Author: Breathe Green

Have you ever wondered if you can be literally scared to death? Fear is a strong emotion and the adrenaline spikes and stress it causes can be harmful to your health. From anxiety to irregular heartbeats, here’s how fear can affect your heart.

Can Fear Cause a Heart Attack?

Fear can trigger the fight or flight response in your body. When you become scared, your adrenal glands respond by releasing the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline is what helps to bring more blood to your muscles and makes your heart beat faster. Adrenaline also brings calcium to your heart to help keep your muscles contracted. This can cause an irregular heartbeat. If you’re feeling scared, anxious, or stressed, the release of adrenaline, can put you more at risk of a deadly irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. While your 5-year-old jumping out of a tree can scare you, this likely won’t directly cause a heart attack. Prolonged stress on your heart caused by too much adrenaline and an irregular heartbeat can, however.

Signs of a Heart Attack

There are some common heart attack signs to watch for if you’re experiencing any symptoms. Tightness in your chest that spreads to your neck, back, or jaw, cold sweats, and shortness of breath are all common signals. You may also feel dizzy, lightheaded, and tired. Abdominal pain and nausea may also occur.

Managing Fear and Anxiety

To help prevent a heart attack and unnecessary stress on your heart, it’s imperative to manage your stress and fears. Getting regular exercise, sleep, and time outdoors, can all help to reduce your stress levels. Being well-rested can also help you feel more prepared to tackle your anxiety. Meditation and yoga practice may also help you cope with daily fear. If possible, seek professional help if you’re feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

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IBS or irritable bowel syndrome can be a painful and debilitating condition. IBS is described as painful constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Not only can IBS irritate your gut but it can also take a toll on your mood and mental health.

This guide will discuss the link between your brain and your gut and how managing your stress levels may be able to give you some much-needed relief.

Learn how your mental state can trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response and the physical stress of IBS.

The Link Between Your Brain And Your Gut

New studies show that emotional stress may actually make your IBS symptoms worse. That’s because your body is made up of cells and nerves. These nerves run from your brain through the rest of your body including your intestines and your stomach.

Through this network of nerves, your stomach and your brain are constantly talking to each other. When you are feeling content, happy, and well-rested, for example, you’ll feel better in your gut. When you feel stressed, angry, or anxious, you’ll feel these negative emotions in your gut as well.

IBS And The Fight-Or-Flight Response

Stress in your body will trigger a fight-or-flight reaction. When you’re stressed, your hormones start gushing. Your nervous system will react and stop digestion to keep danger at bay.

When your digestion slows down, you will start to feel abdominal pain and gastrointestinal problems.

Changing The Way You Think Can Help Your IBS

If you can find ways to keep your stress levels down, you may also see an improvement in your IBS pain and symptoms.

The less you trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response, the less likely you will see that painful slowdown of your digestive system.

Relaxation, mindful meditation, yoga, time outdoors, and physical activity, can all help you keep your stress levels down. With less stress and less anxiety, you may see a big improvement in your IBS symptoms.

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One of the most important things you can do for your immune system is to sleep. Without the proper amount of rest, your immune system won’t be able to fight off infections or heal. To help keep your body as healthy as possible, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about your immune system and the power of sleep.

Sleep is Critical to Your Immune System

With the COVID-19 pandemic, stress levels are at an all-time high. This can cause a lot of sleepless nights. With more families staying home together, kids and work have been thrown significantly out of whack. If you’re not able to get the rest you need, your body will have a harder time fighting off infection. You also increase your risk of developing inflammation and chronic illness.

Tips for Getting More Sleep

According to the CDC, one in three Americans doesn’t get enough sleep. When you don’t sleep, your body can’t restore itself and function as it should. To help get some more shut-eye, consider turning off your screens 30-minutes before bed. Create a calming bedtime routine that can consist of reading, stretching, or taking a bath or shower. Avoid eating or drinking right before bed and resist the urge to grab your phone if you can’t fall asleep. Listen to soothing white noise, or practice some mindful meditation.

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Sleep is essential to keeping your body running as it should. Deep sleep is the time your body uses to fight infection. When you lack sleep, you’re not giving your immune system the time it needs to work its magic. Not getting enough sleep can also affect your recovery time. To help your body fight infection, aim to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Remember to unplug and create a restful bedtime routine for a better night’s sleep.

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It’s no secret that loneliness is a problem that plagues people from all over the world. From those living alone to individuals suffering from depression to the people all over the country currently sheltering in place to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus, the melancholy feeling of being all alone is not to be taken lightly. As it turns out, there’s now research that proves this.

According to Copenhagen University Hospital’s lead researcher Anne Vinggaard Christensen, loneliness is an especially serious issue for heart patients: it brings an increased risk of death in the year that follows a hospitalization. The Danish heart scientist explains that this isn’t the first study to confirm this, either: “This study confirms what has also been indicated in previous research regarding the serious health consequences of loneliness,” she explained.

The doctors at Copenhagen University Hospital began by looking at 13,400 heart patients who were hospitalized and questioning them about their physical and psychological health, quality of life, and anxiety and depression levels. While the research isn’t enough to prove loneliness can cause death, it goes to show that there is an undeniable connection between them. Christensen argues that “loneliness should be considered a serious risk factor in patients with cardiac disease and should be included in risk evaluation of patients.”

George Mason University’s department of psychology professor emeritus James Maddux explained this phenomenon simply: “This study adds to the growing research on the perils of social isolation among people in general and among older adults over 60 in particular.” Lonely people are stressed, which lowers immune function. Combine this with unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, laziness, and lack of self-care that are typical of lonely or isolated individuals and you have a recipe for disaster — even more so with any recently hospitalized heart patients.

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If you’ve recently experienced a sudden increase in weight but haven’t made any major changes to your diet, your medication may be to blame. When you start taking a new medication, there is usually a whole host of side effects you may experience. For many drugs, weight gain in an unfortunate yet not uncommon one.

How Drugs Influence Weight

There are a handful of ways the medication may affect weight. Some kinds, such as beta-blockers, slow down metabolism while others, such as antidepressants, increase appetite. It’s also possible for certain types of medication to increase fluid retention or fat storage. Determining the cause and what you can do about it requires attention from a medical professional. Don’t stop taking your medication because you suspect it’s the reason behind those extra pounds.

Medications Associated With Weight Gain

There are eight types of medication people often report as weight gain being a side effect. So, if you take any of the following and have gained weight, it may be why.

• Antipsychotics
  • Diabetes drugs
  • Opioids
  • Blood-pressure medications
  • Anti-depressants/anti-anxiety
  • Antihistamines
  • Anti-seizure/nerve-pain drugs
  • Steroids

Keep in mind that weight gain is not a guaranteed side effect of these medications; not all drugs within these medication categories are associated with weight gain, either. The effects vary from person to person, with some individuals reporting no weight gain at all and others a significant increase in pounds.

What To Do

If you suspect your medication is making you gain weight, the first thing you should do is consult with your doctor. Refusing to take the medication could be extremely dangerous to your health. Your doctor can help you determine whether your weight fluctuation may be attributed to your drug and possibly suggest an alternative drug.

In some situations, it may be necessary to increase physical activity or make some moderations to your diet. Sometimes simply understanding and identifying the reason behind your weight gain can help bring you peace of mind.

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When we think of fast food, most of us know it isn’t the healthiest option. But, it might shock you to know that some choices are downright dangerous. Nevertheless, when your lifestyle is hectic and you want to grab something quick to eat, fast food can be a logical option. So, we’re helping you out by highlighting three items you should definitely avoid, as advised by nutritionists speaking to The Healthy.

Burritos: A survey conducted a few years ago by Moe’s Southwest Grill discovered that 72 per cent of millennial respondents ate two to three burritos in a week. They are filling, contain salad and protein, but sadly are also packed full of salt, which is bad for blood pressure. Burritos also contain artery-clogging saturated fat, and calorific simple carbohydrates that would take significant gym time to burn off. “The burritos at Chipotle are a humongous calorie bomb,” said clinical registered dietician Alicia Romano. The portion sizes – even ‘small’ options – are much bigger than health organizations’ recommended portions. And that’s without added sides and sauces!

Muffins: It’s easy to grab a muffin for breakfast on your way to work. Or it might be a spur-of the-moment extra with your coffee order. Because they’re healthy, right? “Bran, matcha, and chai are buzzy words that people immediately associate as being healthy,” said registered dietician Ilana Muhlstein. But sadly they aren’t. Baked goods, including all sorts of muffins, contain lots of saturated fat, not to mention different sugars, including fruit sugars, which can lead to diabetes and weight gain.

Frappuccino: There’s no denying Frappuccinos are delicious, but drinks such as these sneakily pack a tonne of sugar into your diet. “If you buy a tall hazelnut Frappuccino at Starbucks, you can drink it in under five minutes with a complete lack of satiation,” says Ilana. “It has 45 grams of carbohydrates, it’s purely added sugar and artificial ingredients.” So sadly, it neither fills you up, nor provides nutrients.

But worry not: you can still enjoy all these things, with a little extra planning and a few simple tweaks. Homemade burritos using a small tortilla, packed with avocado, grilled chicken and low fat yoghurt only take five minutes to make (if the chicken is cooked beforehand). Or, opt for a burrito-style salad from the menu instead, holding the fatty sauces and croutons.

Find a recipe for some yam-based muffins, which are lower in carbs, and bake them with blueberries to add sugar. Batch-cook them for the freezer, then simply grab one before you leave for work and blast for a minute in the microwave while you make your coffee.

Most coffee places offer lighter alternatives that are just as delicious. For example, you could try Starbucks’ shaken iced teas, or the nitro cold brew with caramel foam.

Until then, we wish you happy, healthy eating!

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Sleep & Snoring

Snoring and Sleep apnea are both signs of heart disease. Because they both cause interruptions in breathing, they cause extra stress on the heart. In most cases snoring is just annoying and loud, but if it causes disruption in your breathing for moments at a time, then it can be directly linked to heart disease. Sleep apnea varies in severity; it can cause inconsistencies in breathing and wakes you up gasping for air. If it is in the form of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a disorder which is directly correlated with obesity, it is caused by weight pressing down on the chest, obstructing air flow.

Sexual Function

Issues regarding sexual function are considered an early sign of heart problems. The issue is caused by a lack of proper blood flow to the genitals. This presents itself differently for men and women. In women it can result in a lack of interest in sex, dissatisfaction in sexual encounters, and a decrease in the frequency of sex. In men, it also includes erectile dysfunction.

Puffy Legs & Feet

A lack of proper blood flow to the legs and feet can cause localized swelling. This is most noticeable at the end of the day because gravity causes the blood to pool in the lower extremeties over the course of the day. When blood pools in the legs and feet it can lead to clots forming, which can block bloodflow to the heart.

Persistent Cough

A persistent cough can be a symptom of a cold and bronchitis. But if it does not go away over time, it can mean there is fluid building up in the lungs. This means that the heart is not pumping effectively, a sign of congestive heart failure. An increase in fluid pressure in the vessels of the lungs can be caused by a backup of blood in the veins that take blood through the lungs.

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In the midst of the COVID-19 global crisis, scammers have found a way to prey on the most vulnerable. From fraudulent emails and to fake testing sites, we’ve rounded up a few of the latest COVID-19 scams to watch out for.

Never Take an Online COVID-19 Test

Beware of one of the latest scams that will come as a text message. According to the Better Business Bureau, you’ll receive a text that orders you to take an online COVID-19 test. There is no way to test online for COVID-19 and the U.S. government will not send you a text message.

Don’t Open an Infected Person List Email

With this scam, you’ll receive an email that says you’ve come in contact with a person infected by COVID-19. You’ll get an email notifying you to download an excel spreadsheet. You’re then instructed to take it with you to the nearest testing facility. Once downloaded, your machine will be infected by a malicious virus.

Fake Small Business Relief Grants

IBM researchers have recently found an email campaign directed at small business owners. These fake emails appear to be from the U.S. Small Business Association. You’ll receive an email prompting you to apply for a small business relief grant. These emails are malicious and do not come from the U.S. government.

Bogus Pop-Up Testing Sites

One tragic scam involves Medicare recipients in Louisville. People were lured to a fake testing site in which people dressed in PPE claiming to test you for COVID-19. The organizers were shut down for stealing personal information to make false Medicaid and Medicare claims.

False Check Claims

In Canada, certain citizens received an email stating that the Canadian Prime Minister was awarding checks. These checks were in exchange for staying home during the COVID-19 quarantine orders. Once recipients opened these emails, their computers were infected with malware.

Stay Vigilant

If you receive a fake text or email during the COVID-19 crisis, let your local Better Business Bureau know. Don’t open these messages or follow any of the prompts. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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With the current world situation, staying healthy is key. One part of your body in dire need of attention is your lungs. If you have lung problems, viruses could have a stronger impact on your well-being. If you’re looking to help protect your lungs, avoid these five products at the supermarket.

Crustacean Shellfish

Popular shellfish such as shrimp, crab, and lobster can make it difficult to breathe after your meal. Fortunately, there is a handful of shellfish that are completely fine to eat, including clams and oysters. Individuals allergic to shellfish should speak to their doctor before trying out the safer alternatives.

Carbonated Beverages

While you might be tempted to stock up on carbonated beverages, these drinks can do more harm than good. Carbonated drinks can increase the risk of asthma. As expected, water is a prime choice for properly quenching your thirst.

Milk

Milk is a strong source of vitamin D, which helps increase lung health. This drink doesn’t sit well with people harboring existing lung problems, though. They can find themselves experiencing prolonged coughing and possible shortness of breath. As a double-edged sword, plain milk can be replaced by various substitutes on the market. Almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk are some of the best replacements.

Fried Foods

Fried foods have been notorious for causing several health problems. That order of fried chicken or French fries can cause issues with breathing. Instead of having fried foods for dinner, try some baked foods instead. Unlike fried foods, baked foods don’t need oil, which aids in obesity and diabetes.

Salt

Salt is one of the most common things added to meals. Unfortunately, people retain salt, which can lead to severe coughing and loss of breath. Instead of using salt, a plethora of herbs and spices, including mint and basil, are there for your consumption.

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Every year, millions of Americans find themselves feeling overtaxed by their financial situation. Every time you check your bank account, more money is being lost to numerous taxes and bills. Unfortunately, the taxes aren’t the only things going up. Financial burden can also increase the risk of a heart attack.

Dressed For Stress

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg conducted a study to determine how connected our heart is to our wallet. 106 people who recently had heart attacks filled out a survey about their financial and mental state. 96% of individuals surveyed were discovered to have stress. 40% of that group discussed having severe stress from financial issues.

It’s Growing Worldwide

With this study, researchers are aware this is becoming a global problem. “There is growing recognition that many developing countries are experiencing an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle such as myocardial infarction, and South Africa is no exception. Our study shows that psychosocial aspects are an area of cardiovascular prevention that deserves more attention,” Professor Pravin Manga said in the study.

Heart attacks don’t give anyone mercy. For those under stress, however, they can hit much harder. “We know that the depressed cardiac patient is at greater risk. We as clinicians need to identify them much earlier, so that they can be referred for appropriate intervention. Cardiac rehabilitation together with counselling and reassurance will play an important role as well,” chairman of the SA Heart 2017 congress Dr. David Jankelow said in the study.

True To Your Heart

While stress is harmful, it’s always important to take care of your heart. When it comes to your diet, make sure to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your daily intake. Aside from foods, it’s also important to exercise daily. Some perfect exercises fit for your heart include running and stretching. Financial situations come and go, but taking care of yourself should always be a top priority.

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