July 19, 2012
Mindful Meditation Learn to limit stress in the quiet of your own home
We’re here for you. Were Check out our weekly video tips for a healthy, happy summer. University of Colorado Health experts are sharing key ways to live healthier lives in Healthy U Tips, a weekly video series at pvhs.org/healthy-u-tips.
Does your child’s bike helmet really fit?
Dr. Peyton Taliaferro demonstrates the four simple steps you can take to ensure your child’s bike helmet or even your bike helmet - fits perfectly.
How to beat seasonal allergies
Dr. Susan Agrama shares four things you can do if seasonal allergies are getting the best of you.
Dr. Susan Agrama Dr. Peyton Taliaferro
2 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
1327 Eagle Drive, Loveland To make an appointment, call 970.619.6450 pvhs.org/clinics Thursday, July 19, 2012
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Just one more reason to take care of yourself Preventive screenings and annual exams help detect or stop illnesses before they become a serious problem. Keep good health and live life enjoying the things you love most. Immediate appointments may be available at the following primary care clinics in Loveland. Loveland Family Practice 3850 N. Grant Ave. Suite 100 Loveland, Colo. 970.624.5170 • Dr. Kevin Felix • Victor Palomares, PA-C
Foxtrail Family Medicine
*Partnership of University of Colorado Health and Associates in Family Medicine
1625 Foxtrail Drive Loveland, Colo. 970.619.6900
• Dr. Ann Davies • Dr. Deric McIntosh
Medical Clinic at Centerra Family Medicine North Medical Office Building 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave. Loveland, Colo. 970.392.4752 Family medicine • Dr. Pamela Levine
Internal medicine
• Dr. Mark Berntsen • Dr. Sheila Copple • Dr. Dana Christiansen • Dr. John Ebens • Dr. William Lopez • Dr. Michael Randle • Dr. Keith Thompson • Dr. Daniel Zenk
Colorado Health Medical Group Primary Care 1327 Eagle Drive Loveland, Colo. 970.619.6450 • Dr. Susan Agrama • Dr. Peyton Taliaferro
Scan the QR Code below for more information about the doctors, clickable phone numbers and maps.
pvhs.org/clinics .
Thursday, July 19, 2012
LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 3
contents
Meditation Avoid Toxins Be mindful of how you store your food, drink
Learn to relieve stress in your own home
Page 6
Page 14
Limit salt consumption when eating out Page 8
4 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
also inside Nutrition Roundup.............................................pg 5 Uncommon Sense..........................................pg 10 Stay ďŹ t with technology...................................pg 15 Why good posture matters..............................pg 16 Health Calendar..............................................pg 20 Health Briefs...................................................pg 21
Health Line of Northern Colorado is a monthly publication produced by the Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald. The information provided in this publication is intended for personal, noncommercial, informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company, product, procedure or activity. You should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.
For advertising information contact: Linda Story, advertising director: 970-635-3614
For editorial: Summer Stair, 303-473-1212 sstair@times-call.com
Sharpen Your Senses: Maintain eyesight, hearing PAGE 18
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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HL Nutrition
Green Bean 101
Energy from B-Vitamins? B-vitamins taken orally (in food or supplements) can indeed be effective for energy production. That’s one of their main purposes – to help our cells derive energy from the foods we eat. B-vitamins also help produce red blood cells that feed our body oxygen and other nutrients. A deficiency of vitamin B-12 – a condition called “megaloblastic anemia” – can cause fatigue and weakness. When this condition is corrected, energy levels can return to normal. Unless you have a deficiency, however, it is unlikely that additional vitamin B-12 will necessarily enhance your energy. How to know if you have a deficiency of vitamin B-12? Your doctor can check with blood tests. Here is some other interesting information about vitamin B-12 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS): Vitamin B-12 is primarily found in foods of animal origin such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy foods. When we eat these foods, B-12 is “freed” for use in our body by the action of stomach acid and enzymes. Synthetic vitamin B-12 – found in dietary supplements and fortified foods – is already in its “free” form. Whether natural or synthetic, vitamin B-12 is absorbed into the body only when it combines with “intrinsic factor” – a substance formed in the cells of the stomach. Some people can get plenty of vitamin B-12 in their diets and still have a deficiency of this vital nutrient, however. A condition called “pernicious anemia” destroys the stomach’s ability to produce intrinsic factor which prevents the absorption of B-12. People with this condition may require injections of vitamin B-12 to bypass the need for absorption through the stomach. People most at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency are those follow a strict vegetarian diet or have a reduced amount of stomach acid. And as we age, our stomachs produce less acid. For this reason, nutrition experts now recommend people older than 50 obtain most of their vitamin B-12 from foods with “free” vitamin B-12 such as fortified cereals and dietary supplements. How much do we need? The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for healthy people over the age of 14 years is 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B-12 daily. Higher doses have not been found to be toxic since the body is able to limit how much it absorbs.
– McClatchy-Tribune
The world of green beans is split pretty neatly in two: the round and the flat. The round beans, like Blue Lakes and the even thinner haricots verts, need to be cooked quickly in order to preserve their delicate crispness. Not so with flat beans such as Romano. They repay extensive cooking as their thick hulls take a while to tenderize. And when they do, they become meaty rather than soggy. Try stewing them in a tomato sauce for 30 minutes or more. You can even serve them cold, as an antipasto. How to choose: Green beans should be crisp and firm. There should be no soft spots or signs of discoloring. It makes easier cooking and much nicer presentation if you sort while you’re shopping and make sure you’re only keeping the straightest beans (they can be extremely kinky). How to store: Keep beans refrigerated in a plastic bag. If you’re going to store them for very long, slip in a piece of paper towel to absorb any extra moisture. How to prepare: With round green beans, blanch them quickly in plenty of rapidly boiling, heavily salted water. Transfer them to an ice bath after they’ve turned bright green (about 5 to 6 minutes), pat them dry and dress them with olive oil, garlic and lemon. People will think you’re a genius.
