to visit your school, please call 713 665-4455 or email info@drheatherbrown.com. Browse our website at www.DrHeatherBrown.com for additional services.

Dr. Heather Brown Orthodontics 2636 South Loop West Suite 100 Houston, TX 77054

Advertise today in D-MARS Business Journal Call US TODAY!

713.272.9511

Phillis Wheatley High School Student Athletes learn the importants of wearing mouth guards.

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A Healthy Mouth Means

a Healthy Heart!

increases plaque build up, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those without gum disease.

Watch out for these symptoms of gum disease: • Red swollen gums • Bleeding after floss or brush • Receding gums or noticing that you seem to see more of a tooth

By Alison Scott Cuillier than you used to Contributing Writer • Pus on the gums Researchers have found that people • Pain when you bite or chew with gum disease are almost twice as • Loose teeth likely to suffer from coronary artery dis• Bad breath that won’t go away ease (heart disease)!1 WOW! At Lasting Impressions Dental Gum disease can range from simple Group we care about the health of your gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft mouth, any of these symptoms may tissue and bone that supports the teeth. signal a serious problem and should be checked immediately by one of our denIn worst cases, teeth are lost.

Several theories explain the link be- tist and/or hygienist. PerioProtect and tween periodontal disease (gum disease) our Soft Tissue Management program and heart disease. One theory is that are two types of treatment that we offer oral bacteria can affect the heart when to help stop and manage your gum disthey enter the blood stream, attaching ease and ultimately protect your heart!

Don’t wait call now and schedule to fatty plaques in the heart blood vesyour appointment. sels and contributing to clot formation.

Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutriLasting Impressions Dental Group ents and oxygen required for the heart 4418 Almeda to function properly. This may lead to Houston, Texas 77004 heart attacks.

Drs. Alison Scott Cuillier, Another theory is that the inflamRhesa Bautista, Khalilah McAfee mation caused by periodontal disease 713.528.0040 Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

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Sleep - The Cornerstone of Good Health

disorder treatment facility that provides professional sleep studies for children and adults.

At the Sleep Center at Kirby, we believe that everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. Because of this, we are highly devoted in using the best of our abilities to get to the bottom of each patient’s individual sleep problem.

Our multidisciplinary teams of physicians have several decades of experience in diagnosing and managing the gamut of sleep disorders. Other members of our team include other specialties necessary in assisting our sleep physicians with the latest therapies, including surgical and neurological options.

At the Sleep Center at Kirby, our mission is to decrease the risk of medical and psychological complications associated with sleep disorders and to improve your quality of life. Our ultimate goal is for our patients to leave Sleep Center at Kirby with the confidence that their sleep will be the quality sleep that only dreams are made of.

ment haven’t alleviated a sleep prob1. How much sleep do you get? Are lem, it may be time to see a health care you rested in the morning? provider to evaluate your sleep history.

2. Do you have problems breathing?

A good primary care physician may be Do you snore? Do you wake up able to diagnose and treat a sleep dischoking? order but they may refer you to a sleep 3. Are you consistently sleepy? Are diagnostic center for further evaluation. you always tired?

Dr. Dwayne Williams, a Family Practice Physician, is a firm believer in Sleep the Silent Killer: sleep diagnostic evaluations.

1. Insufficient Sleep affects growth “Be wary of a physician who sughormone secretion that is linked gests a pharmaceutical sleeping aid to obesity without a thorough discussion of the 2. Interrupted sleep causes blood possible causes of your sleep problem,” pressure to rise, leading to hyperhe says. “With some sleep disorders,

By Dr. Dwayne Williams tension and cardiovascular disease like sleep apnea (a condition in which Contributing Writer 3. Research has also shown that inthe airway closes during sleep), sleeping sufficient sleep impairs the body’s For further information please contact pills can be dangerous.” ability to use insulin, which can The Sleep Center of Kirby at 713-790-1190 Getting enough sleep is an absolute lead to the onset of diabetes or Dr. Dwayne Williams at 281-238-3100. imperative for good health. If simple How to determine if you need a changes to your lifestyle and environ- sleep study: The Sleep Center at Kirby is a sleep

Protecting your income: The

importance of disability income insurance in a successful financial plan

By Charles Swindell Contributing Writer Like most people, you’ve probably taken steps to insure your assets by purchasing coverage for your home and car.

But what about your ability to earn income? According to a fact sheet issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration on January 31, 2007, almost three in 10 workers entering the workforce today will become disabled before retirement. A chronic disability requiring long-term care could be financially devastating. Disability income insurance can protect your family by replacing a portion of your income if you are unable to work.

According to the 7th annual MetLife Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

Employee Benefits Trends Study, released in March 2009, approximately seven out of ten full-time employees are very concerned about having enough money to pay bills during a period of sudden income loss. If you should face the unexpected, how much income would you need to sustain mortgage payments, utilities, food and clothing costs, transportation needs and bill payments? In the case of injury or illness, disability income insurance provides valuable protection.

Some employers provide disability income insurance as a benefit, or you can purchase an individual policy.

If you are considering purchasing disability income insurance, your employer may be a good place to start your search. Many employers offer disability income insurance as part of their employee benefits program. Purchasing through your workplace can be a convenient option, taking advantage of group rates and services such as payroll deductions.

When reviewing your employer’s plan look for the percentage of income it covers, what the waiting period is before benefits begin and the length of time that you’d be covered. Does your employer offer the opportunity to purchase additional coverage to meet your needs? Note who will be responsible for premium payments, which could have www.

tax implications. If your employer pays the premium, you will pay tax on any benefits you receive. If you pay premiums with your after-tax dollars, your benefits are generally tax-free.

If you’ve already enrolled in your employer’s disability income insurance plan, review the plan to make sure that the amount of coverage meets your needs at your current pay level. According to the MetLife study, of the 57% of full-time employees who have disability income insurance, 35% don’t know how much they have. The majority of working Americans (57%) haven’t taken any steps to determine their households’ needs with regard to disability coverage.

You may consider purchasing individual disability coverage to supplement your employer’s plan. Your employerprovided disability income insurance often replaces 2/3 of your salary and may not replace bonus or incentive pay.

An individual disability policy can help fill in the gaps. To protect your family, you should seek to replace 60 to 75% of

your total taxable earnings.

When shopping for an individual policy, don’t shop on price alone— look for companies with good financial strength ratings who will be there in the future when you may need your benefits. Make sure you understand the policy terms and provisions, for example, the definition of disability.

Most disability policies have a waiting period before benefits are paid. The length of your waiting period should be determined by asking yourself, “How long can I go without a paycheck?” The longer the waiting period, the lower the premium. Finally, be sure to understand the maximum duration that benefits will be paid. The most frequently offered benefit periods are two years, five years and to age 65.

Charles Swindell is a Registered Representative offering securities, including variable products through MetLife Securities, Inc. He can be reached at 832-251-5493 or (metlife.com).

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713.272.9511 13.

YOUR Water or Soda? FOR INFORMATION:

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WATER 1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy shortterm memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of soda and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of soda into the toilet bowl and let the ‘real thing’ sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in soda removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foildipped in soda.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of soda over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in soda to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of soda into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the soda for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of soda into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run SODA through a regular 1. In many states cycle. The soda the highway patrol will help loosen carries two galgrease stains. It lons of soda in the will also clean trunk to remove road haze from blood from the your windshield. highway after a car accident.

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#1. The active ingredient in soda is phosphoric acid.

It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis. #2. To carry soda syrup! (the concentrate) the commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials. #3. The distributors of soda have been using it to clean engines of the trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water? or soda?

“I’ve been drinking pop soda and coffee everyday and barely enough water. Now I suffer from kidney stones which is very painful. Not drinking enough water can damage your kidneys.

Calyceal Stone Renal pelvic stone Upper ureteral stone

“Actual image of my kidney stone.” - Ghuzzala

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.

To help prevent kidney stones, drink enough water to keep your urine clear.

My advice to everyone is to drink plenty of water.”

- Ghuzzala Malik

Skin Conditions Unique To AfricanAmericans

By Dr. Milton D. Moore Contributing Writer Over the years, AfricanAmericans have suffered from certain and distinctive skin conditions, which have been unique to their ethnic and racial make-up, everything from moles, keloids, razor bumps and blotches & discolorations.

Unfortunately, many African-Americans have just accepted these skin conditions as routine and have lived with oftentimes unsightly and painful situations; while all along there have been options for their care and treatment.

Dr. Milton Moore is a Dermatologist & Pharmacist who speaks to the myths, the dos and the don’ts relative to skin conditions unique to African-Americans.

“It is important to address how to correct and/or treat certain kinds of skin conditions in order to enhance one’s appearance and for the sake of good skin health and staying youthful,” he said. “In fact, Moore Unique Dermatology patients, as well my own bout with certain skin conditions led me to focus more extensively on treating the unique AfricanAmerican skin problems, and my eventual creation and development of a complete line of skin care products designed to address these situations.”

Having proactive perspective and philosophy to the contemporary treatment of www.

African-American skin conditions has made Dr. Moore one of this country’s foremost experts in this field, and his approach to the development of a healthier skin attracts young and old alike.

The Food and Drug Administration recent announcement on a proposed ban of the sale of over-the-counter skinlightening products has triggered consumer and dermatological reaction. Dr. Moore’s opinion on this matter is that discussions on a possible ban of skin lightening products containing Hydroquinone are premature and that educating the public on proper usage is fundamental.

“Educating consumers on the proper use and possible side effects of the products that contain hydroquinone should be the first course of action,” he said. “If there is a concern for the safe usage of this product, then an appropriate safety label or warning should be distributed with the product to ensure safety.”

There is a consumer need for skin bleaching agents and that many people depend on over the counter and prescription skin lighteners for a variety of skin conditions that include age spots, uneven or blotchy complexions, discoloration, acne scars and freckles.

“We live in a body conscious society. People are increasingly concerned with their appearance and image.

They are looking for ways to fix any perceived imperfections. When it comes to skin discoloration or age spots, particularly on the hands and face many seek over the counter skin lightening products,” said Moore. “Products containing Hydroquinone are typically used on targeted areas of the body and not meant to be used as a head to toe skin bleaching method.”

Moore has responded to

numerous patient and non-patient inquiries since the FDA announced that studies have shown “some evidence” of Hydroquinone causing cancer, many who assumed from news reports that the bleaching agent had been taken off the market. Dr. Moore advised his patients to follow instructions as indicated when using products containing Hydroquinone and to seek medical attention if they notice any adverse reactions to the product.

“The United States has regulated bleaching agents to two percent Hydroquinone in over the counter skin care lighteners and four percent for dermatological usage, it’s pretty difficult to abuse these products when they contain so little of the agent,” said Moore.

“The risk and benefit ratio has to always be considered, the consumer has the right to be properly informed and make a conscious decision not to abuse the product.”

Dr. Moore suggests that anyone who has concerns in regard to using products containing Hydroquinone try alternative methods to treat skin discoloration.

“I suggest toner creams containing Kojic Acid which has a lightening affect on melon zones without using Hydroquinone or Hydrocortisone that has a lightening effect without excessive thinning of the skin.

Additionally treatments such as Micro-dermabrasion, Laser Rejuvenation Therapy, College Replacement Therapy and Chemical Peels may also be considered,” he said.

9350 Kirby Drive. Ste. 100A, Houston, TX. 77054 Office: (713)-741-3376 Fax: (713)-661-3889 10223 Broadway, Ste. D2 Pearland, TX 77584 Office: 713-434-SPA-1 mdm@mooreunique.com 14.

Maintaining Healthy Leadership Skills!

By Wykesha C. Hayes, M.Ed Contributing Writer

requires a routine check-up, assuming you are in the business of maintaining a healthy following. It’s very simple… our talent, much like our physical body, requires special attention and continued grooming.

To ensure that you are pumping like into your staff, colleagues, clients, family and anyone else depending on your guidance, you should incorporate a leadership regimen within your overall health plan. Be certain that you place purposed attention toward developing your skills and talents utilized within your leadership position.

1. ALWAYS engage in continued proWhat does it mean to be healthy? fessional growth activities. Leaders should stay ahead of the curve, with Or, what does it mean to be a healthy knowledge of the latest trends trickleader? Most people would answer ling down the pipeline. these questions with very common answers referencing: exercise, eating 2. VACATION!!!! Don’t be afraid to vacation rather you actually travel to healthy, staying fit, etc. While, these a far away island or not. Spending things are accurate and very important, time away from your responsibiliI would encourage leaders; be it busities will allow you time to clear your ness leaders, family leaders, community mind and be inspired by new things. leaders, whomever to expand their in- 3. Position yourself around Positive sight of healthy to include attributes Impact Partners. PIPs should enrich less physical. Some would say from a your life with exposure to success, positive leadership strategies and holistic perspective, if you will. More motivation. specifically, I would encourage leaders to examine how maintaining a healthy 4. Consistently evaluate your position.

