Please be patient, Healthy Changes blog will be up & running in a few days, sorry for the delay.

What’s stopping you from making healthy changes to your life?

All of us lead busy lives filled with work, families and responsibility. But we need to be selfish about choosing healthy patterns to keep us healthy. What are some of those healthy choices?

1. Eating properly.

2. Getting the right amount of exercise. This includes cardio and resistance, weight training.

3. Make sure we get our annual check-ups and see our doctor when we have something that does not feel right in our bodies.

4. Handle our stress in a productive manner. Practice some form of meditation, yoga or even a hobby that you find reduces your stress and promotes  a feeling of well-being.

5. Be positive about life. Show your children how to be healthy through your actions.

E-mail me any questions or thoughts about health issues. I look forward to your comments!

In health,

Kat

WELCOME to HEALTHY-CHANGES-FOR-YOU

I hope to present factual articles for you about health and wellness in this blog. Please blog me to address any health issues you have of concern to you.

Fibromyalgia is a complex, chronic pain disorder that affects 10 million people in the US alone. Approximately 80% of the people who suffer from this condition are women. It is a frustrating syndrome as there is no specific known cause for it yet and because it affects your body, mind and spirit. It can be debilitating for women who suffer from it because it is a pain that affects all areas of the body and causes fatigue, sleep disorders and can affect your life in every way. The hopeful news on the horizon shows that scientists are thinking that it is a problem with the way someone processes pain in their central nervous system. But until then people who suffer from this malady have to find ways to help ease the pain, get the right amount of sleep and good nutrition as well as handle the psychological issues that might be caused from the chronic symptoms. Here are some suggestions if you suffer from this painful condition.

1. I would try yoga and stretching exercises to keep your muscles limber. I would also suggest some water therapy such as swimming or simple water aerobics/exercises. The water takes away a lot of the pain associated with normal exercise and helps you to feel looser. Of course the pool should be heated.

2. I would consider taking Melatonin, which can be purchased over the counter and at most vitamin stores, to help for getting sleep. Melatonin carries very little risk or side effects as we know, and helps many insomniacs or jet lagged people. It is important to get your adequate amount of rest to help with all of the symptoms. I know that when you are fatigued from lack of sleep everything seems worse. 

3. I would also investigate and talk to my medical practioner about a low dose anti-depressant (Serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for improving sleep patterns, reducing pain and possibly mild depression which could be caused by the situation.

4. I would definitely get some massages for general touch/healing measures and would explore Reiki. There is great value on the “laying on of hands” to ease pain and also is just comforting.

5. Acupuncture for pain relief could be another alternative to try, you can check out certified acupuncture practioners by checking the NCCAOM website.

6. Are you comfortable with your medical practioner? It never hurts to get a second opinion. Most major teaching institutions are great places to go for conditions that are hard to treat. It would be important to see someone who specializes in Rheumatology.

7. There are psychologists who specialize in bio-feedback and cognitive training to help with symptom relief. This might be another avenue to explore.

8. Music is another alternative to relax you and help your mind to focus on something else.

There are many websites and support groups available for someone who suffers from this disruptive syndrome.

Breast Cancer – 2^nd Leading Cause of Death for Women Aged 35-50

30,000 women in their 40’s will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year. More than 40% of deaths due to breast cancer are in women who are diagnosed before age 50.

To review the risk factors:

1. Genetics (especially if you had a first line relative with breast ca before age 50)

2. Early onset of menstruation (before age 12) or late menopause (after age 55)

3. Not having any children or having children after age 30

4. Chronic alcohol use

5. Increased body fat percentage

6. Poor diet

7. Aging

8. Hormone use

Breast exam monthly should be done routinely. Look for painless lumps, pain, dimpling, and nipple inversion during your self-exam.

Check with your medical practitioner as to when and how often you should be having your mammogram. There are some different thoughts on this, but remember that generally mammograms are 90% effective in locating a breast cancer.

Other tests could include an ultrasound and MRI in some cases. There is also genetic testing now for a higher risk population.

There are different types of breast cancers and they grow at different rates.

Remember-

Monthly breast exam

Routine mammograms per physician

Eat healthy and drink in moderation

Go get ‘em!