Healthy Idaho | JUNE '15 by Healthy Magazine

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June 2015

Idaho’s Premier Orthopedic Clinic

BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS IN GENERAL ORTHOPEDICS WITH SUB-SPECIALTIES IN THE FOLLOWING:

Established in 1960 Charles P. Schneider, M.D. George A. Nicola, M.D. John Q. Smith, M.D. Robert G. Hansen, M.D. Michael J. Shevlin, M.D. Michael T. Daines, MD Craig R. Jamison, PA-C Hodaka Abe, PA-C Thomas W. Tryon, PA-C Bryce Wikfors, PA-C

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Reconstructive Hip and Knee Surgery Total Hip and Knee Replacement Knee Resurfacing Computer Assisted Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Arthroscopic Surgery of All Major Joints Surgery of the Upper Extremity Sports Medicine Fracture Treatment Musculoskeletal Trauma Independent Medical Evaluations Surgery of the Foot and Ankle Surgery of the Hand

208-895-0888 2 HEALTHY IDAHO

Largest Independent (non-hospital)

Orthopedic Group in the Treasure Valley

Offices in Caldwell - Meridian Satellite offices in Fruitland - Emmet

westidahoorthopedics.com

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BE YOUR CHILD’S HERO!

Maybe you can’t leap over tall buildings in a single bound or run faster than a speeding bullet, but you CAN be a hero by keeping your child healthy, happy, and strong. Vaccinating your child protects them against preventable diseases like pertussis (whooping cough), measles, meningitis, and chicken pox. Be a hero and get your child immunized.

CHOOSE TO IMMUNIZE! It’s the powerful defense that’s safe, proven, and effective.

ImmunizeIdaho.com

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June 2015

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Silly questions can have serious answers. From diapers to degrees, having a child means having questions. What’s normal? What isn’t? Get answers to your health-related questions—even the silly ones—from experienced nurses like Cory. She’s a mom, too. It all starts with one good choice.

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June 2015

ISSUE

THE MAN

06/15 VOL. VII № 6

On the Cover

Story on page 24

From left to right: John Q. Smith, MD, Robert G. Hansen, MD, Hodaka Abe, PA-C, Michael J. Shevlin, MD, Thomas W. Tryon, PA-C, Charles P. Schneider, MD, Bryce Wikfors, PA-C, Michael T. Daines, MD, George A. Nicola, MD, Craig R. Jamison, PA-C

12 14

The Modern Dad

Time Waits For No Gender

30 Ways to Make Your Summer Epic

Review: Mail-Order Shaving Kits

How to Fly

An expert gave us some advice on how to best increase your vertical leap. Get some spring in your game.

Does Compression Gear Actually Do Anything? Short answer: yes. But it probably isn’t doing everything you hope it does.

How Much Will the Emergency Room Cost?

This is a tough question, but here are some tips so you can at least get a ballpark figure.

Fatherhood today means something different than it did a few decades ago, and not in a bad way. Dads now are more engaged with their kids, and in general, have different views on parenting as compared to their parents.

Men and women age differently, and view aging differently. Check out these interesting findings on this topic.

Spontaneously coming up with something amazing to do can be difficult. Here we provide some inspiration, even if you don’t do exactly what we suggest.

We keep seeing ads for Dollar Shave Club and other mail-order razors that claim to be a cheaper alternative to the admittedly absurd prices of store-bought razors. Here we review and compare.

Recipe: Apple Pie Energy Bites

Sick and tired of your go-to energy bars? Well make your own!

CALL 433-9211 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. 960 S Broadway Av Ste 200, Boise | (208)433-9211

6 HEALTHY IDAHO

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TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH Obesity is the greatest non infectious disease of our time.You don’t die of obesity; you die of the diseases that “travel” with it. Treating all of these conditions separately will cost you a lot of time and money. Endocrinologist 1st visit charge: $125-175

METABOLIC SYNDROME

HEART DISEASE

DIABETES

Cardiologist 1st visit charge: $150-250

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

HIGH

DEMENTIA

CHOLESTEROL

OBESITY

ARTHRITIS

DEPRESSION

CANCER RISK

STROKE

Neurologist 1st visit charge: $125-175

SLEEP APNEA

Orthopedist 1st visit charge: $150-250

ASTHMA Oncologist 1st visit charge: $125-175

Pulmonary/sleep medicine 1st visit charge: $125-175

Effective weight loss often eliminates the need to treat these conditions. Medical Doctors Board Certiﬁed in Obesity Medicine Specializing in Medical Weight Loss

Don’t “weight” any longer Facebook.com/HealthyIdaho

Call 208.343.3652

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June 2015

Healthy

Editor’s Note

IDAHO

Epic Summer.

WITH

JUNE 2015 VOLUME VII, № 6

I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT SUMMER THIS YEAR, BUT IT FEELS BIG. IT FEELS POSITIVE. SOMETHING’S ABUZZ AND I FEEL THAT GREAT THINGS ARE WITHIN REACH. I feel energized by the theme of this month’s magazine – “Epic Summer.” There’s something hopeful about a sunny summer day. As I sit here on my back porch enjoying the warm evening and summer sounds, the thought occurs, “Why not make this my best summer ever?” Simple enough. I’m going to do it. This is the year. Call it a bad habit, but I enjoy daydreaming. It’s actually when some of my biggest, deepest thoughts achieve clarity, kind of like staring at one of those stereograms. It takes a moment, but when you ease up and don’t try so hard, the image comes to life and you see how all the little pieces combine to create the big picture. When I’m wondering and what-ifing, things seem possible—achievable. The mind is quite powerful. I’m still coming to understand this, but I’m learning that a few common axioms are true. As a man (or woman) thinketh, so is he (or she). It’s been quite true in my life. I am literally the sum of my thoughts. I cannot be anything other than what I have thought I could be. I would not have a master’s degree if I had not thought about such an achievement, believed I could

JOHN A. ANDERSON,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @JOHN_A_ANDERSON

get it and then through hard work converted my thoughts into reality. Here’s another tiny, more personal example. In January we wrote about health resolutions, and I made a big push for knocking off small, achievable goals. I put my money where my mouth was—literally. I determined to quit a nasty habit of biting my fingernails. I’ve always hated that habit, but could never quit. But I literally spent some time envisioning not biting, imagining bite-free nails and thinking about that disgusting little habit. I’m not ready to be a Kardashian, but my nails look great and it’s been months since I even considered tooth-clipped nails. That is just one simple personal example, but I could go on and on. Everything I am or am becoming began with a thought, a daydream, and then followed a process of belief and putting my thoughts into action. It’s literally true:

“WHATEVER YOU CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, YOU CAN ACHIEVE.” This works in health, education, finance, relationships, love, athletics and so on. There is no area of your life that cannot be improved by positively conceptualizing it and nodding with belief. It’s the first step of achievement. So here we are in the midst of a sensational summer. Embrace it. Take more than a moment to daydream about where you would like to be this time next year. Let your mind wander. Jot down the results. I hope you walk away from reading this issue and simply say to yourself, “I’m going to do it. This is the summer.” Dream big. Believe. Achieve.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | PUBLISHER John A. Anderson | john@healthy-idaho.com CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Kenneth J. Shepherd | ken@healthy-idaho.com SALES AND MARKETING Julie Guyer 208.371.4533 Steve Wallace 208.850.4983 sales@healthy-idaho.com DESIGN EDITOR Phillip Chadwick design@healthy-idaho.com MANAGING EDITOR Michael Richardson | michael@healthy-mag.com MAGAZINE EDITORS Gayleen Webb, Emma Penrod DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Lyn Timboe | lyn.timboe@healthy-mag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Schille, Angela Silva, Megan Moore, David Joachim, Mark Saunders CIRCULATION Healthy Idaho Magazine is printed monthly and delivered extensively throughout Boise and surrounding areas—direct mailed to doctors, dentists, practitioners, health clinics, banks and other businesses and subscribers and is made available for pick up at hundreds of locations. If you would like to have Healthy Idaho Magazine delivered for distribution in your place of business, please contact us.

HEALTHY IDAHO MAGAZINE info@healthy-idaho.com 866.884.3258

PLEASE NOTE: The content in this publication is meant to increase reader awareness of developments in the health and medical field and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction on individual health matters, which should be obtained directly from a health professional. The opinions expressed by the authors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher. Call for reprint permission. All photography courtesy of Shutterstock.com unless otherwise noted.

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Embracing who you are and who you can become. IDAHO’S LEADING EXPERT IN

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Embrace Wellness

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FITNESS

Do The Switch

WORKOUTS BESIDES BENCH PRESS THAT ARE GREAT FOR THE CHEST

WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING OUT THE CHEST, THE BENCH PRESS IS THE MAIN EXERCISE PEOPLE THINK OF TO BUILD SIZE AND STRENGTH. BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU CAN BUILD UP YOUR CHEST AND GIVE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT TYPE OF STIMULATION SO YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS THAT YOU WANT. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT EXERCISES THAT YOU CAN USE TO SWITCH UP YOUR CHEST ROUTINE AND START CHALLENGING YOURSELF TODAY.

WRITTE N B Y G R E G M A R S H A L L G Y M A T C I T Y CR E E K

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heroo 2

BOSU BALL PUSH-UP

Place your hands on the outside of the bosu ball, with your feet out behind you. The bosu ball will cause you to stabilize your core and your entire body, so keep your core as tight as possible. As you go down to perform the push-up, you want to do this movement slowly and to flex your chest and triceps muscles as tight as you can. This will maximize the effectiveness of the workout. Start off with 3 sets of 10 repetitions and then rest about 30-60 seconds in between sets in order to keep your intensity high.

3 1

MEDICINE BALL PUSH-UP

Get in a push-up position, but place one hand on a medicine ball. While keeping your core tight and your back straight, perform a push-up with the emphasis of your weight on the hand that is on top of the medicine ball. Use the same techniques as the ones you will use in the bosu ball push-up in order to maximize your workout through flexing your chest and triceps muscles as tight as you can throughout the movement. Start off with 3 sets of 5 repetitions on each side and rest about 30-60 seconds in between sets to keep your intensity high.

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THE DIP

Find a dip bar and hold yourself up while bending your knees, with a slight bend forward to emphasize working out your chest. When you perform the exercise it is imperative that you go slow and you don’t let momentum help you finish out the reps. This exercise is great for increasing strength and switching up your workouts to add variety and avoid boredom. Do not be surprised if your bench presses increase because of you performing more dips in your routine. Start off with one set of 10 and then work your way up to doing more reps per set and then progressively increasing the amount of sets that you do as well. When it comes to getting results the most important thing is to challenge yourself and to keep variety in your workouts so you don’t hit a plateau. Use the above exercises to mix up your next chest workout, and you’ll see strength and endurance increases.

