Monthly Archives: April 2020

Female Hormones and Depression

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Recent research review by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) looked at hormonal dysfunction in women as potential causes for depression. This should be of interest as it lends to the mindset of clients with depression.

The focus of the review by the investigators and their subsequent report was on how the female reproductive system interacts with the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates the body’s stress response. This mechanism can set up a biochemical environment for psychological disorders in females. It was noted that females are twice as likely as men to experience depression.

Through the HP-axis, stress in women impacts the reproductive hormones which can upset patterns of ovulation. This upset can contribute to the lost of menses and to infertility. If the inter-relationship of stress and female reproductive hormones becomes chronic, then behavior and mood disorders and depression can increase significantly.  We know that when oxytocin is suppressed due to excessive stress hormones, fertilized eggs cannot implant into the uterus. This is believed to be a primary cause of infertility in American women, owing to our highly stressful lifestyle.

Depression, eating disorders, alcoholism or other addictions may occur with the estrogen-induced disruption of normal HPA function. The key to preventing or correcting the problem as we find in many physiological conditions is to create a more balanced, less stressful lifestyle. If the body’s stress adaptation system becomes overwhelmed, and cannot appropriately adapt to the environment and demands of everyday life, many disorders and conditions can develop, depression being just one of them.

Regarding postpartum depression, the investigators identified that chronic hypersecretion of the stress hormone cortisol during pregnancy creates a temporary suppression of adrenal function following delivery. This coupled with the sudden drop of hormonal levels of estrogen after birth may be a significant factor in postpartum depression or subsequent immune dysfunctions such as postpartum thyroid conditions.

It is very important for women, because of our very integrated hormonal and nervous systems, to work towards a balanced, low-stress lifestyle. Unlike our male counterpart, our hormonal system immediately lets us know when we are “off-center” by delivering loud messages through hormonal dysfunction.

Join the conversation. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow NIWH on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates filled with useful health coach certification information for holistic nurses and health advocates.

Avoid Boredom To Live Longer And Healthier

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Do you know anyone who is often bored? Do you find yourself feeling bored? A study, conducted in the United Kingdom identified a connection between individuals who experience chronic boredom and a shorter life expectancy. The expression being “bored to death” has some literal truth in it, according to the 1980’s UK study that followed 7,500 civil servants in the UK for a period of 25 years. In this blog, NIWH explores the study to see what applications can be derived from the results.

Bored To Death

The study conducted interviews on the civil servants, recording their attitudes and outlook on life. The updates continued until 25 years after the initial interviews. The data found that subjects who stated they were bored in the original interview screening were almost 40% more likely to have died during the 25 year period than those who found life to be interesting.

This same study revealed that people living with “high levels of tedium” were 2.5 times more likely to die of heart disease than those who lived a more varied lifestyle. This particular study is a wonderful example of the connection between our mind and body and how our thoughts and feelings have a huge impact on our health and even longevity.

Examining Discontent

boredAccording to Daily Health News journalist Lauren Zander, most of us live with experiences of boredom, but when our lives take on a chronic sense of boredom, the effects can be destructive to our work, relationships and, ultimately, our health and longevity. When we are willing to examine what aspects of our lives feel “boring,” we can identify in which areas of our life we feel stuck, frustrated or unfulfilled. This allows us to make a plan and take action toward change.

Boredom is a loss of interest or enthusiasm for aspects of your life. You “go through the motions” rather than being engaged and enjoying life. For instance, in personal relationships, it is easy to get in a rut and not look for new ways of enjoying the company of the people we care about most. By taking a step back and looking at our relationships as if we were meeting the person for the first time, this brings a renewed perspective and interest in what we may take for granted on a daily basis.

Renovate Your Life

This information lends to several suggestions. If your work, family life, or love life is leaving you disinterested or bored, try “renovating” your relationship by adding new and imaginative ways to refresh your communication or shared experience. Kiss your special someone in the car instead of waiting to get home to physically connect. Bring home some special “treats” your kids or partner will love and serve it with breakfast, lunch or brunch instead of going out to eat. Plan a lunchtime activity at your office with co-workers or a mystery party at home with your friends to liven up rapport.

Find new ways to refresh your relationships and your life. Encourage those around you to do the same. It’s not only fun, but this can help you live a longer and healthier life!

For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama available on iHeartRadio.

Seniors With DVT Can Lead A Healthy Wholesome Life

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Although experts put the chances of developing DVT at one in every 1000, certain genetic factors and demographics can greatly increase your risk - including your age. Seniors patients have been shown to be at a higher risk of developing DVT, and although the consequences can be long term or sometimes fatal, it is treatable.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that as many as 900,000 Americans are living with DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). The medical condition is the cause of death for 60,000-100,000 people each year. For countless more, it results in long term complications such as swelling or pain. In some cases, DVT increases the risk of heart attacks. Although experts put the chances of developing DVT at one in every 1000, certain genetic factors and demographics can greatly increase your risk – including your age. Seniors patients have been shown to be at a higher risk of developing DVT, and although the consequences can be long term or sometimes fatal, it is treatable. 

