Eating With a Purpose 5:2

MIND-

Eating disorders are severe disturbances in one's eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. They are usually long-term and require long-term treatment. Eating disorders are usually accompanied by other mental disorders such as, depression substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. 90% of those with an eating disorder are female between the ages of 12-25. The three most common eating disorders are, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA- The individual has an intense fear of gaining weight. They severly limit the amount of food they eat and can become dangerously thin (emaciated). Anorexia nervosa effects both the body and the mind. It may start as dieting, but it gets out of control. You think about food, dieting, and weight all the time. You have a distorted body image. Other people say you are too thin, but when you look in the mirror, you see a fat person. People who have anorexia develop unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything they eat. Some people with anorexia lose weight by dieting and exercising excessively; others lose weight by self-induced vomiting, or misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas. People with anorexia are up to ten times more likely to die as a result of their illness compared to those without the disorder. The most common complications that lead to death are cardiac arrest, and electrolyte and fluid imbalances. Suicide is also a concern.

Other symptoms that may develop over time, include:

• thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
• brittle hair and nails
• dry and yellowish skin
• growth of fine hair over body (lanugo)
• mild anemia, and muscle weakness and loss
• severe constipation
• low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse
• drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
• lethargy 

TREATING ANOREXIA involves three components:

1.restoring the person to a healthy weight.
2.treating the psychological issues related to the eating disorder.
3.reducing or eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing relapse.

BULIMIA NERVOSA- People with bulimia eat a large amount of food in a single episode and almost immediately make themselves vomit or use laxatives or diuretics to get rid of the food in their bodies. This is referred to as the "binge/purge" cycle. Like people with anorexia, people with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight. They may binge because food gives them a feeling of comfort. But eating too much makes them feel out of control. After they binge, they feel ashamed, guilty, and afraid of gaining weight. This causes them to purge. Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight.

 Other symptoms include:

• chronically inflamed and sore throat
• swollen glands in the neck and below the jaw
• worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acids
• gastroesophageal reflux disorder
• intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
• kidney problems from diuretic abuse
• severe dehydration from purging of fluids

BINGE-EATING DISORDER- People with this recently recognized disorder have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their food. During these binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women. People with binge-eating disorder are often overweight or obese.

Symptoms include:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol levels
• fatigue
• joint pain
• Type II diabetes
• gallbladder disease
• heart disease

If you or anyone you know suffers from an eating disorder, you should seek help immediately.

 

Help for eating disorders

NEDA

Mental Health

ANAD

NIMH

WIN

 

The 4-1-1 on Diabetes 5:1

BODY-

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a person has a chronic (life-long) disease that affects the body's ability to use blood sugar for energy. They have high levels of sugar in the blood, due to the body not producing enough insulin or because the cells aren't responding to the insulin being produced.

The 3 main types of diabetes are:

Type 1 Diabetes- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to live. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role. It develops most often in children and young adults, but can appear at any age. It develops over a short period of time and accounts for 5-10% of diabetic cases in the United States. If a type 1 diabetic is not treated with insulin they could lapse into a life threatening diabetic coma (diabetic ketoacidosis.)

 Symptoms include:

• increased thirst
• increased urination
• constant hunger
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• extreme fatigue

Type 2 Diabetes-This is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of the cases in the United States. It is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, metabolic syndrome, people with certain dietary patterns and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. The pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons the body cannot use the insulin effectively, (insulin resistance). After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes—glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel. The symptoms develop gradually and include:

• fatigue
• frequent urination
• excessive thirst and hunger
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• slow healing wounds or sores
• some people develop no symptoms

Gestational Diabetes-This is high blood sugar levels in pregnancy. The condition occurs in approximately 4% of all pregnancies and may improve or disappear after delivery. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. If left untreated it can damage the health of the fetus or the mother. Many women have no symptoms.

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, but type 2 can. Some prevention tips are basically to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise on a regular basis. If you are found to have impaired glucose tolerance, there are oral medications that one can take in order to help prevent the progression to diabetes. If you are having any of the symptoms associated with diabetes you should see your doctor in order to be tested.    

Diabetes Diet

Treatment for Diabetes

Diabetic Tests

Diabetes Overview-NIH

My Protector, My Angel 4:3

SOUL-

Angels around us, angels beside us, angels within us.

Angels are watching over you when times are good or stressed.

Their wings wrap gently around you,

Whispering you are loved and blessed.

- Blessing

When I first think of angels, the image of the winged "cherub-looking" child comes to mind. Most of us in the United States have this mental image. We think of an angel as a messenger or protector from God, as in our "guardian angel." Upon further research, I have discovered it goes much deeper than that. This is a topic that could fill this blog entirely. I will only touch on some key points in this particular entry.

Guardian angels work with individuals to identify and pursue their purposes in life. Angel specialists are guardian angels who have expert status in a particular area. These angel specialists can help you attain good health, greater happiness, and financial well-being. .

The Hoarding Craze 4:2

MIND-



There is a new show on A&E called Hoarders and one on TLC called Hoarding: Buried Alive. There has been a lot of media attention being drawn to this illness in recent times. This is not a new phenomenon, it's been going on for years and years. It seems that people want to see what many have been hiding and are too embarrassed to show in the past. These shows delve deep into the minds and actions of the individuals with this mental illness. It gives an inside look into their homes and the destruction it has caused, both within their living quarters and in their personal lives with family and friends.

Hoarding is a psychological condition that many classify under obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), however, many hoarders do not exhibit OCD related symptoms. Researchers are now trying to understand it as a distinct mental illness. Hoarding is the excessive collection of possessions and the failure to use or discard them, even if the items are worthless, unsanitary, or hazardous. People afflicted with this disorder live in homes filled with clutter and are unable to lead normal lives due to space restraints. They also may live in conditions that are hazardous to walk in, or be unable to maintain upkeep on the house, which can cause unsanitary living conditions.

There are different types of hoarding as well. Some people hoard particular things, like books, magazines, or newspapers. Some hoard food, animals, digital collections, or various other collectibles. Hoarders assign meaning to items or keep them as reminders of an experience they don't want to forget. This is why it is so difficult for them to let things go. They also believe, that one day, they (or someone they know) may need the saved items. There seems to be a genetic component to hoarding. Modeling and conditioning may also play a role. Hoarding can begin in childhood and it's estimated that 1.5-2 million Americans are afflicted with this disorder.

Most hoarders see nothing wrong with their actions and are resistant to change. This makes treatment difficult, as most therapy needs highly motivated patients in order for progress to occur. Combining psychotherapy, exposure therapy, and medication can help individuals to make beneficial changes in their lives. The family members are usually the ones that suffer through this condition.


Some symptoms of hoarding are:

• Cluttered living spaces
• Inability to discard items
• Keeping stacks of newspapers, magazines or junk mail
• Moving items from one pile to another, without discarding anything
• Acquiring unneeded or seemingly useless items, including trash
• Difficulty managing daily activities, including procrastination and trouble making decisions
• Difficulty organizing items
• Perfectionism
• Excessive attachment to possessions, and discomfort letting others touch or borrow possessions
• Limited or no social interactions  

Some interesting websites on this topic:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2517101/understanding_hoarding_the_pack_rat.html?cat=70
http://www.anxietyandstress.com/hoarding.html
http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-relative-hoarding-elderly-20100716,0,456585.story

Preventive Medicine 4:1

BODY-


“It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.”

-Benjamin Franklin








One day while assisting my employer (a Family Practice Physician) we had a patient come in with the complaint of shortness of breath. She couldn't breath while laying down. This was a woman in her 40's with teenage children. She admitted that she was a smoker and had this issue for awhile but was afraid to seek treatment. After ordering a chest x-ray, my doctor discovered she had inoperable lung cancer. She called a few days later in tears, a week later she had died. This was a preventable disease, but by the time she got to us, it was too late.

Preventive medicine are tests and screenings conducted to prevent, avoid, or predict future illness, disease or injury. Every person, both young and old, should be receiving preventive medical screenings. They not only protect the individual, but they also help protect the community. Due to ease of international travel, they also protect on a global level.

There are different types of preventive medicine. Some treat the individual and some apply epidemiological research towards finding ways to prevent diseases. There are different tiers used to address preventive medicine. For instance in substance abuse prevention:

• Universal Prevention- addresses the entire population (national, local community, school and district) and aims to prevent or delay alcohol abuse, tobacco and other drug usage. All individuals without screenings are provided with information and skills to help prevent problems with these substances.

• Selective Prevention- Focuses on groups who are at risk of developing problems. The groups may be selected by age, gender, family history, or economic status.

• Indicated Prevention- involves a screening process, and aims to identify individuals who exhibit early signs of substance abuse and other problem behaviors. Identifiers may include decline in grades, known conduct disorders from parents, school, etc.

• Environmental Prevention- Environmental prevention approaches are typically managed at the regulatory or community level, and focus on interventions to deter drug consumption. Prohibition and bans use various initiatives at the macro and micro level, from government monopolies for alcohol sales, through roadside sobriety or drug tests, worker/pupil/student drug testing, increased policing in suspected areas (near schools, at rock festivals), and legislative guidelines aimed at precipitating punishments (warnings, penalties, fines).

It's important to get regular check-ups from your primary care doctor. These health exams can help find problems before they start or find them early enough to be treated. Some common preventive medicine screenings are:

Breast exams

Pap smears

Colorectal cancer screenings (colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies)

Diabetic screenings

High blood pressure check

Immunizations

Oral health screenings

Prostate exams

Skin cancer screenings

Chest X-rays

Cholesterol tests

EKG's

Psychological exams

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Osteoporosis check (bone density scans)

To remain as healthy as possible one should get the recommended screening tests, don't smoke, drink alcohol only in moderation, be physically active, eat a healthy diet, stay at a healthy weight and take preventive medicine if necessary.

MALE CHECKLIST

FEMALE CHECKLIST

Here is a local website that initiates Health Screenings.

  http://www.7company.com/health-screenings.htm

Dreaming, More Than Just Sleep 3:3

SOUL-

Theories of dreaming have varied through time and across cultures. In ancient times, some believed dreams were messages from God or predictions of the future. Today dreams are used for psychological and scientific investigations. Dream activity can now be measured in sleep labs. We now know they are produced in the unconscious mind.


There are different stages of sleep. Stage 1 is light sleep, when you are drifting in and out of sleep. During this stage the eyes move slowly and muscle activity slows. During this phase many experience muscle twitching and the feeling of falling. In stage 2, eye movement stops and brain waves become slower. In stage 3 extremely slow brain waves are interspersed with smaller, faster waves. In stage 4, the brain produces Delta waves almost exclusively. Stage 3 and 4 are considered deep sleep. There is no eye movement or muscle activity. This is when some children experience bedwetting, sleepwalking and night terrors. After stage 4, we enter REM sleep. This is when we dream. Our breathing becomes more rapid, irregular and shallow, eyes jerk rapidly, and limb muscles are temporarily paralyzed. Brain waves during this stage are comparable to a person who is awake. Also heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, males develop erections, and the body loses some of the ability to regulate temperature. If a person is awoken during REM sleep he can remember the dream. This alternating cycle goes on throughout the night, with the REM phase gradually increasing in length with each cycle. REM sleep diminishes as we age, and young babies spend most of their time in REM sleep.

Scientists believe that dreaming is linked with human growth and development. In laboratory testing, people deprived of REM sleep developed unpleasant symptoms such as depression, anxiety, nausea, irritability and general disorientation. Many believe that our dreams are also linked to spiritual growth. Some believe sleep is an intermediate stage between life and death. Others believe dreams are our way of unwinding the day's events, dealing with traumatic situations that have occured, or expressions of unconscious desires.

 I personally believe that there is some truth behind receiving messages from a spiritual world through your dreams. I have had episodes of talking with deceased relatives both after I received notifications of their deaths and before. There are many dream interpretations. Some psychologically based and others more spiritually based. I do believe that their are lessons to be learned through our dreams. These are your unconscious thoughts that have been buried, being brought out into the open. This is a great opportunity at gaining self-knowledge and listening to the messages within.

Here are some dream analysis websites:

 http://www.dreammoods.com/
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/
http://www.dreamforth.com/
http://www.sleeps.com/
http://www.dreamota.com/

Schizophrenia 3:2

MIND-

I have dealt with Schizophrenia in my own family and it’s not easy to watch someone you love, a normal functioning family member, slowly deteriorate and require hospitalization. In my case, the individual recovered, however, they did not seem to be the same person they once were.


Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which the patient’s affect, behavior, and thoughts are profoundly altered. They have problems distinguishing the real from unreal, thinking logically, having normal emotional responses, and behaving normally in social situations.

It usually develops slowly and gradually over time. During the beginning phase, the individual may start to withdraw from people, have poor hygiene, and exhibit outburst of anger. There is a slow deterioration of function. The average age of onset is in the 20’s, although, in some people (especially women) onset does not occur until later in life. Approximately 1% of people worldwide will develop schizophrenia in their lifetimes. 25% of schizophrenics have only one psychotic episode and recover relatively completely. 25% improve enough to live independently. 25% improve, but not enough to live independently. 15% do not improve and are the chronic cases, and 10% commit suicide.

There are 2 different classifications of symptoms of Schizophrenia, positive and negative. Positive symptoms are an excess or distortion of normal functions. They are called positive because they are the presence of certain unusual behaviors. Positive symptoms are also more responsive to medications. Negative symptoms are a loss of normal functions.

Positive Symptoms
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disordered Behavior
• Disorganized Speech

Negative Symptoms
• Flat Affect (without emotion)
• Alogia (brief, slow, empty replies to questions)
• Avolition (inability to initiate goal-directed behavior)

There are 5 subtypes of Schizophrenia.

1. Paranoid Schizophrenia-Aggressive behavior, (either toward themselves or others) anger, anxiety, argumentativeness and delusions of persecution or grandeur. This type also has the highest suicide rate.

2. Disorganized Schizophrenia-childish behavior, including giggling and a strange style of dress, may consist of public urination or defecation, obscene and babbling speech, delusions, flat affect, hallucinations, not understandable, repetitive behaviors, and social withdrawal. This type has the worst prognosis.

3. Catatonic Schizophrenia-bizarre movements, agitation, decreased sensitivity to pain, inability to take care of personal needs, negative feelings, motor disturbances, rigid muscles, and stupor. This type may require constant care.

4. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia-Symptoms do not clearly fall into any of the other subtypes or has symptoms from other subtypes.

5. Residual type-Symptoms of the illness have gone away, but some features may remain.

Although experts are not completely sure what causes Schizophrenia some factors include: genetics, brain abnormalities, maternal malnourishment during pregnancy, maternal illness, maternal stress, prenatal or birth-related complications, elevated levels of stress-related hormones, social stressors, drug use or a stressful life event may also be a trigger for schizophrenia.

Treatments for Schizophrenia might include antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications. Therapy for the individual and family may be beneficial as well.