It’s perfectly natural to depend on skill set is just as important as being others and delegate responsibilities. physically fit.

By doing so, you are demonstrating All too often, leaders become cona respectful appreciation for their sumed with the daily hustle of their talents. What you don’t want howleadership responsibilities and pourever, is to be left behind. Individuals working under your leadership deing into the lives of others. They, or pend on your ability to put out fires should I say WE, tend to forget about incase they are in need of assistance. the very talent, skill or founding purIf they can’t depend on you and your pose that spearheaded our journey into expertise, trust me, it’s only a short leadership. This talent, or skill set is time before their respect for you as a what captivated our initial clients and leader diminishes.

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Nurturing and Educating the Community

By Brandale Mills, Contributing Writer

Maudria Fitchett, R.N. Maudria Fitchett didn’t have her life handed to her on a silver platter.

She worked her way from the bottom to the top with one primary goal in mind; to impact and educate the community, assisting them in living healthier lives.

The creation of Nurturing Home Health Care Agency allowed her to exceed this goal and follow both of her passions: teaching and nursing.

Nurturing Home Health Care Agency, Inc provides services to the community, allowing individuals to receive health care in the comfort of their home.

“We are committed to listening to and understanding each individual’s concern, therefore developing a trust that provides peace of mind to our clients and their families,” she said.

Founded in 2004, Nurturing Home Health Care Agency is a home and community support service agency licensed by the Texas Department of Human Services offering services including Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Visiting (Physicians, Podiatrists, Eye Doctors and Dentist), Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Diabetic Teaching, Durable Medical Equipment and many other services to their clients. Supervised by experienced Registered Nurses, Nurturing Home Health Care Agency is dedicated to overseeing the client’s personal and medical needs.

“We treat our patients with the utmost dignity and respect as if they were our own loved ones,” Fitchett Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

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said. “Nurturing Home Health Care provides each client with assistance that enables them to live with a sense of well-being and dignity.”

Nurturing Home Health Care Agency Inc. has served as a resource to the community for services that meet the changing needs of an ailing loved one in addition to understanding each client’s unique situation.

We provide seniors and disabled members of the community with education on home health services in addition to assisting them in discovering different financial assistance programs in which they may qualify. A vast majority of the elders and disabled in the community are home bound and are unaware of the help that is available to them.

“We always go above and beyond to get our clients what they need,” she said. “I truly enjoy taking care of people and assisting them in achieving their goals, which in turn, helps them lead a happy and healthier life.”

As a child, Fitchett knew she always wanted to be a nurse or a school teacher. With the support of her mother, she worked her way through college at Lamar University earning her LVN Certificate and Associates of Science degree in Nursing.

“School took me longer than the average student because I had to work two jobs while attending college but that experience makes me more appreciative of my accomplishments,” she said.

These accomplishments began at the start of her career while working for a community psychiatric center in Beaumont. After getting her RN license, Fitchett worked on the skilled nursing unit at Park Plaza Hospital.

As a testament to her strong leadership skills, four months later she was offered a job as a Program Director for the CLASS program. After that, Fitchett remained in management positions including working as Director of Nursing for a Home Health Agency.

Fitchett’s career in home health spans over 15 years and says she’s fortunate to have a successful business dedicated to educating and taking care of the community.

“I always tell people you are only as big as the dream you dare to live,” she said.

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Creating Solutions, Health is Our True Wealth: The “Pappa One Compound Dubb” Lifestyle at a Time

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ompounding Solutions was created to promote wellness by balancing the body’s needs through prescriptions medication, (compounding prescriptions as well), and through natural prescriptions.

“We wanted to offer a more personalized and natural approach to our patient’s needs,” Compounding Solutions president, Nirvana Hightower, said. “People are over medicated with prescriptions that do not cure or solve their disease.”

The staff at Compounding Solutions felt that drug manufacturers in regular pharmacy settings were not helping people to the best of their ability.

“We knew there had to be an integrative approach, which involves vitamins, nutritional and medical approach to human intervention to diseases and other illnesses,” Hightower said.

Compounding Solutions’ medication has been attributed to helping save marriages with its hormone balance, by allowing couples to regain sexual desire and function. They have also helped patients off anti-depressant drugs, giving them a choice of alternative treatment. The company has created topical pain medication for those who can’t take oral medication.

“We research to find innovative approaches to help people and their medi-

cation needs,” Hightower said. “We have reduced allergies to certain medications for people.”

Compounding Solutions makes medications for children and animals in liquid forms to ensure consumption.

They also educate the community about Bio Identical hormonal Imbalances.

“We offer one on one assessment with people to test them for hormones using a saliva or blood test. When the results return, we have a personalized consult with the patient, creating a written recommendation for a hormonal plan,” Hightower said.

The Compounding Solutions staff will communicate the results to the patient’s doctor and have them to write a prescription based on their findings.

In addition to their hormonal plans, Compounding Solutions offers a weight management program.

“We can personally coach a person through various ways of eating better and taking the right supplements to enhance a healthy lifestyle,” Hightower said.

Combined, the staff at Compounding Solutions has over 30 years experience in pharmaceuticals. The organization is a member with Professional Compounding Center of America (PCCA).

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At the time of his passing, the 105 amazing years of Carrie Robertson were enriched with five generations of offspring, land, and strong church ties spanning Louisiana, Texas and Maryland. Many years later, Wilson, his 94-year old son and my grandfather mirrors that image along with his daily drive to the family property to farm the land and feed the cattle. This is wealth in the eyes of two patriarchs who lived perfectly healthy, active, and (might I add) “medicine free” lives.

Wilson, who I affectionately call “Pappa Dubb”, claims as his secret to longevity being “the combination of a healthy body, an active mind, and a happy soul.” “This is a simple formula yet thought provoking”, I say to Pappa Dubb. In my meditation over his words I recognize that the components of his formula are intertwined and entail a balancing act. If it were not so, then: • 32% of adults ages 20 + would not suffer with hypertension.

• 67% of adults age 20 + would not be overweight or obese.

For more information please call ComThese health issues can be adpound Solutions at 281.477.7686 or visit our website at www.compoundhouston.com. dressed with regular physical activity.

Let us Promote your Business, Your Event, or You! Advertise today in D-MARS Business Journal Call US TODAY!

T. Q. Doyle, Coach and Image Consultant – MBA, SPHR Contributing Writer

• African Americans and Hispanics are generally less physically active than whites.

