Women’s Health Articles
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and according to The National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths. In addition, smoking increases a woman’s risk of stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, blood clots, coronary and peripheral artery diseases and many other life threatening diseases. ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner, Karen Erickson, BS explains that many women smoke to avoid emotion. It is a way to distract themselves from feelings such as boredom, loneliness, sadness or stress.
“Many women call their cigarettes their friends, their little buddies,” says Erickson. “They have created an emotional illusion about smoking because of some void in their life which they are trying to fill with smoking.”
Erickson says that the first step in quitting is to become educated on the subject. There are over 4,000 toxic chemical compounds in one cigarette that slowly kills a smoker. In addition, Mayo Clinic reports that smoking causes ten times more wrinkles in woman than in non-smokers. Another avenue to choose when quitting is determining what it is that cigarettes are trying to compensate for and come up with a healthy way to deal with the feelings or desires.
Once a commitment has been made to quit smoking for good, follow Erickson’s tips to remain smoke free:
Breathe In, Breathe Out- Find a healthy activity to keep busy with such as meditation, gardening, exercise or reading.
Write it Out- Create a list filled with the benefits of quitting. Go over the list everyday to reinforce the commitment.
Switch It Up!- Change a routine to make it easier to quit. If bars are a trigger, avoid them initially. If coffee is a trigger, switch to tea for a period of time.
Help is On the Way- If assistance is needed, find a smoking cessation center where services are offered such as hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback and herbal remedies.
What is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a toilet. Women experience incontinence twice as often as men. Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference.
Stress Incontinence
If coughing, laughing, sneezing or other movements that put pressure on the bladder cause you to leak urine, you may have stress incontinence. Pelvic floor muscles support your bladder. If these muscles weaken, your bladder can move downward, causing a bulge in your vagina. This prevents muscles that ordinarily force the urethra shut from squeezing as tightly as they should. As a result, urine can leak during moments of physical stress.
Urge Incontinence
If you lose urine for no apparent reason while suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate, you may have urge incontinence. The most common cause of urge incontinence is inappropriate bladder contractions. Urge incontinence can mean that your bladder empties during sleep, after drinking a small amount of water, or when you touch water or hear it running (as when someone else is taking a shower or washing dishes).
How Is Incontinence Diagnosed?
The first step towards relief is to see a physician. After a urine culture is sent to the lab, urodynamic studies are ordered.
How Is Urinary Incontinence Treated?
Exercises
Kegel exercises to strengthen or re-train pelvic floor muscles and sphincter muscles can reduce or cure stress leakage. Women of all ages can learn and practice these exercises, which are taught by a health care professional.
Stimulation
Brief doses of stimulation can strengthen muscles in the lower pelvis in a way similar to exercising the muscles. Sensors are temporarily placed in the vagina or rectum to stimulate nearby muscles. This will stabilize overactive muscles and stimulate contraction of urethral muscles. Stimulation can be used to reduce both stress incontinence and urge incontinence and works best when combined with biofeedback.
Biofeedback
This painless therapy provides feedback on the strength and relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles. Using images on a computer screen, you will learn to strengthen, tone and relax the pelvic floor muscles while isolating muscles such as your abdomen and therefore , gaining control over these muscles.
Timed Voiding or Bladder Training
Timed urinating and bladder training are techniques that use biofeedback. In timed voiding, you fill in a chart recording episodes of voiding and leaking. From the patterns that appear in your chart, you can plan to empty your bladder before you would otherwise leak. Biofeedback and muscle conditioning–known as bladder training–can alter the bladder’s schedule for storing and emptying urine. These techniques are effective for urge and overflow incontinence.
Medications
Medications can reduce many types of leakage. Some drugs inhibit contractions of an overactive bladder; however, others relax muscles, leading to more complete bladder emptying during urination. A WomanCare physician can prescribe the proper medication for you.
Pessaries
A pessary is a stiff ring that is inserted by a doctor or nurse into the vagina, where it presses against the wall of the vagina and the nearby urethra. The pressure helps reposition the urethra, leading to less stress leakage. If you use a pessary, you should watch for possible vaginal and urinary tract infections and see your doctor regularly.
Implants
Implants are substances injected into tissues around the urethra. The implant adds bulk and helps to close the urethra to reduce stress incontinence. Collagen (a fibrous natural tissue) and fat from the patient’s body have been used.
Surgery
Doctors usually suggest surgery to alleviate incontinence only after other treatments have been tried. Many surgical options have high rates of success. A common surgery for stress incontinence involves pulling the bladder up to a more normal position. For severe cases of stress incontinence, the surgeon may secure the bladder with a wide sling. This not only holds up the bladder but also compresses the bottom of the bladder and the top of the urethra, further preventing leakage.
Catheterization
If you are incontinent because your bladder never empties completely (overflow incontinence) or your bladder cannot empty because of poor muscle tone, past surgery or spinal cord injury, you might use a catheter at regular intervals to empty your bladder. A catheter is a tube that you can learn to insert through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine.
Keep in mind that urinary incontinence is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a common problem in women of all ages, and all types of incontinence can be treated effectively.
Visit WomanCarePC for more information.
A survey in 1999 revealed that sexual problems occur in about 43% of women in the United States, and as the population ages that percentage may be even higher now. Libido or lack of sexual desire is the most common sexual complaint. An occasional transient problem is very common; however if it is persistent, or pain is involved, it is time to seek professional help.
The cause of decreased libido is usually multi-factorial involving hormonal health, and relationship component.
