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Many of the most popular New Year’s resolutions fall under the category of “living a healthier lifestyle.” We pledge to lose weight, quit smoking, become more active, eat a healthy diet, and reduce stress. Yet despite our best intentions, we often don’t follow through.
To boost the chance of achieving your resolution, start by writing it down and then outline a plan for incorporating changes into your life. If you aim to “stay fit,” you might start by sitting less and standing more. Wear a wristband pedometer to track and increase your daily steps. Spend less time on social media so you can make time for the gym or a new exercise class. Small changes and short-term goals will help you stay the course as you gain motivation from your accomplishments.
Another strategy to help you stick to your resolution is to share your plans with friends or family members who will hold you accountable and support your resolve for improved health. You can also reach out to your physician or other health professionals for information and guidance.
As you make healthy changes, reward yourself. Upgrade your smile or try an age-defying facial treatment. Resolve to make 2017 a year of improved health and beauty.
Q: The cellulite and dimpling on my thighs and buttocks won’t go away, no matter what I do. Is there a nonsurgical treatment that delivers long-term results?
A: Cellfina is the only FDA-cleared, minimally invasive procedure designed to significantly improve the appearance of cellulite for at least three years. Using a micro, needle-sized device, Cellfina treats the fibrous connective bands under the skin that cause cellulite. In just a single, 45-minute office treatment, Cellfina provides significant rapid improvement, producing smoother, healthier-looking skin in as little as three days, with minimal downtime. Experience renewed self-confidence when you wear a bathing suit or shorter hemlines.
Dr. Ellen Janetzke is the first female plastic surgeon in Michigan to offer Cellfina. Call today for more information, or to schedule a personalized consultation.
Q: I’m not happy with my smile. How can cosmetic dentistry treatments help me?
A: If you could fall asleep wrapped in a warm blanket on a Tempur-Pedic cushion and wake up to a younger, healthier, more beautiful smile, would you do it? That’s how easy it can be to transform your smile at the award-winning Cosmetic Dentistry Institute.
“No matter what your dental needs are, we can create your new perfect smile,” says Dr. Marcy Goldin, an adjunct clinical lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. “We provide an array of the latest techniques, including porcelain veneers, Invisalign invisible braces, Fastbraces, in-office teeth whitening, and dental implants. Your visit will be comfortable and painless, as well as efficient and high-tech.”
Dental implants are the ideal solution for replacing one or more missing teeth.
“Beautiful, natural-looking, state-of-the-art implants look and feel like your own teeth. They allow you to smile, chew, and speak more comfortably, for a better quality of life,” says Dr. Craig Goldin, a diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the only dentist in Oakland and Macomb counties who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Dr. Goldin also has advanced training and certification in IV sedation, a wonderful option for people who are busy or anxious.
“You can be completely relaxed and have a series of complex dental problems taken care of in just one visit,” he explains.
“Our beautiful office is nearly 6,000 square feet of the most advanced dental technology with soothing, ‘low-tech,’ spa-like amenities,” Dr. David Whalen adds. “We offer nothing less than excellence in dentistry, and the highest commitment to patient care and comfort.”
Q: Could my laptop be the cause of my neck and back pain?
A: Electronics are negatively impacting our posture, according to Team Rehabilitation physical therapist Scott Delcomyn, PT, MSPT, clinic director/Team Rehab Southgate. “Hunching over electronic devices can cause neck pain, back spasms, numbness, or pain in the fingers, wrists, hips, and legs,” he says.
If you experience any of these symptoms, your body is telling you to correct the problem. “Patients often tell us they don’t have time for physical therapy — but will they have more time after they’ve neglected the problem and need surgery?” Delcomyn asks.
If you frequently spend time hunched over a computer, relieve your back by leaning backward. Repeat this stretch often throughout the day. Delcomyn says that bending in the opposite direction of your repetitive movements eases the strain on your overworked muscles.
Q: What are some movement habits that I can adopt to maintain an active lifestyle as I age?
A: Physical therapist and Pilates instructor Ron Jegadeesh, owner of Pilates Fitness & Physical Therapy Center, says it’s important to move every day.
Whether it’s walking, biking, gardening, or taking an exercise class, just 10 to 20 minutes of daily exercise makes a difference. “Patients I see who make exercise a part of their daily routine look and act younger,” Jegadeesh says. “They also are more likely to stay injury-free and to recover much quicker from an injury than those who do not exercise.”
Jegadeesh recommends including these healthy movement habits: Change positions frequently. Do not sit or stand for long periods of time. If you have a sedentary job, be sure to stand up and take a break every hour.
Practice correct posture and alignment. Sit and stand tall with the spine neutral, shoulders relaxed, and your head on top of your spine.
Add strength training to your exercise routine. “We lose muscle mass as we age,” Jegadeesh says. “Therefore, adding resistance to a workout will help maintain muscle tone. Pilates is an excellent way to gain strength while maintaining proper alignment.”
Q: I’m getting ready for some big events and I’d like to look younger and fresher. What little-or no-downtime treatments would you recommend?
A: As every person’s anatomy, skin type, and degree of aging differ, Dr. Myra Danish recommends that you come in for a consultation.
“Typically, the first step for rejuvenation would be injectables to restore volume to a person’s face, such as lifting their cheeks, and minimizing their laugh lines and marionette lines,” the facial plastic surgeon says. “Some people require Botox for forehead wrinkles, frown lines, or crow’s feet.”
Dr. Danish points out that the next step would be customized laser facials to make the skin glow and to address dark spots, spider veins, rosacea, and other irregularities.
“The third step would be to use skin care products with well-researched, anti-aging ingredients,” she says. “The latest products would be those containing hyaluronic acid to smooth out fine lines. Also, products that combine hyaluronic acid and Retin-A can really minimize the pores and make your skin look as smooth as possible.”
To learn more, schedule your free consultation with Dr. Danish today.
Q: How can you improve a smile with cosmetic periodontal surgery?
A: As some people age, their gums recede, making their teeth look much longer and their smile appear older. Periodontist Dr. Joseph Nemeth uses the minimally invasive Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Technique to lengthen the gums, typically with no incisions, no stitches, and virtually no pain.
“We make a small pinhole in the gum above the teeth to be treated. Using special instruments, we loosen up the gum tissue and bring it down over the receded areas where it should be. The Pinhole Technique improves the smile tremendously. Patients are extremely happy, and we’re seeing excellent long-term results,” says Dr. Nemeth, the first gum specialist in Michigan to be certified in this innovative technique.
Some people are embarrassed because they have a “gummy” smile. Dr. Nemeth does periodontal plastic surgery to sculpt excess gum tissue so the teeth will look appropriate and beautiful.
“With these procedures, patients have little to no discomfort. We typically use intravenous sedation so patients are asleep or in a very relaxed state during their treatment,” says Dr. Nemeth, who has certification as a Master in the College of Sedation in Dentistry.
“We love doing cosmetic periodontal surgery,” he adds. “Our patients enjoy a healthier, more attractive smile, and it changes their life.”
Q: What imaging techniques can assist in the early detection of breast cancer?
A: When breast cancer is detected at a localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. This is why it is so important to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. One of the most common and less expensive methods of finding breast cancer is X-ray mammography. Unfortunately, however, that method is less accurate and harms the body by exposing it to radiation. A better detection method is screening MRI mammography — but even then, according to the FDA, mammography breast cancer detection is 23.4 percent more accurate when using a computer aided detection system (CAD).
The latest innovation, the Invivo DynaCAD system, when combined with breast MRI, helps physicians detect earlier, smaller cancers with greater accuracy. Oakland MRI is the only MRI facility in Oakland County to offer the Invivo DynaCAD system, which extends the reach of breast imaging, allowing the radiologist to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, as well as to detect cancer earlier using noninvasive techniques. Unfortunately, because they are more expensive than X-rays, breast MRI and CAD are covered by insurance only after breast cancer is diagnosed or in high-risk patients.
“Early diagnosis is the key to curing breast cancer; 3-D CAD MRI imaging of the breast detects cancer earlier than any other modality,” says Susan V. Swider, CEO of Oakland MRI. “Oakland MRI is proud to contribute to the cure of breast cancer. We offer affordable access to these technologies when insurance doesn’t cover the procedures, allowing women to get the preventive screening they deserve.”
Q: Is there a connection between beauty, health, and happiness?
A: Aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Mune Gowda finds that when patients have cosmetic procedures, they feel happier and tend to become more conscious of their overall health.
“You can’t separate one from the other. Studies have shown that when someone improves their appearance, whether that’s surgically or by putting on makeup or a nice outfit, the brain releases neurotransmitters — ‘happy chemicals’ — that make them feel good.
“One patient came into the office and said, ‘When I look in the mirror I look sad, although I’m not sad.’ After she had some facial work done, she said, ‘Dr. Gowda, I’m so happy. I love to look at myself in the mirror now.’ ”
Dr. Gowda points out that patients who undergo body contouring, for example, often become more disciplined about their eating habits and exercise.
“They want to protect their new body and shape,” he says. “Their attitude changes, they have more confidence, and they feel more comfortable, healthier, and happier.”
Q: I eat healthy and exercise regularly, but I’m still tired all the time and I can’t lose weight. What’s going on?
A: After the age of 30, hormone levels gradually decline, resulting in hormone imbalance in both men and women. Hormone imbalance is directly responsible for many negative effects on quality of life and health, including decreased energy levels, decreased sex drive, weight gain, loss of muscle mass and tone, decreased concentration and memory, difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, night sweats, a depressed mood, the loss of a person’s general sense of well-being, and much more.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is the science of correcting hormone imbalances with the goal of restoring youthful, optimal hormone levels and relieving the symptoms of hormone imbalance and deficiency. The natural hormones prescribed by our medical doctor are safe and effective because they are identical to the hormones our bodies produce.
We have seen astonishing results in the lives of our patients, who are healthier, happier, and have dramatically improved their quality of life. Our comprehensive natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy programs, combined with proper nutrition and exercise, will return you to the optimal physical, sexual, and emotional health you experienced in your 20s and 30s. Contact us today and get started on the path to a younger, healthier you!
Q: How can I manage my pain without injections, drugs, or surgery?
A: At Pain Free Life Centers of Michigan, proven laser therapy protocols provide the safest and most effective option for managing or eliminating your pain. The treatments are totally noninvasive and nonsurgical, and completely drug-free. No one in Michigan has more experience practicing laser therapy, and no one has more advanced equipment.
Lasers are used to penetrate through the skin to the cellular level, increasing the production of adenosine triphosphate. This increases blood flow and reduces inflammation, creating a significant reduction in pain.
Pain Free Life Centers of Michigan has successfully treated conditions that range from arthritis, migraines, and spinal stenosis to degenerative discs and neuropathy. The team says it is truly amazing to change lives every day.
If you, or someone you love, are suffering from pain, experience the therapeutic benefits of this FDA-cleared laser therapy. The team at Pain Free Life Centers of Michigan is so confident in what they do, your first consultation and treatment are absolutely free.
Q: Does YOUR child have sleep disordered breathing?
A: What if your child could have straight teeth without braces, and at the same time, address many of the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, bed-wetting, mouth breathing and poor performance in school? Studies show 9 out of 10 children have a condition that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. It’s called Sleep Disordered Breathing, or SDB.
A sleep-deprived child suffers much the same as an adult who didn’t get a good night’s sleep: crabby the next day, or irritable, or withdrawn. Some have dark circles under their eyes. Unlike an adult, a young child with a blocked airway often knows no difference, because the child never gets a good night’s rest.
The HealthyStart™ system identifies these symptoms, evaluates the underlying root cause, promotes proper oral habits, and develops the airway leading to proper jaw development. Early treatment is the key. The jaw is encouraged to develop properly, and the teeth move into alignment without the need for future braces or orthodontics.
We are so proud to be one of the few certified providers in the Midwest offering this program. You can learn more and take an online assessment for your child at www.thehealthystart.com.
Q: I’m all stressed out. How can I manage my busy life?
A: Stress and depression levels have grown from bad to worse as many women are multitasking — juggling a career, marriage, children, older parents, and home.
“They’re not allowing time for themselves in this rush to do everything else to perfection,” says bariatric/internal medicine physician Dr. Gina Randhawa. “Many women get so busy that they put off having a Pap smear, mammogram, and colonoscopy. Out of 365 days, you can make time for these important preventive tests.”
Dr. Randhawa points out that stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits, which can lead to weight gain and more stress and depression. She has noticed that women, particularly younger women, are smoking more than men.
“Whether that’s because they believe it’s going to help with stress or keep their weight down or they think it looks cool, women — especially of childbearing age — should quit for so many health reasons,” she says.
“I recommend meditation and relaxation to help calm nerves. Studies show that even 20 minutes of exercise is all you need to improve your mood,” Dr. Randhawa adds. “Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and don’t feel guilty about doing things you love to do, whether that’s reading, cooking, or some other hobby. Having some ‘me time’ every day is very important.”
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