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Martin County Edition

FEATURED ARTICLES

Winter 2019

(see Banish Belly Bulges, page 4)

TRED J. RISSACHER, DC

Relax your way to losing stubborn pounds and inchesBanish Belly Bulges

A fter years of working for a com-pany doing web design, Jamie Burns decided she’d rather work for herself. In 2004,

she started her own business, Working Girl Creative, where she now does web design from home. � e decision to be self-employed turned out to be life-altering for Jamie in more ways than one.

“I do a lot of networking for my busi-ness and for an organization I’m involved with,” she relates. “Along with that, there’s a lot of volunteering and many charity events. At one of those events, I won a certi� cate for laser weight-loss treatment sessions.

“I’d spent the last year trying to lose some of the weight I gained, weight that just crept up on me over the years. It was mostly around my midsection. I tried a number of di� erent diets, but didn’t make any headway losing the weight.”

� e failed diets frustrated Jamie, as did the way her clothes were beginning to feel on her. She had to stop wear-ing anything form-� tting because they exaggerated the bulge around her middle. Eventually, she reached a tipping point and made a decision to act.

“The clothes I had were becoming uncomfortable,” she shares. “Certain clothes, like clingy blouses and leggings, I put in the back of my closet and didn’t want to look at them. I got to the point where I

looked in my closet and said, Wait a minute. I don’t want to go up another size.

“� en I thought, I’ve got to change something. So, I decided, I’m going to do something completely different than I’ve done before. I’m going to sign up for those laser weight-loss sessions.”

The certificate Jamie won was donated by Tred Rissacher, DC, of Slim Body Laser Spa in Stuart.

“When I walked in, it felt like a spa,” Jamie recalls. “It was very professional and organized. I was immediately greeted by the girls at the reception desk. I’ve known of Slim Body Laser Spa for years from going to the Women’s Power Lunch, so that was one reason I was comfortable trying something that had laser in its title.

“Dr. Tred then showed me a video and explained how the program worked, and it made so much sense to me, much more than the other thing I looked into, which freezes fat cells. I said, Okay, I’m going through with this.

“� e actual process was easy. I just laid on my back for thirty minutes while the laser released the stored calories,

I listened to music like you’d hear in a massage spa, and it was very calming.”

Each 30-minute laser session includes three ten-minute treatments on di� erent problem areas. When the sessions are completed, patients are encouraged to go to an area called the whole body vibration room, con� rms Dr. Tred.

“� e laser treatments release stored calories from the fatty layer of cells,” he educates. “It’s a slow process for the body to absorb and convert those calories into energy with normal exercise and time. Whole body vibration accelerates this transfer of energy.

“Without whole body vibration, it takes two to three days for the body to burn the released calories. Whole body vibration does it e� ectively in only ten minutes, so patients get results quicker and lose inches more consistently than they would if they relied on home exercise to burn the calories.”

“Everyone there was so encourag-ing,” notes Jamie. “� ey o� ered nutrition advice, as well.

Goodbye GirthDr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System is like a dream come true. With it, many people can lose one to � ve inches of measured girth while lying on

Jamie Burns

Back In Action Medical Center

6One-For-Two

Game Changer

Rescue Mission

Eye Floater Laser

3 Simpson

Advanced Chiropractic & Medical

Center

8Stuart

Periodontics, P.A.

FHCN Special ReportRemote Control

Active Health CenterSupport System

Ashton Vein CenterParadise Found

Acute Wound CareIn-Home

Compression Pumps

ENT and Allergy Associates of FloridaClear Headed

Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness

Restore Your GlowStephen Blank, DDSStraight Ahead

South Florida

Eye Clinic

10

Laser aesthetics

Dr. Blank was awarded gold medals by the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (FACD) Scientific Session competition, which is designed to reward excellence in clinical cosmetic dentistry. The FACD is an organization devoted to seeking improvements in the science and art of cosmetic dentistry.

Stephen G. Blank, DDS, is a 1982 graduate of Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. He has since completed intensive continuing edu-cation studies. Dr. Blank has studied TMJ under

Mark Piper, MD, DMD, at the Piper Education and Research Center. He has completed the course continuum at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Blank was a clinical instruc-tor with the Hornbrook Group, teaching dentists from all parts of the country in live hands-on courses on the various aspects of smile design, occlusion, full mouth reconstruction and com-plete patient care. He is a facilitator/mentor with the Dental Boot Kamp program. Dr. Blank enjoys teaching dental teams around the country.

Dr. Blank invites you to visit his website at www.PSLDENTIST.com. Visit him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PSLDentist

Dr. Blank and his staff look forward to meeting the readers of Florida Health Care News. To schedule an appointment or learn what Dr. Blank can do for your smile through a complimentary cosmetic consultation, call or visit his o� ce in Port St. Lucie at:

184 NW Central Park Plaza

(772) 878-7348

We take great pride in treating one patient at a time like family. We are a private practice with one dentist with 35 years of experience. We are not part of a corporate dental chain. We believe in building relationships with our patients that make them an integral part of their own success. Scheduling is done with respect for our patients’ time, with double-booking not even considered. We do not measure success by how busy we are, but by our patients’ dental health. Care Credit is available for patients who need assistance with � nancing.

STRAIGHT AHEADClear braces put � nal touch on life

reformation project

T ravis Thames was study-ing law at Florida State University and was already drinking excessively when a

knee injury he su� ered during a wake-boarding accident sparked an addiction to painkillers that altered his career path.

“I was in and out of trouble for a good couple of years after getting hooked on the painkillers, and when I � nally got clean and sober, I actually went to work at a substance abuse treatment center myself,” Travis explains.

“I worked my way up from week-end technician to therapist to director of an intensive outpatient program. I then opened up a few halfway houses, and now, I’m doing my own thing as the CEO of a substance abuse center here in Port St. Lucie.”

Now 46, Travis is proud of the way he has straightened out his life. He’s equally proud of the work he’s done helping others straighten out their lives. For years, he wished he would have done the same with his teeth.

“It’s not like my teeth were ever super problematic,” Travis says. “It’s just that I never had braces as a kid and so my teeth have always been a little crooked. It’s something I always wanted to take care of; I just never got around to doing it.”

Travis was still procrastinating on that project a little more than a year ago when he learned that a business associate was getting her teeth straightened by a dentist whose o� ce is close to his. She recom-mended Travis check him out.

� at dentist is Stephen G. Blank, DDS.He practices cosmetic and functional dentistry and willingly embraces lead-ing-edge technologies as part of his commitment to providing the best care possible for his patients.

“When Travis � rst came to us, his teeth were very crowded, and because of that crowding, his bottom front teeth have worn irregularly – to the point where the biting edges on them are no longer ideal,” Dr. Blank explains.

“� at’s a problem that would become more apparent once his teeth were straightened, so Travis and I agreed on a plan that includes doing a mini-makeover, but the � rst part of that plan was to align his teeth and get them in a more func-tional position.”

After completing the series of align-ers, patients are advised to wear an Invisalign retainer at night. Travis, who began wearing his Invisalign aligners a little more than a year ago, is now wear-ing his retainer and says he couldn’t be happier with the results.

“� e experience was awesome,” he enthuses. “No one even knew I had the aligners in unless I told them, and the aligners are painless and easy to get used to. After a while, you don’t even remem-ber that you have them in.

“I mean it when I say I couldn’t be happier with the results, because my teeth are perfectly straight. I have a perfect smile now, which I love. I honestly could not be happier. I love the way my teeth look.”

A Great Experience Travis’ makeover is not complete. He still has to correct the irregular wear problem he has with his lower front teeth. He’s also in need of some other general maintenance work, but he intends to get all of that done, and Dr. Blank will do the work.

“Dr. Blank is just awesome,” Travis exudes. “He’s a really great dentist and

very personable. He’s very professional, and he’s a really good guy – easy to talk to and he gives you very realistic expectations.

“Everything he told me during my � rst visit with him – from the price to the way my teeth would be transformed – was one hundred percent accurate. � ere were no surprises along the way, and he didn’t try to hit me up with any kind of sales technique or anything like that.

“He was very straightforward, and the o� ce sta� is just amazing. � ey are very accommodating with my schedule, and they’re all very friendly. It was just a great experience all the way around.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Background graphics from Pixabay. mkb

Travis has straightened out his teeth as well as his life.

FOR THAT HEALTHY SMILE

Your Own Virtual Smile MakeoverTo learn more about Invisalign

by Dr. Blank, go to www.PSLDENTIST.com/Invisalign.

For a complimentary Invisalign consultation, call the offi ce and ask!

Private Care Dentistry

GOLD MEDAL WINNER

First Things First To achieve the primary objective of straightening Travis’ teeth, Dr. Blank suggested Travis do what his friend did and wear Invisalign® clear braces, which use a series of transparent, plastic aligners to straighten crooked teeth.

Invisalign clear aligners do the same job as metal braces, but they are made of a hard plastic that makes them vir-tually invisible. � ey’re also removable for easy home care.

Treatment starts with modern scan-ning of the teeth, which eliminates the need for gooey impressions. � e scans are then uploaded to Invisalign for aligner fabrication.

Each plastic aligner is designed to be worn day and night for approx-imately two weeks, but patients are advised to take them out when eating, drinking or brushing their teeth. At the end of each two-week period, the aligner is changed out for a new one.

� e entire length of time a person needs to wear Invisalign clear aligners and continue changing them out depends on how misaligned the patient’s teeth are at the beginning of the treatment. It’s typical for many patients to � nish within a year, but cases can vary from six months to two years depending on the patient’s overall tooth alignment prior to care.

“For some patients, we still have to go a little longer, depending on the move-ments we’re trying to achieve,” Dr. Blank notes. “� at’s up to the doctor, based on his education and experience, because some movements happen rather quickly while others take a little more time.”

Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition cosmetic Dentistry

Treatment OptionsTo learn more about the many services off ered at

Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center, call or visit one of their

four convenient locations.

Stuart104 SE Lonita St.

Port St. Lucie464 SW St. Lucie Blvd., Suite 114

Port St. Lucie East7664 S US Highway 1

Okeechobee208 NE 19th Drive, Suite 210

(772) 463-2344

CHARLES A. SIMPSON, DC

For more information, visit them online at www.simpsonmedical.com. They can also be found on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Charles A. Simpson, DC, began his education with an Associate in Arts degree from Palm Beach Community College. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from

Life University. Dr. Simpson’s specialty areas include soft tissue injuries, spinal decompression, physio-therapy, the Diversi� ed Adjustment Technique, the Thompson Adjustment Technique and the Activator Adjustment Technique. He is certi-� ed in soft tissue injury rehabilitation and care. Dr. Simpson is a member of the Florida Chiropractic Association and the Florida Chiropractic Society.

ONE-FOR-TWOBreakthrough treatment protocol e� ective on

nerves and muscles

I ndiana native Randy Millikan was casually walking through the living room of his Port St. Lucie home one day a couple years ago when

his knees suddenly gave out and he col-lapsed to the � oor. To Randy, the sudden weakness in his knees seemed to radiate from his lower back, where he had been experiencing pain for several years.

“I had pain in my lower back, and it spread down to my legs and knees,” he relates. “Around August, I felt my legs getting weaker and hurting. I’ve had the back pain for years, but it never got so bad my legs became weak. I got the feeling I couldn’t lift up my legs, and in October, my knees started popping out.

“I’ve had diabetes for about fifteen years, and I started getting diabetic neurop-athy pain as long as ten years ago. It would come and go, and I’d just deal with it. I’d get numbness and tingling from the neuropa-thy, but it wasn’t until 2016 that it got very painful and I started losing muscle strength.”

As it turned out, that fall in October 2016 was the � rst of many falls Randy would su� er over the course of the next year. During that time, he fell in park-ing lots, going into restaurants and while shopping. His weakness got so bad that his daughter, who works in the medical � eld, got a walker to assist him.

