There is nothing pretty about that, except the honesty. I saw a healthy recipe today that consisted of white beans, olive oil, basil leaves, sea salt and a dab of balsamic vinegar. It looked yummy, especially since I love white beans. However (and that is a mighty big HOWEVER), I was concerned about creating this dish for guests, as I was certain that it would give me the dreaded PUBLIC GAS EXPLOSION.
I began thinking about how gas is generated in our gastrointestinal systems and is there a time of the month that we should be more concerned about how much fiber we consume. The beinggirl.com site had a brief paragraph about how gas is formed. For those of you who read my profile, you know I am a beinggirl.com women’s health expert. It is important for me that you know that experts help ensure accuracy by reviewing the health content on the site. Check it out, as there are all kinds of great health facts on beinggirl beyond just gas stuff. I digress.
The responses to the two questions below are copied from beinggirl.com:
Why do people fart? (Personally, I really don’t like the word fart and prefer a more medical term like flatulence or the common term of ‘gas’. The word fart seems so crass for some reason. My daughter would tell me that I am being a bit hypocritical. Oh well.)
A fart (flatulence) happens when your body gets rid of excess gas or air through the rectum. Gas builds up from the action of bacteria on undigested food, or air is swallowed while eating.
How can I control it?
While everyone has to fart, it can be somewhat controlled. Eat slower so you swallow less air. Don’t chew gum, which makes you swallow air. Cut down on sodas that produce gas. Substitute another high fiber food for major gas creators like beans or corn. Exercise also helps.”
In thinking about this further, I wondered if there’s a time of month when you have more gas explosions than another?
According to the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus discussion on abdominal swelling or distension, PMS can cause abdominal bloating. However, abdominal swelling doesn’t necessarily result in gas. Also, WebMD has a really interesting article on flatulence that you may want to check out. The content is referenced to its emedicine health section that has an editorial review board of MDs. You can go to WebMD and search flatulence. While I have seen some discussion, on other non-medically referenced sites, about the link to PMS and hormone changes, the WebMD article didn’t offer that as a reason for flatulence. For those reading this who say they do get gassy during PMS time, I say NO DOUBT. Are you eating more and do you crave foods you don’t necessarily eat when you aren’t PMSing – just asking.
Before I end my gas post, and very seriously, if you think you have excessive gas and anything has changed for you digestively, see your health care provider for an evaluation. Now, and not seriously, read below where I copied two humorous points from the WebMD article on flatulence:
History has numerous anecdotal accounts of flatulence, including Hippocrates himself professing, "Passing gas is necessary to well-being." The Roman Emperor Claudius equally decreed that "all Roman citizens shall be allowed to pass gas whenever necessary." Unfortunately for flatulent Romans, however, Emperor Constantine later reversed this decision in a 315 BC edict.
In the mid-1800s flatulence took center stage with the French entertainer Joseph Pugol ("Le Petomane"). Pugol was able to pass gas at will and at varying pitch, thereby playing tunes for sold-out shows at the Moulin Rouge. Such was his success that lesser competitors began to appear, including the Spaniard "El Rey" and the female Angele Thiebeau (later revealed as a fake using hidden air bellows).
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
What is excellence in women’s health services?
I have a friend who is a registered nurse and an attorney employed by a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) type of institution as a lawyer. However, she has been a women’s health advocate for many years. Her HMO recognizes that and has asked her to serve on a community panel with the goal to develop strategies to improve local health care services for women.
She recently asked me what I think excellence looks like when it comes to women’s healthcare. I immediately thought of my physicians. Yes, I said physicians in the plural because I have an OBGyn (now strictly gynecology, since I am long past any OB needed services!), an internist (fortunately nothing more serious than colds, occasional stomach aches and biannual physicals), a dermatologist (to tell me that the spots on my face aren’t cancer but the result of sun and age), and an orthopedic surgeon (yes, I am a baby boomer who used to jog and ruptured a disc 12 years ago. Old back injuries just keep on giving and not in a good way). Two are women and two are men. I think all are excellent practitioners. The question is why do I think that and what does that have to do with women’s health services in the general. Read on and I will share some thoughts of what I think constitutes excellent women’s health services:
Treats me like a person, not just a generic no-name patient: When I go to the doctor for a health care check-up or when I am ill, I want to be viewed as a total person. I am a mother, a grandmother, a wife, and a professional, vain, happy, in excellent health mostly, weigh more than I should or want, independent, menopausal and a health communicator. Actually, I am more than that, but the point being is that I not just a random person who comes into the office and then gets called the generic PATIENT. Even if it is a first visit, I want the physician and staff to call me by my name. I am not a stickler for first or last name, just want them to know my name and look me in the eye when we talk.
Has excellent credentials: We moved to our current location almost 4 years ago from a city and state my husband and I had lived in for all of our adult lives. Needless to say, we left behind trusted medical specialists, dentists, ophthalmologists and hair stylists, amongst other service providers. Before making new appointments, I checked out who were part of the network for my health insurance provider. Then, I googled the doctors I was considering to make certain that they were board certified in their fields and had gone to well-respected universities. It was also helpful to review local medial review sites to see what others thought about the doctors. Then, I made my appointments with the thought that if I didn’t feel comfortable with the doctor, I could change practices. So far, I really like my choices.
Asks me questions to clarify and explains treatment options: Years ago, I went to see a doctor because I was feeling really tired and worn out. At the time, my daughter was very young and active, I was working as a nurse on the afternoon or night shift, I was taking classes to earn my BSN in nursing and doing all of the other stuff that I enjoyed in the spare time that I had left. I told the doctor about all of my activities. In any case, the doctor took blood from me, which I assumed was to check to for anemia or something worse and prescribed a medication, which I hadn’t heard of before. He told me to take it for 2 months and then let him know how it was working. Before filling the prescription, I looked up the drug in the PDR (Physician’s Drug Reference). This was way before Internet! What I found was that the medication was an antidepressant. I couldn’t believe it! In hindsight, the doctor asked if I was depressed and I said something like NOT REALLY, but I do feel kind of down when I am so tired. In any case, I never filled the prescription, nor did I return to the doctor. He made a wrong assumption based on little information. While I don’t expect to sit in an office for hours, I do want to be told why the doctor prescribed as he did and not be coy. Obviously I am still aggravated about that.
Takes the team approach: While my health care professional is the expert, I am the person that needs to adhere to any treatment options that are prescribed. We have to agree that I will do what is recommended or it won’t work. For example, I hate to take medication and would rather find ways to seek wellness without drugs. There are ways to help avoid problems, such as diet modifications if one is constipated or weight loss, physical therapy and exercise instead of pain medication. No doubt that there are times when medications are needed to fight infections or for other issues, but there are also precautions one can take to help avoid the need. An example is that I try to avoid visiting my grandchildren when they are coughing, sneezing and vomiting. Recently we were all vacationing together and 2 of the little ones were feverish, lethargic and hacking away. They were placed on antibiotics and felt better within 24-hours. Then, I got sick and took antibiotics too. The point I am making is that sometimes you have to do what you have to do in regards to meds, but sometimes there are other ways. It is important for me to have an HCP that works with me to develop other approaches to health and I consider that excellence in health care.
Stays current in their field of expertise: Consumers today are kept apprised of advances in health care because of the ease of access of information on the Internet. We expect our health care providers to do the same. When I ask a question, I appreciate a nod from my doctor letting me know he is aware of what I read and why I am asking the question. We then have a brief talk about why or why not what I read is appropriate for my specific situation. Also, I want to hear from my HCP too about some new advance that can work for me. Once in awhile one of my HCPs will tell me about something he or she learned at a medical conference. That is big to me because I know they are interested in learning about the latest and greatest in research and practice and not just falling back on the old and outdated.
Ease of access or location, location, location: One thing I have begun to appreciate lately are HCPs that have several office locations around the city. This way, I can book an appointment on the day of the week the doctor is in the office closest to where I live. Love when I don’t have to plan a half-day around a 15- minute office visit.
Summary: Note that I what I have included as components of women’s health services aren’t really specific to women’s health. They are aspect of clinical practice that could apply to both genders. Perhaps that is the key. I believe that the women’s health component is more related to a HCPs appreciation that I am a woman and that my treatment should be specific to my gender and my needs as a female consumer of health and wellness. To my friend: Sorry I wasn’t more helpful. Perhaps those reading this can offer suggestions that will be more insightful as your committee seeks to improve women’s healthcare services in your community.
