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Stress Test Questionnaire

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Stress and Sick

Chronic stress can have debilitating consequences on our mind and our body.
DID YOU KNOW? Our body is hard-wired to react to stress in ways that actually protect us. It’s our natural stress response. It works for us against threats from predators and other aggressors.

Our body’s stress-response system is usually self-limiting. Once a perceived threat has passed, hormone levels return to normal.
As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, our heart rate and blood pressure return to baseline levels, and other systems resume their regular activities. Increased cortisol levels commonly challenge those with high stress jobs that go on to suffer with metabolic syndrome. You can work out the likelihood and prevent this if you take ownership at the right time.

Chronic Stress

When stressors are always present, we constantly feel under attack. That fight-or-flight reaction? It stays turned on.The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body’s processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems.

Your levels of stress – how do they add up?
Take this stress test and add up your scores. The results at the end are a guide.   [tweetthis]The 60 second #stress test – add up your scores. The results at the end are a guide.[/tweetthis]

Stress Test

YOUR AGE:

  • Under 45 years [1]
  • 45–54 years [3]
  • 55–64 years [2]
  • Over 64 years [2]

Weight and Stress

Body Mass Index **

  • Lower than 25 kg/m2 [1]
  • 25–30 kg/m2 [2]
  • Higher than 30 kg/m2 [3]

BMI Calculator

Divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in metres (m) then divide the answer by your           height again to get your BMI.  [tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#weightloss #nutrition”]How to work out your #BMI [/tweetthis]


Fat and Stress

Waist circumference measured below the ribs (usually at the level of the navel)

MEN

  • Less than 94 cm [1]
  • 94–102 cm [2]
  • More than 102 cm [3]

WOMEN

  • Less than 80 cm [1]
    Stress Management

    Stress Management

  • 80–88 cm [2]
  • More than 88 cm [3]

Stress Test

Have you ever taken medication for high blood pressure on regular basis?

  • No
  • Yes [1]

Have you ever been found to have high blood glucose (eg in a health examination, during an illness, during pregnancy)?

  • No
  • Yes [1]

Have any of the members of your immediate family or other relatives been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2)?

  • No
  • Yes: grandparent, aunt, uncle or first cousin (but no own parent, brother, sister or child) [2]
  • Yes: parent, brother, sister or own child [3]
  • Stress Test Score – to checklist Below

    • 0 = Never/Rarely
    • 1 = Occasionally/Slightly
    • 2 = Moderate in Intensity or Frequency
    • 3 =Intense/Severe or Frequent

    ✓ My ability to handle stress or pressure has decreased.

    ✓ I am less productive at work.

    ✓ I seem to have decreased in cognitive ability. I don’t think as clearly as I used to.

    ✓ My thinking is confused when hurried or under pressure.

    ✓ I tend to avoid emotional situations.

    ✓ I tend to shake or am nervous when under pressure.

    ✓ I suffer from nervous stomach indigestion when tense.

    ✓ I have many unexplained fears/anxieties.

    ✓ My sex drive is noticeably less than it used to be.

    ✓ I get lightheaded or dizzy when rising rapidly from a sitting or lying position.

    ✓ I have feelings of greying or blacking out.

    ✓ I am chronically fatigued; a tiredness that is not usually relieved by sleep.

    ✓ I feel unwell much of the time.

    ✓ I notice that my ankles are swollen — the swelling is worse in the evening.

    ✓ I usually need to lie down or rest after sessions of psychological or emotional pressure/stress.

    ✓ My muscles sometimes feel weaker than they should.

    ✓ My hands and legs get restless — experience meaningless body movements.

    ✓ I have become allergic or have increased frequency/severity of allergic reactions.

    ✓ When I scratch my skin a white line remains for a minute or more.

    ✓ Small, irregular dark brown spots have appeared on my forehead, face, neck and shoulders.

    ✓ I sometimes feel weak all over.

    ✓ I have unexplained and frequent headaches.

    ✓ I am frequently cold.

    ✓ I have a decreased tolerance for cold.

    ✓ I have low blood pressure.

    ✓ I often become hungry, confused, shaky or somewhat paralyzed under stress.

    ✓ I have lost weight without reason while feeling very tired and listless.

    ✓ I have feelings of hopelessness and despair.

    ✓ I have decreased tolerance. People irritate me more.

    ✓ The lymph nodes in my neck are frequently swollen (I get swollen glands on my neck).

    ✓ I have times of nausea and vomiting for no apparent reason.

    ✓ I am easily fatigued

    ✓ I often have to force myself in order to keep going.

    ✓ Everything seems like a chore

    ✓ I have difficulty getting up in the morning (don’t really wake up until about 10:00am

    ✓ I suddenly run out of energy

    ✓ I usually feel much better and fully awake after the noon

    meal

    ✓ I often have an afternoon low between 3:00-5:00pm

    ✓ I get low on energy, moody or foggy if I do not eat

    regularly

    ✓ I usually feel my best after 6:00pm

    ✓ I am often tired at 9:00-10:00 pm, but resist going to

    bed

    ✓ I like to sleep late in the morning

    ✓ My best, most refreshing sleep often comes between

    7:00-9:00am

    ✓ I often do my best work late at night (early in the

    morning).

    ✓ If I don’t go to bed by 11:00pm, I get a second burst of

    energy around 11:00pm, often lasting until 1:00-2:00am

    RESULTS 
    TOTAL SCORE:
    45-65… It is unlikely that you experience significant amounts of stress to impact your lifestyle or health at present
    65-90… It is unlikely that the stress you experience is negatively impacting your health at present
    90-150… The stress you experience may be having serious negative health implications  
    150+… It is likely that the stress you experience is having serious negative health implications  
    Health Conditions associated with Chronic Stress 
    Type 2 diabetes – Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome – infertility – Autoimmune diseases – Depression – Anxiety Disorders – Digestive problems -Heart disease – Sleep problems – Weight gain – Memory and concentration impairment
    How to find the UNDERLYING issues that PREDISPOSE us to chronic illness.
    What or why are they TRIGGERED by PROLONGED periods of STRESS?
    How do we nip it in the bud BEFORE we’re sick?

          IN THE FOUR PHASES 

  1.  Consultation is Key
  2.  Physical Exam is Key
  3.  Special Investigations may include blood pressure average reading, adrenal stress test, blood sugar readings, blood work
  4.   Naturopathic Portfolio  HOW is stress affecting our health? Do we require special investigations? One type of stress management doesn’t work for every body. If working in a high stress job is affecting our health but we can’t check out into a spa then we need to know what to do to prevent chronic illness.

15 Fertility Rate Facts To Know Now

Fertility Rate – 15  Facts  – What You Need to Know Now If You Ever Want Kids

It’s likely you’re unsure of your current fertility rate. Modern times are affecting our fertility rates. Our fertility rates are subject to changing trends and patterns. We know lifestyle choices during pregnancy affect the health of your baby. What about food, exercise and other lifestyle choices we’re making today? Do they affect our fertility rate, our potential future?

These are choices we are making today.

“15 Fertility Rate Facts To Know Now”


‘One in six couples has problems starting a family’       [tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#fertility #pregnancy”]’One in six couples has problems starting a family’ [/tweetthis]


In a word, yes. Lifestyle factors can affect a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. This is by natural and assisted conception. It’s not just women, male partners affect chances of pregnancy too. Your fertility rate or your current fertility profile should enable you to face facts.

Why Fertility Rates Are On The Decline

Let’s get clued up now. Here’s why:

  1. One in six couples has difficulty having a baby – in 40 per cent of these cases the difficulty is associated with the man.         [tweetthis]In 40% of #infertility cases, the cause, for 1 in 6 couples, is associated with the man[/tweetthis]

Equal responsibility is about sharing knowledge and open communication. 

  1. Timing is just about everything when it comes to fertility –

In a normal cycle of 28 days, the woman ovulates normally on day 14 (14 days after the start of menstruation). The most fertile day would be on day 14 and the most fertile week is that which goes from day 11 to 17.

  1. The medical definition of infertility is the failure to conceive following twelve months of regular unprotected intercourse After this time your GP will refer you for:

A blood test to measure ovulation is required. The most common cause of ovulation problems is polycystic ovaries.

Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems. So this might be tested for also (vaginal swab or urine test). Male sperm count and motility are measured at this stage from a sperm sample.

  1. Secondary infertility accounts for 60 percent of infertility cases – that is, when a couple has trouble conceiving after they’ve already had a baby or more — is more common than primary infertility, when first-timers have trouble.
  1. Women are at their most fertile between the ages of 20-24

There are both advantages and disadvantages to giving birth at different ages. Overall, being healthy parents puts you in good stead.

