Making Time for Health
Women have
top-notch providers right
here in San Joaquin
Women in the San Joaquin area face the same health issues that others do throughout the country. When it comes to wellness, there’s no doubt that women have special needs; taking care of them will ensure that you look and feel as healthy as possible. The following are some of the more important areas on which women need to focus.
Bones
One of the most common afflictions that women face as they age is the gradual loss of bone density. Osteoporosis affects millions of women, often resulting in broken bones and ongoing problems with pain and physical deformity. To keep this from happening, building strong bones from childhood on is essential. The best prevention is taking the recommended daily allowance of calcium and vitamin D, exercising, and avoiding smoking or the excessive intake of alcohol. If you have further concerns, talk to your doctor about getting a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test and current preventative medications.
Heart
More than breast cancer or diabetes, heart disease remains the number one killer of women, by heart attack and stroke. What has most stifled efforts in the prevention of heart disease in women is that the symptoms and risk factors of heart trouble in women differ from those in men, and so might not be recognized. In fact, women might not even feel any pain if they have a heart attack, or if they do, it may come in the form of nausea, back pain, or fatigue with only mild chest pain. Women at high risk (often determined by ethnicity and family history) should be especially diligent about taking recommended medications and controlling other risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Reproductive Health
For all it can be made to go through, a woman’s reproductive system is actually very delicate and prone to a wide range of possible ailments and injuries, including breast cancer (see page 76), cervical, ovarian, vaginal, and uterine cancers, infections, PMS, STDs (and complications thereof), and many more. Fortunately, the typical pelvic exam screens for a variety of possible problems all at once. It is generally agreed that the first pelvic exam should take place by age 21 or within three years of starting sexual activity, whichever comes first. After that, while your doctor will decide upon the needed frequency, many women usually have a pelvic exam once a year. Usually done in conjunction with a pelvic, also getting a regular Pap smear is the best prevention against cervical cancer.
Nutrition & Exercise
For an overall sense of wellness, the best course of action is to simply eat right and keep fit. Starting at an early age is preferable, but it’s never too late to start. In many cases, eating right can have a great impact on your health, reducing the chance for diabetes, heart problems, oral/dental issues, stroke, osteoporosis, even cancer. It’s all information that you’ve heard before: eat more fiber, vegetables, and lean meats, less fat and refined sugar. Exercise has a similar effect on disease prevention and weight control. For maximum benefit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health recommends the performance of some kind of moderate-intensity exercise at least half an hour every day.
With all of these areas, as you can see, prevention is the best medicine. However, given all the demands of daily life, keeping on top of all these things can be something of a challenge. That’s why, for the convenience of our readers, the following pages highlight some of the San Joaquin area’s top doctors, dentists, surgeons, medical centers, and spas who can help in your quest to stay happy and healthy.
Pink Ice, Pink Shirts, Tough Guys:
Stockton Thunder Goes Pink
As the war against breast cancer builds, the Stockton Thunder hockey organization continues to fight for the cause in what has become an extraordinarily successful event, known as “Thunder Goes Pink.” In this third annual event, November 7 and 8, the Stockton Thunder will face the Victoria Salmon Kings on ice that has been colored pink by eighty-five gallons of water-based ice dye, in a rink lit up by pink-tinted bulbs. Players will wear pink jerseys bearing the survivor ribbon insignia during both games, and the national anthem will be sung by breast cancer survivors. In this extremely charitable event, $2 of every ticket sale, along with all the proceeds from a silent and live auction, will be split between St. Joseph’s Foundation Breast Cancer Services and American Cancer Society Stockton Field Office. A pledge fundraiser based on the number of goals the Thunder score will also help raise money for awareness—the Stockton Thunder is hoping to beat last year’s total donation of $36,000. –Amanda Rife
For more information, visit www.stocktonthunder.com.
Women’s Wellness Resources in San Joaquin County
Medical Centers
Promoting women’s wellness is a top priority for many of the San Joaquin area’s hospitals. Kaiser Permanente, with facilities in Stockton, Manteca, and a brand-new facility in Modesto, offers multiple services to specifically address women’s needs. Educational offerings include Lamaze, breast health, nutrition, domestic violence, and more.
They are especially proud of their OB/GYN offerings, such as certified nurse midwives who will provide support throughout pregnancy, available at the new Modesto hospital. With a commitment to remaining current on women’s health issues, offerings are constantly evolving and growing. For more information about what’s available in your area, visit www.kaiserpermanente.org.
Dameron Hospital in Stockton has taken a holistic approach to women’s health, which they credit as the primary reason why they deliver more babies than any other hospital in San Joaquin County. Through the Alex and Faye Spanos Start of Life Center, the entire family is made a part of the birthing process. The hospital also offers a number of women’s health classes and clinics that cover a wide range of issues. You can reach Dameron Hospital for more information by calling (209) 944-5550 or visiting www.dameronhospital.org.
