Women's Health Blog

Aerobic Workouts & Heart Health:

It is a universal fact that there is necessity of performing work outs on a regular basis, helps in maintaining good health. It is worth knowing what are aerobics and their relation in respect of health of the heart. Many persons have an obsession that aerobics is a sure way of remaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle on a long term basis.

The health and aerobics need to be watched, because besides aerobics there is some thing more also is to be done, regarding which a focus has to be set and acted upon.

Aerobic Workouts Awareness Media Programs:

Aerobics and its related benefits have been discussed widely in press and TV Media besides majority of health awareness related websites do make a mention of aerobics. There is definitely a link between aerobics and heart health, which is going to be a lifelong concern.

In fact aerobic work outs have a number of other benefits also, but the information shall be restricted to heart health only, being the main topic under consideration.

Personal Experiences Primary Guiding Factors:

It can be felt that, more the aerobics workouts are performed, the more is improved in heart health in due course of time. Evidences of personal experiences confirm definite improvement in heart health. It is not based on the general principle, but there is a definite specific relation between the two.

Looking for the relationship between aerobic workouts and heart health the primary reason is that by performing aerobics one is exposing the heart and lungs to additional work resulting into their making fast heart beats and lungs inhaling and exhaling more frequently as compared to the resting phase. During the process of aerobic workouts both heart and lungs move faster and work hard.

Making aerobic workouts as a part of daily practice, now the previously idle heart, is working more making it strong to meet any stresses of life.  One can force ones’ heart to work each day, and this is going to make it healthy and active.

In principle aerobic work outs and heart health have definite relation for the better performance of heart than otherwise.

Meeting Heart Health Objectives:

When the objective is of heart heath improvement, aerobic workouts are the immediate need. It is not a strenuous exercise. It cab be initiated as a warm phase, active phase and slowing down phase so that gradually all the systems come to normal. Aerobic Workouts is something that you can really focus on regularly to keep heart healthy.

Aerobic workouts increase the metabolic rate, which ensures higher utilization of energy available from the food consumed and there is no conversion of excess food as fat deposits in the tissues and circulatory system.

It is necessary that present state of health should be got assessed under the care of a cardiologist after the age of forty, when the decline in hormones secretions causes general laziness and reduction in over all efficiency of a person.

Professional Care of heart Health:

Your cardiologist looking into the present status of health shall advise you the aerobic work outs and guide you the nutrition part necessary to keep the body and it’s system healthy and in perfect working condition.

After the age of forty, it is advisable that the person should be at regular intervals in touch with his doctor so that any internal heart health problem can be detected early. The problem noticed can be rectified by following the advice given.

Women who view dark side of every thing in their life are more prone to suffer from a heart disease as compared to women, who remain positively tuned to the happenings in life and always trust some one instead of treating with doubtful manner. This observation has been made by researchers and reported in various medical journals.

The Differential Factor in Women:

In women the declining sex hormones after the age of 40 are cause of great adjustment problems as well as affecting heart health. Diminishing hormones are also responsible for causing cancers or genital organs and are responsible for the ill health.

Decline in hormones are also responsible for triggering certain psychological misunderstandings faced by them at the family front during their postmenopausal phase. While dealing with postmenopausal problems the psychological factor has also to be looked into. The situation can be greatly improved, by understanding the social factors and accepting, the present situation instead of remaining in the past and spoiling the present.

Role of Optimism in Good Health:

In a scientific study optimism presented by the participant women was assessed by their response to a designed questionnaire to elicit the necessary information by their general behavior statements in different situations encountered by women in day to day life and their interaction responses.

The questionnaire had certain standardized statements to which, they were required to respond, whether they were in agreement to the statement or not agreeing. The responses obtained were examined and necessary scoring done following a standard pattern.

The observation was that if the score in terms of optimism is around 25 percent. The chance of getting a heart attack was lower by 9 % and death to other causes shall be 14 % lower as compared to optimism score below 25 %. In contrast women, who had higher pessimistic tendency, had 16 % more chances of dying as compared to normal group.

On the count of optimism or pessimism the results equally apply to men and women. There have to be certain factors, which interact in a given situation and result into a predictable behavior patterns and uniformity in responses produced and affecting the human being in a uniform manner irrespective of other variable factors like age, sex, caste or creed of the individual. The quality of optimism is usually found in individuals, having high bracket income and they do not have to stretch harder for earning income to comfortably make their two ends meet.

Daily life schedule encounters three variations of possibilities having relation to the life style of the individual:

• Women good in maintaining optimistic views had a very stable health risk status.
• Had lower High Blood Pressure, Diabetes history, usually they do not smoke and included moderate exercise in their daily routines.
• The lower Health Risk Factors can be assumed to be on account of their higher life style status.

Another positive finding is that optimist women have great chances to consult their doctor from time to time and follow their advice rigidly without deviation. They also take care of the good balanced nutrition in their diet.

Role of Attitude in Good health:

Optimistic women have better attitudes towards their life’s achievements and expectations. In such a trial pessimistic patients are also included in the group and the attempt is to change their feelings and resulting effect recorded by the team of doctors in agreement with their feelings

All kind of possibilities were considered in the controlled group study by including wide variety of patients depicting pessimism and without any discrimination attempt was made to allow effective changes in their thinking and observed any change in their health.

Conclusive Observations:

The observations confirmed that even the most difficult persons responded in a positive manner and reacted to the suggestions made and experienced good health benefits.

The conclusion of the study is that remaining optimistic is the key to keeping good health. There is a definite relation between the mind and body systems making it clear if your mind is clear of negative thoughts body gets opportunity keep it self healthy.

It although very common, but less known about sleep problem. It is observed initially as pricking sensation felt as itching present in one or both the legs.

There is no seriousness feeling to a common person, millions of American population take it very seriously. The available figures suggest that more than 12 million Americans are suffering from Restless legs syndrome. Presently it is recognized with lot of seriousness associated with it. Researchers feel that this condition in most of times is wrongly diagnosed, because the symptoms present are of such a trivial nature and general belief is it can not be treated.
Establishment of RLS Foundation:

With an objective of providing the common man the necessary information about Restless Leg Syndrome, a RLS Foundation has been set up to make available the necessary information for the benefit of affected patients and guiding them, which doctor should be contacted to begin the treatment. There is progress in the research work being carried out.

Patients are having very terrible feeling in the legs finding difficulty in sleeping, which becomes unbearable, while sitting in an automobile. An element of heredity is also involved. After its proper diagnosis and it’s treatment, the patients get relief.

Close Look at RLS Syndrome:

The more evident symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome relate to discomfort feeling in the legs, which become more prominent at night or in the situations, where legs do not get an occasion to move about. There is slight relief, when the legs are moved by walking little bit before going to bed for sleep, which ensures good sleep at night.

The activities responsible for Restless Legs Syndrome include traveling in a plane, long drives, going to theatres or sitting to view sports events.
Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome observe a downwards trend in the life style they are leading and are ignorant about the cause of their disease. If the patients visits his doctor and relates the problem, the investigations shall confirm the disease diagnosis and treatment can be started to cure the disease.
It is not only the patient, who has to be aware of RLS Syndrome, the doctor also needs to be aware of incidences and options of specific treatment available.
Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms:

• There is feeling of discomfort and presence of creepy-crawly, tingly sensation found deep in the legs.
• One can not resist a desire to move one’s legs so that terrible feeling is relieved.
• There is short term relief in respect of symptoms of RLS syndrome and one feels comfortable by moving about of legs.
• The symptoms get highly disturbing during evening and night time, especially when you’re at rest.

Following Characteristics present suggest presence of Restless Leg Syndrome:

• If there are a number of leg movements, exhibiting repetition of jerks in the leg.
• Feeling Fatigued including sleep problem.
• There is a family occurrence of Restless Leg Syndrome
• There is no other condition observed indicating a cause to RLS like symptoms like Iron deficiency or pregnancy.

Accessing the information about RLS one start understanding the problem and describing the condition to the doctor is helpful in initiating the right treatment and get relieved quickly.

The suffering person feels relieved by practicing yoga, having a massage, doing relaxing exercises and at the same time avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

Difficult case can be treated by the doctor by advising a variety of medicines known to him to relieve RLS Syndrome.

As every woman should know, getting a pelvic examination regularly is vital in maintaining her health. Pelvic exams are typically recommended on an annual basis. Although a regular physician can perform this type of exam, it is typically done by a gynecologist. The pelvic exam consists of both a visual and manual inspection of the reproductive organs in women. The purpose is to ensure that no infections or growths exist. A Pap smear test is also performed which tests for cervical cancer.

During this type of examination, a woman undresses and dons an examination gown. The patient lies down on the examination table with her feet in stirrups, which hold the legs up and open so the doctor can easily perform the exam. During the exam, the doctor will observe the outside of the reproductive organs for any signs of redness, signs of infection, abnormal growths, or sores. The doctor then performs the internal exam by placing a speculum into the vaginal walls to open up the area such that he/she can see the cervix.

Part of the internal pelvic examination involves the doctor checking the uterus and ovaries by placing a finger into the vagina while pushing down on the lower stomach area with the other hand. In performing this exam, the doctor can feel for any abnormalities in the ovaries and uterus.

The doctor examines the cervix by performing a Pap smear test, which is a test used to collect cells from the bottom of the cervix, which lies at the end of the vagina. The cells are scraped and then sent to a lab which will look at the cells under a microscope and look for any abnormal cells which might indicate cancer of the cervix. It is very important to have a Pap smear test performed on an annual basis (unless your doctor recommends a higher frequency due to certain determined risks) once you become sexually active or by age 21, whichever occurs earlier. This test may no longer be necessary in women who have had hysterectomies or upon reaching the age of 70. However, you should always check with your doctor and follow your doctor’s advice on when and how often to you should be screened.

If during your pelvic examination, the doctor finds an abnormality, he or she will notify you immediately. However, it may take a little longer to receive the results from the Pap smear. Simply because a Pap smear comes back as abnormal does not mean you have cancer. In that event, a second test will be taken to ensure it was an accurate result or a false positive, which can occur for a variety of reasons. However, if problematic cells are found, finding them early provides for the highest success in addressing and resolving the problem.

Going to your gynecologist for regular annual examinations is the wisest way to address women’s health and to prevent many issues which strike women today. Do not skip that appointment with the gynecologist, as doing so may mean the difference between life and death by failing to catch a problem in the beginning stages.

Incidence of back Ache:

Low back ache is a very common disorder affecting almost 80 % of the world population during their life span. Women are more common sufferers because of periodical changes in their pelvic cavity during menstruation, pregnancy and after child birth.

The fore most cause of low back ache is the mobility problem. After years of muscular inactivity, there is imbalance in the strength of localized muscles and abnormal wear and tear of musculo-skeltal structure of the region, more specifically the spine. Do you remember, how many times you have done bending, leaning and twisting exercises every day perhaps no is the answer.
Sedentary Lifestyle Routine Schedule:

It begins with waking up and getting out of bed after a bed tea and after finishing with toilet and bath routines, take breakfast hurriedly and begin commuting for work. While working sitting at the desk with short tea and lunch break.

Return to the desk after lunch again working till off time. Commuting back home and eating supper while positioned comfortably on sofa besides viewing television programs.  Finally calling off the day and going to bed.

This is the common routine of sedentary lifestyle of office going workers. This general style of activity is performed by majority of persons. On an average people spend most of their life in sitting mode, without an occasion for the body to make minimum movements to keep it in perfect condition. Such an immobility results into alarming muscular imbalanced posture.

One then goes to the gym and performs a number of exercises causing more worse a situation instead of producing beneficial effects making one more prone to back ache.

The remedy to get rid of back pain lies in identifying the affected muscle which is causing pull to the spine, bones, and joints is disposed off. Do the learning how to cause stretching effect on the tight muscle and at the same time strengthening of the weak muscle.
It is the post-rehabilitation professional specializing in personal fitness training, who has during his practice numerous patients suffering from back pain and other disorders like sciatic pain, bulge in discs, spine fusion etc. While working with such patients following facts are revealed responsible for their painful disorders:

Most of these patients are initially wrongly diagnosed and treated resulting in their no relief experiences.

The patients, who failed to show any positive response, to the conservative treatment with Physiotherapy in combination with various analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs even cortisone injections, do respond to the technique of exercises involving stretching a strong muscle and simultaneously strengthening the weak muscle.

It is amazing, majority of these patients were in a position to get complete relief of their back pain within a short period in comparison to their period of suffering from disease.

These Exercises are patient specific, which only a professional can advise after full assessment of the affected muscles responsible for the back pain.

Many of the patients treated had been suffering for many years with
presence of aching and stiffness in the muscles. These patients had to live inactive life due to their back pain.

Majority of the treatment received by these patients only was restricted to symptomatic and temporary relief only.

Hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove the uterus (womb). Most of the hysterectomies are not emergency operations hence there is time to think and discuss about other options and make decision. Consider the benefits, risks and alternatives to make final decision. After performance of hysterectomy, the woman can not bear Children and menstruation also ceases. The ovaries generally continue to produce hormones and the person remains normal otherwise in relation to its sexuality under the influence of continued hormones secretion.

Normal functions of the uterus and ovaries

Deciding whether to have a hysterectomy

Common reasons for recommending a hysterectomy or alternatives

Benefits and risks of each including common physical and emotional effects

Different types of hysterectomies

Hospitalization and recovery

Functions of Uterus:

The Uterus gets it prepared cyclically to receive fertilized ovum called Zygote, which gets implanted in the Uterus and thereafter the uterus provides nutrition to the fetus for its further development and growth till a full term Embryo is formed. At this stage the foetus is fully formed and ready for birth. Uterus helps in the delivery of the baby. It also produces the monthly menstrual flow, or period in situations, when conception in not in a position to take place.

Function of Ovaries:

The ovaries is responsible for Ovum production and secretion of Estrogen & Progesterone Hormones, Regulation of Menstrual cycle taking care of the health and well being of the Person including sexual well being.. The ovaries after puberty and up to menopause cyclically produce matured ovum cyclically on the 13^th day of the Menstrual Cycle under the influence of Estrogen. Once Ovum is released production of Hormone declines and Progesterone Hormone is produced to sustain the pregnancy if taken place.

To Undergo Hysterectomy or Not:

Hysterectomy forms a treatment for a number of diseases and conditions. If there is cancer of the uterus or ovaries or hemorrhage of the uterus, this operation may save your life.

In many cases hysterectomy is procedure of choice rather a necessity. The operation’s objective is to improve the quality of life and relieve unbearable pain, to stop heavy bleeding or other chronic conditions and discomfort with it.

There are other ways of treating or dealing with these problems the decision should be based on first attempting other available options. If the problem still continues only then a hysterectomy should be attempted.

Reasons for a Hysterectomy:

Reasons why hysterectomies may be recommended fall into three categories:

1. To save a  life;
2. To correct serious problems interfering normal functions;
3. To improve the quality of life.

The following describe the more common reasons for recommending hysterectomies.

Cancer of Uterus or Ovary:

In Cancerous situations organs and in some cases adjoining organs and structures are removed in order to stop the spread of this life-threatening disease.

Fibroids:

These are common non-cancerous tumors of the uterus and are the very common reason for performing a hysterectomy. Fibroids grow from the muscular wall of the uterus and made up of muscle and fibrous tissue. Many women after 35 years age get fibroids are asymptomatic.

In some women fibroids cause heavy bleeding, pelvic discomfort and pain and pressure on other organs. These symptoms require treatment as first priority. Hysterectomy is only to be considered after failure of the treatment.

Another alternative is surgical removal of the fibroid.  It is an abdominal surgery which removes the fibroid without removing the uterus

There are advanced new experimental drugs, which temporarily shrink the tumors. These drugs may have serious side effects and are very costly. These treatments may be sufficient or they may offer temporary relief and enable a woman to postpone having a hysterectomy, especially if she still has to bear children.

Some women choose to do nothing since fibroids will often shrink in size as a woman goes through menopause.

Other conditions requiring a hysterectomy include Endometriosis, prolapse of Uterus, Cancer of Cervix, Precancerous uterus, Pelvic adhesions in them.

Acne Introduction:

Acne perhaps the shortest name of any disease and affects the prime location, the face of young beautiful Girls and well groomed Boys when, they are in their transition phase of childhood to adolescence and they care to see the mirror and able to admire their attractive face they posses. They try to compare with the celebrity film stars they see on the screen, suddenly their face is occupied by most unwanted a number Pimples the condition called Acne.

Causes of Acne:

Acne appears as a consequence of secretion of sex hormones called Androgens in both Girls and Boys. They are responsible for triggering of appearance Secondary Sex Characters and their action starts on sebaceous glands and hair follicles, which have been dormant so far. There are numerous hair follicles and sebaceous glands on the skin of the face as compared with other parts of body.

The sebaceous glands produce sebum an oily substance. The sebaceous glands are connected with a canal called follicle through which sebum is excreted out. The follicle has a fine hair and the wall of the canal is lined with keratocytes. The Keratocyte and the hair may block the pore preventing sebum to come out. The bacteria present on the skin grows and blocked pore starts erupting on the surface of face skin in the form of lesion and the condition is called Acne.

Besides above there are other causes like oil in the skin cosmetics like moisturizers applied on the face or oil in the work environment like kitchen, environment irritants like pollution and humidity, squeezing out or pricking of blemishes, hard scrubbing of skin or mental stress.

Varieties of Acne lesions:

Acne lesion is simply a plugged follicle called Comedo. There are a number of varieties of lesions, which may appear on the face of the affected person as described below:

1. An unopened Comedo appears as white bump on the face skin is called white head.
2. A comedo, which reaches the skin surfaces, is called black head because of black coloration when it comes in contact with air there is change in color to black. White and black head remain on the skin for some time.
3. Papules are inflamed comedos looking as small pink colored a tender to touch.
4. Pustules are lesions filled with white or yellow pus and red color at its bottom.
5. Nodules these are solid lesions lying deep under the skin.
6. Cysts deep pus filled painful lesions can cause scarring to the skin.

Treatment of Acne:

Because the skin of face is affected a Dermatologist should be contacted for assessment of the condition and treatment to be given which aims at healing of the lesions, stop new lesion formation, prevention of scar formation and relieving the stress of the patient.

General Care of Acne:

Lot of Personal Hygiene care has to be taken to curb acne the recommended details are given below:

1. Avoid using Strong Soaps and Hard Scrubs on the face.
2. Shampoo your hair daily and see that the shampoo was trickles at the back instead of on the face.
3. Avoid touching or rubbing Acne lesions.
4. Do not squeeze or pick blemishes.
5. Avoid moving in bright Sun Light.
6. Choose Cosmetics Carefully, they should not be oily.
7. Topical application of advised antibiotic on the infected lesion.

Urinary Tract comprise of:

1. Kidney is a pair small organ located by the sides of spine in the waist area. They have a very important function of removes wastes from the body along with Excess water from the blood and excrete it as Urine.
2. Ureter is a tube like structure connected with Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder. The urine formed in the Kidneys is drained through the Ureter to the Bladder for collection.
3. Urinary Bladder is a Sac Like structure in which Urine is collected till it is filled to a certain level. The Bladder contracts to expel urine outside through Urethra.
4. Urethra is a small tube having muscular sphincter, which relaxes with simultaneous contraction of Bladder muscles, to evacuate urine out side the body.

Urinary Tract Infections:

Any part of the Urinary Tract can be infected. If the Urtethra is infected it is considered superficial infection, the deeper inside the location infection, the more serious are the complications associated with it.

The infections of the kidney and Ureter are called Upper Tract infections and they are usually Pyelonephritis of the Kidneys.

The Infections of the Lower Urinary Tract, are the infections of  Bladder, called Cystitis and Urethra infections are called Urethritis.

Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections:

Urinary infections are more common in adults than in Children.

Besides bed wetting, Urinary Tract Infection in Children is a very common Problem. If a Urinary Tract infection is found in children, it can take a very serious turn and should not be ignored.

Urinary Tract Infections are more in Girls and Women as compared with Boys and Men below the age of 50 years.

Looking at the statistics 50 % of women and 12 % men suffer from Urinary Tract Infections at one time or another in their life.

Types of Infections:

Simple Infections are found in healthy Urinary tract and can be easily treated with a mild medication and do not spread to other parts of body.

The Complicated Infections are the ones, where structural changes have also taken place and are more difficult to treat because they become resistant to common antibiotics.

Kidneys are the organs where blood is filtered. Urea present in the Blood is removed along with excess fluids in the body. The urine thus formed is moved through Ureters into the urinary Bladder, where it is collected till it is full and there is an urge to urinate and the urine is excreted out through the Urethera.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infections:

Normally Urine is sterile, infection occurs, when an infection enters into urine and starts its growth. The infection usually starts at the opening of the Urethra and moves upward into Urinary Tract. The most common Bacteria involved is E. coli, which are found in the  Bowel and anus and can move to the urethra. The most Common cause is poor Hygiene and sexual intercourse.

If the infection is minor, it is expelled out by passing of the urine, but if the infection is too much, uncontrolled infection  can spread to the Bladder, Ureters and Kidney causing Pyyelonephritis in the Kidney, which can cause damages to the kidney tissues and its functions.

Persons Susceptible to Urinary Tract Infections:

1. Persons having obstructions in Urinary Tract like kidney stone.
2. Persons suffering from conditions that cause incomplete Bladder Evacuation in case of a spinal injury or Bladder Decompensation as in menopause.
3. Persons with Suppressed Immune System like in Aids, Diabetes or persons taking immune suppressant medications.
4. Women who have frequent sexual intercourse, with each intercourse more number of bacteria also can reach the bladder and grow very rapidly to enormous numbers causing Urinary Tract Infections.
5. The pregnant women need to get their Urine sample examined for Urinary Tract infections and get proper treatment if it is present so that complications do not arise in the new born baby.
6. Men with Enlarged Prostrate Causing incomplete Evacuation of the bladder.

Following Category of Persons also have a High Risk of Urinary Tract infections:

1. Very young Children, where Bacteria can enter through Blood stream into Urinary Tract from other parts of body.
2. Young Children have difficulty in wiping themselves and washing their hands properly after bowl movement.
3. Poor Hygienic uncared conditions prevailing.
4. In partially blocked Urinary Tract condition the urine moves backwards causing spread of infection.
5. Patients hospitalized and having catheters inserted in the Urinary Tract have chance of getting infection in Urinary Tract.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections:

Following Symptoms are experienced in Lower Urinary Tract Infections:

1. Pain or burning sensation during urination.
2. More Frequent Urination.
3. Sensation of not being in a position to hold the Urine.
4. Cloudy Foul smelling urine.
5. Mild Fever.

Symptoms of Upper Urinary Tract Infections:

The Symptoms appear rapidly in Pylonephritis, with a High Fever, Nausea and Vomiting accompanied by back ache.

Treatment Guidelines:

If the Urinary Tract infection is suspected proper investigations and treatment as advised by the medical specialist should be carried out till the investigations confirm that the infection has been completely cured.

The Mechanism of Menstrual Cramp:

The woman reproductive organs after puberty are set into an automation mode by alternating action of female hormones to be ready for the basic functions of procreation. In the ovaries one egg is matured every month under the influence of estrogen and is released to meet sperm in the fallopian tube of uterus.

The uterus wall gets thickened with high vascular presence under the influence of progesterone for implantation of fertilized egg. When the uterus fails to receive fertilized egg under the second phase, progesterone levels fall and uterus wall degenerates and is ready to be expelled.

The Expulsion of Uterus wall comprises the menstrual flow. In young women this last phase of the cycle induces lot of discomfort and pain in lower abdomen and pelvic region called Menstrual Cramp.

Pain before Menstrual Onset:

More than 50 % teen aged and young women suffer every month, pain in the pelvic region just before on set of menstruation. It was a major problem not understood properly. It was considered as a minor temporary ailment having psychological origin and treatment was confined to administration of analgesics with tranquilizers only, which gets alright after cessation of menstrual flow.

Types of Menstrual Pain:

The women who have menstrual cramps have dys-menorrhea also. The condition is described primary dysmenorrhea because there is no abnormality of the reproductive organs. There is intense pain due to spasm in the muscles of the lower abdomen a day or two before the onset of menstruation lasting for about 3 days.

As the age advances the intensity is reduced and vanishes after first child birth. The pain felt is severe in 10 % of such women to the extent they have to keep them away from the schedule for 2 to 3 days. The condition can be so severe there is difficulty in normal walking. There is contraction of the muscles similar to child birth.

In some women there is undefined pain in the lower back region usually in older women having got many pregnancies.

The menstrual pain can be in some rare women due to presence of fibroids, because of a pathological abnormality it is termed Secondary dysmenorrhea accompanied pelvic inflammation, presence of uterine fibroids, uterine fibroids and adenomyosis.

Differential Symptoms:

In cases of primary dysmenorrheal there is sharp pain with back ache accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, bloating, weight gain, and breast tenderness.
Whereas Secondary dysmenorrhea include generalized pain in pelvic and back region, lower limbs, occurrence of spotting in between periods, frequent urination etc.

The pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea, are due to uterus contraction to push the menstrual blood having degenerated endometrial tissues. The cyclical hormonal changes taking place are responsible for the pain, which can make a worse situation if there is imbalance in the hormones secretion.

Presence of high levels of hormone like chemicals called prostaglandin, cause spasm of uterus, causing intense pain.

Presence of intra-uterine device a birth control implantation commonly called loop further increase the pain.
Treatment & Precautions:

Combination of simple analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents available at the medical store counter can be used during the period to relieve pain.

A warm bath is advised along with fomentation with hot water bottle over lower abdomen region.

Mild Exercises or an outdoor walk for 30 minutes morning and evening is helpful to cope with the situation better. If there is no relief consult your doctor:

Women & Food Choices

About half a century back many women preferred a non-vegetarian diet over vegetarian diet, which resulted in increased cardio-vascular diseases. With the evidences available regarding cardiovascular risks associated with non-vegetarian diets, most women have now switched over to vegetarian diet comprising of green vegetables, legumes and fruits.

There are some women who Milk & Vegetables and no Egg in their diets. Some add Eggs to their Vegetables and Milk regimen a few women still prefer fish & Chicken along with milk and vegetables routine.

There can be a number of reasons making a woman become vegetarian , mostly on religious grounds or following a medical advice. The thought of Cruelty associated with killing of animals, you becoming a party to it, pricks the mind and some women hate non-vegetarian food on this count. Many cultures profess to be vegetarian. Recently the promotion of better health and longer disease free living many women have become vegetarian converts.

The Advantages of Vegetarian Food:

Vegetarian food has very low contents of fat and negligible cholesterol as compared to non-vegetarian diet. Thus vegetarian diet reduces considerably risk of cardio-vascular disease. The studies conducted and reported indicate that consuming adequate quantity of fruits, green vegetables, and whole grain preparations help in lowering the risk to become obese, hypertension, diabetes, stomach cancer, pancreas cancer, cancer of the bladder, and cancer of lungs. Food consisting of broccoli, sprouts, and vegetables related to cabbage provide significant protection in respect of breast and colon cancer. Few studies advocate dark leafy green vegetables prevent macular degeneration, which is a common reason of going blind in post 60’s age group.

Planned Healthy Vegetarian Food:

For an adult woman having good health some planning of food choices have to be exercised to ensure the health does not deteriorate by making wrong choices of food considering tastes only ignoring nutritious food value. Growing young girls have varying nutritional needs and it is important to adequate care should be attended to by the parent. A pregnant woman or lactating mothers have increased nutritional needs, which must be taken care to maintain good health. Female children need a well balanced food of vegetarian meals made from green vegetables like legumes accompanied by milk both in the morning and evening and if the customs permit half boiled two eggs per day shall make available sufficient calories and nutrients to meet the growing needs.

Suggested Food Choices:

• The meal should include any of Bread, cereal preparation, rice boiled, with good pasta six servings in a day.

• Green Leafy Vegetables four servings in a day.

• Ripe Fruit or fruit juices 2 to 3 varieties in a day to provide sufficient quantity of anti-oxidants.

• Roasted Beans, nuts, seeds with boiled eggs or a mutton preparation if customs permit two times a day.

• Fresh boiled milk or Skimmed Milk if fat restrictions are necessary, yogurt, cheese preparation twice a day

Role of Food Supplements:

An exclusive vegetarian meal falls short to provide requirements of energy ensuring expected growth. In such cases food supplements need to taken to make available minimum daily requirements of Protein and micro nutrients like vitamins and minerals.

An account of Nutrients required Daily:

Calcium: It is very essential for sturdy bones, teeth and synthesis of enzymes and efficiently run the blood clotting mechanism in situations of an injury. Good sources are milk, dairy products, dark green vegetables orange juice etc.

Vitamin D: It helps in absorption of calcium. Sources are milk, egg yolk. Having sun bath in the morning, helps in Vitamin-D synthesis by the body.

Vitamin B-12: It is very essential for excellent performance of nervous system and blood cells. Sources are Dairy products, fermented cereals, and yeast cells.

Iron: It is required for healthy red blood cells formation. Sources of Iron are Dry fruits, fresh fruit juices, raisins, legumes whole grain preparations, soybeans, molasses. To enhance absorption of Iron the food should include vitamin C. It is advised to cook food in Raw Iron vessels instead of aluminum or stainless steel.

Zinc: It is mineral necessary for good tissues formation and used in synthesis of Insulin and hormone. Excellent source is wheat germ, cheeses, all kinds of nuts, and legumes.