Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There

A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things.

The deputy medical director at BUPA, Dr. Paula Franklin, believes that there are many factors behind the growing health concerns and the most important is rising health awareness. She says that along with growing awareness of health problems and illnesses such as cancer, obesity, and heart disease, comes raised concern.

The report found that 19 percent worried about obesity, 23 percent worried about heart disease, and 38 percent worried about cancer. More than a third of worriers were found to have sleepless nights, nearly half have had their eating habits affected, along with 1 in 8 drinking more alcohol to help them relax and 1 in 13 losing their sex drive. The BUPA recommends fighting anxiety and stress by talking to friends, regular exercise, balancing diet, and avoiding caffeine.

How COPD Affects Women

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is on the rise among women and, since 2000, their mortality rates have surpassed those of men. However, despite the rising prevalence, morbidity, and mortality among women, there is little medical understanding of the disease's gender differences. A recent study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has demonstrate the disease is manifested differently in the genders, and risk factors, symptoms, disease progression, and even diagnosis, differ substantially.

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Eat Differently as You Age

As people get older, their metabolism begins to change. And this means their intake of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals must change, too, or their health might suffer. "All the nutritional things that we need to be concerned about as younger adults are even more important as we get older," says Alice Lichtenstein, professor of nutrition at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

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Expert Commentary: Zhanhai Zhang, MD, Ph.D, LAC 11-16-2009

A reliable conclusion can take years or even decades, but in the here and now, our suspicions and concerns are of ultimate importance. Here is a brief summary of some of the side effects fertility clinic patients encounter while they take drugs and receive treatment: hot flashes, emotional irritability, and breast swelling and tenderness. (Read more)