September Hattiesburg Healthy Cells 2011

PINE BELT area

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

SEPTEMBER 2011

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Spiers Chiropractic Pain & Wellness Center

The Wellness Approach

page 12

You are What We Eat! page 8 I’m From the Government... and I’m Here to Help page 24 Surgical Robot Can Offer Greater Precision, Shorter Recovery page 28

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

SEPTEMBER 5

Life Tip: From Start to Finish

6

Emotional: “How Do You Feel Today”

...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 9

This Month’s Cover Story:

The Wellness Approach Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center page 12 Cover and story photos by JRichards Originals

8

Nutritional: You Are What We Eat!

10

Physical: Good Night, Sleep Tight

16

In The Community: Sanders Encourages Volunteerism

18

Personal Health: The Perfectionism Trap

20

Heart Health: Dare To Care

21

Hearing Solutions: Hearing Loss

22 23 24 25

Photographic Guidelines: How to Dress for Success in a Portrait Session Vision: Macular Degeneration Explained

Long Term Care: I’m From the Government, And I am Here to Help You! Proper Design: Balance your Posture to be Active for Life

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:

26 28

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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 tips

From Start to Finish

By Jennifer Clark

M

arathon Makeover members have progressively worked through the 30 plus weeks of training leading up to the marathon in October. With just a few more weeks of training, members have to dig deep to finish the program and the race strong. This year I’ve watched members practice endurance, perseverance, and accountability. They’ve learned the value of adequate hydration and fueling, the importance of proper gear and preparation, and how to listen to their bodies.

They’ve taken advantage of the sense of community, fellowship, and camaraderie that develops as they encounter many of the same challenges and victories. When you really think about it, these are all the same things we could apply to our careers and life in general. It can sometimes be easy to start something in our lives, but it helps to have all of the above components to finish.

Jennifer Clark after finishing 1/2 marathon.

This month’s tip is sponsored by Healthy Cells Magazine.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

September 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 5

emotional

“How Do You Feel Today”

By Pam Wilkerson

E

very day I call my Mom and ask her “How she feels.” and every day she says the same thing “I feel fine—just fine.” However after being with her over 60 years I know by the sound of her voice, how she feels.

Three years ago when my Dad was living at home with Alzheimer’s; I could often hear the anger and frustration in her voice. Last year, after he was sent to the VA Hospital in Collins, she often sounded lonely, loving and missing him. This year, he died, and the sound of her voice is often sad, defeated, and depressed. Is it “grief” or “depression”. Distinguishing between the two isn’t always easy, but there is a difference.

Grief involves a lot of emotions, a mix of good and bad days. Having some moments of pleasure and happiness along with your feeling of emptiness and despair. Only time will tell if it is grief or depression, grief will slowly lift and you” will see light at the end of the tunnel”; but depression only sees darkness and death and never lets up.

Causes and Risks for Depression in Older Adults and the Elderly • Health problems (Parkinson’s, stroke, heart disease, cancer, vitamin B-12 deficiency, dementia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes, thyroid disorders) • Loneliness and isolation Reduced sense of pleasure • Fears over death, dying or finances • Recent bereavement • Some prescription side effects of depression: blood pressure (clonidine) beta-blockers (Lopressor,Inderal) Ulcer (Tagamet, Zantac) and heart drugs containing reserpine, sleeping pills, steroids, tranquilizers (Valium, Xanax, Halcion) Steroids (Cortisone, Prednisone) Highcholesterol drugs (Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor) and Estrogens (Premarin, Prempro)

Of Petal, LLC Quality of Life Services Including: Physician – Each Facility has a Medical Director Bedford Care Center Nursing – Rehabilitative Services – Psychiatry – Dietary – Pharmacy 908 S. Ge orge St .

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BCC -Monroe Hall 300 Cahal St. Hattiesburg, MS 39401 601 .582.9157

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

BCC - Alzheimer’s 300-B Cahal St. Hattiesburg, MS 39401 601 .544.5300

BCC-Marion 6434A Dale Drive Marion, MS 39342 601 .294.3515

BCC- Mendenhall 925 W. Mangum Ave. Mendenhall, MS 39114 601 .847.1311 www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Signs and Symptoms of Depression in the Elderly • sadness • fatigue • abandoning or losing interest in hobbies or other pleasurable pastimes • social withdrawal and isolation (Reluctance to be with friends, engage in activities, or leave home) • weight loss or loss of appetite • sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness) • loss of self-worth (worries about a being a burden, feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing) • increased use of alcohol or other drugs • fixation on death; suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Sometimes there are also some seniors that don’t claim to feel sad at all. They may complain instead of low motivation, a lack of energy or physical problems with headaches or arthritis pain that has gotten worse.

IS IT DEPRESSION OR DEMENTIA? With the ever increasing knowledge of Dementia or Alzheimer’s many tend to jump to the conclusion that their loved one is suffering from Dementia. Though many of the symptoms seem similar with Dementia there becomes little doubt as time passes.

SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA Mental decline happens slowly • Confused and disoriented; becomes lost in familiar locations • Difficulty with short-term memory • Writing, speaking, and motor skills are impaired • Doesn’t notice memory problems or seem to care www.healthycellspinebelt.com

• forgetting meds • neglecting personal hygiene • lack of motivation and energy Whether cognitive decline is caused by dementia or depression, it’s important to see a doctor right away. There is treatment! For dementia symptoms can be reversed, halted, or slowed. If it is depression, memory, concentration and energy will bounce back with treatment.

HOW TO HELP OUT • Invite your loved one out • Schedule regular social activities • Plan and prepare healthy meals • Encourage the person to follow through with treatment • Make sure all medications are taken as instructed • Watch for suicide warning signs The more active you are-physically, mentally and socially—the better you feel.

Depression isn’t something that you can fight yourself just by “willing it”. You can’t just tell yourself to snap out of it. Try to remember that being depressed isn’t a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It can happen to anyone, no matter your previous accomplishments in life.

On the flip side, physical illness, loss, and the challenges of aging don’t have to keep you down.

Remember “life is what you make it each and every day.” Be grateful for the opening of your eyes to the wondrous world that God has made for us.

For more information call Pam or Kim at 601-264-8847 or 601-467-8004 or visit www.mss.org. Wesley Manor Retirement Community is located at 246 Westover Dr., Hattiesburg.

September 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 7

nutritional

You Are

What We Eat!

By Dr. Rebecca Boyd, Forward Health Solutions

I

t still amazes me what a difference changing one’s diet can make in how a person feels. We are all familiar with the old phrase, “You are what you eat,” but do we really believe it? We should!

