Your Spouse Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer: Getting Through The First Few Days

Your Spouse Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer: Getting Through The First Few Days
The first few days after the cancer diagnosis of your loved
one are the most confusing times of all. You are operating
on limited information, and you are both in shock.
Questions abound. Give yourself some time to adjust. Here
are some recommendations compiled by myself, and others
that will help you get through the first few days.

Acknowledge the News

Don't try to act as if nothing is happening. This is a
crisis and your lives will change. Give yourself some
slack. You may consider taking off work for a few days to
get your breath back or cancel routine plans.

Communication

You don't have to tell anyone right away. Give yourselves a
chance to digest this information without worrying about
how to share the information with others or worry about
what their reactions may be. There will be plenty of time
to deal with this later. If you decide to tell friends and
family, remember you are not responsible for taking care of
them if they are upset by the news. Consider asking another
family member or friend to call people you want to know if
you can't or don't want to talk to them right now. If you
need to be with family and friends, tell them so, if you
need to be alone, be honest about that as well.

Gathering Information

If researching online is stressful or frightening, don't do
it at first….or delegate it to someone you trust. You will
have plenty of time to learn more later.

Don't Rush Into a Treatment Plan

In most cases, you will have several weeks or even months
to make this decision. The only thing you really need to do
initially is to make sure you have the next medical
appointments set up….your next doctor's visit, and ideally
another visit for a second opinion. After these
appointments you will have the information you need to make
your treatment decisions. Write down all your questions as
you think of them, for your loved one's doctor, insurance
company, or employer. By writing these down you can release
these from your mind until they are answered, and in the
early stages of diagnosis, it's very difficult to keep all
of your thoughts straight.

Take Care of Yourself

Emotional stress is extremely exhausting. You will most
likely feel very tired for the first few days. Nap, or at
least lay down for awhile. Go to a movie or do some sedate
activity. Continue to exercise if that's part of your life,
if not, just go for a walk. It will clear your head and
make you feel better. Eat, even if you aren't hungry. You
have a journey ahead of you and you need to stay strong.
These first few days are often the worst as there is very
little information to go on and the emotional impact is
enormous. It's important to remember that you won't always
feel like this.

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Jayne Hutchinson was immersed into a new world after her
husband was diagnosed with cancer. She found there was
little information and support available for spouses and
partners. She created the My Loved One Has Cancer web site
to fill that gap.This web site features comprehensive
resources and tools to make the cancer journey easier for
the spouse or partner of a loved one with cancer.

http://www.mylovedonehascancer.com

Natural Mood Boosters

Natural Mood Boosters
Mood can be defined as a state of mind or a feeling. We
will all experience low moods, or be down in the dumps from
time to time and this is a normal part of the human
condition. Our moods are not static; they can be affected
by many factors including diet, environmental and
biological influences and even our lifestyle. So is there
anything we can do to boost our mood and lift our spirits
naturally?

Oily fish and fish oil

Arguably the most effective mood boosting foods are oily
fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout and
anchovies or purified fish oil supplements made from these
fish. Countless studies have now demonstrated the mood
enhancing effect of fish oil. So what is it about oily fish
that is so special?

Oily fish contains omega 3 fatty acids, including EPA or
Eicosapentaenoic acid, which is essential for optimum brain
function on a day to day basis and as our bodies cannot
produce EPA, we have to source it from the diet. If the
brain doesn't get EPA, it will use inferior fatty acids
that are not cut out for the job and the result can be
depression and physical illness.

These days it isn't advisable to eat too much fish due to
the amount of toxins they contain but purified fish oil
supplements are an excellent way to get your daily dose of
EPA and improve your mood.

St John's Wort

St John's Wort is a herb that has been described by some as
nature's answer to Prozac. It is an old folk remedy used to
treat anxiety, sleep problems and sadness. Many research
studies have highlighted the mood enhancing effect of St
John's Wort supplements and it is now considered by many to
be an effective remedy for mild depression. However, it
shouldn't be taken without first seeking advice from your
doctor as St John's Wort can interact with other medicines,
both prescription and over the counter, and there are other
contraindications to be considered too.

Exercise

One of the most effective and natural ways to boost mood is
to increase the amount of physical activity you do as it
releases 'feel good' chemicals in the brain and reduces
stress. If going to the gym or taking up a sport is not for
you, studies have shown that taking a short daily walk in
the countryside can increase feelings of well being and
lift the spirits.

