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Ask the
Experts
Q
I
have asthma, but
I’m not having any
symptoms. Why do I need
to still take my asthma
medicine
?
A
When your asthma is under
control, taking medicine may
be the last thing on your mind.
But asthma is a disease that
doesn’t go away. That means it needs
long-term treatment to keep it
under control and to minimize any
long-term adverse effects of your
disease. Your doctor may ask you to
take maintenance medications that
help keep your lungs from getting
inflamed and keep symptoms at bay.
When you keep using them over
time, those medicines may even
help improve your lung function.
Feeling good is not a sign that you
can stop taking medicines or take them
less often. Your asthma needs to be
managed—even when you don’t have
symptoms. If you stop, you run the risk
of flare-ups that canmake you feel bad
or even put you in the hospital.
For more information about allergies
and chronic lung diseases, attend
Allergies: Don’t Let Them Take the
Bloom Off Spring! on
May 24
at
6 p.m. Register at
swEvents.org
.
Q
How can eating soy
improve my health
?
A
Soy contains a group of plant
estrogens called isoflavones,
which are believed to have protective
effects on our health. The popularity
of soy foods has soared since 1999,
when the FDA approved the health
claim that soy protein was protective
against coronary heart disease.
Like many nutrition issues, the
benefit from soy foods or supplements
is not clear. It may simply be that soy
promotes a well-balanced, healthy diet
by providing a good source of protein
that is low in saturated fats and high in
nutrients. Including soy four times a
week instead of beef, pork and dairy is
safe and may provide health benefits.
It is best to consume soy as a whole
food, rather than using a supplement,
since it’s not known at what level
supplements may be harmful.
Eating a diet that has plenty of
variety, lots of color and is minimally
processed reigns again!
If you are in or approaching
menopause, attend the Red Hot
Mamas class on
May 15
: The
Benefits of Soy: A Biologically Based
Menopause Therapy. Register at
swEvents.org
.
Q
W
hat are the benefits
of water birth?
A
Laboring in the tub during active
labor is a wonderful tool to help
the mother relax and cope with
contractions during labor. This tool
coupled with good labor support and
previous childbirth education can help
a woman achieve her goal of a natural
unmedicated birth. Mothers can also
benefit from less intervention during
labor and delivery.
Laboring and giving birth in a water
tub also provides the mother with
freedom to get into a position that
feels right for her. Mothers often have
an innate awareness of which position
is needed to help labor progress.
Babies born underwater do not
take their first breath until they come
above the surface, which is why water
babies don’t drown.
If you are interested in a water birth
at PeaceHealth Southwest’s Family
Birth Center, see the calendar on
page 6 for dates and times. There are
classes available for both Kaiser and
non-Kaiser patients. Register for
the required class that best fits your
schedule at
swEvents.org
.
ASTHMA
WATER BIRTH
SOY
April Mitsch, MS, RD
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Dietitian
PeaceHealth Southwest
Family Birth Center
87th Ave. and Mill Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98664
360.514.2229
Lauren Andronici, CNM
The Vancouver Clinic
Certified Nurse-Midwife
700 NE 87th Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98664
360.882.2778
Rita Williams, NP
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Pulmonary & Critical Care
200 NE Mother Joseph Place,
Suite 330
Vancouver, WA 98664
360.514.2990
Wherever you plan to go
this summer, when you take
Southwest Health
along for
some fun, you have a chance
to win big! Whether you’re
planning to hit the beach,
head to the mountains, or
fly overseas, your issue of
Southwest Health
should
definitely be in your suitcase.
Simply take a photo of
yourself on holiday holding
Southwest Health
and
post it on our website at
www.facebook.com/
peacehealthsw
. That’s all
it takes to be entered in our
Great Summer Adventure
Giveaway. You’ll have a chance
to win a gift card for free air
travel on Southwest Airlines.
So take
Southwest Health
along on your adventures
this summer, and before
you know it, you just
might be planning
another getaway on us.
Share your
summer
adventure and
WIN
www.swmedicalcenter.org
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