A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE RIV ERTOWNS ENT ERPRISE E OCTOBER 14, 2011
To Your Health! Beauty tHROuGH HeaLtH
Healthier body: healthier hair, nails By JACKIE LUPO
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Senior living:
Caring for your aging parents By MARy LEGRAND
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dult children may visit with an aging parent every day, once a year or somewhere in between, but it’s still stressful when the realization comes that Mom or dad is having trouble remaining independent at home. The signs are often there, according to Jean dunphy, executive director of Willow Towers Assisted Living, part of the United Hebrew of New Rochelle campus of residences, senior apartments and services. “It’s sometimes very obvious that a parent can no longer live alone, because they need help,” dunphy said. “The adult child at that point, regardless of what’s happening, realizes their parents are aging. And the aging process is painful, because the parents’ lives are shrinking. Maybe they’re losing the ability to drive, which is a huge loss of independence, and with that comes social isolation.” Families of older individuals often feel isolated themselves when confronted with the need to make decisions about a relative’s care. The options available to them are confusing, to say the least, and it can be difficult to navigate the process of finding help. one way to start is to go online. The federal government offers a comprehensive checklist at www.usa.gov/citizen/topics/health/caregivers that includes links to individual states and hundreds if not thousands of websites. New york state and westchester county’s sites offer similar links to basic and specific information. Here in Westchester County there are many options, including at Cabrini Eldercare in Continued on page 6a
h, how we abuse the body parts we try to make the most beautiful: our hair and nails. We use our fingernails to pry open soda cans; we fry our hair with 450-degree irons and cook it with chemicals. It’s possible to have nails and hair that look beautiful without wreaking havoc instead. We talked to local experts about the problems that can befall nails and hair. These include natural ones — caused by health issues, for example — and problems that can only be called owner-inflicted ones. Healthy, beautiful nails Nails are made up of layers of a protein called keratin. The growth starts from an area below the cuticle. As the nail grows beyond the cuticle area, the cells get compacted and harder. But there are a lot of things that can happen both during the process of formation of the nail, and after the nail emerges from the cuticle. In fact, a doctor may be able to tell by looking at your hands that something is wrong somewhere else in your body. The Mayo Clinic describes several nail problems often found in people with serious health issues: • Pitting on the surface of the nails may exist along with other skin problems, such as psoriasis or some forms of chronic dermatitis. • nails that curve around the fingertips, a condition called “clubbing,” may be a sign of low blood oxygen levels, found in such conditions as lung disease. Nail clubbing may also occur with cardiovascular, bowel or liver conditions. • nails with the opposite appearance, sunken in like spoons, may develop in people with iron deficiency anemia. • dark bands near the nail tips may be a normal sign of aging. They are also sometimes seen in patients with congestive heart failure, diabetes, liver disease or malnutrition. • sometimes, severe illness can temporarily affect the formation of the nail, causing horizontal ridges. These ridges, called “Beau’s lines,” may form in patients with malnutrition, uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory disorders, or diseases such as pneumonia, mumps, measles or scarlet fever, in which the patient has suffered from a high fever. • a fingernail may loosen and fall off due to injury or infection, but there are other reasons that nails can become detached from the nail bed. This condition can sometimes be caused by acrylic nails or as a reaction to nail harden-
ers. Nails can also loosen due to drug reactions, thyroid disease or psoriasis. • discoloration of the nails may indicate a health problem. For example, sometimes people with respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis, may notice a yellowing of the nails. some irregularities in the nail are normal. For example, vertical ridges are no cause for concern, although they do tend to become more pronounced with age. some people have nails that are inherently strong or weak. But the way you use your hands can also affect whether nails have a tendency to split or break. Exposing nails to water while dishwashing or bathing can contribute to splitting. Harsh chemicals, such as cleaning products or overuse of polish remover, can also weaken nails. Use a toluene-free or formaldehyde-free polish remover.
A rough-edged nail can easily turn into a split one. Keep the edges of nails smoothly filed in a gentle arc, without sharp points or corners that can catch on things and cause them to split or break. If you see the beginning of a split, apply a thin dab of nail glue to the area. Keeping nails covered with clear polish can also protect them from splitting. according to debbie Palmer, d.o., a dermatologist in Harrison, and author of “The dermatologist’s Prescription for a new you” (Authorhouse, 2011), it’s easy to damage even healthy nails. “Nail damage can occur from us ing the nails as tools to pick or pry things like pop-top cans,” said dr. Palmer. “instead, use an instrument.” she also urges people not to bite their nails or tear their cuticles. while it’s oK to trim a cuContinued on page 26a
Inside: Sports medicine for the masses ............................................................................................... 3A Statins + CoQ10? Methods for keeping your cholesterol in check ............................................ 4A Seniors: Safety updates help seniors live independently at home ........................................... 10A Fitness: These exercise trends have lasting appeal.................................................................. 13A Protein: Are you getting enough in your diet?..........................................................................14A Beauty by accident: Long, dark lashes are a winning side effect............................................. 16A Health Tips: Prevention is the best medicine ............................................................................ 17A
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 3A
Sports medicine for the masses By JACKIE LUPO
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major league pitcher. A teenage cross-country runner. An office worker. A great-grandmother. What do all these people have in common? They may all benefit from research and treatments that originated in the field of sports medicine. Sports medicine, a subspecialty that first made headlines for the cutting-edge surgeries and therapies developed for elite athletes, now touches the lives of people of all ages. Sports medicine techniques are even being adapted for non-athletes. Kids have been big beneficiaries of advances in sports medicine. And make no mistake, kids are being injured on the playing field more than ever. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that in 2010, more than 414,000 Americans received medical treatment for baseball-related injuries alone, and more than 282,000 of these patients were 18 or younger. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), most of these were contact injuries, involving a ball, a bat or another person. But there are also many overuse injuries to the shoulder and elbow. In fact, injuries to the youngest players are so common that there is even a syndrome, “Little Leaguer’s Elbow,” a painful condition on the inside of the elbow that comes from repetitive throwing. Doctors also see Little League pitchers with bone and cartilage injuries that occur when repetitive throwing causes the bones in the elbow joint to smash together. The AAOS published general guidelines for
how many pitches a child can safely throw each week: 75 for 8-10-year-olds, 100 for 11-12-yearolds, and 125 for 13-14-year-olds, including both practice and competitive play. The guidelines also state that young pitchers should play only three to four innings in each game. High school athletes are also greatly at risk for sports-related injuries. Paul Sethi, M.D., an orthopedist at Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialist in Greenwich, has been a team physician for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers and Angels. Today, he uses a lot of the experience he gained treating professional athletes in his practice, where he specializes in arthroscopic surgery, especially problems with shoulders, elbows and knees. He is also the team physi-
cian for Greenwich High School, Brunswick School in Greenwich and for Iona Prep in New Rochelle. Dr. Sethi said that he sees many high school age athletes having surgery for injuries that used to be seen only in professionals. Major-league operations, high school patients
“An example is the increased use of Tommy John surgery for ‘throwing elbow,” Sethi said. “The ulnar collateral ligament [or UCL] is commonly ruptured or torn in pitchers. This is an injury we see on the inside of the elbow.” Major League pitcher Tommy John was the first person to have a groundbreaking operation to repair his UCL. In fact, the operation was
so successful, and his career rebounded so well, that his name became permanently linked with the surgery. Back when he had the operation, it was necessary to cut the elbow wide open and move a major nerve aside. Today, the procedure is done much less invasively, with only a small incision and without the necessity of touching the nerve, so the operation has become almost commonplace. “It’s now being used across the country on both high school and professional level pitchers,” said Sethi, who said kids are not small adults. “We’re letting our kids pitch too much. High school athletes used to play three different sports during the school year. But now, many athletes are doing the same sport for 11, 12 months a year. So we see a lot of stress injuries.” Sethi explained that different sports use different muscles, so if a student plays baseball for just three or four months a year, the chance of repetitive injury is less. “The No. 1 predictor of the need for surgery is the total volume of throwing,” Sethi said. “If you throw more than nine months a year, you increase your probability for having this condition. Perhaps we are setting up the potential for more injuries.” Sethi said that professional pitchers have come back from Tommy John surgery so successfully that a myth has developed that the surgery actually makes you throw faster. “A professional pitcher who, three years ago, was throwing at 94 miles per hour, then dropped down to 89 because of ligament damage, but then had the surgery, he gets back to 92, 93. But he is only restored to what he was pre-injury.” Nevertheless, the myth has become so prevaContinued on page 12A
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Statins + CoQ10?
Methods for keeping your cholesterol in check By JENNIFER LEAVITT-WIPF
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arketed since 1987, statins are now the most widely prescribed drug in the United States. Twentyfive million of us take them to keep our cholesterol in check. They do just that by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which determines how much cholesterol forms in our livers. Since statins do succeed in significantly improving our blood lipid profile, and because serious side effects are rare, most doctors strongly advocate their use. Specializing in internal medicine, Oxana Popescu, M.D., of Hastings-on-Hudson, said that a number of her patients take statins, but very few have complaints. She has been pleased with their results. Jonathan Wynn, M.D., who practices cardiology and internal medicine in White Plains, said that he himself experiences some myalgia (muscle pain) from taking statins, but, as his own cardiologist said to him, “Would you rather have a cramp in your leg or a cramp in your chest?” (He has strategies to help patients combat statin side effects.) Cardiologists at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, where Bill Clinton was evaluated for chest pain and shortness of breath back in 2004, include statins as a critical component in their multifaceted approach to helping patients fight heart disease. Indeed, the consensus in the scientific community is that taking statins is well worth our while. Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency
At the same time, researchers have expressed concern about a sometimes silent side effect of this wonder drug — reduced levels of Coenzyme Q10 in the body. As far back as 1993, the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published “Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a double-blind, placebocontrolled study.” A Columbia University study in New York found that 30 days of statin therapy (at 80 mg per day) cut CoQ10 levels in half, and a study by Kanazawa University researchers in Japan found that after eight weeks of 10 mg a day statin therapy, CoQ10 levels decreased
Coenzyme Q10 is essential to heart health, but is supplementation right for everyone?
by 40 percent. The American Journal of Cardiology reported back in 2004 on “The effect of atorvastatin on left ventricular function and ability of Coenzyme Q10 to reverse that dysfunction.” People particularly vulnerable to statininduced CoQ10 deficiency tend to be over 50 years of age, have a history of diabetes, and are at risk for heart failure or cardiomyopathy. In an article published in the journal Biofactors, cardiologist and researcher Dr. Peter Langsjoen said, “The depletion of the essential nutrient CoQ10 by the increasingly popular cholesterol lowering drugs, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), has grown from a level of concern to one of alarm,” adding, “With ever higher statin potencies and dosages and with a steadily shrinking target LDL cholesterol, the prevalence and severity of CoQ10 deficiency is increasingly noticeable.”
