Selenium, an antioxidant included in multivitamin tablets thought to have a possible protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes, may actually increase the risk of developing the disease, an analysis by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.
Results of a randomized clinical trial using 200 micrograms of selenium alone showed that 55 percent more cases of type 2 diabetes developed among participants randomized to receive selenium than in those who received a placebo pill.
Results will appear in print in the August 2007 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and were posted online on July 10.
Self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was a secondary endpoint in a clinical trial designed to test the benefit of selenium supplementation in prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in areas in the Eastern U.S. where selenium levels are lower than the national average. Selenium is a trace mineral that is an essential component of proteins involved in antioxidant activity.
Saverio Stranges, M.D., Ph.D., first author on the diabetes prevention study, conducted the analysis while at UB, in cooperation with colleagues from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He now is affiliated with the Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK.
Stranges said the findings are very interesting, but should be considered cautiously.
‘Among participants taking selenium supplementation, those who had the highest levels of selenium in their circulation at the beginning of the study had the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the average 7.7 years of follow-up,’ he said, ‘and the increase in risk is unlikely to be a result of chance.
‘However, in the general population, very few people, if any, take selenium supplements only, every day, for nearly eight years, so we can’t be sure that these findings apply to the public at large.
‘Perhaps the more important message is that a large proportion of the U.S. population, about 50 percent, takes multivitamins, even though there is no evidence that taking multivitamins helps prevent chronic disease among healthy people. In this country, we can get all the antioxidants we need in fruits and vegetables, but it’s easier to take a vitamin than to eat a more healthy diet.’
The selenium and diabetes study involved 1,202 people who did not have type 2 diabetes when they entered the cancer clinical trial at Roswell Park. Participants had been recruited for the main study between 1983 and 1991, and they were involved for an average of 7.7 years. The supplementation study was completed in February 1996.
Analysis for this diabetes study involved data from 600 persons who had taken selenium and 602 who were randomized to receive placebo pills.
Results showed that 97 participants developed type 2 diabetes during the study period, 58 in the selenium group and 39 in the placebo group. There was no difference in the findings when age, sex, smoking status and body mass index were included in the analysis.
‘At the moment we don’t know what mechanism or mechanisms account for this finding,’ said Stranges. ‘We have very little understanding of the possible biological pathways involved. In addition, our findings need to be replicated in larger clinical trials before conclusive evidence can be drawn on whether high doses of selenium supplements increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, as our study suggests.
‘With selenium, which is a trace element, it may be the case that a little bit is essential, but more can cause detrimental effects, at least in well-nourished populations such as the U.S. It’s possible that taking extra selenium overcomes the natural balance. Perhaps excess selenium has a negative effect on the endocrine system.’
Additional authors are James R. Marshal, Ph.D., Raj Natarajan, and Mary E. Reid, Ph.D., from Roswell Park; Richard P. Donahue, Ph.D., and Maurizio Trevisan, M.D, from the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions; Gerald F. Combs, Ph.D., from the Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Francesco P. Cappuccio, M.D., and Antonio Ceriello, M.D., from Warwick Medical School, UK.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB’s more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities. The School of Public Health and Health Professions is one of five schools that constitute UB’s Academic Health Center.
Bayho Health News
http://www.bayho.com/article.php?id=189
Contact:Saverio Stranges
Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School
Bayho Health News
ISSN 1533-6220
February 28, 2008 | Posted in
General Articles |
Read More »
Selenium, an antioxidant included in multivitamin tablets thought to have a possible protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes, may actually increase the risk of developing the disease, an analysis by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.
Results of a randomized clinical trial using 200 micrograms of selenium alone showed that 55 percent more cases of type 2 diabetes developed among participants randomized to receive selenium than in those who received a placebo pill.
Results will appear in print in the August 2007 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine and were posted online on July 10.
Self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was a secondary endpoint in a clinical trial designed to test the benefit of selenium supplementation in prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in areas in the Eastern U.S. where selenium levels are lower than the national average. Selenium is a trace mineral that is an essential component of proteins involved in antioxidant activity.
