Another health

Another health issue we commonly down play is influenza. Over the years I have frequently heard people say that they would not have the flu vaccine because either they never get the flu or that they had it last week for a couple of days and then it was all over! Influenza is a serious debilitating disease that will usually last from 10 days to two weeks and often leave you flat on your back exhausted. It’s not a happy 10 days either as patients do not have the energy to read a magazine or even watch a DVD. You will literally feel ancient with every movement being a real challenge and that doesn’t include the aching all over or the fevers and sleepless nights. The influenza virus is also extremely contagious and most people are unaware that if you spread it to someone who is more frail than yourself that you may actually be putting their life at risk.

With the ‘flu the big challenge is to vaccinate as many people in the community as possible, including children, those employed and unemployed, the elderly and the infirm, to reduce the chance of an epidemic occurring. Recent research has also showed that vaccinating pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy will help protect their new born infants born during the ‘flu season.

Medicine has evolved over the last 40 years, but the change has been fairly slow with doctors by nature being very cautious and conservative people. But we can’t leave the doctors to take all the initiatives. As patients we need to be good listeners in our approach to health by heeding all the great health messages that keep being given to us about vaccinations, smoking, alcohol, exercise and healthy eating. We also need to be good communicators and tell our doctors how we are feeling with conditions such as pain. If the team treating you doesn’t have the best information then it may be that you will not end up getting the best treatment!

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/cooperating-in-our-health-care-777810.html#ixzz0pxQ0axKY
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Dealing with severe pain

Dealing with severe pain can be a complex issue, but I suggest that you have to treat this sort of pain fairly aggressively as acute severe pain is relatively easier to treat than chronic severe pain. In the early stages of an injury or insult to an area of the body, most of the pathological processes are happening at the site of the injury or insult. Throughout time the brain begins to modulate this pain and so no only do you have the injured area to deal with, but you also have complex neural pathways within the brain to deal with as well. This often means a far more complex management plan and a far more protracted recovery time. Specialists are very skilled at dealing with these issues but they do rely heavily on the stories their patients give them. That means being honest in answering their questions and not being heroic with a grin and bear it grimace! Often the use of a pain scale is helpful with zero being no pain at all and a 10 being the worse pain you have ever experienced.

Cooperating In Our Health Care

Funny thing pain, if you’ve never had a severe pain then the suggestion of taking simple analgesia and resting the affected area all seems quite reasonable. I was reminded of this when I read recently of a doctor’s advice to someone who was suffering from sciatica. Having personally experienced sciatica, it’s a condition I would not recommend to anyone who wishes to walk, sit, laugh, sleep, or to just simply pull up your trousers. It’s a bit like a dentist drilling your teeth without an anaesthetic, but it affects your whole leg. In other words the pain is consuming, exhausting and without respite. Clinical studies do show that in the majority of cases the pain will eventually subside and surgery may not be necessary, but in the meantime the patient has to deal with the pain or deal with the medication required to dull the pain. Remember, pain-killers are not selective to the area affected. They affect the whole of the nervous system and elsewhere so there may be significant side-effects from these medications.

Five Ways to Cut your Health Insurance Costs

Nearly one-third of all health-insurance premiums increased to 30 percent or more. At that rate, the average cost of health insurance per employee will exceed $3,000. Seventy-three percent of senior executives believe health-care costs will continue to increase 20 percent or more each year for the next three years. The message here is clear: If you haven't already gotten serious about cutting your company's health-insurance costs, now is the time. It can be done. The first thing you should do is learn how the system works--or doesn't work. Most small employers spend fewer than four hours a year thinking about their company health plans. Learn what your options are. Your insurance agent can help you shop for cheaper plans. But don't stop there. Compare plan benefits, insurance-company records, and service guarantees.

