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Surviving the Juggling Act Tips for moms balancing a family and a full-time career

Professional Pointers

Career advice for young women starting out

Fine Tuning the Family Finances How moms can trim their household budgets

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

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6 Fitness tips for women looking to be more active How women can reduce their risk of diabetes 7 How moms can trim costs from the household budget 8 Can iron alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome?

9 Get the facts about fibromyalgia 10 What’s behind female hair loss Did you know? Age-related macular degeneration 11 Remain calm after mammogram callback 14 Address your financial concerns and take control of your finances 15 Building a business wardrobe

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

Time management tips for working moms

T

he responsibility of raising a family while maintaining a career is never easy. Working moms often wish there were more time in the day to spend with their families or get more done at the office. While there’s no way women can add a 25th hour to their days, there are ways to manage your time more effectively so you can get around to doing those things you never seem to have the time to do. • Get a head start. Perhaps no time of day is more hectic for a working mother than the morning, when she must get ready for work while getting the kids ready for school and ensuring they have a good breakfast. Some moms even drop their youngsters off at school.

That’s a lot of tasks to tackle before you even sit down in your office to answer the first e-mail or listen to the morning’s first voicemail. To make mornings less frantic, get a head start the night before by laying out the next day’s clothes

Effective time management can help working moms better handle the tall task of juggling a family and a successful career.

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EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER • May 8, 2013 for you and encouraging your kids to do the same. Preparing lunches, packing a gym bag and even setting the coffee maker can all be done the night before to save you time and make mornings more relaxing. • Take public transportation to work.

Public transportation may not be available to all working mothers, but those with access to a train, subway or bus might want to take advantage of that opportunity. If you do, you can spend your daily commute catching up with work instead of sitting in traffic behind the wheel of your car. Even if public transportation takes a little more time to get you to work than driving yourself, that extra time can be spent preparing for the day ahead. • Catch up on work over the weekend.

The weekends are a time when many working mothers look to unwind, but spending an hour or two catching up on work on a Saturday or Sunday morning is a great way to make the week a little less hectic. As the week progresses toward the weekend, set aside certain tasks that aren’t urgent but can be easily addressed in an hour or so over the weekend. This frees up time during the week to tackle larger projects and might even allow you to leave your office earlier on weekdays.

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• Prepare or even cook meals in advance. The days of yore when mom cooked all the meals are largely a thing of the past, as nowadays both parents tend to share cooking duties. Moms can cut down on the time it takes to serve up family meals on weeknights by cooking meals in advance. Think of dishes you can prepare on the weekends and then freeze until you’re ready to serve. Or purchase a slow cooker that slowly cooks your meal all day while you’re out and about. By the time you and your family arrive home at night, dinner will be ready and you will have more time to relax after a long day. • Share the work. Sharing your workload pertains to both home and the office. At home, don’t feel like you have to be a superhero capable of handling all of the household tasks like cooking, cleaning and walking the dog on your own. Share these responsibilities with your spouse and even your children when they’re old enough. At the office, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your coworkers or ask for favors from coworkers who might be able to help.

Managing time effectively is of paramount importance for working mothers. Learning to do so effectively can make for a better personal as well as professional life.

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

Working out with a spouse, friend or coworker can help motivate women attempting to adopt a more active lifestyle.

How women can reduce their risk of diabetes

Getting back in the swing of things

Fitness tips for women looking to be more active

M

odern women have a lot on their plates. Women with families often must balance the considerable responsibilities of life at home with the demands of a full-time career. Women’s health is too often sacrificed at the expense of their dueling responsibilities to work and family, and that can lead to numerous problems down the road.

Women who want to get healthier need not fear that their new devotion to a healthier lifestyle will take some of their focus away from their families or their careers. In fact, women who feel better physically often find it easier to juggle family and career than those who don’t make time for exercise.

The following are a few tips to help women become more active so they can better handle the increasingly difficult balance of work and family life.

• Don’t go it alone. The buddy system can be employed in many avenues of life, but it is perhaps most effective with regard to adopting an exercise regimen. Exercising with friends or even your spouse can motivate you to commit to exercise, as you won’t want to let your exercise partner down. Your buddy also can help motivate you on those days when you really don’t feel like exercising.

