Alopecia in children
Alopecia in children is normally an extremely rare condition that you hardly see. However, even though you do not see any children around you that have the condition, this does not mean that it simply does not exist. In fact over 2 million children are said to suffer with some form of alopecia at one point and time in their lives. The only great thing about alopecia in children is about 60% of the cases are taken care of and hair can then begin to grow as it did under normal circumstances. In many cases children simply outgrow the condition and don’t experience it at all through their childhood; however they may experience it as they age considering different factors that can influence the hair loss of course. A reversal of the condition does not happen over night. The sad part is the other 40% of children that are forced to have to suffer with the condition. Everyone tries to put their fingers on what could possibly cause children to lose their hair. In fact many of the assumptions that people have such as vitamin deficiencies and hats are completely factious. One main cause of alopecia in children is referred to as tinea capitis or you could call it ring worm for short. It is at this point that you will begin to notice round patches where hair has ceased to grow. This condition is caused by a fungus and in many cases as long as you treat the fungus your children’s hair will then begin to regrow on its own. Children’s alopecia areata is a condition where children will begin to lose hair in patches. However over 80% of the children that suffer with this condition will be able to see hair regrowth in as little as 12 months. Children’s traction alopecia is a big deal especially in little girls. Mother’s love to style their children’s hair and make them have some of the cutest hair styles that you could ever imagine. But, the fact of the matter is excessive pulling, teasing or chemicals can in fact cause your daughters hair to fall out. Mothers, who love to tie their children’s hair back or put it in bows and barrettes, may want to rethink the hair styles that they give their daughters in a means to protect her fragile hair until she gets older. Alopecia in children is not as rare as you may think it is. It is a condition that in most cases can be treated without any doctor intervention. However in severe cases it would behoove you to seek medical attention. There is no need to try to age your child quicker then what they need to be. There are certain creams and other means that a doctor will prescribe to help your child rid them selves of the debilitating condition.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants refer to medications that are useful in helping people having depression. People suffering from depression become better with the treatment that comprises of these medicines. Antidepressants help in removing certain chemicals called neurotransmitters present in the brain. Neurotransmitters are essential for normal brain functioning. The antidepressants assist people having depression by formulating these natural chemicals obtainable to the brain. Antidepressants are taken for a period of 4 to 6 months. In certain cases, the patients are advised to take antidepressants for a longer period of time. Antidepressants are categorized in groups depending on the chemicals that affect the brain. The different kinds of antidepressants include Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the medications are Citalopram, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine and Sertraline with brand names (Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Pexeva and Zoloft). These antidepressant medicines have fewer side effects in comparison to other antidepressants. These medicines cause side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, sexual problems, nervousness, insomnia and headache. Tricyclics are one of the kinds of antidepressants and the medications include Amitriptyline, Desipramine, Imipramine and Nortriptyline with brand names (Elavil, Norpramin, Tofranil and Aventyl). The common side effects with these medicines are blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, worsening of glaucoma, difficulty urinating, tiredness and impaired thinking. Such antidepressants affect the blood pressure as well as the heart rate. Antidepressant types also include Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors with medicines namely Venlafaxine and Duloxetine and the common side effects caused are nausea, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, dry mouth, sexual problems, increased cholesterol levels and heart rate. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors medicine is Bupropion and the side effects include nausea, headache, agitation, insomnia and appetite loss. Combined reuptake inhibitors as well as receptor blockers medications are Trazodone, Nefazodone, Maprotiline and Mirtazpine. The common side effects are dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. People suffering with seizures should avoid taking maprotiline. Monamine oxidase inhibitors include Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine and Tranlcypromine. This is also one of the types of antidepressants. The MAOIs are used lesser than other antidepressants. Taking MAOI antidepressant over other medicines for cold or flu can also result in dangerous reaction. MAOI should be taken only after clearly comprehending with medications as well as foods that should be avoided. Even if your doctor recommends another antidepressant medicine, you have to wait for some small period of time to get MAOI out of your body system. Antidepressants effect on various medicines. You must inform your doctor about the other medicines that you take including herbal health products and over the counter medicines. Consulting your doctor prior to taking any other medicine will serve the deserved purpose.
