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| Doctor's Corner
"Currently much of the news is focused on the new 'health care legislation' that is being considered in Washington, DC. I think this has everyone wondering what the 'future of healthcare' will look like for them.
I too am wondering how this will all turn out. I can't say I know. But, what I do know is that our office will continue to function much as it has for the past 34 years, with personalized service, focused on your concerns and medical needs, providing a good medical 'value' to all of our patients. It's still "Marcus Welby" time (or could I suggest....Steve Kiley time!)
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| Vol 4 / Issue 3 |
July/2009 |
| Meet Our New Staff Members! |
 Please join us in welcoming our new staff members Tammy, Jennie, and Susan.
Tammy works at the front desk with Barb J. She will help you check out after seeing Dr. Lakin and reschedule any appointments needed.
 Jennie is a medical assistant, and she will triage you back to see Dr. Lakin. Jennie will prepare your medical information for the doctor and help with necessary procedures.
 Susan takes care of your medical records. She comes to us with over 10 years of record keeping experience, and is doing a great job organizing our files.
 Eric, Dr. Lakin's son, is also joining us this summer during his break from school. He is a great help with our filing, lifting boxes, and organizing our medical records. Eric will be attending UCLA in the fall, and we wish him much success in his college career.
Elena, Marilyn, Veronica, Barb J, Barb A, Dede, Nan, and Dr. Lakin are very happy to have all of our new members on our team.
Welcome!
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| Avoiding Bug Bites....... |
 Summer is here and so are the mosquitoes, spiders, and other wonderful summer friends.
Here are some ways to avoid the "itch:"
Wear loose, light-colored clothing.
Some mosquitoes are attracted to dark hues of colors such as red and blue.
Put your wardrobe to work.
Garments pre-treated with the insecticide permethrin offer effective protection against mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, fleas, and ants.
Match DEET strength to activity.
The higher the percentage of DEET - the active ingredient in most insect repellents - the more hours of protection against mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, fleas, and ticks. A concentration of 5% to 10% lasts about 90 minutes; a 35% concentration protects for four hours under ideal conditions, i.e., you are not sweating or swimming.
Try alternative repellents.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus delivers about the same level of mosquito protection for the same length of time as low concentrations of DEET. A formulation of 40% or greater works against ticks.
Blow them away.
Mosquitoes are less active in windy conditions, so you are less likely to get bitten on a breezy day.
-Mary Forsell, USA Weekend
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| Stub Your Toe? Say '?#!#!' You'll Feel Better..... |
Peggy Loper doesn't know why, but she's sure that the rapid hissed repetition of her favorite expletive somehow dulls the pain when she's hammered her thumb rather than the nail she'd aimed for.
"Generally I start swearing even before the pain actually registers," says the 48-year-old student from Salem, N.J. "And usually, the ouch-ouch dance, where I'm hopping from foot to foot, goes along with it. People have told me that I should try deep breathing, but I personally prefer to swear." The F-bomb is her curse word of choice. That hard consonant at the end is particularly satisfying, she explains.
As it turns out, Loper may be right. British scientists have shown that swear words can have a powerful pain-killing effect, according to a new study published in the journal NeuroReport.
The researchers originally thought that swearing would make pain worse by focusing a person's attention on the injury and its implications. To prove their hypothesis, they set up an experiment with 67 college students.
The students were asked to plunge their hands into frigid 41-degree Fahrenheit water for as long as they could stand the pain. Half were told to repeat their favorite curse word while their hands were submerged. The other half were asked to repeat a neutral word describing a table, such as solid or brown, while keeping their hands under water. Then the whole experiment was repeated with the two groups switching types of word. (Favorite swear words were, as you might guess, the ones starting with "F" and "S." But since the subjects were British, the researchers also got an earful of "bollocks.")
To the researchers' surprise, the cursing group not only reported lower levels of pain, but also were able to keep their hands in the icy water longer. The men in the study, for example, were able to keep their hands in the water for an average of 190 seconds while swearing, but for only 140 seconds when uttering a neutral word.
. -MSNBC.com
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| Simple Advice to Avoid a Deadly Infection |
 As a child, we heard it a thousand times: "Wash your hands before coming to dinner, or if you want to keep healthy, wash your hands."
The recent rise in infections from the bacteria known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, only confirms the importance of the hygiene/health connection. But the simply fact that so many of these infections get transmitted by health care workers shows we could all use a refresher on hygiene habits.
A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management looked at the effectiveness of hand-washing in preventing MRSA. Health care workers at a medical center outside Baltimore wondered whether a more systematic approach to enforcing hand-washing would affect their rate of infections. They put together a protocol designed to remind the 2,200 employees and 1,200 physicians about hand-washing and placed hand hygiene teams throughout the hospital.
