More and more medical professionals are going into the area of women’s health. To accommodate this change, the University of Indianapolis is offering two new women’s health related options for School of Nursing graduate students.

For students in the Master of Science in Nursing program, a new women’s health nurse practitioner program is being offered. This program devotes “special attention to women’s health issues from preconception through post-menopausal care.”

The state is also offering a first-ever affiliated forensic nursing certificate program in their sexual assault nurse examiner certificate. This course helps “prepare students for the physical, psychological and legal/evidentiary needs of sexual abuse victims.”

Nice to see more attention paid to women’s health. I hope this trend is one that continues to other nursing programs throughout the country.

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If you’re like most women, you probably spent part of yesterday making food, watching kids, and entertaining guests, all while trying to sit down and have a (somewhat) healthy meal yourself. Now that the festivities for the 4th of July are over, you probably feel like kicking back and doing nothing today. And you should. But there are also a few other things you should do.

Take a Walk

Women are often the ones that encourage other family members to get out and exercise. Today, do yourself and your family a favor by suggesting a walk. The kids can ride along on their bikes if they want, but have your family take a stroll around your neighborhood. It doesn’t have to be power walking, just brisk enough where you each get some exercise while still enjoying each other’s company.

Go Easy on Dinner

It’s the end of a busy weekend, so take a break from making a traditional dinner by having something quick and light. Try cereal or sandwiches instead of a heavy meal.

Play a Board Game

Board games are a great way for families to bond. The kids will enjoy interacting with their parents, and might even appreciate a break from video games. Parents will get a much-needed break from TV.

Call Up a Pal

Talking with a friend is a surefire way to reduce stress. Call up a long lost pal and gab about your weekend. Take the phone in a room and shut the door to really make it time out just for you.

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If you’re a middle aged lady who gets frequent migraines, you may be at a higher risk for stroke. A migraine is defined as “the flashing lights, a certain smell, or other sights or sounds that can signal oncoming pain.” Research suggests that the more frequent your migraines, the greater the risk.

Five percent of women had migraines once a week or more. These women were “four times as likely to have had a stroke” as women without migraines.

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It’s just a fact of life today, that when we have a question about our health, the first place we’re likely to look for an answer is on the Web. But when it comes to the Internet, who do you trust? After all, there is so much misinformation out there that it can be difficult to get a straight answer.
Here are some trusted resources listed by MSN Health that are especially good with questions regarding women’s health issues:

• Go Ask Alice, a question-and-answer service maintained by Columbia University
• The Center for Young Women’s Health, an educational effort of Children’s Hospital Boston
• TeensHealth, a part of KidsHealth.org
• Teenwire, an educational site for teens maintained by Planned Parenthood

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It’s long been thought that the reason most people take a big, long nap after Thanksgiving dinner is because of the tryptophan in turkey. Low and behold, however, scientists are now claiming that turkey doesn’t have enough tryptophan in it to put you to sleep.

So if you are having troubles sleeping at night, they advice eating something that is “light but high-carbohydrate snacks” because they increase your natural level of serotonin. Snacks like:

• Half of a whole-wheat English muffin or raisin bagel drizzled with honey
• Two cups of air-popped popcorn
• A small slice of angel food cake topped with berries
• A frozen whole-wheat waffle, toasted, with maple syrup
• Half a cup of pretzels

are the perfect choice for a pre-bedtime munch. They’ll help you sleep but not make you so full you’ll get indigestion.

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How many times do we hear about a doctor who doesn’t listen to us? Or one that doesn’t take the time to figure out what’s really wrong when we tell them our health concerns. I suppose sometimes doctors become immune to hearing patients complain.

Well Jessica Terry, an 18-year old student from Washington was in her Advanced Placement high school science class and looking at her own tissue slides. Terry had been suffering from terrible stomach pain that “brought her to her knees. The pain, along with diarrhea, vomiting and fever, made her so sick, she lost weight and often had to miss school.”

She took the same tissue that her doctor said was perfectly normal, and examined it under the microscope. She saw “an area of inflamed tissue” which she sent to her doctor, and has now been diagnosed as Crohn’s disease.

The kid found her own disease. The one her doctor’s couldn’t find.

Pretty amazing. Terry will be going to nursing school in fall, and she’s also written a children’s book about Crohn’s disease.

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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded a grant to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Researchers at VCU will help :
“determine the role of genetics in the composition of vaginal microorganisms, changes in the vaginal microbiome associated with disease, and changes associated with common physiological states such as pregnancy or menopause, as well as those that occur in chronic states such as diabetes.”

They have just been awarded the first year of the $11.5 million federal grant. The vaginal microbiome can be affected by things such as vaginosis, sexually transmitted disease, viral infections such as HPV or even HIV-1, as well as normal (healthy) events like pregnancy. Studies of this kind are being done throughout the country, and will help to better understand women’s health issues. It could mean the development of drugs or therapies to keep women healthy and protect them from certain diseases.

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Another form of parenting consists of caring for one’s parents or elderly relatives. You’ve gone from being parented to parenting that older person.   Most caregivers go into this stage of life without adequate preparation or support.

Finding caregiver support groups in your area, or online, can be a challenge.  Here are a few suggestions.

Check out the following places in your community to see if they have a support group or know of any:

• Home health agencies
• Senior Center
• Local Hospital
• Local Nursing homes
• State Alzheimer’s Association
• State Department of the Elderly or Family Services
• Others caring for elderly parents or spouses

If there is nothing in your community, the groups meet when you’re at work, or you live too far from an organized community, you might want to check out online support groups.  Also, by reading blogs about Alzheimer’s caregiving and leaving comments that the blogger and other readers might answer, you’ll feel more connected with the caregiver community and not so alone.

What suggestions do you have? Are there particular caregiver groups/organizations you find particularly helpful.

Cushings is one of those diseases that is often misdiagnosed. It’s symptoms include “thin, fragile skin, a rise in blood pressure, a moon face, an increase in abdominal fat, muscle weakness and facial hair.” Bones that break very easy is another sign, and could be confused with osteoporosis. Here’s another confusing fact, osteoporosis can also come from Cushings.

Too much cortisone is what’s to blame. If your symptoms include any of those listed above, talk to your doctor about the possibly of Cushings disease. They will most likely put you through a series of tests to find out the source of the disease. Surgery may be required.

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With the changing economy, many women are skipping checkups because they are simply too expensive. But if you’re in Wisconsin, I’ve got good news. All during the month of May, the Bridge Community Health Clinic will offer cervical cancer screens, pelvic exams, breast exams, and blood pressure checks. These “well-woman checkups” will only cost $25.

The clinic also works with Aspirus Women’s Health to see if patients can qualify for free mammograms. I love this proactive approach to providing health care at an affordable cost to those who need it, don’t you?

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