A forty-year-old woman came to see me for her fatigue and hormonal problems. However, she was a poorly controlled asthmatic as well. Despite an inhaled corticosteroid with long acting bronchodilator (which opens airways), a nasal steroid, two different types of allergy medications, and a “rescue” inhaler she used five times per day, she was still suffering. She additionally required several courses of oral steroids per year due to worsening of her asthma. She didn’t even go outside much due to shortness of breath, and it was difficult for her to even walk out to the mailbox.

I took her history, and did something I rarely do… I told the patient to dramatically change her diet on the first visit. Why? We needed to do something immediately to decrease her inflammation. So what did we do? She went on a gluten and dairy-free diet to reduce the inflammation she was experiencing. Wheat and milk are often very inflammatory for people, even if they are not found to be “allergic” by traditional blood tests. The top five food allergies are milk, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and eggs so it is often helpful to reduce intake in our diet. Why eliminate gluten and dairy? They are in so many of the foods we eat, and

Page 8 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt — ­ September 2011

tend to be the most effective in reducing inflammation when eliminated from the diet.

She went on the gluten-free, dairy-free diet for 6 weeks, used her inhaler 5 times, and lost 12 pounds. She didn’t restrict calories, just watched to make sure no gluten or dairy were in her diet. She did phenomenally, and also noted that her abdominal bloating went away. We reviewed the blood from the first visit and her CRP (C-reactive protein) was 19.9. Six weeks later, on a gluten and dairy-free diet, her CRP had dropped to 6.0.

Elimination of gluten and dairy is also frequently effective for eliminating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I saw a woman in clinic recently who has had diarrhea for over ten years. She had already been evaluated and was told there was nothing she could do other than take medication to control symptoms. She would have 5-10 episodes of diarrhea per day, and at times she stated that her husband would find her on the floor in the bathroom, weak and cramping. She was always concerned about where the nearest bathroom was located, and distressed about when the cramping would hit her.

In follow-up, she was a different woman. She had spent the last several weeks since our visit eliminating gluten and dairy from her diet and felt great. No longer was she a slave to her gut anymore. She was www.healthycellspinebelt.com

now in control. Several times she uttered, “You just don’t know.” Two times she had episodes of diarrhea in the past few weeks, but the day before she had eaten a gluten containing food, knowingly. Additionally, she can tell she has lost a few pounds as her clothes are a little looser.

After talking to her more about her family, which is full of people with IBS, including a brother and a son, I suspect that she has celiac disease. Celiac disease causes damage to the lining (and it’s fingerlike projections) of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Unfortunately, once someone is on a gluten-free diet, it is not very helpful to do blood work, as it may not come back positive. However, due to her family history, we will get some of the other people tested and if other people in her family have celiac disease, she will be even stricter with her diet.

Eating gluten and dairy-free is also helpful for people who have migraine headaches. Since gluten and dairy are inflammatory for many people, eliminating this from one’s diet can increase the threshold for having a headache. For example, if there are certain triggers for your migraines, such as insomnia or stress, by eliminating gluten and dairy should help you to increase your threshold. In other words, by increasing your threshold, you make it less likely you will have a headache. Magnesium also increases the threshold, making it harder to get a headache. This is why many migraine sufferers call magnesium a miracle drug. It certainly does help reduce headaches and since over 80% of people are magnesium deficient, it is a safe bet as well.

There are lots of reasons to try a gluten and dairy-free diet. Anyone who has problems with any kind of inflammation, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, fatigue, weight gain, ADD/ADHD, any autoimmune problem, or thyroid problems, just to name a few may feel better. Try it for six weeks and see if it helps you. It certainly won’t hurt you, and you may find that it really helps. Write down any symptoms that you may have before starting the diet. It is human nature, but when we start to feel better, we forget we ever felt bad. Make a commitment for six weeks, and don’t cheat. It’s only six weeks and you can do anything for that little period of time. If you cheat one time, it may affect you for up to four days. So, if you cheat twice in a week, you have ruined your experiment. You really can do this!

You can eat: • Meat • Vegetables (eat a wide variety of colors) • Fruit • Nuts • Eggs (common allergen, but wheat/gluten seems to be more inflammatory to general population) • Oatmeal (Bob’s Red Mill is a favorite) • Seafood • Rice (any kind) • Legumes (Beans) • Brown Rice Pasta (no wheat pasta) • Corn or Rice Chex • Any gluten-free bread (Udi’s is my favorite) Drink either: Coconut, Rice or Almond Milk. You can usually get any of these at your local grocery store.

Don’t make this complicated. Focus on what you can eat, instead of what you can’t. You don’t need to go out and spend a fortune on gluten-free foods. Make a few substitutes and see how you feel at the end of the six weeks. It may really surprise you.

For more information on this article or other health related concerns, contact Dr. Rebecca Boyd at Forward Health Solutions, 140 Mayfair Road, Ste. 1500, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, ph: 601-450-2077. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

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physical

Good Night, Sleep Tight Submitted by Hattiesburg Medical Supply

S

leep apnea, a disruption of breathing while asleep, is a deceiving sleep disorder—90% of people who have sleep apnea don’t know that they have it! Although episodes of choking or gasping for air might occur hundreds of times throughout the night, you may not have any recollection of struggling for breath.

Usually it is the bed partner who first notices that the person is struggling to breathe. If left untreated, this common disorder can be lifethreatening.

What happens when you have an episode of sleep apnea?

When you stop breathing during sleep due to sleep apnea, the airflow to the lungs is blocked.

This imbalance stimulates the brain to restart the breathing process.. Then, carbon dioxide can escape, and oxygen can enter the airway.

These waking episodes are necessary to restart breathing (and to save your life), and you may not remember them, but they do disrupt your sleep and cause daytime exhaustion.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is caused by the upper airway collapsing. The obstruction may be due to such factors as decreased muscle tone, large tongue or extra tissue in the airway. The rest of this article discusses the causes, symptoms and treatments for OSA. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) Central sleep apnea (CSA), less common than OSA, is a central nervous system disorder that occurs when the brain signal telling the body to breathe is delayed. CSA can be caused by disease or injury involving the brainstem.

However, while the causes of apnea are different in CSA and OSA, the symptoms and results are much the same – a deprivation of oxygen and poor sleep. Also, symptoms depend on the underlying disease and what part of the nervous system is affected. A Sleep Study (PolysomnoPage 10 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

gram or PSG) and a physical exam will determine the correct diagnosis so treatment can then be started. The treatments for some types of CSA may include medications that stimulate breathing, administration of oxygen or nasal CPAP or BiPAP. Symptoms and Facts Warning signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include: • Frequent silences during sleep due to breaks in breathing (apnea) • Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs • Loud snoring • Sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a sweat • Daytime sleepiness and feeling un-refreshed by a night’s sleep, including falling asleep at inappropriate times Diagnosis Sleep Centers - How sleep centers diagnose sleep disorders • If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, contact your doctor. You may need a referral from your doctor to visit a sleep center. If your physician refers you to a sleep center, the latest technology will be used to monitor you overnight while you sleep. A sleep specialist will observe your sleep patterns, brain waves, heart rate, rapid eye movements and more using monitoring devices attached to your body.

While sleeping with a bunch of wires attached to you might seem difficult, most patients find they fall asleep very easily.

• The sleep specialist will analyze the results from your sleep study, determine the type and severity of the sleep disorder and design a treatment program if necessary.

• Take your time. Start by using your CPAP for short periods during the day. Use the “ramp” setting to gradually increase air pressure.

• Make small adjustments to the mask, tubing and straps to find the right fit. Soft pads are available to cover the straps and reduce skin irritation.

• Try masks of different sizes and types. A full mask might work better if you breathe through your mouth. A mask with nasal pillows should decrease nose discomfort. A mask with a chin strap will help keep your mouth closed and reduce throat irritation.

• Use a humidifier with the CPAP unit (or get a unit with a humidifier) to decrease dryness and skin irritation. Try a special face moisturizer for dry skin.

• Keep your mask, tubing and headgear clean. Replace CPAP and humidifier filters regularly.

• Work with your doctor or respiratory therapists to ensure the right fit and find the right settings on your CPAP unit.

• Find a support group or others who use CPAP to exchange tips and give and receive moral support.

• Use the CPAP consistently – every night and during every nap. This will make the adjustment easier and ensure maximum benefit.

• Use a local medical supply company with Registered Respiratory Therapists to ensure proper fit, personal instruction, maintenance and help with your unit or mask whenever you need it.

For more information contact one of nine Registered Respiratory Therapists at Jones County Medical Supplies, Inc. 601-426-2574, Hattiesburg Medical Supply 601-296-6000 or Covington County Medical Supply 601-765-3277. www.jonescountymedical.com.

Treatment and Care Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most widely recommended treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

CPAP entails wearing a mask-like device while you sleep, which provides pressurized air to prevent the airway from collapsing. Most CPAP units are the size of a tissue box and many now come with a built in humidifier for comfort.

While CPAP works very well in preventing apnea symptoms, many people find the apparatus uncomfortable and difficult to use. Luckily, recent advancements to CPAP technology have made these once cumbersome devices much lighter, quieter and much more comfortable.

Different types of masks are available and can make using the device more comfortable.

CPAP can cost $1000 or more. Fortunately, many insurances help pay for the equipment and supplies.

The following tips may help you use CPAP more comfortably and successfully:

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

feature story

The Wellness Approach Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center

By Carolyn Jones-Primeaux

G

et knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.” This is a quote taken from the writings of Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., and provides evidence about the length of time chiropractic care has been in existence and use. Ancient writings from China and Greece dating between 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain.

The official beginning of the chiropractic profession dates back to 1895 when Daniel David Palmer restored the hearing of Harvey Lillard by manually adjusting his neck and something told him that he was on to something good. Two years later, in 1897, Dr. Palmer went on to begin the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, which continues to train doctors of chiropractic.

Dr. Denton Spiers’ journey to becoming a chiropractor began while still in high school in Picayune, MS. where he sustained an injury that had become resistant to standard medical care. In severe pain, and facing the possibility of surgery, he heeded the suggestions of his grandmother and agreed to see her doctor, who happened to be a chiropractor.

The positive results were almost immediate; so fantastic in fact, that he began to develop the idea this might be his area of study in college. This decision was confirmed in college, while as a pre-med student, Dr. Denton took classes in the natural aspect of healing and he felt it his calling to become a chiropractor. After education and training at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas, Denton returned to his home town of Picayune, Mississippi and worked as an associate doctor for three years. He then decided to open his own practice in the Oak Grove area of Hattiesburg in 2001. Then in September 2007, he built Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness

“

Page 12 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

Dr. Denton and Kelly Spiers Center, located at 5128 Old Highway 11 in Hattiesburg, where he continues to help others just like himself, find freedom from pain.

Dr. Spiers says, “The Nervous System is the master system that controls the whole body. Proper nerve function is vital for over all whole body health”.

The nerves are housed in the vertebral column called the spine. There are 24 movable joints throughout the spine. The individual vertebra, through everyday use and abuse, stress, etc. can become “kinked”, disrupting the normal nerve flow to parts of the body, therefore causing dysfunction and pain. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

Pain, more specifically, lower back-pain is the number one reason people seek chiropractic care. Chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations which mean a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine. The term “adjustment” refers to the specific force chiropractors apply to vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally.

The objective of the chiropractic adjustment is to reduce the subluxation, which results in an increased range of motion, reduced nerve irritability, reduced muscle spasm, reduced pain and improved function.

Dr. Spiers is passionate about helping those who come to him, often in debilitating pain, to look for underlying causes and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments needed to restore normal function. “We strive to remove anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it, thus creating a natural healing environment.”

Many people are apprehensive about visiting a doctor new to them for the first time, especially a chiropractor. Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center utilizes the most researched and advanced technologies in helping patients to overcome not only their “pain” issues, but often their “fear” issues also. “We have comforted and educated many of our patients regarding the treatment

“We strive to remove anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it, thus creating a natural healing environment.” they will receive and have not just offered assurance, but have provided the positive outcomes that helps them to move through to healing much faster. That is our goal! When a patient comes to our office in intense pain and with some fear, and finds relief from both and is able to regain their mobility and body function, we are both elated.”

Staff member helping a patient.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

September 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 13

feature story continued Ultimately, Dr. Spiers would like the public to know that one of the main benefits of chiropractic is that you don’t have to come to the office just for symptoms of pain. Chiropractic extends beyond pain relief and can help prevent big problems from occurring through periodic visits to the office for adjustments to the spine. Your body is a moving mechanical machine, like a car, and is under stress and wear and tear every day.

If you maintain your car, it will run smoother and will last longer. If you ignore taking your car in for routine maintenance, sooner or later the check engine light (ie.pain) will come on and what happens when you ignore the warning light? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The BIGGER picture is prevention. CHIROPRACTIC=WELLNESS! “My goal is to see people achieve their health goals through proper diet, exercise and chiropractic.” And it is to that end, that Dr. Spiers built Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center. In addition to spinal adjustments, we offer a variety of therapies to help aid in the healing process such as massage therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, cold laser, and traction and rehab exercises.

