Wake Women’s Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Rosemarie C. Newman to the practice. Dr. Newman has been in practice for over 25 years and is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was in practice in North Raleigh before joining Wake Women’s Health.

Dr. Newman’s Education

• Internship and Residency, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York
• Doctor of Medicine, New York Medical College
• Bachelor of Arts, Herbert H. Lehman College, City University of New York,
• Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
• Professional Societies
• Americal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American Medical Association

Spring Cleaning for Health

With the onset of spring comes a sense of renewal and a “fresh start.” Spring clean to improve the appearance of your home and help your health with these simple tips:

• Clean out the medicine cabinet – purge any expired medications and prescriptions, but check with your pharmacist to find out the safest way to do this. Throwing them down the sink may create a potential hazard.
• Thoroughly dust your home and replace any air or heating filters to reduce allergens.
• Scour your bathrooms and damp areas to remove mold and mildew that may cause allergic reactions.
• Check your smoke detectors and put new batteries in them. Do the same with carbon monoxide detectors.
• In the garage and basement, check old cans of paint, thinners, oils, solvents or other toxic materials and take them to the appropriate disposal site. Follow this link to find disposal locations in Wake County:  http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/residents/houshazwaste.htm
• Clean out under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, removing outdated toxic substances or cleaners.
• Throw out old or broken toys.
• Inspect playground equipment to make sure it has remained sturdy through the winter.
• Take your exercise outdoors. Escape the gym and rev up your workout by walking, running, biking and swimming.

Recognizing and Avoiding Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

Poison Ivy

Before heading out to do yard work, check these tips on how to identify and avoid coming into contact with poison ivy and poison oak.

Poison Ivy: Poison ivy has thin, shiny, bright-green leaves. The leaves occur in threes, with one leaf at the end of the stem and two leaves opposite of one another on the stem. Young leaves can be orange and in the fall they turn red. The stems are reddish and can appear “hairy.” The plant may have a cluster of small yellowish green flowers (in June) or hard greenish white berries (in fall).

Poison Oak

Poison Oak: Poison oak tends to grow in dry areas and also has leaves of three. The leaves may take on appearance of true oak leaves. The leaves are usually green in spring and summer and reddish in late summer and fall. The flowers and berries are white to yellowish green.

Tips to Avoid Poison Ivy and Oak:

• Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and fully enclosed footwear when walking, gardening or going near areas known to have either poison ivy or poison oak.
• Wear gloves when working in the yard.
• Wear a block (Ivy Block or Stokogard) if you know you are highly sensitive.
• Do not touch your face, eyes or exposed skin with hands or gloves that may have been exposed.
• Be mindful of your pets if they have been out near the plants because they can carry the oils on their fur.
• Clean your garden tools, gloves or anything else that has come into contact with the plants. Latent resin from the plants can remain on exposed items for months or years. Wash your clothes in hot water immediately after being exposed. Wash any objects in hot, soapy water and let dry outside.
• Wash exposed skin immediately. It takes about 10-30 minutes for the poison ivy or oak resin to bind with the skin. Speedy cleaning may help to avoid any reaction.

There have been changes recently in the guidelines for Pap testing, often referred to as a Pap smear, and the publicity has resulted in some confusion. Here are the most current guidelines concerning the Pap smear: A Pap test or Pap smear checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The test will indicate if there is an infection or growth of abnormal and unhealthy cells. It is still the most effective source to save lives by checking for the earliest signs of cervical cancer. All women should have Pap smears along with pelvic exams.

Wake Women’s Health:

How Often Should You Have a Pap Smear?

How often should I get a Pap smear? If you are 21 years of age or older, a Pap smear should be done every two years. If you are 30 years of age or older and have had three normal Pap tests for three years in a row, talk to your doctor about getting one every three years. If you have gone through menopause, you will still need a Pap smear and should discuss the regularity with your doctor. If you are 65 years of age or older, you can ask your doctor if you can stop getting the test.

Is there anyone who should receive more frequent testing? Yes. If you have weakened immune system because of organ transplant, chemotherapy or steroid use you will need more frequent tests. If you are HIV-positive or your mother was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant, you will need a more frequent test. If you have multiple sexual partners, more frequent testing will be necessary to rule out the possibility of HPV (human papillomavirus).

These are guidelines, and your doctor may recommend a different schedule based on your health history and family history. Take the time to discuss your specific needs with your gynecologist.

As flu seasons go, the 2011-2012 season is shaping up to be quite mild.  That can probably be attributed to a rising percentage of people who took the precaution and got themselves the flu shot.  Just because we haven’t had large scale outbreaks as of yet doesn’t mean we are out of the woods.  Outbreaks can and have happened into April, so continue taking precautions and follow these steps:

• Get your flu shot if you haven’t already. The vaccine is in plentiful supply. This is especially important for people over 65 and under five years of age.  This year’s vaccine protects against H1N1 and seasonal strains of the flu.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If no soap is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands. Germs spread easily by the hands.
• Stay away from sick people as much as possible.
• Get plenty of sleep, exercise, drink lots of water and eat a healthy and balanced diet.

