Women and Health
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The Healthy Woman Do you wake up in the middle of the night sweating profusely? Are your bed sheets soaking wet? Does the temperature in your bedroom feel like you're sleeping in an inferno? Are you constantly pulling off the covers and trying to become comfortable while you sleep? If you've answered yes to any of these questions and you're in your mid 40s or older, chances are you are experiencing one of the symptoms of menopause. Night Sweats affect millions of women each year. It can be very uncomfortable----not only for you---but also for your husband who has to contend with the changing bedroom temperature and your battle with the bedroom covers. What causes night sweats? Night sweats, according to doctors, occur as a result of a woman's hormonal imbalance. Low estrogen levels, anxiety and stress are some of the causes for this imbalance.
Product Suggestions: When you read a title like "Women's Health", your age and what stage you are in life will determine the pictures that come to mind. Health issues that concern women include PMS (premenstrual syndrome), pregnancy, pre-menopause, menopause, post-menopause, mammograms, breast cancer, getting regular pap smears to avoid cervical cancer, and other things specific to women. Following is a list of remedies that may help you depending upon your condition, please use the form below to request "FACT SHEETS" for any items you are interested in knowing more about. FLASH EASE - May help with Hot Flashes NATURAL CHANGES - Balance nutritional support for "the change" PRO-G YAM CREAM- Natural Progesterone Creame BREAST ASSURED - Contains nutrients some believe help prevent breast cancer BREAST ENHANCE- Some use to increase size VARI-GONE- Oral supplement that may help Varicose Veins VARI-GONE CREAM - Topical application that may help Varicose Veins SKELETAL STRENGTH - Calcium PLUS nutrients and phyto-nutrients for proper absorption CRANBERRY-BOCHU CONCENTRATE - Support for kidneys and may aid kidney infection Myth #1 When you go into menopause your sex life is over. WRONG! One of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is vaginal dryness and the hormonal imbalance can trigger a lack of desire but just like everything else, you can overcome it. There are plenty of vaginal creams on the market to help soothe the dryness and a vitamin E pill inserted in the vagina can also do the trick. As far as the lack of sexual desire, you may have to work a little harder on creating the mood mentally and physically but it can be done. Take yourself back to a time in your relationship when the lovin was incredible and meditate on that. Also, don't be afraid to let your mate know what you like and don't like. If he loves you and wants to please you, he shouldn't have any problem doing it your way. My husband makes me hotter than a hot flash because we have learned how to communicate effectively in the bedroom. MYTH #2 If you haven't had a period in several months, you can go off the pill and assume you're in menopause. WRONG! For many women, irregular periods may last several years. The best way to determine whether you have gone into full blown menopause is when you have gone one complete year (12 months) without having a menstrual cycle. Going off the pill during your erratic periods is not a good idea because you may be vulnerable to getting pregnant. Myth #3 There is a cure for Menopause. No, there is NO CURE but there are measures you can take to ease some of the symptoms associated with menopause. For example, to relieve hot flashes cut back on spicy foods and alcohol. Since it's summer, wear lighter clothing. This also means wear brighter colors. Dark colors like black and brown draw heat and can make you even more uncomfortable. Get up, get out and exercise and make sure you pump some iron. Also, it's equally important to maintain a healthy diet which should include lots of green vegetables and grains. Myth #4 If you're under the age of 45, you're TOO YOUNG to be menopausal. OH, SO WRONG!!! It might be unusual for a woman to go through menopause before the age of 45 but it's definitely not impossible. There are women in their mid to late thirties who have been known to experience what is known as perimenopause. The symptoms include: mood swings There are actually 34 symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. If you're experiencing some of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. There is a test you can take to confirm whether or not you're going through the change. And don't accept medication as the end all answer for what ails you---especially if someone wants to give you anti-depressants. Myth 5 Menopause leads to other deadly diseases. First of all, menopause is NOT a disease. It is a natural occurrence in a woman's life. It is a part of the aging process. Depending on how intense your menopausal symptoms are, you may want to seek some type of treatment. I don't advocate synthetic drugs but that's just me. I have found natural herbal supplements coupled with a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables and fruits work wonders for me. What is important to remember is you should take good care of yourself by eating healthy and getting some exercise. When I exercise on a consistent basis, my hot flashes are kept to a minimum. Exercise is also a wonderful way to help you maintain a healthy weight. Excess fat CAN lead to other medical problems. It Ain't Personal It's MenopauseBy Beverly MahoneYou're sitting at your desk and suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you see your middle-aged female co-worker sweating and fanning herself with a perplexing look on her face. She looks like she might need help so you walk over to offer assistance. Instead of accepting it, she gives you the evil eye and tells you to leave her alone or abruptly walks away. Now, you're angry. You were only trying to help. But don't take it personal---It's only menopause. Nearly half of the workforce is made up of women which means millions of workers will be affected by the physical and emotional changes brought about by a woman going through menopause. The time is long overdue for businesses to implement some type of menopause health awareness program so younger employees and male bosses may gain a better understanding of what they may be up against in the "heat" of a moment. Too often women going through the change are viewed as being insubordinate by their male bosses or a B**** by younger employees. There are more than 30 symptoms of menopause with the most serious being hot flashes and mood swings. A change in personality at any given moment on the job could easily be misinterpreted and create unnecessary conflict unless it is recognized as a hormonal imbalance. In my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I reference the fact that menopause was considered a taboo subject years ago causing many women to suffer in silence and to feel ashamed or made to believe they were having a mental breakdown over what they were experiencing. This is not our mother's menopause, so there is no reason to be embarrassed or silent about what we're going through." Some of the things employers need to address are:
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