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Mature Love

Mature Love You weren’t expecting the next post to be about mature love, were you. Definition: Matur

GettingDinMenopause

Vitamin D is important to women during and after menopause. It plays a role in preventing disease and maintaining healthy bones. Learn what dosage is appropriate for menopausal women and how to get that daily dosage.

10 Hot Flash Tips

Great tips for treating hot flashes, including medications, non-hormone techniques and simple lifestyle changes that really help.

Symptoms of Menopause

List of common, serious and unusual menopause symptoms, including Menstrual Irregularities, Hot Flashes & Night Sweats, Mood Swings, headaches, Insomnia, Vaginal Dryness & Urinary Problems, Weight Gain, Memory loss & Cognitive Changes, Fatigue, Heavy Bleeding, Depression, Hypertension

Menopause Early Signs

Are you wondering whether you are entering menopause? What are early menopause signs? Many women start to notice symptoms well before actual menopause. Learn more in this overview of early menopause signs.

Coping with Menopause

Hints for dealing with menopausal symptoms such as stress, hot flashes, insomnia, memory problems, mood swings, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and weight gain.

..... My Story of Life after Mid-Life

Use It or Lose It We frequently hear, in various contexts, the adage “use it or lose it.” This app

Read This or I'll Slap You

I’m hormonal as hell. Menopause sucks scissors. I’m hot flashing and night sweating and

Menopausal Women Maybe at a Higher Risk for Obesity

Ladies, have you ever noticed how you get food cravings every time your period is near? There is a v

something scientific

The recent articles I have been working on were science articles and I can say that I was able to im

Selenium and health-related quality of life in menopausal women

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relation between serum selenium levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.

Study design

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 104 overweight and obese postmenopausal women attending a gynaecological clinic for their annual gynaecological examination.

Main outcome measures

Age, anthropometric parameters, educational level, smoking habits, serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, folic acid, vitamin B₁₂, homocysteine and selenium levels were determined, and the Cervantes Scale was used to evaluate HRQoL.

Results

Serum selenium mean value levels were similar in the different groups of HRQoL and there were no differences in the four domains of the Cervantes Scale. When women were classified according to serum selenium tertiles, higher levels of serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides were found in women in the lowest serum selenium tertile.

Conclusions

In overweight and obese postmenopausal women, serum selenium level is not related to HRQoL but higher levels of cholesterol, LDLc and triglyceride values were detected in women in the lowest serum selenium tertile.

Introduction to an integrated competence framework for health-care support workers and nurses working in menopause

The evolving role of the menopause nurse is essential to the provision of expert clinical care, and for the education of both patients and health-care professionals. The new Royal College of Nursing integrated competence framework for health-care support workers and nurses working in menopause has been developed to provide specialist guidance and can be used to ensure practice is safe, effective and accountable. It supports acknowledgement for knowledge, skills and competence in their daily roles whilst caring for women at the time of menopause. It aims to ensure consistent standards across all settings whilst increasing the effectiveness of menopause service provision. Using the competences will help nursing staff identify their own level of practice, career plan in a more structured way and pinpoint education and development needs. The framework is a dynamic document that will continuously evolve in light of changes in menopausal healthcare.

Menopause likely to become a truly mid-life event

Multidisciplinary working: the need for competence

Multigenic combination of estrogen-related genes is associated with age at natural menopause in a Spanish population

Objective

Age at natural menopause (ANM) can be considered a complex parameter that depends on the interaction of multiple factors. In the present study, the role of interaction between genetic variants within estrogen synthesis and signalling pathways in the ANM in Spanish women is studied.

Material and methods

Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located at different candidate genes related to the estrogen signalling pathway were analysed in 1980 Spanish postmenopausal women.

Results

Independently, none of the nine markers were significantly associated with early ANM. Only heterozygosis at the NRIP rs2229741 locus could be associated with early menopause; however, this marker does not maintain statistical significance. In contrast, linear regression analysis suggests several epistatic interactions including these markers in relation to ANM, especially between ESR2, NRIP1 and BMP15. The genetic variant that appears most in these interactions is that of the BMP15 rs3897937. It was observed that AA-TC combined genotype for NRIP-BMP15 (rs3897937), respectively, appears to be associated with a lower ANM than other possible combinations of these SNP (46.1±5.9 versus 50.4±3.3; P = 0.002). In the multilocus analysis, the multigenic interaction formed by ESR2 (AA), BMP15 rs3897937 (TC) and NRIP1 (AA) has the lower ANM (45.37±6.8 versus 48.69±5; P = 0.038).

Conclusions

The results suggest that epistatic interactions of estrogen-related alleles may contribute to variance in ANM in Spanish women. Moreover, BMP15 and NRIP1 also appear as attractive candidate genes for premature menopause but require further investigation to confirm them.

Look For The Signs Of Menopause

We ladies have it tough, in some ways. It seems like we get all of the awful physical issues that men have been fortunate enough to escape. We go through periods, childbirth and menopause, just to name a few things. It's all part of being a woman, so most of us wear these events like badges of courage. You may start seeing the signs of menopause before you were planning on it. Make sure you know what it looks like before it jumps on your back.

Dem bones were made for dancing!

Get on your dancing shoes! I was inspired to read that professional dancer Erin Boag from Strictly Come Dancing (the UK’s version of Dancing with the Stars), has teamed up with the International Osteoporosis Foundation to inspire all those armchair dancers to get off their butts and work their bones a bit. In fact, many bone [...]

Recreational Physical Activity and Steroid Hormone Levels in Postmenopausal Women

Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson, Shelley S Tworoger, Susan E Hankinson. American Journal of Epidemiology. Oxford: Nov 1, 2009. Vol. 170, Iss. 9; p. 1095
Available Formats: Abstract

View more documents

More documents may be available. Follow the link to view all documents in ProQuest for your search.

I’m Not Depressed, I’m Just Hot, Sleepy, and Crabby

My friend, M (you’ll remember her as the Menopausal Squirrel), felt pretty good about her health care practitioners. She liked and trusted her gynecologist right up until she began her menopause journey with a plethora of symptoms including hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. That’s when things got ugly. On an office visit, she asked about [...]

Study links acid to overactive bladder

The study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, found that acid stimulates nerve cells in the lining of the bladder that make people feel like they need to urinate.

Mummies had heart disease too

Modern-day imaging techniques have allowed scientists to find evidence of hardening of the arteries in mummies up to 3,500 years old, a finding that disputes the commonly held notion that heart disease is only a problem of today's society.

Two tests needed to screen young athletes for heart defects: study

Student athletes should be given both an EKG and an ECHO to screen for heart defects that could lead to sudden cardiac death, a new study has found.

New drug Pradaxa beats warfarin in new study

Swedish researchers have found that a new clot-busting drug called Pradaxa may be more safe and more effective than the commonly used drug warfarin at preventing clots and strokes in people who suffer from atrial fibrillation.

Fish heart benefits depends on how it's prepared: study

Results from a new study suggest that people can get more heart-health benefits from the omega-3 fatty acids in fish if it is baked or boiled fish instead of fried, dried, or salted.

Excessive Sweating

Title: Excessive Sweating
Category: Symptoms and Signs
Created: 11/19/2009 5:00:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/19/2009 5:00:39 PM

Wednesday Bubble: one pill makes you…

Have you heard about Flibanserin? Pharma Giant Boehringer-Ingelheim is entering the bedroom with an antidepressant (with a new moniker) that may change the sex lives of women everywhere! Sorry for the sarcasm but this Bubble has “Viagra for women” written all over it. In fact, the U.S. market for sexual desire is estimated to exceed a [...]

Menopause Symptoms Treatments

Powered by Max Banner Ads From the second of beginning and to the end of our life, the quality of nutrition our body receives plays an important role in determining our vitality, health and well-being. In the short term, a balanced and healthy diet can help us look good, stay in shape and feel good. It [...]

CARBS

Yes, I put that word in all caps on purpose. I have a genuine love and devotion for carbs! If you could see my face, you would see that dreamy look of devotion when a girl first falls in love with a boy. Let me make this clear… When I talk about carbs, I am [...]

What’s the Best Exercise for Healthy Bones? It May Not be What You Think!

Like many women concerned about the loss of bone mass during the menopause transition, I’ve added resistance training and weight lifting to my three-times a week workouts at the gym. But a recent post in the New York Times Well Blog suggests that this approach may not be helping at all. Instead, some medical researchers [...]

Viva la sweats!

Night sweats, that is! I never thought that I’d write that but it does seem that having night sweats may actually save your life someday. Reporting in the September/October issue of Menopause, Norwegian researchers followed up on over 800 women in menopause who had previously provided information about lifestyle and menopausal history (including vasomotor symptoms). Of [...]

Hip Fracture Odds Rise With Women's Age

Title: Hip Fracture Odds Rise With Women's Age
Category: Health News
Created: 11/13/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug

Title: Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Hip Fracture Odds Rise With Women's Age

Title: Hip Fracture Odds Rise With Women's Age
Category: Health News
Created: 11/13/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug

Title: Study Touts Success With 'Female Viagra' Drug
Category: Health News
Created: 11/16/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2009

What is Induced Menopause and What is The Differ From Normal Menopause

All women experience menopause when they reach they age of 40 or 50. Asian women are said to suffer from menopausal signs and symptoms at an early age of 40 while most suffer it late during their 50’s. Thought there were cases that women are forced into the situation without being aware of it. Induced Experience There [...]

Hip fracture, early menopause and age

Good news for you early menopausers: Australian researchers say that early menopause does not increase the risk for hip fractures due to weaker/lower bone density. Bone density or bone mineral density (BMD) refers to the individual strength of bones, generally in relation to their calcium content. BMD is known to decline rapidly during the time [...]

Less HRT, Fewer Cases of Possible Breast Cancer Precursor

Title: Less HRT, Fewer Cases of Possible Breast Cancer Precursor
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2009

Finding Your Passion…Or Just Passionettes

“I LIKE it but I just don’t know if it’s my PASSION.” Finding a life’s passion was a theme for some of our early (and recent) discussions at the Venus meetings. Our dissections of this topic have had an urgency to them. After all, we are now officially in the second half of our lives [...]

Health Tip: What Causes Urinary Tract Infections in Women?

Title: Health Tip: What Causes Urinary Tract Infections in Women?
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/12/2009

Health Tip: What Causes Urinary Tract Infections in Women?

Title: Health Tip: What Causes Urinary Tract Infections in Women?
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/12/2009

What You Should Know About Menopause

As a female, there are many life changing moments in your life. From when you get your first period to pregnancy and child birth to eventually menopause you are always experiencing changes in your body and reproductive system. Many people fear the end of the reproductive system which is known as menopause. Understanding this change [...]

Wednesday Bubble: Bifocals, babies, hot steamy flashes of perspective. It is enough.

A year ago I was fortunate to meet Author and Woman Extraordinaire Patti Digh. We met at an intimate reading of her book, Life is a Verb, in Washington DC. Since that time, I’ve repeatedly asked Patti to grace Flashfree with her words and her presence. She has graciously sent me the following guest post. [...]

Dare I Say It?

Will I jinx myself if I do? Oh heck, that’s never held me back! Alright! I will say it! I am feeling pretty good! The hormones were adjusted about a month ago and I think it has made a difference. (Can you hear the choir singing?) Not as many hot flashes and the mood has improved immensely. The dark shroud of cranky seems to be gone. Can I hear a hallelujah?

Researchers To Launch Definitive Study on the Benefits of Vitamin D and Fish Oil

Do taking vitamin D and fish oil really lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses as some research studies (and supplement manufacturers) have suggested? Beginning in January, researchers at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital will begin a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the gold standard of research, to find out. The [...]

How to Notice That You Are Going Through Early Menopause

You are a woman who in 40’s and lately have been experiencing what you think are the symptoms of the flu. But a flu does not last for several months, does it? You have been getting mood swings on top of everything else and cannot help however wonder what it going on. Even though you [...]

Nov 6, Naturopathic Flu Information, Links and Resources

Here'll you'll find a balanced collection of information on the flu virus and vaciinations.

