Friday, September 29, 2006
Expert Advice on Health and Fitness
`Will the contraceptive patch work as well as the birth control pill?
CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH
Q My husband and I are planning to have another child in the future, and I am currently using birth control pills so there won't be any surprises. On a couple of occasions, though, I forgot to take the pills when I was supposed to. To prevent that, I'm hoping to switch from the pills to the new contraceptive patch. But will the patch work as well as the birth control pills? J.E., Columbia, S.C.
A Nearly 11 million U.S. women use birth control pills, which are 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly, doctors say. Although early testing indicates that the contraceptive patch is effective in preventing pregnancy, its total effectiveness may not be known until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves its use, which is expected before May of next year.
The patch is designed to be worn on the arm, buttocks or abdomen and allows hormones to be absorbed through the skin for a week. A new patch is attached every seven days until the start of the menstrual cycle.
With the use of the patch, which is about the size of a half dollar, women won't have to deal with the daily regimen that's associated with oral contraceptives, thereby eliminating the possibility of forgetting to take the daily dosage.
Physicians say about 60 percent of all pregnancies are unplanned, but choosing the right contraceptive depends on the woman's age, health, frequency of sex and whether there are plans to have children in the future.
ASSISTING SEIZURE VICTIMS
Q I recently had one of the scariest experiences of my life when my friend had an unexpected seizure. Although it was mild, I was so scared because I didn't know what to do and couldn't help her. What should a person do when someone is having a seizure? W.M., Birmingham, Ala.
A It's understandable that you would be frightened to see your friend in trouble and then not be able to help her. Seizures are caused by a number of conditions, including epilepsy, stroke or brain tumor, high fever (especially in children) or other serious medical conditions.
If a person is having a seizure, doctors say you should take the following steps: Do not attempt to restrain them, which could result in bruises or even fractures; do not try to open their mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue since such efforts can do more harm than good; clear away any sharp or hard objects and loosen clothing around the neck. Although breathing is depressed during the seizure, medical experts say mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is rarely necessary and normal breathing should resume without assistance.
If a person is convulsing, cushion the head, and once the attack is over, place him on his side to prevent choking. During a non-convulsive seizure, move the person away from danger and reassure the him at the appropriate time.
A seizure usually lasts no more than two minutes. But no one who has had a seizure should be left alone until he or she has awakened completely and can move about normally. Although medical attention might not be necessary after such an experience, notifying the person's doctor is recommended.
TREATMENT FOR PULLED HAMSTRINGS
Q Since I have gotten a little older (45), I'm taking steps to try to stay in shape, and the biggest part of my exercise program is running about three days a week. My problem is that I get nagging pain from pulled hamstrings that are very slow to heal. What steps should I take to speed my recovery? W.P., Atlanta
A Hamstring pulls are common among runners and require immediate treatment, including rest, ice, compression and anti-inflammatories. A person shouldn't run or jump but may jog in place or swim (unless there's pain) while the muscle heals. After healing begins, exercises to strengthen the hamstrings can help prevent a recurrence. Before running, be sure to do some warm-up exercises that should include stretching.
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