June Hattiesburg Healthy Cells 2011

Promoting Healthier Living in Your Community • Physical • Emotional • Nutritional

JUNE 2011

FREE

HealthyCells

TM

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

OF THE PINE BELT

Vital Care Compounder Where Medical Research Meets Cutting Edge Technology! page 12

Getting Your Life

Back On Track pg. 16

Not All Bottled Water is the Same pg. 27

Cornea Eye Problems pg. 28

Medical

Cosmetic Spa

601.268.SKIN (7546) / www.edenms.com Laser LIPOsuction • Botox • vein treatments

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3

JUNE

...choose you this day whom you will serve,

2011

...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua24: 15, NKJV

Volume 2, Issue 6

5

Life Tip: We Choose Perseverance!

7

Emotional: Keeping Your Edge

8

Vital Care Compounder

Where Medical Research Meets Cutting Edge Technology! page 12

Cover and story photos by JRichards Originals Physical: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy… It’s a Gas

10

Nutritional: Achieving Balance in Your Diet

16

Recalculating: Getting Your Life Back on Track

18

The Pink Ribbon Fund: The Above & Beyond Award

19

Early Intervention: Two Are Better Than One!

20

Body Health: Yoga! Body, Mind and Spirit!

21

Body Mass Index: Assessing Your Health Risk

22

Balanced Care: H2O For Good Health

23

Financial Security: Fixed Index Annuity Investment

24

This Month’s Cover Story:

Senior Living: Here We Go Again!

25

Medical Treatment: Advanced Wound Care Options!

26

Hearing Solutions: Discover a Whole New World of Better Hearing

27

Healthy Quality: Not All Bottled Water is the Same!

28

Technology: Cornea Eye Problems

Robert Donnell, RPH, Owner of Vital Care Compounder Healthy Cells Magazine is intended to heighten awareness of health and fitness information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for medical attention. See your healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment. The opinions, statements, and claims expressed by the columnists, advertisers, and contributors to Healthy Cells Magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.

Healthy Cells Magazine is available FREE in high traffic locations, including major grocery stores throughout the Pine Belt as well as hospitals, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, and health clubs. Healthy Cells Magazine is published monthly. Healthy Cells Magazine welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living in the Pine Belt of Mississippi. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.

Mission: The objective of Healthy Cells Magazine is to promote a stronger health-conscious community by means of offering education and support through the cooperative efforts among esteemed health and fitness professionals in the Pine Belt.

For information about this publication, contact Carolyn

Jones-Primeaux

Blue Moon Marketing at 601-467-3487 or healthycellspinebelt@gmail.com www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Healthy Cells Magazine is a division of:

1711 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615, Ph: 309-681-4418 Fax: 309-691-2187 info@limelightlink.com I wish to thank all the advertisers for their gracious support of Healthy Cells Magazine in our mission to bring positive health related information to our readers. With their generous support we are able to provide this publication FREE to you. —Carolyn Jones-Primeaux

life tip

We Choose

Perseverance

By Carolyn Jones-Primeaux

P

erseverance is defined as steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

There is no where perseverance is required more than when tackling a difficult project, working to achieve a lofty goal, or some days just to make it through the day. But, the winners are defined not by how often they fall down, but how often they get back up.

This was evidenced on April 30, 2011 when an average group of people at various levels of age, weight and fitness came together to complete a 10K or a 1/2 Marathon Some of the MM in Jackson. We chose perseverance! finishers race day!

Marathon Makeover group before 10 K/1/2 Marathon in Jackson, MS on April 30, 2011.

“Since joining Marathon Makeover, I’ve met the most amazing people, extending myself beyond what I thought was remotely possible, e.g. walking/running a 10K race, and now walking/running 8 miles. I’m proud of myself...for taking each day at a time, without pressure and working toward things I’ve only dreamed of before,” Joann Barthel.

(Joann is far left, middle row with curly hair and glasses)

This months quote is sponsored by Smoothie King

Be a part of the Pine Belt’s first all womens’ expo.

Dynamic Local Women Speakers

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Informative and fun seminars

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Exhibitors showcasing and selling their products and services.

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Lots of food, fun, and special surprises!

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Over $7000.00 in prizes will be given away!

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Watch for details or find us at www.healthycellspinebelt.com

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and wepinebelt.com June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 5

Mountain Valley

Spring and Sparkling Waters

EE Bottled at the original single spring source near Hot Springs, Arkansas since 1871 EE Naturally sodium-free EE 7.8 pH - High Alkalinity EE Kosher and Pareve Certified EE Twice named “The Best Tasting Water in the World” at the prestigious Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Event

America’s Premium Water Since 1871 www.mountainvalleyspring.com

The Pine Belt’s ONLY full-time Cornea specialist

Cameron Griffith M.D., M.S. 1420 South 28th Ave Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-264-3937

Page 6 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt — ­ June 2011

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

emotional

Keeping

Your Edge

By Lynda Avery Colbert, MSN, CFNP, Forward Health Solutions

H

ave you lost your edge? Is your thinking “foggy”? Do you have trouble remembering important events or even parts of your daily routine? Maybe you feel like you’re operating in slow motion in a “fast lane” life and you can’t seem to keep up.

We’ve talked before about hormones, adrenal fatigue, diets for the holidays, and such, but the truth of the matter is that the brain is the most important organ in the human body. The brain controls the rest of the body, yet we often get sidetracked by other health issues and neglect our brain health. When the brain is balanced, it is much easier to balance the rest of the body.

Dr. Eric Braverman, in his book The Edge Effect, tells us that there are four domains to brain health: attention, memory, physical health, and personality and temperament. Brain speed, voltage, synchrony, and rhythm decrease as we age. This is caused by nutritional deficiencies, poor oxygenation, hormonal imbalances, and neurotransmitter imbalances. These imbalances stem from poor lifestyle choices, surgeries, lack of exercise, and poor dietary habits.

When your brain is balanced, your neurotransmitters (specifically Serotonin, GABA, Acetylcholine, and Dopamine) are optimal, and • You’re able to think quickly and accurately • You’re more productive • You are calm, not anxious • You’re happier and able to be your friendly self without having to fake it • Your digestive system works properly without constipation, diarrhea, bloating, reflux, etc.

• Your aches and pains are minimized • You fall asleep easily at night, sleep through the night, and awaken feeling rested • Your blood pressure drops to normal range • Your body normalizes its weight • You have energy to do what you HAVE to do plus what you WANT to do Does all of this sound too good to be true? Well, the way we accomplish brain balancing is to determine your deficiencies and your basic neurotransmitter nature, and then work to support and correct them accordingly. Pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals, diet, exercise, and hormone balance all play important roles in achieving balance in your brain. This, in turn, leads to balance in the body as a whole.

Eating a diet rich in color and nutrients plays a crucial role in balancing the neurotransmitters. It is amazing to me how a person with depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, insomnia, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue, to name a few, can change his/her diet, get a little exercise, add the proper nutritional supplements, optimize his/her hormone levels and have nearly a complete resolution of symptoms. Life is truly grand whenever you are able to function at your best both mentally and physically. There’s a true sense of satisfaction that you are fulfilling your potential and you’re able to handle whatever curve balls life throws at you. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Getting your edge back, and keeping it, starts with identifying neurotransmitter/chemical, nutritional, and hormonal imbalance. Identifying them is achieved with testing. Usually within two to three weeks after making the necessary changes in diet and supplementation, one starts to notice an improvement. As Dr. Braverman says, “You are only as young as your oldest part!” What part of your body is the oldest (the least functioning)? Is it your brain?

For more information on Keeping Your Edge, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, weight loss, hormonal balance, and anti-aging medicine, contact Dr. Rebecca Boyd or Lynda Colbert, CFNP at Forward Health Solutions, 140 Mayfair Road, Ste. 1500, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, ph: 601-450-2077.

odgers­

Family Pharmacy

Providing Local Service for

50 Years!

• Delivery Available • Most Third Parties Accepted

RELAY FOR LIFE SUPPORTER Kim Rodgers, Rph 601.582.8351 130 E. Central Ave Petal, MS Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 7

physical

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

…It’s a Gas Submitted by Dr Rebecca Boyd

W

hat do athletes Lance Armstrong, Sidney Rice, Terrell Owens, Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, and others all have in common? They own hyperbaric chambers. Players who use them, swear by them… and the ones that don’t, haven’t used them.

So why do these athletes use a hyperbaric oxygen chamber? It’s because hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) reduces pain and swelling, helps oxygen get to traumatized tissue, (which speeds up healing of ligaments and broken bones), reduces scar formation, and helps players return to the game sooner.

Eagles’ wide receiver, Terrell Owens, showed off his hyperbaric chamber in 2003, when he appeared in MTV’s reality show, Cribs.

He was told it was impossible to play with his ankle sprain which “had a tremendous amount of damage” before Super Bowl XXXIX, but he did play. He credits his hyperbaric chamber for his speedy recovery.

The coaches and players of the University of Georgia football team refer to the hyperbaric chamber as “the miracle bed” and have experienced great results.

Clemson University also has a hyperbaric chamber, as do many colleges around the country.

Why then, if athletes get so many benefits from using hyperbaric oxygen, shouldn’t we consider this a useful and non-alternative treatment for other common medical problems? Why is oxygen considered alternative? After all, 90% of our energy comes from oxygen, and you can’t survive without it!

Traditionally, hyperbaric chambers have been restricted to large hospitals to treat specific medical conditions, such as the “bends” (decompression sickness), diabetic ulcers, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other conditions. The treatments are very expensive – they can be more than $1000 per one hour treatment. There is a specific set of problems for which you can be treated in the hospital with HBOT. You cannot request to be treated with hyperbaric oxygen if you have something that’s not on the “list” that may respond to HBOT, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) – I have an MS patient that even tried. Several European countries, like England, consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy a primary treatment for MS, and insurance covers treatments in many cases.

So what is so special about hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)?

Well, it’s not just the increased oxygen that makes it effective, but it is the oxygen under pressure. Hyper means increased and baric means pressure. The ambient air (the air we breathe) contains roughly 20% oxygen and 78% nitrogen and lesser gases such as carbon dioxide, helium and others. While the chamber is filled with compressed ambient air, it provides about 95% oxygen. During a HBOT treatment, the compressed air is 2 to 4.5 pounds per square inch (1.3 ATA max), which is about the same as being 11 feet below sea level.

What makes HBOT so powerful is that, according to Henry’s law of Physics, a gas under pressure will dissolve into liquid. A Page 8 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt — ­ June 2011

Coke is a good example of this.

Gas under pressure dissolves into liquid. Likewise, oxygen, when pressurized, enters the bloodstream and spills over into the plasma, the cells, tissues, organs, allowing the entire body to be nourished with oxygen.

This is why HBOT is exciting for people who have had a lack of oxygen to their brains/neurological problems, like patients who have suffered from a stroke.

Hyperbaric oxygen is a tsunami of oxygen for the brain, helping to awaken sleeping brain cells and, for some people, recover function.

A stroke survivor writes (about HBOT): “After several months of other therapy I was introduced to your [hyperbaric] oxygen therapy.

I have seen what I consider a GREAT improvement in the following: My general strength has improved … I feel more invigorated … I am getting more movement in my right hand … I was able to hold a pen in my right hand for the first time yesterday.”

There are many “off-label” indications for using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and I anticipate over time the list will only grow. Several conditions or diseases that may benefit from HBOT are listed below: • Stroke (even old strokes) • Traumatic Brain Injury • Sports Performance and Recovery • Autism • Asperger’s • Cancer • Recovery after Surgery • Multiple Sclerosis • Headaches • Pre and post surgery • Lyme’s Disease • Fibromyalgia • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Cerebral Palsy • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Osteoarthritis • Crohn’s/Ulcerative Colitis • Gout • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity • Immune Deficiency One fibromyalgia patient writes (after daily HBOT treatments): “Within one week, my energy level shot up. The terrible pains in www.healthycellspinebelt.com

my arm and leg ceased. The brain fog and disorientation that I had experienced for 7 years left and my mind cleared. I had never thought that I would be free of these depressing symptoms again.”

One physician, who has a hyperbaric chamber in his office, states, “I have been experiencing some excellent outcomes with my surgical patients.”

And another surgeon says, “We have noted less swelling, bruising, and overall discomfort in patients who undergo HBOT.” HBOT can be recommended as a treatment for any kind of inflammation. Oxygen is instrumental in achieving wellness and, as we know today, most diseases are caused, either directly or indirectly, from inflammation. HBOT cuts down on inflammation, and helps allow the body to heal itself.

While HBOT is not a cure, it should be treated like another big gun in the arsenal to fight inflammation, by oxygenating the body.

I have one patient who has not had another migraine since she has been using HBOT. Another patient today, suffering from a relapse in his fatigue that he has experienced since surgery, came out of the chamber after getting HBOT and IV treatments and said, “ I’d like to have my own hyperbaric chamber. I’m not doubting your treatments again.” Before he left he said, “I’m BACK!” Hyperbaric treatments aren’t new…but hyperbaric chambers have evolved so that more doctors and clinics are able to offer treatments to their patients. And, over recent years as hyperbaric chambers have become available to more clinics worldwide, we keep hearing more and more about the extensive benefits people are receiving from hyperbaric medicine.

g and Living, laughin oment! loving every m

“We have noted less swelling, bruising, and overall discomfort in patients who undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”

The best thing about hyperbaric treatments is that it is easy, yet with multiple treatments, can yield great results. Imagine climbing into a chamber (much larger than a tanning bed, big enough for two people), in your comfy clothes. Next, the compressor starts up and the chamber begins filling with air. For a few minutes, you clear your ears like in an airplane, then the air in the chamber is stable.

Now comes the hard part...you can read a book, watch a DVD, play Nintendo DS, sleep or talk on your cell phone…while you are relaxing in the chamber. After about an hour, the compressor is turned off and you let the air out of the chamber with a valve as you clear your ears. Once the air is out of the chamber, you get out and have completed your treatment. How easy is that?! Out of all the treatments I use, this one is the most simple and logical. If we want to heal, if we want to live...oxygen is the answer.

Forward Health Solutions offers hyperbaric treatments for their patients. For more information, please contact us at 601-450-2077.

Main Street Books invites you to lunch with Martha Hall Foose

Thursday, June 16 11:30am-1:00pm

• Independent Living Facility • Trips • Social Events One Bedroom • Weekly Noon Meals Apartments • Security System Starting at • Convenient to Shopping $1425 Per Month and Medical Facilities

Wesley Manor Retirement Community

Serving Older Adults in the Spirit of Christian Love

601-264-8847

246 Westover Drive Hattiesburg, MS 39404

www.mss.org

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

$45.00 includes lunch and a signed copy of her latest book – Tax included

A Southerly Course:

Recipes and Stories from Close to Home Martha is also the author of Screen Doors and Sweet Tea.

210 Main Street•

601-584-6960

visitmainstreetbooks.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 9

nutritional

Achieving Balance

in Your Diet

T

rying to achieve balance in our everyday life can be a hard task.

We juggle a career, school, kids, friends, a spouse, or the sudden curve ball. All too often, our health takes second place and we end up skipping meals, cutting exercise short, or grabbing dinner out of a window. The cycle of unbalanced dietary choices leave us overweight, undernourished, and exhausted. To maximize our life we must maximize our diet by achieving balance.

A balanced diet consists of consuming the appropriate amount of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals from food to maintain a healthy weight and meet the body’s energy needs. An essential part of a balanced diet is to maintain adequate dietary carbohydrate intake. Dietary carbohydrates are the body’s number one source for energy. Protein will not do, and neither will fat. Unfortunately, too many take this concept to extremes; high-starch, cereal-based, carbohydraterich diets all day every day and end up watching the scale rise along with fatigue and anxiety.

Are you a self-proclaimed carboholic? Then make an effort to have one carbohydrate source on your plate at a time and in proper portion. Substitute excess carbohydrate choices with lean meat, low fat dairy, fresh

Page 10 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

By Rebecca Turner, MS, RD, LD

vegetables, or heart healthy fat. Although food may be isocaloric, meaning two items have the same amount of calories per serving, they are not isometabolic, meaning the body does not metabolism them equally.

Research illustrates that when carbohydrates are eaten beyond the body’s storage capacity we are limited to 2 hours to burn the extra energy through aerobic exercise or it will be stored as adipose tissue (fat).

So ask yourself before you reach for the second muffin or unnecessary cookie; Am I going to aerobically burn this off in the next two hours?

Remove and replace excessive carbohydrate choices from your plate to jump start weight loss and improve nutrient balance.

Achieving balance with macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) is the first step. Next, focus on a balance in the timing of meals and snacks to help shed those extra pounds and increase energy. Remove the mind set of “I am too busy to eat healthy” or “balanced eating takes too much time and effort” and acquire basic knowledge on how the body metabolizes, utilizes and stores nutrients and consequently achieve weight loss goals regardless how unbalanced the rest of your life may be.

Everyone has heard the mantra, eat small meals throughout the day, but why? Research suggests that eating smaller meals more frequently stabilizes nutrient oxidization levels, making the body more efficient at burning calories. Eating smaller meals is also believed to lower blood cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, and decrease binge eating. Likewise, it prevents long stretches of starvation which we all know will murder your active metabolism.

Recommendations can range from 4-6 to 8-10 times a day. My professional and personal preference would be eat 4-5 times a day with 3 main meals and 1-2 snacks every 2 ½ to 4 hours. Here is an example: Breakfast: 6 am Morning Snack: 10 am Lunch: 1 pm Afternoon Snack: 4 pm Dinner: 8 pm Ideally, we should eat the most before we do the most. “Catch Up” eating, happens when long periods of time pass without eating and large portions of food are consumed at once in a ravenous manor. The body can only handle so much at one serving without eliminating or storing excess nutrients as fat no matter the source (carbohydrates, proteins, or fats).

Remember, the body gives us apwww.healthycellspinebelt.com

“Eating smaller meals is also believed to lower blood cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, and decrease binge eating.

Likewise, it prevents long stretches of starvation which we all know will murder your active metabolism.”

can have somewhat magical powers. If we go to bed on an empty stomach (not starving) Ghrelin will get released as normal, however, it’s job description changes. Night time Ghrelin sends a message to the brain to release human growth hormone. Human growth hormone travels the body at night repairing damaged muscle tissue and devouring fat cells!

Who does not want to burn fat while sleeping? But if your stomach is nice and full at bedtime, Ghrelin will never be released and our growth hormone is unable to work its magic. A solid recommendation is refrain from eating 1-2 hours before bedtime.

Achieving balance in macronutrients and timing of meals is an individual goal that must fit your individual lifestyle. Never assume that just because certain methods work well for someone else, it will also work well for you. Find the balance that fits your everyday life.

Rebecca Turner, MS, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Dietitian in the state of Mississippi. Contact Rebecca at www.runners-fuel.com/contact-us.

proximately 2 hours to burn it through cardiovascular activity or store it as unwanted adipose (fat) tissue.

Timing is the second step to achieving ultimate nutrient balance but there comes a time to stop eating altogether. Another frequent recommendation is to stop eating before bedtime, but why? Simple, you do not get the extra fat burning effects from your hormone Ghrelin. Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and upper intestines. When your stomach has emptied, your gut releases ghrelin. Ghrelin acts as a messenger and travels up the hypothalamus and signals the brain to increase your appetite and decrease your metabolic burn. Conversely, at night Ghrelin

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 11

cover story

Vital Care Compounder Where Medical Research Meets Cutting Edge Technology!

By Carolyn Jones-Primeaux

V

Robert Donnell, RPH, Owner of Vital Care Compounder Page 12 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

ital Care Compounder has been serving the Pine Belt community for over four decades, Just like any successful business, they have responded to the needs of the community it serves by making changes and adjustments required to provide superior service dedicated to meeting the pharmaceutical needs of individual customers, both two and four legged. More on that later!

Robert Donnell is one of the original owners and you could say that medicine was always in his blood since his mother was a registered nurse. In college he started working in a drug store where the passion for the blending of ingredients began to be fueled as he learned the trade from “this old dude” who had a knack for creating prescription solutions, thus teaching the concept of compounding whether intentional or not. It sparked a desire to learn more in Robert.

Later, Robert, along with his wife Linda, would own and operate three pharmacies where he would compound his first prescription in 1968. In 1998 they sold these and along with his two trusty sidekicks, Jimmy Rodgers, RPh and Missy Collum, RPT they started Vital Care Compounder, a unique, niche pharmacy providing customized prescriptions. The business moved to it’s current location at 115 South 40th Avenue & O’Ferral in Hattiesburg in 2000 and continues to provide the same quality custom prescriptions that has earned them a ranking of 20th in the United States in compounding.

In those early days Jimmy and Missy would stay at the store while Robert would be “in the field” talking with physicians and other medical workers, generating interest and excitement for the idea of compounding. The first compound came from a dermatologist and the rest they say “is history.”

From their website I found this description: “Compounding: Combining an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and state-of-the-art technology.” Along with www.healthycellspinebelt.com

L to R Jessica Crane, RPT, Chuck Carter, Missy Collum, C.Ph.T, Ron Edwards, PharmD, Robert Donnell, RPh, Lisa Thornburgh, RPT, RPT, Jimmy Rodgers, RPh. genuine customer service, Vital Care Compounder has been a reliable and trustworthy source for physicians, and veterinarians when traditional perscriptions were not working. Robert says, “There are several ways patients find their way to VCC; the doctor refers or the patient may come in on their own. In every medical practice there are a few patients who do not respond to traditional treatment or who have a unique need or special circumstance. These patients can be helped.”

What happens next is the patient is consulted to get to a thorough picture of the needs and develop a treatment and application to “put the medicine where it hurts.” “If there is a topical rash, then we are charged to find the best, most reliable and obvious way to treat the problem,” says Missy Collum, RPT. “We have studied and researched extensively to be able to provide treatment exactly where treatment is needed.”

The compounding business has literally started with one patient at a time. One of the first came from a local doctor whose patient was getting their compounder prescriptions filled in Colorado. This doctor consulted with VCC and soon the patient’s custom prescriptions were being filled locally with personalized customer service. And the referrals began. Later as Robert’s wife was recovering from breast cancer, he found himself personally invested in his work in providing compound prescriptions to fit her unique set of circumstances. It is wonderful to report these patients are doing well and many more have flourished under their customized prescriptions.

The Vital Care staff works with physicians, hospitals, other pharmacies, drugstores and patients to provide the best possible solutions for each individual need. They work to solve the problem and not just cover up the symptoms.“It is a very gratifying job to be able to see a real need in someone’s life and be part of the process of providing the solution,” says Missy. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Vital Care Compounder’s work over the years has done much to change peoples lives. “Hormone Replacement Therapy has literally saved marriages and lives,” says Robert. “ Husbands have called and come in to shake our hands, telling us we brought their wives back.”

Millions of women suffer from devastating effects of menopause and consequently, the need for customized, natural hormone replacements are not just a welcome relief, but also a necessity. It is no surprise that HRT is the number one prescription treatment provided at VCC. “It can’t be stated enough, how gratifying it is to be part of the positive change in peoples lives,” says Missy.

Men, sometimes quite bashfully have also benefitted from the experience and knowledge of the VCC team. Robert says there have been numerous occasions when men would take him aside to shyly discuss “issues” that might be occurring. After discussion, Robert has often been able to direct them to the right physician to address the related concern.

After Hormone Replacement Therapy, Pain Relief and Management, Nausea and Veterinary Medicine round out the top health concerns that benefit from compounding. Their first encounter with the world of animals came when a vet was treating Lemur monkeys at the Hattiesburg Zoo who had got into rat poison. The vet needed a way to get the antidote into a form the monkeys would voluntarily eat, and quickly. After consulting with the team at VCC they created an orange chewy with the antidote inside and the form worked and the monkeys were saved. Since that time they have created prescriptions for lions and many other animals in the zoo and in the community.

As gratifying as it is to be a part of success stories it is equally devastating to do everything right, as is often the case with hospice patients, only to have the outcome not be one of joyful recovery. “We June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 13

cover story continued

Some of the “old” bottles and cauldrons in the pharmacy. do not get to question the work of the Lord,” says Robert. “But we can be assured he has a plan for each of us.”

In keeping with the mission of providing superior customer service, VCC most recently added Ron Edwards, PharD to their team. “Ron has brought technology to the area that has never been done before, “including hormone pellets under the skin that have a steady dissolution 24 hours a day for three to four months,” says Robert. “It is just another way we are bringing extensive research and technology together to enrich peoples quality of life.”

While you will not be able to fill generalized prescriptions, and this was a difficult concept to explain to doctors, VCC does offer a superior line of supplements or nutriceuticals under their own label. They again have done extensive research and believe they are providing a supplement assortment with the highest value, good quality and at a price that is affordable to the middle-income family. Robert says, “We didn’t take the easy path, we took the right path.”

“We encourage patients to read everything they can find in the library, the Internet and books on the subject. We have books on hormones, thyroid therapies and adrenal fatigue here in our pharmacy.

And we have heard these authors at seminars and enjoy continuing our education on the subject,” says Ron Edwards.

It is always hard to write a story about a business that is so invested in the business of providing superior products and services. There is so much story to tell there leaves little time to fill in all the other noteworthy, unique and fun things about the business. Such as: • Vital Care Compounder is about to undergo yet another, renovation to serve the community needs and may even find a new location with more room • It is home to “museum” pieces of pharmacy equipment that has been collected and donated to them over the years • You can come in, sit down and talk with any of the staff at any time and walk away more informed just by chatting a few minutes.

To wrap up, I would encourage all readers to visit the staff at Vital Care Compounder, which include Robert Donnell, RPh, Jimmy Rodgers, RPh, Ron Edwards, PharmD, Missy Collum, RPT, Jessica Crane, RPT, Lisa Thornburgh, RPT, Michelle Cooley. You may not need them Page 14 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

Linda and Robert Donnell now, but at some point in all of our lives or the lives of those we love, there will come a time when we will need certain medicines and prescriptions for us to maintain or recover quality of life. It is very comforting to know we have a team of pharmacy professionals in our community that are waiting not just to assist, but to become a part of the team in providing treatment solutions. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

HUB CITY

PHYSICAL THERAPY & HAND REHABILITATION

Making a Difference. One Patient at a Time.

6798 Highway 98, Ste. 30, Hattiesburg (601) 264-6735 20 Parkway Blvd, Hattiesburg (601) 544-6727

Hub City Physical Therapy is a private, locally owned free-standing outpatient physical therapy clinic offering both spinal and extremity rehabilitation in a state of the art facility.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 15

recalculating

Getting Your Life Back on Track After Disappointments, Detours, or Disasters

This two part series will provide a twist on how technology can help us rethink some of our life issues.

O

n a recent trip to a family wedding in Birmingham, I was constantly reminded by my GPS, “Turn up ahead; go here; do this.” I was thinking as I drove, wouldn’t it be great to have such clear directions in life, saying, “Turn in .3 miles,” or giving you pictures of exactly where you are on the route to your destination, and even specific instructions about how to get back on track?

I reflected on the fact that divine guidance does just that. However, I had to admit to myself that sometimes the route still seems a bit foggy because of my own difficulties in sitting still and listening to God’s directions,

Page 16 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

By Dr. Bev Smallwood

or due to my insensitivity to the best choices when I approach forks in the road. How about you?

I mused as I rode along about one of the most frequent announcements from that GPS voice: “Recalculating!” You’ve deliberately made a turn off the beaten path – “Recalculating!” You’re clueless about where you are – “Recalculating!” You’re going in a direction opposite to the one you said you wanted to go – “Recalculating!” And you’re then given detailed information about how to get back on your designated pathway: “Continue .9 miles, then turn left on 31st Street.” (Amazing! How does it know?)

Given all the twists and turns that our lives can take, just maybe one of the most important keys to success is our ability to get back on course when the inevitable detours happen. When things go awry – either by your www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Look your very best on your

Special Day

own choice or through no fault of your own – you need to know how to “recalculate” and get moving again. More about that in a moment, but before we begin a journey, we have to “precalculate.”

Precalculating

Set your destination. The very first step is to plan ahead; figure out where you want to go. Your GPS will instruct you on how to end up at the address you type. Thus, you need a specific address.

As in trip planning, so goes life planning. If you are not specific in stating, writing, and “programming your brain” about your life goals, you’ll end up wandering around confused and lost. Identify where you want to go clearly, then figure out the best plan for getting there. If you don’t know the very best plan yet, at least begin to move in that direction.

You’ll get more insight as you travel.

Expect a little confusion and a few detours. Prepare for your journey by choosing the right mindset. Plan the trip with the understanding that you probably won’t make it to your destination without a few unexpected delays or unwelcome obstacles.

In addition, I’ve had the experience of typing in an address, and the GPS seems to be scratching its little metal head. In other words, you may want to go somewhere that has not yet been mapped out. Sometimes the roads may have been added or old highways closed, and an out-ofdate GPS system may give you faulty instructions.

In preparing to move through life, remember that you may be dreaming about a goal that’s so unique, the path has not been clearly marked. Or, just when you think you have it all figured out, everything changes. In either case, you’ll have to invent the route! Gather the best maps available to aid in your precalculation, but realize that you’ll just have to create some of this as you go along. The adventure of pioneering can be great fun.

Expect that sometimes you’ll have to detour because of construction or an accident. Can you see the parallels? You make a plan, but those roadblocks, barriers, or “accidents” send you in directions you never intended and delay your journey. So don’t be surprised when it happens. That’s just the way it is.

Next month we will cover “Recalculating.” Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist in Hattiesburg. Visit her website, www.DrBevSmallwood.com; or contact Bev at 601.264.0890 or by email BevSmallwd@aol.com.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

After

Before

Bridget lost lbs

45

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13500

$

Doctor Visit  Nutrition Class  Phentermine (1 month supply)  Basic Labs 

Come by Radiant Reflections for a Whole New You! We offer many other services such as:  Facials  Massage  Chemical Peels  Microdermabrasion  Laser Hair Removal  Botox  Juvéderm & More

6600 US Hwy 98, Hattiesburg (1/4 mile west of Old Hwy 11 in Oak Grove)

601-268-7777

www.radiantreflections.us June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 17

Through a State Funded Program

the pink ribbon fund

The Above & Beyond Award According to the American Heart Association, Mississippi is #1 in the nation in deaths from heart disease and stroke.

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Page 18 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

L - R: Grant recipient and Committee member, Wendy McMahan, and Co-Founders Susan Light and Michelle Garner, present the “Above & Beyond Award” to Deanna Favre.

O

nce a year, The Pink Ribbon Fund presents the “Above & Beyond Award” to someone who has done a superior service for the Fund. According to co-founder, Michelle Garner, “Deanna Favre was selected for this award because of her generosity. Her $100,000 donation enabled us to save countless lives by making diagnostic procedures available to women who could not afford them. It also improved the quality of life for mastectomy patients via reconstructive surgeries, or mastectomy bras and prostheses. It gave us the ability to extend COBRA and other health insurance payments, transportation to treatments, and payment of medical bills related to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.” McMahan, a patient who also serves on the Fund’s Grant and Gala Committees, was a recipient of assistance, thanks to Deanna’s donation. “It had a profound effect on my spirit, knowing someone like Deanna, who had also faced this disease, cared enough to help me and countless other Pine Belt patients.” Cofounder, Susan Light, also endorsed this award. “Fortunately, Deanna recognized that the Pink Ribbon Fund was truly making a difference in the lives of Pine Belt breast cancer patients who had nowhere else to turn. Her donation was a public endorsement of our work which inspired the patients who received this assistance, as well as other businesses and individuals to give to our cause.

There could be no better choice for the ‘Above & Beyond Award!’ “ For more information about the Fund, call 601-450-PINK (7465). www.healthycellspinebelt.com

early intervention

Two Are Better Than One! Submitted by Forrest General Hospital

W

hen Karen and Anthony Webb took their baby girl home from the hospital, they had no idea that soon little Jordyn would be back in the hospital for a condition that would change her life, and theirs, forever.

When Jordyn was two weeks old, the Webbs took her to see her pediatrician because she had stopped eating. Radiographic studies revealed an enlarged heart.

An echocardiogram detected a chronic heart defect, hemitruncus, which needed to be repaired. She was transported by helicopter to Jackson where she spent four months enduring multiple surgeries. Jordyn was able to return to Forrest General’s Pictured with Jordyn, center, are from left, parents Karen and Anthony Webb and NICU for the last month of her Children’s Center staff Judy Prehn and Cindy Bivins recovery. While in the NICU she received a variety of therapeutic treatments from NICU staff, incal staff the opportunity to maintain a strong connection through periodic cluding services from her physical therapist, who is also a member medical and developmental monitoring of babies who have been disof the skilled staff at The Children’s Center for Communication and charged home.” In her work, Bivins tailors developmental programming Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. and instruction for infants, toddlers and preschoolers with a wide range Jordyn is one of many of the Pinebelt’s smallest residents who are on of developmental disabilities. This includes one-on-one work with the the road to a bright future thanks to the dedication of this team of profeschild and parents to assure that parents have the knowledge, skills and sionals from Forrest General and The University of Southern Mississippi. resources required to meet their child’s needs. The Children’s Center The staff and physicians of Forrest General’s NICU and staff members helps parents identify all options for services and can assist with referrals. from The Children’s Center are creating seamless transitions into a life In some instances, parents of babies identified during their NICU followfull of promise through their mutual commitment to these children. up visit as being at significant risk for developmental problems may opt Premature babies or those with other significant medical complicafor a comprehensive developmental evaluation and therapeutic services tions are offered around-the-clock care during their stay until they are provided by The Children’s Center staff. released to go home. Prior to discharge, infants in need of develop Now happily at home, nine-month-old Jordyn receives speech mental and medical monitoring are identified by the neonatologist and therapy, physical therapy and educational services in a familiar setare scheduled for the NICU Follow-up Clinic. At this point the relationting once a week. Jordyn’s mother, Karen Webb, says that choosing ship between Forrest General and The Children’s Center begins to The Children’s Center for Jordyn’s treatment was an easy choice after take shape. Forrest General provides the scheduling, facility, materials she had encountered them while they helped with Jordyn in the NICU. and staff including doctors, nurses, social workers, physical and oc“After having people that were knowledgeable and skilled who worked cupational therapists and a Developmental Care specialist. The Chilwith her in the hospital, it gave us a sense of trust to use them after she dren’s Center provides the additional expertise of its audiologist and was released to go home,” said Webb. “The major benefit of having special educator, who participate in periodic evaluations as members The Children’s Center come to the hospital is early intervention. My of the NICU Follow-up Assessment Team. Together, they are able to daughter would have been farther behind than she is now had we not assemble a full compliment of personnel that offer parents a large team started while she was still in the NICU. Early intervention is the key to of specialists in a familiar place. The Children’s Center staff also serves helping children with disabilities.” as a clearinghouse for resources and information regarding development and early intervention.

For more information on Forrest General’s Neonatology Services, Cindy Bivins, The Children’s Center’s special educator say, “What we call FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445 or visit forrestgeneral.com. For know, is once families take their babies home, new issues arise and the more information on The Children’s Center for Communication and supports that had constantly surrounded them aren’t as readily accesDevelopment, call 601-266-5222 or email Childrens.Center@usm.edu. sible. Forrest General’s NICU Follow-up Clinic affords parents and medi-

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 19

body health

Yoga! Body, Mind and Spirit!

By Kelly Denton

W

hen people ask me what yoga is, I smile! For this is a great opportunity for me to share something near and dear to my heart. Then I feel an inner cringe because how can I give a simple answer to encompass the whole of what yoga is? Simplistically, yoga is about being feeling, moving, and breathing. But, it’s so much more than that. Since these are things we do every day without much thought since we’ve known how to do it from the “first breath”, it is easy to understand how people wouldn’t see the body benefit in practicing yoga.

Yoga refers to traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. And this, I emphasize, can be a tremendous way to help reduce stress in our life.

This is done simply by becoming more aware of how we’re breathing. Shutting out the steady flow of thoughts and tuning the mind to one thing - the breath - the body automatically relaxes in natural response.

When the mind is in tune to the breath, the body is able to become more aware of what it’s feeling. Our thoughts are reflections of what we feel.

When we are angry, worried, or upset about something these thoughts manifest and result in creating stress. But the opposite is also true. When we relax our breath, we are more able to release the stressful thoughts and surrender to the normal balanced breath.

V i ta l C a r e

Compounder A Specialty Pharmacy

The moving aspect of yoga is done in the form of asanas, or poses and there are many types. I teach traditional Hatha style yoga which has been around for thousands of years. It is a slower-paced stretching class with some simple breathing exercises This is a good place to learn basic poses, relaxation techniques, and become more aware of the general benefits of yoga. Studies have found the poses have a myriad of health benefits that can be discovered through reading and defining what your specific needs are. While performing the poses the number one thing to keep in mind is the breath and how the body is responding to what it is feeling. I teach in three segments which include a meditative warm up, a more challenging working phase, to build strength, and finish up with balancing and deep flexibility.

I always concentrate and encourage the “letting go” of competition or need to “do it perfectly.” This hinders the participant in fully opening up in a pose, whether it’s a strengthening or flexibility pose. This is the time to be one with your own body, mind, and spirit. Listen to what your body is saying, release all the “junk” floating in your mind and “breathe.”

Kelly Denton is a yoga instructor and teaches fitness classes located at Spiers Fitness Center. Kelly can be reached at 601-261-9495

New Year... New You!

Natural • Hormone • Restoration • Therapy

115 South 40th Avenue Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-261-0503

40th Ave at O’Ferrell near Home Depot

www.vitalcarecompounder.com

Page 20 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

body mass index

Assessing Your Health Risk

By Jennifer Massey, Nutritionist, Radiant Medical Spa & Weight Loss Clinic

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besity or being overweight is directly related to many health risks: the greater the level of obesity, the greater the risks.

Heart disease, strokes, hypertension, diabetes, and many forms of cancer are all associated with obesity. Currently, 63% of Americans are overweight and more than 25% are obese. What do these numbers mean? How do you determine if you are normal weight, overweight, or obese?

The most widely accepted method used today to assess one’s health risks with respect to weight is known as “Body Mass Index” or BMI. The BMI is a fairly accurate measure of a person’s body fat based on an individual’s height and weight and applies to both adult men & women. While the BMI works well for the general population, it does not actually measure fat. As a result some people, particularly athletes who sport a high muscle mass, may have a BMI which indicates they are overweight even though they have little body fat. To check your body mass, refer to the attached chart. Down the left side of the chart, find your height in inches.

Follow across until you find your estimated weight and follow the column up. The number at the top of the column will give you an estimate of your BMI. For a more accurate measure of your BMI, go to www.Radiantreflections.us, click on Weight Loss Clinic and scroll down to BMI Calculator.

