Welcome to 2006!  We hope your holidays were happy and healthy and that the New Year brings many good things into your life.   

Think of getting ready for pregnancy as if you were getting ready for an athletic event.  How is your general state of health?  When was the last time you had a physical or dental exam?  This is a good time to schedule a pre-conceptional assessment with your Ob/Gyn.  Your doctor will help to evaluate your reproductive, family and medical histories to see how they might impact on your upcoming pregnancy.  You will be tested for certain medical conditions, such as hepatitis and rubella, and be offered vaccination if you need it.  You will receive nutritional counseling and have the opportunity to discuss social, financial and psychological issues in preparation for pregnancy.  Also, you may receive tips on how and when to best conceive.

From buying a house to taking a vacation, relationships are full of decisions, but the decision to conceive a child is the most important one a couple will ever make. By knowing the appropriate steps to take, a couple can increase their chances of having a healthy baby.

Pregnancy tests have come a long way in the past 30 years. Now, in the privacy of her own home and with a high level of accuracy, a woman can find out if she is – or is not – pregnant.  

Years ago, many women thought of pregnancy as their ticket to eat anything they wanted, indulging any and all cravings and leaving portion control by the wayside. After all, they rationalized, they were “eating for two.”

That thinking, however, has changed over time, with doctors now advising pregnant women of the risks to both mother and child of excess weight gain during pregnancy.
 

Many of today’s women are delaying childbearing until later in life for a variety of reasons, including career choices, financial status, late marriage and remarriage. In addition, successful treatment of previously infertile women over 40 is on the rise. In fact, reports indicate successful pregnancies in women over 60!
 

With the recent increase in popularity of exercise and fitness, many pregnant women desire to continue their exercise regime during the course of pregnancy. Past concerns over exercise and pregnancy included improper development of the fetus, safety for the mother and possible miscarriage. As knowledge of exercise has increased, so has evidence that exercise during pregnancy is not only safe, it’s actually beneficial to both mother and baby. Certain guidelines and precautions need to be followed, however. Many well-trained athletes have been able to continue their training almost until their baby is born.

Men often become anxious as their wife’s due date for their first baby gets closer – not about the birth, but about their ability to be a father. There is a way for men to prepare in advance to care for the baby?
 

If you are a grandparent, or are becoming a grandparent for the first time this year, you’ll want to make the most of your time with your grandchildren. Traveling with them can create a special bond between you.
 

Phoned-in questions related to pregnancy including simple ways to increase your chances for a healthy baby through nutrition and exercise, are encouraged during the Jan. 12 “Doctor on Call” program, offered as a free community service to area residents. Call 623/977-8351 between 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, for free, confidential advice.
 
Questions will be answered by Obstetrician and Gynecologist Frank Fara, M.D., a physician at Sun Health Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Sun City West and a member of the medical staff at Sun Health Del E. Webb and Boswell Hospitals.
 
“Doctor on Call” is conducted on the first Thursday of each month and is co-sponsored by Sun Health and the Daily News-Sun. The program provides area residents with an opportunity to talk one-on-one with a health professional. A different topic is highlighted each month.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that causes loss of vision. The lens of the eye focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus so vision can be clear.
 

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in blindness. One type of glaucoma, termed open-angle glaucoma, is often associated with an increased pressure inside your eye. This can lead to vision loss or even blindness. This fact sheet focuses on open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease.
 

If you think the only aids for people with low vision are books on tape and large-print playing cards, you’re seeing just part of the picture. For the one out of 20 Americans with partial vision, there’s everything from low-tech tricks, such as using contrasting colors for a placemat and plate, to high-tech devices capable of reading books aloud.
 

Question: With the holidays now a thing of the past, I am feeling depressed, why is that?
 
Answer: Many of us experience that special warmth and connection with family and friends during the holidays. We feel enriched with this sharing. After the holidays those feelings of connection and warmth tend to fade and we return to our every-day routine which often has a limited social aspect. The joyous feelings of the holidays can be experienced every day if we focus on the aspects that make the holidays so dear such as:
 

Click here for news about Sun Health and the Louisa Kellam Center for Women's Health at Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital.  

February is American Heart Month, so, next month, Health-e Woman will focus on women and heart disease.  Women’s heart disease is preventable!  Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week and Cardiac Rehabilitation Week also are observed in February, so we’ll provide information on those topics as well.
 

Located in the northwest Valley of Phoenix Arizona, Sun Health is a non-profit healthcare organization that exists to serve all ages with excellence in medical care, wellness programs, research and education.  Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital, Sun Health Boswell Hospital and a wide range of Sun Health clinics and other services have provided world-class healthcare to thousands of patients from Arizona and around the world.  For more information please go to www.sunhealth.org.