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Also known as Ubiquinone or Vitamin Q, Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell in the body. CoQ10 plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP. Controversy over CoQ10 supplements
CoQ10 supplements are available over the counter. A typical CoQ10 dosage is 30-90 mg per day, taken in divided doses, but the recommended amount can be as high as 200 mg. CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so it is better absorbed when taken with a meal that contains oil or fat. The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks. They are usually orange colored tablets, capsules or gel caps, found at pharmacies and in health food stores. Although it is one of the most expen-
sive, in Japan, it is among the top three bestselling nutritional supplements, and popularity in this country is on the rise. So, shouldn’t we all be popping gel caps along with our daily statins, just to be on the safe side? Therein lies the rub. Experts are hesitant to recommend this because of a lack of evidence that CoQ10 supplements will actually improve health. Although it sounds, logically, as though it would, the medical community at large insists on rigorous clinical trials before it will blindly endorse any supplement. And those clinical trials sometimes surprise us. To complicate matters, because supplements are not heavily regulated, the potency and bioavailability of one brand might differ significantly from another. The Mayo Clinic website explains that, although the levels of CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking supplements, it remains controversial as a treatment. The American Heart Association takes the position that, until the safety and effectiveness of CoQ10 is further evaluated, it cannot recommend taking it regularly. However, some researchers, such as Dr. Nicholas Perricone, author, of “Dr. Perricone’s 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health and Longevity,” believe that CoQ10 is probably one of the best-researched antioxidant, antiinflammatory vitamins and that studies show that it provides protection to all of the body’s organs. In his discussion about cellular repair, Perricone says that cellular energy production declines as people age and that substances such as CoQ10 are critical in maintaining enough energy in the cell so that it can repair itself. In their book, “You: The Owner’s Manual,” Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz maintain that the body naturally produces CoQ10 only when it is not lacking in vitamin C, the B-complex vitamins or folate. In his book “The UltraMind Solution,” Dr. Mark Hyman says that coenzyme Q10 is lowered by common drugs, including the cholesterol-lowering statins, beta-blockers and hypoglycemic drugs. He says that CoQ10 is made by the same enzyme in our bodies as cholesterol is, thus the lowering of CoQ10 if we take statin drugs. We literally shut down our production of Coenzyme Q10. Roizen and Oz discuss their belief that CoQ10 helps the heart and that it may also help prevent aging of the brain. In discuss-
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ing studies of Parkinson’s disease and hypertension, they report that high doses seem to decrease symptoms of the disease as well as decrease high blood pressure. Additionally, Roizen and Oz contend that, based on the studies they have reviewed, many additional people could benefit from taking CoQ10 supplements, for various conditions. A few of Popescu’s patients take CoQ10, and some of Wynn’s use the supplement to control myalgia — which many researchers believe is caused by reduced CoQ10 levels in muscles, due to statin use. The lack of research on a link between statin use and CoQ10 supplementation, coupled with expense, makes Wynn hesitant to recommend it to patients, though he doesn’t consider it dangerous. The Mayo Clinic does concede that few side effects of CoQ10 have been reported, and that any reactions tend to be mild and stop without additional treatment. Because most health organizations and doctors are not comfortable recommending supplements for specific, unproven applications, though, the decision to take (or not to take) CoQ10 really lies with the consumer, who might want to consider personal health conditions when making a decision. Other conditions treated with CoQ10
Countering statin side effects is only one reason that people take CoQ10. Lower levels of CoQ10 have been found in patients suffering from gum disease, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure and obesity. Double-blind research suggests that CoQ10 supplements may reduce symptoms of heart disease, such as shortness of breath,
To Your Health!
swelling and difficulty sleeping. In one study, people with heart failure were randomized to receive either CoQ10 (2 mg per kg body weight) or a placebo, in addition to standard treatment. Those who took the CoQ10 had a significant reduction in symptom severity and fewer hospitalizations. Several small trials have found CoQ10 might be helpful for certain types of cardiomyopathy. Preliminary research has found that increasing CoQ10 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is lowered in people with Parkinson’s disease. It has also been suggested that CoQ10 protects brain cells from damage by free radicals. A small, randomized controlled trial examined the use of 360 mg CoQ10 or a placebo in 28 Parkinson’s patients. After four weeks, CoQ10 provided a mild but significant improvement in early symptoms, as well as marked improvement in visual function. A larger 16-month trial funded by the National Institutes of Health explored the use of CoQ10 (300, 600 or 1,200 mg per day) versus a placebo in 80 patients with early stage Parkinson’s disease. The results suggested that CoQ10, especially at the 1,200 mg per day dose, produced a major reduction in disability compared to those who took a placebo. In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, 74 people with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 100 mg CoQ10 twice daily, 200 mg per day of fenofibrate (a lipid regulating drug), both, or neither, for 12 weeks. CoQ10 noticeably improved blood pressure and glycemic control. Even though it’s a personal choice, anyone considering CoQ10 supplementation should consult a physician first, especially if there are health conditions or disease at play, as CoQ10 may compound, interfere or interact with other supplements or medications.
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 5A
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Senior living: Aid
Friday, October 14, 2011
for those caring for aging parents
continued from page 1A
Dobbs Ferry and Lower Manhattan. Lorraine Horgan, vice president for external affairs at Cabrini Eldercare, said people’s needs differ when they first call for advice. “Prospective families usually speak with someone in the admissions office,” she said. “Some people call and are looking to place Mom for shortterm rehab; others are looking for advice in general. We’re willing to answer those questions of course; that’s what we’re here for.” Many local facilities offer a host of options for elder care, from home care to long- or short-term care in a facility. United Hebrew of New Rochelle and Cabrini Eldercare are both full-service, offering different kinds of home care programs, long-term health care, adult day care, comprehensive medical and social services, and more. One option for adult children whose parents need help is respite care, in which parents can stay at a facility for a short time while the caregiver goes on vacation or just stays at home for a muchneeded break. Dunphy urges families to discuss elder care issues before the need arises during some sort of crisis. “The real crux of the issue is that we don’t really recognize that now is the time to discuss this, now is when I should be setting up advance directives,” she said. “If you ask anybody, they will say to their children that they want to stay at home for as long as possible. That’s okay. It’s the ‘as long as possible’ that’s the tricky bit. “If you can deal with the social isolation of living alone and bring care into the home and make sure they’re safe, that’s fine, but try to be brave enough to look at other options, because you have to be brave.” Help is available to determine if a parent is
able to remain at home. One option is hiring a geriatric care manager such as Sue Groppe with Elder Services NY in Yonkers. “People just don’t know what to do,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll get a one-shot assessment, sometimes I do long-term management because family lives out of town. A lot of families just don’t want to move a parent to another state, but prefer to keep him or her in the familiar environment.” Geriatric care managers and other elder care experts perform home assessments, which in-
clude determining what happened to precipitate the initial phone call for help. “Everything’s done in the home,” Groppe said. “We evaluate physical and cognitive functions. Are they bathing themselves, can they do meal preparation, can they go shopping, can they manage their finances?” There are indicators of potential problems: a dirty house, empty refrigerator or unpaid bills and mail cluttered about. Eileen Clayton, director of marketing/direc-
tor of home care services at United Hebrew, agrees that an initial home assessment is key, particularly to making the correct placement. “Very often I find that you can’t get a definite picture over the phone,” she said. “The families are in crisis or they don’t think to provide the fact that a parent has Alzheimer’s. That’s what I do. As part of the home care division I can really assess the patient, the family interactions, the home care situation. Then I come back to the office and speak with the doctor and get a much clearer picture.” If the patient is not placed in the right situation, “they’re moved frequently,” Clayton said. “Sometimes people come in saying they’d like to be independent, don’t want any part of a nursing home. But we soon realize it wasn’t a good fit, they’re not as independent physically. There’s a lot of fear of nursing home placement. I find meeting clients can address some of these issues.” For older individuals who are independent or require enhanced assisted living, one new option in Westchester is the Kensington in White Plains. Brenda Moynihan, the Kensington’s director of community outreach, also speaks with family members initially to make an assessment of what’s needed. She said 85 percent of caregivers are women, but more and more men are helping make decisions regarding senior living. “We really ask a lot of questions,” Moynihan said, suggesting that the designated caregiver visit a number of facilities first, then return with a parent, if the parent is able, once the number of choices is reduced. “Stop by with your parent, talk with the residents,” added said. “We want people to fully experience the community so they can narrow the decision down to one or two instead of bringing them to 15 different continued on the next page
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To Your Health!
NEWS NOTES
continued from previous page
communities. It depends on the cognition of Mom or Dad, but yes, a parent should definitely be in the process if they’re able.” Experts agree that designated caregivers and family members must know a parent’s financial situation — especially what insurance coverage is available — in order to make a decision on care. Some parents are only covered by Medicare or Medicaid, which limits one’s choices. Others have more assets and/or long-term health care insurance, greatly expanding the options. Representatives at facilities and geriatric care managers are trained to ask questions to help determine what choices are available. “It’s hard because we’re the sandwich generation,” said Groppe. “Many are still trying to be parents to their own children and trying to deal with their elderly parents. It’s a hard situation to be in, and parents do not want to listen to their kids because they’re still playing the role of parent.” No matter the ultimate decision, maintaining an older relative’s pride is key. “You want to give them dignity, even for folks who have a cognitive impairment,” Moynihan said. “Sometimes you really can’t, but you want to provide to them as much dignity as possible.” Dunphy added, “You would think we had achieved a level of success, but what can we do better, what can we understand better? I have thought about the aging process and how little we know about how it feels to have rheumatoid arthritis and not be able to pick up the mail, or to have glaucoma and have no peripheral vision. Sensitivity training reinforced for us how we can never become complacent, always try to be understanding and try to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, literally. These are bright, competent people who have raised families, had important jobs, lived meaningful lives. It’s important we know how it feels for them.”
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WJCS Home Health Services make a difference Since 1947, Westchester Jewish Community Services Home Health Services (HHS) staff has been caring for frail, elderly and sick individuals as they would their own family members. WJCS teams of registered nurses and home health aides deliver a level of experience, expertise and empathy that is unparalleled, carrying out their duties with concern and compassion. “That concern and compassion were evidenced recently as Hurricane Irene came barreling up the east coast,” said Sheila Rabideau, R.N., assistant executive director of WJCS Home Health Services. “Beginning on Thursday before the weekend storm, our scheduling coordinator Vivienne Watson worked tirelessly to ensure that all clients would have service. “Despite the fact that most of our aides do not drive and all public transportation was suspended and taxi service very limited, our aides were able to get to our ‘must cover’ patients throughout the county and assisted in the evacuation of those people at risk. One aide even walked over an hour in the driving rain to get to his client’s home. “Although the concern for health and care of individuals in the community dates back to the early Egyptians, it was obvious that that spirit of dedication was alive and well among the WJCS Home Health Services staff during the storm.” With statistics showing that people are living longer, home health care plays a vital role in helping patients achieve the greatest possible level of health in the comfort and
Sheila Rabideau, R.N., and assistant executive director of WJCS Home Health Services, presents a STAR (Standout in Teamwork, Actions and Responsibility) Award to scheduling coordinator Vivienne Watson, recognizing her outstanding efforts in ensuring that all WJCS Home Health Services clients had coverage during Hurricane Irene.
privacy of their homes. For many, home health support makes the difference between living independently in their homes or opting for a more costly and restrictive nursing home setting. Enlisting home care services can often be overwhelming for people who need care and their families. Some questions to help assess your need include: • Do you require nursing assistance — but not extensive medical care — for treatment or rehabilitation? • Does difficulty moving around affect
your ability to dress, groom, bathe, walk or cook by yourself? • Could an extra set of hands ease the strain on your family when care is needed? Each patient’s unique family situation, wellness and illness issues, and internal and external home environment demand that home care professionals, the patient/family and the patient’s physician work collaboratively to design and implement an individualized plan of care. This plan incorporates cultural parameters, environmental issues, psychosocial well-being, economic factors, spiritual needs and personal health factors and often draws upon the skills of a team of professionals. As more people find themselves in the role of caregiver for their parents, partners, relatives or friends, many discover that, although rewarding, it can be physically, emotionally and financially demanding. Often the burden of care-giving can be eased by outside services, especially home health care. For many caregivers who are working and also raising children, enlisting Home Health Services not only ensures consistency of care but it substantially reduces stress. And, for families who are geographically separated, Home Health Services offer the confidence of knowing that a loved one is being properly overseen. Even when caregivers live near a senior family member, home care can help maintain the quality of life for all involved. For more information, call 761-0600 Ext. 312.
