Understanding Depression in Women

March 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

how to handle depressionWomen are more likely to suffer from depression than men are, but women also appear to be less likely to talk about it. This is not just in someone’s head, but it is a real disease that occurs as a result from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression can become severe so it is important to not ignore the signs and symptoms. There are effective treatments available that can help you to get back to feeling like yourself. It is important that all women educate themselves about depression so that if it occurs, they can catch it early and get early treatment.

What is Depression?

Depression is a condition that can affect everything from your social life, to your career to your family relationships. It is estimated that one and eight women will experience this condition at some point. This is a pretty big number. It is important to know the signs so that they are easily recognizable should they occur. These signs and symptoms include:

  • Depressed mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness, guilt and worthlessness
  • Sleep disturbances (you could be sleeping a lot less or a lot more)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Not enjoying the things that you used to
  • Recurrent thoughts of death
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Weight and appetite changes
  • Fatigue and lack of energy

Differences Between Women and Men

Women and men do differ in how they experience the signs and symptoms of depression. While these are the same, how they occur does differ. The following describe how men and women differ in their experience:

  • While men tend to blame others when depressed, women will blame themselves.
  • Women feel sad and worthless, where men tend to be irritable and angry.
  • Men are more guarded and suspicious, where women are more scared and anxious.
  • Women will avoid conflicts, while men will create them.
  • Men feel agitated and restless, while women feel nervous and slowed down.
  • Women cannot set boundaries, while men feel the need for constant control.
  • Men have a hard time admitting there is an issue, where women can often talk about it easily.
  • Men tend to self-medicate with sports, sex and alcohol, where women tend to use food, false love and friends.

Getting Help

Once you start to notice that you do not feel like yourself it is time to reach out for help. You can begin by talking to a trusted friend or family member to help vent any frustrations. You may also benefit from getting good sleep, regular exercise, a healthy diet and staying active with your normal activities.

When the above just does not get the job done you should talk to your doctor. He or she can discuss things like talk therapy and medications for depression. Most people with depression do see a psychiatrist for the pharmacological care and a therapist for talk therapy. Many women do not end up needing medications if they do regular talk therapy. The key is to find what will work for you.

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The Truth About Cellulite: What You Need to Know

March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

cellulite issuesCellulite is something most women battle at one point or another, but this does not mean that we have to like it. The lumpy, bumpy look is unflattering and can be a total confidence killer. There are things you need to know about cellulite so that you can either work to avoid it or at least cope when you are living with it.

Not a Health Issue

Some people believe that cellulite indicates a health issue, but you can put your fears to rest. This problem is purely cosmetic and is not a medical condition or illness, so no need to run to the doctor once you start noticing cellulite. The dimpling may be very faint or very noticeable depending on the degree of cellulite. You will notice it most on your buttocks and thighs, but it can also occur on the upper arms, abdomen and breasts.

Cellulite Causes

Being a woman automatically puts you at risk because this happens to women far more often than men. Cellulite occurs when fat deposits sit alongside tough collagen fibers. The fatty areas can grow larger or the fibers can pull tight to cause the deposits of fat to bulge out.

It is also important to point out that you can get cellulite regardless of your weight. You can be of a healthy weight and still develop cellulite. If you have thinner skin it will be more visible.

You also need to look at other risk factors, such as being Caucasian, aging, genetics and pregnancy-related hormonal changes. Genetics is probably the biggest of these and you cannot control this. There are some risk factors that you can control, such as:

  • Eating a ton of carbohydrates
  • Being inactive
  • Yo-yo dieting
  • Increase in your overall body fat
  • Being dehydrated
  • Fluid retention

Tanning and Cellulite

Some people think that tanning can actually hide cellulite, and while it may help to reduce the appearance a bit, the effects of the UV exposure outweigh this. When you are frequently exposing yourself to UV light you are damaging your skin. This damage can make issues like cellulite a lot worse.

Treating Cellulite Through Weight Loss

While dropping those extra pounds may help to reduce your cellulite this is not a guarantee. You should always strive for a healthy weight, but do not expect it to be a fix-all for the dimpling. Some women will notice less cellulite, while for others, losing weight could make it look worse.

Body Wraps

These are often talked about for reducing cellulite. Body wraps are warm and can help to draw excess water from your tissues, but if any improvement in cellulite occurs it will be temporary. You also have to be careful because this can be dehydrating. Your actual body fat will not be reduced at all. If you had a wrap before and knocked off a few inches temporarily, then this could be a good idea for special occasions, but do not expect a miracle with this purported cellulite treatment.

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Osteoporosis: Which Treatments Options are Available?

February 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

eating right for OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a risk that all women face as they grow older. The bones become more fragile and this could result in painful fractures. The good news is that there are things you can start doing right now to lower your risk, such as regular exercise and adequate nutrition. If these are not enough, then there are other options that all women should be aware of.

Medications

Medications known as bisphosphonates are most often used to help in the treatment of osteoporosis. These work by slowing down the process of bones breaking down. When you are younger, your bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding, but as you get older, the breakdown process is a lot faster than the rebuilding process. This leads to bones getting weaker and deteriorating because the breakdown is not replaced. This kind of medication essentially slows down the breakdown process so that rebuilding can keep up to keep bones strong.

Heartburn and stomach upset are common with these medications. It helps to drink a full glass of water, take on an empty stomach and not lie down for an hour after taking the medication. Following these tips can completely eliminate these site effects.

These medications can be taken up to five years safely. Women can take holidays from the medication after five years and still have the positive effects because the medication has a build-up effect.

Hormone Therapy

Many women avoid hormone therapy due to the increased risk of breast cancer, but this can still be very effective for osteoporosis. This is generally done after menopause when you are no longer producing estrogen. Lack of estrogen can lead to osteoporosis. While this is not used nearly as often as bisphosphonates, regular exercise and dietary changes, it is still an option and it is still FDA-approved for osteoporosis. Your doctor will review your health and medical history to determine if this is a good option for you. It is important to know that stroke, breast cancer, heart disease and blood clots are all risks with this type of therapy.

Calcium

You know that calcium is a mineral that is critical for optimum bone health. Getting more calcium in your daily diet is going to be the first goal because if you get enough, you could actually avoid this disease later in life. Now, if you already have it, more dietary calcium can only help you. Of course, you want plenty of vitamin D too because this vitamin is necessary for proper calcium absorption.

If you do not get enough calcium through food then your doctor may recommend calcium supplements. These can help to replace any calcium that you are deficient in. The same goes for vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is not uncommon, but it can be easily corrected with a well-balanced diet and supplements. Your doctor will determine which supplement is best for you and if you need a prescription-strength one or not. The same goes for calcium because some women will need more than others, such as a prescription-strength supplement.

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Women’s Nutrition 101: More Nutrients, But Fewer Calories

February 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

best nutrition for womenWhen it comes to nutrition for women, there are basically two things that are almost always true: you need more nutrients and fewer calories than men do. It is important to know which nutrients are the most critical and how many calories you need each day so that you can strike a balance. Having this information will help you in maintaining a healthy weight and preventing nutrient deficiencies.

Fewer Calories

As adults, women naturally need fewer calories than men do. Women who do not exercise need about 1,200 calories every day. This is considerably less than men who do not exercise. Now, if you do work out, you will need to increase your caloric intake to compensate for this. How much it is increased by will ultimately depend on you level of physical activity. There are formulas that a nutritionist can use to help you determine exactly how much you need to sustain your body. Caloric intake is a funny thing and you definitely want to make sure that you are getting enough without getting too many.

More Nutrients

There are some nutrients that women need a lot more of than men do. Iron is a good example. Women that are 19 to 50 should be getting 18 milligrams of iron each day. Now, men only need eight milligrams, so as you can see this is a big difference. Since women are consuming fewer calories and have a menstrual period every month, they need a lot more iron. There are supplements that can be taken to ensure you are getting what you need. Talk to your doctor before taking a supplement and to get some advice on which would be best for you. Since vitamin C increases the absorption of iron it is a good idea to take some more of this too. Now, you can increase your vitamin C intake by simply drinking and consuming more citrus fruits like orange juice and oranges.

Calcium and folate are two other nutrients that women need a lot more of. Calcium is critical for good bone density. When bone density is not where it needs to be, you will be at risk for osteoporosis, and from here, fractures. Since you definitely do not want to deal with broken bones, it is important to get the nutrients necessary to avoid them. If you are younger than 50 years old, you should be getting 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day. If you are older than 50, then you need 1,500 milligrams each day. This is a nutrient that you cannot skimp on. You need to make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamin D to ensure proper absorption of calcium.

Folate is a B vitamin that is critical in your childbearing years. Not having enough could result in birth defects should you get pregnant and have a baby. In addition to your baby, this vitamin is important to help protect against heart disease and colon cancer. You need 400 micrograms every day. If you become pregnant, this increases to 600 micrograms every day.

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Losing Weight After Menopause: Quick Tips for Women

February 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

weight management after menopauseLosing weight is no easy task and this is especially true after menopause. The body goes through changes and your weight is one of these. However, you can lose weight after menopause once you know why you are gaining. It will not be as easy as it was in your 20s, but it is possible. In fact, many women achieve their highest level of fitness after going through the change.

