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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
MAY 2025
CYCLE- DRIVEN HEALTH KEYS TO A CLEANER, COOLER COMMUTE
If you saw a lot of bikes on your way to work recently, it wasn’t a figment of your imagination.
at least 30 minutes on my stationary bike at the office at least twice a week — anything to keep from being bolted in place for hours at a time.
On May 15, thousands throughout the Washington, D.C. region participated in Bike to Work Day (BikeToWorkMetroDC.com), part of National Bike Month and the fourth day of National Bike to Work Week. Started by the League of American Cyclists in 1956, this rain-or-shine event encourages folks to ditch their cars and pedal their way to their place of employment. When it was adopted in our region in 2001, it attracted just a few hundred people. At its pre‑pandemic peak, it had gained the support of nearly 19,000 participants. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them this year. For one thing, my office doesn’t have a shower, and the last thing I wanted to do was show up in a sweaty bike outfit to treat a patient. I tried to figure out how to book work at the hospital so I could shower there after my ride, but the logistics involved were too much. That said, I still think the concept of riding your bike to work, or anywhere, really — is pretty cool. As regular readers of this newsletter know, I love cycling and recommend it wholeheartedly as a great form of exercise. Offering health tips in a newsletter is always tricky, as I know all too well how life’s demands can push us away from working toward our goals and can leave us frustrated. I’ve recently been a perfect example of what not to do to stay in shape. I’ve been putting in 10–12‑hour workdays lately, and sitting down and doing paperwork is getting old. We all have commitments that leave us with little energy to escape the home-work-home-sleep-repeat routine, but I’ve been trying to rise above that. As busy as my days are, I find time to take spin classes on weekends and spend
Even when our day planners don’t give us much wiggle room, we need to do at least something to counter the dangers that long hours of sitting behind a desk pose to our bodies, blow off steam, reduce stress, and improve our mood. Some studies have even suggested that sitting for an eight-hour day has as many detrimental effects on our longevity as smoking a pack of cigarettes! We have no choice but to move. As soon as I start riding a bike, I feel the big muscle groups in my legs — quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals — getting back into gear. I also find that riding “out of the saddle” by pedaling up a hill while standing up really kicks in my glutes. Anyone who incorporates cycling into their lives is sure to enjoy these benefits and more. In addition to cycling, I’d suggest adding some strength training to your routine, as your legs don’t hold your body weight when you’re sitting riding on your bike. You will need an extra boost from full body strength training to stay in optimum condition.
Whether you participated in this year’s Bike to Work Day or made cycling part of your exercise regimen, I wish you improved health and great times on your wheels!
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EUROPE’S MOST EXCLUSIVE ESCAPES
In a fast-changing world, it’s easy to get bogged down in self-doubt and negativity. Mindset coaching, a new route to self-improvement, applies psychological tools to instill a more upbeat, hopeful attitude toward life. Mindset coaching helps people break away from habitual negative thinking and behaviors that prevent them from seeing and reaching their potential. It is a relatively new field that evolved from two influential bodies of research — cognitive psychology, which helps individuals recognize and change negative thought patterns, and the work of psychologist Carol Dweck on “growth mindset,” a perspective that teaches people they can change and develop through effort and learning. It’s important to understand that mindset coaches are not therapists, nor are they licensed or regulated. Interested individuals should seek a qualified coach trained and certified by a reputable coaching organization. The training equips mindset coaches with tools to help clients cultivate resilience and positivity, including mindfulness, journaling, visualizing achievements, and cognitive restructuring or replacing negative thought patterns with more realistic, balanced views. Mindset coaches also help clients uproot limiting beliefs about themselves and reduce their fear of being evaluated negatively by others. For example, mindset coaching might help a software engineer struggling with self-doubt and fear of failure to reframe their thinking and view criticism as constructive feedback to help improve their skills. Also, a manager striving for a promotion might learn to value their skills and cultivate a belief in their ability to expand and acquire new competencies. Ultimately, clients are taught to reframe life as a journey of self-discovery and learning — a mindset so empowering that it can change lives!
EMBRACE YOUR CAPACITY FOR GROWTH Attitude Adjustment
Nature’s Nurture for Older Adults FOREST BATHING BRINGS PURPOSE, HEALTH, AND CONNECTION
If you’re older, you’ve probably heard countless times how important it is to socialize and involve yourself in a variety of activities. When you attend a dance, swimming, or exercise class, you are physically active while surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, which has physical, mental, and emotional benefits. However, not everyone is interested in joining a class or sports team. They might prefer to do something out in nature that provides the same benefits. Forest bathing is a popular activity that appeals to the older adults in Japan. The term “forest bathing” might conjure images that feel right at home in a Cialis commercial, but it actually refers to spending time in nature, utilizing all your senses. While many studies tout the benefits of spending time in nature, researchers from Penn State University
and two universities in Taiwan recently discovered an additional benefit that makes forest bathing even more appealing: Fostering social connections around nature-based activities could improve health and quality of life. The researchers questioned weekly visitors (over age 65) to a nature preserve in Taiwan about how much they think about their futures, the purpose of their lives, and more. Those who talked about their experiences in nature with others often had a greater sense of attachment to forest bathing and a stronger sense of purpose in life. “Forest bathing seems to connect people to the moment and the world,” stated Liang-Chih Chang, professor of living sciences at the National Open University in New Taipei City, Taiwan. “When
elders use that same experience to develop social connections and support, they may experience a broad range of benefits associated with physiological functioning and cognitive health. These are associations, not cause and effect, but the potential consequences are exciting to consider.” So, the next time you and your loved ones want something to do, consider exploring your local parks and nature preserves together. You’ll be amazed by the benefits it brings to your life.
