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16 x July 5 — 18, 2018 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com<br />
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15<br />
failure. Many offices also offer amenities<br />
such as noise-canceling headphones,<br />
aromatherapy neck pillows,<br />
blankets or TVs over chairs, which are<br />
all great techniques that can help to<br />
distract patients from their fears and<br />
get them more relaxed. Techniques<br />
such as oral or IV sedation and antianxiety<br />
medication can help those<br />
with extreme fears. Overall, it is<br />
important to not let your fears keep<br />
you from seeing a dentist, because<br />
delay can lead to extensive tooth<br />
decay, tooth loss or other health<br />
challenges.<br />
Diabetes 101<br />
by Jose Mandry, M.D.<br />
Endocrine Associates of Florida<br />
www.jmandry.com<br />
407-480-4830<br />
Representatives of the Centers<br />
for Disease Control and Prevention<br />
report 100 million Americans are<br />
living with diabetes mellitus or<br />
have prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes<br />
often happens as we age and<br />
is associated with other chronic<br />
illnesses such as heart disease,<br />
kidney problems, nerve damage,<br />
sexual dysfunction and eye<br />
problems.<br />
If diabetes runs in your family, if<br />
your waist is more than 35 inches for<br />
females and 40 inches for males, or<br />
if you have symptoms like fatigue,<br />
frequent urination, unexplained<br />
weight loss, blurry vision or excessive<br />
thirst, an easy blood test can<br />
determine if you are prediabetic or<br />
diabetic. If your doctor determines<br />
you are at risk for diabetes, he or<br />
she may discuss easy treatment options<br />
such as diet, weight loss and<br />
exercise.<br />
Early detection and treatment<br />
are necessary in alleviating<br />
other chronic complications<br />
that occur in people who have<br />
diabetes. Talk to your health care<br />
professional about your risk, so<br />
you can make healthy lifestyle<br />
choices to prevent diabetes and its<br />
complications.<br />
Preventing<br />
Fall Risks for Seniors<br />
by James Pasquinelli, Owner<br />
Home Care Assistance<br />
www.homecareassistanceorlando.com<br />
407-232-7155<br />
A senior’s home can present many<br />
risks. There should be plenty of light<br />
in every room. Motion-activated or<br />
timer lights can be helpful as days get<br />
shorter. Bathroom safety can be improved<br />
by having grab bars installed<br />
in the tub or shower and by the toilet.<br />
Nonslip strips and a bath bench in<br />
the tub or shower and a raised toilet<br />
seat are valuable. Kitchen countertops<br />
should be kept glare-free. Rugs<br />
should be tacked down or secured<br />
with nonskid pads. Rugs with highly<br />
contrasting dark and light patterns<br />
can interfere with a senior’s depth<br />
perception and should be avoided<br />
or replaced. Reduce glare with only<br />
no-wax cleaners on floors. Firmly<br />
secured handrails are a necessity<br />
on both sides of stairways and outside<br />
steps. Steps should also have<br />
nonskid treads. Furniture should<br />
not block walking areas. Make<br />
sure all electrical cords are out of<br />
the way.<br />
Hiring an in-home caregiver can<br />
also help prevent falls, especially<br />
if a senior is living alone at home.<br />
Supervision is especially important<br />
for older people with dementia that<br />
makes them get up and wander at<br />
night.<br />
Getting Children<br />
to Eat Healthy<br />
by Bindu Parekattil, M.D., FAAP<br />
Ocoee Pediatrics<br />
www.ocoeekidsdocs.com<br />
407-395-2037<br />
Almost all parents admonish children<br />
to “Eat your vegetables,” but<br />
how do we get our children to eat<br />
those vegetables?<br />
As a physician, I ask kids to follow<br />
the two veggie/two fruit rule. At<br />
lunch and dinner, have a vegetable.<br />
Ask them to eat the vegetable first<br />
and then “enjoy” the rest of their<br />
meal. It is much harder to eat things