http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/the-need-for-sleep.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/the-need-for-sleep.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:37:17 -0500
Sleep is a vital part of all of our lives and the link between insomnia and mood disorders, especially depression, is all too real. Normal sleep has a well-defined pattern. Each night, we go through four or five periods of deep sleep, when the brain characteristically produces slow brain waves on electrical monitoring. This is interspersed by REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the sleep stage in which we experience dreams.

For some reason, people who suffer from depression rush into REM sleep, which is of a more intense and longer lasting type. At this point, we still don't understand why this is, although there are many theories.

Professor Michael Perlis, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Rochester, USA, believes, "There's something wrong about dreaming that is meaningful in depression," but he's not exactly sure what it is.

"It certainly looks like REM sleep represents an abnormality in the neurobiological machinery of dreaming. The function of dreaming is undermined," he explains.

Like the chicken and the egg, it's often difficult to work out which comes first, the insomnia or the depression. But we do know that at least 80% of depressed people complain of sleep disturbance and, unfortunately, it is often the last symptom to be resolved. This raises the enticing possibility that if we can improve sleep quality then, perhaps, we can control depression better. And this is often the case.

Studies have shown that, for people who suffer from depression, if they can manage the insomnia well, then you can actually delay the recurrence of that depression. So how can we help to improve sleep in people with depression and insomnia?

The combination of anti-depressants and certain sedatives has been shown to improve sleep quality, however, this should only ever be undertaken strictly under expert medical supervision, as the potential for significant side-effects is very real and can be dangerous.

One of the traps that many people fall into is trying to resolve their sleep problems by using alcohol to help them relax. Unfortunately, this may make the problem worse! After drinking alcohol, people end up going to bed earlier because they are tired but then they can't fall asleep. This makes them more frustrated, which ultimately causes them to feel more awake.

So, if you have a persisting sleep problem, talk to an expert. The solution may be as simple as counting sheep!

Non-drug treatments to help you get a good night's sleep:

* Changes to diet and lifestyle - reduce caffeine and alcohol intake, try not to exercise in the evening, don't have a TV in the bedroom and install effective blinds that block out external light.
* Paradoxical intention therapy - a technique used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which the client or patient deliberately and repeatedly rehearses a habit or unwanted pattern of thought or behaviour, with the aim of developing a less fearful attitude towards it.
* Relaxation therapy - helps to overcome anxiety.
* Cognitive behavioural therapy - involves the use of practical self-help strategies, which are designed to bring about positive and immediate changes in the person's quality of life.
* Sleep restriction therapy - designed to limit the hours you might spend thinking you should be asleep.

Please note: The information contained in this article is of a general nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It cannot replace proper medical advice, and if you have any medical problems, you should consult and follow the advice of your own health care professional. It is also important that you read the additional disclaimer at the end of this page. The information provided and the views expressed by Dr Duncan are for general informational purposes only, and are current only as at the date of first publication. They are not tailored to, and should not be relied upon as applying to, any particular individual's circumstances. They do not take into account your medical history and any medication you may be taking, and cannot replace the advice of your health care professional. For these reasons, to the maximum extent permitted by law, HBF and Dr Duncan will not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from any reliance upon that information or views.

HBF Family Doctor Duncan Jefferson

--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/lifestyle/cycling-to-school.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/lifestyle/cycling-to-school.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:18:43 -0500
Cycling in WA continues to be a joy. My wife and I often take the opportunity to cycle along our beautiful coastline. Cycling is something you can do all your life, not just for the enjoyment factor but for the added benefits it brings to your health and wellbeing.

We frequently hear of the rising levels of childhood obesity and the serious consequences that can flow from it - diabetes, heart disease, cancer and so on. Although there is no single remedy, there is no doubt that physical activity is part of the solution. Schools can only devote so much time to physical education so we need to develop other strategies to help our children increase their levels of physical activity and ensure that exercise becomes a life-long habit.

One way is to build physical activity into their daily routines, such as walking or cycling to school. In doing this, your child will learn that being physically active is a normal part of life and, hopefully, it will be something they continue to do throughout adulthood. I recommend that interested parents talk with their school about the idea and contact like-minded families in their area. Where appropriate, parents can accompany their children and perhaps share the responsibility with other adults.

Like most forms of physical activity, it's better to build up to bigger distances. The kids could walk or cycle one way for the first few weeks and then do the return journey when they feel more able. Walking or cycling to school will promote health, build self-esteem, give children a sense of responsibility and even expose them to leadership roles. Physical activity is vital for all of us. By encouraging and helping your children to walk or cycle to school, you are giving them some real tools to help them manage their health for the rest of their lives.

