February is Heart Health Awareness Month

Heart Disease Causes & Prevention
Heart disease is the No.1 killer in women.  Yet, only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.

The truth is, women are less likely to call 9-1-1 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack themselves.  It simply doesn't occur to them to do so. And, why would it?  The bulk of media attention on the disease is focused on men.

Here are some startling facts:

• Heart disease is the cause of 1 in 3 deaths for women each year
• 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease
• Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women's survival continues to widen
• The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women vs. men, and are often misunderstood
• While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies from heart disease

What causes heart disease?

Heart disease affects the blood vessels and cardiovascular system.  Numerous problems can result from this, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries.  This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through.  If a blood clot forms, it can stop the flow of blood.  This leads to a heart attack or stroke.  Heart disease can take on other forms as well, including:  heart failure or congestive heart failure, arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm of the heart), or heart valve problems.

How can I prevent it?

Many things put you at risk for these problems - one's you can control and others you cannot.  But the key takeaway is that with the right information, education and care, heart disease in women can be treated, prevented, and even ended.  

Studies show that healthy choices have resulted in 330 fewer women dying from heart disease per day.  Here are a few lifestyle changes you should make:

• Don't smoke
• Manage your blood sugar
• Get your blood pressure under control
• Lower your cholesterol
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy

Changing lifestyle patterns and choices is a giant step in the right direction.  Though many changes can take time, every step you take towards a healthier lifestyle is a step in the direction of a longer, fuller life.

For additional information, visit mtauburnobgyn.com. 

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Source:  www.goredforwomen.org 

8 Fast, Simple Ways to Improve Your Diet - Now and Forever

Food used to be simple.  You ate what you grew on the land or you bought from a nearby farm or market. Processed food was nothing more than canned, frozen, or cured. Today, food is so much more complicated, which is both better and worse. We can eat a greater variety of healthy foods than our ancestors did (think berries in the winter), but we can also eat a lot more highly processed, chemical-laden ones. Unfortunately, the latter seems to be winning out, if our epidemics of obesity & diabetes are any indication.

To help you clean up your diet in 2015 and reap the benefits (weight loss and possible decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer), we found these 9 simple, easy-to-follow rules.  "Our advice," says Dr. Emily Wiebracht of Mt. Auburn OBGYN, "is to start simple and with baby steps.  This not only ensures success, but also helps to create clean eating habits that will last a lifetime."

1.  Toss out a few heavily processed staples -- Instead of overhauling your pantry all at once, start by eliminating corn oil & soda, both of which are highly processed.  Another easy step is replacing refined breads and pasta made form white flour with ones made from whole grains.

2.  Focus on cleaning up your favorite foods -- Keep it simple, determine what part of your diet supplies the most calories and clean it up.  For instance, if your an omnivore, buy meat that comes from grass-fed cattle and eggs from free-range chickens, but stick to conventional produce, instead of organic.

3.  Shop the perimeter -- Most whole, natural, fresh foods are on the outside aisles of the grocery store.

4.  Check the labels -- Instead of eliminating all processed foods, study the labels on the packaging and chose those with fewer, simpler ingredients.  Be sure to avoid hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and colors, stabilizers, preservatives, and excessive amounts of sodium, added refined sugar & fat.

5.  Think nutrients per serving -- Consider the amount of nutrients in a product rather than focusing solely on price.  Use your smartphone to access GoodGuide, an app that offers health, environment, and social responsibility information, plus ratings on over 250,000 products.

6. Cook more meals at home -- This is an easy way to shift more of your resources toward whole food and potentially save money.  To make home cooking easier, master a few one-pot or one-pan dishes with simple ingredients that you can whip up quickly and will feed your family for days. Check out the Mt. Auburn OBGYN Pinterest page for our favorite tasty, healthy, & simple family recipes.

7.  Retrain your tastebuds -- If you're used to eating foods with lots of salt, sugar, fat, and other attitoves, you'll need to retrain your taste buds to appreciate the more subtle flavors of whole foods. For instance, mix white rice with brown rice or combine regular soups with the low sodium versions, This simple trick will help your tastebuds adjust to cleaner, healthier food options.

8.  Follow the 80-20 strategy -- Eating plans go bad (and are eventually abandoned) when they turn obsessive.  Clean eating is no different.  To avoid that trap, take the 80-20 approach.  That is, try to eat natural food 80% of the time, with a 20% buffer for when you're traveling or socializing.

For additional information, visit mtauburnobgyn.com. 

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source:  www.prevention.com

Fighting the Infant Mortality Epidemic in Ohio

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1-12 months, and the 3rd overall leading cause of infant mortality in the US.  In a 2012 report of the Ohio Child Fatality Review, 1.045 Ohio babies died before their first birthdays.  Of those, 148 of these were sleep-related deaths.  Ohio ranks 46th in overall infant mortality and 50th in infant mortality among African American babies.  Ohio State Senator Shannon Jones recently introduced Senate Bill 276 as part of a legislative package aimed at addressing Ohio's abysmal infant mortality rate.

Sleep-related fatalities constitute 14% of all infant deaths and are largely preventable.  Senate Bill 276 will provide caregivers with crucial information about how to keep your sleeping baby safe by establishing the Safe Sleep Education program.  Additionally, this legislation will create a screening protocol to determine if babies have a safe place to sleep upon hospital discharge.  If it is determined that infants do not have a crib or other suitable sleeping place at home, the hospital or free-standing birthing center will work with families to try to secure a crib.

"Infant mortality is heartbreaking, especially when it is secondary to something preventable," says Dr. Emily Wiebracht of Mt. Auburn OBGYN.  "I know the nurses in Cincinnati, and especially at The Christ Hospital, do a great job educating new moms about sleep habits, and I applaud the state for taking things a step further by ensuring a safe crib for all families."

Senate Bill 276 is currently pending in the Ohio House Standing Committee on Health & Aging.

The ABCs of Safe Sleep

Alone -- A child is safest when they are sleeping by themselves, not in a bed with adults or other children.

Back -- A baby should always be placed on his or her back.

Crib -- A virtually empty crib is where babies are safest.

For additional information, visit mtauburnobgyn.com. 

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source:  Senate News from Shannon Jones, Ohio Senate, District 7

Study Shows More Children Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected

Although drinking during pregnancy has long been considered taboo, new research suggests that as many as one in 20 U.S. children may have health or behavioral problems related to alcohol exposure before birth.

The study found that between 2.4 percent and 4.8 percent of children have some kind of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD.

"Knowing not to drink during pregnancy and not doing so are two different things," especially before a woman knows she is pregnant, said lead researcher Philip May, a professor of public health at the University of  North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said the high prevalence of children
affected by drinking during pregnancy may be due to social pressures or
women's difficulty in changing their drinking habits.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders include fetal alcohol syndrome disorder
plus other conditions that include some, but not all, of the characteristics
of fetal alcohol syndrome, according to background information in the study.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe end of the spectrum, and children
with this condition have abnormal facial features, structural brain
abnormalities, growth problems and behavioral issues. Children on the less
severe end of the spectrum may have impairments in the ability to complete
tasks required to do well in school, or have behavioral issues, the study
noted.

May and his colleagues selected a nationally representative town in the
Midwest for the study. The town had an average annual alcohol consumption
rate about 14 percent higher than the rest of the United States. That
translated into roughly a liter of alcohol more per person per year,
according to the study authors.

The town had 32 schools with a total of more than 2,000 first-graders. About
70 percent of the youngsters' parents allowed their children to participate
in the study.

May's team identified first-graders who had a developmental problem or were
below the 25th percentile for height, weight or head circumference. Then the
researchers gave memory and thinking ("cognitive") tests, as well as
behavioral tests, to these children and to a comparison group of typically
developing first-graders.

The specially trained researchers also assessed the children for the
physical attributes of fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, which include small
eye openings, a smooth upper lip, a thin red border to the upper lip and
smaller heads, May said.

The researchers found that six to nine of every 1,000 children had fetal
alcohol syndrome. And, between 11 and 17 per 1,000 children had partial
fetal alcohol syndrome, according to the study.

These numbers are higher than in previous research, but that may be due to
the rigorous methods in the study, said Dr. Janet Williams, a professor of
pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

"FASD is an umbrella term covering the full spectrum of permanent lifelong
conditions, ranging from mild to severe, and encompassing a broad variety of
physical defects and cognitive, behavioral, emotional and adaptive
functioning deficits," Williams said. "As we have better methodology, we're
getting closer to the real prevalence, the real problem, and we need to stop
the root cause of the problem."

This study also identified factors that predicted a higher risk that a child would 
have an FASD. The longer it took a mother to learn she was pregnant, how frequently 
she drank three months before pregnancy, and the more alcohol the child's father 
drank, the more likely it was that the child would have an FASD, the study found.

"We simply don't know how much alcohol is 'safe' during pregnancy.  Therefore, we 
continue to recommend our patients avoid alcohol consumption during pregnancy or 
if they are actively trying to conceive," says Dr. Emily Wiebracht of Mt. Auburn OBGYN.

For additional information, visit mtauburnobgyn.com. 

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source:  www.health.usnews.com  

6 Healthy Things You Can Have Too Much Of

Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s healthy and what’s not. The science seems to go back and forth on how much of certain things you should have— one day eggs and coffee are good for you, the next day they’re not. But when all the data is in, science usually favors all things in moderation. It doesn’t just go for eggs and coffee; wine and beer also have compounds that are beneficial in moderation.

Here are six other things that are great for you— just not in unlimited amounts:

1. Oranges, Apples and Tomatoes

These three items are some of the healthiest fruits you can eat, but they’re also high-acid foods, and consuming too many acidic foods can damage the esophagus and stomach lining. Over time, this damage can result in precancerous lesions and ulcers.  Highly acidic diets can also cause reflux, which can be painful and costly to treat, and can disrupt sleep and other daily activities. Dietary acid is also known to erode tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities. To avoid consuming too much acid, limit your servings of these to two per day.

2. Exercise

While most people don’t get enough exercise, some overdo it at the expense of their health. In fact, the many beneficial effects of exercise make it easy to ignore the harmful effects of too much.  Some people take exercise too far in order to control weight, and it becomes an obsession— this is sometimes known as exercise addiction. It’s often seen in those with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and it can have severe negative psychological and physical effects.

Over-exercise is also sometimes seen in athletes who are trying to reach a goal or win a championship. To excel, they train so long and so hard that they become fatigued and moody and have difficulty concentrating. In many cases, over-training backfires and performance plummets.

3. Sunshine

Sunshine is our main source of vitamin D. Although sunlight doesn’t directly contain any nutrients, it does convert a chemical found in skin cells to vitamin D, which plays an important role in calcium absorption. The body can absorb more than double the calcium from food when vitamin D levels are normal than when they’re low. Poor calcium absorption can lead to osteoporosis, which often results in stress fractures and injuries due to falling, especially in older adults.

Vitamin D deficiency is also increasingly linked to a roster of ills including heart disease, prostate cancer, schizophrenia and pregnancy complications. Previous research has also linked vitamin D deficiency to many autoimmune disorders, but further studies are needed to confirm whether this is true.

What experts know for sure is that too much sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, including melanoma, the most common cancer in America. Skin cancer can be painful and costly to treat, so sun exposure is best enjoyed in moderation and with the use of sunscreen.

4. Juice

Juice cleanses are all the rage, and despite the fact that the benefits claimed by proponents are questionable, many people find it easier to get their recommended fruit and vegetable servings in when they’re in liquid form.  But whole fruits and vegetables are packed with fiber— a nutrient that most people don’t get enough of. Most experts consider juice cleansing or fasting unnecessary. Our organs efficiently remove toxins that juices can’t, and fasting is not a healthy way to lose weight.