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

The American Venous Forum defines Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) as a condition where you develop a blood clot in the deep veins of your leg. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the blood clots normally form in your leg veins, and the condition can also affect deep vein in other parts of your body on some rare occasions. With the formation of a blood clot, blood circulation between the leg and heart is hampered. This can produce a list of long term complications. Most patients that have DVT are also at risk of developing pulmonary embolism (PE), which is where the clot travels through the bloodstream to the heart or lungs. Around 10 percent of those with DVT develop a pulmonary embolism. 

Are Seniors More Likely To Be Diagnosed?

It has been reported that the cumulative likelihood of developing DVT lies between 2 and 5 percent. Younger people do present a reduced chance of developing the medical condition. This is because age and a sedentary lifestyle (both factors that are synonymous with a senior lifestyle) are two of the leading causes of DVT. There have also been some claims that the increased risk of DVT as you age is attributed to the fact that your blood is more likely to clot as you get older.

However, age is not the only factor that can increase your risk of being diagnosed with DVT. Sitting or standing for long periods can also contribute, according to the Center for Disease Control. This is why they recommend taking breaks and walking around every 2-3 hours if you are on a long car or plane journey. With many seniors leading an inactive lifestyle, the link between the two is clear. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)’s report showed that Americans spend 6.4 hours sitting each day, placing them at a growing risk of obesity, heart disease and DVT. Interestingly obesity is also one of the known factors causing DVT, since it can create additional strain on your body and your veins. In 2019, a staggering 28.5 percent of seniors aged 65 and older were classed as being obese in America.

How Do I Know I May Have DVT?

The symptoms of DVT may not show up immediately, and sometimes they do not appear at all unless a complication presents itself. Still, a majority of cases report a few common signs, including swelling of the leg accompanied by pain, tenderness and cramping. You may also find that the pain increases when bending the affected foot, or that there is a resulting redness/ skin discoloration.

What Can I Do If I Do Have DVT?

If you do suspect you have DVT or find yourself in any of the risk categories mentioned above, it is best to speak to your doctor right away. Medically, DVT can be treated using blood thinners or clot busters. This helps to keep the blood clot in place and in some cases, dissolve it. Most doctors recommend DVT patients wear diabetic socks or compression stockings to prevent blood pooling in the leg or growth of the clot. This is something you can easily incorporate into your nightly routine at home, along with regular leg circulation exercises. 

For seniors, this may take the form of simply moving around more by walking, swimming, yoga or trying other senior-friendly exercises. You also want to skip or limit your alcohol intake if you are living with DVT. Alcohol can reduce the effect of some anticoagulants. It is also recommended that you check the interaction of your blood thinners with any other medication you may be taking, including ibuprofen. Seniors aged 65-69 take an average of 15 prescriptions per year, while seniors aged 80-84 take 18 a year, according to the American Association of Consultant Pharmacists. Therefore, this point is crucial for seniors living with DVT. 

Lastly, try to incorporate a DVT friendly diet into your eating habits, including the avoidance of fried or fatty foods, processed foods and large portion sizes. While DVT is a very real issue for the aging population in the US, with early detection and great management habits, there is no reason why you cannot go on to live a happy, healthy life.

Author Credit: Allie Oliver

For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama available on iHeartRadio.

Join the conversation. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow NIWH on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates filled with useful health advocacy program information for holistic nurses and health coaches.

Your Immune System

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Truly one of the most amazing examples of inter-cooperative, biochemical engineering imaginable! The immune system – our own personal National Guard and Marine Corps – rolled into one. It is always vigilant – 24/7 – to keep us from harm or invasion by foreign enemies – microbes that want to grow and flourish in our internal environment.

One of the fun things about teaching for the past 30 years is watching the reactions of learners as they “get” what their immune system really is – that great “aha” moment when the dots get connected and it all makes sense. This is when we start to have a different relationship with our body and a new respect for how awesome, amazing and comprehensive the immune system is!

When most of us think “immune system” we think tonsils, spleen, lymph nodes (glands in our arm pits, throat and groin) and of course our white blood cells. These body parts certainly are members of the immune elite. If you check with the encyclopedia or on Google, you are likely to find these wonderful entities under the definition of immune system.

However, when we look at this amazing system from a Whole Person Health perspective, this short list of parts becomes a much longer one, indeed. There are dozens of white blood cells and related specialized immune cells that do a phenomenal job of playing “Pac-Man” with the unwanted microbes in our blood stream, tissues and organs. Every organ in our body has an immunological role to play from the liver, which detoxifies, to the stomach which contains hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria and microbes coming in through the mouth, up to and including our nostril hairs that trap unwanted foreign particles before they can irritate our airways.

In fact, there is no part of our body that isn’t part of our immune system. The largest “part” of our immune system is our skin which is responsible for protecting our insides from outside entities and vice versa. As the skin is the number one rated beauty or sexual attraction in both men and women around the world, (anthropological research by Margaret Mead and others) we can easily see that to have beautiful skin is a reflection of a healthy immune system and a strong indicator of a healthy productive system.

For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama available on iHeartRadio.