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2024-04-29T08:01:00

(BPT) – Healthy sight allows you to see all of the world’s wonders, and healthy retinas make healthy sight possible. When retinal disease strikes and a clear view of the world is replaced by a curtain-like shadow, central blurriness or straight lines that appear wavy, it’s critical to seek out the expert care uniquely provided by a retina specialist.

“Many retinal diseases have no symptoms in the earliest stages. Therefore, it’s critical to see a specialist with advanced training in the treatment of retinal conditions for those who are at risk. Once symptoms appear, one should see a retina specialist as soon as possible,” American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Foundation President Judy E. Kim, M.D., FASRS, said. “With a mastery of the newest and most sophisticated tools and surgical techniques available, retina specialists can often preserve and improve a patient’s vision, allowing them to get back to activities like working, driving and reading that can be challenging or impossible with impaired vision.”

Millions of Americans have retina specialists to thank for saving their vision from conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy so they can see for a lifetime, but others who haven’t needed the care of a retina specialist may be in the dark about the advanced early detection and state-of-the-art treatments they offer. During May’s Healthy Vision Month, learn more about America’s retina specialists and the importance of the sight-saving care they provide.

1. Retina specialists are medical doctors. There are many types of eye health providers, but not all have attended medical school. Retina specialists are among the most extensively trained and highly skilled eye care providers, having completed up to 10 years of advanced medical training to specialize in ophthalmology and sub-specialize in diseases and surgery of the retina.
2. Retina specialists are physicians and surgeons. Retina specialists can treat many retinal conditions by administering medications, but most are also trained surgeons who perform surgical procedures on tissue thinner than a butterfly’s wing in the retina to treat issues such as retinal detachment and macular hole.
3. Retina specialists treat two of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the U.S. AMD and diabetic retinopathy are retinal conditions that affect more than 20 million people in the U.S. Both conditions can result in blindness, but if caught and treated early, a retina specialist can often save or improve vision in people with these and other retinal conditions.
4. Retina specialists are responsible for sight-saving breakthroughs. Less than 20 years ago, many people diagnosed with common retinal conditions like AMD were destined to become legally blind. Today advances in the diagnosis and treatment of AMD and other retinal diseases made possible by retina specialists allow many patients to preserve their vision through personalized medical and surgical treatment approaches.
5. Retina specialists have access to advanced retinal imaging. People who are at risk or experience symptoms of a retinal condition should visit a retina specialist’s office, which is equipped with cutting-edge imaging technologies, allowing for earlier diagnosis, closer monitoring and breakthrough treatment approaches that can help save sight. These state-of-the-art imaging technologies include optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography and ophthalmic ultrasound, just to name a few.
6. Retina specialists treat adults and children. Some of the conditions retina specialists treat are more common in adults and older people such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachments. Children can also experience retinal conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity, affecting premature babies, and Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited retinal disorder that can cause visual impairment in infancy. Retina specialists also care for children who experience eye trauma, and those diagnosed with retinoblastoma, the most common form of eye tumor in infants and young children.
7. Find your retina specialist in just a few clicks. Find a retina specialist from the comfort of your own home or on the go with ASRS’s Find a Retina Specialist locator. Search the ASRS database of member retina specialists using a physician’s name or enter your country, city, state or zip code. Results are listed and shown on a map of your area. Access the search tool at FindYourRetinaSpecialist.org.

For more information about retina specialists and the conditions they treat visit SeeforaLifetime.org. Also, download and share these printable retina health resources in English and Spanish:

• Patient Guide: What is a Retina Specialist? (English)
• Patient Guide: Healthy Habits for Healthy Retinas (English)
• Patient Guide: Preparing for your Retina Appointment (English)

• Patient Guide: Un especialista de retina puede ayudarlo a ver para toda la vida (Spanish)
• Patient Guide: Buenos hábitos para cuidar la visión (Spanish)
• Patient Guide: Preparación para su cita de control de las retinas (Spanish)

About ASRS

The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) is the largest organization of retina specialists in the world, representing more than 3,000 members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 63 countries. Retina specialists are board-certified ophthalmologists who have completed fellowship training in the medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases. The mission of the ASRS is to provide a collegial and open forum for education, to advance the understanding and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases, and to enhance the ability of its members to provide the highest quality of patient care. Learn more at ASRS.org. Like ASRS on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter for the latest retina health information.

2024-04-29T09:03:00

(BPT) – Are you one of the 185 million Americans who garden? If not, it’s time to consider joining the crowd. Gardening can be an incredibly rewarding hobby, especially if you grow your own produce.

