“The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. It is made up of the internal OS (the opening between the cervix and the upper part of the uterus), the endocervix (the inner part of the cervix that forms the endocervical canal), the ectocervix (the outer part of the cervix that opens into the vagina) and the external OS (the opening between the cervix and vagina).”

National Cancer Institute – NIH (Definition of cervix – NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms – NCI)

Where is your cervix located?

Your cervix is an important part of your reproductive anatomy. Your cervix is located inside your pelvic cavity, anywhere from 3 to 6 inches inside your vaginal canal. It begins at the base of your uterus and extends downward onto the top part of your vagina. This place where your cervix bulges onto the uppermost part of your vagina is called your ectocervix.

Your vagina, cervix and uterus are located behind your bladder and urethra (organs that allow you to pee) and in front of your rectum and anus (organs that allow you to poop).

What does your cervix look like?

The word “cervix” comes from the Latin word meaning “neck.” Like a neck, your cervix is shaped roughly like a cylinder or tube and connects important body parts. While your neck connects your head to the rest of your body, your cervix connects your uterus to your vagina. Your cervix is wider in the middle and narrows at both ends, where it opens into your uterus (top) and vagina (bottom).

Your cervix consists of the following parts:

• Internal OS: The opening that leads to your uterus. Your provider may refer to your internal OS during pregnancy.
• Endocervical canal: A tunnel that extends from your Internal OS to your ectocervix.
• Ectocervix: The part of your cervix that bulges onto the top of your vagina.
• External OS: The opening that leads to your vagina.

Your cervix is a muscular, tunnel-like organ. It’s the lower part of your uterus, and it connects your uterus and vagina. Sometimes called the “neck of the uterus,” your cervix plays an important role in allowing fluids to pass between your uterus and vagina. It enables a baby to leave your uterus so that it can travel through your vagina (birth canal) during childbirth. The cervix is also a common site for cell changes that may indicate cancer.

Getting regular Pap smears allows your provider to screen for irregularities that may be signs of disease.

Who has a cervix?

People who are designated female at birth (DFAB) have a cervix. DFAB people include cisgender women — people who are DFAB and identify as women — and some transgender men and nonbinary individuals. Some intersex individuals have cervixes, too.

What is the functions of your cervix?

It is still the number one killer even greater than cancer in both men and women today. This disease should be rare; do to a lot of cardiac disease it is inflicted upon humans through being overweight through just bad healthy habits practiced. Obesity can cause diabetes II, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t realize they have it. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent high blood pressure, or to treat it if it is already high.

What we can do is make some changes in our living. We westerners create an increase in diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. AMERICA WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND MAKE A CHANGE. TO THE MAIN CULPRITES we are talking about sugars and fat (OUR DIET). GLUCOSE and LIPIDS!. The typical American diet is consisted and loaded with sugar and fats. Lack of exercise and stress doesn’t help the situation. Get peace of mind through again making changes in your life if you are striving to become healthier. Let’s look at cholesterol = 2 types HDL and LDL. LDL is the bad cholesterol. Know if your LDL is type A or type B. If you have a high HDL level and a low LDL that is good but ask your doctor to see if you can get a blood test checking both type A and type B of your cholesterol that will give you the knowledge if you need to take an action. Go to CDC.org to see the different number ranges of both men and women on their levels and more. Just knowing your cholesterol level isn’t enough but does give the doctor some direction. Knowing if your type A or type B LDL helps even more with knowing your risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol only becomes a problem if the LDL gets too high with high pattern type B which is worse with stress and smoking and processed foods in high amounts eaten. Particles called lipoproteins carry cholesterol in the blood. There are two kinds of lipoproteins you need to know about: LDL and HDL. The plasma lipoprotein particles classified under high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoproteins enable fats to be carried in the blood stream.

-Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol make up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to a buildup in the arteries and result in heart disease.

-High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol absorb cholesterol and carry it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) is the major protein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and apoB is among the major proteins of very low-, low- (LDL), and intermediate-density lipoproteins. Because of their associations with the respective lipoproteins, apoA1 is inversely and apoB is positively associated with cardiovascular risk (2). In fact, evidence suggests that apoA1 and apoB are better predictors of heart disease risk than are HDL and LDL cholesterol levels (3-5). Apolipoproteins may also offer advantages over lipoprotein cholesterol measurements because they are direct measurements, whereas LDL, for example, is calculated from other lipoproteins from a fasting blood sample.

