Keep an Eye on Your Heart’s Health

Having a healthy heart is essential for living life to the fullest. With every beat, this remarkable organ sends blood through the blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to each cell in the body. Smart lifestyle choices and annual physical exams contribute significantly to keeping your heart healthy.

Helene Hutchinson, MSN, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner at the Cardiovascular Center at Beverly Hospital at Danvers, says, “As amazing as our heart and vascular system are, we have a responsibility to ourselves, and those who care about us, to do our part to help them continue to do their jobs well.” The risk of developing conditions of the heart and blood vessels such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and carotid artery disease may be reduced significantly by identifying risk factors and taking steps to reduce those risks. Work with your healthcare provider to identify and reduce cardiovascular risk factors including: smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Although you cannot control all of the risk factors, lifestyle changes will decrease your risk and help keep your heart and vascular system healthy.

Just as important as choosing healthy lifestyle habits are regular check ups and screenings with your healthcare provider. He or she can detect a number of issues—just by listening to what your heart has to say. A great example is when a primary care or family doctor listens to a patient’s carotid artery—which supplies blood to the brain—with a stethoscope and hears a “rushing” sound called a bruit. This is a sign there may be a blockage. If left untreated, William Irwin, RVT, chief vascular technician at the Cardiovascular Center at Beverly Hospital at Danvers, says, “A blocked carotid artery can lead to stroke or produce symptoms of a stroke. Subsequently, a blocked coronary artery can lead to a heart attack. A blocked peripheral artery can lead to considerable discomfort in the leg muscles which can progress to significant arterial problems.”

In order for the heart muscle to pump effectively, it relies on its own “electrical system” to coordinate heartbeats. When this “electrical system” does not work properly, the heart may beat too fast, too slowly or erratically. An irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias reduce the heart’s ability to pump and circulate blood effectively. Tachycardia is a heartbeat that is too fast. Bradycardia is a heartbeat that is too slow. Ms. Hutchinson says, “Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might be the first to detect it during a routine examination. However, abnormal heart rhythms sometimes cause noticeable symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness and fatigue. Seek urgent medical care if you suddenly or frequently experience any of these symptoms at a time when you wouldn’t expect to feel them.”

“With specialized non-invasive testing we can diagnose the specific arrhythmia and decide how best to treat it,” says Ms. Hutchinson. Treatment options may include medications, ablation (a procedure that destroys the cells in the area of the heart that is malfunctioning), and implantable devices such as pacemakers and internal cardioverter defibrillators.

Beverly Hospital offers a full range of cardiovascular services to help you keep an eye on your heart’s health. Through the Lifestyle Management Institute, screenings and risk reduction programs such as cardiac risk reduction and vascular risk reduction are available to help identify and reduce potential problems. Beverly Hospital’s cardiovascular specialists use the latest diagnostic and procedural technology, including a 64-slice CT scanner and carotid artery ultrasound and offer the most advance treatment and intervention options, such as endovascular repair for blocked arteries and implantable defibrillators for heart rhythm disturbances.

To take a free heart health risk assessment, go to: www.beverlyhospital.org/HeartTest or to find the physician who is right for you, visit us online at: www.beverlyhospital.org/FindaDoctor or call our HealthConnection at 888-253-0800.

Beverly Hospital
85 Herrick Street, Beverly, MA 01915
978.922.3000 www.beverlyhospital.org

Marblehead’s Burn

Slimming down in style at Marblehead’s Burn. By Terri Ogan. Photographs by Joel Laino.

Burn is not your typical gym. This recently opened fitness facility located in Marblehead’s Village Plaza offers a variety of new classes to help shed pounds and invigorate the body. “Each class is one that will leave you feeling the muscle burn and the desire to create a new lifestyle,” says Amy Livermore, owner of Burn. “We are committed to creating an atmosphere unlike any other in the area.” Read more

For Women With Breast Cancer: reconstructive surgery can play a part in recovery.

After a woman learns she may have breast cancer, she must absorb the news, undergo more diagnostic evaluation and get a breast biopsy. If cancer is diagnosed, she will then meet the experts who will help her fight the disease, learn more about her condition, and make choices about treatment.
It can be overwhelming. The Beverly Hospital Breast Health Center can help guide a woman through this difficult time with both compassion and expertise.
Audrey Duva-Frissora, M.D., director of breast MRI for the Breast Health Center, speaks for the team when she says, “We know that when a woman finds out that she has an abnormal mammogram, it’s an emotional emergency. We fast-track getting her in for additional imaging—including mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI—to help establish a diagnosis. We are pleased to offer the Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI System, the North Shore’s only FDA-approved breast MRI that is specifically designed for breast imaging.”
If cancer is detected, a woman can rest assured that a highly accomplished and coordinated team will be at her side. The Breast Health Center offers a woman newly diagnosed with cancer the option of having her treatment plan created through a multidisciplinary conference. At the conference, cancer specialists from each discipline sit together to review and discuss each woman’s specific data. The result is a comprehensive, individualized plan.
Within the multidisciplinary approach, reconstructive plastic surgery can play an important role in planning and treatment. Fortunately, advances in early detection mean more cancer is being found and treated at an earlier stage, so the need for mastectomy is diminishing. When mastectomy is recommended, or when there are changes in the contours of a breast after lumpectomy, reconstructive surgeons can use innovative techniques to restore symmetry.
“Breast reconstruction after cancer can help women embrace their femininity and feel whole again,” says Jagruti Patel, M.D., chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals. “There are multiple options, and each can be tailored to the individual woman.” She adds, “Women should know that reconstructive procedures for patients with breast cancer are covered by health insurance, by federal mandate.”
A patient will receive guidance from her Breast Health team about the right point in her care to meet with one of the center’s reconstructive plastic surgeons. “We begin a dialogue and a relationship, and we coordinate with the rest of the treatment team throughout planning, treatment and follow-up,” says Patel.
“New breast reconstructive techniques are now available to augment or replace traditional approaches,” notes Beverly M. Shafer, M.D., plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals. Patel and Shafer agree that advances include reconstructing the breast after skin sparing mastectomies, and the creation of much more natural-looking breasts using a new generation of silicone gel implants together with a “dermal matrix” for support.
Whatever the option selected, for women north of Boston who face breast cancer, Shafer says, “Finding out that breast reconstruction is offered, and that it’s a right, can be a silver lining in a dark cloud. Women learn that something can be done to help restore them to a complete state.”

To learn more about the Breast Health Center or reconstructive surgery, visit us online at beverlyhospital.org or call our HealthConnection at 888-253-0800.

Beverly Hospital
85 Herrick Street, Beverly, MA  01915
978.922.3000
www.beverlyhospital.org

Informed. Empowered. Proactive. Today’s patients take an active role in their healthcare.

With the internet, everything we need to know these days is just a “click” away. The ease of “googling” any subject we want to know more about has empowered us; made us informed thinkers, “educated consumers”.
So why is it, that in the most important area of our lives—our health—many of us still take such a passive role in our care? Perhaps it’s because in our parent’s day, we learned that “good patients” followed “doctor’s orders”.
Fortunately, times have changed. Doctor and patient now view themselves as teammates with the shared goal of improving the quality of care provided. Before an appointment, today’s patients do their homework, often using internet resources to gather information and formulate questions for the appointment.

How do physicians feel about patients being so involved in their own care? “I absolutely encourage it” says Dr. Kristina Anton-Schnell of North Shore Primary Care, located at Beverly Hospital at Danvers. “Being prepared ensures that important issues will be covered thoroughly and helps the patient get the most out of their appointment.”

How should patients “prepare” for an appointment? Dr. Anton-Schnell provides this helpful checklist:

• Bring your medical records or have them transferred before your appointment
• Bring a list of any specialists you see and their phone numbers.
• Make notes about your health history. Share this information upfront.
• Make a list of your medications, doses and any allergies you have.
• Make a list of your symptoms and concerns.
• Use on-line information sources such as webmd.com, uptodate.com and emedicine.medscape.com.
• Bring print-outs to discuss.
• Bring a list of your questions.
• Make sure your questions are focused on the specific issue which has brought you to the doctors office.

What are the important questions to ask?

• If medications are prescribed or additional procedures or testing are recommended, ask about the benefits and the risks.
• Ask if there are other treatment options.
• Ask if it would be helpful to get a second opinion.
• Ask if you need a follow-up appointment.
• If you’re confused about anything your physician says, ask them to repeat or clarify.

