Category Archives: Women

Excess Body Weight Increases Pregnancy Complication Risk

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Greg Asseff

There have been countless clinical studies that have touted the health risks associated with obesity. From an elevated probability of contracting some form of heart disease, a variety of cancer types, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, to name a few.

Additionally, while many women are familiar with the fact that obesity increases the risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy, what about the pregnancy risks for women who only carry a modest amount of excess body weight?

According to a new study, women who are overweight but not necessarily obese are more likely to increase their pregnancy complication risks during pregnancy when compared to women of a normal body weight, especially if their blood sugar levels are moderately elevated as well.

Posted in Diet, Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Parenting, Studies, Weight Loss, Women | Leave a comment

Berries Reduce Parkinsons Risk in Men and Women

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Greg Asseff

There has been countless reports detailing the health benefits of what are being defined as superfruits – exotic fruits such as gogi berries, acai berries and pomegranates that contain extremely high levels of antioxidants. However, antioxidants are not the only beneficial compounds that are found in berries.

Berries also contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are defined as plant-based compounds that contain powerful antioxidant properties which support reductions in inflammation, promote healthy arteries, and assist in combating the effects of aging by preventing and repairing cellular damage.

According to a newly published study, flavonoids may assist in, among several of health and wellness benefits, reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in both men and women.

The researchers behind the study believe that flavonoids, found in red wine and certain types of tea in addition to berries, may provide significant benefits to overall human health.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, Men, Mental Health, News, Nutrition, Studies, Women | 2,549 Comments

Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Death Risk for Elderly Women

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Greg Asseff

With summer on the not-so-distant horizon, the health and fitness news headlines are sure to be filled with advice regarding vitamin D, the nutrient produced by your body when it’s exposed to the sun. This being said, vitamin D is different than the other essential vitamins since our own bodies are able to manufacture it when it is exposed to sunlight. The primary function of vitamin D is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones and to assist in promoting cell to cell communication throughout the entire body.

To kick things off a couple of months early, researchers from Austria’s Medical University of Graz have completed a vitamin D deficiency in elderly persons study finding that elderly women can reduce their death risk by ensuring that they maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies, Women | 3,526 Comments

New Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screenings

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Greg Asseff

New cervical cancer screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventative Task Force suggest that women between the ages of 30 and 65 should receive a pap smear at the same time they’re tested for HPV, or human papillomavirus.

In other words, if the HPV test comes back negative and the pap smear returns a normal test result, the medical guidelines indicate that women should wait five years before receiving both tests simultaneously again.

Although the U.S. Preventative Task Force already released a rough draft of the cervical cancer screening guidelines back in October of 2011, those guidelines were incomplete since the Task Force admitted that it had too little information to assess the benefits and potential dangers of HPV testing.

Since then, a Dutch study found that women over 30 who test negative for HPV and receive a normal pap smear test are at a very low risk for cervical cancer over the following three to five years. Researchers also believe that women under the age of 30 should not receive HPV tests, since individuals in this age group can normally clear an HPV infection using only their immune systems.

Dr. Leo Twiggs, a gynecology professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine, said that he’s pleased to see HPV testing added to cervical cancer screening guidelines. According to Dr. Twiggs, HPV tests represent a “more precise way” of identifying the presence or absence of cervical cancer.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies, Women | 2 Comments

CDC: Women Under-Utilize Chlamydia Screenings

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Greg Asseff

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sexually active women are not receiving screenings for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), as often as they should. The announcement comes at a time when many Americans are concerned with contracting other STDs such as HPV, human papillomavirus, and the appropriate medical procedures for their prevention and vaccination.

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that can be contracted by both men and women. However, woman that contract chlamydia can cause serious, permanent damage to their reproductive system, making it difficult or even impossible to get pregnant in the future. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially life threatening ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb.

Individuals are at risk of contracting chlamydia by having anal, vaginal, or oral sex with an individual who already has chlamydia. In fact, if you are with a male sex partner you can still contract chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate. For individuals that have had chlamydia in the past and were treated, you can still contract the disease if you engage in unprotected sex with someone who actively has chlamydia.