Desert Health News September-October 2024

www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2024 www.myhealthmyadvocate.com Our goal is to improve patient experience and outcomes by ensuring clients understand and receive appropriate treatment, quality care, and accurate billing. • Talk with doctors on your behalf • Review treatment plans • Unravel medical billing • In-hospital bedside care • Assist with hospital discharge to home or other facilities • Wellness visits O ering 30 years of experience navigating the health care system. Tammy Porter DNP, MLS, RN-BSN, CPHQ, CCM (760) 851-4116 myhealt .co Serving Coachella Valley, Riverside, San Bernardino, surrounding areas, and nationwide virtually. A Nurse Advocate Your Trusted Guide Through the Health Care System Simply Caring For You Kevin Richardson, PhD Hypnotherapist Weight Control • 760.902.2274 Jade Bedard, RN, MSNEd Travel Nurse Consultant 760.895.4097 DESERT HEALTH REPORT Desert Health Report is a local, award-winning 30-minute TV show produced by Windsor Broadcast Productions since 2017. Keerthy Sunder, MD Psychiatrist TMS Depression Treatment 951.365.5018 Benjamin Wehrli, DPM Podiatrist Bunions • 760.848.8231 Lisa Bellows, MA, CCCA Hearing 760.469.4420 Wendy Roberts, MD Dermatologist Skin Cancer • 760.346.4262 Elliot Lander, MD, CHt Stem Cell Therapy 760.346.0145 Bryan Stone, MD Nephrologist • Kidney Stones 760.416.4819 Hetal Bhakta, MD Cardiologist Watchman Procedure 760.883.1600 Christian Luzar, DMD Robotic Implants 760.674.8883 Eric Presser, MD Thoracic Surgeon Lung Cancer • 760.424.8224 Broadcasted daily on Channel 4 NBC & Channel 7 ABC Check your local TV guide listings • (760) 831-4770 Through the Generations The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 18 The Summer Olympic Games invited much joy into many households. Spectators witnessed inspiring athleticism in a myriad of sports generating nationwide awareness and sparking ideas on our individual approach to movement and physical activity. A recent study featured by the World Health Organization (June 2024) cited that 1.8 billion adults (31%) do not meet their recommended levels of physical activity: 150 minutes per week of moderate to intense physical activity. This trend of inactivity has increased 5% between 2010 and 2022.œ The study notes that many people over sixty are less active than other adults. On the other end of the spectrum, 81% of adolescents are not getting enough physical activity either. If these trends continue, lack of physical activity will become a silent threat saddling our nation with an even higher chronic disease burden. The idea of exercise feels daunting for many. However, it has been proven that exercise can deliver a psychological uplift and mitigate depression, anxiety and mood disorders.¢ Thus, physical movement can aid the mental health epidemic How do we spark joy into the idea of exercise? By thinking creatively about how enjoyable activities can include exercise, we may be able to access our inner child and find fun-filled recreation. This season I tried silent ecstatic dancing in Joshua Tree. Agroup of us were scattered across the sandstone outcroppings with headphones while moving to music together in our own comfortable expressive space. It was a unique idea and a great two-hour “exercise.” A friend of mine uses drumming for exercise. He burns 250-350 calories an hour, meeting his allowance ofmovement whilemaking rhythm. Other fun activities involving exercise are hula hoop, jump rope, dancing classes and water aerobics. If the idea of walking incites a yawn, add in the mission to search for birds. Keep your eyes and ears open as you walk. If you see or hear a bird, stop and listen. I became so interested in birds during my walks that I downloaded bird songs. After identifying birds, I used an app on my mobile device to send a bird song back to the birds. I became a keen observer of their response. Every single one of these playful activities constitutes movement and activity. The summer Olympics featured many fascinating sports that sparked curiosity, including fencing. Dating back to ancient civilizations, this self-defense movement might not be found in every city as a form of exercise, yet Tai Chi is very similar to an ancient self-defense activity based on martial arts. This gentle impact movement can be found in many communities today. Let us imbue levity into our lives, levity mixed with delightful distractions that can bring about a daily dose of joy and out-of-the-box ways to incorporatemoremovement. Jennifer Di Francesco is a wellness explorer and desert adventurist and can be reached at www.coachellabellaboho.com . References: 1) https://www.who.int/news/item/26-06-2024-nearly-1.8-billion-adults-at-risR-of-disease-from-not-doing-enough-physical- activity; 2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/74C 02068/ Living with Jennifer Di Francesco Wellness Inviting Joy into Physical Activity I was waiting in line at the market recently and the cashier asked if I wanted bags. I replied that I had left my reusable ones in the hallway while running out in a hurry. The gentleman in line behind me said he leaves his bags in the car ready to go. I replied, “I usually do as well.” Being neighborly he responded, “It’s the thought that counts.” I smiled and left the store thinking, is it the thought that counts or purposeful actions following thoughts that count? We can talk the talk, but do we walk the walk? In today’s hurried, topsy-turvy world, life is not always a walk in the park. However, being mindful of our actions along the way is certain to add more meaning. A more rewarding life is a well-intentioned life where the familiar is challenged and robotic lives are exchanged for purposeful ones. One way of welcoming this “aliveness” is to be willing to peel back the onion with introspection, emerging happier and more fulfilled on the other side. Hanna Perlberger, author, attorney, spiritual teacher and coach posits, “When we don’t confuse the ‘good life’ with an ‘easy life’ then we can embrace challenges as a means of self-discovery. And when we don’t expect our lives to be simple, then we can tap into our significance.” In Toward a More Meaningful Life Rabbi Simon Jacobson writes, “We may find ourselves face-to-face with the existential fear and loneliness that people have long wrestled with: that we are alone in our universe, that life lacks purpose and direction. In overcoming our terror, we answer the challenge to define our true beliefs, who we are and the values we live by. At such moments, we have an opportunity to discard old patterns of behavior and outfit ourselves with new ones.” Beyond inward self-discovery is outward giving. Belonging and contributing to our communities can be an integral part of finding personal satisfaction and deeper meaning. Rabbi Jacobson posits, “Personal growth is necessary, but not an end in itself. When we humbly acknowledge our role in life and recognize that the world does not revolve around our ego, we put aside our vanity and act responsibly. We realize that each of us is integral in shaping the world, but that none of us has the power—or the responsibility—to do it alone.” Making life more meaningful also begins at home by establishing reciprocally loving interpersonal relationships. The Lubavitcher Rebbe stated, “Better a difficult peace than an easy quarrel.” Make your home a secure refuge, a safe place where peace and loving kindness are a priority; an environment where random and very conscious acts of kindness are performed daily towards one another. In Hebrew this is called, “shalom bayis” or peace in the home. There is a verse in Psalms (39:4) that says, “Remind me that my days are numbered.” You cannot add more time in the day, but you can live life to the fullest every minute of each day with the realization that it’s never too late to live a more meaningful life. There is no time like the present, so let your path towards a more meaningful life start today. Dr. Amy Austin is a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFC#41252) and doctor of clinical psychology in Rancho Mirage. She can be reached at (760) 774.0047. Making Life More Meaningful By Amy Austin, PSYD, LMFT