In addition to the treatments he performs in the clinical side, he has a 4500 sq. ft. fitness center, with cardio and strength training equipment and staffed with trained and certified professionals who can create a custom exercise plan for each participant. Spiers Fitness Center also has yoga classes taught by Kelly Spiers, who is Dr. Spiers wife and mother of their five children. Kelly teaches traditional Hatha style yoga which is a slower-paced stretching class with simple breathing exercises. “This is a great place for patients from the chiropractic side or new participants to begin and learn basic poses and relaxation techniques,” Kelly states. “Studies have shown yoga poses and relaxation techniques provide a myriad of health benefits, especially when used in conjunction with other therapies.” Dr. Spiers agrees, “Yoga just like chiropractic care, treats the body as a whole, and when it is used with strength training and chiropractic care, the whole body benefits, responds, and rebuilds itself.” The core benefits of yoga are balance, coordination, bone strengthening, enhanced relaxation and improved breathing, all of which add to the “wellness” of the individual and is the root of chiropractic care which in essence is wellness care.

From arthritis to whiplash, Dr. Spiers and his team at Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center have treated and helped a variety of people and symptoms including colicky babies to 96 year old grandmothers. “We strive to give the body an optimal environment in which it can heal itself. With a comprehensive set of treatment options and fitness programs available, we feel confident that with a bit of time and commitment on the part of the patient, we can help the patient enjoy a pain-free, enhanced quality of life.”

“The Doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

— Thomas Edison Page 14 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

Dr. Spiers

With the uncertainty of our health care system and the changes in plans, the loss of insurance coverage and the depressed state of our overall wellness, it has never been so vital for us all to be more responsible for our own health care. It is important for us to take charge of our wellness and our recovery, to ask questions from our health care providers and demand that our answers are satisfied.

There is no one more invested in your health and well-being than you. Part of this responsibility is to seek “preventative” opportunities to maintain a healthy body and mind. The “wellness approach” through consistent, preventive treatments from a well-respected chiropractor, along with good health habits can go a long way in giving you the vibrant, healthy life you deserve. Let Spiers Chiropractic Pain and Wellness Center help. Call today!

For more information on how Dr. Denton Spiers and his well-trained staff at Spiers Pain and Wellness Center can help you enjoy a pain-free life, contact them at Ph. 601.261.9495 or visit them on the web at www.spierschiropractic.com.

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

in the community

Sanders Encourages Volunteerism Submitted by South Central Regional Medical Center

A

cross our nation, thousands of hospital volunteers share their time and care to help build healthier communities. Those who volunteer want to improve the quality of life in their community.

By giving something back, they feel they can have a direct and personal impact on their world. Hospital volunteers bring to life the words “life is about helping.”

Charles Sanders has been a volunteer at South Central Regional Medical Center since November of 1990. “I started out volunteering by delivering mail to patients. I later worked the Information Desk, but my love became delivering mail, flowers and coffee to patients,” he said.

“I had been retired from Masonite for more than 10 years when I decided to become a volunteer at South Central Regional Medical Center,” Sanders said. He decided to volunteer after being a patient in the hospital. “I wanted to help somebody,” he said. Little did he

Billy Cochran, PT, CSCS Craig Morris, LPTA Kacee Rose, LPTA

52 98 Place Blvd. Hattiesburg, MS 39402

(601) 296-0199

www.carephysicaltherapy.net Page 16 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

know that the volunteer Volunteer program would help Charles Sanders him much more than he helped others.

“I think about all of the people I have met at South Central over the years,” Sanders said. He said he has volunteered with some wonderful people–one of whom he calls Sarah. Sanders and Sarah made a good team. “We were like family from the time she walked in the door.

Sarah would make floral arrangements and I would deliver them,” he said. They both felt as though they were part of the South Central family of health care workers. “Sarah died on July 4, 2009 of cancer.

The hospital lost a great volunteer that day,” he said.

“Life is about helping,” he said. “those words were from text of Tom Brokaw’s book, “The Greatest Generation.”

He said that for several years those words, “Life is about helping”, have stayed with him and have helped to form and develop a framework for his thoughts and feelings about life and about helping others. “Life is many things; but helping others is an important part of it,” he said.

“Volunteering has its rewards, not easily measured perhaps, but nevertheless real; a sense of contributing, a feeling of well-being and of belonging to something greater than ourselves,” he said.

He said, “Yes, life is about helping and doing good to all men, and that does create a framework for a philosophy of volunteering. So why do we miss so many opportunities to help, to do good? Only we can answer that.”

Sanders closed by encouraging the men and women of South Central Mississippi to become a hospital volunteer. His greatest advice is “do not sit at home. Get out and do something to help others. You certainly will not regret it.”

For more information about becoming a hospital volunteer, call Bonnie Smith, the Director of Volunteer Services at South Central Regional Medical Center at 601.426.4704 or visit South Central’s website at scrmc.com. 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

September 2011 — Pine Belt — ­ Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 17

personal health

The Perfectionism Trap

By Rebecca Turner, MS, RD, LD

I

t is important to be focused on diet and exercise, but striving for perfection sets the stage for failure. Perfectionism is a state of mind that assumes anything short of perfection is unacceptable.

Perfectionism is unproductive.

A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault. ~ John Henry Newman Too often people view health and wellness as all or nothing. They declare to be either on the wagon or off the wagon with no road in between. The road to health and wellness is not black and white rather a rainbow of colors with ample opportunity to choose health.

To focus on perfection leads to constant irritation, self-depreciating behavior, stress and inability to achieve a balanced relationship with food or oneself. A struggle with self-perfection will ultimately lead to a downward spiral to reality... Reality is one is never on or off a wagon yet enduring a lifelong journey packed with roadblocks, detours, and u-turns.

V i ta l C a r e

Compounder A Specialty Pharmacy

Natural • Hormone • Restoration • Therapy

601-261-0503

www.vitalcarecompounder.com 115 South 40th Avenue Hattiesburg, MS 39402 40th Ave at O’Ferrell near Home Depot Page 18 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

Sometimes... when you hold out for everything, you walk away with nothing. ~ From the television show Ally McBeal To fight perfectionism one must first change their mindset. Remove the words “good’ or “bad” to describe food, oneself, or their eating behavior. Develop a GPS approach to slip-ups. A GPS automatically directs one to the next possible u-turn after a wrong turn is taken! After a poor food choice is made use the next meal or snack time as a u-turn to get back on track. The longer one waits to make a u-turn on the interstate the more miles (calories) that will have to be accounted for. The sooner the u-turn is made the better.

Establish a range for daily goals to allow for more flexibility. Limit soda intake to 1-2 today or replace 2-3 pantry items with healthier options at each grocery visit.

See and visualize the BIG picture! Imagine each day as a sporting game with team positive versus negative choices. If team positive makes two points for every one point team negative makes who wins the game? Team Positive! Even if team negative makes an incredible hail-mary at the buzzer who will still win the game?

Team Positive!

Each time the healthier approach is chosen a point is scored.

