We have two Italian Greyhounds (affectionately referred to as IG’s). Dixie was two when we brought Yankee home. I read that IG’s are happier with another animal and thought that another IG would be half as much trouble and twice as much fun. After a few days of establishing a pack order the two became great friends.
For those not familiar with IG’s, they are about ¼ scale of the famous racetrack breed. In their finest form they look half-starved, even though it may look cruel to most pet owners, that’s when they are the most active and truly happiest. A pound or two slows them down tremendously and even becomes dangerous.
They are fearless leapers. No matter how many times I try to explain to them Newton’s Laws of Gravity, it does no good. Heart-stopping stories abound over the internet chat rooms about their Superman like tendencies. The extra weight increases the risk of broken bones.
They are also tremendous jumpers. In her hey-day Dixie could jump straight up over 6 feet high to grab a snack. At will she could jump flat-footed on to the dining room table, landing as soft as a butterfly with sore feet.
But more than anything, those long thin legs were meant for speed. Unfortunately, they can run faster than they can think. IG’s become single focused when running. Twice I have nearly had a heart attack as they ran full speed into each other from opposite directions, tumbling like out of control race cars. Chasing after one another, they’d scrape the trees so close that bark literally flew off and misjudging turns, wiping-out in to brick walls and other immoveable objects was a common occurrence.
Well, one day the inevitable finally happened, Dixie went into a door facing and snapped her left leg. The break was clean through. Her little paw dangling 90 degrees from just below her knee told me everything I didn’t want to know.
I did the best I could to immobilize it as my wife called the vet. As soon as we got there they took her back for x-rays. She was obviously in a lot of pain but had quit yelping after I first picked her up. In fact, she was the calmest of any of us.
My wife was crying because of the dog. I was crying because of the bill. If I would’ve known how much it was going to cost in the lobby I would have cried a lot harder. This was going to be a big payday for the vet.
The choices were simple, they could try a cast, but it would probably not set right because of the very tiny, toothpick-thin fibula. The vet recommended a titanium plate and screws.
The surgery alone would run $1,000. The total bill would actually end up over $1,800. I could have bought 3 Dixies and a lifetime supply of dog food for that much. My wife got mad because she didn’t like my sense of humor, but I wasn’t joking. I know the power of the purse, and I have no intention of getting hit by hers again so I relented.
The next morning they put in the custom made plate and screws. It was really tricky because the screws had to be big enough to hold things together, but small enough not to interrupt blood flow.
More painful (if you can believe that) than the vet bill, was the care and attention Dixie would require for the next 3 to 4 months. For the next three months she would have to be kept in a crate at all times.
For the first three weeks when we took her out to go potty we would have to hold on to her. No walking was allowed. It is absolutely crucial for dogs to find the perfect spot to relieve themselves, not any spot will do. Humans cannot fully appreciate this until they miss an entire showing of Monday Night Football.
A few weeks after the surgery we got a bit of good news, the leg was healing fine. She would still have to be crated, but we could put her on a real tight lead and let her stand on her three good legs to go potty. In about two to three week intervals after that she was allowed a little more freedom.
Slowly things got back to normal. The first month after she got full clearance to run was rather tiring. Each jump, every full trot run brought held breaths in anticipation of another vet trip.
It has taken two full years to get to where she no longer yelps or pulls up after a full run or sharp turn. She has lost a noticeable amount of her initial burst. She can longer track down Yankee from behind, but they still love to chase each other in the backyard and that gives us great pleasure. If you’ve never seen these gracious runners play at full speed then you cannot fully appreciate why we went to all the trouble and expense.
My wife loves to show Dixie’s scar to anyone who comes by. She talks about the whole adventure like it was The Good Old Days. Out of fear that my wife will read this article I will state that if I had to do it again I would. But I won’t like it.
About The Author
Kerry Clabaugh runs http://www.bamabots.com, a website dedicated to robotic lawnmowers sales and education. Kerry is also interested in your experiences with robotic lawnmowers. He can be reached toll free (877) 383-6054.
tocshop@comcast.net
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Medical Tourism in China by: Arthur Wyss
China has been a late bloomer in medical tourism. China is a popular tourist destination, but not a popular destination for medical tourism. There are several reasons why. Quality and safety are more important issues than price when it comes to medical tourism. China’s reputation in both quality and safety has not been stellar in the past. It will take a long time to develop a solid record of good performance adequate to convince the public to trust the medical system in China.
In recent years Chinese officials have been greatly embarrassed numerous times over serious health and safety issues that brought international negative attention to China. The good news is that the Chinese are determined to overcome this negative image. The American approach to improving a negative image would commonly be the “Madison Avenue” approach. The Chinese approach does not focus on rebranding, public relations, advertising, focus groups, etc. China is attacking the problem at its core, in a head-on manner. When a mistake is made in China, and health and safety is jeopardized by that mistake, those who are determined to be responsible are punished. In America when they say “heads will roll” it is a euphemism that means those responsible may be demoted or lose their jobs. In China when they say “heads will roll” they mean it literally.
The global economic meltdown has intensified competition for a reduced pool of buyers and consumers. China has long been cost competitive, but lacking in quality. China is changing, with a new focus on becoming quality competitive. This bodes well for the future of medical tourism in China. It is hard to beat the prices in China. Chinese medical services are rapidly improving in quality and safety.
The USA arguably has the highest quality health care system in the world. Yet even in America thousands of patients die every year because of mistakes made by their health care providers. To err is human. Even with all the safeguards, regulations, checks and balances in place in the USA, health care providers still manage to make plenty of mistakes in America. There is a silver lining in the cloud for medical tourists to China. Medical providers in China are careful to avoid mistakes because penalties for mistakes tend to be higher in China. Those responsible for mistakes are held accountable. When it comes to foreign patients, extra care and attention are paid to every detail. Foreign patients receive the very highest quality of care and attention possible.
Chinese political leaders like to call China a “developing nation.” There is a pragmatic reason for this self-depreciation by Chinese leaders. China hopes to continue to receive favorable trading treatment from the rest of the world, and not be pressured to cut back on pollution during this “developing stage.” One should not mistake this political rhetoric for fact. In reality China is no longer a “third world” country. China is well along the path of becoming a first world nation. The Chinese people are highly literate, even more so than the people of the USA. Technologically China is among the more developed nations on earth today. In some areas China actually leads the world. One such area is MAGLEV train technology. Japan and Germany both beat China in the MAGLEV development race, but only China has put MAGLEV trains in commercial service. America has plans to build them, and other countries have the ability to do so, but only China actually did it and has them in commercial service today. Things get done in China.
“This is nice, but what’s in it for me?” The answer is value. Medical tourists can find good value for their money in China today. Sure there are risks. There is no such thing as foolproof medical care anywhere. Any medical treatment anywhere invokes a “cost-benefit ratio.” I would recommend China for medical tourists who are seeking procedures that tend to be low risk, such as cosmetic surgery and liposuction. These low risk procedures are where the cost-benefit ratio gives China a big advantage.
Finally on the “tourism” part of medical tourism, China has a lot to offer too. China is not only the most populous country on earth but also a rather large country, about the size of the “lower 48” (the USA minus Alaska). The more common tourist spots are the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and The Summer Palace. In addition to these many tourists these days are exploring a bit more, in out of the way places all over China. For example, the beaches around Sanya, Hainan Island rival those of Hawaii. The beaches on Hainan Island are not yet so well known outside of China, but there are a few international hotels there now and the popularity especially of Sanya is growing. China extends from the tropics along the Chinese-Vietnamese border area to the Himalayan Mountain Range along the Western border of China, up to the Gobi Desert, and to Inner Mongolia up north. There is a lot to see in China. Travel inside China is convenient and inexpensive.
About The Author
Arthur Wyss is a resident of Shenzhen, China. He specializes in immigration assistance for those who wish to live in Brazil. He also operates Brazil Land Sales, which primarily sells land in the State of Tocantins, Brazil. He is the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. He now offers referrals to hospitals and clinics in China, especially for foreign tourists. His website is: http://www.medicaltourisminchina.com
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.medicaltourisminchina.com
In recent years Chinese officials have been greatly embarrassed numerous times over serious health and safety issues that brought international negative attention to China. The good news is that the Chinese are determined to overcome this negative image. The American approach to improving a negative image would commonly be the “Madison Avenue” approach. The Chinese approach does not focus on rebranding, public relations, advertising, focus groups, etc. China is attacking the problem at its core, in a head-on manner. When a mistake is made in China, and health and safety is jeopardized by that mistake, those who are determined to be responsible are punished. In America when they say “heads will roll” it is a euphemism that means those responsible may be demoted or lose their jobs. In China when they say “heads will roll” they mean it literally.
The global economic meltdown has intensified competition for a reduced pool of buyers and consumers. China has long been cost competitive, but lacking in quality. China is changing, with a new focus on becoming quality competitive. This bodes well for the future of medical tourism in China. It is hard to beat the prices in China. Chinese medical services are rapidly improving in quality and safety.
The USA arguably has the highest quality health care system in the world. Yet even in America thousands of patients die every year because of mistakes made by their health care providers. To err is human. Even with all the safeguards, regulations, checks and balances in place in the USA, health care providers still manage to make plenty of mistakes in America. There is a silver lining in the cloud for medical tourists to China. Medical providers in China are careful to avoid mistakes because penalties for mistakes tend to be higher in China. Those responsible for mistakes are held accountable. When it comes to foreign patients, extra care and attention are paid to every detail. Foreign patients receive the very highest quality of care and attention possible.
Chinese political leaders like to call China a “developing nation.” There is a pragmatic reason for this self-depreciation by Chinese leaders. China hopes to continue to receive favorable trading treatment from the rest of the world, and not be pressured to cut back on pollution during this “developing stage.” One should not mistake this political rhetoric for fact. In reality China is no longer a “third world” country. China is well along the path of becoming a first world nation. The Chinese people are highly literate, even more so than the people of the USA. Technologically China is among the more developed nations on earth today. In some areas China actually leads the world. One such area is MAGLEV train technology. Japan and Germany both beat China in the MAGLEV development race, but only China has put MAGLEV trains in commercial service. America has plans to build them, and other countries have the ability to do so, but only China actually did it and has them in commercial service today. Things get done in China.
“This is nice, but what’s in it for me?” The answer is value. Medical tourists can find good value for their money in China today. Sure there are risks. There is no such thing as foolproof medical care anywhere. Any medical treatment anywhere invokes a “cost-benefit ratio.” I would recommend China for medical tourists who are seeking procedures that tend to be low risk, such as cosmetic surgery and liposuction. These low risk procedures are where the cost-benefit ratio gives China a big advantage.
Finally on the “tourism” part of medical tourism, China has a lot to offer too. China is not only the most populous country on earth but also a rather large country, about the size of the “lower 48” (the USA minus Alaska). The more common tourist spots are the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and The Summer Palace. In addition to these many tourists these days are exploring a bit more, in out of the way places all over China. For example, the beaches around Sanya, Hainan Island rival those of Hawaii. The beaches on Hainan Island are not yet so well known outside of China, but there are a few international hotels there now and the popularity especially of Sanya is growing. China extends from the tropics along the Chinese-Vietnamese border area to the Himalayan Mountain Range along the Western border of China, up to the Gobi Desert, and to Inner Mongolia up north. There is a lot to see in China. Travel inside China is convenient and inexpensive.
About The Author
Arthur Wyss is a resident of Shenzhen, China. He specializes in immigration assistance for those who wish to live in Brazil. He also operates Brazil Land Sales, which primarily sells land in the State of Tocantins, Brazil. He is the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. He now offers referrals to hospitals and clinics in China, especially for foreign tourists. His website is: http://www.medicaltourisminchina.com
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.medicaltourisminchina.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Flu Shot Complications by: Patsy Hamilton
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, commonly referred to as the CDC, advises that the best way to lower your chances of getting the flu is to get an annual flu shot. Complications and allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations are considered rare and “worth the risk” for some people, particularly elderly people who live in nursing home situations.
Allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can be caused by any of the ingredients in the shot, but most often occur in people who are allergic to eggs. The shot contains dead influenza viruses that were grown in chicken eggs. It is believed, at least by the CDC, that most flu shot complications occur in people who have an allergy to chicken eggs.
The CDC advises that the signs of allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, accelerated heartbeat, or dizziness and if they occur, it will be within the first few hours following the flu shot. Complications, other than the common side effects (redness or swelling at the injection site, low grade fever and body aches), should be reported to a doctor right away and the doctor should file a “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” form. A severe allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can be life threatening and anyone who has had an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations in the past should consult a doctor before taking the annual flu shot.
Those people who are allergic to mercury or thimerosal may have an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations. Thimerosal is used in the manufacturing process of all flu vaccines and is used as a preservative in most. While the CDC states that there is “no convincing evidence” that thimerosal can cause severe flu shot complications, many doctors and researchers believe that mercury presence in flu shots can lead to autism and Alzheimer’s. The evidence concerning the link between mercury in flu shots and autism was convincing enough for New York state to ban vaccines containing thimerosal that are intended for use in pregnant women and children. But, even those flu shots which are labeled preservative free still contain trace amounts of mercury. It is generally not believed that these trace amounts can cause flu shot complications.
