YAD SARAH HEALTH NEWS
December 2007 vol.10 no.9
By Lili
Eylon
Lead
Story: Women's Health
On
the Global Scene: Women Power Conference
At
Yad Sarah: Branch Expansions
Israeli Health Care
Innovations: New Vein Transparency
Did
You Know? Amazing Tidbits
Travel Tips: The Musem of Jewish Diaspora in Tel Aviv
Links
Who We Are?
Yad
Sarah in Media
Do you wish to
help?
1. Lead Story: Women's Hormone Therapy Controversy ?
At the beginning of the 20th century when women were seen to die at the age of 55, at the onset of menopause, medical experts advocated hormone replacement therapy to prolong life. Then it was also universally presumed that HRT protects women from osteoporosis and heart disease. (Women today live about 80 years in the western world.)
Some 26 million people throughout the world are believed to be suffering from the disease. While its causes are still wrapped in mystery, it is known that when a person is stricken, his brain cells stop communicating with one another. As they atrophy, they cause memory and reasoning to fade.
How do we know whether our hormones are flowing in tandem to our body's needs? "In the case of thyroid, for instance," Dr. Shilo replies, "the gland may not be functioning properly if there is tiredness, overweight, constipation or sensitivity to cold. One or all these are symptoms of thyroid under activity (hypothyroidism). On the other hand, if the gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism), opposite symptoms will manifest themselves: weight loss, sensitivity to warmth, etc. In either case, one ought to see the family doctor." However, it is easier to deal with hypothyroidism, the doctor adds parenthetically.
Some years ago, a massive research project involving thousands of women found that HRT does not protect from disease (although it provides a certain quality of life) and actually tends to increase the danger of breast cancer.
Professor Uziel Beller, Head of the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem says that "there were many questionable elements in this research." The truth, he maintains, lies somewhere between the two theories, and he recommends individualized hormone therapy.
In cases where menopausal woman suffer from hot flashes, insomnia, irritation or vaginal discomfort, he advises the application of HRT, with a small dosage. "The treating doctor must know the patient's complete medical picture, weigh all the factors and see whether the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks or vice versa."
Professor Beller added that Israel lead the world in many areas of obstetrics, for instance, in infertility treatment.
2. On the Global Scene -Women Power
Once a year 1,000 powerful bankers, lawyers, managers, fund-raisers, entrepreneurs, marketing geniuses, politicians, scientists and managing directors from around the world descend on Deauville in the Normandy region of France. They are all women
Copaxonel was the first original Israeli drug to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is today marketed in more than 40 countries worldwide, including the U.S.A., Europe, Australia, Latin America and Israel.
From all over the world they come – armed with business cards and laptops, lipstick and hairdryers.They come to create their own networks and talk about the big issues, such as “sustainable cities – where the environment meets the individual” – or subjects with a conspicuously high “gender” and “women” count. One of the speakers at the recent meet was Lebanese Christian journalist May Chidiac who described how she became disabled by a terrorist car bomb in Beirut
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. 3. At Yad Sarah: Branches Expand
With the help of the Ramat Gan municipality in providing and remodeling a suitable building, the Yad Sarah branch there was able to relocate to larger quarters on Krinitzi Street recently. Menashe Ben Chaim donated the medical equipment and the operational costs in memory of his wife, Nogah.
At the recent opening, Ramat Gan Mayor, Zvi Bar, praised the organization – above all its volunteers – for their devotion in helping those in need. Uri Lupolianski, mayor of Jerusalem and founder of Yad Sarah, expressed his gratitude to Mayor Bar for quickly finding a suitable building for the expanded branch. Menashe Ben Chaim, in his remarks, told how when he and his wife decided to donate to humanitarian causes, Yad Sarah was the first place that came to mind.
In Jerusalem, Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital was the site for dedication of a new and larger Yad Sarah lending branch. At the ceremony, Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef emphasized the outstanding cooperation between Yad Sarah and the hospital in lending equipment to patients upon their discharge, and for the “Daat” service which provides patients with information on their diseases and medical conditions. The medical equipment in the branch was donated by the Strauss Foundation
4. Israeli Health Care Innovations: New Vein Transparency
The Vein Viewer by Luminetx uses a combination of near-infrared light and patented technologies to image vascular structures, thus allowing physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to clearly see accessible vasculature (or lack of vasculature) in real time, directly on the surface of the skin. By imaging the vasculature, clinicians have the ability to visualize the location of the target area regardless of a patient's age, body type or skin tone. During prototype development the device was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most innovative medical inventions of the year. For information please click at Website
5.Did you Know?
• As you age, your eye color gets lighter.
• There are 206 bones in the adult human body, but 300 in children (some of the bones fuse together as a child grows).
• The blue whale can produce sounds up to 188 decibels. This is the loudest sound produced by a living animal and has been detected as far away as 530 miles.
• It takes approximately 12 hours for food to be entirely digested.
• The longest living cells in the body are brain cells which can live an entire lifetime.
• Chimps are the only animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror.
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6. Acessible Travel Tips: The Nachum Goldmann Museum of Jewish Diaspora
Located on the campus of Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv, the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Bet Hatfutzot) tells the story of Jews in the Diaspora from the time of the expulsion after the destruction of the Second Temple to the present.
History, tradition and heritage as well as the Jewish contribution to world culture are brought to life in murals, reconstructions, audio-visual displays, documentary films and interactive multi-media presentations.
For visitors in wheelchairs, there is special parking, elevators throughout, and large toilet facilities. For more information, please call 972-3-7457800
Web info
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7. Linkswww.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/womenshealth.html
8. Who we are
Yad Sarah is a unique, community-based non-profit organization whose 6,000 volunteer and small professional staff provides, via 103 centers located throughout Israel, home care support services to residents in need of temporary or permanent assistance. Aid is also extended to disabled tourists and visitors to the country.
Our website: http://www.yadsarah.org/
Check out the new features on the website: Accessible sites and tours in Israel, Travel guide to additional sites.
This article was published in Jerusalem Post, November 2004.ISRAEL'S Yad Sarah lends a helping hand:
Israel 21c
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Do you wish to help Yad Sarah? There are many ways to help Yad Sarah. Click here to learn more. Donations to Yad Sarah are tax exempt in Israel, the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Yad Sarah National Headquarters: Yad Sarah House, Kiryat Weinberg , 124 Herzl Boulevard , 96187, Jerusalem Israel. Tel. +972-2-644-4444 E-mail: info@yadsarah.org.il Website: http://www.yadsarah.org/ Friends of Yad Sarah Worldwide < > |