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IN THIS ISSUE
MCWHC Doctors Raise over $18,000 for Prostate Cancer Research
Upcoming Women's Health Lectures
Heart Disease is #1 Killer of Women: What is my Risk?
10 Tips from the American Heart Association
Tips for Keeping Your Health Resolutions

CONTACT US

OUR PHYSICIANS & PRACTITIONERS

Kristy Amore, CNP, MSN

Cheryl Axelrod, MD

William Banzhaf, MD

Kristie Bennett, DO

Michael Benson, MD

Arnold Berman, MD

Carol Cislak, MD

Karenna Dickerson, MD

Carol Ellman, MD

Mary Farhi, MD, MPH

Elizabeth Forbes, MD

Patty Fornoff, CNM, MS

Fred Grabiner, MD

Amy Henriott, MD

Karyn Herndon, MD

Linda Holt, MD

N. Jill Hoprasart, MD

Marion Jelcz, MD

Dianna Kim, MD

Jennifer Kim, MD

Inbar Kirson, MD

Marcia Krause, MD

Ann LaBarge, MD

Brian Locker, MD

Randee Lopata, MD

Phyllis Marx, MD

James Milam, MD

Jeremy Miller, MD

Ronald Miller, MD

Matthew Nash, MD

Kenneth Nelson, MD

Therese O'Connor, MD

Patti Paone, CNP, MSN

Laura Pearlman, MD

Chimene Pellar, MD

Kathryn Ray, MD

M. Susan Scanlon, MD

Carmen Scarimbolo, MD

M. LeRoy Sprang, MD

Beth Sum, MD

Elizabeth Torres, CNP

Arnold Wagner, Jr., MD

Susan Warner, MD

Linda Welsh, CNM, MS

Sarah Wong, MD

DR. ANN LABARGE, IS CERTIFIED IN DAVINCI ROBOTIC SURGERY

Ann LaBarge, MD
Dr. Ann LaBarge
Did you know that MCWHC is a leader in providing state of the art DaVinci Robotic Surgery for gynecological procedures? Surgeons may now offer this minimally invasive surgery for difficult hysterectomies, endometriosis and pelvic masses.
 
Dr. Brian Locker and Dr. M. Susan Scanlon are certified in DaVinci Robotic Surgery. To learn more about DaVinci Robotic Surgery, click here.

PUBLICATIONS BY MCWHC PHYSICIANS

Michael Benson, MD
Dr. Michael Benson
recently had a paper published in the journal, Clinical and Developmental Immunology entitled "Current Concepts of Immunology and Diagnosis in Amniotic Fluid Embolism". To read Dr. Benson's paper, click here.

LINKS

 
  
  
  
  

UPCOMING LECTURES

Dr. Holt
Dr. Linda Holt

 Managing Menopause

Tues., March 20

7 p.m.

Evanston Public Library

Linda Holt, MD, FACOG

(Click here for details)

 

Dr. Scanlon
Dr. M. Susan Scanlon

 Menopause: What to Expect in Your

40s & 50s

 Tues., April 10

7 p.m. 

Northwest Community Hospital in
Arlington Heights

by M. Susan Scanlon, MD, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details) 

 

Dr. Farhi
Dr. Mary S. Farhi

 Keys to Healthy Living

Thurs., May 3 7 p.m.

St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates 

by Mary S. Farhi, MD, MPH, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details)  

  

For a complete list of our upcoming women's health lectures, click here or go to www.mcwhc.com

JOIN OUR LIST

Join Our Mailing List

PATIENT PORTAL IS HERE!

portal  To sign up now,
click MCWHC
Access button above!

LECTURE SURVEY RESPONSES FROM MCWHC PATIENTS

In a recent survey of MCWHC patients on your preferred lecture topics, we were overwhelmed at the great response!

Here are the results:
50% of you would like lectures on Holistic Healing, Stress Management and Acupuncture

47% of you are interested in the topic of Healthy Eating

42% of you are interested in a lecture on the Keys to a Healthy Lifestyle

34% of you are interested in learning about Menopause Management

To address this need, we will be covering several of these topics in our newsletters in 2012 and scheduling lectures as well.

If you have any other recommendations, please click here and send us a note. Thank you again for participating in our survey. 
 

                   February 2012

_____________________________________________________________

 

Happy 2012! We hope this year brings you all the good health, happiness and laughter you deserve. In this issue we focus on staying on track with our health resolutions and providing critical information on heart disease prevention for women. We welcome your suggestions for upcoming issues.
 

Your Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare
Physicians and Practitioners
 

To send feedback or suggestion for upcoming issues, click here.

____________________________________________________________

MCWHC ACCESS Is Here!
portal
In order to meet the needs of our patients' busy lives, we have launched MCWHC ACCESS, our online patient communication center. It's a secure, web-based system that allows you to communicate with our office anytime, day or night, from anywhere that is convenient for you.

With MCWHC ACCESS you can:
  • Request appointments
  • Request lab results
  • Pay bills online
  • Update health records
  • Request referrals
  • Request prescription refills
  • Access our secure messaging system 

To sign up now for MCWHC ACCESS, click here.

MCWHC DOCTORS RAISE OVER $18,000 FOR PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH

MCWHC Physicians Run for Prostate Cancer Cure
Dr. Carol Ellman, Dr. Elizabeth Forbes, Dr. Amy Henriott, Dr. Jill Hoprasart and Dr. Karyn Herndon
have raised $18,612 for prostate cancer research. This past fall, they participated as a relay team in the Door County Fall 50, a 50-mile running race through Door County, Wisconsin, along the shore of Green Bay. We are so proud of their commitment to helping others while raising awareness of the need for continued research to find a cure to prostate cancer.
UPCOMING WOMEN'S HEALTH LECTURES IN YOUR COMMUNITY BY MCWHC PHYSICIANS

 

Managing Menopause

Tues., March 20

7 p.m.

Evanston Public Library

by Linda Holt, MD, FACOG

(Click here for details)

 

 Menopause: What to Expect in Your
40s & 50s

 Tues., April 10

7 p.m. 

Northwest Community Hospital in
Arlington Heights

by M. Susan Scanlon, MD, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details)

 

Keys to Healthy Living

Thurs., May 3

7 pm

St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates 

by Mary S. Farhi, MD, MPH, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details)  

  

Keys to Healthy Menopause

Wed., May 30

7 p.m.

Elk Grove Village Public Library

by Mary S. Farhi, MD, MPH, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details)

  

Hot Topics in Menopause: Bioidentical Hormones, Abnormal Bleeding, Decreased Libido, and Weight Gain

 Tues., June 26

7:30 p.m. 

Mount Prospect Public Library 

by M. Susan Scanlon, MD, NCMP, FACOG

(Click here for details)

HEART DISEASE IS THE #1 KILLER OF WOMEN:  WHAT IS YOUR RISK?

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, resulting in approximately 500,000 deaths annually. According to the American Heart Association, 1 out of every 2.5 women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with 1 out of 30 that will die from breast cancer. At MCWHC, we believe it is imperative that you understand your personal risk factors and are aware of lifestyle changes that can help prevent or slow the progression of heart disease.

 

Assess Your Personal Risk Factors for Heart Disease.  Women are at a greater risk of heart disease if they are: 
  • 55 years or older
  • Have a family history of heart disease or heart attack
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have a high total cholesterol or high LDL level
  • Smoke cigarettes
  • Don't exercise regularly
  • Have diabetes

In order to understand your overall risk level for heart disease, be sure at your annual well woman visit to find out your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, as well as your body mass index. 

 

Consider Lifestyle Changes that May Impact Your Risk for Heart Disease.

If you possess any of these risk factors, be aware that you may help prevent or slow the progression of heart disease by implementing some of the following changes in your life.

  • Don't smoke
  • Eat a nutritious, well-balance diet
  • Maintain healthy levels of fat and cholesterol in your diet
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Fit exercise into your daily routine
  • Take steps to manage your stress level
  • Get adequate sleep

These lifestyle changes can help keep your heart healthy. Please take time for yourself and make adjustments as necessary.

10 TIPS FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 

10 Ways to Love Your Heart
  1. Get regular checkups
  2. Know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers
  3. Follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise.
  4. Take prescribed medications as directed.
  5. If you smoke, quit now.
  6. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.
  7. Eat a heart-healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and fish.
  8. Limit food high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
  9. Limit your sodium intake to 2,300 mg a day.
  10. If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation - an average of no more than one drink a day for nonpregnant women.

 BONE DENSITY TESTING

Are you over 65? Do you have a history of bone fractures? Do you have a low body mass index or a family history of osteoporosis? Are you in premature menopause? If so, the National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests talking to your doctor about your personal risk for osteoporosis.
According to the North American Menopause Society, Dexascans are the preferred method for diagnosing osteoporosis because they measure spine, hip, and total body bone mineral density.
  
