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A Consequence of Modern Day Living – Burnout

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 07:10:28 +0000

This is often how people unknowingly express the sensation of burnout. It is widely known that burnout is closely linked with stress, but it is much more than simply being tired, and it is often the case that the seriousness of burnout is overlooked.

HIGHLIGHTS

It possible to prevent burnout?
Burnout can happen to anyone and everyone
Burnout should not be underestimated

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m exhausted”, or “I’m dead tired”? This is often how people unknowingly express the sensation of burnout. It is widely known that burnout is closely linked with stress, but it is much more than simply being tired, and it is often the case that the seriousness of burnout is overlooked.

Let us then ask the questions that need to be asked when talking about the subject of burnout. Is it possible to prevent burnout? How do we know when we have been exposed to either too much – positive or negative stress? How can we change our lifestyles accordingly to make the meaningful and sustained change to make ourselves more immune to burnout?

Stress is perception based

It is primarily our perception or evaluation of something that determines whether or not we become stressed. If we perceive an object to be too challenging or potentially dangerous in some way, the “flight” type of emotional and mental reactions surface, eventually influencing the body – this is the route of negative stress. If something is challenging enough and we deem the odds of success leading to a potential opportunity in our favour, the “fight” type of emotional and mental reactions occur, and we experience positive stress.

Regardless of the polarity of stress (positive or negative), biochemically your body reacts in the same way. Whenever our subconscious autopilot system detects a stressor, adrenaline and cortisol are released from our adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys. Our blood pressure rises, our muscles tense, heart rate elevates, and digestion is inhibited, all preparing us to either fight or take flight. We all have experienced this feeling, like a sudden rush. However, being constantly exposed to prolonged episodes of stress impacts the health of our body and reinforces unhealthy patterns mentally as well as emotionally. It can weaken the immune system, cause more regular mood swings, and can manifest as if being ‘on the ashes’, ultimately resulting in burnout.

However, whether it is a one-time major life event (think of a tsunami), or the constant day-to-day sub-threshold sensation of being ‘stressed’ (think minor but regular waves), at one point you’ll reach your breaking point where the stress reaction gives way to exhaustion, resulting in the sensations of feeling burnt out.

I can handle everything – Always! Burnout usually works in either of the two ways, more frequently as a manifestation of chronic stress, or the result of one sudden life-changing event. Because burnout is closely linked with increasing stress, you may already assume that this isn’t a result of one single event but is rather a question of lifestyle choices and skills to handle the inner turmoil that gets triggered by certain events.

Burnout can happen to anyone and everyone, however, there are certain types of people more prone than others. Those who are success or achievement oriented, so-called “career” people, managers and entrepreneurs tend to be more susceptible. They are the people who seem capable of anything. These sorts of people live for their work, strive for success and never switch off.

They are burdened with numerous to-do lists and they check their work emails on a Sunday. They are always on the go and find it difficult taking time out. They validate themselves based on their achievements and getting things done. Even during their vacation, they feel the need to be on the go, filling their days with planned activities and engagements. The bigger picture is very often completely lost; they just don’t seem to be able to stop the lifestyle of ‘busyness’.

When you look at that description you may notice that these people seem invincible, they don’t seem to complain and seem to be able to manage everything. However, their lives are filled with dangerous amounts of positive stress or eustress. Of course, this positive stress feels good in the beginning and is indeed useful because it helps to get things done and achieve goals. However, in positive stress ‘mobilizing us for action’ means the constant release of adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands – the stress hormones.

From the perspective of burnout, it is irrelevant whether the events that lead to the need to mobilize are “positive” or “negative” and if this lifestyle becomes habitual, it can quickly lead to near addiction because one adrenaline rush primes the craving for another. Negative stress is not a problem because everyone already avoids it due to its association with negative feelings. Most of the cases of burnout today are caused by people “riding the wave” of positive stress because people do not expect it to be dangerous – on the contrary, it is almost actively encouraged and often glorified.

Lifestyle Changes – No Easy Way Out

It is very much the common and accepted prevailing attitude of our modern working world that it’s perfectly normal to be “stressed”. It is no wonder then that more and more of us are facing burnout.

In order to prevent or recover from burnout, we must adjust our whole lifestyle. Already the term “lifestyle” suggests that this is not just a minor phenomenon that can be simply fixed with a few good night’s sleep or a vacation. This is not a bacterial infection that can be cured by taking a few pills and then rushing back to our “normal” life where stress reaction is considered inevitable. It is this attitude that is what really needs changing leading to skills that help in handling reactions.

One must consider both the physical and psychological sides, understanding that psychological arousal leads to a stress reaction in the physical body. It’s not just about reassessing values, setting priorities or time management. The most crucial elements to address are the chronic emotional and mental reactions.

What can be done to prevent burnout from taking hold? By educating ourselves on how we function internally will help us further understand the problems associated with burnout. This will help you make better and more informed choices for yourself.