An Award For Top Medical Blog

I was very surprised to receive this email ( below) this afternoon. I think I would feel better about it if the writer actually mentioned my blog by name, lol I know they weren't referring to my other two blogs since they are craft related blogs so Menopausal Monster must be the one....although personally I don't feel there is that much medical information here, I just write about my own

Menopause Makes Us Squirrely

I’ve started collecting Menopause Moments; real-life vignettes of all the wild and weird sequelae of the Big M. Why? Because when these RIDICULOUS things happen, we mistakenly believe we are the only ones who have ever been afflicted so bizarrely. And that’s just not true. Thankfully! Weirdness loves company – especially of the girlfriend persuasion. Here’s [...]

I Think Mini Maniac is a Cougar

Was it my blog that inspired her? Was it the television show? Nah, she neither reads my blog nor watches that television program. She is quite the little wild woman though! A veritable hormonal mess, if you want to know the truth. I often wonder if someday we will try to balance the hormones of our teenagers.

Update

I am FINALLY all over my bronchitis and feeling so much better. My 4th grandbaby ( 3rd grandaughter) was born on Oct. 27th. Isabella Nazera weighed in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 1/2 in. long. I was supposed to go into the delivery room with my daughter who had a C-section because Bella was a breech baby, but I was still too sick so my eldest daughter took my place. Daddy is overseas on a job and

Hormone Therapy Can Help Some With Prostate Cancer

Title: Hormone Therapy Can Help Some With Prostate Cancer
Category: Health News
Created: 11/2/2009 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/3/2009

Arkansas Woman Prevails Against Wyeth in Appeals Court

News came today that an appeals court has upheld a jury’s finding last year that Wyeth’s hormone-replacement drugs helped cause an Arkansas woman’s breast cancer. At stake was $27 million in actual damages, an amount that was upheld by the three-judge panel. The appeals court said “the evidence presented could allow a jury to find or [...]

Are You a Successful Loser?

If you’ve lost at least 30 pounds and maintained that loss for at least one year, you can participate in a research study that is investigating the characteristics of individuals who have succeeded at long-term weight loss. The National Weight Control Registry was started in 1994 and more than 5000 individuals have enrolled, making it [...]

About Anger

Buddhists say that the defeat of anger is not only possible, but also the only thing worth doing in a lifetime. Perhaps that’s why I’m not a Buddhist. Apart from having other priorities in my list of things to defeat, I was quite sure I had fully controlled my childhood anger. Let’s face it once [...]

Oct 30, Naturopathic Flu Information

Here is a link to resources concerning a naturopathic view to colds and flu and H1N1

What You Put In Is What You Get Out

I started using bioidentical hormones not too long ago, and it amazes me that the texture of my skin has improved dramatically! My doc said that BHRT would make an impact, but the truth is, I really didn't believe him! I'm amazed at how soft my skin is

About Bipolar Depression

You may not understand much about some mental disorders, but they are something that can happen to almost anyone. Even those that have gone through most of their lives with no issues what so ever may end up with something wrong. When this happens, they soon learn that there is no way to truly understand a disorder like this without having gone through it. That does not mean someone cannot understand some of it, but it does mean that the patient must do their best to help someone understand at least some of it. Those with bipolar depression may have a hard time doing this because the condition can be very complex.

There are two parts to a bipolar disorder. Someone with this condition has moments of mania and then periods of depression. That is why this disorder is sometimes called ‘manic depressive’. The two states are the total opposites of each other. The mania period is usually short while the bipolar depression state can go on for months at a time. This depression can be very bad, and can lead to thoughts of suicide. These thoughts and this state of mind should never be taken lightly. If someone you know has bipolar depression, you should take everything they say very seriously, even if things don’t make sense. It could be a cry for help.

There are many great medications for those that are suffering from bipolar depression. The problem with these is that some start to feel better and more normal and evened out so they stop taking their medications without talking with their doctors first. Someone with bipolar depression may need to see a doctor/psychiatrist once month for a few years to be sure the medications are working as they should. When the patient feels a shift into depression or mania, they should make yet another appointment for stopping their meds or taking more.

If you have bipolar depression, you can’t expect those around you to understand it completely, but that does not mean they should not learn all that they can. If they make no effort to do so, take the time to give them the resources they need to learn about bipolar depression. The more the can understand, the more they can help you when you need it the most. There may not be much they can do to help, but just knowing they have some understanding and that they are there for you can make all of the difference in the world.

Dancing with Menopause and Midlife

If life is a dance, Menopause just might be an unwanted dance partner. But we can’t refuse to dance, so we just have to find new steps or laugh when we can’t remember the old ones. This past week I was attending a Hawai`ian Healing and Hula workshop with Kumu Hula (Hula Master) Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. The [...]

Menopause Maniac Monica is a Grandma!

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven’t blogged in awhile. I just became a grandmother a few weeks ago!

Want to partcipate in a Hot Flash study?

Software company is interested in interviewing women experiencing hot flashes/night sweats and other cognitive/memory issues. We will provide access to new iPhone/web software for monitoring these symptoms and their response to treatments and then conduct an interview about usability and suggested changes. You will have free access to the software for as long as you want it and will be paid for your interview time. We will only provide this offer to ten women experiencing flashes from either peri-menopause or from cancer treatments. Please contact me directly at the phone or email below.

Minna Levine, OTR/L, PhD
SymTrend, Inc.
mlevine@symtrend.com
617-484-7510

Been A Bad Week

Today is day number 7 that I've been sick with a sore throat and bad cough and general fatigue. I wasn't sure what I have and wasn't feeling any better by day 6 so made an appt. with my doctor yesterday. Turns out I have bronchitis and an ear infection. I'm on an antibiotic now and keeping my fingers crossed I will no longer be 'sick' come Tuesday when my 4th grandbaby will be delivered.

Which Cities are the Healthiest Places for Women?

I’m proud to see that my home town, San Francisco, is among the top five places for women to live according to Self Magazine’s annual Survey of America’s Healthiest Places for Women. Their criteria for ranking 100 of the largest metropolitan areas included: rates of diseases such as cancer and depression factors that affect access to health [...]

Oct 22, Find out why you are spotting during menopause

Spotting during menopause can be due to a nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar imbalance, stress and more. Find out what you can do naturally.

Oct 19, Answer to Sore Joints

You aren't alone! Many perimenopausal or menopausal women experience joint pain especially in the hip and shoulder joints. Sometimes this pain is

Obesity May Affect Fertility in Young Women

Title: Obesity May Affect Fertility in Young Women
Category: Health News
Created: 10/16/2009 8:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/19/2009

Menopause Moments

One of my girlfriends is newly in the throes of perimenopause. And she has just experienced her first full-on Menopause Moment. Yep, one of those mental lapses that previously would have been simply unthinkable and would cause a woman to doubt her very sanity. I think that we can safely assure her that it won’t [...]

Oct 16, Everyone's Guide to Meditation

Find out how you can attend this informative and healing workshop.

Dermatologists tips for having soft feet after Menopause

Women start getting rough scaly feet after menopause. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but it’s pretty common. The problem usually starts first on your heels. Your heel skin becomes rough, dry thick and may crack. Gradually your entire foot can become elephant skin thick. Wearing sandals in the summer really thickens up the skin. As we go into winter, this thick skin dries out and cracks. Fall is a great time to soften your feet back up and that’s easy to do if you have the right tools for the job.

Reclaiming your baby soft feet after menopause isn’t so hard. All it takes is good exfoliation. But a pumice stone won’t cut it for most of us. It takes chemical exfoliation and physical exfoliation, done regularly, to get your feet back into shape.

• Chemical exfoliation means using a skin care product that softens and dissolves the thick skin so that you can actually get somewhere when you try to file it off. In my experience, the best skin care product to exfoliate and soften feet is Glytone Heel and Elbow Cream. This is a seriously strong glycolic acid cream and it’s a miracle for rough feet! (In spite of the name, I don’t like it used on the elbows because it’s just too strong for all but the thickest elbow skin.)

• Physical exfoliation is what you do when you file or scrape off your rough thick foot skin. The best foot scraper is the PedEgg, which you can get at www.PedEgg.com. You could also use a foot file like the pedicurists use, or a pumice stone.

Dermatologist’s Step by Step Treatment for Rough, Thick Scaly Feet after Menopause:

1. Soak your feet in warm water, or take a warm shower for 10-15 minutes.
2. While your feet are wet, use the PedEgg, a pumice stone or a foot file to rub the skin off your feet as much as possible without hurting the skin.
3. Towel dry your feet, but while they are still damp, liberally apply the Glytone Heel and Elbow Cream to the thick areas, including the toes and nail beds if needed. Put on a clean pair of cotton socks and leave them on for at least 8 hours.
4. Depending on the severity of the skin, this process can take between one week and several months to get all the thick foot skin off.
5. If irritation develops, let the skin heal before you resume the treatment
6. Once you have soft, smooth skin on your feet, repeat this process as necessary to maintain the results. Some people find that once their feet are soft again, they can maintain the results by switching to my Anti Aging Body Rejuvenation Kit products (http://www.otbskincare.com/anti-aging-body-skin-care-kit.shtml) and treat their feet when they treat the rest of their body skin in the shower.

Having baby soft feet after menopause is possible with the right exfoliation products! My previously soft post menopausal feet have just started getting rough, cracked heels. With a treatment about once a month I’m able to keep them soft.
We all want baby soft feet that invite a foot massage. After menopause it takes a little extra work, but it’s possible at any age and any time of the year with my exfoliating foot treatment.

Glytone Heel and Elbow Cream is available by calling my office and ordering it. I don’t have it on my web site www.otbskincare.com because it is so strong that I want to be sure people don’t misuse it. By reading these instructions, you have good information on how to appropriately reap the benefits from this extremely effective and strong product. During business hours you can reach my front office receptionist Maria at 707 829-5778, or you can reach Kara at 707 829-0937.

You can also get it from your dermatologist if they carry Glytone products, or on web stores like dermstore.com.

Chip May Detect Breast Cancer

In his left hand, Aaron Wheeler holds a petri dish bearing a lump of breast tissue that resembles, in size and appearance, a piece of chewed gum.

In his right, the University of Toronto chemist holds a microchip array, about the size of a credit card, bearing a drop of red liquid about a thousand times smaller than the glob of mutilated flesh. The drop represents the minute amount of cells that Wheeler's tiny board needs to accurately gauge estrogen levels in a woman's breast tissue.

Read more

World Menopause Day October 18

Mark October 18th on your calendar – it’s World Menopause Day! That’s right! It is a day devoted to hot flashes; a time to celebrate those raging hormones.

World Menopause Day started all the way back in 1984, though it is relatively unheard of. Instituted by the International Menopause Society and the World Health Organization, World Menopause Day was designed to bring increased awareness to menopause. Every woman will experience menopause in her lifetime, whether by natural onset or due to a hysterectomy or some cancer treatments. Yet very few of us feel comfortable talking about the changes we are going through because so many attitudes about ‘the change’ still remain.

World Menopause Day is a chance for the members of the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies around the world to address the many issues women face during menopause. Moreover, healthcare professionals can raise awareness of the need to introduce research strategies and options that lead to better and more advanced treatments for conditions related to menopause.

As our world’s population ages, it makes sense that more women than at any other time in human history will undergo menopause over the next few decades. Menopause affects a woman’s quality of life and more importantly puts her at increased risk for osteoporosis, breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Understanding how the risk factors associated with these conditions relate to menopause can only help lead to providing quality health care.

read more

What A Great Fall Day!!!

I'm lovin' it!!! It's cool enough to have to use a blanket at night and chilly enough in the morning to really enjoy my hot coffee. It's windy and the leaves are whirling and twirling about. I've invited my children and their families over for dinner today so this morning I plan to work on some crafts and then will have to put everything away ( that means put everything on my bed until they

Should You Really Take Effexor Treatment for Hot Flashes

How effective is Effexor treatment for hot flashes? This was the subject of a Mayo...

Menopause Medication and the Option of an Alternative Mentality

For women suffering from uncomfortable menopause symptoms that make it difficult...

Black Cohosh for Menopause Anyone

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists first stated the benefits...

Dont Let Early Menopause Catch You by Surprise

By the time women are in their thirties they are usually experiencing some of the...

The Function of Diet and Exercise as a Menopause Natural Remedy

All women experience menopause. It is a natural part of the aging process just as...

A Bit Of A Surprise And A HUGE Thank you!

