d-mars.com Health & Wellness Journal 03

Health & Wellness Journal Health

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Medical

january 2011

INSIDE Particle Matters

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Wellness

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research

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fitness

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Lifestyle

Inspire, Inform & Educate

Healthy Living

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Edition

Do particles really matter?

By E. H. Davis An extensive look at why your Indoor Air Quality directly affects your health.

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How to Keep Your Heart Healthy Ways to show your heart some love.

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MR. D-MARS & Marcus Roland, President and Chief Executive Officer, Central Care Community Health Center

“He MR. D-MARS & ??????????

who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.”

Tips for Treating a Sick Child Advice for parents on nursing your little one back to health.

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Charlotte J. Boykin Nature Rich

Carlos Heath New Dimension Pharmacy

Savor the Power of Positivity for Weight - Loss Goals Sweet treats to make your weight loss resolution a reality.

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Central Care Community Health Center Future Facility See pg. 4

Gracie Chukwu Houston Holistic Health Clinic

Willie N. Long Health Shack

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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. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Christopher P. Kirksey EDITING CONSULTANT ReShonda Tate-Billingsley ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jones C.T. Foster 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 Ashriel Dunham Christina R. Grochett E.H. Davis Jessica Yadegaran Mari Walker Elvia Valdez Daphine G. Robinson

D-mars.com presents the third edition of our Health and Wellness Journal focused on “Healthy Living”. The issue of health is a very pressing issue in the African American community and leaves some of us feeling helpless towards our health concerns. Members of our community need to know that every little bit counts! There are small actions that can lead to better health.

In this New Year it is important for individuals to be equipped with the tools to maintain healthy living. This issue of the Health and Wellness Journal will feature articles that will assist in helping our readers to have physical as well as mental health throughout this upcoming year.

As you read the journal please remember to support our advertisers. They make it possible for us to inspire, inform and educate you, our readers, every month. It is my goal that this issue and all that follow empowers you and your family to stay healthy to live long and prosperous lives.

CONTENTS Local Clinic Meeting Needs of the Community……………………………..... 4 Sticking to your medication plan is vital………............................................ 5 Health & Wellness Programs that make grade……………………………...... 6 6 Foods to get you in the mood………………………………………............. 7 Cold and flu season is here…Consider Rhodigandha……………...........…. 8 Particle Matters…………………………………………………………............. 13 How to keep your heart healthy………………………………………….......... 14 Multivitamins: Most Likely Myth Not Magic………………………................. 15 Banish the Winter Blues……………………………………………………….... 16 Tongue Studs…………………………………………………………................. 21 Workout Tips for the Totally Time-Crunched..………………………….......... 21 Living Life to the fullest………………………………………………………..... 22 Tips for treating a sick child………………………………………………......... 23 Could you have type 2? 10 Diabetes Symptoms……………………............. 24 Live as if you were dying……………………………………………………....... 29 Get Your Family Involved in Changing Your Eating Behavior……………...... 29 Savor the Power of Positivity for Weight – Loss Goals………….................. 30 Pencil Yourself In……………………………………………………………….... 31 Common Myths About the Common Cold……………………………............ 32 10 Medical Tests Women Need in 2011……………………………………..... 33 Hot Tips, Tricks, and Updates That Help You Live Healthy……………........ 34

MR. D-MARS D-MARS.com Business Journal Tip of the Month Life is not merely being alive, but being well.

- Marcus Valerius Martialis

january 2011

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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.

Local Clinic Meeting Needs of the Community

By Ashriel Dunham, Contributing Writer

well-woman visits, prenatal care and pe- our on-site pharmacy save you money, diatric well-child visits. it also saves you the time and expense of traveling to another location.

Laboratory Services The pharmacy at CCCHC not only CCCHC is equipped with an in- improves patient access to medication, house laboratory for the convenience of it also helps to improve the outcome of our physicians and patients who have proper prescription medication use by easier, faster access to test results. Addi- the patient. Pharmacy services complitionally, patients benefit from this low- ment the clinical activities at CCCHC. cost alternative by not having to travel for necessary tests and screenings.

Children’s Health

Family Planning

In tune with this issues theme of Healthy Living, we proudly introduce…..Central Care Community Health Center (CCCHC). This facility, based in Houston’s east side, is assisting the Southpark and Third Ward communities with its health care needs all in a level of excellence.

urgency in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A key aspect of healthy living is being able to receive professional care whether a person or family is insured, underinsured or uninsured. Roland stated that Central Care Community Health Center enables all patients to receive the help needed no matter their financial circumstances.

CCCHC has everything a person may need medically all in close proximity to their homes.

Being a health care center is unique in that clients have access to a variety of preventative and primary care services usually all less, “And all under one roof,” stated Roland. Health care centers such as CCCHC Since its creation in 1992, Central work hard to provide quality, affordable Care Community Health Center has health care to the uninsured and underprovided accessible, affordable and high served members of our communities. quality comprehensive health care services to all in the communities which Primary Care they serve. CCCHC President, Marcus Primary health care is intended to Roland has set out to accomplish this be available to all members of the community regardless of an ability to pay; with the focus on bringing services to the places where people live and work. This approach involves proactive community participation and outreach, as well as coordination with related community services such as housing and education.

task through collaborations, outreach programs, education and partnerships.

“CCCHC’s primary mission is to increase access to health care and reduce health disparities,” said Roland.

Going into the New Year, it is important for families to create a sense of january 2011

CCCHC provides access to reproductive health care information and education to help young families prepare for the family size of their choosing.

By having the knowledge to plan family size, spacing, and timing young parents tend to have healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and lasting marriages.

“CCCHC is dedicated to providing family planning education, reducing unintended pregnancies, as well as educating the community on how best to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),” said Roland

Mental Health

At CCCHC, we practice a holistic approach to addressing the mental health needs of our community. By engaging each component in the healing process, our staff seeks to provide our patients with long-lasting results and to empower them with personal development tools.

Our approach includes community-based intervention, conflict resolution, and substance abuse, as well as clinical services.

Immunizations

Texas families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid may be able to take part in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With CHIP, your co-payments for doctor visits and prescriptions are based on family size and income; most are under $10.

Meeting the Needs

In order for CCCHC to provide this extensive list of services it has to be equipped with a suitably trained health care team. This team allows CCCHC to respond socially and technically to the health needs of the community.

CCCHC has done a lot for the community but its leaders are not done yet. Just as it originated out of necessity, CCCHC will also expand to meet the needs of areas throughout Houston.

Expansion plans are underway and will include the addition of up to three more health care centers in Houston over the next two years.

CCCHC is setting a prototype for the type of Health Centers that are needed throughout the Houston area. If you live near a CCCHC and are not taking advantage of the health care being provided, they make it extremely difficult to answer the question…”Why not?”

Immunizations help to protect against preventable diseases, many of which are all but eradicated in the Unit- Two Locations to Serve ed States. Central Care Community the Community Health Center provides recommended immunizations for children and teens as 8610 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., well as those for adults (such as foreign Houston, TX 77033 (713) 734-0199 Office travel vaccines).

(713) 734-1564 Fax

Dental Care

Proactive oral health care extends beyond your teeth and gums. Your overall health maintenance and disease prevention depends on proper oral hygiene as well as routine checkups and Preventative Care cleanings.

CCCHC provides preventative Through preventative care, CCCHC provides medical and dental teeth cleanings, x-rays, and additional care before problems become irrepara- dental treatments as needed. ble. Checkups are important for early detection of health problems, for the Pharmacy CCCHC offers prescription mediprevention of larger health problems, and to maintain a healthy smile. These cation for a significant discount from checkups are also known as screenings, our on-site pharmacy. Not only does www.

Insurance Program

3315 Delano Street Houston, TX 77004 (713) 831-9663 Office (713) 831-9660 Fax Hours of Operation: Monday: Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon

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Sticking to your medication plan is vital for successful diabetes management Q

foot. Blisters caused from rubbing can easily become infected. Increased presWhy do so many people with diabetes sure on the bottom of the foot might also have high blood pressure? require cushions to redistribute the pressure and prevent calluses and ulcers.

People with bony deformities, such as

hammertoes or bunions, may need exDiabetes and hypertension (high blood tra-wide or extra-deep shoes. pressure) often go hand in hand. Both are linked to our aging population, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. There is also a metabolic link between type 2 I have type 2 diabetes. What are my own diabetes and hypertension due to a re- numbers that I should be aware of? sistance in the way the body reacts to insulin. Increases in blood insulin make the blood vessels widen. This widening affects the sympathetic nervous system Know your ABCs. Focus on the numand, directly or indirectly, makes the bers that can affect your health. To rekidneys retain salt, which raises the duce diabetes complications, such as blood pressure. Excessive blood insulin heart attacks and strokes, the American also promotes atherosclerosis, which Diabetes Association recommends the hardens the blood vessels, further el- following: evating blood pressure. Blood pressure A1C: A three-month blood glucose should be treated to 130/80 in people average test that can monitor developwith diabetes. ment and progression of eye, kidney and nerve damage. Target: less than 7 percent.

Blood pressure: Hypertension (high It’s difficult to eat right when I travel. Do blood pressure) is associated with heart you have any suggestions? attacks and strokes. Target: less than 130/80 Cholesterol: Imbalanced cholesterol, often caused by diet, is associated If you take oral medications and/or in- with heart disease and heart attacks. sulin, you should always carry a simple Targets: less than 100 mg/dL for LDL form of carbohydrate such as juice, for men and women; for HDL, more glucose tablets, candy or regular soda than 40 mg/dL for men and more than in case of hypoglycemia. Maintaining 50 mg/dL for women. a diabetic diet can be challenging, especially at airports, highway rest stops or food courts in shopping malls. Look for regular- or junior-sized meals or It seems like so many people have side orders (not super-sized, giant or diabetes today. What are the real deluxe). Avoid fried items. Watch the numbers? extra sauces and cheese, which can add hundreds of calories together. Try not to have more than one fast food meal per day while traveling.

An estimated 23.6 million Americans — 7.8 percent of the population — have diabetes. Of these, 17.9 million have been diagnosed and an estimated Now that I have diabetes, do I need to 5.7 million remain unaware of their change the shoes I wear? condition. In 2007, 57 million American adults had a condition called pre-diabetes. This occurs when the blood glucose level is higher than normal but not Amputation and foot ulceration are the high enough to be termed diabetes. The most common consequences of diabetic good news is that a diabetes diagnosis neuropathy, and major causes of mor- is not inevitable. Studies have shown bidity and disability in people with dia- that people with pre-diabetes who lose betes. It is advisable to wear well-fitted weight and increase their physical activwalking shoes or athletic shoes. The goal ity can prevent or delay diabetes, and is to avoid shoes that pinch or rub or even bring their blood glucose levels place undue pressure on any area of the back to normal.

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The ommunity

HIGHLIGHT

Perhaps it was the McDonald’s french fries she confesses to loving, or the irregular hours, meal times and diet choices associated with her husband’s frequent hospital visits for dialysis in 2001. No one has ever connected diabetes directly to french fries or irregular schedules, but whatever the causes, Houston resident Elaine was diagnosed with diabetes that year at age 67. She saw the disease as an unwelcome companion to her existing high blood pressure, and she remembered her brotherin-law’s struggle with diabetes, threats of amputations and subsequent death in the 1990s. “Oh my God,” she recalls thinking, “do I have to go through all that?”

Today, about seven years after her initial diagnosis, Elaine is living comfortably and coping well with both high blood pressure and diabetes. But her journey was not easy, marked in the first years after her diagnosis by a diet and exercise program that failed to lower her numbers. Then, a prescription medication helped her control her blood glucose but left her feeling anxious and uncomfortable. Finally, her relationship with a certified diabetes educator, who informed Elaine’s doctor of her discomfort, resulted in a switch in medications that allowed Elaine to control her A1C score and feel good in the process. Hers is a story of perseverance against, at times, discouraging odds.

Elaine made a switch in medications that allowed her to control her A1C score and feel good in the process.

Sadly, many patients with diabetes don’t follow Elaine’s example. For those whose treatment includes medication as well as a diet and exercise program, adhering to the medications is an important part of the equation. As a patient, you should actively participate in the decision-making process when discussing a diabetes management program with your health care team. Sounds simple, right? january 2011

What advice would Elaine give to other diabetes patients — especially those newly diagnosed? “I’d tell them to follow the diet plan, even though it’s hard to watch what you eat. Write down what you eat, and check your blood. If you get a high reading after a particular food, then you know what’s causing the reading. And if you feel uncomfortable with your meds, don’t stop taking them, but talk to your doctor or your educator until its right.”

Diabetes

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I was just diagnosed with diabetes. How do I find a support group near where I live that can help me learn to manage my disease?

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Many hospitals offer diabetes support groups. Check your local newspaper, hospital or health department for support group locations and meeting dates.

Endocrinologists (physicians who specialize in diabetes) may also offer support groups that are open to all type 2 diabetes patients. Check the yellow pages for “Endocrinologists” and give them a call. You can also check with your primary care physician or visit this link on HMDiabetes.com. www.

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Health & Wellness Programs that Make the Grade

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index released in February 2010. The survey of 673,000 adults also reports no signs of improvement as Americans are exercising less and eating more unhealthy foods.

These bad health habits continue to drive up companies’ insurance costs, reduce productivity and contribute to unnecessary sick days. To combat this unhealthy trend, many companies now offer wellness programs in the workplace. The introduction of these programs can increase productivity and even reduce sick leave by nearly 20 percent. However, not all wellness programs are created equally.

While there is not a single correct way to create a workplace wellness program, successful initiatives do have common ingredients. Often, the building blocks for effective programs include commitment from management, employee involvement in planning and activities that align with the organization’s mission and values.

Getting Started The most successful wellness programs start with employee insight and buy-in. Consider surveying employees to better understand their views about health, nutrition, exercise and fitness.

Also seek to uncover the roadblocks that employees say keep them from making healthy choices. This will help you set priorities and develop a highly relevant program.

Wellness Program Elements A workplace wellness program encourages employees to take steps to prevent the start or worsening of a health condition, reduce unhealthy behaviors and habits and promote healthy lifestyles.While it’s important to tailor a program to the specificneeds of the participating workforce, here are some common elements to consider: • Activities and program elements designed by employees • Contests and competitions with valuable rewards • Health education/awareness january 2011

• Weight loss tips • Nutrition/healthy eating snacks and recipes • Fitness tips • Lunchtime exercise classes • Stress management strategies • Smoking cessation tips • Alcohol and drug abuse counseling • Preventative education • Dedicated health and wellness coaches/mentors • On-site health fairs • Wellness newsletter or monthly emails

Wellness Program in Action University of Phoenix, which has six locations in the Greater Houston, Sugarland and the Woodlands areas, created a health and wellness program several years ago. The program is successful because it focuses on empowering employees.It also constantly evolves to meet employees’ needs, provide fresh elements and keep participants motivated.

Earlier this year, the University launched a social networking platform called REV 2.0 (healthy living revolution). It provides faculty and staff members an in-depth resource to manage their health, nutrition and weight loss goals. The tool can calculate employees’ progress and provides discounts for gym memberships, fitness apparel, equipment and healthy foods. Italso offers bi-weekly “Revinars” that educate employees on various topics such as fitness tips to implement in everyday activities, how to eat healthier, losing baby weight, holiday survival and time management.

Employees can create profiles online and highlight their interests, goals, location/department and share status updates. They can find “buddies” within the University of Phoenix network, join special interest groups and reach out to a coach or mentor for additional support.

For example,Anthony Baber, a 38-year-old Houston resident and University employee, competes in Ironman Triathlons, which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle and a 26.2 mile run. Since he started training and eating healthier in 2008, Baber has lost almost 50 pounds. As an advocate for healthy living, he now encourages co-workers in www.

