Dr. Christensen explains what PMS says about the amount of stress is a woman's life.

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Younger children from low-income families who pick up the stress of their anxious mothers often respond by developing poor eating habits that raise their risk of becoming overweight, a new study says.

One of my close girlfriends had a bad case of hives last summer (had to be on antibiotics, steroids, and I forgot what else). She was under a lot of stress finshing up her law degree and studying for the bar exam.

Now, a year later, she's passed the bar, has a job, and consequently, has less stress in her life (or, at least a different type!)... and her hives have returned! She is extremely frustrated, and is wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Also, she's wondering if the hives were never really caused by "excess stress" in the first place?

thanks!

It was such a great feeling this afternoon when I opened my mailbox and saw that my new Social Security card had arrived. Just one of the final steps in a three-month stressful ordeal to regain my former, pre-marriage identity. Who knew it would be so challenging. And especially here in Arizona where the system is so archaic that a divorced woman is required to get her ex-husband's permission (signed and notarized) in order to change back to the name she was given at birth.

Mellanie explains the Simple 5-Step Program (HEART Program). Mellanie True Hills is a heart survivor, an AFIB patient advocate and the author of A Woman's Guide to Saving Her Own Life: The HEART Program for Health & Longevity.

SATURDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Irresponsible eating, lack of exercise and alcohol consumption are among the factors that contribute to the Freshman 15, which refers to the extra pounds packed on by many new college students, according to a Duke University expert.

(HealthDay News) -- If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, it's important to understand the reasons for your insomnia.

Here's a list of possible reasons for your sleepless nights, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Discomfort or illness.
* Depression.
* Stress or anxiety.
* Drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications or illicit drugs.
* An inappropriate sleep environment, including one that's too bright or too noisy.
* Related activities that affect your sleep, such as taking naps or going to bed too early.

(HealthDay News) -- Deep breathing techniques are a great way to fight stress and anxiety, and help you relax.

Here are basic steps to deep breathing, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Lie on your back, on a flat surface.
* Place one hand on your stomach just above your belly button, and the other hand on your chest.
* Inhale slowly, making sure that your stomach rises a bit.
* Hold your breath for a second.
* Slowly exhale, letting your stomach sink back down.

According to a Danish study, pregnant women experiencing a high level of psychological stress may be at in increased risk for stillbirths.

Stillbirth is when a fetus that was expected to survive, dies during birth or in the last stages of pregnancy says, the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

A study conducted over a 10-year period suggests that while most women under high stress deliver healthy newborns, their stillbirth rates, compared to women with moderate to low stress rates were five percent compared to three percent.

(HealthDay News) -- People who are emotionally healthy handle stress well, have a positive self-image, and are able to sustain healthy relationships.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help you stay emotionally healthy:

* Establish what you are feeling, and what's causing those feelings.
* Be open with yourself and others about your emotions, instead of keeping the sources of stress and anxiety to yourself.