How to Get a Group Health Insurance Rate as an Individual

Most individuals can get really good group rates through their employers. As long as your place of business has more than 50 employees and actually offers a medical plan, you should get a pretty good deal. The overall cost is based on how many of the employees actually have the insurance plan. The more people who are signed up, the cheaper the plan will be. Most people will choose this over going with a private plan any day because it is so much more cost friendly. That is one of the first things you should be looking for when seeking a job, whether or not they offer insurance benefits or not. At your interview ask to see their healthcare providers plan and rates. If they will let you take it home. This way you can see if the plan offers what you want and at a price you can afford. There are some private insurance companies that have reduced individual rates that are comparable to group ones.

Five Tips to Trim your Medical Expenses and Save

With the rising cost of health care, medications, and insurance, it isn’t surprising that people are trying to figure out ways to avoid getting sick and choosing a better lifestyle to lower insurance costs. There is actually quite a bit one can do to help save same cash. It is just a matter of tweaking ones lifestyle choices and preventing health issues from arising or keeping the immune system up so you just don’t get as sick as much. For those people who are seriously sick of high medical premiums and paying out the nose year round for doctor’s visits and medications, this should be a great thing. Small things make a world of difference when it comes to your health.

a) Stop smoking
is the biggest one. Not only do you get sicker than the average person, it is worse. Many smokers are treated for several bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia each year. Smoking also makes you susceptible to colds and other infection. You will also pay a higher premium on your insurance and in some cases won’t get covered in full for cigarette related illnesses or diseases. Plus the money you save from quitting can go to bigger and better things than your medical issues.

Health Insurance Info

Our website provide a few information and advice on the topics of Health and Medical Insurance.

We hope you enjoy our range of informative of the Health and Medical Insuranc articles, topics and latest news. Whether you are doing specific research on this subject, or looking for content for your ezine or websites, you have come to the right place.

Do You Need to Obtain a College Health Care Plan

Upon graduation from high school, there is no doubt that you will surely start your tertiary education in college or university. At age twenty, children will not be covered by health insurance of their parents and this can be disastrous if they are merely study and do not do part-time job. Some universities or colleges may have insurance plan offered to students. These insurance may not answer all your needs but you need to be meticulously considered it.

Most of the universities and colleges offer student health insurance plans. These plans should absolutely be at reasonable price, and can give you the school's nearest hospitals. This option is one that you should definitely think of, if your son or daughter is enrolled in a college far away from home.

College health care scheme may vary from college to college due to laws and some other factors. Many students may think medical services are free of charge, but it is not always true. In term of clinic visit or routine checkups they may be free, however students still require to pay for special kinds of lab tests and other specialties such as x-rays, prescriptions, and a wound treatment. Compensation usually covers some types of service stated in the health care offered at college health centre. When you are referred to see an outside doctor, then the coverage will cover only 70% of your total expense and you are at risk to pay high medical cost.

You may have a problem getting treatment at the campus health centre if you have pre-existing condition. Having a pre-existing condition or illness does not mean to prevent you from obtaining health insurance plan, but you may not be eligible to have your treatment on your pre-existing condition. It can be troublesome if your new symptoms develop from a pre-existing one.

Health schemes are different, so be sure you find out everything about your health insurance plans. Be sure that your health plan stretch to summer break when you or your child do not take classes. This is vital for you because you don’t want to find out that your health care does not cover when you need it most. Some college health insurances may not cover during summer break, while others do.

Be certain that you study your plan thoroughly. Is it an HMO, or can the member utilise any service provider they went? This is critical. You need to know where you can go in case of emergency, and there is nothing worse than discovering that you will have to pay off the bill yourself.

There is no definitive solution to whether you should or should not commit yourself to college health insurance. Be certain that you study your plan thoroughly so that it answer to your need when you need it most. Although there is no free health insurance scheme, surely it will save you a lot of money in time of illness or accident.

Breast Cancer Symptons

What changes do suggest cancer?

Look for these Breast Cancer signs and symptoms:

• A lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling (or indentation) of the skin
• Discharge from the nipple
• Tenderness in the nipple
• A change in the color or feel of breast skin
• Darkening of the area around the nipple
What is Breast Cancer?