• By age 75, 33% of men and 50% of women engage in no regular exercise.

In response, the DHHS developed Healthy People 2010, an initiative that helps each of us build physical activity into our lives – our way! Information on Healthy People 2010 is available on the internet where you will also find Be Active Your Way: A Guide for Adults that helps you decide the types of activities, time and frequency for building a healthy body.

As noted earlier, a healthy body is intertwined with a healthy and active mind. A healthy mind will guard what the mind absorbs so that it does not become blinded to the truth. And, as we intertwine soul into the formula, we experience the emotional or expressive intensity that transfers into positive energy. It is scripturally noted that a cheerful heart and courage can even foster the healing of very serious and life threatening illnesses. What a glorifying act to practice healthy living!

Pappa Dubb declares health is his true wealth but not to get the facts twisted. Money is not required to lead a healthy lifestyle only an investment of good decisions and self-control, which awards him with active longevity.

For more information on Healthy People 2010 objectives or on physical activity and fitness, visit http://www. health.gov/healthypeople.

713.272.9511 www.

Yet sadly, statistics show that major barriers to doing so are lack of: time, access to convenient facilities, and/or safe environments in which to be active. These are real excuses but not insurmountable.

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reports that: • Women are less active than men at all ages.

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Creating a Network of Support for Breast Cancer Awareness 2010 BRENDA J. DAVIS COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER

Throughout the years many readers and friends of MR. D-MARS have had the opportunity to meet brother D-MARS, solicit advice from Poppa D-mars, or watch Keith Jr. grow into a distinguished young man. However, one very important part of the D-MARS family that many people never had the opportunity to become acquainted with

sisters every year. We often read about people who have survived or lost their battle with certain diseases but until it affects us personally we never really understand the magnitude of what they are going through. My heart goes out to the many women that are diagnosed with breast cancer daily. Although, my passion was for developing African Americans through economic development, I applaud and support those individuals who are out in the community rallying support for the fight against breast cancer” says Mr. D-MARS. One woman who has been going above and beyond to support the battle against breast cancer for African American women is Mrs. Karen Eubanks Jackson.

Mrs. Karen Eubanks Jackson is a sixteen year breast cancer survivor. During her personal fight to survive breast cancer, she recognized a lack of “sisterhood” in traditional organizations, a staggering breast cancer mortality rate for African American women and limited culturally sensitive material. In 1994 she decided that she would create the support that many women needed. Jackson turned a personal challenge into an organization that provides standardized educational

is mama D-MARS. Mama D-MARS was the strong woman that served as the backbone for the Davis family for many years before she lost her battle to breast cancer in 1985. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 14 years old when she finally broke the news to us that she had been battling a disease that claims the life of many of our African American

programs, support, empowerment, hope and financial assistance; when she founded the Sisters Network Inc (SNI). Sisters Network Inc. is the nation’s only African American breast cancer survivorship organization that addresses the needs particular to African American women. Sisters Network®Inc. ensures that African American women diagnosed with breast

Karen E. Jackson

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cancer receive comprehensive medical care and social support.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” It can also be said that one gains strength, courage and confidence in numbers. Due to Jackson’s leadership, Sisters Network®Inc. has experienced phenomenal growth resulting in over 43 survivor-run affiliate chapters, serving more than 3000 members and associate members nationwide. Sisters Network®Inc. is the leading voice in the African American women’s fight against breast cancer. African American women now have a network they can turn to that provides an abundance of support and resources so that they no longer have to fight this battle alone.

The national creed of Sisters Network Inc is “In Unity there is Strength, In Strength there is Power, In Power there is Change.” Since the formation of SNI that change has been evident. SNI hosts the only annual national African American Breast Cancer Conference.

Since 1999, the conference has attracted thousands of African American breast cancer survivors, their families, caretakers, and the general public. The conference general sessions are conducted by nationally recognized medical experts. Recognizing the African American community’s historical difficulty discussing cancer and other health concerns, Jackson created a national branding campaign: STOP THE SILENCE ®. The slogan: “STOP THE SILENCE®- Changing the Face of Early Breast Health Intervention”, also provided educational outreach and awareness to African American women between the ages of 25 and 45. The program was funded by the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health.

Karen Eubanks Jackson became the change that she wanted to see.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer she not only survived but she decided to help fight the disease on behalf of other women by creating the support that she knew they needed. The best leaders are those who seek the best for those that they serve and Jackson seeks nothing less than the best for the women who battle this deadly disease every day.

That is exactly why in addition to the many accolades that Jackson has

already received, D-MARS would like to award her the Brenda J. Davis Community Award for 2010. The Brenda J. Davis Community Award, named after MR. D-MARS mother, celebrates people in the community who are consistently giving back and making their mark in the community. Karen Eubanks Jackson is affecting change in how African American women battle a once very frightful disease. “I cannot help but wonder whether or not my mother would still be alive if she would have gotten tested earlier, had easier access to information about breast cancer, or had a support network like Sisters Network Inc. Although, it is too late now to consider the “what if ”, I am proud that Karen has stopped the silence and given so many women a sense of strength and connectedness in their battle,” says Mr. D-MARS. D-MARS.com encourages everyone to support Sisters Network Inc. stop the silence® National African American breast cancer walk on Saturday, April 9, 2011. You may register online at www.sistersnetworkinc.org.

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Enough is Enough!

for great advice on healthy eating is http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_ eating_diet.htm.

4. Little efforts lead to big results.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther away from the office or grocery store, only drink water. Even if all you have time for is walking 30 minutes in the morning it is better than not walking at all.

By Heather Haukaas, Contributing Writer

I remember the days when I could eat any and everything and remain as skinny as a stick. I remember my friend’s parent diagnosed me as having “worms” because I ate so much and never gained a pound. Now that I am older and have joined the “real” world, my body must have gotten rid of those so called “worms” that consumed my food, allowing me to never see the aftermath of that juicy cheeseburger or that strawberry cheesecake.

As a working professional, I find the more I work, the less energy I have and the less motivation I find to work out. I always have the intention of eating healthy and hitting the gym but the stress from a long day often wins the battle and I find myself at home resting and munching for relief. Whoever, called it “comfort” food knew exactly what they were talking about! I often ask myself, “How much weight do I have to gain?” or “How out of control am I going to let my body get before I decide enough is enough?” Well, I reached that point and I want to motivate everyone to say “I will not put off until tomorrow what I can do today!”

Repeat after me, “Today I decided enough is enough. I am going to change my ways. Ill take little by little changes if that is what it takes for me to reach my ultimate goal of feeling and looking fabulous!”

