Meditating Keeps Your Brain Young ...   

 

A regular meditation practice helps protect the aging brain against two important age-related declines - loss of volume of gray matter and also attention.  

 

In a study of Zen meditation, the Buddhist practice of self-regulation of posture and attention, regular practitioners were matched against a control group to measure the "neuroprotective effects."  While non-meditators showed the expected age-related decline, those who meditated regularly did not.  These findings - to be further studied over a longer period of time - confirm that the regular practice of meditation is helpful in staying young mentally ...  Click on Meditation Study to learn more....

 

 

Our Advice: Try integrating 5-15 minutes of deep breathing meditation into your day., either in the morning or before bed.  It's worth integrating into your life.  

 

Yeast Infections Not Always What They Seem ...

 

 

Nearly 75% of women who diagnose and treat their own yeast infections are wrong ... they don't have one and are treating themselves for the wrong thing.

 

Research done at St. Louis University revealed that only 26% of women who sought treatment at the SLUCare Vulvar and Vaginal Disease Clinic for recurrent vaginitis actually had yeast infections ... though all had "self diagnosed," purchased and used medication for that purpose.  Symptoms experienced by these women included itching and a discharge ... which could also indicate presence of an inflammation, dry skin tissues or even a sexually transmitted disease.  The anti-fungal medicine used to treat yeast infection - whether by prescription or OTC - do not address the causes of these problems. Click on Study for more info ...

 

Our Advice: If you experience chronic vaginal discomfort don't self diagnose.  Instead, schedule an appointment and let us help.  Delay may make the symptoms worse and put your health at risk.

 

More than Menopause May be Behind Sleep Problems  ...

 

A study published the Sept./Oct. issue of Menopause 2007 reported that half the women with insomnia complaints actually had primary sleep disorders that went beyond their hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.  The study, done by (get), used both subjective (self-report) and objective (physiological measure, in this case overnight complete polysomonography or a "sleep study").  Of the 102 participants (all female, between the ages of 44-56) 57 had hot flashes ... 54 had primary sleep disorders, including periodic limb movement and sleep apnea, or both. To read details about this study, click here on Menopause...

 

Our Advice: Don't just assume insomnia is caused by your menopausal symptoms ... there may be other problems and solutions. Make an appointment so we can discuss how best to alleviate your sleeping problems.  Sometimes a simple change in lifestyle or sleep habits is enough to make a difference.