The Slimfish Files » Health

Dealing with Low Moods and Depression in Women

Admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:11:32 +0000

Everyone gets down now and then, but constantly dealing with low moods and depression in women is not easy. If a woman is experiencing feelings of sadness, stress and frustration that are not passing or going away for two weeks or more, she may be dealing with clinical depression and may need to see a health professional.

It is normal to feel “depressed” feelings at times (if we are tired , something bas has happened, or if we have had a rough day), but actual depression is a more pervasive and extreme set of feelings that should not be ignored or brushed off lightly.

Gender is a risk factor for depression: Women are about twice as likely to experience and be treated for a serious illness of depression than men are. Where 12% of men will experience a serious depression at some time on their lives, about 20% to 25% of women will experience depression.

There are a number of theories as to why this is the case:

Women may be more likely than men to seek treatment for depression, meaning they are more statistically represented. Men may be less willing to accept the emotional symptoms associated with depression and may feel too proud to seek treatment for their feelings.
Men may be more likely to suppress their emotional symptoms rather than acknowledge them and talk to someone about their feelings. They are more likely to use substances such as alcohol to suppress these feelings. In this way, the depression is masked under the guise of alcohol or drug dependency.
Men may experience different emotional symptoms of depression than women. Whereas women may feel helpless and hopeless, men may express their depression through anger and irritability. This means that the depression is more difficult to detect.
Particularly as many women merge family lives and careers these days, women may experience more stress than men and are thus more likely to become depressed due to all the responsibilities they take on.
Because women have frequent changes in hormone levels (during monthly menstrual cycles, during and after pregnancy, during menopause), they may be more prone to depression.
High rates of depression are noted in women who are separated, divorced or are in unhappy marriages.

What are the symptoms of depression in women?

Although each case is unique and every woman may experience a different set of feelings, there are some common symptoms to look out for when dealing with low moods and depression in women, divided into psychological, social and physical effects:

Psychological symptoms

Thoughts about death and suicide
Feeling hopeless or helpless
Extreme mood variations
Persistent sadness
Anger, resentment, or irritability
Feelings of worthlessness
She may have difficulty concentrating
Feelings of guilt
Loss of self-esteem and confidence
She may inflict self harm

Physical symptoms

Problems sleeping; she may have trouble falling asleep, wake up much earlier than usual, or both.
She may experience a loss of energy and overall tiredness and lethargy
A loss of appetite
Sexual problems and/or a loss of sex drive
She may feel physical aches and pains.

Social effects

Avoiding contact with other people, even with close friends and family
She may find it difficult to enjoy things that she would usually find interesting or pleasurable and show a lack of interest in events and activities.
Finding it difficult to function at school, home or work

If you suspect that a woman in your life is suffering from depression, it is best to comfort her as much as you can and encourage her to seek treatment. Although you too may feel frustrated at her behavior it is important to remain empathetic and patient. Whatever you do, don’t assure her that nothing is wrong; it is important to confront the problem head-on with treatment to avoid the depression from worsening.

Dealing with Low Moods and Depression in Women is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Weightloss with Herbex Slimmers Drops

Admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:12:05 +0000

Weightloss with Herbex Slimmers Drops is simple and easy. This natural product allows you to lose weight through suppressing your apetite. What is best is that because Herbex uses natural ingredients, they are non-addictive and they have been scientifically formulated to ensure that prolonged use will not become toxic. This is fantastic seeing as weightloss is a struggle and then when you have to deal with possible side effects other than weightloss, it can become even more of a struggle to keep the weight off.

If you are interested in weightloss with Herbex slimmers drops and you are wondering exactly how much you will loose, well this is purely dependant on the person. There are a number of factors that influence weightloss such as age, diet, exercise regime, genetics, body shape, and many more. Therefore there is no definite answer to this question. However Herbex understands that people like to work on a number of kilograms that they want to lose and therefore want products that the know will help them reach their goal weight.

