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****** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter ******
September 17, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Transdermal testosterone after oophorectomy
2. Lymphoma, lymphatics lymp-confusing
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Aspirate all breast cysts?
4. Preparing a young girl for menstruation
5. Arrhythmia - A funny heart rate
6. Health tip to share - Crazy glue for small cuts
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Transdermal testosterone after oophorectomy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By now, if you have followed the popular health
news media, you have heard of a study recently
published in the New England Journal of Medicine
about women undergoing surgical menopause (most
by ovary removal at time of hysterectomy) and
receiving testosterone skin patches in addition to
estrogen replacement. The study contends that the
addition of transdermal testosterone to .625 mg
oral conjugated estrogens improved measures of
"general well-being" and "sexual functioning" more
than just the .625mg of conjugated estrogens
alone.
This should come as no surprise to our long term
readers. We have always advocated a role for added
testosterone, but this study has a major flaw that
you should be aware of and probably makes a
difference as to how much benefit added
testosterone produces and what a woman should
expect from it.
Women who have not undergone menopause before
removal of the ovaries (and those within about 2-3
years of a natural menopause) need much more than
0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens to feel right.
This is about half the dose such a woman newly
menopausal really needs and when you add
testosterone to an inadequate estrogen dose and
get a significant improvement, this could send
the wrong message. Don't misunderstand, I think
added testosterone for a surgical menopause can
be beneficial, but it is not as much difference as
this study would lead a woman to believe. The
added testosterone should have been compared with
a 1.25 mg conjugated estrogen dose (estradiol
equivalent would be 2 mg).
Only the abstract is available at the link below
because you have to subscribe to see the full
paper. But I have reviewed the full paper. The
investigators even drew and published blood levels
of estradiol that showed the average level for all
women in the study was below the therapeutic range
(estradiol 50-100 pg/ml) that we know women need
to be free of hot flashes and feel right.
The take home message is to first advocate with
your physician to be on enough estrogen to be
therapeutically replaced, and THEN try added
testosterone to see if you feel better. Some
women will feel even better with added
testosterone but many will not if they are at the
correct estrogen dose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Lymphoma, lymphatics lymp-confusing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The medical terms of lymphoma, leukemia, and
Hodgkin's disease can be very confusing. Are they
cancers? Yes they are. They are cancers of the
blood forming lymphatic tissues.
The lymphatic system is mysterious to most. This
is the body's system that forms blood elements,
fights off viral and bacterial infections and
carries excess fluid in the tissues back into the
blood stream while the lymph nodes filter out
destroyed bacteria and repair cells. Of course
other cancer cells can get into the lymph nodes
and cause metastatic cancers, but primary
cancers of the lymphatic system are non Hodgkin's
and Hodgkin's lymphomas and leukemias.
The organs involved in the lymphatic system are:
the bone marrow, spleen, thymus gland, lymph
nodes, tonsils, appendix, and a few other organs.
The bone marrow produces white blood cells (T
cells and B cells) that fight off infection.
However the different stages of white blood lymph
cell formation can each have an abnormal cell
reproductive process that produces too many cells.
This overproduction becomes a leukemia or a
lymphoma (non Hodgkin's or Hodgkin's) depending
upon which cell type becomes cancerous.
There is a very good explanation process and
illustration at the Lymphoma Information Network
about these conditions.
Lymphoma Information Network
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Aspirate all breast cysts?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"After having a mammogram and then an ultrasound,
I was told that I had cysts. After a repeat
mammogram one year later I was told that the cysts
had shrunk in size and a couple had disappeared. I
asked if there was any reason for concern or if I
should have this checked out further by a surgeon
and I was told this was not necessary. However
after reading your recent letter, I am somewhat
confused and concerned."
Lizard
Our recent article on breast cysts brought up this
question. The answer is NO. Not all breast cysts
have to be aspirated (drained with a needle). You
did not mention how big the cysts were. Almost all
physicians will recommend draining macrocysts of
the breast greater than 1.5 cm in diameter and
palpable by the woman or her physician. These
large cysts can hide (although only about 1% of
time) solid areas within them that represent
cancers.
If the cysts are microcysts (less than 1.0 cm in
size and not palpable) many physicians will not
attempt to drain them unless there are other signs
such as calcifications that are worrisome for
malignancy. If the cyst cannot be felt, it would
have to be done under ultrasound guidance. For this
reason, many of the smaller cysts are just
followed with repeat imaging at a later time.
There are instances of recurrent cysts in which a
woman has had multiple cysts aspirated all showing
benign and finally the physician says "enough is
enough". The new cysts are not drained unless they
get quite big.
Therefore it would not be against normal
guidelines to just follow some breast cysts rather
than aspirate them.
Here are some more breast cyst references along
with the original article.
The Evaluation of Common Breast Problems
Cysts of the breast
Breast Cyst Aspiration
Breast Cyst on Mammogram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Preparing a young girl for menstruation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most doctors are notoriously poor at discussing
and preparing a young girl for menstruation. They
tend to focus on the anatomy and biology along
with the globalization of this being a "transition
from childhood to adulthood". This is not what
young women want to hear and is the exact opposite
of the recommendations of this article at
Mayohealth.org.