“I was stuck using that walker for a year and a half,” Randy shares. “I hated losing my independence. My daughter had to take me to the grocery store. I used the riding carts in the store while my daughter walked with me.

“I couldn’t drive my car, because the neuropathy made my feet go numb to the point where I couldn’t tell if my foot was on the gas pedal or the brake. I couldn’t use my boat, which is my greatest plea-sure, because the motion of the water would make me lose my balance and fall. I couldn’t even take out the trash by myself.”

When Randy started looking for answers, he went � rst to his primary care physician, who sent him to several spe-cialists. Among them was an orthopedic surgeon, a cardiac surgeon, a pain man-agement physician and a neurologist.

Randy can work in his garage without fear of falling.

It was the neurologist who determined Randy had a disease related to his neu-ropathy called diabetic myelopathy.

� e symptoms associated with dia-betic myelopathy are similar to those experienced by people su� ering from neu-ropathy. In both cases, su� erers complain of constant throbbing or burning pain, tingling in the legs and feet and muscle weakness or paralysis. � e di� erence is that myelopathy affects muscle tissue, whereas neuropathy a� ects nerves.

“I was a basket case,” states Randy. “I couldn’t sleep. On a scale of one to ten, my pain level was always about an eight. I started searching for a way to get my legs back.”

Randy’s search ended in the fall of 2017 after he saw a copy of Florida Health Care News on a table in the waiting area where his daughter, a lab technician, works. In that copy, Randy read an article about the exciting treatment protocol for neurop-athy being used by Charles A. Simpson, DC, founder of Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center.

“After I read the article, I made an appointment at Simpson Medical Center,” notes Randy. “I went by myself and literally crawled in there with my walker. I could barely move. I met with two doctors and asked them if they could help me. I was looking for some hope.”

“We created a complete plan of care to address Randy’s complex condition,” notes Dr. Simpson. “We started o� by stabilizing his spine through general chiropractic treatments. � en we used a specialized decompression table that opens up the disc space and rehydrates the disc to allow the nerves to � ow freely from the spine to the legs.

“� is is necessary because once the nerves are compromised from the com-pressed discs, the muscles of the arms and legs are not being stimulated with nerve impulses, causing pain and weakness. � at is where loss of balance and falls come in. We then have to open up the nerve space to restore nerve � ow to those muscles. We start treatment from the core and build out from there.”

Dr. Simpson also used his break-through protocol for neuropathy, called the Neuro Spinal Care Treatment Protocol™, for Randy because of the severity of his pain.

“One of the modalities of this proto-col is cold laser therapy, which is advanced light therapy that helps cells heal quicker and stronger as damaged tissue is replaced with new cells,” observes Dr. Simpson. “Once healthy cells are there, they can reproduce more healthy cells, and the cycle of pain is broken.”

Getting the tissue to heal is Dr. Simpson’s first goal. That gets the environment ready for the active thera-pies, such as exercise and physical therapy.

“Once Randy was ready, we brought him over to physical therapy to stabilize his core and strengthen his muscles,” he says. “This allows the treatment to be more long lasting.

“Our treatment plan for people with neuropathy and complex condi-tions is to � rst diagnose, then stabilize and strengthen, which allows them to live normal lives. � e Neuro Spinal Care Treatment Protocol combines general chiropractic with advanced technology. It enables us to treat severe conditions like Randy’s at our clinic.”

Regaining IndependenceUsing Dr. Simpson’s unique protocol, Randy was able to make tremendous progress in reaching his goal of getting

back on his feet. Randy remains on a monthly maintenance program to further that progress.

“With the services I received at Simpson Medical Center, my pain started to alleviate,” he reports. “I noticed it beginning to diminish after the fourth or � fth treatment. Now, I have a normal life as far as pain is concerned. While it never completely goes away, it now generally runs around a two instead of an eight.

“Exercise also helped. After seeing Dr. Simpson, I began doing physical therapy three times a week and going to the gym four times a week. � e com-bination gave me the muscle strength to get back to normal.”

Normal for Randy includes regain-ing his independence and returning to his former lifestyle. With the treat-ment he received at Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center, he’s achieved both.

“Today, I can walk without using the walker or even a cane,” marvels Randy, “and I’m pretty much back to doing the activities I did before the disease.

“I’m able to take the boat out, drive and walk with my grandkids to the park, which I’ve always enjoyed. I can also stand in my garage and work on my projects. I’d say I’m ninety-� ve percent back to where I was before the myelopathy hit.

“I’m really grateful for Dr. Simpson and his staff at Simpson Advanced Chiropractic and Medical Center. � ey gave me back my legs!”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Family photo courtesy of Simpson Advanced Chiropractic &

Medical Center. mkb

– RANDY

“I’m really grateful for Dr. Simpson and his staff at

Simpson Advanced Chiropractic and Medical Center.

They gave me back my legs!”

Disc DecompressionWhen Randy arrived at Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center, he was given a thorough evaluation. Through imaging, Dr. Simpson found that in addition to myelopathy, Randy had several compressed spinal discs, which were contributing to the severe pain radi-ating into his legs. He also discovered that Randy was su� ering from degenerative disc disease, sciatica and spinal instability.

Martin County Edition | Winter 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3chiropractic

Tred J. Rissacher, DC, completed his undergraduate studies at Indian River Community College and earned his Doctorate degree in Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City. He attends postgraduate seminars on the diagnosis and treatment of spine disorders. The Lapex BCS is being used “o� label” for spot fat reduction and laser-assisted weight loss.

For more information, please visit www.slimbodylaserspa.comResults may vary from person to person based on di� erent factors, and there is no guarantee for speci� c results. Testimonials and examples found in this publication, in our article from the Slim

Body Laser Spa of Stuart, are veri� ed results that have been actually achieved by our clients as described. However, these results may not apply to the average person and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results.

FDA indications for use FDA 510(k) � e Lapex is intended to emit energy in the visible and infra red spectrum to provide topical heating for the purpose of elevating tissue temperature for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and sti� ness, minor arthritis pain or muscle spasm, the temporary increase in local blood circulation and/or temporary relaxation of muscle.

VIP Priority

Scheduling

Treatment Areas

Dr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System can e� ectively treat the following problems in both men and women:

• Belly fat

• Chin fat

• Upper arm fat

• Mu� n top

• Thigh fat

• Bra bulges

And more

BEFORE AFTER

Lost . inches in sessions

Lost . inches in sessions

Lost . inches in sessions

The fi rst people to schedule an

appointment may begin their treatments 

right away. These VIP priority-

scheduling times are the most sought-after times available, so call

today for your VIP time.

2311 SE Ocean Blvd.Suite A Stuart

(772) 223-5885

Here’s where you can � nd us:

Areas Served:Stuart, Hobe Sound, Palm

City, Jensen Beach, Sewalls Point, Jupiter, Saint Lucie

West, Port Saint Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and

Okeechobee

their backs for 30 minutes three times per week for three weeks. � at’s with no strict calorie reduction or excessive exercise.

“� is dream has become reality in the form of today’s FDA-approved technology called low-level laser lipo machines, also known as red light lasers,” observes Dr. Tred. “� ere’s no longer a need for people to subject themselves to the risks associated with surgical interventions such as liposuction and tummy tucks, or the use of thermal energy such as fat freezing and hot lasers.

“When applied to the fat layer underneath the skin, low-level laser therapy will produce predictable, consistent, sustainable inch reduction without pain, downtime, rigid food discipline or strenuous exercise. Areas such as the belly, chest, back, thighs, arms and chin can all be safely improved using laser lipo.”

� e di� erence is the laser, which works directly on the problem fat cells, causing them to release their contents and shrink. Each laser session releases approximately 40 to 60 grams of free fatty acids, or 400 to 600 calories, into the body’s surrounding tissue.

“� ose released fatty acids are absorbed naturally and made avail-able to the body in the form of energy, which is typically utilized over the following day or two,” explains Dr. Tred. “� at’s where whole body vibration comes in. It enables that fatty acid to move more quickly from the surrounding tissue into the body’s metabolic system, where

it is burned as energy.”

While the program does not require cal-orie restriction or strenuous a c t i v i t y , Dr. Tred does mention that d i e t m o d i -fication and

some exercise can help the process be more sustaining.“Patients do need to eat right and move around in order for the

results from the low-level laser treatments to be long-lasting,” he comments. “People will be more than happy with the results they see if they follow the entire plan.”

Results Beyond BeliefJamie took Dr. Tred’s advice and followed the entire plan. She saw a signi� cant di� erence in her belly using Dr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System and was in disbelief at the success of the treatments. And like her career choice, the results of Dr. Tred’s program were life-altering for her.

“After my nine weeks, I lost eight and a half inches in my mid-section as well as eight pounds,” she enthuses. “It was great that the results were so immediate, and it was so encouraging after struggling for a year to make some progress with my weight. And to have this happen in only three weeks!

Jamie lost more than

eight inches in her

midsection

“I won that certi� cate last year in October, and I had it hanging on my refrigerator. One day, I said, Come January, I’m going to use this certi� cate and go to Slim Body Laser Spa. It was one of many New Year’s resolutions I made. I � nally made one that’s working.”

After losing pounds and inches, Jamie says she’s happier about the way her clothes are � tting. She’s even dragging out of the back of her closet some of the items she once banished there.

“My clothes are much more comfortable now, and I don’t worry about having to buy bigger sizes,” she con� des. “I’m now able to wear tops that are a bit more clingy and other form-� tting clothes I couldn’t wear before.”

� e three-week, nine-session program is not the end of the road for Jamie. She plans to use the progress she made at Slim Body Laser Spa as a springboard to living a healthier lifestyle and furthering her weight-loss goals. She also encourages others to become winners by using this program to jumpstart their weight loss.

“I absolutely recommend Dr. Tred’s laser weight-loss system at Slim Body Laser Spa to anyone who’s not seeing progress los-ing weight with what they’re doing on their own,” adds Jamie. “It was de� nitely successful for me.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Jamie’s photos by Jordan Pysz. Lapex before and after images

courtesy of Slim Body Laser Spa. mkb

Banish Belly Bulges(continued from page 1)

“After my nine weeks, I lost eight and a half inches

in my midsection as well as eight pounds.”

– Jamie

Page 4 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition

Barry LevineExecutive Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

Brian LevineProject Coordinator

Patti DiPanfiloAnnette MardisEditorial Staff

Laura EngelProduction Assistant

Nerissa JohnsonGraphic Designer

Nerissa JohnsonJordan PyszFred BelletPhotography

Steve TurkMario Hill

Kent BoothRobert MizeRick Bowser Distribution

Slim Body Laser SpaLaser Aesthetics

Stephen Blank, DDSCosmetic Dentistry

Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center

Chiropractic

ENT and Allergy Associates of FloridaEar, Nose and Throat

Back In Action Medical CenterBioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Stuart Periodontics, P.A.Comprehensive Dentistry

Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness

Aesthetics

Acute Wound CareCompression Therapy

South Florida Eye ClinicOphthalmology

Ashton Vein CenterVein Treatment

Active Health CenterNeck Pain

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Florida Health Care News

Florida Health Care News is published by Florida Health Care News, Inc.

Florida Health Care News, Inc., reserves the right to decline any advertising/marketing article.

Florida Health Care News is provided for information only and should not be construed as health care advice or instruction. If you have questions concerning articles in this edition, feel free to call our contributing editors.

Florida Health Care News provides a paid forum for health care professionals to present their ideas about various aspects of health care treatment and proce-dures. Florida Health Care News, Inc. is not responsible for the health care delivered by the contributing editors presented in this edition.

Articles reflect the opinion of the sponsoring profes-sional or organization and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other contributing editors. Contributing editors have approved all text contained within their respective articles.

