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Moving Toward Better Nutrition by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher During the latter part of February, our article took a look at lifestyle and nutritional advice for improving cardiovascular health.   That story was intended as a logical transition between the earlier February heart health article, and our March topic, which focuses solely on nutrition for overall improved health.   Hopefully, regular readers of this blog have had a chance to catch both stories. Now that we’ve taken a peek at nutrition targeted for cardiovascular health during late February and early March, we’ll next focus on maximizing our nutritional intake for overall superior health and use the rest of March to investigate that topic. To begin our investigation, the following article will take a “bird’s eye view” of nutrition, looking at several different areas and making specific recommendations for each one.   Then, check back with this blog around March 23,...

“Affairs of the Heart” Part 2 by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher In our first installment of “Affairs of the Heart” we looked at the symptoms of different types of serious cardiovascular ailments.   Of course, we’d all prefer never to get to a crisis situation, and to work toward that goal, in this second installment of our heart health story, we’ll look at some life factors that we can control to improve our odds of keeping a healthy cardiovascular system.   We’ll examine some dietary cautions, as well as sleep concerns, and exercise. Nutrition Tips and Supplement Information: Instead of embarking on a formal “diet”, consider how many small, daily tweaks you can make to your food intake to improve nutrition and cardiovascular health.   A few suggestions are listed below.             •   Add a side of fresh fruit or cooked (or fresh) vegetables to your main cou...

Affairs of the Heart (Part 1) by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher             February is Heart Health Month, and as such, is the perfect time to address “affairs of the heart” in all their myriad types.   Some types of heart health factors, such as diet and exercise, are well known and often discussed.   Other aspects of heart health, including stress levels, personal relationships, sleep quality, and life satisfaction “ratings” are addressed less often and are too frequently downplayed as minor influences on cardiovascular health, when in fact, these issues can be major players in the game of heart attack and stroke prevention.             All of the above listed heart health factors will be addressed this month, but first, let’s take a look at the warning signs of heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation so that we ca...

Assistance for Anxiety Disorders by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher This article is the third and final installment in a three-part series of stories concerning anxiety and depression.   This piece focuses on anxiety and some of the measures people can take in their daily lives to alleviate symptoms and improve outcomes in dealing with this common disorder.               We begin this mental health story by looking at a few basic facts.   According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting millions of adults, aged 18 years or older.   The true number of persons afflicted is probably unknown due to uncounted sufferers who don’t seek medical help and due to individuals who seek only natural solutions to their problems and thereby, are not noted in any type of medical records. ...

Take a Closer Look at Depression by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to read and think about the December 2017 article concerning anxiety and depression.  That story, which was the first of a three-part series on the conditions, focused on recent news briefs concerning anxiety and depression.  Now, with part 2 of the series, we’ll look more deeply at the details of depression.             Depression affects the whole person, including the body in general, the nervous system in particular, as well as moods, thoughts, and behaviors.  Depression creates effects in eating and sleeping patterns, self-concept, and a person’s reactions to the people and events in his/her environment.             Depressive symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years.  There are several types of depression with...

Everyday Help for Anxiety and Depression By Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, especially among women.  Each condition is worthy of its own article and will get one in the upcoming few weeks, but first, let’s begin our investigation of anxiety and depression by taking a look at some of the recent news pertaining to these two conditions.  Then, in January, we’ll dive deeper into each condition with more in-depth information. Recent News about Anxiety and Depression :             •  There really are good reasons for adult coloring books; they are not just a fad.  Among other benefits, coloring produces relaxing alpha brain waves, which can cut stress in half in 10 minutes, thereby relieving feelings of anxiety.  The repetitive motion and fine motor control needed to color...

by Darra McMullen, Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher The topic of diabetes is a large, multifaceted health issue with physical, emotional, and financial ramifications for the U.S. and the world.  For the purposes of this article, we’ll take a peek at some of the many ways we as individuals can help prevent the disease from starting or can help treat diabetes if it is already present.             Shortly, we’ll look at a number of ways we can help ourselves to escape diabetes’ grip, but first, let’s examine some of the latest scientific studies that give us new clues about reducing diabetes risk and/or more successfully treating the disease if it is currently affecting ourselves or our loved ones. Recent Scientific Studies:             •  The first and perhaps most interesting study hails from the Netherlands, where researchers found that peo...