New Hampshire Women Magazine July 2023

Nashua Hospital Invests in Cutting-Edge Diagnosis Tool for Parkinson’s Disease

Every year, roughly 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with a neurological condition called Parkinson’s disease. In fact, there are over 10 million people worldwide who are living with it today. From tremors and stiffness to difficulty with balance and movement, Parkinson’s disease significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. “Initially patients may only have subtle difficulty using one limb, slowing of movement, or an asymmetric resting tremor,” said Jianing Xiao, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Neurology Clinic at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua “And, progression is usually gradual… over the course of five to 15 years. The usual age onset is between 40 and 70 years old and about one percent of individuals over age 65 are affected. Men are nearly one-and-ahalf times more likely to

have Parkinson’s disease than women.”

A Difficult Diagnosis

Beyond the physical symptoms, there are also many emotional, social, and cognitive challenges that come with a Parkinson’s diagnosis. This is why an accurate and prompt diagnosis is one of the most critical components of navigating this debilitating disease.

Typically, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed using blood tests and clinical exams, which can be challenging since the symptoms of the disease often mimic other conditions. “Symptoms vary from person to person and a number of illnesses have similar symptoms,” said Xiao. “[Conditions like] multi system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, dementia with Lewy bodies, Wilson disease, MPTP toxicity, Huntington’s disease, hydrocephalus, and frontal

lobe lesions [can present similarly].” Despite this, the causes, treatments, and diagnosis are very different.

Traditional brain imaging tools like CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are also generally unhelpful because they can’t detect a critical indicator of the condition… a lack of dopamine. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in a wide range of functions, including movement, motivation, and emotion” shared Catherine Ruel, Nuclear Medical Technologist at St. Joseph Hospital. “In patients with dementia, there is often a decrease in the amount of dopamine in certain areas of the brain.”

Investing in the Right Technology

Recently, St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua announced that it is now offering DaTscan – a revolutionary imaging tool that can help

physicians diagnose Parkinson’s Disease precisely and quickly. DaTscan is a type of SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging that shows the uptake of dopamine in the brain and clearing indicates a loss of it. This imaging modality has been shown to be highly effective in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, with sensitivity and specificity rates up to 98 percent. According to John A. Jurczyk, FACHE, President of St. Joseph Hospital, “having a tool like DaTscan to ensure accurate diagnoses is crucial towards developing the best possible treatment plan for patients.”

When the patient arrives for the test, they are greeted by a Nuclear Medicine Technologist who will guide them through the process. The patient will then undergo an injection and have a three-hour window before the scan is performed. If the patient

wishes, they can leave for lunch during this time or stay at the hospital. After the 30-minute scan, the patient is free to leave without any side effects or precautions.

“One of the significant advantages of DaTscan is that it is non-invasive,” said Ruel. “The patient can simply lie down while the scan is taking place.”

Once the scan is complete, physicians can determine whether the patient’s brain is receiving enough dopamine for specific functions. The imaging results are usually available within 12

to 24 hours, at which point the patient meets with a Neurologist who discusses the results and provides a treatment plan if necessary.

Living with Parkinson’s Disease

Although Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, medications and lifestyle modifications may help greatly improve movement and tremors.

“[There are] medications [that] increase dopamine or substitute dopamine,” said Xiao. “The most effective drug for treatment of Parkinson’s disease is called Levodopa. Surgical intervention [called] Deep Brain Stimulation can regulate

certain regions of your brain and improve symptoms if medication isn’t [relieving the symptoms].”

According to Xiao, working with a specialist to find a Parkinson’s medication treatment and closely monitoring for adverse effects is important. There are also many lifestyle modifications that can help improve symptoms including: Healthy eating. Eating high fiber and drinking plenty of fluid can help prevent constipation, which is common in Parkinson’s disease. Exercise. Walking, swimming, gardening, dancing, water aerobics, or stretch-

ing may increase muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Exercise can also improve your well-being and reduce depression or anxiety, which are common in Parkinson’s disease.

Avoiding falls. “In the later stages of the disease, you may fall more easily. In fact, you may be thrown off balance by just a small push or bump,” said Xiao. The following suggestions may help for fall precautions.

• Make a U-turn instead of pivoting your body over your feet

• Distribute your weight evenly between both feet and don’t lean

• Avoid carrying things while you walk

• Avoid walking backwards

Daily living activities. Dressing, eating, bathing, and writing can be difficult for people with Parkinson’s disease. An occupational therapist can show techniques that make daily life easier.

Speech Therapy. Many patients with Parkinson’s disease have speech difficulties such as a slow, weak voice, trouble with

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Seven Podcasts Every Women Entrepreneur Can Check Out

It’s no secret that being an entrepreneur can be a lonely pursuit. Any type of research or reading about entrepreneurship clearly shows many feel the pangs of working alone or being in charge of it all. The good news is that technology has given entrepreneurs the ability to connect with thousands of professional people through podcasts. Once thought of as a pastime, there are now over one hundred million of them at our fingertips. Whether it’s business, fitness, paddle ball, or even darts - there’s a podcast for everyone. And, for women entrepreneurs, there’s no shortage of insight, interviews, and lesson learning across podcast platforms. Here’s a list of some engaging podcasts to inspire you, uplift you, and keep you company.

Being Boss Podcast and :10 Minutes to Being Boss

Being Boss is an award-winning podcast with over 10 million downloads. It started back in 2015 with Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson. In 2020, Thompson took over the podcast. It has a worldwide audience of what Thomspon calls creative business owners and provides conversations with experts like best-selling author and vulnerability expert, Brenee Brown and Melissa Hartwig, founder of the Whole30.

Thompson and sidekick

Corey Winter also provide a bite-sized show called :10 Minutes to Being Boss, which comes out every Monday. The duo takes listener ques-

tions and provides actionable advice for the work week. Visit the website at https://beingboss. club/shows.

She Built This™ Podcast

Emily Aborn, this month’s cover woman has a podcast that’s sure to inspire you. According to Aborn’s She Built This website, the podcast focuses on “inspiring stories, business tips, content writing chat, life lessons, a little silliness (because I can’t help myself), and the tools you need to build and start living out whatever ‘this’ means for you!” Visit her website at https://www.shebuiltthis.org/podcast.

Goal Digger Podcast

Jenna Kutcher’s mission is for women to “own their awesome” and do what they love. Kutcher’s story is an amazing one. She bought a $300 camera and turned it into a million dollar empire. Her website says the podcast is a “live-workshop style business and marketing podcast packed with actionable step-bystep tips that are helping thousands redefine success and chase bolder dreams. You can train with the experts on how to dig in, do the work, and tackle your biggest goals along the way.” She brings “social media strategies, productivity tips, business hacks, authentic entrepreneurship truths and inspirational stories that can help you design your dream business and life.” Visit her website at https://jennakutcherblog.com/ goal-digger-podcast/.

She Did It Her Way

With millions of downloads and growing, Amanda Boleyn brings weekly content to her listeners

on “productivity hacks, different business strategies, how to confidently transition out of your 9-5 and become a full-time business owner. Along with sharing her business savvy tips, she interviews women who have also gone out and done it their way (Amy Porterfield, Jenna Kutcher, Julie Solomon, Lori Harder and many more).” Visit her website at https://shediditherway.com/ interviews.

ZenFounder Podcast

According to the ZenFounder website, “Dr. Sherry Walling helps smart people do hard things. She is a clinical psychologist, speaker, podcaster, best-selling author, and mental health advocate. Pairing her professional training and personal experience, she’s helped countless entrepreneurs work through the hardest parts of running and growing a business.” That’s probably a reason why Forbes named the ZenFounder Podcast “one of the 12 best podcasts for entrepreneurs.” Learn more about the podcast at https://zenfounder. com/podcast.

The Marie Forleo Podcast/ MarieTV

You may have seen Marie on Oprah Winfey’s Super Soul Sunday, or The Today Show, or on her award-winning digital show, MarieTV. If you haven’t, checking out her website at www. marieforleo.com is a must. She’s an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and has an audience in over 195 countries. She consistently brings in inspiring, thought-provoking, and successful people

who haven’t taken the safe and same path in life. You’ll hear from people who have followed their dreams of becoming a writer, NFL star, business owner and more. Marie also offers a ton of free training and information to help entrepreneurs and those wanting more from their life start and stick to their goals. For more information, check out her blog page at https:// www.marieforleo.com/blog/.

Women Taking the Lead with Jodi Flynn

Jodi Flynn is an executive leadership coach, author, podcaster, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her podcast Women Taking the Lead started in 2015 and gained substantial traction, even being named by Forbes Magazine as The Top 18 Women-Led Podcasts You Need to Download Now and Entrepreneur magazine named the podcast one of the 24 Exceptional Women-Hosted Podcast for Entrepreneurs It has held number one spots in iTunes categories: Business, Careers, and Society and Culture. When you browse her library of podcasts, you’ll see a plethora of shows with thought-leaders inspiring listeners to grow their business and advice from Jodi herself. To learn more and listen to the Women Taking the Lead with Jodi Flynn podcast, visit the website at https:// womentakingthelead.com/ podcast/.

consonants, slurred speech, a low voice that has a monotone with little expression, and inappropriate silences. A speech therapist may be able to help with these problems.

Alternative medicine. Supportive therapies like massage, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, and relaxation techniques can reduce muscle tension, promote relaxation, improve flexibility, balance, and muscle strength. It can also help with fall prevention and improve the sense of well-being.

Pet therapy. It can increase flexibility and movement and improve emotional health.

Coping strategies and support programs. Depression is common in people with Parkinson’s

disease. “Living with any chronic illness can be difficult, and it’s not uncommon to feel angry, depressed or discouraged at times,” said Xiao. “Parkinson’s disease can be profoundly frustrating [because] walking, talking, and even eating becomes more difficult and time-consuming.” Antidepressant medications can help ease the symptoms of depression and group support offers a place to find people who are going through similar situations. “Talk to health care providers, community social workers, or [a] local public nurse,” said Xiao. Contact the Parkinson’s Foundation or the American Parkinson Disease Association to learn about support programs in the community.

If you’re interested in learning more about the DaTScan service

or think you or someone you know may need it, talk to your primary care provider or neurologist – or visit us online at https:// stjosephhospital.com/services/ neurosurgery/. By taking advantage of this service, you can ensure better, safer, and more accurate diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease.

If you are in need of a new primary care provider, St. Joseph Hospital is accepting new patients, and you can easily request an appointment online at https:// stjosephhospital.com/request-appointment/ or by calling 603884-3007.

Marissa R. McLaughlin

Certified Moving Consultant

McLaughlin Transportation Systems, Inc.

20 Progress Ave., Nashua, NH 03062

Office: 603-883-4000 Direct: 603-966-3836

Toll Free: 800-258-6683 Cell: 603-521-4335

mRm@McMoving.com McMoving.com

Agent for Mayflower Transit

The Use of LED Light Therapy for Better Skin Health

In the 1980s, researchers were working with LED Light in experiments funded by NASA to develop an LED plant growth unit that could be used to grow vegetables in the 1995 space shuttle. Interestingly, the NASA scientists who spent time with their hands under the light noticed that cuts on their hands seem to be healing faster than usual, and since one problem astronauts faced during space travel is slow wound healing, this motivated them to launch a series of studies evaluating the potential medical uses of LED light.

Their findings showed that high intensity red and near infrared light accelerated wound healing and sped up the growth of skin, muscle and bone. This research led to an FDA-approved medical LED device back in 2007. Fast forward to now and we have literally thousands of studies exploring the benefits of LED light therapy across a broad range of conditions, and

hundreds of them specific to the use of LED for a variety of skin concerns. LED stands for light emitting diode. Each LED light has a semiconductor chip in it, which enables it to admit light of a specific wavelength. The wavelength of the light will determine its color as well as the depth of penetration and what effect it’s going to have on tissue. The three wavelengths for which there is the best evidence for clinical effect are 415nm blue, 633nm red, and 830nm near in-

frared which is colorless.

415nm Blue penetrates only the upper layers of the skin where it has strong antibacterial properties. It saturates the skin with oxygen, causing the

death of acne causing bacteria. It also seems to have a mood boosting effect. Red light targets the mitochondria, which are the powerhouse energy factories of each cell. This results in increased fuel for the cells so they can do their work more efficiently. Red light has been found to be helpful for skin health and rejuvenation, wound healing, and even hair growth. It can also be used to help remove unwanted pigmentation. Near infrared 830nm also activates the cells responsible for wound healing and facial rejuvenation. It penetrates more deeply than the 633nm red and is able to reduce inflammation, boost blood flow, and

kickstart collagen and elastin production by the fibroblasts.

In addition to the specific wavelengths emitted, there are other key points you need to consider when choosing

an LED device. Priority number two is that the light needs to be intense. In other words, devices need to have a certain amount of power in order to actually have clinical effect. It also needs high-quality LED chips. This is because cheap chips will degrade quickly and then stop working. And finally it needs adequate heat management as well to further protect the chips from degradation.

