08.27.20 Health Matters

Observer

Health Matters AUGUST 2020

As more people recover from COVID-19, convalescent plasma has become an increasingly available part of treatment.

Here’s how it works.

Pages 6 and 7.

LIQUID LIFESAVER

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PEDIATRICIANS: Children need to be in school Doctors say distance learning does have a negative impact on students and it is better for them to be on campus.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

“At certain ages and for certain kids, the virtual learning just doesn’t work. I think the 4-, 5-, 6-yearolds absorb more and learn more by being around their peers and with a teacher.

Different kids learn different ways.”

Dr. Gregory Gordon, West Orange pediatrician

Many parents have had a difficult time choosing what type of education is better for their children during the pandemic. They could either keep their children home for virtual education — away from crowded classrooms and hallways — or send them back to school for face-to-face learning and the social need to be around other people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said it is beneficial for children to be back in the classroom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees.

Extended school closure is harmful to children, according to the CDC. It can lead to severe learning loss, and the need for in-person instruction is particularly important for students with heightened behavioral needs, the CDC reports.

West Orange pediatrician Dr. Gregory Gordon said whether students learn better on campus or at home really depends on the child.

“At certain ages and for certain kids, the virtual learning just doesn’t work,” he said. “I think the 4-, 5-, 6-year-olds absorb more and learn more by being

around their peers and with a teacher. Different kids learn different ways.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools — and businesses — to close in March, parents suddenly found themselves trying to juggle running a household, managing their work from home and keeping their children in front of the computer for distance learning for hours at a time.

All the family togetherness isn’t always a blessing for students who see school days as a chance to escape an emotionally or physically dangerous household.

The AAP spotlighted an article posted on Healthychildren.org that called schools safe places.

For many families, schools are where kids get healthy meals, access to the internet and vital services. Of those living in low-income households, one in five teenagers can’t complete a homework assignment because they don’t have a computer or WiFi. Another CDC article on the AAP website reiterated the importance of reopening schools. It said there are students who are behind because of the spring school closures, which can cause added stress when they try to keep up with classmates.

Without open schools, students in need don’t have access to counselors, and teachers aren’t present to identify those

students who could benefit from mental-health counseling.

They also don’t have access to school-supported resources such as food programs, specialeducation services and afterschool programs.

The CDC noted the typical “summer slide” students experience when they are on summer break is nearly 20% of schoolyear gains in reading and 27% in math for third-graders.

“For many students, long breaks from in-person education are harmful to student learning,” the CDC said.

Remote learning also can be more difficult for students with physical or mental disabilities or delays, or diagnoses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

School is as important socially as it is academically, as this is where students develop most of their social skills and peer relationships, as well as language, communication and interpersonal skills.

“An environment where students feel safe and connected, such as a school, is associated with lower levels of depression, thoughts about suicide, social anxiety, and sexual activity, as well as higher levels of selfesteem,” the AAP shared.

According to the article, posttraumatic stress scores of children and parents in quarantine were four times higher than those not quarantined.

“I certainly have seen patients who are dealing with anxiety about coronavirus, and I’ve

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BENEFITS OF SCHOOL Aside from a child’s home, no other setting has more influence on his or her health and well-being than school. The in-person school environment does the following: n Provides educational instruction n Supports the development of social and emotional skills n Creates a safe environment for learning n Addresses nutritional needs n Facilitates physical activity Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

talked to parents who are piling on top of each other and they aren’t about to go out to eat and be with their friends,” Gordon said.

Parents are stressed, but the children are, too, he said.

Safety, nutrition and physical activity also were cited as important reasons for students to be getting their education face-toface.

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Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

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“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Goodbye, maskne If you’ve noticed an increase in acne outbreaks or skin irritation lately from wearing masks, you’re not alone.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, bringing a mask to wear in public has become as commonplace as grabbing your keys, wallet and phone when you head out the door.

Masks have become important tools in preventing the spread of COVID-19, but constant maskwearing also has side effects.

Having a mask on for long periods of time can irritate your skin and lead to imprints, irritation, rashes and acne breakouts — or “maskne,” the shortened term for mask acne. Maskne typically presents as spots, excessive dryness, and redness or inflammation around the mouth, cheeks and jawline.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, acne is the most common skin condition in the United States and it affects up to 50 million Americans annually. But dermatologists said they are seeing maskne both in people who are prone and are not prone to acne.

In fact, research firm Dynata recently conducted a survey of 1,000 women regarding their experiences with acne during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the results, 25% said they’ve experienced more acne since COVID-19 hit. For those women under 25, though, that number increases to 55%.

The heat from breathing — as well as occlusion — makes for ripe conditions to develop acne. When worn properly, masks hug the skin, cover the nose and mouth, and leave little room for air to enter. This can result in oil and sweat buildup. Masks also trap your breath and create a warm, humid environment.

“Any time anything rubs your face or holds in heat, it can cause acne breakouts,” said Dr. Joseph

Shirer, an Ocoee-based dermatologist. “Other than prescription medications or not wearing the mask at all — which isn’t usually an option — I suggest wearing the softest mask that you can find, and don’t mess with it, which shouldn’t be done, anyway. The more you move it around and rub it on your face, it’s going to make it worse.”

And it’s not always just the mask, either. The stressors of going through a global pandemic add to the causing factors behind acne.

“The added stress, fear, frustration, lack of sleep and overall lifestyle changes that have come with the mandate to ‘stay home’ are causing many people to see an increase in acne flare-ups,” according to staff at Advanced Dermatology, which has offices in Windermere and MetroWest.

So, what can you do to cut down on the unwanted breakouts? Staff at Shirer’s office recommends taking breaks from your mask if and when you can to get some air to your face. If you choose to do this, only remove the mask when it’s safe to do so — such as at home or inside your car when you’re alone — and after washing your hands.

Proper skin care also is important in preventing and reducing the presence of acne and other skin irritations. The AAD recommends following a gentle skin-care routine and following the advice of a board-certified dermatologist to treat your skin depending on the problems you’re having.

Wash your face with a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner that doesn’t contain alcohol, as this will cause excessive dryness. The cleanser should be mild and fragrancefree. It’s important to wash your face two times a day and after sweating.

It’s also important to apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face. The AAD recommends using a moisturizer with ceramides, hyaluronic acid or dimethicone — the latter of which also can create a barrier that helps reduce irritated skin.

Moisturizer should be applied before and after wearing a mask.

FACE-WASHING 101

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Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser without alcohol.

Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser.

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Resist the temptation to scrub your skin, which can cause further irritation.

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Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.

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Apply moisturizer. Be gentle when applying any cream around your eyes, as the skin is very delicate.

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Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating.

Wash your face once in the morning and once at night, as well as after sweating heavily.

Perspiration irritates the skin.

OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN n If necessary, apply a heavier moisturizing cream, face balm or ointment. These are great for itchy, sensitive or irritated skin. n Skip wearing makeup under your mask. n Ensure you’re wearing a properly fitted mask. n Wash and moisturize your face after removing the mask. n Change and wash cloth masks regularly. Wash them in a washing machine on the warmest setting appropriate for the fabric, or hand wash according to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines. n Stop applying skin care products and medications that can irritate skin, such as peels and scrubs.

Source: American Academy of Dermatology Association

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High-tech

HEALTH The Exercise Coach — Windermere, which recently opened on Conroy Road, utilizes artificial intelligence to cater workouts to each client.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

When you think about gyms and workout facilities, the first thing that probably pops into your head is the rows of weights.

At The Exercise Coach — Windermere, there isn’t a barbell or weight to be found. Instead, TEC relies on something else — technology.

TEC relies on Exerbotics machines that utilize — as the name describes — both exercise and robotics to help fashion workouts for each individual.

“What’s super cool about us is we use this AI technology — this robotic equipment — that is run off of hydraulics, and there is a computer system inside this Exerbotics equipment,” said Garret Harder, one of the three trainers at the facility. “When clients come in, they get a unique pin code that is unique to them — we punch that into the computer, get them all set up with their range of motions and their max and minimum tests.

“We can set different parameters for the machines based on their goals, and it gives them the right stimulus for their body and their muscles, so it’s super safe,” he said.

TEC opened Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Harder said he already has seen new clients come in and be confused by the lack of equipment. That’s where things can be deceiving with this new equipment, Harder said, because each does a variety of exercises.

In the small facility — located at 6735 Conroy Road, Suite No. 102 — there are only three different Exerbotics machines: a leg-press machine, chest press and row machine. Along with the Exerbotics machines, there are

also more traditional machines, such as a recumbent bike, a multitrainer, a hip abduction-adduction machine and a Surge 360 machine — which is similar to the Exerbotics machines. “(It) runs off hydraulics — like our other machines, but there is no computer,” Harder said. “You’re mainly moving these hydraulic handles and you’re standing up and you can do punching motions, rotational motions and it works cardiac and core.”

