Life is filled with challenges of all kinds. All of us encounter a thing or two that troubles us as we get old. Experiencing a trauma is hard at any moment in life, but it hits older adults harder than any other age group. The elderly will feel more grief if they lose someone they love. Other traumas for seniors include moving from their home to a retirement facility, the feeling of loneliness, and various types of stress caused by injuries or disease. What is even worse is that older adults do not cope as well with stress as their younger selves did. Here we are going to talk about how stress and trauma affect elderly adults and how they can handle it with less difficulty.

Seniors and Trauma

Unfortunately these days, the number of seniors exposed to different traumas is much higher than you imagine. According to research conducted by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, between 70% and 90% of seniors older than 65 had at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. This number in the female population stands at 72%. Generally, men are more prone to traumas mostly because of increased participation in wars. Also, post-traumatic stress is an issue which affects anything in the future that is even minorly stressful. Furthermore, the process of aging is stressful by itself, because it involves many changes to a senior’s life.

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Old age is accompanied by the loss of loved ones, weakened physical and mental health, and a change in life environment (moving from home to care facility). The change of residence is often called transitional trauma, and it involves symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, and hopelessness. For many elderly adults, leaving their home is an end to life as they know it. After all, most of them had children and raised them under that roof, creating many memories in the process. Switching living spaces is not easy for anyone.

Seniors and Stress

In most cases, older adults deal with stress and trauma the same way they did in their younger days. When people experience stress at any age, the brain releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin. When the stress passes, the brain stops the release of these hormones. But as people get older, the brain gets slower to stop this release, and these hormones have an adverse effect on overall well-being. They can even cause issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function.

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Strategies to Help

Luckily there are many ways in which older adults can cope with trauma and stress. One of the alternative methods includes practicing mindfulness for healthy living. This method was developed at the University of Southern California, and it is based on meditations. These meditations can be done alone or in a group. By practicing mindfulness, either alone or in a group, older adults can become more social and overcome any trauma. According to various research, meditation is one of the best ways in which an individual can improve its mental health. It is also a recommended treatment when dealing with anxiety and depression.

Other strategies that can also help include:

• Having a positive stance on life. Being positive will impact longevity and overall health.
• Being close and in constant contact with friends and family. Social interaction with loved ones will prevent stress and all diseases associated with it.
• Exercise on a regular basis. Working out is beneficial for both physical and mental health. By exercising, you can slow down the aging process and keep both your body and mind sharper.

In the end, the best thing to do would be to combine all of these. Or to find something that suits your needs and abilities the best.

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There are many older adults that are rendered unable to get out like they used to, and therefore they are disconnected from friends and family. There are over 3.6 million elderly adults who are homebound. Homebound seniors are those who need a massive effort to be able to leave their home or residence. They usually can’t leave their house due to an illness or an injury. Furthermore, they are considered homebound if they only leave home when it is a necessity, and it happens no more than once or twice a weak.

But, luckily, even if you are homebound, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stay connected to friends and family. Thanks to modern devices, such as the motorized scooter, the elderly can handle their chores easier and remain in touch with whomever they want. Also, because technology has advanced to such an extent, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to other people. With internet connection in your home, isolation and loneliness no longer need to be an issue. Below we have listed a few ideas about how using technology can help you stay close to friends and family.

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Learn

In this day and age, it is a must to know how to use a computer or a smartphone. If an elderly adult doesn’t know how to use either of them, they can turn to their children and grandchildren for help. Once they start learning, they will soon realize just how easy it can be. Once they get the basics, the learning process will become a fun activity.

Write Modern Letters

The age of good old paper letters is behind us, but technology gave us an alternative. If seniors want to write to their friends and family, the can use email. The instant response will be a feature they will love.

Use Video Calling

Older adults love to talk on the phone, and they will definitely love video calls. Try connecting to your loved ones through Skype or FaceTime. Both of those and their alternatives are available on computers, smartphones, and tablets. Furthermore, apps such as WhatsApp and Viber allow you to make free international calls.

Explore Social Networks

By using Facebook and similar internet platforms, you can see photos and activities of your friends and family. You also have the option of exchanging private messages on these platforms. It also functions the other way around, and you can share with your close ones your photos and activities.

Play Games

By using different game apps on a smartphone, you will discover that you can play against other people. For example, you can download Words with Friends and play against friends and family. This is an excellent way to stay close to your loved ones but also to keep your brain sharp.

