Prevent yeast infections from coming back
Prevent yeast infections from coming back
Raw garlic, yogurt, and antifungal herbs are a few of the alternative approaches recommended for women who want to reduce or eliminate recurrent yeast infections according to the September 1998 issue of Self.
A cup of yogurt every day can prevent recurrence of yeast infection by bolstering the body's supply of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthful bacteria in the intestines that seems to control overgrowth of yeast, says a holistic dietician. She warns that frozen yogurt does not help since freezing destroys the active bacteria.
Wearing cotton underwear and taking an antifungal herb for a full seven to 14 days, including at least three days after symptoms have cleared, is recommended by an herbalist.
The first thing recommended by a naturopathic physician is to see a physician to have a vaginal culture taken to be sure it is a yeast infection, if this is the first infection for the woman. Use a boric acid vaginal suppository each night for several days after the infection is cleared in order to change the pH of the vagina to make it more acidic and less welcoming to a recurrent yeast infection, she suggests.
Finally, the physician also suggests patients can prevent recurrence by strengthening the immune system by eating one or two cloves of raw or very lightly cooked garlic each day for a month after the infection.
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The benefits and disadvantages of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and raloxifene for menopausal women experiencing hot flashes and bone loss are discussed in a September Good Housekeeping article.
Benefits of ERT include a 50% lower risk of heart disease, reduction of colorectal cancer, decrease in macular degeneration that leads to blindness, and protection against Type 2 diabetes. Disadvantages include a higher risk of breast and uterine cancer and an increased risk of potentially harmful blood clots in arm or leg veins.
Raloxifene offers users the benefits of increased bone mass and a potential protection against breast cancer. Disadvantages include side effects such as leg cramps and increased risk of blood clots. Raloxifene also does not relieve hot flashes and may even increase their severity. Another factor women should consider before taking raloxifene is that is has been studied only three years vs. the 25 years that ERT has been researched, so long-term effects are not fully known.
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While almost every pregnant woman undergoes an ultrasound exam at least once during her pregnancy, experts are debating the value of routine ultrasounds, according to a September Redbook article.
At least 70% of pregnant women receive a routine ultrasound between 16 and 22 weeks of gestational age. The timing of this exam is a compromise for doctors. Most doctors would prefer two scans - one in the first trimester and another in the second - but insurance typically will pay for only one in a healthy, low-risk pregnancy.
While seeing the baby on a sonogram is exciting and makes the baby seem more real, the author points out that this is a medical exam to detect fetal anomalies and to verify gestational age, not just a way to get an early video of the child.
U.S. doctors generally detect only 35% of fetal anomalies through a routine ultrasound, while European doctors detect 61% of defects. Women can increase the accuracy of their ultrasound by:
· having the exam at a facility that is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine;
· choosing a sonographer who reads at least 170 sonograms per year;
· making sure the technologist is certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers;
· treating the exam as a medical test by letting the doctor concentrate and asking for a video copy only if it does not interfere with the exam. n
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