Falls Church Fall Health 2022

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 11

Fall Health & Wellness Guide

2022

I����� T��� S������ S������ H�� Q������� � J�� C������ M� W���-L��� B������

A����� A��������: W��� �� K���� ��� B���� D���

U.S. L��� E��������� F���� A���� �� ‘H�������’ S������

New York Times writer Joshua Needelman shares the stories of three individuals who quit their job for their physical and mental health and how it changed their overall life.

Why is there such a backlog in children receiving an autism diagnosis? This article takes a look at that answer and local programs trying to alleviate this wait time for the better.

The average life expectancy of Americans fell precipitously in 2020 and 2021, the sharpest two-year decline in nearly 100 years. This article examines this decline in life expectancy.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 12

SEE STORY ON PAGE 15

SEE STORY ON PAGE 20

INDEX

Oral Health ......................13,18 Suicide Awareness ................ 14 Migraine Treatment ..........16,17 Medical Marijuana ................. 19 Hearing Aids ......................... 21 Pickleball .............................. 22

PAGE 12 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

How Quitting a Job Changed My Work-Life Balance

by Joshua Needelman New York Times

In September 2021, Evelyn Lai sat at the brown teak desk in her childhood bedroom and looked out the window. She felt just as uncertain as she had two decades ago.

“I remember sitting at that same desk when I was applying to colleges,” Lai, 36, said.

Now she was recalibrating her life.

Feelings of professional burnout had left her crying on a street in downtown Austin, Texas, three months earlier. It was more than a year into the pandemic, on her day off, which she had been spending with her mother and sister. She was finally overcome by a panic attack.

Lai had been working 50 hours per week as a pediatric nurse practitioner at a community health clinic in southeast Austin. Some of her patients at the clinic, which Lai said served a primarily Latino population, didn’t have access to clean water. Some had family members who had been picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some had lost loved ones to Covid. As Lai walked past people drinking and laughing at a trendy Austin cocktail bar, she reached a breaking point. Her mother placed an arm around her, and she struggled

to catch her breath.

“It was jarring to see that and then think about the world I’d be going back to at work,” Lai said.

So instead she went home. After considering a career as a writer for pharmaceutical companies, she realized that she wasn’t ready to give up seeing patients. Four months later, she started a job as a pediatric nurse practitioner at a hospital in Seattle with compassionate colleagues and a less hectic schedule. She now mostly spends her free time out in nature, walking along a local river and in the mountains.

For many of the more than 50 million who’ve quit their jobs since the start of last year — a wide-scale phenomenon known as the “great resignation” — the shift has represented a moment of great personal exploration.

Finally afforded the space to consider what matters most, some are now reconsidering their work-life balance.

Some have made drastic changes, and others, like Lai, discovered a renewed purpose in longtime goals.

“It took a while to find this job, or, for this job to find me,” Lai said with a chuckle.

Here are some stories of people who’ve rerouted their lives and careers and feel more fulfilled because of it.

‘I’d rather have freedom than a bunch of stuff in my basement’ On a sunny mid-June morning, Jim Walker, 53, took in the view from the roof of a riverboat, sitting beside a man old enough to be his father. As the boat sailed across Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, Walker recalled recently, the man pointed to Naval Station Newport, where he and his wife had gotten married 65 years earlier.

Walker, an ordained pastor who quit his job in June 2021 to become a tour guide, listened as the man described his wedding day. “Sometimes people don’t need to hear me speak,” Walker said. “They need an ear to share the thing that’s on their heart.”

Walker began church work at 24.

But when his church in the Pittsburgh area temporarily shut down in 2020, he moved his services online and had some extra time to think. His most enjoyable experiences as a pastor, he realized, had come when he led congregants on mission trips and engaged in volunteer work. He wanted more freedom.

After acting on a longtime desire to become a freelance tour guide, he moved into a room in his brother’s home. Walker has spent much of the past year on the road, hosting tours in Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Hawaii

200 Little Falls St. Suite 410, Falls Church, VA 22046

In Clinic and In Home Therapy

Most insurance companies cover 100%.

Call us for a quick and easy verification of benefits, costs, and coverage.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

and elsewhere.

“Now I find myself interacting with all kinds of people from around the world,” Walker said, “and helping people connect to the important things.”

WAS IT WORTH IT? Walker feels the transition has given him more opportunities to use the “gifts I’ve been given.” He still uses the skills he has honed in the pulpit, but with a new congregation every week. “I’ve had to make sacrifices to do it,” he said. “But I’d rather have freedom than a bunch of stuff in my basement.”

‘I was transformed’ Daniel Raedel had become a therapist because he wanted to help LGBTQ youth make sense of the world. He saw his younger self in the college students he met with.

But as the pandemic wore on, and his clients’ mental health issues intensified, Raedel, 31, became anxious and depressed himself. He began waking up with a feeling of dread and started limiting his food intake.

“I felt like I couldn’t put my own oxygen mask on,” Raedel said, referring to the universal commercial airline directive to parents in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. “I couldn’t help others with theirs.”

Raedel quit his job at the University of Colorado Boulder and ope-

ned a small private practice to help his husband pay the bills. But he also took time to look inward. Raedel tapped into his long-dormant artistic side and enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program. He also re-imagined his physical appearance: He bleached his hair, grew out his fingernails and wore dresses. Eventually he came out as nonbinary.

(Raedel uses he/they pronouns.)

“I’d never had, like, a year, to nurture that artistic self,” Raedel said. “Parts of my identity that were more latent were expressed. I was transformed.”

He eventually did return to to an academic setting, landing a job as a clinical psychologist at Yale University, where he integrates art into his practice: Raedel encourages students to bring pen and paper to doodle on during therapy sessions, and to try dripping water on their skin at home as a way to connect with their bodies.

WAS IT WORTH IT? Raedel feels more equipped to help students after undergoing his own personal transformation. He’s also enrolled in a philosophy doctoral program at the University of San Diego that is focused on education and social justice, which he believes will bolster his practice even more.

These days, Raedel’s oxygen mask fits just fine.

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

Bruxism: an oral health problem that makes you grit your teeth!

Newspaper Toolbox

• Restricted jaw mobility

Bruxism refers to involuntarily grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw for prolonged periods, especially during sleep.

Stress, poor dental occlusion, sleeping on one’s back, respiratory disorders, tobacco use and certain types of medication are all considered con­ tributing factors. Bruxism may cause:

Treating bruxism requires an accurate diagnosis, first and foremost.

Has your significant other noticed that you grind your teeth in your sleep? Do you experience chronic toothaches or migraines? If so, consult your dentist without delay.

He or she will be able to evaluate the condition of your teeth and, if necessary, refer you to other health professionals for help (a physician experienced in the treatment of sleep disorders, for example).

• Tooth and jaw pain • Head, neck or ear aches • Early wear of teeth (which leads to increased sensitivity to hot and cold, and a higher chance of developing fractures and infections) • Loosened teeth or tooth loss • Problems chewing

Bruxism is a tricky condition to cure; in fact, treating bruxism requires eliminating the source of the problem via appropriate courses of action like orthodontic treatment or

relaxation exercises. Botox injections could also help correct the problem by relaxing the muscles in the jaw. Lastly, to prevent damage to the jaw and teeth, your dentist may also prescribe a bite guard to wear at night.

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 13

Floss like a boss October is National Dental Hygiene Month. Could there be a better time to perfect your flossing technique? Practicing this habit every day can protect you from gum disease and dental decay and even reduce your risk of getting heart disease. Despite a controversial move in 2016 by the federal government to remove flossing from its recommended health practices, dentists and dental hygienists continue to recommend the habit. The benefits to patients are clear, even if there is a lack of well-designed studies to support the long-held wisdom.

ACE YOUR TECHNIQUE Share this flossing formula with your family. If you need further guidance or a demonstration, it’s best to consult with your dental hygienist.

1. Take an 18-inch stretch of dental floss and wrap it around both of your middle fingers, leaving only a short distance of floss unfurled between your fingers.

2. With your thumb and forefinger, guide your floss around your tooth in a C-shape.

3. Gently move the floss up to the gumline and then down along the side of the tooth to scrape off the plaque.

4. Repeat until every tooth edge has been cleaned. Floss every day for best results.

In addition to the above, remember to floss all sides of every tooth, even the ones at the very back of your mouth.

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

PAGE 14 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

by Michael Repie, Ph.D.

Senior Director of Clinical Services Dominion Hospital

Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today. Talking about suicide can be difficult. In order to help raise awareness, and open the dialogue, September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

There are an average of 123 suicides each day in our country, and suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for those age 25-34, and the third leading cause for those age 15-24.

While there is no single cause for suicide, there are risk factors and warning signs which may increase the likelihood of an attempt. Learning them can save lives. Some studies suggest that 9 out of 10 individuals who die by suicide give very clear warning signals to those around them. Some include: • Talking about suicide and/ or having a preoccupation with death • Looking for access to lethal

means (guns, pills, knives, etc.)

• Mood swings or personality changes •Hopelessness • Self-loathing/hatred • Neglecting to take care of one’s appearance • Changes in eating and sleeping habits • Saying goodbyes • Withdrawal from friends, families, and usual activities Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their own life. Some include: • Mental health conditions such as depression, substance use problems, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, serious health conditions including pain, and traumatic brain injury • Environmental conditions including access to lethal means and drugs, prolonged stress such as bullying, relationship problems, or unemployment, and stressful life events such as rejection, divorce, financial crisis, or exposure to another person’s suicide.

• Historical factors such as previous suicide attempts, a family history of suicide, or childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma One serious new tool to help prevent suicide is the recent rollout of 988. After years of advocacy and preparation, 988 is now available nationwide as the new number to contact for mental health, substance use, and suicide crisis, as a simple, easy to remember way for people to get help. This new number will allow people to quickly connect with support during a crisis, 24/7, no matter where they live.

What is the difference between 988 and 911? 911 had been utilized for all emergencies, including mental health emergencies.

Mental health crisis calls to 911 may result in potentially dangerous and traumatizing outcomes when police are called. Despite best efforts, 911 dispatchers often have not received specific training on how to handle mental health and suicide related calls.

988 calls will be handled by National Suicide Prevention Lifeline counselors, highly trained to as-

sist people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Please help spread the word!

What else can you do to support the cause? There are many other ways to get involved this month and beyond. Share information about suicide and suicide prevention on social media to help reduce the stigma. Introduce and keep dialogue going with family and friends about the need for increased awareness and support. Volunteer at a local crisis shelter or other organization.

Never be reluctant to get involved and always take any reported de-

sire or intent to harm oneself seriously. Remember suicide is preventable!

Dominion Hospital is a 116bed free standing psychiatric hospital in Falls Church, with inpatient and outpatient services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults, and specialty programs for Complex Trauma Disorders, Eating Disorders, and Substance Use Disorders, in addition to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and School Refusal. For more information, or to schedule a free, confidential assessment, call 703-538-2872.

MOBILITYCITY OF NORTHERN VA We sell, repair, rent, sanitize, add battery packages.

We come to you!

WE SELL QUALITY PRODUCTS • Lift Chairs • 3 & 4-Wheel Mobility Scooters • Power Chairs • Transport Chairs • Wheelschairs • Accessories

b od i e s i nm ot i onp t .c om Thank you for the votes!

We are thrilled to have won Best Physical Therapy in the Best of Falls Church contest once again.

Thank you for supporting us over the past 20 years!

NATIONAL

• Walkers • 3 & 4-Wheel Rollators • Folding Ramps • Hospital Beds • Bath & Bedroom Safety Items

Bennet Helfgott 703-772-5030 (office) 24 hours 703-350-5149 (cell) Bennet.helfgott@mobilitycity.com Bennet@helfgottcorp.com

1-800-273-TALK (8255) suicidepreventionlifeline.org

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 15

Autism Awareness: What is Known and What is Being Done

by Kylee Toland

Falls Church News-Press

In recent years, it has been thought that there is an autism epidemic due to rising rates in the United States. However, reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show there is no autism epidemic, but rather an autism diagnosis epidemic.

