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Health Matters APRIL/MAY 2019

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

April is Autism Awareness Month, the Autism Society’s effort to increase understanding about autism spectrum disorder and those diagnosed with it. Inside, examine the full spectrum of ASD and also find local resources that can help families who have a member diagnosed with ASD.

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The path to alcoholism is surprising — and fast.

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Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Putting the pieces together BY THE NUMBERS

1 in 59

Publisher / Matt Walsh,

American children diagnosed with ASD

mwalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng,

There’s a reason why the puzzle pattern is the universal symbol of autism spectrum disorder — it reflects the complexity of ASD. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR

meng@OrangeObserver.com

2 years

Design Editor / Jessica Eng,

Soonest ASD can be reliably diagnosed

jeng@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Tim Freed, tfreed@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com

Levels of autism

News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor / Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Reporter / Harry Sayer,

Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD

hsayer@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Eric Gutierrez, egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter,

Percentage of children with ASD who have an intellectual disability

acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Terri Hope, thope@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Percentage of children on the spectrum with average or above-average intellect

The Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery. The Observer also can be found in commercial locations and at our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden, Florida 34787 If you wish to subscribe to, visit our website, OrangeObserver. com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden.

magine how much time you’d put into assembling a 1,000-piece puzzle. Maneuvering the different shapes, sizes, colors and patterns is no easy task — especially because there are so many variations. That’s why the puzzle-patterned ribbon is the universal sign of autism awareness. “The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition,” according to the Autism Society. “The brightness of the ribbon signals hope — hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and access to appropriate services/supports, people with autism will lead full lives able to interact with the world on their own terms.” To raise awareness for autism, each April is designated as National Autism Awareness Month, which focuses on promoting autism awareness, education and acceptance. Tens of thousands of people face an autism diagnosis each year— a diagnosis that is fairly common yet often misunderstood. 101 ON ASD

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. It can be diagnosed at any age, but is referred to as a developmental disorder because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.

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Those with ASD may have difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Symptoms can affect the person’s ability to function properly in school, work and other areas of life. But parents of children diagnosed with ASD are not alone. In fact, one in 59 children in America is diagnosed with autism. There is no known cause for ASD, but the Autism Society states “it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function.” ASD is also unique in that the diagnosis is not a one-size-fitsall. There is an entire spectrum of strengths and challenges that those with ASD exhibit, and three different levels of autism. Signs of ASD include lack of or delay in spoken language, repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms, little or no eye contact, lack of interest in peer relationships, lack of spontaneous or imaginative play, and persistent fixation on parts of objects. However, lack of communication can be one of the most common. Jenn Elston, marketing director at Florida Autism Center, said it’s probably one of the top things behavior analysts and therapists will focus on when helping patients with ASD. “A lot of our kids come to us completely nonverbal — they’ve never spoken, they’ve never had a method to communicate,” she said. “So communication I would say is probably the No. 1 thing that ends up getting focused on because it’s so important.”

THE SPECTRUM

In the past, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders included five pervasive development disorders — autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, Rett’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. However, in 2013 the APA released the DSM-5, which redefined autism. In the DSM-5, Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and PDD-NOS were replaced by the umbrella of ASD. Rett syndrome is now known to be caused by a genetic mutation and is no longer considered an ASD. With most of these now included under the umbrella of ASD, it’s important to understand the spectrum. Picture a color wheel, or a spectrum of colors of the rainbow. At one end, red could represent severe autism. These individuals need very substantial support, and their social and communication skills might severely impact daily life. The DSM-5 creators also developed three “levels of support,” and clinicians are expected to diagnose people with autism at level 1, 2 or 3. Each level reflects a person’s ability to communicate, adapt to new situations and interact in daily life. Even within these levels there is room for variation from person to person, and there is debate on the types of support that the APA had in mind when creating them. The APA and autism advocates work to collect more information on whether and how this system is working. TREATMENT AND THERAPY

Although there is no inherent “cure” for autism, therapies and early intervention can be effective in reducing individuals’ symptoms. People with ASD can be

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Observer Media Group Inc. 1970 Main St. • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

Editor and CEO / Matt Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman / David Beliles Publishers of the , West Orange Times & Observer, Observer, Winter Park/Maitland Observer, Business Observer, Season Magazine and Baldwin Park Living

HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM

LEVEL 1 n Needs support n Patient’s social and communication skills, and repetitive behaviors are only noticeable without support.

