HRT Update
The period leading up to menopause, called perimenopause, may put women at higher risk for depression, according to a Massachusetts study reported at a recent meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Perimenopause can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years or more before menstruation stops for good. Women in the study who suffered from troublesome hot flashes during this time were six times more likely to be depressed than premenopausal women, due to hormonal fluctuations. If you are experiencing perimenopausal depression, ask your pharmacist or health care provider how biologically identical hormones might help.
For Men Only
The biological clock ticks for men too, just not as quickly. Although women in their 30s often are anxious about their decreasing fertility, men typically have given little thought to their chances of becoming fathers or the risk of genetic abnormalities. According to Dr. Harry Fisch, director of the Male Reproductive Center at Columbia University in New York, testosterone levels in men decline about 1 percent per year after age 30. Men who want children are advised to do so before age 50. Studies show that it takes up to five times longer for a man over 45 to impregnate a woman, compared to a 25-year-old man. In addition, about 20 different mental and physical disorders in children are correlated with older paternal age.
Healthy and Fit
Exercise may be more important than calcium for developing strong bones in girls and young women. Researchers at Penn State University and Johns Hopkins University reported that even in girls who consumed far less calcium than recommended, bone strength was not significantly affected if they exercised. The study began in 1990 with more than 100 12-year-old girls from central Pennsylvania and tracked their cardiovascular, reproductive, and bone health. Building good bone mass during adolescence is thought to be the best way to prevent osteoporosis in later years. The researchers noted that young women should still have an adequate amount of calcium in their diets.
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Q&A
Q: What questions should I ask when my health care provider prescribes a new medicine?
A: That's the first good question! You should also know what the medicine is supposed to do, how and when to take it, and how long you should take it. Ask what foods, drinks, other medicines, or activities you should avoid while taking this medicine. Most important, find out about possible side effects and what to do if they occur. You should receive written information with your prescription, and don't hesitate to consult with a pharmacist if you have more questions.
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Remember Sex?
Men, forget the Viagra and get off the couch. In an Italian study of obese men who suffered from erectile dysfunction, nearly a third resumed their sex life after losing weight and beginning an exercise program. Reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study is the first to indicate that erectile dysfunction may be reversible.
Quote of the Month
"There is more to life than increasing its speed."
- Mohandas Gandhi
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