It is for this reason that Herbex has developed a Slimming e-book to help their customers and potential customers on their weightloss journey. This e-book will help you calculate your BMI and set your goal loss accordingly which is extremely important as many men and women have unrealistic weightloss goals and can end up hurting themselves in the process to reach that weight.

With the increasing numbers of obesity in children in this country, many mothers are looking for products to help their children lose the weight in order to give them a better quality of life. Herbex is one of the products that can be used by mothers to help their children in this regard as it is safe for all ages. However Herbex does advise that different dosages should be permitted to children under the age of ten. Herbex understands that like adults who are looking to lose weight often have unrealistic goals, and parents could have the same unrealistic goals for their children. They therefore advise that you consult with a doctor before starting your child on any weightloss programme.

As women experience pregnancy, the majority of women are not happy with their bodies during their pregnancy and after. As a result many women look for products to help them keep the weight off during pregnancy or after pregnancy. However Herbex is not a product that is safe to use during pregnancy and in some instances can affect the baby if you use it whilst you are breastfeeding. It is therefore imperative that you consult with a doctor before taking any slimming products during or soon after pregnancy.

As mentioned above, there a number of factors that needs to be considered when looking for a slimming product and one of those factors are medical conditions. Unfortunately, high blood pressure is associated with being overweight and many slimming products cannot be used if one has high blood pressure. Herbex Slimming Drops is a product that can be used if you have high blood pressure and can be used in conjunction with high blood pressure medication. However they do recommend that you closely monitor your blood pressure whilst using the product as it has a normalizing effect on the system.

What is more is that if you are a diabetic, or on a contraceptive pill, you can also use Herbex Slimming Drops. You can even use Herbex Slimming Drops if you have an over or under active thyroid, but you as with high blood pressure, you will have to monitor your condition due to the normalizing effects of the products.

Weightloss with Herbex Slimmers Drops is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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The Best Ways to Eliminate Neck Pain

Admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:19:46 +0000

If you are looking for the best ways to eliminate neck pain then here are some simple and effective tips to help you ease the ache. The most common cause of neck pain is due to bad posture and therefore the best thing you can do is stand up straight. Yes I know all of us have heard our mothers saying this over and over again but they were right. If you hunch your back, you put unnecessary strain on your neck as your muscles aren’t aligned and therefore this causes tension.

Another cause of neck pain is due to the fact that many of us work in front of computers and this leads to us craning our necks forward. TV watching and driving are also culprits in this regard and this craning of the neck again can cause unnecessary strain. Research has shown that even craning your neck forward by a couple of centimetres can result our spines not being aligned and this can be the cause of not only neck aches but tension headaches and back pain.

Unfortunately not all of us can be ballerinas and have perfect posture so if you thinking that all hope is lost then do not fear as this article contains some of the best ways to eliminate neck pain.

Stretching:

There are several stretching exercises that you can do in order to alleviate the pain. A great stretch involves titling your head so that you are looking at your armpit. Once in that position, all you have to do is rest your other hand on your head and you will instantly feel you muscles being stretched. This exercise alleviates tension and if done every day it can even prevent tension.

Ice treatment:

Place a cloth full of ice on your neck or an ice pack for twenty minutes. The cooling ice will slow the blood flow to the area. Then take a heating pack and place this on the affected area and this will increase the blood flow to the area which will cause the muscles to relax and will get rid of any toxins in the muscles.

Gels:

If stretching and ice treatments do not seem to be working on their own, then there are a number of healing gels that you can place on the area such as Deep Heat and Reparil which have been specially developed to help relax the muscles. These gels are extremely effective, especially if they are used in conjunction with the above.

Mattresses and pillows:

Often we wake up with neck pain due to us sleeping on mattresses that do not give us enough support and pillows that aren’t comfortable. Although buying a good quality bed can be expensive think about all of the money that you could potentially spend on doctors bills with problems such as arthritis and disk displacement. Tempur are the makers of some of the best quality beds out there and they have been especially designed to provide you with all of the support you could need.

