Health and Beauty

Acupuncture is a natural, drug free treatment option that is increasingly popular in the Western world. In the West, it is primarily associated with pain relief. However, it is often used to treat a wide range of other health conditions. One of the areas where it has been shown to be effective is in women’s health concerns.

Acupuncture is a practice that involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into the body at certain points. This is a holistic treatment, meant to treat the body as a whole organism rather than isolating separate parts. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, acupuncture works by restoring the balance of yin and yang in the body, and enhancing or correcting the flow of Qi (energy) by removing blockages that can cause all kinds of pain and illnesses, including many problems specific to women’s health.

Many practitioners of this ancient art as well as their patients claim that these treatments can successfully reduce or alleviate problems such as irregular or heavy periods, menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), uterine fibroids, and even problems like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis and other infertility issues. Acupuncturists utilize techniques that are thought to help regulate the ovarian cycle, stimulate egg production, improve the balance of hormones and even increase blood flow to the womb.

A German study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2008 showed that the majority of women who had acupuncture for menstrual cramps, discomfort and pain saw at least a 33 percent reduction in their pain level as compared to women who received no treatment. In addition, a Danish study found that women receiving acupuncture had a significantly higher rate of pregnancy versus a control group who did not receive this treatment.

Many more general studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce natural steroids and release endorphins, which help to reduce inflammation and pain. All practitioners agree that their techniques enhance the mind and body’s own ability to heal itself, and women’s issues are no exception to the rule.

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine often use herbs as well as dietary, exercise and lifestyle advice in conjunction with acupuncture treatments to obtain better results. Also, it is not uncommon for acupuncture to be successfully used as a complementary therapy along with more “mainstream” fertility and women’s health care options. In fact, some acupuncturists have extensive schooling in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which can help them better integrate different types of care for maximum efficacy.

After reaching menopause, a woman is vulnerable to many long-term health problems due to estrogen loss. Menopause effects women’s health in many ways. Estrogen has the properties to assist mental functions, as a woman grows old. It helps in reduction of Alzheimer disease risks by stimulation of neurotransmitters production while eliminating oxygen radicals that have important role in Alzheimer. Estrogen also helps in opening the blood vessels that contribute to better blood flow to brain.

Osteoporosis is another problem that is found in women after menopause. Here also estrogen is important in two ways. They control the life of the osteoclasts that lead to resorption. They also help in maintaining the vitamin D level in the body that helps in bone protection.

Women after Menopause become vulnerable to the heart diseases. This is also due to fall in estrogen levels because estrogen controls cholesterol levels. It smoothens and opens heart blood vessels too, which reduces oxygen radicals that can damage your heart arteries. Menopause also has urinary tract effects for many women. Due to fall of estrogen levels, the urinary tract infection risks increase manifolds. Estrogen helps in enhancing number of the microorganisms that help in fighting bacteria adhering vaginal cells.

Other effects of loss of estrogen in menopause of women’s health are sleeping disorders, tooth loss, gum disorders, wrinkles. Estrogen helps in preventing glaucoma, muscular degeneration, and cataract. It also prevents stress among women. Estrogens assist in avoiding slackness that is a result of excessive fats. Menopause is a transition that comes in every woman’s life but it should be dealt carefully. If you do not deal with it properly, it can lead to long-term health effects. Seek professional help if you want to avoid uneasiness at the time of menopause. Following doctor’s advice can prove useful in avoiding all these health problems.

When we talk about women’s health, this is a lot different from what men need in order to stay healthy and disease free. Women have their own need whether it is about food and diet, activities, medical attention and even basic needs such as clothing and shelter. Women are known to be fragile but the more conscious version of her opposite sex. In this article we will discuss some possible ways that can help women improve her health in no time.

There are many ways for a woman to improve her well being. These ways are guaranteed to have great effects not only on her physical well being but most of all to her emotional and psychological development. As we all know women are more conscious than men when it comes to health issues so this article will be very easy for them to follow and comply.

Here are some effective ways to help improve women’s health.

- Diet and nutrition

When it comes to diet and nutrition, women have different caloric needs compare to men. Women need less calories and fats than men. What a woman needs on her daily diet are more vitamins, minerals and iron. Iron is very vital as woman has monthly period and sometimes can lost excessive blood that may lead to anemia.

Women need more fruits and vegetables and less carbonated drinks even coffee and alcohol should be limited.

Medical attention

Women are prone to have diseases than men. Even a simple reproductive infection may lead to more serious complications if left undiagnosed and untreated. Women need to undergo Pap smear every year to make sure there are no cancer cells growing inside her uterus and ovary. Women also need to have breast examination and this can be easily done by her doctor or even by herself.

