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14A February 10, 2005 Living SENIOR HEALTH FOCUS Q: Is it true that more women die of sudden heart attacks than men? J. G. Augusta, Ga. Yes. Most people know that heart disease is one of the primary causes of death among American men, but many people still don't real ize that heart disease also kills many American iMONISTAT'| presents: UTI: ACOMMON BUT SERIOUS PROBLEM ‘ 4 ? By Dr. Mary Harris o Most adults have expen enced the pain and discomfort of a : _i:'.ri? urinary tract infection (UTI) at one "“’ time or another, but may not have R known what it was. The symptoms of UTI can be Ignored or mistaken for other conditions. Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen, pain or stinging during urination and an urgent need to urinate fre quently, even when the flow 1s just a trickle, can mean an infection in the urinary tract is present. Left untreated, UTI can spread to the bladder or kidneys and cause Kidney disease. Bactena that enter the urinary tract through the ure thra and multiply in the bladder cause most UTl's. Diabetics and men with an enlarged prostate are particularly suscepti ble, along with most women whose urethras are shorter than men's. The most used treatment for UTI 1s antibiotic thera py. but antibiotics kill good bacteria along with the bad and leave infected persons with reduced defenses to fight future infections. Instead, many health professionals are now opting to treat this common problem with a variety of herbal tinc tures that include marshmallow, uva ursi, and comsilk, among others. The goal 15 to strengthen the urinary tract system as well as quell the infection. While the herbs mentioned are readily available in most health food stores, dosing is impor tant. A tramed herbalist or physician should oversee herbal therapies for any condition. High doses of vitamin C have also proven effective in treating UTI. Three to five grams of the vitamin daily acid ifies urine and retards bacterial growth. Alternating streams of hot and cold water directed toward the pelvic region several times a day is also a useful therapy to increase blood flow to the infected area and reduce inflammation. Your chances of contracting a urinary tract infection are greatly reduced by remaining fully hydrated with lots of fresh dninking water. It's estimated that a half-ounce of water is needed for each pound of body weight, so a 180-pound per son would need 90 ounces of water daily to guard against this type of infection, and more if they're physically active. A balanced diet that avoids wheat, dairy and citrus fruits (known for promoting low grade inflammatory reac tions) 1s also beneficial. Avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks. Good hygiene, especially for women, is essential. Women should always cleanse themselves from front to back after using the bathroom. Doing so decreases the amount of bacte ria introduced into the urethra. Douches, bubble baths, vagi nal creams, spermicides - even harsh or perfumed laundry detergents and synthetic underwear- can trigger or aggravate an infection by upsetting the body's natural protection from good bacteria. Cranberries have proven to be highly effective in battling UTI, but beware! Heavily sugared cranberry juice or sauce may have the opposite effect since sugar feeds bacteria rather than killing it. Instead, dilute unsweetened cranberry Juice concentrate or search your local health food store for cranberry extract capsules. They may be sold under the Latin name Vaccinium macrocarpon. Remember, urinary tract infections can be serious. If you suspect you have one, please see your doctor immediate ly. The self-help treatments listed above are preventive meas ures against future infections, not cures for the one you have. Always visit www.journeytowellness.com for more important news about your health. women. That's why women often worry more about their husband’s heart health than they do their own. But according to Doris Tummillo, M.D., a board-certified cardiologist AUGUSTA FOCUS who practices at University, that could be a fatal mis take. Here’s why: Pvety year gbout 370,000 women die of heart disease. Another 93,000 women die of stroke each year. Overall, about 9 million American women of all ages suffer from heart dis ease. One in 10 women 45 to 64 years of age has some form of heart disease. One in four women older Top 10 ways to a healthier heart By Dr. Guy Reed, Chief of %' Ki(x; Heart Center §ey e Hiin o art an csunalymatedery()O million Amer cans and many of them dont even know it. Certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking, overeating and eating fooi high in saturated fat, stress the heart and contribute to the development of heart disease. Its time to listen to your heart. By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can ensure your hearts continuing good health. Improve your diet. A healthy balanced diet that indu({&a&h fruitlf]. vlcgctablcs, grains, fish, poultry, lean meat and low-Fatpc(i)airy helps keep your body and your heart fit. Avoid processed foods that are high in saturated fat, choles terol and trans farty acids. - Lower your fat and choles terol. The American Heart Association recommends that ple reduce their saturated gommkc t less than 7 percent of their total calorie intake per day and reduce cholesterol con sumption to less than 200 fid Xay in order to lower bl£§ ‘Pid&fk a healthy weight. A - a weight. bod{ mass index (l{MI) of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered health and helps to prevent the dzvcf-’ opment of d%betcs. To clcu- Mental health commission moves to fix group home staffing rules CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ~State mental health officials have taken their first step toward correcting a mistake that allowed group home oper ators to collect state payments for workers they did not employ. The problem — in which the state pays group homes under a model that assumes there at least two workers for every three children, while state rules require only one worker for every four children — was high lighted in a series of stories this week in The Charlotte Observ er. State officials have acknowl edged that they changed the reimbursement model without ever changing the rules that governed the ratio of workers to children. They have said the group homes by tens of mil lions of dollars during the past three budget years. The homes for mentally ill children, many of which are run as for-profit businesses, than 65 suffers some form of heart disease. So its important for women to learn all they can about heart