2013-03 Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

w w w . m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o m | w w w . s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o mA STYLE MEDIA AND DESIGN, INC. PUBLICATION : : EST. 1984

MARCH 2013

FreshenYour Lookfor Spring

Make the Change to a Healthier Lifestyle

CombatingSpring Allergies

22 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

33Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2013




The Voice of NorTherN colorado for

29 Years.

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Publisher Lydia Dody | [email protected] editor Angeline Grenz

[email protected] director Scott Prosser

senior designer Lisa Goulddigital director Austin Lamb | [email protected]

advertising sales eXecutivesJon Ainslie (970) 219-9226Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400

David Knight (970) 619-9846Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932

office Manager/about town editor Ina Szwec | [email protected]

accounting Manager Karla Vigilcirculation Manager Trisha Milton

coPy editor Corey Radman

contributing writersLinda Gabel, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, Corey Radman,

Kay Rios, Laura Sebastian, Carl Simmons, Tracy Sioux, Elissa Tivona, Michelle Venus

PhotograPhers Marcus Edwards, Don Hajicek

affiliationsFort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

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2013 style MagazinesJanuary-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

Magazine and McKee Medical Center & North Colorado Medical Center Medical Directory

February-StyleMarch-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

April-StyleMay-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

June-StyleJuly-Northern Colorado Medical & WellnessMagazine and University of Colorado Health

Medical DirectoryAugust-Style

September-Women’s Health & Breast CancerOctober-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

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Beautiful Holiday issueThe last issue of Style was BEAUTIFUL. The

cover made me want to redecorate my house for the holidays and steal their theme to do it!

Jennifer VarnerRealities For Children

I recently came across Style Magazine Holiday issue. What an attractive publication and a special thanks to you for honoring the nonprofits in the area in your About Town department.

Bob CampagnaLoveland

HigH QualityI wanted you to know how much I love Style

Magazine. You always keep it at such a high quality level. And, I’ve been intending to also write you to tell you that you and the magazine helped my business, Paul Wood Florist, a lot when I was in business and advertised. I appreciated it so much; thank you.

Judy BoggsFort Collins

ignite fort Collins CoverageThank you for the great article you wrote on

Ignite FC for Lydia’s Style Magazine (February 2013)! It’s awesome to have not only a wonderful article out there, but an accurate one, too. Thank you, Heidi!

Ron Zasadzinski

Well-written, and I particularly like the parts about me!

Nick Armstrong

tHank yousJust wanted to say thank you for the mention of

Fierce Bad Rabbit in the new issue of Style (February, 2013)! I’ve already received a few emails regarding this feature and I am under the impression people are downloading the album as a result! So, many sincere thanks to you,

Dawn DuncanYellowbright, Inc.

We are long-time readers and admirers of Style Magazine and were thrilled to be able to advertise in the 2012 Holiday issue. We couldn’t be more pleased with the enthusiastic response we received from our ad and our featured articles. Thank you again, and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Stephanie & Patrick O’NeillVern’s Toffee House


Maximizing Care ThroughAccurate Diagnosis

Serving pati ents in northern Colorado for more than 35 years

Christopher Bee, MD Richard Halbert, MDCory Dunn, MD

Wentzell Hamner, MD

Arlene Libby, MD

Thomas Neuhauser, MD Michael Walts, MDCarrie Pizzi, MD

Providing unrivaled comprehensive diagnosti c services to our community

www.summitpathology.com

Heath Worcester, MD


The articles in this issue of Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness are presented for your general knowledge and are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.

This issue is packed with important topics on healthy lifestyles, seasonal allergies and the latest medspa procedures – just in time for Spring!

on the cover:

March 2013

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

44

BARRe ClAsses:THe BeAuTy of sTRengTH

THe fine fRiends of feRAl CATs

48

52

26MAking A ReCoveRy

contentS

Tissue, Anyone? seAsonAl AlleRgy TReATMenTs

fResHen up youR look foR spRing

39

18

How iMpoRTAnT is “oRgAniC?”

8 from the Readers

12 publisher’s letter

14 striving for good Health? keep it simple

18 Tissue, Anyone?seasonal Allergy Treatments

22 Avoiding the Agony of kidney stones

26 Making a Recovery

32 Addiction Recovery enters a new era

36 Regenerative Medicine

39 freshen up your look for spring

42 sedation dentistry: Calming fears

44 How important is “organic?”

4850 germ-free This flu season

52 The fine friends of feral Cats

55 dental Care for your pet

58 Healthcare provider spotlight:Joy Tandberg, occupational Therapist

46 fall prevention

get fit, give Back CalendarBarre Classes: The Beauty of strength

11March 2013


We’ve just had the biggest snowstorm of the season and the temperature is hovering around 15 F as I write this, but I know that spring is just around the corner. In anticipation of the new season, we are featuring a beautiful model against a background of green grass and flowers. Spring holds the promise of renewal and, if you are like me, I’m looking at ways to refresh my looks along with my health.

Cosmetically, modern medicine and innovative

techniques provide us numerous ways to forestall the aging process, no matter what our age. Read “Freshen Up for Spring” for ideas from area professionals on ways to ehance our looks.

Fitness and strength are another very important component of good health and a new approach to achieving this has sprung up in the area. The barre class offered by Ashley Peth looks intriguing to me – it reminds me of my early years of ballet. Read “The Beauty of Strength” to learn more about this interesting approach to fitness.

Working out regularly has been a discipline I have finally adopted as a way to stay strong and fit. However, occasionally my knee gives me fits and my arthritic hip prevents me from going full speed. Rather then jumping into surgery, I am intrigued by a new thera-peutic approach to those joint aches and pains due to degenerative disease or injury. Clinical trials in stem cell rejuvenation therapy are proving to be helpful in some of these situations. Perhaps this will give many of us an alternative to going under the knife immediately. Read “Regenerative Medicine” to learn more about this leading-edge technique.

Eating right is another aspect of good health. It seems like every day we hear a new theory on how we ought to eat. This morning I listened to research proving the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, but regardless, fruits and vegetables are usually high on any list. When shopping for them, we’re encouraged to choose organic for those most vulnerable to high pesticide content. Read “How Important is ‘Organic?’” to learn about the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen!

Making changes towards improving your health can be a daunting proposition and drastic changes after

a lifetime of bad habits can be hard to correct. We posed that question to several healthcare providers asking what their best advice was for their patients. Read their ideas on managing your health in “Striving For Good Health? Keep it Simple.”

When the topic of health came up over lunch with my friend, Nancy Glass, I learned that she was going in for surgery for the 121st time for kidney stones. Needless to say, I found it unbelievable that she has endured that many procedures for what I had previously thought was a simple and infrequent problem. Not so. Read up on “Avoiding the Agony of Kidney Stones” to have your eyes opened about this painful condition.

Good health is also important to other members of our family. Our pets need dental care for good overall health. I quickly learned that when my small dog, Roo, started having horrible bad breath. After taking him to Dr. Buckner at Moore Animal Hospital, I learned that he had a bad case of gingivitis, which needed immediate attention. After eight extractions, he is a much happier dog and the bad breath magi-cally disappeared. My cat, Dyna, soon followed in his footsteps and also had to have a number of teeth extracted. She is now no longer the finicky eater she was before. Read, “Dental Care for Your Pet” for some important basic pet health information.

I hope you enjoy this issue and it gives you interest-ing information to help make good health decisions for you and your family.

In good health,

Publisher’s letter

spring is on the Horizon

[email protected]



LifestyleMeDIcAL

Keeping tabs on your health may seem like a daunting process, and it can be even more com-plex when facing a serious illness or disease. Managing diabetes,

hypertension or high cholesterol can feel like an exhausting task. Sometimes these issues may be so overwhelming that people choose to ignore them until it is too late, or until the situation has gotten much more difficult to manage.

The truth is, managing your health doesn’t have to be an arduous task. Whether you want to lose 20 pounds or you are facing a more serious medical condition, the key is to keep it simple. And for a healthy person, the key to maintaining your good health is to stay on top of it.

Jay R. Kurth, D.O. at Banner Health Clinic, specializing in Family Practice in Fort Collins, lays out simple plans for his patients. He advises the average person to get a physical, including

blood work, in their 20s, because this establishes a baseline. If those tests are normal, he says it is OK to wait five years before doing it again. Patients in their 30s should get a physical and full blood work up every two to three years, but after the age of 40, Dr. Kurth recommends having these tests done once a year.

“I just try to keep everything really simple, because it really isn’t all that complicated,” says Dr. Kurth.

He takes this tactic even when there is a medical issue to address. For example, take a patient who needs to lose weight in order to reduce their risk of complications associated with obesity. Dr. Kurth knows the prospect of losing 50 pounds can be overwhelming, so he takes a different approach.

“Losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight is a good goal to start with,” he says. “Regardless of what your weight is, if you are overweight and lose 5 to 10 percent, you’ll see tremendous health benefits such as lowered blood pressure and

improvement of cholesterol and blood sugar.”Losing 5 percent of their body weight is a

much easier proposition for patients, when com-pared with the thought of having to lose 50 or 100 pounds. It’s about setting achievable and conceivable goals.

Dr. Kurth doesn’t use the word prevention, but prefers the phrase “risk reduction.” Since every patient is different and responds differently to medical or physical therapies, risk reduction goes a long way towards prevention.

For example, Dr. Kurth knows he won’t suc-cessfully be able to get all his patients to stop smoking. However, if he can convince them to cut down on the amount they smoke, he con-siders this a small success because it will reduce their risk, if only a little, of suffering the many medical complications that come from smoking.

small steps to disease ManagementSmall and simple goals are a big part of what

Teri Sieg works on with her patients at Banner

By Heidi Kerr-ScHlaefer

s T R i v i n g f o R g o o d H e A l T H ?

keep iT siMple


Health Clinic, specializing in Endocrinology. The majority of her patients have diabetes, and even a person living with a chronic health issue can take simple steps to help them manage their disease.

Sieg, a registered dietitian and certified diabe-tes educator, emphasizes realistic goals with her patients. She knows people fear visiting a dietitian because they believe they will be restricted from eating all their favorite things.

“My approach is to let them know that they don’t have to give up anything,” says Sieg. “I tell people to focus on is what they are eating, how much and how often.”

For example, a patient who was recently diag-nosed with diabetes revealed to Sieg that he was drinking a lot of fruit juice and soda throughout the day. Instructing this patient to cut back on sugary drinks instead of cutting it out of the diet completely is a more moderate approach and a much more doable task for most patients.

Sieg’s recommendations for her diabetic patients are the same recommendations she’d

give anyone. For example, if there’s a special occasion on the horizon, Sieg suggests that her patients be more active on the day they plan to eat something sweet and carb rich. This is a good rule of thumb, she says, for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy body and mind.

Sieg struggles with the public’s preconceived notions about diabetes. The fact is that the American Diabetes Association has changed some of their recommendation over the years, but not everyone has gotten the message, so Sieg spends time educating people on the newest information.

A lot of Sieg’s diabetes patients are motivated by a desire to avoid or reduce the risk of serious diabetes complications they’ve seen friends or family members go through. Also, they tend to be motivated by simply wanting to feel better.

“We look at what their goal is, and then we encourage them to do one thing that will help achieve the goal. It helps them prioritize what will make them feel better the quickest,” says Sieg.

Tracy Hergert, nurse practitioner, and Teri sieg, registered dietitian, certified diabetic educators at Banner Health Clinic.


