Women’s health encompasses a multitude of factors that are carefully orchestrated by hormones. In turn, hormones can be produced by different glands and tissues, which gives them varied functions. Furthermore, production, transportation, sensitivity, and detoxification can be modulated by various factors; among them, body composition and aging play a determinant role. As the years roll, and that is something we cannot stop, we need to figure out how to modulate our aging process to maintain our female patient’s health. Understanding hormonal metabolism and how to promote hormonal production, transportation, sensitivity, and detoxification, we can connect the dots between the influence of body composition and anti-aging factors that contribute to women’s health.
Table of Contents
Women’s health is an extensive, multifactorial mechanism that several lifestyle changes can promote. This article will discuss the importance of body composition, mitochondrial function, and muscle mass and their effect on menopausal women.
Inflamm-aging, mitochondrial dysfunction a women’s health
The concept of inflamm-aging pertains to the mechanism of elevated inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress response that associates with mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly, mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation interdependent. Besides this, inflamm-aging results in a wide array of reactions involving elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines that promote chronic diseases.
Due to one particular factor, an immune response is caused by circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Furthermore, mtDNA released due to cellular stress binds to cytoplasmatic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) responsible for the generation of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).
Menopause is a breaking point in defining women’s health. This condition relates to hormonal changes consistent with ovarian aging. Indeed, an increase in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) combined with decreased estradiol concentrations promotes a millie where muscle mass and bone density decline.
The hormonal changes that define the menopause stage lead to bone loss, increased bone turnover, and less bone formation. Furthermore, muscle loss has a tight association with mitochondrial function, oxidative capacity, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore the combination of hormonal changes and mitochondrial dysfunction in a pro-inflammatory milieu promotes age-related musculoskeletal issues in women.
But why is this so important? Mobility and structure are critical factors that ensure well-being. On the other hand, altered body composition consistent with excessive body fat coincides with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, disability, and institutionalization.
Estrogen is an integral modulator in skeletal growth and maintenance. Specifically for women’s health, a decrease in estrogen levels leads to increased bone resorption and affects mechanosensitivity. On the other hand, average estrogen production and levels reduce proresorption cytokines.
Another critical factor about mechanosensitivity is the interplay between exercise and estrogen receptor alpha (ER-a) at a cellular level. Furthermore, ER-a is essential for osteogenesis, but the function and number of this receptor seem to stall or decrease during menopause. Therefore, the signal of the mechanical load induced by exercise loses potential, which results in no osteogenic response but reduced bone density.
Bone density and muscle mass are crucial for the structure that is the cornerstone of women’s health. While simple lifestyle changes, like exercise, can promote better bone density and muscle mass growth, overdoing it may be detrimental to these tissues. Therefore, promoting a smooth transition from premenopause to menopause is essential to keep hormonal-mediated osteogenesis. Furthermore, understanding the patient’s clinical history and determining the dietary, activity, and supplementation needed to promote her well-being is step one towards better women’s health.- Ana Paola Rodríguez Arciniega, MS
References:
Chen, Y. C., Lin, W. C., Cheng, T. T., Chen, J. F., Yu, S. F., & Hsu, C. Y. (2020). Lower Central Fat Increase Risk of One-Year Muscle Mass Loss in Menopausal Women. Mediators of inflammation, 2020, 4650318. doi.org/10.1155/2020/4650318
Lang T. F. (2011). The bone-muscle relationship in men and women. Journal of osteoporosis, 2011, 702735. doi.org/10.4061/2011/702735
Additional Online Links & Resources (Available 24/7)
Online Appointments or Consultations: bit.ly/Book-Online-Appointment
Online Physical Injury / Accident Intake Form: bit.ly/Fill-Out-Your-Online-History
Online Functional Medicine Assessment: bit.ly/functionmed
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information on this blog site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.
Our areas of chiropractic practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, FNP-C, FNP-APRN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate
Texas RN License # 1191402
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Masters in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, FNP-C, APRN, CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card
Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC,… Read More
Can adding fartlek training improve speed and endurance for runners and running enthusiasts? Running Fartlek… Read More
For individuals dealing with digestive issues and conditions, can incorporating Tai Chi help improve gut… Read More
Children walking with their toes pointed in may be pigeon-toed. What are the causes, conditions… Read More
Learn how calisthenics can enhance strength and endurance through simple yet effective bodyweight movements. Introduction… Read More
Can postural assessments help identify problems with how a person stands or sits, which can… Read More