Women’s Health: Your Doctor’s Examination – Part 4

Blood and Lymph

Your blood has red cells, which carry oxygen, white cells that fight infection and platelet that allow clotting to occur.   This fluid system also includes plasma which is the fluid itself.  Lymph drains the system as well as blood, which is very busy eliminating waste products from the body.

Anemia is a condition that comes up when we talk about blood.  Anemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells bringing oxygen to the system.  The symptoms include being cold, tired and having shortness of breath.  A blood test can immediately diagnose anemia, and the doctor can easily diagnose it and give you proper treatment.

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The lymph system is usually quiet.  It doesn’t come to the fore unless it is having problems such as an infection, lymphedema or cancer.  Lymphedema is a condition that causes painful swelling that often occurs after surgery.  Light stretching is encouraged to get the circulation moving.  Infections cause the lymph nodes to swell and become tender.  Cancer will bring about hard lymph nodes.  Swimming is a benign exercise that can be helpful.  Do not lift anything bigger than a bread box.

Hormones

Hormones are topics in every instance of a woman’s health issues.  We have discussed them over and over.  What you might not know is that hormones are proteins that balance the delicate metabolic system.  We often hear about insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.  Thyroxine and triodothyronine are made by the thyroid, and estrogen and progesterone that are made by your ovaries.  The pituitary gland makes hormones as well as the hypothalamus and the adrenal gland.  It’s possible that your system is over doing it or under doing it.  Diabetes is a good example of a lack of insulin or a resistance to insulin’s importance in your body.  Diabetes comes in two forms, Type 1 ,Juvenile onset, “insulin dependent” diabetes starts when you are young and you manage it with insulin shots.  Type II, adult-onset “insulin resistant” diabetes that may be able to be managed with proper diet and often with other medication.  Signs you might have diabetes include increased urination, thirst and hunger, fatigue, losing weight, vision becomes blurry, numbness and frequent bladder infections, vaginal infections and skin infections.  Diabetes is an hereditary risk but the real causes are not known.  This latter type of diabetes is often accompanied by obesity and lack of exercise.  Gestational diabetes (happens during pregnancy) is often a risk factor of Type II.

You don’t ever get over diabetes and it may bring emergency problems with it although if you stick to a prescribed diet and are active and monitor your blood sugars frequently you can live your life with diabetes without it being a life-threatening condition.

The thyroid hormones control much of your body’s activity including metabolism, temperature, heart rate, fertility and bone metabolism.  Women often get into a low thyroid situation.  If the thyroid is working overtime, it is referred to as “Graves’ Disease.  Call in the endocrinologist.  If you have a noticeable change in weight or appetite, temperature fluctuations, dry skin, brittle fingernails and a swelling low in the neck you may be suffering thyroid problems.

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Related posts:

1. Women’s Health: The Doctor’s Examination – Part 1
2. Women’s Health: Bladder and Kidneys
3. Nutritional Health Tips for Moms – Glycemic Index
4. Women’s Health Screening – Part 2
5. How to Get What You Want from the Doctor – Patient, Know Thyself
6. How to Get What You Want from the Doctor – Stoicism is for Wimps
7. Women’s Health Screening – Part 3
8. Nutritional Health Tips for Moms – Fiber
9. How to Get What You Want from the Doctor – No-No’s
10. Women’s Health Screening – Menopause