They also state that:
- 13 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes
- 5.2 million Americans have undiagnosed diabetes
- 41 million are pre-diabetic.
- Latinos and Mexican Americans are 1.5 times more likely to become diabetic.
- About 10% of diabetics are insulin dependent diabetics.
The American diet has caused great concern for the medical and dental communities. We are eating excessive amounts of fats, starches and sugars. Diabetes is developing at an unprecedented rate and millions of people are living with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes.
As part of the Centers For Dental Medicine program, Dr. Donley is playing a very active role in detecting and working with his patient's physicians to diagnose diabetes and bringing this disease under control.
Gingivitis is the first stage of Peridontal (gum) disease and about 50% of six year olds are found with this stage of disease. Periodontitis (bone disease) is rare before the age of 20 and increases steadily to 60% in the 45 to 54 age group. Generally speaking, the rate of periodontitis in diabetics is about double than that of the "normal" population.
It has been found that many people visit their dentist more often than their medical physician. Therefore, many dentists, including Dr. Donley, are now testing patients for diabetes.
Periodontal bacteria live in gum pockets and increase blood sugar levels. When you have uncontrolled diabetes, you have too much sugar in your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links up (glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated.
It is now possible to measure the percentage of HbA1c in the blood. Research indicates that certain periodontal bacteria increase HbA1c. We now successfully treat periodontal disease by using anti-microbial treatment and laser therapy along with traditional treatment.
Because of the strong connection between periodontal disease and diabetes, we test all periodontal patients for HbA1c. If your level is found to be high, we will collaborate with your physician to, hopefully, reduce the risk of diabetes.
If you already have diabetes, we will try to help you control it to minimize your risk of associated diseases such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.
For more information or to make an appointment for a "New Patient Experience" that includes a periodontal evaluation, please call (231) 744-6661 to make an appointment today.
The energy that fills the gym is exciting; you can feel it. I think it's the "euphoria of the workout' that permeates the air - the positive energy that flows from people who feel strong, fit and healthy.
You know what I'm talking about and you've experienced it yourself. Remember the last time you did a little exercise? How did you feel? I bet you felt energized, rejuvenated and proud of your accomplishment. Those feelings are real, they have energy and they can change your life!
Now, more than ever, people are looking for something to feel good about. We cannot control economic conditions, unemployment, corporate bail outs (negative influences) but we can control the way we respond to them. One of the most important things we can do during uncertain times is to take care of ourselves through regular exercise.
Research shows that during stressful times, people who exercise regularly not only feel better physically, they report a greater sense of control over their daily lives. Many medical studies are proving that regular exercise helps people lead more productive lives. In fact, a growing number of people who have lost their jobs or are sensing layoffs, have started exercising because they want to look and feel their best when they go out and interview for new positions! (Sitting around, watching TV and putting on weight will not present you with a new job opportunity!)
Once again, exercise proves to be a powerful agent. It strengthens us when we are weak, makes us flexible in an ever changing world and give us the endurance to keep going. Let's face it, it's "survival of the fittest" - how fit are you?
Our bodies are constantly creating their own toxic byproducts as a result of the many toxins attacking us at a cellular level. When these build up in the body over time, these toxins can have an impact on our overall health.
So to rid ourselves of toxic burden, the lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel (or colon) work together to filter and eliminate toxin substances and waste, but because of the increasing number of both internal and external toxins to which our bodies are exposed, the cleansing organs can be overloaded. By addressing the seven channels of elimination this can help support the body's natural detox and cleansing process.
Keep these general guidelines in mind to help you when choosing from the many products at our three Health Hutt locations.
Step One: General Total-Body Cleanse - Includes all channels.
Step Two: Enhanced Specific Cleanse - Such as just the liver, lymph system, kidneys, etc.
Step Three: Microbial Cleanse - Intestine, parasites, colon, etc.
If this will be your first time cleansing or have already, Health Hutt recommends starting with a basic program that can be done with a general total-body cleanse formula that is designed to support the body's natural detox process and promote healthy digestive function.
With ongoing maintenance after each cleanse, Health Hutt suggests you use beneficial oils, enzymes and probiotic supplements. Increase your fiber intake as this will support in the cleansing process. Fiber works in the digestive tract to bind with toxins and help eliminate them via the stool.
Although exposure to harmful chemicals may be unavoidable in today's toxic world, there are simple things you can do every day to help you take back control of your body and your health. The right internal cleansing program, combined with a healthy lifestyle, can be the first step toward a lifetime of good health. Stop in today at one of the three Health Hutt locations!
These new mouth guards are drastically different from the boil and bite mouth guards with which many people are familiar. Many professional athletes are using the new neuromuscular mouth guards which claim to increase strength, increase endurance, speed up reaction time, reduce cortisol production and reduce impact forces which can result in concussive injuries. There are a number of companies producing these mouth guards with the help of dentists, some of whom specialize in neuromuscular positioning.
The idea behind these types of guards is the positioning of the lower jaw relative to the head. It is common in physical exertion (as in athletic endeavors) to "clench" your jaw. This clenching compresses the temporomandibular joint (commonly called the TMJ) which in turn can cause a reduced airway and compression of the muscles and vertebrae in the neck. The reduced airflow causes the body to up the production of cortisol, which increases fatigue. This clenching of the jaw is a natural part of the "fight or flight" system in the human brain, so it occurs subconsciously.
By positioning the lower jaw over the C1 and C2 vertebrae, the spine, head, and jaw are aligned. This alignment allows for increased air intake which maximizes natural abilities such as endurance, strength, and flexibility.
This corrected positioning of the lower jaw comes naturally to some athletes. If you have ever seen Michael Jordan sticking his tongue out as he flies through the air to dunk a basketball, you have seen this positioning in action. Tiger Woods is also famous for positioning his lower jaw downward and forward to get the most out of his swing. Sticking your tongue out brings your lower jaw downward and forward into the correct position. These performance enhancing mouth guards get you in the corrected position without having to stick your tongue out.
One of the brands of mouth guards is made by the sportswear company Under Armour. Athletes at all levels in all sports are familiar with this brand. Under Armour, in conjunction with Patterson Dental, make performance mouth guards for contact sports like football, hockey, boxing, lacrosse, etc. These mouth guards also protect the teeth from injury and act as shock absorbers to prevent concussions. They also make a performance enhancing mouthpiece for non-contact sports like tennis, golf, running, etc.
The mouthpieces are small and cannot be seen while wearing them. Both claim to have "jaw-dropping performance" powered by "Armourbite Mouthwear Technology." To see how this works, check out pattersondental.com/UnderArmour/video.aspx. You will be amazed at the science and testing behind these mouth guards.
These performance enhancing mouth guards can only be made at your dental office. They are individually customized and fabricated for each athlete. If you are looking to get an extra edge out of your athletic performance, they may be just the way for you to unlock your jaw and the power you never knew was there.