March is Colon Cancer Screening Month. The most common test for screening for colon cancer is the colonoscopy. You've probably heard that a colonoscopy is a horrible test. The fact is the actual test is really not so bad, it's the prep that was used to clean out your bowels that used to be so awful. You had to drink a gallon of some very unpleasant liquid. Today, you can opt to take a handful of pills instead of having to drink the liquid previously required. Everyone should have their first colonoscopy beginning at age 50, and repeated every ten years.

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths. The good news is that if you follow the screening guidelines for colon cancer, you should never have to worry that colon cancer will end your life early.

Video: The Colonoscopy Procedure

Have you had a colonoscopy?I had mine shortly before I turned 50, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  Share your thoughts and experiences on colonoscopy.

I can't imagine anything harder for a mother to endure than the death of one of her children. Even harder to imagine is the pain that Marie Osmond must be feeling over the suicide death of her 18 year old son Michael Blosil. The fact that Marie Osmond's son suffered from depression was no secret to his mother. In fact, Marie, no doubt, did everything she could to help her son battle his depression for several years. Unfortunately, the depression got the better of him and he jumped from his eighth floor apartment and died on the street in LA between 9 and 10 PM Friday night. My heart goes out to Marie over the tragic loss of Michael.

Depression affects about 18 million people every year in the US. Women suffer from depression significantly more often than men which makes it vital that all women learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression so that they can take action when they see these signs in themselves, their family members, or friends. True depression is more than just the occasional "blues" that most people encounter now and then. Clinical depression affects the whole person -- mind, body, personal life, work life. Learn the facts about women and depression.

Korean researches have published the results of a review of 27 studies which included 3000 women and say that acupuncture may provide significantly better relief from menstrual cramps than herbs and medications typically used to treat menstrual cramps.  The researchers, from the Oriental Hospital at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, say that the evidence is convincing that acupuncture is an effective method for relieving menstrual pain.

How does having a bunch of needles poked into you relieve pain? Acupuncture is believed to relieve menstrual cramps by stimulating the body's production of endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins are naturally-occurring compounds created by the body during exercise and excitement to produce a feeling of well-being. Serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain that plays a key role in depression when serotonin levels are low.

Does this mean you should rush out and find an acupuncturist? Not necessarily, the researchers say there is some question about the methodology of some of the studies reviewed and that further clinical trials are needed before a more definitive conclusion can be reached. Until then, traditional treatments including exercise, applying heat to the lower abdomen and / or back, and painkillers may be your best bet for relieving your menstrual cramps.

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Rockefeller University scientists have reported the results of a study that found women with a certain gene variant may be more likely to experience PMDD. The gene variant affects 20% to 3o% of women. Women with the gene variant may also experience more anxiety, less curiosity, and impaired memory. This new research could one day open the door for better diagnosis and treatment of menstrual cycle-related cognitive and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, as well as for menopausal symptoms and hormone replacement therapy.

What Is PMDD?

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