Article : Tap Water Safety - That Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy
Nutritional Classes Offered by The Reading Hospital and Nutritional Center
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Glycemic Index and GI Database
Glycemic-index diet: A helpful tool for diabetes? - MayoClinic.com
Obesity and Overweight: Introduction | DNPAO | CDC
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index Calculator
My Food Advisor - Control Diabetes By Counting Carbs and Calories
Exercise Calorie Calculator
United States Department of Agriculture - MyPyramid.org
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ob/Gyn
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Links
Recommended Forms

Nutritional Classes Offered at The Reading Hospital and Nutritional Center

The Reading Hospital and Nutritional Center is currently offering nutritional classes including how changing your diet can help Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. For all of the upcoming nutritional classes including dates and time, please click here.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal disorder. Research suggests that PCOS affects between 5 and 10% of all women of childbearing age regardless of race or nationality.

In the case of PCOS, the ovaries are filled with tiny cysts. Using an ultrasound, they look like black rasin sized dots on the ovaries. The term "string of pearls" has been used to describe this ultrasound appearance. These cysts contain eggs that have failed to properly mature and release from the ovaries.

PCOS symptoms usually present during puberty but may also begin in the early to mid 20s. Certain symptoms are life-long, others will cease at menopause.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is caused by an overproduction of hormones in women during their reproductive years. The severity of symptoms varies from woman to woman, and the disease can only be accurately diagnosed with blood tests. Many of the symptoms can be eradicated with medication.

For patients looking for additional information about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Dr. Pellegrini and Dr. Minassian have compiled the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Resource Guide. Please click here to download the booklet.

For more information about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, please click here to visit our infertility website's section on PCOS.

Obesity and Overweight: Introduction | DNPAO | CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has written an excellent section on their website that deals with Obesity and issues with being overweight. To view the website, please click here.

Body Mass Index

BMI is a term that isn't completely familiar to everyone. It is short for Body Mass Index. It approaches a standard, and is the common choice for physicians and for research concerning obesity.

With a mathematical formula, BMI uses a person's height and weight for the calculation. Your Body Mass Index is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. It is expressed as BMI=kg/m2. In the table below, the risks for disease associated with being over weight or obese are listed based on BMI and waist size for women and men.

Body Mass Index Calculator

For your convenience, use the following link to calculate your own Body Mass Index (BMI). Calculate your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator

My Food Advisor

MyFoodAdvisor™ is a unique calorie and carbohydrate counting tool that can help with diabetes management and nutrition. Tracking what you eat can help manage your diabetes and in turn prevent the onset of complications. Click Here for More Information.

Exercise Calorie Calculator

Ever wonder how many calories you burn while doing your favorite exercise? Use this calculator as a guide to your next exercise routine. Calorie Control Council | Healthy Calculators

United States Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

MyPyramid.gov created by the USDA offers personalized eating plans, interactive tools to help you plan and assess your food choices, and advice to help you:
Make smart choices from every food group.
Find your balance between food and physical activity.
Get the most nutrition out of your calories.
Stay within your daily calorie needs.

For more information on healthy living and what is recommended for you, please visit the United States Department of Agriculture website by clicking here.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ob/Gyn

What is complementary medicine? The Oxford English Dictionary says 'it is a medical therapy that falls beyond the scope of scientific medicine and may be used alongside it in the treatment of disease and ill health'. The Cochrane Database describes Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a broad field of healing resources that includes all kinds of health systems, techniques and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than the traditional health systems of a society or culture. In our society these CAM systems would include systems outside of the traditional, modern (Western”) medicine that is practiced worldwide. The term complementary is used for those health systems that can be used along with modern medical techniques and medicines for healing and prevention of diseases. The term alternative is used for health practices and medicines that are meant to replace modern medical practices.

CAM has been used extensively in obstetrics and gynecology. Here are some examples of the more common CAM methods used in this field:

Herbal Supplements

Various herbal supplements have been studied for gynecologic problems. Menopause symptoms have been reduced by the use of black cohosh, and by soy preparations (phytoestrogens). Ginger has been found in some research studies to help reduce pregnancy nausea and is listed as a treatment option by the American College of Ob/Gyn.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

TCM is the name for an ancient system of health care from China. TCM is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced "chee"), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body in channels called meridians. The meridians often run along the lines of nerves and blood vessels. There are special points along the meridians that are considered important in the regulation of the health process. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage. Here are some TCM treatments that have been used in Ob/Gyn:

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture has been shown in numerous research studies to be effective in the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. A form of acupuncture called moxibustion has been noted to help turn breech babies around to vertex (head first) in a few studies. It has been used for infertility treatments including in vitro fertilization, and found to be effective in some but not all research studies.

Acupressure:

Acupressure has been found in some research studies to help reduce pregnancy nausea and is listed as a treatment option by the American College of Ob/Gyn. There are no adequate studies to support these treatments for other areas of Ob/Gyn.

Herbal medicines:

Chinese herbal medicines are used for many gynecologic problems such as menopause symptoms, irregular or painful periods, infertility and recurrent miscarriages. There are no adequate scientific studies to support these treatments.

Relaxation/martial arts:

Tai chi and chi kung are systems of health promoting and self-defense exercises that are becoming more popular worldwide. They are excellent ways to maintain overall health and vitality. There has not been enough scientific research to confirm their health benefits in specific Ob/Gyn problems. However these systems have been shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients and reduce the number of falls in elderly people.

Ayurvedic Medicine

This system that has been practiced primarily in the Indian subcontinent for 5,000 years. Ayurveda includes diet and herbal remedies and emphasizes the use of body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention and treatment. Very little scientific research has been done in this area for any medical problems let alone gynecologic problems.

“Western” CAM

Many types of CAM have been used in the Western World. However there have been no adequate research studies to support their use in Ob/Gyn. Some of the more popular include:

• Homeopathy
• Naturopathy
• Reflexology
• Rolfing
• Aromatherapy

Here are some helpful web sites to explore CAM:

The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine

The Alternative Medicine Foundation

Recommended Forms

• Good Calcium Source List
  
• Good Iron Source List