What should a woman do if she has a friend whom she suspects to have an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are common among young women and can be triggered by social, emotional and biological factors in women’s lives. Pressure to “fit in”, a desire to avoid consuming food as a way of dealing with emotions and feelings of euphoria when skipping meals are behaviors that can undermine one’s health, self-esteem and sense of competency (Alexander, 2010). Talking about eating disorders with a friend or loved one can be a difficult subject to bring up, and I have had to talk to a friend about it before. A couple of years ago my best friend was going to get married and wanted to look good in her wedding dress. I knew that she was working out a lot at the gym but what I didn’t know is that she had become a bulimic in the process. She drastically started loosing weight, and I told her that maybe she shouldn’t exercise so much. One day I caught her in the bathroom getting rid of the lunch she had just eaten. I didn’t know what to say so I just jumped right in and asked her what she was doing. Of course she denied everything at first and we would get into fights about it frequently. I would tell her that I was worried, and I just wanted her to get help. Then one day she admitted it and started saying how she just wanted to look good in her wedding dress and it had just gone too far. She asked me not to tell her fiancé, and I wanted to keep her trust so I promised not to. She said she couldn’t stop because she liked the way she looked in clothes. At five feet four inches tall she now weighed 98 lbs. Pretty much all I knew about eating disorders at the time is what they can do to the heart. I do cardiac ultrasound for a living and frequently scan patients with eating disorders. I proceeded to tell my friend what she was doing to her heart and surprisingly it scared her. I also told her that she was probably hurting her teeth as well by frequently vomiting. The heart stuff scared her enough that I was able to talk her into getting some help. She checked into an outpatient eating disorder program and after a few months had gained all of her weight back that she had lost. Two years later she is happily married and doing fine. I often wonder what I would tell someone if I had to do it again. Pretty much all you can do is earn their trust and let them know that you are there for them and worried about them. You can also point out whatever facts you know about eating disorders and recommend counseling. I got lucky in that my friend trusted me enough to help her.
References
Alexander, L., et al. (2010). Nutrition, Exercise, and Weight Management. New Dimensions In Women’s Health. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Blog 8
Interview a woman who has or is going through menopause and has decided to take hormones.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consists of medications that increase the levels of hormones in the body. Hormones are used to treat symptoms such as hot flashes that are associated with menopause when the body stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone (Alexander, 2010). I am not real familiar with menopause and hormone therapy since I am several years away from experiencing it so I decided to ask my Aunt for her view on it. She said that for a while she had been experiencing bad hot flashes. She would have sweat running down her face at work and the sheets would be dripping in sweat while she was sleeping. At first she did not want to take hormone therapy because she had always heard that it was associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. For a while she tried natural and herbal remedies but they didn’t work. Finally she took her doctor’s advice and started taking Prempro, a pill that combines progestin and estrogen. Her doctor also told her that taking hormone therapy would help reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis. After taking pills for a few months now she says she has seen a dramatic difference. The hot flashes have subsided and she feels like a normal woman again. She said though that she does have some side effects such as breast tenderness and occasional spotting but these are much more manageable than hot flashes. I learned a lot about menopause and hormone therapy while talking with my Aunt. I feel so fortunate to have a great relationship with the women in my family where I can talk to them about anything or go to them when I need advice on women issues.
References
Alexander, L., et al. (2010). Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy. New Dimensions in Women’s Health. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consists of medications that increase the levels of hormones in the body. Hormones are used to treat symptoms such as hot flashes that are associated with menopause when the body stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone (Alexander, 2010). I am not real familiar with menopause and hormone therapy since I am several years away from experiencing it so I decided to ask my Aunt for her view on it. She said that for a while she had been experiencing bad hot flashes. She would have sweat running down her face at work and the sheets would be dripping in sweat while she was sleeping. At first she did not want to take hormone therapy because she had always heard that it was associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. For a while she tried natural and herbal remedies but they didn’t work. Finally she took her doctor’s advice and started taking Prempro, a pill that combines progestin and estrogen. Her doctor also told her that taking hormone therapy would help reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis. After taking pills for a few months now she says she has seen a dramatic difference. The hot flashes have subsided and she feels like a normal woman again. She said though that she does have some side effects such as breast tenderness and occasional spotting but these are much more manageable than hot flashes. I learned a lot about menopause and hormone therapy while talking with my Aunt. I feel so fortunate to have a great relationship with the women in my family where I can talk to them about anything or go to them when I need advice on women issues.
