Health Blog

A healthy body and a sound mind

What Women Should Know About Strength Training

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There are many myths revolving strength training exercises. Exercises involving lifting weights are usually avoided by the body conscious types. These are the likes who do every other workout in the gym except to lift barbells or dumbbells because they think doing so will only make their muscles grow bigger, making them look bulky. Many share this notion, but more especially the women. Many of these ladies don’t want to look like men or body-builder types. Having those bodies supposedly lessens their femininity.

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This article will tackle some of the misconceptions about strength training. Ladies, you don’t need to fear strength training exercises. They actually have numerous awesome benefits. According to experts, strength training is actually more effective at achieving certain fitness and health results than its more popular fitness workout counterparts like cardio exercise. [Read more…]

Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome May Benefit From Acupuncture

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acupuncturePolycystic ovary syndrome is a relatively common condition in women, although it is not often diagnosed. With advancement in technology and more awareness, more women are able to determine if they are suffering from this syndrome, also known as PCOS. The condition is characterized by numerous small cysts in the ovaries, which interfere with the production of hormones. As a result, the male hormone testosterone is produced in higher quantities. The effects are manifested in various ways, some of which include fertility problems, irregular menstruation, obesity, and even increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

The exact cause of PCOS remains a mystery to doctors and researchers. However, the symptoms are clear and some researchers believe that it is closely linked to an over active sympathetic nervous system. This system is what controls involuntary bodily functions such as the dilation of pupils.

A group of Swedish researchers conducted a study recently, wherein women with PCOS were divided into three groups. The first group underwent electro-acupuncture (a weak electric current is passed through the needles). The second group underwent a guided exercise routine (at least three times a week). The third group had no additional treatment or instructions. The findings? The activity of the sympathetic nervous system of the first two groups was considerably lower and the women who had acupuncture had a plus: more regulated menstruation. More than this, they also had lower levels of testosterone.

If you have PCOS or know anyone with PCOS, you might want to consider acupuncture.

Breast Self-Examination: Things You Should Know

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A lot of diagnosed breast problems – whether breast cancer or not – are usually first found out by the women involved themselves. They know their bodies best and as such, notice significant – and not so significant – changes early on. This is why it is very important that women conduct regular breast self-examination. During a breast self-examination, a woman may be able to find lumps which have developed over the years. Though lumps are not all malignant, or cancerous, early discovery is always an advantage.

It should be noted, however, that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) do not perceive regular breast self-examination as compulsory. Indeed, even the American Cancer Society sees this as an option. If I were a woman, however, I would make sure to do this every once in a while just to be sure.

So how does one conduct a breast self-examination? It is basically checking one’s breasts for lumps or any other changes. This is done in different positions – standing, lying down, etc. – all the while looking at one’s breasts for any changes. The important thing is that if a woman finds some changes, such as lumps, she should immediately set an appointment with her doctor in order to get it checked.

Another important thing to remember is that even if you conduct regular breast self-examinations, you should not feel complacent. These self-examinations should not take the place of mammograms and regular check ups with your doctor.

Risk Factors For Breast Cancer

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Not everyone is in danger of getting breast cancer but then again, you never know. That is why experts have come up with certain things that they consider to be risk factors. These can indicate whether or not a person has more chances of getting breast cancer. Here are some of the risk factors, courtesy of MedicineNet:

Age: The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 60. This disease is not common before menopause.

Personal history of breast cancer: A woman who had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting cancer in her other breast.

Gene changes: Changes in certain genes increase the risk of breast cancer. These genes include BRCA1, BRCA2, and others. Tests can sometimes show the presence of specific gene changes in families with many women who have had breast cancer. Health care providers may suggest ways to try to reduce the risk of breast cancer, or to improve the detection of this disease in women who have these changes in their genes.

Family history: A woman’s risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer. The risk is higher if her family member got breast cancer before age 40. Having other relatives with breast cancer (in either her mother’s or father’s family) may also increase a woman’s risk.

Certain breast changes: Some women have cells in the breast that look abnormal under a microscope. Having certain types of abnormal cells (atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS]) increases the risk of breast cancer.

So these are only some of the most common risk factors that have been identified. For more information, you can visit the web site of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.