ower Surges

MeraiMigNIE W2NAMMZOMINMASIMISKENWIM

Panel discusses women's mid-life health issues.

LINDA ROSENFELD SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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efering to menopause as a ease. If, for medical reasons, a
"new lease on life," re pre- woman is unable to take estro- Pritchard, focused on a healthy
sentatives of Planned P ar- gen, calcitonin and biophos- diet to maintain a healthy body.
enthood of Southe ast phates also are available. And, A registered dietitian at Henry
Ford Hospital, she explained that
Michigan and the Natio nal of course, there's calcium.
Council of Jewish Women or ga- The rest of the panel focused a low-fat, high-fiber diet is the
nized a panel to address the s ub- on a less medical, more attitudi- best way to keep fit through food.
Legumes and dried beans were
ject.
nal view of menopause. Dr. Sal-
Dr. Shari Maxwell, directo r of ly Rosenberg, a psychiatrist and mentioned several times as
obstetrics and gynecology at the psychologist, said historically sources of fiber and low-fat pro-
Pierson Center of Henry F ord women often withdrew from so- tein, as well as a product called
Hospital, began the afternoo n's ciety. Many felt that, without Beano, which is a gas-reducing
presentation with a concise ex- their ability to bear children, they food additive.
Held at Adat Shalom syna-
planation of Hormonal Repla ce- had no power. Only within the
ment Therapy, the most comm on past 60 years has that attitude gogue, the "Women's Mid-Life
medical treatment for the effec is changed, but not completely, she Health" panel drew about 65
Dorothy Storchan and Dorothy Sweet participate in exercise at the forum.
women. Most were older than 60.
of menopause.
said.
At
that
age,
the
women
were
ple. There needs to be a sympo-
Dr. Maxwell emphasized th at
Ms. Rosenberg wanted the
From a psychological per-
HRT, which involves an estrog en spective, menopause can cause past perimenopause (the grad- sium for women who are aging panel to help "demystify" this pe-
supplement, can help allevia to symptoms like depression, irri- ual period of change leading to and already have osteoporosis, riod of a woman's life. With the
menopause) and also beyond the she said.
some symptoms of menopau se, tability and unexpected mood
right preventative measures and
Judy Rosenberg, president of positive attitudes, she said, per-
like urinary problems, hot flas h- swings. Estrogen, as well as psy- prevention period of osteoporo-
NCJW, said "we were hoping to imenopause and menopause can
es (she showed a cartoon sayi ng chological therapy, can help to sis.
Dorothy Storchan, who is in attract more younger women,
that real women call them "po w- solve these problems. Dr. Rosen-
be a productive time in a
er surges"), osteoporosis and c ar- berg emphasized that it is im- her early 80s, felt that the dis- but women don't want to open woman's life. ❑
cussion
didn't
refer
to
older
peo-
their eyes to what is coming."
diovascular disease. She not ed portant to express the hurt,
that estrogen is the only me d- disappointment and frustra-
ication FDA-approved for t he tion accompanying
prevention of osteoporosis.
menopause in order to move
Dr. Maxwell pointed out, ho w- beyond the blues into a more
ever, that HRT does have som e upbeat, spiritual frame of
side effects, including breast can - mind.
cer, uterine cancer, unexplaine d
Barbara Schiff, co-owner of
vaginal bleeding and strokes. B ut the Workout Company, par-
these complications are general
took in the panel to encourage
ly particular to individuals. The y women to begin or continue
should not deter a women fro m exercising. Physical activity
at least inquiring about HRT, sh e is a way to defend their bod-
urim last week brought forth volunteers who
said.
es form osteoporosis, as well
helped metro Detroit's Jewish elderly enjoy
Also presenting a medical pe r- as the other side-effects of
the holiday of sweets, treats, singing and
spective on the topic was D r. menopause, she said. Three
games.
Henry Bone, director of the de
aerobic classes a week are
Eleventh-grade student Nechama Hochbaum,
partment of bone and mineral a t probably enough to help mit-
president of Akiva Hebrew Day School's student
Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Bon e i gate the problems of estrogen
council, organized her peers into three groups. The
spoke on the reasons for and pre - d epletion, increase muscle
students visited Menorah House and Prentis
vention of osteoporosis, a condi
mass, and strengthen the
Manor nursing homes, as well as Fleischman Res-
tion affecting bone tissue.
h eart.
idence, assisted living quarters in West Bloom-
"Osteoporosis is the majo r
Ms. Schiff also spoke
field.
cause of dependency in otherwise fr ankly about what exercise
Although the project was optional, "most all of
healthy, elderly women. A c annot do.
woman can have a good heart
`The exercise business is an
good lungs and good brains," h e i mage industry. We are sell-
(Akiva's) high-schoolers went. We wanted to make
Above right:
said. "But with a broken hip, sh e i ng fantasy, not reality," she
other people happy," Nechama said.
Botsford music
ends up in a nursing home."
therapist Rose
The students, 60 in all, delivered shalach man-
aid.
Morgan (center) ot, prepared by Jewish Experiences For Families.
Dr. Bone explained that bone
Unfortunately, women who
appreciates
continuously breaks down and is d on't buy into the fantasy
They sang with the residents and chatted with
volunteers ltzik
replaced throughout a person's
them about Purims of their past.
arely stick around for the re-
Prikupets, Pearl
lifetime. Osteoporosis is a condi- a lity — improved health and
In Farmington Hills, at Botsford Continuing
Biber, Stefa
tion in which the body is unable a ppearance, imperfect though
Health
Center, volunteers carried on a 25-year-old
Kupfer and
to replace bone sufficiently. It can th ese things might remain.
tradition of celebrating the holidays with residents
Susan Kraus.
of that institution.
be caused by many things: thy-
"Exercise is the metaphor
roid replacement therapy, cal- fo r how you will greet all chal-
Pearl Biber, a Bingham Farms resident and vol-
Above left Tillie
Katz and
cium and vitamin D deficiencies le nges of aging," she said.
unteer, organized a Purim service. Rabbi Chaim
Necha ma
and alcohol in excessive
Bergstein explained the message of Purim and pre- _
Ms. Schiff admonished that
Hochbaum talk
amounts. The biggest contribut- th e reasons woman age 50
sented residents with gifts. Volunteers Stefa
about Purim.
ing factor of osteoporosis is es- a nd older don't exercise are
Kupfer, Susan Kraus and Natalie Sunshine served
trogen deficiency.
the residents hamantashen, fruit and juice. Ac- (-)
ex actly the reasons why they
Bottom left:
Dr. Bone stressed the impor- sh ould: fear of being injured,
cordionist Itzik Prikupets entertained the elder- <
Etan Berman
ly with music.
tance of HRT, not only for the th ey don't like it and it's too
visits with
prevention of osteoporosis, but ha rd.
Ms. Biber and her volunteers are part of Ahavas
Menorah House
also in combat against heart dis-
resident Paulina Chesed Bikor-Cholem, a group whose members
The last speaker, Sherry
Tasco.
visit the ill and aged on a regular basis. ❑

Young, Old Help
Aged Enjoy Purim

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