New Hampshire Women Magazine

COMPLIMENTARY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

WOM EN MAGAZINE celebrating the women of New Hampshire

Raise a glass to

Amy LaBelle

Founder of Labelle winery “I also tell people to be patient,” she continues. “Rewards do not come instantly, even though our society wants that to be true. It took me 4,083 days, or 12 years, to make my dream of running a winery come true. “ Page 6.

Inside:

Health Care Transition pg. 15

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 1

from the

publisher’s desk PUBLISHER Sullivan Grueter Communications, LLC PUBLISHER Jill Sullivan Grueter BUSINESS DEV. EXECUTIVE Melissa Diorio: melissa@nhwomenmagazine.com CONTRIBUTORS

Crystal Ward Kent, Freelance Writer Lisa Plotnik, MD Dartmouth-Hitchcock Elizabeth S. Soukup, M.D., M.M.Sc., Elliot Health System Samantha Wingate, World Academy Dr. Jillian Dulac, Manchester OB/GYN

New Hampshire Women Magazine (NHWM) is a local, womenrun publication featuring remarkable women from our state who are defying the odds, inspiring readers, and showing New Hampshire girls they can do anything they put their minds and hearts to.

We’re New Hampshire Entrepreneurs, Advocates, and Hard-Working Moms We knew it wouldn’t be an easy road to start another publication from scratch.

Between being entrepreneurs, advocates, and hard-working moms – life can get pretty crazy. But, there’s this push inside of us that Just. Won’t. Quit. “Keep going,” it says. “This is the time.” And, it certainly is.

We’ve already come so far. But, there’s much more to do to make New Hampshire Women Magazine a household name and the most widely-read, women-focused publication around.

Today, we bring inspiring stories to local women and hopeful girls of New Hampshire!

We bring our thousands of monthly local readers the stories of profound women like: •

Jane Young, Assistant Deputy Attorney General of NH (Nov. 2018 NHWM Cover Woman)

•

Amanda Pearson, Commercial

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Airline Captain from New Hampshire (October 2018 Cover Woman),

Colin Cook, Peak Recovery and Health Center PHOTOS BY

•

Melissa Fifield, Female NASCAR Race Car Drive from Wakefield, NH (September 2018 Cover Woman)

LINDSAY LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY

•

Michelle Edmark, Warden of the NH State Men’s Prison (August 2018 NHWM Cover Woman)

Looking to Join?

•

Chef Maryanne Esposito, NH-Chef with longest-running cooking show in PBS history (July 2018 NHWMN Cover Woman

•

Patricia Lynch, Executive Director of The Music Hall in Portsmouth (June 2018 NHWM Cover Woman)

•

Edie and Forest Barker, NH Farmers at Barker’s Farm (June 2018 NHWM Cover Women

Our 2019 strategic goals include continuing our substantial growth (on-stands, digitally, and social media), fostering incredible partnerships, and continuing to provide second-to-none content as the state’s only women-focused publication.

We are proud to have the support from like-minded organizations like: DartmouthHitchcock, Elliot Health System, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, World Academy, Great American Restaurants, and many more.

Jill Sullivan Grueter | Publisher

NEW HAMPSHIRE

WOMEN MAGAZINE Melissa Diorio

Business Development Executive 603.591.4952 Melissa @nhwomenmagazine. com

New Hampshire Women Magazine is a monthly, free publication distributed to over 500 hotspots around New Hampshire. We feature inspiring local women making a difference, health and wellness information by local experts, and self-improvement concepts to help us take better care of ourselves.

• ‡Awa r d -W i n n i n g W i n e • ‡Wi n e Tas t i n g • ‡L i f e s tyl e C las s e s • ‡ • F i n e Art Gal l e ry • ‡G i f t B a s k e t s • ‡C u l i n a ry L i n e of Produc t s • ‡ Art i san G i f t S h o p • ‡B i s t ro D i n i n g * • ‡E v e n t s • ‡An d More ! • ‡‡

Purchase gift cards and more online at www.LaBelleWineryNH.com or at our Amherst or Portsmouth locations. * Bistro Dining available at Amherst location only.