Safety hints

* Work out the safest route - least traffic, clear visibility and least number of roads to cross.
* Teach your child the basic road rules, appropriate hand signals (if cycling) and to use pedestrian crossings where available.
* In WA, children under 12 years of age are allowed to cycle on footpaths (unless there is a 'no cycling' sign).
* Teach your child to be aware of traffic driving in and out of driveways.
* Ensure your child knows 'safe houses' along the route and ride or walk in groups whenever possible.
* Teach children to ride in single file and to ring their bell when approaching pedestrians from behind.
* Ensure your child has a water bottle, and a helmet if cycling.
* Always walk or cycle with your child until you are confident they can handle the conditions and distance on their own.

Please note: The information contained in this article is of a general nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It cannot replace proper medical advice, and if you have any medical problems, you should consult and follow the advice of your own health care professional. It is also important that you read the additional disclaimer at the end of this page. The information provided and the views expressed by Dr Duncan are for general informational purposes only, and are current only as at the date of first publication. They are not tailored to, and should not be relied upon as applying to, any particular individual's circumstances. They do not take into account your medical history and any medication you may be taking, and cannot replace the advice of your health care professional. For these reasons, to the maximum extent permitted by law, HBF and Dr Duncan will not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from any reliance upon that information or views.

HBF Family Doctor Duncan Jefferson

--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/stress/stress-less.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/stress/stress-less.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:10:00 -0500 *Words from The Fear by Lily Allen.

Pop music often reflects where we are as a society. So in these challenging times, it's not surprising that stress crops up in the lyrics of pop songs. Stress is a natural part of life. It helps give us direction, offers challenges that can be very rewarding and forms a part of our defensive system to help keeps us safe. However, healthy stress is usually short-lived and both the body and mind have time to recover between bouts.

Chronic stress can be a different matter. In the 21st century, with 24-hour communications, 24-hour travel and 24-hour commercial activities, there is no time for rest and recuperation.Where there are so many pressures on young families with both parents having to work and a pervading sense of insecurity about the financial meltdown, the stress of modern life has never been greater. And these pressures are even worse for single parents struggling with the demands of raising a family.

Humans have evolved a normal stress response to keep us healthy and safe. One aspect of this is called the fight or flight reaction. Imagine that you're walking down the street happily day dreaming, when a big dog barks just behind you. Your body responds to the stress immediately by setting off its internal alarm system, which is triggered by a small area in the brain known as the hypothalamus. This sets off both nerve and hormonal alarms that release:

* Adrenaline to increase your heart rate and elevate your blood pressure.
* Cortisol, the body's stress hormone, to increase blood sugar and help prepare the body to repair itself should it become damaged. It also shuts down systems that are deemed non-essential, such as the immune system, reproductive processes and the gut.

The hypothalamus doesn't operate in isolation within the brain but is linked with the emotional centres in the frontal lobe that control the emotions, particularly fear and anxiety. Once the cause of stress has passed, these responses settle and the body returns to its normal level of balance, known as homeostasis.

If your stress system stays switched on, adrenaline and cortisol levels remain elevated and stress can then become a problem. This means raised pulse rate and raised blood pressure, neither of which are good for your long-term heart health. Raised cortisol levels may lead to suppressed immunity and, hence, some people are likely to develop recurrent herpes infections, people with asthma may experience a decline in their lung function, indigestion and stomach ulcers tend to flare up, eczema becomes worse and sleep becomes fractured.

Why some people endure more than others is still not fully clear but we do know that people who come from 'anxious' families are more likely to be 'hot reactors' themselves. Also, children who had a hard time in the first five years of life may be more emotionally vulnerable in their later years.

Whatever the reason for your stress, here are some simple things you can do to try to break the stress cycle:

* Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each day;
* Relaxation exercises;
* Ensure you get enough rest and sleep;
* Have a good support network;
* Healthy eating, a well-balanced diet;
* Talk to a professional for expert advice.

--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/medicine/asthma.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/medicine/asthma.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:07:09 -0600
So what happens in asthma? First a quick anatomy lesson, inhaled air enters the lungs via your windpipe that then divides into two main branches or bronchi with one to the right lung and one to the left lung. These main bronchi continue to divide into smaller and smaller tubes finally ending in what we term the alveolus, which is where the business end of oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer happens. But it’s in the smaller tubes, or airways, where asthma has its pathological effects. The walls of these small tubes are encircled by a muscle that helps control the diameter of the tube and in asthma this muscle tends to get thicker and more reactive to normal stimuli. The lining of these fine tubes has a special membrane which secretes a watery mucous to trap any dust particles. These dust particles are then gently wafted towards the outside by microscopic cilia (which are like tiny hairs) to be coughed up or swallowed depending on the quantity produced. In asthma, this inner surface becomes inflamed and thick and in combination with the thickened muscular layer causes the overall inner diameter of the tube to be narrower in the resting state! Also the mucous produced tends to become thicker and stickier and more difficult to push towards the outside.