St. Joseph’s Medical Center offers a variety of healthcare services designed especially for women. The Women and Children’s Center provides comprehensive obstetrics services, including high-risk pregnancy care and an NICU nursery. The Welcome to Life program offers maternity tours, and classes about childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
St. Joseph’s Regional Cancer Center offers compassionate care, advanced medical technology, and support services including a cancer library, support groups, and the Breast Cancer Navigator program.
St. Joseph’s Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU) is a full-service mammography clinic on wheels featuring state-of-the-art digital technology. The MMU offers mammography services to women in twenty-two counties in the Central Valley. To learn more, visit www.stjosephscares.org.
Located in Manteca, Doctors Hospital combines sophisticated services with a comfortable environment. It was the first in the area to offer family-centered birthing and labor/delivery/recovery suites, with flexible visiting hours for relatives and friends to visit new mothers and their bundles of joy.
Along with being a fully functioning health clinic and center, Doctors Hospital offers a Women’s Imaging Center, where low-dose mammographies are performed by female technologists, and ultrasound, stereo tactic core biopsies, or x-ray guided needle biopsies can be performed. Particularly noteworthy is their Mammopad system that dramatically decreases the discomfort that some women find with a routine mammogram. For more information, call (209) 823-3111 or visit www.doctorsmanteca.com.
St. Teresa Comprehensive Cancer Center in Stockton specializes in the treatment of cancer, including breast and cervical cancers, through the use of radiation therapy. Staff physician Vitune Vongtama, MD is a board-certified radiation oncologist by the American Board of Radiology, specializing in brachytherapy. In addition to utilizing the latest technology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, he and the rest of the staff are equipped to provide total care and support for the patient as well as friends and family. For more information, call (209) 472-1848 or visit www.stteresascancercenter.com.
The Sutter Tracy Hospital Imaging Center has the cutting-edge technology to find breast cancer in its earliest stages. It is one of the few places in the San Joaquin Valley to offer stereotactic breast biopsy, sentinel node biopsy, and digital mammography with Computer Aided Detection (CAD) software. They are also the first facility in the area to use the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS), which can store digital images to be retrieved electronically and viewed by health care providers involved in a patient’s care.
Tracy Sutter not only cares for women, but the health of the entire family through their community outreach programs and festivals that offer free screenings and promote overall health awareness. For more information, call (209) 835-1500 or visit www.tracysutter.org.
Oral Care
Nothing expresses a woman’s sense of well-being better than her smile. However, women do face their own particular challenges when it comes to dental health. According to Tracy orthodontic specialist Andrew Trosien, DDS, MD, a woman’s shifting hormones can have a great impact on her oral health. That, as well as stress or a misaligned bite, is the main reason why 90 percent of the patients he treats for problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are women.
To correct this misalignment of the jaw, Dr. Trosien often uses “bite splints” to simulate a corrected bite and relax the jaw into normal position. For actual bite corrections, he uses traditional metal braces or Invisalign. To schedule a free initial consultation, call (209) 833-1240 or visit www.trosienorthodontics.com.
Dr. Isabella Putzlacher, DDS at Mountain House Dental in Mountain House is also well aware of women’s special dental needs, and handles everything from general and family dentistry all the way to more involved cosmetic procedures, such as whitening, veneers, crowns, and more. Using techniques for maximum pain management, they use the CompuDent wand to deliver anesthesia in a gradual, needle-free manner, and air abrasion as a painless alternative to the drill. For more information, call (209) 839-8755 or visit www.mountainhousedental.com.
Via a variety of available orthodontic treatments, including the Invisalign System and Clarity Braces, Cameron R. Wheeler, DDS, MS of Wheeler Orthodontics in Stockton can correct all kinds of “bad bites” to create a smile that is as healthy as it is attractive. While the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) says the perfect age for an initial consultation is 7, it’s never too late to correct your smile. In fact, Wheeler Orthodontics even has patients in their 80s. For more information, or to schedule a free initial consultation, call (209) 951-0151 or visit www.wheelerortho.com.
When it comes to the link between women’s overall health and dental issues, Stockton general and cosmetic dentist Maywell L. Inong, DDS has seen studies connecting gum disease to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, pre-term pregnancy, and low birth weight, not to mention the various effects of hormones on the mouth and gums. To keep women’s smiles healthy, Dr. Inong uses the latest technology to make every procedure as effective and comfortable as possible, including ZOOM! Whitening, lasers, and CAD/CAM technology. Call (209) 477-9105 for more information or visit www.inongdental.com.