Choose water instead of soda, ask to hold the mayo or the fries and opt for a half instead of full sized portion. Never under estimate a trivial one pointer because in the end they win the game.

Be patient. Nothing causes more frustration than thinking one should be losing more than they are. Be persistent. Everything takes time to learn and mistakes are inevitable. Learn from them.

Be realistic. Reality is there will never be the perfect time to get healthy and no one will be perfect at it. No one’s everyday reality is identical therefore; no one’s every day journey will be identical.

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm… ~ Winston Churchill 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. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

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

heart health

Dare To Care Submitted by Forrest General Hospital

C

ardiovascular Disease is the number one health problem in the United States. More than half of all Americans will die from complications of atherosclerosis, the root of cardiovascular disease.

Early detection is the key!

About Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease is a systemic disease that affects the heart and arteries in the body. It is called coronary artery disease (CAD) when the heart is involved and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) when it involves the other arteries in the body such as the arms, legs, kidneys, intestines and the brain. Risk factors for vascular disease include a family history of vascular disease, age, gender, race, and several risk factors that can be controlled, including high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, lack of exercise and diabetes.

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease There are several risk factors that increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis and vascular disease. Some of these risk factors can be changed or controlled, and some cannot. Risk factors that you cannot change are: • Family history: you have an increased risk when there are other family members with vascular disease.

• Age: risk increases over age 60 for men and women • Gender: Men have greater risk, however, as women get older their risk increases also.

• Race: African Americans have more than twice the risk of death and disability from the vascular disease causing stroke than Caucasians.

This occurs because there is a higher incidence of smoking, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, diabetes and high cholesterol among African Americans.

Risk factors that can be changed or modified include: • High blood pressure: Also called hypertension, high blood pressure can damage the heart, kidneys and other organs and is a major factor with strokes. It can be controlled with diet, exercise and, if necessary, medications.

• Smoking: Smoking speeds up the development of atherosclerosis, increases blood pressure and can increase the development of aneurysms and alter the function of some blood cells. Smokers have over twice the risk of dying from vascular disease than nonsmokers.

• High cholesterol: High cholesterol contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, but can be controlled by following a low fat diet and decreasing the amount of high cholesterol foods in your diet.

• Obesity: Obese people have three times the risk for heart attack and stroke than people of normal weight. Controlling weight can decrease several of the risk factors for atherosclerosis, including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

• Lack of physical exercise: Exercise tones the muscles, stimulates circulation, helps prevent excess weight and promotes a general feeling of well-being.

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

• Diabetes: Diabetes is associated with an increased occurrence of atherosclerosis. Careful monitoring and control of blood sugar has been shown to reduce the risk for stroke, heart and kidney disease.

A nationally-recognized program offering education and free cardiovascular disease screenings is now available for Pine Belt residents. If you are over age 60, or over age 50 with risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you can qualify for this free vascular screening.

Dare to C.A.R.E. is a comprehensive cardiovascular disease early detection and education program that is offered free to qualifying men and women in the Pine Belt through Forrest General. C.A.R.E. stands for the types of cardiovascular disease that the screenings are designed to detect, including carotid artery stenosis, the primary source of preventable strokes; abdominal aortic aneurysm, the 10th leading cause of death in men; and extremity artery stenosis, a disease with a mortality rate significantly higher than breast cancer that affects 12 million Americans.

The screening includes a non-invasive ultrasound of the carotid arteries in the neck, the aorta in the abdomen and an evaluation of leg circulation. Upcoming Dare to C.A.R.E. events: September 12 and 13, November 14 and 15 and January 16 and 17.

For more information about Forrest General and its Heart and Vascular Services, call FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445 or visit forrestgeneral.com.

For more information on Dare to C.A.R.E., visit www.daretocare.us.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

hearing solutions

Hearing Loss

It’s Time I Obtain the Assitance I Need!

By Dr. W. Michael Hunt, Ph.D., A.C.A., AAS

I

f you have, or when you have your hearing professionally evaluated and you have been told that you could benefit from the use of hearing instruments. You have two choices: (1) Denial or (2) Acceptance.

It is normal for most people to go through a period of denial. I certainly did. However, most people wait five to seven years before addressing their hearing loss. Such a typical thought process may be: • “I hear fine, it’s just that my wife mumbles; people speak too fast and they don’t speak clearly anymore.”

• “It’s the noisy places that give me the most trouble hearing…I’ll just avoid those places and I’ll be OK.” • “My hearing will heal in time.”

Henry Ford said, “ More people spend more time and energy going around their problems than trying to solve them.”

Trying to hide or compensate for your hearing loss can be much more obvious than wearing any pair of hearing instruments. Your associates, clients, friends, and loved ones already know you have it. You can push the fact out of your mind, but you are only fooling yourself.

You can decide to try and conceal your problem, but the symptoms have already given your secret away. Examples: • Answering the wrong questions.

• Confusing similar words like “bathroom” and “vacuum”, “dime” and “time”, “peach” and “teach.”

• Turning up the TV too loud for normal listeners.

• Lack of participation in family events, movies, and business and/or social gatherings.

The first step to overcoming your hearing problem is admitting to yourself and your nearest loved one(s)…

• That you have an irreversible hearing loss.

• That your hearing problem is affecting the quality of your life and the lives of your family.

• That medication will not “open up” your ears.

“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard The fundamental requirement to overcome your hearing problem is your deep, driving desire to learn and a vigorous determination to increase your ability to hear. The six characteristics which are present in all persons who complete the transition to hearing instruments are: • Positive attitude • Willingness to learn • Relentless commitment • Time spent practicing the use of hearing instruments.

• Patience while your brain and auditory pathway acclimates to ambient sounds and noises.

To achieve better hearing you must work at it daily. The ability to “hear again” has to be relearned – not just purchased. The most successful

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

hearing instrument users will gladly tell you that their effort to learn, with their time spent practicing was the price they paid for better hearing.

Thomas Jones said, “The ability to hear again can be relearned, not purchased.”

The decision to have a good attitude about going through the process to improve your hearing MUST BE YOURS, not that of your spouse, son or daughter. As a hearing professional, even though I wear hearing instruments, I cannot make this decision for you; it is your choice and yours alone. Abe Lincoln once remarked that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” And as you embark on the process of better hearing, a cheerful attitude will not only affect your success, but will be an encouragement to everyone you know.

The most effective remedy for hearing loss is personal education.

You need to learn all you can about your particular loss. To begin with, you will need to know: • What is the type of hearing loss I have?

• What is the degree of loss in my right and left ears?

• What percentage of understanding do I have, both in quiet and noisy environments?

• How has my brain and auditory pathway been affected?

• What can I do to improve my hearing?

• Can hearing instruments help me to hear and understand better?

Dr. Michael Hunt, Ph.D., A.C.A., AAS, who wears hearing instruments, is a Nationally Board Certified Audioprosthologist with 26 years of functional rehabilitation experience. He limits his practice to educating patients about their hearing loss and the options they have about correcting that loss. For more information, or to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hunt, contact HearingSolutions of The Pine Belt at (601) 450-0066.

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

photographic guidelines

How to Dress for Success in a Portrait Session

By Jayne Richards

O

ne of the issues I face as a photographer is helping people determine the most appropriate form of dress for their session. I do this primarily face to face in a pre-session consultation where we discuss who they are and the type clothing that fits their lifestyle(s). We then determine what they should wear and/ or bring to best compliment their personalities and personalize their portrait session.

Perhaps you have an upcoming photo session and you are wondering what you should wear. Following are some general guidelines that I use with my clients to help them make those decisions.

Choose solid colors. Patterns are distracting and certain patterns make you look larger than you really are (think horizontal stripes!).

Stay away from white if possible. In a photograph, your eye goes to the lightest area first. This means that if you have on a white shirt it is the first thing everyone sees who looks at your portrait. Your portrait should emphasize you, not your clothing.

When planning for group portraits, stay in the same color family. I like my clients to coordinate, but not be “matchy-matchy”. This means you can select different colors for each person, but they should not clash with each other. It is always easiest to go with white shirts for everyone, but this should be avoided if possible (see above). Pastel colors look wonderful on the beach, as do jewel tones. Browns, oranges, reds really pop off the page, especially during the fall. I love for my clients to select bright colors.

I would like to think this next guideline goes without saying, but I’ve learned to my consternation that it really needs to be said. Be well Page 22 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

groomed! Make sure your hair is clean and brushed. Men should carefully groom their facial hair. Make sure your skin isn’t shiny from facial oil.

Don’t get a haircut/color the day before your session. If you need a trim, do it a week to ten days before. You don’t want to look like you just got up from the barber’s chair.

Women should consider having your make-up professionally applied. This gives you a very polished and finished look. Eyes are particularly important and should be a primary focus when you apply your make-up. Depending on the session, you want your make-up to look natural, but be just a little more than your every day look. Be sure to bring touch up make-up with you to the session.

Keep your jewelry simple. Dangling earrings, chunky necklaces, broad watchbands are distracting and take away from the simplicity of your portrait.

Avoid sleeveless or spaghetti strap tops. This goes back to making sure the viewer of the portrait focuses on the important part of the image – you.

A beautiful portrait is often decided before the photographer pushes a single button. Be sure to do your part to make your photo session be completely successful.

Jayne Richards is the owner and primary photographer of JRichards Originals. Her studio is located in the Hattiesburg/Petal area, and she shoots on location as well. She is a Certified Professional Photographer and an active member of PPA. Visit her website at JRichardsPhotography.com. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

vision

Macular Degeneration Explained Submitted by Southern Eye Center

M

acular Degeneration is a general term that describes a deterioration or breakdown of the central part of the retina, located in the back of the eye, called the

macula.

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue where light rays are captured and transferred to the visual part of your brain via the optic nerve. The macula is a specific area of your retina that is responsible for providing you with sharpness, color vision, clarity and detail in your central vision.

Breakdown of the macula is a potentially serious problem: you could suffer from distortion, blurriness, spotting, and haziness of your central vision. Patients who suffer from more advanced cases of Macular Degeneration could experience noticeable loss in their central vision and depth perception, making activities like reading and driving very difficult.

AMD is a serious condition, and is currently the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans, especially those over age 65.

Wet and Dry AMD There are two forms of AMD: “wet” (neovascular) and “dry” (non-neovascular). Dry AMD is the most common form of Macular Degeneration, making up approximately 90% of all cases of AMD. “Dry” Macular Degeneration is a result of the aging deterioration of the tissue that forms the macula. As the tissue breaks down, it can form deposits that gather within the macula, and gradually affect the central vision. This process occurs rather slowly, but is likely to continue to progress over time. Although there is no cure, a healthy lifestyle can help slow the development of Dry AMD In about 10% of cases, Dry AMD progresses to the more serious and aggressive form of the disease, called Wet AMD. Wet AMD is a result of the body developing abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina. This leads to rapid, severe damage to the central vision. This requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to improve the odds of maintaining vision.

Modern treatments include injections into the eye of medications that stop the damage and frequently improve lost vision.

These injections are painless and are performed in the doctor’s office. In less common instances, “hot” or “cold” lasers may be used to treat Wet AMD. Causes of AMD To date, there are no known causes of macular degeneration, other than the disease being a symptom of the aging process. However, studies have shown that certain risk factors can strongly contribute to the development and progression of Macular Degeneration, such as smoking, high cholesterol and

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

uncontrolled high blood pressure. The disease also appears to be more common in Caucasians and females. Recent studies suggest that there may be a genetic or hereditary component to the disease as well.

Symptoms of AMD Macular Degeneration affects everyone’s vision differently. However, there is one common thread among affected individuals – since the condition affects your central vision, at some point, you will notice changes in the way you see objects.

Some of the more common signs of vision loss include: Difficulty focusing on words on a page or computer screen • A dark spot or empty space might appear in the center of your sight.

• Straight lines appear fuzzy, unclear or crooked.

Your physician can usually detect early signs of AMD before symptoms occur. (S)he may recommend the use of vitamins with antioxidants (as recommended by the Age Related Eye Disease Study – AREDS), use of Omega 3 fatty acid supplements (fish oil, flaxseed oil), control of blood pressure and cholesterol and avoidance of smoking (active or second hand), and vitamin D supplements. A retinal specialist generally treats this condition with special expertise in this area.

Jaime Jiménez, M.D. is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, fellowship trained in the treatment of the Retina, Diabetes, and Macular Degeneration. He limits his practice to educating and treating patients with diseases of the Retina. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jiménez, contact Southern Eye Center at Ph. 601-264-3937.

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

long term care

I’m From the Government

And I am Here to Help You!

By Barbara Lofton, Bedford Care Center

Have you heard these famous words? Did the speaker live up to his promise? Some myths you might hear: Myth #1: Medicare will cover my long-term care costs.

Wrong! Traditional Medicare will cover a short-term stay in a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation. This is a stay of up to100 days following a 3-day in patient hospital stay. The 3-day hospital stay usually follows an event such as a stroke or a fracture. Medicare will cover 100% of the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility. Medicare sets the co-pay for the 21st day through the 100th day at $141.50 per day - provided you continue to meet the medical criteria for Medicare payment. Who pays this co-pay? You can pay it from your income or resources; or your long term care insurance, Medicare supplement, or Medicaid might pay it.