Adolescents starting menstruation want information
and tips about menstrual hygiene. They also want
support and reassurance but they are least likely
to want an explanation of the biology behind
menstrual periods.
This leads to suggestions such as:
girls benefit when adults see and speak of
menstruation as healthy (keep the negatives to
yourself)
give consistent, not contradictory messages
be open about menstruation in discussion but
respect privacy
give practical tips
dispel myths and stereotypes
fathers do not need to be an information source
but they do need to be supportive, understanding
and considerate
Preparing daughters for menstruation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Arrhythmia - A funny heart rate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The electrical system of the heart which controls
the heart rate sometimes becomes disturbed. This can
happen because of stress, caffeine, excessive
alcohol, medications, salt abnormalities.
hereditary conditions or even a heart attack. It
can happen only occasionally or it can be
continuous for years.
Symptoms of an arrhythmia may include:
palpitations (an abnormal awareness)
heart rate too fast
heart rate too slow
heart rate skipping beats
shortness of breath
fatigue
chest pain
lightheadedness
passing out
Most heart rate problems are benign but they can
sometimes be serious and even result in death.
Don't try to self diagnose this condition but
rather see your doctor for an EKG or even a 24
hour cardiac monitor. Once you have the diagnosis
made and know it is a benign problem, then you can
begin to ignore the rhythm change.
This article at PersonalMD.com will give you some
background.
Cardiac arrhythmias - funny heart beats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - Crazy glue for small cuts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" 'Crazy' Glue and 'Super' Glue can be used to
seal small cuts that would not normally be
sutured. For example, you could safely put a small
amount of 'Crazy glue' on a paper cut on the hand
or fingers. It could also be used on small cuts
(not actively bleeding) that children get. You
then just let it wear off in 7-14 days. The
protective covering makes the cut much less
painful and makes a better bacterial seal than a
bandage. Doctors sometimes use this glue instead
of suturing a laceration under a cast, for
example, but if you think a cut might need
stitches, it is safer to go to the doctor to see."
"Be sure any cut is thoroughly cleaned with soap
and water. One of our nurse readers reminds
us that cuts can get infected if they are not
properly cleansed before applying superglue or
skin glue. She has seen a bad staphlococcus skin
infection when there was not good cleansing before
applying skin glue. "
FRJ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Post-op Orders Unclear
A gynecologic surgical patient was discharged from
the hospital and given my usual post-op
instructions.
That night she called wanting to know when her
mother could visit?
"Any time," I replied, "Why do you ask?"
She rustled some papers. "It says here in your
instruction sheet," she continued,
"No relations 'til after your post-op checkup."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to top
***** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter *****
September 24, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Anxiety or stress or are they different?
2. Black women's health
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Large ovarian mass
4. Get medical abstracts by email
5. What if your husband has low sexual desire?
6. Health tip to share - Pau d'Arco herb for yeast
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Anxiety or stress or are they different?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anxiety is the set of symptoms or state of mind
that results from stress or from your perception
of events and their meanings. The exact meaning of
the term "anxiety" can vary quite much among
mental health professionals as this article from
Mayohealth.org points out.
Mental health professionals like to categorize
anxiety conditions into different groups because
they feel the treatment may vary among those
groups. Their terms for commonly seen conditions
may include:
generalized anxiety disorder
panic disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder
post-traumatic Stress disorder
and many others
You may just feel the anxiety symptoms and not be
concerned about splitting hairs over what to call
it. Those mood symptoms can include:
overwhelming worry
apprehension
nervousness
a nagging uneasiness about your future.
Physical symptoms can include:
rapid heartbeat
palpitations
sweating
dizziness
headaches
insomnia
relentless fatigue
Anxiety states can also be mixed with depression
states and the anxiety symptoms can also go away
as that depression gets treated. You can see why
it might be important to get an accurate
diagnosis. Don't be afraid to visit a psychiatrist
or licensed psychologist.
Anxiety and stress symptoms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Black women's health
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
African-American women have most of the same
health concerns that any woman has. There are a
few conditions, however, that are more frequent in
women of African extraction such as:
hypertension
keloids
sarcoidosis
g6PD enzyme deficiency
as a few examples. But some of the articles that
are also included at blackwomenshealth.com are
about spiritual and mental health subjects and look
very interesting. These issues can affect a woman's
health and the articles are well worth looking at.
Accepting Who You Are
Choosing to Love
Domestic Violence
Headaches
First Date
Forgiveness
Healing Without Hate
Hope
Marriage
Mental Health
Overcoming Obstacles
Self Esteem
Suicide
Improving Your Success
Where are the good men?
Teenage Sex & Pregnancy
Black women's health dotcom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Large ovarian mass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A cat scan was performed as a result of what I
believed was a hernia due to an injury. The scan
revealed two pelvic masses, one on the right 8.5 x
10.3 cm, spherical-shaped mass of water density,
fluid density. A second, similar structure, 3 cm
is on the left near the left ureteral vesical
junction. Possible ovarian origin. The larger mass
is midline, exact origin undetermined, but appears
cephalic in location."