June 2015

FITNESS

How to Fly The University of Utah’s basketball strength coach gives some tips on improving your vertical leap.

THERE IS A LOT OF ADVICE OUT THERE ABOUT HOW TO GET A BETTER VERTICAL LEAP. WEIRD SHOES, INTENSE MONTH-LONG PROGRAMS AND MORE PROMISE TO SEND YOU FLYING, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS NONSENSE. UTES MEN’S BASKETBALL STRENGTH COACH CHARLES STEPHENSON EXPLAINED TO US THE REAL ESSENTIALS TO JUMPING HIGHER.

ADD RESISTANCE TO YOUR JUMPING WORKOUTS

THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD VERTICAL IS STRENGTH

Use dumbbells or weighted vests to add resistance to a jumping workout.

EXAMPLE: SQUAT JUMPS WITH DUMBBELLS: Start with light weight. Bring feet shoulder-width apart. Squat to sitting position and explode upward. Some advise against this workout because of the safety implications. The landing is where problems can occur. Land first with your toes, then your mid-foot should hit, then your heel. Then absorb the shock with a balanced bend of the knees. Landing properly also allows for quick recovery and explosion into your next jump. Jumping in quick succession is the best way to do squat jumps, Stephenson says, but learn correct form, take it slow and use light weight or no weight to start out. In addition, make sure to use different weight amounts as you progress. Train your body to jump against varying levels of force and you’ll be more prepared for jumping in a basketball game, soccer game, or any other physical activity.

12 HEALTHY IDAHO

Don’t skip leg day of course, but remember that jumping is really a full body movement, Stephenson says. Complete weight training must be an integral part of increasing your vertical. That said, there comes a point when strength isn’t enough. Different types of exercise are needed to increase the power behind your jumps.

THREE WORKOUT VARIETIES HELP YOU GET A BETTER VERTICAL: • STRENGTH TRAINING: to produce more force. • RESISTANCE JUMP WORKOUTS: to produce more power. • ASSISTED JUMP WORKOUTS: to train muscles to contract faster. Stephenson says the men’s Utah basketball team uses all three of these varieties regularly in their training.

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WHY TO PUSH YOURSELF When we get older, we start to lose some of our athletic ability, says Stephenson, who has worked as a strength and conditioning coach at four universities now. “But a big reason why people can’t run fast or jump high anymore,” he says, “is because they’ve stopped ever trying to run fast or jump high.” Life gets busy, and people stop utilizing the body’s full potential. That is when the body starts feeling old—when it starts getting slow due to underuse. And it isn’t just about increasing your physical capabilities, Stephenson says. It’s a psychological benefit to push yourself, to know that you can do hard things.

It’s a psychological benefit to push yourself, to know that you can do hard things.

“Your body is amazing,” he says. “Use it.” But, this must be taken with a grain of salt. Don’t push yourself beyond your abilities.

DO RESISTANCE JUMPING ON ONE FOOT Athletics often demand jumping off one foot, not two.

EX. REAR FOOT ELEVATED SPLIT SQUAT JUMPS Using small stool to support one foot behind you, do single-leg squat jumps. Your rear foot stays stationary during this workout, but the landing and jumping motions should be the same. Warning: this is a difficult exercise, even without weights. Start with just your body weight, and add vest or dumbbell weight over time.

DON’T STOP DOING BODY WEIGHT JUMP EXERCISES Incorporate body weight squat jumps and other exercises into your vertical leap training. You’re trying to enhance your natural jumping ability, so your body needs to experience natural motion frequently.

ADD ASSISTED JUMP EXERCISES This may seem counterintuitive, to do jump exercises that are easier than body weight or resisted jumps, but as Stephenson explains, assisted jump exercises train your muscles to contract faster. For the same reason, athletes do over-speed running workouts, where a bungee or cable makes them run faster than their normal sprint speed.

EX.: ASSISTED SQUAT JUMP This exercise will require ropes or TRX bands that come down from above your head to about chest height. Standing directly beneath the bands, do squat jumps, using your hands and arms to assist the jump. Jump in repetition. The bands can also be used to do assisted onefoot squat jumps.

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June 2015

FITNESS

FEELING

COMPRESSED Does Compression Gear Actually Do Anything? “LOOK MARTHA, STEPH CURRY HAS SPIDER VEINS TOO!” This is what I imagine someone’s grandpa exclaiming while watching the NBA star play in his usual compression leggings, since compression stockings are a common treatment for varicose veins. Curry might not suffer from unsightly leg veins, but he is wearing those tight pants for a purpose.

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WHY ARE WE COMPRESSING OUR BODIES? Long before professional athletes made them cool, seniors were wearing compression garments to aid circulation and combat vein issues. Today, people of all ages wear arm and leg sleeves, compression shirts and shorts and more for a variety of reasons. Some are just interested in style, others are protecting themselves and still others are concerned about athletic performance. Let’s break down what compression apparel does and doesn’t do.

MUSCLE SORENESS This is probably the best documented benefit of compression apparel. Various studies have confirmed that wearing compression clothing after a workout can decrease muscle soreness. When we work out our muscles, it damages them in a healthy way, which is how we get stronger. But it’s still damage, meaning inflammation, swelling and resulting pain. Constricting garments may help reduce soreness by reducing the amount of fluid build up in a muscle group. They may also influence lactate levels, which cause swelling. In one interesting study, Spanish researchers had soccer players wear a compression sleeve on one leg and nothing on the other leg, and then had the players train for forty minutes. The results showed 27 percent fewer markers of soreness in the compressed leg compared to the free leg.

and masks to measure oxygen intake and other variables. When wearing compression sleeves, the runners didn’t use less oxygen and were not more efficient in their movement, which contradicts the aforementioned claim. Another study in 2013 showed that compression shorts don’t increase blood flow to muscles after exercise. Exercise itself is much better at bringing blood flow to the muscles, researchers found. And for the seniors out there rocking the compression hosiery for varicose veins, the benefits have been called into question. Researchers from the University of Sheffield in England gathered results from 25 studies on this topic, and called the supposed benefits “equivocal.” Source: well.blogs.nytimes.com

OTHER CLAIMS Some claim that compression apparel aids in proprioception, or your sense of how your body is positioned in space, meaning your movements are more efficient. But compression sleeves have never been shown to improve athletic performance, so this might just be a mental thing. Athletes wear compression clothing for protection from scrapes, floor burns and more. They also claim that sleeves keep their muscles warm, preventing injury. And, of course, some just like the style, and there’s not anything wrong with that.

COPPER FIT MYTH Copper Fit and other copper-laden wearables claim that their garments relieve muscle and joint soreness, but science really isn’t on their side, at least when it comes to the benefits of copper. The University of York Health Sciences Department conducted research on the matter and found that any positive therapeutic effect of copper was purely placebic. Copper Fit may have some benefits, but probably just because of the compression.

SHOULD I GET COMPRESSION GEAR? Some people don’t mind wearing compression clothing, but others find it constricting and uncomfortable, which may make any benefit not worth it. Comfort when exercising can be important. Another thing to consider: to aid in muscle recovery, compression clothing should be worn for several hours after exercise, according to Dr. Billy Sperlich, professor of exercise science at the University Würzburg in Germany. This means you might be dealing with some odors for an extended amount of time.

Similar results were found in marathoners who wore compression tights after their race.

CIRCULATION It is theorized that compression clothing also aids in blood flow, which is important for healing and for helping oxygen reach muscles quickly. But this claim was recently called into question by research published in The International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. Researchers equipped male distance runners with monitors

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The results showed 27 percent fewer markers of soreness in the compressed leg compared to the free leg. June 2015

THE MAN

ISSUE

C L I E NT CON T E N T

Come On

MAN SO YOU’RE A MAN, AND YOU WANT TO STAY HEALTHY? EVERYONE KNOWS WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE AGE OF INFORMATION. IN SPITE OF THIS VAST BODY OF AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE MEN STILL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME PUTTING THEIR FINGERS ON SIMPLE SPECIFICS THEY SHOULD BE DOING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR HEALTH AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MEN FOR YEARS, AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FEW KEY FACTORS—A LIST OF DOS AND DON’TS IF YOU WILL—FOR YOU TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE AND HELP YOU FEEL BETTER, PERFORM BETTER, AND PERHAPS EVEN LIVE LONGER. WHILE THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES FOR ANY OF US, THERE STILL IS GREAT DATA SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP YOU, THE MAN OF MEN, GET THE MOST QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF LIFE OUT OF THAT WONDERFUL BODY YOU LIVE IN EACH AND EVERY DAY.

PICK THE RIGHT PARENTS Okay, you cannot do a thing about this one, but we list it here at the top to emphasize how important genetic factors are in determining many things about one’s health. Body-build factors, especially height, weight and bone and muscle composition are often pre-determined by one’s genetic make-up. A family history of cancer or of chronic disease like diabetes or heart problems puts one at higher risk for developing that same cancer or those chronic diseases. Don’t become depressed with concern, though. Rather, take this information and use it to your advantage. If you have a family history of colon or prostate cancer, make sure you are up to date with proper screening tests and examinations so that you can treat things proactively at an early stage, rather than once things have progressed and can no longer be treated. If your parents are alive and in good health, thank them for the great start they gave you.

