May 11th, 2008
All hormonal birth control comes with some risk of side effects, but birth control patch Ortho-Evra, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (whose Melt Away Stress product line I recently reviewed), is coming under public scrutiny because of its apparent connection to potentially deadly blood clots in users.
A recent Reuters article sheds some light in exactly what the problem is:
In a petition filed with the FDA on Thursday, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group said the amount of estrogen released from the Ortho-Evra patch varies widely among individual women, and those who absorb too much were at greater risk for blood clots and other painful side effects.
"The considerable safety concern of high-dose, variable estrogen exposure tips the balance of risks and benefits against the availability of Ortho-Evra as a contraceptive," wrote Sidney Wolfe, head of the research group.
Ortho-Evra has seen its use slip in the wake of such data, which led to warnings on the patch’s label as recently as January, when a study of women ages 15 to 44 found blood clots known as venous thromboembolisms were about twice as likely in women using the patch versus birth control pills.
The FDA at the time said the patch was safe and effective when used as directed and urged patients to talk to their doctors about the risk.
Estrogen used in contraceptives has long been known to increase the risk of blood clots, which can trigger heart attacks or strokes. Women who use Ortho Evra can be exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than pill users.
"If Ortho-Evra had been designed as a pill, it is unlikely to have been approved because of its increased estrogen content," Wolfe said.
Did you see that last line? Let me repeat it: "If Ortho-Evra had been designed as a pill, it is unlikely to have been approved because of its increased estrogen content." I have to be honest — that’s alarming.
The major benefit of the patch is that it’s birth control you only have to think about once a week. But if it carries much higher risk (in addition to being visible since you apply it to your skin), is the convenience really worth it? What do you think? Leave a comment.
(hat tip: Eliza at Babylune)
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, birth control, the patch, the birth control patch, ortho-evra, johnson & johnson, blood clots, hormones, hormonal birth control, side effects, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 10th, 2008
You know that drinking water is healthy, and that drinking bottled water is an easy way to stay hydrated on the go. But what you may not know is that chemicals from plastic bottles may be leeching into your water, and could cause such major health problems as cancers and early-onset puberty.
Environmentalists and the very health conscious have long argued that plastic bottles, or at least the cheap plastic kind, are bad for the environment because of the waste they produce and the resources they require. And increasingly, many have voiced concerns about ingesting chemicals that seep into food and beverages, prompting the popularity of reusable containers like Nalgene bottles and Kleen Kanteens.
Of particular concern is how these chemicals, specifically BPA, can affect children and infants. Says a recent ABC News article:
There’s a possibility that the chemical found in plastic water bottles, baby bottles and the lining of many food, drink and baby formula cans could be linked to health problems, including prostate cancer, breast cancer and early-onset puberty, according to a chemical evaluation released Monday night by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program.
…The draft brief found some worry that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA, could have neural and behavioral effects on fetuses, infants and children at existing exposure levels.
"The possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed," the evaluation noted.
Indeed, the study failed to put to rest long-standing worries about whether the widely used chemical is safe, and ensures that scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to approve BPA will continue. While some have argued the chemical is associated with health risks, the FDA and industry experts have stood by their controversial conclusion that the chemical is not harmful.
The chemical helps make plastic tough and shatter-resistant; the plastic is used in food and drink containers, bike helmets, dental sealants and more.
At the American Chemistry Council, Steve Hentges, executive director of the polycarbonate/BPA global group, said today that there’s still no evidence of serious health risks or need to remove BPA from the market. This evaluation echoes many of the already published findings about BPA, Hentges said.
You can get more details by reading the full article.
How do these findings make you feel about the water you drink and the products you and your kids ingest? Does this make you want to change anything, or do you think this is just an overreaction? Your opinion counts. Spout off in the comments.
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, BPA, water bottles, chemicals from plastic bottles, cancer, early-onset puberty, american chemistry council, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 1 comment
May 9th, 2008
There’s a great post over at Wired Science that issues a call for funny stories about germophobia. Germophobia, or fear of germs, is running rampant these days in the face of new superbugs and easily spread illnesses like SARS. Simply put, people are freaking out. We’re obsessed not only with germs, but also the wide array of antibacterial cleaning and personal care products that are filling the shelves of major retailers. While it’s definitely smart to be aware of situations that could put you at risk of contracting a serious illness, there’s such a thing as overkill.