If a staff member was seem exiting a patient's room without washing his hands or using hand sanitizer, a "hand hygiene champion" would remind him of the importance of doing so. This may sound heavy-handed (no pun intended), but the results were impressive.
Hand hygiene compliance increased from about 40% to more than 90%. More important, over the three-year study period, hospital-transmitted MRSA infections declined by 49%, even though the number of patients admitted with community-acquired MRSA infections rose.
As researchers are looking for high-tech ways to fight MRSA, at the same time, a simply solution like hand-washing works.
-Dr. Tedd Mitchell, USA Weekend
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| 5 Things You May Not Know About Life Jackets.... |
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 1. Inflatables offer about 50% more flotation than regular life jackets, and their increased buoyancy improves survivability in rough waters because they float higher.
2. Check the label to make sure your life jacket is Coast Guard approved. For more details, visit www.boatsafe.com. The Coast Guard categorizes life jackets by type. Type 1 has more buoyancy than Type 11. But Type 111 can be more comfortable than Types 1 and 11 and comes in more sizes. They all have pros and cons associated with them.
3. Life jackets wear out even if they're not in use. If the fabric has faded from sun exposure, be wary.
4. Not wearing one could be illegal. Some states require them for adults who are water-skiing, white-water rafting and operating personal watercraft. In states without child life jacket laws, federal law requires that kids under 13 wear one in a recreational boat that is underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
5. Fit matters, especially with children. To check, pick a child up by the shoulders of the life jacket. If his or her chin or ears can slip through, the jacket doesn't fit properly.
-Mary Forsell, USA Weekends
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| Have You Had Your Yearly Physical Yet?...... Summer is a Great Time to Get that Taken Care of. |
 As you all know, I am a strong supporter of annual physicals. This is a time we can visit and explore any unresolved medical problems, as well as any new health issues that need to be addressed. Annual physicals are one of the best ways to safeguard your health. The American Medical Association recommends that if you are between the ages of 40 - 49 years, physicals should be done every two years. If you are 50 years plus, it is recommended you have yearly exams, especially if you have any chronic medical conditions that need to be monitored. The summer tends to be more relaxed and is an ideal time to take care of needed medical procedures and tests. To get the best times available, click here: my annual physical appointment to schedule today!
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| "One Small Step for Mankind....." |
Remembering Apollo 11 
40 years ago, three human beings - with the help of many thousands of others - left our planet on a successful journey to our Moon, setting foot on another world for the first time.
July 16, 1969, marked the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. aboard. The entire trip lasted only 8 days, the time spent on the surface was less than one day, the entire time spent walking on the moon, a mere 2 1/2 hours - but they were surely historic hours. Scientific experiments were deployed, samples were collected, and photographs were taken to document the entire journey.
In the words of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, "In this one moment, the world came together in peace for all mankind."
Where were you on July 20, 1969?
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| Three Ways to Save on Auto Repairs..... |
If you're like many people, you're hanging onto your old car longer -- and that can mean more repairs.--
Choose your repair shop carefully. Ask friends and family where they get good service and a fair deal. Check assuredperformancecare.com for independent shops that meet certain quality standards. Have a foreign car? Be sure the shop is certified to do repairs on your make/model.
Keep up with routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tuneups, to avoid big, expensive repairs down the road. "Every dollar you cut back on now will cost you an average of $8 down the line," estimates Pat Goss, who hosts "MotorWeek" TV and radio shows. Check your newspaper for coupons from dealer service shops and chains such as Jiffy Lube.
Learn to do some work yourself. Community centers and adult education programs often offer basic auto repair classes. About.com has excellent step-by-step instructions, and Edmunds.com has a few instructional videos.
-Walecia Konrad, MoneySmart
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| How to Find an Eco-friendly Hotel..... |
Looking to take a greener vacation this summer? 
Now, more and more hotels are taking an increasingly holistic approach to sustainability, says Brian Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International, a non-profit organization that promotes eco-friendly travel.
Here are a couple of tips on how you can find the right hotel:
Pay attention to advertising. If a hotel is proud of its commitment to sustainability, this should be clearly stated in its marketing materials. If the quantifiable effects of a hotel's sustainability are listed, it's a good sign that the hotel is serious about its green goals.
Ask questions. If a hotel's conservation efforts are not spelled out, call and ask open-ended questions, such as, "What are you doing to support sustainable development?" This is something every hotel employee should know, from management to the front-desk staff.
-Vick Kriz, USA Weekend
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| At the Movies With Barb A. |
The Arizona summer is here, and so is still the recession, unfortunately....
So I am on vacation and going to lots of movies.
Can't wait to share them with you.
Watch for my reviews on the lobby waiting room bulletin board, or in the next newsletter.
See you at the movies!
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| Ease the Pain in Your Joints..... |
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Do your joints hurt?
Our aging population's most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative joint disease. It typically affects weight-bearing joints, especially the hips and knees. As the cartilage cushioning the affected joint breaks down, the bones will rub together, causing pain, swelling and loss of motion. Sufferers usually limit their movement to minimize discomfort.
Two things you can do to help reduce pain? Exercise and lose weight. Yes, dieting and exercise take time and effort, but they can make a difference. Weight loss relieves stress on the affected joint, often making it feel more comfortable.
Anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy can help, too. And medications injected into the joint can provide relief, even if just temporarily.
Joint replacement is the gold standard for those with serious cases of OA in the hips and knees. Bits of bone and cartilage are replaced with man-made materials to restore smooth surfaces for joint motion. The techniques and materials for replacing joints have improved significantly over the past few decades, giving those with OA a new start. -Tedd Mitchell, MD, USA Weekend Back To Top |
| Award Winning Recipe for Summer..... |
 Skirt Steak Tostadas
Marinade:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of 3 lemons
1/2 cup honey
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 habaņero chili, seeded and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2-pound skirt steak
Mango Salsa:
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 large, ripe mango, peeled and finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 poblano chili, seeded and minced
1/4 cup honey
Juice of 3 limes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Other ingredients:
1 16-ounce can black beans, drained
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine
1 jalapeņo pepper, seeded and chopped
Vegetable oil, for frying
6 corn tortillas or tostada shells
Mango Salsa, recipe above
Sour cream, optional
Grated cheese of your choice, optional
Directions:
In a large, shallow dish, whisk the soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, onion and habaņero, plus salt and pepper, to taste. Add the meat, cover and refrigerate.
Marinate for at least 1 hour, but preferably for several hours.
Combine all salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Let sit for at least 20 minutes so the flavors will develop.
Simmer beans, olive oil, wine and jalapeņo in a saucepan for 20 minutes.
Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Carefully slide one tortilla into the oil and fry until crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. (Or follow package directions for heating tostada shells in oven.)
Preheat a grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat. Remove meat from dish and discard marinade. Place steak on the grill, and grill for about 4 to 6 minutes for medium-rare to medium, turning once. Remove from the grill and let meat rest for about 5 minutes. Thinly slice, at a diagonal, into strips.
To serve, place fried tortillas or tostadas on a large platter or individual plates. Drain the bean mixture, then spoon some onto the middle of the tortillas. Top with steak slices and the mango salsa. Garnish with optional sour cream and grated cheese, if desired.
Makes 6 tostadas and 4 cups of salsa.
Per serving: 559 calories, 36g protein, 39g carbohydrates, 28g fat (6.7g saturated), 67mg cholesterol, 6g fiber, 931mg sodium
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| Nothing to Wear? This fashionista Does: Just 1 day Dress for 365 days! |
Most women would rather be caught dead than wearing the same thing two days in a row (it's called the walk of shame for a reason), but someone is out to prove us all wrong.
On May 1, Sheena Matheiken embarked on a mission to go an entire year in the same dress - well, seven identical dresses to be exact. But being a die-hard New York fashionista, she was determined not to compromise her style in the process, and, three months into the project, she hasn't.
Every day, the little black dress is made new again. Matheiken has dubbed her efforts the Uniform Project, and she's raising funds and awareness for the Akanksha Foundation, a grass-roots movement that is revolutionizing education in India.
At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha's School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for impoverished children in India.
The dress has buttons up the back and is designed by Matheiken's friend, Eliza Starbuck, to be worn backward and frontward or open as a cardigan tunic. Something tells us that it will soon be available for purchase.
"Daily Candy," the online newsletter of all things cool, offered this kudo in support of the genius behind the Uniform Project.: "If wearing the same outfit three - okay, five - days in a row is wrong, we don't want to be right."
Matheiken's inspiring collection of unique looks revolving around one dress can be viewed at www.theuniform project.com. You can help Matheiken out by making a donation to the school or donating some accessories for her to play with. Matheiken's gallery of images is sure to put a smile on your face and make you second-guess your ever lamenting, "I have nothing to wear."
-Debra Baas, Sr. Louis Post
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| Your Moment of Zen...... |
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious..... the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science."
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We wish you a safe and fun-filled 2009 summer!
Sincerely,
Dr Lakin & Staff
Paradise Valley Medical Clinic PC
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