zivuvetur: 2006

Monday, December 18, 2006

Womens Menopause Health

Female Hormones

by Peter Vermeeren

Hormones are chemicals, which transfer information and regulate many processes throughout the body. They serve many important functions in our lives. For women there are many specialized female hormones that affect them from the beginning of life right into old age so it is important to learn as much as possible about them.

As we grow up from childhood and begin to develop, hormones once held dormant, begin to be released and cause many changes in physical appearance. There are also many internal differences as well. Female hormones are responsible for all the specialized development that a girl goes through in becoming a woman. The process usually takes around four years and in this time varying hormone levels can be difficult to adapt to. As the process begins, the hypothalamus begins to release hormones that will in turn trigger another endocrine gland, the pituitary gland, to release two other hormones. These two hormones are luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). These are sent to the ovaries, which are then stimulated to create their own female hormones.

Female hormones are also necessary in regulating a women�s menstrual cycle, allowing her to give birth. The main hormones produced by the ovaries are progesterone and estrogen. These along with LH and FSH have a large role in a women�s natural cycle. Hormones take a drastic change when a woman becomes pregnant as well. Estrogen and Progesterone levels remain high in the body during this time. There are many different hormones as well. Each hormone involved in pregnancy serves a vital role in this complex cycle.

After a pregnancy, hormone levels yet again take another drastic change, reverting back to normal levels. This can be difficult for some women to adapt to and there are a number of negative symptoms that are believed to be caused by the many hormonal changes occurring in the body. Female hormones and their affect on emotional and psychological behavior are still not very well known however.

Women undergo another change in hormone levels at around the age of 45-50. At this point the ovaries become unable to produce normal amounts of female hormones. This is known as menopause. When the process begins there may be irregularities in the menstrual cycle until finally it ceases altogether. This can have a negative effect on many aspects of health as estrogen serves many functions including protecting the heart and bones. There are also various other negative side effects caused by menopause such as hot flashes and bone loss. There are however, a number of ways to treat the side effects including with hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy may even be able to protect against osteoporosis and heart disease however this therapy requires a balance that should be discussed with your doctor.

From the very beginning of life, female hormones have a great effect on a woman�s life. They shape appearances, make having children possible and are responsible for many important experiences for a women. Knowing all you can about these important parts of your body is important in keeping healthy.

Peter Vermeeren is the owner and webmaster of: Female Hormones and Steroids - Airsoft | Ropa Militar - Boat Covers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Vermeeren

Tasmanian Womens Health Network Menopause

Women�s Weight Loss Strategies that Work

by Susan Megge

If you�re like the majority of women, especially those approaching menopause, there�s a good chance that you�re not satisfied with your weight and you have a strong desire to shed some pounds. And, just like most women, you�ve probably attempted weight loss on several occasions, only to give up after a short time. Maybe you�ve given up because you became discouraged, or perhaps you were facing a stressful period and you turned to food for comfort. Whatever the reason, there are diet strategies available that will assist you in successfully reaching your weight loss goal. The key is remembering these strategies. I strongly suggest you print out the following list and keep a copy on your refrigerator, in your purse, on your desk, on the dashboard of your car and anywhere else you may frequently look.

� Set Realistic Goals � Set a realistic, short-term weight goal. It�s best to take small steps so that you can feel successful with each accomplishment you make, even those that are small. In other words, set your first goal for 30 days from now, perhaps making that goal to lose 8-10 pounds. This is a very realistic and reachable goal if you stick to a well balanced diet. Once you�ve successfully accomplished this first goal, set your next for another 30 or 60 days and so on. In the end you will feel successful, accomplished and thin.

� Share Your Goals with Others � Yes, tell other people with whom you�re close exactly what your weight loss goal is. By doing so you�ll be more likely to stick with your goal due to the fact that you�ll likely feel humiliated and embarrassed if you should fail. Remind your friends that you only have so many days left before your deadline is up. This is sure to keep you in line because nobody likes to feel like a failure or think that they look like a failure to others.

� Be Organized and Prepared � Be sure to have your refrigerator and cupboards stocked with healthy, low-calorie and low-fat foods. This will prevent you from being tempted to reach for unhealthy snacks. You see, if healthy foods aren�t readily available and you�re looking for a snack, it�s quite likely that you�ll reach for whatever may be available. You�ll avoid this if you have a good supply of fruits, nuts and vegetables around.

� Think Before You Eat � If you�re tempted to grab a bite to eat, stop and think for a moment. Ask yourself if you�re really hungry or instead bored, stressed or perhaps reaching for food simply because it�s in front of you. If you decide you�re not really hungry after all, distract yourself by doing something productive, making a phone call, reading or even going for a walk. Just like with smoking, usually the temptation will pass.

� Keep a Food Journal � Make an entry for each meal and snack you consume, as well as the time and number of calories for these entries. This will assist you a great deal in ensuring that you�re not overeating or exceeding the calorie limit you�ve set for yourself. Even if you should grab a cracker while you�re on the run, be sure to log it in because every calorie should be counted. For a free journal, go to http://www.40isbeautiful.com

� Exercise � Make time to fit in a regular exercise routine, which includes weight training, as this will speed the time at which you lose inches. You see, by building muscle, you�ll be raising your metabolic rate and, therefore, burning many calories, even while you�re resting. I can�t stress enough the significant role exercise plays in weight loss.

No matter what your weight loss goal may be, it�s important to understand that you�re capable of reaching that goal. With a little determination you�ll be well on your way. As a matter of fact, you�re already past the first step because you�ve taken the time to search for information related to weight loss. You will succeed!

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist women as they experience weight gain and approach menopause. Susan, a health and fitness expert, started experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and weight gain several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making these years very manageable, and even wonderful. Susan Megge is the author of "Being Beautiful Beyond 40," a book dedicated to helping women to be inspired, confident and beautiful as they approach menopause.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Megge

Sunday, December 17, 2006

History Of Menopause And Treatment

Menopause and Anxiety

by Cathy Taylor

The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under this condition.

When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a woman has repressed something in her life, she won�t be able to get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example, unexpressed anger will find its way out and sometimes in unusual or uncomfortable ways.

In what is often referred to as a �midlife crisis,� this time of life forces women to re-evaluate themselves and the role(s) they play as they are getting older. And, often times we are not comfortable with what we find. A little voice in the back of our head is saying, �If you don�t make changes now � you never will!� Our hormonal imbalances (due to decreased estrogen levels) can contribute to feelings of depression or make us feel plain �indifference.� Even if menopause isn�t actually causing these conditions, it can heighten underlying anxiety and bring it to the surface.

Anxiety is an individual�s prolonged feeling of dread and worry with no particular reason behind it. It�s uncomfortable and causes stress particularly on the body. It can be triggered by problems in everyday life like paying the bills and work. Although worrying about these things for a normal person has its ceiling of severity, menopausal women suffering from anxiety tend to think about their problems excessively.

When anxiety finally hits its highest peak, it is often called a panic attack. Panic attacks are debilitating episodes of fright and fear that include chest pains, fear of death, and shaking. In what is called being �psychosocially� depressed, women have negative beliefs and attitudes in regards to getting older, assuming unwanted roles such as caretaker, and responding negatively to impatient husbands who might demand sex.

Being depressed during the duration of this condition has a lot to do with their overall psychological well-being prior to menopause. Women who have continuous anxiety and depression beforehand are more likely to suffer worse cases of anxiety during this latter phase of life. If life-long imbalances have not been healed, menopause may exacerbate the situation. We might feel unable to perform �female duties�, contributing to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Research has found that consistent regular physical activity (i.e. exercise) before menopause has been scientifically proven to lessen the possibility of anxiety symptoms during this transition. It�s also helpful to avoid drinking caffeine-loaded liquids, sleep deprivation, and stimulant use.

Psychiatric consultations are highly recommended for anxiety sufferers under menopause. An experienced counsellor and/or therapist can help us recover and evaluate our lives including healing emotional imbalances. It is a great time to refocus our attention toward new activities and roles. As is common with anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, fright, and even suicidal tendencies can occur. In this case, antidepressants may be prescribed. Coping with all of the physical changes, assuming new roles, possibly facing many of our fears for the first time, and generally waking up to the fact that �life just isn�t what it used to be� are all realizations that contribute to anxiety in older women. In these times, it is important to maintain focus and concentrate on the positive things in life. Although it can be hard, it can be done.

Having a plethora of life responsibilities and obligations during menopause can create stress, and having an �excess� of this stress can cause adrenal fatigue. Anxiety in menopause sufferers results from hormonal imbalances. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released. Irregular cycles are grounds for anxiety build-up, as a result of the lack of this �happy hormone.� All of these conditions can be treated with alternative therapies such as natural progesterone cream.

