Health and Beauty Articles for Women

by Tracee Cornforth

Staying healthy at any age begins with eating a balanced diet, maintaining proper weight, and a regular schedule of physical fitness.

In 1996, a report from the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention concluded that 50% of all cancer risks could be reduced by following a modified diet that contains low- fat, high fiber, and little or no red meat, as well as, through increased exercise, limiting alcohol use, and quitting smoking. Regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet can also significantly reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease.
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Guide Picks
(sources: Center for Disease Control, Mayo Clinic)

The leading killers of women may surprise you. These top 10 came from the 2002 Center for Disease Control report on mortality.

1) Heart Disease
Heart disease is responsible for 488,946 deaths in women – more than all forms of cancer combined. is the most significant health concern for women in the U.S. today, but according to the American Heart Association, only 13 percent of women know that heart disease is a major threat to their health.

To minimize your risk:
• Don’t smoke
• Limit intake of alcohol
• Exercise regularly
• Control high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol
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By: JAMA 
Plastic Surgery

The length of time patients spend under anesthesia during outpatient facial plastic surgery procedures does not appear to be linked to their risk of injury or death, according to a study in the January issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Several high-profile patient deaths in office-based plastic surgery facilities have led state regulatory agencies and medical boards to develop policies regarding the procedures performed at these locations, according to background information in the article.
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By: Pravda.ru 

Beauty

Men are subconsciously more attracted to younger women, for the latter possess a better child-bearing capacity.

Psychologists had two goals when working on the Beautycheck project: to find out what beauty is, which features it has and to determine social consequences of human attractiveness, or how human looks influence other people.

Young researchers photographed 96 volunteers (there eight models among them) between 17 and 29 years of age.
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By: American Heart Association 

Women and Drinking Alcohol

A drink or two a day may be associated with better cognitive function in women, according to a report from an ongoing study of New York City residents. The report was published in the rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

“Women who had up to two drinks a day scored about 20 percent higher on the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) than women who didn’t drink at all or who consumed less than one drink a week,” said Clinton Wright, M.D., M.S., lead author of the study and assistant professor of neurology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York.
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By: Mayo Clinic 
Cosmetic Surgery

Considering cosmetic surgery? An increasing number of women are opting for cosmetic surgery. In fact, in just 10 years’ time, cosmetic surgery increased by more than 700 percent.

A tummy tuck here. An eyebrow lift there. For women with realistic expectations, cosmetic surgery can enhance body satisfaction, says the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource.

The key word is realistic. Women who are happy with their overall appearance but who seek cosmetic surgery to alter just one aspect of their body often find that cosmetic surgery meets their physical and emotional needs.
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By: Mayo Clinic 
Healthy Fingernails

You don’t need a fancy manicure to keep your fingernails healthy. The January 2005 issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips for healthy nails.

Protect your nails: Nails need moisture just like skin does. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturizing your hands. Don’t pick at or bite the skin near your nails. This can damage the nail bed, allowing bacteria or fungi to enter and cause infection.

Maintain nails: Trim them regularly and keep them smooth. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to bevel nail edges. Never pull off hangnails - doing so almost always results in ripping into living tissue. Instead, clip hangnails off, leaving a slight angle outward.
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By: JAMA  
Hand Eczema

Hand eczema caused by soaps and other irritants in the workplace may lead to unemployment or prolonged sick leaves from work for some individuals, according to an article in the March issue of the Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Hand eczema or dermatitis is characterized by redness and inflammation of the hands, often due to irritants in soap, chemicals or detergents. “Occupational hand eczema (OHE) has become a disease of increasing importance during recent decades because of its serious consequences, such as frequent eruptions and risk of prolonged sick leave,” background information in the article states.

OHE also greatly affects quality of life (QOL). Past studies name OHE as the most frequently recognized occupational disease in Denmark and many Western countries.
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By: American Chemical Society 

Botox Treatment

There may soon be a better way to fight unsightly wrinkles. Researchers have discovered a novel way to increase the potency of botulinum neurotoxin treatments - commonly known as Botox - that they say could one day allow patients to receive the injections less frequently while maintaining or even enhancing its cosmetic benefits.

By allowing lower doses, the new approach could also make the treatment safer by reducing the risk of complications associated with immune system recognition that can sometimes occur with frequent injections, according to scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
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By: Mayo Clinic 

Walking Shoes and Style

If style is the main objective when you select shoes, your feet may suffer, especially as you age.

Over time, your feet become wider and longer and the natural padding under your heel and forefoot thins. Years of use also flatten your arches and stiffen your feet and ankles.

If you often wear shoes that are too short or too narrow, you may develop foot deformities such as bunions, calluses or corns, hammertoes or pinched nerves between your toes. Wearing better-fitting shoes reduces your chances of developing deformities or making them worse.
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