2016 Healthy Living - New You

four

corners

a series of three publications of the durango herald

NEW YOU

Find balance in body & mind

Yamuna Body Rolling

MARCH 2016

Feel Energized

Try Thai Massage or Jiu Jitsu

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Primary Health Care for Women

Women Caring for Women

Courtney Lupia Blasi CNP, MS • Karen Zink CNP, MS • Amanda Preston Araújo CNP, MS

Accepting New Patients 575 Rivergate Lane, Suite 210 • Durango, CO • southwestwomenshealth.com

970-247-0042

A team of community members can empower you to make healthy choices

We Accept Most Insurance

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

DOUGLAS BENNETT VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

BOB GANLEY VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING

DAVID HABRAT CREATIVE SERVICES PRODUCTION MANAGER

SUZANNE DUKE SENIOR MANAGER OF DESIGN

TODD BARTZ EDITOR/DESIGNER

KARLA SLUIS ASSISTANT EDITOR

RACHEL SEGURA

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ADVERTISING DESIGN/ PREPRESS

JIM DODSON OLIVIA DOMBACH MICHELLE MARTIN LINDA MCDARBY JUSTIN MEEK ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

BART COLLINS BRIAN HOWELL COLLEEN DONLEY DIXIE REED KAYLEE KEMPINSKI RYAN ROBISON SARA KNIGHT SHAWNA LONG TAMARA DESROSIERS TERESSA NELSON KAROLANN LATIMER

ON THE COVER: Katie Marechal teaches Yamuna Body Rolling. PHOTO BY KARLA SLUIS The Durango Herald uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its special magazine publications. However, all information comes from a variety of sources and may change at any time for any reason. To verify specific information, refer to the organization or business noted. To view the online version of this guide, visit: www.durangoherald.com

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Mindset: 90 percent of health comes from you

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Yamuna Body Rolling: Mindful healing

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Thai massage: Gives clarity and focus

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Self-care: Finding time for you

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Vets and pets: Advice on building a bond

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Martial arts and defense

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Hearing treatments: Five reasons to get aids

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Glaucoma: It’s the “sneak thief of sight”

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Nutrition: Babies adapt to food in utero March 2016

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90% OF HEALTH COMES FROM YOU

Powerful brain-body connection means we can take responsibility for wellness

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e as an American culture have, in many ways, lost personal responsibility for our health. This is not by any fault of our own.

When we look toward the state of our health, we painfully must admit that it is our choices that have landed us where we are today. The American lifestyle is a paradigm: an indoctrination toward a certain way of thinking about our health.

Think about these questions as they apply to your life. l Am I a person who waits to become ill before taking a sick day at work? Am I one who preventatively takes the day as a “rest break” to prevent illness? l Am I a person who invests in my health preventatively for optimal function; or do I wait and react to a situation after my health is lost? l Do I have a health plan, or do I rely on insurance and government policies to assist me? l Simply stated, am I proactive or reactive about the factors that influence my well-being? l How much of what you believe to be true about yourself has been culturally engrained in you?

Anyone approaching 65 understands that we are

now in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to taking care of our health. Social Security has quickly become unable to pay for a lifestyle we would consider middle class. Medicare benefits cover less and less (with the exception of pills) and doctors are refusing to accept Medicare due to its decreasing ability to pay for quality care. This limits our healthcare options very quickly, especially when trying to live a lifestyle of prevention. The options for those enrolled in Medicare unfortunately can mean “the bottom of the barrel,” so to speak.

So what is the mindset needed to live a full, productive, and healthy life?

One must develop a mindset apart from the current American paradigm. This means working toward self-reliance on all levels: financially, socially, health, and attitude. Who responds the best to treatments and overcomes health-related problems only to emerge stronger on the other side? It is the person who has the best and strongest attitude. A patient will only get better when they believe they can. Despite the treatment options, a person has to think in a certain way.

There is a power within that is programmed for healing. The only thing that blocks it is us. It is our

mindset that determines our outcomes in our health and the results we see in our life. If we are always relying on the doctor, the government, the treatment to make us better, then we will never achieve the result desired. Why? Because we are looking on the outside for something that can only be resolved from within.

All treatments, care options, and therapies are 10 percent effective. Ninety percent of our health is a result of our attitude and thinking.

It is a simple concept, and too good to be true.

