Restoring the Breast: Now or Later?

Submitted by Twin City Plastic Surgery Breast reconstruction is an integral part of the treatment of breast cancer. Unfortunately, women are usually so overwhelmed with their new diagnosis and are so focused on removing the cancer that they often give little thought to breast reconstruction. Sometimes, they are not even aware of the fact that reconstruction […]
Just Like a Real Tooth A True Story About Dental Implants
By Alexander Germanis So many things in our modern world are artificial. Artificial flavors and colorings are in our food, we play sports on artificial turf, we even have a degree of artificial intelligence in our computers. More often than not, however, the artificial things never quite live up to their authentic counterparts. But for […]
Anxiety Disorder and Depression

Submitted by Anjum Bashir, MD Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive. While the person suffering may realize their anxiety is too much, they may also have difficulty controlling it, and it may negatively affect their day-to-day living. There […]
What Does Recovery Mean?
By Amy Hansen, LCPC, CSAT, Agape Counseling Ltd. Recovery from any addiction is a focused program of life change. To recover from sex addiction means freedom from sexual acting-out behaviors and freedom from the compulsions that drive the behavior. It means more satisfying relationships, increased self-efficacy, compassion for self and others, renewed life goals, decreased […]
The Most Wonderful (and Stressful) Time of the Year

By Matthew Wheat, CPT and Wellness Director, Westminster Village Packed malls, maxed-out credit cards and holiday stress. It’s the holiday season, and you need to do your shopping, decorate your home, and plan your family get-together, all while continuing to work long hours and pay your bills. It’s not a secret that the holidays can […]
What is a Safety-First Retirement Plan?
By Dennis Kagel, Chartered Financial Consultant As the name implies, this type of retirement plan involves establishing the number-one priority to make absolutely certain that basic, essential needs will be covered in any market environment. We enjoy telling our clients, “Whether the market goes up, down, or sideways you will be OK.” Our clients find […]
Understanding a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Submitted by Mid-Illinois Hematology & Oncology LTD Whether it’s October or not, breast cancer is one of the most recognized cancers in the world. Thanks to massive public awareness campaigns, nearly everyone understands the significance behind a pink ribbon, but how many can say they have breast cancer knowledge beyond pink? The truth is, breast […]
Smartphone Usage Can Affect Spinal Health

Submitted by Eastland Chiropractic & Wellness Center Despite the many benefits of having information at your fingertips, smartphones and tablets can do damage to your body and overall health in unexpected ways. You may not realize it, but all that time spent with your head down checking email and texting may be creating more than […]
Ten Year-End Tax Tips for 2016
By Krista McBeath, McBeath Financial Group Here are 10 things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Set aside time to plan Effective planning requires that you have a good understanding of your current tax situation, as well as a reasonable estimate of how your […]
Prepare for Surgery With Exercise and Diet
By Judith Graham for Next Avenue A dozen years ago, at the age of 50, Lillie Shockney decided to have breast reconstruction surgery after two bouts of cancer and two mastectomies. The procedure called for removing a flap of skin and fat from her abdomen, used to rebuild her breasts. Shockney knew a lot about […]