MCWHC has Dexascan machines available in Glenview and Wheeling to measure the density of your bones in a painless, non-invasive procedure. For more information on osteoporosis, click hereTo calculate your body mass index, click here.
TIPS TO KEEP YOUR 2012 HEALTH RESOLUTIONS

 

According to the The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), each year millions of women are diagnosed with mostly preventable health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Research shows that these diseases could be avoided, held at bay, or improved through healthy living, routine screenings, and doctor's visits.

 

Here are some important tips from ACOG to help our patients adopt healthy lifestyle habits - with prevention in mind - that will enable them to stay as well as possible for as long as possible.

  

Visit with your ob-gyn regularly. For many women, preventive care starts with a visit to their ob-gyn. It is recommended that most women see their doctor every year for a well-woman check-up. Regular visits to the ob-gyn help ensure that you receive age-appropriate screenings, exams, and immunizations and allow physicians to identify and treat common problems before they become a serious health risk.

 

Get Active in 2012. Regular physical activity can help you control your weight and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, some cancers, Type II diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Exercise can also improve your ability to perform daily tasks, keep you mentally sharp, and help you avoid injuries.

 

Taking small steps can help ease you into a workout routine, especially if you are not accustomed to being active. ACOG recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week to lower the risk of chronic disease, 60 minutes on most days of the week to maintain weight, and at least 60 to 90 minutes a day to lose weight. Even if you can't get a full workout in every day, any physical activity will make a difference. It's a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

 

Eat Smarter. According to a measure of Body Mass Index (BMI), one-third of all women in the US are currently classified as obese, a number that is not declining amid the abundance of over-processed, supersized, high-fat, and high-sodium food choices that are constantly and conveniently available. (To calculate your BMI, click here.) Though many Americans would have a hard time changing their diets overnight, a reasonable goal for most women is to consume a healthier, balanced diet such as the one recommended by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

 

USDA's food pyramid (www.mypyramid.gov) can be useful in planning smart meals and food choices. The MyPyramid website also features a tool that calculates the nutrients from the major food groups needed to maintain optimal health based on age, sex, and physical activity. Eating healthier is an important step in lowering your risk of disease and may lead to long-term wellness and weight maintenance. To check your BMI, click here.

 

Understand the Health Impacts of Your Sodium Intake. According to the Centers for Disease Contril and Prevention (CDC), current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that the general population should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (about 1 teaspoon of table salt). However, people who have high blood pressure, African Americans, and people older than age 40 are in population groups that should consume no more than 1,500 mg/day. This represents about 70 percent of American adults.

 

Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt, and about 75% of sodium we consume is in processed and restaurant foods. Eating less sodium can help prevent, or control, high blood pressure, which is a major factor in heart disease. The good news is that blood pressure can respond to lower sodium intake within weeks. Read your food labels, shop for fresh fruit and vegetables and when eating out, ask for foods with no or low salt.

 

Stop Smoking ASAP. Quitting smoking is one of the single most significant preventive health moves that women can make. Every puff of cigarette smoke contains more than 2,500 chemicals that can negatively affect just about every organ in the body. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease, infertility, early menopause, and more than 10 different cancers. Smokers who quit can stop or reverse most of the damage caused by smoking. Soon after a woman stops smoking, her heart rate and blood pressure drop to healthier levels, and breathing, circulation, and sense of smell and taste may improve. Heart attack risk decreases by 50% within the first year of quitting, and the risk of developing some cancers, heart disease, and other ailments falls to nearly that of a nonsmoker within the first few years. Statistics show that it takes most smokers several attempts to truly quit. Women who are considering quitting should talk to their doctor about methods that may increase the odds of quitting for good. For example. some studies show that nicotine replacement products used to combat cravings (patches, gums, nasal sprays, etc) or medications (such as bupropion or varenicline), in combination with nicotine replacement, can double the chances of quitting.

 

It is not too late to succeed in your health resolutions for 2012. Whether your goal is to lose weight, lower your cholesterol, or focus on leading a healthier lifestyle, we are here to support you.

MIDWEST CENTER FOR WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE

CONVENIENT OFFICE LOCATIONS

Buffalo Grove

Deerfield

Evanston

Glenview

Hoffman Estates

Lake Villa

Park Ridge

Skokie

Vernon Hills

Wheeling

 

www.mcwhc.com