Every day, parents have to make choices about what is best for their children. This means making sure their choices will promote both optimal emotional and physical health so their children are better able to face life’s challenges and make good choices.

Parents, pediatricians, teachers and other specialists/clinicians all have a role and must work together to promote a child’s well-being. Based on a partnership of mutual responsibility and trust, clinicians can help the child and family focus on issues such as nutrition, safety, early literacy and mental health. In this way, the whole child, or total health, is considered. As a clinician seeing the challenges children face day in and day out, I invite you, parent or not, to play a role in shaping the futures of our kids. ¡Nos incumbe a todos! It’s everyone’s responsibility!

Here’s how:

• Consider your pediatrician as a partner in your child’s overall success
• Get to know and embrace the “medical home” concept
• Get educated and empowered to ask questions of your medical professionals
• Advocate for all of Arizona’s children by challenging schools, lawmakers and voters to review how we can make all of our systems more efficient and effective

Consider pediatricians partners in your child’s success. We are the “medical home” for all things related to health and wellness for a child. This is where evidence-based decisions are made – a one-stop shop of sorts that can coordinate all issues that may arise in childhood.

Start early. Children achieve 90 percent of their brain development in the first five years of life, so it is critical that parents actively engage early on, spending quality time together, reading and exploring, to ensure a high level of learning along with developing important relationship and communication skills that  serve to support self-esteem and other intrapersonal skills.

As medicine moves toward this integrated health-care model, pediatricians and clinicians are working as a team to address the entire scope of a child’s needs. Oftentimes, this means educating the parents on how to keep their child well or get them back on track. Cultural differences require different approaches or suggestions.

The only way to break down cultural barriers is for both the parent and physician to ask important questions and share how your family or culture might look at a particular health issue. Language barriers, education levels and inability of parents to fully explain what their concerns are can sometimes hinder a physician and other providers from offering optimal care. Physicians need to do their part to dig a little deeper, and the family needs to help the pediatrician understand so that he, or she, can get to the root of the problem. Otherwise, issues can be under-diagnosed or missed completely. 

Much is at stake because parents and clinicians alike have the ability to initiate healthy habits and practices in children during their formative years before the bad habits settle in. The entire family has to be on board. 

Parents with poor dietary and exercise habits contribute to unhealthy children, setting up a wide range of health issues and often life-long struggles. Strong role modeling on the part of parents and additional support from the schools to reinforce good habits are critical.

Most of my visits with families are spent discussing healthy meal options and alternatives that can be used every day. Eliminating liquid calories and switching to low-fat milk is one of my biggest battles. The discussion has to be tailored to focus on the nutritional habits specific to the family’s culture. For example, some cultures eat more carbohydrates, such as tortillas, beans, cactus (nopales) and rice. Others focus on higher-fat content with pork products, as well as rice, beans and bread. 

The parents’ daily decisions on what to feed their child or how to engage them in active recreation will have the most significant impact on their health and future well-being. A simple choice for the morning meal between eating a large bagel or some sugary cereal product versus opting for quality protein, such as scrambled eggs, can impact a child’s ability to learn and perform well in school and on tests.

Many pediatricians will affirm that parents are often the biggest obstacle;  they often do not accept that their child is overweight. Yet the statistics don’t lie; Arizona posted the biggest increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity of all states between 2003 and 2007.

Pediatricians are already seeing significant incidences of cardiovascular disease even in kids as young as 5 years old. Type-2 diabetes is showing up in children, the  kind of diabetes once called “adult-onset.” Children are being diagnosed as obese even before they step foot into kindergarten. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that about 20 percent of obese four-year-olds will grow up to become obese adults. That figure rises to 80 percent among teenagers who are overweight. These children are more likely to have high blood pressure, joint problems and greater risk of death as their weight increases. 

The Arizona Chapter of AAP advocates parents follow the “5-2-1-0 rule.”  This means getting kids to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day (a serving could mean a medium apple or a handful of mini-carrots); spend less than 2 hours in front of a screen including computers and video games; spend at least 1 hour a day being physically active; and limit sugary drinks to 0 a day. You can embrace this simple rule along with your kids and the entire family will benefit. More information is available at azwaytogo.org.

Just as quality foods play a role in a child’s health, so too do immunizations. There may not be any issue we advocate more for on any given day than immunizations. Recent outbreaks of polio, measles and epidemic rates of pertussis (also known as whooping cough, including one death in Arizona this past year) demonstrate that all children should be vaccinated according to the immunization schedule available at the CDC website (cdc.gov). 

Mental health and abuse problems are now more prevalent on our list of issues to address. Our offices are often making referrals for community resources and services to help a parent facing any number of needs – from abuse and bullying to access to food or dental care – all of which might keep a child from growing and performing well. While we know that our schools are focused on the education of our children, establishing good habits in early childhood sets kids up for success. 

Pediatricians are often the first and only professional a family sees or talks with before the child starts school. That’s why more than 800 Arizona pediatricians voluntarily incorporate AzAAP’s early literacy program, Reach Out and Read Arizona, at each well-child visit. This proven program involves the physician talking to parents about the importance of reading to their child daily to impart crucial language skills. Pediatricians supply children, aged six  months to five years old, with a free, developmentally-appropriate book to keep for a period of 10 well-child visits. Only 43 percent of Arizona parents read to their kids daily. 

Keeping your child physically safe is another component when considering the whole child. Pediatricians talk about booster seats, water safety, wearing sunscreen, firework safety, using helmets when out riding bikes – but we can’t be there when those things are happening. Parents must be diligent through all phases of their child’s life.

In Arizona, drowning continues to be a leading cause of injury-related death for children between the ages of one and five years old, according to the Drowning Prevention Coalition. Adult supervision is the best way to a prevent drowning. 

Being a good role model is another important factor. Are you showcasing how to treat all people with respect? It may start with “please” and “thank you,” but also include how you speak to, and about, those you disagree with. Bullying, which affects about 10 percent of our kids, is a significant issue in our schools when their focus should be on reading, writing and arithmetic. Parents can be models for critical relationship behaviors, as well as monitor their child’s online activities, which can impact both emotional and physical development. Visit stopbullying.gov for more information. 

Besides parents and pediatricians, teachers, lawmakers, grandparents and average citizens can make a difference in the lives of our children. Your understanding and investment in improving our state systems for effectiveness and efficiency is needed. As doctors, we invite you to learn more about the importance of the medical home, to increase your understanding of how you play a role in your, or any, child’s health and wellness, and to partner with your pediatrician to create a bright future for our kids.

Dr. Anne Young is an Arizona native and pediatrician at Valle del Sol in Central Phoenix. She completed medical school at Midwestern University in Glendale and residency in Savannah, Ga. She is a member of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her interests include obesity and nutrition, autism and diabetes.

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Maria getting vaccinated, photo courtesy of Rostros de la gripe campaign

It is that time of year, as it is every year, when you and your family should get immunized against influenza, if you haven’t already. Influenza, commonly called the “flu,” is a serious respiratory illness, especially among the Hispanic community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 9.5 million Hispanic Americans will suffer from influenza in an average year.

To spread the word about the seriousness of influenza, and the importance of annual vaccination to help keep Hispanic Americans healthy, the American Lung Association has launched its Spanish-language, influenza-education initiative, “Rostros de la gripe,” in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur.

About influenza immunization

We all are “faces” of influenza. Many of us in the Hispanic American community have stories to tell about how we or our loved ones have been affected by the flu. I want to encourage families to help protect themselves from influenza by getting vaccinated against the flu every year. Plain and simple, vaccination is safe and effective, and the best way to help prevent the flu. The CDC recommends that everyone six months of age and older be immunizedagainst influenza each and every year. In addition, parents need to know that the CDC also recommends that children 6 months through 8 years of age who receive a flu shot for the first time may need two doses approximately one month apart for the best protection. 

Even though these recommendations are regularly communicated to all of us, the nation’s immunization rates continue to fall short of public health goals each year. In fact, only 40 percent of Hispanic Americans received their influenza vaccination last flu season. This rate is alarmingly low, especially because Hispanic Americans are at greater risk for developing influenza-related complications due to high rates of certain chronic medical conditions like asthma and diabetes. This makes the need for annual influenza immunization for Hispanic Americans that much greater.  

Flu shots are especially important for people who are at higher risk for developing influenza-related complications, including those who are:

• 50 years of age and older
• Pregnant 
• Have certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes and others
• A resident of a long-term care facility or nursing home

Additionally, you should get immunized if you come into close contact with anyone in a high-risk group, not only to help protect yourself against the flu, but also to help avoid spreading the disease to more vulnerable people. With vaccination options available for all age groups – children, adults and seniors – you should talk with your health care provider to find the option that’s right for you and your family this season.

There are a few groups of people, however, who should not get the vaccine, or should first talk with their health care provider. They are:

• People with severe allergies to eggs 
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a past influenza vaccination
• Children younger than 6 months of age, because no vaccination is licensed yet for this age group 

Influenza symptoms

Many people confuse the flu with other illnesses. To help you correctly identify the flu, you should know that its symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur, but are more common in children than adults. If you do get sick, it’s a good idea to wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home from school or work to help prevent the spread of influenza.

Complications of influenza 

As mentioned earlier, there are times when the flu leads to other, more serious conditions.  These complications can include viral or bacterial pneumonia and the worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, congestive heart failure and diabetes. Children may experience sinus problems and ear infections.Hispanics have higher rates of chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes, which may put them at an increased risk for developing serious complications from influenza. You can help avoid getting and spreading the flu by getting vaccinated annually.

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]]> http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/we-are-all-faces-of-influenza-15317/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/face-the-risk-of-periodontal-disease-head-on-15020 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/face-the-risk-of-periodontal-disease-head-on-15020#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:14:24 +0000 latinopm http://latinopm.com/?p=15020 By Joyce Rosenthal, D.D.S.

It’s a regular occurrence: a Patient visits the dentist after putting it off for years and is shocked to find out they have a mouthful of problems. So, the next time their bi-annual visit approaches, they put it off, not wanting to deal with any more potential problems.

The unfortunate reality is that this scenario is more the norm than the exception. While I could write a book about the importance of keeping your regular dentist visits, I want to take this opportunity to highlight what is commonly called “gum disease.”  Recent research demonstrates a strong link between periodontal disease and a person’s overall health and well-being. However, most people are unaware of the likelihood of their developing periodontal disease, commonly known, in its mildest form, as gingivitis. 

Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria causes inflammation of the gums, which affects the long-term health of the teeth and bones in the mouth. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and permanent damage to gum and bone tissue. 

The important news is that periodontal disease is preventable and very treatable. Although it can be difficult to detect in its early stages, symptoms may include red and swollen gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, receding gum lines, pain while chewing, loose or separating teeth and/or a change in the way teeth fit together when biting. Your dentist is the best person to determine whether you have, or are at risk for, periodontal disease.

Several risk factors are associated with periodontal disease, one of which is genetic susceptibility. Many immigrants may be at higher risk for the disease because of a lack of resistance to oral bacteria and their dietary history. Studies have shown that individuals of Mexican American descent are at higher risk for developing periodontitis than people of European descent. While the exact reasons are still unclear, a recent study suggests that different inflammatory responses may be to blame for the higher number of immigrants who have periodontal disease. 

If you are a person at higher risk, then take control of your oral hygiene and ask your dentist about what you can do to combat this disease. In short, if regular dental visits are skipped and a dental problem worsens, there is a greater likelihood that there will be a long-term impact on a person’s overall health.

Follow the tips below to keep your mouth in the best possible health:

Practice daily dental care. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, there are other steps individuals can take to be sure their mouths are in great shape. Brush at least two minutes, twice a day, using a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brushing the tongue for at least 30 seconds and replacing a toothbrush every one to three months are just a couple of ways to practice good daily dental care. In you have been sick, don’t forget to replace your toothbrush so you don’t reintroduce those same germs back into your body. Other great habits include using a mouth rinse before brushing and drinking at least seven glasses of water a day.

Always visit the dentist regularly. Most people have check-ups every six months. Sometimes, individuals with this disease do not experience any pain before they are diagnosed. Regular dental visits give the dentist the opportunity to identify the disease sooner rather than later. 

Take a risk assessment test. The American Academy of Periodontology has an excellent tool to help you determine if you are at risk for this disease. If you are, then discuss the assessment results with your dentist to determine the next steps. To access this tool, visit service.previser.com/aap/default.aspx.