Physical therapy modalities
In medicine, modalities are therapeutic ways or procedures and how it is applied for the enhancement of ones condition. As you might have guessed, there are numerous types of modalities in medicine. Let us discuss on four physical therapy modalities for wounds. One of the wound physical therapy modalities, and a very common treatment for physical trauma and injuries, is the application of ice packs and hot packs on the affected joint or limb. An ice pack is indicated 24 hours after the injury has taken place to cause constriction of the vessels for the purpose of decreasing edema, or swelling, and pain in the affected part. After 24 hours, to improve circulation in the area of injury, hot packs are applied. Another of the many physical therapy modalities is the use of whirlpool. This is by far the known remedial procedure for patients with extensive burns. This is often administered to patients twice everyday for 20 minutes long. They are submerged in sterile water. Indications for this physical therapy modality also include those with necrotic wounds. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is indicated to limited situations. Though the indication is limited, this is one of the physical therapy modalities for wounds. Among its indications are pressure ulcers and diabetic wounds. So how does this physical therapy modality allow wound healing? This therapy provides increase perfusion in wounds that occur on hypoxic (hypoxia is the lack of oxygenation at the cellular level) areas, which discontinues or decreases growth of anaerobic microbes that delay wound healing. This is a type of physical therapy modality for wounds that lets the patient breath in oxygen for 90 to 120 minutes thereby increasing the oxygen levels in the blood and consequently, the oxygen is carried into the cells. Electrical stimulation is one of the physical therapy modalities for the wound. This works by introducing little electrical waves on the skin surrounding the lesion. Usually, this type of treatment is indicated in pressure ulcers that are already in stage III and IV. With technology improving and rising, physical therapy modalities are also evolving. Though that is the present situation, these four physical therapy modalities are still done commonly in patients with wounds in various health care settings. Physicians need to know what physical therapy modality patients or their families prefer. It is also essential that the medical team assess the stage of wound healing to properly indicate the type of treatment the patient needs. And from there, they can coordinate with a physical therapist. Having a good physical therapist that critically suggests treatments to patients and chooses appropriate techniques among the known physical therapy modalities, can greatly improve ones wound condition.
History of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder recognised by the American Psychiatric Association and listed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) along with a complete set of criteria which is used across the world for diagnostic purposes. However Bipolar disorder wasn’t always listed in the DSM or even known by this name. Over centuries the knowledge and recognition of this mental disorder has evolved and grown. The first recorded mention of Bipolar disorder is attributed to Aretaeus from the ancient city of Cappadocia in Turkey as far back as the second century. Arataeus recognised some symptoms of both mania and depression and felt that they could be linked to each other. However in the second century there was no support of this theory and these important findings were ignored. The next appearance of Bipolar disorder in academic discussions was several centuries later in 1650. Scientist Richard Burton wrote and published the book ‘The Anatomy of Melancholia’, the first to successfully describe the condition of depression. In fact, this book is still used as a key reference in the mental health field and Burton is known as the Father of Depression as a mental illness. 2 centuries later, in 1854, Jules Falret introduced the term ‘folie circulaire’ which literally means circular insanity. This was because Falret had understood the difference between moments of depression and the times when the mood was heightened. Jules Falret also supported the idea that depression and suicide were linked together. In 1875, Falret’s findings were officially termed as Manic-Depressive Psychosis, a recognised psychiatric disorder. Falret was also the first to observe that the condition was often present in certain families and thus recognised the genetic linkage of the disorder. There was also a scientist Francois Baillarger who indicated the very important difference between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In 1913, Emil Krapelin gave the field of mental health the term Manic-Depressive and studied the effects of the manic and depressive episodes. The unique approach to the mental illness became fully accepted during this time period and was the most widely theory in the early 1930′s. In 1948 Dr. John Cade, an Australian psychiatrist was successfully able to discover the positive effects of Lithium Carbonate to treat manic-depressive psychosis. Even today Lithium Carbonate is used as a medication for Bipolar disorder. In 1952 The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorder analyzed the genetics of the disorder and through the 1960′s those afflicted with it were institutionalised with little help. This was because the Congress refused to recognise manic depression as a legitimate illness. It was only in the 1970′s that laws were established and enacted to help mentally ill patients and in 1979 the National Association of Mental Health was founded. In 1980 the term manic depressive disorder was changed to Bipolar disorder and was listed in the DSM.