B vitamins found to slow progression of dementia

This article from MSNBC.com comes with the usual caveat of talk to your doctor. The information presented caught my eye because my homocysteine level (measures the stickiness in your blood) was just over the upper end of normal about 2 years ago, and Dr. Carr suggested I start taking Cardio B by Integrative Theraputics. I did, and within 6 months, my level was cut in half. Menopause is cognitively impairing enough, I need to do everything I can to stay sharp!

Stop singing the Beer Belly Blues

I'm not advocating this author's book (I've never heard of it so I don't know anything about it one way or the other), but I am sharing this link from the OttowaCitizen.com so that you can read the "lyrics" the article's author envisions for andropause (the male menopause). If you can't laugh, you can't live, so I offer the article with that thought. Share it with the guy you love. Have a great weekend!

Try natural solutions for insomnia

Good morning! Hope you all had a restful night's sleep........I know, sleep disruption is one of the most common (not to mention distressing) symtoms of peri/menopause. Check out this morning's article from the DailyJournal.com ----some good, basic reminders about sleep hygeine, and a few suggestions of supplements that may help you get a better night's rest (and be sure to read the caveat about checking with your doctor before adding new supplements to your regeime.)

It's a tough day for our nation ---- none of us will forget what happened on September 11, 2001. Pray, meditate, remember, but then get on with your day----that's the best way to honour those lost. Blessed be.

How to Rebuild Your Self-Confidence During Menopause

Interesting reading----check out this article in this morning's HuffingtonPost.com. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Vitamin D Levels and Vaginal Infections

This is one study I hadn't heard about before, but it does make sense. Check out this article from EmPowHer.com ----- a study done of pregnant women showed a marked increase in vaginal infections in women with low levels of Vitamin D. Since Vitamin D helps the immune system, this makes sense. I am one of those lucky women who have not had a vaginal infection in years, but then again I haven't been on antibiotics in years (and trust me when I tell you that BHRT will boost your immune system big time)----and back in the day, I used to be on antibioitics all the time (I taught in a public school). The doctor that I had at that time just routinely handed me a prescription for Monostat along with the antibiotic prescription.

TV Alert!

Hi everyone, sorry for the short notice on this:

Tomorrow (September 9) the Dr. Oz Show will have a segment called Insomnia Clinic: Are Your Hormones Keeping You Awake? Here's the link to the show's website so you can check the time and channel in your local area!

Have Asthma? Vitamin D May Help

This article from Newswise.com may be of interest to you if you or a member of your family suffers from asthma----adequate Vitamin D levels may be an important part of your treatment plan. This was first mentioned in several medical journal articles about a year ago, and now articles seem to be popping up all over. As always, check with your doctor for the Vitamin D level best for you.

Wyeth paid writers to promote hormone therapy: study

This isn't new, just an update from Reuters.com --- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals paid ghostwriters to generate "scientific" articles touting the benefits of their synthetic hormone preparations Premarin and Prempro. It's disgusting.

The Vitamin-D Debate: How Much is OK?

Maybe all the Vitamin D articles are popping up because it's sunny out (yeah, that must be it!)---here's a good article on the benefits of Vitamin D from TimeMagazine.com.

Have You Taken Your Vitamin 'N' Today?

This article from The HuffingtonPost.com really doesn't have much to do with menopause ---- but I do think what it says can improve our overall health. I know when I lived up north (I am an Upstate NY native) that I did not get out for fresh air nearly often enough. It was one of the reasons I moved to NC, and my health is certainly better for it. In the summer, I swim outdoors in a pool about 4 days a week, and in the other seasons I take fitness walks at least 2-3 days a week. In a few weeks, I will be making my twice yearly trips to all the gardens in the area to get flower pictures---and all the while I will be absorbing Vitamin D from the sun!

Low Vitamin D Linked to Heart Failure Deaths

You are taking your daily Vitamin D, aren't you? If not, here is another reason to start----check out this article from WebMD.com......a study done on heart patients with varying levels of Vitamin D indicates that the risk of heart failure is higher (by about 30%) in those with the lowest levels of Vitamin D. As always, check with your doctor!

Sleep 101

Next to hot flashes, disrupted sleep is probably the most common complaint I hear from women as they enter the peri/menopausal stage. I know, I've been there, and while the hormonal balance has certainly helped, I still struggle with getting a good night's sleep (I have a chronic pain issue in my back and hip that makes it harder to get to sleep and stay asleep).

Check out this article from EmPowHer.com. It lists some basic (but often overlooked) ways to help you get a good sleep ---- my pain managment doctor refers to them as sleep hygeine. Enjoy your day!

360 Menopause!

Good morning and happy Labour Day! It's a gorgeous day here in NC, I have the air conditioner off and the windows wide open---I'm looking forward to autumn.

A news brief came across my newsfeed this morning for a new site called 360Menopause.com. I checked it out, and there are some interesting articles on their to educate women about wellness, exercise and nutrition as they reach their menopause stage of life. I think it's worth checking out, and you can access it by clicking here. Have a great day, everyone!

Rough transition into menopause

This article from the LATimes.com caught my eye this morning----it's written by a female physician who is going through the peri/menopausal transition and she is lamenting the limited treatment options for her symptoms. As far as I can tell, the biggest limit on treatment options is the limited number of doctors who are progressive enough to know that women (and men) need hormonal balance, not a handful of pharmaceuticals to help them age with dignity and grace and quality of life. I wrote a comment at the bottom of the article.


Happy Labour Day weekend, everyone, I hope you are enjoying this last "official" weekend of summer!

National Menopause Awareness Month

Did you know that September is National Menopause Awareness Month (ok, snark here ---- I'm pretty sure if you are experiencing menopause, you are aware of it every single day!) I ran into this explanation on the Office of Research on Women's Health site. I had to laugh---the article directs you to NAMS (North American Menopause Society) which has some pretty archaic ideas about menopause and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy----oh, well, c'est la vie.

I think all menopausal women should be put on a pedastal this month-----and little gifts, like goody bags full of bioidentical hormones, skin care products, chocolate, perhaps the keys to a new sports car-----ok, that one is a little out there, but it would be nice!