HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Women’s Health

Choosing Your Health Care Provider

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

Read the options below. Discuss them with your health insurance carrier. Do this before you get pregnant. Who you choose will partly depend on:

* Your health insurance coverage.

* You may need to choose from a certain list. Find out who is on it. Ask if there is a waiting period for maternity coverage.

* The health care providers in your area

Your personal wishes are important, too. For example, do you prefer a female or a male provider? Do you want a provider who works alone? Or do you want one in a group practice?

Where You Can Give Birth

Where do you want to have your baby? These are places to think about:

* Hospitals. There may also be choices within hospitals. These could be:

– Regular delivery room. Your family may be able to be with you here.

– Birthing center or birthing room. Your family can be with you here.

– Special high-risk pregnancy section. Sometimes mothers and newborns need high-risk care. Some hospitals offer high-risk care. Find out what services local hospitals can offer.

* Birthing centers not inside hospitals. These are sometimes called alternative birthing centers. They are for low-risk pregnancies. Find out what hospital is used when special needs arise.

{Note: Your special needs during pregnancy may determine where you can have your baby. Do not plan a home birth. It is not safe for you and your baby.}

Types of Providers

* OB/GYN (obstetrician/gynecologist). This doctor gives prenatal and delivery care. That care ends 6 weeks after delivery. The OB/GYN treats women when they’re not pregnant, too. You may already have an OB/GYN. If you do, you could choose this provider for your pregnancy. Most women choose an OB/GYN. If you belong to an HMO, you may need a referral for an OB/GYN. A referral is when your primary care provider says you need a special doctor. You don’t need a referral if the OB/GYN is your primary care provider. You also don’t need a referral if your HMO lets you pick an OB/GYN plus a primary care provider.

* Family practice doctor. A family practice doctor can act as an OB/GYN, an internist, and a pediatrician. That means the provider can give you prenatal care and deliver your baby. You and your child can both go on seeing this same provider afterward. But if you need a cesarean section (c-section), you will need an OB/GYN.

* Maternal and fetal medicine specialist. This provider may be needed to help with high-risk pregnancies. Your primary care doctor or your OB/GYN would give you a referral if he or she can’t provide the care needed for your high-risk problems.

* Infertility specialist. This provider helps persons who want to get pregnant, but haven’t been able to after trying for a year. You may want to see this doctor if your regular OB/GYN cannot help you with your needs.

* Certified nurse-midwife. This provider cares for women with low-risk pregnancies. The nurse-midwife is trained to handle low-risk births. Be sure he or she works with a medical doctor. A lay midwife cannot provide total care. Find out if your insurance will pay for a nurse-midwife. Be sure the midwife is certified. Call the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) at 866.366.9632 or go to its Web site:www.amcbmidwife.org.

How to Find a Provider

There are a lot of ways to find providers who might suit you:

* Look in the directory of providers from your health insurance carrier.

* Ask your regular doctor or specialist.

* Do you have any friends who had a baby recently? Are their ideas about having babies like yours? Ask them.

* Call information at the hospital you want. Ask for the name and phone number of the nurse in charge of the maternity section. Ask for the name and phone number of a resident in obstetrics who works at that hospital. A resident is a doctor who is in training. Ask for the “Physician Referral Service.” Call any or all of them and ask what doctor(s) they recommend.

* Call the medical school closest to you. Ask which obstetricians it recommends.

* Ask your county medical society.

* Look in the Directory of the American Medical Association. Ask for this at your doctor’s office or library.

* Look in the Directory of Medical Specialties for OB/GYNs. Your doctor’s office or library should have this, too.

* Look for a doctor who can take care of special needs you may have.

* Do you want a doctor with a high interest in prepared childbirth? Prepared childbirth is a special approach. The pregnant mother goes to classes. Her partner or other childbirth “coach” goes with her. They both learn ways of helping the birth happen, like special breathing. The doctor works with the mother in this approach to childbirth.

How to Follow Up with a Provider

Have you found some likely prospects? Now you can:

* Call the American Board of Medical Specialties at 866.275.2267 or go to its Web site:www.abms.org. Find out if the provider is properly trained and licensed.

* Ask yourself some questions.

– Do you think you could work well with the provider?

– Does the provider’s office seem to be managed well?

* Ask the provider some questions. You may be able to do this on the phone. (You may be charged an office visit for the phone call.) Or you may need to make a date to meet in person. Here are some questions to ask. You will think of others.

– Does the provider accept your health insurance? What do services cost? How must payment be made? How much do you have to pay?

– What hospital(s) does the provider use?

– Is the hospital accredited? The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) does this.

– Does the hospital have a birthing center or birthing room?

– Does it have a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

– Can fathers and other persons be with you in the delivery room? In the operating room?

– Will the provider be the one who delivers your baby?

– Does the provider have partners who share the practice? If so, what would their roles be?

– Would a resident deliver your baby? A resident is a doctor in training.

– How would you reach your OB/GYN or health care provider? Would this differ at certain times of day or night? For emergencies?

– Who would take care of you when your health care provider is away?

– What is the provider’s Cesarean section (C-section) rate? If the rate is more than 35%, ask why.

– For what reasons does the provider do a C-section?

– Does the provider prefer a certain form of pain relief? If so, what and why?

– At the place you will deliver, can you get anesthetics for an epidural any time of the day or night? An epidural is an anesthesia that can block most of the pain during labor and delivery.

– What else can be given for pain?

You can talk to two or more providers. Compare the answers you get. Then you can decide who will give you care and deliver your baby.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Healthy Pregnancy Checklist

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

You can do a lot of things to improve the chance of having a healthy pregnancy. And you should not do some other things! Knowing what to do and what to avoid will help you and your baby stay well.

* Ask your health care provider before you take any medicines, even ones you can buy without a prescription.

* Go to all your prenatal health care visits.

* Don’t drink alcohol, take drugs, or smoke. When you drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs, your baby does, too!

* Have a routine for exercise. Follow your health care provider’s advice.

* Eat healthy foods.

* Take your prenatal vitamins (vitamin pills) every day. These also supply the minerals you need.

* Get plenty of rest.

* Wash your hands throughout the day.

* Accept all your emotions. Express your feelings to others.

* Learn to deal with stress. Experts think stress may limit blood supply to the placenta. The placenta is the baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients.

* Don’t have X-rays unless your prenatal health care provider says it’s okay.

* Avoid harmful chemicals such as paint fumes, insect poisons, and weed killers. Ask your health care provider what else you should avoid.

* When you use cleaning agents, wear rubber gloves. Make sure there is plenty of fresh air.

* Don’t wear high-heeled shoes.

* Don’t pick up, carry, or move heavy objects.

* Stay out of hot tubs and saunas. When you bathe, use warm water only. Never use hot water. Put a rubber mat in the tub or shower to prevent slipping.

* Don’t handle cat feces or cat litter. If you have a cat, have someone else empty the litter box. Cat droppings can carry a disease called toxoplasmosis. (Eating meat that is not cooked enough can cause this, too.) If a pregnant woman gets this disease, the baby can be harmed. It’s okay to pet your cat.

* Don’t have any contact with hamsters, guinea pigs or any rodents. These animals can carry a virus that can cause severe harm to your baby.

* Discuss your work life with your health care provider. Find out if it is healthy for you and your baby.

* Find out if you should limit or stop having sex. Bleeding or pain during sex could be reasons. Ask your health care provider.

* Always wear lap and shoulder seat belts when you ride in a vehicle. Fasten the lap belt as low as you can, below your belly.

* Are you going far from home late in your pregnancy? Have your health care provider refer you to a provider in the area where you are going. Take a copy of your prenatal records with you.

* When you travel:

– By plane or train, get up and walk around every now and then. Get an aisle seat.

– By car, stop at least every 2 hours and do the same.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Signs Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

What to Look For

Do you think you might be pregnant? Here are some signs to look for:

* You have missed a menstrual period. You are at least 2 weeks late. {Note: Stress or illness can cause your period to be late, too. And, some women do not have regular periods. It may be hard for them to know if their period is 2 weeks late. Other women can have a light menstrual period or spotting and still be pregnant. So watch for other signs also listed here.}

* You feel tired. This is the most common sign.

* You feel sick to your stomach. You may even throw up. This is called “morning sickness.” But it can occur any time of day or night.

* You need to pass urine more often.

* You have food cravings.

* Your taste for certain foods changes.

* You have a metallic taste in your mouth.

* There are changes in your breasts.

– They feel tender.

– They feel tingly.

– They are swollen.

– The dark areas around your nipples are darker than before.