 

Female Infertility

15 Fertility Rate Facts To Know Now

  1. Female fertility begins to decline at age 30.

If you are over 40, you may want to start your quest for a second pregnancy with a fertility expert on hand. Similarly, if your partner is over 40, you may want to get a specialist on board from the beginning.

  1. Sperm DNA damage has been identified as a major contributor to male infertility        [tweetthis]Sperm DNA damage has been identified as a major contributor to male #infertility[/tweetthis]

The quality and quantity of the sperm diminishes from the age of 25. Damage to sperm DNA (sperm DNA fragmentation) affects every fertility checkpoint and can increase the risk of miscarriage.

The SpermComet assay is a second generation sperm DNA test. It is the ONLY test that can measure the extent of damage in individual sperm.

  1. Men Do Have a Biological Clock

Males can produce viable sperm — and father babies — well into their AARP years. However, older men are more likely to have fertility issues. Also, due to dipping testosterone levels, there is a decrease in quantity and quality of sperm. Sperm strength, motility and other factors.

Male Fertility Testing

Male Fertility Testing

 

  1. More than half of all pregnancies conceived through IVF in women over age forty are produced through donor eggs. Egg freezing or (new techniques like) vitrification is not a taboo subject any more.

 

  1. Female infertility is typically caused by one or more of these factors:

Damage to fallopian tubes (tubal infertility)
Endometriosis
Uterine or cervical causes
Ovulation disorders

 

  1. Success in assisted conception is dependent on the quality of the sperm and eggs

Egg quality falls with age. Hence, one of the strongest predictors of whether an IVF cycle will be successful is the age of the woman. A major cause of this is the development of chromosomal abnormalities in the egg as it matures, which can in turn be passed on to the embryo.

Genetic screening is available to help choose the best embryo(s) to replace and thus increase the pregnancy rate.

 

  1. Cough medicine can help you get pregnant, laptops and briefs can impair sperm production. Saliva is a sperm Killer & position doesn’t really matter. Common Chemicals Are Fertility Inhibitors

Expectorants loosen up mucus in your chest but they are also able to loosen up cervical mucus – if antihistamine-free. Looser cervical mucus is easier for sperm to hitch a ride in!

Not all bodily fluids get along. In fact saliva is a sperm killer. The truth is most lubricants and massage oils are fertility unfriendly. So it is best to go without when you are baby making.

Some studies have shown that the now-infamous Bisphenol A (BPA) can decrease fertility in women. Perfluoronated chemicals (PFCs), used in Teflon, have also been shown to affect the menstrual cycle.

15 Fertility Rate Facts To Know Now Continued…

  1. Both Prescription & Recreational Drugs affect fertility as does smoking cigarettes

Some antidepressants (like SSRI’s) can raise a woman’s serum prolactin level. This can interfere with normal ovulation. Even certain antiemetic (anti-nausea) medications can alter prolactin levels.

Using any drugs, even cannabis, can affect the menstrual cycle. Heavier drugs like opiates have been shown to suppress the reproductive cycle. They affect the centers of the brain that control release of the female hormones.

Smoking cigarettes – even secondhand smoke – has been shown to reduce fertility time and time again.

 

When IVF Fails

When IVF Fails

 

  1. An Unhealthy body weight may prevent you from having children

Being overweight, obese or underweight can have negative consequences for one’s ability to conceive. This is because obesity can interfere with normal hormone function and fertility. The only treatment available to successfully reverse sperm DNA damage is largely dependent on two things. These are nutrition and nutritional supplementation.

  1. Fertility is a sensitive subject for a reason and there are support groups. Fertility and therapeutic counselling is also available for couples trying to conceive naturally. These are also there for individuals and couples using assisted fertility methods.

15 Fertility Rate Facts To Know Now

Susannah understands that when a couple hears a diagnosis of  ‘unexplained infertility’ it’s incredibly frustrating. When natural conception or assisted reproductive fertility treatment haven’t been successful, it’s difficult to hear. The most common assisted fertility treatment is IVF.  We put together 15 fertility rate facts to know now because you want to understand what the next steps are. You want to move forward from this, when ready. You should be able to discuss these steps and come to a decision together.


Nutrition impacts 80% of your modern lifestyle. This impacts every single factor affecting fertility. This goes for both men and women. If you  take ownership of your health you can make sure that the right changes impact you and your partner for the best.


 


Safe, clinical, practical and effective.


Call  020 7060 3181