ਅੱਜ ਦੇ ਤੇਜ਼-ਤਰਾਰ ਦੌਰ ਵਿਚ ਹਰ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਤਣਾਅ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਹਾਲ ਹੀ ਵਿਚ ਕੀਤੇ ਇਕ ਸਰਵੇ ਵਿਚ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਪੁਰਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਤਣਾਅਪੂਰਨ ਰਹਿੰਦੀਆਂ ਹ

ਇਹ ਸਰਵੇ ਨਾ ਸਿਰਫ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ ਬਲਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ, ਜਰਮਨੀ, ਫਰਾਂਸ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਰਵੇ ਨਾਲ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਤਣਾਅ ਕਾਫੀ ਘੱਟ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਘਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਘਰ ਵਿਚ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਘਰ ਦਾ ਕੰਮ ਅਤੇ ਘਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਦਫਤਰ ਦੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਾਫੀ ਤਣਾਅ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Thyroid Conditions

Goiter: A general term for thyroid swelling. Goiters can be harmless, or can represent iodine deficiency or a condition associated with thyroid inflammation called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid, usually from a viral infection or autoimmune condition. Thyroiditis can be painful, or have no symptoms at all.

Hyperthyroidism: Excessive thyroid hormone production. Hyperthyroidism is most often caused by Graves disease or an overactive thyroid nodule.

Hypothyroidism: Low production of thyroid hormone. Thyroid damage caused by autoimmune disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism .

Graves disease: An autoimmune condition in which the thyroid is overstimulated, causing hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid cancer: An uncommon form of cancer, thyroid cancer is usually curable. Surgery, radiation, and hormone treatments may be used to treat thyroid cancer.

Thyroid nodule: A small abnormal mass or lump in the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules are extremely common. Few are cancerous. They may secrete excess hormones, causing hyperthyroidism, or cause no problems.

Thyroid storm: A rare form of hyperthyroidism in which extremely high thyroid hormone levels cause severe illness.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck. Your thyroid lies below your Adam’s apple, along the front of the windpipe. The thyroid has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t feel it.

Brownish-red in color, the thyroid is rich with blood vessels. Nerves important for voice quality also pass through the thyroid.

The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development.

Anaemia is a condition where there’s a lack of haemoglobin – the chemical in red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body. There may be a deficiency of red blood cells, or low levels of haemoglobin within the red blood cells.

One of the commonest reasons for anaemia is a shortage of iron. Iron-deficiency anaemia is a common cause of tiredness and lethargy among women of all ages.

Many women aren’t aware they have a problem until they’re tested or try to donate blood, but there may also be symptoms such as getting tired easily, feeling short of breath, palpitations and looking pale.

If you have heavy periods, you’re at particular risk

Women are more at risk of anaemia than men because they lose blood every month during their periods and so constantly need to make more blood. If you have heavy periods, you’re at particular risk.

Although your diet should provide all the iron you need to replace the lost blood, many women still don’t get enough. Vegetarians and vegans may find it particularly hard to take in enough iron.

Good dietary sources include:

* Meat, poultry and liver (but avoid liver during pregnancy)
* Fortified breakfast cereals
* Fresh green vegetables

The tannin in tea can interfere with iron absorption in the gut, so avoid drinking tea with meals. Vitamin C, on the other hand, has the opposite effect, so a glass of orange juice with your steak is a good idea.

Iron supplements are available from pharmacies for those who can’t get enough from their diet. There are various types and if you don’t get on with one type, try another.

Benefits to the Infant:

• Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear infections.

• Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies.

• Breastfeeding may boost your child’s intelligence.

• Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life.

• Breastfeeding may protect your baby from childhood leukemia.

• Breastfeeding may protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes.

• Breastfeeding may protect preemies from infections and high blood pressure later in life.

• Breastfeeding may lower your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Benefits to the Mother:

• Breastfeeding helps you lose weight.

• Breastfeeding can lower your stress levels and reduce postpartum bleeding.

• Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer.

• Breastfeeding may protect against osteoporosis later in life.