January 2018
Page 7
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Living Better with Piedmont
calcium in the diet actually
increases a person’s risk of
developing kidney stones.
Eating calcium-rich foods,
such as milk and other dairy
products, can help prevent
them. “It’s important to get
your calcium from foods,
rather than supplements and
to talk to a doctor about how
Sweating excessively can lead much calcium you need,”
to kidney stones, especially if Dr. Gonzalez said. “Eating
you are not drinking enough calcium-rich foods isn’t a
water. “The more you sweat, good idea for people with
certain medical conditions,
the more water you expel
from your body and the less however, so it’s important
to talk to a doctor before
you urinate,” Dr. Gonzalez
changing your diet.”
can be very painful,” Dr.
said. “This can give kidney
Gonzalez said. “Living
stone minerals a place to
·Reduce sodium intake.
in the Southeast, we are
settle in your body.” Drinking
slightly more susceptible t o
water helps you stay hydrated Keeping an eye on how
much salt you consume is an
developing them because of and prevents stones from
easy way to prevent kidney
the higher temperatures and developing.
stones from developing. A
humidity. While some people
high-sodium diet increases
have a higher risk than others, ·Eat calcium-rich foods.
the risk of kidney stones
diet and lifestyle changes can Despite the name, too
because it increases the
reduce that risk.” Here are
much calcium is not the
amount of calcium left in the
a few ways to help prevent
cause of calcium oxalate
urine. Reading the labels on
kidney stones:
kidney stones. Rather, it is
foods can help reduce sodium
just the opposite. A lack of
intake, which not only can
·Drink plenty of water.
GEORGIANS ARE AT INCREASED RISK
FOR DEVELOPING KIDNEY STONES, SAYS
COVINGTON PHYSICIAN
K
idney stones can
develop in anyone;
however, these
painful stones are more
prevalent in those who live in
warm, wet climates like South
Georgia. Gilbert Gonzalez,
M.D, of Piedmont Physicians
Urology in Covington, offers
tips to prevent kidney stones.
“Kidney stones are hard
mineral deposits that form
inside your kidneys, and
condition. Check out chiropractic,
massage, hypnosis, acupuncture,
naturopathy and Ayurvedic
and scrutinized. This is not true. As medicine. What are the least toxic
people become more informed, they treatments with the fewest side
realize that a diploma, license or
effects? This information is readily
certificate does not, in itself, equal available to you through the internet
competence or experience. You
or public library. However, beware,
must verify that the document is
everything you read on the internet
legitimate and not a counterfeit, and is not factual.
realize that the document is only
one aspect in the evaluation of your
Study the different types of
practitioner.
practitioners. What are the strengths
and weaknesses of each? In what
What can you do to help reassure diseases or conditions are these
that you are in reliable hands? It’s
practitioners effective? Do they
not easy and it requires some work. consider the whole person? Are
YOU must become the keeper of
they complete in themselves or
your health. You should work in
contribute as a complement? For
partnership with your practitioner, example, you may utilize allopathic
but you must take the ultimate
services for diagnostic testing, but
responsibility. You, better than
obtain your primary health care
anyone, can ‘feel’ when you are
from an alternative practitioner.
not well. Don’t let your feelings
You may supplement with yet
be discounted simply because
another provider such as a massage
your tests are considered ‘normal.’ therapist.
Pay attention to your body and
its symptoms, responses and
Before considering surgery or
sensitivities.
drug therapy, ask about less invasive
or less dangerous options. Get a
You have only one patient to
second opinion. Before consenting
study and concentrate on; your
to diagnostic testing, especially
practitioner has many. Study
invasive procedures, ask about
your disease or condition. What
its risks and how the information
is known about the cause from
gained by the diagnostic test
both the allopathic and alternative will benefit you in guiding your
perspectives? Learn how the
decision-making. How will it
diagnosis is made, the usual as
change the treatment plan? Make
well as the unusual treatment
sure there’s a good reason to subject
approaches. Read the latest
your body and pocket book to the
research, from medical journals and procedure.
studies from alternative sources
Armed with this knowledge,
as well. Study the medications,
you can become a more discerning
supplements or homeopathies
consumer of healthcare. When
usually recommended for the
choosing a practitioner, ask a lot of
MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE
By Marge Roberts, RN,
MSHP, DAHom
I
practiced nursing for over 30
years. I am also educated in
homeopathy and acupuncture.
Along with my husband, I
spearheaded a non-profit for many
years, consisting of both allopathic
and alternative practitioners as
well as laypeople who supported
the acceptance of both approaches.
Through these experiences I was
asked many times, both in the
allopathic world and the alternative
world, ‘How do I make sure my
doctor is competent and knows what
he/she is doing?’
Many believe that if a practitioner
is licensed, such as an allopathic
physician, then the practitioner
is safe and competent. Many
believe only alternative unlicensed
practitioners must be evaluated
prevent kidney stones but is
good for your heart as well.
have had kidney stones are
50 percent more likely to
develop another one in the
“Approximately 12 percent future. Talk with a doctor
of people in the U.S. will
about your risks, as there are
develop one or more kidney medications that can help as
stones at some point in their well.”
lives,” Dr. Gonzalez, who
has more than 28 years’
For more information or
experience treating conditions to schedule an appointment
like kidney stones, said.
with Dr. Gonzalez, or visit
“Unfortunately, people who piedmont.org.
questions. If the practitioner depicts
an “I’m the doctor, do as I say and
don’t ask questions” posture, find
another practitioner. Ask friends or
a trusted practitioner for referrals of
practitioners who have experience
and success with your health issue.
Keep in mind, however, that some
practitioners will simply refer you
to a friend and have no knowledge
of their actual competency. Ask the
potential practitioner for references.
Ask about their success, their
prices, their personality and their
philosophy of health and healing.
just follow a path because it’s
the accepted path? Although
professional schools are known
to lobby for practice standards
requiring expensive training,
one doesn’t need an Ivy League
education to become a first-class
practitioner. Likewise, expensive
training does not automatically
assure a first-class practitioner.
Although much training for an
independent learner/thinker can
be done via computer or textbook,
clinical experience is essential.
I believe that apprenticeships
with an excellent, experienced
Beware of titles/certifications/
practitioner far exceed many
affiliations/licensure; they can be
classroom experiences consisting of
impressive, yet deceptive. Ask what memorization, which don’t develop
titles mean and what was required critical thinking skills. Both formal
to earn the title. A certification or
and informal education, along with
diploma may mean they attended
clinical experience, are important in
a weekend course or they attended creating a competent practitioner.
years of in-depth training. A license
doesn’t mean a person is qualified/
Experience is priceless. Ask how
trained/competent to perform a
long your practitioner has been in
particular treatment, even though
practice. Ask how much experience
the law may allow him to do so.
they have had with your condition
Beware of misrepresentation of
and their success rate. Ask whom
titles. I have observed non-MD
they collaborate with. Have they
practitioners call themselves doctors had experience with real people or
without making it clear that they
with textbooks? I can guarantee you
are not medical doctors. Not only that if someone asks me about a sick
is this illegal but it is unethical.
child, I refer them to a mother with
Do not trust a practitioner if they
several kids. They surely have more
begin a relationship with deception. experience in this area than me, who
Membership in a professional
has never had children nor worked
association may mean nothing more in pediatrics. Finally, listen to your
than that the person has paid his
body. Remember, your healthcare is
dues.
your responsibility.
Has their training equipped
them to think and analyze or
just memorize and regurgitate?
Are they thinkers or do they
Marge Roberts, BSN, MSHP,
DAHom
President/CEO, Newton
Homeopathics/AACH
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