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Exercising off the golf course can help prevent you from getting injured on it, and even improve your play.

John Zajac, a golf physical therapist with the Mayo Clinic, says building strength off the course supports your joints, improves balance and builds stability.

Zajac recommends golfers try these exercises:
- For core strength, start a plank on your elbows and hold it for 20 to 30 seconds, and then transition to a side plank
- For glute strength, try 15 to 20 reps of a bridge exercise, holding each rep for 3 to 5 seconds
- For your shoulder, use resistance bands to exercise your rotator cuff; do 15 to 20 reps, 2 to 3 times a week in between golf rounds

Zajac says these simple exercises will keep you strong for golf season! 

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For the first time since 2018, the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and nine other medical organizations have updated the guidelines on how doctors can help heart patients.

The new recommendations are for those who have dyslipidemia, an unhealthy balance of lipids or fats in the bloodstream. It's a huge risk factor for cardiovascular disease. 

"There's been a lot of new updates in terms of how we treat high cholesterol, new medications, new tests that we can run, also, so this is kind of a much-needed update," Dr. Jim Liu with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said.

He says that the overall frame of the guidelines remains the same, but, using a new tool called a prevent calculator, the updates can help determine if a patient is more likely to develop heart disease. 

"It's a much more modern risk calculator that incorporates, you know, more modern things. And it's also a more, um, it looks like a much bigger population," Liu said. 

For those who fall into the new patient category of "very high risk," the guidelines suggest early intervention through healthy lifestyle changes, including maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not smoking, prioritizing quality sleep and taking cholesterol-lowering medications when recommended by a doctor. 

"The earlier you treat to lower targets and for longer is overall better for heart health," Liu said. 

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BATON ROUGE - Setting multiple alarms before you actually have to get up might feel like it helps ease you into the morning, but experts say it could be hurting your sleep in the long run.

“Oftentimes, within the sleep field, sleep scientists and physicians will criticize snoozing because you're decreasing the amount of rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep that you're going to be getting. We spend more of our time during the latter part of sleep in REM sleep, or we call it dream sleep, and REM is a really crucial stage for brain health, memory consolidation and processing emotions,” explained Dr. Michelle Drerup, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist with the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Drerup says that since much of our REM sleep happens in the early morning hours of our sleep period, it’s best to avoid chronic snoozing so you don’t interrupt it.

When it comes to an alarm, it’s best to set it for the time you actually need to get out of bed. Since that’s easier said than done, Dr. Drerup recommends putting your alarm across the room. Getting yourself moving when you first wake up can help with the urge to keep hitting snooze.

If you’re still struggling to get out of bed every morning, you may simply not be getting enough sleep or have an underlying sleep disorder.

"People who are snoozing a lot might have a lot of disrupted sleep at night,” Drerup said. “It could be sleep apnea, causing fragmented, non-restorative sleep, or insomnia, where they're waking up or having difficulty falling asleep. They then try to catch more sleep in the morning. "Dr. Drerup said bringing up any sleep issues with your doctor is a good first step."

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PORT ALLEN — Ferral Domingue has quite the history in Port Allen, selling mailboxes and outdoor furniture at Brian's for 34 years. 

He and his wife Annette are also longtime volunteers with the Federation of the Blind, with Ferral himself being visually impaired from Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Now, he is facing another part of his history, specifically his family's history with colon cancer.

Ferral checks in with doctors for colonoscopies to check for irregularities or early signs of cancer. Taking only 15 minutes, Ferral is back selling mailboxes and outdoor furniture the next day with the peace of mind that he is being proactive about his risk for colon cancer. 

WBRZ's John Pastorek continues his exploration of the stories of colon cancer survivors, with the public invited to learn more about the risk factors for colon cancer at Saturday's Get Your Rear in Gear run/walk at Pennington Biomedical Center.

Learn more here.

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BATON ROUGE- If you exercise, doctors say it’s important to make sure you’re stretching too.  It can help with flexibility and range of motion with your joints. 

