This week for You....Women

This week You! takes a look at the health problems that are most prevalent in women all around the world... 

Osteoporosis: 

The word osteoporosis literally means 'porous bones', or in other words, bones that are filled with tiny pores, or holes. Our bones change constantly - breaking down and being rebuilt as part of the living process. If the rate of renewal does not equal the rate of breakdown, bone loss occurs. If this continues over the years, this results in osteoporosis.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of osteoporosis including heredity, premature menopause, lack of exercise, smoking, irregular menstrual cycles and weight.

Low intake of calcium during childhood predicts one's chances of developing osteoporosis later in life. It is advised to focus on diet that is rich in calcium. Some rich sources of calcium include milk, yoghurt, cheese, oats etc. Many other nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, folic acid and boron are equally essential for healthy bones. 

Exercise is also extremely important for the prevention of osteoporosis. Doing some weight-bearing exercises such as brisk walking, running, stair-climbing or aerobics can be beneficial.

Breast cancer:

Every year, over 40,000 women worldwide lose their lives to this disease which isn't only curable but is also preventable. Breast cancer can be stopped if it's detected early. Some estimates suggest that an early detection pushes the chances of survival up to 90 per cent. 

A healthier lifestyle automatically translates into a lower risk for breast cancer. However, for women who lead erratic lives, breast cancer may be a possible problem in the future. For anyone who wants to decrease their chances of getting inflicted with breast cancer, the first step would be to control their diet and weight. 

The first thing all women need to do is make sure that they get their breasts examined on an annual basis. For women who have passed the 40 year mark, getting regular mammograms is essential for keeping breast cancer at bay. Both mammograms and clinical screenings are equally important. If one misses the cancer, the other might detect it. This is true for both procedures as there are cases where mammograms become useless and a clinical screening is vital and vice versa.

Factors that place women at a higher risk are:

* Women who have a family history of breast cancer

* Those that started their menstruation cycle at a later age

* Women who have a history of consanguineous i.e. marriages within the family

* Those with a body mass index that is equal to or greater than 30 (women who are overweight or obese)

* Women whose birthing trends show a higher parity (number of times a female gives birth)

* Along with women who gave birth to their child at a later age and have a positive history of abortion.

Periods:

Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhoea)

It is estimated that between 50 to 70 per cent of women endure some degree of period pain and cramping. Every month many women suffer from pain around the time of their periods. For some women the pain can be so debilitating that they are forced to take time off work or can only get through their periods by dosing themselves with painkillers. 

Obviously pain is the overriding symptom in dysmenorrhoea, but many women will experience other symptoms, including nausea, diarrhoea/constipation, fainting/feeling dizzy, light-headedness, headaches, exhaustion and lethargy

Vitamin B6 is needed to produce 'good' prostaglandins which help in relaxing and widening the blood vessels. This vitamin has been shown to significantly reduce the intensity and duration of period pains. So it is worth taking a good B-complex supplement. Other nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C and E, zinc and Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are quite helpful in relieving the pain. 

If you want to ease the pain, include pineapples and berries of any kind (such as blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries and even grapes) in your diet. The intake of fish or linseed oil capsules will also aid in keeping the 'bad' prostaglandins under control. 

Irregular Periods:

Suffering from irregular periods is a fairly clear indication that your cycles have become imbalanced. Irregular periods can be extremely difficult or even impossible to track.

Many women are unconcerned about having irregular cycles until they begin trying for a baby. Minor cycle irregularities are common. For example, you may have your period on day 23 of one month and then the next month on day 35.

The following symptoms are characteristic of irregular periods, and you can experience a combination of any or all of these:

* Large gaps with no periods

* Some gaps and then periods coming too frequently for a while (for example, two in one month) followed by gaps again.

* No periods for a long time and then bleeding continuously for a few weeks.

Stress and imbalances in thyroid function can be an important factor in causing irregular periods. Vitamins B2, B3 and B6 are necessary for thyroid hormone production and B5 (pantothenic acid) is essential for optimum adrenal function. The easiest way to make sure you are getting a good supply of these vitamins is to take them in the form of a good B-complex tablet. 

It is also believed that antioxidants have the ability to prevent cells from mutating. In other words, they prevent cells from becoming 'abnormal'. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E; so, make sure you are getting enough of these valuable nutrients.

Fibroids:

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in or on the muscular wall of the womb and affects almost 20 per cent of women over the age of 30. They can vary in number and size, depending on the individual. Some fibroids can be as small as a pea, but others can be as large as a seven- or eight-month-old foetus. 

The main symptom of fibroids is heavy periods. Some women experience pain with fibroids - not necessarily intense period pains, but a feeling of pressure and a dragging sensation in the abdomen. In some cases the first indication that there may be fibroids is when there is trouble conceiving (infertility) or maintaining a pregnancy (miscarriage).

What you eat is very important because it can help to control excess levels of oestrogen that can encourage the fibroid to grow. It is essential that you start taking vitamins A, B, C and iron. Try to avoid drinking regular black tea with your meals; this blocks the intake of iron from your food. Similarly, phosphates, found in fizzy soft drinks, will also prevent iron from being absorbed by the body. Herb teas and fruit juices are fine.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS):

Polycystic ovaries are ovaries that are actually covered with very small follicles in which the egg develops. In each menstrual cycle, follicles grow on the ovaries. Within those follicles the eggs develop, one of which will reach maturity faster than the others and be released into the fallopian tubes. This is known as ovulation. The remaining follicles (sometimes hundreds) will degenerate. 

In the case of polycystic ovaries, the ovaries are much larger than normal, and there are a series of undeveloped follicles that appear in clumps, rather like a bunch of grapes. Polycystic ovaries are not particularly troublesome and in many cases they will not even affect one's fertility. However, the actual problem starts when the cysts cause a hormonal imbalance. 

With the most extreme form of PCOS, you would tend to be overweight, have no or very few periods, be prone to acne, grow unusually heavy body hair, often on the face, breasts and inside of the legs, and be susceptible to mood swings. And can also result in problems with fertility and often recurrent miscarriages. Women with PCOS may be seven times more likely to develop diabetes because of problems with blood sugar balance. 

It is vital for women with polycystic ovaries to lose weight. This will help the hormone levels to return to normal and the symptoms of PCOS will start diminishing. 

Miscarriage:

Suffering a miscarriage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a woman. Many women conceive easily and are not emotionally or physically prepared for the shock of losing a baby. 

A miscarriage, also known as 'spontaneous abortion', occurs when a baby (foetus) is lost spontaneously before the 24th week of pregnancy. In the case of a threatened miscarriage, where the risk of losing the baby is increased, one may experience:

* Bleeding from the vagina, often containing clots

* Blood in the vaginal mucous

* Abdominal pain and/or cramping

* Back pain

The nutrients that can be beneficial in preventing miscarriages are folic acid, vitamin E, selenium. Vitamin E is quite beneficial in thinning the blood and also prevents blood from clotting. While folic acid is essential for expectant mothers, it is extremely important for women who experience miscarriage.