16 HEALTHY IDAHO

DO NOT SMOKE Period. There just is no excuse for this one, men. In 2015 we all know that smoking is bad for us, and yet so many men continue to smoke in spite of that knowledge. Listen, smoking kills you. Can I be more blunt? When patients come to me and we diagnose them with a cancer which requires surgical treatment, I insist they discontinue smoking, and not just for the surgery, but for good. Many of the cancers I treat are caused by tobacco. Everyone knows that smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, but did you know it is the major cause of bladder cancer as well? If one plans to continue to smoke after having surgery for a tobacco-related cancer, then I suggest it doesn’t even make sense to have the operation in the first place. The smoking and the progression of disease are going to win; the surgery and attempting to cure the cancer are going to lose. We recognize that this is hard medicine. Being told you have cancer and you have to quit smoking all at the same time is not easy for people. But without these drastic measures, patients will not improve. More info: The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukharjee, MD

YOUR WORK PROBABLY DOES NOT COUNT AS EXERCISE / SWIM When I ask patients if they exercise, men often tell me that, yes, they go to work every day and feel like they have exercised. This feeling of fatigue or exhaustion is different, however, from effective cardiovascular and strength training which are both important aspects for good health. Men, you have got to get in some exercise, and you must do this a minimum of 3 times a week. These work-outs should include some cardiovascular training to get your heart rate up and keep it up for 15 to 30 minutes. It should also include some resistance weight training, working all the major muscle groups including your core. While such work-out routines will leave you feeling tired and spent initially, soon those feelings will be replaced with increased energy and better mental acuity, you will be better able to perform the tasks of your day job, and have more energy for your personal free time. And for the record, over the years I have noticed the men that seem to be in the best shape and have the best body tone and agility regardless of their age, are swimmers. Swimming works all the muscle groups, is great cardiovascular training, and is low impact for those that have joint and back difficulties. Consider swimming. It is a great way to stay young. I have tried to share with you a few common factors which are in the lives of men I consider to be in good health who I have cared for as a doctor over the years. Everyone is looking for the magic formula, the special food or vitamin or supplement they can take to produce good health and a long life. But the longer I take care of patients, the more I am convinced such a food, supplement, or diet does not exist to bring about this goal. Staying healthy requires a little luck, some discipline, and some hard work. But the results are worth it. You owe it to yourself, and to your loved ones and friends who want to see you succeed and have a long and healthy life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lane C. Childs, MD, FACS Western Urological Clinic wucmd.com

Dr. Childs is a men’s health expert board certified by the American Board of Urology and a Fellow with the American College of Surgeons. He ws the Top Urologist Award 2013 Healthtap.com and Annual Awards past 10 years. Special interest in vasectomy and reversals, kidney stones and prostate diseases, perineal prostatectomy.

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How Much Will the

EMERGENCY ROOM COST! A $? ny advice about the cost of a trip to ER must be accompanied by a huge asterisk, because costs have enormous variation, even in the same facility for the same procedure. For example, a study released in 2013 showed that if you walk in the ER for back problems, the cost of care is $1476 on average, before insurance. But the same study showed that the cost varied by as much as $1200 dollars between the middle 50 percent of patients. In other words, some people paid a lot more, and others paid very little. In general, uninsured patients are charged the least for medical care, compared to privately insured patients. Those on Medicaid generally get the highest bills. And remember, the bills are different for the same procedure by the same doctors. In the end, it is going to be very difficult to know how much you’ll pay for a visit to the ER, because our medical system is incredibly wonky. But, here are some national numbers on the most common health conditions leading to ER visits so you can ballpark your expenses. These numbers come from an NIH-funded study published in PLOS ONE.

INJURY

Average Charge

Inter-Quartile Range*

Min./Max.

Sprains & Strains

$1498

$1018

$4/$24,110

Normal Pregnancy and/or Delivery

$1650

$924

$19/$18,320

Kidney Stone

$4247

$3742

$128/$39,408

Back Problems

$1476

$1189

$66/$10,403

Headache

$1727

$1572

$15/$17,797

Intestinal Infection

$2398

$1960

$29/$29,551

*The difference between the 25th and 75th percentile of charges. You can see that even disregarding the extreme highs and lows, costs vary quite a bit.

$2168 The average cost for an ER visit for an outpatient condition.

The minimum and maximum charges found by researchers, who looked at more than 8,000 emergency room visits, are flabbergasting. One person walked into the ER with a kidney stone and paid $128 as an outpatient, and someone else walked into a different hospital with a kidney stone and paid $39,000. Your insurance or lack thereof, the hospital and other variables determine how much you’ll be charged, and in the end there really isn’t a great way to know how much you’ll pay. Even the ER doctors often don’t know, researchers wrote.

Source: journals.plos.org/plosone, www.theatlantic.com

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June 2015

ISSUE

The Modern Dad

THE MAN

18 HEALTHY IDAHO

WOMEN ARE BREAKING DOWN OLD GENDER STEREOTYPES, BUT SO ARE FATHERS, AND THE EFFECTS ARE EQUALLY INFLUENTIAL

one are the days of firmly divided roles in parenting. Fathers today spend about an hour more per workday with their children than dads of decades past, and that includes everything from homework to diapers to story time. As the modern father emerges, he is met with a variety of challenges, the most common being work-family conflict. In 1977, only one-third of fathers reported a worklife conflict, but by 2008 that number was at 60 percent Surveys suggest that three out of every four fathers want to spend more time with their children, and that the majority of fathers believe caregiving should be divided 50/50 with the spouse. A survey from Boston College even found that half of dads would seriously consider the possibility of being a full-time, stay-at-home dad.

But it isn’t just that both spouses are working; surveys suggest that parents today simply spend more time with their children than previous generations. A 2012 survey from Pew found that 46 percent of fathers and 52 percent of mothers reported spending more time with their kids than their parents spent with them.

“Men today view the ‘ideal’ man as someone who is not only successful as a financial provider, but is also involved as a father, husband/partner and son,” wrote the authors of The New Male Mystique, part of the National Study of the Changing Workforce by the Families and Work Institute. “Yet flat earnings, long hours, increasing job demands, blurred boundaries between work and home life, and declining job security all contribute to the pressures men face to succeed at work and at home and thus to work-family conflict.”

Childcare activities that dads engage in at least several times a week.

2002

Help with homework: 58% Read to kids: 56% Bathe and diaper: 82%

The same survey from Boston College found that only about a third of fathers say they actually share caregiving equally with their spouse, often due to work conflict. But still, housework and childcare is more and more a father’s chore. The average father in 1965 spent about four hours on housework and two and a half hours on childcare. The average father in 2011 spent ten hours a week doing housework, and seven hours a week on childcare, according to the Pew Research Center.

2010

Help with homework: 62% Read to kids: 65% Bathe and diaper: 95%

Andthese trends are seen even in the last decade (see sidebar).

This increase in time spent doing family-related things reflects the fact that fewer dads in today’s world are the sole breadwinner in the family. As of 2012, 60 percent of households had a dual income, and in just 31 percent of homes the father was the only one employed, according to Pew.

Source: National Survey of Family Growth, whitehouse.gov

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BEING A FATHER MAKES YOU A BETTER EMPLOYEE

64%

of fathers said involvement with their family gave them knowledge and skills that made them better employees.

61%

said because of their family life, they used time more efficiently, which made them better employees.

82%

said that family life made them happier, which made them better employees. Sources: Boston College Center for Work and Family, fathersworkandfamily.com

Workplace Flexibility With the modernization of parenting roles comes the debate of how accommodating a workplace should be. Studies suggest that men earn more money for every child they have—while the opposite is true for women in low-earning jobs—so men have that going for them. But how much do employers sacrifice by giving their male workers paid leave and flexibility for family? Researchers at Northwestern University found that working fathers who got to see their children daily were less likely to leave for another company, and were more satisfied with their jobs. “Instead of promoting ideals based on outdated gender norms, firms need to recognize fatherhood as a serious and time-consuming activity, both through formal flex programs and through encouraging supervisors to support fathers in fulfilling family commitments,” said Jamie Ladge, a management professor at Northeastern University who coauthored the study. “This is especially so in view of the enhanced job satisfaction and company loyalty that our study suggests is fostered by involved fathering.” A 2014 press release from the White House spoke of the “hidden costs” of limited workplace flexibility for changing gender roles, citing research which states better flexibility improves productivity, draws talent, lowers turnover and replacement costs, and reduces absenteeism. In other words, parent-friendly companies do better. Paternity leave is one hot topic in this debate. Somewhere along the lines of 70 countries offer paid leave in some way or another for fathers of a newborn child. The United States isn’t one of them, though some individual companies do. The documented benefits of paid paternity leave are mostly felt by the mother, according to multiple studies conducted in Scandinavian countries where paid paternity leave exists. Mothers are less likely to feel depressed and have better wellbeing when their spouse has paid paternity leave.

Percent of parents today who report they spend more time with their kids than their parents spent with them:

Mothers: 52% Fathers: 46% Source: Pew Research Center

Research from Boston University found that most fathers in America only take about one day of leave to bond with their new children, which could negatively influence the mother, and the father-child bond in the future. Another important aspect of workplace flexibility is the rising number of single dads. In 1970, 1 percent of families were led by a single dad, and by 2013, that number reached 8 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Clearly, fatherhood isn’t what it once was, which might actually be a good thing in a number of ways—one way being that dads want to share the load in parenting. Employers should recognize this shift and find ways to adapt to the family-oriented man because, as research suggests, this will benefit everyone. Source: Third Way, The New Dad: Take Your Leave, Boston College Center for Work and Family, Fortune, Pew Research Center, Forbes, Familiesandwork.org

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June 2015

--------------------------------

HEALTHY MAGAZINE

-------------------------------ADVISOR CLIENT CONTENT

DR. GEORGE NICOLA INTRODUCES A NEW TREATMENT TO THE TREASURE VALLEY THAT GETS AT THE HEART OF KNEE PAIN AND MAY PREVENT THE NEED FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY.

Subchondroplasty When your knee hurts or aches for an extended amount of time, it’s easy to point the finger at osteoarthritis, a common cause of joint pain. But bone marrow lesions, or flaws in the bone near the joint, are an important underlying cause of joint pain. A new procedure offered in the Treasure Valley by Dr. Nicola, called Subchondroplasty, treats bone marrow lesions, thus decreasing pain levels and delaying or preventing the need for knee replacement surgery.

JOINT PRESERVATION

Our joints undergo a lot of wear and tear every day, with things like walking, jumping, running, exercise and whatever else we do. This activity damages the joints, but our wonderful bodies are always actively repairing the joints. With time, the body’s processes for repair are sometimes outpaced by the damage the knee is accruing. Bone contusions, fractures, cysts, overuse can lead to bone marrow lesions, or defects in the bone. As cartilage levels decrease and other damages occur, other joint tissues can compensate by becoming stronger, but this isn’t always sufficient to keep pain at bay. The bone is influenced by damaged cartilage and other tissues, and the soft bone underneath the joint’s surface can swell, called bone marrow edema. Small fractures can occur in the bone in cases of chronic bone marrow lesions. These defects will not heal on their own.

