Healthy Mom: Soothe Stress Pain

choose the right power foods . . .

sleep easy . . .

boost your fertility, and more

Question: I've been having terrible back pain lately, especially in the morning and at the end of the workday. What can I do to feel better?

Answer: Back pain is often a result of things you can control, like getting enough exercise, eating properly and, for many of us, handling the stress in our day. Look at simple things you can change first: Is your mattress too old or too soft? Have you altered your exercise routine? Been wearing high heels? At the office, avoid slouching at your desk, and make sure your chair has good lumbar support. Stress often manifests as chronic back pain, so try breathing exercises and other calming activities throughout the day. To reduce the pain, take ibuprofen as needed. If the pain doesn't get better in a few days, have it evaluated by a doctor. It's important to think about potentially serious medical concerns, such as osteopenia (when bones are somewhat less dense than normal). And if you start feeling tingling pain down your leg, not just in your back, go directly to an orthopedist because this could be a sign of some kind of nerve damage, such as a herniated disc.

Question: I'm thinking about having another baby, but with all the stress at work, I don't know if the time is right. Is it risky to wait?

Answer: It can be. I constantly have female patients who are experiencing infertility say to me, "I was just waiting for the right time." Pregnancy rates diminish after the early thirties. By age 40, 75 percent of women are infertile. The fact is, there is no "perfect" time to have a baby. That said, age alone does not cause infertility. Stress can also play a role, but it's just one of many factors that affect a woman's reproductive health. Many lifestyle choices-including diet, fitness and the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs-can impact how easily you will be able to get pregnant in the future. Keep up your regular gynecological checkups, since pelvic adhesions from STDs and endometriosis can also affect fertility. Don't wait until you're ready to conceive to pay attention to these concerns.

Question: I'm having trouble falling asleep but don't want to resort to taking a sleeping pill. Are there alternatives?

Answer: You're right to avoid relying on drugs. Sleeping pills can be addictive, and you can also build up a tolerance to them. A better way to control insomnia is to understand the stresses in your life, recognize when they are rising to the surface and do behavior modification to deal with those demons. Before you go to sleep, try talking with your husband or an upbeat friend, making sure these conversations are on happy topics, not stressful ones. Also, try something relaxing, like reading a humorous book or doing yoga-anything to clear your mind so that you don't end up fixating on the week's schedule as you lie in bed. If those stress reducers don't help, it's time to consult an expert who can work with you. According to a recent study, talk therapy was more effective than sleeping pills in reducing insomnia. To find a therapist who can be helpful to you, contact your local hospital and ask for a psychologist who offers cognitive behavioral therapy for sleep disorders.

Question: I just never seem to be in the mood for sex anymore. What's going on?

Answer: Busy work and family schedules can leave you exhausted, so it's natural if you often opt for sleep over sex. But if you're feeling stressed and have completely lost your libido, there may be another culprit: your blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can cause decreased blood flow to the vagina and clitoris. Your doctor can easily pinpoint a blood-pressure problem with a routine exam. The irony is that many blood-pressure drugs, such as beta blockers and diuretics, can dampen your sex drive. If you're already on some of these drugs, monitor your symptoms. If low libido persists, ask to be switched to a different drug, such as an angiotensin-receptor blocker.-Interview by Melissa Schorr