At his office in Lodi, cosmetic dentist Todd A. Franklin, DDS has seen great demand for his services by women and has also seen the dramatic improvement in self-confidence and esteem that can come from an attractive, healthy smile. Most often requested is tooth whitening. A close second is a complete “smile makeover,” which entails a thorough analysis of the entire face. From there, photographs, models, and ongoing examination will help formulate a cosmetic blueprint that will enhance the final result. Veneers, implants, crowns, and bridges are just some of the other procedures Dr. Franklin performs. Call (209) 334-4370, or visit www.toddfranklindds.com for more information.
Douglas M. Martin, DDS practices restorative, cosmetic, and sedation dentistry at his Stockton-based practice, Martin Dentistry. Within these categories, he does custom implants and dentures, veneers, bleaching, root canals, crowns, and more, as well as utilizing sedation for patients with “dental anxiety.” When it comes to women’s wellness, their greatest satisfaction comes when a female patient feels confident and cheerful. For more information on all the services available, call (209) 951-4251 or go to www.martinimplants.com.
For busy women, dental visits often get pushed aside because many potential patients think they don’t have the time for multiple trips in and out of the chair. At One Appointment Dentistry, that concern is put to rest with the help of Cerec 3-D, a technique that results in complete restorations and crowns in only one visit, with less drilling and less anesthetic. The strong metal-free ceramic looks appealing, and lasts equally as long as gold crowns. One Appointment also does work on all ages, so going to the dentist can truly be a one-stop experience. For more information call (209) 472-7500, or visit www.oneappointment.com.
Cosmetic Surgery and Medi-Spas
Cosmetic procedures have become very useful as a means to women’s wellness, both physically and psychologically. General surgeon Calvin Lee, MD of Surgical Artistry has seen the positive effects firsthand, along with his wife and business partner, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Tammy Wu, MD. Together they’re able to perform almost any kind of surgical procedure that’s required.
But what’s become especially popular in their practice is acupuncture, a holistic approach to healing performed by Dr. Lee, which can assist with pain management, skin problems, smoking cessation, allergies, and so on. They are also able to minimize spider and varicose veins and offer non-surgical skin care. Contact their Modesto office at (209) 551-1888 or go to www.surgerytoday.com for more information.
With offices in Tracy and San Ramon, Thomas B. McNemar, MD, FACS believes that every patient is beautiful and unique, and works hard to get his patients to believe it as well. Tummy tucks, liposuction, and breast augmentation continue to be very popular, as are bariatric procedures and face lifts. In order to minimize trauma and healing time, he uses the latest technologies, such as LipoSelection by Vaser (lipo made gentler with ultrasound energy), and promotes non-surgical procedures like Botox injections and Portrait PSR³ skin resurfacing. Call the Tracy office at (209) 834-0626 or visit www.mcnemarcosmeticsurgery.com for more information.
Dr. Hugh L. Vu at Vu Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery in Stockton performs all kinds of surgical procedures, but is especially passionate about skin care. Via his Skin and Laser Center, problems like acne, cellulite, and sun and age spots are treated. They also offer collagen remodeling and skin tightening, laser hair reduction, esthetics services, and mineral makeup, as well as a number of injectable fillers. You can also expect a thorough education on the importance of daily skin care and protection. For more information, call (209) 476-7074 or take a look at www.vuplasticsurgery.com.
Advanced Laser Clinic of Modesto is a full-service med-spa. When it comes to skin care, they offer facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and sclerotherapy (spider vein treatment) just to name a few. They are also one of the San Joaquin area’s exclusive dealers of Lipodissolve, which dissolves unwanted fat via a series of injections. They also directly promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle by offering the immensely popular AdvoCare line of nutritional supplements and skin care products. For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, call (209) 577-3340 or visit www.alcmodesto.net.
In Stockton, Total Body Medi Spa’s philosophy is to use the latest cosmetic techniques and top-of-the-line products to achieve flawless results that turn heads. As every woman has different needs at different times in her life, the staff will sit down with her and tailor-make a cosmetic program to optimize the desired results. They offer a range of skin and laser treatments, Botox, Restylane, teeth whitening, weight management services, and a full range of luxurious and recharging spa services. To find out about all they offer, call (209) 939-3800 or go to www.skindoktor.com.
Another cosmetic surgeon who has seen the benefit of offering med-spa services in addition to surgical procedures is Robert F. Gray, MD, FACS of MD Laser Spa. With offices in Manteca and Pleasanton, Dr. Gray specializes in facial cosmetic surgery. In addition to surgical procedures, he offers a full array of non-surgical and minimally invasive services, including Botox, collagen injections, Restylane, Thermage chemical peels, Intense Pulse Light therapy, laser hair removal, spider vein treatment, and skin care products. Call the Manteca office at (209) 239-5665 or visit www.mdlaserspa.com for more information.
