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Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake donated twenty frozen turkeys to The Family Place this Thanksgiving. 

The Family Place is a nonprofit agency that helps families hurt by domestic violence. The Family Place empowers victims of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence. To learn more about their services, visit FamilyPlace.org.

Drew Shea, Chief Financial Officer; Jorge Trevino, RN, Chief Operating Officer; Idowu (I.D.) Ajose, Leadership Development Program Associate; Tripp Lyles, Physician Development Manager; and David Bittner, Associate Administrator for Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake presented the twenty turkeys to Joe Bittner, a volunteer with The Family Place. 

The donation by Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to the east Dallas community. Programs and events sponsored by the hospital for the surrounding area include an aquatics program, speaker’s bureau, numerous education classes and screenings, a bariatric support group, prepared childbirth classes, and participation in a variety of local events. For more information about community programs at Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, visit DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/CommunityPrograms.
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It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been smoking or how often. Quitting now can seriously improve your health almost immediately. And there are so many obvious reasons to quit smoking not just for your health, but also for those you love and who love you. It’s not just the secondhand smoke that can harm those around you; your family loves you and wants you to be healthy. 

Save $5,000-$7,000 Per Year When You Quit Smoking

Have you considered putting the money you would be spending on cigarettes in savings instead? Imagine the vacation you’ll go on with the money you’ll save when you don’t waste your hard-earned money on cigarettes.

Smokeless Tobacco Users: We Want You To Quit Too!

Smokeless tobacco users, you’re not off the hook. Many of the same concerns and conditions affect users of chew, dip or pouch tobacco too. (There are slightly higher instances of mouth cancer in smokeless tobacco users.) Quitting now will have the same amount of positive effects as quitting smoking will.

Good news: Smoking-related Cancer and Health Conditions are Preventable

Decide to stop smoking today. It’s not going to be easy. But there is plenty of support. Every day is another chance to start over and quit for good.

Support To Quit Smoking is Available

There is support available to quit smoking from online support groups to employer-sponsored cessation programs. And then there are your family and friends—they’ll be your biggest cheerleaders. Talk with your doctor. There is no one program fits all.

Maybe you’ll have to go cold turkey. Or maybe you prefer the assistance of nicotine gum or a nicotine patch. Whatever method works for you, the goal is still the same: quitting.

No more sneaking off to hide your secret or riding out that uncontrollable coughing fit—today’s the day.

And here’s something to celebrate your decision: November 19, 2015 is the Great American SmokeOut. Make a commitment to your health and your future. It’s a great time to be a joiner AND a quitter.

There is Help

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake has several resources and tips to help you stop smoking. Visit DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/StopSmoking. Call 866-764-3627 today and request your free copy of "Facts About How You Can Stop Smoking" published by the American Lung Association. 

The Best Quit Smoking Tips

  • Find Your Reason: To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. It may be to protect your family from secondhand smoke. 
  • Prepare Before You Go “Cold Turkey”: Consider Nicotine-Replacement Therapy There’s more to it than just tossing your cigarettes out. Smoking is an addiction. The brain is hooked on nicotine.
  • Learn About Prescription Pills: Medicines can curb cravings and may also make smoking less satisfying if you do pick up a cigarette.
  • Lean on Your Loved Ones: Tell your friends, family, and other people you’re close to that you’re trying to quit. They can encourage you to keep going, especially when you’re tempted to light up. 
  • Give Yourself a Break: One reason people smoke is that the nicotine helps them relax. Once you quit, you’ll need new ways to unwind. 
  • Avoid Alcohol and Other Triggers: When you drink, it’s harder to stick to your no-smoking goal. So try to limit alcohol when you first quit.
  • Clean House: Once you’ve smoked your last cigarette, toss all of your ashtrays and lighters. 
  • Try and Try Again: Many people try several times before giving up cigarettes for good. If you light up, don’t get discouraged. 
  • Get Moving: Being active can curb nicotine cravings and ease some withdrawal symptoms. 
  • Eat Fruits and Veggies: Don’t try to diet while you give up cigarettes. 
  • Choose Your Reward: In addition to all the health benefits, one of the perks of giving up cigarettes is all the money you will save. 
  • Remember That Time Is on Your Side: As soon as you quit, you start to get immediate health benefits. After only 20 minutes, your heart rate drops. 

Photo credit: Stockbyte/Thinkstock

 

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

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Do you ever wish that everyday could be Thanksgiving? All the delicious turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, tasty green bean casserole, and mouth-watering pecan pie. While your mouth may be saying “Yes!”, your waistline is calling out “Whoa!” – and for good reason. Thanksgiving can be a real challenge if you are watching your weight. But you don’t have to sabotage your diet. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the buffet table without depriving yourself.

