Healthy living 2017

Healthy Living

HealthWatch

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PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO WIGS

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COLOR LIGHT THERAPY

r. Christina Davis at the Peace Valley Holistic Center is a pioner in what I called Color Light Therapy. It is a useful, very non-invasive therapy for various conditions, including problems associated with Autism.

It works on the principle that light reaching the eye stimulates the photoreceptors in the retina where the stimulus is converted into electrical signals that are processed in the brain. Each of the colors selected for use in Color Light Therapy have been researched to create the response desired from the hue, delivering the highly specialized healthful timed combinations at our center to calm and focus our clients.The effectiveness of Color Light Therapy (assimilating sunlight) for our physical, mental, and emotional health is scientifically documented research.

When we are ill, our body can be deficient in one or more of the color frequencies, that emanate from our body. Positive physiological and psychological benefits can be generated, by diffusing light, and allowing a specific color to enter into our eyes. Indirectly or directly our growth, development, and behavior depend

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etired from Clive Samuels & Associates, Division of Emerson Electric, Caryl Risoldi Criscio served as Senior Human Resource Manager. CSA, having locations in Princeton and Tinton Falls, NJ, San Antonio, TX, and Irvine, CA, devoted her 27-year career in management from 1985 to 2012.

Having been a two-time cancer survivor, Caryl is the proprietor of Wigful Thinking, a studio in Hamilton, New Jersey, that is focused on a highly personalized approach to non-medical, non-surgical hair augmentation solutions.

One of the many goals of Wigful Thinking is to ensure all clients fully understand the ins and outs of wig wearing. In addition to providing the perfect piece, it is the responsibility of Wigful Thinking to educate all clients on their purchased piece and subsequent care.

They can accommodate any level of hair loss including: alopecia, trichotillomania, hormone deficiency, chemotherapy, and hair loss resulting from medications.

We offer one-hour complimentary wig consultations absolutely free in our design studio. Our talented staff are here to help you with all of your Wig needs. Please call us to set up an appointment so that you will receive a one-on-one experience.

Wigful Thinking Wig Studio, 1905 NJ-33, Hamilton Township, NJ 08690; 609-249-4811; www.wigfulthinking.com.

upon light energy. Several Color Light Therapy methods are used at the Center.

The particular method and color, or colors used are selected by the practitioner, according to the diagnosis of the referring physician or health professional.

Additionally, the integrated technique has been employed with success for Autism, and Seasonal Affective Diisorder (SAD), which in the past was related to the winter season.

The Peace Valley Holistic Center is located at 224 Old Limekiln Road, Chalfont, Pennsylvania 18914. For more information about Color Light Therapy, call 215-887-9901 or visit www.peacevalleyholisticcenter.org.

ANITA LANSDALE, PA

JO I N T REP L AC EMEN T RothmanInstitute.com

8 0 0 . 3 21. 9 9 9 9

St. Mary Health. Now available in a convenient, new community size.

St. Mary is a name you trust and count on for your healthcare. But sometimes a trip to the hospital is more than you need. That’s where the new community-sized St. Mary Health Centers come in. Convenient locations provides you and your family with St. Mary-quality care, where and when you need it: St. Mary Health at New Falls Road •

Primary care physicians

•

Blood Draw Services

•

Physician specialists such as OB/GYN, cardiology, and urology

•

Extended-Hours Walk-In Care & Lab Services

•

Early morning, evening and weekend hours

At St. Mary Health at Wrightstown you have access to cardiology services and other independent physician specialists, close to home.

St. Mary Health at New Falls Road

St. Mary Health at Wrightstown

4595 New Falls Road Levittown, PA 19056

2189 Second Street Pike, Suite 200 Wrightstown, PA 18940

phone: 267-587-3700

phone: 215-710-5888

St. Mary-quality care where and when you need it.

HealthWatch

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COMMITTED TO LOOKING INSIDE

ndoscopy Center at St. Mary is a state-of-the art ambulatory care center that has been serving the southeastern Pennsylvania, central New Jersey, and greater Philadelphia community since 2006. Located on the campus of a major medical center, the entire team of Endoscopy Center at St. Mary physicians, nurses and technicians are committed to providing the highest quality care in a compassionate manner in a comfortable setting.