When you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can taste the difference between a store-bought tomato and one you pick fresh from the vine. Still not convinced? Discover four ways you can benefit from growing your own food.

1. Savor the taste and the savings

Growing your own produce guarantees you have the freshest possible fruits and vegetables at the best price. Inflation is top of mind for most Americans, and one especially spendy category is groceries. According to a recent U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey analysis, the average household spending on groceries is $1,080 a month. That increases to $1,260 per month for a four-person household.

You can quickly curb your grocery bill by growing your own food. The National Gardening Association found that a 600-square-foot garden, which costs about $70 per year, can yield 300 pounds of fresh produce a year, worth $600. The return on investment is well worth the time, expense and effort you put into cultivating your garden. It’s a win for your wallet and your taste buds.

2. Add variety to your diet

Depending on where you shop, your selection of produce can be limited. However, when you garden, you’re in control of what you grow, so take the opportunity to expand your palate. With just a few packets of seeds, you can grow a rainbow of flavor in your backyard!

For example, Ferry-Morse, one of the leading and oldest gardening seed brands in the U.S., has a new Colossal Collection of seeds that will take your gardening to new heights this season. The collection features six seed varieties that will grow vegetables double the average size — or double the yield — for extra flavor, value and bragging rights!

The collection includes The Big Dill Cucumber, Jack’s Magic Pole Beans, Super Nacho Jalapeño Peppers, Beefed Up Beefsteak Tomato, Sasquatch Butternut Squash and Cinderella’s Ride Pumpkins. Not only do they taste good, but they also provide the most bang for your buck — for example, one pack of The Big Dill Cucumber seeds can grow up to $250 worth of fresh cucumbers. To start your culinary adventure in your garden, visit FerryMorse.com/Collections/Colossal-Seed.

3. Get a natural workout

Skip the gym and get your hands dirty instead! Tending to your garden is a labor of love and an engaging workout. As you nurture your garden, you’ll have to dig, plant, weed, water and harvest. Before you know it, you’ll have gotten your exercise in for the day and be one step closer to enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor. Best of all, you get to do this all in the fresh air under sunny skies!

4. Be inspired to try new recipes

When you grow your own produce, especially if you’re growing items you don’t usually buy at the store, you’ll be inspired to get creative in the kitchen. Tini Younger, a Next Level Chef season 2 contestant, was inspired by Ferry-Morse’s Colossal Collection to create a beef stir fry using Jack’s Magic Pole Beans.

Start by trimming your Jack’s Magic Pole Beans and combine them with chopped broccoli, bell peppers, onions, and minced ginger and garlic. In a bowl, season thinly sliced flank steak with garlic powder, onion powder, chile powder, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of rice vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch, mixing to combine.

Add vegetable oil to a pan or wok and place over medium-to-high heat. Place your sliced steak into your pan and cook for two to three minutes on each side or until brown. Remove your steak from the pan and add your vegetable mixture, cooking for four to five minutes or until crisp. Once your vegetables are cooked, combine them with your cooked beef and keep to the side until your sauce is ready.

In a separate bowl, start making your sauce by combining a one-quarter cup of soy sauce, a tablespoon of hoisin sauce, half a teaspoon of sesame oil, a tablespoon of your minced garlic and ginger, one-quarter cup of beef stock, two tablespoons of dark brown sugar, and half a tablespoon of cornstarch, which will help thicken your sauce.

Add your sauce to a large saucepan over medium heat and let it simmer for one to two minutes, stirring consistently. Once your sauce has thickened, add your cooked vegetables and steak to your pan and combine. Plate your stir fry over a bowl of rice, garnish with chopped green onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice, and enjoy!

These are just four wonderful reasons to fall in love with homegrown produce. This season and beyond, embrace the green goodness of growing a produce aisle right in your backyard. Happy gardening!

2024-04-26T09:41:57

(BPT) – For some, skiing isn’t just a sport. It’s a way of life. This is especially true for Holly Reitsema, who was raised in a family of freestyle skiers. Not only is she a competitive freestyle skiing athlete, but she also coaches at the prestigious Woodward Copper snowboard and ski training camp.

“I’ve been skiing since I was 3 years old. I ski over 200 days a year and it’s my livelihood,” said Reitsema.

Everything changed for Reitsema when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) when she hit a jump while skiing. “Midair, I felt off-axis and shoulder heavy, so I knew I was about to fall. I then did the worst thing possible and fought my fall, so my body was twisted when I landed.”

