Healthy U

A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE TIMES RECORD

VOLUME 1, EDITION 6, JULY 2017

NATURAL

living

Think natural with parenting, exercise options

Fort Smith’s UAMS program a team effort | Embrace the power of a healthy lifestyle | Reset your clock by getting away from it all

HEALTHYU Contents VOLUME 1, EDITION 6 | JULY 2017

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Fort Smith’s UAMS program Living in the Natural State

New facility part of continuing effort in area

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Access to the area’s leading medical providers by category so readers can easily find contacts for their areas of need.

Find an alternative to sugar

about HEALTHYU Healthy U is a monthly publication of the Times Record, focusing on issues of health and wellness for the River Valley area. It publishes the third Saturday of every month. For more information: ccosta@swtimes.com

Healthy options can satisfy your sweet tooth

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Local business offers supplies, exercise options for ‘natural’ parenting

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Publisher Crystal Costa Editor Mardi Taylor Contributing Writer Carole Medlock Photographers Brian Sanderford, Jamie Mitchell Production Manager Christy Morrison ADVERTISING Sales Manager Julie Newman

Massage can be part of a wellness routine

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Though they may seem like just part of a daily routine — caring for kids, commuting to work, running errands and even getting a good workout in — our lives are busy and our bodies are in constant motion.

To stay healthy and on-the-ready to take on life, many of us try to eat healthier, catch a few extra zzz’s, take our vitamins and exercise more.

Many are also making regular massage a part of their overall wellness routine, and therefore incorporating total body care into their lives.

In a one year span from July 2013 to July 2014, about 32.6 million adults in America had at least one massage.

With all the benefits massage therapy offers, from boosting energy to easing headache tension, it’s no wonder 90 percent of respondents to a survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness.

Massages make you happy.

When life becomes stressful, your body reacts by releasing adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that fuel our “fightor-flight” responses.

Adrenaline and cortisol increase your heart rate and blood sugar and over time, as everyday stressors occur, the constant release and buildup of these hormones can cause negative physical reactions ranging from headaches to problems sleeping. Massage therapy can help alleviate these symptoms.

Research shows massage therapy can lower your heart rate and blood pressure and also relax your muscles.

A clinical study also shows just a single 1½ hour session can lower your heart rate, insulin and cortisol levels, all of which explain why massage therapy and stress relief go hand-in-hand.

As an added bonus, massages also increase your body’s production of endorphins, a naturally occurring “happy” chemical that produces pleasurable feelings and increased relaxation.

They relieve aches and pains.

If you sit at a desk all day, chances are you have certainly found your neck or shoulders a bit stiff when it’s time to head home. Many of these aches and pains can come from poor posture or repetitive movements, like twisting around to answer a phone. Over time, this habit can cause your body extra stress, leading to spinal misalignment, joint damage and fatigued muscle groups that can weaken over time.

Regular massage therapy can go a long way in easing those daily muscle pains. Massage relaxes and loosens sore muscle groups, giving your body the freedom to position itself in its natural-and pain-free-posture.

Massages can improve muscle recovery.

Whether you’re a workout warrior or making your way back to “get fit” mode, many of us tend to treat our

bodies like machines when we’re working out. It’s not a bad thing to want to get in shape; regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

But over time, getting back into the fitness swing of things can cause slower recovery for the muscle groups you use the most, and injure other areas you haven’t worked out in some time.

Just a 30-second massage improved hip-flexor range of motion, according to a 2010 study in the journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Massages can also reduce post-workout recovery, giving you the freedom to get back to your workout routine that much faster.

Massages offer benefits at any age.

The elderly population (those 65 years or older) numbered 44.7 million

in 2013. Many of today’s seniors are enjoying longer lives thanks to incorporating healthier living into their lifestyles through diet, exercise, stretching and even massage therapy.

Regular massage therapy helps those in this age group because it enhances blood circulation, increases joint mobility and even improves posture, all without causing unnecessary friction to their skin.

Also contributing to both physical and mental well-being, the gentle touches and light application of oil or lotions used can also relieve anxiety and even comfort to touch-deprived elderly clients.

As we all re-examine our wellness choices, massage therapy is shedding the stereotype of being an occasional indulgence.

Instead, it’s become a highly integral body maintenance experience that offers any number of health benefits when consistently incorporated with other total body care actions.

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Natural ways to support infant health during pregnancy

StatePoint

In the past 10 years, scientists have learned that having enough beneficial gut bacteria is a critical component of overall health. Now, research shows that ensuring newborns have sufficient exposure to probiotic bacteria during infancy and early childhood can give them a head start on lifelong wellness.

What makes bacteria so important?

Well, with nearly 80 percent of the immune system residing in the gut, a healthy microbial makeup from birth is essential for proper immune system development and optimal digestive, metabolic, and brain function.

When looking to encourage a healthy infant microbiome (AKA the array of bacteria and microorganisms in the body), science tells us that the mother’s gut health is key.

Here’s how it works: during pregnancy, babies are exposed to their mother’s bacteria in the placenta, 4

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which harbors a variety of microbes.

A baby’s immune system begins to develop just after birth, during which a mother passes on her beneficial bacteria to her child (often termed “seeding the microbiome”) as he or she passes through the vaginal canal and partakes in breast milk and skin-to-skin contact.

Then, through an interactive connection between host cells and the baby’s brand new gut microbiome (inherited directly from the mother), helpful microorganisms selectively colonize the gut and participate in the maintenance and promotion of the child’s immune system.

Expecting and nursing mothers can be proactive by ensuring their gut health is in tip-top condition, since the microbes they pass on to their infant can help establish a solid foundation for lifelong health.

In addition to directly replenishing their good bacteria, moms should

do their best to stay well-rested and properly hydrated while paying close attention to their diet.

Focusing on getting proper prenatal nutrition in the form of whole and plant-based foods, especially those rich in prebiotic fiber is important.

It’s also helpful to be mindful of factors that deplete good bacteria, like antimicrobials, stress, environmental toxins and exposure to unnecessary antibiotics.

Many doctors, midwives and other experts are touting the health benefits of one supplement for expecting and new mothers believed to increase a child’s chances for a healthy start at life: probiotics.

“As a mom, the best gift you can give your baby is a healthy microbiome,” says Jamie Morea, co-founder of Hyperbiotics, a company that specializes in probiotic supplements and has developed the first probiotic formula designed specifically for pregnant and

breastfeeding women.

Hyperbiotics PRO-Moms includes time-release delivery for enhanced effectiveness, ensuring the living organisms survive stomach acids to colonize within the gut.

Not only can probiotics help with digestive discomfort during pregnancy, but an effective supplement can repopulate a mother’s system and help ensure she is passing on the best and most beneficial bacteria to her children.

To learn more about how to support optimal gut health for moms and babies, visit hyperbiotics.com or join the conversation on social media at #followyourgut.

Because gut and microbial health have an overwhelming impact on lifelong wellness, tending to it while expecting is one of the most important things to consider for mothers-to-be in order to properly pave the path of health for little ones.

Know what affects your skin

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You’ve heard of detox diets and ridding your body of toxins, but did you know the same is possible for your skin? Environmental toxins and pollutants not only cause breakouts, but also bring out a dull, less vibrant looking complexion.

“Stressors from your environment and lifestyle can cause redness, irritations and premature aging,” says Claire Larsen, skin category manager for LifeSpa at Life Time Fitness. “Proper skincare goes beyond simply washing your face before you go to bed. Detoxing your skin can help prevent oily and itchy skin, and even age spots and wrinkles.”

Larsen offers her expert tips for detoxifying your skin and flaunting a natural glow year round:

3. Notice how your routine affects your skin.

Are you noticing temple breakouts? It could be from the products in your hair. Make sure you’re thoroughly cleansing your face each morning and night, making sure to concentrate on your hair line. It’s also important to regularly change your sheets and pillowcases. Studies show you should wash your bedding once every week.

4. Use detoxifying products.

Serums with vitamins C and E help to neutralize free radicals before they can damage the collagen and elastin in your skin. Products with antioxidants will fight against the toxins and pollutants your skin faces every day.

Additionally, a detoxing bath containing Epsom salt, like mio’s Liquid 1. Cut out acne-causing foods. Yoga Bath Soak, will help to clean out your pores.

Often, what you eat will show up on your face and body. Fore5. Try a skin detox treatment. head breakouts are usually due to eating foods your body has trouble When your skin feels like it needs breaking down, like refined sugars, some extra TLC, head to the spa carbs, wheat and dairy. Between for a HydraFacialMD(R). LifeSpa’s the brow breakouts are linked to HydraFacial service deep cleans with vortex extractions and a mild the liver, so try cutting down on alcohol and fatty foods, and adding chemical peel while also infusin liver-supporting herbs such as ing lots of hydration. A lymphatic dandelion root, milk thistle seed or drainage can be added for a special yellow dock root. No matter what focus on detoxification and an LED you do, always be sure to drink light treatment can also help with plenty of water throughout the day. the clarity and smoothness of your skin.

2. Identify hormone imbalances.

6. Get your sweat on.

Track the timing, location, shape, size and sensation of your breakouts. Hormonal acne tends to flare up at predictable times and is likely located beneath the cheekbones and along the jawline. It’s also typically deep, cystic and sensitive. Talk to your dermatologist or health care provider if you think you might have hormonal related breakouts.

When you get your heart beating and your skin sweating, it’s easier for your body to release toxins. Try to work up a sweat at least three days a week. You could even consider trying out a hot yoga class or heated spa session to encourage the sweat beads to fall.

If you notice a problem with your skin, a detox may be just the solution you’ve been searching for.

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COFFEE can be good or bad for your health What you need to know

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StatePoint

A majority of Americans drink coffee daily, with an average of about three cups a day, according to Harvard School of Public Health.

Will all those cups of Joe being downed nationwide, it’s important to consider the beverage’s potential effects on your health.

Science indicates there are some substantial health benefits to drinking coffee regularly. Various studies have suggested that drinking coffee regularly could decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, protect against gallstones and lower the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease.

However, it’s important to note that because of its caffeine content, coffee intake should be moderated. Its acidity can also impact issues like bone and muscle deterioration, and kidney stones. Conventional coffee can also raise cholesterol levels when regularly prepared French press or Espresso style.

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For these reasons, many people are rethinking the types of coffee they drink in order to avoid particular health concerns. For example, unlike a conventional acidic cup of coffee, Bio Coffee is alkaline, caffeine-free and made with wheatgrass. It contains three to five servings of vegetables in one cup of coffee, as well as six grams of fiber — approximately 25 percent of the recommended daily amount. It also provides a natural source of pre- and probiotics for better digestive health.

To learn more about its health benefits, visit BioCoffee.com.

“With so many people failing to eat enough vegetables, drinking your greens in the form of coffee may be one of the most convenient ways to get one’s daily dose, in addition to a variety of other health benefits,” says Dr. Tom Shreves, MD, a Bio Coffee drinker. “It can also help you avoid the issues associated with a typical cup of coffee.”

While most coffee lovers are unlikely to put their mugs down, Bio Coffee can provide a healthy morning ritual.

What can help?

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<PMZM Q[ VW [QVOTM K]ZM NWZ \PM KWVLQ\QWV J]\ Q\ KIV JM M‫ ٺ‬MK\Q^MTa UIV IOML Ja _WZSQVO _Q\P I PMIZQVO KIZM XZWNM[[QWVIT 0+8 _PW _QTT LM^MTWX I XMZ[WVITQbML \ZMI\UMV\ XTIV NWZ aW] ?Q\P \PM PMTX WN IL^IVKML PMIZ QVO IQL \MKPVWTWOa IVL \PM M`XMZ\ O]QLIVKM WN aW]Z 0+8 aW] _QTT TMIZV how to deal with the persistent annoyance of tinnitus. Don’t worry if you PI^M PMIZQVO TW[[ IT[W ITWVO _Q\P \QVVQ\][" )KKWZLQVO \W \PM *M\\MZ 0MIZQVO 1V[\Q\]\M WN PMIZQVO IQL ][MZ[ ZMXWZ\ML I []J[\IV\QIT ZML]K\QWV QV \QVVQ\][ Ja ][QVO PMIZQVO IQL[ _PQTM IT[W QUXZW^QVO \PMQZ PMIZQVO 1UXZW^QVO aW]Z W^MZITT _MTT JMQVO _QTT IT[W UISM Q\ MI[QMZ NWZ aW] \W KWXM _Q\P \PM KWVLQ\QWV :MTI`I\QWV M`MZKQ[M IVL PMIT\Pa MI\QVO IZM IT ways recommended.

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Mayo Clinic News Network

Antibiotics have been credited with saving countless lives.

Penicillin, discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming, is recognized as one of the greatest advances in therapeutic medicine. The life-saving drug, which was first mass produced in the U.S. during World War II, helped launch the golden era of antibiotics.

Today, medical researchers have a concern about these medications: overuse and misuse of antibiotics, leading to antibiotic resistance. Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse says antibiotic resistance is a serious public health threat.

“We are at the threshold of a postantibiotic era — a time where the antibiotics we currently have will not work due to bacteria becoming resistant to them,” says Rajapakse. “This could mean that even a simple skin

Infectious diseases A-Z: the fight against antibiotic resistance

infection or urinary tract infection could become untreatable. This would also affect our ability to provide other important lifesaving therapies like chemotherapy or organ transplants whose success depends on our ability to treat the complications and risks associated with them — one of the biggest of which is infections. We really need to start acting now to prevent this from happening.”

The difference between an antimicrobial and antibiotic “Antimicrobials are a large category of medications that work against bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, whereas the term antibiotic we use more specifically for medications that work against bacteria only. An example of an antibiotic would be penicillin or amoxicillin, probably some of the most common antibiotics that are prescribed. An example of an

antimicrobial would be oseltamivir, or Tamiflu.”

well. Candida auris, a type of yeast that is causing serious infections in hospitalized patients around the world, is an example The best way to fight of a fungus that is multi-drug resistant,” antibiotic resistance says Rajapakse. “This specific type of Candida can be resistant to three major Rajapakse says overuse of antibiotics is groups of anti fungal drugs that we use the single biggest driver of the developto treat other Candida infections which ment of antibiotic resistance. “The best makes it very difficult to treat.” way to help to combat this, or at least Rajapakse says this is a concern is slow down the process, is to be more because it can be spread from patient to careful and more mindful of how we’re patient and can survive on surfaces in using our antibiotics. These are very pre- hospitals and health care facilities. cious resources that we want to remain “This organism has caused infeceffective for as long as possible because tion in patients of all ages ranging from they are life-saving medications.” premature babies to elderly patients and has been reported in over a dozen What we know countries around the world,” she says. about candida auris She continues, “Most of the Candida auris infections described to date have Antimicrobial resistance is not limbeen bloodstream infections, wound ited to only bacteria becoming resistant infections, and ear infections. We are to antibiotics. still learning a lot about this organism, “We are seeing increasing drug resisincluding the best ways to test for and tance in viruses, fungi, and parasites as identify it in the lab.”