But what really sets the Exerbotics machines apart is that each offers 20 different protocols that allow a user to focus on different aspects of the body. It helps get the facility’s clients — most of whom are 40 and over — the help they specifically need.

Along with the generally older clientele, Harder also has seen multiple individuals who came into the facility looking for a place to work out following an injury.

It’s the safer, more comfortable aspects of the Exerbotics machines that really draws in this type of client, Harder said.

“You don’t have to worry about any weights crashing down on you, which is super good for people (who) have been cleared by their physician or physical therapist for exercise,” Harder said. “It’s based off their ability, so the machine calculates everything through the computer that is built into the machine. … It gives them real-time feedback.

“It’s based off what they put into it,” he said. “They put into it what they are capable of doing right now — even in their recovered-injury

Courtesy photos

The Exercise Coach’s Exerbotics machines offer clients information in real time as they work out.

state — and it’s not going to give them any stimulus they cannot handle. If the machine does sense something — that they’re pushing too hard or resisting weight too hard — then the machine will take that as, ‘This is too hard of a stimulus for them,’ and it’ll stop.”

Although getting people used to the machine is easy enough, getting certified was much more of a challenge, Harder said. Not only did he have to do a 30-hour online certification program, but Harder also was required to fly to the business’ base in Illinois for two to three days to learn how to use it.

Then, Harder had to submit video of himself working with clients on the machines.

But all that hard work put into learning the machines was worth it. Now, he is prepared to help his clients improve their health and fitness.

“It’s hearing out their life story — because some people do spill their life story out — and how exercise has helped them feel better,” Harder said. “I just like that positive impact when people come in, and after they’re finished they’re like, ‘Wow, I feel really good about myself right now.’

Hearing that and helping people that normally don’t want to go to the gym but start to like the gym, and changing their lives is why I got into training.”

IF YOU GO THE EXERCISE COACH — WINDERMERE 6735 Conroy Road, Suite No. 102, Windermere PHONE: (321) 999-7887 WEBSITE: exercisecoach. com/windermere

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LIQUID GOLD Convalescent plasma has been used as part of the treatment regimen for many COVID-19 patients this year. But how does it work?

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

T

o some doctors and scientists, convalescent plasma has become known as “liquid gold,” and rightfully so.

For some COVID-19 patients who received the plasma, it has meant the difference between life and death.

In the COVID-19 era we’re living in, much attention has been focused on finding two things: effective treatments and a vaccine for the coronavirus.

When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the United States, medical professionals suddenly were faced with the challenge of how to give COVID-19 patients the best chance possible at fighting the virus. Convalescent plasma has become part of many health care professionals’ standard prescribed regimen.

CONVALESCENT PLASMA 101

Blood has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that helps us maintain blood pressure and volume. It also supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity, as well as carries electrolytes to our muscles.

Convalescent plasma is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, as those patients develop antibodies — proteins that may help fight infection — in the blood against the virus. Although not yet approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency has regulated convalescent plasma as an investigational product.

“By transfusing (survivors’) plasma into the patient still fighting the virus, it could potentially boost their immune system and help them recover,” said Susan

Forbes, senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations at OneBlood.

“The FDA gave blood centers emergency permission to be able to begin collecting convalescent plasma back at the end of March as an experimental procedure.”

“From a COVID standpoint, we need patients (who) have been infected with COVID, have recovered and now they have those antibodies,” said Dr. Eduardo Oliveira, executive medical director for critical care services at AdventHealth. “It is an experimental treatment in the sense that we don’t have the data yet to understand which are the patients that benefit the most.”

Oliveira said convalescent plasma has been used with some

“We believe convalescent plasma can accelerate and help them recover much faster, and we have some patients which we believe that made a difference.”

— Dr. Eduardo Oliveira, AdventHealth

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“We began distributing convalescent plasma in April,” Forbes said. “We were one of the very first blood centers in the country to distribute it. We will continue to distribute it for the foreseeable future because the need is ongoing, and OneBlood has experienced an over 500% increase in hospital orders for convalescent plasma.”

Forbes said a surge in COVID-19 cases combined with the fact hospitals are providing convalescent plasma earlier in treatment is driving demand to new heights.

“We’ve distributed thousands of units at this point,” Forbes said. “There’s ongoing studies about convalescent plasma with the Mayo Clinic and others. … It is something that is showing great promise in being able to help these patients. The need is now and the need is ongoing, and that’s why it’s important that people who recovered from it make it a habit and continue to donate plasma.”

“We’ve seen a shift of utilizing convalescent plasma in patients that are outside of the intensive care unit,” Oliveira said. “We are using convalescent plasma 50% more now than we were before.”

LIFESAVING GIFT

success for more than 50 years.

Most recently, he said, it has been used in SARS and MERS epidemics or surges.

“It’s not something that is just now being discovered to be helpful,” he said. “It makes sense that those antibodies produced by someone that has recovered could block viruses.”

Forbes said collection of convalescent plasma is an automated procedure that essentially removes all the components of a donor’s blood and separates it in a machine as the donation is occurring. The plasma is collected, and all other blood components are returned to the donor via a return line.

“That donation is taken to our biologics facility where we process it and prepare it to go to a hospital,” Forbes said. “At the same time, testing is going on to ensure that that donation is safe and it passes all FDA-required testing.”

The plasma is then delivered to hospitals, where it can be transfused to COVID-19 patients in need. Oliveira said medical staff observe patients to note any improvements in their breathing, blood levels and certain inflammatory markers.

“We’ve used convalescent plasma in patients (who) were not in the ICU and patients that were in the ICU,” Oliveira said.

“We believe in some of those patients, it’s quite likely that the plasma has helped them not require going to the ICU or being on the mechanical ventilators — that’s what we hope. Also in patients that are very ill in the ICU on ventilators — extremely sick — we believe convalescent plasma can accelerate and help them recover much faster, and

we have some patients which we believe that made a difference.”

WHO CAN DONATE?

To be eligible to donate COVID-19 convalescent plasma, Forbes said, donors must have proof that they had the virus — and have recovered — or have the antibodies. Those who had the virus and recovered must be at least 14 days symptom-free prior to donation.

At OneBlood — which services most of Florida and parts of Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina — donors must preregister online and provide preliminary health information.

OneBlood reviews the submitted materials to ensure requirements are met, and staff reaches out to donors to schedule collection.

Many patients and their families believe COVID-19 convalescent plasma made a difference in their treatment regimen. Janice Moran, executive director of the American Red Cross’ Central Florida region, said her mother, who lives in a Texas nursing home, was a recipient of the plasma.

“While undergoing dialysis, the doctor felt she needed to get tested for COVID-19,” Moran said. “She tested positive. The doctor stated (although) she is not a candidate for Remdesivir, she is for convalescent plasma.

The question was how quickly they would receive it, as it is in low supply around the country. Thankfully, she was able to receive the convalescent plasma in approximately 24 hours and was released from the hospital within a day or so.”

The Red Cross does not collect blood in most of Florida, Moran said, but it does partner with OneBlood on various occasions.

Moran encourages local blood and plasma donors to reach out to their local blood-collection organization.

“Right now, the American Red

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AUGUST 2020

“With coronavirus cases increasing across the United States, the Red Cross has seen demand for convalescent plasma more than double over the last month.”

— Janice Moran, American Red Cross, Central Florida region

Cross is distributing convalescent plasma products faster than donations are coming in, resulting in an emergency shortage of this potentially lifesaving treatment,” she said. “With coronavirus cases increasing across the U.S., the Red Cross has seen demand for convalescent plasma more than double over the last month. COVID-19 survivors have a unique ability to help up to three patients recover from the virus with each donation.”

Forbes said OneBlood has seen a good response from convalescent plasma donors, but what they need is a sustained response.

Oliveira agreed, saying that it is a key player in helping COVID-19 patients on the road to recovery.

“Having convalescent plasma, having Remdesivir — all of that will help us support the critically ill patient that’s hospitalized,” Oliveira said. “Getting help from the community is extremely important. … We don’t want you to get infected — we want you to protect your community, as well — but if you do and you’ve recovered, you’re going to be proud of what you do today in helping our patients in the hospital.”

Dr. George Ralls, vice president of quality and clinical transformation for Orlando Health, emphasized donors are needed now more than ever.

“This is something anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 should be aware of,” Ralls said. “The goal is to have enough plasma in inventory so we don’t have to rely on a one-to-one connection. … We need to have an inventory of plasma that can be used for patients no matter where they are.”

DONATE THROUGH ONEBLOOD People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies to the virus in their plasma that can help patients who are still fighting the virus. COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors must have a confirmed diagnosis or antibody test results confirming prior exposure to the virus. They also must be symptom-free for 14 days prior to donating.

For more information on becoming a convalescent-plasma donor, visit oneblood.org.

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The straight truth Thanks to advancements in technology, the world of orthodontics has changed dramatically the last few years.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Through the years, as the field of medicine has advanced, so has the technology that goes with it.

For many, a trip to the orthodontist’s office to get braces is an unpleasant experience, but things have changed tremendously, said Dr. Breck Brewer — a board-certified orthodontic specialist at Fravel Brewer Orthodontics in Ocoee.

“Traditional braces have come a long way since our current patients’ parents,” Brewer said.

“It has changed a lot since those days, so that the technology has improved we can allow for a greater period of time between appointments, where sometimes we only see patients every three months or something — we don’t have to adjust all the time, and that is really a direct result of and through the technology in our wires and bracket systems.

“It’s nice in a sense, because we can get efficient treatment without as many visits,” he said.

A majority of Brewer’s — and Dr. William Fravel’s — customers still use the traditional brackets and wires, but a growing number are utilizing two of the biggest advancements in orthodontics: 3D printing and scanning, and aligner treatment.

“The 3D printing has made a

huge difference in our industry because it has enhanced the aligner system,” Brewer said.

“Some people can make aligners in their own office through 3D printing. You can have 3D printers in your office, you can make little molds of the teeth and have them printed and ready to go in no time.”

Thanks to being able to use a digital scanner, Brewer can take a 3D scan of the mouth — avoiding the old, uncomfortable mold that patients once had to hold in their mouth.

The machine used is a computer monitor mounted on a pedestal that moves about the office and has a wand connected to the monitor.

The wand captures thousands of photos of a patient’s teeth as it is moved around the mouth.

The process takes only three to five minutes, and it produces a stereolithic image.

“It’s all digital at this point,” Brewer said. “So, it’s a seamless approach where we can email laboratories your digital scan and come back with either a retainer made or an appliance that is going to help your bite — straight from the lab.”

The perk of this development is that seeing a mouth in 3D form allows an orthodontist — and a client — to get a better perception of what is needed. It’s also useful to explain things to patients, Brewer said.

Alongside the rise of 3D printing and scanning, aligners themselves have come a tremendous way since they were introduced.

“When it first came out 15 years ago, it was very limited in what it could do, and today it can nearly replace all braces,” Brewer said.

“There are a few cases where braces can do better, but Invisalign can do literally everything and some orthodontists — I don’t think any in this area — have gone to 100% Invisalign.

“It has nice advantages, like the ability to take it out to eat and brush, and you can eat whatever you like and they’re Invisalign has become a go-to option for many orthodontists.

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Dr. Breck Brewer shows a patient her teeth with an intraoral scanner.

o t d e e N u o Y n e h W . t r a p A y l e f a S Stay

the software just kind of knows this stuff — it knows if you move a tooth five degrees, you can only do so many degrees each aligner.”

The individual’s dental situation determines how many aligners they will get, but each is made a bit differently to help move teeth.

The end goal with both new technologies of 3D printing/ scanning and aligners allows for better health care for patients, as well as a better experience for them.

“The No. 1 thing is we want our patients to be happy and satisfied — we don’t want to push them through things that are unpleasant,” Brewer said. “That scanner has made a huge difference, and Invisalign aligners that comfortably wrap around your teeth are — in some ways — maybe less uncomfortable than wires.”

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virtually invisible,” he said. “All of the aligners have gotten better, but we feel really good with our choice to use Invisalign, because I think they are out in the forefront of everybody.”

With Invisalign, Brewer can send in the scan to the Invisalign website. There, he — and an Invisalign technician — can manipulate it.

“Each tooth is basically singled out, and we can move each tooth in three dimensions based on our goals,” Brewer said. “We basically have a starting point, and then we have an ending point, because we’ll put them in an ideal position based on what our goals are.

“Then each of those teeth will move a series of degrees and increments, so based on how much movement is how many aligners we need,” he said. “A lot of

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AUGUST 2020

Tapping out anxiety Emotional freedom technique — also known as EFT tapping — is often used to help patients deal with physical and emotional distress.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Lyris Steuber

When traditional medicine doesn’t work, some look to alternative methods to cure what ails them.