5. Soy

Limiting animal protein is generally considered to be a heart-healthy choice, and soy protein is thought of as a healthy alternative. In moderation, soy products such as tofu, edamame and soy milk can help control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  However, eating too much soy can prevent iron absorption, which can contribute to anemia, especially in vegans and vegetarians. Additionally, soy contains estrogen-like compounds that, when consumed in excess, can lead to uterine cancer. While there is no standard recommendation on soy limits, two servings per day is considered safe.

6. Sleep

Like food, sleep is one of our most basic necessities. Without it, the body shuts down and slowly stops functioning. And, as with food, too much of a good thing will have a negative impact on health.  Too much sleep can result in an increased risk of chronic diseases, including America’s No. 1 killer, heart disease. While most people don’t get enough sleep, there are plenty who get too much. Limit your sleep to nine hours for best health results.

Learn more about healthy lifestyles and women's health at www.mtauburnobgyn.com

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source:  foxnews.com/health

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Due to the increased use of mammography, most women in the United States are diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer, before symptoms appear. However, not all breast cancers are found through mammography. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. Warning signs you should be aware of are listed below:

If you have any of these symptoms, see your health care provider. In most cases, these changes are not cancer. For example, breast pain is more common with benign breast conditions than with breast cancer. However, the only way to know for sure is to see your provider. If breast cancer is present, it is best to find it at an early stage, when the cancer is most treatable.

Breast Lumps or Lumpiness

Many women may find that their breasts feel lumpy. Breast tissue naturally has a bumpy texture. For some women, the lumpiness is more pronounced than for others. In most cases, this lumpiness is no cause to worry.

If the lumpiness can be felt throughout the breast and feels like your other breast, then it is probably normal breast tissue. Lumps that feel harder or different from the rest of the breast (or the other breast) or that feel like a change are a concern. When this type of lump is found, it may be a sign of breast cancer or a benign breast condition (such as a cyst or fibroadenoma). Click to learn more about benign breast conditions.

See your health care provider if:

• You find a new lump or any change that feels different from the rest of your breast.
• You find a new lump or any change that feels different from your other breast.
• Feel something that is different from what you felt before.

If you are unsure whether you should have a lump checked, it is best to see your provider. Although a lump may be nothing to worry about, you will have the peace of mind that it has been checked.

Nipple Discharge

Liquid leaking from your nipple (nipple discharge) can be troubling, but it is rarely a sign of cancer. Discharge can be your body’s natural reaction when the nipple is squeezed. Signs of a more serious condition, such as breast cancer, include:

• Discharge that occurs without squeezing the nipple

• Discharge that occurs in only one breast

• Discharge that has blood in it or is clear (not milky)

Nipple discharge can also be caused by an infection or another condition that needs medical treatment. For these reasons, if you have any nipple discharge, see your health care provider.

Learn more about healthy lifestyles and women's health at www.mtauburnobgyn.com
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Source:  http://www.komencincinnati.org/

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - Know the Facts

September is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) Awareness Month.  Here are some facts about PCOS you need to know:

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is an incurable disorder that affects 1 in 10 women and over 50% do not know they have it.

It is the most common endocrine cause of infertility and serious weight gain in women. PCOS can also cause acne, oily skin, dandruff, increased growth of hair on face but male pattern baldness, skin tags, pelvic pain, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea and more.

The more than 50% that do not know they have PCOS are in danger of diabetes or pre-diabetes, risk of heart attack is 4-7x higher, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, endometrial cancer, increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

With the help of blood tests and pelvic ultrasounds, PCOS can be detected early enough to treat the many symptoms and ward off any serious diseases.

If you are experiencing symptoms of PCOS, call your doctor and make an appointment: 513-241-4774. For additional information, visit mtauburnobgyn.com or www.pcosaa.org. 

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