In This Issue
Jump Start Your Diet with Springtime Salads!
'Spring' into Fitness
Learn About Alternatives to Hysterectomy from Dr. Daniel Small
Flying & Pregnancy: Dos & Donts
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   springdietJump Start Your Diet with Springtime Salads!
As the mercury rises ever so slightly these next few weeks, now is the perfect time to get in tip top shape. The key to getting in shape -- and staying in shape -- is to plan ahead and get started with your diet now.

If you're feeling kind of "yucky" after hibernating this winter, you're not alone. Many turn to "comfort foods" during the cold months, but as the saying goes, "You are what you eat." It's simple, but true -- the better you eat, the better you'll look and feel.

Spring is here-and fresh produce is one delicious benefit of this season of rebirth.  Below are a few delicious salads you can try to help you get started!

Warm Snow Pea & Chicken Salad: Snow peas aren't just for stir-fries. Thinly sliced, their crunchy texture and sweet taste combine with a creamy Asian dressing to make this salad special.

Strawberry Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette The vinaigrette in this salad has a little kick, thanks to a dash of hot pepper sauce.

Loaded Spinach Salad: Like many spinach salads, this one features lots of chopped-up hard-boiled egg. But since most of the calories in an egg are in the yolk, we use just two whole eggs, plus the whites from six additional eggs. The result is a rich, eggy, satisfying spinach salad that keeps the calories in check.


 springintofitnessSpring Into Fitness!

When spring comes and the weather gets warmer, many people start peeling of the clothes and decide that it's time to get serious about exercise. The most important thing to remember is that small changes go a long way toward achieving your goals. Just because you are committed to an exercise program does not mean that you cannot have fun while you do it.

 

Goals

Begin by holding yourself accountable for your goals. If you tell people, whose thoughts and opinions you respect, about your goals, you will be more likely to stick to them. Having both short- and long-term goals can help to keep you in check as you progress. A short-term goal might be losing five to 10 pounds in a month to wear a bikini at the beach. In the long term, you might try a fitness competition, train for a marathon or finally develop those "six-pack" abs before next spring comes around.


Warm-Up

Warming up properly prevents injury, but it also helps you get a better workout.  One example is doing five to 10 minutes of cardiovascular exercise before your workout. Another warm-up is doing light sets of exercises before moving on to heavier poundage. There is no sense putting all the effort into getting in shape if you get injured because you were too lazy to warm up properly. A muscle pull or strain can keep you indoors out of the warm spring weather.

 

Lift Weights

Adding weight training to your exercise program can help you burn more fat.  Not only do you burn calories while lifting weights, but for up to 48 hours afterward. Free weights will give you the best results, however, machines and resistance bands are a good alternative if you are too intimidated by the gym atmosphere. Get some resistance bands and a pair of dumbbells and head outdoors to get a good workout in the spring sunshine. Try to remember the sunscreen.

 

Cardio

Doing your cardiovascular exercise after your weight lifting can help you to burn more fat.  You do not need to be on a treadmill in a dark gym to burn calories. Instead, you can get out and participate in outdoor activities that you enjoy. Thirty minutes a day of walking, jogging, cycling or playing recreational sports should provide you with all the cardio you need. However, if you feel you have a lot of weight to lose you might double up and do cardio twice a day for five days a week.


(Source: Livestrong.com) 
 
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March 2012 

  
National Endometriosis Awareness Month

Greetings!

 

With the official arrival of spring later this month, there's no better time to "spring" into action by renewing your commitment to your health and well-being.

 

You can start by becoming educated about a disease that affects 5.5 million U.S. girls and women, and over 70 million females worldwide: endometriosis. Most of us have heard of endometriosis, but unless you suffer from this condition, you might not be aware of how painful and far-reaching the effects are. This often misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease can easily slip under the radar and be dismissed as simply "killer cramps," but it's much more serious than that. Symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain at any point in a woman or girl's cycle, infertility, pain with sexual activity, gastrointestinal and urinary tract difficulties. In rare cases, the disease can implant in areas like the lungs, diaphragm, and even the brain.


woman with stomach acheWhat is endometriosis? The uterus is lined with tissue, called endometrial tissue. This lining is what, through the course of the menstrual cycle, thickens, and then sheds as "your period." In women with endometriosis, this tissue migrates to other areas of the reproductive-system, and sometimes further than that. The tissue still goes through a monthly cycle, even though it's not inside the uterus: it thickens, bleeds and sheds but there is nowhere for this tissue to go. It irritates the surrounding areas, causing scar tissue to develop, sometimes causing organs to adhere to each other.

  

Endometriosis plays no favorites. It affects women of all backgrounds, aging from adolescence to post menopause. This condition can be so painful it can keep a woman from being able to lead a normal life. According to the Endometriosis Research Center, girls and women go undiagnosed for an average of nine years, and will see five doctors before the problem is addressed and properly diagnosed.  

 

If you (or someone you know) have painful periods, pain during sex, or problems with infertility, endometriosis needs to be ruled out by a physician. Please don't delay - we're here to help you and can answer any and all of your questions. In addition, here are some on-line resources you can review:Endometriosis Research Center, or

    

If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, you should consider all your treatment options and work with your physician to identify the best treatment option for you. The daVinci Surgical System is one of the advanced, minimally invasive treatment options now provided by Lawrence OB/GYN that could help you.  It is a robotic surgery system in which the surgeon controls a robot through advanced technology. Even with this advanced robotic surgical treatment for endometriosis, the surgeon is always in control. In this issue,  Dr. Daniel Small discusses this minimally invasive procedure to help treat gynecologic conditions - from chronic pelvic pain to abnormal bleeding - with  daVinci hysterectomy.  This procedure requires only a few small incisions, so you can get back to life faster - without the usual recovery following major surgery. Certified in this innovative surgical approach, Dr. Small explains why daVinci hysterectomy may be your best treatment option.  

 

 

woman with clock March has arrived, which means daylight savings time is almost here (don't forget to turn your clocks ahead on Sunday, March 11th). Use this time to your advantage -- more hours of daylight means more opportunities to start shedding those unwanted winter pounds. Get started by reading, "Spring into Fitness."

 

This time of year is the most popular month for a quick get-away. But when you're pregnant, you may be wondering when - and if - it's safe to fly. If you've already made travel plans, you don't have to rush to change them just because you're pregnant, but you'll want to read, "Flying and Pregnancy: Dos and Donts"for more information and helpful hints. 

 

After a long winter, are you ready to shake up your diet routine? When it comes to dieting, slow and steady wins the race - small changes now can really add up over time. Why not begin by ditching those heavy winter pasta dinners and lighten up with some fresh, delicious springtime salads

 

This month, remember to make it a priority to think healthy and live healthy... and, of course, think spring!

 

With warm regards,

 

The Practitioners and Staff of 
 davinciLearn About Alternatives to Hysterectomy
Dr. Daniel Small is a certified daVinci surgeon, which uses robotic assistance when indicated for hysterectomy and laparoscopic procedures.

 

Do you think you may need a hysterectomy? Many women don't know that there are alternatives that are less invasive, with faster or no recovery time. So what other choices do you have?

 

600,000 hysterectomies are done each year- this is still one of the most common operations in the U.S. A hysterectomy means removal of the uterus- maybe your mother or sister or a friend had this done. And chances are they spent days in the hospital, and weeks or months to fully recover.

 

There clearly are a number of alternatives to hysterectomy. If you have heavy or abnormal bleeding, you might want to consider birth control pills or other hormonal medication to treat the bleeding. There's a special IUD (a plastic device the shape of a little T, placed inside the uterus during an office visit) that can fix abnormal bleeding for 5 years. Another option is called endometrial ablation, where the uterine lining is frozen or burned so that it doesn't grow back each month. One version of this procedure can be done right in the office, without anesthesia, and it usually cures heavy bleeding. You're back at work the next day.

 

Here are some things you should know if you need a hysterectomy. Hysterectomies in this day and age usually involve removing some or all of the uterus, but not your ovaries- so there are no hormonal changes, no sexual changes, and no change in the age you'll reach menopause. There's also an option not to remove your cervix, the part of the uterus that is in the top of your vagina. While research shows that women do equally well after a hysterectomy whether or not the cervix is removed, many women prefer to keep their cervix, and to know that their internal vaginal anatomy won't change at all after the surgery.

 

Unlike a generation ago, most hysterectomies can now be done by a minimally invasive technique. Rather than having "bikini-cut" surgery, where a woman is left with a big scar like from a c-section, 9 out of 10 hysterectomies done by the doctors at Lawrence OB/GYN are done with no visible scar or just with very small scars. The surgery is done through a laparoscope (a telescope that goes in through the navel after you're asleep) or entirely inside the vagina. Even patients with large benign tumors called fibroids can usually have the minimally invasive version of the surgery.

 

One exciting new development is minimally invasive surgery with assistance by the daVinci robot. Use of the daVinci usually results in very little blood loss and very fast recovery. Your surgery is still done by your doctor, not a machine- but some more difficult surgeries that had to be done as "open belly" cases in the past can now be done this way. The daVinci robot can be used for hysterectomies, but also for removal of abnormal ovaries or large fibroid tumors.

 

So what is the advantage of the daVinci or other minimally invasive technique? Very simply, my patients do much better after this type of procedure. They have less post-operative pain, a quicker return to normal physical and sexual activity, much better cosmetic results, and less risk of wound complications associated with large scars.

 

No one wants to have a hysterectomy- but it's good to know that the surgery now is not our mothers' hysterectomy. It can be done without hormonal change, without big scars, and with a quicker return to all aspects of normal life.


Want to learn more?  Contact us today to make your appointment.

 

flyingandpregnancyFlying & Pregnancy: Dos and Donts

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), healthy pregnant women can fly safely until their 36th week. The best time for pregnant women to fly is between weeks 18 and 24, since the chances of miscarriage and premature labor are both relatively low then. So if you've already made travel plans, you don't have to rush to change them just because you're pregnant - but read on for more information and helpful hints.

 

Don't be concerned about walking through the metal detector at the airport - it's not an x-ray device, and it's safe for you and your baby. Also, there's no real risk of dangerous exposure to electromagnetic radiation from the sun while flying at high altitudes; the level of exposure under these circumstances isn't significantly greater than normal everyday background radiation. If you're flying during your first trimester and have been suffering from morning sickness, you may be particularly susceptible to nausea while airborne. Request an aisle or bulkhead seat when booking your ticket, just in case you need to rush to the bathroom - this is a good idea at any point during pregnancy, since it's likely you'll have to use the toilet during the flight.

 

Easy mobility is also recommended to avoid circulation problems, an issue for all airborne passengers and of added concern during pregnancy. Take regular stretching and walking breaks during the flight. Walk around the cabin, and flex your feet and roll your ankles while in your seat.  

 

Wearing compression stockings will help keep the blood moving in your legs, and always wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing while traveling.

Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, even those this will mean yet more trips to the bathroom. Unless you're out of your seat to walk around or use the bathroom, the ACOG recommends that pregnant women keep their seatbelts fastened at all times, to be prepared if turbulence occurs. Even if you're having a letter-perfect pregnancy, check with your obstetrician or heath care provider, to see if he or she has any pre-flight recommendations or warnings. Once onboard, if you feel unwell or like you're having contractions, notify the flight attendants immediately, in case arrangements have to be made for an emergency landing.

 

pregnant belly A woman experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or one who has had any notable complications should not travel at any time while pregnant. Flying itself may be safe, but an airborne plane miles from solid ground (not to mention a hospital or doctor's office!) is not where you want to be should a problem occur. Pregnant women suffering from sickle cell disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular issues, problematic diabetes, severe anemia or placental abnormalities should not fly, nor should a woman who is at risk for premature labor.

 

Furthermore, once a woman reaches her 36th week of pregnancy, the ACOG recommends that she shouldn't fly, as there is too great a risk of her going into labor during the journey. If you have to fly close to your due date, be sure to bring a copy of your medical records, in case something happens, and you should also ask your health care provider for a medical referral at your destination city. When making your flight reservations, check with the airlines, as some have their own restrictions about pregnant women. It's possible that you might have to bring a "permission"-style note from your doctor in order to board the plane, so be sure to make arrangements to get one before your departure date.

(Source: Just Mommies)
 

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