– The tiny glands around your nipples stick up.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Eating Disorders

Student Health

Five to 10 million adolescent girls and women have an eating disorder. About 1 million males do. The 3 most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. These eating disorders are a coping mechanism. They result in an obsession with food and/or weight; anxiety around eating; guilt; and severe and adverse effects on psychological and physical health. Eating disorders are very serious health problems.

Signs & Symptoms

For Anorexia Nervosa

* Loss of a lot of weight in a short period of time.

* Intense, irrational fear of weight gain and/or of looking fat. Obsession with fat, calories, and weight.

* A need to be perfect or in control in one area of life.

* Distorted body image. The person feels and sees herself or himself as fat despite being a normal weight for height and age.

* Marked physical signs. These include loss of hair, slowed heart rate, and low blood pressure. The person feels cold due to decreased body temperature. In females, menstrual periods can stop.

For Bulimia Nervosa

* Repeated acts of binge eating and purging. Purging can be through vomiting; taking laxatives, water pills, and/or diet pills; fasting; and exercising a lot to “undo” the binge.

* Excessive concern about body weight.

* Being underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

* Dieting often.

* Dental problems. Mouth sores. Chronic sore throat.

* Spending a lot of time in bathrooms.

* Because of binge-purge cycles, severe health problems can occur. These include an irregular heartbeat and damage to the stomach, kidneys, and bones.

For Binge Eating Disorder

* Periods of nonstop eating that are not related to hunger.

* Impulsive binging on food without purging.

* Dieting and/or fasting over and over.

* Weight can range from normal weight to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.

Causes

An exact cause has not been found. Persons from all backgrounds, ages, and genders are affected. Risk factors include:

* A family history of eating disorders.

* Pressure from society to be thin.

* Personal and family pressures.

* Sexual, physical, or alcohol abuse in the past.

* Fear of starting puberty.

* Fear of having sex.

* Pressure for athletes to lose weight or to be thin for competitive sports.

* Chronic dieting.

Treatment

* Counseling. This can be individual, family, group, and/or behavioral therapy.

* Support groups.

* Medication.

* Nutrition therapy.

* Outpatient treatment.

* Hospitalization, if needed.

Treatment varies with the disorder and how severe it is. The earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

Eating disorders need professional treatment.

To Help Prevent an Eating Disorder

* Learn to accept yourself and your body. You don’t need to look like anyone else. Spend time with people who accept you as you are, not people who focus on “thinness.”

* Know that self-esteem does not have to depend on body weight.

* Eat nutritious foods. Focus on whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and low-fat meats.

* Commit to a goal of normal eating. Realize that this will take time. It will also take courage to fight fears of gaining weight.

* Don’t skip meals. If you do, you are more likely to binge when you eat.

* Avoid white flour, sugar and foods high in sugar and fat, such as cakes, cookies, and pastries. Bulimics tend to binge on junk food. The more they eat, the more they want.

* Get regular, moderate exercise 3 to 4 times a week. If you exercise more than your doctor advises, do non-exercise activities with family and friends.

* Find success in things you do. Hobbies, work, school, etc. can promote self-esteem.

* Learn as much as you can about eating disorders from books and organizations that deal with them.

* To help their children avoid eating disorders, parents should promote a balance between their child’s competing needs for independence and family involvement.

To Treat an Eating Disorder

* Follow your treatment plan.

* Attend counseling sessions and/or support group meetings as scheduled.

* Identify feelings before, during, and after you overeat, binge, purge, or restrict food intake. What is it that you are hoping the food will do?

* Set small goals that you can easily reach. Congratulate yourself for every success. This is a process. Accept set backs. Learn from them.

* Talk to someone instead of turning to food.

* Work toward the point where weight is no longer a way you rate your success. Think about your accomplishments, positive personal qualities, and valued relationships.

* Learn to express your rights. You have the right to say no and the right to express your feelings and your opinions. You have the right to ask that your needs are met.

* Keep a journal of your progress, feelings, thoughts, etc., but not about what you eat. The journal is just for you, not for others to read or judge. This is a safe place to be honest with yourself. The journal can also help you identify your “triggers” so that you can deal with them in the future.

* Don’t let the scale run your life. Better yet, throw out the scale!

Resources

Your school’s Student Health Service, Student Counseling or Mental Health Service

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)Information and Referral Helpline

800.931.2237

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
High Blood Pressure 2

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

A blood pressure reading concerns the blood in the arteries. The top number in the reading is the systolic pressure. That’s the pressure when the heart muscle contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure. That’s the pressure when the heart muscle relaxes.