It's important to understand what is happening in asthma so that you can understand why there are two arms to the current approach to managing and controlling the problem. Doctors talk about 'relievers' which are aimed at reducing the spasm in those circular muscles and help open up the airways during an asthma attack. But if the underlying inflammation and thickening are not also targeted, then the disease will not be fully controlled and hence the second string to the medical bow are the 'preventers'. Preventers are generally inhaled steroids and designed to counteract the inflammation and thickening of the airways. It is vitally important that all patients with asthma, or parents of children with asthma, have a basic understanding of what is happening with the disease and remain committed to good preventative measures. The cornerstone of good preventative measures is correct use of appropriate inhalers and to know what to do in the case of unexpected deterioration during an asthma attack. It is also important that people with asthma do not smoke and avoid all exposure to tobacco smoke and toxic fumes.

Asthma does tend to run in families, it is associated with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and people with asthma do tend to suffer more from allergies. When diagnosing a patient who presents with a wheezy cough, all of the above mentioned factors need to be taken into account and investigated appropriately. If the diagnosis of asthma is confirmed, then all asthma patients, their families and schools should be given an asthma action plan so that their asthma can be managed effectively and there is a plan for emergency situations.

Finally, everyone, including people with asthma, can do a great deal to improve fitness and health by being fit and active, keeping to a healthy weight, not smoking and getting an annual flu shot.

HBF Family Doctor Duncan Jefferson.


--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/medicine/cooperating-in-our-health-care.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/medicine/cooperating-in-our-health-care.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:02:32 -0600
Dealing with severe pain can be a complex issue, but I suggest that you have to treat this sort of pain fairly aggressively as acute severe pain is relatively easier to treat than chronic severe pain. In the early stages of an injury or insult to an area of the body, most of the pathological processes are happening at the site of the injury or insult. Throughout time the brain begins to modulate this pain and so no only do you have the injured area to deal with, but you also have complex neural pathways within the brain to deal with as well. This often means a far more complex management plan and a far more protracted recovery time. Specialists are very skilled at dealing with these issues but they do rely heavily on the stories their patients give them. That means being honest in answering their questions and not being heroic with a grin and bear it grimace! Often the use of a pain scale is helpful with zero being no pain at all and a 10 being the worse pain you have ever experienced.

Another health issue we commonly down play is influenza. Over the years I have frequently heard people say that they would not have the flu vaccine because either they never get the flu or that they had it last week for a couple of days and then it was all over! Influenza is a serious debilitating disease that will usually last from 10 days to two weeks and often leave you flat on your back exhausted. It’s not a happy 10 days either as patients do not have the energy to read a magazine or even watch a DVD. You will literally feel ancient with every movement being a real challenge and that doesn’t include the aching all over or the fevers and sleepless nights. The influenza virus is also extremely contagious and most people are unaware that if you spread it to someone who is more frail than yourself that you may actually be putting their life at risk.
With the 'flu the big challenge is to vaccinate as many people in the community as possible, including children, those employed and unemployed, the elderly and the infirm, to reduce the chance of an epidemic occurring. Recent research has also showed that vaccinating pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy will help protect their new born infants born during the 'flu season.

Medicine has evolved over the last 40 years, but the change has been fairly slow with doctors by nature being very cautious and conservative people. But we can't leave the doctors to take all the initiatives. As patients we need to be good listeners in our approach to health by heeding all the great health messages that keep being given to us about vaccinations, smoking, alcohol, exercise and healthy eating. We also need to be good communicators and tell our doctors how we are feeling with conditions such as pain. If the team treating you doesn’t have the best information then it may be that you will not end up getting the best treatment!


--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/new-years-eve-reflections.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/new-years-eve-reflections.html Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:26:08 -0600
At this particular point in our lives, not just at the end of one year and the beginning of another; but at a time of economic fear and talks of recessions and depressions, it's good to remember what great things, we as humans are really capable of. It's almost 40 years ago now, that those astonishing pictures of our beautiful, blue earth, taken from the surface of the moon against a background of pitch black space, made us realise that literally, we're all in this together, and we all have a part to play.

