Park Lane OB/GYN Associates

A Baylor-HealthTexas Affiliate 9101 North Central Expressway, Suite 250 Dallas, TX 75231 management, to minimize risk of diabetes and high blood pressure,” she says. “It’s also important to stay off multiple medications.”

Research shows that the same three aspects of a healthy lifestyle help reduce risk for all of the major threats to women’s health.

1) Choose to be smoke and tobacco free, and avoid secondhand smoke. This one step will improve circulation and cardiovascular efficiency.

2) Next, eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, to keep cholesterol levels low and reduce the danger of excess weight. Cholesterol causes plaque to build up in arteries. Extra pounds around the waist can be especially dangerous to women, because fat in the abdominal area apparently releases inflammatory molecules into the body.

3) Exercise. It’s important to find an activity you enjoy, so you’ll look forward to it. Adults should get two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week. In addition to cardio for heart health, women should include weight bearing exercise, which helps with bone health.

Katie Brumley of Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center says that women should not fear lifting weights. “Some women get uptight about weight training because they think they’re going to get big muscles,” she says. “Women don’t have the same hormones men do. We don’t have the same amount of testosterone, and our bodies are not going to respond the same way. But women will build lean muscle mass, and look thinner. You’re going to drop dress sizes. Your weight may not change, but your body composition will change.”

Studies show that exercise also helps alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Our bodies manufacture chemicals, called endorphins, before and after a workout. Endorphins relieve stress and improve moods. Now that fewer women take hormones to deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, many are taking anti-depressants. A common side effect to these medications is weight gain, which exercise can help minimize.

All of that sounds good, but where do we find time to implement it?

Experiment with modern low-fat recipes; many emphasize fresh foods and minimize the number of ingredients. Need time to watch your favorite TV show? Why not multitask on the treadmill? If you thrive in social situations, join a gym. If you are an introvert, seek out on-line information and buddy-groups.

Make your health a priority, and maximize the joy of being a woman.

Here at Walnut Hill our tradition of family continues as we announce the hiring of Dr. Jennifer Muller

Jennifer’s mom Evelyn Scott, RN is our nurse manager and has been employed at Walnut Hill for 23 years. Dr Muller will open her schedule for appointments in June 2012.