– McClatchy-Tribune
Some herbs ease migraines Headaches, including migraine and tension-type headaches, are a huge medical concern in the United States, affecting more than 45 million Americans. The American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society recently published new guidelines for the prevention of migraine headaches, and the updated guidelines now endorse the use of several alternative therapies to help keep migraine headaches at bay. The botanical supplement that received the most attention in the new guidelines is Petadolex, which is the herb butterbur. Studies have shown that 75 mg of Petadolex taken twice daily can reduce the frequency, duration and intensity of migraine headaches by close to 50 percent, which is comparable to many of the prescription medications used to prevent migraines.
– McClatchy-Tribune
Thursday, July 19, 2012
LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 5
HOME SWEET ‘OM’
Finding time to meditate can be beneficial to your health Dominique Del Grosso For the Reporter-Herald
Visualize moments of utter peace – moments when hardly any thoughts stir or linger. Your mind is clear and your state of self-awareness is heightened. Now, imagine achieving this state of mind in the comfort of your home. In the midst of our chaotic lives, moments of stillness and a centeredself don’t come around often enough. Through meditation, achieving these moments becomes more possible,
making a significant impact on attitude and well-being.
BEGINNER BASICS So what is meditation exactly? Meditation is an individual or group practice in quieting the mind. Simply, Jennifer Monk, Yoga student and teacher at Satchitananda Yoga in Loveland, compares a meditative state to “zoning-out.” “Remember those times when you were younger, when you would sit and stare at the wall or out the window? I like to call it, ‘veg out,’”
she says. “Well, during that time you were slowing your thoughts, maybe focusing on one thing? That was meditation.” A major misconception about meditation, however, is that during its practice, the mind should be clear and thought-free the entire time. Unfortunately, maintaining a thoughtfree mind is unrealistic, especially for beginners. Trish Edwards, owner and yoga and meditation teacher at Om Mountain Yoga and Meditation Center in Loveland, says the goal of a meditative state isn’t so much
“A meditative state is not about having an empty mind the entire time. It’s about the space between our thoughts, the ability to be fully present with you and your body during that space. It your awareness back to your breath when your thoughts start to surface.”
6 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
– Trish Edwards,
Om Mountain Yoga and Meditation Center in Loveland Thursday, July 19, 2012
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about conquering a mental state of “nothingness,” it’s about learning to control thoughts as they come and go, slowing them down and redirecting your focus. “A meditative state is not about having an empty mind the entire time. It’s about the space between our thoughts, the ability to be fully present with you and your body during that space,” she says. “It’s about having the ability to redirect your awareness back to your breath when your thoughts start to surface.”
MEDITATION STATION Now that you have decided to give meditation a go, you will need a few supplies and a place to call your meditation space. Edwards and Monk recommend selecting a cool, quiet and dimly lit space. This space can be anywhere in your home or office. Next, since meditation does require the body to be as motionless as possible, it can help to sit on a blanket, scarf, or chair cushion for support. In addition, sometimes sitting in quiet can prove too difficult. For some, selecting soothing sounds or music can ease you into the state of calm necessary for meditation. Your meditation space is all set to
BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga,” by Deepak Chopra and “A Practical Guide to Buddhist Meditation,” Paramanada, originally published under the name, “Change Your Mind.” go, so now what? Monk says awareness of body posture while meditating is key. “While learning to meditate, it is important to have proper seated posture. Sit tall with sit bones level into the earth, shoulders stacked over hips, while the crown of the head is raised into the sky,” she says. “This posture opens the energy centers of the body and helps in meditation.” OK, your space is ready, supplies gathered and you are practicing proper posture, focus on only one thing – breathing. Feel your stomach rise and fall as each breath passes through your lips. Listen to the sounds of your inhale and exhale. Really listen and focus on your breath. Thoughts will begin to drift into your consciousness, but when they do, redirect your focus to your breath. Generally, the goal for a beginner is to set out to just meditate.
“When you’re starting out, it’s more important to develop a continuity of practice. The practice period can take much longer than the meditative state. The path is the goal,” Edwards says. Meditating as much as possible for as long as possible is ideal, but starting with attainable goals will help you streamline your meditation process and increase the length of meditative states.
MATTERS OF THE MIND Beyond quieting your thoughts for moments at a time, mediation can have a significant impact on your ability to feel in control of your emotions. Setting aside time to be fully present with your body and breath can help calm tension or stress. “One benefit is that when you quiet your mind through meditation, you are able to let go of stress, anxiety, fear and many other outer influences that hide what is real. The true self is not stressed, anxious, fearful or worried, but instead happy, calm and peaceful,” Monk says. “When you find that place within you through meditation, you find your full potential and that anything is possible, while letting go of factors that inhibit our living a happy life.”
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LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 7
Too much salt? Cut sodium where you can by ordering carefully in restaurants Carolyn O’Neil McClatchy-Tribune
Pepper may be used to add the heat, but when it comes to diet debates, the seasoning closest to the fire is salt. Government health officials have declared the sodium in table salt a nutritional no-no and advise limiting its use. Research shows that too much sodium in the diet is associated with high blood pressure, which can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. Meanwhile, there’s a heaping helping of scientists who say there’s not enough research to prove that – even if it does raise blood pressure a bit – salt consumption causes heart disease deaths. So who should care about consuming too much salt? Just about everyone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reports that 70 percent of U.S. adults should limit sodium intake. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend healthy adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about one teaspoon ) per day. A lower limit of 1,500 milligrams per day is recommended for adults with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, those older than 50 and all African-American adults. FYI: Most of us consume about 4,000 milligrams of sodium a day (about two teaspoons). A big challenge for restaurants is that creating foods lower in fat and calories can mean adding flavor with other ingredients such as sauces and salty spice blends that are often high in sodium. Nutrition labels on packaged foods list sodium content to help you keep track. Some chain restaurants provide sodium information on their websites. But when dining
out, you’re often on your own. Most salt comes from processed foods such as salad dressings, soups, cheeses, baked goods and snack foods. So cut back on portions or choose lower-sodium versions; there are many better-tasting ones on the market today. Here are some tips for cutting salt intake: • Taste buds adjust. Scientists have found that when you cut back on salt, you get used to it in about three weeks. • Note that pickles, cheese, smoked meats, gravies, sauces, salad dressings, barbecue sauces, soy sauce and broths are usually high in sodium, so use them sparingly. A tablespoon of soy sauce, for instance, contains 1,000 mg of sodium. Hot sauces are often sodium-free; read the labels. • Ask the server for help. Request that foods be prepared without added salt, or ask for sauces and salad dressings on the side. For low-sodium dressings, try lemon, lime or a splash of vinegar. Get to know the delicious difference between the taste of red wine, sherry, rice wine and balsamic and cider vinegars.
