Hair Loss Among Women

Usually women do not expect to have to cope with female hair loss even if there is a history of hair loss in their family, with males or females. The general belief tends to be that baldness is a problem for males, not for women. Female hair loss is only accepted when women are old and it is hard to find a hair loss treatment specifically aimed at females.

Types of Hair Loss

There are three main types of hair loss (alopecia) in women. These types are:

Androgenetic alopecia

This is a type of inherited pattern hair loss and it is the most common cause of permanent hair loss in both women and men.

Alopecia Areata

This type of hair loss occurs because the immune system is attacking the hair follicles.

Traumatic Alopecia

This type of hair loss is caused by braiding or chemically treating the hair. Hot rollers and other appliances can damage the hair to an extent that the hair follicles will stop producing hairs, causing baldness. This treatment is commonly used to stop hair loss.

Causes for Hair Loss in Women

The cause of female hair loss is different for every woman and sometimes it is possible to stop hair loss by, for example, not using a specific hair treatment product or method anymore. Other causes for female hair loss are:

Poor nutrition. A lack of essential vitamins and minerals in your diet might cause hair loss.

Certain types of medication can cause hair loss. If you are using medication and you are experiencing hair loss, contact your doctor.

A scalp infection can be the cause of (temporary) hair loss.

Damaging hair treatments with acids or heat can damage the hair and follicles to an extent where hair will stop growing.

Diagnosis of Hair Loss in Women

A doctor can diagnose your hair loss on the basis of (for example) medical history. Other facts on which a diagnosis can be based are:

Regularly checking the pattern of your hair.

A hair biopsy (the hair will be checked in a laboratory).

Blood tests can help a doctor find out if the hair loss is caused by a medical condition. 

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes stroke and coronary heart disease, is the leading cause of death and disability in women. Women differ from men in their vulnerability to CVD. Also, the risk factors that predict cardiovascular disease risk and incidence differ in women.

Compared to men, women’s onset of heart disease (CHD) is delayed about 10 years due to the presence of estrogen prior to menopause. Once women reach 70, their rates for CHD mortality catch up to men’s. However, as women age, they have a greater chance than men to develop specific CHD risk factors, such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and congestive heart failure.

The three most modifiable risk factors for CVD are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Physical activity, weight maintenance, and a heart-healthy diet have been shown to prevent the development of CVD. Furthermore, studies show that the benefits of taking a daily dose of aspirin to prevent CVD outweigh the risks of side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. However, consult your physician to determine whether or not aspirin therapy is a good choice for you and also to identify the appropriate dose.

Breast Cancer

It is not clear whether a high-fat diet is associated with breast cancer. Overweight or obese women are thought to be at greater risk for developing the disease. With increased weight, there are greater amounts of estrogen produced by the body. Just as estrogen in HRT increases breast cancer risk, high amounts of estrogen produced by women before menopause may also increase the risk of breast cancer. One recent study suggested the red meat and processed meat consumption may be linked to breast cancer, as well. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding. (British Journal of Cancer, April 2007-UKWCS).

Studies on breast cancer incidence reveal rates in American women are much higher than in women of other populations. Women from Mediterranean areas, where olive oil and fish oil comprise a large part of the diet, have less breast cancer, even though caloric intake from fat is higher than for American women. Also, women who live in sunnier areas tend to have a lower incidence of breast cancer. This prompted several new studies, which indicate that Vitamin D may be protective against breast cancer.

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose 10

Practice these 10 poses in this order (1 to 10) at least three times a week for optimal overall health

Half Lord of the Fishes

Stretches hips, shoulders, back, neck; strengthens spine 

1. Sit on the floor with legs outstretched in front of you. Bring the sole of the right foot on the floor outside of the left hip (right knee points to the ceiling). 

2. Bend the left knee and bring the left foot to the outside of the right hip. Place right hand on the floor just behind your right hip. Lift your left arm to the ceiling. As you exhale, bend the left arm and place the left elbow to the outside of your right knee. 