Saverio Stranges, M.D., Ph.D., first author on the diabetes prevention study, conducted the analysis while at UB, in cooperation with colleagues from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He now is affiliated with the Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK.
Stranges said the findings are very interesting, but should be considered cautiously.
‘Among participants taking selenium supplementation, those who had the highest levels of selenium in their circulation at the beginning of the study had the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the average 7.7 years of follow-up,’ he said, ‘and the increase in risk is unlikely to be a result of chance.
‘However, in the general population, very few people, if any, take selenium supplements only, every day, for nearly eight years, so we can’t be sure that these findings apply to the public at large.
‘Perhaps the more important message is that a large proportion of the U.S. population, about 50 percent, takes multivitamins, even though there is no evidence that taking multivitamins helps prevent chronic disease among healthy people. In this country, we can get all the antioxidants we need in fruits and vegetables, but it’s easier to take a vitamin than to eat a more healthy diet.’
The selenium and diabetes study involved 1,202 people who did not have type 2 diabetes when they entered the cancer clinical trial at Roswell Park. Participants had been recruited for the main study between 1983 and 1991, and they were involved for an average of 7.7 years. The supplementation study was completed in February 1996.
Analysis for this diabetes study involved data from 600 persons who had taken selenium and 602 who were randomized to receive placebo pills.
Results showed that 97 participants developed type 2 diabetes during the study period, 58 in the selenium group and 39 in the placebo group. There was no difference in the findings when age, sex, smoking status and body mass index were included in the analysis.
‘At the moment we don’t know what mechanism or mechanisms account for this finding,’ said Stranges. ‘We have very little understanding of the possible biological pathways involved. In addition, our findings need to be replicated in larger clinical trials before conclusive evidence can be drawn on whether high doses of selenium supplements increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, as our study suggests.
‘With selenium, which is a trace element, it may be the case that a little bit is essential, but more can cause detrimental effects, at least in well-nourished populations such as the U.S. It’s possible that taking extra selenium overcomes the natural balance. Perhaps excess selenium has a negative effect on the endocrine system.’
Additional authors are James R. Marshal, Ph.D., Raj Natarajan, and Mary E. Reid, Ph.D., from Roswell Park; Richard P. Donahue, Ph.D., and Maurizio Trevisan, M.D, from the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions; Gerald F. Combs, Ph.D., from the Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Francesco P. Cappuccio, M.D., and Antonio Ceriello, M.D., from Warwick Medical School, UK.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB’s more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities. The School of Public Health and Health Professions is one of five schools that constitute UB’s Academic Health Center.
Bayho Health News
http://www.bayho.com/article.php?id=189
Contact:Saverio Stranges
Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School
Bayho Health News
ISSN 1533-6220
February 28, 2008 | Posted in
General Articles |
Read More »
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and if you are a Vegetarian, then donât worry about your diet. Still you can maintain your diabetic diet. If you want to keep your blood glucose level constant, vegetarian diet may be a healthy way, i.e. whenever you’re consuming lean superiority proteins and are following additional formulas for consuming as a diabetic.
Since many vegans and vegetarians consume a greater amount of fruits and veggies in a day than a non-vegetarian and their fiber intake is very much greater too. An expanded amount of fiber in a diabeticâs dieting may assist blood glucose since it decompresses the action of the body digesting carbohydrates. A vegetarianâs diet is generally inferior in cholesterol it can also hold off cardiovascular disease as well as heart attacks and strokes.
If you’re diabetic and are bearing in mind an alternative to a diabetic diet, there are a few of the benefits you could obtain which includes, a greater rate of weight loss and better blood glucose indications. This is dependant on the characters of vegetarian meals you opt because a few meatless meals may be just as calorific as ones that contain meat.
