Premiere Issue Boulder Healthy Cells 2011 by Healthy Cells Magazine

GREATER BOULDER COUNTY Promoting Healthier Living in Your Community • Physical • Emotional

Premiere Issue 2011

FREE

HealthyCells

www.healthycellsmagazine.com

M A G A Z I N E

• Nutritional

Alleman Family Dental Taking the Scare

Out of Dental Care

page 14

New Hope for Pets with Cancer page 17 Skin Cancer Awareness & Prevention — While Living a Mile High page 22 Wise Life Insurance Decisions page 25

welcome letter Welcome to the Greater Boulder County Healthy Cells Magazine premiere issue. Boulder County is blessed to have access to some of the greatest outdoor activities in the country and more importantly people who take advantage of these activities. Being physically active is a great start in developing your own personal health program. We need to be equally aware of our emotional and nutritional health needs. Healthy Cells Magazine brings a unique perspective to the health conscience individual. The majority of the articles are written by local healthcare professionals and because of this they tend to appeal more directly to the needs and concerns of people in and around Boulder County. How we as individuals deal with our health decisions can be greatly influenced by those around us. Healthy Cells Magazine will present a positive and informative health based content from local people who know the local community best. When dealing with your personal or loved one’s health it is important to keep informed of health industry research and technology. Better awareness of your physical, emotional and nutritional needs will help you make better decisions, stay healthier and in doing so help those around you. Look for your own FREE issue of Healthy Cells Magazine at hundreds of locations throughout Boulder County. Feel free to take a copy with you and pass it along to someone who may also benefit from it. The advertisers in Healthy Cells would love to hear from you or have you visit. Both the advertisers and authors are committed to helping you with your health needs, questions and lifestyle. My thanks goes out to them and to you as the reader. I am excited to bring you this first issue and look forward to many more down the road. Feel free to contact me with any questions at brian@healthycellsmagazine.com. Have fun and stay healthy!

“Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to live a healthier life.”

Sincerely,

Brian Coates, Owner Healthy Cells Magazine, Greater Boulder County

Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3

PREMIERE ISSUE

2011 Volume 1, Issue 1

Welcome Letter: From The Owner

This Month’s Cover Story:

Hearing Technology: Tinnitus

Taking the Scare Out of Dental Care page 14

Emotional: A Brief Behavioral Intervention Can Reduce Depression in Stroke Survivors

Nutritional: Heart Health

Physical: “When Should I Fix My Bunion?”

Environmental Health: Earth-Friendly Household Tips Made Easy

Salt Therapy: Salt Gives Breath of Life to Girl With Cystic Fibrosis

Veterinary Technology: New Hope for Pets with Cancer

Children’s Health: Know the GLOW

Healthy Benefits: More Olive Oil in Diet Could Cut Stroke Risk

Family Health: Warm Weather Safety for Older Adults

Healthy Aging: Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Women’s Health: Strange Migrations and Killer Cramps

Healthy Living: Carl’s Call to Bike

Future Planning: Wise Life Insurance Decisions

For advertising information, contact Brian Coates, owner at 720-398-0968, Brian@healthycellsmagazine.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

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 Boulder County. 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 throughout the Greater Boulder County, including medical facilities and other waiting rooms. Healthy Cells Magazine welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living in the Greater Boulder County. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.

hearing technology

TINNITUS: What’s That Ringing In My Ears? Submitted By Flatirons Audiology

ne in 6 Americans Suffer from Tinnitus and most have been told there is nothing that can be done about it. If you suffer from ringing in your ears or any other persistent noise such as a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, ticking, clicking, roaring or other sounds you may have tinnitus. The constant noise from tinnitus can cause serious health problems, including emotional distress, and it may have an enormous impact on everyday living. Tinnitus can be a symptom of another physical problem, a result of an accident or a side effect of medication. Many times tinnitus has no determinable cause. As such, many have been told there is nothing that can be done and that it’s something they must learn to live with. This is simply not true in most cases and tinnitus can be successfully evaluated and treated by a trained professional. Treatment plans for tinnitus should be customized for the individual, their lifestyle and the severity of the tinnitus itself. For example, oftentimes people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. New hearing aid technology can be very effective at making individuals with hearing loss less aware of the tinnitus while wearing the hearing aids. Hearing aids may make it easier to hear over the tinnitus so you do not need to struggle with hearing loss and tinnitus simultaneously. Hearing aids typically work by blocking out annoying environmental noises such as fan noise, car noise or any other steady-state noise, but for patients with tinnitus, this may make the sounds of tinnitus more noticeable. Many people with tinnitus also have sensitivity to loud sounds (hyperacusis), so hearing aids need to be specially programmed to ensure that sounds are within the patient’s loudness tolerance levels. A professional hearing aid fitting can solve this tricky problem. If you have been told that there’s nothing that can be done to stop the aggravating noise in your head, take heart. Medical Breakthrough in Tinnitus Treatment Enter Neuromonics - a device designed specifically for the treatment of tinnitus. Neuromonics is not a hearing aid or a device to mask the sound.

It’s a technological breakthrough in treatment for this debilitating disease. Neuromonics reduces symptoms quickly and lasts long-term because it addresses the underlying neurological causes of tinnitus. It is also the only clinically validated, FDA-cleared treatment for people 18 and over. Neuromonics 101 Neuromonics is a non-invasive procedure that requires no medicine or surgery. Neuromonics treatment begins with a thorough hearing evaluation to determine the exact frequency and pitch of the sound that is bothersome. That pitch is then embedded into music for you to listen to on a device similar to an MP3 player. The customized music helps to re-train your brain to ignore the annoying sounds. Neuromonics often provides immediate, and more importantly, long-lasting relief. The revolutionary Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment has been shown in clinical trials to result in a significant improvement in tinnitus symptoms. Over 90% of people who suffer from tinnitus experienced a relief from tinnitus, an improved ability to fall asleep, a sense of control over their tinnitus, and reduced disturbance from their tinnitus. The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment Plan involves listening to an acoustic signal, embedded in music, which is customized for each person’s unique hearing profile. This pleasant and relaxing signal targets your brain’s neural pathways and re-programs them to filter out the tinnitus sound while reducing the disturbance and impact of tinnitus on your quality of life. Over a period of six months, the treatment is delivered by listening to a personalized medical device - the Neuromonics Processor - for a couple of hours a day. It is compact and lightweight which makes it easy to incorporate treatment into your lifestyle. There are very few Audiologists in Colorado who specialize in the treatment of tinnitus. Dr. Julie Eschenbrenner, Au.D. has undergone special training in the evaluation and treatment of tinnitus. A program of visits with Dr. Eschenbrenner helps to guide and support your progress throughout treatment to ensure you receive maximum benefits. For more information on Dr. Julie visit our website: www.flatironsaudiology.com or call 303.664.9111 Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 5

emotional

A Brief Behavioral Intervention Can Reduce Depression in Stroke Survivors Information from The National Institute of Health

nurse-led behavioral intervention can reduce the incidence of depression in stroke survivors, according to the results of a study published in the recent issue of the journal Stroke. The intervention, called Living Well with Stroke (LWWS), provided individualized counseling sessions aimed at increasing pleasant social interactions and physical activity as a way to elevate mood, and was designed to be used alone or in conjunction with antidepressant medications. This study was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain becomes blocked or interrupted, leading to brain damage in the affected area. Stroke survivors can experience a range of aftereffects, including impaired mobility or paralysis, pain, speech and language problems, and altered cognition. As many as one-third of stroke survivors also develop post-stroke depression (PSD), which may include intense feelings of loss, anger, sadness, and/or hopelessness. Compared to stroke survivors without depression, those with PSD tend to have a poorer response to rehabilitation, a longer delay in returning to work, more social withdrawal, and increased use of health care services. They are also at higher risk for subsequent strokes, cardiac events, and death. While antidepressant medications have shown varying degrees of short-term efficacy for PSD patients, few studies have examined non-pharmacologic interventions or long-term outcomes. In a clinical trial involving over 100 stroke survivors who exhibited symptoms of PSD, Dr. Mitchell’s research team compared LWWS against usual post-stroke care. The study participants ranged in age from 25 to 88 years, and 59 percent were male. In addition, over 70 percent had experienced at least one episode of depression prior to their stroke, and 60 percent were taking an antidepressant medication at entry into the study. All participants received standard post-stroke information and continued to see their primary care provider for ongoing medical care. Those assigned to the LWWS program received nine counseling sessions over two months with a specially trained stroke rehabilitation nurse. In these sessions, the nurse taught the participants problem-solving skills and helped them develop realistic treatment goals. In addition, several sessions were devoted to improving mood by helping the Page 6 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

participants identify and increase their participation in pleasant social events and physical activities, such as being with family, listening to music, reading, solving a puzzle, or learning something new. “In designing LWWS, we reasoned that changing the behaviors commonly associated with depression through an individualized counseling program would lead to a more effective and longer-lasting elevation of mood than is often seen with medications alone,” said Dr. Pamela Mitchell, the principal investigator of the study. “Individuals who have suffered a stroke often must make adaptations in their lives and learn to cope with new limitations, both physical and cognitive. Depression during the recovery period can interfere with their ability to fully engage in their treatment regimen or return to family and work,” noted Dr. Patricia A. Grady, the NINR Director. Depression scores in the LWWS group were significantly lower after treatment and at a one year follow-up compared to the control group. In addition, more participants in the LWWS group achieved remission — with scores no longer meeting the criteria for depression — compared to the control group both immediately after treatment (47 percent vs. 19 percent), and at a one-year follow-up (48 percent vs. 27 percent). At two years, depression scores continued to decrease and remission rates continued to increase for both groups, although the gap narrowed so that the differences were no longer statistically significant. For both the intervention and control groups, patients in remission at one year had significantly higher scores in perceived ability, recovery, and social participation than those who were not. “The success of LWWS shows the importance of including behavioral strategies in the care of stroke survivors. We believe our study is the first to report a clinically significant reduction in depression in these patients over a long term,” said Dr. Mitchell. “We also showed that achieving remission from depression by any means is an important treatment goal that could promote recovery and sociability.” “This study has the potential to add another tool for health care professionals to use in helping individuals cope following a stroke,” added Dr. Grady. “Also of note, the LWWS program included instruction to help family members and other informal caregivers identify resources and support services as a way to reduce their caregiving burden, an important aspect of comprehensive post-stroke care.” NINR supports basic and clinical research that develops the knowledge to build the scientific foundation for clinical practice, prevent disease and disability, manage and eliminate symptoms caused by illness, and enhance end-of-life and palliative care. For more information about NINR, visit the Web site at www.ninr.nih.gov. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation’s Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov

“The success of LWWS shows the

Stroke Warning Signs • N UMBNESS OR WEAKNESS OF THE FACE, ARM OR LEG, ESPECIALLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE BODY • CONFUSION, TROUBLE SPEAKING OR UNDERSTANDING • TROUBLE SEEING IN ONE OR BOTH EYES • T ROUBLE WALKING, DIZZINESS, LOSS OF BALANCE OR COORDINATION • S EVERE HEADACHE WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE

importance of including behavioral

strategies in the care of stroke survivors.”

Immediately call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs may reduce your risk of a major stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary. The short duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between TIA and stroke.

Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 7

nutritional

Heart Health These recipes are brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Face the Fats campaign. Recipe copyright © 2009 by the American Heart Association. Look for other delicious recipes in American Heart Association cookbooks, available from booksellers everywhere, and at deliciousdecisions.org.

Louisiana Chicken and Vegetables Serves 4; 3 ounces chicken and 1/2 cup vegetables per serving Take a colorful break from rice, potatoes, and pasta—use corn instead. It is a whole grain and provides texture, fiber, and great taste, too!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each), all visible fat discarded 2 teaspoons salt-free Cajun or Creole seasoning blend 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided use 1 tablespoon canola or corn oil, divided use 1 1/2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed and patted dry 1 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup carrot in matchstick-size pieces 1/2 cup chopped onion (yellow preferred) 1/4 cup water 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (coarsely ground preferred) Red hot-pepper sauce to taste (optional) Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with the seasoning blend, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over mediumhigh heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the center. Transfer to a serving platter and cover to keep warm. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the skillet, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the corn, bell pepper, carrot, and onion for 4 to 6 minutes, or until beginning to brown on the edges, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat. Stir in the water, black pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spoon around the chicken. Serve with the hot-pepper sauce.

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Cook’s Tip: If salt-free Cajun or Creole seasoning blend is hard to find, you can make your own in a jiffy. Just combine the following in a small bowl: 1 1/2 teaspoons each chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. For a hotter mixture, stir in up to 3/8 teaspoon cayenne. Use 2 teaspoons of the blend for this recipe and store the rest in an airtight jar to season a wide variety of food, such as baked fries (white or sweet potatoes), other vegetables, or seafood, including catfish and shrimp. You may want to turn on your exhaust fan when using this and other blackening seasonings over mediumhigh or high heat. NUTRITION ANALYSIS (per serving) Calories 243 Total Fat 5.5 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g Trans Fat 0.0 g Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5 g Monounsaturated Fat 2.5 g Cholesterol 66 mg Sodium 381 mg Carbohydrates 20 g Fiber 3g Sugars 5g Protein 29 g Dietary Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat

Grilled Chicken with Strawberry and Pineapple Salsa Serves 4; 3 ounces chicken and 1/2 cup salsa per serving Grilled pineapple and fresh mint and strawberries combine with tangy lemon and a bit of hot pepper flakes to make an interesting salsa for grilled chicken. 1 teaspoon canola or corn oil Salsa 2 slices fresh pineapple, each 1/2 inch thick, patted dry 1 cup whole strawberries (about 5 ounces), diced 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 3 to 4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 medium lemon Chicken 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each), all visible fat discarded

