Dr. Lyssa Ochoa - MD Monthly September Feature by MD Monthly

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contents S eptember 2018 Production Media Digital Source Chief Executive Officer Eliot Garza Co-Publisher Jessie Moore Project Managers Alejandra Bermea Evelyn Ekundare Miranda Paredes Assistant Project Manager Larissa Salazar Account Executive Rebekah Washington Digital Marketing Coordinator Jaime Gage Creative Services| Graphic Designers Aurora Balderas Vanessa Bolanos Editor Jody Marmel Writers Rudy Arispe Jody Marmel Edmond Ortiz

Cover Feature

Dr. Lyssa Ochoa Saves Lives and Limbs of Diabetic Patients at SAVE Clinic Cover Feature

Dr. Young Cho

Building a Center of Excellence for Patients and Wellness Providers With the Latest Contemporary Technology 6

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Contributors Dr. Michael S. McKee Dr. Marianne Pinkston Altus Hospice Care Avid Wealth Partners Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Kennedy Dental Care Providence Hospital Vince Dionio FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 210.373.2599 OR EMAIL HELLO@MDMONTHLY.COM FOR EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, EMAIL EDITOR@MDMONTHLY.COM

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contents 44 | Informed Patient Cover Feature

FLOW Aesthetics Supplying Physicians With Cutting Edge Technology

_________________ 10 | Children's Health 5 Fast Foods That Are Harming Your Teeth by Kennedy Dental Care

14 | Informed Patient End-Stage Renal Disease

by Altus Hospice Care

16 | Featured

Scuzzi’s is the Physicians’ Choice by Edmond Ortiz

18 | Special Feature

Dr. Jennifer Walden: Building a Legacy as a 6th Generation Austinite by Rudy Arispe 8

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What You Need to Know About Cervicalgia

By Dr. Michael S. McKee

46 | Business

Cashing Out without Selling Out The Human Dimensions of Exiting a Business by Eric Kala CPWA®, CIMA®, CFP®, AEP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®

48 | Health & Wellness

Unbalanced Estrogen Levels Can Have a Big Impact on Your Health by Dr. Marianne Pinkston

54 | Children's Health

Why Your Children Should Be Vaccinated by Providence Hospital

56 | Informed Patient

Fall Prevention for Older Adults by Vince Dionio

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CHILDREN'S HEALTH | CORPUS CHRISTI

FAST FOODS THAT ARE

HARMING YOUR TEETH Provided by Kennedy Dental Care

t can be difficult to make all of your own meals at home, which often makes fast food necessary. But, if you decide to treat your family to fast food, watch out for these things that can destroy teeth. Shakes Shakes are loaded with sugar, and often contain more sugar than one person should eat in any given day. They also contain more calories than a lot of square nutritional meals. If you need something sweet while on the go, try fresh fruit, which contains natural sugar and provides more overall nutritional value. Meals on Buns Most fast food meals are served between two buns made up of white bread. Unfortunately, white bread is a sticky starch that can stay on teeth long after it is consumed. The starch can turn into sugar and feed bad bacteria to your teeth. This leads to tooth decay and cavities. When getting a quick meal, try finding one that doesn’t include a bun. Lemonade Lemons are packed with citric acid,

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which erodes tooth enamel in a process called demineralization. In bad cases of demineralization, acid will work its way to the soft layer beneath the enamel called the dentin. Lemonade is packed with citric acid and sugar, two things that are terrible for teeth. If you must have your lemonade, rinse with water for 30 seconds afterwards to clean away some of the lingering acid. Fries Fries taste amazing, but they are incredibly starchy and packed with sodium. This is a bad combination for teeth. Starchy snacks can stick to teeth after mealtime has ended, and fuel bad bacteria and plaque buildup. This is especially true of snacks rich in sodium. Instead of fries, try a fresh fruit side, or a side salad when choosing a fast food option. Iced Coffee Fast food extends to fast drinks, and fast coffee drinks are incredibly popular for adults and kids who want a quick, sweet snack. Sugar feeds the harmful bacteria on teeth, and creates acid that erodes

enamel. For healthy teeth, sugar is the enemy. Frappuccinos, iced coffees, and iced coffee shakes typically contain more sugar in one medium serving than any one person should have in an entire day. All of that sugar wreaks acidic havoc on teeth, so it’s best to avoid sweet iced coffees for the sake of your teeth. Try a Mouth-Healthy Diet If your family is traveling a lot this summer, try packing snacks at home that are healthier for teeth. Fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber are great for teeth, as are cheese and yogurt and mixed nuts. All of these mouth-healthy foods can help teeth stay healthy this summer. If you’re concerned that your child’s diet is negatively impacting their teeth, then visit our office. We’ll check the state of their teeth, and provide you with dietary knowledge you need to help strengthen their teeth with their food. To learn more visit online www.paulkennedydds.com

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INFORMED PATIENT | CORPUS CHRISTI

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INFORMED PATIENT | REGIONAL

End-Stage Renal Disease Provided by Altus Hospice Care

nd-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is associated with impairments, activity limitations and disability with the identification of specific structural/functional impairments and any relevant activity limitations. Ultimately, in order to support a hospice plan of care, the combined effects of ESRD and any identified secondary condition(s) and/or comorbidities should be such that most beneficiaries with the identified impairments would have a prognosis of six months or less. Secondary and co-morbid condition(s) themselves may be associated with a new set of structural/ functional impairments that may or may not respond/be amenable to treatment.

ESRD complicated by co-morbid conditions such as: a. Coronary Artery Disease

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b. Peripheral Vascular Disease c. Vascular Disease

Oliguria a. Urine output less than 400cc/24 hr

Uremia (clinical symptoms of renal failure) a. Confusion b. Nausea/vomiting c. Generalized Pruritus d. Restlessness

4 5 6 7

Fluid overload

2008 200,000 In

Creatinine Clearance or <10cc/min or 15cc/min with diabetes Serum Creatinine > 8.0mg/dl or 6.0mg/dl with diabetes

, over

people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the US.

Dialysis burdens outweigh benefits

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FEATURED | SAN ANTONIO

Scuzzi’s is the Physicians’ Choice By Edmond Ortiz

cuzzi’s Italian Restaurant is popular with many people these days. Having opened at Loop 1604 and Northwest Military Highway in 2008, the elegant eatery attracts professionals eager for a convenient, satisfying lunch or happy hour, and families seeking a hearty, traditional Italian dinner. Scuzzi’s has grown so much that a second restaurant opened along Interstate 10 West in Leon Springs late in 2017. “It’s been going well; I’m very thankful,” owner Mazi Enti says, adding that positive word-of-mouth helps to keep things busy at Scuzzi’s. It’s easy to see why Scuzzi’s has become one of San Antonio’s most popular locally owned and operated Italian restaurants. The eatery offers a daily lunch menu with $9 specials. Happy hour is available all day Sunday and Monday, and 2-7 p.m. the

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rest of the week, as well as a reverse happy hour from 9 p.m. to close. Daily drink specials include half-price wine bottles on Tuesday, $5 signature craft cocktails on Wednesday, $5 martinis on Thursdays, and $4 mimosas and Bloody Mary’s on Saturday and Sunday. Spurs game days involve happy hour pricing at the bar throughout the NBA regular season as well as the post season. Additionally, there’s $5 appetizers, cocktails, martinis, wine and more every first Friday. Scuzzi’s receives fresh seafood daily from Groomer’s Seafood, and fresh produce from local sources. Enti had been in the restaurant industry for five years before he decided to open the doors to Scuzzi’s. He enjoys creating an engaging experience for patrons so they can remember it in a positive way and want to return with

their friends. Enti and his colleagues converse with new and regular customers. He also responds to patrons who offer reviews on Yelp. “This is a family restaurant and that separates us from everything else,” Enti says. “I have my touch on everything. I also interact with our customers, talk with them, and get to know them.” Enti and the wait staff typically ask diners about their culinary preferences, and point out many gluten-free options on the menu. Scuzzi’s popular participation in the Taste of the Dominion event, and growing demand for more restaurants and other businesses in the area, both prompted Enti to open a Leon Springs location. But thanks to the two Northwest Side locations, Scuzzi’s is also a hit with medical professionals working and living in the area. After all, the Shavano Park

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FEATURED | SAN ANTONIO

restaurant is a short distance from Baptist Emergency Hospital, MedCare Primary Care Northwest, Cumberland Surgical Hospital, My Emergency Room 24/7, Warm Springs Post Acute Medical, a Methodist Healthcare System office, and a rising number of private practices in the area.

Scuzzi’s three party rooms - one at Shavano Park and the other two in Leon Springs-have proven inviting to physicians’ groups. “Party rooms are equipped with projectors and screens, so we see a lot of presentations from doctors,” Enti says. “We do breakfast, lunch and catering for them. Since

we’re close to them, it makes it easy for us to carry the food to them.”

Visit Scuzzi’s Italian Restaurant at 4035 N.W. Loop 1604, Suite 102 (210-4838884) or 24165 I-10 West, Unit 433 (210-549-1266)

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Dr. Jennifer

Walden

Building a Legacy as a 6th Generation Austinite by Rudy Arispe

“First and foremost, I’m a mother, an entrepreneur, a businesswoman and I’m a plastic surgeon”

r. Jennifer Walden says when asked to describe herself.

The Austin native, who has appeared in Texas Monthly, Vogue and on national TV networks, such as NBC, CBS and Fox News, is also the owner of a busy surgical practice, Walden Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center, along with The MedSpa at Westlake in South Austin and the soon-to-open MedSpa at NW Hills in North Austin. And despite an eight-year stint working in the Big Apple, it wasn’t long before her heart yearned to return to her Texas roots. “Patients always ask if I’m a native Austinite because they read about it. Then they tell me I’m a rare unicorn”. Descended from pioneers who settled on Bull Creek in the 1850s, Dr. Walden relates her family history in Texas: “On my father’s side of the family, they migrated here in the mid-1800s. We’re sixthgeneration Austinites; we bought 160 acres on Bull Creek for $2 an acre and sold

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it in 1960.” She adds, “I wish they hadn’t have sold it! But who knew Austin would become the boomtown it did?”

Dr. Walden also possesses another skill that surgeons sometimes have that her patients find interesting.

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“As far as being a surgeon, I’m ambidextrous. I can use both hands interchangeably while I operate.” “I can use a scalpel blade in my right or left to make an incision, and I can throw a suture with my right or left hand as well. So that works out well when changing sides of the table.” Still, being a single mom to two young boys remains a priority while her career as successful cosmetic plastic surgeon comes in second. “I have a sense of responsibility, and I always want to provide them with a good life,” Dr. Walden said, adding that her mother, who raised five children, has always been her role model. The doctor loves to perform surgery and feels most comfortable in the operating room but confides, “Having a nonsurgical cosmetic medspa practice is also nice and perhaps provides me with an exit strategy as I get older and want to spend time with my sons before they go off to college.” When she’s not busy with work or raising her twin 7-year-old sons, Dr. Walden also told us about another little-known passion of hers: she likes to ride horses for relaxation and pleasure. “It’s fun. It’s something I did whenever I got a chance to do when I was a youngster,” she said. “Anyone who knew me well when I was a little girl knew I wanted to have horses when I was older.. that was my fairy tale… along with being a surgeon,” she laughs. Dr. Walden, whose father was a dentist and whose mother was a surgical nurse, received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. After

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completing her residency, she moved to the Big Apple to complete a oneyear, cosmetic surgery fellowship at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, a prestigious institution with a legacy of superstars in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery. After falling in love with the City and practicing nearly eight years in New York, she moved back to the Lone Star State in 2011 and made her mark in as a cosmetic plastic surgeon in Austin with her surgical practice in Westlake and two medspas. Her second cosmetic medspa, The MedSpa at NW Hills, is scheduled to open late this summer. It will offer the same noninvasive, cosmetic procedures as the one at Westlake, including cosmetic injectables like Botox and soft tissue fillers, noninvasive body contouring, laser hair removal and skin resurfacing, anti-aging and acne treatments, vaginal rejuvenation, among other cosmetic services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are also rolling out more along the lines of sexual wellness services such as bio-identical hormone replacement and BioTe pellet insertion in my Westlake practice and plan to extend that to the second medspa location as wellâ&#x20AC;?, Dr. Walden adds. 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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“We really grew our medspa at Westlake in South Austin beyond the bounds of what it could hold,” Dr. Walden explained. “For many of our patients in Austin, traffic is so congested that a drive across town can be long and frustrating. So we decided to open a medspa in the Northwest Hills neighborhood of Austin to better serve our patients who live and work in this area, as well as those in North Austin, Georgetown, Cedar Park and Round Rock.” In addition, cosmetic injection specialist Kristin Gunn, who is known to many patients at the Westlake locale, will offer Botox and cosmetic fillers at the NW Hills center several times a week. Her laser technicians and aesthetician team will also be there, and of course Dr. Walden herself will frequent the second location often as well.

no stranger to the Northwest Hills neighborhood. “These are my old stomping grounds,” she said. “I grew up a few houses down on the street where the new MedSpa is going to be located. I’m very comfortable opening in this area, and I know the demographic well with many personal and family friends close by”. Dr. Walden adds, “My family was there so many years ago, there were only one or two businesses located on Far West [the street the medspa will be on]… you should see the old photos!” Austin, all grown up…and we’re along with Dr. Walden for the ride!

