Thursday 27 February 2014

Temporal Lobe Seizures in Epileptics

Temporal lobe seizures are classified as a type of partial seizure usually relating to individuals who have epilepsy. The known and common causes relating to this disorder are either from a head injury or meningitis. The seizure is located deep in a part of what is known as the temporal lobe, this area of the brain handles memory and emotional aspects.

Temporal lobe seizures are categorized as a type of epilepsy that is either a complex or simple partial seizure. The simple seizures the individual will still be aware of his or her surrounding environment, but can experience other types of symptoms such as the olfactory sense. Complex type seizures will cause the individual to become disabled. The individual will not be aware of his or her surroundings and may seem to be in a type of daze. In many cases this type of seizure will cause the individual to perform repetitive movements such as continuous scratching or licking lips.

The intensity levels of temporal lobe seizures will differ in each individual. The individual will run through a range of experiences and emotions lasting either a couple of seconds or even minutes, this is known as "auras".

MRI (Magnetic Resource Imaging) is one of the only effective methods used today to study the temporal lobe and identify lesions. This method has proved to increase the rate of success in surgeries. The use of EEG is not a useful method in order to diagnose this particular epilepsy.

Anti-seizure medication is prescribed in treating temporal lobe seizures, and is effective in assisting complete or near complete control over seizure attacks. Alternative treatments for the disorder will include Nerve Stimulation (Vagus) or surgical procedures.

New Method in Surgery

The standard procedure relating to surgery for the temporal lobe would be to remove the hippocampus. However, this is not a desirable option due to the fact that the hippocampus relates to a source of stem cells which play an important role in healing the brain after an injury or minor stroke. In addition disruptions in the way these cells function can contribute to symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and depression.

Patients who pose a high risk in memory loss are not candidates for this type of procedure. However, a procedure known as MHT (Multiple Hippocampal Transection) is new way for doctors to treat temporal lobe seizures. This procedure is a far better  option for individuals who suffer from these seizures.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Understanding Lissencephaly: A Smooth Brain Disorder

Most people have not heard about this cephalic disorder, but Lissencephaly, translation "smooth brain", is a condition in which the brain does not develop and form normally. Medically speaking, "gyri" or brain folds as well as "sulci" or grooves are both lacking due to certain neuronal migration activity that occurs within the 12th week up to the 24th week of gestation.

The physical appearance of the brain is going to be different, hence the nickname for this medical condition. A delay in development is going to accompany this condition, but the severity of this delay varies widely and is attributed to the severity of deformation of the brain as well as severity of seizures in relation to the condition of the brain.

Life expectancy for individuals suffering from smooth brain disorder can be hindered for a variety of reasons, chiefly respiratory issues over time. A similar brain disorder, polymicrogyria, can sometimes be confused with lissencephaly, so there are a conjunction of symptoms that radiologists look for in order to make sure the diagnosis is correct.

Cerebral abnormalities can also of course be detected by more in depth ultrasounds prior to birth. Of course this has to be in conjunction with other examinations post birth. The ultrasound before birth can detect these abnormalities as early as week 20. Before this week, the brain looks smooth anyway so it would be impossible to tell.

In recent years, more insight has been developed concerning this disease thanks to genetic studies as well as neuroimaging. There are actually a total of 20 different types of this condition that make up the entire smooth brain disorder. Continued research searches for other causes as well as treatment options. There is a possibility that children continue to develop normally and function normally all through life, but many of them also suffer from severe mental retardation and end up stopping development at about the five month level.

This means that many children are left unable to walk or even move around much and of course not able to speak. However, with the advancements that have been made, life expectancy has increased in general and children are able to see further development in many cases. Treatment for each individual does differ due to the types of symptoms so this will be discussed with the doctor and communicated to you. As more is discovered about smooth brain disorder, prognosis will likely continue to get better as it has done in recent years.

Monday 24 February 2014

Recognizing And Dealing With Seizure Warning Signs

Seizures are related to many different conditions, such as epilepsy, and there are many triggers and warning signs associated with them that you can watch for. These seizure warning signs include behaviors, physical signs, environmental factors and much more. In addition, people often experience individual warning signs prior to seizures occurring, such as a specific smell or taste.

Identifying common seizure warning signs as well as recognizing personal triggers can help prevent seizures as well as help you and others around you manage them better. Seizures can be mild or severe, and grand mal seizures are the most severe. Sometimes these seizures can have behavioral issues that are triggers even several hours prior to the seizure occurring. This can be very helpful when it comes to preventing seizures. In this case, the doctor should be contacted to see if perhaps an immediate extra dose of the medication could help. 

When the trigger is a certain smell that occurs, sometimes this can be offset by having the person who is about to experience the seizure sniff garlic or another really strong odor. Another type of seizure is called the Jacksonian seizure, and the attack can sometimes be stopped in the process by having someone massage the twitching muscles.

A person should avoid alcohol if they are prone to having seizures. If your seizures are a common occurrence, you need to definitely learn from them so that you can identify personal triggers, which will help yourself try to get them under control. A seizure is the result of an excessive amount of activity in the brain. While many conditions and situations aren't completely curable, with the right medication and awareness about lifestyle and warning triggers and signs, seizures can be manageable to an extent.

The areas of the brain affected often determine the types of seizures and the behaviors during them. Simple seizures are episodes where the patient is left conscious, but complex seizures are episodes where the person often loses consciousness. Experiencing warning signs in relation to grand mal seizures hours before was discussed in an earlier paragraph. Did you know that in some cases the warning signs can happen even days before the attack? And, sometimes there is absolutely no warning when a seizure occurs. However, knowing the many seizure warning signs is going to give you the best chance to help you manage and possibly overcome your condition.

Friday 21 February 2014

Symptoms and Causes of Having a Seizure in Sleep

It has been proven that when an individual experiences abnormal electrical activity in the brain, this can lead to seizures when awake or a seizure in sleep. The seizure is a transmission disturbances relating to impulses that are sent from the brain resulting in behavioral changes. Seizures will cause the individual to experience spasms, jerky movements and sensory and emotional changes.

When a seizure has been diagnosed as a chronic type of seizure it will be called epilepsy. When a seizure is caused from an extremely high fever located in the area of the brain it will be called a type of febrile seizure. Febrile seizures can lead to a host of problems such as brain infections, cerebral palsy, internal bleeding located in the area of the brain, trauma and even disorders of the metabolism.

Certain individuals who experience a seizure while sleeping will undergo convulsions. However, convulsions are not a common occurrence for individuals who undergo a seizure. The symptoms of a seizure will vary greatly from one individual to another and the affected side in the brain. Generalized types of seizures will usually occur in individuals who present a problem with both parts of their brains.

When an individual has a partial seizure, only one side of the brain will be affected. For the majority of individuals who suffer from a seizure, the seizure will occur in an awake state. For some individuals seizure in sleep is a more common occurrence.

This type of seizure is classified or better known as a nocturnal seizure, the seizure will occur in any stage of a sleep pattern.  These stages can include REM which is known as (Rapid Eye Movement), light sleep or even deep sleep. The seizure occurs due to the change in patterns relating to the individuals brain waves as they move from one stage in their sleep pattern onto another.

