I came across this interesting article on the menopause and osteporosis. It’s definitely worth a read.

Osteoporosis - What can I do to Prevent it?
Author: Barbara C. Phillips

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You normally don’t know it until something like a fracture occurs. In reality, your bones have been loosing strength for years.

There are millions of people with osteoporosis, and the vast majority of them are women. Bone is a living tissue that consistently breaks down and rebuilds. As we enter our 40’s and 50’s, the rebuilding is having a hard time keeping up with the breaking down…thus a net loss.

While some of the risk factors cannot be modified (family history, small body frame size, racial/ethnic makeup, surgery (removal of ovaries) and menopause), other factors can be modified, and thus prevent or delay the onset of osteoporosis.

So what can you do?

• Eating a diet rich in calcium throughout life is important. What does that mean? Low fat dairy food, canned fish with soft bones such as salmon, dark green leafy vegetables and calcium fortified foods.
• If you need a supplement, the current recommendations are for people over 50 to have about 1200mg per day between diet and supplementation. Studies on women with osteoporosis in nursing homes have been shown to have a reduction of fractures just from calcium and vitamin D without other interventions.
• Vitamin D is necessary for your body to absorb the calcium. Being out in the sun for 20 minutes every day is usually sufficient. Foods that are high in vitamin D include eggs, fatty fish, cereals and fortified milk. Many calcium supplements and multivitamins have vitamin D as well. Recommendations include 400 IU of Vitamin D per day if you are less than 70 years of age, and 600 IU if you are over 70.
• Exercise! Once again the “E” word presents itself. Weight bearing exercise actually prevents the loss of bone. The stress on bone when you walk, play tennis, jog or dance actually stimulates your bone to increase its density. Not only that, but your improved muscle strength will protect you if you should fall. Once again, the current recommendation for exercise is 30 minutes of activity daily.
• Some medications can increase your risk for developing osteoporosis. For example steroids, some anti-seizure medications, some cancer medications, and long term use of Depo-Provera (birth control). If you take too much thyroid medication, or your thyroid glad is overactive your bone could be stimulated to break down faster. Talk with your provider to see if any modifications can be made.
• What else? Smoking, carbonated beverages and excessive alcohol have all been implicated in increasing you risk for osteoporosis. Consider eliminating, or at least reducing these habits from your life.

Recommendations:

• Get a gone density scan (DEXA). They are non-invasive and give an accurate measurement of your bone density. The heel test will only give you a ball park figure, and are not always accurate. The DEXA scan will give you a T-score which will tell you and your provider if your density is normal, if you have osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis), or osteoporosis. With that information you and your provider can decide on the best plan of action for you.
• If you have osteoporosis, follow the treatment recommendation of your provider, incorporate the dietary and activity recommendation made here, and work to reduce your risk of falls in your home.
• Good health practices will go a long way in preventing and treating any problems. Once again, diet and exercise play a major role in this largely preventable disease.

Women today want to live long, healthy and active lives. Prevention and early treatment of osteoporosis will go a long way towards vibrant and successful aging.

For over 26 years, Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP has been involved in health care. Now, as the founder of OlderWiserWomen, LLC, that experience and passion is focused on Women who want to experience the freedom, magic and wisdom of successful aging. She can be reached through http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com

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Menopause and Hair Loss

Author: Cathy Taylor

 

The onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women fear the most. These days many more women are also experiencing thinning and bald spots as they mature, and both men and women are reaching out for new solutions. Even though there is no real ‘cure’, there are many things that can be done to help.

Both hormones and genes are to blame for menopause causing acute hair loss, as is the aging process. Confirming the causes of your loss with a competent and experienced dermatologist is the first step in determining your best treatment options.

It’s possible to have temporary loss of hair caused by physical stress, emotional stress, thyroid abnormalities, medications and hormonal changes (such as androgens and estrogens during menopause) normally associated with females. Tension on the hair by prolonged use of hair weaving or corn rows can also cause permanent loss.

There are autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata that cause patchy loss of hair often in small circular areas in different areas of the scalp. Alopecia Totalis is a total loss of hair on the scalp and is considered an advanced form of Areata. Alopecia Universalis is total hair loss of the entire body. People with diseases such as diabetes and lupus have also reported losing hair as a result.

It’s normal to shed some hair each day as about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time during a normal phase that lasts for 2 to 6 years at one time. Some women notice they are losing hair about 3 months after delivering a child. This is related to a hormone loss and is usually temporary.

Several medicines have been known to cause hair loss such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines used for gout and in chemotherapy to treat cancer. Also, the use of vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants has been known to cause hair loss.

Male pattern baldness is usually inherited from your genes. An over abundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is an active form of testosterone, within the hair follicle can create this type of hair loss. Current medications are aimed at slowing this common type of baldness including Minoxidil which is commonly called Rogaine and is available without a prescription. Both men and women can apply this product to the scalp. Another medicine, Finasteride, and called Propecia is available in pill form without prescription but is meant only for men. It can take up to 6 months in order to tell if these medications are helping.

