The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 • Page 1B
Some medical appointments can’t wait
Preferred Health
By Betsy Denson
DIRECTORY
betsy@theleadernews.com
Like many, the Hindi family in Oak Forest has been putting off its regular doctor visits. “We are in pretty strict lockdown over here,” Andrea Hindi said. “The entire family is overdue for dental checkups. (My daughter) is overdue for her annual checkup. The dog is due for shots soon, but that, too, will get pushed until the last possible minute.” A late June poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation said about half of adults polled (52 percent) say they or another family member in their household skipped or postponed some type of medical or dental care because of the coronavirus pandemic, including 42 percent who personally skipped or postponed care. Dental care was the most likely to be skipped or postponed, followed by regular check-ups or physical exams. Dr. Deepti Mishra, vice president of medical operations with Memorial Hermann Medical Group, said they are encouraging patients to come in for routine check-ups since they have safe wait measures in place. “Pediatric patients need to stay on track with routine vaccinations and we want to ensure that we are doing routine mammograms (and) colonoscopies,” Mishra said. “The problem with waiting on routine screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies is that you may delay diagnosis and find cancer at a more advanced stage. It’s much better to find these conditions early to begin immediate treatment.” Mishra noted that the elderly population especially is avoiding inperson annual wellness visits. “We are trying to do them virtually as they are a more vulnerable population,” she said. To put others at ease, Memorial Hermann is implementing a “Safe Wait” measure that enforces social distancing in its waiting areas, staggering scheduled appointments and, when necessary, asking patients to wait in their vehicles for their appointments. Additional safety enhancements include screening for all employees, physicians and patients upon entering any Memorial Hermann facility, including Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital at 1635 N Loop W. They provide a surgical mask to wear after people clear the screening process. Employees and physicians caring for patients will be provided the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). And infection prevention control best practices, including the thorough cleaning and sterilization efforts in between each patient visit, will continue. All patients scheduled for surgery are tested for COVID-19. While some appointments can be
Chiropractic Care
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Dr. Jaclyn Harrison Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Obstetrics / Gynecology
Stock photo Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Houston doctor said wellness screenings such as mammograms should not be put off.
Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
Dr. Deepti Mishra
handled through a telehealth visit, some can’t. Some exceptions to consider are physicals, gynecological exams and some cardiac symptoms (chest pain and palpitations) that are likely better seen in person. “Memorial Hermann implemented telehealth rapidly in mid-March,” Mishra said. “During the stay-athome shelter the majority (80 percent) of our visits were telehealth visits. We continue to see 20-30 percent of our visits (through) telehealth.”
Stock photo It’s important for children to continue receiving their scheduled vaccinations, according to Dr. Deepti Mishra with Memorial Hermann Medical Group.
Plan meals for upcoming school year
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Oak Forest resident Amy Lucas says planning your meals ahead of time comes with an array of benefits. According to Lucas, a chef and dietitian who is an independent contractor with Nutrition in Motion and has been consulting with individuals since 2015, meal prepping and planning saves money and time, makes it easier to eat healthy, decreases stress and allows a person to get more done with less effort. During this time of stress, meal planning for the upcoming school year might be the best plan of action. Meal planning is writing out what you want to cook and meal prepping is preparing the food for when you want to cook and eat it. If someone is new to meal prep and planning, Lucas said starting is easy. “I would start with just writing down some of your favorite dishes, then from there, you’d want to map it out,” Lucas said. “What’s already in your pantry, what do you want to eat and what do you need to get from the store?” When prepping, Lucas recommends finding dishes that use the foods you already have in the fridge, freezer and pantry so that when you go shopping, you can save money and not waste what you already have.
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Dr. B.G. Vachhani will be retiring on 09/15/2020. Dr. Vakil will continue to see patients at this office and you may choose to continue your care with him. If you have another preference, medical records are available at your request. Stock photo Meal prepping has been said to decrease stress while saving time and money, according to Oak Forest resident and chef Amy Lucas. She suggests starting with prepping for 3-5 days ahead of time.
Some people prep for the whole week on Sunday and others break the week in half and prep twice. Sometimes that entails cooking on those prep days, but others cook fresh every night. “Consider chopping all your vegetables and then cooking them fresh each night,” Lucas said. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if someone is new to meal prepping. It’s important to go at your own pace. “Start with 2-3 recipes and then add more as you get better at preparing meals,” Lucas said. Lucas also said a mistake people often make is overprepping by planning their
meals for all seven days of the week. This doesn’t leave room for unplanned interruptions from kids, working late or just not wanting to cook, which results in wasted food. So start with prepping for 3-5 days and adjust as needed. Lucas said breakfast is probably the easiest meal for which to prep but is often overlooked. “Have breakfast ready to go or a quick reheat,” Lucas said. “Protein muffins, boiled eggs peeled and kept in the fridge in water, yogurt, fruit and granola parfaits, egg bakes, overnight oatmeal or oatmeal you simply reheat and add fresh fruit as a topping.”
