PCOS Challenge E-Zine - May 2014

8/12/2019 PCOS Challenge E-Zine - May 2014

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MAY 2014 | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE

ChallengePCOS E - Z I N E

America Supports Anti-Discrimination Laws for Obesity

STROKEin Women with PCOSAre you at risk?

Protect Yourself & Your Baby:PreeclampsiaAwareness

NA T I O NA L

P H Y S I C A L

F I T N E S S & S P O R

T S

M O N T H

How to Never,Ever, EVERMIssa workout

Girls & TeensThe linkbetween

Obesity,PCOS andDiabetes


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FEATURES1

CONTENTSMAY 2014

PCOS Challenge Radio ShowUpcoming Guests

PCOS CHALLENGE E-ZINE - MAY 2014 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5

How to Never, Ever, Ever, MissAnother WorkoutBy Josef Brandenburg

2

ResearchAmerican Public Support forAnti-Discriminatory Laws forObesity

5

Letter from the Executive Director

Preeclampsia Awareness

Mother s Day Sucks

By Sonya Satveit

12

6

7

Stroke in Women8

11

12

PCOS ResearchThe Link Between Obesity,PCOS and Diabetes in

Adolescent Females

Lupus Awareness16

Featured RecipeLow-Glycemic Lentil SoupBy Dr. Louise Chang

17

2

7

15

15

6

16


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Over the past few years, I have been adjusting to a wayof life that includes coping with an additional healthchallenge--Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. After multi-ple bouts of debilitating chest pain, joint pain and dif-culty breathing and visits to the Emergency depart-ment, I nally requested that a battery of tests be doneto rule out autoimmune diseases. I had to really advo-cate for myself to nally get a diagnosis. The rst fewyears have been difficult and life changing. Being hos-pitalized multiple times throughout the year is a hum-bling experience. I thought I was doing most of what Ishould be doing...and I was. I was exercising regularlyand eating healthy foods and a balanced diet. However,it turns out, that proper sleep and stress managementare as important as the other parts of my lifestyle. As Iwas lying in a hospital bed getting a blood transfusion,and searing pain pulsating through the palm of my handwhere the IV was placed, I reected on the fact that mywork-life balance was everything but balanced, and thatI had been placing a tremendous amount of stress onmy body without enough stress management. I decidedthat my body is relaying a message to me and it was im-perative that I listen.

During this month of May, there are observancesthat have touched my life, as I am sure they have alsotouched many of your lives. Lupus Awareness, becauseof the connection between hormones and autoimmunedisease; Preeclampsia Awareness, because I have fami-ly and friends who have suffered through this; StrokeAwareness, because of having family members, includ-ing a grandparent die from complications of stroke;Mothers Day, because of its bittersweet signicance

among many women with PCOS; and Physical Fitnessand Sports Awareness, because tness is an importantfactor for staying healthy.

Read through this month s articles to learn more aboutsome of the things that are affecting the lives of womenwith PCOS.

We each have our challenges that we are presented with in life. Most of uswho read this E-Zine are faced with health challenges, one being Polycystic

Ovarian Syndrome, that can often be dif cult to cope with and can have asevere impact on quality of life.

DISCLAIMERThe contents of PCOS Challenge e-zine including text, graphics,images and other material contained on the PCOS Challenge Websites(Content) are for informa onal purposes only. The Content is notintended to be a subs tute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, ortreatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other quali edhealth provider with any ques ons you may have regarding a medicalcondi on. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay inseeking it because of something you have read in this e-zine or on aPCOS Challenge Website!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or911 immediately. PCOS Challenge does not recommend or endorseany speci c tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions or otherinforma on that may be men oned on the websites. Reliance on anyinforma on provided by PCOS Challenge, PCOS Challenge employees,individuals appearing in the e-zine or on the websites at the invita on ofPCOS Challenge, or other visitors to the Websites are solely at your own

risk. The Websites and Content are provided on an as is basis.

letter from the executive Director

COS CHALLENGE E-ZINE - MAY 2014 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 1

In good health,

Sasha Ottey Executive Director

PCOS Challenge, Inc.501(c)(3) Public Charity

Click HereTo Take a Survey About

PCOS and Autoimmune disorders
http://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-surveyhttp://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-surveyhttp://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-surveyhttp://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-surveyhttp://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-surveyhttp://bit.ly/pcos-autoimmune-survey


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How toNever,Ever, EVER

PCOS Fitness

Article continued on page 3...

PCOS CHALLENGE E-ZINE - MAY 2014 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5 2

Skipping workouts is second only to poor ea ng on the listof things that will bring your progress to a screeching haltand/or worse yet, make you regress. Good health, exi -bility, the wonderful feeling of self-con dence that you get froms cking to a regular exercise program, and the body you want ALLrequire CONSISTENT regular exercise. There is no way around this,and despite what the makers of Exercise In a Bo le (a real prod -uct), you cant actually buy it in a bo le or any other way. Its justsomething that you get to do.

