Tapping into local expertise for everyday health & well-being. |
|
DIVINE DIALOGUE
Lady Bits that Deserve More of Our Attention
|
|
Tips for Your Lady Bits
When the average person thinks of women’s health measures, Pap smears and mammograms immediately come to mind. These are everyday conversations at work, at a recent Peppa Pig birthday party and at the local yoga studio. Now we’re going to talk about the preventative testing for the rest of your lady bits that should be mainstream. Become your own cheerleader and advocate. Request these preven-tative tests from your healthcare providers. Early detection is crucial and now you too can feel confident you are doing everything you can to take the best care of YOU.
|
|
|
|
On average, physicians only spend 15-20 minutes with each patient. Come prepared to your appointment. Have a detailed written list of questions, screenings and tests you’d like to discuss with your doctor. Trust me, he or she will be impressed at your preparedness and take the time to speak with you. Your doctor may even suggest other baseline tests like a full blood panel. And take notes! Or ask your doctor to write details for you. Again, he or she will be happy to oblige. |
|
Tip #2: INVOLVE YOUR TRIBE |
Talk with your girlfriends and family. Set a goal date for everyone to make appointments for mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies, and pelvic floor exams. Hold each other accountable! Loving yourself and caring for yourself is the greatest gift you can share with your family and friends. Caring for your health and wellbeing also sets a profound example for the young people in your life about the importance of self-care. Pay it forward with self-care, self-love and self-advocacy. |
|
|
|
|
CA-125: Early symptoms of ovarian cancer are too often mistaken for routine tummy discomfort. CA-125 is not a preventative test but looks at elevated protein levels in your blood.
HPNCC Colorectal cancer genes and Endometrial cancer: If anyone in your family has been diagnosed with a form of Colorectal cancer, heed this advice. No matter your age, request a colonoscopy and a test for HPNCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer). A positive test of the HPNCC gene could leave you more susceptible to endometrial, ovarian and urinary track cancers.
Pelvic Floor Health and Dysfunction: Yes, it’s a real thing and 50% of women can experience pelvic floor dysfunction in their lifetime. Read more to learn about symptoms you didn’t realize you had, and easy treatment plans available locally. You'll be glad you did!
|
|
|
|
|
Transforming Health Care
(708) 383-9300
|
|
Ladies, Discomfort is Not Normal!
Early symptoms of Endometriosis and colorectal cancer are often mistaken as “normal discomfort.” Buy a remedy at the local pharmacy and you will feel better in no time. Wrong! Women should never live with any discomfort. And putting a proverbial Band-Aid on symptoms is not the answer. Endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Talk with your healthcare providers today about screening, testing, and family history. Rush University Medical Center is ranked #13 in the country for gynecologic care.
|
|
|
|
|
Compassion & service every day.
|
|
The Body-Mind Connection
Throughout her life, a woman’s body is constantly changing; puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, and menopause - they all force women to cope with new bodies and new ways they fit into the world around them. Some of these physical changes can trigger mental conditions that can lead to anxiety or depression. Don’t wait – be proactive and set your mind to healing.
Here are three suggestions:
- Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine per day.
- Spend half an hour in nature whenever you can.
- Take a short trip, exploring what’s in your local area.
If you would like to learn more about ways to improve your mental health, let our behavioral health team be a partner in your path towards wellness.
|
|
|
|
|
Optimizing Health Wellness and Performance
|
|
Your Pelvic Floor is Part of Your Core.
Your pelvic floor has three layers of muscles which is why it can be treated by a specialized physical therapist with advanced training, much like anywhere else in the body. Because reproductive function and bodily fluids are still a taboo subject, there are many misconceptions and a general lack of knowledge about the pelvic floor.
A major misconception is that only women who have given birth vaginally will experience incontinence (the leaking of urine or feces) or pelvic organ prolapse (descent of the pelvic organs through the vagina). Many women who have given birth do not experience any of these symptoms. While teenagers and adults of all ages who have never given birth can experience pelvic floor dysfunction.
Possible causes of pelvic floor dysfunction other than childbirth include muscle weakness from lack of activity or from nerve impingement (eg. Lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, or severe scoliosis.) Excessive amounts of sit-ups/crunches, prolonged illness with excessive coughing (eg. Bronchitis) may also be causes. Poor bladder habits (such as going “just in case”, hovering over public toilets, and consuming an excessive amount of bladder irritants), and even poor posture or stress that alters your breathing mechanics can negatively impact your pelvic floor function as well.
Though common, it is not normal to have pain during intercourse, pain during pregnancy, leaking when you sneeze, random or sudden intense urges to pee, feel like you’re sitting on your organs, or experience bloating in the absence of a food intolerance. There is a solution for you and it’s our job to identify it and lead you to a restored pelvic floor.
The uniqueness of B-Health is that our therapists possess the comprehensive qualifications of being both Pelvic Health Therapists and Manual Orthopedic Therapists. This combination allows us to offer specialized pelvic floor services in conjunction with advanced manual therapy and neuromuscular retraining to both treat the root cause of the dysfunction and to ensure the pelvic floor returns to automatic function in coordination with the rest of the core muscles.
In support of our community, B-Health offers a complimentary comprehensive consultation for Women’s Health, Orthopedic, or Vestibular/Balance issues. These 45-minute sessions are conducted in well-appointed private treatment rooms with a Doctor of Physical Therapy without any financial obligation. Please click on the following link to schedule your Complimentary session today.
|
|
|
|
|
Your Story. To be continued.
|
|
Healthy Living Begins at Home.
Wellness is a lifelong commitment. As we age, physical and mental maintenance are everyday obligations. Luckily, American House Oak Park is looking out for the ladies in our lives. Long hallways are ideal for getting in those 10,000 steps without going outside in the Midwest scorching heat or freezing cold. Game rooms, walking clubs, group fitness classes, community volunteering and more keep your mind sharp and body agile.
Good health starts in the kitchen and American House Oak Park offers three separate kitchens and an in-house chef. Fresh, local ingredients and live cooking demonstrations are just a few ways to keep American House residents happy and healthy. One third of older adults do not get the recommended dose of fruits and vegetables. Not so at American House. The AM culinary team utilizes a variety of recipes to assemble our seasonal and bistro menus. Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter meal plans are created by the culinary team and vetted by certified dietitians, assuring consistency, quality, and nutritional value. Residents order from daily menus or chose from an alternative menu that offers regional specialties, heart-healthy choices and resident favorites.
Interested in learning more about American House’s amenities or meal plans? Click here for more details.
|
|
(708) 445-6000
We are here to help YOU
Aging gracefully does not have to include Botox and highlights. But senior women do have special health care needs. Confused by hormones, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone? So are we! Dr. Tracey Banks of Right at Home is here to help you navigate the whirlwind of messages surrounding hormone replacement delivery mechanisms and other treatment options for post-menopausal women. Take care of you!
|
|
(312) 259-7585
Wellness isn't just about nutrition!
We all need some guidance to reach sustainable wellness for our lifetime. Good nutrition is one important component to sustainable wellness and so is the emotional, occupational, physical, social, intellectual and spiritual components of our life. Call us today to create your holistic plan to find true wellness in your life.
|
|
(773) 413-8114
Support for your 4th Trimester!
The postpartum transition (aka the 4th trimester) can be HARD. Start building your “village” of support early. Our practice provides in-home lactation services, newborn well care, and maternal and family supports so you are not alone during what can be a challenging transition. We would be honored to be part of your journey!
|
|
At Centre, your experience is different
Most of us don’t think a lot about our pelvic floor health unless we have had children, but it can be something that impacts our daily life.
The pelvic floor supports everything from bladder and bowel function to sexual function and it is what can help us not to “pee a little” when we laugh too hard or exercise.
Mara Hutton, PT, DPT and Claire Kelly, PT, DPT of Centre Physical Therapy recently posted a Q&A session for Fit4Moms on this topic that you can SEE HERE.
|
|
(708) 414-6071
You deserve to move with ease!
Irene provides personalized Pilates instruction to people ages 10-100 as they heal and thrive. Certified in pregnancy & postpartum corrective exercise, she helps students address common but not "normal" issues like diastasis recti and pelvic floor dysfunction. Powerful changes are possible when you know what to do differently! Schedule a free consultation and take the next big step on your wellness journey.
|
|
|
|
The OPRF Chamber of Commerce is committed to the health and well-being of our community.
Wellness Wednesdays are a supplement to the annual Community Health & Wellness Fair which connects our Chamber Members in the Health & Wellness sector to clients and consumers throughout Chicagoland's western suburbs.
|
|
|
Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce
143 S Oak Park Avenue
708.613.0550
|
|
This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce in support of the recovery of our local Health & Wellness businesses. Staying local for all of your lifestyle needs keeps your spending dollars in the community. For more information about the OPRF Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
