& WELLNESS
HEALTH
FREE
Spring Edition
TURNING THE
2010
CORNER
HOW FAST FOOD & LACK
OF EXERCISE HAVE CREATED A CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC
www.HealthyinHR.com
AH-CHOO!
BUILDING AN IMMUNITY DURING ALLERGY SEASON
FARM TEAM
BUY FRESH, GET HEALTHY
SLEEP APNEA YOUR DENTIST MAY BE THE FIRST TO DIAGNOSE IT
&
HEALTH
WELLNESS
‘LET’S MOVE’ PUTTING AN END TO THE NATIONWIDE CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC IS A SIMPLE MATTER OF EATING LESS AND MOVING MORE.
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6 3
SEED TO STORE Take an active role in putting food on the table.
FROM THE EDITOR An introduction to Health & Wellness Hampton Roads
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Handle your tissue issues this spring with a stronger immunity to allergies.
NUTRITION INTENTION SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND A CORNUCOPIA OF SEASONAL FOODS ARE AT THE MARKET.
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LIFESTYLES
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GENERAL HOSPITAL Get caught up on the latest healthy happenings and news.
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WISDOM TOOTH Think you have sleep apnea? The dentist may know before you do.
From the Editor
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ealth care – it’s the hot topic nationwide. The piece of health care that this new publication intends to tackle is nonpartisan and personal, based on the assumption that most of us weigh more than we should, eat more than we should and exercise less than we should. The big stories in this issue speak to a universal audience. The cover piece on childhood obesity (Page 8) has take-home advice not just for families with young children but for everyone who needs to get moving. The farm market story (Page 4) speaks to all of us who shop for fruits and veggies, or should. We want to hear from you. What stories would you like to see on these pages? If you are a health care, nutrition or fitness professional, we invite you to submit columns on topics that will appeal to a wide local audience.In this issue, Dr. Roxzanne Amos, who has a private dental practice in Chesapeake, addresses sleep apnea. Her piece on Page 14 reveals that often the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are first detected during a dental exam. Who knew? Four times a year, you’ll find Hampton Roads Health & Wellness in more than 400 locations throughout Hampton Roads, including free-standing racks in high-traffic areas and doctors’ waiting rooms. More good news: It’s free. Enjoy this issue and look for us again in July. Meanwhile, stay in touch, stay well and get off the couch. Mary Flachsenhaar Editor, Hampton Roads Health & Wellness editor@healthyinhr.com
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WELLNESS
Published by
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Mail 150 W. Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510 www.healthyinhr.com Sales Manager Bill Blake (757.222.3165) (sales@healthyinhr.com) Hampton Roads Editor Mary Flachsenhaar (editor@healthyinhr.com)
&/2 9%!2 \ &/2 9%!23 \ &/2 9%!23
Vol. 1, Issue #1 Spring 2010
Managing Editor Craig Ramey (editor@nccoast.com)
Hampton Roads Health & Wellness is a quarterly distributed throughout Hampton Roads in high-traffic locations including many doctors’ offices. Entire contents, ad and graphic design and www.healthyinhr.com copyright 2010 by Pilot Media Cos. Reproduction of any portion of this publication or its website without the publisher’s written consent is strictly prohibited. Information found herein is as accurate as possible at press time but should be solely used as a guide. For more specific advice, please consult your family physician.
Nutrition Intention Produce Availability in Virginia
A Tasty Day in the Neighborhood
Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and virginiagrown.com
April: apples, asparagus, greens/spinach, herbs, onions, strawberries May: asparagus, beets, greens/spinach, herbs, onions, strawberries
W
ith spring here and summer around the corner, most of us are chomping at the bit to get outside and play in our vegetable garden … or take advantage of someone else’s. Spring is a time of awakening and the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables abounds. Growing or buying local foods is a great way to get in the taste of fresh, nutritious foods, support the local economy and be mindful of nature’s welfare. While it may be a challenge to adhere to an all-local diet, just being mindful as to where your produce is coming from can be helpful – local can mean as close to home as possible. It is estimated that the average grocery store’s produce travels nearly 1,500 miles from where it is grown to your refrigerator and that 40 percent of fruits come from overseas. In contrast, growing and purchasing from local food systems produces 17 times less CO2 emissions. Buying produce that is in-season is another way to ensure that you are eating foods at their peak taste and nutrition quality, most abundant, and least expensive. Freezing produce during this time of year is a way to carry over into nonpeak or winter months. You can also join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program or visit local farm produce stands/markets to capture local products. This also ensures that your food dollars are sent directly back to the farmer, therefore increasing their income and making sure the money is spent locally to run their business and home. Remember, knowing part of the story behind your food can be a powerful element of enjoying a meal. By making a little effort to find food produced nearby, you are joining a worldwide movement. Start small and don’t expect to change all of your eating habits overnight. Commit to purchasing one type of food locally each week or month and you are sure to go back for more once you discover how easy and tasteful it is. Shannon Guthrie, RD, LDN
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SPRING 2010
June: asparagus, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cucumbers, green beans, herbs, onions, potatoes, raspberries, squash, strawberries July: apples, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, herbs, nectarines, peaches, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelons August: apples, Asian pears, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, green beans, herbs, nectarines, peaches, peppers, raspberries, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelons September: apples, Asian pears, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, green beans, herbs, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, tomatoes, watermelons October: apples, Asian pears, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, grapes,green beans, greens/spinach, herbs, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes November: apples, Asian pears, beets, broccoli, cabbage, greens/spinach, herbs, peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, December: apples, greens/spinach, herbs, sweet potatoes
Local Farms & Farmers Markets Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and virginiagrown.com
Apple Berry Manor 2601 W. Landing Road Virginia Beach (757) 426-7390 Bay Breeze Farms 1076 Sandbridge Road Virginia Beach (757) 721-3288 Blackwater Vineyards 4280 Blackwater Road Virginia Beach (757) 421-9161 Bright’s Produce 643 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach (757) 426-7832 Brookdale Farm & Market 2133 Mount Pleasant Road Chesapeake (757) 721-0558
Clayhill Farms 5165 Mineral Spring Road Suffolk 986-3209 suffolkjanice@aol.com Cotton Plains Farm, Inc. 696 Cherry Grove Road, North Suffolk (757) 255-4724 Vegetables, herbs and fruit Cromwell’s Produce 3116 New Bridge Road Virginia Beach (757) 721-6226 cromwellsproduce.com Crown Cashew PO Box 3019, Suffolk (757) 925-6001 Cullipher Farm Market 1444 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach (757) 721-7456
Dutch Pond Farm 604 Dutch Road, Suffolk (757) 777-5605 dutchpondfarm.com Faith Farms 2170 Joshua Lane, Suffolk (757) 620-8677 Farmer Frank’s Farm Market 6144 Holland Road, Suffolk (757) 657-9730 farmerfranksfarmmarket.com 5 Points Community Farm Market 2500 Church St., Norfolk (757) 640-0300 5PtsFarmMarket.org Flanagan Farms Princess Anne Road and N. Muddy Creek roads, Virginia Beach (757) 426-5585
Local Farms & Farmers Markets Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and virginiagrown.com
Full Quiver Farm 2801 Manning Road, Suffolk (757) 539-5324 www.fullquiverfarm.com
Lilley Farms and Nursery, Inc. Bennett’s Pasture Road, Suffolk (757) 484-3448 lilleyfarms.com
Green Pastures Fruit and Livestock Farm 1474 Copeland Road, Suffolk (757) 925-0997
Lilley Farms and Nursery, Inc. 2800 Tyre Neck Road, Chesapeake (757) 483-9880