For example…
- A woman who coated an orange with hand sanitizer before peeling and eating it.
- A man who won’t sit on someone else’s chair without putting paper over it first.
- People who have designated towels in the household that are just for them.
Some cases of germophobia are linked to psychiatric diagnoses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but others are the result of ignorance. Do you have any germ-related habits? Any funny or not-so-funny stories about germs? Leave a comment.
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, germophobia, germaphobia, fear of germs, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, funny stories, OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 8th, 2008
In an effort to be healthier, my husband and I recently switched from regular milk to hormone-free organic milk — but we didn’t do it because of the possibility of hormone exposure. We did it because we think the organic stuff just tastes better, and we’re more inclined to drink milk we like.
But lots of people are making the switch, and not just for taste reasons. A CNN Health article from the editors of Cooking Light points out that whether you’re concerned about hormones or frankly don’t care, you’re probably not drinking enough milk — and the health benefits of ANY milk probably outweigh the unproven dangers of milk with hormones.
They list four reasons you need to get your dairy intake, organic or nonorganic:
- You’re probably not getting enough milk and dairy.
- Milk contains calcium, protein, and other nutrients linked with stronger bones and teeth, lower cholesterol, reduced cancer risk, and improved weight control.
- The body needs small doses of calcium throughout the day to be able to absorb what it needs.
- All milk, organic or otherwise, is fortified with essential vitamins A and D, which most folks don’t get enough of from other sources.
The article also links to a list of 12 calcium-rich foods to help you get more of what you need without boring your tastebuds.
I love milk, yogurt, and cheese. How do you get your calcium? Leave a comment.
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, milk, organic milk, hormone-free milk, hormones in milk, sources of calcium, daily milk and dairy, calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, foods with calcium, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 7th, 2008
It’s hard to know how to eat healthy sometimes, especially when you’re cooking for yourself. Here are six recipe substitutions that are good for your heart and your overall health.
- Replace white flour with whole grains.
- Replace butter with vegetable fats.
- Add veggies.
- Use nuts and beans instead of meats and cheeses.
- Mix up your lunches with non-meat sandwiches using peanut butter or hummus.
- Use tofu or large veggies in soups in place of fatty meats.
What other ways do you make your everyday meals healthier? Share your tips in the comments!
(source: Substitutions in Recipes for a Healthy Heart - Cholesterol Lowering Tips)
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, recipe, substitution, substitute, meat, beans, cheese, white flour, whole grains, butter, vegetable fats, tofu, soup, salad, sandwich, lower cholesterol, heart healthy, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 6th, 2008
I’m what you might call a disordered eater. I’m the first to admit that I have issues with food and control, and it’s definitely caused me problems in the past. Now, I don’t consider myself as having an eating disorder per se, but me and food, well, we don’t always get along. And new research suggests that even if you don’t officially have an eating disorder, if you’re not taking in enough food, you may face serious health risks.
A study published in the May/June issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology and summarized by HealthDay News suggests that folks who don’t eat enough, for whatever reason, may be damaging their immune systems:
"A 30 percent restriction in food intake doesn’t affect body mass and only minimally reduces activity in deer mice, but it eliminates the long-term immune protection provided by antibodies," study co-author Lynn Martin said in a prepared statement. "One wonders whether similar moderate food restriction has comparable immune effects in humans."
Martin and fellow researchers cited previous studies that had found that infections were "more frequent and tend to be chronic in malnourished children." Previous studies have also found that vaccines that provoke B cells to protect the body long-term, such as the vaccine for measles, are less effective among the malnourished.
In addition to better weight control, faster metabolism, more consistent blood sugar, and a general healthy lifestyle, this is just one more reason to make sure you’re eating enough and frequently enough.
Have questions about eating disorders? Think you may be a disordered eater? Check out b5media blog Breaking the Mirror, where host Angelique shares her experience with eating disorders and offers resources and support for folks dealing with their own relationship with food. It’s a must read.
