====================== JeffNEWS, July 1, 1995 ====================== You and Your Health and Safety Enjoy a Fitter Summer --------------------- A new 12-week course of fitness classes, now including "Stress Buster" and "H2O Fit," begins Monday, July 17. But you can have a free preview of these and the other fitness classes during the week of July 10. Also available are classes such as step and slide aerobics, yoga, martial arts and tai-chi. Stress Buster is a combination of yoga postures, stretching and relaxation techniques perfect for the end of the day; while H2O Fit is a high-powered aqua aerobic workout that includes deep-end work and exerbands for extra resistance. Registration will take place from Monday, July 3, through Friday, July 14, at the Health Awareness Program offices, Suite 100, 1015 Chestnut Street, or the Activities Office, B-100, Jefferson Alumni Hall, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call 6319 for more information. The Fury of Fireworks --------------------- They're spectacular, colorful and dangerous. Fireworks cause serious eye injuries each summer, often resulting in permanent eye damage, vision loss or actual loss of an eye, says Wills ophthalmologist Jack B. Jeffers, MD. Sparklers, a favorite among young children, can reach temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember this when you see children waving or tossing them in the air. For safety's sake, leave the fireworks display to licensed professionals who take the necessary precautions and closely monitor the devices. However, should an eye injury occur: o Seek treatment immediately from an ophthalmologist or emergency room. o Do not rub or press the eye. o Shield the eye with a protective covering, such as a milk carton bottom, taped to the forehead and cheek. So You Want to Have a Baby! --------------------------- Obstetricians and gynecologists such as Joseph Grover, MD, recommend women schedule a complete check-up with their doctor before getting pregnant. Here's why: o Vitamin supplements are often prescribed before and during pregnancy to make sure you're getting the recommended dietary allowance of folic acid and other vital nutrients. A deficiency in folic acid early in the pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. o A healthy weight is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Underweight women often have difficulty conceiving, perhaps because their bodies don't have the necessary supply of fat that's needed to sustain a pregnancy. Being underweight is also associated with nutritional deficiency, which can jeoparidize the health of mother and baby. o Tipping the scales too much is also cause for concern. Obesity causes difficulties with both ovulation and delivery and increases a woman's risk of gestational diabetes. Doctors usually put overweight women on a weight loss and exercise program before they attempt to get pregnant. Women should not diet while trying to conceive since they miss out on certain foods that are rich in important nutrients. o Over-exercising can impede the conception process. If a woman exercises too much, her estrogen level will drop and she could stop menstruating completely. o Harmful substances such as nicotine and alcohol should be avoided by women planning pregnancy. Use caffeine in moderation. Quieting the Storm Inside Your Stomach -------------------------------------- A burning sensation in your chest could mean you're suffering a heart attack or heartburn, a condition in which the lining of the esophagus is irritated by gastric acid, says gastroenterologist Steven A. Edmundowicz, MD. Heartburn occurs when the muscle surrounding the end of the esophagus relaxes, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. Eating chocolate, peppermint or fatty foods can lead to acid indigestion. Pregnant women and people taking blood pressure or heart medications often complain of heartburn, too. For occasional bouts of heartburn, taking antacids, eliminating eating before bedtime, sleeping with your head elevated and avoiding foods that promote reflux can bring relief. If symptoms persist or if the pain is unusually severe, see your doctor to make sure they're not a sign of a more serious disease. If necessary, a gastroenterologist can do tests that measure gastric acid levels and the muscle contraction of the esophagus. For severe cases of heartburn, surgery to strengthen the weakened muscle barrier at the end of the esophagus may be recommended. Why Bottled Water Isn't For Babies ---------------------------------- Bottled water has been marketed as an affordable and appropriate feeding substitute or supplement for infants. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control warn that bottled water can cause seizures in babies who are under six months of age and not yet eating solid foods. Bottled water contains little or no sodium, which babies need, and can dilute the sodium they get from breast milk or formula. "Mother's milk and infant formula contain enough water for an infant," explains Beth Meriwether, MS, RD, a registered dietitian in Jefferson's maternity services. "There's no need to supplement a baby's diet with tap or bottled water, even during the summer months. Water can also make babies too full for their regular feedings." In addition, says Ms. Meriwether, if an infant has diarrhea or is vomiting, don't give him or her water. Call your pediatrician; most recommend a special oral rehydration solution. Keeping Cholesterol in Check ---------------------------- There are plenty of people who are at risk of developing heart disease because of high cholesterol. Here are some facts to help you understand the need to control your cholesterol and practical suggestions from cardiologist Perry J. Weinstock, MD, on how to do it. o Some cholesterol is good; it's vital for life. Eat a diet high in saturated fat, though, and you'll end up with too much cholesterol in your blood, which can block arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes. o Cholesterol consists of high density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides, fatty acids that are converted to primarily "bad" cholesterol. Ideally, your total cholesterol level should be no more than 200 mg/dl. A desirable HDL level is at least 35 mg/dl. o Have your cholesterol checked by your doctor at age 20 and every five years thereafter. More frequent checks are necessary if you have a family history of coronary heart disease. o Diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes are the first step to treating high cholesterol. Limit fat to no more than 30 percent of calories, reduce cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams a day, exercise daily and quit smoking. o Cholesterol-lowering medications are a last resort because you must keep taking drugs indefinitely. Medication is used to reduce bad cholesterol and in some cases increase good cholesterol. o Easy-to-use cholesterol home screening kits are available, but their accuracy is questionable. For a true picture of your cholesterol, see your physician for a professional laboratory screening. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------