• Embrace daily activity. When you’re becoming active again after a long hiatus from physical activity, you don’t want to dive in too heavily and risk injury, but you do want to commit to being active on a daily basis. Being active every day does not necessarily mean you have to spend 60 minutes on the treadmill every morning, but stay active even when you aren’t necessarily exercising. Go for a walk after dinner or take the stairs up to your office instead of the elevator. Take periodic breaks from your desk, walking to get a glass of water or walking just to stretch your legs. Even if it’s minor, such activity can help you avoid falling back into bad habits on those days when you aren’t embracing more strenuous physical activity.

• Find exercise you will enjoy. Far too many people have attempted to become more active only to ultimately abandon such efforts because their exercise regimens bored them. Women who have never before embraced lifting weights or enjoyed jogging on the treadmill likely won’t find those activities agreeable now, either.

Finding physical activity you enjoy is a recipe for success, whereas you’re far less likely to embrace a fitness regimen if you find it boring or repetitive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend adults get at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, every week and some muscle-strengthening activities that focus on all the major muscle groups on two or more days per week. Those guidelines are not very restrictive, allowing women to tailor their workouts around activities they enjoy. For example, if you don’t like lifting weights, you don’t have to spend much time focused on musclestrengthening exercises. Devote some time to such exercises, but leave the bulk of your time for activities you truly enjoy.

• Stay on top of your progress. If you are used to balancing work and family, then chances are you are adept at monitoring various things all at once. Your physical fitness is no different. While many women equate daily weigh-ins with their fitness progress, avoid using your scale as the way to monitor your progress, as scales can be misleading. Instead, keep a diary of your workouts and your diet, and write in how you felt each day. This diary can help you find out what works for you and what might not be working. Give yourself time each week to monitor this progress and make adjustments as needed.

Embracing a physically active lifestyle after a long hiatus from exercise can be challenging, especially for women juggling the responsibilities of a family and career. But women who try a more physically active lifestyle often find this has a positive impact on their family and professional life.

M

illions of people across the globe are living with diabetes, a chronic disease in which sugar levels in the blood are high. The side effects of diabetes can be serious, and some people might become very sick even before they are diagnosed, while others may need to make drastic lifestyle changes upon diagnosis in order to avoid more dire consequences, including death.

Though diabetes does not discriminate based on race or gender, women should know that certain things can elevate their risks. Birth control pills, for example, can increase a woman’s blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Elevated blood sugar levels are a symptom of diabetes or prediabetes, a condition when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to indicate diabetes.

Prediabetes can eventually develop into type 2 diabetes, and recent studies have shown that prediabetes increases a person’s risk of heart disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, women going through menopause may also have elevated blood sugar levels thanks to hormonal changes.

So what are women concerned about diabetes to do? Though there’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, which is most often diagnosed in children, teens or young adults, women can take steps to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.

• Increase your lean muscle mass. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that increasing muscle mass can reduce people’s risk of developing prediabetes. This is significant for women who may avoid lifting weights in favor of cardiovascular equipment like the treadmill or elliptical machine. Though cardiovascular exercise can burn glucose as well, it’s still important to build lean muscle by including some strength and resistance training in a workout regimen.

• Don’t carry extra weight. According to a 2001 study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, overweight people are 20 to 40 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with healthy weights. If you are carrying extra weight, a combination of diet and exercise should help you shed pounds and lower your risk for type 2 diabetes as a result.

• Embrace whole grains. In a separate

study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, whole grains were found to protect women against diabetes. Women who ate two to three servings of whole grains per day were 30 percent less likely to have developed type 2 diabetes than women who rarely ate whole grains. Whole grains should be consumed in place of refined carbohydrates, which can cause blood sugar levels to swing rapidly. Carbohydrates are refined to increase the shelf life of certain products and improve taste. During the refining process, nutrients needed to utilize the sugar are removed. Foods that contain refined carbohydrates include white bread, white rice and pretzels. And as noted by the United States Department of Agriculture, it’s safe to assume grain products are made with refined grains unless the packaging notes they are made with whole grains or whole wheat.

• Get a good night’s sleep. People who fail to consistently get a good night’s sleep may be increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes because a lack of sleep can make them more resistant to insulin. A 2012 study from researchers at the University of Chicago published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sleep deprivation hinders the ability of fat cells to respond to insulin.

The fat cells of study participants after they were deprived of sleep needed nearly three times as much insulin to regulate blood sugar as the cells needed on a typical night’s rest.

That dogged resistance to insulin over time can allow sugar and cholesterol to accumulate in the blood, increasing a person’s risk of diabetes and heart disease as a result.

Though the National Sleep Foundation admits sleep needs vary depending on a person’s age and those needs are impacted by an individual’s health and lifestyle, many experts agree adults need somewhere between seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

Diabetes is a potentially deadly disease that can negatively impact a woman’s life in a variety of ways. But there are many methods for proactive women to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes so they can live fuller, healthier and happier lives.

EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER • May 8, 2013

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it, or is it just a relic from a time long ago that now offers a false sense of security should your cell phone be unable to get service or see its battery drained? More and more households apparently feel a land line is a relic, as the U.S. National Health Information study found that, as of June 2012, 34 percent of households had abandoned their land lines and gone fully wireless. That’s probably because a land line can cost hundreds of dollars per year, a costly expense considering a family cell phone package may already be costing you a thousand dollars if not much, much more.

• Go to the gym more often. Many parents find they don’t have the time to

How moms can trim costs from the household budget

B

eing a mother is no small task.

Whether a woman is a working mother or a stay-at-home mom who manages the household, the responsibilities that come with motherhood are considerable. And according to a new study, many mothers are taking on even more responsibility, one that has a substantial impact on their family.

According to a poll from Working Mother magazine and Chase Card Services, 59 percent of working mothers say they are managing household expenses on their own. That’s nearly twice the amount of working mothers who say they comanage household finances with their spouses. The study polled more than 800 working mothers in December of 2012 and found that just 11 percent of working mothers left the management of household finances entirely up to their spouses.

Managing a household’s finances can be a heavy burden, especially for those women who are trusted to do it on their own. One of the riddles many mothers must solve when managing the family finances is where to trim some of the excess from their monthly budgets. There are several ways to do just that without making drastic changes to a family’s lifestyle.

• Hang up on your land line. Most adults now have mobile phones, and nowadays even teenagers have their own cell phones. So is the land line really worth

you haven’t even paid for a subscription service like Netflix or Hulu yet. If you already have the hardware to handle this transition, then your savings will be instant. If not, you may have to accept a net loss now with a goal of long-term savings.

go to the gym with any consistency and feel like canceling a gym membership is a practical decision. But is it really?

Most likely not, as many men and women respond to canceling their gym memberships by purchasing costly equipment they plan to use at home. Such equipment can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and chances are the equipment won’t be used enough to make that investment worthwhile. Instead of canceling a gym membership, resolve to go to the gym more often. Doing so gives you a better return on your investment, and your health insurance company might have a reimbursement policy that cuts you and your spouse a check if you visit the gym ‘X’ number of times each year.

Such rebates drastically reduce the cost of a gym membership.

• Get rid of cable. This cost-cutting measure comes with a caveat, as it is not necessarily as cut and dry as it seems on the surface. Cable or satellite television providers often lament that they’re forced to pay for dozens or even hundreds of channels they never even watch, and that’s a legitimate gripe when considering many families pay as much as $100 per month, if not more, for cable or satellite television service. But in order to save the most from giving up such services, you must make sure your hardware is current. If your plan is to rely on streaming services, you’re going to need a receiver capable of streaming video, a television with HDMI connections and maybe even a new wireless router if your current one is a little old and slow. Each of these items can prove rather expensive, and

• End your infatuation with brand names. Brand names are always going to be more expensive, whether you’re buying clothes or groceries. If you aren’t willing to end your relationship with your favorite fashion designers, then at least sever ties with brand names at the grocery store. When buying the items every-

one has in their pantry, such as flour and pasta, skip the brand names in favor of store brands. Those extra few dollars you save at the register each shopping trip might not seem like a lot, but they can add up to a considerable amount of money over time, and no one will taste the difference.

More and more mothers are taking control of the family finances. When those finances need a little relief, there are many ways to save a few extra dollars without making any drastic changes to the family’s lifestyle.

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

Can iron alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome?

I

rritability, bloating, pain, and depression are all side effects of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. PMS can be a minor annoyance for some but debilitating to others.

Diet can play a role in the severity of PMS symptoms. A study conducted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst published in the American Journal of Epidemiology links a diet rich in iron and zinc with reduced symptoms of PMS. Women whose diets were full of plant-based iron were one-third less likely to develop symptoms of PMS than women who consumed less iron. Nonmeat sources of iron include dried beans and green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.

The study found women who consumed the most iron had up to a 40 percent lower risk for PMS than other studied groups. And

women who consumed 10 milligrams of zinc per day were found

to have a lower risk of developing symptoms of PMS as well.

Researchers are not sure why iron and zinc play such a critical role in PMS symptom reduction, but some suggest that it has to do with serotonin production. Iron is involved in serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and appetite. Low serotonin levels play a role in clinical depression, and other studies have previously linked low serotonin levels to PMS symptoms.

Women should know that supplementing a diet with high doses of zinc and iron is unadvisable, as these minerals could cause serious health problems if taken above the recommended levels. Zinc and iron obtained from natural food sources is recommended over oral supplements that supply zinc and iron.

There are other natural remedies that could help with PMS treatment and prevention. Increasing calcium

and magnesium intake can help as both nutrients can relax muscles and alleviate cramping. Using evening primrose oil, which contains gamma linoleic acid, can reduce inflammation that may cause cramps and breast tenderness.

Although many women refrain from exercise when battling PMS, such activity actually may help ease PMS symptoms. Aerobic or cardio exercise reduces stress, boosts circulation, releases endorphins, and has been shown to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of PMS. A well-balanced diet and exercise are two ways women might be able to relieve symptoms of PMS. Keep in mind that severe PMS is not typical and any emotional or physical symptoms that seem abnormal should be addressed by a gynecologist or family doctor.

EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER • May 8, 2013

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haracterized by widespread pain with no apparent cause, fibromyalgia is a condition that has had many people scratching their heads and desperate for answers.

Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome where a person has long-term bodily pain, particularly tenderness in the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but some theories suggest it may stem from physical or emotional trauma or abnormal pain responses in the central nervous system. The U.S. Library of Medicine states fibromyalgia is most common among women ages 20 to 50, although it can be present in men as well. African-American women are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than Caucasians and other races.

However, Caucasian women report significantly more pain over sufferers of different ethnicities. Doctors are unsure why this is the case.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia are largely painful “tender points� over the body. Painful areas generally occur in the soft tissue on the back of the neck, shoulders, chest, and lower back. Pain may radiate out from these areas and can be a deep ache or a shooting, burning pain. Depending on the individual, pain may begin in the morning and ease up with daily activity. It may worsen at night. The pain may escalate when the weather is cold or damp or the person feels anxious and stressed.

In addition to pain, fatigue and depression are associated with fibromyalgia, and these symptoms may stem from interrupted sleep patterns due to the pain. Other symptoms can include migraine headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritable bowel syndrome, and reduced ability to exercise. Sexually active women may experience pain during intercourse, and menstrual cramping may be more intense.

WebMD says roughly 5.8 million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, while approximately 443,000 Canadians are believed to have fibromyalgia. Treatment options vary with symptom severity.

Fibromyalgia treatments vary depending on the individual. Treatments for the condition typically involve medications and self-care.

Exercise and alternative treatments also may be tried. Here is a look at some of the more common fibromyalgia treatments. • Analgesics: Pain relievers are the first line of defense against fibromyalgia. Reducing pain can make activities tolerable. If overthe-counter pain relievers are ineffective, a doctor may prescribe a stronger medicine. • Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants like duloxetine (CymbaltaŽ) have been approved for use in relieving pain and fatigue. Doctors may use a combination of antidepressants to help promote sleep and take away the pain of fibromyalgia. • Anti-seizure medications: In some cases, drugs that are used to treat seizure disorders have been effective at relieving pain caused by fibromyalgia. • Pregabalin: This drug, marketed under the name LyricaŽ, is the first drug approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia. • Lifestyle changes: Reducing stress, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly can help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Also, consuming a healthy diet and reducing caffeine intake may help. • Alternative therapies: Some people find that massage therapy, tai chi, yoga, and acupuncture promote relaxation and can relieve symptoms.

A 2010 report from CNN says fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat and only 35 to 40 percent of people with the chronic pain condition get relief from the available medications. Some have requested prescriptions from their doctors for medical marijuana to ease symptoms. Historically, marijuana has been used as a painkiller and to relax the body. While some doctors prescribe it where it is legal, many others prefer to wait for synthetic cannabis compounds to be studied and produced.

Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that affects millions of people, a majority of which are women. Those with widespread pain should visit a doctor to develop a course of treatment.

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

What’s behind female hair loss

• Poor scalp health: Skin conditions present on the scalp may be the culprit behind hair loss.

Psoriasis, seborrheic dermitis (dandruff) and even fungal infections can affect the skin on the scalp, and, in turn, affect the hair follicles. A physical exam of the scalp can determine scalp health.

W

hile baldness is an issue most often associated with men, women can suffer from hair loss as well, and you may be surprised to learn just how prevalent the condition is.

Hair loss, or alopecia, can affect the entire body and may be a hereditary condition or a side effect of medications or physical or psychological ailments. Just about anyone can experience hair loss.

Research indicates as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point. You may notice strands of hair in the trap at the bottom of the shower drain or caught in your hairbrush. It’s nor-

mal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. But when hair loss is pro-

nounced, either by falling out in clumps or thinning conspicuously, it may be indicative of a more serious medical condition.

Hair production occurs in cycles.

The scalp and hair can be compared to a garden. When the soil condition is not perfect, a garden will not grow properly. The same can be said for the scalp.

Medications, illnesses, infections, or chemicals used on the head or body can disrupt the cycle and cause hair to stop growing properly. This can eventually lead to hair loss. Most women who experience hair loss notice it in their 50s or 60s, but doctors note it can happen at any age. Here are some of the primary causes of hair loss.

• Telogen effluvium: This is a condition that takes place after pregnancy, major surgeries or even after drastic weight loss. When a woman is experiencing telogen effluvium, her hair shifts more quickly from the growing stage (anagen) to the transition stage (catagen) to the shedding stage (telogen). Typically, women experiencing telogen effluvium will notice hair loss between six weeks and three months after a stressful event, and women may have to be patient and wait for hair loss to slow down. If you’ve determined the hair loss is from medication, your doctor may be able to lower the dosage or switch drugs.

• Hypothyroidism: Hair loss can be a byproduct of an underactive thyroid. That’s because, in addition to regulating your basal metabolic rate, the thyroid also is responsible for the growth of hair, skin and nails. If you don’t have enough of the thyroid hormone, you may notice changes in the body, such as hair loss. Blood tests can be given to test for hypothyroidism.

• Genetics: Take a look at the women in your family. Do they have thinning hair, most pronounced at the crown of the head? Hair loss may be in your genes, and you may have a higher risk than other women for losing hair. Hair follicles that vary in size, with some thin and others thick, are telltale signs of female pattern hair loss known as androgenetic alopecia.

• Beauty styling: Self-inflicted damage also may lead to hair loss.

Dyes, chemical treatments, styling tools and aides, and rough or aggressive brushing can damage hair and cause breakage. Taking it easy when toweling or styling hair can help minimize hair loss.

Women experiencing hair loss can speak to a doctor, who may suggest visiting a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. Women can use wigs, hair extensions and other styling tricks to minimize the appearance of hair loss while they explore options in treatment.

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and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration” by Diane Feskanish of Brigham and Women’s Hospital that was published in the April 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers found that women who used oral contraceptives before menopause and received hormone replacement therapy after menopause had the lowest risk for wet, or advanced, AMD. But these results came at a price. The same women who had lower incidences of wet AMD saw increased incidences of early, or dry, AMD when taking hormones. Although more research needs to be done, estrogen seems to play some type of role in the formation of AMD. An eye doctor can assess visual acuity at routine visits. You can also test your eyes daily by using the Amsler Grid, an AMD detection tool, and reporting any anomalies to your eye doctor.

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ge-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a disease that affects the part of the back of the eye called the macula. This may cause the center part of a person’s vision to become blurry or wavy. It also can cause a blind spot in the center of vision, according to Prevent Blindness America. More than two million Americans ages 50 and over have AMD, a 25 percent increase from the previous decade, according to Prevent Blindness America. AMD is also one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada. Although anyone can experience AMD, and it’s most prevalent in people ages 65 and older. Gender also plays a key role in a person’s risk for AMD. According to the National Eye Institute, women have a higher risk for AMD, and it may be traced to a reduction in estrogen production after menopause. In a study titled, “Menopausal and Reproductive Factors

• Alopecia areata: This is an immune disease that affects roughly 2 percent of the American population and is characterized by small, round patches of hair loss.

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• Anemia: Anemia is caused by iron deficiency and results in insufficient numbers of red blood cells to transport oxygen through the body. Iron deficiency anemia can cause weakness, pale skin, fatigue, headaches, and hair loss. Increasing iron in the diet through leafy greens, fortified cereals and beans can help.

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Remain calm after mammogram callback

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oing for a mammogram can induce anxiety and raise questions before, during and after the procedure. Receiving a callback for further views or testing can put women even more on edge. But very often, these procedures are nothing to worry about.

ably in a mammogram, and this can be uncomfortable for women, particularly those with large breasts. Some doctors recommend scheduling a mammogram after your menstrual period has ended, and you can take a painkiller to minimize pain.

When a doctor requests additional mammogram views or even a biopsy, this doesn’t necessarily mean he or she has found cancer. It just means the doctor needs further clarification of an abnormality seen on the mammogram. Breast tissue is dense, and sometimes mammograms do not provide adequate views of all areas of the breast. An anomaly on a mammogram might be a benign calcification in the breast, a shadow or a noncancerous lump.

A doctor may order an ultrasound as well.

A technician will apply a clear gel to your skin and ask you to lie back on a table.

The technician will then pass a transducer on the breast. This device sends out highfrequency sound waves and maps the echoes it receives to form a picture. This ultrasound is the same type of procedure used to check a fetus during pregnancy.

An ultrasound may diagnose an abnormality that a doctor cannot see well on a mammogram.

Getting called back for another look is quite common. The American Cancer Society says about 10 percent of women who have had a mammogram will be called back for more tests. Only about 10 percent of those women will require a biopsy. And among those who do, 80 percent of the biopsies turn out to be benign.

A doctor might resort to an MRI if ultrasound or a traditional mammogram prove inconclusive. MRI scans use magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images.

There are now open MRI machines that minimize feelings of claustrophobia for those who have an aversion to the closed tubes of traditional machines.

In general, most doctors will receive results of follow-up mammograms and biopsies within one to two weeks.

If you need a biopsy, a needle may be pushed into the breast to capture fluid or tissue from the suspicious area. Some doctors make a small surgical incision to remove abnormal tissue. The sample will be examined under a microscope to determine the types of cells.

What to Expect at a Follow-up Exam There are different steps doctors can take to further clarify an anomaly in breast tissue. One of the first procedures is another mammogram, typically called a diagnostic mammogram. The breasts will be imaged, but this time it may take longer because more images may be ordered of particular areas of the breast or breasts. The breast tissue needs to be thinned out consider-

Learning about tests that are conducted for breast health can put women’s minds at ease while waiting for follow-up appointments and results. Discuss any questions you may have with your doctor and rest assured that a follow-up test is not indicative of a cancer diagnosis.

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May 8, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER

Address your financial concerns and take control of your finances

T

he roles played by women have changed dramatically over the years. Modern women now wear many hats, one of which is money manager. That’s true for women managing their personal finances or those overseeing their family’s finances.

But managing finances can be intimidating for anyone, regardless of gender. Oftentimes, a careful assessment of your attitude toward money is a great way to make the process of managing your finances a lot less stressful.

Addressing financial concerns is a good first step toward controlling your finances.

A great first step when managing your finances is to identify any concerns you have about money. Being able to pinpoint the particulars will help you develop a plan of action. For example, if you want to invest in stocks but don’t know a bull from a bear market, acknowledging this shortcoming can help you learn the necessary facts to get started.

Once such concerns have been addressed, you’re likely to feel more comfortable and confident about managing your money and can start taking steps to do just that.

• Think positively and value your strengths. Embracing your strengths, even if those strengths have little to do with money management, can help you gain control of your finances.

Perhaps you are not a financial whiz but your networking skills have left you with a vast network of friends and family in various professions. You may be able to use those connections to gain access to experts in the financial field who can guide you through the questions you may have.

• Know your current financial status. Feigning ignorance is

not the way to get started. It is important to honestly assess your financial situation so you can effectively handle those finances going forward. Take stock of your income, expenditures and what you have in savings. Keep abreast of any changes in your accounts and stay current with business news and issues that may play a direct or indirect role on your finances.

• Get talking about your concerns. Talk to other women in similar situations. You may find that you share the same concerns.

Discussing common concerns or financial strategies can help you in your own endeavors.

• Continue working, even if it’s only part-time. A study by the Women’s Institute For a Secure Retirement found that a college-educated 25-year-old female will earn $500,000 less than a male counterpart in a similar position over her lifetime because of sporadic employment associated with caring for family, including children and aging parents. That worries many young women who have previously thought about taking time off from work to raise families. Even if you may want to scale down your work schedule, you may not want to completely remove yourself from the workforce so you can remain in touch and current.

• Consult with an estate planner. The earlier you start the better off you will be with regard to planning for the future. It is not an admission of weakness if you rely on the help of financial experts to guide you in the right direction.

EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER • May 8, 2013

Building a business wardrobe Women who are adding to their wardrobes can include these all-time business staples.

• Classic black pump shoes • Crisp, button-down white shirt • Fine-knit sweater in a bright color • Camisole or shell in a neutral color to wear under blazers • Cardigan in black or white that can be worn over tops or dresses • Fitted, sleeveless dress that can be paired with a suit jacket or cardigan • Straight-hemmed skirt in a neutral color • Flat-front black, gray and tan pants • Neutral-colored wool coat and a rain jacket Over time, women can add to their wardrobes as budgets allow and they learn more about what is acceptable at their places of hire.

T

he transition from college student or stay-at-home mom to full-time professional requires a number of changes.

Those changes include updating your wardrobe to give it a more professional feel. Clothing that’s acceptable for a jaunt to the store or a night out may not be appropriate for the office.

Just what constitutes a professional wardrobe has changed over the years, and the guidelines for such attire are no longer as firm as they once were. But it still behooves a woman to add some classic, professional pieces to her closet. While skirts and pantyhose may no longer be mandatory, dressing conservatively and cleanly in an office environment is always a safe bet.

In order to achieve a wardrobe transformation without breaking the bank, the fashion experts at Marie Claire advise adding separates to build around a base suit. Find a suit that is

flattering to your figure and make it a workplace staple. Then purchase coordinating pants, sweater sets, shirts, another skirt, and accessories that can be mixed and matched with elements from the suit to create different looks. If your budget allows, purchase another suit in a different color so you can continue to build wardrobe possibilities.

When selecting base pieces, opt for neutral colors of tan, gray, black, and blue so that these items can be worn repeatedly without being noticed. Accessories and blouses can offer pops of color when necessary. A nice handbag or pair of shoes can quite easily add color to an otherwise monotone ensemble.

When selecting items from the rack, look for those that fit well but aren’t too constrictive or racy. Inquire with your new employer’s hiring manager or human resources department to find out if the workplace has any restrictions on wardrobe.

There may be employee guidelines, particularly in certain industries, such as law or education. If no such restrictions are in place, keep skirts to knee-length and avoid particularly low-cut tops. Save more revealing items for nights out with friends.

Many employers have adopted dress-down days as perks for their employees. Although you may be invited to dress more casually, avoid dressing for a day at the beach or hanging around the house. Opt for trouser-style jeans that are free of rips and embellishments. If athletic shoes are allowed, make sure they are clean and not the pair you wear while tending to your garden. Avoid graphic T-shirts that feature potentially offensive or suggestive messages. In more conservative companies, dressing down may be opting for khakis instead of suits. It is important to know the difference.

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