Alaska Pulse - May 2020 by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Alaska

PULSE MONTHLY

111%

Ronna Martin sets recovery goal after 2019 Mount Marathon fall

Eskimo Ninja Warrior Nick Hanson reaches out to Alaska kids Health Sense • Jessica Cochran on Alaska Seeds of Change • Dr. Brück Clift on benefits of intermittent fasting • Dr. Mark Rindlisbacher on neuropathy treatment • Alaska VA Healthcare System on telehealth • Dr. Justin Libby, D.D.S. on modern dentistry • Dr. Ilona Farr on honeyberries

May 2020 Vol. 1, No. 5

Social Distancing Saves Lives! We are not out of the woods yet! Our local physicians still advise social distancing. Keep 6 feet between you and anyone around you. You CAN go outside, exercise, walk the dog! Just keep your distance. YOU have the power to change the course of COVID-19! Make a difference and keep your distance! If you have medical questions or feel you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, call the Foundation Health Partners COVID-19 hotline at

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INSIDE Our mission

Helping Alaskans to live a healthy and satisfying life in the Last Frontier by hearing from their fellow Alaskans, from Alaska health experts and by sharing their own stories.

May 2020 Vol. 1, No. 5

Alaska People

About Alaska Pulse Alaska Pulse is a monthly magazine focusing on health in the Far North and distributed around Fairbanks and Anchorage. We’ll share stories from around the state about how people stay healthy. Learn from experts in different medical fields on ways to improve, or maybe just maintain, your health. We’ll hear personal stories about people’s triumphs over different health adversities. Alaska Pulse is a community publication, so every issue is sure to hold a variety of perspectives.

Alaska Pulse is a publication of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner LLC. 200 N. Cushman St. Fairbanks AK 99707 Publisher Richard E. Harris Editor Rod Boyce editor@AlaskaPulse.com 459-7585 Advertising

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Ronna Martin working her way back to 111% recovery after 2019 Mount Marathon accident.

‘Eskimo Ninja Warrior’ Nick Hanson reaches out to Alaska kids after turning to athletics after being bullied as a child.

By Aliza Sherman Page 4

By Kris Capps Page 12

FEATURES Tips on staying healthy, active for adults and kids when you’re stuck at home. 17

health sense Jessica Cochran on Alaska Seeds of Change

Dr. Brück Clift on benefits of intermittent fasting

Dr. Mark Rindlisbacher on neuropathy treatment

Alaska VA Healthcare System on telehealth.

Dr. Justin Libby, D.D.S. on modern dentistry

Dr. Ilona Farr on honeyberries

AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 3

Down but far from out Ronna Martin stands atop Flattop Mountain outside Anchorage. Hiking and climbing were some of her favorite outdoor pursuits before her injury in the 2019 Mount Marathon Race. All photos courtesy the Martin family.

May 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AlaskaPulse.com

Overlooking the town of Seward is 4,826-foot Mount Marathon.

Ronna Martin climbs back from traumatic injury in Seward’s Mount Marathon Race By Aliza Sherman

o this day, nobody knows what caused Ronna Martin, co-owner of the Diamond M Ranch Resort, to free-fall down the mountainside like a ragdoll near the end of the 2019 Mount Marathon Race in Seward. Did she lose her footing? Did she pass out before the final stretch and tumble, already unconscious? All Ronna says she remembers is five steps before falling and 20 hours after her fall. Every moment in between is gone. She didn’t know it at the time, but she had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Known as the “Toughest 5K on the Planet,” the Mount Marathon Race in Seward takes place every year on the Fourth of July, sending runners

up and down more than 3,000 feet of the 4,826-foot mountain. The 2019 race was a hot and smoky one and was almost canceled due to concerns over the smoke from the Swan Lake wildfire. The local Air Quality Index in Seward on the morning of the race was 172, labeled an “unhealthy” level. On the drive to Seward, where she had planned just to be a spectator and cheer on the runners, the smoke was heavy. But it didn’t seem so bad once she and her husband, Blair Martin, got to the race site. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Gee I don’t really want to be on the street watching racers, I might as well at least enter, and I’ll just go slow and go have a good workout as opposed to doing nothing,” says Ronna, once she arrived at Mount Marathon.

2019 marked the fifth time Ronna had participated in the Mount Marathon Race. She had tackled the race three times in her late 20s and early 30s when her children were young. She returned to the race more recently in 2018, once her kids were older. That year she placed 12th in her age group, clocking in at 1 hour, 23 minutes.

No stranger to running

Ronna says she’s always been a pretty active individual. She grew up in Ninilchik, the oldest daughter of a physical education teacher and wrestling coach. Her family enjoyed the outdoors, camping and hiking. In the late 1980s she attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she minored in PE with a major in education, and she was on AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 5

r h t b g a M

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the UAF cross-country running and ski team. When her younger sister wanted to run the Mount Marathon Race, Ronna offered to help her train and then decided to run it herself. She placed 44th. “I thought if I actually trained at my level, I might be able to do pretty well,” recalls Ronna, who went on to train and race the following year, placing 13th. Already a mom to two children, she raced a third time, placed 26th, and decided it was a good time to stop and have more kids. Eventually her children got into the race, first through the Mini Mount Marathon for kids ages 2 through 6 and then at the junior level. In 2009, her son, Matti, took second place at the age of 9. A few weeks later, Matti was killed in a freak accident at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on the Ninilchik Fairgrounds. “I remember getting on my knees and saying, ‘God, why? I don’t understand.’ And he said, ‘So you can have a story.’ I did not want a story. I wanted my son,” says Ronna. Six months later, she wrote and began sharing a story she calls “Death Has No Hold” at various events, including the Ninilchik Fairgrounds on the one-year anniversary of the accident. Ronna would have more stories to 6