B Vitamins

Increasing consumption of foods high in B vitamins or
taking Vitamin B supplements can help ward off depression
and improve your health in general. The body needs a steady
supply of B vitamins for mental and physical health as they
cannot be stored in the body and are also destroyed by
alcohol, tea, coffee and nicotine. The B vitamins can be
found in dark leafy green vegetables, beans and peas as
well as grains like oats and wheat.

Sunlight

There is no doubt that an adequate dose of sunlight is
essential for good mental health as sunlight increases
serotonin levels. Indeed in the Northern Hemisphere, where
the winter days are short and there is very little
sunlight, many people suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective
Disorder. Symptoms include sadness, fatigue and sleep
disturbances. Trying to get around 30 minutes outside in
the sun each morning can make all the difference to your
mood.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a drug that is used all over the world to give
us a boost and wake us up, most commonly in the form of
coffee or tea, but it is also in many medicines and soft
drinks. It is classed as a stimulant so can help us to get
going, to feel more alert and generally give us a lift.
However, the down side is that too much caffeine is not
good for health and can cause shaking, rapid heartbeat and
increased feelings of nervousness and anxiety. Just like
many other drugs, there are also nasty withdrawal symptoms
when coming off caffeine so it should be taken in
moderation.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains chemicals that help to improve mood
including tryptophan, phenylethylamine and anandamide
although the amounts of these chemicals in chocolate are
believed to be too small to make any difference. The most
likely explanation put forward by researchers for the boost
given to us by chocolate is that the chemicals in chocolate
help to sustain the levels of mood boosting chemicals in
the brain for longer periods of time. However, the down
side to eating chocolate is that overindulgence can lead to
weight gain and therefore an increased risk of heart
disease and other health problems. Again, should be taken
in moderation.

A final word on depression

It is always worth remembering that getting enough sleep,
eating the right foods, reducing the amount of stress in
your life and taking time to relax each day can go a long
way to improving mental as well as physical wellbeing.
However, if you cannot shift your low moods and you find it
difficult to carry out your normal daily routines, then the
chances are you need some professional help from your
doctor in order to get well again. Don't try to battle
depression on your own, with the right help, it is
treatable and the sooner it is dealt with the quicker
you'll be back to your old self.

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Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions
that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information
about depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry
For many people an attractive smile is an important asset,
this is especially true for people who have careers in the
public eye. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the
aesthetics of a person's teeth and smile. One of the most
popular forms of cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening; a
procedure which helps lightens teeth by removing stains and
discoloration. The primary causes of discoloration are
coffee, tea, tobacco, age and genetics.

Although anyone with permanent teeth may qualify for teeth
whitening, the procedure is most successful on people who
have healthy teeth and gums. In particular, cavities need
to be treated before undergoing any whitening process. This
is because the whitening solution can penetrate into the
decay, causing further sensitivity. In addition, teeth that
are yellowish in shade respond best to the whitening
solution, brownish teeth less well, and grey colored teeth
many not respond to whitening. It should also be noted that
only natural enamel respond to teeth whitening; fillings,
crowns and tooth colored resin will not respond to the
whitening. For those who do qualify, teeth whitening and
bleaching have been proven be both safe and effective.
Furthermore, even a change of just two or three shades can
make a noticeable difference.

There are several options when it comes to teeth whitening:
whitening toothpastes, over the counter whitening strips
and gels, tray based whitening systems and in office
bleaching. Whitening toothpastes are only able to remove
surface stains and typically lighten your teeth's color by
one shade. Whitening strips and gels both contain peroxide
and results are usually seen in a few days, typically the
results are sustained for four months. Tray based whitening
systems can be purchased either over the counter or from
your dentist. As the name suggest, tray based whitening,
involves wearing a mouth guard like "tray" for a couple of
hours every night for up to four weeks. Both over the
counter and dentist provided tray whitening systems contain
peroxide; however, only a dentist will be able to provide
you with a tray that is customized to fit your teeth
exactly. Over the counter trays are one-size-fits-all; if
the tray is an ill fit, the whitening gel may seep onto the
gums, causing irritation. In office bleaching provides the
most efficient and effective method for whitening teeth,
although it does cost more than tray based at home
bleaching. The whitening products are used in conjecture
with heat, laser or a special light to accelerate the
process. Results can be achieved in one hour, in
particular, laser based bleaching can provide dramatic
results in one hour. Other forms of in office bleaching may
need several appointments to achieve very dramatic results.
In office bleaching lightens teeth color approximately
three to seven shades lighter.

As always, it is important to consult with your dentist to
ask what form of whitening works best for you.

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For more information, you may visit
http://www.chicago-dental.com .