Parkway Medical Blog

By RHONDA L. RUNDLE

Vanity appears to be trumping frugality in a looks-conscious society.

Despite the dismal economic climate, most women - and men - who undergo appearance-enhancing treatments such as Botox injections are spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year to maintain the regimen, aesthetic physicians say. Meanwhile, some older patients who are putting off or forgoing expensive facelifts are instead opting for less-costly injections and laser treatments.

Doctors say a weak economy hasn’t curtailed demand for Botox injections.

Maralyn Burr of Omaha, Neb., in June lost her job as a district sales manager for bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. Ms. Burr, who is $140,000 in debt from her 22-year-old daughter’s musical education, says she has slashed spending and all but stopped eating out. But she hasn’t given up her Restylane and Botox injections. “It’s like comfort food,” she says.

Nearly three out of four plastic surgeons who responded to a survey this fall reported that demand has increased or held steady for minimally invasive procedures, including Allergan Inc.’s Botox antiwrinkle drug, dermal fillers used to plump up lips and smile lines, and skin-smoothing chemical peels, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a professional group representing 6,700 surgeons. The survey also found a steep drop in demand for plastic surgeries ranging from breast augmentation to nose reshaping.

To be sure, makers of aesthetic medical treatments are bracing for a challenging year ahead. While many established patients are sticking to their beauty regimens, it’s tough to entice new patients in the current economic environment. In late October, Allergan said that dermal-filler sales were up 18% through September, but the company reduced its 2008 Botox sales guidance, citing overall “subdued demand.” Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. recently has been offering a $100 consumer rebate on its Restylane family of products.

Most of the products used for so-called facial rejuvenation weren’t available in the U.S. when the last downturn hit, so there’s no historical precedent to estimate their sales performance in the current economic environment. While Botox has been on the market for nearly 20 years, it didn’t receive regulatory approval for cosmetic use until 2002, at the tail end of the dotcom-led stock-market bust. Allergan’s dermal filler, Juvéderm, which competes with Restylane, has been on the market for about two years.  Parkway Medical Laser & Skin Centre offers both Restylane and Juvéderm treatments.

Joel Schlessinger, Ms. Burr’s dermatologist in Omaha, says the number of his patients seeking dermal fillers began to increase on a year-over-year basis in the last few months, after posting declines earlier in the year. “Things are so bad [in financial markets] that investments aren’t even worthwhile anymore, so people are investing in themselves,” he suggests.

Do you wonder what your blood sugar is doing while you are sleeping? Do you wonder if that fabulous meal at your favorite Italian restaurant allows your blood sugar to remain in the desired range? Wonder no more!

Parkway Medical now offers the 24 hour blood glucose monitoring system. This quarter-sized sensor is worn on the abdomen for 5 days. During this 5 day time period it will painlessly and automatically measure your blood sugar every few minutes, 24 hours a day! After 5 days of gathering the data, the sensor will be removed and the information will be downloaded onto our computer providing a full color report. This report will be interpreted and given to your provider to discuss with you.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes or have Type 2 Diabetes and take insulin, ask your primary care provider to consider this valuable monitoring system as part of your overall diabetes management.

We are proud to say that Parkway Medical strives to provide our patients with the latest in medical services. We are pleased to add 24 hour blood glucose monitoring to our growing list of cutting edge technology.

With the rising incidence of heart disease and the decrease in access to physician services, Parkway Medical Family and Urgent Care introduces Screening Ultra Sound, a non-invasive, painless diagnostic service which can predict and prevent serious problems. Many specialists are unable to provide this service due to the overburdened work load they currently carry. Using a certified technician, we can now perform screening echo-cardiograms (ultra sound of the heart) and artery and vein evaluations.

Why are these important? People with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and a host of other conditions can now be painlessly screened for heart and vascular problems in order to reveal potential problems before they can cause significant or catastrophic events. Patients with signs and symptoms can be screened as well in order to rule out serious problems or catch them early.

Ask one of our providers about information relating to these easy and pain-free evaluations.

Many people find themselves applying a number of skin care products to keep their skin feeling and looking its best. If you are not getting the desired results from your skin care products, try applying products in this sequence:

Moisturizer: For best results, a moisturizer should be applied after bathing and spread on damp skin. Moisturizer forms a protective coating that reduces the amount of water lost through the skin. This, in turn, decreases dryness, itch, and cracking skin. When using a topical medication, be sure to apply the medication first. Then wait one or two minutes before applying the moisturizer so that the medication can penetrate the skin. The same procedure should be done in using a treatment serum.

Sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen every day helps prevent premature aging caused by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Dermatologists recommend applying a broad-spectrum (offers UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. To give the sunscreen time to work, be sure to apply it 20 minutes before going outdoors.

While some makeup and moisturizers contain sunscreen, dermatologists recommend applying a separate sunscreen. The sunscreen found in moisturizers, foundations, and other products tends to have a low SPF, and this sunscreen usually wears off quickly.

Foundation: Applying a foundation over other topical products allows the products to work effectively and gives the best cosmetic result.

Makeup including powder and blush: These products look best when applied last. If you are not getting the results you want from your skin care products, be sure to try these recommendations. Hopefully, you will see a visible difference.

This fall, for the first time, Arizona children 11 years and older entering 6th grade will be required to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough) prior to school entry. The recommendation is for all persons aged 11-18 years to receive one dose of meningococcal vaccine at the earliest opportunity, and children 11-12 years to be vaccinated with the pertussis vaccine providing it has been at least five years since their last tetanus/diphtheria vaccine dose.

The meningococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by meningococcal bacteria. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children two to eighteen years of age, and it can cause serious blood infections. College freshman are also at increased risk.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system that is making a big comeback especially among teens and pre-teens.

These immunizations are available at Parkway Medical. Our providers would be happy to discuss them further with you.

The summer is here and our skin needs sun protection. Regardless of age or skin type, everyone is at risk for developing skin cancer. With that in mind, here are three efficient and inexpensive ways to reduce sun damage: water, sun block and hats.

Water helps the body work better. It also helps keep the skin moist and fresh. Collagen and other building blocks of the skin are made up of mostly water. Without enough water, the body will re-absorb as much water as possible. Staying hydrated helps avoid this, and keeps all of your body systems working better.

Sun block protects the skin from sun effects, but you have to use it properly. It should be applied every two to three hours and re-applied after swimming. If you use a sun block rated SPF 30, and you don’t apply enough, you have effectively cut the protection in half. So, apply liberally. Many people don’t use sun block because it feels greasy or stings the eyes. Natural powder sun block made from minerals is a good alternative. Sunforgettable by Colorescience goes on dry, lasts a little longer, is waterproof and does not feel greasy. It works well, is relatively inexpensive, and is easily applied to children without a fight!

Finally, wear a wide-brim hat. Because of the extensive blood supply to the scalp, most of our water loss is from our head. A hat will decrease this dramatically, especially if it is ultraviolet rated. Wearing a hat makes us feel cooler and keeps the sun off of our faces and ears. The top of the ear has a high incidence of skin cancer.

Visit Parkway Medical to check out our array of physician-endorsed sun blocks, hats and sunglasses.

MRSA or Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureus is a bacteria resistant to the penicillin family of antibiotics. The presentation is usually skin lesions, boils, abscesses that may have started as a cut or scratch. Frequently these are treated with broad spectrum antibiotics without success. Once cultured, the bacteria can be identified and treated with appropriate antibiotics. Frequently in debilitated patients the bacteria can cause a form of pneumonia. The bacteria has the ability to alter its structure to make it resistant to the usual antibiotics. This occurs due to multiple reasons. Food and water supply containing antibiotics, overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics, and treated hospital infections have led to the development of these bacteria. Certain other antibiotics also have led to the proliferation of resistant bacteria.

The best way to prevent MRSA is good hygiene, especially frequent hand washing. This is extremely important in healthcare workers as the bacteria is transferred from one to another through skin to skin contact. Ask health care workers to wash their hands before seeing you, especially in the hospital setting. It is important to note that the bacteria is NOT transferred through the air, but can be transferred through sharing towels, poor hygiene, living in unsanitary conditions, and contact sports. Learn to recognize the lesions and seek medical attention soon in order to get early treatment.

Additional information about MRSA can be found at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, www.cdc.gov or through the Arizona Department of Health Services, www.azdhs.gov.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a reduction in bone density and quality that causes bone to be more fragile and increases risk of fractures (broken bones).  Did you know?

• The maximum bone density of our hips is built by the time we are in our late teens; spines by our early 20’s.
• Osteoporosis has no symptoms, until there is a broken bone.
• 30% of women over the age of fifty are at risk for osteoporosis.
• 6 out of 100 men by the age of 65 have osteoporosis.
• 50% of individuals who sustain a hip fracture do not return to their previous level of independence.

In 1900, life expectancy in the U.S. was approximately 45 years. As that has increased over the past century, we are confronted with the task of improving the quality of life well into our 80’s and 90’s.

Parkway Medical offers bone density testing. This safe, easy test allows us to successfully prevent and treat osteoporosis. The bone density test, called DXA (dexa) is safe, painless, simple and quick. The amount of X-ray exposure is less than 10% of a routine chest X-ray, and the test takes less than 5 minutes. You will be positioned on a table; then an X-ray beam will be passed through areas to be measured: usually the hip, spine and perhaps forearm. You may remain fully clothed if you avoid wearing zippers, snaps, underwires, etc.

Using DXA scanning to diagnose those at risk for fractures, we can markedly decrease fracture incidences, as well as the associated pain and disability.

Ask your healthcare practitioner if DXA scanning would be appropriate for you.

Thermage and Body by Thermage are non-surgical, non-invasive procedures that smooth, tighten and contour the skin, producing long lasting results for an overall naturally younger looking appearance. Any area of the face or body with loose or lax skin can benefit from this treatment. A hand piece with a smooth, flat tip delivers Thermage’s unique monopolar capacitive radiofrequency (CRF) technology, which safely heats the deeper layers of your skin. This stimulates existing collagen and promotes new collagen growth over time resulting in smoother, tighter skin. Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single Thermage treatment produces results. With an excellent safety record, no downtime and the ability to return to normal activities immediately after the procedure, Thermage is an ideal way to improve your skin’s overall look and condition. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 480-348-3245.

So you want to live to be one hundred yet look like you’re thirty. You envision your skin to be soft, your eyes to sparkle, your muscles to be strong and your libido to match. Many healthcare providers believe that keeping our hormone levels regulated is part of the key.

The safety issues of hormone replacement and supplementation have become more controversial with the availability of bio-identical hormones. For women, synthetic hormones meant to replace estrogen and progesterone are not equivalent to those produced by the human body, nor do they perform the same as what the body makes. In fact, in some cases they are harmful. By replacing the estrogen and progesterone with bio-identical preparations in variable amounts, women can get closer than ever before to the image they desire.

There is great news for men as well. There are many causes of low testosterone. A common reason is stress or burnout. Psychological trauma, depression, and prescription medications can also cause low testosterone levels. Physical signs may include muscle loss, weight gain, fatigue and low sex drive.

A diagnosis can be quickly confirmed by careful history and laboratory testing. Relief may be as easy as a visit to your healthcare provider.

Nurse Practitioner Kathleen Rickard along with Dr. Stuart Medoff can assist patients who wish to proceed in this direction. Call 480-348-3200 if you are interested in an evaluation.