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JAMIE MITCHELL/TIMES RECORD JULY 2017

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HEALTHY LIFESTYLES are worth the effort

diseases we fear most — diabetes and heart disease come to mind — sometimes they aren’t enough on their own.

The idea that we can control our health We saw a stunning example of that in destinies based on how we eat, exercise February when celebrity fitness trainer and live is an enticing one, especially in Bob Harper suffered a major heart attack our risk-averse society. Unfortunately, while working out in a New York City an unwavering belief in the power of gym, despite being the picture of health. a healthy lifestyle can turn the pursuit Harper has a family history of heart of health into a sort of moral imperadisease — his mother died of a heart tive, leading to everything from weight attack — and even his high level of physistigma to a weighty sense of personal cal fitness, nutritious eating habits and responsibility. The reality is that a lean body didn’t stop this shocking (to healthy lifestyle can’t eliminate all risk of him and everyone else) event. sickness and disease, and an unhealthy We humans love the idea of a “magic lifestyle doesn’t necessarily doom us. bullet,” but we also like the certainty of a I’ve watched cancer patients grapple payoff for our efforts. When we make it a with guilt, thinking they priority to eat nutritiously caused their cancer because and exercise regularly, it’s they didn’t eat “healthy often buoyed by the underenough.” I’ve had healthy lying assumption that if we patients in larger bodies do everything right, we’ll “Nutrition may face not just weight stigma be healthy and live to a ripe not be able to cure but also false assumptions old age. That makes it easy all that ails you that they have diabetes or to hear about cases such as or remove all risk heart disease. And then Harper’s and decide, “Well, of disease, but there are my always-beenif all those vegetables and neither are your thin patients who are trips to the gym might genes necessarily stunned when their cholesnot stop me from having a your destiny.” terol or blood-sugar levels heart attack, why bother?” climb too high, explaining, That’s missing the big “I’ve never exercised or picture. paid attention to what I Nutrition may not be ate — because I didn’t have to.” able to cure all that ails you or remove The relationship between nutrition all risk of disease, but neither are your and health isn’t black and white. Yes, genes necessarily your destiny. Eating food can be good medicine, but although nutritiously and cultivating other healthnutrition — or lack of it — does play a promoting habits may help you improve role in whether we develop a chronic your genetic hand. This really could disease, it’s only one player. Most prevent, or at least delay, chronic disease diseases arise because of the complex and help you live longer — but there are interactions between our genes, diet and no guarantees. Just like in poker, life is environment. a gamble. You can shift the odds in your It’s true that some health conditions favor, but like it or not, we’re all going to respond so well to a change in diet that die someday. no medications are needed. However, Taking care of yourself with nourother diseases are impacted little by ishing food, regular activity, adequate nutrition — other than the fact that sleep and so on benefit you every day nutrition supports underlying general in smaller but no less meaningful ways. health. Although nutrition and lifeEven if this doesn’t add years to your style can alter the course of some of the life, it will probably add life to your

Carrie Dennett

Special to The Washington Post

years. Everyone benefits from eating well and being active: • More energy. Even though calories are fuel for our bodies, all calories are not created equal. Nutritious food gives you the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber your body needs to run well and feel well. Put quality gas in your tank.

• Better digestion. A plant-forward diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and pulses (beans and lentils) provides your gut microbiota with the type of food it needs to thrive. While this may help prevent a number of chronic diseases, it can also help prevent digestive distress on a daily basis.

• Attractive skin. Research has found that people who eat lots of fruits

and vegetables have a more pleasing skin tone and texture. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may also help lessen the effects of sun exposure and age on your skin.

• Stronger muscles. We lose muscle as we age unless we take steps to counteract it by eating enough protein and exercising regularly. Maintaining your muscle will make it easier to move through life gracefully as you get older.

• Increased food enjoyment.

When you eat food that’s both nutritious and pleasing to your taste buds, you tend to be more satisfied than when you eat low-nutrient foods.

Dennett is a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition by Carrie.

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UAMS program offers medical care in ‘team’ setting New facility in Fort Smith part of continuing effort

By Carole Medlock Contributing writer

A new medical facility in Fort Smith is fulfilling a mission that is two-fold: providing a place for medical professionals to complete their residency in family medicine and delivering quality medical care for people in the community and its surrounding areas.

Although the facility is new, the program is not, according to Don Heard, center director at UAMS Family Medical Center West Regional Campus.

He traced the creation of UAMS West back to 1974, developed as an outreach department of the main University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences facility in Little Rock. He said their purpose has always been to promote medical education, specifically family medicine.

The new facility is larger than the original and allows physicians in the residency program to provide patients with the most up-to-date medical care using state-of-the-art equipment.

According to information provided by UAMS, a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and managers worked with engineers and contractors to develop a facility that would be patient-friendly as well as efficient and team-oriented for the health-care professionals working there.

Heard said that in addition to physicians, patients at the facility have access to many other team members.

Nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health professionals and care coordinators among others are on site to provide a team approach to patient care.

“We want the entire team bringing together all the skills they have to take care of the entire patient,” Heard said.

Heard said in the 1970s, there was a significant maldistribution of primary care providers in Arkansas. There were major areas of the state where there were not enough family practices which provide patients with a primary care physician.

Rural areas were most impacted by the shortage, but even cities like Fort Smith were affected, he said.

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Don Heard, left, and Dr. Katherine Irish-Clardy stand outside the new UAMS facility in Fort Smith. [JAMIE MITCHELL/TIMES RECORD]

As a result, a program that created area health education centers, like UAMS West and others, was established which took medical education from a more centralized location and spread it around the state, Heard said.

There are eight regions that are covered in Arkansas.

Medical residents, who provide care at UAMS West, are medical school graduates interested in specializing in family medicine. All medical school graduates are required to complete a three-year residency program in the specialty they intend to practice.

Heard said typically, if a resident is in an area for three years — the length of a residency program — they start to think of the area as home.

And that is where the regional health education centers have the potential to benefit the areas in which they are

located.

“The desire is that they will choose Arkansas, and particularly Western Arkansas, to practice medicine after their residency is over,” Heard said.

Dr. Katherine Irish-Clardy, Director of Residency at UAMS West, explained that the process of securing residents is competitive, but ultimately the program relies on the National Resident Matching Program, a computer program that matches an applicant with a facility.

“We have applicants from all around the country,” Irish-Clardy said.

She said the Fort Smith facility has had as many as 1,300 applicants for eight residency vacancies, but only a fraction of the total number of applicants is interviewed.

From there, the computer match program analyzes applicants and the

facilities in which they are interested, and ultimately ranks programs for compatibility.

