Summer is almost here!

Asalamu Alaikom Sisters!

I hope everyone is well, inshallah. I apologize for being away for so long, however, I have been busy enrolling in a nursing program and the hospital I work at has had a HUGE influx of patients due to people wanting surgeries done before summer vacations.

One thing I want to remind everyone of is to protect your sking from the sun. You can still be outside and enjoy the summer while being safe. Sun damage can not only make you look years older than what you truly are, but it can put you at risk for skin cancers which can spread to other parts of your body.

There is one never fail way to protect yourself and not hesitate to enjoy the sun: SUNSCREEN. Never leave the house without sunscreen! I repeat, NEVER leave the house without sunscreen. For us sisters who cover everything but our faces most of the time, the make special suncreens for your face. It is very simple to just put a layer of sunscreen under your make-up, if you wear any.

If you are unfortunate enough to get a sunburn, remember to drink plenty of fluids. Aloe Vera provides temporary relief, but it can inhibit the healing process because it clogs up pores.

I hope this was of assistance to someone out there, remember, if any of you have topics you would like me to write about, just let me know and I will do my best to put up a post as soon as possible.

Take Care!!!

Zawjat Marouane

The "Swine Flu"

Salam to everyone, I just thought a good topic for me to discuss was the most recent public health scare all over the world: Swine Flu (or H1N1 type A influenza).

In my opinion, the seriousness of this strain of flu virus has been way over played by the media. In the United States, this virus has proven itself to be no different than any other seasonal flu that you would catch this time of year. This "pandemic" is also causing other reasons to be alarmed aside from the people being infected. Too many people are freaking out and going to local emergency rooms for no reason. THE SWINE FLU IS NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, it should be taken as one. For example, if your baby has a fever and you take them to the emergency room, you are subjecting them to all of the other diseases and illnesses in the waiting area. You and your children have a much larger chance to contract something in the waiting room than to catch swine flu.

Here are some things to look for (possible symptoms of the swine flu):

1.) FEVER

2.)Coughing

3.)Trouble breathing

4.)Bodyaches

It is very unlikely you have the swine flu if you do not have a fever!

I will bust some myths about the swine flu:

1.)It is not contracted by eating pork

2.)It is not contracted from pig to human

3.)If medical attention is sought early, there is no medical risk

If you or a family member have some symptoms, please make an appointment at your primary care physician's office, or see your local health department. Please, do not clog up emergency rooms, the will most likely take your temperature, charge you hundreds of dollars and send you on your way.

Salam

Salam everyone! I just wanted to apoligize for the lack of posts, I have been busy with school. There will be new and interesting articles soon!

The Importance of Planning for Pregnancy

So here's the deal: most women plan on having a child one day, preferably when it is conveinent for them. However, it is becoming more and more common for women (even young women) to experience some sort of delay when it comes to the time it takes to conceive. This "new" trend is blamed in part on the declining diet in American women, poor recollection of when their last menstrual cycles were, and the fact that women are simply starting to have children later in life than they used to (because of the desire to have an education, so kudos to those ladies!) There are some things that can assist you when the time comes to make a baby.



1.) Keep track of your menstrual cycles-this way you will know your most fertile days, also, you can over do it when trying to conceive :)



2.)Get into the best shape possible within 6 months before getting pregnant- being in shape and eating healthy helps keep blood pressure under control, and also helps decrease chances of miscarriage.



3.)RELAX-stress (believe it or not) can play a huge part in your fertility, so if you are stressed out about the amount of time it is taking you to conceive, you could actually be causing your body to stop ovulating.



Even though three steps seems too easy and insubstantial, it can make a HUGE difference on the time it takes to get pregnant, and how healthy your pregnancy is. Typically, if it has taken a woman under 32 longer than a year to get pregnant, gynecologists recommend that they see a infertility doctor to help out with the process a little bit (InVitro Fertilization is not the only way to get pregnant if you are experiencing fertility problems, there are other less risky procedures and medications that can be ordered for you).



If anyone has any questions about what I wrote, or would like to see one of the topics I mentioned in more detail, just let me know. Also, if my vocabulary is hard for anyone to understand, just tell me (sometimes it is hard for me to judge what is common knowledge and what isn't since we communicate that way at work)



Salam, take care everyone and encourage your friends to take a peek and share their thoughts with me.



Zawjat Marouane

Yearly Gynecological Exam

Salam Everyone!





I would like to focus mainly on the health and wellbeing of women, so the first step to health is getting a yearly check up. The basic components of this exam are:

• Basic Lab Panel: This checks your cholesterol, blood count, blood sugar, and other extremely important factors that could send out a red flag to your doctor if there is anything off.


