Hair Loss Doesn't Happen to Women, Right?

It's not as common for women to lose their hair as they age as it is for men, but it does happen. Unexpected and unwelcome, female hair loss can be very distressing for the woman going through it.

There are many reasons you might begin losing your hair. Among them:
• Genetics—a family history of hair loss in women.
• Autoimmune disorders.
• Hormone imbalances.
• Poor nutrition.
• High levels of stress.
• Anemia—a low red blood cell count.
• A fungal infection on your scalp.

Often times after menopause, a woman will begin to lose more hair than usual. This is normal, and your hair will usually begin to come in thicker again after three to six months. The same is true if you can trace your hair loss back to a stressful event.

However, other conditions that cause hair loss may require a doctor's care. A hormone imbalance or an autoimmune disorder may be damaging your body in other ways. And a fungal infection should be looked at by a dermatologist.

To help support the health of your hair make sure you are getting enough iron in your diet. Also try taking a vitamin B complex supplement and an omega-3 supplement. Both can help boost the thickness and overall health of your hair.

Stay healthy

Heather Robwell

More Evidence that Hormone Replacement Therapy is Dangerous

Women, when you reach menopause, you may be tempted to relieve your symptoms with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. I urge you to consider other options.

In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative study showed that HRT, especially estrogen plus progestin, increases your breast cancer risks. Now, further studies confirm this. In 2003 and 2004, the incidence of breast cancer dropped dramatically. This drop correlates directly with fewer women choosing to use synthetic HRT. Women who do choose HRT are discontinuing the therapy as soon as possible, which is also contributing to the breast cancer decline.

At first, doctors suspected that a lower rate of breast cancer screening caused the drop in known cancer cases. However, researchers have looked at only women who have had screening and the same decline is apparent. The conclusion? Less women using synthetic hormones means a lower rate of breast cancer.

The evidence that HRT increases your breast cancer risk is not easily explained away. Be sure to ask your doctor about alternatives to synthetic hormones--there are many effective options that are much safer.

Meghan Krohn

Guilt-Free Coffee in the Morning

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning? If not, maybe you should. A recent study conducted by French researchers found that coffee protects the cognitive ability of women as they age.

Women who drink at least three cups of coffee each day are 30 percent less likely to develop memory problems by the time they are 65 than women who drink one cup or less. By the time a woman reaches 80, those three cups of java will have lowered her risks by 70 percent compared to women who don't drink coffee.

The researchers believe that the protective effect comes from a combination of factors. First, caffeine is a brain stimulant, which may help keep the brain functioning better. Second, coffee is rich in micronutrients. Finally, coffee also helps prevent the build up of the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Now there are bound to be puritans out there who object to coffee based on the fact that it is a stimulant. It's also addictive—just ask any coffee lover how her head feels two hours into a coffee-free morning.

However, given its protective affects—this study is not the first lauding coffee for its health benefits—I say drink up.

A 70% reduction in dementia risks is a pretty powerful argument for savoring a first, second, and third cup of coffee in the morning.

Stay healthy,
Heather Robwell