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A FACILITY/WELLNESS CENTER
Restore Your Libido With Hormone Treatments
Do you ever find yourself wishing that your libido was raging like it used to be when you were a teenager? Worse yet, do you ever feel that way about your spouse? If so, you might consider whether hormone treatments could provide the boost that you need to put some youth back in your aging sex life.
NBC recently reported on this issue, discussing a myriad of different things that aging folks can do to restore the energy in their loins. And believe it or not, the testosterone that is recommended for making men virile again isn't just for the guys. Women can ues testosterone therapy to improve their libidos as well as to heighten the orgasm experience.
""As anti-aging physicians, our goal is to replace hormones to the levels they were at when patients were around 25 years old. When you replace and balance hormones to these levels, the libido improves," says Dr. Jennifer Landa, an AMA board certified doctor of obstetrics and gynecology and member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging." (source)
If you are concerned about the state of your sex life as you age, speak with a doctor about your options.
Question of the Day: What negative impacts has aging had on your libido?
February 4, 2008
Our Bodies, Ourselves (After 40 Years)
One of the most important groups in the history of women's health and wellness has been the Boston Women's Health Book Collective. If you don't recognize the name, it's probably because you know the group by the nickname of their first publication: Our Bodies, Ourselves.
Since the time that the group was first developed, these women have been leading the way in helping other women to understand their bodies and the changes that happen to them over time. Forty years since that first meeting of the group, they've had a lot of experience in just what those changes mean at a personal level.
When the original group first formed, it was made up of about a dozen women in their twenties and thirties. They were concerned about getting to know their bodies better and starting to understand their sexuality during a time when that topic was just beginning to be openly discussed. These days, the women have all gone through menopause and have dealt with changes that likely include incorporating that same sexuality into their lives at different hormonal stages.
The group is now an organization and the publications that they put out serve as important health and wellness resources to women of all ages. Consider reading these resources or attending one of their events someday in order to support the history of the work that they've accomplished.
Question of the Day: What can you share about your experiences with Our Bodies, Ourselves?
February 5, 2008
Aging, Depression and Gender
You're getting older and that's going to cause hormonal changes that impact you in ways that you can't even begin to imagine until they happen. For some people, one of thsoe changes is that the likelihood of experience depression increases. A new study reveals that this is much likelier in women than in men.
What seems to be the case as a result of this new study is that it's not just that women are more likely to get depressed. It's that women are more likely to stay depressed and to live through the depression whereas their male counterparts frequently seem to just give up on life and let it go. Women are more likely to seek treatment for depression but continue to have it despite this.
If you are starting to feel like hormonal changes are impacting the way that you feel about life, you might want to speak to a doctor about the issue of depression. This is particularly true if you are female but is true for anybody who is getting older and believes that aging may contribute to depressed feelings.
Question of the Day: Why do you think it is that women are more likely than men to experience late-age depression?
February 6, 2008
Age May Not Matter In Lung Transplants
Hopefully you've avoided the need for a lung transplant by taking care of yourself, engaging in good anti-aging practices and never smoking. However, if you've gotten to a later stage in life and might need a lung transplant, there's some good news on the horizon for you.
In the past, older adults who needed lung transplants were frequently denied as candidates for the procedure. However a new study reveals that these transplants can be successful in older adults. This may prompt more doctors to consider using transplants to assist these aging patients in breathing like they're young again.
There are certain things that still need to be looked at regarding these lung transplants. For example, it's important to consider the immunosuppresant drugs that are required after a transplant and how these impact other health issues faced by aging adults. However, it is good to know that medical researchers continue to work on ways to provide longevity and quality of life to older patients who have previously been written off for certain care.
Question of the Day: Do you believe older adults should be allowed to get donated lung transplants?
February 7, 2008
Opening the Discussion on Hormone Replacement Therapy
Right now, the topic of "hormone replacement therapy" is one of those taboo things that you can only take one position on. That's because the media has put out a string of bad news along with the hype that HRT has the potential to be cancer-causing (something that remains under investigation by the medical community). However, there are two sides to every story. When any topic of conversation is only allowed to let one side reign supreme, the truth gets lost.
There are some people who are working to spread the word that there is more than just one side to the HRT story. For example, Dr. Howard N. Hodis will be speaking at a free lecture today in California. Dr. Hodis is the lead researcher on a study investigating the use of HRT to assist women in preventing heart disease during menopause. Thus far in the study, it looks like there is the possibility that - if timed correctly - HRT may be beneficial in preventing menopausal heart problems.
