2
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
POWER COUPLE
Local surgeons share wedding rings and scalpels By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
ith the nation experiencing an acute shortage of general surgeons, it’s a good thing Ryan Cowley loved coming to Lake Martin as a youngster growing up in Birmingham. Cowley eventually became Dr. Cowley, general surgeon, who married another general surgeon, Dr. Matthew Knight. Then they moved to Lake Martin and became a husband-and-wife team practicing at Russell Medical in Alexander City. They were in private practice in Jasper and not doing well — “We working hard trying to keep our heads above water and didn’t have much to show for it,” Cowley said — when they learned Russell Medical was looking for general surgeons. “We like that size community and I grew up coming to the lake,” Cowley said. “I like the community and the people. When we saw the full-time general surgery position here, we felt like we could come and make a difference.” Russell Medical has three general surgeons on its staff, which is still below recommended levels. According to research cited by Reuters Health in 2018, it takes 7.5 general surgeons for every 100,000 people to provide acceptable access to surgical care — or one for every 13,333 people. Russell Medical is providing three for a combined estimated population of 51,435 in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties — or one for every 17,145. General surgeons have become increasingly rare with medicine becoming extremely specialized. “It’s true that general surgery is shifting a little bit,” Cowley said. “Ten or 20 years ago, (new doctors) didn’t have that experience with vascular and thoracic surgery and it’s become more specialized. (General surgeons) are hard to find now because a lot of people specialize right out of residency.” Cowley said she and Knight, who have worked at Russell Medical since June 1, 2018, operate on a variety of ailments. “We do a lot of gall-bladders and hernias, a lot of breast work (cancer), colons, appendixes, lumps and bumps, thyroids, ports for chemo access,” she said. Cowley said she and her husband
W
Submitted / Tallapoosa Publishers
Husband and wife general surgeons Dr. Ryan Cowley, left, and Dr. Matthew Knight work at Russell Medical.
seek to treat people as much as their problems. “The biggest thing for me is being able to interact with the patient and the family,” she said. “When they come back and they are happy with the care they got from everyone, it makes me feel like I’ve done a good job, like we’ve all done a good job. That’s why I keep doing what I do.” That close connection is something Russell Medical President and CEO Jim Peace values. “General surgery in any community is important but it is especially critical to an area like ours where people can feel confident they are receiving the best care available, from the best trained surgeons and someone with the best interest for their patient because they are their neighbor,” Peace said. “We are proud to welcome Dr. Knight and Cowley to our area and confident they enhance the overall healthcare of our community.” Cowley said the atmosphere of Lake Martin and Alex City is so attractive to her and her husband they don’t want to leave.
“I feel like the people here are so close-knit and care about the community,” Cowley said. “People love their community. It seems more apparent to me the people here want to make this place a great place to live. They care about the trajectory of where the town is going. We’ve made this our home and we want this to be our forever place.” Lake Martin gives Cowley room to indulge her personal interests when she and Knight are not working 12-hour shifts. “I like exercising, running, being outside,” she said. “We’ve got three dogs. We like kayaking and camping.” Cowley graduated from the University of South Alabama medical school in 2007 and did her residency at Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham. Knight graduated from the University of Texas-Houston medical school in 2006 and did his residency at USA, where he met Cowley. Russell Medical is fortunate to have Cowley and Knight, as the pool of general surgeons in the U.S. cannot keep pace with the population, the Reuters
Health study reported. By 2050, there will be a deficit of 7,047 general surgeons nationwide, researchers calculated, higher than the shortage of 6,000 they projected a decade ago. “Leaders in surgery have predicted a pending shortage in the general surgery workforce for more than 10 years,” lead study author Dr. E. Christopher Ellison of the Ohio State University College of Medicine was quoted by Reuters. “The impact of the general surgeon shortages on patients is measured in the timeliness of care and the consequences of delays in care.” Ellison said the shortage would be felt more seriously in rural areas because most general surgeons practice in larger cities. To assess the projected shortage, researchers assumed some young trainees will choose subspecialties such as vascular surgery or transplant surgery instead of general surgery. They also assumed general surgeons would choose to work for 30 years before retiring, according to the Reuters health report.