Diminished libido can co-exist with orgasmic issues and vaginal pain, and may be exacerbated by undiagnosed or untreated health problems such as hypo-thyroidism and depression. Medications, including anti-depressants and birth control pills can worsen the problems.
Relationship issues and emotional well-being are major contributing factors to diminished sex drive and satisfaction. Americans tend to prioritize time and energy to other things and the eroticism needed to maintain a healthy sexual life does not easily fit in to our concept of parents and family. The “super mom” runs out of energy and motivation late at night and may be too overwhelmed with multi-tasking to enjoy or create the sexual experience.
Negative body image also intensifies lack of libido; self-esteem plummets when comparing oneself to the beautiful erotic American cover girl.
Many women suffer in silence- feeling they are alone and to blame- and afraid to that no help is available to them. The truth is that there are many treatment modalities available in an holistic approach to the problem.
Biofeedback Therapy Can Help
Each of us creates habitual responses to certain life situations. These responses are learned in childhood, adolescent and adult experiences and can be both negative and positive. Our responses to sexual stimuli are based on these same developed patterns. Awareness of patterns is half the battle in controlling any programmed negative responses. Biofeedback helps us to recognize and counteract our learned tendencies. Biofeedback helps to alleviate the 70% of sexual dysfunction in both men and women that is attributable to the stress response elicited by erotic stimuli. Biofeedback can also be helpful to train women who suffer from vaginismus, the instinctual contraction of vaginal and pelvic muscles, in response to anticipating painful sex and the inability to allow vaginal penetration.
Hormonal testing can be very helpful in evaluation of decreased libido; possible remedies may include vitamin, herbal or hormonal supplementation. Each woman is unique and needs individual evaluation to find the blend of therapies that will improve her libido and enhance her sexual life.
For more information on causes and treatments for sexual problems visit Womancarepc.com
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Why I Still Recommend Fish Oil Supplements to My Pregnant Patients
Dr. Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc
A study just released questions the benefits of fish oil for pregnant women . “[Omega 3 fish oil] supplementation will actually not give you a huge benefit in terms of neurodevelopmental outcomes and reducing depressive symptoms,” said Maria Makrides, an author on a study recently published in Journal of the American Medical Association and deputy director of the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute in North Adelaide, Australia.
Other studies show that women who take high doses of fish oil supplements in the second half of pregnancy give birth to children with greater coordination and increased brainpower later in life . In fact, research has shown the last three months of pregnancy are a vital time for pregnant women to take fish oil supplements, since the baby’s brain experiences a growth spurt during that time, which lasts through the first few months of the infant’s life.
So, which study do you believe? I still believe that fish oil supplementation is beneficial to both the mom and the developing baby. Here are my reasons for questioning the conclusions I am reading in the mainstream news reports of this new study. The news reports do not cite what kind of fish oil supplements the participants were given. We do not know the quality and purity of the fish oil. Did the researchers control for the women’s diet of fish consumption high in Omega 3’s? How were the women chosen for the study? Were they health conscious women who already ate nutritious and well balanced meals? Or were they women whose diets consisted of the Standard American Diet which is known to cause health problems for pregnant mothers and their newborns? Would the baby of a pregnant woman whose total nutritional intake is quite less than optimum really not benefit from additional fish oil supplementation?
Unless there is more to this study than what I read in the current news releases, I will not revise my recommendations to pregnant women. I will continue to recommend to my patients that they eat an organic, whole food based diet including omega 3 fish oils. I will also recommend that they avoid soy during their pregnancy especially if they are having a boy. Pregnant women should also avoid smokers, alcohol, cat litter, and obvious environmental toxins and chemicals. They should practice a gentle prenatal yoga and utilize relaxation techniques to deal with life’s stresses. Call me old fashioned. But healthy diets, proper exercise, and relaxation have worked pretty well for quite long time in helping pregnant women have healthy babies.
- Dr. Ian Wahl is the founder and director of the Natural Fertility Health Centers in Arlington Heights, Illinois. His specialty is women’s and men’s reproductive health and wellness. Dr. Wahl can be reached at www.NaturalFertilityHealthCenters.com. The Natural Fertility Health Center is one of the Wahls of Wellness Clinics. For more information on health and nutrition go to www.WahlsOfWellness.com.
There are many different responsibilities women deal with at different stages in their life. One of these important responsibilities involves her ability to conceive a healthy child. However, what happens if a woman is not yet ready to have a baby? This is when she makes a thoughtful decision to use birth control. In order to ensure the birth control method she chooses is suitable for her needs she must be well informed about the variety of birth control methods available to her. She must also take into consideration how her fertility influences the type of contraceptives she decides to use throughout her lifespan. Continue reading to learn how a woman’s body undergoes a variety of changes throughout the years and how these changes can help her choose which birth control method is most effective.
Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 20’s
Higher levels of testosterone
Increase in sex drive
Peak in fertility
During her twenties, a woman is more likely to have a higher sex drive than any other time in her life. This is contributed to higher levels of testosterone produced within her body. Testosterone is a hormone that is known for influencing sex drive, and is the main reason why many women participate in sexual activity during this time.
This is also a time when fertility peaks, which is why women in their twenties are more likely to conceive a healthy baby the natural way. Since women are likely to be more sexually active during this time, it is important that they take extra precaution when it comes to birth control.
Birth Control of Women in Their 20’s
Birth control pills
Condoms
There are different types of birth control methods a woman in her twenties can use. Since it is highly likely that she may conceive, if she is sexually active during this time, she will want to invest in at least two methods of birth control. One method is the birth control pill.
