What’s new in wellness? Getting off the beaten path, following your nose, wearing conscious clothing, eating exactly what your body needs, choosing your meditation wisely, and getting back to nature as prescribed by your doctor. And in the end, you’ll even have options for dying well. This is according to the Global Wellness Summit’s (GWS)… Read more »
March/April 2019
Dealing with a Diagnosis
- By Lauren Del Sarto
In January I was told I have breast cancer. The overwhelming news brought tears and the urge to crawl up in a ball and stay there forever. I didn’t want to face what lay ahead – more doctors, more tests, and many life-changing decisions to be made. How could this happen to me? You can’t… Read more »
With this issue, we learn that Apple’s top trending app category last year was mindfulness/meditation. Why do you think that is? Stress is certainly a major concern and it’s great to see people turning to valuable resources and learning how to cope. We’re taking steps, sharing our stories, consoling family and friends, and reaching out… Read more »
For fifteen years, CancerPartners (formerly Gilda’s Club Desert Cities) provided support and free services for those affected by cancer, their families and friends. The non-profit played an important role as hospitals and facilities delivered top medical care, but often left clients to figure out the rest on their own. CancerPartners filled that void as a… Read more »
On February 11, 2016, I heard the words no one wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.” I can still feel the slew of emotions if I close my eyes and take myself back to that time and place sitting in the doctor’s office, but I don’t close them any longer. I keep my eyes… Read more »
The Kinetic Chain and Tennis Injuries
- By Genyl “Neil” Rufino PT, DPT, CSCS
Tennis is one of the most iconic international sports commonly referred to as a lifetime sport, one in which individuals of all ages can compete at all levels. The physical demands of the sport dictate the ability to repetitively exert short bursts of speed, power and explosiveness over the course of the match. As a… Read more »
Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinal Changes
- By Greg Evans, OD
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) is a new non-invasive approach to visualizing retinal vasculature and is changing the way physicians see the retinal and choroid (layer below the retina) vasculature. The technology uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of the retina and is similar to ultrasound imaging, except that it uses light instead of… Read more »
Love Juice and the Fountain of Youth
- By Christina Fior
There are many luscious and mysterious chemicals that become activated in the body when we fall in love. These chemicals create a magic potion of sorts that bypasses the radar of our rational mind and creates a timeless state of euphoria. When we’re in love, we look brighter, happier and palpably more youthful. The key… Read more »
Minding Our Internal Control Tower
- By Kelly Lewallen, LMFT
So, you walk into your doctor’s office to find that it is filled with patients. They’re particularly busy, so you wonder if it’s a common cold or flu going around and whether you’re going to catch it. But the surprising truth is, the majority of patients seen in an outpatient clinic are coming in for… Read more »
It’s Wise to Evaluate Wisdom Teeth Early
- By Nicholas S. Baumann, DDS
The words ‘wisdom teeth’ make most people cringe as they evoke visions of discomfort and pain. It’s important to know a few things about wisdom teeth that can help you or someone you know avoid the horror stories you often hear. It’s believed that wisdom teeth were much more important in prehistoric humans but with… Read more »
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Then and Now
- By Jeffrey Herz, MD, and Bernadette M. Greenwood, BSc., PG Cert.
When a suspicion of prostate cancer exists either due to elevated or rising serum PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels, family history of prostate cancer, or abnormal prostate on clinical digital rectal examination, consideration should be given to either confirm a diagnosis or establish that no evidence of prostate cancer is present despite abnormal clinical evaluation… Read more »
Why Are My Eyes Always Sticky and Watery?
- By Jennifer I. Hui, MD
We don’t think about our eyes until they bother us. We count on them every day to function comfortably. But sometimes they are prone to discomfort. Common complaints include tearing, dry eyes, itching, discharge and general irritation. Tearing adversely affects visual function, causing blurry vision and the need to constantly dab the eyes. The eyelids… Read more »
Diabetes is a huge health concern in our country. More than 29 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM); another 86 million adults age 20 and over have pre-diabetes. A smaller, but significant number of Americans – 1.25 million – have Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Although T1DM typically occurs in children or adolescents,… Read more »
Women and Work: Creating Balance from the Inside Out
- By Laya Raznick, CHHC
What’s the foundation for a vibrant and inspired life? Balance. A return to homeostasis is the key for optimal functioning. This is no easy task in our busy culture, and especially difficult for working women. In honor of Women’s History Month, I looked at how women and work have evolved over time and what simple… Read more »
The Value of Workplace Wellness
- By Jenna LeComte-Hinely, PhD
I first became interested in the concept of workplace wellness in college when I read Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia. Patagonia’s policy of allowing employees to work flexible hours, as long as the work gets done with no negative impacts on… Read more »
Personal genetic testing has been available on the direct consumer markets for several years. Companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com use a simple cheek swab to collect DNA data. The data can then be instantly uploaded and analyzed by other websites for genetic mutations related to potential health issues. While this seems like the utterly… Read more »
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is the main calming neurotransmitter released to keep our brain relaxed and balanced when we need it. GABA controls the actions of the excitatory neurotransmitters, so understandably, a person with low GABA may have anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, addictions, or even weight gain. Deficiency of GABA levels can be genetic, but more… Read more »
Building Healthy Bones Naturally
- By Bettyann Sator, BS,RDMS,RVT
It’s easy to forget how much we depend on our bones, but if you’ve ever fractured one, then you know better than to take them for granted. Building and maintaining healthy bones is extremely important. Bone is a living tissue, constantly breaking down and rebuilding. If the rate of breakdown exceeds the rate of formation,… Read more »
Nutrients for Joint Injury Recovery
- By Deborah Schrameck, NC, PT
Recently I attended a symposium called “New Solutions to Acute and Chronic Pain.” There were many things of interest throughout the 4-day event, but I especially want to share the nutrients holistic doctor Wally Schmitt, DC, discussed to specifically target connective tissues and pain management following a joint injury.1 As a nutritional consultant I have… Read more »
Improving Our Wellbeing with Music
- By Jay Anderson, MT-BC
“Music gives soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” –Plato Wow! Plato said this circa 500 BC, well before Mozart, Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sam Cooke, Don Ho, The Beatles, Billie Holiday, Lady Gaga, Mp3 players, unlimited streaming…and… Read more »