Twenty-two years ago, the CDC reported one in 150 children were diagnosed with autism; that rate now stands at one in 44 children being diagnosed. This shows that improvements are being done to properly diagnose a child with autism, but the question still stands: Why is there a wait time for an autism diagnosis?

To receive a diagnosis, families can be put on a “waitlist” for an evaluation, which can last up to one year depending on the organization and the greater number of children in need of this kind of service. Luckily, there are local organizations in the DMV area that specialize in trying to alleviate the wait time for children and their families.

Recently, Behavioral Framework, a “leading provider” in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, opened Pathways Diagnostic Center, which helps alleviate the year-long wait times for children to receive an autism diagnosis. CEO of Behavioral Framework Kyle West and his wife Angela came up with the idea of Pathways Diagnostic Center after seeing the wait times families had to go through to receive a diagnosis through local hospitals.

Based in Rockville Maryland, Behavioral Framework and Pathways Diagnostic Center is trying to offer D.C., Maryland and Virginia families “the best autism care that we can offer.” With the opening of the center, West said he and his wife hope there will be an “increased access to care.” The program offers both a clinic-setting or home-based therapy when a child is diagnosed, as well as further testing at another medical site.

As for why there seems to be such a backlog in children receiving an autism diagnosis, West said there are not enough provi-

ders who specialize in diagnostic work. This led Pathways Diagnostic Center to hire Dr. Andrea Howard, an autism diagnostic specialist who is able to “devote 100 percent of her time to doing autism diagnostics.” This allows Howard and the 500 employees working for Behavioral Framework to make sure families do not have to wait for an extended amount of time for a diagnosis.

Opening this past summer, Pathways Diagnostic Center is focused primarily in providing children and their families an autism diagnosis, but West said they have seen younger adults use the center as well. The overall goal of Behavioral Framework and Pathways Diagnostic Center is for people to know that “it’s available,” as well as “a very welcoming intake process.”

“The autism diagnosis really is a journey, and that’s where we came up with the name ‘Pathways,’” West said. “It’s not an end, it’s not a beginning, it’s another step on the journey.”

Verbal Beginnings, a mental health clinic in Columbia, Mary-

KYLE AND ANGELA WEST are the creators of Pathways Diagnostic Center (Photo courtesy: Nadine DiStefano) land, provides a program called “New Beginnings” to help families on a waitlist receive diagnostic services to children in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.

On their website, they state their overall goal is to “help families obtain the diagnostic clarity that is necessary to initiate intervention services for their children.”

The program schedules families for an appointment with the

organization, where they then partake in a comprehensive evaluation that includes the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition. After the evaluation, families receive a comprehensive evaluation report and “review results, clinical impressions and recommendations for intervention services” with a licensed psychologist at Verbal Beginnings.

PAGE 16 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Migraine Treatment Has Come a Long Way

by Melinda Wenner Moyer New York Times

If you don’t suffer from migraine headaches, you probably know at least one person who does. Nearly 40 million Americans get them — 28 million of them women and girls — making migraine the second most disabling condition in the world after low back pain. Several studies have found that migraine became more frequent during the pandemic, too.

I get migraine headaches, but thankfully they’re more bizarre than excruciating. Every few weeks, ocular migraine clouds my vision with strange zigzagging lights for a half-hour; and once or twice a year I get attacks that cause temporary memory loss. (One came on while I was grocery shopping, and I couldn’t remember what month or year it was, what I was there to buy or how old my kids were.)

Despite its ubiquity, research on migraine has long been underfunded. The National Institutes of Health spent only $40

million on migraine research in 2021; by comparison, it spent $218 million researching epilepsy, which afflicts one-twelfth as many Americans. Why is this devastating condition so woefully understudied?

“It’s a woman’s disease,” explained Dr. Robert Cowan, a neurologist and a former director of the Stanford Headache Program. In other words, he said, sexism almost certainly plays a role in medicine’s apathy toward the condition.

The good news is that over the past several years, the medical establishment has become more interested in the issue, and a handful of new treatments for migraine have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some of them are quite promising. Here’s what migraine sufferers should know about today’s treatment landscape.

Recognize the symptoms of migraine and get a diagnosis.

Far too many Americans with migraine suffer in silence.

“Fewer than 30 percent of people suffering with migraine seek medical advice, and only some of those patients will receive an appropriate migraine treatment,” said Dr. Santiago Mazuera, a neurologist at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute in Baltimore.

Migraine is a neurological disorder and it differs from garden-variety headaches. People are likely to suffer from migraine if they have had at least five headache attacks in their lives, each lasting between four and 72 hours, and if the pain fulfills two out of these four criteria: It throbs or pulsates; it is on one side of the head; it is moderate to severe; it worsens with activity.

Also, these attacks must cause either nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.

If you think you might have migraine, see your primary care practitioner, Mazuera suggested.

“There is better understanding of migraine within the primary care community in recent years and more knowledge about the newer treatments,” he said. But if

you’re not getting the help you need, you might want to see a headache specialist or neurologist, said Dr. Seniha Ozudogru, a neurologist at Penn Medicine.

People with migraine are also at increased risk for other disorders, including heart disease, stroke, epilepsy, anxiety and depression.

Try lifestyle changes and first-line treatments to start.

If you have migraine, consider keeping a headache diary, or downloading a migraine app, to identify possible triggers.

Women, for instance, often have migraine pain right before their period; it can be treated in a variety of ways, including with an estrogen patch, Cowan said.

Other common migraine triggers include stress, too much or too little sleep, caffeine, alcohol, weather changes, certain foods, dehydration, light and particular smells, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

Often, triggers are partial and additive: You might not get a mi-

graine attack after drinking one glass of red wine, but a glass of red wine and a bad night’s sleep might do it, Cowan said. A headache diary can also help you identify your triggers and figure out if you have chronic migraine, which is defined as having headaches on 15 or more days per month for more than three months, and when at least eight of those headaches have migraine-like features.

