Female Reproductive Health

Ever wonder how the universe could allow the existence of someone as annoying as your bratty little brother or sister? The answer lies in reproduction. If people — like your parents (ew!) — didn't reproduce, families would die out and the human race would cease to exist.

Reproduction

All living things reproduce. Reproduction — the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves — is one of the things that set living things apart from nonliving matter. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not essential to keeping an individual alive.
In the human reproductive process, two kinds of sex cells, or gametes (pronounced: GAH-meetz), are involved. The male gamete, or sperm, and the female gamete, the egg or ovum, meet in the female's reproductive system. The female needs a male to fertilize her egg, even though it is she who carries offspring through pregnancy and childbirth. When the sperm fertilizes, or meets, the egg, this fertilized egg is called the zygote. The zygote goes through a process of becoming an embryo and developing into a fetus.
Humans, like other organisms, pass certain characteristics of themselves to the next generation through their genes, the special carriers of human traits. The genes that parents pass along to their children are what make children similar to others in their family, but they are also what make each child unique. These genes come from the father's sperm and the mother's egg, which are produced by the male and female reproductive systems.

Women's Healthcare Topics

When the topic of women's health care is raised, the first disease that comes to mind is probably breast cancer. But surprisingly, that's not the number one health care issue confronting women today. In fact, heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined. By knowing the most significant risks in women's health care and what you can do to combat these health care issues, women of all ages can take a proactive approach to leading healthier lives.

The #1 Women's Health Care Issue:
Heart Disease

More than 489,000 American women lose their lives each year as a result of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. In fact, more women than men die from heart disease each year. Until recently, little research focused on women and heart disease, but the good news is that's no longer the case. From research into the effects of hormone replacement therapy on heart health to studies of how cholesterol-lowering medications work in women, there's an unprecedented increase in the amount of information available to women working to live with and ward off heart disease.

Experts at the Mayo Clinic offer simple common sense advice to women (and men) in the fight against heart disease: don't smoke, eat a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes a week, and maintain a healthy weight.
In addition, they encourage women to see their family doctor each year for a physical which includes blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. Studies indicate that there is a 46% increase in stroke risk for women for each 7.5 mm HG increase in their diastolic blood pressure, so monitoring blood pressure and controlling hypertension are vital.

Women who suffer migraines, are pregnant, have atrial fibrillation and those with the auto-immune disease Lupus also appear to run a greater stroke risk. Diabetes is another women's health care issue with a direct impact on heart health. The American Heart Association notes women with diabetes have a two to six times greater risk of heart disease and heart attack and are at a significantly greater risk of suffering a stroke. All of these risk factors make an annual visit with your doctor one of the best ways women can manage and improve the health of their hearts.

Health Survey Questions For Kids

Most kids got an A+ on our recent Health I.Q. survey. They knew their fruits and vegetables. They could point out important body organs, like the heart. Many even knew the name for the muscle in your upper arm (biceps). More than half got that one right, although 5% did pick a funny wrong answer: "gluteus maximus." Oops — that's the name of the muscles in your behind.

Want to test your Health I.Q.? Get your score HERE!

 

The survey's 10,000 participants were more than just health smart. They also were open and upbeat about improving their health. Nearly half said they were very interested to learn about health and about 63% said most of what they hear about health is interesting, rather than confusing, scary, or boring.
KidsHealth.org conducted the online survey in partnership with TIME for Kids. You can read more about the survey in the May 2 issue of the magazine.

Healthy and Looking to Get Healthier

Nearly all 10,000 kids rated their health as excellent (31%) or pretty good (58%). More than 85% said they were willing to try new fruits and vegetables. Only 16% said they never look at food labels, with most saying they check the label always (28%) or sometimes (56%).
Kids also had no problem identifying fruits and vegetables. Most also knew that oranges contain vitamin C and that eating a potato was a better choice than potato chips. Likewise, 94% knew that water was a better drink choice than soda. And only 10% didn't know where carrots grow (in the ground).
Speaking of healthy food, more than half of kids (60%) said they wanted an adult to teach them to cook. Others said they wanted an adult to help them eat more nutritious foods (43%), exercise more (43%), and learn how to do new sports.
About a third of kids (34%) said they also wanted an adult's help to lose weight. But generally, kids don't need to go on diets. Talk to a parent and your doctor if you are concerned about your weight.

Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry

The Sex Offenders Registration Act, MCL 28.721et seq., directs the Michigan State Police to develop and maintain a public registry and provides guidelines on the type of offender information available to the public. The legislature has determined that a person who has been convicted of committing an offense covered by this act poses a potential serious menace and danger to the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the people, and particularly the children, of this state. The registration requirements of the Sex Offenders Registration Act are intended to provide the people of this state with an appropriate, comprehensive, and effective means to monitor those persons who pose such a potential danger. The offense link available on the offender details page reflects the current statute and due to continuous legislative changes, may not be indicative of the statute at the time the offender was convicted. 
 
The information contained on the PSOR can change quickly. The MSP frequently updates the registry in a continuous effort to provide complete and accurate information. While much of the information is obtained from public records, some information, such as physical description and residence, is gathered from the offenders themselves who may fail to provide accurate information. Therefore, the MSP makes no representation, express or implied, that the information contained on the PSOR is accurate. Any individual who believes information contained on the PSOR is not accurate should contact the local law enforcement agency, sheriff's office, or the nearest state police post having jurisdiction over the offender's residence. 
Information provided through the PSOR is public information. However, it is your responsibility to make sure the records accessed through the registry pertain to the person about whom you are seeking information. Extreme care should be exercised in using any information obtained from this web site. Information on this site must not be used to unlawfully injure, harass, or commit a crime against any individual named in the registry or residing or working at any reported address. Any such action could result in civil or criminal penalties. The MSP is not responsible for any errors or omissions produced by secondary dissemination of this information.

Sex Offender Registry

Sex offenders who are releasing from confinement with required Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision may be supervised in the community under strict rules designed to protect their victims, vulnerable people, the general public and the offender.
In addition to requiring sex offender registration, the courts, and the DOC can impose many conditions and requirements for the period of DOC supervision. Offenders may be required to report to a Community Corrections Officer (CCO) whose primary responsibility is to help offenders become law abiding citizens while holding the offenders accountable.

Supervision:

Offenders must report to their CCO and be available for contact as directed and often must remain within specified geographic boundaries.

Registration:

Sex and kidnapping offenders who are required by law to register must do so prior to leaving state, county or city confinement. They must follow up by registering in person within 24 hours of their release at their county sheriff’s office.

Living arrangements:

Community corrections officers must approve sex offenders’residence and living arrangements. Offenders cannot move without permission. Generally, the release address of sex offenders is scrutinized to assess potential risk to the community and for the offender. Sex offenders often cannot own or control personal computers. If community corrections officers permit access to computers, they normally must have blocks that prevent access to specific sites. Offenders also cannot have contact with magazines, videos, telephone sites or anything else with pornographic content. Offenders must allow their community corrections officers to inspect every part of their homes.

Treatment:

Many offenders must obtain psycho-sexual evaluations and treatment from state-certified sexual deviancy counselors. Those who are required to do so must authorize their CCO to monitor their progress in treatment. Typically, offenders are not permitted to change counselors without approval and they must submit to polygraph and plethysmograph (which measure sexual arousal) testing at their own expense at the direction of their therapist or CCO.

Alcohol and drugs:

Offenders cannot purchase, possess or consume any mind or mood altering substances, including alcohol or drugs that haven’t been prescribed by doctors. They may have to undergo chemical dependency treatment and follow prescribed treatment, which may include Alcoholics Anonymous or other recovery meetings. Offenders are required to submit to urine and/or breathalyzer tests to monitor compliance. They also must submit to DNA and HIV testing.

Contact with past and potential victims:

Often offenders cannot have any contact, even by mail or through third parties, with past victims or victims’ families. The court may or may not allow an offender to have contact with certain members of his or her own family including his or her own children. Any contact with minors that is permitted by the court is monitored and managed by the CCO while the offender is under supervision.

Relationships:

Offenders must disclose information about their conviction(s) to potential adult sexual partners before beginning sexual relationships. They also must inform their CCO of romantic relationships so they can ensure no potential child victims are accessible. Some offenders may be required by their CCO to disclose their criminal history to their families and friends.

Entertainment:

Offenders cannot patronize any establishment in the sex industry, including topless dancing clubs, sex toy outlets or houses of prostitution.

Employment:

Education, work and community service are encouraged but with review and management of any potential risk. Offenders must have safety plans to avoid reoffending.

Weapons:

Felony offenders may not own, use or possess firearms or ammunition.

Financial obligations:

Offenders may be required to pay restitution, supervision, child support and all other financial obligations

Women's Health Questions

Do you know the top women's health risks? Heart disease, cancer and stroke top the list. Although these are serious concerns, there's good news. Healthy lifestyle choices — such as eating a healthy diet and including physical activity in your daily routine — can go a long way toward reducing women's health risks.
For some women, breast health tops the list of women's health concerns. What's the best way to do a breast self-exam? What should you do if you find a breast lump? What's the best way to treat breast pain?
For others, women's health concerns include cosmetic surgery. And as you get older, your women's health concerns are likely to change. Could belly fat lead to health problems? Are Kegel exercises really necessary? Get answers to these and other women's health questions.

Health and Fitness Tips

Health and Fitness Tips - During the begin of each and every new 12 months a lot of people begin a brand new promotion to enter the best shape of the lives and additionally even though the intention is real enough, in reality numerous call it quits prior to the 1st month has got even died. So why is this excellent the case? Possibly you can easily relate to this excellent your self. It seems that the even more times you are trying and also then call it quits, this excellent somehow turns into a own satisfying prophecy. So right here are some health tips to help you stay upon single.

Healthy Foods for Weight Loss

As many of you could be conscious of, food is a key in any weight-loss program that can help lose the extra lbs. Virtually all weight-loss products possess some sort of eating plan or perhaps shakes which come with them.

What the vast majority of individuals don't know is the fact that as soon as you quit the diet or shakes offered in the program, you are going to go directly rear end to your past times habits. That's because you have turned almost all food an individual used to get with the diet and additionally today the body is craving to get more of the previous sugar, salt and fat foods an individual familiar with eat.

Dog Health Problems and Symptoms

Dog Health Problems  - Our dogs are really only a few that dissimilar from you when considering health. Dogs can experience overweight, cancer tumors, joint disease, anxiousness, and others. Knowing when to make a vet appointment and whenever enabling your furry friend to work right through one disease is the question pet people frequently ask. It is certainly not just as if your dog can tell you exactly what is in progress so being pre-made and also knowledge puppy health issues are our businesses best protection.

Protein Supplements Side Effects

Most health stores are really tainted with the irony that so few of the painting products are actually healthy, from herbal potions of unidentified purity and utility to dietary supplements capitalizing upon recent trends in weight-loss or hair benefit from. Now, two even more tests question a longstanding basic at the wellness store, necessary protein nutritional supplements, normally sold because a powder with testosterone-fueled names such as Muscle tissue Max 525 or Huge Monster Mass. These nutritional supplements are really top dealers.

But a growing body of analysis shows an individual don't need necessary protein supplementation if you do not are really a professional-level athlete in intense training or perhaps gravely ill from starvation or maybe a spending disease, and additionally actually then the want might be a case-by-case call.

The new studies highlight the truth that the most benign thing about healthy protein nutritional supplements is the fact that you are only losing money. An individual reap quick benefit and instead place your self in jeopardy for kidney, bone tissue and cardiovascular disease.

Doctor’s Orders? Another Test

It is no longer news that Americans, and older Americans in particular, get more routine screening tests than they need, more than are useful. Prostate tests for men over 75, annual Pap smears for women over 65 and colonoscopies for anyone over 75 — all are overused, large-scale studies have shown.

Now it appears that many older patients are also subjected to too-frequent use of the other kind of testing, diagnostic tests.

The difference, in brief: Screening tests are performed on people who are asymptomatic, who aren’t complaining of a health problem, as a way to detect incipient disease. We have heard for years that it is best to “catch it early” — “it” frequently being cancer — and though that turns out to be only sometimes true, we and our doctors often ignore medical guidelines and ongoing campaigns to limit and target screening tests.
Diagnostic tests, on the other hand, are meant to help doctors evaluate some symptom or problem. “You’re trying to figure out what’s wrong,” explained Gilbert Welch, a veteran researcher at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

For these tests, medical groups and task forces offer many fewer guidelines on who should get them and how often — there is not much evidence to go on — but there is general agreement that they are not intended for routine surveillance.

But a study using a random 5 percent sample of Medicare beneficiaries — nearly 750,000 of them — suggests that often, that is what’s happening.


“It begins to look like some of these tests are being routinely repeated, and it’s worrisome,” said Dr. Welch, lead author of the study just published in The Archives of Internal Medicine. “Some physicians are just doing them every year.”

He is talking about tests like echocardiography, or a sonogram of the heart. More than a quarter of the sample (28.5 percent) underwent this test between 2004 and 2006, and more than half of those patients (55 percent) had a repeat echocardiogram within three years, most commonly within a year of the first.
Other common tests were frequently repeated as well. Of patients who underwent an imaging stress test, using a treadmill or stationary bike (or receiving a drug) to make the heart work harder, nearly 44 percent had a repeat test within three years. So did about half of those undergoing pulmonary function tests and chest tomography, a CAT scan of the chest.

Cystoscopy (a procedure in which a viewing tube is inserted into the bladder) was repeated for about 41 percent of the patients, and endoscopy (a swallowed tube enters the esophagus and stomach) for more than a third.

Is this too much testing? Without evidence of how much it harms or helps patients, it is hard to say — but the researchers were startled by the extent of repetition. “It’s inconceivable that it’s all important,” Dr. Welch said. “Unfortunately, it looks like it’s important for doctors.”

The evidence for that? The study revealed big geographic differences in diagnostic testing. Looking at the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, it found that nearly half the sample’s patients in Miami had an echocardiogram between 2004 and 2006, and two thirds of them had another echocardiogram within three years — the highest rate in the nation.

In fact, for the six tests the study included, five were performed and repeated most often in Florida cities: Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando. “They’re heavily populated by physicians and they have a long history of being at the top of the list” of areas that do a lot of medical procedures and hospitalizations, Dr. Welch said.
But in Portland, Ore., where “the physician culture is very different,” only 17.5 percent of patients had an echocardiogram. The places most prone to testing were also the places with high rates of repeat testing. Portland, San Francisco and Sacramento had the lowest rates.

We often don’t think of tests as having a downside, but they do. “This is the way whole cascades can start that are hard to stop,” Dr. Welch said. “The more we subject ourselves, the more likely some abnormality shows up that may require more testing, some of which has unwanted consequences.”

Properly used, of course, diagnostic tests can provide crucial information for sick people. “But used without a good indication, they can stir up a hornet’s nest,” he said. And of course they cost Medicare a bundle.
An accompanying commentary, sounding distinctly exasperated, pointed out that efforts to restrain overtesting and overtreatment have continued for decades. The commentary called it “discouraging to contemplate fresh evidence by Welch et al of our failure to curb waste of health care resources.”

It is hard for laypeople to know when tests make sense, but clearly we need to keep track of those we and our family members have. That way, if the cardiologist suggests another echocardiogram, we can at least ask a few pointed questions:

“My father just had one six months ago. Is it necessary to have another so soon? What information do you hope to gain that you didn’t have last time? Will the results change the way we manage his condition?”
Questions are always a good idea. Especially in Florida.

Sources : Paula Span.com