Saturday, February 24, 2007
COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAM (CTA or CT Angiogram)
Continuing with our theme of women's heart health in the month of February, I saw this story on the news yesterday.
The Computer Tomography Angiogram is a new, non-invasive test that can provide information about what is going on in your heart arteries - literally within seconds. In that time thousands of pictures of the heart combine and show if there are blockages or any amount of plaque build up in the arteries. An assessment of these pictures results in a cardiac score. Zero is best. Anything above that needs attention. The premise being that if you know what is going on in your heart you can make life style changes to rectify the situation. While zero is best, a score of 400 for example would indicate a significant risk of heart attack.
While the CTA machine itself looks like a MRI machine the results are much faster. Patients slide in, fully clothed, and seconds later slide back out. It is not the long, claustrophobic ordeal that one usually experiences with a regular MRI. Picture clarity is incredible.
More good news. Medicare groups and private insurance companies are starting to pick up the cost of this pro-active test.
Monday, February 19, 2007
EGG DONORSHIP UP
Donorship is a relative term. In an AP article by Martha Irvine today on this subject Martha writes about how this once relatively rare practice is becoming more and more popular. These donor's aren't really donating, they are selling their eggs. The going recommended price is anywhere between $5000-$10,000 per donation.
As more and more older women are choosing to become pregnant, and perhaps are not fertile themselves, this is leading to other concerns. Are egg brokers carefully screening the donors for health and mental history. Read the full story here: http://kevxml2a.verizon.net/_1_2L2ITO1033M5T3H__vzn.isp/apnws/story.htm?kcfg=apart&sin=D8NCKOB01&qcat=health&ran=11272&passqi=&feed=ap&top=1
Donorship is a relative term. In an AP article by Martha Irvine today on this subject Martha writes about how this once relatively rare practice is becoming more and more popular. These donor's aren't really donating, they are selling their eggs. The going recommended price is anywhere between $5000-$10,000 per donation.
As more and more older women are choosing to become pregnant, and perhaps are not fertile themselves, this is leading to other concerns. Are egg brokers carefully screening the donors for health and mental history. Read the full story here: http://kevxml2a.verizon.net/_1_2L2ITO1033M5T3H__vzn.isp/apnws/story.htm?kcfg=apart&sin=D8NCKOB01&qcat=health&ran=11272&passqi=&feed=ap&top=1
RASH ISSUES RELATING TO LIPITOR AND PLAVIX
While not common, some people do have allergic reactions in the form of rashes as a result of using Lipitor or Plavix to address issues related to heart disease. If you have a rash that you cannot explain and have been using these medications, contact your doctor immediately.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
BE HEART SMART
During this month of February we are reminded frequently by the media that this is heart awareness month. Recent reports tell us that there has been a drop in the number of women who have died from heart disease - this is good news. Unfortunately, however, the decline in death rates seem to be coming not from a decline in new cases but from improvements in how women are being treated medically. Heart disease still remains the number one killer of both men and women.
One of the main keys of preventing a disease is making people aware of the causes. I feel that great strides have been made in this area, but I would venture to guess that still many more women are aware of the threat of breast cancer than of heart disease even though there are significantly more deaths annually from the latter.
Improved diagnostic testing that helps to identify blocked arteries and high blood pressure coupled with the use of statin drugs seems to be the main reason for the drop in deaths. Hospitals and doctors also are becoming more aware that the symptoms of heart disease or pending heart attack are different in women than in men. This awareness has lead to a significant drop in the percentage of women dying from a heart attack or heart disease while in a hospital
Obesity and smoking still seem to be the most significant factors standing in the way of genuine and long lasting improvements in the area of heart disease. More people are becoming savvy about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. Many communities are proposing a complete ban of smoking in all restaurants, bars and the workplace if they have not already done so. Personally, I applaud this move and feel that it is long overdue.
The other culprit is obesity. More than a third of U.S. women are considered overweight enought to be obese. Obesity leads to hypertension. Both are significant factors in heart disease. An easy way to reduce obesity is just to plan ahead a little bit and reduce or cut out completely the ingestion of fast or prepared foods. Reduce the use of sodium. Substitute Sea Salt instead. Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat. And finally, move. Park a little farther away from the door when shoppin; pick up the pace when you walk; turn off the TV, turn on the radio, and dance. All will exercise your heart muscle and help you to become more Heart Smart.
If you are interested in learning how to prevent, or even cure heart disease you may find this book helpful. Click Here!
During this month of February we are reminded frequently by the media that this is heart awareness month. Recent reports tell us that there has been a drop in the number of women who have died from heart disease - this is good news. Unfortunately, however, the decline in death rates seem to be coming not from a decline in new cases but from improvements in how women are being treated medically. Heart disease still remains the number one killer of both men and women.
One of the main keys of preventing a disease is making people aware of the causes. I feel that great strides have been made in this area, but I would venture to guess that still many more women are aware of the threat of breast cancer than of heart disease even though there are significantly more deaths annually from the latter.
Improved diagnostic testing that helps to identify blocked arteries and high blood pressure coupled with the use of statin drugs seems to be the main reason for the drop in deaths. Hospitals and doctors also are becoming more aware that the symptoms of heart disease or pending heart attack are different in women than in men. This awareness has lead to a significant drop in the percentage of women dying from a heart attack or heart disease while in a hospital
Obesity and smoking still seem to be the most significant factors standing in the way of genuine and long lasting improvements in the area of heart disease. More people are becoming savvy about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. Many communities are proposing a complete ban of smoking in all restaurants, bars and the workplace if they have not already done so. Personally, I applaud this move and feel that it is long overdue.
The other culprit is obesity. More than a third of U.S. women are considered overweight enought to be obese. Obesity leads to hypertension. Both are significant factors in heart disease. An easy way to reduce obesity is just to plan ahead a little bit and reduce or cut out completely the ingestion of fast or prepared foods. Reduce the use of sodium. Substitute Sea Salt instead. Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat. And finally, move. Park a little farther away from the door when shoppin; pick up the pace when you walk; turn off the TV, turn on the radio, and dance. All will exercise your heart muscle and help you to become more Heart Smart.
If you are interested in learning how to prevent, or even cure heart disease you may find this book helpful. Click Here!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY… IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE
It started in the spring of 2005. More accurately, it probably started at least several years before that. A change in employment, reduced wages, long term care and subsequent loss of my mother – in short, tons of stress. Couple this with bad eating habits, menopause, and less of the right kind of exercise you have a heart attack waiting to happen.
During that spring I noticed that I would easily get out of breath when climbing stairs. But, since I had put on almost 60 pounds since 1998, I figured that was the cause. I vowed, once again, to get serious about losing that weight. My doctor had expressed concern about this also on several occasions.
Soon I started noticing a mild tightness in my chest that accompanied the shortness of breath, but only during extended periods of fast walking or while climbing stairs. At this point I contacted my doctor. His in office examination didn’t show anything conclusive, but in his words “at your age it probably wouldn’t hurt to have a stress test”. It seems that I hear that “at your age…” line more and more lately! Oh well. His nurse scheduled the stress test for the following week.
As it turned out I didn’t even make it to that Monday before I ended up in the ER. As that week progressed the pains were coming more frequently and going away more slowly. During the night on Friday they were the worst. I did not go to the hospital, but probably should have since I was having some pain in my left arm. I ended up spending most of Saturday in the hospital. Three EKG’s and three sets of blood work later they finally determined that I had not had a heart attack, but my enzymes were elevated. Since I had the stress test scheduled for Monday morning they sent me home with a bottle of nitroglycerin and told me not to exert myself.
The stress test did not go well. I was sent home with the same instructions as before and waited for the test results. On Thursday morning I received the call. The cardiologist suspected at least one, if not two blockages. He could see me that afternoon and do the angiogram with a possible angioplasty the following morning. I could have made a dozen excuses for not following through that day, but in reality I knew that there was really only one decision to be made.
Interestingly enough, as I sat in the hospital room waiting to go down for the procedure, Katie Couric was on the television doing a segment on what was now the number one killer of women – heart disease. Among the problems mentioned, in addition to the fact that women are the caregivers so they tend to not take the time to take care of themselves, is that heart disease in women presents itself in a very different manner than it does in men. Oftentimes even if a woman does go to her doctor, or to the hospital complaining of chest pain she is sent home after being told that “it’s just gas”. Odds are, it’s not, and many of them die after being sent home.
I did, in fact, have two blockages. One was at 60%, the other was 90%. A stent was inserted. I was back in my room in about 90 minutes. They didn’t even use general anesthesia, just valium. And while you have to lay flat until the blood clots properly, that isn’t really a big deal when you consider the alternatives. I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next morning. After taking it easy over the weekend I was back at work on Monday morning. I did, however, take a slower pace that week.
A recent article by Dr. Richard N. Fogoros found at About.com reiterates much of what had been reported in Katie Couric’s segment that May 13, 2005. That most women do not even realize that heart disease is the number one killer of women, that our symptoms do not present the same as men, and that since 1984 more women then men have died annually from heart disease. Frequently it is not that crushing pain in your chest, but that tightness may be just as deadly. It is important to educate yourself as to what the symptoms may be. I will go one step further in saying that we, as a gender, have to start taking a more pro-active approach to our health. Not only do we have to take better care of ourselves and become more knowledgeable about our health issues, but also must be insistent with our health care providers that they follow through on our concerns. If you are having symptoms of a possible heart attach and feel that you are being put off, insist on a blood test that will include the markers for heart attack. Do as I did. Listen to your body; it may save your life.
It started in the spring of 2005. More accurately, it probably started at least several years before that. A change in employment, reduced wages, long term care and subsequent loss of my mother – in short, tons of stress. Couple this with bad eating habits, menopause, and less of the right kind of exercise you have a heart attack waiting to happen.
During that spring I noticed that I would easily get out of breath when climbing stairs. But, since I had put on almost 60 pounds since 1998, I figured that was the cause. I vowed, once again, to get serious about losing that weight. My doctor had expressed concern about this also on several occasions.
Soon I started noticing a mild tightness in my chest that accompanied the shortness of breath, but only during extended periods of fast walking or while climbing stairs. At this point I contacted my doctor. His in office examination didn’t show anything conclusive, but in his words “at your age it probably wouldn’t hurt to have a stress test”. It seems that I hear that “at your age…” line more and more lately! Oh well. His nurse scheduled the stress test for the following week.
As it turned out I didn’t even make it to that Monday before I ended up in the ER. As that week progressed the pains were coming more frequently and going away more slowly. During the night on Friday they were the worst. I did not go to the hospital, but probably should have since I was having some pain in my left arm. I ended up spending most of Saturday in the hospital. Three EKG’s and three sets of blood work later they finally determined that I had not had a heart attack, but my enzymes were elevated. Since I had the stress test scheduled for Monday morning they sent me home with a bottle of nitroglycerin and told me not to exert myself.
The stress test did not go well. I was sent home with the same instructions as before and waited for the test results. On Thursday morning I received the call. The cardiologist suspected at least one, if not two blockages. He could see me that afternoon and do the angiogram with a possible angioplasty the following morning. I could have made a dozen excuses for not following through that day, but in reality I knew that there was really only one decision to be made.
Interestingly enough, as I sat in the hospital room waiting to go down for the procedure, Katie Couric was on the television doing a segment on what was now the number one killer of women – heart disease. Among the problems mentioned, in addition to the fact that women are the caregivers so they tend to not take the time to take care of themselves, is that heart disease in women presents itself in a very different manner than it does in men. Oftentimes even if a woman does go to her doctor, or to the hospital complaining of chest pain she is sent home after being told that “it’s just gas”. Odds are, it’s not, and many of them die after being sent home.
