Hi. This
month we're still focusing on winter with some self-help tips
to beat the winter blues. We have also chosen two topical health
areas that have had a lot of media attention in recent times -
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Prostate Health.
New
Addition
We
mentioned in our last Newsletter that Karin was no longer working
in the office, so we would like to take the opportunity to introduce
Maia Elby, our new Office Administrator. Maia will be in the office
Monday - Friday from 9am - 3pm. Feel free to introduce yourself
to her when you ring.
NZ
is the first English speaking country Maia's lived in for 20 years
so communication is much more straightforward, though the accent
is sometimes a bit unfamiliar. She's Scottish. After leaving school
she studied and later worked in England, then lived and worked
in Salonika and subsequently Athens, Greece for more than a decade,
followed by a few years in Seoul, South Korea and another few
in Budapest, Hungary.
Beat The Winter Blues
Can
you believe May is nearly here already? The weather is just starting
to turn and feel a little wintry. It's often in times like these
that we get caught out and find ourselves trying to fight off
colds and viral infections every few weeks.
The
difference this year is that you all have access to much more
information on how to prevent this happening, and in particular,
our last newsletter. As winter does draw in, it is time to ensure
the basics are in place and that we don't skimp on them because
we're feeling cold and tired.
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Beat
the Winter Blues Checklist:
- Continue
to drink at least 8 plus glasses of water per day
- Be
careful not to replace water with coffee and tea, try
hot water or herbal teas instead.
- Remember
your 2-3 pieces of fruit per day, which is easily forgotten
with the colder weather. You can even try stewing it,
if you prefer something warm.
- Now
that summer is over keep up your intake of green leafy
vegetables by way of good healthy cooked vegetables and
hearty soups.
- Even
though the weather brings the cold and rain, keep your
exercise programme on track and try to take the stairs
more during the day, or hire some exercise equipment for
the home.
- Plan
a little quiet time to curl up in front of a fire with
a good book.
- Ensure
there is time in your diary that is not accounted for
to enable some spontaneity.
- If
you have a cold, the best thing you can do is rest. Don't
try to exercise through it as you are using valuable energy
needed to fight the virus and will delay your recovery.
Refer to the tips in our last newsletter and visit our
Wellness Shop on www.bodycorp.co.nz for health care products
that can help recovery.
- Don't
get caught out, after all of the warm weather, with not
enough warm clothes to wrap up in going to and from work.
- Try
some T'ai Chi, Yoga or meditation for relaxation, clarity
and stamina.
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HRT
With
so much more research coming out on HRT in the last
2 years, it is important that women make an informed
choice, and a choice that they are comfortable with.
Health
Risks Associated With Menopause:
The two main health concerns associated with menopause
are heart disease and osteoporosis. Lowered estrogen
levels contribute to both of these conditions.
Risk
Factors Associated With Cardiovascular Disease And
Osteoporosis
Cardiovascular
disease
- once women enter menopause they move into the
same high risk group for CV disease as men over
50, and in New Zealand figures are very high with
Heart disease being one of our major causes of death.
- Reduced
estrogen levels - naturally occur in Menopause
- Smoking
- lowers oestrogen levels
- High
blood pressure
- High
cholesterol
- Elevated
blood lipids
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Excessive
stress
- Lack
of exercise/activity
-
Family
history
Osteoporosis
- Reduced
estrogen levels
- Physical
inactivity - this is a major risk for osteoporosis
- Smoking
- bone mass may be reduced by up to 25%
- Heavy
alcohol consumption
- Heredity
- Premature
menopause - before age 40
- Drugs
such as corticosteroids, laxatives, GNRH Analogues,
anticonvulsants and diuretics may accelerate bone
loss
- Low
body fat
- Excessive
consumption of animal protein, sugar, carbonated
drinks, alcohol, tea, coffee and caffeine containing
drinks- all leech calcium and other vital mineral
from the bones
In
ladies with an increased risk of either of these conditions,
hormone replacement therapy has often been recommended
in the past.
However,
the latest analysis of data from the Women's Health
Initiative (WHI) shows that estrogen replacement
therapy after menopause doesn't improve long-term
health. While it decreases the risk of fractures,
it increases the risk of strokes. It was also found
that the treatment has no significant effect on coronary
heart disease or death from all causes, according
to the new report. Along with this, we also know that
HRT increases the risk of some cancers, particularly
breast cancer.
It
is estimated that about 100,000 NZ women are using
the drug for menopause symptoms and to prevent age-related
conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease,
but new data shows that the hormones may actually
be doing more harm than good.
The
acclaimed large Women's Health Initiative trial halted
prematurely in October 2002 revealed what many had
feared - that two years' use of combined hormone replacement
by healthy women increases the risk of blood clots
by 100 percent, strokes by 41 percent, and heart attacks
by 29 percent.
After
five years' use, the risk of invasive breast cancer
increases by 26 percent. The number of HRT users experiencing
a serious adverse event over 5.2 years was about 100
more per 10,000 than those taking placebo.
The
best approach is to talk to healthcare professionals
- talk to your Doctor about the Pharmaceutical options,
and talk to a registered Naturopath, Medical Herbalist
about the Natural options available through diet,
lifestyle, herbs and supplements.
If
you wish to make an appointment for advice on Menopause,
Heart Disease, Osteoporosis or other conditions, contact
Karen Moffatt Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Clinical
Nutritionist on karenmoffatt@bodycorp.co.nz
or phone 09 361 3964. If you are out of Auckland,
we may be able to recommend a qualified practitioner
in you area.
1.
Beckham, N. Why women should not take HRT, Wellbeing
Magazine No.67 p's 69-74
2. Cabot, S. Menopause. You Can Give It a Miss, Women's
Health Advisory Service, Aug 1991. P's 28-35
3. Glenvile, M. HRT is a last resort, International
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,
Nov 1998, p's 8-10
4. Graham, A et al. The use of estrogens and progestins
and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
The New England Journal of Medicine. Vol. 332 No.
24: June 1995. 1589-1593
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Prostrate Health
All
males should think about prostate health, and especially if
there is a family history of Prostate enlargement or Prostate
Cancer. Up to 60% of men over forty may experience prostate
problems at some stage of their life.
Benign
Enlargement of the Prostate (BPH) - So, what is it?
The prostate surrounds the urethra (which is the channel that
carries urine from the bladder).
If
the prostate enlarges it can "CHOKE" the urethra (Just
think about what happens when you get a kink in your garden
hose!) causing:
Obstructive
symptoms
-
-
Feeling
of incomplete bladder emptying
-
-
Hesitancy
(delay in starting urination)
-
Straining
while passing urine
-
Frequency
(frequent passage of urine)
-
Urgency
(a strong desire to urinate that is difficult to suppress)
-
Nocturnal
(getting up during the night to pass urine)
Symptoms
of complications
-
Blood
in urine (hematuria): BPH can cause blood in the urine, but
bleeding cannot be assumed to be due to an enlarged prostate
unless other more serious causes have been eliminated.
-
Urinary
Tract Infection, which has symptoms such as: burning with
passing urine, bladder pain, fever and frequent urination.
-
Retention
of urine: a complete inability to pass urine.
-
Overflow
incontinence: leaking of urine due to an overfull bladder
that does not empty.
-
Kidney
failure: fatigue, weight loss, fluid overload etc.
Specific
Treatments
Herbs such as Saw Palmetto, also known as Seronea Repens
Pygeum Africanum - derived from African evergreen tree &
Stinging Nettles - in Europe marketed under name Bazoton-r,
have all been shown to be effective in relieving many of the
uncomfortable symptoms.
What is common in all the plant extract therapies for Benign
Enlargement of the Prostate Gland? All contain a chemical with
a steroid like preparations that exert a mild hormonal effect.
There are many more herbs that have also shown to be effect
forms of treatment. Combine these with some supplements, dietary
and lifestyle advice for an all-rounded approach.
Low
Zinc levels have also been connected to prostate enlargement
- and New Zealand has very little zinc in the soils.
Lycopene
- derived from tomatoes has also shown to be extremely effective.
Click
on www.bodycorp.co.nz
to see Microgenics Protech - Complete Prostate Formula.
Medical
management with synthetic hormones.
Again
- like HRT, it's about making an informed decision on what is
best for you for prevention and or treatment.
If
you wish to make an appointment for advice on Prostate concerns
or other conditions, contact Karen Moffatt, Medical Herbalist,
Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist on karenmoffatt@bodycorp.co.nz
or phone 09 361 3964. If you are out of Auckland, we may be
able to recommend a qualified practitioner in you area.
References:
1. Lowe, F.C. and Ku, J.C.; Phytotherapy in treatment of benign
prostatic hyperplasia: a critical review. Urology 48:12-19,
1996.
2. Dreikorn K. and Schoenhoeffer P.S.; Stellenwert von Phytotherapeutica
bei der Behandlung der benignen Prostatahyperplasia (BPH). Urologe
(A) 34:119-129, 1995.
3. Fitzpatrick, J.M and Lynch T.H.; Phytotherapeutic Agents
in the Management of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Urological Clinics of North America. 22:407-412, 1995.
Yours
in Health and Wellness,
Karen,
Karen, Maia, Rebecca and Jill
The
Body Corporate Team
| How
to contact us |
| Telephone: |
09-361
3964 |
| Mobile: |
Karen
Beard 021-471 386
Karen Moffatt 021-843 860 |
| Facsimile: |
09-361
3965 |
| E-mail: |
info@bodycorp.co.nz |
| Web: |
www.bodycorp.co.nz |
| Address: |
PO
Box 8225, Symonds Street, Auckland
84 College Hill, Ponsonby |
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