Women’s Health
DRY SKINDry skin is more prone to roughness, flakiness and scaling, and can easily become itchy, irritated or cracked. Read more... |
FLUID RETENTIONFluid retention or oedema is the accumulation of fluid in the spaces between the cells in the soft tissue of the body. Fluid retention is often a problem during the late stages of pregnancy and may also be a symptom of premenstrual syndrome or cardiovascular disease. Read more... |
HAIR & SCALP HEALTHLike your skin, the condition of your hair is a reflection of your overall state of health. It may also be affected by exposure to the sun, heat and chemicals, and by hereditary or hormonal factors. Read more... |
MENOPAUSEMenopause is a natural biological transition that involves many changes within the female body, and tends to occur between 44 and 55 years of age, although some women experience it earlier or later than this. The reduced hormone production that marks the end of a woman's fertile years also has implications for the health of the heart, skeleton, skin and other tissues and organs. Read more... |
NAIL PROBLEMSLike your hair, the condition of your nails is a reflection of your nutritional status. They may also be affected by exposure to chemicals, and in some cases by underlying health problems. Read more... |
OSTEOPOROSISOsteoporosis is a condition in which the amount and quality of skeletal bone are reduced, predisposing the bones to fracture. A healthy skeleton undergoes a continual process of bone breakdown and remodelling. In osteoporosis, bone is broken down faster than it is rebuilt, resulting in a decrease in the bone mass and a corresponding fragility of the skeleton. Read more... |
PERIOD PAINPeriod pain, also known as dysmenorrhoea, may occur as part of the premenstrual syndrome, or may be symptomatic of other reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis. Read more... |
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual tension (PMT) are terms used to describe a group of physical and emotional symptoms that many women experience in the days leading up to their menstrual period. The symptoms vary, but one common feature is that they disappear once the period starts. Read more... |
PREGNANCY HEALTHPregnancy is a precious time, when mothers-to-be should be particularly careful about looking after themselves, and thoughtful about the foods and medicines they put into their bodies. Good nutrition is vital to your own health and that of your baby, and can also help to overcome some of the minor health problems you may encounter along the way. Read more... |
STRETCH MARKSStretch marks are wavy stripes appearing in the skin of the abdomen, buttocks, breasts or thighs. Read more... |
UNDERACTIVE THYROIDThyroid hormones regulate the body's metabolism, so an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) has far-reaching physical effects, even if the under-secretion of thyroid hormones is so minor that it is undetectable in blood tests. More severe thyroid dysfunction can result in severe and even life-threatening health problems. Read more... |
ANAEMIA & IRON DEFICIENCYOxygen is transported around the body via the red blood cells, where it is a component of haemoglobin. Iron is vital to this process, and inadequate dietary intake of iron is one of several factors that can result in anaemia, a state in which levels of either haemoglobin or the blood cells themselves are abnormally low. Read more... |
CANDIDACandida albicans is a strain of yeast that naturally inhabits the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, respiratory tract and vagina, where it exists in a delicate balance with a number of other organisms. If that balance is disturbed, an overgrowth of candida may occur, resulting in thrush and a wide range of other symptoms. Read more... |
FREE RADICAL DAMAGEFree radicals are molecules that are unstable or volatile, and consequently have the capacity to damage tissues that they come into contact with. Free radical damage to cells and the structures they form is believed to contribute to the development of many of the chronic diseases associated with ageing. Antioxidants are compounds that restore balance to free radicals, making them more stable, and limiting the damage they cause. Read more... |
CYSTITIS & URINARY TRACT INFECTIONSCystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by an infectious organism (such as the bacteria E. coli) travelling up the urethra and attaching itself to the mucous membranes lining the bladder. It is more common in women than men, and in some cases can occur repeatedly, or progress into infection elsewhere in the urinary tract, such as the kidneys. Read more... |
HEART HEALTHCardiovascular disease affects millions of people, and is a leading cause of death and disability. However in many cases, making more heart-conscious health choices could reduce your risk of conditions such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and circulatory problems. Read more... |
VARICOSE VEINSVaricose veins become increasingly common as we get older, and are a visible reminder of the changes that occur in our circulatory system as we age. Although unsightly, they are not always painful. Read more... |
