Womens Health

UK football legend Bobby Robson has died. The 76-year-old football manager has lost his fight with cancer. He played for Fulham and West Brom during the 1950s and 1960s, and later went on to manage Fulham, Ipswich, PSV, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and the club he supported as a boy, Newcastle.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was launched in March 2008. The foundation has raised more than £1.3 million to fight cancer.

“Sir Bobby’s funeral will be private and for family members only.

Ever watch a football game and think to yourself that you could better manage the team yourself .Well, after months of watching managers make one mess after the other as well as following the movements of football players during transfer season I have decided that I want to have a go at this football coach / manager thing.

I then came across fantasy football which is a game where you can assemble an imaginary team of real life players and score points based on those players’ actual statistical performance or their perceived contribution on the field.  In my opinion the best fantasy football so far is from Metro. They have recently re-launched their offer and to top it off there are tons of great prizes to be won.

It’s based around the Premier League and FA cup and to improve on last year’s game =, you can now be in control of your substitute so you can really maximize your chances of scoring big points. You’ll also be able to choose from 5 formations which you can switch between during the season.

I’ve signed up and can’t say that I am disappointed. This is tons of fun and what’s best is I can actually win some extra dosh at the same time.

Metro Breaking News – A ‘secret’ lovechild of Michael Jackson is to undergo DNA testing to prove that he is indeed the lost lovechild of the iconic pop star.
Norwegian Omer Bhatti is alledged to be the fourth child of the superstar born out of an alleged on night stand in 1984.
Speculation that the 25-year-old is Jacko’s fourth child was raised after Jackson dancer Bhatti sat on the front row of the singer’s memorial in LA along with the other Jackson siblings. Bhatti is a would be hip-hop star, who performs under the name of O-Bee.

UK News – A school has started a new scheme to keep kids from skipping school by bribing their parents with Curry. Masala is one of England’s national foods proving to be a highly desired reward for parents whose kids have an attendance rate of 95 per cent or better.
The scheme has so far proved successful with truancy rates cut by more than half since its launch.
However, the reward system has been criticised by teaching unions who claim it is a ‘legal requirement’ for parents to make sure their children attend school.

Pregnancy spotting during the first trimester of pregnancy is the most normal sign of pregnancy. Though women tend to worry about the spotting found in vaginal areas, medical professionals advise them not to worry about the condition. Chances of vaginal spotting to appear vary from seven weeks of pregnancy to nine weeks. This vaginal spotting results from the implantation of the embryo in the lining of the uterus. This type of bleeding, which is also an early sign of pregnancy is termed as implantation bleeding. Mild spotting or bleeding from the vagina is not something to be worried about and you need not seek the help of doctors. However, when the bleeding seems to be heavy and accompanies cramping abdominal pain, please your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy spotting is one of the most common pregnancy complications that can occur during the first trimester. Stay calm and do not panic, it is however recommended that you consult your healthcare practitioner. The bleeding may be red, brownish or dark brown in color. They may not be a cause for concern as long as there are no other symptoms such as clots, cramps, fever, chills and dizziness. If you see that the spotting worsens and you need to use a tampon or a sanitary pad it is best to consult your physician without delay.

Causes of Spotting

Increased Blood Supply To the Cervix. The increased blood supply to the primary internal genital organs of pregnant women. This increase blood supply may leak out to the linings of the cervix and, in turn, causes scant bleeding.

This is also caused by after-effect of Pap smear examination, sexual intercourse or any internal activity which destroy the internal linings of the cervix. For implant patients, several episodes of spotting is expected during the first week of the fertilization.

Normal Pregnancy Spotting And Its Reasons,

Normal spotting can occur any time during your pregnancy, however in most cases it generally happens during the first trimester. If vaginal spotting occurs after conception, it can be due to the implantation of an egg in the uterus. This bleeding or spotting is lighter than the routine menstrual period and usually occurs after ovulation. The color of this blood is light pink.

Bleeding can also happen in the late stages of pregnancy, and again this is not your period. The cause for this bleeding are may be a mischarge of even a stillborn. Even as a women advances in her pregnancy, the risk of loosing her baby or giving birth to a dead child still exist.The bleeding may also be accompanied by cramps or contractions. It is imperative that you see a doctor, especially if you are bleeding heavily.

When the pregnancy spotting occurs during the second or third trimester it can mean trouble or indicate an impending miscarriage. The spotting can be a sign of pregnancy complications such as placenta pervia when the placenta is attached to the lower part of the uterus obstructing the cervical opening, placental abruption when the placenta separates from the uterus etc. Such complications may lead to a miscarriage or a pre-term labor.

During the third trimester of pregnancy, spotting is also serious because it could mean you have a condition known as placenta previa. The doctor will make sure you have a complete examination and ultrasound to determine the position of the placenta and to make sure it has not detached from the lining of the womb.

In some cases, the doctor can help to prolong the pregnancy so that you carry the baby until its vital organs are fully developed by admitting you to the hospital. If you are far enough along, you may need to deliver the baby right away by means of a Caesarean section.

Spotting after the 37th week of pregnancy is quite normal because it is a sign that the baby is about to be born. Babies born at this stage are full term.

The assorted aches and pains that accompany the arrival of your period every 28 days or so are the result of a series of hormonal changes that prepare your body for pregnancy. When you don’t conceive, your body discharges the unfertilized egg as well as the blood laden uterine lining called endometrium. Incidentally, it only seems as though you are bleeding gallons. The actual amount of blood lost every month averages about 2 ounces. While the menstrual cycle may be a fact of life, menstrual pain is not. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt for fast relief.

1. Get Aid From NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen neutralize pain-producing prostaglandins. If you opt for one of these over-the-counter medications, you can maximize its therapeutic benefits by taking it at the right time. NSAIDs are most helpful when you start taking them one to two days before your period, and then continue through your period.

2. Help Yourself To Herbs

The herbs yarrow and fenugreek can help maintain hormonal balance during your period. Both are natural sources of progesterone, the hormone that causes the uterine lining to thicken. It is recommended steeping either herb in boiling water and then drinking the tea once a day for the duration of your period. Yarrow and fenugreek are available in most health food stores.

3. Work Out A Sweat

Okay, so you probably don’t feel like exercising just now. But give it a try, because it can do you a world of good. The reason is that exercise steps up the production of endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers. If moving around hurts, try lifting weights or riding a stationary bicycle, any activity that won’t jostle you around too much. And try to exercise regularly before your period. It may help reduce your discomfort.

4. Try To Relax

Practicing a relaxation technique can help you manage any kind of pain. Choose imagery, medication, yoga, or just take long walks. Find something that works for you.

5. Sample A Supplement

Supplements of the amino acid DL phenylalanine can help ease menstrual cramps. You might find the amino acid in capsule form in health food stores, or you can ask your pharmacist if he can get it for you. Follow the directions on the bottle for proper dosage.

6. Keep Warm

Don’t let your body get cold. Cold causes muscle contractions and spasms. Heat, on the other hand, can lessen the severity of cramping. Moist heat is best – a hot bath, a hot-water bottle, or a heating pad that circulates warm water. Whichever treatment method you choose, use it as often as necessary.

7. Opt For Homeopathy

The homeopathic remedy Magnesia phosphorica can help relieve menstrual cramps. It is recommended taking four 6C tablets three or four times a day, beginning a couple of days before your period and continuing until your cramps subside. You will find Magnesia phosphorica in health food stores and wherever homeopathic remedies are sold.

For every woman, menstruation is a part of life. For many it is an affirmation of their womanhood and a manifestation on the fulfillment of their role to bear children and ensure continuity of the human species.  As such, despite the discomfort it may bring, women have learned to put up with the process of menstruation. However, when some disorder in their menstrual process comes about and can potentially ruin their health, that’s the time when women should be concerned for the possible impact on their health.

Irregular periods are known in medical terms as anovulation. It happens when the ovaries fail to release an oocyte that indicates that ovulation did not take place. The problem affects about 30 percent of women. However, when the disorder becomes chronic, it may indicate infertility.

Causes of Irregular Periods

To properly treat the disorder, it is a must that one be properly acquainted with the causes of the disorder. There are numerous reasons for irregular menstruation. The following are the most common causes of irregular menstruation:

* Stress. Stress is a factor that can affect menstrual flow in women because it causes hormonal reactions in the body. As such, if it should be too difficult to avoid getting stressed, it is important that one has some means to compensate for it by getting enough rest.

* Changes in the cycle. In some instances, what happens during an irregular menstruation is that there is a change in the menstrual cycle. Changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle are prevalent in young girls at the onset of menstruation and may persist for a few years afterwards.

* Pregnancy. Although this may not be strictly classified as a cause for an irregular menstruation, pregnancy will make menstruation stop altogether. When this is the case, a pregnancy test should be performed to avoid a woman from thinking that what is happening is just another irregularity in her menstrual cycle instead of her being pregnant.

* Poor diet. A very poor diet, especially if one is deprived with the proper nutrients, can cause hormonal changes that may disrupt menstrual flow. For women suffering from anorexia or bulimia, menstruation may stop altogether.

* Psychological factors. When the woman is burdened with deep emotional thoughts, the result may be that production of bodily hormones related to menstruation is affected, thus causing menstruation to stop altogether.

* Drugs. Taking drugs as well as birth control pills can cause irregular periods. This is because such drugs induce changes in the body that require the body some time to adjust to the new level of hormone production as a result of taking the drugs.

* Menarche. The first periods in a young girl may take some time to become regular. As such, it may be years before the menstruation becomes regular. This is a common occurrence in girls and does not require usually require medication.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is also called menorrhagia. This is a medical term for prolonged menstrual bleeding and for the menstrual periods that are both heavy and prolonged. This condition is also called hypermenorrhea. This also refers to losing 80 milliliters or more of blood during your menstrual cycle. This condition is a common concern for those pre-menopausal women, but there are also few women who experience severe blood loss.

The Symptoms of Menorhaggia

Almost all women have experienced heavy bleeding in many of their periods. If you have experienced heavy and excessive bleeding for a lot of months in a year, it is recommended that you visit a gynecologist. Here are some of the other signs and symptoms of this condition:

* The menstrual period lasts for 10 days or more.

* The menstrual flow involves heavy blood clotting.

* The heavy periods interfere with your regular lifestyle.

* There is a constant pain in the lower abdomen whenever there are heavy menstrual flows.

* Symptoms of anemia like tiredness, fatigue, or short breathing patterns are observed.

The Common Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

The menstrual cycle differs in every woman. On average, menstrual flow happens every 28 days and lasts for about 4 days. There are some women who have cycles between 24 and 34 days, and it could last a little longer or shorter. However, if there is a wide variation in the timing and in the duration that you may find abnormal, you may want to check for the symptoms because you might be suffering already from heavy menstrual bleeding and you may not know it yet.

Here are some of the top causes of menorrhagia or excessive and heavy menstrual bleeding. You may want to consider checking each because you may be suffering from this disease, especially if you have an irregular period:

* Hormonal imbalance during adolescence and in menopausal stage

* Uterine fibroid tumors

* Cervical polyps

* Endometrial polyps

* Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease called lupus

* Pelvic inflammatory disease

* Cervical cancer

* Endometrial cancer

* Bleeding disorder of a person

* Anovulation or the failure of the ovaries to produce, mature, and release eggs

* Endometrial hyperplasia, which is the thickening and buildup of the uterine walls

* Abnormal functioning of the thyroid or the pituitary gland

* Pregnancy complications like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy

* Changes in the use of birth control pills or estrogens

* Use of an intrauterine device

* Recent trauma or surgery that involves the uterus

* Pelvic inflammatory disease

* Stress, change in diet and exercise routine, recent weight loss or weight gain, travel or recent illness

The Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Here are some of the many treatments used for heavy menstrual bleeding:

* The use birth control pills for a few months.

* Performing hysterectomy or removing the uterus, where risks have been reduced by following measures to lessen the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis after surgery.

* A surgical procedure called endometrial ablation. This helps relieve heavy menstrual bleeding, but it can cause sterility and it no longer triggers menopause. Its long-term effects are also unknown.

But if the degree of bleeding is just mild, it may be a good reassurance to know that no serious underlying cause can be blamed for the condition and that it will most likely go away in time.

Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining. It is normal to the reproductive system of women and happens on a regular basis. Normal menstruation happens around 3 to 7 days. During the monthly menstrual cycle, female sex hormones prepare the uterus to support a pregnancy. If pregnancy happens ( remember do not drink more than one cup of wine a day, over dose of alcohol will drain the vital folic acid that is essential for fetus nourishment. Lack of folic acid may cause birth defect ) menstruation will be suspended until given birth to a child, abortion, or miscarriage. Otherwise, the uterine lining sheds and menstrual blood, tissues, fluid and mucus leave the body through the vagina caused by natural reactions in the female reproductive system due to high levels of certain hormones.
a) Estrogen
Estrogen helps to promote the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures and prepares the follicle for the release of an egg.
b) Progesterone
It helps to prepare the womb lining for the implantation of an egg if pregnancy takes place, milk production occurs.
c) Follicle-stimulating hormone
Produced by the purity gland. Besides regulating the development, growth, maturation and reproductive processes of the female body it also helps to stimulate the growth of immature follicles to maturation resulting in ripening of an egg.
d) Luteinizing hormone
The mature follicles ripen over a period of about seven days and releases more estrogen into the bloodstream stimulating the hypothalamus (a gland in the brain responsible for regulating thirst, hunger, sleep patterns, libido, and other endocrine functions) to release luteinizing hormones that help to trigger the process in the menstrual cycle by discharging a maturity of follicles most commonly known as an egg resulting in the last stage of the menstrual cycle. Some people may suggest that sex during menstruation will stimulate the production of certain hormone, thereby helping reduce some of the menstrual cramps. According to Chinese herbalist, sex during menstruation not only may cause prolong bleeding and sometime infection in female but also cause the inflammation of your partner reproductive organ and chronic disease later on.

Because of a surge of hormones during the menstrual cycle, some women may experience a variety of sensations before, during, or after their menses such as:
a) Complaints of pain in the inner thighs
b) Bloating and nausea
c) Mood change
d) Constipation
e) Breast tenderness
f) Irritability
g) Stress
And during menstruation:
a) Uterine cramping
b) Abdominal pain
c) Emotional sensitivity
d) Depression