Learning relaxation exercises, in particular stress relieving breathing exercises will also help, but in essence it’s already alleviating a consequence caused by a reaction. It is important to take time out during our busy days to just sit and simply be. It seems obvious, but many of us feel guilty for investing in sufficient leisure time. Make it a point to put aside a certain time each week to do that thing you have been meaning to do, make good on that promise to meet a friend, do something with your loved ones, or do something entirely for yourself. Just make sure you do it. Making sure we are getting 7-9 hours per night of continuous quality sleep can make all the difference in how we think and feel.

Finally, try consulting a competent specialist, psychiatrist, psychologist, nutrition therapist, fitness trainer, or a yoga teacher to guide you in all directions – physical, emotional, mental, conscious and the self. Seek a solution that enables you to release automatic emotional reactions. You have found an effective method when the same situations do not trigger the reaction that was previously the problem.

CONCLUSION

Burnout should not be underestimated or downplayed as a mere side effect of modern day living. In understanding the physiological effects, we see just how dangerous burnout can be in the long-term. By implementing a lifestyle adjustment will ensure that burnout is prevented, however learning to discontinue emotional reactions that lead to stimulation of the adrenal glands is the key. Learning intra-personal skills and training awareness will naturally expand your understanding in many other areas of life, helping to transition from dealing with problematic consequences to skillfully creating your own destiny.

About the author

Dr. Helena Lass is a psychiatrist specialising in mental wellness and the founder of Wellness Orbit. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, medicine, functioning of the mind and the role of awareness in each of these areas. As a medical doctor, she has been treating patients for over 10 years. She is a well-known and highly sought-after public speaker on the topics of awareness and mental wellness.

The post A Consequence of Modern Day Living – Burnout appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

HEALTHY DIET TIPS FOR MOMS

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 06:35:15 +0000

Healthy Diet for Moms-to-be

Eat well, be well during pregnancy

By Samya Athamneh, International Dietician

Congratulations, you are pregnant. However, if you are like most women, who have concerns running through your mind, how can I eat healthy for both my baby and my self? In addition, how can I gain the right amount of weight so that it does not take me until my child is in preschool to fit back into my jeans again?

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Between cravings and morning sickness, eating well during pregnancy may not always be a piece of cake. However, prenatal nutrition is a serious business. It is necessary for you and your baby’s growth, brain development, reduced risk of birth defects and a strong immune system. Since it is not how much, but what you eat that makes the difference, here is how the healthy pregnancy diet can help. During pregnancy, the body requires extra calorie, protein, vitamins, mineral in order to support the baby’s growth and to allow for changes in mothers body.

Important considerations in pregnancy

The extra food you eat should not be just empty calories, it should provide the nutrients your growing baby needs. For example, calcium help makes bones and teeth strong, while you are pregnant; you still need calcium for your body plus extra calcium for the developing baby. Similarity, you require the all-essential nutrients than you did before become pregnant.

Here are some of the most common nutrients you need and the foods that contain it:

Nutrient Needed	Needed for	Best sources
Protein	Cell growth and development	Lean meat, fish, poultry, egg white,beans, peanut butter, tofu
Carbohydrate	Daily energy production	Breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, pasta
Calcium	Strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction/nerves function	Milk, cheese, yogurt, sardines with edible bone, spinach, okra
Iron	Red blood cell production / needed to prevent anaemia	Lean red meat, spinach, iron fortified cereals, nuts, dried fruits
Vitamin A	Healthy skin, good eye sight, growing bones	Carrot, dark green leafy vegetable,potatoes
Vitamin C	Healthy gums, teeth and bones, assistance iron absorption	Citrus fruit, broccoli, tomato, fruit juices
Vitamin B6	Red blood cell formation effective use of protein, fat and carbohydrate	Whole grain cereals, banana
Vitamin B12	Formation of red blood cell, maintain nervous system health	Meat, fish, poultry, milk
Vitamin D	Healthy bones and teeth, aid in calcium absorption	Fortified milk, dairy product, cereals,fish, sardines
Folic acid	Blood and protein production/effective enzyme function	Green leafy vegetables, dark yellow fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, peas

Food craving during pregnancy

Food craving during pregnancy is normal. Although there is no widely accepted explanation for food cravings, almost two thirds of all pregnant women have it. If you develop sudden urge for a certain food, go and indulge your craving, it provides energy or an essential nutrient. However, if your craving persists and prevents you form getting other essential nutrients in your diet; try to create more of a balance in your daily diet.

During pregnancy your tastes for certain foods may change, you may suddenly dislike foods you were fond of before your pregnancy. In addition, during pregnancy, some women feel strong urges to eat non-food items such as ice, laundry starch, dirt, chalks, ashes, paint chips, clay.

This is called pica and may be associated with a mineral deficiency like anaemia. Do not give in to theses non-food cravings; they can be harmful to both you and your baby.

Foods to avoid

Some foods make you and your baby sick, avoid these foods as they can cause food poisoning or certain harmful diseases.
• Raw fish, especially shellfish
• Soft scrambled egg and food made from raw or lightly cooked eggs
• Un-pasteurized juices
• Un-pasteurized milk and foods made from it
• Herbal supplements and teas
• Raw or uncooked meat, poultry, seafood and hotdog
• Never eat non-food items like clay , starch, coffee grounds
• Avoid alcohol during pregnancy; alcohol has been linked to premature delivery, mental retardation, birth defects and low birth weight babies
• Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tile fish (also called white snapper), because they contain high levels of mercury.

