Women's Health | Health Care for Women's Health Issue

Is Lasik Eye Surgery For You? Or Are You Too Sqeemish!

2006-04-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't know Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. In Lasik the surgeon cuts a small flap in the cornea and uses a laser to reshape the inner area of the cornea. Problems with the cornea can be related to many vision troubles such as; Hyperopia or farsightedness and Myopia or nearsightedness). Also problems like Astigmatism can also be caused. The good news is that eye surgery and lasik in particular resolve many of these eye defects.

The sheer number of different of surgical procedures for correcting vison problems can leave you uncertain of the best one for you. However, whatever may be your procedure of choice, attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. lasik is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery, and hence it is imperative that you choose an eye surgeon with a great deal of experience.

If you are thinking of going in for lasik eye surgery then this is what you can expect. Before getting lasik you will be examined by a qualified eye doctor or ophthalmologist. During this examination standard eye tests and computer images of the cornea will be taken to build up a picture of the eye and ascertain what corrections need should made. In addition your overall health is also considered when deciding if you will be a good lasik patient. Any conditions, such as dry eye syndrome, may affect your ability to get this type of eye surgery, but in these cases other treatment may be available.

You will be able to go home on the same day as you eye surgery and should have recovered within just a few days. Minor irritations may take up to a month to disappear. The vast majority of people who undertake this surgery will be able to see much more clearly straight after surgery and this improves still further over the next few days.

Some people may experience some side effects like light sensitivity or night time vision problems. In even more rare cases other difficulties like infections can also occur, but most often, if you follow your doctors orders these things can be avoided or cured quickly with eye drops of medication. Other side effects are more long term. These can occur for 6 months or longer. These are: dry eyes, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, light sensitivity, glares, and vision fluctuations. If you cannot handle any of this, then this eye surgery is not for you. Attaining excellent results is largely dependent on the expertise of your eye surgeon. Lasik is by far the most preferred corrective eye surgery for many, and so it is imperative that you choose an eye surgeon with a great deal of experience and who is using the best medical equipment available.

This type eye surgery has been big news over resent years as the changes to peoples vision and quality of life can be astounding. People who could not see without glasses are getting almost 20./20 vision and word of mouth about these 'miracles' spreads fast. With many people flocking to have the procedure done it has become one of the most popular eye surgeries. However, before committing to the surgery you should look into what lasik is and what it can do for vision in general and your sight in particular.

Before committing yourself ask to speak to people who have had the operation with the organisation you are thinking of using yourself. Ask about the good and bad points of both the operation and the company itself.

As lasik is a fairly new medical procedure the long term risks are not known and it is not possible currently to cure the need for reading glasses as this is problem is more connected with the weakening of the eye muscles over time rather then the corner. As a potential candidate for lasik you must discuss all your concerns and expectations with your surgeon before the procedure is carried out to ensure you completely understand the process and outcome possibilities for you as an individual.

Finally, many people can't even think about anyone touching their eyes, never mind someone pointing a laser into them. If you are reading this article and are feeling a bit squeamish then perhaps lasik is not for you!

Richard is a prolific and diverse writer. You will find out more about lasik eye surgery at Lasik Resources.

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

Eye Care is More Than a Visit to The Doctor

2006-04-04T00:48:00.000-07:00

Proper eye care is just as important as taking care of the rest of your body. Eye care is more than visiting the eye doctor for regular examinations. Rather, good eye care involves caring for the entire body and staying away from bad habits that may actually have an affect on the eyes. Let's take a look at what's involved in good eye care.

Diseases of the eye are more common that you would think. Further, as people age they become more susceptible to eye diseases. That's why regular examinations by the eye doctor are so critical to the idea of good eye care. An eye doctor can run special tests to see if there is any indication or the appearance of eye diseases and disorders. Diseases and disorders include, but are in no way limited to cataracts, conjunctivitis, diabetic retinopathy, dry eyes, glaucoma, orbital tumors, and blindness, congenital diseases of the eye and more.

Yet, it is also important that a person takes care of their body and remains as healthy as possible. Why? Well, beyond the benefits one derives from being healthy some health conditions actually affect the eyes. For instance, vitamin deficiencies can affect the sight. A lack of vitamin A can even cause night blindness. In fact, it is a known fact that well over ninety percent of all cases pertaining to the onset of blindness can be attributed to other diseases. Diabetes is another disease that plays a significant role in the occurrence of blindness. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important for people to maintain their overall health in the best way possible and to manage existing conditions if at all feasible.

Bad habits are something that should also be avoided if one wants to properly care for one's eyes and maintain good eye health. Smoking can cause significant damage to the eye and can eventually result in blindness. For instance, smoking can be the cause of what is referred to as Macular degeneration which creates a blind spot in the eye or eyes.

Other problems that occur with the eyes are caused by accidental injury. Say for example, you are working in a garage welding and item and you don't wear goggles during the process. Suddenly you find that a spark flies up and burns your eye. Or, if you are working with hazardous chemicals and chemicals get in your eyes - had you been wearing goggles you may have been able to avoid injury altogether. Thus, safety and safety practices are imperative to maintaining good eye health.

As you can see, taking care of your eyes involves more than a yearly visit to the eye doctor. Instead, you need to take care of your overall health, you need to avoid bad habits and you need to practice safety measures to ensure good eye health. In the end, you will be rewarded with the continued gift of sight, well into your golden years!

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Eye Care

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

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy

2006-03-31T15:30:00.000-08:00

Although it is rare for breast cancer to strike younger women, the fact remains that all women are at risk. And for those of childbearing age, the first sign and symptoms of breast cancer leading to a diagnosis can not only be upsetting and unexpected, but complicated as well.

Developing breast cancer at a younger age—in a woman’s 40s, 30s, even 20s—will mean making important and difficult decisions about one’s life and future perhaps much sooner than originally expected.

One concern is developing breast cancer during pregnancy, which although rare, can still occur. In this case, the treatment chosen will not only affect the patient and her body, but the growing baby inside her as well. It will depend on what stage of pregnancy she is in (first, second or third trimester) and what stage her cancer is in—such as whether or not it’s advanced.

Most pregnant women can have treatment for their breast cancer without affecting the baby. But some might be advised by their obstetrician or health-care practitioner—or even decide themselves—to terminate the pregnancy, more so if the pregnancy is in its earlier stages, in order to receive certain treatments that would be too risky otherwise. But it is essential to remember that it is a woman’s own decision—it is not medically necessary to terminate a pregnancy if the expectant mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. All it does is limit treatment options. Breast cancer itself will not affect the fetus—only certain tests and treatments will.

Generally speaking, tamoxifen, chemotherapy, radiation, and other drug-related therapies are avoided if the woman is pregnant because of their associated risks with birth defects. Tamoxifen, especially, is considered very unsafe because it is a hormonal therapy and is never recommended if the woman is pregnant or planning on conceiving.

Surgery—either a lumpectomy or mastectomy—is the most common and preferred method of treatment for breast cancer in pregnant women.

Another concern is whether or not breast cancer survivors can or should go on to have children after treatment and recovery. It’s a very controversial issue with firm advocates on both sides of the debate.

There are two main questions here, for both the medical and health community and breast cancer survivors wanting their own children: 1) Do certain breast cancer treatments affect fertility?; and 2) Is it actually considered safe to conceive and carry a baby to term following breast cancer and breast cancer treatments?

As far as fertility goes, there is no definite answer here. For chemotherapy, it depends on the age and what specific drug was used—some affect fertility more than others. And taking tamoxifen after chemotherapy to prevent recurrence is not recommended if the woman desires to become pregnant right away. Although tamoxifen is sometimes used as a fertility treatment, there is evidence to suggest that it damages developing embryos, and therefore is not considered safe to use.

Many doctors caution these women to wait several years to ensure receiving the best breast cancer treatment possible and to go past the point of the biggest threat of breast cancer recurrence. But some women decide to go ahead and have babies anyway, since it’s so important to them.

An informed woman has a distinct advantage over her fears. Arm yourself about Breast Cancer and be ready to fight and beat any possible diagnosis.

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

Breast Cancer is Cureable!

2006-03-31T15:23:00.000-08:00

Every few minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55, and there are more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer expected in the U.S. alone this year (see www.nationalbreastcancer.org).

With staggering statistics such as this, no wonder that at the first sign of breast cancer—the typical symptom is usually a lump or other noticeable abnormality in the breast—many women automatically panic, assuming the worst.

But only about 8 of 10 lumps turn out to be cancerous. And even for the women who do end up diagnosed with the disease, there are still many options to consider for treatment.

If the breast cancer tumor is sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and/or progestin, hormone therapy is used. The drugs come in two different forms, pill or injection. Hormone therapy starves the cancer and hinders its growth. Tomoxifen is one such drug under this category, prescribed for women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Tomoxifen is a hormonal drug (usually the oneof choice for most pre-menopausal women). It has been shown to be less effective in some post-menopausal women versus other hormonal therapies.

Most first-time breast cancer patients generally assume they will end up using some sort of combination of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. But there are lesser-known treatment options available, and the drug tamoxifen is one such alternative.

Tamoxifen is a drug used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in women of all ages and at all stages. It’s normally taken once daily for up to five years. It’s also used as a preventative measure in women who have no history of breast cancer but who are at a higher risk for contracting the disease. These include older women and women with a family history of breast cancer.

Alternative therapies to treating breast cancer are becoming popular. They are sometimes used instead of or mixed with conventional methods. There has not been sufficient clinical research to support their safety and effectiveness. These alternatives include flaxseed and black cohosh, acupuncture, meditation and/or therapeutic touch, and other special restrictive diets.

It is vital for women to consider alternative therapies for breast cancer. You should research these options as much as possible and consult your health-care provider before trying any of the above-mentioned treatments for your breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer Information website is updated often with new and different articles and is a leading informational website on breast cancer. New articles, help, and informational posts are posted daily.

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

Vitamins For Vegetarians

2006-01-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of vegetarians amongst us, some by circumstance
and some by choice. Those that are vegetarians by choice can be
divided into two general groups, those that do not eat meat,
poultry or fish, but do consume dairy products as - in theory -
the animals are not harmed or killed by the gathering of those
products. Vegans, however, use no animal products whatsoever.

There are many health benefits to a planned vegetarian diet, as
opposed to the unplanned vegetarian diets that result from
poverty and a lack of food availability. However, there are
also some special precautions that need to be taken to
safeguard nutrition, as adequate amounts of some of the most
important nutrients can be more difficult to obtain. This is
especially true for those following the more restrictive vegan
diet.

The body is a complex and delicate system, and the foundation
of all of its functioning is chemical and electrical actions,
interactions and reactions. The operation of this system rests
firmly upon the balance of these chemicals. The majority of the
chemicals in these essential physical processes come from the
food that we eat, from the nutrients that come from its
consumption. Thus, nutrition has a deep influence of the health
of the body and the quality of its functioning.

Because the brain, like the body, functions on chemical
reactions and electrical impulses, the processes of cognition,
emotion, and so on, are also affected by nutrition. In fact,
deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can result in
mental illness and retardation, as well as cognitive
dysfunction and difficulties and emotional instability.

The Vitamin B complex offers a perfect example of how
vegetarians must pay special attention to their diets to ensure
peak performance of body and mind. The Vitamin B complex is
involved with every major system in the body and has a role in
almost every important bodily process. It is essential to
mental health and functioning, and essential to life itself.
However, there are certain Vitamin B complex vitamins that need
special attention by vegetarians, as vegetarians do not consume
the richest sources of these vitamins.

The richest sources of Vitamin B2 are milk and organ meats. It
is available in enriched breads and cereals, but care must be
taken to consume the right amount daily. Niacin and Vitamin B6
are other B complex vitamins in which the richest sources are
meats and, again, are available in smaller concentrations in
enriched breads and cereals. Vitamin B12 is only found in
animal products. It is important to note that vitamin B12, in
addition to being important to the production of red blood
cells, is essential for the normal growth of children.

Nutritional supplements can serve to enhance the health
benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle. Indeed, they can serve to
prevent the serious health consequences that vitamin deficiency
can cause. Nutrition is especially essential for children, as
their minds and bodies are growing and developing. If you are
vegetarian or vegan, you may want to consider the complete,
safe and reliable nutrition that dietary supplements can
provide.

About The Author:
This article courtesy of http://www.prenatal-health.com

Diet scams : How to avoid getting ripped off

2006-01-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem
to arrive regularly in the post - seductive brochures
describing diet pills, patches and potions promising
miracles? They show you "proof". They have the
endorsements by medical and scientific "experts". They
have the pictures before and after. And they have no
end of guarantees, free gifts and other offers.

But when you look a bit deeper into the background of
these diet products, you find very little of substance.
With just a little research online you will see that you
can find nothing posted from any believable source
about the product or the experts depicted so
glowingly.

And you often see offer after offer sent by the same
company using the same return address.

Now the chances of a company hitting on a miracle
product once are remote but three such products in
one year? No way!

Whenever you receive something which sounds like it's
the answer to your prayers, stand back a little from the
hype and the excitement of finding a miracle solution to
your weight problems and think clearly.

Ask yourself "Is this another diet scam?"

Generally you'll avoid being ripped-off if you decide NOT
to buy those things you think the rest of the world has
missed. Believe me the world's press and TV (and
dieters everywhere) would ALL be shouting from the
roof tops if those weight loss patches, pills and potions
worked. It's unlikely you'd be the first to know because
the manufacturers would be telling the media about it
first and not just sending you a letter out of the blue.

If something sounds too good to be true - it probably
is. If something requires you to make no changes
whatsoever other than to take a diet pill or stick a
patch on your thigh then you can bet your bottom
dollar that there will be no visible changes in your body
size as a result either.

I know it's tempting, when you've struggled to lose
weight for a long time, to want to believe any promise
of a miracle that comes along. But please don't - you're
just letting yourself in for disappointment and
heartache that way. And you're only delaying the start
of the real process of losing weight - the day when you
finally realise you can only do this by sensible and
consistent changes in your eating and exercise habits.

Diet scams like the patches and pills on offer
everywhere will only ever reduce the contents of your
bank account and never the size of your thighs. It's
your choice whether you spend you money on healthy
food and running shoes or on miracle cures that will
never work but I know where I'd spend my hard-
earned cash.

Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach and author of "The Diet Exit
Plan". Request her F.REE 15 page report "How to lose weight without
dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn't want you to know" at
http://www.SimplySlimming.com TODAY!

How To Drop Weight and Become Healthier Using These 7 Simple Everyday Life Tips?

2005-12-29T23:09:00.000-08:00

These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead of
physical jobs. Sitting in the office chairs all-day long has become
a norm for many of us. Stress, busyness and rush make us forget
about regular food and stuff our stomachs with cheeseburgers and
sodas, which don't do anything good for our bodies.

As a result of such crazy life rhythm, we rarely find time for
exercises, gyms or balanced nutrition. As a matter of fact, it's one
of the reasons why there are now more that 60% of U.S citizens that
have overweight. However, it is possible to change your lifestyle
and lose your weight if you are willing to.

These 7 day-to-day life tips provided below will help you to drop
your extra pounds, become more energetic and healthier.

1. Drink More Water

Our bodies need a lot of water. Water removes waste from our
organisms and carries various nutrients into all our organs and
cells. Your body also loses water by using it for various ways. For
this reason you have to replace it and drink water more often than
you are used to.

Start your day with a glass of water in the morning. Drink a glass
of water before any meal. Take a bottle of water with you when you
go to work. Your body needs approximately 3-5 liters of water during
one day. So don't hesitate to drink plenty of water wherever and
whenever you can.

2. Eat Fruits and Drink Fruit Juices

Eating fruits and juices helps you eliminate toxins from your body.
Eating a variety of fruits also helps you get enough fiber,
vitamins, and antioxidants. That's why you should eat fresh fruits
and drink natural fruit juices as often as possible.

Fruit juices from stores are often sweetened. If you want to drink
juices, make fresh juices yourself. If you think it takes too much
of the time, then look for juices with labels that say "100% fruit
juice". These are much healthier for your body as long as they
contain much more vitamins.

3. Eat Lots of Vegetables and Vegetable Salads

When it comes to losing extra pounds, vegetables are a great choice.
They are natural and contain different vitamins, minerals and tons
of other useful chemicals known to provide benefits for your body.
Vegetables are low in fat and calories, they help control blood
glucose levels, reduce blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of
colon and other cancers. All these features also help control your
weight effectively.

If you feel that eating vegetables alone isn't great choice for you,
then make some salads. Mixing vegetables together gives you even
more different vitamins and health benefits. There are tons of
tasty, healthy salad recipes on the internet. You can also use you
imagination to make some great salads.

4. Eat Only When You Are Hungry

How many times you've been to a party where you saw lots of
different and tasty looking meals, which you were offered to try.

Don't eat, because you are offered to. Eat only when you want to.

Many people also like snacking. In between meals or when have
nothing to do. Quit snacking. Most snacks contain a lot of fat and
calories. Replace your usual snacks with vegetables or fruits. These
are healthy to your body and you'll never get fatter, only thinner.

5. Carry Healthy Food with You

Many of us work busy office jobs and don't have time to eat
regularly. In this case, bring your own made food with you. Instead
of bringing sandwiches with meat, take vegetable salads, carrots,
chicken salads. Any low fat food will do. This way, you won't have
to wait for a break to fill your stomach. You'll be able to have
fixed times when eating food.

It's also important to try to eat about 5 times a day, rather than 3
or 2. Eat in smaller quantities, but more often. This helps you to
increase your metabolism.

6. Work Out When You Can

Working out in a gym is not only a great way to grow some muscles,
but also to drop a few pounds. Exercising helps you burn your
calories instead of storing them in your body as fat. Our bodies
were made to be active, so exercising slowly and easily can actually
help you get more energy and make you feel much better.

At the end of the week, try to lose all the stress and burn your
calories in a gym or having some kind of physical activity at home.
If you have time, then try to do easy exercises everyday.

7. Don't Lie Down or Sit When You Can Move

Many of us like to watch TV lying on a couch or sitting in a
comfortable chair. Of course, when you come home after hard working
day, you're tired, and all you can think of, is a couch and a remote
in your hand. But such laziness won't help you lose weight.
Contrarily, it will make you grow some more pounds.

So don't lie or sit, when you can walk and move. Instead of staring
at TV, like a goofy, go ahead and work out in your garden for
example, clean your garage, fix your car, go to walk in park or
beach. Breathe fresh air and move more often. Not only does it help
to reduce stress after work, but also ups your mood and makes you
more energetic.

In Conclusion

Remember that all these tips will help you to lose weight, but only
if you are determined and are ready to devote some of your time.
Don't expect to slim down 4 sizes after eating 5 carrots and
drinking orange juice.

Your body, just like many things in this world, needs time. So be
patient. And if you will honestly use at least some of these tips,
you are going to change your lifestyle, which in the end will lead
you to a thinner and healthier body.

Monty Lee is dedicated to helping people lose weight by providing quality and natural products, like Hoodia Phentramine diet pills.
Please, visit http://www.body-health-online.com for more information.

HPV - A Virus That Puts Women At Increased Risk For Cervical Cancer

2005-12-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

by: News Canada

A Simple Lab Test Could Save Your Life

(NC)-Did you know that one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, called Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is also the leading cause of cervical cancer in women? And that HPV is the most common cause of abnormal Pap smears?

Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are preventable if detected in the pre-cancerous stage. "Although the Pap smear has reduced deaths caused by cervical cancer, it does not detect the Human Papillomavirus, the primary cause of essentially all cervical cancer." Says

Dr Alicia Sarabia, Medical Microbiologist for MDS Laboratory Services. "The MDS HPV test can be easily done through your doctor's office."

How are HPV infections detected?

The new HPV test can detect the DNA of cancer-associated HPV virus in cervical cells and tissues even before there are visible cell changes.

If your doctor informs you that your Pap smear result is questionable, the next step is to order the HPV test to determine if the HPV infection is the cause.

How is the HPV specimen collected?

Your doctor inserts a swab into the cervix to collect cells for testing, just like a Pap smear. A technologist at the laboratory analyzes the specimen and reports the results back to your doctor who uses the HPV and Pap results to determine your treatment. Early detection makes early treatment, and early treatment has been proven successful against cervical cancer.

How can I have the HPV test done?

Your doctor must order the HPV test. The test is available across Canada through MDS Laboratory Services

For more information about the new HPV test, talk to your doctor or visit www.mdscollaborate.com .

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Cancer - Cervical Smears - Women's Health

2005-12-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

by: Fritz Frei

All women at some point in their life will have to have a cervical smear as a part of a health checkup. But do you know exactly what a cervical smear is, and how it can affect, diagnose or treat women's ailments? Read on for more information about this common procedure.

Women's Health: What is a Cervical Smear?

A cervical smear is a test used on women to tell if there are any changes in the health of the cervix. This is helpful to diagnose the early stages of cancer.

The cervix is located at the end of the uterus, and connects to the top of the vagina. There is a central canal that connects the vagina to the inside of the uterus, and it measures approximately 3cm square.

Women's Health: Why Have a Cervical Smear?

The main reason to have a cervical smear is to monitor the health of the cervix, and to lower the number of women who contract cervical cancer. The smear is targeted to detect early strains of potentially cancerous cells. If caught in time, women's health may not suffer terribly, and the growth of the cancer may not progress further. However, a cervical smear is just a screening process; it won't detect all forms of cancer, all of the time.

Women's Health: Who Needs a Cervical Smear?

Women who are sexually active, or who are 18 or older (whatever comes first) should take their health in their own hands and have regular cervical smears until the age of 70. A regular smear would be every three years for most women, depending on their health and the results of the last smear. Also, women who are not healthy should have annual smears, such as those with HIV. Women who have had a hysterectomy who have had abnormal pap smears in the past should get themselves checked every year by a health practitioner; there is still a risk of abnormal cell growth at the top of the vaginal canal.

Women's Health: How is a Cervical Smear Done?

A cervical smear is only taken when women are in good health, and are not bleeding. Any blood that appears during the testing can skew the results unnecessarily.

The procedure is performed with women on their backs, and their legs held up in the air by a health practitioner or stirrups. A speculum is placed inside the vagina, so that the health practitioner can view women's cervix closely. Then a brush-like instrument is placed over the cervix, and cells are wiped onto the brush, and then placed onto a glass slide for diagnosis.

Women's cervical smears can be done by a health practitioner, such as a doctor or nurse. The procedure usually only takes a couple of minutes, at the most, and isn't painful, although it may be a bit uncomfortable.

Health-Service-Online

Admin Fritz Frei info@cancer-info.info

About The Author
Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the breast-cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info

Top 7 Ways that Exercise Helps Diabetics

2005-10-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

by : Katrina McKenna

Exercise is an important tool in managing your diabetes in order to live a longer, healthier life.

1. Exercise increase insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
The key problem of Type 2 diabetics is insulin insensitivity, or insulin resistance. By exercising you can improve how well your insulin works; this helps you to control your blood glucose
level.

