Postpartum depression

Postpartum Depression also called postnatal depression is a type of clinical depression which can affect women, typically after childbirth

Updated: Mar 6, 2012

Risk Factors

1.    Hormonal factors

Although levels of estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol fall dramatically within 48 hours after delivery, women with postpartum depression do not differ significantly from nondepressed.

      2.     Psychosocial factors

Women who report inadequate social supports, marital discord or dissatisfaction, or recent negative life events, such as a death in the family, financial difficulties, or loss of employment, are more likely to experience postpartum depression.

3.    Biologic vulnerability

Women with a previous history of depression, a family history of a mood disorder, or depression during the current pregnancy are at increased risk for postpartum depression and have recurrence of up to 90%.

Common causes of pelvic pain in women

Pelvic pain

It is pain in the abdomen below the belly button. It maybe a harmless sign of fertility, a digestive disorder like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or a red flag for a life threatening emergency.

Common Causes

1.       Acid peptic disease

2.       Irritable bowel syndrome

3.       Painful ovulation

4.       Premenstrual syndrome

5.       Menstrual cramps

6.       Ectopic pregnancy

7.       Pelvic inflammatory disease

8.       Ovarian cysts

9.       Uterine fibroid

10.   Endometriosis

11.   Urinary tract infection

12.   Kidney stones

13.   Interstitial cystitis

14.   Sexually transmitted diseases

15.   Pelvic organ prolapsed

16.   Pelvic congestion syndrome

17.   Scar tissue

18.   Vulvodynia

19.   Chronic pelvic pain

BROWN RICE VS WHITE RICE

Why Brown Rice is better than White Rice?

Want to lose weight and still eat rice?

Just switch to brown rice instead of white. Apart from being more nutritious, it also has fat-burning properties.

What is brown rice? How is it different from white rice?

It is just normal rice but with all the nutrients still intact. The reason brown rice has many more nutrients than regular white rice is due to the fact that brown rice has the outer layer, called the hull (husk), while white rice has been refined for convenience removing several nutritious layers—therefore losing all nutrients.
The next time you feel sluggish reach for brown rice.

       It has several health benefits

       Brown rice has more than 80% of your daily value of manganese, which gives you energy from both carbohydrates and proteins.

       Manganese also helps synthesize fatty acids, which keeps your nervous system in working order.

       The fiber in brown rice produces the best health benefit of all – fat burning! In addition to requiring more energy to break it down, the fiber in brown rice helps satisfy your appetite and therefore decreases your chances of overeating. That is the equation for fat loss – eat less and burn more!

       The fiber and selenium found in brown rice can also reduce your risk of many types of cancer, which is a health benefit we could all use. Finally, oils found in brown rice can help lower cholesterol, which according to research, we eat too much of already.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CONSUMING DATES

Dates are free from cholesterol and contain very low fat. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, a rich source of protein, dietary fiber and rich in vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5 along with vitamin A1 and C.

Dates help improve the digestive system as they contain soluble and insoluble fibers and different kinds of amino acids. They are great energy boosters as they contain natural sugars like glucose, sucrose and fructose. To get more advantage, add dates to milk and make it a very nutritious snack.

They are very low in calories and are extremely suitable for health conscious people. They have high potassium and low sodium content. This helps regulate a healthy nervous system. Researchers have revealed the fact that potassium intake up to a certain extent can reduce risk of stroke.

Dates also help in lowering LDL cholesterol. They have high iron content and are very useful in treating anemia. The patients can eat many dates for better advantages. Dates also have fluorine that slows down the process of tooth decay.

In individuals suffering from constipation, they can be soaked overnight and taken along with water to have added advantage. Dates also help in weight gain and are beneficial for those who suffer from over slimming problem.

Dates are excellent for alcoholic intoxication. Also cure abdominal cancer. Also help in improving eye sight and curing night blindness as well.

Why you should eat oranges?

Pre-Pregnancy Checklist

Things All Women Should Do Before Pregnancy

Want to create the perfect environment to welcome your baby into?

      Focus on healthy eating - One of the best things you can do is to start eating healthy now, before you’re pregnant. And ask your partner to join you. You'll need plenty of protein, iron, calcium, and folic acid. So stock up on fruits, nuts, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Cut back on chips, baked goods, soda, and other junk foods that have empty calories. Cleanse your body of harmful chemicals by eating clean and greening up your home for three months prior to TTC (trying to conceive)

       Work towards a healthy weight - Being too thin can make it harder to get pregnant. Being too heavy puts you at risk for health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure -- and it can make labor last longer. The good news is that regular, moderate exercise can help you feel your best as you try to get pregnant. Begin doing a safe yet rigorous workout that you enjoy for 30 minutes to an hour, five or six days per week. Walking, bicycling, and swimming are all great ways to get a workout. Or look into joining a prenatal exercise class.

      Create and plan a Suitable Baby Budget - You'll want the best for your little one. So start planning now. Consider formula, baby food, diapers, equipment, pediatrician visits, child care -- and baby clothes -- fun and functional. Discuss the financial implications of having a child with your partner and rebalance your budget to reflect both pregnancy and parenthood. Review your medical, disability, and life insurance policies and make any necessary changes to suit your plans for pregnancy. Make sure you know and understand the maternity leave policies at your job.

      Make appointments with your general practitioner, OB/GYN, and family dentist for pre-conception visits.

      Begin taking a good quality pre-natal vitamin (folic acid) as early as three months prior to TTC.

      Watch the Caffeine - Can't get going without that cup of coffee? It's OK, but you may want to stop at just one. Some experts recommend that you get no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day while trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy itself. That's about one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Even warm, spiced milk can be a soothing substitute for a regular cup of Joe.

      Avoid alcohol - What if you had a drink before you knew you were pregnant? One drink is probably not a concern. It is safest to avoid it entirely. And, it is well known that drinking during pregnancy itself raises the risk for birth defects and learning problems

      Quit Smoking - If you smoke, now's the time to quit. Smoking can make it harder for you to get pregnant. And smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and even miscarriage. It also puts your baby at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Ask your partner to quit, too. Breathing in secondhand smoke is also dangerous. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor.

      Engage in a hobby that relaxes you for at least 20 minutes once or twice per week.

      Browse pregnancy and parenting books and films and choose to read or watch those that interest you.

      Talk to your own mother and/or other women in your family about the types of experiences they had during pregnancy.

      Discuss the type of labor and delivery you’d like to have including use of drugs during labor, feelings about C-section and assisted birth, etc.

      Discuss your views on vaccination and childhood nutrition.

      Discuss family history of disease with your spouse and parents.

      Research and discuss the potential for genetic diseases in your family and consider having genetic testing done.

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TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR DOCTOR PRIOR TO SURGERY

It is important to communicate your feelings, questions, and concerns with your doctor prior to having surgery. The following suggestions may help to improve communication between you and your doctor:

• If you do not understand your doctor's responses, ask questions until you do.
• Take notes, or ask a family member or friend to accompany you and take notes for you.
• Ask your doctor to write down his or her instructions, if necessary.
• Ask your doctor where you can find printed material about your condition. Many doctors have this information in their offices.
• If you still have questions, ask the doctor where you can go for more information.
  

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

WHAT CAN BE THE SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER?

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUCUMBER

Why start eating cucumber?

Cucumbers are number four most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your overall health, often referred to as a super food. Pick a handful of firm, dark green cucumbers and drop them into your shopping cart.

Cucumber rehydrates body

If you are too busy to drink enough water, eat the cool cucumber, which is 90 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate your water lost.

Cucumber fights heat inside and out

Eating cucumber will get your body relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin and you will get relief from sunburn.

Cucumber eliminates toxins

All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your body. With regular eating, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Cucumber replenishes daily vitamins

Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. A B and C, which boost your immune system keep you radiant and give you energy. Make it more powerful by juicing cucumber with spinach and carrot. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because it contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 12 percent of the daily recommended allowance.

 Cucumber supplies skin friendly minerals

Cucumber is high in potassium, magnesium and silicon. That is why spas abound cucumber based treatments.

Cucumber aids in digestion and weight loss

Due to its high water and low calorie content, cucumber is an ideal source for people who are looking for weight loss. Use cucumbers in your soups and salads. If it is not your favorite snack you can crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy low fat yogurt dip. Chewing cucumber gives your jaws a good workout and the fiber in it is great for digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as an aid for chronic constipation.

Cucumber revives the eyes

Placing a chilled slice of cucumber over puffy eyes is a clichéd beauty visual but it really can help reduce under-eye bags and puffiness due to its anti inflammatory properties.

Cucumber fights cancers

Cucumber is known to contain secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and pinoresinol. The three lignans have a strong connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including ovarian, breast, prostate and uterine cancer.

Cucumber cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is widely spread to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers have found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers can help decrease levels of cholesterol. Cucumbers contain a lot of fiber, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients work effectively for regulating blood pressure. That is why cucumber is good for treating both high blood pressure and low blood pressure.