References
Alexander, L., et al. (2010). Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy. New Dimensions in Women’s Health. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Blog 7
What would you tell a friend or loved one who suspected that she might have an STD but was afraid to get tested?
I would tell a friend or loved one that it is very important they get tested to either confirm their suspicions or hopefully find out their suspicions were wrong. I actually had this talk with one of my good friends recently. She was worried about how people would perceive her if they found out. I told her it didn’t matter how she was perceived and that it important to find out early if in fact she did have an STD because it could be treated sooner if found early. If I had to talk to someone again about why they should get checked, I am much better prepared now after doing some research. Obviously anyone engaging in sexual activity can get an STD regardless of racial ethnicity, class or social standings. It is all in how we as women protect ourselves but if a women thinks she may have contracted a disease she definitely needs to get tested because most sexually transmitted diseases come with complications such as infertility problems, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer or even death. Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most frequent complication of an STD and affects over a million women each year causing infertility, ectopic pregnancies and even death (Alexander, 2010). Infections such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis can be treated with high doses of antibiotics if caught very early. Others such as Herpes cannot be cured and there is still an infection remaining even between outbreaks when the sores have healed (Alexander, 2010). It is so easy to get an STD in today’s world because people tend to have multiple sex partners and do not always use protection. I would definitely encourage a friend or loved one to get tested as soon as possible if they feel they may have an STD before the complications get worse and the treatments are not as effective.
References
Alexander, L, et al. (2010). Reproductive Tract Infections and HIV/AIDS. , New Dimensions in Women’s Health (pp.174-191.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
I would tell a friend or loved one that it is very important they get tested to either confirm their suspicions or hopefully find out their suspicions were wrong. I actually had this talk with one of my good friends recently. She was worried about how people would perceive her if they found out. I told her it didn’t matter how she was perceived and that it important to find out early if in fact she did have an STD because it could be treated sooner if found early. If I had to talk to someone again about why they should get checked, I am much better prepared now after doing some research. Obviously anyone engaging in sexual activity can get an STD regardless of racial ethnicity, class or social standings. It is all in how we as women protect ourselves but if a women thinks she may have contracted a disease she definitely needs to get tested because most sexually transmitted diseases come with complications such as infertility problems, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer or even death. Pelvic inflammatory disease is the most frequent complication of an STD and affects over a million women each year causing infertility, ectopic pregnancies and even death (Alexander, 2010). Infections such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis can be treated with high doses of antibiotics if caught very early. Others such as Herpes cannot be cured and there is still an infection remaining even between outbreaks when the sores have healed (Alexander, 2010). It is so easy to get an STD in today’s world because people tend to have multiple sex partners and do not always use protection. I would definitely encourage a friend or loved one to get tested as soon as possible if they feel they may have an STD before the complications get worse and the treatments are not as effective.
References
Alexander, L, et al. (2010). Reproductive Tract Infections and HIV/AIDS. , New Dimensions in Women’s Health (pp.174-191.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Blog 6
In your opinion, why should prenatal testing be routine for all pregnant women?
I think prenatal testing is extremely important and should be routine for all pregnant women. There are so many diseases and conditions that babies can be born with, and it is such a miracle when a baby is born healthy. If some simple prenatal tests can help bring a healthy baby into the world then those tests need to be performed. Most birth defects occur within the first trimester of pregnancy and risk factors that increase the chances of having birth defects include previous children with birth defects, certain medications used during conception, diabetes and women over age 35 when the baby is due (Alexander, et al., 2010). Simple tests such as lab tests and sonograms can help reveal abnormalities with a pregnancy or with the baby and some of these abnormalities may be treatable. Other advanced testing such as an amniocentesis can help detect more complex abnormalities such as Down's Sydrome. Hopefully the tests would be conclusive that the baby is going to be healthy but if results are abnormal then parents would need support to make important decisions regarding their baby's future. Prenatal testing can help give parents information on their baby so they can plan for the future. If a baby is going to be born with a syndrome then a least the parents can find out in advance and be prepared. There are even women's clinics that perform testing for free or low costs for those that have no insurance and can't afford to see a physician. With all of the medical advances that are available now there is really no reason not to have routine prenatal testing performed.
