Did you know that men and women respond very differently to exercise? That’s because of physiological differences: Men have more muscle mass, while women tend to store fat.
In fact, women over the age of 45 need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day just to maintain and not gain weight!
This video segment from Healthpoint TV features tips for women on how to stay fit from Brooke Benjamin, a Mills-Peninsula exercise physiologist.
Want to learn more? Check out more fitness demonstration videos and tips from Brooke Benjamin on our blog:
Did you know that ultrasound – that simple, painless test that allows parents to see their baby growing in the womb – can also be used to view almost any area of the body?
In women’s health exams, ultrasound can be an important tool for investigating pelvic symptoms such as abnormal menstrual bleeding, says Diana Baker, M.D., radiologist at the Women’s Center at the Mills Health Center in San Mateo. “Women who have spotting in between periods, or abnormal periods should see their doctor,” she says. “Many times doctors can figure out what is going on without ultrasound, but if they need a way to look at the uterus, or the lining of the uterus, they will send you for a pelvic ultrasound.”
Dr. Baker describes an ultrasound test, how it works and what it can detect in this video segment from Healthpoint TV.
Dr. Harriet Borofsky, medical director of breast imaging at Mills-Peninsula's Women's Center
More than 200,000 new cases are detected every year; 4,500 here in the Bay Area. One in seven women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, making it the most common cancer among women. Although breast cancer survival rates have improved in recent years, the number of new cases is rising and the risk of developing the disease also increases with age. A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer at age 60 is 10 times higher than at age 50.
“The good news is that the past two decades have seen significant, life-saving new technologies in the area of early detection and diagnosis,” says Harriet Borofsky, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at Mills-Peninsula’s Women’s Center.
Did you know that women are twice as likely as men to get osteoporosis, a condition that can lead to bone fractures?
Daily weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, and a diet rich in calcium can help strengthen your bones. In this video segment from Healthpoint TV, Mills-Peninsula registered dietitian Donna deKay looks at how much calcium you need and how to get more of the bone-saving nutrient in your diet.
MyLifeStages.org is one of the few places online where you’ll find Northern California practicing physicians – including experts from Mills-Peninsula Health Services – answering questions, blogging and talking about the very topics that matter most to you.
What is MyLifeStages? It’s Sutter Health’s wellness portal that connects Northern California women and their families with Sutter-affiliated doctors, health information, tools, expert tips and more, all for free. Serving more than 360,000 visitors in 2011, this site is loaded with its interactive features and health resources designed to support women on their journey toward good health at every stage of life.
Steven and Alison Pariani with their twins. Prenatal testing assured them that their twins were both growing at a healthy rate in the womb.
“I always knew having twins was a possibility since my dad has twin sisters. But it was still a shock,” says Alison Pariani. From that discovery on, her pregnancy would be treated as “high risk.”
Claire Serrato, M.D.
“A high-risk pregnancy is one in which we have reason to suspect that the mother or fetus might need more than the routine prenatal care,” says Pariani’s Mills-Peninsula obstetrician, Claire Serrato, M.D. “Twins are considered high risk because they have a greater chance of preterm delivery, growth problems or preeclampsia, a form of toxemia.”
Exercise is important at any stage of your life. But staying fit during your pregnancy is a particularly good idea – for both your physical and mental health, as well as the health of your baby, says Mills-Peninsula Exercise Physiologist Brooke Benjamin. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day for most pregnant women. “But it’s important to exercise safely,” emphasizes Benjamin.
In this video from Healthpoint TV, learn some simple, safe exercises to help keep expectant mothers fit:
Eating for two? In this video from Healthpoint TV, Mills-Peninsula Clinical Dietitian Carolyn McCune, CDE, shares the dos and don’ts of healthy eating during pregnancy, and offers a delicious and nutritious, quick dessert recipe.
We’re pleased to let you know that our newest episode of Healthpoint TV, “Obstetrics,” has been added to the Peninsula TV line-up. This episode features our OB/GYN physicians, the new Family Birth Center and some adorable, young Mills-Peninsula patients. Topics in this new episode include pregnancy questions and answers, high risk pregnancies, prenatal testing, diet and exercise tips for expectant moms, and more!
The “Obstetrics” episode is now airing in rotation with the previous episodes of Healthpoint TV on the Bay Area’s Channel 26 at the following times:
Hip fractures are most common in adults over 65 who have weakened bones or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density and is the most common bone disorder affecting older adults.
The good news is a healthy lifestyle may reduce further bone loss and cut your risk of fractures.
Welcome! This blog is designed as a forum for engaging patients, their families and the community in conversations about health care, and to help promote health education and wellness with articles and tips from our doctors and staff from different departments. We welcome your comments and insight. Thank you for visiting our blog and sharing.