An example of a blood pressure reading is 120/80. This is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A blood pressure reading should be taken before pregnancy or at its start. This is called a baseline blood pressure. The baseline reading shows what is normal for that woman. During the first several months of pregnancy, blood pressure may drop a little. It often rises slightly later in the pregnancy. That’s because of the extra work the mother’s body is doing. A slight rise is normal then. High blood pressure in pregnancy is when there is an increase of 30 or more in the systolic pressure (top number). An increase of 15 or more in the diastolic pressure (bottom number) is also a sign of high blood pressure.

Causes

Preeclampsia

A common cause of high blood pressure in pregnancy is preeclampsia. This used to be called toxemia. Three things usually come with preeclampsia:

* High blood pressure

* Swelling of the face, hands, fingers, or feet

* Protein in the urine

Other symptoms of preeclampsia are:

* Sudden weight gain or gaining more than 2 pounds a week

* Headaches

* Vision problems like spots before the eyes or blurry vision

* Pain in upper belly

* Severe indigestion that doesn’t go away

Preeclampsia affects about 7 out of 100 pregnant women. It happens most often during a first pregnancy, but can occur again, especially with a new partner. And, it only happens during pregnancy. It goes away after delivery. Preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia. That’s when convulsions also occur. Eclampsia can result in a coma for the mother.

Risk Factors

The cause of preeclampsia is not known. High blood pressure does not have to be present before pregnancy. The things listed below may increase the risk for preeclampsia:

* First pregnancy or first pregnancy with a new partner

* Chronic high blood pressure or kidney disease

* Diabetes or lupus before the pregnancy

* Being overweight

* Being African American

* Pregnancy before age 20 or after age 35

* Being pregnant with more than one baby

* Preeclampsia in a past pregnancy or in a mother or sister

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)

High blood pressure can develop during pregnancy without other symptoms. This is called pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). This type of high blood pressure often happens after the 20th week. After delivery, blood pressure usually goes back to normal.

Treatment

High blood pressure and preeclampsia can range from mild to severe. They can be treated with medical help and home care. But if serious symptoms are present, medicine and/or hospital care may be needed. The health care provider may induce labor (bring on labor). Or a Cesarean section (C-section) may be done.

When blood pressure remains high, not enough blood reaches the placenta. The fetus doesn’t get enough oxygen and nutrients. That can cause:

* Growth problems for the fetus

* Placenta abruptio.

* A baby that is born preterm, that has mental problems, is underweight, or stillborn

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

* Get a lot of rest. Sleep 8 to 12 hours at night. Take 2 naps during the day, if you can. When you sleep or rest, lie on your left side, as much as you can. This helps blood flow to the placenta. When you tire of lying on your left side, lie on your right side.

* Take medicine for high blood pressure as prescribed. If told to do so, take regular blood pressure readings at home. Ask your health care provider how to get a home test kit.

* Follow your health care provider’s advice about exercise.

* Do things to relax. Examples: listen to soft music, put your feet up, take a nap. Watch a TV show that makes you laugh. Put your hand on your belly to feel your baby move.

* Don’t take any medicine without your health care provider’s okay. That includes cold or sinus medicines and antacids.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Depression

Student Health

Depression is the most common reason college students go to their school’s counseling service. Depression makes a person less able to manage life. It affects a person’s mood, mind, body, and behaviors.

Signs & Symptoms

The number and severity of the symptoms vary from person to person. A person who is depressed has one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below.

* Feeling sad, hopeless, and helpless.

* Feeling guilty and/or worthless.

* Thinking negative thoughts.

* Having a loss of interest in things, such as social activities, hobbies, and sex.

* Sleeping too little or too much.

* Fatigue or loss of energy.

* Problems concentrating or making decisions.

* Ongoing physical symptoms, such as headaches, chronic pain, or digestive problems that don’t respond to treatment.

* Uncontrollable crying.

* Poor appetite with weight loss, or overeating and weight gain.

* Thoughts of suicide or death.

Causes & Risk Factors

* Major changes and stress that accompany college, including choosing career goals, leaving home, and the strain from trying to study and socialize at the same time.

* Obsessing about expenses.

* Abuse of alcohol, drugs, and some medications.

* Relationship changes, such as break ups, a family divorce, or the death of someone close.

* Brain chemical imbalances. Also, some types of depression run in families.

* Hormonal changes. This could be from taking birth control pills or using anabolic steroids which can cause changes in mood.