2 teaspoons salt-free steak seasoning blend 1/4 teaspoon salt Preheat the grill on medium high. Brush a grill pan or grill rack with the oil. Heat the grill pan or rack on the grill for about 2 minutes, or until hot. Grill the pineapple for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly, about 2 minutes, before chopping. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together the remaining salsa ingredients except the lemon. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest, reserving the lemon. Stir the zest and chopped pineapple into the strawberry mixture. Set aside. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the seasoning blend and salt. Grill for

5 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the center. Transfer to plates. Squeeze the reserved lemon over the chicken. Serve with the salsa on the side. NUTRITION ANALYSIS (per serving) Calories 191 Total Fat 3.0 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g Trans Fat 0.0 g Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g Monounsaturated Fat 1.0 g Cholesterol 66 mg Sodium 223 mg Carbohydrates 14 g Fiber 2g Sugars 10 g Protein 27 g Dietary Exchanges: 1 fruit, 3 very lean meat

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physical

“When Should I Fix My Bunion?” By Dr. Thomas E. Shonka, Foot and Ankle Care Boulder County

ne of the most commonly encountered structural deformities of the foot is referred to as a bunion deformity. The word “bunion” refers to an enlargement of the great toe joint which is accompanied by the big toe drifting towards and usually under the second toe. Reconstructive foot surgery is one of the focal points of my professional life. As you can imagine, I am somewhat opinionated as to the answer to the above question. My goal in this article is to briefly explain the basic process of evaluation of bunion deformity and the decisionmaking process which influences the choice between conservative and surgical care. The first job for anyone considering treatment for their bunion is to become a well informed consumer. When you go to see a specialist to evaluate your feet, don’t go in with the idea that you’re going to be scheduling surgical repair of the foot deformity. Rather, going with the mindset that you are there to learn, in as great detail as possible, about the cause of the deformity and the entire conservative and surgical treatment paradigm as well as the risk/benefit ratio of each. Seeking referrals from family and friends, physical therapists and especially from your primary care physician is a good way to start your search. The Internet can also be quite informative as we all know, and if you work Page 10 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

your way past all of the fluff and slick advertising, and find your way to reputable peer reviewed or evidence-based medical information, you will find yourself with a very sound basis for your educational process. I am personally an advocate for and very supportive of obtaining multiple opinions as well. I find myself blessed to practice in a part of the country where the population is extremely well-informed, health-conscious, active and generally quite fit. Over my many years in private practice, this has strongly influenced me when considering surgical versus conservative care in my recommendations. A very basic classification for bunion deformity might be “mild, moderate or severe”. Bunion deformities generally will progress “very, very slowly” over the years, and at some point the progression of the deformity increases to “slowly”. That is to say, you will not experience a rapid change in a short period of time however there is a relative increase in the rate of the progression of the deformity. I have had many patients who have said “you know, I’ve had this bunion my whole life but I really see the big toe starting to drift over more and now my second toe is sticking up in the air and I think it’s time to fix my bunion”. Typically when I evaluate cases such as this, I frequently find myself wishing that I had met this foot several years before when the deformity was not as severe.

My rather strong bias is founded in the awareness that repair of a bunion deformity can be compared to carpentry work. The less severe the deformity, the less complex the repair. I can honestly state that my skills as a carpenter are challenged on a regular basis; by this I mean that many people will tend to put off repair of a bunion deformity until it requires a more complex repair. The more complex the repair, the greater the margin of error may become. Generally, the more complex the carpentry work the greater the hassle factor for the carpenter as well as the patient in the postoperative care. The best example is that the more severe deformities most frequently will require extended periods of non-weight-bearing after surgery. I have a definition of what I consider a “perfect bunion”. If I see a moderate deformity which is attached to someone who is healthy, young and fit, that’s my ideal scenario in the operating room. The repair work is less complex and more reproducible. There is a smaller margin of error. Healthy and fit patients are motivated, they tend to heal quicker and when I am able to work with good bone density things are more secure and predictable. I have seen many elderly patients over the years with advanced foot deformities that significantly impact their health and quality of life because of the impact on their activity level as they age. This is the individual who would have been best served by addressing the problem earlier in life. Typically bunion deformities are repaired in an outpatient setting, under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation provided by an anesthesiologist who monitors the patient continuously. Our patients will return home immediately after the surgery and I like to tell them that they should be “captain of the sofa team” for the first week or so. Suture removal will occur at approximately 10 days and when the incision

is well healed, around two weeks after surgery, I encourage my patients to get into the pool to start swimming and begin a supervised physical therapy rehabilitation course. Crutches may be used for several days when a less severe deformity is repaired or from 4 to 6 or even eight weeks in some cases of more severe deformity. Regardless of the type of repair performed, I like to tell my patients to think of the recovery as a “six-month healing journey,” mostly completed in the first eight weeks. About the eighth postoperative week, you will generally see about 80% of the healing has occurred. The foot is still thicker than the non-operated foot and with every step you take there is a part of your brain that tells you, “be careful- you had surgery eight weeks ago,” however you’re starting to look at the light at the end of the tunnel and most of your activities have come back into your life. The slope of the healing curve is rather steep and people see rapid improvement in the first eight weeks, and then after that things slow down and the final approximate 20 % of healing occurs in the next four months. An athlete active in running sports most frequently will return to full speed about halfway through this six-month journey. A detailed history and physical examination along with x-ray evaluation is essential in evaluating bunion deformity. Being aware of the degree of the deformity, the potential for progression and the repair options will give you the necessary information to make an informed decision. Dr. Thomas E. Shonka is: Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Diplomat, American Board of Podiatric Surgery Fellow and Past Pres., American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He can be reached at Foot and Ankle Care of Boulder at 303-449-2000, or visit the clinic’s website at www.facboulder.net.

Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 11

environmental health

Earth-Friendly Household Tips Made Easy A

ccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 90 percent of Americans want to protect the environment. Despite the desire to care for the earth, only 33 percent of trash in the U.S. actually gets recycled, and 54 percent gets buried in landfills. With sustainable living becoming more top-of-mind, Ziploc wants to empower families to get involved in recycling efforts. In an effort to offset the amount of product waste that could potentially end up in landfills and motivate families to do their part to protect the environment for future generations, Ziploc has partnered with Recyclebank, the leading sustainable action platform designed to motivate and enable individuals to make a collective impact on the environment. From recycling and reusing everyday kitchenware to being mindful of water and energy usage, families can incorporate these simple, earth-friendly tips into their kitchen routines: Increase Recycling Efforts Recycle items that you no longer need and participate in community recycling initiatives. Community support for recycling of common and uncommon goods can vary from place to place. In fact, clean and dry Ziploc Brand Sandwich, Freezer and Storage Bags are now accepted at existing in-store recycling bins that accept plastic shopping bags for recycling at approximately 18,000 participating retailers nationwide. Use “Smart” Kitchen Supplies When buying supplies for your kitchen — whether an appliance, cooking pan or piece of cutlery — choose durable and high quality kitchenware to withstand the test of time. Also, save energy (and potentially reduce your gas bill) by using smaller appliances when cooking small amounts of food. For example, heating water in an electric kettle rather than a teapot on the stove or cooking small or medium sized portions of food in the microwave instead of the regular oven use less energy.

