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PUBLICITY PHOTOS 
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Mae Belin is the Outreach Manager at Women’s Health & Counseling Center (WHCC). For more information call 908-526-2335 X 131. TOPICS
Changing Face of the Uninsured
Signs of Spring: Longer days can mean relief
of SAD symptoms Appeared Sunday, March 4, 2007 For the past few months many of us have noticed tiredness,
weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed and bouts of "the blues"
when fall turned to winter.
And now as we prepare to set clocks to spring ahead we are
preparing to embrace another season change.
Spring is the transition from winter into summer. For many it signals the beginning of weeks or months of
tearing eyes and sneezing. If you are a mom it is a time
that you notice that your children have outgrown clothing
in what appears to be overnight.
For many cold-weather haters, it is time to start packing up
the heavy winter coats and pull out the cotton, linen and silk. It
is the time for planning a colorful wardrobe, summer beach trips, cookouts and
vacation.
Yet, for the nearly 25 million Americans whom the shorter,
darker days of the winter months triggered the onset of a condition called
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a disorder causing symptoms of depression,
fatigue, anxiety, and social withdrawal, Spring can also spell a season of
relief.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is
estimated that women with SAD outnumber men four to one.
SAD is difficult to diagnose, since many of its symptoms may
be associated with other disorders. A woman diagnosed with SAD must have
experienced the symptoms the whole time for at least two successive winters with
no substantiated explanation for the changes in mood and behavior.
Though the symptoms may be severe during the winter months, the spring and summer months bring full
remission - a transformation from tiredness to a feeling of energy, from bouts
of the blues to excitement and exhilaration.
Though there is
still much to learn about the disorder, the possible causes of SAD are that the human body has hundreds of
24-hour biological rhythms called circadian rhythms, all controlled by one
internal clock. The sleep cycle is one rhythm, body temperature is another, and
the brain’s production of certain chemicals, like the nighttime hormone
melatonin, is another.
In the spring and
summer, we wake up with the sun and go to bed when it gets dark; the body’s
internal clock is in synch with the sun. During the autumn and winter months,
most people must force themselves to wake up while it is still dark, the
sleep-wake rhythm can become thrown off from all of the body’s other rhythms.
And though we do not know all the answers for the cause of SAD it is believed by
some experts that the unbalance within the body’s rhythms may be responsible
for triggering the onset of SAD’s many symptoms. Keeping
the Balance
Treatment Women affected by SAD find that
a combination of therapy, medication, and phototherapy can be effective. A
discussion surrounding treatment options with your healthcare professional can
help determine which treatment plan is best suited for each individual. If you or someone is experiencing any of the symptoms you have read about in this article you are encouraged to discuss it with your health care provider. You can also get information from www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/women.htm or www.nimh.nih.gov .
Whispers
of the Heart: February is Time to Take Care of Your Heart Health appeared
Sunday, February 4, 2007 For
as long as I can remember, like most women I have looked forward to the month of
February and Valentines Day. A day
when candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones. February
now has an even greater meaning than the symbolic token exchange. It
is used to touch not only the heart of women but to bring awareness to heart
disease, the No. 1 killer of women. Cardiovascular
disease, including diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and stroke, kills
480,000 women a year, about one per minute. One in three adult females and males
in the A quote from The Land before Time says, “Let your heart guide you. It whispers; so listen closely.” As women we should all listen to our hearts more closely. Many women don't recognize the warning signs of coronary heart disease until their health and their lives are in jeopardy. Heart attack and stroke are common results of conditions that restrict or stop the blood flow to the heart or brain. Like any muscle, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients that are carried to it by the blood in the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged and cannot supply enough blood to the heart, the result is coronary heart disease. Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, but women are only half as likely as men to survive a heart attack, and more likely to have a second attack.
Risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease include:
· Smoking. Smoking accelerates the development of atherosclerosis the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Caused by the slow buildup of plaque on the inside of walls of the arteries · High cholesterol levels. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, elevated LDL cholesterol is a major cause of coronary heart disease. ·
Diabetes. Having diabetes poses a great risk for having a
heart attack. ·
Age. Women over age 55 and men over age 45 are at
greatest risk for developing atherosclerosis. The risk of cardiovascular events
increases with age. ·
Family history. Family history is one of the biggest risk
factors overall for atherosclerosis. Your risk is greater if your father or
brother was diagnosed before age 55, if your mother or sister was diagnosed
before age 65, or if you have a sibling with early coronary disease. ·
Obesity. Overweight women are much more likely to develop
heart-related problems, even if they have no other risk factors. · Inactivity. Not exercising contributes directly to heart-related problems and increases the likelihood that you'll develop other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
What to look for Many women think that a heart attack takes place just like what we’ve seen on TV. Someone grips their chest in pain and falls to the floor. Women are less likely than men to feel chest pain during a heart attack. Women are more likely to experience what are called atypical symptoms, which include back pain, nausea, and fatigue or jaw pain. Other symptoms that may begin occurring as much as four to six months before an actual heart attack include:
§ Unusual fatigue § Sleep disturbance § Shortness of breath § Chest pain § Indigestion § Anxiety § Pain in shoulder blade or upper back
What you can do § Be physically active each day § Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet § Lose weight if you are overweight § Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products § Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains § This year for February find out how you can lower your heart disease risk and even prevent it.
Resources § American Heart Association 1-800-242-8721 § National Stroke Association 1-800-767-6537 § Women Health & Counseling Center 908-526-2335 – for women without access to healthcare services.
Summer Skin Safety: What to look for in tanning products appeared Sunday, July 2, 2006 No matter how flawed or flawless the skin, the healthy
radiance of a tan commands an admiring glance when one enters the room. Today
tans are not just acquired from natural sun exposure but from tanning beds,
pills, lotions and even sprays. Though highly sought, tanning is a
protective reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun.
