YOUR HEALTH CONNNECTION MAGAZINE

VENTURA COUNTY

CONEJO VALLEY

WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

HOLIDAY

ISSUE

DECEMBER 2012

www.yhcmagazine.com

SPECIAL HOLIDAY

OVER 20 GIFT IDEAS!

PACE YOURSELF THIS SEASON: TIPS FOR HEALTHY LEGS MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN DURING THE HOLIDAYS HEARING: TIPS FOR TESTING AND HEARING AIDS TYPES OF DEMENTIA GOING GLUTEN-FREE THE RABBIT HOLE CAFÉ IN AGOURA THE METAMORPHOSIS OF AGING MUCH MORE

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Contents 06/ PUBLISHER’S LETTER THE GIFT OF HEALTH

HOLIDAY ISSUE

14/

december 2012

20/

09/ COMPASSIONATE EATING THE RABBIT HOLE IN AGOURA

By Bianca Rose Martinez

18/

26/ NATURAL APPROACH DANCING HOLIDAY HORMONES

features

By Dr. Sharon Norling

10/ SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN

32/ NUTRITION

Don’t Let Pain Handicap Your Holidays!

GLUTEN—WHY THE OBSESSION?

By Katie Greeley, DC, CACCP

By Travis Johnston

14/ HEALTH VIEW 1

Planning for Life’s Transitions: Metamorphosis of Aging

By Carol Knowles

18/ HEALTH VIEW 2

36/ GIFT GUIDE OVER 20 GIFT IDEAS!

What You Haven’t Heard in a Long Time!

Hearing and Hearing Aids

By Rick Hand

20/ HEALTH VIEW 3

Holiday Tips for Your Leg Health

By Gregory Albaugh, D.O., FACS, FAPWCA

24/ HEALTH VIEW 4

Is There a Love Affair in Your Home?

By Wayne M. Levine Director, BetterMen Coaching

30/ HEALTHY AGING

Different Types of Dementia

By Mariana Conti

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DECEMBER 2012

30/

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

december 2012

The Gift of Health

ANN K. CASTLE

Founder & Publisher

IT HAS BEEN a very interesting year packed with social, political, financial and environmental activity. The new normal seems to be the way to define our world. Granted, nothing ever stays the same as the universal law states, change is inevitable and ever-flowing and change brings new opportunities.

With the changes we just experienced from our collective decisions at the voting polls to the changes the earth and its atmosphere have handed us, there is one common aspect of our existence that is impacted our health. Without our health, our quality of life, how we perceive our world, how we function day-today and how we interact in society is severely compromised.

I cannot stress enough the importance of empowering oneself about current health issues. The issues not only impact you as an individual but everyone around you. And they go beyond family impacting our society as a whole.

As YHC Magazine’s constant commitment to the community, I have included a special holiday gift guide in this issue. You will find a wonderful variety of books, products, CDs and gift certificates to purchase for your gift-giving needs.

Of course, all of them are health-related. After all, isn’t the gift of health the best gift of all?

Also in this issue, we provide you with the ongoing series on long-term care, part 2 of defining dementia, a delicious visit to the Rabbit Hole Café in Agoura, how to cope with hearing loss, tips for healthy legs, pain management during the holidays, and much more.

Before you flip the pages of this issue and start your holiday shopping, I ask that you continue to keep our brothers and sisters on the east coast who have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy in your thoughts and prayers. Please stay informed on how you can help by visiting the Red Cross website. It’s going to be a long road to recovery!

I wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, any other religious celebration or just the lights and essences of the season. Be of joy and of peace and stay in the state of gratitude and grace for all that you have and all that you are.

Happy and Healthy Holidays!

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DECEMBER 2012

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FOUNDER & PUBLISHER ANN K. CASTLE COPY EDITOR ANN K. CASTLE JAN TUCKER, MBA ACCOUNTING DONNA BRYANT ADVERTISING MARIAN GREEN MARIAN@YHCMAGAZINE.COM 818.943.0751 LAURA MUSTACCHIO LAURAM@YHCMAGAZINE.COM 805.558.9817 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS GREGORY ALBAUGH, D.O., FACS, FAPWCA; MARIANA CONTI; KATIE GREELEY, DC, CACCP; RICK HAND; TRAVIS JOHNSTON; CAROL KNOWLES; BIANCA MARTINEZ; SHARON NORLING, MD, MBA. COVERAGE AREA INCLUDES MONTHLY TO VENTURA COUNTY, WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, AND THE CONEJO VALLEY; AGOURA HILLS, CALABASAS, CAMARILLO, ENCINO, MOORPARK, NEWBURY PARK, NORTHRIDGE, OAK PARK, OXNARD, SIMI VALLEY, TARZANA, THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, WEST HILLS, WOODLAND HILLS FOR ALL INQUIRIES, CONTACT ANN K. CASTLE AT ANN@YHCMAGAZINE.COM OR 805.341.2972 WWW.YHCMAGAZINE.COM

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD SHELLEY CHILTON, CSA, LRE, LVN HOSPICE, HOME HEALTH, SKILLED NURSING FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR ACCESS TLC HEALTH CARE, TLC HOME HOSPICE, ACCESS TLC HOME HEALTH CARE KATIE GREELEY, DC UNITED FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC SPECIALIZING IN PEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE STEVEN GREENMAN, DDS SPECIALIZING IN ADVANCED COSMETIC, IMPLANT & SEDATION DENTISTRY, SNORING & SLEEP APNEA HILDA MALDONADO, MD SPECIALIZING IN FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE, ANTI-AGING MEDICINE & HORMONE THERAPY SHARON NORLING, MD BOARD CERTIFIED OB/GYN, HOLISTIC/INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE, MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE, NUTRITION & FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DENISE NOYER-EREZ, LAC, FABORM LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST, SPECIALIZING IN WOMEN’S HEALTH DANIEL SLATON, DVM WESTLAKE VILLAGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL ALON STEINBERG, MD, FACC BOARD CERTIFIED CARDIOLOGIST DAVID VILLARREAL, DDS CENTERS FOR HEALING SPECIALIZING IN HOLISTIC DENTISTRY The opinions expressed here are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the publishers or management of YHC Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Publication of the name or photo of any person or organization in YHC Magazine should not be construed as an indication of that person’s expressed opinion. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisement in YHC Magazine. Photographers whose work is published in any advertising or editorial content within YHC Magazine agree to indemnify and save harmless the publishers from all liability, loss and expense due to a photographer’s failure to gain a model release. YHC Magazine is not responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any other unsolicited material.

Unsolicited material will not be returned. YHC Magazine’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. YHC Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein.

