HOTFLASHES | September 2022

Signs of Pelvic Organ Prolapse 

Pelvic organ prolapse, which means that the muscles and tissues that support your uterus, bladder, and rectum become weak or loose, is estimated to affect about 3% of women in the US. However, many women may be embarrassed to talk about the issue with their doctor. They may even think that what they are experiencing is normal, and while it isn’t uncommon, it’s not normal. Pelvic organ prolapse is treatable and talking to your doctor about the issue is an important step to getting treatment.

Common Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse:

• Seeing or feeling a “bulge.” Prolapse can looking like something is “coming out” of the vagina, and you may be able to see and/or feel this bulge caused by the prolapse.
• Feeling pressure, discomfort, aching or fullness. A prolapse can cause things to feel a little different, and this may even create issues with discomfort or pressure during physical activity or sex.
• Having issues going to the bathroom. Leaking urine, not being able to fully control the urge to urinate, and/or problems having a bowel movement can all be symptoms of a pelvic organ prolapse.
• Having a problem inserting a tampon. A bulge coming out of your vagina and discomfort or pressure can all make inserting a tampon more difficult than normal.

Some women say that their symptoms of prolapse get worse as the days go on, during certain times of the day, while performing physical activity, or after standing for a while. If you are experiencing these symptoms, don’t feel embarrassed to talk to your provider here at The Veranda about your issue. Pelvic organ prolapse is treatable, and your provider can discuss different treatment options with you.

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/pelvic-organ-prolapse

What is High Blood Pressure? 

High blood pressure, which may also be referred to as hypertension, means that your blood is putting more pressure on the walls of your arteries than is normal. The arteries are what carry your blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The first number used in your blood pressure reading is called systolic blood pressure, and it measures the pressure your blood is putting on your arteries when your heart is beating. The second number is known as diastolic blood pressure, and it measures when your heart rests in between beats.

It’s normal for your blood pressure to go up and down some throughout the day, but when your numbers are consistently high, that means you have hypertension. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80, and a reading of 130/80 consistently is considered high. High blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of things like heart attacks and strokes.

High blood pressure can be caused by a few different things like not getting enough exercise, not eating a healthy diet, eating too much salt, chronic stress, genetics, diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions. Some people may be more likely to have high blood pressure because of their family history, but for most people, there are steps you can take to lower your numbers. Things like eating healthy, exercising regularly, managing or avoiding stress, and managing chronic conditions can all go a long way to helping you lower your blood pressure.

High blood pressure usually does not present with any major symptoms that could clue you in to the condition. Checking your blood pressure is the only way to know that you have hypertension. Checking your blood pressure is a normal part of a doctor’s appointment, so staying on top of those regular appointments is a great way to know if you have high blood pressure. If you suspect you may have high blood pressure, you can check it more often at a local pharmacy or with a pump at home.

Low Sodium Asian Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/2 teaspoon minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 pound pork tenderloin, sliced into 4 portions

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400 F. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a heavy frying pan, add the sesame seeds in a single layer. Over low heat, cook the seeds, stirring constantly until they look golden and give off a noticeably toasty aroma, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the seeds from the pan to cool.
3. In a bowl, add the coriander, cayenne pepper, celery seed, minced onion, cumin, cinnamon, sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds. Stir to mix evenly.
4. Place the pork tenderloin in the prepared baking dish. Rub the spices on both sides of the pork pieces. Bake until no longer pink, about 15 minutes. Or bake until a meat thermometer reaches 165 F (medium) or 170 F (well-done).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/asian-pork-tenderloin/rcp-20049733