-
Health & Weight Loss
Author: Carole McAlister
22/04/09
This is the time around and after the end of your periods. Strictly speaking the menopause is after the last menstrual period. This is usually around the age of 51. Changes can start to take place many years in advance of this, and women can start to notice more erratic cycles and heavier bleeding in their late 40s. This is due to hormone changes resulting in a dramatic reduction of oestrogen from the ovaries at the time of the actual menopause. Symptoms can be hot flushes, night sweats, headach...
-
Health & Weight Loss
Author: Carole McAlister
22/04/09
Osteoporosis is a common health problem in this country. As many as 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 will have osteoporosis. A sedentary lifestyle with a lack of weight-bearing exercise is a risk factor. Osteoporosis results in bones becoming less dense and more “honeycombed”. The bones are therefore more easily broken, especially if you have an injury such as a fall. Oestrogen is a female hormone which helps to protect against bone loss, so after the menopause the rate of loss of bone ...
-
Health & Weight Loss
Author: Carole McAlister
22/04/09
Polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) is the most common hormonal disturbance in women- around one fifth of women in the UK are affected. It is also the most common reason for women not to ovulate, and the combination of being overweight and having POS can have a profound affect on the individual’s ability to become pregnant. The cause of infertility in about a third of couples attending infertility clinics is anovulation (not ovulating). This means that there is no egg released from the ovary durin...
-
Health & Weight Loss
Author: Carole McAlister
02/04/09
Diabetes affects more than 2 million people in the UK. Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90% of cases. The numbers affected are only going to increase. One of the main concerns about developing diabetes is that you are likely to have a shortened life expectancy by as much as 5-10 years, mainly due to cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, strokes). Other complications of diabetes are eye disease, kidney failure and effects on the nervous system. Being overweight is a major risk factor for ...