(source: Eating Less May Hinder Immune System)
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, eating disorder, immune system, how much you eat, affect on immune system, eating more makes you healthier, breaking the mirror, disordered eater, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 1st, 2008
One of my Twitter pals pointed me toward a great STD forum in response to my posts for STD Awareness Month. Check it out for topic-specific areas where you can ask and answer questions you may not want to ask out loud for one reason or another. Thanks, Divapalooza!
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, STD, STI, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, forum, questions about STDs, STD resources, STD awareness month, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 2 comments
May 1st, 2008
One of my fellow Health & Wellness Channel bloggers, Grace, who hosts Kids Health Notes, had the great idea to round up our seven favorite posts from April. Here are mine! Did I miss one of your top picks from last month? Leave the link as a comment!
Other bloggers’ round-ups:
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, best blog posts about womens health, top blog posts about womens health, recommended reading, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 0 comments
May 1st, 2008
April was STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and your favorite women’s health blog covered pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chlamydia, gonnorhea, and genital herpes. Today, Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN, takes us through must-know facts about human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major contributing factor to the development of cervical cancer.
What Is HPV?
Until a few years ago, few people had heard of HPV or human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and, despite its relative obscurity until recently, it is one of the most common types of STIs that you can get.
HPV, unlike the more well-known diseases like syphilis and gonnorhea, is not just one virus – there are several types of HPV infection. Many cause genital warts. This type of HVP virus is considered to be low-risk. However, there are four types of HPV that are considered the major cause of cervical cancer and those are the high-risk infections.
Although genital warts aren’t pleasant, the biggest concern about HPV is its contribution to the development of cervical cancer. [Editor’s note: Recently, HPV has also been linked to bladder cancer.]
How Can I Get HPV?
You get HPV through sexual contact – not just sexual intercourse. Therefore, heavy petting, oral sex, any type of skin-to-skin sexual contact exposes you to being infected. It’s important to understand that you can have HPV and not know it. In other words, your partner could have HPV at the bottom of his penis shaft or around the scrotum or inner thighs and if you have sexual contact, even with a condom, you can become infected. Women who are technically virgins and never had contact with semen can still become infected.
How Do I Know if I Have HPV?
You don’t. Unless the type of HPV you have causes genital warts, you have no way of knowing if you are infected. The only way to find out would be through a Pap smear, where a gynecologist takes a sample of the cells from your cervix. This text can tell if there are any abnormalities or cell dysplasia, meaning that something is happening and the cells are changing. At this point, the could be just minor changes or they could be pre-cancerous.
How Do I Treat HPV?
You can’t. There is no cure for HPV, just a new vaccine that can help reduce the chances of you developing it.
Genital warts can be removed, but the virus remains behind.
Is HPV Contagious?
HPV is highly contagious.
How Can I Prevent HPV?
Of course, the best way to prevent HPV infection, as with any type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) or STI is by abstaining from sexual activity. The next best step is to be in a monogamous relationship where your partner is faithful and does not seek sexual activity elsewhere. Condoms do cut down on the chances of developing the infection, but because the virus doesn’t have to be on the penis, you aren’t protected all that much.
There is a new vaccine called Gardasil that is targeting younger women who have not yet had sex. [Editor’s note: Gardasil has been mandated for school-age childrenin numerous states, amid much controversy.] This group is important because if you are already sexually active, there’s a good chance you have already been exposed to the vaccine.
*****
Marijke Vroomen-Durning, RN, is the former author of the HPV channel at www.medbroadcast.com, aimed at both teens and young women, and their mothers. Marijke currently hosts Help My Hurt in the b5media Health and Wellness Channel.
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, human papillomavirus, hpv, gardasil, vaccine, vaccination, cervical cancer, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, bladder cancer, genital warts, mandatory vaccination, sexually active, virus, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, marijke vroomen-durning, help my hurt, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 3 comments
April 30th, 2008
Just a reminder, I’m still accepting entries for the random drawing for 3 free Nalgene bottles and Brita Faucet Filter sets. Visit the video announcement of the giveaway for more details and to enter for a chance to win. The deadline to enter is May 9. Only one entry per person, please!
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, free, giveaway, nalgene, brita, water, bottled water, contest, random drawing, video, filter for good, water bottle, water filter, faucet filter, lively women, kristen king
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By Kristen King -- 1 comment
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