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The half-day program featured Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Connie Schultz, 11 of MetroHealth’s finest health experts, and topics such as back pain relief, breast health, menopause, and heart health. A jewelry fashion show by Marise Designs featured some of MetroHealth’s doctors as models.
The hospital system is nationally renowned for high-risk birthing care, cutting edge treatments in advanced gynecological issues, and has one of the most highly regarded breast cancer services in the area. This year marks the 175 the anniversary of its founding.
Schultz began the day with humorous anecdotes about her beloved mother, her high profile husband, US Senator Sherrod Brown, and their puppy Franklin; and encouraged women to start telling their own personal stories. As a columnist, she has learned delivering staunch opinions through tender personal reflections allows readers to find common ground with her; they may not agree but find it easier to have a conversation.
“I know why you are here,” she said, “You are concerned about your health.” Schultz said women hesitate to share their personal problems or accomplishments but that is critical to highlighting issues women face, especially regarding their health. Sharing builds camaraderie; “We are all better in a group,” she said.
Beauty always ranks high in any woman’s self-care regimen and Dr. W. Elliot Love had some tips and recommendations for every age. “Aging beings at 30,” he said, with the change in texture, collagen decreases, dryness, deepening of lines. He said along with a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins, A, C, and E, regular exercise and restful sleep is essential.
He said laser treatments that refine wrinkles, eliminate hyper pigmentation, and boost elasticity of the skin have improved drastically over the years. “They work better, and the recovery time is shorter,” said Love. He warned that 20 minutes of sun exposure is enough to damage skin, and increases risk of all skin cancers. A dark-eye circle is the only issue that has no permanent solution. Options are as radical as surgery known as blepharoplasty, or more topical such as retinol creams, vitamin K, proper rest and hydration and most commonly, makeup concealers.
MetroHelath staff and affiliates were on hand to provide onsite screening tests for glaucoma, Body Mass Index (BMI), bone density, cholesterol, and glucose.
Jennifer Bier, Manger of Ambulatory Nutrition at MetroHealth, discussed information on BMI relevancy as a possible indicator of health and said it is critical to consider it as a small tool in the greater picture. “I have seen many thin people who have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol but heavier-set people who are much healthier,” she said.
Bier said it is important to determine the proportions of weight and mass of muscle and fat in the body. She recommends a diet rich in green, non-starchy vegetables and plenty of water. “A can of pop has 150 calories in just 12 ounces,” said Bier. Caffeinated drinks dehydrate the body, increasing thirst; “Water is always the best choice.”
MetroHealth provides nutrition classes to patients at most satellite campuses.
Asthma is a chronic ailment, when triggered, causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Common triggers include: dust mites, pollen, smoke, “Even cockroaches,” said Karen A. Majewski, Community Nurse Practitioner at MetroHealth. She said the feces of the common household pests show up often in patient’s allergy tests.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Affairs reports Latino children are 60 percent more likely to have asthma compared to non-Latino Whites. Puerto Ricans are twice as likely to have asthma.
Majewski said prevention includes staying away from triggers and receiving proper medication. “It is also important to know how to use each inhaler because they are all different,” she said.
Smoking, second hand and even third hand smoke - that is passed from the lingering chemicals - can aggravate asthma. Majewski said the MetroHelath Medical Center provides education on asthma and proper uses of inhalers and free screenings.
For more information call the Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine at 216.778.2364.
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