By definition, endoscopy means to “look inside.” With a proven track record of providing expert care, each year the team of skilled physicians performs thousands of procedures including colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy using a high-definition endoscope camera that provides narrow band imaging for the highest possible detection of cancerous and precancerous lesions.

“Our primary focus at Endoscopy Center at St. Mary, a licensed and nationally accredited outpatient ambulatory surgery center, is the health and well-being of our patients. We are proud of our exceptional, individualized care, and continually strive to meet the medical needs of the community by providing accessible, affordable, and personalized service in the area of gastroenterology,” says Dr. Richard Goldstein, Medical Director. “We’re close, we care, and we can help.” Endoscopy Center at St. Mary, 1205 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Suite 103, Langhorne, PA 19047; 215-750-7700; www.theen doscopycenteratstmary.com.

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ADVANTAGES OF HOME WORKOUTS

ith our busy schedules that include working long hours, eating on the run and having a sedentary lifestyle, we wonder about how we are going to fit in that recommended half hour of exercise we are supposed to be getting every single day. Gyms often require long-term memberships, travel time back and forth and longer workouts if the pieces of equipment we want to use have a line in front of them.

With a busy schedule a commitment to regular exercise is too time consuming. Adding travel time, wait time at equipment stations and getting into conversations, we can turn that half hour commitment into an hour and half block of time that we simply cannot afford to spend.That’s why more people are buying their own equipment which has many advantages.

Not only time management but getting the proper equipment to accomplish individual goals.

Fitness Factory Outlet was established in 1991 and has been serving customers worldwide with quality equipment at affordable prices for both residential and commercial use.

They offer some of the most popular lines to our customers like Spirit Fitness, Powertec Fitness, Bodycraft Fitness, Body Solid, Lifecore, Diamondback Fitness and more. Fitness Factory Outlet is located at 122 S. West End Blvd., Quakertown, PA 18951. For more information on fitness equipment and how you can save by going to Fitness Factory Outlet, call 877-336-7483 or visit www.fitnessfactoryoutlet.com.

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HealthWatch

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HELP OTHERS FIGHT DISEASE

nowing you have something like Lyme’s disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis in their early stages opens up many treatment options, so early diagnosis by accurate testing is crucial. Darren Lowenthal of Keystone Biologicals explains that every time we are tested for anything, whether Lyme disease or mononucleosis, our blood is tested by a kit that has a control sample of plasma from someone who has the condition that we are being tested for. These controls let us know that the test is valid because the control sample provides the tester with proper results, then the test will work on the blood sample taken from the person being tested. Keystone Biologics needs people with Lyme disease and other diseases to give their plasma up to twice weekly to provide testing labs with accurate kits that help doctors treat diseases and improve the quality of other people’s lives.

Plasma donors can earn $1,000 per week by having their plasma drawn twice weekly. Each time plasma is drawn Keystone Biologics pays $500. Now the process is simple and does not cause fatigue or other side effects, since the blood cells are not

required and only the liquid part of the blood is used. Whole blood needs time for body to replenish the blood cells and can only be drawn every 56 days, but plasma is replenished within the course of a very short period of time. Keystone Biologics was started by Darren’s father in the 1970s and they were responsible for some of the remarkable advances in modern testing. For more information on donating plasma, call 215-675-2500 or email sales@keystonebiologicals.com.

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DENTAL IMPLANTS IN DOYLESTOWN r. Kathleen Brower, DMD, MD has 19 years of surgical experience. In 2016 she was named “Bucks County’s Best Oral Surgeon.” As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon she brings her 19 years experience to performing wisdom teeth removal, extractions, and dental implants. Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Dental implants are changing the way people live.With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. For more information about dental implants or to schedule a consultation appointment, call Dr. Brower’s office in Doylestown, PA at 215-345-6880.

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IS S IN YOUR R NEIGHB BORHOOD

NATIO ONALLY RANK KED. CONVEN NIENTLY LOC CATED. P enn Me edicine Bucks s County 777 To wnship p Line Road, Yardl d e y, PA 19067

Access to th he region’s finest health care is conveniently located in your neighborhood. With mor m e than 50 locations throughout the region, Penn physicians and health care providers offer outstanding, personalized care for patients of all ages.

SERVICES IN NCLUDE: • Primary Ca are • Cardiology • Neurosurg ery • Pulmonolo gy

To find a do octor or to schedule an appointment at Penn Mediccine Bucks County, call 80 00.789.PENN (7366) or visit Find dPennDocs.org.