All birth control pills are different; however, they all serve a main purpose, which is to prevent pregnancy. The only way birth control pills will work is if the woman takes them everyday on a regular basis. If she skips a day, it decreases their potency and increases her chance of becoming pregnant.
Another factor that can decrease the effectiveness of birth control is weight. If a woman is overweight, she increases her chances of becoming pregnant. This is why it is of utmost importance to use two methods of birth control during this time in her life. Antibiotic usage lessens the effectiveness of birth control pills and thus gives an additional reason to use a back-up method.
Another birth control method women in their twenties should also use is condoms. Not only do condoms help prevent conception, they also protect women from sexually transmitted diseases. Using these two birth control methods will enable a woman to have sexual intercourse without worrying about becoming pregnant or contracting an STD.
Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 30’s
Decrease in amount of eggs in ovaries
Decrease in sex drive
Increase in sexual activity
Decrease in testosterone levels
As a woman ages, the amount of eggs in her ovaries decrease each year by a significant percentage. A woman in her thirties has less of chance of conceiving a baby. In fact, her chances of conceiving decrease by 3% each year from the time she turns thirty-one. This 3% percentage decrease occurs each year, until she turns thirty-five. Once she hits thirty-five her ability conceive a baby begins to decrease at an even faster rate. It has been reported that one in four women age thirty-five or older will have trouble conceiving.
Sexual activity increases; however, there is a slight decrease in the levels of testosterone in her body. Many women in their thirties, approximately 51% also tend to claim a lack of sexual desire. However, several studies state that during the thirties women reach their sexual peak.
While women may loose interest in sex, the type of relationship they have with their partner also influences their sex drive and desire for sex. Since it is more common for women in their thirties to find a more fulfilling and stable relationship with their partner during this time, she will engage in more sexual intercourse than she did when she was in her twenties. While her sex drive may not be like it was during her twenties, the love and caring associated within her relationship makes the sexual intercourse experience with her partner more meaningful and special. This type of sexual activity is driven by love, not lust. In addition, many women in their 30’s wish to conceive a baby and therefore increase their sexual activity despite their decreased sex drive.
Birth Control Methods of Women in their 30’s
Spermicidal foam
Condoms
Birth control pills
Since women may be participating in more sexual activity during this time, she will want to invest in spermicidal foam and condoms. Birth control pills can be affective as well; however, since her chances of conceiving are less likely during her thirties, a woman still should take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases. This is especially true if she is not in a monogamous relationship.
Sex Drive and Fertility of Women in Their 40’s
Very low testosterone levels
Gradual loss of sex drive
Eggs released less frequently
During their forties women may begin to lose their sex drive because their level of testosterone is about half of what it used to be during their twenties. Not only does the amount of testosterone appear to be virtually non-existent, but she starts worrying less about being able to conceive. Although biologically women in this age bracket should experience lower libido, many are more sexually active now that their children are getting older.
While her sex drive may be lower, she still does have a chance of becoming pregnant, although her chances of conceiving are slim. Women in their forties release eggs from their ovaries less frequently, which makes conceiving a baby less likely, but still possible.
Women in their forties, who are not in a monogamous relationship and participate in casual sex, obviously still have a chance of contracting an STD. Many women may participate in unprotected sex during this time because they believe they have no chance of conceiving. This reckless type of sexual behavior can be detrimental not only to their health, but to the health of their partner. It is also one of the reasons why STD’s are spreading among this particular age population. Another reason is due to the high percentage of divorced women in their forties who, just like their divorced husbands, are rediscovering dating.
While women in their forties have less of a chance of becoming pregnant, they still need to practice safe sex. They need to keep the same mindset they had about sex when they were in their twenties and thirties. Just because they are older and have less of a chance of conceiving does not mean they should have unprotected sex.
Birth Control of Women in Their 40’s
Condoms
Vaginal ring
Spermicidal lubricant
Women in their forties can use many different contraceptives. They can use contraceptive sponges or a vaginal ring along with spermicidal lubricant. They should also make sure that their partner uses a condom. The condom helps to protect both partners from STD’s.
When women know more about their sex drive, fertility and birth control methods at different stages of their life, they can make a well-informed decision about using the birth control method that best suits their needs. Regardless of age, safe sex should be practiced at all times. This helps to protect the woman, her partner and any future partners from sexually transmitted infections.
Where are you when it comes to aging, sex, and birth control?
Regardless of a sexually active woman’s age, she will be healthier and happier if her energy and hormones are balanced and in sync with her age and lifestyle. The women we see in our clinic, whether for painful periods, PMS, natural fertility treatments, or weight loss, all have one thing in common—they are energetically and hormonally imbalanced when we first see them. Once a woman’s body is balanced energetically and hormonally, and in harmony with a positive lifestyle, her physical conditions can resolve and she can feel spiritually as well as emotionally at peace regardless of her age. And isn’t that what any woman wants?
Dr. Ian Wahl is the founder of both the Natural Fertility Health Center and the Wahls of Wellness, located in Arlington Heights, IL. You can contact Dr. Wahl at 847 392-7901 or go to www.FertileSpirit.com or www.WahlsofWellness.com.
Sources
WomensHealth.med.monash.edu.au
Ladies, we as women, are not taking care of ourselves! The top 5 health concerns for women are heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, depression and autoimmune disorders. Which direction are you headed? Are you making choices to propel you to health or disease? As 60% of American women are overweight or obese, and only 14-30% eat enough servings of fruits and vegetables, we are choosing disease. This does not have to be our reality! Two primary areas we can take charge of are, first, monitoring our health status and second, taking on the habits that created the issue in the first place.
