May Peoria Healthy Cells 2011

MAY 2011 FREE

areaPromotingHealthier Living in Your Community

• Physical

• Emotional

• Nutritional

GREATER PEORIA

Living the Vivacious Life You Wantpg. 38

HealthyCellsM A G A Z I N Ewww.healthycellsmagazine.com

TM

Hearing Aid Myths Sorting Out the Truth

page 20

Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time toShrink Your Waist and Budgetpg. 12

MidwestHearing

CenterCelebrates

Better Speech andHearing Month

Stutteringpg. 30Stutteringpg. 30

Living the Vivacious Life You Wantpg. 38

Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time toShrink Your Waist and Budgetpg. 12

May 2011 — Peoria — Healthy Cells Magazine — Page 3

EVERY LIFE improved.

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500 West Romeo B. Garrett Avenue, Peoria, IL 61605

309-680-1500www.triumph-healthcare.com

Greater Peoria SPecialty HoSPitalA Partnership with Methodist Medical Center

This Month’s Cover Story: Volume 13, Issue 58

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12

14

16

18

24

26

27

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

Physical:Why Do I Have Pain in My Lower Back and Buttocks?

Emotional:Combat—Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Nutritional:Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time to Shrink Your Waist and Budget

Sandwich Generation:Planning for the Future

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: Stroke In the Eye

Continual Learning:An Inquiring Mind Wants to Know

Strive, Survive and Thrive:May is American Stroke Month

Fitness:Up that Exercise for Better Weight Loss Results!

Ventilator Weaning:Easing Off the Ventilator System

Fact or Fiction:Postpartum Depression

Speech Disorders:Stuttering

Women’s Health:Reconstruction —A Post Mastectomy Option

Dental Disease:Oral Health Affects Overall Health

Sleep Apnea:Freedom from Chronic Fatigue,Headaches & Depression

Hormonal Balance:Living the Vivacious Life You Want

Diabetes and Neuropathy:A Difficult Combination

MAY

Healthy Cells Magazine is intended to heighten awareness of health and fitness information and does not sug-gest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for medical attention. See your healthcare pro-fessional for medical advice and treatment. The opinions, statements, and claims expressed by the columnists, advertisers, and contributors to Healthy Cells Magazine are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.

Healthy Cells Magazine is available FREE at over 650 locations, including major grocery stores throughout central Illinois as well as hospitals, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, and health clubs. 12,000 copies are published monthly. Healthy Cells Magazine welcomes contributions pertaining to healthier living in central Illinois. Limelight Communications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for their publication or return. Solicitations for articles shall pertain to physical, emotional, and nutritional health only.

Mission: The objective of Healthy Cells Magazine is to promote a stronger health-conscious community by means of offering education and support through the cooperative efforts among esteemed health and fitness professionals in central Illinois.

2011

For advertising information, contact Kim Brooks-Miller

309-681-4418 email: [email protected]

Healthy Cells Magazine is a division of:

1711 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615 Ph: 309-681-4418 Fax: 309-691-2187

[email protected]

Left to Right: Audiologist, Lyn Franks; Doctor of Audiology, Jamie Tompkins; Audiologist, Amanda Hillebrand; Doctor of Audiology, Carrie Morris; Audiologist,Sharon Benivegna

Hearing Aid Myths: Sorting Out the TruthMidwest Hearing Center Celebrates Better Speech and Hearing Month

page 20

Cover and feature story photos by Daryl Wilson Photography


Recently I upgraded to a new cell phone. My previous phone was having some issues and was very basic. It was then I realized it was time to take the technology plunge. Now, I have a touch screen and all these wonderful op-tions that have placed me into a technical time warp. There is much to learn about this small device and I’m ready to take on the challenge even though a bit daunting. It has reminded me it’s still fun to learn, good to exercise your mind and be a bit humbled at the same time. In this May issue, there is an article titled “An Inquiring Mind Wants to Know” in regards to the OLLI program at Bradley University. Continued learning is important for healthy brain function and a feeling of well-being. If you have been thinking about learning a new hobby, traveling or taking a class, don’t be intimidated or procrastinate. Now is the time – enjoy yourself, meet new friends and learn!

Sincerely,

Kim Brooks-Miller, Owner, Healthy Cells Magazine, Greater Peoria Area Edition. Comments or questions call: 309-681-4418 or e-mail: [email protected]

letter from the owner

Continued Learning is Important

Photo Courtesy of Photography by Jill

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Background Low back pain is the second most common reason for visits to physicians and the most common reason for missing work. For the majority of the general population, reported acute back pain is often self-limited and will resolve with a short period of rest, treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and well directed physical therapy. Current research indicates that sacroiliac (SI) joint pathology is an often-overlooked part of the differential diagnosis of low back pain and sciatica pain. The Sacroiliac joint (or SI joint) connects the sacrum bones of the buttocks to the hips (Moore, July 1999). Approximately 80% of patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction can identify a specific event that was the causative event for the symptoms- i.e. trauma, torsional strain, or some repetitive injury. The injury could have been a minor event, as simple as, the result of lifting a heavy object with a twisting motion. An example of this might be removing a heavy suitcase from the trunk of a car. Another common injury is a slip and fall event. The joint is subjected to twisting, compression forces during normal activities, and because of this type of repetitive motion; sacroiliac dysfunction may be the result from injury or inflammation. In about 20% of the patients, there is no recall of an episode. When there is no history of a traumatic event or injury, your physician or mid-level

Why Do I Have Pain in My Lower Back and Buttocks?

Submitted by Robert L. McCary, Nurse Practioner

provider will look to other causes such rheumatologic disorders or de-generative arthritis.

Physical examination Sacroiliac joint dysfunction and pain can present with signs and symp-toms very similar to those of intervertebral disc disease- low back pain, ra-diating symptoms- such as pain, numbness, or tingling down one or both legs, or sciatica type pain in the buttocks. In some cases, it may travel down around to the front in the groin area. Some males may feel pain in the testicles as well. Many patients have pain confined to the area of the sacroiliac joint. Diffuse pain radiating to the legs is present in approximately 25% of patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction (Moore, July 1999). Sac-roiliac dysfunction is often described as pain that is focused in the lower portion of the back and hip. Physicians or mid-level providers may initially assume that a patient with this pain pattern has a lumbar disc herniation and may order an MRI to confirm the diagnosis of herniation. If the MRI is negative, your provider should consider the presence of a sacroiliac joint disorder. The single feature consistently found among patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction is pain location; when asked to point to where the pain seems to be originating, patients point to the area immediately around the

physical


physicalposterior superior iliac spine. Pain, in the SI joint area, is often aggravated by sitting or lying on the affected side and can be worse while riding in a car or ambulation weight bearing on the affected side (Slipman, et al., 2001). A highly trained and skilled physician confirms diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction with a diagnostic injection into the SI joint. The procedure involves utilizing fluoroscopy or computed tomography guidance to ensure that the injectant is properly administered into the SI joint area. Relief of typical symptoms, within a certain duration, that is consistent with the ac-tion of the local anesthetic, confirms the diagnosis.

Treatment Patients are usually be treated conservatively with non-steroidal medi-cations, heat/cold therapy, and rest. Specific physical therapy such as manual therapy can be the most effective. The key to physical therapy is that the treatment needs to be specific to the SI joint (Slipman, et al., 2001). When conservative measures fail and symptoms are disabling, a surgical fusion of the sacroiliac joint is an effective option in appropriately selected patients.

For more information, contact the Prairie Spine & Pain Institute located at 7620 N. University, Peoria, IL or call (309)691-7774. Visit us online: www.prairiespine.com

References Moore, M.R. (1999, June-July). Are you Misdiagnosing Sacroiliac Joint Dys-function? How to identify and treat this common form of back pain. Women’s Health Magazine. Retrieved http://www.sidysfunction.com/articles/misdiag-nosingsacroiliacjointdysfunction.html Slipman, C.W., Patel, R.K., Whyte, W.S., Lenrow, D.A., Ellen, M.L., Chou, L.H., & Vreesilovic, E.J. (2001, June). Diagnosing and Managing sacroiliac pain. The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, 325-332.

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emotional

CombatPost TraumaticStress Disorder

Part 1

By Deborah Obert Kapitko, MA, NCC, LCPC, EMDR Certified

There have been nearly 1.5 million military deploy-ments to the southwest Asian combat zone since the start of the Afghanistan operation and the Iraq

war in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Although we do not know the exact rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) associated with the current conflicts, the estimates of how many combat veterans are exhibiting symptoms varies from study to study, but hovers fairly consistently at about 20 percent. These estimates are snapshots of the current situation; in no way do they give us an accurate sense of what lies ahead for these men and women.


emotional There is a reason it’s called post traumatic stress because the mea-surable symptoms can lie dormant for decades. Accepting the premise that we don’t know how many veterans are going to need care, we see that it is more than the military medical system can manage, particularly when you add into the equation the spouses and children whose lives are deeply affected by changes in their returning loved ones. When a traumatic event does not resolve itself within days or weeks, a condition known as PTSD can develop. PTSD involves three main symptoms: (1) an uncontrolled re-experiencing of the traumatic event, (2) increased avoidance, withdrawal, and emotional numbing, and (3) hyperphysiological arousal and hyper-vigilance. When some-one experiences a traumatic event, normal information processing stops and the body is flooded with a variety of stress hormones. Scientists speculate that the deluge of stress hormones over-loads the system, causing the incident to remain in an anxiety-producing form in the wrong place in the brain’s memory banks. This interaction blocks the normal processing of the event. The memories remain frozen with the originally perceived visual picture, negative self-judgments, and disturbing emotions, while the body remains at a prolonged and exhausting heightened state of alert. The negative self-assessments are generally connected to percep-tions related to safety, responsibility, and control. After the traumatic event, the human system of self-preservation seems to go into permanent alert, the body keeping score as if the danger might return at any moment. The unprocessed traumatic material accounts for the flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, disturbing memories, nightmares, anxiety, and other related symptoms that maybe triggered by current events perceived by the person as a personification of the past trauma. For instance, a pot hole may be

perceived as a land mine, a car backfiring as gun shots, someone cutting into traffic may have a bomb, and in a large crowd some-one may have a hidden weapon. Despite the extreme symptomology these men and women ex-perience, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that less than half of the soldiers who met criteria for a mental health disorder indicated any interest in receiving treatment, and only 23% to 40% received treatment. So there is this growing chasm between the number of military personnel who need mental health services and who actually get them. Many of those who are experiencing the unseen wound of war frequently avoid seeking help, fearing that they will be stigmatized as “weak” or “crazy” by their peers and superiors- that they will be abandoning the fight and letting down their fellow soldiers be-cause they can’t take the pressures of war. Many believe they should be able to handle it and don’t want to believe they have a problem. Many active-duty troops fear if they admit they have a problem they may lose the chance for a promotion or may even be discharged. Added to that, many will shun treatment because they do not want to stir up the intense and overwhelming memories of their war experience. Remember, avoidance is primary in PTSD. In the next issue of Healthy Cells, I will discuss solutions for resolving the effects of combat PTSD. The treatment of focus will be eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

For additional information about EMDR, go to www.emdr.com. Deborah Obert Kapitko, MA, NCC, LCPC, EMDR Certified, is cur-rently the only EMDR Certified therapist in the area and is in private practice with Chapin & Russell Associates. Call (309)681-5850.

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One easy way to help with the battle of the bulge, or simply just eating healthy, is to plan your meals ahead of time. How often have you been caught short, hungry, and only greasy take

out as an edible option? The apple or salad roll that you could have so easily thrown in your bag or the car would have been a far more nutritious option. Meal planning is the best way to lose belly fat, try some of these hints.

Shop smart.• Make a list before you hit the grocery store. This will help prevent

you from forgetting vital ingredients so necessary to your diet.• Read the labels on all those snacks to ensure you are buying the

most appropriate for your individual diet. There can be an astound-ing nutritional difference between very similar foods.

Plan ahead.• Think about the week ahead when you hit the grocery store. Out and

about, at home, in the office? Those who move around a lot may be bet-ter off with easy to transport fruit or healthy snack bars or sandwiches.

• How many nights will you be home to cook dinner?• Do you need to take snacks to eat before and after working out?

Protein drinks or fresh fruit can be handy for this.• Those people hanging out at home have huge options and can even

prepare themselves a salad each day if they want.• Those who work in offices may want to take fruit, sandwiches, or

salads in Tupperware containers.• Late nights can wreak havoc with the best intentions. You come

home exhausted and before you know it you are ordering out for pizza, or some other unhealthy and fattening meal. Use weekends or

Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time to

Shrink Your Waist and BudgetInformation from Fitness Tips 101

nutritionl


spare time to prepare nutritious meals that you can freeze and reheat when you need them.

Healthy on the run options:• Tinned fish can make a great and filling lean protein snack. Be sure

to take a plastic spoon or fork so you can eat it.• Boxes of nuts or dried fruits make great energy boosts. Beware of

eating too many as the calories can add up pretty fast.• Healthy snack bars. Be sure to check the GI index, calories, and fat

grams so that you know what you are eating. (It will still be healthier than greasy take out.)

• Fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, and oranges are all easily portable.

• Low GI snacks such as corn crackers and rice crackers can be great between meal snacks.

• Prepackaged cheese and crackers can be filling. Check the labeling before buying.

• If you are running late for breakfast, take your diet muesli in 1 container and the milk or yogurt in another. When you can eat, add them together for a healthy breakfast on the run. (Much healthier than a donut, croissant, or super-sized muffin.)

The small things:• A lunch box that is groovy and has an area for an ice pack can

help to keep the fresh fruit salad or vegetable salad crisp and non-wilted while you are travelling. These can also be handy for preventing squashed bananas, sandwiches and rolls. They are also invaluable for preventing you from wearing any spilled items, dressings, or sauces on your clothes.

• Keeping a plastic fork, spoon or knife in your bag or lunch box can make eating some of those healthy items that you have packed for yourself much easier.

• Freeze waters, juices, sports drinks, and protein drinks the night be-fore so they are still cold when you drink them later. This is especially handy if you don’t have access to fridges.

• A variety of plastic containers, even clean take out containers, can come in very handy for transporting food items. Check the lids still seal.

• Always carry a bottle of water. If you run out or it goes warm, just empty and refill from a fountain or tap. Not only will you save money, you also won’t be forced to constantly drink sodas or other fattening drinks.

• If you are a fan of soup for lunch in the office, freeze it so you won’t have to deal with any spills on the way in. By the time lunch arrives you will only need to reheat.

• Thermos drink containers are invaluable in colder weather for keeping your favorite drinks and soups warm.

Conclusion. A little planning and preparation can make the difference between a healthy meal and total diet sabotage. Not only will your waistline thank you, but you will notice extra cash in your wallet as well.

For more information on healthy living and nutrition, visit www. fitnesstips101.com.

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sandwich generation

Planning for the Future By Steve Buttice, Founder and President, Medical Reimbursement & Management Services, Inc.

So you woke up at bit early today, now you are trying to figure out how you can get mom to her 3:30 pm doctor’s appoint-ment and see your son’s school baseball game at 4:00 pm.