Consuming a healthy diabetic diet is to reduce the quantity of insulin that is required for our body. Along with consuming of the beneficial carbohydrate choices and lean meats you’ll lower the insulin essentials for your body. The types of food or quantity of food you consume will affect the blood sugar on your body. So, when you do not choose the best foods it will need more insulin to process them. In addition to this, there is a chance of becoming high blood sugar known as âHyperglycemiaâ. Once it is affected then you have to suffer for a long time and it will effect on your body and its organs.
Talk to your physician and nutritionist prior to making the alternate. You must require additional information about how to switch yourself to your fresh dieting. You’ll also acquire a list of meat alternatives you should eat in order to acquire adequate protein in a day. These may include tofu i.e. bean curd, nuts, eggs, and seeds.
As with any alternative, once you switch on to a vegetarian diet yourself, your body needs some time to adjust. There are a lot of formulas and ideas for vegetarian dishes and you’ll get many change and flexibility in the meals that you prepare. Check your blood sugars frequently to make sure your blood glucose levels stay balanced during the alteration.
Randy Swanston writes from Edmonton, Alberta. Canada. He can be contacted at randy@randyswanston.com . A health care provider for 25 years, he now loves to review and edit health issues. For more info, contact <a href="http://www.diabeticcares.com/"Diabetic Cares</a>
February 26, 2008 | Posted in
General Articles |
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The risk of diabetic persons developing high blood pressure is two times higher. Left untreated, diabetes increases the right of heart diseases and stroke. When a person has diabetes and high blood pressure, the chances of heart failure increase by four times. It is therefore essential for diabetic patients find ways to control hypertension or high blood pressure.
Lowering blood pressure can be attained by opting a vegetarian diet, daily physical exercise, losing weight if over weight, quitting smoking and alcohol and practicing of yoga and meditation can help lower blood pressure.
When to take meditation for high blood pressure â”
If you are diabetic and your blood pressure reaches 140/90 Hg, you will need to take active measures to lower blood pressure. Remember this is only for diabetic patients and people without diabetes are not generally advised to take medicines if their BP is below 160/100.
Being diabetic increases the risk of heart failure, nervous system damages, kidney failure, liver damages and several other complications including lack of nutrient supply to arms and legs.
Ayurvedic control methods to lower blood pressure levels are mainly centered around dietary controls. Lower intake of sea salt, inclusion of bitter melon in diet, controlling intake of sugar and fat, taking herbal tea, etc are the prime directions. Lifestyle adjustments like taking 7-8 hours of daily sleep, practicing yoga and meditation, leading an active life, dealing only with people you like, etc keep you control blood pressure.
Bitter gourd (bitter melon) juice is beneficial in managing diabetes. Take more than half a glass of bitter gourd juice two times a day.
Salacia oblonga is an Ayurvedic herb useful in lowering blood sugar levels, blood insulin levels and normalizing blood pressure levels. Salacia oblonga thus is beneficial in treating both diabetes and high blood pressure.
Sarpagandhi (Rowolfia serpentina), is another Ayurvedic herb effective in bringing down blood pressure levels.
Shilajith, though usually termed as an aphrodisiac, is beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels. Pure shilajit can be taken as a preventive and curative Ayurvedic medicine against diabetes.
Specific Ayurvedic therapies like dhara, kizhi, nasyam, etc are treatments for diabetes. The treatments are equally beneficial in normalizing blood pressure too.
Diabetic patients who also have high blood pressure must regularly check their blood pressure levels. They also must take directed hours of daily rest and do moderate exercises on a regular basis.
Dev Sri provides insider information about <a href="http://www.keralaayurvedics.com">Ayurvedic herbal medicine practices and Ayurveda in Kerala</a>. Find more about Ayurvedic medicines at <a href="http://www.keralaayurvedics.com/"> http://www.KeralaAyurvedics.com/</a>.
