Stress and its impact on health

Stress and its impact on physical and mental health were a major concern in the health news in 2010. Here's what caught our attention in this regard.

How do we recognize what stress?

The researcher and specialist in stress Sonia Lupien has recently published a book entitled For Love of stress.To manage stress, it is important to know the source of the stressor. But how to recognize it? It is necessary that at least one of the 4 following characteristics - that the researcher has grouped under the acronym NICE - is this:
• Control: You feel you do not have control over a situation.
• Unpredictability: the situation is unexpected.
• New: You are facing a new situation.
• Ego: The situation represents a threat to your ego.
And the opposite of stress, this is not relaxation, warns Sonia Lupien. Rather, resilience is the ability to have a Plan B when a stressful event occurs, to "calm the brain so that it produces the least possible stress hormones.

Mental health problems at work: the enormous costs

For the most part, these problems are related to the workload, the interactions between colleagues and management to work-life balance and clarity of tasks, says Gilles Dupuis, Scientific Director of the Liaison Centre on the psychosocial intervention and prevention. And management practices that promote a better quality of work life are autonomy, support, recognition, collaboration and evaluation of load and work pace.

Stress SOS! The solution Matthieu Ricard

The Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, who was visiting Montreal last September, offers meditation to help manage stress. Meditation allows learning to cultivate an inner space "and to construct a" mental immune system, "he said.

Prevent burnout through a blood test?

It is possible to measure the "rate of wear physiological" stress-related chronic blood tests and saliva testing. Robert Paul Juster, researcher, and Sonia Lupien, director of the Center on Human Stress, have identified 15 biological markers of stress, including cholesterol and insulin and cortisol, the stress hormone. Moreover, these markers are higher and the risk of burnout is as well, have they noticed in a small study.

Stress and depression damages the heart

Depression can cause inflammation of the heart muscle and is also associated with hypertension and diabetes, according to the work of researchers of the Centre québécois de recherche Fernand-Séguin who have studied the adverse effects of depression on physical health.

Stress, anxiety and depression: an important step

We knew that there was a link between stress, depression and anxiety, but for the first time, Canadian researchers have identified the biological mechanism of connection in the brain. They have discovered how two related to serotonin receptors could cause stress and anxiety create depression. The discovery could lead to better pharmacological treatments.

Health guide for 2011

If you want to pass resolutions in 2011 concerning your health, you should do so knowingly. You think among other things to eat better and exercise more? Here's some info published in 2010 to support your efforts and your guide.

Eat: Tips

Do not follow the diet to lose weight

Because most are ineffective and harmful to health, according to a report published in France which reviews the 15 most popular diets, including those of Dr. Atkins, Weight Watchers, Montignac and the Mayo Clinic.

But, yes to the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet would allow people who are overweight to reduce levels of bad cholesterol and their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of whether they lose weight. And a study has demonstrated once again the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on heart health. It would also have a protective effect against cancer of the stomach.

Eat less meat

The movement of "meatless Mondays" was officially launched in Quebec in 2010. Encouraging people to replace, on Monday, meat by products based on legumes, nuts and seeds for their health and the environment.

Take the time to read nutrition labels

People who read nutrition information on foods eaten better, they consume products containing fewer calories, fat and sugar and more fiber.

Physical activity: good reasons to get started

Walking is good, but aerobics is better!

The two exercises, performed regularly, help to lose weight, but the aerobic further lowering blood pressure and promote better fitness.

Cycling and brisk walking for weight maintenance

Postmenopausal women who cycled or a brisk walk before menopausal gain less weight as they age than those who did not exercise.

One hour of physical activity per day to lose weight

150 minutes of physical activity per week as recommended, it is sufficient to prevent chronic diseases, but not enough to lose weight. This is at least one hour of exercise per day that women should do to maintain their weight long term.

