In This Issue
6 Common Causes of Yeast Infections
Is it Safe to Diet During Pregnancy?
The Best Time to Get a Flu Vaccine
5 Period Symptoms that Warrant a Visit to the OB/GYN
What Your Headaches Can Reveal About Your Health
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Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: 609-896-1400 

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1401 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road

Suite 212

Hamilton, NJ 08619

Phone: 609-890-2412 

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Yardley, PA 19067

Phone: 215-504-9090 

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yeast26 Common Causes of Yeast Infections


Ever been in a meeting or out running errands (because cruelly, you're always in public) when suddenly you're hit with an uncontrollable itch...down there? As soon as you feel it, you know what you've got: a dreaded yeast infection. Check out these common culprits that can cause it:



1. Not changing your tampon often enough
Yeast breeds in high-moisture environments, and pads and tampons can keep excess moisture around, allowing yeast to grow. A simple solution: Change pads/tampons often, especially in warm weather.



2. Taking antibiotics
If you take an antibiotic for strep throat, a UTI, or any other ailment, it can throw your entire personal ecosystem out of whack. Antibiotics can kill off the healthy bacteria in the vagina, allowing yeast to overgrow. To bolster good bacteria and reduce the chances of infection, try taking a probiotic supplement along with your antibiotic. Probiotics with lactobacillus are the best to take because that's the dominant bacteria found in the vagina of healthy women. Prefer to get these good bugs from food instead of pills? Yogurt works, as long as you choose one that contains "live active cultures."



3. Having high blood sugar
Got diabetes or prediabetes? Watch out. Yeast gets energy from sugar, and infections thrive in moist areas of the body, including the vagina.



4. Getting frisky with an infected partner
Yes, yeast infections can be contagious! You can catch a yeast infection from a partner who has thrush [oral yeast] or a yeast infection of the penis, though that's more common among men who have a foreskin. Having a lot of sex-even with a guy who's infection-free-may also lead to trouble by changing the pH of the vagina and allowing the yeast to overtake the good bacteria. Urinating right after sex may help.



5. Wearing snug underwear
Tight underwear made from a synthetic fabric that doesn't let the southern area 'breathe' encourages yeast overgrowth by creating a warm, moist environment. It's a good idea to go without while you sleep at least once or twice a week, because it allows the vagina to naturally air itself out.



6. Using scented feminine hygiene products
You want to smell like a pineapple infused with tropical flowers down there, right? Not so fast. Scented sprays, wipes, washes, and even fragrant bubble bath may cause the acidity level in the vagina to drop, resulting in a yeast infection. Stick with gentle bar soap instead. And don't even think about douching.



Source: Prevention


Is it Safe to Diet During Pregnancy? diet   


Here's the low-down: Pregnancy is not the time to diet. Normally, you should gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. If you're overweight, you may want to shoot for 15 to 25 pounds. The recommendation for women who are obese is to gain between about 11 and 20 pounds. Some gain is inevitable given the weight of the baby, the enlarged uterus, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid. But that's weight that should disappear quickly once the baby is born.



On average you should be getting about 2,500 calories a day (that's up from about 2,100 when you're not pregnant). You need those calories and so does your baby. Your physiology changes, too. Your blood sugar between meals can drop to very low levels, which is why so many pregnant women have the feeling that they're starving and need to eat between meals. If you go into pregnancy thinking you need to lose weight, you'll find yourself incredibly hungry.



Babies are pretty efficient at getting what they need, so it's more a threat to your health than your baby's if you don't eat enough. But there's a risk that your baby will grow poorly if you're really malnourished.



Focus on eating well rather than reducing calories. It's good for you and your baby, and will help make sure you don't gain more weight than you need to during your pregnancy.
 
Source: Baby Center 
 


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September 2016  

  
Fall Into Good Health!


Greetings!
  
It's not even technically fall yet, and everywhere we look there's another pharmacy offering the flu vaccine. Maybe we're in a bit of denial that summer is actually ending, but it seems awfully early to start protecting ourselves from a virus that is notorious for hitting in the dead of winter. Right? So, when is the perfect time to get the flu vaccine? We've got your answer here.



Feeling unsure about what's "normal" when it comes to your period? We say it's better to be safe than sorry. Your body could be trying to tell you something. Here are 5 Period Symptoms that Warrant a Visit to Your OB/GYN.



