October - 2010

healthy valley

Eat Healthy. Eat Fresh. Eat Local Breast Cancer Awareness

Serving the RGV for 25 YearsAllergic Rhinitis

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PublisherEditor in Chief

Marketing DirectorWebsite Director

Graphic DesignPhotography

Proof ReaderContributing Writers

Account Executives

Mauricio PortilloClaudia Portillo Del ValleArnaldo Del ValleAndres RojasHealthy Valley MediaDavid PezzatLina TobonLora IncardonaÁlvaro Restrepo, M.D.Diana Cortinas, M.D.Ana C. Posada-Diaz, M.D.Julio E. Arias Viaud, M.D.Raul O. Maldonado, DPM, PABruce LeTourneau, ACNMaria Luisa Salcines Rubel ShelleyLeon WoloskiSusy GramoffChef Omar SanchezCarlos JaramilloLora IncardonaNina FarrisCarlos JaramilloAaron Andreu

healthy valley magazine

healthy valley magazine is a free monthly publication. All contents are pro-tected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher. The material in this magazine is intended to be of gen-eral informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. healthy valley magazine and its contributors accept no responsibility for inaccuracies, and the ad-vertiser is solely responsible for ad content and holds publisher harmless from any error. Printed in Mexico

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HVCONTENTSOCTOBER

WHAT’S INSIDE8 Your Half-Full Glass

10 Teaching “Number Sense”

12 Allergic Rhinitis

14 Serving The Rio Grande Valley For 25 Years

16 Young At Heart, Young In Spirit

18 In Your Dreams

20 Electroconvulsive Therapy (Ect)

22 Treat Nail Fungus In A Flash

24 Innovation In The Rgv

28 Breast Cancer Screening Essential For Women Of All Ages

33 Alopecia And Hair Loss

34 In October Me Is Going Pink

36 Meaningful Beauty

40 Restoring Digestive Vitality

43 Eat Healthy, Eat Fresh, Eat Local.

44 Pan Roasted Spiced Tuna With Lemon Raita

46 Pangasius Fillets With Squash Noodles

48 No More Excuses

Allergic Rhinitis

Young at Heart, Young in Spirit

Breast Cancer Screening

Eat Healthy. Eat Fresh. Eat Local.

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HV EDITORIAL

Being honest, I have a confession to make—this has been a particularly hard month, but I’m not bitter. I’m actually happy, because I got to see things from every possible perspective. Indeed, I have always been an enemy of multitasking, and I was deeply confronted with it many times this month. So, today, tired but happy, I get to share with you the many memories captured in our magazine this month.

We went in to interview Jesus and Elvia Saenz, the owners and pharmacists of Saenz Phar-macy, regarding “Talk About Prescriptions Month,” and we ended up with an amazing story of how a husband and wife worked together to build a wonderful business. I have also had the privilege of visiting many of our local restaurants this month as a way to jump start a new campaign: “Eat Healthy. Eat Fresh. Eat Local.” We have many local restaurants with great chefs and fresh ingredients and thought we must share these places with you. They are remarkable! I invite you to judge for yourself and to follow the recipes that they are kindly sharing with us on a monthly basis. Believe me, they’re worth the try!

The Makeover Challenge TV program airing has changed. I know we are all eager to see what is happening with Denice and Herlinda, so I will share with you a little something: They are looking amazing! I have to say, though, that a few times I was disappointed and a little bit dis-courage with the results. But of the many things I learned in the process, the most important are that nobody can set your goals and nobody can tell you how far you can or can’t go. So, my readers, I have to say that those were great lessons: 1. Set your own goals and 2. Take all the advice you need to succeed and keep moving forward.

Even though working is not always easy, I have to say that loving what you do its fascinating. I am so grateful that I get to go home every night feeling happy and blessed to have the op-portunity to interview so many interesting individuals and to put together this publication that, as we always say, has been designed with you in mind.

Have a wonderful October and be part of something great this month. Give and the reward will change you forever. May your glass always be half full.

Claudia Portillo cportillo@healthyvalleyonline.com

HV YOURHALF-FULLGLASSHV YOURHALF-FULLGLASS

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It dawned on me last Wednesday that I finally under-stand a string of words that were spoken before I was born but which I have heard all my life. They are the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt from his first inaugural address. He gave the speech on March 4, 1933. It is the one with the famous line that goes “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

In the context of FDR’s famous speech, here is what he said: “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will re-vive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.” Without the experience of the past few months, I’m not sure I could have grasped what Roosevelt was articulat-ing to an earlier generation. I’ve cut way back on listen-ing to or reading “the news” – in the conviction that most of what I have been hearing or reading is negative world-view rather than straightforward fact, negative interpre-tation rather than simply news. You and I have been living a “culture of fear” – in politics, business, finance, education, water-cooler conversation, you name it.

We have forgotten the obvious and emphasized the neg-ative, so fear has been allowed to keep us awake, cloud our decisions, and poison our relationships. A fellow once told me his favorite verse in the Bible was this: “And it came to pass . . .” That’s the obvious fact we seem to have forgotten. Bad times don’t last. Nothing down here lasts for long. And that’s true of the economic chaos of the past year and a half. It is time for our own “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance” to give way to realism tempered with optimism. It is time for you to be bold in planning for the future. It is time to push back the darkness of despair with the light of hope.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream ful-filled is a tree of life,” (Proverbs 13:12 NLT). That half-empty glass of yours is half-full.

by Rubel Shelly

Your Half-Full Glass

Because the Glass Really is

Half-Full

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How can number sense help a child in math? Quick! What is 2/3 of 240 6/229?

This is the type of problem that can cause a real dread of math. Just the thought of the process and computations involved is enough to make one frustrated and annoyed. Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers! Ugh! Solving this problem will probably take a little division as well. Double ugh!

Yet there is a much simpler and elegant way to solve this without ever putting pen to the paper. All it requires is a little “number sense.”

At the root of number sense are a few basic ideas. One of the most basic and most used ideas in math is the idea of seeing the whole thing and its parts. It occurs throughout math from addi-tion through differential equations and beyond. Let’s see how it applies to the two numbers in our question. First let’s look at 2/3. Fractions tell us two things – how many equal parts the whole is divided into and how many parts to take. So 2/3 says divide the whole into three equal parts and take two of those parts.

Next we can view the mixed number 240 6/229 as a whole thing whose parts are 240 and 6/229. If we want to find two-thirds of

201 South Shary Road, Suite 450, Mission, TX 78572 PH. 956.467.4422sharyland@mathnasium.com www.mathnasium.com

Leon Woloski

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Teaching “Number Sense”

TEACHING“NUMBERSENSE”

a whole thing, we can find two-thirds of each part and add the results together.

If we combine these two ideas we can first find 2/3 of 240 which says divide 240 into three equal parts (each part would be 80) and take two of those parts. This would give us 160. Now divide 6/229 into three parts. This may seem daunting, but consider that if I di-vide 6 bananas into three equal parts I get 2 bananas in each part. If I divide 6 doughnuts into three equal parts I get 2 doughnuts in each part. So if I divide 6/229 into three equal parts I get 2/229 in each part. And taking two of those parts would be 4/229. Now we add the parts together and get the final answer: 160 4/229.

Number sense alone can’t be used to solve all problems. However, developing number sense in a child, along with an understanding of the more general mathematical methods, leads to a deeper un-derstanding and appreciation of math.

Mathnasium’s goal is to build number sense and with it a deep understanding and lifelong appreciation of mathematics. Our pro-grams help students who are at, above, and below grade level to develop number sense as well as the fundamental and advanced skills necessary for success in the classroom.

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HV ALLERGICRHINITISHV ALLERGICRHINITIS

Allergic rhinitis is a very common medical condition that affects between 20 and 40 million people in the United States. Although allergic rhinitis is not a life-threatening condition, complications can occur and can significantly affect quality of life. In children, allergic rhinitis has a prevalence of up to 40%, making it the most com-mon chronic disease during childhood. It has been noted in the last 30 years that its frequency has been steadily increasing. Of the children who suffer from this condition, approximately 40% are diagnosed by age six.

In allergic rhinitis, the body, in a process called sensitization, mis-takenly identifies a harmless airborne particle as something harm-ful. During this process, the body starts producing antibodies against these particles. The next time the body is exposed to these airborne particles, the antibodies recognize them and signal the immune system to release chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals are responsible for the signs and symptoms present dur-ing an allergic rhinitis exacerbation.

There are several risk factors that have been associated with the development of allergic rhinitis. Children who suffer from other forms of allergies (asthma, eczema) have a threefold greater risk of developing a second component. Also, it has been observed that children with a family history of allergies on both sides generally have symptoms before puberty, while children with a family history on only one side present symptoms later in life or not at all. Chil-dren exposed to cigarette smoke during their first year of life have an increased incidence of allergic rhinitis, and boys are more often affected than girls.

Once a child is exposed to certain airborne substances (tree, grass or weed pollens. mold spores. pet dander. dust mites. cockroaches), a variety of signs and symptoms will occur. Among these are sneezing, sniffing, nasal itching, snorting, coughing, and nasal congestion. Also, itchy eyes and postnasal drip can be present. It is important at this stage that all of these symp-

Allergic

RhinitisJulio E. Arias Viaud, MDValley’s Kids and Teens Clinic

toms are adequately treated, otherwise they can lead to other problems. Sinus infections, ear infections, and asthma flare ups are all potential complications of inadequately treated allergies.

Several tests have been developed to help physicians evaluate al-lergic rhinitis. One of them is the skin prick test, during which small amounts of material that can trigger allergies are pricked into the skin. The skin is then monitored for signs of an allergic reaction. A raised bump at the test location will occur if there are allergies. Another way to evaluate for allergic rhinitis is through the allergy blood test (RAST test). This test evaluates the body’s response to a specific allergen. The test measures the amount of allergy-causing antibodies, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, in the patient’s bloodstream.

