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10 Easy Health Tips to Start the New Year Right

December 31, 2012 by

With 2013 right around the corner, it’s time to gear up for a year full of optimism and good health!

If you’ve been waiting to write your resolutions until last minute, consider incorporating any—or all—of these health tips into your plan for a shining new year:

1. Drink more water. Many of us may not even realize that we go through our entire day dehydrated. If you feel tired often, take a look at what you’re drinking during the day—dehydration is known to cause fatigue and muscle cramps. This coming year, make the resolution to drink more water. After all, it’s calorie-free and readily available.

2. Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine is fine for an early morning boost, but if you need a cup of joe, tea, or soda just to get your through the day, you’re training your body for dependence. In addition, too much caffeine can disrupt your sleep and lead to dehydration, so consider replacing one caffeinated beverage each day with a healthier alternative, such as water.

3. Get more beauty sleep. Make 2013 the year of feeling bright-eyed and busy-tailed by getting more sleep at night. A number of experts agree that we need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to feel adequately rested.

4. Celebrate in moderation. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle in the New Year, choose to celebrate in moderation and reduce your alcohol consumption.  Not only will you help keep your liver happy, but you’ll also avoid extra calories. Try to limit your intake to no more than one drink of alcohol per day (1 drink = 12oz. of beer, 5oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of liquor).

5. Quit smoking. We’ve written extensively about how smoking can increase your risk of breast cancer and generally wreak havoc on your health. But a new year is as good a reason as any to finally kick the habit for good. If you need help, click here to read more about tobacco quitlines.

6. Walk more. Walking is a great and easy form of exercise. Not only does it burn calories, but it helps build muscle as well. It’s also low impact and most people can do it comfortably and effortlessly. If you’re looking to improve your health in the New Year, you don’t have to walk much; only 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace will dramatically improve cardiovascular health and help maintain a healthy weight.

7. Lift weights. Make the resolution to build your body’s strength this year with moderate weight training. Not only will you help protect your bones, but you’ll also prevent the muscle loss that occurs with aging. Try lifting weights or doing resistance exercises for 20 minutes 2 to 3 times per week to keep your body healthy and active.

8. Focus on eating in moderation. Forget the diets that pervade most people’s new year. If you deprive yourself too much and remain hungry all day, you’re more likely to overindulge, particularly in the evening. Focus on moderate eating by enjoying healthy, mini-meals every few hours to keep your energy up throughout the day.

9. Cut back on the sweets. Last year, nearly 2 million people were diagnosed with diabetes. Eating too much sugar or carbohydrates floods the body with insulin in response to the spike in blood sugar. In turn, this can lead to a condition called “insulin resistance.” Over time, insulin resistance may develop into type 2 diabetes. In 2013, do your body a huge favor by cutting back the sweets and increasing fiber to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes.

10. Take vitamins. Ask your doctor what nutrients you may be missing and how you may benefit from nutritional supplements. For example, if you’re a vegetarian, it’s important to make sure you get plenty of vitamin B12. You may find a daily multivitamin can help fill in the nutritional gaps within your diet.

What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2013? Share your aspirations in the comments section below!

 

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What Would Disqualify a Patient for Breast Reconstruction?

December 28, 2012 by

The question below is answered by Charleston breast surgeon Dr. James Craigie, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

What are some circumstances that may disqualify a patient for breast reconstruction?

Any serious medical conditions which would prevent a patient from tolerating 4-8 hours of general anesthesia would prevent her from having flap reconstruction. Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, increase various risks (in particular, risks of wound healing problems), but do not disqualify the patient from having reconstruction. We do not perform reconstruction on patients who are currently cigarette smokers (or use nicotine in any form) because nicotine’s effects on wound healing after flap surgery is frequently catastrophic. However, most patients will clear all nicotine form their system after a month’s abstinence. Some very slender patients do not have enough donor tissue anywhere on their bodies for flap reconstruction, but this is quite uncommon.

Have a question about breast reconstruction question you’d like answered? Just ask us!

 

 

 

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Quit Smoking for Good—for Vanity’s Sake!

December 26, 2012 by

Image Above Taken From: www.webmd.com

At the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, we always advocate for what’s in the best interest of your health, which is why it’s time to revisit our long list of reasons to kick the smoking habit once and for all. Smoking is particularly harmful for women. In fact, female smokers have a 25 to 32 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer.

Though most of us have heard the popular (and worthy) reasons to quit smoking—such as it causes cancer and emphysema and is an expensive habit, to boot—we decided to look at the more obvious ways smoking effects the body, both mentally and physically. Without further adieu, here are a few lesser-known reasons to inspire you or a loved one to give up cigarettes for good:

  • Get fresh: Cigarette toxins change your face’s oil secretions, which causes breakouts. To add insult to injury, according to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist and author of The Perricone Prescription, when we inhale just one puff of cigarette smoke, more than a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs, which then trigger an inflammatory response that circulates throughout the body. No thanks!
  • Stay sharp: Ex-smokers have better memories and reasoning skills than smokers do. Quitting smoking is an easy way to keep your wits in fighting condition! Not to mention, the logical move to stop smoking is contagious. Studies found that if you kick cigarettes, your spouse is 67 percent more likely to quit also, and friends are 36 percent more apt to quit, too.
  • Forever young: Puffers are four times more likely to go gray early, and the average smoker has ten times more wrinkles than non-smokers. Additionally, smoking causes the microscopic muscle fibers in the walls of the blood vessels to contract, causing smokers to have pale skin. In fact, a single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to the skin for more than an hour. Giving up smoking will improve the blood supply to the skin and give previously pale skin a more glowing and youthful appearance.
  • Your figure will thank you: As if maintaining an enviable figure wasn’t hard enough, smoking can create an imbalance in women’s hormone levels, which can lead to changes in body shape. Smoking affects the endocrinal system, or the glands that secrete hormones, and changes the body shape by increasing the waist-to-hip ratio and altering the way the body stores fat.
  • Build your self-esteem: Quitting is hard—if you can do it, you’ll feel more confident to take on other goals in your life! You’ll also have more energy to accomplish those goals. So go ahead and sign up for that 5K you’ve been thinking about, or take that yoga class, and watch your achievements continue to climb!

Have you ever quit smoking? If so, what made you decide to make the change?

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Happy Holidays!

December 24, 2012 by

We at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction wish you and your family a holiday season full of peace and love!

 

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Natural Breast Reconstruction on Slender Females

December 21, 2012 by

implantsThe below question is answered by Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

I had a 4.6 cm lobular carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemo (ac+t). Five treatments to go scheduled to end on 1/17/12. Tumor had been reduced to 2.7cm thus far. Scheduled for bi-lat mast in early Feb. I am slim, 5’4″ and 112 lbs now. Normally about 120 lbs. surgeon here in nj is recommending expander and fills followed by radiation and several months later, an exchange. He says I may have enough abdominal fat for a tram flap for one breast. Could I come to you six months after radiation for a diep flap or some other procedure if I just have mast and do nothing else for six months following rads? Thank you

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your situation, but we would absolutely be happy to see you. If you have decided for sure you want to be reconstructed with your own tissue, I would strongly recommend that you stick to your guns and not have expanders placed, for the following reason. The expanders will create a “divet’ in your bony chest wall, which will not go away, and some of your flap volume will be required to fill the “divet,” and thus not be visible in the breast mound. If you were more “fuller-figured” this would not be an issue, but it is a huge issue for slender patients. We have encountered very few patients who cannot be reconstructed due to inadequate donor sites, although it’s not too uncommon for slim patients to not end up quite as large as they’d wished. If you’d like to send photos of front and back we could give you a preliminary assessment of your donor sites, although of course the absolute assessment is best done in person.

Good luck, and please feel free to call or email with any other questions.

Richard Kline
Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

Would you like your breast reconstruction question answered? Just ask us!

 

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor

10 Winter Skincare Tips

December 19, 2012 by

Image Above Taken From: www.prevention.com

If you’re like most people, you probably already know (and are possibly experiencing) the havoc winter inflicts on skin. From chapped lips to cracked, dry hands, your skin takes a real beating in the chillier months—even here in Charleston!