Breast Tumors

Breast lumps that are not cancer are called benign tumors (breast tumors). They are usually found by women during their own breast self exam. These lumps take many forms. Some have fluid within and others are firm and solid. Infection may be found in some, while others have old, dead skin cells inside. The treatment depends on the growth and the cause.
Fluid filled tumors are more common and are also painful. They are called cysts and abscesses. Cysts are caused by fibrocystic changes, or by pockets of milk in women who have recently stopped breast-feeding. An ultrasound test may be needed. This test can tell if a lump is filled with fluid or solid. Cysts are usually drained with a needle for quick relief of pain and to prevent infection or abscess.
News results for Breast Cancer

Breast lump picture and rebuilt surgery

Above are some pretty hardcore breast cancer pictures. As you can see the damage the breasts is hard to stomach.

One of these cases is Lorraine who went to see this surgeon because of a lump in her breast. The lump turned out to be benign, but because Lorraine was conscious of a history of breast-cancer in her family, she was easily persuaded to let him perform what he termed the "Rolls-Royce of operations" on her - where he removed both of her breasts & rebuilt new ones out of tissue from her stomach.

Six surgical procedures later, for Lorraine the result turned out to be a disaster which devastated her life - causing a break-up in her relationship at the time & driving her to contemplate suicide.

These pictures should show you that breast cancer can be a serious health issues. There are numerous breast cancer treatment methods and also many breast cancer surgery methods. I urge everyone to consult with different doctors and physicians to determine which method is correct for you.
National Breast Cancer Foundation® Official Site - Information

Sheryl Crow Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

This Sheryl Crow news has been out for a few weeks, but is see strong and supportive of breast cancer treatment and breast cancer awareness.

Singer Sheryl Crow has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery on Wednesday and will have radiation treatments as a precaution.

It was not released when the star was officially diagnosed, however it has been said that the surgery was minimally. Crow released this statement about her diagnosis:

"Approximately 1 in 7 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and more than 2 million Americans are living with breast cancer today. I am joining the more than 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

We are a testament to the importance of early detection and new treatments. I encourage all women everywhere to advocate for themselves and for their future. See your doctor and be proactive about your health.

More than 10 million Americans are living with cancer, and they demonstrate the ever-increasing possibility of living beyond cancer. I am inspired by the brave women who have faced this battle before me and grateful for the support of family and friends."

Crow is no stranger to cancer, especially with her previous relationship with cancer survivor/cyclist Lance Armstrong. She also particpated in the "Rock Against Breast Cancer" concert in 2000.

Her spokesman said that her North American tour would be postponed and hopefully rescheduled. The tour was to begin in April.

Sheryl Crow Diagnosed with Breast

This Sheryl Crow news has been out for a few weeks, but is see strong and supportive of breast cancer treatment and breast cancer awareness.

Singer Sheryl Crow has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery on Wednesday and will have radiation treatments as a precaution.

It was not released when the star was officially diagnosed, however it has been said that the surgery was minimally. Crow released this statement about her diagnosis:

"Approximately 1 in 7 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and more than 2 million Americans are living with breast cancer today. I am joining the more than 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

We are a testament to the importance of early detection and new treatments. I encourage all women everywhere to advocate for themselves and for their future. See your doctor and be proactive about your health.

More than 10 million Americans are living with cancer, and they demonstrate the ever-increasing possibility of living beyond cancer. I am inspired by the brave women who have faced this battle before me and grateful for the support of family and friends."

Crow is no stranger to cancer, especially with her previous relationship with cancer survivor/cyclist Lance Armstrong. She also particpated in the "Rock Against Breast Cancer" concert in 2000.

Her spokesman said that her North American tour would be postponed and hopefully rescheduled. The tour was to begin in April.