AUTISM

LEVEL 2 n Needs substantial support n Patient’s social and communication skills and repetitive behaviors are still obvious to the casual observer, even with support in place.

SEVERE AUTISM

LEVEL 3 n Needs very substantial support n Patient’s social and communication skills and repetitive behaviors severely impair daily life.

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referred to doctors who specialize in behavioral, psychological, educational or social interventions. One of the most common therapies is applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. This is based on the science of learning and behavior, and these programs can help increase language and communication skills; improve attention, focus, social skills, memory and academics; and decrease behavioral issues. Board-certified behavior analysts and behavior therapists work with ASD patients and their families to accomplish this. “It really focuses on improving positive behaviors and eliminating negative behaviors,” Elston said. “This is all to teach a variety of skills — this could be everything from communication and adaptive skills to feeding, toilet training and daily living — and they use the principles of ABA to increase the appropriate behaviors and decrease any inappropriate behaviors.” Florida Autism Center has more than 30 locations currently open throughout the state, including two in West Orange County — Ocoee and Lake Buena Vista — and this is done to ensure that families never have to travel too far for services, Elston said. “The reason we have so many centers is that we try to serve children in their neighborhoods themselves so that way parents aren’t having to travel long distances, and that way we’re able to kind of pop up a center wherever there’s a need,” she said. “We’re really big proponents on trying to make our families’ lives easier for them because oftentimes getting the diagnosis can be a long process. “There’s been (more than) 30 years of research for the effectiveness of ABA therapy and it’s

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Summer Darnell always has liked helping people. In 2008, while working in software and technology, she began leading a small-group ministry for middle-school girls. This is where she found her passion. “I wanted to do this professionally full-time,” she said. “I wanted to be a helper.” Today, she is close to completing her certification as a licensed mentalhealth counselor — she is considered a registered mental-health counselor intern until then — and works to heal families through Yellow Heart Consulting, in Winter Garden. “I just love what I do,” Darnell said. “The whole community is growing so much and changing so much, and we as mental-health professionals need to be ready to respond to that, to be ready to provide what the community needs for resources.” Darnell considers the stress of the relationships in families one of the most pressing issues facing children and teenagers today. “There’s a lot of unresolved trauma and loss and grief within our families, (which) can even be passed down from generation to generation,” she said. Outside pressures — such as poverty, discrimination, education pressures in the community and cultural expectations — can add to the turmoil. Because many of her clients are families with children 12 and younger, she brings much experience in play therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. A child’s natural language is play, and Darnell uses art, sand trays, doll houses, doctor kits and other toys to assist him or her in acting out different experiences and feelings. “They might act out a scene in which they feel powerless, such as divorce or death,” she said. “They can come into the play room, and it’s really a safe place for them to express what’s going on in their little world — instead of adults coming in and saying this is how you should think or feel.” Children are resilient and creative, Darnell said, and when they are given a voice, they add a richness to families, but sometimes the healing must take place in the adults, as well. “The most important thing that

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tal anxiety and depression, and Angie Hilken, a licensed clinical social worker, understand the parent-child connection should start strong, so they are starting a new group, Parent Café. The program will be free and is Patient Exam intended to serve asNew a social and emotional support while new moms are adjusting to motherhood. “It’s really just building community,” Darnell said. “We’re very disconnected from our extended families and don’t have that network to get us through that initial stage.” Community connections are key, too, and Darnell is doing her part to build relationships in Central Florida. She serves on the board of the nonprofit Liz’s Legacy, which provides funding for children in low-income families who are in need of counseling. She also partners with Love Made Visible, a non-profit organization that supports adoptive and foster families in the local community. An “Adverse Childhood Experiences Study” has shown that toxic stress and trauma during childhood, when unaddressed, increases risk for physical-, mental- and substanceabuse problems, Darnell said. Florida has adopted the Five Protective Factors for Strengthening Families Framework, which stresses parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and social and emotional competence of children. “Needing help was (once) a sign of weakness,” Darnell said. “Now, it’s a sign of strength.”

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Akinyemi Ajayi, medical director of pulmonology at AdventHealth for Children, said having abnormal skin reactions or trouble breathing are the biggest signs of a dangerous, life-threatening allergic reaction. Doses of Benadryl are recommended, along with epinephrine, followed by an immediate visit to a doctor. Extreme reactions of that nature usually occur from food allergies, such as those related to peanuts and shellfish.

ALLERGIES VS. ILLNESS For parents looking after their children, it can be difficult at times to differentiate an allergy from an upper respiratory illness, Akinyemi Ajayi, medical director of pulmonology at AdventHealth for Children, said. One of the biggest signs it is the latter scenario is coughing and thicker nasal discharge. “Even though people with allergies may cough, most of the time, it’s typically more nasal and eye symptoms where they’re either rubbing their eyes or they’re sneezing,” Ajayi said.

APRIL 2019

Keys to stopping the sneeze With a particularly active cold and allergy season, here are some options to treat, lessen and avoid symptoms altogether. TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Spring means allergy season for many children, but that doesn’t have to mean weeks of itchy eyes and runny noses. Akinyemi Ajayi, medical director of pulmonology at AdventHealth for Children, said there are plenty of ways to make allergies a little more tolerable. Ajayi said allergies are determined by the number of IgE and eosinophils that exist in our system. Sometimes, these can be passed down through family genetics, but most allergies don’t develop until someone is exposed to whatever it is that triggers them. The more IgE and eosinophils there are in the body, the worse the reaction, Ajayi said. “If you’re a person who has allergies, typically what happens is somewhere in your gene structure you may be one of those people who produces a lot of what we call IgE or eosinophils — these are actual cells that increase in people that have a tendency towards having allergies, but they could be sitting dormant,” Ajayi said. “If you become exposed to something that triggers them, that triggers the creation of more of those things so you become more allergic as the numbers increase.” But how can parents get in front

of their children’s allergies and decrease the chances of them flaring up? Ajayi said one important measure is making sure the children aren’t raised in an environment that’s too clean. Being exposed to the outside world can help build up the immune system. “Let the kid go out, play in the dirt, get dirty, be around other people and develop colds,” Ajayi said. “Don’t separate them out for too long (or keep) them out of school and daycare. … You could end up developing a slightly warped immune system.” The term “allergy season” may mean something different to everyone depending on their specific allergies, but many people in Central Florida consider it the time of year from February to April, when oak pollen is in full swing and cars are covered in a coat of yellow. It can be difficult to completely avoid the influx of oak pollen in the spring, and Ajayi said the past three years have had significant oak pollen. “In March, we had a lot of oak pollen in the air, and it didn’t help that we had virtually no rain, which means everything stayed thick in the air,” Ajayi said. “Allergies were very bad. … Now that it’s started raining, things have been a bit better.” When airborne allergies to oak pollen, pine pollen and types of grass pollen are already surfacing, patients can try measures such as nasal rinses to remove the allergens, antihistamines to reduce or block symptoms and intranasal steroids to turn off the receptors

Tim Freed

Akinyemi Ajayi, medical director of pulmonology at AdventHealth for Children, is a doctor of everything from the nose to the tiniest sacs within the lungs. He works from Children’s Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists in Winter Park, using equipment like the office’s body box — a pulmonary function test that measures lung volumes and how well the lungs absorb gases.

that trigger the allergies. There also are allergy reports on the Weather Channel and allergy. com that can be checked on a daily basis to keep track of the amount of pollen in a certain ZIP code. One measure that actually treats allergies such as oak pollen is immunotherapy shots, which expose the patient to small bits of the allergen during weekly visits over the span of a couple years. “That usually is the ultimate treatment for allergies … to do immunotherapy,” Ajayi said. “It just takes time. … That’s the only truly practical way of modifying a person who has allergies.”