One of the flu shot complications that occurs rarely is a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is not considered an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations, but it may be associated with them. Guillain-Barre syndrome symptoms include fever and muscle weakness and sometimes results in paralysis and permanent nerve damage. The CDC advises that anyone who has had Guillain-Barre syndrome in the past, regardless of whether it was linked to flu shot complications, should consult their doctor before taking the annual vaccine.
Because severe allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations are rare, the CDC believes that the benefits associated with the vaccine outweigh the risks associated with possible flu shot complications. The vaccine is considered to be 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in healthy persons under 65, 30-70% effective in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in elderly persons living outside of nursing homes, 50-60% effective in preventing hospitalization from influenza in elderly nursing home residents and 80% effective in preventing death from influenza in elderly nursing home residents.
For more information about allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations or flu shot complications, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.
About The Author
Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience as a health care professional and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. To learn more about natural immunity boosting products, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.
Allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can be caused by any of the ingredients in the shot, but most often occur in people who are allergic to eggs. The shot contains dead influenza viruses that were grown in chicken eggs. It is believed, at least by the CDC, that most flu shot complications occur in people who have an allergy to chicken eggs.
The CDC advises that the signs of allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, accelerated heartbeat, or dizziness and if they occur, it will be within the first few hours following the flu shot. Complications, other than the common side effects (redness or swelling at the injection site, low grade fever and body aches), should be reported to a doctor right away and the doctor should file a “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” form. A severe allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations can be life threatening and anyone who has had an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations in the past should consult a doctor before taking the annual flu shot.
Those people who are allergic to mercury or thimerosal may have an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations. Thimerosal is used in the manufacturing process of all flu vaccines and is used as a preservative in most. While the CDC states that there is “no convincing evidence” that thimerosal can cause severe flu shot complications, many doctors and researchers believe that mercury presence in flu shots can lead to autism and Alzheimer’s. The evidence concerning the link between mercury in flu shots and autism was convincing enough for New York state to ban vaccines containing thimerosal that are intended for use in pregnant women and children. But, even those flu shots which are labeled preservative free still contain trace amounts of mercury. It is generally not believed that these trace amounts can cause flu shot complications.
One of the flu shot complications that occurs rarely is a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is not considered an allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations, but it may be associated with them. Guillain-Barre syndrome symptoms include fever and muscle weakness and sometimes results in paralysis and permanent nerve damage. The CDC advises that anyone who has had Guillain-Barre syndrome in the past, regardless of whether it was linked to flu shot complications, should consult their doctor before taking the annual vaccine.
Because severe allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations are rare, the CDC believes that the benefits associated with the vaccine outweigh the risks associated with possible flu shot complications. The vaccine is considered to be 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in healthy persons under 65, 30-70% effective in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in elderly persons living outside of nursing homes, 50-60% effective in preventing hospitalization from influenza in elderly nursing home residents and 80% effective in preventing death from influenza in elderly nursing home residents.
For more information about allergic reaction to flu shot vaccinations or flu shot complications, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.
About The Author
Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience as a health care professional and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. To learn more about natural immunity boosting products, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Isometrics, Steriods, Alexander Zass And Charles Atlas's Dynamic Tension- Effective or Just a Hoax?? by: Frank Sherrill i
Did you know that you could build muscle and become stronger without weight training?
It’s true.
It’s called isometric training and it increases muscle mass, giving you that great-looking body you always wanted. And best of all, you can get fit without going to the gym or buying all that expensive home exercise equipment.
Isometric exercises involve muscular contractions performed against fixed resistance. The System gained scientific acceptance in 1953 when a couple of German researchers named Dr. Theodore Hettinger and Dr. Eric A. Muller published a study showing people who did isometric exercises obtained dramatic results by causing their muscles to tense for no more than 10 seconds at a time.
This muscle tension became popular in America when a young man from southern Italy, Angelo Sicilano, teamed up with marketing genius Harold Roman to produce an advertisement in comic books.
It showed how a 97-pound weakling became a “real he-man” and punched out the bully who had kicked sand in his face. This ad launched the mail order bodybuilding program called “Dynamic Tension.” Young Angelo went on to win the title The World’s Most Perfectly Developed Man.
He changed his name to Charles Atlas, put on a pair of leopard skin shorts, and the rest is history.
Probably the only man Atlas could not help was Mahatma Gandhi. When the great spiritual leader of India wrote a letter to Atlas asking for help, Atlas devised a diet and recommended a series of exercises to help restore Gandhi’s weakened condition. “I felt mighty sorry for him,” Atlas said. “He was nothing but a bag of bones.”
A few years before Atlas started flexing his muscles, another strongman used isometrics to build and maintain his strength. Like Atlas, Alexander Zass–better known as The Amazing Samson–offered his training through a mail order course. Zass was born in Vilna, Poland in 1888, but lived most of his early years in Russia and after 1924 in Britain.
He developed a great belief in the application of isometrics and “maximum tension” for the development of strength. He believed such an approach was superior to the normal use of weights in developing strength.
“I aimed, first, to develop the underlying connective tissues rather than the superficial Muscles,” he wrote in his instruction manual, Samson’s System and Methods. “I developed tendon Strength….” Without tendons, one would possess no control over the body, he continued. “They and their development are the secret to my strength. Muscles alone won’t hold wild horses back. Tendons will, and do.”
Sampson, so-called The World’s Strongest Living Man, said muscles were an illusion when it came to strength, but he did encourage his students to develop them because well-defined muscles “furnish Quite a respectable physical appearance.” Sampson said beginners should practice tensing their muscles one at a time then grouping the muscles together, tensing as many as possible at one time.
He outlined three methods of isometric tension: freestyle, using no appliances; wall exercises for resistance training; and weight exercises in which the student held the weight in a rigid position instead of using curls or presses, the typical “pumping iron” method of weight training.
Most isometrics instructors agree not to exceed 10 seconds on each muscle contraction. That is perhaps the greatest appeal to isometrics–a person can enhance muscle mass and strength with only a few simple repetitions in a limited time without heavy exertion.
In the 1960s, gym rats–not wanting to publicly admit their use of steroids–attributed their sudden remarkable gains in strength and muscle mass to the use of isometrics. This association, however false, between the system and the abuse of steroids created a panic among the health conscious, resulting in the American public shunning the use of isometrics.
But the system flourished in Europe, especially in physical rehabilitation programs among the aged. Seeing such positive results in Europe’s medical use of isometrics, patients in the United States also turned to the healing aspects of the system.
Scoliosis is just one of the afflictions being tackled by the medical use of isometrics. The Anti- Scoliosis Treatment Method is a Russian approach that consists of isometric and stretching exercises, vibration, spinal manipulation and electrical muscle stimulation.
Traveler’s thrombosis is another ailment that isometric exercises can help prevent. Brought on by pressure on the upper thighs caused by prolonged sitting and low mobility in narrow seats on long airplane rides, this ailment is a greater problem than jet lag or airline cuisine.
The low air humidity onboard passenger aircraft can favor the formation of blood clots in cases where passengers may be lacking fluids. Studies by Medsafe, a business unit of New Zealand’s Ministry of Health, indicate the use of isometric exercises helps relieve this condition.
Not only can isometrics help the weary worldwide wanderer, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is out of this world when it comes to recognizing the benefits isometrics offer in the close confinements of a space capsule.
On long space journeys in prolonged weightlessness, astronauts suffer crippling muscle and bone loss. Future space trips will be longer, say three years for example, when astronauts eventually explore Mars. Longer durations in space mean increased muscle and bone losses.
Researchers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center recommend a variety of preflight fitness plans, training space travelers for in-flight use of the exercise equipment onboard the International Space Station, and monitoring their health after their return to Earth.
“Muscle and bone loss in space create an entire realm of biological concerns for astronauts,” said William J. Kraemer, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. “Our challenge is to find countermeasure programs which … allow the body to maintain proper structure and function.”
Strength training for astronauts involves two types of resistance exercises: high-intensity isotonics, which shorten and lengthen muscles (for example, lifting and lowering a dumbbell), and isometrics, which fully contract muscles without movement (such as pushing against a doorway).
While both types of exercises could potentially reduce muscle atrophy in microgravity, research suggests isometrics may be more successful than isotonics in protecting slow-twitch fibers, according mto a February 2004 report in NASA’s Biological andPhysical Research Enterprise newsletter.
For the homebody, massive muscle and bone loss may not be as much a problem as those extra calories packed on while watching football or soccer on the television. It might be good advice to roll yourself out of that easy chair and spend 10 secondsat a time doing isometric exercises–at least during the commercial breaks.
The only drawback to "free hand" Isometrics (without the use of any equipment) is that there is no way to measure your strength gains and you are limited in the number of exercises.
But, there is now a way to increase there effectiveness by up to 1000%.
With the advent of new "hybrid" exercise equipment such as the Bully Xtreme home gym you can now maximize your muscle building results while being able to do more exercises up to 82 different movements. While utilizing the powerful technique of isometrics.
For more information and a free report check out...
http://www.BullyXtreme.net/
About The Author
Frank Sherrill, is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Martial Arts expert. After surviving a horrific weight training accident, he spent years researching and finally discovering an exercise program and home gym that was as effective as free weights but, without all the RISK.
To learn more about the Bullworker and the Bully Xtreme go to http://www.BullyXtreme.net
It’s true.
It’s called isometric training and it increases muscle mass, giving you that great-looking body you always wanted. And best of all, you can get fit without going to the gym or buying all that expensive home exercise equipment.
Isometric exercises involve muscular contractions performed against fixed resistance. The System gained scientific acceptance in 1953 when a couple of German researchers named Dr. Theodore Hettinger and Dr. Eric A. Muller published a study showing people who did isometric exercises obtained dramatic results by causing their muscles to tense for no more than 10 seconds at a time.
This muscle tension became popular in America when a young man from southern Italy, Angelo Sicilano, teamed up with marketing genius Harold Roman to produce an advertisement in comic books.
It showed how a 97-pound weakling became a “real he-man” and punched out the bully who had kicked sand in his face. This ad launched the mail order bodybuilding program called “Dynamic Tension.” Young Angelo went on to win the title The World’s Most Perfectly Developed Man.
He changed his name to Charles Atlas, put on a pair of leopard skin shorts, and the rest is history.
Probably the only man Atlas could not help was Mahatma Gandhi. When the great spiritual leader of India wrote a letter to Atlas asking for help, Atlas devised a diet and recommended a series of exercises to help restore Gandhi’s weakened condition. “I felt mighty sorry for him,” Atlas said. “He was nothing but a bag of bones.”
A few years before Atlas started flexing his muscles, another strongman used isometrics to build and maintain his strength. Like Atlas, Alexander Zass–better known as The Amazing Samson–offered his training through a mail order course. Zass was born in Vilna, Poland in 1888, but lived most of his early years in Russia and after 1924 in Britain.
He developed a great belief in the application of isometrics and “maximum tension” for the development of strength. He believed such an approach was superior to the normal use of weights in developing strength.
“I aimed, first, to develop the underlying connective tissues rather than the superficial Muscles,” he wrote in his instruction manual, Samson’s System and Methods. “I developed tendon Strength….” Without tendons, one would possess no control over the body, he continued. “They and their development are the secret to my strength. Muscles alone won’t hold wild horses back. Tendons will, and do.”
Sampson, so-called The World’s Strongest Living Man, said muscles were an illusion when it came to strength, but he did encourage his students to develop them because well-defined muscles “furnish Quite a respectable physical appearance.” Sampson said beginners should practice tensing their muscles one at a time then grouping the muscles together, tensing as many as possible at one time.
He outlined three methods of isometric tension: freestyle, using no appliances; wall exercises for resistance training; and weight exercises in which the student held the weight in a rigid position instead of using curls or presses, the typical “pumping iron” method of weight training.
Most isometrics instructors agree not to exceed 10 seconds on each muscle contraction. That is perhaps the greatest appeal to isometrics–a person can enhance muscle mass and strength with only a few simple repetitions in a limited time without heavy exertion.
In the 1960s, gym rats–not wanting to publicly admit their use of steroids–attributed their sudden remarkable gains in strength and muscle mass to the use of isometrics. This association, however false, between the system and the abuse of steroids created a panic among the health conscious, resulting in the American public shunning the use of isometrics.
But the system flourished in Europe, especially in physical rehabilitation programs among the aged. Seeing such positive results in Europe’s medical use of isometrics, patients in the United States also turned to the healing aspects of the system.
Scoliosis is just one of the afflictions being tackled by the medical use of isometrics. The Anti- Scoliosis Treatment Method is a Russian approach that consists of isometric and stretching exercises, vibration, spinal manipulation and electrical muscle stimulation.
Traveler’s thrombosis is another ailment that isometric exercises can help prevent. Brought on by pressure on the upper thighs caused by prolonged sitting and low mobility in narrow seats on long airplane rides, this ailment is a greater problem than jet lag or airline cuisine.
The low air humidity onboard passenger aircraft can favor the formation of blood clots in cases where passengers may be lacking fluids. Studies by Medsafe, a business unit of New Zealand’s Ministry of Health, indicate the use of isometric exercises helps relieve this condition.