Not an uncommon story

Skiers like Reitsema are well acquainted with ACL injuries. According to Miach Orthopaedics, about 400,000 ACL injuries occur each year in the U.S. Of those injuries, 20,000 happen while skiing. Even with gear maintenance, proper warmup and strengthening exercises, ACL tears still happen to skiers of all levels and ages.

Unlike many other ligaments in the body, the ACL cannot heal on its own and often requires ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. During ACLR, an orthopedic surgeon removes the torn ACL and replaces it with a graft from another part of the body or a deceased donor.

Although ACL reconstruction is effective, the procedure has drawbacks. When a graft is taken from the knee, many patients experience long-term knee pain. And when a graft is taken from the hamstring, patients may have persistent weakness in that muscle. Regardless of the graft type, many people cannot return to the same level of daily activities or sports.

Reitsema’s father had ACLR years previously with a patellar tendon graft, and she saw how the injury changed him. Hesitation, pain and multiple operations held him back from his prior feats, and this was not something Reitsema nor her father wanted.

“My local orthopedic surgeon initially suggested I get ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft,” said Reitsema. “I was very hesitant because I wasn’t experiencing pain from the ACL tear, but the doctor said I would have pain after getting the graft. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to return to skiing or coaching. Something just didn’t feel right about the patellar tendon graft procedure to me.”

A novel treatment for ACL injuries

Luckily for Reitsema, she was an excellent candidate for a novel ACL tear treatment. The BEAR Implant is the first medical advancement that enables the ACL to heal on its own. The implant works by using your own blood to heal the torn ends of your ACL back together, restoring its natural anatomy and function.

During the procedure, the orthopedic surgeon adds your own blood to the BEAR Implant and attaches it between the torn ends of your ACL. The implant holds and protects the blood to allow clot formation. Over time, the BEAR Implant — made of collagen — is resorbed by your body and replaced with native ACL tissue.

“I think the BEAR Implant has the potential to change the entire paradigm around ACL injuries,” said Dr. Alex Meininger, an orthopedic surgeon at Steamboat Orthopaedic and Spine Institute in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “Previously, we as surgeons thought an ACL tear was incompatible with healing and the stump of native ACL tissue unsalvageable. The regenerative medicine potential of the BEAR Implant has turned that notion on its head.”

After speaking with Reitsema, Meininger felt that she was a great fit for the BEAR Implant. After the procedure and diligent rehab, Reitsema’s ACL healed, and she was able to return to skiing and coaching.

“After hitting the slopes for the first time, I was so proud that my knee didn’t tire out,” said Reitsema. “Since skiing and coaching again, I have been building my stamina and am more self-aware of my energy levels. These days, once I properly warm up, I feel like I did before I got injured. Being able to hit a rail and demonstrate tricks for my students while coaching is an extreme accomplishment for me.”

Reitsema’s story isn’t the only success of this innovative treatment. To date, over 300 patients with snow-related injuries have been treated with the BEAR Implant. To learn more about the procedure and read safety information, visit BEARImplant.com/Snow.

2024-04-26T00:01:00

(BPT) – By Dr. Lisa Saul, UnitedHealthcare’s National Medical Director, Maternal & Child Health

Pregnancy and childbirth are often celebrated as incredible, remarkable events in a woman’s life. But for some, it can be anything but joyful. One in five women experience pregnancy-related mental health conditions. Of those, 20% will face suicidal thoughts or attempt to harm themselves. In fact, maternal mental health challenges are the number one cause of maternal mortality, primarily due to suicide.

Mental health conditions are among the most common complications of pregnancy and can present themselves in many ways. In addition to sleep disruption, some women feel unable or unwilling to care for their baby, while others have negative thoughts about their baby. In some cases, women may experience hallucinations, psychosis, or severe depression.

Most women have some degree of the “baby blues.” So, what makes some women more likely to experience more severe mental health issues? Women with a history of anxiety or mood disorders or those with a family history of postpartum depression have a higher risk. Women from under-resourced communities, those with little to no social support, and those who use substances like drugs or alcohol also face higher risks, as are women who have experienced fertility challenges, an unwanted pregnancy, or a difficult birth. And among communities of color, stigma and judgment often prevent women (and men) from seeking mental health treatment.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. As a medical professional specializing in women’s health and a mother of two, I believe it is crucial to shed light on this silent epidemic. The time has come to recognize that pregnancy-related mental health conditions are not only prevalent but largely preventable. With a concerted effort to raise awareness and prioritize maternal mental health, we can take significant steps to save lives and ensure a safer journey into motherhood. Here are a few tips to help combat maternal mental health challenges:

Inform yourself: Take some time to familiarize yourself with emotional changes that can come with pregnancy and the postpartum period. Learning about common experiences and knowing when things may be veering into more serious territory can be immensely helpful. This knowledge not only helps in setting your own expectations but also empowers you to communicate effectively with healthcare providers.

Destigmatize mental health: It’s okay to talk about how we’re really feeling, even when it’s tough. Whether you’re pregnant, a new parent, or a supportive partner or friend, speaking up about mental health challenges should be as normal as talking about a backache. When we open up, we make it easier for everyone to seek the help they might need without fear.

Monitor your well-being: Keep an eye on how you’re feeling emotionally, not just physically. Changes in mood, energy levels or thoughts can be subtle clues that you need some extra care. It’s like keeping a diary of your emotional world — noting down what feels different, what’s worrying you, or even what’s bringing you unexpected joy.

Call your health plan provider: Your health insurer can also help you access care. For example, some insurers like UnitedHealthcare have specially trained advocates to support members who might be struggling due to their social environment. They’re there to help members understand their benefits and guide them to timely care.

Take advantage of your Employee Assistance Program (EAP): These programs typically offer services that relatively few employees take advantage of. For example, if your employer offers EAP in-the-moment support through UnitedHealthcare, you can call in to speak confidentially with a master’s level behavioral health clinician to receive support as many times as needed, in real-time, and around the clock — even if it’s 2 a.m. on a Saturday.* Depending on your situation, you may not need to seek additional behavioral health support with a care provider if your EAP offers personalized guidance.

Seek support: Don’t hesitate to ask your personal or professional networks for help. A trusted healthcare provider can guide you to the right level of support, such as talking to an expert in person or virtually, or joining a network or discussion group about this issue. Your family and friends can be there for you by listening, offering the voice of experience, or even helping with household chores to allow you time to rest. Remember that taking action early is a proactive step toward maintaining your mental health. It’s a sign of strength.

As we journey toward safer motherhood experiences, it is essential to recognize the significance of pregnancy-related mental health conditions and take action to address this pressing issue. Together, we can break the silence, prioritize maternal mental health, and ensure that no mother faces this challenge alone. It is time to unite, embrace compassion, and empower all women to embark on their motherhood journey with strength and resilience.

* EAP availability varies by plan design and benefits selected by the employer

2024-04-25T14:45:00

(BPT) – Have you ever grown salsa in your garden? What about potato salad? You can, with spring’s hottest culinary trend called “yard-to-table.” It brings farm-to-table home and is about growing your own vegetables for the dishes you love to cook. It’s fun, healthy and easy, with a little planning and the right help. Lowe’s recently partnered with Queer Eye’s New York Times bestselling cookbook author Antoni Porowski to get people started on their own yard-to-table smorgasbord — complete with exclusive new recipes.

Porowski recommends beginning with a few herbs that you use often in the kitchen, like basil or parsley. He also urges everyone to seek a little professional advice to determine what grows best and when in their particular area. Not only are Lowe’s red vest associates — experts in all things garden — available every day to offer insight and help identify which plants may grow best for shoppers, but Lowe’s is also holding a DIY workshop, “How to Grow a Salsa Garden” in stores nationwide on April 27.

This free workshop is exclusive to MyLowe’s Rewards members, a new loyalty program that offers a seamless and rewarding shopping experience. Members also receive exclusive perks like free standard shipping on eligible online purchases, free gifts and member-only offers.

Porowski also suggests thinking about favorite dishes when selecting herbs, vegetables and fruits for an edible garden. Love a summer pasta? How about potato salad? Sweet tooth? It’s important to break down ingredients needed for these go to recipes.

That said, Porowski also recommends planting versatile veggies and fruits that are easy to grow in just about any climate and conditions, from a balcony planter to a full garden. For example, cucumbers are a staple in everything from cucumber salad to Porowski’s Mediterranean Garden Pasta. Berry varieties lend themselves to Porowski’s Pear Blackberry Cobbler with Sage Brown Butter or a Spicy Strawberry Refresher Mocktail.

Interested in these yard-to-table recipe takes from Porowski? We’ve got you covered there, too. Check out Porowski’s exclusive recipes made in partnership with Lowe’s below and head over to your local Lowe’s and Lowes.com to snag all the herb, vegetable and fruit plants and garden essentials needed to create your own edible garden.

