The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Wesley Chapel hospital welcomes new surgeons

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BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel recently welcomed two new surgeons to its growing medical team.

Dr. Kevin Seeras is a board-certified general surgeon whose clinical interests include robotics and bariatric/metabolic surgery. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and continued his education as a general surgery resident at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Michigan.

Seeras completed his fellowship in minimally invasive, foregut and bariatric surgery at Stony Brook University in New York.

Dr. Sahand Bamarni is a board-certified general surgeon skilled in performing laparoscopic and robotic techniques for a variety of surgical procedures, such as acute care surgery, mastectomy, skin and soft tissue masses, splenectomy and others.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Duhok College of Medicine in Iraq, followed by a general surgery residency at Duhok’s Azadi Teaching Hospital. The doctor completed an internship in general surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and completed a general surgery residency at Brandon Regional Hospital.

Both doctors are accepting new patients ages 18 and older. To learn more, visit BayCare.org/doctors.

Dr. Kevin Seeras (Courtesy of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel)
Dr. Sahand Bamarni

The importance of staying hydrated for overall health

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While much of the U.S. has been experiencing an extreme heat wave, staying hydrated becomes even more crucial to maintaining one’s overall health.

Hydrating one’s body is important to keeping the right balance of water, salt, minerals and proteins to keep cells, tissues and organs functioning optimally.

Dehydration is more than just feeling thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, your body already is dehydrated, signaling that the concentration of your blood and other body fluids is too high and needs water to restore balance, according to speaker, author and integrative medicine expert Dr. Sina Smith.

Recognizing and addressing dehydration is crucial during the summer months. (Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels)

Dehydration can become severe if not addressed promptly. Early signs include: dry lips and mouth; peeling or cracking nails; frayed and bleeding cuticles; crepey or flaky skin; darker urine and reduced urination frequency.

As dehydration progresses, it affects blood pressure and can cause these symptoms: dizziness and lightheadedness; rapid heartbeat; weakness and fatigue. If a person experiences symptoms such as feeling faint or a fast heartbeat, they should drink water slowly to avoid fainting.

Persistent dehydration can lead to heat stroke with symptoms of confusion, slurred speech, altered mental status and loss of consciousness. In such cases, 911 should be called immediately and cooling measures provided until help arrives.

Dr. Smith says “good hydration aids digestion, which can alleviate common issues such as diarrhea, constipation, GERD, heartburn and upset stomach. Improved digestion enhances nutrient absorption, promoting overall health and reducing embarrassment associated with digestive troubles.”

Proper hydration also supports endocrine system regulation, which enhances sleep quality, prevents hair loss by maintaining balanced testosterone levels, and more.

A general guideline is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily, with a  minimum of 64 ounces.

Active individuals should replace about 500 mL of water per hour of sweating, and weigh themselves before and after exercise to gauge fluid loss and drink 13 ounces to 16 ounces of water for every pound lost.

According to Smith, most people do not need sports drinks — a tiny pinch of salt in your water can suffice to maintain electrolyte balance.

Hydration has its own misconceptions, too. Cold drinks constrict blood vessels, slowing absorption. Room temperature or warm fluids are more effective. Caffeinated beverages can lead to increased urination and dehydration. Opt for water, herbal teas or decaffeinated drinks.

Everyone should drink water regularly, listen to their body’s signals, and make informed choices to stay hydrated.

Published July 10, 2024

Health News 07/10/2024

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Twenty-five volunteers came out to AdventHealth Tampa to help support “Blake’s Blankets.” They created more than 50 blankets to give to kids in the pediatric ER, pediatric unit and NICU. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Homemade comfort
Kids at the AdventHealth Tampa Pediatric Unit and Emergency Room now have the comfort of soft, homemade fleece blankets because of the generosity of 25 volunteers.

Volunteers arrived with fabric, needles and thread to AdventHealth Tampa’s Pepin Heart Center to support Blake’s Blankets, an initiative dedicated to providing comfort to pediatric patients, according to a news release.

