Liposuction, a popular cosmetic procedure that removes fat from deposits beneath the skin, seems like an easy and painless way to remove belly, thigh and hip fat that can appear so suddenly at menopause and then never budge. But what happens when fat is suctioned out of the body? Can we assume that it’s gone forever?
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Here’s another problem to watch out for during the menopause transition. As reported in the current issue of The Woman’s Health Advisor Newsletter, a publication of the Weill Cornell Medical Center, a study of postmenopausal women revealed an increase in dental plaque levels among all of the study’s participants, despite frequent brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups. Dental plaque, left untreated, can lead to periodontitis, an inflammatory gum disease that can erode the bone sockets in the jaw that keep teeth in place and, well, you get the picture. It’s not pretty. So if you want to keep your smile as you age gracefully, it might be wise to step up your dental visits to four times a year.
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Take a walk through your local super market, and you’ll be surprised to see just how many products contain flax seed, which some call a “wonder food” for its many potential health benefits. You’ll find ground flaxseed as a key ingredient in “chewy” products such as cereals, oat meal, breads, and crackers. But now, one processor has come up with a way to mix it with your morning coffee.
Flax Milk is the latest entry in the dairy and lactose free beverage category. The company behind it, FLAX USA, says it contains 1100 mg of Omega 3s and has as much calcium as regular milk. Right now, it’s a one-of-a-kind product that’s only available at Wal Mart in the refrigerated section. I haven’t tasted it yet, but their publicity materials claim that both the regular and vanilla flavors are delicious. I hope so because I’m not a big fan of nut, soy or rice milks.
When it comes to health and wellness information, there is no shortage of good online resources to choose from. I often start my research at websites like WebMD, Organized Wisdom and Women To Women when I want a good overview or general information about a particular topic. But I’ve recently discovered three websites that are written by women who share my interest in women’s health in mid-life and aging well. Their selection of topics always seem to coincide with what’s happening to me health-wise, or what I want to know more about. Their commitment to solid research and reporting also inspires me to continue the work I do on this blog and to make it as informative as theirs. So, here are my recommendations for three serious minded blogs by and for our crowd:
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Before you buy an over-the-counter remedy for hot flashes, insomnia or any other menopause symptom, be sure to check the website of the Wellesley Center for Women’s Health. This is a group of doctors and researchers whose mission is “to provide women with information that others normally wouldn’t.” So they test products that promise to make you feel better and they tell you if they work or not. And why.
Who are these doctors? They won’t say. Apparently, they are so truthful they must work anonymously. They describe themselves as “fed up with current practices in the health care industry” and choose instead “to contribute their knowledge of the most common health problems and remedies.” They’ve got my attention!
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In an online discussion today about Menopause solutions, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, a medical doctor and herbalist, suggested three natural approaches that can help with common symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and anxiety.
At the top of her list is paced breathing, which she said has been shown in randomized, controlled studies to be very effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. “Breath work can be so powerful for reducing anxiety as well,” she explained. ”It quiets the sympathetic nervous system and enhances circulation and promotes a relaxation state.” She recommends to her patients that they do breathing exercises two to four times daily: breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and then exhale slowly for 8. Do this four times a day.
I tuned into this morning’s online discussion about sexual health in older women with Drs. Lauren Streicher, a gynecologist in Chicago and Sheryl Kingsberg, a clinical psychologist in Cleveland (see my last blogpost). It was part of a weekly series of web chats on health topics of concern to older adults that is hosted by the Chicago Tribune and moderated by their health reporter, Judith Graham. You can visit the paper’s website to see the archive of this and other discussions, but I thought I’d summarize some key points of particular interest to readers of this blog:
Vaginal estrogen creams are a safe and effective treatment for vaginal dryness and atrophy (thin and fragile tissue). Dr. Streicher explained:
“The miniscule amount of estrogen absorbed from the vagina doesn’t even increase blood estrogen levels above the normal menopausal range, so there is no reason to think that there will be enough circulating estrogen to have any impact on breast cancer recurrence…there is essentially no evidence that using tiny amount of estrogens directly on vaginal tissues to increase lubrication and elasticity of tissue that has become thin and dry causes an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.”
She added that many of her patients who use only tiny amounts of vaginal estrogen once or twice a week for maintenance find it very helpful. See the transcript for a good description of the three types of prescription vaginal estrogen products.
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The Chicago Tribune’s health reporter, Judith Graham, will be hosting an online chat tomorrow about older women’s sexual health with two panelists: Dr. Lauren Streicher (top photo), a gynecologistwith a particular interest and expertise in sexual health, menopause and alternatives to hysterectomies; and Sheryl A. Kingsberg, Ph.D., (bottom photo) a clinical psychologist and researcher with a special interest in female sexual function and thepsychological aspects of infertility and menopause.
If you have a question that you’ve been too embarrassed to ask, or didn’t know who to turn to for answers, this is your opportunity to submit your question and hear from the experts. If you can’t make the chat, you can email Judith Graham with your question and check the archived transcript at a later date.
In searching the paper’s archive of earlier live health chats, I found a conversation with two experts on hormone therapy that you will find informative and helpful in understanding the benefits and risks of hormone supplementation.
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Pharmaca, an integrative pharmacy, is hosting a free webinar on Menopause Solutions with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, a recognized expert in herbal medicine and integrative approaches to women’s health. (She’s a trained herbalist AND a physician — a rare combination!) When you register for the April 6th session, you’ll have an opportunity to submit a question for her. I’ve heard Dr. Low Dog speak and if there’s anyone that can give you the straight talk on herbal remedies for menopause related problems such as insomnia or anxiety, she’s the one you want to hear from. (See my 2009 interview with her here).
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While most of this country is experiencing freezing temperatures, southern California looks like one big citrus grove. I picked these grapefruits in Palm Springs this weekend and they turned out to be my favorite kind, pink, which according to Power Foods: 150 Delicious Recipes with the 38 Healthiest Ingredients
There's a great line-up of speakers including Dr. Wayne Dyer, Cheryl Richardson and Dr. Lissa Rankin ("Owning Pink") at the next "I Can Do It" Ignite conference in San Jose, CA, March 17-18. Click here for details: I Can Do It IGNITE!
Quinoa isn't the only whole grain out there. This WSJ article describes seven of them. http://on.wsj.com/w5f8D6
For some people, Yoga can do more harm than good. Read this excerpt from “The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards,” by William J. Broad, http://nyti.ms/wm6AHB
