Texoma Area Living Well Magazine March-April 2021

THERAPY SERVICES:

• Manual Physical Therapy

• Manipulation based therapy

• Dry needling

• Cupping

• Individualized exercise programs

• Sports and injury prevention programs

• Vestibular rehabilitation

• Balance and fall prevention programs

• Pre- and Post-Operative therapy

At Texoma Orthopedic and Spine, we are dedicated to providing our patients with the highest quality treatment of Orthopedic injuries and disorders for patients at all stages of life.

Our physicians, Brian T. Rose, MD and C. Craig Cranford, DPM, believe in improving quality of life by providing their patients with education as well as top-notch surgical, non-surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic treatment options.

We provide a full range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options for a variety of orthopedic conditions, including osteoarthritis of the joints, sports injuries and fractures of the upper and lower extremities, as well as neck and back pain.

Texoma Orthopedic and Spine has on-staff therapists to make sure your doctor is in close communication regarding your therapy during your rehabilitation process.

C. Craig Cranford, DPM, MPH, FACFAS

FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY

Surgical Services:

• Foot and Ankle Trauma and Reconstruction

• Fracture repair

• Flat Foot Reconstruction

• Total Ankle Replacements

• Bunion Repair

• Hammertoe Repair

• Joint replacement in small joints

• Charcot reconstruction

• Foot and Ankle arthritic conditions

• Plantar fasciitis

• Achilles Tendon Repair

Brian T. Rose, MD, FAAOS

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY OF THE SPINE

Surgical Services:

• Spinal Fusion

• Kyphoplasty

• Cervical Disk Replacement

• Microdiskectomy

• Spinal Decompression

• Interlaminar Stabilization

Dr. Grant Craig

Pastor Terry Barnett

Natalie, Jeremy and Champ Roberts

Mayor David and Mignon Plyler

FROM THE PUBLISHER

WOMAN POWER

Trial attorney turned journalist Megyn Kelly is facing the future with a devil may care attitude. Before a career as a news anchor, Kelly was well on her way to making partner at a prestigious fim. Instead, Kelly ditched the courtroom for the newsroom and became a formidable journalist who wasn’t afraid to ask tough questions.

Now Kelly is taking the next step. Last year she launched her own media company, Devil May Care Media, which produces her unfiltered podcast The Megyn Kelly Show. Billed as “your home for open, honest, and provocative conversations with the most interesting and important political, legal, and cultural figues today. No BS. No agenda. And no fear,” it’s Kelly’s way of setting a fresh course with unlimited potential and freedom from corporate agendas. Learn more about her compelling venture on page 8.

Based on these talented, motivated women, it’s no surprise to learn that women are shaping the economy and business world. We explore this evolution in the article “ The Buying Power of Women,” by examining the impact females are making as America’s biggest consumers. Statistics reveal the crucial role women play in the economy and businesses are fially taking notice.

Meanwhile, if you’ve noticed that getting a solid night’s sleep is hard to come by these days, we have your solution. Check out the 15 tricks you can employ to train your mind and body to fall asleep more quickly and improve your sleep quality on page 30.

There’s more to keep you in the loop, so take a deep dive into this issue.

Be well!

Living Well Well

MARCH/APRIL 2021

PRESIDENT & CEO

SAM HOUSTON

VICE PRESIDENT & CFO

SPRING HOUSTON

EDITOR, FEATURE WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA

SONDRA BARR

ART DIRECTOR

VANESSA FRYER

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

JENNIFER BEAVERS

WEBSITE

LYDIA ROGERS

ADVERTISING & SALES

TEXAS: Denton County, Dallas County, Collin County

TEXAS & OKLAHOMA: Texoma Area

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LIVING WELL MAGAZINE is a source for quality educational articles on living a healthy, vibrant life. Our focus is on connecting our readers with the latest information on a host of topics relevant to their evolving life. From cutting edge medical news and procedures to top-tier financial, legal and lifestyle information. Connecting readers to leading medical and business professionals in their community in Texas and Oklahoma.

SPRING AND SAM HOUSTON

SAM AND SPRING HOUSTON

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Trial attorney turned journalist Megyn Kelly faces the future with a devil may care attitude.

By SONDRA BARR

MK filtered Un

Before her stint as a news anchor, Megyn Kelly was a trial lawyer at a prestigious fim on her way to making partner. A rigid career path with a predetermined conclusion, she realized it lefther woefully unfulfilled. Now the lawyer turned journalist is breaking free of legacy media. Setting a fresh course with unlimited potential and freedom from corporate agendas, she’s fially serving up the news––her way.

For 50-year-old Kelly, podcasting is the natural progression from years spent anchoring news shows across multiple networks. Last year she launched her own media company, Devil May Care Media, which produces her unfiltered podcast The Megyn Kelly Show

Since launching her podcast, the show has consistently ranked in the top 10 in the news commentary category on Apple and Spotify. Billed as “your home for open, honest, and provocative conversations with

the most interesting and important political, legal, and cultural figues today. No BS. No agenda. And no fear,” guests have included Alan Dershowitz, Mark Cuban, Candace Owens, and Glenn Greenwald.

“I wanted something that would tip the hat to where I am in the media spectrum. The whole saying is ‘ The devil may care, but I do not.’ What I’m trying to telegraph is nobody’s going to tell me what to say anymore because I don’t care. If you don’t like it, I don’t really care. You don’t have to listen. Go fid another podcast,” she explained to writer Nate Eaton last year.

The veteran journalist’s reason for entering the podcasting fray after departing NBC in 2019 is simple, “Legacy media is dying a very slow death,” she told the Daily Caller’s Shelby Talcott. “ These are all money-making engines. They’re not there as a public service.”

K

I had this little voice in me saying,‘I am more interesting than this. I am more interested than this.’

“ The media gets paid to get eyeballs, right? To get you viewing them. And the way you do that is to stoke outrage. That’s why whenever you turn offthe television from cable news, you feel pissed off. You may not even know they’re doing it to you, but that’s what they’re doing to you. It’s one of the reasons I wound up leaving.”

It’s not the fist time Kelly has turned her back on something that she didn’t perceive as fulfilling and transparent. After graduation from Albany Law School, where she was a member of the student senate and edited the law review, she embarked on a career in corporate law. By age 33, Kelly was representing high-profile clients including credit bureau Experian for the international law fim of Jones Day. On track to becoming partner, Kelly excelled in the fild but wasn’t inspired.

“I had this little voice in me saying, ‘I am more interesting than this. I am more interested than this,’” Kelly told Vanity Fair’s Evgenia Peretz for a 2016 cover story.

Armed with gumption, charisma, and the doggedness that would come to defie her as a journalist, the experienced trial attorney turned her sights on becoming a newscaster. While still practicing law, Kelly took a reporting class and completed an internship at a local Chicago station. She then put together a sample reel with a friend to present to television stations in the hopes of securing a newscaster spot.

As they say, one thing led to another and her tape landed in the hands of Fox News Washington-bureau chief Kim Hume, wife of Fox News anchor Brit Hume. From there, it eventually hit the desk of Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. He recognized her star power. Kelly’s career ascent was fast and furious.

“I could have kept doing [law], and I think I was in what my sister-in-law calls my ‘zone of excellence,’” Kelly explained to Peretz. “But I chose a different path, and I made a big fiancial sacrificewhen I fist started, and wound up getting into what she calls my ‘zone of genius.’”

Her years as a trial attorney served Kelly well as a news anchor. Quick on her feet, her verbal sparring skills are fiely honed. Kelly regularly took guests to task on her popular live evening news show on Fox, The Kelly File, and elsewhere. She also wasn’t (and isn’t) afraid to ask tough questions, as well documented when she served as a moderator for the 2015 Republican presidential debate.

“She takes no prisoners and takes no BS,” veteran newswoman Katie Couric has said of Kelly. “And I’ve noticed that she’s a really good listener. Sometimes the tendency is to go down a laundry list of questions and to not say, ‘Wait a minute.’ It requires you to think on your feet and to take the conversation in a totally different direction.”

Campbell Brown, a former CNN prime-time host, said this about Kelly: “She doesn’t talk down to her audience. There is none of the sanctimonious, condescending attitude. And, frankly, none of the hate. I think people are sick of these primetime chest thumpers characterizing the other side as evil.”

The No. 1 thing I wanted to do was control my own editorial.

To not be doing anyone else’s bidding…

It’s the chest thumping that Kelly avoids in her podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show. “ The No. 1 thing I wanted to do was control my own editorial,” Kelly told The Journal. “To not be doing anyone else’s bidding, not having the pressure of corporate overlords over me, that means one has to be entrepreneurial.”

Kelly’s careers, both as a lawyer and news anchor have created a strong desire to fially be able to control the discussion. Freely exploring a wide range of topics without the pressure of someone else’s editorial agenda is something that Kelly has long wanted to fully embrace.

“ There’s no way, when people sort of understand what’s happening in the digital world and how forward-looking it is and how much more meaningful and substantive it is, and how much more honest you can be here, that they would choose the other model [cable news],” Kelly told the Daily Caller, adding “younger viewers are leaving” traditional media “in droves.”

As to why people should tune into her podcast, she said to Eaton, “I think I have a unique approach to delivering the news. I understand how to do it so that it’s informative but also entertaining. The listener is having fun, learning and walking away knowing what’s happening in the country but not having to work too hard for it. I also think what’s different with me now versus the past several years is I’m unbridled. I don’t have to answer to anyone other than myself, my conscience, and my audience. That’s enabled me to go places where I otherwise couldn’t go. I own the show.”

MEGAN WITH HUSBAND DOUG BRUNT.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK @MEGYNKELLY

How Do I Protect My Disabled Child?

By CRAIG WATSON

Grace is a sweet 69 year old widow. Her husband died recently from a long illness. She has two children: a son, Todd, and a daughter, Kate. Todd is disabled and suffers from mental illness. Although Todd lives in his own apartment, he is unable to work. He receives Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Grace has to supplement Todd’s meager income so that he will have enough money for his basic needs. He is a meek, loyal man who faithfully helped Grace care for his father. Her daughter, Kate, lives nearby. Kate is fiancially secure. Kate has a tendency to bully Grace. Kate called yesterday, cursed at Grace and hung up on her. While Kate regularly checks on Grace, she never calls or visits Todd. Kate was always too busy to help Grace care for her husband. Grace also has a responsible, caring nephew who lives in a nearby state. He regularly visits Grace and Todd.

Grace owns her home, valued at around $100,000. She keeps $10,000 hidden under her mattress, $30,000 in her checking account and $110,000 in a brokerage account. Grace wants to protect her assets if she ever has to enter a nursing home, which she heard can cost $4,800 per month. She would like to keep control of her funds if possible. She desires to leave an inheritance for both children but she is especially worried about Todd because

she knows his government benefits are insufficit to meet his needs. She knows that if she leaves Todd an outright inheritance, he will immediately lose his SSI/Medicaid which would be catastrophic. Grace does not want to leave her assets to Kate to use for Todd because Grace does not trust Kate to care for Todd. Even if Grace trusted Kate, Grace knows that if Kate died, Kate’s will bequeaths her assets to her husband, not Todd. Further, if a divorce occurred, Kate’s husband might get Todd’s money. Grace feels alone and doesn’t know how to solve these problems. Grace decides to make an appointment with her elder law attorney to ask him what to do. The attorney recommends that Grace establish a Special Needs Trust (SNT) to benefit Todd. If Grace bequeaths her money to this trust, it will allow Todd to benefit from his inheritance without causing him to lose his SSI/Medicaid benefits. If Grace has to enter a nursing home, the attorney explains that Grace will be able to transfer her fiancial assets into the SNT without incurring a Medicaid “Look back” penalty period. Ths means that Grace’s giftto the Trust would not disqualify her from receiving Medicaid assistance to help pay for her nursing home expenses. Grace can keep control of her assets up until she dies or has to enter a nursing home. She will also be able to qualify immedi-

ately for Medicaid assistance with her nursing home bills and the SNT will keep Todd from losing his government benefits. At Todd’s death, the Trust will provide for the assets to be distributed to Kate.

Grace decides to ask her nephew and his wife to be trustees of the Trust. Although the SNT must be irrevocable, the attorney explains that a clause allowing Grace or Todd to make some changes to the distribution provisions can be included to enhance its flexbility. The elder law attorney suggests that Grace use a special deed to revocably convey a life interest in her house to her son. At his death, the house will pass to her daughter. Ths deed will avoid a possible Medicaid Estate Recovery Program claim against her house if she needs Medicaid to assist with her nursing home bills. Grace’s property taxes will stay the same for the rest of her life and both her son and daughter are likely to enjoy very favorable capital gains tax if and when they sell the house.

Grace experiences a flod of relief when she realizes that the elder law attorney’s plan to use a Special Needs Trust meets all of her goals: asset protection for her assets for the rest of her life and during Todd’s remaining life so that he can receive supplemental income while also keeping his government benefits. Her estate will even avoid probate!

Portfolio Ideas for 2021

Consider these four ideas for managing your investment objectives in the year ahead.

The uneasy political environment, as well as the pandemic, caused some people to reduce their equity allocation. Now may be the time to selectively get back in line with appropriate equity exposure. “I believe in never taking more risk than you have to in order to achieve your goals, and often suggest easing back in versus jumping in,” Juston continues. “It’s important to review your plan periodically, considering whether to reduce your risk exposure, take some profits or diversify further.”

HOLD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CASH

“ The pandemic showed us the importance of an emergency savings account—I call it the sleep-better-at-night-fund,” says Juston J. Dobbs, MBA, CDFA®, CFP®, Managing Director–Investments, at Dobbs Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Sherman. You want enough cash to meet short-term liquidity needs without over-allocating to cash and missing out on market opportunities.

Consider cyclical sectors that may demonstrate more consistent performance as the U.S. economic recovery advances. “Quality is key,” says Juston. “ There are a variety of components to assess. We’ll discuss options based on your situation and goals.”

PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE

“One of the values I bring to clients is providing clear information for actions that align with investment goals,” says Juston. “By taking the emotions out of your investment decisions, I can help you consider actions that align with your plan and your life.” Life is busy, but your fiancial wellbeing should be a top priority. Contact Juston at 903-893-6682 to get started.

“Having

– Juston J. Dobbs

Dr. Richard Jelsma is double board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.

HIGH QUALITY SURGERY DEMANDS EXPERIENCE

Dr. Jelsma is one of the most experienced surgeons in North Texas having performed:

•Over 3,000 minimally invasive arthroscopic shoulder repairs. Including rotator cuff and labral tears.

•Over 3,000 arthroscopic knee surgeries. Including ACL tears, meniscus tears, and cartilage injuries.

•Over 1,000 minimally invasive knee replacements.

DR. JELSMA’S OFFICE PHILOSOPHY: PERSONAL CARE

He prides himself on seeing all of his patients personally. Each patient is examined, and additional tests may be ordered to determine an accurate diagnosis. Dr. Jelsma then reviews a list of treatment options with the patient in order to make a decision while taking into account their personal goals and lifestyle considerations.

ASSISTING ALL PATIENTS WITH THEIR GENERAL ORTHOPEDIC NEEDS

•Treats all types of musculoskeletal pain, whether you’re an athlete or spectator.

•Addresses both non-surgical and surgical options.

•Dr. Jelsma and his team are here to get you back in life’s game.

TOP DOCS

PROVIDERS HEALTHCARE AND OTHER

2020 Livingwell

DAIN B. BROOKS, MD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Dain B. Brooks, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist, demonstrating that he has met the rigorous standards established by the American Board of Ophthalmology. You can trust him with every aspect of your eye care, from cataract surgery and premium lens implants, refractive surgery (including LASIK, PRK and ICL) to longterm eye disease management and dry eye treatment.

After graduating with honors (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the George Washington University School of Medicine in 2002, Dr. Brooks went on to complete his ophthalmology training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During his training and at subsequent Army medical centers, he had the honor of treating eye injuries suffered by soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Dr. Brooks was selected as Faculty Member of the Year in 2009 by the San Antonio Military Ophthalmology Residency Program. In addition to his numerous awards and recognitions, Dr. Brooks’ work has been published in several national and international clinical journals.

As part of his commitment to staying on top of the latest developments in ophthalmology, Dr. Brooks is a member of the following professional organizations: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Texas Ophthalmological Association.

Dr. Brooks is married with four children and enjoys traveling with his family, biking, tennis, and community service in his spare time. He also frequently participates in international cataract surgery medical missions and is fluent in Spanish. Whenever possible, Dr. Brooks enjoys participating in cataract surgery medical

missions to meet the needs of people without direct access to advanced eye care in other countries. He teams with several Faith-Based and humanitarian organizations to provide care in an effort to preserve and restore sight for individuals in underserved nations and communities at home and abroad.

Dr. Brooks is truly honored to provide his surgical skills on these mission trips and looks forward to future opportunities to provide needed services to those in need throughout the world. His missions have included trips to Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, India and The Cornerstone Assistance Network providing care to underprivileged patients throughout North Texas.

Dr. Brooks has been in private practice in North Dallas and Plano since 2010. He has made it his mission to provide patients at Brooks Eye Associates with a premium experience delivering the highest quality medical and surgical eye care.

Brooks Eye Associates utilizes the latest in technology and techniques from the initial exam all the way to the patient surgical experience in their own onsite two-room ambulatory surgery center. They focus on treatment and prevention.

“We know that monitoring your eye health through comprehensive exams is the best way to ensure your vision

is protected well into the future. If you are suffering from an eye disease, our caring staff optometrists will carefully diagnose your condition to determine the best approach for treatment. If you have a refractive disorder, we can provide an effective solution to restore your vision,” says Dr. Brooks. At Brooks Eye Associates we strive to make patients’ visits as comfortable as possible, welcoming each individual into a caring, secure and attentive environment. Brooks Eye Associates works collaboratively with a network of caring and dedicated clinicians with the central goal of providing the quality and compassionate eye care that our patients deserve. We strive to consistently improve our ability to serve our patients and surpass each of their expectations. Within the past four years patients have made it known they feel Brooks Eye Associates has accomplished this mission by nominating Dr. Brooks as best

Ophthalmologist in the area in many patient poll platforms. Having the experience, skill, and technology necessary to provide exceptional eye care is one thing. Giving patients the individualized attention they deserve is another. The entire medical care team at Brooks Eye Associates is committed to providing you with the best patient experience and vision outcome possible. During each visit, you can rest assured that we will spend quality time with you to make sure all of your questions and concerns are addressed so that you fully understand the next step in your vision care process. If you live in Plano, Frisco, or the Dallas area and are looking for an experienced ophthalmologist and medical care team you can trust, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today at (214) 758-7941 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you and working with you to restore your vision!

It’s essential to take care of your feet !

Premier Foot & Ankle specializes in the treatment of all foot and ankle issues patients of all ages may experience. Our dedicated providers are committed to providing patients with quality care and pain relief using cuttingedge technology such as Pulse Activation Treatment to cure heel pain/plantar fasciitis as well as Padnet vascular and Smart Scan nerve testing for diabetics. By for the entire family, we at Premier Foot & Ankle focus on treating both the injured athlete and anyone with foot or ankle injuries.

Premier Foot & Ankle is the leading practice of foot and ankle specialists in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area as evidenced by multiple awards such as the Best of Dallas 2011-2012 and 2015-2020 and the Reader’s Choice Best of Living 2017. As a trusted and dedicated

provider, Premier Foot & Ankle is here to help patients alleviate their foot and ankle pain resulting from various foot disorders and injuries such as sports and diabetic foot care.

To move toward your pain-free lifestyle with an individualized comprehensive treatment plan, visit us today at www.premierfoot.com to schedule your appointment!

& Athlete’s Foot Q A

What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?

Courtesy PREMIER FOOT & ANKLE

Athlete’s foot, which can affect anyone, even non-athletes, tends to begin as a red rash that flares up between your toes. As this fungal infection continues to worsen and spread, you may start experiencing:

• Dry, flaky skin

• Scaly rash

• Blisters

• Itching

You may also fid that your skin becomes raw and painful to the touch, so you fid it unbearably uncomfortable to slip on socks and shoes. An athlete’s foot infection can spread up the sides of your feet and can even affect your hands if you scratch or pick at your rash.

How did I get athlete’s foot?

Because athlete’s foot is a viral infection, you can easily contract it from anywhere fungal organisms thrive. For instance, fungi develop rapidly in moist, warm, dark environments. So if you walk barefoot across a pool deck, or skip shower shoes in the gym locker room, you risk coming into contact with athlete’s foot-causing fungal organisms.

Your chances of suffering from a painful athlete’s foot infection also increase due to:

• Weakened immune system

• History of athlete’s foot

• Open foot sores

No matter what’s causing your case of athlete’s foot or how mild your symptoms may seem, you have plenty of options for relief at Premier Foot & Ankle.

Which athlete’s foot treatment is most effective?

Athlete’s foot can be stubborn to treat so, at Premier Foot & Ankle, your dedicated podiatrist performs a comprehensive clinical exam and may gather skin scrapings to have evaluated at the lab. Ths helps confim which type of fungal organism is causing your infection.

Depending on the outcome of your exam and any essential lab testing, your athlete’s foot treatment may include:

• Topical or oral antifungal medications

• Bacterial or steroidal topical agents

• Specialized foot powders

Your dedicated podiatrist at Premier Foot & Ankle even counsels you on how to care for your feet and specificmeasures you can take to minimize your future risk of athlete’s foot.

For example, keeping your feet clean and dry, wearing shower shoes in communal areas, and allowing your shoes to air out overnight can all lower your chances of ongoing athlete’s foot issues, and help your current infection resolve quickly.

Before your athlete’s foot progresses any further, schedule an exam at Premier Foot & Ankle to get started on treatment.

Dear Olivia,

My grandmother has been referred to hospice, but she does not seem to be in the dying process. She has long-standing health issues that have gotten worse over time, and she needs help with most activities such as dressing, bathing and meals, but we feel that everyone is giving up on her. How does the doctor know when someone is “ready” for hospice? We know she is getting older, but we don’t want to rush into a decision like this.

~Not Ready to Give Up

Dear Not Ready to Give Up,

We at VNA get this question quite a bit because the doctor’s decision to make a referral to hospice is not always a clear one, and often times may be confusing for the family. What Medicare (who launched the hospice benefit in the United States) says qualifies a patient for hospice is a prognosis of six months or less. There are many diagnoses that may qualify a patient for hospice, but the six-month prognosis must also be present. Based on the patient’s

OLIVIA ROGERS

Olivia is a leading voice in health care and senior services and the Chief Nursing Officer of VNA Texas.

history, diagnosis, contributing health problems, recent hospitalizations, recent changes in level of assistance needed and various other factors, the physician will determine if a patient could benefit from hospice support. Surprisingly, hospice is best when started before a patient is transitioning or actively dying. This is because hospice is made up of a team of providers including the hospice doctor, RN case manager, social worker, chaplain, home health aide and therapy providers. If there is adequate time (perhaps months rather than days), the best plan of care can be established and comprehensive care delivered. Hospice is not intended to manage crises only, but also to help manage all of the complex decisions and stressors that accompany a loved one’s illness. Once the doctor determines the patient’s overall condition is appropriate for a hospice referral, then the family will be presented with this option and would choose a hospice provider. VNA has been delivering hospice care since the program started, and we can help answer any other questions you may have.

~Olivia

VNA Hospice Care

VNA Hospice Care focuses on living life to its fullest and treating you with the dignity and respect you deserve. As a nonprofit, our bottom line is patient support and care provided by our highly qualified staff.

VNA Care Choices

Following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, patients and their loved ones have many questions about the best course of action. VNA Care Choices provides supportive care services in the home while continuing treatment with your current physician.

Unify Steps to Your Family

By GEORGIA SMITH-LYLE, MA, LPC-S

When a family works together as a “team” there is unity.

In today’s world, we are facing so many changes! There are changes in the way children are educated, job related changes for a mom or dad, changes in the way we approach doctor visits, changes in our economic and political system, and changes how we gather together just to name a few. I have had the opportunity to counsel families for approximately twenty years now. Ths past year, I have observed and counseled families that have had an “extreme” shiftin the way they function together inside and outside the home. Ths is not new “news” to any of us reading this article. The question I’ve been asking myself for these families, adolescents, children and couples is “how can I help them to stay connected, feeling safe and secure in their home, continuing to experience a depth of unity that encourages emotional growth and optimum personal development and fulfillment.” There is a need to unify the family in such a way that brings the best out of each member of the family. I would like to suggest the following concepts and ideas. They are not new concepts…there are the same ones that have existed since man was created, however we are fiding the need to implement these concepts more than we have ever before.

CONCEPT NO. 1

When a family works together as a “team” there is unity. When there are changes in the family and outside the family that cannot be controlled, fear, depression and anxiety can occur. A family that works together as a team will fid time for each other to communicate with each other openly, respectfully and willingly. When children feel important and have a place other than their friends to speak to, they feel safe and understood. Parents who have developed the team concept that brings unity from the beginning (which starts with relationship between mom and dad) are already ahead of the game of family unity. If you have not done as much as you would like or need more help, it is not too late to begin. Start with family time together. Start with open conversations on what everyone is thinking and feeling about the world of their own family and the world outside the home. Communicate respectfully, validating a thought or feeling even if you do not agree, and make time to have fun together. Be creative in spending time together and as a team unit.

CONCEPT NO. 2

Decide what your value systems are as a family and even openly discuss them. Even though you are each an individual, mom and dad or single parents have been given the opportunity to be responsible for the core moral development for the family and each child. The child will eventually decide for themself what they will implement in their own families when they leave home, but at least parent(s) have given them a baseline to begin with. Is your baseline core value system positive and foster unity, caring for others or is it selfish, rude and abusive? Good parent(s) will ask themselves this question and always want to improve for the sake of the team (family).

CONCEPT NO. 3

The family will learn from each other and more by actions than by what is said. If you believe something to be true to a core moral value, but your actions are contrary to that belief, the team (family) will not feel as secure and will have trouble believing the family is truly a secure place to grow and be yourself. In other words, the actions go against what the core moral value system is therefore, may be based on untruth. Ths concept is not about being perfect in all actions towards self or others in the family…it’s about being honest with heart of humility, willing to change and bend for the betterment of the team (family).

If these three concepts are implemented, I truly believe what we are experiencing in todays world (in family and outside family) will foster more peace, security and love in the family. Ths in turn will have a positive effect upon our society. The whole of society is only as good as the parts (the family and each individual in family). There are no guarantees as we each have choices to make, however not trying to implement positive core values and safe interactions in the family will be like starting on shaky ground and sinking sand in my professional and personal opinion.

Georgia Smith-Lyle is in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas providing counseling for children, adolescents, adults, marriage and family. She has authored two books and is a public speaker. Georgia may be reached at 469-855-0256 or via email gpsmith7@aol.com. www.counselingbygeorgia.com.

Heroes Among Us

Mandy Searcy quietly saves lives during the COVID pandemic.

By SONDRA BARR

Quiet heroes are toiling behind the scenes in times like these. As an unprecedented pandemic rages across the globe, the afflted and their families are fiding solace in the efforts of countless unsung medical professionals.

COVID has proven to be a test, beyond just that of negative or positive; it’s also a measure of the extent of human compassion, particularly when it comes to frontline healthcare workers, doctors, and nurses. And, while there’s no denying that the medical community has stepped up to the plate in the fiht against COVID, there are extraordinary standouts whose passion to serve truly sets them apart.