What to eat and when

During pregnancy, you may have morning sickness, diarrhoea or constipation, you may find it hard to keep foods down or you may feel too sick to eat at all. Here are some suggestions:
Morning sickness: Eat crackers, cereal or pretzel before getting out of bed, eat small frequent meals throughout the day and avoid fatty, fried, and grassy foods.
Constipation: Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, drink six glasses of water.
Diarrhoea: Eat more foods that contain pectin and gums to help absorb excess water such as apple, applesauce, banana, white rice, oatmeal, boiled potatoes.
Heartburn: Eat small frequent meals throughout the day. Try drinking milk before eating and limit caffeinated foods and beverages like tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks.

Unveiling myths with reality

Pregnancy produces a host of physiological and emotional changes in women. Advice seems to pour in from all sources, well-meaning friends, family member, and colleague at work and even perfect strangers tend to comment on a pregnant woman’s health. In the face of often-contradictory advice, especially concerning ones diet, it may be hard for a mum to achieve a comfortable and healthy balance. Eating a healthy diet is one of the most important things any pregnant women can do to enhance her health as well as the health of her baby. Here are some nutrition myths followed by information to get you and your baby off to a good start.

Myth#1: You are eating for two

In reality, you are eating for one plus one very small being. Most women only need to consume an extra 300 calories per day. Far from being a tome to overindulge, pregnancy is a time to eat sensibly and healthily. The suggested weight gain during the pregnancy is approximately 24-35 pounds (10-15 kg). However, this weight may vary depending upon each mother-to-be, pregnancy weight and the number of babies she is carrying. An under weight woman may gain up to 40 pounds, while an overweight woman may be asked to gain just 15 pounds, your doctor will specify an appropriate weight gain for your height and body build.

Myth#2: Eat low carbohydrate, high protein diet

In reality, weight loss diet, high protein – low carbohydrate, is not recommended during pregnancy. According to the daily food guide pyramid, grains, fruits and vegetables should compromise more of your diet than the meat groups. In fact, 2-3 servings of protein are required each day for pregnant women. This is easily achieved by consuming an egg/ 2-3 oz of poultry or meat/ ½ cup of dried beans or peas in the course of one day. Extra calories consumed during pregnancy should be evenly distributed among five major food groups.

Myth#3: Pregnancy induced high blood pressure caused by too much salt

In reality, pregnancy induced high blood pressure is due to a variety of physiological changes in the body during pregnancy and is therefore not treated the same way as hypertension in non pregnant adults. Moderation is the key. While overindulging in processed foods, typically containing too much salt would be unhealthy, eliminating salt and consuming no salt or low sodium specific food will be inappropriate. Aim to get 6 grams of sodium as a table salt in your foods every day.

Myth#5: It is better to rely on vitamins rather than ones diet during pregnancy

In reality, Vitamin should never be a substitute for a healthy diet, while most obstetrician and midwives will prescribe a multivitamin for their patients, these vitamins are intended to supplement and not replace a sensible diet. The best sources of vitamin and minerals may be found in their naturally state as they are better absorbed and are accompanied by their other nutrients such as protein or fiber.

Myth#4: Now that you are pregnant, it is a good time to start thinking about folic acid and B complex vitamins

In reality, Folic acid is particularly important in the first days and weeks of fatal formation, for this reason it is recommended that women take multivitamin before becoming pregnant to ensure they have adequate folic acid during the early development of the baby’s brain and spina bifida. Optimal folic acid consumption should continue through out pregnancy and in every woman’s diet during the childbearing years. Beside vitamins, excellent sources of B complex vitamin include orange juice, beans, citrus fruit, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains.

Dietary guide

In order to achieve a well balanced healthy adequate nutrition during pregnancy, you should cover the daily allowances from the different criteria of food on a daily basis as following:

Nutrient	Food allowances per day
Milk	2-3 cup
Meat/fish/poultry(liver once a week) cooked weight	4 oz
Vegetables including: Dark green leafy or deep yellow Potato Other vegetables	½ cup 1 medium ½ to 1 cup
ruits including: Citrus Apples or other fruit	1 serving = 1 fruit 1 serving = 1 fruit
Cereals enriched or whole grain As pasta/rice/macaroni	3 Serving (1 Serving to ½ to 1 cup)
Bread, enriched or whole grain	4 slices (2 in the morning as breakfast / 2 for dinner and keep 1 slice as a snack in between )
Vegetables oil	4-5 teaspoons
Vitamin D supplement or use fortified milk Iodized salt	400 IU ( consult your doctor) 5-7 grams per day
Eggs	3 eggs per week

Repeatedly, it has been emphasized that reduced nutritional intake has a depressing effect on physical development. Malnutrition during the period of rapid brain growth will lead to some neurology impairment. Past studies of nutrition in women during pregnancy have shown a definite relationship of the diet of the mother and the condition of baby at birth.

To protect your self and your precious baby from any possible complications review your lifestyle and try to change any unpreferable behaviour related to your diet toward the better.

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