women’s health tips

What’s the best way to enjoy being a girl? Rodgers and Hammerstein compiled a few ideas in their musical, The Flower Drum Song, but that was over fifty years ago. Today, if you ask doctors (instead of songwriters) they are likely to bring up bone health.

“Osteoporosis didn’t used to be a problem 50 years ago because our life expectancy was age 65,” says Dr. James Schermerhorn, an obstetrician and gynecologist in East Dallas. “We all died before our bones gave out. Now life expectancy for a woman is 86. Her bones are aging and losing calcium density and strength.”

Because women build bone mass up until the age of 29, today’s young women have the opportunity to optimize their bone health before they reach 30. This is both the good news and the bad news. Good, because it is easily understood, and bad, because young women aren’t usually concerned with their calcium intake in their teens and twenties. Worse, women in their thirties and older hear this news and assume there is nothing more they can do to improve their bone health.

“We are going to be losing bone from age 30 on. That’s going to happen,” says Dr. Schermerhorn. “But our goal is to minimize the loss. The foundations of good bone health are: adequate calcium, adequate vitamin D and adequate exercise.”

The latest findings suggest that healthy levels of estrogen are a factor in promoting healthy bones. If a woman’s menstruation is erratic, it might be a sign of low estrogen levels, which could be caused by problems with the ovaries, or even too much exercise and weight loss for athletic women. During the precious bone-building years, any disruption in a woman’s menstrual cycle merits the attention of a doctor to help ensure hormone levels are adequate.

What about estrogen supplements later in life? In 2002, the

Women’s Health Initiative study caused widespread concern due to overwhelming evidence that the risks of taking hormones were greater than the benefits. Recently, doctors are re-evaluating the data. “We know it’s not good if we give hormones to the 60- and 70-year-olds, but the 50-year-olds come out pretty good,” says Dr. Schermerhorn. “If we stay with the lowest effective dose for symptom control, we can get most women through menopause so that it’s not a bad time of life.”

The top six health threats to women:

• Heart disease

• Cancer

• Stroke

• Respiratory diseases (bronchitis, emphysema)

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Accidents

The biggest threats to women’s health are often preventable, according to Dr. Jane Nokleberg of Walnut Hill OBGYN. “Women should be proactive and aggressive about their health, and stay attuned to changes like bloating or fatigue.” She worries that younger women are sometimes not vigilant enough about changes that might signal an early diagnosis. “Women of all ages need to do self-exams,” says Dr. Nokleberg.

Amid all the awareness of pap screens and mammograms, women shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that heart disease is still the number one threat, ahead of cancer and stroke. Dr. Jesy Joykutty of Park Lane OB/GYN Associates — A Baylor-Health Texas Affiliate says, “I like to put the emphasis on preventative health management, to minimize risk of diabetes and high blood pressure,” she says. “It’s also important to stay off multiple medications.”

Research shows that the same three aspects of a healthy lifestyle help reduce risk for all of the major threats to women’s health.

1) Choose to be smoke and tobacco free, and avoid secondhand smoke. This one step will improve circulation and cardiovascular efficiency.

2) Next, eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, to keep cholesterol levels low and reduce the danger of excess weight. Cholesterol causes plaque to build up in arteries. Extra pounds around the waist can be especially dangerous to women, because fat in the abdominal area apparently releases inflammatory molecules into the body.

3) Exercise. It’s important to find an activity you enjoy, so you’ll look forward to it. Adults should get two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week. In addition to cardio for heart health, women should include weight bearing exercise, which helps with bone health.

Katie Brumley of Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center says that women should not fear lifting weights. “Some women get uptight about weight training because they think they’re going to get big muscles,” she says. “Women don’t have the same hormones men do. We don’t have the same amount of testosterone, and our bodies are not going to respond the same way. But women will build lean muscle mass, and look thinner. You’re going to drop dress sizes. Your weight may not change, but your body composition will change.”

Studies show that exercise also helps alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Our bodies manufacture chemicals, called endorphins, before and after a workout. Endorphins relieve stress and improve moods. Now that fewer women take hormones to deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, many are taking anti-depressants. A common side effect to these medications is weight gain, which exercise can help minimize.

All of that sounds good, but where do we find time to implement it?

Experiment with modern low-fat recipes; many emphasize

At every stage of your life Dr. Schermerhorn is dedicated to providing excellent and attentive care. We are focused on what matters most to you. Pregnancy, hormonal issues, bladder dysfunction and minimally invasive surgery.

James Schermerhorn,

1151 N. Buckner Blvd., Suite 206 Dallas, Texas 75218 214.320.8447 fresh foods and minimize the number of ingredients. Need time to watch your favorite TV show? Why not multitask on the treadmill? If you thrive in social situations, join a gym. If you are an introvert, seek out on-line information and buddy-groups.

Make your health a priority, and maximize the joy of being a woman.

Quality Health Care Close to Home

Baylor Pediatric Center is accepting new patients, and can immediately accommodate your busy schedule. Put us on your calendar today.

For an appointment, call us today at (214) 823-2525 or visit www.BaylorPediatricCenter.com

M.D.

Baylor Health Center at North Dallas 9101 North Central Expressway, Suite 420 Dallas, TX 75231

Here at Walnut Hill our tradition of family continues as we announce the hiring of Dr. Jennifer Muller

Jennifer’s mom Evelyn Scott, RN is our nurse manager and has been employed at Walnut Hill for 23 years. Dr Muller will open her schedule for appointments in June 2012.