For Women Only
The differences between men and women go far beyond the birds and the bees, an important distinction that is just now coming to the attention of researchers on women's health. The gender-based medicine movement seeks to go beyond what has been dubbed "bikini medicine" to acknowledge that women's medical problems encompass more than breast and reproductive health. According to Sherry Marts, of the Society for Women's Health Research, genes, hormones, and lifestyle may play a role in the differences between men and women. For example, heart attacks in women may include flu-like symptoms rather than chest pain; women are less likely than men to get oral cancer; automimmune diseases strike women more often than men; and women's symptoms for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease may vary monthly, requiring frequent medication adjustments.
For Men Only
According to a study published in the July issue of Cancer Research, prostate cancer is more likely to be aggressive if a protein called Stat5 is active within cancer cells. Researchers at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center found that the Stat5 protein, thought to send cellular signals promoting cancer growth, was highly concentrated in aggressive prostate cancers. Preventing Stat5 from "turning on" in prostate cancer cells may be a strategy for treating the disease.
Healthy and Fit
An anticancer compound called sulforaphane, found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale, may block the growth of late-stage breast cancer cells, according to research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Appearing in the September issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the study found that the compound can block stages of the cancer process by disrupting components of the cell called microtubules. When cultures of malignant human breast cancer cells were exposed to sulforaphane, the growth of cancer cells was blocked within a few hours.
Quote of the Month
"Angels fly because they take themselves lightly."
- G. K. Chesterton
|
|
Q&A
Q: Is it true that optimistic people remain healthier as they age?
A: According to two studies in the September issue of Psychology and Aging, positive thoughts can help older adults maintain better health. Two studies found that those with positive emotions were less likely to become frail as they aged and were more likely to have better memories. Positive emotions influence chemical and neural responses as well as increasing onebeings physical, intellectual, psychological, and social resources.
|
|
Remember Sex?
Many couples don't realize that testosterone plays a vital role in the normal physiology of women. According to Dr. Susan Rako, author of The Hormone of Desire: The Truth About Menopause, Sexuality, and Testosterone, after menopause women lose not only a major portion of their ovarian estrogen and testosterone, but also much of their adrenal androgens, including testosterone. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency include loss of sexual desire, decreased sensitivity to sexual stimulation in the nipples and clitoris, decreased capacity for orgasm, low energy, diminished well-being, and loss of muscle tone. If these symptoms sound familiar, ask your health care provider about options for testosterone supplementation.
|
|
|
|
|