I was not born a consistent exerciser. In my own journey fromobese (I had over a 40 inch waist) to t (single digit body fat), learn -ing how to become a person who almost NEVER misses a work -out, despite whatever else is going on in my life, was one of themost important things that I changed. That transi on took me ali le over TEN years to make. So maybe I can help you make thattransi on in less than a decade with what I have learned from my journey and the journeys of many dozens of clients. Some of whomdid and did not make the journey.

1. Take the long view.

It is what you do, or dont do, today that determines how you andyour life will be tomorrow and many, many tomorrows later. Youhave the body that you have right now because of what you haveor have not done over the past few weeks, months and years.Dont kid yourself about where your ac ons are going to lead you skipping workouts (or rarely exercising) will lead you to a) even -tually or already being fat, b) at least sub-op mal health, and c) inthe hospital for complica ons of diabetes, heart disease, cancer,and almost every other health problem you can think of.Take the long view in the long run instant gra ca on will leadto las ng and very serious pain, whereas what is ever so slightlydi cult now will lead to long-term, las ng pleasure.

2. Set a new standard

We all have internal laws I wear clothes in public, I dont cheaton my wife, and For Gods sake, I do NOT listen to Britney Spearsor read about her in the tabloids, etc. Heres a new one: I DONOT EVER MISS WORKOUTS UNLESS I AM SICK OR INJURED ANDEXERCISING WILL INTERFERE WITH MY RECOVERY. You can stopreading the ar cle right now. That law is all there is to it, everything

else in the ar cle is just how to make it easier to follow.

3. Drop the BS excuses.

When Condoleezza Rice was the Secretary of State, she ew 24,000miles per MONTH, yet she worked out between 6 and 9 mes perweek and almost never missed a workout. This is despite the factthat she was almost constantly in a new me-zone, and the nor -mal order of her life simply does not exist. Whats your excuse?

Ra onaliza on: ra onal-sounding-lies about why you are not do -ing what you are supposed to be doing, that let you o the hook.Its like taking the top o of a pressure cooker. Excuses make itOK in YOUR head and your head only not to exercise. That con -

icts with your new standard. This is an instance where it is goodto be upset not to beat yourself up, but to be dissa s ed withyour behavior. If you make it OK, then you will not change. You willcon nue to NOT exercise. If you resist the tempta on to let o thepressure with a excuses, then that pressure will mo vate you to

nd a way to get it done.

4. Make more me for THE most important person in your life.

Could you tell your boss that you were too busy to come to work?Not if you want your job. Can you tell your body that youre toobusy to exercise? Not if you want your health, or dont want yourgut.

MIssa workoutby Josef BrandenburgFitness Coach for PCOS Challenge TV Show


5/20


How to Never EVER, EVERMISS

A WORKOUT

While you can tell yourself that you donthave the me to exercise for three hoursper week, the truth of the ma er is somewhat di erent. Aweek has 168hrs in it. So, for everyone who unked math, threeis less than 168. Three is LESS than 2% of the me available toyou in the week. The problem is not that you do not havethe me, the problem is that you do not reserve the

me.

When you take the emo ons and the excuses out itbecomes a very simple issue. And solu on: Before your weekever begins sit down with your calendar and make at least threeappointments with yourself one for each workout (if you donthave a calendar, get one, this will never work trying to keep trackin your head never). Then, whensomething comes up and it will say no to the distrac on andyes to your workout. If anyone asks,you tell them that you have a very, veryimportant mee ng that you cannot miss under any circumstanc -es. Also, it is none of their business who the appointment is with

it is your me. Again, when you take out the emo ons and theexcuses, and instead deal only with the facts, then this becomesa very, very simple ma er.

The facts in this case being that when it comes to your workouts,there are only two possible op ons either it did or it did nothappen. There is no try. There is no excuse. There is only do ordont do. Keep this in mind and many of the conversa ons aboutwhy it is OK to not will go away, and you can instead think aboutHOW to get it done.

5. Have a REAL plan.

This is, I think, where the magic happens. Frequently people get

all excited about ge ng t and healthy, and decide that they aregoing to workout. They get a gym membership, and then go into do some random stu . Then come back a day or two later anddo some more random stu This lasts for a week, two weeks,maybe even a month or two and then they just stop workingout.

Some combina on of three things happened:

1. They got frustrated because theyre in the gym all thisme and theyve got nothing to show for it;

2. Exercising (or a perceived failure to do so) started tostress them out and made them feel bad about them-

selves; or3. They just got side-tracked by life.