You can take several steps to maintain a normal cholesterol level.

• Get a blood test.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Don’t smoke.
• Treat high cholesterol.

Heart disease what is it? Your arteries can get stretched in high blood pressure and it puts the arteries at risk for an auto immune response which allows LDL particles to go in these stretched out areas causing build up of bad cholesterol in the arteries and imbeds fat causing the placque build up = narrowing of the arteries.

We need to reduce inflammation in the arteries. To prevent, reduce, and treat heart disease if already diagnosed with. Reduce all sugars, cut back on fatty foods, exercise daily, increase of your whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. We need to use all 4 food groups but eat the healthy ones in the right portions. Which I can provide to you later how to go about this.

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which leads many to heart attacks. You can greatly reduce your risk for CAD through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication. CAD consists of cholesterol and placque build up, even tar if a smoker, that can be deadly in time with blocking the arteries called atherosclerosis. This in time left untreated can lead to a heart attack or even silent heart attack. CAD also is the brittling of the arteries causing narrowing of the arteries called arteriosclerosis. Here it is the ending result is the blood supply is affected in not getting enough oxygen throughout our body to our tissues.

Coronary artery disease can cause a heart attack. If you have a heart attack, you are more likely to survive if you know the signs and symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately, and get to a hospital quickly. People who have had a heart attack can also reduce the risk of future heart attacks or strokes by making lifestyle changes and taking medication. Don’t put off the chest pain or discomfort in the chest or pain down the L arm for if your right you want to prevent the heart attack before it occurs and if you already had an attack the sooner treated the better. Reperfusion of blood to the heart is the KEY in treatment. Chest pain to the heart is lack of oxygen getting to the heart tissue=ischemia. We alone can’t treat it but we can prevent it before CAD even sets in through good health practices daily, healthy dieting daily and balancing rest with exercise daily.

Look at our diet alone in America: Take the elements that are in our food=Sugars or Carbohydrates or Fats. Simple CHO likes bread, rice, pasta along with fats and complex sugars all convert to simple sugars in the stomach and when it goes through digestion and the simple sugar reaches the blood stream filling it up with sugar which first does get utilized to our tissues and cells but if still extra sugar in the blood stream that sugar has to go somewhere which is by filling up the liver with it. In the liver the glucose gets converted from active sugar=glucose to glycogen=inactive sugar that stores in this organ. This is so if and when the body needs extra sugar for energy in our body and we don’t eat the inactive glucose glycogen will get released back into the blood stream and change to glucose and be used. Since we eat so much in America it usually isn’t the case. Obesity is so large in our country and this is why. When it reaches full and can’t store anymore still this glucose extra glucose in the blood stream has to go somewhere. So now the glucose gets stored in our fatty tissue=weight gain. This is what you see with eating through on a regular basis day in & day out too much food compared to the activity or exercise you get for the day. If no daily exercise then your fat storage build up is high=weight gain.

How do we go about preventing CAD and getting healther. Well see if this makes sense to you, it did to me. First, genetic abnormalities contribute to the risk for certain types of heart disease, which in turn may lead to heart failure. However, in most instances, a specific genetic link to heart failure has not been identified.

SO THE KEY TO PREVENTION OF CAD IS TO LIVE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR ROUTINE HABITS, YOUR DIETING OF THE 4 FOOD GROUPS, MAINTAINING YOUR WEIGHT IN A THEREPEUTIC RANGE (look as calculating BMI online for free to find out what your weight range for your height is), and BALANCING REST WITH EXERCISE TO HELP DECREASE THE CHANCE OF GETTING HEART FAILURE.

“Don’t know how to celebrate here are some things to avoid in doing to stay healthy:

Ideas to do on New Years Eve if not going out the safest route to go!

1. Do a 1,000 piece puzzle.

2. Start binging a new TV show.

3. Host or go to a game night with less than 10 or better Zume it.

4. Make and then listen to a playlist of all of your favorite songs.

5. Or just do that thing where you play a song just before midnight, so that the best part plays right at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1.

6. Get Chinese or whatever takeout you want and watch Planet Earth 2 or another documentary or whatever you want to watch.

