Tips for Overcoming Sickness

Though morning sickness may or may not be an aspect of your pregnancy, approximately half of all women who are pregnant experience morning sickness. The term “morning sickness” is actually a misnomer. Feelings of nausea, heartburn and even vomiting can strike at any time during the day. What causes morning sickness? There are many theories. Some believe that the changing hormone levels in a woman’s body result in nausea and a general sense of malaise. There are other researchers that have suggested that morning sickness is a protective mechanism that prevents the mother from ingesting potential harmful items such as teratogens or abortifacients.

For most women morning sickness disappears shortly after the first trimester, or at about 13 weeks.

Coping With Morning Sickness
If you have morning sickness, fortunately there are many things you can do to cope. Here are some time tested remedies that help relieve some of the symptoms of morning sickness:

• Eat several small meals per day instead of three large ones.
• Have some crackers and soda or water by the bed and try eating a few before you rise in the morning. An empty stomach often results in more nausea.
• Drink lots of fluids. Some women find carbonated water flavored with lemon to be quite soothing.
• Try some ginger or ginger ale, which is well known for alleviating nausea.
• Eat foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates.
• Avoid fatty or spicy foods, which are more likely to cause nausea.
• Get plenty of rest and take prenatal vitamins. If your vitamins make you nauseous, try taking them with meals.
• Avoid strong odors or smells that can induce nausea.
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating.

When morning sickness becomes serious….

Morning sickness can be more than an annoyance. Hyperemisis is a serious medical condition that occurs in some women and requires a visit to your physician. To learn more about morning sickness and hyperemisis, please visit Women’s Health Care Topics – your one-stop source for the best and latest information on pregnancy and women’s health.

Sexual Dysfunction: “Not Tonight, I Have a Headache”

Sexual dysfunction can affect woman of any age – pregnant or not. It’s a common problem, but one that offers a number of solutions. If the zing has left your relationship, do something about it. Here’s how to get your groove back!

 

Sexual dysfunction is a problem that can affect women of any age at any time. Women who are between the ages of 35 to 65 however are more likely to suffer from sexual dysfunction. It is at this time of life that women describe a pattern of sexual response that is perceived as a problem by the woman and/or her sexual partner.

The Sexual Response
The human sexual response is complicated. Most women will go through many different physiological changes during sexual arousal. These changes may begin with the initial period of excitement, where the vaginal wall becomes lubricated and the skin becomes flushed. This stage is typically followed by a plateau, where muscle tension is built up and blood congestion occurs in the vagina. This is typically followed by orgasm and resolution, where most women will experience a decline in sexual tension and release

Many Factors can Influence your Sexual Function and Response

Your Environment
Overall Health
Biological and Hormonal Changes
Emotional Well Being
Interpersonal Relationship
Socio-Cultural Influences
Sexuality over the Course of a Lifetime
Most women’s sexuality and sexual response changes and develops over the course of their lifetime. These changes may be the result of personal experiences, interests, cultural attitudes, behaviors and other factors.

The biological and hormonal changes that typically occur during midlife often impact sexuality most abruptly. Understanding these changes may be the first step toward overcoming sexual dysfunction.

One of the hallmarks of midlife is a decline in estrogen, a female hormone produced in the ovaries. As a woman approaches menopause, varying ovarian function often leads to a drop in estrogen levels over time. This can result in a decreased blood flow to the vagina, which may ultimately affect sexual function.

Other changes that result from this decline include vaginal dryness and decreased elasticity of the vaginal wall. The clitoris may also change, becoming less sensitive in some cases and smaller in size.

Most women do not realize that they produce more testosterone, a male hormone responsible for libido or sex drive, than estrogen. Over time the production of testosterone declines in women and may result in contributing to sexual dysfunction.

Men also may experience a decrease in testosterone production over time, which may result in decreased penile sensitivity and diminished blood flow. It is important to recognize this very important fact of aging, so that women realize they are not alone. Such changes in their partner may cause them to withdraw from intimacy, having a profound impact on a woman’s desire and sexual response.

Decreased libido and sexual desire are common among women during the years preceding menopause.

Looking for ways to address sexual dysfunction? Don’t worry. Be happy at Women’s health Care Topics.

Medications During the First Tri-mester: Safe or Out!

Do you take any medicines? 

Is your medicine cabinet baby-proofed? Even though baby isn’t here yet, are the medications you take now safe for the baby you’re hoping for?

Make a list of all medications you take on a regular basis. Be sure to include both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some medications that are harmless before pregnancy can be quite dangerous to developing babies. So, that over the counter nasal spray or prescription acne medication you use? Ask your doctor now whether or not they’re safe to use during pregnancy. If they’re not, eliminate them from your system now, before you conceive.

Talk to your doctor about replacing current medications with one that’s pregnancy safe or, if possible, consider giving up that particular treatment until after baby is born and done nursing. (Always check with the prescribing doctor before stopping ANY prescribed medications.)

To learn more about the different risk categories for medicines look at Women’s Healthcare Topics.

Exercise and Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

 

Exercise during pregnancy is important for mom and baby alike. Most women reap tremendous benefits from exercising throughout their pregnancy. If you have been exercising regularly prior to your pregnancy, then chances are you can engage in an exercise plan quite easily after becoming pregnant. You may need to modify your routine slightly to accommodate your growing figure.

 

If you are new to exercise, be sure to check in with your doctor or healthcare provider to ensure our health and well being prior to starting an exercise routine. Fortunately for most women starting an exercise program during pregnancy is perfectly safe and very beneficial.

 

Discover safe exercises to keep you and your baby fit while you’re pregnant at Womens Health Care Topics where exercise is fun.

Women and Smoking: Time to Call It Quits

Despite known risks of cigarette smoking more than 23 percent of women still smoke, increasing their risk of cervical cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems and more. Smoking is a known killer, but hundreds of thousands of women will die each year from lighting up.
Most women who smoke are between the ages of 25 and 44. Teenage women also make up a significant percentage of smokers in the United States. Second hand smoke is just as damaging, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths every year.

 

Smoking cessation prevents much of the damage associated with cigarette smoking including heart disease and cancer. There are many benefits of quitting smoking, which we will describe below.

Smoking Cessation Benefits
Women who quit smoking will realize immediate health benefits. Women who quit smoking before they reach the age of 50 reduce their risk of dying of smoking by as much as one-half. Smoking cessation also reduces the risk of heart disease in people exposed to second hand smoke.

The most common side effects of smoking cigarettes
Pulmonary and Respiratory Disorders: Smoking increases your risk of developing a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The lung damage that occurs from pulmonary disease is not often reversible. However, if you do quit smoking your lung function will not decline further, and you may notice an improvement in coughing and breathing.

Cardiovascular disease: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Women who smoke more than double their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Immediately stopping smoking can result in instant improvement in your cardiovascular function and a reduced risk of heat disease. After smoking cessation has continued for at least a year, your risk of developing cardiovascular disease drops by 50 percent. Your risk continues to decline the more years you remain smoke free. Some studies suggest the heart attack risk for smoker’s drops to that of nonsmokers after two years of cessation.

Cancer: Cigarette smoking contributes to developing several different kinds of cancer, including cervical cancer, lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, mouth, bladder and pancreas. Smoking cessation can improve your survival rate and reduce your risk of developing severe cancers resulting from smoking.

Osteoporosis: Smoking contributes to bone loss, thus increases a woman’s risk for developing osteoporosis. 10 years after smoking cessation a woman’s excess risk for osteoporosis declines significantly.

Breast Cancer: Women who smoke are more at risk for breast cancer. In fact, the risk of developing fatal forms of breast cancer is 75 percent higher for women who smoke than those that do not. The number of cigarettes a woman smokes per day can affect their breast cancer survival rate.

Vulvar Cancer: Women who smoke are also 48 percent more likely to develop a rare form of vulvar cancer.

Smoking may also contribute to many other diseases and problems. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women. Babies exposed to smoking mothers are often born with birth defects and low birth weights. Mothers who smoke are also more at risk for miscarriage, premature rupture of the membranes and placenta previa. Babies born to mothers that smoke often experience withdrawal symptoms during the first week of life. Over time smoking also contribute to skin wrinkling and may even reduce your sexual ability. Quitting smoking improves all of these conditions immediately

Discover more about the dangers of women smoking at Womens Health Care Topics.

Time to kick butt!

Your Pre-Pregnancy Profile

ARE YOU READY FOR PREGNANCY? LET’S FIND OUT!

 

Let’s take a closer look at some of your pre-conception profile to illustrate just why your doctor needs this information.

Are you currently attempting to conceive? 
Many different elements of your health can affect your fertility, including your height, weight and your lifestyle. That is why it is so important you take time out of your life to assess your overall health. If you are overweight, talk with your doctor about losing some weight before conceiving. Weight problems, whether you are overweight or underweight, may impact your ability to conceive. You may for example, experience ovulation problems if you are underweight. Your doctor may recommend you work with a nutritionist so your body is again, in tip-top shape before you even think of conceiving. Are you getting regular exercise? If not, you might consider starting an exercise program before you conceive. Regular exercise will help promote a faster labor and delivery as well as recovery. Women who exercise regularly during pregnancy often also feel less stressed than women who do not. As an added bonus, the less stress you feel, the more likely you are to conceive!

Women’s Health Care Topics has ALL the information you need for a happy, healthy prenancy.

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