These seizures occur in children and adults and are more common in the stages of light sleeping. This is the stage just before the individual moves into a deeper sleep or the stage just before waking up. The individual will experience jerky movements, spasms, deep breathing and a stiffness of the limbs. In many cases of seizure in sleep the individual will not even remember or be aware of the seizure and wake feeling drowsy or with an extensive headache.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

How To Differentiate Psychological Seizures From Epileptic Ones

Psychological seizures or non-epileptic attack disorders are very similar to epileptic seizures, therefore they are often misdiagnosed and treated with the wrong drugs. There are estimations that show 20% of seizure patients diagnosed with epilepsy don't respond to the treatment given to them by their doctors, the reason being that they don't suffer from epilepsy in the first place.

There are some physical clues which can help specialist tell psychological seizures from epilepsy ones, but sometimes these clues can be misleading. One of the most relevant is the eye movements during the seizure. A study done by the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona revealed that almost all patients who had a non-epileptic seizure had their eyes closed during the event, while almost all those who suffered epileptic seizures either had their eyes opened or blinked during the whole time. These findings are interesting, but they still need to be confirmed. Being able to differentiate early between the two types of seizures is very important, as it could prevent many failed treatments caused by the fact that patients receive drugs for a condition they don't actually suffer from.

The main difference between psychological seizures and epileptic ones is the absence of the electrical discharges in the brain that are characteristic for epilepsy sufferers. The differential diagnosis starts by ruling out epilepsy, migraine, stroke, vertigo or syncope as possible causes of the seizures.

The best method to rule out epilepsy is to record the electrical signals in the brain. This is done with a video-electroencephalogram, also known as EEG. Sensors are place don the patient's scalp, then their EEG is recorded while they are also videotaped. This test is usually done over a period of several days, in order to allow time for the seizures to occur. It is important that the patient is also recorded on video, because the EEG test can give lots of false positives in both the general population and in patients suffering from other psychiatric disorders that are characterized by seizures similar to psychological ones such as panic disorders or schizophrenia.

Although highly relevant, many times this test is skipped by neurologists, who directly put their patients on epilepsy drugs. If a patient doesn't respond to a certain drug, the specialists then tries different drugs, but none of them is successful in the end, since the patient doesn't suffer from epilepsy.

Monday 10 February 2014

Understanding Postpartum Anxiety

Postpartum Anxiety is a condition that affects women after having given birth. The syndrome is similar to PPD (Postpartum Depression) in that it is a direct result of the fluctuating hormones, but present in different ways and with different symptoms. Where as a woman with PPD will experience listlessness and almost paralyzing sadness, a woman with Postpartum Anxiety will experience panic, rapid pulse, anger, paranoia and in some cases headaches and restlessness. 

In many cases both conditions, postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety present together with the patient experiencing moments of deep sadness followed by moments of terror and anxiety with a feeling of impending doom. Because so little focus has been placed on anxiety disorders that affect women postpartum, in many cases physicians mistakenly consider anxiety symptoms as  a part of PPD. This is a mistake, as the treatment for depression will do nothing to alleviate feelings of deep anxiety and fear experienced by women with postpartum anxiety.

Because depression is treated with medications that act as 'uppers', the affect on an already anxious person can be catastrophic with the medications leading to more severe symptoms and a higher anxiety level. Anxiety medications on the other hand act as downers, relaxing and numbing the individual to help minimize stress  and help the new mother relax in her surroundings. Because of the major differences in the conditions educating medical professionals on the differences and dangers of misdiagnosing Postpartum Anxiety is very important.

Education is also important for mothers to be being aware of the symptoms related to anxiety disorders is the first step to getting help. Although most people have heard of and are cautioned by their physicians about PPD, no mention is made of postpartum anxiety. This leads to many women suffering needlessly, some even suffering debilitating panic attacks and being unable to sleep due to the intensity of the anxiety. Because their doctors see them as being upbeat and not depressed they receive no treatment and no relief.

On the other hand, if the problem is diagnosed correctly, proper medication can be used to completely alleviate the symptoms of the condition. This can be done using a low dose of anti-anxiety medication daily. Amazingly, treatment tends to be much easier for many women than finding the diagnosis.

Postpartum Anxiety, the forgotten sibling of Postpartum Depression, is a serious and debilitating disorder that affects mothers soon after giving birth. Recognizing the symptoms and seeking help is the first step to alleviating the symptoms of this exhausting condition.

Sunday 9 February 2014

What Are The Main Panic Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Panic disorder is a condition which involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks which cause the sufferer concern and distress, and cause a significant change in the behaviour of the patient. Panic attacks which are caused by a quantifiable outside source, such as medication, are not considered to cause panic disorder.

The key panic disorder diagnostic criteria are considered to be the occurrence of some or all of the following symptoms. The symptoms tend to develop suddenly and reach a peak within a few minutes:

  • Palpitations or a greatly increased heart rate
  • Sweating
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Feelings of being smothered or short of breath
  • Choking sensation
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea or stomach pain
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling detached or as if your surroundings are not real
  • Fear of loss of control
  • Fear of death
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Hot or cold flushes

Patients who meet four or more of the above described panic disorder diagnostic criteria are considered to have a panic disorder under the DSM-IV. The diagnostic criteria may be altered slightly under future versions of the DSM, however they are unlikely to change significantly.

The most common symptom of a panic attack is an accelerated heart rate, which is reported by 97% of patients. Dizziness is the second most common symptom, and paresthesias (numbness and tingling) is the third most common symptom. A patient must have multiple panic attacks, and must have persistent concern over the possibility of future attacks, for the attacks to be classified as part of a disorder.

In some cases, a patient may suffer from panic attacks but not be diagnosed as having panic disoder, because the attacks can be accounted for by a different disorder. For example, someone with Social Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or a Specific Phobia may suffer from panic attacks as a result of their condition. In this case, the attack can be accounted for by exposure to a feared or discomfiting situation. Such sufferers can often learn to manage their panic attacks as a part of learning to cope with their existing condition.

Panic disorder is a serious but manageable condition that can affect both adults and children. If you think that you or someone you know suffers from panic disorder, seek advice from a qualified medical professional as soon as possible and explain which panic disorder diagnostic criteria you feel they meet. In many cases, people with panic disorder can learn to control their condition and go on to lead relatively normal lives with outside assistance.

Saturday 8 February 2014

How To Give First Aid In Non Convulsive Seizures

Although they may easily pass unnoticed, non convulsive seizures can be quite frequent among epilepsy sufferers. They may cause various neurological deficits, especially in the cognitive function an in the alertness level of the patient. If properly diagnosed and treated, non convulsive seizures are treatable and reversible. Unfortunately, they are often mistaken for something else, so the patient doesn't get the appropriate care for this specific condition. Left untreated, the patient may suffer from prolonged memory dysfunctions, that's why it is strongly advisable that the condition is diagnosed and cared for as early as possible, before neurological damage occurs.

If you are a caregiver for a person suffering from non convulsive seizures, you should know how to give them first aid in case such a seizure occurs in your presence and you recognize it. This type of seizure is usually characterized by absence, confusion, diminished responsiveness and occasional blinking.

If you are in a public place when it happens, it's best you explain other people what this is all about. Otherwise, they may think the patient is simply drunk or on drugs. It is good that people around you are aware of the situation, because they will be more willing to help you, if needed. Don't let them get too close to the patient anyway, because you can't predict his reactions and you don't want to make the situation worse than it already is.

Try to keep your calm and speak loudly and clearly to the patient. Take him or her away from all possible dangers of threats. They may or may not struggle, but regardless of this, you have to stay calm and keep taking to them until you manage to get them out of the danger area. The most frequent threats can be steep flights of steps, a hot stove, a busy road or anything else that would require a person to stay alert and avoid possible dangers.