She wants her patients to feel empowered through self-management, and she gives them the step by step tools to get to this point.

“Just getting someone to be more active, even if they don’t lose any weight, will make them feel better. It’s about having a small, realistic goal,” says Sieg.

Breaking Through Barriers Tracy Hergert is a family nurse practitioner

and certified diabetic educator also at Banner Health’s endocrinology clinic. She believes creat-ing goals is vital, but if a patient is struggling, they need to find out what is preventing them from reaching their goals.

“People have different barriers to reaching goals and part of our job is to help them discover what those barriers are,” says Hergert.

Much of Hergert’s job is to listen to her patients and keep the lines of communication open. For example, it’s important for a patient with Type 1 diabetes to check their blood sugars before each meal. For some patients this can be a real chore, but if they don’t take the time to do this step, they lack the information to manage their disease on a day-to-day basis.

When a patient comes to Hergert and hasn’t been able to complete the goals set out, this is when open communication is most important. She hears an array of excuses, but she works to get to the bottom of why a person hasn’t been able to take these small, yet important, steps in the management of their disease.


dr. Jay kurth, family practice doctor at Banner Health Clinic, counsels a patient

on healthy lifestyle practices.

Regardless of what your weight is, if you

are overweight and lose 5 to 10 percent [of

your bodyweight], you’ll see tremendous health

benefits

Jay R. Kurth, D.O. Banner Health Clinic

“We look at everything and ask, ‘What is get-ting in the way of you achieving your goals?’” she says. “I have sent some patients to a counselor and they end up having their eyes opened and become much more successful at managing their health. It’s about finding the source of the problem and addressing the issue.”

For Hergert’s patients, creating lifelong habits or breaking lifelong habits is the goal. Smoking is physically addictive, but people struggle much more with the psychological addiction. After all, the nicotine addiction can be over in 72 hours.

The State of Colorado’s Quit Line is free and provides information and coaches to help people quit smoking. It gives a person the tools to figure out their triggers for smoking. Once they know the triggers, they are often more successful at quitting this risky habit.

While Hergert believes many people are much more aware of their health today than they were 10 to 20 years ago, she is concerned about the tremendous amount of misinformation online and in the media.

“People come in and tell me all the dietary changes they have made, and some of their diets are much stricter than I would have made them. These people have researched and they are trying, but with all the misinformation out there sometimes people spend huge quantities of money and energy on doing things that really aren’t helpful for them,” says Hergert.

This last example is a good reminder for every-one; whether you are facing a disease, or you

are just trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is advisable to have a health professional guiding you through the process. And as these three experts have indicated, managing your health can be a simple, non-intimidating process.

Healthy people who have good information can and will reduce their risk of disease in the future, and by doing a few small and simple steps, those facing disease today can and will increase the quality of their lives tomorrow.

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a freelance writer living in Loveland.


Tissue, Anyone?

seAsonAl AlleRgy TReATMenTs

AllergiesMeDIcAL

By cOrey radMaN

Springtime in the Rockies means racing, biking, hiking, golfing and gardening. Unless you have allergies. Then, springtime means hiding inside with the

HEPA filters working overtime. Or, if you are brave, adventuring with a hankie and a pocket full of pills.

For allergy sufferers the first bloom of spring sets off a chain reaction whereby the immune system starts fighting the body. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, this state is called allergic rhinitis. AAAAI’s website describes what is happening. “Your immune system mistakenly identifies a typically harmless substance as an intruder. This substance is called an allergen. The immune system responds to the allergen by releasing histamine and chemical mediators that typically cause symptoms in the nose, throat, eyes, ears, skin and roof of the mouth.”

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans with seasonal allergies, then you are all too familiar with the itchy eyes, non-stop running nose, sore throats and coughing that accompanies pollen and mold. You probably also know that there

is no cure for allergies. Michael Martucci, M.D., who recently joined

Northern Colorado Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Fort Collins, says avoidance is still the first line of defense. “Even though that’s kind of a joke,” he explains sympathetically. “It’s unrealistic to stay inside all the time. Plus, you would have to vacuum everything daily to actually remove the airborne allergens from your home.”

He adds that people with cat and dog aller-gies have it especially tough. Even people with-out pets can run into cat and dog hair wherever they go. “It’s everywhere,” he says, “Even if you don’t have a pet you’ll find dander and hair in your home.”

For outdoor allergen reactions, it can help reduce the symptoms to change clothes when you come inside. Wash your hands and face after finishing outdoor activities, or consider a shower because pollen collects in the hair as well. Monitor the worst pollen days at The National Allergy Bureau website, and try to limit outdoor activities on those days.

Because its effectiveness is limited, Dr. Mar-tucci steps quickly from avoidance to medica-tions. Antihistamines like Allegra or Claritin are effective for 20 percent of people. So, he

suggests, use them if they help. If not, don’t waste your money. Nasal steroids and other inhaled steroids are the next suggestion he gives. And here, his parental sympathy kicks in. (Dr. Martucci is father to two children, one who has severe allergies.)

“I understand that daily medication, espe-cially for your kids, is no small thing. That’s why I try hard to educate people. The steroids used for allergy symptoms are not anabolic steroids; people get worried when we start talking about them. I cite a long-term study that followed kids using inhaled corticosteroids for several years and the only side effect found was a one-centimeter decrease in growth. I think they are very safe to use.” According to AAAAI, corticosteroids are some of the most effective medicines to treat allergy symptoms – and the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Dr. Martucci also tries out most of the medi-cations he prescribes to find out how they taste and what side effects occur. This way, he says, he finds out which ones make you sleepy, give you a sore throat, or just taste too awful to get down. “I want to know what they feel like,” he says, “so I know exactly what I am prescribing for my patients.”

Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness 2012 19


dr. Michael Martucci, with northern Colorado Allergy & Asthma Clinic, examines a patient struggling with

seasonal allergies.

The last line of defense, and probably the most effective treatment doctors have, is immu-notherapy or allergy shots. Injection immuno-therapy has been used safely for the last 30 years to desensitize patients to the specific allergens that trigger their symptoms. After diagnostic blood and skin tests, doctors are able to dose the patient via shots, a little at a time. Once a week, then twice a month, then once a month, a patient slowly builds up to a maintenance dose. Some patients eventually become completely asymptomatic for years at a time with this approach.

Dr. Martucci’s previous job at National Jewish Hospital in Denver exposed him to clinical trials for oral immunotherapy, pills you can take at home rather than going to the office for shots. “This is not yet FDA approved, though it has been used in Europe for several years,” he says. Dr. Martucci is hopeful that further research and testing will make the therapy safely available in the coming years.

The bottom line on seasonal allergies is they are inconvenient and irritating. For those whose allergies stretch over several months across many different environmental triggers, immunotherapy may be the best treatment available. For the rest of us, there is Kleenex. Gesundheit!

Corey Radman is a National Press Women award winner and regular contributor to Style. She can be reached at her website, www.fortcollinswriter.com.


A close-up photo of kidney stones – tiny crystal deposits that form in the kidney and cause pain when they pass through the ureter.

Anyone who’s experienced the pain of a kidney stone, even briefly, can testify to how acute that pain can be.

“The pain can be pretty severe; it can be almost as bad as childbirth,” says David Ritsema, M.D., of North Colorado Urology. “And it can come and go. If the kidney stone gets stuck at some point in the ureter, then pressure builds up. That’s when you get pain. The stone can move around a little bit. When urine is passing around the stone, pressure is relieved, and the pain can improve or go away.”

“Stones sitting in the kidney usually do not

cause pain. You actually get the symptoms when the stones pass out of the kidney,” Dr. Ritsema adds. “When the stones drop into the ureter, you can get pain in the back or the side, and then it can wrap down into the lower abdomen.”

Despite their name, even serious kidney “stones” are actually tiny crystal deposits that average two millimeters or larger in diameter – about the size of a round sprinkle you’d put on your ice cream.

“Many things can contribute to kidney stones, including dehydration, or an over-abundance of certain minerals in the urine like calcium and oxalate,” Dr. Ritsema says.

Thus, living in Colorado, where staying

hydrated is important, is both a plus and a minus. “In general, the further north you go, the less stones are made by the population,” says Dr. Ritsema. “Colorado is in the middle of the country, so we have a moderate stone rate. But because the climate is dry, people get dehydrated, so stones are more likely to occur. Likewise, when it gets hot, stones are more likely to occur; we see more stones during the summer.”

People will often recognize a kidney stone when it hits, but will be reluctant to go to their doctor or an emergency room when it does, and many stones will pass on their own. Nonetheless, Dr. Ritsema advises, “If you have a fever or chills or an infection, we need to treat

Kidney StonesMeDIcAL

By carl SiMMONS

A v o i d i n g T H e A g o n y o f

kidney sTones


it quickly. Likewise, if both ureters are blocked, prompt treatment is needed. When we X-ray, we use 5 millimeters as a rough cut-off; any stone larger than that, you’re less likely to pass on your own (50 percent for stones 5 to 10 mm).” The good news is that most kidney stone treatment is outpatient-based. “Most people can go home right after the stone is treated,” he says.

Many are familiar with the process called lithotripsy, where stones are “blasted” away. There are two basic types of lithotripsy – shock-wave (ultrasonic) lithotripsy, which is performed from outside the body; and laser lithotripsy, which is done with a camera inserted into the ureter. “Shockwave is a less invasive method, but the laser is more effective in getting stones out in one operation. Either of those is a good treatment for stones that are less than two centimeters,” Dr. Ritsema says.

“If you have larger stones, we advise a pro-cedure called percutaneous nephrolithotripsy,” Dr. Ritsema adds. “We insert a large sheath from the back into the kidney, and from there we have a number of different instruments and can look right into the kidney, break up the stones and evacuate them. It’s less com-monly performed, because we usually don’t see stones that big.”

Even though treatments for kidney stones

The pain can be pretty severe; it can be almost as bad as childbirth –

and it can come and go. If the kidney stone gets stuck at some point in

the ureter, then pressure builds up. That’s when

you get pain.

David Ritsema, M.D.,

of North Colorado Urology.


nancy glass suffers from chronic kidney stones; she has had more than 120 kidney stone procedures over the

last four decades.

have become quicker and less invasive, this doesn’t ensure that kidney stones won’t recur.

Nancy Glass, owner of Maid Smart Cleaning Service (Fort Collins/Loveland/Windsor), has undergone more than 120 kidney stone pro-cedures over the last 48 years, and continues to fight them. “It was probably 10 years after I started having kidney stones that it became a regular thing,” Glass says. “I’ve had tests run; I’ve had a nuclear scan; but nothing has shown why I have so many. I’m seeing a nephrologist regularly, but he hasn’t figured it out either.”

Likewise, those stones may or may not have a genetic basis: “I have three sons, who all have kidney stones – and eight adult grandchildren, who so far haven’t experienced them.”

“I’ve had both kidneys operated on,” Glass adds. “The procedure I had just last week is called kidney stone manipulation. They just go into the ureter, and grab the stones. They don’t just go after the one causing the problem, but go after as many as they can at a time. Also, because there was so much scar tissue from past procedures, I had those taken out and had a ureteral re-implantation, where the ureter is repositioned so the doctor can get to the stones much easier.”

While having chronic kidney stones doesn’t stop Glass from running a business, it does affect some of her routines and travel plans. “They’re so unpredictable, when they’re going to happen, that I usually carry some pain


dr. david Ritsema, with north Colorado urology, says Colorado’s dry

climate can lead to dehydration, one of the precursors to kidney stones.

medication with me at all times,” Glass says. “I also carry some antibiotics with me when I travel; it’s always a concern.”