Why You Gain Weight

Gaining weight after menopause is actually mostly related to your lifestyle and certain genetic factors. Now, if you do gain weight this is going to show most around your midsection due to hormonal changes. Your thighs and hips will not be nearly as affected as they were in your younger years.

Once a woman goes through menopause, she tends to reduce her exercise and activity level. Then, since you are getting older your muscles will start to diminish naturally. We know that muscle burns more calories than fat and it also gives you that nice toned look. If you are not working to replace the diminishing muscle, your body will begin to be taken over by the fat and you will not burn nearly as many calories. This, of course, can lead to weight gain.

In terms of genetics, look at the women in your family. If your grandmother, mother and older sister all seemed to gain weight after menopause, then your chances of gaining weight are increased.

Why Should I Work to Lose Weight After Menopause?

There are a number of reasons why you do not want to carry around extra weight after going through the change. Having extra weight, especially around your abdomen, increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Things like high cholesterol and high blood pressure can also occur, increasing your risk of stroke and heart attack. Other risks include breast and colon-rectal cancer. These are already more prevalent after menopause, but extra weight increases your risk even more.

How Do I Lose Weight After Menopause?

Contrary to the media, there are no magic pills or methods to help you get into shape. You will have to put the work in. Your first priority should be to get a full health physical from your doctor. You want to know what your overall health status is and make sure that exercise is safe for you. Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, it is time to start moving more. Just walking 30 minutes a day, most days of the week can have a major impact on your health and weight. You also need to strength train. Remember that your muscles are diminishing naturally so you need to get them back and strength training is the only way to do this. Ideally, you will strength train every other day because your muscles do need a rest day in between workouts.

Next, is your diet. You want to eat as healthy as possible. This does not mean that you can never have a piece of birthday cake again, it just means that you cannot have cake every night. You want the majority of your diet to be lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Also, do not forget about water because dehydration is more common as you get older.

You may want to get together with some of your same-age friends and get a walking group together. This will help you to stay on track. You can also strength train together and exchange healthy recipes. Those that work out with a buddy tend to stick to their plan more than those who go it alone.

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Drink to Shrink: Can Alcohol Help You Lose Weight?

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Drinking and dietingMany people skip going out for drinks when they are trying to shed some pounds. It is true that alcohol has empty calories and when drank in excess can and will cause weight gain. However, some experts are now saying that drinking in moderation could actually help your weight loss efforts.

How Alcohol is Digested in the Body

Alcohol generally contains sugar, ethanol and carbohydrates. Your cocktail goes straight to your stomach after you take a sip and then the lining of the stomach absorbs the alcohol and it gets into the bloodstream. Ethanol makes its way to the liver and then the sugar and carbohydrates are digested as normal. Since the ethanol is being worked on before anything else, it is believed that the sugar and carbs are not taken care of as efficiently, which in turn, leads to weight gain.

Now, this is true when it comes to drinking a lot. If you know someone that tends to hit the bottle hard and frequently, you will eventually notice that he or she is packing on some pounds even if they do not eat much and/or have a healthy diet. Calories are calories.

Losing Weight with Drinking?

If you are someone who enjoys a glass of wine – or even two – every evening to wind down after a long day you could be helping yourself in the weight department. New research that was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine is looking at those who have just a standard drink or two each night and how this resulted in less weight gain than those who binge drink on weekends. This is believed to occur because since you have a drink or two daily, your body becomes accustomed to this and has figured out a way to digest it in a way where the metabolism of alcohol is altered. You are torching more calories as you sip that nightly cocktail and the extra calories are not turned into fat.

Now, this does not mean that you can skip wine all week and then have six glasses between Friday and Saturday night. For the results shown in this study to hold true, you need to have at least one drink every night so that your body can make the necessary adjustments.

So, can I Skip Exercise and Diet?

No. Unfortunately, drinking wine does not substitute a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, if you are a healthy woman who eats pretty well and exercises at least three days per week then that evening glass of wine could be a good thing. The key is to drink standard-sized drinks. This means that a 32-ounce draft beer is not a good thing, but a standard four-ounce glass of wine is. You do not want to overdo it because then you are putting yourself at risk for weight gain and other issues associated with drinking too much alcohol. Don’t forget that red wine is also associated with other health benefits, such as boosting your heart health, when consumed in moderation.

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Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Ovarian cancer informationOvarian cancer is something that all women fear due to its notoriously bad remission rates. This is why all women should do whatever is in their power to prevent this cancer. There are things that you can start doing today to lower your risk. Some risk factors are outside of your control, but controlling the controllable ones will go a long way in prevention.