Based on your symptoms and their frequency, your doctor may recommend a preventive migraine treatment to stop the headaches from starting. These types of medicines include antidepressants like amitriptyline, blood pressure medications such as propranolol and epilepsy drugs including valproate, Cowan said.

The problem with these drugs is that often “they have nasty side effects,” Cowan said, so they aren’t always recommended but every time I exercised, I felt lightheaded and faint.

Drs. Love & Miller, PC

Melanie R. Love, DDS, Mark A. Miller, DDS

FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Drs. Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. We have created a warm, caring environment that allows our patients to feel comfortable and safe. We take time to listen to our patients so that we can truly understand their individual needs and goals for their dental health.

Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years. We are proud to have served the community in ways beyond dental care.

Make an appointment with this award winning dental team.

www.loveandmiller.com

450 W. Broad Street, Suite 440, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-241-2911 (office) • 703-534-3521 (fax)

We are appreciative of our patients’ continued confidence in our ability to maintain proper safety measures, allowing us to care for their dental health.

Continued on Page 17

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Continued from Page 16

Your doctor might suggest taking medication at the onset of migraine to ease your symptoms, in addition to or instead of preventive treatments. For treatment of migraine after onset, doctors have long prescribed triptans — drugs such as sumatriptan that reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels — and anti-inflammatory pain medications such as ibuprofen. But these methods don’t always work either, and triptans can cause side effects like nausea and dizziness.

If you can’t get relief, discuss new treatments with your doctor.

Over the past five years, a handful of new drugs and devices have been approved for prevention and acute treatment of migraine.

Many of these drugs block the activity of a pain-related protein called monoclonal antibodies that are periodically injected or administered intravenously. There are also pills, called gepants and ditans (with brand names like Nurtec ODT,

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

Ubrelvy and Reyvow) that can be taken at the onset of migraine to block the activity of CGRP. Rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) has been approved by the FDA to both prevent and treat migraine, Ozudogru said, which is notable because most drugs do only one or the other.

These drugs don’t seem to have significant side effects, Cowan said — though they can cause mild nausea — yet they aren’t usually prescribed until after a person has tried several first-line treatments. That’s in large part because the new drugs are expensive, he said. Ozudogru said some doctors are also cautious about trying the latest treatments because they are so new, and nobody can say how safe they are over the long term.

Among other things, CGRP helps the body heal from strokes, so drugs that inhibit CGRP activity might hinder recovery in someone who has a stroke, she said.

Another medication that has been approved to treat chronic migraine in particular is the cosmetic drug Botox. It is injected into areas around the head and neck and is thought to work by blocking chemicals that carry

pain signals to the brain. “I like Botox a lot,” Cowan said. But, he added, “not everybody can tolerate being stabbed in the head 31 times, even with a tiny needle.” Usually, too, Botox treatment is repeated every 12 weeks.

Several medical devices have also been approved in recent years to manage migraine.

“These have good data,” Cowan said, and they are ideal for people who can’t tolerate medicines or are pregnant. Gammacore, a hand-held device, targets the vagus nerve in the neck. Nerivio, a smartphone-controlled device worn on the arm, uses electrical signals to disrupt pain pathways. Cefaly stimulates the trigeminal nerve on the forehead, and Relivion stimulates the trigeminal and occipital nerves.

Although these newer devices and treatments are promising, many patients struggle to get them covered by health insurance, Mazuera said. And they can be pricey: The list price for some monoclonal antibodies is more than $650 per monthly injection, and the Cefaly device costs $379. However, the Coalition for Headache and Migraine

American Family Dental Care Implant Center Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 17

Patients, or CHAMP, has guides available to help patients navigate treatment costs using pharmaceutical company savings cards and financial assistance plans; and the Patient Advocate Foundation has resources available for handling insurance denials and appeals, among other things.

Migraine is debilitating, and it can be quite difficult to treat.

But patients shouldn’t lose hope, Ozudogru said. When she sees a new patient with migraine, she reassures them: “I’m not going to give up,” she says.

“We’ll keep trying.” And today, there are more treatment options than ever to choose from.

NEW TREATMENTS may lead to pain free life. (Photo: New York Times)

Ayesan Hemati, DDS. Prosthodontist If you are looking for a professional and compassionate dental team that will focus on preventive care and will keep you away from any future dentistry, give us a call.

703.533.7285 Dr. Hemati and her experienced team make efforts to provide optimal dental care in a stress-free environment.

105 N Virginia Ave. Suite 103 Falls Church, VA 22046

New Patient Special • A thorough New Patient Exam, Digital X-Rays, A Healthy Mouth Cleaning For only $99 • A thorough New Patient Exam, Digital X-Rays, A Healthy Mouth Cleaning, A Professional Fluoride Treatment, And An Oral Cancer Screening For $129

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

PAGE 18 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

What are the causes and consequences of malocclusion?

Newspaper Toolbox

Malocclusion is a misalignment between the upper and lower rows of teeth as they approach when the mouth closes. Normally, the canines and maxillary (or upper) incisors fall in front of the lower teeth, leaving a small space in between with little overlap. In the case of malocclusion, however, the upper teeth fall too far behind or in front of the lower teeth.

CAUSES While malocclusion is often hereditary, other contributing factors exist, such as:

• Missing, crowded or misaligned teeth • Excessive thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use • Mouth breathing • Abnormal swallowing • A cleft palate CONSEQUENCES Malocclusion can have a significant impact on a person’s oral and overall health. Poor dental occlusion (how the upper and lower teeth touch when the mouth is closed) can make chewing more difficult and lead to premature wear of teeth,

in addition to causing muscular tension, jaw pain, digestive problems, migraines and troubles enunciating. Bruxism (grinding or clenching of the teeth) can also result in malocclusion.

Furthermore, not only do crooked or overlapping teeth cause aesthetic issues, but they’re particularly difficult to brush, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Thankfully, various treatments (braces, oral surgery, etc.) are available for people of all ages to help correct dental problems like malocclusion.

Consult your orthodontist or dentist for more information!

Orthodontic care: seven oral hygiene tips

Everybody knows that basic oral hygiene involves brushing one’s teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily and making regular visits to the dentist.