Make healthy skin a priority this winter with these tips to combat the cold and keep your skin nourished all season:

  • Ask your doctor. First and foremost, when in doubt about your skin condition, it’s best to seek professional guidance. Going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment because such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using.
  • Invest in a good moisturizer. Your skincare needs vary depending on the season. Even if you love the moisturizer that kept your skin silky-smooth all summer, your skin demands a more hydrating lotion in the winter. Opt for a moisturizer that’s oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. You can also look for lotions containing “humectants,” a class of substances that attract moisture to your skin.
  • Slather on the sunscreen. Sunscreen isn’t just for summertime. Exposure to the winter sun can still damage your skin, increase the signs of aging, and cause skin cancer. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they’re exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside.
  • Give your hands extra attention. The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands, meaning it’s harder to keep your hands moist. In cold, dry weather, your hands are especially prone to itchiness, dryness, and cracking. Be sure you have moisturizer at the ready when you travel, and always wear gloves when you go outside.
  • Avoid wet clothing. Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema. Keep your body warm and dry this winter, and add layers for more protection.
  • Don’t forget your feet. Try finding thicker lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine—your feet will thank you. If your feet are dry, be sure to use exfoliants to get the dead skin off so that your moisturizer will sink in faster and deeper.
  • Reconsider your facial cleanser. If you’ve been battling the dry-skin blues all winter, try avoiding peels, masks, or alcohol-based face cleansers—they’re likely stripping vital oil from your skin. Opt for foaming cleansers and masks that are “deeply hydrating,” rather than clay-based, to save your skin’s natural moisture.
  • Plug in the humidifier. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. To disperse moisture throughout your home, you may want to place several small humidifiers around the house.
  • Protect your pout. Be sure you’re armed this winter with the most soothing lip balm you can find. Double-check to make sure it has sunscreen to keep your lips nourished and smooth.

How do you keep your skin healthy all winter long?

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Delicious Low-Fat Holiday Desserts

December 17, 2012 by

Image Above Taken From: www.Health.com

During the holidays, a little indulgence is the status quo. But who says the holidays have to compromise your healthy diet?

With these recipes, you can have all the flavor of your favorite holiday desserts, minus the guilt or added fat. Give them a whirl, and enjoy!

Whole-wheat sugar cookies
This year, keep your heart healthy with these whole-wheat sugar cookies topped with a delicious lemony glaze.

Ingredients

Cookies

  • 1 ¼ cups flour
  • ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract

Icing

  • 2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions: For cookies, whisk together first 4 ingredients (through baking soda) in a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugars together in a separate medium bowl until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl, and add the egg white and vanilla and almond extracts, and beat until just combined.

Add flour mixture, and stir until incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 325°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Dust a work surface with flour. Turn out chilled dough directly onto work surface. Roll dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes in dough, and gently transfer them to baking sheets. Bake cookies for 12 minutes or until set but not browned. Remove cookies from oven, and cool for 5 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing, whisk together all the icing ingredients in a large bowl until completely smooth. Mixture should have consistency of a glaze. (If it’s too thin, add a bit more sugar. If it’s too thick, add a few more drops of lemon juice.)

Transfer icing to a pastry bag (or a zip-top plastic bag with a small hole in one of the bottom corners). First, outline the cookie or desired design, then fill it in. Let icing harden before serving. Cookies can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Buttermilk Pralines
Enjoy a rich holiday treat that won’t do much damage to your diet! With a base of pecans, you’ll get plenty of good fat as well.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup whole buttermilk
  • 1 ½ tablespoons light-colored corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • Dash of salt
  • ⅔ cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions: Combine first 5 ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook over low heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over low heat until a candy thermometer reads 234° (about 10 minutes). Stir occasionally. Remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes.

Stir in nuts, butter, and vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until mixture begins to lose its shine (about 6 minutes). Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let stand 20 minutes or until set. Note: Store pralines in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Banana pudding
This simple Southern classic is one of our personal favorites around the holidays! Slim up the traditional pudding by using low-fat milk, fat-free sweetened condensed milk and reduced-fat cookies.

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • Dash of salt
  • 2 ½ cups 1% low-fat milk
  • 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups sliced ripe banana, divided
  • 45 reduced-fat vanilla wafers, divided
  • 4 large egg whites (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup sugar

Directions: Preheat oven to 325°. Combine flour and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milks and yolks; stir well. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

Arrange 1 cup banana slices in bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Spoon one-third of pudding mixture over banana. Arrange 15 wafers on top of pudding. Repeat layers twice, arranging the last 15 wafers around edge of dish. Push cookies into pudding.

Beat egg whites at high speed of a mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue evenly over pudding, sealing to edge of dish. Bake at 325° for 25 minutes or until golden. Note: Banana Pudding may be a bit soupy when you first remove it from the oven. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

Try out these recipes for your family this holiday season, and let us know what you think!

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DIEP Flap Procedure: Is this covered by my insurance?