I just received this email from a site called The Daily Reviewer: Congratulations! Your readers have submitted and voted for your blog at The Daily Reviewer. We compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 Menopause Blogs, and we are glad to let you know that your blog was included! You can see it at http://thedailyreviewer.com/top/menopause Many thanks to the 'readers' who submitted Menopausal

Your Diet For Menopause

Since calories can pack on easier during menopause and the risk factors for certain types of diseases can go up, a menopause diet is a good time to control the foods which aren't so good for you. Avoid taking fatty foods as much as possible will keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy and also help to cut your risk of conditions such as diabetes and cancer. Besides it is also a good idea to cut back on your consumption of alcoholic drinks and caffeinated beverages.

To have a proper menopause diet, you should replace those choices with healthier options such as decaffeinated green tea and bottled water. Rather than frying your foods, go for the baking or broiling which will add less fat and keep the good stuff packed inside. You should also toss out the less nutritious choices such as potatoes and go for the sweet potatoes and yams which are packed with nutrients instead of empty calories if you want to relieve your menopause symptoms.

Fresh vegetables and fruits are always important to include in any diet particularly when you experience menopause. Furthermore you should try to stay away from sugary and fatty foods as well as those which contain caffeine or anything which has no nutritive value. However you should understand that there is no single food which includes all of these nutritive values, so you need to ensure that you are eating a nutritious and well balanced menopause diet regularly in order to relieve the menopause symptoms.

Why Do Women Need Progesterone?

Menopausal women use progesterone in hormone replacement therapy, women who experience PMS (premenstrual syndrome) also respond well to natural progesterone. Progesterone is known to aid conception and is also produced through out pregnancy. Progesterone plays a lot of roles in women the chief of which is to balance the effects of estrogen, if estrogen is not checked it results in the symptoms listed under estrogen dominance. During menopause the level of progesterone may drop to almost zero in some women while that of estrogen drops to about 40-60% which is still okay to put an end to the menstrual cycle. The use of progesterone after menopause would help to argument the overall hormone balance, because progesterone is the precursor to a lot of steroid hormones.

Premature Menopause, Symptoms And Diagnosis

How Is Premature Menopause Diagnosed?

First, your doctor will most likely perform a physical exam and draw blood to rule out other conditions, such as pregnancy and thyroid disease. He or she may also order a test to measure your estradiol levels. Low levels of estradiol, a form of estrogen, can indicate that your ovaries are starting to fail. When estradiol levels are below 36, it may signal that you are in menopause.

However, the most important test used to diagnose premature menopause is a blood test that measures follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH causes your ovaries to produce estrogen. When your ovaries slow down their production of estrogen, your levels of FSH increase. When your FSH levels rise above 30 or 40 mIU/mL, it usually indicates that you are in menopause.

What Types of Health Issues Affect Women Undergoing Premature Menopause?

Like all menopausal women, women in premature menopause experience lowered estrogen levels as the ovaries stop most of their production of this hormone. Low levels of estrogen can lead to changes in a woman's overall health and may increase her risk for certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis. Other health risks associated with the loss of estrogen include increased risk for colon and ovarian cancer, periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss and cataract formation.

However, compared with women who go through natural menopause, women undergoing premature menopause spend a greater portion of their lives without the protective benefits of their own estrogen. This puts them at an even greater risk for the above mentioned menopause-related health problems.

How Is Premature Menopause Treated?

The symptoms and health risks of premature menopause as well as the emotional issues that may result from it can be managed with the methods similar to those used for natural menopause. Women dealing with infertility that is brought on by premature menopause may want to discuss their options with their doctor or with a reproductive specialist.

Can Premature Menopause Be Reversed?

No. Premature menopause is the result of an underlying process. Once the process has started, it's unlikely to be reversed.

This article was originaly published in WebMD and i just wanted to published here beacause i think it provide a really usefull informations.

Menopause Hormone Therapy

Postmenopausal women and physicians should no longer fear hormone. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) released yesterday its new clinical guidelines on menopause. According to the SOGC, took the hormone for less than five years are harmless and can instead help women get rid of troublesome symptoms such as hot flashes.