Greene’s Strawberry Farm Raleigh Drive, Suffolk (757) 539-8033 Henley Farm and Henley Farm Market 3513 Charity Neck Road Virginia Beach (757) 426-7501 Horsley’s Blackwater Farm 3169 Land of Promise Road Virginia Beach (757) 421-3625 Hunt Club Farm 2400 London Bridge Road Virginia Beach (757) 427-9520
Poor John’s Farm 914 Dominion Blvd. , Chesapeake (757) 485-3656, 485-7743 Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market Middle Street, Portsmouth
Mansfield Farms 3053 Nansemond Pkwy., Suffolk (757) 538-4581
Pungo Blueberries Etc. 3477 Muddy Creek Road Virginia Beach (757) 721-7434
Old Beach Farmers Market 19th Street and Cypress Avenue Virginia Beach oldbeachfarmersmarket.com
Pungo Produce 1585 N. Muddy Creek Road Virginia Beach (757) 426-3276
Olde Towne Curb Market 115 Main Street, Smithfield (757) 375-3502 visitsmithfieldisleofwight.com
Red Mill Green Market Red Mill Commons, Virginia Beach
Oliver Farms LLC 18222 Longview Drive Smithfield (757) 255-4563 Parkers Produce 2681 Desert Road, Suffolk (757) 539-6960
Skipper Farms 3640 Dam Neck Road Virginia Beach (757) 368-0355 Suffolk Farmers Market 326 N. Main St., Suffolk (757) 514-4131 lwhite@city.suffolk.va.us suffolk-fun.com
Vaughan Farms Produce 1258 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach vaughanfarmsproduce.com (757) 615-4888 Virginia Beach Farmers Market 3640 Dam Neck Road Virginia Beach (757) 385-4395
Wood’s Orchards Farm Market 183 E. Mercury Blvd., Hampton (757) 722-2873 Woodland Trail Farm 11398 Raynor Road, Smithfield (757) 357-1792
DIAGNOSIS s TREATMENT s THERAPY
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Seed to Store
FARMER JOHN WILSON/PHOTO BY HARRY GERWIEN
Eat Your Veggies! CSA Programs Make Vegetables Easy to Swallow and Help the Farmer Too By Kathryn Barrett On a recent Saturday morning, Tanya Banks was preparing young plants for their move from the greenhouse to the tilled 5 acres at New Earth Farm in 6
Virginia Beach. Her son Mareck, 14, was moving rocks and tossing bales of hay while River, 7, was busy feeding chickens in the henhouse, nicknamed the Coop da Villa. Hard work? Yes. Fun? Yes. “I like to get my hands dirty,” said the Norfolk mother, who adds that it’s good for kids to do something productive and digging in the dirt helps her sons understand where food comes from. More than that, the Banks family feels connected to the food they eat and the farmer they support. That’s right. They and 34 other families actually help support New Earth Farm by participating in the farm’s communitysupported agriculture program, or CSA. The program helps local farmers with the SPRING 2010
cost of growing crops and in exchange members receive a portion of the harvest. At New Earth Farm, members pay a fee of $600 in advance, or slightly less if they volunteer hours working at the farm like the Banks family does. In return, they receive shares of “Farmer John’s” bounty each Saturday throughout the growing season of 20 weeks. Each member receives a box that provides enough produce for an average family of four for the week. In addition, members receive the satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. “You sign up for the vegetables, but you also sign on for the concept,” Banks explained. Most members join a CSA because
they believe strongly in buying fresh, locally grown food. Produce plucked from the field that morning is fresher than anything in the supermarket and that means it’s tastier and more nutritious. Banks said, “It’s important to support an individual farmer, particularly an organic farmer, and (we love) the quality of the food.” CSA programs are also good for the local economy – buying directly from family farmers helps America’s small farms stay in business. “I like the idea of supporting a local farmer,” said Kate Burns, an original member of Farmer John Wilson’s CSA program. “Most of the food in the grocery store is shipped from thousands of miles away and it loses a lot of nutrition.” Burns, owner of Hot Yoga Studio on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, added, “We’re all going to want to support that local farmer before there aren’t any more small farms.” “It’s definitely worth it,” Banks said. “I don’t think we’re getting a bargain at the grocery store.” Perhaps because it has just been picked, Burns says produce from the farm seems to last longer than grocery store produce, which, she believes, may make CSA programs more cost-efficient in the long run. “If I don’t get to my lettuce for a while, it’s OK,” she said. Since the CSA concept came to the United States in the 1980s, the program has grown like a weed. Approximately 3,515 active community-supported agriculture programs nationwide are listed in the directory of Local Harvest, a 12-year-old organization based in Santa Cruz, Calif., and a leading resource for the Buy Local movement. “There’s a large and rapidly growing desire for fresh, healthy local food and it’s