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 3

CONTENTS COVER STORY

Amy

LaBelle FOUNDER OF LABELLE WINERY

6

15

8

6 Raise a glass to amy Labelle, founder of labelle winery Some say that life is like fine wineit improves with time. The same could be said of Amy LaBelle’s career.

8 ASK the Pediatric surgeon: 18-monith old may have swallowed A penny I think my 18 month old son might have swallowed a penny. Will this pass by itself?

9 ENJOYING A HAPPY (AND GRATEFUL) HOLIDAY Gratitude can - and

should - be more than just passing thanks shared over a turkey dinner. By living gratefully every day, we actually elevate our understanding of thankfulness - and that can truly make us happier.

9

10 GOOD EATS AND GOOD DEEDS

How Great NH Restaurants is grow bigger by growing better.

15 health care transition

Life is full of transitions – including transitions between grades, between jobs and between houses – but rarely do we think of health care transitions.

17 FROM THE OBGYN: CERVICAL CANCER EXPLAINED Dr. Jillian Dulac

14

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from Manchester OB/GYN talks about everything you need to know about cervical cancer.

18 Did you say freeze fat off?

10

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 5

NHWM COVER WOMAN

RAise a glass to

amy labelle

Founder of

S

Written by Crystal Ward Kent

LaBelle Winery

Photography by Lindsay Leigh Photography

Some say that life is like fine wine--it improves with time. The same could be said of Amy LaBelle’s career. LaBelle, who owns LaBelle Winery and affiliated businesses in Amherst, New Hampshire, started her career in corporate law, working long hours in the hustle and grind of Boston’s legal scene. The experience gave her many valuable skills, but while she enjoyed her career and colleagues, she was ready to embrace something new.

In 2001, LaBelle took a vacation to Nova Scotia and wound up exploring a back road, way out in the countryside.

She discovered a tiny little winery and as she savored their wine and looked about, she had an epiphany. “It struck me that this was what I wanted to do, was even meant to do,” she recalls. “I knew with absolute clarity that this needed to be my career path.”

LaBelle did not immediately rush home and quit her day job, but instead buckled down and began using every minute of her spare time to learn everything she could about the wine business. “I had always been interested in wine and wanted to learn more about what makes a fine wine, the growing, the processing and so on, but I had never previously seen myself as a winemaker,” she says. “I also had no budget for wine through most of my college and law school years, so I rarely got to even enjoy it! But, I had always loved to cook and create nice meals for family and friends. I saw learning about wines and wine pairings as an extension of that, as a way to up my culinary game. It wasn’t until I stood in that winery that I saw wine as a business.”

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LaBelle started making wine on a part-time basis at Alyson’s Orchards in Walpole, New Hampshire. By 2005, she did her first commercial wine production, selling 400 gallons through the orchard. The wine was well received, so she doubled her production. Demand continued to increase, and she would double her production every year for the next several years. Encouraged by the upward trend, she purchased 11 acres in Amherst, New Hampshire in 2011 and went on to plant her first vines that same year.

It did not take long for LaBelle to need her own larger space for producing her wine. Now married, she and her husband, Cesar Arboleda, moved the winemaking operation into a barn behind their house in Amherst. They both were still working their day jobs, but would commit every free hour in the evenings and weekends to making wine. “When Cesar met me, I was already neck-deep in growing this business, but to my surprise, he married me anyway!” laughs LaBelle. “He has been my constant supporter and partner throughout all of my ventures. He never dismisses my dreams as crazy, but always says ‘How can I help?’ I have been so fortunate to have him as my life partner.”

Those early years were challenging for the young couple, as they were growing a family as well as a business.

“At one point, I was still working my day job, expanding the wine business, and had two children under the age of four,” recalls LaBelle. “I don’t think I slept more than four hours a night sometimes.”

“At one point, I was still working my day job, expanding the wine business, and had two children under the age of four.”

Local Flavor For LaBelle, New Hampshire was always her first choice for developing her winery. She never saw the need to move to California wine country, but instead wanted to create a unique product that would become a name, first in the Granite State, and later throughout the New England region.

She has succeeded at both. Continued on page 12.

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Photographed by Lindsay leigh photography

Ask the pediatric surgeon Question: I think my 18 month old son might have swallowed a penny. Will this pass by itself?

Dear Amy, Most children who swallow “foreign objects” are between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, because they are mobile and use their mouths to explore their world!

Coins are the most common of these swallowed objects.

The good news is that most of these will pass on their own through the intestinal tract. Some objects do require removal, however, so an evaluation in your pediatrician’s office or the emergency department is an important place to start. Many times the ingestion is witnessed by a caregiver, but sometimes symptoms such as drooling, refusing to eat or drink, fussiness, or difficulty breathing may be the only clue. An Xray can see a metallic object, such as a penny, but may not be able to see other objects made out of plastic or other materials. Objects that are sharp, large, or lodged in the esophagus may need to be removed. This procedure, called an “endoscopy,” uses a small camera placed through the mouth to grasp and remove the object, during a brief anesthesia. If the coin has passed into the stomach, it will likely pass on its own in the next week or two. Your pediatrician will usually check another X-ray to make sure, unless you find it on the other end!

There are a few important things to know right away however. Magnets and batteries are extremely dangerous when swallowed and should be considered an emergency.

Strong magnetic balls are marketed as toys and are appealing to toddlers because they are small, shiny, and round. These magnets can cause serious damage to the intestines if swallowed and unfortunately, I have had to operate on a number of children for this. Although these magnet toys were taken off the market due to these serious safety concerns, they are back... (https://www.popsci. com/buckyballs-are-back-on-market). Batteries can also be very dangerous if swallowed, particularly the small “button batteries” found in hearing aids, games/toys, finger flashlights, watches, and even hallmark cards. If stuck in the esophagus, batteries can rapidly cause a very serious internal burn needing emergency surgery and removal. It is important, as parents, to be aware of these seemingly harmless objects in our homes that could cause serious injuries if ingested. I hope this question helped to educate us all! Thanks for your question!

- Dr. Soukup

askthepediatricsurgeon@elliot-hs.org #askthepediatricsurgeon

Elizabeth S. Soukup, M.D., M.M.Sc. Pediatric Surgeon

Dr. Soukup is a Pediatric Surgeon at the Elliot Hospital and has an interest in educating families about pediatric health and wellness. Her mission is to provide expert specialty care for children of all ages in New Hampshire - newborns through teenagers striving to keep them close to their families and communities. If you would like more information, call 603-663-8393 for an appointment, or visit our website at http:// elliothospital.org/website/pediatric-surgery.php. Check out previous articles at #askthepediatricsurgeon.

Dr. Soukup earned her Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Medicine, graduating first in her class. She completed her General Surgery training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and her fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston. During her time in Boston, she also completed a Masters of Medical Sciences degree in clinical investigation

Please send your questions to: askthepediatricsurgeon@elliot-hs.org

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from Harvard Medical School. She was awarded Elliot Hospital’s “Physician of the year” for 2018. She is board-certified in both Pediatric Surgery and General Surgery. She has specialized training and experience in minimally invasive surgical treatment for babies, children and teenagers. Her practice includes all areas of general pediatric surgery, including common pediatric surgical problems as well as neonatal surgery, congenital anomalies, minimally invasive surgery, and complex thoracic surgical problems.

EDUCATION

Enjoy A Happy (And Grateful) Holiday

By Samantha Wingate, Director Of Admissions, World Academy Samantha Wingate, Director Of Admissions, World Academy

I

f the holiday season can teach us anything, it’s that happiness doesn’t come wrapped in a box with a bow on top. It comes from being surrounded by warmth and by loved ones, by having a sense of purpose and belonging and by recognizing just how fortunate we are to have those key elements in our lives.

When we talk about “gratefulness,” we tend to focus on material comforts - being grateful for the food we share, the clothes we wear, and the family and friends we can count on through the holidays and throughout the year.