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5. Support Group. Rally your friends or find people who have the same goal of being healthy and support one another. It is easier to stay on top of a task when you have someone to motivate you. My girlfriend and I have made a pact to not let the other one get lazy or eat unhealthy.

We share what we ate for the day and

work out together. Having a partner makes it fun and harder to give up.

Remember, the hardest part is always the beginning! Anything worth having is worth working for! You can gripe, you can complain but quitting is never an option! I look forward to seeing all my fellow “fit and fabulous” people sporting those beach bodies this summer!

Sign Up on Our Online Mailing List @ d-mars.com

ed into the “only fit and fabulous from here” support group I would like to share a few tips that are simple, yet still take some willpower to achieve drastic long term effects: 1. Preparation. Pack a bag for the gym the night before or just pack a pair of tennis shoes. The easiest cop-out from working out is not having the gear. I find that whenever I am prepared to workout it is harder to skip the workout. Even if you pack a pair of shoes and walk on your lunch break, it sure beats sitting down eating a big lunch.

2. Planning. On Sunday, sit down and plan your “healthy” meals for the week. One thing I do is cook a couple of dishes on Sunday night and freeze half. I know that I am not going to want to cook after a long day.

Being able to heat up a meal helps me avoid that quick stop at some fast food restaurant on my way home.

3. Healthy eating. Eating healthy is hard. I find is especially hard in the business world where client dinners, lunch with coworkers and happy hours are abundant. Add in the factor of sitting at a desk, staring at a computer all day and snacking seems to just call your name. However, healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. A website www.

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Life Rewards Those Who Take Action to account for needs that we can very well anticipate and sustain your current lifestyle in case something happens to your health.

We should exercise more stewardship and cognitive dissonance not only with what we take into our bodies, but also for our plans for wealth accumulation and preservation. Matthew 25 informs our judgment: • we should prepare ourselves for life events that we expect might happen.

• we shall be held accountable for

So, too, with our longevity and prosperity. The giver of life did not come just that we might bear forth much fruit, but that our fruit shall remain and that we might have a more abundant life.

The same way we prevent the “bulge” in our bodies, a budget helps us stay in alignment for our financial plan. Just as there is multiplication that comes from cell division, and we create value in our community when we have healthy exchanges with one another.

There are certain protections and rewards to those that establish purposes for stewardship and make provision for stronger, healthier, wealthier, and more sustainable lifestyles.

As long as we are breathing, we are still in the game to engage, and life rewards those who take action. Secure your path to better health and wealth today.

ing our customers with all of their prescription needs and making sure they have the right medications at the right times.”

In addition to their delivery service, ScriptLink provides refill monitoring to make sure refills are processed and filled prior to the patient running out of medications, drug regimen reviews to make sure medications are safe, courtesy

calls to make sure medications are being taken properly and to answer any questions and customized safety packaging at the customer’s request.

“We provide all of these services including delivery at no additional cost to our customers,” Miles said. “If you ask our customers why they choose ScriptLink Pharmacy, you will hear a resounding, ‘because of their service.’”

By Craig Anthony Nicholas, Contributing Writer

Billions of transactions are executed in our cells with such amazing precision for the management of resources that give the body energy, infrastructure, healing, waste management, and the capacity to communicate with the five senses. This does more than just keep us well. These powerful processes inside us help us tap the power of prosperity and wealth.

Our health affects our performance and our ability to earn an income, which in turn impacts our po-

tential to amass wealth. The longer we live, the more chance that we may get a critical illness. With medical technology, there is more chance that we survive it. The financial situation that follows can be very expensive and could impact our quality and standard of living. Our health and store of wealth will be taken away if we make no provision.

If you cannot put away a year or two of savings fast enough, you can sow into multiplication and create leverage with insurance. That’s a powerful way

Script Link Pharmacy – The Pharmacist that Delivers After graduating from Lamar University with a BS in Biology, Mira Miles decided to further her studies and pursue a teaching career in secondary science.

“I soon discovered that although teachers are definitely to be admired, it wasn’t the career for me,” Miles said.

After several years of teaching science to middle and high school students, Miles decided to follow a longtime interest and pursue a career in the field of medicine.

“I chose pharmacy as my path to that fulfillment,” Miles said. “It has been a rewarding and exciting journey and has finally led me to the ownership of my own pharmacy.”

In 1994, Miles began her pharmacy career at Texas Southern University.

“Learning about pharmaceuticals from inspiring instructors and gaining new and lasting friendships, I was confident that I had made the right choice,” Miles said.

After graduating from pharmacy school in 1997, Miles started her professional career as a pharmacist working at mega chain drug stores, primarily Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

how good a steward we have been over what we have been given.

Eckerd pharmacy and CVS. “With long hours, fast pace, and little time to really practice the profession I loved, I decided that I would seek a better solution not only for me, but for the customers I served,” she said.

“These customers deserved one-on-one attention. They deserved to have their pharmacist spend time with them to discuss their medications, answer their questions and have their prescriptions ready when promised.”

This dedication to customer service helped motivate Miles to create ScriptLink Pharmacy in December 2007 with its mission being to provide the highest level of customer service, accurately dispense with care, and earn the trust of customers every day.

Since their humble beginnings in 2007, ScriptLink Pharmacy has extended their mission to the community through free delivery service. They now deliver to assisted living facilities, independent senior apartments, and personal homes.

“Serving the senior community and the disabled is our passion!” Miles said.

“Our dedicated staff is focused on assistwww.

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THE EXPERT NETWORK - MEDICAL

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THE EXPERT NETWORK - MEDICAL

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THE EXPERT NETWORK - MEDICAL

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Saving lives with organ donations

that organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared.

• “Donation will mutilate my body.”

The truth is that donated organs and tissues are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to open-heart surgery. Donation does not prevent an open-casket funeral or viewing.

• “Donation is against my cultural and religious beliefs.” The truth is the gift of organ and tissue donation is seen as the greatest act of human kindness. All U.S. religions support donation.

Registering to become an organ, eye and tissue donor is simple. It’s free and it takes less than five minutes. There are three ways to register: - Electronically via www.donatelifetexas.org.

- In person at the Department of Public Safety Office (DPS).

By Elvia Valdez Contributing Writer It’s almost like a dream. Actually to describe it as a nightmare would be more precise. Twenty-one-year-old Aaron Daniels Jr. vaguely remembers being like most kids. As a young child, he was your average little boy and embodied the healthiness every mom envisions for her child, complete with cute little baby rolls. He would run and play with his younger brother, Eric, until the nights grew dark - until the dreadful diagnosis was made.