Back here on earth at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, the talk in the media is all about global financial meltdowns with all its consequences. However, from a medical point of view, things are humming along quite nicely thank you very much. Since man landed on the moon we've made great strides in medicine too. For instance, we now have fantastic scanning machines to look inside the human body without having to slice it open. Our understanding and management of cardiovascular disease is very advanced, as a result of which hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved. Sight has been restored with lens implants and laser treatments. Hearing has been restored to the profoundly deaf through cochlear implants. More recently, the advances in cancer treatment have taken a leap forward with the introduction of vaccines to prevent cervical cancer, a common killer of younger women. Childhood leukaemia isn't the death sentence it once used to be, thanks to tremendous results achieved using novel medications and the gift of bone marrow transplants. The list of advances is really impressive, but needless to say, there is still a vast amount of work to do.

Whilst the scientists have been doing a great job, we as individuals still need to do more in our own lives. Why is obesity on the rise? Why so much type II diabetes? Why hasn't smoking gone the way of the Dodo, and why are so many of our indigenous brothers and sisters still living in third world conditions? Lives are still needlessly lost to drink driving, suicide and lifestyle related cancers. Our beaches are still full at this time of the year in the middle of the day, as people chase beauty by burning, ignoring the fact that they increase their risk of sun induced skin cancers.

We are lucky people living in a smart country, but we could do a whole lot better. Perhaps we could turn the coming economic belt tightening to our own good use: by becoming fitter and healthier; by losing weight where appropriate and eating more fresh veggies and fruit; by stopping smoking and cutting down alcohol intake; by not being sucked in by quick fix, "you too can look as beautiful or as rich as me" advertising. Then perhaps we can be a bit more confident in who we are.

Perhaps we can reach out to those who need that extra bit of care and attention. Perhaps by living a healthy life we can reduce our reliance on the health system so that less is needed to treat life-style related health problems, and more can be spent on treating sick kids and those in real need. Perhaps by each one of us taking responsibility for living our own lives as well as we can, then we can really say that we are smart people living in a very lucky country.

Wishing you a very happy healthy and hope-filled New Year.

--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/asthma.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/asthma.html Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:20:28 -0600
So what happens in asthma? First a quick anatomy lesson, inhaled air enters the lungs via your windpipe that then divides into two main branches or bronchi with one to the right lung and one to the left lung. These main bronchi continue to divide into smaller and smaller tubes finally ending in what we term the alveolus, which is where the business end of oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer happens. But it’s in the smaller tubes, or airways, where asthma has its pathological effects. The walls of these small tubes are encircled by a muscle that helps control the diameter of the tube and in asthma this muscle tends to get thicker and more reactive to normal stimuli. The lining of these fine tubes has a special membrane which secretes a watery mucous to trap any dust particles. These dust particles are then gently wafted towards the outside by microscopic cilia (which are like tiny hairs) to be coughed up or swallowed depending on the quantity produced. In asthma, this inner surface becomes inflamed and thick and in combination with the thickened muscular layer causes the overall inner diameter of the tube to be narrower in the resting state! Also the mucous produced tends to become thicker and stickier and more difficult to push towards the outside.

It's important to understand what is happening in asthma so that you can understand why there are two arms to the current approach to managing and controlling the problem. Doctors talk about 'relievers' which are aimed at reducing the spasm in those circular muscles and help open up the airways during an asthma attack. But if the underlying inflammation and thickening are not also targeted, then the disease will not be fully controlled and hence the second string to the medical bow are the 'preventers'. Preventers are generally inhaled steroids and designed to counteract the inflammation and thickening of the airways. It is vitally important that all patients with asthma, or parents of children with asthma, have a basic understanding of what is happening with the disease and remain committed to good preventative measures. The cornerstone of good preventative measures is correct use of appropriate inhalers and to know what to do in the case of unexpected deterioration during an asthma attack. It is also important that people with asthma do not smoke and avoid all exposure to tobacco smoke and toxic fumes.

Asthma does tend to run in families, it is associated with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and people with asthma do tend to suffer more from allergies. When diagnosing a patient who presents with a wheezy cough, all of the above mentioned factors need to be taken into account and investigated appropriately. If the diagnosis of asthma is confirmed, then all asthma patients, their families and schools should be given an asthma action plan so that their asthma can be managed effectively and there is a plan for emergency situations.

Finally, everyone, including people with asthma, can do a great deal to improve fitness and health by being fit and active, keeping to a healthy weight, not smoking and getting an annual flu shot.

HBF Family Doctor Duncan Jefferson.

--
HBF Health Funds, the largest health insurance provider in Western Australia.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>