The Last Word
The Last Word
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Fatigue can be a signal of serious illness. According to an article in the May 1998 Ladies Home Journal, fatigue affects more than a quarter of all Americans - making it so prevalent it is often dismissed as normal.
Women are more likely to be affected by fatigue than men, but they are hesitant about seeing their doctor because women believe they should be able to handle a large amount of responsibility without complaint. This article reports that being able to determine the difference between ordinary extraordinary fatigue may be key to diagnosing illness at an early stage.
Fatigue should be checked with a doctor when it interferes with normal activity, advises Karen Freund, MD, chief of women's health at Boston University Medical Group. Some of the most common medical conditions that include fatigue as a symptom are:
· Hemochromatosis. Sometimes called "iron overload" disorder, this disease is the most common hereditary disease in the country. A genetic defect causes the gastrointestinal tract to absorb too much iron. A blood test can screen for this disease. If levels warrant, a liver biopsy should be completed. Treatment includes removal of blood through a vein.
· Depression. Two-thirds of the 17 million Americans diagnosed with depression are women. A tendency toward depression may be hereditary. When sadness lingers and affects concentration, memory, sleep, and levels of daily functioning, clinical depression may be the cause. Individuals may be fatigued and unaware of their persistent down feelings. Diagnosis should include a complete medical history, including a physical exam. Treatment could include antidepressants and psychotherapy.
· Autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases. When the immune system begins to attack healthy parts of the body, autoimmune diseases develop. These are difficult to diagnose. They are a possibility when other reasons for fatigue have been ruled out.
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Women experiencing monthly breast pain are five times more likely to have a mammogram - even though this type of pain rarely indicates breast cancer, according to the Good Housekeeping May issue.
Patients can counter pain by keeping a dairy to record when and in what area of the breast the pain occurs. Notation of what the pain feels like and how long it lasts - even what type of bra was worn - might provide clues to the reason for the tenderness.
The article recommends that women see a doctor when they experience persistent pain in one specific area. Women should always see their doctor when they discover a lump in the breast. Following are some causes of breast pain:
· Menstrual period. Seventy percent of women report this type of breast pain. Estrogen can cause breasts to retain fluid and create pressure on nerves, which prompts the discomfort. Treatment includes taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen, exercising, applying hot or cold compresses, wearing a supportive bra (even at night, if needed), restricting salt intake, and eliminating caffeine. For severe pain, danazol (Danocrine, Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, New York City) can suppress estrogen production. Danazol should be a last resort because it causes drug-induced menopause.
· Menopause. As women age, they report sharper pains. The pains are frightening because women realize their higher risk of breast cancer as they age. This type of pain is rarely linked to cancer. When a woman begins hormone replacement therapy, she may experience breast pain for the first three months. If she continues the medication, the pain usually subsides.
· Nursing. Nursing mothers may experience discomfort or soreness, but breast infections within the milk ducts are a more serious problem. These infections require antibiotics. Symptoms include swollen, hot, red, and painful breasts and possibly a fever. If antibiotics are prescribed early, the infection will not be as likely to interrupt breastfeeding.
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Redbook's May issue offers an array of tips for women and their health. Here are a few of the recommendations:
· Wear your wedding band. Researchers in Britain have found that couples who wear their gold wedding bands suffer less arthritis in their ring fingers than in other fingers, the article says. Gold molecules, it is thought, leach into the hand and relieve inflammation.
· Stop microwaving in plastic. When will we learn to stop reheating our food in plastic storage dishes? Some types of plastic emit estrogen-like chemicals that have been linked to increased breast cancer risk and other medical problems. Although there is not evidence these chemicals are released in high quantities, some plastics release more of these chemicals when heated. For that reason, glass containers for heating or reheating food may be the best alternative.
· Where did I put my keys? Forgetting can be caused by stress. When under stress, cortisol, a hormone that inhibits glucose from getting to brain cells, is released. Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, author of Brain Longevity (Warner Books, New York City) suggests the following to fine-tune our brain cells:
- Meditate or do relaxation exercises at least 15 minutes a day.
- Exercise three to four times per week for at least 20 minutes.
- Replenish nutrients lost by the body due to stress by taking a supplement called BrainCare, which may sharpen concentration skills.
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