...Obesity and Cancer According to the National Institute of Health, nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese (2007). Research suggests that obesity may be the most preventable risk factor of cancer for non-smokers, and many studies are testing for the effects that obesity has in all cancers and at specific cancer sites. It is known that obesity plays a significant role in cancer; however, the knowledge of the relationship to all cancers and the overall health effect of excess weight in terms of total mortality from cancer is limited (Calle, Redriguez, Walker-Thurmond, & Thun, 2003). In this paper I will examine the research available on obesity and its relationship to breast cancer (in post-menopausal women), endometrial, colon, esophagus, kidney, and pancreatic cancers, and briefly mention a few other cancers currently being studied for a possible link to obesity. The rise of obesity in the last 25 years has been most prominent in the United States. It is not, however, limited to the United States; for instance, similar trends are being seen in other developing countries. As it becomes easier to access tasty but unhealthy food options and as physical activity declines, caloric intake is now exceeding caloric expenditure. Genetic factors have been shown to predispose an individual to become obese, but environmental factors are the ultimate cause for the rise of obesity within populations. It is the metabolic consequences of obesity that are...
Words: 3427 - Pages: 14
...therapy is used to help transgender people, making sure that they have the right hormones to fit their new bodies. It also helps with treating some forms of cancer, making sure that the cancer doesn’t come back after surgery, and helps stop or slow growth. Hormonal replacement therapy also plays a big role in menopause treatment. Overall what hormonal replacement therapy does is replace female’s hormones when she can no longer produce them naturally or more particularly after women go through menopause. The two main hormones involved are estrogen, which triggers women’s release of eggs during her period, and the progesterone hormone, which safeguards the lining of the uterus. However, the main purpose of the progesterone hormone is to prepare a women’s womb for potential pregnancies. There are many benefits of hormonal replacement therapy, which I will now refer to as HRT. Women going through menopause, systemic estrogen which comes in many forms like pills, creams, gels; can help with the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night flashes. Systemic estrogen can also help with the vaginal discomfort that comes with menopause such as dryness, itching, or burning. Estrogen can be prescribed for bone loss illnesses such as osteoporosis, though doctors...
Words: 639 - Pages: 3
... 1. State the functions of the following hormones for both men and women. Testosterone: For men, testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. This hormone functions to develop a man’s sex characteristics, including (adult) size penis and testes, if a man does not produce enough or any testosterone can maintain child-size genitals. Also, testosterone supports the final stages of sperm production; men who produce little to no sperm are considered infertile. Erectile function is also powered by testosterone, it is vital for the growth and development of “erectile tissues.” The ability to achieve and maintain an erection is also influenced by testosterone, by increasing the activity of a molecule that helps to regulate the movement of smooth muscles. The function of testosterone in a woman’s body is less known. However, testosterone does play a role in regulating female sexual function, such as desire, arousal and orgasms. It also found that this hormone affects the function of any female reproductive organs such as the clitoris, uterus, vagina, and ovaries. Although women with low testosterone levels don’t experience sexual dysfunction, there has also been evidence that testosterone levels rise in when reacting to sexual stimuli. Studies have shown when women masturbated to orgasm, the women's testosterone levels increased after orgasm. Vasopressin: Vasopressin is made in the brain in both men and women. However, the male hormone testosterone working together with vasopressin...
Words: 1253 - Pages: 6
...Osteoporosis is characterized by a reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) and deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in high risk of fractures, is becoming increasingly prevalent with the Menopausal women (Lane.,2006). Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder in the elderly, which is characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage and is a leading cause of disability , is more common among post-menopausal women. Changes in sex hormones play an important role in the OA development (Tanamas et al.,2011). c) Incontinence: Changes in the tissues of urethra and vagina may lead to sudden, strong urges to urinate along with leakage, or the loss of urine when doing something that stresses the abdomen, like coughing, laughing...
Words: 1599 - Pages: 7
...hormone therapy with estrogen/progestin for help with her menopausal symptoms. The hormone therapy is her only chronic medication. Personally she has no history of any fractures. This patient is a cigarette smoker, who rarely exercises and drinks coffee everyday. This patient also, has concerns that she is at risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a common chronic metabolic bone disease. It occurs when the development of new bone does not keep up with the removal of the old bone because bone tissue is constantly being broken down and replaced. This disease is often undertreated and overlooked because it’s usually not known until the patient acquires a fracture. This disease is found more in elderly Caucasian women, than any other sex or race. The patient will have a low bone mass and a deterioration of bone tissue which increases the chances of bone fractures. The most common fractures related to osteoporosis occur in the hip, wrist, or spine. Patients can also have an unknown fracture without having to fall due to the weak bones. General risk factors: There are typically no symptoms found in early stages but pain may occur over time of weakened bones. There are...
Words: 957 - Pages: 4
...physical, and psychological changes that are going to happen in the next 9 months. Pregnancy is characterized by an increase in the levels of circulating female sex steroids, in particular, estradiol and progesterone (Brunton, P., & Russell, J., 2010). The female sex steroids, estrogens and progesterone, are produced in large amounts in pregnancy, increasing as she comes closer to delivery. As estrogen and progesterone increase, many other hormonal changes occur as well that effect physiological structures within the brain. These hormones have important roles in the peripheral actions to...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...works because my periods were more regular when I was on the pill than when I went off of it. My doctor told me that the pill works because it tricks your body into thinking that it is pregnant. That just confused me even more. When I looked back on my decision to take birth control pills, I realized that I did not really understand how they work. I just do not want to make that mistake again. Before I consider taking any more drugs, I want to understand more about how they work. The drug we’re looking into is called Clomid. I asked my doctor a bunch of questions, but I still feel confused. I looked up some stuff online when I got home. Here is some information that I learned from a website about how Ortho Tri-Cyclen works: Estrogen and progestin work in combination to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. This suppression leads to a decrease in the release of...
Words: 1458 - Pages: 6
...ejaculate to propel the sperm forward. The fructose secreted by the seminal vesicles provides the energy for sperm motility. 2. What role does nitric oxide play in erections? It involves increased inflow of blood into the corpora cavernosa due to relaxation of the trabecular smooth muscle that surrounds the sinusoidal spaces and compression of the veins controlling outflow of blood from the venous plexus. 3. What nervous system controls erection? Parasympathetic nervous system 4. What are the major sources of estrogen in premenopausal and menopausal women? Ovaries and adipose tissue 5. What hormones would be used to treat exceptionally tall children by effecting early epiphyseal closure? Estrogen and testosterone 6. What describes herniation of the bladder into the vagina? Cystocele 7. What is testicular torsion and what is it a common consequence of? A Twisting of the spermatic cord that suspends the testis. It is a consequence of cryptorchidism along with infertility and malignancy. 8. What is the most common cause of cancer in males between the ages of 15-35? Testicular cancer 9. What cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in the US affecting men 65 years of age and older? Prostate cancer 10. What condition is characterized by heavy bleeding during and between menstrual cycles? Menometrorrhagia 11. What role does oxytocin and prolactin play in a woman’s body? Secretion of milky by alveolar cells, which are under the influence of the anterior...
Words: 1224 - Pages: 5
...Getting Started: The Anatomy and Physiology of Clinical Research Stephen B. Hulley, Thomas B. Newman, and Steven R. Cummings This chapter introduces clinical research from two viewpoints, setting up themes that run together through the book. One theme is the anatomy of research-what it's made of. This includes the tangible elements of the study plan: the research question, design, subjects, measurements, sample size calculation, and so forth. An investigator's goal is to create these elements in a form that will make the project fast, inexpensive, and easy. The other theme is the physiology of research-how it works. Studies are useful to the extent that they yield valid inferences, first about what happened in the study sample and then about generalizing these events to people outside. the study. The goal is to minimize the errors, random and systematic, that threaten conclusions based on these inferences. Separating these two themes is artificial in the same way that the anatomy of the human body does not make much sense without some understanding of its physiology. But the separation has the same advantage: It clarifies our thinking about a complex topic. . THE ANATOMY OF RESEARCH: WHAT IT'S MADE OF The structure of a research project is set out in its protocol, the written plan of the study. Protocols are well kn~wn as devices for seeking grant funds, but they also have a vital scientific function: helping the investigator to organize her research in a logical, focused...
Words: 4678 - Pages: 19
...Jordon Roman COMP110 4/22/15 Women in The Police Force In today's world men and women are looked at as equals, but for some reason when it comes to certain jobs they are looked at differently. There are still jobs that are expected of men to do and not women. People still say things like “A women can’t do a mans job”, which is very unfair to say and in some cases a women may be able to perform the job better than a man. In some scenarios that police face everyday a womans mind may think differently then a mans. Woman use different parts of their brain and estrogen and testosterone make the brain work differently. Estrogen influences performance on tests of fine motor skills and spatial ability. Women can be in the police force but they...
Words: 1345 - Pages: 6
...one of the things women go through as they become older. Menopause is a normal condition that women experience as they age, and it is a term used to describe the many changes they go through. It is a period where they stop menstruating and it marks the end of their reproductive period. This is something that typically happens around the age of 40, but it can happen sooner or later depending on the individual. If it does happen before the age of 40 it is still considered normal aging but it is referred to as premature menopause. This can occur if there is an ovarian failure, autoimmune disorders, or medical procedures. There are three known stages to menopause which include perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause and it will usually begin years before menopause when the ovaries begin to make less estrogen. In the last years of this stage is when the drop in estrogen levels drops very quickly and where women begin to experience menopause symptoms. This continues on with menopause which is the point when it has been a year since a woman last had her menstrual period. In this stage the ovaries stop releasing eggs and stop making most of their estrogen as mentioned before. The last known stage is post-menopause and this is all after menopause. During this stage most menopausal symptoms are at ease for most women such as hot flashes, but unfortunately health risks related to the loss of estrogen rise as women age. Women cope with menopause...
