Female Care

If you’re a ‘depressed housewife’, and are determined to fight this disease and regain the happy life that you once had, then try making these ten easy changes and feel the difference!

1)    Bright Colours – Keeping up with the latest design trends can not only be stressful, but with a lot of neutrals becoming the popular choice, you can end up waking up in a dungeon everyday without even realizing it. It’s time to do away with those dark, drab colours and spice it up a bit! Go to your paint store and pick out the brightest colours you can find in shades that you love! Try replacing brown shades with peach, dark green with a bright citrus green, and steer clear of greys, burgundies, and any other drab colour you may be inclined to choose. Sometimes depressed women will automatically be drawn to depressing colours, so it may be a good idea to take someone along with you who will step in if you start slipping into this habit.

2)    Lively Plants – Get rid of any fake plants or plants that are half dead. You need to breathe new life into your home! Find yourself some tropical trees and plants. Throw in some colourful flowers to make it fresh. Maybe you’re like me and have a problem forgetting to water your plants, but have no fear! Most tropical plants and trees do not need a lot of watering or attention…so there are no excuses!

3)    Heavy Drapes – Heavy drapes and curtains can be overwhelming. Lighten up your home by choosing bright sheers. Long, sheer, white panels can make any window look brighter and bigger. Make sure you open your curtains everyday no matter how tempting it is to keep them closed…let the sunshine in!

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By J. E. Davidson

Turner Syndrome is a chromosomal condition first described by Dr. Henry Turner in the 1930’s.  It affects only females, and is characterized by short stature and the lack of normal sexual development at puberty.  Turner Syndrome (TS) affects one in 2,500 live female births and may account for up to 10% of all miscarriages.

TS Is a Genetic Abnormality That Is Not Inherited

The disorder occurs when the DNA is missing the second sex chromosome, or part of the second chromosome is missing.  Females carry two X chromosomes in their genetic information, and males carry XY chromosomes.  In Turner Syndrome, the female may have only one X chromosome; she may carry two X chromosomes with one only partially complete; or she may have a condition called mosaicism, in which some cells carry two X chromosomes while others carry only one.

TS is not believed to be an inherited genetic condition, but rather a random error that occurs during the formation of either the eggs or sperm of the parents.  Since the male partner donates either an X or Y chromosome to the child’s DNA, and the mother always contributes an X chromosome, the abnormality may come from either parent.  The condition may be diagnosed in utero, after delivery, or during the teen or adult years when signs are subtle.  Since TS is a genetic abnormality, the quality of prenatal care does not affect the outcome.

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By Jane Dee

A urinary tract infection (UTI), and particularly one that recurs, can be the bane of a woman’s life. The symptoms are often acutely painful, and if your infection is one that recurs only a short while after you’ve managed to clear it up, it can also be frustratingly annoying! There are no home remedies that will effectively treat a UTI; only a course of antibiotics from your doctor will do that. However, there are a number of simple steps a woman can take to help prevent infection recurring.

Urinary tract infection usually occurs when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and then multiply in the urinary tract. Women are more prone to UTI because we have shorter urethras and therefore it’s easier for bacteria to enter. Some symptoms of UTI are back pain, blood in the urine, pain on urination, and an inability to urinate despite a persistent urge.

In order to help prevent bacteria from entering the urethra, it’s important to keep scrupulously clean and to wipe from front to back. Emptying the bladder after sex will also help flush out any bacteria that might have managed to enter the urethra during intercourse. Studies have shown that women who use a diaphragm or whose partners use a condom with spermicidal lubricant are more at risk of developing a UTI than those women who use other forms of birth control.

Cranberry juice has taken on almost legendary status where the prevention of UTI is concerned, and not without good reason. Eighty-five percent of UTIs are caused as a result of E. coli bacteria. Cranberry juice produces hippuric acid in the urine which acidifies the urine and inhibits the adherence of E. coli cells to the lining of the bladder, thereby reducing the risk of infection. Look for 100 percent cranberry juice which is usually sold in health shops; the regular cranberry juice sold in supermarkets isn’t concentrated enough and contains a lot of sugar. Cranberry juice won’t clear up a UTI but it’s a good preventative measure if you suffer from repeated attacks.

Drinking water will also help flush out any impurities in the bladder so keep up your water intake at all times—before, during, and after a UTI.

Women are notorious for looking after everyone except themselves. It is a dangerous habit to fall into, since many health problems are completely preventable or at least treatable when caught early enough. Since women often avoid the doctor and don’t seek medical help until their symptoms are a real problem, it is often too late for a good prognosis.

Going in for regular exams is vital to staying healthy, for women around the world. So is getting the recommended tests and exams such as a mammogram or Pap smear. These are valuable tools that can help save lives, yet too many women don’t have them done because they feel uncomfortable with the procedure. It might be a good idea to remember that a little discomfort is nothing compared to months of radiation or chemotherapy!

Finding the Right Doctor is Key

One of the most common issues with health problems for women is the old-fashioned approach of many doctors. It was taught, not so long ago, in medical schools, that the majority of women’s “health issues” were really all in the head. Many doctors still feel this way and are more likely to dismiss potentially risky symptoms in women than they would in men.

To avoid being short-changed in the health department, look for a doctor that will listen to you and take you seriously. If you aren’t comfortable talking with your general practitioner or gynecologist, find a new one. When you are comfortable with your doctor, you are more likely to see her for any concerns, instead of waiting until the problem gets worse.

A good doctor will listen to you without jumping to conclusions or rushing you. If you feel that your gynecologist is only interested in getting you out the door so her next patient can come in and she can earn a bit more, start looking for a new doctor. Talk to friends about doctors they trust and don’t feel bad about going in for a checkup, just to meet the doctor and see if you like him.

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By Susan M. Keenan

Digital mammography is more successful than traditional film mammography in detecting breast cancer. Initially, digital mammography was only more effective in detecting breast cancer in women with smaller size breasts. However, advances in its technology have made it possible for digital mammography to be just as effective with breasts of all sizes.

No longer are hospitals forced to use both types of screening due to variations in breast sizes. The initial digital imaging machines contained image receptors that were too small to be effective in capturing a full image of large size breasts. Large breasts for this discussion are classified as any breast that reaches a “D” cup or larger.

The superior diagnostic techniques that are needed to detect breast cancer in its earlier stages are now provided with the advanced digital imaging capabilities of digital mammography. Original mammography methods were much slower since film had to be developed before any diagnosis could be made.

With this newer process, the images of breasts are captured electronically. This leads to faster results and quicker diagnosis. Additionally, this type of mammography provides an improved contrast between non-dense and dense areas of breast tissue.  This allows for a better diagnostic determination.

In fact, the digital images can be searched for signs of mass or calcifications using special software. If anything shows such as an abnormality, the area is marked for further consideration by the radiologist. One of the benefits for hospitals using digital mammography is that the results are easier to store and retrieve.

Introductory blurb: Fortunately, advances in technology have made it possible for hospitals to offer digital mammography to all women. This means a better opportunity to discover breast cancer sooner.

By Annetta Holmes

With the increasing downward spiral of food quality, vitamins and minerals that should be in your food are absent. Add to that processing and poor eating habits and this lack of sufficient nutrients show up in abnormalities of the body. The skin, our biggest organ, is the first line of defense against the microbes that lurk in the air and when changes for the worst occur in the skin it is time to re-assess our diet and to start thinking about supplementing with vitamins and minerals.

The body carries out it’s daily routines of which we are oblivious. However we become aware that all is not well when we start to see disease or deterioration. The body, to keep vital functions going – lungs repaired, heart beating rhythmically, correct pH levels of the blood – will strip less important parts of their nutrients in order to keep you alive. If a nutrient is required to keep your lungs in good repair and the nutrient is not being supplied through your diet then your body will start breaking down healthy cells just to retrieve the correct vitamin or mineral. This puts an added burden on your body. Cells once constructed usually have a certain length of life before they are broken down and new cells made. By depriving your body of its required vitamins you force it to work harder recycling itself. The more deficient your food, the harder the body works which has a knock-on effect as extra nutrients are used up in the break down, re-construct cycle.

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Its been a while since you have had an interest in sex. Maybe it seems like a few weeks, but you know it has been months. The man in your life is reminding you regularly of his needs. His patience is running thin. You are uncertain what to do. Your guilt at not meeting his needs is intense. However, sometimes you just feel annoyed that he will not go away and forget about sex. Something needs to be done.

It is possible that you can trace the drop in sex drive to some event. It might have occurred after the birth of a child. Perhaps you are experiencing menopause and your sex drive exited with your monthly cycle. You many have had other issues and your sexual interest just withered by degrees over time. Whatever the reason, you do not have to live with it. There are several possible ways to help get things moving again if you will take some steps to see it happen.

The first and most practical step is to visit with your doctor and find out if there is a physical reason for the demise of your sex drive. You may find, as many women have, that your loss of sex drive is related to some form of hormonal imbalance. This could range from the shutting down of your ovaries to the wrong birth control pill to some other physical problem. Your doctor can either diagnose potential problem areas or rule them out. If it turns out to be physical, you may very well be on the road to recovery before you wake up tomorrow morning. If a physical problem is ruled out, the solution may be a little trickier to fix.

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Are you post-menopausal? Do you have high blood pressure? Well, help may be at hand. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that blood pressure was reduced by eating soy. 60 healthy post-menopausal women who took part in the study were divided into 2 groups. Both groups had identical healthy diets, the only difference being that one group had part of its protein intake replaced by half a cup of unsalted soy nuts. After 8 weeks, in the soy group, blood pressure was significantly reduced in the 12 women who had hypertension and also in those that had normal blood pressure. Soy for high blood pressure.

As an added bonus, levels of “bad” cholesterol were also lower in women that had hypertension.
This particularly important for post-menopausal women who are hypertensive because they have 4 times the risk of developing heart disease as those with normal blood pressure. Just goes to show what an impact small changes to your diet can have on your health – yet another good reason to start eating soy!

Herbs have magical powers to treat the various diseases that we suffer from, in our regular life. It might be unbelievable, but also has a cure for the most common problem that all women suffer from in their life time. Yes, you guessed it right, it is menopause.

Until a few years back, women would suffer from the various symptoms that are related to menopause with not many medications to help them overcome the problems. But, the various studies conducted on the herbs finally gave a solution, a cure for the various symptoms and hence gave a ray of hope to all women suffering from some or the other type of problems caused due to menopause.
According to the studies, there are various natural herbs for menopause that are found to have certain effect on the estrogen levels in our body. With the actions of these herbs, the severity of the various symptoms of menopause is reduced to some extent. Thus they are categorized into two categories based on their chemical structure of the chemicals that are present in the herbs which act against the symptoms of menopause. These categories are:

• Estrogenic herbs: The herbs that are included under this category contain chemical structures of estrogen and thus are included in this category.
• Non-estrogenic herbs: The simple herbs that do not contain the chemical structure of estrogen are included under this category.

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Alternative Names: Cold sore; Fever blister; Herpes simplex – oral; Oral herpes simplex

Definition of Herpes labialis

Herpes labialis is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. It leads to the development of  small and usually painful blisters on the skin of the lips, mouth, gums, or lip area. These blisters  are commonly called cold sores or fever blisters.

Symptoms

Warning symptoms of itching, burning, increased sensitivity, or tingling sensation may occur about 2 days before lesions appear.

* Skin lesions or rash around the lips, mouth, and gums
* Small blisters (vesicles) filled with clear yellowish fluid
-Blisters on a raised, red, painful skin area
- Blisters that form, break, and ooze
- Yellow crusts that slough to reveal pink, healing skin
- Several smaller blisters that merge to form a larger blister
* Mild fever (may occur)

Treatment

Untreated, the symptoms will generally go away in 1 to 2 weeks. Antiviral medications taken by mouth may shorten the course of the symptoms and decrease pain.

Herpes sores often come back again and again. The antiviral medicines work best if you take them when the virus is just starting to come back – before you see any sores. If the virus returns frequently, your doctor may recommend that you take the medicines all the time.

Wash blisters gently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus to other areas of skin. An antiseptic soap may be recommended. Applying ice or warmth to the area may reduce pain.

Also, your provider may recommend a drying agent to help oozing sore, or antiviral cream. If your recurrences are frequent and severe, your provider may prescribe oral antiviral medication, e.g. acyclovir, which has been shown to decrease the size and severity of herpes outbreaks. These medications have no effect on host cells. Other medication: Zovirax, Valtrex, Famvir, Bactroban, Neurontin

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