One of those techniques used by some therapy specialists is what’s called EFT tapping — short for emotional freedom technique tapping.

Developed by Gary Craig — a Stanford engineer — in the early 1990s, EFT is largely considered a pseudoscience by those in the medical field, but some specialists believe it offers clients relief. One of those who uses the technique is Lyris Steuber — a Lake Mary psychotherapist who specializes in marriage and family therapy.

Steuber also works with Total Life Counseling, which has a location in MetroWest.

“It’s an alternative medicine treatment for physical pain and emotional distress — it can also be referred to as a psychological acupuncture,” Steuber said.

“Gary Craig was the person who developed this and believes the disruption in energy in your body is what causes negative emotions and pains.

“We have what are called ‘meridian points,’ or energy hotspots in our body that can help to restore the body’s natural balance,” she said. “It (is believed) that restor-

ing this energy can relieve symptoms from a negative experience in the past or what is going on in the present. Proponents say that tapping can help you access your body’s energy and send signals to the different parts of the brain that control stress.”

For 20 years, Steuber has been helping people as a therapist. A few years ago, she began researching and studying EFT and its possible effects on those dealing with stress and pain.

Lately, Steuber has been utilizing the technique often, thanks to the rise of cases of anxiety because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Steuber said she has seen twice as many clients dealing with added anxiety.

With EFT being an alternative style of medicine, some clients have been weary of it, but Steuber said she has offered it as something to use if they are comfortable with trying it out.

“It varies — some people are skeptical of it, and I obviously respect my clients’ level of comfort,” she said. “It may not be the first thing I use with them — I’ll use other cognitive behavioral techniques first, and then if that doesn’t seem to be helping them to clear up their emotions and anxiety, I suggest this.”

The first thing to know, Steuber said, is where the nine different meridian points are located on the body. Points one through nine are located in the following areas: underside of the hand (referred to as the karate chop), eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, under the arm and on the top of the head.

With the points located, the first step is to identify the issue — which can be something as simple as work stress or a family issue.

With the issue in mind, rate it on a scale from one to 10 — Steuber said that you want to get that number below a five.

“If it’s below five, that’s a little bit more manageable to use other coping skills and techniques and stress-relievers in order to deal with it,” Steuber said.

Step three is coming up with an acceptance phrase — such as, “I love and accept …” — that a patient can use later. Then, while tapping the different meridian points on the body, talk out the negative emotions and thoughts.

After a deep breath, patients will re-rate the severity of their anxiety — if it’s more than five, Steuber will repeat the process until the number is below five. Once

accomplished, patients replace negative thoughts and emotions with what they want to feel.

“It clears the emotions away and helps to kind of neutralize it to be able to then have people make good choices in their life, and adapt and make better decisions and then to kind of heal,” Steuber said. “In a simple phrase — ‘Out with the old and in with the new.’”

Although it can help, EFT isn’t the only treatment people should do to care for themselves, Steuber said.

“You want to use this with other coping skills — healthy diet, exercise, nutrition, taking good supplements and being around positive people,” Steuber said. “It can be used for a variety of clients, but it is kind of just one skill set that you can have to have better mental health.”

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HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

Toxic beauty Winter Garden resident Andrea Durant is now on a path to healthiness. But for the last few years, she was incredibly sick and blames it on her recalled breast implants.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

If Andrea Durant could go back and talk to 25-year-old Andrea, she would tell her to be more accepting of herself and her body image. That conversation would have eliminated years of pain and exhaustion.

The Winter Garden resident wanted to feel better about herself, so, in 2005, she got breast implants. When she experienced

Allergan has recalled its Natrelle textured implant because of an increased risk of implant-associated lymphoma.

a capsule contracture — when internal scar tissue forms a constricting capsule around a hardening breast implant — six years later, she had a second implant surgery on her left side and then became extremely sick.

Durant learned she had the Allergan Natrelle textured implant, now under voluntary recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — but not before she was plagued with chronic fatigue, brain fog, unexplained joint pain all over her body and terrible migraines.

She had severe pain in her shoulder and had to wear a sling. Her foot hurt so much she couldn’t touch the ground. She was so tired she was breathless.

She developed brown spots all over her body. She felt like she was failing her husband and her young child.

“I started tracking symptoms a year or so ago, because I thought I had fibromyalgia,” Durant said.

