The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 02-17-2019 | Page 10

10 ❚ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION
Fit For Life: Road Cycling and Spinning to Good Health
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
to the regularly scheduled rides, “there
is a robust program of tours available,
ranging from local week-end trips to longer
domestic and European trips.” The Club
organizes many events throughout the
year, often combining cycling with social
activities; camaraderie is an important part
of the group.
Camaraderie plays a role in spin classes,
as well. Horwitz is also a spin instructor
at the Montclair YMCA. “There is a social
aspect to the classes. There is a core
group that likes the workout, likes train-
ing, and likes each other. We will some-
times meet up for a meal and to catch up
outside of class.” While some individuals
spin exclusively, Horwitz has many road
cyclists in his classes who use the spinning
as training during the winter months. He
runs his classes as “skills training sessions
for cycling on a road. If people are spinning
with a cycling specific set of skill-building,
they can improve or augment their speed
and endurance in road cycling.”
Those interested in a luxury boutique
cycling studio can head over to Ride Cycling
Studio in Northvale (ridecyclingstudios.com),
PHOTO COURTESY OF RIDE CYCLING STUDIO
Spin classes are a high-energy route to fitness. At Ride Cycling Studio in Northvale, in-
structors lead classes at most fitness levels, including newcomers to the cycling experience.
where the classes are all varied in fitness
and road cyclists who want to be able to
level and ages. Nicole Barbato notes that
ride at night or in the cold or bad weather.
the studio attracts many different types of
On the other hand, we have those who
clients: “We have incredibly fit tri-athletes
come in somewhat out of shape, perhaps
Dr. Keith Libou, Chief Clinical Officer
Delta Dental of New Jersey
The Relationship Between Heart Health, Oral
Health and Overall Health
You’ve only got one heart, so why not do all you can
to keep it healthy? With February being American
Heart Month, Dr. Keith Libou, Chief Clinical Officer at
Delta Dental of New Jersey, answers some commonly
asked questions about the relationship between heart
health, oral health, and overall health.
Q: Is good oral hygiene synonymous with a
healthy heart?
A: There’s a reason your dentist is always
reminding you to brush and floss daily: By doing
so, you will positively impact not just your oral
hygiene but also your heart health. Plaque on your
teeth, if left untreated, may result in gum disease,
a chronic bacterial infection that affects gums
and bone supporting the teeth. This treatable
infection will start out as gingivitis, which is
characterized by swollen, red, and bleeding
gums, before turning into periodontitis, which is
when the gums pull away from the teeth, causing
overweight, and scared. The cycling ex-
perience at the studio is very immersive.
When the lights go down, everyone feels
safe. Even though it is a group experience,
you don’t feel “seen” when you don’t want
to. This gets people to work very hard with-
out feeling exposed. At the same time, we
make sure that everyone feels welcome.
The classes are exciting, and there is a
great community of people, many of whom
end up exchanging numbers and forming
friendships.”
Barbato is excited about the popularity
of cycling and the studio, and as a result,
she is adding more time slots of popular
classes — some of which incorporate boot
camp, as well. She is also proud of the
studio’s metrics tracking system, which
records calories expended, watts used and
miles travelled for each rider. Once class
is over, that information is sorted and
sent in an individual e-mail to each cyclist.
“Outdoor cyclists love this feature,” says
Barbato. “There are graph charts measur-
ing progress over time, and they compete
with themselves.” For those with a com-
petitive nature, there is, of course, a leader-
See FIT FOR LIFE Page 14
Prepared by Delta Dental of New Jersey
pockets that can become infected. Untreated gum and heart health extend to overall health?
disease may cause problems with your heart and A: Healthy teeth and gums can contribute to
blood vessels.
a healthy body—gum disease, if not treated
properly, may be a contributing factor of lung
Two hundred million Americans have some
form of gum disease. According to the American disease, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease,
stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, colon
Academy of Periodontology, people with gum
cancer, obesity and premature births in pregnant
disease have nearly double the risk for heart
disease as those with healthy gums. Researchers women. For the past 15 years, ongoing studies
have shown possible links between gum
believe gum disease affects heart health when
disease and heart disease, underscoring the
either bacteria from infected gums enter the
connection between the mouth and the body.
blood and attach to fatty plaque in the heart’s
Some researchers have found that people with
blood vessels, or the inflammation from gum
disease increases coronary artery plaque buildup. gum disease are about two times more likely
to have coronary artery disease, the most
When fatty deposits build up and thicken the
walls of the arteries in the heart, it can result in common type of heart disease. Heart disease
is the leading cause of death for both men and
restricted blood flow, which can cause a heart
women in the United States. A recent American
attack or stroke. Some experts also believe
Heart Association study additionally revealed
gum disease causes inflammation, which can
that people not following oral hygiene guidelines
contribute to clogged arteries, heart attacks, and
to brush and floss regularly had three times the
strokes.
risk of dying from a heart attack, heart failure or
Q: Does the connection between oral health
stroke.
Q: Is there anything else my dentist can do to
understand my heart health?
A: This may sound surprising, but your dentist
can take your blood pressure, which can give
a glimpse into how efficiently your heart is
pumping. For patients with poor oral health, it can
be harder to control blood pressure even with
proper medication. Don’t be afraid to ask your
dentist about this during your next office visit.
Q: What are some tips I can practice to
maintain good oral health hygiene?
A: It’s easy to help keep your mouth healthy
through simple preventive measures that will help
you to maintain your overall health. Aside from
proper brushing and flossing daily (with special
attention to the gum line), there are several ways
to help reduce plaque, the culprit in both cavities
and gum disease: Limit sugary or starchy snacks
and beverages; quit smoking; and, visit your
dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
For more information on Delta Dental of New Jersey, please visit deltadentalnj.com or call [phone]
NR-0004315731-01