Month: March 2022

Distinguished Features Of Obsessional Personality Disorder

It is a psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior, for example, continual washing of the hands prompted by a feeling of uncleanliness. The Obsessional person gives scant regard to the emotional aspects of a situation or an interaction.

• He is rigid rather than flexible, over attentive to details rather than to the wider scope of an event or encounter, and prefers to have everything predictable and orderly.

• He often appears officious, sometimes so pedantically that he can be comical, and not only controls himself excessively but also attempts to dominate others.

• He appears to behave in an excessively egotistical manner, and responds in an overriding way when involved in a venture calling for co-operation.

• He is over careful, methodical, liking things cut-and-dried, concerned with neatness and orderliness.

• He can be very meticulous, punctual and over-organized, to the extent of becoming uncomfortable and even upset if his routines are disturbed by an unexpected development.

• He has a set of fixed standards and points of view, from which he can deviate only with great difficulty. He is uninfluenced, therefore, by the wishes, needs, opinions or views of other people.

• The meticulousness and preservation of sameness extends to the person’s mode of dress, which can be scrupulously neat.

• He can be over conscientious, paying greatly excessive attention to minutiae; lie may work compulsively, and be unable to make use of opportunities for relaxation. Such a person, in consequence, can be of particular usefulness in a bureaucratic post calling for scrupulous concern with details.

• He may be highly obstinate when faced by any requirement that he should deviate from his straight and narrow path.

• At times such a person appears to leave some loophole, so that the conformity, inhibition and rigidity are waived in some context or other. The precise, neat youngster who must have everything in place, may for example permit himself to have his clothes cupboard in disorder, or may periodically forget thrift to overspend in a foolish self-indulgence which rationally is at odds with his habitual miserliness.

• The gross form of the disorder is easy to recognize. The milder forms may be less obtrusive, and may be particularly evident only at times of pressure, as when an examination is looming for a youngster or when a house-proud woman has relatives coming to stay in her home.…

Diabetes, Anemia, and Kidney Disease Patients Have High Risk of Acquiring Heart Disease

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found out that people with diabetes, kidney diseases and anemia has a higher risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases or death if their body doesn’t respond to anti-anemia drug.

Testing the patient’s response to the drug and keeping the blood level low reduces the risk. Most patients needed higher doses but ended up getting lower hemoglobin. The conclusion of the study may lead to a better chance for patients.

Dr. Robert Toto, professor of internal medicine and clinical sciences and a senior author of the study found out unusual findings which could help in solving the problem. Darbepoetin alpha also known as Aranesp, stimulates the production of red blood cells to offset anemia.

According to the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT) study works like a placebo for civilizing both outcomes for cardiovascular and kidney related problems. However, it lowers the risk for diabetics, anemic and has kidney disorder. On the other hand, people who receives darbepoetin alpha doubled the risk of stroke. Aside from stroke, cancer is also a major cause of death among people getting the medicine.

Darbepoetin alpha is one of the groups of anti-anemia drug that imitates erythropoietin – a hormone which accelerates red blood cells production.

In the US alone, there are a roughly 1 million cases of people, which has type 2 diabetes, anemia and chronic kidney disease.

All in all, there are about 4,038 participants that consist of patients with type 2 diabetes, anemia, and kidney trouble. 1,872 received shots of the drug while there are only 1,889 that received placebo injections.

Aside from getting darbepoetin alpha, participants were also provided with recurring subcutaneous injections of the drug that intends to increases the hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin is the red blood cells that transport 13 grams per deciliter of oxygen in the body. Once that someone in the control group dropped in the risky hemoglobin level below 9 g/dl, they are given “rescue therapy” with darbepoetin until the hemoglobin rises.

To analyze the result, the researchers separated the participants into groups: those people whose hemoglobin levels rapidly improved in reaction to early doses of darbepoetin alpha, and those individuals whose bodies responded feebly were the hemoglobin level stays low.

Participants that have weak initial response to the drug had a higher rate of death, heart attack, stroke or heart failure, according to researchers.

The study doesn’t provide whether the people have higher risk because they have poorer health to begin with or because of the drug they used.

It raises the uncertainty of treatment for anemia to be adjusted according to the condition of the patient.…

Mineral Deficiency Affects a Stunning One in Five Women!

One of the nutrition disorders which are most common is iron-deficiency induced anemia. A fifth of all American women have the disorder and more than half of all pregnant women show symptoms of it. The disorder is less common in men, affecting around 3% of American men. It can be very debilitating and therefore a good iron supplement is advised.

A deficiency in iron results in low levels of hemoglobin in the body’s red blood cells. Iron produces strong red blood cells. When your hemoglobin levels are low because of iron deficiency, your red blood cells have difficulty transporting oxygen to all the different parts of your body. However, it affects your red blood cells in several different ways. When your iron levels are low, the bone marrow is prevented from producing red blood cells and hemoglobin at a rate that meets the demands of the body. The appearance of the red blood cells changes from bright red to paler and smaller.

Symptoms of iron deficiency induced anemia include a general weakness, shortness of breath, pale skin, low appetite, lightheadedness, a sore or inflamed tongue, headaches and nausea, fatigue, cold hands and feet and brittle nails. Restless leg syndrome is the uncontrollable urge to move your legs and this disrupts the sleep of many iron deficiency anemia sufferers. In severe cases, people may develop pica. Pica is the urge to eat substances that are inedible, such as starch, dirt, ice and others.

The leading cause of iron deficiency anemia in women is heavy menstrual periods and bleeding during childbirth. However, many other causes can affect females, males and even children. The other causes include bladder cancer, blood loss, colon polyps, colorectal cancer, hookworms, hemorrhoid bleeding, hiatal hernia bleeding, kidney cancer, peptic ulcer bleeding and uterine fibroids.