Protected Sex

Once a woman becomes sexually active she must have enough knowledge about having safe sex. Acquiring different kinds of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are very easy and getting more serious complications and conditions such as HIV and AIDS are just a part of this. When this happened, a woman may end up having such condition or she may get pregnant.

There are many ways to get safe sex. It is always advisable to see a health practitioner to gain more details about this matter. Bear in mind that this is important in improving women’s health.

Exercise

There are now many women who work like men. They devote most of their time toiling which in result they tend to forget their physical well being. Through this women may develop certain diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity and even high blood pressure. Women who lack activities such as exercise and have the kind of job that only require them to sit on their chair the whole day may have a bigger chance of acquiring one of these condition compare to those whose works involve some movements.

For busy women, a simple fifteen walk twice a week is very beneficial.

These simple ways are very easy to follow and it will not be that complicated if you are really into changing your way of life.

Women’s health issues have been in the forefront of the news recently, specifically the issue of self-breast exam and mammography. According to WebMD, 80% of lumps found during self-exams are benign but that doesn’t make them any less scary.

Just as there are many malignant forms, there are also a variety of benign breast lumps. If you find a lump, odds are it is benign, but you should see your doctor to make sure, especially if you are in a high risk group. When it comes to women’s health, here’s what you should know about them:

1. Fibroadenomas are the most common form. They occur when the body has produced an excessive amount of milk glands. They are solid masses that you can move with your finger. They don’t typically cause pain or tenderness. These are common early on in women 20-30. They can be removed through surgery.

2. Fibrocystic lumps occur because of hormonal changed-menstruation and menopause. You may notice these around that time of the month when your breasts swell and are tender to the touch. These cysts occur in the milk ducts and surrounding tissue. These are common in women 35-50. These are not typically treated.

3. Simple cysts are also tied to the hormonal fluctuations in the body. They are sacs filled with fluids that also cause discomfort and tenderness of the breast. These can be aspirated to not only get cell samples but to deflate the lump.

4. Intraductal papilloma is basically a lump similar to a wart (hence the name papilloma) that forms in the lining of the mammary duct. Bleeding from the nipple may occur. Typically, these lumps occur in women 45-50. Surgery can remove them.

5. Traumatic fat necrosis is a condition where fatty lumps form as a result of some injury to the breast.

Women’s health advocates stress that you be proactive when it comes to your health. Know what your family history is and begin screenings as soon as recommended by your physician.

If you know you have a history of benign lumps, be sure to see your doctor if anything changes such as location, shape, size, skin changes, bloody or clear nipple discharge, rash on the breast and puckering of the area are all changes that should be examined.

Be sure to discuss your family history, medical history and medications you are taking with your physician. And, while chances are any lump will be benign, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. With advances in treatment, successfully treating a malignant tumor is greater the earlier it is detected. You are your best advocate when it comes to your health. Being proactive is not being paranoid.

When PMS is concerned, there are too many symptoms to be able to list out individually. As every woman is unique, as of now, there is no universal cause or remedy for the effects of PMS from medical science.

It has been long established that a regular menstrual cycle is a indication of good health. Isn’t that special? However, being healthy does not equate to being free from pain nor mood swings from PMS.

While conventional medicine offer relief through pain killers, water pills, and hormonal therapy, alternative medication can sometimes offer the same level of relief, yet being more comforting and have fewer side effects. The following are 3 popular forms of alternative medications for PMS.

If you can overcome the initial fear of needles piecing your body, acupuncture can be a very relaxed experience while relieving stress and pain at the same time. The same can be said of massage, either by a professional therapist or even yourself. By massaging the lower abdomen the right way, cramps can be relaxed. Learning how to self massage would allow you to relief your cramps anytime. Both forms of such therapies are non-invasive nor medications are involved.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is another well received alternative for women’s PMS problems. The philosophy behind TCM is fixing the root cause of the problems rather that instant pain relief. Hence, with TCM, you will need to be exposed to a longer period of time before you can feel any effects or improvement. TCM usually involves concocting herbs and teas. Some of the more popular ones are Kava Kava Chai and ginseng teas. The recommended teas for PMS are made from Viburnum which aids in cramps, irritation, and swells. Dandelion, on the other hand, eases swollen breasts, muscle spasms, and acne outbreak. Visit your local TCM practitioner for the appropriate prescription for your symptoms.

Hypnosis is gaining popularity among many PMS sufferers. Discovering the root causes and conditions of symptoms is the primary objective of hypnosis. The pain then subsequently can be relieved by treating the root cause. Light hypnosis often recommended to for PMS sufferers for pain relief as well as to bring their mood swings under control.

In the future, if you are looking for PMS pain relief or control your mood swings, why not consider some of the alternative medications or therapies. It could make a big difference in the quality of your lifestyle.

Pregnancy is a very beautiful moment in a woman’s life, however hormonal changes occur in our body that alters its normal behavior. This is the reason why it’s important for us women to take good care of our teeth and gums while we are pregnant. These hormonal changes increase the risk of developing gum disease because it makes gums more sensitive, which makes it easier for gingivitis to develop, and this can affect the health of the unborn baby.

Periodontal Disease

It is very common to experience pregnancy gingivitis, identified by and uncomfortable swelling, bleeding, redness or softness in the gum tissue. A more advanced oral health condition (periodontal disease) may also affect the health of your baby. Research has shown that an expectant mother suffering from periodontal disease might deliver a premature, low birth weight baby. As a matter of fact, these pregnant women may be seven times more likely to have a baby that is born earlier and smaller that the usual, which may increase the risk for future health problems and disabilities.

Scaling and Root Planning

If you’re pregnant and receive a positive diagnose for periodontal disease, our dentist recommends a common non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planning. With this procedure the root of your tooth or teeth are deeply cleaned to remove plaque, tartar and bacterial toxins, this may reduce the risk of having premature or low weighted births. Additionally, this procedure should reduce many of the pregnancy gingivitis symptoms.

Here are some Tips for pregnant women to follow:

• Even though sweets are craved a lot when we are pregnant, these should be avoided. Always remember that the more sweets you eat, the greater chance you have of developing tooth decay, plus studies have shown that the bacteria that causes tooth decay is passed genetically from mother to child.
• For precaution, during the first trimester and second half of the third trimester dental treatments should be avoided as much as possible. You need to let your dentist know about you pregnancy and have routine dental care and checkups.
• Always eat a healthy, balanced diet. This is very important because your baby’s first teeth begin to develop around after the third month of your pregnancy.
• Pay special attention to any changes in your gums during pregnancy.
• Maintain a good oral hygiene to prevent or reduce oral health related problems.
• If you can’t stand the toothpaste and toothbrush sensation due to morning sickness, change your toothpaste and toothbrush to a softer one.

Routine CheckupsNever skip your dental routine checkups at your dental office just because you are pregnant, this is the most essential time to have you regular gum examinations and routine checkups to prevent or treat any condition that might affect your baby’s health. Taking care of ourselves properly is the starting point for a complication-free and healthy life for your baby.

In order to be in the best health during pregnancy, Kegel exercises are widely recommended. Over the years these work outs have proved to be very useful for women who are about to enter pregnancy. They are great for treating vaginal pro lapse in women. They also help in relieving the physiological stress that women face during the later stages of pregnancy.

Some people have trouble finding and isolating the muscles of the pelvic floor. It’s important to learn how to tighten (contract) the correct muscles. Most people contract the abdominal or thigh muscles, and don’t work the pelvic floor muscles. These incorrect contractions can worsen pelvic floor tone and incontinence.
Over the years kegel exercises have proved to be very useful for women who are about to enter pregnancy. They are great for treating vaginal pro lapse in women.

They also help in relieving the physiological stress that women face during the later stages of pregnancy. If you carry out kegel exercises on a regular basis, you would be at a great advantage. These exercise help in curing urinary incontinence, tightening vagina and preparing the vagina for childbirth and they are also great in relieving stress.

In order to allow people to perform these exercises properly there are a number of kegel exercisers in the market. These devices help you exercise in a better way and make these exercises a lot of fun for you. You can hire a physical trainer as well to help you out with these exercises. Trainers help you work out on a regular basis and you would notice changes in your body within a few days.

Kegel exercises are said to be the most naturally effective way to stay healthy before and during pregnancy. Women who have brought these exercises into their daily routine have experienced comfort in the post pregnancy days too. To get the maximum benefit, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles or isolating your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Also, try not to hold your breath. Just relax, breathe freely and focus on tightening the muscles around your vagina and rectum.

It is always good to go about it the natural way. While therapies and operations may prove to be effective, they have a number of side effects associated with them that not many can confront with. Hence it is good to follow a natural approach. Finally, these exercises – along with counseling and sex therapy, may be helpful to women who have persistent problems reaching orgasm.

Without taking any notice, we use kisses several times a day – blow them to ourselves, touch our parents’ cheeks with our lips, smack the noses of our favorite toys, but all this cannot be compared with a real grown-up kiss between two people. Here comes the most interesting part – complexes and fears about our inability to kiss. I am going to reveal a little secret to you – even a lot of adult and experienced people have the same fears. We are all unique, what appeals to one person can be unattractive to another one; therefore the art of kissing is a life long study.

What is the most important thing in the kissing technique? Whichever way you look at it, there is only one answer – to feel your partner’s responses. Even with an absolute lack of skill, when you shyly touch the lips of your beloved for the first time, your desire to indulge them opens the celestial bliss of a kiss. Careful and velvet touches of your lips over cheeks, corners of the mouth and further will reveal your partner’s preferences quickly. And try not to forget about such a significant thing as using hands and words – tender strokes of hair and shoulders, and soft brushings of the neck and arms supplement kisses and help to expose the deepest feelings in your soul.

For the initial mastering of kissing techniques, it is worth drawing your attention to the cinema. Set aside horror movies and detective stories, and switch to melodramatic tear-jerkers, focusing on the way the main heroes are kissing. Try to put yourself on their place, feeling touches to the skin of another person. While steeping into dreams, it is possible to imagine your beloved person and “rehearse” kisses with them. There is no use in creating particular behavior patterns, as in the future you will have to improvise proceeding on your partner’s reactions.

Following the scientific approach, we may peek into the classification of kisses made by a French sexologist Gérard Leleu. In his opinion a quiet kiss is when lips contact the skin almost without any sound. It is better to begin your kissing practice with this slight lip-touch, gently driving your partner to the desire to continue the kiss. After this, it is advisable to stimulate slowly a harder kiss, when the pressure is higher, the sound is louder, but the breathing is not interrupted. If it is a kiss on the lips, the mouth is slightly opened in order to let the tongue loose and enrich pleasant feelings with its gentle touches. It is almost a French kiss with an opened mouth and a penetration of a tongue into it. You should be very careful here – keep your teeth clean and your breath fresh. In that case only, your parnter will also be interested to dab your smooth teeth with their tongue, to tease your lips bringing you to the highest levels of pleasure.

Another type of a kiss is a nip kiss when the lips nibble the partner’s skin – such gentle motions help to find the erogenous zones. A suck kiss is familiar to everybody who was so absorbed in it that left love bites, small bruises, on the partner’s skin. Your lips take some part of a skin in and suck it, presenting the warm feeling. While using a tickling kiss all your attention is concentrated on a particular erogenous zone which is being tickled and fiddled with your lips, stimulating particular receptors. During a kiss named by Gérard Leleu stroke of a pan your lips are drawing on the partner’s skin, studying all the relief lines, often accentuating the tenderness of touches with your hot tongue. The last type of a kiss in his classification is a tracing kiss when the lips of a closed or an opened mouth trace the skin with a different pressure.

If we go further and consult the popular “Kama Sutra”, we will find even more kissing techniques using your lips and tongue. Meanwhile, a kiss is not restricted with a mouth only, as all body movements, touches of hands and even the ambience influence skin receptors and the partner’s mood.

Thus, even thinking of yourself as a master of kisses, you can always study something new, especially when your beloved person is ready to support your most unusual experiments, such as the usage of ice-cream during kissing. But it is quite a different story.

In recent years as our knowledge of women’s health has grown we have become more aware of the big physiological differences that there are between men and women and how because of this the need to treat each gender differently and look at sex when diagnosing certain conditions is beneficial.

Our attention should be drawn to the primary areas of concern for all women such as reproductive health, heart disease, female cancers and diet.

Its important to look at diet because we know that over 50 percent of the population is now overweight and that figure includes a big percentage of women that in fact are recognised as clinically obese. The consequences of this are huge. Some of today’s biggest killer diseases such as heart failure and diabetes are all directly linked to over eating and poor diet as well as a number of other life limiting conditions such as infertility and high blood pressure. It is important for women of all ages to eat as healthily as they can and take regular exercise

Female cancers have seen some success in treatments and diagnostics over the past few years, Breast cancer now has a better survival rate than ever before with early diagnosis up by 2 percent.

Ovarian cancer however has not had the same luck. Ovarian cancer is a difficult to diagnose illness. Most women experience many of its symptoms on a monthly basis without ever having anything wrong with them. However, those same symptoms can be a warning that ovarian cancer is present. So if you suffer from excessive gas, changes to your weight or a felling of fullness in your pelvis it’s wise to get checked out by your doctor, just to be sure.

The world’s biggest killer heart disease targets women and men equally but a heart attack is far more likely to kill a woman than a man. As previously mentioned healthy eating and regular exercise can all help to prevent you becoming a victim of heart disease, so making a few lifestyle changes is very beneficial in the long run.

There have been many changes in reproductive health over the years the latest now is a choice of intramuscular injections of patches worn to prevent pregnancy. There is also a new birth control pill that has a slow release dispenser. It releases the hormone over 84 days as opposed to 21, which means a women will only menstruate 4 times a year.