For more information visit drjenniferwalden.com, themedspaaustin.com, or call (512) 328-4100.

By the way, the Austin native is

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CHILDREN'S HEALTH | SAN ANTONIO

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s a vascular surgeon practicing medicine in today’s exciting world of ever-evolving and innovative technology, Dr. Lyssa Ochoa has a powerful array of effective treatment methods at her disposal in treating patients suffering from peripheral artery disease and other diabetes related illnesses.

Ochoa Dr. Lyssa

Saves Lives and Limbs of Diabetic Patients at San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic By Rudy Arispe

“I have within my toolbox a whole spectrum of how I can treat vascular disease. Either it’s through medication and education about a change in diet and a healthy lifestyle, through new minimally invasive techniques coming out all the time, or through traditional open surgery such as bypasses,” Dr. Ochoa said. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, for the past seven years, Dr. Ochoa has been treating patients on the South Side of San Antonio after moving here from Houston where she did all her medical and surgical training at Baylor College of Medicine. She worked with a medical group until most recently when she opened the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic to serve the need for compassionate and advanced vascular care to the growing population of diabetics residing in this historically underserved area. Dr. Ochoa’s approach to treating her patients involves a collaborative partnership with hospitals, nonprofits and health care groups throughout the South Side to ensure patients receive the best care possible. It began after realizing that outcomes for people with diabetes or who suffered a stroke or heart attack were worse than those in more affluent parts of the city. “As a vascular surgeon, I was alarmed by the complications of diabetes in South San Antonio,” she said. “I do bypass surgeries, amputations and take care of people 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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on dialysis, and I began to realize outcomes were so different for people on this side of town. As I researched more, I found that it’s the social determinants of health that affect outcomes. Medical care only represents 20 percent of health care outcomes while issues like transportation, food, desserts, socioeconomic status, health education and others can affect up to 50 percent of health care outcomes.” “If we’re going to make a difference in prevention and education, not only do all of the health care providers have to do a good job in treating patients, but we need to acknowledge the social determinants of health. So, I have taken a different strategy to this population’s health challenges that we have on the South Side. The way we do that is through collaboration with all institutions that have similar goals.” Some of SAVE’s collaborative partners include the nonprofit Methodist Healthcare Ministries and Baptist Health System. Dr. Ochoa, in fact, has taken her commitment to saving lives and limbs a step further by creating the Amputation Prevention Program at Mission Trail Baptist Hospital. Through the program, if a patient comes to the hospital with a diabetic foot ulcer, for instance, the multidisciplinary amputation prevention team is required to see the patient within 24 hours. “One of the most common reasons for diabetic amputations for people on the South Side is foot ulcers that result due to poor circulation or diabetic neuropathy,” Dr. Ochoa said, adding that a similar prevention program will be offered at Southwest General Hospital starting in September. “We all collaborate to determine how to treat the foot ulcer in an efficient way to get it healed to prevent amputation. We also make sure there is follow up. Amputation prevention programs are already established throughout the

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nation at academic centers; it doesn’t happen a lot at private hospitals, so this is unique. There’s no place in the country that needs this more than the South Side of San Antonio. Literature shows that coordinated care saves limbs.” Dr. Ochoa is also working with the University of the Incarnate Word

to train medical students, and to oversee a research project there to determine if non-medical intervention for patients facing major barriers in social determinants of health, will improve outcomes, such as preventing diabetic amputations or decreasing the occurrence of strokes or heart attacks. Another community initiative Dr.

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“If we’re going to make a difference in prevention and education, not only do all of the health care providers havae to do a good job in treating patients, but we need to acknowledge the social determinants of health." Ochoa is especially proud of is a Diabetics Support Group at Mission Trail Baptist Hospital. “It’s an opportunity for diabetics to talk about the difficulties in managing diabetes, such as the personal struggles and mental health challenges,” she said. “They’re able to talk about things only they can understand.” For her community efforts, Dr. Ochoa was recently presented with the Mission Trail Baptist Hospital’s WB Russ Excellence in Medicine Award. “The award is nice, but what’s really rewarding is seeing the patients who benefit from quality health care. You can see how appreciative they are,” she said. “I tell them they now need to share what they learned about prevention and education with family and friends. They are the teacher now, and that’s how we’re going to help change diabetes on the South Side.” After earning her medical degree and completing her residency at Baylor

College of Medicine, Dr. Ochoa did a fellowship at the medical school’s Michael E DeBakey Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. She credits her chief of vascular surgery, Dr. Peter Lin, for the vast and rewarding experience of working outside the academic setting and treating patients “out in the real world,” as she recalled, that helped develop her skills and expertise as a vascular surgeon.

having the skills to perform traditional open surgery when necessary.”

During her general surgery residency at Baylor, she learned about surgical oncology, pediatric surgery and thoracic surgery, but it was vascular surgery to which she was drawn.

Treating Peripheral Arterial Disease, or P.A.D., begins with an evaluation in Dr. Ochoa’s office at SAVE, first with an ultrasound or circulation study of a patient’s feet, for example, before she gives a diagnosis of any vascular disease she finds. If a procedure is required to unclog blocked arteries, an individual can receive services in the clinic’s outpatient cath lab, where Dr. Ochoa can perform an angioplasty or stenting procedure, as well as an atherectomy to remove plaque from blood vessels.

“What I like about vascular surgery is the intricate work we get to do when we operate,” she said. “We vascular surgeons are also on the leading edge of technology. We’re trying to find new ways to treat patients, who have serious conditions, in minimally invasive ways that are safer for them, while also

“I do a lot of state-of-the-art techniques, such as intravascular ultrasound where the ultrasound ‘camera’ is on the catheter of the wire to look at the vessel inside out, and we can tell where the disease is and whether treatments have worked or not,” she said. 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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One of the more common surgeries Dr. Ochoa does is a bypass surgery for people who have severe blockages of blood vessels to their legs. “Maybe I or someone else has tried to open them up with a catheter, wire or stent, but we still can’t, so what we do is a bypass,” she explained. “Ideally, we take the vein of the patent and connect it to good blood flow coming in; we bypass the blockages, and then we sew it into a blood vessel that is open in the foot.” Another procedure involves working on clogged vessels of the carotid arteries in the neck. “Some of our patients are at risk of having a stroke because they have cholesterol buildup in their vessels,” she said. “We can either prevent further stroke or prevent stroke altogether if we can operate on those arteries in time and remove the blockages.”

Dr. Ochoa is also skilled at surgery to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a weakening of the main blood vessel in stomach. “If it gets larger and larger, it can rupture, and you can die, so there are a lot of new techniques to fix this,” she said. “Traditionally, we open the entire abdomen, and replace the ballooning section of the aorta. Now, we can often achieve the same or better outcome through a small groin puncture by delivering a stent graft within the diseased aorta.” “As vascular surgeons, we are skilled to treat patients with medication, through lifestyle changes or endovascular surgery, which includes catheters, wires or stents, but also through traditional open surgery, such as an endarterectomy to remove plaque from the vessels. That’s what’s unique about a vascular surgeon. I can treat them with what they need, and I’m not limited with what I can do.” On the cutting-edge front,

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meanwhile, the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic has applied to be part of a research project involving a new device for patients who have no other options because of blocked vessels. ”It is important for us to participate in clinical trials for new and upcoming

technologies. This is how we continue to innovate and develop opportunities for our community to thrive.”

For more information, visit www.thesaveclinic.com or call (210) 610-7283.

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Dr. Young

Cho

Building a Center of Excellence for Patients and Wellness Providers With the Latest Contemporary Technology

Integrated Aesthetics Jody Joseph Marmel

r. Young Cho is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and the Director and Owner of Integrated Aesthetics located in Spring, Texas. The practice serves patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball and the surrounding areas.

His educational journey began in Montreal, Canada where he received a Bachelor of Science from McGill University. Dr. Cho’s initial desire was scientific research which led him to England where he was doing graduate work in biological chemistry and completing a Ph.D. at Cambridge University. He applied to medical school to prepare for a career as a research scientist and Dr. Cho was accepted

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into Yale University School of Medicine. “I went with the idea of pursuing internal medicine with a specialization in infectious diseases. But as it turned out, I enjoyed working with my hands and I was amazed how doctors could help patients transform themselves -internally and externally.” While studying at medical school, Dr. Cho decided to do his surgical rotations first to get them out of the way. Plastic Surgery was his first rotation and he explains, “Seeing cancer reconstruction surgery of the breast performed on three different patients at various stages of their breast reconstruction impacted my career path. Witnessing these surgeries had a profound effect on me and I realized that a plastic surgeon could make a real difference in people’s lives.”

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Dr. Cho completed his Plastic Surgery Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. And ever since then, he has been making a real difference in so many people’s lives. Dr. Cho met his wife, Dr. Melissa Chiang at the Yale University School of Medicine and they both pursued their careers and supported each other on all levels. Dr. Chiang is Board Certified as a Dermatologist and a Dermatopathologist. They settled in Houston and Dr. Chiang worked at a multidisciplinary practice while Dr. Cho was opening the doors of Integrated Aesthetics in 2010. Soon after that, Dr. Chiang joined her husband at Integrated Aesthetics and they instantly became a dynamic duo in their professional lives; they had already established that status in their personal lives. Dr. Cho states, “We pride ourselves on integrating the very best of plastic surgery and dermatology to provide a whole spectrum of options for the surgical and non-surgical procedures. Our patients are very comfortable with both Dr. Chiang and me and our combined expertise makes a real difference.” And it has made Integrated Aesthetics a well known practice throughout the Lone Star State. “We are positioning ourselves as the Aesthetic Guide for our patients and for fellow practitioners. We want to help our patients that want the educational experience as well as guide them in the right direction. We put an emphasis on building trust through education. Are they being realistic about their expectations? We help them understand what works best for them by putting together a customized aesthetic plan,” explains Dr. Cho. He continues, “Whether their goal is to slow down the aging process-also known as maintenance or whether they want to reverse the aging process, we always strive for the natural appearance

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“We pride ourselves on integrating the very best of plastic surgery and dermatology to provide a whole spectrum of options for the surgical and nonsurgical procedures."

and our patients are very happy with our work.” In addition to being an aesthetic guide to the patients, Dr. Cho founded the Integrated Aesthetics Academy to help address the growing need for education available to aesthetics and wellness providers. He personally teaches a plethora of procedures some of which include the vampire facelift, the O-Shot, the Vampire Breast Lift and

technology such as EmSculpt as well as Ultrafemme 360 and EmSella. Dr. Cho offers individual coaching, small group teaching, and larger group seminars. The goal is to help those advance in their own journey as aesthetic and lifestyle providers. Integrated Aesthetics is building a strong brand of training and fellow practitioners welcome learning about innovative techniques and advanced technology as well as the “bread and butter” procedures.

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Dr. Cho and Dr. Chiang are very happy with their partnership with FLOW Aesthetics. EmSculpt, Ultrafemme 360 and EmSella are the devices that the practice has brought into their medical office from FLOW Aesthetics. “FLOW has given us the tools to enhance our practice with advanced technology that has proven to give our patients excellent results. They are supportive, come to our events, and want to see us grow. We are in this together and we want to continue to expand the aesthetic field for everyone to enjoy.” He continues, “The FLOW team is top notch in education and training and they give me feedback on the overall operations of my practice. We have tremendous faith in their group and their technology. Basically, I like to educate others on this concept because what is working for me, can work for others.” Technology is key in most areas of medicine, but this is especially true to aesthetics. EmSculpt is a procedure that tones and enhances the muscle while reducing fat. Dr. Cho explains,

“Whether their goal is to slow down the aging process-also known as maintenance or whether they want to reverse the aging process, we always strive for the natural appearance and our patients are very happy with our work.” “EmSculpt is excellent for body contouring. This aids us with our nonsurgical body sculpting options and it even helps with my surgical patients. Since surgery only addresses skin and fat-like the tummy tucks, I cannot build muscle with surgery. EmSculpt improves the quality of our body sculpting procedures.” Additionally, after performing many of my surgical cases patients

are advised to not work out for many weeks, if not months, during the healing process. This leads to atrophying of the muscles, causing them to loose strength and size. EmSculpt has been shown in clinical studies to grow muscles up 3 months. Resultantly, I have begun treating patients with EmSculpt prior to my surgical cases so that even when they can't exercise at the gym their muscles are still growing in the treated areas" EmSculpt helps to intensely work out the muscles that are being targeted. It is FDA cleared for the abdominal region as well as the buttocks and thighs. “The great thing about EmSculpt is that with very little effort, our patients can experience a very intense workout.” Dr. Cho elaborates, “It uses high intensity focused electromagnetic fields that cause supramaximal contractions. These are stronger contractions than you can ever do on your own. It is like doing 20,000 supramaximal crunches or 20,000 supramaximal squats in the span 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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of 30 minutes.” "This gives patients a more athletic and stronger physique, as opposed to just a "reduced" look." Dr. Cho says, “the patient receives a range of computer controlled magnetic pulses that produce firm contractions of the abdominal, buttock and thigh muscles. These contractions are more effective than doing a series of crunch, plank or even squats. The results are extraordinary.” We are in an era where we are busier than ever, and I consistently hear my patients say they don’t have as much time to go to the gym. Some also say that they aren’t able to perform or get the same results in the gym like they could when they were younger. Thus they are working harder for smaller gains. To have a device that can noninvasively grow muscle, and as a byproduct reduce fat is revolutionary. For many of my busy patients EmSculpt has become an ideal solution which

