Yes Katie, Postpartum Depression Does Exists.
Article by Rev. M. Hall
All About Postpartum Depression
Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields at one time were arguing with a word war against each other because of a type of depression, called postpartum depression. Tom Cruise and Brooke’s debacle started when Cruise openly and verbally disapproved of Brooke Shields decision of opting to take prescribed medicines to cure her postpartum depression, when he was a guest on the Today Show.
According to Tom Cruise, who is a known practitioner of Scientology (whose beliefs are that we can be cured through natural methods and that taking medicine is doing our body harm), Brooke Shields should have instead, opted to cure her postpartum depression by doing healthy exercises. Adding that a lot of people are lied to about depression and how to actually cure this common issue.
But what is postpartum depression really? We’ve all heard about it often enough, yet are we really sure that we know enough about it for us to actually understand this issue in order for us to help ourselves as well as others? Being pregnant should really be a source of joy for everyone, especially the mother to be, who for nine months, will actually have a living being grow from inside of her.
Often though, there is other issues to this joyous occasion, being pregnant means that you and your body will have to get used to some adjustments (sometimes minor for some, often times major for others) for you to get through a safe pregnancy. Smoking, alcohol, strenuous activities, and stress should be avoided at all cost. Having a healthy baby comes from having a healthy mother as well. But given that you have been able to successfully avoid all these bad habits for your unborn child, childbirth is a whole different thing. As much as we may try to avoid it, there are still some unfortunate cases wherein the mother’s as well as the baby’s life might be in danger.
Even if you survive the stress from all the physical changes and risks, there’s actually more. Postpartum depression actually happens after the child is born. Even though it is quite common and a lot of women have learned how to deal with it, as well as successfully beat it (like Brooke Shields), it can still happen and needs to be prepared for. Postpartum depression is actually a lot like depression, and it seems that new moms are the most likely victims of this issue.
There are actually a lot possible reasons to why postpartum depression occurs:
* The 1st reason is Childbirth, as we all know, is not a simple walk in the park. The actual physical stress from giving birth is one of the main reasons why postpartum depression occurs.
* The next reason is massive changes in hormonal levels.
* And one of the final reasons is: a lot of moms-to-be who were hesitant about bearing a child are also more susceptible to experience postpartum depression. Those who are not ready to be a mother, are more likely to get depressed as opposed to those who are ready to be a mother, being happy and excited moms-to-be.
When postpartum depression happens, it really is best to go to your doctor immediately. Aside from obviously having symptoms for the new mother, postpartum depression can have issues for the child as well. New mothers who are suffering from postpartum depression may be harboring ill feelings toward their children (of course it is not intentional, it is part of the depressive cycle). There are actually some cases of bodily harm, murder and even suicide cases wherein postpartum depression has been cited as the reason or underlying motivation.
Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression often may blame their child for ruining their body, thus feeling like they’ve become less attractive, unwanted, less desired, and even unloved. It is really best to consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist to take care of your postpartum symptoms. And it is true that your therapist may prescribe medications to help cure postpartum depression as well as therapy sessions to help relieve whatever pent up emotions that you may have.
If you feel any of these symptoms coming on, do not hesitate to seek help from co-workers, and especially professional help. Sometimes just talking it out with women in your family and friends circle can help mild cases, but do not be afraid or feel ashamed to seek out professional help as well. Trying to stay “emotionally tough” to get through it may backfire. And even if you may not agree with Tom’s religion, but do agree with not using medication, there are alternatives, but you must seek professionals to find out your options to get control of this issue.
Do it for your child, do it for your family, do it for your spousal relationship, but mostly, do it for YOU!
Gout Diets
Overweight individuals and the elderly are at risk of developing gout. According to some studies, elderly men are more susceptible to such condition as compared to women. Aside from that, unhealthy diets also play a significant role. Gout diets are therefore important and need to be monitored to control or prevent the condition from becoming worse.
Many years of study has been dedicated by some researchers to establish the connection between gout and diet. Studies revealed that individuals who love seafood and fatty meat diets are the ones most susceptible because these foods contribute to the overproduction of uric acid. However, other studies also revealed that not all individuals with unhealthy diet are suffering from this condition. This leads to the conclusion that gout is triggered among individuals who have a family history of gout and at the same time, have unhealthy eating habits, inactive lifestyle, and weight problems.
Low fat diet can prevent and overcome the adverse effects.
