Author: Dr. Travis Shaw – Stony Point Surgery Center
Richmond is rapidly becoming one of the most active sports and recreation areas in the nation. We have more and more amateur running races every year, expansions of the biking trails, the Nissan Xterra series, and the 2015 World Cycling Championships on the horizon. Richmond was recently voted “Best Town Ever” by Outside magazine. It is a really exciting time in RVA!
I am seeing more and more athletes in my practice who are suffering from breathing issues while exercising. Many people feel like their nose is blocked or stuffy, or that they have excessive drainage which hinders their performance. As a competitive cyclist, I understand how it feels to not be able to perform at your best.
The most common reason for not breathing well during exercise is a deviated septum. The septum is the cartilage in the middle of your nose that divides each nostril. If this cartilage is not straight, it can severely impact the amount of air that comes through.
Think of a deviated septum like an accident on I-64: If you take 3 lanes of traffic and squeeze it down to 1, not many cars can get through. Similarly in the nose, if you take one side and deviate the septum, not much air gets through. Some people may need a simple 1 hour surgical procedure to correct the problem, while many others improve after using medicated nasal spray.
In the office, I try to spend more than the average amount of time with my patients. With active people, I try to find out just how the issue is impacting their life, and what their goals are with treatment. I do a very thorough physical exam including watching how the nose is working during your breathing, and often using a small video camera to look inside of the nose or throat to really get an understanding of each patient’s unique anatomy. I then try to explain my thoughts in a really easy to understand manner. I never appreciate someone who tries to impress people using strange terminology – whether it is at the Apple Store or at my local mechanic. My thought is, just give it to me straight and in terms I can grasp. I apply the same philosophy to my patients. We will come to a mutual decision about the best way to proceed whether it is medication, surgery, or lifestyle modification.
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Vote Now for one of these 9-11 Year Old Entrants by clicking here or ANY link below to go to the voting page (all links go to the same voting page):
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Winners will be announced no later than 8/31/12 here on the site, and the following prizes will be awarded (may vary by age category).
There are some great prizes for the winners, including the following (prizes may vary based on age category and substitutes may be made where necessary):
First place in each age category will receive a $600 package from Real Life Studios including a free family portrait session and 16 X 20 gallery wrap.
1st Runners up in each category receive a free family portrait session and one 5X7 valued at $200, for a total of $3200 in prizes from Real Life Studios.
Great Wolf Lodge - Grand Prize overnight stay package valued at $575
Signed copies for winners in each age group (valued at $54) and over $300 in Richmond Rocks books for the first 25 entrants to purchase a package of $50 or more (no purchas is required; this is our gift for those who do purchase!)
A Fun Bus Birthday Party valued at $210 from Fun Bus of Hanover/Henrico.
Emerge Hair Salon – $100 in kids haircut; mom’s blowout/style, and hair/skin products
3 prizes of 10 free passes for first three age categories to Richmond Kangaroo Jac’s.
One-hour Mickey’s Magic Show with Jack the Bunny valued at $129.
Sewinit – A monogrammed pillow with a value of $50
Hip to be Round – $50 gift card toward Tea Party collection for 0-2 category winner
Kimberly Woodson of Farmers Insurance Agency – an engraved picture frame worth $50
Science Museum of Virginia – Supernova Membership (value $99) to the grand prize winner and family 4-packs (value – $44 per pack) to the winner in each age-range.
Theatre IV – Family 4-Pack of Tickets to the Virginia Rep’s YOUNG TOM JEFFERSON at the Children’s Theatre of Virginia at Willow Lawn or Hanover Tavern – $64 value
Mom’s Treehouse: (0-2) 4-Stroller Strides classes, (3-5 ) 4-art classes, (6-8) 4-martial arts classes, (9-11) 4-martial arts classes
Healthy Little Chef – Two $20 gift cards
World of Mirth – $50 Gift Card
Sweet Spot Gift Certificate for $50 towards birthday party, candy, or treat bags
Kinsights – “Helping Grow Healthy Kids, Together” – is providing a $25 Amazon Gift Card