“There isn’t much I can do to prevent it,” she says. “Pretty much, I just stay hydrated, and drink plenty of liquids every day. That’s all I’ve been doing. It all goes back to the drinking of water, just to keep those crystals from form-ing a stone. My stones are calcium-based, but apparently there are other types of stones. It’s just about flushing those kidneys all the time.”

Dr. Ritsema confirms, “The best thing is to stay well-hydrated. Studies have shown that if you’re urinating more than two liters a day, you cut your risk in half. But that means you’re drinking two and a half liters a day. At the same time, you want to avoid drinking beverages that will dehydrate you, such as caffeinated or carbonated beverages. Diet-wise, we tell everybody: moderate salt, moderate red meat and moderate calcium. A bonus would be drinking juices like lemonade or orange juice, which contain citrate.”

“If you’re having an acute episode of pain in the flank,” Dr. Ritsema says, “call your doctor or go to the emergency room, so we can figure out if you have a kidney stone or another problem.”

Carl Simmons is a freelance writer living in Loveland.


InspirationMeDIcAL

MAking A ReCoveRy

Tom overton rides his mountain bike last year along devil’s Backbone.

I’ve flown over the handlebars of my mountain bike hundreds of times. When that happens, I just get up, dust myself off and keep biking,” says Dr. Tom Overton.

Except on July 10 last year, when Tom didn’t get up. His flight over the handlebars ended in a crash landing on his head, resulting in a severe spinal injury.

At the moment of impact, the Fort Col-lins dentist was rendered paralyzed from the neck down.

Tom was biking that day in Horsetooth Mountain Park with three friends. (For the record, Tom was wearing a helmet.) “Luckily... we had cell service there,” he recalls. “They were able to call 911. Two of the guys went

down the mountain to direct (the EMTs) to where I was and the third stayed with me until they got there.”

Throughout the ordeal, Tom never lost con-sciousness. “That was pretty wild,” he says. “It wasn’t all that scary, because it was all so surreal. And I honestly think I was in shock, too, so my reactions were not what they would be otherwise. But my friends were scared. Very scared.”

Even though he landed head first, Tom didn’t sustain any head injuries, not even a concussion. “I didn’t even have a headache,” he explains. “I landed just the right way to put the force on my neck that compressed a disc. I had some minor compression fractures in my neck, but nothing major. When the disc compressed, it ruptured right into my spinal

cord, and that was what caused the paralysis.”Tom was taken to Medical Center of the

Rockies, where he received anterior cervi-cal discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery to remove the ruptured disc and fuse together the C5 and C6 vertebrae at the base of his neck.

According to WebMD, discectomy literally means “cutting out the disc.” A discectomy can be performed anywhere along the spine from the neck (cervical) to the low back (lumbar). The surgeon reaches the damaged disc from the front (anterior) of the spine — through the throat area. By moving aside the neck muscles, trachea and esophagus, the disc and bony vertebrae are accessed. In the neck area of the spine, an anterior approach is more convenient than a posterior (back) because the disc can be reached without disturbing

“By MicHelle VeNuS



overton credits his wife, stacy, with his ability to maintain a positive attitude during rehabilitation.

the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and the strong neck muscles of the back. Depending on the particular case, one disc (single-level) or more (multi-level) may be removed.

After the disc is removed, the space between the bony vertebrae is empty. To prevent the ver-tebrae from collapsing and rubbing together, the surgeon fills the open disc space with a bone graft. The graft serves as a bridge between the two vertebrae to create a spinal fusion. The bone graft and vertebrae are often immobilized and held together with metal plates and screws. Following surgery the body begins its natural healing process and new bone cells are formed around the graft.

After three to six months, the bone graft should join the vertebrae above and below to form one solid piece of bone. With instru-mentation and fusion working together, the bone may actually grow around the plates and screws – similar to reinforced concrete.

After his ACDF surgery, Tom was at MCR for a week before being transported to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver, where he spent seven weeks undergoing an intense rehabilitation regimen before returning home to begin the long haul healing process.

In seven months, Tom has gone from bed to a wheel chair, to a walker, to a cane and now to his own two feet. “I’ve made good progress,” he observes. But he still has a long

way to go, and anticipates he’ll see 80 percent of his expected recovery sometime around the one year mark. The rest of his total recovery will happen over the course of year two.

Spinal cord injuries come with a high level of uncertainty: once surgery and rehabilitation have taken place, there’s not much more the patient can do but hope he or she heals.

“A spinal cord injury isn’t like breaking a bone,” says Tom, “where the docs cast it or plate it or whatever, you wait eight weeks, it’s back together again and you’re good to go. With this type of injury, there’s no real way to tell how much damage is done. It just takes time.”

He went on to relate a conversation he had had with his neurosurgeon, Lars Widdel, “When no damage is done, you know you’re completely fine. When the spinal cord is sev-ered, then you know you’re not going to get anything back. But when it’s bruised or compressed, sometimes you get functionality back and sometimes you don’t,” Tom explains. “But there’s no real way to test. I just have to be patient and work on getting better.”

Getting better takes a lot of work mixed with a lot of optimism and a whole bunch of hope. In addition to working with a physical therapist on a regular basis, Tom is in the gym every day. He struggles with spasticity, which in an uncontrolled tightening of the muscles,

and a common complication after suffering an injury such as Tom’s. The spasticity is tiring and he finds he needs to rest frequently. But that doesn’t keep him from competing in a bowling league: “It isn’t pretty, but I haven’t fallen down.” And he’s even been on the golf course a few times.

Fine motor skills and numbness are a com-pletely separate issue. These deficits are what led Tom to the difficult decision of selling his 18-year-old dental practice, Overton Center for Dental Arts. On its Facebook page, Tom wrote, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your trust and confidence in permitting me to take care of your dental needs. I have sincerely enjoyed having you in the practice and becoming acquainted with you, both personally and professionally. However, due to my recent spinal cord injury, it will require me to step back and have another dentist assume the professional duties of my practice.

“In order to make good on your level of trust and confidence, I believe I have found a great fit for the practice in Drs. Steven Kohler and Travis Willey. They possess the highest qualifications and are extremely well-skilled in all phases of dentistry. I am certain that you will be as happy with their knowledge and skills as I am.”

In addition to the trust and confidence Tom has in Dr.’s Willey and Kohler, there is the



promise of a position within the practice should Tom’s fine motor skills come back and he’s once again able to practice dentistry. “We’ve known Tom a long time,” said Dr. Kohler. “It’s our long term hope and our expectation for him to come back to the practice. I’ve been practicing dentistry for 30 years and it would be a benefit for us all if Tom were well enough to be a part of the practice again when the time comes for me to retire.”

Dr. Willey concurred, “Tom has a good practice, good patients and a good staff. It’s worked well to bring them into our existing practice. It’s a good fit.”

Tom gives credit where credit is due: to his wife, Stacy. “She’s amazing. She’s handled all the insurance information, all of the paper-work, and the whole time she’s supporting me,” he said. “She’s continued to work (Stacy is a mental health professional) and take care of the house. She’s truly been awesome — she keeps me going and helps me maintain a positive attitude. I honestly don’t know how I would have done this without her.”

That part about getting better taking a lot of work mixed with a lot of optimism and a whole bunch of hope? The winning prescription also has a large dose of love and community support mixed in — all of which Tom Overton has in abundance.

Michelle Venus is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins.

when overton was thrown from his bike, he damaged the C5 and C6 vertebrae at

the base of his neck.



Addiction TreatmentMeDIcAL

By cOrey radMaNenTeRs A new eRAAddiCTion ReCoveRy

What does it mean when one person can use a doctor's post-surgery prescription for Vicodin as-needed and the next person finds that

they can't get enough of it? Why does person A have no problem stopping at one drink and person B finds it difficult to stop at five?

Addiction science is a relatively new field that sprouted from a desire to find answers to those questions. While society has known and talked about addiction since written language was recorded (even Socrates addressed habitual temptation), treating addiction is a new branch of medicine's tree.

It wasn't until 1990 that members of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) established guidelines for fellowship training programs in addiction medicine. In 2000, Sean Murphy, M.D., became the first board-certified addictionologist in Colorado. He has served as medical director of Harmony Foundation, a resi-dential treatment facility in Estes Park, since 2001.

Dr. Murphy says neuroscience can't answer those “why” questions right now.

“Addiction is a very complicated, multi-faceted concept to understand,” he explains. “We don't

have an exact answer yet to understand why some people do and some don't become addicted to substances.”

who's Addicted?The 2011 national survey on drugs and alcohol

(NSDUH) found that 21.6 million people in the U.S. ages 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug problem. In the most recent 2008 survey, 11.72 percent of Colorado residents reported using illicit drugs in the past month. The national average was 8.02 percent, ranking Colorado as one of the top 10 states for drug use.

In 2010, the most common drugs reported for primary treatment admissions to Colorado facilities were marijuana, followed by stimulants (including methamphetamine). However, Dr. Murphy reports that in his personal experience, since the last national survey there has been an enormous surge in young people (under age 25) using heroin, mostly by smoking it. He estimates that the portion of the Harmony population in that category went from 2 percent to 40 percent of all their patients in the last five years.

Of the people who need treatment, only 10.8 percent receive the help they need. One of the biggest barriers, especially for those with private insurance, continues to be financial.

dollars and CentsHarmony Foundation is Colorado's longest-

running residential treatment facility, located in Estes Park. CEO of Harmony, Dot Dorman, says parity of coverage has become increasingly uneven. At $18,000, Harmony's fee for 30-day residential treatment is considered moderate to low. Even so, paying that much out of pocket is usually out of the question for the average person. Dorman indicates that financial limitations are the biggest reason people who call Harmony are not able to check in for treatment. The facility does offer a few scholarships, but those don't even begin to scratch the surface of people who need but cannot afford treatment.

The Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment reports, “The privately insured population has sub-stantially lower treatment entry rates than those with publicly provided insurance like Medicare or Medicaid.” But, Dorman says, “there is hope. The Affordable Care Act provides that benefit to tens of millions more people.” Substance abuse disor-ders are one of the 10 essential health benefits that, as of 2014, will be required for all insurance provided through the Health Insurance Exchange.

Not only will more people be getting treatment, says Dorman, they'll be getting better treatment than ever.


not your grandma's RehabAsked how much neuroscience has changed

drug treatment, Dorman says, “Tremendously. Neuroscience is the single most significant change in recent years. Having an understanding of how addiction works has broadened our understand-ing of how to deal with an addict. We have incorporated education about that and also have strengthened the medical component of our program. And we customize that to the substances.”

Dr. Murphy concurs. While abstinence is still the foundation of recovery, addictionology has enabled medically-supported detox to be much gentler and less painful. “For narcotics, we use a drug like subutex or suboxone, which glues itself to the opiate receptors in the brain and stabilizes the system. This allows for a gradual decrease in symptoms.” Using this drug-specific detox method, new patients are able to ease through withdrawal without the extreme dis-comfort, nausea, chills and anxiety that usually accompany a cold-turkey quit.

He elaborates, “People don't die from with-drawal symptoms and sometimes (like in jail) addicts still have to suffer through it, but there's a better way now. Before this approach, many people wouldn't put up with the five to six days of withdrawal. It's just too miserable.” He esti-mates that before this approach, 80-90 percent of people trying to quit without medical support would have returned to their drug because the pain of withdrawal was enormous.

