Category Archives: Women’s Health

Friday February 3, 2017 was National Wear Red Day, an event aimed at raising awareness of the number one cause of death for American women: heart disease. Join Bel Marra Health and Go Red For Women by educating yourself on issues like heart artery dysfunction, heart attack mortality, and the heart disease risk factors. Heart ...click here to read more

Optimistic attitude increases longevity, especially among women, according to study findings. The researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health uncovered that optimistic women had a reduced risk of death from several major causes, such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Those who were less optimistic had a higher mortality risk. Co-lead author Eric ...click here to read more

Heart artery dysfunction in women may be linked to emotional stress. C. Noel Bairey Merz, professor of medicine and senior author, explained, “Women who go to emergency rooms and cardiologists because they have chest pain often are told that their arteries are clear and their hearts are fine. But the reality is that women’s coronary ...click here to read more

Kidney disease risk increases in postmenopausal women undergoing long-term estrogen treatment. Estrogen is known to offer protective effects against high blood pressure, but as the estrogen levels decrease after menopause the benefits decrease as well. The researchers bred rats to mimic gender-specific blood pressure differences commonly observed in humans to determine whether hormone therapy negatively ...click here to read more

If hot flashes and night sweats weren’t bad enough to experience during menopause, a new study has found that shortness of breath may be added to the list as well. The study found that throughout menopause women find themselves dealing with shortness of breath and other respiratory issues. Study author Kai Triebner explained, “Women are ...click here to read more

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is reduced with the Paleo diet in obese postmenopausal women. Lead author Caroline Blomquist explained, “Eating a Paleolithic-type diet without calorie restriction significantly improved the fatty acid profile associated with insulin sensitivity, and it reduced abdominal adiposity and body weight in obese postmenopausal women. A Paleolithic-type diet, high in polyunsaturated ...click here to read more

Bone health in postmenopausal women can be improved with menopausal hormone therapy. Study first author Georgios Papadakis explained, “When used in the right context, specifically in postmenopausal women younger than 60 years old for whom the benefits outweigh risks, menopausal hormonal therapy is effective for both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.” Osteoporosis is a ...click here to read more

Low bone density and hip fracture rates linked to hot flashes and night sweats during menopause. The study found that women who suffered with moderate to severe hot flashes or night sweats during menopause had lower bone density. The study followed thousands of women who were not using hormonal replacement therapy for eight years. Baseline ...click here to read more

Osteoporosis risk in women is linked to subjective well-being, a factor for higher bone density. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to the loss of bone mineral density, which makes the bones weak and increases the risk of fractures. This condition is often seen among older adults, especially in women. The researchers found that ...click here to read more

As estrogen levels drop after menopause, studies show that it impacts women’s memory. Memory loss is a very common symptom many seniors report. In fact, 75 percent of older adults report some degree of memory problems. Although women generally outperform men on memory tests, menopausal women report higher rates of forgetfulness. Executive director of the ...click here to read more

Potassium-rich foods may lower stroke risk in postmenopausal women. Senior author Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller said, “Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure. But whether potassium intake could prevent stroke or death wasn’t clear. Our findings give women another reason to eat their fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of ...click here to read more

A gene has been identified that may have be responsible for hot flashes typically experienced during menopause. The identified gene may help explain why some women experience hot flashes – because they are genetically predisposed to. The researchers uncovered gene variants that affect a brain receptor controlling the release of estrogen – and increase the ...click here to read more

Vulvovaginal troubles are common after menopause and are linked to pelvic floor organ prolapse. These troubles impact women’s lifestyle, emotions, and sex life, and were found to worsen with pelvic-related issues. Unfortunately, many women are not receiving help for their condition, according to the research published in the journal Menopause. The researchers recruited 358 women ...click here to read more

Menopause can impact your digestive system, causing problems that weren’t previously there. Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life, characterized by the ending of the menstrual cycle, which means she is no longer fertile. Menopause is often accompanied by symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruptions, and mood changes. A healthy digestion ...click here to read more