Tag: women’s health (Page 11 of 13)

HPV Test Better Than Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer Screening

August 24, 2011 / Staff

The HPV test for cervical cancer seems to be a better predictor of pre-cancerous lesions than a pap test alone.

Under cervical cancer screening guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society in 2002 and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2003, women aged 30 or older should have both a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, as well as an HPV test, also called an HPV co-test. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and certain strains of the virus can cause cervical cancer.
Under current guidelines, if the results of both tests are normal, a woman can wait three years for her next Pap test, which looks for signs of cancer in cells from a woman’s cervix.

For this slow growing cancer, early detection is key.

Research, Wellness

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3 Best Foods to a Flat Belly

August 19, 2011 / Staff

Can you say Beans, Greens and Nuts?!

These three food categories of will have you on your way to health and fitness, not to mention a flat belly!

SPINACH AND OTHER GREEN VEGETABLES
Superpowers Neutralize free radicals (molecules that accelerate the aging process)
FightsCancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity, osteoporosis

BEANS AND LEGUMES
Superpowers Build muscle, help burn fat, regulate digestion
Fights Obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure

ALMONDS AND OTHER NUTS (With Skins Intact)
Superpowers Build muscle, reduce cravings
Fights Obesity, heart disease, muscle loss, wrinkles, cancer, high blood pressure

Nutrition, Wellness

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Could You be One of the 10 Million Women Who Suffer from Thyroid Disorder?

August 14, 2011 / Staff

Millions of women suffer from sudden weight gain dry skin, hair loss, forgetfulness, fatigue, frequent chills, constipation, and irregular periods.

But at what time do you attribute these symptoms to normal aging and the stresses of life opposed to a thyroid problem?

Many women suffer when a simple blood test could point to a problem which can be fixed by a prescription from their doctor.

If you find yourself suffering consult your physician for answers.

A sluggish thyroid may be the problem.

Lodged between the voice box and the collarbone, and wrapped around the windpipe, the thyroid helps control your body’s energy supply. The butterfly-shaped gland pumps out thyroid hormone, a powerful chemical that regulates metabolism and body temperature, says endocrinologist Jeffrey Powell, M.D., of Northern Westchester Hospital in New York. It also works with just about every system in your body to keep your brain sharp, your bowels moving, your periods regular, and your skin, nails, and hair healthy. Think of the thyroid like a car’s gas and brake pedals rolled into one: It can speed up or slow down the rate at which your body burns through its fuel supply.

Nutrition, Wellness

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Soy Offers No Relief for Symptoms of Menopause

August 8, 2011 / Staff

For middle-aged women searching for a safe alternative to hormone therapy to prevent bone loss and ease the symptoms of menopause, they are in for another letdown.

The latest in a series of disappointing studies finds that soy supplements, an increasingly popular substitute for hormone therapy, do not stave off hot flashes, night sweats, and other uncomfortable menopausal symptoms.

Nor did the supplements reduce the aging-related bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis, the study found.

“Isoflavones, the plant-derived estrogens found in soy, are very weak estrogens, so it is not surprising that they have not shown to be as effective…as hormone therapy,” says the lead author of the study, Silvina Levis, MD, the director of the osteoporosis center at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Adopting a Mediterranean Diet May Add 15 Years to Your Life

August 5, 2011 / Staff

New research suggests that eating a Mediterranean diet along with regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight could add 15 years to a woman’s life, or 8.5 years to a man’s.

A new study published last week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that these four healthy lifestyle factors significantly cut the risk of premature death, especially in women.

Research from Maastricht University in the Netherlands used data on diet and lifestyle habits of 120,852 men and women aged 55 to 69.

To add years to your life, the researchers recommend adhering to a Mediterranean diet, stopping smoking, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, and maintaining a body mass index between 18.5 and 25.

To try a Mediterranean lifestyle, the US-based Mayo Clinic recommends the following guidelines:

1. Get plenty of exercise
2. Eat primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts
3. Replace butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
4. Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
5. Limit red meat to no more than a few times a month
6. Eat fish and poultry at least twice a week
7. Drink red wine in moderation (optional)

Nutrition, Research, Wellness

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