Archive for the ‘Womens Issues’ Category

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January 15th, 2012  Posted at   Womens Issues
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At one time heart disease was considered to be a man’s disease. That is no longer the case, as heart disease has become the number one threat to women and a leading cause of death. Since practicing prevention is important in guarding our health in every respect, doesn’t it make sense to implement some strategies now, rather than waiting until you develop a problem?

Inflammation of the cells is a disorder that is frequently associated with the aging process. However because of the western lifestyle, we are seeing more problems associated with inflammation in younger women as well. It is a common denominator in all kinds of chronic conditions and in particular affects the circulatory system. You will see many health news headlines about the problems caused by inflammation and how to prevent it or clear it up if you are already experiencing the effects of it.

Here are some steps that you can implement in your daily life:

1. Begin by making an appointment with your doctor for a physical exam. It’s impossible to know what you will need to change unless you know where you are starting. When you make the appointment, tell them that you want an evaluation of any factors that may be affecting your heart or circulatory health. Be sure to take a complete list of any medications and supplements that you are taking. Also have a written list of your own health history and family history. Even if you have been seeing the same doctor for a while, don’t assume that she/he knows these things. It is important to be your own health advocate.

2. Make a point of reducing your stress, and consider this an ongoing necessary step to guarding your health and preventing heart disease. Stress is a huge factor in causing inflammation! In addition to the fact that we live in stressful times, women playing multiple roles often suffer in particular from attempting to juggle work, family, financial concerns. They are often great at taking care of others, but lousy at good self care! Put yourself on the schedule, and take time for hanging out with friends; self care such as a yoga class, a massage, reading, quiet and contemplation. Learning to meditate will be a great health benefit.

3. Exercise several times a week. If you are not exercising at all, start now. Keep it simple…no need to run a marathon (unless that appeals to you). Go for a walk, and pick up the pace as you are able to. If going to a gym motivates you, then do that. Aerobic activity that increases your heart and respiration level is what you are going for. There are added health benefits for weight training, but start with aerobics for reducing inflammation. (more…)

January 7th, 2012  Posted at   Womens Issues
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Eating healthy food is important to good health. Women have specific nutritional needs that are different from men. There is a higher sensitivity to the chemicals and artificial hormones found in many processed food products. Additionally needs for nutrients such as iron are different due to menstruation and reproductive concerns. To keep your body healthy and strong it is important to have the adequate amounts of vitamins and nutrients that your body requires. There are a variety of specific foods that can be very beneficial to women’s health.

Calcium Rich Foods: This is needed to maintain strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. There are various foods high in calcium. They include dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables. Kale: This is a vegetable that is a great choice for women. It’s high in calcium as well as folate which are important to women’s health. Kale also has vitamin C and B for additional nutritional value. Other good choices are broccoli and brussel sprouts. Too much dairy is not healthy. Limit it to healthy portions with foods such as yogurt. This will give you the additional benefit of the probiotics found in yogurt. This is good for a healthy digestive system. Avoid the premade yogurts that are full of sugar and use the plain ones instead. You can just add some fresh fruit and nuts for added flavor and nutritional value.

Nutritional tips for women:The best food choices are plant based. You should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. When selecting produce use organic as much as possible to avoid the pesticides that are often sprayed on non organic items. Include fiber based foods as well. Beans and healthy whole grains will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Alcoholic beverages should be limited. One glass per day should be the maximum intake. Drinking wine is a good choice due to the healthy benefits of the resveratrol. Enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. This is a heart healthy habit. Caffeine is also fine in moderation, with one cup per day being a good standard to follow. Caffeine can affect hormonal balance in some women as well as decrease calcium levels if consuming excessive amounts. (more…)

January 5th, 2012  Posted at   Womens Issues
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Fracture risk motivates people to seek strong bones. Looking for better bone health options turns up the standard medical approach- prescription drugs that affect bone cells directly. Here is another approach – one free of toxic chemical substances. Actually, if your bone mineral density test score is low, the standard of practice requires licensed health professionals with ‘prescriptive powers’ (those whose licenses give them the legal right to write prescriptions) to order certain drugs.

The standard of practice formula works like this: ‘If A exists, then B is required.” In other words, if

(A): bone mineral density tests are below minus 2.0… then
(B): prescribing a particular drug is required.

If they fail to do so, the legal enforcement mechanisms of the standard put them under threat of losing their license to practice, as well as facing that of being successfully sued because they failed to adhere to the ‘standard of practice.’

That means, in the case of bones, since the standard is a bisphosphonate prescription, patients who have a bone mineral density test result at minus 2.0 or greater, will be given a bisphosphonate such as Fosamex or one of the newer generation from the same chemical class such as Alendronate, Aclasta, Actonel, Aredia, Bondronat, Boniva, Didronel, Fosavance, Reclast, Skelid, and Zometa.

Bisphonsphonates are the class of chemical used in scouring powder to clean the skin cell scum off the bathtub ring. They have long been used in various industries – among them the fertilizer, textile and oil industries since the 19th century to prevent corrosion. The fact that they dissolve human skin cells is why the pill when taken orally can burn a hole in the esophagus or stomach.

Governmental approval for bisphosphonates was based on studies that demonstrated ‘decreased spinal fractures’. The fractures that the studies investigated to make this case were the tiny, hairline micro fractures of spinal bones that are normal in everyone and do not cause problems. They did not investigate the fractures of the thigh bone (head of the femur) that are so debilitating. (more…)

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