healthforwomenover40

Any Level of Physical Activity Helps Prolong Life

2006-07-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

This makes perfect sense to me...keep moving!

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Any kind of exercise will help extend your life, say researchers who used a sophisticated test to arrive at that conclusion.

"There are plenty of reports out there saying that self-reported exercise like running or jogging is beneficial," said lead researcher Todd M. Manini, an exercise physiologist at the U.S. National Institute on Aging. "We wanted to see if just usual daily activity had a protective value."

His team's six-year study of 302 people between 70 and 82 years of age found that any sort of energy expenditure through physical activity was associated with a lower risk of death.

That finding, published in the July 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, is not entirely surprising. Organizations such as the American Heart Association have long said that some physical activity is better than none. What was unusual about this study was the exquisitely detailed measurements used to determine levels of physical activity, Manini said.

Continue reading...
Any Level of Physical Activity Helps Prolong Life - Forbes.com

From 38 to 55, 'life gets better and better'

2006-06-18T03:49:00.000-07:00

Something we've been saying for a while...it really does get better! And continues to do so way past 50.
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Once characterized by angst and risky behavior, midlife now is believed by some experts to be the happiest time of adult life. "From age 30 to 50, life only gets better and better," said Ron Kessler, professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. "These are the best years of their lives."

From 38 to 55, 'life gets better and better'

HerHealthyLife.org

2006-06-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

HerHealthyLife.org: "“Her Healthy Life” is a public education campaign to let women know about easy steps they can take to improve their health. By eating right, exercising and not smoking, you can reduce your risk for many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and lung cancer. You can begin all of these health improvement steps on your own. This Web site gives you more information and resources for more help."

Quit Smoking!

2006-05-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

I received one of the best phone calls yesterday!

As any health care provider can tell you, it's a wonderful feeling when someone makes a positive change in their lives.

In this case, it was a couple (former patients of mine)...he with heart disease, she with probable emphysema. I had been given them suggestions and recommendation to quit smoking for a few years - they were never "ready" to do that. I asked them several times to then please take their smoking out of doors...but at least get it out of the house and car - both enclosed spaces.

It turns out that the gentleman was hospitalized this past winter. When he came home...he was done with smoking. In an effort to support her husband, this woman took her smoking out of doors (yes, even in the rain). Over the next few months she found she was smoking less and less. It was then she realized I was "right" and stopped smoking all together.

She called me yesterday to tell me it's been 4 months since they stopped and they both feel great! You know what...so do I!

Breast Cancer and Soy

2006-05-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

I happen to like soy. I add soy protein powders to my smoothies. I eat tofu. I enjoy tofu in many dishes. And as my body changes, I want to make sure I'm getting foods that are healthy, and may even diminish the few effects I'm seeing with being perimenopausal.

Because breast cancer has been an issue for the women in my family, I'm also concerned about keeping my breasts healthy.

The following study sheds some more light onto some of the positive aspects of soy.

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Soy Intake Might Trim Breast Cancer Risk
(Reuters Health) - Findings from a meta-analysis of published data suggest that soy intake may provide some protection against the development of breast cancer, researchers report in the April 5th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

However, this result should be interpreted with caution, lead author Dr. Bruce J. Trock, from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and colleagues note. They emphasize that it would be premature to recommend high-dose isoflavone supplementation to stave off breast cancer.

The team notes that the association between soy intake and breast cancer risk has been unclear. Breast cancer rates are lowest in Asian countries, which may relate to the high intake of soy foods. On the other hand, epidemiologic studies have yielded conflicting results and experimental evidence has suggested that soy constituents may actually raise the cancer risk due to estrogenic effects.

The current analysis involved data from 18 epidemiologic studies published between 1978 and 2004.

In a pooled analysis that included all women, high soy intake seemed to cut the risk of breast cancer by 14%. When the analysis was confined to women in Asian countries, the association was not statistically significant.

High soy intake cut the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women by 30%, slightly higher than the 23% reduction seen in postmenopausal women, according to the results of 10 studies that stratified the data by menopausal status.

Six of the remaining eight studies that did not provide menopausal-specific results showed no association between soy intake and breast cancer risk.

In a related editorial, Dr. Maria Elena Martinez, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and colleagues "commend the authors for tackling this complex and controversial, yet highly important, issue." However, they add that further studies are needed to better understand the role of soy.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:430-431,459-471.

Allergy Season - Worse yet?

2006-05-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

ABC News: Survival Strategies for Brutal Allergy Season: " Experts are calling this one of the worst allergy seasons on record, with people who never have had problems before reporting itching, coughing and sneezing."

Americans and their love affair with candy

2006-05-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently in 2001, Americans spent $21 billion on candy!!! (Stats from Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, Nov 3, 2002).

And we wonder why we have problems with diabetes, obesity and our teeth.

Think about this. I'm not saying stop buying candy (well, maybe I am), but I am saying we have a serious problem with the foods we eat. Let's face it. No one puts that candy (or whatever) into our mouths. Isn't it time we take responsibility for our health?

Balance & Wisdom for Women

2006-04-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce a new weekly half hour internet radio show for women called Balance and Wisdom. Experts from across the country will be joining the hosts of the show, Barbara C. Phillips and Joanie Winberg to talk with YOU about topics such as: Health, Relationships, Money, Business, Sex, Travel and much more.

Listen to our formal announcement.

Then join us at www. BalanceAndWisdom.com

Soy & Women's Health

2006-04-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

For a while now, women have been hearing about the benefits of preventing heart disease, osteoporosis or menopausal symptoms by using soy based foods and nutritional supplements. Now the American Heart Association is giving soy a negative review. This stems from a newer study casting doubt on the effectiveness of soy. While it is true that conflicting evidence does indeed exist, most available evidence is showing that soy proteins can modestly reduce hot flashes in menopausal women and slow bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Once again, what is a woman to do? Frankly, I like soy - yes you heard right. I like it. I use it as tofu as well as use the soy protein to add to smoothies and the like. It’s not a miracle food, but it’s a good source of protein since I eat little meat. I doubt that most women rely entirely on soy for relief of those power surges or for protection both your heart and bones. If you are using soy and feel it helps, then continue to do so.

Angina 'may be missed in women'

2006-03-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Women with chest pains may be dying of heart disease unnecessarily because doctors under-estimate the severity of their condition, research suggests.

A team from University College London found that angina - often the first sign of heart disease - affected women at the same rate as men.

However, women with suspected angina were less likely to be offered confirmatory diagnostic tests.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

BBC NEWS | Health | Angina 'may be missed in women'

Parkinson's Disease

2006-03-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Do you or someone you know has Parkinson's Disease? Many of you may be familiar with it because of Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali .

Well good news. Recent studies are suggesting that exercise can help those with Parkinson's move better and perhaps even slow the progress of this degenerative brain disease.

You can read more about it here: Exercise May Aid Parkinson's Disease

Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awarness & Information Day - March 10, 2006

2006-03-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

HIV and AIDS is a world wide problem. However, these statistics are for North America.

In the last ten years, an estimated 40,000 people are infected with HIV each year in the United States. But now the epidemic is disproportionately spreading among African Americans and women. In 2003, African Americans accounted for at least 25 percent of all AIDS cases, even though they represent only 12% of the population. Especially affected are African American women, who account for up to 72% of new HIV cases in all U.S. women. AIDS ranks among the top three causes of death for African American men aged 25-54 and for African American women aged 35-44 years. AIDS-related deaths fell steeply until the late 1990s and then continued to decline more gradually each year, with about 16,371 deaths in 2002. But the number of deaths among African Americans was over twice as high as that among whites in 2002. Women in the U.S. are contracting HIV mostly through sexual contact with men. The second most common way is through injection drug use. HIV- related death also has a great impact on young and middle-aged adults, especially youth of color.

