For Mother's Day, Think of Mom's Heart and Health

Mothers around the world on Sunday will receive breakfast in bed, flowers, perhaps a handmade card. They're nods to the untold hours and sacrifices mothers give to their children and family. But many women sacrifice their own health in the process, which in the long run can hurt families, too.

This week, I asked local medical professionals what they would like to see mothers do for themselves to stay well.

Dr. Duane J. Marquart, D.C., said taking initiative to prevent health problems is something he applauds.

“Health care is so much more successful when a patient is empowered to help themselves and their family,” said Dr. Marquart. “This leads to more responsibility and results in [controlling] their health outcome.”

Dr. Marquart often finds mothers rush to take a lot of over-the-counter medicines, which frequently address the symptoms rather than the true cause. Instead, rest and good nutrition can allow the body’s own antibodies to do their job.

Ballwin family physician Dr. Marty McClintock has four questions he asks the mothers that come to his office. First, he asks about exercise habits. For minimal benefits, The Center for Disease Control or CDC recommends at least one to two hours each week of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, as well as muscle strengthening exercises.  

And being pregnant isn’t an excuse. In fact, health authorities suggest enhanced workouts. The CDC recommends 2.5 hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking) for healthy pregnant women. Keeping your lungs and heart healthy translates into better delivery of nutrients to your baby.

Dr. McClintock also asks if moms are eating right, specifically controlling portions. He recommends eating off small plates to make controlling one’s weight psychologically easier. The CDC has a Body Mass Index calculator to roughly evaluate if a woman or man is within a healthy weight-range, and your physician can confirm those findings.

“Get the kids to help mom make simple meals at a very early age,” Dr. Marquart said. “When they can help add healthier vegetables to a not-so-healthy packaged noodle soup, the children will learn good eating habits.

Lastly, he asks about any smoking habits. Many of today’s mothers grew up in a time when smoking was marketed to women as “me” time – a break from daily pressure, usually veiled with some kind of sex appeal. Naturally, most moms know better today.

Smoking prevention is another place where a family can play a big supporting role. They want mom around and will appreciate not breathing second-hand smoke.

Smoker or not, another area mothers shouldn’t forget about is dental care. The mouth and gums are sensitive to invaders when not properly maintained.

Dr. Matthew P. Cline is a dentist in Ballwin.

“I would have to say that excellent oral hygiene continues to be the foundation of any dental program, because of the many health problems aggravated by poor oral hygiene.”

Not brushing, flossing, or regularly monitoring your dental health can lead to serious health consequences such as increased risk of stroke, pneumonia, and cardiovascular disease. What’s particularly scary for expecting mothers is that women with advanced gum disease may be more likely to give birth to underweight or preterm babies with an increased risk of infection.

The CDC also has a health section just for moms, and a great place to start is their Mother’s Health Quiz. So do yourself – and your family – a favor, moms, and make a tradition of keeping yourself well.