References
Alexander, L., et al., (2010). Pregnancy and Childbirth. New Dimensions in Women's Health(p.145.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
I think prenatal testing is extremely important and should be routine for all pregnant women. There are so many diseases and conditions that babies can be born with, and it is such a miracle when a baby is born healthy. If some simple prenatal tests can help bring a healthy baby into the world then those tests need to be performed. Most birth defects occur within the first trimester of pregnancy and risk factors that increase the chances of having birth defects include previous children with birth defects, certain medications used during conception, diabetes and women over age 35 when the baby is due (Alexander, et al., 2010). Simple tests such as lab tests and sonograms can help reveal abnormalities with a pregnancy or with the baby and some of these abnormalities may be treatable. Other advanced testing such as an amniocentesis can help detect more complex abnormalities such as Down's Sydrome. Hopefully the tests would be conclusive that the baby is going to be healthy but if results are abnormal then parents would need support to make important decisions regarding their baby's future. Prenatal testing can help give parents information on their baby so they can plan for the future. If a baby is going to be born with a syndrome then a least the parents can find out in advance and be prepared. There are even women's clinics that perform testing for free or low costs for those that have no insurance and can't afford to see a physician. With all of the medical advances that are available now there is really no reason not to have routine prenatal testing performed.
References
Alexander, L., et al., (2010). Pregnancy and Childbirth. New Dimensions in Women's Health(p.145.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Blog #5
Interview a woman on her decision to have children or be childless.
For this blog, I interviewed my coworker Amy. She does not have any children so I asked her why. Amy said that she always wanted children and her husband did too. However, she and her husband work long and crazy hours at work and don’t feel that they are in a place in their lives where this could happen. She said it is unfair to a child to be left in daycare for twelve hours a day or be raised by a nanny. She said she barely even gets enough time to spend with her husband. Also, when they do get time off from work they like to travel and adding a child to the family may mean less traveling. She said that hopefully when they get more financially stable in the next few years she can hopefully quit working and have a baby. This would give her more time to spend with the child and she could raise it the way she and her husband want to. I think that it is good that she wants to be able to have time for a child before she has one, but not many households in the country work like that. Sometimes if you keep waiting for something to change then you may never have a family. I remember when I was little my parents drove an hour and a half to work each day one way. They were gone for twelve hours a day, and I ended up making sure that my little brother and I got dressed and caught the school bus every morning. I didn’t mind that my parents worked so much because I knew that they were just trying to earn the money to give my brother and I a good life. They spent time with us when they could but to me it wasn’t about the quantity of time but the quality of time. We spent much quality time together as a family.
For this blog, I interviewed my coworker Amy. She does not have any children so I asked her why. Amy said that she always wanted children and her husband did too. However, she and her husband work long and crazy hours at work and don’t feel that they are in a place in their lives where this could happen. She said it is unfair to a child to be left in daycare for twelve hours a day or be raised by a nanny. She said she barely even gets enough time to spend with her husband. Also, when they do get time off from work they like to travel and adding a child to the family may mean less traveling. She said that hopefully when they get more financially stable in the next few years she can hopefully quit working and have a baby. This would give her more time to spend with the child and she could raise it the way she and her husband want to. I think that it is good that she wants to be able to have time for a child before she has one, but not many households in the country work like that. Sometimes if you keep waiting for something to change then you may never have a family. I remember when I was little my parents drove an hour and a half to work each day one way. They were gone for twelve hours a day, and I ended up making sure that my little brother and I got dressed and caught the school bus every morning. I didn’t mind that my parents worked so much because I knew that they were just trying to earn the money to give my brother and I a good life. They spent time with us when they could but to me it wasn’t about the quantity of time but the quality of time. We spent much quality time together as a family.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Blog #4
Should sex be taught in the nation's public schools and if so what kind?
This can be a controversial topic because many cultures and religions do not promote sex until marriage, and parents in those cultures may not want their children learning sex education in school. I believe that sex education should be something that parents talk to their children about first, however, I do believe that this should be taught in school also. Many adolescents are embarrassed about talking with their parents about this subject and may engage more in conversation about it with a teacher at their school along with classmates. Sex education classes should promote abstinence until marriage, however, in this society this does not happen much anymore. For this reason kids need to learn about their bodies and how to practice safe sex and pregnancy and STD prevention. I believe girls need to be taught the methods of birth control, the risks and side effects associated with each and how to use them correctly. Adolescents also need to know that there are many sexually transmitted diseases that they can acquire through unsafe practices. For this they need to be taught prevention methods and to get regular STD checks if they are sexually active. Sex education is definitely not a topic that many parents are ready to deal with. I know when I was growing up I found out the majority of my information from a class at school and from my friends. Having education on this at school may be the only way that some kids get the education they need about sex. In America there are too many teen pregnancies and too many kids getting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. If a sex education class in school can help prevent this at all then it needs to be taught in school.
