Maintaining good health for your bones is recommended at every age. Moderate exercise and vitamin-rich nutrition can help keep your skeleton in tip-top condition. However, aging bones can weaken and, in severe cases, become brittle. Bone health is usually not thought about until there’s a problem. That’s why it’s time to put your bones on your prevention radar to help reduce your risk of breaking a bone, maintaining good posture and reducing aches and pains. We asked Dr. Jay W. Floyd to get us started on taking care of our bones and share his knowledge about bone health with us. Read on to learn more.

Are there ways to keep osteoporosis from worsening?
Yes, there are a variety of ways to prevent osteoporosis from worsening, including lifestyle measures, such as adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, smoking cessation, moderation of alcohol intake and regular weight-bearing exercise. Also, taking prescription medication to treat diagnosed osteoporosis will prevent worsening and may improve overall bone health. Some prescription medication also may prevent progression of osteopenia (early bone loss) to osteoporosis.

Hormones are essential to our overall health, but it can be difficult to keep them in balance. Too much of one hormone, or too little of another, can have a major impact on our well-being. As advocates for women, we decided to ask local experts for the best ways to handle these hormonal fluctuations to reach our optimum health goals!

Everyone loves a beautiful smile, but our teeth (and gums!) are so much more than a feature on a pretty face. Dental health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. One of the first healthy habits we learn is to brush our teeth regularly. However, brushing alone is not enough to keep your mouth healthy. We figured it was time to check in with our favorite dentists and go beyond the surface to the root of dental health issues.

You may not be able to point to your thyroid, but it controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats—pretty important things. However, the thyroid seems to be a mystery gland that is not thought about until it begins to wreak havoc. Basically, when your thyroid is functioning properly, things we take for granted, like a good night’s sleep, regular bowel movements, controlled inner temps—not inappropriately hot or cold, are also functioning properly. Because an out-of-order thyroid can cause symptoms that are quite common, usually the thyroid is the last thing we look to as the culprit for our dis-ease and discomfort. That’s why we wanted to unlock the mystery behind this little gland in your neck that can make feeling good a real pain-in-the-neck! In order to learn more about the almighty thyroid, we asked our local expert to clue us in.

What does a thyroid do?
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland located in the front of the neck that produces thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the circulation then carried to every organ in the body.Thyroid hormones are critical in brain and neurological development in infants and of metabolic activity in adults. Metabolism is the process by which the body converts our food intake into energy.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the country. It can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Whether it comes on suddenly from a fall or strain, or develops slowly because of age-related degenerative changes, it’s important to take care of your back and pay attention to what your pain may be trying to tell you. In some cases, serious medical conditions can cause back pain. Treatment will vary based on causes and symptoms, but there are steps you can take to lower your chance of chronic back pain.

You recently gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. You should be feeling excitement and joy, right? Not necessarily. “Many new mothers feel the worry, fatigue or sadness known as the ‘baby blues.’ It’s important to distinguish between that and postpartum depression, a condition which brings on stronger, more debilitating feelings that can linger weeks or months,” says Shirley D. Wilson, M.D., FACOG, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at Southeast Georgia Health System. Dr. Wilson practices at Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Obstetrics & Gynecology in Brunswick, Georgia.

When a new mother becomes depressed, she may feel overwhelmed by sadness, irritability, anxiety, emptiness, hopelessness, or lethargy. She may have trouble concentrating, may eat too much or not enough, may sleep too little or too much. Some women experience unexplained aches and pains. Others spiral into major depression and suicidal thoughts.

After so much time spent inside during the cold winter months, we are all ready to get out and enjoy the gorgeous spring weather. However, it’s important to take precautions before basking in the sun. Yes! You can get sunburned even on these beautiful, cool, sunny spring days. Skin cancer—the abnormal growth of skin cells—most often develops on skin that has been exposed to the sun. Are you at risk?

There are three major types of skin cancer:
• Basal Cell Carcinoma: This is skin cancer that begins in the basal cells, which are a type of cell within the skin that produces new skin cells as old ones die off. Basal cell carcinoma typically appears in sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck and has a slightly transparent bump. It is usually a growth or sore that won’t heal.

At some point everyone experiences digestive problems such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea or vomiting. This is often a temporary inconvenience caused by too much ice cream, beer or chicken wings. However, when symptoms persist, it may be a sign of an underlying problem that needs serious medical attention. Most of us know when we’ve gone too far with excessive food and drink, waddling to the couch to assume a horizontal position soon after dinner for relief from overeating. But when are stomach issues, which may be caused by more than a stomach-revolting, self-induced food binge, a concern? We had a gut feeling it was time to ask our local expert to tell us more about the importance of gut health and the perils we may experience.