2. Exercise improves your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps by
raising the good kind of cholesterol (HDL) and lowering the bad kind of cholesterol (LDL). Exercise can also lower triglyceride levels. This is good news for diabetics as diabetics are at
increased risk for cardiovascular disease. I myself have had cholesterol problems, but between proper diet and exercise and no drugs, I now have a much healthier cholesterol levels.

3. Exercise can decrease blood pressure. Many diabetics also have
hypertension or high blood pressure. Exercising can reduce both your resting blood pressure and your blood pressure during effort (including exercise). This is very important for reducing your chances of heart disease and stroke. I also used be on blood pressure medication, and have been able to get off the drugs. Because of the strong genetic component, this took more than just
diet and exercise; I take several supplements specifically to help keep my blood pressure in the healthy ranges. I also work on stress management and meditate, but exercise is a key ingredient to lowering it in most people.

4. Exercise can also improve heart efficiency, and help it work
less. This also helps with the cardiovascular risk factors. You will be able to exercise harder and it does not feel harder. This will make performing your daily tasks easier. Many people do not
exercise because they think they do not have the energy. They need to exercise to get the energy. Your resting heart rate can also lower.

5. Exercise can improve your mood. Diabetes can be a stressful
disease, exercising can help you feel better mentally. Exercise can even improve depression which can be an issue with a disease like diabetes.

6. Exercise aids dramatically in weight-loss and maintaining
weight-loss. Specifically, the right kind and right amount of exercise aids in fat-loss and preservation of muscle tissue. Losing weight can improve blood pressure, insulin resistance,
glucose levels, and cholesterol levels above and beyond what exercise alone does.

7. Exercise helps you to reduce your chances of diabetic
complications. Better control of your blood glucose helps prevent serious complications of diabetes, including blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure.

Please talk to your doctor and start exercising!
You will feel so much better!

Getting The Most Nutritional Value From Fruits And Vegetables

2005-10-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

by : Kim Black
You’re eating lots of fruits and vegetables every day, but are
you sure you’re getting the most nutritional value from them,
and what can you do to improve how many nutrients you are
getting. To understand we need to take a deeper look at the
trip that fruits and vegetables make to get to your table.

Many different factors can affect the nutritional value of
fruits and vegetables before they reach your table. The two
most important are time and traveling conditions. The shorter
the time frame that the fruit is packed until it reaches your
table the better. If you are lucky enough to have a home garden
try to pick your vegetables early in the morning for peak flavor
and nutritional value. The next best choice is to use a local
market stand. Generally the foods they are selling were picked
within a few hours of being set out for sale. If there are no
local markets in your area like most people you’ll be forced to
shop at a supermarket.

Before any produce reaches your local supermarket it must first
be picked, and packaged. If the food is coming to you from the
same state or neighboring state chances are it was picked
within 48 hours of reaching the stores shelves. If you’re
produce is making it way from California to New York chances
are it was picked 7 to 10 days ago. Why do you need to be
concerned about when something was harvested? When any produce
is picked off of the vine it is at its nutritional peak value.
It starts to lose that value as time passes, the more time that
passes, and the more value it loses.

The second biggest contributor is handling. If care is taken no
to bruise or damage the exterior skin produce will last longer.
Additionally storing a produce at the proper temperature will
also help slow down the loss of nutrients. Here’s where it gets
a little tricky, some fruits like temperatures as high as 60
degrees, and other prefer temperatures in the mid 30’s. So the
longer your food is in transit, and the more care that it shown
to handling it properly the more packed with nutrients it is
likely to be when it hits the shelves of your local
supermarket.

16 Women Pregnant Moment Emergency Condition

2005-09-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Women pregnancy suggested that is not overanxious if its content experience of the light trouble. But pregnant mother very suggested that remain to alert to its content growth. Whether/What symptom which require to be paid attention to [by] that?

1. If experiencing of super stomachache and ride out the long time.

2. Happen blood or blood pock go out from vagina

3. Change of vagina Dilution, that is; stickier dilution, or mixed blood.

4. Feeling pressure of flank, ill in undercarriage back, or muscle-bound before pregnancy age enter the week to- 37.

5. Suffer decease at the (time) of urinating, and accompanied to by feel burned.

6. Urine choked up or do not go out at all.

7. Heavy puking repeatedly, accompanied by fever.

8. Trembling or fever. Body temperature reaches 38, 3 C.

9. Feel an itch -- what remain to -- totality body, especially if with of body husk turn yellow the, dark urine chromatic and pale fesses chromatic.

10. Experiencing of eyesight trouble sudden, like; double view, blur, or there [is] flash point felt dazzled if looking into something.

11. Defensive Excitement headache more than 2-3 clocks.

12. Swelling of effect of dilution gathering (edema) at hand, face and about eye, or heavy addition of body which sudden, about 1 kilo or more, what [do] not go together the pattern eat.

13. Cramps which remain at foot/feet or calf, what [do] not alleviate when pregnant mother genuflection.

14. Fetus movement decrease. As public guidance, if happen less than 10 movements in 2 clocks at pregnancy of week ke-26 or more, meaning of fetus condition below par.

15. Trauma or experience of to injure at stomach area.

16. Acute till faint.

If you experience of one of or some symptom which have been mentioned above, immediately phone the doctor. If there is problem, pregnant mother will get the help immediately? Even so in the reality just good content, hence mother will feel safe because have ascertained its pregnancy condition at one who precisely.

Vitamin C and the Smoker Women was pregnant

2005-09-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Consumed vitamin C during the pregnancy period will really help the mothers who had the habit smoked during contained.

The team's findings from 'the Oregon Health & Science University' also suggested that the mothers of the smoker apparently stopped his habit when being pregnant.
Results of the team's research headed by Dr Elliot Spindel this proved that vitamin C could block the effect of the negative resulting from the activity smoked that was done by the mother was pregnant.

In the high dose, vitamin C could protect damage that was caused by 'nicotine` that was produced from cigarettes.'
Results of the team's research headed by Dr Elliot this was published through 'the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.'
During his trial to the animal of Dr Eliot Spindel saw relations nicotine with the air current to the lungs.

Now to the monkey, the team of the researcher gave vitamin C to the mother of the monkey was pregnant and the monkey baby had the air current the normal lungs.
The success in the research to the animal made the team of the expert felt the team of the expert was sure that their discovery could achieve the similar success if being applied to humankind.

Nevertheless Dr Michael Gravet that became this research assistant continue to give the suggestion apparently a mother was pregnant must stop smoked for the sake of the safety the baby.

Health Supplements For Women - Which Are Right For You?

2005-09-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

Health Supplements For Women - Which Are Right For You?

Most women would agree that certain health supplements could be beneficial to your health, depending on the result you wish to achieve. There are many articles and news reports about the positive and negative attributes of healthsupplements. Due to the fact that individuals vary greatly in their particular desires and health issues, most women have chosen to make their own decisions about which health supplements are right for them. Many people, male and female, are taking several types of supplements each day.

Health supplements include any number of products designed to help with one type of health concern or another. You can find weight loss aids, vitamins, products designed to increase your energy level, and numerous others. Depending on the health concerns you have, there is most likely asupplement that is right for you. There is a large amount of information, both positive and negative, regarding different types of health supplements and their effectiveness. Some health supplement s carry risks of side effects. You should read the product information carefully to make sure you understand both the benefits and drawbacks of a particular product.

Used properly and safely, health supplements can be very useful in maintaining and enhancing your health. Research any products you are considering taking before you buy to make certain you understand the indications and risks associated with any healthsupplement. You can improve and maintain your health, your mind, and your body through the use of certain health supplements. Health supplements are available at reasonable prices and can be shipped directly to your door. Take a look at the wide selection of health supplements that are available and make your choices wisely. You can be on your way to a healthier, happier you.

Author: HerHomeGym.com is a one-stop resource for getting fit and staying fit in the comfort of your own home. Visit http://www.herhomegym.com today!

Understanding your body during pregnancy

2005-09-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Understanding your body during pregnancy
By MayoClinic.com

From conception to birth, your body is programmed to support the needs of your growing baby. The physical changes you'll experience may leave you marveling at the wonder of pregnancy — and perhaps looking forward to the day when you can reclaim your body.

An average of 25 to 35 pounds of weight gain aside, you may be surprised by pregnancy's effect on your body. Here's what to expect.

First trimester changes

Within two weeks of conception, hormones trigger your body to begin nourishing the baby — even before tests and a physical exam can confirm the pregnancy. Here are some common early changes:

Vaginal bleeding. Spotting or what appears to be a scanty period may be the first sign of pregnancy. A small amount of bleeding can occur when the fertilized egg, which has already undergone several cell divisions, implants into the lining of your uterus.
Tender breasts. Your breasts may become unusually sensitive and feel fuller and heavier. It may help to wear a more supportive bra.
Unusual fatigue. You're bound to feel tired as your body produces more blood and prepares to support the pregnancy. Your heart will pump faster and harder, and your pulse will quicken. Rest as much as you can.
Bouts of nausea. Many women struggle with queasiness, nausea or vomiting in early pregnancy. It tends to be worse in the morning, but some women feel nauseated throughout the day. It may help to eat frequent, small meals and drink plenty of fluids.
Increased urination. You may need to urinate more often as your growing uterus presses on your bladder, which lies directly in front of and slightly under the uterus during the first few months of pregnancy. The same pressure may cause you to leak urine when sneezing, coughing or laughing.
Constipation. An increase in the hormone progesterone, which slows the digestive process, may cause constipation — especially during the first 13 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. To prevent constipation, drink plenty of fluids and boost your fiber intake.

Second trimester changes

The second trimester is often the most enjoyable stage of pregnancy. The worst of the nausea has usually passed, and your baby isn't big enough to crowd your abdominal organs and make you uncomfortable. Even so, you may notice physical changes from head to toe:

Larger breasts. Stimulated by estrogen and progesterone, the milk-producing glands inside your breasts get larger. A small amount of fat may also accumulate in your breasts. The result may be as much as 1 pound of extra breast tissue.
Glowing skin. Blood circulation increases during pregnancy, including the tiny vessels just beneath the surface of your skin. Enjoy the healthy glow.
Nasal problems. As more blood flows to your body's mucous membranes, the lining of your nose and airway swells. This can restrict airflow and cause snoring, congestion and nosebleeds.
Dizziness. Your blood vessels dilate in response to pregnancy hormones. Until your blood volume expands to fill them, you may experience occasional dizziness. Avoid prolonged standing, and rise slowly after lying or sitting down.
Bleeding gums. Increased blood circulation can soften your gums. This may cause minor bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth.
Leg cramps. Pressure from your uterus on the veins returning blood from your legs may cause leg cramps, especially at night. Stretch the affected muscle or walk your way through the cramps.
Vaginal discharge. You may notice a thin, white vaginal discharge. This discharge consists mainly of cells from the vaginal lining and normal vaginal moisture.

Third trimester changes

During the last three months of pregnancy, your baby may poke you in the ribs as he or she practices uterine gymnastics. These exciting sensations are often accompanied by increasing discomfort and other physical changes:

Shortness of breath. You may get winded easily as your uterus expands beneath your diaphragm, the muscle just below your lungs.
Backaches. The increased weight you're carrying may be tough on your back. When you must stand, place one foot on a box or stool. Sit in chairs with good back support. Apply heat or cold to the painful area. Ask your partner for a massage.
Heartburn. Your growing uterus may push your stomach out of its normal position, which can contribute to heartburn. To keep stomach acid where it belongs, eat small meals and drink plenty of fluids.
Swollen ankles. Pressure from your growing uterus on the veins that return blood from your feet and legs may leave you with swollen feet and ankles.
Thick hair. Many women enjoy more luxuriant hair later in pregnancy. This is often followed by excess hair shedding after delivery.
Changes in skin color. Hormonal changes may make your cheeks, chin, nose and forehead darker than usual. Some women — particularly those with dark hair and fair skin — may notice a brownish darkening on the forehead, temples and central part of the face. Skin that's already pigmented — such as the area around your nipples — may get even darker.
Spider veins. Increased blood circulation may cause small reddish spots on your face, neck, upper chest or arms, especially if you have fair skin. The spots may seem to sprout tiny blood vessels that resemble spider legs.
Varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Veins throughout your body become larger during pregnancy to accommodate increased blood volume. This change is especially noticeable in veins near the skin surface, such as those in your legs. Elevating your legs and wearing support stockings can help ease any discomfort.
Varicose veins in your rectum are known as hemorrhoids. To prevent hemorrhoids, include plenty of fiber in your diet and drinks lots of fluids.
Increased perspiration. Your baby generates heat by growing and exercising. In turn, you're likely to notice more sweating than usual. In hot weather, you may need to rest, drink cold liquids and take cool showers to keep from overheating.
Stretch marks. You may notice pink, red or purple streaks along your abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks or thighs. Your stretching skin may also be itchy. Moisturizers can help. Although stretch marks can't be prevented, eventually the marks fade in intensity.

When to consult your doctor

Most physical changes you'll experience during pregnancy are normal. It's important to pay attention to your body, however. Consult your doctor if you experience:

Heavy vaginal bleeding or any amount of bleeding after the first trimester
Moderate or severe pelvic pain or any degree of pelvic pain that lasts more than four hours
Constipation that leads to more than two days between bowel movements
Persistent heartburn that doesn't respond to smaller meals
Persistent bleeding from the gums
Shortness of breath accompanied by chest pain or a cough
A severe or persistent headache, especially with dizziness, faintness, nausea, vomiting or visual disturbances
Vomiting with pain or fever
Strong-smelling, green or yellowish vaginal discharge or any vaginal discharge accompanied by redness, itching and irritation
Burning during urination
Rapid swelling, especially of the face and hands

If in doubt, make the call. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to make sure you and your baby are fine.

Remedies for Asthma or Allergies

2005-09-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

A lot people have asthma. My daughter, 41 years, included. She has suffered from attacks for many years. Recently I encounter three natural remedies that I asked my daughter to try. I have not yet received a report on these, so I would like to pass them on to you. Here is the first one.

Boswellia

Boswellia, an herb, is known for its anti-inflammatory abilities and its usefulness in reduces the effects of bronchitis, asthma, cough, laryngitis, and fever. It comes from the resin of a tree in India and made into a pill or cream. It is best known for use in arthritis.

Recommended dose is: 150mg three times a day.

Yamoa

Yamoa is an herbal powder treatment for Asthma, which is derived from the bark of an African gum tree. It is available in capsule and has been typically used to help asthma. It has a good history of helping asthma sufferers.

Minor Blue Dragon formula

The Minor Blue Dragon is a Chinese herbal formula. Another name for it is xiao-qing-long-tang, or XQLT. It’s a blend of eight herbal medicines used to treat asthma for centuries in Asia

The XQLT formula has been used effectively for bronchial asthma for centuries and it is said to have an even more powerful bronchodilator effect than prescription drugs.

This formulation contains ephedra, which has been banned in the US in diet formulas. However, ephedra in this formula is considered safe, since the formula only contains around 15% of this herb. The other ingredients in XQLT are paeonia alba, cinnamon, pinellia, ginger, schisandar, asarum, and glycyrrhiza. Nutritional Supplements That Help Reduce Asthma

Antioxidants

In addition to the above herbs it is also important to take a good supply of antioxidants - especially vitamins A, C, and E, carotenoids, and selenium. Taking antioxidants helps to reduce the irritating effects of airborne free radicals, which can activate an asthma attack.

