Cover Story
Cherie Gruenfeld competed in her first Ironman triathlon at age 48. Today, at 69, she’s one of the most decorated Master’s triathletes in the world, winning to date, 11 Ironman World Championships in her age class along with dozens of half-Ironman and other triathlon competitions, and setting course records along the way.
Her most recent win, in fact, was this past October at the renowned Kona Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. She was one of nearly 1,800 athletes who swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles — a full marathon — along the rugged Kona coast. It’s a remarkable demonstration of physical and mental endurance, and one that can take a toll on a person’s body at any age. Yet Gruenfeld did it just one year after a bike crash injury forced her to miss the 2011 competition. click for more
Features
Back In Rhythm
Two years ago, Stacy Clark was only 45 when she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation — “A Fib” — is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart (atria) are out of sync with the lower chambers of the heart... click for more
Everyday Fitness Regimen
Before we had gyms, Zumba®, spin classes and pedestrian boot camp, we had chores — unadorned, everyday basic chores. We trimmed trees and pushed lawnmowers, scrubbed tubs and floors, worked on our cars and painted our homes, and more often than not, walked where we needed to go.
Most likely, our waists were smaller back then, our biceps larger and our lungs more expansive. We moved with a sense of purpose and pride, and our bodies got what they deserved — fit. We worked and moved and balanced and stretched and felt confident knowing that our bodies could perform the tasks we needed them to do. click for more
Breathing Deeply
SPECIAL NOTE: Eisenhower Medical Center recently opened the Eisenhower Pulmonary Specialty Clinic on the main campus in the Wright Building, Suite 201. For more information, call 760-834-3564.
Betty Benner was only in her late forties in 1991 when she began experiencing extreme shortness of breath. An avid walker, she had been clocking five miles almost daily, yet found herself having to stop to catch her breath.“At first, I attributed it to getting older,” she says. “But I wasn’t that old.” click for more
Nature's Health Food & Cafe
Hungry for Mexican food? Asian? Italian? Vegan? Vegetarian? Gluten free? And would you like all of it prepared with certified organic grains and vegetables?
Look no further — Palm Springs plays host to the most extensive, organic, vegetarian menu in the valley. Nature’s Health Food & Café offers more than 130 items on their colorful, quadruple-fold menu, and the only challenge is figuring out which menu item to order. click for more
Heart To Heart
In a move designed to provide valley residents with the highest quality and most efficient cardiac care, Desert Cardiology Center and Eisenhower Medical Center have forged an alliance to create Eisenhower Desert Cardiology Center.
“The country as a whole is concerned about the costs and quality of health care delivery,” says Barry Hackshaw, MD, FACC, one of the founders of Desert Cardiology Center which, with 14 Board Certified Cardiologists, is the largest private practice cardiology group in the Coachella Valley. Dr. Hackshaw serves as Medical Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Eisenhower.
“To me, the best delivery models are facilities like the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and Palo Alto Clinic, where hospitals and physicians work together in a united way,” he continues. “Before coming to the desert, I was at another medical center where we were all under one umbrella. All decisions were made in a coordinated way between the hospital and the physicians. That’s the model we’re aiming for here.” click for more
Cardiology
Heart disease is still the number one cause of death in the United States, causing nearly one million heart attacks and more than half a million deaths each year. Prevention is, of course, critical — maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and... click for more
Got CAD? Get Checked, Go Exercise
Exercise is good for just about everyone, including those with coronary artery disease (CAD). Generally, exercise training improves functional capacity and reduces clinical symptoms. However, patients with CAD are at increased risk for cardiovascular complications during exercise; therefore, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends an individually designed and supervised exercise program.
The determinants for exercise require careful consideration as patients with CAD vary greatly in their clinical status, including the extent of their disease. Diseases include left ventricular dysfunction, potential for myocardial ischemia, and presence of cardiac arrhythmias. Prior cardiac events (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest), or interventions (coronary artery bypass graft, angioplasty, or other interventions) can be complicated by other medical issues which may often include hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, valvular heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes. There is no one size-fits-all exercise program for patients with CAD. click for more
Spine Surgery Success
Kristen Martinez and her husband have a blended family that includes five active children ages 11 and younger. The successful local business owner has played sports her entire life, including collegiate volleyball. Three years ago, Martinez hurt... click for more
Eisenhower Medical Center Now Offering Driving Simulator/Driver Fitness Assessment Program
Eisenhower Medical Center recently acquired Advanced Therapy Products WT -2000 Interactive Driving Simulator featuring the STISIM Drive™ Interactive Software. Developed for evaluating human subject impairment and proficiency, the STISIM Drive is... click for more