By TOM JOSEPH, M.D.

For most women, monthly menstruation becomes a regular part of life by the late teens, but not every woman experiences the same symptoms — or at the same severity.

While the variance in symptoms has a variety of causes, one symptom in particular may be caused by an underlying condition that is generally treatable with a straightforward and safe procedure.

Uterine fibroids develop in half of all women by age 50, but they are common at younger ages as well, particularly by the mid-30s. Many women, though, are not familiar with their symptoms, which include heavy and painful menstruation, a frequent need or urgency to urinate, lower-back pain and even fertility problems.

A uterine fibroid is an irregular growth of tissue that develops from the uterine wall. they are almost entirely non-cancerous — only 1 in 1,000 will develop into cancer — and can vary in size. Smaller fibroids can cause no symptoms and go entirely unnoticed, but larger fibroids can cause severe symptoms and require treatment.

Discovering and treating fibroids

Without the presence of related symptoms, uterine fibroids will usually go unnoticed without consequence. when patients experience symptoms, though, your doctor may order an ultrasound or MRI to pinpoint the size, placement and number of fibroids.

In the past, hysterectomy — the surgical removal of the uterus — was the treatment of choice for patients with problem-causing uterine fibroids. Today, however, several less-invasive options are available; and, for some patients, it is even possible to have a normal pregnancy and delivery after treatment.

One of the newest treatment options, called uterine fibroid embolization, helps shrink fibroids by cutting off their blood supply without affecting the surrounding tissue.

The treatment requires a single 6mm incision and has a low risk of complication and comparatively short recovery time. in fact, most women are able to go home the same day.

Other treatment options include medications, varying surgical options (including hysterectomy), and a procedure called ablation — which uses high-frequency sound waves to destroy the fibroid tissue. Medications, however, only offer temporary relief from symptoms.

If your physician diagnoses you with uterine fibroids, the treatment options he or she offers will depend on your specific case, but most women can choose from a variety of treatments. Fortunately, fibroids generally grow slowly. however, treatment shouldn’t be avoided or put off.

Dr. Tom Joseph is an interventional radiologist specially trained in uterine fibroid embolization.  He is affiliated with Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

I have Ulcerative Colitis and last thursday my doctor started me on antibiotics. Saturday before last, however, I had sex for the first time -without a condom (stupid I know) for only about 10 seconds before I chickened out. ever since then, I've been feeling bloated and my period is supposed to come today but it hasn't arrived yet. I've been stressing out ever since.

What I want to know is: am I pregnant or am I suffering common symptoms of UC

Note: I am taking Lialda – 2 tabs daily, Metronidazole (the antibiotic) and Rowasa enemas.

HELP PLEASE!?

Some women do experience symptoms that early in pregnancy but, given your history, there is a chance that it's an exacerbation of your ulcerative colitis. it could also be a side effect of the Metronidazole, it's really impossible to know for sure. I'd give it a few days, your period could just be late. If you still don't have your period, there's a good choice of simple urine pregnancy tests you can buy from any chemist, or see your GP.

Im curious its been a month and a half and i havent gotten any symtpoms
Im curious to know if i have genital herpes as well but the doctor said i would need to have a sore to swab for genital herpes. But I did go to the doctors.

when did you guys get symptoms?

and when did your first outbreak occur from initial contact.

the only symptom ive had was a sore throat. but thats it.

help?>

Two to seven days is a rather large window, but most people tend to see symptoms within approximately five days. some people never catch it. some people will catch the virus, but will experience no symptoms. Often times, someone won’t experience symptoms for years after exposure. the virus can be passed to another individual whenever the virus is present on the skin surface. once we are exposed to genital herpes, the virus can live in our bodies for years without us even realizing it.

Hi all, I'm on cycle day 22 of 26 and feel it could be my month. However. I would like to know every ones first pregnancy symptoms and when they got them.
We are TTC number 2. I didn't have any symptoms with my first until 5 weeks. I know every pregnancy is different.
Thanks and baby dust to everyone!

My first symptom was not having my period. then my breasts started to really hurt. I went to the doctor and they confirmed my pregnancy. as soon as I found out, all the normal symptoms started coming up. first it was nausea, and then I began vomiting every morning. I felt pretty much miserable in the beginning of my pregnancy. But after about 3 months, it started going away. some people don't have any symptoms in the beginning, and then experience symptoms later on. I'm now almost 30 weeks and I feel pretty good. The only thing that's different now is that i'm hungry ALL the time! I have to have a snack almost every hour!

I just got my BFP about 10 days ago…my first symptoms were sore breasts and elevated basal body temperature (not sure if you're temping). Nausea didn't kick in until about 3 days ago (I'm 5w5d today).
My pregnancy tests started showing up positive around 12 dpo (2 days before my expected period).
Everybody's different though…some women have symptoms super early and others not until later.
Good luck getting your BFP.
**edit** Totally forgot–LOWER BACK PAIN!!!

I guess my first "symptom" was nausea when I skipped a meal or did not eat "on time". my breasts felt swollen and sore. Kinda crampy like I was going to start my period but never would.
I must say that with ALL four of my babies I had the nose of a bloodhound. my sense of smell was outrageous. I could smell my daugher using perfume or powder from my lower floor in a 3 story house.
I deliver number four in a few weeks.

i feel dizzy and can not eat well

I am only 20 years old but I have been having some problems that led me to do some research. after I am finished urinating, I continue on my day but urine continues to slowly leak out. I read some of the symptoms of prostate problems and this is the only symptom that I experience, I do not have any pain or troubles urinating, only the trouble of urine leaking out. This has actually been happening for quite some time now, possibly more than a year. Is there something I can do on my own to fix this? do One-A-Day Men's Health vitamins do anything? Or should I go to a doctor and explain that I've been having this problem for a while? Is this perhaps a sign of cancer or just irritation?

Get a prostate exam. You should bring your teddy bare.

A friend of mine had a prostate infection when he was only 23. he had to pee like a million times a day. he has serious pain in his lower back. the doc lifted his leg and he had pain in his leg. Doc said to stay clear of all caffeine and especially cokes.

if you experience symptoms such as you say you click prostatecancer-ezine.blogspot.com… to find out about your disease it is useful that you need to know

You are FAR too young for prostate cancer and you do not have symptoms of an infection. You need to see a urologist, they specialize in the urinary and male reproductive systems. This is not something you can fix yourself and vitamins will have no affect on it. I suspect it may be something genetic that did not create problems until you matured. A good urologist should be able to identify the problem fairly quickly.

It won't be prostate cancer, you are way too young. see a doc. It could even just be a muscle problem.

you can lead, follow, or get out of the way. one woman from Gainesville chose to “lead” and that saved her life. most people don’t realize they have colon cancer until they experience symptoms and that can be very dangerous. TV20′s Corrie Lovette reports what one woman did to get her husband tested and why she’s happy she did it. Anna Collins says she heard on TV20 that North Florida Regional Medical Center was giving free colonoscopies last March. After trying unsuccessfully to convince her husband to go, she decided to lead by example. And that decision saved her life. she said, “I did it for him, but it turned out to be for me.” 62 year old Anna Collins of Gainesville was diagnosed with colon cancer after having a colonoscopy at North Florida last March. “I was very surprised because I had absolutely no symptoms. And I have a very healthy lifestyle, a very healthy diet. I eat very little meat, lots of fruits and veggies.” on the screen are the results of Anna’s colonoscopy. Here you see the normal tissues and here you see the colon cancer that Anna’s doctors found. Dr. Charles Sninsky said, “Here is a patient who is asymptomatic, absolutely no symptoms and she had a pretty far advanced colon cancer that was respectable, able to be treated and she’s doing exceedingly well.” Dr. Sninsky says everyone over 50 years old should be screened. And if you have any family history of the disease, then you need to have a colonoscopy 10 years before the relative was diagnosed. Sninsky says it’s a safe, painless outpatient procedure done while under anesthesia. He said, “It’s a flexible lighted tube the size of my finger and it has a ccd camera on the tip of it.” Doctors are looking for polyps with the camera. These can be either benign or precancerous and the doctor can often remove them while patients are already asleep for the colonoscopy. Sninsky said, “One could break the cycle, remove the benign lesions before they develop into a cancer.” the risk factors for colon cancer are family history and other inherited gastrointestinal disorders. However, as Collins knows, it can happen to anyone. That’s why Collins, who is now cancer free, wants to spread the word about detection. she said, “Even though you do have a healthy diet and lifestyle, you still need to have the colon screening because it could really save your life.” North Florida Regional Medical Center will be giving a free colon screening every day this month. All 31 appointments are filled.

RLS or restless legs syndrome affects as many as 12 millionpeople in the United States.