© 2019 Florida Health Care News, Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, including articles, may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

FOR ALL health care professionals having

articles in this publication: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON

RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE

REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS

PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF, AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO, THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR A FREE,

DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

Winter 2019

Laser aesthetics

Clear Headed

Balloon procedure eliminates chronic sinus symptoms

Henry Kuemin

For 40 years, Henry Kuemin, 96, worked in management and steer-ing for Outboard Marine and Ensign Outboard Motors. � e

Michigan native retired in 1980 and relocated to Florida to bask in the temperate climate. � e warmer weather did nothing, however, to temper an uncomfortable sinus condition.

“I’ve had sinus trouble for years,” Henry admits. “I got headaches and couldn’t get rid of them. � ere was a lot of pressure in my head. It felt like a balloon, and I was woozy a lot. My sinuses were all plugged up, and I couldn’t breathe very well.

“Over time, Henry had been on mul-tiple medications, including steroid nasal sprays and various antibiotics, but they didn’t help him long term. I noticed in his medical records that he hadn’t had a CT scan of his sinuses since 2011, so I ordered one.”

� e results of the CT showed Henry had inflammation and blockage in all four of his sinuses: the maxillary, eth-moid, frontal and sphenoid. Dr. Berghash recommended a procedure called Balloon Sinuplasty to clear the obstructions, and Henry agreed to it.

Breaking Up BlockagesBlocked sinuses are the result of in� am-mation of the tissue of the sinus cavities, which obstructs the openings of the sinuses and impedes drainage. In� ammation can be the result of one of two conditions.

“Fifty percent of the time, it’s related to allergy,” Dr. Berghash observes. “� e other fifty percent of the time, it’s a process that starts with a cold or upper respiratory infection that only partially resolves on its own.

“Because the infection only partially resolves, the lining of the sinus cavities can in� ame, which then leads to blockage. � is, in turn, can cause sinus symptoms and recurrent infections. � is is what hap-pened to Henry.”

Balloon Sinuplasty is an in-of-� ce procedure using local anesthesia. Patients undergoing the treatment are generally pre-medicated with pain medication and a medication to relax them. Before the procedure, the doc-tor sprays numbing medication in their nose. When the procedure starts, more numbing medication is added by injec-tion, which patients typically don’t feel.

“Once everything is calibrated, we go in with the balloon and open up the nat-ural openings, of the sinuses. � is allows normal ventilation of air into the sinuses and healing of the in� amed tissue. We can use this procedure on the maxillary, fron-tal and sphenoid sinuses.”

Visit ENT and Allergy Associates of Florida on their website at www.otodocs.com

Leslie R. Berghash, MD, FACS, is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Dr. Berghash began his education at Hobart College in Geneva, NY, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He attended University of Rochester School of Medicine in NY for his medical degree, then completed an internship and residency in otolaryngology at the School of Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. Berghash also completed a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstruc-tive surgery. Dr. Berghash is a member of the American Rhinologic Society, Florida Medical Association and St. Lucie County and Okeechobee County Medical Society.

Hear, Breathe

and Sleep Better

ENT and Allergy Associates of Florida want people to be informed about ear, nose and throat conditions and their treatment. If you suffer with symptoms that impact your hearing, breathing or sleeping, they can help. Contact Dr. Berghash’s office for a consultation at one of their three locations.

Port St. Lucie1801 SE Hillmoor Drive

Suites B-105

(772) 398-9911, Ext. 125

Fort Pierce2100 Nebraska Ave.

Suite 203

(772) 464-6055Okeechobee

1916 Highway 441 N

(863) 357-7791

During Balloon Sinuplasty, a small, � exible balloon catheter is inserted into the nose to open up blocked passageways in the sinuses, which enables drainage

“The balloon is on a guidewire, and we use the Fiagon® Sinus Navigation System to get to the precise location of the blockage,” Dr. Berghash describes. “With this system, we can calibrate a CT scan to line up with, and view the patient’s sinuses in three dimensions in real time.

To open the ethmoid sinuses, Dr. Berghash uses an instrument called a microdebrider. � e microdebrider is a tiny instrument that cuts away the blockages. � is instrument is used because the eth-moid sinuses cannot be ballooned due to their location in the skull. � e microde-brider can also be used to treat certain patients with blocked nasal airways.

“Some patients with deviated sep-tums have spurs, or growths, on their septums,” Dr. Berghash informs. “We can remove those spurs, and we can minimize tissues called inferior turbinates. � e job of the turbinates is to increase the surface area of the nose for humidi� cation, � ltra-tion and air warming.

“The majority of patients with chronic sinus and/or allergy problems have in� ammation and enlargement of their turbinates. We can use the microde-brider to shrink down the turbinates, which e� ectively decreases in� ammation and post-nasal drainage. In essence, it pro-vides the patients with a healthier airway.”

Dr. Berghash stresses that balloon sinuplasty has certain advantages over standard sinus surgery. It decreases surgical risks, and it has a quicker and easier recov-ery, with patients able to return to work in one to two days. � e procedure has been shown to be very e� ective in quali� ed can-didates. � ere’s less discomfort as well.

“I had the balloon surgery done on both sides of my nose, and didn’t hurt at all,” veri� es Henry, “And it opened my sinuses right up.”

Better BreathingAnother advantage of Balloon Sinuplasty over standard sinus surgery is that less tissue is disturbed, so there’s less bleeding during and after the procedure. � is was true in Henry’s case.

Although he occasionally still gets a little congestion, Henry says he has experienced a major turnaround in his

condition. His chronic sinus symp-toms were completely resolved by the Balloon Sinuplasty.

“I’m breathing all right since the sur-gery,” Henry con� rms. “I can breathe in and out of my nose and sinuses with no problems. Dr. Berghash checked me out and said I’m doing � ne after the procedure.”

“Henry is a very healthy ninety-six-year-old,” emphasizes Dr. Berghash. “He’s really done well with this procedure for his age. He’s not reported one sinus symptom since I performed the Balloon Sinuplasty on him in March.”

Henry agrees with Dr. Berghash that the procedure helped signi� cantly. He’s willing to tell his story to others.

“� e surgery with the balloon was de� nitely a success,” enthuses Henry. “I rec-ommend the procedure and Dr. Berghash to anyone with sinus problems.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Blue shirt photo courtesy of Henry Kuemin. mkb

Henry breathes much easier since his surgery.

www.otodocs.com

LESLIE R. BERGHASH, MD, FACSJOHN T. LANZA, MD, FACS

CAMYSHA H. WRIGHT, MD, FAAOA

“I went to my family doctor and other doctors who basically told me to take med-ication, which didn’t do much of anything. My family doctor � nally said I needed to see a specialist. He told me to get in con-tact with Dr. Berghash, so in February, I made an appointment with him.”

Henry’s doctor referred him to Leslie R. Berghash, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates of Florida, which has o� ces in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Okeechobee. Dr. Berghash specializes in conditions of the ears, nose and throat.

Henry liked the doctor immediately.“Dr. Berghash is great,” Henry states.

“He is a very nice fellow and a gentle-man. I enjoy talking with him. He is very knowledgeable and explained my condi-tion very thoroughly.”

As part of Henry’s initial consulta-tion, Dr. Berghash asked him about his condition and his symptoms. � e doctor learned that past treatments Henry tried didn’t give him sustained relief.

“For years, Henry lived with symp-toms such as congestion, pressure, fullness, post-nasal drainage, headaches and recurrent sinus infections,” notes Dr. Berghash. “� ese are all typical symp-toms of an ongoing sinus condition. � e diagnoses were nasal obstruction, post-nasal drainage and chronic sinusitis.

Martin County Edition | Winter 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5ear, nose anD throat

Edward W. Pearson, MD, ABIHM, is certi� ed in holistic medicine by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He earned his undergrad-uate degree in microbiology from the University of Florida. He then studied epidemiology and occupational health at the University of South Florida before earning his medical degree there. Dr. Pearson completed an intern-ship in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of California Davis Medical Center Hospital in Sacramento. He completed additional training in internal medicine, orthopedic spinal surgery, emergency medicine, and musculoskeletal and manual medicine.

Back In Action Medical Center is sta� ed by skilled and experienced medical professionals who o� er a full range of services to meet your medical needs, and they look forward to serving you. For more information or to make an appointment for a free consultation, call or visit their o� ce in Palm City at:

2351 SW Martin Highway

(772) 324-9337Visit Back In Action Medical Center online at www.backinactionmedical.com

Get Back in Action

EDWARD W. PEARSON, MD, ABIHM

Jay Watson

Game ChangerAnxiety, excess weight reversed with bioidentical hormones

J ay Watson thought he was having a heart attack. � e Dallas, Texas native and owner of a facilities management company out of Orlando feared his

racing heartbeat was a sure sign of trou-ble. He headed for the nearest emergency room only to � nd out his heart was � ne.

“It turned out to be anxiety, and that episode was a panic attack,” Jay shares. “I never had anxiety before in my life. � en for about two years, I had it constantly. I had anxiety every day. I also had two panic attacks that put me in the hospital thinking something serious was wrong.

“The anxiety left me with an edgy, uncomfortable, nervous feeling, and I had that underlying feeling daily. But when I was having a panic attack, I felt like I was dying. My heart would beat out of my chest and wouldn’t stop, and I couldn’t calm it down. � en I’d start thinking about my heart rate, and the more I thought about it, the worse it got.”

Doctors at the hospital, as well as Jay’s family physician, recommended anti-anxiety medication along with an antidepressant to help relieve his anxiety. But Jay didn’t want to take those medications.

“� e doctors gave me some kind of pill that knocked me out and wanted to put me on an antidepressant,” Jay con-� rms. “Apparently, the cure for anxiety is antidepressant pills. I refused to take them because I wasn’t depressed, and I didn’t want to go down a path with a medica-tion that’s potentially lifelong.

“A f r i e n d o f mine works at Back In Action Medical Center, and he told me I needed to see Dr. Pearson for hor-mone therapy. At � rst, I shrugged it o� . I thought, I don’t need to do that. I’ll be alright. Six months later, I had my sec-ond panic attack while snow skiing in the Carolinas. I called my friend and asked for Dr. Pearson’s phone number.”

Edward W. Pearson, MD, is a board-certi� ed integrative physician who practices functional and holistic medicine at Back In Action Medical Center in Palm City. Dr. Pearson creates treatment plans for his patients for medical weight loss, detoxi� -cation and hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones.

“I called Back In Action Medical Center, talked to Dr. Pearson and described my situation,” Jay states. “When I went to my appointment, the doctor took a blood sample from me. Keep in mind, I’ve gone through hormone therapy before with other doctors and really never got anywhere. I didn’t have my hopes up very high.”

Detecting Defi cienciesSoon after Jay’s appointment, Dr. Pearson called him and explained that his adrenal glands weren’t producing the hormone cor-tisol. Among its many functions, cortisol helps regulate metabolism, the body’s pro-cess of turning food into energy. It also helps control blood sugar, reduce in� ammation and assist with memory formation.

“Jay su� ered from many of the men-tal and physical discomforts that go along with a hormone imbalance,” reports Dr. Pearson. “He had a little loss of mojo that

happens to some men. He didn’t feel very vigorous or powerful or manly. But mainly, he had increased anxiety and panic attacks. He was treated before but didn’t have good results at all.

“Because injectable testosterone, which is what most clinics o� er, is a synthetic toxin that has many side e� ects, Jay didn’t feel better on it. In fact, he felt worse. After I tested him, I treated his imbalance with a blend of modal-ities that included detoxification, which

purges the system of toxins, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, that included cortisol.”

“Dr. Pearson told me that as soon as I take the cortisol pill, I’ll feel normal in about ten minutes,” Jay relates. “I chuckled at that. I thought, I’ve been dealing with this for two years, and he’s going to cure me with one pill in a few minutes. I found it hard to believe, but I agreed to try it.