* Lack of natural, unfiltered sunlight between late fall and spring. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It may only affect some people that are prone to this disorder.

* Holiday “blues.”

Most likely, depression is caused by a mix of: A family history of the illness; brain chemical imbalances; emotional issues; and other factors, such as a medical illness or alcohol abuse.

In some people, events like extreme stress and grief may cause depression. In others, depression occurs even when life is going well.

Treatment

Treatment includes medicines, psychotherapy, and other therapies that are specific to the cause of the depression. Exposure to bright lights (similar to sunlight) for depression that results from SAD can be helpful. {Note: Some antidepressant medicines can increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in children and adolescents. This risk may be higher within the first days to a month after starting the medicine. Persons who take antidepressants should be closely monitored.}

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Take medications as prescribed. Get your doctor’s advice before you take over-the-counter herbs, such as St. John’s Wort, especially if you take other medications.

* Don’t use illegal drugs. Limit alcohol. These can cause or worsen depression. Drugs and alcohol can also make medicines for depression less effective. Harmful side effects can occur when drugs and/or alcohol are mixed with medicine.

* Eat healthy foods. Eat at regular times.

* Get regular exercise.

* Talk to someone who will listen to the tensions and frustrations you are feeling.

* Try not to isolate yourself. Be with people you trust and feel safe with, even though you feel down.

* Do things you enjoy. Do something that lets you express yourself. Draw. Paint. Write your thoughts in a diary or journal.

* Relax. Listen to soft music, take a warm bath or shower. Do relaxation exercises.

* Avoid stressful situations or taking on added commitments when you feel depressed.

* Keep an emergency number handy (e.g., crisis hotline, trusted friend’s number, etc.) in case you feel desperate.

Feeling better takes time. Don’t expect to just “snap out” of your depression.

To Help A Friend Who Is Depressed

* Help your friend get an appropriate diagnosis. Make an initial appointment with a professional and offer to take your friend.

* Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them, immediately, to a student advisor, teacher, or health care provider.

* Be aware of the type of medication your friend needs to take and when it should be taken. If necessary, alert your friend’s health care provider about any side effects that you notice.

* Be supportive. Depression is no different from any other physical illness. It requires patience, understanding, love, and encouragement. Encourage your friend to continue with treatment and to see his or her health care provider if there is no improvement.

* Listen with care. Point out your friend’s successes and attributes when he or she feels worthless, helpless, or down about the future. Helping your friend see previous successes can help give the confidence needed to continue with treatment. Your friend doesn’t need you to tell him or her what to do. Listening is very helpful.

* Encourage your friend to go out and do things with you or with others, such as to see a movie or to do things your friend enjoyed in the past. Don’t push, though, or make too many demands.

* Seek support from organizations that deal with depression.

Resources

Your school’s Student Counseling Service or Student Mental Health Service. (Normally, these services are no cost to you.)

International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (IFRED)

www.ifred.org

Mental Health America (MHA)

800.969.6642

www.mentalhealthamerica.net

National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse

800.553.4539

www.mhselfhelp.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Eating Disorders 2

Women’s Health

Common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. People who have these conditions are obsessed with food and/or body weight. Eating disorders are a way to cope. They are serious health problems and are more common in females than in males.

Signs & Symptoms

Anorexia Nervosa

* Loss of a lot of weight in a short period of time.

* Intense, irrational fear of weight gain and/or of looking fat, obsession with fat, calories and weight.

* A need to be perfect or in control in one area of life.

* Distorted body image; the person feels and sees herself or himself as fat despite being a normal weight for height and age.

* Marked physical signs, such as loss of hair, slowed heart rate, and low blood pressure. The person feels cold due to decreased body temperature. In females, menstrual periods can stop.

Bulimia Nervosa

* Repeated acts of binge eating and purging, which can be through vomiting, taking laxatives, water pills, and/or diet pills, fasting, and exercising a lot to “undo” the binge.

* Excessive concern about body weight.

* Being underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

* Dieting often.

* Dental problems, mouth sores, chronic sore throat.

* Spending a lot of time in bathrooms.

* Because of binge-purge cycles, severe health problems can occur, including an irregular heartbeat and damage to the stomach, kidneys and bones.

Binge Eating Disorder

* Periods of nonstop eating that are not related to hunger.

* Impulsive binging on food without purging.

* Dieting and/or fasting over and over.

* Weight can range from normal weight to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.