No one is saying that HRT is good or its bad. Or at least, no one should be. What should be happening is that a discussion looking at the realistic positive and negatives associated with hormone replacement therapy begins to take place. It may not be happening in your general community yet but it could happen in your doctor's office.
Question of the Day: What is your initial reaction to the term HRT?
February 8, 2008
Estrogen Therapy Excites Post-Menopausal Sex Lives
Ask an older couple whether they are still having sex and the answer is likely to be yes. Ask them if it is as frequent and/or as satisfying as it used to be and you might get a different answer. And a lot of that can be attributed to hormones.
A recent study took a look at the link between sex and menopause and determined that most women have less sex during menopause than before menopause. There are many reasons for this but a significant one is that changes in the body reduce lubrication and cause sex to be less pleasing and more uncomfortable.
"According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), an estimated 10-40 percent of postmenopausal women suffer from symptoms related to vaginal atrophy. Two of the most common symptoms of atrophy are dryness and pain with intercourse. The symptoms are generally associated with the diminished estrogen levels that accompany menopause." (source)
One solution to this is to speak with a doctor about using estrogen therapy to alter the body's response to menopause. For example, a product called Enjuvia is a form of estrogen therapy (approved by the FDA) which directly targets the symptoms that affect sexual intercourse.
Question of the Day: Would you consider estrogen therapy for improving post-menopausal sex? Why or why not?
February 11, 2008
HRT, Proper Diet and Depression
In this day and age, the thing that we're most likely to do if we are diagnosed with depression is to ask for a prescription for anti-depressants. While drugs might be the answer for some people, it's important to uncover the root cause of depression before turning to medication as the only solution. This is something that was highlighted in a recent press release by a NY doctor who commonly treats depression by prescribing hormone replacement therapy and a healthy diet.
As we age, our bodies change. This can result in throwing off the balance of our hormones and changing the way that we feel. And for some people, this can mean entering a stage of depression as they enter old age. A solution for some aging women might be hormone replacement therapy to balance out the body's hormones and give it back the sense of emotional stability that a good quality of life requires.
Of course, diet may impact how we feel as well. Your dietary needs change as you get older and are impacted by your changing hormones. Speak with your doctor about how to create a healthy diet plan that supports your changing body so that depression isn't something that you face as a result of getting older.
Question of the Day: What would be your first solution to treating depression?
February 12, 2008
Hormones and Headaches
Headaches are an illness that almost everyone knows about. What's interesting is that we all get them but the causes can be different for everyone. A recent news article took a comprehensive look at the types of headaches that commonly plague people. One of the ones mentioned is the hormone headache.
Women who are getting older and starting to face menopause may find that changes in their hormones lead to headaches. These headaches may be relieved through the use of hormone replacement therapy. However, someone who doesn't experience hormone headaches but then starts HRT may actually experience the headaches after beginning the medication as a result of the fluctuating hormones in the body.
As a general rule, hormone headaches will go away when the changes in the hormones are complete. In the meantime, you can work with your doctor to find a solution that minimizes the headache pain.
Question of the Day: What types of headaches do you get most often? Has that changed as you've gotten older?
February 13, 2008
Love Yourself on Valentine's Day
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and that means that you're probably going to be celebrating the people that you love. While it's important to celebrate the others in your life that have been there for you over the years, it's also important to take some time out to honor the love that you feel for yourself.
Caring for our health literally means caring for ourselves. Many of us neglect our own self-care because we are so busy taking care of the other people in our lives. By making the time to bring the focus back to ourselves, we open up the potential for improving our health by simply having a better sense of what we need.
Happy Valentine's!
Question of the Day: What can you do tomorrow to better care for your own health?
February 14, 2008
Don't Let Hormones Hinder Your Valentine's Romance
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hopefully you're going to spend today with someone you love. And hopefully that person is someone that you're physically attracted to. After all, that's a lot of what Valentine's is about.
Unfortunately, as we start to age, the physical manifestation of our emotions can sometimes be hindered by the changes that our own bodies are going through. Both men and women experience hormonal alterations as they age which can hinder their ability to have healthy sexual relationships.
If you find that this Valentine's Day doesn't go quite like you would like it to, you might want to think about speaking with your doctor about your options. There are things that you can do to minimize the changes that are taking place in your body. You can always celebrate a late Valentine's when the problem is remedied!
Question of the Day: How have your Valentine's celebrations changed as you've gotten older?
February 15, 2008
Getting a Good Night's Rest
One of the most important natural methods that you can use to prevent problems associated with aging is to make sure that you get the sleep that you need to keep your body in good condition. Unfortunately, aging itself can make it difficult to get the kind of sleep that you need.
The hormonal changes that take place when you age can impact the amount of sleep that you get. This is particularly true for women going through menopause. However, all aging adults may potentially face troubles with insomnia.
If you're not getting enough sleep, you're compromising your immune system. This leaves you susceptible to other, more serious, effects of aging. If sleeping seems to be a problem, work with your wellness doctor to find a solution to the problem. Natural herbs, dietary changes and medications may each be used to allow you to get the rest that you require.
Learn more about this topic here.
Question of the Day: What changes in sleep have you experienced as you get older?
February 18, 2008
New Testosterone Gel For Menopausal Women
We have mentioned more than once that women who go through menopause face changes in their hormones that can greatly impact their sex lives. It's an issue that comes up again and again because it's an issue that really bothers many women. They are in their prime of their lives in many ways but their bodies aren't responding to sex the way that they want them to causing frustration for them as well as for their partners.
Another reason that this comes up again and again is because it's not something that's been resolved well within the medical community. Hormone-changing drugs help some women but haven't caught on in the mainstream yet as a real long-term solution to the libido problem.
BioSante Pharmaceuticals is hoping to change that. They've created a new product called LibiGel which is designed specifically to help menopausal women get that needed libido boost. Interestingly, this medical treatment is in the form of a testosterone gel. It's currently being tested out and could be on the market in about three years. Learn more from Daily Camera.
Question of the Day: What tricks have you tried to boost your libido?
February 19, 2008
Drink Tea; Save Your Heart
There are certain things about drinking that most women start to learn as they age. One of the less pleasant ones is that you should stop drinking caffeine. One that some women find to be nice is that it's healthy for you to drink red wine. And one that is just being discovered is that you might be able to protect your heart from the diseases of aging by regularly drinking more tea.
A study completed in France has recently found that tea-drinking women reduce the plaque in their arteries and therefore protect themselves from heart disease. The study found specifically that older women who were drinking a minimum of three cups of tea per day had less plaque build-up in their neck arteries than their female counterparts who weren't tea drinkers.
There are still some questions to be answered as a result of this study. For one thing, the researchers don't know why the same thing wasn't true for male tea-drinkers. They also don't know why the tea-drinking seemed to be independent of all other variables. But knowing that you might protect your heart by drinking more tea as you age is good information to have.
Question of the Day: What type of tea do you drink?
February 20, 2008
Aging Men May Want an Andropause Test
http://www.anti-aging.org/content/andropause.asp
We don't talk about andropause nearly as much as we discuss menopause. That doesn't mean that this male equivalent to the aging changes of hormones isn't equally as important. In fact, it might be an even more important topic of conversation considering that men need to know about this issue as they start to get older.
Luckily, there are people out there who are starting to talk about it. And there are doctors out there who are starting to screen for it. In fact, one example of this happened recently at a golf show where men with symptoms of andropause could get free andropause testing.
Signs of andropause include fatigue, irritability and changes in sex drive. Men who generally just feel that something's gotten "off" as they've gotten older may also want to ask their wellness care providers about getting an andropause test.
Question of the Day: When was the last time you heard anything about andropause?
February 21, 2008
Women's Aging Rite of Passage Book
There is a new book out on the market which is being recommended for women who are going through the aging process. It's called In Search of the Menopause Ranch and is written by a woman named Deborah Vaughn. Desipte the title, this book isn't particularly about menopause and it isn't a non-fiction story either. Instead, it is something of a fantasy tale for the women who is undergoing the emotional and psychological changes that occur during the menopause time period.
As women go through their lives, they enter several periods of change. From childhood, they enter adolescence, a time that is very different for girls than for boys. Then the enter adulthood and go through changes including motherhood. Later, they go through additional changes and become the woman that they are going to be in old age. Each of these transitions requires wells of inner strength. This book is about that strength and about the history of that strength across women and time.
Read more about this book here.
Question of the Day: What do you think is the most important thing for a woman to know as she ages?
February 22, 2008
The Menopause Pot Belly
There are many things that you're not going to like about menopause. You're not going to like the hot flashes. You're not going to like the change in your libido. You're not going to like the mood swings. But for many women, the most frustrating part of menopause is the weight gain.
There are several reasons that menopause weight gain frustrates aging women. First of all, we don't like to gain weight. Secondly, menopause weight gain is primarily in the belly which is an area of weight concern for many women. And third, it's frustrating to eat and exercise right and still see weight gain.
However, there are things that you can do to battle that belly bulge even though your hormones are in flux. A new book recommends a specific high-fat (but the right fat) diet that can flatten that belly despite the hormonal changes. It's not guaranteed but it might be worth a look. Learn more here.
Question of the Day: What's your number one menopause complaint?
February 25, 2008
Niche Pharmacists May Meet Your Needs
When you are concerned about health and wellness issues, the professional that you are most likely to call is your doctor. While your doctor is probably the most important professional on your health care team, he or she is not the only one that you should choosely wisely. Your pharmacist may also be someone that you want to be picky about.
Perhaps that's the reason that many people are starting to turn to niche pharmacies in order to get their medical needs met. Niche pharmacies specializing in catering prescriptions to a patients needs. 2theAdvocate.com recently reported on one of these types of pharmacies, pointing out some of the reasons that people choose them. They give the example of a patient who needs medicine but can't swallow pills so a niche pharmacist works with them to get the right meds in a form that works. This is particularly good for aging adults who are having trouble taking all of their pills.
Question of the Day: What would you want in terms of qualities when it comes to a niche pharmacist?
February 26, 2008
Bio-Identical Hormones In Review
The past year has been a year filled with concerns and media attention to the wellness issue of hormone replacement therapy. Some people are concerned that HRT is always bad for your health. Others say that HRT can be a great way to ease the symptoms of aging associated with menopause. And still others say that the idea of hormone replacement therapy is great but that the chemicals currently being used aren't so good.
Those who fall in to the latter camp tend to be fans of the idea of bio-identical hormones. These are hormones that are derived from natural substances, such as plants, and are chemically tailored in order to provide the patient's body with hormonal changes that counteract the natural hormonal changes which may be wreaking havoc in their systems.
Bio-identical hormones, as their name would suggest, have to be altered in order to exactly match the hormones of the patient's body. This is frequently done by the type of niche pharmacy that we discussed in yesterday's post.
Learn more about bio-identical hormones here.
Question of the Day: Do you believe that there's a health difference between synthetic HRT and bio-identical hormones?
February 27, 2008
Baby Boomers and the Bedroom
There are many different aspects to a complete picture of health and wellness. There is your physical wellbeing, of course. There is also your emotional health and wellness. And although many people don't think about it, there is also the importance of your sexual wellness.
A recent news report took a look at this latter category as it pertains to the baby boomer generation. It found that this generation is thriving in the bedroom; however, there are also unique challenges faced in the bedroom at this stage of life.
One of three major issues in the sexuality of aging adults is the impact of menopause and/or andropause on the relationship.
"Decreased testosterone levels affect both men and women at this age, which can cause sexual difficulties, such as erectile dysfunction and low libido in men, and decreased sensation, lubrication and libido in women."
A healthy diet, hormone treatments, and open communication about the problem can all contribute to minimizing the bedroom difficulties and increasing the excitment experienced during the aging years.
Question of the Day: Is your physical, emotional or sexual health and wellness of most importance to you at the current time?
February 28, 2008
Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Breast Cancer Diagnosis
There has been a lot of media attention on hormone replacement therapy recently. Much of this has been negative reports trying to link the use of HRT with the development of cancer. As a result, researchers have been working hard to find out if there are cancer risks associated with HRT.
A new study shows that there is very minimal increasing in breast cancer risks among people who use hormone replacement therapy. However, it points out that you might be more likely to get a false cancer diagnosis as a result of being on HRT.
"What this data does is emphasize that yes, the breast cancer risk is still there, but more importantly, instead of that low number of one in 1,000 getting breast cancer, one in 10 women are told they had an abnormal mammogram they'll have to deal with, and probably even more importantly, one in 25 women will have an otherwise avoidable breast biopsy." (source)
The most important thing that you can do for yourself at this time is to make sure that you are speaking openly with your doctor about your use of hormone replacement therapy. There are pros and cons to using it, as there are with any other kinds of medication. Discuss these with the medical professionals that know you best.
Question of the Day: Would you be inclined to get a second opinion on a breast cancer diagnosis if you were on HRT?
February 29, 2008
"Beatable and Treatable" Osteoporosis
One of the major problems associated with aging that plagues people - especially women - today is the problem of osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation in Utah has come up with a new slogan to let these concerned ladies know that there is more than just hope out there. That slogan is:
Osteoporosis … it's Beatable and it's Treatable
Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men but they are also more likely to get early screening that nips it in the bud. It is suggested that this may be due to the fact that medical insurance frequently covers this screening for aging women but does not for aging men. This is unfortunate because this kind of screening can make the difference in how far the disease is allowed to go.
Learn more from ABC4.com.
Question of the Day: What preventive methods have you taken in terms of dealing with osteoporosis?
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About February 2008
This page contains all entries posted to Wellness Corner in February 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.
January 2008 is the previous archive.
March 2008 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