disease. And University can help through its Women'’s HeartAdvantageO Pro gram. The program edu cates women about heart disease and lifestyle changes that will help pro tect their hearts and the hearts of those they love. In February, which is American Heart Month, i ur weight in poun by yo&? height in Pi(r)mhcs squared. Mlfllt\i/i)ly by 703. - Exercise. Moderate exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes on most-preferably all-days of the week promotes a health heart. d(l}aancmbg: to consuft, your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especial ly if you have been sedentary, are overweight, are middle aged or older, or have a medical oonQdJ:lion. king, Your rik of “Quit smo our risk o having a heart attack is [r?: reduced if you quit. Your%:l care pmvi£ can help by offer ing advice as well as prescribing medications, nicotine patches and other methods that can help you stop for good. Also t?' to avoid exposure to second hand smoke. - Lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to heart disease. Losing weight, limiting alcohol intake, increasing physical activity and reducing salt in the diet help rcducen%flgh blood pressure. Remember that normal read ings are at 120/80 mm Hg or lower. Have your blood pres sure checked at least once a - Take aspirin. Those who are at high risk for developing heart disease within 10 yaxsnsmould consult with their physician took in $165 million in taxpay er money last year. On Wednesday, a subcom mittee of the N.C. Mental Health Commission approved a plan to raise minimum staffing requirements at the group homes to one worker for every two children. The pro posal, which needs approval from the full commission, could take effect as early as July. At Wednesday's meeting, the chief of dinical policy for the N.C. Division of Mental Health urged the change. “As was so accurately pointed out by The Charlotte Observer recently, the (staffing) ratio did nt match the cost model” under which many group homes are paid, Dr. Michael Lancaster said. Lancaster had previously told The Observer that he didn't want to move too quickly to change the staffing ratios, fear ing that might drive so many group home operators out of the business that the state would not have enough beds to University is holding a series of FREE Women’s HeartAdvantageO Health Fairs that will provide the education, encouragement and support women often need to embark on a heart healthy lifestyle. Activities will include health risk assessments, heart-healthy screenings, information and coaching, and special gifts and door prizes The health fairs will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12 at about the health benefits of tak ing a low-dose aspirin daily. - Control dhl)la?anmin- Eood control o s i::lvg results in less strain or?fi?; ?hca:]td Those kc:vf;ttl}\] digll:etes 0 to eir fastin blood gitfxymsc levels at less thaxgx 110 mg/dL. - Know the risk factors. Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include bein gg‘cfiy thh:tn 65,f ethml;gty an§ ory. If you know you are at risk, you can makcyt(})\e lifestyle adjustments necessary to decrease your risk. - Know LKgmmin? signs. If {ou recognize any of the fol owing, act quickg!. The warn ing Sim of a heart attack may include: an uncomfortable pressure, fullness, aching, squeezing, burning Fa.in or ightness in the center of your chest that may spread to your shoulders, neck, jaw or arms and that lasts for two minutes or longer sweat ing, dizziness or fainung o nau sea, vomiting or a feeling of severe indigestion shortness of br@l;th . you are experiencing any of these sympm scckanfimcfical care immediately. This February, make a com mitment to imMproving your heart health. You'll reap the benefits for years to come. MCG Health System is composed of three separate serve children who need places. The homes served about 4,000 children last year. But on Wednesday, Lancast er said the newspapers articles convinced state officials they need to move now. The proposals will go before the full commission in Febru ary. If approved, a lengthy peri od of required public comment and legal scrutiny would fol low. Officials said they are pushing the changes through as fast as they legally can. In September, 12-year-old Shirley Arciszewski died after a Charlotte group home worker tried to restrain her by lying on top of her. State officials have said the worker, who was alone with Shirley and another child, was not fully trained and the group home where she lived had not been inspected in two years. Reimbursement rates were increased in 2001, but state officials failed to push the staffing rules changes that would have justified the rate Dilliard’s in Augusta Mall, Saturday, Feb 19 at Dil liard’s in Aiken Mall and Saturday, Feb. 26 at Dil liard’s in National Hills. If you have a question youd like answered in this column, want more infor mation about heart disease or would like to order a FREE Women’s HeartAd vantagco Information Kit, call University’s Heart Line at 706/828-2828 or toll free at 866/601-2828. organizations — MCG Health, Inc. and the dinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical Col lege of Georgia and the mem bers of the Physicians Practice Group. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians and faculty employ ees of the Medical College of Georgia .and the Physicians Practice Group, not employees of MCG Health Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Childrens Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Cen ter, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related dinicj facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Med ical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical Col lege of Georgia and the Physi cians Practice Group and com munity physicians to deliver the hif]'u:st level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org, increase through the mental health commission. Since 2000, the number of group homes operating in the state has tripled, along with the amount of Medicaid money spent on them. As a result of the pay and staffing oversight, the state and Medicaid have spent about $66 million through June 2004 for improved staffing ratios state officials never forced group homes to obey. The paper has said it is impossible to know how much of that was wasted, as some group home operators increased staffing even though it was not required. The Observer series cited experts on the problem who said many homes are poorly run and badly supervised. The explosion of group homes has so overwhelmed state regula tors that they limit oversight to responding to complaints,