Physical Effects of Being a Caretaker

Most Americans will be caregivers at some point during their lives. The act of giving care to an ailing loved one can evoke feelings such as anxiety, anger, fear and sadness. This new stress can also manifest itself in a variety of physical side effects. The act of giving full-time care and its responsibilities can spark disorders, including depression and anxiety. Caregivers are also at risk for higher blood pressure, exhaustion and obesity. Many of these illnesses are common in caregivers, who tend to be women over the age of 40. These physical ailments manifest due to caregivers neglecting their own health, which is put on the back burner to care for a loved in need.

High Blood Pressure

• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has been labeled a silent killer and often has no symptoms. This condition can cause strokes, heart attacks and kidney disorders. A stressful situation, such as caregiving, can cause a blood pressure condition to develop. To maintain a healthy blood pressure level, limit alcoholic intake; quit smoking; reduce salty food in daily diet, and exercise regularly.

Depression

• Caregivers provide intensive and continuing care to others while suffering from poor health.

  In an effort to provide the best possible care for a family member or friend, caregivers tend to sacrifice personal, physical and emotional needs. The emotional and physical experiences involved with providing care can cause anger, anxiety, sadness, isolation, exhaustion---and then guilt for having these emotions. In each individual, depression manifests in different ways; the type and degree of symptoms vary by person and can change over time. Changes in eating habits, resulting in weight gain or loss, a dramatic change in sleep patterns, feelings of extreme fatigue, losing interest in activities that used to bring joy, increased agitation, thoughts of suicide, as well as ongoing physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive issues and chronic pain -- are all signs of depression. Recognizing symptoms of depression may help to prevent the development of a more serious depression over time.

Exhaustion

• Exhaustion is more than feeling tired; it is being tired for weeks or months on end. A term often associated with this type of exhaustion is "caregiver burnout." This occurs when caregivers forget about their own needs in order to care for their loved one, but slowly experience negative mental and physical side effects. Common side effects are: feelings of extreme fatigue, having sleep that is not restful; becoming easily emotional, memory loss and a haggard appearance. Most caregivers are in a state of denial about their own exhaustion because they do not know how to change their behavior or role as caregiver.

Obesity and Weight Gain

• Caregiving is often a 24-hour-a-day job. The responsibilities of giving care can cause a dramatic change in one's ability to exercise, eat balanced and get enough sleep -- all factors which contribute to weight gain and can lead to obesity. The body can experience a metabolic change due to the increase in stress. The metabolic rate can shift towards storing fats due to the increase in fight-or-flight stress hormones released during heightened levels of anxiety. For middle-age women, who fall into the role of caregiver most often, hormonal changes of peri-menopause can also lead to weight gain. It is common for women to step into the care of elderly parents when they are beginning menopause.

Coping Mechanisms

• Individuals acting as caregivers should reprioritize and put their own health needs first. The increased health risks are due to basic over extension of oneself. The physicality of helping an ailing family member with their daily hygiene, transportation and monitoring of dietary needs, which are difficult even for a trained professional, can prove overwhelming. These factors are compounded by the emotional hardship of seeing a loved one in need. Caregivers should develop a routine and be consistent in scheduling doctor visits and specific annual procedures. By maintaining an annual schedule, there is less likelihood of pivotal tests and checkups falling by the wayside.

  Caregivers are nearly twice as likely as non-caregivers to report a chronic condition, and they are less likely to seek medical attention. Such factors makes annual tests and doctor visits more crucial for these high-risk individuals. Because caregivers become so consumed with the care of their loved one, they do not see or ignore the warning signs of their own declining health.