hair and body and prevent

SATURDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Ragweed, the bane of many allergy sufferers, will soon be in bloom.

That means several months of itchy, watering eyes, runny nose, sore throat, congestion and problems sleeping for the estimated 36 million Americans with seasonal allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Aug. 15 was the unofficial start of ragweed season, which affects some 10 to 20 percent of Americans.

About 17 species of ragweed grow in the United States, mostly in the East and Midwest. As the plant matures, ragweed flowers release the pollen, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Though each plant lives only one season, the weed produces one billion pollen grains that can travel up to 400 miles in the wind.

Allergy sufferers typically don't get relief until first frost.

Hay fever-type symptoms are the most typical ragweed reaction, though some with ragweed allergies react to eating some fresh fruits and vegetables, including bananas, cucumbers, zucchinis and melons. They develop itchiness and mild swelling around the mouth, called oral allergy syndrome.

To reduce your exposure to ragweed and deal with the symptoms, the AAAAI and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommend these steps:

Keep the windows closed. Use air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries the air, preferably with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. This helps remove pollen from indoor air.
Consider staying indoors when pollen or mold counts (mold is another common allergen) are high. Pollen counts tend to peak between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Rain and cool morning temperatures (below 50 degrees) slow release of pollen.
Have someone else mow your the lawn or rake leaves, which stirs up pollen and molds. Also, dry sheets and clothes in the dryer instead of outside, where they can collect pollen.
If you must be outside on high pollen-count days, wear a pollen mask.
Take a shower before bed to wash pollen from your hair and body and prevent pollen from settling on your pillow.
Some ragweed allergy sufferers get allergy shots, which alleviate symptoms in up to 90 percent of patients, according to the AAAAI. If you think you may need these, or to better determine what exactly you're allergic to, see an allergist/immunologist.

Online Coin-Op Game
Play Online Computer Game
Online Kids And Teens: Gam
College and University
Art Voices
Online Board Games
Online Art History
Online Music
Online Writing
Television
News and Media
Yard, Deck, and Table Games
Hand-Eye Coordination
Paper and Pencil
Online Developers and Publi
Online Women in Gaming
Online Computer Science
Online Fonts
Online Human-Computer Inter
Online Speech Technology
Online Data Communications
Food and Related Products
Graphic Design
Online Libraries
Online Weblogs
Online Directories
Online Book Shopping
Chats and Forums
Web Rings
Birds And Blooms
Social Sciences
Methods and Techniques
Research Groups and CentersOnline Bibliography
Open Access Resources
Knowledge Management
Ask an Expert
Online Questions and Answe
Trains and Railroads
Newspapers
Internet Broadcasts
Museums and Archives
Colleges and Universities
Online Headline Links
People and Society
School Time
Teen Life
Your Family
Sports and Hobbies
Apartment Living
Do-It-Yourself
Online Home Business
Personal Organization
Online Rural Living
Online Domestic Services
Online Personal Finance
Online Healthcare Industry
Online Support Groups
Environmental Health
printed project
Spread Artculture
Watercolor Artist
Famous Magazine
Focus: Fine Art Photography
Nature's Best Photography
Team Handball
Autographs
Basketball
Video Games: Sports
Water Sports
Lifestyle Choices
Language and Linguistics
Consumer Goods and Services
Antiques and Collectibles
Beauty Products
Office Products
Home and Garden
Earth Sciences
Online Software
Online Employment
Birds And Blooms
Dogs Today
Feline Wellness
Modern Dog
Traditional House Plans
Print Design Annual
India Art Collector
Design Issues
Gallery Guide
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
Online Play-By-Mail
Online Gambling
Online Web Hosting
Play Online Video Games
Global Exec Women
Women's Health
Science and Nature
Online Jewelry
This Old House
Modern Painters

good for the heart

Earlier this Summer we learned that the stout beer Guinness was good for the heart, and now Spanish research has found that beer may promote bone density. Out of 1,700 women participating in the study, those that were considered moderate beer drinkers had the highest bone density. It is believed that the plant hormone phytoestrogen found in beer, and not other alcohols, may be the key to building dense bones. Dr. Claire Bowring, a UK osteoporosis expert, said that while this study mirrored previous studies, her organization would not be recommending that women start drinking pints daily. Here's her explanation:
"While low quantities of alcohol may appear to have bone density benefits, higher intakes have been shown to decrease bone strength, with an alcohol intake of more than two units per day actually increasing the risk of breaking a bone. There are also many other health concerns linked with alcohol which cannot be ignored."