Her prognosis is excellent according to her doctors, added her spokesman
Click to Give @ The Breast Cancer Site
Breast cancer - MayoClinic.com

Stages of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer stages compiled from recent Breast Cancer Treatment Studies

- Ductal carcinoma in situation - an early form which is precancerous and which may develop into cancer if left untreated.
- Stage one tumors - these measure under 2cm, the lymph nodes in the armpit are not affected and there are no signs that the cancer has spread.
- Stage two tumors - these measure between 2 and 5cm, or the lymph nodes are affected, or both. However, there are no signs that the cancer has spread.
- Stage three tumors - these are larger than 5cm, the lymph nodes are usually affected but there are no signs that the cancer has spread.
- Stage four tumors - these are of any size, the lymph nodes are usually affected and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
BBC NEWS | Health | Breast cancer

New Drug Delays Breast Cancer

ATLANTA -- A new experimental drug delayed the growth of advanced breast cancer in women who had stopped responding to the drug Herceptin and were out of treatment options, doctors reported Saturday.

The experimental drug, Tykerb, worked so well that an international study of it was stopped early, in April, based on results in 321 women.

Those who received Tykerb plus the chemotherapy drug Xeloda had no growth of their tumors for 8 1/2 months. That compares to 4 1/2 months for those given only Xeloda, said Dr. Charles Geyer Jr. of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

He led the study and reported results Saturday at a meeting in Atlanta of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Tykerb's manufacturer, British-based GlaxoSmithKline, said it would expand global access to the drug under compassionate use provisions, and would seek approval to sell it in the United States and elsewhere later this year.

"This is huge," said Dr. Roy Herbst, a cancer specialist at the University of Texas' M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who had no role in the study but has consulted for Glaxo in the past. "The next step will be to use it in patients instead of Herceptin up front," to see whether it is more effective, he said.

Herceptin and Tykerb are members of a new generation of cancer medicines that more precisely target tumors without killing lots of healthy cells. Herceptin has been an important option for many women with advanced breast cancer, but eventually it stops working and women succumb to the disease.

Tykerb works in a similar yet completely novel way. Like Herceptin, it targets a protein called HER-2/neu, which is made in abnormally large quantities in roughly one-fourth of all breast cancers. Herceptin blocks the protein on the cell's surface; Tykerb does it inside the cell, and blocks a second abnormal protein, too.

In the study, Tykerb also showed signs of being able to prevent cancer from spreading to the brain. That happened to four of the 161 women given Tykerb and Xeloda, compared to 16 of the 160 women given Xeloda alone.

About 14 percent of women on the Tykerb-Xeloda combination and 11 percent on Xeloda alone stopped treatment because of side effects. Diarrhea and rash were more common in those who received Tykerb.

No patients developed heart failure, but four of the 161 on the drug combination had a modest decrease in pumping power of the main chamber of the heart -- side effects that also have been seen with Herceptin.

Tykerb has one big advantage over Herceptin -- it's a pill instead of an intravenous drug, which should make it cheaper and easier to use, doctors said.

Studies are in the works to test it in combination with Herceptin as well as other breast cancer drugs.

Breast cancer is the most common major cancer in American women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. About 213,000 new cases are expected to occur in the United States this year and more than 1 million worldwide.
News results for bbc breast cancer
Tennis great Martina Navratilova has breast cancer

Breast Cancer Mammogram

Found this interesting information on the Breast Cancer Newsgroup. Thanks for sharing.

Ok, well my mum had the lumpectomy and they've now told her that four out of the five lymph nodes they removed were positive and that she is now a Grade 2 and has to have a mastectomy.

What I don't understand is the following and I'd be really grateful if somebody could advise:-

1. Why did they initially think it was a grade one when they did thebiopsy, what sort of tests do they do on the tissue to determine this and why is it now all of a sudden a grade two?

2. If they took 5 random nodes and 4 turned out to be positive does this mean that if they took 20 other random nodes, could those 20 have been positive?