I did, in fact, have two blockages. One was at 60%, the other was 90%. A stent was inserted. I was back in my room in about 90 minutes. They didn’t even use general anesthesia, just valium. And while you have to lay flat until the blood clots properly, that isn’t really a big deal when you consider the alternatives. I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next morning. After taking it easy over the weekend I was back at work on Monday morning. I did, however, take a slower pace that week.
A recent article by Dr. Richard N. Fogoros found at About.com reiterates much of what had been reported in Katie Couric’s segment that May 13, 2005. That most women do not even realize that heart disease is the number one killer of women, that our symptoms do not present the same as men, and that since 1984 more women then men have died annually from heart disease. Frequently it is not that crushing pain in your chest, but that tightness may be just as deadly. It is important to educate yourself as to what the symptoms may be. I will go one step further in saying that we, as a gender, have to start taking a more pro-active approach to our health. Not only do we have to take better care of ourselves and become more knowledgeable about our health issues, but also must be insistent with our health care providers that they follow through on our concerns. If you are having symptoms of a possible heart attach and feel that you are being put off, insist on a blood test that will include the markers for heart attack. Do as I did. Listen to your body; it may save your life.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
PEPPERMINT ALEVIATES MENSTRUAL CRAMPS AND MORNING SICKNESS
Peppermint has a wide variety of uses. Perhaps forgotten as a medicinal aide peppermint can be used to relieve a wide variety of digestive problems. These problems include intestinal colic, digestive pains caused by gas, menstrual cramps, as well as morning sickness and symptoms of the common cold.
Additionally, peppermint tea is good to drink during or after meals to aid digestion. In 1992, Georges-Louis Friedli found that the Menthol contained in peppermint was a high potent inducer of liver enzyme P450IIB1. The stimulation of this liver enzyme increases detoxification by the liver.
Peppermint has a wide variety of uses. Perhaps forgotten as a medicinal aide peppermint can be used to relieve a wide variety of digestive problems. These problems include intestinal colic, digestive pains caused by gas, menstrual cramps, as well as morning sickness and symptoms of the common cold.
Additionally, peppermint tea is good to drink during or after meals to aid digestion. In 1992, Georges-Louis Friedli found that the Menthol contained in peppermint was a high potent inducer of liver enzyme P450IIB1. The stimulation of this liver enzyme increases detoxification by the liver.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
THANKSGIVING
As we rush to prepare for the Thanksgiving meal as well as the hectic moments of the weeks to come, let us take a moment to reflect on the following words:
By Dr. Bob Hoffman Co-founder The Masters Circle
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million that will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.
If you have a refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.
If you have money in the bank or in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold somebody's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed that over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
Have a great day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed they are as well.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remind ourselves of all we have to be grateful for...our health, our families, our work, the freedoms we take for granted and the opportunity to make a difference in the world while we create a happy and fulfilling lifestyle for ourselves and others.
You live among the top few percent of all of the world's people. Feel your power and be thankful. Instead of stressing, see how good you already have it, and appreciate the unlimited potential you have to make it even better.
Choose to be grateful when life treats you well and graceful when it doesn't. Make this year's Thanksgiving a time for you to really feel blessed and then do whatever you can to become infectious and spread that blessing around. Remember that the purpose of this important holiday is to be thankful as compared to just being full.
Respectfully,
Elaine Flanigan
As we rush to prepare for the Thanksgiving meal as well as the hectic moments of the weeks to come, let us take a moment to reflect on the following words:
By Dr. Bob Hoffman Co-founder The Masters Circle
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million that will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.
If you have a refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.
If you have money in the bank or in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold somebody's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed that over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
Have a great day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed they are as well.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remind ourselves of all we have to be grateful for...our health, our families, our work, the freedoms we take for granted and the opportunity to make a difference in the world while we create a happy and fulfilling lifestyle for ourselves and others.
You live among the top few percent of all of the world's people. Feel your power and be thankful. Instead of stressing, see how good you already have it, and appreciate the unlimited potential you have to make it even better.