THE PROCEDURE

Research suggests that the presence of bone marrow lesions is a key indicator that a

20 HEALTHY IDAHO

patient will have joint pain. These lesions are detected by an MRI. Subchondroplasty is a procedure that fills the damaged area of bone (lesions) with a hard-setting, biomimetic filler, through image-guided injection. One or two micro-incisions are made. Over time, the body replaces this bone substitute with new, healthy bone, thus repairing the bone defects. This procedure, which takes less than an hour, is often coupled with arthroscopic techniques to inspect cartilage damage and meniscus damage, and do repairs on these tissues. Loose tissue of chondral debris is removed as well. This is an outpatient procedure, and the patient goes home the same day. Some pain may be experienced for one or two days post surgery. Putting weight on the knee may be difficult for some patients for 1-2 weeks, and crutches may be needed. Physical therapy post surgery is usually recommended. Significant pain reduction may not come for weeks after the surgery. “Let’s face it,” says Dr. Nicola, “We put a lot of strain on our knee joints. This procedure is extremely effective for active people with knee pain, which is often from early arthritis.” In many cases, Subchondroplasty can eliminate the need for knee replacement surgery– or at least delay the need for several years. “It’s just another example of doing what’s best for the patient,” says Dr. Nicola. “If you are a solid candidate, you no longer have to rush into surgery.”

WHO IS IT FOR?

Not all patients are the right candidate for Subchondroplasty. The right patient would be an active individual who has good knee function, but has pain related to early arthritis, or has MRI findings consistent with Bone Marrow Edema (BME).

DOES THIS DESCRIBE YOUR PAIN:

• I have experienced symptomatic knee pain for 3+ months • I have increasing discomfort when walking or standing • I have seen limited benefits from NSAIDs, bracing, injections or physical therapy • My symptoms returned after an arthroscopy Dr. Nicola is the only Orthopedic Surgeon in the Treasure Valley performing Subchondroplasty. Recovery time is considerably less and the cost to the patient and insurer is but a fraction of the cost of a total knee replacement surgery. If you’ve been dealing with knee pain for more than three months, and the discomfort increases with walking or standing, it may be time to see Dr. Nicola about Subchondroplasty.

ABOUT DR. NICOLA George A. Nicola, MD

West Idaho Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (208) 895-0888 drgeorgenicola.com Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Nicola specializes in the treatment of a variety of orthopedic conditions and performs several orthopedic procedures including: Knee Surgery, Shoulder Surgery, Joint Preservation Techniques, Sports Medicine, Minimally Invasive Surgery, ComputerAssisted Surgery, Conservative Treatments, Etc.

Healthy-Idaho.com

Rehab Systems specializes in custom orthotics and prosthetics. Rehab Systems goes far beyond the normal O&P to ensure our patients are treated as individuals. Ultimately, we ensure that every patient is comfortable and able to participate in which ever activities they choose. Rehab Systems works closely with its sister company Coyote Design, a Boise based manufacturing company that designs products for the orthotic/prosthetic industry worldwide, allowing Rehab Systems to provide cutting edge techniques and technology for our patients. Contact rehab systems for a free consultation on the latest techniques and technologies. Boise: 7446 West Lemhi 208.342.4104

Twin Falls: 542 Addison Ave. West 208.736.7330

877.325.3534

www.rehabsystems.ws

I N D E P E N D E N T P R A C T I C E S I N C E 19 9 6

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Amber Vania, DO

Jamie L Ruiz, PA-C

• Family Practice

• Family medicine

• Osteopathic Medicine

• Preventive health

• Women’s Health

• Women's health

• Specializing in identifying and correcting structural problems, which can assist your body’s natural tendency toward health and self-healing

• Minor surgery • Behavioral medicine • Work related physicals • Dot exams

208-377-5055 www.selahmedical.com Facebook.com/HealthyIdaho

June 2015

ISSUE

THE MAN

Time Waits For No

Aging differences between men and women

hether we’re over the hill, climbing it or just plain scared of the prospect, aging is something that concerns us all. But it turns out that men and women handle aging differently, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. The differences in how each gender ages come from a variety of factors. Societal norms and cultural issues play a role, as do smoking, eating and drinking habits.

APPEARANCE AND FUNCTIONALITY In a survey from Allure magazine, 90 percent of respondents said that women are under more pressure than men to look younger. The poll results showed that men are considered old about five years after a woman is considered old, and that men are sexier at an older age. And it gets worse for women. Gray hair on men was considered “distinguished,” but on women it was associated with being old. These factors may be what contribute to more women than men considering things like injections or plastic surgery. The International Dermal Institute examined the differences in the skin of men and women and said that both men and women lose collagen (the main component of connective tissue in the body) after they turn 30. When women undergo menopause, the various hormonal and bodily changes cause increased collagen loss, which explains why some women appear to age more than men.

AVERAGE

AGE OF

Disabling conditions like fractures, osteoporosis and back problems tend to be more prevalent among women than men at an older age, according to Stanford researchers. A study published in the Journals of Gerontology showed the percentages of disabled participants according to gender, starting at age 70. In the study, 22 percent of women and 15 percent of men were disabled at age 70. By age 90, 81 percent of women were disabled, compared to 57 percent of men. Older women are generally more sedentary than older men, according to research from the University of San Diego, which may be because “personal and environmental factors represent poor conditions for physical activity.” That said, other research shows that maximal cardiac output decreases more steeply with age for men than women.

22 HEALTHY IDAHO

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. -Mark Twain

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Gender W RITTEN BY JENNA KOFO R D

SELF-ESTEEM AND HAPPINESS For both genders, self-esteem follows a similar pattern throughout a lifetime. Self-esteem is high in childhood, drops during adolescence, rises gradually throughout adulthood and then plummets with old age. But research also shows that women generally have lower selfesteem and happiness as aging progresses. For example, research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies showed some intriguing markers.

AGE 41

Age at which men’s financial satisfaction exceeds women’s financial satisfaction.

AGE 48

Age at which men’s overall happiness exceeds women’s overall happiness.

AGE 64

Age at which men’s satisfaction with family life exceeds women’s satisfaction with family life.

Of course we mustn’t forget that these numbers do suggest that women are more satisfied in these aspects for a greater portion of their lives compared to men. But at a certain age, things begin to change. However, most women develop better coping skills as they age, which includes empathy, patience, and the courage to try new things. Most men show less ability to cope with new changes as they age, some research suggests. AARP says that this is the main reason women live longer than men; they can better access their “mental, emotional, and relational strengths” to face challenges while aging.

MENTAL ABILITY Some research suggests that women show less age-associated cognitive decline than men, and that decline begins earlier in men. Other studies suggest that attention skills, verbal memory, and spatial memory worsen in men with age. How can you combat cognitive decline?

AVERAGE

AGE OF

LIFE EXPECTANCY Women are more likely to pass 100 years than men. American women live to the average age of 81, while men average at 76, according to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Men, however, often hold a better quality of life, with 32 percent of men free from major health concerns. Only 15 percent of women were free from health conditions in a World Health Organization global statistics measurement. Some suggest that women live longer because they are more likely to visit a doctor or keep themselves in shape. Others point out that men may work dangerous occupations that bring early health conditions.

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BE ACTIVE Physically active people tend to maintain better cognition and memory. Exercise improves vascular function throughout the body, including in the mind.

HAVE RELAXED CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS In one study from the University of Michigan, just talking with friends was shown to improve cognitive ability. Other studies show that social networks are important for dementia risks.

FIND A PURPOSE TO YOUR LIFE Researchers from Rush University found that among study participants, those with the highest sense of purpose and direction in life had a 2.4 times lower risk of Alzheimer’s over the next seven years, compared to those with a lower sense of purpose.

Sources: Medical Daily, About Health, AARP, Dermal Institute, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, World Health Organization

June 2015

THE INDEPENDENT ADVANTAGE

From left to right: Robert G. Hansen, MD, Michael T. Daines, MD, Michael J. Shevlin, MD, Charles P. Schneider, MD, Thomas W. Tryon, PA-C, Hodaka Abe, PA-C, John Q. Smith, MD, George A. Nicola, MD, Craig R. Jamison, PA-C, Bryce Wikfors, PA-C

How West Idaho Orthopedics and Sports Medicine’s independence allows them to practice medicine without constraints, and to the benefit of the patient. FROM SMALL TO BIG

In recent years, due to changes and struggles within the American healthcare system, many physicians are joining large, hospital-owned medical groups. These corporate medical giants have hospitals, physicians of all varieties, surgeons, surgery rooms, therapists and more, to provide every aspect of healthcare to a large number of patients. The problem with this model, says West Idaho Orthopedics’ Dr. Michael Daines, is that it isn’t patient oriented. Physicians within these hospital groups have little incentive to create an excellent patient experience, and also have limitations in what they can do, when they can do it, which professionals they can recommend, even which drugs they can prescribe. Dr. Daines speaks from experience having spent several years as an employed hospital system physician. For example, suppose a patient with a knee problem sees a primary care physician

24 HEALTHY IDAHO

or take calls. Incentives for better care are stronger for independent doctors.

who is part of a large medical group. The physician discovers that the patient needs knee replacement surgery. The doctor can only recommend surgeons and facilities that are a part of the same medical group. This can mean the patient is put on a waiting list for a needed surgery, sometimes months long. It also means that a patient has limited options in terms of pre-surgery testing, surgical centers and rehabilitation. Some facilities have equipment and capabilities that improve the quality of surgery for certain orthopedic issues, but patients who enter the corporate healthcare system often don’t have the option to pick the facility that best suits their condition.

TAILORED CARE

A Wall St. Journal article recently commented that physicians working for hospitals are worse at continuity of care, worse at passing patient information off to other doctors and less likely to make time to see patients

Orthopedic surgeons in large-system medical groups often have months of surgeries lined up for patients they don’t even know. The system feeds them patients, and they simply do the number of surgeries each week that their employer requires. In contrast, it is common practice for independent physicians to create space in their schedules for unexpected patients, extending clinic and surgery hours, despite having full schedules already. “It really comes down to the delivery of patient care,” says Dr. John Q. Smith. “We work to educate our patients so they can make smart choices. We work with their availability to schedule after hours appointments and even surgeries. We treat each patient individually and tailor a treatment plan to achieve their goals, unlike hospital doctors who stick to a traditional 9-5 work week.” In addition, with an independent practice, you are directly involved with the surgeon early on.

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HOW A PATIENT BENEFITS FROM AN INDEPENDENT PROVIDER • You can choose a surgical facility closer to home. • You can choose care that fits your condition and budget. • You can get needed care sooner. • You can know your surgeon. • Personal information remains private, only accessible to certain medical professionals.

“Our surgeons are involved from start to finish,” says Dr. Charles Schneider, who has been with the practice in Caldwell and Meridian for 37 years. “Being available to the patient helps pre-surgery and getting to know that patient helps tremendously with postsurgical care.”

organization for which I work,” says Dr. Jonathon Wolf, who will join the practice in September. “The ability to be flexible, and the ability to pass along cost savings to the patient are huge advantages.”