3. She's not due to start chemotherapy for at least two weeks after the lumpectomy, istn't there a chance the cancer could spread even further in that time?

4. If the Cancer now resides in 4 out of 5 lymph nodes what's it's next most likely port of call, I mean does it spread in like a foot path of nodes or is it more complex than that?

5. She had a mammogram last June and they gave my mum the all clear, she believes that the cancer was there then. If they had actually done a scan as well as a mammogram would the scan have picked it up?

Thanks in Advance. I never expected my mum to get breast cancer as she has always been so health conscious, she has never smoked, drunk alcohol and has always been so consiencious about what food she eats. I also feel very guilty because for the last five years I have suffered from Depression and I have often talked in the past about wanting to die because of my depression.

Kind Regards.....

* If anyone has some answers, please respond below or email me and I will make sure to reply to the newsgroup.

Symptoms of breast cancer

The most common way that a potential problem is detected is when physical changes aren’t noticed in the breasts. The key is for the woman to know what ‘normal’ is - then changes can be noticed. All women should practise breast awareness. This involves getting to know what's normal for your breasts in terms of look and texture, so you can spot any changes and get them checked as soon as possible.
Examples of the kind of things to look out for include:
• Lumps or thickening of the tissue
• Any flaking skin or discharge from the nipple.
• 'Tethering' of the skin, as if it's being pulled from the inside
• Any unusual sensation or discomfort.
• A change in outline, shape or size of the breast.
Remember, although most lumps are harmless and will turn out not to be cancerous, you should still get them checked by a doctor as soon as possible, especially if you’re young.
Many lumps will be picked up with mammograms - x-rays of the breast taken every few years as part of the NHS National Breast Screening Programme. The NHS National Breast Screening Programme provides free screening for breast cancer for all women over the age of 50. If you're between 50 and 70 you should be routinely invited for a mammogram every three years. Women over 70 are encouraged to make their own appointment. Regular breast screening may also highlight changes in the breast, enabling the condition to be diagnosed before any symptoms occur through.
You may want to have a look at Macmillan's OPERA tool. This online risk assessment program has been designed to give information about your hereditary risk based on the your personal and family history of breast and ovarian cancer.

Breast cancer and genetics

Fewer than one in 20 cases of breast cancer is inherited. About one person in 1,000 carries the genes responsible, so if a relative has breast cancer it's most likely to be by chance. However, you should be more wary if you have:
• A relative who was diagnosed under the age of 40
• A close relative with cancer in both breasts
• A male relative with breast cancer
• Two close relatives on the same side of the family diagnosed with breast cancer under 60 or with ovarian cancer
• Three close relatives diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
It may be worth writing out a family health history record, to help you work out patterns of disease that run in the family.

Breast cancer - causes and risk factors

The precise reasons why a woman develops breast cancer are still unknown, but are thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Scientists have identified two genes which are more likely to be defective in someone with breast cancer . These genes are also blamed for some other cancers. However, even the two mutated genes are thought only to be responsible for approximately 5 per cent to 10 per cent of breast cancer cases.
Hormones seem to have an important role in breast cancer. Research has shown a link between oestrogen levels (the female sex hormone) and the risk of developing breast cancer. The exact causes of breast cancer have not been clearly identified, but there are certain risk factors:
• Getting older - 80 per cent of breast cancer cases are in postmenopausal women - it's relatively unusual in younger women.
• Having a significant family history of breast cancer, which may be associated with inherited gene mutations.
• Having no children or women who have their first child later in life.
• Starting your periods early or going through the menopause late.
• Certain types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the menopause over a prolonged period.
• Being overweight.
• Drinking excess alcohol.

