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Tag: Stress

Deal With Stress When You Have Cancer

27 January, 2010 (04:38) | Cancer | By: admin

It is the diagnosis that nobody wants to hear. Despite all the advancements the field of medical science has made especially in the treatment and cure of cancer, cancer as a diagnosis is dreaded by all people alike. Cancers are of many kinds and they affect many parts of the body. Some cancers are found predominantly in women while others like prostate cancer are exclusively found in men.

Cancer can be extremely stress inducing. Stress is a state of physical or mental unrest. Stress is the condition when you find things not going your way and worrying and anxiously pondering over the situation again and again adds to the tension. Any illness can lead to stress and also stress can lead to many other illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and even cancer.

Cancer has become very much treatable today and there are many individuals who have survived the once fatal disease. Having cancer can cause people to become depressed due to the thoughts of death and mortality which become very active in their subconscious.

Depression if not checked can lead to further stress. Another stressful thought caused by cancer is the thought of the mounting medical bills. Chemotherapy and radiation sessions are not inexpensive. Add this to the hospital, medication and doctor’s costs and you have a huge medical bill in front of you. Your medical insurance many not cover all of these expenses and it could all lead to a drain on your finances. Worrying about depleting finances can lead to stress and other negative conditions.

It is important to keep a check on stress because untreated stress can lead to many other health complications. There are ways to tackle the stress which an illness brings on. It is important to stay in a positive frame of mind and in a cheerful demeanor. It is definitely not easy when one is undergoing treatment for a possibly fatal disease but at least that effort should be made. The treatment of cancer or any other life threatening condition becomes faster and quicker when a positive attitude is maintained.

In order to stay in a positive mind frame one can join a cancer group where patients with cancer or cancer survivors meet and speak about their battles or victories. These real life stories can be inspiring and can give one the determination and courage to go through the treatment. Another way to beat the stress is to read awe inspiring books about people who have beat the odds and come out victorious.

Taking the effort to make those little lifestyle changes while undergoing treatment for cancer can make the recovery faster and smoother. You can change your diet and increase the intake of fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables, and mineral and protein rich foods and anti oxidants rich foods like green tea for instance. The body becomes strongest and gains immunity which in turn is good for the treatment of cancer.

No matter what kind of cancer one has acquired, treatment and cure are not impossible if every sincere effort is taken along with constant prayers to God.

Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women

24 October, 2009 (07:32) | Heart Diseases | By: Health news

Latest medical research and studies have shown that cardiac problems can be 6-times more fatal in women as compared to men. Heart problems are more dangerous than cancer in women, especially in the United States of America. Therefore, it is very important for you to learn about the heart disease risk factors in women. Once you know what causes this disease, you can make appropriate lifestyle and diet changes accordingly to reduce the chances of heart attack.

Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a condition that specifically affects women. In this condition, too much fat is accumulated around the abdomen, which eventually results in heart disease, diabetes, high triglyceride levels, spiked blood-sugar levels, and high blood pressure. Therefore, women need to be more cautious about their weight. Just like men, they should also do regular monitoring of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

Age Factor
Older women (65 and above) are more likely to develop this type of problem, but it does not mean that younger women cannot be affected. As per a recent study, it has been found that heart attack has been the 3rd leading cause of death in women aged forty-four or less. It has been the 2nd leading cause of death for women aged between forty-five and sixty-four. And, it is the biggest cause of death in women aged sixty-five and above. Therefore, women of all age must be well aware of the various heart disease risk factors in women. In particular, those who have a family medical history of such diseases need to be more watchful.

During Perimenopause
In particular, the time just after menopause and just before menopause can be very problematic. During these periods, the levels of estrogen go very low, which substantially increases the risk of developing coronary artery disease or small vessel heart disease in women.

Depression And Stress
As compared to men, women who are under depression or stress are more susceptible to experience cardiac problems. Stress is one of the biggest heart disease risk factors in women. Those who are depressed are at a much higher risk of developing cardiac problems – three times more likely than those who are not under depression. When you are depressed, you don’t pay much attention to your lifestyle, including diet and exercise. In such cases, you don’t even care about the treatment programs suggested by your doctor. You are recommended to talk to your doctor about it because if depression remains for a long time, it can lead to very serious outcomes.

Once you get a good idea about the possible causes of heart related problems, you must start taking some preventive measures even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. It is recommended to everybody (both men and women) to maintain healthy weight by following a good diet and exercise program regularly. A bad lifestyle, such as smoking and drinking, can also be one of the heart disease risk factors in women. Therefore, you may also consider some heart healthy lifestyle changes.