Tag Archives: health

Health and Wellness

Go green! And, we don’t mean juice!


In today’s hectic, fast-paced world, pretty much anything can contribute to raising your stress levels. It is important to take steps to reduce stress as much as possible in order to improve overall health and wellness. Rx: go green! Yes, outside into the great green yonder, and here’s what will happen:

If you only have 5 minutes to spare: Exercising outdoors will not only elevate your mood, but your self-esteem as well, according to a report in Environmental Science and Technology.

Can you make it 10? Simply being outside will help you become more focused according to a study from the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.

20 minutes is all it takes: According to researchers at the University of Rochester, if you spend 20 minutes outside daily, you will see your energy levels skyrocket.

A well-deserved 30. Spend 30 magical minutes outdoors and say good bye to depressing thoughts. Your blood pressure will drop and you’ll feel happier as well, according to research in Scientific Reports.

Health and Wellness

Gluten Sensitivity: Celiac or Fodmaps?

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It is no secret that the gluten-free food industry has seen tremendous growth over the past year. Expected to reach $15 billion in sales by 2016, the gluten-free trend is not only found in supermarkets, but restaurant chefs are catering to those who are gluten-free or gluten-sensitive with special dishes as well.

People following the trend are torn: Is this just another health fad hitting its peak, or is it a real issue? Scientists now show that non-celiac gluten sensitivity – or NCGS – is in fact a problem in a growing amount of people. Those with NCGS experience bloating, gas, fatigue, and other IBS-like symptoms after consuming gluten. However, even after going gluten-free, some symptoms usually persist.

Researchers decided to test their findings by putting 37 patients on a diet low in certain carbohydrates. This diet, called Fodmaps, is an acronym for the various types of sugars that have been found to trigger abdominal symptoms in certain people. Including fructans (soluble fiber in bananas), lactose (dairy), fructose (found in many fruits, some vegetables, and products with high-fructose corn syrup), galactans (soybeans and soymilk), and polyols (artificial sweeteners), following the Fodmaps diet is not easy at first. However, using the process of elimination, it is possible to pinpoint exactly which groups (or foods) cause unwanted symptoms. Those that do not bother the individual are simply added back into their diet.

The Fodmaps diet is worth trying if you think you fall into the NCGS category. If you are definitely not celiac – determined using blood tests and biopsies – then an elimination diet will help determine if you are only gluten-intolerant, or if it is something more. Who knows, maybe gluten isn’t the worst abdominal pain “trigger” that it has been made out to be: Some participants of the Fodmaps plan safely added wheat back into their diets.

Facial Plastics, Health and Wellness

To Trust or Not to Trust. That is the (Gut-Wrenching) Question.

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Is the doctor really always right?  Is it okay to question the expert?  If you have worried that something was wrong even though the doc reassured you that it wasn’t, you are not alone.  Dr. Michelle Yagoda, expert facial plastic surgeon, and voice care specialist, has had thousands of different patients come through her doors over the last twenty years. With these patients come stories! A recurring story line is one that has a very important lesson in it: Trust your gut.

Each of us is a patient, and most of us have learned to trust our doctors because of their expertise and knowledge of medicine. However, this does not mean that your opinion as a patient doesn’t matter.  Here’s an example of when you should trust your intuition:  As a person with sensitive skin, a young man worried that the recurring scabbing on his skin might be cancer. The doctor told him it was “nothing”, but he wasn’t comfortable and chose to get a second opinion. The second doctor prescribed a topical exfoliant.  He used it despite his concerns, but the abrasion did not go away. It was only with the patient’s insistence that it was biopsied, but he never received follow-up results. Rather than believing his friends and family’s suggestion that “no news is good news,” he eventually gave in to the nagging feeling plaguing him and called the doctor’s office. The answer? Skin cancer. Luckily, it was caught early and was successfully removed.

Dr. Yagoda believes that one can never be too cautions. You know your body and skin, and your opinion counts. Skincare and sun protection are of the utmost importance. Check your skin often.  If you believe something is wrong, see a specialist who has the level of knowledge you’d expect, and never underestimate the power of reviews.  Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion! And, as Dr. Yagoda is frequently heard saying,  “No news is no news.  That’s it.  Plain and simple.”  If you don’t get a call about the results of a test or biopsy, call the office to follow-up.  And, most importantly, trust your gut. No one knows you better than you!

Health and Wellness

10 Surprising Facts About Stress

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In today’s hectic, fast-paced world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by stress and have negative thoughts when things don’t go as planned. The good news is that there are numerous techniques you can use to combat stress. Did you know that smiling is an antidote to stress? Or that bringing your dog to work can boost employee satisfaction and lower stress levels? To honor National Stress Awareness Month, we’d like to explore the impact stress has in our lives by taking a look at these 10 interesting new findings that have been discovered over the past year.

Dr. Yagoda recommends incorporating a variety of stress reduction techniques in your lifestyle to manage your stress, including meditation, yoga, ample and restful sleep, biofeedback, a healthy diet, and moderate exercise. As a facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist, she offers her patients a full spectrum of treatment options for optimal health and wellness. Providing an integrated approach-to beauty, aesthetics, ear, nose, throat, voice, and facial medicine – Dr. Yagoda understands the importance of uniting mind-body connections with traditional medicine and surgery for optimal health, beauty and wellness.