“We’re (first) looking for people in Arkansas or surrounding areas, because those are the people who are going to stay in Arkansas,” IrishClardy said.

Once admitted to the program, resident doctors see patients from obstetric patients to babies to the elderly. Each resident has their own panel of patients, and that panel grows each year as the resident progresses through the program, Irish-Clardy said.

Seeing patients in the clinic accounts for only half of a resident’s day. The other half is spent in the hospital seeing patients or learning from other medical specialists in the community.

Residents often act as hospitalists for doctors who have graduated from the UAMS West residency program, said Irish-Clardy.

Residents are also able to follow their own patients through the cycle of care, meaning if a patient is admitted to the hospital, a resident would see them there, as well as in the clinic setting.

“Residents learn not just medicine and the art of medicine, but also new technologies,” Irish-Clardy said.

“Sparks (Regional Medical Center) is our teaching hospital, but residents may rotate through other facilities in the area.”

Some student physicians also learn procedures like endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Irish-Clardy said if a resident ultimately elects to practice family medicine in a rural area without access to specialists, they could potentially be doing these types of screenings.

Physicians in the first year of their residency are required to discuss each patient they see with a “preceptor” or teaching physician assigned to them.

As a physician progresses through the program as a second or third year resident, they can see patients on their own with the exception of pregnant patients and patients who are on Medicaid.

However, teaching physicians are always available to advanced residents in the event that they need to seek advice or ask for help regarding a complicated case, Irish-Clardy said.

Upon graduation from the UAMS West residency program, doctors are fully licensed in family medicine, and are eligible to take an examination to become certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Irish-Clardy said that 100 percent of those graduating have passed the exam for four years running.

Dr. Patrick Greenburg, finishing his third year as a resident at UAMS West, said his first impression of the program was positive, which helped him choose the facility for his residency requirement.

Greenburg is originally from Claremore, Okla., and graduated from the Oklahoma University College of Medicine in Oklahoma City.

“I felt welcome off the bat. That went a long way,” Greenburg said Although Greenburg started his residency in the old facility, he was able to practice medicine in the new facility before completing the program.

Greenburg said the new facility had many features likely attractive to potential students, including additional space, logical layout, more workstations and computers, and waiting rooms assigned by medical team.

Heard said the new building has features that will help medical personnel meet a wide variety of patient needs.

There is a laboratory, X-ray facilities, ultrasound technology, casting abilities for minor fractures, a place for cardiovascular procedures and immunization capabilities.

The old medical facility at 612 S. 12th St., just across from the new clinic, will be repurposed, according to Heard. It will house office space for administration and management, education (in general) and an up-to-date IT lab that will address changing needs in medical records.

As the program evolves, the new facility will not only provide for current needs, but also will provide for the needs of the future, Heard said.

In addition to being a medical residency facility, Heard said UAMS West has expanded into training health care providers in the areas of pharmacy, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants.

A look inside the children’s area of the new UMAS Clinic. [JAMIE MITCHELL/TIMES RECORD]

Medical assistant Alana Rice helps Dr. Katherine Irish-Clardy with an electronic medical record at one of the team locations inside the new UAMS Clinic. [JAMIE MITCHELL/TIMES RECORD] HEALTHYU

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THINKING

natural

Natural State Parenting Supply provides support, exercise, products for moms

w i t o h Natural supplies for newborns and infants, including organic cotton and hemp one-piece diapers, at Natural State Parenting Supply in Fort Smith. [BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/TIMES RECORD]

By Carole Medlock

Contributing Writer

A Fort Smith business promotes the idea of natural parenting through education and support, while providing products and exercise options that make implementing many of their concepts practical.

Babywearing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding and yoga are all natural alternatives to today’s modern conveniences that are supported through the products and classes provided at Natural State Parenting Supply.

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The founder and owner of the natural parenting shop, Jana Aydelott-Lepeer, said the business started “organically” because of a personal interest in living naturally.

Aydelott-Lepeer said upon returning to the United States from Germany, where she was stationed with the Air Force, she began to search for resources to support her desire to parent using natural products and methods. She was six months pregnant at the time.

“There were not a lot of resources as far as natural parenting, so I tried to build my community,” Aydelott-Lepeer

said. She reached out to others, using mediums like Facebook and Craigslist, who might also be interested in pursuing activities like cloth diapering and babywearing.

“The need was so much bigger than I anticipated that now we’re here,” Aydelott-Lepeer said.

One of many natural alternative products offered at Natural State Parenting Supply is cloth diapers. But AydelottLepeer says it’s not enough just to offer the product.

“There’s no shortage of cloth diapers, but there is a shortage of people who are

p u t a b

able to implement (cloth diapering) into their routine,” she said. So in addition to j the product, patrons can attend a cloth m diapering class the first Sunday of every month for instruction and support. Some t who attend are pregnant, while other are f mothers or fathers who bring their babies a with them. The class is open to anyone b wishing to attend. t In addition for her desire to shrink her own family’s footprint on Earth by not t filling landfills with disposable diapers, t Aydelott-Leeper said disposable diapers posed a health concern for her, not p knowing what materials were contained L

A few of the natural products at Natural State Parenting Supply in Fort Smith. [BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/TIMES RECORD]

within the diaper. She said her initial interest in using cloth diapers was what took her on the journey of researching other natural products that would be healthy alternatives for her family.

Babywearing meetings take place the second Saturday of every month at the store, and provide discussion and support for parents trying to implement the use of a baby carrier as an alternative to the stroller. Aydelott-Lepeer says in addition to health benefits, wearing your baby just makes daily life easier for most.

“For a lot of people, (babywearing) just helps them with their daily commitments,” she said.

She added that babies who are worn typically cry or fuss less because they feel more secure, and have stronger abdominal and back muscles because being in a carrier works like “tummy time” and makes a baby stronger. The store carries a variety of baby carriers that are ergonomic for the one wearing them as well as on a baby’s hips.

In the midst of pursuing the use and promotion of natural products, AydelottLeeper wanted to share another personal

interest with the local community — yoga. After injuring her back in the military and experiencing symptoms of “hypervigilance” as she tried to transition out of the military, she relied on yoga.

However, after having kids, getting to the gym to participate in yoga classes became increasingly difficult.

So now, Aydelott-Leeper is a certified yoga instructor, but with a different mission than instructors who take a more traditional route. She attended the Arkansas Yoga Center in Fayetteville, obtaining her 200 hour certification.

She teaches the VariYoga style which emphasizes meeting the needs of the individual instead of taking a "one size fits all" approach.

“It’s all about meeting people where they are, not about posing people’s body but looking at their body and finding a practice that’s going to meet them where they are and get them started,” said Aydelott-Leeper.

She also expressed a goal of helping busy moms figure out small ways to implement yoga into their daily lives without having to attend classes at

regular intervals throughout the week which can be difficult. She offers private sessions for small groups or families at their convenience, and tries to help participants develop their own “practice” of yoga that is practical for them.

Aydelott-Leeper returned to training to receive a 500 hour certification in VariYoga, the highest level of formal training in the practice. She is qualified to train others as instructors with her current level of training.

Other groups that meet at Natural State Parenting Supply include the La Leche breastfeeding support group, a one on one peer support group for breastfeeding mothers, and birthing classes with an instructor trained in the Bradley method, which provides alternative methods of relaxation and pain relief for laboring mothers.

