You can make a difference in your blood glucose control. To keep your blood glucose levels within goal range, you need to balance your food, diabetes medications (if taken), and physical activity. By familiarizing yourself with each of these factors, you will be able to achieve optimal blood glucose goals. What is the role of carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are the body’s main energy source. About half of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrate choices include bread,…

Doctor’s Visits Still Important in Midlife and Beyond Just because you’re through your childbearing years doesn’t mean you can stop seeing your gynecologist. Health screenings and preventive care are as important during and after menopause as they were when you were young. It’s imperative that you find the right doctor. While the ob/gyn who delivered your children may have a special place in your heart, he or she may or may not be as knowledgeable about the issues you are facing during…

What is a breast self-exam? A breast self-exam is a way a woman can examine her breasts to look for changes (such lumps or thickenings) that may signal breast cancer. When a woman detects breast cancer in its early stages, she greatly improves her chances for surviving the disease. Most breast lumps (80 percent) are not cancerous, but you can help ensure your breast health by regularly performing a breast self-exam. When should I perform a breast self-exam? You should perform a breast…

Q. I thought that drinking red wine was good for your heart. Now I read that it can cause breast cancer. Should I give up my nightly pinot noir? A. Many women have taken to drinking one glass of red wine in the evening ever since researchers linked it to a reduced risk of heart disease. But recent reports that all types of alcohol, including wine, increase a woman’s chances of breast cancer understandably raise concern. Heart disease and breast cancer are two of the greatest health risks…

Make a Travel Medicine Clinic Your First Stop The new low airfares and bargain travel packages are truly tempting if you want to: Take that dream cruise Study abroad Volunteer your time to help the less fortunate Conduct overseas business Wherever you’re headed, cruise on into a travel medicine clinic first A travel medicine specialist can review your unique itinerary, length of stay and current travel conditions/advisories before you go. Vaccine and medication recommendations…

Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that are made up of the muscle and connective tissue from the wall of the uterus (womb). Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters and may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. They may grow within the wall of the uterus or they may project into the interior cavity or toward the outer surface of the uterus. In rare cases, they may grow on stems projecting from the surface of the uterus. What causes…

Ask the Expert: Birth Control Options There are literally dozens of reliable choices for women who do not want to become pregnant. A women's health specialist can help you choose the one that best fits your lifestyle and future plans. One of the first things that I ask my patients is how often do you want to think about not getting pregnant? Do you want to think about it: Every time you have sex? Every day? Once a month? Once every three months? Once every five or 10…

Who is at risk? Osteoporosis is mistakenly thought of as a disease of older white women. In fact, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis and low bone mass affect 44 million women and men age 50 and older in the United States. That’s a staggering 55 percent in that age group. There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing osteoporosis including gender, age, race, bone structure and body weight, nutrition, lifestyle, medication and family history.…

5 Nutrition Myths and the Facts Myth 1: Late-night snacking causes weight gain. Fact: Many people believe late-night snacking packs on extra pounds. The truth is, it’s not when we eat that matters, it’s what and how much. Our bodies need fuel throughout the day. If we skip meals during the day, that state of starvation triggers cravings at night, and we make up for it by overeating. To break the starving-binging cycle, go no more than four to five hours between meals, and watch your portion…

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Protect Your Bones for Future Mobility Osteoporosis is an elusive disease. Most people won’t have any symptoms until they break a bone. But falling and breaking a bone is not a normal part of the aging process. Osteoporosis is a disease, and like many diseases it is both preventable and treatable. It’s important to be proactive about protecting bone health before you run into trouble. May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, so why not start today! To…

Protecting yourself from Sun Damage The immediate danger of too much sun is sunburn. If you looked at sunburned skin under a strong microscope, you would see that the cells and blood vessels have been damaged. With repeated sun damage, the skin starts to look dry, wrinkled, discolored, and leathery. Although the skin appears to be thicker, it actually has been weakened and, as a result, it will bruise more easily. However, the sun’s most serious threat is that it is the major cause of skin…

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach. Normally, the pancreas releases a substance called insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the body to use sugars and fats that are broken down from the foods we eat. When a person has diabetes, the pancreas: Does not make insulin Makes only a little insulin or, Makes insulin, but the insulin does not work as it should. Diabetes is a lifelong disease. People with diabetes must manage their…

You have worked hard to lose your excess body fat and developed some new eating and exercise methods that now need to become habit. Once you have achieved a desired weight, a positive attitude is very important in your efforts to successfully manage it. To lose weight permanently, you must make a commitment to gradually adopt a healthier way of life. Maintaining your new weight is not an easy task, but it will become easier over time once your choices become new habits. This will take time and…

Managing Chronic Pain Patients who actively participate in their health and focus on healthy lifestyles can manage their pain sucessfully. 9 tips for managing chronic pain Discuss your pain concerns with your doctor. Learn as much as you can about your diagnosis and condition. Build in rest breaks, exercise and relaxation times into your daily schedule. Learn how to relax through deep breathing and other stress management techniques. Set achievable goals and don’t overdo it on…

More than ever before, women are interested in being pro-active about reducing the risk of breast cancer. At the center of this change is our growing concern and understanding of breast cancer, the second most common form of cancer among women in the United States. What is Breast Cancer? Cells in the body normally divide (reproduce) only when new cells are needed. Sometimes cells will divide for no reason, creating a mass of tissue called a tumor. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or…

Heart failure in Women Heart failure affects about 2.7 million women in the United States. Despite the fact that women account for more than 50 percent of all hospital admissions for heart failure, they represent only 25 percent of participants in heart failure trials. Consequently, advances in heart failure therapies apply to most men and prospective sex-specific studies need to be performed to improve the health care in women. Heart Failure: Men Vs Women Differences of women with heart…

Restoring Your Skin The goal of restoring a more youthful appearance motivates many patients to consult specialists in a variety of medical disciplines. New innovations in skin rejuvenation continue to develop, ranging from: Topically applied (directly to the skin) prescription medicationsOver-the-counter "cosmeceuticals"Innovative facelift, browlift, and blepharoplasty (reconstruction of the eyelid) surgery techniquesSoft tissue augmentation (implants)Botulinum toxinNew laser technology A…

Preparing Healthy Meals at Home Preparing food at home is not only less expensive than eating out, it can be a source of fun family time without an admission price! All ages can assist in preparing meals, finding new recipes and scanning the grocery ads for the best bargains. 10 Tips for Eating Well 1. Buy perishable foods in quantities you’ll use. Spoiled food that’s tossed into the garbage is no bargain! Look to frozen fruits and vegetables, which are less perishable and allow for…

Q: I am diabetic and my family doctor says I’ve got protein in my urine. I’m worried that I’ll need dialysis. What can I do to keep my kidneys healthy? A: You’re wise to want to protect your kidneys. Our kidneys have an important role, filtering fluid and waste from the blood, and making hormones that keep our bones and blood healthy. Kidney failure happens when the intricate filtering mechanisms called glomeruli stop functioning in both kidneys. But the kidneys may not completely shut down…

Hands-only CPR suggested When someone suddenly collapses and goes into cardiac arrest, performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can double or triple their chances of survival. A new survey by the American Heart Association (AHA) reveals that most Americans are willing to help in such an emergency – but do not feel confident about performing CPR effectively. For that reason, the AHA now recommends chest compressions only for bystanders. Hands-only CPR has been found to be more effective…