“I went to the doctor, and they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.”

A medication for widespread pain helped slightly, but she still was miserable. She had four

Courtesy

Andrea Durant before, left, and after her surgery to remove her breast implants, which she said made her ill. She said her body was swollen, she looked older than her age and the implants “suck the life out of you.”

pregnancy losses in nine years, but doctors couldn’t find a reason, she said.

Durant attributes them to the implants. She eventually found a doctor who agreed her implants were the cause of her medical issues.

“The implant inside is just slowly poisoning you,” she said.

“Mine was, anyway. … I think the problem is that when you go to get implants, (you think) it’s safe because it’s just saline. It’s just water, so if it bursts (doctors will) just go in and replace it. But the shell is silicone. From my research … they have found out there are heavy metals in the shells and women are getting poisoned by the metals.”

The FDA requested the vol-

“I wish I had loved myself more because I didn’t, and now I realize that I was perfect just the way I was.”

— Andrea Durant

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AUGUST 2020

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untarily recall because of an increased risk of implant-associated lymphoma.

“There are hundreds of thousands of women who are extremely ill,” Durant said.

Allergan would not pay for the removal — only a new implant, she said, and many plastic surgeons don’t take insurance. She found a breast-reconstruction doctor in Clermont who accepted her insurance, and he performed a capsulectomy — removing the entire capsule with the implant inside so none of the toxins leached out. The procedure took nearly three hours; one of the capsules was stuck to her rib cage and had to be scraped off, she said.

“It was pretty miserable, but he got all of it, which was the important part,” she said. “My breasts look the same as they did before, which I’m grateful for.”

Her advice to women considering implants for cosmetic reasons: “Love yourself more. I wish I had loved myself more because I didn’t, and now I realize that I was perfect just the way I was. I might not have been the pinup type or a model, but if I had just liked myself more, I would have had a better quality of life.”

Durant’s breast implants were removed June 24, and she said she felt better within a week.

She is eager to get back to her pre-implant health, when she was running a moms fitness group, exercising a dozen hours a week, practicing yoga and working for L.A. Fitness.

“I’d rather be healthy and love my body for what it is,” she said.

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HEALTH MATTERS

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OrangeObserver.com

AUGUST 2020

6 Ways to Ensure Your Kids are Ready for the School Year CONTRIBUTED BY Monica Guirguis, DO Pediatrics

In addition to studying hard and staying safe, here are 6 back-to-school tips to consider

The start of the school season is upon us.

It’s time to consider some of the health and wellness issues that arise when kids return to the classroom.

While returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic will be different for children, it is important to reassure them that simple precautions can keep them safe.

1. Talk to Your Child During this Transition Period

Key points to discuss include:

It’s recommended that every child get an annual physical exam. This allows their pediatrician to address health problems, screen for potential issues and administer vaccines. Through this preventive approach, you can work together to achieve your child’s maximum potential.

Washing hands frequently is the single most-important way to reduce transmission of most viruses.

Wearing a mask can help protect your child and others.

To learn more or schedule a physical exam, visit OrlandoHealth.com/BacktoSchool ADVERTORIAL

2. Make Sure Kids Are Up-To-Date on Medical Care

4. Don’t Forget the

Importance of Sleep Kids need 8 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Surprisingly, preparing for a good night’s sleep begins during the daytime. Make sure your kids avoid caffeinated beverages, get lots of physical activity, limit screen use and discontinue all electronic devices at least two hours before bedtime.

5. Create a Homework-Friendly Environment A home environment that best mimics a school environment is ideal for helping your child concentrate after school. Provide a dedicated quiet place with a flat desk or table to study at. This is preferred over their bed or a couch where they may feel too relaxed to stay focused.

3. Start Each Morning with a Healthy Breakfast Studies show children who consume a nutritious breakfast each morning have increased energy and better concentration. Avoid sugary cereals and greasy fast food. A healthy breakfast should include a protein, vegetable and/or fruit, and a small portion of carbohydrates.

6. Remember to Celebrate Try to enjoy the moment!

Plan a celebratory dinner, enjoy some music together or sit down and have everyone list their goals and hopes for the year.

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Social distancing may be required. Remind your child not to hug classmates.

Every school year comes with new challenges and experiences. It’s important to talk to your child frequently and openly about what they’re feeling.

Empathize with their feelings and be mindful that worrying or feeling overwhelmed may be completely normal experiences.