Managing Menopausal Symptoms . . How to deal with it?

Managing Menopausal Symptoms

There are different kinds of menopause. If you have breast cancer, it is important to understand which kind of menopause you may be experiencing:

• Natural menopause, a normal part of the aging process
• Medical or surgical menopause that is the result of chemotherapy or ovary removal
• "Cold-turkey" menopause that is the result of being taken off menopausal hormone therapy (for example, after a diagnosis of breast cancer).

Especially if you were already post-menopausal and have to go "cold-turkey" off HRT, you can feel miserable. After all, you probably decided to take HRT in the first place in order to ease hot flashes. So if you suddenly stop taking HRT, such as when you're diagnosed with breast cancer, not only do you experience the shock of the diagnosis, but you also get a "fire and sprinkler system" of hot flashes and perspiration installed in your body overnight.

If you are pre-menopausal, you may be thrown into menopause early by chemotherapy. Many kinds of symptoms can occur when estrogen and progesterone levels are on the decline.

At some point in every woman's life, her hormone production drops below the level required to continue her periods. Some women welcome the end to monthly bleeding, bloating, and inconvenience. But others find that menopause affects:

• their sex life,
• triggers mood swings,
• causes debilitating hot flashes,
• or even takes them down the road to bone and heart problems.

If menopause happens suddenly (caused by breast cancer treatment), leading to uncomfortable side effects and even dashed hopes of having a baby, it can feel like a disease even worse than breast cancer. It's these menopausal changes that may interfere most with day-to-day quality of life.

There are different kinds of menopause. If you have breast cancer, it is important to understand which kind of menopause you may be experiencing:

• natural menopause, a normal part of the aging process
• medical or surgical menopause that is the result of chemotherapy or ovary removal
• "cold turkey" menopause that is the result of being taken off menopausal hormone therapy after you were diagnosed with breast cancer.

But the good news is that there are ways to manage symptoms and live more comfortably with menopause.

You can do many things to help ease your way through menopause. Lifestyle modifications (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, attitude) may be just as important and effective as medications in helping you feel better and live longer.

MUSIC THERAPY

Important Music Therapists and writers on Music Therapy

• Juliette Alvin
• Kenneth Bruscia
• Leslie Bunt
• Rajasree Mukherjee - see Rajasree
• Paul Nordoff - see Nordoff-Robbins
• Mercedes Pavlicevic
• Mary Priestley
• Clive Robbins - see Nordoff-Robbins
• Celine Dewy
• E. Thayer Gaston
• Michael H. Thaut
• Concetta M. Tomaino - see Institute for Music and Neurologic Function
• Lisa Summer
• Helen Bonny
• Olav Skille
• Tony Wigram
• Jeff Engel
• Brinjulf Stige
• Amelia Oldfield

Having problems with tooth decay??..

How Can I Prevent Tooth Decay?

An overview of tooth decay and how fluoride can help you prevent cavities.

What is tooth decay?
Tooth enamel is hard yet porous. Plaque on the surface of your teeth can produce acids that seep into the pores (rods) of the enamel and break down its internal structure. This process, call demineralization, can create weak spot on the surface of the tooth that may become a cavity if left untreated.






Decay often begins on biting surfaces, between the teeth, on exposed roots, and around existing fillings.


Untreated, decay spreads into the tooth and can destroy the tooth structure.











Decay enters and infects the pulp.




The Role of Fluoride

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the remineralization process. The new enamel crystals that form are harder, larger, and more resistant to acid.


Treating and preventing tooth decay
Common sources of fluoride are fluoridated drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth rinse. Inform your dentist if your drinking water is not fluoridated. He or she may recommend that you use high-concentration fluoride gels, mouth rinses, drops, or tablets.

To help strengthen weak spots and exposed roots and prevent the early stages of tooth decay, brush regularly with a fluoridated toothpaste like Crest Cavity Protection. In one study, patients using Crest Cavity Protection developed 41% fewer cavities than patients using a toothpaste without fluoride.

Daily brushing with Crest Cavity Protection, as well as regular flossing and professional cleanings, will help prevent cavities and preserve your oral health.

Use of Condoms..

Safest way to get rid of sexually transmitted infections.......

Cosmetics for beauty enhancement...

DO YOU HAVE ALL THESE STUFFS TO BE BEAUTIFUL??
Lips: Lip gloss · Lip plumper · Lipstick
Face: Concealer · Foundation · Face powder · Rouge
Eyes: Eye liner · Eye shadow · Kohl · Mascara
Nails: Nail polish
Other: Moisturizer · Anti-aging cream · Body powder · Cold cream · Cotton pad
Cultural: Bindi · Sindoor · Thanaka
Ingredients: International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients · List of ingredients
Related: Advertising · Beauty salon · Cosmetology · History
Major brands: Artistry · Clinique · CoverGirl · Estée Lauder · Lancôme · L’Oréal · Maybelline · Revlon · Burt's Bees

Protect yourself! KRAV MAGA Self-defense training lessons..

Intense Self-Defense Training Creates Surprising Fitness Results
Krav Maga, the Israeli martial arts practice, is taught with exacting intensity by New York Head Instructor Rhon Mizrachi. Training in Krav Maga can cause one to reconsider the meaning and importance of fitness.

Do you have what it takes to be a STD candidate?

The following section discusses the eight most common STDs in North America, grouped by symptoms. Information on other sexually related diseases can be found in "Curing Vaginal Infections" and "The Persistent Threat of AIDS." The first group discussed here, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), syphilis, and chancroid, is characterized primarily by lumps, bumps, and sores. The second group, chlamydia and gonorrhea, is characterized mainly by vaginal discharge. The last section covers pubic lice and scabies, the hallmark of which is itching. Each disease has more than one symptom, but this arrangement will get you started. You can also check for additional details in the box on "Matching Your Symptoms to an STD."

Matching Your Symptoms to an STD

It is important for your doctor to know as much as possible about your condition, since, if you have an STD, you will want it to be properly diagnosed. Check the following chart and read the matching sections on the infection you think you might have. Then give your doctor as many specifics as you can.

If you've noticed:
Fever -----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

Flu-like symptoms -----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis

Hair loss -----> Syphilis

Itching or tingling in the genital area -----> Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Herpes

Simplex Virus (HSV) -----> Pubic lice, Scabies

Itching on the body -----> Pubic lice, Scabies

Lower abdominal or rectal pain -----> Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

Painful urination -----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

Rash -----> Syphilis Gonorrhea Scabies

Sore vulva ----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Gonorrhea

Sores or blisters -----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis Chancroid

Swollen glands -----> Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis Chancroid

Unusual vaginal bleeding -----> Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

Vaginal discharge -----> Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

Warts or other growths -----> Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Last Updated: January 1, 2003
2007 Thomson Healthcare. All Rights Reserved.