By Jessica Solis
For the News-Gazette

With 2013 officially under way, so are the resolutions of many women who are hoping the start of the New Year can also help kick start new, healthier habits.

Local health care professionals will gather Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Osceola County Council on Aging to discuss and lecture on the importance of female wellness.

The Ladies and Friends Luncheon will focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and appearance, even an older age.

A Marist poll last month found that losing weight and exercising more were the two most common resolutions amongst Americans for 2013.

This time of year, it is common for women to map out a wellness plan – both nutritionally and cosmetically.

“It’s the new year and they want to do a little something different for themselves,” said Dr. Peter Casella, who will be speaking at today’s event.

Casella, who heads Kissimmee’s Center for Advanced Gynecology and Aesthetics said he frequently fields questions about weight loss and cosmetic surgery, two of the topics he will discuss at the luncheon.

And as women age, Casella said, they should consider hormone therapy to maintain their appearance and strength.

Hormone therapy is commonly used by women to replace estrogen lost during menopause. It offsets many of the symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, fatigue and osteoporosis.

Casella will discuss hormone therapy at the event, and said he recommends women consult with their doctors prior to beginning the treatment.

“It’s one of those things that a lot of women have a lot of fears about; a lot of misconceptions,” Casella said. “There’s a lot of information out there about hormone replacement, so they want some reassurance.”

The estrogen hormone treatment is often prescribed as a low dosage pill or a patch.

According to Casella, women who don’t undergo hormone therapy could end up having a less healthy life because of the many changes that occur in their bodies due to lack of estrogen. They are also at increased risk for heart disease.

“It’s a real benefit to continue to stay on it,” he said. “To make it a continuum of their lives and not have a big gap between menopause and restarting hormones. “

Representatives from the St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, which helped to sponsor the event, will be also be on hand to answer questions and spotlight the hospital’s female-friendly services.

“A lot of times, the instance is to look outside of your community for healthcare needs, but we want to change that notion,” said Tracey Guerrero, marketing director for the hospital. “St. Cloud Regional Medical Center is a state of the art facility and it is available locally.”

Speakers from the hospital include Inna Makievsky, chief nursing executive, who was recently recognized by the March of Dimes as a Central Florida nurse of the year in the category of leadership/executive.

The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and costs $15 per person.