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is considered to be a non-scarring, inflammatory hair disease that can occur in women, children and men. The condition differs from normal alopecia because hair normally begins to fall out in circular patches. With alopecia it falls out whenever it pleases and doesn’t seem to make a pattern of it. There is no particular part of the body where alopecia areata has to be found in order to be a serious condition. Many people however, do not pay the condition much attention until the hair begins to deplete on their scalps. In order to understand alopecia areata and what you need to do if you ever come down with the condition, it would behoove you to understand the means by which your hair grows. There are three main phases in which your hair grows. The phases are the anagen phase, the catgen phase as well as the telogen phase. Alopecia areate begins to attack your hair when it is in the first phase of hair growth, which is the anagen phase. Inflammatory cells will begin to surround your hair follicles which will then cause them to fall out and stop producing hair in those certain spots. Alopecia areata is common on the scalp, beard, and any other place that hair grows. Many people do not see the condition as a problem until the hair loss becomes apparent to others around them. Studies have shown that when your hair is in the anagen state that alopecia areata actually causes the follicles to fall back. The patch of skin that lies underneath the hair will become extremely irritated often times the skin will feel as if it is burning, hair growth will cease and you will notice instead of your hair growing out it begins to fall out. Do not get alopecia areata confused with other conditions. There are many people that do suffer from this common condition, and they are able to live long and fulfilling lives. Remember hair is only one part of which you are the rest of who you are lies in your heart. There are different cures that doctors have tried to rid people of the condition. Keep in mind that curing the condition is based off of your own individual case; some of the cures are not designed to help everyone. In some cases doctors will prescribe a cream that you can rub onto the bald spot in order to try to re-stimulate hair to start growing in the area that is now empty. You will be told to continue the regiment with the cream until you notice a difference. There are also medications that can be given as well as over the counter hair re-growth aides that can be used. There are solutions to your problem you just need to find out the best one that will work for you.
Computer addiction
It is hard for me to understand how people can find computers so amazing. I use computers to type my homework and to do some research but that is it. My Friends spends hours sitting in front of the computers playing games and exploring Internet sites. Recently we have been experiencing problems because he neglects us by spending too much time on the computer. I see the computer at home as my enemy because it takes my husband away from me. The computer is destroying my family’s life. Some children do not have their father’s attention and they are growing wild. The first thing my friend does when he gets in the house is to turn on the computer. He even forgets to say hi to their family members. He seems to be attached to the computer. When I am using the computer to do my homework, he makes fun of me. According to Marissa Hecht Orzack, Ph.D. from McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA, our society is becoming more and more “computer dependent” not only for information but for fun also. Computer dependency affects people from all ages. Kids get hooked up with games and adults with chats and pornographic sites. Some persons look in the computer a solution to their overwhelming problems and they become addicts to it. They usually turn to the Internet to play games in an attempt to overcome their anxiety, to change moods or to distract themselves for their problems. Instead of solving problems computers create more. Mothers have difficulties getting their children to do chores when computers occupy all theirs after school time. Wives find their husbands neglecting their families and their phone bills get high by using the on-line service number. The Computer Addiction Service at McLean Hospital has found out the reasons why people become computer and Internet addicts. They recognized that persons with computer addiction turn to the Internet or play computer games for different reasons: attempting to change moods, to overcome anxiety, to deal with depression, to reduce their loneliness, to distract themselves from the overwhelming problems and sometimes like my husband just to have fun. This problem affects people from all ages. Elderly as well as children and adolescents become computer addict because they may not realize the extent of their dependency. Besides of the Psychological symptoms there exist also the physical symptoms that warn us about computer addiction. Individuals who spend long hours typing at the computer start experimenting wrist pains or Carpal tunnel syndrome. Dry eyes are the result of spending many hours in front of the computer. Migraine headaches are also experimented for people who have computer addiction.
Cosmetic surgery
According to latest statistics, More than 12 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the US alone last year and every year it is increased by one percent. Cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty of medicine and surgery that distinctively restricts itself to the improvement of appearance, irregularity and defects through surgical and non-surgical techniques. It is particularly concerned with preserving normal appearance or reinstates it, or enhancing it beyond the actual level toward some ideal level. Cosmetic surgery is a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach directed to all areas of the body. The top five surgical procedures were breast augmentation, nose reshaping liposuction eyelid surgery, and tummy tuck. Statistics shows that the top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures among the people are botox injections, laser hair removal, hyaluronic acids, microdermabrasion, chemical peels. Middle-agers normally from 35 to 50 had the majority of procedures. The most common procedures for those 18 and under were Laser Hair Removal, Microdermabrasion, Rhinoplasty (Nosejob surgery) and Otoplasty (ear surgery) Why consider cosmetic surgery? Cosmetic surgery aims to change your appearance by changing parts of your body that have normal functions but looks make you unhappy. Reconstructive surgery is different which can reinstate look and function of body parts affected by hereditary defects, injuries and diseases Cosmetic surgery helps not only to look better, but also to feel better. Those who look for cosmetic surgery generally have an upbeat self-image, despite being oddly focused on one or more aspects of their appearance which others may or may not recognize. Postoperative benefits include personal well being due to positive self-image and improve family and social interactions. Although no studies have convincingly proved that most people can expect dramatic enhancement in their psychological well-being, however it is logical to believe that the patients perception about them changes normally if their appearance changes. Because the old adage may say ‘face is the index of mind’ but the reality is ‘mind is the index of the face’ 1. Don’t have unrealistic expectations that cosmetic surgery turns you star overnight. Anticipate improvement and avoid dreaming about perfection. Also don’t count on cosmetic surgery can save a drowning relationship or improve your social interactions. 2. Don’t try to have cosmetic surgery in the middle of a very upsetting life circumstances such as a divorce, job loss etc. better you can postpone because whatever may be the final outcome of the cosmetic surgery you will never satisfied. 3. The surgical and non-surgical procedures may vary and your recovery rate will be higher. Returning to work or taking care of other responsibilities may take from few days to more than a month. 4. Understand the possibility of risks involved in cosmetic surgery. You should be factual and you should know that it may be risky to your health and that the outcome may not like what you expect Possible risks: 1. Nausea, giddiness, pain Numbness and tingling sensation which may become permanent 2. An accumulation of fluid beneath the wound (seroma) and collection of blood in incision (hematoma) may happen and profuse bleeding in some patients has been reported 3. Skin breakdown is more common after cosmetic surgery caused by poor blood circulation and it happens particularly if you are a smoker 4. Infection at the site of surgery is another most common risk which may require more surgery and may leave even bigger scars. Asymmetrical or uneven appearance which may require additional surgery to correct 5. A drop in body temperature below what is required for normal metabolism (hypothermia) And the worst possible risk is dissatisfaction of the outcome of surgery. The outcome depends of lot of factors our expectations, surgeon’s skill, duration and type of surgery and our body’s healing mechanism. To avoid this have a chat with your surgeon to establish realistic, measurable and possible goals before surgery.