False! It takes a focused and unwavering mindset to change our thinking: to get off the pills, to eat real food, and to fire friends who drag us down. For every change in mind there is a sacrifice that must be forgone. Our culture is set up for health failure. The United States ranks 43rd in the world for life expectancy, according to the CIA fact book. It takes thinking in a certain way to produce the results we want in our life.

“Let him that would move the world, first move himself.” – Socrates Dr. Clayton Sullwold D.C. specializes in proper brainstem function and specific misalignments of the upper cervical complex. He lectures locally on the brainbody connection. www.atlasspecific.com March 2016

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GET ON THE

Body-mind integration of Yamuna Body Rolling offers relaxation, healing

By Karla Sluis

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Instructor Katie Marechal shows the balls used in Yamuna Body Rolling.

A skeleton named “Jack” helps her educate students on anatomy.

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everal adults lay on mats in a studio filled with morning sunlight. With eyes closed, they slowly roll over squishy, colored balls placed under their backs.

It may look meditative, but Yamuna Body Rolling is deep, integrative bodywork.

“We have people peek in the studio and say, ‘Wow, it must be nap time in there.’ But they have no idea how hard the students are working,” said Durango YBR instructor Katie Marechal.

YBR has similarities to massage, acupressure and physical therapy. But unlike often-painful foam-roller work, YBR is unique in the way the body “melts” around the balls and releases tension and pain. Marechal, who has 16 years of experience in massage therapy and bodywork, calls it “imprinting the healing.”

Yamuna, (“YA-mon-uh”) named for creator Yamuna Zake, is practiced on a set of medium to firm 6- to 10inch balls. Students wear comfortable clothing, and exercises take place standing, seated or lying on a yoga mat.

Each class is different, but there are specific sequences of exercises that follow the logic of the neuromuscular system. The general rule is that the balls follow the muscles’ origin to insertion. Movements are slow and controlled. Balancing on top of a ball requires careful attention to alignment, core strength and balance.

“The pressure of the ball helps focus the mind and keep you in the moment,” said Marechal during a class at the Smiley Building Dance Center on Feb. 24.

Photos by KARLA SLUIS

Marechal, left, leads an exercise during a Yamuna Body Rolling class at the Smiley Building Dance Center, Room 24, on Feb. 24.

Marechal is warm, funny and knowledgeable as an instructor. She is passionate about empowering her students – many of whom are working through injuries – and helping them heal themselves. A skeleton named “Jack” hangs beside Marechal as she teaches, and she shows where the balls should be placed on the bones. Just like in grade school, adult students relearn that the knee bone is connected to the shin bone.

“If you want to heal your knee, you have to also work on your hip and ankle,” Marechal said.

Unlike many get-skinny fitness routines, YBR works from the inside out. It decompresses bones and joints, elongates muscles, and frees nerves from restrictions. With a ball placed under the neck, slow and supported movements feel terrific, and they help increase range of motion.

“At the end of class, sometimes you can see a difference in the mirror,” said Marechal. “Maybe your shoulders are back, or maybe your neck is elongated and you can turn your head a little bit more.”

Other benefits of YBR include: muscle length and tone, improved circulation, better bone quality and alignment, increased core strength and metabolism, relaxation, expanded lungs and breathing, and increased body awareness.

YBR is a part of a nationwide trend in restorative fitness. For those with an injury or chronic issue, it can be soothing and healing.

“I have a hurt shoulder from leading seasonal bike tours. This class helped me get back into alignment,” said student Tracy Regan. “Katie empowers us to bring the knowledge home, and I travel with a ball now. I learn something new every time.

“For me, this is self-care,” said Regan. “I like to think of it as a massage. And it’s only $15, so that’s a deal.”

Marechal says the class is open to beginners and beneficial for everyone. Many of her students say they have an injury, and nothing else but YBR helps.

Some students say the practice helps them feel more grounded. Others enjoy the feeling of relaxation.

Marechal has been teaching YBR for a little over a year, and has her own success story. After 20 years of experience as a massage therapist and outdoor sports, she started hurting. At a transformative YBR training in New York City, she said she experienced “tremendous healing” with a whiplash neck injury.

And from there, she felt passionate about sharing her knowledge with others.

“Part of the class is about discovering yourself. It’s a form of self-expression.”

She said the body has wisdom and messages for us, but people can be stubborn.

“This work opens a dialogue for a whole new connection. That’s pretty cool, because normally when the body ‘says’ something, we run for the hills,” she said, laughing.

Try a class

Beginners are welcome in Katie Marechal’s Yamuna Body Rolling classes She teaches at the Smiley Building Dance Center (Room 24) on Tuesdays 9-10 a.m., and Thursdays 12:30 -1:30 p.m. She also teaches the first and third Wednesday of every month from 5:45-6:45 p.m. Students bring their own yoga mats.

Drop-in fee is $15. A 5-punch card is $70, and a10-punch card is $125. Private sessions are available. For information, e-mail katiemarechal@yahoo.com or call (970) 903-1968.

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For over 11 years now, families from Durango and the Four Corners area have entrusted the health care of their infants, children and adolescents to Pediatric Associates of Durango. Dr. Pakhi Chaudhuri honors this privilege by working with families to create the foundation for a lifetime of wellness.

Pediatric Associates of Durango welcomes Jessica Rensner, MSN, RN, CPNP to the practice.

1199 Main Avenue • Suite 205 Durango, CO 81301

970/259-PEDS (7337) FAX 970/259-7366 www.paofdurango.com

Our goal is to ensure that our patients thrive physically, mentally and emotionally. To accomplish this, we call on our solid background in conventional medicine as well as exploring a multitude of alternative options that have proven to enhance the overall health of our patients.

We, at Pediatric Associates of Durango, are passionate about setting a new standard for health that empowers children to reach their full potential!

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Chris Furer, certified massage therapist and owner of Balanced Recovery, works with a client at his office in Durango.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR Thai massage therapist says bodywork offers both clarity and healing

By Rachel Segura

T

he first time Chris Furer received a Thai massage, he came away with a feeling of clarity.

“I’ve always had a little issue with ADD, so when I came out of my massage and noticed I was thinking in the moment, I knew there was something to this.”

Furer, owner of Balanced Recovery in Durango, has always had an affinity for Eastern cultures and philosophies. While studying to become a certified massage therapist in Atlanta, GA, he wanted to integrate an Eastern massage practice into his studies – he just wasn’t sure how. Thai massage was the perfect fit.

Thai massage is a 2,500-year old practice that uses rhythmic acupressure on specific lines of the body.

It’s a style of bodywork that is more inviting to many people because the client remains clothed. You also lay on the floor and are more alert, versus sleepy.

“You aren’t going to take a nap during this massage,” Furer said. “It’s almost an unconscious experience, and it’s extremely effective for various types of health problems.”

The health benefits for this practice are what Furer calls miraculous. Furer has seen a client with multiple sclerosis have extreme shifts in therapy from consistent Thai massage. He saw his client improve in balance, leg and foot coordination, improvement in chronic pain, and reducing insomnia. Other neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s benefit greatly from the practice as well.

“You don’t get a massage fog,” Furer said, describing the typical way a person could feel after being on the table. “You’re clear-headed, grounded and relaxed. It’s more energetic rather than foggy.”

Furer said this is a reason why Thai massage works well as sports medicine for athletes who want to feel focused before a sports event. This alertness also comes from working the lymphatic system in the body through acupressure.

“You aren’t going to take a nap during this massage. It’s almost an unconscious experience, and it’s extremely effective for various types of health problems.”

– Chris Furer This magical, mystery massage is not solely a physical experience. Although the body is becoming relaxed during the process, there is synergy with the mind and body.

“Of course you can’t see energy, but you can move it through the body, which is essentially what we are doing with Thai massage.”

The actual body work consists of passive yogic stretches guided by the person giving the massage.

Furer starts on the left side of the body with the lower half. He massages the legs, down to the feet, pausing to notice the body’s reaction to the pressure. He will fold the leg, work the foot back and forth, and relax the hip flexors. After the lower body is worked, he guides you into a side stretch to start on the back, arm, shoulder

and neck. Then he repeats the other side.

All the while you lie on a large cushion in your comfortable sweat pants thinking of nothing but the sensations you are experiencing. None are unpleasant.

If there are any sharp twinges, Furer takes notice. Any muscle that is tender is worked with slightly less pressure until it becomes less painful.

This is one of the concepts of Thai massage – the body will tell you when it’s time to back off. Furer observes the sensations your muscles create as he applies the pressure. This could mean he lingers in certain areas longer than others.

“If there is anything we aren’t, it’s symmetrical.”

In other words, one half of your body could receive a different treatment than the other. Furer will know what position to place you in, by your body’s reaction.

“Thai massage will take you into stretches that you didn’t realize you could go,” Furer said. “Your body will stop me, and I will be able to feel that. We are generally thinking in terms of reducing injury, so your mind may think that’s it; but your body allows you to go further. I’m looking for that allowance, because it will give you a better range of movement without any pain.”

Furer has been living in Durango for 17 years and practicing as a CMT for 20 years. You can learn more about his practice and other forms of massage at his website www.durangobodywork.com.

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YOU ARE WORTH IT

Durango naturopath offers advice on self-worth, finding time to care

By Nicola St. Mary

W

hen we talk about taking care of ourselves, most of us say that we don’t have time. I would challenge you to take a deeper look at that response and ask if that is the whole truth.

Many of us can list the reasons that it’s important to take care of ourselves. What might be more helpful is to look at why you wouldn’t take care of yourself.

More often than not, we don’t take care of ourselves because we don’t believe that we are worth it, or we feel like we should be taking care of others – our families, friends, community, work. It can feel counterintuitive, or even selfish, to take care of ourselves. Like the flight attendant always reminds us, it is crucial to put our oxygen mask on first so that we are in a position to help those around us. If we don’t allow ourselves to breathe and be healthy, we can’t possibly be available for others.

We teach people how to treat us. When you care for yourself, you communicate to yourself and others that you are worthy of care. You communicate not only to yourself, but to others around you, that you are worthy of respect and kindness. People will take advantage of us if we let them. They may not realize they are taking advantage, and they may not mean to take advantage.

They might not even realize that we don’t want to do what they ask of us. After all, if we’ve never said “no,” how would they know? It took me years to learn how to say “no.” Finally, I realized that it’s as simple as saying, “I’m sorry, I’d love to help you out but I just can’t right now.” That simple.

Self-care has proven to produce positive feelings,

which builds self-love, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Self-care can be the first step in developing and deepening our relationship with ourselves. Often, we don’t want to get to know ourselves deeply – there are too many icky or painful parts. It’s not about changing them, it’s about acknowledging that they’re there and allowing them to be. Then we can start working on offering love and compassion to those parts. It’s about self-acceptance, holes and all. And when we can accept ourselves completely, we can be more tolerant of others.

Isn’t it amazing how we take care of our cars and our pets, but we put our bodies as the lowest priority?

You might have a hard time with this in the beginning. You might feel guilty or selfish. You might say you can’t fit it into your schedule. You might say you have too many other obligations. If your schedule is that full every day, then it is even more crucial to carve out some time for yourself. You might need to say “no” to other obligations in your life. Ask yourself: Who am I doing this for? Be careful of taking on obligations that aren’t yours. Beware the people-pleaser mentality – it only leads to resentment. We must let go of something in order to make space for ourselves. It’s a matter of believing that you deserve to be cared for just as much as everyone else in your life does.

Another question to ask yourself is: What is your motivation? Some people experience a sense of pride that comes from working themselves to the bone on a regular basis. These same people tend to have crisis after crisis in their lives and always feel run-down, unorganized and anxious. Is your

self-worth wrapped up in external achievement?

Once you reach your goal, do you feel anxious to start another project? Have you acknowledged your achievement? When self-worth is attached to external goals, it is fleeting and not really nourished from within, so we get trapped in an endless cycle of jumping from project to project, never really able to get our needs met. If you don’t make the time to care for yourself, who else is going to?

Barbara De Angelis said: “If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.”

Here are some ideas to help you get started: l Instead of doing self-care rituals because we feel worth it, do them because we want to feel worth it.

This is a great time to implement the “fake it ‘til you make it” principle. l If you feel shaky, nervous, or undeserving while brainstorming, scheduling, and/or doing self-care acts remind yourself, “I am doing this so that I will feel better about myself.” l Start with baby steps – even a few minutes a day. l Incorporate it into the routine you have already. l Make a wellness plan with concrete goals. l Choose a wellness buddy to support you.

