Society MD

Best Links of August Month

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:15:21 +0000

http://www.gutefrage.net/picoftheday/bpoilspill.html

http://digg.com/story/r/How_Credit_Card_Companies_Make_Their_Money

http://digg.com/story/r/Should_We_Raise_Tax_Rates_on_the_Rich

http://digg.com/story/r/BP_hit_with_10bn_lawsuit_over_Texas_City_chemical_leak

http://digg.com/story/r/Telling_Swiss_Secrets_222_Billionaires_in_America

http://www.gutefrage.net/picoftheday/carwrecks.html

http://www.gutefrage.net/picoftheday/sporn.html

http://digg.com/story/r/REVIEWING_10_MILLIONAIRES_WHO_MADE_A_FORTUNE_AT_THE_FOREX

Regain Your Mental Health without Medicine or a Drug Treatment Center

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:53:16 +0000

You may wonder if you can battle your depression without psychiatric drugs. These drugs are probably not going to send you into a drug treatment program. In fact, there are many studies that have highlighted the positive effects. There are many different ways of coping with your depression naturally.

Make sure you get enough sleep. Mood and sleep are related. Try to keep a regular sleep schedule.
Avoid stimulants such as caffeine. These types of substances will diminish your serotonin level.
Take multi-vitamins. This is especially important if you do not eat a well-balanced diet. Diet deficiencies are one cause of depression.
Natural or herbal remedies may help mild to moderate depressions. These remedies include SAMe, 5-HPT or St. John’s Wort. Some studies indicate that St. John’s may be as helpful as prescription medications.
Use your spirituality as a positive influence. By getting in touch with this through meditation or prayer, you can help depression.
Exercise more. Start slowly. You don’t need to start with a rigorous exercise right away. You can just start with a walk around the block and increase your routine daily.
Reduce or avoid alcohol consumption. Not only is alcohol somewhat of a toxin, but it is a depressant so it’s best to avoid it.
Eat a balanced diet. Studies indicate that eating fish may help your mood.
Your mood can be affected by your inner thoughts. You might consider reading self help books or even contact a therapist who can help with any negative thoughts and ideas.
Reduce your stress level. Stress can be emotionally draining as well as physically draining as well. Find ways to control this stress.
Fight feelings of loneliness by reaching out and helping others. This may be friends, family, or strangers. It will make you feel better — even if it’s just a few minutes of your time.

Can’t Afford That Prescription? Get a Payday Loan

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:45:41 +0000

Health care costs are very high, and that can lead a lot of people to struggle in order to keep up with how much they have to pay out each month for medication, insurance, and visits to the doctor. It’s no surprise that some of these people can’t always afford their medication when they need it. If you’re one of them, don’t do without needed medication just because it’s a week until payday. Instead of risking your health, just get a payday loan. As long as you have a steady, verifiable job, you can qualify for this kind of loan.

You can get your prescription on time, not have to worry about harming your health, and keep your stress levels low. Don’t take chances with your health just because you don’t have a lot of money. Your savings account or a friend or family member may also be a source of getting money to pay for your prescription. Don’t forget to ask your doctor if he or she can give you a generic alternative, or if there are free samples available. That way, you’ll be saving as much money as possible on the prescription medications that you need to take.

Your health is too precious of a thing to risk, and it’s unfair that medicines that are needed by so many people have to cost so much money. Until the prices come down or there is some kind of legislation that really does give everyone the health insurance they need, loans and borrowing from family and friends can be some ways for people who are on tight budgets to get their much-needed medicines without leaving another bill unpaid or skipping medication doses in order to hold out until payday. A small, short-term loan of some type can be a great answer to this kind of problem.

Diagnosing Schizophrenia

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:39:58 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

On any given day, more than 100,000 individuals crowd public hospitals as diagnosed schizophrenics. Each individual carries with them their own particular brand of the disease, making treatment difficult and diverse. Some patients offer almost no noticeable ailments from their disease, while others are rendered ‘psychotic’, and unable to perform even the simplest of tasks in day-to-day life. This range of symptoms leaves one main question for doctors: how do we diagnose?

Although there are nearly endless amounts of symptoms for schizophrenia, doctors have categorized five main umbrella terms to help diagnose. Below are a list of the terms and a short description of what the phrases mean.

1. Unusual Realities- People, in everyday life, construct a reality in which everything is perceived. It is the lens through which we view life, how we operate. Many schizophrenics operate from a reality very different from the normal. Their realities exist without rules and concrete perceptions, and lack important landmarks and comfort zones.

2. Hallucinations- Schizophrenics may see, hear, and feel people or things that aren’t actually present.

3. Delusions- This is perhaps schizophrenia’s most widely-publicized symptom. Schizophrenic’s hold beliefs that aren’t proven or backed by anything real. Schizophrenic’s often have feelings of grandeur, and believe they are being chased or persecuted.

4. Disordered thinking- Mild schizophrenics dip into and out of a normal reality. That is, most of the time they are normal, but fall into periods of unordered thoughts. These schizophrenics have difficulty focusing, and their thoughts are fragmented.

5. Emotional Expression- Some schizophrenics have difficulty expressing proper emotional sentiment. For instance, if told of a tragic event their reaction may fall flat. In contrast, they may over-react to simple occurrences.

Ultimately, even with these five umbrella terms to help diagnose schizophrenia, diagnosis is still tough. Normal people have strange quirks, just as schizophrenics could have long periods of acting normal. As time progresses, doctors are finding better procedures to help diagnose, but the disease still remains largely a mystery.

Depression in Spouses

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:38:58 +0000

Living around someone who deals with depression is never fun. Their attitude is sullen. The glass is always half-empty. When you share joy and excitement, they share doubts and resentment. Living with a depressed spouse is doubly hard. The support, excitement, and joie-de-vivre seem lost from the relationship. The non-depressed spouse often feels like they no longer have an equal partner, but a sad stranger living with them; hardly the person they married.

Since one in eight people will be treated for depression over their lifetime, living with a depressed spouse is a common issue. The trick is learning how to deal with your loved one’s depression, finding the best ways to help them cope, and staying mentally healthy yourself.

Depression is caused by a combination of different factors. Risk factors like family history of depression, stressful life events, and genetic orders all come into play. For the spouse, it is important to help their loved one find the root of their issues. The spouse should make sure no external devices, such as drugs or alcohol, are attributing to their affliction.

Perhaps the hardest part about living with a depressed spouse is lack of communication. A depressed person becomes withdrawn, irritable, and even hurtful. If a spouse says things like, “You don’t love me,” try your best not to take it to heart. Respond by reminding them of their depression, and telling them once they get better, their feelings will change. Seeking out family friends, and asking for them to communicate to the depressed spouse how you are feeling may also help. Patience and encouragement are important.

Outside of encouraging your spouse to seek help and remaining supportive, isn’t a single answer to solving your spouse’s depression. There are no surefire cures. Remember that your mental health is important during this difficult time. Talk to friends, seek independent counseling, and take time by yourself. Try to stay healthy and upbeat. Their depression isn’t yours, and your mental health goes a long way in improving the mindset of a depressed spouse.

Sleep Disorders

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:36:58 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Each year, 60 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep disorder, ranging from the occasional sleepless night each month to nightly sleep deprivation. Lacking a full night’s sleep, job performance, personal relationships, and even driving abilities can suffer. With sleep being such an important part of our lives, it’s important to understand the different kinds of sleep disorders in order to better understand the routes for treatment.

Anxiety and depression are common causes of sleep loss. Many times, individuals suffering from depression wake up early and cannot return to sleep. Other times, a depressed individual may over sleep, finding sleep temporarily relieves their problems. This can lead to a disrupted sleep pattern, which actually means fewer hours of deep, quality sleep.

Impaired breathing affects one in eight Americans. Loud, disruptive snoring can sometimes hint towards a larger problem: sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a blockage of breathing during sleep. Usually occurring in overweight individuals, sleep apnea may become so severe that breathing is stopped for brief periods of time, causing the individual to gasp out for air. If this blockage is constant enough, the oxygen level in the blood becomes abnormally low and death may occur.

Excessive daytime sleepiness can sometimes be a symptom of narcolepsy. Narcoleptics experience narcoleptic attacks, finding it impossible to stay awake at different times during the day. In severe cases, these attacks can occur when an individual is walking, playing a sport, or even in the middle of a conversation. More commonly, the attacks come on while performing a sedentary activity, such as watching a movie or reading a book. Because of this, individuals just assume they are tired, and their condition can go undiagnosed for many years.

Other conditions like Nocturnal Myoclonus-rigorous movement during sleep- are quite common. Also, many children are affected by sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, bedwetting, and night terrors.

Because sleep is a crucial element to a healthy life, those experiencing difficulty sleeping or a lack of energy during the day should consult a physician.

How Car Insurance Quotes Are Easier than Schedule II Narcotics

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:47:45 +0000

Life has become simpler, with car insurance quotes, shopping, and the online world making “instant access” a global truth. However, some complex areas remain. With prescriptions, for example, one must navigate more laws and answer bigger ethical questions. But most people don’t see their drugs as being anything that has to be governed or regulated. For the most part, your medication is pretty simple, and is managed by most pharmacists without requiring special rules. If your medication is a schedule two narcotic, however, then there are many rules that need to be followed.

Presentation is first on the list. A schedule two narcotic must be handed in to a pharmacy. Doctors are allowed to phone in, fax in, or email a script for just about any drug, but for these top of the line pain killers and focus drugs legally require a hard copy being delivered in person.

There must also be a DEA number somewhere on the script. There can be no drug filled for a schedule two without having the doctor’s DEA number on it. A pharmacist can call and ask for it and put it on the hard copy themselves, but they cannot go without it.

There is no partial filling of this medication. With your heart pills, if a pharmacy only has half the correct amount, they will gladly fill the prescription in two parts. With a schedule two, the pharmacists are unwilling to fill the item unless it can be completed within a couple of days.

These are just a few of the rules for schedule two narcotics. Whether these rules are beneficial to consumers can be a challenging question, but the complex laws were certainly intended to protect people from these potent drugs.

An Online Bachelor Degree in Psychology Helps to Understand Body Health

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 09:17:04 +0000

Finding Health Information Online

The body is a wonderful, mysterious machine that keeps doctors guessing at its innate abilities and its response to pain and sickness. The design of the body equips the cells so they can deal with almost anything.

Physical health is important and so is a person’s mental health state. A person’s physical state of being connects to the individual’s emotions and physiological well-being. Health professionals advocate nurturing and attending to your mental health state, which can be just as beneficial as taking care of your physical body. Health care students with an online bachelor degree in psychology learn the fundamentals of mental health and how they can help patients in this area.

Steps for Better Living

A healthy state of being doesn’t have to be an elusive mystery. A person can optimally achieve good health by observing some of the basic rules that apply to most any personal situation:

Eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water to aid the body in digestion and to help the body in elimination.

Get plenty of rest. Adequate sleep helps the body to perform optimally. Times can vary from person to person, but each individual should get no less than six to seven hours of sleep per night.

Live stress-free and keep your life as stress-free as possible. Stress causes undue wear on the body and can have side effects that cause and trigger illnesses.

Pursuing a healthy lifestyle and making changes to your routine can be beneficial and boost the person’s health state. Once individuals have experienced the benefits of implementing subtle changes in their lives, they will want to find other ways to improve health and will creatively find other ways to pursue and enjoy healthy living.

The Return of Medical Leeches

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:53:37 +0000

One of the strangest prescription drugs that you can be given today isn’t a drug at all— say hello to Hirudo Medicianalis, the medicinal leech. Taking a cue from medieval medicine, the FDA has approved leeches as a legitimate medical device.

The decision seems questionable and downright icky when you first see these little medical monsters. Leeches are a type of water-based worm with a suction cup mouth and a battalion of tiny teeth. Their skin is slick and patterned with muted geometric stripes. This pattern camouflages the leech in muddy water, where it lays in wait to engorge itself on the blood of dogs, cattle, and of course, humans.

Employing this slimy parasite in a sterile medical procedure sounds like an idea from a horror movie. Yet when it comes to moving and directing blood, the parasite is nature’s expert. Its saliva contains antibiotics, anaesthetics, and anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting. The leech itself is a suction machine, made to siphon a large quantity of blood. Taken together, these qualities give the leech the power to remove clotted, stopped blood from a wound or an obstructed vein. Modern doctors find that hirudotherapy, or the use of medicinal leeches, is one of the best ways to prevent the onset or advance of gangrene.

But modern hirudotherapy is just starting to hit its stride. Doctors have found that the leech’s saliva is a valuable medicinal discovery on its own. Leech saliva can be harvested without hurting the leeches, and thus collected to treat internal medical problems as well. It is being examined as a possible preventative measure for clot-related diseases like heart attacks, thrombosis, and strokes.

Thanks to their saliva and other medicinal properties, leeches may finally be able to repay us humans for the blood they’ve been stealing over the ages.

Prostate Cancer is Not a Death Sentence

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:15:15 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

No one in their right mind enjoys the idea of getting any kind of cancer. The bad news is, if you live long enough, some of your cells are just bound to mutate enough to be called cancerous. However, this is not some kind of “advanced stage of evolution” that will make you into a powerful superhero. Cancers tend to kill people, for all of the mighty advancements that medical science has been making over the years. And prostate cancer does have the potential to metastasize, and spread, and go to areas that will stop your breathing, your circulation, your brain function or your nervous control. In short, prostate cancer is potentially as dangerous as any other kind of cancer.

Unfortunately, that is not the full length of the bad news. The really bad part is how unbelievably sensitive the cancer tests we currently have happen to be. To put things into perspective, a woman can typically find out if she has breast cancer through a pap smear only once it has reached stage 3. At that stage of the game, it may have already spread elsewhere in her body, and death may only be months (or even weeks) away from occurring.

On the other hand, a man may have prostate cancer detected when it is only a few individual cells in his prostate. This barely qualifies as stage 1, and metastasis is not even guaranteed at that point. And while it is great to be able to know if you have cancer at a super early stage, it would seriously suck if you gave up your prostate (and your ability to ejaculate), without your life actually being under anything approaching an imminent threat. That is the kind of decision nobody wants to make – just make sure to make it while sober.