September 2004

Newsletter April 2004

We recently came to an agreement with Aetna Insurance and can book appointments now. Welcome back to our Aetna patients.

Hormone Therapy...Should I or Shouldn’t I?

Confused about all the latest information on postmenopausal hormones? Come have a talk with one of the physicians or nurse practitioners to discuss your personal situation. How do the studies done relate to you? What are the alternatives to hormones and how effective are they? How long should you remain on hormone therapy? Is it ever too late to start? What are the ways to stop hormones and what side effects can be expected? What about progesterone cream? Testosterone? Estrogen patch or ring? Answers depend very much on your age, age at menopause, cardiovascular health, symptoms, and osteoporosis risk. We would be glad to counsel you on these issues at an appointment soon.

Are You Planning a Baby Sometime Soon?

This is truly an exciting time! Your health should be optimized prior to conception. Good general advice includes starting prenatal vitamins (over the counter are adequate) a few months prior to possible conception. Also, be sure to take care of your gums as this can decrease risk of preterm labor. Get into regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Are there any special preconception genetic screening tests you might want to know about due to your particular family histories? Are you immune to Rubella and Varicella? How long does it usually take to conceive? How soon in advance should hormonal contraception be discontinued? Can you decrease your chances of premature birth, birth defects, or other pregnancy complications? Please consider making a preconception counseling appointment to review your individual circumstances.

Prenatal Care Choices at The Women’s Group

We now offer a choice of tracks for prenatal care visits. Low risk patients who have had a child previously may have their routine visits a bit further apart. First time parents or high-risk patients are given the “traditional” schedule. The basic schedule you will have is determined at your initial visit, so you’ll be able to plan ahead!

West Nile Virus Update:

Mosquito season and concerns about West Nile virus will soon be upon us once again. This disease can be passed on the fetus during pregnancy. The best insect repellant is DEET, which is safe during pregnancy. For children under 2 years of age, please check with their pediatrician for recommendations.

The Concept and Practice of Mindfulness

……excerpted from Harvard Women’s Health Watch February 2004

The ability to pay attention to what you’re experiencing from moment to moment—neither drifting into thoughts of the past or concerns about the future, nor getting caught up in opinions about what is going on--- is called mindfulness. This old idea is gaining new popularity for it’s recognized medical and wellness benefits.

Being mindful means striving to bring an attentive, nonjudgmental awareness to our usual routines. Meditation practice can enhance everyday mindfulness. Learning to focus on something like breathing, letting go of tensions and concerns, then noting the thoughts, sensations, and emotions which arise and “intrude” can allow us to learn the skill of “watching” the workings of the mind, thus gaining perspective and insight.

There’s mounting evidence that cultivating mindfulness can increase our enjoyment of life, expand our capacity to cope with illness, and possibly improve our physical and emotional health. Please check our reception room library for interesting reading material on this subject.

Aspirin for Heart Protection

Many people wonder if they should be taking low dose aspirin to decrease their chances of a heart attack. The answer is that if you have a 3% or greater risk for this occurring in the next 5 years, you are in the group that would benefit by a 28% reduction in that risk! If your risk is below that, a benefit has not been shown. Men over 60 and diabetics over 30 are in the high risk group. Others need to have their risk calculated using cholesterol, smoking history, blood pressure and age variables. Check with your physician about whether this would be a safe and helpful option for you to consider.