My Last Post

I am no longer going to be posting to this blog. I have started a new blog, Health Revelation, and I will be putting some of the more important posts from this blog into my new one, along with new posts that will be health-related. This was my very first blog and I feel that I've grown a little since I started it and I just feel that it's time to move on. I'm not going to delete it just yet, but it will no longer be updated. Please check out my new blog and tell me what you think.

The Dangers of the West Nile Virus

The summer months are here and while it's time for fun in the sun, there are also dangers lurking outside.  Mosquitoes are not only annoying, but they can also be deadly.  The West Nile virus was first introduced to the United States in 1999, when there were several outbreaks in New York.  Previously it was documented in Uganda in 1937.  Mosquitoes carry the highest amounts of the virus between August and September. 

The West Nile Virus is a disease that is spread by mosquitoes and ranges from mild to severe.  The mosquitoes become infected with the virus by biting birds that are infected.   Humans and horses can also contract the virus. It is most commonly found in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.  The virus cannot be contracted from another person or from a pet.

There are three types of West Nile Virus.  The West Nile Fever is less severe and is a mild flu-like illness.  West Nile Encephalitis and West Nile Meningitis are the most severe.  Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain, while Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.  Read More…

The Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop after a traumatic or terrifying event that caused someone harm and/or put their life in grave danger. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are biology and genetics, life experiences, temperament and changes in the natural chemicals of the brain. Traumatic events that can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are rape, torture, war, child abuse, kidnapping, car, plane or train accidents, bombings and natural disasters. Other risk factors for the disorder include mothers who have an unusually difficult delivery during child birth, patients who gain partial consciousness during surgery and those with cancer or who have heart attacks may also be at risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Read More...

Living with Chronic Pain

Pain is the body’s natural response to an injury. Everyone knows that if you smash your finger in a car door that you are going to experience intense pain. Fortunately the pain will eventually stop and the wound will heal. Those who suffer from chronic pain are unable to gain permanent relief from their pain. So imagine smashing your finger in the car door every day and you can get a glimpse into the life of a person suffering from chronic pain.

When chronic pain persists, the pain becomes only part of the misery. Depression, anxiety and anger all become components of chronic pain. The pain takes control of your life and starts affecting every part of it. In my opinion, this is where the anger sets in. You get angry with yourself first. You just want to be normal again and it’s easy to get angry at your body for feeling the way it does. It may sound crazy to someone who doesn’t know how chronic pain feels, but you begin to blame yourself for not doing the things you use to do and for losing yourself in the pain. Then the anger tends to project onto the doctors for not being able to tell you why you have chronic pain or not even believing that something is wrong with you. You know you’re hurting and that your life is hell, but if they can’t see it, most doctors don’t believe it. Dealing with friends and family usually brings about more anger. If they don’t understand or are not even willing to try to understand it makes you angry…very angry. How can you make someone else understand what you’re going through, when you don’t even understand it and it’s like a big circle, you become angry at yourself again. It’s never-ending.

The depression and anxiety go hand in hand in my world. You get to the point where you just want to give up. Nothing stops the pain, you feel like nobody believes you and you can’t do everything you use to be able to do. The bad thing with depression is that it actually causes more pain, so you are stuck in this vicious circle that is destroying your life. What are you suppose to do if even the doctors can’t help you? The anxiety causes you to become a recluse and the little outings with friends and family seem more and more like torture than fun. When you’re by yourself you don’t have to worry about trying to make someone understand that you are really in pain. You don’t have to listen to anyone’s criticism. This isn’t a good place to be. It’s lonely, but it’s the only way you can deal with it.

Pain, depression, anxiety and anger are a dangerous combination, but it’s the reality of chronic pain. If you suffer from chronic pain don’t stop searching for answers. You can’t give up on your life and you can’t let the pain win. If one doctor won’t listen keep searching until you find one that will.

The Symptoms of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and can be acute or chronic. The pancreas is a large gland that is behind the stomach and close to the duodenum or the upper part of the small intestine. Pancreatitis can occur in people of all ages, but it is rare in children. There are almost 100,000 cases of Pancreatitis a year in the United States.

Acute Pancreatitis is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas and can range from mild to life-threatening. It usually affects more women than men. The main causes are Gallstones and Alcoholism. Acute Pancreatitis usually requires hospitalization even if it is just a mild case. It usually will go away after a short period of time after the pancreas returns to its normal state.

Chronic Pancreatitis is the ongoing inflammation of the pancreas and begins as Acute Pancreatitis. If the pancreas becomes too damaged during the acute attack it is unable to return to its normal state and the Pancreatitis then becomes chronic. Chronic Pancreatitis usually affects more men than women. It can be caused by excessive lipids in the blood, gallstones, alcoholism and heredity. Chronic damage to the pancreas can cause Malabsorption problems that can lead to dramatic weight loss and insulin dependent diabetes. Read More...