• Radiology

and more...

EXCELLEN NT BREAST CA ARE,

CHOSEN N BY WOM MEN Our CENT TER FOR COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CARE com mes highly nded from women like you. r recommen ward, making Capital He C ealth recently earned the 2017 Women’’ss Choice A Aw w exceptional, t the seccond consecutive year we have been honored for e this meets stringent, personalize p ersonalize ed care for women with breast cancer. Our team m n nationally r recognized standards of care, but earning the 2017 7 Women’’ss Choice mes from our belief in treating the whole person, no Award com ot just the disease. er provides the complete range of breast care un nder one roof Our Cente O e most advanced at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. We offffer the diagnosticc technology in the region, a team of specialists iintensely focused on your care, genetic and high risk assessments, and a a personal nurse navigator to guide you.

To learrn more, visit capitalbreast.org g or call 609.537.6767.

Nationally Recognized R for Excell ence in Quallity and Patient Safety y

A testament to the high quality, advanced clinical care provided at Doylestown Health, Doylestown Hospital is nationally rec cognized as one of 56 To op General Hospitals and rated Grade A in pa atient safety by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watch grou up and the nation’s premier advocate of hospital transparency — collecting, analyzing and disseminating hospital data to inform value e-based care.

We thank our 2,800 Associates, 435 Medical Staff physic cians, and 900 Vo olunteers who provide comprehensive healthcare se ervices from childbirth to end-of-life care. Doylestown Health strives to o inspire a more vibrant and healthier world for our patients and com mmunity.

Find a physicia an or lear n mor e at DoylestownHealth.o org.

595 West State Street | Doylestown, PA 18901 | 215.345.2121 | DoylestownHealth.org

HEART AND ORTHOPEDICS

HEALTHY LIVING

Doylestown Health Transformation / BY MARY BETH SCHWARTZ

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Left, President and CEO Jim Brexler; Right, Joseph Auteri, MD FACS, Medicial Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute.

oylestown Hospital was founded in 1923 by the Village Improvement Association (VIA). The VIA was formed in 1895 to promote the health and well-being of the Doylestown community. “Today we continue to be focused on promoting health in addition to being a community hospital that earns national recognition for the quality of care we deliver. The transformation of our hospital campus today is preparing us for our second century,” says Ron Watson, Director of Communications at Doylestown Health.

“There are some exciting plans in development here at Doylestown Health,” notes President and CEO Jim Brexler.

There recently was the groundbreaking for a new community center at the Pine Run Retirement Community. On the larger scale project side, construction of a new Orthopedic Institute will begin this fall. According to Brexler, this new orthopedic and rehab center will have physician offices from the orthopedic groups, along with a new outpatient surgery facility and an extended day recovery area where patients will return home within a day.

Thomas Vikoren, MD and other doctors have been very involved in the design of the new orthopedic facility. “Patients like the fact that one doctor will work with you from start to finish.

There are no student doctors or ghost surgeons,” Vikoren comments. Dr. Vikoren specializes in knee and hip replacements, as well as repairs of complex fractures, particularly around joint replacements. “Through minimally invasive techniques, better

pain control, more accelerated approaches to physical therapy, there has been a progressively decreasing length of stay after joint replacement surgery.”

A second construction project in the upcoming months for Doylestown Health will be a new Heart and Vascular Institute.

The state-of-the-art institute will include the addition of a new hybrid OR for endovascular surgery, a new heart wing, 30 private patient rooms, and the addition of two surgeons who specialize in vascular procedures. At Doylestown Hospital, they have experience with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), AFib, and treating heart attacks. Doylestown Hospital was awarded the 2016 Top Hospital Award from The Leapfrog Group.

Joseph Auteri, MD, FACS is Medical Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute and Chief of Cardiac Surgery. “We started doing catheterizations and putting in stents in 1995. Now we are a leader in heart and vascular surgery and cardiology. In the past couple of years we have had one of the lowest mortality rates for heart attacks 30 days following a heart attack.” Dr. Auteri says.

For more information on the Heart and Vascular Institute, Orthopedic Institute, and other Doylestown Health news, visit www.doylestownhealth.org.