Know your family history. Family history is important in determining if you will be at higher risk for periodontal disease.

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]]> http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/face-the-risk-of-periodontal-disease-head-on-15020/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/neuromagic-research-14787 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/neuromagic-research-14787#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 04:17:53 +0000 latinopm http://latinopm.com/?p=14787 By Susana Martinez-Conde, Ph.D.

Neuroscientists at Barrow Neurological Institute are studying magic and the brain

When I tell people that I’m a neuroscientist, their eyes usually glaze over. But, when I tell them I work with Las Vegas magicians, they smile and say, “Wow! Tell me more.” 

The intersection of scientific research and magic is a thrilling combination. The brain is the last frontier in science, and no one really understands how it works or why it sometimes breaks down. In my research lab at Barrow Neurological Institute, we have embraced the idea that the solutions to brain disease may never be found in traditional methods. If we are to make breakthroughs in treating terrible conditions like autism and dementia, we must think outside the box and develop unorthodox science.  

That is when the magic happens.

About seven years ago, my research partner, Dr. Stephen Macknik, and I began teaming up with some of the world’s greatest magicians. We recognized that these “artists of awareness” knew more about what tricks our brains than we, Harvard-educated scientists, did.    

In the past several years, magicians like Penn and Teller, Mac King, the Amazing Randi and Apollo Robbins have partnered with us to examine the link between vision and the processes of the brain. The magicians are fascinated by the science, and we are fascinated by the new research discipline we have labeled  “neuromagic.”

Internationally-renowned magicians, Mac King and the Amazing Randi, will take the stage along with neuroscientists from the Barrow Neurological Institute for an evening titled, “Magic and the Brain.” The charity event, which takes place at the Phoenix Theatre on September 17, will showcase the unusual partnership between scientists at Barrow and magicians who have traveled to the Institute to help the medical researchers understand the way the brain functions and how it is tricked. Mac King, who headlines in Vegas at Harrah’s, and the Amazing Randi, the world’s “Elder Statesman of Magic,” will perform as the researchers try to explain the unexplainable – the human brain.

By examining how the brain reacts to magic tricks like misdirection and sleight of hand, which manipulate our attention better than almost anything we can conjure up in the lab, we believe that we will understand better the neural underpinnings of perception and cognition. Before we began working with magicians, cognitive neuroscientists were, at times, re-inventing the wheel, coming up with principles that magicians had already been using for a long time. 

The human brain is not a perfect reader of reality, and it often uses shortcuts to interpret the world more quickly and efficiently. The brain’s limitations are at the heart of many illusions. Magicians exploit our neural shortcuts to do what seems impossible, such as when the audience’s attention is drawn to a conjurer’s left hand while he hides the coin in his right.

It is a misconception that the brain reconstructs reality. Rather, it constructs an unreality that we agree to live with. Magicians create illusions to exploit this mismatch. Magical methods can then be applied in the laboratory, in combination with high-technology brain-imaging and other neuroscience techniques, to study how the brain works in both normal and abnormal situations. These studies could yield insights into how to treat conditions, such as attention-deficit disorder, or to diagnose and evaluate therapy regimes in autism.

People with autism often suffer from a deficit in “joint attention,” that is, the ability to pay attention to those things that other people appear to be attending to. If you have ever looked up at the ceiling when somebody else was pointing up at it, then you have exercised your joint attention. Because patients with autism spectrum disorder  are less able to process the social cues that underlie joint attention, we believe that magic tricks, which often rely on the magician’s gaze and body language, will not work as well with them. 

Since I was a young girl growing up in Spain, I have been fascinated by science and the brain. That fascination led me to Harvard and Barrow – and now to Vegas. With the help of some magic, we are on the verge of profound medical breakthroughs.

To get a close-up look at our research, join us on September 17, along with magicians Mac King and The Amazing Randi, for a unique show at the Phoenix Theatre called “Magic and the Brain.” For ticket info, visit barrow50.org or call 602-406-3041. The charity event will support the Barrow Neurological Institute. 

Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde is director of the Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. She received a Bachelor of Science in Experimental Psychology from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a Ph.D in Medicine and Surgery from the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain. She was a postdoctoral fellow with Nobel Laureate, David Hubel, at Harvard Medical School, and then an Instructor in Neurobiology at the same institution. She was a lecturer at University College, London, from 2001 to 2003, before assuming her directorship at Barrow the following year. She is co-author of the bestselling book, Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Everyday Deception. She is also a regular contributor to Scientific American.

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]]> http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/neuromagic-research-14787/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/abcs-of-health-care-14497 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/abcs-of-health-care-14497#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:53:22 +0000 Robrt L. Pela http://latinopm.com/?p=14497 You’ve bought your kid a brand new back-to-school wardrobe; set him up with a box of newly sharpened pencils, a stack of writing tablets and a swell backpack. He’s got his class schedule, met his new teacher, and signed up for the kickball team. He’s all ready for another semester. Or is he?

You may have overlooked a couple of things, like updated immunizations, notes for the school nurse (and the homeroom teacher) about your child’s daily medication schedule (if he has one),  a new vision test, and, maybe, a quick parent-child meeting to discuss proper eating and hygiene while he’s away from home.

These are the often-ignored details that can make or break a school year. As summer winds to a close, we’re all weary from the heat and overwhelmed with getting our kids’ noses back to the educational grindstone. But don’t let your son or daughter get sent home from his first day back at school because he doesn’t have a current immunization record, says Dr. Sara Peña, M.D., a family practice physician at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

“State law requires that children file their immunization records with the school,” Peña reports, “as well as updates on immunizations. Some parents request an exception to this rule, for religious or cultural purposes, but that requires a note from a practicing family physician.” 

A quick trip to the American Academy of Pediatrics website (at aap.org) will provide you with a quick checklist of which vaccinations your child needs, and at what age, before he can attend public or private school. Your child’s school should offer similar guidelines, as well; if they don’t, phone your general practitioner for advice on which shots are needed for kids heading back to school.

Peña also likes to remind parents that an annual vision test is a recommended for students of all ages. “A child who cannot see well, cannot see the assignments that he (or she) is responsible for completing,” she says. Quite a number of students with chronic headaches are, according to Peña, simply kids with headache-inducing impaired vision. “They need a pair of eyeglasses to help them see.”

A basic eye test by your pediatrician is a good place to start, she says, especially if your child’s school doesn’t offer an annual visit from an optometrist. “If there are problems, a trip to an eye specialist is in order, and,” she adds, “keep in mind that children, especially younger ones, don’t necessarily know that their vision is impaired, because they think they’re seeing what everyone is seeing.”

Is your child allergic to tomatoes, chalk dust, pollen? Make sure that both his homeroom teacher and the school nurse know about this. Likewise, notify the school if the child is taking any medications, even if they are meds he only takes at home. Ditto for any allergies to medicines; if your child can’t tolerate ibuprofen, you don’t want the school nurse handing him a Tylenol^® for that sprained ankle. And, if your youngster does take a medication during the day, make sure it’s administered by an adult at school, and that you deliver it in its original prescription bottle, and not in an envelope or other unmarked container.

While you are making lists, be sure to include any ongoing ailments or physical challenges that your son or daughter might be dealing with. It is appropriate, and certainly useful, to send a note to the proper school authorities about any recent, at-home trauma that your child might be dealing with, such as the death of a relative or a divorce. Children sometimes take these things harder than we realize, and can “act out” while in class.

Finally, make sure that the school has your most up-to-date contact information: home telephone and cell phone numbers; email addresses; and physical addresses. Also include back-up telephone numbers of family members or friends who can come to your child’s aid if you are not available in a medical crisis.

“You’ll sleep a lot better if you’ve taken all these simple precautions,” Peña says. “What’s more, your child will enjoy a more productive school year once these simple, once-a-year tasks are complete.” 

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]]> http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/abcs-of-health-care-14497/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/heads-up-14240 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/heads-up-14240#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2012 08:17:01 +0000 Robrt L. Pela http://latinopm.com/?p=14240 Just when you think you’ve got every aspect of good health covered – nutrition, exercise, stress management – some wise guy magazine writer turns up with a new angle. Like this one: how’s your scalp?