Garden Potato Salad

Serves 12-16

Ingredients:

1.5 lb Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes

1.5 lb Baby Red Potatoes

1/2 lb fresh green beans (2 cups)

1/3 c finely diced red onion

1 c finely diced celery

1/2 c finely diced radish

4 hard boiled eggs*

1 1/4 c mayonnaise

3 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper)

1/2 c finely chopped flat leaf parsley

2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh dill

Boil potatoes until just fork tender. Remove from pot with a slotted spoon and place into a bowl of ice water to quickly chill. While potatoes are cooling, drop green beans into reserved potato water for 1-2 minutes to quickly blanch. You will know they are ready when the color of the bean turns to bright green. Drain and run under cold water until cooled. Pat dry potatoes and beans to remove excess moisture.

Into a large bowl add mayo, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Aleppo pepper, parsley and dill. Whisk until well incorporated.

Chop potatoes into small, bite-sized pieces. Cut green beans into roughly one inch lengths.

Add potatoes, green beans, red onion, celery and radish to the large bowl containing dressing. Hand tear eggs into rough pieces and add to bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until all vegetables are fully dressed.

*Quick tip for easy hard boiled eggs: preheat air fryer to 250. Place eggs in air fryer and cook at 250 for 15 minutes. Remove and place in an ice water bath.

Mediterranean Garden Pasta

Serves 6 as a main, 12-15 as a side

Ingredients:

For pasta:

1 lb of your favorite pasta (ziti, penne, farfalle or spaghetti work beautifully)

15.5 oz can of garbanzo beans drained and rinsed

2 c diced cucumber (if not using mini or English, remove seeds before chopping)

1 c quartered cherry tomatoes

1/2 c thinly sliced red pepper

1/4 c finely minced shallot

1 large carrot shaved into strips with a vegetable peeler and cut in half

2 packed c baby spinach roughly chopped

1 packed c curly parsley finely minced (stems and all)

1/2 c Castelvetrano olives roughly chopped

1/2 c pickled beets diced

1/4 c pepperoncini finely diced

7 oz feta crumbled or diced

Dressing:

2 Tbsp mayonnaise

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 c fresh lemon juice (approx. 4 large lemons)

3 large cloves of garlic grated

1/2 c olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

2 Tbsp fresh oregano leaves finely minced

Cook pasta according to directions. Make sure to not overcook as will become mushy and break when added to vegetables and dressing. Slightly underdone is perfect as pasta will absorb dressing as it sits. Strain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.

In an extra large bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients. Add garbanzo beans and mash with a fork until at least half of the beans are roughly mashed.

Add cucumber, tomato, red pepper, red onion, carrot, spinach, parsley, olives, beets, pepperoncini and feta. Stir all together very well to evenly distribute ingredients and fully coat with dressing. Add pasta and gently fold it in with a rubber spatula to prevent breaking. At this point pasta is ready to serve but will become even more flavorful if allowed to sit in refrigerator for 1-2 hours or overnight.

Pear Blackberry Cobbler with Sage Brown Butter

4 heaping c quartered, cored and sliced pears

6 oz (one pint) blackberries

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c water

1/2 tsp white pepper

Pinch salt

3/4 c sugar

1 1/2 c self rising flour

1 c milk

2 tsp vanilla

12 Tbsp (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter

2 packed Tbsp fresh sage leaves

1 c chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400. Place butter and sage leaves into a 9 x 13 pan and put in oven. Let cook until butter solids separate and brown and sage becomes crispy (12-14 min). You will know you are close when butter begins to smell nutty and butter turns amber in color. Dark brown bits are what you are after. Once your butter has reached this stage, remove from oven and set aside.

Turn oven down to 350.

While butter is browning put pears, brown sugar, water, white pepper and salt into a sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and continue to cook for about 10 minutes until pears become tender and liquid becomes syrupy.

In a medium sized bowl mix sugar, flour, milk and vanilla. Stir just until no lumps remain in batter. Add to melted sage butter by pouring into middle of pan (DO NOT MIX).

Spoon pears and their liquid over the batter, again do not mix. Stud with blackberries and sprinkle pecans over the top in an even layer.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 min. Cobbler is done when lightly browned and internal temp is 190.

Serve plain, with whipped cream or your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Spicy Strawberry Refresher

Makes one mocktail

2 medium sized strawberries, chopped

1 slice fresh jalapeño

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp fresh whole cilantro leaves

pinch salt

About 1 oz ginger beer

Fresh orange juice

To a 16 oz glass, add strawberries, jalapeño, sugar, cilantro and salt. Muddle together in bottom of glass. (If you don’t have a traditional muddler the handle of a wooden spoon may be used.)

Add 1/2 c ice and ginger beer, stir vigorously.

Top with a splash of orange juice.

Enjoy!