So, let’s take the proactive stance. First, let’s monitor our status. The following are some of the tests that need to be done on a yearly basis.
2. Breast cancer incidence is related to a number of environmental factors, as well as lifestyle and to a less extent, genetics. Mammograms are the traditional standard of care, followed by ultrasound or MRI if there is anything suspicious. However, research is strong for the use of thermography to detect breast cancer without radiation. Thermography detects the increased heat from new blood vessels that are formed around cancerous areas of the breast, the heat created by the new vessels can be detected by thermography.
3. Osteoporosis is most common in small, white or asian women. The DEXA scan of the spine and hip are the medical gold standard. There is also an at-home test you can take for about $60 that measures the NXt molecule. This test tells you whether you body is breaking down bone or building bone. It gives you a way to be proactive!
4. Depression is an issue when women feel like they don’t have control over the situations in their life. There are many online resources for tests to determine whether you have depression or not. Beware, some of these sites are linked to prescription drug manufacturers. Try www.about.com and search “depression test”. Having a group of friends and a support system is the best way to combat depression. Also, moderate exercise has been shown to be as effective as Prozac for mild to moderate depression.
5. Autoimmune disorders can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are vary from joint pain, fatigue, fever, headaches, digestive complaints and rashes. All are related to vitamin D status, dietary choices, environmental influences, past history of allergies, and genetics(only about 20-30% influence). There are screening tests called the ANA or anti-nuclear antigen test, it is almost always positive in patients with lupus. For rheumatoid arthritis, RF or rheumatoid factor, may or may not be positive, a new test called CCP may be a better indicator. Vitamin D status is determined by a blood test know as 25-hydroxy Vitamin D. Your level should be above 50, ideally.
Now, let’s face the facts and seize the challenge!
2. Eat small meals throughout the day, don’t go more than 4 hours without food. Each one should consist of some protein, and a fruit or vegetable. Breakfast: 1C greek yogurt and 1 cup of blueberries; Snack: 20 almonds and 8 ounces of water; Lunch: 3C salad and 3 ounces of tuna or chicken; Snack(2-4 in the afternoon): 1-2 mozzarella cheese sticks and 6-8 apple slices; Dinner: 3-5 ounces of protein( chicken, fish, lean beef, or pork) 2C vegetables, 1/2 C potato, rice or pasta. This keeps cholesterol and blood sugar lower.
3. Drink half of your weight in ounces. In other words, if you weigh 150 pounds you should be drinking 75 ounces of water – that is 4-20 ounce bottles. You need about 33 ounces just to make digestive enzymes to digest your food. The only substitute for water is decaf herbal tea. Staying hydrated reduces the toxins in your body.
4. Move your body and Rest your body! 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days per week prevents more chronic disease than ALL medications put together! REALLY!! So, start with walking to your mailbox or to the neighbors house next door, then increase a few minutes weekly. Maintaining muscle mass is the best way to maintain health.Take a step in the direction of health and away from disease! What if you turned down the lights earlier in the evening 7-8 pm, just enough to read a book, your body starts to make melatonin earlier, relaxing you to go to bed earlier and improve sleep quality. Our body needs 6-8 hours of sleep every night!
5. Make time! What does that mean? Take a serious, hard look at your schedule. Where are you wasting time? Facebook? Mindless internet surfing? TV every evening? These are not productive activities. And are not relaxing. This time can be productive time for exercising, prayer, meditation, meal planning, or reading something positive. If you work, how do you spend your commute time, borrow positive attitude “books-on-tape” (cd or mp3) from the library. Begin to fill that time with productive positive thinking. Find a few minutes for yourself to fill your soul.
Now that you know there are new choices to make, when are you going to put this into action? Why are you putting this off? What or who is standing in your way? Most of the time we are in our own way – our excuses, flimsy rationalizations and lies we tell ourselves prevent our success. Now is the best time! Regardless of the stressors in your life, when you take control of lifestyle habits that impact your health, you will have more energy to deal with the challenges that happen everyday! Find a friend to keep you accountable or who wants to make the same changes as you. And you don’t have to be perfect, I give you permission to mess it up! Small positive choices will launch you toward better health over time. The question to answer is: Where will your health be in one year if you continue on your current path? Better or worse? The choice is yours!
Dr Kristina Sargent is a chiropractic physician with 18 years experience. Her mission is to engage, educate and empower people to take control of their health to prevent chronic diseases and lead successful lives through serving people with alternatives to medication. Her toolbox includes personalized diet recommendations, weight loss, exercise, chiropractic care, positive thoughts, prayer and meditation, and massage therapy. Her office, Restor Healing Centre, is located in Wheaton, Il. Her website is www.RestorNow.com.
Imagine eating your way to prevent osteoporosis, gallbladder disease, lower cholesterol, anemia, minimize hot flashes and protect against breast cancer.
By incorporporating a few key foods into our diet women can avoid several serious diseases.
by Dr Marilyn Mitchell, MD, BHSP
When it comes to sexuality in mid-life, we are often surprised to be experiencing changes. For women at menopause, we know that estrogen production is reduced by up to sixty-six percent and testosterone decreases up to fifty percent, and for men at midlife there can also be dramatic decreases in testosterone. These are the two hormones that most strongly affect our sexual physiology. As a result of these decreases, the most common symptoms we notice are a decreased libido (desire) and changes in our sexual response. For women, decreases in these hormones can result in vaginal dryness, decreased vaginal elasticity, urinary symptoms and difficulty in experiencing orgasm, all of which make sexual spontaneity and pleasure more difficult.
There are four components of sexuality that may be challenged at midlife:
- self-perception
- sex role behavior
- sexual desire (libido)
- sexual response
Sexual well being in these four aspects depends on three levels of health: spiritual, emotional and physical.
Spiritually, when we reach the midlife we can help ourselves by seeking knowledge about and caring for our inner selves, exploring our relationship with Spirit or Higher Power, and allowing this foundation to be the basis for our self-perception and body image.
Emotionally, we can assess and decrease life stressors, and come to terms with past experiences. We need to communicate our emotional needs and be aware of our partner’s emotional needs. It is helpful to establish an atmosphere of emotional availability between you and your partner.
On the physical level, it is important to have good communication about changing physical needs with you and your partner. First, become aware of your own physical needs, and also any physical needs of your partner. It helps to improve any physical ailments, and exercise to improve general energy and circulation. Women can do specific Kegel exercises to improve pelvic floor health. Be open to exploring different sexual activities, or changing the rhythm of sexual encounters.
Consider several levels of sexual health when seeking treatments.
Medications commonly used include bioidentical testosterone supplementation, either oral or cream. This will usually accompany hormonal treatment with bioidentical estrogen or progesterone in either an oral form or as a cream for local external treatment or in a vaginal form. Non-medicated vaginal lubricants can also be a great help. Viagra has been used for women, but this is usually a medication for men.
Medicinal treatment may also extend to adjunctive anti-depressants for you or your partner or a change in current therapy for other diseases. Some antihypertensives and antidepressants will alter sexual function in men or women.
Herbal therapies include the herbs Damiana for improved libido, Chinese ginseng for improved libido, potency and fertility, and Yohimbe. Yohimbe is a sexual stimulant that increases libido, stimulates erectile tissue, and enhances sensitivity, arousal, and orgasm. It also increases sperm production and motility. Yohimbe is a strong herb and should not be used longer than six weeks or with any chronic illness (heart, blood pressure, kidney, ulcer, diabetes and antidepressants). Ashwaganda is helpful on a long term basis for improving sexual response.
Behavioral approaches can help improve sexual satisfaction. An aid to sexual health may be a change in sexual foreplay to accommodate changes in each partner and to rekindle interest. Couple therapy may be helpful, either with a professional or with the couple alone. Intimacy “planning” can help when this part of life seems to get squeezed out. A chart of the couples “turn ons” and “turn offs” may help communication. Some couples find it helpful to put sexuality and eroticism first several times a week.
Energy Healing has profound effects on improving sexual health and connection. Higher levels of healing, as used in EnergyTouch work, can assist with connections through multiple sets of chakras and quickly improve sexuality on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational levels. Medical illnesses that affect sexual function can often be alleviated with this high level work.
When dealing with the changes that come in our sexuality, it is important to approach this with the same openness and honesty that you use in other areas. By working with specific symptoms and improving communication, a healthy sense of sexual balance can be achieved.
Marilyn Mitchell, MD
Physician and Healer
Director of Integrated Healing, WomanCare
www.womancarepc.com
www.healingspacellc.com
With Mother’s day around the corner many of us are beginning to make brunch, lunch, dinner reservations at greatly inflated prices for our Ma Dear. This year why not try something a little different. Here are some suggestions that will de-stress, energize, and uplift your mother.
Make this Mother’s day a celebration of regeneration; start your mom on a path toward health, happiness, balance, and wholeness. I’am sure she will appreciate the thoughtfulness you have invested to make this a special day for her.
Breastfeeding has once again become popular among new moms as the preferred method of feeding their infants. This is a healthy trend, as there are many benefits to breastfeeding for both baby and mother.
Babies who take in breast milk receive nutrients and enzymes in the exact proportions that are appropriate for human infants. Bottle milk starts as cow’s milk or soy, and does not have the same complement of nutrients and enzymes that human milk provides. Human breast milk confers antibodies to the infant from the mother, especially during the early months when the baby has an immature immune system, and cannot make antibodies for itself. Infants who are breast fed generally have fewer illnesses during this time, and develop fewer allergies throughout their lifetime. Breast fed infants tend to have less colic, fewer restless episodes, and better sleep patterns than bottle fed infants.
The benefits of breastfeeding continue for as long as a woman continues, but the greatest benefit to baby occurs in the first 3 months of life when the infant usually has no other nutritional sources, and does not have a fully developed immune system. Many women choose to breast feed through the first year of life, until the baby is able to eat and drink easily from other sources. Some women continue beyond the first year. Moms also benefit from breastfeeding: metabolism is increased helping with post partum weight loss and bonding is improved due to a mutually pleasurable experience.
Moms are wise to be careful about what they eat and drink during breast feeding:
Do eat:
1. Fresh fruits and vegetables (organic when possible)
2. Protein sources (also organic when possible)
3. 8-12 glasses of water, juice, herbal teas
4. Calcium rich foods (dairy, greens, legumes)
Avoid:
1. Alcohol
2. Caffeinated beverages and all soda pop
3. Foods that bother the infant (spices for some)
4. Preservatives
Marilyn Mitchell, M.D.
