In The News - Understanding the Risks (and Rewards) of Pills and Pregnancy

My husband reads Time Magazine and thought sharing this article with my Mommy Vomitpants readers would be a good idea. After checking it out, I have to agree!!

Having been pregnant, I can attest to the desire, at times, to pop a pill to fix what may be ailing you. But, it's important to remember that your body is no longer your own when you are pregnant. Everything you ingest is ingested by your baby. Believe it or not, even over the counter drugs can be harmful to your unborn baby. It can be hard for a first-time mother to know what is safe to take and what is not. I mean, let's face it, we live in a "pill-popping" society. People just "pop a pill" when they have indigestion or a headache or allergies without thinking twice about what they are putting into their bodies.

That's why it's so important when you are pregnant to be very diligent about what you are taking. And it's important to talk to your doctor if you have ANY questions about a medication. Often times, if your doctor is unavailable, you can ask to speak to a nurse. If you happen to be at the pharmacy or grocery store, a pharmacist can help you as well.

So, how do you know which category your medication fits into? And, how do they determine that anyway? Here is where the Article Understanding the Risks (and Rewards) of Pills and Pregnancy comes into play (click the title to read the article).

To sum up the article, the medical community sees a need for clinical research on drugs and pregnant women. However, red flags go up when you talk about clinical trials on pregnant women (as they should). All that aside, we are a far cry from the "olden days" (as recently as 20 years ago) when they would perform trials on men and "extrapolate" the results to women. No, I am not kidding.

But when you have chronic illness like depression, diabetes, and hypertension, what is a pregnant woman to do? What if you have cancer? Did you know there are only about a dozen medications that are approved by the FDA for use by pregnant women? And when you agree to take a drug that could pose a risk to your unborn fetus, you may be required to sign a release form to exempt your doctor from prosecution should something bad happen.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently funding a National Children's Study, which is enrolling 100,000 women who are either pregnant or plan to become pregnant, with the goal of tracking the development of the children from preconception to adulthood. While that is ongoing, the FDA had proposed overhauling the guidance it gives on drug use by pregnant women.

Right now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies pills and their effects on pregnancy into 5 different "categories". Let's take a look at each of them.

• Category A pills are safe for ingestion by a pregnant woman. This category of pill has had extensive testing done by the FDA and do not show an increase in birth defects after use.


• Category B pills can be safe, but you should ask your doctor to be sure. This category of pill has either had extensive animal testing (showing no increase in defects) but no well-done human trials have been conducted, or animal studies suggested birth defects where human trials did not.


• Category C pills are generally not safe to use. This category of pills had animal testing show increased birth defects (with no large, well-done human trials), or there are no good animal or human studies BUT the benefits of the drug can outweigh the risks associated with taking it.


• Category D pills are generally not safe to use but the risks can outweigh the benefits of taking the medication. This category of pills do show an increased risk of birth defects with use.


• Category X pills should not be used. This category of pills showed an increased risk of birth defects with the benefits of taking the medication NOT outweighing the risks to the baby.

Since the above categories are so broadly defined, as they currently stand, they are looking into providing a more narrative, evidence-based summary about each individual drug and the effect it has on pregnant and nursing women.

Hopefully, the NIH study coupled with the FDA redefinition of drugs, and the "Second Wave" of clinical research mentioned in the article will help the pregnant women of the future to make better decisions when it comes to medication and their unborn baby. Until then, please talk to you doctor about ALL medications that you take and ask about the risks to your unborn baby. The same goes for breastfeeding mothers. Please don't make an uneducated decision.



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In-Store Clinics

Have you ever been sick on the weekend? Maybe you had an illness that manifested itself after you doctor had closed for the day. If your illness isn't really acute enough to seek treatment from the Hospital emergency room, but you would like to get treated before the end of the weekend, what are your options?

Growing up, I went to the local Emergency Medical Clinic near my house for cuts and sprains. But, for colds and shots I went to the Doctor's office. Now you have a third option.

In Store Clinics.

What is an In Store Clinic? These are usually small offices located inside a super-market that provide a small list of services at an affordable price with a short waiting time and no appointment needed. The setup usually consists of a desk out front with 1 or more rooms for the patient to meet with the Nurse. These clinics are not usually staffed with a Physician. They are staffed by a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Nurse Practitioner (RNP). The advantage being that a Nurse Practitioner can prescribe drugs. Being located inside a store means that there is probably a pharmacy on the premises where you can fill your prescription right away. The clinics are associated with a hospital or physician who is on call in case the nurse on duty needs to consult someone else about a patient.

The services offered by In Store Clinics:

• Treatment of common ailments such as sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, and bladder infections.


• Preventive care, including health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations, and basic physical exams.


• Patient care delivered by licensed, certified providers who diagnose, treat, and when appropriate, prescribe medications.

Around 55% of patients have no health care. So the low cost of treatment is a plus. But, the clinics do accept insurance if you have it. They typically treat persons age 2 and up.

I bring this option up because last weekend I came home from work on Friday with my ears plugged up and my sinuses full of mucus. Not wanting to wait until Monday to get treatment I sought out a RediClinic for help. The Nurse was very friendly and helpful. She asked lots of questions about my condition and examened my symptoms. She explained the treatment she was perscribing and what each perscription would do for me. It was an enjoyable experience, even if I did have to get sick in order to experience it. Now I just have to wait for my body to get better. I hope I don't have to visit an In Store Clinic again (only because I dislike being sick) but I wouldn't hesitate visiting one again if the need arose.


For more information:

• Here is an article from the New England Journal of Medicine


• A list of companies and location in the US


• Information about The Clinic At Wal-Mart


• Information about HEB's RediClinic

Read more!

National Infant Immunization Week

As you know if you have been reading this blog, I am a proponent of immunization. As a parent, it is our job to protect our children from harm, and that includes harm from preventable diseases. I think all children should be vaccinated if they are not at some kind of risk. And, if you are interested, you can always check out my posts on the individual vaccinations here.

National Infant Immunization Week, or NIIW, scheduled for April 25-May 2, gives doctors and public health officials an opportunity to emphasize the importance of protecting children from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. There have been recent outbreaks of Hib (in Minnesota and Pennsylvania) that resulted in the deaths of four children who were either unvaccinated or undervaccinated as well as seven cases of measles in PA since March 31st of this year.

Many parents aren't aware that they can alter the vaccination schedule if they feel their child is receiving too many vaccinations at once. And more and more pediatricians are willing to work with parents on such a schedule if it means that the children would otherwise be unvaccinated altogether.

Dr. Paul Offit (a member of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and author of Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure), says that such concerns (regarding the number of vaccinations given to children), are understandable but misguided. He said that in 1980, U.S. children were recommended to receive only three vaccines by age 2 -- diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and whole-cell pertussis vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, and the combination mumps, measles and rubella vaccine. Children received a total of five inoculations, with no more than two occurring in any one office visit, and were protected from seven diseases.

Today, children receive 26 inoculations by age 2 and as many as five at one time for protection from 14 diseases. However, said Offit, improved vaccine manufacturing practices have decreased the number of antigens (the substance that prompts the generation of antibodies and can cause an immune response) a child receives by age 2 from 3,041 in 1980 (for 5 inoculations) to about 150 today (for 26 inoculations). That's a 95% reduction in antigens!! WOW!

I am not by any means telling you what to do but I am a proponent of science. YOU have to make what YOU think is the right decision for YOUR FAMILY. This week is just kind of "set aside" to remind parents and practitioners about the importance of immunization for ALL members of the family, adults and children alike.


More Information:

• Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP) - from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)


• CISP Audio Advice Interviews - a collection of interviews with pediatricians, researchers and other parents. (also from the AAP)


• National Immunization Program - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Read more!

Seasonal Allergies...What Can You DO??

It's that time of year...Spring. And with the arrival of Spring comes the seasonal allergies and, for me at least, this year has been the worst in recent memory. NOTHING seems to help and sometimes I want to rip off my nose (until I remember that without it I couldn't taste anything). ^_^

With 40% of children suffering from seasonal allergies, it can be tough. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year.

"Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to substances that generally do not affect other individuals. These substances, or allergens, can cause sneezing, coughing, and itching. Allergic reactions range from merely bothersome to life-threatening. Some allergies are seasonal, like hay fever. Allergies have also been associated with chronic conditions like sinusitis and asthma."

So, how can you tell if your kid has allergies or a cold? And what kind of treatment (if any) should you use?


According to Dr. Sears, determining whether your kid is sick or has seasonal allergies is tough. "You notice that your child's nose has been running for a few days. He begins sneezing, develops an occasional cough, and has to blow his nose frequently. You ask yourself, "Could this be allergies? Or is it just a common cold virus?"

"Many parents bring their children to the doctor with this very question. In reality, during the early stages of these symptoms, it doesn't really matter if this is an allergy or a cold. Neither condition needs an antibiotic and the child doesn't need to be in the office.

"Now, if you really want to know whether your child is suffering from allergies or just a cold, you are going to have to wait and see if symptoms persist longer than one to three months - this is perhaps the single most important indicator of allergies. Virtually all children go through normal coughs and colds."

YIKES!! Three months?? I guess if you're super-mom you can wait that long but I know that I, like most moms, don't like to see my child suffer unnecessarily. So, what can you do? Believe it or not there are antihistamines that you can use when your child is as young as 6 months of age. And if some quack uneducated person tells you that you should be reported to CPS for giving your baby Benadryl, and that your doctor should lose their license for even suggesting it, you can ignore them as it's perfectly safe in the right dosage.

According to Dr. Sears the following treatment options for allergies are in place:

• Over-the-counter antihistamines - these work by blocking the action of histamine. They treat the itchy, sneezy, runny nose, itchy watery eyes, and itchy throat. They can also help with nasal congestion. Antihistamines are available in liquid, chewables, and pills. Common brands include Benadryl(tm), Dimetapp (tm), and Chlortrimeton (tm). Try several different brands to see which one works best for your child. They are generally safe for children 6 months and older. They last 6 - 12 hours.


• Decongestants - drug name is pseudoephedrine. While these drugs do nothing to fight the histamine effects of allergies, they can improve nasal congestion associated with allergies. They are especially helpful in conjunction with an antihistamine when the major allergy symptom is nasal congestion. Decongestants come as a separate medication or in combination with an antihistamine. Over-the-counter decongestants are virtually the same as prescription ones. Side effects are rare but include jitteriness and hyperactivity.


• Combination antihistamine/decongestants - the above over-the-counter antihistamines also come combined with a decongestant.


• Cromolyn nasal spray - this acts like an antihistamine directly in the nose. Side effects are transient stinging and sneezing. It is over-the-counter (Nasochrom [tm]).

Before your child is 6 months old, the best thing to use for clearing the nose is saline solution in combination with a nasal aspirator. It STILL works wonders on Willow, who can not yet blow her nose.

You might be wondering what natural remedies you can use. If you don't want to rely on over-the-counter medications there are some things you can do. According to WebMD:

• Among those generating the loudest buzz right now is the European herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) - one tablet of butterbur four times daily was as effective as a popular antihistamine drug in controlling symptoms of hay fever -- without the traditional symptom of drowsiness that sometimes occurs.


• Other herbal supplements proving helpful, include freeze-dried nettles and a tonic made from the herb goldenseal, which you can add to still one more natural treatment -- a saline (salt water) nasal spray.


• In addition to herbs, many naturopathic doctors also believe certain nutrients can be helpful in quieting seasonal symptoms. Among the most popular are grape seed extract and a flavonoid compound known as quercetin.


• Turning the focus from the medicine chest to the kitchen cabinet, you might want to try cooking up some allergy relief in the form of hot, spicy foods. The reason: Experts say the spicier the dish, the more likely it is to thin mucous secretions, which in turn can clear nasal passages. Among the most frequently recommended spices for this purpose include cayenne pepper, hot ginger, and fenugreek, as well as the traditional onion and garlic.


• According to New York University allergist Clifford Bassett, MD, if you suffer from ragweed or other weed pollen allergies, "you should avoid eating melon, banana, cucumber, sunflower seeds, chamomile, and any herbal supplements containing echinacea, all of which can make symptoms much worse.

Of course, the best treatment is to try and prevent exposure to allergens. But we all know that springtime is awesome weather and children love to play outside as much as possible before it gets too hot out (or even when it's hot out). And we can't very well keep trees and flowers from blooming and creating pollen and the like.

But, there are precautions you can take to minimize exposure.

• If people in your household have allergies, it is important to do a thorough cleaning of the house, especially in the spring, by removing all the dust that has collected in your house over the winter.


• It's a good time to shampoo your rugs, vacuum all the nooks and crannies, and remove the mold from all kitchen, bathroom and garage surfaces.


• If you have allergies in the spring and summer, take a few precautionary steps to avoid bringing allergens back into the house.


• When you come in from the outdoors, don't bring the clothes you've worn outdoors into the bedroom; change in another part of the house and take a shower, if you can.


• Avoid being outdoors from the late morning to early afternoon, as those are the peak hours for pollen production. Keep your windows closed if you're really allergic.

Good luck with the seasonal allergies! Benadryl is our tried and true method of assuring a good nights sleep, for both Willow and me! Read more!

Obesity and Genetics

One in four Americans today are obese (Well, 26%). That's why everywhere you look people are trying to educate the public on the importance of establishing good eating habits from the beginning of life to reduce the risk of obesity. Being overweight myself, I thought I'd do a little research on the role genetics plays in the obesity epidemic.

I read an article in Discover Magazine recently about evolution (published in honor of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday). Some scientists believe that we stopped evolving a long time ago but there are also some who believe that we are evolving at a faster rate than ever in human history but we can't see it because the evolution of we humans is taking place on the inside. Namely in our brains.

But is linking genetics and obesity an "excuse" for people being fat? Does it really have anything to do with eating too much and not exercising enough? I mean, there are plenty of skinny people out there that seem to eat what they want and don't have a problem. Or maybe they are just more disciplined? Maybe they have the willpower that others lack? Who is to say, exactly, where willpower ends and genetics begins? Or, are they unrelated? I need answers!!

When my husband showed me the article on evolution, I couldn't help but notice (and read) one on the "next best thing" in weight loss drugs. They are targeting the brain to see what works as far as chemicals that your body uses to say whether you are full or hungry among other ideas.

Let me give you a little background on myself.

In 2005 I knew that I had to lose weight if I wanted to have a baby. So, I started Weight Watchers and I lost 83 pounds in a year's time. It was easy and hard. Easy in that once I got "into a groove" it became less burdensome to say "no" to foods and hard in that in order to maintain my weight loss I had to continue on my diet and exercise an hour every day. In 2006 we started trying to get pregnant and it took us nearly a year. In that time I stopped the dieting and exercising regimen that I religiously stuck to for a year mainly because I didn't want to be on a diet and have to exercise for an hour every day for the rest of my life to maintain the weight loss. (I don't know about you, but now that I have a baby I don't have the time to devote a whole hour. But I do fit in 30 minutes 4 times a week.)

Subsequently I gained back some of the weight I lost before I got pregnant. Now I am within 10 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight. I don't have high blood pressure and I don't have high cholesterol. I am basically a healthy individual. I know what I need to do to lose weight and that I probably should, but I think it's more important to be happy with yourself and the big key to that one is my husband being happy with me. And, as he tells me all the time, he is.

Anyway, back to the genetics. My mother is overweight and so was my father (who died of a heart attack in his 40's). So, I would say that I am genetically pre-dispositioned to be overweight. However, my sister is a size 2. You do the math.

Doing a Google search for "obesity and genetics" brings over 1 million results (unlike a search for "mommy vomitpants" but I digress) so I guess it's a kind of hot topic. So much so that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Perspective on Obesity and Genetics where they link to a ton of information on the subject. I found this chart to be interesting (click to enlarge):

They basically say that even if someone is predisposed to be overweight they can certainly maintain a healthy weight with the right diet and exercise. Well, no duh. Thanks for the revelation CDC. It isn't rocket science to know that if you expend more than you take in that you will lose weight. But I don't think losing the weight is the problem, I think keeping it off is. Like I said, it's easy to lose weight if you have the right mind set. As a matter of fact, the key is the mind set.

So, what does all of this have to do with being a parent? Well, in my mind being a parent means doing better for your children that your parents did for you. As I grew up in the 80's Kool Aid and soda pop were the staples when it came to beverages. Willow? She gets milk and water. This brings me to a recent article (also available on MSNBC) in Discover magazine called: Is Baby Fat a Warning Sign? New Research Links Infants’ Weight Gain to Obesity. And what does the article say? Well, to sum up, a new study has found that the rate at which infants gain weight in the first six months of their lives is linked to those babies’ risk of becoming obese by age three.

To me, this means that genetics are playing a roll. You certainly don't want to put your baby on a diet but you should, as a parent, make sure that they eat good food and teach them by example what good eating habits are. We are all human and children are no exception. It doesn't help that we live in the land of plenty and "bad" food is (often times) less expensive that "good" food (hello dollar menu).

Even if you (like me) aren't in the best shape you could be, that doesn't mean you can't be a good example for your children making a change for yourself as well. We may not know what role genetics plays in obesity but science is getting closer.

More information (from Discover Magazine)
Whodunnit: TV or Fast Food or Genes?
Genetics Has Key Role In Obesity
20 Things You Didn't Know About...Obesity
Why We Get Fat

Read more!

Mercury - Just How Dangerous IS it?

I have a friend who told me that Compact Fluorescent Light (CLF) Bulbs have mercury in them and that you should have a hazardous materials (Haz Mat) crew come in to clean it up if you break one.

With everyone going "green" these days, most people have CFL's in their home to save on energy.

Then there is all of the hullabaloo about the mercury in vaccinations being linked to Autism. Mercury is in fish, lightbulbs, dental fillings, and even things like mascara!! It is likely a part of your every day life, even if you don't know about it. And it is extremely toxic and dangerous if you are exposed to too high an amount.

So, I thought I'd so a little research and see just how dangerous mercury is and what your chances of exposure are in your everyday life. Want to know more?



For those of you who don't know what it is, Mercury also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum, is a chemical element with the symbol Hg (Latinized Greek: hydrargyrum, meaning watery or liquid silver) and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery d-block metal, mercury is one of six elements that are liquid at or near room temperature and pressure. (The others are the elements caesium, francium, gallium, bromine, and rubidium.) Of these, only mercury is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure with the melting point of −38.83°C and the boiling point of 356.73°C, making it one of the narrowest liquid range of any metals.

So, how does mercury get into your system and what is considered a toxic level of exposure? Unfortunately, there are a considerable number of ways that you can be exposed to mercury. The consumption of fish is by far the most significant source of ingestion-related mercury exposure in humans, although plants and livestock also contain mercury due to bioaccumulation (absorption) of mercury from soil, water and atmosphere, and due to biomagnification (concentration of a substance) by ingesting other mercury-containing organisms. Exposure to mercury can occur from breathing contaminated air, or from improper use or disposal of mercury and mercury-containing objects, for example, after spills of elemental mercury or improper disposal of fluorescent light bulbs.

Human-generated sources such as coal plants emit approximately half of atmospheric mercury, with natural sources such as volcanoes responsible for the remainder. An estimated two-thirds of human-generated mercury comes from stationary combustion, mostly of coal. Other important human-generated sources include gold production, non-ferrous metal production, cement production, waste disposal, crematoria, caustic soda production, pig iron and steel production, mercury production (mostly for batteries), and biomass burning.

Mercury and many of its chemical compounds, especially organomercury compounds (molecular compounds that contain mercury like thiomersal which is used in vaccinations as a preservative), can also be readily absorbed through direct contact with bare, or in some cases (such as dimethylmercury) insufficiently protected, skin. Mercury and its compounds are commonly used in chemical laboratories, hospitals, dental clinics, and facilities involved in the production of items such as fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and explosives.

So, now we have a good idea of where we can find mercury. What is considered a toxic amount?

Currently, the U.S. EPA uses a Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.1 µg/kg body weight/day as an exposure without recognized adverse effects. The most common way that a person is exposed to Mercury is through the consumption of fish. As such, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Consumer Advisory in 2004 regarding fish consumption. In it, they have three recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish:

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.


2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.


• Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.


• Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.


3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

So, what about those Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL's)? Are they dangerous to have in your home?

Not really. That story you may have heard about on the news (including Fox News and the Financial Post) wasn't exactly reported correctly according to Snopes. If you're not familiar with the story, a woman was told it would cost over $2000 to clean up a mercury spill in her home due to a broken CFL. So, since she couldn't afford that she sealed off her daughters room with plastic. The mess was eventually cleaned up at no cost to the woman. You can read about it on the Snopes article I linked above.