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“EmSculpt is excellent for body contouring. This aids us with our nonsurgical body sculpting options and it even helps with my surgical patients. Since surgery only addresses skin and fat-like the tummy tucks, I cannot build muscle with surgery. EmSculpt improves the quality of our body sculpting procedures.” allows them to spend more time with their family and friends while simultaneously transforming their body in a more dramatic way than they could achieve by going to the gym." In fact, Integrated Aesthetics is the

first plastic surgery practice in South Texas to bring EmSculpt into their practice, and they have added a second and third device due to its popularity. “We have gotten an incredible reception from our patients, and thus we acquired two additional devices to meet the ever increasing demand.” Dr. Cho is very grateful to his wife, Dr. Chiang. “The marrying of our two specialties has helped guide us in all areas of aesthetics. We have such a breath of knowledge and we are constantly learning from each other. This has been a major plus for Integrated Aesthetics -for our team, our patients, and our fellow practitioners.”

To learn about other procedures and for more information visit www.myintegratedaesthetics.com https://www.facebook.com/ IntegratedAesthetics/ 5061 FM 2920 Spring, Texas 77388 Call (281) 404-5454

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Supplying Physicians With Cutting Edge Technology

hen Dr. Young Cho, a board-certified plastic surgeon in The Woodlands, Texas purchased his first EMSCULPT device from FLOW Aesthetics, he was amazed at the patient satisfaction and demand that quickly followed. It led him to purchase two additional EMSCULPT devices within 35 days. “EMSCULPT is the one procedure that patients can truly ‘experience’ what the treatment is doing. Patients often describe it as a 'guilty pleasure' as they are resting, yet experiencing one of their most intense workouts for the treated areas,” said Dr. Cho, director of Integrated Aesthetics in Houston. Today, FLOW Aesthetics is the South Texas based team that Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Ob/Gyns, and Urologists rely upon for cuttingedge technology, such as EMSCULPT and EMSELLA, to help them create a better quality of life for themselves and cash flow for their businesses. “We have found that the most ideal equation which best meets this need is offering our physician customers devices that they can delegate to their staff,” said Shawn Easler, founder of Houston-based FLOW Aesthetics. “These can be used ‘hands free’ without staff needing to stay in the room throughout the procedure, requires no numbing, generates at least $1,000 in cash-based revenue per hour, and creates long-term passive income.” EMSCULPT, Easler said, is proving

“Investing in aesthetic devices which are in high demand, provide a high ROI, and that can easily be delegated are incredible ways to reduce risk and max out success."

to be a huge financial success for physicians. It is the only procedure in the world to help both women and men build muscle and burn fat. EMSCULPT also creates the world’s first noninvasive buttock lifting procedure. “EMSCULPT is one of those aesthetic devices which only comes

into the market once every 15 years,” he said. “It is changing the definition of what non-invasive body contouring is and will be. Before Emsculpt, aesthetic practices offered devices which depleted or debulked an area of fat. EMSCULPT is the world’s first and only device which thickens muscle 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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fibers by 16 percent, giving patients an athletic look instead of a ‘reduced’ look whether it’s used on the abdomen, thighs or buttocks. The results are in a completely different category because it’s more than just the aesthetic benefit of looking good; patients feel stronger.” Benefits abound for patients who choose the EMSCULPT procedure, Easler added. In seven published clinical studies (MRI, Ultrasound, CT Scan, Animal) EMSCULPT also showed a 19 percent reduction of fat at the three-month mark and 23 percent at six months.

“Patients are decreasing fat and increasing muscle in an area using this HIFEM technology, which is attracted to motor neurons on striated muscle fibers causing 20,000 supramaximal contractions in one 30-minute session. It’s depth of penetration is 7 cm.” “Patients ‘feel’ the difference from the strengthening and hardening of the muscles, and they ‘see’ the difference as fat is also reduced,” Easler continued. “There is no downtime, and many incorporate the procedure into a long term ‘lifestyle procedure’ maintenance plan. What we are seeing from patients is that once you lift the buttock muscles and the patient begins to brag about her results to her friends, or her partner gives her a compliment, the patient does not want to ever have her results return to baseline. And because we are dealing with muscles which will atrophy if not stimulated, EMSCULPT is quickly becoming the most addictive energy-based procedure on the market. This ushers in residual

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Shawn Easler and Zuzeko Ghongkedze income for the practice, frequently exposing patients to the physician’s armamentarium and drastically transforming the profitability of the practice. A rising tide lifts all boats.” As part of its mission, FLOW Aesthetics is committed to helping its clients pay off their equipment within six months and has a 4 step process to help them achieve this goal. Identify First, Paola (Idrobo, co-founder); Zuzeko

(Ghongkedze, regional consultant); or myself perform a business analysis, and the physician tells us which products would best fit his or her short and long-term objectives and current infrastructure. Educate Next Vickie Michaels, practice development manager, who has 11 years of experience working as the top esthetician at a high-end aesthetic center, teaches staff how to effectively

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mean shadowing another FLOW customer, listening to and providing feedback on the staff’s talk track, analyzing website data, setting up more training days, as well helping improve the overall business plan. “We never set an end date to our post sale support and training, and we’ve never charged a fee for additional trainings and support,” Easler said. “This ‘checks and balances’ system eliminates new customer challenges early, thereby changing the profitability of the practice quickly.” Easler, who has been in the aesthetics industry for 12 years and has worked at many of the major aesthetic device companies, created FLOW Aesthetics after realizing that to truly help his customers succeed, he couldn’t work alone to accomplish his objective. “Investing in aesthetic devices which are in high demand, provide a high ROI, and that can easily be delegated are incredible ways to reduce risk and max out success. However, I’ve also learned that physicians can enhance their success with resources such as a great business and marketing plan, and staff members who share in the physician’s excitement and have the confidence to perform safe and effective procedures.” Paola Idrobo and Vickie Michael's and safely perform the procedures. Convert The entire FLOW team will assist in helping the physician create before and after photos to build a "brag book”, conduct open house events where Michaels attends and helps staff sell procedures, and with FLOW's partnership with regionally based companies such as MD Monthly, physicians are now able to receive unique and effective social

media content and 4K videography. With this content, physicians are then able to publish high end content on their online platforms, target specific demographics, and differentiate their practice. Refine The FLOW team then meets with the physician and staff at monthly intervals to measure clinical and financial performance and determine how best to max out performance. This could