Director of Integrated Healing
WOMANCARE PC
www.womancarepc.com
www.healingspacellc.com
As Dr. Bruce Lipton discusses in his book “Biology of Belief”, we are downloading information about how to “survive” in our environment/world directly into our subconscious (automatic) mind from the womb till about 6 years old! This information includes such things as: what we should do, what’s right/wrong, how to dress, look, act, when to talk, how to talk, what to say, what will get us praise or punishment. These “tapes” or beliefs are automatically running in the background of our minds and are the foundation of how we perceive and experience life.
Some of these subconscious belief have cultivated women in our and many other societies alike to give more than to receive. Of course it’s wonderful to give but from a place of wholeness and not at the expense of one’s own self. Giving from a place of tiredness, guilt, “have to”, “they’ll love me if…”, etc. on an energetic level causes dis-harmony. The person receiving may begin to expect it, depend on you , no longer have gratitude in return and therefore never cultivate their own ability to give.
How do we increase harmony on giving & receiving? A great start is for women to put themselves and their needs priority. Would you drop everything for your child or friend’s need? Would you do the same for yourself? Would you want to see your friend/daughter doing so much that they are stressed, getting sick, and/or no longer connected to their own desires/needs/passion? How well do you receive from others? The more you take care of yourself, the more connected we are to happiness and fulfillment. From this place of wholeness we have more energy, we are able to give without as much effort, without feeling taken for granted, overwhelmed or drained. Create new beliefs that allow more harmony & happiness so that you can give from harmony & happiness.
Simple Steps to Putting yourself priority:
Sources:
www.bellaonline.com/articles/go
www.brucelipton.com/articles/the-nature-of-dis-ease/
Bio:
Dr. Helen Lee is a holistic chiropractor who focuses on increasing balance of the mind, body & spirit. She’s founded Touch of Life Chiropractic in Hoffman Estates and has been in practice for 10 year. Her passion is to empower each person with the knowledge, tools and choices which will create optimal expression of health. Dr. Lee’s understands that the practice of a holistic lifestyle is essential for not only adults but also children of all ages. Touch Of Life Chiropractic offers an individualized combination of chiropractic, acupuncture, mind-body balancing, nutrition, and therapeutic massage to enhance your expression of health. TLC’s vision is to create change by empowering & educating one person & one family at a time.
There are more menopausal women now than at any other time in history. In fact, in a book she co-authored in 1996, Ellen Brown states that “Forty million women are scheduled to go through ‘the change’ in the next twenty years.”1 And, unfortunately, most women get their information about menopause and peri-menopause from five sources, all of whom have been known to provide false information2:
Around the age of 50, a woman’s hormone levels fall rapidly as her ovaries stop producing the estrogen hormone. Sensing the reduction of estrogen, the body’s internal thermostat tends to react quite strongly. Blood vessels on the skins surface open up like a radiator, enveloping you in intense heat and flushing your face. About 80 percent of all women experience these hot flashes as they go through menopause. Menopause is triggered after a hysterectomy is performed on pre-menopausal women.
Before taking estrogen tablets, see if you can deal with milder menopause symptoms with the following all natural treatments you can do at home.
Be a Flasher Tracker
Stay Cool
Chill Out and Meditate
Sarsaparilla Slurpies and Supplements
Move It to Lose It
Skinny-mini’s Flash More than Curvy Cuties
Since hot flashes, brought on by natural menopause, do not indicate pathology, it is unlikely that you need drugs or surgery. We all age. You should be proud of your age and the wisdom you have gained in your lifetime. You want to age gracefully, beautifully, healthily with vitality and vigor. Menopause is an inescapable factor of age. Follow the above guidelines; seek out an acupuncturist trained in women’s health; embrace your wisdom; and feel grateful to experience menopause as the next part of your life journey toward fulfillment and peace.
Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc, CH is a Doctor of Acupuncture and herbalist who specializes in men’s and women’s health and reproductive wellness. He is the Executive Director of the Natural Fertility Health Centers (www.FertileSpirit.com), as well as the founder of the Wahls of Wellness (www.WahlsOfWellness.com) and the Midwest Allergy Relief Centers (www.MidwestAllergyRelief.com). Dr. Wahl can be reached at 847 392-7901.
1 Brown, E. and Walker, L, Menopause and Estrogen: Natural Alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy (1996), p. 19.
2 “Halted HRT study raises questions,” R. Rubin, USA Today, July 9, 2002, www.usatoday.com.
3 Rondberg, T., Under the Influence of Modern Medicine, p. 131.
4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949018/
5 http://www.befitoverfifty.com/pages/menopause-matters.htm
Urinary Incontinence: causes and treatments – by Dr Marilyn Mitchell, MD, BHSP
Women: Understanding your libido – by Dr Marilyn Mitchell, MD, BHSP
Why I still recommend fish oil to my pregnant patients – by Dr. Ian Wahl, DAc,LAc
Aging, Sex, and Birth Control – What’s a Woman to Do? – by Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc
Ten Take Charge Tips Tackling Women’s Health Concerns – by Dr Kristina Sargent
Super Foods for Women – by Dr Melody Hart
Choose the Pickles, Not the Ice Cream – by by Dr Kristina Sargent
How To Cool Down Your Hot Flashes – by Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc
Women: How and Why to Put Yourself 1st – by by Dr. Helen Lee
Heart Disease: The Number One Killer of Women – by Dr. Martha Howard
Benefits Of Breastfeeding – by by Dr Marilyn Mitchell, MD, BHSP
Celebrate a Mindful Mother’s Day – by Teresa Zeigler L.Ac., CH Dipl., MSOM
Midlife Sexuality – by by Dr Marilyn Mitchell, MD, BHSP
Eating for two, craving pickles and ice cream, ah yes, the joys of pregnancy, but these little joys are creating a generation of children with more health issues than the previous generation. Its not good enough to just “eat well” when you are pregnant, recent studies are showing that what women eat during pregnancy will have a lifetime effect on the child. Diseases such as diabetes, asthma, liver and pancreas disorders, anxiety and depression, decreased bone density and immune function are more evident in children when mom did not have a healthy diet during their pregnancy.
