PULSE TAKING CONTROL.

For most of her life, Kat Carney was overweight - and no diet seemed to help. By 1997 at the age of 27, she reached an all-time high of 240 pounds. She was also depressed, losing her hair and experiencing irregular menstrual cycles.

``I knew that something was wrong with me, but I just chose to ignore the symptoms,'' Carney says.

That something is called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a disorder that afflicts one in five women and is the leading cause of infertility. If left untreated, PCOS can lead to diabetes, heart disease and endometrial cancer.

Carney displayed many of the common symptoms, such as weight gain, hair loss, depression, excessive facial hair, polycystic ovaries and irregular menstruation.

Through strict diet and exercise, Carney has taken control of her weight, losing 90 pounds in 14 months, and she is PCOS free. Last year, she was hired to host Discovery Channel's prime-time series ``The Body Invaders,'' a health-focus show at 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Her own experience has inspired her to reach out to other women. Carney, 31, has launched two Web sites. First was www.theweighwewere.com, on which she discussed weight loss and PCOS. She then discovered many women were seeking more information about the disorder, just as she had when she was diagnosed, so in June 2000 she launched another site, www.soulcysters.com. Both sites are packed with helpful articles and encourage women to share their stories.

- Elizabeth Smilor

PILLOW TALK: Ever find yourself wide awake at 2 a.m. while you watch your husband snore away?

You're not the only one. Research shows that 56 percent of women don't get a good night's sleep. Why? Women are faced with unique conditions, such as hot flashes, pregnancy and PMS.

In ``A Woman's Guide to Sleep: Guaranteed Solutions for a Good Night's Rest'' (Crown Publishers; $24), women will find ways to battle those nights of tossing and turning.

The book helps women figure out just what it is that's keeping them awake - from eating habits to everyday stress. Obviously, having a new baby in the house will rob a mother of some shut-eye, but more serious problems - such as postpartum depression - can be stealing time as well.

So what can you do to pick up those needed hours of rest? Try drinking herbal tea or starting a regular exercise program. Or check out the book's charts for more options. But most of all, relax.

FOR ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS: Arthritis Today, the consumer magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation, is offering a free guide to drugs used for arthritis and related diseases.

The ``2001 Drug Guide'' lists brand names, dosages, special instructions, side effects, warnings and cautions for more than 250 drugs.

The drugs are grouped by type, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, biologic response modifiers, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), fibromyalgia medications, osteoporosis medications and gout medications.

For a free copy, call [phone].

- Jacqueline Etcheverry

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kat Carney has created two Web sites offering support and information for women suffering from Polycrystic Ovarian Syndrome. She also hosts Discovery Channel's ``The Body Invaders'' at 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

(2) no caption (``A Woman's Guide to Sleep'')