The real issue, says Dr. Anton-Schnell, is that “you need to find a physician you can work with. Keeping you healthy is a team effort. The information you provide, the questions you ask help us to provide better care. I tell my patients, ‘you only have one body…one life. Take care of it.’ The more informed and proactive you are, the better we can help you do that.”
If you decide it’s time to look for a new physician, we can help. The professionals at the Beverly Hospital HealthConnection will listen to your needs and recommend some names that might be good matches. One more tip. Before you choose a physician, meet with them for a consult. Feel free to interview them. Ask questions. Do they listen attentively? Do they provide good answers? Get a sense of personality and “bed-side manner”. Does it feel like it would be a good match? Go For it!

If you’d like to find a physician who is right for you, call our HealthConnection at 888-253-0800 weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Or, visit us online at beverlyhospital.org/findadoctor.

Beverly Hospital
85 Herrick Street, Beverly, MA  01915
978.922.3000
www.beverlyhospital.org

Newburyport’s Revitalive Cafe

Written by Alyssa Giacobbe

Photograph by Lauren Carelli

Before you knock it as a left-over hippie fad, consider that eating raw has been around since the birth of humanity. Modern day raw foodists, however, rally around the purported health benefits: increased energy, weight loss, improved sleep, and even a reversal of some more serious health conditions.

“We’ve seen people improve symptoms of diabetes, arthritis, Lyme disease…,” says Anna Forkan, who, with Kristen Overlock, co-owns “raw food education center” Revitalive and the recently-opened Revitalive Café in Newburyport. Since going raw, the pair have lost a combined 140 pounds and reversed their own depression, peptic ulcers, and chronic fatigue.

By not heating food above 115 degrees, say raw foodists, it retains more nutrients, as well as enzymes that aid in digestion. But it’s not a life of rabbit food. Located in the Tannery and open for breakfast and lunch, Revitalive Café offers up such creative raw creations as Meetballs and Marinara (made of sprouted almonds, raw sundried tomatoes, basil, and sea salt), and Mock Tuna Salad, in which pumpkin seeds, celery, sweet onion, and sea veggies are impressively reminiscent of actual tuna on rye. Chocolate cream pie is made with raw organic cacao, coconut, and dates.

In addition to limiting temperatures, the café avoids all animal products, grains, soy, garlic, artificial sweeteners, and mushrooms, the last of which are common allergens. “Our aim is to make eating raw an easy thing to stick to,” says Forkan. “People can enjoy something that looks and tastes like a tuna sandwich. The reality is, you don’t have to starve, and it doesn’t have to taste horrible.”

“Our goal isn’t for everyone to be 100 percent raw,” she continues. “If people ate a salad every day, that would be awesome. Or even if they ate an apple once a day. We’re not dogmatic. We just want to be positive, because you can and you will feel better.” With a little help, of course, from a slice of guilt-free chocolate cream pie. 50 Water St.,
Newburyport, 978-462-1488, revitalivecafe.com.

In The Raw A guide to uncooked eating around the area.

1. Grezzo Organic and locally grown vegan and raw food in an upscale setting. 25 State St., Newburyport, 978-961-1676, grezzorestaurant.com. 2. Rawbert’s Organic Garden Café-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including outstanding raw cookies and handmade chocolates. 294 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-922-0004, organicgardencafe.com. 3. Life Alive Raw and “flash-steamed” breakfast, lunch, and dinner for beginning or budding raw foodists. 194 Middle St., Lowell, 978-453-1311, lifealive.com. 4. The Natural Dog Holistic pet products include raw meals and treats for animals. 155 State St., Newburyport, 978-499-9909, thenatural-dog.com.

Color in Our Lives

The following article was submitted by Dawn Tardiff of BodiScience in Beverly. Would you like to be a guest blogger here at nshoremag.com? Email us at: editor@nshoremag.com

Imagine a world without color…color affects our mood and our health and without it we would experience shifts in how we feel, how we act and how we age. We experience color in our food, the choices we select for decorating our homes, the vibrant energetic color from daylight and the clothing that we choose to wear. Our bodies have an innate wisdom that allows us to gravitate to the colors we need.

The theory that color affects our lives has been talked about throughout the ages. The most important form of how we receive color is the full spectrum light of daylight. Think of the bright hues of yellow, orange and red of daylight and how they give energy and the deep calming spectrum of blues, indigo and violet of nighttime, and how they have a calming influence…this observation then allows us to see how the red end of the spectrum is energizing while the blue end of the color spectrum is relaxing.

