Medical Mania

[Rogue Angel]

thanks pickles...s* *huggs*... i think it's all been figured out, though... sort of... i know the main cause, if not the EXACT cause for the rash... will explain it one day soon.... *smooches*... it's nice to know that people are thinking of you and hoping you're doing better.... [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

[Pickles]

yw sweetie *hugs* doing a little better here thanks for asking.

[Berry]

*raises hand* i have to say that i'm one of those people that self medicate with Nicotine.

It's a natural A.D.D. medicine actually. It's not all that strong but it definatly helps take the edge off the symptoms. And that definatly helps for someone like me who isn't on meds at the moment.

[Rogue Angel]

Study: 1 in 3 ADHD cases linked to lead, smoke

Environmental factors could play a large role in kids' attention deficit

CHICAGO - About one-third of attention deficit cases among U.S. children may be linked with tobacco smoke before birth or to lead exposure afterward, according to provocative new research.

Even levels of lead the government considers acceptable appeared to increase a child?s risk of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the study found.

It builds on previous research linking attention problems, including ADHD, with childhood lead exposure and smoking during pregnancy, and offers one of the first estimates for how much those environmental factors might contribute.

?It?s a landmark paper that quantifies the number of cases of ADHD that can be attributed to very important environmental exposures,? said Dr. Leo Trasande, assistant director of the Center for Children?s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

More importantly, the study bolsters suspicions that low-level lead exposure previously linked to behavior problems ?is in fact associated with ADHD,? said Trasande, who was not involved in the research.

The study?s estimate is in line with a National Academy of Sciences report in 2000 that said about 3 percent of all developmental and neurological disorders in U.S. children are caused by toxic chemicals and other environmental factors and 25 percent are due to a combination of environmental factors and genetics.

?The findings of this study underscore the profound behavioral health impact of these prevalent exposures, and highlight the need to strengthen public health efforts to reduce prenatal tobacco smoke exposure and childhood lead exposure,? said the authors, led by researcher Joe Braun of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The study was to be published online Tuesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Genetic and environmental factors
ADHD is a brain disorder affecting between 4 percent and 12 percent of school-age children ? or as many as 3.8 million youngsters. Affected children often have trouble sitting still and paying attention and act impulsively at home and at school. Researchers aren?t certain about its causes but believe genetics and environmental factors including prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs may play a role.

Dr. Helen Binns, a researcher at Children?s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said the study is a thoughtful analysis but doesn?t prove lead exposure is among the causes. It?s possible, for example, that young children with ADHD are more likely than others to eat old leaded paint chips or inhale leaded paint dust because of their hyperactivity.

The researchers analyzed data on nearly 4,000 U.S. children ages 4 to 15 who were part of a 1999-2002 government health survey. Included were 135 children treated for ADHD.

They asked whether mothers had smoked during pregnancy but used blood tests to determine lead exposure, said co-author Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a researcher at Cincinnati Children?s Hospital Medical Center.

Smoking during pregnancy increases risk
Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy were 2? times more likely to have ADHD than children who weren?t prenatally exposed to tobacco.

Children with blood lead levels of more than 2 micrograms per deciliter were four times more likely to have ADHD than children with levels below 0.8 microgram per deciliter. The government?s ?acceptable? blood lead level is 10 micrograms per deciliter, and an estimated 310,000 U.S. children ages 1 to 5 have levels exceeding that.

Based on study estimates, more than 5 million 4-to-15-year-olds nationwide have levels higher than 2 micrograms per deciliter, Lanphear said.

Trasande said the study adds further proof that the government should lower its threshold for safe lead exposure.

Exposure to tobacco smoke after birth was not associated with increased ADHD risks, even though childhood exposure to lead was.

?Saying there are different periods of vulnerability to different toxins is perfectly plausible,? said Dr. Robert Geller, a pediatric toxicologist at Emory University.

?There may be very specific periods of vulnerability,? depending on when the developing brain is exposed, Geller said.

[Rogue Angel]

8 Ways to Declutter Your Mind for Sleep

We've all been there. It's time to get some shut-eye, but tomorrow's to-do list starts swirling through your mind like a tornado, you can't stop rehashing the tense conversation you had with your babysitter, and you're freaking out about work. As your head spins into a panicked frenzy and your stomach is aflutter, you curse yourself for not being able to turn off your brain: Missing out on sleep is only going to make you even more stressed. So how do you arrest this whirlwind of wakeful negativity? There are ways to let go of the day's worries, says neurologist David Simon, M.D., cofounder and medical director of the Chopra Center and author of the new book The Ten Commitments: Translating Good Intentions Into Great Choices. Here, tips that'll help you unwind when your thoughts are running rampant.

Stick to a natural sleep schedule.


If you're having problems sleeping (like 74 percent of women across the country, according to the National Sleep Foundation), try to align your schedule more closely with nature's. "Your body clock, hormones, temperature, and blood pressure fluctuations measure out a 24-hour day that's in tune with the rising and setting of the sun," says Simon. When you stay up into the wee hours reading a book, baking cupcakes, or doing a few extra loads of laundry, the odd hours you're keeping throw off your body's production of melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep regulation and wakefulness. "Syncing up your daily routine with the rhythms of your environment ? namely, by getting up around 6 a.m. and going to bed around 10 p.m. ? will help you maintain mental clarity," Simon notes.

Turn off the TV.


Chilling out in front of the television may feel like a good way to relax, but an emotionally draining or violent program actually provokes turbulent thoughts, which can result in insomnia, indigestion, even headaches. Unless you're looking at images of baby animals frolicking in a field ? or something just as innocuous ? skip the late-night TV, or at least turn off the tube a half hour before you turn off the lights, so you have some time to direct your attention inward. "This will help your brain separate the heart-pumping drama on from the more tranquil reality of your bedroom, and let your mind settle into a peaceful state," says Simon.

Download your internal conversation.


Keep a journal by your bedside for the specific purpose of recording your thoughts before bed. This is not another to-do list, just a way to unload anything that's agitating you from the day that's passed, and anything you're concerned about for the one ahead. "It's like freeing space on your hard drive by saving files on a CD or Zip Drive," says Simon. Once you've got your concerns written down, put the journal away. This process won't make your worries magically disappear, but it'll clear your head.

Create a musical pharmacy for yourself.


Listening to mellow music jibes with the unwinding of your mind and body, and enables your brain patterns to remain steady. A slower beat stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain ? the area that's in charge of order, balance, and peace ? and will evoke a temporary forgetfulness, allowing you to slip away from your problems. "Fast beats, on the other hand, activate the left hemisphere, which affects reasoning, and can create tension and stress," says Simon. Even if you're comforted by up-tempo tunes, they'll counteract what you're trying to accomplish ? a good night's rest!

Tune in to your body.


Pay attention to physical sensations to quiet your overactive thought process. First, listen to the sounds around you, like the cars passing by, or the hum of the humidifier in the background. Then concentrate on your body: the feeling of your feet rubbing against the sheets, the weight of your pajamas against your skin. Focus on the passage of air through your nostrils, noticing the subtle aromas of your room and your own body. "Continue observing the inflow and outflow of your breath, and it'll bring you into the now," says Simon. Staying in the present relaxes your body and mind.
Look within.


Now turn your attention to the inside of your body. Still breathing deeply, allow yourself to get in touch with your emotions. "If sadness wells up, allow yourself to feel it without resistance," says Simon. "If you feel anger, let it move through your body and release it with your exhalations." Negative feelings that aren't fully expressed will continue to ricochet around in your head and upset you. Acknowledging and breathing through those thoughts will help you to let go of them.

Envision another world.