The initiative was founded by AdventHealth Tampa’s Sandra Burnetter, director of pediatric services, and Rose Trier, a critical care lead in the pediatric emergency room, in memory of Rose’s son, Blake, who passed away in 2022. He had cerebral palsy, was wheelchair-bound and nonverbal.

The hospital is planning its next Blake’s Blankets volunteer event in September and it will be open to the public. Each volunteer session provides community service hours for students.

For more information, visit AdventHealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-tampa/events.

Resident doctors welcomed
AdventHealth welcomed 48 new resident doctors into its health care system with a White Coat Ceremony, marking the start of their post-graduate training. The white coat symbolizes the new residents entering into the medical profession, and their commitment to professionalism and empathy in medicine.

The new doctors will train with experts in various Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at AdventHealth’s West Florida hospitals.

AdventHealth leaders also honored the first graduating class of Family Medicine residents from AdventHealth Sebring.

The GME programs include general surgery and OB/GYN track at AdventHealth Tampa, and a Family Medicine Residency Program at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

Over the next three years, AdventHealth West Florida plans to graduate 88 residents through its programs in Sebring, Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Mix up your boring meal-planning schedule with a sweet potato salad

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While the joke goes “no great story ever starts with someone eating salad,” many people’s health journeys started that way, as the right ingredients in salads are nutrient-dense, reduce inflammation in the body, and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

And with 90-plus-degree days here with no end in sight, eating something cold is welcomed.

Try a sweet potato salad at your next summer cookout. (Jess Loiterton/Pexels)

Though the go-to image for most people when they think of salad is a bowl of leafy greens and assorted vegetables, there are lots of varieties out there, including those that don’t have leafy greens (or any vegetables) at all.

In fact, salad has more to do with the salt in the dressing than it does vegetables. It comes from the Latin word “sal,” meaning salt. Back in the days of the Roman Empire, salads were covered in salty, oily dressing (which still holds true today).

Hence why pasta salad, egg salad, three bean salad, rice salad, etc., can claim salad in their title.

In my home, salad night is twice a week — spinach salad to be exact.

It’s an easy no-cook meal, and it’s two less meals I have to think of when it’s time to meal plan every week.

I know some people don’t find salads filling or satisfying as a main dish, but by rotating different toppings (hard-boiled eggs, quinoa, orzo, cashews, and so on), I have yet to be bored of salad night. 

Here’s how to boost your salad-building process. Go down this checklist of food groups and make sure you’re not missing anything:

  • Leafy greens as the foundation (the darker the color, the more nutrition it has): iceberg lettuce is mostly water, so focus on spinach, kale, arugula, Swiss chard or red leaf lettuce for more nutritional value.
  • Vegetable and fruit toppings: get a variety of color for the most nutrition. Between carrots, tomatoes, green/yellow/red peppers, beets, onion, cucumber, mushrooms, apples, berries, citrus and so on, it’s easy to make your salad colorful. Whether fresh, canned or frozen, they all count toward your daily vegetable and fruit intake.
  • Grains: barley, couscous, quinoa or brown rice mixed in with your salad, or whole grain bread or rolls as a side dish.
  • Protein: salmon, chicken, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, kidney beans, tofu, black beans, sunflower seeds or chia seeds.
  • Dairy: cheese can be high in calories, so just sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of your preferred cheese. You can also use Greek yogurt as the base of a homemade dressing.
With your choice of greens, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy, you’ll be sure to find a salad combination to match your liking. (Luisa Brimble/Unsplash)

And speaking of dressing, make sure not to overdo it, as prepared dressings (especially cream-based ones) can easily surpass burgers or pizza in calories.

If you’d like to make your own dressing, use this guideline:

  • 3 Tablespoons acid (lemon juice, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, etc.)
  • ½ cup oil (olive oil, canola oil, etc.)
  • 1 Tablespoon seasoning (herbs, spices, Dijon mustard, parmesan cheese, etc.)

Using one ingredient from each category, mix the acid and seasoning in a container with a tight lid, then add the oil.  

Shake well.  

If you would still rather have something else as your main meal, at least consider a salad as a side dish simply for the health benefits.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County. Pasco County Extension.

RECIPES
We all know the classic potato salad dish, but have you tried sweet potato salad? Here’s a good recipe from University of Maine Extension:

Sweet Potato Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Makes 6 servings | Serving size: 1 cup

Ingredients
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch slices
4 teaspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ cup scallions, thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar or apple juice

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Place potatoes in roasting pan.
Coat the potatoes with 2 teaspoons of oil, pepper and thyme. Toss well.
Cover pan. (Use aluminum foil; no need for a special pan with a cover.)
Roast 15 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Cool.
Toss with remaining olive oil, scallions and apple cider vinegar.
Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve later.

And for a more traditional leafy green salad, try this Whole Meal Salad from Iowa State Extension:

Whole Meal Salad
Ingredients:
2 cups salad greens (romaine, spinach, or mixture)
1 cup chopped vegetables such as cucumber, frozen peas (thawed), onion, tomatoes, carrots, fresh mushrooms or bell peppers
1 egg (cooked and sliced)
1 ounce chicken, beef or pork (cooked and chopped) or 1/4 cup canned beans, drained
1 Tablespoon shredded cheese, chopped dried fruit, or chopped nuts
2 Tablespoons low-fat salad dressing

Directions:
Arrange greens on large plate or bowl.
Add vegetables.
Add egg, meat or beans.
Sprinkle with cheese, dried fruit or nuts.
Drizzle dressing over top.

Published July 03, 2024

Babies Bash celebrates Father’s Day

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Two Bucs babies enter the 2024 Bucs Babies Bash at the AdventHealth Training Center on June 16. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

AdventHealth hosted the 2024 Bucs Babies Bash, an annual celebration event to bring families together from the Bucs Babies program. The program is available to families who have delivered a baby in an AdventHealth West Florida Division hospital and offers them access to the Babies Bash starting the year after their child’s birth, according to a news release.

This year’s bash was on June 16, in celebration of Father’s Day.

Fun activities included an outdoor petting zoo, a custom airbrush station, fan football experience, face painting and balloon animals.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie players also met with fans and their families.

More than 2,000 people, including 1,000 children, attended the event.

For more information about the Bucs Babies Program and the Bucs Babies Bash, visit https://lp.adventhealth.com/sports-partnership/buccaneers/westflua/.

Health News 06/26/2024

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Front row, from left: Dr. Jessica Greer, nurse manager Kelly Howard and certified surgical tech Meggin Montalvo. Back row, from left: RN (registered nurse) Dawn LaPlume, troop leader Amy Kirby, Girl Scout Gabriella Kirby, Girl Scout Syraphina Kirby, Girl Scout Natalie Dorch, RN Terri Blanyar and RN Cindy Zipperer. (Courtesy of Martin Bahl/St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Hospital welcomes Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts Troop 50157, of Land O’ Lakes, is studying women’s health and visited with labor and delivery team members and medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, taking Girl Scout cookies to the team.

The Girl Scouts toured maternity operating rooms, labor and delivery rooms, and infant stabilization rooms, according to a news release. Troop leader Amy Kirby delivered her daughter, Gabriella, one of the Girl Scouts, at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North back in 2011.

It also was a reunion for mom Amy, Gabriella, and Dawn LaPlume, one of the nurses in the photo. LaPlume was Amy’s nurse when she delivered Gabriella. And Girl Scout Natalie’s mom, Aimee Dorch, another troop leader, is a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

The hospital extends its thanks to the Girl Scouts for the visit, the interest in the hospital’s women’s health services and the outstanding Girl Scout cookies, the release says.

Safety summit provides CPR training and more
AdventHealth provided families and youth sports coaches with hands-on CPR certification, alongside expert-led panel sessions at its Youth Sports Safety Summit on June 8.

Teachers, parents and coaches learn hands-on CPR at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

The free event at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa was designed to equip coaches and families with the knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard young athletes.

Leading clinical experts share information on recognizing concussion warning signs, managing heat exhaustion and understanding the mental health needs of athletes.

