Items Tagged With Womens Health

Aysha Hussain

Don't blow your top. Remain calm and think your way through a problem.

When things don't go your way, no matter how trivial, how do you react? Do you lose your cool and explode? You know, it's that out-of-control feeling that seems to well up inside and then—kaboom.

This kind of psychological stress is bad in more ways than one. First, it's not good for your health; it's associated with heart disease and depression. And when it comes to work and personal goals, you're probably not moving forward as easily as you'd like.

Granted, some people come out of the womb cool and collected. They're the ones who never snap—nothing seems to irritate or flap them. (Don't you just hate such people?) So how can we be more like them?

Learning how to let things roll right off your back and mastering control can change everything for you. According to Redford and Virginia Williams, authors of In Control, such positive behaviors can be learned.

Clear thinking is the first step to stopping your outbursts. If you stop and think before you act, your life will be more in control—in your control. Whether your facing an overbearing colleague or a delayed flight, keeping your cool and reacting thoughtfully can be your new M.O. Here are a few ways to tackle your next disaster:

Looking Glass

Self-awareness will improve clarity and help you see yourself. How do you really feel when a friend doesn't call you back? Instead of losing your cool or stuffing your feelings, take a look at the situation. You may find that it's not about you at all.

Self-Regulation

Do you think and speak negative thoughts? Then cut it out! Negative inner dialogue will get you nowhere. Try distracting yourself with positive thoughts about loved ones, a vacation spot or an enjoyable activity. Also, relaxation exercises such as deep breathing or meditating can help.

Communicate?

Open up and put your ideas on the table. Chances are others will find what you have to say engaging. In addition to speaking up more, listen to others as well. This will help you exchange ideas and points of view.

Be Proactive

Find and implement reasonable problem-solving solutions rather than sitting idly and stewing over a bad day. Define your problem, remember your goals and think about how to really get there. If you are always late for work, for example, then get up 10 minutes earlier.

The Art of Persuasion

People who rise to high places don't crack under pressure, they coolly think about the situation at hand. And they employ skills that work such as persuasiveness, conflict management and taking a leadership position.

Saying No

No one wants to be labeled a pushover, nor do they want to be confrontational. But how do you assert your needs without 1) collapsing into a pile of mush or 2) stepping on everyone's toes? There are ways to assert yourself in situations that don't suit you. You can say no by keeping it simple and including an explicit "no."

Empathize with Others

Everyone has a bad day. So be empathetic. This may help you reframe a person's bad behavior. And in the end, it's not about you.

Empathize with Others  Womens Health 

As baby boomers age, more and more women report they've lost their sex drive. But experts say it may just be matter of knowing where to look.

By Colette Bouchez

Has the "free love" generation lost its mojo?

If you talk to baby boomer gals, it seems the answer is yes. Indeed, as millions of women enter perimenopause and then transgress to menopause and beyond, many say they check their sex drive at the door – and most are not happy about it.

"I don't think a day goes by when at least one patient – and usually more – complain that their sex drive is dropping off and want to know what they can do about it," says Laura Corio, MD, a gynecologist and clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Clinically known as HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder) Corio says she doesn't think more women are affected now than in the past, but she does believe more are coming forward -- prompted, at least in part, by the success male potency drugs like Viagra.

"The man gets a prescription for Viagra and he's ready to rock and roll while she's thinking 'Hey, where's my pill?' If she's not ready to jump in the old van and join him for a ride, there can be real problems," says Corio.

Discovering What's Wrong

While male sex drive is easy to define -- and relatively easy to restore -- that's often not the case for women. Because the female sex drive is multifactorial, the desire to make love is not only influenced by physical issues, but emotional ones as well.

"Part of the desire to make love is clearly physical, but part is also emotional – depression can make a difference, so can any emotional issue in a woman's life; female sex drive is very multidimensional," says Glenn D. Braunstein, MD, an endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

While emotions are frequently behind a loss of sex drive in younger women, doctors say it is frequently the agingprocess itself that's at when desire changes in women over age 45.

"The very fact that a woman is no longer ovulating regularly, or not ovulating at all, automatically takes her sex drive down a few notches," says Steven Goldstein, MD, professor of ob-gyn and NYU Medical Center in New York City.

Nature's Design for Sex

Indeed, as many women are aware, Mother Nature built in a natural increase in the desire for sex beginning just prior to ovulation, and lasting several days afterwards -- not coincidentally, the only time of the month conception is possible.

Stop ovulating, says Goldstein, and you automatically lose that regularly scheduled boost in your sex drive that has been present since puberty -- and you're probably going to notice.

"There's nothing wrong with you; it's just the way nature works," says Goldstein.

Moreover, around menopause, when there is also less estrogen circulating in your body, that too can bring your sex drive down for the count.

Declining estrogen levels associated with menopause can cause more than those pesky hot flashes. They can also make a woman feel like she is in a constant state of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Unfortunately, these emotional changes are a normal part of menopause.

Some of the emotional changes experienced by women undergoing perimenopause or menopause can include:

• Irritability
• Feelings of sadness
• Lack of motivation
• Anxiety
• Aggressiveness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Tension

If you are feeling irritable and sad there is a good chance it could be related to menopause, but the above listed symptoms are not linked only to menopause. There are a number of conditions that can cause you to feel down right irritable. Tell your doctor how you are feeling. He or she can make sure a more serious condition is not causing you to feel this way.

How Can I Cope With These Emotional Changes?

Irritability and feelings of sadness are the most common emotional symptoms of menopause. Often, they can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as learning ways to relax and reduce stress.

Here are some tips that may make it easier for you to handle your fluctuating emotions.

• Exercise and eat healthy.
• Find a self-calming skill to practice, such as yoga, meditation or rhythmic breathing.
• Avoid tranquilizers and alcohol.
• Engage in a creative outlet that fosters a sense of achievement.
• Stay connected with your family and community.
• Nurture your friendships.

Although depression is not caused by menopause, some women do exhibit the symptoms of depression during this time. If you are feeling increasingly unable to cope, see your doctor. He or she may be able to recommend medicine, such as antidepressants, or therapy that can get you through this rough time.

Can Hormone Therapy Ease My Emotional Problems?

While there is growing evidence to suggest that hormone therapy (HT) can relieve emotional symptoms, HT alone is not effective in treating more severe depression. Antidepressant drug therapy and/or psychotherapy may be necessary.

I Have a Hard Time Concentrating and I'm Forgetful. Is This a Normal Part of Menopause?

Unfortunately, difficulty with concentrating and minor memory problems can often be a normal part of menopause. Current medical knowledge is limited as to why memory changes occur with menopause; and there are currently no treatments available to relieve these symptoms. If you are having memory problems, discuss this with your doctor. He or she can help manage memory problems, or may be able to provide reassurance.

VitaDocs Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic

An Emotional Roller Coaster  Menopause  Womens Health 

Controlling lifestyle stress and anxiety may help reduce the number and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause, according to doctors at the University of Pennsylvania.

Hot flashes are perhaps the most troublesome symptom associated with approaching menopause and are experienced by a majority of women during the transition to menopause. Menopause - the ending of menstruation - is defined as having 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and occurs at an average age of 51.

Researchers studied over 400 Caucasian and African American women between 37 and 47 years of age who still had regular menstrual cycles. The women took tests that measured their anxiety levels at the start of the study and again following a six-year period. After six years, many of the women were experiencing hot flashes and irregular menstrual periods, two signs of approaching menopause. The women's anxiety scores were directly correlated with the severity and frequency of hot flashes, even when factors such as blood estrogen levels, cigarette smoking, and stage of menopause were taken into account. Those women with the highest anxiety levels reported almost five times as many hot flashes as less-anxious women, and women with moderate anxiety had hot flashes three times as often as those with normal levels of anxiety.

These results are particularly intriguing because they suggest that women can have some measure of control over their unpleasant symptoms of menopause by implementing lifestyle alterations such as stress management or relaxation techniques. Other studies have shown that obesity and cigarette smoking can also worsen menopausal hot flashes.

VitaDocs Medical Reference from MedicineNet

Anxiety Worsens Hot Flashes  Menopause  Womens Health 

Weight gain during the menopausal transition is very common. Here are a few tips to fight it.

By Wendy C. Fries
VitaDocs Answers to Questions

Question:

I can't seem to lose weight, and I am suffering from the big "M" -- menopause. I am active. I walk daily 2-3 miles. I eat sensibly (lots of salad greens and veggies) and not past 7 p.m. I do eat ice cream and desserts, but not every day. My weight seems to center around my middle. Why can't I lose weight? I have been trying for six months.

Answer:

Unfortunately, weight gain during the menopausal transition is very common. In fact, one study found that women gain an average of 12-15 pounds during this phase of life. In addition, there is a shift in body configuration from pear-shaped to apple-shaped. There is also a 5% decrease in metabolic rate per decade. To add to all of this, bloating is a very common menopausal symptom.

What can you do? Make sure that you rule out the possibility of hypothyroidism, which occurs more frequently amongst women as they age. Also, increase your exercise, and add weight training to your regimen. You might want to read Fight Fat After Forty by Pamela Peeke, MD.

Joan Starker, PhD, MSW, a clinical social worker since 1970, has spent much of her career helping individuals cope with normal life transitions such as midlife and menopause. A member of the North American Menopause Society, she is on the advisory board of the Oregon Menopause Network.

VitaDocs Answers to Questions

The opinions expressed herein are the guest's alone and have not been reviewed by a VitaDocs physician. If you have a question about your health, you should consult your personal physician. This event is meant for informational purposes only.

Is Weight Gain Common During Menopause?  Menopause  Womens Health