But why do some women go through menopause and barely notice a difference? One consensus among medical doctors theorizes that it has a lot to do with women�s self-esteem and self-confidence. One thing is for sure, if you are having trouble with either of these, you�ll get a chance to deal with them now. One thing menopause is great at, and that is bringing out our unresolved issues. And we all know how anxious that can make us.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting
http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com or
http://www.everythingmenopause.com or http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Taylor

Womens Health Post Menopause Bleeding

Menopause: Men Don't Want To Read This

by Lorraine Roach

When you suffer from anxiety there are many times when attacks occur.

Thinking back on the women I have spoken with in the last 5 years about their experiences pre and post menopause, it comes back to a common word.

ANXIETY..... I wondered if the word was being over used or misused in a way to combine a number of feelings .

Maybe it was just easier to say " I felt anxious" when we were asked about this very personal subject.

Most of the women had many of the symptoms of menopause in common. I suppose that was to be expected as we share the same gender.

Some of them were anxious before they began the menopause because they didn't understand what would happen ,or they had listened to other women talk about their experiences (some of which were not that pleasant).

Perhap we were getting at least some of the anxiety we felt from people and other sources.

Reading some books if they were written in the past might have given incomplete,as well as "Old Wives Tales" information.

I have read a few and they really send you into a state of panic with the things written in there!

Fortunately we have "Come a long way baby" since our mothers and grandmothers went through their menopause.

We say ..going through, as if it was a door or tunnel that had to be gone through before we could complete our life journey.

Women who needed operations for a number of reasons got to "go through" sooner rather than later.

It isn't any easier for them to experience and perhaps much harder to have it forced upon them for medical reasons.

I can't imagine the way a person must feel when they are 28 years old and are put into "instant menopause". It is something so few of us can fathom.

Even if you were 49 and this happend to you, there would be no good time to have a surgical procedure done that took away the natural course of the life cycle.

There are literally thousands of stories about this one subject, because we are all individuals with our own tolerence levels and our own backgrounds,along with cultural, religious and political opinions.

I seem to come back to this theory that no matter what brings on the anxiety and panic ,we can use our minds to stear us through that door or tunnel when we need to take care of ourselves .

It is there to guide us with all it's knowledge after years of information being programmed in.

Do you not believe that your mind knows you better than anyone else could?

Use this free resourse each day and trust it ,because you will be trusting the best freind you've got.

Besides... You never have to worry that you forgot to bring your resourse with you and there is always access to it.

Your mind is open 24 hours a day ,7 days a week.

The best part is, as I've said, it is Free Access and your mind keeps all this to itself. Not like when you tell someone and perhaps the gossip mill begins.

Remember....Keep an open mind. It is there to help if we listen to our inner voice.

"For 40 years, 7 months, 4 days and 3.9 hours I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks - especially after my heart attack on August 12th, 5:00am EST 2006. As a result of my suffering, I decided I would go on a crusade to reveal the most powerful, most effective and most successful system for living an Anxiety and Panic Free Life." - Lorraine Roach, Founder AnxietyEnded.com Visit: www.anxietyended.com to discover what 99.2% of ALL anxiety and panic sufferers do wrong, and how to make sure YOU avoid it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorraine_Roach

Indigenious Cultures Treatment Of Menopause

How to Relieve Menopause Symptoms

by Kathy Burns-Millyard

What is Menopause?

Menopause begins in your early 40s as your ovaries gradually produce less and less of the hormone estrogen. Your periods become erratic - sometimes skipping a month or alternating between light and heavy.

The next period of time is the transitioning to actual menopause. During this time you may continue to have erratic periods, and the more serious symptoms begin. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and insomnia are some of those.

The final and actual onset of menopause usually occurs in your early 50s and is represented by the absence of your period for a full 12 months. It's those in between years that can wreak havoc in your life.

Why Are Natural Menopause Treatments Better?

Menopause is a natural occurrence in a woman's reproductive life. So why not treat it in a natural way? Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the standard treatment for menopause among healthcare providers - however there remains considerable controversy about the benefits and risks associated with standard HRT drugs.

For the past several decades, conventional medicine has treated hot flashes and other menopausal discomforts with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). But because ERT is dangerous for women with a history of cancer, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - which combines estrogen with a synthetic progesterone - is often used instead. But many women don't want to take the potential increased risk of cancer associated with ERT, or they dislike the cyclical bleeding & significant side effects often caused by HRT.

Recent publicity concerning the health risks of synthetic hormone replacement therapy has led many women to seek more natural solutions. And with good reason. In areas of the world where soy and other estrogenic plants are part of the diet, breast cancer rates are much lower and menopausal symptoms are almost non-existent. Synthetic hormone replacement is not common because it is not needed.

In the U.S., where pharmaceutical companies make $8 billion a year on synthetic hormones, breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes are increasing dramatically among menopausal women. Dr. John Lee, author of "What your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause", blames the increases on synthetic hormones. He says that the pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the problems. "The whole thing is madness," he says, "and it's driven by greed." A few simple and natural solutions can clear up the menopausal problems and eliminate the health risks associated with the synthetic hormones.

Try adjusting your diet to include vegetables and fish that are high in Omega-3 as they contain nutrients that can help your body deal with menopause naturally. Conversely, there are foods that can make your menopausal symptoms worse. Caffeine, sugar, fatty dairy products, salt, alcohol and saturated oils can aggravate the symptoms.

Exercising regularly can also help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Scheduling at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week will relieve hot flashes. You will be able to think more clearly and reduce your risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Finally, there are several herbs proven to help relieve menopause symptoms:

Vitamin E (as d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Can it prevent hot flashes? There were studies done in the late 1940's showing it to relieve hot flashes and postmenopausal vaginal dryness. More recent studies are lacking. There are other benefits. We know from the Nurses Health Study that women who took vitamin E over a two-year period reduced their risk of fatal heart attacks by 40%. Vitamin E is also being studied for its effect on Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Combining vitamin E with other antioxidants such as selenium, chromium, beta-carotene, and vitamin C may offer a synergistic effect. That means they work better together than separate.

Soy (Glycine max) (seed)

Soy contains natural plant estrogens called phytoestrogens. In fact, no other food has a higher phytoestrogen content than soy. Although phytoestrogens are weaker than human estrogens they behave similarly in the human body. In the body, phytoestrogens balance a woman's estrogen level by attaching themselves to the body's estrogen receptor sites. When attached, phytoestrogens can decrease estrogen levels in perimenopausal women and increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. In addition to relieving menopausal symptoms, research shows that soy helps promote heart health. Many doctors and researchers soy to relieve many menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and other discomforts.

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) (root)

The primary use of black cohosh extract is for alleviation of menopausal symptoms. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines on the use of botanicals for the management of menopausal symptoms support this use for up to six months, especially in treating the symptoms of sleep and mood disturbance, and hot flushes. Studies demonstrate efficacy in patients taking black cohosh extract similar to that of estrogen in the treatment of neurovegetative menopausal symptoms.

Damaiana (Turnerna diffusa) (leaf)

This yellow-flowering shrub typically grows in climates that are hot and humid, including Central and South America, and in the state of Texas. Damiana has historically been used as an aphrodisiac and has been claimed to induce euphoria. It is indicated to alleviate depression and relieve anxiety and induce relaxation. Damiana could lead to relaxation and could calm anxiety. Those suffering from sexual dysfunction resulting from stress or emotional troubles could benefit from supplementation with this herb.

You'll find an excellent proprietary blend of these, in a new all natural product called Menozac. Additional information can be found here:
http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com/articles/200511/how-to-relieve-menopause-symptoms/

� 2005 Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Health & Fitness Information Network - http://www.health-and-fitness-information.com - for hundreds of articles, tips, advice and resources to help you stay healthy and fit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Burns-Millyard

Center Health Menopause Womens

Does Obesity Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?

by Tim Barton

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer found in women. The major causes of breast cancer are obesity and overweight.
The effect of obesity on breast cancer risk is based on a woman's menopausal status. Before the end of menstrual cycle, obese women are less exposed to breast cancer than women of a medium weight. Anyway, after menopause, obese women have 1.5 times the risk of women of a healthy weight.
Obese women are also at high risk of dying from breast cancer after menopause compared with bony women. Scientists estimate that about 11,000 to 18,000 deaths per year from breast cancer in U.S. women over age 50 might be avoided if women could maintain a Body Mass Index under 25 throughout their adult lives (16).
It has been noticed that obesity augments the risk of breast cancer only among postmenopausal women who do not use menopausal hormones. However, there is no significant difference in breast cancer risk between obese women and women of a healthy weight if women belonging to both categories use menopausal hormones.

