You At Your Best

T. Brad Coy, DO Special to NWa Democrat-Gazette T. Brad Coy, DO, is a board certified general surgeon at Freeman Health System. From 2009-2010 he was the President of Medical Staff, and in 2006, 2011 and 2012 he was the Chair of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Coy attended college at Southwest Baptist University and graduated with his medical degree in 1992 from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency in 1997 at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, and has received training in all bariatric surgeries, including LAP-BAND® surgery. Dr. Coy is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons and Ohio Osteopathic Medical Association. By Sarah haNey | NWa Democrat-Gazette The sense of touch is the first sense to develop in humans, occurring about eight weeks into the gestation period. It is controlled by a large network of nerve endings and touch receptors in the skin. This system is responsible for our sensations of cold, hot, smooth, rough, pressure, pain, vibrations, and more. The nervous system helps these sensations reach the brain by passing information along through neurons, ultimately sending a message to the brain about what you are touching. Our sense of touch also affects our sense of taste, whether it be the burn from a hot pepper or the coolness of mint. The sensations from these are not created from taste buds — taste buds are responsible for sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami (savory). The sensation of heat and cold are created from touch receptors. The benefits of human touch have been widely researched and with many different massage techniques, there's a multitude of ways to reap these benefits. Massage can help with anything from simple relaxation to more complex ailments. Some issues that have been shown to improve with massage include: Back pain According to studies, massage has been shown to reduce the need for painkillers by 36 percent. Massage can help relieve tension that is associated with back pain. Osteoarthritis Massage helps improve symptoms of pain and stiffness, as well as improve function in those suffering from osteoarthritis. Headaches With 45 million Americans suffering from either headaches or chronic migraines, massage helps bring relief and ease the pain. Many headaches and migraines are a result of stress and tension. Massage helps maintain a level of relaxation that manages stress-relief. The Sense of Touch 16 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST JUlY - ThE 5 SEnSES | SATURdAY, JUnE 30, 2018 Can't Get Pregnant? We'll get to the bottom of it. Hope Starts Here Giving You Power to Overcome: IVF, IUI, Fertility Surgery and Advanced Reproductive Technology Call for an appointment today 918.359.2229 (BABY) www.TulsaFertilityCenter.com 115 E 15th St Tulsa, OK

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