Egyptians used colored light as a healing art. Archaeologist discovered pyramids constructed with openings for sunlight for insertion of colored glass and crystals. In the pyramids there were individual healing rooms which resonated with specific color frequencies. The power of full spectrum light has been used for centuries for jaundice, psoriasis, depression and the list goes on. Colored light is used in state-of-the-art treatments to improve your health which improves the look of your skin, the tone of your body and the balancing of emotions. Technology meets science with utilizing colored light on acupuncture points to balance you on a physical and emotional level.

A wise woman once said, “include a variety of color in the food you eat, it will improve your health”. When we ingest food we first ingest the vibration. Visually the color is coded by nature and our bodies respond to the vibration intuitively. The color of any living thing is a sign of health. We find ourselves selecting the best looking apples or the best looking fish, because that is an indicator to us of the freshness and health of our food selections. Kathy from The Blue Moon in Exeter, NH puts this beautifully “food and color are not only an important part of the presentation placed on your plate but for your health long after it passes your palate.”

Our homes and the rooms within them can be designed to provide a solace or a place to energize us, based upon the colors we have selected and what rooms we have chosen to decorate with color. Sigrid Olsen says this so beautifully, “I have used color as a powerful influence throughout my life and career. Even in my home, I enjoy changing the ambiance by altering hues…walls, paintings, even floral arrangements can perk up a room and hence my mood. I have one turquoise wall in my living room that reminds me of the Caribbean and another in the guest bath that I have painted the color of orange marmalade, and accented with seashells and paintings in warm neutral tones.”

Color is energy, and each color has a frequency that has nutritional value which is food for our development and evolvement of many aspects of our being. Surrounding ourselves with uplifting colors and environment that creates positive visual impressions, can have a strong impact on how we present ourselves and interact with our world.

Dawn Tardif, D. Ay.
BodiScience Holistic Spa
BodiScience.com

Leading Dentists of the North Shore

Promotion

Dentistry by Design - Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry
Dr. Nicholas T. Papapetros, Andover

Dentistry by Design in Andover is one of the North Shore’s most accomplished, dental practices. In its new state-of-the-art facility, Dentistry by Design puts your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment. Their trained and skilled staff have years of experience in treating patients with the highest level of care. They strive to stay abreast of the latest in technological advances by regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars.

Dr. Nicholas Papapetros has been delivering the highest quality dental care to his community since 1992. Originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, Dr. Papapetros earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He then went on to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he earned his dental degree and student awards from both the American College of Dentists and the American Association of Endodontists. After earning his dental degree, Dr. Papapetros then completed a general practice residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

Dentistry by Design provides a wide range of dental procedures in comfort and safety utilizing the latest advancements, such as digital x-rays, which use 90% less radiation than traditional x-rays. Cerec 3 allows us to fabricate an all porcelain crown in one hour. STA (single tooth anesthesia) allows us to numb a single tooth painlessly without numbing your lip. We are able to treat Periodontal Disease, without surgery in many cases, using a site specific antibiotic and laser therapy. This flexibility saves you time and keeps your total dental care within one practice. Dr Papapetros and his staff provide incomparable treatment and services for restoring beautiful smiles using veneers and implants. Dentistry by Design looks forward to meeting your individual needs.

Dr. Papapetros
From common problems to gum disease, Dr. Papapetros provides an array of dental services to meet your needs all in one convenient location. Using the latest technology, his
experienced staff works together as a team to give you exceptional quality treatment from the time you walk in for your initial visit.
19 Barnard Street, Andover, MA  01810, 978-475-5333, smileandover.com

Orthodontics by Design, PC
Dr. Christine McKenna & Dr. Angel Gangoy, Wakefield

ORTHODONTICS BY DESIGN, PC is a private practice located in Wakefield where Doctors Christine McKenna and Angel Gangoy have cultivated an exceptional team of professionals. Established over a decade ago, ORTHODONTICS BY DESIGN, PC continues to be unique in its field as one of the few female-owned orthodontic practices in the area. But what really shines at ORTHODONTICS BY DESIGN, PC is the commitment to offering cutting edge orthodontic treatment to the North Shore. Continual education and innovation enables this practice to combine fundamental orthodontic treatment with advanced techniques and aesthetic appliances.

