Health & Wellness - February 2023

February Special Section

Brought to You by Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

While February brings thoughts of those we love and Valentine’s Day cards, the best gift of all is to remember it’s also American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for those over age 65 and is still the leading cause of death in this country. Over 800,000 deaths a year are due to cardiovascular disease. The good news is it’s largely preventable, so let’s review how to improve and maintain your heart health.

Monitoring your blood pressure is a key indicator of where you stand with your heart health. Yet only 48 per cent of people aged 50 to 80 who take medication or have a health condition affected by high blood pressure (or hypertension) monitor it on a regular basis. Preventing hypertension lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke. So setting a regular schedule and getting a blood pressure monitor you can learn to use at home is the start of knowing the numbers for your heart health journey.

Eating a healthy diet with a variety of food with potassium, fiber, protein, and importantly is lower in salt is critical. Flavor your food using more spices, eat salads and steamed vegetables. Select grilled poultry or fish and avoid heavy sauces, salad dressings and fats. This will help you get to or keep a healthy weight.

Staying physically active and reducing stress comes next. Moderate walking or other forms of physical exercise can do wonders. While 150 minutes of moderate activity a week is recommended, be sure to check with your doctor about forming

a personalized plan of action and regular visits that are right for your current health status. Social isolation can also impact your stress levels, so staying in touch with friends, community groups and family is an important part of the picture.

Sleep is emerging as an ever increasing factor in heart health. It keeps your blood vessels healthy, and not getting enough sleep on a regular basis correlate to increased rates of stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease. Aim for a regular schedule and seven to eight hours of sleep.

Stop smoking and be careful about alcohol consumption for a healthy heart. So, if this is an issue, monitor your use and start a plan to cut back.

At Home Helpers, we know how important a skilled and well-matched Caregiver is to helping an older loved one maintain their heart health. Whether it’s making sure a moderate walk can be done without fear of a fall risk, regularly monitoring blood pressure and vital signs, following a nutritious diet, keeping a regular sleep schedule, or creating social bonds to battle loneliness, we strive to make each day the best it can be.

Our heart centered Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, safely speed up recovery from surgery, or provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

We’re here to help - from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and livein care. For a free consultation contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs today at (770) 6810323.

It’s time to focus on heart health

Sunshine on healing skin — one step forward, two steps back?

The most common pre-cancerous lesion dermatologists treat is the actinic keratosis or “AK.” These rough growths are often frozen with liquid nitrogen and gone in a zap. Sometimes, however, a patch of skin is covered with precancerous lesions. One almost doesn’t know where to start. For such a patient, the correct treatment is often not to spray twenty or thirty AKs with liquid nitrogen. If the whole patch of skin is affected with precancerous lesions, then spot treatments like liquid nitrogen zaps will just result in a game of whack-a-mole. One AK is beaten down only to have one or two more pop up by the next visit. Field damage demands field treatment. Rather than spot-treating individual AK’s, an entire patch of skin can be treated with certain creams and therapies to reduce the number of precancers and the amount of sun damage in an entire area. Field treatments like fluorouracil cream, imiquimod cream, and photodynamic therapy (“blue light therapy”) can reduce the AK burden across an entire zone such as the entire scalp or face. These treatments reduce the number of future cancers and get the number of AK’s back down to a reasonable number.

I often recommend field treatments to my patients but with one big caveat. I tell them, “Don’t undergo a field treatment unless you can stay out of the sun during the treatment and for a week or so afterwards.”

I advise patients that I am worried that sun damage on skin that is being treated or is recovering may not only cancel out the benefits but might leave them worse off. Why the worry? Am I overcautious? I believe not. I’m concerned about more than just a little sunburn. I’m concerned about the sun hitting cells when they are at their most vulnerable: when they are replicating – such as when cells fill in tiny wounds and even micro-gaps created from the killing of precancers like AKs.

Every system has its vulnerabilities,

and our DNA repair processes are no different. Our cells’ repair processes work well during the resting phases of cell life when they are happily performing their usual functions. But when a cell decides to duplicate its DNA and divide into daughter cells in a process called mitosis, some of the repair processes are temporarily shut down.

Remember in the movie Jurassic Park when getting the park back online requires temporarily turning everything off? The electricity to the fences had to be shut off, too, and some of the carnivorous dinosaurs escaped and wreaked havoc. Well, the same thing happens in our cells when they duplicate their DNA and divide from one cell into two cells. When cells synthesize new DNA, many of the DNA repair processes are temporarily turned off to allow DNA duplication and cell division to take place. If a mutation, such as from sunlight, occurs when the repair systems are off, then the mutation is often not corrected. The resulting daughter cells are permanently affected with the mutation. Such mutated cells can develop into cancer.

Field treatments like fluorouracil, imiquimod and photodynamic therapy kill bad cells. The healthy neighbor cells must then start dividing to take the place of the bad cells. More cells dividing means more cells with DNA repair processes in the “off” position. Treatments aimed at eliminating cancerous lesions temporarily create a vulnerable state.

Advice to avoid the sun during AK treatments is not just a case of preventing your usual sunburn or of healing skin being more sensitive. Healing skin is more susceptible to mutations and DNA damage from sunburns than resting skin is. Biology argues against taking a “cheat day” and getting sun exposure during or after any treatment that requires skin to heal. If you find yourself in need of field treatment such as PDT, fluoruracil or imiquimod, remember it is only a good idea if you can stay out of the sun during the entire treatment and for the time it takes afterwards for your skin to repair itself.

Brought to you by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Treating and preventing heart disease

Brought to you by - Ryan Wilson, MD, interventional and structural heart cardiologist at Wellstar North Fulton Medical

Center

Now that the holidays are over and people are getting back into their regular routines, it’s time to focus on Heart Month, which is observed each February.

The importance of heart health cannot be understated since heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States each year. In 2020, nearly 700,000 people died from heart-related diseases. That is more deaths than all cancers combined or COVID-19 related illnesses. Heart disease is a largely preventable problem in many circumstances.

Prevention is always our primary focus when it comes to heart disease. Your risk of heart-related disease can be significantly reduced if you focus on some of these key areas in your life:

• Don’t smoke, and if you do smoke or use other tobacco products, seriously consider quitting. This is one of the most serious risk factors. If you are ready to quit, please contact your healthcare provider for assistance. There are patches, gums and medications that can help you quit.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Reducing your weight into a healthy category can significantly lower your risk of heart disease.

• Maintain a healthy blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, follow up with your healthcare provider regularly to make sure this is controlled. If you

don’t have high blood pressure, get checked intermittently.

• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels and a low-fat diet. If you have high cholesterol already, make sure you are getting regular blood work to ensure your treatment is working. If you don’t have high cholesterol, continue to focus on a healthy diet and lifestyle. Try to avoid fried foods with lots of butter, fat and grease, which is where a lot of cholesterol comes from.

If you already have heart disease, it’s important to follow up regularly with your cardiologist to ensure we are doing everything possible to minimize the progression of disease and prevent any major problems like a heart attack or stroke. Heart disease can often be managed with medications and lifestyle modifications.

If you ever have symptoms such

as ongoing chest pain/pressure, new onset of significant shortness of breath, excessive sweating or nausea associated with chest pain or shortness of breath, severe dizziness or heart racing (palpitations), call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.

If you have more mild symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to get diagnostic testing done. If you are ever in doubt, check it out.

Dr. Ryan Wilson is a cardiovascular disease specialist with Wellstar Health System. He specializes in heart and vascular interventions and treats patients with structural heart and valve conditions. To make an appointment with Dr. Wilson at his office on the campus of Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, call (770) 410-4520. To make an appointment at his office at Wellstar Avalon Health Park, call (470) 267-0430.

WILSON

Pain relieving Laser Therapy

Having treated hundreds of patients over the past 6 years with Pain Relieving Laser Therapy, it’s not hard for me to appreciate how well it works. But if you’ve never tried it, trust me when I tell you…. you’re missing out!

Several years ago, John Deere ran a promotion on their zero turn lawn mowers. They used a fun tag line, “It’s not how fast you mow, it’s how well you mow FAST!” I wish I could come up with a similar tag line for Pain Relieving Laser Therapy because it can deliver

pain relief in just a few minutes. It’s not uncommon for patients to have their pain be reduced by 50% on the first treatment.

How does it work? Pain Relieving Laser Therapy uses light energy to promote healing and reduce pain. Laser Therapy is FDA cleared to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, and muscle spasms and is a great alternative to medications and injections.

The most common thing we hear after someone tries it for the first time is “WOW!” I’m sure if you are

just reading this article, you are probably thinking, “yeah, RIGHT??!! Nothing works that fast!” But don’t take my word for it, call our office today and schedule your FREE TRIAL. The only thing you have to lose is your pain!

Johns Creek Physical Therapy

4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024

770-622-5344

5 ways to revitalize your relationship routine

Brought to you by - Will Goodwin, Licensed Associate Professional Counselor at Summit Counseling Center

With the beginning of a new year well underway and the somewhat cliché mantra of “New year, new you!” still ringing in the air, many of us are starting to look around and wonder what has really changed. The problem with this phrase is that it often implies that there must be a complete and total change - whether in our habits, our work, or even in our relationships. However, you may not need a complete relationship renovation. Instead, perhaps a simple “refreshing” in some areas that have grown stagnant or mundane might be the appropriate course to take. Just like the warmth and satisfaction that can come from simply rearranging or reorganizing a space, your relationship can be revitalized as well.

Here are five ways to breathe some new life into your established routines:

1. Strive to Surprise. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from knowing one another’s habits, tendencies, and preferences. However, this capacity for anticipating what to expect from one another can also promote boredom, complacency, and indifference. Going out of your way to gift little surprises to one another can be a way to spark those feelings you shared back when you were first discovering each other. It could be preparing their favorite dish, treating them to their favorite hot or cold beverage/ snack, cleaning their car and filling up the gas tank, or arranging a date if you don’t typically plan them. Whatever you choose, choose to make it a surprise.

2. Reassess Your Roles. While knowing “who does what” can simplify and streamline the management of household chores and responsibilities in a way that sets up a relationship for success, it can also create ruts. As change enters our lives, we may grow to dread a task or

become overwhelmed by it. Talk to one another about these shifts and consider switching things around. If possible, team up on tasks and responsibilities that you previously did alone. You may surprise yourselves one day by discovering that you feel eager and excited about a chore because you know it is a chance to spend time together.

3. Freshen Up Your Look. Of course, no one is saying that the way

someone looks is the most important feature about them. However, there is value to be acknowledged in continuing to make an effort, no matter how long you have been in a relationship. Perhaps you could trim your beard or experiment with a new hairstyle. Maybe showcase an outfit that feels fun and playful, paint your nails, or try out a new accessory. You may feel that you have already “sealed the deal,” but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t continue to garner your partner’s interest.

4. Spend Time Apart. Though this may seem counterproductive, it can, at certain points and for certain lengths of time, play a vital part in enriching your time together. By reserving some time for both of you to “do your own thing,” you can eagerly return to one another feeling recharged mentally, emotionally, and relationally – and feeling ready to reconnect.

5. Swap Out the Usual. Sometimes exchanging a common experience for an uncommon one can really do the trick when it comes to re-energizing your relationship routines. Collaborate to pick

something you routinely do together and trade it out for something new. If you tend to rely heavily on watching tv shows, try exchanging that screen time for some kind of face-to-face engagement (board/card game, reading together, go for a walk/ exercise). This exchange doesn’t need to be a total or permanent removal of watching tv together, but changing things up from time to time can create some healthy variety and novelty.

Many times the act of rearranging furniture or replacing just a few items, as opposed to a total overhaul, can give a space a new lease on life. In a parallel sense, your relationship may simply require some minor adjustments to bring life flowing back into your various shared experiences.

Whether your relationship is on the rocks or rock solid, all couples can benefit from therapy - and the therapists at Summit Counseling Center are here to help! We see couples involved in every stage of a relationship and assist them in finding harmony and balance in their lives together. To learn more about our services, meet our therapists, and schedule an appointment, visit our website at www. summitcounseling.org.

Digital dentistry - a better way

Have you ever been to the dentist and the dentist needs to take an impression of your mouth? If you have done this before, you may have just taken a deep breath and started to get nervous. Traditional impressions have always involved a large tray loaded with impression material (goop!?!) that must be inserted into your mouth to make a mold of your teeth. Isn’t there a better way? Yes! The latest technology now allows your dentist to take a digital impression instead. Digital impressions (also called 3-D intraoral scanning) construct a three-dimensional digital model of your teeth and your entire mouth. Digital impressions are less messy and more pleasant than traditional impressions. Patients with a gag reflex or sensitive teeth have a better, more comfortable experience. A small (radiation-free) laser wand takes a series of images of your teeth and your gums and stitches them together into a 3-D virtual model of your mouth. You can immediately touch the screen and rotate and adjust the image to see your teeth from all angles. You very likely have

never seen your teeth and your mouth like this. It’s amazing!

The Atlanta Center for Dental Health has the iTero Element intraoral scanner imaging system. The 3-D model of your mouth is immediately on the IPadlike screen right beside you. It can immediately be adjusted and looked at from all angles. This image can be uploaded to the dental laboratory for

PROVIDED

the construction of a crown or clear aligners or other dental prosthetics and appliances. This allows for the rapid fabrication of amazingly accurate, perfectly fitting, artistically created natural looking dental restorations that improve your smile and your appearance and wow your friends. One of the most amazing uses of this technology is the ability to immediately

see a Smile Simulation. In about a minute, your dentist can show you what your smile would look like if you straightened your teeth or improved your bite with clear aligners, like Invisalign™. Again, you can touch the screen so that you can see your smile from all angles. Dr. Hepler and Dr. Priluck at the Atlanta Center for Health would love to show this technology. Please call or stop by for a quick no cost Smile Simulation of your very own. i

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Dr. Jeffrey Priluck and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in cosmetic dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover your options, please call us at 770-9922236. Dr. Hepler and Dr. Priluck are highly trained and certified to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.

Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler and Dr. Jeffrey Priluck, The Atlanta Center for Dental Health

Resolved to lose weight in 2023? Take a look at Semaglutide

Brought to you by - Hydralive Therapy

Milton

You’ve probably heard a lot about once-weekly Semaglutide, which is making headlines as one of the most successful weight management drugs. Are you wondering if Semaglutide is right for you?

Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is secreted in the gut and targets receptors throughout the body, including the brain. In other words, it sends a message to the brain, letting it know that the body is full – which causes people to eat less throughout the day.

At the beginning of the treatments, Semaglutide also decreases gastric emptying – the process by which stomach contents are moved into the first part of the small intestine as part of the digestive process, which can help dramatically with weight management.

While medication-assisted weight loss has been around for more than 15 years, Semaglutide has been making a name for itself thanks to its documented results.

What to Expect

At Hydralive Therapy Milton, Semaglutide as part of our holistic wellness

service offerings. Our Semaglutide program starts with a virtual consultation. During this initial screening, our medical team will determine whether this medication is a good choice to help with your weight loss. Our practitioners will assess your medical history and review medications you may be taking. Your current body weight, history of weight loss attempts and body mass index will all factor into the decision to try Semaglutide for losing weight.

The initial treatment will be a subcutaneous injection of a low dose of Semaglutide. This is a deliberately low dose, since possible side effects include a serious drop in blood sugar and it takes time to adjust. Over time, the dose is gradually increased until you’re getting the full dosage once a week. The injections are to be administered on the same day each week for a specified time determined with the practitioner. During your treatment period, our team will

work with you to develop viable weight management strategies that go beyond the medication.

Getting Started

If you’re living with obesity or related medical conditions and you think Semaglutide might be a viable choice for shedding excess weight, get started today by contacting Hydralive Therapy Milton at (470) 359-4815. We’re ready to help you succeed!

How to prevent cancer

Brought to you byJonathan Stegall, MD

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, so now is a great time to talk about how to prevent cancer.

To be honest, we aren’t doing a very good job of this in our society.

The lifetime risk of developing cancer has been steadily

rising to the point that roughly 40% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Why are we seeing so much cancer today?

You might wonder if cancer is simply due to genetic causes, but that is actually a very small cause of cancer today (about 5-10% based on most estimates). Rather, cancer is mostly due to poor lifestyle choices.

