Women's Health Archive

Studies suggest that adopting a sunnier outlook may improve your health and even extend your life.

Image: © lzf /Thinkstock

In these turbulent times, it's sometimes a struggle to maintain a glass-half-full view of life. But if you can, it may serve you well. A growing body of research links optimism—a sense that all will be well—to a lower risk for mental or physical health issues and to better odds of a longer life.

One of the largest such studies was led by researchers Dr. Kaitlin Hagan and Dr. Eric Kim at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Their team analyzed data from 70,000 women in the Nurses' Health Study who, in 2004, had answered questions about how they viewed their futures

Women with early cancer in one breast may opt to remove the other, healthy breast because they overestimate their risk of a second cancer.

The risk of developing stress incontinence or urge incontinence increases along with BMI and body fat percentage. Stress incontinence is also associated with declines in grip strength.

Data from more than 200,000 people indicates that the risk of developing melanoma increases by 13% for every glass of white wine consumed per day. Drinking beer, red wine, or liquor was not associated with increased risk.

Bleeding

While a minor cut will eventually stop bleeding, a severe injury may require elevation and direct pressure on the wound. The goals of first-aid treatment are to control bleeding and prevent infection. If disposable surgical gloves are readily available, use them.

Butterfly Bandages

Direct Pressure for Bleeding and Pressure Points for Bleeding

How to Stop a Nosebleed

Birth of the Placenta

The placenta, which has provided the fetus with nourishment, is attached to the umbilical cord and is delivered about 20 minutes after the baby. Do not pull on the cord; delivery of the placenta occurs on its own. You can help by gently massaging the woman’s lower abdomen. The uterus will feel like a hard round mass.

Massaging the abdomen helps the uterus contract, which also helps stop bleeding. After the placenta is delivered, place it in a plastic bag to take with the woman and baby to the hospital. It is normal for more bleeding to occur after delivery of the placenta. Continue gently massaging the woman’s lower abdomen.

Butterfly Bandage

Direct Pressure to Stop Bleeding

A wound that is deep, bleeding heavily, or has blood spurting from it (caused by bleeding from an artery), may not clot and may not stop bleeding.

Immediate care
Call out for someone to get help, or call 911 yourself. Elevate the wound and apply direct pressure.

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

• Do you have regular menstrual cycles?
• When was your last period?
• Is your bleeding always heavy or prolonged?
• How old were you when you started menstruating?
• How long ago did you develop abnormal bleeding?
• Are you sexually active?
• How many times have you been pregnant?
• What was the outcome of each pregnancy (live births, miscarriages, cesarean sections)?
• Have you ever had difficulty getting pregnant?
• What medications are you taking (including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies such as ginseng)?
• Are you taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills?
• Have you ever had medications injected (Depo-Provera or Norplant) for birth control?
• Have you ever taken estrogen or tamoxifen?
• Are you taking warfarin or other blood thinners?
• Have you ever had an abnormal Pap smear?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

• Blood pressure, heart rate, weight
• Abdominal examination
• Pelvic exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

• Pregnancy test
• Blood tests such as complete blood count, coagulation (clotting) studies, and certain hormone tests (such as thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone)
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Pap smear
• Endometrial biopsy.