Dr. Nicola St. Mary sees clients in her naturopathic medical practice, Pura Vida Natural Healthcare, in Durango. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Nicola is CEO of Happy Healthy Employee Programs, a worksite wellness consulting practice. She also teaches a variety of classes and corporate wellness retreats.

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A WORKOUT FOR BODY AND MIND

Jiu Jitsu Durango trainer teaches discipline and self-defense

Matt Young, manager of Durango Martial Arts Academy

By Rachel Segura

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razilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts are quickly becoming a popular form of exercise, both physically and mentally.

BJJ and MMA are sports for any age and gender because when you enter the dojo, it’s a safe bet you are a beginner. The beauty of the sport however, is that it is equal to everyone across the board.

“Learning BJJ, at first, can feel difficult,” said Matt Young, manager of Durango Martial Arts Academy.

“You have to be ready to be a beginner because you aren’t going to be good; but it truly gives you a great feeling almost immediately, and you become hooked.”

As one of the fastest growing sports across the world, MMA saw an uptick in women fighters as a result from infamous competitors like Rhonda Rousey, whose fight against Holly Holm was one of the most watched fights of all time.

The main attraction, especially for women, when it comes to BJJ is the opportunity to learn effective selfdefense.

“Many women start in kickboxing because it’s not as hands-on,” Young said. “There isn’t a lot of personal contact; but once they get the hang of that, then they want to try BJJ, and that ultimately makes them realize it actually can help you defend yourself.”

Young said when you are grappling with someone, a man or woman, feeling the weight of that person upon you is real life. When training in BJJ, the objective is to inflict a certain amount of pain on your opponent so they will want to give up, or tap out. As you continue with BJJ, the weight-bearing or having someone’s hands on you becomes second nature.

“I have to problem-solve and really think about what I need to do next. Those are skills that apply to any facet of life, if approached with a white-belt mentality.”

– Matt Young “By being in that situation of feeling like someone is attacking you, you are less likely to panic if it were to really occur,” he said. “You have had so much body contact in training that you are used to it. Since you were trained in a safe, controlled environment, it’s actually easier to stay focused.”

Young said the ratio of men to women training at DMAA is pretty equal in number. Young himself has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since the academy opened in 2006. He is one of the head coaches, teaches the kids classes, and competes in BJJ competitions.

He finds the strategy of BJJ is what attracts him.

The technical side of the sport is challenging and beneficial in many ways to the mind and body. Young first grappled with a friend who had already been training and discovered a feeling of helplessness underneath his opponent.

“That’s a powerful feeling,” he said.

BJJ is obviously credible for learning self-defense techniques, but it is also a great physical workout.

Young sees the impact of BJJ on all ages. The sport is mostly low-impact, so it works for older people. A five-minute grappling session can leave a person pouring sweat and sucking air.

To begin a class, students may run laps on the mat, do simulation drills such as rolls and falls, as well as other preparations necessary for BJJ. Although the sport is physically challenging, Young is also tuned into the mental outlets it provides.

“Martial arts is not something I could plateau at because there is always something to learn. There’s a structure you follow, where you are learning basic techniques to prepare you for more difficult skills.

I find that I do a lot of self-examination, on and off the mat. I have to problem-solve and really think about what I need to do to next. Those are skills that apply to any facet of life, if approached with a white-belt mentality.”

A white-belt mentality is the outlook of a person who is ready and open to learn – to let go of their ego and become a true student. It’s understandable that a person may be nervous or intimidated to try their first class. Young wants anyone interested to know, that they were all students once too. The staff does their very best to make sure new students are welcome.

“We try to remember that we were all white belts once, which is why we strive to be friendly and helpful.”

Your first class at DMAA is free. If you are interested you may e-mail questions to durangojiujitsu@gmail. com, or drop by the dojo. Check the schedule at durango martialarts.com to see the various classes offered for men, women and children.

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Dr. Chandace Jeep, Au.D.

(970) 375-2369 State Licensed in CO

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799 East Third Street, Suite 1 • Durango 20 South Market Street • Cortez www.animasvalleyaudiology.com

INSPIRING REASONS TO TREAT YOUR

Local audiologist offers a positive perspective on wearing hearing aids

By Chandace Jeep

H

earing loss can be a result of the natural aging process, exposure to loud sounds cumulatively over a lifetime, disease, or genetics. It can be challenging to accept, but it’s the healthy choices made following a diagnosis that are critical in overcoming a very common condition. Instead of focusing on the negative impacts of hearing loss, I choose to focus on helping patients discover the positive effects hearing aids have on their lives. In fact, you just may be surprised – and inspired – by these five things that wearing hearing aids says about you: 1. You are proactive about your healthcare.

Addressing your hearing loss by scheduling a comprehensive hearing exam with a reputable audiologist, rather than ignoring the signs of untreated hearing loss, has a positive ripple effect on your overall health.

Research indicates correlations between untreated hearing loss and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. A Johns Hopkins research study found people with even a mild hearing loss were three times more likely to have an increased risk for falling than those with normal hearing. Managing your hearing

healthcare can lead to a healthier, happier you.

2. You plan to stay active. Our vibrant community has so much to offer, such as: hearing your friend next to you on the chairlift at Purg, a dinner date at a busy restaurant on Main, enjoying a symphony performance at the Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall, hiking Animas Mountain with your family, training for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. It’s easy to see why ensuring you can hear well is an important decision.

3. You value your relationships. The foundation of every relationship is communication. Hearing loss impacts the ease of conversation, causing undue stress and tension. Wearing hearing aids improves speech understanding, allowing for a more natural flow of dialogue between you and your loved ones. By making the most of what today’s technology has to offer, you send a message to your friends and family that you care and want to stay connected.

4. You are self-assured. People who treat their hearing loss are secure, confident, and handle isues directly. Today’s hearing aids are designed to be discreet while still maintaining a pure, clean sound quality. With hearing aids allowing you to stream your

cell phone calls or music through your hearing aids to both ears, people are treating their hearing loss proactively at younger ages; therefore, many manufacturers offer a variety of fun colors. I have more patients than you might think who choose colors such as red, pink, purple, lime, and turquoise. Have fun with your selection process. Let your personality shine.

5. You get the most out of life. Research indicates that people who address their hearing loss tend to be optimistic, more enjoyable to be around, and choose to engage in living life to the fullest. When you wear hearing aids, you demonstrate to the world that you have too much life to live to let hearing loss get in the way. Be the dynamic person you were designed to be.

Dr. Chandace Wilson Jeep, Au.D. is a certified Doctor of Audiology and fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. She specializes in diagnosis of hearing loss and tinnitus in adults, children, and newborns as well as advanced fitting of hearing aids. She was born and raised in Durango and returned to our community in 2008. Dr. Jeep has practiced for 10 years and owns Animas Valley Audiology, with office locations in both Durango and Cortez.

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eveningsporch.com 970-884-0101

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“SNEAK THIEF OF SIGHT” Durango ophthalmologist urges early detection to halt loss of vision

By Joshua Zastrocky

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laucoma is a leading cause of permanent blindness in the United States and the rest of the world. It is the No. 1 cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It is estimated that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma, yet only half of them are aware of it. In spite of its importance as a global cause of blindness, most people have very little understanding of this complex eye disease.

All people, from newborns to the very elderly, are at risk of glaucoma. Although primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, up to 50 different types of secondary glaucoma have been described. Glaucoma results in a characteristic pattern of deterioration of the optic nerve leading to a characteristic pattern of vision loss. Elevated eye pressure is a primary risk factor for glaucoma. However, it is possible to have elevated eye pressure and not have glaucoma, and about one-third of all glaucoma patients have normal pressure.

Most forms of glaucoma are slowly progressive and insidious. Because of this, its victims are often

unaware of the disease until it is very advanced. It is for this reason that glaucoma has been termed the “sneak thief of sight.” While vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, with proper treatment, further vision loss is usually preventable. The permanence of vision loss from glaucoma makes early detection of utmost importance.

Early detection is best achieved through appropriate screening. The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends a comprehensive eye exam for low-risk individuals every two to four years prior to age 40, every one to three years from age 40 to age 54, every one to two years from age 55 to 64, and yearly after age 65. In individuals at higher risk of glaucoma (African Americans, first-degree relative with glaucoma, chronic corticosteroid use, or history of eye trauma), examinations are recommended yearly after age 35.

Treatment of glaucoma is aimed at halting or slowing the disease. There currently are no cures for glaucoma and no treatments to reverse glaucoma damage.

The primary endpoint of all currently approved treatments is the lowering of intraocular pressure. This is

most commonly achieved with prescription eye drops.