8 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
• Look for menu items you can season at the table, such as a baked potato instead of mashed potatoes. Surface salt, such as a light shake on scrambled eggs or fresh sliced tomatoes, can give you the salt flavor you crave with just a sprinkling. • Upgrade your saltshaker. Sea salt (which by weight contains the same amount of sodium as regular salt) is often brighter and livelier in flavor, so you can use less to season foods. Amy Myrdal, a registered dietitian with the Culinary Institute of America’s campus in Napa Valley, Calif., says all salts are not alike. Kosher salt, for example, contains only 1,120 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon. • Eat more spinach, cantaloupe, oranges and other fruits and vegetables. They’re naturally low in sodium and are excellent sources of the mineral potassium, which acts as the healthy counterbalance to sodium in body fluid regulation. Salsas made with fresh fruit and vegetables are a great way to add healthy flavors to foods.
FYI: Most of us consume about 4,000 milligrams of sodium a day (about two teaspoons).
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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Ask the Expert:
Detox Diets
What should I know about detox diets and colon cleanses before starting one? The goal of these diets is to rid the body of toxins that may cause a wide range of medical ailments (fatigue, headaches, fibromyalgia and more) with weight loss as a bonus. These diets often involve a multi-day regimen with a period of fasting and a restricted diet. Many programs also include laxatives and a liquid-based concoction. Diets that recommend very few calories can lead to malnutrition, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Laxatives can also cause dehydration. Advocates of detox diets claim a variety of health benefits, but there is no supporting medical research. A healthy diet and exercise are recommended over these diets. Consult your physician before beginning a weight loss program or detox diet to learn the risks and set safe weight loss goals.
Where
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Family Medicine Banner Medical Clinic Harmony Road Appointments – (970) 204-9069
Banner Medical Group McKee Medical Center www.BannerHealth.com/COexperts
To find a Banner Health physician in your area, visit www.bannerhealth.com/COdoc Connect with us:
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LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 9
HL Uncommon Sense
A chance to grow Mom can bridge gap between her and son by seeking advice from spouse Dr. Beth Firestein Licensed Psychologist
Dear Dr. Beth: I have two children: a daughter who is 8 years old and a son who is 11. My daughter is a lot like me. We practically have the same personality. But my son is a lot like my husband, and I get irritated with him in many of the same ways I get irritated at my husband. I love my husband and my son, but I don’t always like how they act and I don’t want to take my frustrations with my husband out on my son. How can I bridge these differences and not make my son feel like his sister is my favorite? Dr. Beth: It is not unusual for different children in a family to strongly resemble the personality of one or the other of their parents. And some children seem to have personalities that don’t resemble either parent and seem almost like a foreigner in the family. It is definitely a struggle to deal with parenting a child who reflects both the good and bad of the parent that they resemble. For example, dealing with your son is a lot like dealing with your husband, both his good traits and his irritating traits. One suggestion I would make is to ask your husband for help in understanding why your son may feel and behave in the ways he does. Your husband probably recognizes the similarities and may have a natural rapport or understanding that can help you better bond with your son. He is a valuable resource!
You are certainly going to have a different kind of relationship with your son than you do with your daughter and both are uniquely good in their own way. I do think it is important to make your son feel special and important by spending time with him alone as well as time with the two of them together, or as a family. I also think it would be very helpful to work on the issues between you and your husband so that you can get a better handle on your own irritation. This will very likely help you in your relationship with your son as well. Do remember that he is a child and you should not expect adult behavior from him – at least not entirely mature behavior. There is another plus to this situation. When parenting responsibilities are shared in a healthy way between parents with different personalities, the child gets the benefit of being taught both by a parent who is similar to them and a parent who is quite different from them. As long as you and your husband are basically on the same page – that is, have the same values and rules for behavior, the effect on the children can be quite beneficial. After all, they are going to meet hundreds of people over their lifetimes, Uncommon Sense and most are going to be with Beth Firestein different from them in some way. You have a tremendous Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 24 years of growth opportunity here for therapy experience and has practiced in both your daughter and your Loveland for more than 14 years. son and for you and your She may be reached by calling her husband as well! Make the office at 970-635-9116, via email at most of it. firewom@webaccess.net or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.
10 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
Dear Dr. Beth: I have
Thursday, July 19, 2012
been struggling for years with a really embarrassing problem. I have been dressing in women’s clothes off and on since I was a teenager. In the last 10 years, I have often found myself having thoughts that I would be happier if I were a woman and could live that way all the time. I don’t remember anything that happened to me in my childhood that would cause me to be this way. It makes me hate myself and I have tried many things to get rid of these feelings – like serving in the military when I was younger, but even though I was a very good soldier, it didn’t make these feelings go away. I am confused and scared. What do I do about this? Dr. Beth: What you are probably dealing with is a fairly rare medical condition that is called Gender Identity Disorder. This is a condition in which the individual has persistent and recurring distress over the fact that they are born male (or born female). The person often comes to feel significant depression over their gender dysphoria (dysphoria means intense distress) and may even become suicidal. The diagnosis of GID requires that this is not a fleeting wish or desire based on the feeling that life would be easier as a woman (or as a man) but is, in fact, a strongly felt experience of one’s self that occurs over a long period of time – usually since childhood or adolescence. Dressing in clothes of the opposite sex does not, by itself, mean that you are transgender or transsexual. Some people do this for enjoyment and to express a part of him- or herself, but do not believe that they should actually be the other sex.
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However, given the feelings you are reporting over the past 10 years, there is a distinct possibility that you may be transgender or transsexual. I strongly recommend that you seek an evaluation from a psychologist or other practitioner who is a gender specialist. A gender specialist is trained to diagnose and work with Gender Identity Disorder and can help you figure out if this is truly a condition that you have. If you do have GID, there are specific protocols of treatment (called the WPATH Standards of Care) developed by a highly knowledgeable professional group of medical doctors, psychologists, social scientists and transgender people. These standards are scientifically based and provide guidance to therapists and physicians for the treatment of this condition. Treatment generally involves assisting you to achieve “gender congruence”, that is, to help make what is on the outside match your deeply felt sense of self on the inside. This is a terribly difficult journey for those who must take it. While many people consider gender variance to be a lifestyle choice, immoral, or pathological and deviant, it is actually not a choice. Gender dysphoria is a condition that you were probably born with, possibly as a result of hormonal abnormalities occurring during prenatal development (e.g. Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome) or other causes, such as a chromosomal abnormality. The underlying cause cannot be determined for every person, but the diagnosis and treatment of GID is the same regardless of the underlying cause. The complexity of this whole subject is far too great to deal with in a column like this, but I urge you to do some research and reading on the subject and to contact a qualified gender specialist for help in sorting this out for yourself. Please know that there are explanations for what you are going through and that qualified help really is available to you.
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Health care changes
and what it means for you
Andrea Coombes and Kristen Gerencher McClatchy-Tribune
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the bulk of the landmark health care overhaul will leave intact some popular provisions, such as requiring insurers to accept people with pre-existing conditions and to cover children up to age 26 on parents’ plans, but it may mean higher health costs ahead. The ruling delivers a huge victory to President Barack Obama on the signature law of his presidency – a law that promises to make insurance available to a good number of the 49 million Americans who are currently uninsured. Some observers predict the law will lead to higher costs. “The end result is everybody’s happy because everybody can get health insurance, (but) who’s going to pay for it? That’s the big question,” says Keith McMurdy, a New York-based partner with law firm Fox Rothschild, which works with employers on their benefits plans. “In the past year, insurance premiums went up to begin covering some of the requirements of health-care reform. As more of those requirements develop, the cost of insurance will continue to go up,” he says. Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, says the law’s measures aimed at curbing costs have yet to take effect. For instance, insurance companies currently compete “on the basis of their ability to select out the healthiest customers and profit off them as much as possible,” she says. But the law will force them to compete on value, Pollitz says, helping to bring costs down. How will the law do that? In part, by requiring insurers to cover people regardless of pre-existing conditions and requiring minimum standards for what policies cover, plus much greater disclosure to consumers about what they’re paying for. The law’s provisions are “a new factor in the health care marketplace that we don’t have today that will curb health care costs,” she says. In the United States, the growth in spending on health care slowed in 2010, up 3 percent compared with an average 4 percent growth rate each year from 2000 to 2009, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday. Still, health spending as a share of gross domestic product was – at almost 18 percent – the highest in the United States versus other OECD countries. Starting in 2014, the law will make it impossible for insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing
Victor Palomares, PA-C
Dr. Kevin Felix
3850 North Grant Ave., Suite 200 | Loveland (Located northwest of 37th Street and Garfield Avenue.)
970.624.5170
pvhs.org
12 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or a history of cancer. Meanwhile, the inclusion of young adults on their parents’ coverage, already in effect, has proved popular in opinion polls, as the economic downturn left many young people jobless and without access to health insurance. About 6.6 million young adults joined or stayed on their parents’ health plans in 2011 who would not have been able to do so before the Affordable Care Act, according to a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation in New York. “This is truly a hallelujah moment for families across America. It means families will get the peace of mind that health coverage and care will be there for them when they need it,” says Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a nonprofit group representing health care consumers in Washington: But some people will face penalties, starting in 2014, if they don’t buy insurance. In 2014, the penalty, unless you qualify for an exemption, is 1 percent of family income or $95 per adult ($47.50 for a child), whichever is greater. For example, for a person with annual income of $50,000, that’s $500. In 2015, the penalty rises to 2 percent of family income or $325 per adult, whichever is greater, and in 2016 and beyond, it’s 2.5 percent of family income or $695 per adult, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Still, the law “frees many Americans from simply having employer-provided coverage as their only choice,” says Randall Abbott, senior consulting leader at Towers Watson, a benefits-consulting firm. The insurance exchanges coming in 2014, combined with the law’s requirement that consumers can’t be denied
coverage, is good news for people who retire before being eligible for Medicare, among others who currently don’t have insurance, according to Abbott. The exchanges are essentially a new marketplace where consumers can shop and compare standardized plans. But he added that “the economic considerations of whether the nation can afford it over the long term is something we now need to grapple with from a budget perspective.” Part of those costs will be paid through higher Medicare tax rates, slated to start in 2013, for some high-income people, including a 3.8 percent tax on some investment income, as well as raising from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent the payroll tax rate for single filers with income of more than $200,000 and married couples earning more than $250,000. These new taxes will raise an estimated $35 billion to $40 billion a year by the end of the decade, said Clint Stretch, former legislation council to the Joint Committee on Taxation and formerly a tax policy leader for a major accounting firm. Keep in mind that Republicans have vowed to repeal the entire law, though their ability to do so may depend on the outcome of the coming presidential election and whether they gain seats in the Senate. What’s more, tax laws are always up for debate in Congress. But any effort to repeal the health care tax on highincome people “will be complicated by the fact that this tax is used to support Medicare,” Stretch says. “Conservative attempts to repeal it may be cast as an attack on Medicare solvency. While the odds favor an extension of the Bush tax cuts at year-end, they may not favor repealing or delaying this tax.”