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COMPASSIONATE EATING

The Rabbit Hole Café in Agoura

THE RABBIT HOLE IN AGOURA

By Bianca Rose Martinez

From left owners D and Rosanna, Bianca Martinez and Marty Styles (organizer of the Ventura County Vegans) Photo by Jeff Sloane

The Rabbit Hole Café is located at 30651 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Unit H Agoura Hills, CA 91301

IN MY QUEST TO FIND DINING EXPERIENCES that support my compassionate lifestyle, I stumbled upon (or should I say, into) The Rabbit Hole Café in Agoura. I heard about this wonderful café through my friend and fellow organizer of the Ventura County Vegans, Marty Styles. We decided to check it out and invite the “veg gang” for a late lunch one Saturday afternoon. The vibe was cozy and inviting with a few tables inside and out, along with larger “community” size tables that could easily encourage an impromptu conversation with someone over tea and scones.

Rosanna and her partner D, owners of the Rabbit Hole Café welcomed us and helped us find all the delicious vegan options they offer, including roasted paninis, pizzas, burgers, salads, soups and bakery items (some gluten free). I was happy to see that they supported a non-GMO policy and used organic cooking oils and fresh produce in their dishes.

The Rabbit Hole Café does offer some meat and dairy items, but there’s plenty to choose from for those who are inclined to avoid animal products. They have almond, soy and coconut milk alternatives for all their lattes and coffee drinks and also have a wonderful selection of teas that come in a French press served with a hand-made ceramic mug (I love real mugs!).

After ordering and sitting down at our table, I took in the room’s ambiance and found some delightful artwork depicting images of the famous Alice in Wonderland characters. Many in the old pen-and-ink style found from the original children’s novel. The décor reminded me of something out of the early 19th century with a few modern twists. There was definitely a strong, loving vibe, the kind of feeling you get when you visit someplace where people are passionate about what they do.

There were so many tasty options available - it was hard to choose!

I ended up with the vegan panini with hummus and roasted veggies, and a side kale salad with peanut ginger lime dressing. I also sampled their amazing sweet potato fries that were served in a big metal funnel lined with waxed paper and little dipping sauces on the side, perfect for sharing. I couldn’t leave without tasting the vegan stroganoff, which was uniquely spiced and available in an eco-friendly “take home and bake” package.

The Rabbit Hole Café definitely has a wholesomeness about it. The food is pure and comforting; like having a meal at a friend’s home that is made with love and no artificial flavor additives or processed ingredients. If I lived a little closer, I would make it a regular stop. For those who do live in and around Agoura Hills, it’s worth the adventure and who knows - you might make a new friend over tea!

Bianca Martinez is an artist, public speaker and author of the book, Compassionate Eating Conscious Consumption for Mind, Body Spirit & Planet. She also teaches organic vegan cooking classes in Ventura, CA. For more information please visit compasionateating.com

DECEMBER 2012

yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 9

SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN

pain management

DON’T LET PAIN HANDICAP YOUR HOLIDAYS! RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT NON-RESTORATIVE SLEEP CAN EXACERBATE CHRONIC PAIN.

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Start shopping early in the season so you don’t have the added pressure of racing around at the last minute.

Make a gift list—and stick to it—so you can keep your shopping streamlined.

By Travis Johnston Community Relations Liaison PMIR Medical Center

Wear comfortable clothing.

Make sure you bring any medication you might need with you.

Park in a place that minimizes the amount of walking you’ll have to do.

Plan frequent breaks so you can sit down, rest and recharge.

Tips from PMIR Medical Center on how to manage chronic pain during the holiday season.

FOR MOST PEOPLE, THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A SPECIAL TIME OF WARMTH, GOOD CHEER—AND HIGH ANXIETY. Too many weeks of holiday shopping, socializing and travel can take their toll and leave even the most exuberant among us feeling burned out and exhausted. If you are one of the more than 100 million Americans suffering with chronic pain, the holidays can be particularly challenging. Navigating your way through holiday obligations while in pain is hard work—and keeping your pain under control with proper pain management is a daily commitment and not something that can be put on hold until the holidays are over. The good news is that with a little planning and a few precautions, you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season in spite of your pain.

USE THE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOLKIT When pain is constant, pain management must be consistent. The Harvard- and UCLA-trained physicians at Pain Management and Injury Relief (PMIR) Medical Center encourage their patients to take an active role in the pain management process. “We know that schedules get overbooked and routines can break down over the holidays, but we stress to our patients the importance of staying on top of their pain management,” says Dr. Alexander Hersel, pain management specialist and founder of PMIR Medical Center.

“In addition to taking any medication that has been prescribed, it’s important to stay as active as your doctor has recommended,” says Mahyar Okhovat, a neurologist at PMIR Medical Center. “The right amount of exercise can help keep your pain under control.” Regular workouts boost the production of feel-good endorphins that can help reduce chronic pain. Those same endorphins can also prevent your muscles from weakening, your joints from stiffening, and extra pounds from piling up—each of which can worsen chronic pain. And don’t forget to get plenty of sleep. Research has shown that nonrestorative sleep can exacerbate chronic pain, so even though you may be tempted to burn the candle at both ends over the holidays, opt for a solid night of sleep instead.

MAKE YOUR LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE When it’s time to get going on your holiday shopping, try to keep it simple. You may want to consider online shopping, which is a lot easier on the body than traveling to a shopping center, walking from store to store, and carrying an assortment of packages. But if you do decide that only a trip to the mall will do, be sure to follow a few simple guidelines:

Consider using a cart you can push instead of carrying your packages.

GET READY TO CELEBRATE Quite often, people who suffer from chronic pain feel isolated and alone. Socializing isn’t as easy as it was before pain entered into the everyday equation; therefore many people simply stop making plans with friends and family. But the holidays hold a special allure, so many chronic pain sufferers put in the extra effort to take part in the festivities of the season. To successfully handle the social aspects of the holidays, you need a healthy dose of pragmatism. In other words, try to keep your social schedule realistic. By eliminating social activities that seem more obligatory than fun, you can save your time and energy for plans that hold the most meaning for you.

But wherever you go, you can be sure that tempting holiday foods will take center stage. If you suffer from a chronic pain condition, you’ll want to remember that certain foods can cause inflammation in the body that can make your pain worse. These include fried foods, refined flour and sugar, saturated fats, soft drinks, processed meats, caffeine and alcohol. Let yourself sample a few rich items—after all, it is the holidays—but make sure you primarily choose foods that won’t aggravate your pain, such as fruits, veggies, salads and lean proteins.

