Healt2 – All you need for mesothelioma and heal: Temmuz 2010

16 Temmuz 2010 Cuma

How to Improve Sexual Activity After Endometrial Hysterectomy

As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis grow somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Hysterectomy always is the last resource in treating endometriosis for woman who has exhausted all the treatments without success, or endometrial tissues has become cancerous, her doctor may suggest some kinds of hysterectomy. after endometrial hysterectomy, some women may encounter some sexual difficulty. In this article, we will discuss how hysterectomy effects the women sexual activity.
The removal of women reproductive organs may causes physiological and psychological effects in women sexual life. In some women, it has been known to cause sexual difficulty.
1. Sexual desire
the sexual desire is controlled by the level of testosterone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Often prescription of estrogen therapy is good enough to bring back or improve the sexual desire of such women. If the estrogen therapy does not work then intake of combination of estrogen and androgen may do the trick.
Remember if you are psychological depress, then the above methods may not work. Please make sure that your condition is not caused by psychological effects or you may have to consult with a psychologist to address these problems.

2. Lubrication
Lubrication discharged from your vagina when there are enough estrogen. Women with the removal of ovaries saw the level of estrogen decreased, because our body estrogen are produced by ovaries and adrenal glands. Low level of estrogen increase vagina dryness resulting of painful intercourse. This problem usually is corrected by intake of estrogen medication or estrogen enhancing cream.

Endometriosis and Hydrotherapy

I. Definition
Hydrotherapy is defined as a type of medical treatment all involving water.

II. Types of hydrotherapy used in treating endometriosis

1) Local packings
The local packing consists of a wet sheet enveloping the abdomen, with a number of dry blankets packed tightly over it. The trapped abdominal heat causes the abdomen to be warmed and the sheet is re-wetted as it dries. Local packing is generally used to release the blood stagnation by stimulating the blood flow to the abdomen.

2) Sitz bath
A sitz bath is a type of bath in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water. It is said to reduce inflammation, infection and menstrual cramps.
a) Hot air bath
Hot air bath is one type of under water bath with hot air sprayed into the the water during the bath. It is said to increase blood flow in the body and reduce the pain caused by chronic illness, such as endometrial cramps.
b) General bath
General baths include the rain, spray, shower, shallow, plunge, douche, and common morning sponge baths with combination of cold and hot water. It is said that general baths help to increase the circulation of blood and reduce tension of muscles that cause heavy bleeding and endometriosis cramps.
c) Local bath
Local baths include the sitz, douche, spinal, foot and head baths with hot or cold water. The sitz head and foot baths are used flowing on occasion. It is said that local bath is an effective treatment for reducing inflammation.

3) Compress
There are 2 types of compress
a) Hot compress
By placing a hot towel over a part of the body will increase blood flow to that part of the body. It is said hot compress will help to reduce regional pains.
b) Cold Compress
By placing a very cold towel over a part of the body will reduce the inflammation of that part of the body.

4. Under water massage
Generally it is for people who suffer from chronic pain. It is said that this technique will help to reduce pain during and after massage because aching tissues are supported under the water.

5. Under water exercise
Under water exercise is said help to relax abdominal muscles, thereby reducing the endometrial cramps.

6. Ice and water
Ice and water is put in a wrapped bag and placed on the pain area which helps to reduce inflammation.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) After Endometriosis Hysterectomy?

I. Definition
Women who have their ovaries removed after hysterectomy, will have a menopause earlier than other women caused by low level of estrogen and progesterone in their body resulting of early menopause symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is defined as a treatment for woman who is in surgically menopausal, peri menopausal and post menopausal state, caused by diminished circulation of estrogen and progesterone hormones.

II. Types of HRT
a) Estrogen replacement therapy
Since woman who has the ovaries removed has low level of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen therapy helps to increase level of estrogen in the body, therefore, it
a) Reduces the frequency of hot flash and other symptom of menopause.
b) reduce the loss of bone density that usually happen to women in menopause state, caused by poor digestive absorption or other mineral deficiency.
c) Reduce the risks of colon cancer and macular degeneration.
d) Increase brain function resulting of diminishing the risk of Alzheimer disease.

b) Estrogen and progestin replacement therapy
The combination of both estrogen and progestin therapy is a combination of the hormones treatment with both estrogen and progesterone. While the estrogen in the EPT helps relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flash, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness etc.

c) Testosterone replacement therapy
This kind of therapy, generally testosterone, is used to increase sexual desire for women with hysterectomy as well as treating energy deficiency and helping to reduce osteoporosis after menopause.

III. Risks
a) Increase the risks of liver or gallbladder problems and blood clots.
b) increases the risk of breast cancer
c) increase the risk of uterine cancers in women with intact uterine linings
d) combination of estrogen and progestin also increase the risk of high level of triglyceride and heart diseases.

Menopause State After Endometrial Hysterectomy ?

Woman who has had hysterectomy because of endometriosis will not enter menopause immediately but she will enter the menopause 3 to 5 years earlier than other woman who does not, caused by removal of ovaries and low level of estrogen in her body. In fact, every woman will experience menopause in her own unique way.
I. Definition
Woman who has 3- 10 years of perimenopause with irregular menstruation such as skipped, lighter, or shorter period and has not had period for at least 12 months since last period is considered as menopause.

II. How it happens
1. Estrogen
Estrogen is one important hormone that helps to regulate the woman menstrual cycle. It contains estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Each of them plays a unique role in regulating certain stage of menstrual cycle. Beside having essential role in reproductive cycle, it also helps to maintain healthy bones, reproductive tissues, skin, etc.
High level of estrogen cause weight gain, fluid retention and excessive high level of estrogen might cause endometriosis, and cancer. Low level of estrogen cause hot flashes, vagina dryness. aging, bone loss, etc.
The removal of ovaries or not in women with endometrial hysterectomy might cause the diminishing of level of estrogen resulting of menopause.

2. Progesterone
Progesterone helps to balance the level of estrogen in the women body. Progesterone becomes fluctuating during perimenopause state causing irregular menstruation.

3. Testosterone
Testosterone is a male hormone and it is produced by small quality in women body to maintain muscle mass, bone density and sexual desire. As menopause, the level of testosterone drops by 50% percent causing problem of bone loss, low sex drive in some women.

Endometriosis and Exercise

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Moderate exercise not only helps to strengthen the body’s muscles, but also helps to balance the body’s hormones which is important for women with endometriosis.

1. Moderate exercise helps to reduce levels of estrogen produced by our body caused by environmental toxins accumulating in our body through sweat or inhaled air.

2. Moderate exercise balances the production of protagslandin hormones that are produced during the menstrual cycle. This results in reduced contraction of the uterus.

3. Moderate exercise increases stomach acid production which helps to increase the absorption of vitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin E, and minerals such as zinc and magnesium.

4. Moderate exercise increases the circulation in the bloodstream and oxygen levels in the blood. It also strengthens the capillaries that have been broken off easily for women with endometriosis symptoms.

5. Moderate exercise also helps to reduce stress and depression by increasing the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the nervous system which results in better function of protein synthesis and fat metabolism of liver and blood circulation.

6. Moderate exercise also helps to strengthen our immune system which is essential to fight off the forming of endometriosis implants or adhesion that adhere to our body’s organs other than endometrium.

Remember vigorous exercise may increase the risk of retrograde flow causing endometriosis.

Endometriosis and Diet

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Unhealthy diet not only decreases your body’s normal function such as weakening the immune system and promoting inflammation, but it also causes hormonal imbalance.

1. Over load with xenoestrogen
Xenoestrogen is a type of man-made estrogen that has been used to improve quality of food supplies. After entering the woman’s body, it promotes over-production of estrogen causing endometriosis and endometriosis menstrual cramps.

2. Decrease immune system function
Unhealthy diet depletes the essential nutrients that our body needs to perform daily functions. Foods that contain additive agents, sweeteners, and trans-fats are dangerous to the body’s immune system. Long term exposure to these harmful substances weakens the immune system which is essential for fighting off endometriosis implants or adhesion in the first place.

3. Hormonal imbalance
Depletion of certain minerals and vitamins such as zinc, calcium, and vitamin B caused by unhealthy diet may increase the risk of hormonal imbalance. Deficiency of essential fatty acids causes an over-production of hormone prostaglandins which elevates the symptoms of endometriosis menstrual symptoms.

4. Increase the risk of cell abnormality
Long term exposure to man-made chemicals may interfere with the replication of the body’s cells leading to cell abnormality and cancer forming. It is still unknown why some normal peritoneal cells in the abdomen develop into endometrial cells.

5. Saturate fat and trans fat
Increased intake of saturated and trans fats reduce the fat metabolism of the liver. This results in an over-production of some hormones in the reproductive system causing endometriosis menstrual cramps.

Endometriosis and Herbs

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Herbs have been used for over a thousand years in treating endometriosis. In this article, we will discuss how herbalists accomplished that.

In herbal medicine, the treatment of endometriosis not only provides medicine for pain but also emphasizes the underlining reason causing the pain.

1. Protagslandins hormone treatments
Uterine tonic are important herbs that are used to treat pain for women with endometriosis pain. By improving the uterine tones, it helps to regulate the production of prostaglandins and keep them in check. By balancing the hormone protagslandins in the reproductive organ during the menstrual cycle, it maintains the level of movement of uterus muscles making it easier for women with endometriosis to manage pain. Herbs used include dong quai and raspberry leaves.

2. Anti muscle spasmodic herbs
If the woman feels pain only in the cervix area caused by crampy flow or very little flow then a special herb or a group of herbs will be given to reduce the uterine muscle spasm and pain by bringing on menstrual flow. Herbs used include dioscorea and back cohosh.

3. How to bring on period flow
Congestive symptoms such as heavy dragging pain with late onset of period, then some herbs will be given to relieve the pain by bringing on menstrual flow. Herbs used in this group include all herbs classified as emmenagogues.

4. Hormone regulators
Herbs that are used to regulate protagslandins, estrogen, and progesterone hormones such as vitexagus castus to reduce levels of congestive period and endometriosis pain.

5. Prostaglandins inhibitors
Herbs that are used to inhibit the excess level of prostaglandins hormone causing over-activity of uterine muscles include curcuma longa and ginger.

Endometriosis and Chinese Herbs

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Chinese herbs have been used for over 5000 years and some of them have been used to treat endometriosis effectively.

In fact, both herbalists and Chinese practitioners aim to treat endometriosis pains by underlining its causes.
I. Definition
Chinese medicine has been used as the primary medication throughout Asia and it is considered an alternative medical system in much of the western world. In endometriosis, traditional Chinese medicine addresses the imbalance of Chi in the reproductive and other related organs and helps to re-establish the flow of Chi, thus leading to recovery.

II. Types of treatment
1. Regulates hormones
The Chinese herb with combination of bupleurum and peony makes a hormone enhancing medication that helps to restore hormonal imbalance in the reproductive system that causes symptoms of endometriosis such as menstrual cramps abdominal pain, premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, and depression.

2. Inhibits the excessive protagslandins
Bupleurum and Rehmannia are a traditional Chinese medicine that have a liver tonic properties. By strengthening the liver, it helps to increase the synthesis protein and fat metabolism of the liver, thus inhibiting the excessive protagslandins that cause an over-active uterus and endometrial pain.

3. Strengthens the immune system
Chinese tribulus terrestris is used as diuretic. By strengthening the liver it helps to boost the immune system, resulting in a reduced risk of endometriosis forming and decreases endometriosis cramps by increasing the level of fat metabolism.

4. Reduce menstrual cramps
Don quai is commonly known as a herb specially made for woman’s reproductive system by nature. It includes substances that help to regulate a woman’s period flow during the menstrual cycle as well as reducing the pain caused by hormone imbalance and weakness due to loss of blood. It is specially helpful to prevent forming of endometriosis and treating the causes of endometrial cramp.

Endometriosis and Ayurveda

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycleby building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Ayurveda is a traditional medication that has been used in India for over thousands of years. It is another type of alternative medicine used in some parts of South Asia.

Ayurveda means life and science. It is one of the oldest alternative medicine originated from India. Its treatment technique aims to bring the balance of the body back, so it can heal itself.
After initial consultation and diagnosis, here are some common treatments that have been used in treating endometriosis.

1. Detoxification
If diagnosis determines that endometriosis is caused by toxins within the body, detoxification may be applied to restore the body back to balance by getting rid of those unwanted substances.

2. Weaken immunity
If endometriosis is caused by the weakening of the immune system, patient may be given herbs in the form of pills, jellies, powders, or tonics to boost immunity levels and to stimulate the patient’s appetite to eat food that help to boost immunity.

3. Blood stagnation
If blood stagnation is the cause of endometriosis, then the technique of drawing out stagnation of blood may be used
a) Hot stone therapy
The technique that penetrates heat deep into tissues to draw out blood.
b) Gua sha therapy
A technique that helps to draw blood from the surface using suction cups
c) Maxabusion therapy
It helps to draw out stagnation of blood and relieve pain well as muscle spasm.
4. Massage
Massage is a very important form of treatment for women with menstrual pain. By applying the premix Ayurvedic oil on the abdominal region and gentle massage until the oil dips into the skin it is said to reduce muscle spasms. Daily massage is very important for opening the channels, stimulating the digestion, removing toxins from the body and strengthening the immune system.

Another Thyroid Risk: Did Your Mom Smoke While Pregnant?

A new thyroid study shows that a mother who smokes during pregnancy not only has an adverse influence on her own thyroid hormone status during pregnancy, but also passes abnormalities in thyroid hormone function on to her baby. This latter finding should serve as a heads up to women or men who had smoking mothers – as it is quite likely that this causes later-life risk for thyroid problems – especially those induced by stress.

During pregnancy thyroid hormone is vital to have in tip-top working order, as it is called upon to work overtime to help build the baby’s body. The net result of smoking on thyroid is too much inappropriate stimulation (like too much caffeine or stress during pregnancy), resulting in smoking-induced malnutrition that significantly increases the risk for miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and impaired neuropsychological development of the baby.

Smokers, like caffeine drinkers, simply need to quit at once as soon as they know they are pregnant, which prevents the adverse changes to thyroid hormone.

This study raises an interesting question for many of my readers: Did your mother smoke while she was pregnant with you? The new study shows that TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is lowered by smoking, while T3 levels elevate – a pattern that also appears in the newborn baby. This means that smoking is inducing a hyperthyroid-like-malnutrition stress profile on the baby’s developing nervous system.

The first few weeks of life are critical “thyroid times” in terms of future health, having a profound effect on programming of key nerve circuitry for a lifetime. This particular influence would have the effect of making the baby more sensitive to stress – as technically the thyroid is being down-regulated by the excessive stimulation of nicotine and chemicals. Such early programming could lead to later-life anxiety, irritation, agitation, irregular heart beats, insomnia, out-of-control food cravings, and possible substance abuse including alcohol dependence.

This problem undoubtedly involves hypocretin excess, as I describe in my article on Oprah Winfrey: Oprah’s Thyroid Problem Explained.

Children of smoking parents should realize that this is a weak spot for them and be sure that they have enough relaxation and rejuvenation to offset demands in their life – otherwise thyroid problems, stress management issues, insomnia, and leptin problems (weight management) are much more likely to kick in any time stress gets too intense.

Nutrients that help make energy (such as Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin and Thyroid Helper), nutrients that help tolerate stress (such as Stress Helper and Phosphatidylserine), and nutrients that help relax the nerves (such as RelaxaMag and Sleep Helper – which can be taken during the day as needed), form the core for basic nutritional support to help keep your metabolism on track and mood in a better condition.

Healthy metabolism is not simply based on the idea of going faster – otherwise you could just drink ten cups of coffee per day and lose all the weight you wanted. Rather, healthy metabolism is based on having a solid foundation of balance and relaxation – and from this foundation metabolism can kick into gear in a healthy way. Those with mothers who smoked while they were pregnant should understand that their nerves may be more prone to easily fraying – leading to stress-induced thyroid issues.