In the 1970s, the then-famous actor George Sanders shocked the world when he killed himself and left a suicide note that explained, “… I am bored.” Killing yourself is a pretty extreme response to being bored, of course, but several studies of late have found a startling connection between chronic boredom and early death… perhaps a literal demonstration of “bored to death.” In one study, researchers conducted initial interviews in the mid-1980s with 7,500 civil servants in the UK. When they returned to update information about 25 years later, they found that people who had said that they were bored in the original screening were nearly 40% more likely to have died than those who found their lives more interesting. The same study revealed that people living with high levels of tedium were 2.5 times more likely to die of heart disease than those who did not. This is certainly an interesting demonstration of the powerful connection between mind and body.

Many people live with assorted states of boredom — and yes, some parts of life (paying bills, loading the dishwasher) are quite dull. But giving in to living a life that feels tedious can ultimately be very destructive, says life coach and Daily Health News contributor Lauren Zander. Boredom is a state of mind, she says — in her view, this truth is very, very powerful.

The destructive part? People who are bored at work start showing up late, making mistakes and otherwise begin to act in ways that may eventually lead to the exit door (or at the very least, keep them stuck doing the same job without much prospect of advancement). Boredom can also destroy relationships… no longer excited about the other person, people quit paying attention to conversations or doing nice things for him/her — and some even use their boredom to justify having an affair. Boredom doesn’t strike only in romantic relationships, by the way — it can also cause you to take friends, siblings, even your children for granted.

Interestingly, boredom can even arise in areas where you have achieved success — precisely because you’ve succeeded. Say you have a wonderful job and you are on top of the career ladder, but you find yourself getting restless and, yes, bored. The reason is simply that you have attained mastery (and kudos to you!) and now it just feels like the same-old, same-old.

Boredom feeds on itself, breeding laziness and yet more dissatisfaction. When you’re bored, you do nothing, which leads to… being bored. If you are sitting on the couch being bored, you are not reading books that suggest new adventures or challenge your old ways of thinking. You aren’t out enjoying events and activities and interactions with others. You aren’t engaging in activities that are creative, fun, stimulating or enriching. Of course you’re bored!

But flat as it may make you feel, Lauren doesn’t see boredom as one-dimensional at all… in fact, it has many layers, she says. If you find yourself saying “it is what it is” about your boring life, it’s partly out of laziness… partly indifference… and also likely has elements of fear and depression too. All this is wrapped up tightly in the belief that you cannot do anything to make life better. People blame outside forces for their boredom… their same old job, spouse, house… everything but themselves.

Boredom may be an inevitable part of life, but it’s not a life sentence — it’s a signal that you need to find something interesting to do! That seemingly enlightened mantra “it is what it is” is, in fact, a clue that you are feeling stuck in your life or behavior — take it as a nudge to start looking to learn something from your boredom. It may mean that you have achieved your goals in one part of your life, so it is time to create change for yourself — perhaps search out new challenges that you could add to your job description or maybe even look for a whole new position. Or if your weekends are empty and dull because they’re no longer filled with your children’s sports and parties, it’s time to schedule new activities of your own.

Here’s the powerful part: Becoming aware of your boredom shows you the parts of life where you are letting things just exist rather than taking action to shape them to your liking. So now you can do something about it. Take an inventory of your current life… look for areas where you have become lazy, slightly depressed, indifferent and feel resigned about facing another day. These are all indicators of boredom and as such they are your signals to step in to start making change. Note: Lauren cautions that it is important to be careful not to confuse boredom with contentment. Contentment is when you truly are at peace with the way things are, whereas boredom leaves you unhappy with the status quo.

Finding ways to bring some zing into your life isn’t hard. When people consider making changes in their lives, they tend to think globally, as if they have to change everything — start a new career or ditch a spouse — right now. Not so, says Lauren. In fact the best way to get going is with very small changes, which may be as simple as adding air to the tires of your bike and going for a ride… getting in the car and heading out for a “field trip” to a town you’ve never visited… or even going food shopping in a very different sort of place, like a farmer’s market or a gourmet supermarket. If your sex life with your partner puts you to sleep, you can change that by taking small steps as well, says Lauren. “Make out in the car, ask for a kiss in the morning, do something new together each week — slowly inch your way back to where you would like this to be,” she suggests. Try something new or different to engage your imagination and emotions. Start by breaking the boredom of the moment, and then go on to making plans to break the cycle in more important areas where you feel stuck, such as work or your marriage overall.

Boredom is actually a valuable signal that can energize you and put you back in power. Pay attention to your “boredom radar” so that you spot it quickly, before it harms the quality of your life. Take responsibility, urges Lauren. “You’re the driver in your life — and if you have driven yourself into a ditch, admit you put yourself there and accept that you can get yourself out.” That’s a powerful thought indeed!

“My doctor told me to start taking aspirin every day to protect my heart,” a neighbor said at a recent gathering. “My doctor told me to stop!” said another woman. “I’m so confused about the whole aspirin question that I don’t do anything,” added a third.

It’s no wonder that women are baffled. Sometimes it seems that every new study suggesting additional protective effects from daily aspirin is quickly followed by one revealing yet another dangerous side effect. What’s more, the newest recommendations for women are different than those for men — and different than the previous guidelines for women.

To make sense of the latest research findings, I spoke with Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, director of the department of women and heart disease at the Heart and Vascular Institute of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She explained why the question of whether or not to take aspirin is so complex, especially for women… and how to figure out what’s right for you.

Aspirin’s health benefits are primarily due to its ability to prevent blood from forming clots that can clog arteries. But: There also are many confounding factors to consider in weighing the risks and benefits. Here’s how regular aspirin use affects a woman’s…

Cardiovascular health. For women age 55 to 64 who have risk factors for heart disease, aspirin can prevent a first stroke… prevent a second heart attack… and reduce heart disease risk. For women age 65 and older, aspirin has these same benefits and also helps prevent a first heart attack.

Confounding factors: Aspirin’s ability to protect against heart attacks is much stronger in men than in women. Also, aspirin generally provides no protection against stroke — and, in fact, may increase stroke risk — in women under age 55. That’s because younger women are more likely to experience a hemorrhagic stroke (caused by bleeding in the brain) than an ischemic stroke (caused by blood vessel blockage).

Furthermore: New evidence suggests that people who take aspirin regularly have a greater incidence of cerebral microbleeds, which are tiny asymptomatic areas of bleeding in the brain. Although more research is needed to reveal the health consequences, such microbleeds could be harmful.

Cancer risk. Recent studies link aspirin to a reduced risk for postmenopausal breast cancer and for cancers of the colon, pancreas, skin and ovaries. Among patients with breast cancer, aspirin may reduce the chance of recurrence and/or increase survival rates.

Confounding factor: The evidence for aspirin’s potential as a cancer-prevention tool is not sufficient to recommend it for people at average risk for cancer.

Eyes. Aspirin may have a modest benefit in preventing age-related macular degeneration, a common eye disease that destroys central vision.

Confounding factor: One study reported that long-term use of aspirin increased the risk for cataracts by 55%.

Gastrointestinal tract. There are no confounding factors here — because aspirin’s potential effects on the digestive system are all bad. Reason: Aspirin interferes with the mucous lining that protects the stomach and intestines from digestive acids. The most serious concern is gastrointestinal bleeding, which can involve sudden loss of blood and/or perforation of the digestive tract.

Risk factors: Gastrointestinal bleeding risk increases with age… a history of upper gastrointestinal tract pain… and a history of ulcers.

Use the following guidelines to get a sense of whether you might be a good candidate for preventive aspirin use, then discuss the issue with your physician. Important: Make sure that your doctor is aware of all medications and supplements that you are taking. Do not start or stop taking aspirin without your doctor’s OK.

Daily aspirin is probably recommended if you meet any of these conditions…

• Have a history of heart attack.
• Have a history of ischemic stroke (not hemorrhagic stroke) or blood clots.
• Are between age 65 and 79 and are healthy.
• Are between age 55 and 64 and have two or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors…

 

• Atherosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the arteries).
• Blood pressure above 130/85 mmHg.
• HDL “good” cholesterol below 50 mg/dL.
• LDL “bad” cholesterol above 160 mg/dL.
• Decreased blood flow in the legs.
• Waist measurement of more than 35 inches.
• Diabetes.
• Fasting blood sugar level above 100 mg/dL.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Cigarette use.
• High stress levels.

 

Daily aspirin should be considered if you meet any of these conditions…

• Are under age 55 and have at least two of the cardiovascular risk factors listed above.
• Are age 80 or older and have no risk factors (other than age) for gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Have a history of colorectal cancer.

Daily aspirin should probably be avoided if you meet any of these conditions…

• Are under age 55 and have none of the cardiovascular risk factors listed above.
• Are age 80 or older and have any risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Are allergic to aspirin.
• Take a blood-thinning drug, such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Take any other NSAID several times per week or more. Have uncontrolled high blood pressure… kidney or liver problems… a bleeding disorder, such as von Willebrand’s disease… or asthma that is exacerbated by aspirin. Have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding… ulcers… bleeding in the brain… or hemorrhagic stroke.

If you and your doctor decide that preventive aspirin is right for you, the standard daily dose is one low-dose or “baby” aspirin — that’s 75 milligrams (mg) to 81 mg. Though much lower than the dosage taken to ease pain and acute inflammation, it is all you need to get aspirin’s protective benefits. Higher doses taken daily or every other day offer no additional protection and carry greater risks.

Best: Don’t use enteric-coated aspirin — it has not been shown to reduce gastrointestinal problems, may not be absorbed well into the bloodstream and costs more. Take aspirin with food to minimize the risk for gastrointestinal problems. After taking any blood pressure-lowering medication, wait at least one hour before taking your daily aspirin.

Caution: When taking aspirin, the following dietary supplements should be avoided because they may increase the risk for bleeding — danshen, dong quai, evening primrose oil, feverfew, ginkgo, policosanol and willow bark.

If you do not need aspirin therapy or fall into the borderline category and want to try safer options for cardiovascular protection, Dr. Steinbaum recommends talking with your doctor about supplementing with 1,000 mg of fish oil daily, plus any or all of the following natural anticoagulants…

• Bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple) at 500 mg three times per day (do not use bromelain if you have a history of ulcers).
• Nattokinase (an enzyme made from fermented soybeans) at 100 mg per day.
• Vitamin E at 800 international units (IU) to 1,200 IU per day.

 

Source: Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, director of the department of women and heart disease at the Heart and Vascular Institute, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, and a founder of Women’s Cardiac Care Network, a citywide public health program. She lectures nationally and on-air. http://www.srsheart.com/

 

Many women with breast cancer want to do anything and everything to fight the disease as aggressively as possible — in fact, more and more are choosing preventive mastectomies even when their cancer is the noninvasive kind that hasn’t spread. But sometimes less treatment may be the healthiest decision — for instance, new research pinpoints a group of women who will do just fine and, in fact, far better without adding radiation to their breast cancer treatment program.

The latest research, from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, shows that most early-stage breast cancer patients do not need radiation after their mastectomies because there is such a low risk for recurrence. But because what one woman sees as “low risk” can seem “too risky” to another, I contacted Henry Kuerer, MD, PhD, professor and training program director in M.D. Anderson’s department of surgical oncology and senior author of the study, to get some perspective.

Researchers reviewed the records of more than 1,000 women (average age 54) whose stage I or II breast cancer had spread to three or fewer lymph nodes. Each woman had had a mastectomy, 77% had also received postoperative chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy, and none had received postoperative radiation. After an average follow-up time of seven-and-a-half years, this group’s rate of recurrence was quite low — just 2.3%.

“Radiation therapy has so many risks — we have to decide if it’s really a benefit when we consider that the risk for recurrence is so low,” Dr. Kuerer told me. The risks of radiation therapy include injury to the cardiopulmonary vessels, the neurological system, the skin and the musculoskeletal system, plus a higher risk for lung cancer, esophageal cancer and leukemia. Meanwhile, he said, surgery and chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer are better and more effective than they used to be, so there’s less need to add radiation to the mix.

Of course, some women really do need radiation treatment for their breast cancer. According to Dr. Kuerer, radiation is advised — and very effective in decreasing the risk for recurrence — for many breast cancer patients with advanced disease (stage III and IV), because their risk is far higher, between 10% and 15%. Radiation should also be strongly considered for women with tumors of more than 5 centimeters… more than four positive lymph nodes… positive margins (indicating that cancer cells have spread to the edge of the biopsied tissue) … and/or extra-capsular extension (a tumor growing from the lymph node into the underarm). Also, it should be considered for breast cancer patients under age 40 (who typically have an aggressive form of the disease), for patients with metastatic breast cancer and for those whose cancers are at borderline stages, such as between stage II and stage III.

Dr. Kuerer advises asking your doctor to assess your risk of recurrence, adding that it’s important to make sure he/she is using current data. Also, he suggests seeking another doctor’s opinion if you feel uncertain. “You need to feel comfortable with your team of doctors and confident that they understand the true risks and benefits of radiation therapy for you.” In the end, there’s no single “right” answer — just what’s right for you.

There’s a motto that many folks swear by at work — “Go along to get along” — and it suddenly looks like very bad advice. That’s because new research has found a link between suppressing workplace anger and increased risk for heart attack. In other words, holding anger inside at the office could literally kill you.

Though this research began more than a decade ago, it has become particularly relevant in our difficult economic times. Workers may feel uneasy about the consequences of disagreement or having a misunderstanding with a boss or colleague. People may experience more job-related pressures but also feel less appreciated. We’ve heard many disturbing accounts of disgruntled workers reacting violently when things aren’t going the way they want them to… yet as this study makes clear, it’s not healthy to hold in your feelings all the time either.

Working with a group of 2,832 Swedish men, the researchers designed a questionnaire to quantify each participant’s typical style for handling angry feelings toward superiors or colleagues at work. A series of questions measured the likelihood that each participant would react “covertly” by suppressing his anger (walking away and taking some time to calm himself, but not taking up the issue again)… holding feelings inside and later developing physical symptoms such as a headache or stomachache… or venting his anger elsewhere. What they found is what makes gulping down your angry thoughts and words at work look very unwise. The more covert a participant’s style of handling workplace anger, the more likely he was to have had a heart attack in the period between 1992 (when the study began) and 2003 (when it ended).

What does this mean for heart health? The researchers found that those who tended to handle conflict with a superior or coworker by suppressing their anger without saying anything (just “letting it pass”) had double the risk for heart attack or cardiac death compared with those who never or seldom behaved this way… and for those who held their anger inside and suffered physical distress later, the risk was triple.

Note: Though this study examined only men, study coauthor Tores Theorell, MD, PhD, professor emeritus and scientific advisor at the Stress Research Institute at Stockholm University, said that covert coping is actually even more common among women. The study was reported in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The findings suggest that it’s unhealthy to suppress your emotions when you’re treated unfairly, say the researchers. But other research has shown that simply venting — expressing strong anger directly — actually can trigger a heart attack (although rarely), so this is not a healthy option either. I called a workplace-management consultant to ask about the healthiest ways to handle anger at work — both for your well-being and for your career.

“Blowing up or holding in anger can both lead to problems, and people who suppress their anger eventually blow up anyway,” I heard from Emil F. Coccaro, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the clinical neuroscience and psychopharmacology research unit in the department of psychiatry at The University of Chicago. Dr. Coccaro said that the goal is not just to get through a situation but “to be calm inside and out and to not feel as if the world is out to get you.”

The best and simplest strategy for handling anger at work is one any modern parent will recognize — a “time-out.” “Excuse yourself and go for a walk. After you’ve calmed down, you’re more likely to have a discussion that’s rational and produces a good resolution,” Dr. Coccaro said. “If you try to discuss the situation when you’re angry, you’ll say things you’ll regret… and also you won’t get what you want.”

Another cool-down strategy: Do some deep-breathing exercises, or try counting slowly to 10. Then, he suggests, you should mentally review the situation when you’ve calmed down. Consider whether your anger is justified — was what the person said or did really so bad? Could it be that you were just feeling irritable that day? Or perhaps you need to take some responsibility… did your own actions trigger something you hadn’t foreseen? It’s important to try to understand the situation more completely.

Everyone gets angry from time to time and sometimes with good reason. If you’re blowing up a few times a week, you may need to be evaluated for anger-management problems, Dr. Coccaro said. Treatment may involve talking with a therapist and sometimes even medication for a short while to help you learn to reframe your thinking about your interactions with others. Sometimes at least some of the problem lies within.