But other allergies are easier to avoid. For example, dust mite allergies can be avoided by keeping children from playing on carpets, removing stuffed toys from the bed and putting vinyl covers over mattresses and pillows. “The best way to obviously deal with an allergy is to avoid it,” Ajayi said. “If you can practice avoidance, you should do that.” Ajayi said allergies can change over time as we become more exposed to the allergens. The reverse also can happen where symptoms show up later in life if someone moves to a new area where a new allergen exists, he said.

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Winter Park-based Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida helps children with bleeding disorders. HARRY SAYER

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Fran Haynes knew next to nothing about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders when she considered taking a job with the Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida nearly 20 years ago. These days are different. Haynes, now the Winter Parkbased nonprofit’s executive director of 18 years, leads a fiveperson staff and oversees a wideranging effort to better the lives of children who suffer from bleeding disorders across all of Florida. The Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida, a chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation, has been helping families with bleeding disorders for over two decades — and it has been doing so right here in Winter Park. LIVING CAUTIOUSLY

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently declared the month of March to be Hemophilia Awareness Month for the state. Haynes said it’s an appreciated move and one that marks the progression in how

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bleeding disorders are seen and can be treated. Hemophilia is a genetic condition in which the body’s blood has difficulty clotting properly. Cuts and other injuries can lead to significant or continuous bleeding. The condition can lead to seizures, paralysis or death if the bleeding is in a critical organ like the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3 million Americans live with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Men are more likely to have the condition, but women in particular are more likely to be carriers of hemophilia even if they don’t show symptoms, because the condition is carried through the X chromosome more often seen in women. The Von Willebrand bleeding disease, on the other hand, is prevalent in both men and women. The end result for people who suffer from bleeding disorders is a more cautious lifestyle. There are so many precautions and extra steps hemophiliacs take before doing things others take for

“Some of these children are isolated. They go to school, and there’s no one else with a bleeding disorder that they’re aware of. At the camp, they get to swim and do archery and fish and boat and rock climb and do things they normally can’t do. They get to be a normal kid, and it’s not about their bleeding disorder.” — Fran Haynes

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Executive Director Fran Haynes, Office Administrator Shannon Baidenmann and Development Manager Leah Nash help run the Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida in Winter Park.

granted, Haynes said. A trip to the dentist to pull a tooth, for example, requires medication and even antibiotics to prevent bleeding. “A child with a bleeding disorder can’t just go and get a tattoo like you or I can,” Haynes said. “They have to have their medicine, they need to talk to their doctor. (For us) it’s not extreme, it’s mainline and everywhere, but when you have a bleeding disorder you just can’t do it. You can bleed, you can get an infection — there’s so many things.” STATEWIDE ASSISTANCE

It’s an often-manageable condition, but constant awareness and vigilance can wear on children’s minds. Much of the foundation’s

work beyond education is to provide children with recreational opportunities that other children have. Their signature summer camp, Camp Spirit, hosted 78 children, age 6 to 16 years old, with bleeding disorders last year. The camp provides medicine and medical care for the children so they can focus on having fun. “Some of these children are isolated,” Haynes said. “They go to school, and there’s no one else with a bleeding disorder that they’re aware of. At the camp, they get to swim and do archery and fish and boat and rock climb and do things they normally can’t do. They get to be a normal kid, and it’s not about their bleeding disorder.”

It’s no small thing — each student costs $808 — and much of the funding comes from a number of pharmaceutical grants. The foundation hosts a number of fundraisers and family programs throughout the year, including four walks and 5Ks across Florida that bring in more than $150,000; family camps; golf tournaments that bring in $80,000; information classes; and more. Hemophilia foundation also has an annual Broadway gala in Orlando that brings in money. In all, the foundation typically has an annual budget of more than $900,000, 91% of which is sent back to the bleeding-disorder community. One of the most significant

expenses is funding health care, Haynes said. Medicine used to help blood congeal has been exorbitantly expensive in the past. The executive director remembers dealing with children whose families had taken on different jobs or had divorced because of stress from paying for the medicine. “Our (bleeding—disorder) population can rip through an insurance cap of $1 million in two years,” Haynes said. “Before the Affordable Care Act, we would tell our kids they need to go to school, get educated and make sure they get a job at a big company to get the best kind of health insurance. We don’t have to say that anymore.” She said the insurance cap issue has been alleviated in part from the Affordable Care Act, but foundation still teaches families on how to navigate health policy. The foundation supplements its members’ trips to hemophilia treatment centers for lab work and typically spends about $60,000 to $70,000 annually for emergency medical care. It’s a field that’s rapidly improved in the last 10 years Medical advances and health policy have made managing bleeding disorders far easier, but Haynes said there still is work to be done. “We have longer-acting (factor medicine products), kids are now encouraged to be active at a young age so their joints aren’t debilitated,” she said. “There’s good blood supply, the products are better and made quality of life better, but there’s always room for improvement. But our goal is a cure, and that’s it. I would love for this office to be closed down because there’s no more bleeding disorders.”

APRIL 2019

THE STAFF Fran Haynes Executive director JoAnn Brownrigg Volunteer coordinator Missy Zippel Education outreach nurse Shannon Baidenmann Office administrator Leah Nash Development manager Dina Richardson Social worker

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APRIL 2019

CrossFit connection GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

In 2010, David Kellam was playing football for his college team in West Virginia when a motorcycle accident left him confined to a wheelchair. And it was only four years earlier, when his childhood friend, CJ Bellamy, was the victim of a driveby shooting that left him with a spinal-cord injury that robbed him of the use of his legs. The lifelong friends always had been pretty active in sports. Bellamy played basketball all his life until his injury in 2006 and had a few scholarships lined up before

his incident. So following their new circumstances, the pair preferred to stay active. But working out in a traditional gym always caused some discomfort. Trying to use traditional equipment in a wheelchair can be challenging and uncomfortable, they said. Then, they learned of a CrossFit gym that provided a modified workout program for athletes with spinal-cord injuries. Both decided to give it a try. “I was a member of a 24-hour fitness gym actually, but it was a little uncomfortable for me,” Bellamy said. “So David introduced me to the CrossFit gym we go to

Courtesy of Orlando Health

David Kellam, who played football before his motorcycle accident, credits his recovery to Orlando Health and the support of his family and friends.

now when they got the grant. ... I was really just looking to find something to help me stay in shape and keep me active. I was kind of skeptical about it at first, but I tried it one day and from there, I just kept going. ... I think the difference between a regular gym and SOCF is that SOCF is so much more welcoming.” It’s been a year now since the pair joined the program, which now has 10 participants since it was created via a partnership between Orlando Health and SOCF CrossFit, courtesy of the Craig Neilsen Foundation Grant. “Orlando Health was looking at how to continue providing health and wellness opportunities for our patients with spinalcord injuries once they’re discharged from outpatient rehab,” said Andrea Cooper, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist at Orlando Health. “There was an idea of applying for a grant to get specialized equipment and training for a gym to partner with them and continue this health-andwellness program. So we applied to the Craig Neilsen Foundation grant, and I think one of our grant writers had a contact at a CrossFit gym that she was a member at, so she was talking about the idea with the CrossFit gym’s staff and they expressed interest in partnering with us. “We reached out to an organization called the Adaptive Athletics Alliance,” Cooper said. “They’re based out of Virginia, and they sent two coaches down to Orlando and they did this whole workshop at the CrossFit gym. They were trained on a few basics

CJ Bellamy said he used to live, eat and breathe basketball before his incident left him in a wheelchair, but he continues to stay active.

SOCF CROSSFIT 11687 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando PHONE: (407) 930-7724 EMAIL: socfcrossfit@gmail. com

about spinal-cord injuries, health concerns and mobility education. And then it just kind of took off from there.” After the patients with spinalcord injuries complete the hospital’s outpatient program and are cleared by doctors, they are invited to join the gym to stay in shape. According to Cooper, people in wheelchairs tend to have a higher

risk of heart disease and diabetes. With the success of the pilot program, Orlando Health hopes to expand the program to other gyms to serve as a model for other similar programs, Cooper said. “We’ve actually submitted for another grant to do the exact same thing with another CrossFit gym at a different location,” she said. “So as successful as this program has been, we’re just going to keep pushing and try to reach out to as many places as possible to improve access in the Orlando area. Because one of the barriers we found is that not everyone was able to make it down to this gym, so we want to kind of seek out other locations that could improve accessibility for people.”

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Orlando Health and a local CrossFit gym have partnered to offer program for athletes with spinal-cord injuries.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

APRIL 2019

Laughing matters ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

“Humor is a very effective coping mechanism, so it helps us cope with things in life that are difficult sometimes.” — Dr. Parker Mott

The month of April and the action of laughter have a pretty funny relationship. The first day of the month is dedicated to pulling pranks on others, while the entire month is considered National Humor Month. Furthermore, there’s the ageold saying that laughter is the best medicine, and it’s no secret that laughing makes a person feel good. But what exactly is going on in the brain when someone is laughing? And how is it beneficial? Brian Truelove runs his counseling practice in downtown Winter Garden at 161 S. Boyd St., Suite 120. He’s been a mentalhealth counselor for 11 years and has been practicing in Winter Garden for eight years. “With laughter, you’re going to find a release of endorphins and other pleasure chemicals in the brain,” Truelove said. “It can certainly improve mood. It can be helpful at reducing stress, reducing anxiety and just (help with) overall wellness.” Truelove added that even forced or faked laughter has the same effect on the body as genuine laughter. “When laughter is faked —

when it’s forced laughter — you’ll still get the same benefits, because your body doesn’t know the difference,” he said. It’s no secret that laughter can be contagious. Truelove said there are even clubs and groups throughout the world that gather for the sole purpose of laughing together to feel the effects laughter has on the body. These laughter clubs often coordinate a time and place to meet just to laugh — sometimes at nothing. The laughter is forced at first, but it eventually turns to genuine laughter. “If you looked around a lot on the internet, you’ll maybe come across some YouTube videos of laughter groups,” Truelove said. “That’s becoming more popular and more common. For example, people will get together every Saturday at 10 o’clock at a park, and they’ll come together and start laughing. Obviously, at first, it’s forced, because they have no reason to be laughing. But more often than not, they’ll turn into genuine laughter. And the whole idea is they’re getting the physical and emotional benefits of laughter just by being in the group.” Truelove said reducing stress and anxiety are two of the biggest benefits laughing has on one’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Parker Mott is a clinical psychologist who also operates his practice, Counseling & Psychological Services of Central Florida, at 310 S. Dillard St., Suite 190, in Winter Garden. He has been

seeing patients for about 12 years and has operated his practice for about four. Mott said laughter is a healthy emotional reaction and coping mechanism and can help contribute to positive feelings. Mott said the neurochemicals released in the brain from laughter also can help fight feelings of depression. “It’s a healthy thing to do,” Mott said of laughing. “There’s a release of endorphins in the brain (and) what that does is it contributes to positive feelings and (releases) depression-fighting neurochemicals.” Endorphins are just one type of the “feel-good chemicals” in the brain and body. Other “feel-good chemicals” in the brain are serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, Mott said. “There’s several feel-good chemicals in the brain,” Mott said. “Dopamine, serotonin and endorphins are all chemicals in the body and the brain in general that contribute to positive mood and are affected through humor and laughter.” In addition to being a mood booster, humor and laughter can be an effective coping mechanism to help someone deal with a difficult situation. “Humor is a very effective coping mechanism, so it helps us cope with things in life that are difficult sometimes,” Mott said. “It’s also considered a defense mechanism at times, but it’s one of the more healthy defense mechanisms because what you’re actually doing is directly addressing

Courtesy photo

Brian Truelove has been operating his counseling practice in downtown Winter Garden for eight years.

