Tag Archives | perimenopause

Is There A Doctor In The House? Yes, At Health Tap!

By on April 16, 2013 in Menopause

Htap2

Did you ever just wish you could learn health information from the best physicians without an appointment or flying halfway around the country to visit them? Would you like a central clearing house for medical and health knowledge? Would you like to ask questions of the best physicians and get solid answers online? For Free???? Sounds like a pipe dream, I know. And yet…

I’m so excited to share with you the launch of a new web resource called Health Tap. It features health tips, updates on the latest findings, info that includes complementary and integrative medicine, healthy living, Q&A with physicians on all health topics, even daily tips for your complete health.

As a launch partner, I got to experience it before it went live generally – and to quote Steven Tyler, it is just crazy good. I was very impressed with the quality of information, and the range of expertise. And my own personal bias of including integrative health info along with standard allopathy (translation: alternative medicine along with “regular”) was  amply met.

Here’s Health Tap’s press release where they explain the features better than I can. They explain their top doctor competition where the winners are chosen by both their peers and consumers. Kind of like an Angie’s list for physicians. Read it below and hop on over to the site and/or download the apps for your mobile device.


HealthTap brings the Full Spectrum of Doctors’ Knowledge to Mobile Health

Leading mobile health platform unveils results of nationwide Top Doctor Competition, and announces new ways to interact with winning doctors and their insights.

Palo Alto, CA – April 15, 2013 – HealthTap, the only place to immediately connect with 36,000 top U.S. doctors for free, today announced an even easier, more reliable way to find the top and best doctor for you.

HealthTap unlocks the full spectrum of doctor knowledge by providing unparalleled insights into some of the country’s best medical minds through these doctors’ answers to health questions, healthy tips,and health related updates and articles.

Furthermore, on HealthTap medical help experts identify the very best doctors, through a national Top Doctor competition spanning 128 specialties in over 3,100 cities across the United States.

Today’s announcement of the winners of the HealthTap 2013 Winter Top Doctor Competition
recognizes some of the world’s best and most helpful online and mobile medical experts. Tens of thousands of doctors competed for the prestigious awards, which include: Top Doctor, Top Specialist, Most Influential Doctor, and Thought Leader Awards. Doctors judged peers based on their demonstrated medical knowledge and expertise, and consumers rated doctors on qualitative factors, such as bedside manner and personality.

Winners from the competition include:
Dr. Michael Sparacino, a Family Medicine doctor from Saint Peter, MN who won the National TopDoctor Award for helping over 29 million people!

Dr. George Klauber, a Pediatric Urologist from Boston, MA who won the Thought Leader in
Massachusetts Award for guiding the most people to helpful answers through his comments and peer review.

Dr. Colin Kopes-Kerr, a Family Medicine doctor from Marysville, CA who won the Most Influential Doctor in the Nation Award for connecting with both patients and doctors and providing valuable education and support.

Dr. Maritza Baez, a Family Doctor in Buffalo, NY who won the Top Family Doctor in New York for helping millions with her knowledge and care.

Dr. James W. Ferguson, a Pediatrician in Waco, TX who won the Top Pediatrician in the Nation Award for helping the most parents help their children live healthier happier lives.

Users on HealthTap can easily see what makes these doctors winners, connect with them, and learn from them for free. Through the all new HealthTap Spectrum, now a part of all HealthTap’s apps on mobile devices and online, people can find highly trusted, doctor-created and rated content, including:

• Concise doctor updates on the latest health findings
• Daily health tips created by doctors in more than 100 topics
• Quick, personalized doctor answers to health questions
• Deep Health posts where doctor share their opinions and insights
• Transparent doctor-doctor consults and dialogues

“HealthTap is putting care and trust back into healthcare by placing the doctor and patient relationship back at the center of the healthcare experience,” says HealthTap Founder and CEO Ron Gutman. “By giving top doctors a simple way to share their knowledge and opinions and get recognized by their colleagues for their expertise, and by users for their bedside manner and care, we’re creating a healthy competition that motivates the best doctors to stand out and help millions everywhere. In a world where we expect to get immediate, reliable and deep insights on movies and restaurants on our mobile devices anytime anywhere, it’s high time we have an easy way to get the same when it comes to our health and well being. With the new HealthTap Spectrum we’re leading the way to comprehensive, caring, trustworthy and high quality mobile health.”

About HealthTap
HealthTap is the best way to connect with the most trusted health information and doctors. With toprated web and mobile apps, HealthTap offers immediate and free access to personalized, reliable, and trusted health answers and tips from a network of over 36,000 U.S.-licensed doctors. Sign up today and download HealthTap’s free app for iPhone, iPad or Android at www.healthtap.com.

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Perils of Perimenopause include Weight Gain

By on September 6, 2012 in Menopause, Weight gain

Ginger Mint Shrimp © lynette sheppard

Eileen Durward writes this informative guest post about an all too common peril of perimenopause (and menopause) – weight gain. Enjoy.

So, you have just found out that your mood swings, PMS like symptoms and fatigue is the peri menopause and that this will usually last a few years before the menopause itself kicks in. ‘Great’ you say! All this and the one other thing that you’ve noticed is that your weight is slowly creeping up** and nothing you do diet wise is helping, so what is going on?

There could be a number of possible reasons for this:

Are you stressed or leading a busy lifestyle?

Leading a very hectic life, perhaps the kids are still at home, a busy job and other people to look after?  The stress of hormonal changes and day-to-day general stress produces a chemical called cortisol, which not only makes you crave sweet foods but if activated regularly will slowly build fat around the waist and this is very hard to shift through diet and exercise alone. Many women who suffer this type of weight gain then go on a strict diet, which will cause big dips in blood sugar levels making them crave more sugar foods. Contrary to belief, conventional low calorie diets will not usually work here but could in fact, lead to more weight gain!

Dealing with general stress is vital as the stress angle can create other health issues including digestive disorders, joint pain and worsen hormonal imbalance leading up to and through the menopause. It may help to take one of the stress remedies such as Passionflower, St John’s Wort or one of the Flower Essences. Many women find taking a good magnesium Citrate supplement can be of great benefit too. Magnesium is your ‘happy mineral’, keeping your mood level and muscles relaxed.

Are you exercising regularly?

Doesn’t have to be frantic exercise, even a 20 min brisk walk every day can help and remember by walking outside in daylight you will boost your vitamin D levels which are necessary for good mood. If too short in time and you don’t fancy hitting the gym there are lots of exercise DVDs around that incorporate short, sharp sessions that you can do at home at a time that suits you. Exercise also releases ‘feel good’ chemicals, which will lift your mood.

Are you eating well?

Are you eating those 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, or are you snacking on lots of carbohydrate foods, sweets or cakes? Low mood, fatigue and stress (remember the cortisol!) have a way of making us crave these foods for a quick sugar hit. So ditch the naughties and revamp your diet. Many women going through this phase actually need more protein so, maybe look for a diet that promotes healthy eating such as the GL Diet or the Paleo Diet.

Are you drinking enough water?

Dehydration will amplify stress and anxiety symptoms so drink, drink, drink, plain water and herb teas. Cut right down on coffee and tea and alcohol as these drinks stimulate the stress system (remember the cortisol!)

Do you have enough ‘me time’?

I bet you don’t have any! It is vital to have some time to yourself every day (it’s a menopause must!). Make it a priority and tell everyone that it is necessary for your happy hormones!

Try a relaxation or meditation CD, have a long bubble bath, treat yourself to a home massage, 30 minutes relaxation even 2-3 times a week can work wonders for your general health and well being.

So to simply sum up weight control in the peri menopause

Good Diet + sensible exercise + stress relief = reduction of cortisol and easier weight management during the peri menopause.

** If your weight gain seems sudden and unexplained do get this checked out by your doctor.

For more information on the menopause you can visit the A.Vogel Menopause website.

Click these links for related info:

Eat Drink Better | Mediterranean Diet Reduces Age-Related Weight Gain, Study Finds | Page: 1 | Eat Drink Better

My Most Excellent Menopause Weight Loss Adventure | Menopause Goddess Blog dot com

She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My (Menopausal) Sister | Menopause Goddess Blog dot com

A Low Carbohydrate Diet Can Help You Lose Some Weight But Is It Healthy

From Matron to Skinny B*tch: A Menopause Weight Loss Story | Menopause Goddess Blog dot com

Fad Diets | WEIGHT LOSING TIPS

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Perimenopause or Menopause: How to Tell the Difference

By on June 5, 2012 in Menopause, Physical Menopause Symptoms

Feminine Jungle © lynette sheppard

This guest post by Pam Andrews helps differentiate between these two phases of the Menopause journey with a focus on the less documented perimenopause phase. Enjoy.

Identify Perimenopause vs. Menopause Symptoms
By: Pam Andrews of PerimenopauseAnswers.com

There is a large quantity of literature, online and in print, devoted to the treatment for hot flashes, natural menopause treatment, medical treatment to counteract severe perimenopause symptoms, and supplements for perimenopause and menopause. But those things – remedies, supplements, exercise plans, diet plans, treatment plans, and symptoms – all depend on which stage of menstrual cycle you’re currently in. Perimenopause and menopause have differences in their symptoms and correspondingly on how to provide relief for those sets of symptoms.

As the baby boomer generation continues to grow older, more and more women need to know the importance of taking the right vitamin supplements and eating a balanced diet tailored for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Perimenopause or the stage of early menopause can start in as early as the age of 30. Thus, it is crucial for all women to get a head start on being educated and informed, so that they will know their bodies well enough. That way, when they feel the signs or the symptoms, then they will recognize exactly what those mean and they can take care of themselves better.

All in all, there are 34 perimenopause and early menopause symptoms. Most of these symptoms affect around 70% of women. Perimenopause, in particular, often begins when a woman hits her 40s. The symptoms of menopause normally last during the entire menopause transition or until the age of mid 50s, but there are some women who may experience a range of menopausal symptoms for the rest of their lives even after they have undergone menopause. We have heard about the most popular symptoms which consist of hot flashes, irregular periods, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido. And there is also a host of other rare menopause symptoms which do not affect most women.

The common perimenopause symptoms are as follows: tenderness of the breasts, worsening of premenstrual syndrome, irregular periods, decrease in sex drive, discomfort during sexual intercourse due to the onset of vaginal dryness, fatigue, difficulty in sleeping, persistent mood swings, hot flashes, urinary incontinence and sometimes urine leakage when coughing or sneezing, gradual weight gain, dryness of hair and skin, and loss of bone density. On top of the perimenopause symptoms, the following are menopause-specific symptoms: depression, irritability, migraine headaches, joint and muscle aches, and palpitations or racing heart.

For more detailed and updated information about symptoms and natural remedies for dealing with perimenopause and menopause symptoms, visit PerimenopauseAnswers.com

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Perimenopause Q & A With Whitney Pollock MD

By on December 12, 2011 in Menopause, Physical Menopause Symptoms

Lunar Eclipse Dec. 2011 © lynette sheppard


We are pleased to welcome Whitney Pollock MD to Menopause Goddess Blog for a special interview. In the video below, our OB GYN expert discusses symptoms, relief, and the endometrial ablation procedure for problems with heavy bleeding. Let us know your thoughts.

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