Hot topics
Every month either myself or a panel of experts will write about a “hot topic”. It will range from the importance to heart rate monitoring, to how to buy sneakers, and how to best care for your skin after 30!
I am looking forward to having this opportunity to introduce you to many people who have helped me learn new things along the way.
May's Hot Topic
Why you should check with your Practioner!
By: Carla Layne- Certified Nurse Practioner
You’ve all heard it before – “before starting an exercise, diet or fitness program, check with your Dr.” Our typical response is yeah, yeah, I’m ok, there is nothing keeping me from exercise. You might be surprised! As a practitioner of women’s health, I can give a few examples of why it is important to check with your Dr. or practitioner. Here are a few:
Shannon – age 19, 5’7 inches tall, weight is 140 pounds. Shannon is a perfect candidate for exercise, right? Wrong! Shannon has a heart murmur and irregular heart beat that was discovered at her annual GYN appointment.
Debbie – age 49, 5”4 inches tall, weight is 180 pounds. Debbie really has been trying hard to lose weight, she is exercising, watching her caloric intake and seems to be doing everything right. Guess again, Debbie forgot to mention that she is drinking two glasses of wine 5-6 days per week, its part of her routine. That’s 1500 calories per week keeping her from weight loss.
Jackie – age 54, 5’5 inches tall, weight is 165 pounds. Jackie is walking 30 minutes a day/5-6 days per week. She eats 5 small 300 calorie meals per day as Chantel has recommended. She has been sticking with it for 2 months and she has lost 3 pounds. What is going on? At her recent visit to her practitioner, some routine blood work to check hormone levels reveal that Jackie has a condition called hypothyroid.
Carol – age 37, 5’2 inches tall, weight is 119 pounds. Carol comes in for her annual exam and explains that she doesn’t feel like herself. She is irritable, moody, and exercise is the last thing on her mind. She usually runs 5 miles a day and now has no energy and can’t seem to keep it together. Carol has a very low DHEA level. DHEA is one of the hormones that gives us energy and promotes a sense of well being. With our high levels of stress, many of us have extremely low levels of DHEA and many practitioners do not test for this hormone.