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Friday, October 14, 2011
NEWS NOTES
Active aging conference features author Learn how to keep your brain’s “Triple A” rating throughout your adult years at The Wartburg in Mount Vernon, on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 3-6 p.m. A free conference called “Active, Alert Aging: Become Your Brain’s Best Friend,” will feature keynote speaker Barbara Strauch, The New York Times deputy science editor for health and medical science and author of the book “The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain.” The book reviews for “The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain” indicate that Strauch has uncovered information about Keynote speaker the plasticity Barbara Strauch and adaptability of the human brain as we age. According to Scientific American, “Strauch’s book paints a radically new picture of the brain that goes far beyond making those entering middle age feel better. Instead the newly gained insights into the adult brain should cause us to rethink how we structure our lives….” Terry Gross, radio host of NPR’s Fresh Air, said, “… not all is lost in middle age. There are certain cognitive functions that actually improve as a brain grows older.” The speaker and workshops conducted by
The Wartburg Adult Care Community’s staff will focus on taking charge of your brain’s fitness as you age. Continue the conversation over light supper. The conference is free and advance registration is required. Call Karen Thomas at The Wartburg Foundation, 5135308, or register online at alertactiveaging. eventbrite.com. This conference is sponsored by The Wartburg Adult Care Community and the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Wartburg Adult Care Community is a notfor-profit Lutheran ministry, serving people of all faiths with a full range of residential options and health-related services for older area adults and their families. The Wartburg offers skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, assisted and independent living, adult day services, home care, memory care, pastoral care and monthly caregiver support groups. The Wartburg is a member organization of the National Center for Creative Aging. For more information about The Wartburg Adult Care Community, call 699-0800, email info@thewartburg. org or visit www.thewartburg.org.
Network offers support, referrals According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 60 percent of individuals with the disease wander at some point in the course of their illness. Sadly, this point was tragically illustrated with the recent death of an 84-year-old Alzheimer’s patient who recently wandered from her Irvington home. The Family Caregiver Network (FCN), a pro-
Jane Slevin, LMFT, is coordinator of the Family Caregiver Network.
gram of Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), recognizes the constant level of stress that family caregivers live and deal with on a daily basis. That’s why FCN provides family caregivers a place to turn to for emotional support and resource referrals. For example, in a situation in which wandering is a concern, FCN may suggest that the family contact the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (www.westchestergov.com) to learn about Project Lifesaver, a free program that provides elderly Alzheimer’s patients with bracelets that use radio-frequency technology to track them if they wander from their homes.
Also, the Alzheimer’s Association (1-800272-3900 or alz.org/safetycenter) can provide information about specific safety programs such as MedicAlert®+Safe Return® and the Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone™. Other resources FCN may suggest include information about adult day centers, home health care services, Meals-on-Wheels, Para-Transit and where to turn for legal advice. In addition to referrals, the FCN offers individual counseling as well as caregiver support groups. In the Rivertowns, FCN meets on the third Thursday of the month from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at James Harmon Community Center in Hastings to provide assistance to caregivers and, most importantly, to let them know they are not alone on their journey. Thanks to a generous grant from UJA Federation, WJCS is able to provide these services free of charge. For more information, call 7610600 Ext. 143 or email Jane Slevin, LMFT, coordinator of the Family Caregiver Network, at jslevin@wjcs.com.
Dr. Kennis back in Dobbs Ferry Dobbs Ferry Chiropractic & Holistic Health Center at 63 Main St. in Dobbs Ferry is happy to report that Dr. Michael Kennis has rejoined the team. Before selling the practice in 2007 to current owner Dr. Alyssa Guglielmo, Dr. Kennis and his wife, Dr. Melody Bach, provided great care to the Rivertowns for nearly 20 years. Dr. Kennis will now join Dr. Guglielmo and Dr. Santina Diluoffo in again serving the Rivertowns and surrounding areas with great chiropractic care. Call 6934545 to schedule an appointment or stop by the office.
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Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 9A
Willow Towers Assisted Living:
New approach caring for Alzheimer’s, related disorders Willow Towers Assisted Living, part of United Hebrew of New Rochelle campus of services, has announced a year-long initiative of specialized enhanced education for its staff and caregivers. The announcement was made by Rita Mabli, president and CEO of United Hebrew of New Rochelle: “We reviewed many available options for this initiative and we are pleased to announce that White Plains Hospital Partnerships in Dementia Care will be our collaborators in this endeavor.” Partnerships in Dementia is a newly created program under the auspices of the White Plains Hospital Senior Services Department that trains personal and professional caregivers to help people with dementia improve their quality of life while reducing the burden for the caregivers themselves. Willow Towers will serve as the pilot site for the newly designed person-centered coaching educational program for caregivers. Willow Towers, which opened in 2003, was the first in Westchester County to be awarded the new Assisted Living Residence (ALR) licensure, with dual certification for Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) and Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) by the New York State Department of Health. “Willow Towers has been committed to making a difference in the lives of people with dementia and indeed in the aging process as a whole,” said Geri Brooks, MSN, RN, CS, GNP, and director of the White Plains Hospital Geriatric Services/Partnerships in Dementia Care program. “They are consistently innovative and are indeed an industry leader.”
strengthening trend towards non-profit operations when people choose long-term care facilities for their parents,” Mabli said. “In these challenging economic times, people are more comfortable with a successful well-run not-for-profit with a continuum of care with resources to invest and reinvest in their facilities, rather than a proprietary that may not have resources targeted to the resident. There is a comfort in the not-for-profit model of reinvestment in its operation and employees.” Dunphy added, “The staff is so energized and the momentum in the building is palpable. We are engaged in listening to each individual’s needs and the residents feel our love. That is our focus each and every day.” For more information about Willow Towers Assisted Living visit www.willowtowers. com or contact Dunphy at 636-6565. The staff at Willow Towers Assisted Living in New Rochelle participate in an aging sensitivity training. Willow Towers Assisted Living has begun a new pilot program with White Plains Hospital’s Partnerships in Dementia Care to enhance its staff training for caring for residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Along with Brooks as director of the program, White Plains Hospital Senior Services has also welcomed Kerry Mills, a dementia liaison coach. “Our goal is to continue our culture of excellence by giving our full staff the educational team building skills for our comprehensive collaborative model of care,” said Jean Dunphy, executive director of Willow Towers. “The Phoenix Alzheimer’s Dementia unit at Willow Towers will be the main focus of the Partnership in Dementia care initiative.”
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The innovative program will give the staff special tools for understanding the perspective of a person with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The training includes sessions on the brain, sensitivity to geriatric issues and team-building exercises. The White Plains Hospital staff will then visit monthly for practical interventions. Investing in this type of initiative is seen as essential to the vision and future of United Hebrew of New Rochelle, a leader in the field of long-term care. “We are seeing a
About Willow Towers
Willow Towers Assisted Living residence, a licensed Assisted Living facility by the New York State Department of Health, is an eightstory state-of-the-art residence with a wide array of amenities, including activity rooms, exercise room, putting green, recreation and cultural activities, transportation, a library with internet computers and an art studio. Willow Towers offers three restaurant-style meals daily, prepared by an experienced chef; daily housekeeping; personal laundry; scheduled transportation to medical appointments; and other services. In addition, residents have access to a beauty salon, barbershop, 24-hour cafe, and a multimedia room. Willow Towers continued on page 10A
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Page 10A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
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features a two-story glass atrium and dazzling views of the Long Island Sound. Opened in 2003, the not-for-profit community located in New Rochelle offers 126 apartments, from studios to two bedroom suites, 20 of which are in Willow Towers’ Phoenix Memory Support Neighborhood. About United Hebrew of New Rochelle
United Hebrew is a vibrant not-for-profit, non-sectarian, multi-service senior living campus serving the Westchester metropolitan area since 1919. United Hebrew offers a rich array of skilled and community-based programs and services that encourages and supports a life of dignity and spirituality and promotes the highest possible quality of life. United Hebrew serves over 600 clients daily in its Harry and Jeanette Weinberg campus facilities — Willow Towers, The Beverly and Alfred J. Green Pavilion, a 126-unit licensed assisted living residence which has the SNALR Phoenix unit as one of the first in the county to receive the certification from New York State Department of Health to cater to residents with Alzheimer’s and related disorders in a special needs assisted living residence; a 296bed nursing and rehabilitation center staffed with Burke Rehabilitation professionals; the 135-unit Soundview Apartments for seniors; a Long Term Home Health Care Program; and the AZOR Home Health Agency. United Hebrew recently opened its new home, which combines world class care with state-of-the-art features. For more information about United Hebrew of New Rochelle contact Linda Forman at lforman@uhgc.org or 632-2804 ext. 1224. Visit www.uhgc.org.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Updates, improvements help seniors live at home Whether you are a senior yourself, or have a loved one who is older, living independently in the home is a priority. With the right precautions and a few necessary safety modifications, many seniors can continue to thrive in their own homes. The room that poses the most danger to seniors is the bathroom. The potential for slips and falls is greater in this part of the home — 75 percent of fall injuries occur in the bathroom — making it a good place to focus your renovation energy. • Flooring: Hard floors are a hazard because even a small amount of moisture can make them very slick. Many people choose to install carpet because it does not lift or move like rugs can, plus it is warmer to walk on and softer if there is a fall. • Bathtub: Walk-in baths and showers like the ones from Premier Care In Bathing are great for seniors who want to take baths or showers, but don’t want to risk slipping and falling when stepping over the side of a tub or entering the shower. Look for features like a walk-in door, a powered bath lift, soothing hydrovescent therapy and easy-to-turn faucets. • Higher toilet: These types of toilets sit higher off the floor so that users don’t have to bend their knees as much to get up and down. • Good lighting: To help seniors see better, it’s important to have well-lit rooms and walkways so that it’s easy to get around all areas of the house, including the bathroom. Now that you have a good idea of what types of things should be replaced to help
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Tip 2: Quality products — A good bathroom renovation is an investment, and that’s why you want a product that works well and is long-lasting. After going through a rigorous testing process, Premier Care walk-in baths and easy-access showers were commended as being easier to use and more accessible for people with arthritis by the Arthritis Foundation. These are the first baths and showers to ever receive this prestigious commendation. The company is also recognized as the official specialty bathing partner for AMVETS, the non-profit organization for American Veterans. Tip 3: Free estimate — Avoid any company who will not send you educational materials such as brochures to review prior to purchase. Also avoid any company who will not come to your home to give you a free estimate on the cost of the renovation. An accurate cost estimate is impossible without seeing a bathroom in person. Tip 4: Specialized contractors — When updating a bathroom, it’s wise to choose a company that does it all. If they subcontract the work out, you may not get someone who has the necessary insight specifically needed for senior home design. Look for companies that do it all, from providing the best products to complete installation and renovation. With a few home improvements and modifications, seniors can stay safe at home and live independently for many years. For more information about walk-in baths, showers or ADA compliant sinks and toilets call (800) 313-1694 or visit premiercareonline.com. — ARA Content
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To Your Health!
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 11A
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Page 12A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sports medicine for the masses girls and women certainly benefit from sports and exercise, some female athletes develop eating disorders, such as bingeing and purging, restrictive eating, crash dieting and compulsive exercising in an effort to lose weight for sports. Poor nutrition, excessive energy demand, stress and low body fat can combine to make menstruation stop. And when this happens, a girl or woman can develop premature osteoporosis, because lack of periods can interrupt the bonebuilding process. That’s a recipe for even more injuries. Coaches, trainers, physicians, psychologists, school personnel and families are all becoming increasingly aware of the risks that female athletes face.
continued from page 3A
lent that Sethi has even been asked by some parents of athletes whether Tommy John surgery could make their child pitch faster. But, he said, if you have a normal ligament and have the surgery, it won’t make you pitch faster. “You don’t do this on a healthy ligament,” he said. Expanding the scope
For adults, Sethi said, many of the procedures first developed for athletes are now used to help people get back to the activities of daily living: “If a mom or dad has a knee that is giving out just walking around, we might do an ACL replacement.” He explained that the anterior cruciate ligament helps keep the knee from going out of joint; the procedure helps the knee remain stable. “We do a lot of techniques of sports medicine on our recreational patients,” Sethi said. “We tailor things really delicately.” He added that for skiing or tennis, lots of people have trouble because the knee gives out, so “we give them a new ligament.” Sethi said today’s techniques are less invasive: “With ACL reconstruction, it used to be you were in a cast for six to eight weeks.” Months of therapy would follow. “Now, we get them up and moving and walking right away,” he noted. “The procedure has faster rehab, it is more predictable and has few complications.” “We do progressively more minimally invasive procedures every day,” Sethi said. This has proven to be a boon for the baby boom generation: “The baby boomers are more interested in being more active and athletic than their parents were at that age.” That means that there are more 50-year-olds with sports injuries than in the previous generation.
Preventing surgery and chronic pain
“Rather than live with them, they get them taken care of,” Sethi said. Many specialties in sports medicine
Treatment for bone and muscle injuries is what people usually think of when they think of sports medicine. But orthopedists such as Sethi are just one area of specialization in sports medicine. The field also includes exercise science specialists, physical therapists, nutritionists, psychologists, pediatricians and doctors in family practice. One area that is receiving increased attention is being called the “female athletic triad.” Girls are increasingly involved in competitive sports at younger and younger ages. And although
As any athlete will tell you, proper technique can prevent pain and injury. That’s just as true in everyday life. Physical therapists who specialize in sports injuries apply this principle to everyone from office workers to the elderly. Physical therapist Karn Santikul, owner of New York Sports & Spinal Physical Therapy in Scarsdale, often sees clients with repetitive stress injuries that are related to work habits, such as typing. “A quick cortisone injection might give temporary relief,” Santikul said. “But you have to examine how you’re working at your work station. If you don’t get rid of the underlying issues, two weeks later you’re back to square one. Shots are not enough if you haven’t resolved the issue of how that pain came about.” Santikul said the goal of the physical therapist is to prevent surgery, prevent injections and prevent chronic pain. “What really changes compared to sports medicine is the goal of the patient,” Santikul
explained. “For someone with a rotator cuff injury, for example, we’re not trying to build strength to the next stage, we’re trying to bring down pain, restore motion and build strength.” One therapy that had its roots in sports medicine is called “Graston technique,” a form of massage that can break down scar tissue using specialized tools for massage and create an environment for tissue to heal normally and restore normal motion. Another sports medicine-based technique is “kinesiotaping.” If you’ve watched professional sports on TV, you may have noticed athletes wearing strips of colored tape on various parts of the body. This is kinesiotape, a flexible tape that allows the person to move. “The tape is pliable, not rigid,’ said Santikul. “This tape will restore your normal movement. It cues the muscle to fire, to engage the way it should.” Santikul said using a rigid brace simply promotes an existing weakness, while the flexible tape helps the person return to using the body part normally. He said it can be used for conditions such as rotator cuff strain, elder arthritis and a loose kneecap. “For someone with bad posture such as an elderly person, taping is used to prevent it getting worse,” Santikul said. “They’ll feel a tug on the tape to remind them ‘I’m hunching too much.’” Santikul said a physical therapist trained in sports medicine can help weekend warriors and seniors exercise more safely, pointing out the imperfections in their technique that can cause injuries. Unfortunately, he said, many people who use a gym do so without the benefit of consulting a physical therapist first: “Most of the time in the gym they’re doing exercises that actually encourage their osteoarthritis.”
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Fitness:
To Your Health!
These exercise trends have lasting appeal
By MARY LEGRAND
F
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 13A
itness is hot — and we’re not just talking about how sweaty an exerciser feels after a workout. Trends — some call them “gimmicks” or “crazes” — drive much of the fitness industry these days. The business continues to change, seemingly yearly or even seasonally, reacting in consumer-driven ways to ensure the most popular exercise options are there for all who want them. And Westchester residents seeking the next best, most up-to-date exercise can find a wide range of one-on-one and group classes available countywide. Yoga, Pilates, Lotte Berk, indoor cycling, Kettlebells, Zumba and a host of other often trademarked exercise routines too numerous to mention can be found north and south of the Route 287 corridor. The real question is, what’s an exercise fad or craze? Andrea Chillemi, owner of On Hudson Fitness and Dance in Hastings-on-Hudson, discounts the notion of trends, saying that people need to find “what works for t h e m .”
She cited Americans’ “overall need to get up and move their bodies. The statistics are that we have a huge obesity problem.” To Chillemi, a gimmick “is something that doesn’t work. So if a certain exercise appeals to a person and, in the end, works, then it’s not a gimmick. Personally, I can’t stand sitting on a bike in a dark room, but there are plenty of people who really get excited riding a bike for exercise.” Chillemi said On Hudson’s complementary business, New York Goju Karate, in the same Hastings location and run by her husband, Jim, has classes filled with people of all ages who love getting fit through the martial arts. “Fusion” or “comprehensive” classes have become very popular,
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according to Chillemi and other exercise professionals in Westchester. “If you can do a comprehensive class, you’re doing cardio, using your core muscles and stretching, and then getting weight training as well, it’s perfect,” she said. “This is great, because who has the time to do three different classes in a row?” In Mount Kisco at the Saw Mill Club and Saw Mill Club East, fitness director Andrew Guida called fusion classes the way of the future at many studios and gyms. He mentioned Piloxing (Pilates and boxing) as being popular, as is Yogalates (a mixture of yoga and Pilates).
But ultimately, Guida said he is a “big believer” in the fundamentals, “things that are staples and work. Fads come and go, and they’re positive for the industry, as long as you know that they come and go.” Exercisers need variety in their workouts, if for no other reason than keeping boredom at bay. “But too much variety can be a bad thing,” Guida said. “If you do something different every day, your body may not necessarily respond in the most appropriate way.” That said, a person who never changes his or her exercise routine is not doing the body much good either. “With no change in the fitness routine, the body reaches that consistency and doesn’t know how to react,” he said. A happy medium is the answer, with Saw Mill clients encouraged to try out new routines and classes, “for the social and mental stimulation as much as the physical response,” Guida said. “If you’re just a swimmer, get into the fitness area, get into group classes, and hopefully that will create a better exercise map that you can follow, the exercise pathway to success.” Lisa Avellino is a personal trainer/instructor at Susan Marlowe Fitness for Women in Scarsdale. “Susan Marlowe Fitness has been in the same locaContinued on page 15A
Page 14A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
Protein:
Friday, October 14, 2011
are you getting enough in your diet?
By Dr. KAREN REZNIK DOLINS, EdD, RD, CSSD, CDN
L
isa considers herself to be a healthy eater. She enjoys eating fruits and vegetables, eats mostly whole grains, and has chicken or fish more often than re d meat. She is aware of the need to have enough calcium to keep her bones strong, and eats yogurt most days. She works out with a trainer three times a week. But despite having shredded wheat instead of Fruit Loops and cantaloupe instead of brownies, she still struggles with some extra pounds. With all the talk about Atkins, South Beach and The Dukan Diet, she wonders if she wouldn’t be better off skipping the fruit with its sugar and brown rice with its starch. Maybe she’d actually be healthier if her plate simply held a protein and vegetables as friends have suggested. Rob is a 20-something former high school and collegiate athlete. He knows that it’s harder for him to keep his musculature now that he’s graduated into a desk job, but he’s committed to visiting the gym at least four times each week. The word in the college locker rooms was that protein shakes are essential to building muscle and burning fat. He wonders whether protein shakes would help him now. Lisa and Rob aren’t alone in wondering whether protein should take center stage as they work toward their goals. While the USDA has recently traded in the Food Guide Pyramid for My Plate, which recommends that only a quarter of a dinner plate consist of
the protein food, many wonder whether this is the best way to lose weight, and whether this format provides enough protein for an athlete or active person. Fortunately, researchers have asked these questions as well, and have conducted studies to find out the answers. A number of studies have compared the effects of various diets on body weight, body composition and certain health parameters such as insulin level. Each time the results have been the same: it’s ultimately calories that count. If your breakfast of eggs and bacon, lunch of stir fried vegetables with chicken and dinner of steak and broccoli have fewer calories than your breakfast of oatmeal and blueberries, lunch of a turkey sandwich, and dinner of brown rice, steak and broccoli, then you will lose more weight and body fat. If not, then you won’t. Health parameters generally
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follow weight loss, so insulin, blood pressure and cholesterol will generally improve as the number on the scale goes down. But does protein keep you more satisfied while carbs keep you craving more? This has also been investigated, and the results vary. For many, eating highly sweetened low fiber cereals, white breads including Italian breads and bagels, and sweets like cookies triggers overeating rather than contentment. The more highly processed the food, the more likely it is to have added sodium and sugar with less fiber. This combination makes it difficult to eat a reasonable portion, like a third of a monstersized bagel or a single cup of pasta. Diets high in minimally processed (whole) grains, fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are loaded with water and fiber, both of which aid in satiety. In fact, a prominent researcher in the
area, Barbara Rolls, has created her popular “Volumetrics” diet around this concept. Her research has shown that people will eat fewer calories when eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables as they leave the dieter feeling more satisfied with fewer calories. Yet many feel that the higher protein diets work best for them. And there is science to support the benefits of including enough while trying to lose weight. For one thing, protein leaves the stomach more slowly than carbohydrates, maintaining a sense of fullness. Is this more satisfying than eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables? Perhaps for some. One thing is certain, though. The amount of protein you need varies with the amount of calories and carbohydrates you are eating. When cutting back on calories and carbohydrates, some procontinued on PAGE 20A
Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 15A
Exercise trends Continued from page 13A
tion since 1973 and has really been involved through all these decades in those ‘crazes’ we’ve had over the years; and we still have them,” Avellino said. “We still offer step aerobics; we offer yoga and Pilates. Zumba is aerobic dance, just with the fusion of salsa and belly dancing with a Latin flair. It’s really great music.” Avellino agreed that classes offering more than one type of exercise are beneficial. “What works for you individually is what works for your body.” Susan Marlowe’s fusion “boot camp” is popular and incorporates “all modalities into one class,” Avellino said. “A boot camp is where you’re pushed to the highest intensity, with very short recovery periods. You may find a woman in her 80s next to women who run the New York Marathon, with individual modifications of the exercises for each participant.” Two new, different routines available at Susan Marlowe Fitness involve using Iso Towels and Kangaroo Shoes. The first is a “fat-burning, toning and stretching class using just a towel,” Avellino said. “You’re balancing the relationship between the opposing muscles and using your own bodyweight.” Kangaroo Shoe Workout participants wear boots with a plastic bridge in the middle. “The boot comes up about 6 inches off the floor and you’re actually bouncing,” Avellino said. “It’s great especially for baby boomers who don’t want to jump and have concerns about their knees.” Iris Cohen, owner of Be True Yoga in Scarsdale, said she does not consider yoga to be a fad that will go out of style. “It’s become much more popular in the West over the past decade or so, and within the last five years it has become much more mainstream,” she said. Yoga’s spiritual component and its ability
to heal the body make it different from other exercise routines, she said. “The reason we’re successful is that we’re not just a place where you’re pushing yourself to the limit, but you’re also finding a place for real healing,” Cohen said. Quite a few yoga students “look to heal injuries from taking exercise a little too far, especially for those in their 40s and older,” Cohen said. “They find their joints just can’t absorb any more of the ‘weekend warrior’ types of exercise they were able to in their 20s and 30s. They come to yoga as a place where they can find balance, not necessarily replace the other exercise.” At Pilates and More in Dobbs Ferry, owner Valeria Barreto says Pilates began in the mid1900s with Joseph Pilates, a German. “It was kind of forgotten for many years,” she said. “Then 15-20 years ago it came up again. Pi-
lates has stayed popular because it’s really the best technique for anybody; it prepares your body to do anything you want, makes you stronger and gives you balance. You feel taller, stronger in your core. And if you’re stronger in your core, then you can do anything you want — run, swim, lift weights.” Barreto spoke of one client, a woman almost 80, whose “stress test after taking Pilates classes is much better than it was 10 years ago. Pilates is good to give you support and reverse the aging process. I think it’s great.” Lara Keidel’s Spincycle, which opened in July in Scotts Corners, Pound Ridge, gives exercisers the chance to try new routines. “People like to stay interested in working out and be excited by what they’re doing,” she said. “Anything that gets people up and moving is great. I have some people who only spin, while others spin and do strength training and yoga.”
Women “love to work out” at Spincycle, Keidel said, “because it’s social and because they’re accountable to each other.” Spincycle also offers a bar class and TRX Suspension, among other options. Owner Michelle Lichtman of Bodyfit Studio in Scarsdale said that if one looks back at any craze or phase of exercise, “it’s just cyclical, just like a regular business model for any kind of new product. A craze catches on, keeps going up to its fifth year, and then goes down. Certainly Zumba is not going to be popular going forward; the classes are already dwindling.” People “get bored of certain things,” Lichtman said. “The only routines I can think of in the history of exercise that have stayed the course is Pilates and the Pilates Berk Method,” which was started in the 1950s by a dancer, Lotte Berk, who went into atrophy, landing eventually in a wheelchair. She exercised using the method she later trademarked, dying at 92 “at the top of the exercise world,” Lichtman said. Bodyfit classes are based on the Lotte Berk philosophy. In addition, there’s a Tread-X class, “where we just torch calories at a startling rate,” Lichtman said. Lotte Berk, Lichtman said, “was never a craze. It was just a secret, so ladies who lunch could keep their form.” She calls Tread-X a “breakthrough workout that makes your body sleek and lean in the shortest amount of time.” It would seem that the exercise “trend” for 2011, such as it may be, is that whatever routines make individuals happy, motivated and fit remain popular. So to the indoor cyclists, cycle on. Zumba addicts, dance on. Pilates devotees, continue what you’re doing, too. Who knows, you may find Kettlebells, Tread-X, Kangaroo Shoes and other yet undiscovered “crazes” in your longterm future too.
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Beauty by accident
Long, dark lashes are a winning side effect By JENNIFER LEAVITT-WIPF
Scientific American once reported that, “like fine wine, personality improves with age.” It’s good to know that there’s at least one silver lining around the growing waistlines and disappearing eyelashes, not to mention side effects of medications that we now take. Once in a great while though, side effects offer up a pleasant surprise, like when a glaucoma medication — in the form of bimatoprost ophthalmic eye drops — unexpectedly produced long, lush eyelashes. Yes, it’s possible that, with age, our eyelashes can actually increase in pigment and volume, instead of fading into oblivion. Imagine that. And really, these drops improve youthful, voluminous lashes as well. Nearly 100 percent of users see positive results, regardless of the initial condition of lashes. Allergan — the same pharmaceutical company that turned a little-known muscle paralyzer (Botox) into a popular wrinkle smoother — had patented bimatoprost under the brand name Lumigan, and noticed the long-lash effect during clinical trials on glaucoma patients. Doctors and patients witnessed the effects as well. “It was really obvious when people using the eye drops came in with a luxurious eyelash on just one side,” said Amy Newburger, M.D., founder of Dermatology Consultants of Westchester, “and sure enough, it was over the eye that was being treated for glaucoma.” Dr. Arlene Schwartz, of Hartsdale Family Eye Care — who often prescribes bimatoprost for her patients — said she “had a male patient who wanted to stop the medication for his glaucoma because it was giving him these big, thick lashes.” “It was great for reducing interocular pressure, and people discovered that it caused these long, beautiful lashes as well,” Schwartz added. During the FDA approval process, doctors began prescribing Lumigan off label for eager patients who couldn’t wait to try out the cosmetic enhancement. Jan Marini Skin Research added bimatoprost to its over-thecounter Age Intervention Eyelash, and was subsequently raided by United States marshals, who seized 12,682 tubes — about $2 million worth — of the lash enhancer because it contained the medication. Allergan later sued for patent infringement.
Latisse is FDA approved for cosmetic enhancement of eyelashes
In 2008, the FDA Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee voted to approve Allergan’s bimatoprost for the cosmetic use of darkening, thickening and lengthening eyelashes. The medical explanation was that bimatoprost treated hypotrichosis (sparse eyelashes), but the approval was purely for cosmetic purposes. Allergan rebranded Lumigan as “Latisse,” and brought Brooke Shields on as spokesperson. Her results — with time interval photos — can be seen on the Latisse website (www.latisse.com). The company’s clinical trial had included 280 volunteers, half of whom applied Latisse every night for 16 weeks. Eyelashes on users grew an average of 25 percent longer, 106 percent thicker and 18 percent darker. Side effects were minimal, with some 3.6 percent of patients experiencing itchy, red eyes. Doctors do warn that side effects from Lumigan, which is the same exact formula, can also include gradual darkening of the skin around the eye, and of the iris. (This is why Latisse is approved only for upper lash use, as darkness under the eyes is something most people like to avoid.) None of the volunteers in the Latisse clinical study experienced these pigmentation side effects, but the study was short term, and not especially large. A darkening of the upper eyelid could be covered by eyeshadow and might even be welcomed by those who use dark shades.
Hudson Family Dental Jacqueline Paramo, DDS
It would also be reversible when use of the drops is discontinued, said Dr. Anca Tchelebi, an anti-aging specialist at Park Avenue Medical Spa in Ardsley, Armonk and Rye Brook. She also pointed out that that darker iris color is extremely unlikely with Latisse use, for two reasons: First, each daily application to the lashes involves only 5 percent of the amount prescribed to glaucoma patients. And second, the Latisse application is applied to the lid, not in the eye. If used correctly, little to no medication is reaching the iris. “I have seen a few patients get some irritation,” said Tchelebi, “but I have not seen any eye color changes. One patient with blue eyes accidentally mistook it for Visine and poured it into her eye, with no changes.” Using Latisse applicators correctly is critical, for preventing serious infections. One sterile applicator should be used each day, then thrown out. Because a few people do experience inflammation when they try the solution, Newburger explained that she asks for consent from an eye doctor, just to make sure all is well before applying something new to the eye: “People can come in and ask for a prescription, and all we need to do is make a quick call to the optometrist or ophthalmologist for clearance.” There is no regulated requirement to do this, but it’s a precaution Newburger practices, and recommends. Dermatology Consultants, who also use the
drops off label for eyebrows, makes a habit of taking before and after pictures as well, “to document and track changes big and small.” Bimatoprost reduces pressure within the eye, which prevents optic nerve damage in glaucoma patients. Doctors say though, that small quantities of the drug should not pose any threat to the healthy eye, as slightly lower pressure is not problematic. According to Dr. Andrea Thau, spokeswoman for the American Optometric Association and associate professor at the SUNY State College of Optometry, bimatoprost “has an excellent safety profile.” For lashes or brows, there are two catches with Latisse. First, it takes up to 14 weeks of daily use to reach maximum length and thickness. And second, to keep lashes in top form, people will need to keep using the eye drops because the solution works by lengthening the duration of the growth phase — keeping hairs on the lid or brow longer before they fall off and get replaced. Without regular use (three times per week for maintenance), lashes and brows will return to their normal, genetically determined length, thickness and color within a few months. At $120 for a 30-day supply, this form of beauty does not come cheap. (Some patients convince their doctors to prescribe generic bimatoprost “off label” instead though, which garners the same benefits for less money — minus the applicators.) For those who are impatient with the 14-week wait, Newburger recommends using an eyelash undercoat in the meantime, such as Underwear for Lashes, by Origins, followed by Lancôme’s Ôscillation Power Booster, and a good mascara. She likes Fringe Benefits, by Origins, and Ôscillation PowerMascara by Lancôme. “The look is quite striking,” she said. Some women, though, give up mascara altogether when they see the Latisse results. And compared with the $5,000-plus price tag for eyelash transplants, Latisse is a real bargain, at least in the short term (it would take about 10 years of Latisse use to match that cost), and doesn’t require monthly eyelash trimming. Most users are very happy with the product. “We have many people using it, and they just love it,” said Tchelebi. “Women are pretty excited about the results,” Newburger agreed. “They typically keep using it indefinitely.”
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Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
Health Tips: By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG
M
ost of us would not skip our car’s annual service appointment and regular oil changes, but are we being as diligent with our bodies? For ultimate good health, adults should see their doctors regularly and not just when they’re sick. An annual physical exam is a good place to start. It enables patients and doctors to develop a productive relationship, establish baseline assessments, and perform recommended screening based on appropriate risk factors. The benefit to catching conditions early is that they are more treatable, and this can overall increase positive health outcomes. An internist with Connecticut’s Old Greenwich Medical Group, Dr. Melanie Kelton, M.D., gave an example: “It’s important to find problems early. Many early-stage cancers are curable illnesses, but advanced Stage 4 cancers are not … Even with high blood pressure, if discovered and treated early, patients will sig-
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 17A
Prevention is the best medicine
nificantly lower their risk of complications down the line.” Through rigorous evaluation of clinical research and preventative measures, the U.S. Preventative Task Force has issued screening recommendations, providing information on when and to whom these assessments should be administered. “But most importantly, it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s recommendations related to your own profile based on age, family history, health status and risk factors,” Kelton said. The following recommendations are meant as guidelines. They should be discussed with a physician who can individualize assessments according to each patient’s specific situation and health.
All Adults High blood pressure screening When: 18 and older Frequency: once a year
It is routine to check blood pressure at annual physical examinations and sick visits. Physicians strive for a patient’s blood pressure to be lower than 140/90, or there might be a lower goal depending on risk factor profile. Typically, a patient must show two or more elevated blood pressures within a period of one to several weeks in order to apply a diagnosis of hypertension. High blood pressure increases a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, especially when combined with other risk factors. High blood pressure can be treated by medication and lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol screening When: 20 and older Frequency: at least every five years Blood tests measure the amount of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides and good cholesterol (HDL-C). A patient’s values provide insight into lipid disorders affecting metabolism, elevations of bad cholesterol and deficiencies of good cholester-
ol — all of which increase the risk of coronary disease. High levels of cholesterol are typically caused by genetics, although diet also plays a role. If values are within a healthy range, assessments can be performed every five years. However, shorter intervals are appropriate for results that approach levels requiring therapy.
Body Mass Index (BMI) obesity screening When: 18 and older (but also measured in children) Frequency: once a year Obesity is associated with adverse health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease. All adults should be screened for obesity; and “Body Mass Index” (BMI) is a widelyused method. BMI represents weight adjusted for height. It follows the formula of either weight in pounds, divided by height in inches squared, multiplied by 703; or weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. continued on PAGE 22A
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Friday, October 14, 2011
NEWS NOTES
WCC and Burke partner in nursing program
Our name says it all. Quite simply, WCAH provides the highest quality home health care in Westchester. Supervised by Registered Nurses, our Certified Home Health Aides assist with personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, shopping and errands. They provide companionship and escort your loved ones to appointments. Rates are affordable – available on an hourly or live-in basis – and some third party payers provide reimbursement for WCAH’s services. NEW!! WCAH Van Service, transporting Home Health Aides to your door. Call or click online for details.