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Limited to the first 100 people • Only through January • Call to see if you meet the qualifications
3
4
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Athletic trainers play important role for area youngsters By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
N
ot every school around the state has an athletic trainer available on site for games, much less to work with studentathletes during the day and at practice. But that’s not the case for Benjamin Russell and Horseshoe Bend, which are both served by athletic trainers employed by Russell Medical. “I think it’s important to be the neutral ground — somebody that truly has the best interest of the athlete in mind,” said Deborah Arnold, who has been the athletic trainer at BRHS for almost 15 years. “We’re not looking at wins and losses; we’re looking at, ‘This is my child,’ and the fear and emotions there. We can really, No. 1, help connect athletes with the care they need to receive in an efficient and timely manner. “We can also help their athletic experience be smoother by doing the little stuff, and when an injury happens, we’re really the person that pulls everything together, so the parents, coaches and the student-athlete know what’s going on and what the plan is.” Arnold, who attended Illinois State University, works alongside Marty McCann, who serves Horseshoe Bend. Both Arnold and McCann said they were involved in sports growing up — Arnold was a competitive swimmer, while McCann played football and soccer and ran track — and it was the relationships that drew them to athletic training. “I actually went to school to be an engineer,” said McCann, who attended Anderson University in Indiana. “One thing when I had to make a decision to
Lizi Arbogast / Tallapoosa Publishers
Benjamin Russell athletic trainer Deborah Arnold, left, helps out a softball player during a game last season.
be an engineer or be an athletic trainer, I thought about how I would either be working with people or working in an office. The relationships and how close you can become with the kids at the high school and other settings, those are very valuable.” Throughout the course of a sports season, athletic trainers can show their importance. But Arnold said it starts at the very beginning. “The first one is to take care of their bodies,” she said. “Eating with proper nutrition and hydrating are two of the best ways to prevent injuries or to recover well if you’ve had an injury. That’s what keeps the body running. You can’t run a car without gas, so that’s where it starts.” After that, it’s about maintaining good stamina and recognizing warning signs. Because high school athletes can be incredibly competitive and want to
do everything they can to help their team win, they sometimes aren’t always the first to admit when they need help. “The next tip would be to recognize that when you’re pushing your body to peak performance,” Arnold said, “there are going to be aches and pains and bumps and bruises, and taking care of those early before they turn into something more serious is the best way to prevent small injuries from becoming long-term problems.” McCann had to make a big change this year, as he was transferred to Horseshoe Bend just one week before the football season started. But he said even though the people may be different, the task at hand remains the same. “It really helps that I was here three years ago, so I know most of the coaches still,” he said. “Some of the kids remember me, so that helped the
transition a little bit. It’s just different. Horseshoe Bend is different than Benjamin Russell, and not in a bad way or a good way. It’s just different lifestyles, different work ethics, so I’ve just had to adapt to those changes.” Being a reliable athletic trainer, especially at the high school level where kids are not only competing for their teams but also for the attention of colleges, just takes time, according to Arnold. “(Building those relationships) is absolutely critical,” Arnold said. “Probably the most important thing of what we do is developing those relationships so that they know that we do actually have their best interests in mind. That allows us to care for them in the best possible way, and that means coaches listen and trust our judgement because not everything is black and white.”
Orthodontics, TMJ (Jaw Disorders) Oral Appliances for CPAP Intolerant Patients Bring this coupon in for a FREE Exam 163 Alabama Street|Alexander City, AL 35010
Harrell Orthodontic Specialist William E. Harrell, Jr., DMD, C.DSM 256.234.6353|www.drharrell.com
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
HEALTH NUMBERS FOR TALLAPOOSA COUNTY * from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington:
FEMALE Tallapoosa Life Expectancy
78.0
Alabama 78.3
National 81.5
Following numbers are per 100,000 Heart Disease
164.9
157.8
124.9
Stroke
57.4
59.8
47.4
Lung Cancer
50.6
52.5
43.8
Breast Cancer
30.6
30.2
25.9
Melanoma
2.0
2.1
1.9
Diabetes
70.0
64.3
49.6
Mental and Substance Disorders Mortality
5.5
10.1
8.2
Cirrhosis Mortality
14.4
15.3
11.8
Smoking
24.7
21.0
17.9
Obesity
45.2
42.0
36.1
MALE Tallapoosa Life Expectancy
72.1
Alabama 72.9
National 76.7
+( 0(8 :($3 ,4 +(3( 41 8+: 015 /$-( ( $ 3(41.65,10 5+$5 *,7(4 :16 $0' :1633 .17(' 10(4 2($&( 1) /,0' #( $.. -018 5+$5 +($.5+: +($354 .,7( .10*(3 /13( $&5,7( .,7(4 +$5 45$354 8,5+ $ &1/23(+(04,7( &$3',$& &+(&-62 (%36$3: ,4 /(3,&$0 ($35 105+ 4(37,0* $4 $0 $006$. 3(/,0'(3 1) 5+( Æ“JKW DJDLQVW FDUGLRYDVFXODU GLVHDVH (7,0 6%.(55 $0' +,4 45$)) $5 5+( ! ($35 "$4&6.$3 .,0,& 1) (053$. .$%$/$ $3( 2316' 4622135(34 1) 5+,4 Æ“JKW :H DUH FRPPLWWHG WR NHHSLQJ :163 +($35 +($.5+: 41 :16 &$0 .,7( $ +($.5+,(3 .,)( $.. :($3 .10* 63 &.,0,& ,4 %$&-(' %: 5+( 813.' &.$44 (92(35,4( :16 (92(&5 )31/ ! (',&,0( 1))(3,0*
Following numbers are per 100,000 Heart Disease
243.2
233.7
191.5
Stroke
57.3
64.0
48.8
Lung Cancer
101.6
101.0
67.6
Breast Cancer
0.4
0.4
0.3
Melanoma
5.1
5.2
4.5
Diabetes
89.5
78.8
63.8
Mental and Substance Disorders Mortality
; +( )6.. 42(&536/ 1) &$3',17$4&6.$3 &$3( ; &DUH IURP D SK\VLFLDQ ERDUG FHUWLÆ“HG LQ LQWHUYHQWLRQDO &$3',1.1*: ; +( .$5(45 ,0 &$3',$& $0' 7$4&6.$3 6.53$4160' 5(&+01.1*: $4 8(.. $4 06&.($3 /(',&,0( ,/$*,0* ,0 $&&3(',5(' .$%13$513,(4 ; ,$*014,4 $0' 53($5/(05 1) &$3',$& 3+:5+/ ',413'(34 ; 107(0,(05 .1&$5,10 8,5+,0 644(.. (',&$. $.. 64 51'$: 51 4&+('6.( $0 $221,05/(05
14.6
18.9
18.7
Cirrhosis Mortality
28.8
29.0
22.2
Smoking
29.1
26.8
22.2
Obesity
37.5
37.3
33.8
,*+8$: 6,5(
.(9$0'( ' 3 ,5:
6$%/(',&,0 ,0( 13* +($35&(053$.
5
6
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Ivy Creek offers multiple services for patients, caregivers By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
R
esidents of Dadeville and Wetumpka who may be suffering from sleep issues or are caring for a loved one can turn to Ivy Creek facilities to get the help they need or get a break from caring for a family member. Patients dealing with issues such as sleep apnea or snoring can visit one of the sleep labs offered at both Elmore Community Hospital in Wetumpka and Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville and receive a diagnosis to obtain the treatment they need. “We have been offering sleep lab services for two years now,” Ivy Creek’s Amanda Hannon said. “We have two rooms in Wetumpka and can handle up to 10 patients a week. We have the same setup in Dadeville.” Hannon said the Wetumpka sleep lab offers the same services with the same technicians patients would receive in Montgomery, while the sleep lab in Dadeville works with the same technicians patients work with in Auburn. Each room in the sleep lab is set up in a similar manner to a hotel room with a large bed and television. Once a patient is in the room, he or she is connected to a number of sensors monitored by a technician in a separate room. Hospice care is another big service Ivy Creek provides for patients. Although the care has undergone a rebranding in recent years, Hannon said the staff and the quality of service remain the same. While many may think of hospice as being “end-of-life” care, Ashley Benton with Ivy Creek said that is somewhat of a misconception. “It’s more than just end of life,” Benton said. Hannon added, “We have actually seen multiple patients who have lived longer with hospice care than they might have without it.” Additionally, Hannon and Benton said the hospice care offered by Ivy Creek is for more than patients in Elmore and Tallapoosa counties; it is also available in Coosa, Chambers, Clay, Lee and Macon counties. One of the newer services Ivy Creek offers to clients is the Ivy Creek Respite Resort. Designed as a short-term relief program for primary caregivers, it allows caregivers to take a break from providing care to their loved ones. “We started it around six months ago at both of our facilities,” Benton said. “However, we had been wanting to do this for a long time.” As the respite resort, those receiving care stay in a private hospital room, where they have access to a 24-hour nursing staff who can assist with medication and other