This was based on the recent findings which also revealed that the milk proteins can help in eliminating excess uric acid. Uric acid is the primary culprit which causes gout and its production should be controlled. You need to maintain a dietary regimen that is low in dairy fat and according to some nutritionists you can drink skim milk at least two times a day for gout prevention.
People who have a history of gout in their family are at risk and so they need to limit their meat intake. You may eat duck, lamb, beef, and pork but in limited proportions. Purines are contained in seafood products and so you must eat this kind of food sparingly. Aside from these food products, people who drink too much alcohol are also prone to developing gout. If you can abstain from alcoholic drinks, that would be best, but if you can’t, just try to limit your alcohol intake.
Some vegetables also contain purines which can cause gout. Always keep in mind that too much of anything is bad and that applies to the foods you eat everyday. Since you need these foods to maintain a healthy body, you must consume only the right amounts. Consult a nutritionist or a dietician so that you will be educated about the healthy food choices; not only that, they can also guide you in eating the right kinds of food at the right amount.
Drinking enough water everyday and regular exercise can boost the body’s overall health. Try to drink about 8-10 glasses of water to eliminate the harmful toxins in your body. This will also help in eliminating the excess uric acid which builds up around the joint areas.
Gout diets are strongly recommended for those who are at risk of developing gout. If you’re over forty years of age, overweight, and you have a family history of the condition, it’s time that you take the necessary precautionary measures because you might be the next victim. Although it’s not a deadly disease, it can have long term undesirable effects and complications. Live healthy and eat healthy because these are the keys to preventing gout.
Crohn?s Disease Treatment With Low Dose Naltrexone
Naltrexone is basically used for people suffering from alcoholism and opiod dependence. This drug is an opiod receptor anatagonist which works by blocking the effects of drugs like heroin and cocaine in the brain. As an opioid receptor antagonist, Naltrexone simply blocks the normal reaction of the part of the brain that produces the feeling of pleasure when opioids are taken.
As for the people suffering from severe alcoholism, naltrexone helps to lessen or in some cases eradicate completely the craving for alcohol which many alcohol dependent people experience when they quit drinking. Though a dose of 50mg to 100 mg of natrexone is required to a cure a person from his alcohol or drug addiction habit, a relatively low dose of naltrexone has been found to be effective in crohn’s disease treatment and multiple sclerosis disease treatment.
This low dose naltrexone could be a big hope to all those suffering from serious auto immune disorders such as cancer, ms, crohn’s disease, AIDS etc.
Low doses of naltrexone have been clinically proven to increase the body’s sensitivity to its own endorphins along with increasing the production of endorphins, the stress busting hormone.
As endorphins are are well known for their role in not only relieving stress and promoting the feeling of overall well being and goodness, endorphins are also crucial in reducing inflammation, lessening the negative sensations of pain, infusing energy to reduce fatigue and fight depression. Low dose nalteroxone has thus been proved to be an effective treatment for ms and crohn’s disease treatment.
In crohn’s disease the immune system can’t tell the difference between normal body tissue and foreign substances thereby causing chronic infalmmation in the intestines and rectum of the body. This causes extreme pain, fatigue, difficulty passing stools, fistulas, eye inflammation, loss of appetite etc.
A recommended dose of 1.5 ml to 5 mg can remarkably help ease some of the symptoms associated with crohn’s disease. Low dose naltrexone can thus combat fatigue, pain, muscle weakness, imflammation and depression by increasing the production of endorphins in the brain and thus strengthening the body’s own immune system to cure the disease itself.
Since dosage taken to cure these disorders is very low, there are very few side effects associated with low dose naltrexone for the treatment of auto immune diseases. You can buy naltrexone online from antiageingsystems.com.
Understanding High Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition of the heart that can cause many problems. Some people believe that hypertension is caused by people who are hyperactive, stressed or nervous. However, anyone can get high blood pressure. In order to deal with high blood pressure both for yourself and your loved ones, you need to understand more about this serious medical condition.
High blood pressure can work within your body for years, causing damage to your heart and symptoms that may seem hard to understand. Healthy arteries are strong flexible and elastic. With their smooth inner lining, they allow blood to flow freely so organs and tissues can receive the needed nutrients and oxygen.
The term high blood pressure is when the amount of pressure on the blood that flows is too high. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis can both be results of this increase in blood pressure.
The inner lining of the walls of the arteries become damaged, resulting in the condition called arteriosclerosis. Too much fat in the diet can then pass through these damaged arteries and begin collecting, which causes arteriosclerosis. Blood flow can now get blocked causing damage to the kidneys, heart, arms, legs and brain. In time, this can cause serious problems such as a stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, heart attack or an aneurysm.
When a weakened artery becomes enlarged and forms a bulge, an aneurysm occurs. Should the pressure continue, the aneurysm or bulge can then erupt which can result in internal bleeding that can be life-threatening. Aneurysms usually occur in the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
Besides these life threatening illnesses, the heart can be severely damaged if high blood pressure is present for very long. For example, when atherosclerosis occurs and the blood flow becomes blocked in the arteries, it is very possible to experience chest pain, irregular heart rhythms or even a heart attack. When people with high blood pressure have a heart attack, they are more likely to die because their blood pressure is not high enough after the attack.
Due to the hard work that is required of the heart, hypertension can cause damage to the left ventricle. The ventricle’s ability to pump blood into the body will then be limited. Heart attack, sudden cardiac death or heart failure can then result. The stress from high blood pressure over time begins to strain the heart. Slowly, the heart will begin to weaken and not function properly. Eventually, the heart will simply wear out and no longer be able to work as it should, even stopping, resulting in cardiac death. This will happen even sooner if the heart is damaged.
Other parts of the body, including the brain, can be damaged by hypertension. Because the brain depends on the heart for a nourishing blood supply, when the supply is diminished, the brain will suffer. This can result in many conditions. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ministroke is one such problem that can result. This can occur when there is not a proper blood supply to the brain. This is often caused by either atherosclerosis or a blood clot, both of which can be caused by hypertension. A TIA is often a warning that a regular stroke is imminent.
Another condition that can occur due to hypertension is a stroke, which is a direct result of the brain being deprived of oxygen and nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Strokes can occur when blood clots form in the arteries leading to the brain. An aneurysm in the brain may occur when a bulge in a blood vessel wall, resulting in bleeding in the brain, which can be life-threatening.
Hypertension can also cause dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Reasoning, memory, vision, thinking, and movement are all handled by the brain. All of these things can be affected if they do not receive the proper supply of blood. Even Alzheimer’s disease can occur because of the affect on memory and understanding.
Besides these important conditions, damage can occur in the kidneys due to the decreasing flow of blood to the kidneys. This can result in kidney failure, kidney scarring or kidney artery aneurysm. The blood vessels to the eyes can be affected, resulting in impaired vision. Sexual dysfunction, bone loss and insomnia are other areas that can be directly linked to high blood pressure.
There are things that can be done to both prevents and stop hypertension. A healthy diet, exercise and a low salt diet can help. Blood pressure medications such as carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide have been helpful as well.
Most importantly, get the hypertension under control as soon as possible. Do whatever you must to get the blood pressure down to a healthy level. Changing your lifestyle, following your doctor’s orders and taking your medication will soon eliminate hypertension and put you on the track to a long successful life.
Cervical Cancer:
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer found in the cervix of women. This cancer can be particularly dangerous, as it generally shows no symptoms in the early onset stages. Due to this factor it is extremely important for women to get yearly pap smears. Most cervical cancer is detected through pap smears. As with any cancer, the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the prognosis for treatment.
The cervix is the organ that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer happens when cells mutate. In later stages of cervical cancer, the cancer can spread throughout the vagina into other areas of the body including the bladder, rectum, lungs and more.
Pap smears are recommended for women who are sexually active.
If women are not sexually active, a gynecologist can advise the appropriate age to have a first pap smear.
Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is more commonly known as genital warts. HPV is a virus that stays in the body even when there are no physical symptoms. HPV cannot be cured. Some people may carry HPV without ever experiencing symptoms, while others may have warts appear in or around the genital area. HPV can show up years after contraction. Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time in their life. Most outbreaks will clear up on their own.
The Cancer Institute estimates there will be 12,200 cases of cervical cancer in 2010 with 4,210 deaths as a result.
There are several factors that may increase the odds of developing cervical cancer. These factors include smoking, a weak immune system caused by an illness such as HIV or AIDS, birth control taken in excess of five years (risk decreases when birth control is discontinued). The more children a woman has may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
In later stages of cervical cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding may occur. This bleeding may happen between periods, during or after sex, or after menopause. A woman may also experience pain in her pelvis and pain during sexual intercourse.
