Common Mental Health Issues in Women

Certain mental health disorders are more prevalent in women. Learn the reasons behind these gender differences and how you can protect your emotional well-being.

If you are a woman experiencing depression, an anxiety disorder, or another mental health condition, you are not alone.

An Empty Nest Opens New Doors

While some parents may experience sadness and depression when their children grow up and move out, many more enjoy the positive changes in parenting that follow.

    The phrase "empty nest syndrome" brings to mind images of sad women wringing their hands and trying to ignore the empty bedroom down the hall. While some parents may experience sadness and even depression when a child leaves home, many more enjoy the positive changes in parenting that come with a so-called empty nest.

What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Loss?

    A good daily multivitamin containing zinc, vitamin B, folate, iron, and calcium is a reasonable choice, although there is no good evidence that vitamins have any meaningful benefit in alopecia. Newer studies suggest that vitamin D may be somewhat helpful and worth considering. Specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies like iron or vitamin B12 may be diagnosed by blood tests and treated.

Is Hair Loss In Women Different Than Men?

Female-pattern baldness

    Women lose hair on an inherited (genetic) basis, too, but the female pattern tends to be more diffuse, with less likelihood of the crown and frontal hairline being lost. Although some women may notice hair thinning as early as their 20s, the pace of hair loss tends to be gradual, often taking years to become obvious to others. There seems to be a normal physiologic thinning that comes with age and occurs in many women in their early to mid-30s. More women have underlying causes of hair loss than men. These include treatable conditions like anemia and thyroid disease and polycystic ovary syndrome. These conditions are diagnosed by blood tests along with a historical and physical evidence. Although a few studies have suggested that baldness may be inherited through the mother's family genes, these theories require further testing. Current studies are inconclusive.

What Other Options Do People Have For Hair Loss?

    There are many options and alternative cosmetic treatments for hair loss. Some of these are listed here and include hair-fiber powders, hairpieces, synthetic wigs, human hair wigs, hair extensions, hair weaves, laser, and surgery.