Houston to participate in the University’s health and wellness program and helps shape the local initiatives.

Whether your company is starting from scratch or breathing new life into an existing program, involve employees in planning and implementation.

There is simply no better motivation than one’s own input. Finally, once you develop a program, it is imperative the management team sets an example by actively promoting it and participating.

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 one of the 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

CHRISTINA R. GROCHETT

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

campuses were selected as a 2009 Best Place to Work by The Houston Business Journal and awarded 2010, 2009 and 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Awards from the City of Houston for Workplace Flexibility and Innovation.

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Foods to Get You In the Mood Turn up the heat

Want a really romantic dinner? Sure, candles and soft music are nice, but what you and your man nosh on could truly take things to another level. The following (healthy!) foods may actually affect hormone levels, brain chemistry, and energy, heightening arousal and sex drive.

While there aren’t double-blind studies proving the aphrodisiac properties of these foods, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting they really help, so why not work in one (or more) on your next date night.

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Asparagus

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Avocados Energy and a healthy libido are crucial for great sex, and avocados can give you both. They’re loaded with minerals, monounsaturated fats (the good kind that protect the heart and lower cholesterol), and vitamin B6—all of which help keep your energy and sex drive up.

They’re also a top source of omega-3 fatty acids, which naturally boost your mood, making you more likely to feel ready for bedroom action.

For more on avocados’ health benefits, check out “The Amazing Power of Avocados.”

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Chocolate This sweet has long been linked with love and sex for good reason. It contains tryptophan, which helps the body produce serotonin, a natural feelgood chemical that may play a role in sexual arousal.

Chocolate also offers a hit of phenylethylamine, a stimulant thought to contribute to that lovey-dovey feeling.

So, go ahead, indulge a little!

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You’re not alone if those fleshy green spears remind you of...well, you know.

This veggie’s phallic This candy (sold conveniently in, appearance no doubt has um, whips) is thought to mimic the efsomething to do with its fects of estrogen and progesterone, critlegendary aphrodisiac staical hormones for normal reproductive tus, but the goods are inand sexual function and response. Eatside, too. Asparagus is rich ing it may help you get in the mood— in vitamin B6 and folate, and stay that way more often. both of which can boost But note: Don’t settle for just any arousal and orgasm.

Plus, enjoying this candy may re- old licorice-flavored candy. Be sure to And it also boasts vitamin E, which stimulates sex hormones in both men duce symptoms of PMS, a real perk buy a variety that contains real licoriceand women. both in and outside the bedroom. root extract.

Licorice

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Chile peppers

Oysters

Chile peppers can really spice things up—and not just in your mouth—thanks to capsaicin, a chemical that’s been shown to induce the release of endorphins in the brain, which creates a feeling of euphoria.

The potential payoff? Enhanced foreplay and hotter sex. january 2011

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It’s not the slippery feel or the singular taste of oysters that make them a sexy superfood. It’s zinc, which oysters are loaded with. The mineral helps the body produce testosterone, a hormone critical in regulating women’s and men’s libido and sexual function.

Research suggests that zinc can improve sperm count and swimming ability, and increase sexual potency in men.

For women, zinc may help ovaries — the source of estrogen, progesterone, and some testosterone — stay healthy, keeping you primed for bedroom action.

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Cold and Flu season is here...

Consider Rhodi Gandha

Dr. Tamyra Comeaux

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o far, scientists, researchers and doctors have not found a cure for the common cold virus, maybe because at least 200 viruses can cause symptoms of the common cold.

There is no question that the best way to defend against the cold and flu is to have an immune system working at its best. There are many ways to improve the immune system but let’s take this time to talk about the very best way and learn from other cultures who are getting it right.

In Russia, Rhodiolarosea also known as “Golden root”, has been used for centuries to cope with the cold Siberian climate and stressful life. But before describing this unusual herb, let’s say a few words about stress itself.

In Middle Asia, RhodiolaRosea tea was the most effective treatment for cold and flu during severe Asian winters.

Rhodiolarosea stimulates the immune system in two ways: FIRST - by specific direct stimulation of immune defense (stimulates one of the most important type of immune cells - Natural Killer Cells, NK-Cells seek and destroy the infected cells on our bodies). Rhodiolarosea normalizes the immune system by improving T-cell immunity. Rhodiola has been shown to increase the body’s resistance to toxins that may accumulate during infection development. SECOND - by making a person less susceptible to stress. Sci-

entists found out that stress suppresses immunity and destroys our resistance to various forms of bacterial or virus attack. Due to the natural killer cell’s effect on tumors Rhodiolarosea may enhance B cell immunity by preventing the suppression of B cell immunity, which can occur during stress.

Being under stress, a great portion of the body’s energy is expended for nothing. When we are chronically exposed to stress that continually robs energy from other systems. The general effect is a lowered immune response and decreased health.

Ashwagandha has been advocated as a general energy-promoting, diseasepreventing tonic due to its effect on the immune system. Ashwagandha is beneficial in the treatment of chest diseases such as cold and cough. The root can be taken either in the form of powder.

Berries and seeds can also be taken for chest complaints, with beneficial result.

Add pomegranate to your list of immune boosting nutrients. Researchers have discovered that the polyphenol known as punicalagin is what gives pomegranate its excellent flu-fighting characteristics. High quality supplements of pomegranate are standardized for punicalagins because they are known to exert positive health benefits especially for your cardiovascular system.

Blueberries are sometimes called natural aspirin, since they have the ability to lower fevers and relieve aches and pains associated with cold and flu.

Blueberries can also curb diarrhea , also a side effect of the cold and flu virus.

An expert herbal remedies panel (Commission E) in Germany endorsed bilberry as an effective diarrhea treatment.

Due to the high volume of antioxidants, and healthy nutrients within acai, most supplements do a great job of helping you eradicate damaging substances and cells that can stress your system, which usually begin to break down your immune system. With your immune system running on full power, your body can fight off many different strains of viruses and the flu much more efficiently.

Advertise today in D-MARS Business Journal Call US TODAY! january 2011

713.272.9511 www.

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Fearless Dentistry

Thanks to FDA Approved Medications it’s Available NOW Untreated dental problems also make it hard to eat. Most healthy foods involve serious chewing that’s painful when teeth are loose or decayed. And having to turn down many foods is awkward in social situations.

Taken together, it’s a recipe for pain and loneliness. People with these problems are often afraid to smile. They cover their mouths when they laugh. Meeting new people is painful and getting passed over at work is all too common.

By Dr. Alison Scott Cuillier

Pain and Loneliness Between 5% and 8% of Americans simply won’t go to the dentist because of fear. And another 20% will only go if they absolutely have to.

Untreated cavities, chipped and cracked teeth look bad-and unfortunately, people notice. That’s a big problem socially—and in business, too. All too often, people with damaged smiles simply get left behind.

Untreated gum disease leads quickly to bad breath- and no matter how many quarts of mouthwash people use; they end up avoiding getting close to people.

Even people they love.

Worse yet, untreated gum disease can contribute to a wide range of serious conditions, several of them lifethreatening.

Real Help What’s more, we know how to helpwith real understanding of your feelings plus strategies to help you feel more at ease- and more in control.

Best of all, today my staff and I can offer you safe, gentle FDA approved medications that let you truly relax.

With these breakthrough medications you’ll be comfortably drowsy but still in control. Fear vanishes and you feel like you’re just drifting along without a care in the world.

In fact, many of our patients are so stress-free they choose to have longer visits so we can do large amounts of work-taking care of years of damage in just one or two visits.

If that sounds good, give us a call.

We’ll take the time to discuss your fears, offer solutions that work and put your mind at ease!