“I couldn’t be a team of one if I wanted physicians to succeed both short and long term,” he said. “I needed to scale if I wanted to help all of our customers strengthen patient consultations, optimize procedure outcomes, market their aesthetic services effectively both internally and externally, and ultimately pay off their new devices within the first six months.” “To meet this need, I added more depth to the team and partnered with some of the best aesthetic consultants 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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and clinicians in the industry - Paola, Zuzeko, Vickie. We’ve also partnered with marketing companies who not only create effective social media and in-office marketing resources, but who also can get our customers on the news, on billboards, on the cover of magazines, and can create high impact custom 4K videos.” "With more than 50 years of combined experience in aesthetics, FLOW Aesthetics is now able to help physicians shorten the timeline from ‘patient 1’ to ‘patient 50.’ ” Currently, FLOW Aesthetics has a client base of more than 200 aesthetic practices and its roster of clients continues to grow, which Easler attributes to the company’s due diligence and laid- back FLOW culture. “We like to look at objective data before deciding to recommend any product to our Texas- based physicians,” Easler said. “All of our recommendations are based upon statistics and science.” “Our mission is to find what procedures have the highest demand and growth rate,” Easler added, “then find the aesthetic devices within those categories which provide the highest patient satisfaction, ROI, ease of use, and lowest ‘pay per use’ expense. We found all of these qualities in BTL Industries’ new HIFEM products, EMSCULPT and EMSELLA. We’ve coupled strong objective data with something I learned from my college professor: ‘people want to do business with those who they can see themselves having a drink with.’ It’s been a really fun ride, and we’re honored and humbled that 82 percent of our customers have been repeat buyers.” While Emsculpt is proving to be extremely popular with physicians, Easler said, another lifestyle procedure many Urologists, Ob/Gyns and Plastic

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Surgeons like to offer is EMSELLA, which uses the same technology that is in EMSCULPT – HIFEM – to stimulate the motor neurons in the five pelvic floor muscle groups causing 11,200 supramaximal contractions.

“EMSELLA is the only energy-based, FDAcleared device for incontinence, and has a depth of penetration of 10 cm,” “What physicians say their patients like best about the treatment is that it improves their patients’ quality of life, and patients can keep their clothes on throughout the painless procedure.” In a recent study of patients with varying forms of incontinence, Dr. Joseph Berenholz, cosmetic gynecologist of the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Michigan, found that “95 percent of treated patients improved their Quality of Life, and that the results were maintained during the three and six-month follow ups.” In addition, 100 percent of patients reported better awareness of the pelvic floor muscles.

“Just like what EMSCULPT is doing for the noninvasive body contouring industry,” Easler said, “EMSELLA is having the same disruptive effect in the world of gynecology; and FLOW Aesthetics is elated to be the exclusive distributor of HIFEM technology in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and down to the Rio Grande Valley.” Having worked in the aesthetics industry and meeting with physicians one-one-one for more than a decade, Easler knows the business and financial needs of his clients, which has allowed him to tailor business plans that best suit them to maintain current patients and attract new patients with the latest in aesthetic devices. “I've always liked the idea of viewing physicians as skilled artists. After all, each is a celebrity to his patients. Like all artists, however, they will reach a fork in the road where they have to decide if they'll continue working for money or let their money work for them” he said. “Today's reimbursement landscape differs from what physicians heard growing up. Now, physicians are finding they need to see more patients and work longer hours just to make what they made in previous years."I've been lucky enough to have some incredible

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physician mentors. These mentors all come from diverse backgrounds with some being Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons, Ob/Gyns, Urologists; etc and at one point in their careers they were all starving artists.” Their backgrounds, CVs, locations of their practices and demographics of their patients are all diverse. But, one thing they all agree on is that diversifying their payer mix by adding a cash-based revenue model is the way to go. And due to the boom in the cash-based aesthetic market, these modern-day Rembrandts and Picassos are selecting the human epidermis as their canvas with most generating an additional six-figures a month by offering aesthetic procedures. Easler likens FLOW Aesthetics to being “the Sherwin Williams of the Texas aesthetic market” and encourages physicians in the industry to let his staff

Dr. Cho and Dr. Chiang are very happy with their partnership with FLOW Aesthetics. EmSculpt, Ultrafemme 360 and EmSella are the devices that the practice has brought into the practice from FLOW Aesthetics. “FLOW has given us the tools to enhance our practice with advanced technology that has proven to give our patients excellent results. They are supportive, come to our events, and want to see us grow. We are in this together and we want to continue to expand the aesthetic field for everyone to enjoy.” He continues, “The FLOW team is top notch in education and training and they give me feedback on the overall operations of my practice. We have tremendous faith in their group and their technology. Basically, I like to educate others on this concept because what is working for me, can work for others.”

help them develop a thriving practice in an ever-increasing competitive, aesthetic marketplace, so that they stand out from the competition. “So, whether physicians are looking for a way to offer their patients a more athletic looking frame by building muscle and burning fat, eliminating embarrassing intimate moments, or offer anti-aging treatments that slow the effects of elastin and collagen loss,

our diverse palette of aesthetic options are helping these entrepreneurial artists gain back life's most precious resource – time. That is, time with family, time with friends, and time for self-care.”

To view the Top 3 Most Disruptive Trends in Aesthetics, read physician testimonials, schedule a one on one consultation or sign up for our next group event go to infoflowaesthetics.com

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INFORMED PATIENT | SAN ANTONIO

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CERVICALGIA By Dr. Michael S. McKee

ervicalgia is a general term to describe neck pain, and is not, in and of itself, a disorder. Neck pain is a symptom of an underlying condition and should be addressed by a medical professional. Causes of cervicalgia include injury, psychological stress, posture issues and sleep environment issues. Cervicalgia may be caused by muscle or ligament irritations or problems related to components in one or more of the seven cervical vertebrae, and symptoms may extend to shoulders and facial tissue. Headaches often occur in conjunction with neck pain. Your specialist will help you determine the underlying cause of your neck pain, and together you can determine the appropriate treatment, which may include therapeutic massage, over-the-counter non-steroidal

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This is a minimally invasive procedure utilizing x-ray guidance for the injection site, in conjunction with an antiinflammatory and anaesthetic injection which provides immediate feedback in locating the source of pain. In the rare instance in which your condition may require surgical intervention, minimallyinvasive techniques allow for faster recovery.

anti-inflammatories, and exercise. Some physicians recommend in-office trigger point injections (TPI), which quickly and with minimal discomfort, reduce or eliminate pain in affected soft tissues. Neck pain suspected to originate in the facet joints of your cervical vertebrae are more specifically diagnosed as well as therapeutically treated with a facet joint injection (FJI).