“Amazingly, Dr. Pearson was right. I couldn’t believe it. He cured me. He told me one of two things would happen next. I would either have to take cortisol for the rest of my life, or if my adrenal glands rested for a while, they might start producing their own cortisol.

“I started out taking � fteen milligrams of cortisol a day, then over the course of a year, I went from � fteen milligrams to ten to � ve to two. Now, I haven’t taken a cortisol pill in a year and a half, and I haven’t had any problems. I guess my adrenal glands rested long enough.”

Methodical ApproachWhen Jayne Nye moved to Florida three years ago, she noticed some changes in how she felt and looked that didn’t make her happy. � e Connecticut native likes to stay active and enjoys gol� ng, � shing, kayaking, weight training and other physical activities. � e changes she was experiencing weren’t � t-ting in with her vigorous lifestyle.

“I knew I had multiple signs and symptoms that my hormones were out of balance,” she discloses. “� e list of symp-toms was pretty long, but it included low energy, sleepless nights and hot � ashes. I also gained a little weight.

“I knew I needed help restoring the bal-ance, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. I didn’t want hormone replacement therapy because I thought it involved taking multiple pre-scription medications. Living the � t, healthy, active lifestyle I do, I wasn’t interested in put-ting synthetic chemicals in my body.”

Jayne had been given estrogen from her OB/GYN but didn’t want to take unnatural hormones to balance her system. A friend told her about Dr. Pearson and Back In Action Medical Center. Before mak-ing an appointment, Jayne did some research on the doctor and his clinic. What she dis-covered intrigued her.

“I learned that Dr. Pearson o� ered a more plant-based approach using completely bioidentical and chemical-free compounds, and that really interested me,” she o� ers. “I

made an appointment and was impressed with the doctor right away.

“I found Dr. Pearson to be very knowl-edgeable. He explained what each hormone did, how hormones worked in the body and what would happen if I didn’t rebal-ance them. He was very good and took his time with me. He took a very methodical approach to getting to know me and getting a clear understanding of my issues.

“Dr. Pearson’s approach involved a personal consultation with a full panel of bloodwork. The bloodwork results showed I had imbalances in some of the most important female hormones, and the balance needed to be restored. He put together a customized treatment plan for me based on my bloodwork.”

wanted to be. Dr. Pearson said he could help me lose the weight by correcting my hormone imbalance.”

“Weight loss is actually a secondary bene� t to balancing hormones,” Dr. Pearson explains. “When the patient’s system is bal-anced, the body becomes healthier and functions more e� ciently. Excess weight generally comes o� pretty quickly, and the patient feels much better.

“The beautiful thing about BHRT is that on retesting, patients can see their underlying health problems being cor-rected. Diabetes can be reversed, appetites can be normalized and in� ammation can be removed. Issues such as pain and achiness, anxiety, loss of energy and not feeling well in general go away.”

Hormone HeavenBeing overweight, feeling anxious or experiencing the unwanted symptoms of perimenopause are all related to biochemical imbalances in the body, asserts Dr. Pearson. A key part of human biochemistry are com-pounds called hormones. Hormones are regulatory chemicals that stimulate organs and tissues into action. When hormones are out of balance, the treatment is generally hormone replacement therapy.

“When people think about hormone therapy, there’s a misconception about what that is,” notes the doctor. “Most people think about men getting testosterone and women getting estrogen, and that it’s rejuvenating and makes them feel better. In fact, people are a huge bag of hormones that are working together to help the body function properly.

“� ere are hormones associated with adrenal gland function and adrenal stress, thyroid imbalances, pituitary issues, you name it. Hormones are very powerful if the physician knows how to work with them correctly. I practice functional medicine, which includes intense education on the body’s complicated biochemistry.”

Hormone replacement therapy at Back In Action Medical Center begins with bloodwork. Dr. Pearson takes a little more blood from his patients than is taken for routine bloodwork because his analysis is signi� cantly more extensive. He may also use saliva testing and other tests to get a clear picture of his patients’ biochemistry and overall health.

“If hormone levels are imbalanced, either too high or too low, that’s a problem, and we recommend certain steps to correct it,” Dr. Pearson informs. “We’re going to take speci� c steps to lower the excesses and speci� c steps to replace what’s missing.

“For hormone replacement therapy, we use very natural, plant-based hormone com-pounds to replace the missing hormones. We have a unique and proprietary blend of oral, encapsulated, bioidentical hormones that are nearly organic. We can also use other meth-ods of hormone delivery, but I believe the pills are the best way to deliver hormones.”

When there are excess levels of certain hormones, Dr. Pearson counts on good dietary training and detoxi� cation protocols. � is is not based on a diet, he says, although

there are food guidelines to follow. � e result is restored balance and improved health.

Positive ResponsesLike Jayne, Jay began to feel better very quickly after beginning treatment. Dr. Pearson notes that there’s generally a quick response to BHRT. Patients typically know within the � rst few days of getting the proper hormones and following his instructions that they’re headed in the right direction.

“Jay got that feeling within a few weeks to a month after starting BHRT,” comments Dr. Pearson. “He told me he felt great and his anxiety was gone. Jay did a great job. He fol-lowed instructions to the tee and did everything we asked of him. And he got positive results.”

When Jayne took the hormones from her OB/GYN, she got limited bene� t from them. She went to Back In Action Medical Center looking for a better, more natural option, one that would help her feel her best.

“I changed Jayne’s treatment almost one hundred eighty degrees, and she also felt bet-ter very quickly,” observes Dr. Pearson. “Her body started doing the things she wanted it to. Now, she knows how to manage her own symptoms. When she gets a little adre-nal fatigue, she’s aware of it and takes the steps we taught her to support those glands before there’s a problem.”

Long-Term SuccessJayne and Jay con� rm Dr. Pearson’s opin-ion that they achieved good results from the BHRT. They both describe positive

outcomes that have passed the test of time.“I feel great,” Jayne raves. “I’m full of

energy, I don’t get tired, I don’t wake up at night and I don’t have hot � ashes. All those symptoms I started out with three years ago are completely gone.

“Most notably, I’m down eighteen pounds from where I was when I � rst met Dr. Pearson, and I’m maintaining the weight loss three years later.”

Jay has had lasting results as well. Like Jayne, he appreciates the methodi-cal approach Dr. Pearson took in creating a treatment plan for him. He’s especially amazed by the doctor’s intense attention to the results of his patients’ bloodwork.

“What Dr. Pearson does with the bloodwork ba� es me,” he admits. “He says bloodwork is like a road map of the body. He goes through his patients’ vitamin levels, iron level, everything. If they’re de� cient in iron, a vitamin or hormone, he � nds it and corrects it, and they feel better.

“I’m a perfect example of that. I have no anxiety now, and it’s been more than two years since I’ve had a problem with it. My adrenal glands are producing cortisol just � ne. Not only do I not have anxiety, I’m also not taking any medication for it. Dr. Pearson cured my anxiety overnight, and I don’t need to take any antidepressant pills.”

Jayne found Dr. Pearson very knowl-edgeable about hormones and excellent at explaining their role in the body. Jay is also impressed by the skilled physician.

“Dr. Pearson is very upfront and honest and has a good bedside manner,” describes Jay. “I always feel comfortable talking to him. I never feel I can’t ask him something, no matter how personal. He’s great.

“He’s also extremely knowledgeable about holistic medicine. I have family members who are doctors, but I think he’s the most knowledgeable guy I’ve ever dealt with when it comes to holistic healing and medications.”

Jay and Jayne are overjoyed with the care they received from Dr. Pearson at Back In Action Medical Center. � ey’re both willing and eager to pass the word to others about the doctor and his BHRT.

“I recommend Dr. Pearson one hundred percent,” says Jayne. “In fact, I’ve recom-mended him to many friends. He performs consultations over the telephone as well, so I’ve recommended him to some of my friends in Connecticut, and they’ve had sim-ilar results as mine.

“I’ve recommended Dr. Pearson and Back In Action Medical Center to many people, and I’ll continue to do so.”

“What Dr. Pearson has done for me has been life-changing in an extremely positive way,” adds Jay. “It’s just been huge. I feel better now than I’ve felt in years. I abso-lutely, one hundred percent recommend Dr. Pearson and his bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Patient photos by Nerissa

Johnson. Chess graphic from Pixabay. mkb

BHRT treatments have alleviated Jayne’s symptoms.

Jay started to feel better within a few weeks of receiving BHRT.

What Dr. Pearson has done for me has been life-changing in an extremely positive way. . . I feel better now than I’ve felt in years.” – Jay

I feel great. I’m full of energy, I don’t get tired, I don’t wake up at night

and I don’t have hot fl ashes. All those

symptoms I started out with three years ago are

completely gone.” –Jayne

Appropriate Attention“With most hormone therapy, women don’t get enough balanced hormones the right way, and they often get the wrong hormones,” says Dr. Pearson. “Jayne had taken hormones in the past, but without the proper attention to her adrenal glands, which are a huge part of hormonal health. � ey must be addressed, so I included treat-ment for them in her BHRT protocol.”

It didn’t take long before Jayne began feeling the e� ects of Dr. Pearson’s hormone therapy. After just a couple of weeks on the treatment, she began noticing some positive changes in how she felt.

“One of the changes that happened really quickly was that my sleepless nights went away,” she recalls. “Being able to sleep through the night right away was really a big thing for me. I also wasn’t sluggish in the afternoon after a big meal at noontime. Dr. Pearson was able to correct my low energy, as well, with the hormone therapy.”

In addition to looking for relief from her uncomfortable symptoms of low energy, sleeplessness and hot flashes, Jayne also wanted to lose that extra weight she had put on. She wasn’t heavy, just a little plumper than she was comfortable being.

“I’m very � t and work out all the time,” she emphasizes, “but I wasn’t as lean as I

Jayne Nye

Page 6 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition BioiDenticaL hormone repLacement therapy

Edward W. Pearson, MD, ABIHM, is certi� ed in holistic medicine by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He earned his undergrad-uate degree in microbiology from the University of Florida. He then studied epidemiology and occupational health at the University of South Florida before earning his medical degree there. Dr. Pearson completed an intern-ship in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of California Davis Medical Center Hospital in Sacramento. He completed additional training in internal medicine, orthopedic spinal surgery, emergency medicine, and musculoskeletal and manual medicine.

Back In Action Medical Center is sta� ed by skilled and experienced medical professionals who o� er a full range of services to meet your medical needs, and they look forward to serving you. For more information or to make an appointment for a free consultation, call or visit their o� ce in Palm City at:

2351 SW Martin Highway

(772) 324-9337Visit Back In Action Medical Center online at www.backinactionmedical.com

Get Back in Action

EDWARD W. PEARSON, MD, ABIHM

Jay Watson

Game ChangerAnxiety, excess weight reversed with bioidentical hormones

J ay Watson thought he was having a heart attack. � e Dallas, Texas native and owner of a facilities management company out of Orlando feared his

racing heartbeat was a sure sign of trou-ble. He headed for the nearest emergency room only to � nd out his heart was � ne.

“It turned out to be anxiety, and that episode was a panic attack,” Jay shares. “I never had anxiety before in my life. � en for about two years, I had it constantly. I had anxiety every day. I also had two panic attacks that put me in the hospital thinking something serious was wrong.

“The anxiety left me with an edgy, uncomfortable, nervous feeling, and I had that underlying feeling daily. But when I was having a panic attack, I felt like I was dying. My heart would beat out of my chest and wouldn’t stop, and I couldn’t calm it down. � en I’d start thinking about my heart rate, and the more I thought about it, the worse it got.”

Doctors at the hospital, as well as Jay’s family physician, recommended anti-anxiety medication along with an antidepressant to help relieve his anxiety. But Jay didn’t want to take those medications.

