Tri-Cities Healthy Living Magazine Jun'15

NOTSO MODERN MEDICINE  HARVESTING HERBS THAT HEAL | TALKIN’ ABOUT TEETH

TRI-CITIES

★★

INS A R T E TS U YM P I C OL FULS HOPE

★★

G N I N I A TR the

YOU’VE PICTURED IT LONG ENOUGH. Build your dream backyard this spring!

F E AT U R I N G Serenity 200 Fireplace

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It’s easy to picture the backyard you’ve always dreamed of. But with General Shale outdoor products, it’s just as easy to make it a reality!

Our fireplaces, fire pits, grills, garden benches and columns, accentuated with clay or concrete pavers, will add undeniable value, functionality and enjoyment to your home this spring!

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Expert orthopedic care.

Unparalleled in the region.

Count on the expert, coordinated orthopedic care at Holston Valley and Bristol Regional to help you return to your life as quickly – and fully – as possible.

Whether we’re getting you back in stride, repairing bone breaks or treating complex trauma cases, you can trust our: • Every Step Joint Replacement Centers, with convenient pre-op classes and dedicated nurse navigators • Physical therapy, seven days a week • Level I and Level II trauma centers with 24/7 orthopedic and surgical coverage • Wellmont Orthopedic Residency Program – the only one of its kind from Knoxville to Roanoke

Choose us, and you’re choosing the strongest partnerships with leading orthopedic surgeons and specialists.

Holston Valley Medical Center | Bristol Regional Medical Center

To learn more, call 1-800-464-0520 or visit wellmont.org/MyTeam.

Message your doctor.

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NO POPPING • NO CRACKING • NO TWISTING Computerized Adjustments for Neck & Back Pain Exclusive Provider of the Pro Adjuster Ultralign G2 At Livesay Chiropractic - Spinal Corrective Center, we are dedicated to helping our clients achieve optimal health for life. Combining the skills and expertise of chiropractic and wellness care, Dr. Craig Livesay and the staff of the Spinal Corrective Center are committed to bringing Johnson City, Tennessee, better health naturally by teaching and practicing the true principles of chiropractic care.

When you choose the Spinal Corrective Center, you are assured of receiving only the finest quality care through the use of modern chiropractic equipment and technology. Dr. Craig Livesay and his team have a genuine concern for your well-being!

306 Sunset Dr #100 Johnson City, TN 37604 Scan here to schedule your appointment today!

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There’s a story behind every smile...

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Understanding that simple fact has allowed us to provide not only exceptional results, but a pleasing experience as well.

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KEVIN W. MARTIN, DDS Cosmetic & Conscious Sedation Dentistry

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| vol. 1 no. 10

features NOTSO MODERN MEDICINE  HARVESTING HERBS THAT HEAL | TALKIN’ ABOUT TEETH

ON THE COVER

training the best p26

TRI-CITIES

ING

TRAIN The Mountain States Health Alliance Athletics Center, known more commonly as the “Mini-Dome,” houses the Olympic Training Site.

The multi-sport, 14,000seat facility was completed Cover photo by www.freshairphoto.com in 1977. Stone admits that although the aging facility is adequate to accomplish their goals—helping elite athletes reach the Olympic Games—she dreams of a more modern space.

BY LEIGH ANN LAUB

herbs that heal p20

If you suggest to Chris Birchfield that money doesn’t grow on trees, he’ll tell you that you’re wrong. Because in his world— the mountains of Northeast Tennessee—it does.

BY DEBRA MCCOWN

departments H E A L T H Y beat

7

The next time you cringe about going to the dentist, keep in mind that we’ve come a long way since the days of wooden dentures and pulling teeth with nothing but a shot of whiskey for pain.

BY CYNTHIA MCFARLAND

37

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body

NUTRITION | FITNESS | BEAUT Y

B Y K A R I N FA B R Y- C U S H E N B E R Y, L E I G H A N N L A U B E A N D D E B R A M C C O W N

BY CEALIA ATHANASON, LAUREL GILLUM & K ATIE MCPHERSON

8 9 10

38 40 42

A festival of flowers.

Medicine for the masses.

Independence Day done right.

15

4

TRENDS | NEWS | PEOPLE

dental do’s, don’ts, devices & dilemmas p30

HE ALT H Y

dose

INSIGHT | ADVICE | SOLUTIONS

Bust your back pain.

Eat this, not that (when you’re sick).

A grain you can grill.

45

HE ALT H Y

balance

MIND | SPIRIT | FINANCE

B Y C E A L I A AT H A N A S O N, K A R I N FA B R Y- C US H E N B E R Y & B R O C K S E N G

B Y C E A L I A AT H A N A S O N & B R O C K S E N G

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46 48

The trouble with low T. Your smartphone could save you.

GERD gone wrong.

tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

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B ris t ol

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r e n o v u s b e a u t y. c o m

H i g h w a y,

J oh ns on

C i t y,

TN

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Life is full of choices.

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Choosing a health care provider is one of the most important decisions you will make.

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Healthy Living Tri-Cities, June 2015. Published monthly by Healthy Living Media, LLC and distributed by The Caddy Group, Inc. 2332 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN 37620. All contents copyright 2015 by Healthy Living Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or advertising information, call (423) 794-8780. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Promotional” and “Promotional Feature” denote a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims and content of advertisements.

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HE ALT H Y

beat TRENDS | NEWS | PEOPLE

mind, body, soul It’s common knowledge that many men aren’t as health conscience as they should be. So because June is Men’s Health Month, here are three ways to take care of your mind, body and soul.

DRINK GREEN TEA. It promotes brain health, helps prevent prostate cancer and lowers your risk for heart disease.

LOSE THE BEER GUT. Belly fat lets toxins seep into your vital organs, so watch your portion sizes and don’t forget to exercise.

Source: menshealth.com

SPEND TIME WITH A PET. Taking Fido for a walk or simply snuggling with Fluffy can reduce as much stress as hanging out with friends.

JUNE 2015

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beat out & about

when the mountain’s in bloom

A

sea of flowers—a mountain in bloom. The coverlet of fuschia that drapes Roan Mountain in early summer has been celebrated for generations.

BY DEBRA MCCOWN

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tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

“It’s the largest natural rhododendron garden in the world,” says Jean Brown, coordinator of the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival, which will mark its 69th year this June. “The rhododendrons are absolutely spectacular. There are just acres and acres of them… you can’t even imagine how many flowers there are.”

The “garden” itself sits on the TennesseeNorth Carolina line, a longtime destination for its beauty and fresh mountain air. The festival is held at nearby Roan Mountain State Park, where some 10,000 people gather for the crafts and the music as well as the view.

The Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival features more than 100 food and craft vendors—most of them local artisans— with craft demonstrations and all-day live music. On Saturday, the lineup is a mix of country, bluegrass and old-time mountain music; on Sunday, it’s all gospel.

Back when it began in 1947, Brown recalls that the mountaintop festival was a draw for pageants and politicians; today, it continues its legacy as the big annual fundraiser for the community of Roan Mountain. The money raised helps local schools and youth programs, state park activities and the Roan Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.

“Anything that’s needed in the Roan Mountain area, we try to take a look at it and see if we can help,” Brown says.

Always the third weekend in June, the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival is timed for the peak of the bloom.

On the other side of the mountain in Bakersville, North Carolina, a much smaller festival—also an offshoot of the original onthe-mountain event—takes place on the same weekend. Its highlight is the outdoor square dance on Main Street on Friday and Saturday nights, which typically draws a crowd of about 200.

WANT TO GO? Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival June 20-21, 10am-5pm each day Roan Mountain State Park Free; parking donations requested Rhododendron Bloom: $3 per car roanmountain.com/festival.htm For festival questions, call (423) 772-3154.

For questions about the state park and gardens, call (423) 722-0190.

North Carolina Rhododendron Festival June 19-20, 7pm to midnight each night; craft fair Saturday 10am-3pm Bakersville, North Carolina $5 for the street dance; free for arts & crafts bakersville.com/rhod.html

HE ALT H Y

beat good deeds

a great calling R etired doctor continues to serve others as a volunteer.

BY LEIGH ANN LAUBE

Dr. Joe Smiddy may have retired from his pulmonologist practice at Holston Valley Medical Center, but he hasn’t given up practicing health care by any means. He’s still practicing on a full-time basis, but he’s strictly a volunteer now.

DR. JOE SMIDDY By the end of this year, he will have made five trips to the Central American village of Roaring Creek to work at Body and Soul Smiddy, who is licensed to practice in Belize, says it’s Ministries of Belize. There, he and other volunteers provide fascinating to look at world health. Medical providers in much-needed medical, dental and vision services to residents. third-world countries can learn plenty from American-trained When he’s stateside, he volunteers his time with Remote health care providers, but third-world countries can teach us Area Medical (RAM), the Stan Brock-founded organization how to provide great medical care in a low-cost setting. that provides free medical clinics to underserved patients “You can learn the principals of free care—reducing in Tennessee, Virginia and a handful of other states; the extensive and unneeded tests on patients, practicing Health Wagon, which treats defensive medicine,” he says. the medical underserved and At the Uriah Compound in Roaring Creek, Smiddy and indigent in poverty-stricken other volunteers have access to a clinic, a learning center and areas of rural Appalachia; housing facilities.

Providence Medical Clinic of Volunteers pay their own way—around $1,200—for the Kingsport and the Church Hill privilege of serving the residents around Roaring Creek.

Free Medical Clinic. He’s the Smiddy travels with pre-med and pre-dental students, medical director of the Health nursing students, college students, health care providers DR. JOE SMIDDY Wagon, and he’s president of from the Tri-Cities and volunteers who don’t have a health (LEFT) PICTURED Body and Soul Ministries. care background.

WITH STAN BROCK Although Smiddy says “We teach medical skills to volunteers so they can he misses the doctor-patient function at a higher level,” he says. “There’s a basic process relationship he had at his Wellmont Health System practice, of finding and inspiring people who want to be involved. They he has that same sort of interaction now. feel an urge to give back.”

“There is nothing more fun than the doctor-patient interaction, nothing like the feeling of being the patient’s sole LEARN MORE advocate to lead them through the maze of where they are and For more information about volunteer opportunities, where they need to be,” he says. “It’s the same everywhere. visit ramusa.org, bodyandsoulministry.com, For people with no health care, no insurance, the opportunity providenceclinickingsport.org, thehealthwagon.org or email to be the sole provider… is a great calling, really.”

Dr. Smiddy at josephfsmd@aol.com.

JUNE 2015

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beat happenings

all-american fun B

ig events take place around the Tri-Cities region to mark the 4th of July with fireworks, festivals, parades and all-American fun. Here’s a sampling of what’s going on for Independence Day.

18th-century fourth of july JUNE 27-28 / ELIZABETHTON / Free Walk among historical characters at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area and hear their varied reactions to the Declaration of Independence, from fear of war to hope of a brighter future. Events will take place from 10am-4pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday. sycamoreshoalstn.org or (423) 543-3808

JULY 4 / JOHNSON CIT Y / Free More than 50,000 people typically attend the largest July 4th celebration in the Tri-Cities, which is held at Freedom Hall in Johnson City. This year’s 30th annual event will start at 5pm with a concert featuring four bands, numerous prize drawings and giveaways, and fireworks just before 10pm. pepsi-fireworks.com or (423) 461-4855

JUNE 28 / LINVILLE, NC / Free Enjoy an all-day gospel sing, with a speaker around mid-day, on McRae Meadows at the base of Grandfather Mountain. This 91st annual event runs from 8am-3:30pm. grandfather.com or (828) 733-2013

jonesborough days

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JULY 3-4 / KINGSPORT / Free The fireworks will be held Friday night immediately following the Twilight Alive concert series event. The concert will begin at 7pm, and the fireworks will take place at approximately 9:45pm.

On Saturday, a parade will be held at 10am. downtownkingsport.org or (423) 246-6550

pepsi independence day fireworks

singing on the mountain

JULY 2-4 / JONESBOROUGH / Free Spend your July 4th weekend in picturesque Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, for a nostalgic community celebration. First held in 1970, the festival features a parade (10am Saturday), music, food, crafts, history—including a Native American village and a Civil War encampment—and, of course, fireworks (10pm Friday). historicjonesborough.com or (423) 753-1010

kingsport fourth of july

star-spangled fourth of july JULY 4 / BRISTOL / Free The parade is at 5pm on State Street, followed by festivities at Cumberland Square Park, including activities for children, food and craft vendors, and music. At 7pm, a special Border Bash concert begins, followed by fireworks after dark. believeinbristol.org or (276) 644-9700

rogersville 4th of july celebration JULY 4 / ROGERSVILLE / Free The day begins with local and regional music starting at 1pm, along with free kids’ activities and free swimming. Headlining the entertainment are Big Daddy Weave at 6pm and the Swon Brothers at 8:30pm, followed by fireworks at 10pm. rogersville4thofjuly.com or (423) 272-3150

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

benefiting from a

HEALTHY HOME Since so much of our lives are spent in our homes, it would be a waste to not enjoy them to the fullest! At General Shale, that drives our passion for what we do. We don’t simply want to sell you on our products; we want to share with you our insight on how being happy with your home will make you happier, and ultimately healthier, in life!

MORE THAN ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL It’s probably not surprising to hear or see us promoting our legacy product - brick. It is without a doubt the most durable product you can use on your home. But did you know there are actual health benefits to building with brick? For instance, brick homes provide more structural security for your family from natural disasters such as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes. Wouldn’t it be easier to sleep at night knowing your family is safer from these types of events? And, as we all know, better sleep equates to a clearer mind and healthier life in general!

IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS We have products inspired by and derived from the Rocky Mountain terrain. Why not, right? It’s a beautiful landscape that takes your breath away. Thin brick and thin rock are excellent for the inside of any home. They also have practical advantages, such as better energy retention, which equates to lower energy costs and lower monthly expenses. From a health standpoint, they provide an earthy, natural environment that studies show can usher in a sense of calm and bring healing to the mind. What’s not to love about a healthier mind and bank account?

LIVE OUTSIDE TOO It’s not always easy to pack up and travel cross country to a beach or catch the next cruise ship. Still, we all need a little “R&R” to get our minds off the “I have to’s” and on the “I want to’s.” We know there’s no better place to enjoy free time and family than your own backyard. Our D-I-Y (do-it-yourself) outdoor kits help make those times more enjoyable for everyone. You can make it as simple or extravagant as you want from a fire pit to a dream outdoor kitchen. Either way, we’re sure you’ll be smiling and loving every minute of life in the meantime!

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HE ALT H Y

dose INSIGHT | ADVICE | SOLUTIONS

headache help June is national Migraine Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is Inspiring Hope. More than 36 million Americans suffer the debilitating effects of migraines, and more than three quarters of them are women. Check out these other migraine statistics, and visit migraineresearchfoundation.org for information on treatment and support.

• MOST COMMON BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25 AND 55.

• MIGRAINES RUN IN FAMILIES. IF TWO PARENTS SUFFER, A CHILD IS 90 PERCENT LIKELY TO SUFFER THEMSELVES. • ATTACKS USUALLY LAST FROM 4-72 HOURS.

Source: Migraineresearchfoundation.org

• FOR MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF SUFFERERS, MIGRAINES INTERFERE WITH THEIR WORK, SCHOOLING AND SOCIAL LIFE. • ROUGHLY HALF OF SUFFERERS GO UNDIAGNOSED.

JUNE 2015

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dose

the low down on low t M en are men. They get dirty, they sweat and they work hard.

Every man, regardless of who they are, has one thing in common: testosterone, a hormone made in the testicles that is most often associated with sex drive and sperm production. It’s what puts hair on the chest and, physically, is what makes a man a man. But, with more than 4.5 million men experiencing low testosterone levels, known as hypogonadism, it can harm self-confidence and make a man feel less like a man.

feeling low?

Low testosterone causes a variety of issues in the male body, from feeling sluggish to depression. If you have some of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing for low testosterone.

CONSTANT FATIGUE AND TIREDNESS WEAKNESS OF THE BONES DEPRESSION, IRRITABILITY OR A LACK OF FOCUS DECREASED MUSCLE MASS OR DEVELOPMENT OF ENLARGED BREASTS LOW SEX DRIVE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

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tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

testosterone myths THE MY TH:

THE TRUTH:

MORE TESTOSTERONE IMPROVES FERTILITY.

TOO MUCH TESTOSTERONE CAN STERILIZE A MAN.

BEING OVERWEIGHT DOESN’T AFFECT TESTOSTERONE LEVELS.

TOO MUCH BODY FAT CAN SOAK UP TESTOSTERONE LIKE A SPONGE.

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY IS DESIGNED TO MAKE OLDER MEN FEEL YOUNG AGAIN.

TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT FOR MEN WITH LOW TESTOSTERONE IS A VALID MEDICAL TREATMENT.

LOW TESTOSTERONE ONLY AFFECTS OLDER MEN.

THE OLDER YOU ARE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO HAVE LOW TESTOSTERONE, BUT THIS CONDITION AFFECTS MEN OF ALL AGES, EVEN TEENAGERS.

BLOOD ©PHOTOSANI , BATTERY ©MOREDESIGN; OLD MAN ©ZYGOTEHAASNOBRAIN, FAT & HAPPY MEN ©LEREMY, SPERM © BROTHERS GOOD;MOLECULE© MOLEKUUL.BE; LIPS, BOTTOM AND NEEDLE © KSENA SHURUBURA; TUBE © PHILIA A; VITAMINS © SMILEUS ; MAN © DARREN WOOLRIDGE/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

HE ALT H Y

we have a diagnosis!

seeking a solution

After undergoing a physical exam and giving a description of your symptoms, your doctor will perform a blood test and check for diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and more to rule out conditions with similar symptoms.

Then, a blood test, usually in the morning when testosterone levels are the highest, is given.

The test is usually repeated multiple times, because of the fluctuating levels of testosterone, before the doctor will make a definitive diagnosis.

Reduced testosterone doesn’t always require treatment. Your doctor may suggest testosterone replacement therapy only if low T is affecting your health and quality of life. If you’re experiencing any of the follow, or if you want to have children, treatment might be more harmful than good.

• Low testosterone with no symptoms • Symptoms with no proven reduction in testosterone • Prostate cancer • Sleep apnea • Seriously overweight The symptoms that go along with low testosterone may also be the symptoms of other underlying causes.

Your doctor might suggest treating the symptoms and a change of lifestyle first before undergoing testosterone therapy.

THE FOLLOWING HEALTHY HABITS MAY BRING ABOUT A NATURAL RISE IN TESTOSTERONE. • LOSE WEIGHT. MEN WHOSE WEIGHT IS AT A HEALTHY LEVEL MAY BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR TESTOSTERONE LEVELS. • EXERCISE WITH WEIGHTS. ALL EXERCISE IS HELPFUL, BUT WEIGHT LIFTING AND WEIGHT RESISTANCE MAY HELP RAISE TESTOSTERONE LEVELS. • TAKE A WALK. GOING ON WALKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY MAY HELP RAISE TESTOSTERONE LEVEL.

options, options Sources: everydayhealth.com, webmd.com, healthline.com, health.harvard.edu, doctoroz.com

THE NATURAL WAY

If your doctor does diagnose you with low testosterone and determines the best course of action is hormone replacement therapy, there are several ways the hormone can be administered.

• SNACK SMART. IF YOU NEED TO SNACK, CHOOSE HEALTHY SNACKS. HIGH FIBER AND PROTEIN ARE BEST FOR TESTOSTERONE LEVELS.

PELLETS Pellets are implanted in the skin of the buttocks and release testosterone for three to four months.

• SLEEP EIGHT HOURS. A LACK OF SLEEP AFFECTS HORMONE LEVELS.

TESTOSTERONE INJECTION If you’re trying to have children, testosterone injections are the best option because they stimulate sperm production and motility.

PATCHES OR GEL Patches and gel keep testosterone at a steady level and symptoms under control. Be careful, however— exposure to other people can transfer the testosterone.

LIP PATCHES The patch goes underneath the upper lip and is changed every 12 hours, transferring testosterone through the gums.

• TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS. VITAMIN D AND ZINC DEFICIENCIES ARE LINKED TO LOW TESTOSTERONE.

safety first!

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY ISN’T FOR EVERYONE, AND, FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT’S NOT SAFE. ONLY YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD ADVISE YOU ON WHETHER HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IS RIGHT FOR YOU. ALTHOUGH EVIDENCE FOR LONG-TERM SAFETY IS MIXED, SOME EXPERTS SAY THE THERAPY BRINGS ON FEWER CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT COULD CAUSE A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE. THE TREATMENT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART CONDITIONS OR PROSTATE CANCER, AS THE THERAPY CAN ACCELERATE PROSTATE GROWTH, AND THOSE WITH LOW TESTOSTERONE DUE TO AGE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS.

JUNE 2015

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dose

the medical research revolution:

it’s in your hands

T

ake note: 2015 marks the year when medical research was potentially changed forever— thanks to a device that 72 million Americans carry in their pocket, purse, briefcase or backpack. We’re talking about Apple’s iPhone and the company’s recent introduction of ResearchKit, a brilliant, economically beneficial leap forward for medical science and your everyday health.

BY MICHAEL ROIZEN, M.D., AND MEHMET OZ, M.D.

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tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

Look at your iPhone. If you see an app with a beating heart, that’s the amazing, innovative toolbox we’re talking about.

ResearchKit is a game changer: Usually, it takes docs months, sometimes years, and huge bucks, to recruit 200 patients for a study. And pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars to find out if drug A fights infection B. With ResearchKit, recruitment can be done in a day, and a study might be done at a tenth of the former cost.

ResearchKit automates delivery of health data from volunteers to researchers by using the iPhone’s accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS sensors and other capabilities. That’s what takes the tough work out of finding and retaining study participants. It also will help solve the tantalizing mystery of “lost” data—the daily details of study participants’ lives that often go unnoted, because traditional studies may check in on volunteers only sporadically.

For example, it could let researchers discover that walking 9,720 steps a day helps control Parkinson’s symptoms, but getting 200 steps less doesn’t have the same benefits.

Finally, doctors and researchers from around the world can remotely track the health of thousands, if not millions, of people with chronic conditions (only with their permission, of course).

If you want to help out by joining a study, download the app from the App Store. As Apple’s website says, “You choose what studies you want to join, you are in control of what information you

provide to which apps, and you can see the data you’re sharing.” That means you learn about your health in real time!

What about privacy? Apple never touches the data; it goes directly to researchers. They create the apps, set up studies and recruit volunteers. And for iPhone users who agree to join a study—more than 19,000 people have already signed up—privacy is further protected by Apple via data encryption and cloud-based storage.

ResearchKit is just getting off the ground, but four research projects are up and running.

• Better Heart Health: A collaboration between Stanford University and the University of Oxford, the MyHeartCounts app uses surveys and tasks (like walking as fast as you can for six minutes) to help researchers assess how lifestyle changes affect heart disease risk. In the first 24 hours after the project was announced, 11,000 people signed up.

• Understanding Parkinson’s Symptoms: The University of Rochester and Sage Bionetworks created the mPower app to measure links between Parkinson’s disease severity and symptoms related to dexterity, balance, memory and gait. This information could help researchers better understand how various symptoms are connected to Parkinson’s disease. Within a day of the announcement, 5,589 volunteers signed up.

• Breathing Easier with Asthma and Better Blood Sugar for People with Diabetes are two other studies moving ahead thanks to ResearchKit.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your HEART © BRYAN SOLOMON; IPHONE ©LCULIG / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, MPOWER © WWW.IXBT.COM healthiest, tune into The Dr. Oz Show or visit sharecare.com. (c) 2015 Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Cited Sources: Ther. Clin. Risk Manag. 2009 Jun; 5(3):427-48; Int. J. Androl. 2009 Oct; 32(5):431-41; J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Mar; 90(3):1502-10; J. Urol. 20015 Sep; 174(3):827-34; J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab.

2000 Aug; 85(8):2839-53; J. Clin. Enocrnol Metab. 2000 Aug; 85(8):2670-7; J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Feb; 84(2):573-7; Drugs & Aging 1999 Aug; 15(2):131-42

Improving Quality Of Life Testosterone replacement therapy for men with low testosterone levels may produce a wide range of benefits, including improvement in libido and sexual function; increased muscle mass and body composition; increased strength and stature; reservation of bone mass; improvement in mood and depression; enhanced cognition; concentration and memory; improvement in sleep and quality of life; and possible decrease in cardiovascular risk.

Natural Testosterone Replacement Is Central To The Treatment Of Andropause.

The indication for testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) requires the presence of a low testosterone level and signs and symptoms of hypogonadism. When hormones are replaced and restored back to physiologic levels considered normal for younger males, men may experience a dramatic reversal of many of these changes.

On average, a man’s testosterone levels begin to decline at a rate of 1 percent per year after age 30. It is estimated that 20 percent of men aged 60-80 have levels below the lower limit of normal. The diagnosis of low testosterone levels (medically termed “hypogonadism”) is based on the presence of signs or symptoms and must be confirmed by laboratory testing, which should include total testosterone, bioavailable testosterone (plus albumin bound), estradiol, cholesterol, prostate specific antigen (PSA), complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin and hematocrit. Screening for potential risks of androgen therapy should be performed prior to the initiation of treatment. Evaluation should include a history of or potential sleep apnea, arrhythmias, significant symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or personal or family history of prostate carcinoma and a physical exam. Proper monitoring of laboratory values and clinical response are essential for optimal testosterone replacement therapy.

Numerous changes are associated with an age-related decline in the hormone testosterone, often referred to as andropause, “male menopause,” androgen deficiency of the aging male (ADAM), or late onset of hypogonadism (LOH). This is a very common condition, but it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Signs and symptoms may include: • SLOW WOUND HEALING • WEAKNESS • PROSTATE PROBLEMS • FATIGUE • LOW SPERM COUNTS • DISTURBED SLEEP • DEPRESSION, ANXIETY • REDUCED LIBIDO • REDUCED MUSCLE MASS • OSTEOPOROSIS • MEMORY IMPAIRMENT • HEART DISEASE • IMPAIRED BLOOD CELL • ATHEROSCLEROSIS FORMATION • IRRITABILITY • REDUCED COGNITIVE FUNCTION • INSOMNIA • ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Some men may go through a rather sudden change in testosterone levels that might correlate with the hormonal changes that women experience at menopause. However, some men have a slower and more subtle hormonal decline, experiencing symptoms over a period of time.

Live A Healthy Lifestyle.

A healthy lifestyle has been shown to be associated with higher hormone levels, and higher hormone levels seem to induce a more active, healthier lifestyle. When hormone levels decline, we become less active and gain weight. As we gain weight, hormones are stored in fat and become unavailable to meet the body’s demands. Lack of exercise, excessive alcohol use and many diseases can reduce bioavailable hormone levels. For optimal results, hormone therapy should be individualized and combine with adequate exercise, proper nutrition and appropriate use of natural supplements.

We Welcome Your Questions.

Let Anderson Compounding Pharmacy be your guide with cutting-edge knowledge, solutions and resources for your journey to hormone health and wellness.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

310 BLUFF CITY HWY. BRISTOL, TN 37620 (423) 764-4136 / ANDERSONCOMPOUNDING.COM

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dose

THROAT © ARTEM FURMAN; ANTACID ©BRIAN C. WEED; STOMACH ©MIUCCI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

reflux rehab caring for and treating barrett’s esophagus

A

blame it on gerd

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

take charge

lthough acid reflux is common in adults, it isn’t something to treat lightly. Barrett’s esophagus isn’t as common, but it develops from severe reflux. So, read on. We’ll tell you just what Barrett’s esophagus is and how to manage and treat it.

• IT’S COMMON FOR AMERICAN ADULTS TO HAVE GERD. • ONLY ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH GERD DEVELOP BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS. • AT THE MOST, ONLY 2 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS DEVELOP CANCER EACH YEAR.

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Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although GERD is basically chronic acid reflux, Barrett’s esophagus develops when the tissue of the esophagus changes to resemble intestinal tissue. This tissue change makes it more likely for pre-cancerous and cancerous cells to form. That’s why it’s important to have your doctor take a look. Not everyone with GERD develops Barrett’s esophagus, but managing acid reflux can help prevent or put off the disease.

serious symptoms Because Barrett’s esophagus comes from GERD, it has the same symptoms—only more severe.

GERD symptoms include nausea, heartburn, regurgitation and difficulty swallowing. But, reflux or regurgitation into the esophagus can lead to other issues like asthma and bronchitis.

It can also encourage more frequent coughs, sore throats and hoarseness.

Though some people have minimal, if any, symptoms, others can develop ulcerations and strictures—narrowing of the esophagus due to scarring—that don’t just make it hard to swallow but also lead to food spillage in the lungs.

Swallowing food and liquid with a narrowed esophagus can cause bleeding, as well. Vomiting blood or having black or maroon stools are symptoms. But, if the bleeding is slow, anemia (a low amount of red blood cells) could develop.

If you’re diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, your doctor may prescribe different types of medications to reduce the amount of acid being produced in your stomach or to keep the acid from regurgitating. Antacids are good to keep on hand, too, as they counteract stomach acids. In severe cases, though, the abnormal lining of the esophagus can be removed.

Changing your lifestyle and diet, however, is probably the best thing to do. Adjust your diet to avoid foods or products that aggravate reflux, such as chocolate, caffeine, peppermint, spicy foods, alcohol and tobacco. Keep your head elevated while sleeping to keep acid down, and don’t go to sleep right after dinner. WebMD experts suggest waiting at least three hours after eating before lying down.

Sidebar source: webmd.com Sources: medicinenet.com, webmd.com, mayoclinic.org

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Debra McCown •

photos by

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you suggest to Chris Birchfield that money doesn’t grow on trees, he’ll tell you that you’re wrong. Because in his world—the mountains of Northeast Tennessee—it does.

"Back then,, people didn t go to a doctor like they do today; Mama doctored , her young uns at home."

—Edward Holmes

“My father taught me, and his father taught him,” says Birchfield, an herb dealer in Carter County who’s been digging and selling wild plants since he was 7 years old. “When the economy’s bad, you can go hit the woods, and you can make $100 to $150 a day easy.” Of course, it does take some work—preceded by a good bit of study and instruction—to find, identify, harvest and prepare herbs for sale. But if you’ve ever taken a walk through the woods, or even just a stroll around your backyard, chances are you’ve walked over medicine and potential dollars.

In the Appalachian region, medicinal plants abound, both healing herbs with traditional uses and wild ingredients that are used in the manufacture of modern medicines. Here, the use of wild plants in healing goes back to Native American tribes, whose knowledge blended with that of early settlers to create an herbal healing tradition that remained widespread even into the 20th century.

“Back then, people didn’t go to a doctor like they do today; Mama doctored her young’uns at home,” says Edward Holmes, who grew up with the herbal healing tradition. “My mother, she was a good mother, but she was a good doctor, too. She had a lot of Indian in her, my mother did.

My mother used herbs a lot, and the older generation back here, most of them did use herbs for doctorin’ with.”

Holmes still uses a lot of these plant remedies, in a tradition where the line between food and medicine is often blurred. Take, for example, a springtime salad.

Mixed greens that are believed to purify the blood, plants like poke root and yellow dock, are also nutrientpacked foods.

And then there’s goldenseal, a versatile root that Holmes, and many others, swear by. In its powder form, he says it’s a speedy cure for all manner of sores. Boiled once and twice, it makes a healthful drink to be consumed for both treatment and

prevention of illness. Boiled a third time, it makes an excellent eyewash.

“It’s good for your gums, and you won’t ever have rotten teeth; you’ll have healthy gums. It heals sores in your mouth and your throat, and it’s one of the best stomach medicines you can get,” Holmes says.

“What you do, you dig roots in the fall, and then you wash them real good and dry them in a warm, shady place so the sun won’t take the strength out of them, and then you put them in a jar and you store them away for the winter so you have something to doctor with during the winter. There’s probably hundreds of herbs out there you can use for your health, but goldenseal is one of the best.”

Another valuable pair of herbs, he says, are boneset and wild ginger—a traditional cure for the flu. Keep in mind that boneset works best when boiled.

“If you just go out and get it, put it in a jar and let it dry, it’ll dry out real pretty and green—kind of a dark green. When you use it, you boil it and you drink your boneset cold.

Then, you drink you a cup of wild ginger, warm, just a tea cup or coffee cup before you go to bed,” Holmes says.

“Now I’m talking about if you’ve got pneumonia or you’ve got the flu, your bones are aching and you’re running a fever or chilling, you drink that and go to bed,” he adds. “You’ll wake up about three times during the night and have to change clothes, you’ll be so sweaty, and then you’ll fall asleep, and in the morning you’ll wake up and be ready to go. It knocks it right out of you.”

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Really, he says, he could go on all night about herbs. There’s catnip for a colicky baby and spicewood tea for a child with the measles, white elder bark for the stomach and some herbs—like dogwash—that are named for their most common use. There are literally hundreds of plants that have some medicinal use.

“There’s a lot of herbs out there,” Holmes says. “There’s healing in the roots; there’s healing in the trees; there’s healing in the bushes.”

“Every year, thousands of people in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia take to the mountains to gather those herbs, to sell as well as to use for themselves,” says Mary Lawson, an herb dealer in Washington County, Virginia, and owner of a metal recycling business, two ventures that often seem to go together in this part of the world.

“They’ll gather it, but they won’t sell all of it because they want to keep it for their own use,” says Lawson, who also remembers healing herbs from her childhood—like the poultices her mother would make for a cut or sting, and the teas when she was sick. She says she, like many people of her generation, know just a fraction of what their grandmothers understood about healing herbs.

It’s a point of interest to her that, even with all the synthetic drugs available today, pharmaceutical companies still need these plants to make certain medicines—and not a cultivated version either; they have to be gathered from the mountains.

“They have to have the wild kind of it,” Lawson says. “There’s something Mother Nature does to it that we can’t mimic, even though we’ve tried. The quality’s not there; the potency’s not there. It’s just not something that you can raise.”

She lists off a few: Indian tobacco, which is used in stop-smoking aids like Nicorette; witch hazel, which is used in ointments and lotions; black cohosh, which is used in

, "There s something Mother Nature does to it,that we can t mimic, even , though we ve tried., The quality s not there; , the potency s not, there.

It s just not something that you can raise."

—Mary Lawson

medicines to treat female ailments.

In any given year, there’s around 200 plants that drug companies are buying, she says. The list includes things like beth root, elm bark, cherry bark, bloodroot, cohosh and, of course, ginseng, whose price sometimes gets north of $1,000 per pound. The slow-growing root is sold mostly to Asia, where it’s believed to promote youth and longevity.

Birchfield says gathering herbs has long been a significant part of the economy in this part of the world—extra money for some folks; survival for others.

“Back when I was growing up, my parents didn’t have a whole lot of money; I guess you’d say we was povertystricken,” he says. “We worked hard [gathering herbs], but it was always good to have a little extra money. I’d use it for stuff for me: I’d buy me pants, a nice pair of shoes, stuff that I could use. If I had a school field trip or something I wanted for school, I would use the money for that. As a matter of fact, I bought my first car from doing herbs.”

When folks had trouble finding jobs in a tough economy, he says, “there’s resources right here underneath your feet.” But even in a typical year, money from digging herbs is something people have counted on for generations.

“Especially your ginseng money,” Birchfield says. “Usually around Thanksgiving, they sell their ginseng, and that’s how they buy their Thanksgiving dinner, and that will even buy Christmas and pay their property taxes.”

It’s not in the spotlight, he says, but ginseng and other herbs bring millions of dollars into the mountains each year, with a significant impact on the economy and families in the region. In his case, he says, herbs have put his son through college.

But there are some rules an herb digger has to follow. Most of them have to do with being a good steward: waiting

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to gather each plant in the proper season, taking only the plants that are mature enough to sell and scattering seeds so more will grow for the next year.

Birchfield says the skill of gathering— understanding the terrain, each plant’s preferred habitat, the “pointers” that tend to grow nearby—is tough to get from just a book. And that knowledge, like the knowledge of healing herbs, is being slowly forgotten.

“It’s almost gone,” he says. “You talk to any kid and ask them what black cohosh is; they don’t know. Ask them what a wild cherry tree is; they don’t know. When I was a kid, we all knew it.”

Birchfield and Lawson echo each other in their worry that an important piece of Appalachian heritage is being lost–and it’s hurting the local economy, too. Business has taken a hit as some of the reliable old-time herb diggers have passed on, Lawson says.

Both say they’re trying their best to pass on the knowledge to the next generation.

“The good thing is I have some kids in their late teens that’s doing it now,” Lawson

says, “and they’re shocked when they see how much money they get.”

Reeda Tate, an herbalist and the founder (and past owner) of Good Food Grocery in Kingsport, is optimistic about the future of herbal healing. Though perhaps not everyone is passing down their specific, traditional knowledge, she says there are books and classes available that teach about herbal healing generally—and even a reasonable interest in the medical community in plants’ potential.

Though home treatment with herbs fell out of favor for a time, largely because so many new and life-changing medicines came on the scene, Tate says there’s a tremendous interest in herbs now, particularly as many are being studied by medical researchers.

“I think people are realizing the more knowledge becomes available—and people do realize that a lot of medicines are botanically based—that how you eat and what your lifestyle is like greatly impacts your health. Even the medical community is seeing a lot of support for a healthy lifestyle,” she says, “and that can include botanicals as food and for health benefits.”

BACKYARD MEDICINE

Reeda Tate, founder and past owner of Good Food Grocery in Kingsport, also has extensive knowledge of herbal remedies. Here are a few safe, natural remedies that you can probably find in your yard. Just make sure, she cautions, not to gather them along roadways or anywhere else that may have been sprayed with pesticide, herbicide or fungicide.

Dandelion

Editor’s Note: Before taking any supplements, natural or otherwise, please consult your doctor.

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Medical function: Mild diuretic How: You can eat leaves and blooms in a salad, but the greens taste better before it flowers.

Red Clover

Medical function: Detoxification How: Eat the sweettasting blooms in a salad, or dry them and use them to make tea.

Plantain

Medical function: Cuts and stings How: Crush some leaves and put them on the cut or sting, then wrap area with a bandage.

Wild Strawberry Medical function: Stomach problems How: Dry the leaves and make a tea; this also works with raspberry or blueberry leaves.

Get screened.

Save your life.

When found early, lung cancer can be managed and treated. With early detection, the survival rate is 92 percent, however, when detected late that rate drops to 15 percent.

Getting screened should be a priority if you are at risk.

Indian Path Medical Center is the only hospital within a 200-mile radius that offers Veran Navigational Bronchoscopy technology for early detection.

To assess your risk for lung cancer, visit RiskForCancer.com For more information, call 423-857-5119.