But what’s the protocol if you wear braces?

It’s very easy for food to get caught in braces and their various parts (brackets, elastics, etc.). Therefore, without proper oral hygiene practices, leftover food particles can develop into plaque, increasing the risk

of diseases and disorders of the teeth and gums. Moreover, teeth may look yellowed or stained once braces are removed.

For an effective orthodontic treatment and a lasting white smile, follow these seven tips:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, ideally after every meal or snack.

2. Use a manual or an electric

Elizaberth Jones, DDS MS

soft-bristled toothbrush (electric models are great for ease of use and convenience).

3. Clean each bracket thoroughly by making small circular motions with your toothbrush. Remember to take your time and be gentle!

4. Make sure to brush the entiresuface of each tooth, including below and above the brackets and along the inside (or chewing

“SureSmile” Aligner Promotion

BEST of

FALLS CHURCH

BRACES AND INVISALIGN Complimentary consultations iTero digital scans-no more impressions!

Treatment for kids and adults

703-573-0200

merrifieldorthodontics.com

surface) of your teeth.

5. Floss under and around each tooth at least once per day. If necessary, use a floss threader to reach difficult spaces near the gum or under dental appliances.

6. Use a water flosser in addition to your toothbrush for optimal cleaning results.

7. Rinse your mouth properly after every cleaning (or after a meal if you’re unable to brush).

2022

WIN ER N

Valid until the end of September

Free whitening included and a VPro5 device to speed treatment time.

Award-winning Invisalign practice with a six decade history in the center of Falls Church facing City Hall Dr. Berman is currently president of the Virginia Dental Association Dr. Masoud most recently the Director of Orthodontics at Harvard University

Berman & Masoud Orthodontics | Orthodontist Falls Church VA • Herndon VA bermanandmasoudorthodontics.com • 703-241-9191

311 Park Avenue Falls Church

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 19

What to Know About Medical Marijuana

by Josh Trupo

Falls Church News-Press

Medical marijuana is taking the country by storm. Back in 1937, with the implementation of the Controlled Substance Act, it was made illegal at the federal level and was given a Schedule 1 classification by the DEA. Schedule 1 drugs, like heroin, are said to have “a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”

However, doctors have pushed back against this for some time, culminating in California’s landmark 1996 legalization of medical marijuana. Since then, 36 states, including Virginia, have followed suit and made the move to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

So, which is it? Does marijuana have scientifically recognized medicinal properties? Or is the federal government correct in keeping it at a Schedule 1 classification?

According to physicians across the country, marijuana does have numerous medicinal uses. It can function as a stabilizer, lessening the seve-

rity of, and in some cases even completely removing, the sorts of seizures and tremors in patients with mild to severe epilepsy. It is a much safer and less addictive painkiller than the likes of Oxycontin. It can help clear up glaucoma in the eyes and is now being prescribed for its efficacy in managing depression, anxiety, eating disorders and PTSD. Marijuana has two major chemical components that play a part in its medicinal use. There is CBD, cannabidiol, which researchers are finding may be the most important ingredient leading to marijuana’s medicinal properties. CBD, unlike the other major component, tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – is not psychoactive. This means that, for those who are uncomfortable with the mind-altering high associated with marijuana, low THC strains can and have been made to provide the benefits of marijuana with none of the cloudiness. CBD can be found in plant form, where you break it up and smoke it the same way you would regular, high-THC marijuana. It can also be an ingredient baked into foods, pills, and even creams, removing the need for inhaling potentially harmful smoke

into the lungs.

Many doctors are still researching the differences in these two chemical components to marijuana. They are looking to discover where inside the molecular makeup the benefits are found. Many professionals who deal with epilepsy, chronic pain, or PTSD do not wish to experience the psychoactive effects of marijuana on a daily basis. However, there is some research showing that a certain degree of THC may be necessary for the marijuana to be as effective as possible at treating medical issues.

With Virginia’s recent recreational legalization of marijuana, doctors are urging caution and temperance.

As a way to take the edge off, not unlike having a glass or two of whiskey on the weekends, there is nothing to be worried about, they say. Marijuana is not physically addicting, and many have and will continue to use it for fun and recreational use.

However, for those who may need it for medicinal purposes, doctors strongly advise that patients do not self-medicate. While not physically addictive, marijuana can become psychologically addictive, meaning that the brain can become

MEDICAL MARIJUANA is taking the country by storm, although facing backlash (courtesy Photo) dependent on the rush of dopamine and serotonin – two chemicals in the brain associated with positive emotion. In self-medicating, one may find oneself in a position of being unable to naturally produce these chemicals at the rate one once did.

Instead, for anyone who believes marijuana could be an effective treatment, it is strongly advised to discuss the option with a doctor, who can monitor how much and how often the drug is used.

Now in Virginia, one can be approved by a healthcare provider for a

Virginia medical card online with Leafwell. Via telemedicine, a patient can meet with a provider and discuss qualifying conditions. The whole process takes 15-30 minutes. If approved, Leafwell will email the patient the certification which can be used to purchase medical cannabis products in Virginia immediately.

Also, as of July 2022, the state application process (which could take up to two months) is no longer required, eliminating a barrier and expanding access across Virginia.

PAGE 20 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Again in ‘Historic’ Setback

by Roni Caryn Rabin New York Times

The average life expectancy of Americans fell precipitously in 2020 and 2021, the sharpest two-year decline in nearly 100 years and a stark reminder of the toll exacted on the nation by the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, the average American could expect to live until age 76, federal health researchers reported Wednesday. The figure represents a loss of almost 3 years since 2019, when Americans could expect to live, on average, nearly 79 years.

The reduction has been particularly steep among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, the National Center for Health Statistics reported.

Average life expectancy in those groups was shortened by 4 years in 2020 alone.

The cumulative decline since the pandemic started, more than six and a half years on average, has brought life expectancy to 65 among Native Americans and Alaska Natives — on par with the figure for all Americans in 1944.

In 2021, the shortening of life span was more pronounced among white Americans than among Black Americans, who saw greater reductions in the first year of the pandemic.

