Answers to Specific Health Questions
From Adviceopedia
The following answers to specific health questions are not provided by a medical professional and should be used as starting points to determine how to treat your condition. If your issue persists or worsens, you should contact your health care professional immediately. That said, some health questions and answers are for general knowledge or mild concerns and do not require immediate medical attention.
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Answers to Specific Health Questions
Which Diet Is Right?
While many people will shout from the rooftops about how a specific, sometimes very strict, diet plan worked for them, the safest way to make a lifestyle change and lose weight for good is to eat a balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, and whole grains. Eat sweets and "bad" fats (trans and saturated) sparingly. Examples of foods with good fats include avocado, olive oil, salmon, mackerel, catfish, and trout, flaxseed, almonds, olives, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. For more information, check the American Heart Association.
What Is Bipolar?
According to Web MD, there are many different symptoms of bipolar disorder. Some of the basics of bipolar disorder include extreme, unanticipated mood swings. People suffering from the disease could have symptoms of both mania and depression:
- Racing thoughts
- Planning for unattainable goals
- Excessive happiness and energy
- Severe anxiety
- Sadness
- Need for excessive sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty making decisions
- Thoughts of suicide
Bipolar disorder can be mild or severe and there are multiple types, including:
- Bipolar 1: This includes at least one manic period in the person's life. The mood is so elevated; it causes disruptions in life.
- Bipolar 2: There are manic and depressive stages in this type, but the "ups" never reach the full manic stage that disrupts life. The cycles happen more slowly than in rapid cycling.
- Rapid Cycling: There could be four or more periods of mania or depression in one year with this type of bipolar disorder.
- Mixed Bipolar: The symptoms of mania and depression happen simultaneously with this type or they happen back-to-back very quickly.
- Cyclothymia: This is a milder version than typical bipolar disorder.
How to Prevent or Control Hypertension?
Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure and it can be caused by some medications (such as birth control pills with estrogen), smoking, genetics, stress, older age, too much alcohol, too much salt, a sedentary lifestyle, chronic kidney disease, or problems with the adrenal gland or thyroid.
If you're worried that you may develop high blood pressure in the future, check if your blood pressure is 120/80 or more. Even 120/80, which is almost low enough to be considered normal, is now considered prehypertension now, according to Web MD. Prehypertension is a warning sign.
To avoid hypertension later consider:
- Losing excess weight
- Getting enough exercise
- Eating a well-balanced diet without additional "bad" fats or salt
- Turning to soy for your proteins rather than animal proteins
- Not exceeding one alcoholic beverage for women per day, men can have two per day.
These tips are also helpful for controlling high blood pressure. In addition, attempt to cut back on stressors and maintain a positive outlook on life. Your doctor may prescribe medication as well. Web MD also cites having a pet, meditation, CoEnzymeQ10, Omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids as possible assets in lowering blood pressure.
The Mayo Clinic also explores the link between sleep deprivation and high blood pressure. For people between 32 and 59 years of age, getting less than six hours of sleep per night could more than double the chance of developing high blood pressure.
What Is a Sleep Disorder?
Some bad habits, once cured, will take your sleep troubles away with them. Stress over an exam or conflict, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and vigorous exercise late in the day can keep you up at night. Jet lag will also confuse your body's sleep rhythm temporarily. If you don't have any of those issues, yet you still have trouble sleeping or not falling asleep at inappropriate times, you could have a sleep disorder. The main four types are:
- Insomnia: This disorder is marked by trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. In most cases, those with insomnia do not fall asleep in meetings or while driving during the day despite their lack of sleep at night. If this does happen, there is likely another disorder involved, not insomnia.
- Narcolepsy: With narcolepsy comes excessive sleepiness during the day. Naps do help, so narcoleptics may feel more refreshed after taking them as opposed to waking up as tired as they were before. Those suffering from narcolepsy may also experience sleep paralysis, losing the ability to move as they fall asleep or wake up.
- Sleep apnea: Those who suffer from sleep apnea are tired during the day, but unlike those who suffer from insomnia, they can fall asleep at inappropriate times. Having headaches and feeling groggy or worn out after a night of sleep are other symptoms. In many cases, it is their partner, who suffers through their snoring, snorting, and gasping for air at night, that brings sleep apnea to their attention.
- Restless leg syndrome: You could be suffering from restless leg syndrome if you can't resist the urge to move your legs because of a twitching or prickling sensation (this can also occur in the arms). This could happen during the night as you fall asleep, if you wake up in the middle of the night, or even during the day.
For more information about these and other sleep disorders, visit NeurologyChannel.com.
Is There a Correlation Between Physical Activity and Cancer?
Cancer.gov is a great place to find out exactly how physical activity is believed to correlate with various types of cancer. The site states that studies have shown that physical activity can decrease the likelihood of breast, colon, prostate, and endometrial cancers. Exercise also lowers blood pressure, keeps your heart healthy, and lowers weight.
Please remember that the answers to specific health questions found here are not professional medical advice. If your problems persist or continue or you're concerned about a potential health issue, you should make an appointment with your health care provider.
