Harder For Women To Quit Dependence On Alcohol

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of women who are drug-or alcohol-dependent. Not only is the risk of dependency increasing, but also "kicking the habit" is much more difficult for women. Today, about one third of all alcoholics are women, compared to less than 10 percent 30 years ago.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 5.3 million women in the United States drink heavily enough to interfere with their health and well-being. These women are more likely to become victims of violence and can be violent themselves. Most live in dysfunctional families and are much more likely to be divorced, with children who have emotional problems and are at a high risk for alcohol or drug abuse.

Compared to men, women require much less alcohol for a shorter period of time to develop alcohol-related illnesses, such as severe liver disease, an irregular heart rate and heart failure (a condition called alcoholic cardiomyopathy). There is also increased risk of bleeding from the stomach and bowel, pancreatic disease, anemia and, perhaps most seriously, severe brain damage that can lead to loss of intellectual function.

In the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine compared the prevalence of severe alcoholism in women in two national surveys completed a decade apart. The information was obtained from face-to-face U.S. Census Bureau surveys of 43,000 men and women conducted from 1991 to 1993 and from 2001 to 2003. Included in the survey were questions about alcoholism and factors indicating a loss of control with alcohol intake and difficulties stopping drinking.

In this survey, the prevalence of alcohol intake remained stable in men but increased by more than 50 percent in white and Hispanic women. No increase was noted in black women.

Alcoholism is a brain-based disease that leads to lifelong dependence on alcohol. It can be life-threatening. Missing work, drinking and driving, and continuing to drink despite conflicts with family or friends are serious warning signs. Alcoholism is characterized by a craving to drink, an inability to stop drinking and symptoms of withdrawal if alcohol becomes unavailable. This can manifest with confusion, nausea, throwing up, tremor and severe anxiety. For severely addicted women, withdrawal can be fatal.

There is increased risk of becoming an alcoholic if you have a strong family history of alcoholism, live with an alcoholic, are able to "hold your liquor," have a history of depression, or were physically or sexually abused as a child.

If you are concerned that a loved one may have a problem with alcohol, there are well-recognized screening tests for alcohol abuse. Common questions to ask: Have you ever felt a need to cut down on drinking? Have your family members or friends criticized your drinking habits? Have you felt guilty about drinking? Have you ever had a drink in the morning to calm your nerves or help a hangover? Do you wake up in the morning with no memory of the previous night?

Anyone who answers yes to one or more of the following questions almost certainly has a problem.

Sadly, for men and women, alcohol abuse usually begins at a very young age. However, it is possible that the complications of alcohol abuse may not surface until later in life. Many women continue to drink throughout their lives, only to develop problems in their late 60s and beyond. Alcohol abuse in later life is particularly dangerous because alcohol may aggravate or precipitate memory loss and cause insomnia, depression and an increased risk of falls.

Remember, alcoholism is a disease. If you are a true alcoholic, it is virtually impossible to stop drinking without serious help or intervention. For those who become dependent, the success rate of treatment is poor. If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol, please seek help. Consider an inpatient or outpatient treatment center and contact your local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) chapter. Intensive treatment provides the greatest opportunity to live an alcohol-free life while suffering from a very serious disease. Indeed, it is "one day at a time."

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Tips To Maintain Good Oral Health

Good oral health involves more than just brushing. To keep your teeth and mouth healthy for a lifetime of use, you use these tips:

1. Understand your own oral health needs.

Talk with your dentist, other oral health care specialist, or hygienist about any special conditions in your mouth and any ways in which your medical/health conditions affect your teeth or oral health.

Get professional cleaning done at least once a year.

2. Develop, then follow, a daily oral health routine.

Take care of your teeth and gums by thorough tooth brushing and flossing.

3. Use fluoride.

Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Drink fluoridated water.

4. Brush and floss daily.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day.

5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking.

Eat wisely. Avoiding sugars and starches when snacking applies to adults as well as children. Minimize snacking and have a five-a-day helping of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
Avoid tobacco. In addition to general health risks, smokers have 7 times the risk of developing gum disease compared to non-smokers.

Limit alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol is a risk factor for poor oral and general health.

6. Examine your mouth regularly

Look for the development of any spots, lesions, cuts, swellings or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration and looseness.

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BEAUTY ACHES

5 Solutions For Less Painful and Healthier Ways to Keep Up Appearances

Shoes that pinch, elastic that squeezes, facials that burn. Ladies, there are a lot of less painful--not to mention healthier--ways to keep up appearances.

Cramming your toes into stilettos and stuffing your thighs into control tops might seem like harmless--albeit really uncomfortable--beauty badges of honor. But they can have some surprisingly serious consequences. "Many women think it's normal to experience some suffering to look their best," says Cynthia Vaughn, a chiropractor in Austin, Texas. "But their health may be the thing that suffers." We're not suggesting you trade in your party clothes for an Amish wardrobe. Instead, learn how a few simple adjustments can keep you in sexy shoes and jaw-dropping dresses--and out of the doctor's office.

Girl Problem #1 Being a big bag lady

No matter how much you love your giant piece of arm candy, eventually you're going to feel the effects of the relationship in your neck and shoulders. That's because the trapezius (the muscle that connects the shoulder to the neck) and levator scapulae (which elevates the shoulder blade) fatigue in the effort to support your bag. The muscles begin to tear, and headaches may even develop. "Heavy purses pull the muscles that go up to the base of your skull," says Karen Erickson, a New York City chiropractor. Fast-forward 5 to 10 years and you've got shoulder numbness and tingling from pinched nerves, back pain, and arthritis of the neck. And you're wearing a fanny pack.

Problem solved: First, clean out that cavernous hobo bag. Switch sides every 10 minutes. And every hour or so, drop the bag and roll your shoulders backward and then forward five times to relieve muscle tension. Or try to let your biceps do the work: Put the strap of your purse below the elbow and bend your arm in an L shape. If your shoulders or neck hurt, halt further damage by placing an ice pack on the sore area for 15 minutes.

Girl Problem #2 Stuffing into spandex

Body shapers, compression garments, girdles--they practically give "hardware" a whole new meaning. And while they may make cottage cheese lumps look smooth as butter in the short term, they can cause other unsightly bumps down the line. Like aging, obesity, and pregnancy, constrictive undergarments can create varicose veins. The problem is that your leg veins aren't strong enough to overcome the stranglehold of body slimmers. The force that hides bulges also restricts circulation. That causes the blood to pool, stretching your veins. "The pressure makes veins inflate like balloons," says Lenise Banse, M.D., a dermatologist in Clinton Township, Michigan. Do enough time in sausage casing-like slimmers and nasty blue cords pop up in your thighs.

Problem solved: Minimize the damage by getting your blood flowing again. As soon as you can wiggle free, walk briskly for 5 minutes so the muscles squeeze that venous blood back up toward the heart, Dr. Banse says. Then elevate your legs at a 45-degree angle for as long as you can. And don't jam yourself into a body shaper that's too tight--spandex can't take you from a size 8 to a size 4. Try the Breathe by Barely There Thigh Slimmer ($15, barelythere.com).

Girl Problem #3 Going for the burn

Exfoliating scrubs or peels are like tough love for your complexion: A bit of abrasion can send lackluster flakes and pore-clogging dead cells packing, revealing the soft, dewy skin underneath. But some people take facial discipline too far and cause rashes, breakouts, bacterial infection, and scarring. Exfoliating more than once a week can make skin vulnerable to irritation. Plus, you can instigate acne or make it worse. "If you scrub your face too frequently, you irritate it to the point that it's overproducing oil," says Jeanine B. Downie, M.D., coauthor of Beautiful Skin of Color. And the acids found in at-home peels can be harsh if overused.

Problem solved: Don't treat your face like a juvenile delinquent. If you have sensitive skin, use products that contain retinoids (chemicals that cause skin to slough), or have cystic acne, stay away from exfoliators altogether or risk painful irritation. As for the rest of you: Bypass scrubs with rough particles like apricot kernels. Instead, look for ones featuring smooth beads made from jojoba wax (a moisturizing plant oil) or beeswax. That said, even dermatologists can't always tell by looking at the ingredients what the exfoliating granules are made of, so you may just have to buy and try. "If a product feels like sandpaper, use it on your elbows, knees, or heels--you don't have to waste it," Dr. Downie says. Moisturize to help prevent irritation, wait a week between exfoliating treatments, and limit at-home peels to once every 2 weeks. If you feel burning (a little sting is normal), immediately rinse with water, apply moisturizer, and toss the peel.

Girl Problem #4 Falling into the crack

Never mind butt cleavage and wedgies, thongs can be a pain in the backside for other reasons. That thin strip of fabric may save you from the dreaded VPL, but it also serves as a superhighway for microbes. When the underwear hits your perineum (the patch of skin between the vagina and the anus), bacteria hitch a ride straight to your vagina. "A thong is actually a connector," says Adelaide Nardone, M.D., an ob-gyn in Providence, Rhode Island. As you move, the fabric shifts--and before you can say "Monistat," you've got a yeast infection. To make matters worse, unlike granny panties, thongs tend to rub. This causes tiny tears in the delicate skin around your vulva and clitoris, creating access for microbes.

Problem solved: You don't have to toss your thongs, as long as they're cotton or have a cotton crotch. The breathable fabric keeps you drier, so bacteria can't grow as easily. You might also consider growing out that Brazilian bikini line: Hair serves as a barrier between you and your panties, so leaving more carpet on the floor provides cushioning for your delicates, Dr. Nardone says. And don't wear thongs when you exercise. Invest in some workout bottoms with cotton crotches and go commando.

Girl Problem #5 Wearing skyscraper heels

Trapping your feet in toe-squeezing stilettos may seem worth it for the ­attention your date gives you. But your ankles, knees, and hips will require more attention after too much time teetering on spikes. Heels force your ankle joints to work overtime to maintain your balance, causing unnatural wear and tear, says Kathya Zinszer, D.P.M., of Temple University's Foot and Ankle Institute. This balancing act also erodes cartilage, the spongy tissue between bones. "When the cartilage wears down, you get painful bone-on-bone rubbing," says D. Casey Kerrigan, M.D., a professor at the University of Virginia.

Problem solved: Lower your standards. A 3-inch heel puts seven times as much pressure on your foot (which also affects your ankles and knees) as a 1-incher. Cap heel height at 2 inches and wear platforms or wedges so your joints don't have to strain to balance. And look for soles with shock-absorbing materials like cork and rubber--because no one wants to go from slingbacks and peep-toes to walkers and canes.

Copyright© 2008 Rodale Inc. Portions of content copyright© 2006-2008. All rights reserved. Women's Health is a Registered Trademark of Rodale Inc. No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Rodale Inc.

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Wake Up!

If you eat three meals a day, but still have sagging energy levels and feel like you're going to fall asleep on the job, you may be missing out on several key energizing ingredients.
The Fix? Choose Fatigue-Fighting Foods
High-Energy Fuels :
Feeling tired all the time? Then it's time you stopped relying on quick pick-me-ups like sugar, which will leave you with a follow-up energy crash, or coffee, which is known to cause sleep disturbances. You can avoid this vicious cycle of energy highs and lows, by planning balanced meals, packed with fatigue-fighting properties -- we'll show you how.

Balance Protein and Carbs
To keep your energy at peak performance, pick foods that will keep you going longer than the quick, but fleeting jolt of a sugar rush, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). She recommends planning meals and snacks that combine protein and carbohydrates, such as whole grain crackers with peanut butter or cheese. The carbohydrates will give the more immediate energy boost, while the protein will have real staying power as your body gradually digests it and uses its energy over time.

Eat an Energizing Breakfast
One of the best ways to start out your day with high energy is through a hearty breakfast. A high-fiber cereal paired with low-fat milk has that balance of protein and carbohydrate which is essential to staying refreshed throughout the morning, says Taub-Dix. But watch out for kinds with high sugar content, which may mean an energy crash waiting to happen.

Go for Yogurt
If you're looking for quick pick-me-up before or after a trip to the gym try yogurt. Since it's technically a liquid, it breaks down more readily than solids, providing the energy your body craves at a faster speed. Yogurt also contains that nice balance of protein and carbohydrate. Low-fat or skim milk or even milkshakes can be energizing too, Taub-Dix says.

Up Your Inulin Intake
Inulin is a fiber that keeps you feeling fuller, longer which can be very energizing, says Taub-Dix. It also helps reduce constipation which can be an energy drainer. Found in wheat, garlic, onion, chicory root, and Jerusalem artichokes, inulin may increase how efficiently your body can absorb certain dietary sources of iron, according to a study conducted by the Agricultural Research Service on pigs. The study found that a diet comprised of four percent inulin had a significant impact on iron absorption, which plays an important role in preventing fatigue.

Snack Smart
You're eating three full meals a day, so why do you feel drained? "It's not always about the food itself. It's about how you eat," says Taub-Dix. Do not let yourself go too long without eating, because that can zap your energy. Your mind runs better on small meals and snacks every few hours, rather than large meals, according to Harvard Health Publications. To keep you from slowing down, space meals about five hours apart and snacks about two and a half hours after each meal. Don't go overboard -- a piece of fruit or handful of nuts will suffice.

Enhance Your Endurance with Vitamin C
This antioxidant rock star aids normal bodily functioning and growth and also improves the body's ability to absorb iron, which helps fight off anemia-related fatigue. Getting 250 to 500 milligrams of this vitamin two times per day may help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue by enhancing endurance and immunity, according to the University of Maryland's Medical Center (UMMC). Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines, as well as, kiwi, mangos, apricots, strawberries, cantaloupes, and watermelons are all packed with vitamin C. For veggies rich in vitamin C, try broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and leafy green vegetables like romaine lettuce, turnip greens, and spinach.

Choose Balanced Energy Bars
"Some energy bars are far from energizing," says Taub-Dix. Look for kinds that have blend of protein, carbohydrate, and fat, but none of them in high quantities. Unless you're preparing for a big work out, avoid any bar that is high in only one of these properties. A good option is one that has about 100 to 150 calories.

Drink Up
Food is not always to blame for your exhaustion -- there may be another important part of your diet you're overlooking: water. Yes, that's right, even mild dehydration can slow down you and your brain. While the "right amount" varies from person to person and is influenced by things like the weather and a person's level of activity, it is generally recommended to drink about eight glasses of water a day.

When You Need Omega-3s
Days where you feel truly exhausted may because you're not consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids. Other symptoms of deficiency of this nutrient include poor memory, dry skin, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation, according to UMMC. To up your omega intake, add more fish, walnuts, and oils like canola, soybean, flaxseed/linseed, and olive oil to your diet. A study published in a 2005 issue of the journal 'Neuro Endocrinology Letters' suggested that people with chronic fatigue syndrome would respond favorably to a treatment including omega-3s.

Pump up the Iron in Your Diet
When your body is running low on iron -- a nutrient found in high amounts in animal products like oysters, clams, red meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish -- it can be a drain on your whole system. Iron deficiency wreaks havoc on the production of red blood cells, the delivery of oxygen to the cells, and on your overall immunity. In addition, low iron levels causes anemia, fatigue, poor work performance, weakness, dizziness, and breathlessness. Women, who lose iron-containing blood during their periods, are at greatest risk for becoming iron-deficient.

We get iron from foods in our diet, but only 1 milligram of iron is absorbed for every 10 to 20 milligrams consumed, according the UMMC. Iron from plant sources like spinach, peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, lentils and dried fruits isn't absorbed as efficiently as iron from animal products.

Give Yourself a Vitamin-B12 Boost
Like iron, vitamin B12, plays an important role in preventing anemia-related fatigue and weakness. Good dietary sources of vitamin B12 include animal products like beef, liver, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs and dairy. Multivitamins, foods enriched with vitamin B12, or shots are other ways to ensure vitamin B12 consumption, especially for vegetarians and vegans who may not get enough of this nutrient.

Source : http://body.aol.com

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