"While the report is encouraging, medical reports
state that masses of this size are uncommon in
postmenopausal women and are suspect. What is
your opinion? The pain is still in the small point
area of the appendix and the appendix scar and
where I felt a strain from the injury when I
lifted a heavy box. I am 72 years old."
ETS
In asking for an opinion I would guess you are
asking what is the chance that this mass
represents a malignancy. Since the mass has
occurred after menopause and after age 55, the
chance of any ovarian mass being malignant is
about 35%. The fact that there is no fluid present
and the cysts are singular is a good sign and
lowers the chance of malignancy on an ultrasound
basis to about 10%.
Based on age and ultrasound which is all you gave
us, the chance of malignancy is about 20-25%. I
hope the surgery turns out well.
For a discussion of evaluating whether an ovarian
mass might be malignant, see our updated article
at:
Can this ovarian mass be malignant?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Get medical abstracts by email
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The medical jargon in scientific articles from
PubMed at the National Library of Medicine can be
a barrier for many people interested in the latest
medical findings about a given disease. There are
some women who have enough of a background to
understand medical abstracts and who may want to
hear the latest evidence on a personal or family
medical affliction.
Medfetch.com offers a weekly email to you of up to
20 of the most recent medical citations about a
subject you choose. This could be a great way to
keep up with the latest about an unusual disease
or what therapies are being tried for a refractory
disease.
You do not need to be a medical professional to
sign up for this service.
MedFetch - abstracts by email
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. What if your husband has low sexual desire?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many women complain about low libido but what if
your husband seems not to want to have sex? After
the initial years of a relationship pass, it is
not uncommon for one partner to have a different
baseline level of sexual desire. How do you handle
that?
Cynthia Lief Ruberg, MSEd, LPCC, NCC, CFT is a
licensed counsellor and family therapist who has
some suggestions for couples in which the husband
seems to have a low interest level in sex. You
have to try to get both your interest levels more
in sync and it takes talking to do that.
You need to find out what are his sexual
expectations, what are his turn offs and turn ons,
is he angry, fatigued, does he feel depressed,
etc. Is he very task oriented (e.g., computers)
and has difficulty putting things aside to allow
himself to "make time for play." If so you may
need to talk to him about scheduling time to be
together for dating and lovemaking. To put time on
the calendar for this activity may seem
exasperating but it can succeed to replace those
other "important" work tasks.
If you suspect there are other issues such as an
affair, you may both need to seek counselling. If
medications are an issue, he needs to mention this
to his doctor and not be embarrassed.
Low male sexual desire
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - Pau d'Arco herb for yeast
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"One way I have learned to treat recurrent yeast
infections is by using an herb called "Pau
d'Arco". This herb is lethal to fungus and
usually keeps it from coming back if taken
regularly. it is also beneficial against
infection."
"The brand I use is "Nature's Way" and is about
$7.99 per bottle 100 capsules at 1.01g each along
with calcium. Directions say to use 2 capsules
twice daily, I use 1 capsule twice daily for
prevention. When I first notice symptoms, I use
about 3 capsules 3 times daily until it is cleared
up, It usually takes only a couple of days.
eb
[editor note - Pau d'Arco is an herbal preparation
from the inner bark of a South American tree, see:
Pau d'Arco herb]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tampons
Two little boys go into the grocery store. One is
nine, the other four.
The nine-year old grabs a box of tampons from the
shelf and carries it to the register for check-
out.
The cashier asks, "Oh, these must be for your Mom,
huh?"
The nine-year old shakes his head and replies,
Nope, not for my Mom."
Cashier: "Well, they must be for your sister
then?"
Nine-year old: "Nope, not for my sister either."
Cashier, curious now: "If they're not for your Mom
and not for your sister, who are they for?"
The nine-year old says, "They're for my four-year
old brother."
Surprised, the cashier asks, "For your little brother
right here?"
Nine year old explains: "Well, yeah!
They say on TV if you wear one of these, you can
swim or ride a bike, and my little brother needs
them because he can't do either!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to top
***** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter *****
October 1, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Losing motivation for your fitness routine?
2. Do adhesions cause abdominal pain?
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Iodine allergy
4. Varicose veins - surgery and sclerotherapy
5. Caregiver guide to coronary artery disease
6. Health tip to share - Painful intercourse
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Losing motivation for your fitness routine?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Week after week and month after month, it can be
difficult to maintain your motivation for whatever
fitness routine, sport or exercise you know you
should keep up with. Your spousal support may
slacken or obligated business/social functions
seem to corrupt your eating plan. How do you keep
it up?
Asimba.com, a fitness web site, has many sections
about what experts suggest for nutrition, various
sports, injury prevention or treatment, fitness
and a unique FAQ section on motivation.
"I've been working out regularly for the last five
years. However there are times when I don't
work... "
"I always fail at being motivated, yet when I look
at myself in the mirror, I am so disturbed at
what... "
"I would like to start an exercise program that
fits my busy and unpredictable work schedule. I
was..."
"I want to start losing weight and getting
healthier but every time i try to i just keep on
eating ru... "
"Hi there, I am a 28 year old female and I have
been trying to lose weight but I always seem to
quit..."
"What are the best ways to stay motivated without
spousal support - or better yet, how can one
convin..."
This time of year my husband and I are inundated
with invitations to parties and dinners at
friends'... "
Fitness goals such as physical activity for 10-15
minutes 3 times a day, for 30 minutes a day, 10
sit ups a day or walking up 3 flights of stairs 3
times a day are much easier to meet than more
nebulous goals such as looking better in the hips
or losing weight fast enough. The latter goals
will more often discourage you than a set routine
to accomplish. If you have trouble maintaining the
activity sessions you need for good health, you
might want to look at, "Ask the Asimba
Experts" and then look under the FAQs for motivation:
Fitness motivation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Do adhesions cause abdominal pain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adhesions are difficult conceptually for someone
who is not a surgeon to understand. After any
abdominal or pelvic surgery, the normal organs
such as the bowel, omentum, faloppian tubes,
ovaries, or uterus may stick together when
normally they slide across the surfaces of each
other without pulling on each other. Surgery often
makes some of those surfaces sticky so that
fibrous bands form between them. This causes
pulling on one or more of the organ surfaces when
natural movement occurs.
General surgeons tend to ignore adhesions as a
cause of pain, whereas gynecologic surgeons have
the experience that adhesions often, but not
always, cause pain. Imaging studies such as CAT
scans, ultrasounds and MRI's do not show adhesions
so until the time of actual surgery, a doctor can
only guess that adhesions may be present and may
be a cause of pain.
The following article about adhesions may be
interesting to those who are skeptical about these
controversial causes of pelvic pain.
Surgical adhesions and pain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Iodine allergy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am highly allergic to iodine. During surgery
recently one of the medical attendants told me if
I was allergic to iodine I must be allergic to
crab and lobster. I actually years ago had a
reaction to crab. Are there any other things I
should be wary of?"
Donna
Actually there is not a relationship between
iodine and shellfish allergies. Fish allergies are
a response to proteins in the shellfish or fish
and not to the iodine. Sometimes, the allergic
response is actually to a parasite that
contaminates the fish meat and not to the fish
protein itself.
If you wonder about other seafoods, whether you
can eat iodized salt and more about these
allergies, see our article at:
Does Iodine Allergy Mean a Shellfish Allergy Too?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Varicose veins - surgery and sclerotherapy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most varicose veins are caused by leaky valves of
the leg veins located behind the knee or in the
groin. The venous blood then backs up and distends
the veins causing a bluish, tortuous cord just
under the skin of the leg.
Painful, sore throbbing veins, a history of blood
clots in the leg veins or just plain cosmetic
concerns can be reason enough to have these veins
fixed. Traditional treatment is surgical. Either
tying off the superficial skin veins so the blood
does not back up into them or stripping the
superficial skin veins that have faulty valves is
the most common treatment.
Other treatment over the years has included
injecting the veins with a sclerosing chemical
that makes the vein totally seal shut. Sclerosing
has a high recurrence rate of varicosities because
it does not correct the leaky valve problem. It is
not used much because of this but sometimes it is
extensively used on the small spider veins of the
legs primarily for cosmetic purposes.
For a good discussion see the site at:
Varicose veins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Caregiver guide to coronary artery disease
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Women who function as caregivers for an elderly
parent or a spouse or child with a chronic disease
have special needs themselves. Carethere.com is a
support site for such caregivers.
It offers many resources for keeping medical
records, medication and allergy lists, healthcare
and physician contacts, checking drug interactions
and libraries about chronic diseases that are
invaluable when taking care of someone with a
chronic illness.
The section on coronary artery disease looks
especially helpful. It goes over all of the
modifiable risk factors such as hypertension,
cholesterol levels, smoking, diabetes and obesity
giving you information you can use to help your
care receiver minimize the worsening of heart
problems. It also gives you tips as a caregiver
such as:
Stop smoking. If you smoke, it will be even more
difficult for your loved one to quit.
Become more active. Exercise is more enjoyable
when it is a shared activity. Take walks together.
Makes changes in the family diet.
If you are overweight, changes to your diet and
activity will be easier when they are shared with
your loved one.
Avoid taking responsibility for the other's
behavior but most of all, avoid being critical.
Finally, it covers the signs and symptoms of
coronary heart disease such as stable and unstable
angina and heart attacks, Be sure to look at:
Coronary artery disease for caregivers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - Painful intercourse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How I eliminated painful intercourse:
Until 3 years ago, I had never experienced pain-
free intercourse. Things only got worse after the
birth of my daughter. I tore during delivery and
the resulting scar increased the pain. I had two
distinct pains. One I knew was due to
endometriosis. Two surgeries gave me no relief.
I was finally referred to a physical therapist.
She is schooled in a specific type of therapy
called "myofascial release." This focuses on
tissue mobility rather than muscle mobility. For
painful intercourse, she focuses on the pelvic
floor. She actually does internal work. Through
pressure on the tissues that are contracted, she
is able to get them to release. This increases
mobility in the whole pelvic area but specifically
in the vagina. After several months of treatment,
I began to have pain-free intercourse.