Age

You probably saw this one coming and unfortunately no woman can control how old she is. Women younger than 40 can get this cancer, but it is very rare. It almost always occurs after you have gone through menopause with half of all cases in women older than 63.

Obesity

This is a risk factor that you can control. If your body mass index is at least 30, then it is time to start talking to your doctor about a diet and exercise plan. It is estimated that the heavier you are the higher your risk. In fact, very heavy women are 50 percent more likely to develop this cancer. 50 percent is a really scary number. To add gasoline to the fire, obese women have a higher chance of death related to this cancer than their thinner peers.

How Many Kids You Have Had

If you have never had children then your risk of ovarian cancer is higher than your friends who have some kids. With each pregnancy, your risk of this cancer decreases. If you take birth control pills for over five years your risk is significantly lower. So, if you do not have kids and are not looking to have any, but can still reproduce, it would not hurt to talk to your doctor to see if birth control pills are right for you.

Surgical History

If you have had a gynecological surgery, then your risk of ovarian cancer is lower even when your ovaries are left intact. You cut your risk by one-third when you have a hysterectomy and keep your ovaries, and you lower your risk by as much as 67 percent when you have your tubes tied.

Fertility Drugs

Some women are unable to naturally conceive and opt to use medications to try and get pregnant. Some studies show that using Clomid for longer than a year can increase your risk for experiencing tumors on your ovaries. The risk appears to be higher if you take this drug and it does not end in pregnancy. Now, these tumors are not always malignant, but it is something to think about. More research is being done to look at how different fertility treatments affect your risk of ovarian cancer.

Estrogen Therapy

After menopause some women elect to have estrogen therapy to help reduce the side effects of menopause. If you take only estrogen, it seems like your risk is a bit higher than it is for women taking both estrogen and progesterone. You have to use estrogen therapy for at least five years before this risk starts. If you are taking a combination of progesterone and estrogen, there is still a risk, but it is lower than taking just estrogen alone.

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Hypothyroidism in Women: Do I Really Have It?

February 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Hypothyroidism warningsHypothyroidism is one word that women never want to hear. It can occur at any age, but what is interesting is that this condition only affects a very small portion of the population in the United States, so do not automatically blame your difficulty losing weight on this condition. On average, 10 percent of women have a degree of low thyroid, so as you can see, this is really not that many.

What is Hypothyroidism?

This means that your thyroid is just not providing your body with enough thyroid hormones. In the early stages most people do not even know that they have it because there are rarely symptoms. However, as time goes on you will start to notice things like joint pain and weight gain. There are accurate tests available that can get you diagnosed and treated quickly so this is good news.

Risk Factors and Causes

Hypothyroidism can happen to anyone, but there are some factors that put you at an increased risk. These include:

  • Family history of autoimmune diseases
  • Radiation to the upper chest or neck
  • Pregnancy or delivery in the last six months
  • Having an autoimmune disease
  • Received anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine
  • Thyroid surgery

There are also a number of causes that can result in this condition. These include:

  • Having an autoimmune disease
  • Radiation therapy
  • Certain medications like lithium
  • Pituitary disorder
  • Being treated for hyperthyroidism
  • Iodine deficiency
  • Congenital disease
  • Pregnancy

Symptoms

Like was stated above, in the early stages you likely will not feel different at all. As this condition goes untreated, you will start to experience symptoms that generally get to a point where you will see a doctor to figure out what is going on. Symptoms can include:

  • Fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Hoarseness
  • Increase blood cholesterol level
  • Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
  • Thinning hair
  • Depression
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Dry skin
  • Puffy face
  • Muscle weakness
  • Muscle tenderness, aches and stiffness
  • Irregular or very heavy menstrual periods
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Impaired memory

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is actually quite easy and generally only requires a blood test. You will relay your symptoms to your doctor and he or she will order the test. You only need to give a quick blood sample. With new testing methods, you can be diagnosed even when you are in the early stages where you really do not even have symptoms yet.

Treatment

There is no one dose of thyroid medication so it may take a little bit to get your dose just right for you. You will generally be started on a thyroid medication and then have your thyroid levels checked after two or three months to ensure that your levels are within an acceptable range. After your dose is correct, you will have your TSH levels checked annually to ensure that everything is still within an acceptable range. You will almost always need to take thyroid medication for the rest of your life and continue to always have your TSH levels checked annually for life just in case any dose adjustments are needed over the years.

Once you start treatment, you will notice your symptoms going away, such as you will have more energy, be able to lose the weight and will not be so cold all of the time.

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Three Things You Must Know About Your Breasts, but Don’t

February 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

breast issues with womenYour breasts are something that you look at every day. You also know that you have to take care of them in order to maintain optimal health for both your breasts and your body as a whole. However, there are some things that many women are unaware of when it comes to their breasts. Not knowing these things could have a negative consequence on your health. It is critical to understand your breasts and to know everything that you can to prevent breast cancer and other issues.

Your Breasts are Vulnerable

The other parts of your body can withstand small hormonal changes, but your breasts are hypersensitive to these changes. You are around toxic chemicals daily and these can trigger small hormonal changes that can negatively affect your breasts. There are ways to limit your exposure, however. Estrogen-mimicking chemicals can be found in personal care product containers and certain food packaging. Stick with frozen or fresh foods and avoid canned products. Also, avoid personal care product that contain parfum or fragrance.

Breasts are Getting Bigger than they Ever Have in History

It is not unusual to see breast cup sizes as large as H and KK. This is without plastic surgery interventions. Girls are also starting to develop younger than ever, with some girls as young as nine years old developing. Chemical exposure is thought to be the cause of these issues. Early development and naturally very large breasts are also linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Benzene and Breast Cancer

Benzene is a chemical that you can be exposed to every day. It is a widely used chemical and it is created mostly by human activities. It is naturally in gasoline, crude oil and cigarette smoke. It can also get into the environment due to forest fires. The main way it gets into your body is through inhalation. The skin can also absorb it with direct contact.

There is evidence of this chemical having cancer-causing potential. The most evidence is associated with this chemical and acute myeloid leukemia. Whether this causes breast cancer directly is still being studied, but there are links that scientists are further testing. It is important to be aware of benzene and its potentially harmful effects. Experts do agree that this chemical has cancer-causing potential and since the breasts are vulnerable, you should be aware of this chemical. Not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke are two of the best ways to limit benzene exposure.

Caring for Your Breasts

You want to perform your breast self-exams at least once a month. If you feel anything abnormal, call you doctor right away. When breast cancer is caught early your chances of recovery are generally quite high. When you are doing your self-exam, don’t just feel for lumps, but visually inspect your breasts as well. You want to look for things like changes in the nipples or overall breast color, nipple discharge, dimpling or anything else that would be abnormal.

It is also important to talk to your doctor about breast health. Make sure that your doctor knows your family history, as well as your personal history when it comes to medical issues. Your doctor will also let you know when you need to start having mammograms and how often you will need to have one.

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Four Symptoms Women Often Ignore But Never Should

February 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

ignoring health warningsAll women have occasional aches and pains, heart burn and other symptoms from time to time. However, there are some symptoms that always warrant a doctor giving you a once over. These are symptoms that women often ignore, but never should. Having these symptoms could mean nothing, but sometimes they point to a serious issue so always have them checked out.

Severe Pain in Your Head

Headaches are not uncommon for women and are often due to eye strain, stress and just not getting enough sleep. However, when the pain is severe you want to give your doctor a call. Up to five percent of people will experience a brain aneurysm. For most people, these never cause an issue, but for the few people that experience a rupture, the effects could quickly be life-threatening. Emergency surgery is necessary to keep the damage as minimal as possible. A good rule of thumb is that if severe head pain comes with visual symptoms, or if there is a history of aneurysm in your family, to go to the emergency room. If you are having severe head pain that does not go away with basic headache home care, such as OTC pain medication and rest, then call your doctor.

Your Side is Killing You

In many cases, bad pain in your side is due to gas or a pulled muscle. Both of these can be treated at home. However, things like a ruptured ovarian cyst or a ruptured appendix could also be the culprit and both of these require immediate surgery. Remember that old adage that pain always indicates that something is wrong. This something wrong could be minor, or it could be very serious.

Passing Chest Pain

Okay, so your chest hurts a bit once in a while. Maybe you ate something wrong like spicy food. Or, maybe you are having a heart attack. When it comes to heart attacks, women generally do not have symptoms as severe as men do. For women, the pain may be in the middle of the back with some heart burn going on. This is why you should never push chest pain to the side. Always have it checked out right away, especially if you are also experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath or pain in your throat. So many women will not go to the ER unless they have an arm hanging off, but quick treatment during a heart attack is critical to give you the best chance at a full recovery.

Gas and Bloating

All women have occasional gas and bloating. Everything from diet choices to hormones during that time of the month can cause these symptoms. However, if you are frequently bloated and gassy then you need to see your doctor. This is really important especially if you have some discomfort in your abdominal or pelvic areas. Bloating is a major sign of early ovarian cancer. Give your OB-GYN a call and get and appointment with her. She can order the necessary tests to see why you are bloating and gassy all of the time.

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