If you find your BMI is in a high risk zone, you may need to consider changes to your lifestyle to reduce your weight and associated health risks. While dieting does decrease your weight, it is usually only a temporary fix. To lose weight and keep it off, you must make permanent changes to your response to food, your food choices and your portion sizes. The risks associated with overeating are very real and very dangerous, but they can be reduced or even eliminated with the proper approach to weight loss.

For more information, contact Jennifer Massey, Nutritionist at Radiant Medical Spa & Weight Loss Clinic at 601-268-7777.

If your BMI is:

Below 18.5 - you are underweight 18.6-24.9 - you are normal weight 25.0-29.9 - you are overweight

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

30 & above - you are obese 40 & above - you are morbidly obese.

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 21

balanced care

H2O for Good Health

By J.D. Dumas, M.D., Oak Grove Family Clinic, a division of Wesley Medical Group

W

ith summer in full swing, and whether you’re an athlete or just enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to drink plenty of water to stay properly hydrated. Sounds simple, but dehydration is more than a matter of being hot and thirsty – if not recognized and treated, it can become a serious health emergency.

More than half of the body’s weight is water – so, it’s important to keep a proper level of fluid in the body to support the body’s functions: maintaining proper body temperature, removing waste, and lubricating joints, to name just a few.

Dehydration occurs when the body has lost more fluid than has been replaced through drinking water and other liquids. Our body loses water when we breathe, sweat, urinate, and have a bowel movement. Dehydration can also occur as a result of illness: fever, vomiting and diarrhea all deplete the body’s fluids, particularly if the illness is prolonged.

Dehydration is generally classified as mild, moderate or severe (depending on the amount of fluid lost and not replaced). The condition is easily treated when recognized early – but if dehydration persists or worsens, it can become a life-threatening health emergency. Mild dehydration is a loss of 3 to 5 percent of body weight; moderate, 6 to 9 percent body weight; and severe, more than 10 percent of body weight lost.

Due to low body weight, infants and young children are particularly susceptible to dehydration. The elderly also have a higher risk: as the body ages, its ability to conserve water is reduced, and the brain’s ability to sense dehydration decreases, as well. This means that dehydration can progress to a serious level, more quickly than you might think.

By the time you feel thirsty, the body has already lost significant amounts of fluid, so don’t rely on thirst as the only indicator of whether you’re properly hydrated. (see sidebar for dehydration symptoms) Severe dehydration can be life-threatening, causing seizures, brain damage, or death. If someone is experiencing symptoms of severe dehydration, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest ER. Intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be necessary to treat moderate to severe dehydration.

For mild dehydration, drinking fluids – water, a sports drink or, an electrolyte solution – is usually sufficient treatment. Drink small amounts of fluid, slowly. Larger quantities consumed quickly may cause vomiting.

Prevention To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water each day. A popular rule of thumb is the “8 x 8” rule: eight, 8-ounce cups of water daily. According to Mayo Clinic, food accounts for 20 percent of total daily fluid intake, so 2 liters of water or other beverages daily (just over 8 cups) along with a normal diet, should be adequate. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men should consume approximately 3 liters (about Page 22 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

13 cups) and women should consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total fluids daily. Liquids other than water, such as tea and coffee, count toward daily intake, but because they have caffeine, they are also diuretics, which cause the body to lose fluid.

Therefore, it’s best to get most of your fluid intake from non-caffeinated beverages, and consume tea, coffee and sodas in moderation.

You may need more water if you have a fever, are taking certain medications, or are vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, suffer from certain medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, a bladder infection or kidney stones; or are outside during hot weather; exercising; pregnant or breastfeeding; or dieting. Talk with your doctor about your diet, exercise habits and any health conditions that may impact your body’s fluid requirements and risk for dehydration.

J.D. Dumas, M.D., is a primary care physician at Oak Grove Family Clinic, a division of Wesley Medical Group.

Oak Grove Family Clinic may be reached by calling 601-268-0929. To learn more, visit www.Wesley.com.

Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

Sources: National Institutes of Health, www.nlm.nih.gov, American Academy of Family Physicians, www.familydoctor.org, Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms of Dehydration Mild: • Dry or Sticky Mouth • Low Urine Output or Dark Colored Urine • Headache • Sleepiness • Muscle Cramps • Reduced Sweat or Tear Production Severe: • Dizziness • Lightheadedness • Shriveled Skin • Heart Palpitations • Lethargy (Extreme Sluggishness) • Confusion

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

financial security

Fixed Index Annuity Investment

By Randy Thomley

W

hat is a fixed index annuity? In order to really make sense of a fixed index annuity, we need to take it apart and then put it back together. The basic concept is not difficult, but a fixed index annuity has quite a few “moving parts”— terms and conditions that vary according to which major insurance company sells the annuity.

Annuity: Technically, an insurance product rather than a direct investment in a stock or mutual fund, an annuity protects your principal, yields a reasonable, guaranteed rate of return, and then pays-out your earnings in equal installments over an extended period of time.

Index: Although “index” has other obscure uses in the world of finance, here “index” refers to one of the major stock indices to which your annuity is tied. Most often, the major providers link their fixed index annuities to the Standard & Poor’s 500, generally considered the most reliable among the diverse market barometers.

Fixed: (as opposed to “variable”) the annuity contract stipulates all the terms and conditions of investment and pay-out. The investment and pay-out periods are established in advance, as is the guaranteed rate of return and other terms that vary from provider to provider.

Fixed Index Annuity: An annuity tied to a stock market index and guaranteed a minimum rate of return with opportunities for earnings above the guaranteed minimum as the stock market rises.

Because they technically are insurance products rather than stocks or bonds, fixed and indexed annuities guarantee the safety of your principal and your minimum rate of return. A variable annuity does not protect your principal if the company’s investments perform poorly. A fixed index annuity guarantees the value of your investment never will be less than the sum total of your payments; and it offers the opportunity to exceed the fixed rate of return if growth in the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Index exceeds your minimum. More of a wealth management tool than a wealth-builder, a fixed index annuity does not have dazzling growth potential, but it does have the distinct advantages of stability and security.

How does a fixed index annuity work?

Here’s where the “moving parts” kick-in. The basic mechanism remains the same no matter which fixed index annuity you choose, but the details vary—sometimes radically: Basic: You invest for the long haul, and you lay the foundation for secure retirement. The longer you can continue investing, the longer you benefit from the stock market’s recovery. As the stock market index rises, your earnings percentage rises with it. If the S&P falls, your earnings never fall below the guaranteed minimum.

When you reach the expiration of your investment phase, the annuity begins paying you in regular installments.

“Participation Rates” vary: No annuity will give you a return exactly equivalent to the growth of the S&P 500. Participation rate www.healthycellspinebelt.com

describes how much of the index’s total gain the annuity company will pay out to you. 90% is properly generous, but some companies offer as little as 50%. Therefore, if the S&P Index rises 10% over the period your annuity uses to measure growth, and you participate at 90%, you earn 9% on your investment.

Formulae for growth vary: The math remains fairly simple, but the choices may mystify: Your provider may calculate a pointto-point change or an average change, and the “points” vary— monthly, quarterly, six months, or a year. In other words, if the annuity provider says “we pay the average rate of growth every six months,” they take each month’s growth over the six-month period and calculate the average. In a volatile market, this formula may work to your advantage; but in a steadily growing market, you forfeit a little. The alternative: The company says “we calculate annual growth.” In most cases, that means on the anniversary of your purchase, your provider calculates the percentage by which the S&P has risen, divides by the participation rate, and pays the result. If the S&P rose 15% and you participate at 90%, your annuity earns 13.5%.

Pay-out periods vary: Investors favor either a pay-out period identical to the investment period, or lifetime pay-out with a survivors’ benefit. Because investors put their money in annuities for the sake of securing steady retirement income, the lifetime pay-out assures they will not out-live their incomes.