The second pain I experienced was a burning
sensation. Again, I thought this was how sex was
to be for me. At a routine annual exam with a new
doctor, she touched a spot with a q-tip and I
experienced the burning. The opening of my vagina
was red and irritated. She diagnosed me with
vulvar vestibulitis. She instructed me to use no
soap while bathing for several weeks and gave me a
cream to use for two weeks (I don't recall it's
name). After that the problem was solved. But I
have been told never to use any soap other Dove
for Sensitive Skin. I can't use any bubbles, oils
or salts in a bath. Also, if lubrication is
needed during intercourse, I am to use plain
vegetable oil. Apparently most commercial
lubricants contain alcohol and other ingredients
that can really irritate.
A great side-effect of no pain is a significantly
increased libido. I also feel like a normal
woman!
Diane
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: Women's Words of Wisdom
The hardest years in life are those between ten
and seventy.
-Helen Hayes (at 73)
I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think
of them as stray eyebrows.
-Janette Barber
Who ever thought up the word "Mammogram"? Every
time I hear it, I think I'm supposed to put my
breast in an envelope and send it to someone.
-Jan King
A few weeks after my surgery, I went out to play
catch with my golden retriever. When I bent over
to pick up the ball, my prosthesis fell out. The
dog snatched it, and I found myself chasing him
down the road yelling, "Hey, come back here with
my breast!"
-Linda Ellerbee
Things are going to get a lot worse before they
get worse.
-Lily Tomlin
You know the hardest thing about having cerebral
palsy and being a woman? It's plucking your
eyebrows. That's how I originally got pierced
ears.
-Geri Jewell
A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who
never owned a car.
-Carrie Snow
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you
cry with your girlfriends.
-Laurie Kuslansky
My second favorite household chore is ironing. My
first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed
until I faint.
-Erma Brombeck
Old age ain't no place for sissies.
-Bette Davis
A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman
must do what he can't.
-Rhonda Hansome
The phrase "working mother" is redundant.
-Jane Sellman
Every time I close the door on reality it comes in
through the windows.
-Jennifer Unlimited
Whatever women must do they must do twice as well
as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this
is not difficult.
-Charlotte Whitton
Thirty-five is when you finally get your head
together and your body starts falling apart.
-Caryn Leschen
When I was young, I was put in a school for
retarded kids for two years before they realized I
actually had a hearing loss... and they called ME
slow!
-Kathy Buckley
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes
several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just
have to be a horrible warning.
-Catherine Aird
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to top
***** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter *****
October 8, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Lead present in calcium supplements
2. Monthly birth control shot is approved by FDA
3. Reader submitted Q&A-Continuous bleeding on OCPs
4. If you witness an epileptic seizure
5. Ringing in ears (tinnitus) affects many
6. Health tip to share - treating a boil
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Lead present in calcium supplements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Too much lead in the body can lead to anemia as
well as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack
of appetite, irritability, listlessness, hysteria
or convulsions. Excess lead in the environment
used to come from gasoline but that is fairly well
under control. Now investigators are having us
watch how much lead might be in different
supplements and foods we ingest.
This article below looked at calcium carbonate
supplements available both with and without
prescription to see what the lead levels in them
were. There have been previous reports of lead in
calcium supplements made from dolomite and
bone meal. They found that 8 of the 21 samples
contained lead. Although not at dangerous levels,
the amounts were still higher than desirable.
Both natural and refined products had lead.
The recommendations include:
be sure to look at the calcium carbonate label to
see if it has been tested for lead
types of calcium other than carbonate form are
less likely to contain lead
Also look at the editorial that is listed as a
link below the article. This points out that the
levels of lead found are not high at all. A
"luncheon of mixed salad greens and a glass of
Chardonnay will contain from 10 to more than 50
times as much lead as could be ingested in a
typical calcium supplement tablet." Therefore we
have to put it in perspective. The amount of lead
in calcium supplements are not at concerning
levels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Monthly birth control shot is approved by FDA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The FDA has approved a monthly shot for birth
control that should be available on the market
within the next 3-4 months. It is meant to compete
with DepoProvera which is an every 3 month shot.
Unlike DepoProvera, however, women using the new
shot, Lunelle, will still have a monthly menstrual
period.
Also different than DepoProvera is the fact that
return to ovulation is much quicker, 2-4 months.
This means that a woman trying to conceive is much
more likely to than if she uses DepoProvera which
can often result in no ovulation for as much as 18
months after stopping.
Monthly birth control shot approved
The Lunelle contraceptive may have more
break through bleeding than regular pills, however.
Article comparing Lunelle and OrthoNovum 777
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Continuous bleeding on OCPs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I started taking Ortho-Tricyclen® about 2
years ago. I would have my normal period for 5-7
days, and then the following year I started
continual bleeding for 2-4 weeks out of each month
in addition to my normal week period. Last year,
I had my period for five weeks straight, and was
rushed to the hospital, where I was put on highest
estrogen pill (beige w/ butterflies) and taken off
Ortho-Tricyclen® , until about 8 months ago.
I experienced the same irregular bleeding with
this pill, so they put me on the lowest estrogen
pill for the next several months. No results from
this pill either, they next tried Depo.
I've been on Depo since then, and have experienced
continual bleeding for 9 months, until recently I
was put on another low dose pill (could be Ortho
Novum 777®, not sure), while still on Depo.