basic needs. Meals are provided for all patients with special diets available for those who may have certain nutritional needs or restrictions, Benton said. Hannon said the average stay at the respite resort has been five to seven days but arrangements can be made for an overnight stay. Benton added patients at the respite resort are allowed to bring items from home to make their stay more comfortable. Hannon said around six patients and their caregivers had taken advantage of the new respite resort at the Elmore Community Hospital, while Benton said roughly the same number had used the service at Lake Martin Community Hospital. While there are a limited number of beds available for the respite resort, Hannon said patients are welcome to use this program as long as there is an inpatient bed available at the hospital. “It’s been a huge word-of-mouth thing,” Benton said. Hannon said, “The immediate reaction we hear is relief. The caregivers feel confident their loved one will be taken care of while the family gets a break.” For more information about the Ivy Creek Respite Resort, Elmore Community Hospital can be reached at 334-514-3688, while Lake Martin Community Hospital can be contacted at 256-825-3201.
Donald Campbell / Tallapoosa Publishers
“We have been offering sleep lab services for two years now. We have two rooms in Wetumpka and can handle up to 10 patients a week.” — Amanda Hannon
Above: The Ivy Creek Respite Resort at Elmore Community Hospital provides patients with a private room, access to a 24-hour nursing staff and assistance with everyday tasks. The resort at Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville is set up in the same way. Below: Ivy Creek’s sleep lab gives patients a comfortable setting to have the study conducted in. Set up like a hotel room, the lab has a large bed and a television for patients.
JANUARY 24, 2019
Poor diet among causes of local health issues By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. This includes eating right and exercising, among other things. Despite this, health issues abound. Throughout the Southeast, concerns such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart issues are highly prevalent. What causes these issues and what can be done to try and combat the problem? Nationally, nearly one out of every three deaths occurring each year is caused by heart disease and stroke. Of these, it has been estimated 200,000 deaths were preventable. In the most recent report from the Alabama Department of Public Health, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the state, with 12,824 deaths in 2016. Diabetes was the cause of 1,181 deaths and another 560 were the result of hypertension. “Heart issues are a big concern for us,� said Ashley Benton with Ivy Creek Health, which operates the Elmore Community Hospital in Wetumpka and Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville. “It’s hard to say what we see more.� Although she is unsure which one is seen most at Ivy Creek facilities, and while all four may manifest themselves in different ways, Benton said there are a few factors they all share.
7
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Benton said diet plays a significant role in health issues seen throughout the area. Fried foods and plentiful home-cooked meals are a virtual staple of the South, and the comfort these foods bring is not always easy to give up. “The foods we eat, it can sometimes be hard to get away from them,� Benton said. Economic status can also play a role in health issues, Benton said. She said there is a misconception healthier foods are often more expensive than alternatives not as nutritious to the human body. While finding ways to overcome these issues and return to a healthier lifestyle may be a difficult task, it is not impossible. Benton said Ivy Creek offers a number of educational services designed to help patients lead healthier lives. These include customizing a diet plan to show how easy it can be to eat healthier and not have to spend a great deal of money to do so. Ivy Creek also offers echocardiograms, stroke prevention tests and carotid artery ultrasounds to patients with heart issues to help detect and prevent these concerns from becoming larger or deadlier. Even though there may be a number of obstacles to overcome when looking for ways to eat healthier and maintain a better lifestyle, it can be done with work and determination.
Get more feedback from buyers when you advertise in the Classifieds. In Print & Online
CALL CLASSIFIEDS TODAY (256 ) 277-4219
This New Year take of .
Kick Start Your Resolution
CALL OUR WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC TODAY! New Patient Appointments Guaranteed In 2 Business Days!
OPTIMUM CARE . . .
FOR THE WHOLE PERSON! Specialized in Prevention & Diagnosis of: • High Blood Pressure Dr. Dimo Popov • Kidney Disease M.D. Board CertiďŹ ed • Diabetes Internal Medicine & • Acute & Chronic Medical Conditions Nephrology
Alex City Internal Medicine And Weight Loss Center 3368 Hwy. 280, Suite 220 • Alexander City, AL 35010
256•409•1500
8
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
JANUARY 24, 2019
JUST Report shows the high cost of smoking cigarettes STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
For many, keeping their New Year’s resolutions includes putting down the cigarettes, which will save lives and lots of money. Not only is cigarette smoking unhealthy, it is also expensive. According to a report by the personal finance website WalletHub, the economic and societal costs of smoking total more than $300 billion a year and continue to rise. To encourage the estimated 37.8 million tobacco users in the U.S. to kick the habit, WalletHub calculated the potential monetary losses, including the lifetime and annual costs of a cigarette pack per day, healthcare expenditures, income losses and other costs brought on by smoking and
exposure to second-hand smoke. For estimated calculations, the study assumed an adult who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day beginning at age 18, when a person can legally purchase tobacco products in the U.S. It also assumed a lifespan of 51 more years, taking into account 69 is the average age at which a smoker dies. The legal age to buy cigarettes in Alabama is 19. To determine per-person out-ofpocket costs over a lifetime, the study took the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in each state and multiplied that figure by the total number of days in 51 years. For costs per year, the average cost was multiplied by 365 days. For more information, go to https:// wallethub.com/edu/the-financial-costof-smoking-by-state/9520/
Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.
CALL US! 548 Cherokee Road • Alexander City, AL
256.234.4281 www.alexcityoutlook.com
THE FINANCIAL COST OF SMOKING IN ALABAMA • Out-of-pocket cost per smoker — $95,123 (Rank 10th) • Financial opportunity cost per smoker — $1,046,830 (10th) • Healthcare cost per smoker — $122,788 (sixth) • Income loss per smoker — $189,606 (fourth) • Other costs per smoker — $12,255 (29th) • Total cost over lifetime per smoker — $1,466,602 • Total cost per year per smoker — $28,757
JANUARY 24, 2019
9
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Russell Medical to offer heart screenings in February STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
During American Heart Month in February, Russell Medical is offering three important heart screenings to help assess changes in the heart, including calcium-score screening heart tests. The test involves a non-invasive CT scan which provides enhanced 3-D images of the heart to detect calcium deposits found in atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. These types of CT scans are the most sensitive approaches to early detection of coronary artery disease before symptoms develop. This screening tool takes just a few minutes to conduct. A copy of the test will be sent to one of the four cardiologists on staff at Russell Medical, in addition to the patient’s primary care
physician. The cost is $90. Another simple yet important test is the stroke prevention ultrasound screening for $75. This carotid artery ultrasound can spot the subtle thickening due to plaque on the artery walls that can lead to stroke. In addition, Russell Medical also offers a limited echocardiogram screening which uses ultrasound waves to generate 3-D moving images of the heart, the chambers and valves and assesses how well the heart muscle and valves are functioning. The cost for this screening is $125. To schedule and register for these screenings, please contact Russell Medical scheduling at 256-3297826. Please note these screening tests are not covered by insurance. Appointments are required and payment for the screenings must be made prior to the tests.
Bring more shoppers to your door with locally focused advertising from the experts.