914.997.7912 24 hours / 7 days
360 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains WestchesterCareAtHome.org A New York State-Licensed Home Health Care Agency An Affiliate of Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester CHAP Accredited
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Westchester Community College have announced a new affiliation for students attending the college’s Registered Nurse program. In the fall of 2011, nursing students from Westchester Community College began a clinical rotation at Burke in order to learn the skills necessary for their career as a registered nurse. Burke offers experience in the acute rehabilitation setting. Nursing administrators and educators at Burke have coordinated with the chair and faculty at WCC’s nursing curriculum to design a program that will be an outstanding partnership between the two facilities. This will merge the highly competitive and successful nursing program at WCC with the exceptional health care services that Burke offers. According to Pauline Jones, RN, FNP, CRRN, the assistant director of nursing education at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, “The new joint venture will allow WCC students to gain valuable practical knowledge about rehabilitation nursing while working directly with Burke clinical staff.” The plan is to bring the first semester students into the hospital in order to build beginning nursing skills in all areas. In addition, in spring of 2012, it is proposed that the fourth semester students will be involved in a capstone project. This project will enable the senior student to work directly with and be mentored by a staff nurse at Burke. The project will encourage students who are interested in rehabilitation nursing to specialize in this field. It is anticipated that this initial affiliation of the Westchester Community College nursing curriculum and Burke Rehabilitation
The new class of nursing students from Westchester Community College receives a medical equipment demonstration from Burke Rehabilitation Hospital Instructor Rosanne Cardi, R.N.
Hospital will continue to grow and expand. This relationship will afford nursing students at the college an excellent practical experience during their education and Burke will have the opportunity to work directly with nursing students that are interested in the field of acute rehabilitation nursing. For additional information about Westchester Community College’s Nursing Program, call 606-6600. For more information about any of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s in-patient, out-patient or education programs, call 597-2500.
Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 19A
NEWS NOTES
Conference to focus on children The ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education will present Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine Update, a oneday medical conference on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Noble Conference Center at Greenwich Hospital at 5 Perryridge Road. The half-day program will feature presentations by orthopedic, sports medicine and neurosurgery specialists on recent information regarding diagnosis and treatment for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries affecting children through adolescence. The conference is aimed at pro- ONS members, Drs. Frank Ennis, Frank Corvino and Paul Seth. fessionals in the medical arena: physicians, nurses, physician assistants, level of sports participation,” Dr. Ennis said. physical and occupational therapists, athletic “For pediatricians and other medical profestrainers and coaches. Greenwich Hospital As- sionals who treat children, it is important to sociation is accredited by the Accreditation understand the nature of the injuries that are Council for Continuing Medical Education to occurring, and which treatments offer the provide continuing education credit for physi- best chance for full recovery. This conference cians who attend. The conference is being of- brings together a unique group of medical spefered free of charge due to an anonymous gift. cialists who routinely diagnose and treat sports Lunch and program materials are included. To injuries in children. Their clinical observations register visit www.ONS-foundation.org and and experience make this conference an especlick the link “Conference Registration” or call cially valuable learning opportunity.” (203) 869-3131. The objectives of the conference include a Orthopedic surgeon Frank Ennis, M.D. is review of the normal function of the muscuthe conference program chairman. The con- loskeletal system in children, presentations on ference keynote address will be presented by the most effective nonoperative and operative Bob Bigelow, co-author of a book titled “Just management of conditions resulting from inLet the Kids Play,” and a former NBA first juries related to sports activities and the latest round draft choice. information on injury prevention strategies. “Today’s children have a unique set of For more information, visit ONS-foundaphysical challenges given the unprecedented tion.org.
Burk e Reha bil ita tion A Name Y ou Can Tr ust In-Patient Rehabilitation Programs •Stroke Recovery •Spinal Cord Injury •Brain Injury •Neurological
Is pleased to announce the followIng
Burke offers comprehensive in-patient acute rehabilitation programs providing three hours of therapy per day, unlike sub acute facilities that only provide one hour a day.
Breastfeeding for expectant parents A 2 hr class given by Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Beth Shulman, RN, IBCLC. Offered monthly, Wednesdays 7:00-9:00pm, 10/19, 11/16, 12/11. Pre-register by calling 914-478-7046 or email bpshulman@gmail.com. Class fee $60
Outpatient Services
drop-in Breastfeeding support group
•Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, 10-11:30am, beginning Oct 12th. $20/session
parenting group Workshops for mothers of newborns facilitated by Jennifer Altman, PhD and Lori Walsh, Psy.D. Tuesdays 10:30-12noon beginning Nov 8th. Pre-register by calling 914-960-2435. 6 week class fee $175.
White Plains
W
ED MAS IFR TE IN
BURKE R ON E RS
L ITA SP
TH E
All groups and classes are held at Pediatrics on Hudson, 615 Broadway, Hastings on Hudson
Telephone: 914-597-2200
ATION ILIT HO AB H
Taught by Jared Rosenberg, EMT-P, Paramedic Supervisor, Greenburgh Police Department. Thursday Oct 20th 9:30-11:30am or Tuesday, Oct 25th 7:00-9:00pm. Pre-register by calling 914-422-1190. $25/per person or $40/couple
•Driver Evaluation Program •Cardiac Rehab •Memory Evaluation
Burke offers convenient outpatient rehabilitation services throughout the area.
challenging child workshop facilitated Monday, October 24th • 7pm cpR for parents and caregivers
•Orthopedic •Joint Replacement •Caroid-Pulmonary •Amputee
Mamaroneck
Telephone: 914-597-2556
Purchase
Telephone: 914-597-2133
Bronx
Telephone: 718-515-2400
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York 10605 914-597-2478 (Screening/Admissions)
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Protein: Continued from page 14A
Friday, October 14, 2011
are you getting enough in your diet?
tein will be diverted from its usual functions and used to supply your body with energy and maintain blood sugar levels. Our bodies work hard to keep blood sugar levels steady, as sugar is the key nutrient for the brain and other cells. When available carbohydrate is low, we make sugar in part by converting protein. Sadly, although even the leanest of us has ample fat, we are unable to harness enough of it to keep our blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Physical activity, of course, changes things.
Those of us who are committed exercisers, perhaps running 30 miles a week, biking for hours or doing heavy duty lifting will need more protein than normally recommended. The majority of us who are exercising for fitness, though, do not. So if you’re walking for an hour several days a week or doing a light workout in the gym, there’s no need to heap more meat on your plate. In fact, even the committed exerciser probably gets enough protein without eating a bigger burger, several pieces of chicken, or a protein shake. That’s
because the more physically active you are the more you will probably eat. So where does this leave the active individual in terms of the new My Plate recommendations? Will a quarter plate of a protein food be enough? Let’s look at a few scenarios: • Scenario 1: Lisa wants to lose weight. • Scenario 2: Rob wants to build muscle. • Scenario 3: Mark (we haven’t met him before) is a teenager who wants to build muscle and lose fat. Here are plans for each of them:
Lisa’s plan Breakfast: 1 ½ cups Cheerios with 1 cup skim milk and 2 tablespoons raisins Snack: 6 ounces fat free Greek yogurt with vanilla extract Lunch: Salad with 3 ounces grilled chicken and 2 tablespoons salad dressing Snack: Shake made with 1 cup skim milk and ¾ cup fresh or frozen strawberries Dinner: 3 ounces salmon, baked potato with 2 teaspoons margarine, 1 cup broccoli Snack: 1 cup cantaloupe This plan will allow Lisa to lose weight. While adhering to My Plate guidelines, she is still getting almost twice the recommended amount of protein. She is getting the best of both worlds — more than enough protein to meet her needs with plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables help her stay satisfied and provide good nutrition. Dairy foods are important for Lisa to include, as they are excellent sources of protein, carbohydrate, calcium and vitamin D. Studies have linked dairy foods to weight loss. Those preferring soy, almond, or rice milk should make sure that they are supplemented with calcium and vitamin D.
Rob’s plan Breakfast: 1 cup cooked oatmeal with 2 tablespoons raisins and 10 walnuts, 1 cup skim milk Snack: 2 pieces string cheese, 10 crackers Lunch: Turkey sandwich on rye with lettuce, tomato and mustard, 2 ounces pretzels, apple Snack: ½ peanut butter sandwich, low fat chocolate milk Dinner: Chicken breast, 1 ½ cups brown rice, large salad with 2 tablespoons dressing, green beans Snack: 1 cup ice cream This menu gives Rob the calories he needs and almost twice as much protein he needs to build muscle. Again, he is able to accomplish this while adhering to My Plate recommendations. If he likes to work out in the morning, he should have a small, carbohydrate-based snack first. An English muffin, toast, fruit or yogurt are all good choices.
Mark’s plan Breakfast: 1 ½ cups Honey Nut Cheerios with 1 cup skim milk and 1 banana Snack: Homemade trail mix with 15 nuts, 1 cup shredded wheat and 4 dried apricots Lunch: Turkey sandwich on rye with lettuce, tomato and mustard, 2 ounces pretzels, apple Snack: Smoothie made with ¾ cup fresh or frozen fruit, ½ cup orange juice and ½ cup yogurt, 2 graham crackers Dinner: Hamburger (4 ounces) on bun, large salad with 2 tablespoons dressing, green beans Snack: 1 cup cantaloupe As a teenager, Mark needs more calories and protein than either Lisa or Rob. This plan provides the right amount of calories — enough to lose weight while holding onto his muscle — and more than enough protein. Dr. Karen Reznik Dolins is a professor in the graduate program of Nutrition and Physical Activity at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, and is the nutritionist for the Columbia University athletic teams. She helps athletes and active individuals of all ages at her office in Mamaroneck achieve their health and performance goals.
Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
NEWS NOTES
DDNCW introduces Dr. Minano, Zerona® DDNCW introduces Dr. Minano, Zerona Digestive Disease & Nutrition Center of Westchester (DDNCW) is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Cecilia Minano to the practice. Dr. Minano completed her internal medicine residency at New York University, followed by her gastroenterology fellowship at Yale University. During her medical training, she published several papers on Helicobacter pylori, portal hypertension and cirrhosis. Dr. Minano has special interests in women’s health, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, colon cancer screening and esophageal motility. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. “Dr. Minano will be a great asset to our practice,” Dr. Jack Rosemarin said. “Her specialties offer an added expertise which will help us serve our patients with the greatest aptitude possible. Dr. Minano speaks Spanish and that will help improve access to Spanishspeaking population, help them communicate directly with the physician without the need of a translator and also help protect their privacy better.” Digestive Disease & Nutrition Center of Westchester is a White Plains-based medical practice specializing in gastro-intestinal diseases. In addition, DDNCW offers a nutrition program that has helped patients and normal healthy people who are obese or consider themselves overweight or who simply want the good feeling of looking better. Toward that goal, the center recently was the first in Westchester County to add FDA-approved Zerona, the state-of-the-art, noninvasive, painless, cold laser that contours the body. During clinical trials, Zerona has been sci-
entifically proven to result in an average of 3.6 inches lost from patients’ waists, hips and thighs. Unlike invasive weight loss surgery, Zerona is a revolutionary method that is applied externally without the dangers associated with surgery or other noninvasive devices which rely on heating the tissue. The new technology has been proven to reduce inches from target areas such as the tummy, back, hips, thighs, buttocks, chin, neck and arms; contour and reshape the body; and tighten and tone loose skin. The introduction of Zerona to the practice will provide those seeking a safe alternative to surgery with a body contouring program that causes no bruising, scarring or discomfort. The simple procedure consists of six 40-minute treatments over a two-week period. Zerona uses a patented and clinically proven low-level laser technology developed by Erchonia, the global leader in low-level laser health care applications. Zerona underwent rigorous clinical trials. The results were proven significantly effective through a double-blind, randomized, multisite and placebo-controlled study and it received FDA approval. The mission of Digestive Disease & Nutrition Center of Westchester is to provide the highest quality of care to its patients, in the best, serene and homey environment. The physicians and nurses are board certified and experienced; the staff is knowledgeable, skilled, compassionate and professional. For more information, call 683-1555 or visit www.stomachmds.com.
