The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

What is Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

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By Phil Altman, R.Ph.
Are you experiencing symptoms of menopause? Have you considered some form of hormone replacement therapy and still not sure what is most effective for relief? Consider “bio-identical hormones.” Bio-identical hormones are an exact replica of the hormones that are naturally produced by the body. They have a molecular structure that is identical to hormones that are naturally produced by the human body.

The difference between bio-identical hormones and synthetic hormones is that, although both are created in labs, synthetic hormones are not identical to the hormones naturally created in your body, whereas bio-identical hormones match your body’s hormones molecule by molecule.

Synthetic hormones are manufactured in a lab and are not identical to the hormones your body uses. Synthetic hormones can act as toxins because their chemical makeup cannot be metabolized properly. Some non-bio-identical hormones are obtained from the urine of pregnant horses, and have long been known to cause bone loss, osteoporosis and serious health risks.

Bio-identical hormones are made from soy, yams and other plant extracts. BHRT is sent to a Compounding Pharmacy where they have the ability to customize dosage forms to fit each individual’s needs. Using a compounding pharmacist to help you decide what dosage form to use, will be key in having a successful therapy. Forms BHRT can come in are: Transdermal (syringe, pump or jar), Lozenges, Drops, Capsules. Pills, Vaginal Suppositories, Vaginal Creams and Liquids.

For over a decade, Phil Altman, R.Ph, a compounding pharmacist at The Healthy Choice in Chappaqua, has helped thousands of women manage hormone-related health issues associated with menopause. He is one of the leading authorities in Westchester on women’s health issues and a resource for alternative health approaches for women and physicians.

Smart Strategies for Financial Health

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By Louise Albert, CFP
The spring blooms are upon us as we finish up tax returns and begin contemplating spring projects. A financial “house cleaning” may, literally, pay dividends for you this spring. A few suggestions to get started are listed below.

Become familiar with your credit report.
You can get an annual credit report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com. A credit report contains information about your credit and loan history and is used by lenders to determine your credit worthiness. Review carefully for negative information and file a dispute if you find errors.

Shred documents.
As you go through your paper files, shred all papers that you no longer need. Consider scanning important papers and keeping digital files to avoid this task next year.

Update your will or trust.
Have you experienced a major life event in the last year such as a marriage, divorce, or addition of a new family member? If so, you may need to make adjustments to your will or trusts to account for this event. If you do not have these documents, now is a good time to have the issue reviewed. Also, make sure your accounts are titled appropriately.

Rebalance your investment portfolio.
You may have gone through a risk tolerance questionnaire to determine the appropriate mix of asset classes for your investment accounts. Your asset allocation may now be askew due to the equity market run-up we have experienced over the last two years. Rebalancing your account is one of the best ways to ensure that you “buy low and sell high.”

Review college savings.
As college acceptance letters are mailed out this month, review the college savings accounts you have set up. Do you have a 529 plan? If not, now is a great time to set one up in order to benefit from some of the tax advantages. You also may need to do some rebalancing in this account as well.

Louise Albert is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner and also holds the ChFC® and CLU® designations. She is currently a Financial Planning Specialist at Samalin Investment Counsel in Chappaqua.Prior to that, Louise spent 13 years at TIAA-CREF specializing in retirement planning and assisting individuals in reaching long term financial goals.

One Dad’s Balancing Act!

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By Michael P. Therrien

Have you ever asked yourself how to attain a work/life balance without jeopardizing your career–or family? How much “quality” time with family is enough? Maybe you wish you could volunteer at every baseball game, recital and field trip that your kids are involved in. How about some time to pursue your own interests?

Can you do it all? No. There is always compromise. Don’t beat yourself up over it. A number of friends in Chappaqua have told me they are impressed that I am able to juggle as much as I do and still have time for family while working full time. Don’t get me wrong – it’s hard work. Achieving balance takes effort and a supportive family. And it does come at a price–in my case, much less sleep then I’d like.

What’s my typical day? Up before 5 a.m. with a protein shake, in front of my computer for two hours of solid work, then join the kids for breakfast before driving them to school on the way to the office. Both my wife and I have the luxury of very short commutes but honestly, it wasn’t so much of a luxury as a conscious choice.

I try to leave the office by 5 p.m. to get an hour of exercise, at least three times during weekdays and twice with the family over the weekend. Sometimes I may only have 30 minutes for a workout but it’s important to keep the momentum. Make exercise a good habit. I should add that my workouts are intense but necessary for stress release. Do not try this at home!

I get home around 6:30 p.m. to help with dinner which allows me to spend a few hours with family. Then I catch up on any personal matters, prepare for the next day or spend some quiet time with my wife. Bedtime is usually midnight to 1am. Enough sleep? No. But it’s what I choose to sacrifice in order to do more. By the way, this also means that I give up television and don’t have time to read fiction.

With hours allocated for work, exercise and family, I do make time to pursue my own interests. After all, when the kids leave for college in the next four to six years, we need to have our own interests besides work. Fortunately, there are significant opportunities in and around Chappaqua to pursue interesting hobbies and activities.

For example, I’m actively involved producing videos at the New Castle Community Media Center. Late last year, my co-producers, Sue Resnick, Barbara Kornreich and I created a KEN KEN tournament video that inspired a feature segment on the Martha Stewart show. Check it out at nccmc.com. I am also acting, er.. I mean learning to act, at the Howard Meyer Acting Program in Pleasantville, a welcoming and enriching opportunity to incorporate some creativity and fun into a busy day. On the horizon… flying lessons!

When working to achieve balance, you can, as the word implies, sometimes lean more towards one way or the other when you’re pulled in many directions. It’s important to maintain flexibility to let that happen and deal with the changing priorities. Let some things slide and don’t get so caught up that the striving for balance makes you absolutely rigid.

