Ivanhoe Insider
Newsletter
4/14/08
Back in the Saddle
A new mother faces many difficult decisions. One of the most immediate is whether to go back to work right away. And if you do go back, how often should you work? After giving birth to a beautiful baby boy in October, the decision for me was simple. I’m thrilled to be back at Ivanhoe … producing stories and working mostly from home. What a great way to juggle it all!
Speaking of babies, we’re featuring a great story on fertility this week. Did you know more than 6 million American women and their partners face some kind of infertility issue? Now, doctors are using a new freezing method to improve a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant.
There’s also new relief for two common problems. A minimally-invasive procedure can provide the same relief as spinal fusion for some patients with back pain. The recovery time is up to six weeks, instead of up to 12 months! And, a robot may be the answer for more than 10 million Americans who have osteoarthritis of the knee. Some doctors are using the technology to perform partial knee resurfacing, and the recovery is quicker!
In other news, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health recently found trans fats – the kind found in partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils – may be tripling the risk of heart disease in women. It’s a good thing many restaurants and food manufacturers are now removing trans fats from their products! After reading that report, you might want to consider having your cholesterol size checked. I was surprised to learn knowing how big or small your cholesterol particles are is just as important as knowing your cholesterol level.
You might see the stars dancing the tango on TV, but researchers are now studying whether the popular dance can help patients with Parkinson’s disease. Participants who danced the tango saw more dramatic improvements in balance and mobility than those who did traditional exercises.
With recent events like September 11th and hurricane Katrina, it’s no surprise that Americans fear disasters. If you want to be prepared, check out our special report Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? by Meghan Yost.