Safer Exercise

by Lana Carson, Nationally Certified Personal Trainer, Omni Fitness Club

Pick up a magazine, purchase a book, watch a video, search the internet - finding exercise and fitness information is easy, but is it safe for you?

There is no debate about the benefits of exercise, but people should be aware of the inherent risks, especially if they have health concerns. When developing an exercise program, fitness professionals first assess a client's health status. Proper screening will determine if there is a need for medical supervision or if the client may begin without restrictions.

The following categories have been established by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Low Risk Individuals have no symptoms of disease or illness and have no major coronary risk factors. Major risk factors include high blood pressure, serum cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl, family history of heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking and a sedentary life-style (couch potato). Minor risk factors include age, gender, weight and stress.

Individuals in this category who are under the age of 45 can most likely start a moderate exercise program without further medical evaluations, other than a physical examination with their personal physician.

Even though the risk is relatively low in this group, people should still be aware of normal versus abnormal responses to exercise. Abnormal responses include (but are not limited to) shortness of breath, pain or palpitations in the chest or surrounding areas, light headed or dizziness or ischemia.

Any abnormal responses should terminate the exercise session and be reported to your physician immediately.

Moderate Risk Individuals are those who have at least two of the major risk factors listed above. This group should consult with their physician prior to the start of exercise and are advised to have a diagnostic stress test.

People in the moderate risk group may still participate in an exercise program, but the help of a qualified fitness professional is also advised so that the exercises and the program meet the health care needs of the individual. Obtaining exercise information from mainstream magazines, books, videos, etc. for this group is not advised because they often do not offer modifications for medical concerns.

High Risk Individuals are those who exhibit symptoms of cardiopulmonary or metabolic disease. They should consult with their physician prior to starting any sort of exercise program. It is likely that they may be referred to a cardiologist for diagnostic stress testing for valuable information concerning the safety of exercise training, functional capabilities and decisions regarding further medical evaluation or intervention.

Exercise provides health benefits to most, but health care concerns must be considered before starting any type of exercise. Consult with your physician for recommendations or restrictions. Consulting with a qualified fitness professional is also recommended to ensure that your program is best suited to your specific needs.

If you would like help designing a fitness program that's just right for you, call MarySue or Lana at the Omni Fitness Club at (231) 739-3391.

What Would You Take?

by Linda Donley, from the offices of James R. Donley, DDS

If you could only choose one of the following articles, which one would it be?

1. Personal computer

2. Automobile

3. Cellular phone

4. Microwave

5. Toothbrush

According to a recent survey on attitudes about innovation and invention, Americans love their toothbrushes. In fact, 42% of adults and 34% of teens picked the toothbrush as the device they could not live without.

The toothbrush was first used by the Chinese around 1498. They attached boar bristles to a piece of bone and everyone in the family used the same brush. In 1938, nylon bristles became the bristle of choice and since it was relatively inexpensive, toothbrushes began to appear in every home for every person.

Today, we are very concerned about our personal health. Think of a vase of flowers that has been sitting on your table or desk for a week. When you take the flowers out, the inside of the vase is slimy. This "slime" is a bacterial film that has formed and grown on the vase. The same thing happens to your teeth if they are not brushed and flossed each day. It only takes 24 hours for plaque to begin forming on your teeth. When it is left on, it becomes hard and very difficult to remove. This is known as calculus and can lead to gum disease, which in turn, can lead to other diseases such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and others.

Thus, the toothbrush is an excellent first choice. The second choice was the automobile followed by the personal computer, cellular phone and microwave.

If you notice that your gums are bleeding when you brush, or you have persistent bad breath, you need to call Dr. James Donley's office and schedule an appointment to have the situation professionally evaluated. Call (231) 744-6661 and we will be happy to schedule you an appointment.

Dr. Donley and staff can be reached at (231) 744-6661. Their offices are at 166 N. Causeway in North Muskegon.

Spring Cleaning from the Inside Out

by Erik Johnson, Manager, Health Hutt

The proper elimination of toxins is essential for good health, and now is the time for Spring Cleaning.

Our digestive systems do an incredible job. However, today's modern world has exposed us to an alarming amount of toxins, from the air we breathe and the food we eat. Over time this starts to slow down and overburden the digestive system, causing a wide variety of health conditions.

There are three basic types of internal cleansing.

- Cleansing for parasites

- Cleansing specific organs

- Detoxifying the whole body

A healthy digestive system is one of the key factors for our health and development. The tissues, cells and organs in our bodies require nutrients every day to sustain and renew themselves. The only sources are the foods and supplements we eat and digest.

If digestion is good, vitamins and minerals and other nutrients can be fully utilized. If digestion is poor, even a healthy diet and supplements won't ensure health, energy and growth.

Cleansing and detoxification systems, digestive enzymes and probiotics, used together, can help us achieve digestive health, and can support the body in getting the vital nutrition it needs.

Enzymes are energized protein molecules and lifelike substances found in living cells, whether animal or vegetable. They turn the food we eat into energy and unlock that energy for use in the body. They can not all be seen because they are so microscopic, but their presence and strength can mean improved blood and immune system functioning. There are five major enzymes: metabolic, digestive, food, pancreatin and pepsin.

Stop by one of our four Health Hutt locations for great products for cleansing, such as Garden of Life's Perfect Cleanse, Renew Life's Parastroy, Liver Cleanse, Daily Cleanse and more. Enzymedica has many enzyme products to help digestion. Let us assist you in a Spring Cleanse!

To ask about natural remedies or other vitamin supplements phone the Health Hutt closest to you. In Muskegon call (231) 739-1568. Be sure to watch "Forever Young" Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Comcast Cable 97.

New Procedures Take the Years Away

from Muskegon Surgical Associates, P.L.C.

There is a growing trend for less invasive facial aesthetic procedures, including Botox and Radiesse.

Facial fillers, a minimally invasive office procedure to correct lines of the lower face, continue to evolve. Radiesse is a facial filler which has received FDA approval for the treatment of facial lines, specifically nasolabial folds, which are the lines that can form from the corners of the nose to the sides of the mouth.

The results are immediate and the treatment can last for more than a year. The body responds to the filler by stimulating collagen production, enhancing the duration of the results. The treatment is typically well tolerated. There are risks with any procedure which should be discussed with your treating physician; common temporary risks include bruising and swelling.

Whether you're interested in facial fillers or any of the many procedures available today that will enhance your beauty, the board certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Stephen Zonca and Dr. Dena Thayer, will be happy to meet with you to discuss your options. With their years of experience and the latest in state of the art equipment, you can be confident that you will receive the finest in care and results.

Call Muskegon Surgical Associates at (231) 739-9461 to set up your private consultation today. http://www.msapc.com.

Recommendations from the American Heart Association

by Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., Northshore Dental Associates

Many people with various heart conditions have had to be premedicated with antibiotics before dental treatment. This has been done for years based on the belief that antibiotics would prevent infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart lining and/or valves that happens when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Oral bacteria, which are harmless in the mouth, can be toxic and even lethal in the heart.

The American Heart Association changed these recommendations last year. The AHA now recommends that most of these patients no longer need short-term antibiotics as a preventive measure before their dental treatment. The AHA changed these recommendations based on a growing amount of scientific evidence that shows the risk of taking antibiotics outweighs the benefits. Some patients have had adverse reactions to the drugs, some of them life threatening. Other studies show that with the use of these antibiotics over and over again, drug resistant bacteria are developing.

Another recent finding showed that patients who take antibiotics may not be getting any protection at all in preventing infective endocarditis. The new thinking is that their hearts are already exposed to the bacteria in their mouths just by everyday brushing and flossing. The newest studies are showing that infective endocarditis is more likely to occur as a result of these everyday activities than from a dental procedure.

The patients who have taken antibiotics prior to dental treatment in the past, but who no longer need them include people with:

- Mitral valve prolapse

- Rheumatic heart disease

- Bicuspid valve disease

- Calcified aortic stenosis

- Congenital heart conditions such as vertricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Preventive antibiotics are still advised for many other heart conditions, such as:

- Artificial heart valves

- A history of endocarditis

- Certain specific congenital heart conditions

- A cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve

These new recommendations apply to many dental procedures. Any procedure that may cause bleeding in the mouth, such as extractions, root canals, or teeth cleaning, can potentially cause endocarditis. If you are unsure of whether or not you need an antibiotic prior to dental procedures, check with your cardiologist. For those people who have had antibiotics in the past for total joint replacements; your guidelines have not changed.

Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., at Northshore Dental Associates, 1179 Whitehall Road in North Muskegon, can be reached at (231) 744-6100.