Women's Health

The Benefits And Risks Of Natural Breast Enhancement Treatments

2009-10-30T19:02:00.002+02:00

There is some evidence that herbal creams and pills may enhance the appearance of the breast and cause it to be firmer and shapelier. However, the evidence on increased breast size is harder to document. The benefits of natural breast enhancement are probably not as great as those seen in surgery but they are less expensive, at least in the short term and they do not have to same risks as surgery. Breast enhancement lotions, creams and dietary supplements are available at most natural food stores.

Breast enhancement surgery is invasive and carries the usual risks of adverse reaction to anesthetic and possible infection. Additionally, in rare cases women have adverse reactions to the implants themselves which then have to be removed. Implants can leak causing other complications. Surgery leaves scars, and though they are minimal, they are permanent.

In rare cases, leaking implants or adverse reactions to the implants have left women permanently disfigured. There are risks to any breast enhancement treatment but surgery presents standard surgical risks with the additional rare side effects of implants.

Natural breast enhancement treatments also have some risks. Herbal remedies are medicines and are not intrinsically safe simply because they all natural. The herbs used in breast enhancement treatments mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen. Although estrogen is found in women's bodies naturally, it is known to cause certain breast and uterine cancers. Introducing extra estrogen into the body can increase the risk of cancer. Most natural breast enhancement products use herbs that have estrogen like properties. This applies to breast enhancement lotions as well as dietary supplements.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use natural breast enhancement products without consulting their physician. Some of theses herbs are associated with miscarriage and birth defects. If you are taking medication for any chronic condition, do not use natural breast enhancers without consulting a doctor. Certain herbs can interact with medications causing serious health problems. This warning applies to both, breast enhancement lotion as well as dietary supplements.

A breast enhancement lotion or cream may be the best product for natural breast enhancement. Taking oral supplements can be dangerous and the purity and safety of these supplements is often untested. Since the supplements are not regulated by government agencies in most countries, it is impossible to know exactly what you are getting. The supplements are regulated in Germany and you may be able to obtain information about their rating in Germany on the Internet.

While breast enhancement lotion is not as effective as surgery for increasing the size of the breast, there is no question that it can have a positive effect on the firmness and skin quality of the breast. Many women do not need to increase the size of their breasts and simply want to firm up sagging breasts and eliminate stretch marks. Surgery to improve the appearance of sagging breasts uses incisions which leave visible scars and which occasionally results in a loss of sensation in the nipple. Obtaining reasonable results from a breast enhancement lotion may be a better solution for many women.

While natural breast enhancement products do not produce the same results as surgery, and they do have risks, the risks are far lower for these products than they are for surgery. Breast enhancement lotions can be found at health food outlets and online.

About the Author
Skin Energizer has an excellent breast enhancement lotion, which offers natural breast enhancement. Check out their website for their full line of skin and healthcare products.

"Three" Awesome Benefits to Women's Body Building!

2009-10-30T18:57:00.002+02:00

Bodybuilding is a fun way of losing all the unwanted fat in your body. So if you are a woman, can you engage yourself into bodybuilding? The answer is yes. Women, like everyone knows, are conscious of their body's appearance. An increase in their weight and waistline means a lot to them. One might wonder why few women engage themselves in bodybuilding. It is because most of them are afraid of having bulky muscles thus not making them sexy in appearance. Instead, they tend to stick to dieting regimens in order to stay fit. Others undergo surgical treatments to take off that excess fat.

Yes it is true bodybuilding will make your body bulky and more muscular, if you are a professional bodybuilder. You don't need to have those bulky muscles that they have. What you need is a weight reduction program that is fun and effective, bodybuilding is one very effective way of toning that body of yours.

Bodybuilding as a weight reduction program is effective because it makes your muscles burn more calories by utilizing it as energies thus burning unwanted fats. It is a fact that you cannot turn fat into muscles but you can burn them by building more muscles. In this way, you can definitely eat more without worrying about adding another pound.

Women can also benefit on bodybuilding since it is also a good exercise for the heart. When done moderately, it can make your blood circulate effectively. Having a good blood circulation is key in preventing the formation of blood clots in the arteries that may cause a stroke or heart attack. In addition to this, a good circulation makes you feel revitalized since the cells get enough oxygen form the blood. Although it is good for the heart, excessive exercise can also lead to exhaustion because your heart cannot keep up with the body's great demand of oxygen. They should always remember that any excess stress is not beneficial to the body.

A woman can do at least three sessions per week. A session may last from 20 to 30 minutes.

In this way, she can start burning up those unwanted fats in no time. A good exercise combined with a good diet regimen would help her achieve the desired body that she had always wanted in a couple of months or so. In addition to this, she will start to feel younger and feel better.

Menopausal women can also benefit on bodybuilding. One problem that they encounter when menopause sets in is osteoporosis. Women can prevent osteoporosis by engaging in a light weightlifting exercise program before the menopausal years. With proper exercise and a good calcium intake, women have a great chance of not having osteoporosis.

Women should not be afraid of engaging themselves into bodybuilding. For one it is a good form of exercise. Second, it is good for their health, especially for their heart. It's also a good way of burning those unwanted fats. It's also a great way of preventing osteoporosis in women. Lastly, with a good diet, it can get them the body that they've always wanted.

There are many other advantages to womens body building. To find out more, and I mean a lot more, then continue to my website.

About the Author
If you want to lost that unwanted fat in your body, and I know you do or you wouldn't have read this far, then head on over to The Vince DelMonte Fitness Website and click on the link Women Click Here, at the bottom of the page to learn how to lose that unsightly belly fat fast.

What You Need to Know about the Emotional and Physical Treatment of Female Hair Loss

2009-10-30T18:53:00.002+02:00

If you are a woman suffering from female hair loss, you know the emotional toll it can take on you as well as the physical. Getting to the bottom of this problem is essential to your health.

The first thing you should do is to consult your doctor. This will let you know exactly what is causing the loss of hair.

When you talk to him be completely honest and answer all his questions as specifically as possible. This is very important to help find out why you are losing your hair.

It used to be that no one connected hair loss with anyone but old men. This is not true anymore.

Rest assured though, there are many treatments available to combat female hair loss. The studies have come a long way in the last few years when it comes to the treatment for loss of hair for men and women.

One of the reasons female hair loss is such a frightening experience for women is the way society views women's hair. Every commercial and advertisement you see shows a woman with a thick beautiful head of hair.

They do not show women with no hair. This is becoming somewhat trendy for men.

The hair has a normal cycle it goes through. It is in the anagen phase which means it is growing.

This goes usually for a couple of years until the telogen phase starts. This is when the hair rests.

After resting for a few months, it begins to fall out. The amount of hair that goes into the telogen phase is usually only about 10% to 20%.

When female hair loss occurs, a larger percentage than the 20% is falling out. This means that something has interfered with the normal cycles of the hair.

It can be hormonal, a vitamin deficiency, genetic or one of many other reasons. This is the reason it is so important to see your doctor.

Often a hormone called estrogen is responsible for causing DHT to attack the hair follicles. This can be regulated.

When this happens, DHT in effect tries to kill off these hair follicles and they begin to shrink. Then the hair will begin to fall out.

This can happen after child birth, during menopause or if hormone treatments are being given for illness.

Female hair loss, although not as common as men's, is often more of a thinning than an actual balding. This does however, cause the scalp to be able to be seen since the hair is so thin.

If a woman loses her hair in the same manner as men do, there is a medical reason for this. This is another very good reason for seeing your doctor.

Female hair loss can be genetic in nature just as loss of hair for a man is caused by his relatives. It is just not as pronounced as a man's loss of hair.

As you have seen, female hair loss can take quite a toll on a woman from both a physical and mental standpoint. This is one of the many reasons women need to seek assistance instead of suffering in silence.

About the Author
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Low Female Libido - Causes and Natural Cures Which Rejuvenate Libido Quickly

2009-10-30T18:50:00.002+02:00

Low female libido causes misery for millions of women but in most instances its curable by taking some proven herbs which have been used for centuries to boost libido safely and naturally. Lets take a look at the causes of low libido and the herbs which can help you rejuvenate sex drive.

The herbs we will look below can be found in the best women's sex pills, so you can get all the herbs in one potent daily dose. A major cause of low sex drive is poor blood circulation to and into the sex organs and there are three great Chinese herbs which can get more blood to where its needed fast and they are, Ginger, Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba. These herbs also have other sexual health benefits in that they fight stress and anxiety, two of the common causes of low libido and boost body energy at the same time which manifests itself in a increased libido.

The two hormones all women need plenty of, for sex drive and sexual satisfaction are, testosterone and estrogen. You can boost estrogen by taking Dong Quai and for a quick increase in testosterone you can take Satavri and Avena Sativa; these herbs also increase sexual satisfaction, by improving sensitivity in the vagina area and moistening the dry tissues of the sex organs.

Hormonal changes can cause dramatic changes in the body and when they occur, it is very common for sexual desire to fall. The Menopause, PMS and childbirth are the most common ones which cause low libido but there are herbs which you can take to restore normal hormonal balance and a good combination of herbs to take are, Ashwagandha, Dong Quai and Damiana. All these herbs help to restore hormonal balance and this manifests itself in a higher sex drive.

The above herbs, are just some of the herbal libido enhancers you can take to cure low libido and they have been taken for thousands of years because they work. These herbs don't just increase libido, they also enhance overall levels of health and you can get them, in the best herbal libido pills for women.

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Menopause Symptoms, Are You Fearful?

2009-10-30T18:47:00.002+02:00

It's true to say that you can probably diagnose yourself when your menopause has started. However, you could confuse the symptoms with other ailments. Therefore, you may find that it is a good idea if you get your doctor to run some tests so that you can be certain that the symptoms you have are, in fact, the menopause.

Some women may actually feel fearful or uncomfortable about the menopause. However, it is a natural and positive experience for many women. When you are in your 40s or early 50s you can expect to see, and probably feel the signs, so educate yourself, learn about the different challenges that others have experienced and you will probably find it much easier to come to terms.

You will probably find that you experience quite a few pre-menopausal symptoms, but you only, actually, experience the menopause when your periods have been missing for at least a year.

Education on the menopause is a great idea to get you mentally prepared to deal with this coming change. You may experience changes in your mood or may even feel weepy. These are all part of the ongoing hormonal changes within your body.

Soon as you begin to experience the menopause seek advice from your medical practitioner, nutritionist or another suitably qualified person.

Be proactive in your own health, there are many things that will enable you to go through the menopause with ease. For example, buy yourself a natural progesterone cream made from wild yam this has been shown to make some improvements in side-effects. This is because it contains naturally occurring DHEA.

You will also find that the herb red clover will bring many benefits as this is high in B vitamins and supplement Gamma oryzenol. You can buy this from any health food store.

In conclusion, read about the symptoms of the menopause, other women's experiences and you will find yourself coming to terms with this time in your life.

About the Author
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Increase Women's Libido

2009-10-30T18:44:00.002+02:00

In simple and common terminology, libido is the drive and passion for sexual interaction. However, amid a host of atmospheric, emotional, environmental, mental psychological, physical and stressful conditions, the libido, in either men or women, can be adversely affected.

Your circulatory health is critical not just for your sexual health but your overall health and you need blood pumping strongly to the extremities, such as the genitals. When the blood gets there, it must enter the sexual organs and this means nitric oxide must be realized.

Lack of Testosterone causes low libido and is not just needed by men, women need it to. Stress and low energy a problem for both sexes, stress is a passion killer and if your energy is low, you simply won't be in the mood for sex.

Now, foods are a good way to enhance your libido, beside eating right they will help you live a healthy life also. But, if you really want to give your libido a good boost, you might want to try a good libido enhancer for women. Enhancers will take effect quicker than foods.

If your man does not know how to set the mood, you do it. You know how you want or need to touched. You know what turns you on and what does not. Maybe he feel as though he does not have to get you in the mood any more. If that is the case, you need to let him know what you want.

Women who are happy in their home life tend to have higher sex drives. Men, if you want your wife to have an increase in her sexual desire for you, it would be best to do everything that you can to make her happy. Helping out with childcare and with household chores will lead to an increased sex drive in your woman because she will be a lot less tired.

