American women spend more time taking care of their families, homes and jobs than themselves. With so much time invested in caring for others, women can overlook the importance of their own health. Yet, neglecting their own health needs can make it much harder for women to also take care of those they love.

Women who consider themselves generally in good health and who are very busy may be less inclined to stay on schedule with important health checks. If putting off a doctor's visit doesn't seem like that big a deal, consider these women's health statistics:

• A full-time working mom spends more than 10 hours a day on household activities, taking care of children and working outside the home, and just 2.3 hours on "me time" of leisure activities or sports, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's American Time Use Survey.
• Fifty-six percent of mothers say it's "very difficult" to achieve a work-life balance, according to Pew Research.
• More than 14 percent of American women age 18 and older are in fair or poor health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The sun is shining longer every day, telling you that it's time to get ready for vacations, activities with family and friends and of course, swimsuit season. To help you prepare, there are some simple fitness tips you can follow to look and feel good this summer season.

"Summer is just a few short months away," says Dr Dolvett Quince. "Getting your body ready for summer requires full involvement of one's self. You need to be prepared mentally as much as you invest in yourself, physically. So, you need to be ready from your head to your toes - it's a full body commitment. Hard work aside, you'll be sure to enjoy the new you as you reach your goal."

He has a few tips to help you tackle your workout routines and get your body ready for your summer wardrobe:
• Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps flush your system, and as a bonus, it keeps you from feeling bloated.
• Swimwear, shorts and dresses show off the legs, so be sure to target that area. Do squats and lunges to help tone the thighs and glute area.
• Eat plenty of fiber. Remember you can get fiber from many different foods, including delicious summer fruits such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.
• Wear the right footwear. You don't want your workout routine halted by injuries or soreness in your feet or legs.
• Add weights to your workout routine. They don't have to be heavy to help trim and tone your muscles.
• Keep up the workout, even while on vacation. Add a little variety to the routine with yoga or a jog along the beach. Time your workouts in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of your day.
• As always, be sure to exercise responsibly and consult with a fitness expert to ensure you use proper form.
Summer and warmer weather will be here before you know it, so get started right away to show off your physical fitness and summer-ready body. Put Quince's fitness tips to use now to get your body toned and ready. (BPT)

What is a vaccine?
When germs enter the body, the immune system recognizes them as foreign substances (antigens). The immune system then produces the right antibodies to fight the antigens.
Vaccines contain weakened or dead versions of the antigens that cause diseases. This means that the antigens cannot produce the signs or symptoms of the disease, but they do stimulate the immune system to create antibodies. These antibodies help protect you if you are exposed to the disease in the future.
Vaccines not only help keep your child healthy, they help all children by stamping out serious childhood diseases.
Babies are born with protection against certain diseases because antibodies from their mothers were passed to them through the placenta. After birth, breastfed babies get the continued benefits of additional antibodies in breast milk. But in both cases, the protection is temporary.
Immunization is a way of creating immunity to certain diseases by using small amounts of a killed or weakened microorganism that causes the particular disease.
Microorganisms can be viruses or they can be bacteria. Vaccines stimulate the immune system to react as if there were a real infection — it fends off the "infection" and remembers the organism so that it can fight it quickly should it enter the body later.

Teeth are impacted when they fail to emerge through the gums, or emerge only partially, at the expected time.
Your wisdom teeth, also called third molars, usually begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 21. Because they are the last to emerge in the mouth, wisdom teeth are the most common teeth to become impacted. This may happen because a wisdom tooth is turned to the side, tilted or otherwise positioned incorrectly in the jaw. Wisdom teeth also become impacted when there is not enough room in the jaw or the mouth for them to emerge.
An impacted tooth can be painless, and you may not even realize it's there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to erupt, the overlying gum may swell and cause pain, which may also be felt in nearby teeth or the ear on that side. A partially erupted tooth can collect food and other debris, which can lead to gum swelling and an infection called pericoronitis. If untreated, this infection can spread toward the throat or into the neck. Impacted teeth also can cause problems if they develop decay or if they push on the neighboring molar, which could lead to tooth movement or decay, as well as changes in the bite (the way the teeth come together). Impacted teeth also can cause cysts and other benign (harmless) jaw tumors. These can lead to bone destruction. However, this is rare.
Because an impacted tooth can damage neighboring teeth or distort the bite, call your dentist if you experience pain in your molar teeth and your wisdom teeth have not yet come in. If you visit your dentist regularly, he or she will keep track of your wisdom teeth and let you know if you need to have them extracted. Because routine X-rays for cavities often don't show the wisdom teeth, your dentist may take extra X-rays to check these teeth.
Dr. Sharon Robinson, DDS may be reached at 954.792.1857. The Dental Place is located at 6738 W Sunrise Blvd, #105, Plantation, Fl. 33313. You may also visit her website at www.dentalplace4u.com