iBraces “Invisible braces that make you smile”
One of the practice’s most sought-after techniques is the iBraces System, Hollywood’s latest trend in orthodontic therapy. Orthodontics by Design, PC is designated as an iBraces Premier Provider, one of only five practices in Massachusetts with that distinction. By combining revolutionary Computer Aided Design with manufacturing technology, customized brackets are fabricated to fit the anatomy of each tooth, while customized wires are manufactured with built-in prescriptions, resulting in efficient tooth movement with maximum patient comfort. What’s even more incredible is their greatest asset: They’re invisible.

iBraces Appliances are the only 100% customized, fixed appliance system for invisible orthodontic treatment in the U.S. market today. Utilizing the technique of lingual orthodontics—the process of placing braces on the inner surface of the teeth—the braces are completely hidden from sight. They require less wires and adjustments, allowing for fewer appointments, making them ideal for the busy professional, or any candidate looking to avoid aesthetic interference. Please call today for your free consultation.

Dr. McKenna & Dr. Gangoy
Partners Christine McKenna, DMD and Angel Gangoy, DMD are graduates of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; they continued on to earn their Post-doctorate Degrees in the Specialty of Orthodontics from there as well. Their active membership in the AAO and other professional organizations is evident in their fervent dedication to the latest and most progressive techniques in orthodontics. One West Water Street, Suite 100, Wakefield, MA, 781-245-1113, orthobydesign.com

The Center for Exceptional Dentistry
Dr. Benjamin Polan, Beverly
Challenge….. That is the word that best describes what fuels Dr. Benjamin L.Polan’s life and work. He has heli- skied at the top of the mountains of Colorado, as well as, while an instructor at Sunday River, successfully taught terrified adult beginners how to ski. Dr. Polan carries that love into his work. Here at The Center for Exceptional Dentistry patients are treated as a whole person. We strive to have a comfortable relationship with each and every one of them. That is the very reason Dr. Polan has invested in the absolute latest technology that benefits the patient’s experience. Technology such as CEREC the in-office-crown system, with CEREC a patient can expect to have a tooth restored in just one visit. Most dentists would agree that dealing with a profoundly frightened patient is a challenge. The Center for Exceptional Dentistry offers Sedation Dentistry to those patients who would otherwise forgo dental care. Under sedation a patient will calmly and easily receive much needed dentistry. Another challenge Dr. Polan often faces in his practice is dealing with chronic pain in our TMJ patients. The average dentist has never gone any further than dental school to increase their knowledge and skill of patient pain associated with TMJ. Dr. Polan continues that education today which may explain his high success rate with these patients. The Center for Exceptional Dentistry also provides solutions and care for those who suffer from snoring or sleep disorders. We can create a dental appliance for those who cannot tolerate the popularly prescribed CPAP appliance. This is just a glimpse of what can be done by Dr. Polan at the Center.

Challenege…. Dr. Polan will meet another one this summer as he travels to Israel to volunteer to provide much needed dentistry to some of the impoverished children of Jerusalem.

Dr. Polan
My mentor is quoted as saying “you don’t know what you don’t know.” This has driven my thirst for knowledge and quest to meet the challenges of my patients. 100 Cummings Center, Suite 104M, Beverly, MA  01915, 978-922-1824, exceptionaldental.com

Liberty Tree Prosthodontics and Family Dental Center
Dr. Mahshid Mirghassemi, Danvers
Located at the Liberty Tree Medical and Dental Center, Liberty Tree Prosthodontics is a full service provider of individualized dental treatment plans in an incomparably warm and comfortable setting. The office is equipped with the latest in dental technology and dentists trained in the most advanced dental techniques, providing the absolute highest quality dentistry that is available today.

Mahshid Mirghassemi, D.D.S, is a dentist who truly understands the importance of creating a dental plan for her patients that provides the optimal balance between dental health, beauty, and comfort. A member of the American Dental Association, North Shore Dental Society, and the American College of Prosthodontics, Dr. Mirghassemi received her advanced degree in the field of Prosthodontics from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, which gives her a unique expertise in the restoration and replacement of teeth. She is also a contributor to the Dental Outreach Organization, which provides free dental care to eligible children in Massachusetts. She has published and presented in several dental conferences.