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February 21, 2008 | Posted in
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At the age of 14, I was diagnosed with Type I, Juvenile Diabetes, and needless to say my life was forever changed from that moment on. I was determined that I would do whatever possible to not allow this disease to control my life. I have spent the last 26 years checking my blood sugars, taking insulin injections, watching what I eat, and exercising just so I could live what I believed to be a normal life. The problem, with Type I diabetes, is no matter what you do you cannot stop time and the effects the disease has over your body over the years of living with this disease. I truly believe that there is a cure for Diabetes. But, with all of the political controversy over Stem Cell research I will probably not live long enough to ever see the reality of this cure. However, when I read about StemEnhance I was truly excited and could not wait to start taking this supplement. I know that it may not be a cure for my disease but, I know just after taking it for a short time it is definitely making a difference in the way I feel and how well my blood sugars have been since I started taking StemEnhance. I believe, without a doubt that this supplement will aid in the wellness of my kidneys, eyesight, and circulation, common problems amongst those of us with Type I or Type II Diabetes. Please read the article published below regarding this breakthrough supplement and if you have any questions or would like to know more about the supplement and what it can do for you visit:
http:/wellnessandwealth.stemtechbiz.com
STEMTech Debuts StemEnhance
The Natural Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough
Botanical Extract Shown clinically to Promote Natural Release of Adult Stem Cells From Bone Marrow, Optimizing Tissue and Organ Function Throughout the Body
SAN CLEMENTE, CA – JUNE 9,2006 – For nearly twenty years, medical science has recognized the role of antioxidant nutrition in prolonging human life and increasing vibrant health. Now, new research has uncovered a dietary strategy that may even eclipse antioxidants for maintaining proper organ and tissue function throughout the body: adult stem cell enhancement.
STEMTech HealthSciences, Inc., a pioneer in nutraceutical development and marketing, today announced the availability of StemEnhance, the first natural dietary supplement proven to support adult stem cell circulation. A breakthrough in its field, StemEnhance has been shown to support and increase naturally-occurring adult stem cell release from bone marrow, within normal ranges.
Adult stem cells are without a doubt one of the most exciting fronts in health sciences today. While human embryos were once thought to be the only source of these “super cells” that could regenerate a wide range of human tissue, research in recent years has generated a growing body of evidence that adult stem cells have the same remarkable ability to develop and replicate in a wide variety of forms, a property known to health science as pluripotence.
The New England Journal of Medicine, in one recent example, published a study suggesting that the number of circulating stem cells has a direct correlation to overall heart health (September 8, 2005, 353(10):999-1007). There is clear and convincing evidence that adult stem cells are involved in maintaining homeostasis (natural physiological equilibrium) and normal body function.
In human beings, stem cells are most abundantly found in bone marrow from birth onward. However, over a lifetime, there is evidence that in some people, the number and quality of these cells circulating through the body gradually decreases. STE/wellnessandwealth.stemtechbiz.com
Dena Frayer
http://wellnessandwealth.stemtechbiz.com
February 20, 2008 | Posted in
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Diabetic Ketoacidosis is the most severe form of dehydration for an insulin dependent diabetic (Type I) but also in the non-insulin dependent diabetic (Type II experience HHS). Also know as DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) it can occur from a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin; demonstrated by hyperglycemia, dehydration, and acid producing derangements of metabolism; acidosis. This condition can present as a true emergency in the insulin dependent diabetic or to the person that did not know they had diabetes; only signs and symptoms of dehydration or malaise. The causes of DKA and hyperglycemia can result from infection, disruption of treatment, and as a result of new onset; typically characterized by having a blood sugar (BS) above 300mg/dL, low bicarbonate (<15mEq/L), and acidosis with a pH less than 7.30 and associated ketonemia and ketonuria. Some of the complications from DKA can be cerebral edema (the major cause of mortality and morbidity in DKA), renal failure, cardiac disturbances, pulmonary edema, or even acute gastric dilation.
In order to understand how some of the signs and symptoms occur you need to look into a basic physiological process. The body uses many mechanisms to balance acid levels, energy levels, energy sources, and function which is termed maintaining homeostasis. When homeostasis is jeopardized the body tries to counteract and protect itself. However, when our internal mechanisms cannot maintain homeostasis any longer it requires medical treatment and intervention based on clinical (lab and diagnostic) studies. In the diabetic, more specifically DKA, conditions such as a silent MI, CVA, or thrombosis may contribute to the evolvement of DKA.