Magnesium

Magnesium has been shown to reduce the risk of developing asthma and might also be helpful in reducing asthma. Magnesium is also good for asthmatics because it helps to dilate the bronchioles. Also, make sure that plenty of water is drunk daily, which thins mucus. The recommended dosage of magnesium is 200-600 mg/day.

MSM

MSM has also proven useful for asthma aside from being beneficial for arthritis, allergies, fatigue, back pain, sinusitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and many other conditions. Start with 2000mg of MSM per day but be sure to take 50 to 150 micrograms of molybdenum daily since MSM needs molybdenum to activate it properly.

I was able to find a product that already has the proper molybdenum in the MSM, which makes it convenient to take just one pill. Go to google and put in the words “MSM molybdenum” and you will find some web sites that sell this MSM combination.

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He also writes a newsletter called Natural Remedies Thatwork.com For more information on his writings go to: http://www.asthmatreatments.info
source : http://www.newomen.com/displayarticle289.html

Before The Baby Arrives

2005-09-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

This article give you know what you do before your baby arrive. Congratulations - you're going to be a mom! Whether it's yourfirst or sixth baby, there are things to consider and plan for:
Do you have your birth-plan worked out with your
family and obstetrician (nurse-midwife)?

Do you have your suitcase packed (or things organizedif you're having a home-birth)?

Do you have your emergency contacts in case you go into labour at a less-than-convenient time?

Do you have the nursery ready for your baby's arrival?

Does your baby have a family?

That last point might seem odd, but inasmuch as we plan with such detail about every other aspect of our newborn's life, sometimes we overlook the most basic thing: your baby needs a family. I'm not going to delve in to the political hot-potato of single moms having kids, I'm simply going to advocate for a family for your baby. If you're married, this means a husband for you and a daddy for your child.

The goal of parenting is not to simply avoid excessive anxiety, but it is to create a world of confidence by what we do with each other as much as what we avoid doing. Weak marriages do not build strong families, nor do they infuse the hearts of children with confidence and security. And isn't that last phrase what we want most for our babies? The best years of parenting flow out of the best years of a marriage. Protect your relationship and you'll raise happy, healthy children as a
result.

Too often when a child enters a family (please note that you and your husband ARE a family even before you have children!), the marriage is set to the back-burner of the stove, be it due to exhaustion, lack of extra time, etc. The parents leave their
first love: each other. Isn't that the reason you married and decided to have children in the first place?

So before you begin parenting this new little one who will be so precious to you and your family, take some time to consider the state of your marriage. If you need to work on it, start now: your baby will sense and respond to stress in your home
and your body more than you might realize. You won't want to have your precious bundle of joy starting out life stressed, so do what you can now to eliminate that and keep your relationship with your husband on the front-burner. You won't regret it!

About The Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a baby & parenting expert
specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit
http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to
raising healthy, happy children.

Three minute beauty

2005-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Three minute beauty
By Kathy Miller-Kramer, from Lifetime magazine

You don't need to spend hours in front of the mirror to look great. Your free time is better spent doing things you love: hanging out with your honey, enjoying a day in the park or catching a great movie. After all, happiness is the most glamorous accessory a woman can have. But you don't want to feel completely exposed when you go out in the world. Here are four looks that can be achieved in three minutes or less, leaving you more time to go out and do your thing!

Look #1: In the pink
Nothing screams health like pink. Take a minute out of your morning rush to dab creamy blush on your cheeks and blend, then apply a pinkish hue on your lids. "A soft pink shadow works on all skin tones and brightens the eyes," says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Martin Pretorius. Finish with a glossy lipstick and people will be convinced you've been getting plenty of beauty sleep, whether or not that's true.

Our favorites for this look?
-Avon Ultra Color Rich Renewable Lipstick in Sheer Lily, $6.50
- M.A.C Cream Color Base in Fantastic Plastic, $14.50
- Cover Girl Triple Mascara in Black Brown, $5.40

Look #2: Drive and shine
It's a snap to look sun-kissed, even when you're on the run. Smooth on tinted moisturizer and apply bronzer where the sun hits you naturally: cheeks, the bridge of your nose, chin and hairline. To look legit, add a touch to your earlobes and collarbone. Swipe on tangerine shadow and lipstick or gloss and get glowing!

Our favorites for this look?
- Stila's Pivitol Sun, $25
- Shiseido Silky Eyeshadow Duo in Fire Sky, $25
- Laura Mercier Lipstick in Apricot Sorbet, $19
- Prestige Aromatherapy Lip Gloss in Skin, $3.25

Look #3: Working girl
To make the transition from work to play, give your daytime face some evening oomph to with a little desk-side tweaking. Emphasize your lips by applying long-lasting lipstick (we like a pearly red), then add just a bit of blush. Fill in brows with powder or pencil, dab on neutral-colored shadow and you're ready to have fun!

Our favorites for this look?
- Max Factor Lipfinity Lustre in Glistening, $12.75
- Prescriptives Mystick Swivel Cheek Color in Woman, $25
- Elizabeth Arden Dual Perfection Brow Shaper and Eyeliner in Sable, $16
- Clinique Quick Eyes in Blue-Grey, $15.50

Look #4: Party girl
Make him wait while you stew over shoes, not what to do about your makeup. Sweep blue shadow across the lower part of your lids, but keep your lips neutral. "You'll get a flash of color when you blink," says New York City-based makeup artist Mel Rau.

Our favorites for this look?
- Clinique Blush Wear in Rosy Blush, $14.50
- Calvin Klein Eyeshadow Duo in Mist Pacific Iridescent, $15
- Anna Sui Eye Color in No. 112, $17
- M.A.C Lipglass in Tittle Tassle, $13

Laser Hair Removal New York

2005-09-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

This information for laser hair removal new york. I hope this usefull for your information about laser hair removal washington dc, laser hair removal new virginia and other city.

We spend a lot of time waxing, cutting, shaving, plucking away hair from unwanted places like legs, upper lip, chin, arms, back, and other such areas, only to find it growing back a short time later.
In New York City, laser hair removal has become a very popular cosmetic procedure for getting rid of unwanted hair. Just try out the safe and economic process of new york city laser hair removal. In this method, a low-energy laser beam is used to remove unwanted hair. I can tell you for sure that unlike routine hair removal practices, this procedure offers long-lasting results. When the laser beam moves across the treatment area, the laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle.

You may have to pay multiple visits to the laser center to achieve that long term desired result. The cost of the treatment varies from person to person and is generally dependent on the size of the area treated as well as complexity of the case. The entire process is relatively pain free but improper treatment can cause lesions, burns and skin discoloration and irritation.

The result is the best if you are light skinned and have dark body hair. It must be kept in mind that lasers must be used very cautiously if you tan or have a darker skin tone. New York city is perhaps the laser hair removal capital of the world. There are a host of centers offering new york city laser hair removal. Not only do you have the best specialists here, but you can also choose what kind of center you want to go to. Taking the decision regarding which center to visit is indeed difficult. For this you should talk to those persons who have undergone new york city laser hair removal. They will be the best to guide you and answer your questions. The internet is also a great resource in helping you to find out as well as decide which laser center in New York city will be the best one for you.

Several places offer new york city laser hair removal. There are even some centers which offer written warranties. If by chance you experience any re-growth of hair in the treated area within the specified guarantee period, you can receive additional laser treatments to the treated area absolutely free of charge. So just walk in to any of these centers and get rid of all your hair from unwanted places.

Laser Hair Removal Discover laser hair removal information Articles and resources for prices, cost, and treatments of laser hair removal in cities like New York, Washington DC, Toronto, and Dallas. Visit this site for the best in laser hair removal! http://www.informationonlaserhairremoval.com/
Click Here To Download "Laser Hair Removal New York" E-Book

Women's Health - 7 Tips For A Healthy Pregnancy

2005-09-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is a simple tips for you healthy pregnancy.
It is always important to take whatever steps you can to be healthy, but while you are pregnant it is even more important:
not only do you need to take good care of yourself, you are also profoundly affecting the life of another person - your baby. Here's 7 tips to help you along the way.

1.If you smoke, one of the most important things you can do isto stop smoking:
babies born to mothers who smoke have a lower average birth weight, are more likely to be born prematurely, and are at greater risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome than babies of non-smokers. Sometimes mothers feel having a low birth weight baby could be an advantage as it will make the baby easy to deliver. This is not necessarily the case, as it may lead to an emergency delivery, which can result in all sorts of complications. Even if you are already pregnant, stopping smoking will benefit the baby for the rest of your
pregnancy. It is not only the baby who benefits. You are likely to suffer from less morning sickness, experience fewer
complications and have a more contented baby after the birth.

2. It is also important to pay attention to your diet.
Many women feel they should 'eat for two', but research has shown that women only need an extra 200-300 calories a day while
pregnant, and you may be eating those extra calories anyway. What is important is to ensure that you get the protein,
vitamins and minerals necessary to build another human being. Those extra 200-300 calories should not be squandered on
chocolate or crisps, but should be eaten as fruit, vegetables, etc. It is also important to increase your water intake, which
will help avoid constipation.

3. It is generally a good idea to take a good qualitymultivitamin and mineral supplement too.
There are now ones specially formulated for pregnant women. Ideally these should be started before you become pregnant, so that you are in the best shape possible for the pregnancy, and then continued throughout your pregnancy. An adequate supply of vitamins and
minerals is important right from conception. For example, a deficiency of one of the B vitamins, folic acid, in the first month of pregnancy may lead to the baby being born with a cleft lip, congenital heart disease or spina bifida. Omega-3 fatty acids (obtained by eating oily fish, flaxseed oil, walnuts, spinach and spirulina, or taken as a supplement) are important for the development of the baby's eyes and brain. Omega-3 also reduces the risk of premature birth and post-natal depression.

4. Nobody knows how much alcohol it is safe to consume during pregnancy, so many health experts feel it is better to avoid alcohol entirely for the sake of the baby. This can seem hard on the pregnant woman when everyone else is drinking, but it is important to remember that alcohol is a poison for the growing baby, and no caring mother willingly gives her baby poison.

5. Pregnancy is not a time to sit still. Although adequate rest is vitally important, most experts believe that healthy pregnant
women should be taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise everyday.

6. It is also important to minimise exposure to toxic chemicals while pregnant, so spending a lot of time painting the house and
laying new carpets is not a good idea, especially in the early stages of pregnancy when the baby is particularly vulnerable.

7. Many women find pregnancy stressful, and this can be a particularly good time to turn to safe, non-invasive options
such as Bach flower remedies, homeopathy, kinesiology and other therapies.

Making a new life is something miraculous. Doing the best you can for that new life starts long before you have the baby in
your arms for the first time.

About The Author: Jane Thurnell-Read is an author and researcher on health, allergies and stress. She has written two books for the general public: "Allergy A to Z" and "Health Kinesiology". She also maintains a web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com with tips, inspiration and information for everyone who wants to live a happier, healthier
life.

Women's Health - Endometrial Cancer

2005-09-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

This article give you know : What is endometrial cancer?, What causes endometrial cancer?, What are the symptoms? and other things about endrometrial cancer.
Lets we read one by one

What is endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer is the rapid and uncontrolled growth of cells in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ in a women's abdomen. Endometrial cancer usually occurs in women older than 50. Fortunately, it is highly curable if detected at an early stage when the cancer is still contained in the uterus. Most women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed in the earliest stage, and up to 93% of these women are cancer-free 5 years after treatment.
What causes endometrial cancer?

The cause of endometrial cancer is currently unknown. Exposure to the hormone estrogen over many years without enough of the hormone progesterone to balance it (unopposed estrogen) appears to be related to the development of endometrial cancer.2
What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause. About 20% of women who have abnormal bleeding after menopause have endometrial cancer.3

If endometrial cancer is more advanced, additional symptoms may be present. These include difficulty urinating, a lump in the pelvic area, pain in the pelvic area, and weight loss.
What increases my risk of developing endometrial cancer?

Being exposed to estrogen for years without progesterone to balance it (unopposed estrogen) appears to be the greatest risk factor for developing endometrial cancer. Long-term exposure to unopposed estrogen may occur as a result of:

* Beginning your menstrual cycle before age 12 or starting menopause after age 55.
* Not ever being pregnant or completing a full-term pregnancy.
* Not ever breast-feeding.
* Using hormone replacement therapy without progesterone.
* Being obese. Fat cells produce estrogen. Obese women have many fat cells, which increases the rate of estrogen production.

Additional factors that increase your risk include:

* Taking tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication that acts like estrogen in the uterus.3
* Being older than 50.
* Having a history of breast, ovarian, or colon cancer.
* Having endometrial hyperplasia.
* Having a family history of endometrial cancer or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).

How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed with an endometrial biopsy. A biopsy removes a small sample of the lining of the uterus for examination under a microscope.

Your doctor will determine the stage of your endometrial cancer, or how far advanced it is, by gathering information from a variety of tests, including blood tests, bone scans, and X-rays. The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors in selecting the treatment option that is right for you.
How is it treated?

Endometrial cancer in its early stages can be cured with treatment and close follow-up. The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery (hysterectomy) to remove the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Pelvic lymph nodes may also be removed. Other treatments may be used depending on the stage of cancer and whether you are at high risk of having the cancer return. These treatments include radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

source: http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100077084

Exercise for Women Pregnant

2005-09-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Exercise for Women Pregnant
By : Raymond Kelly

There are many benefits for women who wish to exercise through their pregnancy.

Exercise can:

· Increase energy levels
· Help prevent feelings of discomfort, clumsiness, and unattractiveness
· Improve circulation, reduce swelling and formation of varicose veins in the lower legs
· Help tone muscles allowing the body to return to its pre-pregnancy state much faster
· Improve posture, so less back ache

The major concerns of training whilst pregnant are:

· Foetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen for the baby)
· Foetal hyperthermia (internal temperature gets too hot)
· Reduced carbohydrate supply to the foetus (baby doesn'tget enough food)

These should only be concerns if the mother does not exercise intelligently. Ask your doctor for further information when obtaining your medical clearance.

Guidelines:

· Obtain a medical clearance prior to commencement
· Never let your heart rate get over 135 beats per minute for a sustained period. This can vary from person to person but a good rule of thumb is to reduce the intensity if you cannot comfortably hold a conversation with someone whilst exercising.
· Balance will be a problem as you get bigger so always keep both feet on the ground (no jumping, skipping, lunging, stepping, etc).
· Non-weight bearing exercise (eg. Cycling, swimming) is preferable to weight bearing exercise (eg. Jogging).
· Exertion levels should be determined on an individual basis. Someone who has had a long exercise history and a high fitness level will be able to tolerate higher intensities without affecting the foetus.
· Avoid strenuous exertion during the first trimester. If you haven't exercised before, walking is a great way to start.
· Increases in exercise quantity and quality should be very gradual for previously inactive women.
· Avoid exercise or positioning of the individual in the supine (lying on the floor face up) posture, particularly in late gestation (due to decreased cardiac output).
· Avoid exercise in warm/humid environments.
· Drink liquids before and after exercise to avoid dehydration. Wear loose cotton clothing.
· Do not exercise when fatigued, particularly in late gestation. Never exercise to exhaustion.
· Periodic rest intervals may be helpful to minimize hypoxia or heat stress to the foetus.
· Pregnancy requires an increase of 300k/cal per day so if you are exercising you require even more. Ensure you have an adequate diet.

