No woman looks forward to weight gain or hot flashes, but how a woman takes care of herself before menopause greatly affects how her body responds once the changes begin, says Adelita Gonzales Cantu, R.N., M.S., instructor in the department of family nursing care at the Health Science Center.
Cantu is one of the scheduled speakers for the 2005 Mini-Medical School to be held May 2, 9, 16 and 23 at the Health Science Center. The public is encouraged to attend this free educational event, which is a special gift to the community from the Health Science Center. The Mini-Medical School is supported in part by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
Cantu will give practical tips for dealing with menopausal effects such as weight gain, hot flashes, decreased sex drive, hair thinning and mood swings. “Many women make the mistake of thinking their lives have ended,” she says. “The correct way to view it is that this is one milestone over my life course, but only one.”
Cantu says a number of studies in the medical literature have shown there is a redistribution of adipose (or fatlike) tissue after menopause. “A woman’s body fat tends to redistribute itself to her stomach area and increase her risk of cardiovascular disease,” Cantu says. “That’s why it is very important to prepare physically for menopause, because if you come into it overweight and not eating right, it will be more difficult later to reduce risk factors for many chronic illnesses.”
Anitha S. Nair (pronounced nigh-ear), M.D., assistant instructor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, will discuss physiological changes that occur during menopause and will address questions that women may be asking about hormone replacement therapy. Both Dr. Nair and Cantu will take questions after their presentations.
The men in the audience need not feel left out. Cantu will discuss research that shows how men perceive menopause. “Women need to understand that even though they are the ones going through changes, their significant others are affected, too,” she says. “It is important not to isolate yourself but to bring your partner into it.”
Women’s health is the theme for the four Monday sessions of the Mini-Medical School. Women and diabetes is the second topic on May 2. Subsequent weeks will cover obesity, heart disease, adolescent health, cancer and infertility. The dynamic series will conclude with description of an exciting new National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health/Pregnancy at the Health Science Center.
Each Monday session starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.
The Health Science Center will offer the program via video teleconference to various remote sites in South Texas, including the university’s Laredo Extension Campus and its Medical Education Division building of the Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen.
Advance registration is requested. Please call (210) 567-4445. A brochure is available online at
www.uthscsa.edu/ogm/forms/minimedbroch2.pdf.