What is traditional Medicare? It is the red, white and blue card that most were issued when they became eligible for Medicare - usually at age 65 or after being disabled for 29 months. Most Medicare Part C plans do not provide the same skilled nursing facility benefits as traditional Medicare. Consult your plan to see what benefits are covered.

Myth #2: VA will tell me if I qualify for VA benefits to help pay for long-term care.

Wrong! VA will look at your current circumstances — income and resources — and tell you if qualify based on those. VA has a special benefit for wartime veterans who served 90 days of active duty with at least one day in a wartime period (veterans who entered active duty on or after Sept. 8, 1980, or officers who entered active duty on or after Oct. 16, 1981, may have to meet a longer minimum period of active duty). VA, unlike Medicaid, can offset your gross monthly income with unreimbursed medical expenses. Usually VA will not go into details to explain these possibilities. VA Pension is needs based and VA will compare your countable assets to your life expectancy.

Myth #3: In order to qualify for Medicaid, I have to give up my home.

Wrong! Medicaid must file a claim against your estate if you pass away in a nursing home or waiver program unless you have a surviving spouse or if your property meets Medicaid’s definition of an undue hardship. When you pass away in a nursing home or waiver program and no exception applies, Medicaid will file a claim against your estate.

Your Medicaid representative will get a demand letter from Medicaid.

At that point, your representative can pay the Medicaid claim, negotiate the amount, or request an undue hardship waiver if one is met. But while you live, your home is an excluded asset unless it was transferred Page 24 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Pine Belt ­— September 2011

within 5 years, owned by a trust, located in another state, or tax assessed at more than $500,000.

How in the world can anyone ever know whether the information, sometimes from the government itself, is accurate and complete? Internet research is a good starting point. Most agencies have policy information online. There are many great government employees out there who really are there to help you. But it helps your cause to have specific questions ready. Be your own advocate, educate and inform yourself. If all else fails, request information in writing and follow the appeals process when you disagree with the decision reached.

Barbara Lofton is the Resident Benefits Specialist with Bedford Care Centers. Bedford Care Centers now offer counseling to residents and families needing assistance with public benefits including Medicaid, VA, and Medicare. She can be reached at 601-264-3709. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

proper design

Balance Your Posture to be Active for Life

By Mary Williams

M

any people spend a great deal of their lives combating musculoskeletal pain, injury and/or physical limitations when the source – and remedy – is quite simple and largely within their reach. When we relearn how to balance our postures, to sit, stand and move the way that our bodies are designed, the way that each of moved as young children, we can be active and healthy throughout the entire span of our lives.

To clarify, “relearn” refers to returning to the movement patterns and postures we were born with. Due largely to cultural and media models and inactive lifestyles, many of our bodies are no longer balanced and we experience pain or injury as a result. Over time, we modified our movement patterns, but we are able to relearn how to move as we’re designed and rebuild a balanced musculoskeletal system.

Another important point to clarify is that our current cultural perception of “good posture” is not based upon sound biomechanical principles. Picture a soldier or a fitness instructor – chin up, shoulders pulled back, abdominals tight. While we may see them as models of good posture, these are actually examples of body systems in tension, and these postures are unsustainable, imbalanced and undesirable.

When a body is oriented as designed, bones are stacked properly and muscles are relaxed, healthy and available for natural, fluid movement.

Picture a teenager slumped at a keyboard or sitting in the bleachers at a football game. If you could examine a section of their upper spine, you would see that the muscles in front of the spine are shortened.

They are in this position so often that they become tight and inelastic and no longer function at their best. In fact, if the teenager decided to sit up straight, it would be difficult for these shortened muscles to lengthen and allow this change. Conversely, the muscles behind the spine are chronically lengthened and thus also inelastic and lacking full function.

To begin balancing your posture, try these quick step-by-step instructions for the Balanced Posture Standing Position.

1. Stand with your heels ~6 inches apart, toes ~8 inches.

2. P osition legs nearly-vertical. A slight (very slight) bend in the knees and hips is fine and may help with proper orientation of your pelvis.

3. R elax your abdominals. Yes, relax them. One of the grandest bits of misunderstanding is that we should keep our abdominal muscles contracted to stand properly and ‘protect’ our backs, while the effect of tight abdominals is the opposite.

4. A llow your pelvis to naturally fall forward, or antevert. Don’t push your pelvis forward; just don’t pull it back. The “suck and tuck” approach is also incorrect and throws the entire musculoskeletal system out of balance.

5. L engthen your spine, as if it is being pulled from above. Make it as long and as straight as you can.

www.healthycellspinebelt.com

6. Take a breath and, as you exhale, relax your rib cage. Imagine your ribs as hangers on a closet rod, with no more effort required than that of the hangar.

7. ONE AT A TIME, lift your shoulder, roll it back, and rest your shoulder girdle atop your rib cage. It is very important to position your shoulders one at a time because otherwise you will be using your rhomboid muscles (like the military person standing at attention) and these muscles cannot sustain this tension. You are simply placing each shoulder (shoulder girdle) onto its natural resting place, allowing your muscles to relax.

8. Extend and elongate your neck.

9. B alance your head on your neck. For most people, it will feel like you are looking a little downward. Practice locating a balanced position by tilting your head forward and noting the muscle tension in your neck and shoulders, then tilting it back, again noting the tension, then slowly bending back and forth until you locate the position with the least amount of muscular tension.

The purpose of balancing your posture is to orient, move and live with ease, as your body is designed, so that you can continue to be active and enjoy the things you like to do for the duration of your life.

Pain is not a natural, expected component of life and aging, so balance your posture and get moving!

Mary Williams, MSEd, CPE, teaches the balance posture technique for individuals and groups, for people with chronic back pain through the BACKCoach™ program (www.BACKCoach.net), and for runners and walkers through Long May U Run (www.longmayUrun.com). She can be reached at 601-434-1991 or marywlms@comcast.net.

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

beauty

Achieve Healthier Skin with Chemical Peels

By Alex Prins

“Chemical peels are changing and becoming more advanced offering multiple benefits that bathe our skin in some of the purest and richest ingredients.”

T

here is a rise in non-surgical treatments that require no downtime and accommodate to almost every life style. Whether we are a busy mother or father, a student on campus, a teenager, or someone who works full time and comes home to only work more, we all want to be pampered. There is very little time to put our busy schedules on hold when we are moving at a fast pace and trying to keep our priorities in order. It makes sense that we want to put our best face forward and achieve healthy skin with professional treatments that can be done with convenience targeting multiple concerns at one time.

Treatments such as chemical peels should be a part of our monthly “good skin” plan.

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

We have all heard of facials, chemical peels, and micoderabrasion.

