irritability Archives - Amazing Health Advances

How to Care for a Loved One with Dementia

The AHA! Team — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:37:37 +0000

University of Miami via Newswise – More than 11 million Americans are tasked with the responsibility of taking care of someone with cognitive decline. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD) for an aging loved one can be devastating for a family. In 2023, it was estimated that 6.7 million Americans of all ages had the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. More than 11 million people care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 80 percent of those patients are cared for in the home. Dr. Elizabeth Crocco is a geriatric psychiatrist and the medical director of the Memory Disorders Clinic Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Over the course of her career, she has seen thousands of patients and their families. She reports that for some families, the diagnosis of ADRD can be helpful because it ultimately can explain that the illness is not just due to normal aging. For others, a diagnosis can be scary. “It can be frightening because they know that it is irreversible and that it progresses,” she said. “The idea that the person will lose part of who they are, not just cognitively, but part of their essential personality, brings up a lot of feelings.” Cognitive impairment is the hallmark feature of ADRD, but these illnesses can also have behavioral changes. These include agitation, irritability, depression, and anxiety. It is important for care providers to learn how to handle these situations while also maintaining their own mental health, she said. In her clinic, Crocco and her team work with care providers so that they understand the condition and can better manage its symptoms. This includes how to communicate with the loved one. “The memory issue is not the only problem that is making one’s loved one suffer, and a family member can have a difficult time,” she said. “It is the psychiatric and behavioral symptoms that are often the most difficult to deal with: depression, anxiety, anger issues, agitation, along with resistance to care and help.” Medications, of course, can help, but effective and consistent caregiving is paramount in coping with a patient with ADRD. Crocco offered some helpful tips that can make taking care of an individual with ADRD easier: Establish a routine Consistency is key. Chaotic home situations are not kind to people with cognitive impairment. Traveling is a change of routine that can lead to more behavioral problems and confusion. If they resist a task, try not to force them to do it. Wait an hour or more as their attitude may change later. Keep calm Keeping calm and composed is important when dealing with a loved one with ADRD. Also, remember that your reality might not be theirs, and you need to be respectful. Crocco’s mother had dementia. She tells this story: “One time I was at my mother’s house, and I had left a piece of pizza on the stove. My mother began screaming and cursing because there was a piece of pizza on the stove, and it upset her. I took the pizza off the stove, washed the area down, and I said: ‘I am so sorry, Mom, that I upset you.’ She calmed down immediately.” Sundowning It can happen earlier than expected, in the late afternoon. During this time, for both biological and situational reasons, an ADRD individual may become more confused, disoriented, agitated, and paranoid, as well as anxious and fearful. It is important for loved ones to predict patterns to minimize problems behaviorally without always opting for medications. Therapeutic fibbing Cognitive decline often leaves the person with memories of the past. If a loved one has forgotten that someone is deceased, they may repeatedly ask about them. At times, it might be better to let them believe that they are still alive. “What is the alternative?” asked Crocco. “Letting them relive the death over and over again?” Often arguing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a losing proposition and only leads to agitation and discord. “You argue and you lose,” said Crocco. Use music and pets Often introducing preferred music from the loved ones’ era can assist in preventing behavioral problems and be very entertaining and enjoyable. Bringing in pets for ADRD individuals to interact with can also assist. It is well known that having animal or pet interactions can lower ones’ stress level as well as blood pressure, said Crocco. Seek help An adult day care center is a good alternative to help a care provider with the help of a loved one with ADRD, said Crocco. Besides providing social interaction and dementia care during the day, it also affords the caretaker time to work or rest, said Crocco. Learn more about the Memory Disorders Clinic at the University of Miami Health System. To read the original article click here.

The post How to Care for a Loved One with Dementia appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

The Main Signals of Depression + How to Find Healing

AHA Publisher — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 07:00:34 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #397) and blog, I discuss the common signs of depression, why we should never be afraid of seeking help, how we can learn to manage depression, and more! Depression is something we should never ignore. When we feel depressed, we need to listen to what our mind, brain and body are trying to tell us. Depression is a signal telling us we have something going on—that there is a “because of…” in our life that we need to investigate. The sooner you recognize the signals associated with feelings of depression, the sooner you can make the necessary adjustments to your life and get the help you need to start healing. But it is important to remember that you are not your depression; it’s not your identity. You experience depression—it does not define you. Because the mind is how we experience depression, and because the mind is our “aliveness” (the driving force that keeps our body alive and helps us experience life), learning how to manage the mind is of paramount importance. This means listening to the signals of depression we experience, not suppressing how we feel, to get to the root (the “cause”), and reconceptualize it. Essentially, we need to become thought detectives to find the source(s) of our depression. This starts with understanding the signals that the mind, brain, and body send us when we are going through something. These signals alert us TO protect us. There are 4 main signals: our emotions, our behaviors, our physical symptoms, and our perspective/outlook. Some examples are: Feelings of irritability and/or hopelessness (an emotional warning signal) Ignoring calls, texts or emails (a behavioral warning signal) The world feels more negative (a perspective warning signal) Muscle aches and/or pains (a physical warning signal) Let’s say you feel down. As an exercise to help you start managing these feelings of depression, try to categorize what signals you are experiencing into these 4 categories. Some other examples of signals from a recent post I shared on social media are: Feeling self-conscious or flat around people Your personal hygiene goes out the window Your thoughts make you sad Your room gets messy Your hobbies no longer make you happy Brain fog You stop missing people and isolation feels more comfortable Constant fatigue How do you feel emotionally? Physically? Are any of your behaviors bothering you? What is your outlook/worldview/perspective? Write this down any way you wish to help you start organizing your thinking. Then, once you go through this exercise, you can start listening to what these signals are telling you, and work through how you feel to reconceptualize these thought patterns. For more on this, see my in-depth podcast on depression (episode #105) and blog on depression, or check out my book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and app Neurocycle. To read the original article click here.

The post The Main Signals of Depression + How to Find Healing appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

The Main Signals of Depression + How to Find Healing

AHA Publisher — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 08:00:46 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #328) and blog, I discuss the common signs of depression, why we should never be afraid of seeking help, how we can learn to manage depression, and more! Depression is something we should never ignore. When we feel depressed, we need to listen to what our mind, brain and body are trying to tell us. Depression is a signal telling us we have something going on—that there is a “because of…” in our life that we need to investigate. The sooner you recognize the signals associated with feelings of depression, the sooner you can make the necessary adjustments to your life and get the help you need to start healing. But it is important to remember that you are not your depression; it’s not your identity. You experience depression—it does not define you. Because the mind is how we experience depression, and because the mind is our “aliveness” (the driving force that keeps our body alive and helps us experience life), learning how to manage the mind is of paramount importance. This means listening to the signals of depression we experience, not suppressing how we feel, to get to the root (the “cause”), and reconceptualize it. Essentially, we need to become thought detectives to find the source(s) of our depression. This starts with understanding the signals that the mind, brain, and body send us when we are going through something. These signals alert us TO protect us. There are 4 main signals: our emotions, our behaviors, our physical symptoms, and our perspective/outlook. Some examples are: Feelings of irritability and/or hopelessness (an emotional warning signal) Ignoring calls, texts or emails (a behavioral warning signal) The world feels more negative (a perspective warning signal) Muscle aches and/or pains (a physical warning signal) Let’s say you feel down. As an exercise to help you start managing these feelings of depression, try to categorize what signals you are experiencing into these 4 categories. Some other examples of signals from a recent post I shared on social media are: Feeling self-conscious or flat around people Your personal hygiene goes out the window Your thoughts make you sad Your room gets messy Your hobbies no longer make you happy Brain fog You stop missing people and isolation feels more comfortable Constant fatigue How do you feel emotionally? Physically? Are any of your behaviors bothering you? What is your outlook/worldview/perspective? Write this down any way you wish to help you start organizing your thinking. Then, once you go through this exercise, you can start listening to what these signals are telling you, and work through how you feel to reconceptualize these thought patterns. For more on this, see my in-depth podcast on depression (episode #105) and blog on depression, or check out my latest book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and app Neurocycle. To read the original article click here.

The post The Main Signals of Depression + How to Find Healing appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Could Harmful Emotions Be Caused By Poor Organ Function?

AHA Publisher — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 07:00:14 +0000

Edit Lang via NaturalHealth365 – According to statistics published by the Mental Health Foundation, one in five Americans struggles with mental health issues each year. Shockingly, fifty percent of chronic mental health problems start before age 14. Not surprisingly, during the COVID pandemic, the percentage of adults with anxiety or depression symptoms rose from 36.4% to 41.5%. Considering the magnitude of the problem, one would expect that Western medicine has many effective treatment options to offer to those suffering. But in reality, medical doctors have limited options available to treat these conditions, aside from the multitude of prescription anxiolytics and antidepressants. Although there is increasing awareness in the scientific community of the connection between our psychological and physical health, the intricacies of this link are still not well understood. In a recent video, Jonathan Landsman of NaturalHealth365 interviewed America’s Drugless Doctor, Dr. Robert DeMaria, to reveal how our organs’ functioning and our emotional health can affect each other. Are You Listening? Understanding Your Body’s Language Is Critical to Achieving Optimum Health In the video, Jonathan and Dr. Bob focus on discussing how changing the vitality of specific organs in the body can affect our mental and emotional health. During the conversation, Dr. Bob points out how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes that emotions affect the physical health of the body and vice versa. For instance, according to TCM theory, anger and irritability can affect the liver’s health and result in various ailments, including an enlarged or fatty liver. Many people don’t know, but the liver performs hundreds of critical functions and plays a vital role in digestion and nutrient processing. Anything we put into our body – whether non-productive, unhealthy foods, or the highest quality organic fruits and vegetables – will go through the liver and either weaken or strengthen its vitality. Toxic emotions can also undermine the liver’s functioning. TCM practitioners believe that feelings of resentment, anger, frustration, and irritability are key emotions detrimental to this organ’s wellbeing. Suppose, for instance, that you are one of the 100 million Americans living with fatty liver disease. If at the same time, you are also known for your hot temper, your dysfunctional liver may be to blame for your intense emotional outbursts and anger issues. Interesting concept, isn’t it? Your Lungs Speak Too: Here Is What May Be Behind Chronic Lung Issues So while the dominant emotion associated with the liver is anger, unprocessed and persistent feelings of sadness appear to manifest ailments in the lungs. To illustrate the connection between lung issues and sorrow or grief, Dr. Bob shared a story about his wife, who developed a chronic lung problem due to the profound sadness she experienced when her younger son was going off to college. Once they uncovered that the root of her chronic lung issue was not a physical dysfunction but rather the consequence of her harmful emotions, they could successfully address the condition. Whether this is the first time you hear about the relationship between mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, or you are quite familiar with the concept, you don’t want to miss watching this video. Learn the Five Basic Feelings Associated with Specific Organs in the Body, According to TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine narrows human emotions to five basic feelings and links each of them with a corresponding organ in the body: Anger with the liver Sadness and grief with the lung Worry and anxiety with the spleen Fear with the kidney Joy with the heart Take note of these emotion-organ relationships, as this information may come in handy next time you feel overwhelmed by negative emotions or receive a diagnosis of a physical ailment. Even a basic understanding of these concepts can be incredibly empowering and may open the door to various treatment modalities previously unavailable to you. What’s the Bottom Line? It’s time to expand our horizon and consider TCM’s 2,000-year-old pearls of wisdom and recognize how intricate the connection is between our emotional and physical health. Understanding that emotional imbalances can act as both symptoms and causes for physical issues can be life-changing to millions of people seeking an alternative to the “pill for every ill” medical approach. Find a qualified healthcare provider to guide you on your journey towards improved health. And, of course – above all, stay positive (confident) that you can make a change for the better with simple lifestyle adjustments. Sources used for this article: MentalHealthFolundation.org NIH.gov CDC.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

The post Could Harmful Emotions Be Caused By Poor Organ Function? appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

My Clinical Trial Results: Anxiety and Depression Reduced By Up To 81%!

AHA Publisher — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:00:24 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – We can no longer ignore the rise of anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, toxic stress and burnout in people of all ages in our society. We need to address this head on. Stressors and changes in life situations trigger responses and changes in our biochemistry, brain function and genetics, which not only affects our health, but can also be passed on through generations, which is known as epigenetics. This is both a question of how we want to live today and how we want our children to live in the future. Many current mental health strategies, including pharmaceuticals and interventions with medical devices, have not helped us fully manage or eradicate the devastating mental health conditions that plague our society. Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years. Unmanaged depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide! The availability of simple mind-management tools for personal use, to address and ameliorate such warning signals as anxiety, depression, toxic thinking, inability to concentrate, irritability, exhaustion, burnout, before they take over someone’s mind and life could potentially help innumerable persons of all ages to experience improved mental and physical health and well-being. Why is mind-management so important? Stressors and changes in life situations trigger responses and changes in our biochemistry, brain function and genetics, which not only affects our health, but can also be passed on through generations, which is known as epigenetics. There is a significant amount of research indicating that the suppression of thoughts, which causes mental distress, is related to telomere shortening and biological aging-our life experiences are reflected in our biology. In our recent research, we proposed a randomized clinical trial with the primary aim of investigating the psychological and neurophysiological effects of a non-pharmacological intervention in subjects with mental health and neurological symptoms. The results showed that the subjects in the experimental group improved their mental health, brain health, blood physiology and cellular health by using the 5 steps of mind-management in the SWITCH app, and so can you! We found that when we learn to manage our thinking, the entire state of the brain and our cellular structure shifts and establishes a new and healthy level of balance in the mind, brain and body! Indeed, preliminary results from our trial demonstrated a significant reduction in depression and anxiety, through mind-management, by up to 81%, in the experimental group compared with the control group. The experimental subjects were learning how to embrace and make the anxiety and depression work for them and not against them, which is a much more sustainable approach than simply trying to numb or remove emotions and feelings completely. These exciting results indicate that, as we gain increased autonomy by taking control of our mental health, we become more aware of both our issues and our capacity to deal with the toxic thoughts and control toxic stress. When we change our perspective, we see opportunities instead of barriers. This process leads us to become more empowered so we can control our lives by controlling our minds! This clinical trial, along with an increasing number of studies in the neuroimaging and mind-brain literature, indicate that with appropriate mind-management training and self-regulation, which is what “cleaning up the mental mess” is all about, people can systematically use their mind to take advantage of the neuroplasticity of their brain to rework and rewire the their thoughts. By doing this, they can transform their neural circuitry, which will enable them to manage and improve a variety of mental and physical states. This means that we can literally take dysfunctional brain networks and physiology and alter them with our minds! We can manage our thinking and clean up the mental mess with habit forming cycles of 63 days, which gives a new thought pattern enough energy to become a habit that influences our behavior and communication. And if this is done continually as a lifestyle, overall wellbeing, peace and wisdom are the reward! The path to empowerment is not only attainable, it is within you! You can guide and direct changes in your brain. Your mind is something you can learn to optimize, with my scientific, 5-step mind-management process. These 5 steps will not only empower you to push through the pain that may come from the healing work, but also give you a structured scientifically researched plan that works and a defined time period for the process, which will further reduce your pain, uncertainty, and make the process more effective and sustainable! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Leaf click here.

The post My Clinical Trial Results: Anxiety and Depression Reduced By Up To 81%! appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Do Blue Light Glasses Work? Potential Benefits for Sleep & Eye Health

AHA Publisher — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 07:00:57 +0000

