Drinking red wine with a meal, going for a run before you eat or eating cheese afterwards are some of the ways people mistakenly think they can boost the iron in their diet, according to a new survey by online health resource, meatandhealth.com.

The survey also found that more than half of women surveyed believe that spinach is the best source of iron. In fact, you would need to eat a large amount of spinach to get the same amount of iron as there is in a 4oz sirloin steak.

The over 65s were the least informed of any age group, with 53 per cent thinking that drinking red wine was a good thing! Three quarters of the women surveyed did not know what the recommended daily amount of iron is (14mg) and 90 per cent did not know the difference between haem and non haem iron.

Leading nutritionist Juliette Kellow said the results were alarming, given the high number of women who are likely to be iron deficient.

“Currently around 40 per cent of women aged 19 to 34 years have iron intakes below the minimum amount needed to stay healthy and so are at risk of iron-deficiency anaemia. Meanwhile, 93 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds consume less than the recommended intake of iron,” Juliette said.

“Teenage girls and pre-menopausal women are at a greater risk of suffering with iron deficiency anaemia as they have higher nutritional needs for iron than men and post-menopausal women due to losses during menstruation. Fortunately, this condition can easily be prevented in most people through eating a healthy, balanced diet that contains plenty of iron-rich foods”.

Another area of confusion was around the benefits of iron for pregnant women. 80 per cent did not realise that iron deficiency could lead to premature birth; only 31 per cent knew that iron deficiency could result in a low birth weight and even fewer (27 per cent) acknowledged that recovery after birth may be prolonged due to iron deficiency.

Juliette Kellow said: “UK women need to know more about where and how to improve their iron intake and absorption as it’s so important for overall health.”

Survey carried out by Pollab Limited, 29th January – 1st February 2010, amongst a demographically representative sample of UK women – total sample size: 1,073 women aged 16+.

For many women, unexplained hair loss can take a significant psychological toll on their overall quality of life. From altering their hairstyle to hide a thinning part to scaling back their hair care regimen in an effort to halt further hair loss, women try countless ways to cover up this problem — and the results are often lukewarm at best. A better option is to see a dermatologist, a physician trained in the care of skin, hair and nails, who can diagnose and, in many cases, successfully treat hair loss in women.

Speaking at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Mary Gail Mercurio, MD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology and program director of dermatology residency at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., discussed common forms of hair loss in women and available treatment options.

“In the past, many women experiencing hair loss would suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn for help and trying their best to hide the problem,” said Dr. Mercurio. “But now, I see more and more women in my practice seeking treatment for hair loss and actively addressing this condition. That’s encouraging, as the sooner hair loss is diagnosed, the better our chances of successfully treating it.”

Female-Pattern Hair Loss: Highly Common, Highly Treatable

The most common form of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss, which usually has a strong genetic component that can be inherited from either the mother or father. Also referred to as androgenetic alopecia, this type of hair loss can start as early as the late teens — and the earlier it starts, the more severe the hair loss tends to be.

While pattern hair loss affects both men and women, it is very different in women. For example, female-pattern hair loss is not characterized by a receding hairline or bald spot on top of the scalp as is common in men. In women, the frontal hairline is usually maintained, but there is visible thinning over the crown. In addition, in both men and women, hairs are miniaturized due to a shortened growth cycle where the hair stays on the head for a shorter period of time. These wispy hairs, which resemble forearm hairs, do not achieve their usual length.

“For women, the first sign of hair loss that they often notice is a widening of their part or their ponytail is smaller,” said Dr. Mercurio.

Minoxidil 2% is the only topical medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for female-pattern hair loss, and minoxidil 5% is only FDA-approved for male-pattern hair loss. However, Dr. Mercurio pointed out that minoxidil 5% has been shown to be very effective in women as well, but encourages women to consult a dermatologist before starting the treatment because it can sometimes increase facial hair growth in women. Both the 2% and 5% solutions are available over-the-counter in a liquid, and the 5% is also available in a foam. While minoxidil does not grow new hair, it works by prolonging the growth phase of hair – providing more time for hair to grow out to its full density. Dr. Mercurio stressed that women must be patient with this treatment, as noticeable results usually take three to four months and the product must be used twice a day.

Since there is no structural problem with the hair with female-pattern hair loss, women should continue their regular hair styling regimen. “Sometimes women experiencing hair loss think they should stop washing, coloring or perming their hair, but these things won’t impact the course of hair loss or speed up the process,” said Dr. Mercurio.