If you go onto websites such as Amazon.com and you search LED for skin, you’re going to come up with hundreds if not thousands of hits, and you’ll find a lot of cheap devices. Frequently, they’re putting out unsupported wavelengths that haven’t been proven useful in the literature. They have insufficient power generation, and impractical designs like these wands that you’re supposed to roll around on

Dr. Lisa Vuich is a graduate of Tufts University (1988) and Tufts University School of Medicine (1992). She opened Renew MediSpa in 2006 and has worked steadily since then to ensure that Renew MediSpa remains at the cutting edge of the latest advancements in nonsurgical aesthetics. She is a nationally recognized injector, a member of numerous aesthetic organizations, a Key Opinion Leader for several aesthetic companies, and a Master Clinical instructor for Specialty Med Training. She is board certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine and regularly instructs physicians and other providers on injection technique, platelet-rich plasma therapies and other aesthetic procedures through the Renew MediSpa Training Institute.

your face. They also seem to have no shame in posting obviously photoshopped before and after images, and most importantly, their LED chips are cheaply made so they will degrade and stop delivering any beneficial light fairly quickly.

Available now at Renew MediSpa is the TriWave MD by Dermalux. TriWave MD exceeds the specifications of any other device currently in the global market. Its power enables it to deliver impressive results with a series of 20-minute sessions with many clinical benefits including:

• Collagen Boosting/ Wrinkle reduction

• Anti-Acne

• Promotes Healing and Reduction of inflammation- sufficient to improve even difficult skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis

• Reduction of redness and scar formation- a great adjunct after sur-

gery in particular and it can be started immediately post-op

• Skin brightening/Reduction of hyperpigmentation- and safe for those with melasma Treatments are pain free, safe for all skin types, safe year round even on tanned skin, and safe during pregnancy. There is no downtime to be concerned with either, making this one of the easiest treatments to work into busy schedules.

• A typical TriWave protocol would be to do twice a week sessions for four weeks in order to jump start the skin rejuvenation process. Thereafter, occasional maintenance sessions will help to extend the results. These can also be accomplished with the home device version, which is called FlexMD. It has the same high quality LED lights as the TriWave, though fewer of course and overall less power. It is designed to be able to be used at home as often as daily and can be shared by more than one user. It is also completely portable.

• Preparing for your sessions is quite easy. The most important thing is that the skin be freshly cleansed. There should be no makeup, no lotions, and no sunscreen on the skin that’s about to be treated. You can simply continue your usual skincare regime and you can apply makeup and sunscreen immediately post-treatment.

• The Flex MD retails for $2495. If you’d like to order one, just contact us and we’ll let you know what our current available discounts are. LED light therapy is also useful for

muscle and joint pain, and the panel is able to lay flat over any body part to facilitate treatment.

We are so excited to be the first in New Hampshire and really one of the first in the country to bring the latest LED technology in house. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at (603) 931-4345.

SUMMER SIPPIN’

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup rosemary springs, loosely packed

1 (7½-oz.) can nonalcoholic ginger beer

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)

Ice

Garnish: rosemary sprig and fresh lime wheel

Directions:

Prepare Rosemary Syrup: Bring water, granulated sugar, and loosely packed rosemary sprigs to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high, stirring occasionally. Boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 30 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a glass or jar, discarding rosemary. Makes 1½ cups. Store in airtight glass jar in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Stir together ginger beer, 2 Tbsp. Rosemary Syrup, and lime juice in a copper mug filled with ice until mug is frosty, about 30 seconds. Lightly smack rosemary sprig against palm to release natural oils. Garnish with rosemary and lime wheel.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped

1 cup granulated sugar

8 peppermint sprigs

6 cups chilled sparkling water

8 whole fresh strawberries with tops

Directions

Place strawberries and sugar in a small saucepan; muddle using a wooden spoon. Cook mixture over low, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts, about 5 minutes.

Place each peppermint sprig in the palm of your hand. Give it a good slap (this brings out the volatile oils). Stir peppermint sprigs into strawberry mixture; remove from heat. Let to cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

Remove and discard peppermint sprigs from strawberry mixture. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a half-gallon pitcher. Stir in sparkling water.

Fill 6 highball glasses with ice; pour strawberry mixture evenly into glasses. Slice a small slit in each of the whole strawberries; garnish each glass rim with 1 strawberry.

Rosemary-and-Gin-

Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Recipes from Southern Living Strawberry Mint-Tea