Chronic pain sufferers: A chance to improve your quality of life! Central Pain Medicine provides both medical and interventional treatments to manage your chronic/acute pain. Now offering hCG Weight Management in our practice. Call for an appointment: Ronald Discenza, MD, FACP
American Academy of Pain Management American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
Central Pain Medicine and Weight Management 2150 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers 914-771-9800
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 21A
Page 22A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
Whole body exam for skin cancer screening
Prevention Continued from page 17A
A person with a BMI between 25-29 is considered to be overweight. BMIs of 30 or more constitute obesity. (The National Institute of Health offers an online BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.)
Complete blood count and blood chemistry panel When: 18 and older Frequency: approximately once a year to once every three years Most physicians order a CBC and a blood chemistry panel as routine assessments at annual physicals. These tests also provide diagnostic information in patients with various symptoms. Additionally, the tests are useful for doctors to catch asymptomatic problems early. For example, these blood tests can pick up on diabetes or pre-diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, vitamin deficiencies and some infections. Vitamin D deficiencies are common and can be treated with supplements. The frequency of testing depends on patients’ results and subsequent symptoms.
When: 18 and older Frequency: once a year The expert eyes of a dermatologist should perform a whole body visual examination for the early detection of melanoma, basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer and precancerous lesions. Populations most at risk include fair-skinned men and women older than 65, patients with atypical moles, patients with more than 50 moles, patients with a family history of skin cancer and patients with a past history of sun exposure and burns. Suspicious skin lesions are identified by possibly malignant traits — asymmetry, border irregularities, color variability, a diameter greater than 6 mm and rapid changes in size or appearance. Biopsies of suspicious lesions are warranted.
Colorectal cancer screening When: ages 50-75; earlier if risk factors Frequency: every 5-10 years, depending on risk factors Colorectal cancer screening is accomplished by either a colonoscopy (performed in a hospi-
Friday, October 14, 2011
tal or outpatient clinic to examine the whole colon) or a sigmoidoscopy (performed in a primary care doctor’s office to examine only the lower portion of the colon). More than 80 percent of colorectal cancers arise from polyps, which can be viewed and removed for biopsy during the screening tests. Most polyps will not progress to cancer. However, 30-50 percent of Americans older than 50 will develop polyps, and between 1-10 percent of these polyps will develop into cancer within 5-10 years. Screening is the best way to detect colorectal cancers while they are early and treatable. Earlier screening is recommended for high-risk individuals including African-Americans, patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease and patients with multiple first-degree relatives or relatives who developed colorectal cancer at an early age.
Women Mammograms for breast cancer screening When: as early as age 35-74 Frequency: every year, if 50 or older; or every one or two years, if older than 40
Many doctors recommend a baseline mammogram starting at age 35 or 40, with follow-up mammograms every one to two years after that. If there is an underlying genetic mutation, a history of chest radiation or a significant family history, a more aggressive screening schedule might be recommended. Age is also a risk factor. There are two types of mammography — traditional film and digital imaging. For women under 50 or for women with dense breast tissue, discuss the benefits of digital mammography with your doctor. MRI imaging is another option for high-risk individuals.
Osteoporosis screening When: 65 and older for the general population; 60 and older for women with increased risk for fractures Frequency: every two years Osteoporosis can affect bone health in post-menopausal women. White women and thin women with a body weight less than 154 pounds are at greater risk for low bone mineral density. Noninvasive bone density tests are effective screening methods for this disease. continued on the next page
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Pap smear for cervical cancer screening When: 18 and older Frequency: every year until 65 (after 65, frequency can decrease provided there are three or more consecutive normal Paps and no abnormal or positive Paps within the last 10 years) Gynecologists should test all sexually active women under the age of 65 for cervical cancer or abnormal cells. Because some young women may not provide an accurate sexual history, gynecological protocol recommends testing women from age 18 onward. Increased risk factors for cervical cancer include a history of cervical neoplasia (a growth of abnormal cells on the cervix), HPV infection, a sexually transmitted disease and high-risk sexual behavior.
Folic acid supplements When: women of child-bearing age Frequency: ongoing Because folic acid supplements are beneficial to the health of an unborn baby and since 50 percent of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned, the U.S. Preventative Task Force recommends a daily supplement of .4-.8 mg of folic acid for all women planning a pregnancy or capable of becoming pregnant. Folic acid prevents neural tube defects, and should be taken at least one month before conception and two-three months into the pregnancy.
Men Prostate cancer screening When: ages 50-74 Frequency: depends on results and risk factors Prostate cancer screening can be conducted through a digital rectal exam or a PSA (prostatespecific antigen) blood test. Young, healthy men have low levels of PSA in their blood — usually less than 2.5. PSA increases as a man’s prostate enlarges with age and can normally be 4 or less. PSA also increases because of inflammation of the prostate gland or cancer. Temporary increases in PSA level can result from injury, ejaculation or a rectal exam. While the PSA test is not a precise indicator of cancer, it has been successful in alerting doctors to early stage cancers. Age, family history and an African-American background increase a patient’s risk for prostate cancer.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening When: smokers, ages 65-75 Frequency: once, unless abnormalities are discovered An ultrasound can detect an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The test is recommended for
To Your Health!
men, ages 65-75, who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. The screening is also recommended for men with a first-degree family history of the condition requiring surgical repair.
Vaccines Influenza vaccine When: all adults, but especially those over 50 or in high risk populations Frequency: every year, at the start of flu season in October Doctors previously recommended flu shots for older adults, pregnant women, children or people with chronic medical conditions, but now the vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. Given annually at the start of flu season in October, vaccine protects against common strains of influenza. Flu can be a serious illness, causing death in older patients and debilitating even young, healthy people for the duration of the illness.
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 23A
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Pneumococcal vaccine When: all adults, 65 or older, earlier with risk factors Frequency: one dose To protect against pneumonia, older adults should receive one dose of the pneumococcal vaccine. It is also appropriate for patients with chronic medical conditions including diabetes, asthma and compromised immune systems.
Zoster vaccine When: all adults, 60 or older, earlier with risk factors Frequency: one dose, with a possible booster after six years The Zoster vaccine is used to prevent shingles in adults older than 60, although it has been FDA approved for people as young as 50. Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox; however, shingles are more severe. Their discomfort and severity increase with age.
Tetanus booster When: all adults, as soon as last tetanus shot needs a booster Frequency: one booster every 10 years American children have been required to be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Therefore, most adults will have had an initial TDAP shot during childhood. To keep the tetanus vaccine effective, boosters are required every 10 years. *Check with your doctor about the possible need for the following immunizations, in case you missed them as a child or if you cannot find evidence that you were immunized: TDAP, HPV (for women 26 or younger), Varicella (chicken pox), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Hepatitis-A, Hepatitis-B and Meningococcal.
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Page 24A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
Friday, October 14, 2011
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Elaine Jacobson’s background in dance, exercise, yoga, anatomy and Pilates has helped shape her teaching style into unique fitness classes. Jacobson holds a master’s degree in dance education from N.Y.U., has certification in Pilates and Senior Fitness, and has been teaching in the Rivertowns area for over 20 years. She offers Pilates Mat, Dance Exercise, and Stretch & Tone classes. The Pilates class focuses on strengthening the body’s core — the muscles of the abdomen, buttocks, lower and upper back — through a series of controlled movements performed with fluidity and breath. This class includes stretching as well, resulting in long, limber, toned and balanced muscles. Stretch & Tone is geared to those looking for a gentler approach to improving joint flexibility, muscle tone, alignment and balance. Dance Exercise combines the best of various dance styles — Latin, Broadway jazz, swing, country — into a fun nonimpact aerobic workout, with great music. Classes are held in Dobbs Ferry and Ardsley. A complimentary first class is offered. Call 720-5037.
Warrior Rising: women find strength, support Warrior Rising is pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive four-week program designed to help women find their strength — physically, mentally and in community. Beginning Oct. 4, Warrior Rising started offering two back-to-back four-week sessions that bring all the elements of a personal training session and a yoga class together in one complete practice. Through small group classes that incorporate reflection and connection in addition to strengthening and stretching, Warrior Rising serves women of all ages from the Rivertowns and beyond. Warrior Rising meets twice a week at The Purple Crayon Center in Hastings-on-Hudson. Each class begins with 40 minutes of interval strength training led by personal trainer Anne Marie Costanzo and ends with 40 minutes of yoga practice led by Kripalu yoga instructor Sarah Rubin. This is the only program in Westchester offering both “the yang and the yin” of fitness and yoga together. Woven through the program are opportunities for participants to reflect on their own relationship to fitness, body image, eating habits, creating time for themselves, overcoming mental blocks to making healthy choices and similar themes. These opportunities come in moments of reflection during class, in short “check-in” conversations and online, through the Warrior Rising blog.
A commitment of one month is required so that participants are held — and can hold themselves — accountable. “One of the biggest benefits we’ve seen is the support that our clients end up giving each other,” Rubin said. Classes are kept small so that Costanzo and Rubin can provide individualized attention and guidance to women of all levels of experience. For more information about Warrior Rising, contact either Rubin or Costanzo atinfo@warriorrising.com.
Trainer Z’s Dynamic workout reopened Zor, aka Trainer Z “The Fitness Motivator,” has reopened his group workout class studio on Cedar Street in Dobbs Ferry, where he once again offers and personally conducts his self-created, dynamically styled group workout classes. After closing up his fitness studio almost two years ago to pursue some out-of-state ventures, Trainer Z is highly excited for the opportunity to come around full circle and once again be able to offer his fitness services and help those in the Rivertowns areas to not only achieve their fitness goals but to also improve their quality of life. Despite his temporary absence, there are many people who have been eagerly waiting the opportunity to experience Trainer Z’s group workout classes once again or for the very first time. “My classes are conducted a lot differently from the way most instructors conduct workout classes because I stand along the sidelines and motivate the participants while they’re performing the exercises,” Trainer Z said. “I interact with each person like it’s a personal training session even though they’re part of a group.” The classes are also unique because the workout routines and exercises are based on a countdown timing method rather than the usual method of counting/performing a certain number of repetitions. This countdown time factoring becomes each class participant’s window of opportunity in which to perform at one’s own pace or level of conditioning. Your window of opportunity allows for you to get out of each class routine what you can or what you want. When all is said and done, each class participant comes away having had the ideal workout for themselves. Group workout classes created and personally conducted by Trainer Z: Awesome Abs & Legs, Boot Camp Blitz, Boot Camp Kick, KO Kick-BO, Strength-N-Motion, and Strength-NStretch. Are you ready to work it out? If you are interested in joining Trainer Z’s Dynamic Group Workout Classes, or if you would like to attend a workout class orientation, visit www.GroupWorkoutClasses.com or call 1-888-848-6623 Ext. 620.
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To Your Health!