Weight gain in pregnancy is a natural process -- and an important one. For most women it's not too hard to do, in fact they may well have difficulty with limiting just how many pounds to pack on. But is it safe to start a diet when you're pregnant in an effort to keep your weight gain down? Here's what you need to know about dieting during pregnancy.



Most any woman who has had a yeast infection can explain every painful, irritating, and overly itchy detail with burning accuracy. What many women do not know is the cause of yeast infections. Knowing what to look for and what causes yeast infections can help you to prevent future infections, and any woman who has had one will agree; preventing a yeast infection is much better than treating one. Whether you've been visited by a yeast problem once, a bunch of times, or not yet, you may be surprised by these 6 Common Causes of Yeast Infections.



Having a headache is a pain-literally and figuratively. Sometimes, they can be harmless, fleeting, and disappear without a trace. Other times, headaches may creep up and leave your noggin pulsing on the reg. And while chronic headaches can be innocent, they can also signify a deeper health issue is at play. Read What Headaches Can Tell You About Your Health to find out more.



With warm regards,
   
The Practitioners and Staff of Lawrence OB/GYN 
The Best Time to Get a Flu Vaccinevaccine 

The perfect time to get the flu vaccine may be earlier than you think. It's not an exact science; the timing and severity is a little different each year. But flu season can start as early as October and run all the way to May (ugh), usually peaking in the U.S. between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).



The CDC recommends getting the shot or spray as soon as the vaccine becomes available in your neighborhood, and preferably by October. Because it takes about two weeks for the body to develop the antibodies that keep you flu-free (well, most of the time), this timeline should hopefully get you protected before the virus starts to spread.



However, the immunity provided by the vaccine does start to fade over time, as the virus continues to mutate, so getting your shot or spray too early could leave you vulnerable come the tail-end of flu season.



"We call it waning immunity," Jorge P. Parada, M.D., a professor of medicine and director of the infection control program at Loyola University in Chicago, told Everyday Health. "If you get your flu shot in the beginning of September, you may start running out of protection by February or March, when the virus is still around.



It's tricky to predict just how long you have before immunity wanes, however. For your best chance of avoiding the flu, the general consensus seems to be to vaccinate in late September and early October - but experts agree that getting vaccinated at any time is better than never. If you're only reminded to get the shot or spray in December or even February, when it suddenly seems like a good idea since everyone you know is home sniffling in bed, it's not too late.



The CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months of age get a flu vaccine every year. People with a history of Guillain-Barr� Syndrome, allergies to eggs or any of the ingredients in the vaccine or who are not currently feeling well should talk to their doctor before getting the shot. People younger than 2 or older than 49, pregnant women and people who are allergic to eggs cannot get the vaccine via nasal spray, while people with a history of Guillain-Barr� Syndrome and asthma should discuss the nasal spray with their doctor.





5 Period Symptoms that Warrant a Visit to the OB/GYN period

Keel-over-in-your-tracks-cramps and a steady diet of Midol can be enough to leave a girl wondering: Is this monthly agony actually normal? Sometimes, a little bloat and tummy trouble is par for the course. But other times, your period symptoms could point to something more serious. Here are five times your cycle may warrant a visit to the doctor's office.



You're Bleeding a Lot
Needing super tampons on a heavy day is one thing-but regularly changing your tampon every hour on the hour is anothe. If you're swapping out feminine products every 60 minutes for more than a day, check in with your ob-gyn. The concern isn't necessarily uterine abnormalities (although fibroids and polyps could certainly be at play). The bigger issue is the blood loss. It's an issue you'll want to take seriously, as too much can result in fatigue, dizziness, and even fainting. To get to the bottom of things, your doc might do a complete blood count (CBC) test to see if you need more iron in your diet.



Painkillers Aren't Helping Your Cramps
Another sign you need to call your ob-gyn, stat: severe pain-and not like 'take two Advil and be fine. The most common cause of menstrual cramps is the chemical prostaglandin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil work by blocking the production of more. So if these meds aren't cutting the pain, you might be dealing with something like endometriosis. That can be pretty darn uncomfortable and may require treatment such as going on the Pill or a stronger medication or even surgery.



You've Got a Fever
Does that time of the month bring with it a fever, too? Best to play it safe and call your doc. Fortunately, the problem likely isn't toxic shock syndrome, the super rare bacterial infection that's been linked to leaving a tampon in too long. However, it could be pelvic inflammatory disease, which can flare with a period. It is associated with a low grade fever and significant pelvic pain. If this is the case, you'll need a course of antibiotics.



You Bleed In-Between Periods
While it's common to have breakthrough bleeding from birth control pills, if you're not on the Pill and keep spotting, tell your ob-gyn. Possible culprits include a polyp in the lining of the uterus or overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. Bleeding after sex can be worrisome, too. This could point to abnormalities such as dysplasia-abnormal cells on the cervix that can progress to cervical cancer if not treated.



Your Period is Totally MIA
Sure, a period on vacation can signal a baby on the way or some seriously stressful times, but if you're consistently skipping cycles, it's time for a hormonal check. Look out for side symptoms like milk leaking from your breasts (a sign of too much of the hormone prolactin being released from your pituitary gland) or changes in hair growth (which can be linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome), too.



If you're still unsure or concerned, please don't hesitate to contact us to make an appointment.





What Your Headaches Can Reveal About Your Healthheadaches

Experts don't completely understand what's happening in our skulls when a headache hits, but the most likely explanation is that something causes the blood vessels to swell, subsequently stretching the nerves around them and firing off pain signals.



Chronic headaches-whether tension or migraine-can be caused by a slew of health problems, ranging from totally minor to pretty major. Here are 10 things your headaches could reveal about your health.



1. You're stressed.
If you're suffering from headaches, stop and think about what's going on in your life. How stressed are you? And are you just pushing your stress under the rug instead of dealing with it? Unresolved stress can really contribute to headache.



2. You're dehydrated.
With any kind of headache, a person needs to look at their health habits. The exact connection is unknown, but experts believe it has to do with the way blood volume drops when you're not getting enough water. Lower blood volume means less oxygen is getting to the brain.



3. You're anemic.
More severe anemia can cause headache. Luckily, if you suffer from iron-deficiency anemia, it's reversible by upping iron intake.



4. You have a chronic disease.
Headache is a common side effect of many chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, lupus, and diabetes. If you have chronic headaches, it's always worth talking to your doctor to figure out if an underlying condition could be causing them.



5. Your estrogen levels dropped.
Thanks to the drop in estrogen right before menstruation, many women experience PMS-related headaches. In fact, menstruation is one of the biggest migraine triggers for women. But it's not the only time a change in estrogen levels can cause a headache-both perimenopause and postpartum, periods marked by a significant drop in estrogen, often come with headaches. Any time of hormonal change is a vulnerable time for headaches.



6. You have a sinus problem.
If you have recurrent headaches in your sinus or facial area, chances are it's a migraine. In fact, studies have shown that approximately 90 percent of people who see a doctor for sinus headaches are found to actually have migraines, according to the Mayo Clinic. But if your headache is paired with fever, phlegm, or any other indication you might be sick, an underlying sinus infection may be to blame. Good news: The headache should go away after taking antibiotics to knock out the infection.



7. Your body clock is off.
Ever wake up for a super early flight and notice a nagging pain in your head? Disrupting your body's schedule can trigger headaches. The stress of traveling, change in barometric pressure, change in time zones, and just being at an airport can all spark a headache.



8. You drink too much caffeine.
Caffeine causes vasoconstriction in your blood vessels, meaning they get a little narrower. If you drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks every day, your body gets used to it. So when you skip it one day, your blood vessels don't become constricted and can make your head hurt. It becomes a vicious cycle, slugging back a mug to find relief, and just further deepening your need for the drug. It's unrealistic to tell all headache patients to avoid caffeine. Try it in moderation - a maximum of two caffeinated drinks in one day to avoid that withdrawal headache when you go without.



9. You have a brain tumor.
Googling your headache symptoms may result in a self-diagnosis of brain tumor. Rest assured: They're rare, so chances are you don't have one. But it's certainly a possibility, and something you don't want to miss. If headaches are a recently new thing for you, are the most severe you've ever experienced, or are changing or worsening over time, these are signs your doctor may order a brain scan. If you're ever worried about what's causing your headaches, it's worth discussing with your doctor. 
 
10. You're taking too many headache meds.
Headache treatments can potentially backfire. Overdoing it on painkillers can actually make the pain worse-research suggests popping these pills too frequently can alter the brain's ability to regulate pain - and the caffeine in Excedrin can cause withdrawal headaches, compounding the effects. Overuse of any pain medication to treat headaches can cause what's called a rebound headache. If you've been taking a lot of OTC medications, try stopping for a day or drastically limiting your intake.
 
Source: Self


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Lawrence OB/GYN Associates | 123 Franklin Corner Road | Suite 214 | Lawrenceville | NJ | 08648