By publishing these guidelines, the SOGC has sought to silence the belief that hormones increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease in post menopausal women.

In 2001, a study conducted in the United States had shown that after four years of hormone therapy, breast cancer increased by 26% in postmenopausal women. With the publication of this study, more than 50% of Americans have stopped their treatment.

SOGC analyzed data available to determine whether the hormone is so harmful. "We have noticed that the 2001 study was conducted mainly on women aged 60 to 70 years. The average age was too high! Especially when we know that age is the main risk factor for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, "says the director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Queen's University, Dr. Robert Reid .

"We put women in front of exaggerated fears. Women were afraid, "says professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Laval University, Dr. Michel Fortier.

According to the SOGC, postmenopausal women who want to avoid bothersome symptoms should first change their lifestyle. Control weight, smoking and level of exercise is essential.

Dr Reid acknowledged that this method is beneficial for women with symptoms means. For those with strong symptoms, hormone therapy taken in the short term is a safe and viable option, "said Dr. Reid.

85% to 95% of women see their symptoms with reduced hormone. The risk of fractures related to osteoporosis as well as the risks of suffering from vaginal drying declining.

If the hormone is less than five years, the health risks are invalid, says the SOGC. If the treatment lasts for more than five years women see their risk of contracting breast cancer increased slightly. "The risk is greater for women who are obese or who smoke," said Dr. Reid.

Increased risk among women who gave birth after age 30

According to him, should be more concerned that mothers are becoming older. Studies have shown that mothers who had their first pregnancy after age 30 are more likely to suffer from breast cancer. A third of breast cancer could be eliminated if these factors were controlled.

As to the effects of hormone therapy on cardiovascular disease and stroke, the SOGC believes they are void. We know that the hormones slightly increased risk of clots in the legs. "But in this case, age is a risk factor even more important that the hormones," said Dr. Fortier.

As for the effect of hormones on memory, studies are contradictory. According to Dr. Fortier, only younger women will have their memory improve with treatment. "But we still can not recommend hormone therapy to treat Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Fortier.

Five Tips for a Healthy Meal

You may think this is off topic but it is not, the way we feed ourselves can impact the menopause duration and the starting of perimenopause too and for our health, many of us must improve the way we feed ourselves to have a healthy and better life but many of us don't realise that keeping things natural and simple is the perfect way to achieve this.

Here are 5 tips that you can all put into practice very easily.

1) Complete bread or cereal bread

If you have trouble to choose between cereal bread and white bread, start by choosing once in two cereal bread for starting. When the taste become usual for you, vary the breads type you take. For sandwiches also prefer cereal bread. Ideally for breakfast, eat jam sandwiches for example, I know it seem hard the first time but it isn't.

2) To cook, drop the butter and margarine in favor of olive oil

You must know that butter and margarine, the more they are hard at room temperature, the more they aren't good for health. In other words the softer the better.

If necessary, use a reduced fat margarine or butter on your toast, rice or potatoes and your other recipes.

3) Use frozen and canned vegetables and fruit

Eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day is not easy, so enjoy the forms of conservation type freezing or canning. They maintain very well the nutritional qualities of food, because vegetables and fresh food in the tray quickly lose their vitamins...

Quick and easy to prepare, frozen and canned vegetables can also vary more often, whatever the season, so you have more choice.

4) Beware of dairy products...

Some cheeses bring a lot of fat. You must limit or even avoid them on some menus. If you eat enough fat meat for example, do not finish your meal with a piece that contain cheese like pizza, quiche, gratin, pasta with cheese, etc.., because they already contain cheese, so you do not need to add it to the end of the meal.

The dairy desserts are not all equal: a cream dessert for example does not mean yogurt. The first is more caloric, the cheese also compared to yogurt is more caloric.

5) Make efforts to change your menus

The food must therefore be balanced and varied. No food is bad; it is the excesses that are harmful. Meanwhile, each food is unique and provides different nutrients and different proportion.

A good way for varying food is to reduce the proportions in order to have a complete and rich diet. A traditional meal for example must be composed of: entry + flat (meat, fish or vegetables + egg) + cheese + salad + dessert. But to achieve this variety on a daily basis without weight, it is necessary to make small portions.

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