I have a daily reminder of balance whenever I check the time. Close to my watch band on the inside of my wrist is a small tattoo. Two little bars sit side-by-side, one solid and one empty, a play on Yin and Yang which means balance.

The tattoo itself goes unnoticed by most, but I look at it every day to remember its significance: live a balanced life.

Solutions to Strife: Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Family Therapy

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By Sarah Ellen Berman

Sometimes the ties that bind us become problematic. Interpersonal relationships occasionally impede rather than nurture a happy, healthy life. When this occurs within a family, restoring harmony to the home becomes a top priority and professional counseling is often sought. Dr. Melissa Camhy is a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and families. She defines family therapy as, “a form of psychotherapy which brings the family together in group sessions to work on problems.” Individuals and subsets of family members are convened in her Mount Kisco office.

What catalysts compel clients to seek professional advice? There may be problems at work or school, resulting in poor job performance and learning issues. Dr. Camhy related that she is often consulted by families, “When they feel that their patterns of communication are creating unhappiness.” Parents often call when they feel that one of their offspring has become a source of tension within their unit.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety, or eating disorders may manifest. Dr.Camhy enables “family members to gain perspective on how their communication and relationship patterns may be perpetuating these problems.” In her role as facilitator in the healing process, Dr. Camhy provides families with the tools needed to achieve a sustainable, loving environment.

When working with individuals and families, Dr. Camhy adopts a “very collaborative approach.” Consultations with pediatricians, occupational therapists, teachers, and other relatives as well as observations of patients in their normal milieus provide her with valuable insight, which in turn informs her prescribed method of care.

Destigmatize is a buzzword most commonly associated with the treatment of mental illness. People are often hesitant to seek assistance. “The more that we can show how prevalent psychological dysfunction is and how it can develop in families where there’s tremendous love and affection, there won’t be this fear,” Dr Camhy noted. Disclosure and discussion of mental illness by celebrities such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and productions such as “Next to Normal,” on Broadway have greatly contributed to acceptance and understanding.

In response to a query as to whether the current lackluster state of the economy has contributed to an increased level of discord in American homes, Dr. Camhy answered in the affirmative. In her opinion, “loss of employment” as well as “divorce and undue pressure to succeed,” often cause an increased level of stress in the family.

Dr. Camhy recognizes that it takes tremendous courage to take the first step in seeking treatment. By placing their trust in her, families establish a “therapeutic alliance.” Dr. Camhy teaches family members how to draw on their inner strengths to build peace within their home.

Sarah Ellen Berman is a frequent contributor to Inside Chappaqua who believes that the family who reads and plays together, stays together.

Vacation Stoppers

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By Rick Reynolds

As we approach the summer vacation travel period, here are a few vacation- ending missteps to avoid. My wife and I just returned from Italy despite the following hiccups:

1. Never use middle names on airline tickets. When purchasing our tickets online, I stupidly put my wife’s middle name where it said, “middle name.” Silly me. As it turned out, her passport had her maiden name as her middle name, so the two essential documents didn’t match. The airline wouldn’t change the name on the ticket and told us to beg the mercy of the TSA officials. I implored the airline to issue a new ticket. Refusing, they said to bring 3 corroborating, irrefutable elements: her birth certificate, her marriage license, and her mother.

2. Never buy the trendy passport holders that hang from your neck. Though I’ve never had trouble losing my passport on international trips, someone told me that I must purchase the soft cotton undergarment passport holders that assure one will never become separated from one’s passport. Under protest, my wife wore her passport carrier on our way to the limo company that would take us to the airport. But soon my wife’s passport carrier became uncomfortable around her neck, as she later explained, so she had taken it off and placed it in her lap. When she got out of our car, it fell on the ground. There it remained until we did our final checklist in the limo, on the way to the airport. “Honey,” I said as calmly and reassuringly as I could summon. “You have defeated my failsafe passport protection strategy. You have removed your passport carrier. You are no longer with passport. Would you like to see me wet my pants before I get to Pisa?”

3. Never bring deadly weapons on the plane. While this would seem academic, a Swiss Army knife/ keychain was detected in my wife’s carry on. Gosh, and here we had been so careful! All our liquids were in little 3 oz. bottles in clear bags, ready for inspection, and, low and behold, there’s this little, innocent, deadly weapon nestled in her underwear. When asked by the stern TSA officer if she was carrying any weapons onto the plane, my wife asserted, “Absolutely not!” Then, as the officer proceeded to pull out each of the 4 gleaming sharp blades, one-by-one, my “fight or flight” instinct took over:

The “I’ve never seen this woman before in my life,” defense instantly popped into my head, as I envisioned losing my vacation. When I collected myself, I remembered that her ticket and passport didn’t match, confirming that my first instinct might actually work.

However, thinking this stretched credulity, I next thought of saying, “Honey, you never told me you had terrorist tendencies.” But finally, I summoned all my maturity and said, “Darling, would you tell this nice man why you’re bringing a knife of mass destruction onto the aircraft?”

At this point, our 25th anniversary was off to a rocky start. There were only three absolute vacation-ending events, and we managed to do all three. To make matters worse, I noticed the TSA officers were now looking at me differently. After all, why would this nice looking woman spirit a knife in her luggage? She didn’t look the part. Next I know, I’m spread-eagled. While I was explaining to them how careful I had been despite my wife’s carelessness, another officer was touching parts of me I hadn’t visited since grade school. So intimate was their search, I asked them for a cigarette afterward.

My wife tells me she’s forgiven me. And she highly recommends Tuscany.

35-year resident of Chappaqua, humorist Rick Reynolds resides in southern New Hampshire with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.