If cervicalgia is affecting your everyday activities, it may be time to see your primary care physician or pain specialist to rule out larger problems. You deserve the best quality of life within your reach, and in all likelihood, your doctor can neutralize your neck pain in a simple office visit.

For more information visit: www.spinecareofsanantonio.com

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BUSINESS | REGIONAL

CASHING OUT WITHOUT SELLING OUT

THE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF EXITING A BUSINESS Provided By: Eric Kala CPWA®, CIMA®, CFP®, AEP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CRPS®

f all the things an entrepreneur thinks about, exiting the business isn’t usually top of the list. Yet without a formal exit plan, a closely held business risks not only its longevity, but also its bottom line. That’s because a lot can happen along the way that can trigger a need to hand over the business before an owner may be ready to do so. In fact, recent data shows that while 80 to 90 percent of U.S. businesses are family owned1, less than a third of these companies succeed into the second generation and just 10 percent survive into the third2. Here’s why…

Hope is not a strategy In many cases, family owned and closely held business owners don’t take the necessary steps to assure a smooth leadership transition, either because they don’t clearly identify a successor or because they fail to prepare their company to succeed without them. It’s not surprising. Years of hard work, sacrifice and deep personal involvement

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can make it extremely difficult for a founder to hand over authority and responsibility to a new owner. The problem is, without a clear exit plan, a divide can be created that can jeopardize the future of the company or, in the case of an outside buyer, the deal itself. One way to greatly improve the successful sale of a business is to strengthen it from the foundation up. This means focusing not just on the technical details of the business, but also on its human dimensions – in other words, the people and processes that can help maximize its value. To help ensure the interests of your key employees are aligned with your business and to make certain you have the right people supporting your efforts, consider the following questions: Do any of your key employees have the experience, talent and passion to take the business to the next level? In the best effort to find and develop the next generation of management, business owners will often hire people who make better employees than future

owners. But just because a member of the team has been “second in command” or, in the case of a family owned business is related, doesn’t mean he or she is the best choice to succeed you. The right person to fill your shoes is very often the type of person you may have avoided hiring in the past: an entrepreneurial leader just like you. What have you done to groom a possible successor? Broad and deep preparation, both mental and emotional, is necessary for successful leadership. That’s why it’s important to mentor a possible successor so that he or she learns to share your passion for the business. Do you have bench strength among those employees who are not owners? Potential buyers often look beyond the spreadsheets to the quality of the employees behind the numbers. As a result, it pays to have some simple processes and procedures that can help you evaluate the performance of current employees and identify where potential

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BUSINESS | REGIONAL

gaps exist in terms of placing future talent. Do you have a plan to reward key employees? There are people you would like to take care of in the transition – certain non-owner employees whose efforts have made the success of your business possible. Care must be taken, however, to ensure this desire doesn’t conflict with the economics of getting the deal done with a buyer. An incentive-based compensation program that is tied to company performance measures can “sweeten” a transition plan by fairly compensating those employees whose contributions mean the most and by encouraging them to remain after the transition. The value of experience You’ve spent a lifetime as steward of your business and justifiably, it is probably one of your proudest achievements. Selling or otherwise

transferring that business can be one of the most challenging tasks you face. As a result, it’s not a process you should go through alone. At a minimum, this means working with legal, accounting and financial professionals who are experienced in the field of succession planning and who understand the human dimensions of that process. The right advisors can help you assess your own strengths and weaknesses in this area, providing guidance to ensure that, when the time comes, you’ll be well positioned to transition your business on your terms – when you want, and how you want. Family Business Facts. Conway Center for Family Business, 2012. www. familybusinesscenter.com 2 George Stalk and Henry Foley. Avoid the Traps That Can Destroy Family Businesses, Harvard Business Review. January – February 2012. 1

Article prepared by Northwestern Mutual with the cooperation of Eric Kala. Avid Wealth Partners is a marketing name for Eric Ilmari Kala in their capacity as a representative of Northwestern Mutual and is not a legal business name. Eric Kala is a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its subsidiaries. Wealth Management Advisor is an agent of NM based in San Antonio, TX. To contact Avid Wealth Partners, please call (210) 446-5755, e- or visit avidwealthpartners.com.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS | SAN ANTONIO

Unbalanced Estrogen Levels Can Have a Big Impact on Your Health by Dr. Marianne Pinkston

lthough both male and female bodies contain estrogen, it plays a much larger role in women’s sexual and reproductive health. Their bodies produce estrogen in the ovaries as well as the fat cells and adrenal glands. When a girl starts puberty, estrogen helps her develop secondary sex characteristics such as breast growth and hair under the armpits and pubic region. Once she starts menstruating, estrogen helps to regulate the monthly cycles. It controls the growth of the uterine lining during the first half of the cycle and drops off if fertilization does not occur. If fertilization does happen, estrogen and progesterone signal the body to stop ovulating. The production of estrogen drops off after a woman has completed childbearing and she enters into her pre-

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menopausal years. Since progesterone also decreases at this time, the resulting hormonal imbalance confuses the body. This can result in over two dozen different symptoms for women. Almost all women experience some effects of hormone imbalance, although the severity and number of symptoms varies greatly from one woman to the next. Increasingly, women are turning to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to find symptom relief.

Indications Your Estrogen Levels May Be Too Low or Too High While hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings are typical symptoms of pending menopause, there are numerous others associated with hormone imbalance. You may experience those problems and several of the ones listed below even if you

are nowhere near menopause. The following are typical symptoms in women whose level of estrogen is too low: • Chronic fatigue, regardless of the actual number of hours that you sleep • Bladder infections or urinary tract infections • Headaches that start out mild but eventually turn into migraines • Vaginal dryness • Pain when having intercourse • Loss of desire for physical intimacy with your partner • Irregular menstrual bleeding • Insomnia, which includes difficulty falling asleep or waking up several times and not being able to get back to sleep • Forgetfulness and having a hard time concentrating

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HEALTH & WELLNESS | SAN ANTONIO

• Incontinence or leaking urine when you laugh, cough, or sneeze • Loss of bone density that puts you at risk for developing osteoporosis • Depression and/or anxiety • Unstable emotions Estrogen dominance can occur when progesterone levels deteriorate rapidly or stop altogether. The term doesn’t mean that you are gaining estrogen, but rather you have too much estrogen in your body in relation to progesterone. Since these two hormones work so closely together, women with estrogen dominance may experience the following additional symptoms: • Fluid retention • Breast tenderness • Gallbladder problems • Sugar cravings and issues regulating the body’s blood sugar

