RHEUMATOID ARTHR I T I S
Women’s bones at high risk
S
imply being a woman puts you at increased risk for the bone-
thinning disease osteoporosis. And if you happen to have rheu-
matoid arthritis (RA), the likelihood of developing the disease
goes up even more. at’s because:
Glucocorticoid medicines
o en used to treat RA can cause loss of bone mineral density over time.
With prolonged use, bones may get weaker and more prone to frac-
tures.
RA itself may cause bone loss, especially around a ected joints.
Pain and sti ness might keep you from getting enough weight-bearing
exercise, which helps strengthen bones.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
It’s a good idea to ask your doctor about RA and
osteoporosis. Find out if you need a bone density test to check on the
health of your bones. And to help keep your bones strong, also ask about:
How much calcium and vitamin D you need. Good sources of calcium
include low-fat dairy products; dark, green leafy veggies; and forti ed foods.
Your doctor may suggest taking a vitamin D or calcium supplement too.
Ways to safely exercise. Exercise is important for bone health, but it
has to be balanced with rest when your RA is active.
Whether you need medicines to help protect your bones.
Sources: Arthritis Foundation; National Institutes of Health
Why kids need
the u vaccine
At its best, the u is miserable. At its worst,
it can be a serious health threat.
at’s especially true for young children.
Kids are at high risk for complications
from the u, like ear infections, croup,
lung infections and pneumonia—which is
why it’s so important to protect your little
ones from the u. And the best way to do
that is to be sure they get the u vaccine.
e u shot can be given to babies once
they reach months old. Another u vac-
cine, a nasal spray, can be given to kids
once they reach years old.
Your child needs the vaccine every year,
because the u virus changes from year to
year and protection fades.
It’s best to get the vaccine as soon as it’s
available each fall.
But getting the shot any time through-
out the winter months—and even into
spring—can help your child fend o the
u and its complications.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Reduce
your risk of
getting hurt
Never stand
on the top
rung of the
ladder.
Don’t lean
too far to
one side.
Your belly-
button
shouldn’t go
beyond the
sides of the
ladder.
Follow the
3-point rule:
2 hands and
1 foot or
1 hand and
2 feet are
always in
contact with
the ladder.
Wear the
right type
of shoe—
no leather
soles—and
make sure
the soles are
clean and
the laces
tied.
Never place
a ladder on
an uneven
floor or
ground.
Coffey infographic
with information
from the American
Academy of
Orthopaedic
Surgeons and the
Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention
More than
160,000
ladder-related
injuries are
treated in
U.S. hospital
emergency
departments
every year.
The
ups
and
downs
of ladder safety
Quiz time: Howmuch do you know about ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is fairly rare—only about
percent of all women’s cancers start in
the ovaries. But the disease kills more
women in the U.S. than any other kind of
reproductive cancer.
Take this quick quiz to learn more about
this uncommon but deadly cancer.
1
Which of these might increase your
risk for ovarian cancer?
A.
Being or older.
B.
Having a history of breast, uterine or
colorectal cancer.
C.
Never having given birth.
D.
Having a history of endometriosis.
E.
All of the above.
2
What are the symptoms of ovarian
cancer?
A.
Swelling, bloating or pain in the
abdomen.
B.
Feeling full quickly.
C.
Having frequent headaches.
D.
Feeling like you need to urinate urgently
or go more o en than usual.
E.
A feeling of pressure or pain in the pel-
vic area.
F.
All of the above.
3
What, if any, steps can women take
to lower their risk of ovarian cancer?
A.
Use birth control pills for ve years or
more.
B.
Talk to your doctor about genetic test-
ing if your or your family’s medical history
puts you at high risk.
C.
Have surgery, such as undergoing a
hysterectomy, removing both ovaries or
having a tubal ligation.
D.
Quit smoking.
E.
Have regular Pap tests.
Answers:
1
E.
Having a risk factor
(or factors) doesn’t mean you’ll develop
ovarian cancer. And having no risk factors
doesn’t mean you won’t get the disease.
2
A, B, D and E. Any of these can be
caused by other conditions. However, if any
symptom is a change from how you usually
feel—for example, it’s new, it’s more severe
or frequent than normal, or it doesn’t
go away—call your doctor.
3
A, B and C.
Smoking increases your
risk for many other cancers—just not this
one. And Pap tests only screen for cervi-
cal cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; National Cancer Institute
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S
S A M A R I T A N H E A L T H
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