Store Meals in Reusable and Multi-Purpose Containers When preparing and storing meals for the family, try using Ziploc Brand Containers, which are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. They not only help families stay organized and get more out of meals (and reduce waste) by keeping food fresh, but they are also microwaveable, freezer-safe and are perfect for storing leftovers or carrying lunch to work.

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Conserve the Household Water Supply For a cold beverage, keep a cool pitcher of water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run until water gets cold. Refill one water glass or reusable bottle throughout the day so there will be fewer items to wash. After eating, don’t rinse dishes with water — just scrape off the excess food and load directly into the dishwasher. Tests by Consumer Reports showed that pre-rinsing usually isn’t necessary and by skipping it you can save 20 gallons of water per load.

Through its partnership with Recyclebank, Ziploc is offering another option to get involved and help the environment by incentivizing families to inspire change. Together, they are committed to motivate and reward consumers who take sustainable actions. To earn rewards, visit www.recyclebank.com/ziploc and pledge to recycle Ziploc Brand Bags and packaging. Soon, specially marked packages of the bags will be available for purchase. Simply enter the code from inside the marked packages at www.Recyclebank.com and start earning points which can be redeemed for prizes. Learn more about Ziploc and Recyclebank recycling efforts to divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills at www.ziploc.com/sustainability. Additionally, share recycling and earth-friendly tips by joining the Facebook community at www.Facebook.com/Ziploc. Families everywhere have a new option in recycling. Clean and dry Ziploc Brand Sandwich, Freezer and Storage Bags can now be recycled at existing in-store bins at approximately 18,000 participating retail locations that accept plastic shopping bags for recycling. It’s an easy way to protect the environment for future generations. Here is a list from www.PlasticBagRecycling.org of some of the items you can recycle at in-store recycling bins: • Clean and dry Ziploc Brand Bags • Plastic grocery or retail bags • Newspaper bags • Dry-cleaning bags • Bread and produce bags • Toilet paper, napkin and paper-towel wraps • Plastic shipping envelopes • Clean plastic bags labeled #2 or #4 Contact your local retailer with a collection bin or your local recycling company for a full list of items that can be recycled in your community, as they will differ by locale.

salt therapy

Gives Breath of Life to Girl With Cystic Fibrosis

ight after night, Jayme Warner would anxiously lie in bed hearing coughing, gagging and gasping from the bedroom down the hall. It was her younger sister, Katie, struggling with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening lung disorder. “It was terrifying to listen to,” says Jayme. “No one in our family could sleep. It’s really scary when someone you love can’t breathe, when they just can’t get enough oxygen in.” Fortunately, Katie has found relief through an inexpensive source some may find surprising - salt. By inhaling concentrated, vaporized salt twice a day through a nebulizer, Katie successfully fights the debilitating symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Her recovery was so dramatic it inspired Jayme, 16, to write an essay about the family’s experience with salt therapy. Her essay, “Salt: Saving Lives One Breath at a Time,” won first place in the senior division of the prestigious DuPont Challenge science competition, which attracted nearly 10,000 participants. The essay, and Katie’s story, is another example of how salt is an essential nutrient, vital for good health, says Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, the world’s leading authority on salt (sodium chloride). “We hope Jayme’s winning essay shines a brighter scientific spotlight not only on salt’s role in treating cystic fibrosis, but on the many other ways salt is one of nature’s great healing agents,” said Roman. Katie, now 7, continues to use a nebulizer twice a day to inhale vaporized salt, called hypertonic saline, which is almost twice as salty as the water in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also sterile, so there are no germs in it. “Through a process of osmosis,” Jayme wrote in her essay, “the salt water, or the salt in the air at a 7 percent concentration, basically goes into the cells and draws out the mucus from the cells. It’s loose

in the lungs and easier to cough up.” This allows Katie to sleep and go to school, with little coughing or difficulty breathing. The dark circles under Katie’s exhausted eyes are gone and a well-defined “six-pack” of stomach muscles she built up from coughing is almost gone, too. “She’s still pretty strong, but it’s not from coughing, just from playing like a kid,” says Jayme, a sophomore at Intech Collegiate High School in North Logan, Utah, who won a $5,000 savings bond and a trip to Disney World for her winning essay. Jayme and Katie have become salt evangelists of sorts. They tell others about Katie’s dramatic improvement with salt therapy and how their grandfather’s allergies also improved after moving to a house near the salty air of the ocean. Not only is salt good for you, it tastes good, they say. “I am a die-hard salt fan,” says Jayme. “So is Katie. In a choice between sweet and salty, it’s salty all the way. We particularly like sea salts. We put it on vegetables because no matter what you do to some vegetables they cannot taste good unless you add a little bit of salt.” Jayme knows her sister’s body was telling her she needed more salt. Now that she has it, the house is quiet at night, with everyone sleeping peacefully. “To know she is safe and won’t struggle breathing is a huge relief, almost as if the world is taken off your shoulders,” says Jayme. “She can run around and play at recess because salt gets that mucus out of her lungs. She can be a kid.” For more information, please visit www.aboutcysticfibrosis.com.

Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 13

feature story

Taking the Scare Out of Dental Care By Christine Venzon

“

entistry isn’t what it was 20 years ago, it’s actually much nicer now.” So says Dr. Daniel Alleman, DDS. “Materials have changed, techniques have changed, and the time in the chair is not as uncomfortable as it was in the past. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Dr. Alleman and his wife Dr. Breckglyn Alleman, DDS, are the team behind Alleman Family Dental, a general and cosmetic dental practice in Boulder. If those comforting words don’t comfort you, you’re not alone. In a recent survey by the British Dental Health Foundation, visitPage 14 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

ing a dentist ranked second among ten common fears, trailing only heights, and ahead of spiders, snakes, flying, and going to the hospital. In a Marist College poll, 55 percent of respondents said they would rather shop for a swimsuit than see a dentist. It’s part of the Allemans’ goal to reverse that thinking. Their stateof-the-art facility, opened in 2008, is equipped with the latest technology. “It’s phenomenal, it’s great. It’s fun to see the advances in dentistry at this time.” And those advances make a big difference in making the patient’s experience a positive one.

Seeing Is Believing Digital x-rays are one example. Computerized images of patient’s teeth save time as images are transmitted directly to the computer screen. Most importantly, they’re better for diagnosis. “We are using the computer to zoom in and out of a picture,” says Dr. Alleman. “It can blow something up. It can compare it to different years, so you can see tooth decay progress. If someone has a small cavity that may have been starting a year ago, we can show them the difference in size from this year.” Alleman Family Dental is also among a growing number of practices that does early detection screenings for oral cancer, a disease that kills an average of one person every hour of every day in the United States, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Suspect tissue is identified using a Velscope, a handheld device that shines a blue light in the patient’s mouth. “It detects early cellular change,” Dr. Alleman explains. “If something is growing in the deep layers of the tissue that we can’t see under regular white light, with just our eyes, it shows up as a dense, dark spot. It doesn’t diagnose cancer, so we can’t say, “oh, yeah, that’s absolutely cancer,” but it helps to determine if something needs to be looked at in further depth.” Early detection is critical, because oral cancer has an 80 to 90 percent survival rate when caught early. Unfortunately the majority of cases are found late, dropping the survival rate to 55 percent. “That’s why we do it for every single person that walks in the door,” Dr. Alleman says, “whether they smoke or they’ve never smoked in their life, because a lot of people think, if I don’t smoke then I’m safe. However, that’s not always the case.” Also, he notes, “there now is shown to be a correlation (of oral cancer) with HPV, human papilloma virus, and the incidence of HPV is higher than it was 25 to 30 years ago, and generally targets a younger population. It’s our job as health care professionals to be there on the first line of defense, to do what we can to reverse that rate of morbidity that hasn’t changed in the last half century.” Technology can give patients better understanding of what’s going on, which also calms their fears. For example, says Dr. Alleman, “We’ve just invested in an intra-oral camera that we use to take pictures of patients’ teeth so they’re able to see what we’re seeing. We have a program that displays animations called ‘Tooth IQ.’ It shows what the procedures look like so that people can get a visual of what we’re doing.”

Technology isn’t the only trick in the Alleman Family Dental bag: having both a female and male dentist helps “because there are some (patients) that prefer a woman dentist or a male dentist. It’s the same thing with the specialists that we use for patient referrals. We try to have a good mix of both men and women.” Dr. Alleman describes their practice as “a joint effort.” For some reason, however, “my wife tends to work more with kids, and if someone needs a root canal or a tooth taken out, it’s usually me.” Still not convinced? “We’re getting some LCD monitors over our chairs so patients can watch movies and just relax.” The mix of professional expertise and personal touch seems to resonate with their patients. “Check us out on Google,” Dr. Alleman urges. “We have over a hundred good reviews from patients. We really appreciate the positive compliments considering dentists are generally feared.” Brushing Up on Self Care All of these advances in technology and science don’t let you off the hook concerning personal responsibility for your health. Quite the opposite: the latest findings underscore the importance of the old-fashioned advice to brush twice a day and floss daily. “We’re noticing that a lot of people are really doing their best to take care of themselves,” says Dr. Alleman. “Boulder is a very healthy city. I would say, however, that a lot of people don’t floss. When people start to incorporate that into their routine, we usually see a lot of improvement with gum tissue health.” Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 15

feature story

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Healthy gums do more than help you keep your teeth. As Dr. Alleman points out, “Your mouth is the opening to your body. With unhealthy gum tissue, there are a lot of bacteria in the mouth that’s bad bacteria, when you’re swallowing and taking it in systemically it can lead to other problems. There are studies that have correlated periodontal (gum) disease with heart disease.” How so? It’s thought that the same bacteria that cause gum disease also contribute to fatty build-up on artery walls. They could also lead to inflammation of the blood vessels. Both conditions can increase your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. “We don’t want that to be taken lightly. We stress the importance of cleaning those areas very well and make sure people understand why it’s important to floss on a daily basis, brush twice a day, and not ignore something for a long period of time.” Calling Boulder Home The Allemans have been Boulderites only a few years. They met as dental students at State University of New York at Buffalo, but “I’ve always wanted to live in Colorado,” Dr. Alleman says. The Ohio native came to love the state from backpacking through the mountains with his church group as a teenager. He and Breckglyn completed their residencies in Alamosa in the southern part of the state in 2007 “and we decided that we wanted to stay. We found a place in Boulder, and here we are.” In that short time, the couple has made a hefty personal investment in the community’s quality of life beyond dental care. “As Page 16 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

a practice, we sponsor a couple of different teams in the youth baseball leagues, the Boulder Youth Sports League, mainly the fall sports. I’m now the vice-president of our county dental society. We’re just trying to give as much back to the community as possible. We really like Boulder. It’s a great place. Colorado is an awesome place to live.” Their latest contribution to the community: a nine-month-old daughter. “We’re trying to balance her with work and everything else,” says Dr. Alleman. “We try to leave work at work, but sometimes we find ourselves working on paperwork at home, on the weekends, things like that. We always try to carve out time to spend with family, because as I’m watching my daughter grow, I think wow, she’s growing really fast! So I’ve got to make sure that I spend as much time with her as possible.” And, he stresses, “My wife does the same. She’s definitely done a great job with balancing work and home.”

For more information about Alleman Family Dental, call 303-499-7133 or visit us at www.allemanfamilydental.org. We are located at 2760 29th Street, Boulder, CO. Make your appointment today.

veterinary technology

New Hope for Pets with Cancer

o you currently own a pet? Do you consider your pet to be a member of your family? If you answered yes, then you are not alone. Recent surveys have shown that over 80% of pet owners view their pets as members of the family, and more and more people are seeking the highest quality of care to treat their pets for serious illnesses. However, in spite of tremendous advancements in human medicine over the last 20 years, surprisingly few human treatments are ever optimized for use in companion animals. For example, while over 900 drugs are in development to treat human cancers, there have been only 3 approved cancer drugs for dogs and cats. It is particularly frustrating for those who have lost a beloved pet to a serious illness - knowing that their pet might have lived longer or suffered less - had some of those human advancements been adapted for veterinary use. Several new companies (one of which is based in Fort Collins) have found a way to capitalize on this problem – by adapting promising, but exploratory new human therapies for use in dogs and cats in the rapidly growing veterinary marketplace. Many new human therapies have great potential to benefit animals, which often experience similar diseases and respond to similar treatments. For example, companion animals can develop cancer just like people - they get brain, breast, bone & lung cancer, lymphoma and melanoma, and scientists have discovered that the malignant cells are often biologically comparable. Cancer is a leading cause of death in pets in the US over the age of two, and it is estimated that almost half of all pets over the age of 10 will develop cancer. Lymphoma is one of the most common and deadly cancers in dogs and cats today. While human chemotherapy drugs are often utilized initially, nearly all animals ultimately relapse, leaving veterinarians with few viable medical options. Current efforts are underway to develop veterinary-specific cancer treatments for lymphoma, which could provide new alternatives for pets suffering from this deadly disease. One drug currently being explored works by specifically targeting, and ultimately killing, cancerous cells found in lymphoma. Further work is being planned in conjunction with pet owners and veterinarians at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine ranks among the top in the nation, and its Animal Cancer Center is considered the largest companion animal cancer research center in the world. The ultimate goal is to revolutionize the treatment of cancer for dogs and cats. For more information on the latest efforts to treat cancer in companion animals, please go to www.vet-dc.com or www.csuanimalcancercenter.org

Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 17

children’s health

Clues to Childhood Eye Diseases Could Be Hiding in Plain Sight

hen Megan Webber downloaded family photos off her digital camera, she found the usual problems that need touching up — some were too dark, some were a little grainy, and some needed a little red-eye removal. Some of the pictures of her 5-year-old son, Benjamin, had a golden glow in his left eye. “Benjamin has always had a freckle in his left eye,” said Megan, “so I thought the flash was just a difference due to the coloring of his eye and ignored it — I even did red-eye correction to remove it from photos.” But when her sister noticed that same glow in some family vacation pictures she had taken, she gave Megan a concerned call. “She said it was probably nothing. But she had seen on a television show that this could be a sign of a tumor in the eye and recommended I have him seen,” said Megan. Benjamin’s pediatrician didn’t find anything, but he sent them to a specialist who urged them to come in right away. They were stunned to learn he was legally blind in his left eye. “He’d never bumped into walls or rubbed his eyes — he’d even just passed the paddle eye test in the doctor’s office,” said Megan. “His left eye could not see a letter E the size of a full computer screen eight feet away.” Scans of his eye showed a white mass, which had been causing the reflection in the photograph. After testing and a tense few days, they discovered that Benjamin had Coats’ Disease, a life-long disease that can damage the eye to the point where eye removal is necessary. Fortunately, Benjamin’s problem was caught early enough for treatment. “While Benjamin has had three eye surgeries, we were very lucky to have caught his disease in time,” said Megan. “Had it been more advanced Ben could have immediately lost his eye. We are so grateful to Dr. Tom Lee and the doctors at The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Without the work that they do so many families would not have access to the quality and caliber of care that is provided there.” Benjamin is doing well, and is a happy, thriving first-grader. “He wears protective Nike shatterproof glasses which the other Page 18 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

Benjamin with his father Brian Webber in The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Photo courtesy of Getty Images and Know the Glow

Disorders Related to the Glow

Benjamin wears a patch one hour a day to help strengthen his eye.

Abnormalities perceived through the red reflex test can indicate several types of diseases, such as: • Amblyopia • Cataract • Choroidal • Coats’ Disease • Congenital Cataract • Coloboma • Norrie’s Disease • PHPV • Refractive Error • Retinal Detachment • Retinal Dysplasia • Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) • Retinoblastoma • Strabismus • Toxocariasis • Trauma kids think are pretty cool,” said Megan. “The glasses are primarily to keep his unaffected eye safe, for without that eye he would be blind.” A vision to help other children Megan said that she doesn’t want any more parents to miss the signs of potentially life-threatening eye diseases. “We are amazed that something so simple, just the glow in a photo, was all that was needed to spot this disease,” she said. “If there is a way through our family’s experience we are able to get the message out about the glow, we are anxious to do so. We’ve created a campaign to raise awareness.” The Know the Glow campaign is combining the efforts of concerned individuals, corporations and physicians who are pioneers in the field of pediatric diseases of the eye. “I can’t tell you how many kids come in with advanced eye diseases; it’s a tragedy,” said Dr. Tom Lee, director of the Retina Institute in The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Parents don’t realize they are an important part of the diagnosis. They will see this sign before doctors will. Every child has had this screening process — all it takes is for parents to open up the photo album.” The website, www.KnowTheGlow.org, has information on the diseases that can be indicated by the glow. “Had I known about the glow earlier, Dr. Lee could have saved more of Ben’s vision,” said Megan. “Knowing what it felt like to possibly face a fatal outcome and knowing that I ignored such a huge red flag that was right there in front of me, I don’t want another parent to have to suffer through that or another child to needlessly lose their sight or their eyes due to a lack of awareness of the glow!”

Retinoblastoma Retinoblastoma (reh-tin-oh-blast-oma) is a malignant cancer of early childhood that arises from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes. Retinoblastoma can start growing at any time before birth up until about 3 years of age. Occasionally, it is not detected until ages 7 or 8.

Coats’ Disease Coats’ disease is a rare eye disorder involving abnormal development of the blood vessels of the retina, which line the interior chamber of the eye. As various components of blood leak into the retina, fluid accumulates under the retina. The result may be loss of vision, particularly central vision, and detachment of the retina from other layers of the eye.

If you believe you have seen a glow, you should obtain a referral immediately to a pediatric ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment. Text GLOW to 90999 to donate $10. Scan this code with your smartphone to watch a video with more of Benjamin’s story, or visit http://bit.ly/EyeGlow.

Know the Facts • 1 in 80 children are at risk of getting The Glow. • 80 percent of childhood blindness is preventable. • 80 percent of Retinoblastoma and Coats’ Disease cases are diagnosed initially by a parent through a photograph. • The Glow is an indicator of 15 eye diseases and cancers. • In some cases, The Glow can lead to the removal of the eye, blindness, and, in extreme cases, death. Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 19

healthy benefits

More Olive Oil in Diet Could Cut Stroke Risk Seniors who preferred the oil had 41% drop in the attacks vs. those who rarely ate it

dding olive oil to your diet may reduce your risk of stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers found that older people who used olive oil intensively -- meaning they regularly cooked with it and used it in salad dressing -- were 41 percent less likely to have a stroke than those who rarely consumed it. The lead author of the six-year study, Cecilia Samieri of the University of Bordeaux in France, said why olive oil might help reduce the risk of strokes was unclear. But it might result from people replacing less healthful saturated fats with mono-unsaturated olive oil, she added. “We can’t infer from our study which aspects of olive oil prevent stroke,” Samieri said. But “it may be a substitution effect.” Thus, eating fewer saturated fats improves the health of olive oil users. Prior research had documented olive oil’s anti-inflammatory benefit, she added. Properties of the oil itself, including oleic acid or polyphenols, could also hold the secret to the oil’s protective effect, said Samieri, a post-doctoral faculty member in the university’s department of nutritional epidemiology. Polyphenols are antioxidant nutrients that reduce inflammation in the vascular system, according to the study. Oleic acid, a fatty acid, makes up 80 percent of olive oil. The study is published in the June 15 online edition of Neurology. Stroke, an outcome of poor vascular health, is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Strokes result from vascular bleeding or, more frequently, a blockage of blood flow to the brain. Diets high in foods containing saturated fat, such as meat and butter, have been linked to stroke. In the study, researchers looked at how much olive oil 7,625 French people aged 65 years and over routinely used, ranging from none (23 percent) to moderate use in cooking or dressing (40 percent), to intensive use in cooking and dressing (37 percent). The participants primarily used extra-virgin olive oil, and the study controlled for stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, exercise, smoking and alcohol use. After nearly six years, 148 strokes occurred. But those who used olive oil the most had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who used none. The overall stroke rate was 1.5 percent for the olive oil users compared to 2.6 percent for the others, according to the report. A second study sample had some contradictory findings, the research noted. Oleic acid was measured in the blood of 1,245 participants. Among that group, 27 strokes occurred, with a 73 percent reduced risk of stroke found in people with higher levels of oleic acid, the study found. But the higher level was also linked to higher consumption of butter and goose or duck fat, which “may explain the unfavorable pattern of risk factors associated with higher plasma oleic acid,” according to the findings. A nutrition expert cautioned that people should not overuse olive oil in an effort to improve health because it is a high-calorie fat. “The takeaway from the study is that a diet high in olive oil does have a protective benefit, but we need to look further to find out how much is beneficial while still maintaining a low-fat diet,” said Heather Davis, a clinical dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She said that the American diet is rarely lacking in fat, which is needed for healthy skin and hair, and for processing certain vitamins. “We need to look further to establish an upper limit,” said Davis. While the researchers were unsuccessful in establishing a numerical value for optimal oleic acid, “it’s good that the idea is out there,” she said. She said it is important to continue the research. “We know olive oil is beneficial, but it would be advantageous to be able to determine a protective range in a patient’s blood,” Davis noted. Funding for the research came from the French government and Lipids for Industry, Safety and Health, an alliance of academia and industry. To learn more about stroke, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Page 20 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

family health

Warm Weather Safety for Older Adults D

uring the warm summer months the desire to be outside consumes much of the general public. This yearning for the sun results in numerous positive physical benefits as long as certain safety precautions are followed. Although the sun provides the body with essential nutrients like Vitamin D, it can be very dangerous if the body is overexposed. This is true especially in older adults. When the temperature hits the low 90’s, the heat can be a serious health risk for everyone, especially those people over the age of 65. As we get older our bodies become much more susceptible to dehydration and heatrelated illnesses. This is due, in large part, to a number of characteristics brought about by aging. One such characteristic is that thirst sensations diminish over the years, inhibiting the ability of people to recognize when they are nearing dehydration and allowing for a serious loss of water from the body. Also, the aging body loses the ability to cool itself at a rapid pace like it could when it was younger. This fact is especially dangerous because sometimes older adults do not feel drastic rises or drops in heat levels, which means they could feel fine even when the weather is too hot. This could result in dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke because of the body’s inability to effectively cool itself at an efficient rate. Another characteristic includes the thinning of the skin in older adults. As the skin gets thinner, it provides less protection against the harshness of the sun’s rays. Health issues resulting from the sun can be avoided if a number of simple, but important safety measures are taken: • Stay indoors as much as possible during the late morning and afternoon hours. • If you exercise outdoors make sure to do so during the cooler hours of the day—early morning and evening. Also, make sure to consult your physician before starting an exercise routine. • It is extremely important to stay hydrated so drink a lot of water and other fluids throughout the day even if you are not thirsty. • Stay away from alcoholic beverages or those that contain caffeine, as they can increase the risk of dehydration. Sports drinks are good

because they can help restore important salts and nutrients into your body and fight dehydration. • Try to stay in the air conditioning if at all possible. If you do not have air conditioning, consider going to places that do like the mall, library, grocery store or movie theater. • If you go outside, wear a hat that can help shield your face from the sun. Also, wear sunglasses and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. • Do not wear heavy or dark clothing. • Do not do any heavy lifting or other laborious tasks during the hotter parts of the day. • If you cannot stay in the air conditioning during the hot hours of the day, try taking cool baths and showers to keep your body temperature at a normal level. • Do not eat large meals. Try eating smaller meals in shorter time intervals. • Make sure to consult your physician to see how much time you should spend in the sun each day. Provided by HCR ManorCare, a leading provider of short-and long-term health care. Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 21

healthy aging

Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention While Living A Mile High Submitted by Lenya Shore, Wallaroo Hat Company

kin cancer, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than one million cases diagnosed annually. It is a potentially deadly cancer, and according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Coloradans have a 30% higher rate of melanoma than the rest of the country and that rate is rising. This is because we live in a sunny climate and at a higher elevation level. It is important for Coloradans to be aware that UV (ultra violet) radiation increases 10-12% every 3,000 feet in elevation gain. Skin cancer in not only increasing in the population as a whole, but melanoma has now become the most prevalent form of cancer in women ages 25 to 30 nationwide. Skin cancer falls into two main categories which include melanoma and non-melanoma. Non-melanomas are most common (such as basal cell carcinoma) and are not fatal, but need to be treated. Melanomas appear to be increasing and can be fatal. Fortunately, skin cancer is preventable and treatable when detected early. The majority of skin cancers are from the exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds. You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by avoiding or limiting your exposure to UV radiation. Prevention: • Protect your skin from the sun by wearing protective clothing such as broad-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts or pants. Look for those products that provide a UPF rating (ultra-violet protection factor for fabric which is different than SPF for sunscreen). UPF 50+ protection blocks 97.5% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Page 22 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen (blocking UVA and UVB rays) that is a SPF 30 or higher and reapply after two hours. Apply sunscreen onehalf hour before sun exposure. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen in the winter and on cloudy days. Clouds only block 20 to 40% of UV rays. It is also important to remember that snow is a sun reflective surface. • Avoid exposure to the sun between 10am and 4 pm. Stay in the shade or indoors. • Check your skin on a regular basis for any changes. This can help detect skin cancer at its earliest stages. Warning signs are spots on the skin that change in size, color or shape. Early detection gives you the best chance for successful skin cancer treatment. • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. UV radiation can lead to cataracts, degeneration of the retina and even melanoma of the eye. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. For more information about skin cancer prevention, visit: American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org American Cancer Sociey, www.cancer.org Melanoma Research Foundation, www.melanoma.org Shade Foundation, www.shadefoundation.org Sun Safe Colorado, www.sunsafecolorado.org The Skin Cancer Foundation, www.skincancer.org For more information about Wallaroo Hat Company and the Wallaroo Sun Protection Commitment, a donation program to benefit skin cancer research, education and prevention in the United States, visit www.wallaroohats.com.

women’s health

Strange Migrations and Killer Cramps From www.NIH.gov

ndometriosis is linked to pain and infertility for many women. It arises when cells like those that line the uterus (the endometrium) attach to other tissues and grow inside the lower belly. These out-of-place cells may be just the start of a problem that, for some, lasts a lifetime. Endometriosis affects up to 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. The pain it causes can range from extreme to barely noticeable. A woman may not know she has the disease until she has trouble getting pregnant and her doctor makes the diagnosis. About 40% of women with infertility turn out to have endometriosis. “Endometriosis is an incredibly complex disease. Its causes have been kind of a mystery, and we’re not sure how to prevent it,” says NIH scientist and gynecologist Dr. Pamela Stratton. She and other NIHfunded researchers have been gradually adding to our understanding of the condition. They’re working to find better ways to diagnose and treat endometriosis, and maybe even prevent it. Many scientists think that endometriosis results when some of the endometrial tissue shed from the uterus during menstruation flows backward into the pelvis. This strange migration—called retrograde menstrual flow—likely happens to most women, but it doesn’t always lead to endometriosis. Researchers are trying to figure out why some women have endometrial cells that stick and grow where they don’t belong, and why other women don’t. These misplaced cells—sometimes called lesions or implants—can also form scars between tissues and organs like the bladder, intestine or ovaries. Surprisingly, scientists have found that the number and size of lesions aren’t related to how severe the symptoms are. To diagnose endometriosis, doctors often use imaging tests like ultrasound and MRI to look for signs of internal lesions. But the only way to be certain you have endometriosis is with surgery, usually laparoscopy. For this procedure, the surgeon makes a small cut in the abdomen and inserts a tiny light at the end of a tube, or laparoscope.

The instrument allows the doctor to view patches of endometriosis inside the pelvic area. Some lesions can be removed during laparoscopy. Removing lesions— especially deep lesions—sometimes helps to relieve pain. Most often, though, endometriosis pain is treated with hormone therapy, usually birth control pills. These medications can suppress the body’s natural production of reproductive hormones and lighten the menstrual flow, which can help ease pain. “There’s a lot of active research into the basic biological mechanisms of endometriosis. There’s so much we don’t yet know,” says NIH’s Dr. Esther Eisenberg, an expert in reproductive health. “Once we understand the mechanisms, we’ll have better tools to help women deal with this serious problem.” Since endometriosis tends to run in families, researchers have been searching for culprit genes. Some are also looking for molecules in the blood that might help detect endometriosis without the need for laparoscopy. Others are testing potential new treatments in clinical trials. While there’s currently no cure for endometriosis, there are ways to minimize its symptoms. Work with your doctor to explore your treatment options. Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 23

healthy living

Carl’s Call To Bike By Carl Edwards

espite all the positive attributes associated with biking—getting active and fit, reducing stress, burning lots of calories, and decreasing traffic congestion—many cities and towns nationwide have still not embraced two-wheeled vehicles. Even though the number of adults who ride to work is increasing nationwide—according to U.S. Census figures, in 2008 there was a 43 percent increase in bike commuting from 2000—the numbers are still low (less than one percent of Americans) and many areas still do not have protected bike lanes, connected trails and bike boulevards, adequate bike parking, or bike-friendly laws. If we want to leverage the benefits of cycling—and thereby help children and adults get the physical activity their bodies need—state and local officials must be committed to making our cities and towns more bike friendly. This can be done by providing safe and convenient routes for people to ride. Cities as large as New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as smaller communities like Boulder, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Portland, Oregon, are all realizing these benefits. That’s why they are committing funding and resources to build new bike lanes, install more bike racks, create trails, provide education programs, and support other incentives that encourage even more people to consider taking up riding. The health benefits of cycling Today, adults spend hours at work sitting in front of computers, and children spend upwards of seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen watching TV, playing video games, using their mobile phones, or surfing the web. Few families spend important time outside being active. Consequently, many Americans are experiencing serious health issues, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. But biking can help. Not only does it burn several hundred calories per hour but it is also an ideal physical activity for Americans of all ages, regardless of fitness level, because it limits stress on the lower body. It’s why biking is also a safe activity for older generations. Physical activity for those 65 years of age and older helps prevent or minimize health problems that come with aging. In a recent international study, evidence suggested that seniors who are active daily have a reduced risk of developing about 24 health issues such as osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, depression, various forms of cancer, and dementia. In addition, cycling allows children and adults with mobility limitations and intellectual or learning disabilities to take part in physical activity. They are at greatest risk for obesity, but thankfully adaptive and special equipment is being designed to make it possible for them to enjoy biking outdoors, whether it be through the help of Project Mobility: Cycles for Life, which delivers specialized bikes to schools with children with disabilities and rehabilitative hospitals, or ReActive Adaptations, which is building durable off-road handcycles that allow riders to bike deep into mountain and off-road trails. If getting active and fit isn’t enough motivation for people to start riding, I’d like to mention that biking also helps to reduce stress. What’s more, biking may also help you to get around faster. For those who spend time stuck in rush hour traffic, they could instead be getting their daily physical activity while riding through city gridlock. This may be of Page 24 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

particular interest to residents in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, which were ranked by Forbes magazine as two of the top 10 most stressful and congested cities. Making cities and towns more bike-friendly So what would make Americans more likely to ride a bike to work, to and from school, or to run an errand? Well, if cities and towns provide more bike-friendly laws and establish designated safe routes for bikers, people in their communities may more likely to get out and ride. Remember, every sector of society—families, communities, and businesses—play a role in helping Americans get physically active. Businesses that want to help their employees improve their health and wellness can learn from companies like Seattle Children’s Hospital, which has a bicycle program for its employees. Seattle Children’s Hospital provides a guaranteed-ride-home program, a bike-share program, locker rooms, bike-safety education, maintenance classes, and secure bike parking. They gave away 100 bikes and helmets to employees who pledged to ride to work at least four days a week year round. In addition, the hospital pledged $2 million dollars in walking and biking infrastructure improvements to Northeast Seattle, which will provide safe places for local residents to get active. Because of model programs like Seattle Children’s Hospital, more and more businesses are becoming bike-friendly and following the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Business program. I encourage all Americans to research their options for making one or two of their work trips by bike. Find out which streets are bikefriendly so that you can plot your course to work. If bike commuting is not an option for you, instead bike to a friend’s house, to the gym, or get your family on a bike after dinner and get riding together. Carl Edwards is a championship NASCAR driver and a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (www.fitness.gov). He is also an avid cyclist.

future planning

Great Financial Health Includes Wise Life Insurance Decisions By Matt DeYoung, Owner, Boulder Insurance Group

hat is the first thing you think about when I say “Life Insurance?” Nearly everyone answers that it is something I pay for that someone else benefits from when I die. This series of articles will explain why some families continue to get wealthier, as they protect their wealth across generations. It will show how the savviest families use life insurance as a separate asset class. It will show how life insurance is pretty much the last tax advantaged asset class. Let us begin by defining the kinds of life insurance. One is simply term insurance. Term insurance is temporary insurance that only lasts for a certain number of years. As you get close to the end of your life expectancy, it is no longer available. The second is Permanent Insurance. Permanent Insurance will last for your entire life, and builds cash value that you can use during your lifetime. The closer you are to the end of your life expectancy, the more it is worth. Permanent life insurance is almost always passed on to the named beneficiary without taxation. It can be used during your lifetime to utilize principle and interest tax free! This is done through the use of surrenders and loans. The loans are paid back from the death benefit settlement after you die. Permanent life insurance is a place where you can warehouse dollars that will grow at interest which can then be used for any purpose you want. The money can be used to fund college education, buy a car or a house, or it can be used to ensure that you only use the smallest amount of taxable income during your retirement years, giving you a way to stay in the lowest tax bracket. Plans that are properly structured to build cash value can usually be used to produce a lifetime income that exceeds the amount paid in. Sometimes it can provide tax free income for the rest of your life!

For instance, a 50 year old client that will pay in $10,000 per year for the next 15 years ($150,000) will then receive a tax free income of $245,389 at age 70 without any additional premium after age 65! She could draw $1,000 a month for the rest of her life and never run out of money! This is in the most conservative kind of permanent policy available. With a different strategy, the return could be significantly higher. The bottom line is, if you are fed up with putting your savings into a tax deferred vehicle that loses money every time the stock market crashes, you should consider having life insurance as a separate asset class. Life insurance is an asset class that does not go down when the market goes down and this is what defines a non–correlated asset class. It is also an asset class that can be used without having to pay taxes as you use it. It is an asset class that can continue to gain interest despite the fact that you may be using the money already for something else! If you have questions about insurance, THINK BIG – Boulder Insurance Group, please visit www.thinkBIGboulder.com. Premiere Issue 2011 — Boulder County — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 25

Page 26 — Healthy Cells Magazine — Boulder County — Premiere Issue 2011

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