One of the key benefit you must already be aware of about living a healthy life would be that because you will be healthy you are going to wind up having a longer life. If you have a car you must already be aware that you must maintain it, change the oil and keep it clean in order to get it to last for the longest amount of time possible. The same goes for your body, by giving your body the proper maintenance for instance exercise, and feeding it properly with nutrition rich foods, your body is going to wind up lasting much longer.

Many people already understand that there are certain minerals and vitamins that they are able to provide to their body in order to stay healthy. It is commonly known that in order to stay away from certain illnesses like the common cold, getting a great amount of vitamin C is important. Of course your immune system isn’t the one and only thing you will need to worry about as your heart is also incredibly important take care of, and to do this you need plenty of vitamin E and garlic. The only problem is with regards to getting this type of nutrition out of foods, is that you aren’t going to find them at the Fast Food Restaurants. Your best bet is to ensure you prepare your own meals filled with a lot of fish and lean meats, and also ensure you’re eating a lot of veggies and fruits every single day.

Something else you should recognize that’s similar between vehicles and people, is that if you do not use your vehicle for some time, seals as well as other parts of your vehicle can end up being damaged from not being used. And just like vehicles if you end up sitting around all of the time and not getting any exercise, when you finally do get some sort of physical exercise you can end up damaging your body. I’m certain you realize why exercise is now so important and is not just something that men and women tell you need to do.

So for those of you looking to live a healthy lifestyle you will find the correct diet and exercise will be the two main keys to accomplishing this. Not to mention if you do not worry about getting the proper nutrition or enough exercise to keep your body functioning properly, you may find that you will be limiting your lifetime.

#1 Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a little gland in your neck. It regulates many important metabolism related hormones. Have it checked when you turn fifty and once every five years after that. A low thyroid can cause weight gain, fatigue and other health problems.

#2 Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure is something you can evaluate yourself. You don’t need to go to a doctor to get the information. You can use a blood pressure machine found in most pharmacies. Check your blood pressure today and write it down. Track it month to month to make sure you’re in good health. Aim for a blood pressure below 130/80 which is considered healthy.

#3 Cholesterol and Triglycerides

This test tells you how much potential junk you have in your blood stream. Eating a healthy diet rich in fiber and produce will help you achieve a healthy level of both cholesterol and triglycerides. Get tested when you turn fifty and talk to your doctor about your results. If you have high cholesterol and/or triglycerides it may make sense to get tested annually.

#4 Waist Circumference

Your waist should be 35 inches or less. Like blood pressure this one doesn’t require a doctor’s exam. Take a fabric tape measure and wrap it around your waist. If the number is larger than 35 inches it’s time to exercise more and eat a healthier diet.

#5 Skin Check

Whether you worshiped the sun in your younger years or not, it’s important to have a dermatologist check your skin for cancer. They can map your moles, freckles and skin spots. Annual re-checks will help your doctor notice any changes. You should also check your skin for suspicious looking spots monthly.

#6 Blood Glucose Levels

This is essentially a test to determine if you have diabetes or are pre-diabetic. It’s important to know that skinny people can be diabetic too. It’s not just a disease for overweight people.

#7 Gynecological Exam, HPV Test and Mammogram
Women need to have annual gynecological exams and routine mammograms. However, if you’ve never been tested for HPV, consider getting a test. It’s a viral disease spread through sexual activity that can remain dormant in people. You may have it for decades and not know it. Why get tested? Because it is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Knowing you have it can prevent cancer.

#8 Colonoscopy and Rectal Exam

Okay, so nobody wants to have this procedure done. However, it is extremely important to know if you have any polyps which can turn into colorectal cancer. It’s the fourth leading cause of cancer. Have the exam when you’re fifty and return to the doctor every five or ten years for a re-exam.

#9 Bone Density Scan

Osteoporosis is a common health condition for women over fifty. It causes the bones to thin, weaken and become fragile. A bone density scan can help you know if you’re at risk.

Information is power. When you know your health risks now you can take action to reduce or eliminate them. A good strong body will help you live comfortably and for a good long time. Good health helps you have a good life.

Osteoporosis

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis there are things you can do to manage the condition. You can live a normal life with osteoporosis. Let’s take a look at the top tips for managing osteoporosis effectively.

#1 Medication

Osteoporosis medications are designed to reduce more mineral loss. This in turn stops bone loss and reduces fractures. If your doctor has prescribed medication for your osteoporosis be sure to take it consistently. However, also keep a symptoms and side effects journal. Make sure you’re not experiencing any unwanted side effects from your osteoporosis medication. If you are, be sure to talk to your doctor about them.

#2 Alcohol

Alcohol affects your bones in a number of ways. It inhibits your bones ability to absorb calcium. Additionally, it can interfere with Vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D is critical to bone health and development. Most doctors will tell you that a glass of wine is okay. However more than one or two drinks can adversely affect your osteoporosis. Ask your doctor if you have questions about alcohol and osteoporosis.

#3 Get More Sun

Vitamin D helps your body function properly. That includes your bones. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t store vitamin D. Instead you need to make sure you get either 20-45 minutes of sun exposure each day depending on the color of your skin or take a vitamin D supplement. More D means stronger and healthier bones.

#4 Stop Smoking

Cigarette smoke causes your bones to lose minerals more quickly. It speeds up the bone loss process. If you smoke it is important to stop smoking as soon as possible. Additionally, try to restrict your exposure to second hand smoke.

#5 Exercise

Exercise is important to overall health and vitality. Strength training and weight bearing exercise will help your bones stay strong. Weight bearing exercises are those that fight gravity. Sounds complicated right? Well before you go out and buy a dumbbell set know that basic exercise like walking, hiking, tennis and dancing are all weight bearing exercises. Talk to your doctor about starting an exercise program. This is particularly important if you haven’t exercised in a year or more.

Finally, it makes sense to take care. Falling and breaking a bone increases your risk for repeat fractures. Take steps to move and walk safely. Many falls occur in the bathroom, on stairs and when simply moving throughout your home. Remove objects that may cause you to fall.

Osteoporosis can be a disheartening diagnosis. However, with proper care and steps you can manage it without changing your life or lifestyle too much. Manage your osteoporosis and live a long and healthy life.

So what can you do about it?  You know you need to lose weight but you have to be careful how you approach this.  The key is to take things slowly. You didn’t become obese overnight so you are not going to shed all those pounds really quickly. In fact losing weight too fast could create a whole new range of health problems.

You first need to consult your doctor.  He will check your body mass index.  Women with a BMI over 30 need to be properly supervised when undertaking a new healthy living regime.  You need to gradually introduce exercise into your life.  The good news for fat women, is that although it may be difficult to start being more physically active, you will see results very quickly.  Large women tend to lose pounds quicker than skinny women.

You don’t need to join a gym if you don’t want to. Walking is a great form of exercise and it is free.  Take things slowly at first but build up your speed as going for a leisurely stroll is not going to burn calories.   With practice you will get faster.

In the meantime you need to address your diet. This doesn’t just mean what you eat although obviously that will play a part but you also need to address how you eat. Generally speaking we all overeat.  We have forgotten how to listen to our bodies and let them tell us when we are full.  We serve portions of food on big plates and have become accustomed to clearing our plates.  So the meal is over when the plate is clean not when we are full.

The first step in your healthy eating regime is to reduce portion sizes. It is best to also reduce the size of the plates you use as otherwise you could feel deprived if your food portion is not covering your plate.  These little mind games are part of your road to success.   The next step is to start cooking your meals from scratch. Only then do you know what you are eating. Shop bought convenience food often contains hidden fats and sugars.  They are put in to make the food taste better and last longer.   By cooking your own meals, you will reduce your calorie intake without even trying.  You don’t have to be a masterchef.  Simple home cooking is fine.

Being obese, women will be looking to achieve results very quickly.  By putting these tips in place, you will see results a lot sooner than you think. These small successes will motivate you to continue on your quest to slimming down and toning up.

Sort out your priorities
Many times, our problems root from the fact that we don’t really set our priorities. We go through life as if it’s just a jumble of life events that are bent on destroying us. The reality is, the most effective way to taking control of a seemingly uncontrollable stressful life is to sort out our priorities and keep our priorities straight. Ranking high on the list are our families – the safety, security and well-being of our husbands and children. Then comes other things. Deal with the problems at home first and it will be easier for you to deal with other things. Focus on fixing any problem at your home and prevent any destructive thing that may badly affect your family. Having said that, it is also recommended to organize your home. Your living spaces have so much to do with your state of mind. If you live in a permanently cluttered home, you are likely to have a permanently cluttered life. Free your house from clutter and organize your place.

Organize your tasks
Make a daily list of things that you have to do. Order them according to their level of priority. You can get more things done this way. This comes with the added benefit of doing the most important things first.

Kick out the stressful thoughts
Don’t highlight your feelings of stress. Don’t pity yourself for your life conditions either. Don’t wake up to thoughts of disaster every day. Self-talks about your anticipation of a bad day ahead can surely kill your mood. Have mercy on yourself! Kick out your unhealthy thoughts.

Change your habits
Multi-tasking is said to be a time-saving technique in doing things, whether chores at home or office work. While this may work for some, in most cases, it doesn’t. Try not to multitask everything, otherwise you will be less productive. Instead, do tasks one at a time. Also, finish everything you have started. Tasks that are half-done are stressful. These tend to compile and bother you constantly. These give you added, unnecessary stress. As much as possible, finish all your works and don’t leave tasks for tomorrow.

Have the “YOU” time
Set time for yourself. It is often easy to forget yourself when you have so many things to do. No matter how preoccupied you are at work or at your home, always have time for yourself. Relax, shop, eat out, read a book, take a walk, go to a peaceful place. No matter how you do it, the important thing is that you ensure that you are having fun and you are releasing the tension in your body and mind.

The 21st century American lifestyle is without a doubt a crazy one. It leaves no time for rest and enjoyment and forces people to work themselves to death – literally – just so to keep up with the bills. Take back your life and win yourself back. Work out some effective ways to conquer stress.

Except in severely immunocompromised person such as those who have cancer, have had transplant and has AIDS, common vaginal yeast infections are treatable. If the infection is only causing discomfort and is not severe, home remedies and avoidance of practices that may trigger the infection could treat this.

Common Causes
The use of douches, detergents, and sprays and anything that will disturb the natural acidity of the vagina could trigger vaginitis. Risk factors are oral contraceptives and pregnancy. Diets too could create an imbalance in the system and trigger vaginitis. In many cases, very tight pants and underwear causes the inflammation. The point to remember is that vaginitis is triggered by fungal infection and fungus thrives best in moist areas.

Symptoms
Common symptoms are itchiness, burning sensation, redness in the affected area and inflammation occurs. There is also a whitish grey discharge similar to the appearance of a cottage cheese. Symptoms may also not manifest immediately although when that happens, more severe symptoms might appear later.

Home Remedies
• As vaginal yeast infections are triggered mostly by an imbalance in the natural acidity in the vagina, restoring the pH balance is of prime importance. This however is more of a long term solution and will not relieve the person immediately.
• For immediate relief, you can use an icepack wrapped in a towel and applied directly to the area. You can also bath in water mixed with baking soda or you could do both.
• When discomfort occurs, a home remedy that tops the list is the use of white vinegar or the apple cider. You can mix a little white vinegar with water and apply this directly to the affected area. This is a safe, inexpensive, and effective method to give relief, treats, and restore immediately the acidity in the vulva. Bathing in tea tree oil helps in alleviating the discomfort.
• Eating yogurt is effective at restoring back and providing the body with good bacteria that will fight the infection. Garlic is rich in good bacteria that fight the bad. If you cannot have garlic, cranberry juice is a good substitute.
• For the meantime, refrain from having too much starch in your diet like eating potatoes, starchy food products, and pasta.
• Avoid also the wearing of very tight underwear and undergarments that you that triggers the irritation. When suffering from vaginitis, there is nothing better than wearing soft cotton underwear.
• There are also medications sold over the counter that you could use to treat the infection. Some of these are vaginal suppositories and vaginal creams. Specify though the creams and suppositories with pH content.
• If you are the type of person who has a very healthy estrogen and produces this so much so that there is can almost constant dampness, cleaning the genital area and keeping it dry whenever possible will lessen the occurrence of candidiasis.
Most of the types and symptoms discussed here are those that are most common whose remedies are proven over the years. There are other causes though of vaginal yeast infection. If the symptoms are recurrent or discomfort severe, visit your OB Gyne.

Other Causes of Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness though could happen to any woman at any age. An ovary that is removed lowers the production of estrogen and other factors like the use of antidepressants, decongestants and other tablets and pills for treatment purposes. It could also be caused by using soaps like detergents and other chemicals used in the manufacture of toilet papers. Undergoing chemotherapy and exposure to radiation and allergens, using tampons douches and even condoms will cause dryness.

On the other hand, childbirth, changes in the menstrual cycle, infertility drugs, hysterectomy, hormonal contraceptives, and nursing could result in low estrogen levels. Fatigue, stress, and strenuous exercise could also cause a temporary decline in estrogen production.
The following are self-care helps that could be done to relieve the dryness and itchiness that you could do safely without the aid of a physician.
Water – Drinking lots of water is the best natural method to aid lubrication. It also washes away the toxins in the body. The more water you drink and the more you relieve yourself the better. As you are hydrating your body, avoid using strong soaps, bubble baths, douches, sprays, and practices that that cause low estrogen production. Sexual activity also helps the production of moisture that keeps the vagina lubricated. Pelvic exercises help the blood circulation in the pelvic region aside from making the tissues strong.
Water based lubricants – Do not use petroleum-based products for lubrication. Petroleum based products such as petroleum jelly and other petroleum-based oils will adhere to the vaginal walls that could mask infections making them harder to detect and treat. The oils could also be a breeding ground for organisms that may result in other illnesses later on. If lubrication is needed, choose those that are water-based that has pH balance.
Moisturizing Creams – Vaginal moisturizing creams are very good at moisturizing the vagina aside from improving the health of the tissues. It is formulated to moisturize the vagina for longer periods. Vaginal moisturizing creams are applied two to three times a week and are formulated with pH balance that helps maintain the vaginas natural acidic levels. The acidity in the vagina, when maintained decreases vaginal infections.
Prescription Options – There are therapies that could be done to promote vaginal health and comfort. The most common and popular among these is hormone replacement. Hormone replacement is not only from the treatment of vaginal dryness problems, it also is used to treat the thinning of the vaginal walls that are the result of low estrogen production. Hormone replacement maintains the muscle tone in the vagina and the urethra. It also reduces incidence of urinary tract infection and urinary tract irritation. Estrogen therapy is applied directly to the vagina, but the therapy could include prescription tablets that are best prescribed by a physician.

There are two kinds of postpartum thyroiditis. One is hypothyroidism and the other is hyperthyroidism. For hypothyroidism the symptoms are feeling weak, fatigue, memory impairment, constipation, weight gain, cramps and intolerance to cold. A woman who has a hyperthyroid will likely suffer from trembling, weight loss, anxiousness, weakness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and lethargy. Thyroiditis though is not an infection but an inflammation of the thyroid glands.

One explanation why postpartum thyroidism happens is because during pregnancy, the activity of the thyroid as well as the immune system is suppressed so that the body does not reject the unborn baby. When the baby is born the immune system normalizes and the thyroid gets a boost in activity and often, it is this renewed activity that sometimes injures it. In many cases, the symptoms of thyroiditis eventually disappear.

During physical examination, the common diagnosis that the physician does for post partum thyroiditis is to palpitate first the thyroid gland. The blood tests will be conducted to classify the thyroiditis based on elevated
thyroglobulin, depressed radioactive iodine intake, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Technical really but what it simply does is to determine thyroid activity, classify it, and what to do about it.

The Thyroiditis categories

The Hashimoto thyroiditis is the most common of these. Treatments involve hormone replacement. Hormone replacements correct thyroidism and prevent the thyroid from swelling and getting bigger. In a Hashimoto thyroiditis, 95% of thyroid antibodies are present that serves as a marker to identify the disorder without the need for a biopsy. The antibodies will remain years after the treatment even when the treatment is adequate. Regular hormone replacement is undertaken.

The De Quervain Thyroiditis
This thyroiditis type is less common than the Hashimoto variety. What happens is that the thyroid gland swells rapidly discharging thyroid hormone into the blood resulting to hyperthyroidism. The gland region is tender and painful and the patient will have fever. The symptom resembles infection but is not and so antibiotics are not prescribed. Hormone replacements are usually done for prolonged cases to rest the thyroid, although aspirin and bed rest will reduce the inflammation.

The Silent Thyroiditis
The silent thyroiditis is the least common among the three categories. This type has the resemblance and may manifest symptoms that will resemble like a Hashimoto thyroiditis in part and a De Quervain thyroiditis in part. The inflammation is not usually painful. This type affects young mothers after a pregnancy. The disorder do not usually need treatment and hormone replacements and 80% of the woman completely recovers after a few months. If the tremors and the other symptoms are bothering the patient, beta-blockers are prescribed and the patient is required to take bed rests. Some patients however may become hypothyroid and will require thyroid hormone replacements. For patients with this type of postpartum thyroiditis, surgery is never needed so are antithyroid medication and radioactive iodine.

Heart disease
Recognized as the leading cause of death among men, recent studies have shown that it has the same reputation when it comes to women’s health. The good news is, prevention of heart disease is fairly simple. Here’s how:

- Avoid smoking and steer clear of secondhand smoke.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Make it a habit to exercise and incorporate as much healthy foods in your diet as possible.
- Cut back on foods high in saturated fats, sodium and cholesterol.
- Don’t let up on your medications. If you have high blood pressure, follow your physician’s advice and recommendations.
- Drink in moderation. Too much booze could kill you.
- Practice stress management, stress can elevate your high blood pressure which leads to complications associated with heart disease.

Cancer
With lung cancer ranking high on the list of cancers that kill women, it is important to know the steps to keeping your lungs healthy. Second on the list is breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer. Reduce your risk for these diseases by taking the following steps:

- Don’t smoke and don’t use tobacco products. Again, stay away from being exposed to secondhand smoke.
- Exercise regularly and maintain proper diet. Maintain your ideal weight by eating foods that are rich in various minerals and vitamins.
- Use sunscreen. Try not to expose yourself too much to the sun’s rays.
- Avoid exposing yourself to carcinogens. There are carcinogenic foods and substances that you might be ingesting on a daily basis. Avoid radiation and air pollutants.

Stroke
Stroke may run in your family but there are simple steps to avoid developing this neurological condition. Do the following:
- Follow a healthy lifestyle. Don’t smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Eat healthy and incorporate all the necessary nutrients to make your body healthy in your daily meals. Avoid high-fat, high-caloric foods which are packed with saturated fats and cholesterol. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Most of all, keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.
- If you also have diabetes, regardless of the type, follow your doctor’s prescription. Always keep your blood sugar level under control.
- Keep away from alcoholic beverages. Whenever you drink, drink only in moderation.

Chronic obstruction pulmonary diseases or OCPD
COPD is a group of chronic lung conditions. Special measures to keep your lungs healthy must be put in place.
- Avoid smoke and kick out the habit of smoking at all costs.
- Minimize your exposure to air pollutants and environmental and chemical irritants.

Alzheimer’s disease
A chronic, irreversible neurological condition, Alzheimer’s disease affects at least 5 million Americans. The majority of which are women. Although it is not known how to clearly prevent the development of this condition, the following could help:
- Take measures to maintain your heart’s health. Coronary conditions, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes and high levels of cholesterol in the blood are contributory factors to the development of this condition. Prevent your body from developing these diseases.
- Avoid injuries and trauma to the head. Studies indicate that there is a relationship that exists between Alzheimer’s disease and head traumas.
- Work your brain. Keep your brain busy and maintain proper mental fitness.

Nutrition
• It is very important to maintain a healthy diet. For this you will need energy foods. Staple will include Cereals, bread, rice, pasta and potatoes.
• Milk and dairy products should be included in the daily menu. If you are underweight, drink any milk that you could have, otherwise choose the low fat variety whenever possible.
• Eat a minimum of five portions of vegetables. Vegetables are high in natural vitamins and nutri ents that your body requires aside from its high fiber content. You need fiber to detoxify your system especially when you are nursing your baby. Fruit juices no matter how many you take will only count as one portion. Drink lots of it but as always, mind the sugar. The sugar may not harm you. You will need all the energy that you could have. It is the development of the taste for it that you may have to struggle against even when you already do not need as much.
• For protein, it is always choose eggs, beans and lentils instead. One of the best source of protein are fresh water fishes especially the fatty variety like salmon, mackerel, trout and tuna. The fat in the belly of these fishes are very high in useful fatty acids that you can use in your recovery.

Getting back in shape
Do not attempt to lose weight right after pregnancy. That could come later. Caring for the infant including breast feeding will require much energy from you. You could your normal routine inside the house but not very strenuous activity that could potentially create more problems. After two to three months, you could do exercises to get you in shape but until then you could use rest to conserve energy for the care of your infant.

At about ten weeks though, you could start doing more strenuous exercises. If you do, find exercises that include the pelvic area. Pelvic exercises not only restore the health and the shape in the pelvic region, it is also good in increasing your control on your bladder.

Be Realistic
It is an altogether different experience when you were not yet caring for an infant. Then you could do almost anything that you set your mind into. With a newborn baby though, routines will change and compromises will be taken. You could not expect to do the same things as before and still care for the infant so set goals that are achievable. Being unrealistic will drive you to frustration. A baby is the only creation there is that will not take no for an answer. The infant will demand it and often at the most inconvenient time.

Your Hormones and You
Hormone levels will also change. Hormonal changes may bother some mother, while it may not bother some. Hormonal changes are felt five days or onward that may leave you feeling depressed, irritable, but mostly tired. The effects of hormone change usually pass within a short period of time. Bed and aspirin takes care most of it. If you are bothered though, your doctor is in the best position for postnatal care of this type.