“Conditions That Can Cause Weight Gain”

Hypothyroidism: You may start packing on the pounds if your thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, stops making enough hormones. It also could thin your hair, dry your skin, and make you feel colder, tired, constipated, and even depressed. A simple blood test can confirm if your hormone levels are low, and artificial hormones can help you feel better. 

Depression: Weight gain and even obesity are among the possible physical side effects. People with this mood disorder often have higher levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol, which may cause fat to gather around your belly. Or you may pack on the pounds because you feel too down to eat right or exercise. Certain medications used to treat the condition also could do it. Talk to your doctor or a therapist if you feel depressed.

Insomnia: People who get less than 6 hours of shut-eye a night tend to have more body fat. About 8 hours is the sweet spot for keeping the weight off. Lack of sleep can cause your body to make too much of the hormones cortisol and insulin, which can add pounds. It also can mess up the hormones that signal hunger and make you crave food, especially those loaded with fat and sugar.

Menopause: Less estrogen during menopause can put more fat around your belly. But less hormones isn’t the only cause. Hot flashes, sleep problems, and moodiness linked to the end of a woman’s fertility may get in the way of healthy eating and exercise. If you’re already sleep deprived and depressed, you might reach for a candy bar instead of making a nutritious meal. Your doctor can suggest ways to help with your symptoms.

Cushing’s Disease: Usually, cortisol helps keep your blood pressure and blood sugar in a healthy range. But when your adrenal glands make too much of this stress hormone, it can add fat to your belly and the base of your neck. You might bruise more and notice weaker, thinner limbs, a round face, and big purple stretch marks. Your doctor will try to figure out the cause, and then treat it with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or drugs to lower cortisol.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: There’s no one test that can tell a woman she has this disease. You may skip periods, sprout more hair on your face or body, or get acne. Also, cysts may grow on your ovaries. Too much male androgen hormone causes it. You also could gain weight because you’re less sensitive to insulin, a hormone that helps your body turn blood sugar into energy. Your doctor can help balance or replace the hormones.

Congestive Heart Failure: It’s when your heart doesn’t pump hard enough. Sudden weight gain -- 2-3 pounds in a day or more than 5 pounds a week -- could mean it’s getting worse. You also might have swollen feet and ankles, a faster pulse, heavy breathing, high blood pressure, memory loss, and confusion. You might want to track these symptoms so you can tell your doctor about abrupt changes. Together, you can adjust your treatment for better health.

Sleep Apnea: If you’re a noisy snorer or feel drowsy during the day, it could be a sign you may have this serious condition. Your airway regularly cuts off breathing for a few seconds in your sleep. Being overweight or obese is one cause of sleep apnea, but it can also be a symptom. The condition could make you more likely to have liver problems, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Your doctor might suggest a CPAP breathing machine or other treatments.

Edema: Feeling a bit puffy? This condition happens when your body is holding too much water, usually in your arms and legs. A limb might look swollen and feel tight and hard to move. Edema itself is not usually a big deal. Diuretics, also called water pills, can help get rid of it if it doesn’t get better on its own. But you and your doctor should work to manage the underlying cause, like heart, kidney, liver, and lung diseases, which can be quite serious.

Metabolic Syndrome: It’s a group of conditions that happens together and raises your chances of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body fat may be at unhealthy levels. There might be no obvious symptoms except for extra pounds that add up around your waist. Your doctor can help you manage it with changes in diet and exercise as well as medicine and, in rare cases, weight loss surgery.

Diabetes: Depending on the type, you can treat diabetes with a mix of diet, exercise, insulin, and medication. Insulin helps your body use energy. But it also makes it easier for your body to store the energy, which often can lead to weight gain. Plus, you may be tempted to eat more to prevent low blood sugar from some of the treatments. Talk to your doctor about how to best balance diet, exercise, insulin, and medication to manage your weight and your diabetes.

Steroids: Your doctor might call them corticosteroids. You can use them to treat asthma, some types of arthritis, and other conditions. The higher the dose and the longer you take steroids, the more likely they are to make you extra hungry! That could lead to overeating and weight gain. Talk to your doctor about how best to manage the side effects of your steroid treatment.

Common Medications: One drug might make you hungry. Another might slow your body’s calorie burn or change the way your body absorbs nutrients. Some just make your body hang on to more water. Sometimes, scientists don’t know for sure why a drug causes weight gain. Common examples are birth control pills, antipsychotics, antidepressants, epilepsy drugs, and beta-blockers (for high blood pressure).

Reviewed by: Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on November 16, 2018

Sources:

American Heart Association: “Managing Heart Failure Symptoms.”
American Thyroid Association: “Hypothyroidism.”
Cleveland Clinic: “My Diabetes Is Controlled — But Why Am I Gaining Weight?” “Can Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Make You Gain Weight?”
Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine: “Sleep and Disease Risk.”
HelpGuide.org: “How Excess Weight Affects Your Health.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Metabolic Syndrome.”
Mayo Clinic: “Edema,” “Depression (major depressive disorder),” “Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).”
National Health Service: “Nine medical reasons for putting on weight.”
National Sleep Foundation: “What is Sleep Apnea?” “How Losing Sleep Affects Your Body and Mind.”
NCBI Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care: “Causes and signs of edema.”
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Cushing's Syndrome.”
North American Menopause Society: “Midlife Weight Gain—Sound Familiar? You’re Not Alone.”
SleepApnea.org: “Your weight matters: obesity and sleep apnea.”
University of Rochester Medical Center: “When Your Weight Gain Is Caused by Medicine.”
Womenshealth.gov: “Menopause.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk. 

“What Is Narcissism?”

I’m Fabulous! Don’t You Agree? Simply put, it’s the tendency to think very highly of yourself and to have little or no regard for others. A narcissist is selfish, vain, and a glutton for attention. But there’s a range. Just because you have some of the traits doesn’t mean you’re mentally unhealthy.

When Is Narcissism a Problem? Experts might say it’s when those traits start to hurt your relationships and distort your sense of self. Extreme narcissism can cross over to a mental illness called narcissistic personality disorder. Your life revolves around your need for approval. You don’t understand or care about others’ feelings. You’re convinced you’re special, and you need others to acknowledge it.

Mirror, Mirror: The word narcissism comes from a mythical Greek youth who couldn’t pull himself away from his own reflection. Narcissus was beautiful. Narcissists, on the other hand, don’t have to be beautiful to believe they are. They’re convinced that they’re superior, even when it’s not the reality.

Endless Hunger: Praise. That’s what a narcissist wants from you. All the time. Their appetite for it is unlimited. And it goes in only one direction, so don’t expect any in return. And if that constant stream of flattery and admiration stops even for a second, they can turn hostile or aggressive very quickly.

They Don’t Care: Really, they don’t. Other people’s feelings aren’t on a narcissist’s radar. They usually never grow any empathy. They see you as a tool to get what they want, or an obstacle in their way. Sometimes, they don’t mean to be jerks. They’re simply blind to how they affect you.

They’re Bullies: A narcissist’s puffed-up self-image often masks a fear that they don’t measure up. When someone punctures their ego or insults them, narcissists can lash out. They demean, belittle, and intimidate. Many studies have linked narcissism with higher levels of aggression and violence.

Romance With a Narcissist: You might not see the red flags at first. Narcissists are often charming and popular. But over time, they may become cold, manipulative, and cruel. And they are often unfaithful, always on the lookout for a more impressive or better-looking partner.

Like Attracts Like? You’d think narcissists would favor partners who feed their egos or who put up with their insensitivity. But that’s usually not the case. Narcissists hook up with all personality types. Still, they’re a bit more likely to end up in a relationship with another narcissist.

Narcissists as Co-Workers: They make good first impressions and excel in job interviews. But they can be lousy hires. Narcissists overestimate their own skills and put yours down. They’ll do whatever it takes to impress. They’ll barge into private conversations, give unwanted advice, and shamelessly steal ideas. They’re also rated worse by the employees they manage, except by those who are narcissists themselves.

It’s Not All Bad: A dose of narcissism can be a good thing. It can build your self-esteem and give you joy. You’re less likely to be depressed, lonely, or discouraged. “Normal narcissists” often are excellent speakers and visionaries. That may be why they also tend to earn bigger salaries in the corporate world.

Think Someone’s a Narcissist? Just ask them! They are surprisingly willing to tell you exactly who they are. Not that they think there’s anything wrong with them. They might even say you’re a sucker for not being a narcissist yourself. They for sure won’t apologize for their behavior or how they live their life.

If Your Partner Is a Narcissist: They may lull you with grand dreams when life is good. But when the fantasy pops, you may become the root of all their problems. Don’t buy into either distorted picture. It helps if you:

• Don’t make excuses for them when they lie or hurt others.
• Realize they will do the same to you.
• Focus on your own dreams and goals.

How to Handle a Narcissist?

Set boundaries: Decide where your limit is. Stick to it even as they try to punish, charm, or bully you.
Criticize gently: They may get angry if you threaten their self-image. Focus on how their behavior makes you feel rather than on their intentions.
Walk away if they become angry: Try again when they’re calm.
Don’t argue: They probably won’t hear you and may attack your motives.

Treatment: Narcissists aren’t keen to get professional help. After all, defensiveness is one of their hallmarks. And there’s no proven treatment. Some experts say talk therapy may help narcissists better understand how their behavior affects others. Some therapists may try more effective treatments meant for conditions with similar traits, like borderline personality disorder.

Reviewed by: Smitha Bhandari, MD on March 15, 2018

Sources:

American Psychiatric Association: “DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criteria for the Personality Disorders.”

American Psychological Association: “Research Debunks Commonly Held Belief About Narcissism.”

Encyclopaedia Britannica: “Narcissus.”

Harvard Business Review: “Who Empathizes with Machiavellian or Narcissistic Leaders?”

Helpguide.org: “Narcissistic Personality Disorder.”

Joshua Miller, PhD, professor and director, clinical training program, University of Georgia Department of Psychology.

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: “Narcissism in Romantic Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective.”

Mayo Clinic: “Narcissistic personality disorder.”

Personality and Individual Differences: “Personality and Individual Differences.”

Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment: “Narcissism and newlywed marriage: Partner characteristics and marital trajectories.”

PLOS One: “Development and Validation of the Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS).”

Psychology of Narcissism, Nova Science Publishers: “Physiological And Health-related Correlates Of The Narcissistic Personality.”

SANE.org: “Is narcissism common? The answer may surprise you.”

Social Psychological and Personality Science: “Do Bad Guys Get Ahead or Fall Behind? Relationships of the Dark Triad of Personality With Objective and Subjective Career Success.”

University of British Columbia Department of Psychology: “Job Interviews Reward Narcissists, Punish Applicants From Modest Cultures.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.