xoxirimam

Monday, December 18, 2006

Menopause The Musical At The Society Hill Playhouse

Menopause: Take The Hot Flash Opportunity

by Karen MacKay

Menopause is a time of rapid growth if you let it be. It�s a natural time of transition that can open up life to a whole new dimension. What will it be for you? Are you ready for a time of reflection and real self-awareness or are you willing to stay put and continue without this grand time of newness. It�s a time of rebirth. Sit up and take notice.

Hot flashes at first sight seem an uncomfortable, obnoxious, embarrassing event that occurs all too frequently, signaling a time of change that most of us aren�t ready for or willing to participate in. But, what if you gave in and welcomed these times for vast learning and change? What if hot flashes gave you the impetus to explore unknown territory in your life that just might lead to greater knowledge or understanding in your universe? Would you be more inclined to ride them out and see what�s there for you? Give it a try and see.

The dreaded night sweats are not for the faint of heart. They are for the truly adventurous in spirit. Rolling around in a sweaty nightgown, unable to sleep is not a pretty sight but it is an initiation of sorts. It shows where you�re willing to go. The restlessness taps the mind to see what you are made of. Complaints and anger let you know something is not right with your world. Are you hiding something you don�t even know about? Have you not been acknowledging your feelings or your true nature? Look and see what you can express in the night that hides in the light of day. Lying there as a martyr, which is nearly impossible, isn�t useful and perpetuates a lack of ingenuity. A willingness to succumb to the night, to give up and surrender to the forces greater than your present self, however, is the remarkable and admirable thing to do. It takes a formidable woman to confront her own powers.

The wee hours offer a window of opportunity to peer into your own recesses. Stay in bed. Breathe deeply and courageously follow your mind as it leads you along to where you are going. Or, meditate and develop awareness of your oft-neglected body. What does it tell you? Getting up and writing is a sure way to access your inner, neglected self. These doings, at first, reveal a glimpse of the woman to be. As they continue, the processes journey through your heart and soul divulging secrets long-held. Are you up to the challenge? Your life is ultimately yours to behold. �2006

Dr. Karen MacKay is a chiropractor, acupuncturist, hypnotherapist and wholistic health practitioner. She has authored two books: Dear Sisters, Break Free From Domestic Violence, and The Wisest, Healthiest Buffalo. Her website www.HotFlashQueen.com and twice monthly Ezine, available at eZine@hotflashqueen.com, are about healing and feeling good. She also has Guided Imagery MP3 downloads to help the healing and awareness processes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_MacKay

Menopause The Musical Tour Schedule

Peri Menopause Symptoms and Relief

by Patsy Hamilton

Peri menopause may be a new term for you. It simply means the time �around� menopause. Peri menopause symptoms are caused by changing hormonal levels during the years that lead up to menopause. They may last as little as a few months or as long as ten years. Every woman is different. These differences may be related to nutrition, diet, exercise regimens, prescription medications or genetic factors. It may be that the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen or estrogen levels may change suddenly from month to month. Much is unknown.

As early as their thirties, some women begin to experience changes in their menstrual periods. They may become heavier or irregular. Some women begin to experience premenstrual syndrome for the first time in their lives. Some doctors recognize these changes and refer to them as peri menopause symptoms, helping to educate women about what they can do to reduce symptoms. Other doctors leave it up to the women to educate themselves. And others suggest a variety of prescription drugs, which may or may not help.

To help regulate menstrual periods, thus relieving those types of peri menopause symptoms, some doctors recommend birth control pills. Women who take birth control pills may have less symptoms of shorter duration, but this is not always the case. Some women cannot and should not take birth control pills, because of the risks associated with them. Many women prefer not to take them, if they are not needed for contraceptive purposes. Birth control pills have known benefits and known risks. To learn more about them, a good website to visit is www.fwhc.org/birth-control/the pill.htm.

Worsening PMS symptoms may also be peri menopause symptoms. PMS symptoms vary greatly among women, from non-existent to severe. It may be helpful to keep a journal for a while, noting when symptoms like mood swings and breast tenderness appear. There are at least 100 different symptoms associated with PMS; thankfully most women do not experience them all. Women who take birth control pills do not experience PMS, because they do not ovulate, but may have similar symptoms related to varying hormone levels. Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed to relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, but may have side effects, including headache, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction. Regular exercise is one of the best PMS relievers, but without proper nutrition, you may not have the energy for it. A good daily multi-vitamin in addition to a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine will help increase energy levels and reduce PMS symptoms.

Hot flashes and night sweats may be the most frustrating peri menopause symptoms. Antidepressants may increase night sweats in some women. These symptoms are directly related to changing estrogen levels. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was at one time considered a safe treatment for all of the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause, but research has shown that those women using HRT had an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and Alzheimer�s.

All peri menopause symptoms, including the ones mentioned here and others are believed to be related to decreased levels of estrogen. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies contain synthetic estrogens, thus relieving symptoms, but increasing risks associated with synthetic hormones. Certain plant components have estrogen like effects. These components are referred to as phytoestrogens. Found in plant foods like soy and herbs like black cohosh, phytoestrogens can help relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, naturally without side effects.

Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are sometimes experienced in women during peri menopause. Night sweats are sometimes a major sleep disruption, but many women find that a full night�s sleep is just not possible. If you have a doctor that readily writes prescriptions and you tell him about all of your different symptoms, you may end up taking sleep aids, antidepressants and a variety of other drugs. I have known many women who were taking six or seven different prescription medications during peri menopause and still had problems.

Serotonin is one of the compounds circulating in the blood stream believed to regulate sleep and mood. It is regularly sold as a natural sleep aid, but precursors (those substances that the body uses to create serotonin) are more effective and safer for long term use. Tryptophan was heavily marketed at one time, but also had safety issues. 5-HTP is the newest alternative.

Derived from an African plant, 5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that in studies has been shown to act like a prescription antidepressant, without the side effects. It is recommended for use by women with PMS and peri menopause symptoms for many reasons. It promotes healthy natural sleep, without causing grogginess. It improves mood, without the side effects associated with prescription drugs or other herbal remedies. Studies have shown its effectiveness for migraine treatment. Women, who experienced migraines during puberty, often see them reappear during peri menopause.

To learn more about 5-HTP and other natural remedies for menopause, peri menopause and PMS, please visit http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and more than 40 years experience as a woman. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Menopause The Musical Tickets Charlotte

Early Menopause

by Kevin Stith

Early or premature menopause is defined as menopause before the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure, surgery, and chemotherapy may all result in early menopause. About one in a hundred women may experience early menopause; some may be teenagers or in their twenties. Symptoms of early menopause tend to be very similar to those of normal menopause. Changes in the timing and duration of menstrual periods and hot flashes are common.

In some women, early menopause may be due to failure of the ovaries and is called premature ovarian failure. It is thought that such failure is due to hormonal, autoimmune or genetic processes, which result in a depletion in the number of viable eggs in a woman�s ovaries. This depletion may be complete, or, in approximately ten percent of women who have premature ovarian failure, partial. These women have a reduced but possible chance of becoming pregnant. Recent research has shown that female twins may be up to four times more times more likely than other women to undergo spontaneous early menopause. Either or both twins may be affected.

Surgery is another cause of early menopause. When the ovaries are removed or damaged during surgery, there is a rapid reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels and the immediate onset of menopause. Because the hormonal changes are so abrupt, menopausal symptoms tend to be more intense.

Women who undergo chemotherapy for cancer treatment may have premature menopause. Cancer-killing drugs may damage other tissues too, including ovarian tissue. Tamoxifen, a drug prescribed in certain types of breast cancer, has an anti-estrogen effect and can also trigger early menopause. Sometimes, chemotherapy-induced menopause may be temporary.

Early menopause can be extremely distressing, particularly when it occurs in younger women who may not yet have had children or completed their families. Besides treatment of menopause symptoms, some women benefit from counseling to address emotional issues.

Menopause provides detailed information about menopause, early menopause, male menopause, menopause and osteoporosis and more. Menopause is the sister site of Chronic Insomnia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Stith

Menopause The Musical Merriam Theatre

What Causes Hair Loss In Women

by David Maillie

Hair loss is a problem that we usually attribute to middle aged males. What is not as apparent is that women also suffer from this problem. We just do not see it as most women will cover it up with a wig, weaves, etc. Once it has started it is important to find the cause and reverse it, if possible, before it leads to unsightly balding and permanent loss. Many manifestations of hair loss in women can actually be reversed if caught early enough.

Tight weaves, hairdos, and the wearing of hats can all result in loss of hair called tension or traction alopecia. According to the American Hair Loss Council:

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by physical stress and tension on the hair such as prolonged use of hair weaving, corn rows etc. Done too tightly on weak hair these can cause permanent loss of hair.

Anything that over tightens, constrains, or over burdens our hair and follicles can easily cause hair loss. The wearing of tight hats can also cause this condition. Many males have received receding and uneven hairlines from wearing tight hats. As a rule, do not do anything that unduly puts tension or strain on your hair.

Menstration and normal female hormonal changes can lead to loss of hair. This is referred to as telogen effiuvium or temporary hair loss. This can be caused by over exertion, stress both physical and emotional, thyroid problems and medicinal side effects. Many medicines have varying degrees in loss of hair as a side effect. Even many common medicines we would not normally link to this hair condition. This is why it is important to see your doctor if you suspect any thinning or loss of hair. Your doctor will ask for a history of all medicines taken and search for related possible side effects. It is normal for women to have some thinning of the hair during their menstruation cycle, from taking anti pregnancy pills, and upon reaching menopause. There are medicines your doctor can prescribe which can help with these causes.

The technical term for hair loss is androgenetic alopecia which imparts both hormonal and genetic attributes. Basically, many cases in women are similar to mens cases, with too much testosterone. Over production of testosterone or lack of synthesis of it can result in it being turned into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) at the follicle which will slowly kill the follicle. This over time results in balding patterns and loss of hair. There are hair treatments which treat and reduce the accumulation of DHT in the follicle, but more research into stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT needs to be done.

There are other causes like chemotherapy, autoimmune disorders, scalp yeast infections, etc. Many of these are temporary and will go away, some require treatment so further hair loss and possible balding can be stopped. The best advice is to see your doctor early so they can properly diagnose the cause and treat it. effectively.

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures skin peels and acne treatments for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at: Bestskinpeel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Maillie

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Menopause The Musical Music Cd

Menopause-Demystified What You Need to Know

by John Mancini

Menopause has a bad rap, at best. This is one of the most misunderstood times in a woman's life. However, it is natural and can be controlled through both medicinal and non-medicinal means. The following information regarding menopause will, hopefully, answer some questions and offer some treatment options for the millions of women who will soon be entering this next stage of life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been the standard of care for menopausal women since the 1970's. In fact, more than 40 million women every year receive prescriptions for this treatment. However, in recent years this form of treatment has come under attack as it is being thought that it causes an increase in heart disease.

The use of soy and vitamin E as a treatment for the symptoms of menopause are gaining momentum among those women who do not want to use hormone replacement therapy. Nevertheless, these options have not been subjected to the same scrutiny as prescription drugs. The reason for this is that vitamins, minerals and other non-traditional methods are classified as food items and not drugs. Therefore, the studies that may have been conducted are not done in accordance with the FDA guidelines. This means that any information gleaned from such studies may not be accurate.

There are a myriad of symptoms that signal the beginning of menopause. Irregular bleeding, menstrual cycles that are longer or shorter than normal, hot flashes and night sweats are some of the more common signs. It is important to note however, that even with a list that is this varied in symptoms that not all women have the same symptoms or experience the same severity of those symptoms. One woman's experience of during this time in her life may vary greatly from the experiences of her friends and family.

It is best to talk to your health care provider if you suspect that you are entering the early stages of menopause. Together, you will be able to decide upon a course of action to alleviate some of the more uncomfortable aspects of this time of your life. Treatment does not need to follow either traditional or non-traditional methods, in fact, for many women a combination of the two works best.

The first step to alleviating some of the fear that is associated with menopause is to understand what menopause is. Simply put, it is the time when a woman's ovaries cease to function. The ovaries control such functions as producing eggs and estrogen, when the ovaries stop working, so does the production of these two things. The cease in production of estrogen can lead to a fluctuation in hormone levels and can cause osteoporosis later in life. This is why hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is the treatment of choice.

One last piece of information, menopause is not considered complete until the absence of a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months. During this time, you may experience an occasional cycle. It is important to note that pregnancy may still occur, if menopause is not completed. It would be wise to continue any birth control that you prefer during the menopause phase, if pregnancy is not wanted.

John Mancini has been writing about Menopause online and offline for a long time. Visit http://menopause-now.info or http://menopause-web.info to read more about matters like stop hot flashes and menopause.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mancini

Menopause The Musical Research

Help for Hot Flashes

by Ada Ozoh

Hot flashes (also known as hot flushes) are the most common symptoms experienced in the perimenopausal years. You may experience hot flashes prior to menopause, which become more frequent and severe with the onset of menopause.

The term hot flush refers to the sudden onset of reddening of the skin, a feeling of intense body heat and palpitations, followed sometimes by profuse sweating. The duration lasts from a few seconds to minutes. Flushes tend to be more frequent and severe at night when they are known as night sweats. Not being able to sleep well at night may lead to irritability and depression. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with your heart pounding, drenched in sweat.

What causes hot flashes?

This is still not well understood, but it is thought to originate from the brain and is related to a decrease in estrogen in the body. The body�s heat releasing mechanisms suddenly become excited which increases blood flow to the skin causing flushing. This is followed by sweating which has a cooling effect.

Although hot flushes are the most common menopausal symptoms, they are not dangerous to your health.

What Can You Do?

� Keep a record of where and when your flushes occur the most and try and avoid those situations. Avoid activities that seem to be associated with flashes.

� Clothing should be light. Choose natural fibres like cotton which allow perspiration to evaporate. Avoid long sleeves, high necks and tight clothes. Wear clothes that are easy to unbutton.

� Keep your rooms cool and well-ventilated at home.

� Stop smoking. It slows down circulation and worsens hot flushes.

� Eat carefully. Avoid sugary spicy and salty food, chocolates, alcohol, tea, cola drinks and large meals. Eat lots of citrus fruits e.g. oranges and grapefruits.

� Both estrogen and progesterone can be used to alleviate hot flashes. Try a natural progesterone cream, 1/4 teaspoon twice a day.

� Take evening primrose oil or borage oil which contain gama linoleic acid. It increases the production of prostaglandins which seem to reduce frequency and severity of hot flashes.

� Eat lots of soy e.g. about 60 grams. This can be in the form of soybeans, tempeh, tofu etc. An easier way to get lots of soy is in the form of soy bars and soy shakes.

� Take a good herbal formula for women especially one containing a combination of black cohosh, dong quai, licorice and ginseng. These have a mild estrogen-like activity. Do not use ginseng if you have high blood pressure or asthma.

� Take a good vitamin B complex supplement.

� Take high doses of vitamin E. Up to 1000 international units (IU) have been helpful for some women. You may reduce the dose as flashes subside. Take it at the end of a meal as it needs food to be absorbed into your body. It seems to work more effectively when taken with vitamins B and C. Use the natural form of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), not the man-made form (dl-alpha tocopherol). Avoid vitamin E if you have diabetes, hypertension or heart problems.

� Relaxation � this can be difficult during a hot flush. Practice deep breathing and mental imagery which can shorten a hot flush or stop it altogether.

� Regular exercise � This improves the circulation of blood around the body. It also increases the levels of estrogen in the body as well as endorphins (chemicals which act like morphine) which make you feel good. Women who exercise regularly have fewer flashes than those that don�t.

You are unique in every way. There is no magic formula to relieve hot flashes. You may have to try different things before you find a combination that works for you. Most importantly, don�t give up!

Ada Ozoh is a women's health expert. For up-to-date information and resources, especially related to menopause, visit HREF="http://menopauselifestyle.com">MenopauseLifestyle.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ada_Ozoh

Menopause The Musical At The Apollo

Breast Implants and Breast Augmentation Procedures Explained

by Michael Rad

US breast implants - regulations

Here is a set of regulations passed by the FDA in regards to silicone breast implants:

1. Replacement or revision of saline implants

2. Tuberous breast deformity

3. Congenital breast reconstruction

4. Breast augmentation to the opposite breast for symmetry

5. Augmentation with a breast lift (mastopexy)

6. Severe asymmetries of the breast

7. Breast cancer reconstruction

Breast enlargement is, no doubt, one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. However, many women wonder if the breast augmentation procedure is worth it, especially on a long run. Some fear that the breast implants will not last and they will begin to leak. Although this does happen, it is a very rare phenomenon. Most women who have gone through breast enlargement surgery didn�t experience any problems with their silicone breast implants.

Replacing breast implants

You will never have to replace your breast implants unless you come across a problem with them. Most breast implant replacements are made because the patient wants a new shape or size for her breasts. Although leakage and asymmetry are also among the reasons, they are very rare when compared with the conscious requests of the patients to modify their breast implants.

Incision types � which one is the best

While the inframammary incision is the most popular, other types of breast enlargement incisions should be considered. The crease incision has the huge advantage of leaving a minute scar that is barely noticeable. A transaxillary breast incision gives surgeons less control on where to implant the silicone. Incisions around the areola heal faster, but the abundance of nerve endings in the area made many surgeons feel that changes in tactile sensations might be present.

More information available here: Breast Enlargement Expert

Asthmaxpert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Rad