The primary mechanism behind DKA occurs when insulin is deficient, levels of glucagons elevate, catecholamines are stimulated and hepatic glucose production is increased. The response to this is a decrease in the uptake of insulin from the peripheral tissues. The bottom line is that there is elevated production of glucose and non-usage of the circulating peripheral glucose.
Insulin is the primary anabolic hormone which means that muscle, fat and the liver do not take up glucose. There are other hormones (counter regulatory) such as glucagon, growth hormone, and catecholamines which accelerate the triglyceride breakdown into free roaming fatty acids and stimulate gluconeogenesis. This causes an elevation in the blood glucose levels in DKA. A result of the oxidation of free fatty acids (in the liver) is the production of ketone bodies, the two primaries are beta hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetic acid, hence the term switching metabolism; changing from carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism.
During the metabolic mayhem, a metabolic acidosis prevails. This condition of acidosis depletes the fluid between and inside the cells of its acid buffers. As the body begins to lose its ability to buffer acidic conditions adequately it finds an alternate route to eliminate the ketones; via the urine (ketonuria). Subsequently when blood concentrations of glucose are exceedingly high, the ability of the kidney to absorb glucose is exceeded and the glucose begins to spill into urine waste (glycosuria). The resulting complication here is free water loss because of a condition known as osmotic diuresis which results in dehydration, thirst, low perfusion to tissues, and quite possibly lactic acidosis. This would explain a common set of symptoms called Poly, Poly, Polyâ¦..Polyuria, Polydipsia, and Polyphagia.
Polydipsia comes from dehydration that is sensed by the hypothalamus because you are thirsty from the loss of water. Polyuria occurs because you are urinating so much from the bodyâs attempt to rid itself of the excess glucose and buffer the acidity of the blood. Polyphagia comes from the switching of metabolism, the body is requiring carbohydrates for energy and you just cannot use the energy source; a lack of insulin.
With the loss of free water and the existence of changes in the osmotic gradient the patient is at severe risk for a severe electrolyte imbalance. The primary electrolyte concerns are sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphate. Potassium loss occurs as a result of extraction from intracellular fluid to exchange for the hydrogen ion build up in the extracellular areas in order to help with the buffering process. The potassium loss continues through the urine because of the change in the osmotic gradient. Sodium is lost in a similar fashion but the initial hyponatremia present in evaluation is related to a dilutional process. Water is extracted into the extracellular space as well, creating the dilution and is lost via urinary excretion due to the osmotic gradient change. Magnesium and phosphorous are lost similarly. The most important of the mentioned electrolytes is potassium. The production of the ketone bodies, in abundance, will lead to general abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting contributing to further loss of sodium and potassium.
The goals of treatment are to reverse the rehydrate the body, correct the hyperglycemia, and replenish the loss of electrolytes. After initial identification and treatment you must find the underlying cause and further treat any of the potential complications; MI, CVA, cardiogenic shock, sepsis, and thrombus. IV fluid regimens will vary upon diagnostic and lab evaluation and ensure proper renal function. This would also be true for the levels of electrolyte losses. Additional complications will be treated as they are discovered.
In conclusion the patient with Type I diabetes or new onset of diabetes can be life threatening and is considered a true medical emergency. Early identification and intervention are necessary to prevent complications. Early identification consists of not only correcting the condition of hyperglycemia, hypovolemic, and electrolyte imbalances but more importantly the underlying cause. These causes can range from infection to organ dysfunction. Close monitoring of treatment effectiveness can reduce or eliminate the long term complications of cardiac disruption, sepsis, hypovolemic shock, and renal damage; consequences of cerebral edema also need to be considered.
Michael Leff is a critical care nurse with 15 years of health related experiences. He promotes topics about health, wellness, and understanding disease on his website at http://www.nurseconnector.com. Frequent postings related to tips, diet, and general health are presented. Critical care medicine opens a door for understanding health needs and trends. Visit the website at http://www.nurseconnector.com
February 19, 2008 | Posted in
General Articles |
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Glucose is:
· The major source of energy for the body, including the brain.