Exercise improves bone health

Exercise helps strengthen bones and prevent fractures. For bone health, you must choose exercises that focus on strength rather than endurance. Furthermore, a study found that women who play soccer have improved their bone mineral density, which was not the case among women who were jogging. Soccer players have also further increased the power of their muscular legs.

Strength training to preserve the memory

Strength training would improve the attention span and short-term memory. Contrary to popular belief, aerobics would have only modest benefits on cognitive function.

Physical exercise reduces anxiety-related chronic diseases

People with chronic illness (cancer, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, back pain ...) would feel less anxious and nervous when practicing regular physical activity (3 sessions over 30 minutes per week).
And you, will you take resolutions in 2011? Health is gone?

Changes in DNA caused by radiation will be apparent in a few years

Experts in the field of DNA abnormalities believe that the effects of radiation will occur even 10-15 years after the fact of exposure, said Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. In connection with the events in Japan, European and American scientists have turned to the analysis of this issue. The main conclusion: radiation is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women because it can cause DNA mutations.

Child's body cells are updated very quickly - everything, including cancer. Therefore, in the next 10-15 years after the radioactive release is possible to predict the growth of leukemia among adolescents.

Experts also believe justifiable and effective measure against the radiation distribution of iodine-containing medications residents of Japan.

First aid could have even the child

Report of this study was published in the journal The Lancet Neurology. It says that if necessary, children under five years old are able to learn some basic rules and first aid.
Scientists in the study taught children from kindergarten to Norway to help people in trouble, according to the "rule of five fingers." Children invited to see the man talking to him, touch him, trying to wake up, call an ambulance and, finally, to create his comfortable surroundings. The results were surprising even to the researchers. "After two months the children were able to determine a person sleeps or is unconscious, and he breathes. In addition, the children remembered the number of "first aid" and could be described with an accuracy of your location "- Georg Bollig comments from the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Houklend.

Dental problems - poor performance

It turns out that in children there is a direct relationship between problems with teeth and poor school performance. To such conclusions at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition, it was observed that kids with unhealthy teeth worse adapted to the social environment. That is why American dentists urge parents as soon as possible to begin preventive examinations of children and the first time show a child a doctor at age one. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says that 90% of early preventive examination at the dentist - the key to successful life of a child in the future.

Oral contraceptives prolong life

This is the conclusion, scientists from Britain, who for 40 years, watched two groups of women. One of them took oral contraceptives for at least four years, the other - did not take at all.

It was found that women who chose to defend themselves against unwanted pregnancy with pills, it is much less likely to suffer PMS and pain during menstruation. But most importantly, in those taking contraceptives by 12% was lower mortality, significantly reduced the risk of cancer (except breast cancer) and all kinds of disease, ranging from phlebitis and ending with a heart attack and stroke.

Value of the investigation, according to researchers - in the duration of observation and understanding of the long-term effects.

Spring avitaminosis

Winter has passed, came the long-awaited spring. Nature wakes up, and with it, and our bodies. But spring - a time when the need to take care of your health. After all, comes spring avitaminosis. Lack of vitamin in our body leads to weakness, loss of strength, all the while feeling sleepy, falling efficiency. All this leads to frequent colds. In this case, we can recommend a belt made of wool . They have good help in various diseases.

In order to avoid vitamin deficiency should diversify their diet, eat more vegetables, herbs and fruits. Fruits and vegetables should be varied, since all products have their vitamins.

First of all our body does not have enough vitamin C, so you need to have more oranges or sauerkraut. Vitamin A is also considered one of the most important. But you should know that this vitamin alone poorly absorbed in our body, so it must be used together with vitamin E. Vitamin A rich carrots. In order to vitamin A digestion in your body must use carrots with sour cream, mayonnaise or vegetable oil.

Very useful as fruit juices and vegetable juices. If you add a spoonful of honey juice, it will be very good, because honey contains a large amount of useful substances. Large amount of vitamin found in germinated grains of beans, peas and wheat. For the prevention of beriberi can be used shipovnikovy tea as rose is very rich in vitamins such as A, E, C, K, P, B2.