Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 44)

be a factor. “It’s known that insulin resistance is the underlying cause of PCOS because insulin stimulates the body to produce excess androgen hormone,” Isaacs says. What you can do: Fortunately, PCOS and insulin resistance usually can be addressed with the same medications. “Treatments for insulin resistance almost always improve androgen levels and symptoms of androgen excess,” Isaacs writes. Your doctor may prescribe anti-androgen medications (such as certain types of birth control pills) or insulin resistance medications, many of which are also prescribed for diabetes. PREGNANCY AND POSTPREGNANCY What’s normal: Beyond backaches and morning sickness, hormones also run high during pregnancy. For example, prolactin (produced by the pituitary gland) stimulates milk production during and after pregnancy to make breastfeeding possible, and it can have other effects. “High prolactin can suppress estrogen after pregnancy, and it’s probably one of the reasons women who are breastfeeding don’t always have a menstrual cycle,” Isaacs says. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy can have beneﬁcial as well as unwelcomed mental and physical side effects. Hormones can give your skin that “pregnancy glow,” but can also leave you feeling forgetful or preoccupied with “baby on the brain.” Your hair may thicken and your nails grow stronger, yet constipation and hemorrhoids can be a problem. You can thank hormones (at least in part) for all of it. What you can do: Exercising, eating a highﬁber diet and making sure you’re fully hydrated can combat both constipation and hemorrhoids. Fight forgetfulness and stay on track with handy reminder lists that travel with you each day. What’s abnormal: Losing the pregnancy weight can be difﬁcult, but some women who have trouble may have a thyroid disorder: postpartum hypothyroidism. “There’s a gradual revolution back to normal hormone levels, and there’s certainly an increased risk for hypothyroidism during pregnancy and for up to one year after having a baby,” Isaacs says. foretelling your hormonal future Scientists in a recent study believe they’ve found a way to predict the timing of menopause. That means women who want to have children could more accurately manage their biological clocks. Although not all experts agree we’re there yet, the idea is intriguing. But could the saying “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” hold true here? Margery Gass, M.D., executive director of the North American Menopause Society, says the ability to predict menopause may be closer than we think, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should postpone childbearing until the last inning of the game. According to Gass, the genetic timing of a woman’s eggs is not the only issue in pregnancy. If a woman were to know that menopause would occur later than usual, say age 57, she might wait to have children, but then later discover that she has fertility issues, find out an infection has scarred her fallopian tubes, or experience other problems. “Many health professionals might say that unless you have a compelling reason to wait, it’s probably better to get pregnant sooner rather than later since not all fertility problems can be fixed at the last minute,” Gass says. “Knowing when your menopause will occur is helpful information to have, especially for women destined to have an early menopause.” oNlINe North Mississippi Medical Center wants to be a partner in your health. Visit www.nmhs.net/spirit_of_women or call 800-THE DESK (800-8433375) for information about educational opportunities for women of all ages and interests. It’s a Girl Thing 44 Vim & Vigor · SP R I N G 2 011 http://www.nmhs.net/spirit_of_women

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi
Table of Contents
Opening Thoughts
Pump It Up
Heart of the Matter
Every Minute Counts
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
Brighten Up
Welcome Aboard
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi