Melissa Renee is a Public Relations volunteer at Women’s Health & Counseling Center, a non-profit, community-based center that provides quality, low cost healthcare and health education.  For more information call 908-526-2335.

TOPICS

The Gift of Health

Decoding Bladder Pain

The Best Gift to Get and Give

Appeared Sunday, May 6, 2007

Mother's Day is the time of year when we share our gratitude with the mothers in our lives for providing us with love and support.  

Mother's Day also kicks off National Women's Health Week, a week dedicated to improving the health of women across the country.  

During the week of May 13, families, communities, and government and health organizations will work together to educate women about health issues, disease prevention, the importance of scheduling regular check-ups and will provide free or reduced screenings for women nationwide. 

One of the major health issues that will be addressed is heart disease.  Most women don’t realize that they are at risk for a heart attack or stroke.  According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women nationwide and is also the leading cause of death in New Jersey .  You can, however, take steps to protect your health and even prevent heart disease by reducing your risk factors.

Risk factors are conditions or behaviors that increase the possibility of disease.  Each risk factor increases a woman's chance of developing heart disease, and having more than one risk factor is especially dangerous.  Once you develop heart disease, you will have it for life. 

Some risk factors for heart disease, such as age (for women, age becomes a risk factor at 55) and heredity can't be changed.  According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, there are a number of risk factors that you can treat or control by making lifestyle changes.  These include:

*High Blood Pressure

*High Blood Cholesterol

*Diabetes

*Smoking

*Being overweight

*Being physically inactive 

What You Can Do

This Mother's Day, celebrate women's health with the daughters, sisters, and mothers in your life by sharing these preventative tips from the American Heart Association:

1.  Don't use tobacco: 

Tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of serious illness such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and emphysema.

2. Be physically active: 

Doing so can build endurance, control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, aid in weight control and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.  Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most, if not all, days of the week.

3. Watch your weight: 

Obesity is a major risk factor. Cutting out 200 to 300 calories a day--about one candy bar's worth--can help you lose up to two pounds per week and gradually bring you closer to a heart-healthy weight. 

4. Avoid excessive alcohol: 

One or two drinks a day may help increase "good" HDL cholesterol, but heavy drinking can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

5. Eat healthy foods: 

Foods high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol contribute to atherosclerosis, a primary cause of heart attack and stroke.  Consuming too much salt can cause high blood pressure.

The greatest gift you can give this Mother's Day is information about how your loved ones can lead healthy lifestyles and reduce their risk for heart disease and other serious illness.

Resources:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute "Heart Truth"

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/

American Heart Association

www.goredforwomen.org

National Women's Health Week

www.4woman.gov/whw

Women's Health and Counseling Center , 

for women without access to health care www.womenandhealth.org or 908-526-2335

Silent Suffering: Decoding the Mystery of Bladder Pain

Appeared Sunday, June 10, 2007

Most people aren't aware of a condition called interstitial cystitis, or IC. For women suffering from interstitial cystitis, however, frequent trips to the restroom coupled with bladder pain can make the condition hard to forget.

A woman may be embarrassed to admit that she has a urinary disorder, but it is important for women to know they are not alone.

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammatory bladder condition that affects an estimated 1 million Americans, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The symptoms of IC include a feeling of urgency, frequent urination, and pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, urethra, or vaginal area. Pain is often associated with sexual intercourse. Symptoms can vary by type and severity in each individual, and may be triggered by menstruation, allergies, and stress. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing these signs of chronic bladder pain, talk with your doctor about IC.

The cause of interstitial cystitis is not yet known. There are a few common risk factors among IC patients:

• Women are 10 times more likely than men to be diagnosed with IC.

• Most people with interstitial cystitis are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s.  Twenty-five percent are younger than 30 years old.

• IC can be associated with other chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Diagnosis

IC can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms resemble many other conditions. Your doctor will perform tests to rule out urinary tract infection, bladder cancer, kidney problems, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and endometriosis.

Urologists will often perform a cystoscopy, an examination of your bladder through a thin tube with a small camera, to check for inflammation of the bladder wall, pinpoint bleeding, or ulcers.

Treatment

There is no cure for interstitial cystitis, but there are a variety of treatment options that can offer relief.

The National Women's Information Center suggests the following treatments to help to ease IC symptoms:

   Bladder distention: The doctor slowly stretches the bladder by filling it with liquid. This test eases pain for some patients.

   Bladder instillation: The bladder is filled with a liquid that is held for different periods of time before being emptied. The only drug approved to date by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in bladder instillation is dimethyl sulfoxide.

   Oral medicines: These medicines include a prescription medicine called pentosan polysulfate sodium (Elmiron®), which is FDA approved for treatment of IC. Other oral medicines used include aspirin and ibuprofen, other stronger painkillers, antidepressants, and antihistamines.

   Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): Wires send mild electric pulses to the bladder area. TENS is thought to help ease pain and urinary frequency.

   Self-help strategies: Bladder training, quitting smoking, reducing stress, low-impact exercise, and dietary changes have been shown to help some people. If you think certain foods may be affecting your symptoms, try to avoid them. Common "trigger" foods and beverages include: acidic and spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, and artificial sweeteners.

   Surgery: If other treatments have failed and the pain is disabling, surgery may be an option.

Above all, listen to your body and be patient with yourself as you work with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan for you.

Resources:

National Women's Information Center : www.womenshealth.gov

Interstitial Cystitis Association: www.ichelp.org