February is American Heart Month: a good time to focus on your cardiovascular health. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke every year. Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in this country, killing about 600,000 Americans annually. Both are serious health issues that can affect women, as well as men, so we asked local health experts to answer our questions about heart disease and stroke.
(Above statistics from cdc.gov)

Too often, the stigma that still surrounds mental health has caused people to struggle in silence. We at Pink want to help put an end to that stigma by shining a light on Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Panic. These are all real health issues, not character flaws or weaknesses. The strongest thing we can do is seek help. Here is advice from experts for dealing with these serious issues.

Women often think of menopause, or “the change”, as something that happens to older women, but the signs and symptoms of perimenopause can begin to affect women in their 30s. It’s important to pay attention to what your body might be telling you about your hormone levels. That’s why we asked local wellness experts to tell us more about this in-between time in women’s lives.

Memory problems can be scary! Many of us have experienced a “senior moment”,
but for one in ten older Americans, memory issues are much more serious than that.
Dementia is more prevalent in women, so we thought it was time to ask local wellness experts
to help us understand what could happen to us or someone we love.

When is the last time you thanked your kidneys? Those two, small bean-shaped organs in your lower back are incessant workhorses for your health. Here’s what these superstars are doing while you go about your day: They are regulating your body’s fluid levels, filtering waste and toxins from your blood, releasing hormones that regulate your blood pressure and direct production of red blood cells. If that is not enough, they also activate vitamin D to maintain healthy bones and keep blood minerals, such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium, in balance. We all experience malfunctions occasionally, and unfortunately, one in three Americans is at risk for developing kidney disease.

Read on to get more in touch with your kidneys and urinary tract. Here’s what we asked our local health experts:

If anything should go with the flow, it’s your blood. You might not think about it very often, but the blood flowing through your veins plays a vital role in your overall health. From minor cosmetic issues to life-threatening conditions, vascular health should not be neglected. We asked local medical specialists how to identify and treat issues affecting the vascular system.

We all have questions about our feminine health that sometimes just feels a little awkward—or maybe a lot—to talk about, even with your doctor. For some women, it’s just difficult to casually hold a conversation when words such as vagina, sex, labia and the like have to freely flow.

Read on to see what our local medical experts had to say on subjects important to women’s health. Be sure to tell your doctor everything with no fear or hesitation.

Your health is what’s most important, and besides, they tell us they have heard it all! 

We’ve all heard that being overweight is unhealthy, and weight loss can help prevent illness and disease, but how? We asked local medical experts to weigh in on the advantages of losing weight. Looking good on the beach is just a fringe benefit!

by Diane G. Bowen, MD

How does being overweight increase risk for Cancer?
According to research from the American Cancer Society, excess body weight is thought to be responsible for about 11% of cancers in women and about 5% of cancers in men in the United States.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of cancer because:
• There is inflammation in the body.
• Cell and blood vessel growth is impacted.
• The cells’ life span is stunted.
• Increased levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, fuels cell growth.
• Because of all listed above, cancer cells can spread or metastasize.

Ahh-choo! It’s  a common sound during this time of year when the flora and fauna are in full swing spreading their yellow pixie dust across the world. Allergies—seasonal or not—are a big buzzword these days, with more people than ever showing signs and symptoms. Obviously we all know the sneezing, itchy throat, watery eyes and runny nose symptoms of allergies, but read on to learn more about allergies, intolerances and what is behind the rise.

Living with pain is no fun. In fact, pain can take all the fun away, especially if you enjoy being active. It’s somewhat of a Catch-22, though. It seems the more active set are the ones who get sports injuries. Makes sense, afterall, doesn’t it take sports to get a sports injury? Not necessarily. Sometimes, just a simple walk to the mailbox, moving a planter in the garden, or a quick clean up of the garage can end in injury. The good news is pain does not have to be forever with many injuries, over use, or degeneration. There are new, modern and effective ways to stop the snap, crackle, pop in the knees, reduce the burn of bursitis and rejuvenate the rip of the rotator cuff. We asked our local orthopeadic experts to tell us all about sports injuries, joint replacements and knee problems. Here is what they had to say:

If you feel the urge to hide your smile, now is your time to say cheese! Cosmetic dentistry has never been so accessible, or advanced. Whether a little whitening will brighten your world, or you need to wear braces as an adult, a beautiful, brilliant smile, worthy of that big screen money shot, it easy to attain. And  no longer do you have to have a mouth full of metal—or head gear, for Heaven’s sake! Want whiter teeth? You can check it off your to do list in about 90 minutes. There are many new and advanced procedures your cosmetic dentist offers that can help you look younger, healthier, and happier! Find your options and watch that frown turn upside down. Now that’s something to smile about.

Everyone wants life to be fun, full and heart-y, which is easy when you’re healthy. But it’s hard to follow your heart when it’s sick. Heart disease is still the No.1 killer for both men and women in the US. However, with a little TLC, many risks associated with heart disease, heart attacks and strokes can be drastically reduced. The heart is our lifeline, without it we cease to be. It’s not difficult to take care of, so why not begin marching to your heart’s beat, and take the easy steps to be heart healthy? A healthy heart gives a heart-y life! 

January can get you down with more than the blues. It’s the month down South when the cold really kicks in, and brings with it common winter illnesses such as cold, flu and respiratory infections. Ugh! These winter woes can make you feel terrible. That’s why it’s important to know as much as you can about how to avoid and rapidly cure these sneezing, coughing, stuffy, achy, miserable ailments.

Non-invasive is all the buzz in the world of cosmetic procedures that can help restore a more youthful appearance almost anywhere on your body. However, in talking with a surgeon who is board certified in plastic surgery, we found out that some elective surgeries are still the only way to achieve certain results. The great news is when you combine surgery with some of today’s non-invasive, state-of-the-art technology, which is a true art in plastic surgery, your results can be exactly what you wanted. We asked about some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, and here’s what we learned.

If something is named heartburn, reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), it can’t be good. While usually not life-threatening, acid reflux, and all it’s monikers, definitely can threaten your quality of life. GERD has no respect for decadence on the dinner table, and no one wants to enjoy a delicious filet minion paired with a big,
full-bodied glass of cabernet only to have to follow it up with plop, plop fizz, fizz as dessert. So what is GERD and how can you manage it? Read on to comfortably digest what our local medical experts have to say about this
uncomfortable condition.

There is no doubt almost everyone in the world has had a brush with stress this year. For many, daily living routines have become overwhelming, sparking a growing trend of sadness, anxiety and depression. In our modern-day world, where we flit here and there, overload our to-do lists, argue over every little thing and rarely relax without some type of electronic device, the rat-race now sets the pace many follow. That combined with Covid-19, elections, violence and social distancing—it’s no wonder feelings of panic and hopelessness are at an all-time high. However, there is help. We asked our local health professionals to weigh-in on anxiety and depression to help us understand what it is, how it affects us and what we can do about it.

Really? Do I still need the sex talk?

Of course you do! Sex isn’t a one-and-done when it comes to talking and learning about your sexual needs, desires and health. Our bodies change as the decades go by, which impacts your sexual health with new issues always arising. To achieve your best sexual health—and keep your intimacy in shape—be sure to talk to your doctor regularly about any concerns, strange sensations, or noticeable changes you may be experiencing. Don’t be afraid to ask any question, even if you find it embarrassing. Remember, sex is a science that your doctor has studied for years. One last thing: Tell all! You have to be 100 percent honest and detailed with your physician if you want the best solution. Rest assured, doctors really have heard it all!

Is the constant desire to eat and a love of food considered addictive? How do people get relief from their obsessive food thoughts, which can lead to dangerous weight gain? What types of treatment are available?   

Although unlisted in the manual of psychiatric diagnoses, the concept of food addiction has gained a toehold in medical literature according to WebMD.

We asked two of our wellness panel experts to share their Top 2 most popular non-surgical rejuvenation treatments for their patients—ones considered most popular for many reasons, including producing fantastic results. Here’s what Dr. Diane Bowen and Dr. Harold Kent had to share:

Maintaining optimal brain health gives us lifelong cognitive power.
Not only does the human brain control bodily functions, it is the most powerful “computer” on earth,
which helps us to understand and grasp the world around us with a full range of thoughts,
feelings and emotions. Keeping your brain in tip top condition is imperative for quality of life.

Think about it! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to the brain.
Meet our panel of local brain health and wellness experts, as they give us the facts on protecting
our beautiful bustling brains and discuss needed tools for maintaining optimal
levels of brain clarity and function.

Your health is your greatest wealth. No doubt, no one wants to be sick, and people with great
wealth have never been able to pay their way out of death. Great health is the foundation of our quality of life; a strong immune system is the foundation of great health. It is the your frontline defense against illness, so the stronger it is, the stronger you are. Let’s find out more on how to boost your immune system to Herculean strength.