· A simple sugar, or monosaccharide.
· The principal sugar the body produces.
· Transported through the bloodstream to provide energy to every cell in the body.
· Also a simple carbohydrate, composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
· Blood sugar as it circulates in the blood at a concentration of 65-110 mg/ml of blood.
· Initially synthesized by chlorophyll in plants using carbon dioxide from the air and sunlight as an energy source.
· Excess is converted to a starch called glycogen, stored in the liver and muscles ready to be reabsorbed when the levels drop.
· An overabundance is converted into fat and stored in fat cells.
· Derived from proteins, fats and, mostly, carbohydrates.
· Impossible to be of benefit to the cells without sufficient insulin
In diabetics, the glucose level is too high. Diabetes is essentially caused by too much sugar intake coupled with too little insulin. Your glucose level is kept in check with insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the blood stream when the amount of glucose rises. It’s entirely normal for your blood glucose levels to increase slightly after you eat. The pancreas’ job is to release enough insulin to balance your sugar intake.
Diabetes, in particular type 2 diabetes, typically found in adults over 40 is due to diet, and diet alone. The pancreas is the organ that is diseased. It gets inundated with acids produced by the intake of too many sugars, carbohydrates and fats!
The body cannot function efficiently in an acid environment. The average North American consumes an abundance of non-nutritious, acid causing junk food. Sooner or later this will cause severe imbalance in the body. All this acid poison is dumped from the stomach directly into the pancreas, effectively shutting down its insulin production.
Insufficient insulin production over a period of time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels. Therefore, if you are diabetic, knowing your blood glucose levels allows you to monitor your blood sugar levels.
Diet, weight loss and exercise help stabilize glucose levels. But how do you get your pancreas to produce insulin again without medication? Artificial insulin is not the answer. In fact, it’s detrimental.
There is hope – even for those who have a hard time switching cold turkey to wholesome food! You do not need painful, expensive injections to replenish your insulin! What you need most is to balance your acid intake. The very best way to do this is by adding pure powerful polysaccharides to your diet.
There a many kinds and potencies of these wonderful, natural, powerful, immune boosting sugars. But not all are created equal. Beware of products that are made up of a combination of herbs and nutrients because many herbs interact with medicine. There is one completely natural product I highly recommend. It’s essentially one fruit with a spectral energy potency that’s superior to any known food and guaranteed in every single bottle. You need to check out all its many potent nutrients and proven benefits for yourself. Then, put it risk-free to the test! Your doctor will be even more surprised than you and your family!
Ann Stewart is an inspirational writer with the emphasis on healing. "With Wings As Eagles" is an awesome testimony of God's healing power. Individually, however, we also have a role to play in keeping the temple of the Holy Spirit in the best physical condition. Youth Makeover is full of practical Health Tips:
http://youthmakeover.com
http://lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles
February 16, 2008 | Posted in
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It is now widely accepted that stress and the resultant anxiety problems have reached epidemic proportions particularly in the industrialized west. Today’s hectic lifestyle places increasing demands on our mind and bodies, demands that we are sometimes unable to meet leading to stress, depression and anxiety.
But what is stress and what are its symptoms?
Stress is caused by our bodies and minds responding to a physical or an emotional threat. This response involves the hypothalamus in our brains causing a flood of hormones to be released into the bloodstream to get us ready to either stand our ground or run away. This results in blood flow to the muscles increasing together with a rise in blood sugar levels rise giving us a boost of energy. In effect we go into overdrive.
This is known as the “fight or flight” response. This response is what helped our ancestors cope with the physical problems of stone-age life. But today our problems are mainly psychological rather than physical and the “fight or flight” response actually causes us harm by keeping us in a semi-permanent “overdrive” state. This can give rise to any or all of the following symptoms –
Anxiety
Muscle tension and stiffness
Feeling tense and “on edge”
Short temper
Restlessness
Trouble thinking clearly
Headaches or backaches
Loss of sex drive
Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
Sleeping too much or too little
Of course these symptoms could also have an underlying physical cause which is why it is important to check with your doctor.