More than 100 people signed up for hands-on CPR demonstrations and CPR certification.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes. Estimates vary, but reports suggest that about 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 80,000 young athletes die of sudden cardiac arrest each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

State Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa), who attended the summit, played a pivotal role in the recent passage of HB 865, along with Rep. Brad Yeager (R-New Port Richey). This legislation was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis and mandates that Florida public school athletic coaches maintain certification in CPR, first aid and AED use. HB 865 will take effect starting July 1.

For those who want further CPR training, visit https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-tampa/events and search “CPR.”

Health News 06/19/2024

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Students receive free sports physicals
AdventHealth physicians and the Bond Clinic teamed up with 10 high schools in East Polk County to provide free annual sports physicals to more than 1,000 student athletes, to make sure they are fit and healthy to participate in the upcoming sports seasons safely, according to a news release.

Dr. Belinda Gavino was one of several providers offering health screenings to students. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Providers checked blood pressure, offered complete muscular-skeletal exams and looked for issues such as heart murmurs, joint tenderness, and neck and back injuries at Davenport High School.

It is common to assume that children and young adults have healthy hearts because of their age, but it is 2.5 times more likely for sudden cardiac arrest to occur in young athletes than non-athletes, the release says.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, occurs in one in every 500 people. A general exam, a look at family  history and an ECG can help identify at-risk athletes.

If a family’s health history answers “yes” to any of the following questions, a further evaluation may be needed:

  • Has your child ever fainted during exertion?
  • Has your child ever experienced chest pain during exertion?
  • Has anyone in your family ever died of sudden cardiac failure?

New children’s health bill introduced
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12-R) and Marc Veasey (TX-33-D) introduced the Early Detection of Vision Impairments in Children (EDVI) Act, which will establish grants for states and communities to improve children’s vision and eye health through screenings, early interventions and coordinated systems of care, according to a news release.

Currently there is no federally funded program in the United States that specifically addresses children’s vision or that fosters a cohesive and integrated system of eye health for children, the release says.

Some common vision disorders in childhood are: amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).

Under the EDVI Act, the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will award grants and cooperative agreements for states and local communities to:

  • Implement approaches for the early detection of vision concerns in children, referrals for eye exams and follow-up mechanisms
  • Identify barriers in access to eye care and strategies to improve eye health outcomes
  • Raise awareness about the importance of early interventions and screenings
  • Establish a coordinate public health system for vision health and eye care diagnosis and treatment
  • Develop state-based data collection, quality monitoring and performance improvement systems

Resources also will be made available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide technical assistance and guidance to states and communities to implement children’s vision screening and early intervention programs.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club made a delivery of handmade breast pillows, port protectors, turbans and drain bags to the Moffitt Cancer Center and AdventHealth for breast cancer patients. For more information about the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.(Courtesy of Deborah Erdahl)

Health News 06/12/2024

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Dr. Jonathon Tsai (Courtesy of BayCare)

New staff at BayCare Medical Group
Dr. Jonathon Tsai, general surgeon, has joined the BayCare Medical Group, 4211 Van Dyke Road, Suite 200, in Lutz, in the Physician Office Building on the St. Joseph’s Hospital-North campus. The surgeon earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, and completed a general surgery residency at Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia. Dr. Tsai prioritizes minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Strokes on the rise among young people
Research from the American Heart Association shows the rate of stroke has been steadily rising for the past 30 years among Americans younger than age 49, particularly among people living in the South and Midwest regions of the United States, according to an AdventHealth news release.

The findings came from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, which is a peer-reviewed, large-scale assessment of global health trends. It also found the stroke rate is declining in adults ages 75 and older in the U.S.

The most recent data from the Florida Department of Health shows stroke was the fourth leading cause of death in Florida. Since 2010, the number of Floridians who died from stroke has increased. Each year there are approximately 65,000 to 75,000 hospitalizations from stroke. Stroke is also a leading cause of long-term disability, the release says.

