6 | LIVING WELL A-Z | WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011

HEALTH-CARE ADVICE
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circulating thyroid hormone, is measured at least once a year. If the pituitary is sensing a low level of thyroid hormone, it makes more TSH, whereas too much thyroid hormone suppresses TSH production. Therefore, a high TSH result may mean a person needs more hormone and a low TSH result may mean a person needs less hormone. This can be confusing, so clarify with your provider.
LORI R. ROUST, M.D., IS AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST WITH MAYO CLINIC IN ARIZONA

To soda or not to soda

Popping the soda habit is good for your health
BY ALISON STANTON

QUESTION: Is there a checklist on what

symptoms might indicate a need for a hearing test?

Answer: Here is a simple two-minute test that can be used to help determine if someone might need help with their hearing. 1. Do you have difculty understanding voices in a group of people? 2. Do you often ask that statements, questions and directions be repeated? 3. Do you hear people speaking, but have difculty understanding the words? 4. Do others have to raise their voices or move closer to help you hear them? 5. Do you have to turn the TV volume louder than normal in order to hear clearly? 6. Do you have to concentrate so much to listen that you feel tired? 7. Do you avoid social situations like restaurants or public gatherings? 8. Do you have difculty understanding conversations in the car? 9. Do you have difculty understanding conversations on the telephone? 10. Has your hearing loss affected relationships at home or your performance at work? If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, we suggest having a complete hearing evaluation. We can help, and its free to you.
EDWARD A. MAZNIO IS PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF PURTONE HEARING CENTERS LLC

Ah-choo!

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Living Well a-z invites readers to submit questions to a panel of healthcare experts. The short questions and answers will offer readers a little more information about hot topics in medicine and refer you to other resources where you can learn more. Responses will also arm you with information so you know what to ask your own healthcare providers.

If you would like your question to be considered for the June 1 issue of Living Well a-z, please write to editor: Paula Hubbs Cohen Paula.Cohen@cox.net or c/o The Arizona Republic 200 E. Van Buren St., CA22 Phoenix, AZ 85004

THINKSTOCK

One of those treatments is immunotherapy, or allergy shots. Immunotherapy involves injecting small but increasing doses of whatever the patient is allergic to, Schubert said. Over a period of six to 12 months, we are able to induce a large reduction in the allergic systems ability to react when exposed to the offending allergen. The patient develops a tolerance to the allergen and can then be exposed to it without experiencing symptoms. Among

patients severely affected by allergies who are treated by specialists, about 85 percent respond signicantly to immunotherapy, Schubert said. Both Doris and Schubert say allergy avoidance strategies, in concert with other therapies, are helpful in managing symptoms. Avoid exposure as much as possible to the things that trigger your symptoms, Doris said. For example, keep your windows and doors at home closed during the times of the year you are most affected by allergies.

EXPERTS
ORTHOPAEDICS
Dr. Michael D. Castro completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University. He received a doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. His orthopaedic residency, through Michigan State University/Mount Clemens General Hospital was followed by fellowship training at the Portland Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center in Maine. He then traveled to Switzerland where he was an AO fellow studying orthopaedic trauma. Dr. Castro has held academic appointments at the University of Minnesota and Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. Before returning to Arizona in 2008 he practiced at the University of Pennsylvania.While there, he was involved in the training of orthopaedic residents and fellows performing subspecialty training in foot and ankle surgery. 20201 N Scottsdale Healthcare Dr. Ste. 280 Scottsdale 480.473.FOOT (3668) 480.473.3671 (fax) info@aofoot.com

Michael D Castro, M.D.

ORTHOPAEDICS
Dr. John W. Cory is a fellowship trained, board certied foot and ankle specialist. Dr. Cory completed the prestigious Foot and Ankle Fellowship at American Sports Medical Institute in Birmingham,Alabama in 2004, specializing in sports injuries of the foot and ankle. Dr. Cory was recently co-director of the foot and ankle fellowship in Birmingham, where he trained. In 2010 Dr. Cory returned to Scottsdale in order to join Dr. Castro at the Arizona Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Center, providing the most comprehensive care for foot and ankle problems in the entire Phoenix metro area. Dr. Cory treats foot and ankle problems in all age groups from infants to geriatrics, and his practice includes congenital defects, trauma, degenerative and arthritic conditions. His passion is treating sports injuries of the foot and ankle. 20201 N Scottsdale Healthcare Dr. Ste. 280 Scottsdale 480.473.FOOT (3668) 480.473.3671 (fax) info@aofoot.com

John W Cory, M.D.

ORTHOPAEDICS
At Arizona Orthopaedic Food & Ankle Center you will be cared for by fellowship trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons and our team.We are passionate about our approach to the care of our patients.This includes not just arriving at an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate conservative, and when necessary, surgical treatment options, but educating the individual so that they can understand their condition and how it impacts their quality of life.Together with our courteous staff we encourage our patients to play an active role in the decision-making process and treatment plan.We are experts in all aspects of foot and ankle disease and injury from bunions to high-energy trauma, sports injuries to arthritis, post-polio to congenital deformities.

Arizona Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center

20201 N Scottsdale Healthcare Dr. Ste. 280 Scottsdale 480.473.FOOT (3668) 480.473.3671 (fax) info@aofoot.com

THINKSTOCK

ith its sweet avor and bubbly effervescence, a tall cold glass of soda has long been a favorite beverage for millions of adults and children. But when it comes to our health, doctors and nutritionists agree that there isnt anything positive to say about soft drinks. I believe soda is a huge problem in our society, mainly because it is so high in rened sugar, said Dr. Suneil Jain, a naturopathic physician from Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics in Scottsdale. Sodas contain high fructose corn syrup, which is probably worse than real sugar, and has been shown in studies to lead to changes in the liver and affect the pancreas, which sets up the groundwork for chronic diseases like diabetes. Michelle Gorman, supervisor in health promotion and wellness at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, has over 15 years of experience as a registered dietician and nutritionist. She said

the average 20-ounce bottle of soda contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. The sugar packets they serve in restaurants each contain a teaspoon of sugar, she said. If you took 17 of them and put them in a glass of water, most people would not even think about drinking it, but that is whats in a typical amount of soda. In addition, soda contains phosphoric acid, which Jain said is also unhealthy. Since calcium and phosphorous balance each other out, the phosphorous from the soda must be offset, so your body will often pull calcium from the bones in order to do this, he explained. You get a situation where you are robbing your body of calcium when you drink soda. Jain knows that some people decide to drink diet sodas, guring that the calorie-free versions are healthier than their non-diet counterparts because they dont have the added

sugar. However, he believes they are even worse than regular soda. When we drink diet soda, we often end up eating more because we are still looking for the carbohydrates and fuel that our bodies want, he said. You are still getting phosphoric acid and articial sweeteners like aspartame that have been shown to be potentially carcinogenic. If you dont control diet sodas temperature and keep it cool, aspartame will convert into formaldehyde.