The consensus is mixed. People who develop these problems have a wide range of personalities and lifestyle / psychological states – some are highly stressed, others are calm, collected and contented.

What about chronic ailments such as cancer and heart disease?

Some studies suggest that pessimists or introverts are at higher risk, others suggest that optimists or extroverts are just as likely to suffer from dread disease. Research into the relationship between personality traits and illness has been the subject of many studies over the years – and there seems to be a mixed bag of results.

It’s all a bit complicated. First, “personality types” are constructs by researchers and don’t necessarily correlate well with what is going on with people in the real world. What’s more, dozens of overlapping traits, in various permutations, have been studied. There are countless ways to measure them, plus many theories of personality that use different terms and concepts. Most people don’t fit neatly into one description and ‘personality types’ may change over time. Also, a link between a personality trait and a disease doesn’t mean that one is causing the other.

So what are the personality types?

There’s a long history in psychology of attempting to classify personality types. But only fairly recently have health-related personality types been developed.

The first was the Type A personality. The theory went that people with this personality, who were aggressive, competitive, tense, impatient and quite often hostile were at higher risk for heart disease. This was based on the results of studies on men. For years this was treated as absolutely correct, but the latest research does not confirm the initial findings, and including women casts even further doubt on the results.

Still, certain Type A traits such as chronic hostility/anger and cynicism/mistrust may well be linked to heart problems. There was a 2010 English review of studies which concluded that anger and hostility predict heart disease in healthy people and poor prognosis in cardiac patients.

People with Type B personality are the polar opposite of Type A. People who exhibit personality traits associated with Type B are calm, cheery, cooperative, patient, easy-going individuals.  These traits may make you a more pleasant person, but there’s no clear evidence it will keep you healthy.

It was once thought that the Type C personality which is usually passive and often exhibits feelings of helplessness, while attempting to help people all the time was at increased risk of cancer. That could conceivably be true if when presented with bad health news, such people passively accept their prognosis and don’t follow through with treatment or even check with their doctor. It’s tempting to think that these traits would not be conducive to good health, but again there’s no solid evidence one way or the other.

The newest characterisation is a Type D personality. D for distressed. These folk are irritable, anxious and worried, with a very negative view of the world. They tend to be socially inhibited, insecure and easily stressed. Several studies have implicated Type D in an array of cardiovascular risk factors and poor general health. But, of course, in a few years the concept of Type D may seem as outmoded.

The post How does your Personality Type Affect Your Health? first appeared on Healthy Gab.

The post How does your Personality Type Affect Your Health? appeared first on Healthy Gab.

Whether it’s making Afghans, baby blankets or clothing for adults or even bedding the act of knitting or crocheting it seems that the nearly automatic actions involved allows people to focus on the here and now – especially useful when having to listen attentively to someone.

In the United States there seems to be a renewed interest in both knitting and crocheting. The Craft Yarn Council has issued information that indicates that up to one third of women between the ages of 25 and 35 now knit or crochet.

Even medical practitioners have come out in favour of the hobbies. Well known author of “The Relaxation Response,” Dr. Herbert Benson has said that the repetitive actions involved in needlework lead to mental states that closely resemble those of people who engage in yoga and meditation.

Once the initial learning stages have been mastered needlework can lead to the lowering of the heart rate, as well as lowering blood pressure. The levels of cortisol, which has been associated with stress are also lowered. Of course the production of a tangible product also enhances self-esteem.

The Council has kept records of thousands of needlework aficionados ever since the 1990’s and these hobbyists have provided feedback on the positive benefits, including stress relief and creative fulfilment. It seems that both knitting and crocheting can help people handle work stress and clam thinking, which in turn assists with problem solving.

However, the hobbies can also help people cope with other challenges. A life coach named Karen Zila Hayes from Canada who manages knitting therapy groups has announced that she has seen improvements in people who are striving to quit smoking. She also runs “Knit to Heal” which assists people in coping with health issues such as a diagnosis of cancer or the illness of a family member. Similar programs in schools and prisons show that knitting and crocheting also help students and inmates calm themselves, as well as enhancing social skills. The complexity involved in many patterns has also benefited children’s maths skills.

There’s also some evidence to suggest that keeping both hands and mind occupied can help those who are struggling to lose weight. The focus required and the physical activity means that there’s less time for boredom and the attendant urge to snack. The physical activity can also help those who are suffering from arthritis.

A 2009 University of British Columbia study of nearly 40 women with anorexia nervosa who were instructed in knitting skills found that mastery led to significant improvements. Seventy-four percent of the women said the activity lessened their anxiety and kept them from repetitive thinking about their problem.

A life and wellness coach in Bath, England, Betsan Corkhill and author of the book “Knit for Health & Wellness,” set up a website, Stitchlinks, to explore the value of therapeutic knitting. 54 Percent of clinically depressed users said that knitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with chronic pain, Ms. Corkhill reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus, leading to a reduction in their awareness of pain.

Research has also suggested that crafts like knitting and crocheting could potentially help to stave off a decline in brain function which has been associated with aging. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas E. Geda, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., interviewed a random sample of 1,321 people ages 70 to 89. The results of the study which were published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, found that those who engaged in knitting and crocheting had a reduced chance of developing mild cognitive impairment and memory loss.

There are other studies that support this finding. A 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas, Dallas demonstrated that learning to quilt or do digital photography enhanced memory function in older adults. Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and longevity, people wishing to maximise the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded people.

The post Knitting for Health first appeared on Healthy Gab.

The post Knitting for Health appeared first on Healthy Gab.

It’s a highly stressed world out there. We have to move faster, work quicker and make more money than ever before in order to get by.

Balancing our personal responsibilities with the demands of the modern world can cause even the strongest person to fall prey to debilitating stress – but are there ways to cope and even eliminate stress – yes there are, and here are some great tips on how to remove that stress load from your shoulders. Try these out – and remember that practice makes perfect.

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The post 9 Secret Ways to Lower your Stress Load first appeared on Healthy Gab.

The post 9 Secret Ways to Lower your Stress Load appeared first on Healthy Gab.