Remember, the onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women and men fear the most. Even though there is no real cute, there are many things that can be done to help. Select the Hair Loss Doc Shop to locate a doctor near you.

About the Author

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative–com@cox.net or by visiting www.menopauseinfo.org or www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

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Easing menopause naturally

Author: Anonymous

 

IF MENOPAUSE IS A NATURAL PHASE of womanhood, why not treat the symptoms the natural way? Although some healthcare providers recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the standard treatment for menopause, there remains much controversy on the advantages and risks associated with the treatment.

If natural is the way you would like to go, here are seven alternatives that are tried and proven by many women around the world:

TAKE MORE GOOD BACTERIA: To help with metabolism and utilization of oestrogen during menopause, it is essential to have Lactobacillus and Bifidus (good bacteria) cultures in our intestines. Some believe these “good” bacteria help reduce the occurrence of yeast infections. You can find a good dose of these helpful bacteria in various nutritional formulas in the supermarket.

PUMP UP ON CERTAIN VITAMINS AND MINERALS: According to registered pharmacist Steven D. Ottariano in his book, Medicinal Herbal Therapy: A Pharmacist’s Viewpoint, certain vitamins and minerals can be advantageous for menopausal women. These include:

• Vitamin E (400-8001U daily) - helps reduce night sweats and hot flashes

• Vitamin C (1,000-2,000mg daily) - aids in the absorption of vitamin E and decreases capillary fragility

• Calcium citrate (1,500mg daily) - helps circulate lipid concentrations in postmenopausal women

• Magnesium (500-750mg daily) - aids in the proper absorption of calcium

WATCH YOUR DIET: Women who are entering the menopausal phase have to monitor their fat intake, as due to the loss of oestrogen (a woman’s natural heart protection) her risk of heart disease will go up. This is why every woman should limit her consumption of meats high in saturated fats such as beef and chicken as these meats might reduce the body’s ability to metabolize oestrogen.

Also avoid foods high in caffeine and carbonated beverages which contain phosphorous and can elevate bone loss. Limit your intake of excessive sugary foods as these restrict your liver’s ability to metabolize oestrogen and impairs the immune system.

Healthy foods include Soya which contains phytoestrogens. Grains, wheat, brown rice, almonds, cashews, oats, tofu, and fresh fruits and vegetables are also highly recommended for menopausal women.

GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE: This is probably the best way of addressing menopausal symptoms, and every other physical problem known to women. Regular exercise (at least three or four times a week) helps prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and reduce the risk of many types of cancer. It improves a woman’s overall health and well-being throughout every phase of her life.

NATURAL PROGESTERONE AND OESTROGEN: Many women count on progesterone for effective menopausal symptom management. It is available in the market in compounded prescriptions. Some women prefer using a cream product over an oral form as the former method requires a lower dose (because it does not have to be metabolized by the liver). Furthermore, natural progesterone causes virtually no side effects. As for oestrogen compounds, there are three types available by prescription from pharmacists - Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol. Natural oestrogen compounds can contain a combination of these three kinds of oestrogen.

The most common formulation is called Tri-oestrogen made up of 10 per cent Estrone, 10 per cent Estradiol, and 80 per cent Estriol. A combination of two types of oestrogen compounds is called Bi-oestrogen.

RED CLOVER ISOFLAVONE: Red clover isoflavone supplements have been shown to have a significant positive effect on the rate of bone loss, boost cardiovascular health, and may offer protection against breast cancer. The findings is based on a research published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of the British Menopause Society.

Further evidence suggests that red clover reduces the occurrence of hot flashes, one of the most common complaints of menopausal women.

BLACK COHOSH: In olden days, black cohosh was used by native Americans to treat gynaecologic symptoms. Europeans have also used the herb extract since the 19th Century. Its widespread use was based on observations that black cohosh successfully relieved menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, fatigue and palpitations. Lately, clinical studies have shown that it has beneficial effects on our bones too.

The health-promoting properties of black cohosh have been extensively researched to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness. The extract is taken from the root to produce standardized black cohosh formulations. Women can now get the safe, clinically proven herbal supplement at any traditional food, drug or mass retail store.

When taken according to proper directions, the supplement has little or no side effects. Every woman should consult a doctor or a pharmacist before she begins black cohosh supplementation.

All menopausal women are different, and it may take some time for you to find the best form or combination of treatments to suit your needs. Again, a healthy lifestyle can make a real difference to how you feel and prevent some of the long-term effects of oestrogen deficiency (e.g. heart disease and osteoporosis).

Equally important too is having a positive outlook on life; to help you cope with the changes in your body.

About the Author

www.medical-explorer.com

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