* Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases.
* The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman.
» Read more: Menopause At A Glance
In women for whom oral or vaginal estrogens are deemed inappropriate, such as breast cancer survivors, or women who do not wish to take oral or vaginal estrogen, there are a variety of over-the-counter vaginal lubricants.
» Read more: Menopause: Non-pharmaceutical therapies
Certain medical and surgical conditions can influence the timing of menopause.
Surgical removal of the ovaries
The surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) in an ovulating woman will result in an immediate menopause, sometimes termed a surgical menopause. In this case, there is no perimenopause, and after surgery, a woman will generally experience the signs and symptoms of menopause. In cases of surgical menopause, women often report that the abrupt onset of menopausal symptoms results in particularly severe symptoms, but this is not always the case.
The ovaries are often removed together with the removal of the uterus (hysterectomy). If a hysterectomy is performed without removal of both ovaries in a woman who has not yet reached menopause, the remaining ovary or ovaries are still capable of normal hormone production. While a woman cannot menstruate after the uterus is removed by a hysterectomy, the ovaries themselves can continue to produce hormones up until the normal time when menopause would naturally occur. At this time a woman could experience the other symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and mood swings. These symptoms would then not be associated with the cessation of menstruation. Another possibility is that premature ovarian failure will occur earlier than the expected time of menopause, as early as 1-2 years following the hysterectomy. If this happens, a woman may or may not experience symptoms of menopause.
» Read more: What conditions can affect the timing of menopause?
* Although smoking is an addiction, people can quit smoking.
* Secondhand smoke is harmful to the health of children, unborn children, family members, and coworkers.
* Quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases.
» Read more: Smoking and Quitting Smoking At A Glance
Health care workers have become extremely active in publicizing the negative effects of smoking. In fact, health care workers have been instrumental in passing various legislation to limit smoking in public; as a result, the proportion of people in the US who smoke has dropped from 40.4% in 1965 to 22.5% in 2002 (data from the US Department of Health).
» Read more: What is in the future for smoking?
Users of nicotine-containing products should understand that all of these products have side effects as well as effects on other underlying medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, asthma, and heart disease. Furthermore, these products can have interactions with other prescribed medications such as pain relievers, blood thinners, and high blood pressure medications. And finally, they do have their limitations. The following guidelines are to help you safely use these products to achieve your goal of quitting smoking.
» Read more: How are nicotine-containing products used safely?
The following products for cessation of smoking are available by prescription only. Nicotine for nicotine replacement therapy is available by prescription as an inhaler or nasal spray (Nicotrol Inhaler and Nicotrol NS).These other forms of delivery of nicotine seem to work as well as the nicotine patches or gum. Prescription nicotine replacement products are more expensive than over-the-counter products.
» Read more: What prescription products are available for smoking cessation?
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) became available over the counter in the 1990’s. The purpose of nicotine replacement therapy is to substitute another source of nicotine while cigarettes are discontinued. By this means, the habit of smoking is eliminated, even though the addiction to nicotine remains intact. But at the same time, nicotine replacement therapy eliminates the symptoms of withdrawal that can trigger more smoking. In addition, behavioral counseling to change smoking-related behavior usually is necessary. Once cigarettes have been replaced during nicotine replacement therapy, the amount of nicotine is then gradually reduced.
Currently, there are different forms of nicotine replacement therapy available over-the-counter and include:
* nicotine transdermal systems or patches (Nicoderm CQ and Nicotrol),
* nicotine polacrilex resin or gum (Nicorette), and
» Read more: Nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking
Due to the addictive nature of nicotine, some form of behavioral modification is often necessary for successful cessation of smoking. Educational programs, hypnosis, and aversion therapy (learning how to avoid cigarettes) are a few options. Smokers may be counseled to avoid specific triggers or situations that lead to smoking. For example, instead of awakening and grabbing a cigarette at the bedside or smoking immediately after a meal, people may be encouraged to replace the urge to smoke with another activity, such as, taking a walk or reading a book.
» Read more: Behavioral modification and self-help literature to quit smoking
Several methods are available to assist those who decide to quit smoking. The main categories of methods are:
* changing the behavior that is associated with smoking;
* self-help literature;
* nicotine replacement therapy; and
* prescription smoking cessation aids.
» Read more: What methods can help a person quit smoking?
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