Wednesday – July 16, 2008 | WELLNESS NEWS
• How to Beat the Postpartum Depression Blues with Dr. Jaena Gonzaga, D.C.
• Tip of the Week: Summer Got You Sneezing? Liat Ben Yakov, MBA, CST, Offers Advice on How to Deal With Those Pesky Summer Allergies
How to Beat the Postpartum Depression Blues with Dr. Jaena Gonzaga, D.C.
According to Newmothercare.com, 10-15 percent of new moms experience a state of depression that may last beyond 6 weeks after childbirth. Chicagohealers.com Practitioner Dr. Jaena Gonzaga, D.C. explains why women experience postpartum depression and how to recognize the warning signs. A mother will experience a number of physical, emotional, and hormonal changes over the 9 months of carrying the child, as well as after childbirth. Many woman are not able to deal with the changes and experience the horrible effects of postpartum depression. The signs and symptoms consist of loss of appetite, insomnia, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty bonding with the baby, severe mood swings, loss of interest in sex, feelings of shame or guilt or thoughts of harming yourself or the baby.
“There is this new little person that is 100 percent reliant on his or her mom for survival,” says Dr. Gonzaga. “We should acknowledge the fact that being a new mom can feel and be overwhelmingly scary. This new beginning of motherhood is not picture perfect and the feelings of happiness and joy may not be so prominent.”
Women that maintain unhealthy lifestyle habits and choices of nutrition and do not take care of themselves before, during and after pregnancy may experience postpartum depression. The physical changes that a woman endures during pregnancy, as well as the emotional stressors take a major toll on new mothers. Any life changes that occur before, during or after the pregnancy that trigger feelings of despair, sadness or inadequacy can contribute to the effects of postpartum depression.
Dr. Gonzaga provides the following tips to help move through postpartum depression:
• Start pumping iron – Slowly get back into a regimen of exercise. The best way to process depression is to move in order to integrate all the new changes.
• Prepare for pregnancy – A woman must prepare for pregnancy physically, emotionally and nutritionally in order to handle the changes of carrying a child and recovering from it.
• Teamwork – Choose the support and added hands to help feel empowered and nurtured to break through into new motherhood.
• Accept the change – React to a feeling for what it is and then move on no matter how hard it may seem.
ChicagoHealers.com Wednesday Experts
Dr. Jaena Gonzaga, D.C.: Holistic Health and Wellness
Liat Ben Yakov, MBA, CST: Body-Mind-Energy Balancing, IPEC, Healing
Tip of the Week: Summer Got You Sneezing? Liat Ben
Yakov, MBA, CST, Offers Advice on How to Deal With Those
Pesky Summer Allergies
According to MedicalNewsToday.com, approximately 50 million Americans suffer from allergies today. ChicagoHealers.com Practictioner, Liat Ben Yakov, MBA, CST, says that allergens are everywhere, especially outside, making summertime a dreaded season as people spend more time outdoors. There are more allergens outside than ever, which can be found in pollen, flowers, plants and even animals.
“During the summer months it is more likely to suffer from outdoor allergies since so many people spend more time outside enjoying the warm weather and the sun,” says Ben Yakov. “Everything is blooming and beautiful, but for allergic people, it can be a non-colorful season.”
There is no total escape for those that suffer from allergies. However, it seems to be easier to cope with indoor rather than outdoor allergies. Though outdoor allergies may be harder to control, there are ways to avoid them and still enjoy the summer season.
Ben Yakov provides the following tips on how to enjoy the summer while dealing with outdoor allergies:
• Take a break – Avoid spending long periods of time outside in gardens and forests by occasionally going inside, especially on dry days when pollen is most prevalent.
• Garden smart – Don’t garden with plants that house allergens and make sure to trim branches filled with pollen before beginning to garden.
• Easy fix – When allergies worsen, gently tap on the thymus gland (located in the middle of the upper chest), which will help reduce the allergy symptoms immediately.
• Strengthen immunity– Below the knee bones on the inner side of the legs, there is a dimple. Press gently on it for 3 minutes every morning to strengthen immunity.
• Hydrate – Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration; allergies tend to cause dryness due to loss of fluids.
About ChicagoHealers.com
Chicago Healers (www.chicagohealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy. Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website. With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications. For more information, visit www.chicagohealers.com
Media Contacts: Paramount Public Relations, Inc.
Erica Morisco, 312.643.2460, emorisco@paramountpr.com
Lauren Bishop, 312.643.0610, lbishop@paramountpr.com