Heads up, lice out: facts about head lice, treatment By DALE LONGWORTH
Outbreaks of head lice have become part of our society and part of raising children today. It is highly contagious and can be difficult at times to prevent, but if every parent takes the responsibility to check their child’s head and screen the entire family often, these human parasites can be detected early and managed with little difficulty. School is now in session and you have discovered that your child has head lice. Well, there is no need to worry anymore. There are professional lice technicians that can come to the rescue. Lice are on the move and on the rise worldwide due to the development of “super lice,” which is resistant to the over-thecounter pesticides. Head lice are small wingless parasitic insects about the size of a sesame seed. They can move around and crawl very quickly looking for the warmth of the scalp. However it is not true that they jump or fly. Diagnosis is often made on the basis of finding lice eggs, which are tiny, grayish white, tan, or brown ovals that are glued very tightly to the side of a hair on an angle. These eggs cannot be washed off or be blown away. It takes some effort to remove them from the hair shaft and when removed by hand, they can turn brown on your finger. Eggs today may be found throughout the hair, but often are seen at the crown, cap, nape of the neck and near the ears. Another sign that a child has lice is constant scratching and complaints of an itchy scalp. However, not everyone will necessarily itch. Red dot bite marks or scratch marks can sometimes be seen on the scalp, behind the ears and on the back of the neck. An important fact to remember is that the eggs are not contagious; it is the lice bug that is contagious because it travels from head to head. The best treatment for head lice is using a natural, nontoxic enzyme shampoo, which kills the bugs on contact and loosens the cement glue that the eggs are attached to on the hair shaft. The essential tool after using a natural shampoo is the manual combing with a metal lice comb using a thick conditioner and baking soda to make the hair gritty and coarse in order to pull out all the persistent bug and egg activity that could be scattered around the whole head. It is extremely important that after you treat with a natural lice shampoo, you continue to comb the infected child or children every other day for 8-14 days, making sure every egg is removed in order to break
the lice cycle. Then when the person is free of lice, it is recommended that a comb out with the same thick conditioner and baking soda be done once a week as a preventive measure. Additionally, make sure the floors and furniture are vacuumed and bedding, blankets, comforters, stuffed animals, coats, hats, backpacks be put in a hot dryer for 20-30 minutes. You can also wash items in hot water before drying. Mega-cleaning is not necessary. Expensive sprays, especially the pesticides, are not necessary. The lice bug needs a host and they don’t live for more than 24-36 hours, after they have left a head. Another fact is they don’t live on pets. Remember the head that has the lice is the most important thing, not the house. Be proactive and use preventive sprays, oils, gels and hair sprays to deter the lice from traveling to someone’s head. Lice love clean hair. Make sure your child knows not to share brushes, combs, hats, headphones, bike and baseball helmets. Also teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact and teach them to communicate to you or a school nurse, if there are any signs of itching. Although lice are not a health risk, it can be a nuisance and somewhat time-consuming, but it is best to try to make it a nonstressful matter for you and your family during the treatment cycle. Dale Longworth, the Lice Expert of Dobbs Ferry/Westchester is a professional natural lice and nit removal technician. She has treated thousands of clients since 1997 and is highly recommended by pediatricians, doctors and school nurses throughout Westchester County. Call 424-1367, email dlong2758@aol.com or visit www.liceoffinc.com.
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cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 25A
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But, only one doctor takes your pet through life...a veterinarian. The veterinarians at Central Animal Hospital perform the skills of the different doctors in preventing, diagnosing, and treating animal health problems. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare for your pet’s entire life. Stop by to meet us and tour our hospital and boarding facilities. Our hours, by appointment are: Monday - Friday 8am-7pm Saturday 8am-3pm Sunday 9am-11am (for emergencies)
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Page 26A ThE Rivertowns enterprise c To Your Health!
Beauty: Continued from page 1A
ticle that’s sticking up so it doesn’t tear, gnawing and picking are no-nos: “You can get infections in the cuts that can permanently affect how your nail grows.� Treatments at the nail salon may make nails look strong and healthy, but hazards may lurk at salons that don’t properly sterilize their instruments. Palmer suggests bringing your own instruments to the salon if you’re not absolutely sure how the salon handles theirs. And, adds Palmer, don’t overlook the hygiene of your own tools: keep them clean at home by boiling them
Friday, October 14, 2011
Healthier body: healthier hair and nails in water for 20 minutes. If your manicures consist mostly of cuticle care, nail shaping and polishing, hazards are minimal as long as everything that’s used is clean. If, however, you choose to get acrylic nails, extensions, UV gel nails — any treatment that essentially involves sticking a new nail onto your natural nail — be aware that the condition of your own nails may weaken over time. If acrylics, gels, wraps or extensions loosen up or get pulled off, they can take the top layer of your natural nail along with them. And if the material on the nails loosens up, it needs to be
removed to prevent infection. “Once water gets under long extensions, that’s when fungus grows,� said Charles Anthony, owner of Salon Perri in Pound Ridge. He notes that there are now shellac-type nail polishes that dry to a hard finish under ultraviolet light, and these treatments should be gentler to nails than the old gels or wraps. But when it’s time to remove UV polish, it should be soaked off for enough time to let the polish push easily off the nail. This can take a half hour or more, depending on how many coats of polish were used. Rushing it can result in a layer of your own nail being removed as well,
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since it’s hard for the operator to tell where the polish ends and your natural nail begins. “Don’t let them push it off with a metal pusher,� Anthony said. Any of the removal techniques associated with the old-style acrylics, wraps or gels, such as filing the surface of the nail, pushing with hard tools, or lifting off the polish in one piece, can all result in natural nail thinning. Hair health how-tos
“Your scalp has 100,000 hair follicles,� said Palmer, adding that “a human hair can be stretched up to 30 percent of its length when wet.� Hair really is an amazing substance. It’s strong, but, like the nails, hair can be sensitive to what is going on inside the body. Hair has a growing period, or “anagen� phase, of about five years. At any given time, about 90 percent of the hairs on the head are in this phase. Then they fall out and enter the resting, or “telogen,� phase, which lasts a few months. Obviously, not all the hairs are in the anagen or telogen phase at the same time, or we would have periods of extreme hairiness followed by periods of extreme baldness. Male pattern baldness caused by normal aging is not a cause for concern, at least from a medical standpoint. The progress of this type of baldness can sometimes be slowed down by using a product such as Rogaine, but once a person stops using it, the inevitable march toward baldness resumes. Occasionally, however, health problems, such as malnutrition, some diseases, or a drop in normal hormone levels, can interrupt the normal cycle of hair growth and resting. This is a condition called “stress alopecia� — a few months after some health-related stressor affects the follicles, hair starts to fall out. That’s why pregnant women often see a spike in hair growth during pregnancy, when hormone levels are high, followed by a greater than normal amount of hair loss a few months after the levels drop. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss as well. The good news is that when health problems, hormone fluctuations or chemotherapy stop, the hair growth rhythm generally returns to normal because the follicles themselves are still in good condition. “Traction alopecia� is another story. This occurs when the hair is pulled so tightly, from wearing tight braids, extensions or a ponytail, that the hair falls out, something that is especially noticeable around the temples. If the hair is continually being pulled for a long period of time, the follicles can become damaged and the hair loss may be permanent. A third kind of abnormal hair loss is called “alopecia areata,� in which hair falls out in coinshaped patches. This condition is thought to be an autoimmune reaction, but it usually reverses itself because the hair follicles themselves can survive through this type of hair loss. “There’s no magic diet to grow hair, but if
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To Your Health! A special section of
The Rivertowns Enterprise 95 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (914) 478-2787 www.rivertownsenterprise.net PUBLISHER..................................... Deborah G. White
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Friday, October 14, 2011
To Your Health!
continued from previous page
you have poor nutrition your body suffers,” said Palmer. “It’s recommended to eat a well-balanced diet daily, with foods from all five of the food groups.” Palmer added that “if you have a poor amount of protein in your body, you won’t grow hair as well.” If you’re not sure you are getting all the nutrients you need for healthy hair, a good multivitamin may help. But there’s no dietary supplement that has been proven to grow hair faster or more lushly, although there are plenty of products out there that make such claims. Of course, what may seem to be slow hair growth may actually be hair breakage at the ends, making it appear that hair is not growing at the typical rate of a half inch every month. If you’ve taken care of all the health issues that can be affecting your hair from the inside, it’s time to look at what damage you may be doing to the hair that’s already on your head. The three major ways to damage existing hair are thermal, chemical and mechanical. Mechanical damage is, simply put, rough treatment that breaks the hair shaft. “Hair is more prone to breaking when wet,” Palmer said. That’s why she recommends not going to bed with wet hair; the friction against the pillow can cause breakage. Other potential hair breakers: rubber bands, ponytail holders with metal, barrettes with mechanisms that can catch the hair. It’s easy to damage the hair’s cuticle, the coating of microscopic scales that makes up the covering of each hair. Chemical damage can occur when hair is overprocessed by coloring or straightening. Some forms of straightening, and all permanent hair coloring, work by applying harsh chemicals that open the cuticle to deposit product within the hair shaft. Permanent coloring products also lift the natural pigment from the hair in the process of depositing color. Once the hair’s cuticle has been opened by chemicals, it’s never as strong again.
cThE Rivertowns enterprise Page 27A “If you get color, get it applied by a trained colorist who won’t overlap color onto color-treated hair,” said salon owner Anthony. “Overlapping the color can cause it to be too processed. A trained eye is needed to see if there is something happening to your hair. We can recommend good products to help externally.” Julius Michael, owner of Julius Michael Scarsdale, recommends using use a low-ammonia color. “Too much ammonia and peroxide are damaging to hair,” he said. Instead, he recommends a semi-permanent color because it “washes off the hair. I try to get all my clients to use it. There’s no oxidation or brassiness.” For the most part, semi-permanent color is gentler because it deposits the color on the outside of the hair rather than opening up the cuticle of the hair to deposit color inside. People who need to touch up new growth, since thes color washes out after a few weeks, probably need to return to the salon in about a month anyway. This kind of color causes less damage and brassiness because it just coats the hair instead of lifting the natural color. Thermal damage can come from misuse or overuse of straightening or curling tools. “People come in with hair fried from irons,” Michael added. “They use the wrong heat setting and do it in slow motion.” The right way to flat iron? Keep the iron moving quickly through the hair. Stylists recommend using a protective product made specifically for heat styling before using a flat iron or a curling iron. Moroccan-style hair oil products are great for adding a bit of gloss to hair that has already been heat-styled, but they should not be used before ironing hair, since the oil, combined with extreme heat, can “fry” the hair. While there are at-home chemical straightening kits available, Michael doesn’t recommend doing any straightening at home: “The first time you do it, it might look good, but the second time it overlaps, and that’s when the damage is done.”
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YOU’RE INVITED The Crowne Plaza 12:30 - 5:00 pmHotel OnePATIENT of the nation’s top infertility programs PATIENT White Plains, NY FERTILITY The Crowne Plaza Hotel Sunday, November 6, 2011 YOU’RE INVITED Registration: White Plains, NY FERTILITY 12:30 - 5:00 pm EDUCATION PATIENT www.columbiafertility.org Registration: The Crowne Plaza Hotel EDUCATION CONFERENCE NO CHARGE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS www.columbiafertility.org White Plains, NY FERTILITY CONFERENCE NO CHARGE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS Registration: EDUCATION COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Call us: 646-756-8294 www.columbiafertility.org EDICAL C OLUMBIA UENTER NIVERSITY CM CONFERENCE www.columbiafertility.org Call us: 646-756-8294 NO CHARGE FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS MEDICAL CENTER www.columbiafertility.org COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Call us: 646-756-8294 MEDICAL CENTER www.columbiafertility.org 12:30 - 5:00 6, pm2011 Sunday, November
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Friday, October 14, 2011
You already know we offer Pilates... But Pilates & More has a LOT MORE to offer this fall! Massage
We offer three different massage techniques to suite anyone’s needs! Asian Acupressure • Swedish Massage • Thai Yoga Bodywork
Stretch & Strengthen
A mixture of Pilates and physical therapy that is perfect for those with injuries or chronic pain, as well as anyone interested in improving the precision of their Pilates technique!
Aerobic Exercises
Walking Working - Our new heart-pumping indoor walking fitness class! Get a full cardio workout without the threat of injury! Zumba - A high energy dance fitness class that will really make you sweat! The combination of easy to follow dance steps and great music make these classes fun and exhilarating! We still have our Ballroom Dance classes on Friday nights! Contact us for details!
129 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
914-478-3560 www.pilatesandmorestudio.com • pilatesandmore@gmail.com Now accepting Visa, MasterCard and Discover!
Look for us on FaceBook!