Life today is active, especially for women aged 45 – 56 who care for both their parents and children. The label given to the 45 – 56 year olds is the “sandwich generation”. An AARP report found that 44 percent of 45 – 56 year olds have at least one living parent and at least one child under age 21. In fact, 7 percent live in a household contain-ing three generations, a parent or in-law, themselves, and their children. The time requirements of the person caught in the middle are obvious, but there may also be financial obliga-tions. Helping a par-ent with the cost of groceries or medica-tions is common, but loss of time at work is a real financial con-cern. The National Family Caregivers As-sociation states that 55 percent of women today will spend more time caring for their mother than their mother spent caring for them as a child. What does this all mean? Coordinating care for your children and parents simulta-neously is not easy. What can you do to manage this? Three words of advice: Plan, Plan and Plan. Legal, financial, residential, mental and physical healthcare elements must be addressed prior to a crisis. A sandwich generationer should guide their parent through these issues and the primary issue of safety, while being careful not to take all control away from a parent. Once again, it is important to start talking, making suggestions and guiding early, do not wait for a crisis. Planning of the legal and financial components must be ad-dressed prior to a crisis. If a person does not protect himself or herself by executing legal documents, a court can appoint a complete stranger to take over finances, medical and lifestyle (resi-dential) decisions. All of the above components work together in this plan for the parent’s future security.

If possible, get your siblings involved in the planning process. Many times one “child” (if that) will accept this responsibility. Other siblings may choose to stand back and not get involved. It seems natural to think that their parents will never age or need assistance. It may be tough, but everyone’s involvement, if possible, is best. Imagine a parent with Alzheimer’s. Unless that parent dies relatively soon, they will need assistance within the next several short years. If parents and adult children ignore this health condition and the even-

tual disease process, several things will hap-pen. The parent will fall into a crisis. There will be a great deal of stress on all involved. The outcome is not likely to be as ideal as if there was a plan. Considering life style, the parent will need to accept whatever resi-dential arrangements are available. Money may be spent need-lessly due to not being proactive and plan-ning. The sandwich generationer may miss work or at least be less productive because of the situation causing a high level of stress on all people involved. Creating a plan for “Life’s Journey” could avoid much of the aforementioned stress. Early planning will provide comfort and allow that parent more control when the time comes when they need more assistance.

In any case, be aware and account for the stress this process will take on the other parent, if living, and on the sandwich generationer. A plan can get siblings more involved for the best outcome. This is the first of a series of columns dedicated to help the sandwich generationer. Look for columns in future issues of Healthy Cells magazine.

For more information, contact Medical Reimbursement and Man-agement Services, Inc., focusing on the issues affecting seniors: legal, financial, residential and healthcare. Call: 693-1060 or 1-800-383-1061. Website: www.MRMS-INC.com. Location: 809 W. Detweiller Dr., Peoria, IL 61615.


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If you imagine the eye as a camera, the “film” or “sensor” of the camera is the retina. It is the nerve tissue that lines inside of our eyes, and is responsible for the sensation of sight. The retina grows out of the

brain during the 6th week of our life inside the womb and continues to develop throughout the pregnancy. At birth, it consists of three layers of nerve cells connected like links in a chain that receives a light signal from

the outside world and converts it into an electrical signal that is carried to the brain by the optic nerve, or nerve of sight. The optic nerve also carries the artery, known as the central retinal artery that brings blood to the retina. The central retinal artery branches out like a tree to sup-ply oxygen and nourishment to the entire retinal tissue. The veins of the retina usually run alongside the branches of the artery and eventually drain into the central retinal vein which enters the optic nerve to carry the blood out of the retina. A blockage in the artery or vein of the retina is like a “stroke” in the eye. This article explains symptoms and treatment options for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). This condition happens when the main vein of the retina, known as the central retinal vein is closed off by a blood clot.

Symptoms and Findings in CRVO A blockage in the central retinal vein causes sudden painless blurri-ness or decrease in vision, most marked in the center. There is usually no redness or discomfort in the eye. Severity of vision loss depends on the degree of blockage in the vein. If it is completely blocked, vision may be almost totally lost. Visual deficit may progress over the next several weeks in some patients. A blood clot in central retinal vein causes blood to back up and spill into the retinal tissue resulting in a characteristic “blood and thunder” appearance (Figure 1). It is similar to flooding in the basement from a blocked sewer line. Macula being the most delicate part of the retina, suffers the most damage from blood and swelling. Bleeding in the retina may resolve over several months to years, but vision rarely improves due to permanent damage to the macula from swelling and bleeding.

Risk Factors CRVO is more common in old age and in patients with diabetes, hypertension, smoking and high cholesterol. Other risk factors include oral contraceptive pills and blood disorders.

Treatment No treatment is necessary in patients with good vision where block-age is mild. Most patients with decrease in vision due to swelling or bleeding in the macula will suffer permanent decrease in central vision without treatment. Blood thinners including aspirin and Coumadin are ineffective and may make the bleeding worse. It is usually not possible to dissolve the blood clot. Laser treatment is also not effective in improving vision. Therefore, modern treatment is aimed at decreasing swelling in the macula with the use of medications. Two types of medications are currently utilized for swelling in the macula. Steroids are the first type. The steroid preparation could be the same or similar to what is injected into the joints for arthritis, or it could be a special implant that delivers the steroid over 3-6 months. About 30% patients gain three or more lines with steroid treatment. As a rule, most patients require multiple injections over one to two years. The most recent and effective treatment for macular swelling from CRVO consists of monthly injections of avastin or lucentis into the eye for at least six months. Both of these medications are similar, and block

a protein in the eye that is responsible for swelling in the retina. With this approach, hemorrhages and swelling clear rapidly and about 50% patients gain three or more lines of vision (Figure 2). Interval between injections may be increased if swelling is under control, but patients may require injections for years. We utilize advanced technologies to accu-rately measure swelling in the macula to allow us to fine tune the need for injections, and have modified our technique to make the process of injections into the eye as fast and painless as possible.

For more information, please contact the Illinois RetinaInstitute, S.C.: (309)589-1880/Peoria or 877-223-7403/Galesburg. Visit: www.illinoisretinainstitute.com

Stroke in the Eyecentral retinal vein occlusion

Figure 1

Figure 2

By Kamal Kishore, MD


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Why? It’s a question children start asking about the same time they learn to talk. And most of us keep asking it as long as we live.

Why? What makes an individual want to learn, and to keep learning throughout an entire lifetime, especially in the “elder years” when it’s not required for school or a job? Inquiring minds want to know. Rather than ask you to read a scholarly research tome with footnotes and citations, I’ve opted to tell you my own story -- why I became, and

continue to be, a proud lifelong learner. Perhaps, as you read it, you’ll see a little bit of yourself. And perhaps the satisfaction I’ve found in learning will inspire you to step up your own learning efforts. I hope so. From the moment I learned to read, encouraged by my parents, I read anything I could get my hands on – books, magazines, newspapers, even cereal boxes. I found I could learn lots of neat things that way, and I developed a real taste for learning. We had a branch library near our house, and I got a card as soon as I was allowed. Since I didn’t have to cross Main Street to get there, I could go on my own. And I did. I found that learning just for the sake of learning could be real fun. This love of reading and a thirst for knowledge continue to serve me well. After retirement, I took several adult education programs, which

An Inquiring Mind Wants to KnowBy Ray Keithley, Volunteer President, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Bradley University

continual learning

whetted my appetite. Then, thanks to my mother, another lifelong learner, I discovered the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) at Bradley. There I found a learning lover’s paradise! Classes covering the complete gamut of knowledge: arts, sciences, literature, music, phi-losophy and more, plus trips to both local and regional sites and geared around learning. As ILR evolved into the Osher Lifelong Learning Insti-tute (OLLI), study groups were added providing in-depth exploration of topics of interest. As I became more involved with OLLI/ILR, I found myself in the midst of hundreds of individuals who had the same hunger for knowledge that I did. I had found an intellectual home. As I got to know these new friends, I discussed with them just why we had this desire to keep learn-ing. We came up with five reasons, all interrelated, which I’ll share with you with the understanding that academicians may differ, but these are our thoughts as I distilled them.

Learning is necessary. The times they are a’changin’, and we have to change with them. Look at the evolution of entertainment and commu-nication in the last decade: cell phones, smart phones, social network-ing, iPods, eBooks, MP3, computers, email, streaming video and much, much more. Everything’s digital now. All this is accompanied by the de-cline of traditional media like radio, TV, books, magazines and newspa-pers. Unless we want to be left behind at the mercy of our grandchildren, we need to know and understand these new technologies.

Learning is healthy. Not a week goes by that I don’t read or hear somewhere that “use it or lose it” applies to both the body and the mind. “Mental activity may prevent Alzheimer’s.” “Crosswords and Sudoku keep your memory sharp.” “An active mind promotes an active body – and vice versa.” The scientists are working on proof, but I can tell you from personal observation that there’s a lot of truth in those statements. Think about it with people you know.

Learning is social. As we age, we lose some of our social outlets. Friends retire and move away. We may not be as physically active so we don’t get out and about as much. Learning in groups gives us a new chance to interact with people of like interests, to make new friends, to find new interests and activities. Plus, it’s enjoyable just to get out and socialize.

Learning is creative. It lets us expand our horizons. We can incorpo-rate new ideas and concepts into our lives. We can check things off our bucket lists. As our careers wind down, learning gives us an outlet for all those creative juices. It keeps our minds engaged.

Learning is fun. You can see from what I’ve written how much fun learning has put into my life and into the lives of my friends. It can do the same for yours. In the Peoria area, learning venues are plentiful: colleges, universities, museums, park districts, hospitals, church groups and more. Personally, I recommend OLLI highly. After all, I am its President, and I’ve learned a lot there. But all of them offer you opportunities to learn. Take advantage of them. You’ll be glad you did.

For more information on the OLLI program, contact Jon Neidy, Bradley University Continuing Education: 309.677.2374 or [email protected]. Visit us at: www.bradley.edu/continue/olli


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There are more than 35 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss. Many of those could benefit from the use of hearing aids, but only one in five take advantage of this tech-

nology, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. There are many reasons people offer to avoid purchasing hearing aids, but a lot of these excuses are simply myths and keep people from truly enjoying the benefits better hearing could bring. The experienced staff of the Midwest Hearing Center took the time to address some common myths associated with hearing aid use and explain the valuable role wire-less technology is playing in improving upon current treatments.

Hearing loss: Who is affected? There is a strong relationship between aging and hearing loss with roughly 50 percent of seniors over the age of 75 experienc-

ing some form of hearing impairment. However, hearing loss may occur at any age. Disease processes, repeated exposure to loud noises and some medications are known to be linked to hearing impairment, according to Carrie Morris, Doctor of Audiology for the Midwest Hearing Center. The NIDCD reports that two to three out of every 1000 children in the United States are born deaf or with hear-ing disabilities, and that an estimated 15 percent of American adults between the ages of 20 and 69 develop high frequency hearing loss as a result of repeated exposure to loud sounds, noise on the job or noise experienced during other leisure activities. Individuals who have been exposed to loud noises over an extensive period of time usually experience hearing loss primarily in the high frequen-cies. High-frequency or high-pitched sounds include most of the consonant sounds in words, which are what allow us to understand speech. This loss of the high frequencies often only affects people

feature story

Hearing Aid Myths: Sorting Out the TruthMidwest Hearing Center CelebratesBetter Speech and Hearing Month

By Mary Hilbert

Dr. Morris looks into a patient’s ear using a video otoscope.


in certain environments because they are still able to hear lower-pitched sounds just fine. This can make the hearing loss a slow, insidious process – that is, by the time a person recognizes there is a problem, it is more difficult to treat successfully. Four Common Hearing Aid Myths:

1. I don’t need hearing aids. I can get along without them. In many cases, individuals experienc-ing hearing impairment are reluctant to have their hearing tested. Oftentimes patients are prompted by family mem-bers to seek treatment. “The earlier you start treatment, the better chances you have in being able to adjust,” Audiologist Amanda Hillebrand said. Early warning signs indicative of hear-ing loss include difficulty hearing high-pitched consonant sounds such as “s, f, th,” difficulty in understanding group con-versation or verbal communication that is not face-to-face, irritation and withdrawal in social situations, frequent need to ask others to repeat statements and need to increase volume on television and radio to a higher level than normal. Being able to hear high-pitched con-sonant sounds is extremely important to processing words in communication. While hearing aids can’t reverse hearing loss, what they are able to do is amplify higher pitched sounds that are inaudible

to the patient, clarifying words and making the communication process less stressful. Some high-quality hearing aids even utilize multiple-microphone technology, making hearing easier in environments with a lot of background noise.

2. Hearing aids will restore my hearing to normal. Hearing aids cannot cure hearing loss or slow the progression of it, however “ almost any type of hearing loss can be helped,” Audiologist Lyn Franks said. The only instance in which hearing aids are not helpful is when there is very poor processing of speech.

3. It’s too expensive to get really good hearing aids. Contrary to this assumption, there are a number of affordable insurance and fi-nancial assistance options available to as-sist patients in obtaining hearing aids, and there are various models of hearing aids for patients to choose from, depending on the individual’s lifestyle. Some hearing aids are more expensive than others, and although higher-end technology may be beneficial to many individuals, patients don’t always need to buy the most expensive to see results.

4. Hearing aids are unsightly and make me look old. “Nowadays hearing aids can be extremely small and extremely cosmetic,” Franks said. At the Midwest Hearing Center, patients are given a 45-day trial period for hearing aids, which allows them to see what parts of speech they are missing and whether the hearing aid meets their lifestyle needs.

Audiologist Sharon Benivegna fits a child with custom swim/noise plugs.

Audiologist Lyn Franks explains the results of a hearing test to a patient.


feature story continued

providers such as the Midwest Hearing Center are able to design custom ear plugs for an even better fit including specialized op-tions for musicians, target shooters and motorcycle owners.

Audiological Evaluations The Midwest Hearing Center offers audiological evaluations year-round for all ages at both its Peoria and Morton locations. All audiological services are performed by state licensed audiologists who hold either a Master’s Degree or Doctorate of Audiology.

In honor of Better Speech and Hearing Month in May, the Mid-west Hearing Center’s Peoria office located in the OSF Center for Health will offer a free lunch and brief presentation on hear-ing loss and the benefits of hearing aids on May 19. Free hear-ing screenings will also be provided. The Morton office will hold a similar event on May 16. Those interested in attending either of these events are encouraged to call the Midwest Hearing Center at 309-284-0164.

For more information on the Midwest Hearing Center and its services, contact the Peoria office at 309-691-6616, the Morton office at 309-284-0164 or visit the center’s website

at www.mw-ent.com

Wireless technology and the effectiveness of hearing aids. The use of wireless technology is making the sound reception process for hearing aid owners more effective than ever before. For example, wireless hearing aids enable two aids to simultane-ously communicate with one another so that pressing one aid’s button will adjust the settings on both aids. FM listening systems can be hooked up to stereos and televisions to decrease back-ground noise and distance between sender and receiver. Like-wise, when it comes to shopping at the mall, attending a lecture or a religious service, wireless microphones may be given to a second person to wipe-out unwanted noise. For larger venues such as lectures or movies, many theaters are equipped with assistive lis-tening systems that transmit sound directly from the stage to FM receivers. Many newer hearing aids are also being equipped with Bluetooth ability, which assist with wireless communication with various devices, including televisions, cell phones and iPods.