Stay in Touch With Religious Organizations

If you are religious, there isn’t a reason why you can’t attend services even if you are housebound. There are some churches that stream their services online. Also, there is various religious content all over the internet. Being part of a religious community is essential to many, and by using modern tech, religion is now accessible from the warmth of your home.

Stay in Touch With Care Providers

This part of using technology can prove to be essential for the well-being of older adults. These days it is possible to stay in touch with your doctor without leaving your home. What’s even better is that there are numerous applications that can monitor your heartbeat and blood pressure. Later you can provide your doctor with your measurements. Also, there are various alarms available that can tell the news of your health to both your doctors and your loved ones.

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In all age groups, depression is mostly caused by isolation. Seniors, if left alone for more extended periods, can develop this condition. In more severe cases, individuals even have thoughts of suicide. Because of this, it is essential to have a caregiver who can recognize the signs of depression. A caregiver who can notice an elderly adult who is feeling isolated can do much to change their condition. Here, we are going to talk about how caregivers can address isolation in older adults.

The Risks of Social Isolation

More than 8 million adults older than 50 years of age are affected by isolation. The risk of this condition is high. The most important thing to know regarding isolation is that it can ignite different health risks. Experts are commenting that isolation can be caused by various factors that include poor mental and physical health, inadequate living space, and various unfortunate life events. According to AARP, living in isolation has a bad effect similar to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.

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Social Isolation and Seniors

Seniors are the age group most prone to isolation as they go through significant life changes. A new factor that started to play a massive role in creating isolation in the elderly is the use of technology. Although modern technology can be as helpful to seniors as anyone else, it also can create problems for older adults.

Elderly adults love to communicate with younger people, including their immediate family, friends, grandchildren, and cousins. But they are often left out of conversations due to their inability to use modern sources of communication. At the same time, youngsters won’t use old ones, such as writing a letter or talking on a land line. Technology has become an essential part of everyone’s lives, but some seniors find that hard to accept and adapt. Furthermore, if someone develops adversity towards technology and modern communicating devices, their path to isolation only becomes shorter.

What Caregivers Should Look For

Caregivers are in the best position to recognize isolation in the elderly. They are the first wall to defend their charges from becoming depressed. The easiest way to notice isolation is to follow changes in seniors’ overall health. Also, it is essential to know if they have gone through an event in their life that might have a damaging effect on their overall well-being. Bellow, we will write down some of the signals that you need to follow to better recognize isolation that could later lead to depression. Here are the signs that a senior might be struggling with isolation and depression:

• Continuing feeling of sadness in a senior
• Frequent health issues not related to previous conditions
• Less interest in things they previously enjoyed
• Loss of appetite followed by weight loss
• Notable expression of hopelessness or helplessness
• Absence of motivation and energy
• Loss of sleep
• Loss of self-esteem
• Abuse of alcohol or other unhealthy substances
• Expression of thoughts about death
• Talk about suicide
• Changes regarding their speech, movement, or memories
• Absence of self-care

What Caregivers Can Do

There is no doubt that social isolation is a dangerous condition, but caregivers can help seniors who experience it. The best place to start would be to encourage the elderly to start new relationships, make new friends, find a hobby, volunteer, or buy a pet. Furthermore, caregivers should try to bring seniors closer to technology and to allow them to be in contact with whomever they want. Helping them to learn to use smartphones, computers, and social networks could do wonders for their social life. In the end if nothing from above is doable, then it would be time to search for professional help.

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Most people start having issues with their memory as they get older. Seniors, most of all age groups, ask themselves questions such as, “Why did I open the fridge?” or “ What was your name, again?” It’s just the way life works. No one can escape this development. But there are things older adults can do to reduce the levels of their forgetfulness.

There have been many types of research conducted and books written on this subject. Below we have listed only a few things the elderly can do to slow down their issues with memory.

Be More Organized

Good organization can vastly reduce the number of things we forget. The best example of something that we need every day and that gets frequently lost is car keys. Keys should always go in the same place. This way you can’t forget where they are. They need to be in the car, in a pocket or purse, or at a particular location in your house. The same goes for other similar objects such as glasses, hats, and wallets. Life will be more comfortable and memory less strained if you get organized. With everything in its place, you won’t even need to engage your brain.

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Pay Attention, Concentrate

According to studies, the ability to pay attention and focus will diminish with time. This means we will have to be more focused on the things that are important. For example, all of us have experienced the moment when we open the fridge and then can’t remember what we were looking for. This happens because our focus slips onto another thing. Older adults are more prone to this than any other age group. Because of this, they need to train their brain to be alert in the moments they are making decisions.

Incorporate a Healthy Diet

Eating well is essential. A balanced diet is a must for good memory. If you don’t eat properly, you are more likely to experience memory loss. Taking supplements of vitamins such as vitamin B, C, and D3 won’t be enough. Elderly adults need to eat foods that are recommended by experts for brain health. According to some studies eating blueberries on an empty stomach is quite beneficial for brain health. Also taking resveratrol, which can be found in red wine, is one of the things that has a close relationship with memory. Most of you probably know that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can improve memory. They can be found in fish such as salmon and sardines.

Exercise

Working out will stimulate the brain by allowing more blood to flow to it. The more you exercise, the better your circulation will be. Working out on a regular basis will do wonders, not only for your brain health, but for overall well-being. Essential factors for memory health are good mood and stress reduction, both of which come from exercising.

Keep Learning

Memory is best preserved if you take time to learn new things. The brain will be stimulated if a senior puts effort into learning a new language, playing games such as Sudoku and chess, or even taking music classes. If none of these seems interesting to you, then you should take a simpler view on learning. For example, you can try to memorize a todo or grocery list. Other examples of exercising your brain include card counting, remembering long strings of numbers, and also remembering on which page in a magazine a certain picture can be found.

Sleep

Never underestimate the value of sleep. What you process during the day, the brain consolidates during the night. This is how memories are created. Without the needed rest, you have a higher chance of developing memory impairments.

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With old age, being and remaining healthy becomes a priority. Older adults get preoccupied with issues such as heart disease or dementia. With things like this, they forget about a crucial part of their bodies. We are talking about the feet. The lower end of our legs can produce many issues for the elderly. If seniors have troubles with their feet, they can become housebound or even immobile. In more severe cases, results can be fatal. Because of this, older adults need to prioritize foot health.

Common Foot Problems for Seniors

Many seniors experience foot issues. These problems can vary from bunions to hammertoes. Some seniors can have issues with their feet due to diabetes. This development is not at all uncommon. The most common foot problems include:

• Pain in the heel region
• Ingrown toenails
• Corns – This condition is the appearance of thickened skin between toes and on the soles of the feet. It can be extremely painful.
• Calluses – This state is similar to corns. They appear if we walk too much or wear inadequate footwear.
• Bunions – A bunion is a bump formed on the big toe.
• Deformities

Most of the conditions mentioned above can cause immobility. If they appear when you have different mobility problems, they can render you completely unable to walk. Some people even end up in a wheelchair. But luckily for all the elderly people in the world, all of these foot issues can be treated. By adopting corresponding foot care treatments, most older adults can avoid finding themselves in this situation.

Foot Care for the Elderly

Issues with feet are not only tied to heels and toes. They can happen on any part of the foot. Because of this, older adults need to consider various treatments.

Some of the signs that foot issues are on the way include discoloration of the foot or toenails, sores, and wounds that are not healing fast enough. Also, tingling and burning sensations in the feet are clear signs of upcoming issues.

If your loved one starts complaining about any of these symptoms you need to take them to see a dermatologist. It is essential for the doctor to determine that these signs are not a product of diabetes.

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Once you know that diabetes isn’t causing the trouble, you need to start taking better care of your feet. Here is a list of things that you need to be sure to do:

• Elevate your feet while seated. For this, you can use a footstool.
• When drying feet, be sure to dry them thoroughly.
• Both shoes and socks need to be a size that suits your feet.
• Regularly trim your toenails.
• After washing your feet, be sure to put some lotion on them.

One of the most critical parts of foot care is the nail care. Nails are also prone to causing pain and discomfort. If nails are not properly trimmed, they can cause ingrown nails or even an infection. The best time to cut nails is right after a bath or a shower when they are softer to cut. As the years start to pile up, it becomes more difficult to take proper care of your feet. Because of this, seniors should consider hiring a caregiver to take care of their feet.

Many people ignore foot pain, but they really shouldn’t. Foot pain can lead to various severe conditions. Older adults that experience pain in their feet should see a doctor straight away.

The quality of a senior’s life depends on good feet. In old age, it only becomes more important. Taking care of feet isn’t a tricky task, so everyone should do it. It’s all about maintenance.

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Old age brings a lot of positive things such as maturity, wisdom, and experience. But as older adults probably know, they are also followed by conditions such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, among others. In the United States, two out of three seniors suffer from some type of chronic disorder. Treatment of chronic illnesses is responsible for 66% of this country’s healthcare budget.

As you know, there’s no escaping old age. But seniors can live happily and healthily if they make the right choices. One of the ways in which elderly adults can live gracefully is by doing yoga. Yoga is beneficial for both mind and body. It helps our organs to function normally, and it does the same for the endocrine system. By practicing yoga on a regular basis, older adults will be able to do everyday chores without issues. They will also have more flexibility and strength in their bones and muscles.

To commemorate International Yoga Day here are just some of the yoga poses that seniors can do on their own without the help of a trainer.

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Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

This pose is one of the foundation poses, and it helps you with breathing. Furthermore, it will help you to prepare for other postures. It is suitable for the strengthening of your ankles, knees, and thighs. This pose is done by putting your hands on your waist. This way lumbar stability will be ensured. Your vision should be directed straight ahead with your weight distributed equally between your feet. What you do next is inhale deeply and raise your hands above your head and interlock them above your head. After this, you should lift your toes. The goal is to be in this position as long as you can. You finish this pose by exhaling slowly, lowering your hands while relaxing the shoulders. Move to the next posture after ten breaths.

Easy Pose (Sukhasana)

This pose justifies its name as it’s one of the easiest in yoga. It looks a lot like sitting with your legs crossed. By sitting in this posture, you will loosen stiff hips joints, strengthen the spine, and also calm your mind. This pose starts with sitting and crossing your legs. Hands should be put on your knees with palms positioned upwards. The tips of your thumbs and index fingers should connect. While sitting erect, inhale and exhale with focus on your breathing. Many older adults use this pose as a warm-up. The best would be to practice it for ten minutes a day.

Half-Waist Wheel Pose (Ardha Katichakrasana)

This posture is so comfortable that even those without a high fitness level can perform it. This pose is used for aiding in flexibility, digestion, blood pressure, back pain, and to strengthen waist muscles. You start this posture by standing erect with your hands by your side. While inhaling you should raise the left hand so that it touches your left ear. While bending to your right, you should exhale. Your left hand should be lowered after a few seconds. After this, you need to repeat the same movement, only switching sides. To achieve a healthy fitness level, you should practice this pose at least three or four times a day.

Yoga Cat Pose (Marajariasana)

This pose is mostly used to add flexibility to the spine. It also helps digestion because it massages our internal organs while we perform it. If you do this exercise, often it will remove the stiffness from both your neck and spine. This pose starts with you being in a tabletop posture which means resting your body on your knees and hands. The head needs to be in a position where your eyes are resting on the floor. While exhaling, you need to push your spine upwards without your arms or legs lifting from the ground. Be in this pose for 15 seconds. While inhaling return your spine to the original position.

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Fatty liver sounds like something you would serve to your enemies for dinner. But it is not a laughing matter at all. People who get diagnosed with this condition should look to reverse it as soon as possible. Here, we have a couple of remedies that could do exactly that for you.

What Is a Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver is just a liver that has deposits of fat. All of us have fat in our livers. But people who have too much can develop serious health issues. The liver, which is the second biggest organ in our body, has a vital role in our well-being. Everything we drink and eat goes through the liver. This organ removes harmful substances from our blood.

A liver that has too much fat has reduced function. In a state like this, it can do more harm than good. The good news is that fatty liver can be reversed. The optimal level of fat in our liver stands between 5% to 10% of its entire mass.

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How to Clean a Fatty Liver

The usual suspect when it comes to fatty liver is alcohol. Other reasons for this health problem include diabetes and obesity. With causes like this, it is evident that a change in lifestyle can reduce fat levels in the liver. The best thing that you can do is stop drinking, avoid foods that contain fatty acids and sugar, and also keep your blood sugar levels in line.

People who think that losing weight can reverse fatty liver are correct. Getting rid of excess weight is the easiest way to lose liver fat. It has been proven that people who lose 10% of their body weight also reduce fat levels in the liver. Doctors claim that even 3% body weight loss can have a positive effect on our liver.

The other frequent question is whether fasting can help a fatty liver. The answer is yes and no. There are some claims that it helps a lot, but others claim that more research on this subject is needed for a final judgment.

How Long Does It Take to Reverse Fatty Liver?

There is no timeline set for the reversal of this condition. Several factors determine the outcome of fatty liver treatment. The most important thing is at what stage of the fatty liver have you started treating it. A second thing is tied to your determination in taking on a healthy lifestyle. The sooner you bring your life in line, the faster will your liver get better.

If the first thing you do after being diagnosed with this issue is to stop drinking, start eating better, and work on losing weight, the improvements will be seen in a couple of months. When you get to the point that your body weight is down by 10%, you will know that you are on the right track.

Reversing fatty liver to its original state also depends on your motivation. If you are highly motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes, you will have better results. The more effort you put in to reducing fat in the liver, the shorter amount of time you will need to spend in reversing it.

This condition is one where everything that can be done is up to you. It can be reversed, and the best way to do so is by making lifestyle changes. The liver is one of the most important organs in our bodies. So if you have been diagnosed with this condition, you shouldn’t waste any time—start the treatment immediately.

Healthy Diet

To help prepare your diet, we’re going to talk a bit about the foods you should consume to reverse fatty liver. The best choices include broccoli, garlic, sardines, walnuts, salmon, and other fresh fish. You should also consume vegetables, whole grain bread, oatmeal, and wheat bran cereal.

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Cataracts are a common occurrence in older adults. Over half of Americans older than 75 have issues with them. One of the best choices for cataracts is surgery. With surgery, the elderly can get back their vision and lead healthy lives. But after the surgery, the recovery won’t happen overnight. In the days and weeks after the treatment, your ability to perform standard tasks will be diminished. Because of that, it is essential to know what awaits you after cataract surgery.

Moments After Surgery

It might be hard to believe, but this surgery lasts only ten minutes. What happens after waking up is a feeling of sensitivity and scratchiness. Both of these feelings will go away as time progresses. A protective shield will be put over your eye by a doctor. You will need sunglasses in the first hours after the surgery, and one hour after it’s completed you’ll be sent home. Driving right after cataract treatment is not the best idea, so you will need someone to take you home.

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The protective shield that was put on your eyes can be removed hours after the surgery. What you will experience after removing it is a blurry, disordered, and cloudy vision. This happens because your eyes need to get used to functioning without cataracts. These impairments will disappear after a few hours. In the first few days after the treatment, you will most likely have bloodshot eyes. The anesthesia you received during the procedure will probably cause bruising similar to a black eye, because anesthesia was injected through your eye. The bruises will also heal in a matter of days.

In the first few hours after the treatment, you are free to take a shower, watch TV, or use a computer. All colors in your surroundings will look brighter. This is because cataracts are yellow-colored and they sometimes mute colors. During the first few days, you will need to use the protective shield during sleep or naps. Also, it is essential to be careful while walking, because your vision still won’t be at 100%.

Post-Surgery Restrictions

What follows the cataract procedure is a period of healing. During this time, the eye is still vulnerable. It is essential that you avoid dust, wind, and other sources of irritation for eyes. Rubbing your eye, swimming, hot tubs, and makeup are not recommend at all. Being vigilant for at least one weak can significantly reduce the risks of infection.

Another thing that should be avoided after cataract surgery is exercising. No strenuous activity is welcomed in the weeks after the procedure. Even bending over should not be done. This motion can create additional pressure on the eye. Vomiting and sneezing also are not good for your eye, but the latter one can’t be influenced as much. One of the activities that should also be limited during the first few weeks after the surgery is driving. You don’t want to put yourself or others in danger.

Another thing that is usually required after cataract surgery is glasses. Your doctor will be the one that will tell you when your eyes are healed enough for prescription glasses. It takes from four to twelve weeks, depending on the severity of the case and the time of healing, to switch to glasses. The time necessary for eye focus to recover is also measured in weeks. It varies from case to case.

Unexpected Symptoms and Complications

Feeling discomfort after this procedure is normal. But some symptoms should not be experienced. They include flashes, floaters in the eye, and vision loss. Other unusual symptoms are nausea, vomiting, excessive coughing, and increased eye redness. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor straight away.

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With the development of the Pap test, the death rate from cervical cancer has been on the decline. This trend started in the 1940s when this test was invented. To be precise, the number of people that die from this type of cancer is down by 50%. We are sure that you are glad, just like us, to hear this news. But where there is good news there is also bad. The bad news is that every year more than 4,000 women die from cervical cancer in the United States of America. To be ready to counter this cancer we are going to talk about ten signs that you should look for to recognize this cancer.

Cervical cancer is most common in women in their 40s and 50s, but more than 15% of women older than 65 will be diagnosed with this disease. This means that it is possible for cervical cancer to appear even after women have gone through menopause.

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It is essential to know that most signs of this cancer are not all that obvious. Because of this, it is necessary to contact your doctor when you see some of these signs, whether they are obvious or less so. Now, read the most typical symptoms of cervical cancer below.

10 Signs of Cervical Cancer

Bowel movement changes

The first sign is changes in your bowel movements. If you notice that you need to defecate more than you are used to, a visit to your doctor is the best thing. This symptom usually sticks around, and it worsens over time. Because of this, it is better to address it sooner rather than later.

Being tired all the time

Feeling tired is normal when you overwork yourself or when you have a rough day. But if you are always feeling tired, and it is in combination with one of these other symptoms, it might be cancer.

Pelvic pain

Having pelvic pain during menstruation is normal, but if it continues beyond that, it might be something more severe. If your pain gets worse after menstruation than it was during, it can very easily be cervical cancer.

Pain during sex

This symptom is more common before menopause. After it, you will more likely experience dryness not as a symptom of this cancer.

Unusual vaginal discharge

The reasons for having strange vaginal discharge are many, and some of them can be connected to cervical cancer. If your discharge smells terrible and is watery you should immediately visit a doctor.

Abnormal bleeding

If you have bleeding issues during sex or at times when you are not on your period, you might have cervical cancer. This is one of the most common signs.

Change in menstrual cycles

If your period starts lasting longer and causing you more trouble than usual, you might have a health problem.

Bleeding between periods

This is one of the signs that pre-cancer cells are forming.

Bleeding after sex

This symptom goes together with pain during sex.

Bleeding during menopause

If you have gone through menopause but start experiencing bleeding issues once again, see a doctor.

Most women wonder if there is a way of removing cervical cancer if the worst happens, and the answer is yes. During a procedure called a hysterectomy, both the uterus and cervix can be removed. But if your cervix is healthy and pap smear is also good, this procedure won’t be necessary. Another thing that should be kept in mind is that you only remove a part of the cervix, so there is a chance that this cancer could return after a hysterectomy.

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Caregiving is stressful for most people. Taking care of another person can be exhausting and demanding, especially if you don’t have any support from your family.

Stress can lead to bad emotional, mental, and physical health. It causes all sorts of cardiovascular problems and can even be the reason for depression symptoms. On top of that, it can also impact your relationships with other people.

One of the ways to connect with people who understand you and find a way to release the stress is a caregiver support group. These groups consist of other caregivers who have the same problems as you, and there is no better place to ask for advice.

However, what if you tried to find a caregiver support group, found one, went to a meeting, but it wasn’t the thing you were looking for?

Should you give up on these groups and continue to fight on your own, or perhaps try to find another one? Although your first experience wasn’t perfect, don’t give up all hope. Every group is different, and perhaps the next one will be exactly what you need.

Don’t Give Up the First Time

You went to a meeting, but something just wasn’t right. You didn’t like the people, the topics, the place. The first impression wasn’t great, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give the group another chance. Perhaps the combination of people will be better next time, or they will cover a topic more relevant to your situation. In caregiver support groups, people come and go all the time, and meetings differ from one another. Give it a chance one more time, and you may change your opinion.

Find Another Support Group

The number of support groups is increasing. If you don’t fit into one group, it doesn’t mean the others are not for you. You can try several different groups to see which one would be perfect. Since there are so many groups, some of them are specialized for certain conditions. Thus, there are dementia caregiver groups, groups focused on cardiovascular problems, strokes, etc. If you search a bit more, you may even find groups focused on dealing with the stress of being a caregiver.

If you are not sure where to find a caregiver support group, ask at a local hospital, caregiver agency, senior care facility, etc.

Online Caregiver Groups

You may prefer finding online support groups and asking for advice there. If you want to stay anonymous and avoid meeting other people, then this is the perfect way to get in touch with caregivers in a similar situation as you are. Facebook is a place to start. You may have heard of Memory People on Facebook, which is one of the most popular groups of this kind. The members are usually caregivers who are taking care of family members who have memory problems (dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.). And this group is not the only one. There are numerous groups, you just need to do a little research.

Not the Group Type?

Perhaps you prefer not to be a member of any group, but you still need someone to advise you. If you need a person to talk to, try to find a therapist who can help you channel your stress. Religious people may talk to their local priest, rabbi, etc. Social workers can sometimes help, as well. The best would be to find a friend or a family member you can trust and who can listen to you without judging your actions.

All in all, you should not be alone in caregiving. You can accumulate so much stress and not be able to handle it on your own. It is up to you to choose your way of dealing with it.

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Source: CareTips