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LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 13
Try to avoid toxins in food, plastic products Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden McClatchy-Tribune
We live in a world of toxins. There are the pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms that lace much of our food supply. There are chemicals we use to clean our homes and other clothing, and the environmental pesticides, industrial toxins, and other chemicals that plague mother earth. We ingest and are exposed to thousands of chemicals every day, many of which have never been thoroughly tested for their health effects on humans or on other species of living organisms. While scientists look for the health impact of potential toxins in our environment, it often takes decades before a worrisome chemical is finally withdrawn from the market. And even after these toxins are withdrawn, many of them can remain in the environment and in human tissue for years following exposure, including dioxin, PCBs and mercury. Two new studies about the effects of toxins in our environment shed new concern about their impact on human health. Earlier this month, a study was published in the journal Diabetes Care looking at the impact of phthalates on the risk of diabetes. In this study of more than 1,000 seniors in Sweden, researchers found that phthalate metabolites in the bloodstream were associated with a 25 percent to 35 percent increased risk of diabetes. Phthalate metabolites may reduce insulin secretion or increase insulin resistance, thus leading to diabetes. Phthalates, also known as “plasticizers,” are industrial chemicals that are added to plastics, cosmetics, and medical devices to help keep them soft and flexible; they are ubiquitous in our environment, found in hundreds of consumer products from toys and vinyl flooring to nail polish, lipstick, and shampoo. They are also in our food and water supply.
14 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
Phthalates are part of a group of chemicals known as “endocrine disruptors” meaning they can disrupt the normal functioning of the hormones in the human body. Because of these concerns, Congress banned several phthalates in children’s toys in 2008, but these chemicals persist in the many other products in which they are still used. This new study supports the concerns about the impact of phthalates on the endocrine system. The second study from the University of California Davis MIND Institute and Washington State University looked at the potential impact of PCBs on autism. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are industrial chemicals that were extensively used in insulation materials, engine fluids, paints, plastics, and multiple other products. Their production in the United States was stopped in 1977 because of health and environmental concerns, but they remain in the environment for years and are still considered a health hazard. They can cause multiple health problems, including damage to the endocrine and reproductive systems, the nervous system, and the immune system. They can also cause miscarriage as well as health problems in infants who are exposed to PCPs in-utero or from breast milk. In this new study, scientists found that rat pups born to mothers who were exposed to PCBs had significant changes in certain brain tissues that may add to the risk of autism in children who are genetically at risk for this disorder. The PCB exposure was felt to be similar to what humans are currently exposed to. So what can one do to reduce exposure to environmental toxins? Start by eating organic food, especially the most heavily contaminated ones like apples, celery, and strawberries. Use safe cleaning products in your home, and avoid the use of pesticides in your lawn and garden. Shop for cosmetics and lotions that are free of phthalates and other chemical additives. Store food in glass containers and avoid dinking beverages that have been stored in plastic containers.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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Article Resource Association
As Americans’ appetites for new gadgets grow, so do our waste lines. But what if your iPad or smartphone or even your gaming system could help you get in shape and stay there? While your smartphone can’t double as a dumbbell, all that technology you’re lugging around actually can help get and keep you fit. If you’re always on the go, start measuring just how far you are going with a pedometer application for your smartphone. And kick it up a notch with one that will post your results to your Facebook page. “Not only does it track you, but it let’s all your friends know if you’re slacking,” says Shannan Wheaton, academic director for Graphic Design and Web Design & Interactive Media at The Art Institute of Ohio - Cincinnati. You can take your workout to the next level with race training apps that will help to pace you, maximize your potential and get you ready for your first 5K or fifth marathon. If you’re always eating out or want to know just how much of a caloric punch that a gallon of ice cream re-
ally packs, there are plenty of apps that will help you count your calories. You can choose from thousands of restaurant menus stored on the app or choose your favorite supermarket foods. The apps will even help you calculate how many calories per day you should consume based on your
current height, weight and goals. Those apps also allow you to track the calories you burn during exercise and take that into account when giving you a daily calorie allotment. And if you can’t be bothered to
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LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 15
Continued from page 15 type in your food selection, Ted Long, academic director of Web Design & Interactive Media, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics at The Illinois Institute of Art Schaumburg has a solution. “Mealsnap lets you take a picture of the food you’re about to consume and gives you the calorie count by comparing your image to the images it has stored in its database,” he says. Once you get home and start charging your phone, you may want to unwind with your Xbox, Wii or Playstation. Good thing all three systems have interactive workouts that could have you doing crunches, boxing against a virtual opponent or dancing the pounds off. “Any activity you can do outside, like cross country skiing or baseball, you can do with these gaming systems,” says Li Harmon academic director of Game Art & Design, Media Arts & Animation and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. Harmon adds that some of these games even make you feel guilty if you haven’t done your virtual workout in a while. If you’re always heading out of town on business and don’t want to sweat it out at the hotel gym, take your virtual yoga instructor with you. Long says there’s a yoga app that comes with HD video so you can see each of your instructor’s positions more clearly. Wheaton says there’s more of that kind of workout coming in the future. “We’re heading toward a video world and we’re going to see more virtual personal trainers in the future.” Just how effective will all these technologies be in the long run? Wheaton, Long and Harmon all agree, that just like a gym membership, you have to use it to get results.
Straighten up to stay strong, avoid pain SALLY ANDERSON McClatchy-Tribune
Stand tall. Pull those shoulders back. Stop slouching. They are reminders often spoken by mothers. Good posture and balance begin in our younger years and can be nurtured or neglected as we age. Many of the posture issues that develop from not listening to Mom eventually become bad habits. And, as muscles and ligaments gradually go awry, so goes proper posture. When you are in poor alignment, you create muscle imbalances. Some muscles weaken and others become tight. But it is never too late to begin replacing some of those bad habits with good ones and, in the process, decrease back and neck discomfort. Introducing small daily changes can make a difference for the better.
BENEFITS OF GOOD POSTURE • Fewer aches and pains because unnecessary pressure on joints and muscles that can lead to pain is eliminated. Good posture keeps bones and joints in correct alignment, minimizing stress on the body. • Increased range of motion, which prevents joint movement from becoming restricted. (Such restriction can cause pain and stiffness.) • Reduced risk of falling because proper posture keeps the body in better balance, enabling you to be steadier on your feet. • Improved breathing because slouching causes shallow breathing, resulting in less oxygen going to the muscles. When standing or sitting straight, the diaphragm muscles become less restricted. You are able to take in more air, providing the working muscles with an increase in oxygen, allowing them to function more effectively. • Increased energy. Restricted airflow that stems from poor posture, combined with the continual strain on muscles, can drain your energy level. • Fewer complications down the road. Poor posture can lead to back issues, arthritis pain, poor circulation and even spinal fractures as a result of increased spinal compression. • Look slimmer. When the stomach protrudes and shoulders are dropped, you can appear much heavier than you actually are. With proper posture, you could look taller and up to 10 pounds lighter.
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
COMMON DAILY BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO POOR POSTURE • Slouching, with shoulders rounded forward, is one of the main reasons for upper-back and shoulder pain. Whether you are standing or sitting, your ears, shoulders, hips and ankles should be aligned. • Carrying heavy items on the same side of your body all the time can lead to rounded shoulders and an aching back. Change arms frequently or use a rolling bag if the weight is too heavy. • Wearing high heels regularly alters the proper alignment of the body, eventually causing back and knee pain. • Continually looking downward, tucking chin inward so that the vertebrae do not support the weight of the head as they should. Eventually, muscles, tendons and ligaments that are working overtime to try and keep the head in proper position tighten up, causing tension headaches and chronic back and neck pain. • Improper positioning of a computer screen can cause you to lean too far forward, straining the neck. • Watching television and reading while lying down places your head in a strained position. Use a wedge pillow under your upper body for support. • Not taking breaks while working at a computer or when sitting for long periods of time creates tired muscles that make you slouch forward. Make it a habit to change positions every 30 minutes. Stand, walk around or stretch. • Driving with rounded shoulders. Adjust the seat so that you do not have to lean forward. Sit with your back against it for support.
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Exercises to help with good posture Here are strength and stretching exercises you can do at home to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weakened ones.
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CHEST STRETCH Standing straight, place hands, fingers pointed downward, on lower back, with elbows pointed to the sides. Without moving hands, move both elbows back as far as you can. Hold to feel stretch in the chest.
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Tip: Do not push shoulders upward.
REVERSE FLY To strengthen upper-back and shoulder muscles, begin in a seated position. Slightly bend forward, holding weights under knees, palms facing inward. Contract abdominal muscles and slowly lift arms to shoulder height, palms facing down and elbows slightly bent. Slowly lower and repeat for desired number of repetitions. Tip: Use light weights.
WALL ANGELS This posture-strengthening exercise stretches the chest and the middle and upper back. Stand with knees relaxed and feet shoulder-width apart, about 4 inches from wall. Contract abdominal muscles and place buttocks, back and head against wall. Keeping elbows and wrist in contact with the wall, slowly move arms up and down forming a small arc. Tip: This is more difficult than it seems. Do not force the movement.
AB TWIST Sitting on a mat with knees bent and heels on floor, extend arms straight in front of you, hands pressed together. Contracting abs with knees together, lean back about 45 degrees. Without moving lower body, slowly turn upper body to the right, then left. Tip: Find an angle that is comfortable but one in which you can still feel mild tension.
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* If you are 50 or older and have not been exercising, check with your physician before beginning any exercise program.
Dr. Thomas P. Kristi Housley Dr. Edwin D. Kasenberg, D.O. PA-C Risenhoover, M.D.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 17
Sharpen Your Senses The secrets to maintaining eyesight and hearing Leslie Barker Garcia McClatchy-Tribune
The most obvious of our senses constantly bring to light life’s beauty and depth to its sounds. At their keenest, good sight and sharp hearing are taken for granted. Yet genes, environment, accidents and age can dull our vision, cloud our hearing. But there are ways to help these senses stay as keen and strong as, and for as long as, possible. They’re nothing magical; much involves the common-sense trio of eating well, exercising, not smoking. Following such tips from experts can help keep hearing and vision as strong as the rest of the body. “Anything good for your heart theoretically is good for your eyes,” says YuGuang He, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “Those disease processes are very similar, cardiac disease and ocular disease. That’s why we say your eye is the window of your heart.” Says Carol Cokely, clinical associate professor at the University of Texas Dallas Callier Center for
Communication Disorders: “First and foremost, you need to protect your hearing, because once that goes, it’s not coming back.” So, in brief, yes, eat salmon and avoid loud noises. Those are merely the first steps. Precaution and simply paying attention go a long way. “We can’t fight genetics or accidents or viruses, but we can prevent our exposure to noise we choose to do to ourselves,” says Cokely, who earned her doctorate in audiology. Adds Kris Chesky, director for the Texas Center for Music & Medicine at the University of North Texas: “Sound is energy, and energy damages the ear.” Their professions put them at risk for hearing loss, but musicians also have a distinct advantage over nonmusicians. A Northwestern University study found that musicians were 40 percent better than nonmusicians at making out and repeating various sentences in noisy environments. “Think of people playing in a symphony orchestra,” says Sam Holland, director of the division of music at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. “You have 100 other people playing different things. You have something incredibly specific and precise to create and fit into the overall whole. You have to have incredibly selective
Along with exercising and not smoking, eating a well-balanced diet is also key to maintaining sharp senses.
and precise focus on what it is you’re doing.” Focusing, often more than volume, is key, Cokely says. “Just because you can hear doesn’t mean it’s clear. Clear speech is not loud speech.” Therefore, she says, “We’re not honing our hearing; we’re honing our listening.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Install a sound-level meter phone app. “Normal conversation occurs at around 55 to 65 decibels,” Cokely says. “If you’re measuring the sound coming out of your iPod and it’s over 80, that’s loud.”
Getting exercise is one way to keep your body strong, along with your senses.
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Keep earplugs handy. Wear them whether you’re cutting the grass or on an excessively scream-inducing amusement-park ride. “Say you go to a rock concert and your ears are ringing like mad,” Cokely says. “In a day or two they’re normal. But with repeated insults (to the ear), you’re not forgiven. It adds up, and won’t return to normal.” Rest your ears. “Ears need a chance to recoup,” Chesky says. “There is literally swelling that goes on in the cochlea” after exposure to loud noise. “It’s like running a marathon; you need to rest your muscles afterward.” Take up an instrument. “Being a music maker in any way, shape or form, even as a solo pianist, you have to focus aurally on something very complex in your environment,” Holland says. That ability extends past music situations, which he says he’s found out in his own life. Keep cognitive skills sharp. “Communication isn’t just hearing; there’s a cognitive component,” Cokely says. “So anything you can work on to sharpen your abilities would certainly circumvent some difficulties. Even doing the crossword puzzle – it’s not auditory, but it couldn’t hurt.” Check your medications. Some may be damaging to your hearing,
Cokely says, including large doses of aspirin and certain intravenous antibiotics.
SHARPEN YOUR EYESIGHT If you grew up hearing that carrots were good for your eyes, that’s true. But only recently has it been proved scientifically. An ongoing AgeRelated Eye Disease (ARED) study has shown that a pill containing antioxidants beta carotene, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E slows down certain types of macular degeneration. But, says Eileen Birch, senior research scientist at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, “It’s not like if you don’t have it, the pills will keep you from getting it.” He of the University of TexasSouthwestern says the way we use our eyes generates a lot of oxidation, problems that “are bad for any tissue. By this theory, antioxidants will be good for the eye.” Thus, he eats fish, usually wild salmon, three times a week. His diet also includes nuts and fruit, especially dark-colored varieties such as blueberries and cranberries. Birch also recommends dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli and greens, which have been shown to guard against diabetes. “There’s not a whole lot you can
do other than a healthy lifestyle to prevent eye disease.” Part of that is exercise, which helps keep weight down and thus minimizes the risk of diabetes. Smoking, too, is related to cataract risk and macular degeneration, she says.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Focus on dark, colorful fruits and vegetables and fish such as tuna or salmon. Exercise. Don’t smoke. Change your focus periodically. Look up from your computer monitor and change the distance of what you’re focusing on, Birch says. “You don’t always want to be focused on one distance with your eyes unblinking. You blink to lubricate your eyes and change focus.” Practice “eye yoga.” Though he may “be joking on the name,” He says it’s important to keep your eyes more relaxed and avoid headaches, dizziness and maybe nausea. A few times a day, “Look up as far as you can, then slowly rotate your eyes. Look to your right, as far as possible. Look down as low as possible, slowly circulating. Do it as peripherally as you can see. At the same time, think of a very quiet area. It won’t help your vision, but it will help you feel better.” INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS & MEDICAL CAREERS™
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LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 19
HL Health Line Calendar Breast-Feeding Support Group When: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except holidays), 10-11 a.m. Where: McKee Medical Center Cost: Free. No need to register Contact: 970-669-9355
Cost: Free. Care of elderly adult family members or friends is available through Stepping Stones Adult Day Program during meeting times at no charge. Contact: 970-669-7069
Bright Beginnings for Infants Bright Beginnings is designed to celebrate the birth of new babies and provide families with health, safety, development, play and community resource information. When: Aug. 20, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Where: Family Birth Center Conference Room, 3rd Floor Cost: Free Contact: 970-495-7526 to register Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease This seven-session multidisciplinary education series helps with the management of COPD. When: Tuesdays 1-3 p.m., seven-session program begins Sept. 4 and Oct. 23. Christmas Party is Dec. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. Call for information. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center, 2000 Boise Ave. Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4138 Total Joint Education Physical therapists and occupational therapists prepare patients for surgery. This program is coordinated through your physician’s office as part of the surgery scheduling process. When: Thursdays, 3 p.m. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4172to register
Man-to-Man: Prostate Cancer Support Group Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center When: TBD Cost: Free Contact: 970-622-1961 Soulplay Art Therapy People whose lives are touched by cancer experience the benefits of expressing themselves through art. No art experience needed. When: TBD Where: McKee Cancer Center Conference Room Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4129 Blood Pressure Screening Have your blood pressure checked by a wellness specialist. When: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Where: McKee Wellness Services,1805 E. 18th St. Suite 6, Loveland Cost: Free Contact: 970-669-9355
Blood Tests Wellness services offers low-cost blood screenings open to community members; some immunizations are also available upon request and availability. Please fast 12 hours prior to blood draw. Payment is due at time of service. Insurance billing is not available. When: By appointment only. July 3, 17 Where: McKee Wellness Services, 1805 E. 18th St. Suite 6, Loveland Cost: Varies Contact: 970-669-9355
Breast Cancer Support Group When: TBD Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby Cost: Free Contact: 970-622-1961 Caregiver Cancer Support Group When: July 19; Aug. 2, 16, 30; Sept. 6, 27 Where: Call for locations Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4129 Caregivers Support For caregivers of elderly adults. The group focuses on providing support and education about community resources and behavior issues, particularly for people with Alzheimer’s and memory impairment. When: Third Thursday of the month, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Where: First Christian Church, 2000 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland
20 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
General Cancer Support When: Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m. Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4129
Are You Covered? Join McKee Spirit of Women, McKee Foundation and Seasons Club to learn from experts about health and life insurance and how life events impact insurance needs. Publicly funded options also will be covered. Refreshments provided. When: July 19, 5-7 p.m. Where: McKee Wellness Walk Cost: Free Contact: 970-203-6631 to RSVP
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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HL Health Briefs Banner Health donates $15,000 to help with High Park ďŹ re recovery Banner Health donated $15,000 to help people affected by the High Park ďŹ re in Larimer County. The health care system gave $10,000 to the American Red Cross and $5,000 to the Larimer County Humane Society. Banner Health owns McKee in Loveland and Banner Medical Group physician practices and specialty clinics in Larimer County. The system, based in Phoenix, employs nearly 5,000 people in Northern Colorado. Loveland Community Health Center, McKee Stepping Stones plan move The operator of Loveland Community Health Center purchased a building July 6, that will serve as a new home for the clinic as well as McKee Stepping Stones Adult Day Program. The new building will allow both programs to expand. Sunrise Community Health paid $2.3 million to Mortgage Investment Trust Company for the 48,000 squarefoot building at 302 Third St. S.E. The health center currently occupies 15,000 square feet at 450 Cleveland Ave., eight blocks north of the new building. McKee Stepping Stones operates in 675 square feet of space at First Christian Church at 2000 N. Lincoln Ave. Volume at both the health center and at Stepping Stones, which is owned by McKee Medical Center, prompted the programs to look for new space. In 2011, the community health center served 6,500 people and had as many as 1,000 people on the waiting list to get appointments prior to hiring additional clinicians.
McKee Stepping Stones is at capacity providing adult day care for 14 clients with about 20 people waiting for an opening. The McKee Medical Center Foundation and Sunrise Community Health have partnered since the health center’s creation in 1997. The foundation raised money to purchase the Cleveland Avenue building, now owned by Banner Health. Plans for that building have not been announced. McKee Stepping Stones will lease 5,000 to 10,000 square feet in the new building. The McKee Foundation has raised $900,000 and has a goal of $2.1 million for remodeling and new equipment. They hope to occupy it by fall 2013.
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Spine & Pediatric Spine Pediatric Orthopaedics Trauma & Fractures Foot & Ankle Hand & Upper Extremity
care that’s right for you—helping people like you feel better and get going again. We offer a complete spine program, whether
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(970) 663-3975. Serving the people of northern Colorado, Wyoming, and western Nebraska. Nancy McRae, PA-C
Thursday, July 19, 2012
LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 21
PAID ADVERTORIAL
Meet your Banner Health Center physicians Loveland will soon have its first Banner Health Center where primary care physicians, lab testing and medical imaging will be conveniently located under one roof. Located just east of Taft Avenue on Southwest 14th Street, the Banner Health Center will house physicians transitioning from Family Practice Associates and another local clinic. The 16,285-square-foot building will open in August 2012.
Mark A. Hailey, MD
William J. Reents, MD
With an emphasis on wellness and prevention, Dr. Hailey specializes in family medicine. He received his medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri and is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. Dr. Hailey also has been named as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Prema M. Jacob, MD Practicing for almost 20 years, Dr. Jacob is a family practice physician specializing in women’s health and pediatric and adolescent medicine. She focuses on diabetes, hypertension and minor dermatologic procedures as well. Dr. Jacob received her medical degree from Christian Medical College in Punjab, India, and is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Jennifer McCabe Lentz, MD
For more than three decades, Dr. Reents has been treating all ages of patients from babies to seniors. He involves his patients in all phases of their health care and is a strong advocate for patient communication. Dr. Reents received his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City. Board certified by the American Board of Family Practice, he is also a member of the American Academy of Family Practice and the Colorado Academy of Family Practice. Ross W. Armour, MD As a family physician, Dr. Armour, has been practicing since 1984. Focusing on sports medicine and travel medicine, Dr. Armour takes time to listen to each patient’s concerns and to formulate a plan with them to promote the best health possible. Dr. Armour received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Dr. Lentz provides family medical care and focuses on preventive medicine. Her care philosophy is working with her patients through open communication toward the goal of optimal health. A graduate of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, she is board certified in family medicine and is a member of the American Association of Family Physicians.
To schedule an appointment at Banner Health Center, call 970-667-3976. For more information, please visit www.BannerHealth.com/HealthCenterLoveland.
22 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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Introducing Dr. Jennifer Reeve
Kaea Beresford, MD
Taking Appointments June 1 in Loveland
Is excited to bring CNM care to Loveland and the surrounding communities, delivering at Medical Center of the Rockies.
Susan Bush, CNM
Eric Yeh, MD
Tina Downes, CNM
Announcing Retirement Summer 2012
In-Office Services
John Carlton, MD
Robert Burke, MD
2500 Rocky Mountain Ave North Medical Building • Suite 150 Loveland, CO 80538
970.493.7442 www.fcwc.com
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Obstetrics Gynecology Digital Mammography Ultrasound Genetic Counseling Essure
Caring for All Women Always
LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado 23
Ask the Experts:
Labor and Delivery
What do I need to know about pain management during my baby’s delivery? Our team of anesthesiologists, certified nurse anesthetists and registered nurses can administer various pain relief options or support natural techniques for controlling and coping with labor pain. We can help find ways to handle the pain naturally with an array of techniques including: Breathing patterns, movement during labor, different laboring positions, birthing balls, massage, soothing music and water. Other options include: Epidural block, spinal block, narcotics, pudendal block, and/or a local anesthetic injection. It helps to review your options in advance and keep an open mind. Many moms find that their preferences for pain control change in the middle of the process – and that’s OK.
Where
Experts Work Best.
Jonathan Franco, M.D. OB/GYN
Banner Health OB/GYN Associates - Loveland Appointments – (970) 667-2009
Michelle C. Stoltz, M.D. OB/GYN
Banner Health Clinic OB/GYN - Greeley Appointments – (970) 352-6353
McKee Medical Center North Colorado Medical Center www.BannerHealth.com/COexperts
To find a Banner Health physician in your area, visit www.BannerHealth.com/COdoc
24 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Health Line of Northern Colorado
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