Fort Collins psychotherapist Ginger Schmidt was a Co-Occurring Disorders Professional in Mis-souri and has professional experience in mental institutions and inpatient recovery facilities. She is re-certifying as a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) in Colorado. In her experience, addiction recovery has undergone impressive growth in recent years. “The biggest shift is from 12-step only programs (like Alcoholics Anonymous) to extreme eclecticism... sort of a 12-step plus approach. And that's really good for any con-sumer.” While the foundation of recovery still leans heavily on the 12-step program, there are add-ons that help return an addict to health.

Schmidt is enthusiastic about integrative thera-pies that complement traditional treatment. “When people come in and are suffering from something I tell them, 'OK, you've got three choices: acupuncture, yoga or massage. If you do one of them, it's going to help your recovery. Those holistic modalities all work to release toxins from the systems.” She adds that exercise is one more crucial piece of a solid treatment plan that can help a recovering addict feel better (endorphins are pain killers, too) and replace old habits with new ones.

Schmidt says sometimes the traditional AA/NA 12-step model is a barrier to treatment for some of her clients. “When I suggest to a 19-year-old that they check out an AA or NA meeting, they say 'Yeah, right.'” Schmidt reports that the “everyone in the same fish bowl” approach can make those clients uncomfortable. Though she does require that addicted clients give it a solid try before discounting the time-tested method. To take some of the pedagogy out of the message, Schmidt often suggests the book,


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Physical Therapy focused on helping individuals with orthopedic and neurological problems reach their

optimal potential.

12 Steps on Buddha's Path by Laura S. to help clients see that there are many ways to access the wisdom in the plan.

Harmony also requires that graduating clients find a post-recovery support system. Often, those are AA/NA groups. Dorman says, “Many college campuses have 12 step meetings on campus, including CSU and CU. So, young people need not worry about not relating at group.”

Because so many of Harmony's new clients are young adults, she explains that they provide Kindles for patients to use for their inpatient homework. “Even Power Point is a little passé for these young adults. This way, we are touching them the way they want to learn.” They have also written a smart-phone app for graduating

The disciplines of yoga, acupuncture and meditation usually bring to mind a spa-like scene with people in various states of Zen enlightenment. Project Grow organizers think services like these and others like horticultural therapy shouldn't be available to only people of means. They believe that these practices are an avenue to health, and would be beneficial to the residents at the Larimer County Community Corrections half-way house.

Project Grow is a consortium of five different regional agencies coming together to bring life skills, wellness and health support to the residents at Larimer County Community Corrections (LCCC) program on Midpoint Drive. Col-laborators include LCCC who will provide staff, the site and clients to serve; CSU extension service will offer education about organic gardening; FoCo Cafe will provide cooking classes; Growing Project will offer horticultural therapy; and Global Natural Health Alliance will provide yoga, meditation and acupunc-ture to support clients as they build sobriety or a healthier lifestyle than they had before prison.

Netta Garcia, Vice President of the Growing Project, explains the vision.

clients to check in daily with their counselors after they leave.

Asked if she could offer one message to read-ers who struggle with addiction, it would be this. “My message is hope. There is help available regardless of how hopeless things might seem. People come here and change their lives and get well every day. Don't despair.”

Corey Radman is a National Press Women award winner and regular contributor to Style. She can be reached at her website, www.fortcollinswriter.com.

pRoJeCT gRow, A pATH fRoM pRison TopeACeBy cOrey radMaN


“Rock bottom is the best time to start over. I'm hoping these services give [clients] an outlet, a source that they wouldn't normally have had. Without access, people often find themselves falling back to old patterns. Not only are they going to learn to take care of their bodies, we'll be teaching other ways of healing and maintaining health.”

Lindsay Herrera is the founder of Global Natural Health Alliance and a Licensed Acupuncturist. Her part of Project Grow is to train volunteers to use a five-point acupuncture protocol on the ear to support residents who are recovering from addiction. Her partners will provide yoga classes. She says the reaction from clients in the facility to yoga and acupuncture has been mixed. “LCCC used to have these services before and then ran out of funding,” says Herrera. “At first these tough guys would scoff at the idea of doing yoga, saying it's a girly thing to do. And then they would try it and say, 'Wow! How do girls even do this?'” She says the same perceptions exist around acupuncture. People are reticent to receive it, but after one treatment, they feel so much better they request it. Herrera says acupuncture for detox is especially helpful because it helps flush toxins from the body, relaxes the stress response that come from living without a substance, and heals pain in both body and spirit.

Project Grow will be starting garden seeds at LCCC this spring and begin-ning the yoga and acupuncture services soon after. Other services will phase in as volunteer and funding support allow.

Garcia is hopeful that this approach to holistic wellness will reduce recidi-vism and will help residents build skills that will help them now and for the rest of their lives. She says, “We want to teach them to care about their bodies as a whole. If you're not eating well, you're not going to be able to detox from alcohol, cigarettes and other sub-stances. We want to teach clients new ways to adapt and thrive.”

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Stem Cell TherapyMeDIcAL

RegeneRATive MediCine By Tracee SiOux

When it comes to stem cell regenerative medicine the future is now. Mallory Family Wellness in Loveland

has opened the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), which is one of only a few medical practices in the U.S. participating in an FDA and Independent Review Board (IRB) clinical trial of stem cell regeneration therapy. The clinical trial is focused on ortho-arthritic conditions, caused by either degen-erative disease or injury to joints.

Stem cells have the miraculous ability to trans-form themselves into tissue from whatever organ or body part that is unwell. They take on the characteristics of nearby cells. While adipose-derived stem cell regeneration therapy is still under review by the FDA, miraculous early results are being reported in trials globally.

“These are warrior cells on steroids,”

explains Robin Mildrum, CRM practice admin-istrator. “They say, ‘I’m placed near cartilage, so I’ll make cartilage.’”

It takes approximately three months before the stem cells become activated and get to work rebuilding the body, during which time the patient is able to continue normal activ-ity. Depending on the severity of the injury or degeneration, the patient typically undergoes between one to three treatments, with success typically being acheived with only one.

Results have show that within six to nine months the patient’s body regenerates itself. Patients experience immediate relief from pain because the stem cells are combined with platelet rich plasma (PRP) derived from the patient’s own blood to boost healing.

“The stem cells are the seeds of new growth, while PRP acts as fertilizer,” explains Mildrum.

Richard Price, 39, underwent double knee stem cell therapy in November, after having suf-fered daily pain for years from football injuries.

“The other day I was running and playing with my kids at the gym,” reports Price. “Already it’s a 35 to 40 percent improvement and it’s only been three months.”

fat not fetuses Leaving a history of controversy behind, stem cells

used in this clinical trial are not derived from unborn fetuses. Viable stem cells can now be extracted from a variety of tissues including umbilical cords, teeth, blood, bone marrow and fat. Efficacy of stem cells extracted from different tissue is still under review. Ethics, profitability, ownership and the legalities of stem cells derived from various tissues is still murky.

CRM uses adipose stem cells derived from fat extracted from the patient, because it can be processed and re-injected in the office, without anesthesia.

“They get the stem cells from your own fat, so you won’t reject it,” notes Denise Fry, 48, who underwent one treatment in November on both knees, which were plagued with arthritis.


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Robin Mildrum, practice administrator for the Center for Regenerative Medicine

The price of MiraclesStem cell therapy is not covered by insurance,

though Mildrum explains that the procedure is often still more affordable than surgery. Consider the comparative costs of a common joint condition, knee replacement surgery, versus the price of stem cell therapy, including the residual costs such as risk, pain, lost work time and rehabilitation.

The average price of knee replacement surgery was $15,000 (plus hospital/facility fees) in 2010, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. There are inherent risks of any surgery including infection, malpractice, rejection of foreign materials and the risks associated with anesthesia. Patients with insurance will pay their deductible, plus an average of 20 percent of the costs. Hospital stays averaged 3.5 days. Patients commonly require months of physical therapy. Additionally, patients will need to be out of work for weeks after surgery. Because of the debilitation during recovery time, doctors usually only perform one knee surgery at a time, which means patients needing two new knees double the lost work time, hospital fees and rehabilitation costs. Ten percent of all knee replacement surgeries are repeat knee replacements.

CRM charges an all-inclusive $6,000 for one stem cell therapy treatment. There is no risk of malfunction or rejection of foreign appliances. There is minimal to no anesthesia risk and little, if any, rehabilitation therapy. Stem cell therapy can be performed on both knees (or any joint) in the same visit. The procedure happens on an outpatient basis in the office, and within days the patient is back to normal activity.

lifestyle, a Better BargainFor both Price and Fry the residual costs of pain

and lost work time were the deciding factors in choosing stem cell therapy over knee replacement surgery.

“I couldn’t afford to be out of work for up to six weeks,” says Price. “Plus, because of my age, the doctors said in 10 to 15 years I would possibly need another knee replacement.”

Fry, who is now able to get on the floor to play with her granddaughter, says, “It was definitely worth it because I would have been out of work for six weeks with each knee. My sister just went through double knee replacement and I watched her go through so much pain. This was pretty much pain-free, you just sit back and watch it work.”

“In the next five years this is going to revolution-ize medicine,” says Mildrum.

CRM is accepting more ortho-arthritic patients into its clinical trial. A pre-screening is required to determine if the patient’s condition makes them a candidate for the procedure, and to ensure the patient can tolerate the local anesthetic adminis-tered during the procedure. For more information call (970) 669-9245.

Tracee Sioux is an Authentic Power Coach, author of Love Distortion: Belle, Battered Codependent and Other Love Stories; she blogs at TheGirlRevolution.com. Contact her at [email protected].



MedSpaweLLneSS

By aNgeliNe greNz

fResHen up youR look

foR spR ing

Trees put on new leaves, flowers sprout and the air just smells fresher when we enter into spring. Why shouldn’t we enjoy the same renewal and rejuvenation? There are a many ways to tackle those little problem areas – beauty treatments that can grant us a little more youth, firmness or literally erase a bad memory.

The following is a list of our top beauty remedies to get ready for spring’s fun colors, lighter clothing and sense of rebirth. Learn the ins and outs of the procedure, a firsthand account from a client and what the experts recom-mend to get the most out of your procedure.

Latisse

The Procedure: Eyelashes can thin as you age but there

is help. Latisse, a prescription treatment for inadequate or sparse eyelashes, can more than double lash fullness in 16 weeks. Latisse makes eyelashes “longer, thicker and darker,” according to Nina Roys, spa manager at AWP Esthetics and Spa.

The process, which is done at home, is easy and painless. Start with a clean face, contacts removed. Apply Latisse in the evening, placing one drop of the solution on the applicator. The solution is then applied across the upper eyelid margin at the base of the eyelashes. Blot any excess solution. Dispose of the applicator

after each use to minimize the potential for contamination from one eyelid to the other.

The Experience:

Joan, 60, decided to try Latisse after she saw the great results her daughter had from using it. “I am fair skinned and wanted more length [to my lashes],” she says. Joan began using Latisse two years ago and currently uses it every three to four days for maintenance.

“I even like the results without mascara on,” she says. “I had no side effects and would definitely recommend it since I know how well it worked for my daughter, too.” One tip Joan offers: “I would take a little of the solution that

was left on the applicator and apply it to my eyebrows – it darkened and filled them in!”

