Health Pulse Anxiety gets physical Not everyone “tunes into” their emotions to the same degree, and some people register their anxiety more in their bodies than in their brains. When you’re anxious, your autonomic nervous system kicks into action, producing such symptoms as headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, pounding heart, even trembling or shaking. If you experience such symptoms without knowing their source, you may get worried that you have a serious health condition. The result? More anxiety and more symptoms – the classic vicious circle. To regain your equilibrium, experts suggest that you stop and take your emotional temperature: Is something upsetting on your mind? Does your to-do list terrify you? Still not sure? Adoctor can suggest a questionnaire to help you assess your level of anxiety. Once you’ve identified anxiety as a culprit, relieve the stress with some deep breathing or relaxation exercises. (Smartphone users, you’re in luck here: lots of apps to guide you through the techniques.) And you can’t beat physical activity as a stress reliever – even a walk around the block will help take you out of your head. The important thing is to do it. Sources: Healthline, Harvard Health Too cold for comfort Are you always huddling under blankets at night? Putting on extra sweaters? Perhaps it’s “just you,” but a marked tendency to feel cold could also signal health issues, which a medical evaluation or lab tests can help you identify. Possibilities to consider include: • Anemia: Both iron deficiency and B12 anemia can make you feel cold. Foods high in these vital nutrients – or, with a doctor’s guidance, supplements – can correct the conditions. • Hypothyroidismor hypopituitarism: When the thyroid or pituitary gland don’t produce enough hormones, you may become overly sensitive to cold. Synthetic hormones (prescribed by your doctor) can top up your body’s natural production. • Raynaud’s phenomenon: This condition causes the blood vessels in your hands or feet to overreact to cold temperatures, making your fingers or toes feel cold and numb (and possibly turn white or blue). In most cases, you can treat it the old-fashioned way with extra layers of clothing, warm gloves and thick socks. • Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Caused by plaque in the arteries, this disease makes it harder for blood to reach your limbs (especially the legs). Here’s a clue that you may have it: one leg consistently colder than the other, especially if it’s also numb or painful. The lifestyle changes that make you healthier in general are also liable to improve PAD. Sources: webmd.com, rheumatology.org, Alberta Health Wine time: healthy or not? Red wine contains many antioxidants, including the powerful resveratrol, and many studies attest to its health benefits. A 2018 study linked red wine consumption to a lower risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Red wine can also help balance the bacteria in your gut, leading to a healthier digestive system. Further research suggests that the resveratrol in red wine may even help reduce vision loss and dementia. The catch: youmay need to drink quite a bit to get these benefits, which makes you more vulnerable to the harms of alcohol, including a higher risk of some cancers. Whole grapes and berries give you more resveratrol than red wine, without the associated risks. And what about white wine? While health researchers generally agree that red beats white overall, the white stuff offers some of the same benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health, metabolism and cognitive function. And for boosting lung function, white may actually edge out red. If you enjoy wine of any colour, keep it moderate – no more than one glass per day (that’s five ounces) for females and two for males. Sources: medicalnewstoday.com, www.mdlinx.com 48 | www.snowbirds.org
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