Eat before you eat. This may sound counterproductive, but if you eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch you can avoid overeating Thanksgiving dinner later. That way you’ll have more control over your appetite because we tend to eat too much when hungry.

Go light on the calories. Many Thanksgiving goodies are loaded with extra fat and sugar, including mashed potatoes with all the butter and sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows. Recipes can be healthier by making a few substitutions, such as fat-free chicken broth to make gravy or plain yogurt in casseroles. When possible, choose breast meat rather than leg meat and remember to remove the high-calorie skin from your meat.

One size doesn’t fit all. Just because certain dishes are offered doesn’t mean you have to sample every one. Avoid the all-you-can-eat mentality and limit yourself to smaller portions if you cannot control the ingredients used in a dish. Good serving sizes include about a baseball size serving of fruit, a deck of cards size portion of meat, and a computer mouse size helping of veggies.

Don’t cover your whole plate. There’s no need to pile your plate high with every food that is offered. Look over the buffet table first and then make your selections. Opt for reasonable-sized portions of holiday favorites that are served only once a year. Save room for dessert by skipping seconds.

Eat s-l-o-w-l-y. By savoring and chewing every bite thoroughly and putting your eating utensil down between bites you can enjoy your meal and be satisfied with one plate of food. Leftovers are better the next day anyway. Pace yourself and eat only until you feel full. Drink plenty of water and try to keep alcohol down to a minimum since calories from alcoholic drinks can add up quickly.

Put down your fork and go for some fresh air. Spread out the food and fun by going for a walk after your main meal and then having dessert later. It’s a great way to get in some exercise and spend quality time with your family.

If you are eating out for your Thanksgiving meal, ask for food that is steamed, grilled or broiled rather than fried or sautéed. Request that sauces and dressing be served on the side and watch out for super-sized portions that tempt you to eat too much. Try not to be overly hard on yourself if you overeat. Thanksgiving is, after all, just one day and you can be careful about what you eat over the next few days and then exercise enough to balance your overindulgence.

For some tips on how to produce a festive meal that you will be proud to serve on Thanksgiving Day, visit DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/Thanksgiving.

Photo credit: iStock/Thinkstock

 

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

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Actress Halle Berry, singer Patti LaBelle, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and author Anne Rice are just several of the more than 12 million American women living with diabetes. This disease, which changes the way the body uses sugar, can increase a woman’s chances of having a heart attack or stroke and raise her chances of having a miscarriage or a baby with birth defects. But by understanding how diabetes affects her health throughout her life, a woman with diabetes may avoid serious complications and be healthy and active.

Women at increased risk for developing diabetes are those who are overweight, do not exercise, have high blood pressure, have a family history of the disease, had a baby that weighed nine pounds or more at birth, or are African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander. Diabetes can affect many areas of a woman’s life, including:

Birth Control

Women with diabetes should talk with their doctor about which birth control method would work best for them. They can take birth control pills, which contain very low levels of estrogen, but they may need to adjust their insulin. Hormone implants and injections provide birth control over a longer period of time, but may affect diabetes control. An intrauterine device is usually not recommended because it could increase the risk of infection. Foam, condoms or a diaphragm work well when used consistently.

Menstruation

The high levels of estrogen and progesterone that tend to build up about a week before menstruation could interfere with insulin sensitivity in some women. If blood sugar levels are high a week before each period, counter-measures such as more exercise and fewer carbohydrates may be necessary. However, if blood sugar tends to drop during this time, less exercise and more carbohydrates could be needed.

Pregnancy

Women with diabetes will need to work hard to control blood glucose levels while they are pregnant to avoid possible complications, such as premature delivery, miscarriage, birth defects, macrosomia (a large baby) and respiratory distress syndrome. Women with type 1 diabetes who inject insulin can still do so because it does not cross the placenta and is safe for the baby. Women with type 2 diabetes may not be able to take diabetes pills to control blood glucose because oral medications can cross the placenta to the unborn baby. They may need to switch to insulin. Women who develop gestational diabetes typically can manage their condition through proper meal planning and exercise.

Menopause

Having diabetes during menopause can cause changes in blood sugar levels, weight gain, infections, sleep problems and sexual problems. Women need to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, measure blood sugar frequently, adjust diabetes medications as advised by a physician, seek help for menopausal symptoms, and ask a doctor about taking cholesterol-lowering drugs to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

By understanding how to control diabetes, women can feel better and live longer – during every period of their lives. Learn about your personal risk factors for diabetes, visit DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/DiabetesRisk for our online risk assessment.

Photo credit: Creatas/Thinkstock

 

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com