• Pap Smear: While being uncomfortable, and a bit nerve wrenching, the pap smear can be literally a life saver. The main thing this checks for is abnormal cell growth on your cervix. Cervical cancer is known as the silent killer among women because there aren't really any symptoms present until it is advanced. The pap smear will check for the growth of this every year so hopefully if there is anything unfortunate present, it will be caught in time.


• Pelvic Exam: The pelvic exam checks for lumps, bumps and pain in your pelvic area around your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. He or she will typically ask you if you have any pain or bleeding after sex (so be HONEST, she is a doctor, if she asks it is important to tell the truth).


• Clinical Breast Exam: Breast cancer is another "silent killer" among women simply because it is not caught in time. One way to keep up on the health of your breasts is to have the doctor examen them once a year, since they know exactly what is to be worried about and what is not.

All of those occur at the doctor's office, however, there are some things that you need to keep track of at home so you can see the doctor sooner if necessary, here are some examples of what you need to keep up on at home:

• Record your monthy cycle: You need to have a little calendar or journal to write down the first and last day of your monthly period, and make notes on whether or not your bleeding was heavy, moderate, or light. It may also be helpful to note the amount of cramping you have had, the doctor may be able to help with that as well.


• Do Monthly Self-Breast Exams: This is what makes the clinical breast exam worth your time. Nobody knows your breasts better than you do! This way, if the doc finds something in your yearly you will know if it is new, old, or normal for you. See this link for instructions on how to complete this :http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp?gclid=CPT0kpGU85kCFRFMagodIwWNQg.*

Well, that was my two cents on the start to basic heathy woman tips. If you have any topics you would like for me to elaborate on or any suggestions for topics you would like to see, just let me know!

Salam,

Zawjat Marouane

*www.breastcancer.org

Healthy Marriage. . . Healthy Mind

In today's society, healthy marriages are a rare find. I know that at work all of my female co-workers are constantly complaining about their husbands or talking about their latest argument. When they ask me how things are going with my husband of two years, they find it hard to believe that we have never had an argument that left us not speaking to each other, or made one of us leave for the evening.

When you are married, you become part of your husband and vice versa. Your husband should be the one person who you can turn to in times of distress. If you can't trust them or confide in them then what are you doing with them? The American Heart Association has stated that when a marriage is strong, and healthy people tend to live longer and have better health. Here are some tips on how to keep your marriage strong, or improve your marriage.

• Talk through hard times-when one of you is stressed out about something share it, and politely respond with out harshness in your voice, even if you disagree.


• Make time for "date night"-even after twenty years of marriage, you still need a reminder once in awhile why you love your husband/wife and spend time away from the family with them.


• BE HONEST- this one speaks for itself. If you don't like the way things are being done, tell them and find another way to go about it, whatever the problem may be.


• Rasulullah said "The couple who reads Quran together, stays together" Who else would know about healthier marriages more than Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

How to Make Your Own First Aid Kit

There are many, many different combinations of first aid supplies that people think they need around the house, but I will give you my suggestion and info on what they should and shouldn't be used for.

1.) Ice Pack or Hot/Cold Pack- This is something that you will truly appreciate during a headache, sore muscles, or menstrual cramps. Some people develop a preference between hot and cold, but you can experiment to figure out what works for you. This is a good alternative to medicine when you are unsure about whether or not to use it, or with children since giving lots of over the counter medications are not safe.

2.) Mild Pain Reliever- Anything from Tylenol to Motrin is good. However, the brand names are not necessary. The generic name for Tylenol is Acetemenophen, and Motrin is IB Profren. Those work just as well and are a lot easier on your wallet. DO NOT use these kinds of medicines for severe abdominal pain or chest pain. If you experience these types of pain, please go to the nearest Hospital Emergency room as Immediately.

3.) Calamine Lotion- This is a blessing in the summertime when you come in from a relaxing evening outside and start to itch from mosquitos and chiggers. This does not burn and stops the itching immediately.

4.) Thermometer- Checking your temperature is good because it can be a problem with minor stomach bugs and colds. If your fever does not drop, call or go into your doctor's office.

5.) Bandaids- Bandaids are most helpful in settling down a child who fell down and scraped their knee while playing, but can be handy when you knick your finger while cutting vegetables for example, or if your hubby scratches himself while doing chores around the house.

6.) MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have all numbers for doctors, ambulance, hospital, poison control, and emergency contacts posted somewhere accesible. I suggest placing a list of emergency numbers on the refridgerator or next to the telephone. God forbid, if an emergency were to occur, you will most likely be too frantic to remember everything on your own, so plan ahead.

Hopes this come in helpful to you all, inshallah!!!!

Salam,

Zawjat Marouane