ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060043
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Health Notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
Are you staying healthy? Answer yes or no to the following questions from the American Medical Association. If you can answer "yes" to all of them, you are maximizing your chances of staying healthy. The more "no" answers, the more you need to think about making some changes.
1. Are you within the optimum weight limits for your height?
2. Do you climb at least 40 stairs on most days?
3. Do you exercise moderately for a total of 30 minutes at least five times per week?
4. Do you walk at least a few blocks every day?
5. Do you usually sleep soundly and wake up feeling energetic and ready for the day ahead?
6. At the end of a work day, do you usually feel energetic enough to go out for a social evening?
7. If you drink alcohol, do you keep your intake low?
8. Have you been a nonsmoker for at least 15 years?
9. Can you walk up three flights of stairs without having to pause to catch your breath?
10. Do you drive carefully and always wear a seat belt?
11. Are you happy with your life, and do you generally have a positive outlook?
12. Do you have regular medical checkups?
13. Is the amount of fat in your diet below 30 percent of your total intake of calories?
14. Do you always refrain from drinking alcohol or taking drugs when driving?
15. Do you abstain from using any type of drug that affects your mood or ability to think?
16. If you are not in a monogamous relationship, do you use a latex condom every time you have sex?
17. Have you and your family learned essential life-saving first-aid procedures such as the Heimlich maneuver and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
A look at obstetrics
Couples planning to have children - or already in the process - might find the state's first guides to obstetrical services interesting reading.
Five guides, each covering a particular geographic area, came out this spring as a project of the nonprofit Virginia Health Information group and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. It's the first effort to bring together information that can help the consumer and her family choose a place for service.
These groups have compiled data that was collected in early 1995 into charts on the number of deliveries at a facility, types of services available, Caesarean birth rates and even a range of Caesarean birth rates at each hospital for physicians who delivered more than 20 infants.
An important touch, too, is a list of instructions on how to interpret the information. For example, lower overall Caesarean rates are better and lower first-time Caesarean birth rates are better. However, higher rates are better for vaginal births to women who had previous Caesarean deliveries.
So how did our hospitals do?
Five hospitals, Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Lee County Community Hospital In Pennington Gap, Smyth County Memorial in Marion, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount, and Memorial Hospital of Martinsville & Henry County had more Caesareans than would be expected, according to the guide. The others were as expected.
Rates for Caesarean deliveries, where the physician makes an incision in the mother's abdomen to deliver the baby, are of interest because there is a national concern that the procedure is overused. In 1970, only 5 percent of births were Caesareans; in 1993, it was 23 percent.
A hospital's rate of vaginal births to women who had a previous Caesarean delivery has also been included because of similar concerns. For many years, if a woman had one Caesarean delivery, most doctors suggested that all subsequent deliveries be surgical. That practice was challenged long ago, however.
Expectant parents can view the guides at a public library or order a free copy for their area by calling (804) 643-5573.
You can reach Sandra Brown Kelly at (800) 346-1234, ext. 393, outside the Roanoke Valley, at 981-3393 in the valley, or through biznews@roanoke.infi.net. Suggestions for topics are welcome.
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