August Wellness Watch.

CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 6, 1999--

Reporters: Call 312/988-2030 or e-mail [e-mail] for more

information, to set up an interview, or to request B-roll footage.

To find a D.O. or for more information, consumers can call

1-800-621-1773, ext. 8252, or visit the AOA Web site at:

www.aoa-net.org.

D.O.s CARE

DOCARE, the philanthropic affiliate of the American Osteopathic Association consists of doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) who treat medically underserved populations in Latin America. DOCARE recently sent a team of more than 25 D.O.s and osteopathic medical students to provide healthcare to more than 1,500 people in Santa Mar'a de Jesoes, Guatemala. DOCARE plans to return to Guatemala in January 2000.

Tender Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

What does the osteopathic philosophy and one of the most important treatment aspects for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have in common? A focus on overall wellness and involving the whole family in health.

Accounting for more than 250,000 hospitalizations each year and affecting up to one percent of the adult population, RA is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease that affects multiple joints.

According to Leonard H. Calabrese, D.O., in a review published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, (JAOA), one of the most important factors in the treatment of RA is counseling the patient and the patient's family. The impact of RA on family interactions and on the workplace, the importance of physical therapy and exercise and the role of diet and nutrition together contribute to the patient's overall well-being.

Early diagnosis and treatment is also critical to help avoid early joint damage. D.O.s have special training in the inter-relationship between structure and function and the principles of joint protection and joint motion.

According to Calabrese, because D.O.s see a disproportionate number of patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, they have an especially important role in early diagnosis of RA.

Calabrese, Leonard H, "Rheumatoid arthritis and primary care: The case for early diagnosis and treatment," JAOA, (99) 6:313-321.

Ask A D.O.: The Do's of Quitting

Do you want to stop smoking? To make quitting easier, Paul M. Krueger, D.O., recommends taking these steps:

-    Brush your teeth right after meals to reduce the urge to smoke
     after eating.
-    Drink grapefruit or orange juice instead of coffee, if you
     associate coffee with cigarettes.
-    Don't drink alcohol. Drinking can increase your urge to smoke by
     reducing your nicotine level.
-    Idle hands? Keep puzzles, or other trinkets by your phone so your
     fingers stay busy and don't reach for cigarettes.

Krueger, Paul M, "Tips Can Help Women Stop Smoking," The DO, (40) 7: p. 48.

Back to Hollywood...

Check it out...D.O.s make it to the big screen. In the just released film Eyes Wide Shut, an Osteopathic physician is praised for treating the "tennis elbow" of Victor Ziegler (Sydney Pollack), who was recommended by Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise).

A Way to a Happy, Healthier Heart

If women could eliminate only one risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems, that risk factor should be smoking, according to Kelly Spratt, D.O.

Nationwide, smoking is declining in nearly all demographics but increasing among young women. Dr. Spratt points out in the July issue of The DO that most women start smoking as a way to control their weight and can also have a harder time quitting than men. For women, nicotine is as addictive as morphine, so quitting can be like beating a hard drug addiction.

In addition to stopping smoking, Dr. Spratt offers these lifestyle-changing steps to help women achieve a healthier heart:

-    Control blood pressure. Reducing high blood pressure decreases
     the risk for strokes.
-    Maintain a healthy weight. A balanced diet is essential for a
     healthy life. For every few pounds a woman gains, she
     dramatically increases her risk of developing heart disease.
-    Control diabetes. Diabetes is a major contributor to heart
     attacks and strokes, and approximately 50 percent of the people
     who have diabetes are unaware that they have it.
-    Take an aspirin or vitamin a day. Taking [children's] aspirin
     once a day or vitamins can also reduce women's risks for heart
     disease. But, this is not a substitute for healthy lifestyles.
-    Explore estrogen therapy. Women who start taking estrogen as they
     reach menopause seem to reduce their risk for heart disease.

Spratt, Kelly Anne, "Women Can Prevent heart Disease," The DO, (40) 7: pp. 54-56.

Adapting to Change, Keeping High Standards

To meet the changes taking place in today's healthcare system, the AOA is implementing a new concept in osteopathic postgraduate medical education (GME). Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institutions (OPTI) are community-based healthcare consortia that include at least one hospital and college of osteopathic medicine, both accredited by the AOA, but also include other healthcare facilities. Hospitals have been the traditional recipients of GME funding, but managed care has brought with it an increased demand for training in community-based facilities, including ambulatory care clinics, rehabilitation clinics and surgicenters. OPTIs promote collaboration among these institutions and allow for training in a variety of settings more reflective of where many doctors will actually practice. The OPTI model and standards will continue the high quality of education in a cost-effective manner, while preparing osteopathic physicians to address patients' needs in today's evolving healthcare environment. Source: The American Osteopathic Association

Did You Know?

When suffering heart attacks, women are less likely than men to have severe chest pain. Instead, women tend to experience subtle symptoms, such as indigestion, sweating and shortness of breath, according to Kelly Spratt, D.O.

Reporters:

Expert spokespersons and B-roll footage are available. Call 312/988-2030 or email [e-mail] for more information.