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It’s so wonderful to hear other health care professionals say what so many of us have been saying.

It’s an excellent article and ends with :

“The message of menopause,” she summed up, “is to live better and better, to get rid of doubts, insecurities and fears, and wake up to life’s meaning.”

Read it for yourself….Menopause is not a disease

Barbara
OlderWiserWomen

It was a long day in the clinic today…one of those days when you just come home drained. Thinking back over the day, I realized why some of it was so time consuming.

I saw several people today who were new to the practice. ONLY one of them brought her current medications WITH her! Another one could not even tell me the names…only the general idea of what she was one. Another would give me a list and then change her mind…she did this three times! Another person I finally had to tell her she just needed to reschedule her appointment and this time come with a print out of her medications from the pharmacy.

For your own safety and well being, it’s essential that you know what medications you are taking, how you are suppose to take them, why you are taking them, and who prescribed them.

Additionally, when you go and see a new health care provider, take or medications or write them down clearly. Include the name of the medication, the dosages, why you are taking it and how long you have been taking it. It’s great to get the information that way…I can just make a copy and put it into your chart.

And if you visit our clinic, and have done this…I’ll owe you a BIG hug!

Barbara

This time of year, the phone rings constantly with people who have “the flu”. Except…they don’t. Do you know the difference between having a cold and having the flu?

The common cold (and boy is it common) develops gradually over several days and can start with a scratchy throat, sneezing and sniffles leading to congestions. Any fever present is mild (in adults). Coughing is generally hacking and can be moist due to congestion.

On the other hand, influenza often starts rather suddenly with fever (usually greater than 101 degrees F and last 3-4 days), headache and all over body aches (myalgia). Generally one feels exhausted or fatigued. Coughing is usually dry and hacking and can last after all other flu symptoms have passed.

Influenza or “the flu” is more of a systemic illness, meaning it affects your entire body, where as a cold generally just affects the upper body. You can sometimes get a stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat with the flu, but it’s much more common with colds. The flu is more serious because it can lead to other problems, like pneumonia in susceptible adults.

Another common illness that is often referred to as “the flu” is your common variety gastroenteritis – meaning that you stomach and intestines are acting up.This is NOT influenza.

In general, viral illnesses will run their course and one does not need to be seen in their clinics. It’s a different story if you have a depressed immune system, a chronic lung condition (such as emphysema or COPD) or if you have been ill for over 10 days. Of course, any time you are having difficult breathing, you need to see your health care provider as soon as you can.

The best bet is to keep yourself healthy and avoid colds and the flu in the first place.

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen

Do you know just how close your heart and your mouth really are?

Did you know that maintaining good oral care can help in preventing heart disease?

A study (Journal of Periodontology) confirmed findings that people with periodontal disease are at a greater risk of developing systemic (meaning through-out the body) disease such as cardiovascular disease

Individuals with gum disease apparently release significant levels of bacterial components (things like endotoxins) into the bloodstream where they can travel to other areas of the body. Our mouths can be a major source of chronic or permanent release of these toxic bacterial components in the bloodstream during chewing. So those with severe periodontal disease had approximately four times more harmful bacterial products in their blood.

Doesn’t that just make you want to run and floss?

According to a survey done in New Zealand, 91% of women ages 45-65 who were surveyed said health was their top priority.

You can read about it here:
Women in midlife list health as top priority

What about you? What is your top priority? Where does health come in for you? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Barbara C. Phillips, NP

There has been talk for years that lower caloric intake increases logevity. Recently, the results of the first study done on people who have consummered 1400-2000 calories per day have showning this may be true.

For many people today, eating less than 2000 calories seems like it’s a starvation diet, however, it seems to me that it’s more than enough.

You can read the article in: Study: Low-calorie diet keeps heart young

I recently started practicing in a primary care office where the other two providers are men. Several times now over the past two days, I’ve heard women exclaim their excitement in having a woman as a health care provider. For many, there is comfort in knowing that another woman would be doing their exams…especially those pelvic exams.

It made me think back to when I first was exposed to have a female provider. For me, it may all the difference in the world…I’ve rarely had a male provider since - and never again for gyn exams.

On the other hand, I remember a few years ago, I had a woman tell me she would never let another woman do her exam…for her it just did not feel right.

What about you…do you have a preference in the gender of your health care provider?

Feel free to click the comment link below and leave your thoughts.

Namaste,

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen

The American College of Chest Physicians has released new evidence based guidlines regarding how providers should treat coughs.

Evidence based medicine (EBM) has become the new standard of practice - this means that what we use to treat something with, should actually be proven to work in most cases. Below is the Wikipedia definition…

Evidence-based medicine is a medical movement based upon the application of the scientific method to medical practice, including long-established existing medical traditions not yet subjected to adequate scientific scrutiny. According to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, “Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence_based_medicine

So, just what do these guidelines tell us? Over-the-counter cough suppresants don’t treat cough effectively. Just what I’ve been hearing from my patient’s for years….

Click the link to read the ACCP press release.
January 2006 Press Release

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomenâ„¢

Everyone is talking about Baby Boomers getting older, especially since some of us are turning 60 this year. This particular article is actully quite good, addressing the question…will we STAY healhy?

See what you think.

Growing Old, Baby-Boomer Style

This data that was pulled from the Women’s Health Initiative, again points to the fact that we are all better off eating a well balanced, lower fat diet, eating a moderate amount of GOOD carbs.

“““““““““““

HYATTTSVILLE, Md., Jan. 3 - Postmenopausal women who ate a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains didn’t gain weight over an average of nearly eight years, reported researchers from the NIH’s Women’s Health Initiative.

In a clinical trial to see whether a low-fat, fiber rich diet could prevent cardiovascular disease or breast or colorectal cancer in more than 48,000 post-menopausal women, those on the diet lost about 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs) in the first year, and managed to keep the weight off better than women who ate what they wanted.

You can read the full article here

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen™
ActingYourAge!