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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Menopause and Midlife Health
The end of your menstrual cycle is a natural time of transition, and may bring on side effects like hot flashes, insomnia, or mood changes. In addition to finding solutions to these side effects, midlife is an important time to focus on total health, an active lifestyle, and regular health screenings.
Preventing Heart Disease for Women in Midlife
Heart disease is typically seen as a problem which affects men. Only half of women in the United States are aware than heart disease is their number one killer. After you go through menopause, your chance of developing coronary heart disease is two to three times higher. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can dramatically reduce your risk.
Prevention
- If you smoke, quit now! Smoking contributes to more than half of all heart attacks in women over age 50.
- Include physical activity in your day. It can lower your risk of heart disease by half. We recommend 30 to 60 minutes of exercise on most days. An active lifestyle can also reduce your risk of heart disease by helping you maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a healthy, low-fat diet. A low-fat diet, especially when combined with exercise and weight loss, can help reduce both your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Lower your cholesterol level. High cholesterol can make it easier for cholesterol to build up in your arteries, leading to heart attack and stroke. A low-fat diet, weight loss, and exercise can help. We may recommend medication to help lower your cholesterol.
- Reduce high blood pressure. High blood pressure strains the heart and damages the heart and blood vessels.
- Relax and manage your stress. Find ways to relax and lower everyday stress. Take a walk, listen to music, or talk to someone about how you feel. Our relaxation podcasts may also help.
Screening
Screening for heart disease involves:
- Regular testing of your blood pressure. We recommend you be tested every 1 to 2 years.
- Blood tests to determine your cholesterol levels. We recommend that healthy adults have this test every 5 years, beginning at age 40.
By looking at your risk factors for heart disease, we can determine when to get baseline tests and how often we’ll repeat them.
Warning signs of a heart attack
Call 911 or go to the hospital if you experience:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
- Pain spreading through the shoulders, neck or arms.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
- Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue.
- Palpitations, cold sweats, or paleness.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- Feeling very sick in an unfamiliar way.
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.