Common causes include low estrogen levels which can make intercourse uncomfortable and kill desire and low testosterone levels which cause desire to plummet. Next we have low nitric oxide levels, the chemical that opens the blood vessels to the sex organs if you don't have enough blood coming in, you will have no libido.

Set the mood by lighting candles and putting on sensual music. Approach your woman while she is still wearing her clothes and practice the art of seduction. Kiss her neck and slowly unbutton her blouse as opposed to simply grabbing or pawing at her. Remember to be romantic, that's how to increase libido in women.

Damiana extract (Turnera Aphrodisiaca) is a mild euphoric herb that helps to relax the body and the mind. This effect is seen to reduce stress and make it possible for a woman to get in the mood to have sex. It has also been shown to help balance female hormones.

Now, all of that being said, there are a number of ways you can address this problem and get your libido back to the level to which you are accustomed. Some people believe that certain foods, considered aphrodisiacs, can increase a woman's libido.

A woman's libido is multi-faceted, unlike a man's which just is out there for the world to see. Increasing a woman's libido, therefore, takes on a multi-faceted approach. Setting the appropriate mood with lighting and music is a very important step in trying to arouse a woman.

Read about breast enlargement . Also read about breast enhancement pills and breast enhancing

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Estrogen for Post-Menopausal Women? New thinking on hormone replacement therapy

2009-10-30T18:41:00.000+02:00

Stephanie is a 51-year-old woman who recently came to see me complaining that her heart was skipping and racing. Although these spells would only last for a few seconds, she found them distracting and worrisome. She also had been waking up in the middle of the night with drenching sweats and a flushed feeling in her face.

Stephanie confided that she was feeling generally more irritable and just less happy than usual in recent months. When we checked her labs, we found that her bad cholesterol was 20 points higher and her good cholesterol was five points lower than was normal for her. As we both suspected, her hormone levels showed that she was in menopause. After about 40 years of cyclic hormone production, her ovaries were calling it quits.

We've Come a Long Way, Baby!

A decade ago most doctors would not have thought twice before starting Stephanie on hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone. The cover of TIME magazine in the mid '90s proclaimed post-menopausal hormone therapy as the fountain of youth for women.

This field was thrown into turmoil when a large and impressive study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published its results in 2002 showing that estrogen, especially when used with progesterone, increased the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. The previously popular strategy of estrogen for menopausal women took a sudden "U" turn, and this practice has been decidedly out of fashion among physicians and patients for the past seven years. Yet, reassuring new findings and innovative options are changing our thinking about this complex and important issue of estrogen replacement for women past menopause.

The Latest Thinking on Hormone Replacement

The latest data out from the WHI and other studies suggests that hormones for the first 10 years after menopause are not only safe, but also may reduce the risk of death from any cause. A recently reported study of over 700,000 women found that topical (the medical term for treatment applied to the skin) estrogen therapy is safer for a woman's heart than the pill form of estrogen.

Hormone pills that you swallow have to pass through the liver where the estrogen is metabolized into compounds that are different from the estrogens that are produced in the ovaries. On the other hand, topical estrogen is absorbed through the skin straight into the bloodstream, similar to the natural release of hormones from the ovaries directly into the circulation.

Patches for the skin can deliver estrogen at doses that are safe, effective, and easy. The most popular patches are designed to be applied to the skin of the torso, arm or thigh, and changed every three to seven days. If you are considering hormone therapy for post-menopausal issues, remember: safety may be skin deep.

Bio-identical Hormones

Bio-identical hormone therapy is another "hot" topic in this field. Many of the old studies, including the WHI trial, used oral hormone pills which often contain a variety of different estrogens. Some of these are not normally made by human females. It is much more logical to use the precise form of estrogen (17-beta estradiol) that your ovaries made before you went through menopause. Today, it is easy to find estrogen compounds that are exactly the same, biochemically, as the hormones produced by a healthy young woman's ovaries.

Dr. Marie Griffin is a friend and endocrinologist who is very bright and knowledgeable on the topic of hormone therapy for women. Dr Griffin says, "With a life expectancy of nearly 90 years for American women today, they are spending nearly 40 years with deficient or absent sex hormones. Are their brains, bones, GI tracts, muscles, uro-genital tracts, etc. ready for that? Often our male counterparts' testosterone levels fall gradually through the decades to low-normal levels--but not to zero! And when they come in with low testosterone, do we tell them to 'tough it out' because they might get prostate cancer or could have a drop in their HDL (cardio-protective) cholesterol? Heck no! We put most of them on testosterone because it's so central to their health and well-being. I think there's an unintentional double standard in this issue. Estrogen should probably be offered to many women after having a balanced discussion about the risks versus benefits of estrogen therapy."

Weighing the Risks versus Benefits of Hormone Replacement

Many women feel better emotionally and physically when they use hormones early after menopause. Improvements in mood, energy, skin youthfulness, memory, cholesterol levels, libido, and bone health are all potential benefits of post-menopausal estrogen. No wonder so many women are interested in hormone replacement! However, there are downsides to consider. Estrogen can increase risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, especially with high-dose hormonal therapy used for over 10 years.

My friend and collaborator Dr. David Bell, an endocrinologist from Alabama who is a leading expert on issues related to hormones and heart disease says: "Estrogen therapy around the time of menopause and for up to 10 years afterwards appears to prevent heart disease. In contrast, estrogen in older women, especially those with established cardiovascular disease, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke."

The issues surrounding hormone therapy for women are complex and need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. So, if you have questions about this, talk it over with your doctor, though probably not your cardiologist, since we generally neither prescribe nor follow women's hormone replacement therapy issues closely. By the way, Stephanie's gynecologist did start her on a low-dose estrogen patch and her palpitations and other menopausal symptoms improved markedly.

Is estrogen replacement right for you?

Here are a few points to ask your doctor about if you are on, or are considering post-menopausal estrogen replacement therapy:

1. Use the lowest dose possible.

2. Try to use topical (applied to skin) hormones.

3. Consider asking for bio-identical (human identical) estrogen therapy.

4. Estrogen replacement is safest for women in the first decade after menopause starts-typically from age 50 to 59.

5. Avoid hormone therapy if you have a personal or family history of breast cancer, blood clots in the legs, stroke, or heart attack.

6. Have regular check-ups with your gynecologist, internist, endocrinologist, or family practice physician.

About the Author
Dr. James O'Keefe is a practicing preventive cardiologist at Cardiovascular Consultants of the Saint Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute located in Kansas City, MO. He is actively involved with clinical research, has published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and is the lead author of several books including The Forever Young Diet & Lifestyle.

The Top 5 Vitamins for Women

2009-10-30T18:36:00.002+02:00

Certain vitamins have a very positive impact on women, more so than other vitamins. Women need different nutrients than men, because of this; the following vitamins are considered the top 5 vitamins for women.

VITAMIN D

Vitamin D has been known to help with the formation of bones and teeth. In women this is very important in the prevention of osteoporosis. Additionally, researchers have found that having adequate amounts of Vitamin D may help to curb PMS symptoms. Vitamin D has also been linked to retarding the chances of getting colon cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Food sources rich in Vitamin D include: cod liver oil, mushrooms, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna fish, orange juice, milk, yogurt, margarine, cereal, eggs, liver, and cheese.

VITAMIN E

Vitamin E is an important form of antioxidant for women. Vitamin E is linked to reproductive health in women. It also helps promote healthy skin, nails, and hair. Research has shown that it may prevent heart disease, cataracts and even cancer. Food sources rich in Vitamin E include: cereal, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, spinach, crab, mangos and papayas.

VITAMIN K

Vitamin K is essential due to its ability to add clotting factors to our blood. What some people do not know is that it also helps to form bones and may be beneficial in preventing heart disease in women. Food sources rich in Vitamin K include: broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, seaweed, rhubarb and alfalfa seeds.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C plays an large role in women's immune systems. It is one of the most important vitamins when it comes to helping our body heal itself. Additionally, research shows that it may play an important role in retarding heart disease, cancer, and cataracts in women. Food sources rich in Vitamin C include: cantaloupe, Clementine, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, lemon, limes, nectarines, orange, peaches and pineapple.

VITAMIN B

Vitamin B6 helps regulate women's hormone levels. It has also been related to working on a woman's brain chemicals and boosting the immunity. Vitamin B6 can also prevent heart disease in later life. Food sources rich in Vitamin B6 include: cereal grains, legumes, vegetables, potatoes, milk, cheese, eggs, fish, liver, meat, and flour.

About the Author
Sophia Grant is dedicated to reliable heath and wellness articles. More information can be found at Detox

Why You should Stop Smoking: Dangers to Women's Health

2009-10-01T07:59:00.002+02:00

You must have heard that cigarette smoking is definitely not good for health. This does not make any distinctions in its ill effects; it is dangerous both to women's and men's health. However, you should know that smoking may have more harmful effects on a woman's health than on a man. A woman is capable of bearing a child in her womb. Because of this she is considered as an icon for nurturing; however, if with unhealthy habits, a woman may also unknowingly inflict damage to the child in her womb. Therefore, if smoking should be stopped by any gender in particular, then there is a greater need for women to stop smoking.

A woman may be inflicted with several illnesses if she becomes addicted to nicotine. If she is unable to live a healthy lifestyle, and if she is unable to eliminate smoking from her daily routine, she may end up having vaginal bleeding, heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Studies even show that women who smoke are more prone to having lung cancer as compared to those who do not smoke.

Furthermore, when females become addicted to nicotine, it is more difficult for them to eliminate such substance from their system as opposed to males. Because of this, they have to put on extra effort just to prevent themselves from being addicted; but if they are already dependent on the substance, they should ask for help and supplements designed to release them from such addiction.

Perhaps you are wondering how to get out of such addiction. If this is the case, then you should know that your first step to a non-smoking life is to know all the possible effects that may harm you. In doing so, you would have a better understanding of the consequences of your acts and thus, it will be easier for you to avoid such path again. Maybe, you would realize that you do not need to be around people who smoke because you may be influenced to smoke again; or you may refrain from going to shops that sell cigarettes. As long as you have baby steps to get out from your habit, then you are on the right track.

If these acts are not helpful enough, you may also ask your doctor for assistance. Several drugs may be prescribed to you to help you with the addiction, some of them may be found online and some are just within your neighborhood pharmacies. Just make sure that you have consulted your doctor before buying these medicines and that the medicines that you would take are FDA approved. This is to certify that these drugs will not worsen your condition and that they are really designed to help you with your nicotine problem.

Cigarette smoking should definitely be avoided for your own health. If you are a woman, you should have realized by now that you have more things to take into consideration than men who smoke. You are a woman, and you should be the life-giver. You cannot give a life that is not healthy, thus you should keep yourself healthy as well. Thus, since smoking is not healthy, you should not smoke; but if you already are, you may want to consider to stop smoking.

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Pregnancy and Teeth

2009-10-01T07:56:00.000+02:00

ScienceDaily (Mar. 25, 2008); A study by a New York University dental research team has discovered evidence that pregnant women with periodontal (gum) disease are more likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus than pregnant women with healthy gums.

The study, led by Dr. Ananda P. Dasanayake, a professor of epidemiology & health promotion at the NYU College of Dentistry, followed 256 women at New York's Bellevue Hospital Center through their first six months of pregnancy. Twenty-two women developed gestational diabetes. Those women had significantly higher levels of periodontal bacteria and inflammation than the other women in the study.

The findings, published in the April 2008 issue of the Journal of Dental Research, underscore how important it is for expectant mothers to maintain good oral health.

"In addition to its potential role in preterm delivery, evidence that gum disease may also contribute to gestational diabetes suggests that women should see a dentist if they plan to get pregnant, and after becoming pregnant," says Dasanayake. "Treating gum disease during pregnancy has been shown to be safe and effective in improving women's oral health and minimizing potential risks."

"In the future," he added, "we can expect to see more research on the link between these two conditions involving other high risk groups, such as Asian and Native American women."