In Canada, at the end of 2002, there were 56,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, with as many as one-third of them unaware of their HIV status. Most new HIV infections in Canada were due to unsafe sex between men and injecting drug use. There has been an increase in infections due to unsafe heterosexual intercourse.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Get Educated! The article I wrote about this last year is still current. Older Women and HIV
Find your resources - that same article lists some resources for you.
If you have HIV/AIDS - get treatment! With proper care, it is not the death sentence it was years ago.
Have respect for yourself and others - if you are infected, use protection and if you are not infected...use protection.

It is the responsibility of each person to educate the next on how to protect ourselves, our partners, our families and our communities. Please do your part.

Barbara

Medicare Part D

2006-02-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

Is this a confusing topic or what!?

I've just posted a short primer on the OlderWiserWomen blog and will have a full article available shortly.

Take a look if you have questions about the Medicare Drug Plan.

Suicide prevention: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

2006-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Depression and suicide are serious concerns for everyone. However, I see this more frequently in women, not just older women, but women of all ages. That is not to say that men do not beocme depressed, because they do (and it can even be more deadly as their attempts at suicide are more often "successful").

Make a note of this information, for yourself, for your family and for your friends. You never know who will need it.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s mission is to provide immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is the only national suicide prevention and intervention telephone resource funded by the Federal Government.

More information is available at: Suicide prevention: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Health Questions for Baby Boomers

2006-02-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

There are six important questions every person nearing or in their sixth decade should ask their physician to help reveal any hidden problems.

1. "What are the chances that I would break my hip if I fell?"

2. "Is it normal that I'm making more trips to the bathroom than I used to?"

3. "Should my sex drive be what it was 20 years ago?"

4. "I keep misplacing my keys. Should I be worried?"

5. "What's the best way for me to control my weight?"

6. "Should I be concerned that I'm having problems concentrating?"

For answers to these questions, the article can be found here: Health Questions for Baby Boomers

Healthy Aging for Women

2006-01-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

HealthForWomenOver40 is getting a new home! Please check out Healthy Aging for Women! Right now, we are still working on it (hmmm, isn't that perpetual?) and look forward to your comments.

Why move? The biggest reason that I am moving several of my blogs is that on a WordPress platform there are so many more options.

For instance, this blog has been in existence for almost a year and has many posts. Unless you scroll all the way back, there is no option for searching (that I am aware of). On the new blog, I can tag posts into categories making it easy for you to see everything written on say...diabetes. There is also a search function and an improved feed function so if you'd like to subscribe to the feed you can (I'll also be adding a "subscribe me" function that will allow you to receive notices of new posts via email).

Overall, I think you will find it easier to access, find information you are looking for, and interact with other women on health issues.

Does that mean that Health for Women Over 40 will no longer exists? No...I'll still post here, but most of the action will take place at Healthy Aging For Women.

We'll see you there!

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
www.OlderWiserWomen.com

Women in midlife list health as top priority

2006-01-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

According to a survey done in New Zealand, 91% of women ages 45-65 who were surveyed said health was their top priority.

You can read about it here:
Women in midlife list health as top priority

What about you? What is your top priority? Where does health come in for you? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Barbara C. Phillips, NP

Study: Low-calorie diet keeps heart young

2006-01-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

There has been talk for years that lower caloric intake increases logevity. Recently, the results of the first study done on people who have consummered 1400-2000 calories per day have showning this may be true.

For many people today, eating less than 2000 calories seems like it's a starvation diet, however, it seems to me that it's more than enough.

You can read the article in: Study: Low-calorie diet keeps heart young

Women Healthcare Providers

2006-01-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

I recently started practicing in a primary care office where the other two providers are men. Several times now over the past two days, I've heard women exclaim their excitement in having a woman as a health care provider. For many, there is comfort in knowing that another woman would be doing their exams...especially those pelvic exams.

It made me think back to when I first was exposed to have a female provider. For me, it may all the difference in the world...I've rarely had a male provider since - and never again for gyn exams.

On the other hand, I remember a few years ago, I had a woman tell me she would never let another woman do her exam...for her it just did not feel right.

What about you...do you have a preference in the gender of your health care provider?

