An online resource of women's health information. Browse information on a range of women's health issues and topics including infertility, safety, weight loss, nutrition and spa details.

Spa Treatments For Pregnant Women – Safety Tips to Follow

June 2nd, 2010 3:13 am


Many modern-day spas have added spa services related to pregnancy, such as the pregnancy massage. These services are intended to improve the overall well-being of a pregnant woman; however, before you get too excited and jump right into your pregnancy spa adventure, here are some things you need to know when planning to undergo pregnancy spa treatment.

1. How to Choose the Right Spa

The services in spas often involve techniques and products that, when properly done, will certainly relax the pregnant woman. However, if they are improperly and incorrectly done, or done with the wrong products, the treatment could be unsafe not only to the mom but also to the baby. To choose the right spa for pregnancy spa treatments, you should look for a spa licensed to perform pregnancy-related spa services.

2. How to Choose the Right Spa Treatments for Pregnant Women

You might be disappointed when the spa services you want may not all be available for you. Remember, your condition is special. Nevertheless, there are still services available for you such as pregnancy massage which is great for relieving the overtaxed bones and muscles. You may also get a relaxing facial, especially that the skin changes significantly during the different stages of pregnancy. However, it is still advisable that you ask your spa therapist to know which services you can or cannot have.

3. What to Avoid

During pregnancy, hot tubs and other spa services that can raise your body temperature, such as wraps and sauna are off limits for pregnant women. You should also be careful about the oils used in your spa treatments because some may not be safe for pregnant women. However, you should not be afraid to use some essential oils as they can be great for alleviating the different side effects of pregnancy. Just be careful on your reactions especially that pregnant women develop the hypersensitivity to smell. If something seems unpleasant, be sure to ask your spa attendant or spa therapist.


4. Make the most of the time!

Don’t just consider a spa treatment for pregnant woman a run in and out experience. Take your time, relax and enjoy the services the spa offers. After the treatment, drink a cup of detoxifying hot tea. Slow down and relax because it is one of the best gifts you can ever give yourself and your baby.

Remember, spa treatments help you enhance and pay closer attention to your body and how you feel, so use that special time at the spa to concentrate on how you could be healthier and more beautiful at this special stage in your life.

EXFORGE For Hypertension And High Blood Pressure Patients

December 8th, 2009 2:34 am

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, affects approximately 1/3 of all Americans. Unknowingly, many people with the disease are essentially ticking time bombs waiting to explode. High Blood Pressure is also referred to as the silent killer. Although most diseases and illnesses manifesting symptoms, people often find the problem during a routine check in the doctor’s office, or after disaster strikes. Hypertension frequently causes serious, potentially life-threatening health problems; so, various medicines have been developed to keep the beastly disease under control.

High blood pressure can seriously damage a person’s arteries. Due to periods of excessive force, over time the artery walls are weakened, possibly resulting in aneurysms. Basically, fragile balloon-like areas may develop. Thus, an individual may die, if the artery pops. For a fortunate few, aneurysms are discovered before time runs out. However, the odds are not in the patient’s favor.

Although a myriad of medicines are available, doctors may decide what treatment is best based upon the patient’s age, ethnicity, other medications, and allergies. All of the issues may potentially determine how an individual will react to high blood pressure medicine . Nevertheless, beta-blockers have been commonly used, in the past, to control hypertension: “These slow down the heart, reducing the amount of work that it has to do, and lowers an important hormone. This opens the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to work”. Today, due to the adverse side effects of sleepiness and cold hands, the medication is infrequently prescribed to lower blood pressure.

In tandem with other blood pressure medicines, diuretics (water tablets) are used to release excess salt and water in the body. For some, water tablets will initially lower an individual’s pressure. However, the side effect can be a little disconcerting. Until a patient’s body is regulated, frequent trips to the restroom are a must. Therefore, patients are instructed to take the medication at a convenient time.

In truth, the information mentioned above represents only a few of the consequences, and medicinal treatments, of high blood pressure. However, the short list is a great argument for further exploration of the disease and subsequent use of high blood pressure medicines. Heart attacks, strokes, and aneurisms are three often-fatal results of neglecting to treat hypertension. Also, beta-blockers and diuretics are only two of the many options for medicinal solutions. So, in order to avoid becoming a medical statistic, periodically have a health care professional check for possible hypertension, especially if a history of high blood pressure runs in the family. You may want or need high blood pressure medicines.

EXFORGE and EXFORGE HCT are prescription medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure. EXFORGE contains two prescription medicines: amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker (CCB), and valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). EXFORGE may be used when any one of the following medicines to lower your high blood pressure is not enough: a dihydropyridine CCB or an ARB. It may also be used as the first medicine to lower high blood pressure if your doctor decides you are likely to need more than one medicine. EXFORGE HCT contains three prescription medicines: amlodipine, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic or water pill). EXFORGE HCT may be used to lower blood pressure in adults when any two of the following medicines to lower high blood pressure have been tried first: a CCB, an ARB, and a diuretic.