Not only can isometrics help the weary worldwide wanderer, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is out of this world when it comes to recognizing the benefits isometrics offer in the close confinements of a space capsule.
On long space journeys in prolonged weightlessness, astronauts suffer crippling muscle and bone loss. Future space trips will be longer, say three years for example, when astronauts eventually explore Mars. Longer durations in space mean increased muscle and bone losses.
Researchers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center recommend a variety of preflight fitness plans, training space travelers for in-flight use of the exercise equipment onboard the International Space Station, and monitoring their health after their return to Earth.
“Muscle and bone loss in space create an entire realm of biological concerns for astronauts,” said William J. Kraemer, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. “Our challenge is to find countermeasure programs which … allow the body to maintain proper structure and function.”
Strength training for astronauts involves two types of resistance exercises: high-intensity isotonics, which shorten and lengthen muscles (for example, lifting and lowering a dumbbell), and isometrics, which fully contract muscles without movement (such as pushing against a doorway).
While both types of exercises could potentially reduce muscle atrophy in microgravity, research suggests isometrics may be more successful than isotonics in protecting slow-twitch fibers, according mto a February 2004 report in NASA’s Biological andPhysical Research Enterprise newsletter.
For the homebody, massive muscle and bone loss may not be as much a problem as those extra calories packed on while watching football or soccer on the television. It might be good advice to roll yourself out of that easy chair and spend 10 secondsat a time doing isometric exercises–at least during the commercial breaks.
The only drawback to "free hand" Isometrics (without the use of any equipment) is that there is no way to measure your strength gains and you are limited in the number of exercises.
But, there is now a way to increase there effectiveness by up to 1000%.
With the advent of new "hybrid" exercise equipment such as the Bully Xtreme home gym you can now maximize your muscle building results while being able to do more exercises up to 82 different movements. While utilizing the powerful technique of isometrics.
For more information and a free report check out...
http://www.BullyXtreme.net/
About The Author
Frank Sherrill, is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Martial Arts expert. After surviving a horrific weight training accident, he spent years researching and finally discovering an exercise program and home gym that was as effective as free weights but, without all the RISK.
To learn more about the Bullworker and the Bully Xtreme go to http://www.BullyXtreme.net
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Objections To A Single-Payer Plan In America by: Kate Loving Shenk i
1) The government can't run anything. I don't trust the government.
The current gang in Washington may be a good reason not to trust the government to do ANYTHING right.
However, Medicare and Social Security are good examples of systems that run well and on time. People receive their checks the same time every month and health care is provided: on time.
2) I'm a free market person and don't want any part of "socialized medicine."
Single Payer Insurance is defined as a single government fund with each state which pays hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, thus replacing the current multi-payer system of private insurance companies.
It would provide coverage for the fifty million people who are uninsured.
It would eliminate the financial threat and impaired access to care for tens of millions who do not have coverage and are unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses because of deficiencies in their insurance plans.
It would return to the patient free choice of health care provider and hospitals, not the choice that only the restrictive health plans allow.
It would relieve businesses of the administrative hassle and expense of maintaining a health benefits program.
It would remove from the health care equation the middleman-the managed care industry-that has broken the traditional doctor-patient relationship, while diverting outrageous amounts of patient care dollars to their own coffers.
It would control health care inflation through constructive mechanisms of cost containment that improve allocation of our health care resources, rather than controlling costs through an impersonal business ethic that robs patients of care so as to increase profits for the privileged few. Single Payer Universal Health Care would provide access to high quality care for everyone at affordable prices.
3) Canadians have long waiting periods and come to the U.S. for their health care needs. Therefore, such a plan would make for waiting periods in the U.S.
First of all, ask almost any Canadian if they would trade our system for theirs. The answer is a resounding "NO."
They may have to wait for elective surgeries, for instance, but we have to wait for these kinds of surgeries, as well.
Canadians have the option to buy extra coverage to get heroic measures covered, say in the case of Cancer treatment.
At 9% of their GDP, they are spending much less than we are as a nation. We, the wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of our GDP.
4) Our country cannot afford to insure everyone.
Our country already has enough funds dedicated to health care to provide the highest quality of care for everyone. Studies have shown that under a single payer system, comprehensive care can be provided for everyone without spending any more funds than are now being spent.
Not only do we have more than sufficient funds, we are also a nation that is infamous for our excess health care capacity. Typical of these excesses is the fact that there are more MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than in all of Canada.
With our generous funding and the tremendous capacity of our health care delivery system, the delays would not be a significant limiting factor in the U.S.
5) Americans do not want "Socialized Medicine."
Socialized medicine is a system in which the government owns the facilities, and the providers of care are government employees.
In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses the existing private and public sector health care delivery systems, preserving private ownership and employment. The unique feature of a single payer system is that all health care risks are placed in a universal risk pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded in a fair and equitable manner so that everyone pays their fair share in taxes, unlike our current defective system in which some pay far too much while others are not paying their share. The funds are allocated through a publicly administered program resulting in optimum use of our health care dollars.
A single payer system has no more in common with socialized medicine than our current Medicare program.
Socialism is a dirty word in this country. Universal health care for all has been equated with socialism, and much propaganda has been communicated by the press, by right wing politicians, by medical groups such as the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to keep the 1500 plus health insurance companies a thriving market with profits that undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas.
6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the standard of care to a level of mediocrity for everyone, preventing the affluent from exercising his or her option to obtain the highest level of care.
Our current system is characterized by essentially two alternatives: either no insurance with severely impaired access to even a mediocre level of care, or being insured by a managed care industry that has whittled down what is available until mediocrity has become the standard of care. Only the relatively affluent have access to unlimited care.
The generous level of funds that we have already dedicated to health care, adding to this a more efficient administration with an exclusive mission of optimum patient care well above the mediocrity that we now have, lays the foundation for a universal health care system in America.
A single payer system does not preclude the affluent from paying, outside the system, for a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for cosmetic surgery or for any other service that would not be part of a publicly funded program.
But if Americans knew the truth, and would turn off their TVs and use that time instead to change this country, using the power of grassroots politics, to make a single payer universal system a reality for all, then we would finally have the best health care system in the world.
Any group with the passion to change the world, one issue at a time, with a loving intent, can do it.
About The Author
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find out how to order the e-book: http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
The current gang in Washington may be a good reason not to trust the government to do ANYTHING right.
However, Medicare and Social Security are good examples of systems that run well and on time. People receive their checks the same time every month and health care is provided: on time.
2) I'm a free market person and don't want any part of "socialized medicine."
Single Payer Insurance is defined as a single government fund with each state which pays hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, thus replacing the current multi-payer system of private insurance companies.
It would provide coverage for the fifty million people who are uninsured.
It would eliminate the financial threat and impaired access to care for tens of millions who do not have coverage and are unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses because of deficiencies in their insurance plans.
It would return to the patient free choice of health care provider and hospitals, not the choice that only the restrictive health plans allow.
It would relieve businesses of the administrative hassle and expense of maintaining a health benefits program.
It would remove from the health care equation the middleman-the managed care industry-that has broken the traditional doctor-patient relationship, while diverting outrageous amounts of patient care dollars to their own coffers.
It would control health care inflation through constructive mechanisms of cost containment that improve allocation of our health care resources, rather than controlling costs through an impersonal business ethic that robs patients of care so as to increase profits for the privileged few. Single Payer Universal Health Care would provide access to high quality care for everyone at affordable prices.
3) Canadians have long waiting periods and come to the U.S. for their health care needs. Therefore, such a plan would make for waiting periods in the U.S.
First of all, ask almost any Canadian if they would trade our system for theirs. The answer is a resounding "NO."
They may have to wait for elective surgeries, for instance, but we have to wait for these kinds of surgeries, as well.
Canadians have the option to buy extra coverage to get heroic measures covered, say in the case of Cancer treatment.
At 9% of their GDP, they are spending much less than we are as a nation. We, the wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of our GDP.
4) Our country cannot afford to insure everyone.
Our country already has enough funds dedicated to health care to provide the highest quality of care for everyone. Studies have shown that under a single payer system, comprehensive care can be provided for everyone without spending any more funds than are now being spent.
Not only do we have more than sufficient funds, we are also a nation that is infamous for our excess health care capacity. Typical of these excesses is the fact that there are more MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than in all of Canada.
With our generous funding and the tremendous capacity of our health care delivery system, the delays would not be a significant limiting factor in the U.S.
5) Americans do not want "Socialized Medicine."
Socialized medicine is a system in which the government owns the facilities, and the providers of care are government employees.
In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses the existing private and public sector health care delivery systems, preserving private ownership and employment. The unique feature of a single payer system is that all health care risks are placed in a universal risk pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded in a fair and equitable manner so that everyone pays their fair share in taxes, unlike our current defective system in which some pay far too much while others are not paying their share. The funds are allocated through a publicly administered program resulting in optimum use of our health care dollars.
A single payer system has no more in common with socialized medicine than our current Medicare program.
Socialism is a dirty word in this country. Universal health care for all has been equated with socialism, and much propaganda has been communicated by the press, by right wing politicians, by medical groups such as the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to keep the 1500 plus health insurance companies a thriving market with profits that undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas.
6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the standard of care to a level of mediocrity for everyone, preventing the affluent from exercising his or her option to obtain the highest level of care.
Our current system is characterized by essentially two alternatives: either no insurance with severely impaired access to even a mediocre level of care, or being insured by a managed care industry that has whittled down what is available until mediocrity has become the standard of care. Only the relatively affluent have access to unlimited care.
The generous level of funds that we have already dedicated to health care, adding to this a more efficient administration with an exclusive mission of optimum patient care well above the mediocrity that we now have, lays the foundation for a universal health care system in America.
A single payer system does not preclude the affluent from paying, outside the system, for a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for cosmetic surgery or for any other service that would not be part of a publicly funded program.
But if Americans knew the truth, and would turn off their TVs and use that time instead to change this country, using the power of grassroots politics, to make a single payer universal system a reality for all, then we would finally have the best health care system in the world.
Any group with the passion to change the world, one issue at a time, with a loving intent, can do it.
About The Author
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find out how to order the e-book: http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
Friday, June 26, 2009
Smoking and Drinking are Sources of Male Sexual Health Disruptions by: Marc Deschamps
Studies published by the medical and health community are unanimous. As much as forty percent of men in North America experience some form of sexual health dysfunction. Because many men refuse to face the truth, several experts believe the true figure to be much higher.
Health diseases, such as cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes, are common causes for erectile dysfunctions. However, lifestyle choices like drinking and smoking are also a major factor causing sexual health disruptions and are often overlooked. In reality, drinking and smoking have a negative effect on the normal flow of blood and directly interfere with male sexual performance.
Various studies have established a direct correlation between a quality sex life and a healthy blood flow. While diet, exercise and appropriate supplements effectively promote the sexual performance of men by maintaining and enhancing their level of libido, sperm production and motility and sexual activity, they do not guarantee positive results for people who smoke and drink large quantities of on a daily basis. Not to mention men that consume drugs such as cocaine, heroine and ecstasy which interfere even more with their blood flow or their stamina.
A recent study conducted by the Section of Endocrinology of the Lahey Hitchcock Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts, revealed that smoking causes an important reduction in the number of spontaneous erections occuring during sleep. These erections are one of the most significant indication of a quality blood flow and good sexual health. A drop in the frequency or intensity of erections indicate a risk that some form of erectile dysfunction may develop in the short run. The study has also shown that refraining from smoking for as little as 24 hours brought about a dramatic increase in the quality of spontaneous erections. Needless to say, smoking also has several other "side effects" such as high blood pressure and lung cancer.
Another study conducted by the Department of Psychiatry from the University Medical School of Lubeck, Germany, concluded that heavy drinkers suffer more often from erectile dysfunction than those having an occasional drink. Alcohol tends to induce a pleasant state of relaxation and is generally thought to have a positive effect on the libido. Nothing is further from the truth. It is a suppressant and has a major negative impact on the libido. It also reduces the ability for men to achieve and maintain a quality erection.
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which is managed and operated by the University of California, has conducted its own study regarding the effects of smoking among teenagers. Their findings were frightening. They revealed that smoking has a disastrous impact on the quality of semen and that teenagers who are heavy smokers are jeopardizing their chances to have children and also increasing the risk of having children who suffer from various genetic problems due to the damaged DNA received from the father or mother.
Let's cite one last study, conducted by The University of Berne, Switzerland. The results of their own research unveiled facts backing the findings of the University of California. Statistical analysis conducted in Switzerland demonstrated significantly lower semen quality in smokers compared with non-smokers. Sperm concentration was also strongly affected.
Men are free to make their own decisions. Freedom of choice is an important principle that comes with consequences. Not even the energy of youth can offset the toll that smoking and drinking are bound to take on male sexual health. There are some things that should be sacrificed for the sake of a healthy and satisfying sex life. Let me ask you this delicate question : Should drinking and smoking be one of those?
Copyright 2006 Marc Deschamps
About The Author
Marc Deschamps is the editor of For-Men-Only-Magazine.com, a free online publication dedicated to the sexual health of the modern man. For more articles on male sexual health, visit http://www.for-men-only-magazine.com
Health diseases, such as cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes, are common causes for erectile dysfunctions. However, lifestyle choices like drinking and smoking are also a major factor causing sexual health disruptions and are often overlooked. In reality, drinking and smoking have a negative effect on the normal flow of blood and directly interfere with male sexual performance.
Various studies have established a direct correlation between a quality sex life and a healthy blood flow. While diet, exercise and appropriate supplements effectively promote the sexual performance of men by maintaining and enhancing their level of libido, sperm production and motility and sexual activity, they do not guarantee positive results for people who smoke and drink large quantities of on a daily basis. Not to mention men that consume drugs such as cocaine, heroine and ecstasy which interfere even more with their blood flow or their stamina.
A recent study conducted by the Section of Endocrinology of the Lahey Hitchcock Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts, revealed that smoking causes an important reduction in the number of spontaneous erections occuring during sleep. These erections are one of the most significant indication of a quality blood flow and good sexual health. A drop in the frequency or intensity of erections indicate a risk that some form of erectile dysfunction may develop in the short run. The study has also shown that refraining from smoking for as little as 24 hours brought about a dramatic increase in the quality of spontaneous erections. Needless to say, smoking also has several other "side effects" such as high blood pressure and lung cancer.
Another study conducted by the Department of Psychiatry from the University Medical School of Lubeck, Germany, concluded that heavy drinkers suffer more often from erectile dysfunction than those having an occasional drink. Alcohol tends to induce a pleasant state of relaxation and is generally thought to have a positive effect on the libido. Nothing is further from the truth. It is a suppressant and has a major negative impact on the libido. It also reduces the ability for men to achieve and maintain a quality erection.
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which is managed and operated by the University of California, has conducted its own study regarding the effects of smoking among teenagers. Their findings were frightening. They revealed that smoking has a disastrous impact on the quality of semen and that teenagers who are heavy smokers are jeopardizing their chances to have children and also increasing the risk of having children who suffer from various genetic problems due to the damaged DNA received from the father or mother.
Let's cite one last study, conducted by The University of Berne, Switzerland. The results of their own research unveiled facts backing the findings of the University of California. Statistical analysis conducted in Switzerland demonstrated significantly lower semen quality in smokers compared with non-smokers. Sperm concentration was also strongly affected.
Men are free to make their own decisions. Freedom of choice is an important principle that comes with consequences. Not even the energy of youth can offset the toll that smoking and drinking are bound to take on male sexual health. There are some things that should be sacrificed for the sake of a healthy and satisfying sex life. Let me ask you this delicate question : Should drinking and smoking be one of those?
Copyright 2006 Marc Deschamps
About The Author
Marc Deschamps is the editor of For-Men-Only-Magazine.com, a free online publication dedicated to the sexual health of the modern man. For more articles on male sexual health, visit http://www.for-men-only-magazine.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How to Look After Your Health
In this day and age we, the public, are subjected to the ever increasing cost of medical treatment. In the USA there is no National Health Service like there is in the UK, and it is essential to have good insurance cover. In the UK, the NHS sinks ever deeper under the pressure of trying to keep the population healthy and more and more people have to see consultants on a private basis, and there is a definite need for private medical insurance as an adjunct to NHS treatment.
The "system" shows cracks due to constant pressure. Insurance costs go up not only because of cost of treatment, but also because of the number of times those in the medical profession are sued. Our culture of "sue for whatever you can get" hurts the individuals in the end.
How can we help ourselves to maintain good health? Awareness is a great start. The medical profession put out a lot of literature to encourage us to check ourselves for various things - indicators of potential breast cancer, prostate cancer and so on. We are encouraged to go for a medical on a regular basis so that illness or disease may be identified at an early stage. We are encouraged to look after our diet, not drink too much and to get some exercise. There is a lot which we can do ourselves.
There is more that a lot of us could be doing as well. We need to take responsibility for our own health. The medical profession is there to help us but we need to be pro-active in our own health and well being. It is far too easy for us to abrogate responsibility in the sense that we many times knowingly put ourselves at risk (perhaps through unnecessary contact with others who we know are not unwell, or through drinking too much, not exercising enough, using sun-beds, not using sunscreen, not checking our breasts, etc) more because we "turn a blind eye", thinking "that won't happen to me" than for any other reason. We rely on the fact that we have the NHS or insurance and so if anything goes wrong they are there for us - we act in a way that infers that our health is "their" responsibility, and not our own. This is wrong.
Our own health is our own responsibility. We need to be aware of our own body and do our best to ensure it functions to its maximum potential. There is no point bemoaning the fact that you cannot afford treatment, or you cannot get an appointment for several weeks or months, if you have not met the "system" half way. Please don't get me wrong, many of us are conscious of what we should be doing and diligent in looking after our own health.
Another thing we can do in this day and age is to arm ourselves with information. The more aware you are, the more informed you are the better choices you can make. Google is a wonderful thing. You can get bags of information on anything and everything. There is information on main-stream medical treatment and also on the many complementary health therapies which are available. These therapies are there because there is a need for them. They are not to be dismissed.
If you take the attitude that your health is your own responsibility, then it is up to you to inform yourself of your healthiest options. It's up to you to look into preventative health instead of just waiting until you have a symptom and then going to the doctor for a pill to "fix it". How can you change your lifestyle which could have the effect of eliminating the cause of that symptom?
It is often the case that a doctor looks more to cure the symptom as opposed to treating the cause. This is because of how the "system" works. Years ago, when you had a "family doctor" they knew your family; they knew your circumstances and had a far greater insight into the myriad of things which impact upon one's health. These days we have "group practices". Your GP can change from one day to the next and they have no insight into your circumstances. This is why it is so important these days to take greater responsibility for your own health.
The fact is how you think and the lifestyle you choose has a massive impact upon your health. How you think tends to be reflected in the physical state of your body. Your mind and body are intrinsically linked. If you feel anxious your muscles tense, if you feel happy your eyes dance, if you feel sad your shoulders slump. These are obvious examples of how your mind is reflected in your body. It is more difficult to observe the effect of thoughts upon internal organs or parts which are not visible, but the impact of your thoughts will be felt within your body. Every thought you have triggers off neurotransmitters in your brain which in turn send signals to every cell in your physiology.
This is why I spend such a lot of my time developing hypnosis downloads aimed at helping everyone to help themselves.
Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for health and well-being.
http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com
The "system" shows cracks due to constant pressure. Insurance costs go up not only because of cost of treatment, but also because of the number of times those in the medical profession are sued. Our culture of "sue for whatever you can get" hurts the individuals in the end.
How can we help ourselves to maintain good health? Awareness is a great start. The medical profession put out a lot of literature to encourage us to check ourselves for various things - indicators of potential breast cancer, prostate cancer and so on. We are encouraged to go for a medical on a regular basis so that illness or disease may be identified at an early stage. We are encouraged to look after our diet, not drink too much and to get some exercise. There is a lot which we can do ourselves.
There is more that a lot of us could be doing as well. We need to take responsibility for our own health. The medical profession is there to help us but we need to be pro-active in our own health and well being. It is far too easy for us to abrogate responsibility in the sense that we many times knowingly put ourselves at risk (perhaps through unnecessary contact with others who we know are not unwell, or through drinking too much, not exercising enough, using sun-beds, not using sunscreen, not checking our breasts, etc) more because we "turn a blind eye", thinking "that won't happen to me" than for any other reason. We rely on the fact that we have the NHS or insurance and so if anything goes wrong they are there for us - we act in a way that infers that our health is "their" responsibility, and not our own. This is wrong.
Our own health is our own responsibility. We need to be aware of our own body and do our best to ensure it functions to its maximum potential. There is no point bemoaning the fact that you cannot afford treatment, or you cannot get an appointment for several weeks or months, if you have not met the "system" half way. Please don't get me wrong, many of us are conscious of what we should be doing and diligent in looking after our own health.
Another thing we can do in this day and age is to arm ourselves with information. The more aware you are, the more informed you are the better choices you can make. Google is a wonderful thing. You can get bags of information on anything and everything. There is information on main-stream medical treatment and also on the many complementary health therapies which are available. These therapies are there because there is a need for them. They are not to be dismissed.
If you take the attitude that your health is your own responsibility, then it is up to you to inform yourself of your healthiest options. It's up to you to look into preventative health instead of just waiting until you have a symptom and then going to the doctor for a pill to "fix it". How can you change your lifestyle which could have the effect of eliminating the cause of that symptom?
It is often the case that a doctor looks more to cure the symptom as opposed to treating the cause. This is because of how the "system" works. Years ago, when you had a "family doctor" they knew your family; they knew your circumstances and had a far greater insight into the myriad of things which impact upon one's health. These days we have "group practices". Your GP can change from one day to the next and they have no insight into your circumstances. This is why it is so important these days to take greater responsibility for your own health.
The fact is how you think and the lifestyle you choose has a massive impact upon your health. How you think tends to be reflected in the physical state of your body. Your mind and body are intrinsically linked. If you feel anxious your muscles tense, if you feel happy your eyes dance, if you feel sad your shoulders slump. These are obvious examples of how your mind is reflected in your body. It is more difficult to observe the effect of thoughts upon internal organs or parts which are not visible, but the impact of your thoughts will be felt within your body. Every thought you have triggers off neurotransmitters in your brain which in turn send signals to every cell in your physiology.
This is why I spend such a lot of my time developing hypnosis downloads aimed at helping everyone to help themselves.
Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for health and well-being.
http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com
About The Author
With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis downloads .
| Visit the author's web site at: http://www.roseannaleaton.com |
Monday, June 8, 2009
CMS and JCAHO Healthcare Security Requirements Summary
Every healthcare organization/hospital accepting payment for Medicare and Medicaid patients is required to meet certain Federal standards called “Conditions of Participation” (CoPs).
These Federal requirements are promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to improve quality and protect the health and safety of patients. Compliance is based on surveys conducted by state agencies on behalf of the CMS. Conditions of Participation are regulatory standards hospitals agree to follow as a condition for receiving federal funding through the Medicare program.
Under an agreement with CMS, State healthcare licensure agencies conduct surveys of hospitals and enforce compliance with CoPs and ensure that Conditions of Participation are being practiced. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are subject to random onsite reviews. Unannounced surveys can result from patient or public complaints or inquiries. Healthcare Security is an important element for the new 2006 Conditions of Participation.
CONDITIONS of PARTICIPATION
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(Healthcare Security)
____________________________________________
A-0038
Title 42CFR, Volume 3 - §482.13 Condition of Participation: Patients’ Rights
A hospital must protect and promote each patient’s rights
Interpretive Guidelines §482.13
These requirements apply to all Medicare or Medicaid participating hospitals including short-term, acute care, surgical, specialty, psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term, childrens’ and cancer, whether or not they are accredited. This rule does not apply to critical access hospitals. (See Social Security Act (the Act) §1861(e)).
These requirements, as well as the other Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR §482, apply to all parts and locations (outpatient services, provider-based entities, inpatient services) of the Medicare participating hospital.
____________________________________________
A-0057
Title 42, Volume 3 CFR - §482.13(c)(2) The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting.
Interpretive Guidelines for §482.13(c)(2)
The intention of this requirement is to specify that each patient receives care in an environment that a reasonable person would consider to be safe. For example, hospital staff should follow current standards of practice for patient environmental safety, infection control and security. The hospital must protect vulnerable patients, including newborns and children. Additionally, this standard is intended to provide protection for the patient's emotional health and safety as well as his/her physical safety. Respect, dignity and comfort would be components of an emotionally safe environment.
Survey Procedures §482.13(c)(2)
• Review and analyze patient and staff incident and accident reports to identify any incidents or patterns of incidents concerning a safe environment. Expand your review if you suspect a problem with safe environment in the hospitals.
• Review QAPI, safety, infection control and security (or the committee that deals with security issues) committee minutes and reports to determine if the hospital is identifying problems, evaluating those problems and taking steps to ensure a safe patient environment.
• Observe the environment where care and treatment are provided.
• Observe and interview staff at units where infants and children are inpatients. Are appropriate security protections (such as alarms, arm banding systems, etc.) in place? Are they functioning?
• Review policy and procedures on what the facility does to curtail unwanted visitors or contaminated materials.
• Access the hospital's security efforts to protect vulnerable patients including newborns and children. Is the hospital providing appropriate security to protect patients? Are appropriate security mechanisms in place and being followed to protect patients?
Exceptions:
The use of handcuffs or other restrictive devices applied by law enforcement officials who are not employed by or contracted by the hospital is for custody, detention, and public safety reasons, and is not involved in the provision of health care. Therefore, the use of restrictive devices applied by and monitored by law enforcement officers who are not employed or contracted by the hospital, and who maintain custody and direct supervision of their prisoner are not governed by §482.13(f)(l-3). The individual may be the law enforcement officer's prisoner but he/she is also the hospital's patient. The hospital is still responsible for providing safe and appropriate care to their patient. The condition of the patient must be continually assessed, monitored and reevaluate.
JCAHO – 2006
(Healthcare Security)
____________________________________________
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs throughout the United States. Hospitals aggressively seek Joint Commission accreditation to meet Medicare certification and licensure requirements. Accreditation is also a condition of reimbursement for many insurers and other payers. In addition, JCAHO Accreditation reduces the hospital’s liability insurance premiums. Beginning in 2006 JCAHO will conduct all surveys without prior notice.
The Joint Commission has accredited hospitals for more than 50 years and today accredits over 80 percent of the nation’s hospitals. The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) have required JCAHO accreditation by US hospitals since 1965 as a ‘Condition of Participation’ requirement in order for them to receive Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.
The Joint Commission and Healthcare Security
The Joint Commission’s Standards address the hospital’s performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to insure that patients are provided a safe and secure environment. 2006 Environment of Care© requirements include, but are not limited to the following:
• Development and maintenance of a written Security Management Plan to include an Emergency Management Plan.
• Conduct an annual Risk Assessment that evaluates the potential adverse impact of the external environment on the security of patients, staff, and others coming to the facility.
• Use the risks identified to select and implement procedures and controls to achieve the lowest potential for adverse impact on security.
• Identify, as appropriate, patients, staff and other people entering the facility.
• Access Control / Physical Protection – control access to and egress from security sensitive areas, as determined by the organization.
• Mitigate Violence in the Emergency Department and other locations.
• Education and Training – staff, licensed practitioners, and volunteers have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their responsibilities within the environment.
• Develop and implement a proactive infant abduction prevention plan.
• Include information on visitor/provider identification as well as identification of potential abductors/abduction situations (during staff orientation and in-service curriculum programs).
• Enhance parent education concerning abduction risks and parent responsibility for reducing risk and then assess the parents' level of understanding.
• Attach secure identically numbered bands to the baby (wrist and ankle bands), mother, and father or significant other immediately after birth.
• Footprint the baby, take a color photograph of the baby and record the baby's physical examination within two hours of birth.
• Require staff to wear up-to-date, conspicuous, color photograph identification badges.
• Discontinue publication of birth notices in local newspapers.
• Consider options for controlling access to nursery/postpartum unit such as swipe-card locks, keypad locks, entry point alarms or video surveillance (any locking systems must comply with fire codes).
• Consider implementing an infant security tag or abduction alarm system.
Material in this brochure provided to Accutech-ICS (www.Accutech-ICS.com) by Security Assessments International, Inc., www.saione.com
Disclaimer
The information provided by Accutech-ICS.com and SAI is in accordance with our understanding of current JCAHO and CMS Regulations. It is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered 'legal' advice. Please consult with your legal counsel or Compliance Officer for clarification of laws and rules related to your State when applicable.
Accutect-ICS.com and SAI are not affiliated with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Accutech-ICS.com and SAI - ©January, 2006
These Federal requirements are promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to improve quality and protect the health and safety of patients. Compliance is based on surveys conducted by state agencies on behalf of the CMS. Conditions of Participation are regulatory standards hospitals agree to follow as a condition for receiving federal funding through the Medicare program.
Under an agreement with CMS, State healthcare licensure agencies conduct surveys of hospitals and enforce compliance with CoPs and ensure that Conditions of Participation are being practiced. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are subject to random onsite reviews. Unannounced surveys can result from patient or public complaints or inquiries. Healthcare Security is an important element for the new 2006 Conditions of Participation.
CONDITIONS of PARTICIPATION
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(Healthcare Security)
____________________________________________
A-0038
Title 42CFR, Volume 3 - §482.13 Condition of Participation: Patients’ Rights
A hospital must protect and promote each patient’s rights
Interpretive Guidelines §482.13
These requirements apply to all Medicare or Medicaid participating hospitals including short-term, acute care, surgical, specialty, psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term, childrens’ and cancer, whether or not they are accredited. This rule does not apply to critical access hospitals. (See Social Security Act (the Act) §1861(e)).
These requirements, as well as the other Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR §482, apply to all parts and locations (outpatient services, provider-based entities, inpatient services) of the Medicare participating hospital.
____________________________________________
A-0057
Title 42, Volume 3 CFR - §482.13(c)(2) The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting.
Interpretive Guidelines for §482.13(c)(2)
The intention of this requirement is to specify that each patient receives care in an environment that a reasonable person would consider to be safe. For example, hospital staff should follow current standards of practice for patient environmental safety, infection control and security. The hospital must protect vulnerable patients, including newborns and children. Additionally, this standard is intended to provide protection for the patient's emotional health and safety as well as his/her physical safety. Respect, dignity and comfort would be components of an emotionally safe environment.
Survey Procedures §482.13(c)(2)
• Review and analyze patient and staff incident and accident reports to identify any incidents or patterns of incidents concerning a safe environment. Expand your review if you suspect a problem with safe environment in the hospitals.
• Review QAPI, safety, infection control and security (or the committee that deals with security issues) committee minutes and reports to determine if the hospital is identifying problems, evaluating those problems and taking steps to ensure a safe patient environment.
• Observe the environment where care and treatment are provided.
• Observe and interview staff at units where infants and children are inpatients. Are appropriate security protections (such as alarms, arm banding systems, etc.) in place? Are they functioning?
• Review policy and procedures on what the facility does to curtail unwanted visitors or contaminated materials.
• Access the hospital's security efforts to protect vulnerable patients including newborns and children. Is the hospital providing appropriate security to protect patients? Are appropriate security mechanisms in place and being followed to protect patients?
Exceptions:
The use of handcuffs or other restrictive devices applied by law enforcement officials who are not employed by or contracted by the hospital is for custody, detention, and public safety reasons, and is not involved in the provision of health care. Therefore, the use of restrictive devices applied by and monitored by law enforcement officers who are not employed or contracted by the hospital, and who maintain custody and direct supervision of their prisoner are not governed by §482.13(f)(l-3). The individual may be the law enforcement officer's prisoner but he/she is also the hospital's patient. The hospital is still responsible for providing safe and appropriate care to their patient. The condition of the patient must be continually assessed, monitored and reevaluate.
JCAHO – 2006
(Healthcare Security)
____________________________________________
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs throughout the United States. Hospitals aggressively seek Joint Commission accreditation to meet Medicare certification and licensure requirements. Accreditation is also a condition of reimbursement for many insurers and other payers. In addition, JCAHO Accreditation reduces the hospital’s liability insurance premiums. Beginning in 2006 JCAHO will conduct all surveys without prior notice.
The Joint Commission has accredited hospitals for more than 50 years and today accredits over 80 percent of the nation’s hospitals. The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) have required JCAHO accreditation by US hospitals since 1965 as a ‘Condition of Participation’ requirement in order for them to receive Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.
The Joint Commission and Healthcare Security
The Joint Commission’s Standards address the hospital’s performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to insure that patients are provided a safe and secure environment. 2006 Environment of Care© requirements include, but are not limited to the following:
• Development and maintenance of a written Security Management Plan to include an Emergency Management Plan.
• Conduct an annual Risk Assessment that evaluates the potential adverse impact of the external environment on the security of patients, staff, and others coming to the facility.
• Use the risks identified to select and implement procedures and controls to achieve the lowest potential for adverse impact on security.
• Identify, as appropriate, patients, staff and other people entering the facility.
• Access Control / Physical Protection – control access to and egress from security sensitive areas, as determined by the organization.
• Mitigate Violence in the Emergency Department and other locations.
• Education and Training – staff, licensed practitioners, and volunteers have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their responsibilities within the environment.
• Develop and implement a proactive infant abduction prevention plan.
• Include information on visitor/provider identification as well as identification of potential abductors/abduction situations (during staff orientation and in-service curriculum programs).
• Enhance parent education concerning abduction risks and parent responsibility for reducing risk and then assess the parents' level of understanding.
• Attach secure identically numbered bands to the baby (wrist and ankle bands), mother, and father or significant other immediately after birth.
• Footprint the baby, take a color photograph of the baby and record the baby's physical examination within two hours of birth.
• Require staff to wear up-to-date, conspicuous, color photograph identification badges.
• Discontinue publication of birth notices in local newspapers.
• Consider options for controlling access to nursery/postpartum unit such as swipe-card locks, keypad locks, entry point alarms or video surveillance (any locking systems must comply with fire codes).
• Consider implementing an infant security tag or abduction alarm system.
Material in this brochure provided to Accutech-ICS (www.Accutech-ICS.com) by Security Assessments International, Inc., www.saione.com
Disclaimer
The information provided by Accutech-ICS.com and SAI is in accordance with our understanding of current JCAHO and CMS Regulations. It is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered 'legal' advice. Please consult with your legal counsel or Compliance Officer for clarification of laws and rules related to your State when applicable.
Accutect-ICS.com and SAI are not affiliated with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Accutech-ICS.com and SAI - ©January, 2006
About The Author
Karl Radke is the director of sales and marketing at Innovative Control Systems, Inc (ICS) headquartered in Franklin, Wisconsin. Karl has been vital to the marketing and development of the Accutech product line. Accutech is recognized as the market leader in infant and pediatric security while maintaining a strong role in long-term care and assisted living markets.
For more information about Accutech, visit http://www.Accutech-ICS.com or e-mail Karl at karlr@accutech-ics.com.
For more information about Accutech, visit http://www.Accutech-ICS.com or e-mail Karl at karlr@accutech-ics.com.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Access to Health Care in U.S: Problems and the Bottom Line
Access encompasses both the ease and timeliness with which health services can be obtained (Office of Health Care Access, 1999; Millman, 1993). Metrics of measuring access to health services include:
* Having health insurance,
* Adequate income, and
* A regular primary care provider or
* Other regular source of care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000).
* Utilization of certain clinical preventive services, such as, early prenatal care, mammography, and Pap tests, can also indicate better access to services.
* Rate of avoidable hospital admission
Health care models:
* Purely private enterprise: Exist in poorer countries with sub standard health care dominated by private clinics for wealthier population.
* In almost all the countries, a private system exists in addition to Government health care system (such as Medicare and Medicaid in U.S). This is sometimes referred to as Two-tier health care.
* The other major models are public insurance systems:
o Social Security Health Care model where workers and their families are insured by the State.
o Publicly funded health care model, where the residents of the country are insured by the State.
o Social Health Insurance, where the whole population or most of the population is a member of a sickness insurance company.
Models for access: access to health services can be impeded broadly by:
* Affordability: Economic barriers (no insurance, poverty),
* Availability: Supply and distribution barriers (inadequate or inappropriate services or primary care providers, geographic unavailability due to difficult infrastructure);
* Unavailability of services, lack of transportation and other infrastructure), and
Language and cultural barriers.
Discussion:
_________________________
A. Insurance coverage:
____________________
* Approximately 85% of Americans have health insurance.
* Approximately 60% obtain health insurance through their place of employment or as individuals,
* Various government agencies provide health insurance to 25% of Americans.[3].
* In 2004, 45.8 million (15.7%) Americans were without health insurance [1].
* According to 2000 U.S. census data [2], the percentage of large firms (200 employees or more) offering health benefits to its retirees fell between 1988 and 2001 (excepting a spike in 1995).
* Although most types of health insurance cover common treatment services and screening and diagnostic tests, many preventive services and interventions are not covered. For example, while most health insurers will pay to treat emphysema, lung cancer, and other tobacco-related diseases, for example, few will reimburse for smoking cessation programs or medications.
B. Economic condition:
Cost is a barrier. Cost is more likely to affect persons:
* Of Hispanic ethnicity,
* To affect unmarried persons,
* Those who did not graduate from high school, were four times more likely than college graduates to experience cost barriers to health care,
* People with income under $25,000
C. Availability:
Access barrier is intense in areas where the need is high but capacity of existing providers is insufficient.
* Hispanic is less likely than non-Hispanic respondents to have health-care coverage (76.2% versus 90.6%),
* They have one or more regular personal health-care providers (68.5% versus 84.1%), or
* They have a regular place of care (93.4% versus 96.2%).
* Hispanic has needs of medical care, but can not obtain it (6.5% versus 5.0%).
* Hispanics also are significantly less likely to be screened for blood cholesterol and for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers and to receive a influenza / pneumococcal vaccination.
D. Language factor:
Language can be an obstacle to health care access for:
* People who do not speak English and
* For the deaf and hearing impaired.
According to the 1990 U.S. Census, about nine percent of Connecticut’s population was foreign born and 15% of children and older spoke a language other than English at home. Of this group, 39% did not speak English “very well”. . According to U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, 6 percent of population is hard of hearing, and 25,500 residents are considered profoundly deaf (Connecticut Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, 2001).
The ability of Connecticut’s health care providers to communicate with non-English speaking people and is very limited. In 2001, 35 percent of total physicians and surgeons practicing medicine in Connecticut indicated that a language other than English was spoken at their practice location (Connecticut Department of Public Health, Bureau of Regulatory Services, 2001). Spanish was the most frequently spoken language.
E. Cultural factor:
Cultural differences between Hispanics and other minorities and health care providers affect health-related behaviors in certain minority groups:
* lack of knowledge about Western medicine,
* fear of public institutions (based on experiences with discrimination),
* modesty about their bodies, and
* The belief in minority women that their own needs are secondary to those of their husbands and children (True and Guillermo, 1996).
* Hispanics have less knowledge about cancer. Cancer is increasing among Hispanics [4], and cancer screening, an essential component of early detection and treatment.
