Tuesday, January 29, 2008

How to increase strength

Loss of strength is one of the characteristics of aging. This is particularly problematic for those people whose lifestyles don't demand use of the muscles. If you are an office jockey or are otherwise sedentary, your muscles will atrophy lowering your metabolic rate and negatively impact your immune system. Strenght training is one of the most effective ways to combat aging. Strength training also contributes to muscle conditioning. Conditioning muscles is essential to overall stability and the strength of the body. A strong body provides many benefits all through out life. Maintaining strong muscles also aids in maintaining stronger, healthier bones, tendons and connective tissues. Your posture or the ways you sit and stand reflect the health of the muscles and bones that keep you upright. Strengthening those muscles and bones will enable to sit and stand more comfortably. Many people, particularly women, fear strength training believing they will experience dramatic gains in muscle size making them look more like men. This just is not so. Men and women have different hormones that govern how muscles respond to strength training. The male hormone testosterone is key to building large muscles. Women simply lack sufficient levels of testosterone to "bulk up". Instead you'll gain longer more shapely muscles that can also be much stronger. Clinical studies have shown that strength training is a keep ingredient in managing stress. A regular exercise routine that incorporates strength training will result in better deep sleep in addition to handling stress more readily. The hormones released as result will also lift your mood thus combating depression Strength training like most forms of exercise raises the metabolic rate thus burning more calories. It will aid in maintaining the proper weight with less body fat. Be aware though that as your routine progresses, you may not actually lose weight, but you'll lose inches. Muscle is denser thus heavier than fat but takes less space. Over time you should notice decreases in waist measurements and body fat measurement. A little exercise is better than no exercise. Avoid feeling that if you can't spend hours, then why bother. Every journey starts with the first step. Be conscious of how you carry grocery bags, babies or other objects. Make daily chores into an impromptu workout.

Friday, January 18, 2008

INCREASE OF HORMONES

Thyroid disease is interrelated with women's hormones, and can have an impact on menstrual cycles, fertility, estrogen/progesterone levels, successful pregnancy and/or miscarriage, the ability to breastfeed and menopause.

If you're pregnant and hypothyroid, you are likely to need an increase in your thyroid hormone dosage, even as early as several weeks post-conception.

Central source of information on thyroid disease and its impact on fertility, pregnancy and postpartum health, as well as the development of thyroid problems during or after pregnancy.

Look at the misdiagnosis and under diagnosis of thyroid disease during menopause, worsening of thyroid symptoms during menopause, and the interrelationship between the two conditions in general


Menstrual problems are not only a common symptom of thyroid conditions, but can continue in people who are treated for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Women's decisions about hormone

The decisions that postmenopausal women make about whether to start hormone replacement therapy may depend on the potential risks and benefits of such therapy as well as their risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. This study examined the decisions made by women at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures who were educated about hormone replacement therapy and who were given information about their bone mineral density. METHODS: The study employed a prospective cohort design. Thirty-seven posts--menopausal women with risk factors for osteoporosis-related fractures were recruited from an orthopedic clinic at a teaching hospital in Hamilton, Ont. The women were given an education kit (consisting of an audio tape and a work-book) to clarify the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy. Two to 4 weeks later, densitometry of the hip and the lumbar spine was performed. A summary of the risks, the densitometry findings and decisions about hormone replacement therapy were given to the women's family physicians for follow-up. Outcome measures included decisions about hormone replacement therapy, as well as use of such therapy and other medications at 12 months. RESULTS: After the education component alone, 10 (27%) of the women requested hormone replacement therapy. After densitometry testing, 4 more requested hormone replacement therapy (for a total of 14 women [38%]). At 12 months, 2 (5%) of the women had been lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 35, 6 (17%) were receiving hormone replacement therapy, 7 (20%) were using bisphosphonates, and 24 (68%) were taking calcium supplements. INTERPRETATION: These preliminary findings suggest that the combination of education about hormone therapy and feedback about bone density is associated with an increase in the use of hormone replacement therapy and other preventive medications by women at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. However, the observed increase was small and so the clinical significance must be confirmed and clarified.