TRAVEL SMART If you’re planning to travel this holiday season, you’re not alone. More than 90 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between now and the end of the year. Traveling in a compressed container at 30,000 feet or stuck behind the steering wheel of a car on a long trip can be very uncomfortable if you have a chronic pain condition. Traveling with chronic pain involves proper planning and preparation—and it’s often best to get your physician involved. “We want our patients to tell us about their holiday travel plans so we can help them make choices that can make their trip a bit easier,” says Dr. Hersel. “We can recommend the best method of travel based on the patient’s condition, make sure they have any medication or equipment they may need to manage their pain while they’re away, and counsel them on any physical limitations they need to observe.”

continued >>

DECEMBER 2012

yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 11

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SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN

pain management

PMIR Medical Specialists recommend a few key pain management tips for traveling: Get a lot of rest the day before you travel.

Pace yourself and take frequent rest stops as you make your way to your destination—and plan down time for recuperating when you get there.

Move your body at least once an hour. If you’re traveling by car, pull over and walk a bit. If you’re traveling by plane, get up from your seat and stretch your back, knees and shoulders. Stretching can keep your muscles elongated and improve circulation in the muscles and joints.

If you travel by plane, try to choose flights that are nonstop or direct; changing planes can be stressful and tiring.

If you’re driving, play soothing music that can help you remain calm.

Use a lumbar cushion or neck pillow, as needed.

Be honest about your physical limitations so friends and family members don’t have unreasonable expectations of you during your travels.

MAKE IT A HAPPY, HEALTHY HOLIDAY

WEEKEND

The holidays can be a magical time of year— in spite of your pain—if you set some basic ground rules for enjoying them. Above all else, nurture your physical health by eating right, exercising and balancing activity with relaxation. With the right planning, and the right help from your pain management team, you can be well on your way to make your holiday wishes come true.

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HEALTH VIEW 1

Part 4: LTC Meeting Needs

Planning For Life’s Transitions:

METAMORPHOSIS OF AGING

By Carol Knowles

This is the fourth of a series of articles by the author on comprehensive long term care, financial and estate planning.

MARGARET MITCHELL WROTE IN GONE WITH THE WIND IN 1930 THAT “DEATH, TAXES AND CHILDBIRTH! There’s never any convenient time for any of them!” The same can be said for aging. We fantasize about an immortal life, go under the knife and spend a fortune on products to camouflage or slow down the process, but inevitably at some point we all are going down that path.

Aging in the ‘good ole days’ meant having our adult children shoulder our needs at home or ending up in a nursing home.

The elderly became invisible members of society, tucked away until they passed. Demographics, baby boomers, extended life expectancy and prolonged active living, personal finances and the fiscal ramifications on the nation for needs are forcing change and affording us more options.

Life-altering needs seldom come with a forewarning. We need to accept responsibility for being prepared for our future.

PROTECTIVE VS. REACTIVE CARE

Gastric bypass surgery used to be a procedure of last resort for those with significant weight issues until it was recognized that weight control usually averts multiple health concerns and relevant medical bills. Help with graceful aging should be viewed in the same light. It can be a taxing emotional transition, one which family members should encourage to better assure the safety and well being of a loved one.

Red flags of aging can be a poor diet and hygiene, rancid food in the refrigerator, forgetting to take medications or taking the wrong ones in inappropriate dosages, dehydration, disheveled and unclean living spaces, missed doctor’s appointments, stacks of unopened mail and unpaid bills, kitchen fires, and dead batteries in smoke detectors. Lack of attention to the basic needs of everyday living can be triggered by an increasing sense of isolation, loss of friends, distance from loved ones, physical challenges that impact mobility and cognitive deterioration brought on by lack of stimulus and/or dementia. Falls are an all too common outcrop, frequently resulting in irreversible physical and mental deterioration.

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DEMENTIA PATIENTS ARE EASILY UPSET BY CHANGE AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE, SHOULD NOT BE MOVED AS THEIR DISEASE PROGRESSES.

Myles McNamara, president/owner of Comfort Keepers of Santa Clarita and Certified Senior Advisor, has staff members make daily visits to engage clients in conversation and teamwork to get tasks done, thereby evoking mental and social stimulus, physical exercise and an overall healthier environment. They keep an inhome journal to benefit other caregivers who may subsequently get involved, as well as family members.

Well couples and individuals are electing to relinquish the trials and expense of maintaining a single household for the security of community living tailored to various needs and lifestyle preferences. Those same people are increasingly choosing to stay in their private facility housing and have caregivers come to them when they fall ill, rather than be separated or moved to another onsite building.

OPTIONS FOR EXTENDED NEEDS

Home-based care is becoming more common; individuals are choosing to live out their end-days in the home and have in-home care providers.

Facility care is defined by insurance carriers as any location outside the home licensed and appropriately staffed to provide the services it claims to offer.

Residential Care facilities are usually single family homes converted to accommodate on average six residents with an onsite service provider who prepares meals, offers some activities, and limited personal care.

Assisted Living facilities offer conjoined private living space with a centralized dining and social area. Residents get help with basic needs of daily living and physical therapy.

Dementia facilities meet round-the-clock necessities of the cognitively impaired.

Skilled Nursing facilities, previously known as nursing homes, offer 24/7 care for those with dementia and/or medical issues.

Tiered facilities accommodate residents on a single campus with independent and assisted living and dementia care.

The Jewish Home for the Aged is a tiered facility in Reseda, CA with a comprehensive program for residents whose average length of stay is over seven years and age on admission 84. They are developing an outreach program to accommodate a growing waiting list by bringing facility-type services to private residences.

HOW TO PLAN FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Initiate a conversation with loved ones about the manner in which you would like future needs met.

Even if you prefer to have your needs met at home, visit area facilities to find out what they offer and to determine what features appeal to you in the event you would be better served outside the home in the future.

Be financially prepared to the best of your ability.

Become familiar with the cost of different care options. continued >>

DECEMBER 2012

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HEALTH VIEW 1

Part 4: LTC Meeting Needs

Long term care insurance policies customarily apply equally in the home or in a facility, when your healthcare provider feels a change of health is going to be extended (go beyond 90 days) and impact your ability to do at least two of six Activities of Daily Living – bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and/or transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair on your own) and/or you are cognitively impaired.

If you elect to go into a tiered facility while you are healthy, you will be responsible for relevant expenses.

Make certain all your affairs are in order and kept current while you are well.

BEWARE Aging sometimes rekindles memories of traumatic past experiences.

Caregivers should be well informed so they can serve you efficiently and compassionately.

Dementia patients are easily upset by change and whenever possible, should not be moved as their disease progresses.

The IRS considers anyone who hires a caregiver privately to be an employer. Applicants for caregiver positions should go through a criminal background check and have their credentials and identity verified.

Private parties securing an individual for caregiving should get liability and workmen’s compensation insurances. They must match employee state- and federal-mandated payroll taxes and file W-2 forms annually.

There is no statute of limitation on employee compensatory rights.

Unscrupulous caregivers victimize the elderly by increasingly isolating them, capitalize on their dependence to the point where some victims rewrite their will and give the caregiver access to their bank accounts.

Once the client passes, caregivers can file for unemployment and divulge the name of the person for whom they had rendered service, thereby triggering an IRS investigation that could backlash on family members and the estate.

Abuse of the aged is on the rise. Sadly, the greatest offenders are family members and caregivers. Family and friends should monitor elderly loved ones under some else’s care. The family member who may be most readily available to help grandma may be unstable or on drugs and abusive. Caregiving is emotionally and physically exhausting and often compromises your health. Don’t assume responsibility for helping a person in need if you cannot or will not do so effectively and with compassion.

So, what is your plan?

Many thanks to Myles McNamara, President/owner, Comfort Keepers of Santa Clarita, 661.287.4200, scv@comfortkeepers.com, and Molly Forrest, President/CEO, Jewish Home for the Aged, 818.774.2000, www.jha.org for their contributions to this piece.

Next month in part 5 of this series, the author will address life’s end journey.

Carol Knowles is an insurance broker (CA license No. 0F20048) specializing in longterm care planning. She is also a community leader and advocate, heightening public awareness of a broad spectrum of social issues. For more information, call 805.405.2589, e-mail ltc.insurance@yahoo.com, or visit www.carolknowles.com.

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HEALTH VIEW 2

hearing & hearing aids

What You Haven’t Heard in a Long Time!

Hearing and Hearing Aids

By Rick Hand

NOW THAT THE KIDS ARE GROWN and you have more time to spend on your own pursuits, don’t forget to have your hearing checked. Just as you schedule routine checkups with your doctor or your dentist, a yearly visit to your hearing healthcare provider should be on your calendar.

BE AWARE OF YOUR HEARING

How often or how many times have you sensed your hearing has slowly become deficient and you may have a hearing loss? Do you ask others to repeat themselves because you’re not quite sure what they said? Do others say they always have to turn the TV volume up for you? Do you have trouble hearing others on the telephone or in business situations?

Do you have trouble discerning conversation in crowded places? Do you have ringing in your ears?

REVEALING STATISTICS AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 36 million Americans and three in 10 people over the age of 60 have some form of hearing loss. One in six baby boomers aged 41 to 59 have a hearing problem.

Many people are aware they have a hearing loss but are reluctant to seek help. Perhaps they don’t want to acknowledge the problem, are embarrassed by what they see as a weakness, or believe that they can get by without any assistance. Many people even use the excuse, “At my age, I don’t need to hear as well as I used to, so why bother?”

The truth is, hearing loss has many side effects beyond a weakened ability to communicate or hear what others say. Medical studies show that hearing loss has serious impacts on one’s professional as well as personal life, at times leading to isolation and withdrawal.

ONE IN SIX BABY BOOMERS AGED 41 TO 59 HAVE A HEARING PROBLEM.

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These studies have linked untreated hearing loss to irritability, anger and negativism; fatigue, tension, stress and depression; social rejection and loneliness; impaired memory and inability to learn new tasks; reduced job performance and earning power; reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety; and diminished psychological and overall health.

Think about whether you have experienced any of these symptoms.

“

79 percent of people who seek help and use hearing aids are satisfied with them and 86 percent are satisfied with the benefit they derive from hearing aid use.

“

A SANITY CHECK IS EASY AND SMART

Even if you haven’t noticed problems with your hearing, health professionals recommend you have your hearing checked regularly once you turn 65. Hearing tests typically take less than an hour and can be conducted by your physician or an audiologist at a qualified hearing center. Your results will be plotted on a graph, called an audiogram, interpreted by the hearing health professional, and used to recommend the best form of corrective treatment. Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing impairment.

According to a recent study of 2000 hearing aid users by the Better Hearing Institute, 79 percent of people who seek help and use hearing aids are satisfied with them and 86 percent are satisfied with the benefit they derive from hearing aid use.

In fact, 82 percent of hearing aid users would recommend hearing aids to their friends and family.

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HEARING AIDS ARE DISCREET

Have you ever heard someone say, “I can’t picture myself wearing hearing aids; they’re way too big!” or “My friend has hearing aids and they don’t work for her!”

In the past several years all the major hearing aid manufacturers have introduced stronger and smaller products, ones that fit deep inside the canal and cannot be seen, or small aids that fit discreetly behind the ear and in most instances blend in with skin and hair color.

Some people have hearing aids and don’t wear them for numerous reasons. But in most cases it’s because they didn’t get the right hearing aid for their needs and/or they weren’t fitted properly, which requires follow up visits.

SELECT THE RIGHT PROVIDER

Your hearing aid supplier and practitioner are just as important as your hearing aid itself. Talking to your personal physician can often lead to a referral. Make sure you seek an experienced and honorable provider, one who will be thorough in their examination and who, if they recommend hearing aids, will allow you try them for a period of time before you make a financial commitment.

Your provider should be close to your home, since follow up visits are important to make sure your fit is comfortable and accurate. Not only are you buying hearing aids, but you are creating a relationship with your hearing healthcare provider, so make sure you trust them and feel comfortable in their care.

Be mindful—hearing aids do not replace what your ears and brain used to hear— but if you find a quality product and are under the care of an experienced, personable provider, you will discover and hear things you haven’t heard in a long time.

Schedule a hearing test today!

Here’s to better hearing!

Visit Conejo Hearing Center at 5655 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, call 818.991.3804 or visit www.conejohearingcenter.com.

DECEMBER 2012

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HEALTH VIEW 3

holiday tips for your leg health

Holiday Tips for Your

LEG HEALTH

By Gregory Albaugh, D.O., FACS, FAPWCA

WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD BLOOD FLOW DOWN YOUR LEGS BUT ARE EXPERIENCING KNEE PAIN, YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN SHOULD EVALUATE YOU FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS OF YOUR KNEE.

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“

Lymphedema is impossible to cure. The goal of therapy is to control the swelling and maintain the function of the limb.

NORMAL LEGS CAN SWELL

Legs swell when you are standing. This is due to the density of water and the law of gravity.

Water travels in the blood in your arteries.

As the channels get smaller and smaller, the pressure pushes water out of the vessels and the cells bathe in the liquid.

On the other side of the capillaries, the protein in the blood draws the water back into the cell and back to the heart. When you stand or sit for long periods of time the protein cannot pull all the water back and your legs swell over time.

This can happen in people with totally normal leg veins. After a busy day at the mall while you sleep and dream of sugar plum fairies, the extra water is moved out of the legs via the lymphatic system.

Most seasoned holiday shoppers know their limits. Problems with knees, ankles and muscles show up gradually and folks usually have some idea what causes the pain and what makes it better.

ABNORMAL SWELLING

The swelling is sometimes more serious.

Pain in the limbs is an obvious concern.

Legs can have different pains and sorting them out requires an expert. Despite that it is still a good idea to educate yourself about the types of pain. Pain can be muscular, vascular, orthopedic, neurologic, infectious, traumatic and so on.

“

AS YOU ARE GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON YOU WILL PROBABLY BE USING YOUR LEGS QUITE A BIT. Even if you are one of those Internet shoppers and had your work done and delivered in August, you probably will still hit the pavement for that one last gift. There are some important facts to know about your legs before hitting the malls—an owner’s manual if you will.

VENOUS REFLUX

In the previous example, pressure generated by the heart drove water into the tissues. All the veins of your legs have valves in them which allow the blood to travel from your feet to your heart when the process reverses. The valves close when the blood tries to be pulled back down by gravity.

With some conditions, the valves stop working and the blood is allowed to fall back down to the feet. Because blood is mostly water, it has a significant weight. The pressure pushes the water into the tissues, but to a much greater degree than normal.

Again, when we are sleeping, the extra fluid is moved out of the legs by the lymphatic system. This cycle continues every day and over time the swelling and discomfort get worse. This is called venous reflux and although usually not dangerous, it has the potential to make you miserable.

Venous reflux can cause pain but not always. The type of pain is usually an ache or a throbbing during the day which gets better at night or when the legs are elevated. The chronic stretching of the veins can lead to spasms or cramps at night.

These can be severe enough to wake you up and make you jump out of bed.

INFECTIONS AND INJURY

Deep Vein Thrombosis Other things that can make your legs swell usually are painful and include infections and injury. If you have swelling and pain in an area of your leg, it is best to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Deep vein thrombosis can cause swelling and pain. This is the most dangerous condition and needs to be worked up by your physician.

Lymphedema The exception to the pain rule is a condition called lymphedema. This is painless swelling that occurs because of some injury or obliteration of the channels that carry the extra water out of your legs. This condition can happen spontaneously or it can follow some type of injury, surgery or infection.

Lymphedema is impossible to cure. The goal of therapy is to control the swelling and maintain the function of the limb. In my practice I advocate the use of lymphatic drainage massage to help work the fluid out of the tissues, plus some type of external compression device to help maintain this state in the limb.

ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY

Peripheral Arterial Disease The other type of pain I deal with often is related to arterial insufficiency. The term used for pain in the calf muscles when walking a certain distance is called claudication. This is pain in a muscle when the demand to the muscle exceeds the supply. The muscles spill acid which results in pain.

This pain is relieved by stopping the activity and resting. After a few minutes the person is able to resume the activity.

This type of pain is very reproducible. For example, if it occurs after two blocks, it will occur every time after two blocks. The distance will be shorter when you go up hill and longer when you go downhill due to the changes in work requirements. continued >>

DECEMBER 2012

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Being the Man Y You ou W Want ant to Be Your Your Life In Y our Relatonships and in Y our Lif e

“Be a Better Dad & Husband” J

J J

FREE 15-minute phone consultation

HEALTH VIEW 3

holiday tips for your leg health

This type of pain indicates peripheral arterial disease and should be evaluated by a vascular surgeon. If claudication is present it signifies that you have arterial disease and the narrowing or occlusions are significant.

The chance this will require loss of a limb is low—only 0.5 percent. But the risk is not zero and appropriate evaluation by a qualified vascular surgeon is in your best interest.

Most of the time folks who have more serious vascular disease are not going to embark on a marathon mall shopping spree. As vascular disease progresses you start to experience the pain in your legs when walking shorter distances.

As it advances further, you can experience pain in your calves or feet when sleeping and the only way to make it better is to get out of bed and walk around or simply hang your leg off the side of the bed. If you are experiencing these types of symptoms, you need to see a vascular surgeon as soon as possible.

KNEE PAIN

Wayne M. Levine, M.A. Life Coach/Director

818.879.1600 BetterMenCoaching.com BetterMenCoaching.com

Knee problems are very common as our population ages. The cartilage in your knees can deteriorate over time. When you walk, two cushions per knee act as shock absorbers with every step. Each shock absorber is called a meniscus.

As the meniscus thins out, the bones in your knee rub together, resulting in increased pain and decreased mobility.

When you have good blood flow down your legs but are experiencing knee pain, your primary care physician should evaluate you for osteoarthritis of your knee. When the damage becomes severe enough it is often necessary to replace the knee joint through a surgical procedure.

If the arthritis continues for a prolonged period of time there can be inflammation inside the knee joint. This causes the lubricating lining of the knee to become inflamed and to weep excess fluid. This excess fluid can cause outpouchings of the inner lining, resulting in a cystic structure located behind your knee. This can cause further pain and swelling. The term for these outpouchings is a Baker’s cyst. Sometimes the inflammation can be treated and the symptoms from these can go away.

During this season, your legs will become important as you become the emissary for holiday treats and gifts. Your legs need to be strong as you embark on the journey to find the perfect gift for each of those on your list. You have many more holidays to forge through, so it’s always a good idea to listen to your legs.

If you take care of them they will take care of you.

Dr. Albaugh is board certified in both General and Vascular surgery. He has been with Coastal Vascular Center since 2004 with offices in both Camarillo and Oxnard. He is currently the Director of Peripheral Vascular Lab at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and the Director of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment and Wound Care Center at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital. For more information, visit www.coastalvascularcenter.com

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DECEMBER 2012

Remember how youthful your legs used to look and feel?

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DECEMBER 2012

yhcMAGAZINE.COM | 23

HEALTH VIEW 4

love affair

Is There a

LOVE AFFAIR in Your Home?

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, what you’re doing, where you’re going, or with whom you’re speaking, you’ve got an underlying thought in your head that’s influencing your every move, word, and decision.

When you go to work, you might be thinking, “It’s only Wednesday? You’ve got to be kidding,” or, “I can’t wait to kick ass today!” When you’re sitting in the bleachers at your son’s hockey practice, your thought could be, “When do these ridiculous 4 a.m. practices end?” or, “I wouldn’t want to be any place else.”

And when you’re about to open the door to your house to greet your wife, your thought could be, “What fresh hell awaits me today?” or, “There’s a love affair in our home.”

This underlying thought is your context. Your context affects every move you make.

Every gesture, word, thought, and all of your energy is coming from this place, whether

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By Wayne M. Levine Director, BetterMen Coaching

you’re aware of it. You can’t fake your context, no matter how smart you think you are. You might believe you can fake it, but those around you—who are paying attention—will know. Your wife definitely knows!

So, to have the kind of relationship you’d like, you’ll want to begin with a new context. Consider the sea change that could take place in your home when you jettison your current, negative context and replace it with there’s a love affair in our home.