Gestational diabetes is characterized by an inability to transport glucose -- the main source of fuel for the body -- to the cells during pregnancy. The condition usually disappears when the pregnancy ends, but women who have had gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of developing the most common form of diabetes, known as Type 2 diabetes, later in life. Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans are at the highest risk for developing gestational diabetes. Eighty percent of the women in the NYU study were Hispanic.

Inflammation associated with periodontal disease is believed to play a role in the onset of gestational diabetes, perhaps by interfering with the normal functioning of insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose metabolism. Bacteria in mouth can cause preterm birth. Cigna offers extended perio care to pregnant women.

You may have heard a few old wives' tales about pregnancy, including â€œA tooth lost for every child.â€ While it seems far-fetched, it actually is based loosely in fact. Your teeth and gums are affected by pregnancy, primarily through hormonal changes, just as other tissues in your body. You may not be aware that the health of your gums may also affect the health of your baby.

How does pregnancy affect your teeth and gums?

About 50% of women experience "pregnancy gingivitis". This condition can be uncomfortable and cause swelling, bleeding, redness or tenderness in the gum tissue. A more advanced oral health condition called periodontal disease (a serious gum infection that destroys attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold teeth in the mouth) may affect the health of your baby. Is periodontal disease linked to preterm low birthweight babies?

Studies have shown a relationship between periodontal disease and preterm, low birthweight babies. In fact, pregnant women with periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that's born too early and too small. The likely culprit is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin. Very high levels of prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

What if I'm diagnosed with periodontal disease during pregnancy?

If you're diagnosed with periodontal disease, we might recommend a common non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your tooth-root surfaces are cleaned to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. Research suggests that scaling and root planing may reduce the risk of preterm births in pregnant women with periodontal disease. The added bonus is that the procedure should alleviate many of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with pregnancy gingivitis, such as swelling and tenderness of the gums. As you make your way through the "to-dos" during pregnancy, remember to check off a visit to your favorite dentist. This will benefit you and your unborn baby.

CLEVELAND, April 6, 2006- The first hard evidence has been uncovered that bacteria in the mouth may find their way to the uterus, causing uterine infections that can lead to preterm birth in pregnant women. A newly discovered and as yet unnamed species of the bacterium genus Bergeyella was found in the mouth and amniotic fluid of a woman with a uterine infection who gave birth prematurely (24 weeks), reported microbiologist Yiping W. Han, Ph.D., of Case Western Reserve here.

However, the bacterium was not detected in a vaginal swab, as might be expected. The finding confirmed what some scientists have suspected, that intrauterine infections don't always "ascend" from the genital tract but can "descend" from the oral cavity, Dr. Han and colleagues said in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

The study included 19 pregnant women undergoing transabdominal amniocentesis because of preterm labor or threatened preterm labor. Amniotic fluid, blood samples, vaginal swabs, and oral swabs were collected from each woman and analyzed for bacterial DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleotide sequencing.

The species of Bergeyella was detected in the mouths of all 14 women tested, but in the amniotic fluid of only one patient.

This woman had been diagnosed with a uterine infection based on an elevated white blood cell count and a low glucose level in the amniotic fluid.

She went into labor, induced because of the infection, and delivered her baby at 24 weeks' gestation. Subsequent analysis of her placenta revealed severe and diffused chorioamnionitis and fetal vasculitis involving the umbilical cord and chorionic plate, which was the presumed cause of her preterm labor.

"Intrauterine infection with Bergeyella has never been reported before. Where could the bacteria come from?" the investigators asked. Because the bacteria were not detected in the vaginal tract, the investigators hypothesized they were transmitted to the uterus from the mouth via the bloodstream.

The bacteria were not detected in the patient's blood, but they had likely been cleared from the blood by the immune system before they could be detected, Dr. Han said.

Although periodontal disease has been implicated in preterm birth, the patient showed no evidence of periodontal disease, the researchers noted. "The study is an eye-opener," Dr. Han said. "It shows that oral bacteria can get into the uterus."

The study also suggested that more than the usual bacterial suspects may be responsible for uterine infection and resulting preterm birth, Dr. Han added. The usual suspects are known vaginal flora such as Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis. But Bergeyella, a little-known, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria associated with dog and cat bite wounds, had not been thought to be an important component of the oral or vaginal flora.

One reason Bergeyella may have been overlooked previously is that it is difficult to grow in culture. As much as 60% to 70% of oral bacteria can not be detected by growing on culture. The current study detected Bergeyella because it used PCR amplification of bacterial DNA rather than traditional culturing techniques, Dr. Han said.

While suggestive, the study's findings do not yet support routine analysis of pregnant women's oral or vaginal flora to identify those who may be at risk for uterine infection, Dr. Han said.

"That is the question we want to ask now," she said. Her research is examining whether particular components or oral or vaginal flora are associated with increased risk for uterine infection or preterm birth.

The mother and baby from the study are healthy and doing well, Dr. Han said. Primary source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Source reference: Yiping Han et al. Transmission of an uncultivated Bergeyella strain from the oral cavity to amniotic fluid in a case of preterm birth. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2006; 44:1475-1483.

CIGNA Dental has followed the research that shows women with periodontal (gum) disease may be at increased risk for pre-term babies. That's why we are launching our new CIGNA Dental Oral Health Maternity Program, which enhances benefits for pregnant members with CIGNA medical and fully-insured dental coverage.

We hope this will encourage pregnant members to have an oral health exam and to seek needed treatment for gum disease. Effective 1/1/06 CIGNA Dental will cover periodontal scaling and root planing performed during pregnancy at 100% for eligible members. In addition, for pregnant members not requiring scaling and root planing, we will cover an additional cleaning during pregnancy because we recognize the potential risk of "pregnancy gingivitis." We will also cover treatment for inflamed gums around wisdom teeth at 100% during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and have CIGNA medical coverage, be sure to enroll in the CIGNA HealthCare Healthy Babies® program. Learn more. If expectant mums put on the pounds, so do the kids

December 1, 2005

NO WONDER America has a growing weight problem: its children are being condemned to a life of obesity while still in the womb. According to two new studies, overeating by expectant mothers is an important but overlooked factor in the inexorable expansion of the nation's waistlines. More alarming is the conclusion of one of the new studies, from a team at Harvard Medical School, that even women who follow official advice on how much weight they should gain during pregnancy may be priming their children to become obese.

In the US 16 per cent of children are classed as obese - a threefold increase since 1980. Among adults, the obesity rate is 30 per cent. That's a major concern, because obese people suffer from health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and stroke. So far, public health strategists have fought childhood fat by promoting healthy eating and exercise among children themselves.

But the Harvard team, led by Matthew Gillman, and another group led by Andrea Sharma of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, decided to investigate the effect of weight gain during pregnancy. Last month in Toronto, Canada, they told the third International Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease that the children of women who put on a lot of weight during pregnancy were particularly prone to obesity. Obstetricians agree that it is important for women to gain some weight - beyond that of the developing fetus - if they are to have a healthy pregnancy. Guidelines issued by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1990, taking into account that women have different builds, suggest that a "normal" woman should gain between 11.5 and 16 kilograms, including the weight of the fetus. The World Health Organization suggests a similar range of 10 to 12.5 kilograms.

Gillman's PhD student Emily Oken divided her study group of 770 pregnant women from Massachusetts into those who gained "inadequate", "adequate" and "excessive" amounts of weight according to the IOM guidelines. In both of the last two groups, children were on average already overweight by the age of 3. "Only the 'inadequate' group gives a result that is where you want to be," says Gillman.

Sharma, meanwhile, scoured national health records and found a correlation between pregnancy weight gain and obesity among children aged 2 to 4. But her team found that it was mothers who had piled on more pounds than the IOM recommends who were more likely to have obese children - not the "adequate" weight-gainers. "Our data suggest that it's excessive weight gain that is the problem," Sharma says.

It is unclear why the two studies produced different conclusions. Sharma's study was much larger, incorporating some 190,000 families. But because the Harvard group could follow their volunteers in more detail, they may have controlled more effectively for other factors influencing the results. Oken found that the relationship between pregnancy weight gain and childhood obesity remained strong after controlling for factors including race, parental smoking, household income and fetal growth during pregnancy.

The IOM is planning to convene a workshop in spring 2006 to consider new data on the consequences of weight gain during pregnancy, including studies on childhood obesity.

In the meantime, researchers are warning pregnant women against adopting a starvation diet in the hope of having svelte, healthy children. Not only is it important to resolve the discrepancy between the two studies, they say, but women who fail to gain sufficient weight during pregnancy are also at greater risk of problems, including premature births. "It depends on what outcome you look at," says Naomi Stotland, an obstetrician at the University of California, San Francisco.

From issue 2528 of New Scientist magazine, 01 December 2005, page 14

About the Author
For more information and more on different dental procedures and excellent physicians licensed to perform them, please visit: www.midtowndentistry.com

Do You Need a Plastic Surgery Tummy Tuck?

2009-10-01T07:50:00.000+02:00

Plastic surgery is something that everyone contemplates every now and then, but it is not something they are really serious about. Some end up doing some things for the vanity of it, but many others have health reasons why they are going to go under the knife to improve some area of their body. The plastic surgery tummy tuck is actually something that falls under both categories, and can be something that is covered on some insurance plans. That will be up to your insurance company, however.

The cosmetic reasons for a plastic surgery tummy tuck are obvious. These are usually people who have had children and their skin did not bounce back as they had hoped. Some women have huge problems with this, as their skin many not be as elastic as other women's skin. Some can go back to looking just as they did before they were pregnant. Those women are actually very rare, but some do end up being that lucky. There are many things in the make up of skin that help it heal and expand or retract. Some people just naturally have more of this than others.

There are also those that want a plastic surgery tummy tuck because they have gained and then lost a lot of weight. They may have the same skin elasticity problems that plague those that have children. They may even have both things going against them. When you want to get a plastic surgery tummy tuck for either of those reasons, you are probably going to find that your insurance company is not going to pick up the tab for you. You are going to be on your own finding a doctor and paying for the procedure. It could meaning saving up a bit before you can get it done.

On the other hand, there are some medical reasons why a plastic surgery tummy tuck may fall under the realm of being medically necessary. It may even work in some of the above cases, but again, it depends on both your doctor's opinion and the insurance that you have for your medical needs. Excess skin in that area can cause some medical problems, and can also cause chaffing and irritation. At times, these are medical reason to have the plastic surgery tummy tuck.

No matter what your reasons, you should always try to do what you can to tighten up your stomach before you decide that you want to get a plastic surgery tummy tuck. Though it might not seem like a big deal, it is still a surgery and has risks involved. There are going to be times when personal habits and exercise do nothing, as genetics are just as powerful. Choose your doctor carefully when you get your plastic surgery tummy tuck, and give yourself plenty of time to heal.

About the Author
Karan has been involved with internet marketing for nearly 4 years and is an avid writer who writes on various subjects. Come visit his latest website that discusses Causes Of Hypertension and also learn about Lowering High Blood Pressure.

An Answer to Hair Loss in Women with Vitamin Deficiency

2009-10-01T07:47:00.002+02:00

Hair loss in women can be due to vitamin deficiency. There are minerals and nutrients that our body and hair needs. Thus, it is important that women should eat a healthy and nutritious diet. Eating the right food will not only benefit your body but your hair as well. Foods that are good for your body and hair are foods high in protein, low in carbohydrates and reduced fat content. These foods may not put hair on your head but these can help your hair remain healthy for a long time. Essential fatty acids found in walnuts, canola oil, fish and soy are also important for the health of your hair.

Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that play a role in healthy hair. And this is also considered as good fats and is beneficial for the functioning of the heart and brain. Iron is another important nutrient that is needed for a healthy hair. A lack of iron can lead to anemia or a reduction of the red blood cells, which can lead to hair loss. Though people won't notice the loss of hair but adding more iron rich foods to your diet can also help reverse some forms of hair loss.

Hair loss in women can also be due to a vitamin deficiency like vitamin B12 which can be obtained from eggs, meat, and poultry. This is a nutrient that is essential for your hair and this is a nutrient that women can easily develop a deficiency. In fact, a number of hair loss cases are due to a deficiency in vitamin B12.