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

h c S s m i t b

Left, Ronna’s son Matti took second place in the Mount Marathon kids’ race at age 9. A few weeks later he was killed in a freak accident at the Kenai Peninsula Fair. Above, paramedics work to stabilize Ronna after she fell near the bottom of the mountain during the 2019 race.

tell sooner than she realized, including the account of a break she undertook to be alone with God, “21 Days in the Wilderness.” The recounting of her accident on Mount Marathon and her subsequent journey of healing would be yet another story to tell to motivate and inspire others.

The ER and the road to recovery

At the bottom of Mount Marathon, within yards from the final stretch of

pavement about half a mile to the finish line, Ronna lay unconscious and surrounded by first responders. In the next moment, she was standing up, brushing herself off, ready to finish the race. She was oblivious to the gashes in her head and her fractured ankle. She was straight-arming the race volunteers, trying to deny assistance, until she passed out and someone caught her before she hit the ground again. Even though she was talking while being transported to the emergency

room in Seward and admitted into the hospital, Ronna doesn’t remember anything she said. Because of the risk of a brain bleed, time was of the essence to get her to Anchorage, and she was soon airlifted by helicopter to Providence Medical Center. “That was when the seriousness of her life or death situation really hit me like a ton of bricks,” says Blair, Ronna’s husband of over 29 years. A few days later, Ronna was home and ordered to be on complete brain rest in a dark room for two weeks without any electronics, noise or outside stimuli. She says she spent that time alone in prayer. In the meantime, Blair went into high gear as Ronna’s primary caregiver. Ronna had fractured a cheekbone and her skull near her atlas, the first cervical vertebra of her spine at her neck. She also had lacerations that required stitches, and those injuries, along with multiple other head contusions, resulted in a global concussion with the bulk of the damage affecting the left side of her brain. Following guidelines outlined in the

Ronna and her husband, Blair, lead a busy, outdoorsy life.

book, “The Concussion Repair Manual” by Dr. Dan Engle, Ronna went through a series of treatments including time in a hyperbaric chamber and an isolation tank. She received injections of glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant important for cellular health that can become depleted when someone suffers a traumatic brain injury. She also used neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback that works to change the electrical activity of one’s brain, and cold laser therapy, using a low-intensity laser device she already

owned and had used in the past to help heal injuries such as shoulder problems. Blair also made sure that Ronna ate a strict, non-inflammatory diet during her brain healing process that was high in healthy fats and eliminated sugar and alcohol. He also did his best to shield her from anything negative, believing in the power of positive thinking for healing the brain and overall well-being. He even shielded her during this critical period when their youngest daughter rolled her car a few days after Ronna returned home. Their daughter was not seriously injured; however, the family delayed telling Ronna to keep from upsetting her. “Blair was really protective of me,” says Ronna, adding that their staff at Diamond M Ranch Resort was, too. “I had to be like a prison guard, keeping people out of her room as well as encouraging her to take naps,” Blair recalls. “Then we finally got her out of the bedroom and into the living room with her dark shades and a baseball cap so she was getting out and interacting with other people. I had to be able to

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read the signs of what mental fatigue was and try to get her to nap prior to that happening. She would literally stand up and be staring at the floor, throwing word salad with no coherent clauses.” Blair says when it got to that point, he knew he was late in getting Ronna back to her room for a nap.

Ronna, version 2.0

Ronna’s brain injury has changed how she communicates and other aspects of how she processes information. Today, she is nearly 100% recovered. However, her goal is for 111% recovery.

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

The hardest part of Ronna’s healing process, Blair explained, was around the time Ronna started getting stronger. She became less compliant and more oppositional about taking instructions from her husband, but Blair was up for the challenge. Ronna’s competitive streak came out as she was recovering. Says Blair, “Statistically speaking, there’s a certain percentage of people that will essentially get to 100% recovery, but because Ronna was so competitive, she wasn’t happy with a 95% probability of a 100% recovery. She wanted to shoot for 111%. I said the only way that’s going to work is if we get a 2.0 version, because you ain’t never getting all of it back.” For Ronna, the number “111” was significant. It was the number on the racing bib on her last race on Mount Marathon. Ronna’s brain injury damaged the logic portion of her brain so she had to learn new ways of processing information. The 2.0 version of Ronna is better able to communicate to Blair when she is feeling depressed or overwhelmed so he can help her through a situation before she spirals into negativity. She used to have the attitude that she could do everything herself. The accident helped both Ronna and Blair realize their limitations and strengthened their ability to rely on one another. “Your natural weaknesses prior to the accident are just escalated, so they’re of a much more out-of-whack scenario,” Ronna says, explaining how a brain injury can change a person’s personality and thinking and can cause them to overreact or respond badly to “normal” situations. Four weeks after her accident, Ronna was still wearing a protective boot on

“I’m just so thankful that I’m alive and well and not in a wheelchair and I’m going to be able to hike again, and I am hiking again. I’m just so thankful.”

her ankle, but she wanted to get outside and found a safe way to do that using a trike stabilized in a way so she could not lose control and reinjure her brain. She spent time on Russian River Falls on a wheelchair-accessible trail. “There was a stage between November and December that was a real struggle for me. I think that was when I was having more brain function, but then I was just so frustrated about everything,” Ronna admits, adding “I’m just so thankful that I’m alive and well and not

in a wheelchair and I’m going to be able to hike again, and I am hiking again. I’m just so thankful.” Today, Ronna says she is close to 100% recovered. She still has trouble retrieving the right words for what she is trying to say, but she feels vital and full of energy. She and Blair are focusing more time on the nonprofit they founded in their son’s honor, Matti’s Farm, launching a summer youth camp for at-risk kids at the Diamond M Ranch Resort. http://www.mattisfarm.org/

Ronna is still striving for 111% recovery. “That’s the challenge that God gave me and obviously it’s not a humanly possible statistic, but that’s just my own,” she says. What’s her advice to others going through serious challenges? “Never give up. Look at what is right instead of what is wrong. Focus on the positive.” Aliza Sherman is a freelance writer in Anchorage. Comments about this story? Email editor@AlaskaPulse. com.

AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 9

HEALTH SENSE

Alaska Seeds of Change:

Combining mental health services with vocational training By Jessica Cochran

nside the Alaska Seeds of Change building in mid-town Anchorage, it is perpetually early spring, or maybe mid-summer. Leafy greens are seeded, transplanted, watered, and harvested each week, year-round. The building houses an indoor verticalgrow hydroponic farm, staffed by young people, ages 16 to 23. It’s a program of Anchorage Community Mental Health Services. So what does growing vegetables have to do with mental health? It has long been thought that gardening and growing things are beneficial for mental health. Gardening programs were included in programming at mental health hospitals back in the 1800s. With a resurgence in interest in connecting with nature and gardening this century, multiple studies have shown that gardening can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Seeds of Change doesn’t offer all of the same benefits. It’s not outside, in nature. The physical work of gardening is reduced: There is no dirt to shovel or

reaching and stretching to weed rows. But there is still the responsibility and joy of seeing seeds that you planted sprout, grow and thrive. Still, the main mental health benefits of the program may have more to do with another aspect of the program: vocational training. As lead staff member Sara Wake-Renard likes to say, “We’re growing produce. But mostly we’re growing people. Wellbalanced, healthy people who feel connected, can be productive and contribute to our community.” At Seeds, young people learn job skills, from “soft” skills like appropriate workplace communication and conduct, to more specific skills around data collection, process improvement, accounting and marketing. But they are also

encouraged, even required, to work on their greater life goals. Employment at Seeds isn’t meant to be long-term; rather, it’s meant to help young people to clarify their interests and be ready to move on to their next big thing, whether that’s a permanent job or more education. To do that, they have access to a lot of informal coaching and support. For some young people, that may be enough to boost their mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Work provides a structure and routine, social contact, a sense of collective effort and purpose, and an opportunity for personal achievement. For those who need more support, formal mental health services are available. Clinicians and clinical associates are on site at the building, providing therapy, case management and psychoeducation. For clinician Saraj Gottstein, being able to offer a range of clinical services in the same building as a vocational development program is a dream come true in terms of integrated care. “Having services onsite helps support individuals in addressing in-the-

= On gardening • Essential advice for the gardener: grow peas of mind, lettuce be thankful, squash selfishness, turnip to help thy neighbor, and always make thyme for loved ones. • A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. – Doug Larson (columnist and editor, 1926-2017) 10

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

Members of the Alaska School Nutrition Association toured Alaska Seeds of Change in January, learning about how the program engages youth in food production and gathering ideas for potential future projects around the state

moment needs, provides structure, consistency, easily accessible mental health care that in turn enhances an individuals’ ability to reach their full potential. Plus, the seeds and the lettuce offer us a great metaphor for the comprehensive care we hope to offer our clients.” One of the goals of the program is to break through any stigma about receiving mental health care among young people. Often, serious psychiatric conditions first appear in people in this age range. By connecting those young people to mental health care and preparing them for work and the structure it provides, programs that combine mental health with vocational training can help them avoid the pitfalls of unemployment. As one study noted, “People with psychiatric disabilities are sensitive to

the negative health effects of unemployment and the associated loss of structure, purpose and roles and diminished sense of personal identity. … Work can be essential for maintaining mental health and well-being and for promoting recovery from mental illness.” Of course, in Alaska there’s another benefit: providing locally grown fresh food year-round. Alaska Seeds of Change has caught the attention of people around the state interested in replicating the idea — including the Alaska School Nutrition Association. Traditional school garden programs are a little challenging here, with the short summer growing season lining up almost perfectly with summer vacation. Trevor Bridgewater, assistant director of operations for nutrition services at the Fairbanks North Star Borough

School District, is always looking for ways to connect students and the food we serve. “When I toured the Seeds facility, I was very impressed at the level of student involvement in all areas of the operation. I feel that communities across Alaska would benefit greatly by having similar opportunities for youth.” Plans to actively pursue this vision have been temporarily set back by world events. Still, maybe someday there will be a network of small hydroponic farms around Alaska, producing fresh food and engaging young people, offering structure, personal growth, and hope for the future. Jessica Cochran is director of community relations and communications at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, which will be changing its name to Alaska Behavioral Health effective approximately June 1.

AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 11

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Es Nin rea out Courtesy Nick Hanson and NBC

Eskimo Ninja’ eaches ut

Left, Nick Hanson goes through the obstacle course on “American Ninja Warrior.” Above, Nick takes time to visit with Healy students one-on-one. Kris Capps photo

Unalakleet athlete hopes to inspire Alaska students By Kris Capps

Alaska Pulse Monthly

skimo ninja warrior was never on Nick Hanson’s radar as a potential career for himself. He planned to always work as a civil engineer. But his story of being bullied as a child and how that led to him becoming a world-class athlete is a story that resonates with students throughout Alaska. Now he shares that journey regularly by visiting schools and inspiring youngsters to overcome adversity by developing the willpower to do their best. “I want to help motivate you to make positive changes in your life,” he tells students. In March 2020, Hanson headed to Los Angeles to compete in his sixth season on the NBC television show “American Ninja Warrior,” but the

show was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and has not yet been rescheduled. But that hasn’t stopped him. He continues to be a mentor and coach for teen athletes and a role model for Alaska’s youth. After the coronavirus hit Alaska, he started posting videos of Alaska Native games youngsters can work on at home to keep in shape while social distancing. Those can be found on his “Eskimo Ninja-Nick Hanson” Facebook page. The national exposure he has gained allows him to share his Alaska Native heritage and instill confidence in young people. It’s a role he never dreamed he would fill, but he embraces it wholeheartedly. “I just want to do my best,” he tells students. “If you do your best, that’s all that matters. It’s what I live by, every day.” AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 13

A child’s determination

Nick Hanson is a lifelong resident of Unalakleet, a small community on Norton Sound in western Alaska. His mother is Inupiaq, and his father is white. His great-grandfather was Edward Hopson, longtime Native leader in Alaska. “I’m half and half,” he tells students. “I’m proud of both my Eskimo heritage and my mixed European background.” But when he was a kid, that mixed heritage didn’t make it easy to fit in. Native students regularly picked on him. “I was bullied and beat up nearly every single day of my life,” he said. After a particularly bad day in third grade, he decided he needed to find something positive in his life. He was only 11 years old, but he took steps to make a change. “I decided to join sports,” he said. “I started to listen to my teachers. I started to listen to my coaches. I started looking up to my peers, the ones who were older than me and positive in my life. I was also a nerd. I joined Academic Decathlon, Battle of the Books, student government. “Everything Unalakleet had to offer, I 14

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

wanted to be part of it,” he said. He developed a willpower that continues to serve him well. That, he said, is almost more important than strength. “You know that moment when you’re doing something and you say, ‘I just want to be done, I want to stop’? It’s when you say ‘I want to quit, but I’m not going to,’” Hanson said. “In a race, you’re almost to the finish line. Your willpower is the ability to say ‘I’m not going to stop.’ “I tap into my willpower almost every day,” he said. Once he decided to apply himself, the 11-year-old Nick Hanson discovered he excelled in sports. In high school, one of his basketball teammates begged him to try his hand at Native games. “I’ll teach you everything I know,” the friend said. That set him on the journey he is still on today. And that friend who helped him excel at Native games is the same person who used to bully him in third grade. He became one of Hanson’s best friends and mentors.

An adult’s message

These days, Hanson regularly coaches

teens to participate in Native Youth Olympics and encourages all youngsters to give it a try. “Native games represent our culture, our heritage, things we are able to do that connect us to our ancestors,” he said. At school gatherings, he demonstrates some of those games — the two-foot high kick, the one-foot high kick, the

Left, preparing for the knuckle hop or seal hop. Above, Nick Hanson greets students at TriValley School. At right, Hanson sets up the ear pull for two students. Far right, everybody does sit-ups with Nick, even Cantwell preschooler Olivia Thorn. Kris Capps photos

knuckle hop, the ear pull. And kids love it. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and skills with kids. “I get excited every day,” he said. Students greet him enthusiastically, often mobbing him for autographs. Some pull him aside for a quiet conversation. He takes time for all of them. With older students, he shares the anguish of losing friends to suicide or alcohol-related accidents. “I could have easily fell into that,” he said. “My friends fell into alcohol, drugs. I decided I was never gonna do that.” What made the difference? He had a support system — family, coaches, friends and peers who looked up to him. “A lot of those kids didn’t have that support system,” he said. “I kind of invested my time learning from them and observing them. It made me different, I think.” He’s passionate about the work he does now with young people and continues doing it because he believes he is helping make a difference in their lives. He appreciates the affirmation he receives regularly from students, school principals and parents. “Everything we do has to have a ‘why,’” he tells students. “Find out who you are.”

It took him awhile, but he found those answers for himself. “Now I get to share that knowledge with the world,” he said. “It’s my responsibility. I’m an ambassador for my culture and community. I want to make sure these kids don’t see what I’ve seen.” Contact Alaska Pulse Monthly staff writer Kris Capps at 459-7546. Email her at kcapps@AlaskaPulse.com

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AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 15

HEALTH SENSE

Intermittent fasting may have health benefits for some people By Dr. Brück Clift

he COVID-19 pandemic and call for social distancing, isolation and quarantine presents a kind of hell to persons with addictions, eating disorders or other compulsive habits. Gyms are closed and deliberate attempts to exercise may be inconvenient or even dangerous. Comical social media memes warn of the dangers of weight gain for the isolated and bored. However, this is anything but funny. Most adults in this country are trending toward weight gain even while working daily jobs. During quarantine, eating may become a convenient hobby. Over 40% of the adult population of the United States will develop diabetes or prediabetes. The number of children with diabetes or prediabetes has also increased over the last decade. Signs that a person might be at risk for diabetes include being overweight, having thickened and hyperpigmented skin on the back of the neck or under arms, and feeling “hypoglycemic” or shaky/fatigued with even short fasts and at technically normal blood glucose levels. The more commonly noted and concerning signs of poorly controlled diabetes are increased thirst, hunger and frequent need to urinate. In recent years intermittent fasting has emerged as an intentional medical strategy for managing insulin resistance. Intermittent fasting can refer to the practice of abstaining from food for more than 24 hours once or more weekly or to engaging in daily fasts of 16 to 20 hours, eating only during a four- to sixhour feeding window (time-restricted 16

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

feeding). Intermittent fasting should be a lifestyle rather than a diet. Weight loss and glycemic goals may be improved by limiting diet to plants and proteins, limiting carbohydrates (sugar, grains, potatoes, corn), but strict dietary restriction is not required to achieve moderate benefit using fasting. The scientific basis for the observed benefits of intermittent fasting is that having high levels of blood glucose increases insulin output, which leads to insulin resistance, weight gain and diabetes. Insulin levels have also been shown to play a role in aging. The presence of insulin causes the body to store energy as fat and suppresses the body’s ability to utilize its own stored fat. It is difficult to lose weight when insulin is present in the blood. Fasting periodically reduces insulin levels, allowing the body to burn stored energy and fat. Benefits from fasting have been observed in both human and animal models, with some animal models showing significant life extension and reductions in cancer frequency. The benefits of intermittent fasting go beyond reduction in risk for diabetes. They include weight loss and maintenance of a healthy body mass index, improved cardiovascular endurance, improved irri-

table bowel symptoms, less fatigue during the day, and increased health span. Fasting decreases general inflammation, improves the clean up and removal of dead and damaged cells, and has been shown to shrink some cancerous tumors and make them more susceptible to treatment. All of these effects are augmented by regular aerobic exercise. Ketogenic diets have also become popular and have some things in common with intermittent fasting, especially emphasizing limiting carbohydrates. Typically a ketogenic diet requires that less than 10% of total caloric intake come from carbohydrates over several days. Keto diets do work for weight loss but are also exclusion diets that require strict adherence and are difficult to adopt as lifestyles. There are some contraindications to intermittent fasting. Individuals with underlying medical conditions should consult a physician regarding the appropriateness and safety of intermittent fasting. Groups that should be especially cautious and must consult a physician before beginning intermittent fasting include those on medications that could lead to hypoglycemia (like insulin), who are underweight, have certain mental health disorders or known eating disorders, have had bariatric surgical procedures or any gastrointestinal resections, and those with nutritional deficiencies. Prolonged periods of fasting are not recommended for babies or young children unless medically directed. Dr. Brück Clift is a family medicine doctor whose practice is in Palmer.

Stuck at home?

You and your family can still get your move on By Aliza Sherman

ym closed? No workout equipment at home? Adding movement and exercise into your life — and into your kids’ lives — doesn’t have to be hard and can generate positive results. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, incorporating physical activity into your daily life, as well as developing healthy eating habits, comes with some real health benefits such as preventing chronic disease, reducing fat, controlling weight, and strengthening bone, muscles and joints. Exercise and physical movement can increase your energy, reduce your chance of becoming depressed, relieve stress and improve your sleep. “The human body is made to move. Moving is our best tool for managing the elevated stress levels we experience,” explains Ginny Grabowski, MSc., a nutrition and health consultant. “When we perceive a threat, our body immediately goes into fight-or-flight mode, releasing a cascade of hormones and chemical reactions to ready us to run away from or face the situation. Our reaction is a rise in blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. If we continue to sit and not move these chemicals and hormones through and out of our system, these physical changes linger.” Too many of these chemicals and hormones in our bodies turns into chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure. How much exercise should your family do each day? Experts say that adults should engage in at least 60 minutes of exercise daily and children should step away from their screens and get their move on for at least 30 minutes. “I recommend moving every hour of screen time, including sitting at a desk,” says Hope Frazier, certified personal trainer at her business, HardWorx Garage Gym. “It can be burpees, jumping jacks, running in place, doing push ups, air squats, high jumps. Set an alarm on your phone for each hour.” Shannan Tramell, a health and online fitness coach for Beachbody, says our bodies can be used as workout equipment when we don’t have access to a gym or workout equipment. Like Hope, Shannan recommends push-ups and squats as well as lunges, dance and cardio to get your heart rate up, sweat and have fun. What about children who are cooped up indoors? For people with young kids, have them participate or challenge them to a contest,” Hope said. “Who can do the longest plank? The most push-ups? Find funny dances online to learn and do.” “Break out the Twister game, but do a warm-up first,” says

Ginny, who also recommends tapping into your kids’ competitive nature. “Have a crawling race. Create a competition to see who can hold a squat longest, who can move the slowest,

laska Pulse is a monthly magazine focusing on health in the Far North and distributed around Fairbanks and Anchorage. We’ll share stories from around the state about how people stay healthy. Learn from experts in different medical fields on ways to improve, or maybe just maintain your health. We’ll hear personal stories about people’s triumphs over different health adversities. Alaska Pulse is a community publication, so every issue is sure to hold a variety of different perspectives.