Liberty Tree Prosthodontics understands that their patients have busy schedules and always strives to accommodate them. The office has four dental operatories and three dental hygienists, allowing patient waiting time to be kept to a minimum, and the office provides for both night and weekend appointments for maximum convenience. The office provides a wide range of dental services, including prosthetic, implant and cosmetic services, such as teeth whitening and restorative dentistry, in addition to a wide range of preventative care services.

Dr. Mirghassemi is dedicated to high quality and strives for excellence. She has successfully treated complex full-mouth reconstruction cases, such as dental implants, that require a multi-specialty approach. She works closely with highly qualified dental specialists located in the North Shore area, is active in dental conferences, and continuously works to improve her knowledge and skills.

Dr. Mirghassemi
Mahshid Mirghassemi, D.D.S, of Liberty Tree Prosthodontics is a highly trained North Shore dentist specializing in Prosthodontics. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University and her Post Doctorate degree in Prosthodontics from TUFTS. Her remarkable dedication to both the art and science of dentistry ensures an anxiety-free experience and unparalleled results for her patients. 140 Commonwealth Ave. Suite 209, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-777-9999, libertytreeprosthodontics.com

Sirakian Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry
Dr. Aram Sirakian, Andover
Individuals choose cosmetic dentists for a number of reasons. Some hope to stem or reverse the natural aging process of teeth while others are self-conscious about unattractive, chipped or discolored teeth most of their adult lives and feel it’s hidden their true personality. After all, a smile is the gateway to positive first impressions. Like a dental facelift, if done correctly, cosmetic dentistry can be the safest, fastest, and most noticeable method to improve your true appearance. But in searching for the right dentist, the process can be daunting. The truth is, many dentists advertise themselves as cosmetic dentists when in fact they have little or no cosmetic training at all. Choosing the right dentist with the proper training and skills is the first and most important step in dramatically improving your smile and overall appearance.

On the subject of aesthetic and implant dentistry, one of the most qualified and celebrated cosmetic dentists on the East Coast is located right here on the North Shore. Dr. Aram Sirakian is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on complete oral rehabilitation and advances in cosmetic and implant dentistry and was one of the first surgically trained prosthodontists in New England. After graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he received his D.M.D., Dr. Sirakian immersed himself in a 2-year Fellowship in Oral Implantology and Biomaterials at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, New York—one of only a handful programs devoted exclusively to the art and science of implant dentistry. This training is quite unique in its depth and its dual emphasis on both the functional and aesthetic aspects of implant dentistry. He then received his specialty training in Prosthodontics from the prestigious Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sirakian often lectures internationally on advancements in cosmetic and implant dentistry. With two convenient locations on the North Shore: iSmile in Peabody and Sirakian Aesthetic and Implant Dentistry in Andover. Dr. Sirakian combines unparalleled credentials with state-of-the-art facilities to make your makeover the most rewarding experience.

Dr. Sirakian
Knowing you have the right dental implant surgeon beats hoping you do. 69 Park Street, Andover, MA 01810, 978-470-4555, sirakian.com; 210 Andover Street, Peabody, MA 01960, 978-767-8370, sirakianimplants.com

SKIN SMARTS IN THE LAST OF SUMMER’S SUN

As summer draws to an end, with less time spent on the beach and the water (sigh), you might be ready to toss your sunscreen and to think less about skin protection. Don’t, says Gary Rogers, MD, a dermatologist and director of dermatologic surgery and oncology for the Cutaneous Oncology Group at Beverly Hospital.

Stay careful, and even increase your awareness—both are key to preventing and treating skin cancer, which is on the rise nationwide.

“You don’t need to become a cave dweller to avoid the sun—just be smart about it,” says Dr. Rogers. This fall, consider these steps part of a prescription for skin health:

• Every day, wear sunscreen on your face, ears and hands. Read labels and choose SPF 30 or higher, with both UVA and UVB protection.
• Plan your time outside to avoid the midday sun—in New England in the summer, fall and spring, this is approximately 11 am to 2 pm.
• Find safe ways to get Vitamin D. “You could meet your daily need for Vitamin D with only five minutes outdoors on a cloudy day,” explains Rogers. You can get Vitamin D fromfood or supplements; check with your health care provider.

Fall is also a good time to “go to school” to learn the signs that a mole or a skin-change should be examined. Ask your primary care provider for information, or go to the websites of the American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org/public) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

Once you know what to look for, what if you do find something? Contact your primary care doctor or dermatologist. Most skin cancers can be treated with an office procedure.