What to do to relieve stress
Exercise
Exercise definitely has a lot of good effects in the body. It does not only make the body fitter, but it is also an effective therapy for anxiety conditions. Apart from regular exercises, aerobics and yoga are also perfect therapies to treat anxiety.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is important to help the body rest and recharge for another busy day at work or at home.
Avoid drugs and alcohol.
There are some people who think that alcohol and drugs can take away all their worries and problems. In fact, these only worsen a person’s stress condition. Instead of freeing one from anxiety, too much alcohol and medication consumption will most likely lead to addiction.
Try relaxation techniques.
Another good technique on overcoming anxiety is to practice relaxation routines. The most commonly practiced relaxation routines are breathing exercises and meditation. These practices really help in reducing and even eliminating the feeling of anxiety.
Colin Cherry writes on a broad range of subjects. For a copy of his free report "Stop Suffering from Panic and Anxiety", check out his website at http://www.stressrelieftipsonline.com
February 13, 2008 | Posted in
Depression |
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We are all concerned about the health of our children from the moment that they emerge into the world, but an overlooked aspect of their health could turn out to be one of the biggest factors. A child’s mental health, and, later in life, an adolescent’s mental health, have huge effects on the way that our children and teens live. Problems like depression can affect the quality of life for your adolescent, and can even affect their physical health.
If you think that your adolescent may be depressed, look for the signs described in this article. If they exhibit several of the signs, consult with your pediatrician to see if they think that your teenager might be suffering from depression. Adolescent depression can cause symptoms such as:
Irregular sleep - Sometimes teenagers are just on a different sleep schedule than their parents. It is perfectly normal for a teen to stay up late at night and to want to sleep in well into the next day. This is not an attitude problem, but a rewiring of their brains that drives them to these “abnormal” hours. They will return to “normal” as time goes on. What is not normal is a teen that sleeps all the time, going to bed early, sleeping late, and retiring for naps. It is also not normal for an adolescent to suffer from insomnia. While these could be symptoms of other problems, they can also be signs of depression.
Lack of energy - Despite all that extra sleep, does your adolescent still seem fatigued or tired much of the time? Low energy and lots of sleep could be signs of a problem with the thyroid, it could be something else entirely, or it could be an example of a symptom of depression.
Loss of interest - It might be hard to tell if your child has become disinterested in things that used to interest them if they are not open with you, but it pays to pay close attention. If your adolescent is no longer interested in things like keeping in contact with their friends or in playing the latest video games, whatever he or she used to be excited about, then it could be cause for concern.
Change of appetite - Is your always-hungry teen suddenly disinterested in food? Is your teenager suddenly and uncharacteristically eating all the time (particularly “comfort foods” or sweets)? These could both be signs of depression, and should be watched carefully. They could also indicate problems like an eating disorder, and so should be taken seriously no matter what the circumstances.
Irritability - While it can be hard to tell if your teen is irritable in general or just snappy with you as an authority figure, it is good to note that excessive irritability may be a sign of depression.
A bleak outlook - If your child is suddenly talking in the negative or talking about suicide, chalking it up to “mood swings” can be a mistake that can have deadly consequences. This may be one of the most overlooked of the depression signs in adolescents because many parents feel that it is normal to be pessimistic in the teenage years. This is also often paired with self-loathing, which may manifest in a variety of ways including verbally (”I’m such a loser” or “No one likes me, anyway”), self-abuse like cutting, or talk of suicide.
You should never treat these symptoms in your adolescents as a bid for attention. While one or two of the symptoms may be symptomatic of other problems or just of being a teenager, they could also be symptoms of depression. If you see any number of these symptoms in your adolescent, it is imperative that you get into contact with their pediatrician as soon as possible.