Contact editor Rod Boyce at editor@AlaskaPulse.com or 907-459-7585 to talk about it. Alaska Pulse is a publication of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 200 North Cushman Street • Fairbanks AK, 99701

AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 17

or who can balance on one leg longer. Remember to have fun with this. It doesn’t matter if your kid is stronger than you. It’s time spent getting stronger together.” Other easy ways to add movement into your day when you’re stuck inside include: 1. Take an online fitness class. You can find free or inexpensive live guided workouts given by Alaska-based and national instructors teaching on online conferencing platforms like Zoom or Facebook or Instagram Live. The national chain, Planet Fitness, hosts a mid-day livestream on their Facebook Page called “Planet Fitness Home Work-Ins” with celebrity guests. 2. Play interactive video games. Dust off the old Wii or Xbox 360 and challenge your family to a “Just Dance” competition or “borrow” your kid’s VR headset to play a physically challenging virtual reality game. 3. Build and conquer an indoor obstacle course. This could include running up and down the stairs (safely),

climbing over and under sturdy furniture, doing walking lunges down the hall, and jumping in and out of a hula hoop on the living room floor. What if you need guidance on proper ways to do certain exercises so you don’t injure yourself ? Or maybe you’re used to having someone else keep you motivated. “If you have a gym you usually attend or a trainer or instructor you work out with, contact them,” Ginny said. “They would be happy to share some routines and body-weight options with you. And, if you can pay them for an hour of their time, you’ll feel great and they will be grateful for the work.” Above all, if you can, get out of the house. “Go outside, face the sun, and get a dose of vitamin D and fresh air. Taking a walk is also important. If you have a dog, walk the dog or go on a walk with your family,” says Shannan, adding that after a workout or a nice walk, reward yourself and your kids with a healthy snack or meal.

Ginny agrees about the outdoors. “If you can get outside, go outside, walk, ski, cycle. Take advantage of open time and great weather. If you can’t — or don’t want to — get outside, climb the stairs in your home multiple times per day.” Adding a little bit of movement in your everyday activities can be easier than you think. Do squats or get down on the floor and stretch while watching television. Turn on some dance music and get into the groove as you move across the kitchen while putting away the dishes. Ginny suggests grabbing some cans of soup to do bicep curls or simply standing up and sitting down in a chair multiple times. According to Ginny, you need zero equipment to get the most out of exercise, and space is only limiting if you let it be. Aliza Sherman is a freelance writer in Anchorage. Comments about this story? Email editor@AlaskaPulse. com.

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May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

f r i a

HEALTH SENSE

New hope if you’re suffering from neuropathy By Dr. Mark Rindlisbacher

europathy can be a tingling, burning, pain and numbness caused by nerve damage. It is frequently found in the feet and hands. I’ve seen a lot of it in the 25 years that I’ve practiced in Anchorage. It is often due to an illness such as diabetes, but chronic nerve conditions such as fibromyalgia or carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause neuropathy. It can also develop from chemotherapy treatment, trauma, and a long list of other possibilities. Neuropathy is progressive and can lead to debilitating, chronic pain. Other symptoms include skin sensitivity, muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, sleeplessness, loss of balance, and injuries that don’t heal. Unfortunately, neuropathy is extremely widespread. It is actually the most prevalent undiagnosed medical condition in America. It affects nearly 30% of Americans over the age of 40 and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. In medical school they teach you that neuropathy cannot be reversed, so it is not surprising that neuropathy has been traditionally difficult to treat. Without a cure, both patients and physicians get frustrated. Often you will find patients going from one doctor to another in search of relief. Prescription medications, surgeries, TENS therapy, or lasers are used to alleviate the symptoms, but more often

than not, they result in disappointment. For years I have worked with patients trying to lessen their pain and make life more tolerable as they dealt with the debilitating symptoms of neuropathy. As a foot and ankle specialist, I developed a special interest in treating nerve conditions of the feet and legs. In my research to find the best relief, I came across a new treatment called Neurogenx that had been met with much success in the Lower 48. After doing some research, I became impressed. One of the most impressive studies I looked at involved small punch biopsies taken from patients with neuropathy. These samples were taken before the patient had received any treatment, then again six months after a Neurogenx treatment course. Independent laboratory tests from these samples showed an overall average of more than 165% increase in nerve fiber density. This treatment was actually helping to heal and regrow nerve fibers. That’s big news! The technology behind the treatment

is an FDA-cleared electro-medical device that creates a powerful wavelength that has been developed to stimulate nerves. The creators of the treatment claim that it eliminates or significantly reduces neuropathy symptoms in more than four out of five patients. Clinical evidence shows that even patients who have struggled with neuropathy for years experience improvement. And the fact that the treatment is non-surgical and non-invasive is a big plus. After months of talking to those who developed this therapy and other physicians who had been using it, I decided it was time to bring it to Alaska. Since bringing Neurogenx into our office, we have seen amazing results. I have patients who haven’t felt anything in their feet for years who can now feel again. I have patients who haven’t been able to sleep because of pain, and they have reported to me that they have finally slept through the night — sometimes after just one treatment. Patients are becoming less dependent on pain medication, and that’s exciting. If you are one of the millions suffering from neuropathy, or any other debilitating problem, my advice is to not give up in your search for relief. New and exciting developments in medicine are out there. Dr. Mark Rindlisbacher is the owner of Alaska Podiatry Group, located in Anchorage.

= Foot factoids • There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day. • The human foot and ankle is a structure that contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons & ligaments. • Wearing a heel with a height of 2 ½ inches increases the load on your forefoot by 75%. AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 19

HEALTH SENSE

Susan Guillory, Social Worker, uses VA Video Connect for her appointments with veterans.

VA Video Connect: Appointments in the comfort of your home By Katie Yearley

hen you think of Alaska, many images come to mind: snow, mountains, and a vast wilderness. With many veterans living out in remote regions of the state, you wonder how some of them get medical care with health care facilities so far away. The answer is new health care technologies and resources. The Alaska VA Healthcare System is stepping up its services to keep up with new trends by using telehealth. Telehealth uses virtual appointments to make health care more accessible to veterans. Virtual care is becoming essential in Alaska, which has many rural communities that are difficult and timeconsuming to reach. Veterans can even use tools like VA Video Connect on their computers, smartphones, or tablets to have video appointments with their health care team. One Navy veteran, Edward Burke, uses VA Video Connect for his health care appointments. He says he was nervous about using the app at first because 20

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

of the oneon-one setting with his doctor, but his thinking has changed after using it several times. Now Mr. Burke says VA Video Connect opens many possibilities for veterans. It can keep veterans in the far reaches of the state from having to travel down for their appointments and can even be a benefit for those with PTSD. For those who are unsure about trying it, he says, “It’s the way forward, it’s the future. Some of us old vets might take a while to get used to it, but we’ll get it.” VA Video Connect not only benefits veterans but also health care workers. Many providers find that using telehealth options like VA Video Connect helps them get to know their patients better. Amber Briggs, clinical pharmacy

specialist, uses VA Video Connect for appointments with veterans. Her veterans live all over southern Alaska, from Anchorage to Soldotna. Using VA Video Connect, she can help veterans manage things like diabetes or blood pressure without having them travel an impossible distance for an appointment. She says having a video resource benefits the health care relationship, as faceto-face talk gives a more well-rounded picture unavailable in a clinic setting. The VA Video Connect app is easily downloadable on the VA Mobile page at https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-videoconnect. It uses encryption to create a private and secure connection. Interested veterans only need to reach out to their VA Healthcare team to see if VA Video Connect can be used for their care. Telehealth continues to be a key resource in the Alaska VA Healthcare System, and the number of interested veterans and providers grows each year. Never have the possibilities of health care technologies been as exciting as they are now. Katie Yearley is a public affairs specialist at the Anchorage office of VA Healthcare System in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

HEALTH SENSE

Technology has dramatically reshaped modern dental procedures, options By Dr. Justin Libby, D.D.S

hat is a “modern dentist”? A modern dentist is an oral/facial specialist who utilizes the latest technology to build beautiful, healthy smiles and change people’s lives. Modern dentistry is an evolution. It’s an experience. A modern dentist has a modern team. We recognize that consistent training in modern techniques attracts and keeps great people beside you. The modern dentist relies on the input and experience of the team to perform and execute at a very high level. Dentistry no longer is just telling people to brush and floss more. When you hear “modern dentistry,” think what Amazon did to the shopping experience and apply this to traditional versus modern dentistry. As we have seen locally with Nordstrom and Walmart, if you aren’t continually evolving into what the consumers are looking for, you are going to be left behind. Modern dentists understand and use technology to enhance the patient experience. How does that compare to the traditional world of dentistry? What form of health care is traditional these days? Dentistry, like most pro-

fessions, is changing so rapidly that being “traditional” often is synonymous with being behind the times. Customers are more educated and more prepared than ever before to ask great questions and demand even better responses. What are some of the amazing, cutting-edge technologies a modern dentist uses? • Cone Beam 3 Dimensional Imaging: We can now see the entire skull in three dimensions. • Trios Digital Impression Scanning: No more disgusting impressions. • Tek Scan: This is used to balance and equilibrate the bite forces for patients with headaches, TMJ issues and grinding habits. • Digital anesthetic delivery system: No more “shots” as we all remember them • Laser technology: To reduce the number of bacteria present in the gums. • Bacterial load testing: To understand how much and what kind of bacteria is

present in periodontal disease. • Digital Smiles Design: Using iPads to digitally design smiles so that patients can be a part of the engineering process, becoming the author of their new smile. How do each of these technologies change and improve the patient experience? There are three distinct ways in which we use technology as modern dentists to improve the patient experience. First, we use technology to educate our patients, allowing them to visually see and experience things that they have never seen before. A picture is worth a thousand words. Second, we use technology as a communication tool to discuss and plan treatment across several different specialists. True collaboration and communication between specialty groups is critical for great patient care. For example, writing instructions on a yellow legal pad compared to digitized notes that can be accessed by all providers, day or night. Lastly, we use technology to do better, safer and more comfortable dental procedures. Being able to see, plan and predict is key to doing great modern dentistry. Dr. Justin C. Libby DDS, is owner and “captain” of The Libby Group LLC.