really nice to see the change occurring,” said Wilson. With only 35 members, New Earth Farm is one of the smaller CSA programs in the country. Burns joined the CSA when it began five years ago because she was searching for locally grown organic produce. “You are what you eat. You have to put good stuff in your body,” she said. “Most of our food is trucked in from thousands of miles and it loses a lot of nutrition.” Buying locally not only helps keep dollars circulating in Hampton Roads, local farmers offer varieties of produce that are grown for taste and freshness and not designed for shipping and a long shelf life. At New Earth Farm, tucked away off London Bridge Road not far from a flight path at Oceana Naval Air Station, Wilson grows the traditional tomatoes, cucumbers and leaf lettuce but delights in surprising customers with kohlrabi, which reminds this writer of a giant radish, lamb’s quarters, a green that’s similar to spinach, and arugula, a green used in salads and on pizza. Yes, pizza! “If you’re eating locally grown produce, you’re eating what God intended you to eat for that time of the year,” Burns said. That connection with the land helps form a special bond between CSA member and farmer. “It’s rewarding,” Wilson said. “People are connected to the food. They almost adopt me as a farmer.” Adopting the benefits of locally grown organic produce also means adopting the risks that come along with farming. Risk is part of the agreement between farmers and CSA members. “If we do have a big problem – weather or flooding, for example – they agree to ride through the season with me,”
Kids and Veggies Anyone with children knows it’s not always easy to get them to eat their vegetables, even if they’re locally grown and fresh from the farm. Even Kate Burns admits that her son Tucker, 18, wasn’t always a fan of veggies when he was younger. “You’d be surprised how many vegetables you can camouflage in a child’s smoothie,” she suggests.
Wilson said. If need be, he’ll extend the season by a week. On the other hand, if the harvest is bountiful, his members reap the benefit. At New Earth Farm, Saturday mornings starting in mid-May and going through the summer are a time of celebration. Members arrive early to share coffee, pastries and conversation as they pick up their boxes of produce. Some of the vegetables are so fresh they’re still covered in dirt. “I love getting my box of produce!” Banks said, knowing it has been picked that very morning. The morning marks the end of Farmer John’s week and the beginning of another week of local, lush, as-fresh-as-you-canget produce at the tables of 35 Hampton Roads families. Kathryn Barrett is a medical journalist in Hampton Roads.
For More Information New Earth Farm is located at 2280 London Bridge Road, Virginia Beach; 757-427-6515; newearthfarm.org; newearthfarm.blogspot.com. New Earth Farm’s CSA membership is already filled for this season. However, its organically grown produce is available for purchase at Red Mill Green Market in Virginia Beach from Memorial Day though Labor Day. For more information on CSA programs throughout Hampton Roads, visit buylocalhamptonroads.org or localharvest.org. w w w. H e a l t h y i n H R . c o m
7
Let’s Move Toward Curing the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
W
e hear about it almost every time we turn around these days – from television news to the old mullet wrapper we skim with our morning coffee. We’re overweight, ladies and gentlemen. And not only that – we’re raising overweight children as well. We may be living longer than our predecessors, but the quality of our health during those extended years is directly related to how we lived
8
the first 50. Were you a smoker? A heavy drinker? Did you eat a diet high in fats and sugars? Were you a chubby kid? Bingo. The statistics are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past three decades childhood obesity has more than doubled for children age 2-5 and adolescents age 12-19 and more than tripled in ages 6-11. About 16 percent of children in the US (more than 9 million) are overweight or SPRING 2010
obese. Those youngsters, the study goes on to say, have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults; 80 percent if one or both of their parents are overweight. Even more startling – the Institute of Medicine wrote in a 2005 report that 60 percent of obese children age 5-10 had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or blood pressure. Twenty-five percent had two or more risk factors.
Remember the Date “Weight of the State” is a Virginia statewide summit on childhood obesity to be presented May 17-18 in Richmond by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and Prevention Connections. Inspired by the Centers for Disease Control’s “Weight of the Nation” conference held last year in Washington, DC, this summit aims to help forge new state and regional partnerships and collaborations around the topic of childhood obesity and set an agenda for what the next steps should be to combat this public health epidemic in the commonwealth. The conference will target public health professionals, educators, community leaders, policy-makers and health care professionals. Held at the Westin Richmond, the summit begins Monday, May 17, at 1pm and closes at 5pm Tuesday, May 18. For more information, and to register or become a sponsor, visit preventionconnections.org.