Chiropractors:

If you are in desperate need of pain relief and you cannot yet afford to purchase a new bed and pillows, then in the meantime you should visit a Chiropractor. These doctors specialise in aligning all of the bones and disks in the spine. Although this may cause pain for a day or two after your appointment, it is important that you go again for a repeat visit and then take the precautionary measures as mentioned above.

If you struggle with neck pain and none of the above is helping, then I suggest that you visit a specialist who can help you find the cause of the problem so that you can lead a life without pain.

The Best Ways to Eliminate Neck Pain is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Stop Snoring – Solutions to Cure Deafening Snores!

Admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:24:11 +0000

So how do you stop you or your partner from snoring the roof off your home?

One solution is to get the newest product on the market called a Snorekit. This product claims to be simple, effective and proven low cost stop snoring mouthpiece. This device works by advancing the lower jaw forward a few millimetres to help free the air intake and release the tongue. The reason this works is because during deep sleep, the muscles in your throat relax and your tongue moves backward which reduces the size of the air passage.

The reason people snore is because when the air passes over this region it causes vibrations which gives the sound to snoring. According to Snorekit, there are only three ways to cure snoring: surgically, forced ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure devices, and lastly mandibular advancement devices like their own.

For those of you who are looking to stop snoring and are interested in purchasing a Snorekit, all you have to do is visit www.stopsnoring.co.za and order the kit online. If you cannot afford to purchase a snoring devise, then have no fear, there are some other natural solutions for you.

Firstly, your diet is crucial and many recommend avoiding dairy foods before bedtime as they induce mucus build-up. Other suggestions include losing weight if you are carrying more weight than normal as this will increase the space within your air passage, and not eating a big meal before bedtime.

The way in which you sleep can also cause snoring. If you generally sleep on your back and have a tendency to snore then why not try sleeping on your side. Many people advise strapping balls to your back so that you cannot sleep on them in order to prevent snoring.

Drinking alcohol just before you go to sleep can also cause snoring, as can sleeping tablets as both are muscle relaxers and therefore limit your air passage way inside your throat and chest. For more information on how to cure your snoring why not visit your physician who may be able to prescribe you anti-snoring pills, anti-snoring nasal sprays or other remedies which you may not have thought or heard of.

And for a bit of a laugh, just to prove that it’s not just us humans that growl at night, here’s a video proving that some animals snore too!

The Snoring Duck Video:

Stop Snoring – Solutions to Cure Deafening Snores! is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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How to Stay Thin During Pregnancy

Admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:08:49 +0000

Pregnancy can be a difficult time for your body, what with raging hormones and out of control cravings. Staying thin during pregnancy is not as hard as it seems – follow these tips, and you will ensure you maintain that hot bod right until your little bundle of joy is born.

1) You are NOT eating for 2

Many pregnant women fall into the trap of “eating for two”, and while it is true that you have a human life growing inside of you, that human life has a stomach the size of half a peanut. Convincing yourself that you should be eating 2 enormous bowls of pasta to “feed the little one” is asking for trouble. Remember that the only stomach you are really feeding is your own, and it needs no more food now that you’re pregnant than it ever did before.

2) Your body needs all the goodness it can get

Pregnancy takes its toll on your body. The baby growing inside of you requires lots of nutrients and vitamins, and you will start feeling tired and worn out, thanks to the baby guzzling all the good stuff! When you are tired and worn down, the quickest way to perk up for most women is junk food – chocolate, fizzy drinks and fatty comfort foods give you a temporary boost, but they leave a more permanent mark on your waistline. Rather opt for iron rich foods such as spinach, beans, lean red meats, as well as complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potatoes. These foods will feed your body with the nutrients it requires, give you sustained energy through the day, and still keep you slim and trim.

3) Keep exercising

While you may feel fragile, exhausted and generally all out of whack while you’re pregnant, the truth is that your body is as resilient as ever, and the baby inside of you is well protected. There is no reason why you should not keep exercising. There is research to suggest that babies born to mothers who exercised throughout their pregnancy are generally born incredibly healthy and happy. Pregnant mothers have been known to continue running marathons, going to spinning classes and climbing mountains!