For those cancers that need more specialized treatments, patients should rest assured in knowing that they can receive the most advanced care from Beverly Hospital’s
Cutaneous Oncology Group. This team provides diagnosis and treatment in one location, and coordinates the expertise of specialists from dermatology, plastic surgery, medical and surgical oncology, radiology, skilled nursing, and the Lifestyle Management Institute.

The group offers Mohs micrographic surgery to treat skin cancers including melanoma. Performed in Boston teaching hospitals but available on the North Shore only at Beverly Hospital, “It maximally preserves healthy tissue while providing the highest cure rate,” says Dr. Rogers.

The team’s innovations include performing sentinel node biopsy together with Mohs surgery when it is important to find out if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Patients who undergo Mohs surgery can also have cosmetic/reconstructive surgery the same day on the Beverly Hospital campus, if needed. Jagruti Patel, MD, one of the plastic and reconstructive surgeons at Beverly Hospital who collaborates with Dr. Rogers, says, “We mesh our schedules in the clinic or the operating room, so that patients don’t have to wait days between procedures, but can focus on healing right away.”

This fall, renew your commitment to staying smart about the sun—a choice that will repay you for many seasons.

To learn more about therapies for skin cancer, call our HealthConnection at 888-253-0800 or visit us online at beverlyhospital.org

Bikram Yoga MV

Stretching internal organs never felt so good at North Andover’s Bikram Yoga.

By Beth Daigle

Open-eye meditation, 26 postures and two breathing exercises, 105° room temperature, watchful, auctioneer-like instructors, and lots of sweat. Welcome to Bikram yoga. While this style, also known as hot yoga, has been around for years, it’s now picking up steam throughout the North Shore, thanks, in part, to Teri Almquist, who owns Bikram Yoga Merrimack Valley in North Andover. One of just three authorized Bikram studios on the North Shore, Bikram Yoga MV hosted 130 first-time Bikram students in March alone. Almquist’s 49-person studio welcomes anyone looking for a cleansing, therapeutic experience that offers deep stretching and strength-building opportunities.

Almquist first discovered Bikram yoga following a spinal injury that left her immobile from the neck up. While attending her very first class, she realized that Bikram yoga would help her on the road to recovery. The recurring technique and specific order of fixed poses began healing the damage her body had sustained 13 years prior.

Bikram yoga is a challenging, 90-minute practice created by Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury intended to work every part of the body from the inside out, bringing the entire body into balance. Everything from muscles and tendons to internal organs are stretched and massaged while unhealthy toxins are eliminated.

“No matter what your body can do, even if it’s only a little bit, done the right way, you are getting a great benefit,” Almquist says of her practice.
New to yoga myself, I had all of the typical apprehensions before my first session. I began quite fearful of the heat, only to realize that I could manage my body’s reaction simply by accepting it.

If I began to feel light-headed, as can happen in the first few classes, I simply sat down and resumed when ready.

Other students and the instructor’s careful guidance gave me direction as I watched some bend over backward with ease while others did only what their bodies would allow. As Almquist says, “Just move your eyes and eventually the body will follow.”  Now, when I leave the studio, I feel cleansed and invigorated, while breathing for other activities like running and biking has vastly improved, and my muscles are now noticeably longer, leaner, and looser. Bikram Yoga Merrimack Valley, 43 High St., Suite 310, North Andover, 978-689-9642, bikramyogamv.com.

Things That Make You Go Om Four more yoga styles.
1. Ashtanga Also known as Power yoga, Ashtanga offers a challenging and dynamic series of movements that combine breathing with movement. The goal is to gain strength and stamina. yoga.com.
2. Junzi Now available at A Yoga Practice in Georgetown, Junzi is geared specifically to the needs of the male practitioner. 65 Central  St., Georgetown, 978-352-8886, ayogapractice.net.
3. Iyengar This very precise style focuses on achieving optimal body alignment through awareness and control. yoga.com.
4. Laughter A relatively new form of yoga, Laughter yoga attempts to combine yogic breathing with laughter resulting in health benefits associated with a great big belly laugh. laughter.org.

Getting Better All the Time

What to Expect After Day Surgery
Your bed, your favorite chair, your family, your pets…. Your home reflects what you like and what you need to be comfortable. And now it turns out that for people recovering after day surgery, these homespun comforts trump technology. Read more

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