July 2011

You might be surprised to hear that at least four out of five women in the Unites States will be infected with the HPV virus -- the virus that causes cervical cancer -- at some point in their lives. Ninety percent of the time no symptoms or health problems occur and the body’s immune system clears the HPV in about two years. Even so, 12,200 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually. In February of this year the results of the ATHENA (Addressing THE Need for Advanced HPV Diagnostics) were published. ATHENA concluded that the Cobas HPV Test was able to detect HPV-16 and HPV-18, two of the highest risk HPV genotypes (there are over 100!) that cause 70% of all cervical cancers. One in 10 women, age 30-years and older, who tested positive for HPV-16 and/or 18 by the Cobas HPV Test had cervical pre-cancer even though their Pap test showed no abnormality. The FDA approved the Cobas HPV Test in April of 2011 and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends the Pap test and Cobas HPV Test for women 30 and over. Talk to your doctor and make sure you are being properly tested under the new guidelines.

I am all about celebrating the uniqueness of every woman. But if a nip, tuck or injection makes you feel better about yourself -- go for it. You have spent more hours than you can count doing lunges and squats and you still can’t get rid of those saddlebags -- maybe it is time to consider having a little liposuction. Why not? It is now the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. Fat cells get sucked out and they are gone forever. Well, that’s a big fat lie according to a University of Colorado School of Medicine study that concluded the fat cells eventually return – within 1 year. Even more disappointing, the fat cells seem to be redistributed in the body causing fatty areas in the upper abdomen, shoulders and triceps. First we learned that Spanx may cause yeast infections (http://goodhealth-terry.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html) and now we are hearing about the unwanted side effects of liposuction. Very disappointing news for sure – almost as devastating as learning the truth about Santa Claus!

On the 4th of July Americans celebrated our independence and freedom. This month I would encourage you to celebrate YOU. Take the day off, enjoy the summer sunshine, sing like no one is listening and make the time to be good to you.

Good Health!

Terry

“The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you finish the work.”
– Pat Clifford