Women are amazing. They bear children, thrive in the workplace, run the home, and get to wear fabulous shoes and makeup while doing it. But being born without that Y chromosome also has a few negatives—like hot flashes, the possibility of ovarian and breast cancers, and sometimes foot pain from those fabulous shoes.
hot flashes
Hot flashes may strike in the middle of the day or when you’re fast asleep. They can come once a week or several times a day. They may last for a couple of minutes or half an hour—but this much is certain: they’re uncomfortable and just about every woman will experience them.
“Sometimes patients will say it feels like their face is in an oven,” says Terri Bauer, nurse practitioner of women’s health at Saint Louis Associates in OB-GYN. Hot flashes are among the first symptoms of menopause. While that may be common knowledge, doctors say the exact scientific reason behind the sensation isn’t completely known. But generally speaking, hormone changes cause temperature changes in the body. Then the part of the brain that perceives those fluctuations responds with flushing and sweating.
“It’s scary and stressful to see changes happening in one’s body, and the job of the physician is of course to help people navigate that change,” says OB-GYN Dr. Jodie Rai of Women’s Healthcare Consultants. So, experts suggest going to see a professional if the hot flashes get too uncomfortable to bear.
“I have had patients that have come in and said, ‘I’m getting at least two or three in an hour. I just can’t function.’ Because when you get one of these, you pretty much just have to stop what you’re doing,” Bauer says.
The severity, frequency and duration of the symptoms may depend on a variety of factors. Family history and race each play a role. And lifestyle factors like inactivity, smoking or obesity can worsen the symptoms. Naturally, a woman may also experience more hot flashes during hotter times of the year.
“We can’t make menopause stop, it’s part of the life cycle. But there are ways to treat symptoms,” Rai says. The most common treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT ). It is effective, but health professionals are careful not to give it to everyone after a study found it might increase the risk for stroke, blood clots and some types of cancer. While some in the medical community consider the study flawed, it still led to a re-examination of when to prescribe hormones.
It also has led to the increased use of more natural remedies, such as soy, ginseng, flaxseed and red clover. Anti-seizure and anti-depression medications may also help women who aren’t good candidates for HRT .
With so many options available, experts urge women not to hesitate in seeking help if menopausal symptoms are affecting their quality of life. Statistics show while most women experience hot flashes, only about 20 percent of those seek treatment.
“Most women, try to endure, that’s just how we are,” Bauer says. “And sometimes it just gets to the point where you can’t take it anymore. So I always tell patients, don’t try and suffer through that. If there’s something out there that can help you, then let’s definitely move toward that.”
ovarian cancer
It is known as the silent killer. It creeps into the body with few symptoms, and those are unlikely to raise red flags: bloating, constipation, feeling full faster. So, by the time the doctor diagnoses ovarian cancer, the disease is usually stage three or worse, meaning it has spread beyond the ovaries. The cure rate is only 35 to 40 percent.
“Right now we don’t have a way to detect ovarian cancer early, and there’s a question about whether that’s even possible based on the biology of the tumor,” says Dr. Katherine Fuh, gynecologic oncology specialist with Washington University Physicians.
But researchers are
working to learn more about the cancer in hopes of finding better ways to prevent and treat it. Most of the research involves the role genetics play in developing the disease. Some of that research revolves around the BRCA gene mutation, much publicized in recent years by Angelina Jolie. Those with the mutation may be more than 40 percent more likely to develop the disease. So, if the mutation is detected, they may opt to have their ovaries removed after having children, which nearly wipes out the chance of developing the cancer.
While the gene is a good predictor of breast and ovarian cancers, it applies only to around 15 percent of ovarian cancer patients. Experts hope to pinpoint other gene abnormalities that serve as early predictors. “There are new things cooking,” says Dr. Francisco Xynos, SLUCare gynecologist and oncologist. “We already are in that field, but it’s going slowly.”
Doctors also are trying to find better ways to cure advanced cases. Some methods include bathing the tumor bed in chemo and making sure every bit of the tumor is removed during a single surgery. Doctors also urge women to empower themselves to find the disease early by getting checked out every year and talking to their physician about anything out of the ordinary. That advice is especially important for women in their 50s and 60s, as the median age for an ovarian cancer diagnosis is 61. “Don’t brush off any symptoms that may seem unusual,” says Fuh, who tells her patients to closely watch what their body is telling them.
Researchers also have found that taking a birth control pill for at least 10 years lowers the chance of developing ovarian cancer. Having children also can decrease the risk. Interestingly, many doctors say women should not worry about baby powder use, despite recent lawsuits claiming the product may cause cancer. While some studies have suggested a link between the two, some in the medical community consider those studies flawed. “I doubt this will stand the scrutiny of science. There is no scientific evidence to prove [the powder] causes ovarian cancer,” Xynos says.
Doctors encourage women to focus on family history, as that is one factor proven to have an effect on the likelihood of cancer. And since there is no screening procedure for ovarian cancer, like the mammogram for breast cancer, knowing your risk factors could help save your life.
foot health
Any woman with a love of high heels probably understands the saying ‘no pain, no gain” all too well. But as boomers age, they are demanding less pain, and shoe designers are starting to understand that beauty and comfort can walk hand-in-hand.
“[Shoe] makers have realized they can make heels that are a little smarter for the everyday working woman,’” says podiatrist Dr. Meredith Stuart of Snyder Stuart Podiatry Center. Local designer Joanne Smith of Crowne Comforteur is among those in the industry paving the way for smarter footwear. She says her brand is growing rapidly at its Chesterfield store, and in online sales across the country. “We believe women should just automatically get that comfort feature and also get the fashion element they need,” Smith says.
She explains that her shoes have an insole with give that doesn’t compress. “Women are really coming back because they like that feel-good feature,” Smith says. And doctors say wearing good shoes is one step toward better foot health. Good shoes can help the falling arches and thinning fat pads on the feet that come with age. “We may not be wearing the right type of shoes to support our foot or to cushion our foot by the end of the day depending on what we’re doing,” Stuart says.
But age isn’t the only factor. Pregnancy, weight gain and exercise all can affect the foot and what it needs to stay healthy. Sometimes those needs include supportive shoes, inserts, stretches or injections. Foot experts like Stuart also are trying new, innovative techniques like laser and shockwave therapy to treat tendonitis and inflammation.
With all the different options, Stuart says it’s not smart to wait to see a doctor when you’re in pain on a regular basis. “If you jump on something a little bit sooner, when it’s simpler, we can get a handle on it,” she says.
Especially because foot pain may lead to inactivity, which may contribute to other health problems, Stuart advises seeing the doctor if nagging foot pain lasts longer than a month. An individual assessment also may help prevent you from buying over-the-counter options that may not be the right remedy for your specific problem, she says. Stuart does, however, suggest finding some sort of comfort insert if you know you’ll be wearing uncomfortable shoes for a special occasion.
With a little tweaking, great shoes don’t have to come with pain. No heel-loving woman should need to ditch her favorite shoes.