3. Lengthen your spine with each inhale and twist deeper with each exhale. Press the left elbow into your right leg to help revolve the upper body more and more. Look to the wall behind you. Hold for 5 to 10 deep breaths. Repeat on the opposite side. 

Why it is good for you
This pose massages improves digestion and increase blood flow in the low belly. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 9

Bridge Pose

Stretches front of body; strengthens hamstrings, glutes 

1. Lying on your back, bend your knees and place the soles of your feet flat on the floor about hip-width apart. Toes point straight to the wall in front of you. Place arms straight along your sides, palms down. 

2. Gently press into your feet as you raise hips to the sky. Allow the front of your body to slowly expand with each breath. Hold for 5 to 10 breaths. Repeat 3 times. 

Why it is good for you
Bridge opens the chest and ribcage, deepening the breath and with more oxygen you can reenergize the body. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 8

Boat Pose

Strengthens core, psoas, quadriceps 

1. Sit with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Lean back slightly so you're balancing on your sit bones. Raise your legs so shins are parallel to the floor, knees bent. 

2. Extend arms forward, parallel with the floor, palms facing each other. Keeping your chest high and your core engaged, begin to straighten your legs. Hold for 5 to 10 breaths. Repeat 5 times. 

Why it is good for you
Boat a bulletproof core without straining your neck like crunches do. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 7

Garland Pose

Stretches low back, groin, hips, ankles 

1. Stand with feet slightly wider that hip-width. Bring the palms of your hands together in front of your heart in prayer pose. Turn toes out slightly. 

2. Deeply bend the knees, squatting down between your legs. Keeping palms together, gently press your elbows to the insides of your knees, opening up the hips. Keep the spine long, chest open. Feel tension in the lower back begin to melt away. Hold for at least 1 minute. 

Why it is good for you
Drop into this squat to relieve tummy troubles like constipation and cramps.

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 6

Tree Pose

Stretches hips, inner thighs; strengthens legs, spine, core 

1. Stand with your legs and feet together, hands on hips. Transfer weight to your left foot as you bend the right knee and place the sole of the right foot on the inside of your left leg (beginners start at the ankle; more advanced yogis, raise the right foot to the inside of the left thigh). Gently press the right foot against the left leg. 

2. Bring the palms of your hands together in front of the heart in prayer pose. Hold for 1 minute on each side. More advanced yogis: Raise your arms straight directly overhead, palms facing in. 

Why it is good for you
On days when your mind feels scattered, practice this pose to get centered. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 5

Fierce Pose

Stretches spine; strengthens quadriceps, ankles, back 

1. Stepping your feet hip-width apart, spread through your toes to create a stable base. As you raise arms to the sky, palms facing each another, bend your knees and sit your buttocks back as though you were sitting into a chair. 

2. Draw your abdomen in to eliminate any curving in the lower back. Put all your weight into your heels and be sure your knees do not extend past your toes. Hold for 5 deep breaths in and out through the nose. Rest for one minute. Repeat. 

Why it is good for you
This pose is injury insurance, strengthening quadriceps, which provides stronger support around your knees, making them less prone to injury. Fierce pose also improves posture. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 4

Plank Pose

Strengthens arms, back, shoulders, core, quadriceps 

1. From Downward-Facing Dog, press into the palms and bring the chest forward so that your shoulders are directly over your wrists and you are in the top of a push-up position. 

2. Press your heels toward the wall behind you and extend the crown of your head forward to form a straight line from the top of your head to your heels. Hold for at least 1 minute. 

Why it is good for you
Plank is a simple but challenging way to build upper body strength - it works all of the major muscles in your arms, back, and core and requires only your bodyweight. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 3

Warrior II

Stretches hips, inner thighs, chest; strengthens quadriceps, abdomen, shoulders 

1. From standing, step your feet about 4 feet apart. Turn your right foot so the toes point toward the front of your mat. Turn your left foot in 30 degrees. 

2. Raise your arms to shoulder height, parallel with the floor, palms face down. Bend your right knee so your right shin and thigh form a 90-degree angle. 

3. Gently tuck your tailbone down as you draw your abdomen in. Hold for 5 deep breaths in and out through the nose. Straighten the right leg and repeat on the opposite side. 

Why it is good for you
This powerful pose will grant you long, lean, toned arms and legs as well as firmer core. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 2

Downward Facing Dog

Stretches spine, hamstrings, glutes, calves; strengthens deltoids, triceps 

1. Start on all fours with your feet and knees hip-width apart. Position hands about shoulder-width apart and spread your fingers wide. 

2. Pressing firmly through your hands, lift knees off the floor and straighten your legs. (If you have tight hamstrings, a gentle bend in the knees is fine). 

3. Walk your hands forward a few inches and walk your feet back a few inches to lengthen the pose. Squeeze thighs as you press them toward the back wall. Press your heels back and down toward the floor (though they might not reach the mat). 

4. Relax the head and neck and let your shoulder blades slide down your back toward your feet. Breathe deeply. Hold for at least one minute. 

Why it is good for you
Down-Dog is a top-notch upper body-strengthener. And as an inversion (meaning your hips are higher than your heart), it increases circulation. 

10 Best Yoga Poses for Women - Pose - 1

1.Child's Pose

Stretches hips, quads, back 

1. Kneel on the floor with big toes touching and knees about hip-width apart. Sit on your heels. 

2. Lay your torso between the thighs and bring your forehead to the mat. Extend arms straight in front of you, palms on the floor. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Stay here for at least one minute. 

Why it is good for you
This go-to rest pose opens hips and relieves low back tightness. 

Diet system

High blood pressure is always of concern because it has the potential to lead to major adverse events, including strokes, heart attacks and heart failure," explains senior author Emily Levitan, ScD, a research fellow in the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Center at BIDMC. She and her coauthors, therefore, hypothesized that the DASH diet (short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) would also reduce a woman's risk of heart failure through its blood pressure lowering effects as well as its secondary effects on cholesterol and other heart-disease risk factors. The DASH diet, which has been shown to lower blood pressure in randomized clinical studies, is plentiful in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. "These foods are high in potassium, magnesium, calcium and fiber, moderately high in protein, and low in saturated fat and total fat," explains Levitan.

A life-threatening condition that develops when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure) is usually caused by existing cardiac conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization among patients 65 and older, and is characterized by such symptoms as fatigue and weakness, difficulty walking, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and persistent cough or wheezing.

Levitan analyzed data from women participants in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, in which women aged 48 to 83 who had no evidence of heart failure were invited to participate. In the fall of 1997, 36,019 women completed food frequency questionnaires to determine how closely their diets matched the DASH guidelines. Each participant was given a "score" based on their diet's similarity to the DASH diet.

"We then used records from the Swedish national healthcare system to determine whether the women went on to be hospitalized or to die from heart failure," explains Levitan. "We compared women with diets most similar to the DASH diet to women with diets that were not similar and found that those women whose diets most closely resembled DASH had the lowest risk of heart failure."

Their analysis showed that during the seven-year follow-up, 443 women developed heart failure, including 415 who were hospitalized and 28 women who died of the condition. Compared with the one-quarter of women with the lowest DASH diet scores, the one-quarter of the women with the highest DASH diet scores had a 37 percent lower risk of heart failure after factors such as age, physical activity and smoking were taken into account. More dramatically, the women with DASH scores in the top 10 percent had fully half the rate of heart failure compared with the one-quarter of participants with the lowest scores.

Of particular note, adds Levitan, a woman's diet did not have to precisely mimic the DASH diet in order to be of benefit. "Very few of the women we looked at had diets that shared all aspects of the DASH diet," she adds. "But we found that the closer they were, the lower their risk of heart failure. This suggests that making even moderate adjustments to your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, and less salt and sugar and less red meat and processed meats, can help improve cardiac health."

This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and from the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education