The bleeding stopped within a day after taking the
pill. I don't know wheither to get off Depo or
the pill? My doctors can't tell me what's wrong,
and I am getting no answers where ever I go. I
have a history of cancer in my family, and am
afraid that this might be a factor? Please help
me out with any answers, suggestions, or advice.
Anonymous
The continuous bleeding in this situation is very
likely to be due to low estrogen levels. Estrogen
is needed to repair blood vessels and grow
supporting tissue around them after each menses.
The progestin in pills or in DepoProvera
injections can block this growth and result in
prolonged bleeding. To get around this, you will
need to take added estrogen or a pill with a
higher estrogen level and a less potent progestin.
To see how this comes about and for further
discussion, see our article at:
Continuous bleeding on birth control
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. If you witness an epileptic seizure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Witnessing an epileptic seizure can be almost as
upsetting as having one. A person may have
uncontrollable spasms of the head, arms, legs and
trunk of the body with loss of bowel or urine
control or it may just present as a fixed stare,
an apparent doze or just drooling from the mouth.
Seizures are self-limited and are usually over in
2-3 minutes. You really should not try to hold a
person's tongue or try to put anything in the
mouth. The best you can do is to protect the
person's head or body from injury by moving
furniture or placing some padding under the head.
DO NOT try to restrain someone having a seizure.
Just let it run its course.
First aid for an epileptic seizure is a skill
everyone should have. See the first aid tips at:
First aid for epilepsy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Ringing in ears (tinnitus) affects many
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Noise in the ears (when there really is no
external noise) such as ringing, hissing, roaring
or clicking may affect as many as 1 out of 8
people at sometime in their lives. It is a very
annoying condition whose cause is not clear. There
are known factors that worsen the noise such as:
noise exposure
wax build-up in the ear canal
certain medications
alcohol
ear or sinus infections
heart disease
and other trauma and tumors
There are treatments available for this and
sufferers may want to see an Ear, Nose and Throat
(ENT) specialist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - treating a boil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A boil (also called a furuncle) is a deep skin
infection that develops from an infected hair
follicle. It can appear on any skin area including
the vulva. It often appears as a red, warm,
painful, pus-containing bump under the skin. DO
NOT squeeze a boil to make it drain. This can
cause it to break under the skin and spread even
more extensively and painfully. Apply a hot
compress for 10 minutes several times a day. This
should make it rupture and drain within a day or
two. Very rarely are antibiotics needed to treat a
boil.
FRJ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When our second child was on the way, my wife and I
attended a pre-birth class aimed at couples who had
already had at least one child. The instructor
raised the issue of breaking the news to the older
child. It went like this:
"Some parents," she said, "tell the older child,
'We love you so much we decided to bring another
child into this family.'
But think about that.
Ladies, what if your husband came home one day and
said, 'Honey, I love you so much I decided to
bring home another wife.'"
One of the women spoke up immediately. "Does she
cook??"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to top
***** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter *****
October 15, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Dietary supplements - A guide to their efficacy
2. Hysterectomy or an alternative?
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Surgical menopause
4. Lung treatment for chronic obstructive disease
5. Should healthy adults take a flu vaccine?
6. Health tip to share - Milkweed for warts
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.Dietary supplements - A guide to their efficacy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Wellness Letter from the University of
California at Berkeley has established a reputation
over the years as a reliable source for health
information that is evidence based. Some of their
materials are available on the Web and a very
practical resource is their list of nutritional
supplements that they have comments on over the
years.
Whether you are wondering about nutriceuticals
from aloe vera drink to bilberry to grape seed
extract to phosphatidylserine to zinc and more,
they have some quick information about it that may
help you decide if it should be part of your
health program.
Some of the interesting points scattered
throughout this list are:
chelated minerals are not absorbed any better than
non-chelated ones and in fact may be less well
absorbed
blue-green algae supplements have no evidence of
being beneficial and are easily contaminated
vitamin B12 can help improve mental awareness in
people over 50 who may absorb less from their
gastrointestinal tract
saw palmetto may reduce prostatic hypertrophy in
men and it has a lower incidence of erectile
dysfunction than the prescription medicines used
to treat the hypertrophy.
Wellness guide to dietary supplements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Hysterectomy or an alternative?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hysterectomy for nonmalignant gynecologic
conditions is still a very common procedure. On
the one hand, many studies indicate that there is
a high incidence of unnecessary procedures, i.e.,
in many cases there was a lack of adequate
diagnostic evaluation and failure to try
alternative treatments before hysterectomy.
On the other hand, hysterectomy has a higher cure
rate for most of the problems for which it is used
such as fibroids, endometriosis, prolapse, chronic
abnormal uterine bleeding and chronic pelvic pain
than do the alternative treatments such as
myomectomy, fibroid embolization, hormonal
treatment and uterine suspension among others.
Studies have varied from showing a new occurrence
of depression (8%), lack of sexual interest (7%),
and anxiety (6%) after hysterectomy to showing a
large study showing the majority of women
demonstrating increased libido, greater frequency
and intensity of orgasm, and lessening of pain
during sex following hysterectomy.
Since 40% of women will have had a hysterectomy,
it is worth knowing the pros and cons if you have
not had a hysterectomy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Surgical menopause
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Have there been any studies comparing a "natural"
menopause to a surgically-induced menopause? Has
there been any medical consensus that one is more
advantageous for a woman's health? I am 51 and
still having regular menstrual periods. Thanks!"
S.Z.
There is a much more sudden dropping of estrogen
and testosterone levels with surgical removal of
the ovaries in a premenopausal woman than there is
with a natural menopause. For about 5 years prior
to natural menopause, hormone levels start
declining. Then estrogen jumps down and everything
levels off by about two years after menopause.
Other than the sudden hormonal changes, it is not
clear whether natural or surgical menopause has
much effect on the long term aging process. It
seems to depend upon whether ERT or HRT is used
rather than the type of menopause. There are not
many studies about this, however, so most of the
evidence is indirect. We discuss it at:
Natural vs surgical menopause
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Lung treatment for chronic obstructive disease
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pulmonary rehabilitation can help people with
chronic lung disease control their shortness of
breath, coughing or mucous production symptoms and
improve their day-to-day functioning. The program
combines exercise training with behavioral and
educational programs.
This patient guide from the American College of
Chest Physicians and American Association of
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
outlines the concept of lung rehab.
Lower body training focuses on leg muscles for
walking or climbing stairs. Upper body training
helps with day to day tasks of lifting, cleaning
and cooking functions so that less oxygen is
consumed and thus there is less worry about
breathing function.
Ventilatory muscles that are the ones actually
involved in breathing, Improvement of these
muscles may reduce shortness of breath and permit
more general exercise. All of these training
programs can help a person with chronic lung
disease due to smoking, cystic fibrosis,
bronchiectasis, or neurological diseases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Should healthy adults take a flu vaccine?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most recommendations for taking the flu vaccine
each year are confined to high risk populations,
people over 65, people with medical conditions,
and pregnancy. This year, officials are planning
to recommend it to anyone over 50. In addition
many low risk persons choose to take the vaccine.
The study below in the Journal of the American
Medical Association looks at the experience of two
years of widespread use of the flu vaccine.
In one year, 1997-1998, the flu vaccine was
different from the prevailing viruses and the
efficacy was only 50%. It did not reduce doctor
visits or lost workdays. In the 1998-1999 flu
season, the vaccine and the circulating viruses
were well-matched and the vaccine was about 86%
successful. Physician visits and lost work days
were reduced by 30-40% compared with placebo
vaccine.
Thus the chance of the vaccine being beneficial
only occurs in those years in which the vaccine
and the circulating virus are well matched. In the
best of years it prevents the flu about 85% of the
time but only reduces lost work days by a third.
Flu vaccination for healthy, working adults
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - Milkweed for warts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If you have a wart that can't be removed without
coming back try this. It has been proven to work.
When milkweeds are up and green just break off a
piece and before going to bed put the milk of the
milkweed on wart. Cover real good and blow to dry.
It is painless and will not leave a scar. Usually
1 or 2 times is all it takes. Just forget about it
and next time you look it will be gone." Rosa
image of milkweed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not exactly medical but ...
A man piloting a hot-air balloon discovers he has
wandered far off course and is hopelessly lost. He
descends to a lower altitude and locates a woman
down on the ground. He lowers the balloon to
within hearing distance and shouts,
"Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"
The woman below says: "Yes, you're in a hot-air
balloon, about thirty feet above this field."
"You must work in information technology," says
the balloonist.
"Yes, I do," replies the woman. "And how did you
know that?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "what you told me is
technically correct, but of no use to anyone."
The woman below says, "You must work in
management."
"I do," replies the balloonist, "how did you
know?"
"Well," says the woman, "you don't know where you
are, or where you're going, but you expect my
immediate help. You're in the same position you
were before we met, but now it's my fault!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to top
****** Woman's Diagnostic Cyber Newsletter *******
October 22, 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week from Woman's Diagnostic Cyber
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. How often does rectal bleeding mean cancer?
2. Is it a migraine or a tension headache?
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Weight loss programs
4. Low dose birth control pills for perimenopause
5. Cosmetic enlargement of the lips
6. Health tip to share - MSG may cause problems
7. Humor is healthy
Spread the word! Send a copy of this newsletter
to someone you know.
Note: Some of the long URLs may not wrap as a
hyperlink and you may need to cut and paste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. How often does rectal bleeding mean cancer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two types of rectal bleeding - bright
red bleeding that you see in the toilet or on
toilet paper and hidden bleeding (occult) that can
only be detected by stool tests with special dyes
that turn positive when small, invisible amounts
of blood in the stool come in contact with the
dye.
Bright red, visible bleeding can be frightening.
The first thing that comes to mind is cancer of
the rectum or colon. Actually the most common
cause is hemorrhoids or a local rectal
irritation. But how often is the bleeding due to
cancer?
This study in the British Medical Journal looks at
the symptom of bright red, visible bleeding and
determines how often it ends up being due to
colorectal cancer at the different ages it is
detected. Overall, 7% of people with rectal
bleeding had cancer. Under age 50, less than 1%
had cancer and from ages 50-60 less than 2% of
people with bleeding had cancer. Over age 60 is
where a jump in incidence occurred. From 60-70,
about 10% of bleeders had cancer and over age 70,
20% had cancer. Thus rectal bleeding becomes an
ominous sign over age 60. It is especially
worrisome if accompanied by fatigue and weight
loss.
Another finding was that the absence of rectal
bleeding is not predictive for the absence of
cancer. In other words, just because you have not
had any bleeding does not mean you are free of
cancer. That is why colorectal cancer screening
recommendations include procedures like a periodic
rectal exam, and sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy over
the age of 50.
Rectal bleeding and colorectal cancer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Is it a migraine or a tension headache?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Women who have migraine headaches on a regular or
semi-regular basis do not need to be told what the
symptoms of a migraine are. However, many women
will get tension headaches that are so bad, they
believe they are having a migraine. The reason to
know the difference is that migraines respond to
different medications than those used to treat
tension headaches.
This study in the Annals of Internal Medicine
looks at what symptoms are the most likely to
differentiate a migraine headache compared with a
tension-type headache. They found those key
symptoms to be:
nausea associated with the headache
an extreme pain sensitivity to lights
an extreme pain sensitivity to sounds
worsening by physical activity
If your headache doesn't have one or more of these
symptoms, it probably is NOT a migraine.
A cluster headache is one that occurs on only one
side of the head, mostly around the eyes.
Symptoms of a migraine headache
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. Reader submitted Q&A - Weight loss programs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Some friends of mine are on the diet program
Herbalife ®. They say it is dr. approved and
it seems to be working for them. What is your
opinion of this program?" Anonymous
I cannot tell specifically about the effectiveness
or safety of this diet program because it has not
been medically evaluated and published as far as I
can tell.
There are some general principles that can be
applied to all of the trendy weight reduction
programs. Low carbohydrate diets are more
effective in producing weight loss than are high
carbohydrate diets. Prescribed medications that
have been shown to be medically effective probably
just help us get the motivation to start a diet
and possibly to stay on it. They do not seem to
promote greater weight loss than any equivalent
calorie reduction plans in which people are highly
motivated but do not take the medicine.
Some non prescription drugs and supplements still
being popularly promoted have been tested and
found not to be effective. Some have even been
found to be dangerous. For a discussion of this
and general principles involved in weight loss
diets, see our article at:
Weight loss diets and supplements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Low dose birth control pills for perimenopause
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of our recent articles on menopause quoted a
nice perimenopausal study that measured hormone
changes leading up to, including and then after
menopause. It showed how female hormone levels
such as estrogen and testosterone gradually
decreased in the 4-5 years prior to actual
menopause. Women often will have symptoms from
these changing levels.
This article below discusses how many women who do
not smoke or have cancer or vascular problems, end
up taking low dose birth control pills to control
abnormal uterine bleeding especially in the late
40's. The pills also reduce hot flashes and
prevent some of the bone loss that occurs before
actual menopause. The low dose pills (containing
20 mcgms of estrogen) not for everyone, however,
so be sure to ask your physician about them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Cosmetic enlargement of the lips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lips can be made to look fuller by injections of
different types of materials. If you are
interested in this, you will need to see a plastic
surgeon. Basically, lip enhancement can be
accomplished by injections of your own body fat,
collagen from your own cells, other humans or
synthetically made, or tissue grafts.
Most of the time treatment is performed on an
outpatient basis and the minor discomfort and
swelling lasts for only several days. Lip
stiffness may persist for several weeks.
If fat is used, there may be some loss of fullness
over 6 months when the fat is resorbed. The other
substances can sometimes cause allergic or
infectious reactions so that is a risk. If you are
interested, see this article at PersonalMD.com
Cosmetic enlargement of the lips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Health tip to share - MSG may cause problems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Natural flavors", "spices", these are vague terms
on food labels that made me suspicious. I found
out they indicated the presence of MSG (monosodium
glutamate). And these terms were used so consumers
would not be turned off. I found out MSG causes
terrible cysts in my breasts, and many other
problems for me including anxiety and depression.
Since I found the list of other names this
additive falls under I can avoid it."
"I am so happy now, I want to share the fortune.
Hope this helps others. Oddly since I rid my
kitchen of this toxin my son no longer has asthma
attacks and my husband's migraines are gone!!!!"
Anonymous
A web site that addresses this:
No MSG .com/ Maryland Chapter
Dr. Russell Blaylock, a neurosurgeon addresses
this practice (hiding food additives) and the
risks of this neuro toxin to brain lesions and
diabetes in a book called:
Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Humor is healthy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Dan Tarditi, DO
A 20 year old young woman came into the hospital
ER complaining of abdominal pain. The doctors
evaluated her and found she had a positive
pregnancy test. After informing her of the
pregnancy, she was dumbfounded.
"That's impossible!" she said, "We used birth
control."
"Did you use condoms or birth control pills?"
"Both!" said the woman. "The only problem was that
my boyfriend read the birth control pill insert.
After seeing all the side effects of blood clots
and bleeding, etc., he told me,
'Honey, all these side effects! I don't want you
taking these pills. So I'll take them for you.'"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's it for this time.
Your BACKUPMD on the Net.
Rick
Frederick R. Jelovsek MD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
