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| Posted: Mar.27.2008 @ 7:06 am |
| Menopause and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, increasing the risk of sudden and unexpected fractures. Literally meaning "porous bone," it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. The disease often progresses without any symptoms or pain. Generally, osteoporosis is not discovered until weakened bones cause painful fractures (bone breakage) usually in the back (causing chronic back pain) or hips. Unfortunately, once you have an osteoporotic fracture, you are at high risk of having another. And these fractures can be debilitating. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis from ever occurring. Treatments can also slow the rate of bone loss if you have osteoporosis.
What causes osteoporosis?
Though we do not know the exact cause of osteoporosis, we do know how the disease develops. Your bones are made of living, growing tissue. An outer shell of cortical or dense bone encases trabecular bone, a sponge-like bone. When a bone is weakened by osteoporosis, the "holes" in the "sponge" grow larger and more numerous, weakening the internal structure of the bone.
Until about age 30, a person normally builds more bone than he or she loses. After age 35, bone breakdown outpaces bone buildup, resulting in a gradual loss of bone mass. Once this loss of bone reaches a certain point, a person has osteoporosis.
How is osteoporosis related to menopause?
There is a direct relationship between the lack of estrogen after menopause and the development of osteoporosis. Early menopause (before age 45) and any prolonged periods in which hormone levels are low and menstrual periods are absent or infrequent can cause loss of bone mass.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as stooped posture.
Bone structure and body weight. Petite and thin women have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis because they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames. Similarly, small-boned, thin men are at greater risk than men with larger frames and more body weight.
Family history. Heredity is one of the most important risk factors for osteoporosis. If your parents or grandparents have had any signs of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may be at greater risk of developing the disease.
How can I know if I have osteoporosis?
A painless and accurate test can provide information about your bone health before problems begin. Bone mineral density (BMD) tests, or bone measurements, are X-rays that use very small amounts of radiation to determine bone density.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Treatments for established osteoporosis (meaning, you have osteoporosis) include:
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Medications such as raloxifene (Evista), alendronate (Fosamax), Estrogen therapy
Weight-bearing exercises (which make your muscles work against gravity)
Should I consider hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy is believed to be useful in preventing or alleviating the increased rate of bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. It is generally recommended for postmenopausal women who:
Undergo an early menopause
Have a low bone mass, as measured by a bone-density test and menopausal symptoms
Have several other risk factors for osteoporosis, such as: a petite, thin frame; family history of osteoporosis, or a medical problem associated with osteoporosis
While all of the risks associated with HT are not yet known, studies have shown that some types of HT may increase your risk of developing:
Breast cancer
Gallbladder disease
Blood clots
High blood pressure in some women
If you are using HT for osteoporosis prevention, be sure to talk to your doctor so you can weigh the benefits of HT against your personal risk for heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. If needed, your doctor can prescribe different treatments to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.
Finally, it’s important to note that this finding does not affect women who have had their uterus removed by hysterectomy, since they are usually prescribed estrogen alone, not the combination of hormones found in HT.
Are there alternatives to HT?
For those women who cannot take HT for health reasons or choose not to because of personal reasons, there are alternatives, including:
Evista. This drug is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that has many estrogen-like properties. It is approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and can prevent bone loss at the spine, hip, and other areas of the body. Studies have shown that it can decrease the rate of vertebral fractures by 30 to 50 percent. It has the same risk of blood clot that hormone therapy has.
Fosamax. Fosamax, is a bisphosphonate, and is approved for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It is used to treat bone loss that results from the long-term use of osteoporosis-causing medications and is also used to treat osteoporosis in men. In postmenopausal women, it effectively reduces bone loss, increasing bone density in the spine and hip, and reduces the risk of spine and hip fractures.
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
There are a variety of ways you can protect yourself against osteoporosis, including:
Exercise. Establish a regular exercise program. Exercise makes bones and muscles stronger and helps prevent bone loss. It also helps you stay active and mobile. Weight-bearing exercises, done three to four times a week, are best for preventing osteoporosis. Walking, jogging, playing tennis, and dancing are all good weight-bearing exercises. In addition, strength and balance exercises may help you avoid falls, decreasing your chance of breaking a bone.