Don't leave the patient unattended during the seizure, because they can't control their movements, so many things can happen. Wait until the crisis is gone completely, watch the person to make sure he is fully conscious again, then offer to help them get home or wherever they may be going.

You should avoid restraining the patient, because this may worsen their symptoms. At the same time, you need to be vigilant and remove all dangerous items from the neighborhood.

Friday 7 February 2014

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is direct training of brain functions where the brain learns to function more efficiently. Neurofeedback is also called EEG biofeedback since it is based on electrical brain activity. It is a gradual learning process for the brain. Irregular brain patterns are changed to more appropriate pattern through this brain training. It is considered one of the most effective treatments for numerous brain disorders.


Electrodes are applied on the scalp of the patient, and the doctor listens to the patient's brainwave activity. Neurofeedback is used to change timing and activation patterns in the brain. This will create changes in the feedback loops and pathways that make up the brain. This will improve brain regulation, which in turn would impact a variety of brain disorder symptoms. Different brain disorders may require different training sequences with EEG biofeedback. Depression may require frontal lobe training where as anxiety or panic disorder may involve parietal training. Similar to having different exercises for training different body parts, the brain too would require different approaches in training it. The below mentioned mental disorders can be effectively treated with EEG biofeedback.


1. ADD / ADHD

More children and adults with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are using EEG biofeedback than any other problem. Latest clinical studies confirm a 80 - 90% improvement in the majority of patients who completed 25-35 training sessions. Many parents bring their children for this kind of treatment because they believe that putting their children on medications for years is not a good thing, and they want alternatives that work.


2. Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the very first symptoms that start to respond to the EEG biofeedback training. Significant improvements are noticed in more than 90% of patients who had undergone the training.


3. Bipolar Disorder

Clinical reports state that EEG biofeedback helped patients with Bipolar disorder to become more stable and reduce the dependency on their medications.


4. Migraines and Headaches

Therapists report that EEG biofeedback helped their patients to get rid of migraines and headaches much effectively than other medications.


5. Epilepsy

Multiple studies show that EEG biofeedback training would help to reduce the occurrences of seizure. Most of these patient's did not respond to other medications as they did respond to EEG biofeedback.


There are many more disorders that positively respond to EEG biofeedback than any other kind of medications. Learning disabilities, autism, sleep disorders, behavior disorders and obsessive compulsory disorder are some of them.

Thursday 6 February 2014

Neurofeedback Autism Presents No Risk And Promotes Significant Improvement

Autism is a very complex neurological disorder, presenting itself in different forms and mixtures of symptoms among individuals afflicted. Did you know that the Center for Disease Control has said that 1 in 88 children have autism? There are mild forms of autism and more severe cases, and some are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed at times.

When a child has autism, there are going to be many different things involved in their treatment plan. Neurofeedback autism is one of the processes often used in order to monitor the activity in the brain of the patient. Essentially patients are able to watch their brainwave activity on a screen using an EEG machine, and this is a way of redirecting them to normal brain function. This happens by the patient seeing the brainwave patterns shifting into a pattern when they exhibit normal brain activity, and then they can consistently make these same choices.

Neurofeedback autism has no side effects and that is one of the most important reasons as to why it is so heavily favored. It is a great solution on top of medication and other treatment options that can possibly help redirect autistic children to be able to function more normally in society. There is research indicating that it can help with social interaction, irritability and more. And, when improvements do occur, they are long-lasting and not short-term.

While there haven't been a ton of studies conducted on this form of treatment for autism, there will likely be more information in the near future. Why? Well, there are many studies in relation to other conditions, such as patients with ADD and ADHD. And, it has been shown that the treatment helps with significant improvement in symptoms.

The dissenting opinion right now is that people with ADHD are not as impaired as people with forms of autism. Therefore, the neurofeedback autism treatment would not necessarily always work as an intervention if the autistic patient does not relate to the activity. However, this is just an opinion that has also yet to be fully studied, and it is hoped that in the future this form of treatment is a preferred solution.

Neurofeedback goes right along with those natural choices that parents of autistic children are always seeking out as forms of alternative treatments. Aside from prescribed medications, parents often attempt dietary changes, other types of different interventions and all-natural supplements.

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Know Your Options Concerning Narcolepsy Treatment

Most people know that narcolepsy is a sleep disorder. However, unless suffering from this condition, it is often perceived as only a danger due to falling asleep in various places creating dangerous situations. It has been parodied in movies, and it should first be noted that the "dangerous situations" can also cause danger to others around the person. Narcolepsy is actually a neurological condition causing sleepiness and the loss of one's ability to control muscle function.

Did you know that hallucinations and sleep paralysis are also symptoms of narcolepsy? Furthermore, it's important to notice triggers for narcolepsy when it comes to seeking proper treatment. The triggers are generally recognized as intense emotions in which the narcolepsy then occurs.

Narcolepsy is a serious medical condition, and it's important to know all of your options concerning narcolepsy treatment. First, you must understand there is not a cure for narcolepsy, so you're going to have to take a multiple treatment approach and work towards managing your condition. Certain medications can help with symptoms, as well as counseling, hypnosis and implemented lifestyle changes. The exact treatment or combination of treatments that a doctor prescribes for you will depend upon your symptoms.

The symptoms surrounding epilepsy and the type of circumstances that can arise make for complications in a person's life and those around them. Therefore, depression and other conditions can sometimes arise as well, which of course expands the symptoms experienced and calls for further treatment.

It can be difficult to diagnose narcolepsy sometimes depending on what symptoms are experienced, how severe they are, and how close they are to other types of conditions. There are not only counseling options available but also narcolepsy treatment support groups as well. These support groups can counteract your social issues due to narcolepsy by giving your social interaction with people that have the same condition. You can get ideas from people sharing to help you cope with your condition as well.

The lifestyle changes mentioned are in regards to helping you achieve a much better sleeping cycle. Exercise plays a huge role, as does your dietary regimen and how you deal with your stress levels. One thing you can do is to try and focus on a bedtime routine that is relaxing and of course try and follow a sleep schedule that is regular. Pursuing all of these narcolepsy treatment options will help you see a noticeable improvement in your narcolepsy symptoms.

Tuesday 4 February 2014

How To Recognize Mild Seizure Symptoms

Many early symptoms of a seizure disorder are overlooked due to the fact that they are mild and present as repetitive behaviors rarely associated with seizures. Mild seizure symptoms can present as staring spells, repetitive movements such as sucking, or chewing motions, blinking, lip smacking, uncontrollable laughter, or even singing and incontinence. Being aware of the milder presentations of seizures can help you recognize the condition and seek proper help.

Petite Mal seizures, also called Absence Seizures, are extremely brief seizures that are often mistaken for daydreaming or lack of attentiveness. Because the seizures can last for as little as a few seconds, it can be easy to miss completely. In some cases Petite Mal seizures are accompanied by a repetitive motion, such as chewing, waving or smacking and the patient is completely unaware of the gap in time.

Other mild seizure symptoms include sporadic jerking movements, these are especially easy to miss in very young children and babies whose movements might be explained by their underdeveloped muscle and control. These seizures commonly present right after waking up and cause sudden jerks of the shoulder and arms, and in some cases legs. It is important to treat these seemingly mild seizures as in some cases it can spread to the rest of the brain, when that occurs it results in a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.

