FitSugar

Watch Out For: Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

So you've been out in the sun and you wore sunscreen, but unfortunately you forgot to reapply. You ended up with a nasty burn on your face and as you take a closer look, parts of your cheek appear kind of blistery and yellowish in color. What you've got is a case of sun poisoning (also called Photodermatitis, for those who want to impress their friends). Not only does it cause this painful rash, but symptoms also include fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, and headaches. The area may swell and will probably feel like it's on fire.

Sun poisoning is your skin's reaction to UV rays. It's possible to become more sensitive than normal if you use certain meds such as antibiotics, beauty products that are used for acne, or sunscreens that contain PABA. Just like an irritating sunburn, the rash usually results in itchy, peeling skin, but eventually goes away on its own within 10 days. That's good to hear, but there's bad news too. To hear it read more

The more extreme exposure your skin gets to UV rays, the bigger your risk for skin cancer. So you want to prevent sunburns and sun poisoning at all costs. Make sure to avoid long hours of sunlight, especially during 10 am and 3 pm. Of course, slather yourself with broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. It must be applied 30 minutes before you head out in the sun, and must be reapplied every two hours.

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Ovarian Cancer: 4 Symptoms to Watch Out For

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

The New York Times is reporting that cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer. They are:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women are strongly encouraged to see their doctor, preferably their gynecologist if they have been experiencing these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. These symptoms and signs have been identified in hopes that patients and doctors will become more aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

However, it is too soon to know if this new screening method will improve rates of early detection or lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or, in a worst case scenario, unnecessary operations. Yet, cancer experts believe a more aggressive approach might prove fruitful to detecting ovarian cancer early. If the disease, one of the deadlier types of cancer due to late diagnosis, is detected early (Stage I) it is considered 90% curable.

The purpose of these findings is not to frighten women, but to make them and their physicians more alert to these symptoms if they arise suddenly and with intense frequency.

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Anemia: Know the Signs

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We all get "bone" tired every now and again, but have you ever been "blood" tired? Tired blood is an expression used to explain anemia - a condition in which there isn't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues - can make you feel tired. Women are more prone to suffer from anemia from men due to menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

While there are many types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of the problem in the U.S. affecting 1 in 5 women. Being deficient in folate and vitamin B12 can also interfere with the production of red blood cells and create anemia.

Fatigue is the primary symptom along with pale skin, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. If you think you might be anemic check the insides of your lower eyelids - they should be a healthy pink. If they are not, try upping your intake of iron or you can ask your doctor to give you a blood test.

Simple ways to combat anemia are eating foods rich in iron, like: red meat, fish, chicken, green leafy veggies, dried fruits (like apricots, prunes, and raisins) and lentils or beans. Up your iron intake by cooking tomato based sauces in a cast iron skillet, since acidic foods absorb the mineral from the pan. You can always try an iron supplement; just make sure it bears the United States Pharmacopeia Seal (USP).

Fit's Tip: Veteran mid-distance runner Ceci St. Geme had her last kid over 8 years ago and she still takes pre-natal vitamins because they contain iron. So keep your friends and loved ones guessing and start taking prenatal vitamins if you tend towards anemia.

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Now Is the Time to Get Ready For the Slopes

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Even though we're in the middle of Fall and I've yet to see any real signs of snow, experts say now is the time to get your butt in gear for Winter sports. Days on the slopes can be long and require a good amount of endurance, especially if you're the type who likes to visit the mountains for an extended weekend or even longer.

Veteran Winter Olympic athletes like ski racer Daron Rahlves and snowboarder Elena Hight recommend doing specific training for Winter sports six to eight weeks before the season starts. They say the key to lasting all day, weekend, or week on the slopes is to work on flexibility, strength, and cardio. A good mix of this will ensure you can snowboard from sunup to sundown. Being in tip-top shape will also help cut down on injuries.

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle asked a group of Winter Olympians and trainers their advice on getting in shape for Winter sports. Here's some of their advice.

Stretch for 15-20 minutes every day or do 10 minutes of sun salutations. Skiers should focus on their lower bodies, while snowboarders should focus on their upper and lower areas.
Two to three times a week, focus on strength training with emphasis on your quads, hamstrings, and core muscles. Keeping your legs and core strong helps with balance and endurance, and helps cut down on ACL injuries. If you can, use kettlebells and also make sure to do tons of squats, leg curls, and lunges.
Do some sort of aerobic activity for at least 15 minutes every day, keeping your heart rate elevated the entire time.

Sounds doable to me. Who's hungry for powder?

How Many Days a Week Do You Work Out?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:38 -0800

I'm a bear if I don't exercise. I get moody and irritable and cranky. If I've gone too long without working out, my family is the first to know and it's not pretty. Luckily my husband knows the warning signs of exercise withdrawal, and shoos me out the door with sneakers in hand. To keep my sanity, I aim to exercise at least five days a week. What about you?

Best Buy No Longer Just Selling Couch-Potato Electronics

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:21 -0800

When I hear my husband is headed to Best Buy, I get a bit nervous. My fears my be slightly allayed by the fact that select outlets of this electronics mecca will be selling my favorite fitness accessory that features a computer chip: heart rate monitors. Forty stores in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas will be selling HRMs as well as pedometers and gear for swimming, yoga, and Pilates enthusiasts. Many locations will also have cardio machines like ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes for shoppers to test drive. My guess is that the store is also hoping you will think that you need a flat-screen TV for your new home gym, but I still take this as a positive sign for incorporating fitness into daily life.

No Longer Silent: 7 Signs of Ovarian Cancer

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:45:06 -0700

In light of September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I found this quote about the "silent killer" illuminating. Dr. William Hamilton, a lead researcher on a recent survey of symptoms of the disease, said, "Ovarian cancer is not silent, it's noisy. It's just we're not very good at deciphering the noise."

As researchers reviewed medical records of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they found these seven common symptoms.

Abdominal distension
Urinary frequency
Abdominal pain
Postmenopausal bleeding
Loss of appetite
Rectal bleeding
Abdominal bloating

You might find it redundant that the list contains both abdominal distension and bloating, but medically speaking they are different symptoms. Bloating comes and goes, but distension is "a progressive increase in abdominal size." In the US, bloating is the most persistent symptom, and unfortunately a sign of many other, simpler health problems. Making both patients and gynecologists aware of the symptoms is the next step in the fight against ovarian cancer, where early detection is key.

The Ultimate Date: Indoor Rock Climbing

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Women That Rock (Climb) community members Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude give you their take on why indoor rock climbing makes a perfect fitness-inspired date.

Spacekatdude and I are married, so we're always looking for fun new things to do. Recently, we decided to give indoor rock climbing a shot! We totally loved it! We wanted to post a bit about it for newbies.

We each signed up for a $160 class, which included gym membership for two weeks. We got free equipment rental and a really great instructor named Nate that taught us the basics, focusing on safety. We were taught to tie our own knots and how to "belay" your partner safely, meaning how to catch them if they fall off the wall.

I will be honest and say it's a real trust building exercise. I love my husband dearly, but I also know it's in his nature to be distracted. It was a little hard for me to put my life into his hands and trust him to catch me if I fell. Throwing myself off the wall for the first time was very scary - but I quickly learned that I could count on him for this. Working as a team to guide the other person up the wall is both fun and good for your relationship!

It's also a great workout. Within a few weeks of rock climbing, I've greatly increased my upper body strength. If you have moxie, I would definitely say it's a sport you should try!

To hear Spacekatdude's perspective, read more.

A guy's perspective - Spacekatdude here. Rock climbing is awesome. It's not just a physical thing - it's very mental, as you try to figure out set paths up the wall, only being allowed to touch rock outcroppings of a particular color - very challenging. Whenever we go to the gym there are a lot of women there, and it's great to watch those who love the challenge and love to push themselves, I think that's awesome. Our instructor Nate also told us that it was great for kids - one of the best rock climbers he knew was an eight-year-old girl, who showed him some excellent routes during an outdoor climb.

I mentioned that climbing is a mental exercise. This is because you have to constantly concentrate on what you're doing. If you go in mentally weak or lazy, bad things can happen: I read of some climbers who went to Half Dome at Yosemite, all ready to hammer in their own ropes to descend from the top. But there were ropes already there, embedded in the rock, and they just used those. As they climbed down, the ropes gave way, and they fell to their deaths. So laziness has no place in rock climbing.

Also, as you climb, it's important to remember to use your feet for power, and not to try to pull yourself up by your arms. So the mental challenge is to keep concentrating the entire time you're roping yourself in, climbing, and belaying.

Share your climbing tales in the Women That Rock (Climb) group and spread the love! Not a climber? Be sure to take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone!

Source: Flickr User Charlie Brewer

5 Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:50:35 -0800

We don't always feel 100 percent all the time, and it's normal to feel a little nauseous, tired, or sniffly every once in a while. These are minor symptoms though, and usually go away on their own. But there are a few red flag signals our bodies flash to warn us of serious medical conditions, and they're symptoms you shouldn't pass off as nothing. WebMD spoke to the authors of Your Body's Red Light Warning Signals, and here are some symptoms that require a doctor's visit or emergency care.

Difficulty breathing. Tightness in the chest, wheezing, shallow breathing, or constantly coughing are all symptoms of asthma. If a person has these symptoms or full-on asthma attacks, and they're left untreated, the muscles used for breathing can get tired. That means the amount of oxygen getting into the lungs will decrease, while the levels of carbon dioxide increase. This has a drowsing effect on the brain, and the person may stop breathing, which could result in death.
Blood in your urine. When you go to the bathroom, you shouldn't see blood, and if you do, it could be a sign of kidney stones, bladder infections, or cancer of the kidney, urethra, or bladder. Even if you don't feel pain, call your doctor.

To see the other red flags keep reading

4 Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Lately we have become so hyper-sensitive about sun exposure and the damaging effects it has on our health. Wearing sunscreen and using self-tanners can all help to prevent possible future outbreaks of skin cancer, but what about the sun exposure we've already had?

Unfortunately, there was probably a time when we weren't so careful. Previous sun exposure might cause skin cancer, so it's important for you (or a close friend) to check your skin. Look carefully at moles and beauty marks to see if they have any of these symptoms:

Fit's Tips: If you have any doubts about a specific mole, make an appointment with a dermatologist. They may perform a biopsy where they remove a portion of it and check for cancer. Since skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., it's better to be safe, so if they do find cancer cells or are unsure, they'll remove the entire mole. To protect yourself from future sun damage, check out these tips.

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