Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF MINDFULNESS: ADOPTING AN OBSERVATIONAL, NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:51:25 +0000

To be mindful is to be an observer, not a judge. With most things in life, we are quick to label and judge. When you are on a diet and you experience hunger (be it physical appetite or emotional craving, you are probably quick to label that experience as “bad.” When you judge hunger to be negative you give it power and you begin a struggle that you will surely lose.I will help you understand that food cravings and hunger are neither good nor bad, they simply exist. They are merely feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations. They are not you. They are experiences within you. You can choose to react to them and allow them to overwhelm and suffocate you or you can choose to be aware of them and then let them go.Don’t worry if you don’t understand all of this now or exactly how it works. Keep an open mind and it will become clear.*65\358\8*

HOW DO WE KNOW SMOKING CAUSES LUNG CANCER?

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:46:34 +0000

Unravelling the link between smoking and lung cancer has been one of the most successful exercises in the science of epidemiology. The part played by British scientific workers, most notably Sir Richard Doll from the University of Oxford, has been one of the most substantial contributions of British science to medicine. • Through this century the upward trend in lung cancer has followed the upward trend in smoking closely.• The incidence of lung cancer is higher in smokers. A large number of studies in analytical epidemiology all point in the same direction.• The more you smoke the more likely you are to get lung cancer. This is true for the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked. The exact relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked and the increased risk of lung cancer can still be debated. People have smoked in different ways in different countries and discarded different amounts of the cigarettes. The tar content of cigarettes varies greatly and has fallen steadily in cigarettes smoked in Western Europe and the United States.A recent estimate from the United States (report of the Surgeon General, 1989) says that regular cigarette smokers have more than a twenty times greater chance of getting lung cancer than lifelong non-smokers. The relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked and the risk is not a simple straight line. We cannot be precise about the relationship but Sir Richard Doll and his colleagues suggest that the likelihood of getting cancer from cigarette smoking rises according to a more complicated mathematical relationship known as a quadratic. Broadly this will mean that increasing the number of cigarettes smoked may have a disproportionate effect on the chance of getting lung Cancer.• When you stop smoking your chance of gating lung cancer falls. Within ten years the risk has fallen dramatically from what it would have been if smoking had continued although it may take quite a long time to return to the very small level of risk enjoyed by non-smokers.• Smoking low-tar cigarettes reduces the risk of lung cancer. This is strong evidence because most other factors about the two groups – those using high-tar and those using low-tar cigarettes – will be similar. Only the change in the level of tar in cigarettes is likely to explain the change in lung cancer incidence which in low-tar smokers is reduced to about 60 per cent of the risk for patients smoking high-tar cigarettes.• Chemicals in cigarette tar are mutagenic and carcinogenic. By this we mean that such chemicals alter genes and have been shown in the laboratory to produce cancer.*40\194\4*

HIV: ON DYING-THE DYING PERSON AND THE CAREGIVER: BALANCING LIVING AND DYING

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:41:12 +0000

In general, people facing death continue the process they began in response to depression and fatigue. They concentrate their energies on what is possible. They let go of some things they had wanted, mostly long-term career goals. They take control of their own attitudes: they decide how to live with their limits in life and still feel satisfied. In short, they balance living and dying. In a way, they seem both to live and to die at once. Not only did Helen plan her trip to the beach the following summer and buy beach clothes, she also celebrated Mother’s Day in December—”In case I wasn’t here,” she said. Steven says his life is “back to normal,” and he doesn’t “sit around waiting to get sick,” but he doesn’t “order things that will take a year to get,” either. Alan says, “I’m keeping myself healthy and trying to keep the disease from getting worse”; he also says, “I won’t enroll in night school, I’m afraid I couldn’t finish.” These people are not contradicting themselves. They are dealing with two facts; one is that they are dying, and the other is that they are still alive. They have to live recognizing both death and life. “I need some help dying,” said Dean. “But I also need help with living until I die, graciously and with dignity.” In fact, people have always had to learn to do this. Everyone has to figure out how to stay alive and still be ready for death, how to approach dying and still live the rest of their lives. Eventually people say that they have always known how. At some time in their lives, they have had to accept the inevitable with courage and grace. “If we have not known how to live,” wrote Montaigne, “it is wrong to teach us how to die, and make the end inconsistent with the whole. If we have known how to live steadfastly and tranquilly, we shall know how to die in the same way.” Lisa’s husband said the same thing, that he would die as he lived, by paraphrasing the Bible: “I know I came into this world naked and I will go out naked.” The person who has lived is the same as the person who will die. If you know yourself at all, you know how you will die.*226\191\2*

THE PROCESS PARADIGM IN PSYCHIATRY: PROCESS ELEMENTS IN MODERN SCHOOLS

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:24:56 +0000

The Freudian encouraging her patient to experience her transference is encouraging insight through process work. The Jungian who uses active imagination to meet dream figures on paper is using a process paradigm. The Gestalt therapist requiring her client to act out a dream is dramatizing an experience which has been secondary. The neo-Reichian working through resistances to aggression in body work is touching the process work paradigm if these resistances are allowed to express themselves and are not simply ‘broken through.’ The process paradigm is not new; it plays a crucial role in all psychotherapies, and is accepted as a basic concept everywhere in psychology. The process paradigm may even be considered a central pattern in our earliest sciences. Alchemy is based upon cooking what is incomplete and Taoism encourages one to discover the patterns behind reality and to folloiv their unfolding with appreciation and awareness. My background in process work is based upon the finalistic philosophy applied by Jung to psychological situations. He looked for the meaning of things; he was not interested in pathologizing them, but attempted to take them as facts for themselves. Since he was himself a physician he recognized the usefulness of the medicial model, but extended it by concentrating on the fantasy world produced by the client.*26\227\8*

HIV: OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE-COMPREHENSIVE CARE PROGRAMS

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:22:08 +0000

Some hospitals, clinics, and HMOs, especially those in large urban areas, have comprehensive programs of care tailored to the specific needs of people with HIV infection. The goal of comprehensive care programs is to provide all the care needed by a person with HIV infection in one setting and under one roof. The type and extent of services provided, and the type of specialists available, vary from one program to another. The people and programs in comprehensive care programs can include HIV counselors, medical specialists, support groups, home therapy programs, dietitians, psychologists and psychiatrists, social workers, case managers, hospice care programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and dental care. Most comprehensive care programs will have some but not all of these services. HIV counselors are specifically trained to provide information about HIV infection, especially information about the progress of the disease, the meaning of a positive blood test, and information on preventing transmission. These counselors also give advice on where, in a local community, to go for legal advice, for financial advice, and for personal planning services. Medical specialists associated with a comprehensive care program are the same experts a primary care physician is likely to consult about some of the complications of HIV infection that require specialized knowledge or a specialized procedure. The specialists most likely to be consulted are neurologists (brain and nerves), ophthalmologists (eyes), gastroenterologists (intestines), dermatologists (skin), oncologists (tumors), psychiatrists (mind), obstetricians (pregnancy), and pulmonary physicians (lungs). The specialist in a comprehensive care program may deal primarily with the specialty as it applies to HIV infection. That is, instead of a gastroenterologist who deals with all problems of the digestive system, you may find one who has a special interest in the gastroenterological problems of people with HIV infection. Support groups offer, to a person with HIV infection, emotional support in the company of people facing similar problems. The support groups are ideally made up of no more than five to eight people affected by HIV infection who have common interests and concerns. The groups are often led by a mental health professional. The benefit of a support group is sharing experiences and problems—medical and nonmedical—that are not easily shared with others. Home therapy programs extend comprehensive services to the person’s home. These services are most useful to the person whose physical condition is stable and who may be staying in the hospital only to receive certain types of treatment, like intravenous drugs. Nurses working in home therapy programs can give intravenous drug treatments, can draw blood for necessary laboratory tests, and do general nursing care—all at home, and all much less expensively than in the hospital. In most instances, the person with HIV infection or the caregiver is taught how to administer the drugs intravenously by him- or herself, so that visits by a trained professional are few. This style of giving intravenous drugs may sound somewhat risky, but it has now become commonplace in medical practice. A dietitian’s job is to help people with HIV infection solve the eating problems which can interfere with proper nourishment. Eating problems are partly a result of opportunistic infections, partly side effects of medication, partly a result of HIV itself. Dietitians teach people with eating problems how to prepare meals that are highly nutritious, appealing, and provide enough calories to maintain weight and strength. Psychologists and psychiatrists treat the array of emotional difficulties that face people with HIV infection. Some of these difficulties are serious, some short-lived; some are treatable with medications, some are best treated by talking them out. Psychological social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists—three kinds of mental health professionals who provide somewhat different services—can determine the severity of the emotional difficulty and can decide on the best course of treatment. Social workers and case managers help sort out many of the nonmedical problems people with HIV infection face: dealing with hospitals and insurance companies, keeping finances straight, sorting out living arrangements, and much more. The services offered in comprehensive care programs are more likely to be extensive in metropolitan areas and in hospitals or clinics that serve large numbers of people with HIV infection. Some people, especially those in the early stages of the infection, have no need for such a complex network of services. Some AIDS physicians work in private offices but have established a network of referrals that is comparable to a comprehensive care program. Some people with HIV infection prefer the simplicity of a single physician; others prefer the availability of many specialized services. The people who most benefit from the advantages of a comprehensive care program are either those who need more complicated and specialized care or those whose primary care physicians are uncomfortable treating many of the complications of HIV infection.*156\191\2*

HELPING YOUR CHILD COPE WITH EPILEPSY: STAGES OF SEIZURES

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:18:56 +0000

Grieving also occurs in children. Initially the older child or adolescent will think that life has ended, that he can no longer do the same things other children are doing. If you impose unwarranted restrictions, this may be self-fulfilling. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that your child be allowed to participate to the fullest extent possible. Even when restrictions are needed because of the frequency or severity of the seizures, it is important that you find activities in which your child can participate and achieve safely. These are very important ingredients in helping your child develop self-esteem.Here are a few examples of how children can be helped through these stages:Melissa is still grieving. This bright, articulate, theatrical teenager has staring spells for almost nine months. Although she had been to many doctors, we were the ones who finally told her that she had epilepsy. Even though she has now begun to take her medicine reliably and has had no seizures in two months, she feels sad. Seizures no longer interfere with any of her multiple activities. There are no side effects from medication. But she feels different, and she is still angry. We have helped her move toward acceptance by offering her an opportunity to meet with other young people who have seizures, youngsters who have already been through some of these stages. We can already see a difference—a willingness to channel these feelings in a productive way. We see a young lady who is beginning to believe that she is not handicapped by her seizures.Sean still feels sad. Although only nine, he coped with his seizures by talking about them incessantly to all his classmates and friends. Unfortunately this was not productive and resulted in negative reaction. Most children didn’t care and so they ignored him, or they were angry at him for bothering them. Understanding that there are lots of people who have seizures had a profound impact on him. We simply told him that we could fill the Orioles’ baseball stadium with people from Maryland who have epilepsy. And finally, meeting another child with epilepsy who understood his feelings has made it possible for him to begin to put his seizures into perspective. He no longer feels alone.Both of these children were grieving and had not accepted their epilepsy. Melissa had internalized the problem and withdrawn, while Sean had externalized his difficulties and was making himself a nuisance. Neither response was productive.*179\208\8*

SKIN AND COSMETICS: HAIR SHAMPOOS

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:15:38 +0000

Hair grooming and styling play an important role in our general appearance. We have all experienced the psychological uplift that walking out of the hairdressing salon with a great new hairstyle can bring.Like skin, hair is subject to the changes of ageing, which are especially obvious as greying and thinning hair. Hair products can successfully cover grey hairs, but there are no cosmetic products currently available which prevent hair loss.There has been a recent upsurge in the number of hair care products, many of which are of dubious value. Like skin care products, hair cosmetics are marketed with many exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims. Nonetheless, true advances have enabled people to perform more sophisticated hair styling, coloring and perming safely at home.Hair shampoos basically contain a cleansing agent, preservatives and usually perfume. There are several types of shampoos available for different hair types:- Cleansing shampoos. Most good cleansing shampoos contain a chemical called sodium laurel sulphate, which cleanses and degreases the hair and scalp. They tend to be quite drying, especially on hair which has been colored or permed.- Milder shampoos. Milder shampoos which contain sodium laureth sulphate are less cleansing but are also less drying. Because they are mild, they are suitable for permed or bleached hair but are not so good for people with very oily scalps.- Medicated shampoos. Medicated shampoos are useful for people with dandruff. These shampoos contain tar, salicylic acid and other ingredients which deep cleanse the scalp, removing any scaling.- Protein-containing shampoos. Protein-containing shampoos contain proteins such as keratin and collagen. They do not appear to have any real benefit but rather are a marketing gimmick.- Conditioning shampoos. Conditioning shampoos contain a shampoo and conditioner in one. The main problem with these preparations is that they are not particularly good shampoos or conditioners, although they can be useful for people with short hair. They tend to build up on the hair, making it limp and greasy. More recently, however, manufacturers have incorporated a silicone derivative into conditioning shampoos. This makes the hair glossy but less greasy. They are not suitable for bleached or permed hair.- Shampoos containing sunscreens. Both hair and skin are damaged by ultraviolet light, especially bleached hair. Hair bleaches often contain sunscreens to try and minimize fading of the color. Sunscreens, especially PABA, have also been incorporated into many shampoos. At the moment they seem to be of no value as they are washed out of the hair before sun exposure. In the future, shampoos containing sunscreens may be designed to bind to the hair so that they do not wash off.- Baby shampoos. Baby shampoos are designed to cause minimal eye irritation. In other respects they are the same as ordinary shampoos.A shampoo should be chosen according to the sort of hair you have and whether or not it is bleached or permed. If you have oily hair which is not chemically processed, a more cleansing shampoo is needed, that is, one containing sodium laurel sulphate. If you swim regularly in a chlorinated pool a good cleansing shampoo is also necessary. The best results can be achieved, however, by alternating between a very cleansing and a milder shampoo.At present, there is little to recommend conditioning shampoos, protein-containing shampoos and sunscreen-containing shampoos. There are many other gimmicks on the market such as shampoos which contain aloe vera and other ‘natural’ ingredients. These products are no more useful than other shampoos.Considering the number of shampoos on the market, the number of adverse reactions is very small. The main problem is eye irritation, which is not very likely in baby shampoos. As with cosmetics, allergic reactions can occur due to the perfumes or preservatives present in shampoos.
*88/150/5*

HIV: HEAD AND NERVE PROBLEMS

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 11:14:17 +0000

The nervous system has two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, where thinking takes place, and the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that carries directions from and to the brain. The peripheral nervous system is composed of the nerves that bring sensory messages to the brain and deliver commands to the muscles. Both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system can be affected by HIV infection. The central nervous system—primarily the brain—is somewhat more likely to be affected than the peripheral nervous system, either by HIV itself or by an opportunistic infection or tumor. The most common symptoms of central nervous system involvement are (1) mental slowing, with memory loss and impaired concentration; (2) seizures; (3) weakness or paralysis; (4) poor coordination; and (5) headache that is often severe or different from the usual headache. All of these symptoms suggest infection in the brain or meninges (the membrane surrounding the brain) and require medical treatment. In many instances, the person with these symptoms will then be referred to a neurologist, a specialist in diseases of the nervous system. The most frequent and serious diseases of the central nervous system are toxoplasmic encephalitis, cryptococcal meningitis, lymphomas of the brain, and AIDS dementia complex. Other diseases also affect the central nervous system: Kaposi’s sarcoma, cytomegalovirus, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Mycobacterium avium, tuberculosis, and the herpes viruses. All these diseases cause similar symptoms. Diagnosis, therefore, requires special tests. The tests usually done begin with a neurologic examination that includes a physical examination of the nervous system to determine coordination, strength, sensations, reflexes, and mental functioning. An important laboratory test is a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. The lumbar puncture is done to obtain the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain; the fluid is then examined for any inflammatory cells or microbes that will provide clues to the diagnosis. Other major laboratory tests are computerized tomography (CAT scan) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain. Both tests are methods of viewing the brain in three dimensions to look for specific changes. These changes indicate the location of the problem and its probable cause. Diagnosis of central nervous system problems, then, is based on the symptoms, the results of a neurologic examination, the results of examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, and any changes in the images of the brain. Many diseases of the central nervous system can be treated successfully, especially early in the course of the disease. Many of the symptoms suggesting central nervous system infections, however, occur even when there is no problem in the central nervous system at all. Weakness, seizures, and mental changes, for instance, can be caused by medications, changes in the balance of electrolytes in the blood, and fever due to some other infection. Particularly difficult to sort out are headaches: 90 percent of all people, with or without HIV infection, have periodic headaches. The final part of this section on head and nerve problems will discuss the problems HIV infection causes with the peripheral nervous system.*130\191\2*