Lasting Impressions Dental Group 4418 Almeda, Houston, Texas 77004 Drs. Alison Scott Cuillier, Rhesa Bautista, Khalilah McAfee

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Lasting Impressions Dental Group 4418 Almeda Houston, Texas 77004 Drs. Alison Scott Cuillier, Rhesa Bautista, Khalilah McAfee

713.528.0040 january 2011

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By E.H. Davis, Contributing Writer In consideration of our total air quality, especially Indoor Air Quality, when we think of contaminants on the broad scale of record, are expressed in terms of particles. Particles are in & make up everything. From smallest to largest known to mankind throughout our Earth & solar system to light years beyond, the air we breathe & the multifaceted atmospheric dust (which covers the entire scale of size & encompasses even us; you may have read, “from dust thou art & dust shall thou return”) which man in his finite wisdom has mined & processed into other particles for profit & power.

Although we may have everything pertaining to life & Godliness under the sun & we truly are fearfully & wonderfully made; we have our biological limitations in our current state. Part of our original mandate (which has never changed) has been to take care of ourselves & each other & the Earth. Since it is our charge, imagine “particle management” at the forefront and not just chemical, mineral, atomic, nuclear & more recently long term studies of atom smashing super colliding superconductor experiments to understand more the universe creating force. The chemicals we in the “western society” have come ever so dependent on derived from particles that take the form of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that are responsible for the oncology’s latest variations of cancer. Part of being responsible for our well-being is reducing our carbon footprint & knowing what is in the air we breathe like Butadiene 1, 3.sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, emitted by combustion activities, are transformed by chemical reactions in the air & the water we consume like chlorine, chloramines, per chlorate, pesticides, and prescription drugs. Large-scale agricultural burning or sand storms can produce huge volumes of fine particulates.Fine particulates (PM-2.5) are generally emitted from activities such as industrial and residential combusjanuary 2011

ing Engineers (ASHRAE) createdStandard 52.1 to test air filters using established techniques employed by the U.S. National Bureau ofStandards and the Air Filter Institute. During the course of the past 40 years, this standard has beenmodified several times to reflect changing air filtration testing requirements. The version in use today,Standard 52.1-1992, evaluates filters based upon three key measurements: Arrestance. Designated as a percentage, the arrestance of the filter, or ability of a filter toremove synthetic dust, is calculated based upon the known weight of dust fed into a test unitunder controlled conditions and the amount of weight added or captured by the filter.

Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency.

Designated as a percentage, two procedures can be usedto calculate dust spot efficiency, which is the ability of a filter to remove atmospheric dust from theair.

Both the intermittent flow method and the constant flow method rely upon white filter paper asa target and the ratio of light transmission. Sampling of atmospheric air is conducted at 25%,50%, and 75% of dust loading and at final resistance. Efficiency is determined by an equation thatincorporates total airflow through the upstream and downstream targets and opacity of dust spoton the upstream and downstream targets. Traditionally, engineers and designers have used theterms 30%, 60%, and 85% filters to indicate which type of filter to install. These terms refer to thedust spot efficiency of the filters.

Dust Holding Capacity. Expressed in grams, dust holding capacity measures the amount of dustthat a filter can hold. Synthetic test dust is fed into a filter and the final capacity is based upon HVAC Filter Selection and MERV theamount of dust held by the filter.

Ratings: Standard 52.1 does not evaluate particle size and efficiency of the filter for a What Does It All Mean? particular particle. It is notknown what In 1968, American Society of Heat- type and size of particles will be captured ing, Refrigerating and Air Condition- by the filter. For instance, a 30% filter tion and from vehicle exhaust, smoke, dust, soot. All of these are airborne particulates that are inhaled every time we breathe. These particulates are classified by their size. Larger or “coarse” particles range in size from 2.5 to 10 micrometers in size, while “fine” particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in size. All of these are far too small to be seen with the naked eye, enter past nose hair filters, eye miniaturization & enter into our lung & bloodstream levels, where the liver does triple overtime trying to filter out & remove the toxins. One highly recommended resource for our area is the great testing & monitoring work of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (www.tceq.state.tx.us) who offers welcome of individual’s local involvement.

The TCEQ measures daily both fine and coarse particulates across the network.

Coarse particulates (PM-10) come from sources such as windblown dust from the desert or agricultural fields (sand storms) and dust kicked up on unpaved roads by vehicle traffic. Once we know what the air in our immediate enclosed environment is, animal dander, dust mites, smoke, various mold species, pollen, H1N1, etc., we can begin the catch & trap, removal & destruction of harmful airborne contaminants, so as to reduce the stress our bodies endure to minimize for removal. There is even reported record of an individual having such an acute allergic reaction to a particulate, his body was so overwhelmed going into spastic reactions, thousands of mini cardiac arrest to the point of expiration that was later autopsy as multiple organ shut down allergic reaction.

The following is exerted from a comprehensive article digestible for the technical & consumer by David Kienk, P.E. mechanical engineer, for the full article go to: http://www.hixson-inc. com/_images/MERV_Rating_0108.pdf

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(based onarrestance) means that 30% of the weight of the dust has been captured. Depending on the size of thedust particles the actual number of particles (and hence the percentage of particles) captured may besubstantially less.

MERV Defined To address the issue of particle size, ASHRAE 52.2 was issued in 1999 and modified in 2007 tocomplement, not replace, Standard 52.1, by enabling engineers/designers to select a filter based uponthe actual known particle size of the contaminant desired to filter. Standard 52.2 indicates the lowestpoint of filter efficiency (which is normally right at the time of installation1). Filters are evaluated basedupon initial efficiency as a function of one of 12 possible particle size ranges. Based on this data, anumerical value is assigned to a filter. This numerical value is designated as MERV: Minimum EfficiencyReporting Value.

MERV ratings are based upon specific airflow speeds which must be noted on themanufacturer’s data.

1 Note that synthetic filters are typically electro statically charged and will have a greater efficiency at time of installation but will loseefficiency quickly as the charge is dissipated. ASHRAE 52.2 currently does not address the dissipation of the electric charge. Referto the filter manufacturer literature or ask your local representative to determine if a filter is electro statically charged.

Tip: It is advisable to change your filters at MERV Rating 13 or higher at a minimum of 2 to 3 months which will assist with an efficient IAQ (Indoor Air Quality).

13.

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy We know, you’ve heard all this heart-health stuff before: Get your cholesterol down. Take that Spinning class. Order the salmon. Yawn. But there are some things you may not have heard about how to keep this marvelous muscle going strong: Check your waistband. Pay attention to your pregnancies. Don’t skip date night. Intrigued?

Check out the latest ways to show your heart some love.

You know: to eat right and keep your weight down.

You maybe didn’t know: We’re not just talking about nixing marbled steak and trans-fat-filled fries. It’s also about blood sugar, says Nieca Goldberg, MD, director of the New York University Women’s Heart Program and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. Your body responds to high blood sugar by pumping out more insu-

january 2011

lin to try to turn that sugar into energy.

“Too much insulin raises your triglycerides and causes inflammation of the arteries, making them more vulnerable to hardening,” Dr. Goldberg explains.

heart, too. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work have a 25 to 30% higher risk of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Do this: In addition to choosing a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, eat lots of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, says Nakela Cook, MD, MPH, medical officer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Also, go easy on sweets and refined carbs, which can send blood sugar and insulin levels soaring. The American Heart Association recommends having just 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day.

Do this: If you smoke, quit any way you can and put the tobacco cash toward a trip to Cancun to celebrate the end of your first smoke-free year—by then, you’ll have cut your heart disease risk in half, Dr. Goldberg says. (In 15 years, you’ll have the same risk as someone who’s never smoked.) Or use that beach outing to bribe a loved one who smokes—when they call it quits, you’ll both benefit.

You know: to move your heinie.

You know: to snub out those ciggies You maybe didn’t know: for good.

You don’t have to be a lunatic about You maybe didn’t know: it. To cut your risk of heart attack and Your husband’s habit could hurt your stroke by 35 to 50%, all you need is 30

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minutes, five times a week, Dr. Goldberg says. You can even break that half-hour into three 10-minute intervals. Want to work out more? You’ll give your HDL (“good”) cholesterol an extra boost— and burn more calories, of course.

Do this: Anything that gets you breathing a bit heavily, that you enjoy, and that you’ll do consistently. Brisk walking, raking, or shoveling are all good, Dr. Goldberg says: “The important thing is to move, and do it regularly.”

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adequate folic acid, which helps prevent birth defects, she says.

Bottom line? Multivitamins aren’t harmful, but they also haven’t been proven to prevent disease. So, do yourself a favor.

“Spend the cash on vitamins in their natural packaging,” Norback says.

“If you eat a balanced diet and exercise, multivitamins aren’t going to do much for you anyway.”

By Jessica Yadegaran, AARP Contributing Writer Like many Americans, Brandon Commiskey takes a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. He’s a healthy enough guy. At 26, he has no medical conditions, exercises and eats fairly well.

Or tries to.

“I’m broke, so sometimes a 99 cent hamburger is lunch,” says Commisky.

“I wouldn’t say the multivitamin is a full replacement for eating right. I see it more as maintenance.”

It’s difficult to discern what multivitamins do - if anything. Yet, Americans continue to shell out $23.7 billion a year on supplements, even following the news this month that the high levels of vitamin D once thought to ward off chronic diseases and improve health problems may be unnecessary or harmful. While some experts believe certain populations may benefit from multivitamin use more than others, they all agree that a healthful diet and exercise serve you better than popping a pill.

The biggest evidence comes from the Women’s Health Initiative, or WHI, a groundbreaking study published last year. It followed 162,000 women ages 50 to 74 who took multivitamins for eight years and found that the supplements did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases or any of the major cancers, including breast, lung, stomach, kidney, colorectal or ovarian.

“I wasn’t surprised,” says Marian Neuhouser, lead author and associate member in the Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “A lot of other dietary supplement studies have shown the same thing.”

However, because this is the largest study of its kind - women came from 40 sites across the country - the results provide concrete evidence about the efficacy of multivitamins, she says.

And, because the study focused on postmenopausal women, the results may not apply to men, Neuhouser adds.

But, the 2008 Physicians’ Health Study II, a clinical trial of nearly 15,000 male doctors, revealed that taking vitamin C or E supplements did not lower the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease. That same year, the Journal of january 2011

the American Medical Association published a study of 35,000 men which stated that high doses of vitamin E and selenium, taken for an average of five and a half years, did not prevent prostate cancer.

According to Neuhouser, the WHI study focused on multivitamins because they are the most commonly used supplement. More than half of all Americans take them, and they tend to be white, active and have a college degree.

They also tend to eat more produce and less fat than nonusers.

For those who don’t eat their veggies, a multivitamin isn’t going to do a darn thing. Sorry.

“It’s a myth that if you have a poor diet and take a multivitamin, it will somehow make up for it,” Neuhouser says. “Multivitamins don’t contain all of the benefits of plant foods and whole grains. So if people have tight budgets, they’re better off spending their money on produce.”

Nora Norback, a registered dietitian with Kaiser Permanente, said she agrees.

But she also believes that in our “overfed and undernourished” society, multivitamins may help with dietary gaps - and there are many.

“Many of us don’t eat in a way that we’re meeting our nutrient needs,” says Norback, who works in Richmond, Calif. “A multivitamin and mineral supplement appears to bring us up to the levels with vitamin E, A, B6 and zinc.”

Her research comes from the government’s Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. “But if you’re taking it thinking it will correct inadequate levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium, think again, because it doesn’t.”

Norback estimates that about 40 percent of adults and children aren’t meeting recommendations for calcium, magnesium and fiber. And then there are people who are most vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies: Adults 65 and older, vegans, vegetarians, the alcohol-dependent and those with food insecurity, meaning people who don’t have enough money to consistently provide nutrientrich foods for themselves, she explains.

“They might benefit from a multivitamin and mineral supplement,” she says. Pregnant women benefit from prenatal multivitamins, particularly with www.

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Winter Blues

Shorter days, colder temperatures and more time stuck inside can color anyone’s winter a little blue. Whether you’re feeling sluggish, irritable, noticing a change in appetite, or even just feeling a little “off,” you’re not alone.

Dr. Janet Taylor, clinical psychiatrist, emotional health expert and life coach, says winter is a time when many people notice a change in sleep patterns, energy and mood. Fortunately, Dr. Taylor has tips to help boost your mood and banish those winter blues.

Get Moving.

hol, sugar and high-fat foods are temporary mood-boosters, but they bring an energy crash that’s just not worth it.

Start off the day with some whole grains and lean protein for longer-lasting energy. Drink plenty of water and enjoy lots of fruits and vegetables.

Supplement Smarts.

In addition to exercise and healthy eating, you may want to consider a mood-enhancing supplement, such as Nature Made SAM-e Complete. SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that can become depleted due to diet and age.

Studies have shown that low levels of SAM-e can cause moodiness and irritability. Nature Made SAM-e Complete replenishes Sam-e levels and helps to naturally restore a good mood. It’s been clinically proven to work in as little as 7 to 14 days if taken daily as directed. To learn more, visit www.sam-e.com.

Exercising releases endorphins, which help you feel better. If you can’t exercise outdoors, heading to the gym or working out at home with DVDs and hand weights will give a boost to your mood and your energy. Another way to get moving is to tackle some of those indoor home improvement projects you’ve been meaning to get to. Cleaning out the closets, painting a room or rearranging some furniture will burn a few Don’t Go It Alone. calories and make you feel better about Connecting with other people is one getting something accomplished. of the best ways to fight off the blues.

Spend time with family members or Eat for Energy. share laughs with close friends. By comAll those delicious comfort foods bining some meaningful face-time with slow down your metabolism, drain your a brisk walk or a healthy meal – you’ll energy and pack on the pounds. Alco- be amazed at how much better you feel. january 2011

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Tongue studs

cause more problems than chipped teeth, recessed gums and nerve damage

By Ka-Ron Wade Contributing Writer Wearing a tongue stud puts people at risk for chipped teeth, recessed gums and nerve damage. However, most people don’t realize that getting an oral piercing also places them at risk for developing a fatal infection, such as Ludwig’s angina or endocarditis, according

to a report in the May/June 2004 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal. Ludwig’s angina, a bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth, occurs after a tooth infection, mouth injury, oral surgery and oral piercings.

After getting an oral piercing, the mouth has an open wound, which allows bacteria to travel through the bloodstream. Bacteria then cause the floor of the mouth to rapidly swell, which can block the airway or prevent the swallowing of saliva.

Endocarditis occurs when bacteria travels into the bloodstream through the piercing hole and infects the heart.

Patients with a history of heart defects are at risk for endocarditis. At the dentist’s office, a medical history is taken, which helps the dentist determine who is at risk and those patients are given antibiotics prior to certain dental pro-

cedures in order to avoid this potentially fatal problem.

Most body piercers are unlicensed and are not members of the medical profession. Because of this, health histories are not recorded or reviewed, emergency medical kits are not available, antibiotics are not prescribed and postoperative care is not available.

Postoperative care can also help identify these serious infections before they become fatal. People are told to expect some swelling from a tongue piercing but if they don’t receive follow-up care, they may not be aware of when it is abnormal swelling. A person might have an angina attack and not know it.

Unclean piercing equipment can cause other infections, such as bloodborne hepatitis. Also, if a patient is not instructed to avoid touching the piercing, they might spread infections with their own fingers. If someone is considering

an oral piercing, they should discuss it with their medical or dental professional.

Ludwig’s angina:

A life-threatening acute severe infection of the jaws that causes swelling that can close off the airway. This can be treated with an incision and drainage.

Endocarditis:

A disease caused by a microorganism infecting the heart valves or endocardium.

The microorganism can enter the blood stream through the piercing wound. This can be treated with antibiotics.

Workout Tips for the Totally Time-Crunched This time of year it can be sooo hard to find time to work out, can’t it?

There are presents to buy, cards to send, cookies to bake, parties to attend. I often find myself wishing I could just ask Santa for a few more hours in the day!

Still, having less time to exercise doesn’t mean you should give it up altogether.

You’ve simply got to know how to make the best use of the (little) time you have.