“There are a few different ways to look at stretching and to categorize stretching. Stretching can be static stretching, that's what most people are familiar with from gym class where you stretch and hold in a static position," said Dr. Evan Peck who specializes in sports medicine at Cleveland Clinic. "And there's dynamic stretching, which means that you move a joint through the full range of motion. So, an example would be a leg swing, a walking lunge, or arm circles,” 

Dr. Peck said you’re going to get the most flexibility by doing both styles of stretching. However, if you’re limited on time, it’s okay to do just one of them. The same goes for stretching before or after you work out. He said it’s really about preference. What matters more is that you’re doing it on a consistent basis. 

So, how much stretching is needed? Dr. Peck recommends picking six to ten stretches that focus on the major muscle groups and then doing each one for about 30 seconds. 

“I would be particularly attentive to anything on the front of your body because we spend so much time sitting at desks, driving, and hunching over with our phone or whatever else. We tend to get very tight in front,” said Dr. Peck. “The pectoral muscles need to be stretched. The hip flexors, which are the muscles in front of your hips, if you're sitting down, you're making those tight. Those need to be stretched. The quadriceps muscles in the front of your thighs, a lot of times those get tight as well.” 

Dr. Peck said it’s normal to feel some discomfort when you’re stretching. If it starts to become painful, that’s a sign you may be overdoing it, and should consult with your physician. 

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BATON ROUGE — If your parents had colon cancer, you are at a greater risk of getting it as well. 

One Baton Rouge man, Wally Gooch, ignored the signs, symptoms and his own family history with the disease and he came face to face with the silent killer. 

WBRZ's John Pastorek continues his exploration of the stories of colon cancer survivors, with the public invited to learn more about the risk factors for colon cancer at Saturday's Get Your Rear in Gear run/walk at Pennington Biomedical Center. 

Learn more here.

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BATON ROUGE — Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death for people under the age of 50, but it doesn't have to be, because many colon cancer deaths are preventable through early detection. 

One Ascension Parish woman, Latava Carter, came face-to-face with the silent killer in her 30s, and wants her experience to inspire others to get screened for the disease and catch it early. 

At 33, she is a colon cancer survivor and says that she experienced symptoms like constipation and bloating for years before a trip to the emergency room and a colonoscopy found a large tumor blocking her colon.

"These cancers are totally preventable," Dr. Asif Talukder said. "No one should die of colon cancer in the United States."

Doctors encourage people to get special screenings, with campaigns urging everyone over 45 to get screened. 

"Everybody needs to do it. It doesn't matter if they have symptoms or not," Dr. Nileema Reddy said. 

For Carter, she had her tumor removed after doctors caught it just in time, with robotic surgery considered a less invasive method of treatment. 

"I just want to show people there's life after cancer," Carter said. 

Carter is one of several colon cancer survivors who will be at Saturday's "Get Your Rear in Gear" run and walk event on Saturday at Pennington Biomedical Center, sharing what people need to know about colon cancer.

Learn more here.

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BATON ROUGE- Spring is officially here, and the return of sunshine has many of us ready to check off the to-do lists we put off this winter.

Many may dread it, but spring cleaning can have health benefits.

“Spring cleaning can help boost our mood because it gets us moving. Physical activity releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins, which can increase energy and lift our moods,” said Kia-Rai Prewitt, a psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Prewitt says having a cluttered space can increase feelings of stress and anxiety. Cleaning up our environment creates a sense of control and helps ease those negative feelings. The sense of accomplishment we get from tidying up can give us the motivation to take on other projects.

If you're not sure where to start, Dr. Prewitt has a helpful tip.

“I say this for anything: just start somewhere. It can feel overwhelming when we try to tackle too many things at once, and then we tend to procrastinate rather than getting started. Pick one room or space and start there. Once you do that, it can help motivate you to keep going,” Dr. Prewitt said.

Don't be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help along the way. If you're regularly struggling to keep up with cleaning and other daily tasks, Dr. Prewitt suggests reaching out to a mental health professional

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BATON ROUGE - The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is providing tips to help people caring for loved ones with dementia celebrate the holiday in a dementia-friendly way.

“St. Patrick’s Day can still be fun and festive for someone living with dementia, but it may require a few adaptations,” said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, AFA’s Senior Director of Educational and Social Services. “Taking simple, proactive steps to make the celebration dementia-friendly will go a long way towards ensuring that loved ones with dementia can enjoy and participate in the festivities.”