Jillian Levy, CHHC via Dr. Axe – Many experts tell us that when it comes to managing our health, including our body weights and moods, we should be careful not to underestimate the power of sleep. One reason why so many adults and children today are thought to be living in a sleep deprived state is because of high exposure to electronic devices that emit blue light. Because blue light is capable of disrupting our circadian rhythms, or “internal clocks,” blue light glasses are now recommended to improve sleep quality and other concerns. What are the benefits of blue light glasses? While more research on the topic is warranted, there’s some evidence that blue light blocking glasses can positively impact your metabolism, focus, appetite control and more. Read on to find out how to choose the best blue light blocking glasses for your needs, plus tips regarding when and how long to wear them. What Are Blue Light Glasses? Blue light glasses are a special type of eyewear that can block or filter blue light that is emitted from digital screens and electronics. If you regularly deal with issues like eye strain, blurry vision, headaches and trouble sleeping — which you believe may be tied to your use of electronics — then wearing blue light filtering glasses can be a worth a shot. What is blue light that glasses block? Blue light is a type of high-energy light that is bright and has a short wavelength. These are wavelengths of light between 420 and 480 nanometers on the visible light spectrum. While it mostly has a bad reputation, blue light also has some benefits, such as making us feel alert and awake. Most of our exposure comes from sunlight, but electronics also contribute to the amount of blue light that reaches our eyes on a daily basis. Electronics that give off blue light include televisions, smartphones, laptops, computer monitors and tablets, which many teens and adults now report spending multiple hours using every single day. How do blue light glasses work? These glasses are most often used at night to help block blue light emitted from LED devices from reaching the eyes. Studies have found that blue light exposure can suppress natural production of the hormone melatonin, which has sleep-inducing effects. Therefore it’s thought that too much exposure at night can keep you up and disturb your natural sleep-wake cycle. Wearing blue light filtering glasses is therefore a way to prevent sleep dysfunction and possibly to protect the eyes in other ways. Do They Work? Potential Benefits Do blue light glasses really work? Opinions regarding their effectiveness and findings from studies conducted thus far have been mixed overall. Research focused on the effects of blue light glasses is largely still underway. One reason it’s difficult to determine how well they work for the majority of people is because their use isn’t tightly regulated, since authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States do not consider these glasses to be medical devices. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association of Optometrists in the U.K currently don’t recommendthe use of blue light glasses for the general public, although they haven’t stated that they are dangerous or should be avoided. Their stance is that there isn’t enough high-quality research showing that they work, plus that symptoms like eye strain and headaches may actually be due to issues like squinting while using electronics and poor posture, not blue light exposure. That said, some experts and many people do report experiencing benefits from blue light blocking glasses. Potential benefits may include: Reduced eyes strain, dry eyes and blurriness Reduced headaches Improved sleep habits and decreased insomnia, especially having an easier time falling asleep Enhanced vision (including less blur) Possibly increased protection against development of certain eye diseases, although this is still being studied — it’s currently thought that blue light from devices do NOT damage the retinas or contribute to long-term vision loss, macular degeneration or glaucoma If blue light filter glasses are capable of helping you sleep better, then there’s reason to believe that their benefits can be far-reaching. Sleep deprivation can make it more likely that you’ll develop a range of serious health issues, such as obesity, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and others. Therefore getting more sleep can be highly protective and important for improving overall quality of life. What to Look for in Blue Light Blocking Glasses What is the best brand of blue light blocking glasses? It really depends on the filter strength that you require and how severe your symptoms are. In terms of where to buy blue light glasses, you can purchase either prescription or non-prescription blue light glasses from your optometrist, in drug stores, in stores that sell glasses/eyewear or online. If you’re dealing with vision-related problems, such as cataracts, or you’ve recently had eye surgery, it’s best to speak with your optometrist about his/her recommendations, since it may be possible you actually require contacts or glasses in addition to filtering glasses. Filters that block blue light can be added to prescription glasses at a relatively low cost, typically under $100. You can purchase non-prescription blue light glasses for around $30 to $100 as well, although more expensive brands are also available. If you’re concerned about also blocking UV light, look for glasses that have a filter providing 100% protection from UV light. When to Wear Them How do you know if you need blue light glasses? If you regularly use electronic LED devices at night, particularly once the sun is down, you may benefit from trying them. However, if you don’t want to invest in these glasses and are skeptical about their effects, experts suggest simply decreasing your evening screen time and/or setting all of your devices to “night mode,” which helps automatically result in less blue light exposure. Is it OK to wear blue light blocking glasses all the time? This may not be necessary, but it shouldn’t be harmful either. Some people find that wearing the glasses while they work helps their eyes feel better and allows them to work longer more comfortably. If you spent a couple of hours on electronics daily, especially during the daytime when you’d be getting blue light exposure anyway from the sun if you were outdoors, it’s probably not a problem to skip the glasses. Some blue light exposure during the day, particularly from natural sunlight, is even beneficial for regulating your circadian rhythm, so don’t be worried about a normal level of exposure. Overall, the best time to wear blue light glasses is at night, during the hours leading up to bedtime when your body is producing more melatonin. But if your eyes feel less strained when you wear them during the day too, then experts say this is fine to continue doing. Risks and Side Effects Blue light glasses may be capable of taking stress off of your eyes and helping you sleep better at night, but they aren’t the only way to take care of your vision of circadian rhythm. Here are other steps to take if you wish to sleep better and avoid eye strain, headaches and other issues: Get sunlight exposure during the day by going outdoors. Just be careful about too much UV-A and UV-B light reaching your eyes, which may be damaging — therefore consider wearing sunglasses if you spend lots of time in the sun. Avoid alcohol and nicotine, especially close to bedtime. Exercise regularly, which can improve sleep quality. Develop a relaxing nighttime routine that helps you cope with stress and unwind. Ideally this routine shouldn’t involve electronics — instead try reading a book, stretching or taking a warm bath. If you do use electronics at night, switch them to night mode. Keep the temperature in your room low, and wear clothes that don’t make you too hot. Limit the amount of hours you spend on electronics if possible. Invest in a good ergonomic chair to support your posture, and make sure your screens are at the right height so you’re avoiding forward head posture. Ideally have your eyes be about 25 inches from the screen and looking just slightly down. When working on a computer or device, take a break every 20 minutes and look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Conclusion What is the benefit of blue light blocking glasses? They help filter/block bright blue light that is emitted from electronic devices. Too much blue light can contribute to issues like sleep dysfunction and possibly eye strain and headaches. What are the best blue light glasses? It depends on why you’re wearing them. If you have severe symptoms or are recovering from eye surgery, you may need a prescription and should speak with a doctor. Otherwise you can purchase them at drug stores or online. Research focused on the effects blue light filtering glasses is overall lacking, and opinions differ about whether or not they are necessary. However, some people find they reduce symptoms like eye strain, dry eyes, blurriness, tension headaches and trouble falling asleep — especially among people using electronics for many hours daily and at night. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