The Expert: Roys advises users to make sure they are not

allergic to any of the ingredients prior to use and to consult a doctor if you have any health concerns. Regularity is also paramount, “Always use the product regularly for best results,” she says. The results are temporary without continued use.

For additional information or to find out about other services available at AWP Esthetics and Spa, visit www.awpfc.com.

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Botox

The Procedure: Want to combat wrinkles but are hesitant

to undergo a surgical procedure? Botox may be the solution. Botox can help smooth facial wrinkles and is a quick procedure with no downtime.

“First, I discuss with the patient what concerns they have regarding their face, desired outcomes and expectations,” says Sasha Ross, RN at Xanadu Med Spa. The actual procedure takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Two days prior to treatment, it is suggested that you stop using aspirin and any anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the potential of bruising or swelling. A topi-cal anesthetic is applied to the injection site to aid in patient comfort.

“At this point I will ask the patient to make different facial expressions, such as raising the eyebrows, scowling and smiling,” says Ross. “With these facial expressions, your facial lines and muscles can be observed to decide on the proper unit dosage and proper muscle placement.” Next, using a very fine gauge needle, Botox is injected into specific muscles. It generally takes three to seven days to take effect and you will see the full effect within two weeks. Botox lasts a vari-able amount in each person; in most patients, somewhere between three to four months.

The Experience: Marie, 46, had her first Botox procedure

three years ago at the forehead and between the eyebrows to maintain a youthful appear-ance in a very public job. She now has Botox injections approximately three times a year. “The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes and the discomfort is minimal. The results are not dramatic, but just a smoothing out of fine lines. For me, it just makes me feel and look more refreshed.”

Marie also suggests taking care when selecting a med spa. “Find someone who cares about you and your treatment. You will get a better end result.”

The Expert: “I often tell my patients that if you’re

unable to make an expression, you won’t create a wrinkle,” says Ross. She also sug-gests using Botox early as “a preventive measure” to look younger longer.

Ross adds that, “The best candidates for Botox are people who are healthy, not preg-nant or nursing, with no history of neuromus-cular diseases (such as myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis) and are at least 18 years old.” Finally, she says regular maintenance, proper skin care and having realistic expecta-tions are also key to an optimal outcome.

For additional information or to find out about other services available at Xanadu Med Spa, visit www.xanadumedspa.com.

CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

The Procedure: Improve your skin’s overall texture and reduce

damage to skin’s surface. The Lumenis Ultrapulse CO2 laser, available at Eye Center of Northern Colorado, is perfect for people who have mild to moderate sun damage or age related changes in facial skin with pigment changes and skin wrinkling. The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis. Facial skin is pre-treated with a topical anesthetic cream and patients take an oral sedative and analgesic. Local anesthetic may be applied to provide additional comfort.

Treatment time varies based on the treat-ment zones and patient’s custom treatment plan, but generally requires between 30 to 50 minutes. Most patients feel some warmth or heat during the course of treatment, which generally subsides in the first hour.

After the initial healing process, further improvements in skin’s tone, texture and wrinkle reduction occurs during the first three to six months post-treatment. The duration of treat-ment results depends on the patient skin type, genetics and age as well as skin care regimens to protect skin from sun damage and dryness.

Laser skin resurfacing is not without risks, including hyper or hypopigmentation of treated skin, infection and scarring. Patients that have skin that sunburns easily and are fair skinned tend to have a lower risk profile post-treatment.

The Experience: M.J., age 27, decided to have laser skin

resurfacing to smooth out facial skin that had been marked and scarred by teenage acne. She describes the process as “quick and easy, with only a little discomfort” and says the results were well worth it. As quickly as four weeks after the procedure, M.J. began to receive com-pliments about her skin. “People commented on how soft and smooth it looked and that it was glowing.” She is planning to have laser skin resurfacing again as she nears her 30s to combat signs of aging.

The Expert: Dr. Chet Reistad, with Eye Center of Northern

Colorado, says, “All patients benefit from a proper skin care regimen consisting of gentle, non-drying cleansers, daily sunscreens and moisturizers. However, it is not realistic to expect skin care regimens to reduce significant skin laxity, folds or wrinkles.”

He continues, “As a general rule-of-thumb, laser treatments improve skin texture, tone and wrinkles while surgery reduces excess skin folds. Oftentimes, both laser treatment and surgical treatment will complement each other.” Dr. Reistad advises patients to discuss their per-sonal concerns and goals with their physician to develop an individualized treatment plan.

For additional information or to find out about other services available at Eye Center of Northern Colorado, visit www.eyecenter-noco.com.

The Procedure: Microdermabrasion is a great, non-invasive

surface treatment for your skin that will leave it with a healthy glow and more youthful appear-ance. Microdermabrasion also requires no downtime and is ideal for people on the go, according to Shayna Leone, medical aestheti-cian at Allura Skin, Laser & Wellness Clinic. “This is great right before a girls night out or hot date.”

The process takes about an hour. First the skin is prepped with a light cleansing, includ-ing toner, to help exfoliate the skin. Then the Diamond Tone wand, which as a diamond tip, gently exfoliates the skin to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. A vacuum immediately follows to remove the dead skin cells and clean debris. It works on all skin types and colors, and is ideal for minimal signs of aging, and treating dull skin, sun damage and age spots.

The eye and neck area are also included in the microdermabrasion process and the wand comes in fine, medium, coarse and extra coarse settings for skin’s different needs. After the microdermabrasion, extractions can be done and a custom facial mask is applied along with a hand and arm massage for ultimate relaxation.

Following a microdermabrasion, skin may be slightly pink but will feel refreshed. Your skincare provider should recommend a mois-turizer specifically designed for your skin type that will make your skin feel softer.

The Experience: Sheryl, 63, includes microdermabrasion 3-4

times a year as part of her overall skin care. “My skin always feels so much better; it is so refreshing. There is never any discomfort or downtime. Plus you get the facial experience at the same time, so it is a good combination. This is a part of my skin care regimen.” She adds, “Having the right professional makes a lot of difference, too.”

The Expert: “Microdermabrasion is good for all skin

types, including patients with the most sensi-tive skin and acne prone skin,” says Leone. She also recommends spacing microdermabrasion treatments two to four weeks apart for the best result. To enhance the treatment, Leone recommends the “Glow and Go” – the Dia-mond Tone Microdermabrasion paired with a pharmaceutical grade face peel.

Leone advises clients to use a broad-spec-trum sunscreen after microdermabrasion and to avoid direct sun exposure. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors, even during cloudy days. Microdermabrasion is also a wonderful complement before and after lasers and peels, adds Leone.

For additional information or to find out about other services available at Allura Skin, Laser & Wellness Clinic, visit www.alluraclinic.com.

Diamond ToneMicrodermabrasion

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine40


Laser Hair Removal

The Procedure:Take away the pain and irritation of shaving

or waxing with laser hair removal. Northern Colorado Laser & Skin in Greeley uses the Sciton BBL laser for the quickest and least painful laser hair removal option available.

Laser hair removal requires just a little commitment to reap the benefits of semi-permanent hair removal. Treatment length is dependent on the area being treated and can range from five minutes to 30 minutes. At each session, an aloe-based gel is applied to the treatment area and the laser is moved slowly across the gelled area. Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and treats several hair follicles at one time.

Treatments are generally fast and comfort-able. However, sensitive patients can request numbing cream, which must be applied 30 minutes prior to treatment.

Follow up appointments are scheduled four to eight weeks later, depending on the treated area. Hair reduction can be achieved in three to six treatments.

The Experience: Mandy, 27, decided to take the plunge and

have laser hair removal after several friends made the recommendation. She chose laser hair removal for the bikini area.

Mandy has had five sessions and has one more to go to complete the treatment. She opts for the topical numbing cream prior to treatments. “I noticed some difference after the first treatment, but it was after the second that I noticed even more,” she says. “Now there are only a few hairs left.” With the topical cream, she says the procedure is painless and lasts approximately five minutes.

The Expert: Dr. Dana Morgan, of Northern Colorado

Laser & Skin, advises clients to keep the area they want treated out of the sun for at least one month prior to laser hair removal and recommends the area be shaved at least one to three days prior to treatment.

“Our technology allows us to treat not only the light skinned patient, but also those with darker pigmented skin. We do require that during treatment the patient maintains the lightest possible tone and avoids unpro-tected sun exposure,” says Stacy McCloud, laser technician.

McCloud also advises that consistency is key. “We highly encourage our patients purchase a package of three to six treatments, four to eight weeks apart to obtain results that typically only require an annual or semi-annual touch up.” The clinic offers clients discounted touch ups at least twice a year to maintain the results.

For additional information or to find out about other laser services available at Northern Colorado Laser & Skin, visit www.northcolo-radolaser.com.

PureLipo

The Procedure: PureLipo is a minimally invasive technique

that sculpts and contours the body, creating a more sleek silhouette by removing excess fatty tissue. At Looks Medical Aesthetics, Dr. Patrick Mallory recommends PureLipo to two different types of clients: those who have lost weight but still have trouble areas that are resistant to diet and exercise, and to those who need to lose a significant amount of weight and want a jumpstart on their weight loss goals. For those who want to target trouble spots, PureLipo not only removes fat but allows the doctor to sculpt the area as well.

PureLipo is a surgical procedure done with tumescent anesthesia, where the fat is swollen to aid in pain relief and removal. Patients are awake during the mainly pain-free procedure, which typically lasts between one to two hours. The procedure is an extremely safe procedure, posing fewer risks that traditional liposuction. Prep consists of a physical exam and a consultation.

Patients may feel slight pressure during the procedure as the syringes are inserted to drain the fat. After the procedure, patients will experience some swelling and drainage of the tumescent fluid. Most patients return to regular activities within three days of treat-ment, though slight drainage can continue and compression clothing is advised.

The Experience: Carla, 50, had lost quite a bit of weight

but found resistant pockets of fat on her abdomen that she could not get rid of despite dieting and exercise. A month ago, she had the PureLipo procedure. “The procedure really was very easy and I definitely want to do it again. I am very happy with the results – I feel like I have more of a waist and my pants fit looser.”

The Expert: Dr. Mallory says patients have a better cos-

metic result if they follow through with wear-ing the compression garments recommended post-procedure. He also advises patients to have a long term plan to keep weight off. “There is no guarantee with any liposuction. It is very dependent on the individual’s lifestyle.” Healthy eating and regular exercise should be part of that plan, he says.

Dr. Mallory also encourages those who need to lose a significant amount of weight to look into the PureLipo procedure. “For those who want to lose 100 pounds or more, this can give them a boost by physically removing some of the fat. It gives instantaneous results.”

For additional information or to find out about other services available at Looks Medical Aesthetics, visit www.looksmedicalspa.com.

Tattoo Removal

The Procedure: Whether it was a passionate love affair

that fizzled or a moment of poor judgment, sometimes a work of art can become a con-stant reminder of something we would rather forget. That is where laser tattoo removal can come in handy. The process, though not pain-free, is relatively simple, explains certi-fied laser specialist Mike Scarpulla, owner of Tat2Undo in Fort Collins.

Scarpulla explains that a tattoo is actually liquid that resides under the skin. With a laser, the liquid can be crystalized then flushed out of the body through the lymphatic system. The process takes just minutes. The laser is run over the tattooed area, while a chiller blows cold air on the area to cool the skin. The pain is similar to that of the initial tattooing, but of much shorter duration.