RLS is a condition that causes a powerful urge to move the legs.the urge to move is usually due to an unpleasant feeling in thelegs that occurs when at rest. Some people describe it as acreeping, crawling, tingling or burning sensation. Moving makes thelegs feel better, but not for long.

What causes RLS?

In most cases, there is no known cause for RLS. a family history ofthe condition is seen in approximately 50 percent of cases. Inother cases, RLS is caused by a disease or condition, such as lowiron levels, severe kidney disease and peripheral nerve diseases.RLS can also be associated with pregnancy and the use of certainmedications.

Who has RLS?

RLS affects both men and women. the disorder occurs more often inwomen than in men. RLS may begin at any age, even as early asinfancy. Most patients who are severely affected by the conditionare middle-age or older. the severity of the disorder appears toincrease with age. Older patients experience symptoms morefrequently and for longer periods of time.

Some pregnant women experience RLS, especially in their lasttrimester. For most of these women, symptoms disappear after givingbirth.

How do doctors diagnose RLS?

The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group identifiedthese four basic criteria for diagnosing RLS:

* a desire to move the limbs (to minimize or prevent unpleasantsensations).

* Symptoms that are worse or present only during rest and arepartially or temporarily relieved by activity.

* Motor restlessness.

* Worsening of such symptoms at night.

Despite established standard criteria, diagnosing RLS is oftendifficult. Doctors must rely on patients’ descriptions of thesymptoms and information from their medical history (including pastmedical problems, family history and current medications). Bloodtests and tests that measure electrical activity in muscles andnerves are often performed.

How is restless legs syndrome treated?

RLS is generally a lifelong condition for which there is no cure.Current therapies can control the disorder, minimizing symptoms andincreasing periods of restful sleep.

While movement brings relief to those with RLS, it is generallyonly temporary. For those with mild to moderate symptoms,prevention is key. many physicians suggest certain lifestylechanges and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Althoughmany patients find some relief with such measures, rarely do theseefforts completely eliminate symptoms. Recommended lifestylechanges and activities may include:

* Decreasing use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.

* Taking supplements to correct deficiencies in iron, folate andmagnesium.

* Maintaining a regular sleep pattern.

* Regular moderate exercise (although excessive exercise has beenreported by some patients to aggravate RLS symptoms).

* Taking a hot bath, massaging the legs or using a heating pad orice pack.

If lifestyle changes don’t work, medicines may reduce the symptomsof RLS. Physicians may suggest a variety of medications to treatRLS.

People who experience symptoms of RLS need to know that somemedicines can make the condition worse. it is important for peoplewith RLS to make doctors aware of all the drugs they are taking,including herbal remedies and over-the-counter medicines.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; National Institutesof Health; American Academy of Family Physicians; Restless LegsSyndrome Foundation

Jackie Beaton is director of public relations,marketing and volunteer services at Fremont Area MedicalCenter.

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 February 2011, 11:51 CST

SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Hoping for that special heart filled with candy this month? That’s not the only heart women should be thinking about during February, American Heart Month.

Heart disease was once thought of as a man’s disease, but no more. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women over 20, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease kills more women each year than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

“One of the biggest problems is that often women don’t first think ‘heart attack’ when they experience symptoms like tightness in the chest, fatigue, sleep disturbances, breathing difficulty and feelings of indigestion,” explained Humera Ali, MD, cardiologist with The Polyclinic in Seattle. “They may blame it on stress or their stomach.”

Compounding this problem is that according to a study by the National Institutes of Health, fewer than 30% of women report having chest pain prior to their heart attack, so they may not realize they’re having a heart attack and less likely than men to seek immediate help.

Many of the risk factors for heart disease are the same in both men and women, according to the National Institutes of Health – conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, physical inactivity, smoking and having a family history of heart disease. however, women have some unique risk factors.

“Women are more likely to get heart disease after menopause, in part because their body’s production of estrogen drops,” said Dr. Ali. “This changes our body’s overall metabolism including that of cholesterol, thus raising our risk.”

In the medical community, women’s heart issues have historically been less likely to be recognized, more likely to be blamed on stress or other conditions. This is changing but needs to filter down to the women of our community so they themselves stop delaying seeking attention as new symptoms develop.

Lifestyle changes can help in the prevention of heart disease and also improve other conditions. Reduce risk through:

Nutritious diet – Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and healthy oils – especially foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Minimize refined sugars, sodium, and saturated fats. The American Heart Association has some healthy and delicious heart-health recipes here.

Exercise – not just for weight management, but to get your blood circulating, build muscles, and get oxygen through your system. You’ll benefit from greater flexibility and stamina too, plus exercise helps reduce stress. The American Heart Association suggests exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week; but you’ll also experience benefits even if you divide your time into two or three segments of 10 -15 minutes per day.

Stress management – Stress doesn’t just impact your mind, it impacts your body – from headaches and depression to sleep disturbances and dependence on alcohol or drugs. Long term stress can also have adverse effects on your heart. Meditation and relaxation breathing exercises can help diminish the physical sensations of stress, and changes in lifestyle – something as simple as getting organized – can help alleviate some of the causes of stress. Shifting your outlook and attitude through self-talk can change your perception over time as well.

Quit smoking – Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries — which can lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Monitor and manage conditions that could increase your risk, like blood pressure, cholesterol level, and diabetes. if your doctor prescribes medication, be faithful about taking it when and how often it’s been prescribed.

Call the doctor or go to the emergency room with new onset of chest pain, pressure, tightness, heaviness, shortness of breath on exertion or change in exercise tolerance because of limiting fatigue. Not-so-obvious symptoms may include feelings of indigestion with exertion, or pass out spells.

About The Polyclinic

The Polyclinic is made up of more than 160 physicians, including internal medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and 23 additional medical and surgical specialties. since its inception in 1917, The Polyclinic’s mission has been to promote the health of its patients through high-quality, comprehensive and personalized care. For more information, visit polyclinic.com.

SOURCE The Polyclinic

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Just about everywhere you turn, it seems, ?people are coughing and spluttering. Yet a recent study by the University of Leicester found that although coughs are one of the most common ?complaints seen by GPs, only 60 per cent of people find a cause.

Coughs are mainly a protective reflex to remove foreign ?bodies, mucus or irritants such as dust from the respiratory tract, explains Alyn Morice, professor of respiratory ?medicine at the University of Hull, and one of the country’s leading experts.

‘But persistent coughs can also be caused by viruses and ?infections,’ he says.

Symptom of an underlying problem: Persistent coughs can be caused by viruses and ?infections

If your cough lasts for more than eight weeks, he advises ?seeing a GP.

‘a chest X-ray should be ?performed to rule out any serious ?underlying ?disease. however, see your doctor immediately if you experience ?symptoms you’ve never had before, such as coughing up blood.’

Here, we talk to the UK’s cough experts to help you work out what’s behind your symptoms  . . .

A stubborn dry cough that comes and goes, but never quite ?disappears. it usually occurs during the day, prompting a coughing fit that lasts around ten minutes. In extreme cases, sufferers experience ?incontinence and even fractured ribs.

CAUSE: Such coughs used to be ?simply written off as ‘unexplained’. But doctors have recently ?discovered that in some cases the problem is hypersensitivity in the upper ?airways, triggered by a reflux of gas from the stomach.

‘This gas is like a mist — ?containing air, bits of food and stomach enzymes, which irritate the upper area of the throat,’ explains ?Professor Morice.

Once this hypersensitivity has set in, sufferers will have a coughing fit if anything — such as dust or cold air — touches their throat. however, not everyone who has gas reflux will develop a cough as a symptom.

TREATMENT: Some antihistamines and small doses of ?morphine, ?prescribed by a specialist, might help, says Professor Morice. for ?immediate relief, suck a strong menthol ?lozenge, such as Fisherman’s Friend.

CHRONIC, TICKLY COUGH

Although this cough doesn’t ?produce phlegm, you feel as if mucus or catarrh is dripping down the back of your throat. sometimes it can also feel as if there’s a lump in the throat.

CAUSE: This is known as a post-nasal drip — the cause of about 7 per cent of coughs, says Professor Peter Barnes, head of ?respiratory medicine at Imperial College, London.

Normally, we produce up to four pints of clear thin mucus every day from the glands which line the nose and sinuses. This usually drips ?unnoticed down your throat.

However, when mucus becomes thick or if there is a lot of it — usually due to an allergy or ?infection, such as a cold or flu — it triggers a ?coughing reflex as it drips down the throat.

TREATMENT: Products such as Otrivin, a non-steroid, can give immediate relief by reducing ?swelling in the nose and the post-nasal drip.

Administer the drops with the head down and forward, so that the ?liquid flows into the sinuses — don’t tip your head back or the drops will go straight into your stomach.

However, Professor Barnes advises only using these for a few days.

‘if used for longer, once you stop you get a rebound effect and the condition gets worse.’

If post-nasal drip is caused by an allergy, such as cats, house dust or hay fever, you might need a topical nasal steroid, such as Beconase, to dampen down the inflammatory responses ?causing the drip, says Dr Anindo Banerjee, a consultant respiratory physician at ?Southampton General Hospital. see your GP about allergy tests.

The cough might be accompanied by some wheezing, but no phlegm. it occurs at night and intermittently during the day.

CAUSE: This cough usually happens after a bout of cold, flu or other ?respiratory infections and might be caused by increased inflammation in the airways, says Dr Nicholas ?Hopkinson, a consultant respiratory physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

TREATMENT: In most cases, it should go away by itself after a few weeks, says Professor Barnes. Lozenges can help — choose those with a strong ?flavour, as they will promote ?salivation to help coat and soothe a sore throat.

Symptoms might also be eased by leaning over a bowl of boiling water with a towel over your head, as ?moisture from the steam will soothe and lubricate the airways. Adding a few drops of menthol might help.

SPASMS OF DRY COUGHING

A painful cough could be caused by bronchitis

A coughing fit starts as a tickle at the back of the throat; in some cases, coughing can lead to vomiting.

CAUSE: certain ?medications can cause coughing, particularly ACE inhibitors, prescribed for high blood pressure, explains Professor Barnes.

This ?usually happens in about 15 per cent of people who use them — possibly because the drugs stop the ?breakdown of a naturally-occurring chemical called bradykinin which, in turn, makes the nerve endings in the lungs more sensitive to irritation.

TREATMENT: Your GP can ?prescribe alternative blood pressure ?medications, such as ?angiotensin II receptor antagonists, advises ?Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Common cold Centre at Cardiff University.

Around 90 per cent of users who swap medication clear their cough within a week or so, although it can take up to three months.

PAINFUL, HACKING COUGH

A constant cough, that is ?particularly bad in the morning. it tends to bring up thick yellowy/grey or green/rust-coloured mucus. there might also be pain behind the breast bone, a sore throat, ?wheezing and a blocked nose.

CAUSE: the likely cause is acute bronchitis, an infection of the large airways of the lungs (bronchi), which causes them to become ?irritated and inflamed. This often starts after a respiratory infection, such as a cold.

Acute bronchitis itself is usually caused by a virus — but around 5 to 10 per cent of cases are triggered by bacteria; in bacterial infections, the phlegm will be green or rust ?coloured, says Dr Sneh Khemka, medical ?director of BUPA International.

This cough could be confused with a swine flu cough. however, a cough caused by swine flu would usually be accompanied by a high fever (usually above 38C) sore throat, headache, aching muscles, chills and shivers, a fever, upset stomach and general exhaustion, says Dr Banerjee.

TREATMENT: Bed rest and drinking lots of fluids to prevent ?dehydration and to thin the mucus, making it ?easier to cough up. Over-the-?counter products might relieve your cough, although they cannot speed up your recovery.

‘look for medicines containing linctus,’ says Professor Morice, ‘as this ingredient lessens the cough by lining the back of the throat.’

Products such as Robitussin ?contain the cough suppressant dextromethorphan. however, many over-the-counter cough ?medicines also contain ?paracetamol, so if you are already taking it to relieve your headaches or fever, make sure you don’t exceed the maximum dose.

If you are breathless, feel unwell or the cough lasts longer than a week, or the phlegm coughed up is a green, rusty colour, see your GP.

THROAT-?CLEARING COUGH

It feels like you have a lump in your throat and coughing leaves you with a nasty, bitter taste in the mouth. the cough can be ?triggered by talking, laughing, singing or eating particularly dry food. it also tends to occur at night.

CAUSE: the most likely cause is stomach acid splashing up the ?gullet — this affects about 25 per cent of the adult Western ?population and is known as reflux. As the lining of the gullet is extremely soft and sensitive, this leads to inflammation, which ?triggers a coughing fit.

Reflux can lead to a condition called Barrett’s Oesophagus — this causes ?abnormalities in the cells and raises the risk of ?oesophageal cancer.

TREATMENT: Over-the-counter ?antacids such as Alka-Seltzer can neutralise acid in the stomach.