“� e doctors gave me some kind of pill that knocked me out and wanted to put me on an antidepressant,” Jay con-� rms. “Apparently, the cure for anxiety is antidepressant pills. I refused to take them because I wasn’t depressed, and I didn’t want to go down a path with a medica-tion that’s potentially lifelong.

“A f r i e n d o f mine works at Back In Action Medical Center, and he told me I needed to see Dr. Pearson for hor-mone therapy. At � rst, I shrugged it o� . I thought, I don’t need to do that. I’ll be alright. Six months later, I had my sec-ond panic attack while snow skiing in the Carolinas. I called my friend and asked for Dr. Pearson’s phone number.”

Edward W. Pearson, MD, is a board-certi� ed integrative physician who practices functional and holistic medicine at Back In Action Medical Center in Palm City. Dr. Pearson creates treatment plans for his patients for medical weight loss, detoxi� -cation and hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones.

“I called Back In Action Medical Center, talked to Dr. Pearson and described my situation,” Jay states. “When I went to my appointment, the doctor took a blood sample from me. Keep in mind, I’ve gone through hormone therapy before with other doctors and really never got anywhere. I didn’t have my hopes up very high.”

Detecting Defi cienciesSoon after Jay’s appointment, Dr. Pearson called him and explained that his adrenal glands weren’t producing the hormone cor-tisol. Among its many functions, cortisol helps regulate metabolism, the body’s pro-cess of turning food into energy. It also helps control blood sugar, reduce in� ammation and assist with memory formation.

“Jay su� ered from many of the men-tal and physical discomforts that go along with a hormone imbalance,” reports Dr. Pearson. “He had a little loss of mojo that

happens to some men. He didn’t feel very vigorous or powerful or manly. But mainly, he had increased anxiety and panic attacks. He was treated before but didn’t have good results at all.

“Because injectable testosterone, which is what most clinics o� er, is a synthetic toxin that has many side e� ects, Jay didn’t feel better on it. In fact, he felt worse. After I tested him, I treated his imbalance with a blend of modal-ities that included detoxification, which

purges the system of toxins, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, that included cortisol.”

“Dr. Pearson told me that as soon as I take the cortisol pill, I’ll feel normal in about ten minutes,” Jay relates. “I chuckled at that. I thought, I’ve been dealing with this for two years, and he’s going to cure me with one pill in a few minutes. I found it hard to believe, but I agreed to try it.

“Amazingly, Dr. Pearson was right. I couldn’t believe it. He cured me. He told me one of two things would happen next. I would either have to take cortisol for the rest of my life, or if my adrenal glands rested for a while, they might start producing their own cortisol.

“I started out taking � fteen milligrams of cortisol a day, then over the course of a year, I went from � fteen milligrams to ten to � ve to two. Now, I haven’t taken a cortisol pill in a year and a half, and I haven’t had any problems. I guess my adrenal glands rested long enough.”

Methodical ApproachWhen Jayne Nye moved to Florida three years ago, she noticed some changes in how she felt and looked that didn’t make her happy. � e Connecticut native likes to stay active and enjoys gol� ng, � shing, kayaking, weight training and other physical activities. � e changes she was experiencing weren’t � t-ting in with her vigorous lifestyle.

“I knew I had multiple signs and symptoms that my hormones were out of balance,” she discloses. “� e list of symp-toms was pretty long, but it included low energy, sleepless nights and hot � ashes. I also gained a little weight.

“I knew I needed help restoring the bal-ance, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. I didn’t want hormone replacement therapy because I thought it involved taking multiple pre-scription medications. Living the � t, healthy, active lifestyle I do, I wasn’t interested in put-ting synthetic chemicals in my body.”

Jayne had been given estrogen from her OB/GYN but didn’t want to take unnatural hormones to balance her system. A friend told her about Dr. Pearson and Back In Action Medical Center. Before mak-ing an appointment, Jayne did some research on the doctor and his clinic. What she dis-covered intrigued her.

“I learned that Dr. Pearson o� ered a more plant-based approach using completely bioidentical and chemical-free compounds, and that really interested me,” she o� ers. “I

made an appointment and was impressed with the doctor right away.

“I found Dr. Pearson to be very knowl-edgeable. He explained what each hormone did, how hormones worked in the body and what would happen if I didn’t rebal-ance them. He was very good and took his time with me. He took a very methodical approach to getting to know me and getting a clear understanding of my issues.

“Dr. Pearson’s approach involved a personal consultation with a full panel of bloodwork. The bloodwork results showed I had imbalances in some of the most important female hormones, and the balance needed to be restored. He put together a customized treatment plan for me based on my bloodwork.”

wanted to be. Dr. Pearson said he could help me lose the weight by correcting my hormone imbalance.”

“Weight loss is actually a secondary bene� t to balancing hormones,” Dr. Pearson explains. “When the patient’s system is bal-anced, the body becomes healthier and functions more e� ciently. Excess weight generally comes o� pretty quickly, and the patient feels much better.

“The beautiful thing about BHRT is that on retesting, patients can see their underlying health problems being cor-rected. Diabetes can be reversed, appetites can be normalized and in� ammation can be removed. Issues such as pain and achiness, anxiety, loss of energy and not feeling well in general go away.”

Hormone HeavenBeing overweight, feeling anxious or experiencing the unwanted symptoms of perimenopause are all related to biochemical imbalances in the body, asserts Dr. Pearson. A key part of human biochemistry are com-pounds called hormones. Hormones are regulatory chemicals that stimulate organs and tissues into action. When hormones are out of balance, the treatment is generally hormone replacement therapy.

“When people think about hormone therapy, there’s a misconception about what that is,” notes the doctor. “Most people think about men getting testosterone and women getting estrogen, and that it’s rejuvenating and makes them feel better. In fact, people are a huge bag of hormones that are working together to help the body function properly.

“� ere are hormones associated with adrenal gland function and adrenal stress, thyroid imbalances, pituitary issues, you name it. Hormones are very powerful if the physician knows how to work with them correctly. I practice functional medicine, which includes intense education on the body’s complicated biochemistry.”

Hormone replacement therapy at Back In Action Medical Center begins with bloodwork. Dr. Pearson takes a little more blood from his patients than is taken for routine bloodwork because his analysis is signi� cantly more extensive. He may also use saliva testing and other tests to get a clear picture of his patients’ biochemistry and overall health.

“If hormone levels are imbalanced, either too high or too low, that’s a problem, and we recommend certain steps to correct it,” Dr. Pearson informs. “We’re going to take speci� c steps to lower the excesses and speci� c steps to replace what’s missing.

“For hormone replacement therapy, we use very natural, plant-based hormone com-pounds to replace the missing hormones. We have a unique and proprietary blend of oral, encapsulated, bioidentical hormones that are nearly organic. We can also use other meth-ods of hormone delivery, but I believe the pills are the best way to deliver hormones.”

When there are excess levels of certain hormones, Dr. Pearson counts on good dietary training and detoxi� cation protocols. � is is not based on a diet, he says, although

there are food guidelines to follow. � e result is restored balance and improved health.

Positive ResponsesLike Jayne, Jay began to feel better very quickly after beginning treatment. Dr. Pearson notes that there’s generally a quick response to BHRT. Patients typically know within the � rst few days of getting the proper hormones and following his instructions that they’re headed in the right direction.

“Jay got that feeling within a few weeks to a month after starting BHRT,” comments Dr. Pearson. “He told me he felt great and his anxiety was gone. Jay did a great job. He fol-lowed instructions to the tee and did everything we asked of him. And he got positive results.”

When Jayne took the hormones from her OB/GYN, she got limited bene� t from them. She went to Back In Action Medical Center looking for a better, more natural option, one that would help her feel her best.

“I changed Jayne’s treatment almost one hundred eighty degrees, and she also felt bet-ter very quickly,” observes Dr. Pearson. “Her body started doing the things she wanted it to. Now, she knows how to manage her own symptoms. When she gets a little adre-nal fatigue, she’s aware of it and takes the steps we taught her to support those glands before there’s a problem.”

Long-Term SuccessJayne and Jay con� rm Dr. Pearson’s opin-ion that they achieved good results from the BHRT. They both describe positive

outcomes that have passed the test of time.“I feel great,” Jayne raves. “I’m full of

energy, I don’t get tired, I don’t wake up at night and I don’t have hot � ashes. All those symptoms I started out with three years ago are completely gone.

“Most notably, I’m down eighteen pounds from where I was when I � rst met Dr. Pearson, and I’m maintaining the weight loss three years later.”

Jay has had lasting results as well. Like Jayne, he appreciates the methodi-cal approach Dr. Pearson took in creating a treatment plan for him. He’s especially amazed by the doctor’s intense attention to the results of his patients’ bloodwork.

“What Dr. Pearson does with the bloodwork ba� es me,” he admits. “He says bloodwork is like a road map of the body. He goes through his patients’ vitamin levels, iron level, everything. If they’re de� cient in iron, a vitamin or hormone, he � nds it and corrects it, and they feel better.

“I’m a perfect example of that. I have no anxiety now, and it’s been more than two years since I’ve had a problem with it. My adrenal glands are producing cortisol just � ne. Not only do I not have anxiety, I’m also not taking any medication for it. Dr. Pearson cured my anxiety overnight, and I don’t need to take any antidepressant pills.”

Jayne found Dr. Pearson very knowl-edgeable about hormones and excellent at explaining their role in the body. Jay is also impressed by the skilled physician.

“Dr. Pearson is very upfront and honest and has a good bedside manner,” describes Jay. “I always feel comfortable talking to him. I never feel I can’t ask him something, no matter how personal. He’s great.

“He’s also extremely knowledgeable about holistic medicine. I have family members who are doctors, but I think he’s the most knowledgeable guy I’ve ever dealt with when it comes to holistic healing and medications.”

Jay and Jayne are overjoyed with the care they received from Dr. Pearson at Back In Action Medical Center. � ey’re both willing and eager to pass the word to others about the doctor and his BHRT.

“I recommend Dr. Pearson one hundred percent,” says Jayne. “In fact, I’ve recom-mended him to many friends. He performs consultations over the telephone as well, so I’ve recommended him to some of my friends in Connecticut, and they’ve had sim-ilar results as mine.

“I’ve recommended Dr. Pearson and Back In Action Medical Center to many people, and I’ll continue to do so.”

“What Dr. Pearson has done for me has been life-changing in an extremely positive way,” adds Jay. “It’s just been huge. I feel better now than I’ve felt in years. I abso-lutely, one hundred percent recommend Dr. Pearson and his bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Patient photos by Nerissa

Johnson. Chess graphic from Pixabay. mkb

BHRT treatments have alleviated Jayne’s symptoms.

Jay started to feel better within a few weeks of receiving BHRT.

What Dr. Pearson has done for me has been life-changing in an extremely positive way. . . I feel better now than I’ve felt in years.” – Jay

I feel great. I’m full of energy, I don’t get tired, I don’t wake up at night

and I don’t have hot fl ashes. All those

symptoms I started out with three years ago are

completely gone.” –Jayne

Appropriate Attention“With most hormone therapy, women don’t get enough balanced hormones the right way, and they often get the wrong hormones,” says Dr. Pearson. “Jayne had taken hormones in the past, but without the proper attention to her adrenal glands, which are a huge part of hormonal health. � ey must be addressed, so I included treat-ment for them in her BHRT protocol.”

It didn’t take long before Jayne began feeling the e� ects of Dr. Pearson’s hormone therapy. After just a couple of weeks on the treatment, she began noticing some positive changes in how she felt.

“One of the changes that happened really quickly was that my sleepless nights went away,” she recalls. “Being able to sleep through the night right away was really a big thing for me. I also wasn’t sluggish in the afternoon after a big meal at noontime. Dr. Pearson was able to correct my low energy, as well, with the hormone therapy.”

In addition to looking for relief from her uncomfortable symptoms of low energy, sleeplessness and hot flashes, Jayne also wanted to lose that extra weight she had put on. She wasn’t heavy, just a little plumper than she was comfortable being.

“I’m very � t and work out all the time,” she emphasizes, “but I wasn’t as lean as I

Jayne Nye

Martin County Edition | Winter 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7BioiDenticaL hormone repLacement therapy

Deborah A. DeMarta, MD, FACS, FAARFM, is a colorectal surgeon and functional medicine specialist. Dr. DeMarta completed her medical internship and residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She completed a research and clinical

fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale in 1997 and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. DeMarta is the founder and principal of the Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness. As a functional medical practitioner, she works with patients to identify the underlying causes contrib-uting to chronic health issues. She then develops individualized programs to restore natural balance using nutrition, supplements and lifestyle changes.

Visit the Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness online at www.InstituteHealthWellness.com

Excellence in Functional Medicine

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call or visit the Institute, located in historic

downtown Stuart at:

SW Atlanta Ave.(772) 539-9556

Dr. DeMarta performs the Halo treatment on one of her pati ents.

Restore Your GlowUnique, dual-wave laser treatment restores youthful appearance

A n old proverb promises that all good things come to those who wait. Dolores* is a � rm believer in that adage. After

all, she waited 79 years to � nd the love of her life, and now that she’s found him, she says life is as good as it’s ever been.

“I was married twice before, but the feel-ing I get when I’m with this man is a feeling I’ve never felt before,” Dolores says of the man she met and married this past January. “I can’t tell you how happy I am with him. For the � rst time, life is truly wonderful.”

A client of her son’s computer com-pany, Dolores’ husband is ten years younger than she is, and one of the things she loves most about him is that he approaches life as if he’s 40 years younger than she is. At � rst, that was a bit of a concern for her, however.

“After we first got married, I was thinking, Oh, I’m so old; I hope I don’t lose him,” Dolores relates. “It’s not that I’m not energetic and ready to do things. I am. My concern was that maybe I looked too old for him. I wanted to do something about that.”

Dolores’ concern prompted a search for a treatment that would take a few years off her appearance. She found what she was looking for in an article about Deborah A. DeMarta, MD, and Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness in Florida Health Care News.

After making an appointment with Dr. DeMarta and discussing the anti-aging treatments available at the Institute, Dolores chose to undergo a new hybrid-laser facial treatment that uses the Halo™ Hybrid Fractional Laser by Sciton®.

One of a Kind What sets Halo treatments apart from all others is its ability to deliver two di� erent wavelengths to the skin simultaneously. � at allows it to coagulate and vaporize

skin tissue all at once to treat an array of mild to severe skin issues.

“We frequently encounter patients who express a desire to improve on their skin texture, pigment issues, skin tight-ness, acne scars and wrinkles without undergoing the downtime associated with conventional plastic surgery techniques,” Dr. DeMarta explains.

“� at’s what the Halo does. It’s liter-ally the � rst of its kind, and what makes it special is that it allows you to get the same bene� ts you get from major laser therapy, but instead of needing two weeks of heal-ing time, you only need a couple of days.”

Halo treatments always begin with a consultation in which the patient’s concerns and skin type are evaluated. Patients are later given a prescription for an oral relaxant that they take prior to beginning the treatment itself, which lasts about an hour.

Dolores says she’s never had a lot of wrinkles but notes that those she did have were very deep. As a result of the Halo treatment, those deep wrinkles have virtu-ally disappeared, she says, along with years of age spots and weathering.

“I can’t tell you how awesome the treatment is and how much more con� -dent I am about the way I look now that I’ve had it done,” Dolores exudes. “I look and feel awesome, and the best part is, my husband agrees.

“And I’m so glad that I went to see Dr. DeMarta for this. She’s just great.

Going to see her is like going to see your sister. And her o� ce is so beautiful. It’s like visiting a villa in Italy. I recommend her and the Halo treatment to anybody and everybody.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Sun graphic from kisspng.mkb

* Patient’s last name withheld at her request

INSTITUTE OF COLORECTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

DEBORAH A. DEMARTA, MD, FACS, FAARFM

STUART PERIODONTICS, P.A.C. NICHOLAS DETURE, DMD

C. Nicholas DeTure, DMD, is a gradu-ate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and completed three years of graduate training in periodontology and implantology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.

Visit Stuart Periodontics on the web at www.stuartperiodontics.com

Rescue MissionNoninvasive procedure saves teeth, restores smile

C laudia Capasso was only six years old when her fam-ily moved from her native Colombia to the United

States. Along with her favorite toys, Claudia brought to her new home a susceptibility to gum disease that began taking its toll in adulthood.

“I found out the problem was hereditary after I � rst started having some serious issues with it several years ago,” explains Claudia, now 53. “I’ve always taken good care of my teeth, but for years, brushing was uncomfortable because they bled so badly.”

The problem Claudia has suffered from is periodontitis. In addition to causing bleeding gums, it can also result in bone loss to the extent that the teeth are no lon-ger salvageable. Claudia learned that news the hard way a couple years back.

“I found a dentist and started getting regular cleanings,” Claudia says. “But the cleanings were always very painful, and when they didn’t do anything to stop the bleeding, the dentist told me I was going to need to have all my teeth taken out.”

Horri� ed by the prospect of losing all her teeth as well as the cost of a full set of upper and lower dentures, Claudia began searching for a new dentist. After some time, her search led her to C. Nicholas DeTure, DMD, at Stuart Periodontics.

“When Claudia first came to us, she had very advanced gum disease,” Dr. DeTure con� rms. “Given that she had been seeing another dentist for reg-ular cleanings, it was clear to me that the hygienist she had been seeing previously was undertreating her.

“� ey weren’t cleaning her teeth e� ec-tively; they were polishing them. In an e� ort to not hurt her during her cleaning, they were undertreating her and essentially were waiting for her teeth to get so bad that they’d all have to be pulled.”

As bad as Claudia’s situation was, it was not hopeless. Dr. DeTure pointed out that she could save most of her teeth by undergoing a state-of-the-art gum treat-ment called LANAP, which stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure.

Equally Eff ective“Because LANAP uses a laser that gen-tly stimulates the gum tissue without the need for incisions or stitches, it’s less

invasive than traditional periodontal dis-ease treatments, yet it’s equally e� ective,” Dr. DeTure notes.

Once Claudia agreed to the treat-ment, Dr. DeTure began his work on her by doing a bacterial analysis of her gums to determine the speci� c bacteria that were a� ecting her and what antibiotic would work best to get rid of them.

“� at’s a step that few dentists take. What we are looking for are mobile forms of bacteria,” Dr. DeTure says. “Some of these forms of bacteria occur normally in the mouth at low levels, but when they over-grow, that’s when they cause damage. � e analogy I often use is that it’s okay to have a cat and a dog. But if you have a thousand cats and dogs, then you’ve got a problem.”

Using the results of the culture as his guide, Dr. DeTure performed the LANAP procedure on all of Claudia’s upper and lower gums. � e results, Claudia reports, were miraculous.

“I don’t take pain well, but I had no problems with the LANAP proce-dure,” she says. “The treatment was great, and now, I have no more discom-fort or bleeding, and the best thing is, Dr. DeTure saved all my teeth.

“I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that other dentist and found Dr. DeTure. I recommend him to anyone who is hav-ing problems with their teeth or gums.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings.Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

We Help Save Your Teeth

In addition to treating patients with periodontal issues, Stuart Periodontics off ers a wide range of preventative dental services. Stuart Periodontics is in Stuart at:

901 SE Ocean Blvd.

(772) 283-1400

Claudia Capasso

Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition

aesthetics

comprehensive Dentistry

Visit Acute Wound Care on the web at

www.acutewoundcare.com

or call them directly:

Toll Free (855) 949-HEAL (4325)

Locally (239) 949-4412

Are You Su� ering From

Chronic Limb Swelling?

Hannah enjoys doing puzzles after therapy.

Reduce limb swelling and improve circulation

H annah Heit spent more than 40 years as a registered nurse, first in pediatrics and later in quality assur-

ance, reviewing several departments. � e Kentucky native lived most of her adult life in Michigan, and it was from there she relocated to Florida and retirement. All those years on her feet as a nurse, however, had a profound e� ect on her legs.

“A few years ago, my legs started swelling, and they were uncomfortable,” she shares. “I didn’t really have any pain, but I couldn’t wear shoes because my feet were as big as my legs. My legs were also discolored from the ankle to about mid calf. � ey were a kind of bluish-red color.”

Initially, Hannah was told she had venous insu� ciency, a condition in which the veins in the legs are unable to do their job of pumping blood back to the heart. Blood leaks and pools in the legs, causing symp-toms such as swelling and discoloration. Subsequently, Hannah underwent vein sur-gery to treat her insu� ciency she reports.

“I was told to put my legs up at night, but I couldn’t always do that,” Hannah adds. “I was also supposed to wear these special compression hose, but I couldn’t wear them because it was too much trouble getting them on and o� .”

The swelling and discomfort in Hannah’s legs continued after surgery, so she eventually sought the advice of her primary care provider.

“� e nurse practitioner I saw in my internist’s o� ce looked at my legs and said, You have lymphedema, excess � uid in your lymph vessels,” notes Hannah. “I’m not sure, but it may have been caused by the venous insu� ciency. � e nurse thought I would bene� t from a compres-sion pump. She called the company that provides them and got me all set up.”

� e company the nurse practitioner contacted was Acute Wound Care, a fully accredited home medical equipment provider specializing in hospital-grade compression devices and specialty wound-care dressings. � e compression pumps are prescription devices and are approved by Medicare and covered by many com-mercial insurers.

“Our easy-to-use compression pumps remove � uid that has accumulated in the legs or arms,” describes Alyssa Parker, cer-ti� ed compression therapist with Acute Wound Care. “The pump’s limb-sized sleeves gently massage the limb, drain-ing any excess � uid back into the body’s circulatory system so it can be naturally eliminated. Compression pumps increase circulation in the a� ected limbs while alleviating many painful symptoms.

“� e pumps are both highly e� ec-tive and noninvasive, and for the legs, they are much easier to use than com-pression stockings. Patients generally use the pumps twice a day for forty-� ve

minutes, with an interval of at least two hours between treatments, so it is usually done in the morning and in the evening. While using the pumps, patients simply sit back with their limbs raised to further assist with circulation.”

Once Acute Wound Care received Hannah’s prescription, a compression therapist contacted her to review the next step and answer any questions. After that, the therapist delivered the device, set it up and explained to Hannah how to use and care for it.

Healthy DiscoveryThe nurse practitioner who diagnosed Hannah’s lymphedema treats a full range of medical conditions at the practice, including lymphedema, persistent leg edema and venous disease among the most common.

For patients with these disorders it’s generally recommended to try con-servative therapy first. Examples are compression stockings, optimizing water and electrolyte balance, and diuretics. � e compression device is a great treatment option for those who have tried conser-vative therapy and still have persistent swelling or poor circulation.

Many patients have significant improvements in terms of diminished � uid retention in their legs or arms after using the compression pump. With con-sistent compression therapy the swelling improves as well as the venous blood � ow, wound healing, and overall mobility.”

Circulation SupportAlyssa agrees that patients with lymph-edema, venous disease and other conditions leading to poor circulation once had few options beyond the standard therapies for limb swelling. � at’s a treatment hole Acute Wound Care’s compression pumps � ll. � e safe and painless pumps not only

reduce � uid retention in the limbs, they also improve overall blood � ow.

“� e pumps assist circulation by con-tracting the leg muscles, assisting blood flow back toward the heart,” explains Alyssa. “� ere, the blood is collected, sent to the lungs to be oxygenated and then returned to the body’s organs and tissues.

“To aid blood � ow, the pumps have multiple chambers. Each chamber � lls up with air, from the foot to the groin. � en, each chamber releases, and the pattern repeats in a rhythmic fashion.

“In addition to the circulation boost, many patients will see a noticeable dif-ference in the swelling and in the size of their limbs after their � rst forty-� ve-min-ute pumping session.”

Acute Wound Care is proud of its hands-on approach to patient care. Not only does a compression therapist go to patients’ homes to set up the equipment and instruct them on how to use it, they also adjust the pump’s pressure level to the patients’ comfort.

“When we are in the patient’s home, we set the pressure based on the severity of the condition and the physician’s pre-scription,” states Alyssa. “We then adjust it so the patients are comfortable and will actually meet the requirements of the treatment, so they get great results.”

Doubly EndorsedHannah has been using her compression device from Acute Wound Care for more than a year now. She says she is pleased with the results she’s getting from it. She’d like to use it more often than she does, but she’s established a treatment schedule with her doctor that works well for her.

“The usual treatment with the compression pump is twice a day for forty-five minutes,” relates Hannah. “But I do it once a day for an hour. � e limb sleeves feel � ne when I have them on, and then my legs are nice and small when I take them o� . � e swelling goes down signi� cantly.”

In addition to reducing the swelling, the compression pump treatments have also relieved much of Hannah’s leg dis-comfort and have enabled her to wear shoes again. The discoloration, which is related to her venous insufficiency, remains and may take years to fade, if it does at all. However, the circulation in her leg veins has improved with treatment, aiding her venous insu� ciency.

“I’ll continue using the compres-sion pump,” she comments, “and I

“The pumps assist circulation by contracting

the leg muscles, assisting blood flow back

toward the heart.”

The pumps are non-invasive

and highly e� ective

recommend it to others with conditions like mine. I recommend Acute Wound Care, too. I had no problems with any part of their process.”

Physicians throughout Florida have been recommending Acute Wound Care’s compression pumps to their patients for years and have been getting great results.

“Many doctors have told me that they’ve encouraged their patients to use the pumps to reduce limb swelling and improve circulation,” Alyssa con� rms. “They say the compression pumps are great, safe, noninvasive devices that sup-plement the medical treatment they’ve provided to those patients.

“One even told me that he received feedback from his patients, and that they agree the devices and the out-comes are positive. He said the patients also appreciate how good a job Acute Wound Care does of following up and mentioned that all are very pleased with Acute Wound Care and its product.

“� at same doctor said he’s so sat-is� ed with Acute Wound Care that he strongly endorses them and their com-pression devices to other physicians. He said he’s personally thrilled with Acute Wound Care because they help doctors improve their quality of care and the quality of their patients’ lives.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz.

Photo of pump courtesy of Acute Wound Care. mkb

Martin County Edition | Winter 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 9compression therapy

For Eye Floater SolutionsSouth Florida Eye Clinic is located

in Fort Myers at:

4755 Summerlin Rd. Call Dr. Geller at:

(239) 275-8222or toll-free at:

(877) 371-3937

Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certi� ed by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Rush Medical College. While in medical school, he was awarded a student fellowship to study tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in India, and pursued additional studies at the famous Brompton Hospital in London, England. He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Paci� c Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, which was a� liated with Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in anterior segment and refractive surgery with Dr. William

Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute. Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has presented papers on eye � oater laser treatment at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.

SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINICSCOTT L. GELLER, MD

Dr. Geller has performed more than 15,000 documented � oater laser sessions.

Scott Geller, MD, teaches the technique worldwide

“L aser treatment of eye � oat-ers is fascinating,” says Scott Geller, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist

with a specialty clinic in Fort Myers. “I look forward to doing this every day. And our

reputation has become worldwide with the advent of the internet. We’ve had a steady � ow of patients from Europe, Canada, and even Russia, China, Arabia, and Israel.”

Dr. Geller can rightly claim to have started this niche area of ophthalmic surgery, with the largest, continuous clinical series, having performed more than 15,000 documented eye � oater laser sessions.

“I’m always asked why this useful treatment modality is not more widely available, or why some doctors try it but give it up,’’ Dr. Geller explains. “The answer is simple: there are no courses for training, and there is a lack of proper equipment.”

Dr. Geller was trained directly by the professor who researched laser inside the human eye at the famous University Eye Clinic in Bern, Switzerland.Dr. Geller adds: “� ey never thought this would be applica-ble to eye � oaters, but I proved them wrong.”

Dr. Geller uses the Swiss made Lasag laser.

“I have tried others, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind this is the most versatile and precise instrument,’’ he notes. “In fact, I have two of them, and

I � y in the engineers from Switzerland to update and service them yearly.”

A Doctor and an EducatorDr. Geller has personally trained the most experienced ophthalmologists in the US, as well as the top surgeons from Italy and Holland, who have visited his Florida facility.

“I am concerned about colleagues rushing into some-thing new without having a formal preceptorship,’’Dr. Geller says. “It is easy to push the button, but not so easy to get the optimal result and avoid complications.”

To improve physician education, Dr. Geller gave an hour-long course this year at one of the country’s major ophthalmology associations.

“This was the first course of this quality anywhere in the US,’’ notes Dr. Geller. “And I am going back to Italy, where I was invited to lecture at a major

SCAN THIS TO YOUR

SMARTPHONE TO SEE ACTUAL

PATIENTS

See what Dr. Geller’s patients say about the Eye Floater Laser at www.vimeo.com/eye� oaters and on the Scott Geller MD YouTube channel.

ophthalmology meeting. � is is the fourth invitation, and I will also consult and treat patients there, as I have in the past.”

Dr. Geller welcomes other ophthalmol-ogists to come and observe, and to call if they need advice on di� cult cases.Article submitted by Scott Geller, MD. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

is not

acceptable.”

“Live with it

Remote ControMinimally invasive, robotically assisted heart procedure proves e� ective

A dam* describes himself as a � tness fanatic. � e 55-year-old retired Naval o� cer works out at the gym at least � ve days a

week and usually gets in a jog of at least � ve miles every other day.

He’s in excellent physical condi-tion for a man his age, which is why he thought something must be wrong when he suddenly found himself out of breath midway through the 30 minutes it usually takes him to mow his lawn.

After taking the advice of his general practitioner and visiting a heart specialist, Adam was surprised to learn that he was su� ering from mitral valve disease, which is the most common form of heart valve disease in the United States.

Nearly half a million patients are admitted to a hospital each year as a result of some form of mitral valve disease. In turn, those visits result in approximately 40,000 Americans – most of them 50 or younger - undergoing surgery for the condition.

One of four heart valves, the mitral valve is the one that allows the blood received from the lungs to flow from the left atrium, also known as the upper chamber of the heart, to the left ventricle, or lower chamber of the heart.

What Adam learned upon his visit was that he was su� ering from mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where

the mitral valve fails to close tightly when the left ventricle contracts. � is failure results in a leakage or backward � ow of blood through the valve.

W h e n this leakage occurs, blood � ows through the valve in both direc-tions, causing an increase in the volume of blood in the valve as well as an increase in pressure in the atr ium. This, in turn, increases the pressure in the veins leading from the lungs to the heart.

In mild cases of mitral regur-gitation, sufferers may not feel any symptoms at all. In more severe cases, however, the lack of efficient blood flow can cause palpitations and may leave su� erers feeling tired and short of breath the way Adam did.

For years, the primary treatment for mitral valve regurgitation was a sur-gery designed to repair or replace the valve that required the surgeon to access

the a� ected area by performing open heart surgery - sawing the sternum in half, spreading the ribs and operating through the front of the chest.

As a result o f advance s i n m e d i c a l t e c h n o l o g y, surgeons can now perform the same oper-ation remotely with the aid of a small camera and thin robotic arms that are fed into the body through a series of small incis ions on the right side of the chest.

While the surgeon works at a com-puter console that provides complete control of the movement of the robotic arms, the camera provides a clear, three-dimensional view of the mitral valve and its surroundings.

Like traditional mitral valve surgery, the robotically assisted version requires general anesthesia and the use of heart-lung bypass machines to perform the functions of those organs during the procedure. It provides several advantages over open heart surgery.

In addition to alleviating the need to break or cut the breastbone, the advantages of robotically assisted mitral valve surgery include less blood loss, less post-operative patient pain, less scarring and a shorter recovery time than with traditional surgery.

Research shows that robotically assisted mitral valve surgery is just as suc-cessful as the traditional option. In an NYU Langone study of 1,000 patients who had the minimally invasive surgery, their long-term clinical outcomes were equivalent to those achieved by patients who had a traditional sternotomy.

Adam is among those who can attest to the fact that the robotically assisted surgery works. He opted for that approach after he was told of his condition and says now that the surgery has given him a new lease on life.

“When I was told I needed to have heart surgery I wasn’t just shocked, I was scared,’’ Adam says. “Along with the con-cern I had for my general overall health, I was worried about the long layo� that I thought I’d be facing after surgery.

“But I was in the hospital for only two days with this new surgery and within a month of leaving, I was back working out and going through my normal routine. If I had been forced to have the traditional surgery, it might have been months before I was active again.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at their request.

l

Page 10 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition ophthaLmoLogy

speciaL to Fhcn

Minimally invasive techniques relieve nagging leg pain

THOMAS ASHTON, MD, FACPH

H ealth enthusiast Charlene Litwin’s decision to move from Chicago to Florida was based primarily on

her desire to be closer to her son, but the opportunity to live under perpetually sunny skies amid picture postcard settings played a part in it as well.

“I love Florida,” Charlene exudes. “I love the climate; I love the palm trees.”

A vitamin consultant and health and wealth coach, Charlene arrived here eight years ago dreaming of daily walks along sun-splashed beaches, but those walks and many of her daily activities were soon hampered by severe leg pain.

“� e problem with my legs was going on for quite a while,” Charlene admits. “I was having tremendous pain when I walked. I would get cramping, speci� cally in the side of my calf on my right leg, as well as some cramping in my left leg.

“The pain was the worst thing because I was used to walking two to three miles; then, all of a sudden, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t go more than maybe an eighth of a block – a very short distance – and my legs would cramp. I work at a nutrition store and do a lot of walking when I’m working. I had to hold onto a cart for support.”

Charlene also had a few ugly varicose veins in her legs, and experienced some heaviness and swelling, but she was most concerned about the pain and how it restricted her mobility. It wasn’t the exter-nal aesthetics Charlene worried about; it was what was going on deep inside her legs that troubled her.

“I went through testing to see if there was any problem with my arte-rial blood � ow, and that was okay,” she reports. “� en, I met a nurse at another physician’s o� ce who was very knowl-edgeable and told me about Ashton Vein Center. She said they could evalu-ate my leg situation, so I took her advice and went there for an evaluation.”

Ashton Vein Center is the practice of � omas Ashton, MD. Dr. Ashton practiced general surgery for 20 years before dedicating himself to the modern evaluation and treat-ment of venous disorders, which he’s been doing for the past 20 years. During that time, Dr. Ashton has per-formed more than 10,000 procedures on leg veins.

During his initial examina-tion of Charlene, D r . A s h t o n ordered an ultra-sound examination of her legs. The results showed the tiny, one-way valves in the leg veins that help move blood out of the legs up toward the heart were not functioning properly. As a result, blood was pooling in Charlene’s legs, causing swell-ing and pain. This is a condition called venous insu� ciency.

� e most com-mon sign of venous i n s u f f i c i e n c y i s varicose veins. Other signs and symptoms include swelling, pain, throbbing, stinging, burning, heaviness, night-time cramps and restless legs. In its later stages, there may be discoloration of the skin around the lower legs or ankles and, eventually, a break-down of the skin.

Generating Awareness“Varicose veins and other venous prob-lems in the legs are the most common medical conditions on the planet,” declares Dr. Ashton. “It’s estimated that up to sixty percent of the population will have a vein problem in their legs at some time in their life.

“� ere are about three hundred and � fty million people in the United States, which means that two hundred and ten million have venous disease. Only a very small fraction of those people, however, are recognized as having the problem.”