For kids’ lunches, you can do away with Lunchables and make bento boxes with lean protein, cheese, fruit, veggies and crackers. “Include items they enjoy and sneak in a few healthier options like chocolate hummus with apples,” Lucas said. Lucas said all her clients are different. Some love cooking fresh and others hate cooking in general. It’s all about finding what works for you, your family and your schedule. If you want to skip figuring it out on your own, Lucas can help. Visit her website, chefcraftednutrition.com, for more information on meal plans.
Dr. B.G. Vachhani 1801 North Loop West #42 Houston, TX 77008 713-869-0115
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Page 2B • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 • The Leader
To detox or not: Keep your liver strong with nutrition By Shana Tatum RD, LD statum@wellness-collaborative.com
This month we are looking at how nutrition affects the health of the liver. You may not think much about the liver and what it does, but many of its functions you may appreciate. The liver is the largest visceral organ in the body and is the center for metabolic regulation. It has more than 200 functions that can be divided into metabolic regulation (processing of carbohydrates, fats and proteins), hematologic regulation (removes hormones and antibodies in the blood) and bile regulation (emulsification or breakdown of fats). The liver is officially considered one of the accessory organs of the digestive system due to the many roles it plays in digestion and metabolism. The liver is naturally designed for waste removal and detoxification. Going on a detox diet is not usually necessary. The exception would be special cases of environmental or biotoxin overload that would require the removal
Tatum
of heavy metals like mercury and lead or biotoxins such as mold. It is popular to see in social media the latest news of a detox diet or a cleanse. These may actually cause more harm than good depending on the foods and beverages taken in during the detox or cleanse as well as the state of health during such a process. It is true that today we see more chemicals present in the body than ever before. The Environmental Protection Agency lists 86,228 chemicals in the Toxic Substances Control Act. Sources like pesticides and herbicides, fertilizers, heavy metals and plastics should be
avoided as possible. Purchasing organic produce from the EWG.org’s “Clean Fifteen” list, not reheating or storing food in plastic containers and avoiding excessive alcohol use are a few choices to consider. Drinking filtered water and using natural personal care products and household cleaners without perfumes are other steps to take to support good liver health. There are things we can naturally include in the diet that can support the liver’s own miraculous processes. A steady supply of these foods is even more important in the presence of chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, neurological disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease as well as autoimmunity. These conditions are
sometimes connected to toxin buildup, which increases our needs of foods high in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Furthermore, high reliance on certain medications such as acetaminophen can also contribute to additional taxing of the liver. The liver has two basic pathways to detoxify: phase I and phase II reactions. In phase I, enzymes convert toxins that are fat soluble into water soluble compounds. The nutrients needed for this include B vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, B6, folic acid and B12 as well as flavonoids and phospholipids. The second pathway called phase II works to excrete these toxins from the body once converted to the water soluble state. Our need for support here would be met with amino acids (pro-
teins) such as glycine, taurine, glutamine and N-acetyl-cysteine. No need to rush out to the nearest drug store. All these nutrients are found in everyday foods we enjoy. Consider the menu below as an example of foods to enjoy that support liver health. Breakfast: Two scrambled eggs in avocado oil with spinach, mushrooms and onions or shallots. Lunch: Kale salad with chickpeas, roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower with a dressing made from tahini (ground sesame seeds), lemon and olive oil. Snack: Apple slices with cashew butter or walnuts Dinner: Salmon with a side of roasted broccoli and quinoa with cherries. Sounds delicious, right? These foods support both
Women’s Health Directory Directory of Local Female Health Service Professionals Dr. Stephanie Fulton
Staff file photo Memorial Hermann Greater Heights was recently named among the top 10 hospitals in Texas by U.S. News & World Report.