If a pap smear shows irregular cells, then more thorough testing may be required. This can include a colposcopy or biopsy. There are several means for taking a biopsy, so consult with a gynecologist to find out which method will be the best for you. The biopsy removes a portion of the growth to test for cancer.
There are several stages of cervical cancer. The increase in number reflects the increase in severity of the condition. Stage One reflects cancer that is limited to the cervix. In Stage Two, the cancer has moved to the upper portion of the vagina. In Stage Three the cancer has moved to the lower portion of the vagina and possibly the pelvic wall. In Stage Four, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Treatments for cervical cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. It is important to get more than one opinion before undergoing surgery. Pap smears are not 100% effective. If your pap smear is irregular you may ask for another one to be done. If you do have cervical cancer, you may want to consult with more than one gynecologist to best determine your course of treatment.
Post treatment, be sure to visit a gynecologist regularly to ensure the cancer doesn’t return.
Diabetes Type 2 Nutrition
Copyright (c) 2010 Paul Evans
A healthy diet recommended for a type 2 diabetic is ultimately just the same as the nutritious diet encouraged for anyone. You don’t need to strictly follow a programme that only uses specially made diabetic foods but it is worthwhile to take notice of any diabetic nutritional advice you might find. Although you can simply follow a healthy eating plan, you may find it more helpful if your doctor develops a diabetes weight loss plan especially crafted to tackle your individual needs and help you maintain balanced blood glucose rates.
If you are thinking of starting a diet regime, you should remember that your key goal will be to ensure your blood glucose levels stay within the healthy limit advised. Another objective should be to preserve safe levels of blood fats (lipids) to minimize the chance of vascular illness – a recognized problem for type 2 diabetics.
Diet specifications are variable and can be influenced by the individual’s well being, finances, lifestyle, and location.
They can also be affected by the motivation the person has to educate themselves and work out the changes they need to make in their life.
A healthy diet regime recommended by health specialists for individual’s who have type 2 diabetes include carbohydrates which are high in fibre, reduced fat dairy foods, water, oily fish, an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a low intake of saturated fats.
The benefits of such natural, fresh ingredients see a persons nutrient consumption increase. This, as a result, enhances the diabetic sufferer’s overall healthiness which has been adversely affected by the lack of trace elements found in their body.
Following this guidance will easily transform your eating routine to a healthier and stronger profile. It will also avoid the danger of unintentionally overdosing on a specific source of nourishment and will prevent potentially harmful conflicts being established between medication and dietary supplements.
You can find numerous type 2 diabetes meal plan suggestions on websites, newsletters and magazines related to the disease. You can also choose between regular healthy weight loss plans and specific diabetes diet regimes to follow.
You may have heard many experts saying that type 2 diabetics must adhere to a minimal carbohydrate diet – but that is simply not true. Instead, diabetics just need to ensure that they eat frequently, that they carry appropriate snacks with them at all times, and that they regularly test their blood glucose prior to and after meals.
A good piece of advice to increase your understanding of your condition is to keep a diabetes log book. This means that you should record your blood sugar levels before a meal and after it, and you should also write down any extra information regarding what you eat. This will ultimately help you decide which foodstuffs are best for you and which ones cause adverse reactions. For example, you will soon recognise the food choices that throw your blood sugar levels off the scale and learn to avoid them. By testing regularly and listening to your body you will understand the best and most nutritious foods to consume regularly.
Unless specifically recommended by your doctor, you shouldn’t restrict yourself completely from eating any food type. Instead you should just learn to take things in healthy proportions ensuring you treat yourself occasionally. Good ideas and interesting tips can be found in cookbooks; invite your friends round to enjoy innovative, experimental meals you’ve discovered and the whole party will see that diabetic catering isn’t difficult to do.
Just make sure that you balance out your eating with a healthy level of exercise – it’s not a good idea for anyone to be overweight and obese (diabetic or not!) Try to remain positive about being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and remember you’re not alone – there are an increasing number of people discovering they have the disease daily.
Diabetes related depression can sometimes occur but if you eat healthily and reward yourself with a little treat occasionally, you will see that diabetes isn’t the worst thing in the world. On the plus side, if you follow a diabetes diet programme, you’ll find yourself bouncing with new found energy and well being.
A diabetes 2 diet plan can be the same as any other good nutritional guide that non-diabetics follow too. Remember that it’s nothing more than that and don’t feel the need to overcomplicate your regime. This will make it much easier to stick to in the long term.