Gaining weight is easy, but losing it is tough, and keeping the weight off is the biggest challenge of all. The number of calories a woman needs varies depending on her age and activity level. Women between the ages of 23 and 50 generally need to consume from 1,700 to 2,200 calories each day to maintain their current body weight and energy levels. Older women require fewer calories.
How many of you made resolutions to get up in the morning to exercise and be productive? It is easy to get into a slump during the winter months, and of course being in a slump only adds to the sluggist feelings and downer days.
More than 60 percent of the estimated 46.4 million adults in the United States with arthritis are women. Women are more likely to report high levels of arthritis pain than men, more likely to be hospitalized for arthritis-related causes than men and more likely to cite arthritis as a cause of depression than men, reports the Arthritis Foundation. A combination of medication and natural treatments may be the best way for some women to manage their condition. Discuss your options with your physician.
Pregnancy, childbirth and aging can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, which can cause urinary incontinence. As you go about your day, you don't want to worry about having to change your clothes after a bit of leaking. Look to products that provide incontinence protection for women to help avoid embarrassment.
Both men and women may experience sexual dysfunction. However, unlike men, women do not have a medically approved oral drug to take for episodes of sexual dysfunction. Viagra is a medication that treats erectile dysfunction in males who have difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection. Although some doctors may prescribe Viagra for women, it has not been approved for use by women and no studies exist that support the effectiveness of using it to treat female sexual dysfunction.
The days and weeks after giving birth can be one of the most challenging times for new mothers. Although you may want to focus every moment on your new infant, your own physical discomforts can get in the way. In addition to caring for your new baby, vaginal bleeding, uterine cramping, breast pain and postpartum depression can require your attention.
Birth control pills come with a range of side effects, both good and bad. Whether you're on the pill to prevent pregnancy or to manage your periods, you may find that your libido changes when you start hormonal birth control or change pills. Many women experience a lower sex drive on the pill, but an increase in libido is also possible.
Depression strikes about 12 million American women every year, almost double the rate of men. Unlike occasional, normal feelings of sadness, clinical depression can be debilitating and affect a woman's relationships, work, health and family. Depression can range from mild to chronic, severe episodes that last for years. Getting the proper treatment, including complementary natural remedies, helps depressed women live normal lives.
Exercise during pregnancy won't just give you extra energy -- it can put you in a better mood, keep your muscles nicely toned, help you sleep better and make it easier on your body during your delivery and post-pregnancy recovery, says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG. The best exercise program for you includes activities that are effective and safe, and that can be performed with minimal discomfort.
When someone dear to you has breast cancer, the condition can take its toll on everyone. Dealing with the illness can be overwhelming, to say the least. Not knowing what to do or what to expect can add to the anxiety that slowly builds up each day. Often, you feel helpless. You want to help, but you don't know where to start. Fortunately, you can get some support through available resources for families with breast cancer.