Two Forms of Gonococcal Arthritis

There are many types of arthritis and while some are well known there are others that most have never heard of. One such type of arthritis is Gonococcal Arthritis. Gonococcal arthritis is the most common type of acute septic arthritis and can be best described as a bacterial infection of a joint. It is caused by the gram-negative deplococcus Neisseria gonorrhea. It is also known as Disseminated Gonococcal infection or DGI.

Neisseria gonorrhea is a highly infectious organism that is capable of colonizing in diverse mucosal surfaces. A single contact with this organism can produce a risk of infection that is estimated at 60-90% for women and 20-25% for men. This type of infection has been decreasing since the 1990’s.

Gonococcal arthritis mainly affects young adults and affects women more than men. The reason that it is more common in women is because men typically have more prominent symptoms of gonorrhea, such as a burning sensation while urinating, and usually seek treatment before it causes the arthritis. Those who are under 30 years of age have a greater risk, but it can occur at any age. Read More...

The Symptoms of Trichotillomania

Do you know someone who is constantly pulling out their hair? Some people may bite their nails or pick at scabs, but some people pull out handfuls of their own hair. These people suffer from a mental condition known as Trichotillomania. This condition leads to patchy bald spots on the head.

Trichotillomania is a psychological condition that causes the urge to pull out hair. The hair is pulled out from the roots at the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or the pubic area. The quantity of the hair pulled varies from person to person. Some may pull large handfuls of hair while others may only pull one strand at a time.

Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive disorder and those who suffer from the condition may also bite their nails or pick at their skin. Depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder are all common problems in those with Trichotillomania. Read More...

Gaslighting: Emotional Abuse and Manipulation

Every year millions of people are abused by a spouse, friend or family member. Whether the abuse is physical or emotional it is devastating and it changes their lives forever. One type of abuse that is seldom heard of is called Gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse and manipulation. This form of abuse is difficult to recognize and even harder to get away from. It has even been referred to as a common form of brainwashing. The term comes from the 1944 film Gaslight in which the villain of the movie uses this technique.

The abuser tries to convince the victim that they are defective so that they can attempt to gain control over them. The more they convince them that they aren’t worth anything the more emotional they become and the more dependent they become on the abuser. This is what the abuser strives to accomplish. They like to have control and will say or do anything to have it. Read More...

The Symptoms of Emphysema

Millions of Americans are feeling the effects of Emphysema. They will have to be on medication for the rest of their lives and some will have to rely on an oxygen tank for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately the rest of their lives won’t be as long as it should be.

Emphysema is a serious lung disease that involves damage to the lungs air sacs and effects breathing. About 85% of the deaths associated with Emphysema are caused by smoking. Stopping smoking can slow down the disease. It is also important to avoid anything that will irritate the lungs, such as air pollution, smog, certain perfumes and candles.

The symptoms of Emphysema include shortness of breath, breathing difficulty and reduced capacity for physical activity, chronic mild cough, loss of appetite with weight loss, fatigue and recurrent respiratory infections. Emphysema often occurs with chronic bronchitis and is called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD when they occur together.

The major risk factor for developing Emphysema is smoking so the best way to prevent it is to never smoke. If you do smoke it’s extremely important to quit. If you already have Emphysema flare-ups can be controlled or prevented by properly taking all medications and by promptly seeing your doctor if you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection or if you are having shortness of breath. Read More...

The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

Recently I heard of a man who was confused and didn’t know where he was. He was in his car, parked on the side of the road. He just sat there until the local police came to his rescue. It turned out that he was a missing person from the next town over and that he had Alzheimer’s disease.

Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist, first described Alzheimer's disease or A.D. in 1906. A.D. is the most common cause of the progressive loss of intellectual abilities, know as dementia. It is a devastating and incurable disease that chiefly affects the elderly. It is already a major public health problem and it will become an even greater problem as the number and proportion of the elderly population increases.

The first and most noticeable symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. The memory loss is the beginning of the first stage of a very long battle. They begin to forget the names of family members and the proper names for things such as calling the mail box the post office or by referring to the air coming out of the air conditioner as the east wind. They also begin to forget their normal every day tasks such as taking medication, paying the bills or doing the laundry.

The second or moderate stage is when things really start to get bad. The mental state worsens and it becomes evident that the disease is taking over their lives. Most family members are forgotten, especially those they only see a couple times a month. Confusion becomes a noticeable symptom during this stage. With the confusion comes the inability to make decisions of any kind and handling the finances become out of the question. It almost seems like they become a child all over again. You can see all the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. Read More...