How stress hurts women
Reported May 31, 2009
“Stress can be reduced if the person is educated to see things in a different perspective. A proper diet can solve so many problems. Regular exercise and regular check-ups are a must. Also, plan for the future.
Increase in stress levels is triggering a new alert over gynaecological problems in women, young and old.
Says Ria Jaiswal, who has two daughters, My 14-year-old daughter and most of her friends complain of some gynaecological problem or the other. There are only two reasons that I can see for this: in earlier times one was not aware, medically, of such issues or todays lifestyle and its stresses have led to problems starting early where women are concerned.
Bangalore-based Dr Deepa Shetty says, Most health issues that women face today are gynaecological. They are falling prey to diseases such as fibroids, polycystic ovaries and endometriosis. Some of these diseases do have genetic and biological reasons, but recent studies show psychological and environmental causes. Fast-paced life, undesirable eating habits, smoking, bearing children at a later age and stress are some of the reasons these problems are becoming more predominant in younger women today.”
Dr Kiran, a Mumbai-based general physician points out, The most common gynaecological issue for women starts from puberty painful menstruation and continues right up to menopause. There is also PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome with its attendant discomfort, which, in turn, triggers stress. How does one tackle this? Dr Kiran says women need to remind themselves that this is an ongoing process and accept it. Eating right, exercise and meditation could help one tackle the pain and the stress.
She has some other suggestions too that could help. Women should, as far as possible, indulge themselves during such times so they feel less irritated and unhappy, she says. It also helps to keep family and friends in the support loop.
Tell them you feel edgy and snappy because you are having a tough time of it. She adds, Make sure you relax on these days and dont diet or exercise, whatever trainers or dieticians might say. And see your gynaecologist immediately if you think you have a problem, she stresses.
Dr Rakesh Sinha, a surgeon, says interacting with his patients has given him insight into the problems women face, such as: major adjustment issues, for example, bearing the brunt of raising children while husbands are themselves struggling in very stressful jobs. Another reason could be the fact that most women are, today, having children at a much older age, something not healthy for a woman or her uterus. Also, when a couple works, stress levels multiply leading to many other medical problems. He advises how to combat this problem: Even stress can be reduced if the person is educated to see things in a different perspective. A proper diet can solve so many problems, being underweight or overweight leads to problems like late menstruation, early labour and premature deliveries, so going on crash diets or avoiding fats and other nutrients completely is not advisable. Regular exercise and regular check-ups are a must. Also, plan for the future.
Dietician Naini Setalvad offers some tips on eating right: Portion size is very important for a woman to be healthy. There is no good or bad food. Complex carbohydrates like Indian lentils are high in protein. Simple carbohydrates are the ones difficult to burn. Skimmed milk, diet with no butter and saturated fat is ideal. Thus, healthy eating, exercise and a stress-free lifestyle are particularly important for womens health.
