Don't miss any of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line.
Add our address, HealthyWomanfromBottomLine@news.bottomlinepublishing.com,
to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. | July 14, 2011 | |  |  | How Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Can Protect Their Hearts | | | Delicious "Wonder Drug" for High Blood Pressure Praised by Harvard Researchers | | | Treat Yourself Like the "Goddess" You Are | | | Perfect Painkillers... | | | Iodine for Painful Breasts? | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | | How Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Can Protect Their Hearts Experts have known for a while that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk for heart disease. But now a new study cautions that the heart risks rise much more quickly than had been expected. For the study, Swedish researchers followed 7,469 RA patients—plus 37,024 people who did not have RA—for about 12 years to see who would develop heart disease or have a heart attack. Findings: Just one year after their RA diagnosis, the RA patients were already at 50% increased risk for heart disease and 60% increased risk for heart attack, as compared with participants who did not have RA. Researchers suspect that the high levels of systemic inflammation that occur with RA also are responsible for the disease’s link to heart problems. More study is needed. In the meantime: It is important that RA patients not delay in speaking with their doctors about ways to minimize other heart disease risk factors—for instance, by controlling cholesterol, blood pressure and weight and, if applicable, getting help to stop smoking. Furthermore, researchers believe, it is important that the RA disease itself be well managed. Source: Marie Holmqvist, MD, PhD, is a postdoctoral epidemiologist in the department of medicine at Karolinska University Hospital/Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and lead author of a study on RA and heart disease.
| | |
 | | Delicious "Wonder Drug" for High Blood Pressure Praised by Harvard Researchers According to recent estimates, nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama, hypertension doesn’t even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70. So what makes these folks practically "immune" to hypertension—and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and cancer? Harvard researchers were stunned to discover it’s because they drink about five cups of cocoa each day. That’s right, cocoa! | |
Learn more...  | |  | | |
 | | Treat Yourself Like the "Goddess" You Are Judy Kuriansky, PhD Teachers College, Columbia University | We women are all too prone to exaggerated self-criticism—about our appearance, personalities, accomplishments or whatever. This negative self-talk can drag us down, deflating our self-esteem and even contributing to depression. But: It doesn’t have to be this way. | In my work as a therapist, I have seen beautiful transformations take place when women are encouraged to think of themselves not as defective, but as divine—as goddesses! Consider the Greek Athena, the Hindu Shakti, the Roman Diana, the Egyptian Isis or any of innumerable other female divinities, all of whom evoke respect and honor. Envisioning yourself as such a goddess and treating yourself accordingly can help you cast aside habitual self-denunciation. To pay homage to the spark of divinity within yourself... Express inner appreciation. At random times in the day (for instance, when you are waiting at a stoplight or walking the dog), compose a list in your mind about what makes you special—your wisdom, sense of humor, kind-heartedness, strong work ethic, toned arms, winning smile. When you have a moment, write down your list of attractive qualities and memorize it. Then, whenever you catch yourself in a self-deprecating thought (I’m so fat that I look terrible in everything I own) or berate yourself for something trivial (I forgot to send my sister a birthday card, I’m a rotten person), mentally review your list of positive characteristics. Let these affirmations become a form of a benediction (a word rooted in the concept "to speak well of"). Seek inspiration from goddesses of myth, fiction and history. Learning the stories of revered female figures can help you identify qualities that you would like to incorporate as your own. Check out the exercises in the book A Goddess Is a Girl’s Best Friend by Laurie Sue Brockway. Examples: To see yourself as lovable and beautiful, evoke the spirit of Venus (the Roman goddess of love) by writing an impassioned love letter to yourself... to let go of workaholism and embrace leisure, try channeling Bast (the Egyptian goddess of play) by singing joyfully in the shower or emulating children at play. Also helpful: Download and display images of your favorite goddesses to help you visualize your goals. Tout your successes. It is OK to toot your own horn sometimes, particularly to your partner, friends and others who truly care about you and will celebrate you (rather than people who might become envious). Sharing significant successes ("I finished writing the first draft of my novel!") or even minor ones ("That crossword puzzle was really tough, but I nailed it") reminds you to appreciate your own abilities and allows others to rejoice with you. Accept adulation with grace. When paid a compliment ("That’s a beautiful dress"), do you automatically dismiss or minimize it? Resist the temptation to say, "This old rag?" Instead: Simply smile, say thank you and even add an upbeat remark of your own ("I’ve always liked it, too"), as you let the good feeling of someone else’s appreciation wash over you. If you still have trouble with compliments, try picturing yourself on a pedestal as you remind yourself that you deserve to be loved, admired and treated well. Stage a "goddess night." Ask your partner or best friend to agree to this exercise, where one evening together is totally devoted to pleasing you. For instance, he or she can take you out on the town or prepare an elegant home-cooked dinner... lavish you with compliments and constant attention... present you with a small gift... accompany you on a special activity, such as splurging on orchestra seats at the theater or having a spa day... or even do something as simple as letting you pick the television station. Assure the other person that you will return the favor another time, and he or she will be that much happier to indulge you. Source: Judy Kuriansky, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist on the adjunct faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. She is the author of five books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship (Alpha), and is a columnist and advisory board member for HealthyWoman from Bottom Line. www.DrJudy.com
| | |
| | | Iodine for Painful Breasts?
Q: My friend says that having painful fibrocystic breasts is a sign of iodine deficiency. Is this true? Would it be a good idea to take iodine supplements?
A: Having fibrocystic breasts does not necessarily mean that you are low in iodine—and in fact, iodine deficiency is fairly rare in the US because our table salt typically is iodized. But if you do have painful fibrocystic breasts and you are iodine deficient, iodine supplements may help. Although iodine’s main function in the body is to help the thyroid gland make thyroid hormones, iodine also is found in mammary tissue—and iodine deficiency can contribute to mild breast inflammation. Evidence supporting iodine supplementation comes from a study in The Breast Journal. In this randomized controlled trial, women with fibrocystic breasts and breast pain who took 3 mg or 6 mg of iodine daily experienced significant decreases in breast pain and lumpiness within three months of use. If a blood test reveals that you have an iodine deficiency, you can take iodine supplements long-term provided that your doctor monitors your thyroid function. Do not just start taking iodine on your own—excess iodine might cause your thyroid gland to make too much thyroid hormone and lead to hyperthyroidism. Whether or not you end up taking iodine, there are other strategies that can help make breasts less cystic and minimize pain. Hormone levels influence fibrocystic breast changes, so to keep these in check, reduce your intake of caffeine and animal fat because they may stimulate estrogen production. Also, ask a nutrition-oriented doctor about supplementing with evening primrose oil (its omega-6 essential fatty acid, called gamma-linolenic acid, may help reduce breast pain)... and with the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Source: Laurie Cullen, ND, is an associate professor of clinical education at Bastyr University and a clinical faculty member at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, both in Seattle. Her private practice focuses on gynecology, contraception, menstrual disorders and menopause.
| | |
 |  | |  Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author or coauthor of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her latest book is the updated, third edition of When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads (HarperCollins). She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 26 years and three college-age children. | |  | | Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901
You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Click here to easily unsubscribe. To change your e-mail address click here. To update your e-mail preferences click here.
© 2011 by Boardroom Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
No comments:
Post a Comment