At the early age of eight, Aaron’s mother, Traci, noticed that Aaron was not urinating as often as he should.

Deeply concerned, Traci immediately took him to see a specialist. Nothing could prepare the Daniels family for what came next: Aaron was diagnosed with kidney failure, and a kidney transplant would be Aaron’s only chance at life.

After waiting more than five months on the kidney transplant waiting list, Aaron’s family decided to take action. Seeing their son endure dialysis three times a week was heart-wrenching and proved to be emotionally unbearable for Aaron’s father. The diagnosis challenged the strength of this family.

Aaron’s dad fell into a deep depression, taking a front row seat to his son’s declining health. It was unbearable for a father to witness this happening to his oldest son.

The family began the testing process to see if anyone was compatible to donate a kidney to Aaron. Next as the family calls it - came a blessing. Aaron’s dad was as close to a perfect match as possible. Ninety-nine percent compatible.

On June 10, 1997, Aaron’s father donated one of his kidneys to his son.

After spending a short time in the hospital, eight-year-old Aaron got most of his life back. While the family’s return Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

to normalcy was short lived, Aaron does there are several commonly held beliefs remember that life was good, and that about organ donation among minorihe was able to be a kid again. ties. These myths include:

By Aaron’s 13th birthday, he found • If I’m in an accident and the hospihimself sick again and learned that his tal knows that I am an organ and body was rejecting his kidney transplant tissue donor, the doctors will not and would soon need a new one to surtry to save my life.” The truth is vive. The news came as a blow; dialysis was the only option to keep him healthy enough until he received his new transplant.

For most of his life, Aaron has endured what most adults never have to go through in their lifetimes. He’s been waiting on the transplant list for more than seven years. He is on dialysis three times a week for more than three hours at a time. The dialysis makes him tired and drains him of his energy. It’s not the life you envision for a young man and does not provide Aaron with quality of life.

Life has not been easy for the Daniels family. While Aaron waits for his new kidney, his family grieves the sudden death of Aaron’s dad. Aaron credits his father for saving his life the first time and knows without the compassion of someone else, he does not stand a chance at surviving.

Giving of one’s self is the ultimate sacrifice anyone can make, but not everyone does. Unfortunately, there are more than 108,000 people nationallyjust like Aaron waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Of those waiting, more than 80,000 are waiting for a kidney.

Research shows that the topic of organ and tissue donation is simply not on the “radar screen” for many minorities. There is a lack of awareness within the multicultural communities about the dire need for donation. That is why education is so important.

In addition to the lack of awareness, www.

- Online with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when renewing vehicle registration.

Remember zero lives are saved if we do nothing!

For more information about LifeGift and the registry, visit www.lifegift.org and www.donatelifetexas.org.

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“Health & Awareness 2010” think about the long-term effects your business or organization will sustain if employees were not provided an opportunity to protect themselves from sickness or better yet seek medical treatment when the inevitable does occur. If you are a business owner, an executive, or manager, take a few moments to respond silently to one of these questions:

By Author Noel Pinnock, B.S., M.P.A., C.A., CCC Contributing Writer The late Senator Ted Kennedy called providing access to healthcare for all Americans “the great unfinished business of our society.” He was correct, that is until March 23, 2010. With more than 216 legislatures on a Healthcare accord, the Healthcare Reform Act became the law of the land. Whether you are businessperson or a citizen, this Healthcare Reform Act will definitely change the American landscape and diametrically affect the way businesses across this nation approach the healthcare, awareness, and the social wellbeing of their employee workforce. Personally, I have several employees whose needs are very diverse and as their manager, I must be mindful of their needs and appropriate tasks and responsibilities accordingly. Sadly, many companies and organizations focus more on meeting the bottom line or maximize expenditures on grants thus leaving employees to meander and crumb for leave to try to beat the exhaustion of the general workweek.

In countries like Canada, healthcare is free and has been for years and now we are in a position to be on the frontier of providing employees a better alternative then simply dying from exhaustion or sickness on the sidelines. The City of Houston epitomizes a Health & Awareness Business Culture through providing employees with several benefits to include a floating holiday; which can be utilized as a rest day within a benefit year as well as a wellness day; which can be used by employees for well (wo) man doctor visits. Additionally, they allow time to exercise during lunch and short breaks. Of course, someone has to pay for these employee benefits but Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

• If you do not take care of our employees, how can your business/ organization accomplish its mission and sustain or increase profits over time?

• How can you run a business if employees have high levels of burnout?

• How can we avoid hazards to our health if we are not aware of what is hazardous?

Again, late Senator Ted Kennedy said it best, “To those whose cares have become our concerns, the fight goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream never dies!” Promote a Health & Awareness culture in your business/organization because your employees’ lives hang in the balance and these resources, albeit scarce, assist you accomplish your business/organization’s mission work and sustain over time… not much rocket science here…right?

Sign up on our Online Mailing List @ d-mars.com To stay informed in the Business Community Call Us Today!

713.272.9511 www.

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EYE TO EYE With Dr. Romea-The Vision Dealer

Dr. Romea Mitchell, O.D. The famous saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” still holds true. How healthy and clear are your windows? Indeed a number of systemic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer can have ocular manifestations and regular Comprehensive Eye Health Examination can help in the diagnoses and management of these conditions.

The gift of sight is precious and should be protected at any cost. Imagine being blind, unable to see!!! Scary isn’t it? Yet so few of us get Annual Eye Examinations and even fewer gets regular Dilated Eye Examinations. The importance of an annual physical exam is widely understood, however, our annual wellness exam and screenings in the of-

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fice of our primary care physician (PCP) does not include the eyes. It is therefore very important that we have an “eye physical” at least once per year even if we believe nothing has change.

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” is never more true than in eye care. Unfortunately, there is no cure for a number of common eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, advanced stages of diabetic and hypertensive eye diseases. Therefore, early detection and prevention is the key. With all the advances in medicine in the area of organ transplant successful eye transplant is not yet a reality.

The increased use of computers (internet and computer games) has resulted in an additional category of eye syndromes, which can be successfully managed with regular eye check-ups and tips from your eye doctor. Another, consequence of the computer age is the decrease in physical activities especially among the young in our society.

This sedentary lifestyle in combination with poor diet has led to the very early

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onset of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and elevated cholesterol, macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts now seen in patients in their mid 20s and 30s.

All these condition have corresponding devastating longterm effects on vision.