According to EnergyStar, CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 4 milligrams.

Okay then, what about when it's used as a preservative in vaccinations? Everyone knows that mercury is linked to Autism!

Actually, there was a study recently published which definitively proved that there is no link between mercury exposure and Autism. Thousands of children in Italy were the subject of a vaccination experiment where 1/2 the children were given Whooping Cough vaccinations containing the normal preservative amount of Mercury. The other half were given TWICE the normal preservative amount. And the results? Ten years later, 1,403 of those children took a battery of brain function tests. Researchers found small differences in only two of 24 measurements and those "might be attributable to chance," they wrote in the February 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics, which was released Monday January 26, 2009.

Only one case of autism was found, and that was in the group that got the lower level of thimerosal.

The bottom line? CFL's are safe and more energy efficient so you should probably still make the switch. Ditch your old Mercury thermometer and make sure you follow the EPA/FDA guidelines for eating fish and you should be safe. When it comes to things like Mercury, it's always a good idea to educate yourself and your family.

More Information:

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mercury Page


• EPA Mercury Page for Kids


• What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish


• List of Consumer Products Containing Mercury


• Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish


• How to Recycle or Dispose of Mercury


• Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury (From Energy Star, including clean up steps)

Read more!

Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week or so, I am sure you've heard about the great peanut butter recall of twenty and oh nine, right?

The culprit behind the recall is something called Salmonella Typhimurium, which is a strain of Salmonella enterica; a rod shaped, flagellated, Gram-negative bacterium, and a member of the genus Salmonella.

According to the latest update by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are "conducting a very active and dynamic investigation into the source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. At this time, the FDA has traced a source of Salmonella Typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which manufactures both peanut butter that is institutionally served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias, and peanut paste—a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts—that is distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream."

Does this affect you?


Well, that depends. But, you should know that according to the FDA, "At this time, there is no indication that any national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are linked to the PCA recall. As the investigation continues over the weekend, and into next week, the FDA will be able to update the advice based on new sampling and distribution information."

You may be wondering why Salmonella is bad. After all, not all bacteria is "bad" bacteria, right? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Salmonella infections can be life-threatening especially for infants and young children, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and older adults, who are at a higher risk for foodborne illness, as are people with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and transplant patients)."

Additionally, "while persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. A small number of persons who are infected with Salmonella may develop pains in their joints, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. This is called Reiter's syndrome. It can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis that is difficult to treat."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating this outbreak in coordination with the FDA. Their advice is as follows:

• Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them.


• Postpone eating other peanut butter containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) until information becomes available about whether that product may be affected.


• Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.

The bottom line is to be careful of what you buy and try to keep up to date with the latest information on this recall. Children who do not have a peanut allergy generally eat a good amount of peanut butter. Why? Well, it may protect against a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to high levels of monounsaturated fats and resveratrol; butter prepared with the skin of the peanuts has a greater level of resveratrol and other health-aiding agents. Peanut butter (and peanuts) provide protein, vitamins B3 and E, magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, arginine, and high levels of the antioxidant p-coumaric acid.

I know I give Willow peanut butter on a regular basis!!

More information:
Frequently-Asked Questions and Answers about the Recent Salmonella Outbreak
List of Company Recalls

Read more!

Donating Bone Marrow - Are You On The List?

I read an article on CNN entitled "Donating bone marrow, saving lives" and it has inspired me to look into signing up as a bone marrow donor because I can potentially save someone's life for the bargain price of $52.

I know what you're thinking. You think that bone marrow donation is painful, don't you? Because that's what I thought too. But, it turns out that the myths (like that one) surrounding bone marrow donation are one of the reasons most people decide against registering as a donor. This is why it's so important in all walks of life to NOT rely on what "so-and-so" said they heard from their grandmother. There is a reason that hearsay is inadmissible in court people. With the amount of information available today, literally at your fingertips via the Internet, it STILL amazes me the amount of misinformation that takes place on a daily basis.

But, I digress. Do you want to know more about bone marrow donation? Or, are you interested in umbilical cord blood donation?


Just in case you have no clue as to what bone marrow is or why it's important, let's talk about that first!! Bone Marrow is the flexible tissue found in the hollow interior of bones. In adults, marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. It constitutes 4% of total body weight, i.e. approximately 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs.) in adults.

The bone marrow stroma contain mesenchymal stem cells (also called marrow stromal cells). These cells are multipotent stem cells (MSC's) that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. Cell types that MSC's have been shown to differentiate into in vitro or in vivo include osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, and, as described lately, beta-pancreatic islets cells. They can also transdifferentiate (when a non-stem cell transforms into a different type of cell, or when an already differentiated stem cell creates cells outside its already established differentiation) into neuronal (nerve) cells.

Bone Marrow Illustration


Picture of Human Bone Marrow

There is an organization out there called the National Marrow Donor Program. Their website is where you should start if you are thinking about donating bone marrow, or even umbilical cord blood.

You might be wondering, why do we need bone marrow? That's a great question! On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor. These patients have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure.

Now that we know what bone marrow is, let's talk about a few specifics. There are two ways that bone marrow is extracted for donation:

1. Your run-of-the-mill bone marrow donation. Donating bone marrow is a surgical procedure done under general or regional anesthesia in a hospital. While a donor receives anesthesia, doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone.


2. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation. PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic. PBSC donors receive daily injections of a drug called filgrastim for five days, to increase the number of blood-forming cells in the bloodstream. Then, through a process called apheresis, a donor's blood is removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other arm.

The big question most people have is whether or not donating bone marrow hurts and what the side effects are. According to the NMDP, marrow donation is done under general or regional anesthesia so the donor experiences no pain during the collection procedure.

Discomfort and side effects vary from person to person. Most marrow donors experience some side effects. Common side effects of marrow donation (not PBSC) include:

• Lower back pain


• Fatigue


• Stiffness when walking


• Bleeding at the collection site

Some donors said the experience was more painful than they expected; others said it was less painful. Some donors describe the pain as similar to achy hip bones or falling on their buttocks. Others say it feels more like a strained muscle in the back. The ache may last a few days to several weeks.

For PBSC, donors may experience headache or bone pain and muscle aches, similar to a cold or the flu, for several days before collection. These are side effects of the filgrastim injections that disappear shortly after donation. Other common side effects are nausea, trouble sleeping and tiredness. Less than one percent of donors have an allergic reaction to filgrastim, which may include skin rashes or shortness of breath.

The PBSC donation procedure can also have side effects. Some donors experience tingling around the mouth, fingers and toes and mild muscle cramps. This is caused by the anti-coagulant (blood thinner) used in the apheresis procedure. These symptoms are easily treated by slowing down the procedure or giving the donor calcium. Less common side effects of the donation procedure are a decrease in the blood platelet count, lightheadedness and nausea.