Most risk factors for stroke in young adults are similar to those in older adults, like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. Other risk factors include excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity, smoking and heart disease.

Health experts encourage people to remember the acronym “BE FAST” to look for symptoms:

B – Balance: look for loss of balance
E – Eyes: check for vision loss
F – Face: look for an uneven smile
A – Arms: check to see if one arm is weak
S – Speech: listen for slurred speech
T – Time: it is time to call 911 if any of these signs are present

To learn more about stroke prevention and treatment, visit AdventHealth.com.

States ranked for tick-borne illnesses
To mark National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Pest Gnome has ranked 2024’s Worst States for Tick-Borne Illnesses, according to a news release.

(Erik Karits/Pexels)

Pest Gnome is part of the Home Gnome family of home services sites that make it easy to find home services professionals, its website says.

Fifty states were compared in six categories for the annual rates of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).

Environmental factors such as forest area, hiking trails, and length of tick and flea season were also considered among 25 total metrics.

The most vulnerable states for tick-borne illnesses are: 1) New York, 2) Pennsylvania, 3) Texas, 4) California and 5) Wisconsin.

The least vulnerable states: 1) Hawaii, 2) Arizona, 3) Utah, 4) Idaho and 5) New Mexico.

To read the full story, visit PestGnome.com/blog/studies/worst-states-tick-borne-illnesses/.

Grantee spotlight
The Special Hearts Farm “Special Animals for Special Hearts,” in Winter Garden, serves individuals with disabilities and unique abilities by providing adult day training, supported employment, and entrepreneur business opportunities related to farming and gardening experiences.

The farm received $10,000 from the Autism License Plate grant and used the funds to support the farm, according to a news release.

Participants are trained to perform jobs including livestock care, woodworking, gardening and making goat milk soap. Products that are created, marketed and sold (goat milk, rustic signs, farm parties, goat yoga) provide an opportunity to promote community health and awareness.

The next Autism License Plate grant application cycle will open on July 1. All nonprofit organizations with an Internal Revenue Service designation as a 501(c)(3) exempt organization and State of Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration number that are providing services to individuals with autism and related disabilities in Florida are eligible to apply.

Health News 06/05/2024

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AdventHealth Wesley Chapel leaders honor the men and women of Pasco County Fire Rescue. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

A celebration of first responders
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hosted an EMS ceremony on May 21, commemorating the 50th anniversary of National EMS Week, to celebrate the dedication and bravery of Pasco County Fire Rescue first responders, specifically the service of Station 26 A shift, according to a news release.

Members of this EMS team were recognized for responding to a cardiac arrest patient on Easter Sunday and bringing them to the ER at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. The patient is recovering in the hospital’s cardiac rehab program because of the quick actions and care of the first responders.

The ceremony showcased the importance of honoring first responders who play a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of the community, saving lives and providing essential care during crises.

In addition to the ceremony at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Zephyrhills hosted a celebration on May 23 to honor Station 29 C shift and AdventHealth Dade City honored Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 32 A shift on May 24.

Veterans Home is charity of the month
The five Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices will feature the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes as its charity of the month for June.

The nursing home was built for veterans who need long-term skilled nursing care, with about 50% of the beds dedicated to veterans with dementia and related memory disorders.

“It is truly inspiring to serve our veterans who sacrificed so much in protecting our freedoms,” said Administrator Marlies Sarrett, in a news release.

“By supporting them as Charity of the Month, it is a fitting way to honor their service to our country. By donating, you are ensuring the residents of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have a refurbished outdoor recreation area to use. It is a way to honor their service!” said Sarrett.

Donations will be accepted at all tax collector offices, through the mail and online.

For information about the nursing home, call Program Director Rebecca Corley at 813-558-5000.

For more about the tax collector’s office’s charities, call Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179.

Mental health first aid
The Alliance for Healthy Communities has scheduled a Youth Mental Health First Aid class for June 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at BayCare Behavioral Health, 7809 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The class is open to any adult who works with or interacts with youth.

The course teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adolescents ages 12 to 18. Participants can learn how to build skills and confidence needed to reach out and provide initial support to young people who are struggling, and learn how to connect them to appropriate support.

