Recommended Dietary Intakes Men – 7 mg Pre-menopausal women – 12 -16 mg. Post-menopausal women – 5 – 7 mg. Pregnant women – add 10 – 20 mg. This Mineral Is Essential For. transportation and storage of oxygen in the blood and muscles. energy production. immune functioning. growth. produces haemoglobin and myoglobin. Sources Red…
It is important to always look after your breast as they have to last you a lifetime and endure your monthly cycle as well as childbirth, breastfeeding and age. A bra which fits well is imperative. It must support the breasts and not be either too large or too small. A loose bra will not…
Good hair care starts with how you treat your hair, body and scalp. Most hair problems are essentially problems with the scalp which can be affected by the over-production or under-production of oils, dermatitis and infections. Stress and how well your body absorbs the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients also affects the hair growth. If…
Quite a high percentage of early pregnancies miscarry. It can occur when you do not realize it – you may think your period was abnormally heavy. This is often nature’s way of rejecting an embryo that is abnormal or malformed. Miscarriages are often known as spontaneous abortions and people in medical occupations often use the words…
Infertility unfortunately can affect many couples trying to conceive a baby. It is the inability to conceive a child after a year or more of sexual intercourse without contraception. What to look for If after a period of unprotected intercourse, the couple cannot conceive, this is infertility. It can be because of either partner or both….
This is cancer of the uterus or the uterine linings – the endometrium. What to look for… Uterine cancer causes no symptoms at onset. They will usually become noticeable as the malignancy begins to grow. But there are some women with uterine cancer who experience no symptoms until the disease spreads to other organs. The…
What to look for heavy irregular bleeding, with pain in the lower abdomen or back. difficulty urinating and moving bowels, incontinence, backaches. bleeding between periods. chronic, abnormal bleeding. The uterus has two parts – the body of the organ and the cervix. It is essentially a strong, hollow, pear-shaped organ which is in the pelvic…
These are problems that occur in the vagina (a part of the female reproductive system connected to the cervix). What to look for your vulva is swollen and itchy. you have white areas on your vulva. there is more vaginal discharge than normal, it smells, burns or itches. abnormal bleeding. The vagina is…
These are veins that are swollen, lengthened and obvious just below the skin. What to look for prominent dark blue veins, especially in the legs and feet. your legs may ache Varicose veins are usually fairly obvious and bulge out from under your skin. They usually affect your legs. Varicose veins can be superficial or…
The thyroid gland is situated in the neck and can be seen or felt as the Adam’s apple What to look for Hyperthyroidism: weight loss despite increased appetite. increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, and increased nervousness, with excessive perspiration. more frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhoea. muscle weakness, trembling hands. development of a goitre. Hypothyroidism:…
Toxic Shock Syndrome is a sudden and dangerous condition started by the release of toxins caused by the staphylococci bacteria. What to look for high fever. low blood pressure vomiting and/or diarrhoea. a rash resembling a sunburn with peeling skin on fingers and toes. dizziness or mental confusion. It usually affects menstruating women, especially those who use…
These are a wide range of different disease which are all acquired as a result of having sexual intercourse with a person who has already contracted the infection. What to look for a white, yellow, green, grey, or blood-streaked discharge that may have a strong smell. genital and/or anal itching. a rash, blisters,…
This is a crippling disease affecting both men and women caused by a lack of calcium. What to look for The condition may cause no symptoms at all or alternatively these may occur:- backache. a gradual loss of height and a stooped back. fractures and breaks occur easily. loss of bone in the jaw. Osteoporosis is…
As with most cancers, ovarian cancer rarely produces symptoms in its earliest stages, however, these warning signs eventually develop – vague digestive disturbances, such as mild indigestion, bloating, feeling of fullness, or loss of appetite. diarrhoea, constipation, or increased urination. pain or swelling in the abdomen, or pain in the lower back. vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause….
These can be infection, cysts, lumps or cancer of the ovaries. What to look for feeling of fullness or pressure on one side of the abdomen. abdominal pain during intercourse. sharp abdominal pain. irregular vaginal bleeding or absent menstrual periods. increase in facial or body hair. irregularities in bowel movements or urination. Many small benign ovarian cysts…
Pain that tends to last longer than 6 months can be termed chronic. What to look for The condition may include weakness, numbness, tingling, or other sensations, along with sleeping difficulties, a lack of energy, and depression. Some common forms of chronic pain are: this type of pain can include headaches, muscle, back or joint pain…
This describes an infection in a woman’s pelvic region. What to look for With acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): severe pain in the lower abdomen vaginal discharge fever With chronic PID: recurrent pain in the lower abdomen, backache irregular periods pain during intercourse. infertility. heavy, unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge. If not treated promptly PID can become…
This refers to a range of symptoms occurring in the lead up to their menstrual period. What to look for One or more of these symptoms may appear about a week before your period: food cravings. bloating and fluid retention. breast swelling and pain. acne. weight gain. headaches, backaches. urinary disorders. moodiness, anxiety, crying. insomnia. drowsiness and…
The time when a woman ceases to ovulate can cause some problems and some uncomfortable symptoms. What to look for hot flushes night sweats. pain during intercourse increased nervousness, anxiety, or irritability. increased need to urinate swollen ankles headaches painful intercourse Menopause refers to the time in a woman’s life when she stops ovulating and…
What to look for Menstruation occurs when an ovary releases an egg, at this time the lining of the uterus grows and becomes flooded with blood. If the egg is not fertilised, the ovary releases progesterone, which causes menstrual flow. This happens every 28 days until interrupted by pregnancy or ended by menopause. Menstrual Synchrony…
Is the inability to control the passing of urine. What to look for inability to control urination. The condition often reflects an underlying disorder and is usually treatable, even in the elderly. Often it was thought that it was a age related condition and inevitable result of getting older. It must be treated however, in…
A skin complaint characterised by redness, itch, dryness with pimples or blisters. What to look for… patches of itchy, dry, thickened skin, usually on wrists, face, and inner creases of the knees and elbows. skin sores, patches of redness, scaling, sometimes small bumps or blisters that may ooze fluid. Eczema is a form of dermatitis…
A Fungal disease which affects many parts of the body, but is particularly likely to affect warm, damp areas. What to look for Discharge itching and burning in the affected areas infection in the mouth causes small white patches on the gums, lips and inside the cheeks. These may be painful. diarrhoea or constipation, adverse…
So you have done the pinch test and yes, there is no getting away from the fact that there are unwanted dimples and bulges on your legs. Cellulite is the culprit for all those lumps and dimples on our thighs, hips, stomach and butts. Well, be assured that this annoying problem is not only troubling…
As with most cancers, cervical cancer causes no pain or other symptoms in its early stages. The first identifiable symptoms of the disease are likely to include: watery or bloody vaginal discharge. vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between menstrual periods, or after menopause; periods may be heavier and last longer than normal. If the cancer has spread symptoms…
The cervix is at the neck of the uterus (womb), is about 2.5 cm long and has a small break through it. What to look for vaginal discharge. painful intercourse. vaginal bleeding, sometimes during or after intercourse. unusually heavy menstrual periods. crampy pelvic pain or a feeling of heaviness. Many cervical problems have no symptoms….
In men: a whitish yellow discharge from the penis. a frequent urge to urinate burning sensation while urinating. redness at the tip of the penis. In women: no symptoms, or mild discomfort that you may mistake for menstrual cramps. This disease is very common throughout the world. Chlamydia can be cured easily by…
Cholesterol is a crystalline fatty alcohol found especially in animal fats, blood and nerve tissue and bile. What to look for A high level of cholesterol in the blood does not have obvious symptoms but it can be a risk for other circulatory conditions that do have recognisable symptoms. Obesity and diabetes. impotence Cholesterol is a paradox:…
This is a condition which is characterised by overwhelming fatigue. What to look for recent onset of extreme fatigue. fatigue resulting not from any type of exertion and that you cannot relieve with rest or sleep. sore muscles. long-lasting discomfort following physical exertion. sleep disorders (insomnia or oversleeping). swollen lymph glands. joint pain. forgetfulness, confusion,…
Depression is a state of feeling ‘down’ which lasts for a long but indefinite period of time What to look for For major depression, you may experience four or more of the following: persistent sadness, pessimism. feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, or hopelessness. loss of interest or enjoyment in nearly every aspect of life. lack…
Dermatitis is a red and itching inflammation of the skin What to look for Contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction) (an allergic reaction) A red rash that is restricted to the area of skin exposed to an irritant. Nummular dermatitis Red, itchy, circular lots of weeping, scaly, or encrusted skin, common in older people who have dry…
Diabetes is a condition where there is an abnormally high level of sugar in the blood. What to look for The symptoms vary depending on which type of diabetes is the cause: excessive thirst and appetite. increased urination both in the frequency and amount passed. weight loss. fatigue. nausea, perhaps vomiting. blurred vision. in women,…
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which based on a terrifying fear of becoming fat. But it is far more complex than a simple desire to lose weight. What to look for significant weight loss. fear of becoming fat, even when emaciated. excessive dieting and exercising distorted body image. abnormal food preoccupations, such as counting…
Anxiety is a state of being worried about certain real or imagined events or situations. What to look for heart palpitations. tics or twitches recurring headaches or migraine indigestion and bowel irregularity sense of impending doom. inability to concentrate. muscle tension; muscle aches. diarrhoea. chest pain. dry mouth. excessive sweating. undereating or overeating. insomnia. irritability. breathlessness; hyperventilation….
The bladder is the hollow, muscular organ that lies in the pelvic region. It looks like an upside down pyramid. The bladder stores the urine that is produced in the kidneys. What to look for Bladder cancer may not have symptoms in the beginning, however, later on, symptoms may include: blood in the urine. frequent urinary…
Bladder Infections are an inflammation of the urinary bladder which results in a prickling pain, which quickly becomes a burning, scalding sensation during urination. What to look for a burning sensation when urinating; frequent need to urinate with little result urine with a strong, foul odour and sometimes a dark brown/orange colour. in the elderly:…
As with most cancers, in the early stages, breast cancer usually has no symptoms. As a tumour spreads, you may notice the following: swelling in the armpit. breast pain or tenderness. a lump in the breast. a noticeable flattening or indentation on the breast. any change in the contour, texture, or temperature of the breast…
Breast problems can include breast pain or masses or lumps within the breast. What to look for tenderness, pain or swelling in one or both breasts, most likely caused by premenstrual swelling. pain accompanied by redness and warmth or a discharge from the nipple; this may indicate an infection or a benign growth or breast…
Bulimia is an eating disorder which involves the compulsive eating of large quantities of food over a short space of time. The Binges are usually followed by periods of strict dieting and purging. What to look for alternating bingeing and purging. unrealistic fear of becoming fat. weight fluctuation (although relatively normal weight may be maintained)….