Preventing hearing loss While hearing loss due to genetics or the natural aging process can’t always be prevented, there are a number of common-sense measures that may be taken to protect the ears from increased damage. These include being cautious when entering high-noise environments involving loud music, machinery, etc. and using natural ear products that promote overall ear health. How loud is too loud? “If you have to talk louder over something to commu-nicate to somebody, then it’s probably too loud,” Hillebrand said, “If you must be exposed to something, wear hearing protection.” Many department stores sell simple ear protection, and health care

Open-fit hearing aids like the one pictured here are effective for many patients, yet discreet in appearance.



strive, survive and thrive

It’s hard to think in your early 20’s that you may fall victim to a stroke later in life, but the American Stroke Association has found that many young people think they are a lot healthier than

they really are. So during the month of May, the American Stroke Association wants young people to know their risks. A recent sur-vey by the Association reveals that nine out of 10 Americans be-tween the ages of 18 – 24 believe they’re living healthy lifestyles, yet most are not. These negative health behaviors put them at a high risk of a future stroke. What is a stroke? Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States, behind diseases of the heart and cancer. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. Depending on the side of the brain where the stroke occurs, several physical disabilities can occur, including vision impairment, paralysis, memory loss, speech/language problems and behavioral issues. There are a variety of types of stroke, and it can occur even in adults, children and even a fetus in the womb. So the American Stroke Association wants to encourage young people to Strive, Survive and Thrive: Strive for ideal health and survive and thrive if stroke strikes.

How can you do that? First, get a reality check on where your health stands. Take the My Life Check assessment at www.mylife-check.org, where you can input your blood pressure, cholesterol lev-els, blood sugar, BMI, etc. This tool will give you a more accurate view of how healthy you really are, and the areas you need to improve. The most common risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, poor diet and physical inactivity, in addition to others. Second, know the signs of stroke. Time is brain tissue when it comes to a stroke, so it’s important to know what to look for. Here are the warning signs:• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially

on one side of the body. • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Stroke can happen to anyone, at any time and at any age. If you think you may be having a stroke, call 911 immediately, because for every minute that you don’t get help, more brain cells die.

For additional information and to learn more about stroke, log on www.strokeassociation.org.

May is AmericanStroke Month

By Carrie Skogsberg, American Stroke Association


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fitness

According to recent research, the current recommendations of 30 minutes a day of moderate physical exercise isn’t enough to see dramatic weight loss results. This research

shows that in addition to obviously limiting calories, overweight & obese women need to exercise a minimum of 55 minutes a day. The study was published in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The study involved 201 overweight & obese women between 1999 and 2003. All the women were told to eat between 1,200 & 1,500 calories per day. They were then divided into 4 groups based on physical activity amount and intensity. After six months, women from all 4 groups had lost an average of 8-10% of their initial body weight. However, the 24.6% of the women who were able to maintain their weight loss for over two years reported performing more physical activity (expending an average of 1,835 calories per week, or 275 minutes per week) than those who had not maintained their weight loss.

That being said, the recommendation of 30 minutes a day of exercise still applies with regard to warding off many of the risk factors that lead to chronic diseases. However, many experts recommend 60 minutes a day of a moderate intensity exercise in order to lose weight…obviously partnered with a clean, nutrition-eating program. Obviously, if you are involved in aerobic activity, such as walk-ing, running, cycling, etc, you know you are burning calories…which, when paired with a healthy nutrition program will increase weight loss. Well, a recent U.K. study shows that not only is this the case, but aerobic exercise actually suppresses the two major appetite hormones: ghrelin (which stimulates appetite) and peptide YY (which suppresses appetite)Both aerobic and non-aerobic exercise suppressed hunger, but aerobic exercise resulted in greater suppression of hunger. The findings were published online in the American Journal of Physiol-ogy –Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology” These findings were consistent with previous studies pertaining to aerobic activity. However, this is not to say anaerobic activi-ties, such as weight lifting doesn’t serve a function in weight loss. We know that the more lean muscle mass we have, the “hotter” our metabolic furnace. In other words the more muscle mass you have the faster your body will burn calories. Additionally, as we grow older the weight resistance exercises such as weight train-ing is vitally important in maintaining healthy bone mass & aids in warding off osteoporosis. Bottom line—get out there and exercise…aerobic AND anaero-bic exercise benefit our overall health and weight management. STAY POSTITIVE! Believe…and you WILL achieve.

For additional information, please contact Marianne Miller, Manager and Trainer at Club Fitness: [email protected] or call 309-689-1400.

Up That Exercise for BetterWeightLossResults!

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Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic is one of the largest in the Midwest, with more than 12,000 patient visits per year. This important teaching, research, and service resource offers critical clinical services to the general public as well as the campus community.

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A multidisciplinary team of specialists using an aggressive treatment plan is the principal reason for the high success rate of ventilator weaning programs provided by long-term

acute care hospitals (LTACHs). A patient generally is placed on a ventilator to aid treatment for a wide range of diagnoses, including pneumonia, pulmonary disease, renal failure, cancer, malnutrition, multi-system failure and obesity, the last of which is a growing national epidemic with sig-nificant medical side effects. But once the condition that prompted use of a ventilator has been treated, the process of weaning a patient from the ventilator can be very difficult and lengthy if not properly done. The usual three-to-five-day stay in a short-term acute care hospi-tal, coupled with a culture that leans heavily on sedating and medicat-ing ventilator patients in intensive care units (ICUs), makes weaning there difficult, if not impossible. Conversely, an LTACH, which pro-vides treatment for a minimum of 25 days under Medicare guidelines, has the specialists and programs to specifically address weaning, as well as ample time to provide other rehabilitative therapy. All ventilator patients cannot be weaned; some will require breathing apparatus full time. But patients who are placed on ven-tilators to aid treatment or help the healing process should be removed from the ventilator before they become too weak and inactive to relearn how to breathe on their own. In essence, the weaning process forces a patient to once again depend on the diaphragm for breathing by decreasing the volume of oxygen sup-port provided by the ventilator. The arrival of a ventilator patient targeted for weaning in an LTACH initiates an aggressive treatment plan that covers every-thing from breathing training to physical activity and diet. The plan starts with immediate assessment of the patient’s condition by respiratory, physical and occupational therapists and, as soon as possible, examination by a pulmonologist. Barring a complicating condition, the respiratory therapist initiates a spontaneous wean-ing trial that uses established weaning protocols to aggressively advance the weaning each day. Nurses constantly monitor a pa-tient’s progress and work closely with the patient to alleviate the understandable anxiety that can accompany a regimen requiring a period of labored breathing while the patient’s diaphragm read-justs to controlling breathing. Another assessment is quickly made by a pain management specialist to determine if medication used by the patient can be stopped immediately, since a sedated patient often is unable to adequately participate in a recovery regimen. At the same time, physical and occupational therapists work with the patient to sit up in bed, move to a chair and walk while still on a ventilator. Mobility and ambulation are critical to recovery because they accelerate the breathing exercise a patient needs to strengthen the diaphragm and start rebuilding a body weakened by complete bed rest. To provide the energy needed to support the new level of activ-ity, the hospital’s nutritionist and dieticians make sure every meal

and snack provides the patient with optimal nutrition. The latter is particularly important because a patient formerly inactive and sedated likely has eaten less than is needed for normal activity, let alone an aggressive exercise regimen. The goal of a weaning program is to get a patient off the ven-tilator within a week, although it can be done in less time with a patient who cooperates fully and is in better physical condition when starting the process. And every member of the LTACH staff involved with the weaning process knows that the sooner the pa-tient is off the ventilator, the more time they have to provide the additional rehabilitative therapy needed to move the patient farther down the road to recovery.

For additional information about a ventilator weaning pro-gram, contact the Triumph Greater Peoria Specialty Hospital, 500 Romeo B. Garrett Avenue in Peoria. Call 309-680-1500 or visit www.triumph-healthcare.com.

Easing Off theVentilator System

Submitted by the Triumph Greater Peoria Specialty Hospital

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In 2009, Governor Quinn declared May as Perinatal Mood Disorders Month in Illinois. Despite efforts, to raise awareness, there are still many misconceptions about postpartum depression. Postpartum

depression affects 10-20% of new mothers within the first year of child-birth. In Peoria County, it is estimated that 250-500 women experience this illness each year. Having the correct information about postpartum depression is crucial so that we, as a community, can offer the support and treatment needed to recover.

Fiction: Postpartum depression is just a normal reaction to having a child, and it does not need treatment.Fact: Although up to 80% of new mothers experience a mild form of depression called the Baby Blues, postpartum depression is a more serious illness that lasts beyond the first four weeks after childbirth. If left untreated, maternal postpartum depression can have lasting effects on the family. Maternal depression has been associated with long-term attachment problems and cognitive difficulties in children.

Fiction: Postpartum depression cannot happen to me. Fact: Although there are factors that can put someone at greater risk, such as having inadequate social support, previous episodes of depression and

experiencing complications during pregnancy or childbirth, postpartum depression can happen to any woman in the first year after childbirth.

Fiction: I cannot have postpartum depression because I love my child.Fact: One symptom of postpartum depression is feeling numb or detached from the experience of being a mother. Another symptom of postpartum depression is being afraid to be alone with the baby. However, these are just some of the many symptoms of postpartum depression. Other symptoms include: excessive worrying, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping, heart palpitations, irritability, crying spells, and overwhelming guilt.

Fiction: Moms with postpartum depression are in danger of hurting their babies.Fact: Mothers with postpartum depression are not more likely to intentionally harm their children than mothers without postpartum depression. Some women with postpartum depression may have scary thoughts about hurting themselves or their babies. These scary thoughts are unwanted and unintentional. Women who have these thoughts often feel horrified and ashamed. It is important to understand that these thoughts are a symptom of postpartum depression, and not a reflection of the mother’s true self. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 91% of new mothers experience scary thoughts. Postpartum psychosis is a rare condition that affects one in 1,000 mothers, and it can include symptoms such as hallucinations, delu-sions, and bizarre changes in thought and behavior. Women with post-partum psychosis—not postpartum depression—are at an increased risk of harm to their babies, and should seek immediate medical care.

Fiction: I cannot have postpartum depression. My son is 10 months old.Fact: Postpartum mood disorders can occur anytime in the first year after having a child. Internationally, many countries diagnose postpar-tum mood disorders anytime in the first two years following childbirth.

Fiction: Only mothers and only biological parents can experience postpartum depression.Fact: Both mothers and fathers, as well as biological and adoptive par-ents or guardians can experience postpartum mood disorders. While hormonal changes after childbirth can play a role, other risk factors contributing to postpartum depression include stress, predisposition to depression, and life style changes that accompany a new baby. Fiction: No one I know has had postpartum depression.Fact: Women with postpartum depression often suffer in silence. Many mothers are afraid to share what they are experiencing for fear of judg-ment. Because of this, women with postpartum depression also tend to be very good at hiding their suffering. Even close friends and family mem-bers may not be aware if their loved one is experiencing these struggles.

Postpartum depression is a very treatable illness. It responds well to treatment, such as therapy, support groups and medication. A free support group is being held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 3400 New Leaf Lane at 6pm. For more information, please contact Leanne Mc-Nett, L.C.S.W. at (309) 589-1011 or [email protected]. Leanne McNett, L.C.S.W. has a postgraduate certification in postpar-tum mental health counseling.

fact or fiction

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speech disorders

May is designated as Better Speech and Hearing Month by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). One speech disorder that has received a lot of

press recently is stuttering, thanks to Colin Firth’s Oscar award-winning portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech. The film has helped bring about an awareness of the handicapping effects of this disorder and of its treatment. Stuttering is a disorder that is often misunderstood. People who don’t stutter sometimes throw the term around, as in “I started stuttering when I had to get up and give a talk.” They are referring to the surface features of stuttering—the repetitions of words and parts of words. The disorder has been compared to an iceberg,

StutteringBy Jean Sawyer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Illinois State University

because those surface features are but one small part of it. The negative emotions and consequences of not being able to speak fluently are the larger part of the disorder. One common belief is that stuttering is under the control of the person who stutters. In the King’s Speech, the king, nicknamed Bertie, was told by his father to “take his time,” “enunciate,” or “let the microphone do the work.” In truth, one of the hallmarks of stut-tering is its variability. A person may be perfectly fluent one day, and stutter the next, and this is not something the person can control. Stuttering affects approximately one percent of the population, which means there are approximately 3 million people who stut-ter in the United States, and 65 million worldwide. It is a disorder


of childhood. For many, the disorder starts at around the age of three, and up to 80% of young children who stutter recover within 4 years of onset. The exact cause of stuttering is unknown, but genetic factors play a role in conjunction with environmental factors. In the King’s Speech, Bertie recalled being pinched and neglected by a govern-ess when he was a child. In truth, stuttering cannot be caused by something a parent did or did not do, and is not the fault of the person who stutters. A parent concerned with stuttering in a pre-school child can get help by contacting the school district to have the child evaluated by a licensed speech-language pathologist. A speech-language pathologist who has experience with stuttering will be able to help make treatment decisions for the child. One memorable line in the King’s Speech occurred when Ber-tie, in a fit of anger, told speech therapist Lionel Logue, “I have a voice!” People who stutter do have voices, and deserve to be treated with respect. They are no different, no less intelligent, no more nervous, than people who do not stutter. If you have the opportunity to speak with a person who stutters, be a courteous listener. Listen respectfully with good eye contact and wait for the person to finish, rather than try to finish sentences. Adults who stutter may manage their stuttering on their own, or seek help from a speech-language pathologist. They may go in and out of therapy, as Bertie did in the movie. Many adults enjoy the support and socialization of support groups, such as those sponsored by the National Stuttering Association, which is the largest support group for people who stutter in the U.S. Stuttering is treatable, but not curable. As seen in the Kings’s Speech, the therapist did not cure Bertie’s stuttering, but helped him manage it. Some of the techniques seen in the movie, such as putting marbles in the mouth or smoking to relax the muscles in the throat, are not helpful and thankfully, not in use today. But some of the techniques seen in the movie, such as managing breath-ing and easing into the first sounds in sentences, are helpful and used today. Speech therapy with an ASHA-certified professional can help the person who stutters manage the disorder, whether it means lessening the severity of the stuttering and/or speaking more fluently.

For more information on stuttering or any communication dif-ficulty or concern, you may contact The Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic at 309-438-8641 located at Illinois State University. Services offered include speech, language, voice and hearing evaluations as well as individual and group treatment. Fees for service are reasonable, and a reduced fee schedule is available for those who qualify.

“A parent concerned with stuttering

in a preschool child can get help by

contacting the school district to have

the child evaluated by a licensed

speech-language pathologist.”


women’s health

Breast reconstruction is a plastic surgery option many women choose to undergo following mastectomy, according to the

National Cancer Institute. Mastectomy, the sur-gical removal of one or both breasts in order to treat or reduce the risk of breast cancer, has in some cases been shown to take a negative toll on a woman’s self-image and sense of feminin-ity. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 10 percent increase from 2000 to 2009 in the number of reconstructive surger-ies performed in the United States each year. In 2008 alone, the ASPS reported that more than 70 thousand women in the United States underwent some form of reconstructive breast surgery. Part of the reason that more women are opting for this form of plastic surgery is that breast reconstruction has the ability to provide mastectomy patients with a higher sense of self-confidence and positive body image. “It is nice for the breast cancer patients who have mastectomies to wake up and have a breast mound in place of their lost breast. New technology allows us to obtain fairly nice results with implant expander techniques. Many times the reconstructed breast has a better shape and size than the patient started with,” says Dr. Jeffrey Poulter, M.D., FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon with The Center for Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Peoria and Bloomington. Prior to reconstructive surgery, the plastic surgeon carefully examines the breast area as well as health history of the patient before discussing possible reconstruction options. If a woman decides that breast reconstruction is a step she is interested in taking, it is best to discuss this with both the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, enabling them to work together in formulating the best reconstruction plan. In many cases following a breast mastec-tomy, health insurance will cover all or most of the procedure costs for a reconstruction. There are various methods by which re-construction can be achieved, although a new breast is not guaranteed to be an exact replicate of the original and may differ in both size and texture. In one reconstruction proce-dure, tissue flap reconstruction, the surgeon uses skin, fat and muscle from a woman’s abdomen, buttocks or back in order to rec-reate the breast shape. In another procedure the expander implant technique, the plastic

surgeon inserts an expander under the skin, chest muscle and alloderm. The implant is a balloon-like device to be filled with saline until the patients desired size is reached over the course of several weeks in order to make room for a permanent silicone gel implant to be in-serted into the breast. Reconstruction in both methods requires more than one procedure for optimal results. The reconstruction process with expanders and permanent implants takes approximately three procedures over 6 - 9 months following mastectomy for completion and recovery. The initial surgery, usually performed in a hospital under anesthesia, starts the creation of the mound, while follow-up procedures are per-formed as an outpatient to place the perma-nent implant and to recreate the nipple and areola if the patient so desires. Modern medicine is increasingly enhancing the comfort and quality of reconstructive procedures for patients. “Alloderm use in the expander implant technique minimizes the dis-comfort and extent of operation required when the expander is removed and the permanent implant is placed at the second stage. Nipple tattooing has also made great advances to provide almost a three dimensional appear-ance to those who are unable to have nipple reconstruction,” Dr. Poulter said. Before undergoing reconstructive breast surgery, patients should maintain a positive outlook on the final result while at the same time remaining aware of the length of recovery time and possible complications that this op-tional surgery entails. At its best, reconstructive surgery provides women who have lost one or both breasts due to cancer or other illness with a renewed sense of femininity while restoring symmetry to the body. Important questions patients should consider discussing with their plastic surgeon include the number of proce-dures that will be required, expected health-care costs, any discomfort or scarring that may occur as well as whether or not reconstruction will interfere with any cancer treatment. For more information on reconstruc-tive breast surgery options call Dr. Jeffrey S. Poulter at 309-692-6869 (Peoria office) or 309-663-1222 (Bloomington office) or online at www.drpoulter.com.

ReconstructionA Post Mastectomy Option

By Mary Hilbert


women’s health


dental disease

Oral Health Affects Overall Health

By Neal Fischer, M.D., Medical Director, Humana’s Great Lakes Medicare Region

Most of us know that oral health – preventive care and regular visits to the dentist – is essential to overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, oral health and overall health are more con-

nected than one might initially realize.• Periodontal disease may contribute to heart disease, the nation’s

leading cause of death. • People with diabetes are more likely to develop oral infections and

periodontal disease.

Furthermore, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifesta-tions, meaning that the dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a problem. Some diseases, for instance diabetes, leukemia and cancer, may manifest as swollen or bleeding gums, mouth ulcers or dry mouth. This means the dentist may often be the first health care provider to notice a serious health problem like diabetes, leukemia or other kinds of cancer. Oral infections can also cause babies to be born too early and too small, leading to costly, lifelong health problems. Dental exams every six months may identify signs of poor nutrition, growth and development problems, improper jaw alignment and prob-lems that may develop during certain stages of life. However, lack of insurance is the primary reason people don’t go to the dentist, despite the health risk of not getting proper dental care. There are an estimated 140 million people who lack dental insurance in the U.S., according to the National Association of Dental Plans. Regular dental care may be more important than most people realize. People need to aware of the significance of oral health, visit a dentist regularly and practice preventive oral care, including watching one’s diet. It is clear that oral disease affects our physical health. But these diseases have other impacts on our social and psychological well-be-ing too. They can affect the foods we choose, how we look, and the way we communicate. Dental disease can affect economic productiv-

ity, ability to find work, and compromise the ability to concentrate at home, school or on the job.

For more information on dental health, visit www.mydentalIQ.com, a free website provided by Humana. The site provides information on the link between oral and overall health, how family history may impact oral health, healthy eating habits and much more. Visitors can also take a dental health risk assessment quiz and receive a personalized scorecard with healthy tips for dental care.


dental disease


Lisa, a receptionist at a local hospital, had suffered from chronic fatigue, headaches, and depression for the past 2 years. “I would get home from work and go straight to bed,

because I was so exhausted all the time,” Lisa says. Lisa’s symptoms were a sign of a much bigger problem. She is one of the 18 million Americans with sleep apnea, a chronic condition in which the airway collapses during sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 90% of these patients go undiagnosed. The pauses in breathing can last from 10 seconds to a min-ute or longer and can increase risk for high blood pressure, stroke, depres-sion, irritability, lower sexual drive, and reduction of intellectual ability. A sleep study revealed that Lisa stopped breathing 13 times per hour during the night. Her physician pre-scribed a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to treat her sleep apnea. “I tried to use the CPAP, but developed a rash due to a latex allergy and was unable to continue wearing it,” Lisa says. Even after being prescribed Rit-alin, two depression medications, and a headache medication, Lisa wasn’t finding relief. “I had to take 3 medical leaves within 10 months,” she says. “I never felt rested or had energy no mat-ter how much I slept,” she continued. After three more sleep studies and an NAP study, Lisa was told she was not getting into REM (Rapid Eye Move-ment) or restful sleep. “It really hit me at Christmas when I was so tired I couldn’t stay up past 7pm to spend time with my family,” she says. Because Lisa was CPAP intolerant, her physician suggested she try a dental appliance for her sleep apnea. “I had heard positive things from other people who had family or friends who were doing much better with their sleep apnea after using the dental device, so I decided to try it,” she continues. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, “Only about 60% of CPAP users are still using the CPAP after the first few months.” Unfortunately this means that about 40% stop using their CPAP. “Oral sleep appliances provide a comfortable alterna-tive for patients who cannot wear CPAP,” says Dr. Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine. Oral appliance therapy has come to the forefront as a very viable and scientifically based treatment option for snoring and obstructive

sleep apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a statement in the 2006 Journal SLEEP declaring that oral appliance therapy is an excellent treatment option for those suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and is proving to be ef-fective for severe cases as well. The purpose of the oral appliance

is to hold the jaw in a position that al-lows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep, prevent-ing snoring and sleep apnea. Oral ap-pliances are similar to athletic mouth guards, but less bulky and completely non-invasive. Oral Appliance Therapy is covered by most medical insurances and Medicare. “I noticed an immediate differ-ence in the first few nights of wear-ing the appliance,” says Lisa. “I could breathe so much better and was feel-ing rested in the morning. I was even dreaming again.” At her oral appliance consulta-tion, Lisa was also screened and diag-nosed with TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), a condition that can cause headaches, neck and facial pain, jaw popping, locked jaw, ringing in ears, teeth grinding, and more. “For many years I had lived with intense headaches and facial pain and did not know that I had TMD,” says Lisa. “Sleep apnea and TMD are often inter-related, and we find many patients suffer with both problems,” says Willey. It’s only been a few months since Lisa was treated for sleep apnea

and TMD, and she is no longer experiencing extreme fatigue, headaches, or depression. She is able to return to normal life and has energy to work and spend time with her family and friends. “I have been able to quit taking most of my medications, and I no longer feel depressed. I have the energy from actually sleeping and getting quality rest thanks to my oral appliance,” says Lisa. “My co-workers cannot believe the difference it’s made in my energy level and mood. I tell them, it’s like having my life back. I am so excited to finally be feeling energetic and happy again! This has truly changed my life,” says Lisa.

For more information on dental treatment for sleep apnea and TMD please contact Dr. Rod Willey (General Dentist) of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine at 309-243-8980 or IllinoisSleepDoc.com.

sleep apnea

Freedom from Chronic Fatigue, Headaches & Depression

Submitted by Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine

“I am so excited to finally be feeling energetic and happy again! I have my life back. This has truly changed my life,” says Lisa.


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hormonal balance

So many women enter their 40s and 50s with great expectations. The kids are older or gone. Women often have a desire for more peace, more intimacy with one’s partner, less worrying about the

small stuff of life. But the reality is often quite different. These middle-aged women’s kids are bigger and so are their problems. Parents of these women are usually entering the later stages of life and require more care. More responsibility with work and yet the housework still needs to get done. Stress can definitely rise during middle age for women. Along with life stressors rising, a women’s hormonal makeup starts to change, often drastically. During peri-menopause (the few years prior to menopause) many women’s periods start to become heavier, with more cramping and the periods are more unpredictable. Peri-menopausal symptoms include hot flashes, weight gain with more dif-ficulty taking the weight off, insomnia, depression, anxiety, bloating, puffiness, and loss of sex drive.

The symptoms of menopause can be, for some women, quite severe. These include:

All these symptoms can drastically affect a woman’s quality of life. Prescriptions are often doled out for antidepressants, sleeping pills and anxiety medications for many of these symptoms. These medications may be appropriate at times but many times balancing the hormones may be a better option with fewer side effects.

The hormones many practitioners try to balance are:

• Estrogens• Progesterone• Testosterone• DHEA• Cortisol• Thyroid hormones.

Each of these hormones has a unique role in the body.EstrogEn—in a menopausal woman tells the body to hold onto fat and water because you might get pregnant. It is important for men-tal acuity, estrogens are important for vaginal lubrication, vaginal wall thickness, and can reduce bowel motility.

ProgEstEronE—has anti-anxiety characteristics, is a natural antide-pressant, and it can have a diuretic effect. Progesterone helps to keep bone density, relaxes smooth muscle, and appears to prevent endo-metrial cancer by regulating the effect of estrogen.

tEstostEronE—increases sex drive, increases muscle development and tone, prevents fatigue and increases mental alertness.

DHEA—is known to turn into testosterone but also increases immune function, and helps with mental alertness.

Cortisol—is made in the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys. Cortisol is the body’s natural alarm clock; it is the hormone that wakes us up in the morning and keeps us up during the day. It is also the stress hormone. Our bodies use cortisol during times of stress to keep us alert and ready to act. Unfortunately when we are under constant stress (re-member kids, parents, job, husband, house and oh yes, when you have time go work out) we run out of cortisol leaving us feeling wired but tired.

thyroid hormonEs—The thyroid regulates the metabolism of the body. When we run low of these hormones we often feel sluggish, tired, con-stipated, cannot lose weight, and have hair loss.

Let’s look at a few of the major symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause and what hormonal imbalances can cause them.hot FlashEs—can be caused by low estrogen, low progesterone, or low testosterone.

Vaginal drynEss and Vaginal Wall thinning—low estrogen, low tes-tosterone.

dEPrEssion—low progesterone, and low testosterone low cortisol, low thyroid.

anxiEty—low progesterone, high cortisol, high thyroid.

Brain Fog and ForgEtFulnEss—low estrogen, low testosterone, low DHEA, low cortisol, low thyroid.

anxiousnEss and irritaBility—low progesterone, high cortisol, highthyroid.

WEight gain—high estrogen, low progesterone, low testosterone, high cortisol, low thyroid.

loW sEx driVE—low testosterone, low progesterone, estrogen imbal-ance, high cortisol.

As you can see many hormonal imbalances can cause more than one symptom. So how can a practitioner know which hormone to treat their patients with? Many practitioners use reputable saliva test com-panies that are approved by the government to determine a woman’s hormonal make up. This allows the practitioner to see exactly what is happening in a woman’s body and prescribe the right combination of hormones for that patient’s particular needs. The results in my fifteen years of experience with using these tailor-made combinations of hor-mones is that women tend to feel happier and healthier, ready to meet the challenges of their busy lives. Women have many choices available to them. Speak with your practitioner or pharmacist about your medication and hormonal op-tions. For more information, contact Jeff Robins at 309-681-8850 at Essential Wellness Pharmacy in Peoria.

Living the Vivacious LifeYou Want!

• Hot flashes• Night sweats• Vaginal dryness• Brain fog • Forgetfulness

• Depression• Anxiousness• Irritability• Hair loss• Low skin tone

• Loss of muscle tone• Weight gain• Inability to lose weight• Low sex drive• Insomnia

By Jeff Robins, Registered Pharmacist, Essential Wellness Pharmacy


hormonal balance


diabetes and neuropathy

A DifficultCombination

With diabetes impacting over 25 million people—more than 8 percent of the U.S. population—many will be or already are dealing with one of diabetes’ most common complications:

neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is damage caused to the nerves as a result of high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). When a person digests their food, the body changes most of that food into glucose or a form of sugar. Insulin allows this glucose to enter the cells of the body and be used as energy. If you have dia-betes, because your body doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to properly use the insulin it has, the glucose builds up in the blood instead of moving into the cells. Too much glucose in the blood can lead to other serious health issues including heart disease and dam-age to the nerves and kidneys. Unfortunately, people with diabetes commonly develop temporary or permanent nerve damage caused by decreased blood flow and high blood sugar levels. More than 50 percent of patients dealing with diabetes in their life will also develop some nerve damage. Research shows that men are more likely to have diabetic neuropathy than women and that high cholesterol levels and smoking increase the risk.

The symptoms for neuropathy can include:• Numbness or loss of feeling in parts of the body, especially fingers,

toes, hands and feet• Muscle weakness and difficulty walking• Cuts, sores or blisters on the feel that are slow to heal• Bladder problems and urinary tract infections• Digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation,

nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

At this point, there is no real cure for diabetic neuropathy. Treat-ments are aimed at slowing the development through controlling blood sugar levels and making lifestyle changes. This can some-times slow the nerve damage. Treatments also focus on relieving the pain and discomfort that are associated with the neuropathy. To minimize the chances for diabetic neuropathy, there is a list of preventive measures that should be taken. Included are eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure, not smoking and limiting the use of alcohol. It’s also important to care for your feet when you have diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy may cause a loss of feeling in the feet. It is possible for sores or other foot problems to go unnoticed. Without proper foot care, an untreated sore can lead to a serious infection or possibly amputation.

In general, good control of diabetes over time is the key to treating diabetic neuropathy. You can learn more about diabetes and neurop-athy during a free public “Coffee with the Doctor” featuring Dr. Jacob Tony, Methodist Medical Group Neurology, on May 24 at Methodist North at Allen Road. You can call for information at 636-9500.

By Jacob C. Tony, MBBS, MD, MRCP (UK), MRCP (Ireland)

Methodist Medical Group Neurology

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Are You Experiencing Similar Vision Loss?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a chronic disease affecting one in four people over age 50 with central vision loss. It is the leading cause of blindness and should be treated early to slow or

control your vision loss.

We offer state-of-the-art technology for early detection and diagnosis of your vision loss. Make an appointment today — no referral is necessary.

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May is Better speech and hearing Month!In recognition, we will be hosting a

Free inForMational seMinarFor Anyone Who SuSpectS thAt they, or A Loved one, MAy be SuFFering FroM heAring LoSS

Audiologists will discuss the impact of hearing loss, as well as how hearing aid technology may benefit you. Complimentary Hearing Screenings available. A light lunch will be provided.

Morton OfficeMonday May 16th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Morton Medical Center, 1600 S. 4th Ave., #120

Peoria OfficeThursday May 19th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

OSF Center For Health, 8600 N. State Rt 91, #300

seMinar dates & locations

Please come prepared with any questions you may have for our Audiologists regarding hearing healthcare and hearing aid use. There is no cost or obligation – just lots of education!

call to register today: 309-284-0164Space iS Limited

Richard A. Kube II, MD, FACSSBoard Certified,

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Documents

May Peoria Healthy Cells 2011