Wake Internal Medicine has flu shots available through your doctor by appointment or at both Rx Urgent Care locations on a walk-in basis.

Weight Loss: The Real Story of What You Need To Do to Lose Weight and Keep It Off

If you are looking for a magic pill that melts the weight off your body, then you are about to be disappointed. There are lots of advertising claims that you can lose weight without exercise or dieting, and while that’s possible in the short term, it’s almost always unhealthy and the weight is quickly regained.

Taking in more calories than you burn each day causes weight gain. As the body ages our metabolism slows, and unless you decrease your caloric intake or increase your daily exercise, you will gain weight.

Sustainable weight loss is achieved by changing eating and exercise behaviors. This requires making a lifestyle change, not dieting for 60 or 90 days. Lifestyle change sounds daunting, but when taken one day at a time it’s very achievable. For example, it’s probably still okay to eat pizza, but do it once a month instead of once a week.

Every person is different, and that means you need a plan that’s tailored to your body type, eating habits and routines. You should be the one to develop that plan in consultation with your physician who will help you set goals and get started on a healthy weight loss plan that will keep the weight off.  These are the basic rules to help you get started:

• Do your own research. Find out how many calories a person your age and weight should burn. Figure out how many calories you take in now. Most foods have nutrition labels with this information. Create a weekly menu of foods you like. Portions should have fewer total calories when all three meals are added together than you will burn each day. More exercise means you will burn off more calories.
• Avoid fad diets. They are called fads for a reason, because they don’t last very long.
• Eat whole foods or products with as few ingredients as possible.  Preservatives and additives lead to weight gain.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.  These should dominate your food list.
• Eat whole grains and reduce sugar and salt as much as possible.
• Cook at home – you will consume fewer calories and be in control of ingredients and portion sizes.
• Get up and move. Strive for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per day.  Mix in weight lifting three times per week to strengthen bones and muscles.
• Drink at least 80 ounces of water per day.
• Eat breakfast every day. It jumpstarts your metabolism and gets the body burning calories.
• Live by the rule “everything in moderation.”
• NO STARVING YOURSELF.  Lack of food signals your body to hold onto fat because it doesn’t know when you will eat again. That’s the opposite of the intended effect.

Change your mindset and stop thinking of a “diet” as a way to lose weight. Your “diet” is the healthy, great tasting food you eat every day that fills your nutritional needs and maintains your desired body weight.

Certified Nutritionist
If you would like assistance in developing a weight loss plan, please contact Lori Bridges, P.A.-C, in our Blue Ridge Road office. She provides weight loss and nutritional counseling that is covered by insurance in most instances. She holds nutrition and weight loss certifications from the American Fitness Professionals Association. Call 781-7500 ext.1502 to schedule an appointment.

Managing Stress

Let’s face it.  Stress to some degree is a normal part of life.  However, the way you manage stress can be the difference between happy and healthy versus overwhelmed and sickly. Some of the signs that stress has reached an unhealthy level:

• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking
• Overeating
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Using pills or other drugs to relax
• Putting things off
• Sleeping too much
• Lashing out at others

The most important step to managing stress is identifying the situations that are causing it.  Once you do that, try some of these tips to manage and reduce your stress level:

• When possible avoid what you know will be a stressful situation.
• Learn to say no. Your schedule doesn’t need to be filled every minute of the day.
• Take time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes.
• Maintain a balanced diet and avoid fatty and greasy foods.
• Take a walk outside. Walk through your neighborhood or go to one of the many walking trails in this area and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
• If you don’t do it already, start a daily exercise routine. When you are physically fit, your body does a better job of handling stress.
• Play with your kids or your pet.
• Listen to music or read a book.
• Walk away from the computer and cell phone.  These instruments cause more stress in many situations than they alleviate.
• Avoid negative people. They will try and bring you down into their world.
• Focus on the positive. Look for the good in each situation rather than the bad. Seek out and associate with people who are upbeat and have a positive attitude.
• Accept things you cannot change.
• If you feel that your stress is unmanageable on your own, talk to your doctor. If they are unable to help, they will recommend someone who can.

A proactive approach to dealing with stress won’t make it go away, but you’ll be better prepared to handle it.

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk

Wake Gastroenterology is proud to have been a sponsor of the 2012 Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk. It was held this past weekend on Saturday March 3 at the Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh.

Started by the Colon Cancer Coalition, the Get Your Rear in Gear event promotes prevention and early detection of colon cancer and provides support to those affected. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. But colon cancer is highly treatable and if found in its earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. The key to educating the public about colon cancer is to get the word out about prevention. A colonoscopy can be performed and detect polyps (small growths) that in time can turn cancerous. Once these polyps are detected, a physician can remove these growths.

To learn how to contribute check out the following website for further information:

http://getyourrearingear.com/events/list/2012/raleigh-nc-2012/