Words: 2033 - Pages: 9
...confused. For many women, these feelings, which are known as baby blues, go away fairly quickly. But when they do not go away or rather they get worse, a woman may be experiencing the effects of postpartum depression (PPD). Abrupt hormone withdrawal is the most obvious change in immediate postpartum, but clues to the mood disturbance may lie in the deregulation of neuroendocrine systems, including how hormones affect neurotransmitters and their actions within the brain. The baby blues are common for numerous reasons. The baby’s crying and the mother’s interrupted sleep and breast-feeding are enough to make any woman feel irritable if not overwhelmed. The onset of postpartum depression, on the other hand, is believed to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain; specifically shifts in hormone levels. According to postpartum Support International (PSI), the theory to date suggests that a sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone following delivery is the culprit.1 Ovarian steroids play an important regulatory role in a women’s general sense of wellbeing. Studies have found significant positive correlations between the onset of PPD and postpartum withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone levels.2 Aside from estrogen’s many roles in our developmental health, it is also known to be a neuro-stimulant with anti-depressive effects. High levels of estrogen produce an imbalance in the system that aggravates symptoms of anxiety. On the other hand, low levels of estrogen can lead to episodes...
Words: 959 - Pages: 4
...FEMALE AROUSAL DISORDER In recent years more then ever women are being studied for problems with sexual disorders and dysfunction’s "Sexual disorders and dysfunction's refer to difficulties individuals experience in their sexual functioning." (O’Donohue, Geer) In the past when sexual problems were studied amongst women the focus was on the orgasmic phase, with such problems as Vaginismus, Dyspareunia and Anorgasmia, rather than on the arousal phase. Even in 1970 when Masters and Johnson published their famous book Human Sexual Inadequacy, they omitted form their finding associated with arousal disorder in women for reasons unknown. However many contemporary sex researchers, reason that arousal problems with women were more difficult to diagnose. Therefore in the past women's sexual problems were associated with inability to reach orgasm. This however would change in 1978, with publication of Frank, Anderson and Rubinstein's finding on arousal problems amongst women. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 1983 (DSM-III-R), for female sexual arousal disorders to exist two aspects must be present. Persistent or recurrent failure to attain or maintain the lubrication and the swelling response of sexual excitement until completion and second persistent or recurrent lack of subjective sense of sexual excitement and pleasure in female during sexual activity. "Until recently, researchers believed that most...
Words: 1382 - Pages: 6
...In this case, vaginal pH would be above normal postmenopausal usually pH exceeding 5 which is a positive indication of atrophic vaginitis (Bachmann & Nevadunsky, 2000). In addition, labs also confirm atrophic vaginitis. This patient is in menopause and levels of estrogen would indicate not only menopause but confirm the diagnosis of atrophic vaginitis. Serum hormone concentration would show levels of circulating estrogen at less than or equal to 4.5 (Bachmann & Nevadunsky, 2000). The labs alone confirm the diagnosis of atrophic vaginitis especially given the fact the patient is confirmed to be in menopause and atrophic vaginitis. A chlamydia and gonorrhea swab was obtained and was...
Words: 1762 - Pages: 8
...Hormone function a.) Describe how agonists and antagonists act to disrupt normal hormone function. Use examples and describe the resulting disease states that may result Humans are exposed to thousands of chemicals during their lifetime, through the air, food, and water. A significant number of these chemicals can be toxic since they can disrupt the endocrine system. Over the past decade, the list of chemicals with endocrine disrupting activity has dramatically increased. Natural hormones are themselves agonists and, in many cases, more than one distinct hormone binds to the same receptor. For a given receptor, different agonists can have dramatically different potencies. Antagonists are molecules that bind the receptor and block binding of the agonist, but fail to trigger intracellular signalling events. Receptors can be activated or inactivated by either endogenous (such as hormones and neurotransmitters) or exogenous (such as drugs) agonists and antagonists, resulting in the stimulation or inhibition of a biological response. A physiological agonist is a substance that creates the same bodily responses but does not bind to the same receptor. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial compound and a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical with estrogenic activity. The widespread exposure of individuals to BPA is suspected to affect a variety of physiological functions, including reproduction, development, and metabolism. Many known obesogens are Endocrine disrupting chemicals...
Words: 1473 - Pages: 6