Eric Gutierrez

Dr. Parker Mott is a clinical psychologist and operates Counseling & Psychological Services of Central Florida in Winter Garden.

whatever is upsetting or whatever is going on in life and you’re expressing emotion and processing that very event.” In terms of using humor as a coping mechanism, Mott said it can be used as a means to addressing and processing difficult events or situations in a positive way. He’s even used humor at times in therapy sessions and as an icebreaker to build a rapport with patients.

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April is National Humor Month. To celebrate, here are some of the physiological benefits of laughter.

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

APRIL 2019

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two kids’ names merged together: Kennedy and Reagan. But, it all stemmed from when I was in grad school doing projects on different things. I remember thinking we needed to do something because it’s just so expensive, and it needs to be more accessible. “Right now, we’re just starting here, but we’re going to expand,” she said. “And in certain areas, it’s hard to get to a doctor or to get an appointment, especially with busy schedules. So that’s why we have this available, and we’re open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.” Roston, who travels back and forth from her home in Maryland, also attends health fairs and colleges with the mobile unit and has a permanent setup at the Altamonte Mall that showcases a few of its frames. “Say you can’t leave work, and you really need to get your eyes checked,” she said. “Well, your company can have us come in. Everyone can come in for a 20-minute break and get their eyes checked to get glasses. Or they can get their eyes checked, go online and buy glasses later — whatever’s easier. You can come to us, or we can come to your office and bring this set-up to you. “We go to apartment complexes, offices, colleges,” Roston said. “We went to a school and

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HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

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high-index, polarized sunglasses, photo-chromatic, and bluelight lenses, which help prevent blue-light rays from damaging your eyes. We really offer all the same things, but at a lower cost. That way, people who truly need glasses can find new ones.” The company has a selection of about 300 frames online, all of which come with an anti-reflective coating. She aims to add about 40 more styles for sunglasses and children frames, she added. “It’s always a learning process when you start new things,” she said. “And so, we’re trying to really figure out what is going to be the best way to select frames, but we’re constantly updating our frame collection based on the patient’s needs.”

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sat in the student union, and kids who were getting food between classes would come get their eyes checked. Some bought glasses or got fit for glasses. Sometimes on a college campus, you don’t have a car and you can’t go get your eyes checked. And if the university doesn’t have an optical, then what do you do? So we just made it more convenient for them.” Roston said her end goal is to make fashionable glasses more affordable for people and offer a more unique selection than what may be found at traditional eyewear stores. “We started our own line of frames, because we wanted to make them more affordable, she said. “So our packages start at $90, and with that, you get a polycarbonate lens — most places will charge you a fee for that. So it’s a high-quality material that’s more durable. A lot of people use it for kids, sports and things like that. And then we can also get you your high-index materials, and there is an up-charge, but it’s a whole lot less than what you’d see at other places. So you can get a

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

APRIL 2019

The slippery slope What starts out as one or two drinks quickly can turn into an addiction that can have profound mental and physical effects. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Consuming too much of anything is generally bad for your body, but too much alcohol can be devastating. In moderation, consuming alcoholic drinks can be a pleasurable experience and social pastime, but things can turn chaotic if one can’t put the bottle down. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in the United States, more than 15 million people struggle with alcohol addiction, but fewer than 8% of those receive treatment. And more than 88,000 people die from alcohol-related deaths each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nancy Pfaff is a registered nurse who. For 21 years, she has helped the homeless population in West Orange with medical needs and addictions through Matthew’s Hope Ministries and has seen numerous cases of people who struggle to overcome their alcohol addiction. Most use it as a coping method, she said. “Some individuals come to us with, usually, with several

different addictions,” Pfaff said. “They could have a domesticviolence background, or suffer from depression, PTSD, anxiety, a bipolar (disorder) or schizophrenia, and what will always happen is they reach for that can of beer. And if you go to the right place, you can get a can of beer for 80 cents. It’s not going to be the best beer, but it is some form of alcohol. And there’s little to no