MARY BETH SCHWARTZ COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

IS A FREELANCE WRITER FROM

HUNTERDON

SUMMER 2017

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BEYOND MAMMOGRAMS

Advanced Imaging for Women with High Breast Density /

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BY JASON STACCHINI

Insets: Above, Dr. Anne Moch; below, Dr. Lisa Allen.

ammography is the only imaging modality that has been proven to decrease death from breast cancer, so women are encouraged to begin annual screenings at 40 years of age or earlier if they have a family history. However, current research suggests that mammograms may not be enough for women with dense breasts, which can mask and delay a cancer diagnosis.

“Increased breast density is first detected by mammogram, where glandular and supportive tissue look white, as do tumors,” said Dr. Lisa Allen, director of the Capital Health Center for Comprehensive Breast Care and a fellowship trained breast surgeon. “The denser the tissue, the more difficult it is to detect tumors, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breasts are considered dense if they have a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue and not much fatty tissue. Breast density varies greatly among women and is a trait that can be inherited. Recent studies show that more than half of women younger than age 50 and one third of women older than age 50 have dense breasts.

Being aware of your breast density is crucial, especially if additional imaging is necessary to make a diagnosis. For those in the Delaware Valley region, Capital Health’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Care offers a wide range of imaging options through the Women’s Imaging Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell.

3D mammography and whole breast 3D screening ultrasound are additional options that, when used with mammography, provide clearer pictures than 2D digital mammography alone. Where a screening mammogram takes one image of the breast, a 3D mammo118

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gram (also called breast tomosynthesis) takes multiple images to give doctors a clearer, three-dimensional image of the breast tissue.

Whole breast 3D screening ultrasound uses sound waves instead of x-ray technology to produce images of the breast tissue.

Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is another advanced imaging modality that is used with mammography as a diagnostic tool and for screening women who are at high risk for breast cancer. MBI uses a radiotracer to help distinguish potentially cancerous masses from underlying breast tissue. Capital Health was the first in the region to offer MBI and the first in the country to install the Discovery* NM 750b MBI device from GE Healthcare.

“For women who have dense breasts, these advanced imaging options can help us detect breast cancer much sooner. Patients should talk to their physicians about obtaining a 3D mammogram if they have dense breasts or an MBI if they are at high risk for breast cancer. 3D screening mammograms can only be performed if the referring physician specifically requests it on the prescription,” said Dr. Anne Moch, a board certified radiologist and breast imaging specialist at the Women’s Imaging Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. For physicians who are ordering a 3D screening mammogram, the order must indicate “screening mammogram with tomosynthesis” or “screening mammogram with 3D.” To schedule your annual screening mammogram, call 609-3946695 or visit www.capitalbreast.org/schedulemammo to request your appointment online. To learn about Capital Health’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Care, visit www.capitalbreast.org.

JASON STACCHINI, MBA, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER, CAPITAL HEALTH.

PATIENT FOCUSED LUNG C ARE Paul F. Harron Jr. Lung Center Penn Medicine offers pulmonary patients hope by treating them with a multidisciplinary team of specialists / BY MARY BETH SCHWARTZ

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ccording to Namrata Patel, MD, the Harron Lung Center provides patient-focused care with expert clinicians and researchers who have pioneered multiple technological and treatment advances in the field. “Patients are seen by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians with experience in accurately diagnosing even rare and complex pulmonary issues and offering with cutting edge treatments. These teams partner closely with radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, cancer specialists, and transplant specialists to ensure that patients receive the right care from the right experts.” Patel notes that the specialty clinics include Interstitial Lung Disease Program, Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Program, Atypical Mycobacterial Disease and Chronic Respiratory Infections Program, Interventional Pulmonary, Lung Nodule Clinic, COPD and Emphysema, and Lung Transplantation. “Each of these multidisciplinary teams meets regularly to ensure that they are communicating with each other to optimize patient care and advance the field. There is a strong focus on patient centered care to understand and address and caregiver quality of life. This is central to the clinic visits as with supporting patient by directing them to local resources, partnering with local physicians, and offering support groups.”

The Harron Lung Center also has access to studies to help advance medical knowledge and treatment options.

Namrata Patel, MD received her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine, both in Baltimore. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. After graduation, she joined the Faculty of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Temple University in 2003. In 2016, she joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania as Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in 2016.