AFA encourages families to follow these G.R.E.E.N. tips for a dementia-friendly St. Patrick’s Day:

Go Small and Simple: Noisy and crowded gatherings, such as parades, restaurants, bars, and parties, can be disorienting and distressing for someone living with dementia. Celebrate in a familiar, calm setting and choose dementia-friendly activities:  watching a parade on TV or enjoying Irish-themed foods at home are enjoyable and soothing things to do. If there are several people involved, keep the group small and build activities around the person’s regular daily routine. Changes in schedule can be challenging.

Replace alcohol: Dementia can heighten alcohol’s negative effects on the brain, leading to confusion, mood changes, and reduced cognitive function. If your loved one with dementia wants to raise a glass to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, provide a drink such as non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic whiskey, or sparkling cider.

Embrace the color green: Green symbolically represents St. Patrick’s Day and is also a calming color for those living with dementia. Plan activities that incorporate the color green, such as green-themed sensory experiences with green objects, fabrics, and textures. These will provide stimulation and engagement without overwhelming the senses. Try offering a green scarf or blanket or a green-themed dementia-friendly treat such as green Jello or sugar cookies with light green frosting. Taking a “green” walk is another relaxing activity; take a short walk outside and look for anything green—it could be trees, grass or decorations.

Enjoy music together: Music and singing stimulate memory, help the brain stay active, and foster engagement. Listen to Irish music and sing along together to familiar songs. Keep the volume low and stay away from fast or loud music.

Nurture creativity: With your loved one, make simple St. Patrick’s Day decorations together, such as shamrocks, leprechaun hats, or rainbows. You can arrange green and white flowers in a vase, which will stimulate the mind and senses. This activity also creates feelings of accomplishment and pleasure.

AFA’s Helpline, staffed entirely by licensed social workers who are specifically trained in dementia care, can provide additional information and support for families. The Helpline is available seven days a week by phone (866-232-8484), text message (646-586-5283), and web chat (www.alzfdn.org).

 

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BATON ROUGE- When you dial 911, the expectation is simple: help should arrive fast.

But, according to local emergency responders, a missing or obscured house number could be the one thing standing between a patient and life-saving care.

Acadian Ambulance is issuing a vital reminder to residents that in a medical crisis, every second matters. Justin Alleman, Operations Supervisor for Acadian Ambulance, says the struggle to locate the correct address is a daily hurdle for his teams.

"Sometimes there's only one address and then we have to go A, B and C," Alleman said. "Sometimes they only have it on one end, or the numbers are just too small. They get covered up, or there are missing numbers on the mailbox and the house."

Fog or heavy rain makes it nearly impossible for paramedics to spot a faded or small number from the road. "It’s another tool in the toolbox," Alleman explained. "By making numbers accessible and legible, it helps us make up for lost time we may have lost elsewhere, like in traffic."

While homeowners often prioritize smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, they frequently forget that visibility is an equally critical safety tool.

To ensure your home can be found by EMS, fire, and law enforcement, Acadian Ambulance recommends:

Large Numbers: They should be at least 4 inches tall. If your home is set back far from the road, go even larger.

High Contrast: Use dark numbers on a light background (or vice versa). Avoid "tone-on-tone" styles that disappear at dusk.

Simple Fonts: Skip the decorative or script styles. Bold, block lettering is the easiest to read at a distance.

Location, Location: Mount numbers near the front entrance and on the mailbox. Ensure they face the street directly.

Let There Be Light: Use reflective materials or dedicated lighting so your address is visible at 2:00 AM.

Clear the Brush: Trim overgrown bushes or low-hanging branches that might obstruct the view from the street.

Residents are encouraged to step out to the curb and perform a "visibility check." If you can't easily read your house number from the street in the dark or rain, neither can the ambulance.

Taking five minutes to update a house number is a small task that ensures when you call for help, help can actually find you.

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BATON ROUGE — At the Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, a specialized team is proving that the same technology used to get professional athletes back on the field is just as effective for a 12-year-old soccer player or a 90-year-old grandfather.

One of the doctors offering non-surgical treatments is Dr. John DeWaard, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who recently joined the Ochsner team.

"The difference is they do surgery, and we do not," Dr. DeWaard explains. "By using ultrasound, we’re able to guide our needles directly into the spot that they need to go."

While the team works with college and professional athletes at the Elite Training Complex on Burbank Drive, Dr. DeWaard emphasizes that their doors are open to everyone. One treatment being offered is Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy.

Blood is taken from the patient, much like a standard lab test. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate red blood cells from the plasma. The resulting plasma, packed with healing factors, is injected back into the injured area to stimulate natural repair.

Dr. DeWaard operates as part of a team including trainers, physical therapists, and orthopedic surgeons to provide individualized care. The goal is to address the patient’s overall health.

"We stave off some of those chronic illnesses," says Dr. DeWaard. "I want to help people so they can stay active and stay healthy, kind of those things beyond just your knee pain."

"Find something that you enjoy," Dr. DeWaard added. "Any sort of activity is good, even if it's just walking. You could just walk and take a three-mile walk every day—you're going to benefit from that."

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BATON ROUGE — It's a parent's worst nightmare, seeing their child diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

But it is a reality that exists for thousands of families annually, including a family in Baton Rouge. But thanks to support and cutting-edge medical technology, Everett Gautreau can live a normal life and is set to participate in the Capital Area Heart Walk in April, where dozens of other survivors and their families will participate. 

Gautreau, now 8, spent the first year of his life in and out of hospitals, surrounded by life support machines instead of toys because he was born with a congenital heart defect: a coarctation of the aorta, a narrowing of the aorta that limits blood flow and forces his heart to pump harder. 

His first surgery was when he was 12 days old, and his parents say that there were many days of uncertainty. But they were able to find the support of families also experiencing the same thing, with nearly 40,000 infants born each year with a similar condition. 

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FRENCH SETTLEMENT — Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than nonsmokers. 

For one French Settlement, this, along with several heart attacks, convinced him to stop smoking. 

Travis Pitre, 65, says that he had his first heart attack at age 37, followed by two more in 2005 and 2012. He's since had bypass surgery, caths and stents and a heart damaged by smoking one to two packs of cigarettes a day for years. 

Eventually, he went cold turkey after his doctor told him that he would have to find another doctor if he didn't quit smoking. 

Dr. Charles Thompson, a cardiologist, says that if you stop smoking, within 24 hours, your risk of heart attack and stroke drops by half. 

Pitre now wants to use his life-altering experience to convince others to make the same choice he made.

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BATON ROUGE — Stanley Black has spent his whole career traveling the world on religious crusades, but now, he is on another crusade that's taken him to hospitals and labs across the world after he came face-to-face with heart disease, a leading cause of death. 

Black, now 88, worked with Jimmy Swaggart in the 1980s as his Spanish voice during his trips to El Salvador.

But eventually, he had a quadruple heart bypass, then in 2015, a valve replacement in his heart, with symptoms recently returning. 

Dr. Charles Thompson says that two of the grafts from Stanley's original bypass operation are now 100% blocked, so they decided to treat them with medicine.

"He's doing great. He's in medical management and he should do fine for a long time," Thompson said. 

After his cardiovascular fight, Black has taken it upon himself to teach others about heart health and inspire them through their own journeys. 

"Give diligence in taking care of your health, cause if you're not healthy, you're no good for anybody," Black said. 

Black and other heart patients profiled by John Pastorek's Reduce Your Risk series will be at the Capital Area Heart Walk on Saturday, April 25, at Blue Roots on River Road in Baton Rouge. Learn more here.

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A local nurse started feeling strange after she and her husband returned from a trip to Italy, but she brushed it off as just anxiety. 

After her condition worsened, she went to the emergency room for what she thought was going to be a short visit but turned into a three-day stay in the hospital. 

WBRZ's John Pastorek learns from Quinitta Soileau why it's important not to brush off unusual symptoms. 

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Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in Louisiana.

A Baton Rouge man was planning on making music and memories with his grandchildren in retirement, but his heart and his health had other plans. 

Watch as WBRZ's John Pastorek tells the story of a local guitarist who struggled with his heart health, and learn how you can reduce your risk. 

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BATON ROUGE —  As American Heart Month brings cardiovascular health to the forefront, the message from local medical leaders is urgent and clear.

If you or a loved one suspects a heart attack is occurring, the most dangerous decision you can make is getting behind the wheel.