Chemical peels are changing and becoming more advanced offering multiple benefits that bathe our skin in some of the purest and richest ingredients. Concerns with fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, mild acne scarring, rosacea, and clogged pores can often be treated at the same time. Chemical peels come in a variety of types to address the varied skin issues and give us the ability to customize treatments for each client. Global companies such as PCA (Physicians Care Alliance) are committed to achieving a gold standard is education for skin care providers. They also provide at home products and treatments that can only be obtained through trained professional who work at med spas or a doctor office.

PCA uses a process where safe, natural ingredients are applied to the skin to exfoliate and correct any skin disorder. Immediately they begin to work on various skin issues. This will detoxify, exfoliate, and increase circulation to the skin so it can breathe and begin to renew itself. There is misconceptions that peels that have to be flaky to see results. This is not the case with newer peels and test show that the healthier our skin is the less flaking we will see over time. Depending on our goals and schedule we can receive treatments as soon as every two weeks or once a month until we achieve a healthier complexion.

Facial treatments truly are gifts to us and to others. So whether you are a busy mother on the go, a full time employee, or an active student running around campus trying to turn in that paper, it is very important to take care of and “love the skin you’re in.” With experienced skincare professionals, you can be assured that not only will your skin be in great hands, but you can turn off our phone, step away from the schedule and treat not just your skin but your senses to dreamy treatments designed to renew and refresh.

For more information on chemical peels or other PCA treatments call Eden Medi Spa and Laser at 601-268-7546 and talk to a certified professional. Mention this article to receive 25% off all chemical peels and PCA treatments for the month of July. www.healthycellspinebelt.com

odgers­

Family Pharmacy

RELAY FOR LIFE SUPPORTER

Providing Local Service for

• Delivery Available • Most Third Parties Accepted

50 Years!

Kim Rodgers, Rph 601.582.8351 130 E. Central Ave Petal, MS

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm

1420 South 28th Ave Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-264-3937

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· Oxygen Therapy Products · Respiratory therapy products/services · CPAP and BiPAP · Home medical equipment/supplies · Prevention and Treatment Mattresses · Wound Care Products (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy) · Diabetic monitors and supplies · Diabetic/Therapeutic shoes and inserts

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104 South 13th Avenue Laurel, MS 39440 Phone 601-426-2574 Fax 601-649-3185

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205 Main Street Collins, MS 39428 Phone 601-765-3277 Fax 601-765-3270

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Locally Owned & Operated for 32 Years

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

advanced technology

Surgical Robot Can Offer Greater Precision, Shorter Recovery

By Wesley Medical Center

I

n recent years, minimally invasive surgery has become a popular method for treating many conditions – both for physicians and for patients. The newest incarnation of the minimally invasive approach is robotic surgery, and the technology is revolutionizing the performance of many surgical procedures.

Wesley Medical Center has offered robotic surgery using the daVinci surgical system since 2007. Since that time, hundreds of surgeries have been performed using robotic technology. Recently, Wesley Medical Center upgraded to the latest in da Vinci technology by investing in the new da Vinci Si Surgical System. The addition of the new robot makes the Wesley Medical Center minimally invasive surgical program one of the most advanced in Mississippi.

“What is so incredible about robotics is that patients have very little pain compared to traditional laparoscopy, and there is no comparison to an abdominal hysterectomy,” said Dr. Joseph Washburne, OB /GYN at The Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi.

Robotic surgery is commonly used in gynecological surgeries for women such as hysterectomies, uterine fibroid removal, or surgical repair of the bladder floor; uterine and prostate procedures in men; and more recently, surgeries involving the heart, lungs, thoracic (chest cavity), thyroid and general surgery. Other procedures in which robotic surgery is highly effective include removal of bladder stones, partial or full kidney removal, complete bladder removal, or gastric bypass surgery. Robotic surgery is also useful in dissecting and removing lymph nodes during cancer operations.

Robotic surgery offers an alternative to traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy. The system – comprised of a camera, thin robotic arms and a console located at the bedside of the patient – gives the surgeon the ability to view the entire surgical site in three-dimensional detail, magnified 10 to 15 times, and perform highly detailed, complex procedures. Instead of a single, large opening in the patient’s body, several small incisions – usually less than a half-inch in length – are made at the surgical site. The surgical robot usually has three or four arms: one that contains a small camera, two that act as the surgeon’s hands, and an optional third arm that moves obstructions. The surgeon follows the same steps used in traditional surgery, but the robotic arms act as an extension of the surgeon’s hands, translating hand motions in real-time synchronization into microscopic movements inside the patient’s body.

This technique offers several advantages for the surgeon: crisp, highly detailed images of the surgical area; the ability to perform complex, precise maneuvers with greater dexterity and control, without disrupting surrounding tissues; and greater freedom of movement in a confined space.

More importantly, there are several advantages for the patient. Because the surgery allows the physician to go directly to the site with minimal disturbance of other body structure, no bones are separated or muscles cut to reach the surgical site, resulting in less trauma to the patient’s body. The smaller incisions also mean less damage to sur-

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

da Vinci Surgical System in action.

rounding tissue, reduced blood loss, and smaller sutures, so there is usually less healing time required for the patient to recover.

Patients typically experience less post-operative pain and require a shorter hospital stay. Many patients are often ready to go home in two to four days after surgery, experience a shorter recovery time of one to three weeks, and are able to return to routine daily activities more quickly – with a reduced likelihood of post-surgical complications. And, because the surgery is minimally invasive, there is a decreased likelihood of scar tissue developing, which often requires surgical follow-up after a major procedure.

The upgrade to the newest da Vinci robot at Wesley Medical Center will enable physicians to take a minimally invasive approach for even more complex surgical procedures. The new da Vinci Si System introduces several new features designed to benefit both patients and surgical staff: www.healthycellspinebelt.com

• Enhanced 3D HD resolution allowing for greater surgical precision • An updated simplified user interface to enhance operating room efficiency • New ergonomic console settings which allow greater surgeon comfort and control • Surgical dexterity and precision far greater than that offered by even the human hand “We believe that the new features of the da Vinci Si System will help us provide the best possible outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Washburne, who recently reached the most advanced level of robotics surgery certification by completing a Masters Skills course.

Your doctor will evaluate the option of robotic surgery with you during the planning process for your surgery, taking into consideration factors including your age, weight, general health, and any prior surgical history. Because robotic surgery typically requires a longer surgery time, patients who are ill, elderly or frail, for example, may fare best with traditional surgery. Your physician will recommend the most appropriate plan for your individual case.

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For more information on minimally invasive surgical technology at Wesley Medical Center, please call 601-268-8000 or 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 to facilitate conversations with their physician.

Laurie Ryba, MSN, CFNP

Sources: www.webmd.com, www.davincisurgery.com

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