December 14, 2012 by

mental healthThe below question is answered by Charleston breast surgeon, Dr. Richard Kline of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

I had a double mastectomy last month and am considering the DIEP procedure. My insurance is Aetna PPO and I wanted to know if this is covered. Also, I keep reading about stage 11 follow up to do lipo on the upper abdomen so it is flat like the bottom half ( after surgery) . Is that part of the reconstruction and is it covered by insurance? Thanks

Hi,

I’m almost sure we are in-network for you, but our office will let you know for sure.

We use liposuction to help correct some donor site deformities, such as bulging of the upper abdomen, or fullness of the “muffintop” areas. Often, that fat can be used as graft to enlarge the DIEP flaps, or improve little areas of asymmetry. If we place fat in the breast, we add a code for fat grafting for the insurance company, but we never bill anyone for liposuction per se.

Hope this helps, and thanks for your question.

Richard Kline
Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

Did you find this post helpful? We’d love to hear from you in our comments section.

 

 

 

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Experience the Holiday Festival of Lights

December 12, 2012 by

What better way to get in the holiday spirit than by touring the decorated houses and the gazing at the twinkling Christmas lights?

The James Island County Park embodies the essence of the season with its 23rd annual Holiday Festival of Lights—one of Charleston’s  most beloved nighttime events. Amidst the illuminated wonderland, you and your family will be delighted by the fantastic displays that truly capture the magic of the holidays.

The journey begins with a three-mile drive through hundreds of breathtaking light displays and millions of bulbs glowing through the night. Once you park the car, the whole family can experience exciting attractions designed expressly for holiday cheer, such as…

  • The Festival Express
  • Photos with Santa
  • 2012 Festival Ornament
  • Winter Carnival
  • Gift Shops
  • Light Display Design Contest
  • Giant Greeting Cards
  • Marshmallow Roasting
  • Enchanted Forest Walking Trail
  • 50-Ton Sand Sculpture
  • Carousel Rides

The Holiday Festival of Lights is open seven days a week from November 9, 2012 through December 31, 2012. For more information about the hours and admission, please visit www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=1555.

What is your favorite holiday event in Charleston? Share in the comments section below!

 

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Holidays on a Shoestring Budget: How to Give Great Gifts Without Breaking the Bank

December 10, 2012 by

Holiday BudgetDuring the holidays, it’s natural to want to give your loved ones the perfect gift…yet doing so may leave your wallet considerably lighter. Not to mention, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list can be time-consuming and frustrating. Unfortunately for some, holiday shopping means maxed out credit cards—which is a stressful way to start off the New Year.

But the holiday season doesn’t have to be a time to go into debt or to overstretch your means. Take advantage of these easy, low-cost ways to spread the holiday cheer without running up your credit lines:

Use your talents. Take an inventory of your basic talents and skills to see which ones you could put to use to create holiday gifts. Most people appreciate a gift that someone put time and effort into and personally made for them. With an investment of just a few dollars for ingredients or materials and some basic skills, you could:

  • Bake some holiday treats and decorate them just for the recipient.
  • Knit or crochet a scarf, mittens, or a hat—or a blanket for your friend’s pet!
  • Scrapbook an album of special photos, or craft a beautiful greeting card.
  • Paint or draw a picture the recipient can display in their home.
  • Complete household repairs for someone.

Use your imagination, and get creative! The beauty of using your talents is that you can customize your gifts especially for your loved ones.

Give the gift of your time. Another easy way to manage your holiday budget is to give the gift of time. Offer to do a specific chore for someone in place of a store-bought gift. Some ideas could be:

  • Make a home-cooked meal.
  • Do a week’s worth of laundry.
  • Clean their house.
  • Wash their car.
  • Do an afternoon of yard work.
  • Babysit their kids.
  • Walk their dogs.

Remember, you can tailor the offer to the gift recipients needs, and if you know them well, you should have a pretty good idea of what offer would be most appreciated.

Get your family involved. Consider discussing cost-saving strategies with family members, such as:

  • Setting a spending limit on individual gifts.
  • Doing a gift exchange where you each draw a name out of a hat, instead of exchanging individual gifts with each family member.
  • Going in together on a family gift, like a family vacation or a season pass to an amusement park or zoo.

When your whole family can agree on basic gift-giving guidelines, you can save money and ensure your family is on the same page, so everyone can enjoy a happy, stress-free holiday!

Have more ideas? Share your tips for staying on budget during the holidays!

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