Imagine that you're drifting over the countryside in a hot-air balloon, or that you're floating in a canoe on a tranquil stream ? any image that transports you away from everyday worries. Okay, yes, it's a Calgon moment ? but it works! "Mental anguish often stems from the belief that we're living in circumstances that we can't free ourselves from," says Simon. Allowing your mind to picture adventures and goals that seem too impractical during the day puts tomorrow's to-do list on your brain's back burner.

Meditate.


Often the hardest part about meditation is trying not to fall asleep ? but in this case you can! Just lie comfortably, close your eyes, and begin observing your breath. Concentrate on words with a quiet resonance that have no significant meaning, like "So hum." As you're inhaling, silently say the sound "so." As you're exhaling, silently say the sound "hum." When you find that your attention has drifted away from "So hum," gently return it to the mantra. Continue like this for about 10 minutes, or as long as it takes to drift off.

1. Shake it all out. Before bedtime, lock your door, take off your shoes, and dance like a madwoman for 60 seconds. Letting go physically, even for a minute, releases tension and relaxes your mind.

2. Drink something warm. Drink a half cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg, or a cup of calming herbal or mint tea. The warmth temporarily increases your body temperature, and the subsequent drop often brings on sleepiness. Sip with your full awareness, then brush your teeth and head straight to bed.

3. Give yourself a massage. Briefly massaging your head and feet can prepare you for a restful sleep ? plus it feels great! Warm a couple of tablespoons of massage oil and rub it into your scalp as if shampooing your hair. Next, apply it to your forehead and around your eyes, cheeks, and chin. Then massage the oil into your heels, arches, and each toe. In the meantime, fill a bathtub with hot water and add a few drops of lavender aroma oil. After your massage, soak in the tub for 10 minutes and then hit the sack.

[Rogue Angel]

Depressed? Can?t Sleep?

Insomnia is not only a symptom of depression, but a key to curing it.

The stress and strain of depression is exhausting both physically and mentally. Yet, the majority of people suffering from depression are insomniacs as well. While it has long been understood that sleep disturbances are a primary symptom of mood disorders, researchers are now beginning to recognize insomnia and depression as two distinct disorders interacting with one another. And when the two co-exist, addressing the insomnia may be a big help in accelerating the treatment of depression.

?For years we?ve known that that sleep problems are part and parcel of depression,? explains Dr. Kumar Budur, who specializes in sleep disorders and psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. ?In fact, one of the criteria for diagnosing depression is sleep disturbance. But more recently we have seen that patients who have insomnia go on to develop depression. Moreover, we?ve seen that when patients are treated for depression and insomnia simultaneously, the patient tends to get better faster?and they tend to stay better for a longer time.?

Dr. Budur cites the findings of a June 2006 study at Massachusetts General Hospital that explored dual treatment with antidepressants and hypnotics, or sleep aids. The subjects, who all suffered from insomnia and depression, were divided into two groups: One group was given antidepressants only, while the other received both antidepressants and hypnotics. The group receiving both drugs showed significantly more improvement to both conditions, and at a much faster rate.
Questions and answers

The interplay of these disorders is just beginning to be understood. One unproven theory revolves around the role of serotonin, one of the brain?s messenger chemicals, which seems to have an influence on mood disorders and sleep alike. Psychologists have long suggested that we work out problems in our dreams; without the opportunity to imagine and hope in our sleep, perhaps it?s more difficult to resolve troubles in the waking world.

What we do know is that depression can lead to insomnia and vice versa. A careful analysis of symptoms has revealed the effectiveness of treating the two simultaneously. Dr. Burdur explains, ?When we treat patients for depression, the least resistant symptoms, most of the time, are loss of energy, loss of concentration and mood. These symptoms respond to antidepressants. But fatigue and insomnia are the symptoms which are least responsive to treatment [with antidepressants]. So now there is the thinking that it is a subset of patients with depression in whom insomnia is a separate disorder. If we don?t treat insomnia, the risk of getting depressed again is probably much higher.?
The need to screen

Accurate diagnoses are key in resolving these disorders. Dr. Douglas Jacobs is CEO and president of the non-profit group Screening for Mental Health and founder of National Depression Screening Day (see details below). Dr. Jacobs supports the idea that anyone with persistent insomnia?that is, sleeplessness lasting more than 10 days?should consult a physician and be screened for depression.