Please post any ideas that I can pass along and THANK YOU!
She recently asked me what I think excellence looks like when it comes to women’s healthcare. I immediately thought of my physicians. Yes, I said physicians in the plural because I have an OBGyn (now strictly gynecology, since I am long past any OB needed services!), an internist (fortunately nothing more serious than colds, occasional stomach aches and biannual physicals), a dermatologist (to tell me that the spots on my face aren’t cancer but the result of sun and age), and an orthopedic surgeon (yes, I am a baby boomer who used to jog and ruptured a disc 12 years ago. Old back injuries just keep on giving and not in a good way). Two are women and two are men. I think all are excellent practitioners. The question is why do I think that and what does that have to do with women’s health services in the general. Read on and I will share some thoughts of what I think constitutes excellent women’s health services:
Treats me like a person, not just a generic no-name patient: When I go to the doctor for a health care check-up or when I am ill, I want to be viewed as a total person. I am a mother, a grandmother, a wife, and a professional, vain, happy, in excellent health mostly, weigh more than I should or want, independent, menopausal and a health communicator. Actually, I am more than that, but the point being is that I not just a random person who comes into the office and then gets called the generic PATIENT. Even if it is a first visit, I want the physician and staff to call me by my name. I am not a stickler for first or last name, just want them to know my name and look me in the eye when we talk.
Has excellent credentials: We moved to our current location almost 4 years ago from a city and state my husband and I had lived in for all of our adult lives. Needless to say, we left behind trusted medical specialists, dentists, ophthalmologists and hair stylists, amongst other service providers. Before making new appointments, I checked out who were part of the network for my health insurance provider. Then, I googled the doctors I was considering to make certain that they were board certified in their fields and had gone to well-respected universities. It was also helpful to review local medial review sites to see what others thought about the doctors. Then, I made my appointments with the thought that if I didn’t feel comfortable with the doctor, I could change practices. So far, I really like my choices.
Asks me questions to clarify and explains treatment options: Years ago, I went to see a doctor because I was feeling really tired and worn out. At the time, my daughter was very young and active, I was working as a nurse on the afternoon or night shift, I was taking classes to earn my BSN in nursing and doing all of the other stuff that I enjoyed in the spare time that I had left. I told the doctor about all of my activities. In any case, the doctor took blood from me, which I assumed was to check to for anemia or something worse and prescribed a medication, which I hadn’t heard of before. He told me to take it for 2 months and then let him know how it was working. Before filling the prescription, I looked up the drug in the PDR (Physician’s Drug Reference). This was way before Internet! What I found was that the medication was an antidepressant. I couldn’t believe it! In hindsight, the doctor asked if I was depressed and I said something like NOT REALLY, but I do feel kind of down when I am so tired. In any case, I never filled the prescription, nor did I return to the doctor. He made a wrong assumption based on little information. While I don’t expect to sit in an office for hours, I do want to be told why the doctor prescribed as he did and not be coy. Obviously I am still aggravated about that.
Takes the team approach: While my health care professional is the expert, I am the person that needs to adhere to any treatment options that are prescribed. We have to agree that I will do what is recommended or it won’t work. For example, I hate to take medication and would rather find ways to seek wellness without drugs. There are ways to help avoid problems, such as diet modifications if one is constipated or weight loss, physical therapy and exercise instead of pain medication. No doubt that there are times when medications are needed to fight infections or for other issues, but there are also precautions one can take to help avoid the need. An example is that I try to avoid visiting my grandchildren when they are coughing, sneezing and vomiting. Recently we were all vacationing together and 2 of the little ones were feverish, lethargic and hacking away. They were placed on antibiotics and felt better within 24-hours. Then, I got sick and took antibiotics too. The point I am making is that sometimes you have to do what you have to do in regards to meds, but sometimes there are other ways. It is important for me to have an HCP that works with me to develop other approaches to health and I consider that excellence in health care.
Stays current in their field of expertise: Consumers today are kept apprised of advances in health care because of the ease of access of information on the Internet. We expect our health care providers to do the same. When I ask a question, I appreciate a nod from my doctor letting me know he is aware of what I read and why I am asking the question. We then have a brief talk about why or why not what I read is appropriate for my specific situation. Also, I want to hear from my HCP too about some new advance that can work for me. Once in awhile one of my HCPs will tell me about something he or she learned at a medical conference. That is big to me because I know they are interested in learning about the latest and greatest in research and practice and not just falling back on the old and outdated.
Ease of access or location, location, location: One thing I have begun to appreciate lately are HCPs that have several office locations around the city. This way, I can book an appointment on the day of the week the doctor is in the office closest to where I live. Love when I don’t have to plan a half-day around a 15- minute office visit.
Summary: Note that I what I have included as components of women’s health services aren’t really specific to women’s health. They are aspect of clinical practice that could apply to both genders. Perhaps that is the key. I believe that the women’s health component is more related to a HCPs appreciation that I am a woman and that my treatment should be specific to my gender and my needs as a female consumer of health and wellness. To my friend: Sorry I wasn’t more helpful. Perhaps those reading this can offer suggestions that will be more insightful as your committee seeks to improve women’s healthcare services in your community.
Please post any ideas that I can pass along and THANK YOU!
Monday, July 11, 2011
What to Believe… What to Believe – Finding the facts about health, product safety and the American Way.
The reason I am blogging about this is because I recently read erroneous information about a disease from a small company that sells a so-called solution. It isn’t the first time I have seen junk information used to sell, but for some reason this time it just ticked me off in a big way!
It was one of those “use my product and you won’t have to worry about getting ill”. That kind of stuff makes me absolutely crazy, since there aren’t credible, scientific studies or facts to back up what is being said!! Usually the company states that they are the only ones that offer this risk-free, stay healthy product – out of the goodness of their heart, but for a cost. The only thing you can find with that type of misleading advertising are trusting consumers looking to be healthy, happy, fit and slim. I find it misleading, dangerous and horridly greedy. I have a very dear friend who reads a publication on alternative health “solutions” and frequently thinks she had found a cure to what ails her – and usually many of her friends too. She then sends out mass-emails with links to let her group of friends know, so that they too can take advantage of the solution. My friend doesn’t profit or sell the stuff; she only wants to help others. However, the claims still aren’t true despite her best intentions. If anyone trying the solution is lucky, the only thing they will loose is the cost of the product and not their health.
In my profile, I talk about wanting to help others who may not have information on a condition or may not understand heavy-duty medical information because they aren’t medical professionals. I offer to answer questions after researching a topic. Even when I know about a disease or disorder, I still want to ensure that I am providing the latest credible information. LATEST and CREDIBLE are the keys here.
I will stop my venting and lecturing and share where I find the reliable health information I use when responding to questions and comments:
1) National Institute of Health (NIH): The NIH is “NIH is the nation’s medical research agency—supporting scientific studies that turn discovery into health.” At the NIH site, you can find great health information and all kinds of topics and conditions. The information is backed up by clinical research and credible studies done in a methodical and scientific way. Medical review by other clinicians without a vested interest in the outcome is key to ensuring good data. Just do a Google NIH search and visit their home page. It is easy to get around their site and you can find all kinds of health information. They also have a section specific to women’s health.
2) Medical Organizations: A site I visit frequently is The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). They have an ACOG patient page, which houses the latest consumer brochures from leading experts in women’s healthcare. Often I link to a brochure or topic area, as the brochures are written so that even those who aren’t medical professionals can understand the content. Another favorite site of mine to reference is the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). They also have a resource area with research, education and health policy. Actually, most professional medical organizations have sites that contain the same type of information, relevant to the disease state or overall topic area.
3) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA site has information on food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics, amongst others. Also there is the latest medical or health news and events, as well as a place to report a problem with a product or advertisement, criminal activity etc. I usually access drug information from the FDA site, though most pharmaceutical company sites have similar information about their drugs, as the FDA requires it.
4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Love this site. On their home page they have easy to maneuver sections on health and safety topics, such as: Diseases and Conditions, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Healthy Living, Travelers Health, etc. It is definitely worth a visit to their content area.
5) Medically reviewed articles: I sometimes go to sites like WebMD, as they have really good medically authored and/or reviewed articles that are easy to find and understand. Other sites have similar type of content that I check out too. Some product sites have excellent information. Check the references though. The key here is to look at who authored the article, what is his or her educational background and did anyone else review the content. Being a nurse, I like articles that have a medical professional as the primary author or the one who reviewed the article for content accuracy. Also, check the dates of the research being used for the article or opinion. Usually research that is older than 10 years is outdated and there is more recent information that is more relevant to ones needs and the current state of the topic, product or disease state.
Hope this helps someone else get to sound information or at the very least be a better consumer of health information they may read in ads. Also, continue to feel free to ask away, as I love to answer health questions using the most credible, scientifically based information written or reviewed by health care professionals!
It was one of those “use my product and you won’t have to worry about getting ill”. That kind of stuff makes me absolutely crazy, since there aren’t credible, scientific studies or facts to back up what is being said!! Usually the company states that they are the only ones that offer this risk-free, stay healthy product – out of the goodness of their heart, but for a cost. The only thing you can find with that type of misleading advertising are trusting consumers looking to be healthy, happy, fit and slim. I find it misleading, dangerous and horridly greedy. I have a very dear friend who reads a publication on alternative health “solutions” and frequently thinks she had found a cure to what ails her – and usually many of her friends too. She then sends out mass-emails with links to let her group of friends know, so that they too can take advantage of the solution. My friend doesn’t profit or sell the stuff; she only wants to help others. However, the claims still aren’t true despite her best intentions. If anyone trying the solution is lucky, the only thing they will loose is the cost of the product and not their health.
In my profile, I talk about wanting to help others who may not have information on a condition or may not understand heavy-duty medical information because they aren’t medical professionals. I offer to answer questions after researching a topic. Even when I know about a disease or disorder, I still want to ensure that I am providing the latest credible information. LATEST and CREDIBLE are the keys here.
I will stop my venting and lecturing and share where I find the reliable health information I use when responding to questions and comments:
1) National Institute of Health (NIH): The NIH is “NIH is the nation’s medical research agency—supporting scientific studies that turn discovery into health.” At the NIH site, you can find great health information and all kinds of topics and conditions. The information is backed up by clinical research and credible studies done in a methodical and scientific way. Medical review by other clinicians without a vested interest in the outcome is key to ensuring good data. Just do a Google NIH search and visit their home page. It is easy to get around their site and you can find all kinds of health information. They also have a section specific to women’s health.
2) Medical Organizations: A site I visit frequently is The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). They have an ACOG patient page, which houses the latest consumer brochures from leading experts in women’s healthcare. Often I link to a brochure or topic area, as the brochures are written so that even those who aren’t medical professionals can understand the content. Another favorite site of mine to reference is the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). They also have a resource area with research, education and health policy. Actually, most professional medical organizations have sites that contain the same type of information, relevant to the disease state or overall topic area.
3) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA site has information on food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics, amongst others. Also there is the latest medical or health news and events, as well as a place to report a problem with a product or advertisement, criminal activity etc. I usually access drug information from the FDA site, though most pharmaceutical company sites have similar information about their drugs, as the FDA requires it.
4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Love this site. On their home page they have easy to maneuver sections on health and safety topics, such as: Diseases and Conditions, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Healthy Living, Travelers Health, etc. It is definitely worth a visit to their content area.
5) Medically reviewed articles: I sometimes go to sites like WebMD, as they have really good medically authored and/or reviewed articles that are easy to find and understand. Other sites have similar type of content that I check out too. Some product sites have excellent information. Check the references though. The key here is to look at who authored the article, what is his or her educational background and did anyone else review the content. Being a nurse, I like articles that have a medical professional as the primary author or the one who reviewed the article for content accuracy. Also, check the dates of the research being used for the article or opinion. Usually research that is older than 10 years is outdated and there is more recent information that is more relevant to ones needs and the current state of the topic, product or disease state.
Hope this helps someone else get to sound information or at the very least be a better consumer of health information they may read in ads. Also, continue to feel free to ask away, as I love to answer health questions using the most credible, scientifically based information written or reviewed by health care professionals!
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