Is Your Hair Healthy?

Another essential nutrient for your hair is biotin. This is often prescribed for people suffering from hair loss. And this is also found in Provillus. Biotin is an essential nutrient for the manufacturing process of the hair. This helps our new hair grow and it also plays an important role in the health of our skin and nails. Other than Provillus, this essential nutrient can also be found in foods like liver and egg yolks. But since we will have to consume thousands of calories daily for our hair needs, thus supplements with biotin like Provillus are recommended by many dermatologists.

Women who are suffering from hair loss would usually need up to 3 mg of biotin daily. But consumption of biotin not only helps the hair, this can also lead to healthier skin and nails. Natural supplements not only keep women's hair healthy, this is also beneficial for the body as the nutrients found in some natural substances like vitamin B6, biotin, magnesium, horsetail, and para aminobenzoic acid are also needed for a healthy body.

Vitamin B6 for example, is not only good for our hair but it is also essential for protein and red blood cell metabolism, as well as nervous and immune system function. This vitamin helps increase oxygen in hemoglobin and maintains healthy blood sugar levels. Thus, hair loss in women with vitamin deficiency can be treated with Provillus.

About the Author
Hair loss can affect both men and women, it is not something that people tend to ignore. If you are frustrated and are looking for a natural solution then visit my site today. http://www.regrowhairsolution.com/
By T. Mathews

How To Make Your Breasts Grow - Different Ways To Increase Your Breast Size

2009-10-01T07:44:00.002+02:00

Most women ought to like to difference the size and the shape of the breasts. And additonally the cosmetic changes are easy to do and reverse, if needed, breast augmentation surgery is not for everyone.

Surgical breast augmentation is a severe investment opportunity of long time and money, it has a lot of health possible results and the possible results can never be fully predictable. All together, these types of components can obtain breast augmentation a endure resort for people who would like to tweak the size and condition of their breasts.

There are several alternatives that women can try to improve the shape of their breasts before resorting to surgery. These breast enhancement techniques range from breast enhancement creams and pills to easy breast enhancement exercises that tone all of your upper body.

Breast Enhancement Pills

Breast enhancement pills usually offer a combination of several herbal ingredients. Most often, the formula includes fenugreek, saw palmetto, Mexican wild yam, fennel, Dong Quai, damiana, and blessed thistle.

The herbal components of breast enhancement pills start a reaction similar to those that occur during puberty, when women's breast tissue starts to grow. These herbs deliver plant estrogen, which stimulates the growth of the delicate breast tissue from inside by causing hormonal changes. Plant estrogen, as scary and medicinal as it sounds, is a natural product derived from plants and is quite mild.

It may take time to achieve the desired results with breast enhancement pills. Women with small to medium cup size when taking breast enhancement pills usually achieve their optimum results within two months. Some women continue to take breast enhancement pills on an ongoing basis because they notice other positive changes in health.

Herbal remedies, including breast enhancement pills, have many advantages over surgical breast augmentation, due to lower costs, less health risks and fewer side effects.

Breast Enhancement Creams and Lotions

This type of breast enhancement is not the most effective when used on its own. When combined with pills and exercises, breast enhancement creams can yield substantial breast size increase.

Breast enhancement creams act in pretty much the same way that the breast enhancement pills do. Typically breast enhancement cream contains a mix of herbs along with mild chemicals that stimulate the growth of fat cells in the breast without growing fat cells on other parts of the body.

Breast enhancement creams have other cosmetic effects, as they make the breasts firmer and more smooth, enhancing the total look and feel of the breasts.

Breast Enhancement Exercises

Breast enhancement exercises are perhaps the cheapest and most natural method for promoting breast growth although they require a dedicated approach to make them work.

The most popular breast enhancement exercise is a push-up. Here's the right way to do push-ups:

1) Lie facing down on your stomach on a flat surface

2) Bend your knees and cross your ankles.

3) Now start bending your elbows while keeping your palms in line with your shoulders.

4) Remaining balanced on your palms and elbows raise your body - keeping your ankles crossed. This way, you don't raise too much weight. Don't straighten your elbows when raising the body - it may cause damage to your joints.

5) Slowly lower your entire body, but don't lie down. You should decrease the angle only until your arms become in line with the floor.

You should try to repeat push-ups ten times, gradually increasing the repetitions as you get stronger.

Breast enhancement exercises, like any form of exercise, should be performed in sportswear, on a comfortable flat surface. If done without caution, these exercises can strain the muscles, so speak to your doctor first if you have any concerns. Don't push yourself too hard, and stop immediately if you feel unwell, be it pain or tension. Performing these breast enhancement exercises daily, or at least two to three times a week should help you achieve more round "perky" breasts. Plus, it has the added benefit of strengthening your back muscles to help improve your posture, too.

Following an exercise regime that includes push-ups you can also use breast enhancement creams and pills. When all the breast enhancement techniques are used in conjunction with each other, you can achieve optimal results. Start taking actions and work towards your dream figure! Download your Breast Enhancement ebook now.

About the Author
If you feel Inferior or no Confidence with yourself having small breasts, incomparable to your friends, you can end your misery right now!

Flat2Fab is a proven breast enlargement program you can do at home to make your breasts grow! If you are not comfortable with the size of your breasts, it is possible to make them bigger.

Try the program and change your figure forever!

Menopause Survival Guide

2009-10-01T07:39:00.000+02:00

You may be lucky enough to have a good doctor -- one who takes menopause seriously, respects that your feelings and the symptoms going on in your body are real, and cares enough to listen and try to help you feel better.

Or, you may not. Sadly, when it comes to menopause, many doctors have outdated information and perceptions, or they simply don't have the time for the careful diagnosis and trial-and-error process it takes to treat menopause symptoms accurately and safely.

So, chances are, when it comes to navigating the inhospitable terrain of menopause, you'll be largely on your own. That means you need to familiarize yourself with how this enormous change of life actually happens, and what to expect. We talked to a range of women going through menopause, and here's what we learned about what to do to make it through healthy and happy.

Has either of these happened to you?

•Your doctor listens to your list of symptoms, says it sounds like PMS or "period moodiness," and offers you a prescription for an antidepressant.
•Your doctor listens to your list of symptoms, says the only approach is hormone replacement, and offers you a prescription for hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

If so, it's a red flag that your doctor isn't doing all he or she should to help you.

Solution: You're going to have to push harder to get quality help from your doctor. Don't get us wrong: Both antidepressants and hormones are reasonable approaches to some menopause-related problems. But neither should be an automatic first-line solution, and neither should be given without making sure they're the right approach.

So before you zip over to the drugstore with a prescription, make sure you and your doctor have had a thorough discussion about your symptoms, the best dosage, and what you can expect the drug to accomplish, as well as a full rundown of the side effects and risks. And if you find you consistently leave your doctor's office feeling that no one really listened to you, or that you don't know what to do next to feel better, it's time to get a new doctor. Really.

Menopause itself isn't medically diagnosed until you've gone one year without having a period. So the phrase in menopause is sort of useless, because it's the period leading up to that, called perimenopause, when most women experience the really crazy physical and emotional changes. And the years afterward, when hormone production has pretty much shut down, bring their own health issues and problems.

Solution: Start by looking closely at your own symptoms. Don't be too certain that being a particular age automatically means you're in menopause: Perimenopause/menopause can start when you're in your late 20s -- usually induced by a medical condition, but not always -- or as late as the late 50s. But the majority of women start to notice a series of incremental changes and symptoms, increasing in severity, between ages 40 and 50.

If your periods are changing, you're becoming uncharacteristically moody, and you're starting to have night sweats or hot flashes, then you're probably in perimenopause. Notice we say changing, not stopping. This is where some of the greatest confusion lies. Your periods might actually become heavier or occur closer together. They might be the same but you might notice more bloating, moodiness, and new symptoms, such as breast pain or a flu-like achiness. You might have spotting between periods or skip periods altogether, like you did when you were a teenager. In fact, some experts counsel us to think of menopause as a second adolescence -- it's that big a life change.

If you're like most women, though, you can skip the only actual diagnostic tool available, a menopause blood test. It's unlikely to tell you much. The test is quite reliable for women who have gone at least a year without a period and for women experiencing premature ovarian failure (a medical disorder), but it's basically useless for women in the midst of perimenopause. The test measures hormone levels, but during perimenopause the hormone levels fluctuate wildly. The blood test only checks where your body is on a particular day, and it could show something completely different a week or even a day later.

So when your doctor says your hormone levels are fine, take that with five grains of salt. Better yet, don't even have the blood test. Common sense tells you that if you're between 35 and 55; your periods are getting squirrely; you're constantly adding and removing layers; and you find yourself inexplicably cranky, weepy, and just plain mean, you're almost certainly menopausal. Then go with that and get help.

One thing you need to know right away: They're not exactly the same thing, though they're related. Some women really do have one without the other, and that's normal. The explanation for this strange symptom is that when your body's natural hormone regulation system is overtaxed, it gets confused and sends out a signal to dispel heat. Your blood vessels dilate, your heart rate increases, your sweat glands open, and voila -- that rush of heat and flushing we're all too familiar with.

Solution: Understand that your body's mixing up its signals and overreacting. You can often prevent the reaction by avoiding the triggers that set off the hot flashes and night sweats. Here's a list of hot-flash triggers you may not know about:

•Caffeine
•Sugar
•Spicy food and hot sauce
•Acidic foods, such as tomatoes
•Alcohol
•Tobacco and marijuana
•Hot tubs and saunas
•Sex
•Intense aerobic exercise
•Stress and intense anxiety
•Anger

Two other things that can make a big difference: losing weight and quitting smoking. Both smoking and extra pounds increase the incidence of hot flashes and night sweats enormously. Also, women who struggle with anxiety are five times more likely to suffer from hot flashes, so antianxiety remedies can help.

Experts recommend a few simple habits anyone can use to cope with hot flashes. Keep a glass of water by the bed; drinking water can cool down night sweats. Dress in layers, learn to recognize the sign of an impending hot flash (it feels like a surge of adrenaline), and react by dressing down. Make sure you're getting adequate calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, which not only prevent osteoporosis but reduce hot flashes.

If nothing works and your hot flashes are so bad they're interfering with daily activities or preventing you from sleeping, you may need to consider hormone therapy.

As one 49-year-old woman recently put it, "Is it normal to be a complete witch for two weeks out of every month?" Well, um, yes. Solution: Just because your mood swings are a normal part of menopause doesn't mean you -- or your family and friends -- have to just stand by and take it. First off, start marking on the calendar which days of the month you're a complete hellion. Is it the week right before your period? Two weeks before? Or both? Then analyze the emotion -- or emotions -- you're experiencing. Is it anxiety? Depression? Anger? Are you oversensitive, feeling hurt all the time; or overreactive, freaking out over everything in sight?

The reason for compiling all this data: Mood-altering medications come in many varieties, and it's not a one-size-fits-all situation, though far too many doctors treat it that way. If your primary emotion is anxiety, even paranoia, a short-acting benzodiazepine like lorazepam (brand name: Ativan) may be much more effective and have fewer unwanted side effects than an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), like Prozac or Zoloft.

If your mood problems come primarily in the form of irritability and anger, an antidepressant might help, but making time for regular yoga or dance classes or a strenuous walk can do just as much to relieve stress and that horrible sense of feeling overwhelmed. And if middle-of-the-night, mind-racing insomnia is your main symptom, then taking an herbal supplement such as valerian or chamomile might get you back to sleep without the need to be on a drug full time. (Several midlife women we talked to keep a simple chewable homeopathic remedy called Calms Forté in their nightstand drawer for such moments.)

It's not that antidepressants are bad per se, but going on one can cause additional issues, such as loss of libido. So if you can take care of your symptoms without a systemic solution, there's less chance of complications. If you do go on an antidepressant, many women swear by citalopram (brand name: Celexa); in fact, a recent study found that citalopram was the most effective SSRI, and even more effective for women than for men. Research at Massachusetts General Hospital showed a surprising additional benefit: Celexa reduced women's hot flashes by 50 percent. Another tip: Start with the lowest possible dosage your doctor thinks might be effective and work up from there. With citalopram, for example, studies have shown just 20 milligrams to be as effective -- and to have fewer side effects -- than the more common starting dose of 30 milligrams.

Many women in their forties and fifties complain that getting a good night's sleep is a thing of the past. They mourn the loss of deep, restful sleep and struggle to cope with the fatigue, grumpiness, and inability to concentrate that are the natural results of sleeping poorly or not enough. Most wisely try to avoid sleeping pills, or take them guiltily, not knowing what else to do. So what does work?

Solution: The first and easiest fixes you can make to help you sleep are in the arena known as "sleep hygiene," which simply means all the factors surrounding getting to and staying sleep:

•Keep your bedroom cool and breezy; open the window or run a fan in summer.

•Use layers of covers, just as you do with clothes. Make sure your bed has a couple of top layers you can throw off and put back on easily, without crossing the room or turning on a light.

•Speaking of light, get rid of as much of it as possible. Use blackout shades, tape over the lights on alarm clocks and smoke alarms, turn electronic devices to the wall.

•Create a schedule that works for you. If you have to be up at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays, be in bed by 10:30 p.m. If you prefer to stay up later and sleep till 8 a.m., do so -- but try to be consistent. And yes, unfortunately, sleep scheduling works best if you stick to it even on weekends.

•Set aside the last hour before bed for restful, relaxing activities. If possible, exclude computer work; studies show that the bright light of the computer screen affects your circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep.

•Keep your bedroom work- and computer free, so that daytime stresses don't intrude.

•Tire your muscles with at least half an hour of exercise a day, but not within two hours of bedtime.

•If bathroom trips are waking you in the middle of the night, don't drink liquids after 8 p.m.

•Don't drink tea, coffee, or caffeinated cola within six hours of bedtime.

•Avoid alcohol in the evenings; it may make you feel relaxed, but it causes middle-of-the-night insomnia.

•If you're still not sleeping well, try taking a small dose (.3 to 1 milligram; this means cutting 3 milligram pills into thirds) of melatonin about an hour before bedtime.

More and more doctors are prescribing Ambien and Lunesta as sleep aids for women who complain of menopausal insomnia. However, research shows mixed results on the effectiveness of these drugs, and they can cause psychological if not physical dependency. Here's the problem: Both are recommended for short-term use, if you're in a situation where stress and other factors are making sleep difficult. But since menopause-related sleep issues typically persist for years, you want a long-term solution, and sleeping pills are not a good idea for the long haul. Yet once you start taking sleeping pills, it can be more difficult to sleep when you try to stop taking them -- so you're setting yourself up for future sleep problems. With that in mind, first try everything else on the list above, before resorting to sleeping pills.

Does going through perimenopause or menopause mean your sex life is over? Absolutely not. Here's an area where there's lots of help available, and many women actually find that postmenopausal sex is a whole new, exciting (and birth-control free!) world to explore.

Solution: To enjoy sex again, you'll likely have to make some changes:

•Use lots of lubrication, natural and otherwise. Invest in one of the great new lubricants specifically for midlife women; you won't be sorry. Also avoid rushing to intercourse; giving things a bit more time to develop is extremely helpful.

•Minimize pain with different positions. Many women find deep penetration more painful as they age; use this fact to give yourself -- and your partner -- permission to experiment with new positions.

•Eliminate or change antidepressants. Many have loss of libido as a side effect; if you're on one that does, ask your doctor about changing drugs or taking a break to see if things improve.

•Keep in mind that this particular symptom tends to be temporary. When monthly-period hormone production stops, many women feel their libido plunge. But with time, the adrenal glands take over, producing both male and female hormones, often bringing back libido -- and then some.

•Combat loss of libido with male hormones. Yes, this is a last-ditch approach, but many women find it worthwhile if sex has gone completely off their radar. Both testosterone and androgen therapy have been found to help; discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.

People tend to talk about HRT as a black-and-white, either-or question, but it's a bit more complicated than that. The two key hormones, estrogen and progesterone, can be taken orally or as creams or patches. And you can take one or both, and in different dosages. Then there's the hot topic of bioidentical hormones, given enormous attention by Oprah and other gurus. So you have a lot to consider.

About the Author
Senior Editor Melanie Haiken, who is responsible for Caring.com's coverage of cancer, general health, and family finance, discovered how important it is to provide accurate, targeted, usable health information to people facing difficult decisions when she was health editor of Parenting magazine.

Tighten Your Vagina - How to Get A Tighter Vagina

2009-10-01T07:28:00.000+02:00

What are the reasons to have a tight vagina?
A tight vagina, for most women, means being able to reach orgasm through intercourse. The reason for it is that when a vagina is tight the women get a better feeling of her partner thrusting inside of her. This feeling is translated into sexual arousal and finally brings on an orgasm.

We can not ignore that a loose vagina looks less attractive and may cause psychological inhibitions that might damage a women's sex life. A women that feels her vagina looks loose may be embraced to act natural during sex, being worried her partner might notice and be turned off by the look of her vagina.

Health problems, such as urinary incontinence may occur when vagina is loose.

Last but not least. Men prefer a tight vagina since the pleasurable sensation of friction intensifies the tighter the vagina.

How to Get Your Vagina Tighter?
There are three ways to tighten your vagina.

1. Surgery - Consult a plastic surgeon as there are various surgical procedures to get your vagina tighter. Still, before you go under surgery ask for full information regarding the dangers of this procedure, since any surgery has it's own odds for something going wrong.

2. Exercise - There are some easy exercise routines to help your vagina become tighter. Contracting the muscles as if you are trying to keep from going to the bathroom and holding the contraction for a count of 10, and repeating the set 10 times every now and then during the day would strengthen and tighten your vagina gradually. You mat do these exercises while you're at work, on the computer, watching TV, driving... most anything you do... since nobody would notice and find out what it is you're doing.

3. Creams and sprays - various manufacturers came up with herbal solutions to help tighten your vagina. Regular use of these creams or sprays may help you get the desired effect. Check online for testimonials and reviews before buying one of these.

About the Author
Dave has been publishing articles online for a few years already, sharing points of view and information with the online community. You may want to check out the latest website about Memory Foam Matress Deals and read the review about Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress.

End Hormone-Replacement Therapy Confusion?

2009-10-01T07:23:00.002+02:00

Women CAN fight aging: feel forever young, healthy and feminine
What do women want as they get older? They want to retain the wisdom of their years, but they certainly don't want to look, or feel, old. Fortunately there are natural ways for women to treat menopause and the health challenges that accompany aging.

The years may pass, but you can still feel - and look - young, healthy and vital.

Women CAN fight aging: feel forever young, healthy and feminine

What do women want as they get older? They want to retain the wisdom of their years, but they certainly don't want to look, or feel, old. Fortunately there are natural ways for women to treat menopause and the health challenges that accompany aging.

The years may pass, but you can still feel - and look - young, healthy and vital.

End hormone-replacement therapy confusion

For years, some women looked on hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) as a panacea for aging. They took HRT not only for uncomfortable symptoms like hot flushes, irritability, and insomnia, but also as a preventative to help protect themselves from diseases like heart disease, stroke, and even Alzheimer's.

Then the "HRT risk" studies began to appear.

If you've been to see your doctor lately, you'll find that the doctor is as confused as you are. It seems that HRT is not the ultimate solution that women hoped for, and may even cause the very problems women were hoping to avoid.

Some women decided that they could face the risks and stayed with hormone treatment. Some women stopped taking HRT and sought other solutions instead: natural remedies.

Researchers believe that going the natural route is better for women's health, because each woman experiences menopause in her own way. Some women have no symptoms. Others have both physical and emotional symptoms that make their lives a misery.

Stay forever young with Goldshield Elite anti-aging products for women

Goldshield Elite has a full range of products to help women to look and feel young, and to improve their general health and well-being.

Time Fighters For Women: get your groove back

If your busy lifestyle means that you're missing meals and vital nutrients, Time Fighters will help. It's a multi-vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement, with enhanced calcium and vitamin D for strong bones.

Time Fighters is for menopausal women, and contains herbs to help you to kick the emotional problems which plague many women during the menopause years.

These ingredients include Panax ginseng, a general tonic and energy boost; black cohosh for irritability and mood swings; and chaste tree fruit, used since the 1930s for hormonal fluctuations which cause fluid retention, headache, and fatigue.

Eternal Youth: get your youthful glow back

If your skin is dry, and you're pining for youthful dewiness, pine no more. Eternal Youth features Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Dermatan Sulphate (DS) in an exclusive " Master Moisturiser" formulation unavailable anywhere else.

A US television show featured a Japanese village, with many healthy, happy, active 80 to 90 year olds with clear, supple, smooth, young-looking skin. The reason? A diet rich in HA. HA is also beneficial for healthy joints and connective tissue, as well as supporting healthy vision.

Rejuvenate for Women: get relaxed, calm and healthy

Rejuvenate for Women has been specially formulated to combat the PMS-like symptoms that women of all ages experience. These can include bloating, cramps, increases in appetite, weight gain, and many more.

Rejuvenate for Women contains a combination of natural substances which not only relieve all PMS-like symptoms, but also make you feel great. These include natural herbal extracts, plus fatty acids, phyto-estrogens, wild Mexican yam, and evening primrose oil.

Rejuvenate Natural Balancing Progesterone Crème: all natural HRT from plants

Rejuvenate Natural Balancing Progesterone Crème is a safe, natural form of hormone-replacement progesterone which comes from plants.

It's used as a skin cream, because by entering the body via the skin, it bypasses the liver, and maintains the product's potency.

Rejuvenate Natural Balancing Progesterone Crème contains other natural plant essential oils and estrogenic herbs to help you look and feel great: ylang ylang oil, dong quai root, red clover blossom, chaste tree berry, and chamomile blossom.

With Goldshield Elite's products, no one will ever guess your age - and if you tell them, they won't believe you.

Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites. http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com http://www.100earningtips.com

About the Author
abdullah from mumbai

Women's Health- The Endometriosis Free E Book Summary

2009-10-01T07:20:00.000+02:00

Each article contained in the endometriosis e book written By Kyle J. Norton have been public across the INTERNET over a period of six months, after 2 years of in depth researches. This E book is the collection and revised version of the series of "women's health- endometriosis - everything you always want to known about endometriosis and how to manage and treatment it". At first, I have partnered with some health sites to put it for sale in a pay version, but after some serious thinking, I decide to attribute it as a free e book for general public and believe that it helps not only for women with endometriosis, but also contributes to public awareness of my part as a health article writer. The e book is divided into 21 chapters and written is daily English with avoiding the uses of many technical or medical terms by either explaining or translating with an aim to make the e book as easy reading materials as possible. Professionals, experts and people with knowledges of endometriosis, if you have any question of which the e book is written as it is, please understand that it is an information to the general public and public educational materials. Here are the contents of the e book Chapter I - Definition, Stages, Symptoms, Causes and Affects Of Endometriosis Chapter II - Types Of Conventional Treatments, Side Effects, and Risks Chapter III -How Oral Contraceptive Pills Affect Vitamins, and the Circulatory System In A Woman's Body Chapter IV. How Progestogens Affect Vitamins and Minerals Chapter V. How GnRH Affects Vitamins and Minerals Chapter VI. How Prostaglandins Inhibitors Affect Minerals Chapter VII Endometriosis - How Vitamins Help to Treat Endometriosis Chapter VIII - How Minerals help to Treat Endometriosis Chapter IX - Types of Traditional Treatments Chapter X - How Homeopathy Helps to Treat Endometriosis Chapter XI Endometriosis - How Herbs Help to Treat Endometriosis Chapter XII Endometriosis - How Chinese Herbs Help to Treat Endometriosis Chapter XIII - How Chemical Cell Salt Helps To Treat Endometriosis Chapter XIV Endometriosis - How Essential Oils Help To Treat Endometriosis Chapter XV Endometriosis - How Hydrotherapy Helps To Treat Endometriosis Chapter XVI Endometriosis - List of Food Help For Treating Endometriosis Chapter XVII - List of Flower Plants that Help To Treat Endometriosis Chapter XVIII Endometriosis - Types of Hysterectomy Chapter XIX Endometriosis - Before Surgery Chapter XX Endometriosis - The Day Of Surgery Chapter XXI Endometriosis - After Surgery

I hope that this e book can help. Unfortunately, there are many things that it does not cover, including how traditional Chinese medicine helps to treat and manage endometriosis or the suggested doses of vitamins, minerals and herbs. I believe that you can get this information from other websites. You can download the E book by visiting my home page at http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com, it is located at the right top corner. At the mean time, please remember that endometriosis can be manageable and treatable with a self help course.

About the Author
I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries. Part time Health, Insurance and Entertainment Article Writer.

Keep In Mind The Following Factors To Prevent Gray Hair

2009-09-11T13:57:00.000+02:00

If gray hairs have started appearing on your head and you want to prevent gray hair then you have to take some steps immediately. The very first step that you can go for is to monitor your diet. Your diet is the essential contributor to your hair and you can prevent the gray hair with the help of your diet. So what should be that diet that can prevent gray hair? If you are wondering for this diet then do not worry because the guide is right here in this article. Keep on reading the article and you will get to know the essential diet that you should use to prevent gray hair.

Keep in mind that spicy foods and caffeine products such as tea and coffee can be destructive and they play pivotal role in graying of hair. So avoid these things if you want to prevent gray hair. Deficiency of some nutrients such as copper results in the decrease of melanin which is responsible for maintaining the natural color of the hair.

You have to use that diet which can supply iodine and iron extensively because these two things can be a key in order to prevent gray hair. So include all those things in your diet which can provide you these things in your diet. For iodine, you can use fish while vegetables are a rich source of iron. Similarly many fruits such bananas also help in making the hair follicles health which further paves way to prevent the gray hair. These fruits are also a source of vitamins which are essential for the normal growth of human hair. Yogurt and milk are also rich source of vitamins and minerals which are very helpful in making hair healthy and strong. You can also take some help from tablets which can provide you enough iron and vitamins so that you can prevent gray hair. The commonly used tablets are PABA and pantothenate.

Never go for the fried foods and those foods which have excessive use of artificial colors because these things are difficult to digest and can cause many problems including drying of hair.

Excessive carbohydrates actually remove antioxidants and this reduces the exorcising of free radicals from your body which directly affects hair. Moreover, the artificial dies are also dangerous. The best thing is to make some mask for your hair in your home which is essentially made of some natural ingredients. Keep in mind that nothing can be more useful than natural constituents. These natural masks enhance the natural pigments for giving natural color to your hair and your hair will be replaced with your natural colored hair.

If you would like to know more about hair diseases or gray hair treatment , please visit women's hair loss information.

About the Author
visit mi website for more information http://womanhairgrowth.info

DISCOVERING INFIDELITY - One Woman's Story

2009-09-11T13:54:00.002+02:00

The day I discovered my husband was cheating on me is forever etched in my mind. I will never forget my bewilderment, shock, confusion and my uncertainty about what to do next. I was totally devastated. How I Found Out As a freelance journalist and editor, I work from my home office. I accidentally stumbled onto Frank's infidelity while doing interviews for an article assignment for a women's magazine. To insure the accuracy of my notes, I always tape my interviews using a recording device attached to my office phone. While transcribing the interview tapes, I was shocked to find that I'd unknowingly recorded a number of incriminating phone calls made by Frank from our bedroom extension. Interspersed between the interviews, were revealing conversations he'd had with or about the women with whom he was involved. A Perfect Marriage That Frank might be cheating on me was the farthest thing from my mind, even though his behavior had been a little unusual the past few months. When infidelity did cross my mind, it was just a fleeting thought -- one I dismissed as quickly as it occurred. It was so far-fetched that I didn't even give it serious consideration. Frank and I had an exceptionally good marriage (or so I thought). People who knew us -- even strangers, (male and female) often commented on what a perfect couple we were. I wrote relationship articles which appeared regularly in women's magazines and earned me frequent guest spots on Good Day New York and several nationally syndicated radio talk shows. Our marriage (my second and Frank's third) was the envy of all our friends. Still, I was at a loss to explain some of the odd little things Frank had recently said and done. Nothing major -- just small insignificant things that were out of character for him and didn't seem to make any sense. I chalked it up to male menopause (Frank was nearing 50) or stress from the heavy overtime he'd been working. Little did I know that these seemingly inconsequential things would turnout to be telltale signs. Right Under My Very Nose From the conversations on the tapes, I discovered that Frank had not one, but three lovers. I was dumb-founded to hear him boasting to a friend about his weekend morning quickies with Alexis, his early departures from work for afternoon trysts with Michelle, Marlene's weekend stay at our apartment while I was away on a business trip and more. Even more astounding, was that all these things had taken place right under my very nose. In light of my discovery, I now saw Frank's behavior through different eyes. And I became keenly aware of how many telltale signs I'd missed. Many of the odd things Frank said and did suddenly began to make sense. Wendy's Story- Another Infidelity Victim On one tape, Frank mentioned a birthday he'd recently attended which was given by his best friend Max. No other details were supplied except that the party was for Max's girlfriend. Since Max's wife, Wendy was a friend of mine, I told her what I heard. Working one single piece of information, Wendy conducted what I consider to be a masterpiece of detective work. In less than 2 weeks, she managed to find out the name of Max's girlfriend, her phone number and address, where she worked, the address and phone number of her job, and was able to pinpoint approximately how long the affair had been going on. Wendy also found out exactly where and when the birthday party had taken place, how much it cost, the names of several guests who attended, and verified that that Max was indeed the person who arranged and paid for the event. She even confiscated a gift for Max's lover that he'd hidden in the trunk of his car. Since Wendy and Max co-owned a business, she immediately took steps to protect herself financially by transferring the bulk of their joint funds to a separate account -- much to the surprise (and embarrassment) of Max when he attempted to withdraw funds without her knowledge. Their marriage survived -- largely because instead of sitting back and being a passive victim, Wendy immediately searched for confirming telltale signs. She found them early enough to take positive action and get her marriage back on track. If Only I'd Recognized the Signs Discovering that Frank was cheating was truly devastating. Being a naturally trusting person, I was oblivious to most of the telltale signs, despite the fact that they were staring me in the face. I later learned that many telltale signs begin to crop up when a man first starts think seriously about infidelity. For months I agonized over how things might have turned out differently if I'd recognized the signs when they first began to appear. It's possible that I might have been able to save our marriage if I'd known the significance of those signs. If not, I could have at least saved myself a lot of heartaches and pain by preparing myself mentally and emotionally, and protecting myself legally and financially from a marriage that ultimately ended in divorce. Yet, my marriage was not unique in this respect. It was one of the millions of marriages impacted by extramarital affairs. 9 Years of Research and a Promise At the time there were less than 5 books available on the subject of infidelity. Desperate for information, I endured the embarrassment of purchasing them at my local bookstore. As I struggled to make sense of what was happening, I began earnestly researching the topic of infidelity so I could find out how to handle the situation. My research led to my writing a series of infidelity articles based on information gleaned from leading marriage and family therapists. Although I gained a wealth of knowledge about and coping with infidelity and recognizing the telltale signs, for me, this knowledge came too late. Frank and I eventually got a divorce. But I promised myself that when I recovered from the trauma of that experience, I would share this information with other women in similar situations. The Infidelity Statistics are Shocking It was shocking read the statistics citing how widespread infidelity is. Though they vary from study to study, the most widely accepted figures indicate that between 50 and 70 percent of married men (between 38 and 53 million men) have cheated or will cheat on their wives. One study found that 2/3 of the wives (26 to 36 million women) whose husbands were cheating had no idea their husbands were having an affair -- largely because they failed to recognize the telltale signs. Yet the media continues to treat infidelity as a form of entertainment. Movies, novels, soap operas, talk shows, gossip columns and women's magazines continue to dramatize, trivialize and glamorize extramarital affairs. Few people other than its victims take it seriously. An Infidelity Book is Born Gathering More Facts Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs is the first of a series of information products for women who are victims of infidelity. It's based on not just my personal experience, but on 9 years of in-depth research on the topic of infidelity. I've read thousands of accounts of infidelity, interviewed hundreds of women about their personal experiences and the experiences of women they know, and dozens of cheating men. I've read hundreds of articles, studies and transcripts on infidelity and spent countless hours surfing the Net checking out websites, chat rooms, forums, message boards and discussion lists that deal with infidelity and related issues. Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs is the result of all those efforts. It's the book I wish I'd had when those first telltale signs began to crop up in my marriage. If I'd recognized those signs early on, things might have had a different ending. A Multitude of Telltale Signs Is He Cheating on You? is probably the largest collection of telltaIe signs ever compiled. It documents hundreds of signs of infidelity, including a multitude of little-known telltale signs not listed anywhere else. Despite the subtitle, it actually contains 950 telltale signs. Even after the cover was designed, I continued to add telltale signs until the final version of the manuscript was sent to the printer. And readers continue to e-mail or phone me with telltale signs that were not included in the book. What's different about Is He Cheating on You? is that it tells women how to spot the warning signs of infidelity without using gadgets, surveillance equipment or private investigators. All of the telltale signs documented in Is He Cheating on You? can easily be found by any woman using only her eyes and ears, her personal knowledge of her husband and the information provided in the book. No special skills or equipment are needed. The signs are conveniently grouped into 21 categories so a woman can easily find the signs that apply to her husband or her marriage. A few of the signs are listed in more than one category so that no one will miss an important telltale sign. Sharing Information with Other Women This book, and my website www.IsHeCheatingOnYou.com are my way of sharing all the information I gathered about infidelity, with other women in this traumatic situation. It's unfortunate that any woman would ever need a book like this, but the facts speak for themselves. Millions of acts of infidelity go undetected every day. Unsuspecting women need an easy-to-use, reliable, inexpensive tool to help them find out the truth about what's going on. Empowered by Knowledge Knowledge is power; and I firmly believe every woman should know how to recognize the telltale signs of infidelity. The future of her marriage may well depend on her ability to recognize the telltale signs in time. There's nothing worse than not knowing-- or being the last to know. But the first step in solving a problem is knowing that the problem exists. If a woman doesn't know her husband is cheating, there's little that she can do. If she's oblivious to the fact that her marriage may be in jeopardy, by the time she finds out what's happening, it may be too late. She will have had no chance to try to get her marriage back on track, or to prepare herself emotionally or protect herself from the devastation that lies ahead. Rather than being proactive and making conscious decisions about what to do, she'll become a helpless infidelity victim, swept along with the tide. A Fighting Chance to Save the Marriage On the other hand, if a woman recognizes the telltale signs and understands what's happening, she stands a fighting chance of being able to nip the infidelity in the bud on her own, or seek professional help. More importantly, she can take steps to prepare herself mentally, financially and legally for the possibility that her marriage may come to an end. At least she won't be taken by surprise, and end up being the last one to know. Who This Book Is For Is He Cheating on You? is not just for wives who suspect their husbands of cheating. It's also for: the millions of unsuspecting wives who've never even considered that an affair might be going on. women who've been cheated on in the past want to make sure it doesn't happen again, women who are trying to reconcile with a cheating husband and want reassurance that the affair is no longer going on women who think it could NEVER happen to them (no one is immune) women who know their husbands are cheating and want to get solid proof women who want to know ahead of time what to look for, in case it ever happens to them women who in view of the high infidelity statistics want to know where they stand in their current relationship single women who want to avoid entering into or staying in a relationship with a cheater Men who suspect their wives of cheating (many of the signs are universal and apply to both sexes), people with female friends or relatives who are being cheated on and who are in denial people who don't know how to tell a woman her husband is cheating give her the book and let her find out for herself No Marriage is Immune to Infidelity One of the most surprising things I learned about infidelity is that no marriage is immune. Infidelity knows no boundaries. "Good husbands can cheat. Infidelity can occur even in happy marriages. It can affect couples of any race, creed, color or economic background. Rich or poor, young or old, newlywed or approaching a fiftieth anniversary infidelity can happen to anyone even you. The likelihood is very high that, given the current statistics on infidelity, every woman will experience being a victim of infidelity at some point in her life. So I feel strongly that Is He Cheating on You? is a reference book that belongs on every woman's bookshelf. This is important information that no woman should be without. The future of her marriage may one day depend on her ability to recognize the telltale signs in time. Armed with this book and her personal knowledge of her husband, she'll be able to easily spot the warning signs. The Purpose of This Book The purpose of Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs is not to make women suspicious of their husbands. The purpose is to make women aware of what's already going on. Statistics prove that infidelity is happening all around us. Just pick up a newspaper or listen to the nightly news. Infidelity touches 80% of all marriages. It is my sincere hope that this book will open the eyes of the millions of women who are unaware that their husbands are having an affair. It was written to make women aware of the many telltale signs that indicate possible infidelity. Every woman deserves to know the truth. It's my firm belief that if more women knew how to recognize the signs of infidelity, more marriage could be saved. With Is He Cheating on You? every wife now has an affordably priced tool to keep her from being the last to know. A Final Word To any woman who suspects her husband of cheating, I implore you - for your peace of mind, for your physical health (think HIV/AIDS and other STDs), for your mental and emotional well-being, and for the future financial well-being of yourself and your children too -- find out if what you suspect is true. Don't speculate investigate! Take it from someone who has lived through infidelity find out before it's too late. Believe me, in this day and age, you can't afford to be the last one to know. *Frank, Marlene, Michelle, Alexis, Max and Wendy are not their real names. For legal reasons, the names have been changed to protect the guilty as well as the innocent. NOTE: Despite my traumatic experience with Frank, the story does have a happy ending. I've been happily re-married for 4 years now, to a wonderful man who also values the sanctity of marriage as highly as I do. (Ironically, he too, was cheated on, with disastrous and traumatic results.)

About the Author
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites. http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com http://www.100earningtips.com

Womens Health Test Is There an Early Signs of Menopause Test?

2009-09-11T13:50:00.000+02:00

Yes, there is a free online women's health test from a leading women's health clinic. Why? As early as in their 30's and 40's, many women begin experiencing symptoms that make them wonder - can these be early signs of menopause?

What are common early signs of menopause? The most common symptoms include PMS, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, loss of sex drive, hair loss or unwanted hair growth and fibroids. Some women have one or two of these symptoms while others may experience several symptoms at the same time. The result can be mildly irritating or it can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Menopause itself is not an illness but a natural process for a woman's body. There are normal changes in the reproductive system and cycle and ultimately, the reproductive system will cease to function. That is normal. However, certain menopause symptoms are indications of underlying hormonal imbalances or damage from poor eating habits, stress and other factors. And you may feel like you're the only woman to experience symptoms, but millions of women in the industrialized countries are going through the same experience many years before the average age of menopause, which is 51 years of age.

What happens so frequently is that women put enormous demands on their bodies much more stress than it was designed to handle ï¿½ and then do not give it the support it needs. Women likely have demanding and stressful careers. Women have families to take care of on a daily basis. The relationship with one's spouse or partner may not be the best. Aging parents may require help. These and other responsibilities add up in the toll taken on a woman's body.

And at the same time, the woman's body may not be receiving the support it needs to function as it was designed to do. Poor eating habits, lack of exercise, excess caffeine and alcohol add to the problem instead of helping the body cope with the demands placed on it.

This lack of balance between the "demands made" and "support given" is what gives rise to many symptoms. And are the health problems you are having related in any way? Very likely!

When taking the women's health and early signs of menopause test, here's what should be considered:

1. Which symptoms do you have? Certain symptoms are related to each other and are related to the same underlying causes. Knowing which symptoms you have is important information.

2. How mild or severe are your symptoms? Perhaps a symptom is "mild" and it's not a big deal. It may be "moderate to severe", meaning you can deal with it but it is a real problem. Or you may consider it "very severe", in other words, you can barely function because of it.

3. What are you demanding of your body? Are you frequently under stress? Do you not always eat when you should? What prescription drugs are you taking? What about the consumption of caffeine and alcohol?

4. What kind of support are you giving your body? What do you eat, do you exercise and are you taking a high-quality nutritional supplement?

5. What is your age? Your age is important, because you need to compare your health with other women your age.

By taking the online women's health test, you can find out more about your health, symptoms you may have, what those symptoms mean and what you can do about improving your health.

About the Author
Hi I Am working with theglobalnetworld

Natural remedies for per menopause & menopause symptoms.

2009-09-11T13:45:00.002+02:00

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason for many is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and a number of serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no means been proven, and the issue is currently the subject of serious debate among women's health experts. Many women have experienced unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The whole notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources are necessarily free from the risk of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind of medication you choose to take, it's essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individual advice and attention. Information you find online and in women's health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor's advice, and it's wise to read as widely as you can to get an overall picture of the issues. Your health is the most important thing you have, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it's vital that you make these choices with your eyes open.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body's levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and the imbalance between them. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels. Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect in the body to the body's own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

Herbs containing phytoestrogens

Red clover has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat skin conditions, asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, joint disorders and breast inflammation. It is thought to work by improving circulation and stimulating urine and mucous production, or "purifying the blood". Red clover has been recently discovered to contain high levels of phytoestrogens, and its usefulness in the treatment of menopause symptoms is being investigated. Some studies have shown the herb to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and improving bone density and strength, while others have been inconclusive.

Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms for thousands of years, although its effectiveness has yet to be clinically verified by Western health practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain phytoestrogens, although clinical studies to confirm this have been far from conclusive. It is a perennial plant native to North America, and is also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot and macrotys. The plant has a long history of usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by Native American people and more recently by alternative health practitioners, and has been used to treat a range of gynecological ailments including menopause symptoms, infertility, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, and to induce lactation, bring on menstruation, and alleviate labor pains. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, fever, coughs and colds, hives and backache. Some studies have shown that taking pills made from black cohosh extract is very helpful in providing short term relief from a range of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood swings and anxiety. However, little is known about the effects of taking the treatment in the long term, and some negative side effects have been reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric discomfort and weight gain.

Maca

Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by stimulating glands in the body to produce their own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps thousands of years, and has been used as a treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a range of benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, reducing depression and stress, increasing athletic ability and creating a general sense of well being. It is also claimed to be effective in treating a wide range of menopausal symptoms, including mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. Objective clinical research into the effectiveness and the potential hazards of taking Maca root supplements is very scant.

Progesterone treatments.

An alternative view of the causes of menopause symptoms places more emphasis on the role of progesterone, and the imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. "Estrogen dominance" is a recently identified syndrome, and is believed by a small number of doctors to be the cause of severe PMS and menstrual problems in early adulthood, and a range of severe symptoms as menopause approaches. Advocates of progesterone treatments believe them to be free from the health risks and side effects associated with estrogen based treatments.

Natural progesterone cream

Natural progesterone creams usually contain extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a substance which is believed to be similar to the progesterone produced in the body. The creams are applied to the parts of the body where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to pass through the skin and circulate through the body. Many women have found natural progesterone creams to be very effective in treating menopause symptoms, but there is no evidence to show that the creams lower the risk of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed.

Natural remedies for perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason for many is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and a number of serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no means been proven, and the issue is currently the subject of serious debate among women's health experts. Many women have experienced unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The whole notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources are necessarily free from the risk of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind of medication you choose to take, it's essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individual advice and attention. Information you find online and in women's health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor's advice, and it's wise to read as widely as you can to get an overall picture of the issues. Your health is the most important thing you have, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it's vital that you make these choices with your eyes open.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body's levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and the imbalance between them. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels. Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect in the body to the body's own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

Estrogen treatments.

Soy

By far the richest source of phytoestrogens (sometimes called "isoflavones") is soybeans, and foods made from soy extracts. Soy can be consumed in the form of tofu, soy cheese, meat substitute products such as soy burgers, breads and muffins made with soy flour, and soy drinks, sometimes known as "soy milk". Some studies have shown that consuming soy beverages or breads made with soy flour twice daily can reduce the severity or the number of hot flashes, but results have been inconclusive and inconsistent. Soy powders and pills contain much higher levels of phytoestrogens than soy foods, and may have a more significant effect in alleviating menopause symptoms than soy foods, but little is known about the potential hazards. Consuming soy extracts and soy foods may have a range of other health benefits, including reducing the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease, and lowering cholesterol. Some studies suggest that phytoestrogens may actually help to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the overproduction of natural estrogen in the body. Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms for thousands of years, although its effectiveness has yet to be clinically verified by Western health practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain phytoestrogens, although clinical studies to confirm this have been far from conclusive. It is a perennial plant native to North America, and is also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot and macrotys. The plant has a long history of usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by Native American people and more recently by alternative health practitioners, and has been used to treat a range of gynecological ailments including menopause symptoms, infertility, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, and to induce lactation, bring on menstruation, and alleviate labor pains. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, fever, coughs and colds, hives and backache. Some studies have shown that taking pills made from black cohosh extract is very helpful in providing short term relief from a range of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood swings and anxiety. However, little is known about the effects of taking the treatment in the long term, and some negative side effects have been reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric discomfort and weight gain.

Maca

Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by stimulating glands in the body to produce their own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps thousands of years, and has been used as a treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a range of benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, reducing depression and stress, increasing athletic ability and creating a general sense of well being. It is also claimed to be effective in treating a wide range of menopausal symptoms, including mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. Objective clinical research into the effectiveness and the potential hazards of taking Maca root supplements is very scant.

Progesterone treatments. Natural progesterone cream

Natural progesterone creams usually contain extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a substance which is believed to be similar to the progesterone produced in the body. The creams are applied to the parts of the body where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to pass through the skin and circulate through the body. Many women have found natural progesterone creams to be very effective in treating menopause symptoms, but there is no evidence to show that the creams lower the risk of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed.

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Smoking Disadvantages to Women

2009-09-11T13:42:00.002+02:00

Smoking is a hazardous habit for both, men as well as women. Everybody has been talking or writing a lot about the disadvantages of smoking in men. But, it has now become a need to time to explain the disadvantages of smoking to women. There are some disadvantages of the smoking that are specific to the women. Up course they will also face the demerits of smoking that are faced by men, but may affect their health in a little different way. The problem of smoking was previously only associated with the men, but due to the women's addiction to this unhealthy habit even their health is at the risk of disadvantages of smoking. As per the science it has been proved that women face more problems due to the smoking than that of the men. Disadvantages of smoking to women are as follows:

1. The first disadvantage of the smoking is pregnancy failures. It has been noted in many research studies that women who smoke a lot are not able to conceive. This is because smoking damages the ovule formation cycle that leads the pregnancy failures in women. Even the Fallopian tubes are being damaged that adds up to the problem of the pregnancy failures.

2. Lack of sexual libido is the effect of the excessive smoking. Women who smoke a lot generally face the problem of insufficient sexual desire. They don't feel interested in sex at all. This is because smoking affects the neurons in the brain that helps the women to respond to the sexual stimulation. Even the loss of sensation to the reproductive organs is one of the reasons for this. Women face this problem due the insufficient blood supply to the vaginal region due to the excessive smoking habit.

3. Abnormal menstrual cycle and pain during menstruation is noted commonly among the smoking women. Smoking destructs all the body cycles. You will notice that your menstrual cycle has become abnormal and pain during the menstruation as an adverse effect of smoking.

4. Hormonal imbalance occurs in women due the excessive amount of the nicotine smoke that enters the body and effect the endocrinology system. This system produces the required amount of the hormones if this system functioning is disturbed then certainly the production of the hormones is reduced thus leading to the variety of the health problems.

5. Infertility is being augmented in women due to the smoking habit. The 22 chromosomes from the woman that participate in the formation of the ovule are destroyed due to the smoking. This way the women are not able to produce the offspring. Fertility levels in the women who a smoke a lot are gradually decreased by the smoking.

6. Breast cancer in being linked to the smoking habit. The chances of suffering with the breast cancer are doubled due to the smoking habit. Smoking promotes the deposition of the more fats in the breast region. This provides enough nutrition to the cells. As a result the multiplication of the cells gets uncontrollable and you suffer with the breast cancer.

7. After pregnancy, normal women produces the milk due to the lactation. But, the women who smoke a lot are not able to produce the milk. This is because smoking habit increases the amount of the nicotine content in the body. Nicotine content interferes with the lactation producing effect in the women; as a result these women either produce very less milk or no milk at all.

These are the disadvantages of smoking in women. You need to give up the smoking habit today to stay away from these demerits.

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Government Assistance Programs For Single Mothers

2009-09-11T13:39:00.002+02:00

Programs that Help Ensure Healthy Children

The federal and each state government dedicate government aid for single mothers. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible for allocating the government assistance for single mothers programs. DHHS has a federal office, each state has a state Department of Health and Human Services and every county has a local DHHS office. County offices are sometimes referred to as the Department of Social Services.

Government entities (like DHHS) recognize the additional and unique challenges a single mother faces when meeting the needs of children and offer government aid to single mothers in the form of programs that meet basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care. When a child's basic needs are met they do better in school, have higher self-esteem and a better chance of becoming a productive citizen.

The goal of this assistance for single mothers is not just to meet the basic needs of a single mother household, but also to hopefully keep a cycle of poverty from forming. The goal is that government aid for single mothers to help children grow, learn and not become a poverty statistic when reaching adulthood.

Medical Care Assistance

Many single mothers either do not have employer sponsored health insurance for their children (due to none offered) or they cannot afford the health insurance premium along with the other expenses of supporting a household with children.
Medical Assistance is available through your local Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Social Services. Some programs offer medical assistance government aid for single mothers and their children (not just the children).

The medical government assistance for single mothers and their children covers routine doctor visits, immunization and health programs, emergency and catastrophic care. Some states require a minimal co pay for prescriptions and doctor visits.

Food Assistance

The food assistance program includes reduced or free school lunches for children, food stamps and the Women's, Infants and Children program (WIC). Government aid for single mothers in the WIC program provides nutritional foods (such as cheese, juice, milk and infant formula). A woman receives food vouchers to purchase the foods at the grocery store.

Energy Assistance for Heating

This program offers heating assistance in the cold months to single mothers.

Housing Assistance (HUD)

HUD administers two government assistance programs for single mothers to help low income households with renting adequate housing and shelter for children. There are government apartment buildings to help meet the demand for affordable housing; however both of these programs tend to have a long waiting list. Non-profit organizations (such as churches and homeless shelters) try to fill in the void until units are available.

The Food, Medical, and Heating government assistance programs are accessible through your local DHHS and one application is all that is needed to apply for these programs. Contact the office in your county for further information and referral to the HUD program.

About the Author
Pieter West travels the world on a regular basis and have written about numerous subjects. He has an extensive knowledge about, finances, DIY, parenting advice and many more subjects. You can find more of his articles regarding Single Mother Grants at http://www.singlemothergrants.net/

The Role of Physiotherapy in Women's Health

2009-09-11T13:35:00.002+02:00

The subject of women's health encompasses a range of issues that can be treated by physiotherapy. From pregnancy back pain to incontinence problems faced by older women, physiotherapy is there to help.

Bladder incontinence is a problem for 13 million Americans on any given day. Although some men have this problem, it is present in much greater numbers in the area of women's health.

There are several different kinds of incontinence. Stress incontinence happens when the person coughs or sneezes and urge incontinence means the person has sudden urges to use the restroom, for example. Organ prolapse, such as a tilted uterus, can lead to incontinence, as well as sexual dysfunction. This is another area of women's health physiotherapy can help.

Physiotherapists who work in the field of women's health can correct nearly 70% of incontinence problems. The major exercise used is the Kegel. It is a very specialized exercise, and at least half the people who try to do it on their own fail miserably. It takes biofeedback for many to get it right.

Many of the problems of women's health can be traced to the pelvic floor. The Kegel is the exercise that addresses this part of the anatomy. However, other therapies are used as well. Electrical stimulation is only one of the methods used. Soft tissue manipulation is another treatment that has been tried.

Pelvic pain affects many women's health. It may come from a variety of sources. It can be due to vulvodynia or abdominal surgeries, for example. One can have pelvic pain after falling, especially if one lands on the tailbone. These conditions often curtail sexual activities and lead to an overall deterioration in women's psychological health. Physiotherapy offers many treatments to help these problems.

No discussion of how physiotherapy helps with women's health would be complete without a word about pregnancy. Women who are pregnant know that their bodies go through various changes that can be painful. Low back pain is only one of them.

Physiotherapists can help with this. Gentle exercises can be taught to relieve tension in the back. One is to lie on the floor with the knees up and press the small of the back to the floor. This gives a great feeling of relief. Other exercises strengthen the woman's back, but few people besides physiotherapists know how far to go with exercising when pregnant. Women's health is important at this time, and so is the baby's.

Physiotherapists can also give instructions on what amount of exercise is best for pregnant women. After delivery, physiotherapy is a boon to women's health. It can help get women back into shape and instruct them in taking care of their new child while preventing back problems. Another area of postpartum women's health is the treatment of women who have had cesarean sections.

Physiotherapy can help women's health because there are so many conditions that women suffer. Many of these conditions will respond to physiotherapy. It is only natural that women would turn to a tried and true method for relief.

About the Author
Read about carbs in broccoli, carrot tanning oil and other information at the Health And Nutrition Tips website.

Women, Listen to your body... It might save your life!

2009-09-11T13:33:00.002+02:00

It's so common - you're exhausted as usual and your stomach is a bit upset but that's no surprise with the high pressure schedule you've been keeping up all day. You're also feeling a little bloated so maybe your period's going to start early and naturally, you have to empty your bladder again. Although this may sound pretty normal for all of us who are juggling marriage, career, motherhood and some community service... and it probably is in fact pretty normal, these are also some of the symptoms of two problems that can kill you, HEART ATTACK and OVARIAN CANCER.

Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men and diseases of the heart have become the leading killer of women in the United States. Since 1984, heart disease has claimed more women than men. Approximately 500,000 women die each year from cardiovascular disease in the United States alone. In fact, women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Cardiovascular disease claims more female lives than breast cancer, accidents and diabetes combined.

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women in the United States. One in 72 women will develop ovarian cancer (lifetime risk) and one in 95 women will die from ovarian cancer. Do you know one hundred women? This statistic means you should expect one of them to die from ovarian cancer. Each year, approximately 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 women die of the disease. Approximately 174,236 women living in the United States have ovarian cancer or have a history of ovarian cancer.

There are many diseases that are "silent" or whose symptoms mimic lesser problems. People can be unaware of diabetes or hypertension, for example. Left untreated, both chronic medical problems can slowly destroy your quality of life or take your life. Other disorders are sneaky - their symptoms mimic lesser problems, allowing the underlying issue to go undetected until there's a crisis. Gallbladder problems for example, can lead to gas, indigestion, heartburn and fatigue, nuisance symptoms that most people accept as part of living and manage with over-the-counter medications or benign neglect. A malfunctioning gall bladder often doesn't get diagnosed until there is a classic gall bladder attack.

So why do we want to shine a special light on heart attack and ovarian cancer? Both can be fatal without early detection. Both have sneaky symptoms, mimic lesser disorders, physicians and other health care providers tend to dismiss or misdiagnose these symptoms, and there are no simple screening tools.

Heart attack is often fatal without early detection whereas ovarian cancer frequently goes undetected until it is advanced and then it is usually fatal. There is often a delay between the time a person begins experiencing symptoms and when they seek medical care.

More than 50% of the 1.2 million people who suffer a heart attack each year in the United States die in an emergency department or before reaching a hospital, within an hour of symptom onset. Survival rates are improved by up to 50% if treatment is started within one hour of symptom onset and by 23% if it is achieved within three hours of symptom onset. Researchers discovered that old age, being a woman, having less education, less money or being black, and symptoms which aren't severe or don't fit "classic" heart attack symptoms are associated with increased delays in seeking treatment.

Ovarian cancer is also not easily diagnosed because its initial symptoms are mild, often attributed to other causes and there is no specific diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. There is an 85-93% survival rate if ovarian cancer is diagnosed at Stage I - contained within the ovary (or ovaries). However, less than 20% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at this early stage and if discovered at Stage IV, survival is only 18% after 5 years.

Both heart attack and ovarian cancer have "sneaky" symptoms and can also be very nonspecific and mimic other problems. You can probably recite the classic heart attack symptoms, i.e., chest pain radiating down the left arm, crushing sensation, shortness of breath, sweating. That's absolutely correct, if you're a man! Unfortunately, researchers have only recently discovered that women's heart attack symptoms are often very different from those classic symptoms. In a ground breaking study of female heart attack victims, 95% of women studied said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack. The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath. Fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported no chest pain during any phase of the attack.

Here's what every woman needs to know. Women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack (a month or so earlier) are non-specific and include unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety.

Similarly, ovarian cancer symptoms are often very mild in its early, most easily curable stages. A 2004 study of women with ovarian cancer discovered that crampy abdominal pain and urinary urgency, frequency or incontinence were the most commonly documented symptoms in women who had Stage I and II ovarian cancer. In patients with Stages III and IV cancer, abdominal pain and increased abdominal girth were the most commonly documented symptoms. These rather non-specific symptoms are often shrugged off or attributed to something else. Common misdiagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome, stress and depression.

So how do you pinpoint when your abdominal cramps are simple constipation or a passing virus versus early cancer? The key seems to be recognizing whether the symptoms continue or get worse. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there's typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.

To add insult to injury, there is no simple screening test for identifying women who may develop a heart attack or ovarian cancer. Both require time consuming workups. Specialized 'stress the heart' tests such as the treadmill stress test or cardiac scans are usually required to sort out women who have the potential to have a heart attack whereas the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is made by a combination of symptoms, blood tests, manual examination and special studies including pelvic ultrasound. The manual exam relies on the doctor to physically feel masses. If masses are felt, the cancer is typically advanced. The pelvic ultrasound is the most reliable way to evaluate the ovaries for cancer. This procedure, in conjunction with the other tests, creates a diagnostic tool kit for ovarian cancer. The blood test, CA-125, measures a protein associated with cancer. If the CA-125 is elevated there's a good chance that cancer is present, although since other situations such as being premenopausal can also elevate CA-125, there are many false positives. On the other hand, the CA-125 is only elevated about half the time, even when ovarian cancer is present, leading to many false negatives as well. As a result, the CA-125 blood test is used together with other tests.

We now know that there are clusters of symptoms that can help to identify these disorders in their earliest stages. Many women ignore their heart attack symptoms because they are too minor or don't fit the classic pattern of symptoms. Unfortunately, doctors also fail to recognize these symptoms as heart attack red flags for the same reasons.

Both healthcare providers and women need to change their thinking about women and heart attacks. If your gradual shortness of breath, fatigue, sleep disturbance or indigestion seems to be continuing, see your doctor right away and ask to be evaluated for heart disease, even if it's not suggested. If you start to feel sweaty, more short of breath and dizzy, call 911. Better a false alarm than a funeral.

Follow the same thinking for ovarian cancer. Recognize that if you have a family history of ovarian cancer, you are at much higher risk for developing the disease. If you have abdominal symptoms like cramping or urinary symptoms such as frequency or urgency almost daily for more than a few weeks, you should see your doctor, preferably your gynecologist.

Listen to your body...and get help for suspicious symptoms. Learn how to identify early symptoms of heart attack and ovarian cancer. Tell every woman you know. If your doctor seems willing to dismiss the symptoms as something else without testing to rule out impending heart attack or early stage ovarian cancer, stop and have a discussion.

Heart attack and ovarian cancer no longer need to be such aggressive killers of women. You know yourself and your body better than anyone else. When your body produces warning symptoms, listen to it. You may find that you are stressed, depressed, have digestive problems or are perimenopausal...and that's good to know so you can work on helping yourself reduce or eliminate those problems. Or, you may discover that your body is telling you to take action and save your own life.

About the Author
The article "Women, Listen to your body... It might save your life!" may be found in its entirety on http://HealthWorldNet.com

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2009-05-29T00:00:00-07:00

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2009-05-28T00:00:00-07:00

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