I could go on and on, but I wanted to just do a quick overview about bone marrow donation. Now you know what bone marrow is, why it's important, and have a couple answers about donation. If you feel like you want to join the list of people who have elected to become donors, please visit the NMDP website.

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(Non)Dieter's Dilemma - Retraining Your Brain

I can see why people complain that they are hungry when they diet. I am not dieting but I am trying to eat a little better than I have been over the Holidays and I find myself getting hungry earlier because of it. So, should I be eating more so I'm not hungry? Probably not. But at the same time, in keeping with the non-diet mentality (since I have resolved to NOT diet this year), I kind of feel like I should not be going hungry. I think one of the keys to not gaining weight is to know when you are "full". And by that I mean in the sense that you are satisfied, not stuffed.

So, how do you differentiate between the two? In this day and age in America when portion sizes are totally out of control, how do find that fine line between eating enough and not eating too much? The answer?


You basically, in my experience, have to retrain yourself. But what does that mean? And what could "retraining" do to help you to be healthy without dieting? Well, let's talk about it! But first, let me say that I am not one of those "skinny moms". There it is. My BMI is not in the normal range and I really don't want it to be. Now, before you jump down my throat for promoting unhealthy habits, know that my intent in talking about dieting and exercising and eating right isn't all for show. It's really how I try to live. I may never be a size 2, 4, or 6, but I am happy with how I look and I am happy with how I feel.

I know what it takes to lose weight and keep it off. I also know what it's like to be in a happy place that isn't affecting your health in a bad way (e.g. normal level cholesterol, exercising regularly, eating not as good as I could be but also not as bad as I could be) where I am feeling more and more comfortable in my own skin. A HUGE part of it is my husband who tells me time and again how much he loves me (and is attracted to me) exactly the way I am. That is VERY helpful in my happiness level.

Since I have so much experience with diet and exercise, I love to talk about it and I try to live it as best as I can. I try to drink 3 liters of water a day and I try my darnedest to exercise 4-5 times a week (I usually take the weekends off but I think I am going to add exercising on the weekends beginning this coming weekend). Am I successful? Well, for the most part. I am not out of breath when I climb the stairs and I get comments all the time about how fast I walk (people think I am in a hurry but it's my normal pace). I eat a lot of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and limit how often I eat out. On my dieting journey over the years I have gained a lot of knowledge about what is necessary to succeed in losing weight and keep it off. And, getting back to the point of the post, that journey begins with the slow process of retraining yourself.

Retraining yourself involves two steps:

1. Retraining your brain


2. Retraining your stomach

I mentioned that it's a slow process because you have to keep in mind that you are not going to, over night, change how you see food. But over time, you can! And why should you? Well, when you see what an actual portion of something looks like, I think you will be surprised. Seeing the size of the portion is a part of retraining your brain, which is what we will talk about today.

Weight Watchers is an excellent tool to help you to be able to look at a food and know how big of a portion you should be eating. One of the things I became most conscious of with regards to portion size is cereal. I still chuckle (inwardly) at my husband since he counts the number of pieces of shredded mini-wheat's that he eats for a serving (I believe the number is 15). I get 3/4 of a cup of the honey bunches of oats I enjoy (I round to a whole cup...terrible, I know).

Now, do you need to join Weight Watchers and go to meetings and whatnot to learn about portion sizes? Absolutely not!! It's a tool. You could actually take a look at the labels on the backs and sides of things. They aren't there for show. Who knew, right?

The moral of the story is that you have to retrain your brain to know what a portion size is and to realize that a small portion is not a bad portion. And you have to actually stop and take an assessment about how full you are. This is kind of a combination brain and stomach thing. Our instinct is to eat until the plate is empty, not until our stomachs are satisfied. Did you ever hear when you were growing up "You can't leave the table until that plate is cleaned!"

Willow will never hear those words from me.

Saying that ingrains into your brain that you have to finish what is put in front of you. Now that you are an adult, your brain is hardwired to see food and eat it. All of it. But you know what? You really don't have to. And not because you are dieting or want to lose weight but because you are actually full. I went to the Cheesecake Factory with my mom last week and I had a hamburger for lunch (with fries) and cheesecake for dessert (because why else go to the Cheesecake Factory?). I got about 1/2 way through the cheesecake and didn't want any more because I was full. And I didn't eat most of the fries.

Another easy way to retrain your brain is to use smaller serving plates. Use smaller bowls and plates and the portions, while of the correct size, will magically look bigger.

I know I have been talking about food and your brain and not really about dieting. But, if you do choose to diet, the most important part of the retraining your brain has to go through is for you to realize that eating right isn't something that is temporary. It's something that you have to make the conscious decision to do all the time. And, for goodness sake, please be SELFISH and make a change in your life for yourself. Not because you have to fit into that dress or bathing suit or because your significant other wants you to. Do it because YOU want to do it. For YOU. Because I guarantee that if you aren't doing it for yourself, you will fail. Maybe not right away, but eventually. This is, again, from experience.

I know, you've heard it all before right? Well, even if you (like me) didn't make a resolution to lose weight like millions of other people, you can still eat what you want and make some small changes that aren't because you are on a diet but because you want to live a little more healthy. And, if you just happen to lose weight along the way, it's a bonus right?

Let me add this...like I mentioned I have been dieting for what seems like forever. And once you get where you want to be it is a CONSTANT struggle to maintain what you have accomplished. Everyone is addicted to food and for some people, like me, it is like being addicted to alcohol or cigarettes and you have to make a conscious decision when it comes to food to NOT eat and NOT give in to that craving.

We all know that if you aren't in the "normal" BMI range, people give you a look no matter what your story is because it is impossible for them to know your struggles and people are superficial when they don't know someone.

I think the key to the whole thing is accepting yourself for who you are and accepting that when someone tells you that you are beautiful maybe you should believe them. ^_^

Tune in next week for tips on how to "retrain your stomach".

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The 33rd Annual Great American Smoke Out

When I was a kid, smoking was "cool". Everyone did it. You saw it on television and in the movies and chances are, your parents smoked.

Since I grew up in that environment, I became a smoker at the ripe old age of 12 years old. Are you shocked? I proceeded to smoke for about 13 years but quit when I moved to Texas and got a fancy engineering job. And now, I think smoking is disgusting. But that probably has a lot to do with the whole quitting thing.

You may or may not know, but today is the 33rd annual Great American Smoke Out!! You didn't know? Well, let me tell you about it...

From the American Cancer Society Press Release:

Thursday, November 20, is the 33rd Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society continues its legacy of providing free resources to help smokers quit. The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Now, 44.2 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.

With all the resources available to help smokers quit, there has never been a better time to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society is here to help. If you smoke, make a plan and set the Great American Smokeout, November 20, 2008, as your quit date. By calling the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 1-800-227-2345, people who plan to quit will be able to speak with a trained counselor and receive free, confidential counseling.

How about a few benefits you gain from quitting?

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops. (Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure Amplification, Mahmud, A, Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension:41:183.)


• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202)


• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. (US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194,196, 285, 323)

And a couple facts about secondhand smoke:

• Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke emitted from the burning ends of a tobacco product (sidestream smoke) and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of tobacco users (mainstream smoke).


• Secondhand smoke contains over 4000 substances, more than 60 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.

If you are thinking about quitting the American Cancer Society has a ton of ways to help you. And, chances are, so does your health insurance provider. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.



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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Overview

When Willow was 2 weeks old we discovered her right breast had significantly swollen and turned red. We took her to the pediatrician to have it checked out and were immediately directed to the Children's Hospital Emergency Room since it was a suspected (and later confirmed) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection. This is a potentially deadly infection, especially in babies that are so small. It was a harrowing 4 days in the hospital that no new parent should have to go through.

Even now, more than a year later, it scares me to think that Willow could have died as a result of that infection so I thought I would talk about it here and kind of "get the word out" about it.

Before we talk about MRSA, we should know what Staphylococcus Aureus is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection.

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).

What's the difference between "staph" and MRSA? Again, according to the CDC, Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.

About 1% of the population get to be the lucky ones to contract MRSA, huh? But, how do you even get it to begin with? Well, people in hospitals and health care facilities are usually the one to get MRSA due to their weakened immune system. However, there is also something called Community Associated (CA) MRSA. This occurs when an otherwise healthy person contracts the infection. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.

Now, what does it mean to be "Antibiotic Resistant"? According to the Mayo Clinic, although the survival tactics of bacteria contribute to antibiotic resistance, humans bear most of the responsibility for the problem.

Leading causes of antibiotic resistance include:

• Unnecessary antibiotic use. Like other superbugs, MRSA is the result of decades of excessive and unnecessary antibiotic use. For years, antibiotics have been prescribed for colds, flu and other viral infections that don't respond to these drugs, as well as for simple bacterial infections that normally clear on their own. Why? Because people go to the doctor and expect a prescription, even if it will not help you.


• Antibiotics in food and water. Prescription drugs aren't the only source of antibiotics. In the United States, antibiotics can be found in livestock. These antibiotics find their way into municipal water systems when the runoff from feedlots contaminates streams and groundwater.


• Germ mutation. Even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target. Bacteria live on an evolutionary fast track, so germs that survive treatment with one antibiotic soon learn to resist others. And because bacteria mutate much more quickly than new drugs can be produced, some germs end up resistant to just about everything. That's why only a handful of drugs are now effective against most forms of staph.
  

How do you know if your infection is one that needs to be treated? Well, you should keep an eye on any skin irritations and be looking for three things:

1. Redness


2. Foul-smelling puss


3. Fever
   

For those of you who are visual people, here is a picture for you (click to enlarge)

MRSA infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.
(Picture from the Mayo Clinic)

What can you do to prevent getting a staph infection? According to the Mayo Clinic, you can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these steps:

1. Wash your hands. Careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.


2. Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.


3. Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.


4. Shower after athletic games or practices. Shower immediately after each game or practice. Use soap and water. Don't share towels.


5. Sit out athletic games or practices if you have a concerning infection. If you have a wound that's draining or appears infected — for example, is red, swollen, warm to the touch or tender — consider sitting out athletic games or practices until the wound has healed.


6. Sanitize linens. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the "hot" water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.


7. Get tested. If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA. Doctors may prescribe drugs that aren't effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs. Testing specifically for MRSA may get you the specific antibiotic you need to effectively treat your infection.


8. Use antibiotics appropriately. When you're prescribed an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better. Don't stop until your doctor tells you to stop. Don't share antibiotics with others or save unfinished antibiotics for another time. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, including not taking all of your prescription and overuse, contributes to resistance. If your infection isn't improving after a few days of taking an antibiotic, contact your doctor.
   

And keep in mind that all infections have the potential to be serious, including your everyday pimple. Like anything else in this world, hygiene seems to play an important role in keeping you and your family safe. I carry around a mini bottle of hand sanitizer myself...I hope you found this information helpful!! Read more!

Vitamins - A Quick Guide

According to the Mayo Clinic, A balanced diet can provide all the vitamins and minerals you need (in other words you don't need to take a vitamin). If you're generally healthy and eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meats and fish, you don't likely need dietary supplements. If you want assurance that you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, stick with dietary supplements that contain no more than 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for any given nutrient.

Although there's little conclusive evidence that dietary supplements in general help prevent disease, fish oils or other specific supplements may be beneficial for some people. Talk to your doctor about which supplements and which doses might be appropriate for you. Be sure to ask about possible side effects and interactions with other medications.

With all the Vitamin D talk lately, my vitamin curiosity is peaked. I mean sure, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) makes this new recommendation doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children should be taking. But, how much of a vitamin does your body really absorb? And before answering that question, why do we even need vitamins? Aren't they in the food we eat? And, are liquid vitamins better than pills?

What exactly is a vitamin? Well, a vitamin is any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism.

Okay, that wasn't much help. Let's try our trusty Wikipedia; A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet.

Eureka!!

Now, the bigger question...what makes a vitamin a vitamin? According to the Wikipedia vitamin article, vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" may refer to several vitamer compounds that all show the biological activity associated with a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-converted in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

But where do vitamins come from? Apparently people were using vitamins well before we even knew what they were. The most well known use of food for vitamin replacement is probably the discovery that citrus could prevent scurvy (this led to the "limey" nickname for sailors). However there is evidence all the way back to Egypt that people ate certain foods to help cure maladies like night blindness. But it was the discovery of the link between citrus and scurvy that, in part, led to the use of vitamins as we know them today!

Throughout the early 1900s, the use of deprivation studies (giving one group a substance and NOT giving it to a second group to see what happens) allowed scientists to isolate and identify a number of vitamins. Initially, lipid from fish oil was used to cure rickets in rats, and the fat-soluble nutrient was called "antirachitic A". The irony here is that the first "vitamin" bioactivity ever isolated, which cured rickets, was initially called "vitamin A", the bioactivity of which is now called vitamin D. What we now call "vitamin A" was identified in fish oil because it was inactivated by ultraviolet light. In 1931, Albert Szent-Györgyi and a fellow researcher Joseph Svirbely determined that "hexuronic acid" was actually vitamin C and noted its anti-scorbutic activity. In 1937, Szent-Györgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery. In 1943 Edward Adelbert Doisy and Henrik Dam were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery of vitamin K and its chemical structure.

Now, there are two types of vitamins. There are water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble dissolve easily in water and fat-soluble dissolve easily in fat. Simple enough, right? Well, while most of the vitamins you need are obtained from the food you eat, some vitamins are produced by your body. For example, microorganisms in the intestine—commonly known as "gut flora"—produce vitamin K and biotin, while one form of vitamin D is synthesized in the skin with the help of natural ultraviolet in sunlight. Our bodies can also produce some vitamins from precursors they consume. Examples include vitamin A, produced from beta carotene, and niacin, from the amino acid tryptophan.

Now that we know what vitamins are and where they come from the question is, why do we need them? Well, the foods we eat in this day and age tend to be on the slim side when it comes to nutritional value. That's why you have food companies touting the nutritional information in the foods they make. (The first thing that comes to MY mind is Total cereal.) So, if your diet consists mainly of fast food, or you never eat any fruits and vegetables, it is generally recommended that you take a multivitamin every day. And as more research is done on the effects of vitamins on the body the recommendations change over time.

According to a Mayo Clinic article on dietary supplements, If you're generally healthy and eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meats and fish, you likely don't need dietary supplements.

However, if you can't or don't eat enough healthy foods, or can't or don't eat a variety of healthy foods, you may need a daily dietary supplement. Dietary supplements may be appropriate if you:

• Are a vegetarian and don't substitute or complement your diet appropriately


• Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding


• Are a woman who experiences heavy bleeding during your menstrual period


• Are a postmenopausal woman


• Have a medical condition that affects how your body absorbs, uses or excretes nutrients, such as chronic diarrhea, food allergies, food intolerance or a disease of the liver, gallbladder, intestines or pancreas


• Have had surgery on your digestive tract and are not able to digest and absorb nutrients properly
  

Talk to your doctor or a dietitian about which supplements and what doses might be appropriate for you. Be sure to ask about possible side effects and interactions with other medications.

So, you take the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin A. But, how much of that vitamin is really absorbed by your body? I have talked to several people about this and the consensus is that your body does NOT absorb all of the vitamin or mineral. But, is that really true? The answer is surprisingly complex. Apparently it's not as simple as needing water or fat to dissolve and absorb their respective vitamins. Many vitamins need help to be absorbed into the body and some vitamins prevent others from being absorbed. The best thing to do is do some research on the particular vitamin or mineral you are concerned with.

On to the next question...which is better, liquid vitamins or solid (pill) vitamins? People can argue either way. The fact remains that those vitamins that are fat-soluble will not be absorbed until they are in the intestines whether they are already in liquid form when they enter the stomach or not. From what I have been able to find, there is no real difference between the two so I would go with what you prefer if you take a vitamin.

So, what's the bottom line? According to the Mayo Clinic (and probably your doctor or pediatrician) you only need a multivitamin if you are pregnant or if you don't eat a complete diet. But, with merging studies on the positive and negative effects of particular vitamins and minerals (like Calcium and Vitamin D), your doctor may recommend that you take specific ones. But should you be worrying that you aren't getting all the vitamins and minerals you need? Probably not. But if you're unsure take a vitamin! There sure are plenty to choose from!


More information:

The Office of Dietary Supplements (TONS of good information here from the National Institutes of Health)
Dietary Supplements (vitamins, herbs, etc.) Fact Sheets
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Dietary Reference Intakes: A Risk Assessment Model for Establishing Upper Intake Levels for Nutrients

From the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• Fortify Your Knowledge About Vitamins


• FDA 101: Dietary Supplements


• Institutes of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board
  

Vitamins and Minerals and where you can find them:

• Water-Soluble Vitamins Chart


• Fat-Soluble Vitamins Chart


• Minerals Chart

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Heat Stroke - What You Should Know

This past week in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, both Willow and I suffered from a mild case of Heat Stroke.

What is Heat Stroke? Heat Stroke or Hyperthermia, is an acute condition which occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. It is usually due to excessive exposure to heat. The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, therefore the body temperature climbs uncontrollably. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Now, there is a difference between hyperthermia and fever. A fever occurs when the body sets the core temperature to a higher temperature, through the action of the pre-optic region of the anterior hypothalamus. For example, in response to a bacterial or viral infection, the body will raise its temperature to allow the immune system to work better and to deteriorate the condition of the invaders. In contrast, hyperthermia occurs when the body temperature is raised without the consent of the heat control centers.

Heat related illness usually makes itself apparent in stages. According to the American Red Cross' Health and Safety Tips on Heat Related Illness, the signal of the first stage is heat cramps in muscles. These cramps can be very painful. If you are caring for a person who has heat cramps, have him or her stop activity and rest. If the person is fully awake and alert, have him or her drink small amounts of cool water or a commercial sports drink. Gently stretch the cramped muscle and hold the stretch for about 20 seconds, then gently massage the muscle. Repeat these steps if necessary. If the victim has no other signals of heat-related illness, the person may resume activity after the cramps stop.

The signals of the next, more serious stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat exhaustion) include:

• Cool, moist, pale skin (the skin may be red right after physical activity).


• Headache.


• Dizziness and weakness or exhaustion.


• Nausea.


• The skin may or may not feel hot.

The signals of the late stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat stroke) include:

• Vomiting.


• Decreased alertness level or complete loss of consciousness.


• High body temperature (sometimes as high as 105oF).


• Skin may still be moist or the victim may stop sweating and the skin may be red, hot and dry.


• Rapid, weak pulse.


• Rapid, shallow breathing.

This late stage of a heat-related illness is life threatening. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

The Unites States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a great booklet that you can download and keep on Excessive Heat Exposure. You can find it here.

Now that we know what Heat Stroke is, what can you do if you have (or think you have) it? According to the American Red Cross there are three things you should do:

1. Cool the Body


2. Give Fluids


3. Minimize Shock

For heat cramps or heat exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. If the person is fully awake and alert, give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths such as towels or wet sheets. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness.

For heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation! Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, wrap them in a cloth and place them on each of the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. (Do not use rubbing alcohol because it closes the skin's pores and prevents heat loss.) Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.

After Willow vomited, we started spraying her with water and fanning her with a hand fan, since we didn't have power. I just held her and continued with that regimen until she fell asleep. And even after she was asleep when she would wake up we would spray her down and fan her off. It seemed to work pretty well. As for me, I was drinking water but I vomited as well. After that I went and took a cool shower. I felt much better then and was able to relax a little bit. I was still worried about Willow but we made it through the night no problem. Luckily the next day a cold front blew through and took away the horrid humidity and all was well with the world again.

Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion are very serious and should not be taken lightly. If you even suspect that you, or your child(ren) have either of these conditions, PLEASE don't hesitate to give the proper treatment as soon as posible. Read more!

My Pregnancy and Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

As I said yesterday, my pregnancy was difficult for me. It wasn't a difficult pregnancy in that there were complications with respect to the baby, but it was very tough on me.

The first trimester was awesome. I had sciatic pain but it was manageable and only occurred every once in a while. I exercised regularly and had no morning sickness. I couldn't have been happier.

Around the 20 week mark or so, I started having pains in my lower abdomen. I thought at first that it was sore muscles, since that's kind of what it felt like, but it turned out to be something called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. The last 20 weeks were the opposite of pleasant. They were torture for me and the main reason I decided to not have anymore children. I just don't think I could do it again, especially with a small child to care for. (At the end I was snapping at the cats for crying out loud.)

So, what is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)?
According to Birth Source, "During pregnancy or birth, about one in 35 women will experience intense pelvic pain and may find it difficult to walk, climb stairs, and other movements that involve the pelvic bones. This pain is a result of separation of the symphysis pubis which is a joint in the very front part of the pelvic bone structure. There is cartilage that fills the gap in the bones. During pregnancy, hormones such as relaxin soften this cartilage allowing the pelvic bones to be more flexible for delivery. Some women, however, have too much play in the pelvis causing a large gap between the bones. This makes the symphysis pubis area extremely sensitive to touch."

According to Plus-Size Pregnancy (PSP), other names for it include:

• pubic shear (osteopathic term)


• symphyseal separation


• pubic symphysis separation


• separated symphysis


• pelvic girdle relaxation of pregnancy


• pelvic joint syndrome.

Diastasis Symphysis Pubis (DSP) is the name for the problem in its most severe form (where the pubic symphysis actually separates severely or tears).

So what did that mean for me? Any activity that involved lifting one leg at a time or parting the legs was particularly painful. Lifting my leg to put on clothes, getting out of the car (and driving my stick shift), bending over, sitting down or getting up, walking up stairs, standing on one leg, lifting heavy objects, and walking in general were difficult (at times) in the beginning and all the time at the end.

Symptoms of SPD often include one or more of the following:

• pubic pain


• pubic tenderness to the touch; having the fundal height measured may be uncomfortable


• lower back pain, especially in the sacro-iliac area


• difficulty/pain rolling over in bed


• difficulty/pain with stairs, getting in and out of cars, sitting down or getting up, putting on clothes, bending, lifting, standing on one foot, lifting heavy objects, etc.


• sciatica (pain in buttocks and down the leg)


• "clicking" in the pelvis when walking


• waddling gait


• difficulty getting started walking, especially after sleep


• feeling like hip is out of place or has to pop into place before walking


• bladder dysfunction (temporary incontinence at change in position)


• knee pain or pain in other areas can sometimes also be a side-effect of pelvis problems


• some chiropractors feel that round ligament pain (sharp tearing or pulling sensations in the abdomen) can be related to SPD

Having this condition led me to stay home on medical leave for the last three weeks of my pregnancy, it was that bad.

My advice to you if you have any of those symptoms? Ask your doctor about them right away and make sure to let your family, friends, and co-workers know about your condition. I did, and people at work were especially helpful and considerate.

The problem with the whole thing? No one knows the cause. According to PSP, No one knows why SPD occurs for sure, or why it happens in some women and not in others. Some ethnic groups report a high incidence, especially Scandinavian women and perhaps Black women. Other risk factors may include having lots of kids, having had large babies, pre-existing problems with this joint, past pelvic or back pain, or past trauma (car accident, obstetric trauma, etc.) that may have damaged the pelvic girdle area. It also seems logical that women who have broken or injured their pelvis in the past would probably be prone to this problem.

Some sources view SPD simply as a result of pregnancy hormones. As noted, the pregnancy hormones relaxin and progesterone tend to loosen the ligaments of the body in preparation for birth. One theory is that some women have high levels of hormones before pregnancy, and then additional pregnancy hormones cause excessive relaxation of ligaments, especially in the pelvis.

Another theory is that some women manufacture excessive levels of relaxin during pregnancy, causing pelvic laxity. However, although still popular, this theory seems to have been disproven by recent research. Another theory is that women whose joints are especially flexible before pregnancy may be more susceptible to the effect of hormones, or that some women's bodies are just more affected by hormones than others. Traditional medical sources tend to view the problem of pelvic/pubic pain (when they acknowledge it at all) as simply a hormone problem.

A different theory holds that the problem is structural instead, and usually results from a misalignment of the pelvis. In this view, if the pelvis gets out of alignment, the bones don't line up correctly in front, and this puts a lot of extra pressure on that pubic symphysis cartilage. If the two sides are not aligned, it restricts full range of motion, pulling on the connecting pubic symphysis, and making it quite painful. The more out of alignment it is, the more painful this area becomes. It also tends to affect the back, especially in the sacroiliac area, since the pelvis and back are interconnected and work as a unit. And since many areas are affected by back problems, pain can also extend to other areas too.

Although there is no real treatment options for SPD (you know, so you can get rid of it altogether), there are still some things you can do to try and ease the pain and discomfort.

Tips for Coping with Pubic Symphysis Pain

Although the best idea may be to resolve chronic SPD pain through realigning the pelvis girdle and soft tissues, most women have at least some residual pubic and low back pain stick around for pregnancy and the early postpartum weeks because of hormones. Therefore, tips for coping with pubic pain tend to be a focus of many SPD websites. Many of the suggestions include:

• Use a pillow between your legs when sleeping; body pillows are a great investment!


• Use a pillow under your 'bump' (pregnancy tummy) when sleeping


• Keep your legs and hips as parallel/symmetrical as possible when moving or turning in bed


• Some women also find it helpful to have their partners stabilize their hips and hold them 'together' when rolling over in bed or otherwise adjusting position


• Some women report a waterbed mattress to be helpful


• Silk/satin sheets and nighties may make it easier to turn over in bed


• Swimming may help relieve pressure on the joint (many sites recommend avoiding breaststroke but Kmom did not find it to be a problem at all for her; see what works for you)


• Deep water aerobics or deep water running may be helpful as well (there are flotation devices to help you stay afloat easily during this; you do not need to know how to swim in order to do this)


• Keep your legs close together and move symmetrically (other sources recommend a very small gap between the legs with symmetrical movement)


• When standing, stand symmetrically, with your weight evenly distributed through both legs


• Sit down to get dressed, especially when putting on underwear or pants


• Avoid 'straddle' movements


• Swing your legs together as a unit when getting in and out of cars; use plastics or something smooth and slippery (like a garbage bag) on the car seat to help you enter car backwards and then turn your legs as a unit


• An ice pack may feel soothing and help reduce inflammation in the pubic area; painkillers may also help


• Move slowly and without sudden movements


• If sex is uncomfortable for you, use lots of pillows under your knees, or try other positions


• If bending over to pick up objects is difficult, there are devices available that can help with this


• Really severe cases may need crutches, although these should probably only be used as a last resort


• Sciatica may be helped by stretching the hamstring muscles with a stirrup around your foot (long piece of rope, two neck ties tied together, etc.)
  


• Back pain can often be helped by resting backwards over a large gymnastic or 'birth' ball
  


• Some women report that pelvic binders/maternity support belts are helpful for pelvic pain; brands in the U.S. include Prenatal Cradle or BabyHugger or the Reenie Belt. However, if the pelvic bones are really misaligned, some women report more pain with these. Listen to your body on whether to use these

If you are having problems in your pregnancy and you weren't sure what they were but now you know, I am glad to have helped you!! If you are suffering from SPD, you have my complete and total sympathy. If you suffered through this and are pregnant again, good luck. From what I have read, it is supposed to get worse in subsequent pregnancies. I have been seeing a chiropractor, so I have a little hope that if I were to get pregnant again (by some kind of fluke) it would be less than it was with Willow but something tells me that that is wishful thinking.

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