Eat foods high in calcium. Getting enough calcium throughout your life helps to build and keep strong bones. The U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium for people age 31 to 50 is 1,000 mg (milligrams) each day. People over 50 should get 1,200 mg of calcium each day. Women who are pregnant or nursing require 1,000 mg per day if they are between the ages of 19 and 50 and 1,300 mg per day if they are age 18 or younger. Excellent sources of calcium are milk and dairy products (low-fat versions are recommended); a variety of seafood, such as canned fish with bones like salmon and sardines; dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale, collards and broccoli; calcium-fortified orange juice; and breads made with calcium-fortified flour. Postmenopausal women not on estrogen need 1,500 mg of calcium daily.
Supplements. If you think you need to take a supplement to get enough calcium, check with your doctor first. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are good forms of calcium supplements. Be careful not to get more than 2,000 mg of calcium a day very often. That amount can increase your chance of developing kidney problems.
Vitamin D. Your body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium. Being out in the sun for a total of 20 minutes every day helps most people’s bodies make enough vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D from eggs, fatty fish like salmon, cereal and milk fortified with vitamin D, as well as from supplements. People over age 50 should ingest at least 400 IU and preferably 800 IU of vitamin D each day. More than 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day is not recommended because it may harm your liver and even lower bone mass.
Avoid certain medications. Steroids, certain drugs used to treat seizures (anticonvulsants), blood thinners (anticoagulants), and thyroid medications increase the rate of bone loss if not used as directed. If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor about how to reduce your risk of bone loss through diet and lifestyle changes.
Other preventive steps. Limit alcohol consumption and do not smoke. Smoking causes your body to make less estrogen, which protects the bones. Too much alcohol can damage your bones and increase your risk of falling and breaking a bone.
How can I get the calcium my body needs if I'm lactose intolerant?
If you are lactose intolerant, or have difficulty digesting milk, you may not be getting enough calcium in your diet. Although most dairy products may be intolerable, some yogurt and hard cheeses might be digestible. You can also eat lactose-containing food by first treating it with commercial preparations of lactase (which can be added as drops or taken as pills). There are also lactose-free dairy products you can buy. You can also eat lactose-free foods high in calcium, such as leafy green vegetables, salmon, and broccoli.
What's the role of vitamin D in preventing osteoporosis?
Your body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 400 to 800 IU, and can be easily obtained from 15 minutes of sunlight, from drinking fortified milk, and from supplements.
While vitamin D is essential for all-around good health, too much of the vitamin may result in excessive amounts of calcium in the blood and urine, which can result in kidney stones and possible blood loss.
What are weight-bearing exercises and how do they help strengthen bone?
Weight-bearing exercises are activities that make your muscles work against gravity. Walking, hiking, stair climbing, or jogging are all weight-bearing exercises that help build strong bones. Thirty minutes of regular exercise (at least 4 days a week or every other day) along with a healthy diet may increase peak bone mass in younger people. Older women and men who engage in regular exercise may experience decreased bone loss or even increased bone mass. |
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| Posted: Mar.26.2008 @ 6:24 am | Lasted edited: Mar.26.2008 @ 5:32 am |
| raloxifene (Evista) for breast cancer risk reduction in two groups of postmenopausal women: those with the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis and those at high risk for invasive breast cancer. It joins tamoxifen as just the second so-called chemoprevention drug to be approved for breast cancer.
Under the brand name Evista, raloxifene is already approved, and widely prescribed, for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Researchers had previously observed that these women -- roughly half a million at present -- had lower rates of breast cancer than the general population.
Raloxifene is a type of drug known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM. In reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer, SERMs may act by blocking estrogen receptors in the breast.
The expanded use of raloxifene -- based on positive clinical studies of approximately 37,000 postmenopausal women over a 10-year period -- "provides an important new option for women at heightened risk of breast cancer," said Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
In its announcement, the FDA noted that raloxifene can cause serious side effects, including blood clots in the legs and death due to stroke. Other potential side effects include hot flashes, leg cramps, swelling of the legs and feet, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, and sweating.
The FDA said women with current or prior blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes should not take raloxifene. It should not be taken with cholestyramine, a drug used to lower cholesterol levels, or with estrogens.
It also should not be taken by women who are or may become pregnant. At present, tamoxifen remains the drug of choice for women who have not gone through menopause and have a high breast cancer risk. Raloxifene's breast cancer risk reduction effects have not been studied in younger women.
According to American Cancer Society estimates, more than 178,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, accounting for more than one-fourth of all cancers in women. |
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| Posted: Mar.26.2008 @ 5:42 am |
| Evista (Raloxifene) is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (change of life; end of menstrual periods). Raloxifene is also used to decrease the risk of developing invasive breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread outside of the milk ducts or lobules into the surrounding breast tissue) in women who are at high risk of developing this type of cancer or who have osteoporosis. Evista (Raloxifene)cannot be used to treat invasive breast cancer or to prevent invasive breast cancer from coming back in women who have already had the condition. Raloxifene also cannot be used to decrease the risk of developing non-invasive breast cancer. Raloxifene is in a class of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene prevents and treats osteoporosis by mimicking the effects of estrogen (a female hormone produced by the body) to increase the density (thickness) of bone. Raloxifene decreases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue. This may stop the development of tumors that need estrogen to grow.
How should this medicine be used
Raloxifene comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take raloxifene at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take raloxifene exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take raloxifene even if you feel well. Do not stop taking raloxifene without talking to your doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking raloxifene,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to raloxifene or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), diazepam (Valium), diazoxide (Proglycem), medications that contain estrogen such as hormone replacement therapy (ERT or HRT), and lidocaine (Lidoderm, Xylocaine). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have any type of cancer and if you have or have ever had breast lumps or breast cancer; heart failure; kidney disease; or liver disease. If you have ever taken estrogen, tell your doctor if your triglycerides increased during your treatment.
you should not use raloxifene unless you have already undergone menopause and cannot become pregnant. However, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking raloxifene, call your doctor immediately. Raloxifene may harm the fetus.
you should know that raloxifene has not been found to cause spotting or menstrual-like bleeding nor to increase the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus. Tell your doctor if you develop vaginal bleeding or spotting. Your doctor will need to examine you or order tests to find the cause of the bleeding.
you should know that although raloxifene decreases the chance that you will develop invasive breast cancer, there is still a risk that you will develop this condition. You will still need regularly scheduled breast exams and mammograms before you start taking raloxifene and during your treatment with raloxifene. Call your doctor if you notice tenderness, enlargement, lumps, or any other changes in your breasts.
if you are taking raloxifene to treat osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about other things you can do to prevent osteoporosis from developing or worsening. Your doctor will probably tell you to avoid smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol and to follow a regular program of weight-bearing exercise.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
You should eat and drink plenty of foods and drinks that are rich in calcium and vitamin D while you are taking raloxifene. Your doctor will tell you which foods and drinks are good sources of these nutrients and how many servings you need each day. If you find it difficult to eat enough of these foods or if you have a condition that makes it difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients that you eat, tell your doctor. In that case, your doctor can prescribe or recommend a supplement.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Raloxifene may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
hot flashes (more common in the first 6 months of raloxifene therapy)
leg cramps
swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
flu-like syndrome
joint pain
sweating
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
leg cramps
dizziness
loss of coordination
vomiting
rash
diarrhea
tremor
flushing
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. |
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| Posted: Mar.26.2008 @ 4:35 am |
| osteoporosis treatment
How Can I Prevent Falls?
Men and women with osteoporosis need to take care not to fall down. Falls can break bones. Some reasons people fall are:
Poor vision
Poor balance
Certain diseases that affect how you walk
Some types of medicine, such as sleeping pills.
Some tips to help prevent falls outdoors are:
Use a cane or walker
Wear rubber-soled shoes so you don't slip
Walk on grass when sidewalks are slippery
In winter, put salt or kitty litter on icy sidewalks.
Some ways to help prevent falls indoors are:
Keep rooms free of clutter, especially on floors
Use plastic or carpet runners on slippery floors
Wear low-heeled shoes
Do not walk in socks, stockings, or slippers
Be sure carpets and area rugs have skid-proof backs or are tacked to the floor
Be sure stairs are well lit and have rails on both sides
Put grab bars on bathroom walls near tub, shower, and toilet
Use a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub
Keep a flashlight next to your bed
Use a sturdy step stool with a handrail and wide steps
Add more lights in rooms
Buy a cordless phone to keep with you so that you don't have to rush to the phone when it rings and so that you can call for help if you fall. Osteoporosis treatment |
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| Posted: Mar.13.2008 @ 1:27 pm | Lasted edited: Mar.13.2008 @ 12:53 pm |
Painful menstrual periods are marked by crampy lower abdominal pain. A woman may feel sharp pain that comes and goes, or have dull, aching pain. Painful menstrual periods may also cause back pain.
Painful menstruation affects many women. For a small number of women, such discomfort makes it next to impossible to perform normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.
The pain may begin several days before or just at the start of your period. It generally subsides as menstrual bleeding tapers off.
Although some pain during menstruation is normal, excessive pain is not. The medical term for excessively painful periods is dysmenorrhea.
There are two general types of dysmenorrhea:
Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs in otherwise healthy women. This type of pain is not related to any specific problems with the uterus or other pelvic organs.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is attributed to some underlying disease or structural abnormality either within or outside the uterus.
Activity of the hormone prostaglandin, produced in the uterus, is thought to be a factor in primary dysmenorrhea. This hormone causes contraction of the uterus and levels tend to be much higher in women with severe menstrual pain than in women who experience mild or no menstrual pain.
Menstrual pain |
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| Posted: Mar.13.2008 @ 1:11 pm | Lasted edited: Mar.13.2008 @ 12:24 pm |
Causes sexual dysfunction
Many things can cause problems with your sex life. Medicines, diseases (like diabetes or high blood pressure), alcohol use or vaginal infections can cause sexual problems. Depression, an unhappy relationship or abuse (now or in the past) can also cause sexual problems.
You may have less sexual desire during pregnancy, right after childbirth or when you are breast-feeding. After menopause many women feel less sexual desire, have vaginal dryness or have pain during sex.
The stresses of everyday life can affect your ability to have sex. Being tired from a busy job or caring for young children may make you feel less desire to have sex. Or you may be bored by a long-standing sexual routine.
Up to 70% of couples have a problem with sex at some time. Most women sometimes have sex that doesn't feel good. This doesn't mean you have a sexual problem.
If you don't want to have sex or it never feels good, you might have a sexual problem. The best person to decide if you have a sexual problem is you! Discuss your concerns with your doctor. Remember that anything you tell your doctor is private.
Female Viagra |
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| Posted: Mar.10.2008 @ 7:52 am | Lasted edited: Mar.26.2008 @ 5:34 am |
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| Posted: Mar.08.2008 @ 3:10 pm | Lasted edited: Mar.13.2008 @ 12:51 pm |
Nothing is worse than being forced to take a break in your day for menstrual pain. Sometimes the pain can be so tremendous that it stops your day all together.
- A main cause of pain might be a wrong diet or lack of nutrition, so it is important to pay ample attention to what you consume. Reduce your consumption of salt, sugar and caffeine during the week before your period to prevent cramps or reduce their severity. Also increase your intake of calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt or leafy green vegetables.
Regular exercise such as walking helps to prevent or at least reduce the severity of menstrual cramps for some women. Sitting or lying around may actually make you feel worse. Swimming and walking are good activities because they are gentle and not too stressful. Certain stretches and yoga positions will also help to relieve the pain.
- Massaging might work well for most women. With your hands over your naval, begin making small circles in a clockwise direction. This should be done slowly with moderate pressure for about a minute, and then gradually increase the size of the circling until you are rubbing the entire abdomen.
- Warm water massage is another technique women could use to relieve pain. Warm some water and dip a towel into it. Lie down and massage gently on the abdomen and on the small of your back.
Menstrual pain |
| Posted: Mar.08.2008 @ 2:35 pm | Lasted edited: Mar.13.2008 @ 12:45 pm |
Monthly periods are natural part of woman's life, for these involve the biological and physiological cycles of a female body. The pain, however, that is associated with menstruation is what makes it the most dreaded monthly period of most young girls and women.
The common problems associated with menstrual period are headaches, cramps, and PMS. Although these are generally normal and harmless, the pain of such problems can affect a girl or a woman's life and productivity.
PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, refers to the emotional and physical changes and symptoms that every woman experiences before the monthly menstruation starts. When a woman has PMS, she may suffer from the following:
* depression * stressed out * excessive fatigue * irritability * body pains
Many health practitioners claim that PMS has something to do with the changes in a woman's hormone levels. Some suffer from PMS, while there are those who do not experience any symptom at all. One popular theory is that those who always suffer from PMS are more sensitive to the hormonal changes in the body.
On the other hand, cramps is also one of the problems that is experienced by most women during their monthly menstrual cycles. The pain usually triggers during the first few days of the menstrual period. Fortunately, cramps only lasts for a dew days and can easily be treated with medications such as ibuprofen.
Moreover, headache is also a common complaint of most female teens and women before or during their menstrual period. Like the PMS, headache is also associated with the hormonal changes in a woman's body. If pain becomes unbearable, pain relievers are also recommended.
Menstrual pain |
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