The bottom line is that independent physicians have more flexibility and are more likely to cater to the needs of the patient.

Another way the patient is put first is the access to their doctor after hours. Most hospital system physicians work a strict schedule and do not take calls after hours.

This isn’t to say that corporate physicians aren’t great doctors, adds Dr. Robert Hansen, but they simply have little incentive to go above and beyond for their patients. This is why WIOSM’s patients who call with questions will speak directly to one of the surgeons in the group. In this way the doctors keep close tabs on their patients. This would be largely impossible for a physician employed at a large hospital. Dr. Michael Shevlin recalls this recent experience: “A few months ago I saw a patient in the office with an ankle fracture that needed to be fixed surgically. We tried to schedule the procedure at one facility. They were unfortunately unable to get that surgery scheduled within the next few days and the patient would have had to wait over the weekend to have it done (it was only Wednesday at this point). My schedulers were then able to get this surgery scheduled at another facility the next day. “ WIOSM also works with the patients’ insurance, ensuring we are treating patients in network, containing costs every step of the way, so there are no surprises. “I relish the autonomy to practice how best fits the needs of my patient and not the

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AFTER HOURS

“My phone is always on for my patients,” says Dr. Nicola. “Often times following surgery, the patient is uneasy those first couple nights and I am always available to talk with them. This is not the case with a hospital system physician” WIOSM’s approach fits well with the changing patient attitudes of today, says Dr. Shevlin. “Patients today are much more engaged in their own healthcare. They are better educated. They understand that they have a choice.” Dr. Nicola adds: “In this changing healthcare arena, we are aware patients are paying increased cost for care, from insurance premiums to out-ofpocket expenses to the rising cost of care itself. For us it's all about the quality of care. Our patients come first. Our surgical outcomes are second to none.”

In addition to the main clinics in Meridian and Caldwell, West Idaho Orthopedics has satellite offices in Emmett and Fruitland. Being independent allows the WIOSM surgeons to offer quality, affordable care close to home. Learn more by visiting: westidahoorthopedics.com

FACILITY FEES The freedom of independence raises physician productivity and quality of care, and also allows for more controlled costs, according to Dr. Daines. Certain MRI machines cost more than others, and the same goes for different equipment at various facilities around Boise and the Treasure Valley. WIOSM surgeons are able to choose which equipment to use and create a personalized patient plan. On top of this, they don’t charge their patients a facility fee (sometimes thousands of dollars), which a hospital will tack on, and which insurance sometimes doesn’t cover. Hospitals must be equipped to provide critical services for a wide variety of medical conditions, of any severity, which is what a community needs and wants. However, having the facilities, professionals and licensing to operate at this capacity costs a lot of money. To balance these costs, a hospital tacks on what are called facility fees to the bills for procedures. For example, a woman in Florida took her young daughter to an urgent care center owned by a hospital. The center billed $233 for care from the doctor, and a $275 facility fee. This means that the patient is responsible for not only the doctor’s care, but also must pay the hospital for the facility fee. “Costs can more than double with these fees, and patients, along with their insurance companies, foot the bill,” says Dr. Nicola. “For the patient, depending on your insurance plan the fee may not be covered and you will be 100% responsible for the bill.” Medicare covers most of these facility fee charges, which helps those patients age 65 and older. But for many younger people with high-deductible private insurance plans, these visits can be quite expensive. While independent practices do not charge facility fees, these fees can occur when a surgery is scheduled at specific hospitals. The question is this: should the patient feel comfortable paying to offset hospital operational and overhead costs? Independent practices say no.

June 2015

Whether you need a quick breakfast, a pre-workout meal, or an easy snack, sometimes you just need something that’s sweet, healthy, and satisfying, all in one.

food / chef support

Apple Pie Energy Bites

Sun-Dried Tomato

Hummus Excerpted from the Don’t Break Your Heart Cookbook

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup (250 ml) no-salt-added chickpeas, cooked 2 sun-dried tomatoes 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil 1 tablespoon (15 ml) rice vinegar 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water Sea salt, to taste (optional)

STEPS

That’s where these apple pie energy bites come in. The oats, apple, and honey will give you energy, and the almond butter and protein powder will help you stay full for more than two minutes. Plus, they’re easy to make and since you can store them in a freezer, are ready to go whenever you need a quick bite!

INGREDIENTS:

•

Puree all ingredients using either a food processor or a handheld blender.

•

Refrigerate in an airtight container.

8 SERVINGS

1 cup oatmeal 1 scoop cinnamon or vanilla protein powder 1 small apple, diced really small 1/4 cup unsweetened almond butter 2 Tbsp honey 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg

•

To make your own sundried tomatoes, peel and slice ripe, firm Roma tomatoes. Add basil, cover with cheesecloth, and place in the sun for 1 to 2 days. Hummus adds protein and fiber to your diet.

NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 47 Total Fats: 2 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 13 mg Total Carbohydrates: 5 g Dietary Fiber: 1 g Sugars: 1 g Protein: 2 g Iron: 0.5 mg Macronutrient Breakdown 44% Carbohydrates 18% Protein 38% Fat

Total prep time: 20 minutes

TIP

DIRECTIONS: •

Dice your apple up really small (just pretend you’re chopping an onion), then mix the apple along with the other ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

•

Make sure to stir everything together really well—the last thing you want is to take a bite of dry oatmeal (or worse, a giant clump of cinnamon or nutmeg) when you’re eating one of these.

•

If the mixture isn’t sticking together quite right, just add a little more almond butter or honey until it’s sticky enough you can mold it into small 1-2” balls.

•

Place the energy bites on parchment paper and stick them in the freezer, wait 30-60 minutes, and eat! You can also put them in the fridge instead and eat them fresh after chilling them for an hour or so, but I like them best frozen.

Calories: 107 Protein: 5.3g Carbohydrates: 13g Fat: 4.2g Fiber: 2g

26 HEALTHY IDAHO

Enjoy hummus as a dip with your favorite vegetables and as a spread on your favorite bread, crackers, or baked lowsodium chips.

Source: 12 Minute Athlete 12 Minute Athlete is a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout regimen of short, effective workouts based on calisthenics, cross-training and functional fitness. Do the workouts from their official app, or find workouts on the website: www.12minuteathlete.com.

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3 Videos for the Price of 1! Call Today for Details!

801.369.6139

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June 2015

ISSUE

THE MAN

SERIOU 5 WAYS Men Mismanage Their Health WR IT T EN BY A NDY P EIFFER , MD

WE HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS IN MOST ALL WE DO; WE WORK HARD, WE DON’T LIKE TO BURDEN OTHERS AND WE STRIVE TO GET THE MOST OF OUT OF LIFE. SO WHY IS IT THAT OUR REASONING ABOUT HOW TO STAY HEALTHY IS OFTEN MISGUIDED AND EVEN PUTS US AT HIGHER RISK FOR ILLNESS? A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY MEN MANAGE THEIR HEALTH THE WRONG WAY AND SOME WAYS TO CHANGE THIS:

28 HEALTHY IDAHO

Healthy-Idaho.com

USLY BRO? 1 BEING REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE You’ve heard it before: a lot of guys only consult a doctor when they develop worrisome symptoms. Men don’t like to discuss personal stuff, their concerns, fears…it’s a sign of weakness. But sometimes that first small symptom is a sign of something dangerous. We are getting better about adopting a preventive approach to health problems and statistics tell us that it is working (we CAN prevent health problems). But what that means is that you should definitely schedule a doctor’s visit even if you don’t feel like there’s a problem and make a plan together about regular health check-ups.

2 GETTING ADVICE ABOUT IMPORTANT HEALTH MATTERS FROM QUESTIONABLE SOURCES When it comes to health, they say “everyone’s an expert.” A lot of people have their own ideas about what makes you sick and what can make you healthy. And some of them make a lot of money doing it. But “quick fixes” and fads won’t replace sustained life changes that you need to make to improve your health. Remember, the only person who really has your best (health) interests at heart is… YOU.

NEGLECTING THE OBVIOUS You can’t help but notice all the health information out there these days and a lot of that education is paying off. Think about the effectiveness of anti-smoking campaigns. But we still choose to ignore other obvious health risks: over-eating, not exercising regularly, working too much, not sleeping enough. We know that these behaviors are not good for us and yet, we choose to ignore. And that can lead to serious health problems. Instead of feeling guilty, pick some aspect of your lifestyle that you know you should modify and do it. You’ll start to feel better almost immediately.

LEAVING YOUR HEALTH TO CHANCE

BUYING YOUR HEALTH

There are so many important things in life that we put a lot of thought into… for instance, your finances, your career, family, retirement, your children’s future. And yet, when it comes to our health, we often adopt a sort of “destined to our fate” attitude. True, there are some health risks we can’t foresee but medical science is helping us understand those so that one day we can prevent them (think dementia). But so many more health problems are preventable, treatable. Striving for a healthy, productive life is a good philosophy, and people who love you will benefit from it too…but it takes some planning. Prioritize your health.

This tip is closely tied to the comments above about getting advice. There seems to be an endless stream of advertised supplements and products that claim to improve health. Spending money on remedies and gadgets really just seems like you’re compensating for what you actually need to be doing to improve your health. You can’t buy health in a bottle. For many truly health conscious people, the secret seems to be “less is more,” and that includes pills. And the healthiest food we don’t eat enough of (vegetables) are cheap. How does that saying go? The best things (for you) in life are free…even exercise.

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June 2015

DO THIS

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ISSUE

THE MAN

See an MLS Soccer Game

Soccer is becoming less of a foreign sport to Americans, and its professional soccer league (Major League Soccer or MLS) is showing that. Stadiums are packed even for new teams, and the season goes through June and July.

Go Repelling

Looking over a ledge and taking that step into space takes guts, even with a harness and ropes. Repelling is an amazing thrill that doesn’t have to be expensive.

See a Stand-Up Comedian

Creativity at it’s finest often comes in the form of a solitary person on a stage trying to get the audience to laugh.

Try Surfing

LISTEN TO THIS Lianne La Havas, Blood

(Neo-soul, vocal, beat driven)

Tame Impala, Innerspeaker (Modern rock)

The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely (Rock n’ roll)

Chances are you’ll find yourself near an ocean at some point this summer. Harness the power of the sea with a surfboard. It’s hard, but addicting.

Ty Segall, Manipulator

Join a Community Sports Team

Talib Kweli, Gravitas

Few feelings compare to crushing an epic home run over the fence in city-league softball. Plus, sports are great exercise for escaping the monotony of a typical workout.

