By Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD
President, The American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists

What do you do when you think you have the flu, strain your back, or come down with an ear infection? If you are one of the fortunate Americans who have health insurance, you might schedule an appointment with your doctor, go in for an exam, pay a small co-pay, and leave with care instructions or prescription medication to help you feel better. But for more than 46 million Americans without insurance, getting medical attention is not so easy.

Uninsured families face numerous hurdles in receiving adequate care, such as finding doctors who accept uninsured patients, long waits for care, and expensive medical bills. Many families opt to skip medical treatment altogether, try to stay healthy, and hope for the best. But that doesn’t always work. An uninsured American dies every 24 minutes because they could not get the care they needed.

Anyone can lose their insurance—rich, poor, married, single, employed, and unemployed of every race in every part of the country. Women are especially vulnerable to becoming uninsured. More than 45 percent of all uninsured people in the US are women, including 13 percent of all pregnant women.

Women are more likely to be dependents, making them susceptible to losing health insurance due to divorce, becoming widowed, or because their spouse’s company increases premiums or drops family coverage. Uninsured women are less likely to receive clinical breast exams, Pap tests, and other preventive health care and screening tests than insured women. They are also more likely to be diagnosed later and receive less treatment once diagnosed.

Resources to help uninsured Americans find health care are available, even if they have little or no money to pay for services. They include:
State resources for finding insurance: covertheuninsured.org/content/resources-uninsured.
Free or low-cost health care clinics by state: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Programs that provide low- or no-cost medical and dental insurance coverage for children and pregnant women by state: insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html.
Free mammograms and Pap tests for uninsured, underinsured, and low-income women who qualify: apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp

Listing of dermatologists by state who offer free skin cancer screenings: aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html.

Free or low-cost eye exams: 800-222-EYES.

You can also check community health fairs for free screenings, such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests. And try contacting your local health departments to find free flu shots.

(NAPS)—Fact—you can protect yourself from the No. 1 preventable cause of premature death in America: smoking. Sadly, many people believe myths about tobacco. Here are some of the facts:

Myth—“Light” or “Low-Tar” cigarettes are safer than the others.

Reality—There’s no safe cigarette. “Light” and “Low-Tar” cigarettes can deliver tar and nicotine, just as regular cigarettes.

Myth—Since tobacco is a natural product, smoking is “natural.”

Reality—Tobacco is not the only ingredient in most cigarettes. Cigarettes contain 599 additives that form over 4,000 chemical compounds, including carcinogens.

Myth—Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women.

Reality—While breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women and men.

Myth—Secondhand smoke is not harmful.

Reality—An estimated 50,000 people die each year as a result of secondhand smoke exposure.

Myth—It’s time to turn the public health focus to more pressing issues, such as AIDS, crime and “hard” drug addiction.

Reality—More people are killed by tobacco than AIDS, homicide, drugs, car accidents, fires and suicide combined. Nicotine is considered more addictive and harder to quit than heroin. Tobacco-related diseases kill half of lifelong smokers.

Myth—It’s overkill to say pregnant women should stay away from secondhand smoke.

Reality—Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome. Evidence also suggests a relationship between secondhand smoke and childhood cancers.

Myth—Smoking causes lung cancer only. If you avoid that, you have nothing to worry about.

Reality—Smoking causes myriad cancers, including cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, larynx, cervix, kidney and bladder. There’s also heart disease, COPD, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and many others.

Myth—Smoking is a choice.

Reality—Smoking is addictive. Nearly 90 percent of smokers began smoking before age 20. The tobacco industry has a history of targeting youth.

Myth—If you really want to quit, you just have to put your mind to it.

Reality—It’s best to consult a physician to create a personalized quit plan. Your quit plan should include setting a quit date, informing your social support network of your intentions to quit, and determining the best nicotine replacement therapy to meet your needs.

Visit www.BecomeAnEX.org for your personalized quit plan.

FREE to the Public!

Health Awareness Clinics is providing therapist to administer weight loss, stop smoking, and stress relief group hypnotic therapy.

For many people this therapy reduces 2 to 3 clothng sizes and/or stops smoking.

Funing for this project comes from public donation. Anyone who wants treatment will receive professional hypnotherapy free from charge.

An appointment is not necessary. Sign in and immediately receive treatment.

Helath Awareness CLinics is a non-profit organization. They rely on donations to make treatment available to those in need. A modest $5.00 donation when signing in is appreciated.

Only one 2 hour session is needed for desirable results.

Sign in 30 minutes early.

It will be held Thursday March 11th at 7:30 pm at 75 N. Union (Civic Center), Sparta Michigan.

For more information go to HealthAwarenessClinics.org or call (713) 927-3364

(ARA) – You’re working on exercising and eating better to make sure you’re healthier on the inside this year, but what about the outside? Most people have broken their resolutions by the end of January, but it’s easy to stick with it if you commit yourself to a fun way of feeling better about yourself.