Heights facility ranked among best hospitals in Texas By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital was ranked as the ninth-best hospital in Texas, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital rankings for 2020-21. The area hospital, located at 1635 N Loop W, was one of three Memorial Hermann facilities ranked in the top 10 in the state. Memorial HermannTexas Medical Center ranked fifth and Memorial Hermann
Memorial City Medical Center tied for 10th. Houston Methodist Hospital topped the statewide list, which also included Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center at No. 3 and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital at No. 6. Houston Methodist Hospital, located at 6565 Fannin St., was 20th in the national hospital rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. No other Texas hospitals were among the top 20.
phase I and phase II detoxification pathways. They are rich in antioxidants that fight oxidative stress and supply amino acids that are protective to damage caused by toxins. If curious if a food has antioxidants, the more colorful it is, the more antioxidant power it has. Of particular support are the cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli and cauliflower. These contain a chemical compound called sulforaphane that improve the antioxidant power in the body. The natural intelligence of the human body can resolve so many insults. No need for the latest detox diet or internet cleanse. When we feed it good foods, reduce stress, make sleep a priority and enjoy strong relationships in our lives, it will respond in positive ways.
Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center where she was a Chief Resident. Dr. Fulton volunteers as part of the health team ministry of her church. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 • Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com
Dr. Attiya S. Khan Dr. Khan focuses on the prevention of heart disease through early diagnosis and provides the latest interventional techniques to treat coronary and peripheral vascular diseases. She is one of the few female interventional cardiologists in Houston available to perform emergency angioplasties and stents for patients who are experiencing a heart attack. 1631 North Loop West, Ste. 220 • Houston TX 77008 713-365-0786 www.nwcardiology.net
Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practicing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routinely sees patients for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifts, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia. 1415 N. Loop, Ste 400 • 427 W. 20th St. Ste 100 Houston, TX 77008 713-668-6828 • www.houstoneye.com
Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, a board certified internal medicine physician, has opened a new primary care/internal medicine practice, White Oak Medical Associates in the Heights. She believes patients deserve their doctor’s focused attention, personalized care, and is devoted to compassionate, effective treatment for her patients. 1900 North Loop W, Suite 580 • Houston, TX 77018 713-714-5376 Whiteoakmedicalassociates.com
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end of August after 36 years in business,� the post reads. “There’s just too much working against us.� To clear its inventory, Alice’s said it will sell beer to-go on select weekends between now and the end of August. The first opportunity for customers was last weekend. Single beers, 6-packs, 12-packs and cases will be available. Alice’s said custom-
h o m e y o u r f i n d t o
Photo from Facebook Alice’s Tall Texan, 4904 N. Main St., will permanently close at the end of this month.
p l a c e
Alice’s Tall Texan, a popular dive bar that has served the Heights community for more than three decades, announced July 30 on Facebook that it will permanently close at the end of August. The bar, located at 4904 N. Main St., cited the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding economic downtown as the culprit. All bars in Houston and Harris County were forced to close from March 17 through May 22 in an attempt to promote social distancing. After case numbers began to climb in June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all bars in the state to close on June 26. “We are deeply saddened to say Alice’s Tall Texan will close permanently at the
ers who purchase a 6-pack or more will receive their choice of a “#chALICEâ€? or beer mug. “We’re trying to figure out how to sell draft beer in your growlers, so stay tuned for more details,â€? Alice’s said in its post. “Later in August we will announce plans to sell other memorabilia such as beer signs along with an opportunity to raise one last #chALICE to Alice’s Tall Texan. “Lastly, we want to say thank you to all of our customers, employees and business partners for the past 36 years. Y’all are the reason we became known as a great dive bar, best place to drink if you’re broke, friendliest bars ‌ we are eternally grateful to have been a part of your lives including the countless celebrations or allowing us to lift you up when you were down.â€?
1423 Tulane, $1.8 Mil. Amanda Anhorn, 713.256.5123
a
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
P R O P E R T I E S
Heights dive bar announces upcoming closure
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The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 • Page 3B
Opera in the Heights suspends fall productions By Zarah Parker
816 Yale #D, $540s Jason Knebel, 713.232.9712
zarah@theleadernews.com
After taking in consideration the guidance of public health experts, as well as the opinions of patrons, singers, orchestra members and advisers, Opera in the Heights has announced its suspension of all fall productions. The company, located at 1703 Heights Blvd., made the announcement via social media on July 25. The fall productions impacted by the announcement include the 25th Anniversary All-Stars concert, which will be postponed to a date that has yet to be determined, and II Trovatore, which would have opened in October. The Spring schedule of Lucia di Lammermoor and Le Nozze di Figaro is still in place.
Photo from Facebook Pictured is Musiqa and Opera in the Heights’ virtual encore of “The Leader,� a new opera by Karim Al-Zand with words by Eugene Ionesco.
“We are currently securing outdoor/open-air venues where socially-distanced performances can take place in a concert format for the maximum safety of both our patrons and performers,� the
post read. In place of the fall productions, Opera in the Heights will present a series of short digital productions via online streaming and pop-up outdoor performances.
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Page 4B • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 • The Leader
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