“I am passionate about helping patients with advanced lung diseases with medical treatment options, as well as, if necessary, lung transplantation. I am particularly interested in a group of lung diseases in which the lung tissue is replaced by immune cells

and scaring, making it difficult for patients to breathe and breathe in sufficient oxygen. This group of diseases is relatively rare and sometimes challenging of diagnose. Until recently, we have not had well-proven treatment options. Fortunately, this is an active are of research and development of treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is one of the more devastating of these diseases. We are in the process of initiation clinical trials to study whether one of these agents can help patients with other fibrotic lung diseases as well as lung disease in patients with scleroderma, which is an auto-immune disease. I also am one of the lung transplant physicians, so I also can evaluation patients to see of this will be a treatment option for them to help live a longer, better quality life.”

According to Dr. Patel, the first lung transplant at Penn was performed in 1991 and there have been over 1,000 transplants performed since. “We now are offering this lifesaving procedure to patients who are older and with complex medical conditions which sometimes require combined procedures such as bypass surgery with lung transplantation or combined lung and liver transplantation. One of the main limitations to lung transplantation has been an insufficient supply of acceptable donor lungs. We also have been able to utilize the technology of Ex vivo lung perfusion, which allows the surgeons to evaluate and treat donated lungs for longer period to increase the number that can be transplanted. With this, we have become one of the most aggressive and largest programs in the country/world,” Patel says.

Always making advances, medical experts at the Harron Lung Center have established the Randy and Jay Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation. “This program cares for select patients with advanced neuromuscular disorders, such as ALS, as well as patients with end-stage lung disease in need of home ventilatory support.” For more information, on Penn Medicine’s Paul F. Harron Jr. Lung Center, visit www.pennmedicine.org.

MARY BETH SCHWARTZ COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

IS A FREELANCE WRITER FROM

HUNTERDON

SUMMER 2017

119

THE ORTHOPAEDIC PRACTICE

HEALTHY LIVING

Shyam Brahmabhatt, MD, an orthopaedist surgeon at the Rothman Institute, uses the most advanced arthroscopic surgery as well as knee and shoulder replacement / BY MARY BETH SCHWARTZ

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othman Institute is a private orthopaedic practice dedicated to providing communities musculoskeletal care.

Rothman Institute’s team of orthopaedists treat patients at over 25 locations in the Philadelphia-region, with locations soon to be added in New York City and Northern and Central New Jersey. The group also has orthopaedic urgent care clinics in Marlton, New Jersey and Limerick, Pennsylvania.

According to Rick Cushman, Manager of Public Relations, Rothman Institute has experts in orthopaedic sub-specialties including spine, hip and knee, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, hand and wrist, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopaedic oncology and trauma. The Institute is internationally recognized for excellence in clinical treatment methods, research, education, and technology. “We also are the first practice serving as official team physicians for all four of the major professional sports teams in one city, the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers, as well as over 40 college and high school teams,” Cushman notes.

One of the doctors with Rothman Institute is Shyam Brahmabhatt, MD. According to Cushman, Dr. Shyam Brahmabhatt is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery. He specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, knee, and hip as 120

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well as knee and shoulder replacement surgery. Dr. Brahmabhatt graduated from Temple University School of Medicine, followed by Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Temple University Hospital. He completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, where he served as the Assistant Team Physician for the New York Jets. His clinical interests include meniscus surgery, ACL/PCL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, shoulder and hip arthroscopic labral repair.

“One unique aspect of our practice is that we are information driven. We track the data of patients. Before they go for surgery, we are looking at patient disability scores—what bothers them, why they are having surgery. Then we track those patients afterwards to see how well they have done after the surgery. In this day of cost consciousness, we are looking to see if the procedure helped the patient or not,” Brahmabhatt says.

For more information on Rothman Institute, you can visit www.rothmaninstitute.com. You can make an appointment through the phone center at 800-321-9999.

MARY BETH SCHWARTZ COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

IS A FREELANCE WRITER FROM

HUNTERDON

HEART PROGRAMS AT ST. MARY

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The watchman is among the latest technologies at the hospital / BY MARY BETH SCHWARTZ

eadquartered in Langhorne is the St. Mary Medical Center. Through the St. Mary team of physicians at the Heart and Vascular Center, patients can receive one of many structural heart programs. One minimally invasive procedure is the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). With the TAVR, doctors can replace a diseased aortic heart valve without open the chest cavity. Instead, the valve is delivered and placed using a catheter. The Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device is the latest technology for patients in the Bucks County area. “We now have a completely new category of treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation who are at a high risk of stroke and bleeding. The device affords patients protection from stroke without the challenges of long-term blood thinners,” says Scott Burke, MD, FACC, FHRS, Director of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology at St. Mary. A skilled team of nurses, technicians, and doctors perform the one-hour minimally invasive procedure.

