Archive for the ‘Bipolar Disorder’ Category
High Blood Pressure Supplements – Hypertension Natural Treatment
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
High blood pressure, else known as hypertension is a condition caused due to an elevation in systemic arterial blood pressure. Drowsiness, headache, nausea and vomiting are some of the common symptoms shown as a result of high BP. Probability of getting hypertension increases with diabetes, obesity, tension and stress. If not taken seriously, it may lead to several health hazards like heart failure, stroke and myocardial infarction. Chronic kidney disease, vision loss, aortic dissection and arteriosclerosis are other complications caused due to high BP or hypertension. Following a healthy balanced diet, keeping blood sugar level under control, controlling body weight and avoiding smoking are some of the preventive measures helping in controlling high BP. (more…)
Study Looks at Deep Brain Stimulation in Bipolar Patients
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
A small study suggests that deep brain stimulation, which is currently being investigated as a treatment for general depression, may also help patients with bipolar disorder.
There are some caveats. The surgery necessary to allow deep brain stimulation is extremely expensive. And for now, the research is preliminary, so it’s too early to know for sure if the treatment is appropriate to be used for any kind of depression.
Still, the study suggests that brain stimulation “not only just helps patients who haven’t been able to recover from depression, but it seems to be associated with the absence of relapses. They’re not only getting better, they’re staying better,” said study co-author Dr. Helen Mayberg, a professor in both the departments of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and neurology, at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. (more…)
Even Today, the Stigma of Mental Illness Won’t Fade
Sunday, January 1st, 2012
People with a mental illness struggle with symptoms ranging from crushing depression and crippling anxiety to powerful delusions and hallucinations that force them to actively sort out the real from the imagined.
And if that weren’t enough, they also have to deal with the way the rest of the world perceives their inner struggle.
Stigma associated with mental illness remains widespread in U.S. society, despite some progress made in demystifying these medical conditions, said Michael J. Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (more…)
Long-Term Use of Bipolar Drug Questioned
Monday, December 26th, 2011
The growing use of a popular drug in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder is based largely on a single, flawed clinical trial that may be steering doctors and patients away from drugs with a more established track record, a new review published this week in the journal PLoS Medicine suggests.
The drug, Abilify (aripiprazole), was initially used to treat schizophrenia and acute episodes of mania, the better-than-good feeling that characterizes bipolar disorder. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved it for long-term use in bipolar patients whose moods have stabilized (known as “maintenance” therapy). (more…)
First Versions of Generic Zyprexa Approved
Saturday, December 24th, 2011
The first generic versions of Zyprexa (olanzapine) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the agency said Monday.
Olanzapine has a boxed label warning that the drug can cause death among elderly people who have psychosis due to confusion and memory loss, the FDA said in a news release. Other serious adverse reactions could include high blood sugar, high cholesterol or triglycerides, and weight gain. (more…)
First Versions of Generic Zyprexa Approved
Monday, December 5th, 2011
The first generic versions of Zyprexa (olanzapine) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the agency said Monday.
Olanzapine has a boxed label warning that the drug can cause death among elderly people who have psychosis due to confusion and memory loss, the FDA said in a news release. Other serious adverse reactions could include high blood sugar, high cholesterol or triglycerides, and weight gain. (more…)
Genetic Links Seen Between Bipolar Illness and Schizophrenia
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
There is a genetic link between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, two common and often disabling brain disorders, a new study indicates.
Researchers identified 11 genetic regions, including six that had never been discovered before, which play a role in people’s risk for these mental illnesses. The findings, they say, provide new insight into the causes of both conditions.
“Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are debilitating illnesses affecting millions of people around the world, and existing therapies for these people (more…)
Bipolar affective disorder
Sunday, November 27th, 2011
Background
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), is one of the most common, severe, and persistent mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder is a serious lifelong struggle and challenge.[1]
Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of deep, prolonged, and profound depression that alternate with periods of an excessively elevated or irritable mood known as mania. The symptoms of mania include a decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, increased libido, reckless behavior without regard for consequences, grandiosity, and severe thought disturbances, which may or may not include psychosis. Between these highs and lows, patients usually experience periods of higher functionality and can lead a productive life. (more…)
Introduction to Bipolar Disorder
Friday, October 21st, 2011What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is an illness involving one or more episodes of serious mania and depression. The illness causes a person’s mood to swing from excessively “high” and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, with periods of a normal mood in between. More than 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognized as an illness and people who have it may suffer needlessly for years.
Bipolar disorder can be extremely distressing and disruptive for those who have this disease, their spouses, family members, friends and employers. Although there is no known cure, bipolar disorder is treatable, and recovery is possible. Individuals with bipolar disorder have successful relationships and meaningful jobs. The combination of medications and psychotherapy helps the vast majority of people return to productive, fulfilling lives.
Balancing Bipolar Depression Back
Saturday, May 15th, 2010Depression is a very dangerous and disturbing disease. Bipolar is a kind of depression which affects patients in a very strange ways. There is no definite pattern to the symptoms and expressions of bipolar, however, the only common thing patients suffering from this dreadful disease have is that they are under heavy medications to be able to maintain a normal life style.
People working in the medical field have come across many sad cases, especially in women who have had hormonal imbalance problems or child bearing problems or even with simple menopausal symptoms but that have gone over to the other side and lost contact with reality. These people tend to lose control of their metal activities in such a manner that some of them end up living with the homeless and creating a very sad and stressing situation among their friends and family.
Of course, not all of these examples can be considered to be bipolar and that is why actually diagnosing bipolar is so difficult. However, there have been very good responses when these people have been helped with anti depressants and bipolar medicines.
How much does hormonal imbalance really affect you, and what is the reaction of that effect varies from person to person and therefore, it becomes almost impossible to diagnose bipolar until it has reached dangerous levels in the system. Depression is not something that you should take like a normal reaction of your day to day life struggles. Of course, this is playing an important role in making you depressed in the first place, but that does not mean you have to give up living altogether because you suffer from bipolar. There is a way of creating a balance in your system that will give you back your normal life and you should be aware of it and work towards becoming a healthy and happy person.
Doctors are recommending a balance and nutritious diet, especially for women, since they have to take the difficult task of reproduction, to maintain a good and healthy body and mind. Let us understand the benefits of simple things like proteins available in vegetables and meats and how much is good and how much do we need for our system. Take a look at your vitamins and minerals, calcium and iron. All these ingredients are necessary for growth and at the same time for balance of the physical and mental systems. Dark chocolate contains ingredients that work like antidepressants and can prove to be very useful for your symptoms also.
Work on different aspects of your lifestyle including exercising and eating healthy, giving yourself the proper treatment that you deserve. Do not level yourself as bipolar and take it as a death sentence. There is so much out there that you can do, you have no idea. You should study all the possibilities and start trying them straight away. Of course, you should also take the proper advice from your doctor and take the medications indicated by them on regular basis. It is a matter of balance and combination of treatments that will get you the best results.