In This Issue

Does Having Kids Late in Life Equal Longevity?

Best Apps to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

OTC Drugs You Definitely Don't Want to Overuse

Important Study Shows Progesterone Does Not Prevent Miscarriage

Cold Weather Workout Tips

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Does Having Kids Late in Life Equal Longevity?

A Boston University School of Medicine study found that women who can still give birth naturally after age 33 have a higher chance of living to extreme old age than those who had their last child before age 30.

The report, published in the online version of the journalMenopause, doesn't imply that putting off pregnancy will add years to your life. If you physically delay having children, that's not going to help with longevity, Paola Sebastiani, a Boston University biostatistics professor and study co-author.

A woman with a natural ability to have children later in life suggests that her body, including her reproductive system, just happens to age at a slow pace. Some women's biological clocks simply tick more slowly than most.

Women who had their last child after 33 were twice as likely to live to 95 or older, compared with those who had their last child by 29.

Sebastiani and her colleagues analyzed data from the Long Life Family Study, a survey of 551 families, many of whose members lived to a ripe old age. They determined the ages at which 462 women had their last child and how long they ended up living. Turns out women who gave birth to their last child after 33 were twice as likely to live to 95 years or older, compared with those who had their last child by age 29.

The researchers suspect that the former group's DNA might harbor genetic variants that slow aging and lower the risk for age-related diseases that can hamper fertility (like ovarian cancer or diabetes). Women with such variants could presumably bear children for a longer period of time, boosting their chances of passing these genes down to future generations - meaning we may have women to thank for the evolution of longevity genes. It could also explain why of the people who live to be 100 or older, 85% are women, compared to only 15% of men.

Given the possible link between longevity and a longer fertility window, Sebastiani's findings also suggest that researchers should further investigate the genetic influences of reproductive fitness, since they might also affect aging rates and vulnerability to age-related diseases. Sebastiani and her team have been working to identify the genetic variants that make some women age slower and plan to publish their results at the end of this year. Understanding the pathways they govern could help scientists develop drugs that produce the same effect.

So even if your biological clock is ticking, it might still be a while before its alarm goes off - depending on your genes.

Source: Ozy

Best Apps to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Need a little help to keep those New Year's resolutions? Look no further than your smart phone. Here are some top apps to keep you on track for 2016:

Lose Weight

You'd be hard to come by a better friend in your weight loss than MyFitnessPal (iOS and Android). It doesn't just track calories, it also has a database of the complete nutrition of over 4 million foods.

Quit Smoking

Aside from the fact that it's difficult to text and smoke at the same time, your phone can help you put down that cigarette for good. MyQuit Coach (iOS) creates a personalized plan for you to quit smoking. Android users can do the same with Quit Smoking.

Get a Better Job

Mid-winter is the time when you're most likely to feel stuck in a rut. The new year brings the possibility of a new outlook and one of the best ways to ride that feeling is to find a new job. LinkedIn (iOS, Android) lets you manage how employers see you and puts you in touch with colleagues and employers past, present, and future.

Manage Debt

Having debt after the holidays can drag you down mentally. Feel free in the new year with a plan to pay it down with Debt Free for iOS. Android users can do the same with Debt Payoff Planner.

Drink More Water

If you're trying to lose weight, a good way to start is by drinking more water. Waterlogged for iOS is the way to keep your resolution afloat. Android users can download Water Your Body for similar benefits.

Start training for a 5k

Get Running is an app for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android that talks you through a nine-week training plan. Get Running will gradually ease you into running, even if you've never run before. Once you complete the plan, you'll be ready to run a 5K! Guided by a human voice, this is a must-have for beginners - it also lets you repeat workouts whenever you need to, and won't interrupt your favorite playlist running in the background.

Source: PC Mag

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January 2016

Happy New Year from Lawrence OB/GYN Associates!

You may be feeling sluggish and run-down after all of the holiday hoopla. The easiest thing may be to simply use over-the-counter (OTC) medications. But is that really the safest thing? While you don't need a prescription to use OTC medications, it doesn't mean they are risk-free. Some OTC medications pose risks for people with certain medical conditions and for pregnant women. Find out more by checking out OTC Drugs You Definitely Don't Want to Overuse.

Attention, 30-something ladies: According to a recent research, women who are able to have children naturally later in life may be a sign that they will live an unusually long time. This would mean that women who continue to be naturally fertile into their late 40s and 50s have a genetic predisposition to live longer. Does Having Kids Late Equal Longevity? explains how this may provide a clue into the aging process for women.