While the pandemic has driven most of the decline in life expectancy, a rise in accidental deaths and drug overdoses also contributed, as did deaths from heart disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, the new report found.

Until now, experts have been accustomed to measuring life expectancy changes in increments of months, not years.

“Even small declines in life expectancy of a tenth or two-tenths of a year mean that on a population level, a lot more people are dying prematurely than they really should be,” said Robert Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the NCHS. “This signals a huge impact on the population in terms of increased mortality,” he added.

Dr. Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, characterized the diminution of life expectancy in the United States as “historic.”

While other high-income countries were also hard hit in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, most had begun to recover by last year, he said.

“None of them experienced a continuing fall in life expectancy like the U.S. did, and a good number of them saw life expectancy start in-

ching back to normal,” Woolf said.

Those countries had more successful vaccination campaigns and populations that were more willing to take behavioral measures to prevent infections, such as wearing masks, he said, adding: “The U.S. is clearly an outlier.”

But the coronavirus was not solely to blame. Long-standing health problems — rooted in poverty, discrimination and poor access to health care — left Native Americans and Alaska Natives particularly vulnerable to the virus, said Dr. Ann Bullock, former director of diabetes treatment and prevention at the federal Indian Health Service agency and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

One in seven Native Americans and Alaska Natives has diabetes, the highest rate among racial or ethnic groups in the United States, and many struggle with obesity or excess weight. Both conditions make people more susceptible to severe Covid-19, and crowded multigenerational housing adds to the risk.

“There is no doubt Covid was a contributor to the increase in mortality during the last couple of years, but it didn’t start these problems — it made everything that much worse,” Bullock said.

Average life expectancy in these populations is now “lower than that of every country in the Americas except Haiti, which is astounding,” said Noreen Goldman, professor of demography and public affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

The continued plunge was all the more upsetting because it occurred after a successful vaccination campaign, she said, adding: “The Native American population did quite well in the vaccination efforts, and that made us feel that 2021 would not be as devastating as 2020.”

“That was wrong, and it’s pretty hard to swallow,” she added.

White Americans saw the second-largest decline in average life expectancy in 2021, a drop of 1 year, to 76.4 in 2021 from 77.4 in 2020.

The decline was steeper than that among Black Americans, at seven-tenths of a year. That was followed by Hispanic Americans, whose life expectancy dropped only two-tenths of a year in 2021.

But both Black and Hispanic Americans were hit hard in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Average life expectancy for Hispanic Americans fell by 4 years, to 77.9 from 81.9 in 2019. The figure for Black Americans declined almost as much, by more than 3 years to

COVID HAS PLAYED A LARGE part in the drop in life Expectancy. . (Photo: New York Times) 71.5 years in 2020.

White Americans experienced the smallest decline during the first year of the pandemic, a drop of 1.4 years to 77.4 from 78.8. For white and Black Americans, life expectancy is now the lowest it has been since 1995, federal researchers said.

Asian Americans held the highest life expectancy among racial and ethnic groups included in the new analysis: 83.5 years, on average. The figure fell only slightly last year, from 83.6 in 2020.

It was the largest reduction in life expectancy in the United States over the course of a two-year period since the early 1920s, when life expectancy fell to 57.2 in 1923. That dropoff may have been related to high unemployment and suicide rates during an earlier recession, as well as a steep increase in mortality among nonwhite men and women.

Although the U.S. health care system is among the best in the world, Americans suffer from what experts have called “the U.S. health disadvantage,” an amalgam of influences that erode well-being, Woolf said.

These include a fragmented, profit-driven health care system; poor diet and a lack of physical activity; and pervasive risk factors such as smoking, widespread access to guns, poverty and pollution. The problems are compounded for marginalized groups by racism and segregation, he added.

The result is a high disease burden among Americans, and shorter life expectancy compared with that in comparable high-income nations

over the last two decades, Woolf said.

Over 1 million Americans have died of Covid-19, and more died in 2021 than in 2020 despite the availability of vaccines. To date, only two-thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated, and only one-third have had a booster shot.

“The white population did worse in 2021 than communities of color, besides Native American and Alaska Natives,” Woolf said. “I think that’s very telling: It reflects the greater efforts by Black and Hispanics to get vaccinated, to wear masks and take

other measures to protect themselves, and the greater tendency in white populations to push back on those behaviors.”

The longevity gap between men and women also grew by a couple of months in 2021. American women can now expect to live 79.1 years, almost 6 years longer than men, whose average life expectancy was 73.2 last year, according to the new data.

The longevity gap between the sexes has been increasing for more than a decade, after narrowing between 2000 and 2010 to about 5 years.

AMERICAN DEATHS during the pandemic have caused a lot of loss.

(Photo: New York Times)

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022 | PAGE 21

FDA Clears Path for Hearing Aids to be Sold Over the Counter

by Christina Jewett New York Times

The Food and Drug Administration decided to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter without a prescription to adults, a long-sought wish of consumers frustrated by expensive exams and devices.

The high cost of hearing aids, which are not covered by basic Medicare, has discouraged millions of Americans from buying the devices. Health experts say that untreated hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline and depression in older people.

Under the FDA’s new rule, people with mild to moderate hearing loss should be able to buy hearing aids online and in retail stores as soon as October, without being required to see a doctor for an exam to get a prescription.

The agency cited studies estimating that about 30 million Americans experience hearing loss, but only about one-fifth of them get help. The changes could upend the market, which is dominated by a relatively small number of manufacturers, and make it a broader field with less costly, and perhaps, more innovative designs. Costs for hearing aids, which tend to include visits with an audiologist, range from about $1,400 at Costco to roughly $4,700 or more.

“This could fundamentally change technology,” said Nicholas Reed, an audiologist at the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We don’t know what these companies might come up with. We may literally see new ways hearing aids work, how they look.”

The FDA’s final rule takes effect in 60 days. Industry representatives say device-makers are largely ready to launch new products, though some may need time to update labeling and packaging or to comply with technical details in the rule.

Dr. Robert Califf, the FDA commissioner, said the move is meant to “unleash the power of American industry” in a way that could have global influence.

“Hearing loss has a profound impact on daily communication, social interaction and the overall health and quality of life for millions of Americans,” Califf said during a news briefing. “This is a tremendous worldwide problem

where I think American ingenuity can make a huge difference.”

The White House hailed the move as a signature accomplishment for President Joe Biden, who signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Tuesday. That legislation includes other health measures, such as caps on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, that are likely to be popular among midterm voters.

The hearing aid change eliminates the requirement to see an audiologist for a hearing examination and fitting, a process not often covered by insurance.

Federal officials estimated a $2,800 savings on the cost of a pair of hearing aids. Brian Deese, White House director of the National Economic Council, said making the change was a “top priority” for the president.

“This is going to make a really concrete difference in the lives of millions of Americans,” Deese said.

Whether it will make a difference at the voting booth remains to be seen, said Jonathan Oberlander, a professor of health policy at the University of North Carolina. He termed the FDA’s move a “consolation prize” of sorts, given the Democrats’ unsuccessful efforts to expand basic Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing. The upside, though, is that some of the hearing aids should be on store shelves by the time voting begins.

Hearing loss is associated with dementia, isolation and other health problems in older adults. Yet the barriers to getting hearing help have included costs that are not covered by Medicare. There is also stigma — such as appearing “old” — that comes with use.

April Shrum, 45, of Bremerton, Washington, has been willing to get hearing aids for years, but has been unable to get them covered by her insurance. She said she lost some hearing firing guns while training to deploy to Iraq about a decade ago. But her hearing loss never tested to a level that qualified her for coverage.

“I don’t have to have a prescription for it,” Shrum said, “which means I can buy them myself and it’s fantastic.”

Broader appreciation for the importance of keen hearing for adults is off-kilter: A recent survey found that people ages 50 to

80 were twice as likely to plan on taking their pet to the veterinarian in the coming year than to get their hearing checked.

“It breaks my heart a little bit,” said Sarah Sydlowski, associate chief improvement officer of the Cleveland Clinic’s Head and Neck Institute and lead author of the study. “I think our biggest challenge as a profession and as a health care system is to make sure that people understand that hearing is incredibly important. It deserves their attention, it deserves their action.”

The over-the-counter shift has rankled some of the nation’s audiologists, the professionals who guide people through the process of choosing the best hearing aid, adjusting the settings and achieving the right fit. The new move eliminates the long-standing requirement that consumers start the process of getting a hearing aid with them. But some in the profession see opportunity.

“The hearing health care professional is not going to go away,” said Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, a consumer group. “The over-thecounter rule opens a new avenue that is huge for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to take that step sooner than later. And that’s what we’re really excited about.”

The change has been percolating for years. In 2016, a proposal for the FDA to approve overthe-counter hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss was released in a report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The following year, Sens.

Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., introduced a bill enabling the agency to make the change.

Congress approved the legislation and President Donald Trump signed it into law.

Finalizing regulations has moved slowly since then, with some conflict over details, like how the federal rule would interact with state laws on hearing aid returns or warranty policies and how much the devices should amplify sound.

Biden issued an executive order in July 2021 calling for greater competition in the economy, which urged the FDA to take action “to promote the wide availability of low-cost hearing aids.”

That rule was issued in the fall of 2021, followed by a period of public comment. The Hearing Industries Association, an industry group, submitted a 45-page comment letter warning the FDA about companies that had come on the market in 2018, after the initial law passed, selling hearing aids that “were ineffective, of poor quality, and in some cases, dangerous.” The organization offered detailed advice on how to avoid a repeat scenario.

“We applaud the action to increase access to care for persons who have difficulty and encourage them to seek a professional,” to help navigate their options and the fitting process, said Kate Carr, president of the trade group.

Other organizations raised concerns that the FDA would be creating a safety issue by allowing new hearing aid makers to develop devices that allow users to hear loud sounds.

Warren and Grassley released a joint report accusing the “dominant hearing aid” makers of engaging in an “astroturf lobbying” effort by flooding the FDA with repetitive comments steering the agency toward a new generation of hearing aids that would be “less effective, protecting manufacturers’ existing market share and locking in their competitive advantage.”

The logic is simple: The less effective an OTC hearing aid is, the more likely consumers will be forced to abandon these op-

tions and instead opt for more expensive, prescription devices sold by the manufacturers that dominate this line of business,” the senators’ investigative report said.

The FDA reviewed more than 1,000 comments submitted about the rule and made a handful of changes in the final version released Tuesday. They include lowering the maximum sound output of the devices and revising the insertion depth limit in the ear canal. The rule also requires that the hearing aids have a user-adjustable volume control and simplified wording on the product label.

John Prouty, 65, of Santa Rosa, California, said Tuesday that he would be watching the changes in the hearing aid field carefully. He said he recently underwent a test and discovered he had experienced some hearing loss.

“I don’t think it has had a huge effect on my ability to understand and stay in a conversation,” Prouty said. “My wife may disagree.”

He said he was not ready for hearing aids and felt even less so after finding out the devices would cost up to $8,400 for a pair and services. Prouty welcomed the new policy, saying he hoped it would encourage the kind of consumer electronic advances that had revolutionized phones and watches.

“I’m looking forward to this,” he said.

HEARING AIDS could soon be more easily accessible. (Courtesy Photo)

PAGE 22 | SEPTEMBER 8 - 14, 2022

HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS

Why Is Pickleball So Popular?

by Juno DeMelo New York Times

Now that their son is grown and their water-loving Labrador retriever has passed away, Kristen Miller and her husband, Scott Miller, have decided to fill in their San Diego swimming pool. “No one uses it, there’s a drought and we’re in our 60s,” she said. “We decided YOLO, like the kids say.

We’re going to put in a fricking pickleball court.”

Kristen Miller is one of more than 4.8 million pickleball players, or “picklers,” in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Pickleball, often described as a combination of tennis, PingPong and badminton, grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America’s fastest-growing sport.

A college tennis player, Miller picked up pickleball two years ago after a friend needed to round out a foursome. Now she plays twice a week and hopes to play even more once her backyard court is complete. “We know if we have people over and we have paddles, everyone can go out and hit the ball,” she said. “Not everyone’s going to put a swimsuit on at 60.”

