That crabby husband of yours just might have a condition known as irritable male syndrome. Men with IMS are moody, frustrated, angry, anxious and hypersensitive, says licensed psychotherapist Jed Diamond in the December Bottom Line Personal.
The condition results from a decline in testosterone, biochemical imbalances and stress. Men may have the syndrome if they exhibit six or more of these symptoms: feeling grumpy, annoyed, angry, touchy, gloomy, overworked, impatient, unloved, lonely, jealous, hostile or stressed. (To take the complete free questionnaire pinpointing IMS, go to the Web site www.theirritablemale.com.)
Although some antidepressants can help, Diamond says men with IMS will do better if they follow these four steps:
– Acknowledge that the problem is yours and don’t blame others.
– Participate in vigorous exercise daily.
– Write down negative thoughts, then look for more positive ways to view them.
– Engage your mind by taking on something new, such as volunteer work or a new hobby.
Beat the sweats
Night sweats that soak the sheets and disturb your sleep are one of the more annoying signs that menopause is nearing. At this point, women wonder whether they should look to hormone-replacement therapy to control their symptoms. The decision has been difficult of late after studies by the Women’s Health Initiative showed that hormone supplements sometimes lead to blood clots, strokes, heart disease and breast cancer.
Now there’s more positive news from the health initiative, says a report in the December/January issue of More magazine. Researchers note that the poor results from the first clinical trial involved an estrogen/progesterone drug, while the estrogen-only part of the trial pointed to a lower risk for breast cancer. (The heart disease issue was undetermined.) New hormone trials are under way to take a more in-depth look at what hormones are safe and what are not. (To keep current on the results, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov, www.menopause.org or www.healthywoman.org.)
In the meantime, ask your physician whether hormones are right for you, in what form (pill, creams or patches) and in what dosages.
Eating-disorder signs
Girls with eating disorders such as anorexia try their best to conceal them, but there are still signs, says Sondra Kronberg, a board member of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) in the December/January BestLife.
These include losing 2 to 4 pounds a week, brittle nails, sallow skin, difficulty concentrating, unprovoked irritability and a withdrawal from friends and family.
If you’re concerned about a friend or family member, seek help from a specialist in treating eating disorders. More information on eating disorders as well as treatment referrals can be found at the NEDA’s Web site, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org, or by calling 800-931-2237.
The peanut alert
Why people get peanut allergies is unknown. However, the incidence of peanut allergies has doubled from 1997 through 2002, and some estimates of deaths due to the allergy range as high as 150 from people unwittingly eating traces of the legumes.
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, at www.foodallergy.org, lists manufacturers’ alerts on products recalled for failing to list allergen-promoting ingredients on the labels.
