Elizabeth “Kitty” Davis stands before a group of Broward County HIV case workers, urging them to put a hand on their bellies and another on their chests. Now breathe and exhale, she says.
A stress-relief coach, Davis models not only belly breathing, but also box breathing and the extended exhale.
“Slow everything down and breathe,” she tells the care workers. “Everyone is overworked and underpaid. You can’t expand time, but you can increase your capacity to handle stress.”
Burnout is a widespread problem in the United States, with studies indicating that 44% of employees experience it, and another 45% report feeling emotionally drained. That’s on top of the rising stress levels Americans report as the economy declines and political infighting captures headlines.
Stress can take a toll on your health. It can cause stomach problems, weaken your immune system, trigger headaches, produce insomnia, or even lead to depression. It also can affect your work.
“When care providers suffer burnout, then the quality of care suffers as well,” Davis says to her audience of HIV caseworkers. “It’s easier to make judgments and miss opportunities to ask important questions.”
Stress-relief coaches, like Davis, help identify the causes of stress, develop personalized coping strategies, and teach ways to manage stress proactively and build resilience.
Some people need help setting priorities, learning relaxation skills, and reducing their overall stress load, said Davis, owner of Moving Forward Wellness Coach of Oakland Park. “I come up with customized ways to respond to overwhelm.”
Sometimes, her solution is to use Post-it notes or digital tools more effectively. Alternatively, it may involve using an employer-provided Employee Assistance Program or other community resources. “People often tell me why stress-relief methods are not going to work and I don’t push, but I do offer opportunities to reframe things and talk through the barriers.”
Learning to relax is a skill that an increasing number of people struggle with as they simultaneously do multiple activities such as watching television, sorting through emails, and holding conversations.
Davis said the relaxation techniques she uses combine mindfulness (staying present in the moment) and breathing (focusing on the inhale and exhale). “The only requirement is willingness.”
A one-hour session with a stress coach ranges from $40 to $200. Online directories can connect you with one in your area.
Free plastic surgery for moms
To honor his late mother, Dr. Joshua Lampert is offering free plastic surgery for Mother’s Day. Applications are open through April 21.
Lampert, an Aventura plastic surgeon, said he wants to give life-altering reconstructive surgery to uninsured and underinsured mothers in need, calling the one-day event the A.L.L. for Moms Charity Surgery Day.
The types of procedures Lampert says he will do include procedures such as breast reconstruction, c-section scar revision, removal of painful breast implants, or torn earlobes. Applications are available at lampertmd.com
“I’m not doing facelifts or cosmetic procedures. While I enjoy doing those, that is not what this day is all about,” he said.
Lampert said he does not have a set number of procedures he will do at no cost, but plans to go from about 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. with help of his staff and at least one other surgeon. His entire office team is involved in selecting mothers who will receive free surgeries. Patients must be able to attend post-operative follow-up in person.
“Everyone on my team enjoys this day,” he said. “It strips it down to bare bones, to why we went into medicine in the first place. Patients are very appreciative.”
The myths and truths of women’s aging and hormones
As women age, they often struggle to understand what is happening in their bodies — and why.
Dr. Jila Senemar, a Miami obstetrician and hormone replacement therapy specialist, gathered experts from throughout South Florida on April 5 to discuss menopause, sexual health, mental well-being, and longevity treatments with local women at a South Florida event called EmpowerHer. More than 200 women participated with a lineup of speakers that included menopause and weight-management specialists, sexual wellness coaches, a dermatologist and a psychiatrist.
The experts offered seven major takeaways for women over 50:
- Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can be obvious or subtle. Some of the obvious are irregular cycles, night sweats and intense emotions. Some of the lesser known are vertigo, dry skin, frozen shoulder and weight gain.
- Not all healthcare providers have training and expertise in all stages of menopause. “You need a provider who is up to date on the data and information so you get appropriate care,” Senemar said.
- The fear of a connection between Hormone Replacement Therapy and cancer needs tempering. “When managed properly, estrogen and progesterone can significantly improve a woman’s quality of life,” Senemar said. A specialist can provide the pros and cons and decide if and for how long HRT should be considered by factoring in your age, your health history and your symptoms.
- Hormone therapy (including testosterone) can be started at any age. There are irrelevant age-related misconceptions. “I have an 81-year-old on hormone therapy,” Senemar said.
- Women’s healthy aging requires a comprehensive approach. Experts say aging well encompasses proper sleep, strength training, a balanced diet, mindfulness, and social support.
- Couples can be intimate at any age. “Some women in their 50s and think they are done with sexual intimacy. That’s absolutely wrong. This whole narrative needs to shift,” Senemar said.
- Finding a support community is helpful. “When women hear and see that they not alone in the symptoms they are experiencing, they feel fired up to get the right care and find resources to improve their health,” Senemar said.
Women at the event expressed frustration with a lack of empathy and medical knowledge of local gynecologists. Senemar said she just formed her own practice to spend more time with each patient. “When I meet with a patient, it’s not a quick discussion and it’s not a one-time visit. They leave with a personalized program and it’s a work in progress.”
Cancer breakthrough talks in Palm Beach
Dr. Toni Choueiri of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is studying ways to use blood and urine to detect cancer in early stages. “This is an evolving field,” he said.
Choueiri and three other experts from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recently provided a cancer research update in Palm Beach, where residents have donated more than $1 million to the cancer institute annually through a fundraiser.
Choueiri spoke about his work with liquid biopsies, tests done on blood or urine to find biomarkers that are indicators of cancer. Liquid biopsies are an alternative to surgically removing tissue.
“A tissue biopsy can be invasive and provides only a localized view,” Choueiri said.
So far, Choueiri’s team has found a liquid biopsy can detect kidney cancers with high accuracy.
“We are making strides,” he said.
He also spoke of his success treating a form of kidney cancer with a vaccine after a patient’s tumor is removed. “The vaccine is designed to train the body’s immune system to recognize and eliminate any remaining tumor cells,” he said. After close to three years, all nine patients in the trial remained cancer-free.
Dana-Farber researchers also presented cancer breakthroughs, including advancements in the use of artificial intelligence, immunotherapy, and integrative therapies to detect and treat various forms of cancer.
Hospital News:
- The University of Miami Health System is expanding its cancer offerings in Broward County with the addition of radiation oncology at Sylvester Plantation. The 40,000-square-foot Sylvester Plantation facility already serves as a hub for cancer services, offering diagnostics and treatments for rare and complex cancers. The addition of the radiation oncology center grows Sylvester’s reach as the only NCI-designated cancer center in the region. Patients can now access all non-surgical cancer services at a single location in Broward County.
- Baptist Health South Florida is expanding its proton therapy capabilities in Boca Raton at the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute. On April 8, the Cyclotron used for delivering precise and targeted cancer treatment was delivered to the Institute. The Gantry, another essential component of the proton therapy system, arrived shortly after. Once operational, the Lynn Cancer Institute’s Proton Therapy Center will offer patients in Palm Beach County access to one of the most innovative treatment options in radiation oncology.
- Memorial Healthcare System is now using new equipment called the AI-Powered GI Genius to enhance polyp detection in real time during colonoscopies. “It’s helping our physicians identify abnormalities that could be missed by the human eye — especially in patients under 50, where rates of colorectal cancer are rising,” said Dr. Michael Dolberg. The new AI-assisted “second set of eyes” can help identify polyps that may be difficult to detect due to their size, shape, or location within the colon’s complex structure. By integrating this technology into routine screenings, Memorial’s colorectal specialists can significantly increase detection rates. The tool is now being deployed across Memorial’s entire colorectal surgery program.
- Wellington Regional Medical Center announced its physicians have successfully completed 5,000 robotic surgical cases. The 5,000th robotic surgery was performed by Dr. Kyle Eldredge, using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical Systems from Intuitive. A hospital representative stated that the achievement highlights its commitment to using cutting-edge technology to improve patient outcomes.
- Broward Health Medical Center is now offering the InterStim™ X system from Medtronic, a cutting-edge treatment for patients with bladder and bowel control conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence. Dr. Felice De Stefano, a colorectal surgeon with the Broward Health Physician Group, is leading the implementation of this treatment at Broward Health’s flagship hospital.
Got health news? Send your information to health writer Cindy Goodman at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.