Category: Health and Wellness

Do you find yourself feeling down or sluggish when winter comes around? Well, you’re not alone. Many people are impacted by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) each year, around the time fall transitions to winter. SAD is a type of mild depression that can be caused by a decrease in sunlight that offsets your biological clock, a drop in serotonin levels or unbalanced levels of melatonin, which can affect sleep patterns and mood.

Symptoms of SAD include:

• Irritability
• Tiredness or low energy
• Problems getting along with other people
• Hypersensitivity to rejection
• Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
• Oversleeping
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain

However, you don’t have to simply “deal with” these winter blues. MSU Extension offers several ways to help overcome SAD this winter. One thing you can do is manage stress by planning ahead and not taking on too much during these dreary months. Also, try to be mindful and don’t fixate on negative thoughts. Another tip is to exercise and eat healthy. Exercising regularly can relieve stress, improve memory, help you sleep better and boost your mood. Eating the right foods can keep you feeling full longer and give you energy to take on the day. You should also try to participate in activities you enjoy and surround yourself with positive people.

Additionally, there are medical means to combat SAD if your symptoms are more severe. Be sure to consult with your doctor for medical advice.

For more information on SAD and tips to overcome it, visit MSU Extension’s website.

Are you feeling chronically fatigued or sluggish? Have you been sleeping too much? Do you lack mental focus? These symptoms are all linked to hypothyroidism as well as depression. Hypothyroidism is a deficiency in the levels of hormones created by your thyroid gland.

Since the indicators of hypothyroidism and depression are similar, doctors sometimes overlook the possibility that a person who is depressed may have low thyroid levels as well. Although they are two separate diseases, depression can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.

Other hypothyroidism symptoms include:

• Slower heart rate
• Sensitivity to cold
• Joint or muscle pain or cramps
• Low blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Dryness or yellowing of the skin
• Brittle or thick nails
• Swelling in front of the neck
• Hair thinning or loss

Because depression is among the more common symptoms of hypothyroidism, it’s imperative that you have an open dialogue with your physician about both your physical and mental feelings. Once you have your diagnosis, Best Doctors can offer a confidential, expert analysis of your case that will give you the facts you need to make informed decisions about your treatment.

If you think you may have hypothyroidism, or are contending with its symptoms, you should take advantage of this service to focus on the best course of action.

Read the full Best Doctors article to learn more.

There are nearly as many treatments for cancer as there are types of cancer, making it one of the most complex and life-changing diagnoses possible. In addition, cancer has become so common that doctors are often quick to diagnose it and treat the disease as if it is invasive or fast-moving—which is not always the case.

While cancers are alike in some ways, they can differ significantly in many others—including how they grow and spread. Cancer can begin in the lungs, the breasts, the colon or even in the bloodstream. It can stagnate in certain areas of the body or spread through the body, and the spreading can happen slowly or very rapidly.

Cancer can be difficult to diagnose, and misdiagnosis is increasingly common. With treatments that include surgery and radiation therapy, the need for certainty in your diagnosis is imperative before you and your doctor can even determine an appropriate treatment method. Once you have been diagnosed, it is also vital to confirm that you are receiving the appropriate treatment.

This is where your Best Doctors benefit can be so important and useful. After an in-depth review of your medical case by the Best Doctors experts, you will receive a straightforward, easy-to-understand report that either confirms your diagnosis and treatment or recommends a change.

To read the full Best Doctors article on cancer, click here.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many women and men have had, know or lost someone with breast cancer. Although support in the fight against breast cancer remains year-round, October brings attention to the continued fight and serves as a reminder for women to get breast cancer screenings.

Of all the cancers diagnosed in women in the United States, breast cancer is the most common and the second leading cause of cancer death. There is a 1 in 8 chance for a woman to have invasive breast cancer in her life, and a 1 in 37 chance of dying from breast cancer. It is important to recognize that these death rates have been decreasing, largely due to early detection and better treatment.

Finding the cancer early is essential. Women should start to get yearly screenings and mammograms around the age of 45. Be sure to check if your health insurance plan offers free mammography screenings.

You too can join the fight against breast cancer. On Saturday, October 22, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will be taking place at the State Capitol Building. Support the cause and satisfy your sweet tooth with Gwen’s bagels and pink swirl cupcakes from MSU Bakers. With every purchase of the pink, dried cranberry bagels, $1 will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

MSU Human Resources extends its support to all of the fighters and individuals working to find the cure.  

 

 

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily transmitted by deer ticks that affects more than 300,000 North Americans per year. However, because diagnosing Lyme disease can be difficult, many people who actually have Lyme disease may be misdiagnosed with other conditions, and many experts believe the actual number of cases may be much higher.

Lyme disease affects people of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control notes that it is most common in children, older adults, and others such as first responders and forest rangers who spend time engaging in outdoor activities and have higher exposure to ticks.

Because misdiagnosis of Lyme disease is particularly common, the need for a comprehensive approach to your care becomes even greater. If you have flu-like symptoms and other circumstances that could indicate the prospect of Lyme disease, you should be skeptical about any diagnosis and open to the value of a second opinion.

As part of your Best Doctors benefits, an in-depth review of your case by our experts gives you access to a clear, straightforward report that will help you take control of your health care and determine the best approach for your ongoing treatment.

To learn more about the symptoms of Lyme disease and other conditions the disease may be confused with, view the entire Best Doctors article.