A) You should not be surprised when the workouts you design(or make up o the top of your head) dont bear any fruit interms of results. You are an expert at something, just not this 5 to 10 years and $50-100,000 later and you could have some -thing.

There is nothing more frustra ng than making an honest e ortto do something, and ge ng absolutely (or almost) nowhere.

It is what you do, or dont do, today thatdetermines how you and your life will be

tomorrow and many, many tomorrows later.You have the body that you have right nowbecause of what you have or have not doneover the past few weeks, months and years.

Get a real plan, and real coaching from a real expert, that reallymeasures your progress objec vely so that your me and e ortare not wasted. Ge ng results is very mo va ng. Lack of resultsis demoralizing. If you are currently a gym member, Im sure youhave no ced that almost everyone looks the same month-in andmonth-out, year-in and year-out.

Be very careful who you select to help you with your plan. Lastyear I was able to get my sisters dog cer ed as a personal trainer,so the [trainer] t-shirt and the cer ca on mean almost nothing.Many personal trainers are ridiculously unquali ed and will onlyget results by accident, if at all.

B) Being vague about what cons tutes success or complianceis the quickest way to feel terrible about yourself no ma er howhard you are working. That is what the hell does, Im going tostart working out, or Im going to get in shape mean? What do

they mean speci cally?

You need goals that you can quan fy and that you can objec velymeasure your progress towards (with numbers!).

You also need a plan that spells out exactly what you are sup -posed to be doing to get to your goal. Do you workout three daysper week, or four days per week? Are your workouts 45, 60 or 75min in length? What are you doing for that hour? You need a realplan that really de nes what you are supposed to be doing.


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7/20

National Physical Fitnessand Sports Month

Want to be part of PCOS Challenge?Click here to learn more.

American Stroke Month

Preeclampsia Awareness Month

Lupus Awareness Month

May is
http://www.pcoschallenge.com/http://www.pcoschallenge.com/http://www.pcoschallenge.com/http://www.pcoschallenge.com/https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wUCRJitr67NkGZM2cROyXTp1c8v-VOYYOJJswwnuijA/viewform


8/20


coschallengetrue stories

Mother s DaySucks.

H eres the thing about Mothers Day some mes it sucks. It shard a er youve lost your own mom but people acknowl -edge that grief. What happens when youve lost a baby no one elsegot the chance to know?

Like many other trauma c life events do, when many women whohave miscarried speak to each other about their miscarriages, thereis a shared camaraderie. A shared understanding that is known onlyto women who have been through the horror of losing a baby. Ivetalked to a lot of mommies over the 15 years since my rst mis -carriage and heres what I think most moms who have miscarriedwould like you to know:

We Are MomsEven if we have never carried a baby to term we had a baby. Itdied. Maybe we didnt get to hold that baby or hear it call us Mama.Maybe we werent far enough along in our pregnancy to feel our

baby move. Maybe we were a single mom, struggling to gure outhow to manage a pregnancy and a baby. Maybe part of us wasafraid or didnt really want a baby when we found out we werepregnant. Maybe our husband doesnt acknowledge our su eringor that he, too, is a parent. Maybe its hard for you to understand.We would like you to try.

We wish you would acknowledge what we know in our hearts.We are Moms. When you dont acknowledge our grief it makes itharder. When you pretend like it didnt happen it makes it worse.Bringing up the baby wont make us feel worse it makes us feelbe er that youve acknowledge how we feel and that our baby was

real and deserves our grief. You wont remind us of the baby welost we dont need reminding we think of our babies more thanyou can imagine. Many of us feel like we su er twice once whenwe lose the baby and then again when no one seems to understandor acknowledge or even worse tells us it was for the best.

by Sonya Satveit

Mother s Day SucksMy rst mothers day came 6 weeks a er I lost my rstbaby I spent alot of me crying that day. I felt like Ishould have been celebra ng mothers day as a Mommy-to-Be but instead I felt like I was a Mommy-That-Wasnt-Meant-to-Be.

Do you know someone who miscarried a baby? Consideracknowledging a mom who has su ered a miscarriageevery Mothers Day. A small note saying thinking of youon Mothers Day or a single ower will let her know youunderstand that she is a Mom.

More About Sonya

Sonya Satveit is the creator of Hor -mone Soup, a blog she founded as ane ort to raise consciousness aroundwomens hormone issues.

The blog was designed to spark conversa on about theuse of bio-iden cal hormones to treat issues such as mis -carriage, infer lity, postpartum mood disorder and PMS.

The goal of Hormone Soup is to educate, empower andunite women with the knowledge and resources to act astheir own health advocates. HormoneSoup.com
http://www.hormonesoup.com/http://www.hormonesoup.com/


9/20

Laws forOBESIT

PCOS RESEARCH

As a socially accepted form ofprejudice, the issue of weights gma is largely ignored in much

of the public health and policye orts to address obesity.