Causes & Risk Factors

An exact cause has not been found. Persons from all backgrounds, ages and genders are affected. Risk factors include:

* A family history of eating disorders.

* Pressure from society to be thin.

* Personal and family pressures.

* Sexual, physical, or alcohol abuse in the past.

* Fear of starting puberty.

* Fear of having sex.

* Pressure for athletes to lose weight or to be thin for competitive sports.

* Chronic dieting.

Treatment

* Counseling. This can be individual, family, group, and/or behavioral therapy.

* Support groups.

* Medication.

* Nutrition therapy.

* Outpatient treatment.

* Hospitalization, if needed.

Treatment varies with the disorder and how severe it is. The earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

Eating disorders need professional treatment.

Prevent an Eating Disorder

* Learn to accept yourself and your body. You don’t need to look like anyone else. Spend time with people who accept you as you are, not people who focus on “thinness.”

* Know that self-esteem does not have to depend on body weight.

* Eat nutritious foods. Focus on whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and lean meats.

* Commit to a goal of normal eating. Realize that this will take time. It will also take courage to fight fears of gaining weight.

* Don’t skip meals. If you do, you are more likely to binge when you eat.

* Limit white flour, sugar and foods high in sugar and fat, such as cakes, cookies and pastries. People who have bulimia tend to binge on junk food. The more they eat, the more they want.

* Get regular, moderate exercise at least 3 to 4 times a week. If you exercise more than your doctor advises, do more non-exercise activities with family and friends.

* Find success in things you do. Hobbies, work, school, etc. can promote self-esteem.

* Discuss with family and friends how TV, movies and social media can send the message that only a certain body type is acceptable.

* Learn as much as you can about eating disorders from reputable websites, books and organizations that deal with them.

* To help children avoid eating disorders, parents should promote a balance between their child’s competing needs for independence and family involvement.

Treat an Eating Disorder

* Follow your treatment plan from your health care provider. To be successful, you need to be actively involved in your treatment.

* Attend counseling sessions and/or support group meetings as scheduled.

* Set small goals that you can easily reach. Congratulate yourself for every success. This is a process. Accept set backs. Learn from them.

* Talk to someone instead of turning to food.

* Work toward the point where weight is no longer a way you rate your success. Think about your accomplishments, positive personal qualities, and valued relationships.

* Learn to express your rights. You have the right to say no and the right to express your feelings and your opinions. You have the right to ask that your needs are met.

* Keep a journal of your progress, feelings, thoughts, etc., but not about what you eat. The journal is just for you, not for others to read or judge. This is a safe place to be honest with yourself. The journal can also help you identify your “triggers” so that you can deal with them in the future.

* Don’t let the scale run your life. Better yet, throw out the scale!

Resources

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)Information and Referral Helpline

800.931.2237

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Hiv/Aids

Sexual Health

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is caused by HIV. The virus destroys the body’s immune system. This leaves a person unable to fight off diseases. The virus also attacks the central nervous system causing mental problems. One million people in the U.S. have HIV, but about 25% of them do not know they have it. People ages 15 to 65 are advised to be screened for HIV.

Signs & Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms when first infected with HIV. Within a month or two, some people have flu-like symptoms. These include fever, fatigue, headache, and swollen glands in the neck and groin. These symptoms usually go away within a week to a month. They are often mistaken for other infections.

In adults, symptoms of HIV may take a few months to 10 or more years to appear. In children born with HIV, symptoms appear within 2 years.

Symptoms of HIV Before the Onset of AIDS

* Swollen glands.

* Fatigue. Weight loss.

* Fever and sweating that occur often.

* Skin rashes that persist. Flaky skin.

* Infections. These include herpes, shingles, and yeast infection.

* Short-term memory loss.

* Getting sick often. Slow growth in children.

AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV. With AIDS, a low level of cells in the blood called T4 cells occurs. Persons with AIDS get many illnesses. These include skin infections, pneumonia, and cancer.

Symptoms of AIDS

* Extreme fatigue. Weight loss.

* Severe and chronic diarrhea.

* Fever. Severe headaches.

* Shortness of breath. Coughing. A hard time swallowing.

* Abdominal cramps. Nausea. Vomiting.

* Lack of coordination. Vision loss.

* Mental status changes. Seizures. Coma.

Causes

HIV is spread when body fluids, such as semen and blood, pass from an infected person to another person. This includes having unprotected sexual contact and/or sharing drug needles.

