ICAN of Lehigh Valley Responds to New ACOG Guidelines on VBAC 22 July 2010, 3:00 pm Vaginal Birth After Cesarean is a Safe and Reasonable Option for Most Women Allentown, PA, July 22, 2010 – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released updated Practice Guidelines for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) yesterday, July 21, 2010. ACOG states that VBAC is a safe and reasonable option for most women, including some women with multiple previous cesareans, twins and unknown uterine scars. ACOG also states that respect for patient autonomy requires that even if an institution does not offer trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC), a cesarean cannot be… Read More
Continue ReadingDisc Herniations
What is a disc? A spinal disc is a soft cushion that lays between the vertebrae in the back and neck. The job of a disc is to act as a shock absorber for the spine. There are 2 layers to a disc. The inner layer is filled with a jelly-like substance while the outer layer is made of cartilage. A young persons disc will be soft and elastic but as we age our discs become less flexible. What happens when a disc herniates? As the disc becomes more rigid it is more prone to injury. The outer cartilaginous rings may break and cause the inner jelly-like substance to leak… Read More
Continue Reading5 Tips to Better Sleep
When responsibilities mount, sleep is the first thing to drop off the priority list. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, as many as 47 million Americans are sleep deprived (2002 Sleep in America poll). And that’s a problem since experts argue that getting adequate zzz’s is as important to health and wellbeing as diet and exercise. If you have a hard time falling asleep, wake up often in the night, or feel exhausted and doze off in the daytime, try the following tips for a more restful slumber. 1.Stick To A Schedule: Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even… Read More
Continue ReadingBelly Fat Linked to Heart Disease
Many of you may know that being overweight is not healthy for your heart. But not all fat is created equal. Belly fat is a greater indicator of developing heart disease than hip fat. Here is why: Fat cells in the belly are not the same type of cells compared to fat cells in the hips. The blood from belly fat goes directly to the liver, while the blood from the hips goes into the body for general circulation. Because belly fat reaches the liver, those with belly fat end up with livers that are blocked. This reduces its capability to remove insulin from the blood of the person. On… Read More
Continue ReadingWhat is Kinesio Tape?
Kinesio Tape is a fast growing method of rehabilitation which has become more popular since the 2008 Summer Olympics where many Olympians were seen using Kinesio Tape. Other athletes who have used Kineso Tape include Serena Williams, David Beckham, and Edgerrin James. Kinesio taping involves taping around an injured muscle in order to provide support and prevent over-contraction of the muscle, while still allowing full range of motion. It is important for a muscle to have full range of motion while it is healing or function may be compromised once the injury has healed. It also helps to reduce muscle fatigue by supporting the muscle. Kinesio Tape also helps to… Read More
Continue Reading