The use of conventional medicines in dealing with anxiety attacks is always a medical option. The prevalence of anxiety has become increasingly alarming. It can affect people from different walks of life, of any nationality or of any age. New products of anti-anxiety preparations are introduced every now and then, because there has been an increasing demand for them. . The truth is this medicines although have been proven effective can cause drug dependency and addiction. This is the reasons why most of the drugs in this category have been regulated by some government agencies.
There are actually some practical ways in dealing with anxiety attacks, you just need a lot of positive mind power to deal with it.
Have some small changes in everyday life.
Sometimes your daily routine causes you to get so bored. Doing the same things at the same time for a long period can add up in making you anxious. Making some little changes in your lifestyle can help in dealing with anxiety attacks. It will be an encouragement to start new things occasionally and find your enjoyment in life.
Have some time of relaxation.
Stressful life always leads to anxiety. If you are living a stressful life or you are surrounded with stressful activities, it is time for you to relax and unwind. As much as possible you should schedule a relaxation activity every week or even every day even just a few minutes of breathing deeply. You can schedule a visit to the park, beach or simply listen to the music you really love. In dealing with anxiety attacks, make it a habit to have your relaxation time every now and then.
Understand the trigger zones of anxiety.
Anxious feeling can occur any time of the day, or can be triggered by different factors. Most of the trigger zones of anxiety are stress, depression, sad events, worries, sickness and a lot more. You have to recognize within yourself on what causes you to feel anxious, this is an important practical way of dealing with anxiety attacks. If you know these factors then you will be ready to deal with them and can even ignore them. It is like going in a battle with the necessary weapons to fight them.
Have a worry free lifestyle.
Change your lifestyle if necessary in dealing with anxiety attacks. Laughter is the simplest way of making worries go away. It is easy to say to have a worry free lifestyle but in reality, it is the hardest thing to do. Discipline is the key to achieve this. Positive way of thinking is a sure way to have a worry free lifestyle. Do not entertain negative thoughts and always have a positive outlook in life.
Deal the problem with a professional expert.
Lastly, dealing with anxiety attacks with the help of a professional expert or a medical doctor can of course help you with some medical advice. Depending on the severity of your anxiety, the doctor can recommend some medications or simply the same practical advice as stated above. It is often a helpful way to talk about your anxiety problems to a person you can trust and releasing them can make you feel better.
Cardiovascular drugs include anti- hypertensive drugs that are specifically indicated to lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a result of many factors including inappropriate diet, unhealthy lifestyle, obesity, genetic factors, and state of health (presence of other diseases such as diabetes) and sometimes brought about by the side effects of some medicines.
There are several classes of drugs use as anti- hypertensive drugs and each class has different mechanisms of action to lower blood pressure.
Diuretics – These agents increase urine volume or output. One factor that causes hypertension is the high level of sodium in the blood. Usually diuretics are combined with other drugs to achieve the ideal level of blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers – This class of anti- hypertensive drugs are the most trusted to lower blood pressure. Their therapeutic action involves the prevention of calcium entry into the cardiac and smooth muscle and in turn decreases blood pressure.
Vasodilators- These agents directly dilate blood vessels to lower blood pressure. They are indicated for severe hypertension.
The anti-lipidemics or anti-cholesterol drugs- High cholesterol level in the blood is one of the major causes of hypertension. Fat deposits in blood vessels cause atherosclerosis or the hardening of veins. These agents exert their effect by binding with cholesterol or triglycerides that circulates within the blood stream and facilitates their excretion.
There are still other classes of drugs that lower high blood pressure, their effectiveness varies from person to person. You can evaluate the effectiveness of anti- hypertensive drugs by simply monitoring its effect on the blood pressure. If the blood pressure becomes normal, then it is effective.
The side effects of zocor are many. All medicines, no matter how effective they are, will always have unwanted side effects in the body, Zocor is not an exception. Zocor, although an effective agent for hyperlipidemia will produce unnecessary effects which cannot be avoided.
Persons who are into this medication must have knowledge of the side effects of zocor to understand better the therapeutic implication of this drug.
The most commonare the following:
Gastro-intestinal effects such as abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, dyspepsia and vomiting. Patients in zocor medication can experience one or two of these abdominal upsets.
Central Nervous System effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy are also very common side effects of zocor. Bed rest can lessen the said side effects.
Allergic reactions that include rash, pruritis, and hypersensitivity reactions may pose some danger depending on their severity. Stop medication of Zocor immediately if hypersensitivity reactions occur.
Skeletal muscle effects that include cramps, myalgia, and myopathy. Refrain from doing physical activities while in Zocor medication for a feeling of body weakness can occur.
Jaundice, hepatitis, memory impairment, insomnia, and rhabdomyolysis are the rare adverse reactions of zocor.
Drugs used to lower cholesterol levels are not diminished of side effects, zocor, which belong to the statins, may have unwanted effects, but the therapeutic efficacy should not be ignored. Adverse drug reactions will always be part of the therapeutic regimen of every drug. Lifetime medication of zocor is sometimes necessary, awareness of the different side effects of zocor is necessary to practice caution.
Do you feel your heart beating wildly like you have ran a thousand miles? If you have experienced recurrent severe anxiety attacks you may be suffering from Panic Disorder (PD). This is different from the anxiety reactions you normally experience when you face stressful events in your life.
The most common symptoms of panic disorder is: sudden nervousness and intense fear coupled with hyperventilation, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder can occur anytime, anywhere and this can cause embarrassment and affect behavioral patterns. If you don’t treat anxiety attacks right away it can cause more problems. Sometimes Panic disorder can be mistaken us life- threatening disorder like heart attack or heart disease this wrong notion can trigger other attacks.
Causes of panic disorder
The causes of panic disorder could be hereditary, it had been noted in studies that panic disorder runs in families. Alcoholism and drug dependence or drug abuse can also cause panic disorder. Other causes like psychological factors, stress and the environment can also cause panic disorder. Physical illness, heavy responsibilities, and medications and major stress can also trigger panic attacks. Other abnormalities such as hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia can trigger panic disorder. Smoking can also trigger panic attacks as this changes normal respiratory function and smokers experience shortness of breath.
What you can do to get rid of your panic disorder.
• The first step you should take towards recovery is educating yourself about panic disorder. If you understand what’s happening to you the tendency is for you to be less anxious and be able to cope. Teach yourself coping abilities and skills on relaxation.
• With your loved one try simple psychotherapy exercises that will enable you to experience and understand the mechanism of the body and its responses to certain stimuli. Jog or run in place and feel your heart beat race, constantly remind yourself that the racing heart is a normal response of the body to the activity, sit on a spinning chair and let your loved one spin it for you experience the sensation of nausea and dizziness, breathe through a straw and experience shortness of breath. Do this daily under guidance of a loved one, or a doctor or psychotherapist for it to be successful.
• You should always put into mind that panic disorder symptoms like shortness of breath, hyperventilation, etc. are not life-threatening and always assure yourself that you are not going crazy.
• You could also join psychotherapy groups or other panic disorder support group in your community. Sharing your experiences, sharing positive feedbacks with others and knowing that you are not alone can boost your morale. Your panic disorder will seem ordinary in a group of fellow sufferers.
If your condition calls for medication doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines and SSRI anti-depressants. The best thing to do if you think you need medication is to consult your own doctor. The best recommendation for the treatment of panic disorder is education and psychotherapy exercises and treatment . But for you to be able to be treated permanently you have to cooperate and perform your exercises daily and religiously.
Gout is a pathologic medical condition that encompasses several biochemical processes in the body. It is the elevation of (BUA) blood uric acid in the blood stream which maybe because of various underlying occurrences. When you can’t stretch those hands in the morning, or you feel pains in your joints every now and then, or you have low back pains, then you most probably have gout.
Uric acid comes from our diet and is the breakdown product of purines. Purines come from a variety of foods like cabbage, lettuce, sardines, visceral organs, and legumes (peas, beans, nuts, etc).
When we are fond of these foods and the excretory organ of our body could not excrete these substances normally, then they accumulate in the blood causing hyperuricemia, amass in the joints resulting to gouty arthritis and are turned in the kidney into kidney stones causing nephrolithiasis.
What are the symptoms of gout?
*You have early morning numbness or tight muscles. You can open and close your fist only with difficulty, as the day progresses this usually “loosens”. Even your feet feel tight and you have difficulty walking upon waking up.
*You have pain in your joints. Sometimes swelling occurs on your knee joints, ankle joints, or hand joints.
*You have a low back pain and sometimes have difficulty walking.
*You may have difficulty in urinating. In serious conditions, blood may even be present in your urine.
How can you be sure you have the condition?
*Consult your physician. He would be responsible in collating all your symptoms and lab results to give the correct diagnosis.
*Your Blood Uric Acid laboratory test would be elevated above the normal levels. Normal Values are usually between 2-6 mg/dL for females and 3-7 mg/dL for males.
*Your routine urinalysis may yield uric acid stones in the microscopic examination. Uric acid crystals may appear as rhombic plates or rosettes which are light or dark brown in color.
How is gout treated?
*Your family physician would be the best person to treat you if you have gout. This is because he knows about your medical history and is familiar with whatever other existing conditions you may have (i.e. diabetes, etc).
*The usual treatment is an anti-hyperuricemic drug that can “dissolve” the stones either in your joints or kidneys.
*Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs maybe given to reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
*Water therapy is advised. More than 8 glasses of water should be consumed each day.
Are there any preventive measures?
Eating a healthy diet is the foremost preventive measure. The body needs purines but you should learn how to balance your intake. Legumes (beans, peas, anything in pods) are proteins and are needed as building blocks of the body.
*You should eat dishes with visceral organs moderately. We need the calcium coming from these dishes but too much will lead to hyperuricemia.
*Balance your intake of sardines and other canned goods; these are rich in uric acid.
*Balance your intake of the kale vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, etc) as these have high uric acid content.
*Do not drink alcohol when you are on a high purine diet as this will decrease the excretion of purines from your system. When the excretion of uric acid is decreased; this will then start to amass in your system and will eventually lead to gout. This is because uric acid can only be excreted in an acid urine because the can be dissolved an alcohol may cause eventual alkalinity of the urine.
*Exercise can help up to a certain extent to “loosen” the joints so make it a habit to have light exercises everyday. Exercise can also prevent other pathologic conditions like heart ailments, hypertension and the like.
Awareness of these preventive measures will help you avoid gout. Be informed and stay healthy.
Pregnancy is one of the most exciting stages in a woman’s life. The wonders of carrying another human being inside your womb are unexplainable. Whenever your unborn child moves, you feel the entire movement in your tummy. You know that a miracle of life is happening inside you. Your body is the temporary sanctuary of your little angel. Therefore, you have to take care of it. Any disorder you experience has a direct effect on your child. For many pregnant women, diabetes during pregnancy is their worst enemy. If you are pregnant and you think you have the illness, here are the things you should know about the condition.
The Illness
Diabetes during pregnancy or also known as gestational diabetes is a common problem for women. It affects 3% of most pregnancies. Doctors often diagnose it during the 24th to the 28th week of gestation. It occurs to women without previous manifestation and diagnosis of diabetes. High blood glucose level characterizes the condition. Although sugar in the urine is not a common sign, some women may exhibit it.
The Cause
Experts cannot pinpoint one definite cause of diabetes during pregnancy. They say that it is a combination of several factors. It is common to women who have a family history of the disease. During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormone in the blood that counteracts with the effect of insulin. Because of the interaction, the body has less ability to control the blood glucose level. As a result, the pregnant woman can experience a shoot up in the sugar level. Other contributing factor is the diet of a woman. Some think that because there is another human being inside, they have the excuse to overeat. Women who become overweight are at higher risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy.
The Diagnosis
When a woman with family background of diabetes or a woman who reaches an alarming weight gain, her doctor will recommend the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The laboratory procedure is advisable during the 24th to 28th week of gestation. In the procedure, the medical technologist will extract blood to determine your fasting blood sugar level. Right after the first blood extraction, they will ask you to take oral solution of glucose. On the first, second and third hour after the glucose intake, they will again withdraw blood from you. Bt analyzing the sugar content of in your body and comparing it to a reference value, your doctor can have an idea whether you have the illness.
The Treatment
If you are positive for the diabetes during pregnancy, then your doctor can refer you to an endocrinologist. Together, they will monitor your condition. Oftentimes, they will require you to watch out your food intake.
The Effect
Diabetes during pregnancy has serious complications for your unborn child. Your health problem causes the immature pancreas to overwork. Most babies born from mothers with diabetes are overweight due to the excess glucose in their body
Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious condition you should never take for granted. The earlier the diagnosis, the better will be your prognosis and the less its effect to your baby. To avoid any complication, make it a habit to have prenatal checkups during your pregnancy.
Doctors request for a laboratory test to help them confirm a medical diagnosis. If they have doubts about the possible illness of their patients, the laboratory tests will confirm or negate their initial diagnosis. Laboratory results are useful documents for your physicians. However, if you are the patient, the fear of undergoing the examination can cause undue stress. If as adults, you feel the discomforts brought about by the procedure, then children experience triple apprehensions. Children fear seeing people in white gowns approaching them with a syringe in hand. Just the thought of this can cause trauma to a child. To help your kid get through this anxiety, here are the things you can do.
Talk to the Child
The most important laboratory preparation is talking to the child. Explain the need for the laboratory test. Tell him about its importance and its effect on his health. Use words appropriate to their level of understanding. Before explaining everything to them, make sure that you do a research about the procedure. This is to prepare yourself for their potential questions. If it is possible, you can also request the laboratory personnel or the doctor to explain the procedure to the child. With information, they can understand better and be more cooperative during the laboratory test.
Do not Give False Assurance
A big no in preparing your child for laboratory test is by giving him false assurance. Never assure him that the procedure will not hurt if you know that it will. False information is not a good way to appease his fear. If you deceive him with little things, he/she will lose his trust in you. The next time he has to undergo another laboratory procedure, his fear will only be greater. To help him release the tension, explain the whole procedure and the feeling associated with it. Tell him what to expect during the laboratory test. Stay as honest as possible in explaining.
Give them a Laboratory Tour
Providing a time for the child to meet the medical technologist can help reduce his fear. Bring your child to the laboratory and introduce him to the medical technologist on duty. You can also ask the staff if it is possible to give your kid a tour in the area. Familiarization is an effective way to take away his anxiety. Introduce him to other patients who undergo the same procedure.
Address their Fears
A child has his own fears. When he voices out his worries, listen to him, never ignore his fears,.. Do not simply say that everything will be fine. Explain that the fear is a common feeling but he has to face it. Assure him that you will be with him throughout the laboratory test. He does not have to face his fears alone. You are just around in case he needs your support.
An anxious child during a laboratory test are common is a scenario. For parents, helping your child cope with it reduces their trepidation. When you follow the tips, you can be sure that your child will be more cooperative.
Are you having trouble in your low back or loin area? Is it painful every time you move to do your daily chores? LBP or low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain syndromes experienced by most people. Maybe most of you are wondering what are the different causes and necessary treatments for this pain syndrome. It is very important for one to be aware of these causes of LBP for them to know the essential things to do to prevent it from occurring.
Causes of LBP
The most common cause of LBP is strain of the muscles or sprain of the soft tissues or ligaments of the low back area. This strain or sprain is due to improper positioning of the spine. This is very common for example among typists because of the reason that the chair they are using does not appropriately support the lumbar area of the spine or better known as the low back area. This is the reason why the companies must consider purchasing ergonomically designed chairs to prevent strains and sprains among their workers. Another common cause of LBP is herniated nucleus pulposus or commonly known as slipped disc. Slipped disc involves the structure located in between the bones of the spinal column. This structure is known as the intervertebral (IV) disc. The IV disc is composed of an outer cartilage and an inner liquid component. If the liquid component of the IV disc squirts out from the damaged outer cartilage, this will impinge the spinal nerves or in severe case, it could also affect the spinal cord. This will lead to loss of skin sensation and muscle weakness on the area supplied by the affected spinal nerve or spinal cord, and would also cause severe pain in the low back area. The most common cause of slipped disc is improper lifting and wrong positioning of the joints at the back. Other common causes are fracture of the bones of the spinal column caused by weakening of the bones brought by osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis which is considered as the most common type of arthritis. This could also be caused by problems in the kidneys; this is the reason why doctors are careful in diagnosing the cause of LBP.
Treatment of LBP
Prevention is better than cure that is why physical therapists and doctors would always advise their patients with LBP to do exercises at the low back muscles to improve the flexibility and strength. There are conservative treatments for LBP and these include physical therapy, wearing of back support, Alexander technique, and massage therapy among others. If conservative treatment is not effective, surgery will be indicated if there are progressive neurological symptoms which include weakness and incontinence.
Remember that LBP would limit someone to function well in their job. It affects the productivity and overall performance of a worker. This is an eye-opener not only to the workers but to the employers as well. The cost of preventing it is a lot smaller than the loss that it could give to the company. Keep in mind that a healthy back means a healthy body!
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is also called “juvenile diabetes” for it occurs in an early age. It is also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) because the islets responsible for producing insulin are damaged or destroyed maybe secondary to previous viral illness or to trauma thus, no insulin is produced at all. This type of Diabetes is often treated with insulin replacement.
The Pancreas Insulin
The pancreas is a yellowish, fish-shaped organ located at the upper abdomen. It has two secretory functions : endocrine and exocrine. Its endocrine function is to secrete insulin.
Specifically, insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. The Insulin is like a carrier of blood glucose. It is like a “key” so glucose can enter the “doors” of the cells of our body and be used as energy for our daily needs. Without insulin, the glucose we take in cannot be used by our body to produce energy. Thus, the glucose stays in the blood.
Pathophysiology
In the case of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, there is a complete destruction of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans which causes no insulin production. Since insulin is essential to glucose utilization, glucose stays and builds up in the blood stream causing hyperglycemia, or excess glucose in the blood. This excess glucose puts pressure to the kidneys and eventually leak into the urine. Due to the weight of glucose in the urine, urination is triggered so frequent – polyuria. Dehydration from frequent urination results to excessive thirst called polydypsia. And since glucose is not utilized by the body a person with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is always hungry, a sign called polyphagia. Chronic Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus can lead to complications such as hypertention, retinopathy, and renal failure. Untreated Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus can lead to Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Diabetic Ketoacidosis results from rapid catabolism of fats. Since glucose cannot be utilized as a source of energy, fat breakdown is an alternative energy source. But fat catabolism has ketone byproducts, accumulation of which leads to Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Below are signs and symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Do you have pain on the upper back that really bothers you to the point of experiencing sleeplessness ? Do you also have annoying nodules at the upper back area? These are some of the manifestations of Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS).
MPS is a chronic condition that mostly affects the skeletal muscles of the upper back area which has a manifestation of moderate to severe pain. There are also trigger points present which are painful every time they are pressed and referred to other areas of the body. This condition is associated with fibromyalgia.
Difference between MPS and Fibromyalgia
MPS and fibromyalgia both affect skeletal muscles but MPS affects muscles on one side of the body and specifically on the area around the shoulders and neck. On the other hand, fibromyalgia affects skeletal muscles on a broader distribution. It affects the trunk and below the trunk regions and both sides unlike MPS.
Causes of MPS
The exact cause of MPS is still not known. There are is a theory associating it to connective tissue diseases but this is much generalized. Aside from that theory, there are no more other theories explaining the cause of it.
Treatment for MPS
Physical therapy is indicated to persons with MPS. It includes the application of hot moist packs (HMP) on the area affected with placing electrodes attached on a machine called TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation which help to decrease the pain on the part of the body affected.
This will be applied for 20 minutes. The theory behind the application of hot to the body part affected is that hot application will cause increase in the size of the passageway of blood brought by relaxation of the smooth muscle wall of the blood vessels.
Increase in the size of the passageway of blood causes increase in blood flow to the area that leads to flushing away of the pain metabolites.
The TENS machine blocks the pain pathway that is why pain is decreased. After the application of HMP and TENS, deep kneading massage (DKM) and myofascial release (MR) will follow. DKM targets the nodules, which are considered as the trigger points; it will cause relief of pain after this type of massage.
MR targets the fascia or the connective tissue that holds the muscles, to allow relaxation of the muscles affected. Gentle passive stretching (GPS) will be given right after the above procedures. GPS is focused on the muscles affected to maintain their flexibility.
Every pain affecting any part of the body will cause decrease in the productivity and/or general performance of the person. MPS causes pain on the skeletal muscles affected and this will for sure lead to poor performance.
Understanding the causes of MPS is necessary to know on how to prevent it from occurring. Keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. Physical therapy is really an effective management for MPS.
If MPS will not be managed immediately, it could make you very irritable because of the pain thus, will affect your relationship with your partner or children. If you have the manifestations of MPS, consider consulting a physiatrist today for referral to a physical therapy clinic. Remember, it is worthy to be healthy!
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