Other drugs, known as H2 ?blockers (available both on ?prescription or over the counter) act on acid production. cut back on ?exacerbating factors, such as ?coffee, high-fat food or going to bed shortly after a large meal, and try to avoid eating after 9pm, says Professor Morice. if you suffer with reflux for a ?couple of months, see your GP.

DRY COUGH WITH WHEEZE

You tend to cough more during the night or first thing in the morning.

CAUSE: one likely culprit is asthma. ‘Ten per cent of asthma sufferers don’t realise they have it,’ says Dr Keith Prowse, of the British Lung Foundation. when someone with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways, the muscles around the airways tighten.

An asthma cough can be triggered by a cold, exposure to certain foods or irritants, such as pollen. it is not known why the cough is worse at night or in the morning.

TREATMENT: Your GP can normally diagnose asthma with tests. the first line of ?treatment involves inhalers to open up the airways and make it easier to breathe.

If inhalers are ineffective, inhaled steroids can ease a severe or ?prolonged attack of asthma and reduce the inflammation in the airways.

BREATHLESS, PAINFUL COUGH

A persistent cough ?accompanied by shortness of breath.

Other symptoms might include coughing up blood, loss of ?appetite, losing weight and a dull ache or sharp pain in the lung area when you cough or take a deep breath. This cough is unrelenting and ?happens most of the time.

CAUSE: one possibility is lung ?cancer. ‘the problem is that it is possible to mistake these ?symptoms for a chest infection,’ explains Dr Jesme Fox, medical director of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

‘the difference is that the cough persists for weeks, with little sign of getting better.

‘though lung cancer is quite rare, it’s vital you don’t ignore these symptoms and get checked out by your GP, just to be sure,’ she adds.

TREATMENT: This depends on the type of lung cancer — though often it involves surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 

This brings up lots of phlegm — and there can be wheezing, chest ?tightness and some ?difficulty breathing.

It’s often worse in the mornings and the ?winter, as it’s exacerbated by viruses that affect the lungs.

CAUSE: Chronic Obstructive ?Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — the ?collective name for lung ?conditions, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is commonly caused by smoking.

However, about 10 per cent of cases happen in non-smokers due to exposure to dust, air pollution and family history.

It usually affects people over 40, as the damage to the lungs that causes COPD happens gradually.

‘the ?important thing is to notice symptoms that haven’t happened before, such as this chesty cough or breathlessness,’ says Dr Keith Prowse, of the British Lung ?Foundation.

‘it could be a sign of the disease and they should see their GP.’

TREATMENT: there is no cure for COPD, but the damage can be slowed. the most important steps are to stop smoking, avoid ?passive exposure and exercise as much as you can.

Short and long acting inhalers will help with breathlessness by widening the airways.

Steam inhalation and ?humidifying rooms can also help by ?loosening mucus.

For an online breath test to screen for COPD, go to ?lunguk.org/breathtest

Q. Is it safe to take antidepressants during pregnancy?

A. It’s estimated that between 14 percent and 23 percent of women experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy, so many women have to decide whether or not to take antidepressant medications. The issue has also sparked a great deal of scientific debate. But the research so far has not been able to tease apart whether an increased risk of some health problems in women who take antidepressants during pregnancy and in their newborns is tied to the drugs or to the depression.

Some studies have linked antidepressant use to a higher risk of rare birth defects as well as preterm birth and lower birth weight, but the evidence is conflicting. Women with severe untreated depression may be prone to behaviors that put them and their newborns in jeopardy. “The challenge for women and physicians is to balance the risks of using medication during pregnancy with the risk of untreated depression,’’ says Sengwee Darren Toh, an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute who has researched this subject.

He emphasizes that women should discuss with their doctor the right strategy based on their specific health situation and risks. Women with mild depression can often avoid medications, but the risk of letting moderate or severe depression go unchecked may be too high.

In 2009, the American Psychiatric Association and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a joint set of recommendations on the issue. according to these guidelines, women who have been taking antidepressants and experienced only mild or no symptoms for six months before pregnancy should consider gradually stopping medication. Women who still have symptoms, have recurrent depression, or who become depressed during pregnancy and want to avoid drug treatment may choose psychotherapy, alone or as a supplement to medication. Women with severe depression are advised to stay on medication, and any woman with suicidal or psychotic symptoms should seek treatment immediately.

© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.