Once a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis has been made, a physician has several treatment options. Among the most commonly prescribed are the following:

ANTIHISTAMINES: These medications can help with itching, sneez-ing, and runny nose, but have less effect on congestion. They act by blocking histamine, a particle responsible for the symptoms during an allergic reaction.

NASAL CORTICOSTEROIDS: These nasal sprays are effective in pre-venting and treating nasal inflammation, nasal itching, and runny nose. For most people, nasal corticosteroids are a safe long-term treatment.

DECONGESTANTS: These medications work by causing vasocon-striction in the nasal mucous membrane, stopping nasal congestion.

LEUKOTRIENE MODIFIERS: These medications act by blocking the action of leukotrienes (immune system particles that cause allergy symptoms).

Another important aspect for adequate control of allergic rhinitis symptoms is to limit the exposure to allergens.

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“VALLEY INTENSIVISTS, PULMONOLOGISTS AND SLEEP SPECIALISTS has been elected to membership in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The medical services of this accredited center have been found to be in conformance with the high standards required by the Academy.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2010.

• BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS

• PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING

• CLINIC FOR ALL BREATHING PROBLEMS

• SLEEP CLINIC AND ON-SITE SLEEP STUDIES

• ALLERGY TESTING AND TREATMENTS

• BILINGUAL STAFF

Serving the Rio Grande Valley for 25 Years

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“We still get direct calls from our clients, make deliveries. We do not utilize automated answering services, for example. We always provide a real person to speak to, to keep that standard.” “If a pharmacy business does everything right and never strays from those core values, the staff, customers and doctors will continue to be loyal.”

Jesus Saenz and Elvia Cantu-Saenz

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Saenz Pharmacy, founded by Jesus and Elvia Cantu Saenz, now celebrates 25 years of serving the Rio Grande Valley area and is still providing the same high quality service their clients have been accustomed to since their humble begin-nings in deep South Texas. Saenz Pharmacy proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same. That is why they are recognized as a staple of the Rio Grande Valley.

“We love the Valley. It is a great place to live, to raise a family, to start a business, and to see Saenz Pharmacy grow along with it has been great, we’re the same people we were 25 years ago when we started,” says Jesus Saenz.

Some things have changed, though. “Technology, of course, would be the biggest change. It’s hard to imagine how we used to do it without computers. Our original loca-tion actually has a robot now that assists Elvia with filling prescriptions. It’s amazing,” says Jesus, Elvia’s fellow phar-macist and husband.

The first Saenz Pharmacy began in rural Peñitas, Texas, where it began in an almost closet-sized office inside the lobby of a medical complex. With Elvia completing pharmacy school at the University of Houston and Jesus at the Univer-sity of Texas, the just-married husband and wife team would work in their new pharmacy in their off hours from working in other pharmacies.

Everyday Jesus recalls serving the Rio Grande Valley before it became what it is today. “Elvia would drive the delivery van to work, back when there weren’t any expressways. There was only three lights on 3 mile line,” he says. “People thought we were crazy for going so far out there, but we

knew that the pharmacy would do well because it was the only place people of this area could get prescriptions.” With the Valley’s now booming medical industry and the rapid expansion projects of Alonso Cantu, Elvia’s brother, the pharmacy began opening new locations with the Lindberg Center site the first in McAllen.

What started as a small lobby-based pharmacy in Peñitas has expanded to over seven locations across the Valley and become a familiar sight in the McAllen commercial scene, even sponsoring the Rio Grande Valley Vipers the NBA D-League Champion. Regardless of the pharmacy’s success, it has not changed its initial philosophy—the personal relationship with customers. The husband and wife pharmacist team still work in the original Peñitas location where they have built what they consider “something special”.

“We have seen generations of families come through and all of them are on a personal basis with us.” says Mrs. Saenz. “If a pharmacy business does everything right and never strays from those core values, the staff, customers and doctors will continue to be loyal.”

“We have been fortunate to have found extraordinary pharmacists (Juan Falcon, Romualdo Garza, Vanessa Rawls, Celine Saenz, Michael Moreno, Aimee Villalon, Aanchal Thadani) to help us continue what we set out to do 25 years ago.

Congratulations to Saenz Pharmacy for the wonderful service they have been able to provide the community for 25 wonderful years!

By Carlos Jaramillo

SERVINGTHEVALLEY

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YOUNGATHEART,YOUNGINSPIRITHV YOUNGATHEART,YOUNGINSPIRIT

The pattern of aging is very much like the rising and setting of the sun and the moon. Aging is like the progression of the stars and the turning of the seasons, which are part of nature’s pat-tern. It is part of God’s plan. It makes us slow down a bit and wise up to the fact that we have to stop and enjoy life.

One of the things I admire most about the American culture is that regardless of how old you are, life is enjoyed to the fullest. In the Spanish culture, growing old means giving up certain ac-tivities; although many Spanish grandparents have modernized their views, many still adhere to the old ways.

For example, my grandmother wouldn’t wear certain colors be-cause she found them inappropriate for a woman her age. After a certain age, she never again wore a bathing suit.

Retiring in America is a beginning, not an end, to a way of life. It means having the time to travel and learn new hobbies. It’s making new friends and having time to create joy in life.

A few years ago while on vacation in Colorado, my husband and I met a group of senior citizens who were touring the country on Harley Davidson motorcycles. The youngest in the group was in his early 60s. After admiring their motorcycles, we watched them drive off towards the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Age has nothing to do with a person’s capability to enjoy life. If anything, age is like a permission slip written up by nature that allows you to do whatever you’ve always wanted to do. The

older you get, the more you realize that life is fragile, and you have to enjoy it.

During the winter months in the Rio Grande Valley, Winter Tex-ans make this area their home. Simplicity seems to be the way of our winter friends. Many of them live in motor homes; they’ve gotten rid of all the excess baggage. It must be exhilarating to just be able to pick up and go.

These spirited individuals not only come to have fun, they also spend a lot of their time volunteering and sharing their talents with the community. It makes so much sense to live, to learn, and then to teach and share the knowledge with others.

As the winter months approach, I begin to see our winter friends more and more in the grocery store, and in our restaurants. They’re teaching me how to grow old gracefully.

Someday when it’s my turn, I hope I don’t shock my children when they see me and my “viejito” driving out of town on a Harley motorcycle. Like George Bernard Shaw, I also think, “Life is not a ‘brief candle.’ It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future gen-erations.”

Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, certified parent educator and parent coach with The International Network for Children and Families in Redirecting Chil-dren’s Behavior, Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom, and Redirecting Cor-porate America. Contact her at her Web site at www.redirectingchildrenrgv.org.

Young at Heart, Young in Spirit

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HV INYOURDREAMS

Since the earliest of recorded histories, people have theorized about the function and meaning of dreams. Answers came largely from the spirit world until Aristotle and Plato developed the drive related hypothesis. This hypothesis defines dreaming as a way to act out unconscious desires in a safe or “unreal” setting. But even in the 21st century we still are not sure why we dream. The only way to study dreams is to ask the dreamer. However, one thing we know for sure is that dreaming is some-thing that the vast majority of humans do every night of their lives.

In 1953, Eugene Aserinsky, a graduate student in physiology, and Nathaniel Kleitman, PhD, chair of Physiology at the Uni-versity of Chicago, discovered the phenomenon of rapid eye movement (REM). Study participants who were awakened dur-ing REM sleep invariably recalled bizarre and vivid dreams. If awakened while eyes were motionless (non-REM sleep), partici-pants rarely recalled dreaming. Before the REM discovery, most scientists believed that the brain was essentially inactive during sleep. The Chicago researchers proved that the brain is indeed active during sleep, a finding that helped establish the sleep sci-ence discipline, which has led to the diagnosis and treatment of 84 known or suspected sleep disorders.

A few years after the REM discovery, Michel Jouvet, MD, of Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France, recognized that brain activity during REM sleep resembles that of wakefulness. He called REM “paradoxical sleep” because of the fact that such cognitive activity is accompanied by muscular paralysis. He re-ferred to non-REM sleep, a time of reduced brain activation, as “quiet sleep,” in which there is no muscular inhibition.

In a pioneering study conducted by William C. Dement, MD, PhD, in 1960, the psychological effects of REM deprivation were discovered by waking subjects just as they began dreaming. Dr. Dement observed increased tension, anxiety, and irritabil-ity among his subjects along with difficulty concentrating, an increase in appetite with consequent weight gain, lack of motor coordination, feelings of emptiness and depersonalization, and hallucinatory tendencies. The results of this study clearly indi-cate that dreaming has profound importance and that dream deprivation can have very serious consequences.

But even with these discoveries, the question of why we dream remains unanswered. Some researchers think dreaming might have evolved for physiological reasons. There is a great deal of neuronal activity occurring while we sleep, especially in REM, and it has been suggested that dreams may just be a meaning-less by-product of this biological function. Rosalind Cartwright, PhD, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, believes that dreams are the mechanism whereby the brain incorporates memories, solves problems, and deals with emotions. In this way, she maintains, dreams are essential for our emotional health.

In spite of our attempts to demystify the phenomenon of dream-ing, human beings simply have not yet come close to answering the question “Why do we dream?” For now, we will have to be content with simply enjoying the show our brains put on for us each night.

In Your DreamsNational Sleep Foundation

Modified by Lora Incardona

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ELECTROCONVULSIVETHERAPY(ECT)

Ana C. Posada-Diaz, MD Psychiatrist

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT ) is a well-established and ef-fective psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. It seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can immediately re-verse symptoms of certain mental illnesses. Much of the stigma attached to ECT is based on early treat-ments in which high doses of electricity were administered with-out anesthesia leading to serious side effects. ECT is much safer today, and it is indicated for several medical conditions, severe major depression being the most common one.

ECT is indicated for any of the disorders in the list below, pro-vided that one or more of the following conditions are met: im-minent risk of death, inanition or malnutrition to the point where survival for long enough to allow other treatments to be suc-cessful is not ensured, resistance to other treatments, inability to tolerate other treatments, or patient preference.

Indications for ECT include major depression associated with active desire to commit suicide, psychosis (detachment from reality), or the refusal to eat; severe mania (intense eupho-ria, agitation, or hyperactivity that occurs as part of bipolar disorder); catatonia (characterized by lack of movement, fast or strange movements, lack of speech, and other symptoms; also associated with schizophrenia and some other psychiatric disorders); schizophrenia (particularly when accompanied by psychosis, a desire to commit suicide or to hurt someone else, or refusal to eat); delirium; Parkinson’s disease (for the motor symptoms of the disease).

HV ELECTROCONVULSIVETHERAPY

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Some relative contraindications to ECT are intracranial lesions (e.g., tumors, subdural hematoma, infarction, aneurysms), reti-nal detachment, and untreated glaucoma.

An informed consent must be obtained before the procedure. Pre-ECT evaluation includes physical examination; routine labs (including EKG); further labs, as indicated (e.g., brain imaging, other x rays). Medical conditions should be treated, and all med-ications taken by the patient should be carefully reviewed to avoid drug-drug interactions.

The procedure should be administered by a trained psychiatrist under general anesthesia. It takes about 10 or 15 minutes and can be performed while the patient is hospitalized or as an out-patient. The recommended frequency of treatments is 3 times weekly for two to four weeks for a total of 6 to 12 treatments. After treatment, drug therapy is usually continued.

Some of the possible side effects from ECT are bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (increased heart rate), hypertension, prolonged seizures, fractures (very rare), vomiting, confusion, headache, muscle ache, and muscle spasms. Problems remem-bering events that occurred before or shortly after treatment usually improve within a couple of months. Long-term memory loss has never been demonstrated as a side effect of ECT.

ECT is a safe and effective evidence-based medical treatment. It is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) when administered by properly qualified psychiatrists for appropriately selected patients.

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TREATNAILFUNGUSINAFLASH

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Treat Nail Fungus In a Flash

TREATNAILFUNGUSINAFLASH

Rio Grande Valley Podiatrist Offering New Foot Laser for Fast and Effective Nail Fungus Treatment

Harlingen Podiatrist Raul Maldonado, DPM PA is now offering the new Foot Laser, a new breakthrough in toenail fungus treatment. The new laser technology kills and treats toenail fungus with one in-office treatment, safely, quickly and with no anesthesia. Until now, people suffering from toenail fungus ( onychomycosis ), have had few options with limited success rates. Ointments, creams and polishes have a 10 - 20 % success rate because the fungus lives deep under the nail. Oral prescription medications usually require blood tests, have a 40 - 50 % success rate and can have effects on the liver. The Foot Laser’s initial clinical study demon-strated better than 87% of the patients studied had significant clear nail growth after just one in-office treatment.

Toenail fungus affects 40 million Americans and 700 million people worldwide. It is estimated that 5-10 percent of adults and almost half of those aged 70 and older suffer from fungal nails. Toenail fungus is known to destroy, discolor, weaken, crack and abnor-mally thicken toenails. Anything that causes injury or damage to the nail plate can create the opportunity for the fungal infection to gain entry into the nail and begin its unsightly and often uncom-fortable effects. Physical activities such as running and athletics in poorly fitting footwear and accidental trauma are prime examples of this. Serious medical conditions like diabetes and poor circula-

tion can create the potential for secondary bacterial infections. The fungus can develop when the foot is contained in a warm damp shoe for too long. Common use of wet towels, poor personal foot hygiene, walking on contaminated floor surfaces and the use of badly sterilized nail cutting equipment are other ways the feet can be exposed to the fungus.

The new Foot Laser uses a special laser beam to kill the fungus in your toenails. The laser gently passes through the toenail to penetrate the infection deep in the nail bed without causing dam-age to the nail or surrounding skin. Because this treatment is laser based, no anesthesia is required, the patient experiences little to no discomfort and the risk of side effects is zero. The laser tech-nology kills the fungus immediately, promoting the growth of clear, healthy nails. Additional information about the Foot Laser can be found on Face Book at “foot laser”.

Appointments can be requested by calling (956) 365-3334 or tex-ting “ footlaser” to 25827.

Dr. Maldonado provides a full-service practice offers a wide range of foot and ankle care, including treatment for ingrown nail, heel pain and common foot and ankle injuries, such as ankle sprains, fractures and tendon injuries. Additionally, Dr. Maldonado performs foot and ankle surgery to repair and correct a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, neuromas, heel pain, flatfeet, bunion and hammertoes.

By Raul O. Maldonado, DPM, PA

Innovation in the

RGV

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HV INNOVATIONINTHERGV

Medical Innovation

in the

Rio Grande Valley

The American College of Phlebology, the national organization dedi-cated to vein disease, will host their 24th Annual Congress in Orlando, Florida, November 4-7, 2010. The meeting will feature nationally and internationally recognized phlebologists providing the latest information on venous and lymphatic disease, showcasing new advancements and technological breakthroughs for treating venous diseases, with one of the Rio Grande Valley’s own clinics leading the way by presenting the results of their scientific study.

“It’s definitely a great opportunity and honor for us to be able to contrib-ute to our field like this,“ says Dr. Filiberto Rodriguez, a board certified surgeon at the RGV Vein, Laser, and Aesthetic Clinic. “Not to mention being able to present our experience using this new laser technology, which happens to be one of the largest in the country, from here in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Varicose veins are more than a cosmetic concern. Unlike spider veins, which are treated with simple sclerotherapy injections, varicose veins are more dilated and ropy-appearing blue vessels visible under the skin, often a ¼-inch or larger in diameter. They typically cause pain, fatigue and swelling - and sometimes even more serious complications such as spontaneous rupture with bleeding, or clots with severe pain and inflammation. In the United States, almost 25% of adults suffer from painful and unsightly vein conditions. If patients have associated sa-phenous vein reflux, which is caused by damaged or diseased valves in the veins resulting in backward flow of blood in the legs, they suffer from pooling of blood in the legs causing symptoms such as swelling, burning, itching, heaviness, discomfort, pain, and also Restless Leg Syn-drome. Over time, venous disease ultimately leads to skin discoloration, skin thickening, and leg ulcers.

Dr. Thomas Clark, founder of the RGV Vein Laser and Aesthetic Clinic, was one of the first doctors in the country to adopt the new 1470-nm laser technology to perform endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) for mini-mally invasive treatment of saphenous vein reflux, which has replaced the traditional vein stripping procedure. After reviewing their results, Dr. Rodriguez found that the new laser allowed the EVLA treatment to be performed using less power and produce the same results as the older, lower wavelength lasers.

This lower energy has also been found to minimize post-procedure pain. This kind of innovation can make the treatment of saphenous vein reflux (varicose veins) safer, less painful, and more effective. These findings have been selected for presentation at the American College of Phlebol-ogy Annual Conference to an audience of Phlebologists, General Sur-geons, Vascular Surgeons, Interventional Radiologists, Interventional Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Physician Assistants, Ultrasound Tech-nologists, Nurses and all other healthcare professionals interested in the subject of venous disease. By providing these types of innovations to a national audience, RGV Vein Laser and Aesthetic Clinic can contribute to the treatment of vein disorders worldwide.

“Contributing to our field like this is very rewarding. Every time we introduce a new treatment or procedure, we must examine whether there is a real benefit. This forces us to stay sharp keep ahead of the pack,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “It helps us ensure that we are truly providing our patients the best possible options for treatment.”

By Carlos Jaramillo

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HV INNOVATIONINTHERGV MEDSANAVASER HV

BROWNSVILLE2150 N Expressway 83Brownsville, TX 78521

PH: 956.548.0810FAX: 956.548.2239

MCALLEN1901 South 2nd StreetMcAllen, Texas 78503

PH: 956.687.5150FAX: 956.687.9546

WESLACO1330 East 6th Street, Suite 204

Weslaco, Texas 78596PH: 956.969.0021FAX: 956.968.9744

HARLINGEN2121 Pease Street, Suite 101

Harlingen, Texas 78550PH: 956.425.8845FAX: 956.364.6793

Over the past decade, news and information about breast cancer has helped increase awareness about the disease tremendously. Every October, the color pink adorns everything from ribbons to household items. While awareness of breast cancer has improved, the disease unfortunately remains the second-deadliest cancer among American women.

Early detection stands as the single most effective way to combat breast cancer. As physicians, we know that the earlier we can detect the disease, the more likely the patient will survive. When detected early before it spreads, women have a 98 percent sur-vival rate after five years.

While this all may sound very simple, in my own practice at Tex-as Oncology–McAllen, I see many women with more advanced stages of breast cancer. It is estimated that this year alone, 321 women in Hidalgo County will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 61 women will die from the disease.

Many of these deaths are preventable with yearly mammograms, especially for women over the age of 40. However, a National Health Interview Survey found that women age 40 and over get-ting mammograms actually declined from 70.1 percent to 66.4 percent from 2000 to 2005.

While mammograms will detect 80-90 percent of breast cancer in women who don’t have symptoms, they are not the only way to detect the signs of breast cancer. Women can screen themselves for signs of breast cancer through monthly breast self-exams, which they should begin to administer in their 20s. Any irregularities or concerns that are detected should immediately be reported to a physician.

