About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a general term describing a group of chronic non-progressive neurological symptoms which cause impaired control of movement and which are evident in the first few years of life, usually before age 3. The disorders are induced by damage or faulty development of the motor areas in the brain, disrupting the patient's ability to control movement and posture. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing, poor balance and walking, and involuntary movements. The exact combination of symptoms differs from patient to patient and may vary over time. Some patients also have seizures and intellectual disability, however, this is not always the case. Babies with cerebral palsy are frequently slower than average in achieving developmental milestones like learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk. Cerebral palsy is usually thought of as congenital or perinatal, however, it can also be acquired after birth. Many of the causes of cerebral palsy that have been identified through research are preventable or even treatable: head injury, Rh incompatibility, jaundice and rubella (German measles). 

 

Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy 

 

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by tests of motor skills and reflexes and by medical history. 

 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) scans are typically ordered when the physician suspects cerebral palsy; however, they are not definitive. These tests can provide evidence of physical abnormalities such as hydrocephalus (an accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles of the brain), and they can be utilized to exclude other brain disorders. These scans do not prove that the patient has cerebral palsy; nor do they predict how well a specific patient will function in the future. Patients with normal scans may have severe symptoms, and while others whose scans are clearly abnormal have only modest physical signs. However, as a group, patients with cerebral palsy are statistically more likely to have brain scars, cysts, and other changes visible on scans. When physical examination suggests cerebral palsy, an abnormal scan helps confirms the clinical diagnosis. 

 

Even though specific symptoms can change as time passes, cerebral palsy by definition isn't progressive, so if a patient shows increasing impairment, the problem is usually another neurological disorder. 

 

Varieties of Cerebral Palsy 

 

Cerebral palsy is classified by the type of movement problem (such as spastic or even athetoid cerebral palsy) or by he body parts affected (hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia). Spasticity refers to the inability of a muscle to relax, while athetosis refers to an inability to control its movement. Babies who are initially hypotonic ("floppy") may later develop spasticity. Hemiplegia is cerebral palsy that involves 1 arm and 1 leg on one side of the body, whereas diplegia is the involvement of both legs. Quadriplegia refers to symptoms involving all 4 extremities as well as trunk and neck muscles. Balance and coordination problems are referred to as ataxia. 

 

For instance, a patient with spastic diplegia has mostly spastic muscle problems of the legs, while perhaps also displaying a smaller component of athetosis and balance problems. The patient with athetoid quadriplegia, on the more hand, would have lack of control of the muscles of both arms and legs, however such a patient will usually have smaller problems with ataxia and spasticity as well. Normally a child with quadriplegic cerebral palsy will be unable to walk independently. The degree of impairment can vary from patient to patient and range from mild to severe. 

 

Cerebral Palsy Therapy 

 

There is no standard therapy that benefits all patients. Drugs are useful to control seizures and muscle cramps and braces can compensate for muscle imbalance. Surgery, mechanical aids to help overcome impairments, counseling for emotional and psychological needs, and physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy are all effective. 

 

Prognosis for Cerebral Palsy 

 

Though cerebral palsy is incurable to date, many patients can enjoy near-normal lives if their neurological symptoms are properly managed. 

 

Medical Research 

 

There is evidence which suggests that cerebral palsy results from incorrect cell development early in prenatal life. As an example, a group of researchers has recently observed that approximately one-third of cerebral palsy patients also have missing enamel on certain teeth. Bleeding inside the brain, breathing and circulation problems and seizures can all cause cerebral palsy and each has separate causes and treatment. Researchers are currently conducting trials to determine whether certain drugs can help halt neonatal stroke, and more investigators are examining the causes of low birth-weight. More studies are being done to determine how brain trauma (like brain damage from a shortage of oxygen or blood flow, bleeding in the brain, and seizures) can cause the release of brain chemicals which lead to permanent brain damage. 

 

Organizations Funding Cerebral Palsy Research & Therapy 

 

Easter Seals, Epilepsy Foundation, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, National Disability Sports Alliance, Children’s Neurobiological Solutions Foundation, Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Foundation.

 

About Anorexia

Plainly put, anorexia is an eating disorder where a person starves him or herself. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls. They have an intense fear of becoming fat. They think they are overweight, but in fact most anorexics weigh a full 15% below their normal body weight. Anorexia strikes about 1% of adolescent females. This is about one in one hundred women. 

 

Some psychiatrists think anorexia is not just about being thin or fat. It stems from fear a of growing up and losing control. It's about fear of becoming a women, growing up, building relationships, leaving home. 

 

Her body is changing and growing and she doesn't like it and wants to be child sized again. Some psychiatrists think that eating disorders can also be caused by life experiences such abuse. 

 

Some studies have shown that if a mother has anorexia a child is 12 time more likely to develop it than someone with no family history. 

 

The person who suffers with anorexia cannot help herself. She must be treated by a mental health professional experienced in dealing with anorexia. Some receive long term psychotherapy. 

 

The first thing however is to get this girl's health back as best as you can. This person may need to be coaxed to eat, and, may need a supportive caregiver to actually watch to make sure she eats. There are numerous health concerns with anorexia. Some of these are osteoporosis, irregular heart beat and in the most severe of cases permanent failure of normal growth development. Most women sufferers of anorexia will lose their normal menstrual cycle. If an anorexic woman would conceive a child she would be likely to miscarry or have a baby born prematurely. 

 

Without treatment up to twenty percent of anorexia suffers will die. With treatment 60% can recover and maintain healthy weight. However, even with treatment about 20% of people will continue to have an unhealthy lifetime obsession with weight and food. 

 

If you confront a loved one about anorexia get ready to deal with someone in a true state of denial. They will be angry, and may become more withdrawn and depressed. There is nothing that you can do to change your loved one's perception of him or herself. You can't make your loved one eat. There are many organizations that are available to help anorexia sufferers and their families get the help they need.

A Wake-Up Call From The Heart

A new survey of more than 500 heart attack survivors found that survivors see their attack as a wake-up call that gave them a second chance at life.

 

Frank Rella was teaching a high school music class when he had a wake-up call that changed his life. Frank felt pain in his chest and left work early. 

 

When the pain got worse at home, he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Frank's greatest fear came true when the doctors said he had a heart attack. 

 

"My heart attack was really a wake-up call," said Rella, a 42-year-old New Jersey resident who became a paramedic after his life-altering heart attack, so he could be on the frontlines of medical care. "I went through a lot of emotions and was worried about having a second attack. So now I make sure to take the right medications and work with my doctor to live a heart-healthy lifestyle." 

 

Frank's story is not uncommon. A new survey of more than 500 heart attack survivors found that survivors see their attack as a wake-up call that gave them a second chance at life. However, most survivors also said their heart attack left them with feelings of depression and hopelessness. In fact, survivors said they feared another heart attack more than death. Even though survivors had these feelings, 40 percent said they were not doing everything they could to prevent another attack. This fact is troubling since one in five men and one in three women will have another heart attack within six years. 

 

"I see these survey results come to life in my practice every day. While many of my patients who have suffered a heart attack are very aware and afraid of their increased risk of having another one, they are not doing everything they can to live a heart-healthy life. The good news is that if they take certain steps, they can prevent another attack. I tell my patients to eat healthy, exercise and take their medications. Those medications may include a beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, statin and aspirin," said Dr. William Abraham, director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center. 

 

In the survey, 80 percent of heart attack survivors said they needed more information to learn about their heart health. As a result, Mended Hearts, a nationwide heart patient support group affiliated with the American Heart Association, started a program called "Heartfelt Wake-Up Call." This program offers education and support to heart attack survivors and their families. For tips on "Heartfelt Living" and "Heartfelt Support," such as information about local support groups, tip sheets, survivors' stories and heart-healthy recipes, visit www.mendedhearts.org. 

 

GlaxoSmithKline provided funding and assistance in the development of "Heartfelt Wake-Up Call." 

 

"I encourage patients to take their health to heart," said Abraham.

A Summary Of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Hepatitis C is a stealthy virus that mutates while hiding in liver cells and other organ cells like the spleen and gall bladder. The fact that the viral cells "hide" makes it very difficult for the body's immune system to eradicate it. Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease sometimes taking many years until symptoms are noticeable. It is at this point that the virus has reached advanced chronic stage and becomes difficult to eradicate. Hepatitis C results in 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S.

 

Hepatitis C infection is caused by blood contact with someone who has the virus infection himself. The transmission of the virus can occur by illicit drug use with needles, sharing toothbrushes or razors with an infected person, by sexual means, by unsanitary tattooing or by exposure to blood at your workplace (like a hospital or blood bank). Some HCV infection may have been caused by receiving blood from a transfusion prior to 1992.

 

Hepatitis C is diagnosed via a blood test. Usually, the first thing that is noticed is that the liver enzyme levels for ALT and AST are elevated well above normal levels. Further investigation via HCV-RNA testing identifies whether the Hepatitis C virus is in your blood or not. Other tests for HCV include qualitative viral load tests, which measure the RNA particles in your blood. If you are being treated for HCV, your doctor is probably using either a HCV-RNA or viral load test to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

 

The symptoms of Hepatitis C infection often do not occur in a person until 20 years after he/she had been infected. Since the HCV infects the liver and the liver is the organ in the body that makes all the energy for our daily activities possible, liver function deterioration often results in fatigue. Fatigue is the primary complaint or symptom of HCV infection. Other more severe symptoms are jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), bile retention (which can cause jaundice), portal vein hypertension, skin rashes and itching, and autoimmune problems resulting from your body's immune system attacking normal cells.

 

Long term HCV infection may result in fibrosis or even cirrhosis of the liver. Fibrosis results from unchecked liver inflammation. As the HCV infection progresses, the damage to the liver results in scarring or hardening of the liver cells (fibrosis). Long term fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis which is when the scarring from fibrosis overtakes the normal liver cell structure causing deformity and loss of function in the liver. About 15%-20% of HCV patients end up with cirrhosis. A liver biopsy is currently the most accurate means of determining the amount of inflammation and fibrosis the liver has sustained.

 

Hepatitis C progression in the body can take several years or even decades to come to chronic stage or to a stage where severe liver damage is evident. This period of time allows a person to determine how to properly treat the disease and to decide on a course of disease management. Currently, the main treatment for HCV infection to eradicate the virus is combo alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe interferon alone. Interferon comes in standard form or in pegylated form. Standard form interferon is administered 3 times per week, while the pegylated form is administered only once per week. Your body makes its own interferon, which is a protein that fights viral infection and viral replication.

 

Hepatitis C may often be managed by taking herbal and vitamin supplements that help your body fight infection and limit inflammation. These supplements help your liver with the inflammation and give it the nutrients it needs to regenerate healthy new cells. Your doctor can recommend alternative or adjunct solutions you may want to try.

 

Proper treatment of the disease, a healthy and active lifestyle, a good diet, abstinence from alcohol and stress management are important factors in controlling Hepatitis C progression.

A Brief Introduction To Rheumatoid Arthritis

One out of every seven Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and it's predicted that almost sixty million will suffer from the disease by the year 2020.

 

This is according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

 

You might not know it, but you could be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid arthritis is commonly associated with the older generation (people over the age of 65), the disease is found in younger generations - even including children. How could you tell if you have it? Well if you're experiencing morning stiffness for no apparent reason (like if you had done a lot of strenuous exercise the night before, for example), you might be suffering from one of it's symptoms. As mild as you might think morning stiffness is, you really ought to give it some serious thought and consult with your doctor because if that morning stiffness is related to rheumatoid arthritis, you can work to prevent it from disabling or crippling you later on down the road to a point where you can barely function. But rheumatoid arthritis isn't just a physical condition. It has the propensity to tax your mental and emotional state of well-being tpp.

 

This is because arthritis can change the way you work, the way you interact with your family, and the way you entertain yourself with recreational activities. You might even know someone with rheumatoid arthritis and have observed how this disease changed not only his or her mobility, but also his or her outlook on life. Those of us without rheumatoid arthritis tend to take our ability to move anyway we want for granted, but when that ability slowly disappears right before our eyes, it's no surprise that we get depressed about it.

 

But it doesn't necessary have to be that way. With proper medications, education, support, and prescribed exercises, you could work to prevent the most severe forms of the disease - or at least prolong the worst case symptoms.

 

Arthritis works in two ways. First, it inflames the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage that sit in-between joints. And it's this inflammation that causes the pain, swelling, and heat. Those are symptoms that are typical indications of an injury and they're vital to understanding more about this disease. Second, arthritis works by releasing enzymes that basically consume or otherwise destroy the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage that have become inflamed to a point where they're not very useful and don't allow for easy movement. In the worse cases, cartilage disappears completely and as you can guess, this is extremely crippling and uncomfortable.

 

That's why we call rheumatoid arthritis a disease. Typically, inflamed muscles, ligaments, and cartilage are the result of an injury, like falling on the knees for example. But with arthritis, no injury has to occur. In fact, arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease and the cartilage inside joints is one of the things that it destroys. And any joint can be affected - one, two, maybe even more but most of the time, the disease targets fingers, hips, feet, and knees.

A Bird-Flu Pandemic Could Start Tomorrow

Bird flu is a disease caused by a specific type of avian (bird) influenza virus, the so-called H5N1 virus. This virus was first discovered in birds in China in 1997 and since then has infected 125 people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia, killing 64 of them. It is spread by infected migratory birds (including wild ducks and geese) to domestic poultry (primarily chickens, ducks, and turkeys), and then to humans. 

 

Since 1997, and especially since the beginning of 2004, approximately 150 million birds have either died from the disease or been killed to prevent further spread. Nevertheless, this very infectious and deadly virus has spread relentlessly to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Laos, Russia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, Romania, England, Croatia, Macedonia, and other countries. This ongoing geographic extension of the virus is of great concern around the world. It is feared that it will continue to spread to all continents, including the Western Hemisphere, and it no doubt will.  

 

Normally, different types of viruses infect just one, or a limited number, of species specific to the particular virus type. The bird-flu virus, however, has infected a large number of birds and animals, including ducks, chickens, turkeys, tree sparrows, peregrine falcons, great black-headed gulls, brown-headed gulls, gray herons, Canada geese, bar-headed geese, little egrets, pigs, clouded leopards, white tigers, mice, domestic cats, crows, magpies, peacocks, blue pheasants, rare eagles, turtledoves, swans, terns, and others. This is another sign of the virulence or destructiveness of the virus.

 

Researchers, historians, and infectious-disease experts have determined that influenza pandemics (global epidemics) occur approximately once every 30 years. The most deadly pandemic ever recorded occurred in 1918-19, killing more than 100 million people across the globe in less than two years. Two other much less severe pandemics occurred, one in 1957, when approximately  two million people died, and one in 1968, when about one million people died. Because we have already had three pandemics in less than 100 years, we are “overdue” for another one.

 

And so this disease-causing virus continues to infect more and more species in more and more countries. In laboratory experiments, it has been shown to be one of the most lethal influenza viruses ever known. In addition, just recently and after 10 years of work, researchers determined that the H5N1 bird-flu virus is genetically more similar to the deadly 1918-19 influenza pandemic virus than to the viruses which caused the much less severe pandemics of 1957-58 and 1968-69.

 

To summarize the important points so far: The bird-flu virus is a very deadly strain of avian influenza called H5N1 that has killed millions of birds; 2) the virus is spreading relentlessly around the world; 3) the virus has infected many species, which is uncharacteristic of most viruses; 4) the virus has been shown to be similar to the most deadly virus ever known, which caused the 1918-19 pandemic; 5) the virus has been shown to be much more deadly in laboratory experiments than regular influenza viruses; and 6) the virus is known to have infected at least 125 humans and killed 64 of them so far, yielding a fatality rate of approximately 50 percent.

 

The virus continues to kill humans, but at a slow rate, it has not yet acquired the capacity to be easily transmissible between humans; humans become infected primarily from sick birds. Because humans alive today have no natural immunity to the H5N1 virus, once it becomes easily transmissible between humans a pandemic or global epidemic will occur. The central question is, when will it exchange enough genetic material with the usual seasonal human influenza-viruses to become more like a human-influenza virus, and thus become easily transmissible between people?  

 

Many people believe that the virus will continue to spread around the world until it is present in most or all countries, before it will “go human” (become easily transmissible between people). And that may be the case. The pandemic of 1918-19 is thought to have started in Kansas (of all places). So it is certainly possible that the coming pandemic could start somewhere else than in Asia, although most experts believe it will, in fact, start there. It could start in a country which has not yet been host to the virus.

 

However, it is most certainly not necessary for the virus to march all the way around the world before a pandemic can begin. The fact that the virus already has spread to more than 15 countries, and to many different bird and animal species, provides the opportunity for it to commingle with a human-influenza virus and create the dreaded human contagion. There is no known reason why this could not happen tomorrow.  While it is true that the probability of the switch increases with time, the probability of its happening tomorrow is far from zero.

 

The flip side to the possibility that the crossover could happen at any time is the fact that the virus has been around at least since 1997 and, as a matter of record, has not yet switched to a deadly human-to-human form. At least a few scientists believe that the virus can’t and won’t make the switch to a deadly form, possibly ever.

 

And so we are left with these two very different possibilities, at any time, and as soon as tomorrow, the virus could mutate into a deadly form, readily transmissible between people, or it might never transform itself into such a form. There appears to be much more evidence for the former and, presumably, that is why the vast majority of scientists and governments are scrambling to prepare for the worst.

 

This situation is analogous to living on the Gulf Coast during the beginning of hurricane season.  Residents there have been through it before, but most of the time the storms are not too severe and the people can get by without too much hassle.  However, there have been rare severe storms that have been devastating.  Someday another hurricane is coming, and it appears that it might well be a Category IV or even V by the time it strikes land. However, that’s not certain, no one can say for sure, and no one knows exactly when it will strike land. So what should the residents do?  What should the residents have done before hurricane Katrina?  

 

The coming bird-flu pandemic might be mild and it might not come for years.  On the other hand, it might be severe and it might start tomorrow. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has said, “While the severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, modelling studies suggest that its effect in the United States could be severe.” We should also be mindful that the pandemic could come at any time, even before the virus methodically marches around the globe.  No matter how advanced science has become, we still cannot predict when the switch will occur; it is currently unknowable, and that does not mean it will come later, in a predictable fashion. As Miguel de Cervantes admonished, “Forewarned, forearmed.”  

 

Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.

The Frank Group

P.O. Box 138

Lakewood, NY 14750

http://www.AvoidBirdFlu.com

A Better Understanding Of Arthritis

The term "Arthritis" refers to more than 100 different types of diseases which all cause pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints of affected people. All arthritis conditions involve some form of joint pain or the other. However, the seriousness of the joint pain, the duration of the joint pain and degree of the joint pain vary from one type of arthritis to another.

 

The two most prevalent types of arthritis include Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, in which joint cartilage is destroyed. In other cases of Osteoarthritis, the patient experiences bony outgrowth, also known as bone spurs and also lose of cartilage particles. 

 

Osteoarthritis affects mostly aged people, from 55 years and older. That is why most people say it is an 'aged disease' of the joints. Osteoarthritis is mostly common in the hands, feet, spine, hips and knees of victims.

 

In rheumatoid arthritis, the patient experiences white blood cells in the synovial membrane dividing, growing and multiplying. These produce inflammation of the joint capsule and synovial membrane, loss of space in the synovial cavity, pain and stiffness in the joint. If there is no arthritis relief and treatment, this may lead to cartilage destruction. 

 

Apart from these types of arthritis, another type of arthritis that commonly affects people is "Inflammatory Arthritis". This type of arthritis causes very severe inflammation in the joints and the tendons of the victims. 

 

This is mostly characterized by the swelling and inflammation of the synovial membrane - thereby causing severe pain and stiffness in the joints of the victims. Inflammatory arthritis makes the joint look red and warm when touched. Arthritis relief for victims is necessary to reduce the pain. 

 

Arthritis relief is therefore very important, especially in a country like the United States where Arthritis is the number one cause of physical disability. There are an estimated total number of 43 million Americans - 16 percent of the population, suffering from one form of arthritis or the other. 

 

It is not only adults who need arthritis relief, but also children. In the United States, about 300,000 children suffer from one type of arthritis related disease or another. Children, being very susceptible to pain, need arthritis relief and treatment more than ever before. Unlike adults who can endure joint pains to a great degree, children cannot and therefore need arthritis relief as soon as the problem starts.

10 Most Likely Cancers You Are Going To Get

One of the greatest concerns America has today is cancer. The figures are alarming according to the National Cancer Institute studies a total of 1,372,910 new cases of cancer and 570, 280 deaths were predicted for the year 2005. Approximately one in every four deaths is due to cancer. 

 

Research indicates that the lifetime probability of developing cancer is higher for men at 46% while for women it is 36%. The National Cancer Institute has   put in place a challenge to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. To meet this, the nation is tackling the problem on a war footing. And, to this end the creation of awareness has become a priority. To conquer cancer you must know what the risks are, how lifestyle changes can help, about intervention and preventive care, and where help is available. 

 

The most common cancers are:

 

Men:

 

1.         Prostrate. This accounts for approximately 33%. 

 

2.         Lung and bronchus. Accounts for 13%

 

3.         Colon and Rectal. Accounts for 10%

 

4.         Urinary and Bladder, 7%.

 

5.         Melanoma of skin, 5%.

 

6.         Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 4%.

 

7.         Kidney and Renal Pelvis, 3%.

 

8.         Leukemia, 3%.

 

9.         Oral Cavity and Pharynx, 3%.

 

10.      Pancreas, 3%.

 

Women:

 

1.         Breast, 32%.

 

2.         Lung and Bronchus, 12%.

 

3.         Colon and rectum, 11%.

 

4.         Uterine Corpus, 6%.

 

5.         Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 4%.

 

6.         Melanoma of the skin, 4%

 

7.         Ovary, 3%.

 

8.         Thyroid, 3%.

 

9.         Urinary Bladder, 2%.

 

10.      Pancreas, 2%.

 

An organization called the CDC is taking giant strides in the field of cancer prevention and control. They advocate adoption of a healthy life style, eating nutritious and well balanced food, regular health checks, and screening for cancer. Screenings are quite often lifesaving as problems can be nipped in the bud. Many cancers are curable if detected in the early stages. 

 

It is important to know that a cancer is a disease where healthy cells in the body divide uncontrolled to form tumours. This could happen anywhere in the body and some tumours are benign while others are malignant. Most cancers have different symptoms but to give you an idea, symptoms can include an unexplained lump in any part of the body may feel like a small marble; perceptible growth of a wart or mole; wounds and sores that do not heal; a persistent cough; changes in bowel or bladder habits; indigestion; weight loss or gain; unusual bleeding or discharge. These are symptoms that are caused by not just cancer but many other diseases. And, early cancer does not manifest itself in any outward signs so the only way is to undergo health checks. So, you need the help of a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.

 

Screening will include routine physical examinations, lab tests, x-rays, and specialized tests like mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, sonography or laparoscopy. The physician will, after giving you a general check and noting down the history recommend any special tests if he finds anything that requires further investigation.

 

In depth information on cancer, prevention, cures, treatment, counselling and more can be found at: http://www.thecancer.net; http://www.cancer.org; and http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics.

7 Tips to Take Control of Bipolar Disorder

7 crucial steps to controlling and managing bipolar disorder or manic depression are discussed in this article.

 

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a life-long illness affecting the chemistry of the brain. In classic cases, it causes severe mood swings from manic episodes of extreme highs to depressive episodes of debilitating lows, with relatively normal periods in-between. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 2 million people age 18 and older have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. 

 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for bipolar disorder at this time. But as with any chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy, proper treatment, management and understanding of the illness is crucial. Most people with bipolar disorder can lead full, productive and satisfying lives by taking crucial steps to control and manage their illness.

 

Some key steps to consider if you or a loved one have bipolar disorder include:

 

1. Find a mental health professional you trust. A person diagnosed with bipolar disorder needs to establish a relationship with a trusted mental health professional where an open and honest exchange can take place.

 

2. Take medication as prescribed. This is first and foremost the most important step in taking control of bipolar disorder. It is the one element that needs to be strictly adhered to. In order for medication to work effectively it must be taken consistently and for the long term. It may be tempting to stop taking medication as symptoms lessen and one starts feeling better. However, this could have devastating consequences.

 

3. Reduce Stress. Mental health professionals typically believe that increased stress can trigger an episode of manic depression. Finding time to relax, sharing extra responsibilities, or simply talking to someone during a stressful event may help to bring on an increased feeling of calmness.

 

4. Do not become isolated. Do not try to "handle" bipolar disorder alone. Seeking out the comfort and understanding of family and friends is central to a person's treatment. It can be very helpful to join a bipolar disorder support group because the people there understand the feelings and difficulties of living with the illness. They can lend insight and encouragement to a person confronting a diagnosis.     

 

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is important to establish regular healthy routines such as exercising the same time every day, going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning. Maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep, because erratic sleep patterns can increase the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Do not use caffeine or recreational drugs. 

 

6. Become an expert on bipolar disorder. Become involved in understanding the symptoms and treatment of bipolar disorder and the effects it can have on family and friends. Consult a qualified mental health professional with questions and concerns. Read books about the illness or listen to lectures by experts. Learn as much about bipolar disorder as possible because knowledge is a powerful tool in taking out the mystery of the illness.

 

7. Enhance life with enjoyable things. Make it a priority to engage in things that bring about feelings of joy, happiness, and accomplishment. Hobbies or activities that enhance a sense of peace or relaxation serve one well in dealing with the confusion of bipolar disorder.

 

A diagnosis of bipolar disorder does not have to mean the end of one's world; rather it can be considered a new beginning. One that, at last, provides an explanation and ultimate relief from some of the unexplained and destructive behaviours a person might exhibit, freeing them to live rich and fulfilling lives.

6 Essential Facts You Should Know About Bipolar Disorder

The first step in dealing with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is education. This article contains 6 essential facts you need to know about this serious yet treatable illness.

 

Mental health authorities estimate that more than 2 million adults have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also called manic-depression), a chemical imbalance in the brain causing extreme mood swings from manic highs to agonizing lows. Although a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be frightening and confusing, it is a treatable and manageable condition. 

 

If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with bipolar illness, the first step in relieving fear and uncertainty is education. The more you know about the disorder, the less control it will exert over you and others who may be affected.

 

The National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov), The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (www.nami.org), and The National Mental Health Association (www.nmha.org) are just a few of the recognized national organizations providing information, facts and support to anyone who may be directly or indirectly affected by bipolar disorder. 

 

Below are some essential facts about bipolar disorder provided by these organizations that may alleviate some of your concerns and questions surrounding a recent diagnosis.

 

Bipolar disorder affects many people: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million adults, or 1.2 percent of the population, in any given year.

 

Bipolar disorder has many potential causes: There does not appear to be one cause for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests that many components may come into play, all of which affect the chemical balance of certain parts of the brain. Several studies on the occurrence of bipolar disorder in families demonstrate a genetic disposition toward the illness. Other factors may include extremely traumatic life events, chronic illness, alcoholism, and drug abuse. 

 

Bipolar disorder has varied symptoms: The most pronounced symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic mood swings consisting of extremely “high” manic episodes to debilitating episodes of depression and then back again with relatively normal moods in between. Behaviours during a manic episode include heightened feelings of euphoria, extreme energy, decreased need for sleep, extreme irritability and distractibility, and increased aggression. Depressive episodes bring about excessive feelings of despair, hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, and sometimes thoughts of suicide. 

 

Bipolar disorder affects both sexes in children to adults: Manic depression is not selective in who it touches. Women and men are equally affected, as are children and adolescents (although a diagnosis in children and teens is more difficult to determine). A majority of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a least one family member with the illness. And children of parents with the illness are more likely to develop it themselves.

 

Bipolar disorder has effective treatment modalities: Bipolar disorder is treated with medications, called mood stabilizers, to assist in controlling fluctuation in moods. The important thing to understand about bipolar disorder is that it is a life-long, recurring illness requiring ongoing care. In addition to medication, psychotherapy is also prescribed in the management of the illness. Psychotherapy assists people to understand their illness and to develop coping skills to help deal with life events and stressors that may trigger manic and depressive episodes. 

 

Bipolar disorder has no cure: As of today, there is no known cure for bipolar disorder; however, it is a treatable and manageable illness. With a close relationship with a mental health professional, a proper diagnosis, and vigilant adherence to taking medications and sticking to prescribed treatment plans, most individuals with bipolar illness lead very productive and rewarding lives. 

 

These are just a few of the facts pertaining to bipolar disorder. It is not a simple illness, yet it is manageable and treatable. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, do not hesitate to seek information and help. Any one of the above-mentioned organizations can offer you education, guidance, and support. Obtaining knowledge is one of your first steps in alleviating the uncertainty and anxiety of dealing with such a diagnosis.