Ahwatukee Foothills News Health and Wellness - Summer 2021

Special Supplement to Ahwatukee Foothills News

HEALTH

WELLNESS

Summer 2021

Your Local Guide to Better Living

How dental of�ices make visits safe

BY DR. RASHMI BHATNAGAR AFN Guest Writer

A

lthough Arizona has “opened up” in terms of eliminating mask requirements and social distancing in public places, many people are still hesitant to visit the dentist.

However, practicing precautions is not unusual in dentistry.

Since the era of HIV, the incorporation of wearing gloves, masks, and protective clothing has been standard of care within the field.

The practice of dentistry and the increased regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have improved the safety of the patient and the practitioner. The new technology in the digital world has reduced the need for in person consultations.

What would one expect to see as precautionary measures in a modern-day dental office? Hand washing between patients is standard.

Even though hand washing has always been a part of OSHA standard, practitioners are making efforts to wash their hands in front of the patients for patients’

peace of mind.

Another change involves use of air purifiers chair side or within the dental practices to reduce the aerosol admissions from dental handpieces and ultrasonics.

All dental equipment has traditionally been sterilized or sanitized between patients, but since COVID-19, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) has mandated more vigorous sterilization procedures.

Although COVID-19 and its variants are still prevalent in society, people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine are more protected than those who have not.

Dental offices continue to do their best

to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of disease amongst patients, but getting the vaccine has been documented to further reduce the risk.

The American Dental Associate continues to recommend a professional dental cleaning and exam every 6 months to reduce the occurrence of dental decay and gum disease. If you are concerned about the COVID-19 precautions in your dentist’s office, please call the office and review their precautions in place.

For further information, feel free to contact “Dr. B” at BellaVista DentalCare 480598-5900 or email rushdmd@gmail.com. ■

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HealtH & WellneSS Sponsored Content

PAD Impacts Everyday Living PHOENIX –The need to stop and rest after walking a short distance because of a leg cramps, numbness in the feet or leg pain could be more than normal aging or adjusting to increased activity. While the inclination may be to think it’s just part of getting older, these symptoms may be caused by vascular insufficiency.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of those conditions that is sometimes easy to dismiss. “If you find yourself needing to rest because your leg cramps when you walk even a short distance, or at night you need to stand up to relieve a cramp in your foot, that’s your legs and feet telling you they need help,” says Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC).

“PAD is often called the silent killer because you may have it and not even know,” says Rainwater. Its diagnosis is often delayed and not identified until it has progressed.

build-up occurs gradually and hardens into plaque inside the artery restricting blood flow. Without an adequate blood supply, the body can’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to maintain healthy legs and feet.

“It’s not normal to have difficulty walking to your mailbox, it’s not normal to have constant leg pain or cramping,” says Rainwater.

It’s also interesting to note, that the symptoms of PAD and neuropathy are very similar. They include difficulty walking without taking a break, burning, tingling, numbness and/or pain. “When I see a patient who has been told they have neuropathy and they’ve been maximized on medication that’s not working, I know there may be something else causing it and one of the big, notorious offenders in that scenario is PAD,” says Rainwater.

PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries. This

“This is something we can fix,” explains Rainwater. “The good news about PAD, is that there’s hope.

There is treatment and it’s excellent, it’s been one of the biggest success stories in all of medicine.” Patients are able to get back on their feet and everyday living with almost no downtime, no stitches and no overnight hospital stay. Medicare as well as most insurance plans will cover treatment.

“I’m here to tell patients that there are options, all they have to do is ask. They might have to ask a different doctor, but they don’t have to live with the idea that they’re going to suffer for the rest of their life,” says Rainwater. His best advice, “Go look for answers.”

PAD IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED. WERE YOU? Y/N

Do you have difficulty walking without taking a break?

Do you experience pain, numbness, or cramping in your feet or legs?

Is you neuropathy treatment not making symptoms go away?

The symptoms of Neuropathy are very similar to those of PAD. It’s a circulation disorder which can be easily treated in our office without the need for general anesthesia. If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, call our office today to see how our doctors can help.

(602) 954-0777 ciccenters.com DR. JOEL RAINWATER / DR. MICHAEL SWITZER / DR. HASSAN MAKKI / DR. KERRY ZANG DR. SHAH ASKARI / DR. DAN SCHULMAN / DR. KIM LEACH / DR. BARRY KAPLAN / DR. JEFF WEISS

Summer 2021

Heel Pain Is on The Rise Restaurants are busy, baseball stadiums are welcoming fans, and this summer is slated to be one of the busiest travel seasons ever. “Getting back to a normal lifestyle can be a shock to your feet,” says Dr. Kerry Zang, podiatric medical director of CiC Foot & Ankle.

More than two million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis, a sharp, stabbing, sometimes burning pain in the heel or arch of the foot. It’s anticipated this number will rise as activity levels increase.

It typically hurts when first getting up, may lessen after a few steps but always returns. In the past, a cortisone injection was given. “Cortisone manages the pain, but it doesn’t address what’s causing the pain,” says Zang. Now, new treatment options focus on resolving the condition, not just the treating the symptoms.

“Regenerative medicine is one of the most promising ways to deal with pain, because it triggers the body to heal,” he explains. “One form is prolotherapy, which tricks the body into thinking it was injured and starts the healing process.”

The FDA recently approved cold laser therapy for plantar fasciitis.

“Laser treatment helps reduce pain, increase circulation and attracts the patient’s own growth factors to the area, all of which promote healing,” says Zang.

If left untreated pain can become chronic, but the good news is there are still options. “Growth factor therapy jump starts and maintains regeneration of new tissues,” says Zang. “It’s all about healing.”

Summer 2021

Health & Wellness

Regenerative medicine can help foot pain

BY GREER BANKS Tribune Guest Writer

J

ust because you’re on your feet all day or are getting older, doesn’t mean your feet should hurt.

“I hate to hear that foot pain is keeping someone from their everyday life,” says Dr. Kerry Zang, podiatric medical director of CiC Foot & Ankle.

Another big reason why people live with chronic foot pain, they didn’t get relief from

prior treatment and don’t know where to turn.

“The thing that excites me most about being a doctor is finding new ways to help my patients. Regenerative medicine is one of the most effective breakthroughs I’ve seen in a long time. One of the biggest benefits is that it can treat so many different conditions,” says Zang.

“It doesn’t matter if you are suffering from arthritis, an old injury, Achilles tendonitis, heel pain or plantar fasciitis, pain

after surgery, the list goes on and on. Regenerative medicine may be able to help.”

Regenerative injection therapy uses growth factors to help repair and restore tissue, ligaments, and joints.

Until recently, anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections, like cortisone offered the best chance for relief. But these options just reduced the symptoms.

“While cortisone stops the swelling and pain, it can also interfere with the healing process and more damage can occur,”

Pritchette Therapy treats clients like family

BY PRITCHETTE PHYSICAL THERAPY

S

ince 2009, Pritchette Physical Therapy has had the pleasure of serving Ahwatukee and the surrounding Foothills area. It opened its second location in late 2020, 1331 E. Chandler Blvd. #102-103, to better serve the Foothills/ Club West communities.

This location complements their original location at 4730 E. Warner Road, which serves the heart of Ahwatukee.

We have consistently been rated a Best of Ahwatukee for Physical Therapy by Ahwatukee Foothills News.

Pritchette Physical Therapy’s mission is to provide exceptional care that goes above and beyond expectations.

We want to create an environment that is warm, welcoming, and friendly; one which provides a level of customer service that is no longer commonplace in today’s world.

We want every person who steps

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through their doors to know that they are not just customers, they are now members of the Pritchette Physical Therapy family!

Whether you use Pritchette for physical therapy, personal training, sports performance, massage, or any of the many other services we provide, we will always go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals.

Contact 480-785-5415 or visit PritchettePT.com for more information. ■

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explains Zang.

N o w , doctors are able to deal with the underlying problem that is causing the pain. RIT helps the body initiate its own healing response, where the body replaces, repairs, reprograms and renews diseased or injured cells.

“Sometimes the body just needs a little boost to encourage the regenerative process. The growth factors in RIT do that,” says Zang.

Zang recognizes that patients are skeptical. But notes, “RIT has great potential to offer relief.”

One of his patients had been suffering for three years and surgery was not an option.

After RIT, the patient reported no pain.

“This is an unbelievable outcome…I thought this could never happen.” ■

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

We are pleased to announce the opening of

SONORAN GASTROENTEROLOGY ASSOCIATES Dr. Adam Lowe, Dr. Rajan Khosla and Dr. Joseph Daniel Davis welcome all patients to their new practice

Adam Lowe, MD, FACG

• Board Certified Gastroenterologists • Offering colon cancer screening and open access colonoscopy • Specializing in all gastrointestinal, liver biliary tract, pancreas • In-Office and telemedicine diseases and related malignancies appointments available as well as online scheduling and online referrals.

Chandler Office 3930 South Alma School Road Suite 5, Chandler, Arizona, 85248

Rajan Khosla, MD

Joseph Daniel Davis, MD

• Same day urgent appointments available • Serving the East Valley and Phoenix communities for over 15 years

Phone: (480) 542-7000 Fax: (480) 542-7500

www.sonorangastro.com

Sonoran Gastroenterology Associates is a division of AGA