I just read your post about the similarity between symptoms of menopause and hypothyroidism. I just wanted to make you aware that there are FDA-approved home diagnostic tests for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels. These can be an affordable alternative for screening for hypothyroidism for those that may not have health insurance coverage.
As a pharmacist and cancer survivor I am well aware of the challenges faced today with our current economic and health care systems. I am also an advocate of preventive health care. Unfortunately, many individuals are not able to receive the preventive tests that they need.
To increase peoples access to preventive screenings we have created what is virtually an online health fair. We are also available to partner with businesses to offer their employees a discount code for their employees to use for purchases in return for the business letting their employees know about our services. This partnership is at no cost to the businesses.
I would be very excited for you to take a look at our site and perhaps keep it in mind for future reference. I have also included a recent press release to give you a better insight to our company.
Sent in by:
Michael Craycraft R.Ph.
President
Home Health Screening, LLC
(561) 703-1788
mcraycraft@homehealthscreening.com
www.HomeHealthScreening.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
the Bitch the Crone & the Harlot
I recently read a book by Susan Schachterle, The Bitch the Crone & the Harlot. First I have to say that the title didn't make me want to dive right in, but I had a feeling there was rich material inside.
I was right. As someone who writes often about the transition through menopause,this book was enlightening and heart-warming. Rest assured, you are not alone.
According to Susan, the Bitch is a woman who makes things happen without doing damage (to others). The Crone is a woman who has constant access to a depth of pratical wisdom younger women haven't had time to develop. And, the Harlot is that woman whose sensuality is used not to manipulate, but rather to express her profound connection to all of life and its Source.
I actually used my highlighter in this book - something I rarely do any more. But Susan depicts this spiritual transition in life so beautifully. I believe it offers hope and a fresh new perspective that every woman can benefit from reading.
Here's one of my favorite highlights.
The Bitch's power to make things happen in a way that does no harm has a five-pronged foundation:
1. An authentic desire to be of service.
2. A profound longing to live as an expression of the Divine.
...You'll have to read the book to get the rest. This book is full of these kinds of gems that give you insight into becoming a real woman in the second half of your life.
You can reach Susan at www.BitchCroneHarlot.com
You can buy the book here
I was right. As someone who writes often about the transition through menopause,this book was enlightening and heart-warming. Rest assured, you are not alone.
According to Susan, the Bitch is a woman who makes things happen without doing damage (to others). The Crone is a woman who has constant access to a depth of pratical wisdom younger women haven't had time to develop. And, the Harlot is that woman whose sensuality is used not to manipulate, but rather to express her profound connection to all of life and its Source.
I actually used my highlighter in this book - something I rarely do any more. But Susan depicts this spiritual transition in life so beautifully. I believe it offers hope and a fresh new perspective that every woman can benefit from reading.
Here's one of my favorite highlights.
The Bitch's power to make things happen in a way that does no harm has a five-pronged foundation:
1. An authentic desire to be of service.
2. A profound longing to live as an expression of the Divine.
...You'll have to read the book to get the rest. This book is full of these kinds of gems that give you insight into becoming a real woman in the second half of your life.
You can reach Susan at www.BitchCroneHarlot.com
You can buy the book here
Monday, September 29, 2008
Signs of Menopause
-- menopause has stages, perimenopause, early menopause, menopause, post-menopause
-- menopause refers to a specific event – the date of your last period
-- perimenopause symptoms can actually begin very early in a woman's life and last for an undefined period of time until the actual menopause occurs
-- menopause taper off over a year or two and then you are at increased risk for longer term health problems related to low estrogen and need to work with your doctor to manage the levels, there are a variety of treatments available both natural and synthetic in variety
-- during perimenopause your ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs and producing estrogen and other hormones (progesterone, androgen, testosterone)
-- in the years before the actual menopause (usually 4 to 10 years for the average woman) fluctuations of hormones occur and your menstruation become erratic and unpredictable
-- the symptoms of menopause and hypothyroidism are often confused and similar, if you're unsure a thyroid screening might be ordered by your doctor to determine which is affecting you, be sure to discuss all symptoms with your doctor
-- for the average woman menopause occurs around age 50
-- More than just hot flashes, symptoms can include, problems sleeping, emotional fluctutions, anxiety and constant state of worrying, irregular periods, drastic changes in menstrual cycle, headaches, vaginal dryness, problems remembering, weight changes, and more...