7. Take a nice, long bath with some salts or bubbles by yourself or with your significant other.

8. Although, if you want to start or read a book, now’s also a good time to do it.  Don’t forget your favorite snack and drink as well.

9. Write letters to your friends and or family.

10. Treat it like you would the the last day of any other month, and do…whatever  but be safe for you and others.

If you choose to take the safest route and celebrate solo or only with your own household, Good Housekeeping has loads of fun alternatives, such as making a New Year’s Brunch, decorating your space, scrapbooking your favorite memories from 2020, or getting dressed up as if you’re going to a party. Oprah Magazine suggests experimenting with fun cocktails, hosting a dinner party via Zoom, making a thoughtful resolutions list, or having a solo photoshoot with a DIY festive backdrop.

If all else fails, pour yourself a glass of champagne and watch a livestream of the ball dropping. We’re starting a brand new year here, and we want to ring it in with pride and positivity — not regrets. 

In the end, we’d much rather have you nurse a hangover than a pandemic-level virus restarting (this is the flu and corona virus time again) or simply get sick before going back to work or not with bringing in the new year.

“New Years Eve is a great chance to celebrate the year gone by and the coming of a new one. However, these celebrations also come with great dangers and responsibilities. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you make your New Years plans!

If you are celebrating New Years Eve away from your home or will be traveling at all, here are some ideas to keep you safe.

• Plan your travel options ahead of time, arranging for a designated driver, a hotel stay, shuttle/limo service, public transportation and extra “Plan B” options before your night out.

Host / Hostess providing a great party atmosphere, consider these tips to keep your guests safe.

• Make sure smoke alarms are working and have fresh batteries.
• Research numbers for local hospitals and authorities and have them ready in the case of an accident.
• Contact a local cab company to provide rides for your guests, or have a trusted designated driver ready to take guests home if necessary.
• Offer non-alcoholic drink options and have plenty of water available.
• Use differently colored cups for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Dump unattended cups so kids and pets do not consume them.
• Stop serving alcohol several hours before the party ends (and stick to it!).”

American Safety Council (» New Years Eve Safety Tips)

Plan a Sober Ride

Drinking during New Years is not uncommon. But if you do choose to enjoy a cocktail or two, keep yourself and those around you safe by planning for a sober ride. Ask a sober friend or family member to take you home. Take an Uber,  planned ride or even an old fashioned cab if that is your preferred method. You can even take a bus or train depending on where you live and where the party is from. Even in your sober ride, act appropriately so your driver can pay attention to the road. Remember, your driver may be sober, but there’s likely another driver near that is not.

Don’t Drink and Drive:

This first New Year’s safety tip is obvious for a reason. Drinking and driving is not only dangerous to yourself but also everyone else in the vicinity of your vehicle. It should come as no surprise that January 1st has the highest percentage of deaths related to alcohol, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data. Between 2007 and 2011, 42 percent of all traffic deaths during the holiday were directly caused by alcohol. Keep others from driving while intoxicated by suggesting they use other methods, like an Uber.

Eat Dinner:

This may seem like an odd New Year’s safety tip, but a full stomach is a great way to avoid alcohol poisoning.

Try to consume foods high in protein such as cheese, meat and nuts. These types of food will slow down the absorption of alcohol in the digestive system. This will give the alcohol more time to metabolize in the body resulting in a lower risk of alcohol poisoning. Our liver metabolizes about one alcoholic drink per hour. A good rule of thumb is a 12 oz. beer = 4-5 oz. of wine = 1.5 oz. of hard liquor. By sipping a drink rather than chugging it, your body will have more time to metabolize the alcohol which will result in less of a hangover. Consider ordering an appetizer if you’re out at a restaurant or snack on nuts while drinking at a bar.

Pet Safety:

Nothing frightens pet’s more than sudden loud noises. Extra attention must be given so your pets won’t run away in a panic. Scared, running pets can be hit by cars, cause accidents, and become lost…not to mention, frequently bite people if scarred or threatened.

Wait to Post on Social Media:

Yes, it’s tempting to document your holiday celebrations online with friends and family, but recommended is waiting until you’ve returned home to share. You never know who’s looking at your account and what their intentions may be.

These are five fairly simple New Year’s safety tips that can simply save your life. Don’t let the dangers of New Year’s ruin your celebration. Be prepared, have a good time, and have a happy New Year’s!

