Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 9-6-19

Health
HYPOTHYROIDISM
You may start packing on the pounds if your thyroid, a small, but- terfly-shaped gland in your neck, stops making enough hormones. It also could thin your hair, dry your skin, and make you feel colder, tired, constipated, and even de- pressed. A simple blood test can confirm if your hormone levels are low, and artificial hormones can help you feel better.
DIABETES
Depending on the type, you can treat diabetes with a mix of diet, ex- ercise, insulin, and medication. In- sulin helps your body use energy. But it also makes it easier for your body to store the energy, which often can lead to weight gain.
DEPRESSION
Weight gain and even obesity are among the possible physical side effects. People with this mood dis- order often have higher levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol, which may cause fat to gather around your belly. Or you may pack on the pounds because you feel too down to eat right or exercise. Certain medications used to treat the condi- tion also could do it. Talk to your doctor or a therapist if you feel de- pressed.
People who get less than 6 hours of shut-eye a night tend to have more body fat. About 8 hours is the sweet spot for keeping the weight off. Lack of sleep can cause your body to make too much of the hormones cortisol and insulin, which can add pounds. It also can mess up the hormones that signal hunger and make you crave food, especially those loaded with fat and sugar.
MENOPAUSE
Less estrogen during menopause can put more fat around your belly. But less hormones isn’t the only cause. Hot flashes, sleep problems, and moodiness linked to the end of a woman’s fertility may get in the way of healthy eating and exercise. If you’re already sleep de- prived and depressed, you might reach for a candy bar instead of making a nutritious meal. Your doc- tor can suggest ways to help with your symptoms.
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
It’s when your heart doesn’t pump hard enough. Sudden weight gain -- 2-3 pounds in a day or more than 5 pounds a week -- could mean it’s getting worse. You also might have swollen feet and ankles, a faster pulse, heavy breathing, high blood pressure, memory loss, and confusion. You might want to track these symptoms so you can tell your doctor about abrupt changes. To- gether, you can adjust your treat- ment for better health.
INSOMNIA
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B