Choose to be grateful when life treats you well and graceful when it doesn't. Make this year's Thanksgiving a time for you to really feel blessed and then do whatever you can to become infectious and spread that blessing around. Remember that the purpose of this important holiday is to be thankful as compared to just being full.
Respectfully,
Elaine Flanigan
Sunday, November 19, 2006
First Generic Metronidazole Approved by FDA
The FDA has approved the first generic version of Metro-Gel-Vaginal. This vaginal gel is the most effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis, although other pharmaceutical treatments exist. The FDA expects the generic version called Metronidazole Vaginal Gel, 0.75 %, manufactured by QLT USA, Inc., to significantly lower the cost of treating bacterial vaginosis. The recommended dose of metronidazole vaginal gel is 5 grams, applied once daily for 5 days. Metronidazole is also available in an oral form; however, only the vaginal gel received generic approval. Side effects of metronidazole include a metallic taste and nausea.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common type of vaginal infection, followed by vaginal yeast infection and trichomoniasis. Together, these three types of vaginitis account for about 90 percent of all vaginal infections. The most common symptom associated with bacterial vaginosis is a thin, grayish, vaginal discharge that has a “fishy” or foul odor.
Sources: FDA Press Release; Up to Date, Bacterial Vaginosis, accessed 11/09/06
More: Bacterial VaginosisHow to Apply Vaginal Cream or Gel
Thursday November 9, 2006 comments (0)
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The FDA has approved the first generic version of Metro-Gel-Vaginal. This vaginal gel is the most effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis, although other pharmaceutical treatments exist. The FDA expects the generic version called Metronidazole Vaginal Gel, 0.75 %, manufactured by QLT USA, Inc., to significantly lower the cost of treating bacterial vaginosis. The recommended dose of metronidazole vaginal gel is 5 grams, applied once daily for 5 days. Metronidazole is also available in an oral form; however, only the vaginal gel received generic approval. Side effects of metronidazole include a metallic taste and nausea.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common type of vaginal infection, followed by vaginal yeast infection and trichomoniasis. Together, these three types of vaginitis account for about 90 percent of all vaginal infections. The most common symptom associated with bacterial vaginosis is a thin, grayish, vaginal discharge that has a “fishy” or foul odor.
Sources: FDA Press Release; Up to Date, Bacterial Vaginosis, accessed 11/09/06
More: Bacterial VaginosisHow to Apply Vaginal Cream or Gel
Thursday November 9, 2006 comments (0)
Email to a Friend
w(" add to del.icio.us");
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Monday, November 13, 2006
ONE IN THREE AMERICAN WOMEN WILL DIE FROM…
Friday, November 10, 2006
Welcome To Women's Health Concerns!
Hi Friends,
Welcome to the Women's Health Concern blog site. This site will be filled with many articles on Health Issues that are particular to Women. It is also my hope that this site will become a forum where women will come to share their experiences and suggestions on how to deal with some of our health concerns.
I am not a doctor, but I am a woman who has experienced many of the usual (and not so usual) maladies that women go through in a normal life time. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these posts since they will be coming from many different sources. The articles in this forum are intended only as a springboard towards further knowledge. If you are experiencing problems and suspect that they are serious in nature, I urge you to find a professional with whom you can develop a good rapport to seek a solution.
Best regards,
Elaine Flanigan
Hi Friends,
Welcome to the Women's Health Concern blog site. This site will be filled with many articles on Health Issues that are particular to Women. It is also my hope that this site will become a forum where women will come to share their experiences and suggestions on how to deal with some of our health concerns.
I am not a doctor, but I am a woman who has experienced many of the usual (and not so usual) maladies that women go through in a normal life time. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these posts since they will be coming from many different sources. The articles in this forum are intended only as a springboard towards further knowledge. If you are experiencing problems and suspect that they are serious in nature, I urge you to find a professional with whom you can develop a good rapport to seek a solution.
Best regards,
Elaine Flanigan
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