Even the first lady, Michelle Obama, has taken notice of the epidemic with her announcement in February of the Let’s Move campaign. According to a White House release, the program will “combat the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies, and mobilizes public and private sector resources. Let’s Move will engage every sector impacting the health of children to achieve the national goal, and
will provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better and get healthy.” Through Let’s Move, the nation’s leading children’s health foundations are coming together to create the Partnership for a Healthier America which the government hopes will accelerate existing efforts addressing childhood obesity and facilitate new commitments toward the national goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation. But why? How did this happen? How did we get here? What are we doing differently as parents? What can we do to help our children lead healthier lives? While there are myriad diet fads and exercise regimens to encourage us to maintain a healthy weight, one basic fact remains true: our intake must not exceed our output. If you ingest too many calories without the benefit of exercise to work them off, your body is going to store the excess. “The energy balance is a central concept,” said Dr. David Collier, director of the Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center at East Carolina University. “It really comes down to that right balance of calories in, calories out. And a very small imbalance day in, day out can cause large weight changes over time.” w w w. H e a l t h y i n H R . c o m
Dr. Collier uses a regular child-sized juice box as an example. If a 6-year-old child is offered two juice boxes a day over and above his nutritional requirements, it can translate to 7 or 8 pounds of extra weight over the course of a year. It’s a subtle balance, he explained, finding the right amount of calories for growth, development and energy without exceeding the allowance we need. “Generally, most people underestimate calories coming in, particularly with beverages,” he said. “So it’s important to understand how to use that calorie balance. In theory, it’s a simple concept – but it’s very complex. There are a lot of influences on your energy balance and a subtle difference in behavior can have a sustained effect. In addition to socio-economic factors, peer pressure and youngster’s sway toward those foods that just taste better, there are a variety of variables to take into consideration, Dr. Collier said. “We’ve got $12-14 billion spent on advertising directly to kids by fast food, high sugar, high fat, low fiber fun foods – that influence kids’ thought patterns – which influence the buying patterns of families,” Dr. Collier continued. “Families are up against a pretty significant vested interest Cont. on page 10
9
Cont. from page 9
who doesn’t necessarily have your best interest, your health interest at heart. There are very large social, cultural and governmental pulls that individual families are up against.” How do chemicals and pesticides used on food interact with our cellular make up? How much exercise is really necessary? Should physical education be required in schools? How much responsibility does our child’s school system have for his nutritional needs? Are some of us genetically predisposed to being overweight? Is there one simple plan that works for everyone? Absolutely not. In fact there are hundreds of ongoing studies at any given moment. But there’s no time to waste in our reaction to what Dr. Collier calls the “number one public health challenge in the world.” “We all want to have the best data, the best evidence, but we really can’t wait for the best evidence so we have to work with what we do have,” he said. “We have the blunt tools at hand. No matter what the problem, no matter how we got here, the tool at hand is still our energy balance and that’s what we need to work with.” Historically, it’s easy to see how the evolution has occurred. Maybe not our parents, but for our grandparents and beyond, exercise was part of daily life. That doesn’t mean they had a great gym membership with a private trainer and a cute new pair of sneakers, but rather participated in some sort of physical work on a regular basis. They walked more and rode less. They worked in the garden or on the farm. They did their own laundry, often by hand.
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SPRING 2010
Television wasn’t a household staple until the 1950s, so even most recreational pursuits had some level of activity involved. So our ancestors were definitely moving more. They also ate much better. Eating out was what they did on special occasions – and it hardly ever included fast food. Instead, on a daily basis, they ate home-cooked fresh food, much of which came from their own gardens or nearby farms. No pesticides, no growth hormones, no artificial flavoring. The routine of today’s typical family is a stark contrast. Our transportation is motorized, our food is processed and our schedules are packed so tight that just planning a home cooked family dinner seems like an impossibility. Add television, DVDs and video games to the mix and we’re literally technologically advancing our children into obesity. Is this really progress? It is … we just have to be equipped to handle it.
So what can we do now? According to Dr. Collier’s clinic: • Be a role model. Eat smart and move more. Children learn by watching parents make healthy choices. Encourage healthy food choices without being too restrictive. • Limit sugar-sweetened beverages. Drink water, sugar free beverages or low fat milk. Sugar-sweetened drinks like soda, sweet tea, Kool-Aid and sports and energy drinks provide no nutritional value yet the extra calories promote weight gain. • Eat five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. Try to include one at every meal or snack. • Eat a healthy breakfast every day. Eating breakfast has been shown to increase test scores, attendance and class participation. Healthy choices include fruit, whole grain cereals and oatmeal, toast, yogurt and low fat milk. • Limit eating out, especially fast food. Children are more apt to eat fruits and vegetables when dining at home with the family. Make it a goal to dine together at least 5-6 nights per week. Turn off the television and sit together at the table. • Limit portion size. When you order food, always choose the ‘kids meal’ or small regular sized portions. Allow the nutrition information to guide your way. • Limit screen time to less than two hours a day with no TV in the bedroom. When your child is watching TV or playing video games he isn’t using many calories. Encourage children to do something active instead, like riding a bike, playing basketball or dancing. • Engage in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily. Get active with your child – go for a walk together, go for a bike ride or play. • Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep. Experts recommend that children 18 months-3 years get 12-14 hours; 3-5 years, 11-13 hours; 5-12 years, 10-11 hours; and teens, 9.25 hours per night. • Reward your child with nonfood items. Give him a hug, buy him a book or just spend time together.
By Amanda Dagnino
Lifestyles The Tissue Issue Finding Relief During Allergy Season
A
s the winter snow melts, the long-awaited sun seems to shine a little longer and that’s when the buds-to-blossom routine begins. For many allergy sufferers, however, the beauty of spring means running immediately to the nearest drugstore to pick up a few extra boxes of tissues and maybe a box of antihistamines. Environmental changes are often tagged as the culprits that cause allergies because they introduce some guilty particle to our biological systems, causing our bodies to react negatively, and we want to take guard. The distress seems to be brought on by nature, or we blame an adorable pet. John ShefďŹ eld, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Studies at South University, worked as a physician assistant in the US Army, and he has seen a lot of combat against the body’s struggle with allergens. He currently teaches courses on allergy and immunology, and diseases of the head and neck at South University’s campus in Savannah, Ga. “Generally people with allergies understand how they evolve,â€? said ShefďŹ eld. “A trigger, or what we call an allergen, enters the body and causes a symptom. So, when the nose starts running, the eyes start watering or a skin rash appears, what we really want to know then is how can I stop this?â€? We want to understand why our bodies feel they are under attack, and we want to ďŹ gure out how we can be free of whatever plagues our respiratory system. Genetics and environment are traditionally ďŹ ngered as the culprits and, in some cases, the solutions to understanding allergic reactions. Since allergies are clearly a cause-and-effect reality, a natural tendency is to start to examine the problem from the outside in. “Timing is very important,â€? ShefďŹ eld says. “Pay attention if you are having an allergic response and notice if the reaction happens at a speciďŹ c time of the year. Simple observation can help narrow down a probable allergen, especially when it comes to seasonal allergies. “Drinking alcohol and smoking is common, and whether you directly participate or not, we all experience to some degree the effects of toxicity on our planet. This exposure to chemical agents that can cause allergies also predisposes us to cancers of the head, throat, mouth, voice box and sinuses,â€? he explains. With this thought in mind, allergists to holistic healers typically recommend the best approach to long-term relief is avoidance. The natural healing process often requires avoiding highly processed foods, alcohol, tobacco and other direct or indirect toxins the body ingests from the environment. Often, health care practitioners will urge the avoidance of the allergen itself. However, given poor air quality and other toxins in the environment, personal avoidance of allergens can become a nearly impossible recourse for the average person. “When you are suffering and need instant relief, what works the quickest and what most allergists will prescribe readily these days are antihistamines and steroidal nasal sprays. A quick dose of steroids has become a cornerstone of therapy to decrease inammation in the
nose almost immediately where the chain reaction of events begins,â€? ShefďŹ eld continues. “This type of therapy brings the patient complete and almost instant relief even though it may be temporary. The sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itching and rashes, all the signs that an allergen has created greater inammation within, is stied until the next round.â€? So, what can we do to prevent “the next round?â€? Build immunity. This is why allergists prescribe taking controlled doses, or injections, of the allergen in order to mount a defense within the body so it no longer reacts to the allergy-causing agent in a violent manner. Alternative healing methods recommend detoxifying the liver, the internal organ where many allergy-causing toxins in the body reside and go to be eliminated. Ultimately with allergies, lowering susceptibility to the allergen through avoidance and a healthier lifestyle will keep us moving and breathing without agony through life’s seasonal changes. Please consult with a physician prior to taking medication or beginning any manner of allergy treatment. „ Courtesy of ARAcontent
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General Hospital GRANT AWARDED FOR DIABETES RESEARCH Researchers at the Eastern Virginia Medical School Strelitz Diabetes Center have been awarded a $1,076,250 grant by the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program to develop new ways of reversing the underlying causes of Type 1 diabetes. Dr. David Taylor-Fishwick, associate professor of internal medicine and director of the Cell, Molecular and Islet Biology Laboratory, leads the team whose research applies to both regenerative and autoimmune medicine. “Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells, and the body does not automatically regenerate or replace these cells,” Dr. Taylor-Fishwick said in a prepared statement. “The unique challenge in reversing Type 1 diabetes is to regenerate the insulin-producing beta cells and to stop the body’s autoimmune attack.” Insulin is the hormone that helps the body convert glucose from food into energy. When the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced. Dr. Taylor-Fishwick’s research on beta cell regeneration has focused on Islet Neogenesis Associated protein, branded as Exsulin, the discovery made by Dr. Aaron I. Vinik, director of research at the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center, and Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg of McGill University. The DoD grant will fund the next phase in the team’s research – finding a way to neutralize the immune system’s attack of the beta cells. This immune attack occurs at the
onset of diabetes and may continue after Type 1 diabetes has appeared. The benefits of this research may also apply to other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
TIME FOR ‘HEALTHY LIVING’ This is the sixth year for the Week of Healthy Living, a fundraiser presented by Jewish Family Service. The event will begin with a run/walk on Sunday, May 2, followed by education programs later in that week. All are open to the public. • The 6th annual Run, Roll or Stroll on May 2 at Neptune’s Park at 31st Street and the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach begins with registration from 6:45 to 7:45am. The 8K Run and 5K Run/Walk begin at 8am and the 1-Mile Run/Walk at 9:15am. For more information, call JFS at (757) 321-2222 or visit tidewaterstriders.com or active.com. • On Tuesday, May 4, an exhibitor fair and presentation on hearing called “Ear 101: Hearing Loss Throughout Life” begins at 11am at the Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community, 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Virginia Beach. The speaker will be Dr. Brad Kesser, associate professor and director of the Division of Otology/Neurotology at the University of Virginia. The program is free; registration is required. Call 3212222 or visit jfshamptonroads.org. • On Thursday, May 6, JFS and sponsor TowneBank present a panel discussion on nutrition, with a focus on nutrition and
chronic illness, at 10am at the Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community. Following the discussion chef/owner Phillip Craig Thomason of the Vintage Kitchen will provide a cooking healthful demonstration. The program is free; registration is required. Call 3212222 or visit jfshamptonroads.org.
RUN/WALK FOR KIDS The King’s Daughters, founding organization of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, will present the 5th annual RunWalk for the Kids on Saturday, June 19, at Town Point Park in Norfolk. All proceeds from the event, which is sponsored by New York Life, will benefit CHKD. This year’s event will include an 8K run at 7:30am, a 2-mile walk at 7:32am and a 1mile Fun Run at 9am. Families and friends are encouraged to form teams. The RunWalk was created to promote fitness in children as well as adults. In the weeks leading up to the race, children are encouraged to participate in the Children’s Marathon training program using a training log consisting of 26 steps, each representing one mile. Each time a child exercises for 30 minutes, it counts as one step or “mile” in their marathon. The goal is to complete 25 miles in the weeks leading up to the race, with the final mile being the 1-mile Fun Run on June 19. Early registration continues through May 22 at $25 for adults, $12 for children under 18. For more information on the race and the Children’s Marathon training program and to register, visit runwalkforthekids.org or call 668-7098.
Home Away from Home Sentara Life Care recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a Portsmouth site for the PACE senior day program, at the Churchland Shopping Center. PACE is an acronym for the federally supported Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE provides transportation to and from this center, along with meals and activities. There is a health clinic, with a physician on site, a rehab room, social workers, a beauty parlor and a cyber café. Shown here are, from left to right, Colette Ashuira with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services; Jose Rodriguez MD, Portsmouth Public Health director; Bruce Robertson, vice president, Sentara Life Care; Alverta Robinson RN, director of clinical operations, Sentara Life Care; and Michael Gentry, vice president, Sentara Healthcare. 12
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Wisdom Tooth Lacking Sleep? Your Dentist May Be the First to Ask You By Dr. Roxzanne Amos
D
o you wake up peacefully, even a few minutes before the alarm goes off? Do you sleep eight glorious hours, feel rejuvenated and ready to take on all opportunities and challenges of the day? While you are certainly aware of the impact that a good night’s sleep (or lack thereof ) can have on your daily performance and outlook, did you know that your ability to have adequate restful sleep on a regular basis is crucial to your overall health? The consequences of poor sleep include not only fatigue and poor work performance, but also an increased risk for workrelated accidents, motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A major medical cause of poor sleep in Western cultures is the interruption of sleep due to sleep- related breathing disorders. This is a spectrum of disorders that includes everything from very mild snoring to sleep that is disrupted because the patient stops breathing hundreds of times while sleeping. When the airway becomes blocked during sleep and the patient stops breathing for more than 10 seconds, this is called an apneic episode. When you stop breathing during sleep, your brain is deprived of oxygen and wakes up your body just enough to breathe again. The result is poor, fragmented sleep that can lead to daytime symptoms such as excessive sleepiness and impaired concentration and systemic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, bronchitis and depression. In addition, morning time is one of the most common times for heart attacks, especially in males due to low blood oxygen levels and added stress on their heart all night long. You may even know someone who has been diagnosed with a disease on this spectrum called obstructive sleep apnea. Twelve million Americans suffer from some degree of it, which robs them of critical sleep, putting their health in danger. Most people see their dentist more routinely than their physician, so often the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can be first detected during a dental exam. Dentists can also diagnosis bruxism, a type of teeth grinding now associated with disruptions in sleep patterns. Diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders is a complex 14
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task. The diagnosis must be made by a properly trained sleep physician. An all-night sleep study at a sleep disorder clinic (a polysomnogram) must be completed in order to obtain a diagnosis. Treatment decisions should be made as a “sleep medicine team” with the sleep physician, the dentist and the patient. For the last 25 years, continuous positive air pressure or CPAP has been used as the standard of care to treat sleep apnea patients. Today, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocates the use of oral appliances in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes people are inappropriate candidates for CPAP treatment or simply prefer a less obtrusive oral appliance over the CPAP. Dental appliances can also be made to use as a backup treatment option for patients on vacation or in case the CPAP machine breaks down. Dentists can work with you and your physician to prescribe and deliver an oral appliance to ensure the best possible solutions for you. So how do you know if you may be at risk for a sleep breathing disorder? There are some simple screening questions that your dentist or health care provider can ask you. While it is possible to have these risk factors without sleep apnea, some common screening questions include: Do you snore? Have a large neck size or high blood pressure? Has someone witnessed you stop breathing during sleep? If you have a positive response to even one of these questions, you should discuss the matter with one of your health care providers. Your life could depend on it. Dr. Amos maintains a private practice in Chesapeake, at The Center for Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry. She is one of a select group of dentists who has completed the core curriculum at the prestigious Dawson Academy. Recently she received the 2010 Health Care Heroes Award from Inside Business magazine. She can be reached at info@tccrd.com or 757-5465262.
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