Healthy eyes, clear vision and proper eye-hand co-ordination is essential for good academic performances, to obtain a driver’s license, success in sports activities, and various hobbies such as reading, knitting, crocheting, hunting, and shooting.

insurance panel he/she will be able to verify your coverage so please ask and supply your health insurance information as you would at your PCP visit.

You may be pleasantly surprise when all you have to pay is your co-pay.

We are blessed with one set of eyes to serve us from the womb to the tomb so take best care of them. The Vision Dealer is committed to help you take TIP OF THE MONTH: Most major health insurance plans care of your eyes so be on the look-out provide coverage for your annual medi- for healthy tips in your monthly EYEcal eye examination even if you do not TO-EYE column.

Contact Dr. Romea at 281.469.7610 have a separate vision coverage rider. or visit www.GlobalEyeQ.com If your eye doctor is a provider on the

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Award-Winning Gospel Artists to Perform And Promote Stroke Awareness

By Shelly M. White, Contributing Writer share stroke messaging at the Houston stop of the American Heart Association’s Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour. The seven-city tour features Marvin Sapp as the headlining artist and stops in Houston at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 29 at the Kingdom Builders’ Center.

The Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour is an evening of empowering music fused with healthy lifestyle messaging that has as its main focus, educating the African American community about their increased risk for stroke, this country’s third leading cause of death and Marvin Sapp leading cause of disability. For African Americans, their risk is twice that of A stellar line-up of recording art- whites. In fact, African Americans ages ists has been assembled to perform and 35-54 have four times the relative risk

of stroke.

Attendees will hear inspiring messages through song, like Sapp’s 2007 hit single, “Never Would Have Made It,” which held the No. 1 spot on gospel radio for nearly one year, and his new hit single, “Best in Me;” and break-through newcomer artist Brian Courtney Wilson whose re-launched CD, “Just Love Deluxe,” features the 2009 hit single, “All I Need,” the longest-running current single, charting at more than 70 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song Chart, and his new release, “Awesome God.” Wilson opens for Sapp.

“I see this as a way that people can become more aware of their own risk so that they can make lifestyle changes and

move toward extended life for themselves and their loved ones,: said recording artist Ted Winn, who will host the tour as well as perform from his debut CD titled “Balance” which features the top 10 hit single, “The Lifter.”

Lending his celebrity status to this event, too, is Myron Butler & Levi. His urban worship style of ministry and artistry will resonate with attendees as he shares songs from the 2010 release, “Revealed – Live in Dallas,” which features a high-energy message in the hit song, “Revealed.”

For more information on the Most Powerful Voices audition and tour, visit www.heart.org/mostpowerfulvoices or call 713.610.5010.

Free Health Texts for New and Expectant Moms

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s expectant and new moms know, having a baby is one of the most wonderful experiences, but it can also be overwhelming. First-time mothers and veteran moms alike have questions about keeping their babies safe and healthy. They’re eager to learn about important areas such as nutrition, immunization, and safe sleep.

To address their questions and concerns, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) developed text4baby. This free mobile educational service promotes a healthy pregnancy and a healthy start in life for all babies.

With more than 1.3 trillion text messages sent and received in the U.S. in 2009, it makes sense to deliver vital health information through mobile technology. Currently in the United States, more than 500,000 babies - one in every eight - are born prematurely.

An estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday, a rate among the highest in the industrialized world.

Premature infants come into the world with unique health needs that can mean lifelong challenges. Text4baby helps to address these issues by allowing timely and useful information to be distributed to help give babies the best possible start in life.

While not everyone has access to the internet, 90 percent of Americans have a mobile phone. Text messaging is soaring in popularity and can be especially helpful in reaching first-time mothers in typically underserved populations.

By texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411, a woman will be signed up to receive three free text messages each week that are timed to her due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health, and safe sleep. Text4baby text messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

Wireless carriers are waiving textmessaging fees for the initiative, so enrollees opting in to receive text messages will incur no charges. Even users without a text messaging plan or limited texting per month will receive these messages for free.

To date, text4baby has sent more than five million English and Spanish text messages to more than 83,000 pregnant and new mothers. According to text4baby enrollment numbers, 96 percent of participants would recommend the service to a friend. 67 percent of the enrollees are receiving information about pregnancy, while the remaining 33 percent are getting information about newborns.

“For those of us dedicated to health education, knowing that text4baby messages are reaching the women who are most in need of them is incredibly powerful and exciting,” said Judy Meehan, CEO of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. “Thanks to our partnership with CTIA-The Wireless Foundation and the mobile carriers,

more than five million valuable health messages have been put in the hands of thousands of pregnant women since our February 4 launch.”

Text4baby is made possible through a public-private partnership that includes more than 350 organizations.

The program’s founding partners include CTIA–The Wireless Foundation.

For more information, or to sign-up to receive the free text messages, visit www.text4baby.org.

- Family Features

How It Works Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

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Improving your indoor air quality

By E. H. Davis Contributing Writer When you think of IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) what comes to mind? What is our biological symbiosis to the planet in terms of what we are exposed to voluntary or involuntary?

To understand the latest push of “green house gas carbon emissions” as relates to global warming, oxygen vs. carbon dioxide and the planet population we have to go way back, to a time when the carbon footprint of mankind was insignificant and now for the first time planet human over population is in need of consideration. In that “sustainability” no matter how much this generation of society aggressively takes on conservation, recycling and renew-

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able actions may be too little too late.

That if the Earth cannot heal itself aside from our huge immediate impact, may hasten global warming beyond human sustainability.

You have heard of the saying, “if a tree falls in the forest, will we hear it in the city?” Well in actuality we may not hear it, but we will sure feel it. The planet and mankind are so inexplicably interconnected, it could be thought of as divine. Consider a time when the world was young and mankind was dropped at the birthplace of civilization; the motherland; Africa. There was small handful of people responsible for tribal society and repopulation who had nothing but lush firmament and a bounty of healthy eating choices available and yet to be chronicled. The land was for mankind, but how much really did the land need mankind back then? It was nothing compared to today where responsibility is ever so important as it effects us immediately and future generations like never before. You may be aware of the rest of the story, the population grew, spread about to other regions, depleting resources until conservation laws had to go in effect, but nothing other than natural disasters and wars really checked the population controls.

Today, we have Capitalism marketing, with their stock shares to answer to while causing chemical manufacturers

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among others to overproduce impacting the environment and our air quality in detrimental ways never before seen with irresponsible practices and little accountability, if any for cleanup. For every beautiful wooded area, destroyed for community master planned high or otherwise living, we impact our environment and subject our indoor environment to a whole new host of chronological and biological invaders that wreak havoc on the human immune system leading to host of new and old diseases; cancer at the forefront.

