H+W, January 2012 by Gambit New Orleans

HW +

BE STRONGER. LIVE LONGER.

GAM BIT’S HEALTH & WELLNESS > JANUARY 2012 >VOLUME 3 > NUM BER 1

G A M B I T ’ S H E A LT H + W E L L N E S S

SKIN TO WIN TIPS TO

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HOW TO MAKE NEW RESOLUTIONS STICK

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

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Beauty that’s more than skin deep

Six oncologists promote cancer research with music.

expert advice

Life coach Charly Borenstein-Regueira on resolutions

the source

How to treat a headache

Wellspring

Health news in brief

meg farris

Advances in diabetic neuropathy treatment

top 10 Workout songs Hot jams to get you moving

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HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

COME SHOP THE

Glow Ahead A PLAN TO ACHIEVE VIBRANT, YOUTHFUL SKIN WITHOUT VISITING A PLASTIC SURGEON

—

BY MISSY WILKINSON

he new year’s promise of renewal is somewhat lessened if the prior year left unsavory evidence of its passing. Whether that evidence is deeper nasiolabial folds (laugh lines) or a softening jawline, the stressors and neglect of the past can show up on the face. For purely cosmetic reasons, it’s obvious that we want our skin to look its dewy, radiant best. But the skin’s condition is also a barometer of overall health. “Your skin is your largest body organ, so by looking at someone’s skin, you can tell, healthwise, how well they’re doing,” says Rebecca Lee, a dietitian and nutritionist at East Jefferson General Hospital. Here’s a four-pronged plan targeting the skin from the inside out to restore a youthful glow — and increase overall well-being at the same time.

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

EAT THE RIGHT STUFF

“It’s very true that we are what we eat,” Lee says. “If you put the right things inside, the outside will show better.” Molly Kimball, a dietitian with Ochsner Health System, agrees. She recommends a diet rich in healthy fats like those found in tuna, salmon, avocado, olive oil and macadamia nuts, and cautions against low-fat diets. “A higher intake of fat helps improve not only skin hydration, but also skin’s elasticity,” Kimball says. “Skin elasticity helps maintain that firm, toned appearance.” Lee emphasizes the importance of vitamins A, which supports healthy skin and vision; C, which is needed to synthesize collagen and maintain skin’s elasticity; and E, which protects skin from free radical damage. Foods like apricots, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, mango, tomato juice and sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A. Papaya, strawberries, oranges, mango, Brussels sprouts, red bell peppers, grapefruit, raspberries, pineapple and Russet potatoes (with the skin on) are good sources of vitamin C. Sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, papaya, peanut butter and avocado contain vitamin E. “Omega-3 fatty acids are really anti-inflammatory, which helps make the skin look bright,” Lee says. Salmon, walnuts and flaxseed oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to supporting skin elasticity and warding off free radicals, the antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables and green and white teas can stave off photoaging (skin damage caused by exposure to UVA and UVB rays) by making sunscreen work better, Kimball says. “A diet high in antioxidants … can enhance the protective effects of sunscreen.” When it comes to maintaining healthy skin, the things you don’t eat are just as important as the

things you do. Kimball cautions against diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates like white flour and white sugar. “I had one client come in and giggle and say she had a steady diet of sugar — Cokes and Skittles for lunch,” Kimball recalls. “Although she was thin, she had deep circles under her eyes, acne and scaly skin. (Her diet) stood out all over her skin.” Kimball urges people to nibble on fruits, vegetables and nuts rather than sugary, refined foods like 100-calorie “snack packs” or prepackaged weightloss shakes. “When we look at inflammation from sugar, that doesn’t just affect our skin, it affects our total system,” she says. “There’s no guarantee that

eating the right foods will give us dewy, luminous skin, but if that gives us one more reason to incorporate these foods and avoid the others, this is a step forward. Better-looking skin is one potential bonus, along with the way you feel, the way your clothes fit, less fatigue, less highs and lows from the sugar, and other positive benefits.”

GET MOVING When it comes to overall well-being, including skin health, exercise is an unparalled panacea. “For all the reasons exercising promotes health, it promotes skin health as well,” says Dr. Julie Mermilliod, chairwoman of the department of dermatology at Ochsner Medical Center. “Exercise has a positive impact on your skin,” says Krista Schultz, a triathlete, exercise physiologist and former Division I track and cross-country athlete at the University of New Orleans. “It stimulates blood flow, helps skin cells regenerate and repairs tissue. The more you take care of your body in general, the better you look.” A.C. Lambeth, an instructor at Wild Lotus Yoga, says she noticed an improvement in her skin and in other yoga practitioners’ skin once they started coming to class regularly. “I know a yoga teacher, and so many people have come up to her and said, ‘You look younger. What are you doing?’ And it’s yoga,” Lambeth says. “Any of the poses increase circulation and blood flow. Even doing a simple sun salutation can get fluids moving and activate glands, especially endocrine glands, which helps balance hormones.” Schultz agrees that exercise can help balance hormones, which in turn can improve skin’s appearance. “If you’re stressed and you’re overproducing cortisol (a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland) and your estrogen is out of balance, it may cause you to break out as a response,” she says. “There could be dryness or even a rash. Exercise is a way to rebalance that, because it helps control the release of cortisol. When you have a balance of the hormones, the skin has a positive reaction.”

ABUNDANT IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, VITAMINS A, C AND E SUPPORT SKIN ELASTICITY AND WARD OFF DAMAGE FROM FREE RADICALS.

USE SUNSCREEN, MOISTURIZERS AND RETINOLS DAILY Mermilliod recommends a beauty regimen that both prevents and repairs skin damage. “Sunscreen is No. 1, and retinols are No. 2 for (addressing) photoaging,” she says. “Cosmeceuticals and antioxidants are the next layer for staving off the aging process.” Mermilliod points out that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends daily application of broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to the face and neck. “People forget that a sunscreen is just that — a screen,” she says. “Physical barriers like hats and protective clothes are important. Stay out of the sun during peak hours. It’s the day-today damage that causes fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.” “The sun is probably the No. 1 cause of aging problems in the skin,” says Elise Davis, an esthetician, makeup artist and owner of Esthetique Facial Spa. “I tell my clients in their 20s that everything they’re doing now — tanning, smoking — will show up in their 40s.” Davis stresses the importance of reapplying sunscreen throughout the day. “If you’re hanging out at a festival eating and drinking, bring a wet wipe, wipe your face and reapply your sunscreen when you use the bathroom.” While sunscreen can stave off the cumulative damage done by sun exposure, retinols, which contain a form of vitamin A, can restore a youthful appearance

to skin by encouraging cell turnover, evening out spots on the skin and restoring skin tissues. “Retinols help build the collagen and elastic tissue that gets damaged over time,” says Mermilliod, who recommends that her clients begin using retinoids between ages 18 and 20. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so I think you should start with RetinA (a prescription retinoid) when you have acne and never stop.” She also recommends using mild cleansers and applying moisturizer right after showering. Topical application of antioxidants can also improve the skin, Kimball says. Davis advises people to seek out products that contain retinols, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid for the best anti-aging effects. Massage products into the skin to increase the benefits. “The more you massage your face with some kind of product, the better and plumper your skin will be,” Davis says. “Even cleansing techniques can stimulate collagen production. When you see wrinkling, there’s a loss of activity in that area, so it kind of breaks down. Use somewhere between light and medium pressure.”

USE SUPPLEMENTS WITH DISCRETION Lee prefers her clients get their nutrition from foods rather than supplements (“I really encourage the fruits and vegetables”), but she says if they prefer, they can take a multivitamin and/or fish oil. “Make sure you get

concentrated doses of DHA and EHA, which are cardioprotective,” Lee says. “To boost health, they need 500 milligrams, and for heart diseases you want 1,000 milligrams. But don’t get too much omega-3, because too much can cause a stroke.” Certain diets designed to enhance the skin, like the popular diet espoused in The Perricone Prescription, recommend taking coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant. However, Lee says she is not convinced CoQ10 is good for skin. “I’m not sure if it has been proven definitively,” she says. “It’s an antioxidant, so I can see why people would recommend it, but I would recommend it for the proven cardio-protective benefit.” Lee says vitamin C antioxidant supplements may be harmful, and she recommends that her clients who take them stick to doses below 250 milligrams. “There is not a need to take supplements. There are mixed and some negative reviews,” she says. “There have been a lot of studies that have researched antioxidants, and they act more as pro-oxidants, which can have more harmful effects. But there have been no adverse effects with 250 milligrams of vitamin C.” She also does not suggest supplements or “green” powders containing ingredients like spirulina and wheat grass. “You have to be careful with supplements, because the manufacturers are just out to sell their products,” she says. “I don’t believe you get as much benefit with the powders and the dehydrated fruits and vegetables.