• Fibroids • Uterine cancer • Bloating • Weight gain • Nausea • Thyroid issues • Endometriosis

Balancing Your Estrogen Levels with BHRT It seems obvious that the solution to unbalanced levels of estrogen is to balance them using a natural replacement hormone. Unfortunately, few mainstream doctors understand the benefits of BHRT. They replace the body’s natural hormones with synthetic ones instead. While this works well in some cases, many women’s bodies can’t tolerate artificial hormones. This can cause a significant number of minor and serious side effects, including an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

The basic cell structure of bioidentical hormones, which come from tropical plants, does not go through any changes during the compounding process. This increases the likelihood that your body will respond appropriately and you will experience fast relief of your hormonal imbalance symptoms. Your doctor supervises your treatment from start to finish, which means he or she can spot side effects quickly and adjust your dosage or method of administration if necessary. Since traditional doctors don’t typically offer bioidentical hormones, your best bet in achieving estrogen balance is to work with a naturopath, chiropractor, or other type of alternative health provider who does offer this treatment.

For more information visit: www.wellness4life.com

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CHILDREN'S HEALTH | HOUSTON

WHY YOUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE VACCINATED Provided by Providence Hospital

f you’re a parent, you are probably quite familiar with the anti-vaccination movement. In fact, your parenting groups and social media pages are probably filled with proponents of this movement, ranting and raving about how vaccines cause autism and are unnatural and unhealthy for children. Even intelligent people can fall victims to this horrible ideology. After all, the leaders of this movement can be quite aggressive and at times quite convincing. They frequently cite sources that seem credible at first glance. While they might have compelling spokespeople, the anti-vaccination movement has absolutely no credible science on its side. To help remind you of what you probably already know deep down, here’s why your children should be vaccinated. There’s No Data That Supports The Claims of The Anti-Vaccination Movement Autism exists. There’s no denying that thousands of children every year are diagnosed with autism. Many parents

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within the anti-vaccination movement whose children were diagnosed with autism wanted someone or something to blame and that blame landed on vaccines. That’s the long and short of this movement, to be frank. Until this movement emerged roughly a decade ago, almost all children in developed Western countries were receiving vaccines. Vaccines became a scapegoat for parents whose children were diagnosed with autism. It’s important to understand that there has never been any medical or scientific study that has found a credible connection between autism and vaccines. If vaccines caused autism, we’d have far more autistic youths than we do. The Potential Harm of The Anti-Vaccination Movement is Catastrophic When a measles outbreak shook California, it became clear that the origin of the outbreak was unvaccinated children. These children weren’t from low-income communities whose

parents didn’t have the knowledge or resources to vaccinate their kids. Rather, these children were from extremely affluent communities where parents had been indoctrinated into the anti-vaccination movement. Anti-vaccination advocates claim that the risk poised by vaccines outweighs the risks posed by diseases like measles. This is incredibly dangerous thinking that could lead to the demise of countless children. There’s no evidence that vaccines cause autism or any other illnesses, but there’s a whole host of evidence that the anti-vaccination movement has already done significant damage to a myriad of children. The bottom line is that you need to get your children vaccinated at a reputable hospital. Don’t rely on the opinions of Hollywood actresses and Facebook keyboard activists. Instead, rely on the knowledge and wisdom of doctors, nurses and medical researchers. Still concerned or have more questions, please contact us by calling (281) 453-7110 or fill out an appointment request for a consultation.

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INFORMED PATIENT | CORPUS CHRISTI

Fall Prevention FOR OLDER ADULTS By Vince Dionio

alls are the leading cause of injuries for people 65 and older. Once a person experiences a fall, it can limit mobility and independence, which can decrease the ability to perform everyday tasks. With falls being the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults, it’s important to not only understand the common reasons for falls, but also to know the typical injuries resulting from falls and how rehabilitation services can help. Common causes of falls may include: • A decline in physical fitness • Impaired vision • Medications • Chronic diseases • Surgical procedures • Environmental hazards - A majority of falls in the elderly population occur in or around the home and are attributed to poor lighting, clutter, loose carpets, slick floors and lack of safety equipment. Injuries such as joint sprains,

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dislocations of the shoulder and hip, and fractured bones are typical injuries caused by falls. Back, spinal cord, and head injuries can also be caused by falls. Even if a fall doesn’t result in an injury, it can still cause fear in an individual and hinder the individual’s independence. Rehabilitation can be beneficial for someone who has experienced a fall. Rehabilitation services can help a person regain strength, alleviate pain, and recover other abilities that are essential to overall well-being and independence. In addition, physical therapy plays a key role in helping to prevent future falls by improving movement, balance, and agility. At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, LiteGait® technology helps patients safely improve balance, gait and functional independence without the risk of falling. To help prevent falls at home, consider the following home modification tips: • Keep rooms free from clutter • Install handrails, raised toilet seats, grab bars and shower mats • Light up dark areas of the home

• Remove or tape down any loose carpets or electrical wires • Ensure telephones can be easily reached from the floor • Replace chairs that are too low to the ground or difficult to get out of • Install night lights throughout the home, especially in bathrooms and stairwells In addition to home modifications, a change in wardrobe can also help in preventing falls. Wear sensible, nonslip footwear and avoid wearing loose clothing. Make sure to talk with your family and care providers about your falling risks.

Vince Dionio is a physical therapist at Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital. The hospital provides specialized rehabilitative care to patients recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. For more information, visit CCRH. ernesthealth.com, call 361-906-3700 or visit the hospital at 5726 Esplanade Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas.

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EVENTS | CORPUS CHRISTI

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LOSE WEIGHT, NOT HOPE.

Nilesh A. Patel, MD, FACS

Subhash Reddy, MD

Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery •

WLS may improve obesity related health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obstructive sleep apnea, among others.

• Diabetes cured in 80% of patients and resolved or improved in 90% of patients. •

Hypertension is cured in 62% of patients and resolved or improved in 78.5%

• Obstructive sleep apnea is cured in 86% of patients • Risk of death is decreased by 89% • Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) can enhance fertility and lead to successful full term pregnancies. • Average weight loss is 50-70% of excess body weight • Improvement in arthritis with reduction in pain and increased mobility. • WLS is covered by 80% of insurances •

Texas Bariatric Specialists accepts most major insurances including Medicare.

GOOD-BYE DIABETES

BypassDoc.com | 877.459.7065

GOOD-BYE SLEEP APNEA

HELLO WEIGHT LOSS 2018 - SEPTEMBER

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