Your Ad Here! 256.234.4281 • Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune
ONLY $20.00 TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP BUT HAS NEVER BEEN TO A CHIROPRACTOR BEFORE (Or Hasn’t Been in A Long Time) Dear Friend, If you’ve ever though about going to a chiropractor but you’ve hesitated because you weren’t sure it was right for you, please read on… My name is Dr. Andrew Kerley. We are celebrating our opening at 748 Commerce Drive in Alexander City, AL right next door to Alabama Power in the same building as Nationwide Insurance. I have agreed to “giveaway” to (anyone who asks for it) $240 of my services for only $20 – that’s right, $20. In the years since I became a Chiropractor, I’ve helped hundreds of people feel better and live healthier, more productive lives through chiropractic care. And now I’d like to introduce even more Tallapoosa County residents to the many bene¿ts our profession has to offer. For instance, chiropractic care may be able to help you if you’re suffering from any of the following conditions: • Migraine headaches • Lower back pain • Numbness or soreness in your arms or legs • Constant fatigue; lack of energy • Muscle spasms, sprains & strains And a whole host of other problems ranging from dizziness to ringing in the ear. These symptoms can be caused whenever the vertebrae in your spine are out of alignment because these “misalignments” directly affect your nervous system. Fortunately, if you are suffering from any of these problems or similar afÀiction right now, they can be relieved or eliminated by proper
chiropractic treatment (commonly called adjustment). So, if you’ve always wanted to “check out” chiropractic care and see what it can do for you, now is the best time to do so because… What does this offer include? Everything. Take a look at what you will receive… • An in-depth consultation about your health and well-being • A complete chiropractic spinal examination • A full set of specialized X-rays to determine if a misalignment in your spine is causing your pain or symptoms… (NOTE: nobody gives these kinds of X-rays away free; they would normally cost you at least $200). • An analysis of your X-rays and spinal exam results to see what needs to be done to help relieve your problem • Helpful literature that shows you how your body works and why you experience pain • Answers to all your most probing questions about chiropractic care and what it can do for you… The appointment will not take long at all. And like I said, I normally charge $240 for this (most of which just covers the full set of X-rays). But for now, as part of this special offer, you can come in and ¿nd out for certain if you need chiropractic care and how it might help you eliminate the pain you are feeling. Before you come in, though, you will probably want to know a little bit about me. So let me tell you…
Meet the Doctor
conclude that patients are more satis¿ed with chiropractic care than they were with physical therapy after six weeks.” Hertzman-Miller et al (2002) American Journal of Public Health Signi¿cant Improvement in Headache “Cervical spine manipulation was associated with signi¿cant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/ or neck dysfunction and headache.” Duke Evidence Report, McCrory, Penzlen, Hasselblad, Gray (2001)
I graduated from the prestigious Life University College of Chiropractic in 2016, where I received recognition for superior clinical pro¿ciency. I am certi¿ed by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. I have also had extensive training in chiropractic physiotherapy.
Does Chiropractic Really Work? Absolutely! Here are some ¿ndings from studies done by chiropractic and medical researchers…
Chiropractic Patients Were Found to be More Satis¿ed“Chiropractic patients were found to be more satis¿ed with their back care providers after four weeks of treatment than were medical patients. Results from observational studies suggested that back pain patients are more satis¿ed with chiropractic care than with medical care. Additionally, studies
Haas et al (2005), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics Patients with Neck Pain Experience Faster Recovery “In a randomized controlled trial, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal manipulation), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) in a 52 week study. The clinical outcomes measures showed that manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. Moreover, total costs of the manual therapy –treated patients were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care.” Would you like even more proof that chiropractic works? Then listen to these comments from a few of my patients…
Patient Success Stories I have been under the care of my family medial doctor for years. I
was having back pain 7 days a week and couldn’t do anything, including standing for periods of time or lifting anything. I have been taking medication for my pain, which then leads to nausea and more medication to offset the sickness. I decided to visit the Kerley Clinic to see if Dr. Kerley could end my pain. In a short amount of time, I am out of pain and can now stand for longer periods of time. I have also noticed that my blood sugar levels are much better after being under the doctor’s care. Sincerely, Nona Patterson I had neck and back pain and hurt all the time. I was always in a bad mood. I never wanted to do anything or go anywhere. I basically turned into a hermit. Why go out when you’re hurting just from holding your head up? After having other doctors tell me they couldn’t help me, I found Dr. Kerley and now feel like a different person! I don’t hurt constantly. I can now actually hold my head up! This doesn’t sound like a big deal but trust me it is! Sincerely, Kellie Jordan
Guarantee of Great Service Obviously, I cannot guarantee results. No one can. But there is one guarantee I can give you, and that is a guarantee to give my best effort. Plus, if I do not think I can help you, I will tell you and refer you to another specialist who might be able to help.
Limited Time Offer Obviously, with an offer like this, I cannot afford to do it for very long, so I picked January 24th– February 16th. If you would like to take me up on my offer to see what chiropractic can do for you, all you have to do is call our of¿ce and set up an appointment,
PHONE (256) 392-4445 Call this number only Call anytime between the hours of 8-1 and 3-5:30 Monday through Friday. Tell the receptionist you would like to come in for the Special Introductory Examination between January 24th-February 16th. I expect to get Àooded with appointments for this event, so please call as soon as possible to assure that you do not miss out. Thank you very much and I look forward to trying to help you get rid of your pain so you can start living a healthier and more productive life. Sincerely, Dr. Andrew Kerley
KERLEY CLINIC Of CHIROPRACTIC 748 Commerce Drive Alexander City, Alabama
*Due to insurance regulations, Medicare and some other insurances may be excluded from this offer.
10
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
JANUARY 24, 2019
Audra Spears / Tallapoosa Publishers
Amy Jones, back, and Cara Tidwell from Total Fitness demonstrate an exercise move.
How to maintain a healthy workout regimen and diet By AMY PASSARETTI Lake Martin Living Editor
A
lot of people set their New Year’s Resolutions to be something involving losing weight. Whether it’s to eat better or work out more, everyone wants to shed a few pounds. But it’s a combination of both that actually seems to work best and keeps those pounds off for the longterm. “Fitness can be beautiful,” said Cara Tidwell, fitness and wellness coordinator at Total Fitness in Alexander City. To maintain a healthy workout regimen, it’s best to start small, according to Total Fitness fitness specialist Amy Jones. Even just 10 minutes of walking will help, she
said. “If you feel like you can’t devote a large chunk of time to working out, find 10 minutes earlier in the day and then another two sets of 10 minutes throughout your day,” Jones said. “It makes it more manageable. The No. 1 goal is to keep moving.” Even daily activities such as sweeping, mopping, gardening and playing basketball with the kids, all count toward a daily exercise routine. Jones said to incorporate exercise into engagement with the family, so it doesn’t feel like work. For health purposes, 30 minutes of exercise is recommended, and for weight loss it needs to be more. “It doesn’t have to be drudgery,” Tidwell said. “Park farther away in the
parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.” Personalizing a fitness routine is vital for success as well, Tidwell explained. How people start off will determine their desire to continue a workout program. In conjunction with exercise, a popular resolution people make is to eat healthier and in turn, lose weight. Goal-makers need to not be discouraged though and realize creating these patterns of habits take time. “You usually see people wanting to make this change coming into the New Year,” Russell Medical registered and licensed dietitian Linda Moore said. “I think a lot of people are looking for the miracle quick fix,” The best solution, Moore said, is to go
back to the basics and common sense of healthy eating. “Cut back on portion sizes; don’t skip meals; eat healthy snacks,” Moore said. “Start by looking at the calories on a label; then, check out the ingredients. The first ingredient is going to be the most prevalent in that product.” Picking foods with less ingredients means they are less processed, which goes back to the basics. Things that should be avoided are excess sugar and excess fried foods with saturated fats. For more technical, in-depth instruction on reading labels and how to determine what to look for, contact a registered dietitian. They also could help develop a plan that works specifically for an individual.
JANUARY 24, 2019
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
Local cancer center is among best in state By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The UAB Medicine Russell Medical Cancer Center located in Alexander City can treat numerous cancers, including lung, gastrointestinal such as colorectal and pancreatic, melanoma, breast, skin, sarcomas, thyroid and bladder cancers. The center treats cancers through chemotherapy and radiation with the help of two full-time medical oncologists and two full-time radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, dieticians and other staff. More than half of the cancer patients seeking treatment at the facility receive chemotherapy. RMCC director Ellen Abernathy said chemotherapy is effective at fighting more than 100 types of cancer by using anticancer drugs. Abernathy said the center was one of the first facilities in the state to offer modulated radiation therapy in 2012. The center offers hematology
services and infusion therapy. The Cancer Center at Russell Medical opened in June 2001, getting its start on the second floor of the hospital and partnering with UAB in 2012, the first relationship of its type for both parties. The cancer center also offers support groups such as T.O.U.C.H. — Today Our Understanding of Cancer is Hope. The group offers support to all involved from survivors to family and friends. It is a community-led group allowing those affected by cancer the chance to share their experiences. Meetings are the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. in the community room of the Professional Building at Russell Medical. There is also a workshop to help with the side effects of cancer treatments, and the center and Russell Medical host events such as the Breast Cancer Luncheon to help provide support and highlight the success of survivors.
Thank you to all the health professionals in the Lake Martin area
You are appreciated
11
12
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH 2019
JANUARY 24, 2019