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HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

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HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

or most people, headaches are merely a nuisance that hampers their ability to concentrate and interferes with the dayto-day business of life. For others, a headache can be debilitating. Yet, many who suffer with chronic headaches live with them for years by self-medicating. The most common headache types are tension and migraine. Although sinus headaches are a common complaint, particularly in south Louisiana, they are much less common than people think. “Everyone thinks they have a sinus headache, but more often than not, they are experiencing a tension headache,” says East Jefferson General Hospital internist Dr. David St. Germain. In the rare instances that a sinus headache occurs, the pain is located in the face around the eyes, nose and cheeks and is usually the result of congestion or a sinus infection. If you are not suffering from other symptoms associated with allergies or a cold, it’s more likely that you are experiencing a tension headache or a migraine. Tension headaches are far and away the most common variety. Typical tension headaches originate at the back of the head and are felt on both sides. The pain often is described as a vise-like pressure that feels like a band around

the head. They can be disruptive but are not usually incapacitating. To say a tension headache is purely the result of muscular tension oversimplifies a complex physiological response to stress. Treatment, however, doesn’t have to be complicated. Counseling, exercise, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet with plenty of water can help curb tension headaches. There also are muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-inflammatory medications that can be very effective. Usually, if the stress can be eliminated, the headaches will disappear. What can complicate the situation is chronic self-medicating. When a patient forms a pattern of taking headache medicine more than twice a week or in larger-than-prescribed doses, they may experience a rebound headache. The overuse of over-the-counter or prescription medications can cause the medication to perpetuate headaches instead of relieving them. This is referred to as rebound because the pain subsides briefly after taking the medicine and then returns, creating a cycle of chronic headaches. Rebound headaches can be difficult to treat because the patient may have to suffer through a few headaches without medication in order for the rebound effect to subside. Compared to tension headaches, migraines

with proper medical attention, chronic headaches don’t have to be part of life. by K at i e K i d d er cro sb i e can be much more severe. Pain tends to be located on one side of the head and usually is described as throbbing or even stabbing. During a migraine, which can last anywhere from a couple hours to a couple of days, sufferers may experience extreme sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Although it is a less common symptom, some migraineurs (people who experience migraine headaches) notice an aura at the onset of the headache. Auras are visual disturbances like blurred vision, blind spots, flashing lights or loss of vision on one side. These usually indicate a migraine is imminent and fade as the pain of the headache sets in. The cause of migraines is complex, involving vascular restriction as well as chemical interactions in the brain that possibly are linked to serotonin. As of yet, there is no hard-andfast explanation as to why some people suffer from them and others do not or why women between 15 and 40 experience migraines more than any other demographic. According to the National Headache Foundation, one theory suggests “migraines arise from an inflammatory process resulting from an interaction between the trigeminal nerve and the blood vessels surrounding the brain.” There is no magic bullet for migraines, but

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some medications can prevent them from occurring as frequently, and other medications offer immediate relief. Two types of medications are commonly prescribed, sometimes in combination: preventive and abortive. Abortive medications are taken to stop the pain as it occurs. For mild migraines, your doctor may suggest abortive drugs such as Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. For severe migraines, prescription abortive medications called triptans are migrainespecific and can be dramatically effective. Imitrex is the prototype for triptans, but other commonly prescribed medications include Maxalt and Frova. Preventive medications are generally prescribed for someone who suffers from migraines more than two or three times a month. Some first-line therapies for preventive care include Topomax, Depakote and Inderal. “There is very good medication available both for prevention and treatment of headaches,” St. Germain says. “ Yet people see it as a part of living, part of life that they’ve lived with for so long they just learn to deal with it. If you have any severe headache that interferes with your quality of life, if you have to stop what you’re doing and lay down with a headache, you ought to consider seeing a doctor for treatment. We can help.”

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m G fArrIs

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You’ve Got

some Nerve

covington researchers work to reverse nerve damage caused by diabetic neuropathy.

very dangerous. … Those people are at risk for amputations.” There are medications for neuropathy pain, and scientists at Pamlab believe they are the first to have a possible treatment for damaged nerves. “Patients were starting to feel their feet again,” says Harold Koch, senior vice president of scientific affairs and chief scientific officer of Pamlab, LLC. “(They) feel the tingling and burning they’d completely lost when they were at the stage of having no feeling whatsoever. They’d drive a nail through their foot and not even know they’d done it.” Metanx is a small purple pill containing a high dose of three types of vitamin B found naturally in food. Double-blind scientific studies were recently conducted at six sites across the U.S. to test Metanx. Fonseca was lead investigator, and findings are being reviewed by a scientific journal for possible publication. “There was actually a small improvement with placebos because sometimes when you come in frequently to the doctor, you feel a little better. But there was a significantly better improvement with this drug,” Fonseca says. “We’re not only treating pain to an extent, but we’re also treating the actual condition itself by increasing the blood flow, bringing sensation back,” Koch says. Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge performed the same study on rats and could see improvements in the rodents’ nerve structures. Since starting on Metanx, Doell says walking and other daily routines are easier. “When I’m not on it, I know

that there’s a difference,” Doell says. Because Metanx is not the synthetic or over-the-counter supplement form of vitamin B, it requires a prescription. The pills cost $80 a month, and patients take one pill twice a day.Some insurance companies pay a small amount toward the cost. Another free follow-up study on Metanx starts in February. Doctors are looking for people with diabetes who have nerve pain, numbness, tingling and/or burning, and shooting and/or stabbing pains in their feet. For information about the study, call (888) 831-7333. Look for Meg Farris’ Medical Watch reports weeknights on WWL-TV Channel 4 and anytime on wwltv.com.

Metanx May help diabetics with neuropathy regain sensation in their feet.

mANY fooT complIcATIoNs cAN bE prEvENTEd wITH THorouGH cArE. HErE ArE somE fooT-cArE TIps for dIAbETEs pATIENTs.

Check feet daily for cuts, sores, bruises or any abnormalities. Use a mirror or have a family member assist you if needed.

Wash feet daily using warm water and soap. Hot water can burn your hands and feet without you realizing it because of nerve

damage, so test water temperatures first with your elbow.

3 If your feet are cold at

night, wear socks. Do not use a heating pad or hot water bottles.

4 Never go barefoot,

especially outdoors.

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

large number of people in the New Orleans area have type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects nerves in the feet and legs. Diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels, is the most common diabetes complication and one Covingtonbased company Pamlab LLC is working to address through medical research and development of a new treatment called Metanx. Susan Doell, a mother and fifthgrade teacher, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2005. Within a year of her diagnosis, she noticed tingling sensations in her feet. Her diabetes was causing nerve damage. “I started feeling the tingling,” Doell says. “You don’t notice it at first, because it’s a slow onset. One day, it almost feels like pins and needles and then it gets to be where it’s not as active. You don’t feel that tingle anymore. ” Later, the sensation progressed to stabbing pains. “You can be sitting there and then you just want to jump out of your skin — and it’s only in one spot,” Doell says. “I remember the first time I felt it. I was driving, and it was in my right foot, and (I was in) in the middle of Veterans (Memorial Boulevard). … You just want to scream and holler and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Dr. Vivian Fonseca, chief of endocrinology at Tulane Medical Center, says neuropathy is very common in people with diabetes. “About 60-70 percent of people sometime over their lifetime will have some nerve damage,” he says. “Sometimes pain is good because it tells you there’s something wrong, and if (people) don’t feel it, it’s

ROCK OUT

BY ALEX PENCE

TO KNOCK OUT HPV SIX GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGISTS HIT NEW ORLEANS TO CROON FOR THEIR CAUSE.

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

.E.D.is a phrase that holds profound importance for individuals dealing with cancer. Short for “no evidence of disease,” this medical term often signifies the difference between life or death, fear or hope, celebration or resignation. Thanks to an unlikely band of performers by the same name, N.E.D. is becoming a more widely known term, even among those unaffected by cancer. N.E.D. was formed during a spur-of-the-moment jam session at a medical conference in 2008. When the scheduled entertainment for the night fell through, six musically inclined oncologists stepped up to perform. “We were really pleasantly surprised by what a great time we had,” says Dr. William “Rusty” Robinson, the band’s bassist and a faculty member at Tulane University School of Medicine. “We found playing together to be a great release from the daily stresses and responsibilities of work, and it’s evolved into a passion project that we’ve been fortunate enough to align with awareness.” N.E.D. also consists of Drs. Joanie Hope, John Soper, Nimesh Nagarsheth, John Boggess and Will Winter, and they’re all based in different areas of the country. After steadily amassing a following, the band released an album last summer titled Six Degrees (a nod to their six respective medical degrees), collaborating with Mario McNulty, a producer who has worked with artists ranging from Philip Glass to David Bowie. A documentary about the group, Dancing With N.E.D., will be released by Spark Media in 2012. Band members take their dual careers very seriously. It can be a challenge to balance demanding day jobs with their commitment to music, they say. “Because of our varying schedules, we have to plan things extremely far in advance, which unfortunately also means we have to turn down a lot of opportunities for shows and tours,” Robinson says. The ensemble is wary of being pigeonholed as a novelty act. The group works diligently to create a compelling blend of rock, R&B and acoustic bluegrass, a sound that has made fans of artists like Alison Krauss and Union Station take notice. “We want to be a band that happens to be comprised of physicians,” says Winter, the band’s guitarist. “Our intent