However, it does not prevent skin cancer. According to
dermatologist Dr. Steven Spencer, about 1 million Americans are diagnosed
annually with skin cancer. About 80 percent are basal cell, 16 percent squamous
cell, and 4 percent melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Understanding the dangers If you seek tanning from the inside, tanning pills
typically contain the pigment canthaxanthin. Although the FDA has approved the
use of canthaxanthin as a color additive in food, it has not approved its use as
a tanning agent. When ingested, canthaxanthin changes skin color. Once consumed,
it is deposited throughout the body and internal organs, turning them an
orange-brown color. Canthaxanthin-based tanning pills have been linked to
dangerous side effects. Risk Factors
What you
can do To protect yourself from the risk of skin damage or cancer:
Apply the sunscreen everywhere the sun's rays might touch. If you're swimming, reapply sunscreen every hour. For sunless tanning, consider lotions and sprays containing dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the active ingredient; they’re the most effective sunless tanning products and do not damage the skin. Always read the ingredients on the label of all these products carefully.
Unless their active ingredient is DHA, they're not bona fide sunless tanners and
could be harmful for your skin. DHA
is a colorless sugar that interacts with the dead cells located in the upper
layer of the epidermis. As the sugar interacts with the dead skin cells, a color
change occurs, which usually lasts about five to seven days from the initial
application. If you see an area on your skin that looks unusual, see your family doctor as soon as possible. For additional information on skin cancer, visit: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org
Giving back: How busy women are finding time to volunteer in their communities appeared Sunday, November 6, 2005 On any given day, as moms and working women going through our daily
activities, our lives are interrupted by a glaring news headline, radio or
television reports alerting us of the horrendous chain of events that have
befallen those who live abroad and within the At these moments, one may begin to wonder about who is making up their community, and if there were a need, could they depend on their community for help? The answer often lies within the individuals who volunteer their time and efforts, through acts of kindness, to make a positive difference in the community as a whole. In the rapid moving world in which we live, we often scramble to find out who our neighbors are; hastily assessing information and searching for what resources are available to us only when in dire need. Consequently, we only talk to family members about volunteering during the holidays though the need is present all year. With a strong sense of community, many busy women still find time to give of
their talents, time and resources to assure the survival and health of our
communities, frequently providing for those who are unable to help themselves.
These women may volunteer at nonprofit organizations, such as Women’s There are many ways to volunteer even with a busy schedule. Depending on the
organization, you can find an opportunity that suits your schedule. Ask if your
employer organizes volunteer activities, such as sponsoring a benefit run/walk
or participating in In working with other community members, women are able to not only
recognize, cherish and support the contributions of each other but to grow as
well. Martin Luther King once said, “I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals
a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity,
equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered people
have torn down, other-centered people can build up.”
So when the efforts of women join with those of healthcare providers to
impact the wellness of the community, impossible things can be accomplished and
the quality of lives can be improved. What you can do Volunteer Opportunities at Women's For
other local volunteer opportunities contact
The changing face of the uninsured: A look at the factors contributing to the growing numbers of uninsured women appeared Sunday, May 8, 2005
It is the face of your hairstylist, the face of the woman who does your dry cleaning. It is the face of your waitress or perhaps the cook in your favorite restaurant, the face of the cashier at your supermarket. The face of the mother you sit next to during worship services, the face of your neighbor, your best friend, co-worker, family member or your own face. There are 45 million Americans with no health insurance. A reverberating myth is that most people without insurance are unemployed, when, in fact, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2001, one in five of those uninsured are employed, but working for employers who do not offer benefits. This is changing the face of the uninsured. Simple healthcare access is the ability of an individual to get healthcare services, screening, prevention information, medicines and supplies when needed. However, many women lack health coverage in the United States. Though one trillion dollars was spent on health care during 2001, more than 41.2 million Americans, and approximately, 31,800 residents in Somerset County did not have health insurance. There are many factors that contribute to the increasing number of uninsured women, none of which are simple. Many women face barriers that prevent them from getting healthcare when needed, due to financial, economic, language and transportation issues. Lack of health insurance limits women from getting routine and preventive health service. Low-income and uninsured women lack a regular physician, and are more likely to not receive regular care from the same doctor at clinic visits. Countless numbers of the working uninsured women are employed in positions that support the economy; but, at the same time, these employers historically pay lower wages and offer few or no benefits. And of employers who offer health benefits, many of these low-wage women are single heads of households who cannot afford the paycheck deduction of the employer-based insurance. Women became part of the workforce in America during World War II, filling in the gaps for men who went to war. When the war was over, men resumed their positions, except for those women who worked as clerks, nurses and teachers. The positions held by these women were low paying and provided no other benefits than the minimum income. For the duration of the 1960s, an increased sense of responsibility for the poor, minorities, women, and the mentally ill led to President Johnson forming the Great Society initiative which resulted in the establishment of federal funding for a variety of welfare programs. In the past decade, there have been changes in these public policies and this structure of healthcare. These changes had a disproportionately negative effect on women, decreasing the access to women to obtain healthcare services. Currently, women play a significant part in America’s workforce; however they continue to be paid less than their male counterparts and receive less access to services. Each year in the United States the number of uninsured continues to increase. Similarly, the source of healthcare disparities remains complex and rooted in historic and contemporary inequities, involving many participants. For women who may not be able to obtain healthcare services due to monetary, cultural, language or other barriers, there are agencies, such as Women's Health & Counseling Center in Somerville, that offer healthcare to uninsured and underinsured women. Uninsured women also may seek charity care services at local hospital clinics.
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