The sport has trended older in the past — half of all serious pickleball players (those who play eight or more times a year) in 2021 were 55 and older, according to the USA Pickleball Association. But the vast majority of casual players are younger than 55, and the fastest-growing segment of all pickleball players are younger than 24.

How is the sport able to appeal to both retirees and younger devotees? And regardless of your age, can you actually work up a sweat? Here’s what the experts say.

Most Anyone Can Play.

Many racket sports have a steep learning curve, even at the beginner level. “In tennis, the balls are all over the place,” said Ernie Medina Jr., an assistant professor of public health at Loma Linda University and pickleball coach who was introduced to the game in 2016 by his mother.

“In pickleball, you’re hitting a plastic Wiffle-like ball, so it’s less bouncy and doesn’t fly as fast through the air,” Medina said.

“And the paddle is much easier to handle because it’s shorter and lighter than a tennis racket.” You also serve underhand in pickleball, and underhand serves are easier to hit and return.

Besides being easier to learn than tennis, pickleball is also slower paced and there’s less ground to cover; you could almost fit four pickleball courts onto one tennis court, and most picklers play doubles. Some research suggests that it may be safer than tennis for people with heart issues, too.

“Because the paddle’s so small, pickleball is great for hand-eye coordination as well as neuromuscular coordination,” said Heather Milton, a clinical exercise physiologist at the Sports Performance Center at NYU Langone Health. “You’re moving in different planes, not just forward like you do when you’re walking or cycling, which is good for your agility. And because there’s rotation involved, you’re working your core along with your upper and lower extremities.”

Players can get sprains and rotator cuff pain, among other injuries. To prevent injury, players should do a pregame warm-up, keep a wide, ready position stance during the game, avoid backpedaling to return a shot sailing overhead and wear shoes designed for lateral movement.

As for accessibility, pickleball can be played standing or in wheelchairs, indoors or out.

There are more than 38,000 indoor and outdoor courts in the U.S. To find one, use the Pickleball+ app, or put your ZIP code into the USA Pickleball Association’s court locator website. You can even use sidewalk chalk or painter’s tape to make your own court in a driveway or cul-de-sac — Medina once set up a court in the hallway of a conference venue. Then roll in a portable net.

A USAPA-approved set of two paddles and four balls costs about $60.

an hour had 14 percent higher heart rates and burned 36 percent more calories. Another study from Western Colorado University found that picklers averaged a heart rate of 109 beats per minute and burned 354 calories per hour, which qualifies it as a moderate-intensity workout alongside hiking, yoga and water aerobics. The players also saw significant improvements in their cholesterol levels, blood pressure and maximal oxygen uptake, a measure of cardiovascular fitness, after playing for an hour every other day for six weeks.

What’s more, you can ramp up the intensity in a number of ways. “If you are more competitive with pickleball, you absolutely could have a more intense workout,” Milton said. Practice can also up the burn. “In a game, you have to rally, stop and reset, so there are more gaps,” Medina said. “ When I drill, I get more of a workout. Drilling makes you better, so you can have longer, more intense rallies. It’s a double benefit.”

And finally, you can play singles instead of doubles. “With a singles match, you’re definitely going to be covering more of the court, moving more and burning more calories,” said Lance Dalleck, a professor of exercise science at Western Colorado University and an author of the Colorado study. “Pickleball is not just a good workout, it’s a great workout.”

It’s Addictive

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Less than one-quarter of U.S. adults get enough physical activity, and that percentage decreases with age. One of the main barriers to exercising is a lack of social interaction, a big source of motivation.

But while 50 percent of people quit exercising six months after starting, research shows that picklers keep coming back to the court again and again, primarily because the game is so social.

Pickleball can also improve your well-being. According to another study of picklers age 50 and older, those who were more serious about the sport tended to be more satisfied with their lives. The same researchers found an inverse relationship between “serious leisure” — in this case, playing pickleball competitively — and levels of depression.

Like Medina, I too have a (step) mother who preaches the gospel of pickleball. Last spring, my husband took a pickleball lesson while we were on vacation in Kauai, Hawaii, but I chose to stay in the pool. Last month, my curiosity finally got the better of me, and I asked a pickler friend-of-afriend whether she could round up a foursome.

It was 100 degrees when we met at an outdoor court in Portland, Oregon. The other three women were all regulars, one of them a highly rated doubles player who made it to nationals last year. I’ve always been a decent athlete (my father was a squash pro, so I grew up around racket sports) but besides the occasional game of cornhole,

I’ve never really played anything that requires hand-eye coordination.

After about 10 minutes of warm-up hits and explanation, I had the basics down. I missed a few serves and more than a few shots once we started to play in earnest, but I was able to rally and even volley almost immediately. Despite my inexperience — and the sunscreen-melting heat — I was soon in a flow state, punctuated by laughter and light trash talk. “Aha,” I thought, somewhere toward the end of the first match. “Now I get why people are so obsessed with pickleball.”

Being in the zone was nice, but so was victory: My partner and I won two out of three matches. But mainly I was struck by how much fun the game is. (Participants in the walking study found pickleball 150 percent more enjoyable than taking a stroll.) Most points in pickleball are won on a line just 7 feet from the net, so it’s easy to chat between serves.

And it’s hard to take yourself too seriously when the most savage shot is called a “dink” that you hit into a zone called “the kitchen.”

“I’ve had a hoarse voice since I started playing pickleball because I’m constantly shouting and laughing,” Medina said. “I can’t even sing in my choir anymore.”

The game is so much fun, Miller said, you don’t realize you’re getting exercise. “It’s something you can do besides going out to eat or going out drinking.”

It’s a Good Workout (No, Really) Yes, pickleball has a low barrier to entry. But that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.

In one of the few studies that has been done on pickleball, researchers found that compared with walking at a self-selected pace for half an hour, people who played doubles pickleball for half

PICKLEBALL HAS GAINED POPULARITY and is attracting a new following. (Photo: New York Times)