* Many non-Western women do not go directly to a physician when they are ill. Instead, they first attempt to treat themselves, and if that fails, they follow the recommendations of friends, family, and in some cases, alternative or folk healers (Bayne-Smith, 1996).
* Many health problems of minority women thus go unreported and unrecognized, in part because the women do not communicate the problems, but also because providers cannot relate to the women’s cultural norms (Bayne-Smith, 1996).
* Lesbians are less likely than heterosexual women to seek health care and more likely to encounter barriers in access to care and preventive services. For example, many women who have sex only with women believe they do not need Pap tests, and confusion even exists in clinical practices about whether lesbians should be offered cervical smears routinely (Bailey et al., 2000).
? Do Medicare and Medicaid contribute to barriers to access so far we think about the delinquencies in reimbursement?
? Does it anyway refer to the question of availability of health care providers?
The U.S Health care ranking is very poor in relation to other industrialized nations in health care despite having
* the best trained health care providers and
* the best medical infrastructure
The ranking are as bellow:
* 23rd in infant mortality,
* 20th in life expectancy for women and 21st for men
* 67th in immunization, right behind Botswan
* Rank below Canada and a wide variety of industrialized nations on outcome studies on a variety of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and renal failure.
The ranking is poor because, the access barrier is intense in U.S. Access to Health care. Difficulty in accessing to health care to 30% Americans is based on the ability to pay (disparity is directly related to income and race) [5].
Managed care organizations spend 20 % of their premium behind administration while it is only 3% in Medicare. Moreover, Managed care covers 60% of the population while Medicare and Medicaid cover 25%. About 17% of U.S population is uninsured of which, two-third has trouble accessing/paying for health care. As Medicaid covers mainly uninsured population, therefore, we may presume that high administrative cost of care providers and quickly decreasing reimbursement rate in Medicaid is a major cause of access barrier to minorities and disadvantaged so long we bark on ‘availability’ of care.
The bottom line:
Possible options to remove access barrier
* Reducing fundamental socio-economic inequities (almost absent in U.S),
* Expanding insurance coverage,
* Expanding access to Public health (preventive) services that reduce risk factors to chronic diseases and injuries.
* Prompt and effective primary care in a doctor’s office or other outpatient setting, followed by proper management can reduce the need for hospitalization for many medical conditions, such as asthma, dehydration, urinary tract infections, and perforated or bleeding ulcers (Foland, 2000; Office of Health Care Access, 2000). These conditions are referred to as “ambulatory care sensitive” hospital admissions.
* When early care is delayed or foregone, the result is often “avoidable” or “preventable” hospitalizations which can indicate:
o problems with access to primary health care services or
o Inadequate outpatient management and follow-up, because Three out of four “avoidable” hospital admissions occur through emergency rooms (Foland, 2000).
* Health Literacy and removing cultural barrier by social services and public health programs: Many patients lack the reading and comprehension skills helpful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to function in the U.S. health care system. These deficits result not only from poverty and low educational attainment, but also from differences in language and culture. Because of the inability of patients to read and understand health-related information:
o infants are being born with birth defects,
o diseases are being diagnosed at advanced stages, and
o Medications are being taken improperly.
* Removing cultural barriers to lifestyle and medication that have proven effective for controlling weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar should help reduce the large inequities in chronic disease.
* Universal health care (single or multi payer).
Sources:
1. "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004." U.S. Census Bureau. Issued August 2005.
2. Cunningham P, May J. "Medicaid patients increasingly concentrated among physicians." Track Rep. 2006 Aug;(16):1-5. PMID 16918046.
3. LS Balluz, ScD, CA Okoro, MS, TW Strine, MPH, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC 2002.
4. Villar HV, Menck HR. The National Cancer Data Base report on cancer in Hispanics: relationships between ethnicity, poverty, and the diagnosis of some cancers. Cancer 1994; 74:2386--95
5. The Case for Universal Health Care in the United States http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm, The Case For Single Payer, Universal Health Care For The United States Outline of Talk Given To The Association of State Green Parties, Moodus, Connecticut on June 4, 1999-By John R. Battista, M.D. and Justine McCabe, Ph.D.
* Need to read more articles similar to this?
* Business or tax consultancy?
* Education guide?
* Graphics design - software development?
* Resume / cover letter writing service?
Please visit http://www.divergingwisdom.com
* Having health insurance,
* Adequate income, and
* A regular primary care provider or
* Other regular source of care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000).
* Utilization of certain clinical preventive services, such as, early prenatal care, mammography, and Pap tests, can also indicate better access to services.
* Rate of avoidable hospital admission
Health care models:
* Purely private enterprise: Exist in poorer countries with sub standard health care dominated by private clinics for wealthier population.
* In almost all the countries, a private system exists in addition to Government health care system (such as Medicare and Medicaid in U.S). This is sometimes referred to as Two-tier health care.
* The other major models are public insurance systems:
o Social Security Health Care model where workers and their families are insured by the State.
o Publicly funded health care model, where the residents of the country are insured by the State.
o Social Health Insurance, where the whole population or most of the population is a member of a sickness insurance company.
Models for access: access to health services can be impeded broadly by:
* Affordability: Economic barriers (no insurance, poverty),
* Availability: Supply and distribution barriers (inadequate or inappropriate services or primary care providers, geographic unavailability due to difficult infrastructure);
* Unavailability of services, lack of transportation and other infrastructure), and
Language and cultural barriers.
Discussion:
_________________________
A. Insurance coverage:
____________________
* Approximately 85% of Americans have health insurance.
* Approximately 60% obtain health insurance through their place of employment or as individuals,
* Various government agencies provide health insurance to 25% of Americans.[3].
* In 2004, 45.8 million (15.7%) Americans were without health insurance [1].
* According to 2000 U.S. census data [2], the percentage of large firms (200 employees or more) offering health benefits to its retirees fell between 1988 and 2001 (excepting a spike in 1995).
* Although most types of health insurance cover common treatment services and screening and diagnostic tests, many preventive services and interventions are not covered. For example, while most health insurers will pay to treat emphysema, lung cancer, and other tobacco-related diseases, for example, few will reimburse for smoking cessation programs or medications.
B. Economic condition:
Cost is a barrier. Cost is more likely to affect persons:
* Of Hispanic ethnicity,
* To affect unmarried persons,
* Those who did not graduate from high school, were four times more likely than college graduates to experience cost barriers to health care,
* People with income under $25,000
C. Availability:
Access barrier is intense in areas where the need is high but capacity of existing providers is insufficient.
* Hispanic is less likely than non-Hispanic respondents to have health-care coverage (76.2% versus 90.6%),
* They have one or more regular personal health-care providers (68.5% versus 84.1%), or
* They have a regular place of care (93.4% versus 96.2%).
* Hispanic has needs of medical care, but can not obtain it (6.5% versus 5.0%).
* Hispanics also are significantly less likely to be screened for blood cholesterol and for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers and to receive a influenza / pneumococcal vaccination.
D. Language factor:
Language can be an obstacle to health care access for:
* People who do not speak English and
* For the deaf and hearing impaired.
According to the 1990 U.S. Census, about nine percent of Connecticut’s population was foreign born and 15% of children and older spoke a language other than English at home. Of this group, 39% did not speak English “very well”. . According to U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, 6 percent of population is hard of hearing, and 25,500 residents are considered profoundly deaf (Connecticut Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, 2001).
The ability of Connecticut’s health care providers to communicate with non-English speaking people and is very limited. In 2001, 35 percent of total physicians and surgeons practicing medicine in Connecticut indicated that a language other than English was spoken at their practice location (Connecticut Department of Public Health, Bureau of Regulatory Services, 2001). Spanish was the most frequently spoken language.
E. Cultural factor:
Cultural differences between Hispanics and other minorities and health care providers affect health-related behaviors in certain minority groups:
* lack of knowledge about Western medicine,
* fear of public institutions (based on experiences with discrimination),
* modesty about their bodies, and
* The belief in minority women that their own needs are secondary to those of their husbands and children (True and Guillermo, 1996).
* Hispanics have less knowledge about cancer. Cancer is increasing among Hispanics [4], and cancer screening, an essential component of early detection and treatment.
* Many non-Western women do not go directly to a physician when they are ill. Instead, they first attempt to treat themselves, and if that fails, they follow the recommendations of friends, family, and in some cases, alternative or folk healers (Bayne-Smith, 1996).
* Many health problems of minority women thus go unreported and unrecognized, in part because the women do not communicate the problems, but also because providers cannot relate to the women’s cultural norms (Bayne-Smith, 1996).
* Lesbians are less likely than heterosexual women to seek health care and more likely to encounter barriers in access to care and preventive services. For example, many women who have sex only with women believe they do not need Pap tests, and confusion even exists in clinical practices about whether lesbians should be offered cervical smears routinely (Bailey et al., 2000).
? Do Medicare and Medicaid contribute to barriers to access so far we think about the delinquencies in reimbursement?
? Does it anyway refer to the question of availability of health care providers?
The U.S Health care ranking is very poor in relation to other industrialized nations in health care despite having
* the best trained health care providers and
* the best medical infrastructure
The ranking are as bellow:
* 23rd in infant mortality,
* 20th in life expectancy for women and 21st for men
* 67th in immunization, right behind Botswan
* Rank below Canada and a wide variety of industrialized nations on outcome studies on a variety of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and renal failure.
The ranking is poor because, the access barrier is intense in U.S. Access to Health care. Difficulty in accessing to health care to 30% Americans is based on the ability to pay (disparity is directly related to income and race) [5].
Managed care organizations spend 20 % of their premium behind administration while it is only 3% in Medicare. Moreover, Managed care covers 60% of the population while Medicare and Medicaid cover 25%. About 17% of U.S population is uninsured of which, two-third has trouble accessing/paying for health care. As Medicaid covers mainly uninsured population, therefore, we may presume that high administrative cost of care providers and quickly decreasing reimbursement rate in Medicaid is a major cause of access barrier to minorities and disadvantaged so long we bark on ‘availability’ of care.
The bottom line:
Possible options to remove access barrier
* Reducing fundamental socio-economic inequities (almost absent in U.S),
* Expanding insurance coverage,
* Expanding access to Public health (preventive) services that reduce risk factors to chronic diseases and injuries.
* Prompt and effective primary care in a doctor’s office or other outpatient setting, followed by proper management can reduce the need for hospitalization for many medical conditions, such as asthma, dehydration, urinary tract infections, and perforated or bleeding ulcers (Foland, 2000; Office of Health Care Access, 2000). These conditions are referred to as “ambulatory care sensitive” hospital admissions.
* When early care is delayed or foregone, the result is often “avoidable” or “preventable” hospitalizations which can indicate:
o problems with access to primary health care services or
o Inadequate outpatient management and follow-up, because Three out of four “avoidable” hospital admissions occur through emergency rooms (Foland, 2000).
* Health Literacy and removing cultural barrier by social services and public health programs: Many patients lack the reading and comprehension skills helpful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to function in the U.S. health care system. These deficits result not only from poverty and low educational attainment, but also from differences in language and culture. Because of the inability of patients to read and understand health-related information:
o infants are being born with birth defects,
o diseases are being diagnosed at advanced stages, and
o Medications are being taken improperly.
* Removing cultural barriers to lifestyle and medication that have proven effective for controlling weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar should help reduce the large inequities in chronic disease.
* Universal health care (single or multi payer).
Sources:
1. "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004." U.S. Census Bureau. Issued August 2005.
2. Cunningham P, May J. "Medicaid patients increasingly concentrated among physicians." Track Rep. 2006 Aug;(16):1-5. PMID 16918046.
3. LS Balluz, ScD, CA Okoro, MS, TW Strine, MPH, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC 2002.
4. Villar HV, Menck HR. The National Cancer Data Base report on cancer in Hispanics: relationships between ethnicity, poverty, and the diagnosis of some cancers. Cancer 1994; 74:2386--95
5. The Case for Universal Health Care in the United States http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm, The Case For Single Payer, Universal Health Care For The United States Outline of Talk Given To The Association of State Green Parties, Moodus, Connecticut on June 4, 1999-By John R. Battista, M.D. and Justine McCabe, Ph.D.
About The Author
Dr. Munir, MBA is a visionary leader who can create future for business startup and multinational operations. This transformational leader serves as a catalyst for change to adopt accelerating changes. You may directly write to him at divergingwisdom@yahoo.com .This transformational leader serves as catalyst to adopt accelerating change. Successfully scanning the challenges of shifting macro forces is important for businesses. Dr. Munir can be a developing partner in drawing strategic initiative that that adapt uncertain business dynamics and align organization to stay in business. Or,* Need to read more articles similar to this?
* Business or tax consultancy?
* Education guide?
* Graphics design - software development?
* Resume / cover letter writing service?
Please visit http://www.divergingwisdom.com
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Alcoholism Is A Four Fold Progressive Disease
Alcoholism is a disease of the body, thinking, emotions and spirit. Progressive damage to these four aspects interact in various ways such that a person is increasingly compelled to drink. Also, once drinking starts they cannot ‘always’ guarantee when they will stop or how much they will drink.
The Body
A genetic predisposition. Fifty percent of alcoholics have an inherited genetic makeup that almost guaranteed they would become alcoholic when they began to drink heavily. For example, the brain chemistry of some children or grandchildren of alcoholics actually encourages heavier drinking.
Alcohol Metabolism. Alcohol is metabolized differently by some people. As a result the body and brain requires more alcohol to have the same effect than normal drinkers would need.
Cell alteration. All heavy drinkers undergo changes at the cellular level of the brain. Where the brain cells meet extra receptor positions grow to receive the heavy dose of alcohol related chemical messengers. When not drinking these extra receptor positions demand to be filled thus creating a craving for alcohol.
Brain damage. Alcohol, in any quantity, is poisonous to brain cells and kills off cells in their millions. The most critically affected parts of the brain are those that deal with short term memory, decision making and rational thinking. Women heavy drinkers develop brain damage with less drinking than men.
Liver Damage. The most common liver disease of alcoholics is cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This disease results in reduced and corrupted chemicals being sent to the body which can result in damage to other organs. Women suffer liver damage with less alcohol consumption than men.
Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH). AH is caused by other liver diseases most notably cirrhosis of the liver. More than 60% of persons who develop both AH and cirrhosis will die within four years. AH can cause changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression; shortened attention span; and problems with coordination may occur.
Brain Chemicals. The body and especially the brain relies on the liver to filter important body fluids and excrete wastes. As a result of contaminated chemistry from a damaged liver the brain does not function properly. Typically a person will have cloudy and slowed thinking.
Heart Damage. Heavy drinking causes damage to the heart muscles. The heart pumps less blood and an abnormal heart beat may develop. Women suffer heart damage with less alcohol consumed than men.
Skeletal Muscles. Heavy drinking causes muscles in the arms and legs to shrink. For example, an alcoholic may have legs that are out of proportion, skinnier, than the rest of their body. Sufferers may become embarrassed about their body shape.
Cancer. The risk of cancer increases with greater alcohol consumption – more so in women. Cancer can develop in the upper airways, the liver, breasts and the bowels.
Sexual Organs and Sexuality. Heavy alcohol use shrinks the testicles. In men and women the breasts grow larger. Men produce more female hormones and women produce more male hormones. Men become less virile and women become less feminine. As a result a persons sexuality and libido is altered.
They may sense change in their sexuality and over compensate by becoming more sexually active. Indiscriminate or intoxicated sexual activity raises the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
Thinking
As detailed before various damaged body organs and altered chemistry affect how the brain thinks.
This buildup of thinking changes occurs over an extended time period. These small changes are usually unseen by the sufferer. The person reacts by adjusting their reasoning and behavior to accommodate their new ways of thinking. Alcoholics always adjust their thinking in ways that are harmful to themselves. And further, they cannot see the impact of their new coping style.
Typically they begin to adopt a siege mentality. Inner-self feedback, and from other people, indicates they are not quite at one with their ‘inner’ selves or the person they once were. Their experiences seem to paint a picture to the sufferer that people around them are against them, or are better than them, or are just different from themselves. They become insecure, angry, ashamed, depressed and anxious about their altered attitudes and actions.
This siege mentality generates a self-centered perspective to protect their self concept. They become takers and non-givers. “I want what I want and I want it now”, sort of thing; “I need a drink, now”; regardless of the needs of others. And, when they do not get it they assert themselves even more, becoming more demanding as the disease progresses.
Alcoholics will increasingly try to cope by drinking more alcohol to take away the pain of their perception of being isolated in thinking and behavior. They slowly adopt a denial attitude to their real condition, which they eventually believe is reality for them.
The alcoholic drinks more due to a different brain chemistry and metabolism, has craving for more alcohol due to cell alteration and organ damage, and drinks more to cope with the effects of their changed thinking and behavior. They are drinking to feel normal.
The Emotions
From the above it can easily be seen that their emotions become strained and twisted. They become emotionally dependent on achieving and keeping a state of denial of their true situation. They deny it to themselves and others. If their alcoholism is in threat of being exposed or their alcohol supply is threatened they may protect themselves with anger, bluff, self-pity, manipulation, depression, running away & etc.
They ‘feel’ as if they must continue their current emotional and thinking stance at all costs. Alcohol has become their best friend and they are loyal to it.
The Spirit
The spirit of a person is the centre of their personality. If, as seen above, the person is not thinking, feeling or acting as their true self would, not aligned with their spiritual self, they are spiritually ill at ease; or dis-eased.
A Solution
The progression of the disease must be arrested by stopping drinking and restoration of health in all four areas - body, thinking, emotions and spirit.
It is the dis-eased spiritual state that is targeted by the most successful treatment service world wide – Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Through the Twelve Steps of recovery each person finds their inner, spiritual self by stripping away the effects of alcoholism and fixing up the wreckage of past thinking and actions. They begin to live a life of freedom from alcohol that has had them enslaved.
More information at; http://www.BriefTSF.com and http://www.SoberIsSexy.com
© Copyright Robin J. Foote 2006 – May be copied and reproduced as long as source and internet links are maintained.
The Body
A genetic predisposition. Fifty percent of alcoholics have an inherited genetic makeup that almost guaranteed they would become alcoholic when they began to drink heavily. For example, the brain chemistry of some children or grandchildren of alcoholics actually encourages heavier drinking.
Alcohol Metabolism. Alcohol is metabolized differently by some people. As a result the body and brain requires more alcohol to have the same effect than normal drinkers would need.
Cell alteration. All heavy drinkers undergo changes at the cellular level of the brain. Where the brain cells meet extra receptor positions grow to receive the heavy dose of alcohol related chemical messengers. When not drinking these extra receptor positions demand to be filled thus creating a craving for alcohol.
Brain damage. Alcohol, in any quantity, is poisonous to brain cells and kills off cells in their millions. The most critically affected parts of the brain are those that deal with short term memory, decision making and rational thinking. Women heavy drinkers develop brain damage with less drinking than men.
Liver Damage. The most common liver disease of alcoholics is cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This disease results in reduced and corrupted chemicals being sent to the body which can result in damage to other organs. Women suffer liver damage with less alcohol consumption than men.
Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH). AH is caused by other liver diseases most notably cirrhosis of the liver. More than 60% of persons who develop both AH and cirrhosis will die within four years. AH can cause changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression; shortened attention span; and problems with coordination may occur.
Brain Chemicals. The body and especially the brain relies on the liver to filter important body fluids and excrete wastes. As a result of contaminated chemistry from a damaged liver the brain does not function properly. Typically a person will have cloudy and slowed thinking.
Heart Damage. Heavy drinking causes damage to the heart muscles. The heart pumps less blood and an abnormal heart beat may develop. Women suffer heart damage with less alcohol consumed than men.
Skeletal Muscles. Heavy drinking causes muscles in the arms and legs to shrink. For example, an alcoholic may have legs that are out of proportion, skinnier, than the rest of their body. Sufferers may become embarrassed about their body shape.
Cancer. The risk of cancer increases with greater alcohol consumption – more so in women. Cancer can develop in the upper airways, the liver, breasts and the bowels.
Sexual Organs and Sexuality. Heavy alcohol use shrinks the testicles. In men and women the breasts grow larger. Men produce more female hormones and women produce more male hormones. Men become less virile and women become less feminine. As a result a persons sexuality and libido is altered.
They may sense change in their sexuality and over compensate by becoming more sexually active. Indiscriminate or intoxicated sexual activity raises the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
Thinking
As detailed before various damaged body organs and altered chemistry affect how the brain thinks.
This buildup of thinking changes occurs over an extended time period. These small changes are usually unseen by the sufferer. The person reacts by adjusting their reasoning and behavior to accommodate their new ways of thinking. Alcoholics always adjust their thinking in ways that are harmful to themselves. And further, they cannot see the impact of their new coping style.
Typically they begin to adopt a siege mentality. Inner-self feedback, and from other people, indicates they are not quite at one with their ‘inner’ selves or the person they once were. Their experiences seem to paint a picture to the sufferer that people around them are against them, or are better than them, or are just different from themselves. They become insecure, angry, ashamed, depressed and anxious about their altered attitudes and actions.
This siege mentality generates a self-centered perspective to protect their self concept. They become takers and non-givers. “I want what I want and I want it now”, sort of thing; “I need a drink, now”; regardless of the needs of others. And, when they do not get it they assert themselves even more, becoming more demanding as the disease progresses.
Alcoholics will increasingly try to cope by drinking more alcohol to take away the pain of their perception of being isolated in thinking and behavior. They slowly adopt a denial attitude to their real condition, which they eventually believe is reality for them.
The alcoholic drinks more due to a different brain chemistry and metabolism, has craving for more alcohol due to cell alteration and organ damage, and drinks more to cope with the effects of their changed thinking and behavior. They are drinking to feel normal.
The Emotions
From the above it can easily be seen that their emotions become strained and twisted. They become emotionally dependent on achieving and keeping a state of denial of their true situation. They deny it to themselves and others. If their alcoholism is in threat of being exposed or their alcohol supply is threatened they may protect themselves with anger, bluff, self-pity, manipulation, depression, running away & etc.
They ‘feel’ as if they must continue their current emotional and thinking stance at all costs. Alcohol has become their best friend and they are loyal to it.
The Spirit
The spirit of a person is the centre of their personality. If, as seen above, the person is not thinking, feeling or acting as their true self would, not aligned with their spiritual self, they are spiritually ill at ease; or dis-eased.
A Solution
The progression of the disease must be arrested by stopping drinking and restoration of health in all four areas - body, thinking, emotions and spirit.
It is the dis-eased spiritual state that is targeted by the most successful treatment service world wide – Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Through the Twelve Steps of recovery each person finds their inner, spiritual self by stripping away the effects of alcoholism and fixing up the wreckage of past thinking and actions. They begin to live a life of freedom from alcohol that has had them enslaved.
More information at; http://www.BriefTSF.com and http://www.SoberIsSexy.com
© Copyright Robin J. Foote 2006 – May be copied and reproduced as long as source and internet links are maintained.
About The Author
By Robin J. Foote, B.A. (Welfare), National Certified Addictions Counselor, who is an alcohol therapist with over 20 years experience working with alcoholics and addicts in Australia.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers
What is Chai Tea?
“Chai” actually means “tea” in Hindi, so calling “chai” “chai tea” is actually rather redundant. However, marketers in the western world thought that “chai tea” would help them sell the “new” product to the western market. Chai is actually centuries old, with its origins in India. Generally, it is a milky, spiced tea made with black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, pepper, and various other spices. It is usually sweetened – most commonly with sugar, but some drinkers prefer honey. There is not a universal recipe for chai, as different drinkers like it different ways, so the spice list can change depending on who’s making it.
It is most likely this list of ingredients not often found in western beverages that makes chai seem “exotic” to westerners. But in India, chai is as common as tea is in Britain and coffee is in the United States. In fact, it’s so common that in many Indian households, the first thing a host offers a guest is a cup of chai.
Potential Health Benefits of Chai
Some tea companies tout the health benefits of drinking their chai product – but buyer beware. While chai is certainly better for the body than a drink such as coffee, because not all chai is made with the same ingredients, it’s not really possible to state that chai is universally beneficial. And it’s also more likely to benefit the drinker when the drinker has brewed his/her own chai, rather than buying boxed chai or chai in tea bag form. Why? Simply because the spices and herbs being used are much fresher. Here is a list of some of the benefits of the different ingredients in most chai recipes:
1) Cinnamon: In a recent study by the US Agricultural Research Service, cinnamon has been shown to benefit diabetics because the cells are less likely to let insulin in. In lab rats with Type 2 diabetes, cinnamon helped lower blood pressure and prevented cell damage. Cinnamon’s oils also help to stop the growth of certain bacteria and yeasts.
2) Ginger: In the Far East, ginger has been used for over two millennia to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, arthritis, and heart disease. Recent research by western scientists also suggests that ginger may help lower the risk of colon cancer.
3) Cardamom: Like ginger, cardamom is often used to soothe digestion problems. But it is also used to treat respiratory problems such as asthma or people suffering from other kinds of respiratory spasms. Further, in Saudi Arabia, animal studies have shown cardamom to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing muscle spasms.
4) Cloves: Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.
5) Pepper: Most chai recipes do not usually contain enough black pepper for it to be of significant benefit to its drinkers. However, black pepper does reduce intestinal gas and works as an antioxidant.
Just remember: The best way to ensure that your regular cup of chai provides you with the health benefits you’re looking for is to brew it yourself. Then you can select the herbs and spices that benefit your specific health condition.
About The Author
Rachel Medlock is a connoisseur of hot drinks, including chai. She also operates the informational website http://www.MyChaiTeas.com.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Treatment of Mental Illness
Extraordinary advances have been made in the treatment of mental illness. An understanding of what causes some mental health disorders has led to greater sophistication in tailoring treatment to the underlying basis of each disorder. As a result, many mental health disorders can now be treated nearly as successfully as physical disorders.
Most treatment methods for mental health disorders can be categorized as either somatic or psychotherapeutic. Somatic treatments include drug therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapeutic treatments include individual, group, or family and marital psychotherapy; behavior therapy techniques (such as relaxation training or exposure therapy); and hypnotherapy. Most studies suggest that for major mental health disorders, a treatment approach involving both drugs and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment method used alone.