is to draw people in initially with our music, which will then hopefully attract them to our cause.” The cause is dear to each of the band members’ hearts: raising money for and awareness about all forms of gynecological cancer, which receives less than 1 percent of the funding that goes toward breast cancer research. “There’s a stigma associated with vaginal cancers that makes people nervous and uncomfortable to talk about them,” Robinson says. The band’s motto is “Breast cancer has pink ribbons, but gynecological cancer has a rock band.” N.E.D. performs at 7 p.m. at Southport Hall (200 Monticello Ave., 835-2903; www.newsouthport.com) Saturday, Jan. 14. The show benefits Tulane Cancer Center’s Gynecologic Cancer Research Fund HPV Vaccine Program, as well as the N.E.D. Fund at the Foundation for Women’s Cancer. The band hopes to educate people about the dangers of the human papillomavirus, particularly among young adults. “Ten years ago people didn’t even know what HPV was, and the fact of the matter is that it is truly a sexually transmitted cancer,” Robinson says. “I believe its prevention is so important that the vaccine should be administered to both boys and girls as a school requirement.” “The Susan G. Komen Foundation’s grassroots efforts have created an iconic and successful breast cancer movement,” says Boggess, guitarist and vocalist. “We hope to have a similar effect in our efforts to create awareness in a way that makes it a bit more palatable to discuss, and [serves as] a springboard to breaking down walls.” N.E.D. is excited to finally perform in Robinson’s hometown. “You can’t call yourself a band if you haven’t played in New Orleans,” Winters says. “It’s unquestionably one of the most musical cities on Earth.” For more information about the show or to buy tickets, visit www.nedtheband.com or www.tulane.edu/som/cancer/nednola.cfm. FROM LEFT: DRS. JOHN SOPER, JOANIE HOPE, WILL WINTER, NIMESH NAGARSHETH, RUSTY ROBINSON AND JOHN BOGGESS PERFORM MUSIC TO BENEFIT GYNECOLOGIC CANCER RESEARCH.

By m I ssy WI lk I n so n

s mAr t tAlk o n h eAlth

s a former social worker and founding director of A the Orleans Parish Juvenile

Drug Court, Charly BorensteinRegueira helped young people see opportunities for growth and achievement through counseling and substance abuse rehabilitation. She received her life coach certification in 2003 and coaches executives, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs through her practice, Crescent City Coach Corporate and Life Coaching Services. Borenstein-Regueira shares advice on how to make positive changes that will endure, even after New Year’s resolutions are forgotten.

What’s the key to making a New Year’s resolution that sticks?

How can people filter out external influences to decide whether a resolution is right for them? Depending on your philosophy and background, meditation and prayer can be a

What’s the main reason people don’t meet their goals? When people are really pushed to explore how important (the goal) is to them, often the answer is something like, “Not that important. I just think I need to make $150,000 because I’m 35. But in terms of what I feel passionate about, it’s not necessarily making more money.” It’s a process of filtering out external influences and getting to the heart of what’s inspiring to each individual. Really examine, “Why do I want this? How would it change my life for the better?”

We need more than wishful thinking and willpower. We need proper tools for personal change. We are more effective at reaching goals if we state them in the positive and present tense: Rather than saying, “I don’t want to eat so much,” say, “I’m eating healthy food and exercising every day.” If you focus on what you don’t want, it’s likely to grow. But if you focus on what you do want more of in your life, you’re more likely to get up, go for a walk and move toward what you want.

What tactics can people use that will help them succeed? A concrete timeline creates a sense of urgency and propels us forward. It’s also important to be specific about the outcome we’re shooting for and the evidence to measure our success. If it’s weight loss, we want to be clear about the end goal. People often get started on a goal without thinking about all the resources they need to accomplish it, and they may not have their internal and external resources. Internal resources are skills, knowledge and attitudes that help us succeed. External resources could be hiring a nutritionist for losing weight or getting nicotine gum for quitting smoking.

What can we do when we start to lose our motivation? Two things can be helpful in maintaining our inspiration: Refrain from judging or criticizing ourselves for a lack of progress, and celebrate successes along the way. Build in rewards and motivators for moving closer to our goals.

What about getting support from friends or family? Some of us are good at setting goals in isolation, staying focused and getting from one step to the next. Some respond well to others. It’s a good thing to know: Am I someone who works well in teams? Am I inspired by the positive feedback of others? These are good questions to ask ourselves.

How does your background as a social worker influence your work as a life coach? I was drawn to working with families and youth impacted by substance abuse issues because that was part of my personal history. In New Orleans, I saw an incredible need to have alternatives to incarceration, because so many kids were going to jail for drug use and possession, but what they needed was someone saying, “Life can turn around from this point.”

What exactly is life coaching and how did you get into it? I worked 60 to 70 hours per week in juvenile court and that didn’t work well for me having a healthy, balanced life. Coaching appeared to me in contrast to traditional psychotherapy because it is a model of excellence, looking at each client as an expert in their own lives capable of making positive changes, rather than a model of “there’s a wound that needs to be healed.” Each of us has the resources to move forward, and coaching is this dynamic model for helping people quickly make significant growth and change toward improving their lives.

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

It’s important to choose a goal that matters to us personally and fits well within the bigger scope of our lives. So choose a resolution that’s really important to you. Often, someone will come tell me they want to do something like apply to [medical] school in part because that’s something their parents or the culture might look up to, but they haven’t had the opportunity to decide whether being a healer is what they want to do. So getting clear about whether something is of value to you is an important place to begin. There’s some soul searching that needs to go on in the beginning as to whether that goal is meaningful and achievable for that particular person.

way to ground yourself to that wise self within and filter out the external static. It’s really challenging to meet a goal if it doesn’t make your heart sing. Begin by asking, “What one thing, if it was different in my life, would have the biggest positive impact for me?” Brainstorm and think outside the box — whether it is to be healthy and joyful or have more peace of mind, what is our heart’s desire? What do we long for more of in our lives? That’s the kind of thing we can stand behind.

Once you know what resolution to set, how can you accomplish it?

W LL spring

E x E r ci s E fo r Li f E

By MEGAN BRADEN-PERRy

h E a Lt h n E Ws b r i E f s

hEart of thE northshorE

Louisiana Heart Hospital (64030 Hwy. 434, Lacombe, 985690-7500; www.louisianahearthospital.com) is the first medical center on the Northshore to implant the Impella, the world’s smallest heart pump. The catheter-based device, made by Abiomed and approved by the FDA in 2008, relieves stress on the heart, lowers oxygen consumption and increases blood flow to the body. In the past, cardiac patients had only two options: open-heart surgery or angioplasty. The Impella is most important for at-risk patients who otherwise might not be good candidates for the other medical procedures.

robotic gait training hELps strokE Victims

HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

People who have had a stroke and have difficulty walking often develop improved gaits when they add robotic assistance systems to conventional rehabilitation. A study funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and Santa Lucia Foundation compared the walks of 48 severely impaired stroke survivors. Half the group received conventional rehabilitation and the other half received conventional rehab plus robotic gait training. The study, published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, showed the added robotic gait training worked for people with severe impairments, but did not significantly help patients with higher mobility. The robotic devices are electromechanical platforms attached to a patient’s feet. A physical therapist sets progressive bearing weights and walking paces and measures how the patient is doing.

LsUhsc Doctor prEsiDEs oVEr psychiatric organization

Dr. Martin J. Drell, psychiatrist and LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine faculty member, will serve a two-year term as president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Established in 1953, the AACAP is a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adolescents diagnosed with mental illness.

chiLDhooD cancEr

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation (www.stbaldricks.org) reports it received more than $21 million in 2011 to help fund clnical trials for pediatric cancer research. Only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding is earmarked for pediatric cancer research, according to St. Baldrick’s. Cancers of the young, however, remain the leading cause of death by disease among children, with more than 160,000 children worldwide diagnosed with cancer annually.

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HealtH & Wellness > bestofneworleans.com > january 03 > 2012

2520 Harvard Ave. Suite 2B Metairie, LA 70001 • 504-454-3004

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Proceeds to benefit Tulane Cancer Center’s HPV vaccine program and the Foundation for Women’s Cancer.

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