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How to Manage Styes and Recurring Chalazions ‘They Lost My Results?!’ A Cautionary Tale of Patient Concern
As healthcare consumers, we all have the right to advocate for ourselves and expect to receive information from our providers promptly and professionally. I was recently reminded of this fact when I learned of a frustrating situation with a woman in her 90s whom we know through our office. For several months, she experienced episodes where she’d feel well first thing in the morning but would get hammer tired shortly after breakfast. She barely had any strength to move, eat, or do anything at all, and she’d be confined to her couch for most of the day. She would typically perk up after eating at dinnertime, but her day would be shot by then. She went for test after test, but the cause of her situation proved elusive. Eventually, her problem worsened to the point where she went to the hospital for help. After being there for 5 days and
having more tests performed, she was sent home without an answer. Then, the waiting game began. At least three weeks went by without a single phone call. Running out of patience, she logged into her account on MyChart — an online portal that allows users to access their medical
hospital has called her about her abnormal test results.
records and test results — to get answers on her own. Her search revealed that one of the blood tests conducted at the hospital had levels 400 times higher than normal. Armed with this information — and understandably alarmed by the lack of communication from the hospital — she promptly scheduled a consultation with a neurologist. She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis , a treatable condition that causes considerable muscle weakness. She is now taking medication, receiving weekly IV treatments, and feeling much better. To date, no one from the
This story reminds everyone to be diligent about following up on any test conducted on our bodies. When patients see us for a biopsy on their eyelid or other testing, we tell them they can count on hearing from us within 7 to 10 days — and to call us if they don’t. Whether you’re at a hospital or your local physician’s office, never accept being told, “If there’s nothing wrong, you won’t hear from us.” Your health is too important to let silence be the answer to your concerns.
Asparagus Cashew Rice Pilaf Inspired by AllRecipes.com
INGREDIENTS • 1/4 cup butter •
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2 1/4 cups vegetable broth Salt and pepper, to taste 1/2 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces 1/2 cup cashew halves
2 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken into bite-size pieces
A referral is the highest compliment we can receive! Thank you for sending us seven referrals this month!
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1/4 cup minced onion 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/4 cups uncooked jasmine rice
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DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. 2. Stir in spaghetti and cook until coated and lightly browned. 3. Stir in onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes until tender. 4. Stir in rice and cook for 5 minutes. Add the broth and season with salt and pepper. 5. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and cook for 20 minutes. 6. In a separate saucepan, cover asparagus with water and cook until tender. Drain water. 7. Mix asparagus and cashews into rice and serve warm.
Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
Inside This Issue
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Pedal With Purpose
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Mindset Coaching: A New Path to Savoring Life
Why Forest Bathing Is the New Social Activity for Older Generations
The Right to Request Records
Asparagus Cashew Rice Pilaf
Record-Breaking Russian Mom Gives Birth to 69 Children
MIND-BENDING MAMA Guinness Names World’s Most Productive Mother
You may have heard of Octomom, the California mother of 14 who gave birth to octuplets, or the woman in Morocco who gave birth to nonuplets in 2021, all nine of whom are alive and well. These record-breaking moms have nothing on Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the 18th-century Russian woman gave birth to 69 children — including 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets!
sources” to back the story. The first was a monastery in the town of Nikolsk, northeast of Moscow, where monks recorded and reported the births to Moscow officials in 1782. The Lancet, a respected medical journal, recounted in 1878 an account by French researchers from the “Statistical Works of Russia,” showing that Mrs. Vassilyev’s husband had spawned 87 children by two wives. Separately, The Gentleman’s Magazine, an 18th and 19th- century English periodical, published a report by a writer claiming to have an original letter, dated 1782, saying that O.S. Feodor Wassilief (sic), age
75, had 69 children via 27 births by his first wife and 18 children via eight births by his second wife, for a total of 87 offspring! Citing information from an English merchant in St. Petersburg, the writer said 84 of the children had survived, and the father had been invited to meet the empress, Catherine the Great. The first Mrs. Vassilyev’s remarkable record suggests that she was pregnant for 243 months, or more than 20 years, of her life — more than half the average life expectancy of Russian women in that era!
Even the Guinness editors admit the story seems unlikely, but they cite “numerous contemporaneous
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