Thursday 20 October 2011

It's that S.A.D. Time of Year Again...


Ahh…the “Winter Blues”. We are all affected by the changes in daylight in one way or another. For some people, a more advanced form of cyclical depression can set in during the months of September to November and last until the early to mid spring months. Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D., appropriately) is recognized by the DSM IV (manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that covers all mental health disorders for both children and adults) and is considered a form of major depressive disorder. The only distinction between S.A.D and other major depressive disorders is the timing of episodes, which occur during the short, dark days of winter.

Common S.A.D. symptoms:

-Depression:
       Low mood, worse than and different from normal sadness
       Negative thoughts and feelings
       Hopelessness
       Withdrawal from friends and family

-Sleep problems:
       The need to sleep more and more often with a tendency to oversleep
       Difficulty staying awake during the day and/or disturbed sleep at night

-Lethargy:
       Fatigue, which can be incapacitating, can make it difficult to carry out normal routines

-Over eating:
       Cravings for carbohydrates and sweet foods as an energy source can lead to weight gain

-Changes in cognitive function:
        Difficulty with concentration and memory

-Social changes:
        Irritability
        Difficulty spending time with people

Anxiety:
        Tension – Everyday stresses may be harder to handle

Other common symptoms include…
         Headaches
         Decreased immune function, making illness and infection more common and prolonged
         Loss of libido – disinterest in sex and other physical contact

S.A.D. is diagnosed after three consecutive winters of suffering with the above symptoms.

Thursday 6 October 2011

A Bun in The Oven AND a Pain in Your Buns!


Expecting a baby can be an exciting time, but it can also be full of new aches and pains for the mommy to be! Back pain is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy, and up to 80% of pregnant women complain of moderate to debilitating back and leg pain. Today’s blog post is going to cover why back and posterior pelvic pain occurs in pregnancy and how the expectant mother can manage this pain and keep herself active throughout her entire pregnancy. 

Dear Baby: why are you making my back hurt!?

Back pain and posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy is related to a number of factors. Some women will experience lower back pain with the onset of pregnancy, while others may not feel these aches until the third trimester. More amazingly, there are some lucky women who will not feel pain at all (and don’t we love them for it!). So, for those of you who DO have pain, what causes it to occur?