News from Lifespan

OB/GYN Associates, Inc. Joins Lifespan’s Women’s Medicine Collaborative

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT

ob/gyn associates joins lifespan's women's medicine collaborative

Women’s Medicine Collaborative Experts Say Most Women with Heart Disease Will Have a Healthy Baby

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

February is American Heart Month

Non-Pharmacologic Treatments for Menopause: A Q&A with Iris Tong, M.D.

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Iris Tong, M.D. outlines the advantages and limitations of both medication and non-pharmacologic treatments for postmenopausal symptoms.

Women’s Medicine Collaborative Physician Helps Author New American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement On Constipation

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

_{Amanda Pressman, MD}

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recently issued its official medical position statement on constipation, a common condition associated with difficult or infrequent bowel movements. Amanda Pressman, MD, a gastroenterologist who leads the multidisciplinary defecatory disorders group at the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, served on the AGA Institute Medical Position Panel that released the statement, which is published in the January issue of Gastroenterology.

“The last constipation guidelines were published in 2000, and our understanding of management and treatment of constipation has changed in that time,” said Pressman.

According to Pressman, 16 percent of adults – including 33 percent of those over the age of 60 – suffer significant constipation, with women experiencing it 1.5 times more often than men. Many people who suffer from severe constipation do not know that there may be significant and treatable medical conditions underlying their symptoms.

The new guidelines outline the most appropriate tests and diagnostic workup to investigate and manage these symptoms, emphasizing early testing with anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion, a technique used to measure contractility in the anus and rectum.

Pressman, who also heads up the Gastroesophageal and Rectal Motility Lab at Lifespan, said these are painless, simple tests that can provide important information about the muscles and nerves needed for regular bowel movements. Depending on the results, there are very effective non-surgical treatment options that can have dramatic results in patients who suffer with chronic constipation.

The Women’s Medicine Collaborative provides cutting edge testing and treatment of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence in collaboration with pelvic floor physical therapy, nutrition, surgery and gastroenterology all under one roof.

Read the full text (UnboundMedicine.com)

Is it PMS or Something More?

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST

Experts from the Women’s Medicine Collaborative describe the difference between PMS and a more serious condition known as PMDD

Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Looks at Fecal Transplant as Treatment for C. Difficile

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST

Randomized, controlled clinical trial will examine safety, efficacy of potentially life-saving procedure

Women’s Medicine Collaborative Receives International Accreditation For Bone Density Testing

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Women’s Medicine Collaborative was recently accredited by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) for excellence and quality in performing bone densitometry

The Women’s Medicine Collaborative Awarded $358,585 to Pilot Shared Medical Appointments Program

Fri, 1 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EST

Rhode Island Foundation’s Fund for a Healthy Rhode Island grant to support patient care initiative

Silvia Degli Esposti, M.D., Honored By The National Organization Of Italian American Women

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Silvia Degli Esposti, M.D., director of the Center for Women’s Gastrointestinal Medicine at the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, was recently honored by the Rhode Island Region of the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) at its first Epiphany celebration in Providence.

Degli Esposti was named one of “Four Wise Women,” joining the Honorable Jeanne E. LaFazia, chief judge of the Rhode Island District Court, and Lois Scialo Ellis and Carol Scialo Gaeta, co-owners of Scialo Bakery.

As a pioneer in the field of women’s health in gastroenterology and expert in gastrointestinal and liver disease in pregnancy, Degli Esposti works at a national level to develop programs addressing the needs of women. She founded one of the first centers in the nation to address the gastrointestinal needs of women by providing an all-women environment of care, including a colonoscopy and endoscopy setting designed with the female patient in mind.

She currently serves as director of the Center for Women’s Gastrointestinal Medicine (www.womensGIRI.org) in Providence. The Center, part of the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to women’s gastrointestinal issues. Led by Degli Esposti, the highly trained, all-female staff cares for women with major diseases and conditions of the intestine and liver at every stage of life, including pregnancy.

Degli Esposti is also a state advocate for women’s health, leading the Rhode Island Perinatal Hepatitis Prevention Program, an award-winning, collaborative program with the Rhode Island Department of Health focused on caring for pregnant women with viral hepatitis and their children.

Board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology, Degli Esposti is an associate professor of medicine (clinical) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where she is also director of the fellowship pathway in women’s gastrointestinal diseases. Her clinical and research interests include liver disease and gastrointestinal diseases in women. She is currently leading several studies in inflammatory bowel disease and hepatitis in pregnancy.

Fluent in both English and Italian, Degli Esposti graduated summa cum laude from the University of Bologna Medical School in Bologna, Italy.

The NOIAW is the premier organization for women of Italian heritage that is committed to preserving Italian heritage, language and culture by promoting and supporting the advancement of women of Italian ancestry. NOIAW serves its members through cultural programs and networking opportunities, and supports young women through nationally acclaimed scholarship, mentoring and cultural exchange programs.

Top Three Healthy New Year’s Resolutions Every Woman Should Make

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

With the start of a new year just around the corner, many women find themselves vowing to adopt a healthier lifestyle in 2012, whether it’s losing weight, joining a gym or quitting smoking. While these New Year’s resolutions offer significant health benefits, physicians with the Women’s Medicine Collaborative say there are other health-related goals that women should also consider in their resolve to stay well in 2012 and beyond.

“When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, some women tend to focus on the things they want to stop or lose and they may not think about the other positive changes they can make to improve their health, not just in the short term but in the long run as well,” says Iris Tong, M.D., a primary care physician with the Women’s Medicine Collaborative.

Following are Tong’s recommendations for the top three healthy New Year’s resolutions every women should make:

New Year’s Resolution #1: Know your numbers
It’s been said before – cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. But how many women know whether their blood pressure is in normal range or could tell a health care provider what their cholesterol levels are? Tong says knowing and understanding one’s “numbers” – particularly blood pressure and cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) – will help women have a more productive discussion with their physicians about their heart health.

“It’s more than just going for the recommended lab work; you can’t control high blood pressure or high cholesterol or track your progress if you don’t know what your results are or what they mean,” she says. “Women need to be proactive. Ask your physician whether your results are in the normal range, and if they’re not, ask what lifestyle changes you can make to manage your levels and reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke.”

And don’t forget about blood sugar levels. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 79 million people in the United States who have “pre-diabetes” – blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Left untreated, this condition is likely to become type 2 diabetes, but certain lifestyle changes like weight loss and exercise can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes by more than half. For women with risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of gestational diabetes or family history of diabetes, Tong recommends a blood test called a Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), “which reflects a person’s average blood sugar level over the past 3 months.”

New Year’s Resolution #2: Be creative about physical activity
Becoming more active is always a healthy goal, Tong says, especially when women remember there are other ways to get exercise besides hitting the gym each day or going for a five-mile run. With a little creative thinking, women can easily fit in fitness and experience the health benefits of being physically active.

“We know women have a lot of demands placed on them, whether it’s their careers or caring for their children or parents, so squeezing in the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day can be challenging,” Tong says. “But with a little planning and creativity, you can add more physical activity to your day by sneaking it in to your other daily activities.”

Most women have heard about parking as far as possible in a parking lot or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. In addition, Tong also suggests:

Go for a quick 10 to 15 minute walk on your lunch break.
Take the stairs instead of using the elevator at work.
Involve your children. Challenge your child to a jumping jacks contest or dance with your toddler to your favorite music.
Behind on housework? Scrubbing the bathroom, vacuuming or running up and down the stairs to put the laundry away can actually burn significant calories. Put on some music and keep up with the tempo.
Have to run errands at the mall? Do several laps around the length of the mall while you are there.
Catching up with an old friend? Take a walk while you’re talking on the phone.

New Year’s Resolution #3: Add a bone density scan and colonoscopy to your routine health screenings.
In addition to regular mammograms and Pap smears – and “knowing your numbers” – Tong says it’s important for women to remember their bone and colorectal health as well.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, it is estimated that about half of all women over the age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become weak and can break more easily. That’s why it is recommended that most women start getting screened for osteoporosis with a bone density test at age 65.

“Many women with osteoporosis may not experience any symptoms or know their bones are getting weaker,” says Tong. “That’s why early identification is so important, because there are many things women can do to boost their bone strength and delay the progression of osteoporosis, such as getting appropriate amounts of calcium and vitamin D each day and doing regular weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, yoga, stair climbing, and dancing.”

Many women would be surprised to learn that of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that as many as 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women age 50 and older were screened routinely. Unfortunately, many people shy away from the main screening tool – a colonoscopy – because the test is unpleasant and uncomfortable.

“The reality is that colonoscopies can save lives,” Tong says. “With colorectal cancer, most patients have no symptoms until the cancer has progressed. Colonoscopies not only find precancerous polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer, but they can also help identify and diagnose colorectal cancer early, when we know treatment works best.”

Physicians recommend that adults begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50 then continue getting screened at regular intervals, unless there are other risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as a family history or a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, for which earlier testing may be advised.