Cautious investors buy fixed index annuities to assure steady retirement income. For a hard-working professional at the upper end of the American income scale, a fixed interest annuity offers an excellent complement to direct investments in stocks and a 401(k) or Roth IRA. Over the long term—twenty or thirty years—an annuity probably cannot out-perform riskier investments; but it provides safe and secure retirement savings at a guaranteed rate of return.

Most financial advisors probably would not recommend substituting a fixed index annuity for another retirement plan; but, in keeping with investment professionals’ advice always to diversify, a fixed index annuity represents a perfect hedge against losses in other, riskier vehicles.

Among different annuities, a fixed index annuity represents the “moderate risk” investment—slightly more risky than a fixed annuity which pays one guaranteed interest rate for life, and slightly less risky than a variable annuity tied to mutual funds. Naturally, the annuity that allows mutual fund investments has more earnings potential, but the rate of return could go to zero in a serious bear market.

In a bear market, a thirty-year old investor monitors the S&P, and as soon as it establishes a “bottom,” he or she purchases a fixed index annuity to capitalize on the stock market’s recovery.

To find the best annuity products request a free, comprehensive quote comparision. Secure your retirement today, Get started now. Call Randy Thomley your local agent today at 601-270-8162 See my ad on page 29.

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 23

senior living

Here We Go Again!

By Pam Wilkerson

D

o you remember the phrase “Flower Power” and the wild “Woodstock” outdoor concert? Hippies dressed in clothing with embroidered flowers in vibrant colors and put flowers in their hair, wore headbands and beaded necklaces? If you do remember you probably are known as a “baby boomer”; born between 1946 and 1964. It was the largest population growth in history; a product of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. I’m a “baby boomer”. I am a product of two people who after the war started a family and worked hard to achieve the “American dream” of owning their own home, being free of debt and saving money for retirement. My mother’s family was from Norway and my dads from France; their families came to America for a better life and a “better life” they had and also for me.

Looking back over the years—life has been good to me. Medical miracles have been achieved, technology has surpassed all predictions and knowledge about space has widened everyone’s horizon.

But even greater than these is the difference between being over 60 now and being 60 in the 80’s. My mom became a grandmother in 1969 and later in 1984 was spending the majority of her life at home.

Retired from the school system she enjoyed volunteering, working in the yard and of course, babysitting her grandkids. Life was fairly easy but just a little boring and since they were living on a limited income traveling was very scarce so she just “became “grandma” and started the slow decline of aging.

How times have changed! My life compared to hers at 60 has been more challenging and exciting than ever before. Sure I have had my “ups and downs.” Being divorced twice was traumatic; I, like my parents, thought I would be married forever but God seemed to have other plans for me. Plans that have challenged me to stay younger and more Page 24 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

active than my mother, working 2 jobs to make the necessary income requirements of my healthcare and life choices. Living expenses have gone up and the economy as gone down. As an active and energetic person I find I have less time to relax as I participate in life’s challenging day to day activities. Working all week keeps me active and energizes me for the weekends. I love the outdoors, canoeing, hiking and even “zip-lining—I save for my time off and my travels around the country and abroad, and of course, I love being with my children and grandchildren whenever I can. I even find time for “dating”! Yes, life for me is very different than my moms but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

There are 3 key elements to keeping young; exercise, socialize and learn.

1. Keep your mind mentally stimulated by reading and learning new and complicated things.

2. Maintain friendship, socialize and get out of the house. Most active people are less likely to develop problems with thinking when their mind is active.

3. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. This helps people to remain more functional and keeping muscles stronger and working together.

I have been very blessed in this life; it wasn’t what I had thought my future would hold, but now I am even more excited about it and looking forward to other challenges; and years from now, hopefully, I will then be ready and excited to meet my “Savior” for an even better part of my life.

Pam Wilkerson, Wesley Manor Retirement Community, Marketing Director, pwilkerson@mss.org, www.mss.org. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

medical treatment

Advanced Wound Care Options!

Submitted by South Center Regional Medical Center

A

merica has 1.8 million new cases of chronic wounds currently, and the rate is expected to double in the next decade. Of the 1.8 million wounds only 500,000 have received treatment. Stacy Smithers, M.D., medical director of South Central Wound Care Center & Hyperbaric Medicine, said, “We are seeing a global population increase of long-term illness and disease, many of which result in dealing with chronic wounds. Our Comprehensive Wound Care Center is dedicated to treating wounds.

After a chronic wound heals, a patients’ quality of life improves significantly.”

•S urgical Debridement — Removal of dead tissue to reduce blood flow and promote healing.

• Negative Pressure Debridement — Removal of dead tissue using negative pressure to promote healing performed with a wound VAC. • Vascular Ultrasound — Establishment of vascular etiology to appropriately address underlying causes • Compression Therapy — Multi-layer wrap/Unna Boot gives consistent graduate pressure to limbs • H yperbaric Oxygen Therapy — Pure oxygen at high pressure fights infection and induces wound healing.

What is a Chronic Wound?

A chronic wound is a wound that does not heal under normal medical treatment within 30 days. Chronic wounds are a manifestation of one or more underlying conditions that become visible on the skin including pressure ulcers, venous or vascular ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers. Certain wounds may not become visible on the skin, but we offer treatment options for issues with late effects of radiation therapy and Osteomylitis.

Although many physicians routinely treat acute wounds in their day-to-day practices, the variety and complexity of chronic wounds present a particular challenge for providers without access to all the equipment, expertise, and support available in a comprehensive wound care center.

To find out more about South Central Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Medicine visit South Central Regional Medical Center on the web at scrmc.com or call 601-426-4739.

Effective Wound Care Requires Comprehensive Approach to Treatment As with any chronic disease process, a chronic wound, regardless of its case, requires intervention by multiple health care disciplines to address the many conditions and co-morbidities that impact wound healing. The overall treatment plan at South Central Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Medicine provides an individualized approach to wound care management. “We individualize the care we provide to our patients to enhance the healing process.

A treatment plan is designed to optimize the therapies best suited for each patient.” Dr. Smithers said.

Wound size and depth are documented in the initial visit and each subsequent visit. Data services are the basis for estimating the effectiveness of the current treatment.

“Because the services provided through a DCS partnership, patients experience faster healing, shorter recovery times, improved limb salvage rates, restoration of health and mobility, and an improved quality of life,” Dr. Smithers concluded.

Wound Care Services may include: • E valuation and Management/Determination of wound etiology— Establish a treatment protocol and provide follow up care to the patient. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 25

hearing solutions

Discover a Whole

New World of Better Hearing

By Dr. Michael Hunt, Ph.D., A.C.A., AAS “I Wear Hearing Aids”

H

aving issues with your hearing shouldn’t stop you from enjoying life. It’s simply a matter of making a choice: to move forward and take control of your condition, or do nothing and fall behind.

This state-of-the-art technology was designed for people like you, who choose to move ahead and stay included – to confidently engage in conversations, to accept challenges, to feel good about yourself and the contributions you make. It will navigate you over life’s ever changing soundscape, guiding you along a journey to better hearing and understanding with dramatic new standards in sound quality, comfort and convenience. It’s time to experience the real you.

Don’t Let Hearing Loss Hold You Captive.

It’s time for you to come out of isolation and enjoy life. Are you having difficulty keeping up with conversations? Do you find yourself trying to read lips and facial expressions, or wanting to avoid noisy situations because you just can’t hear? Perhaps your family members, friends, or co-workers are losing patience, or maybe you are just becoming frustrated. Even minor hearing loss can make you retreat into a solitary place that is less vibrant, less full – less you. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Now there’s new breakthrough technology and software which controls that technology. There’s science built into the technology that supports the natural hearing process. I know because I wear this technology. State-of-the-art technology works in harmony with your brain – where hearing and understanding takes place – to organize, select and follow the sounds and voices you want to hear and ignore competing background sounds.

This state-of-the-art technology actually takes the work out of hearing and listening so you hear and understand more with less effort. Escape from the solitary world of hearing loss and be free again.

Let State-of-The-Art Technology Transform Your Life.

This technology can set you free by taking the work out of hearing and listening. Because it lets you hear more naturally and more completely, you’ll understand better. You’ll have more energy to participate in all the things that make your life worthwhile.

Leave the world of isolation behind and discover a new world where you can be the person you want to be, need to be. The person you know you really are. Remember, we are here to help you hear!

If you, a loved one or a friend suspect hearing and/or understanding problems, call Hearing Solutions at 601-450-0066 for your personal, confidential complimentary hearing evaluation. theclinic@hearingsolutuionsms.com.

Page 26 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

health quality

Not All Bottled Water is the Same!

By Ann Simmons

T

here was a time when we could drink water from brooks, rivers and other natural water sources with little to no fear of the negative or harmful effects. But that is certainly not the case today. Industrial agriculture is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States today. Almost everyone remembers Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich, an unemployed single mother who becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of chemically polluting a city’s water supply.

In the late eighties and forward we have seen the emergence of “bottled” waters, all designed to make us feel safer when drinking the one vital nutrient needed for the existence of man.

Bottled water can be described as: drinking water, carbonated water, mineral water, distilled water, spring water, artesian well water, or de-ionized water, packaged in plastic bottles or glass bottles.

Todays consumer has many choices in water. Each choice may be better than the water we have available through our water faucets at home, but within the bottled water industry there are dramatic differences in taste, quality and price. And health saavy consumers are discovering that “all bottled water” is not the same.

Spring water is derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. The spring is replenished from rain that filters down through layers of the earth over many, many years. Pressure within the earth then forces this water back to the earth’s surface at the spring site. Most spring waters are considered hard waters because of the naturally occurring minerals that they contain, such as calcium and magnesium. Spring water “collects” its minerals as it flows and is filtered through the many different layers within the earth. Spring waters maintain their excellent taste due to the presence of these natural minerals and the absence of harsh chemical additives, treatments or pollutants.

Most tap water is derived from surface waters, such as lakes and rivers and, therefore, must be treated with strong disinfectants to prevent bacterial contamination. Chlorine or chlorinated compounds are most frequently used to disinfect tap water. Tap water is processed to remove most minerals in order to provide water for multiple uses, including drinking water.

When looking for quality water here are a few things to consider: • If it is natural spring water is the water “source” protected” from everyday pollutants?

• Does the water have a quality control lab that does routine testing in the bottling process?

• What minerals are found in the water?

• Is it packaged in plastic or premium glass containers?

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

While the answers to these questions may not be conclusive in understanding the differences in “waters” available on the market today, becoming more educated about what the water you are drinking contains and the benefits of drinking good, quality, spring water may be just another step in the process of making better health choices for you and your family.

The next time you pick up a bottle of water, read the label, know what you are “paying” for, and more importantly “what you are drinking.”

Ann Simmons is a distributor of Sparta Spring Waters including Diamond Spring Water, Sparta H2O and Mountain Valley Spring Water.

You may contact Ann at 601-731-2510.

Hulett~Winstead Funeral Home, Inc.

205 Bay Street Hattiesburg, MS 39401

601.582.1571

June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 27

technology

Cornea Eye Problems Submitted by Southern Eye Center

Corneal Ulcer Light is focused while passing through the cornea so we can see.

To stay clear, the cornea must be healthy. A corneal ulcer is a cloudy, open sore on the cornea.

Infections including bacterial, viral and fugal are the primary causes of corneal ulcers.

Small tears to the cornea, often from traumas such as scratches, or particles, like sand, glass, or small pieces of steel can damage the cornea and provide a path for bacteria to enter and cause an ulcer.

Dry eyes, Bell’s palsy, chemical burns and even wearing contact lenses can lead to corneal ulcers. Extended wear contact lenses (worn several days), can be very harmful and extra care should be taken to ensure there are no scratches on the contact lens edge which could allow bacterial infections to spread. Similarly, bacteria and dirt can get trapped under the eye and cause damage. Also oxygen is blocked when wearing extended wear lenses, again opening up the chance for infections.

Corneal Ulcer Symptoms include eye pain and redness, discharge or eye drainage, blurred vision, or the feeling of something in the eye, swollen eyelids, tears and white spots on cornea visible with naked eye. Cornneal ulcers can progress very rapidly and require immediate medical treatment. Your ophthalmologist will examine your eye using a special eye scope, a slit lamp. Depending on the diagnosis, treatments may include: discontinuation of contact lenses if you wear them, prescribing antibiotic eye drops, medications taken orally or with eye drops to control pain. As a last resort if the ulcer threatens to puncture cornea and is not controlled by medications, it might be necessary to have a corneal transplant.

Follow up with your eye care specialist is critical regardless of which route is needed to correct corneal ulcers. And of course, the best way to prevent possible corneal ulcers is to seek medical attention immediately for any eye symptoms.

Dr. Cameron Griffith

T

he cornea, often called the windshield of the eye, is the clear front surface of the eye. While it appears to be a simple structure, the cornea is a very complex tissue and is unique to all individuals.

Often times we don’t realize that such a simple tissue requires great care and protection. Three of the most common corneal conditions include: Keratoconus, Corneal Ulcers and Fuch’s Dystrophy. Below we will briefly describe these in detail, but this information should not be substituted for an appointment with a Cornea Specialist.

Genetics, eye trauma, eye diseases and other diseases may be factors that can lead to keratoconus. In early stages it is correctible with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the disease progresses, you may need to wear rigid gas permeable contact lenses. A small percent may require a corneal transplant.

Having a thorough eye exam from an experienced ophthalmologist will go a long way in preventing long term damage.

Other preventions include: • Always wear eye protection when exposed to small particles that can enter your eye.

• Use artificial teardrops for dry eyes. This keeps your eyes lubricated.

• Exercise caution if you wear contact lens, especially when cleaning them.

Fuchs’ Dystrophy Fuchs’ dystrophy (fooks) affects the cornea causing deterioration of endothelial cells for no apparent reason. It’s cause is unknown, but often occurs as an inherited disorder. Normal cells line the endothelium (back surface)) of the cornea prevent excess fluid from accumulating in the cornea. This helps the cornea maintain its transparency. But with Fuchs’ dystrophy, those endothelial cells slowly deteriorate and die off. As a result, fluid builds up in the cornea. This may cause swelling, blisters, cloudy vision, pain and loss of corneal transparency.

Early signs of Fuchs’ dystrophy may begin to appear in people 30 to 40 years of age, but it doesn’t normally affect vision until about 20 years later. It is more common in women than in men.

Signs and symptoms which usually affect both eyes include tiny, painful blisters on the cornea surface, blindness, difficulty seeing at night, blurred vision that gradually clears up, astigmatism, light sensitivity or corneas that appear cloudy or hazy in appearance. If you experience any of these symptoms, or if they get worse over time, see an experienced ophthalmologist and request an urgent appointment.

Keratoconus Keratoconus is progressive degeneration of the structure of the cornea where the shape of the cornea slowly changes from the normal round shape to a cone shape. This disease creates a distortion called astigmatism and nearsightedness in most cases. In some cases it may also cause swelling, scarring of the cornea and vision loss.

Cameron S. Griffith, M.D., M.S., is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, fellowship trained in Cornea. He has clinical expertise in many conditions of the eye including LASIK, Cataract surgery, Corneal Transplant, treatment of conjunctival tumors, and management of cornea and external diseases. To make an appointment with Dr Griffith, contact Southern Eye Center at Ph. 601-450-2020

Page 28 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

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June 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 29

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Page 30 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— June 2011

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING CONVERSATIONS? HearingSolutions of The Pine Belt is pleased to announce that we will introduce a major breakthrough in hearing technology.

This technology is designed to fit your lifestyle and can help you hear with clarity in challenging places like a restaurant or in noise. Dr. Hunt has been rehabilitating hearing for over 25 years and wears hearing instruments. This year, enjoy the conversations with family and friends. Don’t just hear better, understand better, too.

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