mental-health outreach for the homeless, so with the exception of a few places that are already working at capacity, there isn’t too much in the way of counseling. So a lot of these guys selfmedicate to forget what’s going on in their head and forget their past, and it becomes a crutch.” When someone becomes overdependent on the effects of alcohol to deal with their emotional pain and distress, their body builds a higher tolerance to alcohol’s effects, which generally leads to an unsafe amount of alcohol required to achieve the desired effect, Pfaff said. “They build up a tolerance to it,” she said. “So you can start with two beers a day, but then you say to yourself, ‘Well I’m doing pretty good. I think I’ll have another one.’ Or ‘Oh, you know those thoughts are starting to creep into my head again. I think I’ll have another one.’ And that kind of behavior often leads to an addiction to alcohol.” Alcohol addiction also can lead to several health conditions because of a loss of appetite and desire to only drink alcohol, she said. But substituting meals for alcoholic beverages leads to a severe lack of nutrition and

makes a body’s internal system deteriorate quickly. “Imagine: You’ve lost everything, and now you’re drinking and drinking, and you’d rather drink alcohol than eat food,” she said. “Some people are so bad, they will go to any store and just drink Listerine — that’s how badly they feel they need alcohol. So one of the long-term effects of that is cirrhosis, which is when your liver becomes like a piece of leather, and it’s no longer able to absorb the nutrients your body needs. And no medication is going to help with that. Some people end up needing a stomach tap with a needle, and then they withdraw the excess fluid. It’s a very sad way to die. The early effects of that are vitamin disorders and electrolyte disorders, (such as) sodium and potassium. And some people also get heart disease and/or diabetes. ... It’s just a vicious cycle.” Pfaff advised anyone wishing to help someone recover from alcohol use disorder practice patience, provide constant emotional support and seek external and professional resources to help. “You have to have a lot of patience and be willing to be a constant in their life,” she said. “When they want to change, they will need a whole lot of support — somebody to talk to, a sponsor is always the best, someone one who can help them through all the steps, all the way.”

ALCOHOL EFFECTS According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, consuming too much alcohol can have detrimental effects on one’s brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system. Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. Heart: Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems such as cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart muscle) heart arrhythmias, strokes and high blood pressure. Liver: Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver and can lead to steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that eventually leads to pancreatitis — an inflammation and swelling of blood vessels that prevents proper digestion. Immune system: Drinking too much can weaken your immune system. Chronic drinkers tend to contract diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis more often than people who do not drink excessively. Drinking a lot on a single occasion also inhibits your body’s ability to ward off infections for up to 24 hours after getting drunk. Source: National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

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HEALTH MATTERS

APRIL 2019

Call Today for your FR EE Consultati on

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HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

APRIL 2019

MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy Delivers Patient Benefits New technology now available at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center - Health Central Hospital allows for more precise treatment of cancer tumors through real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during radiation beam therapy. The MRIdian® system enables oncologists to see a tumor’s exact location as they are treating it, instead of relying on static imaging results taken days or even minutes before a patient’s radiation session. The technology provides safer and more effective cancer treatment for tumors of the pancreas, lung, liver, adrenal glands, prostate and kidney, as well as gynecological cancers. “With MRIdian, we can be more confident that with each treatment, we’re hitting the precise target area,” explains Dr. Patrick Kelly, director of radiation research at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center. “We’re able to focus the radiation much more specifically where the tumor is and away from healthy tissue because we know where the tumor is while we’re treating it — not where it was four to five days ago when we came up with a treatment plan or even 5 to 10 minutes ago when we set the patient up in the room, but actually as we’re going through the treatment.” Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center is the only healthcare facility in Central Florida, and only the sixth in the nation, to offer this new, advanced treatment option. MRIdian therapy is available at the newly opened Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center – Health Central Hospital in Ocoee.

Allowing for more precise treatment of tumors through real-time magnetic resonance imaging, MRIdian:

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• Offers safer treatment by decreasing radiation to healthy tissue

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