02.18.16 Health Matters

Health Matters

Observer

FEBRUARY 2016

Take the challenge!

Sonata coming soon Sonata Senior Living to open in Winter Garden.

PAGE 6

All carbs are not bad!

Courtesy photo

The West Orange Healthcare District, Health Central Hospital and Observer Media Group have created Healthy West Orange, a challenge that seeks to make West Orange the healthiest community in the nation. Pages 12-13

IT’S ALL IMPORTANT

Children. Work. Friends. But when a loved one has Alzheimer’s… our In-Home Senior Care will help make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

And yes, not all diets have to be flavorless.

PAGE 18

Call today! And schedule your FREE In-Home assessment

407-818-1292

Serving Orange, Seminole & Osceola Counties. HHA# 299993681

Request our free, no obligation DVD: “Supporting Family Members with Dementia.”

196981

See for yourself how In-Home Care from Senior Helpers can help you help them live a more enjoyable senior life.

SeniorHelpers.com/Orlando

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Healthy Living with Heart Failure Lecture Series February 18, 2016 Kick-off and Introduction to Heart Failure with Suraj Kurup, MD, Orlando Heart Institute February 25, 2016 | Fitness and Heart Failure: You Really Can! | Joyce McIlroy, RN and Sue Funderburk, RN March 3, 2016 | Healthy Eating with Heart Failure with a Cooking Demonstration Gary Applesies, Roper YMCA Director of Healthy Eating March 10, 2016 | Tying it all Together | Rita Lewis, RN, Clinical Program Coordinator and Anthony Morales, MSN, RN, CEN, NRP • All sessions are 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

• The Orlando Health – Health Performance Center at the Roper YMCA • 100 Windermere Road Winter Garden, FL 34787 • Limited Seating!

• RSVP to Brandis.Burney@HealthCentral.org • FREE Biometric Screening • FREE giveaways • Drawing for a $100 gift basket if you attend all 4 sessions. healthcentral.org 197071

2

HEALTH MATTERS

|

3

FEBRUARY 2016

197223

OrangeObserver.com

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Observer Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@ OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry Rhode, aqrhode@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@ OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Zak Kerr, zkerr@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Jennifer Nesslar, jnesslar@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Bill Carter, bcarter@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Kim Edwards, kedwards@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive / Cyndi Gustafson, cgustafson@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Andres Tam, atam@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representative / Sarah Felt, sfelt@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representative / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@ OrangeObserver.com

HEALTH BRIEFS

4

Florida Hospital opens in W.G. WINTER GARDEN Florida Hospi-

tal leaders and city officials celebrated the grand opening of Florida Hospital Winter Garden Feb. 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony just days before the facility’s first patients arrived.

The 97,000-square-foot, three-story building is a onestop medical facility where patients can receive emergency care, outpatient surgery, lab and imaging services, endoscopy, and primary and specialty care.

“From our state-of-the-art operating rooms to the most advanced imaging center, Florida Hospital Winter Garden is bringing a new level of health care to this region,” said Amanda Maggard, administrator of the new facility.

Florida Hospital Winter Garden, located off State Road 429 near Daniels Road, opened its doors to the public Feb. 15.

“Winter Garden’s population is booming, with more than 11% growth between 2010 and 2014 alone,” said Winter Garden City Commissioner Colin Sharman. “With a growing community comes an increased need for medical care close to home, and we are thrilled that Florida Hospital is partnering with us to bring essential and exceptional care to our doorsteps.”

Florida Hospital Winter Garden’s emergency department will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will

feature a unit — called a clinical decision unit — with 23-hour observation beds. On this unit, the clinical team will decide if a patient can return home, or if the patient needs to be transported to another hospital for admission.

“A trip to the emergency department can be a very stressful time for patients and their families, and the Florida Hospital team is trained to make the experience as comfortable as possible,” said Patricia Price, director of clinical operations at Florida Hospital Winter Garden. “Patients can rest assured that not only will they receive Florida Hospital’s hallmark compassionate care, but the most advanced medical treatment, as well.”

Florida Hospital Winter Garden also features physician offices that will offer care in the areas of primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, OB/ GYN and urology.

Scott appoints three to health board WEST ORANGE Florida Gov.

Rick Scott has reappointed two members and appointed one new member to the West Orange Healthcare District Board.

The appointments are Jaclyn Whiddon, Alan “Kurt” Ardaman and John Murphy.

Whiddon, 35, of Oakland, is an orthodontic marketing consultant and the owner of The Whiddon Group LLC. She received her bachelor’s degree

from Rollins College. She succeeds Steve Stanford and is appointed for a term ending Sept. 24, 2019.

Ardaman, 58, of Gotha, is an attorney with Fishback Dominick and an attorney for the cities of Winter Garden, Winter Park, DeBary and Longwood.

He received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida. He is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 24, 2019.

Murphy, 61, of Winter Garden, is the chief financial officer for OneBlood Inc. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. He is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 30, 2019.

“I appreciate Gov. Scott’s efforts to continue appointing strong leaders from west Orange County to the district’s board,” said Tracy Swanson, executive director of WOHD. “I am confident these trustees will continue to move our mission forward and improve the lives of the citizens of West Orange County.”

Swanson acknowledged trustee Stanford, whose term of service to the district expired recently.

“Steve has served on this board several terms in varying key leadership roles,” Swanson said. “There is no doubt his commitment and passion for our mission have directly contributed to our success. He will be deeply missed.”

The WOHD is an independent special health care district created by an act of the 1949

CONTACT US The West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery.The West Orange Times also can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

If you wish to subscribe to the West Orange Times, visit our website, WOTimes.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

From left: Dr. Ramon Nunez, medical director of the emergency department at Florida Hospital Winter Garden; Patricia Price, clinical leader at Florida Hospital Winter Garden; Winter Garden District 4 City Commissioner Colin Sharman; Amanda Maggard, administrator of Florida Hospital Winter Garden; Winter Garden Fire Chief Matt McGrew; Dr. Rakesh Patel, urologist with Florida Hospital Medical Group; and Cyndi Bergs, Florida Hospital Medical Group.

Florida Legislature. The governor of Florida appoints the 16 members of the district board.

The purpose of the district is to improve access to health care services for residents of West Orange County.

In March 2012, the board sold all the district’s facilities, operations and assets to Orlando Health. Under the provisions of the sales agreement, Orlando Health has agreed to pay the district $181 million plus interest over 15 years. The proceeds from this sale are being used to award grants that will improve and preserve the health and wellness of district residents.

Nemours expands in West Orange

HORIZON WEST Nemours Children’s Primary Care celebrated the opening of its Horizon West facility Feb. 15 at 7315 Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Suite 101, Windermere.

Dr. Christine Chan-Ragazzo, a board-certified pediatrician, will provide primary medical care to children of all ages, from newborns to adolescents.

Services include immunizations, school physicals and newborn care.

The new office uses the same electronic health record as the other locations within the Nemours system. If a patient needs to be treated by a pediatric specialist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, that specialist will have access to the child’s medical history. ChanRagazzo also is able to review any additional after-hours care provided to her patients at Nemours Children’s Urgent Care or through Nemours CareConnect, a new tele-health service that launched last fall.

“This shared electronic health record helps Nemours provide families with the safest, most cost-effective care,” Chan-Ragazzo said. “I am able to spend more time with my patient families and less time chasing down information.”

In addition to English, ChanRagazzo is fluent in Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines.

The Horizon West location is Nemours’ 14th primary-care facility in Central Florida. It also operates six children’s urgentcare centers, three children’s specialty-care satellite locations and CareConnect.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

FEBRUARY 2016

5

You choose your doctor.

You choose your hospital.

Now choose VITAS for hospice services.

You and your family have made so many tough decisions.

Let VITAS share the burden.

VITAS® Healthcare hospice specialists have been providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and families for more than 35 years.

VITAS has 24 physicians to make home visits. If your loved one’s symptoms escalate, we provide continuous care at home, where patients typically are most comfortable. We also have licensed inpatient units for 24-hour care in a homelike setting.