Cucumber refreshes the mouth

Cucumber juice heals and refreshes diseased gums. Get a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for a half minute, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing unpleasant breath.

Cucumber smoothes hair and nails

The wonder mineral Silica in cucumber makes your hair and nails shinier and stronger. The sulfur and silica in cucumbers help to stimulate your hair growth.

Cucumber promotes joint health, relieves arthritis and gout pain

As cucumber is an excellent source of silica it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. When mixed with carrot juice, cucumber can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering levels of the uric acid.

Cucumber cures hangover

To avoid a morning headache or hangover you can eat a few cucumber slices before going to sleep. Cucumbers contain enough B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients and reducing the severity of both hangover and headache.

Cucumber keeps kidneys in shape

Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your body and though keeping the kidneys healthy.

Healthy Eating in pregnancy

Nutrition tips for pregnancy
1. Make smart food choices

2. Dont forget breakfast.  Take fiber rich diet with vegetables (green peas, spinach), fruits (pear, apple, banana), & whole grains/oatmeal and beans.

3. Take healthy snacks - low fat yoghurt with fruit or whole grain crackers with low fat cheese.

4. Prenatal vitamins - ask your doctor about importance of iron and folic acid in pregnancy.

5. Avoid uncooked or undercooked meat.

6. Limit caffeine and avoid alcohol.

7. Drink plenty of water and avoid soda.

How is papaya beneficial to health?

HOW TO MAINTAIN A GOOD KIDNEY FUNCTION?

1. Frequently empty your bladder

2. Drink enough water

3. Take optimum salt

4. Treat common infections quickly and properly

5. Eat less meat

6. Avoid excess painkillers

7. Dont drink too much alcohol

Wellwomanclinic: Healthy Bones: How to keep them fit?

Wellwomanclinic: Healthy Bones: How to keep them fit?: As you age, your bones become thinner and lose their density. We can take steps to halt the “thinning” of bones, called osteopenia, and pr...

Healthy Bones: How to keep them fit?

As you age, your bones become thinner and lose their density. We can take steps to halt the “thinning” of bones, called osteopenia, and prevent osteoporosis.

1. Eat calcium-rich foods - dairy products, fish with bones such as salmon or sardines, almonds, dried figs, fortified tofu and soy milk

2. Take calcium supplements - The U.S. recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1,000 mg a day during your 20s, 30s and 40s. But your need rises as you age. Check with your doctor before starting supplements to find out what amount is right for you. After menopause, most women need 1000 to 1,500 mg a day.

3. Add D to your day - To help absorb calcium, most adults need 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily. Combined calcium-vitamin D pills usually do not meet this requirement.

4. Start weight-bearing exercises - To boost your bone strength, try exercise that “loads” or compresses your bones. “Running, jogging, high-impact aerobics, repetitive stair climbing, dancing, tennis and basketball are best for building bones. Be sure to clear any exercise plans with your doctor first.

5. Don’t smoke, and don’t drink excessively - Bad news for bad habits: Loss of bone mineral density is associated with tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption.

6. Get your bone mineral density tested - Doctors can get a quick and painless “snapshot” of bone health using a simple X-ray test called DEXA. This test measures bone mineral density and helps determine risks of osteoporosis and fracture. Recommended testing for women is within two years of menopause. Earlier tests are recommended for women on long-term steroid therapy.

7. Consider medication - Perimenopausal women may consider hormone therapy to increase waning estrogen levels, which are linked to bone loss. Talk to your doctor about other options such as bisphosphonates. None of these medications works without calcium and vitamin D as building blocks.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANAS

Snacking before and after workout

Wellwomanclinic: WELL WOMAN CLINIC: ONE STOP FOR WHOLE LIFECARE (WO...

Wellwomanclinic: WELL WOMAN CLINIC: ONE STOP FOR WHOLE LIFECARE (WO...: There are different concerns and requirements at different ages Well Woman Clinic helps you at all stages from vaccination in teenage ye...

WELL WOMAN CLINIC: ONE STOP FOR WHOLE LIFECARE (WOMEN AT ALL SEVEN AGES)

There are different concerns and requirements at different ages

Well Woman Clinic helps you at all stages from vaccination in teenage years to wellness in old age

TEENAGE YEARS: Teenagers should take HPV and Tdap vaccination. Main concern is contraception and starting a family successfully; regular pap smear; screening for rubella virus; folic acid for to-be-moms

FORTIES: Contraception once again; menopausal symptoms; tendency to gain weight; consider calcium supplements; lipid profile

FIFTIES: menopausal hot flashes; frequent urinary infections and vaginal dryness; natural drop in bone density and need for calcium; check for blood pressure and diabetes; mammography & bone density scan

SIXTIES & BEYOND: exercise, healthy diet and weight management is helpful; risk of heart disease, ovarian, uterine and breast cancer is highest; benign causes of discomfort are uterine & vaginal prolapse & osteoarthritis

WELL WOMAN CLINIC HELPS YOU TO COPE UP AT ALL THESE STAGES

Wellwomanclinic: Why is Vitamin K important?

Wellwomanclinic: Why is Vitamin K important?: Why is Vitamin K important? Uses 1.       Blood clotting 2.       Bone health 3.       Antioxidant, anti inflammatory   Defic...

Why is Vitamin K important?

Why is Vitamin K important?

Uses

1.      Blood clotting

2.      Bone health

3.      Antioxidant, anti inflammatory

 Deficiency symptoms

1.      Easy bruising

2.      Nose bleeds, bleeding gums

3.      Blood in urine and stools

4.      Very heavy menstrual flow

Rich Sources

1.      Spinach

2.      Broccoli

3.      Lettuce

4.      Asparagus

Wellwomanclinic: What should be women health check list after 40

Wellwomanclinic: What should be women health check list after 40: Health checklist for women above 40 years: Understanding Health Needs As women grow and mature, their health needs also change accord...

What should be women health check list after 40

Health checklist for women above 40 years:

Understanding Health Needs

As women grow and mature, their health needs also change according to their age. Therefore, it is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Women's health is an issue which has been taken up by many feminists, especially where reproductive health is concerned. Even if you feel good and healthy, still it is important to have regular health checkups. Following are some specific tests that women above 40 should have in order to avoid future problems as health is wealth.

1) Bone mineral density test:

Ø  It is performed to check the strength of the bone and to check the risk of osteoporosis.

Ø  Osteoporosis is a problem in which there is loss of bone

Ø  It usually occurs at the age of 40 or above. Bones become fragile.

Ø  The lifetime risk of osteoporosis for women is almost 50%

So, eat healthy diet and do weight bearing exercises.

Early diagnosis is important and simple scan is recommended.

2) Blood Pressure Check:

Ø  Have your blood pressure checked every 2 years unless it is 120-139/80-89 Hg or higher. Then have it checked every year.

Ø  Ask your doctor for blood pressure screening

Ø  If the top number (systolic number) is greater than 130 or the bottom number (diastolic number) is greater than 85, immediately contact to your doctor.

Ø  If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.

   3) Breast cancer examination:

Ø   Breast cancer is one of the most common problems in women. The majority of breast cancers (80 per cent) occur in women over the age of 50.

Ø  To be careful, women must perform breath self exam.

Ø   They should contact their doctor immediately if they notice a change in their breasts, whether or not they do self exams.

• Doctor should provide complete breast exam every year.

Ø  Mammograms: Women over age 40 should have at least one mammogram every 2 years

The main risk factors are gender, increasing age and familial link. If you have a first-degree relative – a mother or sister – with a history of breast cancer you should commence screening 10 years before the age your relative was diagnosed.

4)  Cervical cancer screening:

Ø Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer among women: commoner in developing countries

Ø Pap smears should be done once every 2 - 3 years

Ø A pelvic examination is usually performed when a woman undergoes a smear test or if she is experiencing irregular, heavy periods or abdominal pain

Ø Pap smear plus HPV DNA test and pelvic exam should be done at starting age of 30 yrs at every five years, or as recommended by your doctor.

Ø  Women who have had a total hysterectomy (uterus and cervix removed) may choose not to have Pap smears.

Ø  Women who are sexually active should be screened for Chlamydia infection. This can be done during a pelvic exam.

5) Blood cholesterol test:

Ø  Women over age 44 should be checked every 5 years.

Ø  If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.

Ø If you have high cholesterol, your doctor will recommend cutting out fatty foods, especially animal fats, and will advise on ways to help you reduce your weight if you are overweight

Ø . Having a drink or yoghurt daily or using spreads that contain plant sterols can lower cholesterol levels.

 6)  Immunizations:

Ø  You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster at least once after the age of 35 and every 10 years.

Ø  You should receive a flu vaccine every year.

7)  Physical exams:

Ø  Have a physical exam every 1-5 years.

Ø  Your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) every visit

Finally, being self-aware and doing self-health checks is vital.

'Know what is normal for you, take note of any changes and see a doctor if there has been any change in overall health, so that the symptoms can be fully assessed,'