When eye drops fail or are contraindicated, laser therapy has proven to be an effective means to lower intraocular pressure. Finally, incisional surgery in the operating room can be used to lower the pressure in the eye. An ophthalmologist with specialized training in glaucoma is the best person to help determine the best treatment in an individual case.

In conclusion, glaucoma can be a devastating, blinding disease. However, with early detection and proper treatment, vision loss can be halted or slowed.

Regular screening examinations with a qualified eye care professional are of utmost importance, particularly for individuals with risk factors for glaucoma.

Dr. Joshua Zastrocky is an ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma at Four Corners Eye Clinic in Durango.

He completed his internship and residency at the University of Nebraska; he completed his fellowship training in medical and surgical glaucoma at the University of California Davis Medical Center. When not caring for patients, Dr. Zastrocky enjoys all that Durango has to offer with his wife and children.

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COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Call for an appointment at 259-3110

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Your Appointment will ALWAYS be with a Board Certified Family Physician.

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BOARD CERTIFIED FAMILY PHYSICIANS Jude Harrison, MD Susan Weber, MD Brad Lyons, MD Jordan Loftis, MD Lauren Loftis, MD Mandy Morford, MD Robert Klein, MD Ryan Duvall, MD

Low Cash Pay Prices Sports Physicals and Well-child Care Immunizations and Vaccinations Women’s Healthcare - Breast and Pap Exams Contraception Management Same Day Appointments Treatment of Skin Growth and Rashes Occupational and Industrial Medicine Services

Health begins with mother’s nutritional choices

By Joseph C. Gambone

W

hile it may never be too late to start a healthy living program including better nutrition, scientists are now showing that the nutritional environment inside the womb, prior to birth, plays a significant role in our future health status as adults. Over a decade ago, several researchers in the United Kingdom, including one named Barker, published the Barker Hypothesis in Nature, a prominent scientific journal.

This scientific theory (now well established) stated that the nutritional status of a mother prior to and during a pregnancy may result in significant and long-lasting effects on the health of their babies. They did this by matching birth weights and other markers of nutritional status with the eventual health of the children that were born. It turns out that when babies inside the womb are “stressed” by inadequate nutrition, they “protect” themselves by altering their metabolisms (and their genes) in a way that may be bad for them later in life.

For example, a baby that is not getting the proper amount of glucose will become resistant to insulin (insulin lowers glucose levels) while in the womb so as to

protect the flow of this important sugar to their brains during development. This is all well and good during pregnancy, but we now know that these babies, later in life, are much more likely to develop insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes than other babies that were not stressed in this way during pregnancy.

Another example is the increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) that occurs in adults who were nutritionally stressed while in their mother’s womb.

If kidneys are nutritionally deprived in utero, they are “short-changed” in energy needed for brain growth.

Deprived kidneys may develop in a way that increases the risk for high blood pressure later in life. These adults also may have more strokes due to high blood pressure.

The Barker Hypothesis is changing, and should continue to change, the way doctors care for women both during pregnancy – and even before they become pregnant. Women are now advised to have preconception counseling to make sure that their health and nutritional status is optimized prior to getting pregnant – not just during pregnancy.

There are several nutrients, such as folate and Vitamin D3, that are very important for the mother

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to have enough of for more than just a month or so before she conceives. This important research started by Dr. Barker and his associates is also showing that mothers who do not gain enough weight or those who gain too much weight during pregnancy may alter their metabolisms (and their babies’ genes) in ways that are bad for their babies.

The way that “stressed” babies are adversely affected later in life is best explained by epigenetic changes that occur while they are in the womb that are due to inadequate nutrition. The genes that control important physiologic functions are altered in a way that initially protects them in the womb, but eventually harms them as adults. This abnormal gene expression may persist well into adult life.

It can never be too early for a woman to protect the health of a future child by improving her health and nutritional status before she conceives. Receiving counseling about proper nutrition and health status prior to trying to conceive is now widely recommended. Even if she never wishes to have children or she is unable to conceive, she will still be better off in terms of her own health.

Dr. Joe Gambone is a fertility specialist with Durango Reproductive.

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Optimize your vitality today.

Call for an appointment.

970.426.1684 160 E. 12th St., Suite 1 Durango, CO puravidahealthcare.com March 2016

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