Acknowledge What You’ve Lost.

While the holidays are mainly about thankfulness and celebration, this can also be a really hard time of year, even during normal circumstances. If you’re missing a loved one, think of ways to honor them during your festivities. If you’ve lost a job or had to drop out of school, take the time to recognize the challenges that came with that. Even if you haven’t lost anything concrete, we’ve all lost our sense of normalcy this year – it’s okay to grieve that during this time.

Make The Most Of It.

There’s no denying that things will be different this year, but holidays don’t need to be canceled (or even minimized). There will be some things that you can’t do right now, but there are surely some that you can. You can still carve pumpkins, send sweets to your friends and family for Diwali, make your favorite Thanksgiving meal, light the menorah, decorate gingerbread houses, and break out confetti poppers for New Year’s Eve. For the things you can’t do – brainstorm how to adapt them for COVID times. If you’re disappointed about Halloween parties being cancelled, plan a small outdoor gathering, or come up with virtual games to play over Zoom instead. Feeling lonely because you won’t get to see your extended family? Round up your cousins to video chat while preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

Don’t Romanticize Your Typical Holiday Plans.

Remember that while your holiday season may normally be full of excitement and joy, it can also be a time of high stress. Long days of travel, endless to-do lists, and dinners with that one family member you don’t get along with are all part of the holidays too. Even though you may be giving up some of your favorite things about the holidays this year, you’re probably leaving some stressors behind too. You don’t need to be happy about this – sometimes the chaos is part of the fun! – but be careful not to distort the situation and make it seem worse than it really is.

Practice Gratitude.

Gratitude is a major focus this time of year, and while it may seem harder to find things to appreciate, there is still plenty to be thankful for. Make a conscious effort to regularly identify some things that you’re grateful for. It can be something as broad as your health, or something as specific as your favorite song playing on the radio the last time you got in the car. Change is hard, but it isn’t always bad. There are still ways to celebrate the season with your loved ones, even if you must give up some of your favorite traditions. Find creative ways to adapt. Or start new traditions – they may even add more meaning to your holiday season.

If you’re still finding yourself sad, hopeless, or unable to enjoy the holidays this year, you may be struggling with a mental health condition. Look up a online screen to determine what you’re feeling is a sign of something like depression or anxiety rather than holiday stress.

OTHER TIPS IN GENERAL:

• Don’t drink and drive
• Monitor your alcohol intake
• Do not serve minors alcohol
• Parents should be aware of their children’s whereabouts
• If possible, avoid driving between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve
• When walking, use main roads. New Year’s Eve and day are among the most deadly days for pedestrians.
• Travel with groups
• Keep your phone charged so you are prepared in the event of an emergency
• Be careful what you share on social media on New Year’s Eve

“Betty White once said, “I may be a senior, but so what? I’m still hot.” While the witty one-liner brings laughs, the famous nonagenarian, made it over 99 years old before dying, perfectly sums up an attitude being adopted by more and more women approaching the once dreaded “senior citizen” stage of life.

Healthier living through more active lifestyles, better nutrition and a more in-depth understanding of how our bodies work and age has extended the average lifespan, bringing a new definition to what it means to be “senior.” Working in concert with this new definition, is a more open dialogue about health in later years – and not just in terms of cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes, but also sexuality.”

Penn Medicine (www.PennMedicine.org/The New Midlife: Why 60 is the New 40 – Penn Medicine)

Ever heard the phrase 60 is the new 40? While that maybe an exaggeration, it’s meant to highlight the very real phenomenon of our ever increasing health and longer lifespans.

For the average person who turned 60 in 1970, they could expect to retire at age 64 and live to age 70.8. For someone who turned 60 in 2010, they can very easily work throughout their entire 60’s and expect to live to at least 78.7 years old.

With the advances in modern medicine, lower rates of smoking and generally healthier lifestyles, our active and productive years can expand well into our 70’s and beyond.

How we choose to use this “extra” time will be determined by our current situation and our priorities for the future.

For some, their 60’s are a time to kick back and relax. They have worked for 30+ years, lived below their means and diligently saved money for retirement. They may also have sold a successful business, or been able to retire from a (increasing scarce) job that had a good pension.

For others, the prospect of retirement isn’t even a thought. Whether it’s a case of financial reality or just the psychological need to be productive, a continuing presence in the workforce is a reality for more and more of the 60+ crowd.

