Any health care reform is way too far away to help women struggling today to make ends meet.  A survey of women  this year by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) found that 14% had postponed their annual gyn check up due to the economy. Fifteen percent have cut back or stopped taking medication because of cost.  Other studies confirm this trend estimating that up to 1 in 4 people are postponing preventative health care.

Health care providers are understandably concerned that these delays in preventative health care such as pelvic exam, pap smears, mammograms and more will result  in  serious health problems down the road.   The benefits of preventative health care is just that, preventing illness or late diagnosis.

If you have lost your health insurance or know someone who has, here are a few suggestions:

1.  Ask about discounts or payment plans for office visits. Many health care organizations have programs for people who self pay.

2.  Take advantage of generic drug programs by national chains.  Walmart, CVS, Kroger and many others have programs covering hundreds of medications.  This includes hormone thrapy, osteoporosis medications and anti-depressants, to name a few.  The cost for these medications  may be $4-10 a month.

3.  Check out discount programs  by pharmaceutical companies.   A good resource is www.rxassist.com.

4.  Be savvy about drug costs.  Go to www.michigandrugprices.com  to compare prices at local pharmacies.   If you are not in Michigan maybe your state has a similar resource. Do a search.

5. Recommit to a healthy lifestyle.  It’s difficult enough to be sick during good times.  No one can afford to get sick during bad times. Take care of yourself.  Exercise, diet and stress management is even more important now.

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

 
Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, School of Nursing, The University
of Texas at Austin and her colleagues are conducting a study to
explore ethnic differences in midlife women’s attitudes toward
physical activity. You are eligible to participate in this study if you are a midlife woman aged 40 to 60 years old who does not have any mobility problems; who can read and write English; who is online; and whose self-reported ethnic identity is Hispanic, non-Hispanic (N-H) White, N-H African
American, or N-H Asian.  Data will be collected through
the Internet from Feb. 1, 2008 to May 31, 2011.  Methods for the data
collection include an Internet survey among 500& midlife women in the
U.S. on the Internet and four ethnic-specific online forum
discussions among about 30 midlife women per ethnic group
recruited among the Internet survey participants.
Your involvement will consist of the following: (a) about 30 minutes
are usually needed to complete the Internet survey questionnaire;
and (b) online forums will be conducted for 6 months, should
you agree to participate in the additional online forum discussion.
Your participation is asynchronous (you can visit the online forum
site and read and post messages at your convenience).
You will receive a gift certificate of 10 dollars for filling out the survey, and an additional gift certificate of 50 dollars for participating in the additional
online forum (only those who participate in the additional online
forum for 6 months will be provided with this additional gift
certificate). To get reimbursed for the online forums, you have to
post at least one message per topic. For more information,
please visit at our website http://mapa.nur.utexas.edu/MAPA/ and/or
contact us.

Contact Information:

Chelsea McPeek. Research Assistant, School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin

E:mail: cgmcpeek@mail.utexas.edu

1700 Red River, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 475-6352
Website: http://mapa.nur.utexas.edu/MAPA/
IP: 128.83.241.133

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

Would you consider paying to allow someone to poke needles in your body?  No?  What if I told you that the result may be less hot flashes, better sleep, return of sex drive and more energy?  Got your attention?  Well,  then read on about acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been around for about 5,000 years.  Very thin “needles” are placed in key areas of the body called meridians to stimulate and balance the flow of energy through the body.  It has been used by an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults.  Benefits have been published in peer-reviewed western medical literature and studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health

Acupuncture is often used in combination with Chinese herbal medicine and referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Increasingly TCM and other alternative health modalities such as mind/body therapy and massage is being combined with conventional ( allopathic) western medicine to achieve enhanced results.  Referred to as Integrative Medicine it is hoped, by practitioners in both camps, to bring the best of both worlds together.  TCM is being used for various women’s health issues such as menopausal symptoms,  cancer support, emotional health issues and chronic disease management.  All issues close to the hearts of many of us of a certain age.

In 2008 Henry Ford Health System oncologist, Dr. Eleanor Walker with the assistance of  acupuncturist, Beth Kohn conducted a study with 47 breast cancer patients.  These patients were all on tamoxifen or Arimidex to reduce cancer recurrence.   Hot flashes are a common side effect of these two drugs.  Half of the women received acupuncture treatment and half were given the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor).  Effexor has also been shown to reduce hot flashes.  At the end of 12 weeks both groups reported 50-75%  fewer hot flashes.  The acupuncture group reported no side effect and other improvements such as  improved sense of well being, more energy and higher sex drive.  The antidepressant group did not experience these benefits.

This is useful information to those of us who may be struggling with menopausal symptoms but do not want the side effects of hormone therapy or antidepressants.  Although most health insurance companies do not cover the cost of acupuncture, it is eligible for reimbursement from a health care  flexible spending account.  Many large health care organizations around the country have Integrative Medicine Centers were you can be assured of getting well trained, reliable practitioners.  If you are interested in more information and live in  southeastern Michigan, contact Henry Ford Center for Integrative Medicine  at 248-380-6201.  Tell them you are “poking around” for some answers.

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

 February is Women’s Heart Health Awareness Month.  This is the  20th year for the campaign and the 5 th year for the Red dress promotion to increase awareness of  heart disease in women.  This is particularly important during  menopause because this  time marks an increased risk for heart disease.    Heart disease is the #1 killer of women.  Each year, heart attacks kill six times more women than breast cancer.   The good news is that risk can be controlled  and heart disease can be prevented.  This is what you need to know.

 KNOW YOUR RISK FACTORS.  Risk factors include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, being over 55 years old, family history.

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS.   Optimals are:  BP<120/80.  Total cholesterol <200. LDL<130.  HDL>50.  Triglycerides <150.  Fasting glucose <100.  Body mass Index (BMI) <25.  waist circumference <35 inches.  Consult your health care provider to discuss evaluation and management.  For more information and a BMI calculator go to www.henryford.com/knowyournumbers

KNOW HOW TO REDUCE RISK. Exercise and eat right. Exercise and eat right. Exercise and eat right.  A normal weight and regular activity can, in many cases, prevent risk factors of diabetes and high blood pressure.  Get treatment for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.  Medications are effective and will prevent heart attack.   

KNOW HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS.

.     Chest discomfort

·     Usually in the center of the chest

·     Lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back

·     Can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain

·     Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

·     Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort

·     Other symptoms, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness

KNOW WHAT TO DO.  If you have symptoms do not delay.  Go to emergency room.  Dissolve an asprin under your tongue if you have one. Women are more likely to delay treatment and more likely to die of a heart attack than men.  They are less likely to be treated accurately for heart disease than men.  Less likely to be given medications like beta blockers, statins and ACE inhibitors which can be crutial in preventing advancement of heart disease.  So know your stuff, ladies. 

To learn more go to www.womenheart.org.  If you live in the Detroit Metro area check out our Menopause Support Circles this month.  Our topic is Heart Health. We are having speakers from our cardiovascular institute on several dates and locations. 

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

Although I don’t have children in my household heading back to school, September still evokes a feeling of new beginings.   The lazy days of summer are transitioning into the bustle of fall and the coming winter. This is a perfect time to take advantage of opportunities to learn something new, connect with old friends or make new ones.   Invest in yourself.  Studies have shown that people who have more interaction with others are healthier and happier.  Learning keeps your brain and memory sharp.  Doing something enjoyable is good stress relief.  Below are a few ideas and resources.

Take a class.  Look through those catalogs you have been getting from your local community college, city school system and recreation department.  They are full of interesting “enrichment” classes.  Skills ranging from yoga, bird watching, palm reading to a variety of arts and crafts are yours for a phone call and small fee.  Many have senior citizen rates.  There are  day and evening courses and even on-line courses.

Program for Women: Science for a Healthy Brain. Sponsored by  Henry Ford Health System Neurology Department, this is a series of three programs.     Physican speakers will address topics near and dear to the heart of menopausal women, so consider attending. There is no charge.   From 6:00 to 7:30p.m. at Fairlane Health Center, Dearborn.  September 11 topic is Sleep, October 9 is Mood, and October 30 is Memory. Call 313-916-8088 for more infomation and to reserve a spot.  See you there.  I’m already signed up.

Attend a retreat.  No matter what your religion or beliefs, retreat houses generally welcome everyone.  St. Paul’s Retreat house in Detroit is a lovely oasis with many programs for women.  They have a day long program  called “Women in Midlife-A Mosaic of Transitions.  It is designed for nurses and offers CEUs but is open and appropriate for all.  A donation of $70 is suggested.  Go to www.passionist.org/stpauls  or call 313-535-9563 for more information on this or their other programs.

Click the link on the right.  Henry Ford Health System has numerous programs and events, most free.  Go to site and click on Henry Ford Classes for a calendar.  In addition to the Menopause support group information you will find programs for weight management, back care and more.

What other ideas or resources have you discovered and enjoyed in your community?  I would love to hear about them.

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

As a certified nurse-midwife I not only take care of pregnant women, I care for women throughout the life-span. Routine annual exams, urinary tract and vaginal infections, irregular periods and menopausal complaints often find their way to my clinic exam room. Many of my patients are experiencing the challenges of menopause. “ Listen to Women “ has been a motto used by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and that is what I have done for over ten years. What I have heard behind closed doors has been an amazing education. The same skills that allow me to midwife women through the changes of pregnancy and childbirth are also appreciated by women during the changes of menopause.

With more and more baby boomers reaching this certain age, the expectation for knowledge and support is growing. Self-determination, when it comes to making health care decisions, has been this generation’s Modus Operandi. We are after all, the generation that revolutionized obstetrical care, making childbirth education and natural childbirth commonplace.

And so onward we travel. Experiencing a need personally and through my patients, I became credentialed as a menopause practitioner through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). In October of 2006 I did a very well attended talk for consumers on menopause and received many requests to start a support group. Since April 2007 we have had 9 support group meetings with topics ranging from heart health to sexuality. Participation is growing but I would like to reach a wider audience. What better way than a blog?

A blog or Web log is simply a type of web site in a format that allows for easy updating and feedback. The most recent entries will be at the top. This will allow the easy addition of new information and comments on health related news stories quickly. Another beauty of a blog is the ability for readers to comment and ask questions.

My goal is to offer a reliable source of accurate material useful to anyone looking for information related to menopausal health. The internet may be jam packed with information, but who can you trust? Many sites and blogs are sponsored by companies or people selling things. Information may be opinion rather than research based. Writers may not have any medical background, These blogs all have their place, but browser beware!

This blog has the sponsorship and backing of a world class health care organization- Henry Ford Health System of Detroit, Michigan. I will cover topical information offered in our support group meetings, comment on health care news and respond to your questions and comments. As member of an extensive and renowned health care system, if I don’t know an answer, I certainly know where to find it!

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN