Tag: Female health

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Sleep is at the foundation of a healthy life. 💤 mbg

mbg eat better sleep better

November 18, 2019 — 10:12 AM

You are exhausted. But, for some reason, instead of snoozing, you are lying awake worrying about the bills, family problems, and upcoming social events. Or maybe you are getting up several times to check on your kids? Sound familiar?

If so, you are not alone. According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, over half of all Americans struggle at times to get a good night’s sleep. There’s an endless list of reasons we can’t get to sleep at night, and for women there is an extra layer of complexity—hormonal changes. In fact, many women report night sweats that are so bad they can’t sleep.

So what can we do about this? How do we solve the sleep riddle? As an OB/GYN and hormone expert, I am here to help.

Why aren’t you sleeping well?

First things first! How come we’re not sleeping well? Let’s get to the bottom of that problem. For women who are menopausal and perimenopausal, estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate wildly as the body prepares to transition out of the reproductive years. These hormonal changes affect everything from stress levels and mood to body temperature and even your breathing. And, of course, you guessed it; it can also disrupt your circadian rhythm (the sleep-wake cycle). And symptoms can start as early as your mid-30s.

All of these disruptions mean most of us are just not getting enough sleep. When we do sleep, it may be restless sleep, during which we wake up several times. You may be one of those who wake up too early, then can’t fall back to sleep. All day long, you feel sleepy, like you need to take a nap.

Sleep issues like this can eventually affect your overall health. You will have to deal with it at some point. And so I did. I sat down one day, took a deep breath, and said, “We’re going to sort this sleep thing out so we can start getting a good night’s rest again.”

Once I made this a priority, I began to learn some important things about why we don’t sleep well at night, and I discovered some great strategies for overcoming all those issues.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/over-40-and-trouble-sleeping-heres-what-hormone-expert-wants-you-to-know

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What’s causing your shoulder pain? 3 causes and fixes.@ClevelandClinic

cleveland shoulder pain

Shoulder pain, stiffness or weakness can make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks, like reaching for something on a high shelf, driving a car or brushing your hair. If you have pain that won’t go away, it’s time to see a doctor.

There are a number of possible causes of shoulder pain, but the most common causes of shoulder pain are rotator cuff injuries, rotator cuff tears and osteoarthritis, says orthopaedic surgeon Mark Schickendantz, MD.

1. Rotator cuff injuries

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround the shoulder joint, and connect the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone. Bursae, small sacs near the joint, provide lubricating fluid that decreases friction among the bones, tendons and ligaments.

Rotator cuff problems occur through overuse, and they include tendonitis, strains and partial and complete tears of the tendon.

Tendonitis is when the rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed and irritated; bursitis is when the bursae swell. Tendonitis and bursitis cause pain in the front and side of the shoulder, and you might also feel some stiffness.

“These two conditions can occur with activities that involve using your arms overhead, like tennis, yoga or painting a room,” Dr. Schickendantz says. “Often the pain will be worse at rest and improve with activity.”

Treatment involves rest, applying ice, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, which is sold under the brand names Advil and Motrin, or naproxen, which is sold under the brand name Aleve. After a few weeks, most people with tendonitis recover, Dr. Schickendantz says.

2. Rotator cuff tears

If you experience shoulder pain at night that makes it difficult to fall asleep or awakens you, you may have a tear in one or more of the rotator cuff tendons.

“Night pain is the hallmark of a rotator cuff injury,” Dr. Schickendantz says.

You also may have this type of injury if you feel pain when lifting your arm overhead and weakness in the shoulder when trying to lift anything above shoulder level.

A rotator cuff tendon can tear from a single event, like falling down on an outstretched arm. It also can happen from a motion that is repeated over time. For example, a plumber who frequently uses his or her arms overhead can develop a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff also can weaken with age.

Treatment is rest, avoiding aggravating activities, physical therapy, applying ice, and NSAIDs. Some people with more severe pain may be helped with a corticosteroid injection, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication.

“I usually reserve the use of corticosteroids for someone who has severe night pain and is not responding well to oral medications,” Dr. Schickendantz says.

Surgery to repair the rotator cuff tendon is an option if these measures don’t give relief.

3. Osteoarthritis

Osteroarthritis happens when cartilage, which is the cushioning material that covers the ends of your bones, deteriorates, which leads to pain and stiffness.

Osteoarthritis causes a deep ache in the back of the shoulder. As osteoarthritis worsens, stiffness in the shoulder develops. People with osteoarthritis typically lose the ability reach behind their back.

“Patients often say they are unable to scratch their back or thread a belt,” Dr. Schickendantz says.

Osteoarthritis symptoms develop over time. For some people, an old shoulder injury from sports or some other activity, may kick off the degenerative process that years later results in osteoarthritis. But many people have no specific cause — it’s just wear and tear over time.

Treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder is similar to treatment for a rotator cuff tear, involving physical therapy, NSAIDs and ice. If the condition is severe, you can undergo shoulder joint replacement surgery, which is similar to joint replacement for hips and knees.