Dr. Lance LaMotte, the Chief of Cardiology at Baton Rouge General Hospital, is spearheading a simple yet life-saving campaign: "Survive. Don’t drive." 

The primary danger of driving yourself is the lack of medical care during the journey.

Dr. LaMotte warns that those precious minutes spent in a car are minutes in which a patient's condition can rapidly deteriorate without any safety net. If a patient is in an ambulance, they are under the care of trained personnel equipped to handle sudden emergencies, such as the heart stopping entirely. Dr. LaMotte describes an ambulance not merely as a ride, but as a mobile hospital unit that offers protection and stabilization.

Beyond the immediate medical care provided by paramedics, the call to 911 initiates a sophisticated "heads-up" system for the hospital. When first responders perform an EKG in the field, they transmit that data directly to the hospital. This notification alerts a specialized team, including the cardiologist, the catheterization lab staff and emergency room personnel who wait in anticipation of the patient’s arrival.

This coordination is vital for meeting the "door-to-balloon time," a critical metric that measures the duration from when a patient enters the hospital to when their clogged artery is surgically opened. While the national benchmark for this procedure is 90 minutes, Baton Rouge General's average is less than half that time: 43 minutes.

That requires the patient to arrive via EMS. By calling for professional help, patients ensure that the hospital's life-saving machinery is already in motion before they even cross the threshold. For those experiencing a cardiac event, the choice to call 911 rather than reach for the car keys is the single most important factor in ensuring they survive the trip.

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BATON ROUGE- Actor and director Aisha Tyler, alongside Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, a professor and cardiovascular nurse epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, joined April Davis on 2une In to discuss a new national public health campaign called Hypertension Bites.

It focuses on uncontrolled high blood pressure, the leading risk factor for early death and poor health worldwide.

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, yet three in four adults with hypertension do not have it under control.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can quietly damage the heart, brain, and kidneys over time, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, kidney failure, and other life-altering conditions.

Tyler shared her personal health journey and family history, which has changed her lifestyle and behavior. Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah discussed why hypertension is so dangerous, precisely because it often has no symptoms.

Tyler is an award-winning director, actor, New York Times bestselling author, comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur. She is an Emmy-winning television host and a multiple award-winning voice actor for "Archer" for her role as Lana Kane.

To learn more about Hypertension Bites and addressing uncontrolled hypertension, visit this link.

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BATON ROUGE - American Heart Month is February, and medical experts are sounding the alarm on a growing health crisis.

While heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, a new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals most people remain unaware of critical early testing methods and the full range of medication options available to save lives.

The survey highlights a lack of awareness regarding coronary artery calcium scans, with 67% of respondents admitting they are unfamiliar with the procedure. This non-invasive, 15-minute CT scan serves as a vital tool for detecting early coronary artery disease and assessing future heart attack risks, yet it remains underutilized by the general public.

Dr. Laxmi Mehta, a physician at the Wexner Medical Center, emphasizes that early detection is becoming more urgent as the disease shifts its profile.

Cardiovascular disease is the top killer of both men and women, and heart health issues are rising among Americans in their 20s and 30s- a demographic previously considered at lower risk. Dr. Mehta attributes this shift to a combination of sedentary lifestyles, a rise in processed food consumption, and the long-term impact of inhaled nicotine and vaping products.

Current medical guidance suggests the fight against heart disease should begin in early adulthood.

Dr. Mehta recommends that you have your cholesterol checked starting at age 18. If the results are normal, a follow-up every five years is sufficient, but abnormal results require annual monitoring. This proactive approach is essential because lifestyle changes, while important, are not always enough to combat genetic factors or advanced plaque buildup.

The study also found that most patients are only familiar with statins for cholesterol management. While Dr. Mehta confirms that statins remain the first line of therapy for reducing plaque, she notes non-statin medications offer a critical second line of defense for those who are intolerant to traditional treatments or those who do not see enough improvement through diet and exercise alone.

"We have patients that are doing everything possible, eating the heart-healthy diet, exercising, but it's not really doing enough," Dr. Mehta said.

She stresses that managing heart health is a lifelong commitment rather than a one-time checkup. Experts urge you to speak with your doctor about whether you are a candidate for screenings like the calcium scan to ensure early intervention.

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