Diets that are low in iron or malnutrition are a leading cause of this disorder in many people. Kids may experience growth spurts that cause them to require more iron and when they do not get this from their diet. The anemia rate of a country is often linked to the amount of meat in a country. Countries that follow more vegetarian diets often have higher rates of iron deficiency anemia than those who have meat as a staple diet.

Intestinal disorders like celiac disease or Crohn’s can affect the absorption of iron and result in low hemoglobin levels and symptoms of anemia. Malabsorption disorders, removal of parts of the intestine and intestinal bypass surgery can also hinder the absorption of iron.

Symptoms will be somewhat relieved when you increase your dietary intake of iron. However, this alone is not enough to reverse the effects of low hemoglobin levels. Healthcare providers often recommend iron supplementation in the form of tablets or in severe cases, ferrous sulphate. You may need to take the supplement on an empty stomach with a vitamin C tablet or orange juice to enhance absorption. It could take four months to relieve the symptoms and reverse low hemoglobin levels. In extremely severe cases, blood transfusion may be warranted. If left untreated, complications such as physical and mental delays, delayed growth, angina and heart attacks may occur.

Ionic iron supplements are better, as they offer an absorption rate of approximately 100%, versus tablets that have a much lower absorption rate. Minerals without a charge are not as beneficial to you as ionic minerals are. Ionic minerals contain a charge that allows your body to absorb the mineral more easily. Minerals without a charge may just pass through your body unnoticed and not benefit you in any way. Complex minerals will simply waste your time and money. Invest in ionic iron supplement minerals.…

Health Benefits of Iron Rich Food

Iron is a mineral essential for life. It is present in every living cell and is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and certain enzymes. Everyone should be eating iron-rich foods on a daily basis, especially women (due to menstruation and bleeding) as iron is one of the two major deficiencies in American women, the other one being calcium.

Let’s Get Sciencey!

Try not to fall asleep, I promise to make this quick.

Most of the body’s iron is in the proteins hemoglobin in the red blood cells and myoglobin in the muscle cells. Iron has many different roles in the body. In addition, iron is involved in reactions within the body that produce energy.

There are two forms of iron, heme and non-heme. The iron in meat is about 40 percent heme and 60 percent non-heme. About 25 to 35 percent of heme iron is absorbed, and this percentage drops to 3 percent for non-heme iron. This difference is important because heme iron is found only in animal flesh.

Iron Deficiency and Anemia

If iron is lacking in the diet, iron reserves are used. Once this supply is depleted the formation of hemoglobin is affected. What does this all mean? Simply put, the red blood cells cannot carry oxygen needed by the cells. When this happens, iron deficiency occurs and anemia results. Iron deficiency and anemia are not the same. Anemia results when severe depletion of iron stores result in low hemoglobin concentration.

Vegetarians in particular need to be aware of the low absorption of non-heme iron. There is a number of methods to improve iron absorption so take notes (especially my herbivore friends)! The best method is to combine iron rich food with foods high in vitamin C. For maximum benefit, these foods must be eaten at the same meal as the iron source.

Foods that definitely interfere with iron absorption are coffee, black tea, sugar, wheat bran and egg yolk; so if you have iron problems you may want to either avoid these foods altogether or eat them away from your iron-rich foods.

I hope you haven’t fallen asleep on me! No to worry, the technical stuff is over. I’m going to present to you a list of top foods rich in iron and vitamin C. Combine these foods to improve the absorption of iron.

TOP IRON-RICH FOODS

– Red meat

– Egg yolks

– Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)

– Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)

– Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)

– Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)

– Turkey or chicken giblets

– Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans

– Liver

– Artichokes

TOPS FOODS HIGH IN VITAMIN C

– Red and Green Hot Chili Peppers

– Guavas

– Bell Peppers

– Fresh Herbs (Thyme and Parsley)

– Dark Leafy Greens (Kale, Mustard Greens, Garden Cress)

– Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts

– Kiwi Fruits

– Papayas (aka: Lechoza, Mam?�o, Pawpaw)

– Oranges and Clementines (Tangerines)

– Strawberries

I get my Iron and Vitamin C from Shakeology, and most of the foods mentioned above. Where does your daily dose come from?…

Naturally Dealing With Headaches During Pregnancy

It is very common during pregnancy for women to experience headaches. Causes of headaches include an increase in hormones in the body, an increase in blood volume, and/or preeclampsia (high blood pressure) can also cause headaches.

The most common causes for headaches during pregnancy however are a low blood sugar and dehydration, caffeine withdrawal. A lack of sleep, increased pressure on the back and general stress are also common culprits of headaches.

Natural remedies you can try include the application of a warm compress over the eyes, forehead, and nose (for sinus headaches), or a cold compress to back of the neck (to help with tension headaches). You may want to take a warm shower or bath, or get a neck and shoulder massage. Meditation and/or relaxing in a darkened room may also provide some relief. Coconut water is also excellent for re-hydration.

It is important to contact your doctor if you do not achieve any relief from the methods described above. Furthermore, do not take any OTC pain relievers unless you have been given the go-ahead.

You will also want to make an appointment if your headaches worsen or grow more persistent, or are “different” than normal – intensity, location of the pain, etc. Call immediately if your headache occurs accompanied by sudden weight gain, swelling in the hands and face, pain in your upper right abdomen, or blurry vision.

It is normal for you to experience headaches during your pregnancy, as your body is simply undergoing many changes. There are many actions you can take to try to reduce the number of headaches you suffer, as well as treat them without medications. But be sure to contact your doctor if anything unusual occurs, for both your health and peace of mind.…