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Basic Womens Health
The health problems of women are unique in camparison to the male gender. The female body is more complex and requires much more care. The habits you, as a woman, develop early in life may determine your health in your later years. I don't mean...
Chlorine, Cancer, and Asthma - Oh My! Why You Might Need a Water Filter
For approximately 150 years, chlorine has been a vital, yet dangerous, part of our tap water. Water chlorination first began as a way to combat such deadly waterborne diseases as cholera and typhoid. Because of the immense success of this harsh...
Herbs and Natural Supplements for Breast Cancer
A returning patient called me yesterday. She was a breast cancer survivor when I saw her as a student intern in Chinese medical school. If I had been more confident at the time, I would have suggested she be diligent in preventing a recurrence of...
What I Learned From Barbie's Mom
When my daughter received a gift certificate at KB Toys for her birthday this month, she announced her intention to spend it all on Barbie. Never mind the fact that she already owns a Veterinarian Barbie, Lifesaver Barbie, Prom Queen Barbie, two...
What you need to know about hrt
As an individual ages he or she is gripped by many physical problems. These problems have different origins. But most of the age-old troubles are a consequence of weak functioning or one can say retirement of the internal organs of the body. So as...
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Women's Health Care: The Top Health Care Issues Women Face Today
When the topic of women's health care is raised, the first
disease that comes to mind is probably breast cancer. But
surprisingly, that's not the number one health care issue
confronting women today. In fact, heart disease kills more women
each year than all forms of cancer combined. By knowing the most
significant risks in women's health care and what you can do to
combat these health care issues, women of all ages can take a
proactive approach to leading healthier lives.
The #1 Women's Health Care Issue: Heart Disease More than
489,000 American women lose their lives each year as a result of
heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. In
fact, more women than men die from heart disease each year.
Until recently, little research focused on women and heart
disease, but the good news is that's no longer the case. From
research into the effects of hormone replacement therapy on
heart health to studies of how cholesterol-lowering medications
work in women, there's an unprecedented increase in the amount
of information available to women working to live with and ward
off heart disease.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic offer simple common sense advice to
women (and men) in the fight against heart disease: don't smoke,
eat a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, and low-fat dairy products, exercise at least 30 to 60
minutes a week, and maintain a healthy weight.
In addition, they encourage women to see their family doctor
each year for a physical which includes blood pressure and
cholesterol screenings. Studies indicate that there is a 46%
increase in stroke risk for women for each 7.5 mm HG increase in
their diastolic blood pressure, so monitoring blood pressure and
controlling hypertension are vital.
Women who suffer migraines, are pregnant, have atrial
fibrillation and those with the auto-immune disease Lupus also
appear to run a greater stroke risk. Diabetes is another women's
health care issue with a direct impact on heart health. The
American Heart Association notes women with diabetes have a two
to six times greater risk of heart disease and heart attack and
are at a significantly greater risk of suffering a stroke. All
of these risk factors make an annual visit with your doctor one
of the best ways women can manage and improve the health of
their hearts.
Cancer Concerns: The Second Deadliest Health Care Issue Women
Face While breast cancer is often at the top of the list of
health care issues for women, several other types of cancers
also pose a significant threat to women's health. In this
country, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
during her lifetime according to current data which means that a
little more than 2 million women are currently living with
breast cancer in the U.S. But melanoma, a form of skin cancer,
actually kills more young women than any other cancer according
to statistics provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation. In fact,
melanoma is the most common form of cancer in women between the
ages of 25 and 29 and its incidence has tripled in women under
40 in the last thirty years.
Ovarian cancer is another women's health care concern. Usually
symptomless until it is widespread, this disease is the fourth
most frequent cause of death for American women. The American
Cancer Society estimates 26,000 new cases of ovarian cancer
diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, there are few definitive
screening tests that detect this disease, but experts advise a
thorough annual gynecological exam and for women to be alert to
pelvic pain and pressure, low back discomfort, mild nausea, and
an increase in constipation or gas. A serum CA-125 blood test
can detect certain forms of ovarian cancer, but the test is not
accurate enough to be used as a routine screening tool.
The rate of women suffering from cervical cancer has dropped a
great deal over the years, thanks in part to the increase in the
number of women who get an annual Pap smear which can indicate
the presence of abnormal cells on the cervix. It's a strong
argument for making sure you never skip your Pap smear. Women
who have had Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs), herpes simplex
virus, those with suppressed immune
systems, and those who have
had multiple sexual partners run a greater risk of cervical
cancer. On the prevention front, a recent trial of a vaccine
against cervical cancer was 100% effective in the short term at
blocking the disease.
Psychological Well-being: A Growing Health Care Issue for Women
In the field of women's health care, psychological problems,
which include eating disorders, depression, and anxiety
disorders, affect millions of American women. From coping skills
to medications to alternative and complementary medical
approaches, there is a growing body of knowledge being brought
to bear on this important health care issue.
More than 19 million people in the United States, the greatest
percentage being women, live with anxiety disorders that disrupt
their lives. The different types of disorders within this group
include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Treatment options
include talk therapy and a wide range of medications that can
quell the symptoms of the condition. Many women also combine
alternative approaches to treatment such as acupuncture,
meditation, and diet modification with traditional forms of
treatment.
According to the American Psychological Association, women are
almost twice as likely to suffer from major depression as men.
In fact, some experts in the field have called depression the
most significant mental health risk for women, especially those
in their childbearing and rearing years. Studies have found that
married women and mothers are especially vulnerable to
depression. It's important for a woman who feels she may be
suffering from depression to be carefully evaluated by a
physician because the source of the depressive symptoms could be
birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or thyroid
disease. Treatment for depression, like most other psychological
conditions, includes talk therapy and medications. Some women
also find relief in alternative medicine with herbal
supplements, meditation, and other complementary techniques.
Though many of the women who struggle with eating disorders are
in their teens and twenties, these conditions also affect women
at other stages in their lives. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge
eating are the most well-known forms of eating disorders.
Statistics show that one out of every one hundred girls between
the ages of 10 and 20 is anorexic, 4% of college-aged women are
bulimic, and 1% of women are binge eaters. The root causes of
these diseases include stress at home and at school or work,
depression and anxiety, major life changes like a divorce or
death, and physical and sexual abuse. Breaking out of the cycle
of eating disorders requires a combined approach to this health
care issue including psychological treatment, nutrition
counseling, and in some cases, hospitalization.
A Holistic Approach to Women's Health Care As women become more
proactive about their health, many seek a holistic approach to
improving their well-being and fighting disease. But
coordinating information among several health care providers,
keeping on top of the latest breakthroughs in health, and
finding the United States' best doctors is a daunting task for
any women.
Some are turning to private professional health care advocates,
like those available at PinnacleCare, to help them achieve their
goal of a whole-woman centered approach to health care issues.
From compiling and electronically storing comprehensive medical
records to researching treatment options and providing
accelerated access to the United States' top doctors,
PinnacleCare's health advocates make a holistic approach to
health care possible.
"I passionately believe that what our PinnacleCare Members
experience is the way healthcare ought to be delivered,"
explains John Hutchins, PinnacleCare's Managing Director. "The
healthcare system has gotten so complex that most people are at
a loss to find their way through it without professional
guidance and objective counsel."
About the author:
To learn more about PinnacleCare services, its PinnacleCare
Advocates and read more Member testimonials, please visit;
www.PinnacleCare.com
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| BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures |
| Breast Cancer Information from a Nonprofit Organization. |
| www.breastcancer.org |
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| The Breast Cancer Site |
| Founded to help offer free mammograms to underprivileged women nationwide. With a simple, daily "click" visitors help provide mammograms to those in need. |
| www.thebreastcancersite.com |
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| Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation |
| The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to education and research on breast cancer causes, treatment and the search for a cure. |
| www.komen.org |
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| Breast Cancer Information from National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc |
| Breast cancer information including early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, myths, early detection, breast cancer research and more from National Breast ... |
| www.nationalbreastcancer.org |
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| BreastCancer.Net: http://www.breastcancer.net |
| A clearinghouse for the latest news and information on the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. |
| www.breastcancer.net |
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| Breast Cancer Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Educational resources on using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat and prevent breast cancer. |
| www.breastcancer.com |
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| Breast Cancer Care - Homepage |
| Breast Cancer Care is the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer or breast ... |
| www.breastcancercare.org.uk |
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| Breakthrough Breast Cancer |
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UKs leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research and education. |
| www.breakthrough.org.uk |
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| MedlinePlus: Breast Cancer |
| Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Breast Cancer: • Breast Cancer ... Select services and providers for Breast Cancer in your area. ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
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| Breast Cancer Research | |
| Online and print journal covering topics of basic and clinical research relevant to breast cancer. Research articles are free to all users. |
| breast-cancer-research.com |
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| National Breast Cancer Centre - Evidence based information for ... |
| The National Breast Cancer Centre of Australia providing information about breast cancer for consumers and health professionals. |
| www.nbcc.org.au |
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| Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: Run for the Cure: Select Language |
| Charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment. |
| www.cbcf.org |
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| Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| That is why you will see breast cancer patients wearing braces, ... [5] Men can also develop breast cancer, but their risk is less than one in 1000 (see sex ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF! |
| Help stop Breast Cancer by clicking daily - free! Supports efforts by The Breast Cancer Fund. |
| breastcancer.care2.com |
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| National Breast Cancer Foundation |
| The ultimate goal of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is to raise enough money to fund a cure for breast cancer. As Australia’s leading national ... |
| www.nbcf.org.au |
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| Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization |
| Support and information about the condition from this non-profit entity. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. |
| www.y-me.org |
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| Breast Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute |
| Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer ... |
| www.cancer.gov |
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| What You Need To Know About™ Breast Cancer - National Cancer Institute |
| Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. NIH Publication No. 05-1556. |
| www.cancer.gov |
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| Breast Cancer Campaign - Researching the cure |
| Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent breast cancer research throughout the UK. |
| www.breastcancercampaign.org |
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| NBCC - NBCC - National Breast Cancer Coalition |
| The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. |
| www.natlbcc.org |
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