Smart Woman's Guide to Midlife and Beyond , livre ebook

“A lot of health books cross our desks each year, but few have done a better job of grabbing our attention than The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond. It’s a terrific resource and a wonderful read.”
—The Wall Street Journal, “The Best In…Health,” December 13, 2008
The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond is a complete, holistic, and state-of-the-art road map for any woman who is motivated to become a more effective steward of her health. The authors’ relaxed, personal, and insightful style makes critical health information accessible. This book is a must-have for any woman inspired to improve her health trajectory.
—Mark C. Pettus MD, FACP, medical director of the Kripalu Institute for Integrated Healing and author of It’s All in Your Head
There is no doubt that women past the age of fifty have different health issues than younger women—a fact often overlooked by many physicians. As a result, these women need to have knowledge about their maturing bodies. Drs. Horn and Miller explore the full spectrum of the mature woman in a candid, conversational manner that integrates the body, mind and spirit. A much needed book.
—Kevin Soden, MD, author and host for the Retirement Living TV network
I have often wished that I had a doctor in my family to ask advice. If you have shared this desire, you’ll love this book. It’s a practical insider’s guide to what maturing women need to be thinking about, and it’s written as a concerned friend would discuss it with you. Drs. Horn and Miller have superb training and years of practical experience caring for women patients. It shows on every page of this excellent book.
—Judge Glenda Hatchett, star of the nationally syndicated television program Judge Hatchett
More than no-nonsense, the authors’ approach is accessible and even entertaining, these are the doctor girlfriends you want to call because they know everything about the area of your concern—not only from practicing their profession but also from their own personal experiences.
—Robin Wolaner, founder and CEO of TeeBeeDee, www.tbd.com , an online network for people over forty, and founder of Parenting magazine
This is the girlfriends’ guide to taking charge of your health. And these girlfriends are doctors. A winning combination!
—Ari Brown, MD, pediatrician and author of Baby 411
“Stay healthy and informed with this insightful book warmly written by women doctors who understand what mature women need to know about their bodies.”
—Lise Van Susteren, MD
a no-nonsense approach to staying healthy after 50
Janet Horn and Robin H. Miller
New Harbinger Publications, Inc. -->
Publisher’s Note
Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of the publication.
The authors, editors, and publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that any drug selection and dosage set forth in this text is in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any change in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new or infrequently employed drug.
Some drugs and medical devices presented in this publication may have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for limited use in restricted research settings. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2008 by Janet Horn and Robin H. Miller
New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
Cover design by Amy Shoup; Text design by Amy Shoup and Michele Waters-Kermes; Acquired by Melissa Kirk;
Edited by Kayla Sussell
All Rights Reserved
Epub ISBN:9781608825509
The Library of Congress has Cataloged the Print Edition as:
Horn, Janet, M. D.
The smart woman’s guide to midlife and beyond : a no-nonsense approach to staying healthy after 50 / Janet Horn and Robin H. Miller.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-1-57224-556-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-57224-556-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Middle-aged women--Health and hygiene--Popular works. 2. Older women--Health and hygiene--Popular works. I. Miller, Robin H. II. Title.
RA778. H78 2008
613’.04244--dc22
2008027639
This book is dedicated to our greatest teachers: our patients.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 How to Keep Your Memory Vivid and Stay Stroke-Free
How Do the Brain and Nervous System Work?
What Happens to the Brain as We Age?
Memory Loss
Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Other Types of Dementia
Stroke
How Do You Know if You’re Having a Stroke and What Should You Do About It?
Headaches
Chapter 2 How to Keep Your Sight, Hearing, and Balance Intact
The Normal and the Aging Eye
Farsightedness
Visual Difficulty with Color, Light, and Adapting to the Dark
Flashes and Floaters
The Eye Diseases of Age
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Loss of Vision
The Normal and the Aging Ear
Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)
Loss of Balance with Aging
The Problem of Falling
Dizziness
Loss of Consciousness (Fainting)
Loss of Sense of Taste and Smell (in Doc Chat)
Gum Disease and Oral Health (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 3 How to Keep Your Heart Healthy and Happy
The Normal and Aging Heart
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
How Do You Know if You Are Having a Heart Attack?
What Do You Do if You Think You Are Having a Heart Attack?
How Are Heart Attacks Prevented?
Risk Factors for CAD That Can Be Changed
Cigarette Smoking
High Blood Pressure
High Total Cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
Sedentary Lifestyle
Stress and Depression
Decreasing Your Risk for CAD
Arrhythmias: A “Short” in the Electrical System
General Recommendations for an Abnormal Pulse
Chapter 4 Your Lungs: How to Breathe Easier
Normal Lung Function
Lung Function as We Age
Common Symptoms as We Age
Shortness of Breath
Chronic Cough
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Are You at Risk for a PE?
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
If You Think You Have a PE, What Can You Do About It?
Can a PE Be Prevented?
Chapter 5 How to Keep Your GI Tract on Track
The GI Tract and the Normal Digestive Process
The Aging GI Tract
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Ulcers
Gas (Flatus)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Liver Disease (in Doc Chat)
Constipation (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 6 How to Take Care of Your Uterus Now That You Don’t Need It
Make an Appointment for a Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear
Postmenopausal Bleeding
Abdominal Bloating
How Do You Know if You Have It? What Can You Do About It?
Pain: Pelvic or Abdominal
What Should You Notice About Your Abdominal Pain? What Can You Do About It?
Removal of the Reproductive Organs: The Hysterectomy
How Do You Know if You Need a Hysterectomy?
What Should You Expect After the Surgery?
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Are You at Risk for STIs?
What Do You Need to Know About STIs in General?
How Do You Know if You Have an STI?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
How Do You Know if You Have HIV? What Can You Do About It?
Can HIV Infection Be Prevented?
How Can You Prevent or Reduce the Risk of Getting All of the STIs?
Prolapse of the Uterus (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 7 The Urinary Tract: How to Stay Dry on the Outside
The Normal Urinary Tract
The Urinary Tract as It Ages
Urinary Incontinence (UI)
Urinary Tract Infections (in Doc Chat)
The Kidneys (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 8 Muscles, Joints, and Bones: How to Keep Moving and Grooving
Bones
Osteoporosis
Joints
Osteoarthritis
Muscles, Bones, and Joints
Fibromyalgia
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Temporal Arteritis
Sports Injuries (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 9 How to Keep Your Skin Moist, Smooth, and Firm
Skin: in Youth and as It Ages
Common Benign Skin Problems Occurring with Age
Excessively Dry Skin
Rosacea
Lumps and Bumps and Other Uglies
Changes in the Face and Neck: Wrinkles, Sagging, and Dark Spots
Skin Care Products
Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetics
How Are the Effects of Aging and Skin Cancer Prevented?
Sunscreen Products
Protective Clothing
Hair (in Doc Chat)
Chapter 10 Menopause and Hormones: How to Stay Cool if You Are One Hot Mama
Menopause
What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?
Can the Symptoms of Menopause Be Treated or Prevented?
Irregular Periods
Hot Flashes
Vaginal Problems
Sex and Libido
Sleep
Mental-Pause
Body Changes
Hormone Replacement Therapy: Friend or Foe?
The Controversy: The Women’s Health Initiative Study
Other Issues of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Your Choices for Hormone Replacement Therapy
Chapter 11 Fitness and Food: Keep Your BMI Fine, Learn to Dine, and Avoid the Jiggle in Your Waistline
Physical Activity and Your Maturing Body
Types of Physical Activity
Recommendations for Regular Physical Activity
Eating Well
What Happens to Our Nutritional Needs as We Age?
Recommendations: What and How to Eat
The Importance of Body Mass Index (BMI)
A Word About Being Underweight
Why Is Being Overweight or Obese Bad for Your Health?
Type 2 Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Treatment of Obesity
Thyroid Disease and Changes in Body Weight
Chapter 12 Common Cancers in Women over Fifty: How to Survive and Thrive
What Is Cancer?
Skin Cancer
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma: The