Older tattoos take fewer sessions to remove; newer tattoo ink contains a number of metallic additives and is harder to remove. The number of sessions is dependent on the size and age of the tattoo, and your own immune system. There is a less than 5 percent chance of scar-ring, says Scarpulla. The process takes time; you must wait six to eight weeks between sessions.

There are health restrictions that would prevent some from being a candidate for laser tattoo removal. Scarpulla recommends talking to your physician if you have a specific health concern or a compromised immune system.

The Experience: Scott, 40, found it necessary to have a

tattoo removed from his shoulder. Though he has just begun the laser removal process at Tat2Undo, he anticipates three more treat-ments and his 4-inch by ½-inch tattoo will disappear. “The pain is equivalent to when I had the tattoo put on but it is a small price in comparison to no longer having something on your body that you do not want.”

The Expert: Though Scarpulla says the reasons for

tattoo removal are across the board, he fre-quently removes ex-lover’s names. Because the process is so quick, Tat2Undo does accept walk-in appointments. Those with a healthy lifestyle experience the best results from tattoo removal, says Scarpulla, because they often have healthier immune and lymphatic systems.

Scarpulla adds that after care makes a huge impact on the success of the removal. Avoid hot tubs and tanning beds and remembering to wear sunscreen are essential to protecting the skin.

For additional information or to find out about other services available at Tat2Undo, visit www.tat2undo.com.



CAlMing feARs

dr. geraets, dds, has special training that allows him to provide oral conscious sedation, intravenous sedation and nitrous oxide therapy for patients who experience anxiety over dental procedures.

By eliSSa TiVONa

Some people quake at the mere sound of a dentist’s drill. Ask anyone who saw the 1976 sus-pense/thriller Marathon Man, where villainous Lawrence Oliv-

ier stands over Dustin Hoffman grinding relentlessly into his teeth.

But avoiding regular dental care can be calamitous, leading to gum disease, tooth loss and even more serious complications, including heart problems.

Most folks who defer dental visits are simply procrastinating or feel mild apprehension; how-ever, 5 percent of people who put off dental visits have a history of extreme pain and, in rare cases, abuse at the hands of a childhood dentist. The good news for the squeamish is that modern techniques like sedation dentistry have become routine, and the days when dental procedures inflict needless discomfort on quivering patients

are over.Galen Geraets, DDS at Centre Family Dentistry

in Fort Collins, notes that, in addition to dental trauma, “Some patients see working in the mouth as invasive, which can trigger related memories.”

Still other patients simply don’t numb up well; their bodies aren’t receptive to local anesthet-ics. Too often, these painful memories lead to unhealthy patterns of avoidance.

Dr. Geraets says, “That’s exactly the problem. Because of some early traumatic experience, folks don’t go back until there is an acute need that motivates them to make the phone call. Once the emergency passes, they may continue to avoid dental care until the next major crisis. The biggest milestone is to get them through our door.”

To build patient confidence and overcome a history of dread, Dr. Geraets turned to sedation dentistry. “My dad is a nurse anesthetist, and

I always had an interest in sedation dentistry because of him… This adds another facet to my practice.”

In addition to post-graduate dental school education, Dr. Geraets completed a comprehen-sive course of training at the Portland Academy of General Dentistry in Oregon, qualifying him to provide oral conscious sedation, intravenous sedation and the more common nitrous oxide therapy. During procedures, trained practitioners continuously monitor vital signs to guarantee a pain free experience and to protect against risk to patient health.

Another secret to Dr. Geraets’ success is his no-pressure philosophy. “Often we just talk for the first appointment. I want to help [new patients] understand what’s going on and explain how we can offer them a different experience with the use of sedation.”

Some patients may need pharmaceuticals for the first procedure. Once they gain confidence

Sedation DentistryweLLneSS


that no harm will come to them, they may opt to go without. Others with a greater degree of early trauma require more time to develop a trusting relationship.

“These are the cases you really enjoy,” says Dr. Geraets. “A patient comes in filled with anxi-ety and after we’ve established trust, they can undergo subsequent procedures without seda-tion. It’s pretty amazing to watch that happen.”

Treatment plans can also help reduce fear. Dr. Geraets takes advantage of sedation early on for involved or invasive procedures like root canals performed jointly with other specialists. Then, as procedures get progressively less inva-sive and time-consuming, patients’ need for sedatives lessen.

Another compelling reason patients opt for sedation dentistry is to complete complex dental work in fewer appointments. In the past, these cases required multiple visits staged over many months. Modern sedation dentistry lets patients relax comfortably in the dental chair, sometimes drifting off into a semi-sleep state for hours at a time. They awaken with no recollection of distress and a major part of needed dental work behind them.

One outcome stands out in Dr. Geraets’ mind. He tells of a local teacher who was extremely fearful when he first came in, even requiring sedation for routine teeth cleaning.

Dr Geraets says, “At first, we took little steps. With sedation, I successfully completed all his dental work. Then we got him on a strict dental hygiene regimen.”

By following through with teeth and gum restoration, the educator recovered sufficient confidence to make other healthy choices. “He turned his life around. Today he’s lost weight, he’s exercising and his blood pressure’s down. It’s a joy to see him; you see the happiness in his eyes now.”

Dr. Geraets celebrates dramatic results like these, but he’s also equally pleased by that first beaming smile when individuals awaken to realize they’ve overcome decades of fear.

Elissa J. Tivona is a writer and international educator living in Fort Collins. Find her online at www.thepeacecorrespondent.com

Because of some early traumatic experience,

folks don’t go back until there is an acute need... The biggest milestone is to get them through our

door.

Galen Geraets, DDS Centre Family Dentistry


Nutritionwellness

By Kay Rios

How Important I s

“ Organ ic? ”

The term “organic food” has become commonplace and, for a growing number of people, it describes a lifestyle as well.

The debate over organic versus conventional foods is energetic, as evidence is offered from both sides. The American Cancer Society has issued a statement that, “At this time, there is no evidence that such foods are more effective in reducing cancer risk or providing other health benefits than similar foods produced by other farming methods.”

However, on the other side of the discussion, increasing numbers of studies have surfaced linking to a number of ailments including atten-tion-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Parkinson’s Disease. Bottom line, it doesn’t hurt to exercise caution when selecting food choices, according to many local dietitians.

“The big reason I suggest eating organic is to reduce exposure to herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilizers,” says Janet Little, director of Nutrition Education for Sprouts Farmer’s Market. “The second is that there are numerous studies that show organic has more antioxi-dants than conventional produce. When the

plants have to defend for themselves, they bolster more of their defense mechanisms – that translates to higher nutritional antioxidants for humans.”

Lori Kehoe, registered dietitian for Vitamin Cottage agrees. “Organic foods and vegetables definitely offer greater nutrition and they are higher in antioxidants, but another reason to buy them is for the taste. Organic foods just taste better. They don’t have the chemical taste.” It’s also a good way to encourage kids to eat fruits and vegetables, she says. “Children’s taste buds are very sensitive.”

Organic food can be more expensive, they both agree. But, even if budget is a concern, there are ways of incorporating organic food into a regular diet along with conventional foods. As a starter, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created the “Dirty Dozen” list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that are most contaminated with pesticides along with the ”Clean Fifteen” that are the lowest in pesticides. Apples are the worst offender, fol-lowed by celery and bell peppers (see sidebar for complete lists).

For those on the Dirty Dozen list, Little suggests consumers purchase them organi-cally. Those on the Clean Fifteen list could be

conventional. “The Clean Fifteen usually contain fruits and vegetables that have hard rinds on them you peel off. And cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower – bugs don’t like them so pesticides aren’t used as much. For avocados and papayas, if you’re on a budget buy the conventional because they don’t have that high residue on them. Skin is a good barrier. Look at peaches, which tend to be on the dirty dozen. Bugs like them and their skins are thinner.”

Garry Auld, Ph.D., registered dietitian and interim department head of Food Science and Nutrition at Colorado State University (CSU) takes a different view. “From a health per-spective, the people who are most sensitive to pesticides are pregnant women and young children so they should be cautious. However, for the rest of us, I’m not as convinced. As far as the Dirty Dozen, are the pesticides high enough we should be concerned? The implications of those rankings are fuzzy.”

Focusing on the two lists can be cost saving since conventional foods are typically cheaper and there are other ways to save. “Buying in season helps,” Auld says. “The market is driven by the consumer. If there’s more demand, there will be pressure on the retailer to reduce costs.”

Kehoe adds, “Buy what’s on sale. Buying in bulk is another idea.” Canning and preserving is also helpful, she says. “If organic apples are on sale, buy more and then make applesauce.”

Changing perspective can also help, she says. “Look at where you are spending the money. Pound for pound, what does it cost to buy lettuce as opposed to Fruit Loops. Change your focus and look at the cost per nutrient; see what exchanges you can make.”

Personal health concerns are at the top of the list as people make choices when they shop. But there’s another reason. For Auld, the main reason to consider organic food is the health of the environment. “It’s about sustainable food and the sustainability of the environment. And it’s not black and white.”

Little adds, “For the most part, by buying organically you are supporting the concept of taking care of the earth, the concept of sustain-ability. We vote with our dollars and when we buy organic, we are voting for that concept. Most people don’t think about that.”

Kay Rios, Ph.D. is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins. She is currently working on a mystery series, and a collection of short stories and essays.

The Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen

4. Peaches5. Strawberries6. Nectaries (imported)7. Grapes8. Spinach9. Lettuce10. Cucumbers11. Blueberries12. PotatoesGreen Beans and Kale/greens may also contain pesticide residues of special concern.

Clean Fifteen1. Onions2. Sweet Corn3. Pineapples4. Avocado5. Cabbage6. Sweet peas7. Asparagus8. Mangoes9. Eggplant10. Kiwi

11. Cantaloupe (domestic) 12. Sweet potatoes13. Grapefruit14. Watermelon15. Mushrooms

A 32-page guide, “Good Food on a Tight Budget” can be downloaded for free from the Environmental Working Group’s website: www.ewg.org.

Dirty Dozen Plus1. Apples2. Celery3. Sweet bell peppers



Safety for SeniorsweLLneSS

By liNda gaBel

fAll pRevenT i on

Falls are a serious health concern for older adults. Each year 30 percent of adults over the age of 65 have an injury as a result of a fall in or around the home. Most often,

these injuries are the result of performing common activities in the home such as walk-ing, climbing stairs or getting in and out of bed or the bathtub.

Falls are also the leading cause of death for adults over 65 and are the cause of 90 percent of hip fractures. However, physical injury is not the only results of a fall. The emotional effects can also be devastating. Often seniors will quit doing activities for fear of falling again. Yet these activities could help them avoid another fall. Inactivity can lead to depression, stiff joints, decreased muscle strength and coordination, and constipation.

The goal of fall prevention is to reduce the risk of falls while encouraging independence. Normal changes associated with aging such as a decline in muscle strength or vision and hearing problems contribute to a greater risk in falling as we age. Balance is affected and reaction time is slower. It is important to work on physical balance through exercises, which involve many body systems to assure stability and equilibrium. Working with a physical trainer on these exercises can be very beneficial.

To avoid falls it is important to position the body correctly before undertaking an activity. Don’t rush activities, especially when ill. Do not attempt to carry large or heavy packages. Instead plan on making more trips to carry items. Shoes should always have non-skid soles, low heels and have a tread on the sole.

The following suggestions can greatly reduce the risk of falling in and around the home.

• Remove area rugs or runners.

• Ensure that all furniture is stable and does not slide or move. This is especially true with beds, which can be placed next to a wall for greater stability;

• Place all electrical cords along the walls, not in walkways or under rugs.

• Avoid all clutter on the floor such as animal toys, magazines or news-papers, and fans or heaters.

• Wipe up all spills immediately and place a non-skid mat in front of the sink area in the kitchen and bathrooms to soak up spills.

• Ensure proper lighting throughout the home. Older adults need more light to see due to common eye conditions such as glaucoma or cata-racts. Leave some lights on at night in case there is a need to get up for the restroom. Auto touch lights are also an advantage in that they can be easily reached and turned on and off from the bedside or table. Existing lamps can be easily fitted with an auto touch adaptive piece available at most hardware stores.

• Regularly used items should be placed within easy reach. In the bed-room and sitting areas, telephone, lamp and eyeglasses should be place on the side table within comfort-able reach.

• Avoid clothing, especially bathrobes, that are too long or loose.

• Ensure that there are slip resistant mats in the bathroom, both inside and out of the tub or shower.

• Carpeted steps should be checked regularly for any loose spots, wrinkles or worn areas. Do not position area rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs. Make sure stairs are well-lit.

• On outside stairs and porches, place reflective tape that is colorful on edges and where there may be a difference in height.

Remember that side effects from medi-cations such as diuretics, sedatives or pain relievers can contribute to confusion or loss of balance. Ensure that special precautions are taken if a loved one is on such medications.

Overall, remember that one can remain safely in their own home as they age when precautions are in place. Loved ones want to stay where they are familiar and comfortable for as long as they can. Family members can support their loved one’s desire to remain in their home by ensuring that the home is safe by simply putting in place the above sugges-tions. Reducing falls and injuries in the home can happen when just a few steps are taken with little time commitment through these simple suggestions. For further information check the National Council on Aging website or contact your local Area Office on Aging in your county.

linda gabel is owner of seniors Helping seniors

ACTIVE SENIORS • HEALTH • ACTIVITIES • RECREATION • WELLNESS • SERVICES



g e T f i T, g i v e B A C k C A l e n d A R

Get involved in giving back and being active! Many of these great events donate their proceeds to nonprofit organizations.

The 5th Annual Flying Pig 5K Charity Run/WalkThe 5th Annual Flying Pig 5K Charity Run/Walk event is scheduled for April 14, 8:30 a.m., at Spring Canyon Park in Fort Collins. The Run/Walk will be followed by a Pancake “Pigs in a

Blanket” breakfast at Spring Canyon Park, also home of Inspiration Playground. The event is expected to draw more than 400 participants from Fort Collins and surrounding areas.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Family Support Services Program (FSSP), a program under Foothills Gateway, Inc. The Family Support Services Program currently serves 190 families, with an additional 226 families on the waiting list. The FSSP provides a pool of

funds designated to assist families who provide support, at home, to their family member with a cognitive disability or developmental delay.

MaRCH16 – Sharin’ O’ the Green 5K, Fort Collins, benefitting Partners Mentoring Youth, www.partnersmentoringyouth.org

24 – 2013 ‘Rip’ Classic 5K, 5-Mile and 10-Mile Races, 9 a.m., Loveland. Supports the Northern Colorado Youth Sports and Pro Swing Booster.

25 – 4th Annual JourneyQuest SpringFest 5K Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m., Edora Park in Fort Collins, 10 a.m., benefitting the Shared Journeys Foun-dation, www.sharedjourneysfoundation.org

aPRiL 7 – Beat Beethoven 5K run, 9 a.m., Downtown Fort Collins. Race benefits the Fort Collins Symphony. www.fcsymphony.org

14 – Flying Pig 5K Charity Run/Walk, Spring Canyon Park in Fort Collins. Proceeds benefit families in the Family Support Services Program at Foothills Gateway.www.foothillsgateway.org

21 – 40th Annual Horsetooth Half Marathon, 6 a.m., CSU Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins. www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com

May5 – The Colorado Marathon,race down the Poudre Canyonwww.thecoloradomarathon.com

11 – Quad Rock 50 and 25 Mile Trail Races, 5:30 a.m., Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Park, Fort Collins, gnarunners.com

12 – Crazy Legs Race Series 10K, 7 a.m., Devil’s Backbone Open Space in Loveland,www.crazylegsraceseries.info

18 – Pink Boa 5K, 8:30 a.m., Front Range Vil-lage, Fort Collins, benefitting The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center.www.hopelives.org

BARRe ClAsses:THe BeAuTy of sTRengTH

By aNgeliNe greNz

Sometimes it is hard to find a workout that doesn’t produce burnout at three months or a plateau at six. But if you are looking for a workout that is constantly evolving, accom-modates different skill levels easily and is taught in a fun atmosphere, a barre class may be for you.

Barre workouts topped fitness trend lists in 2012 and promise to continue to be a strong trend this year. Yet only a couple classes are offered in Northern Colorado: currently Perk BarreFitness, offered out of the Old Town Athletic Club, and Barre Power, offered at the Raintree Athletic Club, both in Fort Collins. (Though it is rumored that the Pure Barre franchise is coming to Fort Collins this spring.)

A barre workout is an inspired mix of Pilates, ballet, cardio and strength training. Partici-pants may begin class with weights and arm exercises, or planks and pushups, then move to the ballet bar for leg lifts, squats and other


agonizingly small, but infinitely challenging movements.

“Barre works all those tiny muscles in the hips and thighs. We work a full range of motion, then shorten and isolate muscle groups,” according to Ashley Peth, owner of Perk Pilates and instructor at Perk BarreFitness.

What barre can do for you is truly amazing, says Peth. The workout, generally an hour, can change your body by developing muscle from movements often used by dancers. Peth, a professional dancer turned Pilates instructor, began her barre classes in 2011. Sprinkled among flexibility and strengthening moves is a healthy dose of cardio to keep the heart rate up. The combination makes for “some of the toughest fun you will ever have,” says Peth.

Peth’s classes are made up of women from ages 20 to 70, though the median age is around 40 to 45. The class is not one-size-fits-all; rather, each exercise can be adjusted in intensity according to fitness level and classes change week-to-week, day-to-day. This constantly changing workout means that you won’t get bored and you don’t plateau.

The movements can be modified for those recovering for an injury or for pregnant women. And Peth has had a surprising number of women continue BarreFitness classes right up to their due date. “It is really good for pregnant women to continue moving and strengthening their core,” she says.

To benefit from barre the most, Peth recom-mends attending a class two to three times a week, unless you are already participating regularly in other fitness activities. During class, Peth ensures her attendees use proper posture, holding in their core and shouts out cues to take the movement to the next level.

The movements can be slight, an inch or two at a time. Indeed, sometimes the slighter the moves are the more difficult they become. But the results are a tightening and lifting of the rear, lean muscles that run up the thigh and more trim, muscular arms. That transformation fuels the desire to return for more pain – fun, fierce pain that you absolutely love.

In addition to weight loss and calorie burn-ing, Peth is inspired to get people to move better and become stronger. “I love to teach people to move better; to move with more mindfulness,” she says. “The best compliment I have ever gotten was when someone said they

had never seen such a strong group of women. These women are walking testimonials.”

Peth’s classes average 10 to 20 people, and the camaraderie is evident. Some long-time attendees meet up for activities outside class; others bake cupcakes for the class or bring in veggies from the garden to share. And, most often, everyone scoots over to make room for newcomers and helps them grab their equipment: mat, ball and weights.

“This class is an anomaly – there is so much positivity; it is such a supportive, fun environment,” she says. Peth goes a long way toward creating that culture. She remembers everyone’s name, even after just one class. She never turns away a late attendee or rushes

out after class for other pursuits. And she still enjoys the burn she gets after a great barre workout.

Accumulated calorie burn varies from woman to woman, though Peth says the range is generally 250 to 500 calorie for a full hour. “It all depends on how much muscle fatigue you have, how much you sweat and how high your heart rate climbs,” she says. But if you do all that, it is one thoroughly exhausting, lovely hour.

Angeline Grenz is editor for Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness and has been attending barre classes for one year.


family focus

Germ-free By aNgeliNe greNz

This Flu Season

Colorado has experienced the one-two punch this flu season. Take your pick: the terrible congestion and cough or the sneak-attack stomach virus.

Either way, most of us are bound to spend a day or two at home watching reruns at some point over the winter-spring season, and children are often the biggest culprits in spreading the viruses.

The flu season can hang around from October until May, and each year approximately 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents get the flu, according to Flu.gov. Since most flu victims infect others one day before their own symptoms appear – and can remain contagious five to seven days after symptoms appear – it is virtually impossible not to pass some of these flu bugs along, especially by young ones who are less likely to identify their symptoms early.

Avoid the spread of infection by encouraging your children to follow a few good steps, offered up by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Wash your hands with soap and water often.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; germs are spread this way.

• Try to avoid contact with sick people.

The CDPHE also recommends keeping a child home for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone, and Flu.gov says the single best protection for children age 6 months and older is to get a yearly flu vaccine. For more information, visit Flu.gov.


kids • play • fun • health • activities



Feral FelinesveterInAry

northern Colorado friends of ferals save countless feral felines like this one from kill shelters every year.

T H e f i n e f R i e n d s o f

feRAl CATs By laura SeBaSTiaN

On a freezing February night in 2009, two women sat huddled in a car in the early morning hours at a mobile home park in Ault, Colo., anxiously watch-

ing the metal traps they’d scattered about and baited with tuna. Soon there came the welcome slam of a trap door. Trapped behind that door was a feral cat, the first customer of what became the Northern Colorado Friends of Ferals (NCFF), one of a nationwide trend of programs aiding feral cat colonies by performing T-N-R, which stands for Trap-Neuter-Return.

During that first night, Leslie Vogt and Jan Link, co-founders of the non-profit NCFF, trapped 18

cats and brought them to Dr. Tom Welsh, a Fort Collins veterinarian of 30 years who now operates Eagle View Veterinary Clinic as a practice devoted to rescue support. Dr. Welsh volunteered his skills to spay, neuter, vaccinate and provide any other needed medical treatment. After recovering, the cats were returned to the mobile home park, where caregivers who’d been feeding them agreed to continue to do so, only now there would be no endless litters of kittens.

“These caregivers call their colony cats by name; they are loved,” says Link. “The people who feed these colonies do so out of kindness, but sometimes just aren’t able to trap them or afford to get them vet care even if they were able to trap them, so they appreciate the help we give.”

“Our main goal is to reduce the feral cat population, which will lower the number of cats going into shelters, and lower the number of cats killed in shelters, which is 70 percent nationwide,” says Vogt. “A large percentage of cats in shelters come from feral cat popula-tions, primarily from the kittens of these ferals, and many people contribute to the problem by abandoning their cats, not reclaiming their cats when they’re lost, and not altering their pet cats. Our belief is that all living creatures have value and deserve care, food, shelter and protection for their entire lives. NCFF aims to promote a humane, non-lethal and effective approach to cat overpopulation.

“Some people wonder why we return them to their colony,” Vogt continues. “The answer


is three-fold: first, there simply aren’t enough homes out there; second, even if there were enough homes, many of the cats are wild and not adoptable; and third, you create a void if you just kill them, which is not only obviously inhumane, but also ineffective. When a void is created, they will reproduce to fill that void, but when you spay and neuter they don’t reproduce so, in time, the colony reduces in size through natural attrition. It’s even cheaper to trap and neuter a cat than it is to take it in and euthanize it.”

In its four years of operation, NCFF has made a significant impact. The organization has grown to include 30 core volunteers and another 15 part-time volunteers, as well as local veterinar-ians who have come aboard to donate their time during “clinic” days once a month when animals trapped the night before are brought in for medical care. Together, they have completed T-N-R for 3,000 cats and found homes for 416 cats and kittens through partnerships with no-kill shelters such as the Fort Collins Cat Rescue. They also have worked out agreements with the Larimer and Weld County Humane Societies, who will call NCFF if they get an ear-tipped cat (while under sedation, one ear is cut off at the tip so altered cats can be identified and not re-trapped or euthanized if brought to a shelter).

Though the cats need help from humans, Dr. Welsh, NCFF’s primary veterinarian, says they are often quite healthy.

“Disease is not rampant in these cats, they are no more disease carriers than your average house pet,” Dr. Welsh says. “Even so, when we spay and neuter them we also vaccinate for distemper and rabies, which is great for their own health as well as from a public health standpoint. Because they’re now protected from rabies, when they’re returned to their colony they then act as buffers by intercepting rabies-infected small animal species, just as cats have done throughout the ages. So the thousands of cats we’ve vaccinated for rabies translates into a protection for people as well.”

Davida duPont, a personal trainer, volunteered for more than a year with NCFF and believes in the T-N-R model.

“We work to reduce population, prevent over-population, help cats who are victims of human carelessness, and prevent illness and suffering within colonies,” duPont says. “There are a lot of misperceptions about both tame and feral

Upcoming NCFF Fundraiser: “Feral Friends & Fine Wine”April 25, 2013, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Columbine Room of

the Lincoln Center.There will be music, wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres and

desserts, as well as guest speaker Terry Jester, companion animal behaviorist. To purchase tickets ($35 per person),

call (970) 224-1467.

To volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation: Visit their website at www.nocoferals.org.

To volunteer, call: (970) 224-1467

53

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

cats. For instance, it’s a myth that cats can take care of themselves; they’re domesticated animals and they don’t fare well without help. Another myth is that cats kill ‘billions’ of songbirds, as one recent story in the press claimed. The fact is that most birds are killed by collision with windows, pesticides and herbicides. When cats hunt, they’re more likely to go after little snakes, mice and voles because birds, unless they’re sick or injured, are more difficult to catch.”

The many Colorado friends of ferals are not alone in their love of these cats. There are cat colonies all over the world, and many cities con-sider them worthy of protection. In Rome, Italy, a city famous for being home to an estimated 300,000 feral felines, they are called “commu-nity cats.” Some abandoned pets, some born wild, they live peacefully in ancient graveyards, among the ruins of the Coliseum and the Forum, and even find sanctuary on the grounds of one of the city’s hospitals. Protected under the law as part of the Rome’s “bio-heritage,” they are accepted as a living part of the urban landscape, sought out by residents and tourists alike who, like Northern Colorado Friends of Ferals, care for them.

“I help these animals because it’s the right thing to do,” says Dr. Welsh. “My point of view is, I’m on the side of the feral cats. However they got here, they have as much right to be here as any other wild thing. The only difference between them and your pet cat is that they have not had the benefit of human kindness.”

Laura Sebastian lives in Fort Collins and has been a freelance writer since 1999.

leslie vogt, co-founder of nCff, unloads a trap for an evening round up

of feral cats in a northern Colorado neighborhood.

54


Dental CareveterInAry

dr. Maura Buckner, with Moore Animal Hospital, says it is ideal to start dental care as soon as you bring your puppy or kitten home.

denTAl CARe foR youR peTBy eliSSa J. TiVONa

Benji, a winsome, 8-year-old dachs-hund, was a welcome addition to his adopted pet parents; that is until his breath turned foul-smelling and drool began drip-

ping from his cute, pointy snout.

Make no mistake. His new family didn’t love him any less; they simply didn’t know what was wrong with the poor fellow.

This is a common story to Fort Collins veteri-narians Dr. Maura Buckner, with Moore Animal Hospital, and Dr. Brittany Alvillar, with Advanced Animal Care. Both are advocates of regular pro-fessional teeth cleaning for four-legged family members

Buckner reports, “We have had many cases of animals that have come to us later in life with advanced stage periodontal disease.” This condi-tion refers to disease of the gums, and as with humans, can put animals at risk for teeth loss or

more serious health conditions like damage to heart valves, kidneys or liver.

Buckner continues, “[Benji’s] exam showed severe tarter, gingival (gum) recession and inflam-mation, and tooth root exposure on multiple teeth.” Additionally, his blood-work showed slight increases in his liver enzymes, often an early warning of the spread of bacterial infection from the mouth into the bloodstream.

A report by the American Veterinary Dental Society estimates 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal or dental disease by age 3. Today, many veterinarians like Buckner and Alvillar, emphasize regular dental care for pets to prevent onset or progression of dental disease. They recommend cats and dogs follow the same regimen of dental hygiene as their human caretakers.

Dr. Buckner says, “The ideal time to start dental care is as soon as you bring your new companion home, whether it’s an 8-week-old puppy or kitten,

or an older animal that is new to your family.” Dr. Alvillar adds, “The best is to start slow, first

getting [pets] used to a pet-specific toothpaste by using it as a treat. Then slowly work up to putting the toothpaste on their teeth with your finger, then eventually to using a fingerbrush or toothbrush. Not all animals tolerate having their teeth brushed, so there are other products such as food and water additives that help prevent tartar, dental foods and dental treats.”

In most cases, regular tooth brushing is suf-ficient to remove the film (plaque) that forms on teeth after eating. However, if not removed, plaque mineralizes and becomes tarter, which is a hard formation on top of the teeth that requires scaling to remove.

Without intervention, Dr. Buckner explains, “Tarter continues to accumulate on the surface of the tooth both above and below the gum line and bacteria continue to develop. Left unad-dressed bacteria will… destroy the tissues in the

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gum and tissues that support the roots of the teeth… making the tooth root and surrounding bone susceptible to infection.”

If symptoms of advanced dental disease develop, doctors stress the need to get pets examined by a veterinarian for diagnosis and

treatment. Commonly, pet owners first notice halito-

sis (bad breath), an early indication of bacteria build-up in gums or teeth. Other symptoms may include swelling on the muzzle; excessive salivation (drooling); reluctance to eat; pawing or rubbing

the face; redness, pain or bleeding of the gums.“Unfortunately animals do not do well in the

dental chair and do not patiently hold their mouths open for us,” quips Dr. Alvillar. Consequently, pet dental procedures, even regular cleanings, require general anesthesia. The process includes a pre-anesthetic exam and blood work to test for kidney and liver function. Once the animal is asleep, Alvillar says, “We are able to clean the teeth above and below the gum line, polish the teeth, examine them for disease and take X-rays.”

To prevent future plaque build-up, vets rinse the teeth with a chlorhexidine rinse and apply fluoride. Buckner concludes, “Pets are sent home on antibiotics for the week following the dental plus pain medication if extractions were required.”

As it turned out, this was exactly what little Benji needed… and Buckner’s exam may well have extended his life. “Once Benji was anesthetized, his teeth were cleaned and 14 teeth had to be extracted due to excessive root exposure and [infection]… Benji woke up sore but he went home with a much better smelling mouth on antibiotics, pain medications and an oral rinse. Two weeks later all the sockets in his mouth were healed and he was eating hard food like a champ. When his blood-work was rechecked four weeks later, all his liver enzymes had returned to normal levels.”

Elissa J. Tivona is a writer and international educa-tor living in Fort Collins. Find her online at www.thepeacecorrespondent.com

Dr. Brittany Alvillar, with Advanced Animal Care, cleans the plaque from a canine.




A nATuRAl CARegiveR

Joy Tandberg, Occupational TherapistheALthcAre provIDer SpotLIght

By laura SeBaSTiaN

She’s the one perched with a camera on the back of her hus-band’s Harley Davidson, sailing along the roads of Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park,

snapping photos. Or you might spot her raising funds for cancer victims, cheering up veterans or collecting food for the local food bank. And, if you’re struggling to recover from a life-changing injury, she’s the one who will guide you back to a place of heal-ing and strength. Her name is Joy Tandberg and she’s spent more than 25 years as an occupational therapist.

For the past seven years, Tandberg has been with Colorado Health Medical Group Occupa-tional Health in Fort Collins (formerly known as Poudre Valley Hospital Occupational Health Services), where she works with patients injured

on the job, specifically those with hand and arm injuries.

“Those kinds of injuries are fascinating to me,” Tandberg says. “It’s so exciting to be able to help patients regain their strength and func-tion, and get back to living their lives the way they did before.”

Tandberg was a born caregiver. She performed her first rehabilitation “job” at age 11 when her father, an ex-lumberjack and farmer on the family’s North Dakota dairy farm, had surgery on his back, which had finally given out after years of heavy labor.

“He was bedridden and needed assistance with everything. He needed to get back to where he could function again and I was drawn to helping him do that,” Tandberg says. “It was my parents’ teaching, and growing up on a farm with animals, that taught me how precious life is, how important it is to take care of all beings,

whether they’re human or animal.”Helping her father regain his health gave

Tandberg her life’s focus, so she headed off to the University of North Dakota, earning a Bach-elor of Science degree in occupational therapy. In the late 1980s she sharpened her focus to hand therapy and in 1991 became a certified hand therapist.

“I remember one of the first patients I had was a farmer in his 70s whose hand was crushed while doing chores,” Tandberg says. “He couldn’t move his wrist or fingers and he asked me, ‘Will I ever be able to play the piano again?’ which sounds like the old joke, but he was being seri-ous. He played the piano at his church and it was very important to him. It took us several months, but he got back to being able to do everything he’d done before, both working the farm and playing the piano. It’s things like that that have kept me doing what I do.”

But work is only a part of Tandberg’s life. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband Paul, a diesel mechanic for Larimer County, and their adored 18-year-old cat, Smoke. She is deeply involved in charitable works, both through her job and in her private life.

At work, she is the go-to woman when it comes to organizing and spearheading fund-raisers for the hospital’s charitable foundation, which raises funds for many causes. In Tandberg’s department, the team has focused their fund-raising efforts on such things as breast cancer awareness, the hospital’s cancer center and the Larimer County Food Bank.

It is with her husband and the social and phil-anthropic Greeley Harley Owner Group, (they’ve been members of since 2006), that Tandberg has helped raise funds and volunteered for such organizations as Greeley’s Denkai Animal Sanctuary and the Triangle Cross Ranch for developmentally disabled adults.

“It’s a great group of people and we’re just like everyone else, only we wear a lot of leather and ride motorcycles!” Tandberg says.

Veterans are another group dear to Tandberg’s heart, as four of her siblings are army vets. She and her husband participate in the twice-yearly motorcade for Honor Flight Northern Colorado, an organization that honors war veterans by providing free trips to visit Washington, D.C.’s war memorials. The veterans’ buses are escorted from the Loveland meeting point to the Denver airport with a procession of a hundred or more supporters on motorcycles.

“It’s a way to let them know I appreciate what they’ve done and to bring awareness to the challenges they face when they return home, like finding a job, housing and healthcare.”

As for Tandberg, whether it’s at work or on the back of a shiny Harley-Davidson, you can bet she is making a positive impact.

“If I can do something that can make even a small difference in people’s lives, I feel like I’m living my life in the way I was meant to.”

Laura Sebastian lives in Fort Collins and has been a freelance writer since 1999.

Joy Tandberg, Occupational Therapist

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2013-03 Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness