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A FACILITY/WELLNESS CENTER
Celebrate your Age: It's Baby Boomer Day!
January 1st. Most people know it as New Year's Day. But there is a huge chunk of the population that also knows it as something else: Baby Boomer Day. This term is used to describe the generation of folks born between 1943 and 1960. Or around there anyway, although the actual definition has varied with dates starting as late as 1946 and continuing through 1965. Whatever the dates, the description is designed to indicate a certain group of people.
And that group of people is getting older.
Baby boomers are the generation most likely to be concerned about wellness and anti-aging. They are old enough to start seeing the effects of aging. Many are in varying stages of menopause or andropause. And yet, they are young enough to remain inquisitive as to what they can do about the "problem of aging". Some are using hormone replacement therapy. Others want to know about human growth hormone.
That's great for every day of the year. Except today. Today is the day to celebrate your age - and your membership in the baby boomer generation. It's the official Baby Boomer Day. So worry about getting older tomorrow. Today, you should just enjoy the day off.
Question of the Day: How have you celebrated being a baby boomer?
January 2, 2008
Anti-Aging Ingredients in Cosmeceuticals
There are many different reasons that you're interested in anti-aging and wellness news. Some are because of health concerns. And others are because of concerns about your appearance. For this latter concern, you might have done some studying into cosmeceuticals. If not, now might be the time to start looking into what they can do to improve your appearance.
Cosmeceuticals are exactly what their name indicates: they are prescription drugs that are designed to cosmetically improve appearances. A recent study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology took a look at the cosmeceuticals that are on the market to provide anti-aging solutions to skin that's getting older in appearance.
Here are some of the important findings of the study:
- Niacin is a terrific ingredient for improving irregularities in the skin. It is applied to the skin's exterior to repair the damages of time.
- Peptides and retinoids are useful in diminishing the appearance of fine lines caused by aging. They can be found as ingredients in certain anti-aging moisturizers.
- Photoprotective ingredients in anti-aging cosmeceuticals are successful in evening out the pigmentation of your skin. In other words, it can be used for age spots.
The study also found that the best cosmeceuticals are the ones that use a combination of ingredients mixed with a daily moisturizer to provide anti-aging benefits.
Question of the Day: Which anti-aging skin products to you use?
January 3, 2008
Doctor Cleared In Case of Mistaking Cancer for HRT Side Effects
Back in 2005, a woman died of uterine and ovarian cancer. She had been diagnosed with the disease in 2001 but it was too late for treatment. However, her family believed that treatment would have been possible if the cancer had been caught sooner. Moreover, they believe that it should have been caught sooner. Seven months prior to the official diagnosis, she went to her doctor and had her concerns brushed off.
At the time, the doctor believed that the symptoms that she was reporting could be attributed to the side effects of taking hormone replacement therapy. The major symptom that had sent her to the doctor was excessive vaginal bleeding. The doctor could have ordered a biopsy at that time but opted not to under the assumption that the anti-aging medication was the cause of her problems. It was only after seven months had passed and the symptoms had not subsided that a biopsy was ordered and the cancer was found.
After the woman died, her family filed a malpractice suit. They say that the doctor's assumptions about the effects of the anti-aging drugs were the cause of the woman's death from cancer. However, a court has officially ruled that there was no malpractice involved in the case. Although it is true that earlier detection could have improved the benefits of treatment, it could not be said for sure that the delay in detection caused the woman's death.
You can read the details of the case here. The case highlights the importance of being an advocate for yourself when working with your doctor. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms that aren't explained by your doctor's initial beliefs, don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. A good doctor will always give you one.
Question of the Day: Would you have filed a malpractice suit if you had been in the same position?
January 4, 2008
Thin Women In Menopause Should Watch Their Breathing
If you're a woman who is going through menopause (or will be soon), you might want to start getting some exercise for your lungs. That's because a recent study shows that there is a link between menopause and an increased risk of getting asthma. Up until this point, there has been little research into the changes that occur to the respiratory system when a woman enters menopause. This study is ground-breaking in that it began to find the links that exist between hormonal changes and lung function.
The study found that women who were post-menopausal had a significantly higher experience with reduced lung function. Measurements included forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity and number of respiratory tract symptoms. In all three areas of breathing measurement, it was found that women who were menstruating had better numbers. In addition, the study found that thin women were at higher risk of developing menopause-related asthma.
"Menopause is associated with lower lung function and more respiratory symptoms, especially among lean women," the study authors write. "Clinicians should be aware of increased asthma risk and lower lung function in women reaching menopause.
Women who are entering menopause should speak with their doctors about the options they have for maximizing their lung capacity. Regular cardio exercise and a healthy diet can likely assist with reducing the damage to the lungs caused by hormonal changes. The study researchers recommend that future studies look at the role that hormone replacement therapy may play in affecting this information.
Question of the Day: What steps will you take to reduce the likelihood of menopause-induced asthma?
January 7, 2008
Check Your Finger Size for Osteoarthritis Risk
When was the last time that you looked at your hands? If you're concerned about certain aging diseases like arthritis, you might want to start looking a little bit more closely. A recent study shows that the risk of getting osteoarthritis, the most common form of degenerative arthritis, is increased in people who have ring fingers which are longer than their index fingers. In fact, they are two times more likely to develop the disease than their counterparts with longer index fingers.
This isn't the first study that's been done about finger length. In fact, some interesting information has been provided by studies that have shown hormonal differences between people with varying finger lengths. In general, men are more likely to have shorter index fingers than women are. However, this is the first study which drew a link between this information and the risk of osteoarthritis.
Don't start panicking if you've taken a quick look at your hands and seen that you are at increased risk. There are wellness practices that you can adopt to reduce the likelihood of being crippled by the disease. Ask your doctor for more information to alleviate your concerns.
Question of the Day: Had you ever looked at your finger length before?
January 8, 2008
Women with Menopause Should Walk, Walk, Walk
Many women use hormone replacement therapy to reduce the symptoms of aging that they experience as a direct result of menopause. However, some women prefer to use natural methods of relieving these symptoms. And even women using HRT may find that they benefit from the same natural remedies that others have found useful in dealing with their menopause symptoms.
For example, a recent study shows that walking can successfully relieve the anxiety associated with certain stages of menopause. Stress and depression were also relieved by adding this form of exercise to a normal daily routine. This seems to be particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women who are still experiencing emotional repercussions.
Medications such as HRT are beneficial for relieving the physical symptoms of menopause (such as hot flashes). They may also relieve some of the emotional symptoms. But this study suggests that there are also other things which can be used in conjunction with medications to improve the emotional health during menopause.
Question of the Day: How often do you walk now?
January 9, 2008
If You Want to Be Healthy, Be Forgiving
You can do many things to improve your health and well-being. You can prevent disease through exercise, diet and medical screening. You can delay the effects of aging through the use of hormone replacement therapy. You can stay on top of the latest medical news in order to get the most out of advances in treatment.
But none of it's going to do you a lot of good if you're holding a grudge.
A recent study by the Mayo Clinic showed that people who are holding a grudge against someone are more likely to have diminished health. This makes sense since being angry causes stress to the body in the form of anxiety and increased heart function. The study further found that the act of forgiving someone can be healing to the body.
Tips for forgiveness that are recommended include acknowledging the pain that you feel and choosing to change your attitude towards the person that has caused that pain. You also must allow yourself to feel the hurt and forgiveness in order to reap the health benefits of the process.
Question of the Day: Who in your life have you had trouble forgiving?
January 10, 2008
Guided Imagery: The Medical Benefits of New Age Therapy
Many people use guided imagery to get them through difficult times. The process is similar to meditation but uses a more focused thought-process to get tuned in to what is going on inside of you. For years, people have said that this could be used as a healing technique for various ailments. Now a study from the Mayo Clinic shows that these people might be correct.
It is believed, as a result of this study, that people can focus enough during guided imagery to send messages directly to the various systems working within their bodies. When used correctly, these messages can actually cause the body to heal itself. It has been successful in treating a range of problems from stress-induced migraines to reducing the side-effects of cancer treatment.
No one is suggesting that you throw out medications like hormone replacement therapy in favor of using your thoughts to heal your body. But what is being suggested is that there are other possibilities for healing that you might want to explore in conjunction with those practices which have been prescribed by your doctor.
Question of the Day: What experiences have you had with guided imagery?
January 11, 2008
Tips for Older Adults when using Medications
As we get older, the number of medications that we have to take tends to go up. Unfortunately, this means that the risk of experiencing the symptoms of adverse reactions to medications goes up as well. If you find a doctor who is working closely with you to improve your health and wellness, you shouldn't have to worry too much about this problem. But there are some things that you and your doctor can both make sure to do that will decrease your risk even further.
An article put out recently by Tufts University Medical Center reviews some of these tips. You can read more about the article here. To summarize, some of the tips include:
- Check your medication to see if it's on any lists as "inappropriate for older adults".
- Double-check for potential reactions when taking multiple medications. Remember to inform doctors about such medications as hormone replacement therapy that you may overlook because you're so used to taking them.
- Tell your doctor that you want to use the lowest dose possible for most medications.
- Always adhere to the guidelines about the medication prescribed by your doctor.
Of course, you should always discuss the details of your medication with your doctor and alert him or her to any concerns that you may have.
Question of the Day: What adverse reactions to medication have you noticed as you've aged?
January 14, 2008
Sing Your Way Through Menopause
Did you know that professional female vocalists sometimes take birth control pills solely to assist them in improving their voices? According to DailyIndia.com, the voice can change as a result of hormones. Birth control pills help to reduce vocal fluctuations throughout the month so that female vocalists can better do their jobs. And as these vocalists get older, they may find that switching from birth control pills to hormone replacement therapy does the same trick.
Of course, there are better reasons than a good singing voice to consider using HRT when you're entering menopause. But if you're a singer of any sort and you find that the symptoms of menopause are affecting your singing voice, you might want to mention to your doctor that you'd like to try diminishing the effects with a proper dose of HRT. Most of us aren't singing stars but we do like our voices to stay basically the same. If vocal changes are a problem for you, you might want to consider balancing out the hormones that cause them.
Question of the Day: Have you noticed voice changes resulting from menopause?
January 15, 2008
Osteoporosis Isn't Just a Woman's Disease
When we think of osteoporosis, we frequently think about the number of aging women that the disease affects. That is because it has long been known that the change in hormones that a woman undergoes during menopause increases her risk of weakened bones. However, osteoporosis is not a problem that only affects women. A recent study found that men are also at risk of bone fractures due specifically to hormonal changes as they age.
Although we don't talk about it nearly as much as we talk about menopause, there is a thing called andropause that affects men as they get older. Like its female counterpart, andropause causes a variety of symptoms for men who are experiencing changes in their hormones as a result of getting older. One of those changes is that they no longer have the strong bones they once did.
In addition to weakened bones, reduced testosterone caused by aging can also weaken the muscles. This further increases the risk of bone damage because of the lack of stability in the body. As they get older, men should speak with a doctor about what can be done to reduce the effects of aging and the risk of osteoporosis.
Question of the Day: Would you consider osteoporosis to be a woman's disease?
January 16, 2008
Act Now to Protect Bio-Identical Hormones from FDA
The American Association for Health Freedom wants people to be aware of an action that the FDA is currently taking to prevent women from having access to bio-identical hormone therapy. Here is a summary of the issue:
- Last year the FDA held a Congressional Hearing with the Aging Committee to start their attack on bio-identical hormone therapies.
- This led to a banning of certain bio-identical hormones.
- The FDA instead recommends only certain drugs which haven't been proven to be more effective than bio-identical hormones.
- The FDA is now targeting Estriol and trying to ban it from being imported.
- The Association wants your assistance in stopping this ban as well as preventing the FDA from continuing in this vein.
Learn more about the issue here.
Question of the Day: What is your stance on the FDA's actions?
January 17, 2008
Menopausal Women Encouraged to See Doctors
Many women going through menopause assume that they have to just deal with the hormonal changes that are taking place. After all, every woman eventually goes through menopause. Despite that it happens to all women, it's not something that is easy to go through. A recent news report recommends that all women who are entering menopause speak to a doctor about making the transition go more smoothly.
"It's a very complicated matter," said Kathleen Uhl, a doctor with the Office of Women's Health at the Food and Drug Administration. "There is not a one-word answer for any problem or any woman." (source)
Because there is not one "treatment" for menopause, it's important to work with a professional who can outline your options for you. There are symptom reduction methods and hormone treatments that can help you to go through this period of your life. Just because everyone goes through it doesn't mean you need to go it alone.
Question of the Day: What hesitations do you have about seeing a doctor for menopause?
January 18, 2008
Establish a Support Network
Sometimes we just don't like getting old. Sure, most days are fine (especially if we're taking care of our health) but this is not an age-loving country and most of us have down days associated with getting older. In those times, you need a support network of people who love and care for you in order to get over the difficult period and get on with enjoying your life.
Your support network should include friends and family. It should also include a mentor so if you don't already have one, get one. The best person to fill this role is a trusted healing professional who can assist you with advice that will improve your aging. A yoga teacher, a wellness doctor or a meditation specialist would be examples of someone who can fill this role.
Incidentally, tomorrow is a holiday related to this issue. It's "A Friend Raises Your Spirits Day". If you're feeling down, call a friend that will help to pick you back up. And if you're feeling fine, you might want to ask yourself if you can be that friend for anyone else you know who is having some issues with the aging process.
Question of the Day: Who is in your support network?
January 21, 2008
Menopausal Women Need Books to Understand The Process
Feelin' Hot? A Humorous, Informative and Truthful Look at Menopause is just one of the many books that are available to women to assist them in better understanding the process of menopause as they go through it. Unfortunately, it seems that it's one of the few books on the market which really provides the honesty truth about what women need to know when entering this stage of life.
Author Rebecca Hulem says that she wrote the book after the struggled with menopause herself. She found when she started the process that she didn't actually know enough about menopause to deal with the changes in a positive way. As a result, she wanted to provide information to other women that would assist them in coping with menopause better than she had.
You may not be surprised that some random woman didn't know about menopause. But what if you found out that Hulem is a registered nurse with over three decades of experience in women's health issues? To learn that a woman working in the medical aspect of this field doesn't know what she needs to about the reality of menopause is a little shocking, isn't it? And it's nice to know that she went the extra mile and worked to make changes so that the women after her would have more information than she did at the time she entered menopause.
Question of the Day: What books can you recommend to other women going through menopause to assist them in better understanding the reality of the experience?
January 22, 2008
Women Want Information on Hormone Replacement Therapy
Many women who are concerned about health and wellness are afraid to bring up the topic of hormone replacement therapy with their friends. Some are even ashamed to talk about it with their doctors. This is because HRT has gotten a bad rap in the media as a cancer-causing product. However, it's precisely this hype that has people wondering what HRT is all about. Women are interested in getting information but they're uncomfortable asking about it.
Luckily, there are informational resources which are recognizing that women want to know the truth about HRT. For example, the speaker at the Conway Regional Women's Council this week will be an HRT specialist and a doctor is also speaking on the topic in Hithergreen today. Talk shows and newspapers are also trying to get information out there. Unfortunately this information is often biased so women aren't sure what's true and what's not.
The best way to get the full story on hormone replacement therapy and how it applies to your life is to talk to your doctor. Rest assured that HRT remains common in use by many women and is something that you can talk about with your health care provider without any concerns or embarrassment. It's better to have all of the information than to be left wondering.
Question of the Day: Are you comfortable speaking openly about HRT?
January 23, 2008
Patients Losing In HRT Cases
One of the reasons that the average person today knows the definition of "hormone replacement therapy" is because there have been a series of lawsuits by HRT patients in recent years. The media got on this news at the beginning of the cases because there was widespread concern that HRT was causing cancer. However, what we're finding in many cases is that judgments aren't in the favor of the patients who are filing the suits.
For example, there was a case recently in which the initial ruling was indeed in favor of the patient. A jury awarded $1.5 million in the case. After further review, an appeals judge has reversed that order and said that the patient didn't meet the burden of proof in this case.
This is just one example of a lawsuit that hasn't gone in favor of the plaintiff. A number of people filed suits after the media had publicized a few and the courts are trying to sort out the mess to assess what damages have been done. In the meantime, it's wiser for you to get your own HRT information from a doctor than from the local news!
Question of the Day: What other HRT lawsuits do you know of?
January 24, 2008
HRT: Is the FDA More Concerned About Wyeth than Women?
You're probably all too aware of the fact that there has been a lot of negative publicity about hormone replacement therapy in the last couple of years. Much of this has been in the form of attacks against Wyeth, a company which manufactures HRT drugs which allegedly increase the risk of cancer. However, many say that the attacks against Wyeth are unfounded and that HRT is not only safe for women but beneficial to them.
"Why would the FDA try to take estriol off the market when it is not only safe for women in menopause, it may even help women with multiple sclerosis," writes Dr Erika. Maybe it is because the agency is more concerned with protecting Wyeth than it is with protecting women, she says. (source)
The main drug under attack is Estriol. Dr. Erika points out that this drug is not only beneficial to women who are dealing with symptoms of menopause but has also been shown to improve the quality of life for women suffering from conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
You should always speak with your doctor about what is and isn't right for you and what the potential side effects of any drugs you take might be. However, resources like Dr. Erika (and this blog here) are a good start for getting information other than what the media is putting out there about issues such as HRT.
Question of the Day: What's your take on the media's view of HRT?
January 25, 2008
Osteoporosis Drug Approved for Post-Menopausal Women
Menopause does a lot of things to the body. One of those things is that it reduces the strength of the bones in the body, increasing the chance that post-menopausal women will develop osteoporosis and experience bone fractures. A new study shows that the osteoporosis drug alendronate works for the women who use it.
There are two types of post-menopausal women who can benefit from alendronate. The first are women who have had fractures already which are caused by their decreased bone mass. The second are women who have not yet had bone fractures but who do show decreased bone mass. Both types of medical treatment are considered preventive although the latter group is the group of primary prevention as it helps to stop not only the spread of the problem but also the development of bone fractures altogether.
"As a woman gets older, her risk of having on-going health problems or dying is significantly greater if she has reduced bone density and then breaks a bone such as a hip, so it is important to find effective preventative therapies with low or no side-effects," says Wells. (source).
Indeed, the study found that there were no added post-menopausal side effects resulting from the use of this drug.
Question of the Day: What other drugs are you aware of for use in preventing bone fractures?
January 28, 2008
Stallone Supports HGH
There remains a lot of confusion in the general public about what Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is and who should be using it. Some of that confusion may soon start to get dispelled as more people begin looking into the use of HGH. That interest has been ignited amongst fans of entertainment because of a recent announcement by Sylvester Stallone that he supports the use of HGH for all aging adults.
Stallone is starring in the newly-released movie Rambo which he starred in originally approximately thirty years ago. A lot has happened between the age of 30 and 60 to Stallone's body and he needed a boost to get in shape for the role. He got that boost using HGH. He may not have known much about the drug before using it for the role but is now a strong supporter.
Stallone says that testosterone is important to a person's sense of well-being and that it greatly improves the quality of life when you get that boost in later years using HGH. He believes that the general public will soon start to see the real benefits of the drug and that it will be an over-the-counter product a decade from now.
Question of the Day: Will HGH use increase with Stallone advocating for it?
January 29, 2008
Dry Winter Skin Could be Symptom of Menopause
Women who find that their skin gets particularly dry in the wintertime may want to ask themselves if it has anything to do with the fact that they're in or nearing menopause. A recent article on winterizing your skin says that women produce less skin oil as they age and their skin can get particularly dry as a symptom of menopause.
There are many different things that women can do to care for their skin during the winter and throughout the rest of the year. Making sure to drink enough water is at the top of the list. Moisturizing the skin with appropriate creams and lotions is also important. And keeping skin from being exposed to the winter elements is important during this season.
As women age, they will find that there are a number of different symptoms of menopause that they didn't realize were going to face them. However, these symptoms don't have to be troubling. That's especially true of symptoms like dry skin which are fairly easy to remedy.
Anyone with additional concerns about their dry skin and its relation to menopause should speak to a wellness care provider about the issue.
Question of the Day: What steps do you take to protect your skin from the weather?
January 30, 2008
A Closer Look at Life Extension
There are many different aspects to a conversation about aging. The most commonly discussed aspect is how to improve the quality of life for people who are getting older. However, there's another question that can also be asked: "how can we improve the quantity of life?" There are researchers today working in areas of life extension to try to find answers to exactly that question.
For example, researchers recently undertook a study of over 80,000 different compounds and their effect on lifespan. From that study, they came up with over ten compounds that have the potential to increase life span by anywhere from thirty to sixty percent. Although in the early stages, this could eventually lead to the development of anti-aging methods that allow for much longer lives to be possible.
Of course there are arguments on both side as to whether this type of life extension is a good or bad idea. Some say that it can lead to a drain on the world because of overpopulation and an increased need to accommodate so many people and their various health problems. Others say that we would find a way to overcome these barriers and make the most out of longer lives.
Learn more about Life Extension from Wikipedia, Life Extension Magazine and Enhance.
Question of the Day: Are you for or against research into life extension?
January 31, 2008
Testosterone Therapy Recommended for Aging Men
An article in the Green Valley News & Sun this week takes a very good look at an important issue that's often left out of discussions about aging: andropause. As the article notes, this male equivalent to menopause is something that affects a large number of men, particularly after the age of 60 or 70. The symptoms of this problem can be treated using testosterone therapy.
It is noted that the effects of andropause are noticed later in men than menopause is in women. That's because the symptoms occur much more gradually in men. However, once men start to notice the symptoms, those symptoms can be problematic in many areas of their lives.
"For many men, the most disturbing aspects of andropause are a noticeable decline in libido and diminished sexual function. Fortunately, treatment with supplemental testosterone can bring about dramatic improvements in andropause-related symptoms." (source)
In addition to allowing a man to feeling better, it is believed that testosterone therapy can improve the health and longevity of life.
Question of the Day: Have you ever spoken with a doctor about andropause?
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About January 2008
This page contains all entries posted to Wellness Corner in January 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.
December 2007 is the previous archive.
February 2008 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