For many the end of year is a checkpoint for assessing goals and creating active plans to reach them. If you're looking for help with that first step, a smartphone loaded with the right apps is a resourceful companion. They can track everything from how many steps you take and how much your exercise, to whether you're keeping to your diet and properly breastfeeding your newborn. Here are the Best Apps to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions.

Chances are you may have heard of progesterone, particularly if you have had recurrent miscarriages. Many women who have suffered previous miscarriages and become pregnant are prescribed progesterone treatments in order to lower their risk of experiencing another miscarriage. But a recent study shows that progesterone does not prevent miscarriages, despite having been thought to do so. Dr. Art Castlebaum explains these important findings.

Now that it's January, you might be doing damage-control after all of that holiday eating. It's cold and gloomy out there. All you want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket, a bucket-sized pumpkin spice latte, and watch movies for hours. Or, you could work out. But...it's cold outside, so you probably don't want to work out, right? Well, don't let that deter you. Here are a few Cold Weather Workout Tips to keep you safe and healthy during the chilly months ahead.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy 2016!

With warm regards,

The Practitioners and Staff of Lawrence OB/GYN

OTC Drugs You Definitely Don't Want to Overuse

Careful when self-medicating with these heavy-hitters.

The pharmacy aisle can feel like a jungle these days-especially when you're weeding through pill bottles with watery eyes and Kleenex attached to your face. But just because you've got access to every med under the sun doesn't mean they're all benign to your body. (In fact, they all come with risks, especially if you're taking other prescription medications.) Here are five easy-access pills that deserve an extra warning.

1. Multi-Symptom Products

Cold, cough, and flu combo meds are tempting to buy-odds are there's something in there that'll nix your problem, right? Unfortunately for the lazy, it's a lot safer to isolate your symptoms and treat them one by one, even if it requires some extra label reading. Most women usually don't have all five ailments on the bottle, and any medication with multiple ingredients is going to put you at a greater risk for overdosing or interactions. For example, most multi-symptom meds contain acetaminophen as one of the main ingredients to treat fevers, sore throats, and the like. But popping Tylenol on top of that (also acetaminophen) can cause you to exceed the daily limit for the drug, which can lead to liver damage or even death.

2. NSAIDs

The most popular person in the office is usually the one who keeps a giant-sized bottle of a pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen at their desk. When headaches, back pain, or cramps strike, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can save the day. But high doses over long periods of time come with some serious risks: gastrointestinal problems (nausea, constipation) are a common side effect, and more serious complications like ulcers or even kidney failure can occur. The FDA recently adjusted NSAID drug labels to make it super clear the pills come with an increased risk for heart attack and stroke, too. No need to live in pain-just follow the label and see your doc if you're taking the pills for longer than 10 days.

3. Antacids

Swigging some Mylanta after overindulging in a cheesy pizza is no big deal. Neither is taking a two-week course of Prevacid to clear up more frequent heartburn. But a number of antacid users take the drugs for longer than recommended on the label without supervision. Some people take them every day for months on end to treat acid reflux, but if you're not being monitored by a doctor, the drugs could be covering up a more serious condition. (It's rare, but years of heartburn could lead to cancer of the esophagus.)

4. Antihistamines

The newer forms of daily allergy meds (like Claritin or Zyrtec) are generally pretty safe, but old-school antihistamines like Benadryl (formal name: Diphenhydramine) come with some potent side effects (think: drowsiness, confusion, dizziness) and shouldn't be used during the day or while driving. Diphenhydramine (an ingredient in Tylenol PM) can also enhance the effects of other drugs like muscle relaxants, sleep aids, or anxiety medications, so clear everything with your pharmacist before mixing the two.

5. Pseudoephedrine

This congestion-buster, found behind the pharmacy counter in medication like Sudafed, can usually bring quick and sweet relief to clogged nasal passages. But it comes with a risk of side effects like an increased heart rate, nervousness, and insomnia. Pseudoephedrine can also interact with some blood pressure meds and other stimulants like caffeine, so talk with a doc or pharmacist (especially if you're pregnant, have high blood pressure, or other heart conditions) before bringing this one home.

Source: Women's Health

Important Study Shows Progesterone Does Not Prevent Miscarriage

By Dr. Art Castelbaum, RMA at Jefferson

Recurrent miscarriages remain a challenge for patients and Reproductive Medicine physicians. Three quarters of all first trimester miscarriages are due to genetically abnormal embryos. These embryos lack the required 46 chromosomes needed for an embryo to develop into a healthy baby.

Recently, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a landmark trial looking at the effectiveness of progesterone treatment in preventing miscarriages. The study was beautifully designed. 836 women with at least three previous miscarriages without an identified cause were randomized to receive either progesterone vaginal suppositories or a placebo starting early in pregnancy. There was no difference in the live birth rate between the two groups showing that progesterone treatment is not effective in improving outcomes in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.

This study is important. Many women feel they are responsible for their unsuccessful pregnancy. Often genetically abnormal pregnancies have low progesterone levels and patients often believe that if they had used progesterone in early pregnancy it would have changed the outcome. This excellent European study gives reassurance to all of our patients that low progesterone is likely not the cause of recurrent miscarriages. At the same time, a thorough evaluation for recurrent miscarriage is always recommended. These tests include antiphospholipid antibodies, parental chromosome testing, evaluation of the uterus, and maternal egg testing.

There has been a transformative change in the treatment of recurrent miscarriages. As a majority of miscarriages are due to genetically abnormal embryos, it is possible to perform in vitro fertilization and embryo biopsy, thereby ensuring that a single genetically normal embryo is transferred.

Dr. Castelbaum is currently seeing patients at the Yardley office of Lawrence OB/GYN. Please call 267-852-0780 or visit RMA Specialists to learn more about Dr. Castelbaum and RMA at Jefferson.

Cold Weather Workout Tips

No need to let dipping temperatures force you indoors. Discover how chilly-weather workouts can amp energy, burn more calories, and improve your mood.

No matter what time of year it is, breathing fresh air is a boon to your body. Outdoor exercise can crank up your energy while decreasing tension, frustration, and depression, according to recent research published in Environmental Science & Technology.

The heat and humidity in the summer can drag you down and tire you faster, but cold weather can feel invigorating. It stimulates your senses, tunes you in to your surroundings-it makes you feel alive. There's a biological reason for that:

"All exercise can increase your levels of those feel-good hormones, endorphins," says Kevin Plancher, M.D., head of Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New York City. "But because your body has to work harder in the cold, your endorphin production is boosted even more, leading to a happier state of mind." Plus, exposure to natural light is a known depression fighter, especially for seasonal affective disorder, a condition brought on by the shorter, darker days.

Another bonus: You can burn more calories in the winter. Research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that race times are faster in cold weather than in warmer temperatures-and quicker runs torch more calories, period. That alone is worth crawling out from under your comforter. Whether you're walking or jogging in your neighborhood, snowshoeing in the woods, or taking a trip to the slopes, it's time to start enjoying your winter workouts. Your complete guide:

Map Your Route
Stable, safe footing should be your priority when planning a winter route. For early-morning or evening workouts, scout out plowed streets and sidewalks that are well lit, to help you spot black ice. Look for a loop in your neighborhood that you can repeat as many times as you want. That way, if you become tired, slip on ice, or get wet, you will still be close to home and can quickly escape the elements.

Warm Up Wisely
Before any workout, walk around or jog in place indoors for five minutes. When you head out, give your body time to adjust to the conditions by taking 30-second breaks every few minutes for the first 10 minutes.

Take Cover
Try to avoid open roads and paths near water: Tree-lined trails and city blocks with tall buildings can help protect you from biting winds and snow flurries.

Cool-Don't Freeze-Down
To avoid getting too chilled during your cooldown, keep it brief: Slow your pace for three to four minutes, then go inside to stretch. Take off extra layers and keep moving for another five to 10 minutes before showering.

Start Small
If you normally do four miles in the summer, start with two. It's better to underestimate your ability in the cold. If you have to stop, your body temp will drop rapidly, increasing your risk for hypothermia. Easing into it can also help your airways acclimate. In subfreezing weather, it's helpful to wrap a scarf or neck gaiter around your nose and mouth to warm the air before you breathe it in.

Drink Up
You don't see your sweat losses in the winter like you do in the summer, so most people give little thought to staying hydrated. But you can still sweat just as much (especially if you're bundled up). Try putting your bottle under your layers to help keep it from freezing.

Be Flexible
You may be an a.m. exerciser, but on extremely cold days, your best (and safest) bet is holding off until midafternoon, if possible, when temps are at their highest and paths are more likely to be plowed. And yes, there is such a thing as too-lousy weather. Stay in if you have to battle wind, snow, ice, and darkness, because there are just too many challenges stacked up against you.

Source: Women's Health

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