The post Do Blue Light Glasses Work? Potential Benefits for Sleep & Eye Health appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Depression Is Prevalent During Menopause, Confirms Study

AHA Publisher — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 07:00:10 +0000

The North American Menopause Society via News-Medical Net – Depression has been shown to be prevalent during menopause, affecting as many as 70% of women transitioning into menopause. A new study not only confirms the high prevalence of depression but also the greatest risk factors for it in postmenopausal women, as well as any relationships with anxiety and fear of death. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). With the decrease in hormone production during menopause, women are more prone to a number of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, sadness, restlessness, memory problems, lack of confidence and concentration, and a loss of libido. At the same time, as women age, the fear of death becomes more pronounced. Depression and anxiety, which are the most common psychological problems that occur during the menopause transition, likely increase that fear. In this new study involving 485 postmenopausal Turkish women aged between 35 and 78 years, researchers sought to determine the frequency of depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women, the variables affecting it, and the levels of anxiety and fear of death. They then evaluated the relationship between all these variables and postmenopausal depression. They found that depression in postmenopausal women is a common and important health problem that requires further study. In this specific study, 41% of the participants were confirmed to experience some form of depression, although it is theorized that this rate was lower than in some previous studies because of the somewhat lower age of participants (average age, 56.3 y). In addition, the researchers identified those risk factors that most affected depression in postmenopause. These included being a widow or separated from one’s spouse, alcohol consumption, any medical history requiring continuous medication, the presence of any physical disability, physician-diagnosed mental illness, and having four or more living children. They did not, however, confirm any relationship between depression and the fear of death, although the somewhat younger age of the study group may have influenced this lack of association. Study results appear in the article “Depression, anxiety and fear of death in postmenopausal women.” “The findings of this study involving postmenopausal Turkish women are consistent with existing literature and emphasize the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in midlife women, particularly those with a history of depression or anxiety, chronic health conditions, and psychosocial factors such as major stressful life events. “Women and the clinicians who care for them need to be aware that the menopause transition is a period of vulnerability in terms of mood,” Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) To read the original article click here.

The post Depression Is Prevalent During Menopause, Confirms Study appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.