 Uncontrollable laughter or crying are another one of the mild seizure symptoms that shouldn't be ignored and could be the result of a gelastic or dacrystic seizures. The vocalization usually sounds forced, in many cases these seizures follow an aura or feeling of panic or fear. During the seizure the patient might have a blank or vacant stare, or have rapid or unusual eye movement.

Sudden falls, swallowing, sweating, lip smacking, eye fluttering or falling down can also be symptoms of seizures. In some cases a seizure will be preempted by a feeling of panic, euphoria,nausea or unusual sensations,  in others there is no warning sign before the seizure. Once the seizure is over the patient may experience confusion, memory loss or weakness and will take a while to return to full lucidity.  

Being aware of some of the milder seizure symptoms is important to early diagnosis and treatment. Treating seemingly mild seizures is essential in order to avoid brain damage due to seizure activity and to prevent more dangerous seizures from presenting in the patient.

Monday 3 February 2014

The Etiology of Panic Disorder

As with many other mental health conditions, the exact cause of panic disorder is not fully understood as yet. The etiology of panic disorder could be a combination of many physical and psychological factors. Childhood traumatic events, negative experiences and the environment plays a major part in the formation of psychological disorders such as panic and anxiety disorder. Some of the major contributors to the etiology of panic disorder are outlined below.


1. Parental Attitudes and Behavior

In 1973, Dr. John Bowdly revealed that agoraphobic patients would often describe their parents as being overprotective, controlling, restricting and dominant. This revelation was primarily based on his clinical observations, and subsequent studies confirmed most of the elements in his observation. Several authors have found that parents of agoraphobic patients: a kind of panic disorder, tend to provide less emotional warmth and support to their children. They found out that patients with panic disorders tend to grow up in homes where family conflicts and rejections are abundant.


2. Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse

Several studies on the subject confirm that sexual and physical violence in childhood contributes to later development of panic disorder to a large extent. Stein et al. (1996) found that 17% of men and 35% of women, who suffered from panic and anxiety disorders in their adulthood had a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse. The same study confirmed that 60% of the women who suffered from panic disorders had a history of childhood sexual molestation.


3. Childhood Separation

Childhood separation from an emotionally significant figure was another major cause of panic and anxiety disorders. Loss of parents or siblings through death or divorce was the leading cause for this separation.


4. Personality Factors
Latest studies suggest that panic disorder patients may have certain personality traits that predispose them to develop the disorder. Most panic disorder patients were found to have strong harm avoidance traits. These patients are found to have high scores of tension, un-sociability, emotional immaturity, neuroticism, pessimism, shyness, guilt feeling, retaining anger and dependence.


5. Childhood Phobias

Children exhibits a variety of fears which include: darkness, animals, injuries, schooling at younger ages and death. These phobias have been linked to later panic disorder developments by most of the studies conducted on the subject.


6. Imbalances in Hormones

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help to maintain a good mood. They are produced naturally in the brain. Imbalances in these hormones also can lead to panic and anxiety disorders.


The above is the etiology of panic disorder as per the latest studies conducted on the subject.

Sunday 2 February 2014

Effects of Autism on the Individual and the Family

Autism is a kind of development disorder that begins in the first three years of a person's life. It affects the brain's normal development of communication and social skills. These children have difficulty in understanding what is happening around them and an inability to predict what will happen. Children with autism cannot start or maintain a social conversation. They often communicate with gestures than words. They are mostly withdrawn, and doesn't make friends easily.

The effects of autism are many fold. Autism creates a considerable amount of anxiety and insecurity in a person on a daily basis. This situation would often be expressed through various stress reducing obsessive behaviors such as bunching, biting, kicking or full blown tantrums. Since autism is not a physically visible disease, the general public will tend to condemn such behavior. They assume a child with autism to be naughty or the parents are not controlling the child. This can lead to parents not taking their children to public places in fear of risking the behavioral difficulties of their children. This will cause not only the child suffering from autism, but their siblings too, to become housebound and isolated. This kind of situation can have a profound effect on their social and emotional well being. This is one of the major effects of autism that can affect the individual, as well as, the family.

A child suffering from autism will experience failure in school and social activities. This will lead to low self esteem and lack of confidence, which can lead to depression and other mental disorders in later life. These children are also vulnerable to abuse and being bullied in school. This also will be mentally unhealthy for the child and can create depression and panic disorders in their adulthood.

Adults with autism tend to be misunderstood by society. Due to their lack of social understanding or imagination, they can break the law and commit crimes more easily than normal people. Hence it is imperative that resources are made available by society to help these adults with autism. They should be taught life skills and social communication skills in order to cope in society and not go astray. If not, their behavior can have a damaging effect on the society and its individuals as a whole. This way the effects of autism can spread beyond the individual and family and seep into the society.

Saturday 1 February 2014

What Are Some Early Signs Of Autism?

If autism can be detected at a very young age, early intervention might make all of the difference in the world. Young children can be helped with different types of therapy to help them cope with their disorder. In many cases, some medical professionals can diagnose an autism spectrum disorder by the time a child is two years old or even younger.

The outcome for children with autism depends upon the individual. As you consider some early signs of autism, it is important to remember that many autistic children are very bright. With proper therapy, they may learn to cope with many of their differences, so they can grow up to lead productive and happy lives. Other individuals who are more severely affected might need to have support and care for the rest of their lives.

What Are Some Early Signs Of Autism?


There are early signs and symptoms of autism. However, it is important to remember that every child develops at a different rate, so one symptom does not always indicate that a child has an autism spectrum disorder. Medical professionals usually look at a combination of symptoms in order to make a diagnosis.

The other thing to remember is that children who have autism are individuals, and there are also different types of autism. Again, that is why it is important to consider a number of different things before deciding if a child is affected with autism or not.

Speech

In some autistic children speech is delayed. However, some children who have a type of autism that is known as Asperger's may have be very verbal. They may simply go on about topics that are not always interesting to the people they are speaking to.

Sensory Issues

Lots of children who have autism suffer from sensory problems. They could be very sensitive to touch, temperature, and noises. It might seem like autistic children get upset for no reason, but they are actually reacting to things in their environment that bother them, but that you might not even notice.

Balance and Walking

Some children with autism seem to walk and move awkwardly. They may even walk on their toes when most children would walk around on flat feet. This is not because there is a physical problem, but it is probably because of sensory issues. They do not feel their bodies the way that normal children feel them. 

Who To Tell About Early Signs Of Autism?

If you believe your child displays some of these signs, you may want to visit your family doctor. He may refer you to an expert for more help.

Friday 31 January 2014

Different Types Of Autism And What Symptoms To Expect

There are a large variety of associated symptoms when it comes to autism and many different types of autism. Generally, autism is a disorder accompanied by neurobehavioral issues regarding communication, social interaction and other developmental problems. The severity of symptoms ranges anywhere from someone needing constant supervision and even institutionalized care down to a slight handicap where the person is able to take care of his or her own needs and otherwise live normally.

People with autism often have a hard time deciphering other's feelings, making it hard for them to interact socially. Experiencing this as a child can be very frustrating, and when symptoms are not addressed properly, the condition can worsen. Parents and other caregivers can feel overwhelmed at times when caring for someone with autism, and that is why they are always encouraged to seek out help from medical professionals and organizations that can ensure their child gets all the required care.

When it comes to different types of autism, not only do symptoms vary, but there are going to be individual circumstances that arise from time to time which both the child and caregiver have to learn to manage. For example, a person with autism might have a certain repetitive movement he or she always makes, or the person might be afraid of water. Certain "ticks" can cause extremely volatile situations for some, and it takes a learn as you go approach when it comes to these situations.

Autistic individuals can also be classified as "savant." This means that aside from the symptoms that afflict them, they have special talents that usually blow the minds of most other people. For example, an autistic savant individual might find a piano one day, sit down, and start playing compositions that would take years for others to learn. Not all autistic people are savant, and the ones that are do not all have the same talents.

The idea behind and autistic person being classified as "savant" further develops the medical perspective that autism has much to do with uneven cognitive development. If your child has been diagnosed with autism, you've surely had a look at the different types of autism and how to manage your child's symptoms and help them develop and live a happy life. No doubt your child is special and when autism is managed properly, all the unique blessings stemming from the condition are allowed to surface.

Wednesday 29 January 2014

What To Know About Common Childhood Mental Disorders

It seems particularly troubling to hear about childhood mental disorders. In some cases, the appearance of disorders in childhood can mean that they are particularly severe. In other cases, kids grow out of the worst of the condition eventually, and there is plenty of reason to be optimistic. Consider some common childhood mental disorders.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders

PDD is the general category under which conditions like autism get listed. Typically, PDD is used to refer to children who have mild symptoms. Autism might be used to refer to children who have more severe symptoms.

High-functioning and intelligent children with PDD or autism may never totally get cured, but they may go on to lead fairly normal lives. In more severe cases, the individual might need lifelong care and attention.

Scientists believe that PDD is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors, but they have not proven that there is one cause or if everybody who gets labelled with PDD actually has the same disorder.

Schizophrenia

There are several different types of this cognitive and behavioral disorder. This mental disease usually manifests symptoms in late teen or young adult years. Typically, when children display signs of schizophrenia it means that the disorder may become severe. That means that it is an example of one of the most alarming childhood mental disorders. The most important thing is to make sure these children get proper therapy and medication as soon as possible after they display symptoms.

Some schizophrenics manage to cope with their disorder enough to live very productive lives, but those who suffer from more severe symptoms might always need additional care.

Attention Deficit Disorders

This is a disorder that commonly shows up in childhood after children begin school. Children who have ADD have trouble focusing and paying attention. Some may have behavioral problems too. Symptoms might range from mild to severe. Many children who have ADD benefit from therapy and medication.

Many of these children end up growing out of the worst symptoms because they learn to cope, but some individuals who suffer from ADD have to get treated when they are adults too. Most children with attention deficit disorder grow up to lead productive lives.

Anxiety Disorders

Symptoms of anxiety might occur on their own, but they often show up as a symptom of another condition. In some cases, the disorder might be genetic, but they may also be caused because of childhood trauma. A doctor might recommend therapy or medication to help treat this disorder, so the child can function normally in school and social activities.

Information on Biofeedback for Anxiety

Individuals over the years have tried a number of techniques in order to control attacks that relate to anxiety issues. One of these techniques is known as biofeedback for anxiety. This method is a type of discipline used to assist in managing the functions of the body. This is not a new technique as it dates back to many years ago and has been used in a variety of eastern communities.

The biofeedback for anxiety is regarded as a natural therapy, however the technique is misunderstood. The practice of biofeedback involves the individual entering in a completely relaxed state in order to reduce anxiety and stress levels. Over time this technique can promote less panic attacks and eventually a stage that the individual no longer suffers from anxiety related issues.

In a biofeedback session, the individual will be wired up to a device that will monitor functions such as blood pressure and heart rate. The doctor or health practitioner will need to be trained and have the expertise in order to use this technique on patients. Individuals can benefit from attending training classes that will teach them how to use these methods on their own.

The machines that are used for biofeedback sessions are only necessary in determining if the individual is able to reach a relaxed state. The machine will no longer be required once the individual has successfully reached a relaxed state and has learnt how to use this method. The biofeedback for anxiety techniques can be applied whenever a patient is feeling stressed or anxious.

The main aspect of using biofeedback is a way for individuals to use a totally natural way in dealing with anxiety attacks. The more obvious route that most individuals follow for anxiety is taking prescribed medication in order to deal with their anxiety issues. The problem with using medications is that if the anxiety problem is not dealt with on an emotional and psychological level, the medication will only mask the problem.

Medication that is used on a long term basis can additionally cause unwanted side effects such as a dependency or addiction to the drug. Other adverse effects could be harmful to the body such as the organs and the stomach. By approaching a natural method such as biofeedback individuals can either reduce their medication or even reach a stage that the medication is no longer needed.

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Understanding And Recognizing Baby Seizure Symptoms

Dealing with seizures in your child can be a very frightening experience, especially if you do not know what you are dealing with. Believe it or not, baby seizure symptoms can present themselves in a variety of ways. If you are able to keep a close eye on any changes in the movements your child makes of the overall level of vigilance you notice, you may start to be able to tell if there is something wrong. From there, proper diagnosis from a physician will help you to pinpoint what is happening and then you can begin treatment as soon as possible.

With neonatal baby seizure symptoms, or a child that is a month old or younger, you will often notice a seizure that is mild in terms of intensity and also fairly short in duration. Some of these seizures may be so slight in nature that it can be difficult to tell if one is actually happening. Some of the symptoms can include rhythmic jerking of the legs and hands, difficulty with breathing, repetitive chewing and/or sucking or the body tensing up.

Other baby seizure symptoms that you can look out for will come along with what are called generalized absence seizures. These can include extended response time, repetitive blinking, rapid pulse rate, dilated pupils, and more. There could even be times when the child will all of a sudden stop doing whatever movement they were involved in.

Sensory seizures will often present themselves in the form of a variety of hallucinations. These can be tactile, olfactory, auditory and visual in nature. With autonomic seizures, there will often be sweating, pale skin, fluctuations of the breathing and heart rate or even a feverish feeling. Complex partial seizures are often found in older children and can show up as the child feeling afraid, having a difficult time keeping up with time, or even having a whole lot of confusion or memory loss when it comes to the events which just occurred.

No matter what, if you believe that your child is going through seizures, it is important that you have the ability to understand how to recognize all of the symptoms. Once you are able to pick out the baby seizure symptoms and convey them to your child's physician, you will have a much better chance of treatment and a good outcome for your child.

Monday 27 January 2014

Practice Anxiety Management Techniques For A Better Life

Everyone experiences anxiety at certain points in their life, but there are also a variety of anxiety disorders that are diagnosed in which case symptoms and their severity are more often experienced by those patients. Anxiety can be difficult to manage, and it not only affects a person mentally but physically to the point that daily life can be challenging. There are anxiety management techniques that can be practiced along with the other recommended treatments for a patients condition so that a person can better manage their anxiety and live a more normal life.

Knowing anxiety triggers and certain situations that arise that bring about anxiety can help you manage your body physically, in turn possibly preventing anxiety attacks. For example, when you are waiting or impatient about something, settle down and give yourself some time to do breathing exercises. This practice can be very calming, as can listening to some soft music or redirecting your thoughts to a better place.

When identifying underlying causes for anxiety, people often further stress themselves out. This is due to the fact that increased anxiety isn't attributed to a specific problem but instead to the perception of the individual. Therefore, the next key step here is to work on reducing and eliminating stress in your life vs adding to your stress by trying to further identify problems.

It seems hard to redirect worry and tell yourself that there is no reason to feel stressed or anxious about something. However, if you force yourself to do this and consciously make the decision to not listen to what your body is trying to tell you about anxiety and fear, you are going to notice that you can slip into a state of relaxation. One time doing this can help you notice what to do the next time worry and fear arises.

One trick that is also often recommended when it comes to anxiety management techniques is laughing to decrease tension and anxiety. Try it sometime, as it will have an effect. If you think about it, your natural way of thinking when anxious is to continue to examine what is making you anxious. How is this going to help? Instead, focus on laughing even when you don't find it reasonable, and by all means use this technique to remember what makes you feel like laughing. This can start to reverse the way you feel and make you less anxious. Combining an assortment of anxiety management techniques can help you better understand the reasoning behind your disorder and how you can live more comfortably and relaxed.

Saturday 25 January 2014

Common Anxiety Attack Symptoms In Children And Adults

Many children and adults today suffer from what is called an anxiety attack. It is a condition in which the individual feels intense feelings of fright or worry, usually associated with interacting within a stressful situation. Although not directly related to a serious medical condition, the dramatic response from these individuals makes this an area of deep concern. These feelings will induce the production of stress hormones which can create biochemical changes that augment a person's behavior dramatically. Anxiety attack symptoms can be controlled if proper treatment methods are implemented, a few of which will be discussed in this article below.

Common Anxiety Attack Symptoms


There are many common symptoms associated with those experiencing anxiety attack symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to strong feelings of fear, a choking sensation, a sense of foreboding, a burning sensation on the skin, an urge to escape or run, nausea, and in many cases profuse sweating. These symptoms can be experienced regardless of the person's age, often leaving the individual with feelings of emotional duress and confusion. Since each person is chemically unique, anxiety will affect them in completely different ways, yet the end result is still an experience that can be controlled to some degree.

Are Anxiety Attacks Resolvable?

According to many medical doctors, most people that suffer from anxiety attacks can utilize a wide variety of potential remedies that can provide some relief. Anxiety disorders may occur frequently, inconsistently, or be persistent and pervasive throughout a person's life. The sensations that are experienced are merely reactions based upon what is happening within their mind and body. If this can be brought into balance, it is possible that the symptoms of anxiety may dissipate and eventually disappear.

Treatment Options For Anxiety Attacks

For both adults and children, there are several options for treating their anxiety disorder. Many doctors will prescribe medications that have been shown to produce positive results. However, other techniques have been developed have shown great promise above and beyond pharmaceutical remedies. These techniques, called neurofeedback and biofeedback, have shown great promise, effectively changing the way that a person's brain operates by normalizing, and then optimizing, their overall mental functions. If you would like to learn more about treating your anxiety with these new and advanced techniques, you can learn more information on this topic by visiting this website today: http://medhamind.com.

Friday 24 January 2014

Understanding Anti Seizure Medications

Anti Seizure Medications are an important part of epilepsy and seizure disorder treatments and can help bring relief for sufferers as well as improve quality of life.Many people aren't aware of the devastating effects seizures can have on an otherwise healthy individual - in cases of severe juvenile epilepsy of seizure disorders the child can regress, becoming non-verbal and unable to walk due to the severity of the seizures. For these patients controlling the seizures is imperative to survival and achieving a high quality of life.

There are many different types Anti Seizure Medications that are used to treat different types of seizures and medications that work well for one type of seizure might not work for another type. For this reason patients who experience various types of seizures will need several medications to control them completely. In severe cases when the brain is in a state of perpetual seizure (Status Epilepticus) emergency medical intervention is necessary and emergency anti seizure medications either intravenously or via suppository.

Depakote (Valproic Acid)&  Zarontin  are the most common medications of choice for Petit Mal seizures. These seizures, distinguished by staring spells that could be mistaken for daydreaming, are usually responsive to medication. Depakote, like many other anticonvulsant medications are dangerous, medical supervision is essential.

Dilantin is another anti seizure medication, and has proven effective to control partial seizures, as well as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is also commonly administered intravenously to quickly control active seizures in emergency settings. In many cases it is used in conjunction with Topamax, Trileptal or Lamictal for complete seizure control.

Almost 70% of epilepsy patients are effectively treated with medications. For the remaining 30% surgery can sometimes help control the seizures. Finding the right combination of medications isn't an exact science, and in many cases patients go by trial and error for years in an attempt to find the dosage or combination that works best for them.

An accuracy diagnosis of not only the type of seizure, but the type of epilepsy is very important to finding the right medication quickly. Regardless, each patient is different, and the final treatment will depend on the patients reaction to the medications prescribed as well as and side effects that they might experience due to the medications.

In many cases, even if there is no obvious negative side effects, regular tests are required to avoid liver damage due to the medications.

Thursday 23 January 2014

The Pros and Cons of Anti Seizure Medication

For a person, such as an epileptic, who is prone to severe seizures, anti seizure medications have proven a real blessing. Fear of seizures restricts these people from living their lives to the full, either due to fear of injury or fear of embarrassment. So an effective medication to control those seizures is like a new lease on life in a sense - a resurrection.

Every individual reacts differently to pharmaceuticals; however, and some of the anti seizure medications are very potent drugs. Anyone who is considering using one of these types of drugs needs to weigh the pros and cons of such use. Usually the threat of seizure far outweighs any negative side effects of a drug. Still, use should be closely monitored and your doctor's instructions should be followed religiously.

Surprisingly, certain anti seizure medications are proving worthwhile today in treating other health disorders besides epilepsy. One of those is Parkinson's Disease, along with its distant cousin, Essential Tremors. Many sufferers of the type of shaking experienced by those with Parkinson's Disease have found a degree of relief through the use of certain anti seizure medications.

As with any medication, however, there are no guarantees. Some have benefited greatly while others see little difference when it comes to their tremors. Even those who do see a difference in the degree of shaking cannot count on any medication stopping the shaking entirely. Still, it is an option that may be worthy of consideration for those who find the shaking intolerable.

Although anti seizure medications can be a blessing, they are not for everybody. Your neurologist is in the best position to determine which medication is right for you. He or she will take into consideration any other medications you are taking, as well as other health issues that may come into play. Also, these medications can be very potent and even habit forming if not monitored. Certainly what is recommended for an adult may be entirely wrong for a child suffering from epilepsy.

This being so, never assume what is best for yourself. Sit down with your neurologist and discuss your options before coming to any decision. Also keep in mind that there is always a possibility of an adverse reaction to whatever drug may be prescribed. It may take a little trial and error before arriving at the right medication for you.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Positive Benefits Of An ADHD Brain Scan

ADHD, otherwise known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that many children and adults suffer from today. It is usually exemplified by abnormal behaviors such as being unable to control one's actions, being over active, or being unable to focus. Unlike traditional illnesses that can be determined using simple scientific tests, diagnosing a person with ADHD is limited to documenting their symptoms, or having them take a written test. Unfortunately, not every person is genetically the same, and therefore there will be differentiations between each individual that has this condition. This has led some researchers to use advanced technologies in order to discover how to successfully treat this disorder using ADHD brain scans.

Understanding The Human Brain

There are many scientific tests that people undergo in order to diagnose certain conditions. Doctors will recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, when trying to determine if a person's heart is functioning properly. Likewise, to find blockages or injuries that may have occurred within a person's kidney or liver, they will use a magnetic resonance imaging device, also called an MRI, to look inside of the person to determine if problems do exist. In the same way, scientists today are beginning to realize that looking into the human brain may be the best way to discover a cure for those that have ADHD.

Different ADHD Brain Scans That Are Utilized

There are several different scientific tools that are used today in order to do brain imaging. Some of these devices are called single photon emission computed tomography or SPECT scans, positron emission tomography or PET scans and functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI scans. Since people with ADHD have the brains that develop and mature much more slowly than regular people, it is possible that brainwave activity may be altered to such a degree that it is causing imbalances because of the slow development.

Acceptance Of ADHD Brain Scan Evidence

Although the scientific community is open to the idea of using certain scans for the purpose of diagnosing ADHD, they are cautious about using some of them. The SPECT scan requires both children and adults to be exposed to small amounts of radiation in order to record the readings, something that scientists currently believe is much too risky when it comes to making a simple diagnosis. Fortunately, other types of scans including the Neuropsychiatric EEG Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) system is now being used to diagnose whether or not teens and children have ADHD. This paves the way for other technology to be used to achieve similar results. If you would like to learn more information about innovative technology that is currently being used to diagnose and enhance brain functioning today, please visit this website for more information: Medhamind.com

Sunday 19 January 2014

ADHD Action Guide: Learn What Approach To Take Regarding Symptoms

ADHD is a medical condition that is often diagnosed in children, and while many people see significant improvement as they mature, the symptoms do follow them into adulthood on occasion as well. This disorder is becoming more widespread, and it can even be misdiagnosed on occasion as symptoms can be similar to bipolar disorder and also some forms of autism.

Managing ADHD symptoms require different prescribed medications for different people and according to the opinion of different medical professionals as well. People with the condition have trouble focusing in school and at work, can have a hard time with relationships, can be extremely impulsive, have issues meeting deadlines and much more. While the range of symptoms is similar from person to person, the severity of these symptoms is what varies the most according to individual cases.

An ADHD action guide is going to give you information about self help strategies to practice along with the medication you take so that managing your daily life can be easier for you. These techniques focus on self control, organization, productivity and more. Overall, sometimes the symptoms of ADHD can really mess with a person's sense of self worth, but what he or she needs to learn is properly managing the symptoms can help them not only live normally but feel like they are blessed.

Blessed? Yes, everyone is an individual, and each person has strengths. While you need to manage your ADHD symptoms, many people find that when symptoms are under control, they turn into strengths they can use to go after their dreams. This is something that is learned while following an ADHD action guide. People that do not properly manage their symptoms are often under the impression that they can only manage their condition with medications. While medications are required, these are not the cure all solution.

As well, many people confuse ADD and ADHD. Yes, they are similar conditions with similar symptoms, but they are not the same thing. As you work to learn more about your condition and what you can do to see improvement, you're going to learn patience. Patience is something that is hard to grasp at times when you have ADHD, but an improvement in symptoms is going to take time and require patience on your part as you follow an ADHD action guide.

Since ADHD is most often diagnosed in children who are still growing, self image can really be an issue. It is important that parents work closely with their children to help them know what to do and can guide them along the way.

Friday 17 January 2014

Is There A Way Of Preventing Autism?

Autism is sort of an umbrella term that covers a lot of different symptoms that might be displayed by a child or adult. These symptoms could also vary in there severity. The thing is that there is no blood or chemical test for any type of autism, so medical researchers are not even sure if everybody who gets diagnosed with this disorder has the same problem with the same cause.

What does that mean if you are planning to have a baby? That means there is no reliable way of preventing autism at this time.

What Causes Autism?

Most scientists and doctors agree that there is a strong genetic link to some types of this disorder. In the past, less people were actually diagnosed with this disorder, but when parents think about their relatives, they might begin to see that some of them had signs of living with autism without even knowing it. While autism is sometimes severely disabling, many adults learn how to cope with this disorder and lead productive and happy lives. Some autistic people even have exceptional talents.

It is also unclear why the rate of children who are diagnosed with autism has increased. It might simply be that diagnosis has improved. In the past, fairly high functioning people with some types of this disorder might have simply been considered odd or slow. Of course, many people with autism are very intelligent, but they might not exhibit very good social graces.

Is There A Way Of Preventing Autism?

Some people blame the increased rate of autism on older maternal ages, shots, food, or the environment. While some of these might cause some forms of this disorder, no actual scientific link has been established. Also, no official body like the CDC has official guidelines for preventing autism because it is not truly known how or if that can be done.

Until then, it is probably best for expectant mothers to simply take care of their health as well as they can. The same could be said for new mothers who want to prevent any sort of health problems for themselves and their children. Listen to the doctor's recommendation for diets and supplements, avoid alcohol or illegal drugs, and get plenty or rest and relaxation while pregnant.

Mothers might not be able to control their genetics, but they can try to control possible environmental factors as much as possible.

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Tips To Diagnose Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia

Do you know someone that is having panic attacks and also has an unnatural fear of the places and things that could bring on those panic attacks? Then it is possible they suffer from panic disorder with agoraphobia, however it is also possible to suffer from panic disorder without agoraphobia as well. Let's take a look at the differences between the two diagnosis so you can better understand and help this person.

First of all, panic disorder shows itself in panic attacks that come at unexpected times and recur fairly frequently. Also, people that have these attacks are usually so traumatized by them that they develop a fear of having another. A panic attack is typically characterized when a person is having and overwhelming sense of panic that is also combined with shortness of breath and an unusually rapidly beating heart. Another part of this disorder includes the constant worry of having a medical condition that medical professionals cannot find, and this worrying usually continues for months.It's possible to have panic disorder without agoraphobia, but the two are commonly connected.

Agoraphobia is usually combined with panic disorder and it is the fear of having another attack along with extreme avoidance of any situation where one could have another panic attack. There would be an extreme anxiety and fear of any place where the person has had a panic attack or believes strongly that they can have another panic attack. This fear is extreme and no amount of convincing is enough for them to overcome this fear. Eventually the fear becomes generalized to include nearly everything outside of home, especially crowded locations, as these are especially prone to panic attacks.

So, if you are experiencing the panic attacks with all of the psychological and physiological indications, plus, you also have the a natural fear in the extreme, of any place that you could have these panic attacks that is generalized to the whole of out-of-doors, then you most likely have panic disorder with agoraphobia. If on the other hand you can still leave your home, and you don't have an avoidance problem with crowded places, noisy places, or busy places, then you most likely have panic disorder without agoraphobia. Although this is a fairly easy way to diagnose your problem, it is always best to check with the medical professional who specializes in these types of disorders to be sure.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Tips To Discover If Your Child Has Been A Victim Of Misdiagnosis Of ADHD

More and more children and teenagers are being diagnosed with ADHD every single day. There has been many theories as to the causes of this massive increase in ADHD cases ranging from vaccinations, viral diseases, medications taken by the mother while pregnant, and heredity in addition to others. This has caused a massive increase in the prescription of medications to treat the disease. These medications are not entirely safe, and lead to other complications equal to, or more serious than ADHD. Therefore, it is very important for any parent that has a child that has been diagnosed with ADHD to take extra steps to evaluate whether or not their child is a victim of misdiagnosis of ADHD.

When looking at a typical child that is constantly talking, incredibly active, and overly impulsive in their actions, it is easy to think that the child may have ADHD and never stopped to consider the possibility that it could be another, similar disorder or just a temporary stage that the child was passing through at the time. So, let's take a look at some of the reasons that a person could receive a misdiagnosis of ADHD and how this could be avoided in most cases.

The first reason that many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD is that, while they are being examined they exhibited all the symptoms of rambunctious behavior, limited attention span, acting on impulses, etc. but, at other times none of the symptoms displayed themselves at all. In order to be a correct diagnosis of ADHD the examination needs to show that the patient exhibits these symptoms in more than one type of location, preferably many locations, and that the symptoms are causing problems with the child's relationships with others and overall development. Otherwise you may have a classic case of misdiagnosis of ADHD.

Another good indicator of misdiagnosis of ADHD would be when the child has been treated with quite a number of medications for ADHD and none of them have seen to be effective. This may indicate that ADHD is not the problem and either the child has a completely different disease or possibly nothing at all, depending. Or upon being treated with ADHD medications either the symptoms subside for a while and surprisingly return, or get significantly worse at the very beginning of treatment. This would indicate ADHD was most likely not the cause of the symptoms and a specialist should be consulted to diagnose the correct cause and prescribe the correct medication.

So if any of the above sounds familiar to you, then it is of utmost importance that you find a medical professional who specializes in ADHD and take your child for a complete reevaluation as soon as possible. Of course, the objective would be to find the real root of the problem whether it be exposure to lead paint, pesticides, inadequate exercise, food allergies, or many other natural and man-made causes where their elimination would be the solution to the problem rather than medication. An appointment to consult with your medical professional, then, should be your next stop to find out if another misdiagnosis of ADHD has happened in your case as well.

Some Interesting Facts about Autism

There are interesting facts about autism, and its prevalence in the United States and around the world. Autism appears to be on the rise, affecting one out of every 88 children, and out of that, one in every 54 boys. Today, autism continues to be the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. On average, families dealing with an autistic child spend an average of $60,000 every year over and above families that do not have children with the condition.

The Cause
For unknown reasons, boys tend to be five times as likely to acquire autism compared to girls. To date there is no known cure or medical detection developed to identify or cure autism. Studies indicate that autism is likely a genetically-based condition. This is because scientific study indicates that an identical twin that has a twin sibling suffering from autism has an 80 percent to 90 percent chance of being diagnosed with the disorder.

Some scientists are attempting to determine if there are environmental triggers involving the onset of ASD (autism spectrum disorders). Over the last two decades, there was an increase in the belief that autism might have been caused by vaccinations. However, this belief has been disproven.

Diagnosing Autism

Some doctors are able to detect the beginning signs of autism in the very young, when infants are between six months and 18 months old. This is often because it is easy to detect that the baby is not fixating on objects, or responding to individuals. This exhibit is thought to be an early sign of ASD. Older children often failed to respond to a variety of conditions including making direct eye contact, not responding to their name, lacking joint attention, or engaging in repetitive movements including arm flapping or rocking.

The Treatment

One of the many interesting facts about autism involves the treatment. Scientists agree that the earlier intervention can be started with children suffering with ASD the better their prognosis. In fact, every child with autism can benefit significantly through early intervention. Some have the ability to attend mainstream educational facilities, when ABA (applied behavioral analysis) along with physical and speech therapy is blended into their learning model.

Another one of the many interesting facts about autism centers on its uniqueness. No two individuals suffering from ASD are alike. Fortunately, the condition is treatable, with many individuals experiencing greatly improved diverse symptoms caused by autistic spectrum disorder.

Monday 13 January 2014

How To Prevent Autism - Before and After Conception

Commonly referred to as ASD, it seems that more and more children are showing signs of and being diagnosed with autism.  The many theories as to why we seem to be hearing of increased cases of autism vary from maternal age of conception to environmental factors, from genetic predispositions to a case of better diagnosis rather than increase.

Whatever the reason for the increase, our concern is on how to prevent autism, or at least taking whatever precautions we can do to minimize the risk. Below are a number of precautions that may reduce the risk of having a child with autism. In any case they will contribute to having a healthier and more enjoyable pregnancy.

How To Prevent Autism Before Conception

* Nearly all of us are magnesium deficient, supplement magnesium intake by 100-200g each day.

* Have your blood zinc and iron levels tested and if needed take action to correct the levels.

* Take a fish supplement daily (at least 500mg of DHA each day).

* Take a probiotic daily.

* Avoid eating fish.

* When possible choose organic foods, in particular eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables.

* Only use biological household products.

* Use only natural cosmetics.

* Drink filtered water only.


How To Prevent Autism After Conception

* Avoid taking drugs during the pregnancy. In particular be aware of seizure medication, although all drugs that have not been approved by your doctor should be avoided.

* Avoid all alcoholic beverages.

* Follow a good nutritional diet throughout the pregnancy.

* Avoid smoking, including passive smoking, during the full term.

* Following consultation with your doctor take a course of prenatal vitamins.

* Continue with an organic diet as much as possible.

* Particularly in the third trimester, aim for a diet that is higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates. Add good oils to your diet such as flax, olive and nut, in addition keep vegetable consumption high. 

* Minimize the amount of ultrasounds carried out.

* Remember that pregnancy stress is fetal stress. Try to keep your stress levels as low as possible during pregnancy.

* Stay fit and healthy, try to take a good walk every day.

* If possible avoid antibiotics.

The above tips are designed to assist in a healthy pregnancy and may reduce the risk of having a baby with autism. Remember to keep a balance though, pregnancy is not a disorder, it is a miracle that has been happening for a long time! Enjoy your pregnancy, stay healthy and take the necessary precautions possible to contribute to your baby's health.

Thursday 9 January 2014

Are Hormones and Anxiety Related?

Anxiety is defined as a psychological health disorder. Scientists have already found a connection between hormones and anxiety. They discovered that a woman's physical health and genetics played a vital role in the occurrence of anxiety and how it exhibits in a woman. As an example, if a woman is undergoing a low level of serotonin, she is more prone to suffer from anxiety or a bout of depression. Hormones are found to be directly responsible in decreasing or aggravating the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Even though women are equipped with more coping skills for anxiety and other psychological disorders than men, a hormonal imbalance can be the trigger of her anxiety or depression most of the time. It could be the other way around too. That is, her anxiety can cause the hormonal imbalance either. Scientists are still experimenting to be 100% sure whether the reason for anxiety is a hormonal imbalance in the woman's body.

Anxiety is often caused when the woman's body is under stress. This is the reason for women who don't exercise on a regular basis or don't eat a healthy meal being more prone to anxiety than women who eat a balanced meal and exercise regularly. The main job of a hormone is to transport messages to the brain. If the hormones are unbalanced in the body, the body will not produce the right amount of neurotransmitters, which can result in anxiety and depression. This is how hormones and anxiety are closely related to each other.

Hormones that contribute to anxiety include: stress hormones a.k.a. cortisol. Cortisol and anxiety are related very closely. Anxiety is related to mental stress, and when a woman is under stress, she releases cortisol. Increase in the stress hormones can cause anxiety and depression in a person. Anything that could increase or decrease cortisol can help to cause anxiety in a person.

Anxiety is also possible during periods of hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause. These changes affects the sex hormones which are Estrogen and Testosterone. Fluctuations in these hormones can cause anxiety. An over active thyroid also can cause anxiety. A person suffering from hyperthyroidism will have an increased metabolic rate, which would increase the person's heart rate. Hyperthyroidism patients are also prone to get an anxiety attack more easily than a healthy person.

The above information confirms the connection between a person's hormones and anxiety disorders.