wellness online header
  January 2013 Health News
  • Is Weight Loss One of Your New Year's Resolutions?
  • How is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
  • Thyroid Disease in Women: Know the Symptoms
  • Dr. Oz video: Tips to Lose 5 pounds
  • Source4Women: Best Weight Loss Tips Ever
  • Monthly Health Tip
  • Monthly Recipe
wellness online header
safe toys

Is Weight Loss One of Your New Year's Resolutions?


Perhaps, you've heard the saying: What's hard by the yard is a cinch by the inch.

 

When you want to lose weight, do you try to go the full yard — radically changing your diet and behaviors? For many people that approach is just too difficult to stick with for long. How about inching closer to your goal with doable, less drastic changes? Over time, even small steps can add up big — and become a way of life.

  • Slow down and savor. Speeding through meals can lead to overeating.
  • Downsize your dish. Use a smaller plate or bowl to help keep portion sizes in check. Sounds simple —but it can work.
  • Leave a few bites behind. Remind yourself that it's OK to not clean your plate.
  • Turn up your veggie volume. Vegetables are nutritional wonders that can fill you up fast. Enjoy your favorites. But, try new varieties, too. Why not make it one new type each week?
  • Lighten up your latte. Order your favorite coffee drink with fat-free milk and sugar-free syrup.
wellness online header

holiday cooking

white spacer

How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?

 

Find out how glaucoma is diagnosed. Early detection can prevent blindness in most cases.

 

Glaucoma is a disease that can sneak up on you and rob you of your vision. Although it can produce symptoms, the best way to detect the disease is by having regular eye examinations. Early detection and treatment can prevent blindness in 90 percent of people with glaucoma.

 

Symptoms of open-angle glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, does not have symptoms at first. Vision is normal and there is no pain. If the disease is not treated, however, vision can become blurry and side vision might be lost. You may feel you are looking through a tunnel. Over time, your remaining forward vision may decrease until no vision remains.

 

Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma can cause a sudden increase in eye pressure (acute glaucoma), which is a medical emergency. If it occurs, seek treatment immediately. Symptoms include:

 

  • Redness and swelling
  • Blurred vision
  • Severe eye pain
  • Headache
  • Rainbow-colored halos around lights
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A red eye with a cloudy center
  • Pain around eyes after watching TV or leaving a dark theater

 

Tests for glaucoma

Regular eye examinations include testing for glaucoma. The following are standard:

 

  • A standard eye chart measures how well you see at various distances.
  • A visual field test measures your side (peripheral) vision. In computerized visual field testing, you are asked to push a button each time you see a flash of light. Your doctor will then receive a printout of your visual field. In another test (Goldmann perimeter), the doctor records your answers, and no computer is used.
  • A tonometer measures the pressure inside the eye. In one type (applanation tonometry), your doctor first inserts eye drops to reduce pain. A plastic prism will then lightly push against your eye to measure the pressure. In air tonometry, a puff of air is applied to the cornea. The eye's resistance to the air is measured to determine eye pressure.
  • An ophthalmoscope enables your doctor to look at the optic nerve through the pupil of your eye.
    The color and appearance of the nerve can indicate damage from glaucoma. Before the test is done, eye drops will be applied to dilate (widen) the pupil. After the examination, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours, and your eyes will be more sensitive to light.
wellness online header
yoga class

Thyroid Disease in Women: Know the Symptoms

Thyroid disorders are much more common in women than in men, but they're often missed or confused with other conditions. Do you know the symptoms?

 

The thyroid is a small but powerful gland in your neck. It produces hormones that control your metabolism, or the way your body uses energy. It also influences your heart rate, body temperature, bones, digestion and reproductive system. When the thyroid hormones get out of balance, it can have profound effects on your health.
Thyroid disorders are much more common in women than in men. Yet the symptoms of thyroid disease are often overlooked or confused with other conditions. As a result, many women don't get the treatment they need. This puts them at risk for serious problems such as high cholesterol, heart disease and infertility.

 

What are the most common thyroid disorders?

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can occur at any age, but it becomes more common as a woman ages, especially after age 50. It occurs when the thyroid doesn't make enough thyroid hormones. It may not cause noticeable symptoms at first, but as thyroid hormone levels continue to drop the metabolism slows. A woman will start to feel weak and run down and may have other symptoms such as weight gain and constipation.

 

Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is most common in women between ages 20 and 40. It occurs when the thyroid makes too much thyroid hormone. A rising hormone level causes the body to speed up. This can cause a woman to feel jittery or irritable, lose weight without trying and have trouble sleeping.

 

Thyroid nodules sometimes grow on the thyroid gland. Nodules usually don't cause symptoms, but a doctor may feel a nodule during a careful physical exam. As a nodule grows it may be felt as a lump in the front of the neck. Most thyroid nodules are harmless. Fewer than one in 10 is cancerous, but any nodule should be checked. Even a benign nodule may sometimes need to be removed.

 

How do thyroid disorders affect women?
Thyroid disorders can have a range of effects on a woman's sexual and reproductive health across her lifespan.

 

  • Puberty. During puberty, hyperthyroidism can cause early menstruation (before age 9). It may also cause delayed menstruation and delayed growth.
  • Infertility. Thyroid disorders can cause irregular or skipped periods, which can make it hard to get pregnant. They also raise the risk of miscarriage.
  • Pregnancy. During pregnancy, untreated thyroid disorders raise the risk of high blood pressure, anemia, miscarriage and low birth weight. They may also have long-term effects on the baby.
  • Postpartum depression. Some women develop a thyroid problem after delivery called postpartum thyroid dysfunction. It causes fatigue, low mood and irritability, and it may be linked to postpartum depression.
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Hypothyroidism can cause symptoms similar to PMS, including weight gain, bloating and depressed mood.
  • Menopause. Thyroid disorders can cause premature menopause (before age 40). Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can mimic those of menopause, such as hot flashes and insomnia.

 

What are the symptoms of thyroid disorders?
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) may cause:

 

  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain from fluid retention
  • Low tolerance of cold
  • Dry skin and dry, brittle hair and nails
  • Forgetfulness and trouble concentrating
  • Irregular or heavy periods
  • Constipation
  • Miscarriages or infertility

 

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) may cause:

 

  • Nervousness
  • Sweating
  • Low tolerance of heat
  • Trembling hands
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Weight loss
  • Insomnia
  • More frequent bowel movements
  • Light or absent menstrual periods
  • Muscle weakness
  • Goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland)

 

Thyroid nodules often cause no symptoms, but they may be felt as a lump in the front of the neck below the Adam's apple. A cancerous nodule may grow quickly, feel hard and cause:

 

  • Pain
  • Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
  • Hoarseness
  • Trouble swallowing

 

If you have any symptoms of a thyroid disorder, see your doctor. Thyroid disorders can be treated successfully, usually with medication or surgery.

wellness online header
multivitamins

Better Health with Dr. Oz: Tips to Lose 5 Pounds


Even a small amount of weight can make a big impact on your health. View this video for more information!

wellness online header
adult and child sledding

Visit Source4Women.com!
Learn more about health and wellness for you and your family, and find new ways to stay healthy. Source4Women offers complimentary online tools, resources, seminars and events focused on keeping you and your family healthy. Visit www.uhc.com/source4women and register to attend any of the complimentary one-hour seminars, held the second Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. (ET).
The interactive seminars feature health and wellness experts, as well as time for questions with the speakers.

Source4Women Seminar:
January 8: Best Weight Loss Tips Ever 11:30 am CT 12:30 pm ET.

wellness online header
adult and child sledding

January Health Tip:

Most people blink their eyes half as often as normal when they're staring at a computer screen.

Need a reminder? Tape a note on your monitor with “Blink!” written on it. Try to give your eyes periods of downtime during the day — and plenty of rest at night, too.

wellness online header

January Healthy Recipe: Basil Tomato Red Pepper Soup with Garlic Toast

 

This delicious and nutrient-rich soup is perfect hot or cold, depending on the season.

Ingredients:
1 large red bell pepper
2 lbs ripe tomatoes
1 cup spicy tomato juice
1/2 cup chicken or beef stock (or more)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
10 whole fresh basil leaves
Pinch of sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt for garnish
10 basil leaves chopped for garnish
Whole-grain baguette
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

Roast bell pepper in 375 degree oven until charred and soft, about 10 minutes. Peel and seed pepper and cut into chunks. Core and cut tomatoes into chunks. In a food processor, puree the tomatoes and red bell pepper, tomato juice, lemon juice, stock and sugar – puree until smooth. Add 10 basil leaves and continue to puree until smooth. Add more stock if a thinner consistency is desired. Serve soup with garnish of sour cream and chopped basil.


Prepare garlic toast by sautéing garlic in olive oil until golden, 3-4 minutes. Slice baguette and place on a baking sheet. Brush baguette slices with garlic oil and toast in a 375 degree oven for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately with soup.


Yield: 6 servings (1 cup soup and 2 slices garlic toast)

Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 265 - Fat: 12 g

Saturated Fat: 1.8 g - Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 32 g - Protein: 8 g
Sodium: 403 mg - Dietary Fiber: 5.5 g

© 2012, UnitedHealthcare. Please contact your employer if you do not wish to receive these e-mail notifications.