Did you know? • Surveys indicate that 50% of people say that someone’s smile is the first thing they notice. • The hardest part of your body? Your tooth enamel. • Over the course of your life, you will spend about 38 days brushing your teeth. • Mosquitoes have teeth! (Sort of. They have 47 sharp edges on their proboscis to help it cut through skin, and even clothing.) AlaskaPulse.com — May 2020 21

HEALTH SENSE

Honeyberries are an easy-to-grow, nutritious addition to Alaska berry crops By Dr. Ilona Farr

askap berries, also known as “honeyberries,” come from the blue honeysuckle plant that is native to Japan, Canada and Russia. Haskap, means “little present or gift on the end of a branch,” in Japanese, as each berry tends to have a different size and shape. The original edible honeysuckle bushes have small bitter tasting berries that birds love to eat, but recent plant breeding programs by Dr. Bors in Canada, and more recently by Alaska Berries in Soldotna, Alaska, have resulted in large, tasty berries that are high in antioxidants. These plants are cold-hardy and like many types of soils, especially clay soil. They mature in five to seven years and have woody stems that are not attractive to moose, so these bushes are great for your front yard and can last 20 to 30 years. The bushes can be trimmed and do not spread, so they make a great hedge. These bushes bloom early with scentfree yellow flowers that bees like and bear fruit early in June for some varieties and through September for other varieties, so if you plant different varieties you can have berries for several months. You must plant at least two varieties that bloom at the same time for pollination. These bushes get to be 5 to 6 feet high and 4 to 6 feet wide and grow much faster if you put ground cloth down or mulch to prevent competition for nutrients from neighboring plants. You also must put bird netting over the 22

May 2020 — AlaskaPulse.com

bushes if you want to harvest the berries or the birds will eat them all. The Russian varieties tend to grow faster, ripen earlier and have sweeter though slightly smaller berries. The Japanese varieties grow slower, have larger berries with unique shapes like hearts or lanterns. You must wait for the berries to ripen before consumption, as the unripe berries have a bitter yellow center, which matures to a sweet red pulp during harvest time. The berries are good for eating, baking in muffins, drying, making jams, jellies, pies, sauces, juice and wine. These bushes are productive when mature, and you can get 7 to 10 pounds of fruit per

bush. My interest in these berries as a physician comes from the fact that they are nutritious, can be grown easily in most places in Alaska, and thus can contribute to our food security. I grew up in rural Alaska and have always loved picking berries, and now I can easily do this in my own yard without having to drive and climb mountains, which will be great as I grow older. The nutritional aspect of these berries is still being studied, but we know they are high in antioxidants, which are thought to help fight cancer. When tested against blueberries, mulberries, juneberries, black currants, and blackberries, the haskap or honeyberries had the highest level of antioxidants. In other studies, honeyberries had by far the highest levels of anthocyanins. Fruits and berries rich in anthocyanin and flavonoids have several potential health benefits. These berries are known as fruit of longevity and of vision in Japan. They have high levels of polyphenols, vitamin C, and bioflavonoids. They are believed to be beneficial along with other healthy lifestyle choices in preventing chronic conditions such as cancer, especially colon cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, and cataracts. Enjoy your summer and plant some of these fun, productive, and easy-to-carefor berry bushes. Dr. Ilona Farr is a 60-year resident of Alaska who was a Fairbanks WAMI student, grew up near Clear, Alaska, and enjoys the practice of medicine, including FDM manipulation, from which she earns income to support her passion for growing fruit in Alaska.

Alaska VA Healthcare System Town Hall Schedule Facility Fairbanks Muldoon Clinic JV

Quarterly Beginning in April Third Thursday of first month Second Wednesday of first month Fourth Thursday of first month

Veterans Town Hall 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. NA

Juneau DOM State-Wide Mat-Su

First Tuesday of second month Second Tuesday of second month Second Thursday of second month Fourth Tuesday of first month

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. NA 6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Homer Kenai

In conjunction with Kenai twice per year Third Thursday of second month

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

For detailed information on Veteran Town Halls to include dates, please visit: https://www.alaska.va.gov/services/Veterans_Listening_Session.asp Alaska VA Healthcare Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAAlaska Questions? Call the One Stop Shop at 907-257-5463 or email Alaskaquery@va.gov Subscribe to receive Alaska VA updates at www.alaska.va.gov

Our website is at www.alaska.va.gov

AlaskaPulse.com â&#x20AC;&#x201D; May 2020 23

MASK UP FAIRBANKS!

We know that COVID-19 is an invisible storm. You can have it and not know it for weeks. Your local medical professionals along with the CDC encourage you to shelter in place, keep a 6 foot social distance and if you must go someplace WEAR A MASK! Think of it as protecting others from YOU! Homemade masks, scarves, bandanas, balaclava â&#x20AC;Ś.any of these will do. We are not out of the woods! It will get better and YOU have it in your control to help flatten the curve. If you think you may have symptoms of COVID-19 or have medical questions, please call the FHP hotline at 458-2888.