Treat yourself well and make the promise to focus on enhancing your look this year. Investing in your well-being doesn’t have to cripple your bank account; there are plenty of ways to style yourself beautifully and stay on budget. Plus, there are new, exciting ways to revitalize your appearance right at home.

Beauty and style expert Polly Blitzer, founder of BeautyBlitz.com, has five tips that can help you to look and feel your best in 2010. “It’s so important that we make time to care for ourselves,” explains Polly. “Looking great doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I have the inside scoop on how to make the most of your look.”

1. Anti-aging isn’t just for your face anymore. While most women are already buying up plenty of anti-aging products for their faces, they forget about the other parts of the body that can just as easily show signs of age. Look for products that include anti-aging technology for your body skin. Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash helps fight the aging process through technology that moisturizes, evens skin tone, brightens dull skin and more.

2. Go to the Web for fashion ideas. The Internet has made fashion even more egalitarian, with the explosion of street-style blogs and an army of bloggers searching out great style finds for good prices. Style.com, InStyle.com and FashionWeekDaily.com are bigger sites that offer great style inspiration, while smaller sites like Fashionair.com and Coutorture.com have unique points of view and edgier perspectives on fashion.

3. Make your lips your best accessory. Everyone wants to have a great smile, and tooth whitening products are available to help with that, but your lips are what frame those pearly whites. Highlight them with a high-shine lip gloss that also has bold colors. A lot of lip glosses can be sticky, but new formulas like Covergirl ShineBlast Lip Gloss, deliver a lightweight, non-tacky feel at a great price.

4. Hair color makes all the difference. Whether you just want to try a new look or keep the grays at bay, a great hair color can really revitalize your style. The good news is that coloring your hair doesn’t have to be as harsh as it once was. Gone are the days of damaged, dry hair after coloring; now you can get a new color and healthier looking hair at once. The Clairol Natural Instincts hair color line leaves hair soft, is ammonia-free and has antioxidants and vitamins C and E to nourish your locks, plus it’s actually clinically proven to be less damaging than the leading permanent hair color.

5. High-end fashion designers are now accessible to everyone. Fashionistas with no budget limits often talk about the value of mixing high- and low-price items. The good news is that you can now get designer looks for low prices at some of your favorite stores. Collaborations between designers and major retailers have led to gorgeous lines like Vera Wang for Kohl’s, Sonia Rykiel for H&M, Kate Moss for Topshop and Target’s revolving series of designers (like Rodarte, Tracy Feith and others) for their GO International line. Now you can mix and match designer looks, all of which fit into every budget.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – You might not think you have anything in common with the world-class athletes competing in this year’s Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, but if you’re suffering from aches and pains from shoveling snow, training for a marathon or lifting your grandchild, you’re more alike than you think.

“We’re taking five chiropractors [to the Olympic Games this year] and that just shows how far chiropractic has come since the first chiropractor joined the Olympic medical staff in 1980,” says Dr. Michael Reed, a doctor of chiropractic who serves as a U.S. Olympic Committee medical director. “It has a lot to do with the requests of the athletes; they recognize the benefits of chiropractic in helping their bodies perform at peak condition.”

Chiropractic offers a natural approach to back pain, neck pain, headaches and the myriad of aches that result from leading an active life. You’ll find health tips on the American Chiropractic Association Web site at www.acatoday.org/healthtips.

You might discover that a chiropractor can assist you in strengthening your muscles or joints, alleviating your headache or preventing your knees from aching. For more information about chiropractic or to find a chiropractor near you, visit the ACA’s Web site, www.acatoday.org.

(NAPS)—Millions of Americans are injured each year, and for some it leads to disability and profoundly affects their lives and the lives of others. The good news—injuries are preventable. The Injury Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working hard to implement programs that reduce injuries and their impact. CDC’s “Heads Up” is one initiative that focuses on preventing and responding to concussion among young athletes.

More than 38 million boys and girls participate in organized youth sports across the U.S., and concussions—caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull—are one of the most commonly reported injuries among kids and teens who participate in these activities.

Though they are sometimes described as “dings” or having one’s “bell rung,” even a seemingly mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. While most athletes who sustain a concussion will recover, some will continue to have problems that can affect the way they think, learn, feel and act.

Early identification of an athlete with concussion is critical, as athletes who return to play too soon following initial injury are at risk for a repeat concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the first—usually within a short period of time (hours, days or weeks)—can be very dangerous and may slow recovery or increase the chances for long-term problems. Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death.

Youth sports coaches and parents are on the front line in the effort to identify and respond to concussions, and they are eager to learn how to keep their athletes safe and healthy. That is why CDC’s Injury Center is working hard to equip youth sports coaches and parents across the country with the “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” tool kit. The tool kit explains how to prevent, recognize and respond to a concussion (in English and Spanish). It includes fact sheets and a clipboard and a magnet with key information—so it’s right at their fingertips when needed.

To best protect athletes and prevent long-term problems, the “Heads Up” tool kit materials provide a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of concussion as well as important steps to take when a concussion is suspected.

Coaches and parents also need to:
• Insist that safety comes first;
• Ensure that athletes always wear the right protective equipment for their activity; and
• Make sure that their youth sports league or administrator has a concussion action plan in place.

Coaches, parents and athletes need to recognize and manage injuries—especially concussions—to keep kids on a safe, winning team.

CDC’s Injury Center wants kids and teens to know that a concussion is a serious injury. If you think you have a concussion, don’t hide it; report it and take time to recover. It’s better to miss one game than the whole season.

For more information on concussion in sports, visit CDC on the Web at www.cdc.gov/concussion.

The Wolverine World Wide Family YMCA will be offering a first aid class Thursday, February 4. This first aid class will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 p.m.

The YMCA instructors will be teaching the first aid class through the American Red Cross. After the participant successfully completes the class they will receive a first aid certification card from the American Red Cross.

This first aid class will also be offered again that evening from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Kent City Middle School through the YMCA and American Red Cross.

The cost of the first aid class is $25 and registration can be done at the Wolverine World Wide Family YMCA.

If you are interested in additional information or would like to register, please call the Wolverine World Wide Family YMCA at (616) 363-3000.

A group of West Michigan community leaders has formed the Family Hope Foundation, a new organization that offers support to special needs children and families. Grants will be awarded to children to receive therapy that is necessary for their bodies and brains to grow and develop, and to cope with the world around them. The foundation, an autonomous nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation, will fund grants through donor gifts that are tax deductible.

“Family Hope Foundation was created to support families in the West Michigan area that lack insurance support or have limited access to more intensive therapeutic treatments,” said foundation chair, Lara Kitts. In February, Family Hope Foundation will kick off its Charter Donor Campaign with the goal of raising $100,000 in 2010.

“Families who are struggling with medical bills and uninsured therapies and equipment will feel some relief from the financial burden. With our grant program in place, our goal is to begin assisting families as soon as possible with the donations we receive from our Charter Donor Campaign,” Kitts says.

More information is available by contacting Lara Kitts, (616) 682-1234, 768 Longleaf Court, Ada, MI 49301, lara.kitts@comcast.net.

Free session on Monday, Feb. 1

Do you and your doctor know your risk for heart disease? Guidelines for a woman’s risk of heart disease have changed. Join JoAnne Foody, MD, a nationally known cardiologist from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, will dispel myths about risk levels of heart disease in women, discuss how stress and vitamin D levels affect women’s hearts, explain how to talk to your doctor and teach women how to lower their personal risk.

This event is put on by the Spectrum Health Women’s Healthy Heart program. It takes place at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

Preregistration is required for this free session. Call (616) 267-2626, option 4, or toll free (877) 495-2626. For more info about women and heart disease, visit spectrum-health.org/womenandheartdisease.

Taking care of your skin is a resolution you can keep

(NAPS)—It’s resolution time again, so this year, start a campaign of self-improvement from the outside in. A key first step is having healthy skin—and the best way to keep your resolutions going strong is to have a plan to achieve your goal.

To help your resolve to have radiant skin this year, Dr. Elizabeth K. Hale, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at New York University, offers this simple checklist:

• Set the date: The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone over the age of 21 should have a full-body skin examination at least once a year. Dr. Hale also suggests that you visit a dermatologist more frequently if you have a history of skin cancer in your family, have a lot of dark moles on your skin, or have accumulated a lot of skin damage over the years. When detected early, skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. Put a recurring yearly reminder into your cell phone calendar on January 1st to keep yourself on track.

• Don’t be a “fair weather” fan: One of the biggest skin sins a person can commit is wearing sunscreen only when it’s sunny or warm outside. Dermatologists recommend applying a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, regardless of the season. UV rays are present all year long and can penetrate through clouds; plus, in the winter, snow reflects 80 percent of UV rays. Choose a light, oil-free moisturizing sunscreen, like Coppertone Oil Free Faces SPF 30, that can be applied under makeup and won’t clog pores. Keep a bottle somewhere that’s highly visible (like next to your toothbrush) so you never forget.

• Don’t ignore your nails: You may not think of nails this way, but, like the rest of your skin, your nails are susceptible to sun damage. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, sun exposure can weaken the nail bed, damage the area from which new nail grows, and even cause skin cancers to form under or around the nail. To help keep nail beds protected from UV exposure during the winter months, wearing gloves is an easy fix. When it’s warmer out, make sure to use sun protection on your entire hand, including the area over, around and under the nails. Also, if you see anything suspicious, like a dark streak in the nail, bring it to the attention of a dermatologist immediately.

• Care for your hair: Since the top of your head is the closest part of your body to the sun, it’s important to make sure your scalp gets as much TLC as the rest of your skin. According to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, putting sunscreen directly onto your hair and rubbing it into your scalp can help prevent burning. Opt for an oil-free sunscreen to avoid the dreaded “greasy scalp” effect or wear a hat to help protect your part.