Scientists Probe Link Between Stress and Diabetes

Among some of the most significant effects of contemporary times of the twenty-first-century is the resulting fast-paced lifestyle that people live. Multi-tasking is common in our modern world, and in many careers, necessary in order to compete.

In a large metropolitan city it is not uncommon to see a pedestrian navigating the busy streets with a cell phone attached to each ear. And although people of our generation are living with a higher standard of living than that of their parents and grandparents, the benefits are not achieved without costs to both physical and mental health.

The Higher the Levels of Stress, the Higher the Chance of Becoming Diabetic

Researchers measured work stress and depression associated with high levels of anxiety and were astonished to find that some of the effects of our fast-paced lifestyle had damaging health consequences such as diabetes.

A foremost researcher, Dr. Sherita Hill Golden of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, studied a culturally-varied collection of nearly five thousand men and women within the age ranges of forty-five to eighty-five years of age. The research was conducted over a three year period and the findings were astounding. The study uncovered a disturbing link between people with excessive sadness and those that were diagnosed with diabetes. They also found that the more profound the symptoms, the greater the risk of becoming afflicted. In fact, those that have more severe anxiety have a higher risk of becoming stricken with the most typical form of the disease than others.

According to a study that was conducted at the University of Toronto, the association between stress and diabetes is significant. In fact, Type 2 diabetes, also called adult-onset diabetes, has been linked with severe depression, which is also an important cause of decline in cognitive skills and Alzheimer disease.

Anxiety and Sadness Make Diabetic Treatment More Difficult

Not only have anxiety and sadness been shown to be contributing factors to the disease, they can also make the effects worse. Even if every step has been taken to control the disease and a physician's advise has been followed precisely, the effects of anxiety and sadness on a diabetic patient make treatment more difficult. Many physicians will prescribe anxiety reducing regimens in order to help with tension, which in-turn will help the treatment of the disease.

How Prevalent is this Disease in the United States?

In the United States alone, there are nearly twenty million diabetics and that number is growing daily.

What Can be Done to Reduce Anxiety?

Physicians emphasize the importance of deep breathing exercises, which have been proven to have a positive effect on tackling anxiety. In people that are under the effect of severe anxiety, their breathing pattern is shallow and brisk. By practicing deep breathing, one can achieve a soothing effect on the mind which helps to counter the effects of anxiety.

A popular spiritual and ascetic discipline which helps to maintain healthy levels of anxiety is Yoga. Specific body postures and controlled breathing exercises offer a good tool for anxiety management and relaxation. In addition to managing tension, yoga can help combat weight problems, back pain, insomnia, burn out and a host of other anxiety-induced problems. Yoga includes quiet movements that help to control concentration and move the focus away from tension towards a more calming moment which gives the body a chance to improve circulation and slow down after a chaotic day.

In addition, a good meal plan which consists of well-balanced proportions of healthy choices is an important step towards regulating blood sugar as well as improving overall health, including anxiety. A licensed dietician or endocrinologist can help to consult diabetics on which foods to avoid and which can help maintain good health. Knowing what to avoid in one's diet can be confusing, and a professional health care provider can make the journey towards optimal health easier.

If you have any questions or concerns about stress, depression or diabetes, it is imperative that you speak to a professional. There are common screening tests that can be conducted in the privacy of your physician's office. Start on the path towards good health by addressing any stress issues now, before they can possibly develop into long term health problems.

For further reading:

• http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368363,00.html
• http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=616608

How to Survive a Terrible Cold

As I write this, I am day four of a terrible cold. I have a sore throat, I can't stop coughing, and now my ears hurt. I went to the doctor and they tested me for Streep Throat (negative) and did a throat culture. Basically, my doctor could not find anything wrong with me. I have the common cold.

As common as it is, I still feel terrible. I have spent the week trying to get better and learned a few tips from this video that I found on YouTube.

Take a moment to listen. If you have a cold. It might help.

Recent Studies Uncover Unexpected Health Connections

Many scientific studies progress in a largely predictable manner, with teams of scientists working for years to confirm findings that often seem to be little more than common sense. But every once in a while, research teams stumble across data that send them down unfamiliar paths, leading to unexpected connections and even stranger conclusions. This week, we?ll review the results of a number of recent studies that linked health problems to seemingly unrelated causes.

Increased Risk for Hospital-Acquired Infections Linked to Nurses? Work Environment

Deadly infections that patients catch while they are staying in the hospital are the sixth-leading cause of mortality in the United States, with vulnerable populations such as the elderly at greatest risk. Over the last several decades, researchers have tried to learn more about this dangerous phenomenon in order to combat the rising tide of hospital-acquired infections.

A recent study found a surprising risk factor linked to hospital-acquired infection -- nurses? working conditions. In units in which nurses were assigned a larger case load, had more non-patient-care responsibilities, and worked more overtime, the risk that patients would develop infections was increased significantly. The researchers recommended that understaffed departments hire additional staff as a means of increasing patient safety and decreasing the risk of deadly infections.

Pattern of Health Problems in Minorities Attributed to Racial Discrimination

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, even subtle levels of discrimination can have profound health impacts on minorities over the course of a lifetime.

The researchers reported that while major instances of overt discrimination are uncommon today, even seemingly minor incidents can cause stress, anxiety, and depression for minorities, as well as a host of other physical and mental health problems and challenges. The authors focused specifically on assessing the impact of discrimination on the health status of a population of Asian American subjects.

It was determined that discrimination-related stress caused or worsened respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, and chronic pain. The authors of the study pointed out that the benefits of increased vigilance against discrimination may extend being the social sphere and positively impact public health, as well.

Traditional Summer Pastime Linked to Cancer Risk

In many areas of the country, barbecues are an inescapable part of summertime celebrations. But the results of a recently released study have confirmed what some researchers have long expected -- grilling some foods may actually pose a cancer risk.

Chemical compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are formed when the heat of a barbecue grill comes into contact with the protein building blocks that make up animal flesh, including amino acids and creatinine. According to researchers at the University of California Cancer Center, HCAs are a known carcinogen.

However, experts report that you can eliminate much of the risk by avoiding overcooking meats on the grill. Shorter cooking times over smaller fires can also help make these long-cherished summertime meals safer.

Coffee May Help Prevent Gout

It seems like there?s a never-ending stream of research results informing us of the health damage we?re inflicting by sipping our morning cup of joe. But one recent study bucked this trend, reporting that coffee drinkers who ingest large quantities of the beverage may be protecting themselves against gout, a common and very painful form of inflammatory arthritis that is most common among men over the age of 40.

The results only applied to coffee drinkers who downed four or more cups daily. However, among this highly caffeinated group, the risk of gout was 40 to 60% lower than among non-coffee drinkers. The doctors didn?t suggest that those at risk for gout take up the habit as a means of preventing the disease, but they did state that they hoped their findings would help high-risk individuals make a more informed decision about coffee consumption. The exact cause of this preventive effect was not fully determined in the study, although the researchers acknowledge that it merits further investigation.

Watch this space for future updates about the science news that impacts your health, well-being, and quality of life. Each week on this site, we review some of the most interesting, groundbreaking, and relevant health studies. Check back soon for more health science news!