Regardless of your insurance plan, you can choose your hospice provider.

Choose VITAS.

SINCE 1980

196972

800.723.3233 • VITAS.com

6

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Living with dignity After hearing demand for a senior independentliving facility in West Orange, Sonata Senior Living is poised to open the first in Winter Garden.

JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN

As a resident of West Orange County and the senior vice president of operations at Sonata Senior Living, Shelley Esden knows there is a lack of independent-living options for seniors.

Sonata Senior Living already operates a memory-care assisted-living in Winter Garden, Serenades by Sonata at West Orange.

As people have become familiar with Sonata’s memory care, they have called to inquire about senior living options for higherfunctioning seniors.

Now, Sonata is ready to answer the demand.

Sonata is prepared to open West Orange’s first senior independent-living facility, Sonata West.

“As a result of that growing demand and the anticipated growth in the number of seniors that we’re going to see in the area over the next few years, we felt the timing was right, and we’ve had good experience working with the city of Winter Garden,” Esden said.

BY THE NUMBERS More than 20% of the U.S. population will be 65 and older by 2030, according to a study by the United Health Foundation and American Public Health Association.

By comparison, 13% of the population was 65 or older in 2010.

In Florida, the population of adults ages 65 or older is expected to increase by 88% in the next 15 years.

Sonata West is not limited to independent living: The location will feature 78 independent and 35 assisted-living apartments.

The new living options will be at the corner of Roper and Daniels roads, directly behind the Serenades by Sonata at West Orange.

The location allows for what is known in the senior living industry as a continuum of care — independent living, assisted living and memory care in one physical location.

In the future, Sonata also hopes

CLUB-LEVEL APARTMENTS

The independent living will be two stories in most places, with the exception of a small third level on the back portion of the building that will house 10 exclusive club apartments. These rooms will feature upgraded amenities and services, such as newspaper delivery and a special club room with coffee, snacks and free movies.

COSTS Jennifer Nesslar

Shelley Esden, senior vice president of operations at Sonata Senior Living, is gearing up for Sonata West, new senior independent and assisted living apartments coming to Winter Garden.

there will be a medical facility on site.

“When an individual moves in, as their needs change, they can age in place in the community without having to move to another location,” Esden said.

The community also will be about one mile away from the new Florida Hospital Winter Garden.

Sonata stresses the outdoors and being active. In addition to an indoor fitness center, the facility also will have an outdoor fitness path, designed with indigenous landscaping around the trail that will be labeled. It is intended to be interactive and encourage an intergenerational appeal to residents and their grandchildren.

There also will be an outdoor pavilion, bocce ball and a dog park for residents, as the community is pet friendly. Both the independent- and the assisted-living communities will have their own courtyard facilities — including features such as a pool, fountains and a fire pit.

Esden said she hopes the facility will be able to include a fresh kitchen, where food is made with fresh ingredients from local growers. A wellness program at the community will encompass healthy-eating dining options

“As a result of that growing demand and the anticipated growth in the number of seniors that we’re going to see in the area over the next few years, we felt the timing was right, and we’ve had good experience working with the city of Winter Garden.”

— Shelley Esden

with physical and mental-health programming.

Independent-living apartments range from 450 to 1,600 square feet, and the assisted-living apartments range from 400 to 1,050 square feet. Each unit has its own washing machine and dryer.

For safety, residents push a button to check in electronically every morning. If the button is not pushed, the staff knows to go check on the resident.

Sales and leasing center will open in the summer. Construction is scheduled to finish during March 2017.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

In the preopening period, residents can secure lower rates.

During this time, both independent and assistingliving apartments start at $3,000 per month. This includes all meals, utilities, WiFi, housekeeping, maintenance, entertainment and activities, wellness programming and wellness checks by medical providers. Residents also will have access to a library, computer lab, pool, pavilion and the fitness center.

Assisted-living residents get different levels of care based on need.

Spouses who live in the same room are added on for an additional fractional cost, but for a limited number of people who sign up early, the spouse is no additional charge.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

FEBRUARY 2016

7

Specialties Offered

CARDIOLOGY

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT*

ENDOCRINOLOGY/DIABETES

Expert Physicians Close to Home

FAMILY MEDICINE

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Primary and Specialty Care Florida Hospital Medical Group physicians, along with other community specialists, are dedicated to meeting the health needs of you and your family with comprehensive, convenient care. Our board-certified physicians are committed to serving patients with excellence and compassion in our brand new facility at Florida Hospital Winter Garden.

Request an Appointment Today! 407.614.0528 WinterGardenDocs.com

GENERAL SURGERY

INTERNAL MEDICINE

OB/GYN**

UROLOGY

16-FHMG-00029

*Community Physicians **Florida Hospital Academic Practice

197101

2000 Fowler Grove Blvd., 3rd floor, Winter Garden, FL

HEALTH MATTERS

FOLLOWING THROUGH

8

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Steven Ryzewski

WinStrong Crossfit owner Luis Rodriguez said people who set health-related goals need to understand it is a long-term lifestyle change.

Recent history suggests that early- to mid-February is a time where many who set health-related New Year’s resolutions begin to waver in their goals. To help those in need, we asked two local fitness and nutrition experts for some advice.

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

W

e are six weeks into the new year, which means many residents around West Orange are six weeks into a health- or fitness-related New Year’s resolution.

Unfortunately, recent history tells us this is about the time things start to get dicey for those vaunted goals you might have made Jan. 1.

In recent years, many national health club and gym chains have noted that early- to mid-February is when they begin to see a drop off in attendance — Gold’s Gym zeroed in on Feb. 18 as the day most New Year’s fitness plans die.

Motivation may wane, an overly ambitious plan may begin to wear on an individual, early results could begin to level off, and some exercisers may encounter their first round of plateaus — all things that may create roadblocks to following through.

And it’s not limited to exercise, either.

Over the years, Karen Repassy, a professional nutritionist and certified yoga instructor at Winter Garden Yoga, has noticed a distinct trend around this time of year.

“Usually it’s pretty early in the game — like three to four weeks — is when people will start to kind of waver,” Repassy said.

So what can one do to avoid becoming the cliche of someone who started the year with high hopes and weeks later returned to his or her old ways?

For starters, WinStrong Crossfit owner and head fitness coach Luis Rodriguez said it may be time to evaluate whether you were looking for a quick fix or fundamental change in lifestyle.

“The key is whether they just want to lose the 10 pounds they gained (over the holidays) or do they want to make a complete lifestyle change?” Rodriguez said. “That’s the biggest issue is that people don’t create longterm habits. They want (results) now. And sometimes, when you want it now, you do things that aren’t sustainable for a long period of time.”

Both Rodriguez and Repassy cited examples of overly ambitious resolutions ending in disappointment and both suggest committing to a lifestyle and mindset change for achieving the best sustained results.

Another common reason people fall out of a routine is not having a good idea of how to assess

their progress. Rodriguez said it is important to measure progress frequently and to have more than one barometer of success.

“You’ve got to have multiple data points,” Rodriguez said.

In addition to checking the scale, Rodriguez suggested body measurements — particularly in fat-storage areas — and body-fat testing, for those who have the means. How someone feels, while subjective, also can be an important barometer — especially in its role as far as motivation to stick with a plan.

It is important for exercisers to understand that added muscle might offset losses in fat, so the scale may not always greet an active person with a lower number even though that person could be making good progress.

Rodriguez said assessing body fat can help identify that progress.

Repassy has run into similar questions from nutrition clients over the years, also, and she encourages clients to keep track of how they look, how their clothes fit and how they feel — with the way one’s clothes might fit being among the best indicators of a change in body composition.

Of course, it is important to do more than just measuring prog-

ress — you have to act on that information. Rodriguez noted that without frequent assessments to measure and readjust your plan based on those findings, even the best-laid plans can get off track.

“If you stop measuring, and you stop adjusting, you get into that gray zone,” Rodriguez said.

With nutrition, it is not uncommon for someone to let a poor choice or a cheat meal snowball into a return to old habits. To avoid this, Repassy suggests “focusing more on consistency than on being perfect.”

“It’s kind of like that saying, ‘One salad is not going to make you healthy and one hamburger is not going to kill you,’” Repassy said.

Finally, plateaus, a loss in motivation or other problems could all be indicators that it is time to seek further help.

Someone who was out of shape and/or sedentary might have experienced some fast results after some simple, self-guided changes in the first few weeks of an exercise or nutrition plan. But, when that initial progress slows as the body adjusts to the changes in routine, it can be a significant mental blow and create a temptation to give up.

“It’s kind of like that saying, ‘One salad is not going to make you healthy and one hamburger is not going to kill you.’”

— Karen Repassy

Instead, it could be time to double-down on one’s resolution.

“If you’re hitting plateaus and you can’t find the solution — that’s when we hire people,” Rodriguez said. “It’s really important to understand that sometimes a coach is necessary to achieve that goal.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver.com.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

9

FEBRUARY 2016

Ask about our new patient discounts!

At Champions Orthodontics, we understand that it’s not just about having a perfect smile.

It’s about the confidence that comes with it.

From yearbook photos to first interviews, you and your kids deserve a lifetime of great smiles. Begin today with Champions Orthodontics.

Call today to schedule an appointment.

DR. A. ALEXIS SHRAGER Board Certified Specialists, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthodontics

www.championorthodontics.com

Two Convenient Locations Winter Garden Village

at Fowlers Groves (Next to Target) 3311 Daniels Rd. Ste. 104 Winter Garden, FL 34787 407.656.0990

Dr. Phillips at Sand Lake (Next to Barnes & Noble) 7932 W. Sand Lake Rd. Ste. 105 Orlando, FL 32819 407.351.5691

197504

We strive to make your experience in our office a pleasant one, and it is our goal to provide outstanding orthodontic treatment in a timely, caring and friendly manner.

10

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Defying gravity The AlterG anti-gravity treadmill at Orlando Health’s rehabilitation center at the Dr. Phillips YMCA helps patients race to rehab.

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER DR. PHILLIPS Imagine being on a

Danielle Hendrix

Physical therapist and Orlando Health Manager of Rehabilitation Services Kathryn Henderson has her weight calibrated by the AlterG.

treadmill that lets you walk or run — but on only 20% of your body weight.

Rehabilitation patients can do just that with the AlterG antigravity treadmill, one of the newest additions to Orlando Health’s outpatient rehabilitation services center at the Dr. Phillips YMCA. The AlterG — created by NASA engineer Robert Whalen and his son, Sean — works by creating a pressurized lifting force around the lower half of the user’s body, allowing him or her to walk or run with reduced impact.

“What you do as a patient is you put on a pair of shorts — I liken them to a wetsuit type of material — and then those shorts zip into the chamber of the treadmill,” said Kathryn Henderson, a physical therapist and Orlando Health’s manager of rehabilitation services at the Dr. Phillips YMCA. “The chamber comes up and calibrates your weight, and through the force of air, you can be unweighted. Up to 80% of your body weight can be taken off.”

The chamber has clear plastic on three sides that allows physical therapists to see into the chamber and how the patient is walking on the treadmill. Additionally, the Dr. Phillips YMCA set up cameras from different angles that project onto a TV screen above the treadmill, so both the therapists and patients can look at their gait and adjust it accordingly.

Henderson said use of the machine benefits anyone who is looking to decrease his or her weight distribution through the lower extremities during exercise. Examples of injuries that the machine can help rehabilitate include ankle fracture, ankle replacement, ACL repair, knee and hip replacement and lower-back injury. Additionally, it can help with gait training and strengthening for neurological patients, as well as for strengthening and conditioning for older patients.

“There are some surgeries where you can’t bear 100% of your weight, so we call that partial-weight bearing, where only 25% of your body weight should be felt through your leg,” Henderson said. “We can get patients into that treadmill so that they can be up on that leg … and then get them up to weight bearing sooner than we would without it so they can do balance activities.”

Although similar to water therapy in that patients can come close to being weightless, the AlterG differs in that it offers no resistance, whereas water does.

Additionally, the AlterG can calculate the exact weight being taken off a patient. In contrast, there is no way to know precisely how much weight is being taken off people when they are put in water.

Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

HEALTH BENEFITS n Burn more calories by going faster or farther than normal n Less impact on the joints n Rehab after injury or surgery n Run without discomfort or pain n Train through injuries

ORLANDO HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPY Outpatient Rehabilitation Services at Dr. Phillips YMCA ADDRESS: 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando PHONE: (407) 354-1110 WEBSITE: orlando health.com

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

FEBRUARY 2016

11

Shauna’s fighting chance Ocoee High grad Shauna Ragbir refuses to let a lifetime of cancer stop her from going to school, and it’s not going to keep her from this year’s Relay for Life, either.

COMMUNITY EDITOR OCOEE Shauna Ragbir

and her family plan every year to attend the Relay for Life of Winter Garden, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

But those plans have been thwarted each time because she ends up making one of her many unscheduled trips to the hospital — all cancer-related.

This year, however, she is determined to make it to the April 22 event and has begun raising funds for her family team.

Ragbir, 24, of Ocoee, has been fighting several different cancers since she was born with a rare brain cancer in her spine called ependymoma, which took doctors eight years to diagnose. Following surgery and radiation, her spine collapsed and doctors had to place three rods, 18 screws and six cages in her spine to hold her up.

Told she would never walk again, Ragbir proved everyone wrong and was taking steps six months later.

In 2012, she was told she had a different cancer, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and her thyroid was removed.

A year later — after being told the ependymoma had returned — Ragbir went under the knife again when doctors placed a shunt in her brain so the tumor could drain properly. She is still fighting the cancer.

And through it all, Ragbir, an Ocoee High School graduate, has continued her studies in the University of Central Florida’s biomedical program. She hopes to find a cure for cancer.

She knows she will be in college for several more years than

The Ragbir family held a fundraiser during the holidays to benefit the American Cancer Society.

the typical student, but she’s determined.

“Cancer has had a huge impact on school for me,” Ragbir said.

“I had to fight many battles, not only with cancer, but with the school system. Some colleges didn’t think I was ‘sick’ enough to medically withdraw and failed me. I just want to be able to go on to medical school and become an amazing doctor.”

It doesn’t matter how many years she has to attend, she said.

“I have missed many semesters of school because I was always having surgeries or I was learning to walk all over again,” Ragbir said.

“I don’t really keep count of how much longer I have until I graduate anymore, because something might always come in the way again. I just keep going no matter how long it takes.”

The 2013 shunt surgery, while successful, also left her paralyzed, although she has since regained feeling in her arms and some strength in her legs. For a time, her mother drove her to college and took notes for her.

“Not being able to walk as well and as strong has made me go about in a very different way,” Ragbir said. “I had to learn to do daily things that people take for granted, a whole new way.”

She gained some independence recently when hand controls were installed in her car.

Dakota is a fully trained service dog who assists her owner, Shauna Ragbir, with support. If Ragbir loses her balance and starts to fall, she can hold onto Dakota, who stays by her side.

Enjoying life less because you are afraid of falling?

Safety Overhead Support Benefits Patients and Helps Improve Overall Function S.O.S. - Orlando’s ONLY Safety Overhead Support No-Fall Physical Therapy & Balance Center

RELAY FOR LIFE

Ragbir insists she is attending this year’s Winter Garden Relay, even if she has to show up in her wheelchair. Her family — parents Ronald and Shantie and brother Ramin — held the first of several fundraisers at Christmastime.

Participants added candles to a tree with the names of loved ones who have had cancer.

Other events are being planned, and the Ragbirs will tally the amount raised on the night of the Relay.

In the meantime, Shauna Ragbir will continue her personal fight, with her family and her service dog, Dakota, by her side.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at aqrhode@orangeobserver.com.

www.FYZICAL.com

(321) 369-9133

Spelled Different Because We Are Different!

197033

AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE

6388 Silver Star Rd., Orlando, FL 32818 E-mail: orlando@fyzical.com

12

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

What is the West Orange Healthcare District?

The Florida Legislature established the independent special healthcare district in 1949. The West Orange Healthcare District evolved with several key milestones over the next three decades: The construction of the 41-bed West Orange Memorial Hospital in Winter Garden in 1952; the purchase of the 118-bed West Orange Manor skilled-nursing home, located near the hospital, in the 1970s; the addition of 110 beds at West Orange Manor and a new name, Health Central Park, in 1988; and the completion of Health Central hospital and medical office complex in Ocoee in 1993.

By 2010, the passage of the Affordable Care Act led the district to evaluate options to better serve local residents. This process resulted in the 2012 sale of all district facilities to longtime partner Orlando Health, which agreed to pay the WOHD $181 million plus interest over 15 years, with proceeds going toward improving the quality and availability of world-class healthcare services and facilities in West Orange County.

Recent grants include $25 million to Health Central Hospital in 2013 to expand the emergency department, $150,000 to The Brain Foundation of Florida in 2014 to purchase and renovate a home for recovering mental health patients and multi-year commitments totaling $500,000 to the Roper YMCA for capital improvements and more than $600,000 to Shepherd’s Hope to provide healthcare services for medically underserved and uninsured residents.

Creating a healthier

West Orange Healthy West Orange seeks to make the West Orange community the healthiest in the nation.

JENNIFER NESSLAR AND AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE THE OBSERVER WEST ORANGE The West Orange community will be the healthiest in the nation.

That is the vision of Healthy West Orange, a campaign led by the West Orange Healthcare District in partnership with Health Central Hospital and Observer Media Group, parent company of the West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer newspapers.

The program seeks to bring together community leaders and businesses to work together for a cultural transformation.

“We’re looking to leverage existing investments, initiatives and events that we believe collectively can be more effective and transformational if all of these things that are already happening have the umbrella and the energy of Healthy West

Orange,” Tracy Swanson, executive director of the West Orange Healthcare District, said. “We start to kind of all point in the same direction, so we can exponentially move ourselves forward.”

The program is an extension of what is already happening in West Orange — from farmers markets to trails — and tackle the challenges of what keeps people from pursuing a healthy lifestyle, from making trails safe for children to walk on to providing healthy meals for people in need.

SO WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Many community leaders are gathering at the end of February to kick off Healthy West Orange. Following this gathering, Healthy West Orange will host at least four health-andwellness expos throughout the year, with the first taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at West Oaks Mall in Ocoee. The event will feature fitness vendors, healthy cooking demonstrations and businesses that have worked with Healthy West Orange since its inception.

Healthy West Orange also encourages people to take

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

steps to live a healthy life. They can take the Healthy West Orange pledge online, where they commit to make healthy choices, from exercise to food choices. This pledge is structured around the program’s four pillars — health status, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle. Participants are able to pledge as an individual or as a part of a business, school or organization.

A live tracker on the website shows how many West Orange residents have pledged to take the challenge.

Once residents join the challenge, they are encouraged to take a Healthy Selfie to show themselves doing a healthy activity in action. To share the image with Healthy West Orange, post it to social media with the hashtag #HealthySelfie.

The newspapers also will print weekly health, fitness or medical tips during the campaign.

Pam Gould, District 4 Orange County School Board member, has expressed an interest in the program.

“Anything we can do to help our families and our community, the healthier they will be and the better they will be,” said Gould, who has a background and a strong interest in health care. “This is right up the alley of what I’ve wanted to do, and it’s a perfect opportunity to really try to improve the health and wellness of our community and do it together as a community.”

THE PLEDGE

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com and Amy Quesinberry Rhode at aqrhode@orangeobserver.com.

Make it attainable. Your goals should cause you to stretch, but don’t make them unreachable. If you don’t exercise regularly, don’t set a goal of working out for two hours each day.

FITNESS: Committing and participating in fitness activities.

13

I commit: To do my part to transform my community to one of health and wellness beginning with myself To be responsible for my physical and mental health through my daily choices To be active a minimum of three times a week for thirty minutes a day To make daily healthy food choices For more information, visit healthywestorange.org.

SETTING GOALS

To make your pledge count, you’ll want to set reasonable and measurable goals. Here are some tips for sticking to it: Make it specific. Once you take the pledge, decide how you will specifically reach those goals.

When making daily healthy food choices, perhaps you will drink water instead of your daily soda.

Make it measurable. You should have a way of knowing you reached your goals. For example, if you commit to run three times a week for at least 30 minutes, you can reach the end of each week and measure if you’ve attained that goal.

NUTRITION: Making education choices about eating habits, such as getting eating plenty of vegetables and reducing harmful pesticides in diet.

LIFESTYLE: Access to health resources and choosing healthy behaviors, such as smoking cessation, managing stress, environmental influences and other things that affect a person’s ability to live a healthy life.

SERV F

General & Surgical Dermatology MOHS Micrographic Surgery Cosmetic Dermatology

Botox ® · Fillers · Laser Treatments

President and Medical Director

Top 10 Doctor Award Winner for

Dermatology Specialists in the Orlando area!

Your Family’s

Dermatology Practice WE ACCEPT MOST HEALTH PL A NS SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

DR. PHILLIPS • 7932 W. Sand Lake Rd., Ste. 202 OCOEE • 530 Ocoee Commerce Parkway Also in:

Altamonte Springs • Apopka • Celebration • Clermont • Davenport SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA East Orlando • Kissimmee • Poinciana • St. Cloud • Sumterville FOR OVER 25 YEARS

SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR OVER 25 YEARS

(7546)

(7546) 196980

HEALTH STATUS: Understanding and aspiring to a strong health status, measured through basic means such as body mass index.

FEBRUARY 2016

Take the pledge at healthy westorangepledge.com

THE FOUR PILLARS Healthy West Orange plans to foster a culture of wellness through these four pillars of health:

|

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

. e r a C We deliver with

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

FEBRUARY 2016

15

We deliver exceptional and compassionate care from our unique all-female practice!

Kristina M. McLean, MD, DACOG

Mary Beth LewisBoardman, MD, DACOG

Debra M. Ortiz, MD (español)

In just 5 minutes, you could change your life.

Introducing... The MonaLisa Touch. It’s a simple, painless laser requiring no anethesia and downtime, with no side effects. Patients call it “life-changing.” Call us today at (352) 241-6460 or (407) 422-1608 for yo appointment and for a limited time only, special pricing on this miraculous, painless procedure that will change your lif

.ssenyrd lanigav ro esruocretni lufniap morf reffus t’noD Jeanmarie Texier, MD, FACOG (español)

.efil ruoy egnahc dluoc uoy ,setunim 5 tsuj nI

Giselle M. Torres, MD

rof swen evah ew ,gnihcti lanigav evah ro ,xes lufniap gnicneirepxe ,ssenyrd lanigav morf gnireffus er’uoy fI gnitsal-gnol dna etaidemmi sreviled taht stsixe tnemtaert wen yranoitulover a ,woN .pleh nac eW :uoy .krow yllaer ot nevorp yllacinilc s’ti dnA .feiler Cynthia Perkins, NP, CNM

Kathryn Sorensen, CNM, WHNP, MSN

Tiffany Knightly, DNP

In just 5 minutes, you could change your life.

If you’re suffering from vaginal dryness, experiencing painful sex, or have vaginal itching, we have news f you: We can help. Now, a revolutionary new treatment exists that delivers immediate and long-lastin relief. And it’s clinically proven to really work.

Dr. Torres will be practicing soon in our Clermont office.

Alana McGee MD

Don’t suffer from painful intercourse or vaginal dryness.

Don’t suffer from painful intercourse or vaginal dryness.

Joan Bardo, DNP, CNM

on dna aisehtena on gniriuqer resal sselniap ,elpmis a s’tI .hcuoT asiLanoM eTh ...gnicudortnI ruoy rof 8061-224 )704( ro 0646-142 )253( ta yadot su llaC ”.gnignahc-efil“ ti llac stneitaP .stceffe edis on htiw ,emitnwod .efil ruoy egnahc lliw taht erudecorp sselniap ,suolucarim siht no gnicirp laiceps ,ylnORLANDO o emit detimil a rof dnCLERMONT a tnemtnioppa Let us take care of you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, delivery and beyond.

NEW LOCATION OPENING AUGUST 3, 2015 12200 W. Colonial Dr., Suite 202 Winter Garden, FL 34787 (in the TD Bank Building)

Introducing... The MonaLisa Touch.

It’s simple, painless laser requiring no anesthesia and no downtime, with no side effects.

CLERMONT 2400 Hooks Street Clermont, FL 34711

ORLANDO 100 West Gore Street Suite 102 Orlando, FL 32806

Kristina M. McLean, MD, FACO Mary Beth Lewis-Boardman, MD, FACO Jeanmarie Texier, MD, FACO Debra M. Ortiz, M Alana McGee, M Tiffany Knightly, DN Cynthia Perkins, NP, CN Kathryn Sorensen, CNM, RN, MS Joan Bardo, DNP, CN

Patients call it “life-changing.” Our provides believe it’s a one-stop treatment to change your life for the better.

Clermont: (352) 241-6460 Orlando: (407) 422-1608 excellenceforwomen.com Se Habla Español

Ask us about it.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

200 West Gore Street Suite 102 NOITACOLOrlando, WENFL 32806

2400 Hooks Street Clermont, FL 34711

We know that having your baby is one of the most events inN your 51extraordinary 02 ,3 TSUG UA G INlife.

EPO In an environment of mutual trust and respect, we will help you achieve the birth experience 202 etiuS ,.rD lainoloC .W 00221 that you envision. With multiple offices to serve you, our experienced team can care for GARDEN )gnidliuB knaB DT eht ni( 78743 LF ,nedraGWINTER r e t n i W 12200 W. Colonial Dr. Suite 201 every GOCyou AF ,D M ,naestep LcM .of M athe nitsirway K on this incredible journey.

GOCAF ,DM ,namdraoB-siweL hteB yraM GOCAin F ,D M ,reWinnie ixeT eiramnPalmer aeJ Delivery both Hospital and South Lake Hospital.

DM ,zitrO .M arbeD DM ,eeGcM analA PND ,ylthginK ynaffiT MNC ,PN ,snikreP aihtnyC NSM ,NR ,MNC ,nesneroS nyrhtaK

Obstetrics | Gynecology | Infertility | Robotics | Medi-Spa

Winter Garden, FL 34787 (In the TD BANK Building)

TNOMRELC ODNALRO • Orlando: (407) 422-1608 • Winter Garden: (407) 395-9990 Clermont: (352) 241-6460 teertS skooH 0042 teertS eroG tseW 001 201 etiuS

• Se Habla Español 11743excellenceforwomen.com LF ,tnomrelC

197502

14

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Fitness focus Neil Barnhill opened Winter Garden Athletic Club last month out of a passion for helping people reach all-around better fitness.

ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN Given the office

park look of the lot Winter Garden Fitness is in, you might wonder whether you are in the right place when you park. Even when you get inside, the shape of the room is more like a warehouse than a prototypical gym.

But that suits Neil Barnhill, certified head trainer, whose style and path to the fitness business have been anything but typical.

His equipment is all new, with various benches and bars, but there are also giant medicine balls, ropes and other objects along the wall for a diversified routine that is an amalgamation of several types of training he has studied.

One program he likens his training to is CrossFit, but with the name Winter Garden Ath-

letic Club, he wants to assure clients they need not be workout machines.

“I’ve been getting 30- to 70-year-olds, any age,” Barnhill said. “I don’t want to scare anyone away. I individualize; I’m flexible enough to find something for anyone to do.”

Personal training is just one part; Barnhill intends to have frequent classes amid his Mondayto-Friday slate of offerings.

FROM 9-IRONS TO PUMPING IRON

Barnhill moved to Central Florida in 1998 and taught golf for 10 years as a head pro around Windermere. He had played at Georgia Southern University and then professionally.

“I love helping people,” he said.

“Teaching is what I like.”

But in 2008, the Great Reces-

sion hit golf harder than many businesses. Barnhill began thinking of other ways to instill his passion for helping others through teaching. He figured instead of just helping players of a certain game that he could help anybody with their overall health by becoming a fitness instructor.

“I like this a lot more than golf,” Barnhill said. “Teaching fitness and changing someone’s life is a whole different deal. Seeing them

change — and change as a person — is way more gratifying.”

Those worlds have collided lately, with young golfers following the strong athletic build Tiger Woods made famous, and a lot of it stems from Olympic-style lifts Barnhill incorporates, he said.

And like a good number of golfers as they age, Barnhill said he was not focusing enough on his fitness.

“I stayed at home with the kids

Zak Kerr

Head trainer Neil Barnhill stresses process in a complete fitness and nutrition regimen at Winter Garden Athletic Club.

196991

16

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

17

AND WHAT ABOUT DIET?

“I don’t like the word diet,” Barnhill said. “I think you have to change their lifestyle. I can sit down with them and say, ‘What are you doing right now? Here’s a nutrition plan — carbs, protein, fat — to get more balanced.’ I can help them with that and then look after two weeks: Are you crashing in the middle of the day? Do we need to add more fat, like nuts?

So it shows them exactly what’s good fat, what’s bad fat; what’s good carbs, what’s bad carbs.”

He recommends calculating and even weighing food to maintain a plan, and for those still more serious about it, there is a full set of tests people can undergo.

“It’s not cheap to get healthy — it really isn’t,” Barnhill said. “But at the back end, how many people spend all their money on health insurance and surgeries down the road? It’s an investment in your body, and you’re going to spend way less and feel good.”

Check out Winter Garden Athletic Club on Facebook for more information.

Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@orangeobserver.com.

BrAceS

inViSAliGn®

FINANCING FOR EVERYONE

NO REFERRAL NEEDED FOR EXAM!

FREE 0% CONSULTATION INCLUDING XRAYS*

Dr. Alan Wong, DMD

•

Dr. Ana Garcia, DDS

352.242.1818 CLERMONT

www.TheModernSMile.coM

APOPKA

BUSHNELL

197248

for a couple of years,” he said. “I got into fitness. I started exploring; I’m just competitive and like, ‘Man, I really like this.’ And then my massage therapist said, ‘You would love CrossFit with your mentality.’ So I got certified in it and started training people in the backyard and then took that to the Orlando All-Stars, where I was for almost four years.”

And now, Barnhill sees himself running Winter Garden Athletic Club for the next 25 to 30 years, he said. Thus, he obtained eight certifications in the last few years to broaden his knowledge and improve his pupils’ technique.

Based on his research, he stresses proper movement at a manageable weight and then adding weight once the form is set.

“I don’t care if it’s a bodybuilding guy, you have to move right,” Barnhill said. “And then down the road we’ll get more weights with proper mechanics … and you’re not going to get hurt.”

Even for seniors, Barnhill has demonstrated a record of improving flexibility and mobility, with a focus on maintaining such qualities even when people might be considered past physical prime, he said.

|

*Cannot be combined with any other offer, insurance, or discount. Must present coupon at time of initial consultation.

Walk-in Care

Walk Ins

Welcome

For All Your Bumps, Bruises and Boo-Boos.

www.WindermereMedicalCenter.com

Located in Lakeside Village Plaza on CR535 (Behind the 7-11, just north of Publix). Please use Bing or Google Maps to find us!

Accepted Insurance Plans: Aetna | Avmed | Cigna | Florida Blue | Florida Hospital | Medicare | United Healthcare | …and many more!

197247

To schedule a meet and greet with one of our pediatricians, please call our office at (407) 876-CARE(2273)

18

HEALTH MATTERS

|

CLASH

of the carbs Ocoee dietician/nutritionist Allison Brinkley spills the beans on the difference between good and bad carbohydrates and how to eat healthier.

GOOD CARBS Buckwheat Fresh fruits and vegetables Legumes (black and pinto beans, peas) Millet Whole-grain barley, corn, oats and pasta Whole rye Sprouted wholegrain bread

BAD CARBS Cake Chips Cookies Doughnuts Pastries Pretzels Soda Sugary cereals White bread, pasta and rice

MORE INFORMATION

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Allison Brinkley offers a variety of services, including nutritional support, monthly accountability groups and weight-loss management.

For more, email her at allisonbrinkley@yahoo.com.

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER

When it comes to eating healthy, we’ve been taught that carbohydrates are the bad guys — you’ll know this full well if you’ve ever felt the guilt that consumes you when eating white rice. But in reality, not all carbs are bad.

Allison Brinkley, a registered dietician and nutritionist from Ocoee, offered some tips to help differentiate between good and bad carbs and on how to choose healthy alternatives.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Good carbs are those that take more time to break down and use in the body, therefore making you feel fuller after eating. They typically contain low to moderate amounts of calories, are high in fiber and a variety of phytonutrients, and are low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol.

Additionally, they are unrefined, contain no trans fats and have a low glycemic index, meaning your blood sugars will not spike.

On the other hand, bad carbs typically contain more calories and have low nutritional value.

They are low in fiber and may leave you feeling full temporarily, but your body breaks them down faster than it does good carbs.

They are also high in refined sugar and flour, sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fats. Additionally, they have a high glycemic index, which contributes to spikes in blood sugars. “(Because) good carbs are high in fiber, that helps to lower blood sugar, insulin levels and LDL (lowdensity lipoprotein) cholesterol,” Brinkley said. “It also helps you feel full longer and aids in digestion. Replacing bad carbs with good carbs can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.”

Don’t be fooled by seemingly healthy foods, either. Always

check the nutritional labels before purchasing or eating them, as they can actually be filled with artificial sweeteners, sugars or refined flour. Among these foods are bran muffins — which are actually loaded with sugars and refined flour — and dried fruits, since some manufacturers will add sugars during production. Brinkley suggests finding some that do have additional sugar and limiting your intake.

“Water with added flavors and vitamins … can be shockingly high in sugar or artificial sweeteners,” Brinkley said. “It is best to add a slice of lemon, cucumber or ginger to your water infuser. (Also), pretzels. While (they are) baked and not fried, (they) still have little to no nutritional value, since (they are) made with white flour and added sodium.”

WANT THIS? TRY THIS! n Apple pie — Baked apples with cinnamon and whole-grain oats (see recipe) n Ice cream — Unsweetened yogurt with fruit or banana ice cream n Flour tortillas — Bibb lettuce to make your wrap or taco n Fried foods — Lightly breaded, baked foods with almond flour n Mashed white potatoes — Mashed sweet potatoes or mashed cauliflower n Soda — Seltzer water with a splash of lemon or lime n White pasta — Zucchini noodles, quinoa pasta or whole-wheat pasta n White rice — Cauliflower rice

BAKED APPLES

NATURAL SELECTIONS

Brinkley said one thing to be aware of when choosing to eat healthy is knowing the origin of your food.

“If it comes from the Earth as close (as possible) to its pure form, then it is likely a good carb,” she said. “If it was made in a factory, then it is likely refined and considered a bad carb.”

Brinkley said it’s important to check a food’s ingredient label to find the nutrient content per serving. Additionally, take a look at the ingredient list. If there are words you cannot pronounce, it probably isn’t the best choice.

Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

“If it comes from the Earth as close (as possible) to its pure form, then it is likely a good carb.”

— Allison Brinkley

INGREDIENTS 2 large apples (any kind) 1/4 cup chopped nuts 2 tablespoons dried fruit with no added sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg METHOD n Preheat oven to 350 degrees. n Remove core of apple, but don’t cut all the way through. Use a knife or apple corer. n In a bowl, combine the nuts, dried fruit, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. n Place cored apples in a casserole pan and fill each cored apple with nut mixture. n Fill the casserole pan with about 1/2 to 1 inch of water. n Bake apples for 45 to 60 minutes until they are soft. n Cool slightly. Enjoy!

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

Winter Garden’s ONLY family owned funeral home.

|

19

FEBRUARY 2016

407-614-8350

“That’s My Wish”

by Orlando Magazine in 2007-2014

We are your Hometown Funeral Home, offering our:

Direct Cremation for:

750.00 Call for details

$

MERCHANDISE

197216

www.winteroakfuneralhome.com

1132 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden Florida 34787 • LIC #F080822

197614

Cremation Jewelry Thumbprint Necklace Keepsake Urns Flag Cases Nightlights Urn Charms Urns

We specialize in the treatment of high blood pressure, and kidney problems and if necessary provide kidney dialysis.

Attaining wellness... limiting the use of medications

Office 407-297-8408 1210 E. Plant St. Suite 120; Winter Garden, FL 34787 www.westorangenephrology.com We serve 6 different locations Winter Garden - Main office Apopka • Kissimmee • Orlando (Maitland area) Longwood • Mt. Dora

HEALTH MATTERS

|

STAYING HYDRATED At the EWC, Tracy Teclaw, a certified naturopathic doctor, often works with people who are chronically dehydrated and coaches them, giving them the resources to help their bodies heal themselves.

“Most people are chronically dehydrated,” she said. “They don’t drink enough, they don’t know to drink enough, or they don’t like the way it tastes. The first step is to get them hydrated.”

To stay properly hydrated, Teclaw’s rule is to drink a minimum of half your body weight in ounces per day.

So if you weigh 100 pounds, your daily minimum is 50 ounces of water.

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Helping and hydrating Windermere’s Energy Wellness Center teamed up with Echo Water to donate and deliver a water electrolysis machine to Edgewood Children’s Ranch.

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER WEST ORANGE

Here’s a fact: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of children and teens ages 6 to 19 years old in the United States are not getting enough water.

But here’s another fact: To help combat that issue, Windermere’s Energy Wellness Center recently partnered with Paul Barattiero, president of Echo Water, to give the students at Edgewood Children’s Ranch a taste of hydrogenenriched water.

The ranch is a nonprofit Christian facility that provides provides residential, educational and counseling services for troubled children ages 6 to 17 and their families. At full capacity, 71 children live at the ranch at any one time.

Photos by Danielle Hendrix

The Echo 9 Hydrogen Machine uses electrolysis to infuse water with molecular hydrogen.

The EWC and Barattiero teamed up to donate an Echo 9 Hydrogen Machine — a water fil-

tration system that infuses water with hydrogen through a process called electrolysis — to the ranch last fall, but the machine was delivered and installed Jan. 27.

The decision came after Tracy Teclaw, a holistic consultant at the EWC, and Christina Garcia, EWC operations manager, had a couple of cottage parents from the ranch coming in and buying the hydrogen-enriched water for their own families.

“We talked to them about spending this amount of money on the water and if they’ve ever thought about buying a machine,” Garcia said. “So Tracy and I talked to Edgewood Ranch, and they couldn’t fit that into their budget. We really wanted to help them, so one day, Paul stopped by to introduce a new employee and we thought, ‘Why don’t we ask him?’ And he said yes.”

“Water plays a huge role in our system, from the digestive and metabolic processes to energy level and filtration, getting stuff that’s in our system out.”

— Paul Barattiero, president of Echo Water

SPRING SPA SPECIALS Renew your look with fresh, new services available this spring at The Spa at Hyatt Regency Orlando.

Mention this ad to receive our new spray tan service for just $25. For reservations and more information about spa and salon services, please call 407.345.4431.

196587

20

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

Children at Edgewood Children’s Ranch now are receiving hydration through a water electrolysis machine. The next step will be the educate parents on proper nutrition.

When the ranch and the children living on it were brought to his attention, Barattiero knew he wanted to help.

Barattiero said there are numerous benefits of molecular hydrogen on the human body, and it can be therapeutic. For example, oxidative stress — an imbalance between the produc-

tion of free radicals and antioxidant defenses — is something that causes a lot of pathology and inflammation in the body.

Hydrogen has a powerful reduction capacity for it.

“If we really think about it, 75% of us is water,” he said. “Water plays a huge role in our system, from the digestive and metabolic

processes to energy level and filtration, getting stuff that’s in our system out.”

The machine works by first filtering water through a ninestage system to remove metals and chlorine. After the filtering process, electrolysis begins: Nine electrodes in the machine create molecular hydrogen and dissolve

|

FEBRUARY 2016

21

EWC SERVICES

it into the water.

“We’re enriching the water with dissolved hydrogen gas,” he said. “Like you have carbonated water or soda with carbon dioxide dissolved into it, you have water with dissolved hydrogen.

It doesn’t have a feel like carbon dioxide and you won’t even know it’s there, because hydrogen is so small and so light.”

Teclaw said the EWC started by providing the children with the water system to get them hydrated, the first step in helping achieve overall well-being.

The next step, she said, is to start educating the parents on proper nutrition and help them to decide what will benefit their children.

“Some children have focus or discipline issues, and a lot of that goes right back to diet and what they’re eating,” Teclaw said. “It’s never just one thing, but hydration and diet are a huge part of it,” Teclaw said. “We look forward to going back after they’ve been drinking it for a while and finding out what differences were made in the community just by changing the water.”

n Echo hydrogenenriched water service n Energy balancing n EVOX emotional balancing n Hypnotherapy services n Infrared body wraps n Infrared sauna n Magic Fit Whole Body Vibrating Platform n Micro-current technology n Medical massage therapy n Mindful/Nutritious Movement n Mudpacks n Nutrition programs n Organic facials n Quantum reflex analysis

Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

David W. Boers DDS PA Honest, Skillful and Experienced Dentistry N. Leo Misch, Jr. DMD Gabrielle Alford, DDS

Talk to your neighbors, then talk to me.

Emergencies Welcome

Jo Barsh, Agent 317 West Road Ocoee, FL 34761 Bus: 407-299-0301 www.jobarsh.com M-F 8:30 - 5:30 Sat 10:00 - 1:00 Evening by Appointment

• All Restorative Procedures • Cosmetic Procedures • Lumineers • Invisalign • Root Canals • Extractions Implants • Crown Lengthening • Bone & Tissue Grafting • Periodontal Surgeries

1805 Maguire Road, Suite 159, Windermere, FL 34786

See why State Farm insures more drivers than GEICO and Progressive combined. Great service, plus discounts of up to 40 percent.* Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

CALL FOR QUOTE 24/7. ®

®

chainoflakesdental@gmail.com • davidboers.com Accepting New Patients • Most Insurances Accepted

196974

407-876-6708

*Discounts vary by states.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL 1001174.1

197220

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at

22

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Are your feet aging gracefully?

ARE YOU OR A LOVED ONE AT RISK FOR LUNG CANCER?

A health care provider’s referral is required for this low-dose CT lung cancer screening at CDI. Cut out this ad and share it with your doctor.

Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) offers a lung cancer screening exam that can detect cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. This screening may be covered by your health plan if you: • Are between the ages of 55-80 • Are a current smoker or have quit smoking within the last 15 years

DR. RICHARD M. COWIN

D

Visit myCDI.com/ LungCancerScreening to find out more.

• Have smoked a pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years, or the equivalent

Metrowe st

|

O rl ando

|

O v iedo

|

Winte r Park

196973

myCDI.com/FL • 407.741.5400

Changing lives one smile at a time!

Dr. Simmonds Teeth Cleaning Only $109

• Complete Exam (D0150) • Prophy (D1110) in Absence of Gum Disease • X-rays (D0274)

Having a Tooth Emergency? $69 Problem Focus Exam 197246

• Limited Exam (D0140) • X-ray (D0220)

Dr. Razz

Call 321-319-4281

1601 Park Center Dr #1 Orlando, FL 32835

simmondsdentalcenter.com

o you know what causes common foot problems such as bunions and hammertoes? If you’re like most people, you believe pointed dress shoes, perhaps with high heels, are the culprit.

For those of you who share this common misconception, it is my pleasure to help you to rid yourself of guilt for buying those irresistible shoes with the stiletto heels.

The reality is that many common foot deformities, including bunions and hammertoes, are caused by heredity. Further, if you’re female, and if your mother has or had bunions, you have a fairly good chance of getting them. Further, because these musculoskeletal problems are progressive in nature, they tend to slowly worsen over time.

Of course, if you already have a bunion, and you wear narrow dress shoes with pointed toes, your feet are going to hurt much more than if you’d selected a lower-heeled shoe with a rounder front and a higher toe box. Does that mean that the dress shoes actually caused the bunion to form? Of course not. It merely exacerbated the symptoms. These may appear as bursitis (an inflamed sac of fluid underneath the skin which

nature forms to try to protect the bone from the trauma of the shoe pressing on it) and or corns (hard layers of skin on the top of the toes if you have hammertoes and they rub on the top of the shoes).

That’s right, corns are not “skin problems.” They are skin symptoms or manifestations of crooked toe deformities such as hammertoes, mallet toes or claw toes. Actually, there are two types of corns, heloma durum (hard corns) and heloma molle (soft corns). Further, hard corns and soft corns have different causes. Hard corns, found on the tops of the toes, usually are caused by crooked toes. Soft corns, found between the toes, usually are caused by bone spurs and, as such, usually come in pairs on adjacent toes.

Now that I’ve shared all the bad news about foot problems being hereditary and becoming more painful and inflamed with the wearing of the shoes you love, here’s the good news. Most podiatrists can diagnose and treat most of these problems so you might be able to wear your shoes more comfortably.

In other words, even if you can’t find shoes to fit your feet comfortably because of your bunions and hammertoes, a podiatrist actually may be able to make your foot fit the shoes.

Taking this important step could allow your feet to age gracefully, not painfully.

DR. RICHARD M. COWIN IS A DIPLOMATE OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PODIATRIC SURGERY. HIS PRACTICE, LASER FOOT SURGERY SPECIALIST, IS LOCATED AT 7932 W. SAND LAKE ROAD, SUITE 106, ORLANDO.

Corns are not “skin problems.” They are skin symptoms or manifestations of crooked toe deformities like hammertoes, mallet toes or claw toes.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

|

23

FEBRUARY 2016

Health & Wellness Expo Saturday, February 27, 2016 10am-4pm

First of multiple Health and Wellness Expos to be hosted throughout West Orange communities!

Little League Teams!!!

At...

Stop by the West Oaks Mall Saturday, February 27th and VOTE for YOUR Little League.

The league with the most votes can win $750.00 to be used for equipment, field improvement etc.

Visit Winter Garden Squeeze booth vote, take a practice swing in the batting cage, talk with some of the Squeeze team, and win prizes!

Fun for the Entire Family!

Special Guests & Celebrity Appearances!

• FREE Health Screenings • FREE Prizes and Giveaways Hourly • FREE Exciting Healthy Activities Including Cooking and Fitness Demonstrations • Great Vendors • DJ, Entertainment & More!

Attention Schools Public and Private Elementary, Middle and High School

For more information visit: HealthyWestOrange.org

Register and Win ...

Take the Healthy West Orange Pledge

by February 26th at 5 pm. Your school will be in the drawing for a $1000.00 Grant from the West Orange Healthcare District. Drawing for the winning school will be held at the Health & Wellness Expo at West Oaks Mall on the February 27th.

CHAMPIONED BY:

197245

You are invited to a FREE community Health and Wellness Expo.

24

MEET THE DOC

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

Dr. Kristen Weinbaum

WHO SHOULD VISIT AN AUDIOLOGIST?

Audiologist Dr. Kristen Weinbaum, of Winter Garden, helps many understand and manage hearing loss through Harmony Hearing Centers Clermont.

ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER CLERMONT Although a hearing-

aid specialist and a doctoral audiologist both require certification, only one takes years of schooling and digs deeper to the roots of hearing loss.

This practice hits home for Dr. Kristen Weinbaum, of Winter Garden, who became an audiologist at Harmony Hearing Centers Clermont after growing up with hearing loss.

“Hearing loss runs in my mom’s side of the family,” Weinbaum said. “My parents didn’t know anything about it, and then when I was going into kindergarten, they did your eye checks, your vaccines, all these things, and one of those things is a hearing test. They found out I had hearing loss in my left ear.”

Because Weinbaum’s right ear hears normally and she did

not show difficulties, nobody suspected any hearing problems.

Once Weinbaum knew of her hearing loss, her family took her to an audiologist each year for checkups.

In middle school, Weinbaum needed to volunteer for 40 hours at a science-related facility for a science project, so her mother suggested an audiologist.

“That audiologist was very passionate about teaching, so she didn’t just have me doing busy work,” Weinbaum said.

“She taught me, let me sit in on visits with patients and things like that. That’s when I decided this is what I wanted to do.”

Now Weinbaum has been on the other side of that relationship, with a mother shadowing her based on a son with hearing loss.

Zak Kerr

Dr. Kristen Weinbaum can relate to patients with hearing loss through personal experience.

“She almost cried three times, and it was just a regular day for me,” Weinbaum said.

“She was like, ‘This is amazing — you’re changing people’s lives.’ … Sometimes I have to remind myself this is a big deal for every single person.”

GREATER AID

Although eyes sometimes can be strengthened when they are weak, nothing can be done to restore ears’ power to hear.

For some, hearing aids can be a great benefit.

But unlike most of her mother’s family, Weinbaum does not use a hearing aid, because some types of hearing abnormalities are not helped by hearing aids.

In Weinbaum’s case, her left ear does not hear sounds past a particular point — it cannot detect certain noises to the point it is beyond the threshold hearing aids could amplify.

“An audiogram … is how we plot hearing loss,” she said.

“Normal hearing is at the top of the graph … and this is set up like a piano: from low pitches

For those without hearing issues, once they hit age 50, they should consult an audiologist if any signs of hearing loss arises, Weinbaum said. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and dementia, more often lead to hearing loss.

But observers also should be careful not to confuse dementia and hearing loss.

“Somebody with a significant hearing loss who’s not wearing hearing aids ... sometimes it’s easier for them to just kind of tune out,” Weinbaum said. “If they’re in a group setting, they’ll just sit back and do their own thing, and it kind of looks like a person who’s out of it.”

For information, visit FixMyHearing.com.

“I’M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS!” • Tired of just being “friends” with your partner?

• Low sex drive? - Painful sex?

• Hot Flashes/Night Sweats?

• Forgetful?

• Just tired of being tired?

John C. Carrozzella, M.D. ABAARM, FAARM More than 25 years of experience

407-545-5477

www.hormonesandwellness.com 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd. • Suite #370 • Orlando, FL 32819

197403

Our affiliation with Betty J’s Florist ensures the freshest flowers daily

197300

Farm fresh bath and body products That Feed The Skin!

Aromatic Fragrances That Refresh the Spirit!

Get back to being you! Call now for a complimentary medical consultation.

Medical literature supported bio-identical hormone therapy will change your life!!

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@ orangeobserver.com.

FEBRUARY 2016

25

DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR MYTH: If I shout louder, people with hearing issues will have a better chance of hearing me.

FACT: “Louder doesn’t always make it clearer for them,” said Dr. Kristen Weinbaum. “It’s more like speaking slowly and clearly rather than yelling.”

At Wildflower Beauty by Jessica, our handmade products maximize the endless benefits of natural butters, botanicals, and oils.

MYTH: Senses are stronger independently; closed eyes can enhance hearing.

FACT: “Face-to-face communication is probably the most important thing,” Weinbaum said.

“That’s what a lot of patients complain about: ‘My wife talks into the pantry, and she expects me to hear her.’ So just get the person’s attention first, so they can at least mentally tune in and look at you.”

• 100% natural bath, body, skin, and hair care handmade in Winter Garden

25% OFF ONE ITEM Mention this ad

• Baby care coming in March!

• Featured on Fox 35 • Known for our Bath Bombs!

SHOP LOCAL!

MYTH: If I repeat my words, the repetition will help them piece it together.

FACT: “If they didn’t hear you the first time, it doesn’t really help to repeat the same thing,” Weinbaum said. “Instead of repeating, you should rephrase it. It gives them more information to go off of.”

100 W Plant St (S Boyd St Entrance) • Winter Garden, FL 34787 www.wildflowerbeautybyjessica.com

196563

to high pitches. My right ear is totally normal all the way across. My left ear is normal, normal, profound (hearing loss). It’s a really strange hearing loss.”

Still, for those whom hearing aids can benefit, technology has profoundly progressed in her lifetime, she said. Inventors have enabled wireless connectivity to phones and computers to the point audio with this technology can be like listening with headphones, without background noise.

This might not help Weinbaum’s ear, but it helps her patients, and sometimes there can be a silver lining. For example, at a long table during a dinner, Weinbaum was able to comprehend what someone was saying at the other end better than the man next to her, she said. And anytime the crickets are chirping at night, she can roll onto her right side to tune them out.

“I sleep really well,” she said with a laugh. “I just roll over.”

|

Where people matter most!

RESPECTFUL & RELIABLE IN HOME CARE

197221

525 West Plant St., Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-347-2050

197218

Our services are aimed at enhancing your lifestyle while staying home, offering companionship to full care, up to 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

1st class FREE!

And $45 off the Unlimited Package for the First Month!

MORE THAN JUST A

GYM

TRAIN HARD. TRAIN SAFE. GET RESULTS. GET FIT WITH CERTIFIED TRAINER NEIL BARNHILL TECHNIQUE-FOCUSED TRAINING PHILOSOPHY Neil’s No. 1 goal is promoting a safe training environment for every student. With more than 8 certfications, the focus is always on form and function before progression.

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES & LEVELS

From beginners to advanced athletes, the WGAC offers Interval training.classes and Olympic weightlifting classes daily for juniors and adults.

350 EAST CROWN POINT RD. #1070 • WINTER GARDEN, FL 407-399-3392 • WINTERGARDENATHLETICCLUB.COM

196957

26

HEALTH MATTERS

15-WO-02981

OrangeObserver.com

|

FEBRUARY 2016

27

Florida Hospital is the #1-ranked hospital in Florida for the third year in a row.

NOW OPEN FLORID A H OSP I T A L W I N T E R GARDEN

#1-RANKED HOSPITAL NOW SERVING WEST ORANGE COUNTY. Our new facility features state-of-the-art technology and board-certified physicians trained in the treatment of both adults and children. This hospital-based emergency room specializes in treating chest pain, heart attacks, strokes and orthopaedic injuries as well as other major conditions. Outpatient imaging, lab and surgical services, as well as primary care and specialty physician offices are also available — all in one convenient location.

Visit FloridaHospital.com/wintergarden to find out more.

196962

2000 Fowler Grove Boulevard, Winter Garden, FL 34787 | (407) 303-1700

28

HEALTH MATTERS

|

OrangeObserver.com

FEBRUARY 2016

When your feet hurt, they deserve a FOOT SPECIALIST Dr. Richard M. Cowin, D.P.M.

LASER FOOT SURGERY SPECIALIST Welcomes new patients.

LASER SURGERY FOR: • Ingrown and Fungal Toenails • Neuromas • Warts Noninvasive EPAT “Shock Wave” Treatment for Heel Pain

190169

SPECIALIZING IN: Minimally invasive (1 stitch) surgery for: Bunions • Hammertoes • Heel Spurs

0% Interest payment options available through CareCredit

ALL PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED IN OUR OFFICE

FREE* COMPREHENSIVE FOOT EXAM $ 175 VALUE

196976

*The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment of any other service, examination, or treatment which is performed as a result of or within seventy-two (72) hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination or treatment.

www.OrlandoLaserFootSurgery.com 407.722.8750 • 7932 W. Sandlake Rd. Suite 106 (Located in the Phoenicia Center behind Barnes & Noble)