4) Listen to your body

As a pregnant woman, it is crucial to learn to in be touch with your body, and to listen to what it is telling you. While exercise makes many pregnant women feel good, some pregnant women literally struggle to walk up a flight of stairs. Be realistic about your expectations of your pregnant body, and allow for the fact that your body’s capabilities and limitations may well change during this time.

Being pregnant is a magical time in a woman’s life, although for some it is a physically demanding and draining time. The key is staying thin during pregnancy is to remember that you are in charge of what you put into your body, and to be aware that your hormones will be more active than ever at this time. Keep in touch with what your body needs, and you will sail through pregnancy as thin as ever!

How to Stay Thin During Pregnancy is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Dangers of Duromine Weightloss Pills

Admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:05:13 +0000

The dangers of Duromine weight loss pills have recently come to the attention of many savvy consumers who no longer just believe what advertisers are selling them. The main ingredient of many weight loss pills including Duromine is Phentermine which is a drug that manipulates the hormones that are sent from the brain. It has been found to notably affect two main hormones being those of epinephrine and norepinephrine in order to bring about rapid weight loss. However, the manipulation of these hormones can have serious side effects.

Some of the danger of Duromine weight loss pills include strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. The reason being that one of the hormones manipulated by these pills, Epinephrine or commonly known as adrenaline, causes the users of the pills to experience an adrenaline rush similar to the one experienced when an individual is faced with danger. In addition to this, the other hormone which is manipulated by these pills, Norepinephrine is responsible for triggering the fight or flight response and causes an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate, palpitations and increased basic senses. This is potentially dangerous for those users who have heart or blood pressure problems and were not aware of the side effects of these pills.

What is even more dangerous, is that the majority of consumers of these pills enjoy the sensations that they get when they take them and can therefore become addicted to the pills. The reason being the Phentermine is classified as an Amphetamine and therefore results in the users feeling a “high” sensation. In order words, these pills are just a legal version of the street drug speed. So for those of you who are looking to loose weight, weight loss pills are not the way. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may seem like they are an inconvenience compared to diet pills, but they do not come with the same dangers of Duromine weightloss tablets.

Dangers of Duromine Weightloss Pills is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

Admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:16:46 +0000

The signs and symptoms of heart disease in women are important to look out for and as they may sometimes differ between genders, paying attention to newfound problems is vital. Coronary Heart Disease, or CHD is common in men and women and can happen to anyone of any age. Although this is not very frequent, there is also something called Silent CHD that has no symptoms. The most common symptom is chest pains and although this can be genetic and be in your genes, heart disease can be caused by many other things too, high cholesterol being one of them, which is why it is always important to watch your diet.

Coronary circulation is also important; this is the blood circulation in the blood vessels of your heart and cutting the circulation can lead to a stroke or heart attack so you should always know about the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women so you know what to look out for. The coronary arteries, the ones found on the hearts surface are known as the epicardial arteries and need looking after. With rheumatic heart disease, the damage done unto the heart valves and blood vessels will more than likely be permanent and this is caused by the rheumatic fever that accompanies this condition.

Blocking a coronary artery or two can be fatal; if you don’t have a heart attack you could have a stroke. Fatty and oily foods pump your body full of fat which more than likely means cholesterol, which in turn means that you are making it more difficult for the blood to run freely through your veins and arteries to keep your heart going. You should always pay special attention to your diet, especially so if heart disease is in your genes, meaning it runs in your family. Take note of the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women so that you can take action if you think you are suffering from the condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Vit A Deficiency Symptoms

Admin — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:09:51 +0000

The Vit A deficiency symptoms begin in your skin, eyes, nails, hair and mouth. The related signs in your eyes may include conjunctiva, bloodshot eyes, cataracts, blurred vision and more. If it is showing in your skin, which is common in pregnant women, it could be acne, bedsores, blisters, dry skin, eczema, moles and warts. Also common in pregnant women that are lacking Vitamin A is brittle hair, hair loss, dry hair, peeling nails, white spots on nails and more. Ones body needs all three different types of Vitamin A: retinols, carotenoids and beta carotenes to keep your body healthy.