Clinical breast exams are recommended for women in their 20s and 30s every three years and every year for women over 40 for the early detection of breast cancer. Finding breast cancer in early, more treatable stages leads to higher survival rates.

Screening is especially important for women who have increased risk factors for breast cancer. However, it is important to remem-ber that even women without clear risk factors should have regu-

Breast Cancer Screening Essential

for Women of All Ages

By Álvaro Restrepo, M.D., Texas Oncology–McAllen

lar screenings and mammograms. Risk factors may include:

AGE: Approximately two-thirds of breast cancer cases occur in women over age 55, though the disease can occur at any age.

FAMILY HISTORY: If a woman’s mother, sister, or grandmother had the disease, that woman potentially has an increased risk for breast cancer.

RACE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage and larger tumors, and more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

WEIGHT: An unhealthy body weight increases your risk for breast cancer.

While screenings may detect cancer early on, it’s also important to watch out for warning signs and symptoms, including:

• Change in breast size or shape• A lump or thickening in the breast• Swelling, warmth, redness, or darkening of the breast• New pain in one spot• Dimpling or puckering of the skin• Itchy, scaly sores, or a rash on the nipple• Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly• A lump in the underarm

If any of these symptoms are detected, contact a physician im-mediately to start receiving proper medical care.

Researchers continue to make advances in the fight against breast cancer every day. Until a cure is found, regular screenings, awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices such as eating well and exercising regularly are among the best tools a woman has to reduce her risk and survive the disease.

Álvaro Restrepo, M.D.,

Texas Oncology delivers high-quality cancer care with leading-edge technology and advanced treatment options to help patients achieve “More breakthroughs. More victories.” in their fights against cancer. Texas Oncology, a pioneer in commu-nity-based cancer care, is an independent oncology practice with sites of service throughout Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Texas Oncology patients have the opportunity to take part in some of the most promising clinical trials in the nation for a broad range of cancers. In fact, Texas Oncology has played an integral role in gaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for 29 of the latest cancer therapies.

Dr. Marek is board-certified and specializes in medical oncology and hematology. He cur-rently serves as a director of Texas Oncology and is the medical director for Texas Oncology-McAllen. He has served the Rio Grande Valley for the past 22 years as a medical oncologist and hematologist, has been recognized as a “Super Doctor” in oncology for five years in a row, and was recognized as Doctor of The Year for Rio Grande Regional. Dr. Marek received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio. He com-pleted his fellowship at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Billie J. Marek, M.D., FACPMedical Oncology/Hematology

“I can be part of your team… and together we can fight the battle.”Dr. Restrepo specializes in, medical oncology and hematology. He completed his fellowship at the University of Miami. He also serves on the Breast Cancer Committee of US Oncology and has completed a fellowship in breast cancer treatment. Through the Life Beyond Cancer Fundation he established the Texas Oncology–McAllen Breast Cancer Ride/Walk fundraiser to raise funds for Rio Grande Valley cancer patients. To date approximately $30,000 has

been donated to cancer patients in the Rio Grande Valley.

Alvaro Restrepo, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Ratnam has been with Texas Oncology-McAllen for 13 years, which he joined after completing his fellowship at the renowned National Cancer Institute at the National In-stitutes of Health. He has co-authored several research publications and is passionate about cutting-edge oncology care. He currently serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of US Oncology and chairman of the Credentials Committee for South Texas Health System.

Suresh Ratnam, M.D., FACPMedical Oncology/Hematology

McAllen 1901 South 2nd Street McAllen, Texas 78503 PH: 956.687.5150 FAX: 956.687.9546www.TexasOncology.com

McALLEN

Dr. Wahid was fellowship-trained in medical oncology and hematology at Columbia Univer-sity College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He has been recognized as Physician of the Year at Rio Grande State Center in Harlingen where he has served as senior attend-ing physician for the past 13 years.

Nurul Wahid, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Litam was fellowship-trained at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is well known in the community and was in private practice for 27 years before

joining Texas Oncology. He has special interest in treating solid tumors.

Joseph Litam, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Shekar specializes in medical oncology and hematology and is currently the only female oncologist in the Rio Grande Valley. She completed her fellowship at Johns Hopkins Univer-sity School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland and trained at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Nirupama Shekar, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. West is a board-certified radiation oncologist. He was a physicist prior to becoming a physician.

Benjamin West, M.D.Radiation Oncology

Dr. Lazo specializes in medical oncology and hematology. He completed his fellowship at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is a recipient of several awards including the American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award and is the author of several peer-reviewed medical publications as well as book chapters. He received the highest hon-ors on the professional examination for his medical doctorate degree.

Guillermo Lazo, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Boek is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. Prior to him joining Texas Oncology, he conducted clinical research as part of the North Central

Cancer Treatment group.

Marcelo Boek, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Salinas is a board-certified radiation oncologist. He completed his residency training at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York followed by his fellowship at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Rogelio Salinas, M.D.Radiation Oncology

“Cancer prevention is a high priority. My aim is to identify individuals who may be at high risk for cancer and work with them to develop a plan to reduce that risk.”

Debbie Gillett is a nurse practitioner.

Debbie Gillett, R.N., N.P.Nurse Practitioner

WESLACO

HARLINGEN

Dr. Cisneros specializes in hematology and oncology. She completed her residency in internal medicine as well as her fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. She is board-certified by the American Board of

Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Laura E. Cisneros, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Farray is board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He re-ceived his medical degree in 1998 from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in the Dominican Republic and completed his residency in internal medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his fellowship in medical oncology and hematology in 2006 at Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center/Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Farray ranked first in his medical school class. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American College of Physicians.Available to see patients in Harlingen and Weslaco.

Daniel Farray, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Harlingen 2121 Pease Street, Suite 101 Harlingen, Texas 78550 PH: 956.425.8845 FAX: 956.364.6793Weslaco 1330 East 6th Street, Suite 204 Weslaco, Texas 78596 PH: 956.969.0021 FAX: 956.968.9744

www.TexasOncology.com

Dr. Ghaddar specializes in medical oncology and hematology. He is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in hematology and medical oncology. He received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Good Samaritan Hospital/John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed his fellowship in hematology/oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. He has

been in practice with Texas Oncology since 1995. Available to see patients in Harlingen and Weslaco.

Habib Ghaddar, M.D., FACPMedical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Araneda specializes in medical oncology and is board-certified in internal medicine and medi-cal oncology. He received his medical degree from San Carlos University in Guatemala and com-pleted a medical oncology fellowship at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennes-see, as well as a fellowship in bone marrow transplantation at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. He has special interests in breast cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies, hematologic ma-lignancies, and molecular targeted therapy. He is a clinical instructor at Regional Academic Health

Center, a lower Rio Grande Valley extension campus of The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Marco A. Araneda, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Dr. Gonzalez specializes in radiation oncology and internal medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the American Board of Radiology, and is a member of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO). He completed his fellowship in radiation oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in Buffalo, New York, and also completed a second resi-dency in radiation oncology at Jackson Memorial Hospital/Sylvester Comprehensive Can-cer Center, in Miami, Florida. Aside from his medical practice, Dr. Gonzalez is a Christian lay minister and a student of ancient Greek.

Carlos Gonzalez-Angulo, M.D.Radiation Oncology

Dr. Martinez-O’Hara specializes in hematology and medical oncology. He completed his internship and residence at South Baltimore General Hospital and is a fellow in hematology/oncology and radiation oncology at the University of Maryland. He is the former chief of staff of Valley Baptist Hospital and Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville- He served as the coordinator for District 6 for the Texas Medical Associates Committee for Physician Health.

Jos. John Martinez-O’Hara, M.D. Medical Oncology/Hematology

BROWNSVILLE

Brownsville 2150 N Expressway 83 Brownsville, TX 78521 PH: 956.548.0810 FAX: 956.548.2239 www.TexasOncology.com

Dr. Sharma specializes in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. He is board-certified in medical oncology. He completed his medical internship at Lincoln Medical Center in New York and completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in affiliation with Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut. He completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and has served patients in the Rio Grande Valley since 2001. He received the American Cancer Society’s “Cancer Screening Resident of the Year” in 1995 and is a member of the American So-ciety of Clinical Oncology and a member of Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC).

Balesh Sharma, M.D.Medical Oncology/Hematology

Lee and FrancineLee

For many chemotherapy patients, hair loss is a feared and distressing side effect. It used to be that the only option to fight hair loss was to wear a wig, which can be very heavy and very hot and keep your hair from breathing. I have been working with hair and people with hair loss for the past ten years. Many of my clients have battled cancer, alopecia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders such as hair tugging and pulling. The greatest reward of my job is introducing clients to other options besides traditional wigs worn to cover fine thinning hair. Now there are more realistic lightweight options that are available.

A new technique is a skin extension technique. Skin Weft Extensions is completely natural looking and undetectable. Even if someone were to run their fingers through your hair, it is unlikely that the addition would be felt or seen. The hair looks like it’s growing from the scalp. The mono-skin weft extension is hand knotted hair attached to a very thin mono-skin base. It is applied along the hair line next to the skin. It is seamless, without bumps, braids, sewing, Velcro, beads, metal tubes, glue, clips, or chemicals and is completely invisible. In many cases, well-maintained hair is reusable. It is also very easy and fast to apply, done in only two to three hours.

The mono-skin base is made of polyurethane, which is comfortable to the touch and itch-free, unlike a cloth material. Hair strands are attached by hand-knotting the strands to the base, one strand at a time. When compared with machine weft, there are two great advantages: 1) It can be woven into any style because the base is like human skin, very soft, transparent, and clear, and 2) It is not easy to recognize when worn. Skin weft hair is like your own hair!

This type of extension could be attached to the shortest of hair and will allow your own hair to continue to grow and breathe without breakage. Removal is very easy and stress free on your hair. You are able to customize any hair texture and any color blends when doing this type of technique. Below is a client testimonial of one of my many clients with whom I have worked with and have become very close through helping her see that there are other options out there.

“After I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2009, I began treatment for it with 6 months of chemotherapy. I lost my hair after the second month of treatment. Be-cause I did not stop working, and because I deal with the public a lot as a busi-ness owner, I opted for a wig. It is a personal decision for each cancer survivor, but I just did not want to look like a victim. After chemo, my hair grew in, and I grew tired of my wig. I heard about hair extensions on the Internet and found that a local hair extension specialist, Francine Skaugen, owned Wild Styles. I con-tacted her for a consultation, because my hair was still very short. With Fran-cine’s skill, she was able to attach extensions to give me the length I wanted.”

“Now that my hair has grown even more, I am still enjoying the extensions, and they are very easy to care for. The extensions Francine uses are not harmful to the existing hair. She is very informed of the different types of extensions and techniques of applying them, as well as styling and coloring so the extensions will blend in and look natural.”

For a complimentary consultation and to see before and after photos, call Certified Hair Extension Specialist Francine at 956-212-0581. All services are done by appoint-ment only in a private setting salon. Wild Styles, 950 W. Nolana, Suite C, Pharr, Texas.

Hair Help for Those Battling Cancer

Alopecia and Hair Loss

Client Testimonial“I am very grateful to Francine Skaugen for giving me options be-yond wigs and scarves. Some insurance companies will even pay for them if the doctor writes a prescription for “hair prosthesis,” because having good self-esteem plays a big role in the healing process. Regardless of how cancer survivors handle their recovery, we all want to get better. I chose to keep my recovery as normal as possible, because I didn’t want the disease to take control of me. In order to heal, I needed for things to be as normal as possible. Thank you, Francine, for helping me to achieve this goal.”

Lee

HVALOPECIAANDHAIRLOSS

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Brownsville 2150 N Expressway 83 Brownsville, TX 78521 PH: 956.548.0810 FAX: 956.548.2239 www.TexasOncology.com

INOCTOBERMEIS GOINGPINKHV MEMEDSPA

IN OCTOBER ME IS

GOING PINK

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Family Practice-Aesthetic Medicine

Dr. Cortinas, a Valley doctor for over 12 years, is a graduate of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, School of Medi-cine in Monterrey. She continued her resi-dency studies at the University of Texas-San Antonio in the South Texas Family Practice Residency Program.

Dr. Cortinas loves to interact with her pa-tients and relishes the immediate gratifica-tion from the services received.

“I want my patients to look like them-selves. It’s very rewarding, and I enjoy be-ing able to improve the way my patients feel and look all within one session.”

Dr. Cortinas’ new medical spa, ME, brings the latest technologies in laser hair remov-al and skin resurfacing. Striving for the best, ME medspa offers services from pro-fessional and certified aestheticians who have over 10 years of experience and have trained in laser services under the strict supervision of Dr. Cortinas.

SERVICES

LASER SKIN REJUVENATION:SKIN RESURFACING SKIN AND ACNE CONSULTATIONSAESTHETICS INJECTABLES:BOTOX®RESTYLANE®PERLANE®JUVEDERM®RADIESSE®

BREAST CANCER

October is here once more, giving us another chance to raise our awareness of Breast Cancer. Many women, and hopefully men, know what to look for when performing self breast exams—bumps, lumps, discharge, tenderness, change in skin texture. There is always a sense of relief when the exams show nothing abnormal. But what about when abnormalities do exist? For ourselves, we probably make a doctor appointment. But what do we do for our friends and family when they discover abnormalities during their exams?

When we think “cancer,” we usually focus on ourselves. Because 1 in 8 women will battle breast cancer, it is important to focus on them and what their needs may be. It should not be surprising that our loved ones battling cancer need the same love and attention they would need if they were going through any other tumultuous time in their lives. They need us to be there for them, even before they ask, and they will appreciate anything that may brighten their day or make their day easier. We need to recognize that even if they say no to our offers of charity, they will most likely appreciate them, that their “no’s” probably mean, “I don’t want to put you out,” not “I wouldn’t appreciate the help.”

There are many ways that we can “be there” for those dear to us who are fighting breast cancer. One simple way is to just listen, to be that ear that is there to listen to every complaint, every worry, and every frustration. You don’t have to say anything back to help ease her mind; just listen and validate her feelings, which are very real. Little gifts or tokens of affection are wonderful ways to brighten up someone’s day or to let them know that you are thinking of them. Such gifts include greeting cards, ready-to-cook meals, phone calls, and trinkets. You could even offer to run some errands or help clean her house, two chores that take a lot of energy. Perhaps there’s a local or online support group that you could introduce her to. Just letting her know that she matters is an important part of her healing.

Simply stated, be the love that you would like to receive.

For those women battling breast cancer, ME is here for you and for this reason, we will share 10% of our profit for the month of October to help find a cure.

Diana Cortinas, MD

RE ENERGIZE ME, REJUVENATE ME,RELAX ME.

SAMPLE.TITLE

4745 S. Jackson Rd. Edinburg, Tx 78539 Ph.956.287.3777 | www.me-medspa.com

Sheer Tint Lip ColourA deliciously scented collection of sheer, hydrat-ing lipsticks with a natural light vanilla/caramel scent infused with a moisturizing formula con-taining Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Honey, and other essential fatty acids with natural anti-ox-idants to leave lips soft and moisturized, BEC-CA’s Sheer Tint Lip Colour delivers a wash of color with a soft, creamy shine, that nourishes lips making them look healthy, moist and full.

ME Medspa will donate 15% of all profits from the sale of BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour dur-ing the month of October.

Själ(swed) [schál] n. spirit, mind, heart, and soul is luxury lifestyle skincare that merges a holis-tic approach with scientific advances, creating simple, effective products that are truly universal.Själ skincare is a global concept, bridging an-cient eastern medicines with the latest in western biotechnology. Infused with bio-osmotic energy through precious minerals and gemstones, själ incorporates the highest possible standards for quality and product performance.

Själ offers innovation and luxury to every element of its simplistic, yet multi-tasking skincare regimen.

To promote breast cancer awareness, Själ is offer-ing a gift with purchase for the month of October.* *Restrictions apply.

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ByDeniceLedezma

Beauty is defined as intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind. Anytime you refer to someone or something as beautiful, you always find yourself fas-cinated by the image looking back at you. From my perspective, beauty has a different meaning. Beauty is something that comes from the soul and the spirit, the way one views life. It’s a positive mind. It has taken me so many years to come to this realization. Before I had this epiphany, I believed that beauty was only skin deep.

Growing up I was always that chubby girl, the little girl who was a bit awkward and very silent. I was always very shy to meet people, because I always felt like they were judging everything about my being. Prior to high school, I didn’t really have close friends. They were mostly acquaintances or classmates; it was so difficult to open up to kids my age, because I really didn’t feel like I had anything in common with them. Also, I was just not happy with my own person; I didn’t feel pretty or cute, especially with my weight problem, my big bottle eye glasses, and my not so perfect smile. I felt like everything about me was all wrong and didn’t know why I was not flourishing like so many of my other classmates. My only support at the time was my mom and my grandparents. They were always the ones to tell me how beautiful I really was and how life would have big things for me when I grew up.

Now here I am, a Healthy Valley Makeover Challenge winner. Little did I know that my grandparents and my mom were right all along. This Makeover Chal-lenge has been a ride for sure; it has been an incredible blessing that I will never ever forget. I can never thank Claudia and Mauricio Portillo enough for all that they have done for my family and me. Thanks to them I have been able to meet amazing people such as Dr. Pena, Dr. Twahirwa, and Drs. Lopez Jr. and Sr.

It is because of Dr. Pena that the light is back in my eyes and I will no longer use contact lenses or eye glasses. Dr. Twahirwa has provided me with the tools to begin and maintain a healthy life style change. He has also given me the ability to conquer what I view as my biggest flaw of all, my weight. Thanks to Drs. Lo-pez Jr. and Sr., I will have that million dollar smile my face was always meant to flaunt, which includes teeth that sparkle like diamonds with the color of pearls.

I truly believe that destiny always knows best. Thankfully my destiny put in my path this amazing opportunity to receive the benefits of this Healthy Makeover. This challenge has been life changing; it has made me realize how much I am capable of. Never again will I put myself down telling myself I’m not good enough. I now keep my thoughts so much more positive than before, and ev-ery day that passes I make sure to tell myself that I am beautiful, not only skin deep, but in mind, body, and soul.

Age:

Height:

Weight:

19

5’ 6”

280 lbs

hea l t hy makeover cha l lenge

HV B E A U T Y

Meaningful Beauty

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HVSAMPLE.TITLE

MEANINGFULBEAUTY

Do you have stubborn areas of fat that you can’t seem to tone, no matter how much you diet and ex-ercise? AQUALIPO ® can help melt and flush the fat away. AQUALIPO ® can help with tummy flab, bra bulges, love handles, saddle bags, double chins, as well as excess fat in the neck, arms, thighs, knees, and male breasts.

AQUALIPO ® is a revolutionary new liposuction that uses a ground breaking technology with a gentle, water-based fat removal system.

AQUALIPO ® provides superior results, with less bruising and swelling, and no patient downtime.

You can expect outstanding, long-lasting results that can be seen immediately. What’s more, since the en-ergy from the laser promotes new collagen develop-ment, your skin will continue to become more tight-ened and sculpted over the next several months.