There are three main factors which impact the health of your child later in life. Obesity of the mother, eating high fat, and high glycemic index foods. Of course, these are all inter-related.
So, obesity increases the likelihood of obesity. Seems pretty simple. Being obese means your BMI is >30. There are several websites where you can find this information for yourself. Carrying that extra weight is like carrying your own inflammation factory. The fat cells send out inflammation signals to the body. These signals tell your body to raise blood pressure, plaque formation causing heart and blood vessel diseases, and risk for type-2 diabetes. It goes to reason that these inflammatory messages are carried to the unborn child.
Obese moms, specifically, intensify the risk of their children having problems with their pancreas, and anxiety and depression. The pancreas is partially responsible for digesting food and balancing blood sugar. Both of these functions are critical to be healthy. Changes in brain development cause anxiety, depression and spatial learning challenges.
High fat diets alone or in combination with high glycemic index diets also emerge as major factors in the long term health of your child. It’s easy to see these are the same diets that are detrimental to your health. High fat and high glycemic index foods have lead to the rise in obesity and the other chronic disorders.
The glycemic index tells us how fast a particular food is going to raise your blood sugar. Think of processed foods in plastic bags or wrappers. When your blood sugar rises quickly more insulin is needed to normalize the blood sugar. The more insulin produced over time leads to increased triglycerides, and more fat storage – that’s right – weight gain! Typically this weight gain is around the waist which is not only unhealthy but promotes more insulin release and inflammation. A vicious circle promoting more obesity. Again it makes sense these signals are carried to the fetus.
The conditions that are specifically attributed to high fat and high glycemic index in the next generation are type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity to asthma, decreased bone density, and diminished immune function are found in the research. Also found in the literature were an increased incidence of liver and pancreas disorders. .
The outcomes of poor nutrition are devastating for your child and the future generation. Simple lifestyle modifications will make you healthier and positively impact your legacy. So, choose the pickles, but watch out for the ice cream while you are pregnant.
Obesity, high fat and high glycemic index foods cause many health issues in the next generation. Diseases such as diabetes, asthma, liver and pancreas disorders, anxiety and depression, decreased bone density and immune function are more evident in children when mom did not have a healthy diet during their pregnancy. So, what should a pregnant women eat? And how can she reduce the degree of impact on her unborn child?
Common sense needs to prevail. If you are obese and pregnant, keep your weight gain to a minimum of 15-25 pounds. Typically, junk food like chips, fast food, ice cream, and baked goods like donuts, cookies, and bagels generally have a high glycemic index and are loaded with fat. But decreasing fat is not good enough, the high glycemic index still exists in those foods. Also, most low fat products have increased sugar and carbohydrates to make up for the flavor lost by decreasing the fat. The food pyramid is also not helpful as it encourages this high glycemic intake. Use the following recommendations to reduce calories and promote a healthy fetus that won’t suffer from diseases caused by poor nutrition.
We all care about the health of our children. You can make a major impact on their lifetime health, and yours, when you take control of what is in your control – food choices. Choose wisely now, and you and your child will be able to celebrate long healthy lives.
Dr Kristina Sargent is a chiropractic physician with a Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice and 18 years experience. Her mission is to engage, educate and empower people to take control of their health to prevent chronic diseases and lead successful lives, through serving people with alternatives to medication. Her toolbox includes personalized diet recommendations, weight loss, exercise, chiropractic care, positive thoughts, prayer and meditation, and massage therapy. Her office, Restor Healing Centre, is located in Wheaton, Il. The website is www.RestorNow.com.
Painful Periods? ASSERT Yourself
Most women have experienced painful menstrual cramping, known as dysmenorrhea. For some women the cramps are debilitating; others experience only a slight discomfort.
What causes painful periods?
Medical science believes that the hormone prostaglandin triggers uterine contractions.1 This hormone is secreted during ovulation. Current medical thought is if you don’t ovulate, you won’t have uterine contractions and therefore won’t experience cramping. That is why oral contraceptives are prescribed for painful periods.2 When the oral contraceptive doesn’t work, conventional medicine starts looking at other possible causes from endometriosis to fibroids and cysts; and from pelvic inflammatory disease to chronic yeast infections and emotional stress.
All of the above can be responses to slight imbalances within a woman’s delicate endocrine system. Often times the imbalance can be so minute that it is difficult even for modern science to detect. These sub-clinical imbalances can throw off the entire endocrine system so that it no longer functions properly, thus creating a dysfunction in the way a woman’s body metabolizes hormones.
It’s not in your head, but it can be your lifestyle
Although we understand that painful periods are due to hormonal imbalances, stress, poor diet, lack of appropriate exercise or sleep, and either our modern “on-the-go-lifestyle” or its antithesis, the “couch potato sedentary lifestyle”, can make the problem worse.
Even Western medicine recommends diet and lifestyle changes coupled with prescription medications and antidepressants or tranquilizers. Of course, with large fibroids or severe endometriosis, doctors tend to recommend surgery to correct those symptoms. Although these may bring temporary relief, the medications and surgeries can cause unwanted side effects and do not address the underlying cause of painful periods.3 Remember, fibroids and endometriosis are just symptoms, not diseases.
The Severe Symptom Watch
However, some symptoms may indicate the need for western medical intervention. Contact your doctor if your painful periods are accompanied by any of the following:
- Increased vaginal discharge or sudden foul-smelling discharge
- High fever
- Severe pain occurring at times other than menstruation
- You have had an IUD for three months or longer
What else can a woman do?
She can ASSERT herself:
Acupuncture
Supplement
Self-massage
Eat properly
Relax and meditate
Take time for the right kind of exercise
Acupuncture
In 1997, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a consensus report that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhea (painful periods).4 A licensed acupuncturist with a degree in Oriental Medicine can address the causes of painful periods (including endometriosis, fibroids, etc.) naturally, without medication or surgery, by restoring balance and harmony, both physically and emotionally.
Supplement
Use a high-potency multivitamin and mineral complex with vitamins A, C, E, B complex, zinc, and selenium. Chamomile tea soothes cramps and nausea; and evening primrose oil helps to ease bloating and water retention. Black cohosh, blue cohosh, and chaste tree supplements have been known to relieve cramps, breast tenderness, headaches, pain and hormonal imbalances. Add Royal Jelly and bee pollen to your diet; studies have shown that women given bee pollen and royal jelly supplements were able to alleviate their menstrual problems. A Harvard University study showed that women taking vitamin B6 were able to normalize their menstrual cycles. And blue-green algae has been known to regulate metabolism, nourish the endocrine system, and relieve painful periods also. Some women have found that natural progesterone cream helps relieve menstrual cramps.5
Self-massage
There are two major acupuncture points in the ear that help relieve menstrual cramping. The Endocrine Center is located in the intertragic notch—the little notch in your ear just above the earlobe. The Shen Men (calming point) and the Reproductive Center are located in the triangular fossa—the little triangular shaped indentation in the top part of the ear. With your index finger, perform a daily massage of those two areas of the ear until they are warm.
This abdominal massage is ideal for painful periods.
- Start by stroking clockwise around your abdomen with one hand following the other in a circle, using the whole surface of your hands.
- Then knead all over your abdomen with your fingers and thumbs.
- Then roll onto your side to knead your hips and bottom.
- Turn onto your back and stroke around your abdomen again.
Eat properly
Eliminate caffeine and nicotine. Start eating organic foods and hormone-free meats. The pesticides and hormones found in produce, meats, fish, and eggs contain synthetic estrogen-like substances which have a negative effect on a woman’s endocrine system.6 Eating more alkaline foods provide the right pH for balancing the endocrine system and hormone production. Low-fat, high-protein foods, such as tuna, lentils, cottage cheese, etc., help boost energy levels. Increase your intake of foods with tyrosine, the amino acid that helps improve energy and concentration levels. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help alleviate cramps (salmon, tuna, flaxseed, and omega-3 enriched eggs). Avoid processed foods as they usually have high sodium content and thus create more water retention and bloating.
Relax and meditate
Stress creates a physical response in our bodies that aggravate painful periods. Stress hormones produce the “fight or flight” response which was important from an evolutionary perspective. But today most of us live in environments that don’t require us to be in a “fight or flight” mode. Our stress response is today geared toward our work stressors, emotional issues, family issues, financial problems, worry, etc. Stress hormones redirect blood flow in such a way that blood over-nourishes certain parts of the endocrine system and under-nourishes others, so we don’t produce the right balance of hormones.7 And thus create increased PMS symptoms, including painful periods. Take warm baths. Use guided-imagery or meditation CD’s. See your acupuncturist, as acupuncture is extremely effective in helping the body deal with stress, insomnia, depression, and pain.
Take time to exercise properly
Over-exercise, pushing your body to its limit, is not appropriate for relief of menstrual cramps. Gentle Hatha Yoga offers an elegant way for a woman to help balance her mind, body and spirit. From the relaxing breath-work to the gentle stretches, yoga provides the perfect combination of exercise and healing that elicits a complete healing response from the body.
Remember, painful periods and other PMS symptoms are not a definition of who you are. It does not mean you are broken. It means that your body is hormonally and energetically imbalanced. ASSERT yourself and become physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually balanced—and start feeling like the woman you were meant to be.
Ian Wahl, DA, LAc, CH is a Doctor of Acupuncture and herbalist who specializes in women’s health and reproductive wellness. He is the Director of the Natural Fertility Health Centers (www.FertileSpirit.com), as well as the founder of the Wahls of Wellness (www.WahlsOfWellness.com) and the Midwest Allergy Relief Centers (www.MidwestAllergyRelief.com).
1 Hill, Ashley, http://www.obgyn.net/women/women.asp?page=/women/articles/dysmen_dah
2 Smith, Roger and Kaunitz, Andrew, Painful Menstrual Periods, http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~3PP3HNdnnTFVBkt
3 Coco AS. Dysmenorrhea. American Family Physician. 1999; 60: 489-497.
4 National Institutes of Health Consensus Report on Acupuncture, http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-pain.htm
5 How to Use Progesterone Cream. http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/how-to-use-progesterone-cream.html
6 Jacobs, M. The Silent Invaders: Pesticides, Livelihoods, and Women’s Health. ZED Books LTD. 2002.
7 Mayo Clinic Staff. Meditation. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070
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