Did you know that approximately 75% of the American publicsupport laws against discrimina on in the workplace basedon body weight? A recent na onal online survey showedincreased support among par cipants, agreeing that body

weight should be protected from discrimina on by addi onsto civil rights statutes. These results were published in Obe-sity magazine by The Rudd Center for Food policy, which in -cluded recommended guidelines for portrayal of obesity inthe media.

Obesity prejudice has become a socially acceptable trend,making it largely overlooked, and ul mately ignored in publichealth policy e orts. The guidelines encourage the media totake an ac ve role in respec ng body diversity, by avoidingstereotyping through the use of correct terminology, whileproviding accurate news coverage of obesity. The magazinear cle also emphasizes the issue of weight bias in the enter -tainment, social, and news media, and how it ul mately af -fects and cul vates weight bias in society; most notably, theworkplace.

Young Suh, MS, a research associate at the Rudd Center forFood Policy and Obesity at Yale University, concluded thatgiven the pervasiveness of weight s gma in our societyand its nega ve consequences for those a ected, our study

ndings have important implica ons for future policies thatcan help rec fy various health, social and economic inequi -es associated with obesity. Ul mately, these ndings show

evidence that a majority of Americans have expressed con -sistent and increasing support for legal measures to prohibitweight discrimina on, par cularly in the workplace.

Source:h p://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/ online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/ americans-increasingly-suppor ve-of-an -discrimina -

on-laws-for-obesity

Disclosure: This study was funded in part by grants from theRudd Founda on and the Robert Wood Johnson Founda on.

Americans IncreasinglSupportive of

visit www.pcoschallenge.comWant to know more aboutPCOS and Nutrition?

For more tips, articles, discussions and supwomen with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.pcoschallenge.com/http://www.pcoschallenge.com/http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesityhttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B8fae1729-faf1-49a3-b409-a13b8a9f7df8%7D/americans-increasingly-supportive-of-anti-discrimination-laws-for-obesity


10/20

Brain and HeartH Health


W hile you may think of stroke as a mans disease, womenare actually at a greater risk of su ering from a strokethan men. There is a common misconcep on that breast cancer ismore prevalent than stroke; however it kills twice as many womenthan breast cancer each year.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death for women in America,a ec ng 425,000 women annually. Surprised? Youre not alone. In

a recent survey, 7 out of 10 women replied that they were notaware that women were more likely than men to have a stroke.Even more concerning, they also had li le to no knowledge of itssymptoms, or risk factors.

So what is a STROKE? A stroke, also known as a brain a ack occurs when a blood clotblocks an artery or blood vessel, resul ng in an interrup on of theblood ow to an area of the brain. When this happens, the braincells die, and cause brain damage.

How a stroke can a ect you, is determined by how much of yourbrain is damaged. This damage can a ect speech, movement, and/or memory. In some instances, someone with a small stroke mightonly experience minor problems, such as weakness of an arm orleg; however, in more severe cases, a stroke can cause paralysis onone side of the body or loss of speech.

Two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke, so recog -nizing its symptoms and ge ng immediate medical a en on cannot only save your life or that of a loved one, it can limit disabili esand risks of permanent disability.

Women may report unique stroke symptoms: Sudden face and limb pain Sudden hiccups

Sudden nausea Sudden general weakness Sudden chest pain Sudden shortness of breath Sudden palpita ons

Common stroke symptoms seen in both men and women: Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordina on Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Strokein Women

do this simple test If youthink someone may be

having astroke

FAST

FACE: Ask the person to smile.Does one side of the face droop?

ARMS: Ask the person to raiseboth arms. Does one arm dridownward?

SPEECH: Ask the person to repeata simple phrase. Is their speechslurred or strange?

TIME: If you observe any of thesesigns, call 9-1-1 immediately.


11/20


PCOS Nutrition Essentials for PCOS

Monika Wolsey, RD

Nutrition Essentials for PCOSRegistered Die an Monika Woolsey will share the basicnutri on concepts for managing PCOS--the weight gain, thedepression, the insulin resistance...even the cravings.Monika Woolsey is an expert in PCOS and nutri on for managingPCOS. Monika is President and Founder of A er the Diet Networkand inCYST Programs for Women with Polycys c Ovary Syndrome.She is a nutri onist and exercise physiologist with 25 years of

experience in nutri on and exercise counseling.

PCOS Challenge Expert Series

Audio CD Bundle

OrderNow

click here

Get Answers

Challenge Expert Series

NOTE THE TIME WHEN ANY SYMPTOMS FIRST APPEAR.There is and FDA-approved clot-buster medica on thatreduces long term disability in most common strokes ifgiven within three hours of the rst symptom. However,preven on is always be er than wai ng to seek a cure.Below is a list of guidelines recently published by theAmerican heart Associa on to prevent stroke in women:

Women who experience migraines with aura andalso smoke, are advised to stop smoking immedi -

ately (smoking cessa on is always recommendedfor overall health!)

Women who are pregnant should monitor theirblood pressure during and a er pregnancy, to low -er the risk of stroke

Women over 75 should be screened for AtrialFibrilla on

Women should be screened for high blood pres-sure prior to star ng a birth control regimen

Women with concerns about high blood pressureor stroke should consult a doctor

For more informa on about Stroke Preven on and

Treatment, visit:www.stroke.orgwww.cdc.gov/stroke

Strokein Women
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12/20

volunteer

WE NEED

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THEFUTURE FOR WOMEN WITH PCOS

PCOS Challenge needs your leadership, skills,talent and passion to con nue our mission andadvocate on behalf of women with PCOS.We have both virtual volunteer opportuni es and opportuni es in theAtlanta metro area. Virtual posi ons are open to individuals na onallyand can be done online, by phone or email. Some of the areas where we

eed immediate volunteers include sales and fundraising, graphic design, publicity, volunteeranagement, and event planning and management.

VOLUNTEER PCOS CHALLE

click here

OU YOURE BRILLIANCREATIVEPASSIONATE

AMAZIN

http://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteerhttp://bit.ly/pcosc-volunteer


13/20

PCOSCHALLENGE

RADIO

FEATURED GU


STROKE AWARENESSHow at Risk Are You?

May is Stroke Awareness Month andGregory Pokrywka MD, Board-Cer ed Internist and Lipidologistrom Bal more/Towson, MD joinshe PCOS Challenge radio shown Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at:30pm, EDT to speak about strokeisk factors and what it means for

women with PCOS.

click here to Listen

FEATURED RADIO SHOWS

click here to tune in

Gregory Pokrywka MD FACP FNLA NCMP is a Board-Cer-ed Internist from Bal more/Towson, Md. He a ended

Duke University, worked as a biochemist, a ended Univer -ity of Maryland Medical School and was Chief Resident innternal Medicine at Mercy Hospital, Bal more. He has beenn private prac ce since 1987 and formed the Bal moreipid Center in 2001. Dr. Pokrywka has further pursued his

nterest in Menopausal Lipidology through cer ca on as aCreden aled Menopause Prac oner by the North American

Menopause Society (NAMS).

FEATURED RADIO SHOW GUEST

FREEDOM FROM PCOSKatie Humphrey

Ka e Humphrey discusses Freedomfrom PCOS and ways womencan improve their lives mentally,physically and emo onally.

PCOS and INFERTILITYAWARENESSShahab S.Minassian, MD

Shahab S. Minassian, M.D. answersyour ques ons about PCOS andinfer lity.


DR. LOUISE ANSWERS TOPPCOS QUESTIONSLOUISE CHANG, M.D.

Louise Chang, M.D., founder ofHealthySmartsMD, discusses ways toimprove your life as a woman withPCOS.

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14/20

P regnancy is both an amazing and one of a kind, yet con -fusing experience. Your body goes through a lot of chang -es (whether you like it or not) and its really hard to tellwhich ones normal, along with the paranoia and hormonalchanges.

One of the things every soon to be mother should know aboutis Preeclampsia, this is a disorder that happens only during preg -nancy usually occurring in the late or 3rd trimester or middle tolate pregnancy, up to six weeks a er delivery. Preeclampsia isalso previously known as Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)or Toxemia. Other varia ons of Preeclampsia are HELLP Syn -drome or Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Plateletcount.

Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancyare the leading cause of maternal and infant illness and deaths,these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,00infant deaths each year (and this is a conserva ve es mate).

Signs and SymptomsPreeclampsia is par cularly dangerous due to its silent nature.Some of its symptoms may resemble the normal e ects of preg -nancy, and many women may not feel sick at all. O en, they aresurprised when admi ed to the hospital and prescribed bedrest, despite feeling perfectly well.

High Blood PressureSo how do you know if you are at risk? One of the rst signsof preeclampsia is high blood pressure; tradi onally de ned as140/90 or greater.

Protein in urine (Proteinuria )Preeclampsia temporarily damages the ltra on system of thekidneys, which allows the protein to be spilled into the urine. Adips ck urine test is usually done to measure this, though yourhealthcare provider may ask you to collect urine for a 24 hour

me period, to determine the exact amount of protein in yoururine. Dark yellow urine can be normal, typically associated withdehydra on; but having reddish or cola-colored urine may be ared ag. If you no ce this, you should contact your health careprovider to seek further tes ng. Dark yellow urine is normal,usually this is associated with dehydra on but a red ag would

be having reddish or cola-colored urine. If you no ce this, con -tact your health care provider.


PreeclampsiaAwareness

featured article

Edema (Swelling)This is the most common symptom that pregnant womenexperience, although a certain amount of swelling is normalduring pregnancy (stubby feet anyone?) In contrast to com -mon swelling, edema is the accumula on of excess uids andbecomes a concern when it occurs in your face, eyes or hands.

If you suspect that you may have edema, nd a picture of yourface before pregnancy, and share it with your health care pro -vider for comparison. You can also check the swelling in yourhands and feet by pressing your thumb into your skin; if anindenta on remains for a few seconds or shows discolora on,you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.

HeadachesVision change is one of the most serious symptoms of pre -eclampsia; it is associated with an irrita on in the central ner -vous system and can be an indica on of swelling of the brain(cerebral edema). If you experience a throbbing headache,accompanied by light sensi vity or vision changes, call yourhealthcare provider right away.


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Nausea and Vomi ngThough this is normal during pregnancy, morning sick -ness should disappear a er the rst trimester. If youexperience a sudden reappearance of nausea and vomit -ing mid-pregnancy, ask your healthcare provider to takeyour blood pressure, and check the urine for proteinuria,as this might also be confused with the u or gallbladderproblems.

Abdominal (stomach area) and/or Shoulder Pain

Pain in the upper right quadrant under the ribs is knownas epigastric pain. Though this might be confused withheartburn or indiges on, shoulder pain can feel likesomeone is deeply pinching a bra strap or on your neck,making it painful to lie on the right side. Pain in theseareas should be taken seriously and calling your healthprovider immediately is strongly advised.

Sudden Weight GainOf course its normal to gain weight during pregnancy,but it is in your best interest to be mindful and keep track

of it. A weight gain of more than two pounds in a weekmay be an indicator of preeclampsia. Damaged blood ves -sels allow for more water to leak and stay in your bodys

ssue, versus passing through the kidneys to be released.

Hyperre exiaIn addi on to measuring your re exes, your healthcareprovide should also perform tests such as weighing in,

checking your bloodpressure and tes ngyour urine for proteinevery prenatal visit.This will help to monitorand prevent preeclampsia. Should you ever haveany ques ons, do not be afraid to ask your healthcareprovider, or seek a second opinion; its your body!

Shortness of Breath, Anxiety

If these symptoms are new to you, they may indicate anelevated blood pressure. Take note of any shortness ofbreath, a racing pulse, mental confusion or a heightenedsense of anxiety.

Remember preeclampsia and its worst outcomes can beavoided through early detec on. Listen to your gut-feel -ing; if something doesnt feel right, trust your ins nctsand call your healthcare provider. Dont be afraid to askques ons, or discuss anything unusual with your body.A good healthcare provider will ll you in on all of the

details surrounding your health, and reassure you as towhether or not addi onal steps should be taken.

SOURCES:www.preeclampsia.org/health-informa on/about-preeclampsiawww.preeclampsia.org/health-informa on/sign-symptoms


Article continued on page 10...

featured videopcos Exercise tip

PCOS Challenge Fitness Coach Josef Brandenburgshares ps to help you create an e ec ve homegym for under $200.

How to Create aHome Gym

PreeclampsiaAwareness
http://www.preeclampsia.org/health-information/about-preeclampsiahttp://www.preeclampsia.org/health-information/sign-symptomshttp://www.pcos.tv/pcos-exercise-home-gym/http://www.pcos.tv/feat/pcos-fertility/http://www.pcos.tv/pcos-exercise-home-gym/http://www.pcos.tv/feat/pcos-fertility/http://www.preeclampsia.org/health-information/sign-symptomshttp://www.preeclampsia.org/health-information/about-preeclampsia


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Your gi will help PCOS Challenge, Inc. raise public awareness about

Polycys c Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and related condi ons as well asprovide cri cal educa on and support resources to women with PCOSand the medical community. Our programs help women overcome theirstruggles with infer lity, weight gain, anxiety and depression and reducetheir risk for life-threatening related diseases.

Why DONATE to PCOSCHALLENGE ?

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The Future forWomen with PCOS
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PCOS RESEARCH

The link betweenObesity,PCOS andDiabetes in

Adolescent Females A recent study by Dr. MelanieCree Green, MD, PHD of theUniversity of Colorado, Den -

ver involved 60 adolescent girls withobesity (23 without PCOS and 37 withPCOS). The study showed a disconnectfor obese girls with PCOS, with approxi -mately 30% of the pa ents showing im -

paired glucose tolerance, a pre-diabe cstate and a term used to de ne peoplein the US who have blood glucose levelsthat are higher than normal, but are nothigh enough to be classi ed as diabe -tes (1).

The study tested their insulin levels us -ing standard clinical measures such asfas ng glucose, fas ng insulin, HbA1c(a test used as a standard tool to deter-mine blood sugar control) and a 2 hour

oral glucose tolerance test. Aside fromthe usual clinical tests, researchers alsocompleted a three stage glucose clamp (2) to look at how they are sensi ve to glu -cose and how the body reacts to insulin.

It turned out that during the glucoseclamp tes ng, these girls with PCOShave hepa c insulin sensi vity at signi -cantly reduced levels. Their insulin con -centra on was over 200 yet their liver iss ll pu ng out glucose, con rming thattheir muscle and liver insulin sensi vityis really severe.

Currently, the Endocrine Societysguidelines suggest Me ormin for Insulinresistant adolescents, but with these re -sults, Dr. Melanie Green concluded thatalmost any obese girl with PCOS shouldbe put on Me ormin, especially if theyhave a family history of Type 2 Diabetes.Because the measures that we do to as -

sess insulin resistance just arent goodenough. With the results of this study,Dr. Greene also suggested that all ado -lescent females with obesity and PCOSshould be considered insulin resistant,and receive Me ormin.

Another research conducted by KathyLove-Osborne, M.D, also men onedthat obese pre-diabe c adolescentswith higher ranges of HbA1c (a lab testthat shows the average level of blood

sugar) have a quicker transi on to dia -betes. In this research she described theimportance of weight stabiliza on forpa ents as the rst step in preven ngthe progression to diabetes. She alsodescribed that stopping the pa entsfrom gaining more weight is a more re -alis c and manageable approach, rath -er than telling pa ents to immediatelylose several pounds, which can be real -ly overwhelming. For the higher rangepre-diabe c adolescents, a follow upwithin 3 to 6 months is advised as theyprogress more quickly to diabetes.

...weight stabilization forpatients is the

first step in preventing theprogression to diabetes.

Sources(1) h p://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?ar clekey=42930

(2) Glucose Clamp: h p://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/

For more informa on, see:Weight Stabiliza on in Adolescents with Predia -betes Halts Transi on to Diabetes

Obesity, PCOS Led to Severe Insulin Resistance inAdolescent Females
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42930http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42930http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7B5a69b8b1-14fc-494d-a432-89d3cc7a076b%7D/weight-stabilization-in-adolescents-with-prediabetes-halts-transition-to-diabeteshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7B5a69b8b1-14fc-494d-a432-89d3cc7a076b%7D/weight-stabilization-in-adolescents-with-prediabetes-halts-transition-to-diabeteshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7B5a69b8b1-14fc-494d-a432-89d3cc7a076b%7D/weight-stabilization-in-adolescents-with-prediabetes-halts-transition-to-diabeteshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7Bf1c53183-aef8-4b3d-8493-12979750251b%7D/obesity-pcos-led-to-severe-insulin-resistance-in-adolescent-femaleshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7Bf1c53183-aef8-4b3d-8493-12979750251b%7D/obesity-pcos-led-to-severe-insulin-resistance-in-adolescent-femaleshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7Bf1c53183-aef8-4b3d-8493-12979750251b%7D/obesity-pcos-led-to-severe-insulin-resistance-in-adolescent-femaleshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7Bf1c53183-aef8-4b3d-8493-12979750251b%7D/obesity-pcos-led-to-severe-insulin-resistance-in-adolescent-femaleshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7B5a69b8b1-14fc-494d-a432-89d3cc7a076b%7D/weight-stabilization-in-adolescents-with-prediabetes-halts-transition-to-diabeteshttp://www.healio.com/endocrinology/pediatric-endocrinology/news/online/%7B5a69b8b1-14fc-494d-a432-89d3cc7a076b%7D/weight-stabilization-in-adolescents-with-prediabetes-halts-transition-to-diabeteshttp://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2007/11/06/5500/ehats-a-glucose-clamp-anyway/http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42930http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42930


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L upus is an autoimmune disease. It is a condi on de nedas a malfunc oning autoimmune system of the body.There are di erent types of lupus, with the most com -mon being Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and symptomsvary widely from person to person. This presents a diagnos cchallenge for doctors. There is an es mated 5 million peoplein the world with the disease. Lupus can have a big impact onyour life, and can range from mild to life threatening, making itimportant to educate yourself about it.

The immune system is the bodys defense system against thingsthat may cause the body harm. Normally, if the body becomesinfected with bacteria, viruses or other microbes, or if you areexposed to an allergen, your immune system responds by at -tacking the foreign an gens and produces an bodies againstthem. In lupus, the immune system fails to recognize cells and

ssues that do not belong in the body, versus what it shouldprotect. In the end, the immune system produces an bodiesthat a ack both good and harmful func ons in a persons sys -tem, resul ng in the manifesta on of other disease symptoms.

Sta s cs show that lupus a ects people from all walks of life;including men, women and children, worldwide. Women, how -

ever, are more likely to be diagnosed with the condi on basedon a popular, yet controversial belief that the disease has adirect correla on to estrogen produc on. Although there areno concrete reports surrounding this theory, it is believed tobe the reason pa ents are most o en females of childbearingage; and many doctors are cau ous about prescribing contra -cep ves containing estrogens. Lupus is also more common andsevere in women of color (African American, La na, Asian andAmerican Indian women), and is three mes more prevalent inAfrican American women than Caucasian women.

Environment and gene cs are also possible causes of the dis -ease. It is believed that the reac on of the immune system isbased on the overall gene c makeup of a person. In the samelight, you are similarly suscep ble if you are put under stress,or in a condi on that is known to trigger chaos in your immunesystem.

LupusAwareness


As with all health condi ons, this o en means that ea ng welland maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best course of ac onfor you to take. For some, preven on may not work, and willrequire a doctor visit at the beginning of a symptom or are.This is especially true if you su er from other medical condi -

ons, as lupus can mimic these symptoms. Lupus can easilymislead any health professional, which is why it is importantto be honest with your doctor about your medical history.

With solid informa on from pa ents, and tests to support it,Lupus can be kept at bay for women by keeping hormonesregulated through good nutri on, appropriate exercise andstress management and medica on. It is necessary that aperson diagnosed with Lupus pay close a en on to his or herbody. The slightest change or abnormal ac vity should be re -ported to your doctor to prevent it from worsening.

What are the common symptoms of Lupus?Since Lupus can a ect many organs in your body, a widerange of symptoms may appear, and occur at di erent mesthroughout the dura on of the disease. Making note of thesesymptoms, while taking an ac ve role in communica ng with

your doctor, can really help with managing Lupus.

common symptoms of Lupus Extreme fa gue ( redness) Headaches Painful or swollen joints Fever Anemia (low numbers of red blood cells or

hemoglobin, or low total blood volume) Swelling (edema) in feet, legs, hands, and/or

around eyes Pain in chest on deep breathing (pleurisy) Bu er y-shaped rash across cheeks and nose Sun- or light-sensi vity (photosensi vity) Hair loss Abnormal blood clo ng Fingers turning white and/or blue when cold

(Raynauds phenomenon) Mouth or nose ulcers

With the growing number of people a ected by Lupus,and the inevitable stress put on our bodies by todaysenvironment, self-awareness is incredibly important. Edu -ca ng yourself about Lupus should be something that youmake a priority for both yourself, and your family.

Health and Wellness


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INGREDIENTS1 Head of Cauliflower3 Cups of Spinach1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder1 Tablespoon butter or Ghee (optional)Salt and Pepper to taste

featured recipe


Servings Per Recipe: 4

Amount Per ServingCalories: 66Total Fat: 3g

NutritionalInformationcauliflower andspinach mash

View More PCOSFriendly recipes

cauliflower and

spinach mashVia PCOS Diet Support: this is a quick and easy alterna ve to mashpotatoes, and a great summer dish that is not going to shoot yourinsulin levels through the roof!

The good: This mash is a good source of Protein, Ribo avin, Pan -tothenic Acid, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very goodsource of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, VitaminB6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

The bad: It is quite high in saturated fat because of the bu er ifyou choose to use it.

DIRECTIONS1. Cut the head of the cauli ower into orets and boil for 15

minutes or un l so when speared by a fork.

2. Puree the cauli ower using a hand-held blender (a regular

blender is ne if you dont have a hand blender).

3. Add the spinach and con nue to blend un l smooth.

4. Add the rest of the ingredients, ensuring the mash is wellmixed and smooth.

Original recipe and photo courtesy ofh p://www.pcosdietsupport.com/recipes/ side-dishes/cauli ower-and-spinach-mash/
http://www.pcoschallenge.com/group/recipeexchangehttp://www.pcoschallenge.com/group/recipeexchangehttp://www.pcosdietsupport.com/recipes/side-dishes/cauliflower-and-spinach-mash/http://www.pcosdietsupport.com/recipes/side-dishes/cauliflower-and-spinach-mash/http://www.pcosdietsupport.com/recipes/side-dishes/cauliflower-and-spinach-mash/http://www.pcosdietsupport.com/recipes/side-dishes/cauliflower-and-spinach-mash/http://www.pcoschallenge.com/group/recipeexchangehttp://www.pcoschallenge.com/group/recipeexchangehttp://www.pcoschallenge.com/group/recipeexchange


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PCOS Challenge E-Zine - May 2014