What does a love affair look like? It would probably include doses of intimacy, great sex, humor, generosity, mutual respect and support, love, adventure, compassion, patience, and romance. And what would you need to change to cause all of this to happen?

When you embrace this context of, there’s a love affair in our home, it’s with you 24/7. It’s there when you wake up, when you receive a call from her during the day, when she asks you to do something around the house, and when the two of you need to figure out how to discipline your hormonal teenagers. When you commit to this new context, it now redefines everything you do with regard to your wife.

You’ll now willingly comply with her reasonable requests. You’ll think of new and creative ways to show her you love her.

You’ll be a better listener because you’re conscious about caring for her. You’ll make life together more about her than about you.

And as a result, you’ll bring her closer to you. You’ll continue to grow as a man, seek out wisdom, read books, and connect with other men who can support you to maintain this fabulous new context of yours.

When there’s a love affair in your home, not only will it impact your marriage, it’ll also provide a new and superior example to your children. Your kids are watching and absorbing everything you do and say. And when what you do doesn’t

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Wayne M. Levine is the director of BetterMen Coaching in Agoura Hills, CA. He teaches men to be the best men, fathers, and husbands they can be through individual, couples, and group coaching, both in office and via phone. Wayne is also author of the best-selling Hold On to Your N.U.T.s—The Relationship Manual for Men. Find out more and get a copy of Wayne’s book at BetterMenCoaching.com.

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align with what you say, the kids are aware of that, too. Again, you can’t fake your context.

For the most part, your son is going to grow up to be a man much like you. Your daughter will find a man very much like her daddy. If you maintain your current, less-than-stellar context, your kids will reflect that choice as adults. And what you show them will live on for future generations.

Think about it. How did you become the man you are? Where did you learn to be a man in your relationships? You probably inherited much of what you know and do from your dad, who got it from his dad. And so it will go. It’s called legacy.

A few of you lucky men witnessed a love affair in your parents’ home. You saw what a loving relationship looks like, and how that mutual respect affects everything that happens in a home.

But for the rest of us—most of us— we have to make a conscious choice to learn a new way of relating to our wife so that we can have a healthy marriage, and raise children who will seek out healthy relationships of their own.

When you decide to embody the context, there’s a love affair in our home, you will be in love with the results. And generations to come will be impacted by the legacy that you’ve chosen to create.

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NATURAL APPROACH

holiday hormones

HIGH LEVELS OF CORTISOL AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED THYROID FUNCTION.

Dancing Holiday

HORMONES

By Dr. Sharon Norling

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You are not alone. The good news is these symptoms have solutions.

Balancing your body’s various systems is a delicate dance and one that requires experience and information. Finding the answers to your health is a process of putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

The key is finding the cause of the symptoms. It is a matter of testing, not guessing.

If your symptoms are due to a: • Hormonal imbalance • Neurotransmitter (NT) changes • Thyroid condition • Adrenal fatigue • Nutrient deficiency • Toxins You really can’t fix a problem unless you know the cause.

When the hormones and neurotransmitters are balanced, nutrient deficiencies resolved, and toxins eliminated you will be on the road to optimal health.

HORMONAL BALANCE Let’s start with celebrating the sex hormones. The imbalances in the sex hormones cause symptoms and health risks. As a woman are you experiencing anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, pain, fatigue, brain fog, carbohydrate cravings, lack of motivation, muscle weakness, difficulty losing weight, hot flashes AND low libido? Or, as a man, are you experiencing irritability, loss of energy, muscle-wasting, increased body fat, osteoporosis, low libido, loss of an erection and depression? Recent research also shows that low testosterone also increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), insulin resistance, and increased mortality from CVD and cancer.

These symptoms are not a sign of growing older or created in your head.

They are the result of hormonal imbalance and can occur at any age. They often are due to estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone deficiency—and, yes, that includes men and women. They may also be due to low thyroid, an adrenal imbalance, or a neurotransmitter change—neurotransmitters are the chemicals found mostly in the brain that affects all our moods, actions, and mental clarity.

To get the best results and achieve optimum health these systems must be tested and treated appropriately, using specific targeted natural amino acids, nutrients, and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

“

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS? Perhaps you have some “mixed” feelings as you look forward to family, friends and all the celebrations. You love the season and the festivities but may be thinking, “I wish I felt better.” If only you had more energy, more focus, were sleeping better, had less pain, and were experiencing less anxiety and depression. While the foods are a big part of the celebrations, you wish you had fewer cravings and that your stomach felt better.

“

Don’t just settle for a TSH test. That is not enough to give you the answers you need to evaluate your thyroid. Have a comprehensive test that includes free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TSH, and thyroid antibodies.

(BHRT). BHRT is a natural effective hormone replacement without the side effects of typically prescribed pharmaceutical drugs.

We know that hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in women decreases osteoporosis, colon cancer, menopausal symptoms, and supports mental function. Recent studies also show a decrease in diabetes.

But what about sex? Sexual activity at baseline in the Women’s Health Initiative study (WHI) was 60.7 percent in ages 50-59, 44.9 percent in ages 6069, and 28.2 percent in ages 70-79. Most of the participants were satisfied with their current sexual activity (63.2 percent). Of those dissatisfied, 57 percent of the women preferred more sexual activity. HRT was associated with a higher percentage of participants reporting sexual activity.

Since neurotransmitters affect hormones and hormones affect neurotransmitters, their imbalances can lead to increased symptoms and chronic illnesses.

continued >>

DECEMBER 2012

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NATURAL APPROACH

holiday hormones

NEUROTRANSMITTERS Neurotransmitters include the inhibitory serotonin and GABA, and excitatory norepinephrine NE), epinephrine (EPI), glutamate, and dopamine. Neurotransmitter imbalances can cause a wide range of mental, physical, and emotional symptoms. For example, low levels of serotonin can cause anxiety, depression, pain, lack of motivation, insomnia, and carbohydrate cravings. In December you really need normal levels of serotonin!

If your neurotransmitters are not in balance, brain fog will occur. Low levels of dopamine, nor-epinephrine, epinephrine, or glutamate create lack of focus and low brain function. Once tested, the individual can be treated with specific amino acids to correct the imbalance for better brain function.

THYROID Maybe you have had your thyroid tested and it is “normal.” Do you have fatigue, weight gain, constipation, depression, pain, fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, memory loss, loss of the outer most eyebrows, or decreased libido? The cause can be low thyroid.

Many times hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) is misdiagnosed.

Thyroid hormones have direct effects on most organs, including the heart which beats faster and harder under the influence of thyroid hormones. Optimal thyroid function affects every cell in our body. On a cellular level, there can be no optimal nutrition absorption, detoxification of wastes or stimulation of oxygen consumption without adequate thyroid balance.