AQUALIPO ® is an advanced new way to combat ex-cess fat, sculpt your face and body, and leave you looking slimmer, more toned, and even younger. AQUALIPO ® takes an innovative approach to lipo-suction using a ground-breaking liposuction technol-ogy that gives patients better results with less risk and downtime. Sometimes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s exactly why AQUALIPO ® is able to offer such outstanding results.

The Body-Jet® uses a concentrated water jet to flush out the fat so that it can be gently aspirated from the body. The Body-Jet® allows fat to be removed from the body without the aggressive force used in older liposuction techniques, thus limiting trauma to sur-rounding skin, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and septal attachments.

HV MEDSANA

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SERVICES• VELASHAPE II• MATRIX• MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS• LYPOMASSAGE TREATMENT• ANTI-CELLULITE TREATMENTS• BODY SCULPTING• CARBOXI THERAPY• ANTI-AGING SHOT• RHINOPLASTY• MESO THERAPY• BOTOX & FILLERS• THREAD LIFT FACE & BUTTOCKS• PRODUCTS FRIDA DORSH• LASER SKIN TIGHTENING• VASER HI DEF LIPO SCULPTURE• GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

801 E. Nolana, Ste. 3McAllen, TX 78504

956.213.8240

www.medsanaclinic.com

Because the Body-Jet® gently separates the tissue within the fat compartment, the suction cannula can move freely without causing damage to surrounding tis-sues. In older liposuction techniques, trauma caused during the aspiration pro-cess could result in bleeding, nerve damage, a lumpy appearance, and the rupture of septal attachments between deeper structures and the skin. With the Body-Jet®, septal attachments are preserved, trauma is limited, and patients experi-ence a dramatically smoother recovery.

The Body-Jet® process uses dramatically less infiltration fluid than is typically re-quired by traditional liposuction. That helps to limit bloating and swelling for the patient, while presenting exciting possibilities for fat transfer. With Body-Jet®, the removed fat can be used immediately for fat transfer to augment another part of the body that might benefit, such as hollowed cheeks or thinning lips.

With traditional liposuction techniques, suctioned fat had to first go through a lengthy centrifuge process to remove the excess fluid before it could be ready for transfer.

HOW DOES AQUALIPO ® COMPARE TO TRADITIONAL LIPOSUCTION?Most people have seen video of old-fashioned liposuction techniques...The aggressive, violent movement of the cannula as it attacks body fat. The high-powered suction to purge the fat. The patients laid-up for weeks with swollen, bruised and sore bodies. But now, with the advent of AQUALIPO ®, patients are getting better results, with less discomfort and vastly smoother recoveries.

AQUALIPO ®… IT’S NOT YOUR MOTHER’S LIPOSUCTIONBy using an innovative liposuction technique, AQUALIPO ® is better able to meet patient needs in every area as compared to traditional liposuction. AQUALIPO ® is minimally invasive, with no need for general anesthesia and less risk of compli-cations. AQUALIPO ® promotes better skin tightening for more sculpted, long-lasting results, while minimizing bleeding, bruising and swelling. AQUALIPO ® patients don’t have to endure weeks of downtime. In fact, most patients can drive themselves home, or even back to work, immediately following their procedure.

The most recent technology in liposuction!

Call by October 28th to receive a special price!

Get a free consultation for Aqualipo liposuction and with the purchase of a few areas get the Natura fat

transfer free.

No general anesthesia required

Lower risk of medical complications

Patients can drive themselves home

No scarring

No stitches

Better skin tightening and body sculpting

Minimizes swelling

Minimizes bleeding and bruising

Minimizes damage to surrounding tissue

Fat removed gently with Body-Jet®

No downtime… return to work immediately

No lumps and bumps associated with tradi-

tional liposuction

General anesthesia necessary

Higher risk of complications

Patients may feel disoriented and impaired. Must be driven home by someone else.

Scarring often occurs

Stitches usually required

Skin often remains lax and sagging

Significant swelling can occur

Some bleeding, with significant bruising that lasts for weeks

Strike injuries and septal detachment often occur

Aggressive suctioning to purge fat

Weeks of recovery before returning to work

May cause a lumpy or bumpy area where tradi-

tional liposuction has been performed.

AQUALIPO ® Traditional Liposuction

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HV RESTORINGDIGESTIVEVITALITY

Restoring

Digestive

Vitality

It would be difficult to overstate the importance of good digestion to overall health. Good health comes from good food, yet even the highest quality food fails in its health building qualities if the whole food nutrients don’t reach the bodies tissues. The main processes of digestion consist of absorption and elimination. The digestive system must be able to identify substances necessary to maintain health and selectively take those into circulation while keeping out tox-ins. The same digestive system must be able to identify the wastes and detrimental substances and subsequently process and eliminate those through intact protection and defense systems.

Over a lifetime a person will ingest 25 tons of food accompanied by pathogens and external toxins. In 1999, one BILLION pounds of pesticides were applied to food in the United States alone. Pes-ticides are now a common component of our environment and even pharmaceuticals have been found in measurable quantities in urban water supplies, primarily from the elimination of unmetab-olized drugs through the urine. The ability to protect must be part of the healthy digestive system.

Digestion involves the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller units: Proteins into their com-ponent amino acids, carbohydrates into monosaccharides, and fats into fatty acids. Water-solu-ble nutrients (vitamins, carbohydrates) are absorbed in the small intestine. Fat-soluble nutrients (fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K) must first undergo emulsification with bile and then be absorbed into the lymphatic system. Defects with either water or fat-soluble pathways will result in correlating specific nutrient deficiencies.

In addition, over 80% of the immune system (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue) is contained in the gut. The overuse of antibiotics, many prescription drugs, and natural aging can cause a decline in digestive function. A core naturopathic principle is that health and dysfunction of the gut is at the core of whole-body disease. As we age, enzyme output, stomach acid production, and bile secretion all decline; microflora balance is altered; peristalsis is reduced. As a result, many people self medicate with over-the-counter aids that may temporarily resolve digestive discomforts, but do nothing to address the underlying issues at the root of their problems. “Acid blockers” in particular have become a major health hazard as these drugs were never meant to be used for more than short periods of time and are now used by many for years at a time. (The symptoms that cause these drugs to be used are often the same symptoms that may indicate a need for MORE stomach acid, not less).

Digestive decline can manifest as nutrient malabsorption, or as GI symptoms such as gas, bloating, or constipation. These symptoms may be mild or increasingly, moderate to severe. However, if left unaddressed they have the potential to lead to serious consequences such as autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, hormonal problems, neurological disorders, osteoporo-sis, and even cardiovascular disease.

Good digestion and assimilation of nutrients is painless and quiet. In fact, with proper digestion you should eat a meal and not even be aware that your food is digesting. With poor digestion one feels distressed and aggravated, sometimes during and most often after the meal. Bad digestion has a cumulative effect, and over time the absence of nutritional essentials leads to poor digestion and conditions of deficiency. Enzymes and proper gut PH are the keys to the digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.

Our office offers Standard Process, which has prepared its products to provide enzymes for digestive support and to help the glands and organs of your body repair the effect of years of digestive abuse.

To help balance and restore your digestive vitality, call Eternal Wellness MedSpa today at (956) 668-0404.

FREE SELF TEST:

Bowel transit time (BTT) is just one important indicator of digestive health. This is the time it takes food to go from your mouth to your anus. To get a rough idea of the efficiency of your bodies BTT, eat two beets and look to see when your stool begins to show a very red color. You should begin to see this between 12 and 14 hours after ingestion of the beets and the red color should no longer be visible after 24 to, at most, 36 hours after.

Treating the Root Cause of Chronic Disease

By Bruce LeTourneau, ACN

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HV EATHEALTHY,EATFRESH,

EVERY SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

519 S. 17th. St. McAllen PH. 956.994.9754

from the community for the community

43

It is so important to eat fresh food, whether it be fresh meats, produce, or baked goods. What is meant by fresh is fresh off the pasture, off the vine, or out of the oven, not fresh off of the grocer’s display. The fresher food is, the healthier it is, especially if it is produce.

The “fresh” produce we see at the grocer’s may look fresh on the outside, but on the inside it is not. It is old. It is harvested weeks before arriving at the store in order for it to be shipped across the thousands of miles without rotting. “So?” you say. Well, what that means is that it was picked before it was ripe, before it was fully developed, before nature had a chance to develop all of the vitamins and nutrients that we expect to receive from eating fresh, ripe produce. Not to mention that the taste of fruits and vegetables when picked too early has a lot to be desired. Perhaps this is why fruits and vegetables are not as popular as they should be.

A wonderful way to find fresh, nutritious produce is to shop at a local farmers market. It is amazing what can be found there! The best part of farmers markets is that the produce is harvested just in time for the market, hours not weeks beforehand. So not only did it ripen the way nature intended, it has all the vitamins and nutrients it is supposed to and it smells and tastes wonderful! The flavors are so delicious that they are actually exciting. Imagine such foods in the meals you prepare. What a way to make a favorite recipe even better!

Alhambra Restaurant, located in downtown McAllen, is one of the few restaurants that prides itself on using the freshest organic ingredients and serving individually prepared dishes. The wait after ordering may be longer than at traditional restaurants, but the wait is worth it. The individual flavors of each ingredient pop in the mouth and enliven every taste bud. Once dining at a restaurant like Alhambra that takes such care in preparing each meal, it is difficult to enjoy the pre-prepared menus of other venues.

Here in McAllen, Texas, we have the luck to have a farmers market where fresh organic meat and produce can be found. Take advantage of the wonderful and healthful options that exist right here in our own back yard! In addition to making your body happy, you will be supporting our local economy. Spending our money in our com-munity is the best way to bring improvements to our community and keep it growing. James Canter, the Alham-bra’s Executive Chef, agrees: “It is very important to invest in the philosophy that fighting against the current economic downturn depends on us acting locally, backing each other up, and coming together as a community and then reaching out to other communities in the area.”