So how to change your life at 60 years old and feel proud of yourself?

• Is It Possible To Start Over in Your Life At 60?
• Finding Meaning in Life at 60 Years Old
• Is 60 Too Late To Change Your Life?
• How to Change Your Life at 60 Years Old and Feel Proud of Yourself
  • 1. Changing Priorities
  • 2. Understanding the Psychological Challenges
  • 3. Dealing With the Financial Challenges
  • 4. Make New Friends
  • 5. Give Back To the Community
  • 6. Set Achievable Goals

So start over in your life at 60!

Starting over at 60 should not come as a surprise. Now that you have come to understand the psychological and financial challenges associated with reaching that age, let’s take a look at how to regain control over your life. In popular opinion, by the time you reach 60 you have achieved all you had to in life. This isn’t true, just because we are comfortable doesn’t mean to stop ourselves from growing.

It is important to shift attention away from things that took the most part of your life like work and children and move towards yourself and how you impact the world and not put your life on stagnation till you pass on.  You are starting a new life or just adding to what you have depending on the individual.  Their are many factors that determine that:

Are you healthy?  If so, take advantage of it than, its your life!

Are you with less family and or friends in your life?  If so can involved in groups, the community, but don’t introvert yourself home and especially by yourself!

YOU CAN START LIFE OVER AT 60 IF YOU WANT; IT IS ALL UP TO WHAT YOU CHOOSE DO WITH YOUR LIFE!

Most people would think their life’s meaning and purpose is one thing and remains the same forever. However, that is far from the truth. In fact, the meaning in life changes with every stage of life because we as human beings change so many times in our lives.

By the time one reaches 60 they have experienced all sorts of things in life, especially long-lasting impacts of loss, bereavement, retirement and so much more. Sometimes the meaning of our lives is lost along with loved ones and things. However, this is also a period of transformation where in one way or another we have to re-evaluate our life and priorities.

Your own goals can change, from wanting to live longer, to lose weight, and be healthy to spending time with family and friends or like-minded people. Everyone has something or the other that they need to do at this age, and each of their goals is equally as important. Therefore, finding meaning in life at 60 years old is something most people do.

Is 60 Too Late To Change Your Life?

No time in life is too late to change. As previously discussed, the 60s and 70s are key years in an individual’s life. Everything around a person at that age is changing and there is no one stopping them from changing as well.

Some people work hard their entire lives and retire in their 60s. They want a chance to enjoy life and relax. Others see it as a time to plan out their family’s future and look into life insurances. Some are given unexpected medical advice diagnosis or treatment and they need to make changes to live a healthy life.

Turning 60 gives you a chance to start over, and it’s up to you whether you want to take it or not. Psychologically, after living an entire life you are presented with various options. Being 60 means you have a lifetime of knowledge and skill to impart to others around you, the ability to turn your hobbies into happiness, and do the things you have always wanted to do.

“Healthy holiday eating is a battle on two fronts, with indulgent food options at home and at parties. From sugar cookies and eggnog to buffets and multi-course meals, the time between Halloween and New Year’s Eve is a minefield for eating well.

Even before the first invitation arrives, it’s helpful to set some realistic expectations. The holiday season is almost inevitably caloric and indulgent. In order to enjoy what friends, family and office parties have to offer, as well as lower some diet-related stress, focus on maintaining your weight rather than losing weight. Allow yourself more flexibility this time of year. There will be temptations in every direction, and with a little planning, you can indulge in your favorite foods while still eating well. If you’re currently on a weight loss plan, talk to your nutritionist or primary care physician about how to best approach — and enjoy — eating during the holiday season.

Increasing, or at least prioritizing, exercise can be beneficial during this period. Parking a little further away, walking when possible — even in the cold weather — can not only help you de-stress, but it can also help you keep your weight stable. But time during the holidays can be as scarce as sugar is plentiful. If you’re finding it hard to fit in fitness, break up your exercise into shorter 10‐ to 15-minute segments.

At the Holiday Party

No matter if they are sit-down family dinners or buffet-style office parties, social gatherings during the holiday season are full of indulgent foods that challenge healthy eating habits.”.

North Western Medicine (Healthy Eating Habits for the Holidays | Northwestern Medicine)