Infected females can give HIV to their babies during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding. The risk of the baby getting HIV is lowered a great deal if the female takes antiviral medicines during the pregnancy and delivery. The baby takes medicine the first six weeks of life, too.

HIV is not spread from donating blood, touching, hugging, or (dry) kissing a person with HIV. A cough, a sneeze, tears, sweat, or using a hot tub, or public restroom does not spread HIV either.

Treatment

A rapid oral HIV test and blood tests detect antibodies to HIV. There is no cure for AIDS, but treatment helps the immune system fight HIV, infections, and cancers that can occur with it. Treatment includes medications (often used in multidrug combinations) and treating infections.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Take medication as prescribed.

* Take steps to reduce the risk of getting infections and diseases. Get enough rest. Eat healthy foods. Take vitamins and minerals as advised by your doctor.

* Get emotional support. Join a support group for persons infected with HIV. Let your family and friends know how they can help you.

To Reduce the Risk for HIV

* Follow Safer Sex.

* Don’t share needles with anyone. Don’t have sex with people who use or have injected illegal drugs.

* Don’t share personal items that have blood on them, such as razors.

* Don’t have sex with people who are at high risk for HIV:

– Persons with multiple sex partners or who inject illegal drugs.

– Partners of persons infected or exposed to HIV.

– Persons who have had multiple blood transfusions, especially before 1985, unless tested negative for HIV.

Resources

AIDSinfo

800.HIV.0440 (448.0440)

www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

CDC National AIDS Hotline (NAH) and National STD Hotline

800.CDC.INFO (232.4636)

www.cdc.gov/std

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Tips For A Healthier, Easier Pregnancy

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

Healthy moms tend to have healthy babies. If you plan to become pregnant, take the following steps to help your baby get off to a good start.

* Have a complete medical exam, including a gynecological exam. A number of medical conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, nutritional deficiencies, and Rh negative blood factor (after the first pregnancy) can jeopardize the health of mother and child.

* Check with your doctor about the effects of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you take.

* If you have a chronic medical condition, ask your doctor how it may affect your pregnancy and whether or not you should change or adjust your medication.

* If you use an IUD or take birth control pills, use an alternative form of birth control for 1 to 2 months before trying to become pregnant.

* If you’re markedly overweight, plan to lose excess pounds before becoming pregnant.

* Exercise regularly.

* Consider genetic tests or counseling if you or your husband has a family history of genetic disorders, if you are 35 or older, or if your husband is 50 or older.

You and your baby will do best if you follow these guidelines.

* Ask your doctor or a dietitian to outline a meal plan that meets the special nutritional needs created by pregnancy.

* Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs, as they can harm you and your unborn baby.

* Consult your doctor before taking any medication.

* Ask your doctor what prenatal vitamin/mineral supplement you should take.

* Follow your health care provider’s advice about weight gain. The amount of weight you gain should depend on your pre-pregnancy weight and health status, as well as your ethnic background. If you are very overweight, plan to lose excess pounds before you get pregnant.

* Continue to exercise in moderation.

* Practice relaxation and other stress management techniques. (Doctors think emotional stress may constrict the blood supply to the uterus and placenta, the baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients.)

* Enroll in childbirth preparation classes.

* If you own a cat, arrange for someone else to empty the litter box. Cat excrement can transmit a disease called toxoplasmosis. If you’re infected while pregnant, your baby may be stillborn, born prematurely, or suffer serious damage to the brain, eyes, or other parts of the body.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Smart Ways To Exercise During Pregnancy

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care

Exercise can help ease muscular aches and pains and other discomforts women sometimes experience during their pregnancies. Yoga, walking, swimming, and other forms of low-impact or stretching exercises are best.

Follow your health care provider’s advice for exercising during your pregnancy. General guidelines for exercising during pregnancy follow:

* You can usually do the same forms of exercise you did before your pregnancy, but don’t go to extremes.

* Check your pulse when you exercise. In general, your heart rate should stay below 140 beats a minute.

* Avoid any sport or activity with the risk of a hard fall, such as horseback riding and water skiing.

* Don’t do exercises that involve jumping, twisting, or bouncy motions.

* Don’t become overheated. Drink water before, during, and after you exercise. Make sure you get an extra 4 to 8 ounces of water for every 15 minutes of active exercise. Drink more fluids in warm weather or if you sweat a lot.

* After the 20th week of pregnancy, avoid exercises in which you lie flat on your back.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026