• WH - A Guide to Women's Health
• Spring 2006

What You See is What You Get

Uncle Sam requires detailed Drug Facts labels on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, but when was the last time you read the information closely? By law, here's what you'll find.

Drug Facts Active Ingredients... Purpose (per tablet) Calcium carbonate USF 750 mg... Antacid Uses heartburn sour stomach acid indigestion upset stomach associated with these symptoms Warnings Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug. Antacids may interact with certain prescription drugs. When using this product do not take more than 10 tablets in 24 hours do not use the maximum dosage for more than 2 weeks Keep out of reach of children Directions Chew 2-4 tablets as symptoms occur, or as directed by a doctor Other Information Store below 25º C (77º F) Inactive Ingredients Sucrose, corn starch, talc, mineral oil, adipic acid, artificial flavors, sodium polyphosphate, red 40 lake, blue 1 lake Questions? 1-800-897-7535 weekdays

Active Ingredient (always listed first): These chemical compounds in the medicine work with your body to help relieve your symptoms. Note: Medical experts advise against taking two medicines with the same active ingredient(s) unless instructed to do so by your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. Purpose: This description pinpoints the intended action of the drug. Uses (sometimes called Indications): Only symptoms that the medicine is approved to treat are listed here. Warnings: This section cites the other medicines, foods or situations to avoid (such as driving) when taking the medication. Directions: Find the recommended dosage and its frequency listed here. Follow these instructions exactly. Other Information: Any other vital information about the product is mentioned in this section, such as instructions for proper storage and tamper-evident features. Inactive Ingredients: Preservatives, food colors and items that bind pills together are among the various ingredients listed here. Questions or Comments? Find the manufacturer's toll-free phone number to call with queries, problems, etc. Sources: Food and Drug Administration, www.inteli health.com, GlaxoSmithKline

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Calcium Through the Years

Did you know that experts' recommendations for adequate calcium intake depend on age? Everyone needs a lot of the vital mineral during their growth years to build strong bones, a little less during the middle years to maintain bone strength and more in later life to prevent bone loss. In the chart below, check recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences.

The American Dietetic Association recommends that you not exceed 2,500 mg of calcium daily. Good sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, salmon, spinach and tofu. FYI: Your body needs vitamin D (RDA is 400-800 IUs) to absorb calcium. Good sources of vitamin D include unfiltered sunshine, milk fortified with vitamin D, egg yolks, liver, cod liver oil and multivitamins.

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Pedometer Primer

Recent talk about walking 10,000 steps a day to promote health has spurred interest in pedometers, the pager-size devices that count steps by sensing body movements.

Typical pedometers can also measure time spent in physical activity and gauge distance and expended calories when users program in step length (usually about 2.5 feet) and body weight, according to David Bassett, Ph.D., author of several comparative studies of pedometers and co-author of Pedometer Walking: Stepping Your Way to Health, Weight Loss and Fitness. "Distance measures are pretty accurate, usually to within 10 percent at typical walking speeds," says Bassett. "Calorie estimates are reasonable for walking, but pedometers will vastly underestimate the calories you burn in other nonwalking activities, like housework, shopping, gardening, raking and tennis."

Even so, pedometers can go a long way in motivating some folks to get physical. In a 2004 study released by the American College of Sports Medicine, for example, pedometer- using participants added about 2,000 steps per person to their daily routine.

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