30 HEALTHY IDAHO

(Indie Rock)

(Rap)

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SEE THIS

WATCH THIS

The Martian, Andy Weir

Art installations from Arne Quinze, Monica Bonvicini or Yusuke Asai

Jurassic World

These artists do projects all over the world. Follow their work and see if you can find some of their fascinating installations as you travel.

This movie comes out on June 12, and will hopefully be as stellar as the earlier Jurassic Park movies.

Cool Modern Architecture

Timbuktu

Some buildings we’d suggest are the Seattle Central Library, Abando in Bilbao, Spain, The Bow in Calgary, Canada, Beekman Tower and Tower Verre in New York, Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait, and Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower in China.

Banksy

Banksy is a controversial graffiti artist with pieces all over the world. If you’re traveling this summer, see if there are any pieces in the city where you’re traveling.

Rodina Mat, Volgograd

Rodina Mat means “Motherland” in Russian, and this statue, which commemorates those lost in WWII, is one of the largest in the world. It weighs 8,000 tons.

The Pietà, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

A cattle herder in Mali faces the terror of a Jihadist regime.

Seymour: An Introduction

Seymour Bernstein, renowned pianist, devoted his life to helping people develop their gifts. His story is told here in a powerful way.

Boyhood

This movie was filmed over the course of 12 years with the same cast, making it a groundbreaking movie that captures childhood like never before.

American Sniper

Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, a US sniper in the middle east conflict, this movie is sure to cause some discomfort and captivate you like few other movies can.

GO HERE

Seeing a work by Michelangelo should be on everyone’s bucket list, and this is one of his greatest.

READ THIS An astronaut is stranded on Mars, and has to figure out ways to survive until NASA can find a way to save him. It’s a realistic thriller that integrates all of what we actually know about Mars in a believable way.

The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls Incredible true stories of a nomadic American family told from the perspective of the young daughter.

The Art of Manliness: Manvotionals, Brett and Kate McKay

From Roosevelt to Aristotle to Churchill, the greatest men in history expound on the true virtues of manliness.

How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie This is what most self-help books aspire to be but fail at.

Freakonomics, Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner This is one of those books that turns your brain on its head. You’ll likely never think the same about many social issues.

Southern Utah

Southern Utah has multiple national parks offering stunning red rock landscapes and natural creations that astound. Try Zion’s, Capitol Reef or Arches.

Glacier National Park, Montana

This park offers some of the awe-inspiring nature that North America has to offer, including 700 miles of trails through spectacular landscapes.

Lake Natron, Tanzania

This lake evaporates in the summer, leaving a blood-red lake floor where salt-loving algae thrives. Besides the stunning lake, a million flamingos use this area as their breeding ground.

Zhangye Danxia Landform, China

Tie-dye shirts have nothing on this geological insanity. Earth isn’t usually rainbow colored, but this place in China is.

Paro Taksang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), Bhutan

This is a breathtaking monastery perched on the face of a cliff in Bhutan. How and why it was built is for you to find out, but the result is jaw-dropping.

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June 2015

MEN’S HEALTH CARE IS

Changing W RITTEN BY JOS EPH W I LLI AM S, M . D.

The idea of attending to health problems specific to adult males has historically been centered on prostate health and erectile dysfunction, usually treated by an urologist. Several changes have occurred in medicine and in how men’s health is addressed. Americans are more overweight than past generations. For many, this is because we eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Medically, this combination could result in metabolic syndrome, a disease many experts consider a true epidemic, which may result in diabetic conditions, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. This results in several medical problems, but the one that men notice is erectile dysfunction. Small blood vessels and nerves to the genitals are damaged and sexual function is affected. The number one behavioral enemy of erections is smoking or chewing tobacco.

Being overweight may lead to sleep apnea, which affects how we feel throughout the day. Testosterone levels are also reduced from being overweight. Medical science has expanded the methods of testosterone supplementation and these products are heavily marketed, giving men the impression they are at risk for suffering from “low T,” a reduced amount of testosterone in their system. This medical condition is actually unusual and arises because of a brain hormone abnormality or failure of the testes to make adequate testosterone. Unfortunately, for most men who come to the urologist for erectile dysfunction, treatment with testosterone or a pill is usually NOT the solution. Dedication to make lifestyle changes can be critical. Erectile dysfunction that

arises in a man’s 40s may herald a fight for survival from heart disease in his 50s or 60s. As men live longer, men’s health issues will become more common. Currently, average life expectancy for men in the United States is 77.4 years. Tackling these problems requires taking a look at our entire lifestyle and it demands resources from several types of healthcare professionals, beginning with the primary care provider. Through research, we know regular exercise and weight control adds years to our lives. Good sleep habits improve mental performance and enhance weight loss efforts. The basics we learned in health class back in elementary school are being validated by modern medical research.

Idaho Urologic Institute

is Proud to Announce the Grand Opening of

Men’s Health of Idaho Men’s Health of Idaho was established to treat the unique health needs of men. MHI is built on a tradition of excellence by board-certified urologists from Idaho Urologic Institute. When you see an MHI physician, you’ll have the confidence of knowing your doctor is part of a comprehensive team. If your medical needs fall outside of the field of urology, MHI has partnered with a team of specialists who can provide the best and most complete care possible in an expedited fashion. Our highly trained and experienced physicians provide conservative, nonsurgical and surgical treatment for many conditions including: • Benign Prostate • Sexual Dysfunction (ED, Hypertrophy (BPH) Peyronie’s Disease) • Incontinence

• Low Testosterone

222 N. 2nd St., Suite 115, Boise • (208) 639-4899 www.idurology.com 32 HEALTHY IDAHO

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HEALTHY MAGAZINE

-------------------------------ADVISOR CLIENT CONTENT

Woke up with

a Headache? Is it a Sinus

Headache? Headaches occur because of many reasons. However, only a few are secondary to allergies. The so- called “sinus headaches,” which occur after swelling of the sinus cavities, are usually found in patients with allergic nasal and sinus problems. The treatment of the nasal and sinus allergic condition can lead to decreased swelling and resolution of obstruction of sinus openings in nasal cavities, leading to resolution of headache. These headaches usually occur with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears and facial swelling. If treating the allergic nasal and sinus problem doesn’t help your headache, then other types of headaches have to be considered. Some are listed below: Tension headaches usually begin slowly, often starting in the middle of the day. Tension, or stress, headaches cause a constant, dull, achy feeling on both sides of the head. Some patients will notice a tight band-like feeling in the head. Certain foods contain chemicals capable of triggering a headache. Some are enumerated below. •

NITRATE containing foods include broad beans, cured meats such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, hams, and smoked fish.

•

TYRAMINE in high concentrates is found in aged cheeses, wines, pickled herring, chicken liver,

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yeast extracts and tablets, pickled meats or vegetables and sour cream. •

CAFFEINE is found in coffee, cocoa and cola drinks.

•

THEOBROMINE is in tea.

•

HISTAMINE-rich foods are fish, fermented cheese, sauerkraut, dry sausage, pickled cabbage and alcoholic beverages.

•

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE is a flavor enhancer used in season salts and other spices, especially used in Chinese foods.

Migraine headaches are commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. It can cause an intense pulsing sensation in one area of the head. A cluster headache occurs in cyclical patterns. It commonly awakens in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around one eye or one side of your head. During remission, no headaches occur for months and sometimes even years.

It might affect one or both sides of your face. Injury to your jaw, the joint, or the muscles of your head and neck, grinding or clenching your teeth and arthritis of the joint are some of the reasons for TMJ. Other causes of headaches include visual strain due to vision problems, hormonal fluctuations in women, low blood sugar and high blood pressure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Neetu Talreja

Dr. Neetu Talreja is a Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist with The Allergy Group in Boise and Meridian. Learn more from Dr. Talreja at www.theallergygroup.com or call 377-4000

Temporomandibular joints disorder (TMJ) can also lead to headaches. It can be temporary or last many years.

June 2015

ISSUE

A Man’s Car

manly matters

THE MAN

Height Matters

A survey conducted for AnastasiaDate found that 25 percent of men question the status of the car they drive when picking up a woman for a first date. 30 percent of men surveyed thought that a woman would be more interested in the type of car he drives than in the kind of job he has.

Tall men are less likely to develop heart disease compared to short men, according to research published this year in The New England Journal of Medicine, which involved more than 200,000 people. In fact, every 2.5 inches of height meant a 13.5 percent lower likelihood of coronary artery disease.

Other studies confirm other advantages of being taller. Taller people get paid more, and have a slightly higher IQ on average.

But don’t gloat yet, tall people. A study of more than 140,000 people by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that height increased one’s risk of all cancers. Furthermore, tall people, on average, tend to die younger.

46 percent of women surveyed said that the car a man drives reflects his image, and 48 percent said his car says a lot about his financial situation. 56 percent of women said that when a man drives a fast, fancy car, he is seen as arrogant. 17 percent of women say flashy cars indicate insecurity, and 32 percent say that they learn what kind of family man he’ll be from what he is driving. Only a fifth of the women surveyed decided on the attractiveness of a man after seeing the car he drives. 40 percent of women said men buy expensive cars to make up for a lack of manhood. Source: theurbandater.com

Laptops NOT For Laps As a people, we’re quick to find ways that technology is attacking us, but many claims are bogus (looking at you, cancer-causing cell phones). Now laptop computers are in the target; they’re taking heat for the heat they produce. Some research suggests that when a man sits with a laptop directly on his lap for an extended amount of time, the temperature of reproductive organs raises to a point that sperm activity can drop and fertility may be influenced. Source: Fertility and Sterility

34 HEALTHY IDAHO

Healthy-Idaho.com

ISSUE

THE MAN

The Signals of Facial Hair Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia conducted a study to learn more about how women respond to facial hair, and here are some things they found:

TO WOMEN:

TO MEN:

• Heavy stubble is the most attractive.

• Full beards and heavy stubble is most attractive.

• Heavy beards, light stubble and clean-shaven are similarly less attractive.

• Clean-shaven is only slightly less attractive than full beards or heavy stubble. • Light stubble is the least attractive (get that peach fuzz out of here).

In all, the more facial hair, the more masculine a man seemed (not surprising), though “the effect was more pronounced in women in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle,” study authors wrote. Attractiveness ratings did not change according to phase of the menstrual cycle. But before you shave off the beard, the study also found that participants said full beards were the highest indicator of parenting ability and healthiness. Other studies find that any distinctive facial hair is associated with aggression, dominance and maturity. Clean-shaven men are more associated with sociability and cleanliness. According to artofmanliness.com, another study showed that bearded men are perceived as less generous, less caring and less cheerful than clean-shaven men. Source: Evolution and Human Behavior, artofmanliness.com

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June 2015

ISSUE

THE MAN

Mail Order

RAZORS A Guide

PROS

Dollar Shave Club Every guy needs a different number of razors each month, because we all grow facial hair differently, and have different shaving habits. Dollar Shave Club has plans of $1/month, $6/month, and $9/month, based on the number of razors you want every month, and also on how many blades are on the razor. You can downgrade whenever you want.

TIP

CONS

But are the blades good? Reviews from around the web suggest that they are comparable to more expensive alternatives, though the blades donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last as long as Gillette blades, reports suggest.

36 HEALTHY IDAHO

Monthly payments of any kind are a drag. Plus some of the plans do require you to pay for shipping, which is up to $2. Rumor has it that the Dollar Shave Club gets their razors from a company called Dorco. You can actually go online and order the same razors from Dorco for cheaper than Dollar Shave Club, though you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the convenience of having razors sent to you regularly. Dorco may require you to buy in bulk.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANUAL SHAVING

PROS

Harry’s Harry’s subscription shaving plans are based around how often you shave. Each kit comes with eight blades and costs $5/month, and the handle is included free. But you select if you want to receive the kit every two, three or five months. Multiple reviewers say that Harry’s razors are slightly better than Dollar Shave Club. If you get the Dollar Shave Club executive razors for $9/month, which come every month, then you pay $108 per year, which is more expensive per blade than Harry’s. If you need a nicer blade because you have tougher facial hair, Harry’s might be your best option.

TIP

CONS

According to Forbes, Harry’s actually owns the German factory where their razors are made, meaning they aren’t repackaging an Asian product, like Dollar Shave Club does. Most reviewers agree that this razor is great for the cost. If you don’t mind spending twice as much on shaving, however, Gillette has an edge on shave quality. Also, Harry’s razors won’t last you as long as Gillette razors. Most reviewers say that Harry’s shaving cream isn’t great, so just buy your own kind separately. It smells fine, but people say the razor performs better with other creams.

PROS

ShaveMob ShaveMob razors are meant to last longer than alternatives, meaning you need fewer razors and therefore pay less money (a 4-blade razor is $1.12 per cartridge). You can choose a 2, 6 or 12-month supply, and you get the razors all at once. This means that you don’t have to wait on the mail to shave, like some people complain about with Dollar Shave Club.

TIP

CONS

Reviewers seem to be happy with the closeness of shave and the endurance of the blades, and ShaveMob also offers women’s razors. You have to pay for the handle ($3). Also, the packaging is not nearly as good as Harry’s or Dollar Shave Club, reviewers report, though it isn’t bad. A cost comparison shows that ShaveMob razors are probably the cheapest option for mail order razors, so if value is your main concern, start here.

Caveat Your satisfaction with a razor and the associated costs depend largely on how often you shave, and how tough your facial hair is. Some people only shave once in a while, and have less tough facial hair. For these people, mail order razors represent a cheaper, better option than Gillette. But this may not be the case for those who shave every day and have coarse stubble.

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Shaving is probably more common to your mornings than pancakes and orange juice, and like many men, you often take it for granted. Maybe you find it a chore, or perhaps even worse—a painful necessity. Despite having shaved countless times, many men complain about a number of shaving side effects— not getting as close a shave as desired, irritated skin, razor bumps, nicks or ingrown hairs. Dragging a sharp blade against your hairy chin is a scary prospect when you stop to think about it, but with a little honing of shaving skills, anyone can transform an annoyance into a morning ritual to look forward to.

The Prep Work With the proper steps, you can soften your hairs, open your pores and lubricate your skin, making shaving a breeze and also a daily mini-facial. Many men shortchange their shaving prep, but the following steps are essential to getting both a close, comfortable, one-pass shave and healthy skin. gg WASH YOUR FACE: Start by washing your face. Dirt, grime, dead skin and oils are all things you want to avoid when performing such a delicate operation on very sensitive skin. Facial cleansers work best because they help soften the protein in the hair and exfoliate dead skin that will clog razor blades. gg USE HOT WATER: Heat helps open your pores and soften your beard, so taking a hot shower right before shaving is ideal. If a shower is not an option, splash hot water over the face or, if there is time, wrap a towel soaked with hot water around the face like barbershops do. Hot water softens the protein keratin that makes up part of the hair and also allows your hairs to swell with water. Keep your face warm and moist during the entire shaving process. gg SHAVING CREAM: Apply shaving cream and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes; this allows your hair follicles to fully hydrate and swell with water, making them easier to cut. If you have one, use a shaving brush in a circular motion to create a good lather, ending with upstrokes to lift up your hairs. Comb your hair or brush your teeth while you wait. The longer you let the shaving cream stay on your face before shaving, the softer your skin and your beard will be. If you’re in a hurry, at least start shaving on the side of your face, then your moustache and end with your chin. Your chin hairs are usually the stiffest, so you’ll allow those hairs to soften longer if you reserve this portion for last.

Putting Steel to Skin gg RAZOR SELECTION: Razor companies would like you to believe that the number of blades or the flexibility of the razor justify spending big money on their products. But by far the most important factors to a comfortable shave are only using sharp razors and keeping your blades clean from hairs and dead skin. Depending on how often you shave and how thick your beard grows, you may need to replace your razors every 10 to 15 shaves, which may or may not justify buying expensive razors. Remember that using dull razors is the cardinal sin of shaving, resulting in irritation and ingrown hairs. gg WITH THE GRAIN: Shaving with the grain is essential. This doesn’t always mean shaving down, however. Let your beard grow out a few days and you’ll be able to see which direction your hairs grow, which is the same direction you should shave. You may get a closer shave going against the grain, but you also greatly increase your chances for getting ingrown hairs and nicks. If you want a closer shave, lather up again and focus on the specific problem areas. Professional barbers often shave with the grain the first lather and then shave sideways after the second. However, be careful with these last two suggestions; overshaving an area often causes skin irritation. Finally, use very light pressure when shaving. Pushing too hard down also leads to skin irritation and ingrown hairs. gg COLD WATER TO FINISH: After you’ve finished, wash your face with coldest water you can comfortably stand. Ending with a cold water wash discourages inflammation in the same way a cold compress helps swelling and closes your pores, helping to keep them unclogged. gg AFTERSHAVE: Aftershave lotions and moisturizers can be used to help keep your skin healthy and moisturized. Shaving is a traumatic experience for your skin as you remove a couple layers of skin after a typical shave. Using moisturizer helps keep your skin healthy and soft, particularly if you have sensitive skin. But don’t use harsh alcoholbased aftershaves, which cause redness and irritation.

June 2015

ISSUE

THE MAN

Panned Out PA N COOKING M E AT C A N BE CLASSY

Out of nowhere, wind and rain have come to ruin your summer barbecue. But the elements don’t have to rob you of deliciously cooked steak, chicken and pork chops. You can get summertime flavor even when the sun isn’t shining, with just a pan, in your house. However, grilling inside, also called direct-heat grilling, is a little bit different than cooking with charcoal or gas. Here are some keys to success. 38 HEALTHY IDAHO

YOUR EQUIPMENT

Some pans are better than others for cooking large pieces of meat. In general, go with a thick pan. Cast iron is dependable and cooks well, but is somewhat difficult to clean. Various non-stick pans are also reliable. Make sure your pan’s cooking surface is flat. Some pans bow in the middle, which makes meat cook unevenly.

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CHICKEN IN A PAN STEAK IN A PAN Will steak cooked inside ever be as good as steak off a barbecue? Yes! 1. Make sure your pan is hot. Pat room temperature steak with paper towel to remove excess moisture. This helps the meat sear better. 2. Add oil (about 1 tbsp.), and glide until it covers the cooking surface. Just as the oil starts to smoke, place the steak. 3. Wait 2-3 minutes, and turn. This time depends on how cooked you want the meat. Don’t turn the meat too frequently, though, as this hurts the chances of even cooking and nice color. 4. As the steak is finishing up, add butter to the pan. Take a spoon and lather the steak in the melted butter. Total cook time should be about 6-7 minutes. 5. Let the meat rest for a few minutes, and serve.

PORK CHOP IN A PAN

Chicken is a little more difficult to cook in pan, since chicken breasts are often rounder in shape than a flat steak, and because chicken must be cooked thoroughly to avoid sickness. 1. Pound the chicken breast to an even thickness, using the handle of a heavy kitchen instrument, or the flat of a knife. 2. Heat the pan to medium-high. Add olive oil (about 1 tbsp.) and a slice of butter when the pan is hot. 3. Turn the heat down to medium, and add the well-thawed chicken to the mixed oil and butter. Make sure you hear the sizzle. If there’s no sizzle, the pan isn’t hot enough. 4. Cook this side for about one minute. You are looking for a little color to know when to flip. 5. Flip the chicken breast. If the chicken is sticking, wait another minute before flipping. 6. Turn down the heat to low, and put a lid on the pan. Leave the chicken alone for ten minutes. 7. Turn off the heat, and let the chicken sit for 5-10 more minutes, still covered. It is important to not lift the pan for these twenty minutes, as this preserves the moisture of the meat. 8. If you are worried the poultry isn’t cooked enough, you can make a small cut to examine the color of the juices. If clear, that is a good indication the chicken is done.

Pork chops are a misunderstood food. Many people don’t like them because they are often cooked overly well-done, to avoid any food-borne bacteria. The truth is, a pork chop can and should be moist. 1. Heat pan to medium high, and add olive oil and butter, about a tablespoon of each. 2. Just when the oil is simmering hot, add the pork chop. Make sure the pan is hot, as this is key to creating a sear that keeps moisture in the chop. 3. Sear each side for one minute. Then leave the chop for about 3 minutes on each side, covered. Total cook time will be about 6-7 minutes if the pan is at a good temperature. 4. Is it done? One of the best ways to tell is by touch. A well-cooked pork chop will have a slight resistance, but it won’t feel hard and solid. Be patient here, since, taking the chop off too early and cutting into it means you’ll probably have to throw it back on the pan and lose moistness.