-- Black cohosh is the most common natural herbal remedy for many menopausal symptoms and can be bought at many health and drug stores, talk to your doctor before using this treatment
-- Often overlooked and rarely mentioned, it is still possible to become pregnant even after menopause started!! Sexually active women should continue to use birth control and preventatives for at least one year
-- menopause refers to a specific event – the date of your last period
-- perimenopause symptoms can actually begin very early in a woman's life and last for an undefined period of time until the actual menopause occurs
-- menopause taper off over a year or two and then you are at increased risk for longer term health problems related to low estrogen and need to work with your doctor to manage the levels, there are a variety of treatments available both natural and synthetic in variety
-- during perimenopause your ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs and producing estrogen and other hormones (progesterone, androgen, testosterone)
-- in the years before the actual menopause (usually 4 to 10 years for the average woman) fluctuations of hormones occur and your menstruation become erratic and unpredictable
-- the symptoms of menopause and hypothyroidism are often confused and similar, if you're unsure a thyroid screening might be ordered by your doctor to determine which is affecting you, be sure to discuss all symptoms with your doctor
-- for the average woman menopause occurs around age 50
-- More than just hot flashes, symptoms can include, problems sleeping, emotional fluctutions, anxiety and constant state of worrying, irregular periods, drastic changes in menstrual cycle, headaches, vaginal dryness, problems remembering, weight changes, and more...
-- Black cohosh is the most common natural herbal remedy for many menopausal symptoms and can be bought at many health and drug stores, talk to your doctor before using this treatment
-- Often overlooked and rarely mentioned, it is still possible to become pregnant even after menopause started!! Sexually active women should continue to use birth control and preventatives for at least one year
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Less HRT linked to breast cancer drop: expert
An international conference on breast cancer in Sydney has heard that decreasing use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is connected to decreasing breast cancer rates.
Professor John Boyages from the New South Wales Breast Cancer Institute says both the incidence of the disease and death rates have gone down in Australia and the United States in the last few years.
He says there is a link between the menopause treatment and breast cancer.
"The important thing is short term HRT is safe, but there has been a reduction in breast cancer incidence in the last couple of years," he said.
"We think that is due to two things - reduction in long-term usage of HRT, and the screening program finding cases a lot earlier."
Report by ABC News
Professor John Boyages from the New South Wales Breast Cancer Institute says both the incidence of the disease and death rates have gone down in Australia and the United States in the last few years.
He says there is a link between the menopause treatment and breast cancer.
"The important thing is short term HRT is safe, but there has been a reduction in breast cancer incidence in the last couple of years," he said.
"We think that is due to two things - reduction in long-term usage of HRT, and the screening program finding cases a lot earlier."
Report by ABC News
Hormone Therapy May Be Safe For Postmenopausal BRCA Mutation Carriers
The use of hormone therapy was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who carry BRCA mutations, according to a case-control study.
Women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene may opt to have their ovaries removed to lower their risk of developing breast cancer. The surgery, however, induces menopause, and thus some women opt to take hormone therapy to reduce its symptoms. The impact of hormone therapy on the risk of breast cancer in these women is not known.
Read more
Women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene may opt to have their ovaries removed to lower their risk of developing breast cancer. The surgery, however, induces menopause, and thus some women opt to take hormone therapy to reduce its symptoms. The impact of hormone therapy on the risk of breast cancer in these women is not known.
Read more
8 Facts About Osteoporosis
If you think osteoporosis is an “old lady” disease, think again: It can happen at any age—and men get it, too.
Surprised? Here are eight other things you might not know about this debilitating disease, which causes bones to become so weak that they often break—sometimes even after something as mild as a sneeze.
1. It’s silent. Sure, a hip fracture is kind of a big warning bell, as is a hump in the spine or loss of height. But in its early stages, osteoporosis, like heart disease, is typically asymptomatic. “Patients ask, ‘Why do I need a bone-density test? My bones don’t hurt,’” says Raul Romea, M.D., a rheumatologist in private practice affiliated with Catholic Healthcare West/Mercy in Sacramento. But the disease’s silence is what makes screening that much more important, says Romea, especially since it’s treatable. (Medications can’t cure the disease, but they can help to slow it down.) The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends a BMD (bone mineral density) test (typically a DXA scan) for women 65 and older, men 70 and older, and younger individuals with risk factors, including being small and thin, a diet low in calcium or vitamin D, smoking, high alcohol consumption and use of certain medications, such as steroids.
2. Prevention starts early. “You shouldn’t wait until you turn 50 to say, ‘Ooh, I’d better up my calcium,’” says Therese Rosellini, D.O., an OB-GYN for Sutter Medical Group in Elk Grove. In fact, the time to start paying attention to calcium, vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise—the keys to building strong bones—is when we’re young, since most bone growth happens by age 20 and strong bones are one of the best defenses against osteoporosis. By continuing those preventive measures as we age and begin to lose bone—a process that rapidly accelerates for women during menopause (estrogen loss equals bone loss)—we’ll be better equipped to maintain and “remodel” bone, Rosellini says. (Translation: Remodeling is the continual process of old bone breaking down and new bone being rebuilt.)
3. Sacramento sunshine can help protect you. But only if you take advantage of this free source of vitamin D—something that a surprising number of locals apparently are not doing, according to Michael Okimura, M.D., an endocrinologist and director of bone density services for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville. “When we screen for possible low vitamin D levels as a secondary cause for low bone density, up to 40 percent are found to have a low level of vitamin D,” he says. “This surprises us.” The bottom line: Living in a sunny climate does not automatically mean you’re getting enough of the “sunshine vitamin,” so you need to make a concerted effort to meet the current daily recommendations: 800–1,000 IU of vitamin D3 for adults 50 and older; 400–800 IU for those younger than 50. Just catching 10 to 15 minutes of rays a day should provide an adequate dose of D, says Okimura, though you also can get it through supplements and such dietary sources as fortified milk, egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. And the “mature” among us need to be extra careful, as we generate less vitamin D and absorb it less efficiently as we age.
4. Calcium doesn’t have to mean dairy. All you lactose-intolerant, allergic, vegan or just down-on-dairy people can breathe a sigh of relief: Calcium does not have to mean dairy. “There are other good food sources of calcium,” says Romea. Look for calcium-fortified versions of such foods as orange juice, cereal, bread and soy; other good sources include tofu and dark leafy greens. So should we carry around a notepad to tally up our daily calcium intake? Romea is realistic. “I know patients can’t go around counting calcium every day,” he says. Instead, he recommends taking supplements to ensure meeting the recommended daily amounts: 1,200 mg for adults 50 and older, 1,000 mg for those younger than 50. But calcium is no good without vitamin D, notes Romea, so be sure you’re taking both. “If you’re not taking them together, it’s like buying a car and not putting gas in it.” The reason? Vitamin D plays a huge role in calcium absorption.
5. “Weight-bearing exercise” does not mean pumping weights. (That’s strength training, which can help, too.) What weight-bearing does mean: a feet-hitting-the-ground form of exercise, such as walking, running, tennis or dancing, which impacts the bones and helps to strengthen them. Warning: Low-impact exercise—bicycling, swimming—won’t cut it. “People tend to think because they are fit and bicycle many miles a year they are safe [from osteoporosis], but they are not,” says UC Davis’ John Robbins, M.D., an internist and osteoporosis expert. “I know about five male cyclists in the Sacramento area who have broken their hips, and they all tested positive for osteoporosis.” Such athletes tend to be thin, too, Robbins notes—which brings us to a little nugget that may put a smile on the faces of those who are, shall we say, on the rounded side.
6. Fat is where it’s at. Don’t take that too literally. But it’s a known fact that thin people are at higher risk of osteoporosis than those who are carrying a few extra pounds. In a study of premenopausal women conducted by the USDA’s Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, researchers found significantly lower bone mineral content and bone mineral density in “restrained eaters” (you know, the ones who watch calories like a hawk) than in those whose eating habits were less, well, restrained. Now, we’re not suggesting you routinely break out the bonbons—obesity is linked with way too many scary health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes—but it does serve as a reminder that moderation is best: While it’s not good to be too tubby, being thin can have its pitfalls, too, frail bones being one of them.
7. African Americans luck out. If you’re African American, count yourself lucky: You are far less likely to get osteoporosis than those of other ethnic backgrounds. Twice as many Caucasian women ages 65 and older experience bone fractures as do African American women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The reason? “The African American population have stronger bones and tend to have greater bone density than Caucasians,” says Kaiser’s Okimura. Asian women ages 50 and older are estimated to have the same incidence as Caucasian women in the same age group—20 percent—while Hispanic women are showing the most rapidly increasing risk of osteoporosis. Still, that doesn’t mean African American women are off the hook: Osteoporosis is underrecognized and undertreated in this population, so they should take the same lifestyle precautions and follow the same screening guidelines as everyone else.
8. Future shock. It’s pure speculation, but Sutter’s Rosellini thinks more women will develop osteoporosis in the not-too-distant future, for one reason alone: Today’s menopausal women are increasingly “anti” hormone replacement therapy, making them more vulnerable to the bone loss that comes with estrogen loss. “Everybody went off their hormones around 2002–03, when the Women’s Health Initiative study came out,” she says. While no one can blame women for just saying “no” to taking hormones—the WHI reported that they could raise the risk of heart attack, blood clots, stroke and breast cancer, after all—one of the not-so-nifty consequences of that choice may be an increased risk of osteoporosis. “Give it another five years and we’re gonna see those DXA scans coming back with not very favorable results,” says Rosellini. “I think this will put osteoporosis more in the forefront of medicine in the future.”
Wanted: Better Bones— Osteoporosis, or “porous bone,” affects an estimated 10 million Americans and is considered a major U.S. public health threat. Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation
• For every 10 people with osteoporosis, eight are women and two are men.
• A bone mineral density test is used not only to diagnose osteoporosis, but to determine risk of bone fracture.
• Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass during the five to seven years after menopause.
• A woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.
• An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients ages 50 and older die in the year following the fracture.
Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation
Surprised? Here are eight other things you might not know about this debilitating disease, which causes bones to become so weak that they often break—sometimes even after something as mild as a sneeze.
1. It’s silent. Sure, a hip fracture is kind of a big warning bell, as is a hump in the spine or loss of height. But in its early stages, osteoporosis, like heart disease, is typically asymptomatic. “Patients ask, ‘Why do I need a bone-density test? My bones don’t hurt,’” says Raul Romea, M.D., a rheumatologist in private practice affiliated with Catholic Healthcare West/Mercy in Sacramento. But the disease’s silence is what makes screening that much more important, says Romea, especially since it’s treatable. (Medications can’t cure the disease, but they can help to slow it down.) The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends a BMD (bone mineral density) test (typically a DXA scan) for women 65 and older, men 70 and older, and younger individuals with risk factors, including being small and thin, a diet low in calcium or vitamin D, smoking, high alcohol consumption and use of certain medications, such as steroids.
2. Prevention starts early. “You shouldn’t wait until you turn 50 to say, ‘Ooh, I’d better up my calcium,’” says Therese Rosellini, D.O., an OB-GYN for Sutter Medical Group in Elk Grove. In fact, the time to start paying attention to calcium, vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise—the keys to building strong bones—is when we’re young, since most bone growth happens by age 20 and strong bones are one of the best defenses against osteoporosis. By continuing those preventive measures as we age and begin to lose bone—a process that rapidly accelerates for women during menopause (estrogen loss equals bone loss)—we’ll be better equipped to maintain and “remodel” bone, Rosellini says. (Translation: Remodeling is the continual process of old bone breaking down and new bone being rebuilt.)
3. Sacramento sunshine can help protect you. But only if you take advantage of this free source of vitamin D—something that a surprising number of locals apparently are not doing, according to Michael Okimura, M.D., an endocrinologist and director of bone density services for Kaiser Permanente Sacramento and Roseville. “When we screen for possible low vitamin D levels as a secondary cause for low bone density, up to 40 percent are found to have a low level of vitamin D,” he says. “This surprises us.” The bottom line: Living in a sunny climate does not automatically mean you’re getting enough of the “sunshine vitamin,” so you need to make a concerted effort to meet the current daily recommendations: 800–1,000 IU of vitamin D3 for adults 50 and older; 400–800 IU for those younger than 50. Just catching 10 to 15 minutes of rays a day should provide an adequate dose of D, says Okimura, though you also can get it through supplements and such dietary sources as fortified milk, egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. And the “mature” among us need to be extra careful, as we generate less vitamin D and absorb it less efficiently as we age.
4. Calcium doesn’t have to mean dairy. All you lactose-intolerant, allergic, vegan or just down-on-dairy people can breathe a sigh of relief: Calcium does not have to mean dairy. “There are other good food sources of calcium,” says Romea. Look for calcium-fortified versions of such foods as orange juice, cereal, bread and soy; other good sources include tofu and dark leafy greens. So should we carry around a notepad to tally up our daily calcium intake? Romea is realistic. “I know patients can’t go around counting calcium every day,” he says. Instead, he recommends taking supplements to ensure meeting the recommended daily amounts: 1,200 mg for adults 50 and older, 1,000 mg for those younger than 50. But calcium is no good without vitamin D, notes Romea, so be sure you’re taking both. “If you’re not taking them together, it’s like buying a car and not putting gas in it.” The reason? Vitamin D plays a huge role in calcium absorption.
5. “Weight-bearing exercise” does not mean pumping weights. (That’s strength training, which can help, too.) What weight-bearing does mean: a feet-hitting-the-ground form of exercise, such as walking, running, tennis or dancing, which impacts the bones and helps to strengthen them. Warning: Low-impact exercise—bicycling, swimming—won’t cut it. “People tend to think because they are fit and bicycle many miles a year they are safe [from osteoporosis], but they are not,” says UC Davis’ John Robbins, M.D., an internist and osteoporosis expert. “I know about five male cyclists in the Sacramento area who have broken their hips, and they all tested positive for osteoporosis.” Such athletes tend to be thin, too, Robbins notes—which brings us to a little nugget that may put a smile on the faces of those who are, shall we say, on the rounded side.
6. Fat is where it’s at. Don’t take that too literally. But it’s a known fact that thin people are at higher risk of osteoporosis than those who are carrying a few extra pounds. In a study of premenopausal women conducted by the USDA’s Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, researchers found significantly lower bone mineral content and bone mineral density in “restrained eaters” (you know, the ones who watch calories like a hawk) than in those whose eating habits were less, well, restrained. Now, we’re not suggesting you routinely break out the bonbons—obesity is linked with way too many scary health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes—but it does serve as a reminder that moderation is best: While it’s not good to be too tubby, being thin can have its pitfalls, too, frail bones being one of them.
7. African Americans luck out. If you’re African American, count yourself lucky: You are far less likely to get osteoporosis than those of other ethnic backgrounds. Twice as many Caucasian women ages 65 and older experience bone fractures as do African American women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The reason? “The African American population have stronger bones and tend to have greater bone density than Caucasians,” says Kaiser’s Okimura. Asian women ages 50 and older are estimated to have the same incidence as Caucasian women in the same age group—20 percent—while Hispanic women are showing the most rapidly increasing risk of osteoporosis. Still, that doesn’t mean African American women are off the hook: Osteoporosis is underrecognized and undertreated in this population, so they should take the same lifestyle precautions and follow the same screening guidelines as everyone else.
8. Future shock. It’s pure speculation, but Sutter’s Rosellini thinks more women will develop osteoporosis in the not-too-distant future, for one reason alone: Today’s menopausal women are increasingly “anti” hormone replacement therapy, making them more vulnerable to the bone loss that comes with estrogen loss. “Everybody went off their hormones around 2002–03, when the Women’s Health Initiative study came out,” she says. While no one can blame women for just saying “no” to taking hormones—the WHI reported that they could raise the risk of heart attack, blood clots, stroke and breast cancer, after all—one of the not-so-nifty consequences of that choice may be an increased risk of osteoporosis. “Give it another five years and we’re gonna see those DXA scans coming back with not very favorable results,” says Rosellini. “I think this will put osteoporosis more in the forefront of medicine in the future.”
Wanted: Better Bones— Osteoporosis, or “porous bone,” affects an estimated 10 million Americans and is considered a major U.S. public health threat. Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation
• For every 10 people with osteoporosis, eight are women and two are men.
• A bone mineral density test is used not only to diagnose osteoporosis, but to determine risk of bone fracture.
• Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass during the five to seven years after menopause.
• A woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.
• An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients ages 50 and older die in the year following the fracture.
Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation
Hot flash - September is National Menopause Month!
I give up - is this annual recognition for menopause awareness or a celebration of menopause? If it's awareness, young women aren't worried about chin hairs, and the rest of us don't really need reminders. And if it's intended to be a celebration, what are we celebrating?
Some women sail through perimenopause. The rest of us hate them while we may have had as many as 10 years of symptoms. Perimenopause is the name for those endless years of sputtering ovaries that dispense hormones in a haphazard fashion leaving women wondering whether they will ever be able to sleep through the night again
Read more
Some women sail through perimenopause. The rest of us hate them while we may have had as many as 10 years of symptoms. Perimenopause is the name for those endless years of sputtering ovaries that dispense hormones in a haphazard fashion leaving women wondering whether they will ever be able to sleep through the night again
Read more
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Preventing Osteoporsis
Definition of Osteoporosis
Bone is a living tissue, comprising mainly calcium and protein. Healthy bone is always being remodeled; that is, small amounts are being absorbed in your body and small amounts are being replaced.
If more bone calcium is absorbed than is replaced, the density or the mass of the bone is reduced. The bone becomes progressively weaker, increasing the risk that it may break.
Osteoporosis means "porous bone." This condition develops when bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is removed.
Cause
More than 1.5 million fractures occur related to osteoporosis each year. Most people are unaware that they have osteoporosis until a fracture occurs.
The exact medical cause for osteoporosis is not known, but a number of factors are known to cause osteoporosis, including
Aging
Physical inactivity
Reduced levels of estrogen
Heredity
Excessive cortisone or thyroid hormone
Smoking
Excessive alcohol intake
The loss of bone tends to occur most in the spine, lower forearm above the wrist, and upper femur or thigh--the site of hip fractures. Spine fractures, wrist fractures, and hip fractures are common injuries in older persons.
A gradual loss of bone mass, generally beginning about age 35, is a fact of life for everyone. After growth is complete, women ultimately lose 30 to 50 percent of their bone density, and men lose 20 to 30 percent.
Women lose bone calcium at an accelerated pace once they go through menopause. Menstrual periods cease because a woman's body produces less estrogen hormone, which is important for the maintenance of bone mass or bone strength. Your family doctor or gynecologist may evaluate and recommend a treatment program of estrogen replacement therapy, calcitonin or other medications. To be most effective, the treatment program should begin at menopause.
Prevention
Although osteoporosis will occur in all persons as they age, the rate of progression and the effects can be modified with proper early diagnosis and treatment.
During growth and young adulthood, adequate calcium nutrition and vitamin D and regular weightbearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and dancing, three to four hours a week, build strong bones and are investments in future bone health.
Smoking and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol should be avoided because they increase bone loss. As people age, appropriate intake of calcium and vitamin D and regular exercise, as well as avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol use, are necessary to reduce loss of bone mass.
Treatment
Family doctors working with your orthopaedic surgeon can evaluate whether your bone density has been reduced, and can evaluate the cause for the reduction. Early treatment for osteoporosis is the most effective way to reduce bone loss and prevent fractures. However, treatment programs after a fracture also are of value and may help to prevent future fractures.
Current treatment methods can reduce bone loss, but there are no proven methods of restoring lost bone. Building bones through adequate calcium intake and exercise when you are young is an investment that will pay off years later with a reduced risk of hip and other fractures.
Above content provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor
Bone is a living tissue, comprising mainly calcium and protein. Healthy bone is always being remodeled; that is, small amounts are being absorbed in your body and small amounts are being replaced.
If more bone calcium is absorbed than is replaced, the density or the mass of the bone is reduced. The bone becomes progressively weaker, increasing the risk that it may break.
Osteoporosis means "porous bone." This condition develops when bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is removed.
Cause
More than 1.5 million fractures occur related to osteoporosis each year. Most people are unaware that they have osteoporosis until a fracture occurs.