What is breast cancer

One in every nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in her life - more than 45,000 cases are diagnosed each year. It has become the most common cancer in the UK, and is the leading cause of death for women aged 34 to 54.
Men can also develop this cancer.
Despite recent improvements due to better treatments and earlier detection, the UK still has one of the highest mortality rates for breast cancer in the world. But research is beginning to reap dividends in new ways of understanding how breast cancer cells work.
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Damage to the DNA of these cells results in uncontrolled cell division and growth, and, eventually, sufficient cells accumulate to form a lump.
The cells invade normal surrounding breast tissue and can break off from the primary lump to spread in lymph channels or the blood stream to other organs where secondary lumps (metastases) may form.
The breast is divided into ducts and lobules. The most common form of breast cancer arises from the ducts and is known as invasive ductal carcinoma. Cancers arising from the lobules (invasive lobular carcinomas) are less common.
As with most cancers, the key to successful treatment is early diagnosis before the cancer has had the chance to spread to other organs.
Breast BBC
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Endometrial Cancer | BBC News

Premenstrual Syndrome

Signs and Symptoms
1. Breast swelling or tenderness.
2. Headaches.
3. Dizziness.
4. Fatigue.
5. Decrease or increase in sex drive.
6. Food cravings.
7. Bloating and weight gain.
8. Outbreaks of acne.
9. Mood swings, increased irritability, nervousness, or depression.
10. Diarrhea or constipation.

What to do now
1. Avoid salt, sugar, caffeine, and diary products the week before your period.
2. Avoid alcohol the week before your period. It can worsen headaches, fatigue, and depression.
3. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to help maintain a steady level of blood sugar and to avoid big drops in energy.
4. Get some sleep the week before your period; take long, warm baths to relax.

When to call a doctor
1. If you’ve followed the advice above, but your symptoms still interfere with your normal activities or relationships.

How to prevent it
Although there are no specific ways to prevent PMS, following these guidelines can help prevent the symptoms from interfering with your life:
1. Eat meals that include lots of complex carbohydrates (potatoes, bread).
2. Try to reduce stress. Learn to practice yoga or meditation.
3. Exercise daily.
4. If you smoke, quit.

Vaginal Problems

Signs and Symptoms
Yeast infection:
1. Redness, itching.
2. Burning during urination (sometimes).
3. Pain during intercourse.
4. White, cheesy, odorless discharge (sometimes).
Bacterial vaginosis:
1. Watery, grayish white or yellow discharge with a fishy odor.
2. Mild burning or irritation.
Contact dermatitis:
1. Redness and itching of the vulva (the outer genital area).

What to do now
Yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis:
1. Dry the vulva area thoroughly, especially after urinating or showering.
2. For a yeast infection, try an over-the-counter antifungal suppository cream containing miconzole or clotrimazole.
3. If urinating causes burning, urinate through a plastic cup with the bottom cut out, pressed against your vulva, to keep urine from touching sensitive skin; or use a squirt bottle to spray warm water over the vulva while urinating.
4. To prevent a recurrence, take all your medications until they run out, even after symptoms disappear.
Contact dermatitis:
1. Apply a cool compress or try hydrocortisone cream on irritated skin.
2. Rinse your underwear a second time with plain water after it has been washed with detergent.

When to call a doctor
1. If you have bleeding between menstrual periods after menopause; a firm, raised lesion or bump on the vulva or inside the vagina; or persistent vaginal pain and itching. These may be signs of cancer of the vagina or vulva.
2. If you have vaginal discharge that is yellow or green and foul smelling. This may signal a sexually transmitted disease.
3. If you have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis; doctor can treat the infection with an oral antibiotic.
4. If you have symptoms for the first time, or if they recur more than twice a year.
5. If symptoms don’t go away after prescribed or home treatment, or are severe.

How to prevent it
1. Avoid spreading bacteria from the rectum to the vagina by wiping from front to back after a bowel movement.
2. Avoid scented toilet paper and perfumed soaps, douches, and scented or deodorant tampons.
3. Thoroughly clean diaphragms, cervical caps, and after each use.
4. Don’t wear tight pants, panties or other fabrics and clothing that can trap moisture.
5. If you are taking antibiotics ask your doctor if you should apply an antifungal cream to the vulva to prevent a yeast infection.
6. Examine your vulva monthly for changes.
7. Have a pelvic exam and Pap smear at least once a year.
8. Get an exam and a Pap smear every six months if you’ve had genital warts that your doctor has told you are cancer-related, if you know your mother took the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol), if you’ve had a hysterectomy or radiation therapy, or if you are sexually active with more than one partner. You may be at higher risk for vaginal cancer or sexually transmitted diseases.

Breast Anatomy

Pictures of Types of Breast Cancer

Non–Invasive and Invasive DCIS and LCIS:

Pictures of Breast Self-Exam

You can also read more about breast self-exam in our Symptoms and Diagnosis section, including a recent controversial research report on the effectiveness of breast self-exams for saving lives.

Drug Abuse

Signs and Symptoms
1. Feeling of sadness or pessimism that don’t get away.
2. Feeling of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt or despair.
3. Loss of interest and pleasure in work, relations, food, sex, or other aspects of life.
4. Fatigue and lack of energy.
5. Sleep problems such as insomnia, oversleeping, or repeatedly waking before dawn.
6. Difficulty remembering, concentrating, making decisions, and completing simple tasks; a feeling of moving in slow motion.
7. Frequently occurring thoughts of suicide or death.
8. Distressing physical ailments-such as headaches or stomach pain that don’t get better with treatment.
9. Unusual weight gain or loss.

What to do now
1. Get professional help from a specialist.
2. Get support from people who will treat you with respect and consideration.
3. Educate yourself about depression. There is a lot of information available through internet.

When to call a doctor
1. If you, your child, or someone close to you has suicidal thoughts or depression that doesn’t seem to lift.
2. If depression is seriously disrupting your work, school, or relationships. Psychologists, psychiatrists work with people suffering from depression.
3. They often take radically different approaches to treatment, including individual psychotherapy (“talk therapy”) and antidepressant medication.

How to prevent it
1. Try not to isolate yourself.
2. When you’re feeling blue, find a friend or someone with whom you’re comfortable and talk about what’s bothering you.
3. Stay active. Research shows that regular exercise can improve your mood.
4. Be sure to get enough sleep.
5. Eat balanced meals.

Depression

Signs and Symptoms
1. Feeling of sadness or pessimism that don’t get away.
2. Feeling of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt or despair.
3. Loss of interest and pleasure in work, relations, food, sex, or other aspects of life.
4. Fatigue and lack of energy.
5. Sleep problems such as insomnia, oversleeping, or repeatedly waking before dawn.
6. Difficulty remembering, concentrating, making decisions, and completing simple tasks; a feeling of moving in slow motion.
7. Frequently occurring thoughts of suicide or death.
8. Distressing physical ailments-such as headaches or stomach pain that don’t get better with treatment.
9. Unusual weight gain or loss.

What to do now
1. Get professional help from a specialist.
2. Get support from people who will treat you with respect and consideration.
3. Educate yourself about depression. There is a lot of information available through internet.

When to call a doctor
1. If you, your child, or someone close to you has suicidal thoughts or depression that doesn’t seem to lift.
2. If depression is seriously disrupting your work, school, or relationships. Psychologists, psychiatrists work with people suffering from depression.
3. They often take radically different approaches to treatment, including individual psychotherapy (“talk therapy”) and antidepressant medication.

How to prevent it
1. Try not to isolate yourself.
2. When you’re feeling blue, find a friend or someone with whom you’re comfortable and talk about what’s bothering you.
3. Stay active. Research shows that regular exercise can improve your mood.
4. Be sure to get enough sleep.
5. Eat balanced meals.
BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures

Attention Deficit Disorder

Signs and Symptoms
1. Frequent inability to pay attention.
2. Difficulty focusing on work.
3. Making careless mistakes or having difficulty following instructions.
4. Impulsiveness.
5. Talking too much and interrupting others frequently.
6. Hyperactivity, in some cases, restless movements and running about in otherwise quite situations.

What to do now
1.If you suspect that your child have ADD, find a skilled specialist and get a thorough evaluation. Child psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, and pediatricians work with ADD.
2. If a doctor says your child has ADD- particularly if methylphenidate or another drug is prescribed or if the doctor does not specialize in childhood psychiatric disorders, ask the doctor whether any other alternative is possible, or you may want to go to another doctor.
3. Know your child: Learn about his or her patterns and habits, strengths and weaknesses. Some children with ADD do best with lots of planned activity and minimal distractions, while others need lots of activity and do poorly if their environments is too controlled.
4. Educate yourself and your child about the disorder.
5. Try not to punish your child for behavior he or she can’t control.

When to call a doctor
1. If you or your child show symptoms of ADD that interfere significantly with daily life and work or school.
Breast Cancer Videos

Health Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Signs and Symptoms
Alcohol abuses:
1. Temporary blackouts or memory loss after heavy drinking.
2. Unusually irritable and aggressive behavior (sometimes).
3. Use of increasing amounts of alcohol to relax, sleep, cheer up , deal with problems, or feel “normal.”
Alcoholism (alcohol addiction):
Same symptoms as those above. Other symptoms can include.
1. Headache, anxiety insomnia, or nausea that develops when you stop drinking.
2. Drinking in the morning.
3. Depression.
4. Trouble maintaining family relationships and holding a job.
5. Drinking alone regularly or drinking in, secret; hiding bottles.
6. Failed attempts to control drinking.
7. Flushed skin and broken capillaries on the face.
8. Trembling hands.
9. Yellowish skin, which may indicate cirrhosis.

What to do now
Alcohol abuse:
1. If you suspect that you have an alcohol problem, keep notes of how much you drink over a specified period of time ( a week or more), and don’t misrepresent. If you’re man than you shouldn’t take more than 250 ml alcohol in any particular day, but if you’re a woman you shouldn’t take more than 125 ml. This difference in amount is because of the difference of alcohol metabolization between men and women, according to medical experts. But to keep your health good never drink more than three times a week.
2. Don’t drink on an empty stomach.
3. Never have more than one drink (250ml for men and 125ml for women) in an hour. Liver cannot process more than that an hour.
4. Don’t drink any beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks if you’re pregnant, or trying to get pregnant.
5. Examine your attitude toward your drinking. If you get drunk despite of your best intentions, then take steps to make yourself compel not to take so much. If you react angrily if someone confronts you about your drinking seek professional help.
Alcoholism:
1. If you think that some one you care about is an alcoholic, talk with a doctor or a drug abuse treatment center.
2. If you can’t give up your drinking, acknowledge the problem and resolve to stop drinking on your own. If you don’t succeed in your attempt call on professional help. In most cases, early treatment increases the chance of recovery.
3. Start exercising regularly. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain that provide a sense of well-being.
4. Seek support from your friends and family members who would understand you and keep you away from alcohol.
5. Find new friends who do not drink alcohol. And avoid places and people related with alcoholism.

When to call a doctor
1. If you have symptoms of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
2. If you drink regularly and feel chronic or periodic depression.
3. If you have tried to stop drinking and have experienced withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, headache, nausea or in rare cases, delirium tremens (hallucinations, confusion, shaking).
4. If you can’t give up alcohol and you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

How to prevent it
Alcohol abuse:
1. Try not to drink, try to remember that drinking to get rid of your anxiety or depression doesn’t solve anything. Be positive.
2. When it’s social drinking try to substitute other, more healthiful activities.
Alcoholism:
1. Avoid places and events and other people that you associate with drinking alcohol.
2. Tell your family and friends that you are trying to give up alcohol, but can’t just make it. They will help you.
3. Replace your dependence on alcohol with other activities.
4. If you have a relapse, don’t use it as an excuse to give up all your gains. Don’t try to cheat with yourself.
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