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Archive for September, 2009

More and more people are suffering from digestive disorders these days. Due to poor diets, unhealthy lifestyles and the abuse of caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol, most people develop different forms of ulcer. There are multiple types of ulcer and some of them are considered to be life-threatening. Even milder forms of ulcer may endanger a person?s life if the disorder is not appropriately treated.

Ulcer involves irritation, sores or lesions at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract. The main cause of ulcer is considered to be the infection with the bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which can be acquired through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Another cause of ulcer is the excessive production of hydrochloric acid and pepsin. When in excess, gastric acid may damage the protective walls of the stomach or other particular internal organs, enabling the bacteria to cause greater damage. Although the bacteria Helicobacter pylori and excessive gastric secretions are mainly responsible for the development of ulcer, there are also other factors that may contribute to the process: smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine, etc.

When hydrochloric acid and pepsin are also involved in the development of the ulcer, the disorder is referred to as peptic ulcer. If the ulcer occurs at the level of the duodenum, the disorder is called duodenal ulcer. If the ulcer develops in the stomach, the disorder is called stomach or gastric ulcer. Gastric ulcer is considered to be a serious form of digestive disorder, as it may lead to complications and even cancer. The most severe complications of peptic ulcer are bleeding ulcer and perforate ulcer.

Bleeding ulcer is very dangerous and in some cases it can cause the death of the affected person. Bleeding ulcer requires immediate medical attention and in most cases it can only be corrected through surgery. Operations performed in order to treat bleeding ulcers are mostly done through the means of a gastroscope. General anesthesia is not always required in performing such operations. Fortunately, not all patients who suffer from bleeding ulcer need surgery. Latest experimental medicines have decreased the mortality rate of patients who develop such complications and maybe in the future oral treatment will become a substitute for today?s surgery.

The most common symptoms of bleeding ulcer are: vomiting blood, presence of blood in the feces, black stools, nausea and dehydration. Bleeding ulcer can also lead to anemia; due to excessive blood loss, fewer red blood cells remain within the body, failing to provide sufficient oxygen to internal organs. It is vital to try to prevent bleeding ulcers from appearing, as in some cases they may be fatal. The best thing to do when confronted with the symptoms of ulcer is to immediately inform your physician of your problems, in order to receive an appropriate medical treatment, thus avoiding further complications of the disorder.

Bipolar depression is a mood disorder characterized by the alternation of depressive and manic states. The distinguishing characteristic of bipolar depression is the presence of at least one episode of mania. It is also presumed to be a chronic condition because most of the people having manic episodes are likely to have another episode of it in the future. Every person with bipolar depression has a pattern of mood cycles, combining manic episodes with depression, which is unpredictable until the path is found. Bipolar depression usually begins during the teen or early adulthood years and continues throughout one`s lifetime. It`s usually not considered a psychological problem because it happens in episodes, but those who have it may suffer for years without proper treatment.

The exact cause of bipolar depression has not yet been determined. However, most scientists agree that there is no single cause for being bipolar. Scientists believe that stressful factors trigger the first episodes of mania. One reason a person may be bipolar is that the condition is genetic. It appears that many different genes act together in conjunction with a person`s surroundings which create the symptoms associated with bipolar depression. Another cause of bipolar depression could be from the differences in brain structures. MRI tests have shown that those suffering from bipolar depression may have slightly different brain structures than the people who are not effected by the condition. There is also evidence that bipolar depression may be triggered by environmental stresses such as the death of a loved one, the birth of a new baby, or the loss of a job. After a stressful event, a psychological cycle of depression and mania develops in the people with bipolar depression.

Some people do not understand that depression can cause a person to be unable to make simple life decisions. That is why it is important that people with bipolar depression educate their friends, family, and co-workers on the signs of their depressive episodes. Some of the warning signs that you should educate these people on are:

* Lethargy
* Fatigue
* Insomnia
* Lower activity levels
* Loss of interest in activities.

Educating these people puts you in a position to help make sure you take proper action at the start of the episode.