“I’m very honored and very pleased to be here in McAllen and lead the Rio Grande Valley in the green movement for a better day and better economy. I truly thank the community and its leaders for its support and all that they are doing to further the project.” Chef Canter

This and every Saturday from 10am–1pm, we invite you to shop McAllen’s first community-based farmers market, The Market at Alhambra at 519 S. 17th Street in downtown McAllen. Come see what your body’s been craving!

Eat Healthy. Eat Fresh. Eat Local. By Lora Incardona

Executive Chef James Canter

HV RECIPEOFTHEMONTH

Pan Roasted Spiced Tuna with Lemon Raita and

Asian Vegetable Stir Fry

El Divino www.clubeldivino.com 1410 Austin Ave. McAllen, TX 78501 PH. 956.627.3990

INGREDIENTS

SPICED TUNA• 1 tsp Kosher Salt• 1 tsp Paprika • 1 tsp Garlic Powder• 1 tsp Onion Powder• 1/2 tsp Fresh Grounded Black Pepper• 2- 8oz Tuna Fillets• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce• ½ tbsp Sesame Oil

Directions: Mix first 5 ingredients and sprinkle over the tuna. Drizzle the soy sauce and the sesame oil over the fillets and place in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

LEMON RAITA• 2 each Lemons• ½ cup Greek Yogurt• 2 tbsp Honey• 1 tbsp Scallions Chopped

Directions: Over a mixing bowl, grate the lemon zest using a micro-plane. Slice the lemons and squeeze the juice over the zest. Add rest of the ingre-dients and mix until well blended. Set aside.

SOY GLAZE• 2/3 cup Light Soy Sauce• 2 tbsp Honey• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil

• 1 tsp Chili-Garlic Sauce• ½ cup Mirin• 1 tbsp Cornstarch

Directions: Mix well and set aside.

ASIAN VEGETABLE STIR-FRY • 1 tbsp Grapeseed Oil• 2 tbsp Chopped Garlic • 1 tbsp Chopped Ginger• 2 each Baby Bok Choy Cleaned and Quarted • 2 cups Snow Peas thinly sliced• ½ each Red Bell Pepper sliced• 2 tbsp Scallions Sliced

PREPARATION

Directions: Set aside for cooking and plating.Cooking and Plating: Place 2 saute pans over medium high heat. When they are hot start with the vegetables by pouring the grapeseed oil and adding the garlic and ginger until lightly fragrant. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook until lightly tender. Quickly stir the soy glaze and add over the vegetables and turn the heat down, cook until the sauce is thickened. Add the scallions and set aside for plating. In the second pan drizzle a little of grapeseed oil and sear the tuna on both sides and cook to your liking (medium rare recommended). Now place the vegetables on the center of the plate and reserve the soy glaze. Thinly slice the tuna and rest over the vegetables. Spoon the the lemon raita on the side and drizzle the remaining soy glaze over the fish and vegetables. Enjoy!!

CHEF OMAR SANCHEZ

El Divino Executive Chef

Born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Omar discovered his love for food at an ear-ly age. “After high school, I moved to Miami where my closest friends and I decided to ex-plore the culinary arts. I fell in love at once with the kitchen, and I moved back to Puerto Rico to start my education at the San Juan Hotel Culinary School in San Juan.”

“Once graduated, I worked for some years on the island under Chef Douglas Rodriguez of Top Chef Masters, Patria Olla, and Aquarella Fame, as well as Roberto Trevino, an Iron Chef USA and Top Chef Master from Parrot Club, Dragon Fly, and Buddha Tai. Those two master chefs built my foundation as a chef. I was then invited to St. Croix by Chef Kendricks, who has been featured as one of the best chefs in the world. It was in St.Croix where I experienced one of the highlights of my career, being awarded Best Appetizer at the Taste of St.Croix Food Festi-val.” It was then that Chef Sanchez was select-ed, after an exhaustive process of weeding out over 200 chefs that applied, to open Havana Blue, a Cuban-Asian fusion restaurant, in the heart of St. Thomas. Two years after opening the restaurant, he continued on in his culinary journey, which led him to the island of St. John where he served as Managing Executive Chef for Chateaux Bordeaux Restaurant-Chloe & Bernard’s at Westin Resort.

As a result of his travels, Chef Omar Sanchez has developed his own style which he fashions as a Latin -Asian fusion cuisine. “I like to use Latin ingredients refined with Asian aesthetics in my creations.” Today we can enjoy, in our very own town, his contemporary cuisine at El Divino. Come and enjoy!

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HV PANGASIUSFILLETSWITHSQUASHNOODLESHV SAMPLETITLEHV RECIPEOFTHEMONTH

www.katosushitexas.com WESLACO956.351.5394

MISSION 956.583.9688

EDINBURG 956.688.5746

McALLEN956.627.2005

INGREDIENTS

• 2 seven-ounce Pangasius fillets• 1 lb squash noodles*• 2 cups of unsalted chicken stock• 3 Tbsp capers• ½ onion, diced• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced• 2 roasted red bell peppers**• Juice of 1½ limes• 5 Ounces butter • Pam non-stick cooking spray• Olive oil• Coarse salt• Pepper

DISH

1. Preheat pan to 450 degrees.2. While pan is heating, salt and pepper Pangasius fillets to

your liking.3. Drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil in pan, then place fillet into hot pan.

(Pan should be smoking hot before cooking fillet.) Cook fil-let until golden brown, about 4 minutes, then turn and re-peat on opposite side.

4. Once finished, remove fillet from pan, and in the same pan add 1 Tbsp olive oil and diced onion. Cook onion until cara-melized. Remove from pan.

5. In the same pan, add ½ Tbsp olive oil and cook thinly sliced garlic until caramelized.

6. Once garlic is caramelized, add capers, roasted red bell pepper, onions, chicken broth, and lime juice and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute.

7. Add butter and continue to cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat.8. Lay cooked fillet over a bead of squash noodles and spoon sauce

over fillet.9. Makes 4 servings

*SQUASH NOODLES

1. Bring a medium sized pot of water to a rolling boil.2. Use a vegetable spiral slicer to turn the squash into squash

noodles. If you do not have a spiral slicer, you can thinly slice the squash.

3. Drop squash into boiling water for 8 seconds and remove by straining.

**ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.2. Cut bell peppers into similar sized pieces, remove seeds, and

spread evenly on a sheet pan.3. Spray Pam on bell pepper, covering all sides, and season with

salt and pepper.4. Cook peppers in oven, tossing with a spatula once or twice, until

they’re tender and brown in spots.5. Remove from oven, let cool, and peel off the skins.

Pangasius Fillets with Squash Noodles

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Computer games, TV, and fast food are the main causes of obese children, which has become an epidemic in the United States. The number of obese kids has more than doubled in 30 years. In America today, 20 percent of all children ages 2 to 19 are obese, and of that number, 40 percent are African American and Hispanic children.

Obese children are more likely to have heart disease, including hy-pertension, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea, as well as diabetes, early puberty, emotional difficulties, and low self-esteem. What’s worse is that 80 percent of obese children will remain obese for the next 25 years of their lives.

As parents, we are guilty of feeding our children whatever they desire. We prefer to provide an immediate solution to their nag-ging rather than insist on serving them healthy food that takes time to prepare. At this time and age, we can no longer plead ignorance and say that we do not know what to do. Being sur-rounded by pro health advertising and the World Wide Web, there are no more excuses.

A healthy child will have a healthy mind, and the first step in be-ginning a healthy lifestyle is a healthy diet. Don’t buy high carbo-hydrate products like potato chips, sodas, candy, fried food, high starch foods, or fatty foods. Do add green vegetables to every meal, providing one serving of vegetables for every serving of

No More Excuses

HV NOMOREEXCUSES

protein. While children are growing, add dairy to their diets, but please make sure anything dairy is sugar free. Being healthy does not mean that food has to taste bad. You can always add salt-free spices and fat-free cheese to anything to pump up the flavor. An-other important thing to remember is to never let your child skip breakfast, because it provides the energy to endure physical and mental activities and not crave munchies.

It is also important to create at least two fun activities at home dur-ing the week that require physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day. If you create an activity that is fun, your kids will not even know they are working out. Some good options are dancing, base-ball, jump rope games, household chores, and swimming. Not only will such activities make your child more agile, it will also draw the two of you closer, creating a stronger bond between you. Having your child participate in school sports will also encourage positive self-esteem and physical appearance. Try to detain your children from playing too many video games during the week; try to keep it to only 2 days. Another easy trick to losing weight is having your child drink at least 8 glasses of water a day; you can easily do this by adding sugar free flavor powders to make it taste better. Simply drinking water will help your child lose at least 2lbs a week.

If you make all of these changes but do not see any results, make sure to make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to look for any genetic problems.

By Susy Gramoff

49

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623 E. Bus 83 Weslaco TX956.854.4177

Mon-Thurs 8am-8pmFri 8am-6pm Sun 9am-8pm

Jade Garden RollsBasmati Rice

Vidasoy Burger

October is Vegetarian MonthTry our Lunch Specials

RGV’s First Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurant

Also Try our

Whole Grain Bakery & Vegetarian Products

HV NOMOREEXCUSESEVENTS

Events

EVENTS AT DOCTORS HOSPITAL AT RENAISSANCE

Dr. Cortinas, head of the ER department, with his staff unveiled their brand new Picis ED Pulse Check System, it is the only high-performing emergency department infor-mation system (EDIS) on the market. PulseCheck delivers the specialized clinical documentation that high-performing hospitals need.

