Sex is supposed to feel good. Right? But for 20 to 45 percent of postmenopausal women sex is downright painful. There’s a medical term for it: dyspareunia It can happen to many women after childbirth or during and after treatment for an illness such as cancer. It is a frequent complain among post menopausal women due to low estrogen. Some refer to it as “sexual dysfunction.” I don’t believe it means you are dysfunctional. You may want sex, but it may be painful due to physical changes in your vagina such as extreme dryness and atrophy. Some women suffer in silence. Others abstain
Read more →Reports have stated that a sedentary life is not great for your health. Poor posture such as slouching can affect the health of your spine. Long periods of inactivity can lead to obesity, poor cardiovascular health, diabetes and even some cancers according to this report by The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. During the summer many of us travel by car or plane long distances sitting in cramped spaces which is not good for our health. Adults often take on physical activities with properly preparing their bodies. Dr. Charla Fischer, a spinal surgeon with Columbia University Medical Center, will discuss
Read more →Did you know 2 out of 3 visually impaired people are women? One reason is women are living longer. Family history can also be a factor in your eye health. It’s an unfortunate fact that women are at a greater risk than men of developing serious eye diseases. It’s estimated two-thirds of all blindness and visual impairment occurs in women. Dry eye disease, cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma are all diseases which affect women at a higher rate than men. Although there are no cures for these diseases, there are steps that you can take to prevent the risk of disease and maintain
Read more →Last week the news media was buzzing over a penis transplant. The man who suffered from penile cancer was open about his choice to go public to encourage other men who’ve lost their genitals to cancer or to military combat. I consider the story one giant step for mankind. Men are usually mum about such things. Now, what if the shoe was on the other foot? Would the news media discuss a vagina transplant? Doubtful. In the same vein, commercials can advertise pills for erectile dysfunction, but how many ads have you seen that address women’s sexual dysfunction? While women
Read more →May 8-14 is National Women’s Health Week. You may already be mindful about your self- health. But if you have let things go, the good news is you can get back on track. Jobs may come and go. Families are raised and kids move on. You may move homes or cities. Life may throw you bouquets or curve balls. The one constant you can control is how you take care of yourself. There are countless tips for healthy living from government websites (check out this link) to self-help gurus and online apps. I’ve read, studied and tested many diets,
Read more →When it comes to our bones, there are no lucky breaks. One in two women over the age of 50 and one in 4 men over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women. Osteoporosis causes an estimated two million broken bones a year. Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation. Make no bones about it. We all need to be proactive to protect our bones. May is National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Here’s what you need to know:
Read more →Many years ago I had elective surgery. While I was happy with the outcome, I had an unwelcome side effect: a pretty awful infection at the incision site that took weeks to clear up. I’m not alone. Many people have contracted nasty infections from surgical procedures. Serious infections can also result from everyday cuts and scrapes. When I was a very young girl I contracted blood poisoning after stepping on a pine needle walking barefoot in the yard and had to be hospitalized. My symptoms were a red line creeping up my leg from my foot and pain. Hearing the news this past
Read more →Many women assume that heart disease affects only older women, but that is not true according to the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women Campaign.” Heart disease can affect women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, and often with more lethal results because many women ignore the signs of a heart attack or stroke. Here are some heart stopping statistics:
Read more →February is Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death among women. The American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women”campaign stresses the importance of a healthy diet, weight management and regular exercise to maintain heart health. I agree heart health starts with taking care of your body, but I also believe it means fixing what may be going on in your head. Anxiety and anger also stress the heart. Many of us have experienced a broken heart due to a failed romance, loss of a loved one or an emotional setback. Time is the best healer. But a bitter heart can be harder to
Read more →According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 1 in 4 women experience thinning hair. While 40% of women experience thinning hair at time of menopause due to lower estrogen, it’s common for women to start losing their hair in their 20s and 30s. On the average we lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. If you notice your hair is thinning more or falling out in larger quantities you may be experiencing “alopecia,” which is the term for hair loss. There are many types of hair loss and causes. Sometimes it’s reversible; sometimes it’s not. However, it is manageable, and
Read more →Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and who experience symptoms of anxiety or depression should think twice about taking prescription antidepressants due to ongoing concerns about potential birth defects associated with these medications. An estimated 15% of women in their reproductive years take antidepressants. Depression, a debilitating condition, affects 30% of women between 18 and 44 years. Left untreated, depression can lead to additional mental and physical health risks such as heart disease. The Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated January 28th “Antidepressant use is common among women of reproductive age, and research
Read more →Want to add more glow to your skin, years to your life and a bounce to your step? Have more sex. In her new book, “Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You: What Your Libido Reveals About Your Life,” nationally acclaimed Ob/GYN, Dr. Diana Hoppe, founder of Amazing Over 40 explains why a woman’s libido is a reflection of her overall health. A few reasons why sex may be your best health and beauty boost: increases longevity; anti-aging eases stress boosts your immune system promotes heart health improves brain health preserves vaginal health helps relieve insomnia helps relieve pain, both physical and emotional The
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