Violence Against Pregnant Women - How Do We Protect the Vulnerable?

Another pregnant soldier is dead. The story of Spc. Megan Lynn Touma grabs the headlines, but what most of us fail to realize is that murder is the leading cause of death in pregnant women. We think that only women who are already victims of domestic violence are going to be subjected to continued abuse when pregnant. While it's true that violence can escalate against women who are already battered once they are pregnant, sometimes abuse begins while a woman is pregnant.

Violence against pregnant women can be mental, physical or sexual. It seems hard to believe, but a new baby can be perceived as a threat to a jealous man who does not want his partner's time and attention monopolized. An insecure man may feel threatened by the attention others, including health care providers, are giving to the pregnant woman.

Women are at their most vulnerable when pregnant and violence against women is an exertion of power over them. Women and their unborn children are in need of special vigilance and protection from families, communities and societies. Pregnancy may threaten a man's sense of being the primary person in a family.
Men feel stress and frustration over the pregnancy, especially if it is unintended or unwanted. That frustration may be directed at the pregnant woman and unborn baby. The risk of violence is even higher for pregnant teens.

Violence against pregnant women puts two lives at risk. The belly, breasts and genitals are often targets of abuse. The problem is not limited to the US. Gender-based violence is rampant especially with the refugee population at an all time high. Women and girls are vulnerable targets and pregnant Sudanese women have not been spared rape and gang rape as a means or brutal control and subjugation. The Global Health Council cites reports from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Calling the problem a "global health crisis", they report the prevalence of abuse during pregnancy is 3.4 percent to 11.0 percent in industrialized countries and between 3.8 percent and 31.7 percent in developing countries.

Thank you Bradley Wind for use of image Pregnant Woman.

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Safe Surgery Saves Lives - Endorse WHO's Checklist

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 234 million major surgical procedures are performed around the world each year. The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was created to help operating teams reduce poor incidence of poor surgical outcomes. By following a few critical steps, health care professionals can minimize the most common and avoidable risks endangering the lives and well-being of surgical patients.

200 surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and patient societies endorsed the introduction of safety checklists in surgery and three countries, United Kingdom, Jordan and Ireland, pledged to introduce this in all their hospitals.

The checklist includes:

• All masked members of the surgical team identify themselves, their roles and ask simple questions like "Does everyone agree this is Patient X and we are doing Procedure Y?"
• Mark the correct site for surgery on the patient's body
• check for drug allergies
• count all sponges, needles and instruments going into and out of the body
• give an antibiotic 60 minutes prior to making an incision

Other things patients in hospitals can do to insure their own safety:

• insist everyone who interacts with you identify themselves and wash their hands and stethoscopes or any other equipment before contacting you
• If someone is wearing a tie, do not allow it to have contact with your person. Insist that is be tucked into their lab coat.
  

With the emergence of superbugs in hospitals, it pays to be defensive.

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Pycnogenol® Helps Relieve Menstrual Pain

If you are one of the thousands of females who suffer every month with dysmenorrhea (painful menses), you may want to try Pycnogenol, a pine bark extract. Numerous studies show that Pycnogenol decreases pain and the need for pain medication in females who experience menstrual pain. In one study, it also reduced the pain of endometriosis by 33 %.

Dysmenorrhea is the leading cause of short term school absence in teenage girls. Pycnogenol is pine bark extract developed by French researchers. It is high in antioxidants, which play a role in reducing inflammation and repairing and protecting the cells of the body. No dangerous side effects have been observed with its use. Pyconogenol is high in vitamins A, C, E and the mineral selenium.

Read more from Natural Standards Drug Notebook to learn more about Pyconogenol and interactions with other medications.



Merci ecototo's photostream for use of photo Pin maritime biscornu.

Labels: Pyconogenol

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Sun Protection - it's not Just for Girls

Melanoma, the most virulent form of skin cancer, takes over 8,000 American lives each year. Middle-aged and older men are the most likely victims of skin cancer and teen age boys the least likely to use sunscreen. Baseball players are particularly at risk because they spend so much time in the sun.

The American Academy of Dermatology, Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players team up every year to Strike Out Skin Cancer.

Here are 5 Tips for Sun Protection from the American Academy of Dermatology:

• Use a topical sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• Cover up with long sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses
• Check your skin every year around your birthday for signs of skin cancer
• Avoid being out in the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM
• Be extra careful near water, sand and snow due to reflective intensity
  

Make sure children are protected and that teenage boys know the dangers of sun exposure.


















Thank you Ben & Sam's photostream for use of photo Direct Sun at Shea Stadium

Labels: Sun Protection

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Want to Lose Weight? Eat a Big Breakfast

We keep hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz, a clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and an endocrinologist at the Hospital de Clinicas Caracas in Venezuela reported to the Endocrine Society this week that starting the day with a big, carbohydrate rich breakfast prevents food cravings and induces weight loss.

Dr. Jakubowicz explained that the brain is primed to look for food for energy upon awakening and if it doesn't find it right away, the body starts breaking down muscle. She recommends eating half of your daily caloric requirements in the morning - and obese, sedentary women who did so lost nearly 40 lbs. in eight months!

Ready to rev up your breakfast to lose weight? Healthline offers these tips:

• Up for Breakfast? Try this Low-Fat Combo
• Tips for a Healthy Restaurant Breakfast
• Breakfast and Your Health
• A Relaxed Weekend Brunch for Two
  

Thank you Texas to Mexico photostream for use of photo Breakfast in Santiago!

Labels: breakfast, weight loss

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Tim Russert: Death due to Sudden Coronary Thrombosis, Age 58

Everyone was shocked and saddened to learn of Tim Russert's untimely demise on Friday, June 13, 2008. NBC's Washington Bureau Chief and moderator of the popular Meet the Press died of a sudden coronary thrombosis. Russert's doctors reported the left descending coronary artery was blocked with cholesterol plaque and ruptured. His doctors report that he had asymptomatic coronary artery disease, well controlled with diet, medication and exercise and that his cholesterol levels and blood pressure were under control.

Heart disease remains the number 1 killer of men and women in the USA. Perhaps we might want to take heed of the Japanese metabo program, reported in the New York Times June 13, 2008. A national law went into effect two months ago, requiring that companies and local governments measure the waists of all people between the ages of 40 and 74 years. Males are required to have a waist measurement of 33.5 inches and women 35.5 inches. The US equivalent (accounting for different body types) would be 40 inches for men and 34.6 inches for women. In Japan, offenders will be monitored and provided education.

It is really sad to lose such a talented man and dedicated father and husband at such a young age. Baby boomers - it's time to measure your waistline and talk to your doctor about the condition of your coronary arteries. Maybe it's time for a cardiac cath test to see if the blood supply to your heart is what it should be. Our condolences to Mr. Russert's family and friends at NBC and around the world.

Labels: sudden cardiac death, tim russert, waistline, weight.

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Healthline Wunderkind Go the Distance

Healthline employees and executives don't just talk the talk - they walk the walk and swim, bike and run. On Sunday, June 8, 2008 Louisa Pickering (Manager, Communications), Lawrence Chang (Manager, Application Development), and Bill McGee, (Senior Vice President, Marketing Services) successfully completed the Escape from Alactraz Triathalon.

Lawrence, Louisa and Bill joined 2000 outstanding athletes to swim 1.5 miles through frigid waters from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco, a grueling 18-mile bike race, and a demanding 8-mile run through the rugged trails of Golden Gate Recreation Area. No one ever escaped from Alcatraz in its 29 year history as a maximum security prison, but every year 15,000 spectators enjoy watching the world's best triathletes complete this arduous course.

Healthline is proud to count Lawrence, Louisa and Bill among this crowd of elite athletes, setting an example for all of us.

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Record Number of Suicides in US Troops

The US Army has reported a 13% increase in the number of suicide in US troops in 2007. We may think the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are over or winding down, but in fact, 2007 was the deadliest year on record for our service men and women.

115 soldiers committed suicide in 2007, and most of them did so within 3 months of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. The majority were under age 25 years old and married. The US Army is responding by training primary care providers to diagnose and treat combat related illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), two diagnoses that are seen in unprecedented numbers in our troops.

The Army emphasizes "staying connected" as an antidote to the mental health problems plaguing our soldiers.




Thank you alisonheryer for use of photo US Troops Wait Out Iraqi Scud Attack

Labels: PTSD, suicide rate, US army

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