Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 8-27-21

Health
Depression
Weight gain and even obesity are among the possible physical side effects. People with this mood disorder 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 condition also could do it. Talk to your doctor or a therapist if you feel depressed.
Sleep Apnea
With this serious condition, your airway regularly cuts off breathing for a few seconds in your sleep. Being overweight or obese is one cause of sleep apnea, but it can also be a symptom. The condition could make you more likely to have liver problems, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Your doctor might suggest a CPAP breathing machine or other treat- ments.
Hypothyroidism
You may start packing on the pounds if your thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, stops making enough hor- mones. It also could thin your hair, dry your skin, and make you feel colder, tired, constipated, and even depressed. A simple blood test can confirm if your hormone levels are low, and arti- ficial hormones can help you feel better.
Steroids
Your doctor might call them corticosteroids. You can use them to treat asthma, some types of arthritis, and other conditions. The higher the dose and the longer you take steroids, the more likely they are to make you extra hun- gry! That could lead to overeating and weight gain. Talk to your doc- tor about how best to manage the side effects of your steroid treat- ment.
Insomnia
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.
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. Together, you can ad- just your treatment for better health.
Menopause
Less estrogen menopause can put more fat around your belly. But less hor- mones 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 exer- cise. If you’re already sleep de- prived and depressed, you might reach for a candy bar instead of making a nutritious meal. Your doctor can suggest ways to help with your symptoms.
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