The consumer must become aware and demand healthy living choices from green footprint impact, to toxic unsafe building materials and often soil contamination. We the customer, must be involved in the conception and planning, not just from building code compliance laws but green, renewable, energy efficient designs.

Growing plants in your office can be a relaxing and enjoyable escape from the “daily grind.” Besides offering an aesthetic value, which many can appreciate, they also improve air quality. They do an excellent job of cleaning up the moisture within your office space in addition to filtering dangerous toxins out.

TIPS:

The Top 12 Leading Air Cleaning Plants are: • Areca Palms (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens) • Lady Palm (Rhapis Excelsa) • Bamboo Palm (Chamedorea Seigrizii) • Rubber Plant (Ficus Robusta) • Dracaena Janet Craig (Dracea Deremenis “Janet Craig” ) • English Ivy (Hedera Helix) • Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii) • Ficus Alii (Ficus Macleilandii “Ali” ) • Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exalta “Bostoniensis” ) • Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Sp.) • Corn Plant (Dracaeba Fragrans “Massangeana” ) • Golden Pothos (Epiremnum Aureum ) As we move into the Autumn season, it’s time for your fall furnace checkup. When choosing air filters, opt for the highest Merv Rating available.

Look for our furnace check list and more on this subject in our next article.

Edwin Davis’ email is davisiaq@gmail.

Place aquarium gravel (found at com and his website is www.Refrigerationlocal pet shop) in your planting pot to byDavis.com reduce the growth of molds and mildew.

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Hypertension The Silent Killer

By Dr. Olufunke Odetunde

• High levels of alcohol consumption • Stress • Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines • Medicines such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs • Aging • Genetics and a family history of hypertension

What are the symptoms of Hypertension?

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is another name for High Blood pressure. High blood pressure is called a “silent killer,’’ because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms while it is causing damage. Uncontrolled high blood pressure for prolonged period increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack, kidney damage, heart failure and stroke.

High Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. It’s normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day, but if it stays up, you have high blood pressure. The blood pressure consists of two numbers, systolic and diastolic pressures. The systolic number shows how hard the blood pushes when the heart is pumping while the diastolic number shows how hard the blood pushes between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. A blood pressure of 120/80 refers to a systolic pressure of 120 and diastolic of 80.

What is normal blood pressure?

in 2006. About one out of three U.S. adults—31.3%—has high blood pressure. About one in four American adults has pre-hypertension. Having pre-hypertension raises your risk for high blood pressure. In 2010, high blood pressure will cost the United States $76.6 billion in health care services, medications, and missed days of work. Statistics in the USA indicate that African Americans have a higher incidence of hypertension than other ethnicities.

What are the types of Hypertension?

Hypertension can be classified as essential or secondary. Essential hypertension is the term for high blood pressure with unknown cause. It accounts for about 95% of cases. Secondary hypertension is the term for high blood pressure with a known direct cause, such as kidney disease, adrenal tumors, heart disease, thyroid disease or birth control pills.

What Causes Hypertension?

The exact causes of Hypertension Adults should have a blood pressure are unknown, however there are several of less than 120/80. Blood pressure be- factors associated with development of tween 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre- hypertension. These include: hypertension (to denote increased risk • Smoking of hypertension), and a blood pressure • Obesity or being overweight of 140/90 or above is considered hyper• Diabetes tension. People with pre-hypertension • Chronic kidney disease need to make lifestyle changes to bring • Sedentary lifestyle the blood pressure down; and help pre• Adrenal and thyroid problems vent or delay high blood pressure. or tumors • Lack of physical activity How common is • High levels of salt intake Hypertension? (sodium sensitivity) According to the CDC High blood • Insufficient calcium, potassium, and magnesium consumption pressure was a primary or contributing • Vitamin D deficiency cause of death for 326,000 Americans Oct. 15 - nov. 15 2010

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Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. About 33 % of people with hypertension are not aware of having high blood pressure. It is therefore important to have blood pressure screening periodically.

• • • •

Eat healthy foods.

Decrease the salt in your diet.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Increase physical activity. Consult with you doctor before embarking on an exercise program • Limit alcohol.

• Don’t smoke.

• Manage stress.

• Monitor your blood pressure at home.

• Practice relaxation or slow, deep breathing.

Alternative Medicine

Although diet and exercise are the best tactics to lower your blood pressure, some supplements also may help decrease it. Talk to your doctor before adding any of these supplements to your blood pressure treatment. Some supplements can interact with medications, causing harmful side effects. Some sugExtremely high blood pressure may gested supplements include Calcium, lead to some symptoms, however, and Cocoa, Cod-liver oil, Coenzyme Q-10, these include; severe headaches, Fatigue Omega-3 fatty acids and Garlic. or confusion, Dizziness, Nausea, Prob- How can I manage my lems with vision, Chest pains, Breathhypertension? ing problems, Irregular heartbeat, Nose High blood pressure isn’t a probbleed and Blood in the urine lem that you can treat and then ignore.

How is Hypertension It’s a condition you need to manage for the rest of your life. To keep your blood diagnosed?

In order to be diagnosed with Hy- pressure under control: • Take your medications properly. pertension an individual must have two Discuss adverse side effects with to three blood pressure readings greater your doctor; do not stop medicathan 140/90 each at two or more sepation without consulting with your rate appointments. Additional tests such doctor. as EKG, Echocardiogram and blood • Schedule regular doctor visits. tests will be ordered to determine pres• Adopt healthy habits. ence of secondary causes of hyperten• Manage stress. sion or evidence of damage to organs as • Stick with the lifestyle and dietary a result of prolonged hypertension. changes even when you don’t see or feel any symptoms of high blood How is Hypertension pressure.

treated?

To effectively treat Hypertension you doctor will recommend a combination of Lifestyle and dietary modification along with medication(s). There are many types of blood pressure medications. Your doctor will take into consideration other medical problems you have to pick the best medication(s) for you.

Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure — even if you’re taking blood pressure medication. Here’s what you can do:

Olufunke Odetunde MD FAAFP Board Certified Family Medicine Olufunke Odetunde MD. PA. 2626 South Loop West, Suite #310 Houston, Texas 77054 Phone: (713) 796-9500 Website: www.odetundemd.com To subscribe to e-newsletters from Olufunke Odetunde MD visit www.odetundemd.com

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