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| Caregiver |
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| Tender loving care |
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| Signs of stress |
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| Gingivitis-gum inflamation |
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Caregiving is a 6-Letter Word: STRESS
With a heavy sigh Clarise sat down in the dentist’s examination chair. She had dark circles under her eyes, and she had lost a significant amount of weight. Curiously, Clarise had not been to the dentist’s office in over a year. As the hygienist examined Clarise’s teeth and asked Clarise questions, she was shocked by what she was seeing in Clarise’s mouth. Clarise always brushed and flossed regularly, just like she had been advised. Yet, Clarise’s gums were red and swollen in several places, evidence that Clarice was not taking care of her teeth. The hygienist discovered that for the past year Clarise had been providing 24-hour, 7-days a week care for her elderly, disabled husband.
We likely all know of someone who provides home care for a family member. Maybe that someone is you. Take heart in knowing that you are not alone. The U.S. Department of Labor states there are over 22 million caregivers in America . That is the population of Texas ! A survey reported by the Family Caregiver Alliance states that there are 52 million caregivers in America . That’s the population of Texas and California —combined! The reason this latter number is so much larger is because of the difference in the definition of being a caregiver. But no matter; either way you look at it, that is a tremendous number of people who provide home care for someone else.
Caregivers might need a reality check
The life of a caregiver is no picnic. There are long hours and sometimes burdensome tasks that must be done. You might feel alone, isolated and overwhelmed. You never take any time away from your responsibilities, even to the point of ignoring your own physical and mental health. After all, Clarise took a vow when she married her loved one, and she intends to uphold that vow—no matter the consequence. “It’s a labor of love,” you might say. It is common for a caregiver to have the attitude of “If I don’t help, who will?”
However, did you know that if you become seriously ill from ignoring your own health that you might be doing additional harm to your loved one? Instead of having one seriously impaired person in the house, you now have two! And one of those two can no longer provide adequate care for the other.
As a caregiver, it is not selfish to look after your own health. It is an important part of being a caregiver so that you can effectively care for the other person.
The body reacts to many factors
There are several ways that caregiving affects you. Current studies indicate
that 46–59 percent of caregivers are experiencing depression, and as shown
below, depression is an indicator of stress.
These are some of the signs of stress:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Memory lapses
- Difficulty sleeping and taking sleep medications
- Feeling isolated—withdrawing from friends and family
- On-going exhaustion
- Loss of productivity at work and/or at home
- Denial of being stressed
- Feeling irritable most or all of the time
- Gingivitis*
- Aches and pains
- Smoking or increased smoking
If you experience even a few of these signs, you need to immediately seek help and make changes in your routine.
*Gingivitis: redness and swelling caused by bacterial infection in the soft tissues (gums) surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis is the result of plaque, that sticky substance that clings to your teeth after you eat food or drink a beverage. An unchecked bacterial infection in the gums can result in other more serious conditions. (Read “Ow! My Tooth is Killing Me!” in the November 2006 issue of SmileLink.)
Chronic stress affects the body’s ability to protect itself. The immune system is weakened. People who suffer from stress can develop allergies, high blood pressure, migraines and heart attacks, to name a few. Caregivers who show signs of stress are more likely to have poor eating habits, to not get enough exercise, to work when sick and to not make or keep doctor and dental appointments.
Dr. Holly Prigerson, director of the Center for Psycho-oncology and Pallitive Care Research at the Dana-Farber Cancer institute in Boston , states, “…caregivers are experiencing a clinically significant level of distress, yet they seem to be neglecting their own mental health needs, quite possibly due to the lack of time, energy, or financial resources associated with caregiving.” She feels that front line health care professionals can play a major role in identifying stressed caregivers and offering them guidance and help.
Stress is an enemy of your teeth
We know that stress can wreak havoc with our bodies causing illnesses and even death. Until recently, none of the research had focused on dental conditions. Now there is evidence that teeth are victims of stress.
We also know that not having or keeping a proper dental care routine can seriously affect our health. A study published in June 2006, in the Journal of Periodontology focused on dental health. It reported that caregivers are four times more likely as non-caregivers to have increased plaque when the caregiver experiences short-term stress. Long-term physical stress made caregivers twice as likely to suffer from gingivitis. The report also stated that stress might cause the caregiver to not take an interest in keeping a regular dental care routine.
However, it is not the stress that directly causes gum or periodontal diseases. Stress occurs when caregivers focus only on the loved one’s health. The caregivers’ health is not a priority. Making and keeping dental appointments is not a priority. Brushing and flossing is not a priority. Caregivers feel selfish and guilty about concerns for their own health needs. This sets up a perfect situation for plaque and gingivitis to attack your teeth.
We are responsible for our own good dental health
A regular program of brushing and flossing helps the body in so many ways. It is easy to do; it doesn’t take long to do and the rewards are worthwhile. Simply stated, you cannot effectively help your loved one if you don’t first help yourself.
You may also be interested in:
The health of your mouth
Don't let financial stress eats at you
Cosmetic dentistry-a smart investment
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