In some cases, Dr. Mercurio explained that a hormonal abnormality, such as excess male hormones known as androgens, may be responsible for hair loss in women. One clue that hormones are involved is if the hair loss pattern resembles that of a man’s hair loss. While female-pattern hair loss caused by a hormonal imbalance can be treated with prescription medications such as spironolactone or oral contraceptives, it is important that women see their dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Mercurio added that another treatment option to correct hair loss is hair transplantation, in which tiny hair follicles taken from one area of the scalp are transplanted into the affected areas. This surgical approach to restoring lost hair can be very effective and produce permanent results that are natural looking.

“I would urge women who are considering hair restoration surgery to find a dermatologist who is very experienced with hair transplants for women, and as a result, will be more aware of the nuances of female hair loss,” said Dr. Mercurio.

Hyperandrogenism: Getting to the Root of this Medical Condition

Hyperandrogenism, a medical condition characterized by excessive production of male hormones (androgens), also can cause hair loss in affected women. The most common cause of hyperandrogenism in women is functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, also known as polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition to hair loss, other signs of this female endocrine disorder include obesity, acne and irregular menstruation, and it is one of the most common causes of infertility.

Sometimes women who are affected by hair loss due to functional ovarian hyperandrogenism also develop metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of medical conditions that can lead to an increased risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In this instance, Dr. Mercurio explained that dermatologists may diagnose a serious systemic problem where hair loss was one of the first visible signs of a problem.

“Dermatologists know that hair loss could be an important clue that something else is going on inside the body, such as a hormonal abnormality, lupus, or thyroid disease,” said Dr. Mercurio. “That’s why I can’t stress enough the importance of getting an accurate, and early, diagnosis for hair loss.”

While hair loss stemming from hyperandrogenism can be treated with minoxidil, Dr. Mercurio said that the course of treatment will depend on what other conditions are involved and how they are being treated.

Cicatricial Alopecia: Preventing Further Hair Loss is Key

Also known as scarring alopecia, cicatricial alopecia is a form of hair loss in women and men marked by scarring of the scalp where the source of the hair follicle is destroyed. Unlike other forms of hair loss, cicatricial alopecia results in scattered patches of hair loss and is usually associated with redness and irritation on the scalp. While there is no known pattern for why this type of hair loss affects some women, it often occurs when patients have either lupus, an immune system disorder, or lichen planus, an inflammatory skin disease.

“Unfortunately, with this type of hair loss there is no potential for the affected hair to grow back,” said Dr. Mercurio. “The goal with treatment is to catch the condition as early as possible to prevent further hair loss.”

Dr. Mercurio added that inflammation can be reduced with topical, injectable or oral medications, such as corticosteroids or anti-malarial drugs, and minoxidil is not used for cicatricial alopecia. Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition, and Dr. Mercurio added that patients with this form of hair loss need to be closely monitored by a dermatologist throughout treatment.

“Hair loss is an important concern for a large number of women, and ongoing research in this area will continue to produce effective treatments,” said Dr. Mercurio. “Some of the new laser and light-based therapies used for hair loss show promise in preliminary studies. We hope that these technologies will allow dermatologists to further expand our treatment options for all forms of hair loss in the future.”

Source: American Academy of Dermatology

Are there better days to get pregnant? When is the best time to get pregnant during the reproductive cycle?

The best days to get pregnant will generally be the time when ovulation occurs. To better understand when is the best time to get pregnant, here are tips that are related to getting pregnant:

1. Know your most fertile time - generally, ovulation occurs about 14 days before your next menstrual period begins. That means if your menstrual cycle is a 28-day one, that could make day #14 your most fertile day (day #1 is the first day that your last period began). If yours is a 30-day cycle, day #16 could be the time to go for it. A 32-day cycle would have day #18 as one of the best days to get pregnant.

2. Track your basal body temperature – an inexpensive basal thermometer can be purchased and used to chart the slight elevations in your body temperature upon awakening each day that signal when is the best time to get pregnant. The increases in basal temperature may only be a tenth of a degree or so, but a basal thermometer can detect this kind of minor temperature change.

3. Monitor your cervical mucus – ovulation causes a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. By checking yourself each day, you’ll be able to see the ‘egg-white-like’ vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and which are the best days to get pregnant.

4. Obtain and read a good fertility book – learn as much as possible about fertility, getting pregnant, pregnancy and having a healthy baby.

5. Use an ovulation predictor kit - these inexpensive kits predict ovulation in advance so you definitely know when is the best time to get pregnant. This test has proven very accurate in detecting the increase in luteinizing hormone which usually occurs in women 24-48 hours before ovulation.

Making the decision to get pregnant and have a child can be an exciting and rearding experience. While this journey is often unpredictable, choices you make now can definitely affect your health and the health of your baby. The better your health as you are getting pregnant, the healthier your baby will be.