It’s important to recognize our own fortunes, and to notice just how lucky we are to have what we have. But it’s also important to spread the spirit of the season, and that means actively giving thanks well beyond Thanksgiving.

our mood and increase our likelihood of feeling happy. Several studies show how regularly being mindful of how and why we are thankful can lead to happier days, and actually make us more comfortable

“

When we talk about ‘gratefulness,’ we tend to focus on material comforts - being grateful for the food we share, the clothes we wear, and the family and We’re Happier When We Give Thanks friends we can Gratitude can - and should - be more count on through than just passing thanks shared over a turkey dinner. By living gratefully the holidays and every day, we actually elevate our understanding of thankfulness - and that throughout the year.” can truly make us happier.

According to Harvard Medical School’s HealthBeat publication, expressing gratitude more often, and cultivating the skill of recognizing and noticing why we should be grateful, can actually elevate

at expressing that gratitude as time goes by. Giving thanks for the things we have is more than just a good habit - it’s also very good for you physically and mentally.

Easy Ways To Cultivate Gratitude During The Holiday Season Looking for simple, effective ways to cultivate gratitude this holiday season?

Here are a few easy tips for feeling thankful - and for spreading the thanks to those who need it most.

• •

•

•

•

Make a list every day of three individuals you’re thankful for and let those people know.

Choose real-life interaction over electronic interaction - why text a “thank you” when you can thank someone in person?

Clean up after yourself, both at home and in public. That way, you can appreciate your impact on the world, and work toward leaving places better than you left them.

Write thank-you cards for gifts and visits. The time spent thinking of someone means so much more than the card itself.

Give back to your neighborhood.

Whether it’s donating to a local aid organization or just spreading cheer in your neighborhood, thankfulness has a way of spreading to those who see it.

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 9

SPECIAL SECTION

We grow Bigger because we grow Better How Great NH Restaurants is Cooking Up Good Eats and Doing Good Deeds Written by Jill Sullivan Grueter

Chef Nicole Barreira

While some of us dread the thought of waking up bright and early on a Monday morning, Nicole Barreira says she’s got a pep in her step as she looks forward to a creative and rewarding week ahead of her as the Director of Menu Development & Marketing at Great NH Restaurants, Inc., headquartered in Bedford. “I just have the biggest smile on my face on Monday mornings when I’m driving to work,” she said.

For Barreira and the tenured corporate team running the marketing and management company dedicated to hometown foodie favorites: T-BONES, CJ’s, Cactus Jack’s, Copper Door Restaurant, and T-BONES Meats, Sweets, and Catering - it’s all about quality, service, and culture. Each restaurant brand has its own identity with menus carefully-crafted to satisfy hungry patrons. “I wish people could see what goes on behindthe-scenes here,” she said. “We do what we know is best and we don’t compromise on quality. And, people know that and can taste the difference.”

“T-BONES Great American Eatery [located in Bedford, Salem, Hudson, Derry, and Laconia] is definitely family casual with a traditional American-style take on the classics,” Barreira explained. The restaurant prides itself on made-from-scratch recipes created by team members. With a vast amount of choices like country-fried chicken, chicken fajita pasta, fresh seafood, and Asian-fusion salads to carefully-crafted meals that are 650 calories or less.

Barreira said there’s also a plentiful kids’ menu. “Our kids’ section has great price points for kids who have big appetites, but also for those with small appetites that aren’t quite ready for the full entrees yet.”

“CJ’s Great West Grill in Manchester is what I call ‘Regional American,’” Barreria explains. “CJ’s menu celebrates America’s vast regional cuisine.” The menu features Texas BBQ, southern fried chicken, smoked brisket, Mexican dishes, seafood, the Phantom Gourmet recommended Crispy Haddock Tacos, and butcher cut steaks. They also serve their complimentary cornbread muffins to start the meal. “We’ve got really cool, fun and funky appetizers like fried pickles and Texas caviar,” she explains. CJ’s has also gone through a recent renovation with exterior remodeling and an updated parking lot. “CJ’s had the perception of being more of a Mexican restaurant even though only about 20 percent of our menus items are Mexican,” she explained. Renovations included updating the building to better represent the varied menu selections the establishment offers, along with additional landscaping. The restaurant features a popular outdoor cantina. “You’re in your own little world back there.” The bar area now features 16 new beer taps and they are known for their margarita and cosmo menus which have expanded and are now on iPads. Interior renovations feature new carpet, lighting, paint chairs and 10 || NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE

booths and the wait staff has all new uniforms. “If you haven’t been to CJ’s in a while, you must come in and see how we’ve kicked it up a notch!”

