Advanced OB-GYN News

YOU VS THE FLU

By Joseph Hazan, M.D.,FACOG

The flu or influenza infects the

nose,throat and lungs.

Common symptoms are fever, chills,

body aches, sore-throat,cough, fatigue

and headaches.

Some diarrhea and vomiting

could occur.

The flu spreads when someone

spreads

it through coughing, sneezing.

Social distancing of about six

feet can

help protect you.

Frequent hand washing

with soap for about 15 seconds

is recommended.

Someone with the flu is already

contagious

for one day before symptoms

appear and

continues to be contagious

for seven days

after symptoms appear.

Symptoms start about one

to four days

after exposure.

Protection after receiving

the flu vaccine

starts after approximately

two weeks.

Pregnant women should be especially

cautious.

Consult your physician about

prevention and

treatment especially

regarding the problem

of H1N1.

Rest, water intake and good

nutrition are

very important.

THE COST OF SMOKING

By Joseph Hazan,M.D., FACOG

Frequently, when I tell patients to use

a smoking cessation program, they are

concerned primarily about the cost of

a given program.

However, the terrible

toll of smoking has to be our primary

concern.

Consider these smoking related facts:

1) Smokers are at a much higher risk

of most cancers. The most common

among these are, cancers of the lungs,

mouth, tongue, throat, esophagus, bowel

and bladder.

2) Each cigarette smoked shortens the

life-span of the smoker by 14 minutes,

which adds up to 4 hours per pack.

3) Smoking causes blindness.

Macular degeneration which is the leading

cause of blindness in the U.S. is closely

related to smoking.

Cataracts are also

caused by smoking.

4) Active and passive ( second hand)

smokers have frequent chest infections.

5) Smokers have a limited sense of smell.

6) Smoking causes aging of the skin

by depleting vitamin A content of the skin.

This causes most smokers to have

facial skin that is about 10 to 20 years
older, than their chronological age.
7) Mothers who smoke run the risk of
having higher risks of many pregnancy
complications and these problems

contribute to risks for the baby.

8) Every year 400.000 Americans die
due to smoking related illnesses.

SMOKING CESSATION
There are several interventions available
to help stop smoking.

The following are

specialized resources:
1) American Cancer Society
2) American Heart Association:

1-800-AHA-USA1
3) www.smokefree.gov
4) 1-800-QUIT-NOW
5) American Lung Association

1-800-LUNG-USA

Substance Abuse is Toxic and Lethal

By Joseph Hazan, M.D.,FACOG

Universal screening is now

being recommended to detect

extremely dangerous substance abuse.

This type of simple screening consists

of being alert to the fact that every segment

of the population is vulnerable to this problem.

About 10% of women age 14 to 44 actually

require treatment for addiction.

On the other hand only 15% of those women

are receiving this treatment.

That is because mostly this problem is

unrecognized and undetected.

Helpful screening can be accomplished

readily by utilizing questions at the

National Institute on Drug Abuse website

drugabuse.gov/nidamed.

Also American Society of Addiction Medicine

focuses on this issue . Their website is

asam.org.

Physicians can utilize brief intervention

and motivational interviewing, then refer

for treatment.

Avoid Alcohol

By Joseph Hazan, M.D.,FACOG

Some alcohol users have hid

their use and abuse of alcohol

even from their family members.

Sometimes family members and

friends are enablers and complicit

in this.

Hiding alcohol use is very common.

In fact, this could remain secret for

quite some time.

Because routine physical exam can not

detect this, doctor visits will not reveal

signs of alcohol addiction.

Many would think of stereotypes when it

comes to substance abuse, but the problem

of abuse has permeated all social segments

of society.

Studies have now demonstrated that 34% of

women between 18 and 25 are binge drinkers.

Also 10% in this age group are found to be

heavy drinkers.

In addition, among women who are 26 and

older the incidence of binge drinkers is 12.8%

while 2.4% are found to be heavy drinkers.

This problem is insidious and destructive.

Help is available through the National

Institute on Drug abuse.

Here is their website: drugabuse.gov/nidamed.

Also treatment sites can be located through:

findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1) ACOG Committee opinion At-Risk Drinking and

Illicit Drug Use: Ethical Issues in Obstetric and

Gynecologic Practice (# 422, December 2008).

2) ACOG Committee Opinion, Motivational Interviewing:

A Tool for Behavior Change (# 423, January 2009).

DHA INTAKE IN PREGNANCY

By Joseph Hazan, M.D.,FACOG

The importance of DHA intake

during pregnancy is well established.

DHA ( Docosahexaenoic Acid ) is different

compared to its precursors ALA (alpha-

linoleic acid) and EPA ( eicosapentaenoic

acid) in terms of its effects on the developing

fetus.

DHA accumulates in the brain and retina of

the developing fetus and provides several

advantages:

1) DHA helps the fetus develop and grow better

with higher birth weight, length and head size

at birth.

2) The length of pregnancy is extended longer

thereby helping prevent prematurity and allowing

the baby to attain better development before

delivery.

3) Babies whose moms took DHA have better

and sharper vision at 2 months of age.

4) Babies whose moms took DHA during pregnancy

have better cognition and higher psychomotor

development.

5) These babies also have scored better at novelty

preference which helps predict IQ attainment.

6) These babies are found to perform better at

problem solving tasks when they reach nine

months of age.

Bibliography:

1) Shim SM, Santerre CR, Burgess JR, Deardorff DC,

Omega 3 – fatty acids and total polychlorinated

biphenyls in 26 dietary supplements. J Food Science.

2003;68(8):2436-2440.

2) Lauritzen l, Hansen HS, Jorgensen MH, Michelsen KF.

The essentiality of of long chain n- fatty acids in relation

to development and function of the brain and retina.

Prog Lipid Res. 2001;40: 1-94.

3) Innis Sm, Friesen RW, Essential n-3 fatty acids in pregnant

women and early visual acuity maturation in term infants.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2008; 87: 548-557

4) Judge MP, Harel O. Lammi- Keefe CJ. Maternal consumption

of a docosahexaenoic acid- containing functional food during

pregnancy: benefit for infant performance on problem- solving

but not on recognition memory tasks at age 9 months.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:1572-1577.

Air Travel During Pregnancy

By Joseph Hazan, M.D.,FACOG

You might have heard the latest news.

During most normal pregnancies air

travel is now considered safe.

THE LATEST RESEARCH

Well-designed studies have demonstrated

that in general during uncomplicated

pregnancies air travel is considered safe

until the 36 th week of gestation.

Now concerns over this issue have

been addressed by the FAA as well.

If you would like to see the FAA info

it is at jag.cami.jccbi.gov/cariprofile.asp.

Many women may safely fly up to the 36th

week of pregnancy.

CONCERN REGARDING COSMIC RADIATION

Cosmic radiation exposure even during the

longest distance intercontinental flights

will be below the 15% limit.

Pregnant women who fly frequently run

the risk of higher exposure that could turn

risky.This issue is addressed by the

National Council on Radiation Protection

and Measurements and the International

Commission on Radiological Protection.

A COMMON QUESTION

Pregnancies that require special care may

need to avoid air travel.

Medical and obstetrical emergencies may

arise during air travel. These could put

the fetus and mother at risk.

This is why during your pregnancy you need to

check with your obstetrician and with your

airline what is applicable in your specific

situation.

Bibliography:

1) ACOG ( American College Of Obstetricians

and Gynecologists)

ACOG Today/ Oct.2009. Clinical Issues.

ACOG Committee Opinion. Air Travel During

Pregnancy.

Update. Obstetrics and Gynecolgy Oct. 2009.

Advanced OB-GYN News

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THE COST OF SMOKING

Substance Abuse is Toxic and Lethal

Avoid Alcohol

DHA INTAKE IN PREGNANCY

Air Travel During Pregnancy

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