Cooks 2025 | Health & Wellness

Leading the Change in Health and Wellness

Meet exceptional providers of local care.

NVision Optix
More than just vision correction, annual eye exams are essential, even for those who don’t need visual correction. The eyes are the only body part that allows for noninvasive direct visualization of the vascular system — your blood vessels. Regular visits to your primary care physician and annual eye exams are crucial to your overall health. During these exams, eye doctors can detect signs of systemic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, and more.

While obtaining an accurate visual correction is essential, eye exams should be much more than that. For a truly comprehensive exam, dilation and/or wide-field retinal mapping should be performed yearly. Your provider should ask about overall health, including recent lab work, systemic conditions, family history of eye disease, and a thorough review of current medications. 

Commonly, people may skip eye exams if they don’t need glasses or believe they see well. However, not all eye diseases show symptoms right away. For example, glaucoma, known as the silent thief of sight, can cause irreversible vision loss without any noticeable signs until it’s too late. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, the cable connecting the eye to the brain. This nerve is comprised of fibers that transmit visual information to the brain. If untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent vision loss. Because it progresses slowly, it’s often not diagnosed until substantial vision loss has already occurred.

Conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, and we can directly observe these changes during a dilated eye exam and wide-field imaging. The appearance of the blood vessels in the eyes gives a glimpse into the vascular system throughout the rest of the body. This allows eye doctors to gauge how well systemic conditions are being managed.

When discussing vision correction, it’s important to consider how you use your eyes during the day. 

“I often ask my patients if they only have one pair of shoes at home,” says Dr. Jacqueline Donahue, owner of NVision Optix in Reno. “The answer is always, ‘They have work shoes, hiking boots, sneakers, and more.”

Glasses are no different. The visual demands of looking at a computer screen are different from those of hiking or skiing. Your vision should be tailored to your unique lifestyle and activities. Eyes are not only a window into your soul; they are also a window into your systemic health.

For details, visit Nvisionoptix.com.

ProSpinal
For more than 17 years, ProSpinal in Reno has provided a safe, effective, and drug-free alternative for patients seeking relief from neck, back, and sciatic pain without surgery or risk. Bryan Hansen, formerly an aerospace engineer and now chiropractic physician, has coupled Class IV deep-tissue laser therapy with nonsurgical spinal decompression to alleviate pain caused by disc herniations and disc bulges.

Nonsurgical spinal decompression proves to be significantly more effective compared to traditional surgical interventions.

“The success rates are significantly higher, according to research,” Hansen says. “Nonsurgical decompression has an 86 percent to 90 percent success rate, compared to the 33 percent to 50 percent success rate of traditional surgical interventions. However, no treatment is guaranteed to work for everyone.”

ProSpinal offers a three-day trial for all qualified candidates.

“If a patient doesn’t respond within the first three days, we issue a full refund and refer them for a surgical consultation,” Hansen says. “Surgery may be necessary for some, but it shouldn’t be the first option. Our goal is to provide effective, noninvasive treatments first and foremost.”

For details, visit Prospinalinc.com.

CoolSculpting by Marci
Get summer-ready with CoolSculpting. Say goodbye to stubborn fat and hello to a more confident you. Embrace the summer with a smoother, more sculpted body. CoolSculpting is a noninvasive procedure that helps reduce fat in areas of your body such as the chin, abdomen, love handles, thighs, and arms. Whether it’s a way to supplement your fitness progress or a means to motivate you to get started, CoolSculpting is a fantastic option. The procedure requires no surgery or incisions, there is very little downtime, and most people can resume their normal activities soon after the procedure.

To schedule your treatment, visit Bodysculptingbymarci.com.

Sierra Smiles and Sierra Sleep, Airway, and Wellness Center
The foods we consume have profound effects not only on our oral health, but also on our overall wellness and sleep quality. Recognizing these connections, John Bocchi and the team at Sierra Sleep, Airway, and Wellness Center in Reno offer solutions designed to address these interconnected aspects of health.

Diet and Oral Health
Our dietary choices play a crucial role in maintaining oral health. Consuming foods high in sugars and refined carbohydrates provides a substrate for oral bacteria, producing acids that demineralize tooth enamel, resulting in cavities and gum disease. This demineralization process continues until saliva neutralizes the acids, but frequent intake of such foods can overwhelm this natural defense mechanism, leading to tooth decay.

Moreover, a diet high in sugar and processed carbs can increase the risk of periodontal disease. These dietary habits can weaken the immune system, making fending off oral infections such as gum disease and canker sores more challenging.

The Sleep Connection
Beyond oral health, our diet significantly influences overall health and sleep quality. Diets low in fiber and high in saturated fat or sugar have been linked to less restorative sleep. Additionally, poor gut health can disrupt the production and balance of serotonin and melatonin, hormones crucial for sleep regulation. Chronic inflammation and imbalanced gut bacteria can further stress the nervous system and disturb circadian rhythms.

Certain foods can promote better sleep by boosting serotonin levels. For instance, snacks such as bananas and almond butter, Greek yogurt with sprouted pumpkin seeds and tart cherries, and chia pudding are rich in tryptophan, magnesium, and other nutrients that support sleep quality.

Recognizing the intricate link between diet, oral health, and sleep, the professionals at Sierra Sleep, Airway, and Wellness Center offer the Living Light Metabolic Reset Program. This program addresses the root causes of health issues by focusing on metabolic health, which is fundamental to overall wellness. The program emphasizes the importance of mindset in achieving metabolic health and highlights how positive health changes can create a ripple effect in families. It is particularly beneficial for women in midlife, offering a holistic approach to health that includes attention to diet, exercise, and sleep.

“The Living Light Metabolic Reset is a program designed to help you get your metabolism back on track in a sustainable, holistic way,” says Niki Hane, functional wellness coach at Sierra Sleep, Airway, and Wellness Center. “If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work, this might be what you’ve been searching for. It’s not just about weight loss; it’s about addressing the root causes of health issues like inflammation, hormone imbalances, and poor digestion.

“We combine personalized coaching, daily check-ins, and a supportive community to make lasting changes. Plus, we incorporate tools like breathwork, sleep optimization, and mindset shifts to activate your body’s natural healing abilities. The goal is to help you live light and feel energized, balanced, and healthy in a way that lasts.”

Participants have reported significant improvements, including weight loss, increased energy, better sleep, and reduced brain fog. For example, one participant lost 24 pounds, experienced more energy, had better sleep, and no longer suffered from migraines or joint pain after completing the program.

Dietary choices profoundly impact oral health, overall wellness, and sleep quality. Programs such as the Living Light Metabolic Reset offered by Sierra Sleep, Airway, and Wellness Center provide a comprehensive approach to health by addressing these interconnected aspects, leading to improved quality of life.

For details, visit Sierrasleepwell.com and Sierrasmiles.com.