For more information, visit MHFA.org. To register, call 727-315-8644, or email .

Detention facility partnership
The Pasco County Detention Facility announced a new partnership with correctional health care company NaphCare to provide services — medical, mental health, dental and pharmaceuticals — for its inmates, according to a news release.

The partnership will build on NaphCare’s 19-year legacy of delivering quality and proactive health care in Florida, with the goal of elevating patient care through innovative solutions while upholding the highest standards of care, the release says.

The detention facility will implement NaphCare’s first-of-its-kind, corrections-specific electronic health records (EHR) system, TechCare, offering the county a customized clinical information tool to efficiently track, organize and manage the medical information of incarcerated patients.

As of April 1, NaphCare began overseeing health care services in the detention facility, providing services to its 1,450 inmates.

Pasco hospitals all earn an A
All AdventHealth hospitals in Pasco County, including AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, have again earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog, according to a news release.

Leapfrog assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

Leapfrog’s hospital safety grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day nationally. The grade is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

To see AdventHealth West Florida’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

Know your risk for blood clots before taking birth control

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In today’s evolving reproductive health landscape, informed decision-making about contraception is crucial, particularly for women affected by inherited blood clotting conditions or thrombophilia. Selecting the right birth control method is pivotal, say experts, who point to research that shows the risk for potentially life-threatening blood clots is 35 times greater among women with genetic clotting disorders who use estrogen-based contraceptives.

((c) monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

Dynamic debate
Recent advances in technology and health care policies have fueled debate around screening for thrombophilia, a condition characterized by an increased tendency to develop blood clots, before starting estrogen-based contraceptives.

Current guidelines discourage universal thrombophilia testing, citing concerns such as costs and potential adverse psychological effects. Instead, selective screening, focused on individuals with personal or family histories of blood clots, is more likely to be embraced by the medical community. Also, concerns about unfair treatment by insurers or employers due to genetic disclosures underscore the complexities of this approach.

However, people in support of a more patient-centered approach to health care and this type of birth control decision-making stress the importance of identifying individuals at higher risk for blood clots.

Patient-centered approach
Each year, many hundreds of women in the United States alone lose their life due to blood clots linked to estrogen-based contraception, as studies demonstrate. Advocates for genetic testing emphasize its role in facilitating personalized health care decisions, potentially reducing the incidence of clot-related fatalities, and empowering women with information and a more patient-centric approach to reproductive health care.

Cost considerations remain a significant factor, but for many, the value of preserving health and saving lives far outweighs financial concerns. While insurance coverage for genetic testing varies, studies show a willingness among women to bear screening costs, underscoring the importance of informed decision-making.

Despite the perceived low absolute risk for blood clots among individuals with genetic clotting disorders, personal factors must be considered. Tailored approaches to contraceptive decisions, guided by individual risk profiles, may be warranted, especially in certain populations with higher rates of genetic clotting disorders.

For individuals with genetic thrombophilia, contraceptive options such as copper IUDs or progestin-only pills offer effective alternatives without increasing clotting risks. Prioritizing safety and effectiveness is paramount in contraceptive decision-making.

While genetic testing may cause some level of anxiety or concern, studies indicate that most individuals do not regret pursuing testing. Knowledge empowers individuals to make proactive decisions about their health, outweighing potential psychological burdens.

Genetic disclosures
Understanding the implications of genetic disclosures on insurance and employment can inform decision-making processes, though these concerns may rightfully deter some individuals from pursuing testing.

Women interested in pursuing genetic testing should talk with their health care provider about their testing options. Genetic counselors can also provide valuable help. Women considering their contraception options and interested in learning more about genetic testing can get more information from the Rowan Foundation at AlexRowanFoundation.org.

Empowering women
Genetic testing holds the promise of empowering women to engage in informed discussions with health care providers, fostering shared decision making in reproductive health care. Informed choices, guided by genetic information, may pave the way for more personalized and patient-centered care.

-StatePoint

Published May 29, 2024