Night blindness is also very common as one of the biggest Vit A deficiency symptoms and when it comes to children, kids going without the necessary Vitamin A minerals over a long period of time can become permanently blind. Without enough Vitamin A in your body, you are unable to fight infections, thus making you sicker than you should be from a simple flu or cold. Your doctor can also prescribe you a Vitamin A supplement, but this is not necessary as getting sufficient sun and following a diet that contains Vitamin A foods will be more than enough to keep you going.

Some foods that are high in Vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, dark green vegetables, butternut, squash, lettuce, dried herbs and much more. This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to get your children to eat their veggies! When the first signs of Vit A deficiency show, it is important to visit your doctor, who should recommend a dietician who can help you follow a healthy diet to ensure that you get enough vitamins. Also get lots of sun regularly, it offers a whole lot of Vitamin A and can only do you good. Keep an eye out for any possible symptoms and treat them while they are still developing.

Vit A Deficiency Symptoms is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:41:58 +0000

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer often go unnoticed by women due to the lack of awareness of the symptoms. However, there is a copious amount of information available to women from sources on the Internet to pamphlets available at your local doctor. One easy way of detecting breast cancer early is by conducting self-examination daily whilst bathing. By conducting such an exam, woman can examine their bodies for unusual lumps and seek early treatment should they discover anything that seems out of the norm.

The risk for breast cancer has been proven to be higher in women who have a close blood relative that have had cancer and these women especially need to take all the necessary precautions ensure early detection of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Women over the age of 40 have been advised to go for a mammogram annually as well as to examine their breasts daily in order to increase their awareness of changes that may occur in their breast or body. Often breast cancer patients claim that they feel pain in their breasts but didn’t take notice of it due to the fact that some women’s breast get sensitive before they menstruate or just pushed it to the back of their minds due to fear. However, if woman “listen” to their bodies and are in tune with their bodies, then the treatment of breast cancer can be started early and prevent the cancer from spreading to the rest of the body.

The key to fighting this disease is awareness of one’s body. Should anyone find an unusual lump in their breast they should book an appointment with their doctor immediately. Breast cancer is treatable if detected early and those women who have a history of cancer in their families need to be alert to any changes in their bodies such as pain or sensitivity in the breast area. Do daily breast examinations, go for a mammogram and keep a look out for any signs or symptoms of breast cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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Calorie Counter Charts

Admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:58:38 +0000

Calorie counter charts are perfect for monitoring your food intake or calorie intake. The counters are easy to use and it is the perfect way to manage your weight. If you are on any weight loss programs then you should definitely consider using a calorie counter so that you can know exactly how much you have lost over the weeks or months. If you browse the internet you will be able to find all sorts of calorie counters in .PDF format that you are able to download and then print. There is not better way to meet your requirements everyday. The charts are easy to read and perfect to monitor your food intake and the amount of calories each meal contains. Using the chart to monitor your daily life, you can look forward to a new slimming body in no time.

If you are serious about losing weight, introduce calorie counter charts to monitor how much you consume, but at the same time make sure that you exercise and burn more calories than you eat. This is the best diet and does not have to include tablets or diet shakes. If you do consider a diet, there are many to choose from but there is only going to be the right one for you. Anybody can go on a diet, and many people make up their own diets. Starving yourself is not a diet, because if you decide to binge-eat that meal you have for supper will store as fat because your body will not know when it will be getting food again.

There are many ways to have a slimming body, and choosing the right weight loss program will be perfect. Find the right diets and don’t forget to exercise. Monitor everything you are doing and jot down your results on one of the many calorie counter charts available and see results.

Calorie Counter Charts is an original post from: The Slimfish Files

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