“Cactus Jack’s in Laconia is kind of a spin-off of CJ’s in Manchester,” she said. “Fish tacos, BBQ, really cool, fun appetizers section and a great kid’s menu as well.” In Laconia, the T-BONES and Cactus Jack’s are located in the same building right on Union Avenue. “When you arrive, you decide to dine at T-BONES or at Cactus Jack’s. Located overlooking Paugus Bay,” she said. “is a gorgeous outdoor deck for drinks and dining… it’s really pretty there. So fun in the summer - and spring and fall, too.”

“The Copper Door [with locations in Bedford and Salem] is upscale, classic comfort foods,” she explained. “The base of the menu is rooted in classic dishes with stone oven pizzas, New England seafood, hand-cut Reserve Premium Steaks, unique salads, in addition to fun and unexpected items and classic favorites presented a little differently.” The Copper Door offers private dining areas that are perfect for business or social gatherings. The restaurant also features special wine dinners and is proud to have been honored with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. They feature over 140 different wines.

Along with these restaurants, Great NH Restaurants also owns T-BONES Meats, Sweets, and Catering for special events.

The catering company will bring the food to your home or office, and are happy to design custom menus or feature restaurant favorites.

Barriera said one of her proudest achievements has been being a part of the creation of Great NH Restaurants’ Charitable Trust, “FeedNH.org.” Five years ago, while celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary, the CEO and group of inspired employees cooked up the idea of a creating a nonprofit that would serve those in need in New Hampshire.

“FEEDNH.org stands for ‘family, elderly, education, and disadvantaged,” she explained. “Since its inception in 2014, FEEDNH.org has raised over $700,000, Barreira said. With the help of their customers, community events, and promotions, they are able to serve those in great need right in our home state. “You grow bigger because you grow better,” she explains.

“It’s simple: we want to do good.”

For more information on Great NH Restaurants visit greatnhrestaurants.com.

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NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 11

NHWM COVER WOMAN

Continued from page 6.

“Think about it, the wine is as much about the winemaker as it is about the land,” she says. “If a good French winemaker moved to New Hampshire to make wine, wouldn’t the wine be great? It would, because the skill involved with winemaking goes hand in hand with Mother Nature. It is the knowledge that is important. I knew the main ingredient I needed was knowledge. This endeavor is not a hobby for me; I’m serious about winemaking and producing great wine.”

As the business grew, LaBelle realized she needed to learn more.

She signed up for the online winemaking certification program at the University of California/Davis, an intensive program that is considered one of the best winemaking programs in the world. “I knew that I needed to know more than just the viticulture and the marketing side of the business,” she says. “I needed to understand the labwork, the science of the wine from the molecular level, so that the wine’s chemistry is right. If you have the chemistry right, the flavor profile of the wine will be ready to confidently present to the public. “ The winemaking certification course proved to be one of her more difficult undertakings and took approximately four years to complete due to the number of courses involved. “Because of the time difference between here and California, I was taking these classes at nine o’clock at night. I’d be up until midnight doing biology and organic chemistry—really tough stuff that I’d never had before, and this was after already putting in a full day’s work. When it came time for the actual labwork, I had to fly to California to do some of the labs, as certain ones had to be done onsite.”

The dedication and hard work have paid off, as today, LaBelle Winery includes not just a successful winemaking business, but also daily wine tastings, winery and vineyards tours, a popular bistro, event rental space, culinary classes, and The Winemaker’s Kitchen line of culinary products. These are made with LaBelle wines, produced at the winery, and sold in the gift shop. Both the Amherst location, and the new Portsmouth, New Hampshire wine shop include The Gallery at LaBelle Winery, which showcases local artists. LaBelle Winery is now considered not just New Hampshire’s premier winery, but one of New England’s finest wineries as well. “The goal was always to create a brand that encompassed wine, food, dining, entertaining, art—the whole hospitality experience,” explains LaBelle. “We want to help people create those memorable times with friends and family. We have a fantastic team on board, and our bistro chef is amazing. You will find no finer cuisine anywhere in New Hampshire.”

For all her success, LaBelle has faced a number of challenges along the way. “It can be a lonely business,” she admits. “The wine-making community here is far apart geographically—it’s not like California where there can be many vineyards close together. If you have questions about what equipment to buy or have a problem, there is no one to run over and chat with. However, thanks to my classes at UC/Davis, I have built up a community of mentors at a distance who are always there if I have a question. I can just pick up the phone or reach out to my fellow winemakers on FaceTime. That’s been a huge help. I also wasn’t prepared for how fast or how big the business would grow.

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Continued on next page.

I never thought I’d have 130 employees, so that’s been a learning curve. I know I’m responsible for people’s livelihoods and families, so that’s something that is always on my mind. I want us to succeed for everyone’s sake. I’ve also had to learn how to motivate employees.

In the beginning, I naively expected everyone to jump on board with my dreams, but now I accept that sometimes people need convincing.

It’s all made me a better businessperson.”

LaBelle acknowledges that the wine business is still male-dominated, but sees things starting to change. “It is getting better, but worldwide, only 20 percent of wine is produced by women,” she says.

“I was the only women in New England running a wine business when I started, and there was not a lot of support. Thankfully, that reaction didn’t discourage me, it galvanized me. The fire lit inside me helped me become one of the largest winemakers in New England.”

Beyond the business, LaBelle’s winemaking career has given her personal satisfaction, such as more time with her children. “I’ve worked hard and still work hard, but I can be flexible and make my own hours. I don’t miss soccer games; I can volunteer at school and bake cookies for events. I get to have a life and be part of my kids’ lives.”

Toasting the Future For all of her success, LaBelle remains a visionary with more dreams in the pipeline. “I want to open a distillery and distill our own bourbons, vodkas and whiskeys,” she says. “We hope to build this very near the winery, and then add a tavern. We see the tavern as becoming a neighborhood pub where friends meet up and relax. We hope to have things like bocce ball and corn hole games, fun things like that. Eventually, I hope to have a television show. I love teaching people about wine and wine and food pairings, and already host classes here, so doing it on TV is a logical next step. We are actually testing the waters with some short spots on topics such as wine cocktails and preparing the perfect cheese board. These will air on NHPTV in early 2019.”

LaBelle has good advice for other women looking to chart a unique life course. “Save your money! I’ve always been a saver. As soon as I had a job, I started saving. I was so poor all through school, but once I had good work, I started saving. Building up that reserve meant I had the funds I needed to pursue my dream once I had identified it. It allowed me to buy the land for the winery and launch the business. Saving sounds old-fashioned, but it’s not and it can make a huge difference in terms of following your dreams.”

PHOTOS BY LINDSAY LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY

“I also tell people to be patient,” she continues. “Rewards do not come instantly, even though our society wants that to be true. It took me 4,083 days, or 12 years, to make my dream of running a winery come true. Even though I was still working another job, I made sure I did something every day to get me further to my goal. Some days I could only spend 15 minutes on something related to the winery, but that was 15 minutes that got me closer to making it a reality. Perseverance is key. Sometimes there is a reason why things don’t happen right away. Maybe you don’t know enough yet; maybe the timing isn’t right. If you work hard and don’t give up, you can make your dreams happen. I’m proof of that.” *

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 13

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Lebanon | Manchester | Nashua | Keene | St. Johnsbury, VT | Bennington, VT 14 || NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE

DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK

Health Care Transition WRITTEN BY: Lisa Plotnik, MD

Lisa Plotnik, MD

Life is full of transitions – including transitions between grades, between jobs and between houses – but rarely do we think of health care transitions.

Health care transitions for youth can include graduating from a pediatric health care provider to an adult provider; after a hospital stay, going to a rehabilitation facility or home; or leaving a rehabilitation facility and coming home.

Parents teach children about many life skills, such as managing money, cooking and doing laundry. However, teaching how to manage health care is often overlooked.

How do parents demonstrate the necessary steps for youth to acquire this new responsibility of managing their health care? Here are some steps to review with your child before a physical or sick visit:

Step 1: Make sure your youth knows

how to schedule an appointment and knows their health care provider’s name and phone number. The phone trees at many offices can be confusing so knowing the provider’s name can help ensure they are routed to the right staff.

Step 2: Make sure your youth carries their insurance card and is familiar with the information on it. This will help them feel confident when asked to provide insurance information at check-in.

Step 3: Talk to your youth about why

they have an office visit. If they didn’t arrange the visit, do they know why they are going to the office? Talking through symptoms before the visit can help them feel more comfortable providing this information to the provider.

Step 4: Discuss and write down any

chronic conditions and health history so they can discuss these with the provider. Can your youth talk about how their conditions affect them?

Do they need any adaptive devices/ equipment or support in school or in the home to complete daily self-care?

Step 5: Talk about the medications they are taking, and why they take them. It is also important that your youth know if they have any medication allergies, and what might happen if exposed to that medication. Additionally, they should know how to obtain refills at the pharmacy.

A good time to work on these skills is around ages 12 to 14—before your youth changes to an adult health care provider. At these ages, you can have your child carry their insurance card in their wallet, or carry a copy of the card if you are concerned about it being lost.

Have your youth lead the checkin process at their next visit. You can certainly be there as back-up, but letting them take the lead is good practice. Their health care provider will typically start wanting to have some one-on-one time with your youth, and this is an opportunity to develop confidence in how to communicate with their provider.

Also, make sure that part of the visit is dedicated to discussing medication.

Ensuring your youth understands their medication is important to feeling better and for continued good health.

Lisa Plotnik, MD, is a practitioner in the Internal Medicine - Pediatrics Department at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) Manchester. For more information visit CHaDkids.org.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

From the OBGYN:

Cervial Cancer: Explained Dr. Dulac graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a concentration in Biological Psychology. She went on to complete her Medical Degree at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Dr. Dulac received her residency training at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT and is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She provides obstetrics and gynecological care for women of all ages and enjoys forming lasting relationships as her patients’ needs evolve. Dr. Dulac’s interests include all aspects of obstetrics from preconception planning to high risk obstetrics, as well as minimally-invasive laparoscopic and robotic gynecologic surgery. Outside of work she loves to travel, ski, and spend time with her family.

What causes cervical cancer?

DR. JILLIAN DULAC

MANCHESTER OB/GYN 150 TARRYTOWN RD MANCHESTER, NH 77 GILCREST ROAD LONDONDERRY, NH PHONE: 603-622-3162

The main cause of abnormal pap smears, and the subsequent development of cervical cancer, is human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 150 types of HPV; 13 types have been associated with cervical cancer. HPV can also cause genital warts, throat/mouth cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus. Other risk factors for developing cervical cancer include: smoking, second-hand smoke exposure, conditions which suppress the immune system (diabetes, HIV, etc.), multiple sexual partners (or a partner who has had multiple sexual partners), early age of intercourse, a lack of regular pap smear screening, a history of abnormal pap smears, or having a mother who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy.

How common is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is the 3rd most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, behind uterine and ovarian cancers. In the United States there are approximately 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year with 4,100 deaths. Worldwide there are 528,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths each year. In Africa and Central America, cervical cancer is actually the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Effective pap smear screening programs and HPV vaccines have resulted in fewer cases and fewer deaths in more developed countries like the United States.

In fact, there has been a 75% decrease in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer over the past 50 years in developed countries. Most women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States have never had a pap smear or have not been screened in the past 5 years.

How is an abnormal pap smear treated?

It is very common to have an abnormal pap smear and/or a positive HPV test. A colposcopy is often the next step. During this procedure, the doctor takes a closer look at

the cervix with a special microscope and takes biopsies. Follow-up depends on the results of these biopsies; it can include a repeat pap smear, or removal of the precancerous cells before they can become cancer using an inoffice procedure called a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).

How is cervical cancer prevented?

It is very important to have regular pap smears, to follow-up as instructed if an abnormal pap smear is found, and to reduce one’s own risk factors for cervical cancer. Most pap smear abnormalities will clear up on their own but you should follow with a doctor to make sure this happens. Even if the abnormalities persist, it takes several years for cervical cancer to develop and there is usually time for intervention before cancer develops.

A more proactive approach to preventing cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, involves HPV vaccination. There are three FDA-approved vaccines that have been shown to prevent HPV infection. These vaccines are most effective if given prior to the first sexual encounter but can still be given to a patient with a history of abnormal pap smears and/ or genital warts. It is recommended that both boys and girls be vaccinated at 11-12 years old, but the vaccine is approved for both males and females from 9-45 years old.

How is cervical cancer treated?

Cervical cancer treatment depends on the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis.

Options may include surgery, radiation and/ or chemotherapy. Fortunately, thanks to pap smear screening programs and HPV vaccination in the United States, it is unlikely that you will ever have to worry about these types of treatments.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Did You Say

Written by Colin Cook, Peak Recovery and Health Center What’s the deal with this Cryo, anyway? Can it really help us to lose fat?

You’ve seen it on daytime talk shows, heard celebrities credit it as their secret weapon to their Hollywood look, maybe even seen it in your newsfeed. But what is this Cryo stuff all about?

Research has shown that Cryo, which is defined as involving or producing cold, especially extreme cold, can have tremendous benefits to our bodies.

The medical field has been using Cryotherapy with a simple ice pack instead of surgical procedures. Ever get a wart frozen off? That’s Cryotherapy!

Athletes have been using Cryotherapy to eliminate muscle soreness and speed up recovery time; some right there on the field sidelines!

Who would have thought there would be so many different types of Cryotherapy?

In a quick 3 minute session, Whole Body Cryotherapy works on decreasing inflammation, reducing soreness and pain, and providing a very nice mood boost to help us get through the hectic holiday shopping. Sure, you’re standing

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Freeze fat off? in a chamber almost naked, but the technician is right there cheering you on and the benefit surely outweighs being a little chilly for a few minutes. Let’s face it, we’re New Englanders, we’ve got this.

Cryofacials can give you that extra glow we want to walk into our holiday parties boasting. Didn’t get enough sleep the night before? Smile lines smiling back at you too much?

Relax for 12 minutes and let a specially trained professional tighten up your skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and help you to get your sparkle back.

But what we all really want to know is can it help us to lose fat?

It can! Cryoskin, the first of its kind, originated in Paris, the beauty capital of the world. Cryoskin naturally and painlessly destroys (yes, destroys!) fat cells, removes cellulite and will slow down the aging process. What do you need to do?

Just sit back, relax and watch the fat disappear. It literally leaves the body and doesn’t come back.

Is your interested peaked? Want to learn more? Find a Cryotherapy center near you, go for a tour, ask questions, check out their before and after pics, try out what’s right for you and then show it off!

Check out these amazing local events at Averill House Vineyard!

Join Us For Our K-8 Open House Saturday, January 12, 2019 10am-11am Tour Our School Interact With Teachers & Administrators Participate in Q & A Receive Admissions Information Learn About Our “Cradle to Careers” Roadmap

To Register, Call or Visit Us Online!

603.888.1982 • WorldAcademyNH.com 138 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, NH 03062

NHWOMENMAGAZINE.COM || 19

Shorter wait times than the emergency department and now in three convenient locations!

Bedford

25 Leavy Drive 9am - 8pm

River’s Edge

185 Queen City Avenue 7am - 10pm

Londonderry

40 Buttrick Road 9am - 8pm

Open 7 Days a Week Please visit www.elliothospital.org/urgentcare for current wait times.

Elliot Health System is a non-profit organization serving your healthcare needs since 1890.

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