News

2005-09-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

If You're A Woman Over 25, You Should Eat These Foods To Prevent Diseases That Claims Most Women's Lives

2005-08-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

By : Naweko San-Joyz
Do you keep your health care plan in the fridge? It's not a bad idea actually because if you pick your foods the right way, you can pack heart disease, colon cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes prevention all in a day's worth of groceries.

Heart Disease
It kills nearly 500,000 women a year. The American Heart Association warns that heart disease, including stroke, claims more women's lives than the next six causes of death combined. Yet few women realize their risks for heart disease.

Hip 30-something singer Toni Braxton thought her chests pains were just from parenting stress before she discovered that she had heart disease. While the singer is OK now, she's getting the word out about heart disease as the spokeswoman for the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" campaign.

If you want to be heart smart, you need to be food wise. For example, according to the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, a diet loaded with whole grains may lower your risk of developing heart diseases.

Another clinical research from the Archives of Internal
Medicines found a link between increased dietary fiber and reduced blood pressure. In short, more fiber may reduce hypertension and thus lower the blood pressure.

Where to get fiber and whole grains:
Apples, grapes, celery, whole grain bread and cereal (make sure that sugar is not a main ingredient), whole-wheat pasta, popcorn, barley, oats and oatmeal, rye, corn, brown rice, bulgur or cracked wheat, and wheat germ.

Colon Cancer
The fiber gleaned from a whole oat rich diet also reduces the risks of developing colon cancer. Similarly in animal studies, selenium has shown anti-cancer benefits. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health noted that calcium limits the development of rectal lesions, which could become cancerous.

Where to get calcium and selenium:
Broccoli, bran, brown rice, cottage cheese, garlic, onion, Brazil nuts, molasses, eggs, yogurt, celery, tahini, kidney beans.

Osteoporosis
Are you going to scream if someone else tells you to drink your milk to make your bones strong? While calcium has hoarded the spotlight for osteoporosis prevention, Dr. Alan R Gaby points
out in the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, that magnesium, manganese, and zinc are just as important in the fight against osteoporosis.

Where to get them:

Magnesium:
Almonds, bran, oat, hazel nuts, pecans, lentils, sunflower seeds.

Manganese:
Avocado, walnuts, pineapple, buckwheat, parsley, spinach

Zinc:
Cheese, raw cashews, egg white, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, wheat germ

Diabetes
Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association suggests limiting your risks for diabetes by consuming orange and leafy green veggies. Adding on a high quality fiber rich cereal can also limit your risk for diabetes.

Where to get orange and leafy green veggies:
Spinach, yams, papayas, peppers, rich green varieties of lettuce, lemons, parsley, cilantro

Here's a final reason to stash your health care plan in the fridge. A finding presented at the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology that analyzed the records from 2,857 heart attack survivors treated at Michigan hospitals found that men had a better chance of surviving after treatment
than women.

One reason for this could be that the women receive less one-on-one sessions with the doctors or nurses before going home. The lesson here is to put health in your own hands before you even need to use your health insurance.

Increase your chances of beating heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis now. It's as easy as buying apples, beets and carrots. I'll see you in the produce section.

Women Health - Fourteen Simple Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer

2005-08-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

1. Increase your consumption of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.

2. Avoid using any pesticides or chemical sprays in your home. Try to avoid new carpet.

3. Avoid drinking tap water.

4. Decrease alcohol consumption.

5. Start an exercise program.

6. Increase consumption of organic whole grains and fiber.

7. Decrease meat, poultry and fish consumption.

8. Stop smoking.

9. Increase consumption of phytoestrogens from organic sources.

10. Decrease or stop consumption of processed foods.

11. Avoid trans-fatty acids found in margarine and some vegetable shortenings.

12. Take two capsules of organic flaxseed oil daily or just add a teaspoon of flaxseed oil to your daily organic salad.

13. If you are pregnant definitely breast feed.

14. Gets lots of sunshine as breast cancer is less prevalent in areas where there is ample sunlight unobscured by fog or smog.

Discussion:

As a retired diagnostic radiologist who read way too many mammograms I am excited because I finally have a path to try to connect to so many women who are having and have had mammograms.I was always chagrined since we would really torture and radiate many breasts but it was as if these breasts were not connected to a human type person. It bothered me that so many mammography programs make no effort at all to educate their clientele about what "they can do" to reduce their risks of breast cancer. I would suggest to the directors of these programs that we try to educate the patients and their response was 100% predictable. They would always first deny the relationship between diet and breast cancer and then add that their patients would not listen anyway.

Increasing your consumption of fresh organic fruits and vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk for breast cancer.

"There is strong evidence from epidemiologic studies that eating more fruits and vegetables decreases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. This conclusion is strengthened by the similar results obtained from animal studies and experiments using isolated breast cells." Quoted from the Cornell University Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. They go on to recommend uncooked fruits and vegetables. The reason for this is the heating damages some of the beneficial nutrients in the fruits and vegetables. Carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli and spinach top the list for being most protective. The Cornell study however does not stress the fact that these need to be "organic." Non-organic commercial fruits and vegetables besides being largely nutritionally bereft are also heavily sprayed with a wide variety of toxins.

The relationship between pesticides and other toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene and cancer has long been established. There are better ways to rid your house of undesired guests than using chemical sprays. It sounds difficult but even if you can't get rid of all your pests you will live a longer and healthier life if you refrain from spraying. New carpet is another source of extremely toxic chemicals that "off gas" for at least a year or so after it is installed. Try to avoid new carpet especially in children's rooms.

Avoid tap water unless you live either in Lake Tahoe or Ithaca, New York. The tap water here in Tucson is CAP water that travels in an open trough from the Colorado River. It is loaded with fungicides / herbicides not to mention all the chlorine added once it gets here. While bottled or filtered water may not be perfect,you will considerably reduce your risk for any cancer by avoiding most tap water.

There is a little debate about the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. However, the consumption of any simple sugars such as occur in most alcoholic beverages is associated with decreased T-cell mobility and thus some immune compromise. I still have an occasional beer but that is the only sugar I ingest. The general consensus however, is that it is best to reduce alcoholic beverage consumption as much as possible.

Exercise has been proven in multiple studies to enhance the immune system. In order to be beneficial I would recommend thirty minutes at least three times a week. This should be exercise that elevates the heart rate and keeps it there for the thirty minutes. Running is good if you are not biomechanically impaired. Cycling and swimming are also good alternative and or exercise machines.

Increased consumption of organic grains and fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Decrease your meat, fish, poultry and dairy consumption. Animal protein has been linked to all the big three killers in this country as well as osteoporosis. For more on this see the "China Study" by T. Colin Campbell and "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins. Stop smoking is really a "no brainer" here. Smoking is associatedwith a variety of cancers and there is now strong evidence that cancer of the breast is one of them.

Consume more phytoestrogens from soy products like tofu. "Women with diets rich in phytoestrogens also excrete more estrogens into their urine, and have lower blood estrogen levels. Some studies have shown that women with a diet rich in phytoestrogens have longer, and hence fewer, menstrual cycles. All of these factors may contribute to reduced breast cancer risk. " This quote from the Cornell University Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Please be sure that any soy products you consume are organic.

In conclusion there are many ways to reduce your chances of breast cancer. I have presented the above from a more subtle point of view. When my wife (now ex-wife) developed a lesion in her left breast back in 1995 we put her on an organic vegan diet. Soon we cut out all sugar and increased her running mileage. She still has her left breast although there is still some skin retraction. My good friend and world class flamenco dancer Carmen Heredia died in her early forties from breast cancer and its treatment. Best not to get breast cancer at all.

For more information on the relationship between diet, health and exercise please go to: http://www.drmericle.com/

For more information on cooking and food preparation without animal products please go to: http://www.drmericle.com/fscook3c.php
Copyright J. Mericle M.D. 2004 All Rights Reserved

http://www.drmericle.com/ is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.

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