THE BONE DENSITY AND THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE: DECREASED ESTROGEN

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:04:53 +0000

For women, one of the largest factors in overall bone health is estrogen. Anything that significantly cuts down on estrogen can have a negative effect on women’s bones, since estrogen is so important to maintaining bone density. You can’t always control the amount of estrogen your body produces (menopause comes whether or not it gets an engraved invitation from you), but there are several ways to make up for low levels of the hormone. Sometimes you do have some control: if you’ve exercised yourself to the point of stopping menstruation, for example, you can back off enough to restore your normal cycles (and therefore your estrogen). Or you can make sure you’ve exhausted other treatment options before having a hysterectomy.The most obvious case of getting less estrogen than is optimal for your skeleton is menopause, when estrogen levels drop dramatically. Without so much estrogen, bone loss picks up dramatically for the first five years or so after the last period, and you might lose as much as 5 percent of your total bone mass each year.Early menopause, or “surgical menopause” like a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries, increases your risk further still, since your body faces the same challenges as with menopause, but years earlier. Women who have their ovaries removed lose bone faster than do older women at menopause. Women who have had a hysterectomy but have both ovaries (which actually make estrogen) still show an increased risk. Even just experiencing menopause at a relatively young age (but still within the normal range) ratchets up the stakes for you, since every drop of estrogen you can come by naturally (without having to tally up potential risks and side effects from hormone replacement) is crucial.This is why HRT is such an important consideration whenever you enter menopause. Another way to protect yourself is with natural progesterone, which is particularly worth learning about if you are wary of or unable to take estrogen.Some women experience low levels of estrogen well before menopause (upping the ante still more, especially if it occurs in girls and young women who should be in their peak bone-building years). Amenorrhea (loss of periods) or very infrequent and irregular periods are the most common ways this occurs. It happens to intensely active athletes, especially in sports where low body weight and extremely low body fat are advantageous and common (e.g., marathon runners, ballerinas, and gymnasts). Delayed onset of menstruation and interrupted periods have similar effects. For every year with few or no periods, you may lose about 2 percent of your bone mass.Before menopause, normal menstrual cycles are best for you for many reasons, bone health among them. Stress, poor nutrition, excessive exercise, and lack of exposure to natural light can all disrupt your menstrual cycle, interfering with hormonal reactions and so contributing to bone loss. Irregular periods and irregular ovulation put you at higher risk for osteoporosis. If your periods are irregular, consider using birth control pills, or natural progesterone to restore them, as well as addressing the underlying causes so your body can get back to properly regulating itself. In fact, the pill can prevent bone loss—and perhaps even increase density—in any premenopausal woman, which you should factor into your decision about what contraceptive to use (on balance with the other attendant risks and side effects, of course). Your goals should be to maintain your physiology as close to Mother Nature’s recipe as possible.*42\228\2*

SKIN CARE: NAIL COSMETICS

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:01:46 +0000

Many women take the time to have their nails professionally manicured. Nail care is a very specialized field, however, and often manicurists have minimal training in nail products and nail problems. It can therefore be quite difficult to find a well-trained manicurist.
Cuticle removersFor some reason the cuticle is considered an ugly structure, yet its main function is to protect the nail growth plate from bacterial and fungal infection which will occur if the cuticle is damaged. It is far better to leave cuticles alone, as fifty per cent of nail problems would be avoided if cuticles were not removed or pushed back.
Nail hardenersMost nail hardeners contain formaldehyde which does not strengthen nails, and nail hardeners which contain formaldehyde have been banned in the United States. Formaldehyde can cause severe allergic reactions, so nail hardeners are best avoided.
Nail polishesMost nail polishes contain sulphonamide resin which gives the nails durability and gloss. It can, however, cause allergic reactions which, strangely enough, produce dermatitis on the eyelids. Some nail polishes, such as Almay, do not cause allergies but they chip easily and wear poorly. Nail polish can be made more durable by using a base coat and a top coat. Contrary to popular belief, nail polish does not harm the nails; in fact it protects them from wear and tear. Even if nail polish is not worn routinely, it is advantageous to use top coat nail polish to protect the nail from peeling.
Nail polish removersNail polish removers contain acetone and alcohol which are very drying. To minimize this effect, moisturizers and less drying chemicals are increasingly being used in nail polish removers.
Acrylic nailsAcrylic nails have become very popular because many women find it difficult to keep their own nails in good condition. Acrylic nails are very durable and hold nail polish well; however they can also cause a number of problems. An allergic reaction to the glue, called methylmethacrylate, can occur, producing severe dermatitis around the nails and even nail destruction.Fungal infections can also occur if moisture gets in between the artificial nail and the normal nail. This can be avoided by filing the nail regularly and by applying an anti-fungal agent to the nails before the artificial nails are put on.Artificial nails can also make your own nails softer, which is evident when the artificial ones are removed. Your own nails may also lift or be completely destroyed when the artificial nails are taken off. This is more likely if your cuticles have been pushed back or removed.Problems with artificial nails can be minimized by selecting a good manicurist with adequate training. Sculptured nails must be filled regularly, that is every two to three weeks, to minimize the risk of fungal infection, and are best kept short, as this will minimize the chances of your own nails and the artificial nails lifting off the nail bed. The cuticles should always be left intact.
Nail wrapsNail wraps are used for repairing broken nails, and are best applied by a trained manicurist. Either silk or fiberglass is used.
*86/150/5*