While you may be able to talk to your teen about the depression, it really depends on your relationship with your adolescent and how you think that they will respond to your line of questioning. You should never accuse if you see warning signs of depression in your adolescent, but should talk gently with them to find out if they are willing to share their problems.
Depression in adolescents is a serious problem, but with close attention on your part and the intervention of a pediatrician with the right therapies or medications, you can effectively eliminate the immediate dangers of this terrible disease. Diagnosis and intervention can be the tools that help you save your adolescent from the dangers and pitfalls of this illness, and your awareness is what will get them there.
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about mental health topics including <a href="http://www.CareLink-svs.org">Community Support Services | Depression Anxiety Treatment</a>
February 13, 2008 | Posted in
Depression |
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Depression is a disorder that does not get nearly enough attention. Depressed people are often told to “cheer up” or to “look at the bright side” of things, and may spiral even deeper when they are unable to simply snap out of the mood that has such a hold on them. While depression can often lead to fatigue and listlessness, it has a close cousin by the name of anxiety. Anxiety causes the opposite effect, putting our bodies into the “fight or flight” mode that protected us in the wild.
Anxiety attacks can feel like heart attacks, and even at more moderate levels, anxiety can have a dangerous and very negative effect on our lives and on our quality of living. Anxiety can also lead into depression, when a sense of worry and fear for the future leads into the sense of helplessness and hopelessness. That is a classic symptom of depression. Depression and anxiety are often seen together, and can sometimes lead into one another.
Anxiety is a way of describing a certain way of feeling. It may represent a sense of fear, dread, or a sense that you are in immediate danger, even when you are safe and have no reason to feel this way. There are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, including phobias or irrational fears, situational anxiety, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders among others.
These disorders can lead to a state of almost constant high stress, and can affect your daily life much to the worse. You may be unable to function in certain situations, or you may come to fear leaving your own home, and if untreated, the symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to many of the same problems as depression, including insomnia or a reluctance or fear to leave the house or to be around other people.
Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety symptoms can also feel like heart attacks, with palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains, and more. You might begin trembling and shaking, your mouth might go dry, and you might become dizzy from the stress of the situation. The body becomes “hyped up” by your reaction to the situation, and your senses go into a sort of overdrive that is unlike the depression of the system that happens when you suffer from clinical depression.
Depression disorder actually slows the body in some ways, making you feel sluggish rather than ready to run or fight, and hopeless rather than actively panicked or fearful. If you have been suffering from anxiety attacks, the attacks themselves may lead into depression because of the hopelessness that you feel at the hands of the attacks and because of the fears that are associated with possibly having another attack.
If your anxiety symptoms have changed to include listlessness, a disinterest in things that used to engage you, or feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing, then you may now be suffering from depression disorder, and should be treated accordingly for your medical condition.
Depression is not a constant state of being, nor is anxiety. You might think that because you have a good number of “good days” that your depressive days are just bad moments that will pass, however depression can become worse over time if it is not treated and taken care of, and can lead to suicide if left untreated long enough.
Anxiety and Depression Treatments
Anxiety can worsen over time as well if it is not handled properly. There are ways to help with anxiety even without medication. Therapies are different depending on the type of anxiety that affects you and on the level of anxiety that you suffer. For a phobia, you might be exposed at increasing levels to the thing that you are afraid of. Other therapies might require talking your problems out, and others might just provide techniques to help you ride out your panic attacks and get on with life without letting them affect you more than necessary.
Depression treatments are also varied, mostly depending on your own personal preference. Medication can provide you with an effective way of dealing with depression; however medication is not for everyone. If you are not interested in medication, then you might consider other kinds of therapies with a psychologist who has experience working with depression.
Depression and anxiety are related disorders that can have a huge impact on your overall health and quality of life if left untreated. However, both are manageable conditions that do not have to have an effect on your daily life.
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about mental health topics including <a href="http://www.CareLink-svs.org">Community Support Services | Depression Anxiety Treatment</a>
February 13, 2008 | Posted in
Depression |
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