Psychiatrists are not the only mental health care professionals trained to treat mental illness. Others include clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, and some pastoral counselors. However, psychiatrists are the only mental health care professionals licensed to prescribe drugs. Other mental health care professionals primarily practice psychotherapy.
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals
Professional Training and Expertise
Psychiatrist
Medical doctor with 4 years of psychiatric training after graduation from medical school.
Can prescribe drugs and admit people to the hospital. Some practice psychotherapy, some only prescribe drugs, and many do both.
Psychologist Professional who has a doctorate but not a medical degree. Many have postdoctoral training, and most are trained to administer psychologic tests that are helpful in diagnosis. May conduct psychotherapy but cannot perform physical examinations, prescribe drugs, or admit people to the hospital.
Psychiatric social worker A professional with specialized training in certain aspects of psychotherapy, such as family/marital therapy or individual psychotherapy. Often trained to interface with the social service systems in the state. May have a master's degree, but some have doctorates as well. Cannot perform physical examinations or prescribe drugs.
Psychiatric nurse Registered nurse who may practice psychotherapy independently in some states and may prescribe drugs under the supervision of a doctor.
Psychoanalyst May be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker who has many years of training in the practice of psychoanalysis, a type of intensive psychotherapy involving several sessions a week designed to explore unconscious patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. Psychoanalysts who are also psychiatrists may prescribe drugs and admit people to hospitals in addition to conducting psychoanalysis.
Drug Therapy
Over the last 40 years, a number of psychoactive drugs have been developed that are highly effective and widely used by psychiatrists and other medical doctors. These drugs are often categorized according to the disorder for which they are primarily prescribed. For example, antidepressants are used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the newest and most widely used class of antidepressants. Other new classes of antidepressants are being developed.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
With electroconvulsive therapy, electrodes are attached to the head, and a series of electrical shocks are delivered to the brain to induce seizures. This therapy has consistently been shown to be the most effective treatment for severe depression. Many people treated with electroconvulsive therapy experience temporary memory loss. However, contrary to its portrayal in the media, electroconvulsive therapy is safe and rarely causes any other complications. The modern use of anesthetics and muscle relaxants has greatly reduced any risk to the person.
Psychotherapeutic Treatments
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapeutic treatments. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as "talk" therapy, works on the assumption that each person has within himself the cure for his own suffering and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of his problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them.
The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life. Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples' therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.
Most mental health professionals practice within one of five types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, or interpersonal therapy. Psychoanalysis is the oldest form of psychotherapy and was developed by Sigmund Freud in the first part of the 20th century. The person typically lies on a couch in the therapist's office 4 or 5 times a week and attempts to say whatever comes into his mind, a practice called free association.
Much of the focus is on understanding how past patterns of relationships repeat themselves in the present. The relationship between the person and the therapist is a key part of this focus. An understanding of how the past affects the present helps the person develop new and more adaptive ways of functioning in relationships and in work settings.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, like psychoanalysis, emphasizes the identification of unconscious patterns in current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the person is usually sitting instead of lying on a couch and attends only 1 to 3 sessions per week. In addition, less emphasis is placed on the relationship between the person and therapist.
Cognitive therapy helps people identify distortions in thinking and understand how these distortions lead to problems in their lives. The underlying premise is that how people feel and behave are determined by how they interpret experiences. Through the identification of core beliefs and assumptions, people can begin to think in different ways about their experiences, resulting in improvement in symptoms, behavior, and feelings.
Behavior therapy is related to cognitive therapy. Sometimes, a
combination of the two, known as cognitive-behavior therapy, is used. The theoretical basis of behavior therapy is learning theory, which holds that abnormal behaviors are due to faulty learning. Behavior therapy involves a number of interventions that are designed to help the person unlearn maladaptive behaviors while learning adaptive behaviors. Exposure therapy is one example of a behavior therapy (see
What Is Exposure Therapy? ).
Interpersonal therapy was initially conceived as a brief psychologic treatment for depression and is designed to improve the quality of a depressed person's relationships. It focuses on unresolved grief, conflicts that arise when people fill roles that differ from their expectations (such as when a woman enters a relationship expecting to be a stay-at-home mother and finds that she must also be the major provider for the family), social role transitions (such as going from being an active worker to being retired), and difficulty communicating with others. The therapist teaches the person to improve aspects of interpersonal relationships, such as overcoming social isolation and responding in a less habitual way to others.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are often used to manage pain and treat physical disorders that have a psychologic component. Hypnosis is simply the induction of a trance or altered state of consciousness, whereas hypnotherapy involves psychotherapeutic intervention in conjunction with the hypnotic state. These techniques may promote relaxation and thereby lower anxiety and reduce tension. For example, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help people with cancer who have anxiety or depression in addition to pain.
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
Mental Health:
Mental Illness Basics
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings. Although the symptoms of mental illness can vary from mild to severe and are different depending on the type of mental illness, a person with an untreated mental illness often is unable to cope with life's daily routines and demands.
What Causes Mental Illness?
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors. One thing is for sure -- mental illness is not the result of personal weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing, and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
• Heredity (genetics): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that the illnesses may be passed on from parents to children through genes. Genes contain instructions for the function of each cell in the body and are responsible for how we look, act, think, etc. But, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have one. Hereditary just means that you are more likely to get the condition than if you didn't have an affected family member. Experts believe that many mental conditions are linked to problems in multiple genes -- not just one, as with many diseases -- which is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental disorder, but doesn't always develop the condition. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors -- such as psychological trauma and environmental stressors -- which can influence, or trigger, the illness in a person who has inherited a susceptibility to it.
• Biology: Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; a significant early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stressors: Certain stressors -- such as a death or divorce, a dysfunctional family life, changing jobs or schools and substance abuse -- can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness.
Can Mental Illness Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented.
How Common Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are very common. In fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, an estimated 23% of American adults (those ages 18 and older) -- about 44 million people -- and about 20% of American children suffer from a mental disorder during a given year. Further, about 5 million Americans adults, and more than 5 million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental condition (one that significantly interferes with functioning).
Mental Health:
Mental Illness in Children
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
Most treatment methods for mental health disorders can be categorized as either somatic or psychotherapeutic. Somatic treatments include drug therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapeutic treatments include individual, group, or family and marital psychotherapy; behavior therapy techniques (such as relaxation training or exposure therapy); and hypnotherapy. Most studies suggest that for major mental health disorders, a treatment approach involving both drugs and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment method used alone.
Psychiatrists are not the only mental health care professionals trained to treat mental illness. Others include clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, and some pastoral counselors. However, psychiatrists are the only mental health care professionals licensed to prescribe drugs. Other mental health care professionals primarily practice psychotherapy.
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals
Professional Training and Expertise
Psychiatrist
Medical doctor with 4 years of psychiatric training after graduation from medical school.
Can prescribe drugs and admit people to the hospital. Some practice psychotherapy, some only prescribe drugs, and many do both.
Psychologist Professional who has a doctorate but not a medical degree. Many have postdoctoral training, and most are trained to administer psychologic tests that are helpful in diagnosis. May conduct psychotherapy but cannot perform physical examinations, prescribe drugs, or admit people to the hospital.
Psychiatric social worker A professional with specialized training in certain aspects of psychotherapy, such as family/marital therapy or individual psychotherapy. Often trained to interface with the social service systems in the state. May have a master's degree, but some have doctorates as well. Cannot perform physical examinations or prescribe drugs.
Psychiatric nurse Registered nurse who may practice psychotherapy independently in some states and may prescribe drugs under the supervision of a doctor.
Psychoanalyst May be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker who has many years of training in the practice of psychoanalysis, a type of intensive psychotherapy involving several sessions a week designed to explore unconscious patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. Psychoanalysts who are also psychiatrists may prescribe drugs and admit people to hospitals in addition to conducting psychoanalysis.
Drug Therapy
Over the last 40 years, a number of psychoactive drugs have been developed that are highly effective and widely used by psychiatrists and other medical doctors. These drugs are often categorized according to the disorder for which they are primarily prescribed. For example, antidepressants are used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the newest and most widely used class of antidepressants. Other new classes of antidepressants are being developed.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
With electroconvulsive therapy, electrodes are attached to the head, and a series of electrical shocks are delivered to the brain to induce seizures. This therapy has consistently been shown to be the most effective treatment for severe depression. Many people treated with electroconvulsive therapy experience temporary memory loss. However, contrary to its portrayal in the media, electroconvulsive therapy is safe and rarely causes any other complications. The modern use of anesthetics and muscle relaxants has greatly reduced any risk to the person.
Psychotherapeutic Treatments
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapeutic treatments. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as "talk" therapy, works on the assumption that each person has within himself the cure for his own suffering and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of his problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them.
The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life. Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples' therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.
Most mental health professionals practice within one of five types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, or interpersonal therapy. Psychoanalysis is the oldest form of psychotherapy and was developed by Sigmund Freud in the first part of the 20th century. The person typically lies on a couch in the therapist's office 4 or 5 times a week and attempts to say whatever comes into his mind, a practice called free association.
Much of the focus is on understanding how past patterns of relationships repeat themselves in the present. The relationship between the person and the therapist is a key part of this focus. An understanding of how the past affects the present helps the person develop new and more adaptive ways of functioning in relationships and in work settings.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, like psychoanalysis, emphasizes the identification of unconscious patterns in current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the person is usually sitting instead of lying on a couch and attends only 1 to 3 sessions per week. In addition, less emphasis is placed on the relationship between the person and therapist.
Cognitive therapy helps people identify distortions in thinking and understand how these distortions lead to problems in their lives. The underlying premise is that how people feel and behave are determined by how they interpret experiences. Through the identification of core beliefs and assumptions, people can begin to think in different ways about their experiences, resulting in improvement in symptoms, behavior, and feelings.
Behavior therapy is related to cognitive therapy. Sometimes, a
combination of the two, known as cognitive-behavior therapy, is used. The theoretical basis of behavior therapy is learning theory, which holds that abnormal behaviors are due to faulty learning. Behavior therapy involves a number of interventions that are designed to help the person unlearn maladaptive behaviors while learning adaptive behaviors. Exposure therapy is one example of a behavior therapy (see
What Is Exposure Therapy? ).
Interpersonal therapy was initially conceived as a brief psychologic treatment for depression and is designed to improve the quality of a depressed person's relationships. It focuses on unresolved grief, conflicts that arise when people fill roles that differ from their expectations (such as when a woman enters a relationship expecting to be a stay-at-home mother and finds that she must also be the major provider for the family), social role transitions (such as going from being an active worker to being retired), and difficulty communicating with others. The therapist teaches the person to improve aspects of interpersonal relationships, such as overcoming social isolation and responding in a less habitual way to others.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are often used to manage pain and treat physical disorders that have a psychologic component. Hypnosis is simply the induction of a trance or altered state of consciousness, whereas hypnotherapy involves psychotherapeutic intervention in conjunction with the hypnotic state. These techniques may promote relaxation and thereby lower anxiety and reduce tension. For example, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help people with cancer who have anxiety or depression in addition to pain.
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
Mental Health:
Mental Illness Basics
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings. Although the symptoms of mental illness can vary from mild to severe and are different depending on the type of mental illness, a person with an untreated mental illness often is unable to cope with life's daily routines and demands.
What Causes Mental Illness?
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors. One thing is for sure -- mental illness is not the result of personal weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing, and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
• Heredity (genetics): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that the illnesses may be passed on from parents to children through genes. Genes contain instructions for the function of each cell in the body and are responsible for how we look, act, think, etc. But, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have one. Hereditary just means that you are more likely to get the condition than if you didn't have an affected family member. Experts believe that many mental conditions are linked to problems in multiple genes -- not just one, as with many diseases -- which is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental disorder, but doesn't always develop the condition. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors -- such as psychological trauma and environmental stressors -- which can influence, or trigger, the illness in a person who has inherited a susceptibility to it.
• Biology: Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; a significant early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stressors: Certain stressors -- such as a death or divorce, a dysfunctional family life, changing jobs or schools and substance abuse -- can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness.
Can Mental Illness Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented.
How Common Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are very common. In fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, an estimated 23% of American adults (those ages 18 and older) -- about 44 million people -- and about 20% of American children suffer from a mental disorder during a given year. Further, about 5 million Americans adults, and more than 5 million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental condition (one that significantly interferes with functioning).
Mental Health:
Mental Illness in Children
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
About The Author
"Art Buchanan's story of personal revival absolutely inspiring! He's one of the foremost experts in overcoming mental illness and what he knows can transform your life!" Mike Litman Host - Worlds #1 Personal Developmental Radio Show (http://www.out-of-darkness.com)
They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan'
Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO Out of Darkness & Into the Light
209 Ellis Ave. Suite 1313 Bellevue Ohio, 44811,
http://www.out-of-darkness.com
http://www.AHHDandME.com
http://www.biologicalhappiness.com
http://www.mentalillness.com
http://www.everyonehurts.com
They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan'
Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO Out of Darkness & Into the Light
209 Ellis Ave. Suite 1313 Bellevue Ohio, 44811,
http://www.out-of-darkness.com
http://www.AHHDandME.com
http://www.biologicalhappiness.com
http://www.mentalillness.com
http://www.everyonehurts.com
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