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            One of the main traditions of the holiday season is Christmas music and the sound of bells. Bells are often one of the predominating sounds in music during this lovely time of year.

            Most people in western cultures are familiar with, or have at least heard, the many Christmas songs, sacred and secular. Throughout the entire Christmas season carols and other seasonal music is heard almost everywhere; in churches, stores, malls and even in elevators.

            Many Christmas songs have bells in their titles and lyrics:Carol of the Bells; I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day; Jingle Bell Rock; Silver Bells; With Bells On; Come On Ring Those Bells and the most famousone of all, Jingle Bells. 

            Jingle Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893). It was published in 1857 with a different title – One Horse Open Sleigh. Apparently it was used originally as a drinking song at social gatherings. It is without a doubt, a most favored song and it is sung by almost everyone during the Christmas season. Jingle Bells is not only an American song but is sung in many languages and countries worldwide.

            Bells date back to ancient antiquity and were found to be used in Jewish temples during that era. Some of the earliest bells, found in China and Egypt, date from 1,000 BC and were made of bronze, silver and gold. Early uses were magical and ritual, not necessarily musical.Bells were also used to accompany ritual dances and used in religious ceremonies.

            Bells are made in different shapes and sizes, including rectangular and square. They are usually struck from the outside with a hammer or from the inside with a clapper. They were historically made of metal and sometimes even made of wood.

            The Tsar Bell is the largest bell ever made and is displayed in Moscow’s Kremlin. It was cast in 1733, weighs 432,000 pounds and measures more than 22 feet in diameter. This giant bell has never been rung. Some bells from France and Germany weigh from 20,000 to 40,000 pounds. Large modern bells, often used in churches and university campuses, may weigh from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds.

            The use of bells in churches can be traced to the 6^th century in Tours, France, circa 560.  In England, large church bells date back to the 10^th century.Christian churches use bells for many occasions.  They often announce the time for worship and are used in weddings, funerals and other services. An inscription found in ancient bells attributed to monks reads:  “I praise the true God. I call the people, I assemble the clergy, I bewail the dead, I dispense storm clouds, I do honor to feasts.”

            In earlier times, in continental Europe, church bells were sounded together producing a rather confused sound; some called it cacophony. Then in England, they began ringing several bells in succession to produce a melody.  This type of bell placement is called a carillon.  This set of tuned bells is designed for a belfry or tower.

            The Campanile (a bell and clock tower) on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley, is one of the most famous landmarks in Northern California. Inside the tower is a musical instrument or carillon. It is a set of 48 cup-shaped, bronze-cast tuned bells, attached to a keyboard with levers and wires that activate a metal clapper inside the bells.

            Bells became the symbol of the wide-spread rise of Christianity. “The bell… praised the advent of Christianity into a world of strife,” wrote McGehee and Nelson in their book, People and Music.

            Over many centuries, bells have been used in Jewish celebrations. Bells were sewn on the Hebrew priest’s vestments for their protection. The sound of bells symbolized the music of water and represented thunder and lighting. Music is used at Hanukkah more than other Jewish holidays. 

            Hanukkah, known as the “Festival of Lights.” means dedication in Hebrew. It is celebrated over a period of eight days. This festival marks the rededication in 164 BC of the temple in Jerusalem.There are many songs connected with Hanukkah but the three most popular are: Ma’oz Tzar (Stronghold of Rock) The Dreidel Song and Oh Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah.

            In this era of modern technology the bell has come a long way. Digital systems produce true bell sounds with no moving parts. Our modern world has door bells; telephone bells; intercom system bells; electronic church bells and alarm-clock bells and watches, just to name a few.

            The sound of bells are very effective for calling communities together for general alerts, special announcements and ceremonies, including dire warnings of bad things to come, such as earthquakes, fires, floods and other disasters.

             We have hand bells; bell choirs; bells on children’s shoes and clothing; bells on jewelry; bells on animal collars on cats; dogs; cows; goats and sheep. We have school bells, bells used for fire alarms, police alarms and ambulances and even at some stop signs. And don’t forget dinner bells and Santa’s sleigh bells!  

            Percussion musicians in bands and orchestras use bells; and of course, every December we enjoy hearing bells making beautiful music at Christmas time.  Almost everywhere one goes you may hear bells of some sort used for many purposes.

            So next time you hear a bell think about how far the little bell has evolved. It certainly has added a lot, not only to our musical environment but it continues to be used in many creative and different ways.

Here’s wishing you a Wonderful Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Very Happy New Year! “Ring those bells!”

Don’t miss “Songs of the Season,” The Danville Community Band’s annual Christmas Concert, Sunday, December, 11, 2016, 4:00 p.m. Community Presbyterian Church,222 W. El Pintado Rd.  Danville. Free concert and parking. Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net. Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are very few rigid rules in the world of wine. Far too much time is spent agonizing over just the right pairing for a holiday meal when the truth is there isn’t one right answer. Many wines pair beautifully with many foods. The holidays are the perfect season to have fun and try some new wines from different regions around the country or around the world. Ever had a wine from New York? Try a Finger Lakes Riesling. Love Pinot Noir? Try a selection from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Die-hard Cabernet fan? Napa is the place for you. Want something really different? Try a sparkling Shiraz with your New Year’s dinner.

Generally, it’s hard to go wrong, except when it comes to dessert. Please put away your fancy, brut champagne and dry table wines! They have no place here. With dessert, the simple rule of thumb is the wine must be sweeter than the dessert.

At first, this might seem confusing. Who serves wine with dessert anyway? The answer is you! Or it should be. Coffee and tea are so yesterday. To be truly cutting edge, the sophisticated host offers a chic dessert wine at the end of the meal. It’s not as odd as it might sound.

Sweet wine is the classic accompaniment for the dessert course. Sweet champagne and fortified wines have been the choice of kings for centuries and you’re the king of your castle, right? Having a classy dessert wine will impress your guests and make you look like a real connoisseur.

The type of wine you select depends on the type of dessert you serve. The sweeter the dessert, the sweeter the wine. Easy, right? Not always. Have you ever been served a dry, sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries? The combination is often presented in hotels and restaurants. Though it looks decadent and inviting, it is ever so wrong. The flavor of a dry wine becomes bitter after you nibble on sugar. Suddenly that expensive bottle of bubbles is offensive. What a waste!

The proper pairing would be a demi-sec (slightly sweet) champagne or even better, a lovely glass of port to complement the creaminess of the chocolate and the fruitiness of the berries. Brut champagne is meant to accompany briny oysters or to cut the greasiness of crispy french fries, not to be sipped with a plate of bonbons. Dry with dry, sweet with sweet. Think about it. If you are reluctantly agreeing that perhaps I do have a point, read on…

When choosing a sweet wine, consider your dessert. Do you like chocolate? Try a tawny port. Love Tarte Tatin? Look into a luscious and impossibly elegant Sauternes. Prefer pecan pie? Try a hauntingly delicious Rutherglen Muscat from Australia. Want sparkles? A delicate Moscato D’Asti might be just the thing. Have a budget for the best? Seek out a fine demi-sec or doux champagne from France and savor every bubble.

Be adventurous this festive season. This is your chance to not only keep up with the Joneses but to surpass them altogether. Your basic understanding of wine and simple pairing will catapult you to new heights of admiration from family, friends, and business associates. Don’t tell them I told you. Let it be our secret. Have a gorgeous holiday. Cheers!

 

It’s hard to believe that 25years have blown by since the first Mazda MX-5 Miata rolled off of the assembly line. The little two-seater convertible from Mazda ignited years of fun for some and unlike many roadsters that are locked in the garage in preparation of the next sunny weekend mid-day drive, the MX-5 became a multi-use vehicle from work to the windy roads. To celebrate its 25^th anniversary, Mazda completely re-engineered and redesigned the MX-5.

For 2016, Mazda has improved the Miata to include some modern safety and technology expectations while preserving its uniqueness that has run true with all MX-5’s keeping it different from anything else on the market. Measuring in at about 154-inches, the new Miata is a bit shorter than last year’s model, while growing wider to about 68-inches. Plus, it has an extended the wheelbase to 91.1 inches.

The MX-5 was designed around its driver and is lightweight, nimble and fun to drive. It was a blast to cruise around the curved roads in the Dublin hills. On the freeway, if the road wasn’t smooth, you felt every bump…typical of low-to-the-ground cars. Nevertheless, it was the most fun MX-5 that I have driven to-date.

Now in its 4^thgeneration, the 2016 MX-5 carves a path that is thoroughly modern, packed with high-tech features and has a strikingly-designed based on the KODO-Soul of Motion which is defined by a long hood, short overhangs, a cropped cabin pushed far back on the body and large wheels moved as far as possible towards all four corners. The new look produces a lower and sleeker profile.

The 2016 MX-5 comes in four trim levels, Sport ($24,915), Club ($28,600), Grand Touring ($30,065) and a Limited Launch Edition. Standard on all MX-5 models are air conditioning, push-button start, a manual cloth convertible top, power door locks, USB input, Bluetooth® wireless phone pairing and audio streaming, leather shift knob and CD player. Entry MX-5 Sport and upper trims MX-5 Club and MX-5 Grand Touring all come with the option of a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The 2016 MX-5 Launch Edition comes in Soul Red with a Sport Tan leather interior — an exclusive color combination for the 2016 model year in the U.S.

The interior is clean and comfortable with red stitching. The info-screen at the top of the center dash houses your navigation, radio and other operations. The control knob is next to the shifter and if you aren’t careful while you are shifting you can accidentally change the radio station. There wasn’t a backup camera on my test model.

The SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine powering the MX-5 delivers 155 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 148 ft-lb. of torque at 4,600 RPM. It comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission that has a city EPA-estimated 27 mpg. Also available is a 6-speed automatic transmission for $1075.

Cool Features:

• Bose speakers in the headrest
• Push button start

Safety on the 2016 Mazda MZ-5 includes the following: dual front airbags, side impact airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning system.

In Summary –The 2016 MX-5 Miata is a blast to drive and the redesign is absolutely beautiful. The lines flow throughout the body and give the feel of motion. The portions are balanced and the MX-5 looks great with the top up or down. Raising and dropping the convertible top can be maneuvered with one hand.Mazda did an incredible job inside and out with its little roadster. If you take it for a test drive, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up in your garage.

Specifications

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

 

Base price:                 $28,600 as driven: $32,820 (including destination & optional
                                     features)

Engine:                       2.0 Liter 4-cylinder SKYACTIV-G

Horsepower:             155 @ 6,000 RPM

Torque:                      148 @ 4,600 RPM

Transmission:           6-Speedmanual

Drive:                          RWD Drive

Seating:                      2-passenger

Turning circle:          30.8 feet

Cargo space:              4.59 cubic feet

Curb weight:              2,332 pounds

Fuel capacity:            11.9 gallons  

EPA mileage:             City 27/Hwy 34

Wheel Base:               90.9 inches

Warranty:                   3 years/36,000-miles powertrain limited

Also, consider:           Audi TT Roadster, BMW Z4, Mini Roadster, and Nissan 370Z  Roadster 

 

Over years of coaching/training (endurance) athletes of all types, I have seen a few common denominators consistently decrease performance amongst age group athletes of all abilities.

The mindset that “more is always better” can be the undoing of an athlete of any ability level. It has cut more than one season short for many athletes. Certainly, there has to be an emphasis on volume during the right time of the season, in the correct context of an overall training plan, and in a manner that fits into the athlete’s life. However, a consistent emphasis on more volume or higher intensity, can easily be the undoing of what could have been a fantastic season before it even gets started. In its truest form, successful training is about the right dose, at the right time, for the right person.

Keeping this in mind, the value of properly timed recovery enters the conversation. Exercise is stress to the body—trauma, if you will. Therefore, in order to maximize the benefit from any exercise, the body needs an adequate and properly prescribed recovery period following exercise-induced stress. Recovery takes many forms and meanings, and rarely includes sitting on a couch eating Bon Bons. However, there may be a time and a place for such a thing, believe it or not. Well, maybe not the Bon Bons… One thing is certain: without allowing adequate timing for adaptation (the body’s response to training load) to take hold, the body will eventually rebel in a manner that may present itself in one of a thousand different ways including: injury, acute and/or chronic fatigue, metabolic syndrome, or other symptoms that are detrimental.

Second on this list brings us strength training. This is a proposition at which many endurance athletes will balk. However, considering the dialog from above regarding recovery, training/exercise is stress/trauma to the body. If the body’s skeleture, musculature, and energy systems are not strong, something will give. Rarely, does a seasoned tri-athlete or ultra-distance runner need to swim, bike, and/or run more. Instead, a regular, strategically placed 20-40 minute strength session will prevent injury, increase mobility, muscle function and help maximize endurance focused training sessions. Speed is built on strength, not the other way around. Again: Successful training is about the right dose, at the right time, for the right person.

Third on my list is the “N” word. Yup, nutrition. Clearly, there is not enough room on this page to adequately address this one. However, a few of the common mistakes amongst age groupers, elites, professionals, experienced, and those coming off the couch embarking on their maiden voyage alike, commonly include: Not eating enough. Yup. You read that correctly. More than one athlete got started in the craziness of our sport as a means to lose weight therefore believing they should exercise more and eat less. Sorry folks, it doesn’t work that way. Actually, you should be eating more. However, more probably does not include the “Bon Bons” referenced above. It does, however, include eating more of the right foods at the right time to support the work you are doing and adequately fuel the energy system. And that brings me to the next nutritional error: Fueling the wrong energy system. I see this day in and day out with athletes of all abilities. This goes hand in hand with destabilizing blood sugar or creating a metabolically inefficient environment that plays a major role in limiting athletic performance.  If you’re performing poorly or even performing well and guessing at your nutrition, ask yourself how well you could perform if you were fueling your body correctly?

As the year draws to a close, the farmers’ market takes on a new life. Along with plants, flowers, and greenery ideal for decorating and gift-giving, there are plenty of essentials for holiday meals, including just-picked cruciferous vegetables, sweet potatoes, winter squash, pomegranates, persimmons, crisp apples, creamy pears, Meyer lemons, grapefruit, and tangy-sweet tangerines and oranges.

Having grown up in very modest circumstances in Ireland, my parents considered it perfectly reasonable to include a couple of fresh oranges to our Christmas stockings. We just saw it as a sneaky way of buying us fewer toys.

Then there was the year my father got his revenge on his ungrateful children by adding a few large russet potatoes to the bottom of each stocking. Imagine our excitement when we saw those bulging stockings hanging from the mantle! I’m still working through that one in therapy. But I digress…

Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, we always left Santa a couple of slices of my mom’s Irish soda bread slathered with butter, and a cup of hot tea with milk and sugar. (Coincidentally, this also happened to be my father’s favorite snack.)

Just in case Santa drops by my house this year, I decided to set aside the traditional raisins for a change and give my soda bread a seasonal twist; along with an orange-scented honey butter. This will be good on Christmas morning, or anytime of day with a cup of tea, coffee, or hot cocoa.

Soda bread is so incredibly easy to make, the finished loaf leaves the novice baker feeling like a real pro. There is no temperamental yeast to deal with, for it is the chemical reaction between the baking soda and buttermilk that causes the bread to rise. My mom’s version goes one step further by adding an egg, which also lightens the texture.

And don’t overlook the gift-potential of this loaf, wrapped in cellophane with a big tartan-plaid bow.As holiday baking goes, this is a lot healthier than a batch of cookies… and takes less time to make.

 HOLIDAY SODA BREAD

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon fine seas salt

1 cup coarsely chopped dried cherries

1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup stemmed and coarsely chopped dried figs

Finely grated zest from 1 orange

2 cups buttermilk

1 large egg, at room temperature, lightly beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease a 9- to 10-inch cast-iron skillet with vegetable shortening. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; whisk gently to blend. Stir in the dried fruits and orange zest to coat with the flour mixture. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk and egg; mix until a stiff dough forms. (Use a wooden spoon if you must, but the most efficient way to mix this soft, sticky dough is with floured hands. Alternatively, the dough can be mixed in a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook… though, as far as I’m concerned, this just creates more stuff to wash!)

2. Remove the dough from the bowl and mound it into the prepared skillet, roughly forming a round loaf. (Don’t be concerned it doesn’t hold its shape; all will be corrected during baking.) Lightly moisten your hands with water to smooth the top. Using a serrated knife dipped in flour, score the top with a large X, about 1-inch deep. This will ensure even baking… and is said to also scare away the devil. (One can’t be too safe when baking, after all.) Bake 1 hour or until the loaf is golden brown with a firm crust, and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped with a knife. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack at least 30 minutes before cutting into 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve warm, at room temperature, or toasted, with or without Orange-Honey Butter. Makes 1 (9-inch) round loaf.

Orange-Honey Butter

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 tablespoon honey, or more to taste

Finely grated zest from 1 orange

Dash of salt

Mix together the butter, 1 tablespoon honey, orange zest, and salt until well blended.Taste, adding more honey if desired. Use at once, or cover and refrigerate.

Some final thoughts:

–If buttermilk is not something you normally use, fake it by placing 3 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice in a 1-pint glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to measure 2 cups and stir to mix. Let it stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture appears slightly curdled.

–I think baking this in a cast iron skillet gives the finished bread more soul…or, at least, a better crust. If you don’t have one, just use a well-greased 9-inch cake pan.

–Remember to check the expiration date on the box or can of baking soda in your pantry. It definitely loses its oomph over time.

–The original recipe calls for 2 cups of raisins, minus the orange zest, and that version still tastes wonderful. As you wander through the farmers’ market, however, check out the wide assortment of dried fruits and nuts available to come up with your own signature holiday soda bread. I am already thinking about shaking things up with chopped pitted dates and walnuts or pistachios….

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

 

 

I worry about the future of medicine, of doctors in particular, as the healthcare laws, mandates and reforms continue to change and evolve. It seems to me that outside of clinical and bench research and resultant treatment advances, few of the healthcare changes are occurring for patient benefit and certainly none are for the benefit of the doctor.

The outcry for “Healthcare Initiatives” by government and lawmakers because of the continued escalation of dollars spent on individuals’ use of medications, hospital services and insurance coverage, is never ending. Unfortunately, government’s answer to the problem never focuses on the root issue and therefore their proposals for fixing the situation will never be successful. A patient recently asked me, “How will Trump’s election and health care changes affect you?” My answer is that regardless of what Trump does or doesn’t do, most assuredly the changes won’t benefit me or other doctors in any way. We doctors can only brace ourselves for the impact and hope it doesn’t hurt too much.

For decades, the answer to rising healthcare costs has been to reduce doctors’ reimbursement rates. Doctors who have had a large percentage of their patients come from poor communities or who depend largely on government subsidized reimbursement (Medicare/Medical/etc.) have had to close their practices or work for someone else, such as Kaiser Health System, in order to have a guaranteed income. Not only are reimbursement rates reduced yearly, which is analogous to being demoted or taking a pay cut every year, doctors are actually being PENALIZED for not participating in more paperwork that does not improve patients’ health and adds even more uncompensated time to our days and increases our overhead. For example, Medicare devised the PQRS initiative, which stands for “Physician’s Quality Reporting System” that supposedly improves patient care by having doctors fill out various questionnaires regarding aspects of patients’ care and medical screening whether they are related to an individual doctors’ treatment of the patient or not. Doctors are being penalized by an additional 6% or more back to 2013 if they have not submitted the required paperwork. Unless something changes, future penalties are already scheduled up to 2018 for paperwork not submitted this year. The PQRS does not improve patient health outcomes; it gives the government a reason to do more of what they’re going to do anyway—make doctors pay.

It is ironic to me that the Medical Doctor, as a career, could be careening down such a treacherous road. I was eleven when I decided to become a doctor. I was told that it was a very noble profession but that I would have to sacrifice much in order to accomplish that goal. I would have to study hard, spend many years in school, and delay gratification for at least twelve years longer than most anyone else who wasn’t trying to do the same. I was warned that I would have to work very hard once I became a doctor and that my nights and weekends would not be my own. I was assured, however, that the reward would be worth it. The reward would be prestige, respect, financial comfort and independence, to name a few. Disappointingly, the promised reward is becoming ever more elusive.

I enjoy being a doctor, despite the undercut reward because I am gratified by working hard, taking care of people and “doing good.”  Doctors are smart, kind people, who make decisions every day about how to best care for someone else. However, every person deserves to make decisions for their best benefit, especially if it concerns survival. I worry about what kind of people will become doctors in the future.The carrot should always be bigger than the stick and right now the carrot is shrinking at an alarming rate. The way it stands now, physicians are often the scapegoats and worker bees that businessmen and corporations oftentimes profit from unfairly. Government decisions are squeezing the very people who have sacrificed years of blood, sweat, and tears for their careers. Although I won’t quit, I for one would not make the same choice knowing what a doctor’s work and life would be like at this time. I am fearful about whether there will be any kind, compassionate, capable physicians when I need one in my old age. Despite all, I will remain hopeful that someday, smarter, wiser and gutsier politicians will step up and start looking out for the future of this country and its people.

 

HOW MUCH SLEEP IS RECOMMENDED? 

Infants 12-17 hours

Toddlers (1-2) 11 – 14 hours

Preschoolers (3-5) 10 – 13 hours

School Age (6-13) 9-11 hours

Teens (14-17) 8-10 hours

Adults (18-64) 7-9 hours

Older Adult (65+) 7-8 hours

The above recommendations assume that the quality of sleep is good, but in many cases it is not. Lack of sleep, or poor quality of sleep, can be dangerous, causing car accidents or job related injuries due to the slowing of your reaction time; relationship problems; poor job performance; memory loss; health issues and mood disorders. Lack of quality sleep contributes to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer and many more ailments.

WHAT CAUSES POOR QUALITY SLEEP?

• Bad habits: Do you have irregular bedtimes? Do you drink caffeine drinks late in the afternoon or evening? Do you smoke or consume alcohol in the evening? Do you fall asleep with the TV on?  Do you allow time for digestion after dinner?
• Mental Health: Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and the drugs used to treat these problems can all take away your ZZZZs.
• Health problems: Chronic pain, arthritis, GERD, heart failure, thyroid problems, neurological disorders, hormonal imbalances and many medications can all interfere with sleep. Malnutrition can also play a role such as magnesium deficiency which can cause depression, mood changes and stress- like symptoms.
• Sleep apnea and Restless Leg Syndrome: Not only seriously effects quantity and quality of sleep for the victim, but can also affect others.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Turn off the Tube. Additionally, video games and surfing the net late in the evening promote the “stay awake” mechanisms of the body.
• Employ Bedtime Rituals. A warm bath and a book, a regular bedtime, peaceful music, learn relaxation techniques and meditation.
• Exercise regularly, preferably not just before bedtime.
• See your doctor. A sleep diary can help by keeping track of your bedtimes and waking hours, how long and well you slept, amount of waking times and how long you stayed awake, your emotions and stress level and a list of medications you take. 
• There are several types of therapy available such as Relaxation Training, biofeedback to help control breathing, heart rate, muscle control and mood and cognitive-behavioral therapy to ease worries.
• Ask your doctor for a sleep test. Sleep apnea is treatable by applying a CPAP or dental sleep appliance.  The change experienced, from the return of youthful energy and the return of memory, to better health and more, can all be as a result of correcting sleep problems.

At my office, the Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center in Danville, we have delivered hundreds of dental sleep appliances with an amazing rate of success. Most medical insurances cover dental appliances for obstructive sleep apnea.  Contact us today to learn more: www.aodtc.com and 925-837-8048.

Joint pain, known as arthritis, comes in many forms. The most common type is osteoarthritis, known as “wear and tear arthritis.”

Joint pain can flare up for a number of reasons—some of which may be overlooked by conventional practitioners. Many of my patients ask me if their pain is caused by arthritis. Sadly, it is estimated that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with some form or arthritis. There are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most well known.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands and feet and is frequently accompanied by a hot or warm feeling in the joint, stiffness for over 30 minutes in the morning, the same joint affected on both sides of the body, polyarthritis (more than one joint affected at a time), and pain that can last through the night. With this form of arthritis, most of my patients notice the pain eases the more they use the joint.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, feels worse the more we exercise and as the day wears on. Also linked to inflammation, this type of arthritis can be traced back to a breakdown in the joint cartilage. It generally affects the hips, knees, spine, hands and feet and develops as more of a wear-and-tear situation, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is closely tied with genetic factors that lead to an autoimmunity problem.

What you need to know if you suffer from arthritis

 All forms of arthritis involve some kind of inflammation, either local or systemic. When injured, a chain of events in your immune system known as the inflammatory cascade is triggered.  This is what causes the redness, swelling and pain we often see with an acute injury.  When this process, known as local or acute inflammation, turns on and then off in response to injury it’s a sign of a healthy immune system. Yet when the symptoms of inflammation don’t disappear, it tells us that your immune system is unable to turn itself off when it should and therefore leads to a state of chronic inflammation.

How do I begin to heal my arthritis pain naturally?

Adopt a healthy diet rich in natural anti-inflammatories. Eat small meals often and choose a diet of richly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and pure omega-3 fatty acids. Remove foods that contribute to inflammation such as refined sugar, white flour/baked goods, canned or packaged foods.

Correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have been shown to suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes such as chronic inflammation, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Special blood testing can reveal what your body has absorbed from your food and/or supplements over the past six months and zero in on what is deficient. Micro-Nutrient Testing allows a person to know exactly what to eat and/or supplement in order to support their healing process. By correcting nutritional imbalances the body is given the building blocks it needs to naturally create its own anti-inflammatories and heal from the inside out.

Class IV Laser Therapy.  Ending the pain caused by arthritis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved.

We have great success helping people solve the causes of their joint pain.  If you suffer from arthritis it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain—and which combination of therapies will help heal it. The good news is,  you can do it without drugs, and you don’t have to give up any of the activities you love!

For more information or to set up a consult with Dr. Niele Maimone call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

 

 

Dear HSSS,

With the holidays in full swing, I find myself exhausted already. What used to be fun has now turned into a cacophony thanks to too many relations.  Would it be awful to just have my immediate family over to celebrate the peace of the season rather than all the aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews?

                                                                                    ~Sticky Sitch, Walnut Creek

She Said: Well, I know I don’t have to tell you to be grateful that you have family when there are those who have no one, right?  Of course you love them all, but you bring up a legitimate problem: the obligations of the holidays. Hosting a party for 24 is not for everyone although we all know people who move the furniture around and turn the living room into a dining hall. Let them. You can speak up and say, “Extended Family, this year we’ve decided to keep it small, and focus on our nuclear family for a change, because we never get to see each other any more, does anybody mind?”  Do not comment on the look of relief on their faces.  But let’s remember the basic rules of etiquette. 

• You cannot exclude your children’s spouses.
• Make sure nobody in the extended family will be alone.
• Don’t invite best friends now that you have room at the table—that’s what New Year’s Eve is for.

Good luck navigating the most wonderful time of the year, everyone, and be kind to each other. Exceedingly kind.

He Said: There’s nothing awful about downsizing your holiday plans as long as you are still spending time around those you love. Some people loath the holidays because of the chaos that comes with them. But if your intentions are to reduce the stress and try to take a more enjoyable approach to this holiday season, then I think you should be commended for that. Every year the holidays become more commercialized than the year before, and as a society we have lost the true meaning of celebration and love. Expectations of big parties and gifts have come to dominate the season when we should really be focusing on what’s important….love and peace. It sounds like the idea of a BIG family gathering is weighing on you, and if that’s the case, you won’t have the energy or time to enjoy what is supposed to be a reflective and peaceful time of year. Robin has given some good pointers on whom to include in the festivities. I suggest you follow her guidelines and keep things simple and joyful.

Robin and Shawn are hanging up their advisor hats to take on some exciting, new challenges. You’ll find Robin living it up as the new Director of Marketing and Communications for VisitTriValley.com and Shawn focusing on his passion for helping improve the lives of those around him.They wish to thank you for your questions and for not taking life too seriously. Happy Holidays everyone!

 

Bing Crosby, a roaring fire, snow outside, a Piano, and a Pretty Lady: A sure fire recipe for a cuddle and a kiss.

The magic of Christmas is alive and well and ready to explode at my house.  My now-grown daughter’s favorite line used to be, “Mom, I think the Christmas Fairy just threw up!” I truly don’t believe my ten ton Christmas Stash is unreasonable.

Having established how much I love Christmas, I must confess that I want to write about every movie, every year.  I suppose I can’t, so this year’s offering will be Holiday Inn, released in 1942.

If you are anything like me, when you watch this film it will take you back to a kinder, gentler era. A time when ladies wore elegant gowns and the gentlemen wore coats and ties to lounge around. Now that is rather hypocritical of me since I was just having a conversation yesterday about the wonder of the comfortable fabrics used for most clothes today. They stretch, they move with you and yes, we can even leave them untucked and still be fashionable. Having said that, the clothes in this movie are just down right dreamy.

Holiday Inn is literally #1 on most lists of Christmas movies. It has the singing of Bing Crosby, the dancing of Fred Astaire and two incredibly talented leading ladies: Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale. Probably the absolute best though is the music of the ingenious Irving Berlin. Contrary to what some believe, the famous song, White Christmas was introduced in this film not the later movie named for the song. White Christmas the movie truly is my favorite but I think that’s because of the song, “Sisters” that is dear to my family.

There are ten Bing Crosby songs and six dances by Fred Astaire taking us through every holiday on the calendar, including the hallmark dance Astaire performs to Let’s Say It with a Firecracker.  

Holiday Inn is toe twinkling and ivory tickling. Crosby and Astaire have an easy casual banter that is charming and funny. This film is worthy of a rainy day indulgence.

Christmas is definitely a time for family, friends, gatherings and movies.  All your old favorites and a plethora of new, soon to be favorites have been airing on Hallmark and other channels for weeks now. If I didn’t love them so much, I’d be upset by how early they started this year! There are new ones every week on different channels including your family friendly subscription channels like the new offering by Hallmark called Feeln.  And, no, it isn’t a spelling error.  Others like Pureflix and Christian Cinema are great for message movies. The Nativity Story is great to work into your schedule as well. Having said that, cable TV has enough movie channels to keep you busy until next July! 

Have a wonderful holiday time with your family and friends and make your favorite old movies and your soon-to-be-favorite new movies, part of your celebration.

As always, I love hearing from you at chastings@rockcliff.com.