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Don’t just settle for a TSH test. That is not enough to give you the answers you need to evaluate your thyroid. Have a comprehensive test that includes free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TSH, and thyroid antibodies.

CORTISOL & YOUR ADRENALS High levels of cortisol and inflammatory markers have been associated with decreased thyroid function. High levels of cortisol (which can also be caused by high stress levels, low testosterone, etc.) can directly lead to suppression of pituitary TSH secretion, and can impair both thyroid and serotonin function.

Do you find yourself saying things like, “Help, I want to feel better for the holidays”?

Do you feel tired, suffer from lack of sleep, and have joint pain or muscle stiffness, frequently catch the flu or colds, feel anxious and depressed, and have headaches or gastrointestinal disturbances, difficulty concentrating or remembering, or experiencing various allergy symptoms? Do you have difficulty getting up in the morning, more fatigue from 3:00-5:00 PM, and get a second wind in the evening? Are you craving salt?

Do you feel lightheaded? Are you sensitive to loud noises? Do you or others see you as “not your old self”? You may have low cortisol and adrenal fatigue. Cortisol can be tested using specialty labs and easily treated.

You deserve to feel better celebrating the holidays and 2013 !

GOOD NUTRITION Nutrient deficiencies can cause or exacerbate all the symptoms. For example, low levels of Vitamin D can cause depression and a wide range of disorders. Nutrition is the most important tool for staying mentally and physically fit, and is by far the most underutilized tool. When you think about it, the only way we live and heal is by the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.

TOXINS Toxins can create mood disorders and compromise every system in the body. Choose your personal skin care, food, and cleaning products carefully buying only the least toxic. www.EWG.org is good resource.

See a biological dentist to remove any amalgams (silver fillings) and avoid having more toxins put in your mouth. Be tested to determine if you have toxins and then have them safely removed through specific medically approved supplements and intravenous IV therapies.

I know this might sound complicated, but sometimes dances are. However, a physician who is trained in proper testing, diagnoses, and treatment of multiple bodily systems can guide you and show you the steps.

Functional Medicine is a field of specialty that has a systems approach - finding the cause for the symptoms and treating the whole person. Managing the transitions, prolonging life and preserving a healthy, active lifestyle are the basis of Functional Medicine. The approach to achieving these important goals is to normalize as many hormones as possible by using natural approaches primarily and conventional pharmacology only when indicated.

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Remember, hormone balance not only includes the hormones of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, but also thyroid, adrenal and neurotransmitter hormones. All these systems and hormones interact and support each other. They are the dancing hormones and you don’t want them to miss a step.

Enjoy a balanced, healthy holiday season!

Dr. Sharon Norling brings a lifetime of education, training and passion in both conventional and natural medicine. Using specialized testing she finds the root cause of symptoms and illnesses and uses effective natural medicine whenever possible. For more information on these topics please see her book, Your Doctor Is Wrong. Her practice is in Westlake Village, CA 818-707-9355.

DECEMBER 2012

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HEALTHY AGING

dementia part 2: types of dementia

Different Types of

DEMENTIA

By Mariana Conti

IN LAST MONTH’S ARTICLE ABOUT DEMENTIA YOU LEARNED THAT DEMENTIA IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE A CLUSTER OF SYMPTOMS WHICH INDICATE THE BRAIN IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD. These symptoms may include problems like shortand long-term memory loss, impaired judgment, confusion and disorientation.

Sometimes the cause of dementia symptoms can be treated.

Dementia caused by side effects or interactions of medications, changes in hormone levels, malnourishment, acute intoxication and depression can usually be reversed.

Unfortunately, most of the time dementia is caused by a progressive disease. This means that the symptoms get worse over time in spite of medical treatment. Although a few medications on the market can temporarily slow down the destruction of brain tissue, there are no cures for the most common diseases causing dementia.

A short list of these illnesses include the following.

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer's disease, also known as AD, is the most common cause of dementia. This is why you often hear the two terms used interchangeably. Although there is a genetic component to some types of Alzheimer's, especially early-onset AD, the most common risk factor is advancing age. Studies suggest that nearly half of people over the age of 85 show symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease damages the brain by causing a sticky substance called amyloid plaques to form on the surface. At the same time, the neurons in the brain become tangled and unable to effectively carry information from one part of the brain to the other.

AD first attacks the part of the brain that converts short-term memories into long-term memories. That is why a person with Alzheimer's may remember every detail about his or her first kiss but can't remember the conversation he or she had with you five minutes ago. The disease spreads until all functions of the brain, even automatic functions like breathing and swallowing, are compromised.

PEOPLE WITH VASCULAR DEMENTIA OFTEN EXPERIENCE LONG PLATEAUS DURING WHICH THEIR DEMENTIA DOES NOT GROW BETTER OR WORSE.

VASCULAR DEMENTIA

Vascular dementia, sometimes referred to as multi-infarct dementia, occurs when a person experiences repeated strokes or transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs. These incidents prevent blood and oxy-

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Can I Do It Myself? gen from reaching certain parts of the brain. Deprived of nourishment, the brain cells quickly die.

The symptoms of vascular dementia depend upon where the damaged brain cells are located. As a general rule, however, personality and emotional responses usually remain normal until the disease process is very advanced.

People with vascular dementia often experience long plateaus during which their dementia does not grow better or worse. These plateaus may be followed by a sharp decrease in functioning as another stroke or TIA occurs. Although vascular dementia cannot be cured, it can sometimes be controlled with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, smoking cessation, and initiating an exercise program.

LEWY BODY DEMENTIA

Lewy body dementia often causes symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease such as a shuffling gait or freezing while trying to walk. In Lewy body dementia, the brain cells develop abnormal structures, the Lewy bodies, which result in the death of those cells.

People with Lewy body dementia often do not experience memory loss until later in the disease process. The first signs of this type of dementia are often hallucinations, or seeing things that aren't really there. These hallucinations are usually more bewildering than frightening, and frequently involve seeing children or animals.

FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, occurs when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain begin to degenerate. Pick's disease is the most common type of FTD, and you may hear the terms used interchangeably.

Since the frontal lobe of the brain is the part of the brain that acts as a filter to prevent inappropriate speech or behavior, people with this type of dementia often show deficits in judgment. For instance, a person with frontotemporal dementia might suddenly yell out in a movie theater or start to remove his or her clothes in the middle of a restaurant.

Scientists believe there is a genetic component to FTD, and its victims are younger than the people who usually fall prey to dementia. The common age of onset is between 40 and 65. As with Lewy body disease, memory may remain intact until relatively late in the disease process.

CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, develops in some people who have experienced repetitive head trauma. Since the 1920s, doctors have been aware that boxers are prone to this condition, but specialists in sports medicine have reported cases in football players as well as other athletes who engage in contact sports.

Doctors believe CTE involves the release of a protein called tau that damages and kills nerve cells in the brain. Symptoms, which may not occur until decades after the initial injuries, include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulsiveness and aggression against self and others. CTE has, for instance, been suggested as a possible factor in the suicide of football player Junior Seau.

Although there is no cure for the diseases described above, public awareness of these conditions, teamed with growing medical sophistication, enables diagnosis in the early stages of the disease process when the person is still relatively cognitively intact. This gives the person with dementia —and his or her family—time to plan for what lies ahead.

One of the most important tasks a person with early stage dementia can accomplish is to meet with an attorney and make sure certain medical and legal documents are in place. The next article in this series will discuss the documents needed.

Mariana Conti has a BA in clinical psychology. She is the owner and founder of ContiCare Senior Living Referral and Placement Service. For more information, call 805.405.1424 or email info@conticare.net. You can also visit her website at www.conticare.net

Yes. You can. If you have the time and knowledge, managing your own investment portfolio can be intellectually and personally satisfying. However, even doit-yourself investors can benefit from the expertise of a financial professional.

A comprehensive viewpoint: A financial professional can help you see your savings and investments in relationship to your overall financial health and can provide advice on protecting your assets through insurance and careful estate planning.

Staying on track: It is a good idea to review your financial plan at least once a year. You’ll need to modify it when there are changes in your circumstance or in the economy.

Objectivity: A financial professional can provide a sober viewpoint and help you cut through media hype and chatter.

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NUTRITION

gluten free

GLUTEN

—WHY THE OBSESSION?

By Katie Greeley, DC, CACCP

The nature of my practice is that my clients are like extended family. We share great dialogue on all aspects of health and well-being. I always expose my patients to the latest research or information whether from a recent seminar, peer review research journal, local publication or social media.

In turn my patients know that I am always interested in all things to keep us healthy and wellinformed. Since we have a primary focus on pediatrics and family care, nutrition is something I strongly advocate. Some families need to look at diet and habits; for others we need to analyze their recent blood tests and see how they are functioning and trying to get ahead of problems by prevention.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO NUTRITION?

Recently in the last decade or so I have noticed a disturbing trend in the decline of our children’s health and diet. New documentaries have surfaced about the fast food epidemics and the decline in our food sources which has led to some elimination of sodas and junk food from our schools. But our children’s health continues to decline.

GLUTEN ALSO CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN TRIGLYCERIDES BY TRIGGERING FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS IN THE LIVER FROM THE STIMULATION OF INSULIN AND CAN INCREASE OUR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.

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Obesity, diabetes, stomach pains, and learning disorders are at an all-time high. Could it be that what we think is healthy for our children is really adding to the problem? A wonderful patient brought to my office a book she had recently read by William Davis, MD, called Wheat Belly. I was absolutely fascinated with the information and the great recipes presented. I have donemy best below to give a quick synopsis of what I know about gluten and what is discussed in much further detail in this book.

DECEMBER 2012

WHAT DOES GLUTEN DO?

Let’s talk about that pesky protein called gluten. It is in just about everything we eat and even if we don’t have a severe wheat allergy as experienced in Celiac disease, this pesky protein can still cause a lot of problems.

Gluten is the protein in bread that makes it chewy or doughy.

Why is wheat so bad for us? We have been told that the whole grain is good for our hearts, and what really is a meal without the rolls?

In a study showing the effects of the rise in blood sugar after consuming carbohydrates, table sugar had a rise of 59 on the glycemic index whereas whole grain wheat bread had a rise of 72. This means your toast in the morning causes higher blood sugar than eating sugar straight up, and that over time this will result in accumulation of glucose-insulin-fat deposits especially in the abdomen.

The higher the blood sugar, the more insulin must be released to move that sugar into the body’s cells such as liver and muscle. If our bodies cannot produce enough insulin from our pancreas then we will develop diabetes.

In fact, children with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes usually have a greater likelihood of having positive markers for Celiac disease and are 20 times more likely to develop Celiac disease.

Gluten also can cause an increase in triglycerides by triggering fatty acid synthesis in the liver from the stimulation of insulin and can increase our cholesterol levels. What is worse, not only does our blood sugar go sky high, but gluten has an unique ability to be degraded to a mix of polypeptides from the pepsin and HCL in our stomach, which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and bind to the brain’s morphine receptors.

“

In a study showing the effects of the rise in blood sugar after consuming carbohydrates, table sugar had a rise of 59 on the glycemic index whereas whole grain wheat bread had a rise of 72.

“

DECEMBER 2012

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NUTRITION

gluten free

Gluten is one of the few foods like ethanol in wine, that can alter behavior, induce pleasurable effects, and generate withdrawal symptoms upon its removal.

Wheat is also an appetite stimulant. It can make you want more cookies, pretzels, pizza, sandwiches, pastas, bagels and muffins.

So why are we having trouble with wheat now, when it seems like it was not such an issue 50 years ago? Most authorities on the subject speculate that with our new techniques in farming, crossbreeding and hybridization that we have changed the wheat plant genetically and now we are paying the price. Wheat used to be tall and flowing. Now it is short and stiff. We have managed to cross-breed traits that make the plant hardier and less likely to be destroyed by pests.

The question is now, how do we go about our day without eating gluten—it’s everywhere? And we are addicted to it. From our morning cereal or bagel, to the lunch sandwich, to our children’s snacks like goldfish, pretzels and PB&J sandwiches, we’re eating it. Then we move to dinner with our spaghetti or mac ’n cheese or breaded chicken. We can’t get away from the stuff.

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Many of us buy gluten-free pasta, chips, and other gluten-free foods, but too often those also convert to high blood sugar.

And while they will not cross your bloodbrain barrier, they will cause the same insulin surge in your body, contributing to all the effects such as high glucose and triglycerides and weight gain.

“

Gluten is one of the few foods like ethanol in wine, that can alter behavior, induce pleasurable effects, and generate withdrawal symptoms upon its removal.

“

THE SOLUTION

We need to start eating real food again— food that actually grows from the ground—not premade in cute little bags and boxes. We need fruits and veggies, meats and eggs, nuts and legumes. Have we actually stopped and thought about what a goldfish really is?

We have fabulous cookbooks and easy recipes that are very tasty. This is not so much a fad as something we all need to think about, especially if we are in the group already experiencing digestive health issues, ADHD or diabetes.

We need to involve our children in the prep work in the kitchen to get them excited to try new foods and take them to farms to show them how foods are grown.

They need to know that food doesn’t start in a box but rather from a seed that grows from the sun and water to give us nutrients that allow our bodies to grow.

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