As the patients of Bent Tree Family Physicians attest, certifid medical assistant Mandy Searcy belongs in that rarefid group. The praise bestowed upon Searcy also comes from the medical professionals she works with daily.

“Quiet management of COVID behind the scenes is what this story is. Most of the COVID care and most of the people who are reassured—and many that were saved—was from Mandy’s direct intervention,” explains Dr. Guy Culpepper, founder of Bent Tree Family Physicians. With 16 providers and dozens of employees, Bent Tree’s legacy providing exceptional care is well documented in the area.

“To me, Mandy represents all those officnurses across the country who’re quietly saving lives,” says Culpepper, who’s been in family medicine for 33 years. For the past 18 years, he’s witnessed Mandy’s dedication to her job, which has only intensifid in the face of COVID.

In early March of last year, when whisperings of a deadly virus rapidly evolved into full blown headline news, Culpepper and the staffat Bent Tree realized COVID would be an enormous local concern. At the time, some Bent Tree patients were already exhibiting signs that would soon be recognized as signature COVID symptoms.

“Mandy took testing on as her mantle,” explains Culpepper. Between the two of them, they researched COVID tests, including how to perform them, where to purchase them, and the labs best qualifid to analyze the tests.

While some members of the Bent Tree team were understandably uneasy about swabbing patients for the test, Searcy was unfazed and volunteered to take on testing efforts.

“ Those early weeks, we saw a lot of sick patients before we knew how serious it is,” says Searcy. “Some would be so sick they’d literally be laying in their back seat with their spouse driving them.”

“In the early days of testing, we had no PPE because we’re a family practice offi. We just had surgical masks,” says Culpepper. Gloves were also in short supply.

The solution: “Mandy went to a farm goods store and bought elbow length gloves for birthing calves because they were the only gloves we could get,” continues Culpepper.

While they’ve since secured the proper PPE, in the early days of the pandemic, from the parking lot of Bent Tree’s Frisco offi, you’d fid Searcy testing people in all sorts of weather wearing gloves, a raincoat, surgical mask, hairnet, and goggles purchased from Lowe’s.

“I watched her go outside in 104 degrees, in the rain, in the cold, day in and day out, so that people could count on her,” says Culpepper.

“ That kind of energy early in a process is astounding and remarkable, but then the stamina to keep it up Saturdays and Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, that’s extraordinary.”

After being tested by Searcy, Randy Hayslip has this to say: “Mandy was very comforting and proactive, while exceeding my expectations for COVID care. She exhibited a professional charisma that promoted an understanding and care for the patient. Her responsiveness and instructions during the COVID test were as amazing as her follow up.”

At the end of each day, Searcy rushes samples to FedEx to get them overnight shipped to a lab. Meanwhile, her nights are spent calling patients with the results.

“You don’t get back a positive COVID and then just sit on it during the weekend and wait to call the patient back Monday like with high cholesterol,” says Culpepper.

Unlike most testing centers, Searcy doesn’t just call a person, confim a positive result, and hang up. “Mandy has without doubt saved lives by listening to their breathing patterns on the phone and instructing which ones to go to the ER, which ones to come to the officfor oxygen or chest x-rays, or we’re able to intervene early with steroids or antibiotics for secondary infections that wouldn’t have been treated,” says Culpepper.

“She is what I call a super nurse with Nordstrom-class customer service,” says Jill Kempa, whose 42-year-old son had COVID symptoms in March. “I called Dr. Culpepper’s offi, talked to Mandy, and she said, ‘I have three tests left, I ill save one for him.’”

Searcy called back Sunday at midnight to inform Kempa that her son tested positive. From there, Searcy called Kempa’s son daily for the next two weeks to monitor his breathing. The third week, she recommended he go to the emergency room for a chest x-ray that uncovered pneumonia. After he pulled through, Kempa went to Bent Tree to personally thank Searcy for saving her son’s life.

“She goes above and beyond for all her patients, not just my son,” exclaims Kempa.

Ths sentiment is echoed by numerous Bent Tree patients, including Denise Delashaw, who says, “Mandy is a selfles medical angel and is the most caring, authentic person I have ever met at any doctor’s offi. She always goes above and beyond and actually checks up on you after any issue you may have. Love her! She was taking care of a huge line of patients in the 100-degree heat, dripping wet, and still had a smile on her face!”

Meanwhile, Debbie Brandenburg says, “Mandy is so caring and kindhearted to everyone. Since COVID, she has only worked harder and dedicated herself to helping us and others. She has put her own life on the line to serve others in testing for COVID and providing sincere empathy during very stressful times. Mandy is the prime example of putting others before self.”

More than 10,000 people have been tested by Searcy. Over 1,500 have tested positive. Ths has amounted to over 30,000 phone calls, including many that serve as stark reminders of the severity of the virus.

“One of our beloved patients was one of the fist ones Mandy tested,” explains Culpepper. At the time test results were taking five days and while the patient was waiting on his positive test, Searcy insisted he go to the hospital after listening to his labored breathing and distinct cough. Two emergency rooms refused to admit him. The man, whose wife was also in a hospital suffering from COVID never got the chance to answer Searcy’s last text to confim he was admitted. She found out later that he was intubated soon after and a week later he died in the ICU.

“I could have been the last person he talked to. It was heartbreaking,” says Searcy, who admits that getting praise is hard to accept for a job she feels called to do.

To schedule COVID or antibody testing at Bent Tree Family Physicians’ Frisco location at 3550 Parkwood Blvd, Ste 600, Frisco, Texas, visit www.benttreemd.com or call (972) 377-8800.

“To me, Mandy represents all those office nurses across the country who’re quietly saving lives.”

—DR. GUY CULPEPPER

“She is what I call a super nurse with Nordstromclass customer service.”

—JILL KEMPA

“She was taking care of a huge line of patients in the 100-degree heat, dripping wet, and still had a smile on her face!”

—DENISE DELASHAW

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Not Getting Enough

Try These 15 Tricks.

By KIMBERLY BLAKER

For many, getting a solid night’s sleep is as elusive as winning the lottery. Getting too little sleep is so common that it’s become almost a badge of honor to get through each day with sleep deprivation. Even if you feel like you can function on little sleep, it’s actually debilitating, if not dangerous, to a person’s health and mental faculties.

Not getting enough sleep increases the risk of obesity, memory impairment, illness, and even hallucinations or death. Falling asleep is a common problem. But sleep quality is also crucial for optimum brain function and recovery. Fortunately, there are many ways to train your body and mind to fall asleep more quickly and improve your sleep quality.

Zzzzs?

Create a relaxing nighttime ritual. Starting a routine to wind down every night creates an association between nighttime habits and sleep, preparing your body to relax and fall asleep more quickly. Try drinking a soothing tea like chamomile. Or use aromatherapy with scents such as lavender that promote relaxation.

Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This gets your body into a regular sleep-wake pattern, which regulates your circadian rhythm and makes falling and staying asleep easier. It may be tempting to sleep in on the weekends to make up for lost sleep. But this may actually hurt you in the long term.

Avoid alcohol at night. Though it may help you fall asleep, drinking alcohol before bed significantly reduces your sleep quality.

Be careful with naps. A long afternoon nap can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night. So keep naps short and as early in the day as possible.

Track your sleep. Different technologies are available to track your sleeping patterns, including restlessness, awake and sleep times, and even how long you’re in each part of the sleep cycle. This can help you find how many hours you individually need for optimal function.

Practice meditation and mindfulness. Regularly practicing these can help calm your mind and body. Progressive relaxation is one technique. Through it, you slowly focus on each part of your body, moving from head to feet, while releasing tension and consciously relaxing your muscles.

Avoid screens an hour before bed. Looking at the bright light is stimulating. Likewise, so is much of the content on the screens. If you use screens at night, glasses are available to filter out the blue light to prevent eye strain.

Use breathing techniques. One popular method to fall asleep is known as 4-7-8. First, breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Then hold your breath for 7, and exhale out your mouth for 8.

Listen to soothing white noise, music, or podcasts. Many of these audio productions are designed to help put you to sleep.

Stop drinking caffeine after midday. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can affect your mind and body hours after consumption.

Make sure your room is dark for sleep and that you get natural light during the day. This regulates your circadian rhythm and provides external cues for your body.

Exercise in the morning. Being physically active, especially early in the day, is associated with better sleep.

Journal or keep paper by your bed. Do you have a hard time falling asleep because your mind is racing? Writing down your thoughts can help to keep them from swirling incessantly through your brain so you can relax.

Use your bed and bedroom for sleep only. This creates a specific association, so your body and mind know it’s time to rest. Also, keep electronics out of the bedroom.

Try a natural supplement. Melatonin, magnesium, and CBD are some of the options touted as supporting relaxation and sleep. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any supplements to ensure you do so safely.

If behavioral changes aren’t working, discuss your sleep concerns with your doctor. You may have an undiagnosed sleeping disorder that requires medical intervention. Depending on your doctor’s fidings, medications and breathing treatments may help improve your sleep.

Plan Now, For Later

Courtesy DANNEL FUNERAL HOME

Life changed during the pandemic. Because grieving is something we do together, it has been challenging to observe services in time-honored ways with numerous safety precautions in place. We all missed hugs.

“Emotions aren’t easily postponed,” says Charles Dannel, owner of Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman. “And you can achieve closeness, even with social distancing. Families want to honor their loved ones, and the need for support that thoughtful services with family and friends provide never lessened.”

As we emerge from recent challenges, there is more clarity about priorities and what’s most important. It’s a good time to set your mind at ease by pre-planning your own funeral and relieving your family of having to make preparations during an emotional time.

The pre-planning process isn’t difficult and can be done safely in person or online through Dannel Funeral Home, where knowledgeable professionals will assist you with arrangements that are meaningful, as well as affordable. The more you know, the more comfortable you’ll be making necessary plans now, while you can talk with family and make important decisions that will have lasting impact.

One of the most frequent questions about pre-planning is what happens if you move to another city. Your arrangements are transferable, so another funeral home will honor your plan. Additionally, you have payment options. Costs are frozen, even if the service is paid out in installments. (Funeral costs, like most other services, rise over time.) The document is amendable as well.

So, what are you waiting for? Pre-planning is a much-appreciated gift you leave behind for your family. Like all that you taught them. All the love that you shared. And all the laughter you generated.

Charles invites you to give him a call at 903-893-1171. Or browse the website for more information. www.dannelfuneralhome.com. The Dannel family has been helping families like yours for over 100 years.

Dannel Funeral Home is owned by Charles Dannel, fifth generation exemplifying leadership and community service.

CROSSROADS MEDICAL

204 Medical Drive, Sherman, Texas 75092

Jelsma Orthopedics & Sports Medicine ..............Suite 100

Richard D. Jelsma, MD

Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine ................Suite 110

Duncan L. McKellar, Jr., MD

Charles E. Toulson, MD, MBA

Jon C. Thompson, MD

Brian J. Snow, MD

Ask RX Pharmacy ..............................................Suite 120

Helix Health Lab ................................................Suite 130

Integrated Pain Management ............................Suite 140

Deborah Fisher, MD

Areli Medical Devices .........................................Suite 150

Peak Physical Therapy .......................................Suite 160

Jon Poe, PT, LAT

ENT Centers of North Texas ...............................Suite 200

Hunter Richmond, MD

Peter Selz, MD

McDonald Arnot, DO

Sherman Internal Medicine & Primary Care .......Suite 210

Benarji Tegala, MD

Grayson Digestive Disease Consultants .............Suite 240

Jermaine G. Clarke, DO, MBA

Grayson Digestive Health ..................................Suite 240

Joseph Kim, MD

Texoma Weight Loss ..........................................Suite 250

Ikram Kureshi, MD

First Texas Home Health Corporate Office .........Suite 260

Radiofrequency ablation treatment now available for spinal tumors

Minimally invasive technology, close to home

Brian Rose,

A treatment system specifically used for treating painful tumors that have spread to the spine from cancer in other parts of the body is now available at TMC. Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Texoma Medical Center, Brian Rose, MD, FAAOS, says he has been treating patients for about two years.

The treatment serves a dual purpose. Dr. Rose states, “Radiofrequency ablation enables us to treat tumors using a small incision. Once the tumor is destroyed, we strengthen and stabilize the spine by filling in the affected areas with a cement-like material. The procedure usually takes less than one hour and following a short time in recovery, patients can go home.”

Dr Rose says that the person ’ s pain level is greatly reduced. For older patients with other health conditions, the minimal side effects are a plus. This often allows the patient to proceed with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy without severe pain

Enhancing treatment options for patients

The new treatment is an extension of kyphoplasty, a procedure already performed at Texoma Medical Center for patients with spinal pain due to compression fractures that result from osteoporosis. “Kyphoplasty is a very similar procedure. The difference is that no ablation is needed. The patient’s vertebrae need support, so we fill any

act

or pockets with the cementlike substance, and patients can get relief fairly quickly,” says Dr. Rose. “Many patients who previously rated their pain as a ‘10’ tell us it dropped to a ‘2’. It’s exciting to be able to offer these solutions. We are trained to be as minimally invasive as possible, which equates to minimized pain and quicker recovery for the patient. These two procedures fall right in line with that ”

Individual results may vary There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you

“While Alzheimer’s can’t be fixed, treatments and care can make a di erence in quality of life. We can be a valuable resource for families because we have experience caring for those with all forms of dementia. We’ll help the family go on this journey with the person they love.” – Steve Streun, owner

Steven & Kimberly Streun, Owners

(903) 337-1625

Betty Stoker, OTR & Kimberly Ross-Streun, OTR - Owners

(903) 463-0400

Licensed by the Texas Department of Aging & Disability #100516

How to be Present for Someone Grieving When it’s Physically Impossible

By AMBER GRUBB

Grief is a very lonely journey that many people travel at some point in their lives. Even when others are “there,” it doesn’t always feel like it. As friends or family who want to support someone on the desolate road called grief, it’s difficult in the best circumstances. When you can’t physically be there with them, whether it’s due to a pandemic or not, it becomes even more challenging. Often hugs or merely sitting in the same room with someone can do more than any words, but when touch isn’t an option, try something else.

The simplicity of mailing a card or handwritten letter should not be dismissed quickly!

bills, so just getting a lovely note from a friend when they least expect it can brighten their day! Call them and send simple texts, letting them know you are thinking of them. Send a sympathy gift,like their favorite snacks, comfy socks, or a good book. Not everything has to address their loss or grief directly, but make sure you’re not avoiding it or seem to be pushing them to “move on.” They will understand when you remind them that you are thinking of them.

The simplicity of mailing a card or handwritten letter should not be dismissed quickly! People who are sad and grieving do not need you to give them the most memorable words of wisdom ever written; simply writing, “I love you, and I’m thinking of you” can make all the difference. Physical mail usually only consists of advertisements or

One thing that can be of great comfort is compiling photos and stories of the deceased and sending them to the bereaved. You will most likely have photos they have never seen and memories they have never known. Ths is a unique gift hat they will cherish for a lifetime. If you or your friends need help in working through their grief, at Home Hospice, we can help—just give us a call at 903-868-9315 or 940-665-9891, we’re always here.

The

How Women Shape the Economy and Business World

Buying Power Women of

By KIMBERLY BLAKER

Women today account for or influence 70 to 80% of all buying decisions. The ‘female economy’ was estimated by Forbes in 2017 to be worth $18 trillion, and continues to grow. These statistics reveal the crucial role women play in keeping the economy aflat— in good times and in bad.

As a result, many businesses have taken heed. Still, plenty of industries and companies remain behind the times when it comes to treating women as major consumers. They fail to see the power this segment possesses.

For example, most women can attest to occasions when their gender has negatively affected the service and attention they received. Additionally, women are still taken advantage of because of their lack of or perceived lack of knowledge in certain industries.

Women, however, have become increasingly educated consumers, and businesses that don’t recognize this are learning the hard way. Many women, offended by these biases, walk away from a purchase and go elsewhere, demanding to be treated with respect.

Advertising and marketing specialists are

also catching on. Advertising that stereotypes women and marketing explicitly geared to male audiences don’t sit well in the minds of women today. Stereotyping and the absence of recognizing women as potential consumers for traditionally male products are off-arget, offensive, and fail to give these large consumers the information they need.

HOUSE AND HOME

Women today account for well over half of the spending on household goods and personal items. That’s because they take more interest in shopping for these items, especially non-essentials. Women control most of the expenditure not only on décor, linens, and kitchen gadgets, but furniture, cabinetry, carpeting,

lighting, and more.

Furthermore, women play a signifiant role in the purchase of real estate, the biggest investment most families make. According to a report by Lending Tree, in analyzing data from the 2017 American Community Survey, about 22% of single women are homeowners, as opposed to only 13% of single men being homeowners.

Married women also markedly influence real estate decisions. According to David Powers Homes of Houston, Texas, couples ultimately agree on the purchase together. Yet research conducted by the company found women make almost 80% of the home-buying decisions in the company’s $180,000 to $500,000 price range.

When buying a home, men and women

each look for certain features. Women are most concerned with flor plan and design and how these factors will accommodate their lifestyles. Specificfeatures of importance to women include large closets, kitchen space and design, space needs, and overall comfort. Men focus mainly on technology, energy-efficicy, and garage functionality.

Probably one of the most under-recognized areas of women’s buying power, however, is in the tool and home improvement industry. With the surge in do-it-yourself remodeling, women have fast become one of the big spenders in tool departments and home improvement aisles. Kimberly Stevens, a staffreporter for The Wall Street Journal, explains, “We’re talking buzz saws, routers and power sanders.”

The growth of female tool shoppers isn’t minimal, Stevens points out. A survey by the Home Improvement Research Institute, found women have been outpacing men in their involvement in do-it-yourself projects since at least 2000. According to a female industrial designer at Porter-Cable of Jackson, Tennessee, as reported by Daily Gist, “Women are using these tools on a regular basis.”

What’s also increasing female tool sales is the signifiant increase in women working in the construction fild, which has nearly doubled over the last 15 years.

HEALTHCARE

Women’s voices are gaining prominence in the healthcare industry, as well. Women make at least two-thirds of the healthcare decisions in US households, according to Amy Ertel Bellcourt, vice president of corporate communications for MVP Health Plan. So healthcare systems are paying particular attention by improving maternity wards and focusing a portion of their marketing on services affecting women.

TRAVEL

Women are equally important to the travel market. They now make 70% of all travel decisions. They’re the larger clientele of adventure travel. But business travel has also seen marked growth by females. Women make up nearly half of all business travel, according to research by Judi Brownell, Ph.D., professor of Cornell University’s Management & Organizational Behavior Program.

Over 75% of women traveling on business are college-educated and abler than men to articulate their needs. They participate in more leisure activities while traveling on business. They’re also much more likely to order room service while traveling alone. For these reasons, they have a signifiant impact on this industry.

INVESTMENT

While the percentage of women who own stocks still lags behind men, ample research has found women make better investors. In 2017, Fidelity Investments reported after analyzing more than 8 million clients that when it comes to the return on investments, women outperform men.

AUTOMOTIVE

Another area where women play a crucial role is in the automotive industry. “Women,” according to a report by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, “are not only becoming more influential in deciding what car to buy, they are also taking over the traditionally male-dominated responsibility of maintenance and repair.” Women make up between 65 to 80% of auto repair and service shop customers.

Women are also responsible for almost half of new car sales and slightly over half of the used-car sales, according to Art Spinella, of CNW Research. Women influence 80% of all transactions. Not to mention, says Ford Motor Marketing, 95% of women have the power to “veto” an automobile purchase.

What women want from this industry, experts say, is not to be treated differently. They want to be treated with respect. “Women ask more questions, inquire about details, and are more willing to look under the hood, or check out parts,” says Diane Hohman, an automotive aftermarket consultant in Herndon, Virginia. So they’re beginning to get the respect they deserve in this market.

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Women are not only spending increasing amounts on clothing but on entertainment and electronics.

Furthermore, the women’s sports apparel market is valued at $26.8 billion, nearly a third of the total sports apparel market of $80.1 billion as of 2018, according to the Euromonitor International. In fact, an unexpected 45% of NFL fans are now women according to the NFL’s 2017 estimate.

What this all boils down to is two-fold. Being America’s biggest consumers, women not only keep the economy from becoming stagnant during times of stability. They keep it from collapsing during a recession. Ths means women are gaining the upper hand in the way the business industry treats them. Women aren’t demanding preferential treatment, but they do expect equal treatment and respect.

With the surge in do-it-yourself remodeling, women have fast become one of the big spenders in tool departments and home improvement aisles.

•Sta ed by 2 Licensed, Doctors of Audiology

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•30 Years of Experience

“Hearing Services of Mckinney is my #1 place to go for my hearing loss needs. Caring and dedicated professionals with many years of experience working daily to meet your needs” .

–Terry G. Bo x, R etired Collin County Sheri

Other times available by appointment

How Prevalent is Hearing Loss in America?

By ELIZABETH BRASSINE, AU.D.

How prevalent is hearing loss in America? You may be surprised! Nearly a fih of all Americans 12 years or older have enough hearing loss to make communication difficult, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins researchers and published in the Nov. 14 Archives of Internal Medicine.

The fidings, thought to be the fist nationally representative estimate of hearing loss, suggest that many more people than previously thought are affected by this condition. The study was led by Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

This gives us the real scope of the problem for the first time and shows us how big of a problem hearing loss really is,” Lin says. The moral of the story is that it’s a good idea to have your hearing tested throughout your life. See an audiologist today and stay connected.

Using the World Health Organization’s defintion for hearing loss (not being able to hear sounds of 25 decibels or less in the speech frequencies), the researchers found that overall, about 30 million Americans, or 12.7% of the population, had hearing loss in both ears. That number jumps to about 48 million, or 20.3%, for people who have hearing loss in at least one ear. These numbers far surpass previous estimates of 21 to 29 million.

Hearing loss prevalence nearly doubled with every age decade, with women and blacks being signifiantly less likely to have hearing loss at any age. Lin and his colleagues aren’t sure why these groups appear to be protected. However, he notes that the female hormone estrogen, as well as the melanin pigment in darker skin, could have a protective effect on the inner ear.

In the meantime, Lin says, the new numbers greatly impact the work he and other researchers are doing on hearing loss and its consequences, which, according to previous studies, include cognitive decline, dementia, and poor physical functioning. Lin’s research also looked at a link between hearing loss and the risk of falling in middle aged-adults and the elderly. They found that hearing loss triples the risk!

Another link that exists is between diabetes and hearing loss. According to the American Diabetes Association, it’s estimated that 25.8

million Americans (children and adults) have diabetes—that’s 8.3% of the population. There are certainly many complications from diabetes that are well known such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, stroke, high blood pressure and peripheral neuropathy. However, one of the most common and yet least understood and diagnosed complication of diabetes is hearing loss. In a 2008 study, it was found that diabetics have approximately a 30% higher incidence of hearing loss than patients with normal blood sugar. Over 50% of those participating in the study showed a high frequency hearing loss, which is one of the most common types of hearing loss and the type effectively treated with hearing aids. The study also showed a correlate between pre-diabetes and hearing loss.

Diabetes can lead to nerve damage. Neuropathy occurs when high blood sugars cause chemical changes in nerves that impair their ability to transmit signals. Hearing also depends on nerves of the peripheral auditory mechanism. It’s believed that over time high blood glucose levels damage these nerves diminishing the ability to hear. High blood sugar is also known to damage vascular systems. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the ear similar to the retina. The structures of the ear have a delicate blood supply, which is susceptible to disruption due to diabetes. Ths interruption can result in damage to the sensory structures of the ear, therefore causing or contributing to hearing loss.

Finally the study looked at the link between how long someone has lived with diabetes and the severity of their hearing loss. Specifially it was found that 75% of individuals who had diabetes for more than eight years experienced a moderate to severe hearing loss.

So, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes or is classifid as pre-diabetic, it’s important to have your hearing screened. If a hearing loss is suspected, a full hearing test would be recommended. Contact your audiologist today.

PHOT0 BY LECREUSOIS

GREGORY D. ROBERTS, M.D.

FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON

At Roberts Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dr. Roberts specializes in facial cosmetic medical procedures, including the “scarless” face lift, endoscopic brow lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, chin and lip implants. For over 20 years, Dr. Roberts has focused his surgical specialty on the face, but he also performs minimally invasive cosmetic medical procedures, such as BOTOX® and dermal filler procedures. Dr. Roberts is dual Board certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology | Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Roberts personally performs all surgical procedures, BOTOX® and filler procedures. Laser and resurfacing procedures at Roberts Cosmetic Surgery are performed by a certified and licensed aesthetician, while his support staff endeavors to provide optimal patient care.

“There’s a tremendous amount of satisfaction that comes along with my work,” Roberts says. “Seeing patients get positive results from their procedure, as well as seeing their renewed confidence, and then hearing the reaction of others in their lives is very fulfilling.” Dr. Roberts’ procedures are performed at an AAAASF certified facility near George Bush Tollway and Preston Rd in Dallas suburb, Plano, Texas. Read more here about what his patients say about him. View more before-and-after photos and review additional information at RobertsCosmeticSurgery.com.

To schedule a consultation, call (972) 608-0000.

5144 Village Creek Dr. Plano, Texas 75093 (972) 608-0000 robertscosmeticsurgery.com

THE “SCARLESS” FACE LIFT

Nationally-known facial plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory D. Roberts has refined a face lift technique, known as the “scarless” face lift, which allows patients to recover from surgery with virtually no visible scarring. The “scarless” face lift involves a series of surgical methods and meticulous precision that can help restore more natural, youthful facial features with virtually imperceptible signs of surgical intervention.

“My one guiding principle is that your cosmetic surgery looks natural,” said Dr. Roberts. “You should look refreshed and well-rested, never pulled.” Dr. Roberts takes the time necessary to meticulously place and close incisions, ensuring that his patients’ incisions are virtually invisible, as well as helping to minimize bruising and quicken the healing process.

Many of Dr. Roberts’ patients also find pleasing results with a non-surgical face lift alternative known as a Liquid Face Lift. Revolumizing the face with a Liquid Face Lift can be done alone or in conjunction with a face lift to restore natural, youthful volume and contours.

DR. ROBERTS’ PATIENTS LOVE THEIR RESULTS!

KM contacted Dr. Roberts after viewing some of his online images. During her consultation Dr. Roberts recommended upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) as well as a mini face lift. “I inherited drooping eyes from my dad, sagging jowls from my mother. But Dr. Roberts has completely changed that for me. Now I get comments even from strangers about how good my skin looks. Only my close friends know what I’ve had done, but I feel dramatically different. It’s helped my confidence and I’m definitely more comfortable when I’m face-to-face with people.”

At 51, JT worked to stay in shape but couldn’t stop the natural signs of aging. The sagging in her neck and jowl area started to bother her so much she no longer wore her hair off her face. “I feel young and wanted to look more youthful,” she said. After a mini face lift, she’s thrilled with the results. “Not one person has said, ‘Did you have a face lift?’” she said. “But people do tell me how pretty my skin is. I didn’t want to overdo it, and what Dr. Roberts did is perfect. Everyone in his office was attentive, helpful and supportive. I’d definitely do it again.

At 53, JR, below, had a face lift, endoscopic brow lift and lower blepharoplasty performed in one procedure. “Before the surgery I looked tired and my jowl area and the skin around my mouth sagged,” she said. “Dr. Roberts spent a lot of time explaining everything and answering my questions. After surgery, I was wearing a ponytail two weeks later and attended a work conference a week after that. No one could tell I’d just had surgery! To me, it’s so natural. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Roberts and his staff.”

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