Afterwards, most patients stay at the hospital for 24 hours.

Dr. Burke is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. As a director of The Arrthymia Institute in Newtown, his interests include complex catheter ablation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias; remote device management and lead extraction/management; defibrillation; cardiac resynchronization therapy; and comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation.

His training includes a list of institutions. Dr. Burke got his

undergrad degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

His medical degree was earned from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Dr. Burke’s residency and internship in Internal Medicine were at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. He finished the J.W. Marriott Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at VA Medical Center, Washington Hospital Center, and Georgetown University, Washington D.C. In addition, Dr. Burke completed a twoyear Fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

According to Dr. Burke, there is much in development at St. Mary Medical Center. In the coming year there is scheduled to be a specific onsite team to take care of aorta problems. Within the next year, patients will have access to the MitraClip. This less invasive treatment is suited for people with degenerative mitral regurgitation who cannot undergo surgery. “We also are in the planning phase of adding another arrhythmia treatment room in our state-of-the-art electrophysiology facility,” Dr.Burke adds.

For more on St. Mary Medical Center, visit www.stmaryhealth care.org. Their phone number is 215-710-2000.

MARY BETH SCHWARTZ COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

IS A FREELANCE WRITER FROM

HUNTERDON

SUMMER 2017

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Staying Fit at Any Age

By Vicky Waite

Fitness without leaving your chair

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ne snowy weekend when Bill, Bobby and I were up in the mountains at our vacation home.

My social butterfly son Bobby saw our new neighbor trying to dig herself out of the snow. Her car was stuck. And, being the good Samaritan that he is, he decided to run over, shovel in hand.

Before long he began to wave me over.

I went over and they were talking about Bucks County Magazine. She evidently was a long-time subscriber who raved about the magazine to me. Then she told me how much she loved my column. Small world, right?

With all that buttering up she became my instant friend. And, get this, her name is Vicky.

It doesn’t get any better than that! Should be a piece of cake for Bobby and Bill to remember her name?

She was fit for her age, and she wanted to let me know that she had the perfect piece of equipment for my article. I had time after Bobby dug her out so I said, “Why not take a look?” She took Bobby and me into her house and into her bedroom, and she pulled out a piece of equipment from under her bed. It looked like a folded chair to me. Both Bobby and I looked at each other and had to hold in our laughter. Then she unfolded it and we were shocked.

She said it was the Chair Gym. Just by looking at it, I knew this was going to be good due to the resistance bands and pulleys. Anything I ever used with resistance bands and pulleys was always effective. I was convinced right there and then to write up the Chair Gym. My new friend Vicky started showing me some of the exercises done properly. She was saying that you can do more than 50 different exercises that exercise our arms, chest,

shoulders, abdomen, back, and legs. With this I said I was more than willing to go for it!

I go right for the resistance bands, which are great! They give you an all over strengthening and toning to all the major muscle groups. The Chair Gym offers 3 different levels of resistance with 3 resistance bands to choose from. It’s divided up into body parts.

You can choose to do a total body workout or select specific body parts. You can mix them up by doing both seated and standing exercises.

It’s nice that you can start out slow and then build up to tougher exercises. I’m loving these resistance bands as they strengthen every part of my body. The Chair Gym is just great for those people who work sedentary jobs and want easy access to exercising.

And, for those seniors who need to gain strength. Great for the mobility impaired or anyone too busy to get to the gym.

The Chair Gym offers removable handles for versatile exercises. It is lightweight and well made. Vicky says it is great for her mom’s arthritis pain, so she can strengthen the muscles without all the high impact activities. The Chair Gym is recommended for people with aches and pains and need to build up slowly their strength. It can be enjoyed by all ages and fitness levels and comes with a free instructional and 30 minute workout DVD. The Chair Gym folds under bed for easy storage. It comes 90% assembled, you just have to attach resistance bands. I think that for anyone who wants to get a great strength and balance workout, this is the way to go. It certainly can hit all the muscle groups.

The Chair Gym is a wonderful initiative to offer rehab to the elderly. And, it’s a total body workout. Great choice. And, what a breeze for Bill, didn’t even have to pull out the tool box or break a sweat. For more information go to www.chairgym.com. And, with any exercise program, always consult your physician before you begin.

Health Living Directory Be Home Care, 101 N. 5th Street, Perkasie, PA; 267-429-0438; www.behomecare.com.

In-home care for independent living. We provide non-medical services for seniors with disabilities from just a few hours per visit up to twenty-four hour day and night. We provide companionship, care giving and homemaking with a customized combination of services based on the needs of each client.

Capitol Health Center for Comprehensive Breast Care, One Capitol Way, Pennington, NJ; 1-800-637-2374.

Our center provides the complete range of breast care under one roof at Capitol Health Medical CenterHopewell. We offer the most advanced diagnostic technology in the region, a team of specialists intensely focused on your care, genetic and high risk assessments, and a personal nurse navigator to guide you.

Doylestown Hospital, 595 W. State Street, Doylestown, PA 19446; 215-345-2200; www.dh.org.

Doylestown Hospital is a comprehensive, visionary medical center serving families throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and Western New Jersey. The Hospital, along with the Health & Wellness Center, Pine Run Community and Lakeview, comprise the V.I.A Health System.

Doylestown Hospital's Medical Staff includes over 370 physicians in 40 specialty areas. The Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital is a regional center of excellence for cardiology and cardiac surgery. Other areas of clinical

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YourHealth

THE ANSWER GUYS

T

The debilitating effects of chronic pain can be effectively treated by a group of doctors affectionately called “the answer guys” at the Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute / BY MARGO RAGAN

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dent, and suffered chronic pain that practically immobilized him. Dr. Gugger used state of the art non-invasive techniques to minimize the man's pain, causing the patient to gratefully say that the doctor “cares from his heart.”

Recently another physician, Dr. David Bozak, has joined this elite team. He specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Bozak seeks to restore function of nerves, muscles and bones without resorting to surgery. Check out his YouTube applications for Ninja Warrior in 2014 and American Gladiator in 2008. Along with these representations of his athleticism, as a member of the U.S. Cycling Federation, Dr. Bozak is Photo: Paul Wesley

he answer guys” is the nickname grateful patients have given to the medical staff at the Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute. According to Drs. David Qu and Robert Kelly, co-founders of the Institute, their mission is to diagnose and treat the agonies of pain with non-invasive and rehabilitation medicine therapies. “Chronic pain can run your life,” said Dr. Qu, “and it is no exaggeration that without proper diagnosis and treatment, pain can ruin the quality of how a patient lives his or her life. Our goal is to find the answers to our patient's pain problems, and our efforts are well received.”

Both Drs. Kelly and Qu have been educated in the top medical schools in the country and discovered their mutual interest in the subspecialty of Pain Medicine.

They formed a practice with offices in Chalfont and Quakertown, and added Dr. Douglas Gugger to their team after he had completed a stint as Senior Medical Officer for Forward Operating Base Kalagush while deployed in Afghanistan.

“My experiences in the military has given me great respect for those who have served our country,” Dr. Gugger said. “I have witnessed the sacrifices our military has made; consequently, it is a pleasure to welcome fellow veterans to our practice.”

Dr. Gugger explained the difference between acute pain and chronic pain. “Acute pain is what you feel when your hands are on fire. You immediately withdraw from the site of pain.

Chronic pain persists.” he said. “It may not necessarily be a result of cancer of a cutting surgery. Chronic pain is real, and oftentimes, difficult to diagnose, but fortunately new procedures are being developed for diagnosis and treatment. You don't have to live a miserable life with chronic pain.”

One of Dr. Gugger's patients survived a horrific car acci-

extremely familiar with sports injuries and expert in their treatment.

“Our background and training specialties matters greatly in how we approach our patients' well being,” said Dr. Qu. “Unfortunately, far too many of our patients tell us that no one listens to them. Having chronic pain is vastly different than something like a broken leg. Both are painful, but the leg has a cast on it, which signals the depth of pain the patient is experiencing, and is visible. Chronic pain lurks out of sight.”

Compassion and communication are two common themes of

the Institute that Dr. Qu expressed as he spoke for his medical team. “At our first meeting with a patient, we spend a large portion of the time listening to the patient and their history. Being a good diagnostician means we gather visual clues and imaging results along with an intensive physical examination,” he said.

I wondered what was the usefulness of being asked, rate your pain level from 1 to 10. How does one know if the pain is a 4 or a 5, and what information is that really giving to the physician. Dr. Qu responded, “We don't have a really objective way of measuring pain. We use those numbers as a guide, but what we are formally doing is observing the patient, looking for clues through body movements.

The more relaxed a patient is with us, the more we can learn. It is important to remember that many patients have been told to live with the pain, or that the pain is quote in their head unquote. For the vast majority of our patients, that is farthest from the truth.”

Many patients have been told that the only way to relieve their pain is for them is to undergo drastic surgery. Dr. Qu pointed out that surgical fusion of the spine may lead to other problems. “Since fusion makes it difficult for the patient to move, healthy tissues nearby the surgical site are affected and may develop problems of their own. We believe there are other strategies that can be advocated due to advances in technology.”

One strategy that Dr. Qu explained is a non-surgical treatment called neuromodulation. “With this technique electrical stimulation is applied to deep tissues in the back. That stimulation can apply relief from certain types of lower back pain,” he said.

Surgery is always an option, but thanks to the advances of technology and techniques practiced by this medical team, there are other options to consider first.

One of these new options is an intrathecal pump. “Think of this as a pacemaker for pain,” explained Dr. Qu.

“It is a targeted drug delivery system that stops pain signals from being perceived by the brain. Medication is transmitted to the patient at a steady rate, preventing pain from escalating.”

He recalled one patient who benefitted from treatment with the pump. “I remember him as a rather large man, who had suffered from chronic pain for years.

He was unable to work, or participate in normal family activities, He seemed to be the perfect candidate for the pump, and after we explained how the pump operated, he immediately consented to having the pump implanted,” Dr. Qu said. “The patient's life changed dramatically for the better. His life was no longer dominated by pain, and he became the husband and father he had always wanted to be.”

This patient admitted to having seen 50 physicians without finding the kind of relief he has found with the implantation of the pump.

According to Dr. Qu, another important aspect of these newer techniques is the significant reduction of opioids for treatment of chronic pain. While opioids are useful for the extreme pain caused by cancer or other catastrophic health conditions, the dangers for self-addiction are well recorded. “Once the pain medication wears off, it may leave the patient with another serious problem of addiction coupled with pain. It is a horrific cycle.

Eventually patients become frustrated with their lack of long term relief, along with having to cope with the strong possibility of pain addiction.”

The Institute promotes minimally invasive treatments which could include nutrition counseling, Botox injections for headache pain, and trigger point injections, among many other options too numerous to list here. The world of technology, the Institute says, is changing how chronic pain can be treated.

“Regenerative therapy medicine is a step in the right direction,” Dr. Qu said.

“The physician removes healthy cells and implants them in a place where pain is originating. The healthy cells can replace,

repair, reprogram or renew the cells which have been damaged or diseased.

The process is the least disruptive to the patient's tissues.”

Regenerative therapy can be performed in an out-patient basis with no down time, which is a major plus factor.

Patients have responded in many ways to say thanks to the medical team.

As an example, Dr. Kelly had been treating a female patient who had suffered with chronic pain for years, crippling her ability to enjoy a normal life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, she was able to accomplish something she had wanted to do for a long time— she wrote a book and dedicated it to him, in appreciation for literally giving her life back.

Most people recognize and appreciate the years of education and medical training that a physician must undergo. Since Pain Management is a relatively new specialty, I thought it worthwhile to note the rigorous training a pain specialist must follow, as explained to me by Dr. Qu. After completing medical school, there is the matter of a residency that needs to be accomplished. A person who is pursuing a pain specialist board certification, must then apply for a fellowship, which consists of one year of training in all aspects of pain management. Only 200 individuals are accepted for these fellowships on an annual basis. With the completion of the fellowship, the physicians are eligible for board certification in their primary specialty, and become eligible for the subspecialty certification, board certification for Pain Management by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The Pennsylvania Institute of Pain and Spine Injuries leads the way in the practice of this specialty. For information, visit the Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute at www.pennpain.com, telephone 215-395-8888, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 206, Chalfont PA. MARGO RAGAN IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND HOLY FAMILY COLLEGE WHO LIVES IN NEW HOPE, PA.

LECTURER AT

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