This can be a controversial topic because many cultures and religions do not promote sex until marriage, and parents in those cultures may not want their children learning sex education in school. I believe that sex education should be something that parents talk to their children about first, however, I do believe that this should be taught in school also. Many adolescents are embarrassed about talking with their parents about this subject and may engage more in conversation about it with a teacher at their school along with classmates. Sex education classes should promote abstinence until marriage, however, in this society this does not happen much anymore. For this reason kids need to learn about their bodies and how to practice safe sex and pregnancy and STD prevention. I believe girls need to be taught the methods of birth control, the risks and side effects associated with each and how to use them correctly. Adolescents also need to know that there are many sexually transmitted diseases that they can acquire through unsafe practices. For this they need to be taught prevention methods and to get regular STD checks if they are sexually active. Sex education is definitely not a topic that many parents are ready to deal with. I know when I was growing up I found out the majority of my information from a class at school and from my friends. Having education on this at school may be the only way that some kids get the education they need about sex. In America there are too many teen pregnancies and too many kids getting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. If a sex education class in school can help prevent this at all then it needs to be taught in school.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Blog #3
How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors?
In this technological world that we live in it is sometimes hard to encourage kids to practice healthy behaviors such as exercising and eating healthy. Most kids are into playing video and computer games and spend a lot of time watching television or using the computer. These kids tend to eat a lot more junk food. With fast food restaurants everywhere, it is difficult for them to eat healthy. First of all, education starts at home. Parents can be great role models for kids, and if the parents are healthy themselves more than likely the kids will be too. Parents can exercise with their kids at home by going for a walk or taking a bike ride together. Also, meals made at home are usually healthier than ones bought at a restaurant. At home you can pick and choose exactly what is going into the food that you are eating. If you have to go out to eat, most restaurants now have a healthy section on their menu. Parents can encourage adolescents to order food from that part of the menu or simply eat a smaller portion. Kids also spend a lot of time at school. Hopefully most schools are making gym classes mandatory to help promote physical activity. Parents and educators need to also promote sports leagues through the school. Kids involved in sports will get the exercise they need, and it will keep them busy so they will not spend much time watching television, playing computer games, or getting into trouble with friends or alcohol and drugs. Schools also need to make sure they offer well balanced healthy meals and limit the amount of junk food that they offer. Health care providers should educate kids on the importance of getting plenty of sleep and keeping immunizations current. Vaccines such as flu shots can keep a kid from catching a bad illness and missing a week of school. Finally the media and society need to keep informing adolescents about what drugs and alcohol can do to the body. This also needs to be taught at home as well as sex education. It is tough to get adolescents to practice healthy behaviors. Parents and educators are the main people that kids spend time with so they have to educate and be good role models.
In this technological world that we live in it is sometimes hard to encourage kids to practice healthy behaviors such as exercising and eating healthy. Most kids are into playing video and computer games and spend a lot of time watching television or using the computer. These kids tend to eat a lot more junk food. With fast food restaurants everywhere, it is difficult for them to eat healthy. First of all, education starts at home. Parents can be great role models for kids, and if the parents are healthy themselves more than likely the kids will be too. Parents can exercise with their kids at home by going for a walk or taking a bike ride together. Also, meals made at home are usually healthier than ones bought at a restaurant. At home you can pick and choose exactly what is going into the food that you are eating. If you have to go out to eat, most restaurants now have a healthy section on their menu. Parents can encourage adolescents to order food from that part of the menu or simply eat a smaller portion. Kids also spend a lot of time at school. Hopefully most schools are making gym classes mandatory to help promote physical activity. Parents and educators need to also promote sports leagues through the school. Kids involved in sports will get the exercise they need, and it will keep them busy so they will not spend much time watching television, playing computer games, or getting into trouble with friends or alcohol and drugs. Schools also need to make sure they offer well balanced healthy meals and limit the amount of junk food that they offer. Health care providers should educate kids on the importance of getting plenty of sleep and keeping immunizations current. Vaccines such as flu shots can keep a kid from catching a bad illness and missing a week of school. Finally the media and society need to keep informing adolescents about what drugs and alcohol can do to the body. This also needs to be taught at home as well as sex education. It is tough to get adolescents to practice healthy behaviors. Parents and educators are the main people that kids spend time with so they have to educate and be good role models.
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