Feel free to click the comment link below and leave your thoughts.

Namaste,

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen™

Just in time for cough and cold season ~ Evidence Based Medicine

2006-01-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

The American College of Chest Physicians has released new evidence based guidlines regarding how providers should treat coughs.

Evidence based medicine (EBM) has become the new standard of practice - this means that what we use to treat something with, should actually be proven to work in most cases. Below is the Wikipedia definition...

Evidence-based medicine is a medical movement based upon the application of the scientific method to medical practice, including long-established existing medical traditions not yet subjected to adequate scientific scrutiny. According to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, "Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence_based_medicine

So, just what do these guidelines tell us? Over-the-counter cough suppresants don't treat cough effectively. Just what I've been hearing from my patient's for years....

Click the link to read the ACCP press release.
January 2006 Press Release

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen™

Baby-Boomer Style...Growing Older

2006-01-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone is talking about Baby Boomers getting older, especially since some of us are turning 60 this year. This particular article is actully quite good, addressing the question...will we STAY healhy?

See what you think.

Growing Old, Baby-Boomer Style

Healthy diets win

2006-01-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

This data that was pulled from the Women's Health Initiative, again points to the fact that we are all better off eating a well balanced, lower fat diet, eating a moderate amount of GOOD carbs.

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HYATTTSVILLE, Md., Jan. 3 - Postmenopausal women who ate a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains didn't gain weight over an average of nearly eight years, reported researchers from the NIH's Women's Health Initiative.

In a clinical trial to see whether a low-fat, fiber rich diet could prevent cardiovascular disease or breast or colorectal cancer in more than 48,000 post-menopausal women, those on the diet lost about 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs) in the first year, and managed to keep the weight off better than women who ate what they wanted.

You can read the full article here

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen™
ActingYourAge!

Need another reason to walk?

2006-01-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

In case you need another reason to take that walk.....

Walking Program Slows Decline in Peripheral Artery Disease -

"CHICAGO, Jan. 3 - Ninety minutes of walking a week, made up of three or more therapeutic walks, may slow the progress of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, according to researchers here.

Compared with PAD patients who walked fewer than three times a week, the regular walkers were able to walk longer and faster on annual six-minute walking tests, Mary McGrae McDermott, M.D., of Northwestern and colleagues reported in the Jan. 3 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine."

The complete article can be found here .

StressLess Holiday!

2005-12-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

OlderWiserWomen presents:
How to Have a Clutter-Free, Stress-less Holiday Season with
Julie Bestry, Professional Organizer

Julie will offer tips for organizing your holidays to maximize serenity and minimize stress, including:

selecting clutter-free holidays gifts that make the process easier and more fun for the giver and the recipient

simplifying holiday planning and rituals to focus on what really matters

saving your sanity by creating a simple system to get everything essential done and still have time to reflect on the meaning and joys of the season

Date: December 8, 2005
Time: 3pm Pacific/4pm Mountain/5pm Central/6pm Eastern
Cost: Zero
Replay: Yes, will be sent to those who have registered

Invite your friends to sign up too!

Register for this lively hour call long by sending a blank email to HolidayClass@OlderWiserWomen.com . You will receive an email back with date, time, phone number and your access code.

Looking forward to hearing you on the call!

Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP
www.OlderWiserWomen.com
www.ActingYourAge.com

Having trouble reading the fine print?

2005-12-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, I swear that the print on the screen is getting smaller!

Of course, for a few years now (and especially since having Lasik done), I've been using reading glasses, but sometimes I just want to take a quick peak at the screen without having to find where I left yet another pair of glasses. (Do you keep them all over the house and in the car like I do?)

So this morning, I hit something on my keyboard and the print on the screen got larger. I had no idea what I did, so as usual, I googled the problem.

I don't know about on Macs, but on a PC all you need to do (which was not what I did to begin with, but it still works) is hit:

-->Control and the plus or minus sign to make the print (actually the entire page including graphics) larger or smaller.

Very cool!

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen™
ActingYourAge!