The intensity and frequency of mood swings will vary from person to person. Individuals with bipolar depression may progress to a different category of bipolar depression that gets worse over time of their illness. There are four categories of bipolar depression:

*Bipolar I
*Bipolar II
*Bipolar NOS
*Cyclothemia

The treatment of Bipola I disorder requires one or more mixed or manic episodes. The previous course of the illness may include depressive episodes and hypomania, but the treatment requires only one mixed episode. Bipolar II, the most common form of bipolar depression, is characterized by episodes of disabling depression and hypomania. The diagnosis of Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode. This is used primarily to change from unipolar depression. A patient may be depressed and it is very important to find out if the hypomania has ever caused manic episodes in which the patient was in an uncontrolable state. Bipolar depression is not treated the same way for everybody. Only your doctor can determine the proper cure and exact classification of bipolar episode.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
*http://bipolar.about.com/cs/depressive/a/0402_dpsym1.htm
*http://www.thehealthcenter.info/adult-bpd/causes-of-bipolar.htm
*http://www.bipolardepressioninfo.com/
*http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/depressionpregnancy/DPR_glossary.html
*http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/bipolar.htm
*http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
*http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/473382

The amount of people living and working at higher altitude has increased thanks to the advances we’ve made in technology with new rail, road and air systems we’ve been easily able to commute to higher climates but how is this going to affect us especially our health?

Its been estimated that in the west of the U.S alone up to 30 million people either travel or live at heights over 5000 feet. But can we function as well up there as we can at sea levels. We all know that the body requires oxygen to function, normal air contains about 2o% oxygen but as we increase in altitude the levels of oxygen lowers in proportion and we find that our lungs have to work harder to take in the same amount. The problems from lack of oxygen or altitude sickness can range from blackouts to extreme conditions of seizures and coma. The body does adapt to the changes over time by increasing the amount of red cell production but how else can our bodies be affected?

Research was done on a group of climbers who had traveled to Everest and after a year, it was found that 13 out of the 16 couldn’t tap their fingers as fast as they could before the climb, these finding wasn’t just limited to this group other studies even on elite climbers found the they also suffered this condition for between 2-10 months after climbing in high altitude.

You may be thinking, “Well that’s climbers that got nothing to do with me” but even at 12,000 ft your body’s oxygen level could be so low that if your body was like this at sea level you would be entitled to medical care.

So..what does mean to you? Should you pack your oxygen tank for that skiing weekend break? Probably not. But don’t expect your body to perform as well as it does at sea level!

Weight Loss Hypnosis

Is binging your number one problem? When you are alone and relaxed do you eat anything and everything. It doesn’t matter what it is — you feel have no self-control. It doesn’t matter how I’m feeling because either way I always eat. Please help!

First, realize you are very much in control. It sounds like you are using food to meet needs and handle feelings that you don’t know how to deal with in a healthier manner.

Yes, it feels “out of control” as “emotional eaters.” It often feels like the jelly doughnuts sprout wings and cram themselves down your throat. Other times it feels like an alien presence has invaded the decision-making center of our brains, making us do stupid things against our will. We criticize ourselves for being so weak and powerless, when what we really want is to be thin and healthy.

Let’s get real. Fattening foods don’t really fly. Eating requires a decision to eat. Eating requires a deliberate act. Therefore, it’s impossible to be “out of control” of our eating.

Yes and no.

To understand this dilemma, understand that although eating does require a conscious decision to eat, it is influenced by both conscious and unconscious factors. We’re not always aware of the feelings and issues that drive us to binge. We can be in such internal conflict that while our right hand is stuffing our face the left hand tries to stop it. We are bewildered with this vicious battle and end up feeling like a loser every time.

To understand this we also have to recognize the emotional power of food. Food is unique. It gets right down into our belly where we have all those “gut-wrenching” feelings and soothes turmoil. For many, food is a primary emotional coping technique. It distracts. It calms. It’s dependable. And it is almost always readily available. No wonder, then, that so many of us feel out of control in the face of stress. We don’t know what else to do besides eat.

When we spend all day meeting everyone else’s needs, it’s often the case that after the kids are no longer demanding our time and energy, we sit down and “give” to ourselves with food. It’s crucial to avoid buying into the destructive and disempowering notion that we are “out of control” by recognizing that eating requires a choice. If we tune into the lurking feelings and issues that affect our judgment, then we can make a coping choice that might be more direct and ultimately, more satisfying than overeating.

Only then can we truly be in control.

Try an eating strategy called “empowered eating.” By becoming an empowered eater you will be more aware of what you eat and why you eat it, which will help you develop more stable eating patterns. Get started with the following three steps.

Step 1: Take responsibility for your eating. Be accountable. Specifically, find an eating plan that can fit into your lifestyle. You must recognize that no one can do this for you. You must take the lead.

Step 2: Eat with a purpose. View all eating as goal-directed. An eating goal may be physical, like nourishing the body, or it may be emotional, like coping with psychological issues.

Step 3:Be mindful of your eating behavior. Pay attention. Be fully aware of your feelings and the issues that are associated with your eating. Being an empowered eater doesn’t mean you never again overeat because of emotional stress. It does mean, however, that when you do overeat, you understand why. And understanding the “why” behind your choices will make it easier for you to develop new, healthy habits.