Are you over 40 and in need of contraception? There are four important questions you need to consider when deciding on a method. You should expect your health care provider to counsel you on the usual topics such as contraindications to the method or medical risks such as venous thromboembolism which is a serious complication of hormonal contraception where clots form in the blood vessels causing life-threatening problems. They should also describe the expected side effects and effectiveness of each…..
Have you been paying attention? Women still die from pregnancy related complications and the rates have increased sharply. We live in a developed country and yet the health care system in the U.S. is failing women. Being pregnant can be risky. The maternal mortality rate is an indicator of healthcare quality worldwide. It measures the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births over a defined period. The United Nations 5th Millennium Development Goal was to improve maternal health. Their target…..
Achieving fitness after forty can be tough but after fifty, it is daunting. I have exercised regularly most of my life but like all busy moms and professionals, I’ve had periods of inactivity. Over the past few years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to get off the hamster wheel and able to make exercise a priority. I’ve achieved a good level of fitness for my age and this is thanks in part to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). I have…..
Have you noticed? Health care is becoming more and more complex and can be difficult for most non-medical people to navigate. This has significant physical and financial consequences. If you don’t understand the doctor’s recommendations, the pharmacy instructions and the insurance billing summaries, how do you know you are receiving proper care at a fair price? This issue hasn’t gone unnoticed and is the subject of much discussion by government agencies and researchers. The ability to obtain, process and understand…..
Women and girls, you can’t afford to be a passive participant in your own health. It is naïve to assume health care providers and government agencies will tell you what you need to know and what you need to do to remain healthy. In the instances when they do provide this information, so many people fail to receive it or think it isn’t relevant to them. Diligent attention is required to increase your probability of leading a long and healthy…..
Hi, I’m Denise Howard, the author of The Essence of You. Thank you for taking the time to visit my site. I wrote this book for women and girls to give them information that will empower them to take charge of their health. Sometimes it is hard to speak up and visiting the doctor or a hospital can be an intimidating experience. Making a health decision can be challenging when you are given a large amount of complex information and…..