dehanutikuha: 2006

Monday, December 18, 2006

Stuart Theater Menopause The Musical

Menopause: The New Approach, a Sense of Humor and Having Fun

by Michelle Cohen

When the WHI�s study on HRT (Hormone Replacement
Therapy) was halted prematurely due to health concerns for
its participants, the United States� 45 million menopausal
women were left to fend for themselves. Some kicked HRT
cold-turkey, suffering the immediate and ferocious
onslaught of hot flashes, night sweats and heart
palpitations. Others remained on HRT choosing the threat
of increased risks of many fatal diseases over the
unpleasantness of menopausal symptoms. Still others
sought alternative treatments and remedies to help cope
with the hormonal changes.

In a culture that celebrates youth more than any other
society in the world, millions of women have been forced to
look aging square in the crow�s footed eye. Ever since the
menopause cure was yanked from women�s grasps how
are they coping? As Marilyn Kentz and Nancy Alspaugh say
in their book Not Your Mother�s Midlife, �All you need is a
sense of perspective and a sense of humor��

With that philosophy in mind, a growing trend of
menopausal entertainment and community highlights one
very important medical fact: FUN is the safest prescription
for menopause. A slew of clubs, websites, theatrical
productions and even a pop�up book, all dedicated to
menopause and aging, have cropped up; proving that when
all else fails, a menopausal woman can always feel better
by having a good time.

In the Red Hat Society, a country-wide community
organization, gangs of 50+ women clad in red hats descend
on malls, coffee shops, restaurants and even national
talk-shows, and act the way they wish they had when they
were younger. The message is clear: aging women are not
ready to shrivel up and die just yet.

MenOpop is the world�s first menopause pop-up and activity
book that with its 3-D pop-up uterus, The Menopause Fairy
and MenOland �The Board Game, lets menopausal women
and their friends and family laugh and play through
understanding menopause.

Keep your eye on the theatre, and you�ll see the national tour
of �Menopause the Musical.� Menopause is even infiltrating
your computer through entertainment websites devoted to
hot flashing and mood swinging. Currently online there is
www.minnipauz.com, which features humorous cartoons
and www.menopop.com, an entertainment website where
it�s �cool to be hot.� A companion to the pop-up book, it
features online video games, virtual paper dolls, a
print-and-make-your-own pop-up bookmark, and community
tip-swapping.

So, join the fun and try this new approach for yourself with
the MenO �Pop-Quiz�:

1. How many women are going through menopause right
now?

A. Just you.
B. You and a guest.
C. Millions, and millions, and millions, and you.

2. What happens after menopause?

A. There�s something after menopause?
B. People no longer cower when you enter the room.
C. You find yourself making finger puppets out of your
unused tampons.

3. What are the warning signs that you are menopausal?

A. You are surrounded by idiots.
B. You�re looking forward to the next Ice Age
C. What was the question, again?

Answers: (there are no answers, just many many more
questions�)

Michelle Cohen produced the Off-Broadway musical hit
Schoolhouse Rock Live!. and is CEO and President of the
entertainment company, Fill� er Up Productions, Inc.
Michelle and her varied projects have been featured on
CNN, Good Morning America, MTV, NPR's All Things
Considered, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Dave
Barry�s Holiday Gift Guide, Maxim, FHM, the Chicago Tribune
and the Washington Post.

As a writer, her first book is MenOpopTM: A Menopause
Pop-Up and Activity Book created by her company. (available
at http://www.menopop.com). Her latest book is Of Course You
Can Sing!TM
For more details go to http://www.michellecohenonline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Cohen

Where I Can Get A Dvd Of Menopause The Musical

Perimenopause Symptoms � The Transition

by Susan Megge

Until you reached this stage in your life, there�s a high probability that you�d never even heard of perimenopause. As a matter of fact, you were probably a bit surprised that perimenopause (the transitional period before menopause) could begin so early in life, and last for ten years � sometimes even longer.

Symptoms of perimenopause are described almost exactly as those associated with menopause, and may include:

� Weight gain (especially around the mid-section)

� Mood changes

� Night sweats

� Hot flashes

� Vaginal dryness

� Changes in sexual desire (lowered libido)

� Sleep disturbances

� Frequent urination

� Extreme sweating

� Difficulty concentrating

� Other symptoms similar to those you may experience with premenstrual syndrome

If you�re experiencing any of these symptoms, it�s a good idea to talk with your health care provider to rule out any other medical conditions. Once you�re sure that perimenopause is indeed the culprit behind the symptoms you�re now noticing, it�s time to �step it up� and take the steps necessary to reduce � and in many cases eliminate � the discomforts that can be associated with perimenopause.

Your physician will likely encourage you to make some lifestyle changes that have been proven to effectively benefit many women during perimenopause. These include:

� Altering your diet to include soy and flax

� Exercising regularly, incorporating weight training into your routine at least three days per week

� Taking supplements of vitamin E

� Avoiding triggers that can cause hot flashes, such as caffeine; also, it�s suggested that you avoid being in extremely warm temperatures or rooms

� Herbal treatments, such as ginkgo biloba, black cohash or Evening Primrose Oil

Depending on your age, health and medical history and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may also use various other treatments to remedy your perimenopausal symptoms, such as:

� A low dose of birth control to stabilize your hormone levels

� Antidepressants to level out your mood swings

� Progesterone to alleviate symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome

This transitional period can be a bit frightening for many women, but it�s important to remind yourself that you can indeed breeze through perimenopause and menopause if you simply take care of yourself. You can be as healthy, energetic, happy and beautiful as you�ve always been. As an added bonus, your age has brought you to a maturity level you didn�t have twenty years ago, giving you confidence to be certain that you can be and do everything you set your mind to. You will no doubt enjoy and savor your life if you remain positive and determined.

Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan, a health and fitness expert started experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery that menopause can be a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman's life. Susan Megge is the author of "Being Beautiful Beyond 40," a book dedicated to helping women to be inspired, confident and beautiful as they approach menopause.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Megge

Menopause The Musical Location

Menopausal Years - the Wise Woman Way

by Susun Weed

Menopause, like puberty, is a period of transition and metamorphosis. It consists of three stages: isolation, melt down, and emergence. Each stage calls forth new energies and new perceptions of ourselves. Each stage has different demands, different tasks, and different needs.

Wise Woman ways, such as simple ceremony, compassionate self-care, and daily use of dooryard plants, can benefit women going through menopause tremendously. Please allow me to share with you some of my favorite herbs for easing hot flashes, sleeplessness, and other distresses of The Change. They're easy to find; you may already know them as weeds! These plants, and their cautions and contraindications, are described in detail in my book NEW Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way. Please refer to it before you decide whether or not to use any of these green allies to aid you during your menopausal years.

Calcium intake during and after menopause must be high to maintain health. But calcium in pills can't compare to calcium in plants when it comes to maintaining healthy, flexible bones. Bones are made of a dozen minerals besides calcium (potassium, manganese, magnesium, silica, iron, zinc, selenium, boron, phosphorus, sulphur, and chromium), all of which are found in rich supply in the roots and leaves of edible weeds and herbs. Eating weeds is my preferred way of preventing osteoporosis and ensuring freedom from heart disease, depression, headaches, leg cramps, and joint pain.

There are scores of calcium/mineral-rich plants to choose from, such as the aromatic leaves of sage, peppermint, lemon balm, bergamot, rosemary, and thyme; the cooked or fresh greens of lamb's quarters, amaranth, dandelion, chicory, comfrey, stinging nettle, chickweed, parsley, watercress, kale, collards, and cabbage; the flowers of red clover; and the roots of yellow dock, dandelion, chicory, and burdock.

For maximum extraction of mineral richness, I cook with these herbs, drink them as infusions, and steep them in vinegar.

Seaweeds have incredibly generous amounts of calcium and minerals too. I make it a practice to eat seaweeds such as kelp, dulse, and nori daily, as condiments, and seaweed such as wakame, hijiki, arame, and kombu once a week, cooked with carrots or in a soup. I feed seaweed to my goats in the form of powdered kelp and to my plants in the form of a liquid emulsion. That's why we all have shiny hair, sleek skin, bright eyes, and lots of energy.

Hormones are a hot topic for menopausal women. To help myself with hormonal surges and drops, I prefer to use tinctures of plants rich in plant hormones (phytosterols) rather than prescribed hormones (estrogen replacement or hormone replacement), which actually elevate the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, contrary to advertising, and are linked to increases in breast and uterine cancers. Women whose blood is rich in plant hormones have the lowest rates of cancer in the world. Plants rich in phytosterols include roots of dong quai, ginseng, wild yam, black cohosh, black haw, dandelion; flowers of hops, yarrow, red clover; leaves of stinging nettle, sage; berries/seeds/hips of chaste tree/vitex, fenugreek, roses.

Favorite herbs for menopausal women include the following:

Oatstraw infusion (Avena sativa) strengthens the nerves, helps reduce emotional distress, promotes sound sleep, keeps the bones and heart strong, and strengthens libido. The tincture is a stronger sedative but not nourishing to the bones and heart. Oats for breakfast is an excellent way to "take" this herb, but avoid pills and capsules. Oatstraw baths are exceptionally calming. Instructions for making one are in my green book: Healing Wise.

Nettle infusion (Urtica dioica) strengthens the adrenals, eases anxiety, increases energy, helps prevent night sweats, builds blood, and protects bones and heart. Eating cooked nettle is another excellent way to gather its benefits, as is nettle vinegar. I avoid freeze-dried, encapsulated, or tinctured nettle, believing all these forms ineffective and over-priced.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) - tincture of the fresh flowering tops - is a favorite with menopausal women, their daughters and their mothers. A few drops (up to 25 at a time) will calm emotions, relieve heart palpitations (and strengthen the heart), reduce the severity of hot flashes, increase vaginal lubrication, moderate and eliminate PMS and menstrual cramping. Motherwort vinegar is a fantastic tonic, and tasty - thank goodness. The tea is violently bitter and disliked by 99 out of 100 women, including me - yuck!

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - any part, in any form - is a superb strengthener for the liver, the control center for hot flashes. Dandelion improves digestion, especially of calcium, helps relieve headaches, and sees to it that the liver provides steady blood sugar supplies. Dandelion wine (from the blossoms) is the most elegant way to take this remedy, but the cooked leaves and vinegars (as well as the pickled parts) of the roots and/or leaves are also excellent nourishing digestives. The tincture, especially of the root, is considered the strongest medicine, but doesn't contain bone-building nutrients, so is less ideal than the other forms.

Here are some startling facts about menopause:

The Grandmother Hypothesis maintains that "menopause, like a big brain and an upright posture, is one of the essential traits of the human which allowed us to colonize the world."
Menopause is not a recent phenomenon, but an ancient women's mystery, with special gifts for the woman who uses its energies wisely.
Estrogen is not one hormone, but many, and our bodies continue to make estrogens all of our lives. The adrenals, the fat tissues, and perhaps the uterus make estrogens.
The levels of hormones in a woman's blood are never higher than when she is in menopause.
Herbal hormone (phytosterols or phytoestrogens) are usable by the body and, in contrast to prescribed hormones, protect against breast cancer.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed

PO Box 64

Woodstock, NY 12498

Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susun_Weed

Menopause T The Musical The Civic Center

Early Signs of Menopause

by Jodie Phillips

Developing menopause symptoms before the age of forty are early signs of menopause. Such early menopause could be due to surgical removal of ovaries, chemotherapy treatment for cancer, or due to early failure of ovaries. You therefore experience early signs of menopause much before other women experience normal menopause symptoms.

Menopause symptoms remain the same in cases of early menopause or normal menopause. The most common and early signs of menopause is hot flushes with excessive sweating in the middle of the night. Few other early signs of menopause include:

- Disturbed sleep, irritability and associated tiredness

- Headaches and body aches

- Memory loss and depression

- Vaginal dryness and infections in urinary tract

- Lack of sexual urge and arousal

These early signs of menopause occur due to hormonal imbalances. Although you cannot fight against such early signs of menopause, you can minimize the inherent risks due to such hormonal imbalances. Common fall out of lack of hormones is decreased bone density leading to thinning of bones or osteoporosis. You are therefore at a greater risk of fractures due to early signs of menopause. Sometimes it also increases chances of heart attacks.

How to combat Early Signs of Menopause

You can reduce or sometimes nullify early signs of menopause by adopting a healthier life style. Include many whole grains, fresh vegetables like leafy greens, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, etc., variety of fruits like citrus fruits, apples, berries, plums, etc. in your daily diet. Consume low fat diary products with high calcium content to compensate for the loss of calcium due to onset of the early signs of menopause.

Phytoestrogens are the estrogens available in plant food. Include more of soybeans, tofu, linseed bread, and legumes as these phytoestrogen rich foods can replenish your depleting estrogen levels due to early signs of menopause. Drink around eight glasses of water every day and reduce intake of caffeine products like coffee, tea, etc. to negate the effects of early signs of menopause. Limited consumption of alcohol, less than a glass each day, proves very helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Eating small portions of lean meat, fish, or chicken many times in a week supplies more iron to your body, as early signs of menopause are often the result of lack of sufficient iron levels in your body. Vegetarians can substitute these with increased consumption of leafy vegetables and fruits to keep early signs of menopause at bay.

Another major factor helping in the smooth transition through your early signs of menopause is daily physical exercises for a minimum of half an hour. Brisk walking, dancing, and other simple exercises keep your bones healthy, prevent bone loss, reduce weight gain, improve your heart condition, and develop your overall health. A positive and optimistic approach towards life also helps maintain your balance.

Jodie Phillips is the owner of several Women's Health-related websites at http://cosmetic-dentistry.gaodr.com and she shares her knowledge and research on Women's Health in a series of articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jodie_Phillips

Discount Tickets Menopause The Musical

What Do Hot Flashes Feel Like and a Few Other Frequently Asked Questions

by Patsy Hamilton

Here we answer some frequently asked questions concerning menopause and the time leading up to menopause, such as �what do hot flashes feel like�. We also look at different opinions concerning the cause of hot flashes.

What do hot flashes feel like?

Usually the heat begins in the chest and moves its way up the neck. The face becomes hot and may look �flushed�. Hot flashes are sometimes called hot �flushes�. Sometimes, red splotches appear on the neck and/or face. Sweating on the forehead and back of the neck may be noticed. Some women only experience a generalized feeling of being to warm. Others notice that there hands and feet feel cold, while the rest of their body feels hot. Hot flashes can be symptoms of conditions other than menopause and women should remember to have regular check-ups and report their symptoms to their doctors.

What do hot flashes feel like at night?

Hot flashes which occur at night are generally referred to as night sweats. They may disrupt a woman�s sleep. The major difference reported by most women between hot flashes and night sweats is the �sweating�. Women sometimes wake up with their bedding wet and pools of perspiration on their chest. Most women are more frustrated by night sweats than daytime hot flashes, not only because they interrupt sleep, but also because a feeling of being chilled may follow them.

What is the cause of hot flashes?

The exact cause of hot flashes is unknown. Because women who have had their ovaries surgically removed due to illness or injury experience severe hot flashes, the assumption has been made that the cause of hot flashes during menopause is a hormonal deficiency. Some argue that, if this were the case, then postmenopausal women would continue to have hot flashes throughout their lives. Most women experience hot flashes for several years before menopause and only for a year or two following menopause.

What could be the cause of hot flashes?

Decreasing hormone production by the ovaries could be the cause of hot flashes. Hormones can be produced by the adrenals and can be synthesized from fat cells. Researchers have been unable to find a clear connection between hormones and hot flashes. But, it is clear that when medical treatments call for a sudden decrease in hormones, people, even men, have hot flashes.

For the answers to more questions like "what do hot flashes feel like" or to learn about products that relieve hot flashes, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes health related informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Menopause The Musical Las Vegas Nevada

Menopause and Dizziness

by Cathy Taylor

Unfortunately during menopause, the explosive symptom of dizziness is all too common. You know the feeling - a spinning sensation inside your head ripping down through the rest of your body making it impossible to be at peace. Or the inability to get up quickly not unlike the sensation you have when just hopping out of a roller coaster. In extreme cases, you may feel as if you are on the receiving end of a knock out blow to the head.

Away from menopause, dizziness can be attributed to a variety of factors - most notably fluctuations in blood pressure, low blood sugar and viral infections. When it comes to menopause, anxiety and particularly hyperventilation, migraine headaches, and panic attacks can all cause bouts of debilitating dizziness. Some women suffer so much from this symptom that they become agoraphobic because they should they leave the house, they fear becoming faint and dizzy.

For starters, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and this is one of the first things that need to be checked by your doctor before you do anything else. Estrogen affects the nerves as well and if not enough is produced, it can leave you feeling "frayed" at the edges. Progesterone is produced in the brain as well as serotonin and if this hormone is lacking, your ability to feel calm can be affected. And, when not enough estrogen is being supplied to the brain, dizziness and other related feelings can result.

Tinnitus, another infamous symptom of menopause, can also contribute to feelings of dizziness. The constant ringing, whooshing, and chirping of the ears can disorient you. Combine that with various other symptoms like migraine headaches, hot flashes, night sweats, and panic attacks and you have a formula for being unbalanced. Women who are suffering from panic or anxiety attacks during menopause are more likely to hyperventilate and this rapid breathing can easily cause dizziness, giddiness or feelings faint.

Some women report that not eating properly including skipping meals can also cause dizziness. If you feel dizzy, first sit or lie down and breathe deeply and slowly. This eliminates hyperventilation, especially if you breathe deeply into a paper bag. If you are feeling fatigued, try cutting out sugar and caffeine and drink lots of water. Walk around the block instead of sitting in front of the TV.

Do a new activity that gets you moving tai chi or yoga. Both of these exercises get your energy moving as well as calm you and release tension from the body. Sometimes menopausal symptoms are aggravated because at this time in many of our lives, the demands on us are increased significantly. We may have grown children who are in college, getting married, or just leaving home. Possibly our parents who are ailing and maybe even some of our friends. Often our relationships are shifting and roles are changing. If you are the type of person who has difficulty with change anyway, this can become an even more difficult transition.

See your doctor to determine the cause of your dizziness. If it is related anxiety, you may need medical assistance. On the other hand, your symptoms may be handled simply with self-care and alternative healing.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting
http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com or
http://www.everythingmenopause.com or http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Taylor

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