In addition, the store sells a wide variety of other natural products that provide families with alternatives to mainstream baby products as well as products for other members of the family. Aydelott-Leeper also seeks products from distributors that are

Yoga instructor Jana Aydelott-Leeper at Natural State Parenting Supply. [BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/TIMES RECORD]

family friendly, allowing mothers to work from home, take their babies to work, or to keep flexible work hours as they fulfill their duties.

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Healthful-sugar quest bears fruit Alternatives can help satisfy your sweet tooth Ellie Krieger The Washington Post

If you are thinking you should be cutting back on sugar, you are probably right. The average American eats the equivalent of about 20 teaspoons of it each day a lot more than the cap of 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men recommended by the American Heart Association, and nearly double the 12 teaspoons a day

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proposed by the FDA last week as the Daily Value for added sugars on nutrition facts labels.

And if sugar's adding empty calories and spiking our blood glucose weren't bad enough, an eye-opening study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed how dangerous it can be for your heart.

According to the study, people who typically ate slightly more sugar than the typical American had a whopping 38 percent greater risk of dying from a

heart attack than those who ate half that.

To be clear, the sugar that matters here is added sugar — not just the stuff you put in your coffee or bake into a cake, but the sugar added to most packaged foods, even those you don't typically think of as sweet, such as salad dressings, soups, breads and crackers.

It comes in dozens of forms: white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, agave, molasses, raw sugar, coconut sugar, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, sucrose, dextrose, maltose, malt syrup, and more.

Although some of these may be less refined than others and offer a smattering of beneficial antioxidants and minerals, they all count as added sugar.

On the other hand, it would be a mistake to start avoiding healthful foods such as whole fruit and dairy because of the sugars they inherently contain. The sugar in these foods is naturally "bundled" with a bounty of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients so, as a whole, they have a tremendous protective effect on our health. Plus, you can take advantage of fruit's natural sweetness by incorporating it into foods and drinks to help you cut back on the refined stuff. Here are some of my tried-and-true fruity sweet-tooth satisfiers.

Ripe banana

Next time you find yourself with a bunch of bananas that are too ripe for eating, don't toss them! Instead, peel them, break them into pieces, pop them into a bag and freeze them. Frozen bananas transform smoothies, making them thick and frothy, and contribute enough sweetness that you won't need any added sugar. Uber-ripe bananas can also be mashed and added to pancake, muffin or quick bread batter for sweetness and moisture.

Mango

There are dozens of ways to make the most of mangoes' juicy sweetness. Buy them fresh and cut them yourself, and/ or keep packages of frozen, unsweetened mango chunk on hand. Like banana, you can add it straight from the freezer to smoothies for a gloriously colorful sweetness. If you are craving a dessert, blend frozen mango with a little milk or coconut milk to make an instant sorbet or sherbet.

And use a couple of tablespoons of pureed mango to sweeten salad dressings, marinades or barbecue sauces.

Dried fruits such as raspberries, bananas, peaches and cherries taste like candy but are packed with antioxidants, fiber and minerals.

Dried fruit Dried fruit, such as dates, figs, prunes and raisins, tastes like candy but is packed with antioxidants, fiber and minerals. Of course, you can simply eat it au naturel, but that is just scratching the surface of the possibilities. Dried fruit makes a great base for a trufflelike confection: Put dried fruit in a food processor with some nuts and dessert-y spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Then, because of the fruit's natural stickiness, you can easily roll the mix into balls and coat them in chopped nuts, shredded coconut or cocoa powder.

Also, try pureeing dried fruit with a little water to stir into oatmeal or to add to pancake batter, muffins and quick breads.

Dried fruit, too, can be added to smoothies to eliminate the need for extra sugar.

Fruit juice Whole fruit trumps juice when it comes to healthfulness, because juice lacks fiber and it is easy to drink too much of it. But juice is nutrient-rich, and in small amounts can be a helpful tool for cutting back on added sugar. For example, you can use a little orange, grape or apple juice instead of sugar to sweeten salad dressings, and if your tomato sauce tastes a bit bland, a splash of orange juice can work wonders. A little juice could also help you cut back on the single biggest source of sugar in the American diet: sugar-sweetened drinks. If you crave a tastier option than plain water, instead of grabbing a soft drink, add a splash of 100 percent fruit juice to some sparkling water. It's a small change that could make a big difference.

Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author. She blogs and offers a biweekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger. com. She also writes weekly Nourish recipes in The Washington Post's Food section.

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Professor: ‘It is natural and normal to be physically lazy’ Colby Itkowitz The Washington Post

Imagine you’ve set your alarm to go for an early-morning run before work. But when it goes off at 6, the embrace of your warm, cozy bed is too enticing and you never make it out the door. Or perhaps you’ve packed exercise clothes with plans to hit a spin class after work.

But then the allure of happy hour, or even your couch, persuades you to skip it.

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Even those with the best of intentions often struggle to motivate themselves to work out. There’s almost always a powerful temptation to do something, or anything, else.

This can feel like a personal failing, as though the decision not to exercise were a sign of weak character, or at least willpower.

But you may just be giving in to humans’ evolutionary instinct to be lazy.

At least that’s the theory of one Harvard professor who believes our ancestors exerted so much energy hunting and gathering that they sought rest whenever they could. We are predisposed to want to conserve energy.

Daniel Lieberman, an expert in human evolutionary biology, posed in a 2015 paper, “Is Exercise Really Medicine? An Evolutionary Perspective,” that it’s not our natural inclination to exercise for health alone.

“It is natural and normal to be physically lazy,” he writes. “... I predict that hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari or the Amazon are just as likely as 21st century Americans to instinctually avoid unnecessary exertion. Although a small percentage of people today exercise as a form of medicine, doing their prescribed dose, the vast majority of people today behave just as their ancestors by exercising only when it is fun (as a form of play) or when necessary.”

Lieberman explains that our ancestors struggled to amass enough food to make up for the calories they burned tracking down that food. So they needed to conserve their energy when they could. Most modern humans who do exercise don’t need to worry about whether after a hard workout they will be able to make up for the calorie deficit.

“Our instincts are always to save energy. For most of human evolution that didn’t matter because if you wanted to put dinner on the table you had to work really hard,” Lieberman said in an interview. “It’s only recently, we have machines and technology to make our lives easier. ... We’ve inherited these ancient instincts, but we’ve created this dream world and the result is inactivity.”

He points to escalators in a mall or a subway station. When they are positioned near stairs, most people will choose the ones that move for them. This is often true for elevators

in buildings as well. People will drive around a parking lot several times looking for the closest spot rather than park farther away and have to walk the relatively short distance.

Bradley Cardinal, a professor at Oregon State University with an expertise in psychosocial and sociocultural aspects of health and physical activity, isn’t entirely convinced that humans’ reluctance to move is all biological, although he said he is intrigued by Lieberman’s theory.

“I’m still trying to decide if it’s learned or biological,” he said. “These classic questions of nature and nurture, when I think about that, well, we have a lot of competing things in our environment that make it so hard to move.”

Cardinal believes there are factors from childhood that may determine how active you are later in life. In a 2013 study, he found that people who had a negative experience with physical activity when they were younger, such as being picked last for a team, tended to exercise less than those who didn’t have that experience.