Obese women have higher amounts of estrogen in their body. Estrogen is mainly produced from the fatty tissues and more amount of fat in your body means you have higher chances of getting affected by breast cancer. Good nutrition, healthy living conditions and a fine environment may help girls to start puberty earlier in life and attain menopause later. Estrogen develops though out the fertility period. And better levels of estrogen in the body increases the risk of breast cancer in women. Before menopause, the primary source of estrogen are the ovaries. However, fat tissue also produces estrogen and, after the ovaries have stopped producing hormones, fat tissue comes to be the most important estrogen source. Estrogen levels in postmenopausal women are 50 to 100 percent higher among heavy compared to lean women. This makes the estrogen-sensitive tissues exposed to more estrogen stimulation in heavy women, which causes a more rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.

Another factor related to the higher breast cancer death rates in heavy women is that breast cancer is more likely to be detected at a later stage in obese women than in lean women. This is because the detection of a breast tumor is more difficult in obese versus lean women.
There is some evidence that, among African American women, the risk associated with obesity may be absent or less than that of other populations. However, a recent report showed that African American women who have a high Body Mass Index are more likely to have an advanced stage of breast cancer at diagnosis.

Weight gain during adulthood has been found to be the most consistent and strongest predictor of breast cancer risk in studies in which it has been examined.
The distribution of body fat may also affect breast cancer risk. Women with a large amount of abdominal fat have a greater breast cancer risk than those whose fat is distributed over the hips, buttocks, and lower extremities. Results from studies on the effect of abdominal fat are much less consistent than studies on weight gain or Body Mass Index.

Tim Barton is the creator of the internet's most complete collection of blogs on breast cancer. For information, stories, useful links and other resources, visit his website: http://www.FightYourBreastCancer.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Barton

Natural Treatment Of Post Menopause

Breast Cancer IS Preventable

by Michael Russell

Let me start off by saying that breast cancer is NOT a death sentence anymore. If detected early it can be treated and the patient can enjoy a full recovery and a long life afterwards.

In this particular article I am going to cover prevention, or at least as close to prevention as you are going to get. Unfortunately no matter what preventative measures you take there is always a chance you will get breast cancer.

I'm going to list these preventative measures in plain English and NOT in medical babble. I never could understand half that stuff anyway.

1. Don't drink so much. Supposedly there is a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer and it doesn't matter what type of alcohol it is. They're all bad. They say to have less than 1 drink per day. My wife has a drink about once a week so I guess she's okay there. If ,however, you do drink, also drink lots of citrus juices. Supposedly this lowers the risk of breast
cancer.

2. Keep your weight down. Supposedly there is a link between being overweight and getting breast cancer, especially if you gain a lot of weight after menopause It seems that the more fatty tissue the more oestrogen you have and high oestrogen levels are linked to breast cancer.

3. Exercise. Sounds simple enough, but in today's fast paced
society it is sometimes very hard to find time to hit the gym
or the treadmill or even to go for a walk. Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight. They say at least 30 minutes a day. My wife and I both do an hour but believe me, it's not easy.

4. Stay away from fatty foods. I guess this goes hand in hand with keeping your weight down. They say your fat intake should be no more than 35% of your total calories for the day. I'm not sure how to figure that out. You may want to consult with your doctor on this.

5. Aspirin. Well, they said that aspirin was good for preventing
heart attacks and now they say there is definitely a link between taking a regimen of aspirin and preventing breast cancer. That is one thing my wife and I don't do at all. The last time either of us had an aspirin was 20 years ago. Hopefully, that she's skinny will be good enough.

6. Avoid hormone therapy. There is a link between women who have
hormone therapy after menopause and breast cancer. Simply stated, don't do it. It's not worth the risks just to avoid hot flushes.

7. Pesticides. This one surprised me but there is a definite link between exposure to pesticides and breast cancer. So try to use them as little as possible. There are many natural ways to kill pests. There are books you can buy on the subject. Just do a Google search for "Natural Pest Removal."

8. Antibiotics. Avoid taking them if possible. Excessive use of antibiotics weakens the immune system which increases the risk of getting breast, or for that matter, any kind of cancer.

And that's about it in plain English. Follow the above guidelines and you have an excellent chance of avoiding breast cancer.

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Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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