Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for weight loss

I’m sure you have all been hearing about this miracle cure for obesity.

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced during pregnancy. The hormone is present in the urine, and it’s the presence of hCG that home pregnancy kits are “checking” for when such a test is performed. In a nutshell, if hCG is present, you’re pregnant.   Because it can also be created by some kinds of cancers, hCG can serve as an important tumor marker as well.   When human chorionic gonadotropin is prescribed in a medical scenario, it is either as a fertility medication (can be for both men or women), or to restore testosterone production in men.

But what about hCG’s role in weight loss?   In 1954, Dr. Albert T. Simeons, a British-physician claimed hCG injections would allow dieters to manage easily on a 500 calorie per day diet.   He claimed that hCG could suppress appetite, burn stored fat as well as redistribute fat from the hips, thighs and waist.    Unfortunately, he had no clinical evidence to validate any of these claims.

But that’s not to say that hCG’s role in weight loss hasn’t been studied. It has been studied quite extensively.  Not one single study indicates hCG has any benefit for weight loss (see JAMA 236:2495–2497, 1976, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29:940–948, 1976, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 12:230–234, 1963, S Afr Med J. 1990 Feb 17;77(4):185-9, West Journal of Medicine 127:461–463, 1977, Archives of Internal Medicine 137:151-155, 1977).

Here’s a good summary of the scientific evidence for and against use of this hormone.

Female bladder weakness by Dr. Cynthia Hall

The first of the baby boomer generation are turning 65 in 2011 and as they enter middle age and beyond, their overall health and wellness needs are shifting. Despite the national attention placed on boomer health, many boomer women are still silently grappling with embarrassing conditions because they incorrectly believe their symptoms are a “normal part of aging.” One such condition I find women are particularly reluctant to discuss, despite the fact that it is so commonly experienced, is bladder weakness. And from my perspective as a pelvic health practitioner, the need to raise awareness and educate this aging population of women about the condition could not be greater.

Recent statistics indicate that 1 in 4 women over 40 experience urinary incontinence symptoms, which can be anything from very mild “leaks” to a full release of urine. Yet, you wouldn’t know it from silence that surrounds the condition. Even women coming to my office for other pelvic floor problems, such as prolapse or pelvic pain, are reluctant to discuss their urinary leakage.  I often have to coax the information out of my patients, by asking if they experience “a few drops” or other similar questions. As a practitioner, this concerns me because the condition is quite common, can significantly impair a woman’s quality of life, and is often very manageable.  There is an unnecessary stigma associated with urinary incontinence, which has shown to be a huge hindrance for the women who are affected by this condition.

Urinary incontinence is caused by a number of factors. Stress Urinary Incontinence, sometimes called SUI, happens as a result of the weakening of the pelvic muscles and poor urethral support. When you exert stress on your body, such as when you laugh or sneeze or cough, the pelvic muscles are unable to hold in your urine and expel it from the body. Giving birth, having prior surgery, a family history and aging are all risk factors.

A common misconception about urinary incontinence is that it’s a normal part of aging. While aging does play a role in the weakening of the pelvic muscles, aging alone is not the diagnosis. Urinary incontinence, unlike some other age related conditions, is manageable. I encourage my patients to try pelvic health exercises, such as Core Wellness, to strengthen their pelvic muscles. And until the muscles strengthen, there are great pads on the market especially designed for those small leaks, such as TENA.

A quarter of women over 40 deal at some point with this uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing condition. Why are they suffering in silence? I urge women to be aware of their urinary health and to talk to their doctors about it as they begin to notice changes in their bodies. A simple conversation could go a long way.

Dr. Cynthia Hall, MD, FACOG Cynthia D. Hall, MD, FACOG is part of the Center for Women’s Continence and Pelvic Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

New hope for nerve repair with MS

Scientists have identified a way of prompting nerve system repair in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Studies on rats by Cambridge and Edinburgh University researchers identified how to help stem cells in the brain regenerate myelin sheath, needed to protect nerve fibres.

Read more about it here!

How to believe in love again!

I’ve been thinking about love lately.

When we lose our faith in just about everything in midlife, what can we do to believe in love again?   Here’s what I suggest!