The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Screenings Through The Decades

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Samantha Lowe, MD, Pediactrics

Drs. Samantha Lowe and Michael Zuckman of White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk see to the well-being of patients at all stages of life. Part of that care includes providing age-appropriate screenings to ensure optimal health and wellness. Here’s a brief but comprehensive summary of the things you should be checking for both for you and your family members through the years.

Need a physician to help you get the screenings you and your family need? Call White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk at (914) 849-7900.

Birth To Pre-Teens

Recommended screenings for newborns and children include testing for congenital problems, monitoring growth and development, hearing and vision screenings, and immunization updates.

Michael Zuckman, MD, Internal Medicine

Teenage Years

Start screening for mental health problems, beginning in the teen years when they commonly start presenting. Updating immunizations; educating teens about the risks of tobacco, drug, and alcohol use; and the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are also all essential.

20s and 30s

Young adults should be monitored for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol all through routine doctor visits. Cervical cancer screenings for women and testicular cancer screenings for men should also be included.

In The 40s

In addition to continuing screenings begun earlier in life, patients should begin screening for glaucoma. Women should begin screening for breast cancer, and both men and women at average risk should begin screening for colorectal cancer by age 45 according to new American Cancer Society guidelies.

In The 50s

All previous screenings and tests should be maintained, and men should begin screening for prostate cancer.

Ages 60 and older

Regular screenings for all previous conditions should continue and screenings for osteoporosis, depression, and memory problems should begin.

Our Doctors. Your Neighborhood.

White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness provides comprehensive care for the entire family, conveniently located off 684/exit 3 in Armonk. Expert physicians in Primary Care, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and multiple specialties including Allergy & Immunology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Neurology, orthopedics and Rheumatology offer personalized service for patients and family members. Same-day appointments are often available. The facility also houses a Diagnostic Imaging Center and Urgent Care center, operated by White Plains Hospital Emergency Department physicians, with extended hours and short wait times. Call (914) 849-7900 for an appointment or (914) 849-7999 for urgent care, open seven days a week.

Stroke: Know the Signs. Be Ready to Act.

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Health News you can use

Brought to you by White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness located at 99 Business Park Drive, Armonk

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the #5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. The risk increases due to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, diseases of the arteries, or heart disease, or for those who smoke, are obese, or who live a sedentary lifestyle. The good news, though, is that 80% of strokes are preventable.

So, do you know how to spot a stroke? Usually, it comes down to specific symptoms: intense headache, sudden confusion, difficulty finding words, lack of balance, or sudden numbness or tingling on one side of the body. But it’s what you do next – according to Amy Hua, DO, neurologist at White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk – that can mean the difference between complete recovery and lifelong impairment.

“With a stroke, minutes matter and the longer a person waits to get to the hospital, the more chance they have of developing a permanent disability,” says Dr. Hua.

If you suspect a stroke in progress, call 911 immediately. Being treated at a designated Stroke Center can positively impact outcome. White Plains Hospital is home to Westchester County’s first New York State designated Regional Stroke Center, and has been repeatedly recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for providing the most appropriate stroke treatment, according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence

Dental Care Timeline for a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth

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By Dr. Aki Shirakura

Good oral hygiene is critical – especially for children. Following this basic timeline can insure a lifetime of healthy teeth!

Baby Steps (0 – 6 mos)

RELAX, no need to worry yet.

Stop Teething Me! (6 mos – 1 year)

As soon as that first tooth breaks through, time to start brushing. Using a baby tooth brush with soft bristles and water, gently brush the teeth and gums.

Open Wide – First Trip to the Dentist (1 – 2 years)

Your child’s first trip doesn’t have to be traumatic. Leading up to the appointment prepare your little one, get them excited about it. This is what to expect:
• The dentist counts your child’s teeth, making sure everything is developing properly.
• Teeth can be cleaned to remove any plaque or stains – the kids usually enjoy this part!
• Fluoride treatment to strengthen teeth and prevent decay.

X-Ray Vision (6 years)

To make sure everything is progressing properly, the dentist will recommend a panoramic x-ray. This shows the entire mouth including future adult teeth.

Seal the Deal – Sealants (6 – 7 years)

To prevent cavities, we recommend sealing your child’s six-year-old molar teeth. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

The Tooth Fairy Years (7–11 years)

These are the years of great changes. Every time you look in your child’s mouth, another wiggly tooth! Most of your child’s teeth will change from baby teeth to permanent.

Sign, Sealed, Delivered (12 – 13 years)

At about 12 years old, 2nd molars come out. They need to be sealed like 6-year-old molars.

Uncharted Areas – Periodontal Charting (17+)

Periodontal charting is a procedure to detect signs of gum disease. The gums are measured, watching for signs of inflammation, recession, and gum disease. Early detection of Periodontal or Gum
Disease is critical in treating it.

Most importantly, children and adults should always visit their dentist at least twice a year. With proper dental care, you can insure the health of your teeth and gums for a lifetime.

Dr. Aki Shirakura and Associates is located in the heart of Armonk Village at 40 Bedford Road. Call us today (914) 273-9280 to take the first step to a lifetime of healthy teeth for your whole family.

Keep smiling!

Mindful and Compassionate Parenting and Communities

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By Jeanette Sandor and Jan Fielder

When it comes to creating a career, we usually get years of training. When it comes to creating a peaceful, happy life as parents, we get far less training. Much of our parenting is based upon personal experience which can oftentimes leave us feeling ill prepared or inadequate to handle the myriad of challenges we face daily.

We all want to be the best parents possible, but sometimes we fall short of our expectations. With all the pressures and stressors we encounter as we strive to manage work, school and social obligations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed making it difficult to parent. And it’s difficult to parent well when we feel overwhelmed.

Is it possible for parents to thrive despite overscheduled and stressful lives? Is it possible for children to thrive given their obligations and pressures? Absolutely!

There are evidenced based practices grounded in mindfulness and self-compassion that will help you be the skillful parent you want to be. These practices can also help your children become more resilient in the face of the pressures they face in their plugged in, competitive and overscheduled lives.

Jeanette Sandor RN, MA and Jan Fielder, MS, MA, are Life and Wellness Coaches as well as mothers. Together they empower parents with tools and practices so that parenting becomes less stressful and more joyful. Their goal is to help create a more mindful and compassionate world, one family at a time and one community at a time. Their workshops for parents, families and children teach skills for life… a mindful and compassionate life, so that there can be competition with peacefulness, devices with boundaries, and schedules with spaces for breathing and being.

Local Faces Campaign Emphasizes Positivity, Loyalty and Shopping Local

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A photo campaign this summer is intended to help spread positivity, loyalty and shopping local in our community. Culminating in a gallery exhibit, the campaign aims to connect residents of the community with the faces behind our local stores and businesses. Photographed by Carolyn Simpson, Doublevision Photographers. doublevisionphotographers.com  Here are just a few faces in the campaign. Can you name these faces? The gallery show with the final images of everyone who was photographed will take place on September 15, 6-9 p.m. at Chappaqua’s hip-kid lounge, 77 South Greeley Ave.