The exact medical cause for osteoporosis is not known, but a number of factors are known to cause osteoporosis, including
Aging
Physical inactivity
Reduced levels of estrogen
Heredity
Excessive cortisone or thyroid hormone
Smoking
Excessive alcohol intake
The loss of bone tends to occur most in the spine, lower forearm above the wrist, and upper femur or thigh--the site of hip fractures. Spine fractures, wrist fractures, and hip fractures are common injuries in older persons.
A gradual loss of bone mass, generally beginning about age 35, is a fact of life for everyone. After growth is complete, women ultimately lose 30 to 50 percent of their bone density, and men lose 20 to 30 percent.
Women lose bone calcium at an accelerated pace once they go through menopause. Menstrual periods cease because a woman's body produces less estrogen hormone, which is important for the maintenance of bone mass or bone strength. Your family doctor or gynecologist may evaluate and recommend a treatment program of estrogen replacement therapy, calcitonin or other medications. To be most effective, the treatment program should begin at menopause.
Prevention
Although osteoporosis will occur in all persons as they age, the rate of progression and the effects can be modified with proper early diagnosis and treatment.
During growth and young adulthood, adequate calcium nutrition and vitamin D and regular weightbearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, and dancing, three to four hours a week, build strong bones and are investments in future bone health.
Smoking and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol should be avoided because they increase bone loss. As people age, appropriate intake of calcium and vitamin D and regular exercise, as well as avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol use, are necessary to reduce loss of bone mass.
Treatment
Family doctors working with your orthopaedic surgeon can evaluate whether your bone density has been reduced, and can evaluate the cause for the reduction. Early treatment for osteoporosis is the most effective way to reduce bone loss and prevent fractures. However, treatment programs after a fracture also are of value and may help to prevent future fractures.
Current treatment methods can reduce bone loss, but there are no proven methods of restoring lost bone. Building bones through adequate calcium intake and exercise when you are young is an investment that will pay off years later with a reduced risk of hip and other fractures.
Above content provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor
Gauging Your Age
Whose idea was this aging thing anyway?
No matter what we do to prevent it -- diet, exercise, supplements -- it seems we all must go through it.
That's the bad news. Here's the worse news. We reach our peak at 11 years old, says Dr. Robert Butler, president and CEO of the International Longevity Center in New York.
After that, it's all downhill.
"You can't delay the reality of aging," Butler says. "There's no escaping it."
Here's the somewhat good news. Many signs of aging are just that. They're perfectly normal and, in many instances, can be managed.
"It all sounds kind of dismal," says Dr. Ann Zerr, associate professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. "It's really diseases that bother people more than normal aging."
And if you're no fan of the passage of time, look at it this way: You're not alone
Read More
No matter what we do to prevent it -- diet, exercise, supplements -- it seems we all must go through it.
That's the bad news. Here's the worse news. We reach our peak at 11 years old, says Dr. Robert Butler, president and CEO of the International Longevity Center in New York.
After that, it's all downhill.
"You can't delay the reality of aging," Butler says. "There's no escaping it."
Here's the somewhat good news. Many signs of aging are just that. They're perfectly normal and, in many instances, can be managed.
"It all sounds kind of dismal," says Dr. Ann Zerr, associate professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. "It's really diseases that bother people more than normal aging."
And if you're no fan of the passage of time, look at it this way: You're not alone
Read More
Monday, September 08, 2008
Hypothyroidism
In the United States studies have shown the prevalence of hypothyroidism to be anywhere from 3-10%. Internationally the prevalence has been reported as 2-5%, increasing to 15% by age 75 years. Cretinism refers to congenital hypothyroidism, which has been estimated to affect one per 4000 newborns.
However, the numbers could be higher due to many cases that go undetected. Even when lab tests are in the “normal range” one must remember normal for one person may be inadequate for someone else. In my practice I look at each patient as an individual and optimize their thyroid function based on symptoms, clinical exam and lab findings.
Hypothyroidism is one of the most under diagnosed hormonal imbalances of aging. It is more common in women than men and the incidence increases with age. Other risk factors include having a family history of thyroid problems, a history of chronic fatigue syndrome, female gender, age greater than 50 yrs, exposure to radiation, chemical exposure (flouride, perchlorate), obesity or a history of thyroid surgery.
Click here to read the entire article
However, the numbers could be higher due to many cases that go undetected. Even when lab tests are in the “normal range” one must remember normal for one person may be inadequate for someone else. In my practice I look at each patient as an individual and optimize their thyroid function based on symptoms, clinical exam and lab findings.
Hypothyroidism is one of the most under diagnosed hormonal imbalances of aging. It is more common in women than men and the incidence increases with age. Other risk factors include having a family history of thyroid problems, a history of chronic fatigue syndrome, female gender, age greater than 50 yrs, exposure to radiation, chemical exposure (flouride, perchlorate), obesity or a history of thyroid surgery.
Click here to read the entire article
Friday, September 05, 2008
Interesting Exercise & Fitness Facts
-- More than 60 percent of women don't get the recommended amount of physical activity daily (30 minutes a day)
-- one in four women aren't physically active at all
-- exercise reduces the risk of developing diabetes
(8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.)
-- exercise lowers blood pressure
-- exercise reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol while raising levels of good" cholesterol
-- exercise slows your resting heart rate, enabling it to work more efficiently
-- physically active women experience less intense and fewer symptoms of menopause
-- weight-bearing exercise, like walking or riding a bike helps increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis
-- exercise can improve your quality of sleep
-- exercise releases endorphins to improve your mood and can even treat depression
-- exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues to strenghten heart and lungs
-- exercise improves your circulation
-- regular exercise helps to prevent back pain by increasing muscle strength
Great exercise options for women
-- yoga
-- pilates
-- jazzercise
-- walking
-- swimming
-- jogging or running
-- volleyball
-- rollerblading
-- water aerobics
-- dancing of all kinds
Exercise doesn't have to be complicated or even planned. Things to try
- doing housework quickly and to music
- take the stairs instead of the elevator
- doing yardwork, raking leaves, mowing the lawn
- be spontaneous and creative in your exercise choices
-- one in four women aren't physically active at all
-- exercise reduces the risk of developing diabetes
(8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.)
-- exercise lowers blood pressure
-- exercise reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol while raising levels of good" cholesterol
-- exercise slows your resting heart rate, enabling it to work more efficiently
-- physically active women experience less intense and fewer symptoms of menopause
-- weight-bearing exercise, like walking or riding a bike helps increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis
-- exercise can improve your quality of sleep
-- exercise releases endorphins to improve your mood and can even treat depression
-- exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues to strenghten heart and lungs
-- exercise improves your circulation
-- regular exercise helps to prevent back pain by increasing muscle strength
Great exercise options for women
-- yoga
-- pilates
-- jazzercise
-- walking
-- swimming
-- jogging or running
-- volleyball
-- rollerblading
-- water aerobics
-- dancing of all kinds
Exercise doesn't have to be complicated or even planned. Things to try
- doing housework quickly and to music
- take the stairs instead of the elevator
- doing yardwork, raking leaves, mowing the lawn
- be spontaneous and creative in your exercise choices
Thursday, September 04, 2008
30 Years of Marriage and the Fire That Could Destroy It All
Please come visit Jed Diamond at www.MenAlive.com and get your free e-newsletter.
We live in Northern California, Mendocino County, in a wonderful little town called Willits. We actually live up in the hills outside of town. We are surrounded by beautiful, tall trees, and wild-life abounds. Each summer we worry about fire and each summer some crazy people start fires somewhere in our area. Luckily we haven’t been affected-- until last night. In the midst of a hot, dry spell, it began to cloud up and we felt the first raindrops. We were glad to be getting some rain to lessen the fire danger. We weren’t prepared for what happened next.
In the heat of the summer very little of the rain actually hit the ground. It evaporated before we could receive its healing coolness. But the thunder and lightening did come close. By the next day we gradually learned that hundreds of fires had been started by lightening strikes all over Northern California.
As we drove down our ridge late in the afternoon to join our friends Al and Donna in celebrating 30 years of marriage, we could see smoke in a number of areas, but far off, no direct danger to us. There was one small stream of smoke on the ridge across from where we live, but a plane was flying overhead dropping retardant and it looked like it would be put out soon.
The party with Al and Donna was wonderful. Hundreds of friends and family came to celebrate with them. They took their vows again and dedicated themselves to continuing a marriage that had nourished them both through the years. Sitting with my wife, Carlin, I thought about our own marriage. We’d both been married twice before and now on our third marriage, we are still together after 28 years.
In certain moods I can’t imagine how anyone can stay married to the same person year after year. There are so many issues that come up and so many stresses in life that often get focused on the relationships. There seems little support for couples. Each one seems to live in their own world and attempts to work things out themselves.
In other moods I can’t imagine why anyone, having found that special someone, would ever think of leaving. Life can be so wonderful when you have a partner to share it with. In spite of the inevitable ups and downs why would anyone want to give that up? Life is so much better together.
Last night I felt how lucky I am to have Carlin, to be in a relationship that I fully believe will last the rest of our lives and be surrounded by friends, many of whom are in a committed relationship.
We saw Charlie and Dave, committed partners for over 20 years who recently married. If you ever talk to a committed couple, you know how important marriage is to them. I’m glad our country is gradually overcoming our fears of same-sex marriages and supporting our friends and neighbors who want to commit to each other.
As we enjoyed the party and it got darker we could see fires burning in the hills. I got a flash of worry. I hope our house is safe. I hope that fire on the ridge is well out. I hope all of us who aspire to long-term relationships don’t have them cut short by fire.
As we drove home and started up the hill we both gasped to see the ridge across from us engulfed in flames. We have a number of friends in that area and immediately called. We couldn’t reach two of them. We reached a third friend and learned that the fire was close to them. One man had left his home and gone to stay with friends.