?There?s a need for people to determine if they?re dealing with a primary sleep disorder or with depression,? he says. ?Part of what?s happening today is that the entire medical community is much more sensitive to the notion that sleep disorders need to be diagnosed and treated.?

Dr. Jacobs emphasizes the need to assess and treat depression as early as possible. ?Hypnotics have a place in the treatment of depression, under controlled usage,? he affirms. ?Patients should understand that it?s a short-term use in the early phases of depression treatment, while a person is also being treated with antidepressants and other interventions such as psychotherapy.?

Like every drug, hypnotics come with a set of risks and should only be used under a doctor?s close supervision. The restriction to short-term usage, for example, addresses addiction concerns. Instances of an adverse effect?that is, when hypnotics actually worsen depression?have been reported, though in very small numbers.

Of course, the more we can call on our body?s internal pharmacy of healing hormones, the fewer drugs we need to take. A 2003 Australian study concurs that insomnia and depression should be treated simultaneously but favors a self-help program that combines relaxation techniques and cognitive therapy over sleep aides.

?A constellation of symptoms?

While depression and sleeplessness are common bedfellows, the sleep disorders associated with depression are not limited to insomnia. A Sept. 18, 2006, study published in Archives of Internal Medicine provided evidence of a causal link between sleep apnea and depression. Other parasomnias, including sleepwalking, have been indicated as well.

The mental health equation is further complicated by mood disorders that frequently co-travel with depression or insomnia. Anxiety, to name the leading co-traveler, is evident in 70 percent of people with depression. The American Psychiatric Association has quoted a study in which people with insomnia were nearly 10 times more likely to have depression and over 17 times more likely to have anxiety than people without insomnia.

?The bottom line is that there is a constellation of symptoms for a clinician to look for in patients,? concludes Dr. Jacobs. ?Some physicians may eventually want to use antidepressants, some an anti-anxiety agent, some hypnotics. Is there a gold-standard of treatment? That comes down to the clinical judgment of the physician.?

The tangle of possibilities underscores the need for a clear diagnosis. If you?re experiencing signs of insomnia or depression, take advantage of the help and resources available in the medical community. Successful treatments are giving ever more hope to patients as progress continues on its path.

National Depression Screening Day

On Oct. 5, 1,500sites across the country will offer people the opportunity to take a free, anonymous screening for four common mood and anxiety disorders: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. For a list of participating sites in your area, see the NDSD Event Locator.

[Mer]

i have this huge lump on the back of my head! lol friggin hurts to touch the walk in clinic dude said it's my "lymph node" fighting off infectionbut i duno :| lol

[Rogue Angel]

MERVIN!!!!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] *HUGGGGGGGGS*....

yes, probably a lymph node... it's this time of year, allergies, colds, etc etc.... i get them sometimes on the back of my head... *nods*

[Mer]

well it hasnt gone down any and it's been almost a week so on tues i'ma have to go back if it hasnt gone down any lol

mwah melly told ya i'd post on yer board [img]graemlins/hmmm.gif[/img]

[Rogue Angel]

lol, yes you did, mer... *smooooooches*.... and it sounds like a good idea to go back tuesday if it doesn't go down.... that's a long time to have been fighting off an infection... you might need an antibiotic or somethin.... though if it's due to any allergies this time of year, you might need some kinda allergy med, like claritin or zyrtec that you take every day... *stops and runs to find mine*.... i would have never though allergies could cause the reaction i've been having lately, with the swollen eyes and rash... but that's what everyone seems to be thinking now, so i guess they really CAN cause you to feel bad.... *huggs*....