The bottom line: Drink one drink a day, and no more. Don't start drinking for health benefits or bone density. If you like to kick back with one brewski a day, it might benefit your bones.
Women's Health has raised its rate base for the sixth time since the magazine's launch in October 2005.

Starting with its January/February 2010 issue, the Rodale Inc. title will publish increase its rate base 11 percent, from its current 1.35 million to 1.5 million.

Publisher Jack Essig said in a statement that consumer demand drove the rate base increase. Women's Health's total paid circulation has increased 30 percent in 2009, compared to the same period last year, the company added.

"Women's Health has editions covering 21 countries and reaching more than 11 million readers around the world," Essig said. "Women everywhere are embracing the brand for its straightforward and unique approach to health, fitness, beauty, sex, relationships and fashion coverage, which has led to its tremendous success."
Online Coin-Op Game
Play Online Computer Game
Online Kids And Teens: Gam
College and University
Art Voices
Online Board Games
Online Art History
Online Music
Online Writing
Television
News and Media
Yard, Deck, and Table Games
Hand-Eye Coordination
Paper and Pencil
Online Developers and Publi
Online Women in Gaming
Online Computer Science
Online Fonts
Online Human-Computer Inter
Online Speech Technology
Online Data Communications
Food and Related Products
Graphic Design
Online Libraries
Online Weblogs
Online Directories
Online Book Shopping
Chats and Forums
Web Rings
Birds And Blooms
Social Sciences
Methods and Techniques
Research Groups and CentersOnline Bibliography
Open Access Resources
Knowledge Management
Ask an Expert
Online Questions and Answe
Trains and Railroads
Newspapers
Internet Broadcasts
Museums and Archives
Colleges and Universities
Online Headline Links
People and Society
School Time
Teen Life
Your Family
Sports and Hobbies
Apartment Living
Do-It-Yourself
Online Home Business
Personal Organization
Online Rural Living
Online Domestic Services
Online Personal Finance
Online Healthcare Industry
Online Support Groups
Environmental Health
printed project
Spread Artculture
Watercolor Artist
Famous Magazine
Focus: Fine Art Photography
Nature's Best Photography
Team Handball
Autographs
Basketball
Video Games: Sports
Water Sports
Lifestyle Choices
Language and Linguistics
Consumer Goods and Services
Antiques and Collectibles
Beauty Products
Office Products
Home and Garden
Earth Sciences
Online Software
Online Employment
Birds And Blooms
Dogs Today
Feline Wellness
Modern Dog
Traditional House Plans
Print Design Annual
India Art Collector
Design Issues
Gallery Guide
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
Online Play-By-Mail
Online Gambling
Online Web Hosting
Play Online Video Games
Global Exec Women
Women's Health
Science and Nature
Online Jewelry
This Old House
Modern Painters

They say beauty

They say beauty comes from within—and several companies are putting that theory to the test, offering pills and drinks that promise gorgeous hair, skin, and nails. Six testers, plus nutritionist Susan Kraus, M. S., R. D., of Hackensack University Medical Center and Beverly Hills dermatologist Ava Shamban, M. D., see if they live up to the hype.
A study was recently published online in the journal Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, showing that optimistic women are less likely to suffer from, or die of, heart disease. The study is actually really fascinating (the article abstract and the downloadable entire article can be found here.)

I think this particular study highlights some important points:

1. The study participants are very much like the group that we are trying to collect through the Illinois Women’s Health Registry (if you’re an Illinois resident, go join!). They were women in the government-funded Women’s Health Initiative, and the sheer number and racial diversity of participants allowed researchers to make new connections, simply by following the women’s health progress for a couple of years and administering very short questionnaires. It’s amazing what we can do when we all participate in these kind of registries!

2. I think the connection between mental well-being and physical health is really starting to become a key research topic and is likely changing the way patients are treated. As an admitted pessimistic cynic, I really do understand that those stress headaches and upset stomachs are taking their toll, and can be largely under my control. That’s pretty empowering, even for a pessimist.

3. It’s a great example of the benefits of studying several groups of people in scientific studies. The researchers found several statistical differences between the white and black women studied (the disparity in health outcomes between optimists and pessimists was much more striking in the black women studied, for example.) These differences would have been missed if men or white women were allowed to portray some standard of the everyperson.

So go read up! The questions used to classify a person as optimistic or hostile and cynical are particularly amusing, such as having to answer true or false to “ I have often had to take orders from someone who did not know as much as I did,” or “It is safer to trust nobody.” I know I’ll be thinking twice about those negative thoughts about my higher-ups!
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. It commonly presents as postmenopausal bleeding (vaginal bleeding/spotting that occurs after menstrual periods had previously stopped for over one year).

Endometrial BiopsyThe clinical approach to postmenopausal bleeding requires a prompt and efficient evaluation to diagnose or exclude cancer. The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology recently updated their triage recommendations for postmenopausal bleeding. While the initial evaluation may include either endometrial biopsy (a small tissue sample from the inside lining of the uterus) or transvaginal ultrasound, the later has the advantage of being non invasive and consequently painless. If the transvaginal (not abdominal) ultrasound clearly demonstrates the endometrium is ≤ 4mm thick then it excludes uterine cancer with an accuracy of 99%—superior to endometrial biopsy. If it is thicker than this or cannot be clearly seen then further evaluation is warranted. For instance, we can enhance the ultrasound by performing a saline infused sonogram that more accurately reveals small polyps projecting into the uterine cavity, which may be the source of bleeding. Finally, if endometrial thickening is present and cannot be explained by these imaging studies, then an endometrial biopsy is performed in the office.
Online Coin-Op Game
Play Online Computer Game
Online Kids And Teens: Gam
College and University
Art Voices
Online Board Games
Online Art History
Online Music
Online Writing
Television
News and Media
Yard, Deck, and Table Games
Hand-Eye Coordination
Paper and Pencil
Online Developers and Publi
Online Women in Gaming
Online Computer Science
Online Fonts
Online Human-Computer Inter
Online Speech Technology
Online Data Communications
Food and Related Products
Graphic Design
Online Libraries
Online Weblogs
Online Directories
Online Book Shopping
Chats and Forums
Web Rings
Birds And Blooms
Social Sciences
Methods and Techniques
Research Groups and CentersOnline Bibliography
Open Access Resources
Knowledge Management
Ask an Expert
Online Questions and Answe
Trains and Railroads
Newspapers
Internet Broadcasts
Museums and Archives
Colleges and Universities
Online Headline Links
People and Society
School Time
Teen Life
Your Family
Sports and Hobbies
Apartment Living
Do-It-Yourself
Online Home Business
Personal Organization
Online Rural Living
Online Domestic Services
Online Personal Finance
Online Healthcare Industry
Online Support Groups
Environmental Health
printed project
Spread Artculture
Watercolor Artist
Famous Magazine
Focus: Fine Art Photography
Nature's Best Photography
Team Handball
Autographs
Basketball
Video Games: Sports
Water Sports
Lifestyle Choices
Language and Linguistics
Consumer Goods and Services
Antiques and Collectibles
Beauty Products
Office Products
Home and Garden
Earth Sciences
Online Software
Online Employment
Birds And Blooms
Dogs Today
Feline Wellness
Modern Dog
Traditional House Plans
Print Design Annual
India Art Collector
Design Issues
Gallery Guide
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
Online Play-By-Mail
Online Gambling
Online Web Hosting
Play Online Video Games
Global Exec Women
Women's Health
Science and Nature
Online Jewelry
This Old House
Modern Painters

Does less autonomy erode women’s health? Yes. No. Maybe

Understanding the determinants of health is a central objective of human biology and related fields. Female autonomy is hypothesized to be an important determinant of women’s health as well as demographic outcomes. The literature relating women’s health to their everyday autonomy has produced conflicting results, and this may be due in part to the application of different measures of autonomy and different measures of health. Using secondary data from a large nationally representative study, this study examines the relationship between multiple measures of female autonomy and three measures of wellbeing among women living in Uzbekistan (n = 5,396). The multivariate results show that women’s autonomy related to freedom of movement is associated with lower levels of depression symptomatology and lower systolic blood pressure. Respondents who assert that women should have control over their bodies also had lower odds of high depression symptoms and lower diastolic blood pressure. In contrast, women with greater decision-making autonomy were more likely to be classified as having high depressive symptomatology and higher diastolic blood pressure. Building on recent work, we suggest that these associations might reflect varying levels of agreement between men and women, and we provide some limited evidence to support this. This study stands as a theoretical and methodological cautionary note by suggesting that the relationship between autonomy and health is complex. Further, if differences in gender agreement underlie differences in the predictive accuracy of autonomy scales, then human biology researchers will need to begin collecting identical data from men and women.

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women – Women’s Health

1. Child pose – to open hips and relieve lower back tightness
2. Downward dog – Upper body strengthener, increases circulationDownward
3. Warrior II – long, lean, toned arms, legs, core
4. Plank – upper body strength
5. Fierce pose – strengthening quadriceps (provides stronger support around your knees, making them less prone to injury), improves posture
6. Tree pose (my favourite!) – center yourself
7. Garland pose – helps constipation and cramps
8. Boat – core strength
9. Bridge pose – breathing
10. Half Lord of the Fishes – improves digestion and increase blood flow in the low belly

Health care reform bills are moving quickly in Washington D.C. As a trusted health care provider serving over 50,000 women a year with thousands of pap smears, breast exams, and tests for sexually transmitted disease, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri wants to make sure women’s health is a priority in health care reform.
Reform is sorely needed with more than 750,000 Missourians (one out of every six) uninsured according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In addition, former Governor Blunt’s Medicaid cuts reduced benefits for 300,000 Missourians, and eliminated Medicaid coverage for 100,000 Missourians according to the Missouri Citizen Education Fund. Furthermore, in 2003, the Missouri House eliminated a successful and cost-saving program that gave 30,000 Missouri women access to family planning services.In our current health care system, women of childbearing age spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket expenses than men. A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services titled “Roadblocks to Health Care: Why the Current Health Care System Does Not Work for Women,” show that “women are more vulnerable to high health care costs… [because] women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly Pap tests, mammograms, and obstetric care.” And a 2009 survey conducted for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that women are delaying their annual exams as a result of the economic downturn.Most of the news reports about the ongoing health care debate have focused on costs, pharmaceutical and hospital inpatient benefits, physician reimbursement, mandatory coverage and the possibility of a public, government-run option. But none of these have focused on the behind-the-scenes attempts of several organizations to eliminate access to women’s reproductive health care in any and all versions of the proposals being debated. These groups have drafted over 20 restrictive amendments to the House and Senate proposals which if passed, would make coverage for women’s health care worse than what it already is today. And, there is growing pressure from some legislators to take away even more existing benefits that most women have today.Actions like this should be a wake-up call for all women!Earlier this year, Congress took family planning benefits out of the stimulus bill. It seems that women’s health care is always one of the first things to be on the chopping block.If we do not act, a health care reform proposal could be passed by Congress and sent to the President that eliminates access to previously-covered services like Pap smears, breast exams and comprehensive reproductive health care, and eliminates the ability to choose one’s provider of choice. This would be a huge setback for women in America.Now is the time for women to be included in this important debate. Women must demand that access to comprehensive reproductive health care services and the freedom to select their physician and health care provider be protected and included in health care reform legislation.

Welcome To Our Blog

Welcome To Our Blog