SPECIALISTS
P. Gill, OB/GYN has been practicing in San Joaquin County for more than a generation. The physicians in the practice have delivered thousands of healthy newborns the old-fashioned way, and have also helped expand many families by using their medical knowledge in fertility advancements. The practice is also experienced in the treatment of all types of reproductive illnesses, disorders, and cancers. The practice was also an early adopter of laparoscopic technology and surgeries in order to treat women with less invasive measures, so that patients can return to their day to day lives as quickly as possible. All physicians in the practice are board-certified experts in their fields and treat their patients with a level of personal care that patients welcome. For more information, call (209) 466-8546 or visit www.pgillobgyn.com.
From whiplash to car accidents, Stockton’s Spinal Aid offers several treatments to help with back and neck pain. Decompression therapy, which relieves pressure that builds up on the discs and nerves, is one of the top treatments that Spinal Aid has to offer, alongside cold laser therapy that uses red and infrared light to boost the body’s natural healing response. They offer various forms of payment plans, so anyone can afford to correct back and neck pain. For more information, call (209) 462-2759 or visit www.spinalaid.com.
Medifast is a convenient, clinically-proven and physician approved weight-loss program. It allows people to lose weight quickly, safely, and more effectively than traditional weight-loss plans. Medifast has been recommended by more than fifteen thousand physicians for over twenty-five years.
The plan’s meals are low calorie and provide balanced nutrition to help people lose weight quickly and keep it off. Medifast has helped over one million people in the last twenty-five years, and their products have been proven to be safe and effective in multiple clinical studies. For more information call (209) 229-FAST or visit www.medifastcenters.com.
Day Spas & Health Clubs
Sometimes all it takes for a woman to feel healthier in body and mind is to be pampered, a specialty of San Joaquin area day spas. In Lodi, The Spa at Wine and Roses prides itself on being a wellness center, emphasizing holistic care of mind, body, and spirit. They offer a variety of services specifically for women, ranging from makeup applications and lessons, manicures and pedicures, to full salon services including cut, color, and highlights. A variety of massages, body treatments, and facials cater to women of all ages and skin types. There is also a full service spa menu for the expectant mother, consisting of pregnancy massages, belly facials, and the very popular belly cast. For more information call (209) 371-6165 or visit www.winerose.com.
Mimosa Spa Salon in Manteca takes inspiration from nature in their approach to women’s wellness, with the goal being to reduce stress and bring the entire body back into balance. They offer several kinds of massages, including their wellness “Chakra Balancing” massage (a full body, deep tissue massage), prenatal massage, Japanese hot stone therapy, and more. A variety of facials, body wraps, and salon services make you look as good outside as you feel inside, with a series of anti-aging facials that are particularly effective. To ask about all they have to offer, call (209) 823-7400 or go to www.mimosaspasalon.com.
Women know that staying fit means much more than looking good; it means living a longer, more fulfilling life—with the aesthetic aspect being a nice perk, too. At Fitness 360, a private workout studio, you can focus on what’s important for your individual health with your very own trainer. A growing business that recently moved to Lincoln Center, Fitness 360 is dedicated to making women look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside. Call (209) 955-0360 or visit www.fitness360california.com for more information.
Another local training facility that offers women a fun workout atmosphere is In-Shape Health Clubs. Offering unique training areas designed especially with women in mind, In-Shape also offers classes and the highest level of fitness equipment in multiple locations throughout San Joaquin. Their start-up programs make beginning this important step to personal health easy and exciting. For more information call (209) 472-2231 or visit www.inshapeclubs.com.
Eye Care
Eye exams are vital to maintaining your vision and overall health, and Midtown Optometry is the place to go for your annual exam. With services such as Intralase Laser Vision Correction, Optomap Retinal Exams, contact lens evaluation, and over one thousand designer frames to choose from, Midtown Optometry is a family-oriented office, run by husband and wife team Drs. Derron and Leanne Lee, and offers the highest quality services. For more information, call (209) 957-8000 or visit www.midtownoptometry.com.
At the Tracy Eye Clinic, Dr. Thomas O’Neil offers quality care with a personal touch. Cataract surgery is available, as is Near Vision CK, the only FDA approved technology designed to improve near vision. With an optical shop that has over four hundred fifty frames to choose from, including Vera Wang, Thalia, Converse, and Cosmopolitan, you’re sure to find something that will fit your style. For more information call (209) 836-1155 or visit www.thomasconeilmd.com. SJM
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
While early detection has helped greatly in slowing the number of deaths, breast cancer remains a very real danger. In addition to wearing a pink ribbon, you can further show your support by taking charge of your own breast health.
Perform regular self-exams, ideally every month a few days after your period. Check not just for lumps, but for any abnormalities in texture, color, or appearance as well.
Get a mammogram. Although uncomfortable, it’s the best way to detect cancer. Women over 40 are encouraged to have one every one to two years.