The Lung Nodule Clinic 2205 Pavilion Drive, Suite 201B Kingsport, TN

the by Leigh Ann Laube P H OTO S BY W W W.F R E S H A I R P H OTO.CO M

COACH MEG STONE WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY—THE ONLY HALLWAY—OF THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TRAINING SITE (OTS) ON THE CAMPUS OF EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IN JOHNSON CITY. SHE POINTS OUT SEVERAL FORMER RACQUETBALL COURTS-TURNED OFFICE AND TRAINING SPACE. THE MOUNTAIN STATES HEALTH ALLIANCE ATHLETICS CENTER, KNOWN MORE COMMONLY AS THE “MINI-DOME,” HOUSES THE OTS. THE MULTI-SPORT, 14,000-SEAT FACILITY WAS COMPLETED IN 1977. STONE ADMITS THAT ALTHOUGH THE AGING FACILITY IS ADEQUATE TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS— HELPING ELITE ATHLETES REACH THE OLYMPIC GAMES—SHE DREAMS OF A MORE MODERN SPACE, PERHAPS SOMETHING A BIT MORE WORTHY OF AN OTS DESIGNATION. IT TOOK STONE’S HUSBAND, DR. MIKE STONE, AND OTHERS FOUR YEARS TO GET THE OTS DESIGNATION. SHE KNOWS IT COULD BE YEARS BEFORE THEY FIND SPACE TO EXPAND THE SITE. UNTIL THAT DAY, SHE AND HER STAFF WILL CONCENTRATE ON PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY PREPARING TEAM USA HOPEFULS WITH THE AMENITIES THEY DO HAVE: A FULLYEQUIPPED OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING/STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING CENTER, A SPORT SCIENCE LABORATORY AND A SPORT MEDICINE CLINIC. 26

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STARS AND STRIPES©PIOTR KRZESLAK;LAUREL©TOTALLY OUT; TEXTURE ATTITUDE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

in OCTOBER 2008,

THE AREA THAT NOW HOUSES THE OTS WAS NAMED A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPORT SCIENCE AND COACH EDUCATION. MEG STONE, A TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN FOR GREAT BRITAIN; DR. MIKE STONE, AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOLAR IN THE FIELD OF SPORT SCIENCE; AND A TEAM THAT INCLUDED GRADUATE ASSISTANTS AND ATHLETIC TRAINERS WORKED WITH ETSU’S ATHLETES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET THEM TO THE TOP OF THEIR GAME AND HOW TO AVOID INJURY. BUT THEN STAFF MEMBERS SET THEIR GOALS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

✩✩✩

megan POOLE

“There’s a different animal at the elite level,” Meg Stone explains. “We thought ‘let’s try to develop an Olympic Training Site.’”

Before coming to ETSU, Stone was the first woman to serve as head strength and conditioning coach at both the University of Arizona and Texas Tech University. She was also a coaching manager at the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) Training Center in Colorado Springs. One day, Stone picked up the phone and called a USOC acquaintance.

“We wanted to explore the possibility of developing a relationship with them,” she says.

She learned there was an application process involved, and when she saw the requirements for being named an OTS, she thought, “There’s nothing in there that we can’t do, that we can’t accomplish.”

The Center of Excellence developed a relationship with USA Weightlifting, the national governing body overseeing Olympic weightlifting. ETSU signed a memorandum of understanding to provide services and training for a national governing body. Stone also met with former ETSU President Dr. Paul Stanton to request three or four weightlifting scholarships to recruit elite-level athletes. He gave her 10.

In spring 2012, ETSU was officially designated as a U.S. Olympic Training Site for weightlifting by the USOC. It became the 17th training site in the United States. The next closest training sites are at Auburn University (handball) and in Charlotte, North Carolina (canoe/kayak).

HAS BEEN ON THE WEIGHTLIFTING RADAR SINCE 2009, WHEN SHE COMPETED IN THE INTERNATIONAL PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. SINCE THEN, THE 22-YEAR-OLD ETSU STUDENT HAS COMPETED BOTH INTERNATIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, AND HER SIGHTS ARE SET ON THE 2016 OLYMPIC TRIALS AND THE TOKYO 2020 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES.

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ere’s h t , hard get g n i work ou can’t etitive p e e u k way y ly comp lose.” o y f “I ossible a real d to n a p t m s ’ o n ger. I d I can’t n o r t s n, an o s r e p

Poole, who grew up in Georgia, was a competitive cheerleader in high school.

To build strength, she took a weightlifting class and eventually joined the co-ed weightlifting team.

After graduation, she gave up cheerleading to focus on weightlifting.

She moved to the USOC’s flagship training center in Colorado Springs in 2011, but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

“I was over-trained, and I had three surgeries from tears,” she says.

In January 2013, she transferred to ETSU and began working with Dr. Satoshi Mizuguchi, an assistant professor of exercise and sport science and head coach of the weightlifting team.

Not only is it a better training environment for her, it’s also much closer to home.

“Here, they research how to train us so we aren’t over-trained,” Poole says.

“At ETSU, they focus more on strength. The level of education in my coaches is completely different.”

An exercise science major, Poole hopes to enter a physical therapy program and become a pediatric

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physical therapist. She trains at the OTS three days a week. She’s placed at several national championships, including two first place and two second place titles at the National Junior Championships during 2010 through 2013; two second place titles at the American Open Championships; and a first place finish at the University National Championships, which was held in Johnson City in 2013. In 2014, she brought home a bronze medal from the Senior National Championships, a gold medal from the National University Championships and a silver medal from the American Open Championships.

In addition to her weekly workouts and school work, she holds a job. She also adheres to a very strict diet.

“I have to stay between a kilo and a kilo and a half of my weight class, so I have to be very cautious,” she explains.

She fits seven workouts into her three-day training routine.

“It’s such a challenge, and you have to work really hard,” Poole says. “If you keep working hard, there’s no possible way you can’t get stronger. I’m a really competitive person, and I can’t stand to lose.”

KAYAK/CANOE TRAINEES, L-R: ZACHARY LOKKEN, RICK POWELL, MICHAEL SMOLEN

in 2014,

THE ETSU OTS ADDED USA BOBSLED/SKELETON AND THE USA CANOE/KAYAK SLALOM TEAM TO ITS RÉSUMÉ.

“Right now, we’re in negotiations with [USOC] rowing.

We are in discussions with them,” Stone says. Also on the horizon are potential relationships with baseball and hockey.

The OTC trains both resident athletes—students who attend the university—and non-resident athletes. Services include high performance coaching, athlete monitoring and sport science, and coaching education.

Among the non-resident athletes who train at the facility is Olympic bobsled gold and bronze medalist Steven Holcomb, a three-time Olympian and five-time World Champion.

It might be hard to understand how the ETSU facility can train potential Olympians in bobsled/skeleton and canoe/kayak, since there’s no bobsled track or pool to mimic whitewater conditions.

“We do the strength and conditioning and the physical requirements of the sport,” Stone explains. “But with the weightlifting, we do the entire thing.”

The ETSU OTC has assisted in the development of world champions, world championship participants, Pan-American competitors and national team athletes. Current athletes are

Learn More

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE OLYMPIC TRAINING SITE AT ETSU, VISIT ETSUOLYMPICTRAININGSITE.ORG, FOLLOW THEM ON TWITTER @ETSUOLYMPICSITE OR CALL (423) 439-8477.

working toward competing in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

The OTC has a staff of six—Coach Stone; Dr. Stone; Mizuguchi; Dr. Brad DeWeese, the head strength and conditioning coach; Dr. Kimi Sato, sport biomechanist; and Event Coordinator Emily Brockelman.

Potential athletes are put through a very rigorous selection process, which includes three days of testing. They must pay their own way to Johnson City and pay for their lodging during the testing. This willingness is a first step in finding out how determined the athletes are to be part of the program.

Once they’re accepted and arrive on campus, they meet with Dr. Mike Stone, who is director of the Exercise and Sport

✩✩✩

celebrate OLYMPIC DAY

THE ETSU OLYMPIC TRAINING SITE WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL OLYMPIC DAY ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26, AT MEMORIAL PARK ON BERT STREET IN JOHNSON CITY. OLYMPIC DAY IS A FREE EVENT DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE

Science Laboratory. He designs a training program specific to each athlete.

Workouts are typically held two or three times a day, and freshmen are mandated to have eight hours of study hall each week.

“We really do make sure academics are an important part,” Stone explains.

The athletes learn about nutrition, rest, recovery and how to train as an elite athlete, she says. Sleep studies have also been done on athletes.

Stone and her staff have had to let athletes go from the program—those who weren’t serious about their training or weren’t adhering to the rules.

“It’s not a sacrifice,” Stone says. “It’s a lifestyle choice.”

SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN TO VARIOUS OLYMPIC SPORTS. THE OTS’S STAFF AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE AT STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARK. AS CHILDREN MOVE THROUGH THE STATIONS, THEY’LL EXPERIENCE OLYMPIC SPORTS LIKE RUGBY,

FIELD HOCKEY, BOBSLED/ SKELETON AND WEIGHTLIFTING. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD FROM 9AM TO NOON. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE ETSU OLYMPIC TRAINING SITE AT (423) 439-8477.

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DEnTal

DO’S, DO N DEVICES ’ TS, & DILEMMAS

THE NEXT TIME YOU CRINGE ABOUT GOING TO THE DENTIST, KEEP IN MIND THAT WE’VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE DAYS OF WOODEN DENTURES AND PULLING TEETH WITH NOTHING BUT A SHOT OF WHISKEY FOR PAIN. MODERN DENTAL TECHNOLOGY HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY WE LOOK AT PREVENTING DECAY, REPLACING TEETH AND REPAIRING SMILES IN GENERAL. SO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE DENTIST FOR A CHECKUP IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT NOW!

By CyNtHiA McFarLAnD

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PlaQUe Vs. TarTAr

Y

es, there is a difference. Neither is desirable, but plaque is a lot easier to get rid of simply by being diligent about oral hygiene practices. If plaque is not removed, it will harden into tartar, which continues to build up on the surface of teeth until removed by a dental professional.

PLAQUE:

TARTAR:

• Soft

• Not sticky

• Composed of food debris, bacteria and byproducts

• Porous

• Harmful to teeth and gums

• Harbors bacteria and is harmful to teeth and gums

• Sticky

• Easily removed by regular brushing, flossing and rinsing

D

FacTs ABoUt FloSsINg

oes anyone actually like flossing?

Probably not, but flossing at least once daily is recommended for optimal oral health. It helps remove plaque and prevent cavities and gum disease. If regular dental floss isn’t working for you, try a pre-threaded flosser or a dental pick. The key is getting plaque and food debris out from between teeth and away from gums before it can lead to decay.

Don’t forget the backside of your molars!

Bottom line: If you have teeth that touch, they need to be flossed. Yep, that means kids, too.

• Hard

• Made up of mineral deposits from saliva

• Can only be removed professionally during your dental checkup and cleaning visits

JUNE 2015

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It Jus T ta

Me. I t e F a lI

ShINg To cR E a f Bru t E

h a B It S t H a t L A sT

ENCOU R ORAL H AGING GOOD YGIENE IN KIDS

Y, o

2x a dA

lT h Y HeA

2

KEs

miNUteS,

CAVITIES ARE COMMON IN CHILDHOOD, BUT PROPER DENTAL CARE EARLY IN LIFE CAN PREVENT TOOTH DECAY. “For pennies a day and minutes of your time, you and your kids can help prevent dental disease that can be painful and affect things like speech, concentration and self-esteem,” says American Dental Association (ADA) Spokesperson Dr. Maria Lopez Howell. “It just takes two minutes, twice a day, of brushing to create healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

“It is vital that children develop good oral hygiene to prevent decay and other problems so their dental visits are limited to cleanings and exams,” notes Dr. Daniel Weldon of Weldon General & Cosmetic Dentistry. “Most adults who have an aversion to the dentist had some type of bad experience as a child.”

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• Use soft-bristled toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for kids.

shown to help prevent decay in baby teeth.

• Replace the toothbrush every three to four months, and let your child pick it out.

• Ask about dental sealants, which are thin plastic coatings painlessly applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth where cavities often form.

• Use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Before age 3, use only a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice; for ages 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount is adequate.

Remind your child to spit out the toothpaste.

• When you child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing their teeth daily.

• Ask your dentist about painting your child’s teeth with a coating of fluoride varnish, which has been

• If you don’t live in an area with fluoridated drinking water, ask your child’s dentist or pediatrician about prescribing daily fluoride supplements. Fluoride has been shown to be one of the best ways to protect against tooth decay.

• Feed your child a well-balanced diet that restricts processed, starchy, sugary foods, and schedule regular dental visits for the whole family.

TOY © MEGA PIXEL; CLOCK ICON©KETMANEE; GIRL © MICHAEL PETTIGREW; WHITENING © CARLOS YUDICA/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BriGhTEn uP!

I

t’s a proven fact that your smile is one of the first things people notice. A bright smile is associated with confidence, youth and health. If you’re happy with your teeth but not their color, ask your dentist about whitening options. Your teeth and gums should be healthy and in good condition before using any whitening method.

There are several basic choices, all of which use some percentage of peroxide to bleach the tooth enamel and make it whiter. When using an over-the-counter whitening product or toothpaste, make sure the package carries the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.

DENTAL OFFICE BLEACHING: Although it’s the most expensive option, in-office bleaching usually offers immediate results. Your appointment will take an hour or more, but you’ll walk out with noticeably whiter teeth after just one visit.

AT-HOME BLEACHING: Teeth whitening kits include a mouth tray that you wear anywhere from a couple hours to overnight. The tray holds a gel that bleaches the teeth over a period of several days to weeks. You can purchase over-the-counter kits or get them directly from your dentist. A kit from your dentist will usually provide greater results, due to the stronger peroxide contained and the fact that the dental tray is custom-made to fit your mouth. Teeth whitening strips are another easy-touse method, but the results will vary compared to the tray and gel kits.

WHITENING TOOTHPASTES: Whitening toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness, but they do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove surface stains.

DenTUreS: A BitE Of HisTOrY

HARDLY A MODERN INVENTION, DENTURES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR CENTURIES, WITH THE EARLIEST VERSIONS FEATURING HUMAN AND ANIMAL TEETH. THE FIRST SET OF WOODEN DENTURES WAS RECORDED IN JAPAN IN THE 1500S AND WAS FOLLOWED BY CARVED IVORY DENTURES IN THE 1700S.

Despite the stories you may have heard, President George Washington never had wooden dentures. He did, however, have horrible dental problems that caused him to lose all his natural teeth. He had several sets of dentures over the years, with the first full set made by Dr. John Greenwood. Held in the mouth by sets of springs, they were made of carved hippopotamus ivory and also had human teeth.

Using human teeth for dentures was common in those times. The term “Waterloo teeth” harkens to the Battle of Waterloo, and the grisly practice in which scavengers trolled the battlefields for dead and dying soldiers, then pulled their teeth and sold them to dentists.

This method of obtaining teeth for dentures continued through the American Civil War. Not to worry. If you go in for a set of partial or full dentures today, there won’t be any animal or scavenged human teeth involved!

JUNE 2015

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ALL AB

DenTAl iMpLAnTs

D

ental implants aren’t a quick fix, but they feature the latest technology and may be the answer if you want a long-term, natural-looking solution.

There’s no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to implants. Some patients need one implant, while in extreme cases, implants may replace all of the person’s teeth.

“The most common cases are people who would like to replace one missing tooth or someone who wants to stabilize their dentures,” says Dr. Weldon.

“A dental implant may be a good option for someone who is selfconscious about missing teeth or wearing dentures,” notes Dr. Lopez Howell. “However, it’s important to first talk with your dentist about this option, as good overall health is a necessity to consider this treatment, and the patient should know more about the time and costs involved with implants.”

A dental implant can sometimes take as long as six months to one year because it’s done in many steps. If teeth must be pulled, this can affect the timeline. Local anesthesia or IV sedation are used during the surgical processes.

OUT FILLINGS

TOOTH DECAY IS SECOND ONLY TO THE COMMON COLD AS THE MOST WIDESPREAD DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES. ONCE DECAY HAS CREATED A CAVITY IN THE TOOTH, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR A DENTIST TO REMOVE THE DECAY AND REPLACE THE DAMAGED AREA WITH FILLING MATERIAL.

Did you know gold was the earliest metal product used for filling dental cavities? Its dental use dates back at least 1,000 years. Today, dentists may still use inlays or onlays composed of an alloy of gold, copper and other metals, or porcelain. Other choices are dental amalgam fillings, which are silver in color and made of a combination of metals, such as mercury, silver, tin and copper, or composite fillings, which are a mixture of glass or quartz filler that provide good durability and resistance to fracture in smallto mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from chewing.

One positive aspect of composite fillings is that they are the same color as the tooth, making them less obvious.

“The type of filling material used is based on location, aesthetics and patient preference,” remarks Dr. Weldon.

“Advances in bonding have allowed composites to be used in almost any situation.”

“The type of filling used can vary from patient to patient,” says Dr. Lopez Howell. “All of the options are safe and effective, and choosing the right one usually depends on the location and severity of the cavity, as well as patient preferences.”

LatESt FluORidE RecOMmeNdATiOnS I

n late April of this year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the U.S. Public Health Service’s final recommendations for optimal fluoride levels of 0.7 parts per million in community water systems. Too much, it turns out, can lead to white spots and streaks on the teeth.

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city in the country to add fluoride to its water system. Just six years later, a study revealed tooth decay in children declined significantly in that city. Numerous additional studies confirmed that water fluoridation helps prevent cavities in both children and adults.

Approximately 75 percent of Americans now drink fluoridated water in their communities.

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WOMAN © KUES; GOLD © AFRICA STUDIO; HEADPHONES © COBISIMO; IMPLANT © CG-ART/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Gum DIseASe

P

laque buildup is at the root of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. When this happens, the tissues around the teeth become infected. Gum disease should be taken seriously, as it’s a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

You’ve probably heard about gingivitis, which is gum disease in the early stage. Signs of gingivitis include red, swollen gums that may bleed easily. Bad breath is another sign. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible. Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning and follow up with daily brushing and flossing.

If you don’t heed the warning signs of gingivitis, you may end up with advanced gum disease, or periodontitis.

If periodontitis becomes chronic, you may lose tissue and bone that support your teeth. In severe cases, the teeth will feel loose and move around. Treatment will depend on each specific case and how far the disease has advanced.

Any of the following is a red flag to schedule a dental visit right away:

• Gums that bleed easily • Red, swollen, tender gums

Sources: ada.org, mouthhealthy.org, cdc.gov, igetbraces.com, weldondentistry.com

• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth • Persistent bad breath or bad taste

• Permanent teeth that are loose or separating • Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • Any change in the fit of partial dentures

Just remember: Regular dental exams are vital because, in some people, gum disease doesn’t have warning signs.

The sooner you can treat the problem, the better.

GET HAPPY

SomE PatIeNtS fiNd ThaT weARinG heADpHonES at The deNtISt’S ofFIce CAn BloCk oUt aNnOYinG soUNdS (liKE tHe dRilL). YoU maY AlSo wANt To tRy viSUalIZatIoN tEChNiqUeS AnD piCtURe yOuRsELf iN yOuR “haPpY pLacE,” wHetHEr ThaT’s DozINg iN a hAMmoCk OR cHilLInG oUt aT yOuR faVOriTE vaCAtiON deStINatIoN.

IC DENTAL PHOB

?

IF YOU DREAD GOING TO THE DENTIST, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. DENTAL ANXIETY PLAGUES A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

First of all, speak up! Share your concerns with your dentist before any treatment. Be sure to mention any allergies you may have. Depending on what you’re having done, there are a variety of ways to make your dental visit less stressful and more comfortable. These include:

LOCAL ANESTHESIA: May be topical or injectable; prevents pain by numbing the area and blocking nerves that sense or transmit pain.

SEDATION: Methods include oral

(pill), inhalation (nitrous oxide) and intravenous (injected). There are different levels of sedation, from minimal to deep, so speak with your dentist about what is needed for your particular treatment and your level of anxiety.

GENERAL ANESTHESIA: Patient is rendered temporarily unconscious for the procedure.

Your dentist may recommend an aftertreatment pain reliever. These can be overthe-counter medicines (such as aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal, antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen) or prescription narcotic analgesics. Some may even prescribe a mild tranquilizer to take before your appointment to help get you through the door.

JUNE 2015

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Palliative Care

Home Health Hospice

HEALTH MATTERS Researchers at Rutgers University have determined that by the time a man is 30, his testosterone levels start to decline by about10% per decade, and by age 60, he often has only half of what he had at age 30. In addition to aging, other contributors to an early decline can be poor nutrition, smoking and stressful lifestyles.

You don’t have to leave your house to receive the quality care you deserve. Our skilled staff provides the following services: • Skilled nursing • Occupational therapy • Medical social worker • Home health aide • Spiritual care • Physical therapy • Speech therapy

Poor testosterone production can significantly impact the quality of a man’s life, which typically manifests by affecting his energy, sleep, immunity, stamina, memory, mood and libido.

Fortunately, the natural production of testosterone can be revitalized with a new revolutionary nutritional supplement called T-MALE. The powerful nutrients in T-MALE are proven to support the endogenous production of testosterone, which include ViNitrox ™ polyphenols, zinc aspartate, trace minerals (copper and boron) and saponins from fenugreek. By strengthening a man’s hormone producing system, T-MALE can considerably improve his quality of life.

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Home Health

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NEW HOPE FOR GLAUCOMA PATIENTS

T

he smallest FDA-approved medical device is now available for patients with cataracts and glaucoma. Johnson City Eye Clinic and Surgery Center provides the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent as a treatment option to reduce eye pressure for patients with both cataracts and glaucoma. The iStent is FDA-approved for use in conjunction with cataract surgery to reduce eye pressure in adult patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma currently being treated with glaucoma medicine. In clinical trials, iStent has been shown to safely reduce eye pressure, which is the primary cause of open-angle glaucoma.

“This is great news for people who have both a cataract and glaucoma,” says Dr.

James Battle, III. “The eye drops used to treat glaucoma can be difficult to administer and are expensive. With iStent, many patients will need less medicine to control their eye pressure and some may not need prescription eye drops at all.” iStent is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA and is placed in a patient’s eye during cataract surgery. Dr. Battle went on to say, “It is so small you are unable to see or feel it after the procedure is done. Although you won’t even know iStent is there, it will be working to help reduce your eye pressure.” Implanting the iStent does not significantly extend the length of time the patient spends in surgery and has a similar safety profile to cataract surgery alone.

423-929-2111 | JOHNSONCITYEYE.COM 36

tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

Studies have shown that more than 90 percent of patients do not comply with their ocular medication dosing regimens and nearly 50 percent discontinue taking their medications within six months. Dr. Battle cautions that, “This can be a serious problem. When pressure in the eye is out of control, it can increase the risk for permanent vision loss. I consider iStent an important advancement in protecting against vision loss for my glaucoma patients.”

JOHNSON CITY EYE CLINIC AND SURGERY CENTER 110 MED TECH PARK, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37604 JOHNSON CITY EYE CLINIC AT BRISTOL 225 MIDWAY MEDICAL PARK, BRISTOL, TN 37620

HE ALT H Y

body

HONEY ©ELISANTH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NUTRITION | FITNESS | BEAUT Y

the sticky on

Sources: top10homeremedies.com, care2.com, mothernaturenetwork.com

honey Because of its unique composition, honey is a powerhouse of nutrients and antibacterial properties. Here are 10 reasons you should keep honey in your pantry. Always.

1. REDUCES SCALP FLAKES AND ITCHING 2. SOOTHES SKIN WOUNDS 3. BOOSTS ENERGY AND MUSCLE RECOVERY 4. DEVELOPS IMMUNITY TO ALLERGENS 5. AIDS DIGESTION 6. EASES COUGHS AND SORE THROATS 7. KILLS ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA 8. REGULATES BLOOD SUGAR 9. FIGHTS INSOMNIA 10. HELPS PREVENT CERTAIN CANCERS

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D

riving or sitting at a desk all day changes your posture, and smaller muscles take on the work of larger back muscles to support your body. These muscles become strained, leading not only to pain but to back and neck problems, too. A few exercises each day can help relieve some of your pain as well as keep your spine aligned for a healthier back and neck.

back exercises

When it hurts to bend over, pick something up or sit down, it’s time to fix your back pain. Add these exercises into your daily routine to feel the relief.

BEND BACKWARD: With hands on your lower back, slowly bend backward 10 times. Do this a few times throughout the day to alleviate pain caused from bending forward and sitting.

MAN © GUAYO FUENTES; HEAD AND TORSO ©WHANWHAN.AI;BODY © BILL FEHR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

my achy breaky back (and neck)

BACK EXTENSION: At the end of the day, lie face down on the floor and slowly lift yourself up, resting on your forearms.

Hold that position for up to four minutes, and breathe deeply.

Lower yourself back to the ground, and lift yourself up, straightening your arms so your palms are on the ground.

Repeat at least 10 times to realign the vertebrae of your spine.

TABLETOP: Place your hands against a wall in front of your waist. Back up, and bend over to create a straight back from your waist to the wall. Breathe deeply, and arch your back downward so your stomach is curved toward the floor, keeping your hands firmly in place on the wall. Hold for several seconds, and repeat throughout the day to lengthen the spine.

neck exercises CHIN TUCK: TUCK YOUR CHIN INTO YOUR NECK (THINK DOUBLE CHIN) ABOUT 10 TO 15 TIMES EVERY FEW HOURS. THIS EXERCISE COUNTERACTS STICKING YOUR NECK OUT WHEN LOOKING AT A COMPUTER.

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LOOK UP: TILT YOUR HEAD UP, AND HOLD FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. REPEAT 10 TIMES EVERY FEW HOURS. DOING THIS WILL RELIEVE PAIN THAT COMES FROM LOOKING DOWN AT A PHONE, BOOK OR TABLET.

DIAPHRAGM BREATHING: SHALLOW BREATHING CAUSES NECK MUSCLES TO CONTRACT, BUT BREATHING THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM TAKES STRESS OFF THE NECK. SIT UP STRAIGHT AND RELAX YOUR SHOULDER BLADES, ALLOWING YOUR CHEST TO OPEN UP.

Sources: active.com, youbeauty.com

Do these exercises in the car (at a red light, of course), at work or even at your child’s soccer game to relieve neck pain. They’re quick, easy and effective.

Neuro-Spine Solutions, P.C. TRUST YOUR

Areas of Treatment GENERAL ORTHOPAEDICS | HAND AND SPINE Neck Pain Low Back Pain Thoracic Pain Herniated Disc Occupational Injuries Pinched Nerves Degenerative Arthritis Scoliosis Failed Previous Neck/Spine Surgery Steroid Injections

health to us

Joint Arthroscopy Ankylosing Spondylitis Joint Replacement Spinal Stenosis Sports Injuries Spinal Instability Cancer Spinal Fractures/Injuries Osteoporosis

About Us

We provide spine care excellence with a caring touch using cutting-edge technology. We believe in providing state-of-the-art spine care, including microsurgery, discectomy, laminectomy, minimally invasive, artificial disk, motion-sparing technology, fusion and kyphoplasty.

A graduate of Louisiana State University,

Morgan P.

Lorio

M.D. FACS

Dr. Lorio completed his general surgical internship and orthopedic residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Lorio is double board certified in spine and hand surgery along with general orthopaedics.

Dr. Lorio completed the Simmons Spine Fellowship and a clinical practice fellowship with Dr. Hanson Yuan at the Health Science Center Syracuse. He is a member of the American Boards of Orthopedics and Spine Surgery the North American Spine Society, among others. Recognized by the Profiles of Hand Surgery in North America, Dr. Lorio is an assistant clinical professor at East Tennessee State University.

240 Medical Park Blvd. Suite 2700 Bristol, TN 37620 | (423) 844-0501

Get the free mobile app at

http:/ / gettag.mobi

foods that heal (and some that don’t)

S

limy noses, untimely bathroom visits, headaches… being sick is never fun. Yes, grandma’s classic chicken soup recipe is always there for you, but if you’re just not in the mood for soup, check out some of these foods.

We’ve gathered some of the best (and worst) foods to eat when under the weather.

diarrhea

BEST: WHETHER THIS PERSISTENT URGE HAS BEEN GIFTED TO YOU BY A FRIEND, PROMISING A SOONER-THAN-LATER VISIT TO THE TOILET, OR YOU JUST MADE A POOR CHOICE DURING LAST NIGHT’S DINNER, ONE THING IS FOR SURE—YOU GOTTA GO! THE BRAT DIET—BANANAS, RICE, APPLESAUCE AND TOAST—MAY HELP. ONCE YOU’VE GOTTEN THOSE DOWN, TRY OATMEAL, BOILED POTATOES OR SALTINE CRACKERS.

WORST: Candy and gum containing sorbitol and other artificial sweeteners are typically not appreciated by the digestive tract, especially in this scenario. Stray away from onions, apples, broccoli, cabbages and beans, as well.

constipation

BEST: STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ADULTS NEED BETWEEN 25 AND 30 GRAMS OF FIBER DAILY IN ORDER TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. ALONG WITH DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER, YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY FOODS SUCH AS PRUNES, BEANS, AVOCADO, WHOLE-WHEAT PASTA, WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD AND FLAXSEED.

WORST: The first and only situation where this will be said: Chocolate is a no-go.

Along with various dairy products, iron supplements and narcotics, chocolate is a leading cause in worsening constipation.

nausea

BEST: AS UNAPPEALING AS FOOD SEEMS WHEN YOU’RE FEELING QUEASY, THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL CALM YOUR STOMACH ACIDS, MAKING IT EASIER TO EAT SMALLER PORTIONS OF FOOD. DRY, BUTTERLESS TOAST AND CEREAL ARE BLAND FOODS THAT DON’T TAKE MUCH TO GET DOWN. FROZEN LEMON SLICES AND PEPPERMINT HAVE BEEN RUMORED TO HELP, TOO.

WORST: Because spicy foods are often the route of our stomach problems in the first place, the seemingly smart thing to do in this situation is to stay away from spicy, greasy and oily food when you know you are having stomach trouble.

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sore throat

BEST: FINALLY! AN EXCUSE TO EAT ALL THE ICE CREAM YOU WANT—ALONG WITH ALL OF THOSE OTHER DELECTABLE FOODS. SOUPS, MASHED POTATOES, YOGURT, EGGS AND CUSTARDS ARE SOFT FOODS THAT MAY DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR SCRATCHY THROAT LONG ENOUGH TO ENJOY THEM!

CEREAL © MAYAKOVA; ICECREAM © M. UNAL OZMEN; BANANAS © MELICA/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

body

WORST: Crumbly foods, like chips and granola, and acidic juices, like orange juice, will only irritate an already sore throat.

headaches

BEST: DEHYDRATION IS A LEADING CAUSE OF HEADACHES, SO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. CAFFEINE, NOTORIOUS FOR DEPLEATING ONE’S BODY OF WATER, IRONICALLY IS KNOWN TO HELP A HEADACHE IN SMALL DOSES.

WORST: Aged cheeses, chocolate, red wine, hot dogs and deli meats.

What do all of these have in common? MSG. Known to attack an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain linked to high blood pressure, triggering a headache.

stuffy nose

BEST: THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN TRY THE SPICY FOODS. ALSO, CINNAMON AND TURMERIC ARE KNOWN TO HELP. HOT LIQUIDS LIKE TEA AND SOUP CAN ALSO OPEN NASAL PASSAGES. WORST: Lay low on the dairy and sugar.

Sources: health.com, cnn.com, activebeat.com

HE ALT H Y

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HE ALT H Y

body

get your grill on I f you’re planning a summer cookout, ditch the burgers and hot dogs this year, we beg you. Maybe you’ve never considered the endless potential your grill possesses, but while you have it hot, throw on one of these unexpectedly gluten-free recipes using the all-purpose grain: sorghum.

spicy sorghum chicken breasts When it’s not busy lending crunch to salads, did you know sorghum can be used as a syrup, too? It was news to us, but we’re happy to see it on the ingredient list for these delicious spicy chicken breasts.

You’ll need…

4

chicken breasts

½

cup canola oil

Juice of 1 lemon

2

tbsp sorghum syrup

Salt

3

cloves garlic, minced

Pepper

2

jalapeno peppers, minced

Place chicken breasts between sheets of wax paper, and pound to ½-inch thickness. Pierce both sides several times with fork, and set aside. In large resealable bag, combine canola oil, sorghum syrup, garlic, jalapenos and lemon juice.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts to bag, and refrigerate for at least two hours. Heat grill to high. Remove chicken breasts from marinade, and cook for 6 minutes. Turn to other side, and cook for another 6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Recipe and photo courtesy of Joy Gray and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, sorghumcheckoff.com.

FOR MORE RECIPES AND INFORMATION ON COOKING WITH SORGHUM, VISIT HEALTHYSORGHUM.COM.

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grilled sorghum tabbouleh salad While you’ve got sorghum on the brain, consider adding it to your salads. It adds crunch without gluten-laden croutons and is the easiest party side once you’ve already got the grill warm.

You’ll need…

1

cup sorghum grain

3

cups water

1

yellow bell pepper, cored and quartered

1

red bell pepper, cored and quartered

1

white onion, cut into wedges

¼

cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon

3

bunches parsley, chopped

¼

cup fresh mint, chopped

1⁄₃

cup lemon juice Salt Pepper

Add sorghum to water, and bring to boil. Cover, and reduce to simmer for 50 minutes. Set aside to cool. Brush bell peppers and onion with 1 tbsp olive oil, and grill over medium heat for 4 minutes. Turn to other side, and grill for another 4 minutes. Remove, and cool. Chop grilled peppers and onion, and add to sorghum. Add parsley, mint, lemon juice and ¼ cup olive oil, and toss lightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Brady Shadid and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, sorghumcheckoff.com.

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Opiate addiction is a very dangerous and real epidemic in the United States.

Millions of people every year abuse illicit opioid drugs and prescription medications. According to the CDC, opiate overdoses have passed traffic accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. It is a serious medical condition that can be very damaging to a person’s mental, physical and emotional health; it damages families and may even cause death. If you are suffering from opiate addiction, you are not alone, and you can turn to help by contacting the experienced and compassionate staff here at Watauga Recovery Center.

THE WATAUGA RECOVERY CENTER Intentional Recovery Education Program is our unique approach to assisting our patients in developing a strong, 4-level recovery foundation and teaching the life skills needed for relapse prevention.

“Addiction is a Disease, Let’s Treat it That Way.”

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JUNE 2015

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Looking for a gift for Dad? Forget the crazy ties! Or the “Best Dad Ever” coffee mug.

Get dad the gift he really wants...the freedom to GOLF!

The JCCC offers memberships for all dads! Whether he is a golfer, a tennis player or just enjoys great cuisine, there is something for Dad! While he is out on the course, you can enjoy being poolside at our Olympic-size swimming pool!

General Membership:

Includes the use of all facilities & privileges of the Club (golf, tennis, pool and food & beverage) for the member, spouse and dependent children. Food and Beverage minimum of $50 per month.

$309 +taxes Requires a 12 month membership contract. $100 membership certificate required. Has one (1) Vote.

1901 East Unaka Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601 • 423.975.5520 • www.jcccsite.com 44

tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

HE ALT H Y

balance MIND | SPIRIT | FINANCE

don’t become the

It’s firework season once again, and although we all like colorful explosions and sparklers, safety should always be your family’s No. 1 concern. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks caused an estimated 17,800 fires in 2011. Fireworks might be fun but hospital visits aren’t, so have a bucket of water handy and never:

Source: nfpa.org

USE FIREWORKS INSIDE HOLD LIT FIREWORKS IN YOU HAND POINT FIREWORKS TOWARD A HOME, CAR, PERSON OR PET LET YOUR CHILD HOLD FIREWORKS WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING WHEN HANDLING FIREWORKS

JUNE 2015 JUNE | healthylivingmagazines.com 2015 | tchealthyliving.com

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balance TAG © MEGA PIXEL; COUPONS © CAROLYN FRANKS; STOP SIGN © SILIA PHOTO; MUG © ERASHOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

in a pinch B

udgeting for something extra like an emergency savings account might sound overwhelming, but it’s not impossible. Financial experts recommend saving anything from three months to one year of expenses in case of job loss or catastrophic events. And, if you’re in debt, it’s even more important to have a small emergency account so you can depend less on credit cards.

Start with a goal to put $1,000 immediately into an emergency fund. You’re probably thinking that’s impossible, but we’re here to tell you it’s not. Take a look at these five ideas for saving a little more and spending a little less.

5

%

TRANSFER 5 PERCENT OF EACH PAYCHECK INTO SAVINGS. You’d be

surprised how quickly the money will add up and how little you’ll miss it. Try setting up an automatic transfer through online banking, so you won’t even have to think about it.

BREW COFFEE AT HOME. For every cup

SELL YOUR STUFF.

Are you a crafty person who likes to make things in your down time? Open up a shop on Etsy and sell some of your products.

Or, go through all of your stuff and pick out what you can live without, don’t use or shouldn’t have bought.

Sell your stuff on Ebay, Craigslist, at a consignment store or have a yard sale.

SPEND LESS. This seems obvious, but it’s harder than it sounds.

Cut back on things you don’t need—like frequent eating out or buying clothes— and find coupons for necessities like groceries.

GO ON A SPENDING FREEZE.

With a few friends, plan to spend absolutely nothing for a specific length of time. It could be a week or a month, but once you make a goal, stick to it.

of coffee you purchase, you probably spend between $3 and $5. If you buy two each week, that’s between $6 and $10 you could be saving per week—and $24 to $40 every month.

Even if you aren’t a coffee drinker, this concept still applies to all lunches and snacks purchased throughout the week. Start packing a lunch and putting the money you saved in your emergency savings account.

THAT’S NOT SO BAD, RIGHT? MAKING SMALL, INTENTIONAL CHANGES OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WILL BUILD UP AN EMERGENCY SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND DEVELOP GOOD SPENDING HABITS BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. SOON YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY SPENDING LESS MONEY.

46

tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

Sources: livingwellspendingless.com, thebudgetmama.com, markandlaureng.com

HE ALT H Y

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| tchealthyliving.com

47

summer stats I

t’s time to kick back, relax and take a vacation! But, before you go, take a look at some of these statistics and healthy tips to avoid the crowds and keep the pounds off.

A recent AAA study shows that 72 percent of travelers will be traveling this summer.

So, if you’re planning a trip, check out these stats to help you plan around the crowds.

48

-JU APR

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and

AVOID SUGAR, SALT AND CAFFEINE. Keeping away from these substances will prevent mood swings and energy slumps.

If you still want to take a trip this summer but don’t want to endure the crowds, pick a unique place to go—like a lake house in the mountains or out west to the Grand Canyon—because destinations: most people will be going to these three destinations

56% 55%

tchealthyliving.com | JUNE 2015

keep up your energy.

Pushing fluids will also minimize hunger pangs.

where’s everyone going?

R

when to travel

N

% WILL USE THEIR TAX RETURN TO FUND THEIR VACATION

STAY HYDRATED.

-MA

% ARE MAKING PLANS TO TRAVEL ABROAD

vitamins and immune support packets like Airborne or EmergenC to help prevent catching a cold.

JAN

20 15

C

39

% MAKE TRAVELING PLANS THREE TO FIVE MONTHS IN ADVANCE

-DE

49

% PLAN TO TAKE TWO TO THREE VACATIONS, EACH FOR FOUR DAYS OR MORE

BRING SUPPLE MENTS. Take multi-

you’re traveling by car or by plane, put together a bunch of healthy snacks to curb your hunger.

Almonds, cashews, dried fruit, nutrition bars and crackers are a few ideas.

OC T

% ARE LIKELY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAPER GAS PRICES BY TAKING ROAD TRIPS

PACK HEALTHY SNACKS. Whether

P

52

pounds heavier or sick with a cold. And, if you’re planning a trip in the next couple of months, it also happens to be swimsuit season. So, let’s take the stress out of your summer trip with a few healthy tips to travel by.

-SE

WITH LOWER GAS PRICES, IT’S EXPECTED TO BE A BUSY TRAVEL YEAR. TAKE A LOOK AT THESE STATS TO SEE JUST HOW BUSY:

healthy vacay tips It’s never fun to come back from vacation a few

JUL

this year…

GLOBE © PABLO SCAPINACHIS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

balance

26% 25%

GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Traveling

can be exhausting.

Getting enough rest each night will revitalize your body and improve your overall well-being each day.

CIT Y (42 PERCENT) BEACH (30 PERCENT) CRUISE (21 PERCENT)

Sources: AAA.com, usatoday.com, insonnetskitchen.com

HE ALT H Y

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