That Darn Menopause Does What?
Menopause could be at the heart of your recent rise in cholesterol. A new study has shown that it’s menopause and not aging that causes a sharp rise in cholesterol levels of menopausal women of any ethnicity. The cholesterol rise is a problem since it may contribute to heart disease later in life.
Almost all of the women in the study experienced a rise in cholesterol levels around the two years surrounding the final menstrual period. The study is important because the findings can help women be more aware of risk factors for heart disease which may occur around menopause. The study results will be published this month in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Dads May Get Postpartum Depression Too
The New York Times recently explored the idea of postpartum depression in fathers. While many doctors haven’t really heard of the disorder, studies have shown that around 4% of fathers experience depression within eight weeks of a child’s birth. Read the whole story, Postpartum Depression Strikes Fathers, Too.
MRI Could Diagnose Dangerous Maternal Condition
Researchers have found that MRI is 90.1% successful in detecting placenta accreta, which may occur when a woman’s placenta attaches too deeply to the uterus during pregnancy. The condition is dangerous when not detected until delivery, and it could result in severe hemorrhaging in the mother or complications for the baby.
While ultrasound can detect placenta accreta, it doesn’t always help with diagnosing subtle cases. Risk factors for the condition include: placenta covers all or part of the cervix, uterine scarring, prior cesarean births and, possibly, maternal age of more than 35 years. The researchers note that not knowing about placenta accreta can be life threatening, but with proper diagnosis, the pregnancy can be monitored more carefully. The study was presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree