Psychological aspects of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing and usually lifelong condition. Patients with psoriasis often lose hope that their condition can be managed. This may lead to poor treatment compliance. It is a well established fact that in addition to physical discomfort and disability, psoriasis can produce anxiety, depression and other psychological problems, which in turn can aggravate the disease.

A number of studies have shown that psychological stress is often caused by psoriasis, and can be a factor in flare-ups of psoriasis. Pruritis in psoriasis contributes to stress and the stress in turn can lead to more pruritis. This vicious cycle can contribute to psychological problems including depression, anxiety, aggressive behaviors, obsessional behavior, and alcoholism.The other psychological problems can include poor self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, and suicidal ideation. The mechanisms by which psychological stress can make pruritis worse are not clearly understood.

Psychological counseling may be helpful in some patients with psychosocial problems. A family counseling session may also help the family members to understand the nature of the disease better and realize the role that family members can play in reducing psychosocial stress.

Traditional psoriasis treatment regimens may be augmented with stress-reduction strategies. Biofeedback training, psychotherapy, and hypnosis are examples of adjuncts to traditional medical treatment.

Hypnosis may improve or resolve numerous dermatoses, including psoriasis. In addition, hypnosis can facilitate aversive therapy and enhance desensitization and other cognitive-behavioural methods.

Cognitive behaviour therapy combines two kinds of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. CBT has been very thoroughly researched. Numerous studies have shown CBT to be as effective as drugs in treating both depression and anxiety.

Recognising eating disorsers

I had a friend who was a food enthusiast. She loved to visit all kinds of exotic restaurants and try new flavors. She always used to stay slim though and I was really amazed how she managed to maintain her figure. Over the years, she became too thin and looked tired and withdrawn. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that she was a bulimic.

It is too lengthy to go into the specifics of each eating disorder but I would like to point out some salient features on how to recognize the common signs of eating disorders: excessive and sudden preoccupation with body image and thinness, excessive exercising, fine hair on arms and face with loss of scalp hair, irregular or lack of periods in girls, dry skin with desquamation etc. Bulimics have some dental signs like caries, and gum disorders. Russell's sign is bleeding, scarred, or callused knuckles (due to repeated contact with the front teeth). The person may lie about food intake, conceal food or buy laxatives diuretics etc.

Of course, in some cases, there may be very subtle signs that even an observant parent or friend cannot pick up, and oh, don't forget that eating disorders are not uncommon in males too.

Related links:
Bariatric surgery

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It is really sad when teachers and parents label kids "stupid" without knowing that there might be an underlying disorder, like ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder manifested in preschool and early school children who often have difficulty in controlling their behavior and/or pay attention. The exact etiology of this condition is unknown but it is thought to be a genetic disorder, with deficient dopaminergic neurotransmission.
The symptoms of ADHD include: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The condition is usually suspected when such symptoms starts to affect the child’s school performance, or behavior at home. More often, the condition may not be detected till a considerable time has passed. The child may demonstrate symptoms like constant fidgeting,restlessness, squirming etc.
Medications like amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate and pemoline are used. Interventional approaches like psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, social skills training etc may also be helpful.

Mind reading, psychic powers, miracles etc, etc

I have always been fascinated by the powers of the mind. Hypnosis is one such powerful tool, which is scientifically validated and has been put to good use to cure a variety of psychosomatic disorders and habits.

Unfortunately, there are many tricks, illusions and sleight of hand, which can be used to fool people. James Randi and Derren Brown are two of my favorites, when it comes to exposing such people who claim to 'read minds' or posses psychic powers. Randi has exposed many, including the likes of Uri Geller:



He also exposed James Hydrick:


In subsequent blogs I'll talk about the amazing Derren Brown!

Related link:
Unmasking Sai Baba
Related articles:
Exposing faith healers
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Is your child autistic?

Autistic children lack or show difficulty with social interaction, display repetitive behavior, and have problems with verbal and non-verbal communication. The severity of autism varies widely in different children, and in mild cases, the symptoms may go unheeded, till it becomes disabling. The usual cause is genetic, although environmental factors may also have a role.

In mild cases, there may be improvement as the child grows older. There is no specific cure, although lots of Autism research has been done over the decades.

Strength training for diabetics

Any form of exercise is a must for diabetics. In particular, training with weights will help to build lean mass and control sugar levels through the day on a consistent basis. But for type 1 diabetes, it may be better to follow an exercise regimen like a brisk walk, due to the potential risk of hypoglycemia. Following these precautions will help you avoid any pitfalls.

1. First, get a go-ahead from your physician.
2. Monitor your blood glucose on a more regular basis after starting weight training.
3. Carry a card saying that you are a diabetic (the type and medications you're on).
4. Avoid over training and too heavy weights.
5. Proper footwear is a must, especially in type 1.
6. If you are taking protein supplements or other supplements, again get the green signal from your physician first. Avoid supplements, which contain sugar. Egg protein for bodybuilding is the best, since they usually have no sugar.

Related links:
inhalable_insulin
Artificial Pancreas

Computer Vision Syndrome

So, you've been blogging incessantly or probably a demanding project is keeping you glued to the computer. The end result? painful, itchy, red eyes or blurred vision that seems to get worse by the day. You could be suffering from computer vision syndrome due to dry eyes, which is a result of tear evaporation due to reduced blink rate.

A simple solution: try the "2-2-2 formula." Every 20 minutes or so, look 20 feet away and blink for two seconds! Make sure the distance from the computer is at least 14 inches. Don't go to near the screen. Your eye level must be slightly down. An anti-glare screen also helps. Use lubricating eye drops to relieve dry eyes.
Related Links: LASIK

Probiotics

Probiotics are supplements, which contain beneficial microbes,especially lactobacillus. The normal gut flora includes both harmful and 'friendly' microbes. The 'friendly' types normally keep the harmful bacteria in check. Any alteration of the normal gut flora, which can for example, occur after a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy, will give the harmful bacteria the upper hand and leads to conditions like diarrhea.

One of the most well-known probiotic bacteria is Lactobacillus acidophilus. Some of the best sources of L.acidophilus is yogurt. Recently, many companies have jumped into the bandwagon and claim numerous benefits, which may be just Much ado about probiotics

Bionics

Bionics is a method of applying the principles and methods found in nature to benefit mankind. It can be considered as a kind of biomimicry. A good example of the earliest application of bionics in history include the development of aircraft by observing how birds fly.

Other applications in medicine include cochlear implants and the bionic eye, which can help the blind see. Here's a good article on Bionic eye

3 warning signs you should not ignore

Frequently, we ignore the subtle warning signals that our body sends us. This can prove fatal in some cases. Learn to read these signs and take heed when our body starts to warn us. As the saying goes "A stitch in time saves nine."

1. The most common warning signals of a heart attack are:

-Pain radiating to the shoulders, neck or arms.
-Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.

-Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea etc. But it is important to know that typical anginal pain described above may not occur in many.

2. Warning signals of a Stroke are: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden loss or dimness of vision, dizziness, loss of balance, severe headache without a known cause.

3. Hypoglycemia or very low blood sugar can occur in diabetics dependent on insulin. The symptoms include weakness,tremors, strange behavior, sweating, headache, and hunger. Conversely, a patient with extremely high sugar levels display a "fruity" odor in the breath, flushed face with dry skin and mouth, nausea or vomiting, and deep, rapid breathing.

Of course, there are numerous other medical emergencies, which cannot be covered entirely but knowing the features of some of the common emergencies can probably save your life or that of a loved one.