Still, Cardinal, as well as Lieberman, think this idea that our penchant for rest is an evolutionary trait humans must fight continually may actually

improve people’s relationships with work. There need to be incentives to exercise. There is so much self and move. societal shame associated with not And although we’re not going to working out, that going to the gym, or return to chasing our dinner, there for a run, can often feel like a chore. If might be monetary incentives through they can stop berating themselves and health insurance, for example, that accept that wanting to skip a workout could encourage people off the couch, is a completely normal he said. He is also an advocate human response, they for making physical education a might begin to untangle required course in college. the negative associations There’s also the element of “Our instincts with exercise. play. One way adults have always are always to “People are often made done this is through dance. But save energy.” to feel bad [for not exerafter their 20s, how many people — Daniel cising] and I think that’s go out dancing anymore?

Lieberman just as pernicious and People are more inclined to be wrong and irresponsible as physically active when it’s done shaming people for being socially. Lieberman said it’s no overweight,” Liebercoincidence that some of the bigman said. It’s not our fault that we are gest fundraising events in the world are physically inactive, we live in a world marathons. that encourages that. They shouldn’t “We tie physical activity to combe made to feel bad. We need help and munity,” he said. “I think that has we’ve created a world where we don’t ancient and deep roots. It’s a commuhave to do it anymore.” nal issue, so we have to help each other.

Educating people on the health benThis individualist attitude we take, it efits of exercise and movement is not doesn’t work that way, it never worked enough to override this basic instinct, that way. The most effective exercise he said. programs are ones that are social and There needs to be a cultural and communal and it’s always been that environmental shift in how our physiway. People for millions of years went cal activity is prioritized in schools and out (hunting and gathering) in groups.”

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ALOE VERA has long health history 'Plant of Immortality' may provide help with dental problems

By Jody Johnson More Content Now

Research indicates that aloe vera’s earliest use originated from the Egyptians. This plant, comprised of 99 percent water and 1 percent glycoproteins and polysaccharides, which are anti-inflammatory and healing agents, truly has an interesting history.

Egyptians had the savvy to use this wondrous plant as they were, on every level, ahead of their time. Many of the hieroglyphics on the temple walls as well as the pyramid walls boasted and attested to their love for this commodity even to the point of it being put on the same level as God. They called it “The Plant of Immortality.”

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It was used then in the treatment of tuberculosis as well as in the manufacturing of papyrus scrolls. It was also recorded that when a “dignitary” died, the funeral ceremony was by invitation only and with a price tag of a pound of aloe.

The Egyptians used the odorous mixture of aloe and myrrh for embalming and placed it in the burial clothes and, interestingly enough, a man’s wealth and esteem was derived by the number of pounds of aloe he brought.

There is much more history on this plant, but I will let you follow that up on your own so as to get into the uses of aloe.

Taking aloe vera supplementation improves many conditions inclusive of

dental problems. As we know, many dental issues come from infection.

A.V. strengthens the immune system and, at the same time, rids the body of many “bad boy” agents responsible for a host of dental ailments.

If you are recovering from any type of invasive dental procedures, the use of A.V. speeds up the healing process by a huge margin because it causes the immune system to function at full throttle. The eight main uses of A.V. in dental practices are as follows: • Applying directly (via syringe) to periodontal surgery sites.

• Gum tissue application when gums have suffered trauma due to abrasion, sharp foods, dental floss and/or toothpick injuries.

• Relieves chemical burns in the mouth.

• Heals extraction sites and dry sockets don't develop when A.V. is applied!

• Serious mouth sores are improved by direct application on herpetic viral lesions, aphthous ulcers, canker sores and corner cracks of the lips and gum abscesses are soothed with A.V., as well.

• Other oral diseases such as Lichen Planus and Benign Pemphigus, Burning Mouth Syndrome, are much improved with A.V. therapy.

• Denture patients contending with sore ridges and ill-fitting dentures and partials can benefit from A.V. as fungi and bacterial contamination are reduced in conjunction with these irritations.

• Inject A.V. around dental implants to control inflammation from bacteria contamination.

Other oral disorders such as Candiadiasis, Desquamative Gingivitis, Vesiculobullous diseases, Acute Monocytic Leukemia and general hematological disorders and diseases originating from some nutritional problems all seem to respond to A.V. use. Even Diabetes Milletus, Sjorgen’s Syndrome, menopausal patients and medications which cause Xerostomia (dry mouth).

A.V. was used extensively in the April 1995 bombing disaster in Oklahoma City.

The attendants, doctors and first responders all learned that the healing capabilities of A.V. far exceeded their expectations in pain control and healing time reduction. (A.V. cannot be used on open wounds, only

first-degree burns.)

Grown mostly in sub-tropical climates, it is mostly found in South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, but we have the A.V. grown in local greenhouses in Texas and Oklahoma, etc., since we can mimic the climate adequately.

Available forms would be in the leaves (if you grow your own or purchase actual plants), commercially prepared ointments, creams or lotions; it can be included in cosmetics and you can purchase Aloe in the form of capsules, tablets, juice and gel.

Part of the wide-use spectrum for this “gift” is as follows: Burns: A.V. stimulates skin growth and repair, acts as an analgesic and is used for psoriasis and genital herpes with better results than the 1 percent cortisone cream!

Constipation: A.V. juice or aloe latex is a powerful, natural laxative.

Diabetes: Preliminary studies have shown that A.V. juice helps to lower blood sugar levels in type 2, adult onset diabetes.

Aloe is a herb and is strong medicine, therefore do not take or use it unless you've first consulted with your physician, as this can interfere with many medications and taking the aloe latex can cause premature labor for expectant moms.

Although A.V. is 99 percent water, the 1 percent contains substances called glycoproteins and poly saccharides. Both substances are antiinflammatory agents and spur skin growth and repair.

Some practical applications would be to use the gel for hair sculpting; I actually dilute my aloe gel with one part water and create a “leave-in” conditioner for my hair.

Also, you can purchase perfume oils and suspend them in aloe gel for an alternative, healthy application of fragrance rather than spraying yourself with the usual alcohol-based fragrance product which is drying to your skin.

I have also crushed (to a fine powder) strong pain relievers (Excedrin Migraine Formula); mixed the powder in aloe gel and rubbed it on my aching knee and it gave instant and longlasting relief without going through my liver!

Jody Johnson is a self-taught salutogenesist and an investigative health reporter. She is a columnist for The Carthage (Mo.) Press.

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Make your own

natural sunscreen

By Jody Johnson More Content Now

Finally, perhaps my time has arrived and much of what I’ve held near and dear to my heart (aka “common sense”) has become “cool” to the trendy and fickle masses. Getting back to basics and saving money wherever and however we can is always a step forward.

Making our own sunscreen will save money, but it will, as well, enable us to be assured that we are putting the best ingredients on and, yes, “in” us as all ingredients applied topically passes into us via “transdermal travel.”

Sunscreens have become important and very necessary what with the disappearance of the ozone layer; whereas we used to mainly connect sunscreen with the summer months, it would totally be a responsible habit to begin applying it year around.

For us females, this chore is a little more natural, as we are used to applying moisturizers mornings and evenings; most guys don’t give a thought to protecting their skin.

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Remember, “old new tricks, guys.”

Another good reason to make our own sunscreen is to be able to avoid extra and unneeded/harmful chemicals coming into our bodies. “Shelf life” of commercially prepared health and beauty products will most generally be a bad thing if it is “long” and much better if it is “short.” Preservatives are only healthy for shelves, not humans.

Formulations For those of us not comfortable in the “science lab” and who don’t like to experiment and play around with perfecting formulations and such, here is your best bet. Select your favorite cost-effective body lotion or cream, and for every 1 ounce of product, add 250 mgs of crushed vitamin C (if you can purchase the “C with rosehips” added, this is even better). I use the old-fashioned apothecary pill smasher, but if you don’t have one, you can put several tables of C in a blender and pulverize them into a fine powder. If you use 1,000 mg tablets and throw

in, say, 30 pills, then in order to get an accurate facsimile of one 1,000 mg pill, you’d have to divide the powder into 30 equal portions and then add one of those “equal portions” to 4 ounces of your favorite lotion. Mix it well to ascertain that the vitamin C gets evenly dispersed into the emollient. When you apply this, make sure you don’t get it into sensitive or naturally dry areas as the vitamin C can have an exfoliating effect.

Now, for those of us a little more adventurous, here are some additional ideas. If you tend to have chronically dry skin or eczema, use coconut oil as your basic lotion or cream and add the vitamin C as explained earlier and vitamin E oil (the d-alpha tocopherol).

If you tend to be oily skinned, you may want to suspend (mix) your vitamin C powder in aloe vera gel and add it to some witch hazel (two parts aloe gel to one part of witch hazel).

You can put this healthy, homemade preparation in a wide-mouth jar or in a plastic flit-top container for an easier dispense.

And, if you happen to be a fragrance freak as I am, you can get very crazy and carried away and “soup up your sunscreen” via essential oils, designer scents in oil form, etc. If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, just make sure when you select your lotion or cream that it has a pleasant scene already built in. This type of product is very cost effective and can be found at most of our “discount” type retailers with a huge selection of fragrances.

The vitamin C content in the cream or lotion is supposed to protect from sunburn and ALSO save the skin from cellular damage. This was a conclusive result from a study done by Sheldon Pinnell, M.D., Chief of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Optional added ingredients are zinc oxide, almond oil flaxseed oil and green tea extract (powder or liquid) Happy sunning!

Jody Johnson is a self-taught salutogenesist and an investigative health reporter. She is a columnist for The Carthage Press.

Prevent lower back pain Exercise, maintain healthy weight to avoid problems acupuncture or spinal manipulation over drug therapy if possible. Antiinflammatory drugs and muscle From a dull, constant ache to relaxants can ease the immediate sharp shooting sensations, back pain, while physical therapy helps pain can make you miserable. It can keep a single episode from turning make it hard to move, leading it to be into a more chronic problem. one of the most common reasons for “Physical therapy can give you missed work. It’s also the secondtechniques to lessen your sympleading cause of disability in the toms in the short term and get you United States and one of the top five back to being active and mobile,” reasons for doctor visits, according Knaub said. “In the intermediate- to to Harvard Medical School. long-term, it can strengthen the Anyone can have back pain — core muscles that support the spine, although it gets more common as and that could decrease the likeliyou age — but certain people are hood of having another episode in more at risk, especially those who the future.” are not physically fit, smokers or Even without any active treatpeople who suffer from certain ment, Knaub said most back pain diseases like arthritis or cancer. For will improve on its own within a few some it’s hereditary or a result of a days to a week. job that requires lifting, pushing or twisting your spine.

Prevent the pain Approximately one-quarter of U.S. adults reported having low While it isn’t always possible to back pain lasting at least one day in prevent back pain, there are things the past three months, according to you can do to limit your risk of the American College of Physicians. developing problems.

It’s also expensive. The cost of The most important could be treating people with acute lower engaging in regular physical activity back pain costs about $240 billion a few times a week. Exercises that annually, according to a study pub- strengthen the core muscles can lished in the Journal of the American also help prevent acute injuries and Osteopathic Association. strain. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco products also New treatments decrease your risk.

“When people have chronic back Soft tissue injuries and strains of problems, there is a large psychomuscles, ligaments or tendons are logical component to it,” Knaub the most common culprits of back said. “Being depressed causes pain, said Dr. Mark Knaub, chief of pain, and being in pain makes you adult orthopedic spine service at depressed.”

Penn State Health Milton S. HerStudies in Europe have shown shey Medical Center. They can be that cognitive behavioral therapy caused by activities involving lifting, can work as well as traditional twisting or bending or by a fall. medical treatments for that type of The American College of Physiback pain, Knaub said. cians recently announced new “If you lack coping mechanisms guidelines for treating low back and don’t handle the pain and stress pain that advise non-drug therapies well, that can feed into your anxisuch as superficial heat, massage, ety,” Knaub said.

Melissa Erickson More Content Now

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HEALTH & WELLNESS DIRECTORY 3505 S. 79th Street Fort Smith, AR 479-709-8686

BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE Sparks Behavioral Health 1500 Dodson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7455

Mercy Convenient Care – Zero Street 1400 Zero Street Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3082

Mercy Clinic Behavioral Health 2713 S. 74th St., Ste. 203 Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3130

CARDIOLOGY Cardiology Center at Sparks 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 60 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7325 Mercy Clinic Cardiology - Phoenix Ave. 6101 Phoenix Ave., Ste. 401 Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3042

Mercy Clinic Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery 7001 Rogers Ave., St. 401 Fort Smith, AR 479-452-1188

CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY Sparks Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Inc. 600 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7025

CONVENIENT CARE Mercy Convenient Care – River Valley 22

JULY 2017

Sparks Thyroid and Endocrinology 4700 Kelley Hwy. Fort Smith, AR 72904 479-709-7460

Sparks Plaza Family Practice 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 195 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-573-7910

COSMETIC SURGERY

Sparks Fort Smith Family Practice 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 175 Fort Smith, AR 72902 479-573-7840

Surgical Associates of Fort Smith - Sparks 923 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-73504

Sparks Family Medicine – South 8600 South 36th Terrace Fort Smith, AR 72908 479-709-7465

DERMATOLOGY

Johnson Dermatology 5921 Riley Park Dr. Fort Smith, AR 479-649-3376

DENTISTRY

Mercy Clinic Cardiology - Rogers Ave. 7001 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 479-314-4650

CARDIOTHORACIC & VASCULAR

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Dentures Today - Fort Smith 2307 So. Zero #103 Fort Smith, AR 479-646-4499 Dentures Today - Van Buren 2308 Fayetteville Road # 1600 Van Buren, AR 479-474-7600 Dentures Today - Sallisaw 1290 W. Mentzer Ave. Sallisaw, OK 918-775-5775

EAR, NOSE & THROAT Sparks Ear, Nose & Throat Center – West 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 260 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-573-7985

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FAMILY MEDICINE

Alma Family Medical Clinic - Sparks 937 Highway 64 East Alma, AR 72921 479-632-3855 CarePlus - Sparks 14 Gothic Ridge Rd. Van Buren, AR 72956 479-471-0011 Cornerstone Family Medical Clinic - Sparks 14 Gothic Ridge Road Van Buren, AR 72956 479-474-1100 Greenwood Family Medical Clinic - Sparks 1480 West Center Street Greenwood, AR 72936 479-996-5585 SouthPointe Family Practice - Sparks 3808 Gary Street Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-709-7120 Sparks Clinic Family Medicine 2010 Chestnut, Suite H Van Buren, AR 72956 479-471-4280 Sparks Clinic Family Medicine 6100 Massard Road Fort Smith, AR 72916 479-709-7250 Sparks Clinic Family Practice 4700 Kelley Hwy. Fort Smith, AR 72904 479-573-7990

Sparks Medical Clinic 5428 Ellsworth Road Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-709-7440 Spiro Family Medical Clinic - Sparks 702 West Broadway Spiro, OK 74959 918-962-2442 Van Buren Family Medical Clinic - Sparks 209 Pointer Trail West Van Buren, AR 72956 479-474-3399

Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3740 Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Charleston 107 S. Logan Charleston, AR 479-573-3120 Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Ozark 201 S. 70th Street Ozark, AR 479-667-1590 Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Van Buren 2800 Fayetteville Road Van Buren, AR 479-314-4000 Mercy Family Medicine – Waldron 1341 W. 6th Street Waldron, AR 479-637-2136

2074 Rice Road Waldron, AR 479-637-0250

GASTROENTEROLOGY Gastroenterology Center - Sparks 1001 Towson Ave., Ste. 100 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7430

GENERAL SURGERY Arkansas Surgical Group - Sparks 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 250 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-573-7940 Surgical Associates of Fort Smith - Sparks 923 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7350

GERIATRICS

Mercy Family Medicine – Booneville 128 Daniel Ave. Booneville, AR 479-675-2455

Adult Medicine Specialists - Sparks 1120 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7260

Mercy Family Medicine – Cedarville 708 Pirates Way Cedarville, AR 479-235-3025

SeniorCare Behavioral Health - Sparks 1001 Towson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-441-5601

Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Cliff Drive 3700 Cliff Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-259-9286

Mercy Family Medicine – Magazine 351B E. Priddy Street Magazine, AR 479-969-8768

HEARING

Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Free Ferry 1000 Waldron Road Fort Smith, AR 479-221-9922

Mercy Family Medicine – Mansfield 100 N. Walnut, St A Mansfield, AR 479-928-4404

Beltone 1100 Lexington Ave Fort Smith, AR 479-782-5858

Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Paris 500 E. Academy Paris, AR 479-963-5421

Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Poteau 2110 N. Broadway Poteau, AR 918-647-7416

Mercy Clinic McAuley Family Medicine 3420 S. 74th Street

Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Rice Road

Graham Hearing Graham Hearing Services, Inc. 1005 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 479-783-5250

HEALTH & WELLNESS DIRECTORY 3700 Cliff Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-259-9286 Center For Hearing 4300 Rogers Ave., Ste. #15 Fort Smith, AR 479-785-3277

HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY Sparks Clinic Cancer Center 1001 Towson Ave. Ste. 300 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7435 Sparks Radiation Treatment Center 1502 Dodson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7190 Mercy Clinic Oncology 7001 Rogers Ave., Ste. 200 Fort Smith, AR 479-314-7490 Mercy Radiation Oncology 7301 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 479-314-7545

Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Sallisaw 1015 E. Choctaw Ave. Sallisaw, OK 918-774-0034

INTERNAL MEDICINE & PEDIATRICS Mercy Clinic Internal Medicine & Pediatrics 7800 Dallas Street Fort Smith, AR 479-314-4940

INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT Mercy Clinic Interventional Pain Management 3501 W.E. Knight Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-709-6755

NEPHROLOGY Renal Care Associates Sparks 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 280 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7480

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

NEUROLOGY

Sparks Center for Infectious Disease 1001 Towson Ave., Ste. 200 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7447

Sparks Clinic Neurology 3808 Gary Street Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-709-7050

INTERNAL MEDICINE Adult Medicine Specialists – Sparks 1120 Lexington Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7260 Sparks Plaza Internal Medicine 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 180 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-573-7820 Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Cliff Drive

Sparks Neurology Center 1504 Dodson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7175 Mercy Clinic Neurology 7303 Rogers Ave., Ste. 101 Fort Smith, AR 479-314-7590

NEUROSURGERY Mercy Clinic Neurosurgery 2713 S. 74th Street, Ste. 301

Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3723

OBSTETRICS/ GYNECOLOGY Mercy Clinic OB/GYN 7001 Rogers Ave., Ste. 403 Fort Smith, AR 479-785-2229

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Sparks Occupational Medicine 8600 South 36th Terrace Fort Smith, AR 72908 479-709-7422

3501 W.E. Knight Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-709-6700

PULMONOLOGY Sparks Clinic Lung Center 1001 Towson Ave., Ste. 400 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7433 Mercy Clinic Pulmonology 7303 Rogers Ave., Ste. 302 Fort Smith, AR 479-314-4620

SENIOR CARE

ORTHOPEDICS Mercy Clinic Orthopedics – River Valley 3501 W.E. Knight Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-709-6700

PEDIATRICS

Grace at Home 2613 Market Trace Fort Smith, AR 72908 479-242-2273

Mercy Clinic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2717 S. 74th Street Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3799

PODIATRY Mercy Clinic Podiatry – River Valley

Mercy Clinic Sleep Medicine 7001 Rogers Ave., Ste. 200 Fort Smith, AR 479-314-8917

SPORTS MEDICINE Mercy Clinic Sports Medicine 3501 W.E. Knight Drive Fort Smith, AR 479-709-6700 Mercy Clinic General Surgery 2713 S. 74th Street Fort Smith, AR 479-573-3101

THERAPY SERVICES

Peachtree Village Retirement & Assisted Living Community 1500 Fresno Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-785-5544

Mercy Clinic Pediatrics 3224 S. 70th Street Fort Smith, AR 479-314-4810

PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Sparks Sleep Disorders Center 1001 Towson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-441-5255

SURGERY

Sparks Pediatrics 5428 Ellsworth Road Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-709-7337 Summit Pediatric Clinic - Sparks 209 Pointer Trail West Van Buren, AR 72956 479-474-3399

SLEEP DISORDERS

Sparks Outpatient Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy 624 Towson, Ste. B Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-441-5361 Sparks–Van Buren Outpatient Physical Therapy Pulmonary

Rehab 2020 Chestnut Van Buren, AR 72956 479-471-4545

UROLOGY Sparks Urology Group 5500 Ellsworth Road Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-709-7295

WOMEN’S SERVICES Sparks Obstetrics & Gynecology 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 230 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-7490 The Women’s Center Sparks 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 140 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-709-1913

WOUND CARE Sparks Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center 1001 Towson Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-441-5078 Mercy Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center 7306 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 479-314-2804

COMING UP....

ALL ABOUT HEALTHY SKIN healthy NEXT EDITION: SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH

living well in the river valley

HEALTHYU

JULY 2017

23

Never thought much about hospice care.

Was afraid it meant giving up hope.

Learned that it’s more about living than dying.

Mercy offers faith-based, home-based end of life care.

When life expectancy is six months or less, and life-prolonging treatments have ended, it’s a comfort to have the right hospice team by your side.

Mercy Hospice provides patients and their loved ones with the best possible quality of life while they remain in the comfort of their own home.

Learn more at mercy.net/comfort Your life is our life’s work.

Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans.

24

JULY 2017

HEALTHYU