ENT, Facial Plastics

Girl Power!

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In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of these 50 inspirational women who helped shape the health care industry. These female doctors and researchers have had the greatest impact in medicine and health research and deserve to be recognized for their contributions to society. Natural birth, radiation therapy, and lifesaving blood transfusions are health innovations that would not be possible without these brilliant women in medicine. Now that’s girl power!

Who on this list inspires you? Let us know; we’d love to hear from you!

Health and Wellness

Should the “Eat at Your Own Risk of Addiction and Obesity” Attitude Still Prevail with Junk Food?

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Junk food is undoubtedly linked to childhood obesity, yet big corporations market to children who are least aware of and least able to control the components of a healthy diet.  These children, are most susceptible to junk food addiction and its inherent medical risks.

Because we are in the midst of an increasing worldwide obesity health epidemic, and decreasing available funds for healthcare spending, some suggest that the government step in to regulate the junk food industry.   Should major companies should be required to stop advertising to children and to place warning labels on junk food, similar to the regulations imposed in the tobacco industry?  Or, should the “buyer beware/eat at your own risk” attitude still prevail?  What do you think?  We want to know!

ENT, Health and Wellness

Junk Food Linked to Asthma and Eczema in Children

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As many of you know, eating processed food can lead to obesity, heart disease and diabetes in adults. But you may be surprised to learn the harmful effects of junk food on children. A recent study revealed that kids who eat junk food three times a week have a higher risk of developing asthma and eczema.

Researchers studied 50 countries and found that teenagers who ate fast food such as burgers three times a week or more were 39 percent more likely to get severe asthma. Younger kids were 27 percent more at risk. It is believed that the high saturated fat levels in food such as burgers lower children’s immune systems.

Want to know what foods can protect against these diseases? Read this article to find out more.

Myth or Medical Miracle

Can Herbal Remedies Be Safely Used During Pregnancy?

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MYTH OR MEDICAL MIRACLE?

Medical Miracle! Ginger has been proven to be safe in pregnant women as a natural cure for morning sickness. During pregnancy, many women concerned about side effects of traditional medicines look for alternatives. Women may be surprised to learn that most herbal remedy options provide promised benefits, and even worse, can cause danger. However, a recent study revealed that ginger was the only herbal remedy tested to be consistently effective and safe.

Dr. Yagoda recognizes the healing properties of both traditional medicine and alternative therapies. She understands that holistic and natural therapies can often be as effective as conventional Western options such as surgery or prescription medication, with the added benefit of lowered risk and fewer side effects.

Facial Plastics

3 Last Minute Holiday Beauty Treats You Deserve during Your Lunch Hour!

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If you are like most people, your holiday social calendar is filled with parties, fundraisers, work events and family gatherings. While some people have taken the time to prepare ahead to dazzle friends, families and colleagues, many of us find ourselves wondering if there is anything we can to in the eleventh hour to stop the clock and turn back the hands of time?  If you work hard at a paying (or non-paying!) job, and want a quick, easy and affordable way to look better for the holidays, here’s what you deserve during your lunch hour:

1.  If holiday photos always seem to capture that dreaded bump on your nose, then ask Dr. Yagoda to make immediate, natural and noticeable changes with a non-surgical rhinoplasty.  This time and cost efficient fix will give you a straighter, more balanced and refined nose. Dr. Yagoda uses injectable fillers to camouflage depressions, eliminate bumps, and even change the appearance of the tip and nostrils—all in a quick office procedure that doesn’t require general anesthesia, bandages, or recovery time.  In addition to looking great, you get to “try on” the results before committing to a permanent surgical result!

2.  If people tell you that you look angry, tired or worried, when you are content and well-rested, it’s time for a treatment with Dysport. This Botox competitor erases crows’ feet, angry lines and worry lines in as early as 24 hours!  Look refreshed and stress-free faster even before you sip that Margarita, under a palm tree in St. Lucia.

3. Gray may be the new navy or the new black, but it is never the new skin color to covet!  If your skin is looking gray and sallow, restore the radiance, and get glowing, clear and tighter skin with a peel.  With no downtime and no pain, this treatment is a must for anyone who wants to wear winter white!

Love the way you look this holiday season and at the same time take comfort in knowing that annoying aunt Sally and your sister-in-law Karen won’t have anything to criticize.  You’ll see the loving grin in your father ‘s eyes when he is equally smitten by your brains and your beauty.  And, who know?  Maybe this time, your boss will pay closer attention when you ask for the raise you deserve!  Happy Holiday!  Enjoy the power of beauty!
Myth or Medical Miracle

Can breathing exercises reduce symptoms of asthma?

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MYTH OR MEDICAL MIRACLE?

Medical Miracle! According to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, certain breathing exercises seem to reduce asthma severity, but there was not enough evidence to draw any significant conclusions. Researchers examined the Buteyko method, which involves shallow and slow breathing through the nose when short of breath. They also studied yoga breathing exercises and inspiratory muscle-training, which helps to strengthen the muscles by making inhaling more difficult. They found the exercise that reduces hyperventilation seems to result in improvements in asthma symptoms and reductions in medication use among patients.

Learn about how facial plastic surgeons can help asthma sufferers whose nasal conditions are caused by nasal polyps.