Women

Let’s start by clearing up the confusion between arthritis and osteoarthritis. The term arthritis comes from the Greek words “arthron” meaning joint and “itis” meaning inflammation. It is a broad term that refers to a wide range of different medical conditions (gout, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, etc.). In the past, the term “rheumatism” was used to describe the full range of disorders involving the joints.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women. If it is diagnosed early, however, it can be successfully treated and even eliminated. Many women are alive and well because their cancer was caught and treated quickly.

When practising a sport, such as running or swimming, it is not unusual to develop a muscle cramp or side stitch. Here is what you can do.

Did you know that calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body? It accounts for 2 percent of total body mass and can be found almost entirely (99 percent) in bones and teeth.

Did you know that hypertension is the leading risk factor for death in developed countries, ranking ahead of smoking. In Canada, nearly 25% of adults suffer from hypertension. In those over 60, the number reaches 50%.

In Canada, a stroke occurs every 10 minutes; and, every year, 50,000 people die or are left severely disabled following a stroke.

Have you ever wondered whether exercise can help you better fend off all those pesky little infections, like the common cold? The question makes perfect sense since it does appear that those who keep fit have a stronger immune system, making them less vulnerable to viruses, such as colds.

In Northern countries like Canada, many people are deficient in vitamin D. Why is this? In fall, and even more so in winter, the rays of the sun are less intense in these parts of the world. Since the body manufactures vitamin D3 – or cholecalciferol – upon exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays (hence its nickname, “sunshine vitamin”), it goes without saying that less sun means less vitamin D.

When the body is exposed to cold for an extended period of time, the blood vessels constrict and circulation slows. As a result, the extremities (ears, nose, hands and feet) begin to freeze.

At important dinners, parties and other celebrations, we sometimes tend to overeat. For some of us, this leads to “heartburn.” In fact, an estimated 29 percent of Canadians suffer from occasional episodes of gastric reflux.

Checking your blood glucose levels can : Tell you what your blood glucose level is right away.

In 2002, an American clinical trial found a possible link between breast cancer and the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many menopausal women subsequently stopped their treatment. Did they do the right thing?

Experts recommend that a woman pregnant with one baby should get around 2200 calories daily, beginning in the second trimester.

For years now and still today, breast milk has been recognized as an excellent, complete and optimal source of nutrition for newborns.

It is widely recognized that folic acid plays a vital role in preventing neural tube defects in the fetus. But did you know that it can also help reduce the risk of other diseases, such as colon cancer?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS ) is a series of physical and emotional symptoms associated with menstruation . Among the physical symptoms, “menstrual pain,” such as cramping in the lower abdomen, is often defined using the general medical term “dysmenorrhea” (literally translated as “difficult monthly flow”).

March is Pharmacy Awareness Month. When it comes to medication , pharmacists are THE leading expert on the subject.

During his latest health segment on the television show “2 filles le matin,” our pharmacist, Charles Milliard, answered questions about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Did you know that there is a disease whose main characteristic is extreme fatigue that persists for months? It is called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an illness that to this day remains elusive.

Since the dawn of time, menstruation has been shrouded in a veil of mystery and surrounded by many myths. Let’s shed light on this natural and normal process.

While the majority of headaches pose no health threat, they are nevertheless bothersome and even debilitating at times. Let’s shed light on the two most prevalent types: tension headaches and migraines.

Only when we lose our voice do we realize just how valuable the ability to speak really is. In fact, every day, this fragile organ allows us to communicate information and convey our emotions. Yet, almost everyone has experienced voice loss at some point or other.

Experiencing a certain level of discomfort just before your period is both common and normal. However, approximately four in ten women have symptoms serious enough to temporarily undermine their quality of life. They suffer from premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and generalized pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Venous insufficiency involves the impaired functioning of the superficial and/or deep venous systems. It is characterized by a decrease in the return of blood to the heart caused by a change in the vein wall. This health problem, especially common among women – 70 percent of women over the age of 80 – can develop at any age, but mainly strikes seniors.

Vaginitis is a relatively common ailment, with two out of three women developing the condition at some point in their lives. This comes as no surprise given the sensitivity of the vaginal lining. In fact, it has its own chemical balance, which can be easily disturbed by any number of factors.

Often associated with age, osteoporosis is a condition that, with time, causes a gradual loss of bone mass. Becoming more porous and therefore more fragile, bones develop a greater risk of fracturing.

Incontinence can be defined as the inability to control one’s urge to urinate. Even today, this condition remains taboo. In fact, people rarely tell anyone – even their doctors – that they suffer from it. Yet there are many solutions to this problem!

Menopause is not an illness, but a natural process that occurs with age. It can be explained simply by a hormonal change, which leads to the end of menstruation. It usually happens between the ages of 40 and 60.