10 Ways to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections or UTI

Nine million doctors office visits each year are due to urinary tract infections or UTI. The only thing patients visit the doctor for more often are respiratory tract infections which includes the common cold. Unfortunately, the majority of cases of UTI occur in women.

What can you do to help prevent urinary tract infections from interfering in your life? According to the National Institutes of Health, health professionals recommend the following tips to reduce your risk of developing UTI.

1.Water helps flush your urinary tract, so make sure you drink plenty of plain water daily.

2.Don't hold it when you need to urinate! Women are often guilty of trying to finish a task before they go to the bathroom. Holding it, when you need to go, can help any bacteria that may be present develop into a full-fledged urinary tract infection.

3.You've probably heard that you should wipe from front to back after a bowl movement. This is especially important to help prevent bacteria from the anus from entering the vagina or urethra.
4.Taking showers instead of tub baths helps to prevent bacteria from entering the urethra and causing a UTI.

5.Always wash your genital area both before and after sexual intercourse to help prevent transferring bacteria to the urethra or vaginal area which can create a breeding ground for UTI...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Smoking: The Women's Health Perspective

We all have heard the warnings-- cigarettes can cause cancer and increase our risk of heart disease. But the sad fact is that approximately 23 million women in the US (23 percent of the female population) still smoke cigarettes. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in this country, yet more than 140,000 women die each year from smoking related causes. The highest rate of smoking (27 percent) occurs among women between twenty-five and forty-four.
Despite all the warnings today's teens have heard about the dangers of smoking, the reality is that almost all of the new smokers today are teenagers; over 1.5 million teenage girls smoke cigarettes.

Women smokers suffer all the consequences of smoking that men do such as increased of risk various cancers (lung, mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, kidney, and bladder) and respiratory diseases, but as women we need explicit cognizance about the numerous smoking-related health risks which are uniquely ours. This article explores these risks and, hopefully, provides women smokers the further perception and inducement, perhaps, needed to stop smoking.

Oral Contraceptives and Smoking

Do you use oral contraceptives or another hormonal method of birth control? Women smokers who use oral contraceptives risk serious consequences including increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. This risk increases with age and women over 35 who smoke should not use oral contraceptives.

Historically, a mild elevation in blood pressure often occurred in pill users. However, blood pressure often returned to normal "prepill" levels once oral contraceptives were discontinued. New studies indicate that high blood pressure is not a common problem for todays Pill users, nonetheless all women using oral contraceptives should have their blood pressure checked every six to twelve months.

Pregnancy and Smoking

Chemicals in tobacco are passed from pregnant mothers through the blood stream to the fetus. These toxic chemicals present serious risks to the unborn child, as well as the mother. According to "Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century," by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, "Smoking during pregnancy is associated with preterm delivery, low birthweight, premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, miscarriage, and neonatal death. New borns whose mothers smoked during pregnancy have the same nicotine levels in their bloodstream's as adults who smoke, and they go through withdrawal during their first days of life."...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

PMS And Back Pain

It's no secret that many women suffer through their monthly periods, experiencing cramps, bloating, and lower back pain, to name just a few. But a large number of them—estimated at anywhere from 30 to 90 percent—also endure the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most women feel some discomfort before their periods. But if you have PMS, you may feel so anxious, depressed, or uncomfortable that you can't cope at home or at work.

What causes PMS?

No one know for sure what causes PMS or why some months are worse than others, but PMS is often linked to the changes in hormone levels that happen during a woman's menstrual cycle. PMS is not caused by stress or psychological problems, though these may make the symptoms worse.

"We probably don't get nearly enough magnesium from out diet," says Dr. Carolyn Dean, who specializes in managing and healing commonly misdiagnosed and chronic conditions such as hormone imbalance, and mood swings. "The Recommended Daily Allowance for magnesium is 350-400 milligrams (mg) per day, but for optimal health you may need twice as much."
Dean, who serves on the medical advisory board of the Healthy Back Institute, suggests taking magnesium supplements to prevent or ease PMS symptoms, including back pain due to water retention. She recommends magnesium citrate and taurate, as well as spraying on magnesium oil that is absorbed through your skin.

Some researchers have found that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce the severity of symptoms. One study, for instance, reported that 300 mg of calcium carbonate four times a day significantly reduced bloating, depression, pain, and mood swings.

How is PMS diagnosed?

There is no single test to diagnose PMS, but because thyroid disease is common in women of childbearing age, and because some of the symptoms of PMS—such as weight gain—are similar to symptoms of thyroid disease, your doctor may do a thyroid test. This can help rule out a thyroid problem as the cause of your symptoms. Often, a doctor will suggest that you keep a diary to track your symptoms for a few months...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Herbs That Relieve Female Problems

There are many herbs which work wonderfully for correcting female hormone imbalances. When women and young girls have hormonal imbalances in their bodies, these can cause severe menstrual cramps, plus heavy menstrual blood flow.

Here are several herbs which may offer relief for various female specific problems:
Red Raspberry - This herb is often used as the basic foundation for any herbal remedies and mixtures designed to treat common female problems. Raspberry helps strengthen the walls of the uterus and the rest of the female reproductive system. It also helps decrease heavy menstrual flows and can help prevent or reduce hemorrhaging during labor. It works to help decrease morning sickness during pregnancy too and can increase nursing mother's milk.
Blessed Thistle - This herb enriches and increases milk in nursing mothers and helps balance female hormones.

Lobelia - This is a relaxant herb which works very quickly to soothe muscle spasms, so it can be quite helpful for painful menstrual cramps...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

How to Recover from Postpartum Depression

The post-natal period is characterized by general and chronic fatigue and often depression. The main factor leading to this stressful state is sleep deprivation. Recovery after childbirth varies from women to woman, but most undergo fatigue for weeks and some even months after. More than half of women feel they haven't totally recovered their pre-natal energy after six weeks.
There are a few things you can do to improve the recovery stage of postpartum problems. Sleep deprivation is hard to eliminate, as the baby is most active during the night in his or her first few months. Constant interruption of the mother's sleep leads to perpetual tiredness. The elevated hormone levels present after childbirth also contribute to this problem, but, fortunately, they only last about a week after. On the bright side, it only takes a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep for the mother to recover.

Time management is also radically altered after the birth of a child. All the patterns and usual events now change to face the difficulties presented with addressing the child's needs. A good plan is to try and anticipate all the potential problems before child delivery and build a network of friends and family who are willing to help out. You will probably have to delegate most of your usual chores to other people, and you should also see this as something useful, rather than frustrating.

Taking care of your child should become the number one priority -- family and friends can address all other issues. The father should always be there to help out, too...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Yoga Improves Strength

A number of people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness and strength levels. While they recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility and overall health , when it comes to increasing muscle fitness people think it might the most appropriate exercise to do the job. But, according to experts, yoga can definitely make you stronger.

If you would like to really put your daily fitness routine in overdrive and get better results than you ever have in the past, you really should consider adding yoga exercises into your home fitness workouts. Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga your body provides the resistance. While you are not likely going to produce the bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength. In addition, some balance postures require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over. This helps to build and strengthen your muscles. Aerobic exercise is great for burning calories, and strength training works very well for strengthening your muscle groups, but yoga goes far beyond either of those forms of exercise and can benefit you both physically and mentally.

In addition to all its other benefits, yoga can help you improve muscle fitness and make you actually feel and be stronger. Whether you choose to use it as your primary means of strength training or you want it to supplement your other exercises, yoga can help your muscles grow fit, balanced, and strong. In fact, many poses in yoga are done very slowly or you are required to stay in a specific posture during several breaths...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Health Tips for Women

With today's renewed concern for health and well-being, an increasing number of men and women are revamping their lifestyles to include a regular schedule for exercise, rest and relaxation, and a strict adherence to a nutrition-rich diet. Women in particular have to manage their time to perfection, especially if they to juggle the twin concerns of motherhood and a professional working career.

Calcium plays a vital role in women's diets. To attain the recommended 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium per day, women are encouraged to consume three servings of milk products daily (for example, one cup of 250 mL of milk, six oz or 175 grams of yogurt, one oz or 45 grams of cheese). For women who don't like milk products, they can replace these three portions with a 300 mg calcium supplement or try other sources of calcium. Having a good calcium reserve is essential especially since a woman's bones tend to stop growing when she reaches her thirties. Once she reaches her forties, women start to lose bone density. She will need dairy foods, leafy green vegetables, fish, and even non-dairy products that are fortified with calcium to boost calcium-intake...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Stressed Women Inclined To Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer and HPV infection are more likely to risk the health of stressed women, studies show.

Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia examined 74 women diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV). Women were tested for immune response to HPV 16 - a strain of infection that is mainly responsible for cervical cancer. All women were asked to fill a 'stress questioner' about their emotional state. It included stress factors, such as job loss, divorce, family member death.

Study found 55% link between stress and immune response to HPV. This doesn't necessarily mean that stressed women will develop cervical cancer. However, HPV infected women should avid stress and have healthier habits.

"There is data that stress can put the immune system at a disadvantage in dealing with viral infections. Even daily hassles like commuting in bad traffic can impact how the body functions," said Dr. Charles Raison, clinical director of Emory University's Mind-Body Program...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Womens Hair Loss - What Should You Do?

Womens hair loss is almost as common as mens, and more common than many realise. And as her hair is a more important part of her look, womens hair loss can cause more severe psychological distress for women than for men.

For men, hair loss can be a normal, if unwanted, part of life. Many men just choose to live with it. But womens hair loss can be very distressing. Hair loss can be socially acceptable for men, even fashionable, but for women it is not.

There can be many reasons for womens hair loss. Some of them can be the same as for men. Certain diseases can cause hair loss, as well as certain medications, for example. These can be similar for men and women.

And then some womens hair loss can be caused by conditions specific to women. Menopause for example.

And women can suffer from inherited hair loss, just as men do. Female pattern baldness exists just as male pattern baldness does. Womens hair loss caused by inherited factors will usually take a slightly different form. Inherited womens hair loss tends to manifest itself in different ways and different places than for men.

Women usually maintain their hairline, and suffer from thinning hair, whereas men tend to lose their hairline and often all hair in certain places.

It is not generally understood in the community that womens hair loss is almost as common as mens...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/

Womens Heart Health - The Scary Truth About Womens Heart Health

Womens heart health is a subject that should be on the tip of everyone's tongue, but for some reason not too many people seem to be talking about it. Unlike other womens issues that have people mobilized and raising awareness, when it comes to the heart there doesn't seem to be too many people championing the cause. It seems as though I can't drive anywhere without seeing a car with a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon magnet attached to it, but where are the magnets for heart problems.

You'd think that there would be tons of soccer moms concerned with womens heart health, especially given the fact that heart disease is the number one cause of death today for American women. I'm constantly hearing about how men die of heart attacks, but more women than men die every year in the United States of cardiovascular disease...click here to continue reading

Source: http://articles.lapox.com/