Venous insufficiency is under-recognized, underdiagnosed and under-treated, explains Dr. Ashton, who says the absence of treatment can have serious consequences. It is a risk factor for other, dangerous conditions that can cause dis-tressing illness or even death.

“People with venous insufficiency are thirty times more likely to develop a blood clot than people with healthy veins,” asserts the doctor. “� at’s a signif-icant risk because blood clots can be fatal.

“People with chronic insu� ciency are also much more likely to

develop ulcers, or open wounds, around their ankles, especially if the venous insu� ciency is left untreated. Ulcers occur when the skin on the legs breaks down. They can become infected,

and the infection can spread to other parts of the body.”

To treat leaking veins and prevent these complica-tions, Dr. Ashton and his team at A s h t o n Ve i n Center o� er a full array of mini-mally invasive procedures to gen t l y c lo s e

the leaking ve ins and

divert blood flow to healthy

veins. One pro-cedure uses a laser and is called endovenous laser ablation, or EVLA. Another technique uses radiofrequency

energy to seal the incompetent veins.

“A newer procedure, called VenaSeal™, uses a

biologic adhesive to close the veins,” notes Dr. Ashton.

“� is technique works like an instantaneous closure. Once

we’re done with the procedure, patients can walk right out of the o� ce, and unless they’ve got a great deal of swelling, they don’t even need to wear

compression stockings.“Sometimes, we combine procedures

based on the patient’s anatomy. For exam-ple, the laser procedure works very well with straight veins, but it’s better to use the VenaSeal on veins that twist and turn. We customize the treatment to � t each patient’s needs.”

After Charlene received clearance from her cardiologist, who did some pre-vious studies on her arterial blood � ow, Dr. Ashton proceeded with his treat-ment, choosing EVLA and VenaSeal to treat Charlene’s venous insufficiency. The procedures were very effective for Charlene, and she’s very excited about their outcome.

Beyond Belief“I’m doing fabulously,” she raves. “Shortly after the procedure, I was able to walk three or four times as much as I could before. I walked probably a whole block, maybe even more. The treatment was a success beyond belief. I didn’t expect results that quickly. Now, I can walk a couple of blocks, and I walk all over the store for nearly six hours.

“I’m still progressing. Dr. Ashton said it will take at least six months until I fully recover. He closed o� the bad vein that was taking away the circulation, so new circulation, called collateral circulation, can � ow. � at increases each day, so I’m getting better and better every day.”

For Charlene, visiting Ashton Vein Center was a delightful experience. Not only did she achieve great results from her treatment, she also received great customer service from the vein specialist and his sta� .

“Dr. Ashton and his team at Ashton Vein Center are wonderful,” Charlene relates. “Dr. Ashton has a great bedside man-ner, and he explained everything about the procedure to me before he did it. And the procedures they do there are noninvasive.

“Years ago, they weren’t able to do it that way. But Dr. Ashton and his nurse have done so many of these newer proce-dures that when I had mine done, I felt next to nothing. It was virtually painless. It was just amazing.

“And the procedure helped as far as the appearance of my legs, too. Cosmetically, they certainly are better. But it’s what Dr. Ashton did for my ability to walk that makes me most happy. It’s so wonderful. I’m so grateful.

“I highly recommend them. I have their cards, and if anybody approaches me at work, I always recommend Dr. Ashton and Ashton Vein Center. I couldn’t possibly think of anybody better.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by Nerissa Johnson.

Background graphic from Pixabay. mkb

Thomas Ashton, MD, FACPh, is board certi� ed by the American Board of Phlebology. He earned his medical degree from Rush University College of Medicine in Chicago, where he also completed

a � ve-year residency in general surgery in 1984. Dr. Ashton has functioned as medical director and chief of surgery, and continues to serve the American College of Phlebology as a faculty member. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Phlebology, a distinction held by a select few physicians worldwide. Dr. Ashton has dedicated his experience as a surgeon exclusively to the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of venous disorders and associated aesthetics.

Stop Living in PainDr. Ashton and his team at Ashton Vein Center o� er today’s highest standard of vein care. They use the most advanced and comprehensive methods to evaluate and treat varicose veins and other vein diseases. If your legs are swollen and painful, contact them for a free consultation:

Palm Beach Gardens4270 Design Center Drive

Suite B

(561) 630-6800Charlene was delighted by her

experience with Dr. Ashton and his staff .

Learn more about available vein treatments on their website, ashtonveincenter.com

Martin County Edition | Winter 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 11vein treatment

Seventy Years of Combined Patient Care

Whether you have aches and pains from a motor vehicle accident, an old injury, a slip and fall or just feeling pain from the trials of daily life, the physicians at Active Health Center will help you feel young and get active again. In business for more than years, the doctors offer pain relief for:

• Lower back pain• Neck pain• Neck stiffness• Upper back pain• Arm pain• Leg pain• Knee pain• Wrist pain• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Herniated discs

Also offering:• Low Level Laser Therapy• State-of-the-Art Spinal

Decompression for Neck and Back

• Eccentron™ Negative Resistance for Better Leg Strengthening Outcomes

MARC A. WEINBERG, DCCOLIN O. BEHRUE, DC

BRYAN HUNTE, DCFORREST HARVEY, DC

ADAM HOLLEMAN, DPT

Support SystemM ore than half a million people in the United States alone were injured in automobile accidents

caused by distracted drivers in 2008, and Sharon Ben-David, a � nancial advisor living in Singer Island, was one of them.

“� ere was this young kid who was texting while driving, and he drove through a red light and hit me,” Sharon, now 47, remembers. “I was already in the intersec-tion when I saw him coming, and I tried to speed up to get through but didn’t make it.”

MCU™ therapy relieves chronic neck, radiating arm pain

MCU therapy has Sharon smiling and living pain free.

Advanced Technology for Neck Pain

Physicians at Active Health Center are proud to present the most eff ective and complete system for the diagnosis and treatment of patients suff ering from neck pain, headaches, whiplash disorders and general cervical spine disorders, including arthritis and herniated discs, with the MCU (Multi-Cervical Unit). Active Health Center is located in North Palm Beach at:

421 Northlake Blvd.Suite F

(561) 842-2273For more information, visit Active Health Center online at www.activehealthctr.com, or on their MCU informational website at www.mcunow.com

Marc A. Weinberg, DC, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and went on to graduate cum laude from Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He is approved by the National University of Health Sciences to perform Manipulation Under Anesthesia, a procedure that is proving to be e� ective in relieving and correcting the causes and complications of many painful conditions. He has been certi� ed by the Southeastern Back Institute to perform hands-on spinal decompression. In 2007, he was appointed Alternative Medicine Research and Development Director for the American Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Association. He has also authored two chapters in a medical textbook on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Dr. Weinberg has been a constant student, healer and avid lecturer for the past 30 years and makes sure that he always puts his heart, as well as his knowledge and expertise, into the care of his patients.

Colin O. Behrue, DC, completed his undergraduate studies in molecular/microbiology at the University of Central Florida and went on to receive his Doctor of Chiropractic degree, cum laude, from Palmer Chiropractic College Florida in Port Orange. He has completed postgraduate education in neurology and is certi� ed to perform NCV, EMG, H-re� ex, SEP and evoke potentials. Dr. Behrue is a native of Palm Beach County and looks forward to serving the community.

Bryan T. Hunte, DC, earned his undergraduate degree in � tness and cardiac rehab/exercises science and biology from Ithaca College. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences. He is currently working toward his diplomate.

Forrest Harvey, DC, completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Pennsylvania’s Westminster College before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida. He treats patients of all ages but as a former two-sport collegiate athlete, Dr. Harvey especially enjoys working with athletes.

Adam Holleman, DPT, earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. He received his doctorate in physical therapy from Winston-Salem State University. He performed research in biomechanical analysis of golf swings of patients following total hip replacement. Dr. Holleman is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and ortho-pedic section. He is pursuing advanced certi� cations as a certi� ed strength and conditioning specialist, spinal manipulation certi� cation and as an orthopedic certi� ed specialist.

In addition to spinning her car around, the impact of the crash left Sharon with a sore back and neck pain that not only worsened over the years but moved into her left arm and caused her left hand to go numb.

“� at pain and numbness were pretty consistent, and it made it very hard for me to sleep, because there was no way for me to get comfortable,” Sharon explains. “I used to work out a lot, too, but there was no going to the gym with this pain.”

Sharon says the problem even a� ected her at work, largely because the sleepless nights left her exhausted and sometimes made it hard for her to focus throughout the day. Finally, this past February, she decided to � nd a cure for the problem once and for all.

After checking with her insurance company, Sharon was referred to Active Health Center, where the team of phy-sicians uses a variety of techniques and technologies to determine the cause of each patient’s problems and treats them in the quickest, most e� ective manner possible.

During her � rst visit to Active Health Center, Sharon was examined by Forrest Harvey, DC, whose examination revealed that the cause of Sharon’s pain was a condi-tion called cervical degenerative disc disease.

A common cause of neck and radi-ating arm pain, cervical degenerative disc disease is usually the result of one or more of the discs in the cervical spine breaking down from typical wear and tear.

“The reason the discs degenerate is because the muscles around them are not stabilized,” Dr. Harvey educates. “As a result, the discs shift and weaken over time and that causes them to rub and degenerate.”

A Lasting Fix“When I asked Dr. Harvey what he could do to � x the problem, he said, well, we have this machine that not everybody has,” Sharon reveals. “He said they’ve helped dozens of people with this machine and that it’s a � x that will last.”

� e machine Dr. Harvey spoke of is an MCU™ or Multi-Cervical Unit. It is a unique, nonsurgical device that iso-lates and strengthens the muscles around the neck and provides a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s physical prog-ress while the patient receives the therapy.

A tool in what many doctors refer to as evidence-based medicine, the MCU records 16 different ranges of muscle movement for strength to determine the speci� c areas of the neck in which there are strengths, weaknesses, imbalances or a loss in range of motion.

Once that data is produced, a custom-ized treatment program is designed that allows the MCU to correct those prob-lems. Considered the most complete and e� cient system for assessment and rehabil-itation of the neck, the MCU machine has also proven to be highly e� ective.

According to Active Health Center, studies show that after receiving MCU therapy, patient pain levels decreased by 66 percent while strength levels increased by more than 70 percent, with more than 90-percent of patients making a full recovery.

A single MCU session lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, with patients typically going through three sessions a week for nine weeks. During those nine weeks, patients are re-tested at least three times to determine the effectiveness of the treatments.

“We re-test the patient every three weeks, or nine visits, and compare the results of those tests with the results we received from our original examination of the patient,” explains Colin Behrue, DC, at Active Health Center.

“� at shows us how well the patient is progressing, and based on the � ndings, we make clinical changes. � e change could be di� erent exercises, di� erent angles or

di� erent weights that help the patient continue to improve and build strength.”

After nine weeks of therapy, patients are typically given a maintenance program that includes exercises they do at home to main-tain their strength. Sharon was one who needed a little more time before graduating to the home exercise part of the program.

“I was supposed to be done by May 21, but when they took the test that day it showed that I still didn’t have full strength in my neck, so we actually continued until June 15,” Sharon says. “But the extra time was worth it because now, I feel great.

“I’ve been doing the home exercises just like they told me, and I feel one-hundred-percent better, and I have to say that one of the great things about this whole experience was how the people at Active Health Center make it so much fun.

“� ey create an environment that actu-ally makes you want to go there. And it’s not just because you know you’re improving, but because you just want to see the people and say good morning to them.

“They all work synergistically to make sure you’re happy and comfortable and feeling better. I don’t think there’s

anything such as a 10-star rating, because five is as high as it goes but that just doesn’t seem to be enough for them.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Background image from Pixabay. mkb

Page 12 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2019 | Martin County Edition neck pain