No kidding. The skin on top of your noggin can determine more than whether you’re going to have a good hair day; it can indicate your overall health as well. That’s because the cells found at the roots of our hair are the most rapidly developing cells in our bodies, and are more sensitive to changes in nutrition and body functions than any other cells. So, if your scalp is healthy, chances are the rest of your body is, too. And, summertime is the best time to take a little extra care up there, because higher UV rays and extra exposure to the sun tend to dry and sometimes injure your pate.

The cells of a healthy scalp are produced at the lowest level of the skin and migrate toward the outer surface; once there, they flatten out and are invisibly shed. When your scalp is functioning properly, the entire process takes about a month. But a sick scalp can shed cells in as little as a week, leaving large, ugly snowdrifts, politely known as dandruff.

Those nasty flakes on your shoulders are probably the result of something simple, like too frequent shampooing, which can strip the scalp of natural oils, while infrequent shampooing can clog scalp follicles and lead to such conditions as seborrheic dermatitis, an itchy red rash that’s treatable with nonprescription shampoos containing tar or sulfur. Seborrheic dermatitis can sometimes indicate an immune system disorder, so a recurrent bout with this complaint might be worth reporting to your physician.

Chances are the doctor will rattle off a list of benign reasons why your head has turned on you. Harsh shampoos, styling products, hair color and blow-drying can exacerbate scalp problems or cause new ones, as can a diet high in fat, sugar or salt. Stress also aggravates a sickly scalp, according to Albert Kligman, M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. When you’re tense, your body produces an excess of cortisone, which can suppress the immune system and increase the growth of yeast organisms on the scalp, which leads to inflammation and flaky dandruff.

External stress is just as likely as internal anxiety to irritate your scalp. Men with curly hair who shave their heads should be careful not to shave too close, Kligman says. A super-smooth shave can result in ingrown hairs and razor bumps that become acne, which can further compromise scalp health by trapping bacteria in the inflamed follicle around each ingrown hair.

Because exercise helps relieve stress, your daily workout will help you keep a healthy head. Giving your pate its own quick workout won’t hurt, either; a daily, two-minute scalp massage not only feels great, but improves blood flow to the head, bringing vital nutrients to follicles. While you’re at it, occasionally treating your scalp to a handful of an essential oil, like jojoba, will help break up encrusted oil and remove dead cells.

Guys who favor finger-combing will want to know that brushing your hair, no matter its length, is a great way to keep cuticles flat and well-lubricated with the scalp’s natural oils. Brushing also loosens dead skin, which may be clogging your pores. Fair-skinned fellows, as well as bald or balding men, should don a cap or rub a glob of sunscreen (with a minimum level of SPF 6) onto their heads about a half-hour before heading outdoors. Skin cancers of the scalp account for two percent of all skin cancers, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Most of us assume that wearing a hat or having a lot of hair is protection enough, but we’re mistaken.

What you don’t put on your head is just as important as what you do put on. Keep hair-styling products away from your scalp, and steer clear of alcohol-based gels and sprays. Because blow-drying can stress out your scalp, a low or medium setting and a snap-on diffuser are a good idea; towel-drying your hair is an even better idea. Hot water can be just as damaging as hot air, according to Dale Abadir, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist. “When you rinse your hair, turn down the water temperature,” Abadir says. “Hot water might feel good, but it can aggravate a dry scalp. If the water is too hot, you’re not hydrating your scalp, you’re dehydrating it.”

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]]> http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/heads-up-14240/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/mind-body-medicine-and-stress-management-13967 http://latinopm.com/health-fitness/health/mind-body-medicine-and-stress-management-13967#comments Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:32:24 +0000 latinopm http://latinopm.com/?p=13967 By Marcia Murphy, LCSW

What is Mind-Body Medicine?  Mind-Body Medicine explores the influence of the mind and emotions on the body and immune system, and vice versa. Mind-body specialists are typically therapists or other mental health professionals who examine the effects of the mind – thoughts, attitudes and beliefs – on physical health and well-being. Specialists use a variety of techniques to promote health, such as talk therapy, deep breathing, guided imagery, relaxation therapy, meditation and yoga. Using these techniques, mind-body medicine helps direct energies toward healing and health.

 Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), according to Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, is “the study of the intricate interaction of consciousness (psycho), brain and central nervous system (neuro), and the body’s defenses against external infection and internal aberrant cell division (immunology).”  Dr. Pelletier serves as a medical and business consultant to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization and major corporations, such as IBM and Disney.

When we are under stress, our immune system becomes suppressed and our natural ability to fight disease is compromised unless we take steps to manage the stress in our lives. Mental strength and physical strength are interconnected. Dr. Candace Pert, the author of Molecules of Emotion and a research professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., expressed it well when she wrote, “The body isn’t there simply to carry the head.” Her research has shown that “when emotions are expressed, that is to say, when the biochemicals that are the substrate of emotion are flowing freely, all systems are united and made whole. When emotions are repressed, denied or not allowed to be whatever they may be, our network pathways get blocked, stopping the flow of the vital, “feel-good,” unifying chemicals that run both our biology and our behavior.”

“Stress makes you physically sick,” explains Steven Maier, professor of psychology at the University of Colorado. Researchers know that behavioral and psychological events can influence the immune system. The immune system sends signals to the brain “that potently alter neural activity and, thereby, alter everything that flows from neural activity, mainly behavior, thought and mood,” said Maier. The immune system also activates a classic stress response, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol. Not only does stress produce the expected biochemical stress response, it also produces predictable behavioral changes, including decreased food and water intake.

Ancient wellness traditions have understood the mind-body interaction for centuries and have incorporated it into their approaches and therapies. In India for example, the yogic philosophy teaches that the body, breath, emotion and mind are inextricably linked. The Chinese systems of Qi Gong and Tai Chi have also taught this principle for centuries.  

Mind-body medicine can benefit a cancer patient by ensuring that the patient understands that he/she is not defined by the illness. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® patients are treated as whole persons, and are surrounded by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, including a medical oncologist, registered dietician, naturopathic physician, chiropractor and mind-body therapist. We encourage our patients who participate in our mind-body therapies to take advantage of the stress management techniques we offer. Some of those techniques include:

Talk therapy:  

Allowing an objective third party to listen to a patient’s feelings can be life changing. A therapist may be able to point out distorted thinking and re-orient the patient toward a more positive and helpful direction. 

Deep breathing:  

Dr. Andrew Weil said, “Improper breathing is a common cause of ill health.  If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly. There is no single more powerful – or more simple – daily practice to further your health and well-being than breath work.”

Laughter: 

This is one of the greatest and quickest activities for reducing stress. Laughter works because it gets your brain thinking and working in a different way. It distracts you from having a stressed mindset. As you start to smile and chuckle, the stress begins to dissipate. Keep taking the laughter medicine until you feel relaxed and recharged.

Sleep:  

Rest is essential for a healthy life-balance. Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Only in very recent times have modern heating, lighting, and communication and entertainment technologies enabled and encouraged us to keep unnatural waking and working hours. This behavior is at odds with our biological preferences.

Meditation:  

This strategy builds on deep breathing, and takes it a step further. When you meditate, your brain initiates a sort of functioning that is similar to sleep, but carries some added benefits that aren’t achieved in any other state, such as the release of certain hormones.

Guided imagery:  

The practice of guided imagery is somewhat more time-consuming, but is a great way to reduce stress and relax the body. Some people find it easier to practice guided imagery than meditation, because it is easier to focus on something rather than on nothing. Playing natural sounds in the background during guided imagery promotes a more immersive experience.

Progressive muscle relaxation:  

Tensing, then releasing, all the muscle groups in the body can produce feelings of increased relaxation in minutes, with no special training or equipment. Start by tensing all the muscles of the face, hold a tight grimace for ten seconds, then completely relax for ten seconds. Repeat this procedure in the neck area, then the shoulder area, and so on, throughout the rest of the body.

Music:  

Listening to music results in numerous health benefits for people with a range of conditions, both mild and severe. Studies have shown that listening to certain classical music can help lower blood pressure, relieve muscle tension and promote deep breathing.

The array of  stress management techniques – from acupuncture to walking – is extensive enough to provide something that will appeal to, and work for, just about everyone.

Marcia Murphy, LCSW, is a mind-body therapist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Western Regional Medical Center. Murphy joined the Mind-Body Medicine Department at CTCA in 2010 after a deeply personal experience with cancer.

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