If you want to significantly reduce your odds of developing cancer, be sure to eat a plant-focused diet full of fruits,

vegetables, beans, and grains. Organic is best. Avoid processed, sugary food. Drink plenty of clean, filtered water. Exercise regularly. Don’t smoke. Enjoy alcohol in moderation. Get plenty of sleep. Seek to minimize stress. Embrace a strong support system of family and friends.

Oh, and be sure to see your doctor for regular check-ups, including the recommended cancer screening tests. Hopefully, you won’t get cancer, but if you do, early detection is key.

STEGALL

Thank You for Voting US

Get a GLO-ing smile

Brought

to you by – Roswell Dental Care

Have you always dreamed of a kilowatt smile? Or just want to lighten up your darkened or yellowed teeth? Tooth whitening, or tooth bleaching, is a fast and easy procedure that can whiten and brighten your natural tooth color, for an average of 8 shades lighter.

What causes yellow, stained teeth?

Some of the toughest stains come from various foods and beverages, such as coffee, soda, wine, and smoking. Over time, these stains can infiltrate the enamel and get packed into the inner layer, called dentin, causing yellowing. Other stains can be genetic and still others can be from a chemical interruption during tooth development, such as too much consumption of fluoride or from the medication Tetracycline.

How does whitening work?

Whitening agents approved by the FDA contain hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has a whitening effect because it can pass easily into the tooth and break down complex molecules. At Roswell Dental Care, we utilize the GLO whitening system, which has a mouthpiece to apply gentle heat and a blue LED light to the teeth. When heat is applied to a peroxide gel on the teeth, it increases the speed with which that gel does its work, creating brighter, whiter teeth in less time.

Is tooth whitening safe?

Yes. The American Dental Association and the FDA have extensive clinical studies proving its safety, under the supervision of a dentist. Whitening is considered the safest cosmetic dental procedure by most dental professionals. However, whitening is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women or children under 13 years old.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effect is temporary tooth sensitivity. This is due to the stains being broken down and bubbled out (imagine the classic science fair volcano experiment). This goes away within a few days after treatment and there is no longterm harm to the nerve of the tooth.

What is the difference between at-home and in-office tooth whiteners?

The main difference is the time it takes to whiten your teeth, which is based on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. At-home or over-the-counter whiteners can be anywhere from 7 percent to 10 percent. We use a 30% formula during an in-office treatment, so there’s a much better chance that your teeth will whiten even the toughest stains.

The GLO whitening system has a pat-

ented dual-whitening experience, providing an in-office teeth whitening procedure, plus an easy-to-use take-home device for maintenance.

How long does tooth whitening last?

After your whitening appointment, avoid dark foods and drinks like marinara sauce, red wine, or blueberries. Whitening your teeth and keeping your smile bright is a little like coloring your hair: maintaining your results requires maintenance. You will be given instructions for care before and after your treatment. For touch up care, you will be provided with take-home vials, so you can recharge your pearly whites before a dinner party or event.

Roswell Dental Care is nominated to win “BEST OF THE BEST” Dental Practice in North Atlanta by Appen Newspaper for the 8th year. We’ve been serving patients in the area over 40 years.

As your cosmetic dentists, Drs. Hood and Remaley give your comfort and trust top priority. We assure you feel confident in any dental solution before beginning treatment. For enhanced comfort, we

See GLO-ing, Page 13

Continued from Page 12

offer FREE conscious sedation, including nitrous oxide. Rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding. Take the first step in feeling great about your smile. Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY smile makeover consultation by calling (470) 288-1152.

Whitening your teeth and keeping your smile bright is a little like coloring your hair: maintaining your results requires maintenance. You will be given instructions for care before and after your treatment. For touch up care, you will be provided with take-home vials, so you can

recharge your pearly whites before a din ner party or event.

Roswell Dental Care is nominated to win “BEST OF THE BEST” Dental Practice in North Atlanta by Appen Newspaper for the 8th year. We’ve been serving patients in the area over 40 years.

As your cosmetic dentists, Drs. Hood and Remaley give your comfort and trust top priority. We assure you feel confident in any dental solution before beginning treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE conscious sedation, including ni trous oxide. Rest assured that your experi ence will be positive, relaxing, and reward ing. Take the first step in feeling great about your smile. Schedule your COMPLI MENTARY smile makeover consultation by calling (470) 288-1152. top priority. We assure you feel confident