As I write this on Sunday morning, we don’t know if our friends are safe. We watched T.V. coverage of other areas where people lost their homes. Our prayers, for a calm night without winds, were answered. Hopefully our friends will be safe.
But it makes me think about how fragile our hold on life can be. Relationships that seem destined to last forever, fall apart. Homes that seemed safe from harm are wiped out by flames caused by a freak summer lightening storm.
I hope you each are safe and you take care of yourself and each other. I hope you remember what is important in your life and you nurture it every day. We never know what tomorrow will bring. What’s important in your life? Have you had times of danger and loss you’ve had to face and move through?
We live in Northern California, Mendocino County, in a wonderful little town called Willits. We actually live up in the hills outside of town. We are surrounded by beautiful, tall trees, and wild-life abounds. Each summer we worry about fire and each summer some crazy people start fires somewhere in our area. Luckily we haven’t been affected-- until last night. In the midst of a hot, dry spell, it began to cloud up and we felt the first raindrops. We were glad to be getting some rain to lessen the fire danger. We weren’t prepared for what happened next.
In the heat of the summer very little of the rain actually hit the ground. It evaporated before we could receive its healing coolness. But the thunder and lightening did come close. By the next day we gradually learned that hundreds of fires had been started by lightening strikes all over Northern California.
As we drove down our ridge late in the afternoon to join our friends Al and Donna in celebrating 30 years of marriage, we could see smoke in a number of areas, but far off, no direct danger to us. There was one small stream of smoke on the ridge across from where we live, but a plane was flying overhead dropping retardant and it looked like it would be put out soon.
The party with Al and Donna was wonderful. Hundreds of friends and family came to celebrate with them. They took their vows again and dedicated themselves to continuing a marriage that had nourished them both through the years. Sitting with my wife, Carlin, I thought about our own marriage. We’d both been married twice before and now on our third marriage, we are still together after 28 years.
In certain moods I can’t imagine how anyone can stay married to the same person year after year. There are so many issues that come up and so many stresses in life that often get focused on the relationships. There seems little support for couples. Each one seems to live in their own world and attempts to work things out themselves.
In other moods I can’t imagine why anyone, having found that special someone, would ever think of leaving. Life can be so wonderful when you have a partner to share it with. In spite of the inevitable ups and downs why would anyone want to give that up? Life is so much better together.
Last night I felt how lucky I am to have Carlin, to be in a relationship that I fully believe will last the rest of our lives and be surrounded by friends, many of whom are in a committed relationship.
We saw Charlie and Dave, committed partners for over 20 years who recently married. If you ever talk to a committed couple, you know how important marriage is to them. I’m glad our country is gradually overcoming our fears of same-sex marriages and supporting our friends and neighbors who want to commit to each other.
As we enjoyed the party and it got darker we could see fires burning in the hills. I got a flash of worry. I hope our house is safe. I hope that fire on the ridge is well out. I hope all of us who aspire to long-term relationships don’t have them cut short by fire.
As we drove home and started up the hill we both gasped to see the ridge across from us engulfed in flames. We have a number of friends in that area and immediately called. We couldn’t reach two of them. We reached a third friend and learned that the fire was close to them. One man had left his home and gone to stay with friends.
As I write this on Sunday morning, we don’t know if our friends are safe. We watched T.V. coverage of other areas where people lost their homes. Our prayers, for a calm night without winds, were answered. Hopefully our friends will be safe.
But it makes me think about how fragile our hold on life can be. Relationships that seem destined to last forever, fall apart. Homes that seemed safe from harm are wiped out by flames caused by a freak summer lightening storm.
I hope you each are safe and you take care of yourself and each other. I hope you remember what is important in your life and you nurture it every day. We never know what tomorrow will bring. What’s important in your life? Have you had times of danger and loss you’ve had to face and move through?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Relief for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Product Review
Paul Winter sent me a Mini-roller II because I've been dealing with carpal tunnel in both arms for months. I put it on the end table where I sit and watch tv at night so that I'd use it at least a few times a week, which is what I did.
At first I thought it was too simplistic to be of any real help. I was wrong. It actually works like a mini-massage. So instead of having to get my masseuse or my chiropractor to work extra on my arms endlessly, I just use this mini-roller and am able to keep working.
I type a lot, every day working on websites or doing internet marketing. So it's imperative that I am able to use my hands and arms without pain. I find that I still need to take breaks, like a long weekend and sometimes have to wear a brace on my right hand, but this little tool is well worth the $17.95 it costs. It offers much relief.
You can check it out at http://cts-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.com/#Roller
At first I thought it was too simplistic to be of any real help. I was wrong. It actually works like a mini-massage. So instead of having to get my masseuse or my chiropractor to work extra on my arms endlessly, I just use this mini-roller and am able to keep working.
I type a lot, every day working on websites or doing internet marketing. So it's imperative that I am able to use my hands and arms without pain. I find that I still need to take breaks, like a long weekend and sometimes have to wear a brace on my right hand, but this little tool is well worth the $17.95 it costs. It offers much relief.
You can check it out at http://cts-carpal-tunnel-syndrome.com/#Roller
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