RESOURCES: Definitions

Definitions
Insurance Providers
Pregnancy Q & A
Helpful Websites
Stress Incontinence Q & A
Breast Self Examination
Sexually Transmitted Disease Q & A
Women's Health Tips

DEFINITIONS

Nurse practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, according to the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP). The ACNP says this training enables the Nurse Practitioner to diagnose and manage most common and many chronic illnesses. According to the ACNP, “Working in collaboration with a physician, a nurse practitioner provides high quality, cost effective and individualized care for the lifespan of patient’s special needs.

Osteoporosis Diagnosis and Prevention
More than half of all women have thinning bones by the time they’re in their fifties! In their 60s, that number jumps to 74%. Women’s bones are strongest in their twenties and thirties, with the marked decline in Bone Mass Density beginning with menopause. But every woman is different.

Do you know if you’re at risk?

There are so many things you can do to treat or prevent osteoporosis, but the first step is finding out if you have it! That’s why Ironwood OB/GYN now offers DEXA Scans as part of its specialized services for women. The DEXA Scan is an easy and painless way to check your bone density. Ours is what’s called a Central Machine, meaning you simply lie on the table and the machine tracks along key areas of your body to measure your Bone Mass Density. [BDM] It just takes a few minutes - and you don’t even have to disrobe! But that short test could help improve your quality of life for decades to come.

Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease’ for good reason. Because there are no early warning signs, most women won’t know they have osteoporosis until a serious problem occurs. Talk with your Ironwood physician to find out if you should have your BMD checked!

Bladder Control Treatment
Sometimes, when you laugh really hard, do you leak a bit of urine? Or do you have to rush to the bathroom more often than you’d like…and sometimes don’t make it in time? Has a recent operation - or neurological condition - left you unable to control your urination as well as you’d like?

You don’t have to put up with Stress Incontinence!  Ironwood OB/GYN’s UroDynamics Program can help find the cause of your leakage…and develop the most appropriate treatment for your problem.  Please keep in mind, stress incontinence is a treatable condition.  And it affects women of all ages!  This is NOT necessarily a natural part of the aging process! 

There are medications available to help you….or biofeedback…or muscle therapy…or, if necessary, surgery could be an answer. Talk with your Ironwood physician to determine the cause of your incontinence. Let her help you find your solution.

Total Body Dexa Scan
The results will give you:
1. Your Body Fat Composition.
This is your total body fat percentage. This number is important for people who are interested in their physical fitness, working with a personal trainer, or changing their body shape and metabolism. The more muscle mass we have as opposed to body fat, the faster we will metabolize fat calories and the more fit we will look and feel.

2. Your Body Mass Index (BMI):
This is a number that is used to determine if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Your height and weight is used in the calculation and the scoring is standardized by the World Health Organization.

This measurement is NOT covered under your insurance and is for Ironwood patients only.
Please call our office for additional information.

COMPRESSION SCLEROTHERAPY
COMPRESSION SCLEROTHERAPY is an effective
treatment for varicose veins, spider capillaries, and
varicose ulcers. This convenient office procedure
involves injections into the affected veins followed by
bandaging. Most patients can be treated within one to
three visits.

There is no need for hospitalization, no surgical scars,
no anesthesia, no convalescent rest period (patients can
return to work the same day).

WHAT ARE CAPILLARIES (SPIDER VEINS)? These
unsightly vascular blemishes are networks of dilated,
thin-walled vessels in the skin. They are extremely
common and are found to develop in two thirds of
pregnant women. They also enlarge during
menstruation and increase at menopause. With the use
of the micro injection technique these can be eradicated.

This simple injection method, made with a tiny needle is
practically painless. It is also very safe as only the skin
itself is treated and there is no effect elsewhere on the
body. Capillary treatments are not like those for varicose
veins and the number of capillary injections or visits
cannot be predicted accurately. The treatment is very
successful in most cases if followed through to
completion. However, the reactions following injection
should be understood so that the patient will not be
alarmed over normal temporary changes. In the ideal
case, injections into the capillaries may be followed by a
change in color in the capillary itself. This discoloration
will disappear in a few days to a few weeks, leaving
normal looking skin.

Please ask your physician here at Ironwood about this
procedure. Pre selected Saturday appointments are
available.

For more information, please contact our office at 881-1977