Here are my top five tips for staying fit when you’re super-busy:

1

a week is just as good as 30 minutes ups, rows with squats. Just be sure to of moderate exercise five days a week. watch your form!

(Looking for high-intensity workout ideas? Click here.)

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2

Add weight

Cut your time even further by doing fewer reps with heavier weights Our friends at ACSM also say that than you normally use. (Just make sure you’ll get similar benefits from doing a they’re not so heavy that you can’t mainsingle set of each strength move as you tain proper form.) would from doing multiple sets. So why do more? (I never do.)

Do just one set

Up your intensity

3

If you pick up the pace, you can literally cut your workout time in half.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — the experts to turn to for this sort of thing—says that 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three days

Instead of doing strength moves that target only a single muscle group, try compound exercises that work two or more at one time. Do bicep curls with lunges, shoulder presses with step-

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Multitask

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Go for an evening walk All those beautiful (and, okay, sometimes gaudy) Christmas lights need to be viewed! Slip outside for a short walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Not only will you burn some calories, but you’ll also be reminded of how peaceful this time of year can be.

Now that’s a gift worth cherishing

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

Call US TODAY!

713.272.9511 21.

Living Life to the Fullest: Helping Our Young Black Men Survive into their twenties and beyond!

By Mari Walker Contributing Writer

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wenty years ago, who would have thought that a new mammal would make its way onto the endangered species list and if life continues as it is now, this creation will soon be extinct. Not because of the hierarchy of predator versus prey, although on some level this may be true, nor because of being hunted into nonexistence, but because of the basis of all instincts: kill or be killed.

This credo has permeated our communities until that seems to be the only voice echoing from our young men’s gone-too-soon graves. The only legacy left too many times is a hastily spray painted memorial on some rundown shabby house in the inner city: RIP __ alongside gang graffiti. Like a marker for some beleaguered fallen soldier, fighting in a never-ending battle against…whom? Ones’self? The behavior begs the question. “Young men, do you hate yourselves so much that you wish to cease to exist?”

Case in point: A young man walking to the corner neighborhood store with some friends to get a soda after spending the evening together, encounters another young black man who walks up to him, places a gun to his temple and blows his brains out on the sidewalk. What’s even more tragic?

It was a case of mistaken identity. Two lives ended with one bullet that night.

Why? How did we get here?

And if our young men are not sending one another to an early, bullet-splattered ending, the justice system will see to it that they are rotting away in jail cells for crimes that others would receive a slap on the wrist, time served, or community service for. For instance, there’s a young man sitting in prison today serving 125 years without parole for a home invasion where no one was physically harmed. Why such a harsh sentence? The home that this young man chose to invade was in a prestigious, upper class white neighborhood. At the sentencing, the judge (also a white female) told the young man “We’re not going to have the likes of you terrorizing good people!” then she threw the book at him, quite literally.

Why? How did we get here? january 2011

The “whys” and “hows” are too varied and too many. So the real question is “what do we do now?”

What can we do to help our young men live life to the fullest? For one thing, no more looking away as they walk by us on the sidewalk wearing gang colors, locking our car doors and rolling up our windows, against them as we hurry past the “bad” neighborhoods, with those “worthless, gang member thugs” on the way to our “good” neighborhoods and “good” families “filled with successful black men for generations.”

Why should we have to step out of the cozy secure good environment and look back at those young men? Simply this: the life you save could be your own.

Remember, a bullet is not equipped with a navigation device that will guide it to its intended victim. Therefore the life it takes could be that of someone near and dear to you.

So what can one person do? It’s simple: Whatever we can. Whatever we must! Share the story of our successes.

Share our professions. Show our black children their value and teach them the value of the lives of their brothers and sisters.Show that young man the heights he can achieve by staying in school and offer an alternative to the grim reality he’s looking at every single day of his life. Teach him that pro sports aren’t the only ticket out! Resist the urge to look away and pretend that so long as your black “Ward and June Cleaver” world is perfect, the rest of the world is perfect too. Instead, pretend it’s your child who is at risk (because, guess what? It really is!) Fight for that child’s life like you are fighting for your own. Help ONE young man. Each one REACH ONE. Just one.

According to statistics, there are over 20 million African-American adults in this country. If each of us can save one young man, that will be over 20 million lives saved. Imagine that!

Over 20 million! Isn’t that worth stepping outside of our comfort zones? Isn’t it worth it to get our young men off of the endangered species list? Then maybe our young men can live their fullest lives. Maybe some of them will live to see their first grandson.

Mari Walker is the bestselling author of two novels; Never As Good As the First Time and Not Quite What It Seems. She is currently planning a workshop for disadvantaged and at-risk youths. www.

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for Treating a Sick Child Once the winter months set in, it seems there’s always some sort of “bug” going around school. Between colds, flu, strep and other common illnesses, kids are lucky to escape this season without coming down with something. But if they do get sick, what should you do?

These tips will help parents and caregivers see kids through the illness and get them back on the way to health.

Treating a Fever.

Not every fever needs treatment.

Fevers are part of how the body fights off infection. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) says that if your child is eating and sleeping well, and has periods of playfulness, he or she probably doesn’t need any treatment. But consult with your child’s doctor to find out what’s best in each case. The AAP has these tips for taking care of a child with a fever: • Keep his room and your home comfortably cool, and dress him lightly.

• Encourage her to drink extra fluid such as water, diluted fruit juices or commercially prepared oral electrolyte solutions.

• If the fever is a symptom of a highly contagious disease such as chickenpox or the flu, keep your child away from other children, elderly people, and people whose immune systems are compromised.

Treating Colds and Flu.

While it’s tempting to seek medicinal treatment for every ailment, there is no cure for the cold or flu, and antibiotics don’t work on the viruses that cause colds and flu. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says that headaches, muscle aches, sore throats and some fevers can be treated with pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Be sure you give the correct dose according to his or her age and weight.

• Cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children, especially those younger than two.

• Make sure your child rests and drinks plenty of fluids. january 2011

• A humidifier can help moisten the air in your child’s bedroom and will help with nasal congestion.

Medicating Children.

When a doctor does prescribe an antibiotic or antiviral medication, there are several important things to be aware of. The AAP recommends finishing all prescribed doses of an antibiotic, even if the child starts to feel better soon. They also recommend: • Sticking with the schedule – don’t skip doses and ask the doctor what to do if a dose isn’t given on time.

• Giving the right amount – Never give a child more medicine because you think it might work better or faster. It could do more harm than good.

• Don’t try to hide the medicine – If a child hates the taste of the medicine, or tries to spit it out, it might be tempting to try to hide it in milk or food. But this could affect how well the medicine works, so do not do this unless specifically directed by your child’s doctor.

For liquid prescriptions and overthe-counter medications that your child does hate the taste of, pharmacies can add Flavorx flavors to improve the taste.

There are 15 to 20 flavors to choose from, including bubblegum, grape, strawberry and watermelon. Giving kids the power of choice when it comes to the taste of their medicine really makes a difference. The flavoring service is available at 40,000 major chain pharmacies across the country. Go to www.flavorx. com/locator to find one near you.

If your child is prescribed medication in pill form, there are ways to help the medicine go down. A flavored spray such as Pill Glide helps medications, vitamins and supplements go down without giving kids a stuck-in-the-throat feeling. It is available in grape and strawberry flavors and can be found in several national chain pharmacies. Find out more about both products at www. flavorx.com. www.

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Could You Have Type 2?

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Skin problems Itchy skin, perhaps the result of dry skin or poor circulation, can often be a warning sign of diabetes, as are other skin conditions, such as acanthosis nigricans.

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Slow healing Infections, cuts, and bruises that don’t heal quickly are another classic sign of diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms

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iabetes affects 24 million people in the U.S., but only 18 million know they have it. About 90% of those people have type 2 diabetes.

In diabetes, rising blood sugar acts like a poison.

Diabetes is often called the silent

killer because of its easy-to-miss symptoms. “Almost every day people come into my office with diabetes who don’t know it,” says Maria Collazo-Clavell, MD, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The best way to pick up on it is to have a blood sugar test. But if you have these symptoms, see your doctor.

1

Yeast infections “Diabetes is considered an immunosuppressed state,” Dr. Collazo-Clavell explains.

That means heightened susceptibility to a variety of infections, although the most common are yeast (candida) and other fungal infections, she says. Fungi and bacteria both thrive in sugar-rich environments.

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Fatigue and irritability “When people have high blood sugar levels, depending on how long it’s been, they can get used to chronically not feeling well,” says Dr. Collazo-Clavell. “Sometimes that’s what brings them into the office.”

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Increased urination, excessive thirst

Blurry vision

If you need to urinate frequently—particularly if you often have to get up at night to use the bathroom—it could be a symptom of diabetes.

2

Having distorted vision and seeing floaters or occasional flashes of light are a direct result of high blood sugar levels.

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Weight loss Overly high blood sugar levels can also cause rapid weight loss, say 10 to 20 pounds over two or three months—but this is not a healthy weight loss.

3

Tingling or numbness Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, along with burning pain or swelling, are signs that nerves are being damaged by diabetes.

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Hunger Excessive pangs of hunger, another sign of diabetes, can come from sharp peaks and lows in blood sugar levels.

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Blood tests Several tests are used to check for diabetes, but a single test result is never enough on its own to diagnose diabetes (the test has to be repeated).

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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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LIVE AS IF YOU Get Your Family WERE DYING Involved in Changing Taking a trip to your local hospital or Ronald McDonald House, will surely remind one that life is precious and something we should not take for granted.

Making every day count can include living a life that you know will leave a legacy. What greater gift than that?

There are many ways to do this. These are just a few examples:

By Elvia Valdez Contributing Writer It’s the inevitable. No one likes thinking about death. Especially within certain cultures, it’s as if the topic is taboo or off limits. The truth is, no matter how one spins their beliefs to reflect what they hold true, we are all destined to part from this great journey.

The song by famous country artist, Tim McGraw, comes to mind, “Live like You Were Dying.” The song’s lyrics speak of someone who does everything he’s ever wanted because he was recently diagnosed with a serious illness.

Surely, we’ve all heard the saying.

But do we really live each day to the fullest? Life is a gift, it’s a blessing. In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, we can decide to live a life of thanksgiving.

- Write a book - Start a scholarship in your name - Volunteer your time to people who will greatly benefit from your talents - Donate your organs/tissue - Donate your body to science Many of us get caught up in the worldliness of life that we actually forget to live. Haven’t you heard someone say “I don’t have a life”? “It’s all over when you have kids.” That statement could not be further from the truth.

The best reason to live is so that you can give of yourself to others, including yourself. Many people can hide behind excuses as to why they aren’t who they are supposed to be, but in the end you have nothing to give this world, if you aren’t alive.

Making each day count starts with today. As we all know, tomorrow is not promised. Live today like your life depended on it and you won’t regret it.

Advertise today in D-MARS Business Journal Call US TODAY! january 2011

Your Eating Behavior

713.272.9511 www.

Dieters are more likely to change their ways if they feel they have the support of family, a close friend, or a coworker. Here’s how to get them to help.

In the spring of 2010, after four pregnancies, Sally Jones weighed 240 pounds. “I wasn’t happy with myself,” she told an area health magazine in April 2010. Inspired by her sister Cathy Johnson, who had resolved to lose weight in 209, the sisters joined forces in dieting and exercising and had better success.

Research shows that dieters are more likely to change their ways if they feel they have the support of family, a close friend, or a coworker. It worked for this sister team: Along with eating more vegetables and smaller portions, they lifted weights three times a week and went on four to five mile walks at least four days a week. The workout buddies even tried activities they wouldn’t have done alone, like yoga and badminton. A year later, Sally had lost 85 pounds, and her sister had shed 105—a whopping 190 pounds of combined success.

Here are some tips for getting friends and family to support your desire to lose weight: • Be up-front. Let friends and family know you’re making changes

in your eating habits. It may stop loved ones from offering you foods you’re trying to avoid and encourage healthy cooking at group events.

Asking them for help also adds accountability.

• Buddy up. The fact is, two-thirds of American adults are overweight and, chances are, you have friends or coworkers who may be interested in changing their eating behavior as well. Research shows that when one person slims down, those around him or her are more likely to lose, according to a 2007 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego.

• Start small. If you’re worried about food pushers, make small, less noticeable changes instead of obvious ones. It will help you ease into weight loss and avoid unwanted attention. For example, at the next family dinner, use a salad plate when you go through the buffet.

Chances are, no one will notice your little switch, and you’ll be consuming less food.

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he beginning months of a new year, they’re a time filled with hope and endless possibilities for the year ahead.

So when it comes to weight-loss related goals, stay in the right state of mind by looking forward to full-flavored foods and shrinking waistlines. Treat your taste buds with these smart food choices: Sports Snacks – For those who write them off as a nutritional nightmare, think again. A simple tweak can do wonders. Going with grilled salmon burgers in place of ground beef, for example, swaps unhealthy saturated fat for stuff of the heart-healthy, unsaturated variety. Avocados, another sports snacking stable, are full of cholesteroltaming monounsaturated fats. The rich, creamy texture of avocados makes resolutions to eat healthier easier to

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the Power of Positivity for Weight-Loss Goals follow. An ounce of avocados (or about one-fifth of the fruit) has nearly 20 vitamins and minerals.

Bakery bites – Luscious cakes, muffins and cookies were once only the domain of bakeries. A new crop of grocery store products, however, offers the same delicious taste while keeping nutritionals in check. A good example is the new Weight Watchers Coffee Cake. It packs moist cake, crumbly streusel topping and a rich cinnamon filling into only 120 calories, and boasts five grams of fiber to boot. Opt for this better-for-you pre-packaged version and follow the same rule for traditional baked goods that can pack up to 700 calories: If you often enjoy a muffin with your coffee, look for the low-calorie varieties in your grocery store. They offer the same fix for less than 200 calories.

Sweet drinks – Plenty of drinking

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options exist to satisfy your sweet tooth. The key is to harness the power of water. Get in the habit of diluting sugar-laden juices and sports drinks with H20 and you can slash the amount of sugar you slurp up in half. Not only does it increase water consumption, it makes whatever you buy last twice as long. For more tips, innovative products and betterfor-you recipes, visit the Weight Watchers Supermarket Foods Facebook page at facebook. com/weightwatcherssupermarketfoods.

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Pencil Yourself In Take a drive

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Schedule a massage

Another way to take care of yourself is to schedule a massage by a professional massage therapist. Massage therapy has many benefits, including relieving stress and increasing relaxation. Many right or wrong way to do it. Whatever is providers offer additional services such on your mind, write it down. The good as hot stone massage, facials and arothing about journaling is it is inexpen- matherapy. One of the best benefits of a professional massage is it feels great. sive. All it takes is pen and paper.

By Daphine Glenn Robinson, Contributing Writer

If your daily calendar is booked solid during most of your waking hours, you need to find some quality time for yourself. Just as exercise is essential to a healthy body, making time for you is equally as important.

Daily travel time, shuffling children between various extra-curricular activities, business meetings, and community service responsibilities can drain your weekdays.Weekends then become makeup days for the things neglected during the week. Finding and creating time for

rical performance or a stand-up comedy act at your local theater.

If you don’t have a long daily commute, the idea of taking a long drive may be refreshing.Try a different route home from work a few times each week.

The extra time it may take can help you to let go of what may have happened at the office and help get your mind ready for the rest of the evening.

Drive through a local park and enjoy the changing foliage. This time of year, holiday decorations may be up in your yourselfon a regular basis can mean the area. Enjoy the change of scenery. difference between being a little stressed now or a possible meltdown later.

