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P   R   E   S   S      R   E   L   E   A   S   E

Contact: Peg McQuillan (763) 450-3868

[email protected]

PB & J May Food Drive!

Plymouth Businesses Team Up To Fight Kids’ Hunger Together

Plymouth,  MN – (April 22, 2013) – Three Plymouth businesses at the I 494 & Rockford Road intersection are hosting a large-scale food drive for Emergency Foodshelf Network the month of May. Cowboy Jacks, European Wax Center (five locations around the Metro) and Lake West Chiropractic & Natural Health are recruiting their neighbor businesses and clients to donate jars of peanut butter and jelly.

Summer is the toughest season for food shelves, as thousands of children in the Twin Cities who receive free breakfast and lunch at school will be going without. Peanut butter and jelly is a protein-rich, delicious meal kids can make for themselves.

The PB & J May Food Drive Kick Off is Tuesday, April 30, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Cowboy Jack’s. Guests who bring a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly will receive a $5.00 coupon off their next visit to Cowboy Jack’s. There will be a silent auction and sales of $5.00 glasses for $2.00 refills of Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Golden Light from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.   In addition, glasses will include a $5 off massage coupon for Lake West Chiropractic & Natural Health.  Proceeds will be donated to Emergency Foodshelf Network.

Food donations can be dropped at the three sponsors: Cowboy Jack’s, European Wax Center and Lake West Chiropractic & Natural Health as well as all these participating businesses: Anchor Bank, O’Reiley’s Auto Parts, Merrill Hair Design, VSA Custom Apparel, Caribou Coffee, Pilgrim Cleaners, Freedom Gas Station, Haskell’s, HOM Furniture, Italian Tan and the UPS Store. 

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About Emergency Foodshelf Network (www.emergencyfoodshelf.org)

Emergency Foodshelf Network is a full service, local food bank, providing quality, nutritious food and support services to over 230 hunger relief programs, including food shelves, on-site meal programs, subsidized housing and other hunger relief programs throughout the state.  EFN helps its network serve over two million individuals per year.


2013 Best of Plymouth Finalists

Announcing the finalists in our annual Best of Plymouth readers' choice survey, which ran January 1—February 28. Winners will be revealed at our Best of Plymouth event June 27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel*; click here to learn more.

Don't see a category you voted for? There were a few categories that have been excluded from our event due to a lower number of votes/qualified entries. The winners of these categories will be revealed in our online article July 1.

*Event in conjunction with the 2013 Best of Maple Grove.

Note: All finalists are listed in alphabetical order. Listed order in no way implies winners.

Best caterer: Famous Dave's, Lunds and Byerly's, Peg's Countryside Catering

Best private-party venue: Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Jake's City Grille, Plymouth Creek Center

Best weekend brunch: Cowboy Jack's, Creekside Cafe at Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Jake's City Grille

Best take-out after work: Chef Lee, Ketsana's Thai Restaurant, Latuff's Pizzeria

Best bartender: Matt at Buffalo Wild Wings; Renee Meagher at Jake's City Grille; Kristi Schunk at Cowboy Jack's

Best ethnic food: El Azteca, Ketsana's Thai Restaurant, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse

Best architect: Boyer Building Corporation, SKD Architects; Trossen Wright Plutowski Architects

Best interior designer: Sarah Bernardy Design, Gayle Crummer Design, Jayne Morrison Interiors

Best builder/remodeler: MD Property Services, Platinum Remodeling, Sawhorse Designers and Builders

Best electrician: Todd Bakke at Hi-Tech Electric; Randy at Randy's Electric; Josh Shonkwiler at Platinum Remodeling

Best plumber: Dean's Plumbing, Heating and Air; Mark D. at Weld and Sons Plumbing; Steve Grohn at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Best independent shop: Eat Shop, The Style Room Salon, Vinifera Wines and Ales

Best garden shop: Bachman's, Dundee Nursery and Landscaping, Orchids Limited

Best jewelry: Art 2 Heart, Artelle Designs, Tesa Jewellers

Best salon/spa: Christopher J. Salon, New Reflections Spa Salon, Simonson's Salon and Spa

Best auto repair shop: Check Engine Express, Herb's Servicenter, Plymouth Tire and Auto

Best tailor/alternations: Magic Needle, Needle Trix Tailors, Tailoring Unlimited Inc.

Best veterinarian: Cats Preferred Veterinary Hospital, Oakwood Pet Clinic, Rockford Road Animal Hospital

Best doggy dar care: Auntie Ruth's Animal Care & Wellness Center, Camp Bow Wow, Happy Days Doggie Camp

Best pet store: Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet, It's A Pet's Life, PetSmart

Best fitness studio: Life Time Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Plymouth Creek Athletic Club

Best place to take the entire family: AMC Theater, French Regional Park, Plymouth Playhouse

Best nonprofit/charity: Art 2 Heart, Jobs Foundation, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners

Best kid-friendly restaurant: Applebee's, Red Robin, Solo's Pizza Cafe

Best preschool: The Goddard School, New Horizon Academy, Step By Step Montessori

Best dance studio: Dancin' on Broadway, Just for Kix, Summit Dance Shoppe

Best chiropractor: Dr. Paul Moon, Y-Chiropractic; Dr. Reese Shanahan, Plymouth Spine and Health Center; Dr. Jeffrey Wock, Lake West Chiropractic

Best dermatologist: Minnesota Dermatology; Skin Care Doctors

Best pediatrician: Dr. Alison Brophy, South Lake Pediatrics; Dr. Joseph McHugh, Wayzata Children's Clinic; Dr. Nancy Mettille, Partners in Pediatrics

Best vision/eyewear/eye care: Dr. David Kennedy, Kennedy Vision Health Center; Northwest Eye Clinic; Dr. Grant Smith, VisionSmith

Best shoe store: Famous Footwear, The Foursome, Schuler Shoes

Best place to work: Christopher J. Salon, Simonson's Salon and Spa, The Style Room Salon

Best hotel: Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Minneapolis West


Treating Childhood Ear Infections

Local docs weigh in on the latest and greatest ways to treat and prevent those pesky childhood ear infections.
October 2011 of Plymouth Magazine
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Emily J. Davis
Clothing courtesy of The Foursome Fine Apparel and Shoes in Plymouth: Enron non-iron dress shirt, Hart Schaffner & Marx flat front pant, a Cole Haan belt and a necktie by J.Z. Richards.

Dr. Jeffrey Wock checks Kathryn Simpson's daughter; Simpson has saught more holistic medical alternatives since her daughter was born three months premature.  Many of us have been witness to the anguish our children experience when plagued with an ear infection: the fussiness, the inability to sleep—or even lay down—the pulling and tugging at their tiny ears; and most of us feel helpless as to how to help them.

As Plymouth moves back into the cold and flu season, we spoke with two experts, Dr. Jeffrey Wock, a chiropractor and owner of Lake West Chiropractic & Natural Health (4190 Vinewood Ln. N. Ste. 121; 763.550.1205), and Dr. Benhoor Soumekh, an ear, nose and throat specialist from the WestHealth office of Ear, Nose and Throat Specialty Care of Minnesota (2805 Campus Dr. Ste. 205; 763.553.0695); both have seen their fair share of children with this condition and have insights on how we can treat (and hopefully) prevent childhood ear infections in the future.

Turns out, ear infections are common—very common.

“Otitis Media [the official diagnosis of an ear infection] is the most common healthcare presentation of children between 6 months and 4 years of age,” Wock says. “Up to 90 percent of children between those ages will have an ear infection, and half of those will have multiple recurrences.”

Because upper respiratory infections are the leading cause of ear infections, both doctors tell us good old-fashioned prevention is key. Washing hands, getting enough rest and eating properly can help kids avoid those nasty viruses in the first place. Other preventative measures include keeping little ones away from tobacco smoke and other environmental allergens.

But let’s say your child winds up with an ear infection; if the condition isn’t too serious, there are some treatments you can provide at home.

“Regarding home remedies to help ease the pain, all the things your grandmother told you about can help,” Soumekh says. “A hot pack, the usual oral medicine such as ibuprofen to help decrease the inflammation and keeping their head elevated to keep pressure from building up are all good options. Also an eardrop like Auralgan can numb the pain, but you have to be sure there are no eardrum ruptures or holes, and the child cannot have tubes.”

Due to what some see as an over-prescribing of antibiotics, the medical community has developed a “wait-and-watch” approach before writing a prescription; most ear infections tend to clear on their own after a few days.

“We might give the parent a prescription for an antibiotic, but we tell them to hold on to it for a few days,” says Soumekh, “and if the child isn’t better in a few days, then they can fill and administer it to the child.”

Golden Valley resident Kathryn Simpson’s daughter was born three months premature and dealt with a lot of ear infections in her early years. “I have always preferred a more natural approach to health care, so it made sense to have Dr. Wock treat her,” Simpson says.

Wock shares many of the same beliefs as Soumekh about treating ear pain at home, but offers a few others. For starters he recommends garlic eardrops: “They have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties,” he says. Additionally, he suggests keeping kids away from too much processed sugar and offering chamomile, Pulsatilla or belladonna to help calm them down, which, in turn, will help diminish pain.

As a chiropractor, Dr. Wock also recommends a more hands-on approach. “I look at the body as this amazing machine, and my job is to help it function at its peak; part of that is to make sure the drainage function is optimal. So, besides adjustments, I teach parents how to use lymphatic drainage techniques to help their kids.” The technique is a soft tissue type of move, where parents can help increase the flow of mucus and decrease any stagnation by massaging specific areas of the neck.


Top Docs Talk About Women's Health in Plymouth

Four health concerns specific to women—and the ways local medical experts approach them at all ages and stages.

By: Angela Johnson | From the issue: September 2012

Photo: Emily J. Davis

Dr. Mary Dahling is an obstetrician and gynecologist with John A. Haugen Associates.

Did you know women shouldn’t eat tuna sushi more than once every two weeks? That frozen dinners can adversely affect your blood pressure? Or that a chiropractic adjustment could lesson monthly cramping? Most women want to live healthy lives—but do they know how? Eat right and exercise doesn’t always answer the many questions we have about maintaining “best health.” Each stage of a woman’s life and even particular parts of her body require specific attention for healthy living. To shed a bit more light on the subject, four experts address a variety of health issues important to women including common life stage concerns, heart health, infertility, pregnancy and overall wellness.

 

Life-stage Concerns

Dr. Kathryn Babich is an obstetrician and gynecologist as well as medical director of women’s services for Park Nicollet. She details a woman’s typical life-stage concerns and provides some insight into how best to manage health at each stage.

For teen girls, common issues involve menstrual cramps and irregularity, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception and immunizations. Babich says education is key at this stage in life. “Know what is normal or not normal for menstrual function, and talk about problems or questions with a parent or health-care provider,” she says. “Understand the risks of sexual activity and what is needed to protect yourself.” Babich adds that the teen years are a good time to establish healthy eating and exercise habits.

Nutrition is very important during a woman’s childbearing years, maintaining a healthy BMI under 25 and learning ways to manage stress. “Stop smoking, too,” says Babich. “Better yet, never start. And be sure to address any medical issues like thyroid dysfunction, hypertension or diabetes prior to pregnancy.”

Menopausal women can encounter menstrual dysfunction, too, along with hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood issues and loss of libido. For women who have only been seeing a gynecologist, this is a good time to establish care with an internist or family medicine physician to discuss appropriate screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopy, cholesterol checks and bone-density scans. Much of this manages medical problems that can arise mid-life, including high cholesterol and osteoporosis. Babich encourages discussion with a gynecologist if considering low-dose hormone replacement: “They can be a safe option for women having significant menopausal symptoms after a discussion on personal risk factors,” she says. But what’s most important for all women at this stage of slowed metabolism is increased exercise, including weight-bearing exercise and a diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal seniors can sometimes experience bleeding, bladder problems, pelvic prolapse and osteoporosis. “Most postmenopausal bleeding is benign,” Babich says. “But it can be a sign of uterine cancer and deserves prompt evaluation.” There are also many choices for older women regarding the treatment of bladder problems, including surgical, medical and physical therapy. Babich also notes that depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle at any age. She encourages women to talk to their doctor if they’re experiencing any symptoms of depression.

 

Heart Health

Heart health is vital for women; the American Heart Association states that heart disease affects more women every year than all cancers combined. Cardiologist Dr. Betty Grey with Minneapolis Heart Institute and WestHealth believes exercise is key, but so is keeping cholesterol and blood pressure in check. “It gets hard for women to keep their weight down as they reach middle age,” Grey says. “But gaining 10 pounds a year equals 100 pounds over 10 years. That’s too much.” A caveat is that heavier women who are active are physically fit have a lower cardiac risk than inactive skinny women.

In addition to obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, other significant heart-health risk factors include family history and smoking. Additionally too much sodium is a recipe for bad heart health, as it can cause high blood pressure. “People probably get too much sodium from processed foods, including frozen dinners. This is bad for blood pressure, which can creep up over the years, a result of less-compliant blood vessels.”

Other proactive ways to maintain a healthy heart are to refrain from processed foods and consider a fish oil supplement. Grey states that the good fats found in fish oil supplements can’t be obtained simply by eating fish unless a woman eats fish three times a day—which isn’t wise considering many types of fish contain poisonous mercury. Grey suggests fish once or twice a week, and not eating tuna or tuna sushi more than once every two weeks to avoid overexposure.

Finally, for women in excellent health with no other risk factors but who have a family history of premature coronary disease, Grey recommends a conversation with a doctor about statins. “The evidence of statins’ plaque-fighting ability is irrefutable,” she says. “It might be a way to change the course of someone’s family history.”

 

Infertility and Pregnancy

Dr. Mary Dahling is an obstetrician and gynecologist with John A. Haugen Associates. In dealing with women anxious to get pregnant, she counsels patience. Try for at least a year before seeking any infertility work up. (Women older than 35 could shorten thier trial period to six months.) “The truth is you can be doing everything right and still not get pregnant right away,” she says. “But 80 percent of women are pregnant after a year—90 percent after two years. Patience is key when many insurance plans don’t cover infertility treatment because it doesn’t always work.”

To help speed things along, Dahling says over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits work well and are all pretty similar. It’s also not too early to begin prenatal vitamins. “Those don’t need to be expensive either,” she says. “The generic brand is just as good as any other.”

Dahling also dispels the myth that women should refrain from attempting pregnancy immediately after discontinuing birth-control pills. “It’s fine for women to begin trying right away after discontinuing birth control pills. In fact,” says Dahling, “women who take birth control to regulate an irregular cycle might have better results getting pregnant in the months immediately after discontinuation of their pills.”

Once pregnancy is achieved, Dahling recommends common sense moderation, and in the case of smoking and alcohol, be safe and cut it out completely. “Some doctors say one drink is OK, Dahling says. “The reality is that one drink makes the next one too easy and it’s just not worth the risk.”

Dahling finds pregnant women seem to have the hardest time giving up deli meat. She says listeriosis can be a problem for pregnant women, so they should refrain from deli meats, sushi and soft cheeses that might be unpasteurized (all common carriers of listeria bacteria). “If you must have deli meat,” she says, “make it steaming hot or try to buy the pre-packaged varieties that are more regulated.” She also supports Dr. Grey’s concerns about mercury and asks pregnant women to be especially cautious with their fish consumption.

 

Overall Wellness

Chiropractor Jeffrey Wock has a philosophy that the presence or absence of symptoms aren’t always the best indicators of illness or health. “Just because you don’t have physical symptoms,” the owner of Lake West Chiropractic & Natural Health says, “doesn’t necessarily mean you’re experiencing optimum health.” He points to heart health as one example where women sometimes don’t know there’s a problem until after they’ve had an adverse health event. “We work to educate patients on optimum function of the body and determine if any nervous system pressure is affecting other areas.”

The chiropractic philosophy suggests patients who receive regular adjustments can respond more quickly to treatment after injury because they’re beginning at a higher level of function. But when patients are already symptomatic, some areas where manipulative body-based practices are known to be helpful include back and neck pain as well as cramping associated with a woman’s monthly cycle. “We work to correct any stress on a woman’s lumbo pelvic spine,” Wock says. “This can minimize monthly cramps.”

Individuality is key to any homeopathic recommendations, Wock says, adding he tries to coordinate care with a patient’s general practitioner. This is especially important for women taking prescription medication. Be sure to inform your doctor of any complementary or alternative therapies you use, including herbal or dietary supplements that might interfere with prescription medication, he says.

&

Resources

John Haugen Associates

2805 Campus Dr. Ste. 315

763.577.7460

haugenobgyn.com

 

Lake West Chiropractic

4100 Berkshire Ln. N. Ste. 124

763.550.1205

lakewestchiropractic.com

 

Park Nicollet Health Services

3007 Harbor Ln. N.

952.993.8900

parknicollet.com

 

WestHealth

2855 Campus Dr.

763.577.7160

westhealth.com

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Results Revealed! Best of Plymouth 2012

Places, faces and other topics you’re buzzing about as we reveal the winners of Best of Plymouth 2012.

By: Nancy Eike and Katie Rucke | From the issue: July 2012

Photo: Nicholas Beecher

 

Best Chiropractor: Dr. Jeff Wock, Lake West Chiropractic

Runners up: Dr. Bruce Pearson, Natural Chiropractic Center; Dr. Reese Shanahan, Plymouth Spine & Health Center

Plymouth sports a large number of chiropractic options. That’s what makes becoming a finalist in this competitive category so impressive. Readers suggest it could be the complimentary massage that comes with each treatment/adjustment (you can come just for the massage as well, as referenced by the team’s placing in our Best Massage category). Perhaps it could also be the wide array of offerings—Dr. Jeff Wock specializes in sports chiropractic therapy and is also a licensed acupuncturist. More likely, however, it’s the focus on clients that his team provides—everything from birthday cards and thank-yous to baby onesies for new arrivals.

4190 Vinewood Ln. N. #121; 763.550.1205; lakewestchiropractic.com

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2:30 pm-5:00 pm

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