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June 2015

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HEALTHY MAGAZINE

-------------------------------ADVISOR CLIENT CONTENT

ISSUE

THE MAN

Lifestyle Information for your doctor: •

Your eating habits, how well you sleep, how much you exercise

•

With this information, your doctor can help you optimize healthy habits

Health Information for your doctor:

Why Men Don't Go See Doctors Reasons why men still ignore serious health risks and how technology can start to change that FACT: Men still die sooner than

women from preventable diseases

FACT: Men tend to ignore their health and early signs of medical problems FACT: Many health risks begin affecting young men in subtle ways; this impact decreases productivity and life expectancy Let’s face it. Most men don’t associate going to the doctor’s office as time well spent. And the current model of healthcare delivery doesn’t help: having to make appointments months in advance, time spent waiting (past your scheduled appointment) in the doctor’s office, etc. For most of us, this doesn’t seem like a good value proposition. Yet today more than ever, men need to be pre-emptive about cutting risks that could adversely affect their health. American medicine is innovative and continuously offers better treatments/answers, but it is expensive. So men definitely shouldn’t end up in the hospital with days of down-time for a health problem that is preventable. Check-ups are important and getting (new) tests that can detect serious problems while they are still treatable seems like a ‘no-brainer.” But chances are, more women are reading this health issue article than men. Women take more interest in learning about their health. And they are really the caregivers of the family. They are more likely to take children and elderly parents to doctors’ appointments. They get regular check-ups and consult for worrisome symptoms. And, a lot of wives probably make doctors’ appointments for their husbands. Why is that? Because, for most men, especially in these challenging economic times, taking part of their workday to see the doctor seems

40 HEALTHY IDAHO

frivolous, especially if they are kept waiting. Besides, most men “already know” what the doctor is going to say, if, for instance, a health risk is obvious (being overweight). Culturally, men are also programmed to put up with nagging symptoms (like pain) because we are taught early that “boys don’t cry.” Many men these days do take proactive steps to reduce health risks, like getting regular exercise or eating better foods, and assume that these measures will guarantee them protection from medical problems….and doctors. Yet at some level, men are aware that health risks, and ignoring them, can be a timebomb. Almost every man, starting in his 40’s, knows of another guy their age who has faced a devastating diagnosis like cancer or heart disease. That reality, better access to information and other technological advances in healthcare delivery, are beginning to change the way men use medicine. Putting health information in the hands of men (or having their smartphones capture it), especially personalized data like blood pressure/blood sugar readings makes this information more interesting and interactive. Technology is also personalizing medicine, for instance, by decoding our genetic health risks or offering better treatments, so that men are more likely to take control of risks before they become longterm problems. Yet medical practices today need to adapt in one other important way; they need to make more time for their patients. Men especially want to get the sense that their doctor is “on board” and can take the time to engage in discussions. The current model dissuades men from revealing meaningful concerns or being fully aligned with their doctors on, say, the need to take a daily medication, because time to discuss doubts, alternatives, ask questions, is short. Many doctors are beginning to adapt to this “new” expectation by making themselves more available to their patients. For instance, offering consults by email or by phone are welcome changes for patients. Another critical feature that engages men and optimizes the chance for beneficial longterm health change is to offer longer appointment times. Younger men especially visit doctors so infrequently that 15 min routine physicals just don’t make sense and certainly don’t allow for discussions

•

Past blood pressure readings, blood work, your vaccination history

•

Your doctor can get a quick sense of risks and chart a course to prevention

Genetic Information for your doctor: •

The most important genetic test for preventive medicine is a good family history

•

No test has more power to inform the doctor about your personal health risks

about emerging health concepts that might positively impact a guy’s health or give him the sense that the doctor is truly concerned about his patient’s journey to better health. At the Men’s Health Center, we realize that the most valuable resource we as doctors can offer patients is our time. Our approach is to tailor the consult so as to maximize the benefit to men. Most men, especially younger men, don’t need too much testing or physicals every year. But they often have health concerns that they want managed or they want to discuss, questions they want answered. These days, access to medical information and the many innovations in medicine mean that people are very informed (sometimes misinformed) about risks and symptoms. We have made a commitment at MHC to take as much time as is needed to discuss them. The most important weapon we have for disease prevention or treatment is education. Armed with information and that sense of empowerment, a man starts to make better choices, starts to “stick to the plan” and adds years to his life. Now that’s real health reform. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy Peiffer, MD PhD Medical Director The Men’s Health Center doctor@menshealthcenter.com

The Men’s Health Center is here to help you positively impact your health and well being. Our medical team has years of experience with conditions that range from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer prevention, impotence therapy as well as cholesterol lowering therapy, weigh control programs and hormone replacement.

Healthy-Idaho.com

ISSUE

THE MAN

June

PRODUCT REVIEWS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Healthy

FAVORITE

L’OCCITANE COLOGNE FOR MEN Refreshingly different than typical men’s colognes, this fragrance has hints of nutmeg and burnt wood, with a touch of lavender. It’s a very natural, woodsy fragrance that doesn’t impose on those around you.

LUMINAID SOLAR INFLATABLE LIGHT This cool camping product made us do a double take. It’s essentially an inflatable bag that gets lit up from the inside by a solar powered LED. The light reflects off the bag’s semi-transparent exterior, creating a glowing orb that throws light in all directions. It collapses down to fit in your pocket, making it awesome for camping and backpacking. It doesn’t put off as a much light as a good lantern, but it’s bright enough, plus the solar aspect makes this a pretty sweet product.

22 DAYS PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP WONDER

GrooV Smoothie

A new kid on the block, 22 Days Nutrition offers a line of tantalizing bars that are well loved by those who try them. Beware, they are a little spendy.

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June 2015

ISSUE

Canned

THE MAN

ENERGY

What’s the difference between “natural” and your standard energy drink? BY C AITLIN SCHILLE

nergy drinks are everywhere. There are entire sections of grocery stores and gas stations devoted to the brightly colored, attractively named pick-me-ups. Some are not much more than chemicals and artificial flavors while others claim to be “natural” alternatives. Which do you turn to for that quick shot in the arm when you have four hours left in the workday and you feel like you’re not going to make it? Better yet, should you resort to energy drinks, natural or otherwise, at all? Common energy drinks, despite their popularity, have received much negative press due to harmful ingredients and their link to serious health consequences. To make matters worse, your typical energy drink, which claims to treat the causes of low-energy, simply masks the problem and then exacerbates it. These health consequences are more serious than heightened nervousness or shakiness. According to livescience.com, health outcomes linked with energy drink consumption include heart problems, the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women, increased likelihood of alcohol dependency, increased likelihood of drug abuse and impaired cognitive function. Because common energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster have been linked with negative health outcomes, many have turned to so-called “natural” energy drinks. So, how do “natural” energy drinks compare to standard energy drinks? Standard energy drinks contain of a host of ingredients capable of causing adverse consequences. First of all, they contain a halfcup of sugar, excessive amounts of caffeine, red food dye and taurine.

42 HEALTHY IDAHO

NEED MORE

Because of this, consumers have been driven to select energy drinks with a “natural” label. This has worked well for companies marketing these “natural” products, as products labeled as natural or organic grew 13 percent, while overall food sales grew only 3.4 percent. Unlike standard energy drinks, “natural” energy drinks rely heavily on the B vitamin complex, which plays a significant role in energy metabolism. While the addition of the B vitamin complex is a marked improvement to standard energy drinks, “natural” energy drinks still fall short of being an ideal healthy choice. Like standard energy drinks, “natural” energy drinks still contain very high levels of caffeine and taurine. Furthermore, some consumers are fooled by the label of “natural,” mistakenly believing that this label is indicative of a healthy choice. However, a product needs only to contain 5 percent of a natural ingredient to achieve such a label. The bottom line is that “natural” energy drinks are an improvement upon the common, standard energy drinks. Unfortunately, they still fall woefully short of what constitutes a healthy method of increasing energy levels.

ENERGY? As both average energy drinks and “natural” energy drinks are not ideal choices to promote personal health, here are some suggestions for improving energy levels:

CONSUME ENOUGH PROTEIN On average, one should consume 1 gram of protein for every per pound of lean body mass.

GET SUFFICIENT SLEEP A typical night’s sleep should last 7-8 hours. To increase quality of sleep, create consistent patterns surrounding the night’s sleep.

DRINK MORE WATER The recommended amount is eight 8-ounce glasses per day. Even slight dehydration slows metabolism, so it is critical for energy, health and fitness to stay well hydrated.

Healthy-Idaho.com

Give kids like Jordan every chance to be a kid again.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE THE MIRACLES ARE.

JORDAN, 5 YEARS OLD VEIN OF GALEN MALFORMATION PATIENT

Thanks to the expert care and research at her hospital, Jordan survived a serious vein malformation at birth that caused blood to rush directly to her heart. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® donations helped fund the developments and devices used in her treatment and surgeries. Today, Jordan is full of energy and loves to be in the spotlight, dancing and charming everyone she meets. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support to help kids like Jordan and identify your member hospital at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

Give Today

CMNHospitals.org Facebook.com/HealthyIdaho

to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital June 2015

IOANE

STRONG

It’s been a little difficult to recognize the Jeremy Ioane that Boise State football fans have come to know. Ioane has been battling an autoimmune disease that affects his kidneys, making them function at just one percent of normal capacity. During his battle against the rare disease, he dropped to 145-pounds, down nearly 60 from his peak playing weight when he was an all-conference safety for the Broncos. In May, after a long and tedious dialysis treatment, Ioane got the permanent relief he had long dreamed of – his twin sister, Jasmine, donated a kidney to her ailing brother, proving that ‘#IoaneStrong’ runs in the family. "When we found out he needed a [donor], I immediately knew I wanted to," Jasmine said. "We're just trying to get him healthy again for his future." "She's pretty much the one that's giving me new life," added Jeremy with an emotional tone. "I don't know how else to thank her for that."

It was a hidden struggle you would never guess by his dedication on the field. “I told my coach I felt like Rudy, making one tackle and I was good for the rest of the game," said Ioane. After news of his medical struggle broke, people from Idaho to his native state of Hawaii started donating to help with his medical costs. At the time of his surgery, over $50,000 had been raised through various fundraisers, with a goal to raise $100,000. The day after surgery both Jeremy and Jasmine were “doing great”, according their parents, Matt and Doris Ioane. “[Doctors] said everything went smoothly with no complications,” Matt told KTVB, moments after speaking with doctors.

Ioane’s diagnosis came back in 2012 but he didn’t speak publicly about it for two years.

"[We] couldn't have gotten through this without the love, prayers and support of Bronco Nation, Hawaii Nei, friends and family," added Doris.

It wasn’t until last December when Bronco Nation found out he was searching for a kidney and had been playing his senior year for the Broncos with a catheter in his side.

Jeremy will be in Utah for approximately two months as doctors continue to monitor how his body reacts to his new kidney.

44 HEALTHY IDAHO

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