Enjoy time out with friends Enjoy adult time with friends who Write in a Journal have similar interests. If you are unable Something as simple as journaling to have a set time each week, set aside can make a big difference in your day. some time to spend time with friends at Use time during lunch breaks or steal least once a month. Schedule lunch or a few moments before going to bed to dinner together. You may enjoy a glass write in a journal. Jot down what is on of wine while enjoying live entertainyour mind at a particular time or cap- ment at a local venue. Switch things up ture what happened during your day. sometimes and do something different Journaling is simple and there is no such as a sporting event, attend a theat-

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Read a book If you enjoy reading a good book, find one by your favorite author to curl up with. Fill a mug with your favorite hot beverage and escape into another world for a few hours. If your choices are limited, visit your local library and ask the librarian for a recommendation.

If you really enjoy reading, consider joining a monthly book club. They usually meet monthly or bimonthly and have an atmosphere of friendship that often includes activities outside of the monthly club meeting.

Remember, find time for you. You give yourself to others every day. Between work and family, it is easy to place the things that are important to you on the back burner. A few stolen moments to journal, read a book, or spend time with friends can make all the difference in how you interact with those around you who really matter. Find something you love to do, put yourself on your calendar and keep your appointments.

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Common Myths About the Common Cold Chicken soup Vicks VapoRub in Can a bowl of chickyour socks cures en soup help fight a cold?

Maybe: Some research coughs suggests it could relieve inflammation. (Check out this chicken soup recipe, and others, on our Recipe Channel).

But will going outside with wet hair make you sick in the first place?

Nope. That’s just another old wives’ tale about the common cold. Here are some more.

Feed a cold, starve a fever

In 2007, a widely circulated email recommended putting Vicks VapoRub on children’s feet at night and covering them with socks to cure coughs; it became an Internet sensation.

The email identified the source of the miracle cure as the “Canada Research Council,” which prompted the National Research Council of Canada to issue a statement saying it had nothing to do with the email or its advice. VapoRub, which is usually applied to a child’s chest or throat, releases vapors that are intended to relieve cough symptoms when inhaled—so it seems far-fetched that it would work if it’s in your socks. Still, some fans stand by this unorthodox treatment.

A wet head can make you sick

Being sick often kills your appetite; force-feeding won’t help. What will help is staying hydrated and getting enough calories. A 2008 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that mice exposed to the flu took longer to recover and were more likely to suffer ill effects if they were on a low-calorie diet. The researchers’ recommendation? Skip dieting until after flu season.

You’ll probably feel chilly if you skip the blow-dry on a cold day, but not much else will happen. Again, colds are caused by a virus. Unless you are so cold that you get hypothermia, which could make you susceptible to infection, wet hair or clothes won’t increase your vulnerability.

You’ll get sick if you don’t Wearing garlic wear a coat prevents colds George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life earned a punch in the nose over this one, but would Zuzu really have stayed healthy if her teacher had buttoned her coat? Not likely.

Colds and flu are caused by viruses. They do circulate during coldweather seasons, but you’re more likely to pick them up inside than out. In fact, going outside and getting more physical activity—and not just during cold and flu season—may help prevent sickness. january 2011

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The pungent odor may keep germ-spreading friends and coworkers away, but you have to actually ingest it for the health benefits. Garlic is rich in antioxidants, which boost immunity and fight inflammation. Experts recommend adding one to two cloves a day to your diet, a small enough amount that it shouldn’t cause gas or acid reflux.

If you’re worried about the smell, try a garlic extract capsule to get the benefits without the stink.

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Medical Tests Women Need in 2011 What health tests and checkups do you really need this year? We know it’s confusing, so that’s why we’ve assembled a team of top doctors and experts to help us figure out what medical exams women really need.

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Mammogram New rules: A government advisory panel recently gave annual mammos a thumbs-down for women ages 40 to 49 who don’t have an elevated risk of breast cancer. (Scientists are worried about overdiagnosis, false positives, and unnecessary biopsies and radiation exposure.) Now, only low-risk women ages 50 and older are supposed to get a mammo every two years.

But many doctors and cancer organizations disagree. If your breast cancer risk is elevated because of a personal or family history, yearly mammos starting

at age 40 (or younger) are still advised.

Talk to your doc during your annual physical about your cancer risks, and call her right away if you have any breast problems.

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Skin check More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year.

The best way to catch it early—when it’s highly curable—is by checking yourself once a month for new or suspicious moles and by getting a total-body exam once a year from your doctor or a dermatologist. eyesight problems partly because they have higher risks for dry-eye syndrome and auto¬immune diseases that affect eye health.

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Eye exam If you wear glasses or contacts, visit your eye doctor for a vision screening every year; every other year if you don’t.

Women are more likely to experience Hearing test The standard for getting an audiogram, which checks your hearing at a variety of pitches and intensity levels, is once a year starting at age 50, when hearing typically begins to decline. But if you blast your iPod at full volume, you may want one sooner.

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Periodontal exam Once a year (at one of your twice-annual cleanings) your dentist should perform a periodontal exam, probing the health of your gums and taking X-rays. She’ll check for gum inflammation, which can contribute to heart disease and diabetes.

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TSH screening Cold, tired, achy, constipated, gaining weight—all of these are symptoms of hypothyroidism, a deficiency of the thyroid gland that strikes about 10% of women. It’s diagnosed with a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test, given during your annual physical starting at age 50 (earlier if you experience symptoms).

levels in your 20s, get one at least every five years. From age 40 up, get your cholesterol and blood sugar (to check for diabetes) tested every year because heart attack and diabetes risks rise as you age.

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Pap smear Starting at age 21, regardless of sexual history, women should have a Pap every other year to look for signs of cervical cancer. Those 30 and older need to get tested once every three years if they’ve had three consecutive normal Pap smears.

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Colonoscopy This test, during which a camera scans your colon for cancerous polyps while you’re sedated, is recommended for people 50 and older and should be repeated every 10 years (more often if polyps are found). Get a colonoscopy earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer, or if you have unexplained bleeding or other changes in bowel habits.

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Depression screening Simple questions from your MD at your annual physical can rule out depression, which affects one in four women in their lives but is often undiagnosed. Your doctor asks a series of questions about sleep troubles, irritability, and loss of interest in your favorite activities. Five or more warning signs could signal a problem. If Blood tests you’re concerned about your mood, ask After a baseline screening for cholesterol your doctor for this screening.

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Hot Tips, Tricks, and Updates That Help You Live Healthy the swine flu vaccine.)

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Tone everything in just three weeks Try this Pilates-inspired Push-Plank from exercise physiologist Michele Olson, PhD. From push-up position, lower body halfway to floor (A). Lift left leg; hold for 1 count. Press elbows straight (but don’t lock them), and hold for 1 more count (B). Now repeat exercise using right leg; that’s 1 rep. Do 10 reps every other day.

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How not to get the flu this year Two billion people around the globe may catch swine flu. But that doesn’t mean you should run right out and get the H1N1 flu vaccine. For starters, it may not be ready by the time you read this. And if you’re a healthy adult you may not need it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Exceptions: If you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or have a baby less than six months old, ask your doc about

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The real must-have, though, is the shot for regular, or seasonal, flu. Everyone needs that this year—and ASAP, says Philip Tierno, director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center. The seasonal-flu vaccine may even offer a little protection against swine flu, according to some experts. So don’t hesitate—vaccinate!

your flu risks significantly.

• You can ease nasal congestion with chicken soup.

• Vitamin C may help you get better a little faster.

• Ask your doc about an antiviral if you’re pregnant or have a chronic disease.

• Staying well-hydrated can fuel your im¬mune system.

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Put a little bite into your love life 90% That’s the percentage you may re- Vampires are hot and fangs are everyduce your risk of catching influenza by where, from TV to the movies. The result? “We’re doing dozens of cosmetic getting a seasonal-flu shot. fang procedures,” says New York City cosmetic dentist Debra Glassman, DDS. Your flu survival kit Besides getting vaccinated, here are How it works: For $200 to $500, removfive smart ways to boost your defenses able bonding material is molded and during flu season—or help you feel bet- sculpted around key teeth without dister if the virus puts you down for the turbing tooth enamel. For cheaper clipon choices, check out VampFangs.com. count.

• Consistent hand-washing reduces

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