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During the winter, people get less sun because the days are shorter and they spend less time outdoors. This can cause a decrease in vitamin D levels. And chronic vitamin D deficiency may be a culprit in heart disease, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, says Sue Penckofer, PhD, RN, professor, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago.
Diet alone is not sufficient to manage vitamin D levels, Penckofer adds. Treatment options, such as vitamin D2 or D3, may decrease the risk of severe disease or death from cardiovascular disorders.
Testosterone therapy may not be the magic bullet women with low libidos are hoping for, according to seasoned sex therapist Domeena Renshaw. "Female sexual dysfunction is being treated as a medical problem with a quick fix, when in fact women's libido issues may be more complicated," says Renshaw, professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Renshaw instead recommends counseling and increased communication with your spouse about sex or other marital problems; changes in sexual routine; regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