Marissa Castañeda, C.O.O. at DHR, hosted a “Know Your Stats” press conference. The event featured special presenta-tions by Dr. Augustine Martinez, Dr. Alexander Feigl and Su-san Bajus, DHR C.N.O. regarding the introduction of the state of the art da Vinci Surgical System as well as a Prostate Cancer Awareness Overview. Doctors Hospital at Renaissance physi-cians, staff, as well as the general public were in attendance.

ME MEDSPA RIBBON CUTTING

On September 23rd, Dr. Cortinas and Claudia Portillo celebrated with family and friends a ribbon cutting on their new business, ME Medspa, located at 4745 S. Jackson Rd. in Edinburg, Texas. Boasting state of the art equipment and exclusive products, it will be the premiere SPA in the Rio Grande Valley.

THE VALLEY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

The Valley Regional Medical Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new state of the art Breast Imaging Center on September 22, 2010. The presenters un-veiled their new digital mammography and MammoPad radiolucent breast cushions, in a luxurious spa environment that prom-ises a more comfortable experience. In at-tendance were physicians, nurses, cancer survivors, patients and the general public.

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HVEVENTS

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McAllen Ballet Companyand Susy’s Dance & Fitness

Presents a Classical Ballet

October 9, 2010 • 7:00 pmOctober 10, 2010 • 1:00 pmArt Village Auditorium • 800 N Main St., Bldg. ATickets & Information: 956 627-0677

ACTING • SINGINGACOUSTIC GUITAR • BALLET

FLAMENCO • JAZZ • BELLY DANCECLASSICAL BALLET ESPAÑOL

ZUMBA • ZUMBATOMICSALSARENGUE • YOGA & PILATES •

HIP HOP • FITNESS & NUTRITION(Ages 3 & Up)

956 330-4242 • 956 627-0677www.susysdance.com susysdance@mail.com

The Art Village On Main800 N Main St.

McAllen, Texas 78501

Susy GramoffArt DirectorCertified by La Fundación deCristina Heeren. Sevilla, España

Rolando PachecoArt Director

Certified by National Ballet of Cuba & Real Academia de Madrid, España

KATO SUSHI LABOR DAY

On September 6, 2010, Kato Sushi hosted a Labor Day Celebration Buffet in all their locations with customers and friends, enjoying the great in-ternational cuisine

Was a success!

KNAPP MEDICAL CENTER

On September 30th Knapp Medical Center, held their 2nd Annual Bras Ending Breast Cancer event, to raise awareness and to pro-mote the prevention of breast cancer and early detection. Please show your support and visit www.knappmed.org and follow the link to vote ($1 fee per vote) for your favorites from the 75 submitted entries. Online vot-ing runs though Oct 31. Funds will toward screening mammograms for indigent woman. Knapp was the first to bring this type of event to the Rio Grande Valley.

PH.956 99204042612 N. McColl Rd.McAllen, Tx 78501

Specialty Clinic/HospitalBeauty

Arturo Lopez, D.D.S., P.A.Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry 6900 N. 10th St., Suite #7McAllen, TX 78504 PH 956.630.6130

Pharmacy

910 South Bryan Rd., Ste. 209Mission, TX 78512PH 956.424.1511

Marco T. Florez, M.D.General Practice306 W. ParkPharr, TX 78577 PH 956.781.2953

VIPS1200 E. Savannah Ave., Ste. 12 McAllen, TX 78503PH 956.688.6300

Roberto Ayres, M.D.Pediatric Pulmonologist1900 S. Jackson Rd., Ste. 7McAllen, TX 78503PH. 956.688.5864

Brownsville Surgical Specialist100 B Alton Gloor Blvd., Ste. 260Brownsville, TX 78526PH. 956.350.3901

Valley Sports UniversityMichael Niles2612 N McColl rdPH. 956.681.8371www.valleysportsv.com

Valley Pediatric CardiologyClark A. Boyer, M.D.702 E. Expressway 83, Ste. A-3Donna, TX 78573PH 956.464.8600

Valley Regional Medical Center100 Alton Gloor Blvd. Brownsville, Texas 78526PH 956.350.7000

South Heart Clinic902 South Airport DriveWeslaco, TX 78596-6649PH. 956.969.1222www.southheartclinic.com

JUST DME602 Pecan BoulevardMcallen, TX 78501-2414PH. 956 661 9161justdme.com

Felix Rivera, M.D.5505 S. Expressway 77, Ste. 204Harlingen, TX 78550PH 956.440.7711

American Cancer Society5413 S. McColl Rd.Edinburg, TX 78539PH. 956.682.8320www.cancer.org

American Lung Association8207 Callaghan Rd.San Antonio, TX 78230-4736PH. 210.308.8978www.lungusa.org

Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association2007 W. Owassa Rd. Edinburg, TX 78539PH. 956.292.3411

Leeza’s Care Advocate5401 S. McColl Rd.Edinburg, TX 78539PH. 956.683.7180

Life Medical Supply2509 Buddy OwensMcAllen, TX 78504PH 956.994.3600

Beyamar Home Health4901 S. McColl Rd.Edinburg, TX 78539PH 956.683.0149

Patient Care Specialists417 W. Fm 495San Juan, TX 78589PH. 956.782.21001-877.710.1400FAX 956.782.2177

CIMA Hospice of the Valley5317 North McColl RoadMcAllen, TX 78504PH. 956.631.4354www.cimahospice.com

AREI Property Management and LeasingMcAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen & BrownsvillePH. 956.688.5678 Contact Anna Bohartwww.associatesrealestate.org

Massage & SpaMassage, Reiki, Lymph Drainage, Meditationmassagenspa@aol.com2013 N. Conway, Mission, TXPH 956.584.0080

DME

Hospice

Home Healthcare

Foundations

More

School

McALLEN

Texas Oncology1901 South 2nd Street

McAllen, TX 78503PH. 956.687.5150

www.texasoncology.com

1205 N Raul Longoria Rd. Ste. FSan Juan, TX 78589-3712

PH. 956.782.6337www.mysanjuanpharmacy.com D

irecto

ry

ME Medspa4745 S.Jackson Rd.Edinburg, TX 78539

PH 956.687.9997

Valley Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists, P.A.

2101 S Cynthia St # AMcAllen, TX 78503PH 956.687.7896

Alberto A. Pena, M.D.2821 Michaelangelo Dr., Ste. 401Edinburg, TX 78539PH. 956.682.8700

Valley Pediatric Cardiology Clark Boyer, M.D.702 East Expressway 83, Suite A-3, Donna, TX 78537PH. 956.464.8600

Hector G. Amaya M.D., P.A.Internal Medicine ABIM Certified1315 E. 6th Ste. 6Weslaco, TX 78596PH. 956.351.5949

801 E. Fern Ave., Suite 131 McAllen, TX 78501PH. 956.525.0240 www.healthyvalleyonline.com

hvhealthy valley magazine

The Center for Medical Weight Loss2727 W. Trenton Rd., Ste. B-13Edinburg, TX 78539PH 956.627.2777

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HV NOMOREEXCUSES

Calendarof Community Events

CALENDAROFEVENTSHV

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ALL MONTH

EVERY TUESDAY

Dancing With the Stars of Hidalgo County 6pmRio Grande Valley Diabetes AssociationMario’s Banquet Hall, MissionFor more information or to become a sponsor, call 292.3411.

Type 2 & Pre-Diabetes ClassEnglish 8am – 4:30pmDHR Diabetes Center5525 Doctors Drive, EdinburgFor other dates and times, call 362.5610.

Gestational Diabetes ClassSpanish 8am – 11:30amEnglish 12:30pm – 4pmDHR Diabetes Center5525 Doctors Drive, EdinburgFor other dates and times, call 362.5610.

4th Annual Green Living Festival 9:30am – 6pm Learn how to live healthier, greener and less ex-pensively while treating Mother Earth more gently. This is a family event and is free.For more information, contact the McAllen Cham-ber of Commerce at 682-2871 or nmillar@mcal-lencvb.com.

Type 2 & Pre-Diabetes ClassSpanish 8am – 4:30pmDHR Diabetes Center5525 Doctors Drive, EdinburgFor other dates and times, call 362.5610.

Diabetes Cooking Class 6pmThe Rehab Center at RenaissanceFor more information, call 362.5610.

“Beary Buddies” Weight-Loss Surgery Support Group 6pm – 7pmWeight Loss Surgery Center416 Linden Ave. Ste. B, McAllenFor more information, call Paula Kilgore at 664-1616 or by email at paula.kilgore@uhsrgv.com.

Brownsville Start! Heart WalkSponsored by American Heart Association Brownsville Sports Park For more information, please call 984.1212 or by email at to monica.hernandez@heart.org.

Spanish: Alzheimer’s Support Group 7pmSouth Texas Behavioral Health Center2101 W. Trenton Rd., EdinburgFor more information, call 388.1300 or 888.977.1400.

Edinburg Children’s Hospital Fall Festival 6:00pm – 9:00pmFeaturing food, games, treats, and more!Don’t forget to wear your costumes!For more information, call 388.2032.

Diabetes Education 1:00pmSouth Texas Health SystemMcAllen Medical Center, 3 East Classroom301 W. Expressway 83For more information, call 632.4000.

$10 Heart Risk Assessment 6am – 11amBy appointment onlyFor more information, call 1.800.879.1033

FREE! Senior SundayMcAllen Heart Hospital Conference RoomFor dates, times, and presenters, visit www.south-texashealthsystem.com

Mammogram Screening Special $99Women’s Imaging CenterDoctors Hospital at Renaissance5502 S. McColl Rd., EdinburgFor more information, call 362.5610.

THE 2nd SATURDAY

OF THE MONTH

THE 3rd SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

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