LATEST ARTICLES

What is Rehabilitation? (Different Types of Rehabilitation)

0

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation focuses on a variety of areas that essentially contributes to the regaining of strength, stamina, or state of fitness and mental health after a person has experience a trauma or injury that may have rendered them less effective in going about their daily lives. As sometimes a trauma or incident may affect the mental state of a patient and much more than just the physical aspect, rehabilitation focuses on a variety of therapy than just restoring physical mobility and strength. This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or treatment of pain. Some types of rehabilitation include cardiac rehabilitation, stroke rehabilitation, or addiction rehabilitations such as drugs or alcohol rehabilitation. Patient education is a key factor in rehabilitation.  

Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)

Neuropsychology Rehabilitation is the rehabilitation of the sensory and cognitive function, where the nerves and neural pathways are trained to improve functions that have to do with the neurological senses.

Rehabilitation (Penology)

Penelogy in the category of rehabilitation is rehabilitation of criminals and those in prison with an attempt to restore them to a useful life where they can resume normal life without repeating previous offenses or committing new ones. The theory behind penology rehabilitation is that punishment for an offense does not help to support a person in changing their ways.

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is the restoration of endurance and functions of the cardiovascular system of patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders such as heart attacks, pulmonary fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehab, is focused on a patient’s recovery after a heart attack through monitoring, exercise, nutritional counseling, and other lifestyle changes to implement. Cardiac Rehabilitation may be recommended for those that have experienced or undergone some type of heart condition such as heart attacks, coronary artery diseases, heart failure, chest pain, cardiomyopathy, coronary bypass surgery, or heart transplants. Cardiac Rehabilitation may include recommendations of some physical activities that will help strengthen the cardiovascular training of a person such as weight lifting or jogging. It also includes lifestyle education focused on educating a patient of the choices to make in their lifestyle that may affect their conditions such as nutritional intake. Support emotionally or physically is also a part of cardiac rehabilitation.

Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke rehabilitation is rehabilitation that focuses on a patient’s recovery after a stroke. In stroke rehabilitation, there is a focus on therapy for communication disorder, the improvement of mobility and motor skills, psychological therapy to cope with mental issues, constraint-induced therapy to force affected parts of the body to work, and electrical stimulation where electricity may be used to stimulate weakened muscles. Stroke rehabilitation can be done for an extended period of time where the patient may stay in the hospital or medical facility over an extended period of time, as an outpatient treatment where patients spend some hours in a day at the facility but returns home at the end of each day, at a nursing facility, or at home. Stroke Rehabilitation’s effectiveness varies from person to persondepending on their circumstances and many factors such as the severity of damage received, the rehabilitation methods, support network, and time range of rehabilitation.

Addiction Rehabilitation

Some addictions such as drug or alcohol addictions can be so extreme that rehabilitation sessions are needed. Usually, the focus is on helping a patient become free from dependency on drugs mentally and physically. This may include the twelve-step program or client centered approach.

Twelve Steps Program

The twelve steps program involves a person’s mental admission and recognition of the addiction, aspiring to a higher power, reflecting on past wrongs and errors and making amends, adhering to living with a new set of code of behaviors, and helping others that also suffer from the same kinds of addictions. Such is the method used by some support groups such as Alcoholic Anonymous.

Client-Centered Approach

The Client-Centered Approach by psychologist Carl Rogers is concerned with unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness in helping to treat a patient. Some illness considered as having mental origins such as alcohol abuse, to cope with their addiction on their own with support from loved ones.

A Short Guide to Spinal Cord Injury Medicine

0

Spinal Cord Injury Medicine

Spinal cord injuries are damages to the spinal cord or the surrounding tissue or bones. There are many types of treatments for Spinal Cord injury including medication, immobilization, surgery, and experimental treatments including inflammation controls or ongoing clinical trials to stop cell death or nerve regeneration. There are no reversible cures for spinal cord injury but there are medicines and treatments that are able to help alleviate the pain of spinal cord injury as well as to prevent further damages and enable those with spinal cord injury to interact in the society on a daily functional basis.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Spinal Cord injury is when the spinal cord sustains damage from traumas or events that physically impacts the spinal cord, which damages its ability to function or feel. Sometimes the spinal cord could still be intact but still lose its functions. Most causes of spinal cord injury ranges from effects of diseases such as polio or Friedreich’s Ataxia or trauma such as falls or car accidents.

Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury

There are many types of treatments for Spinal Cord injury including medication, immobilization, surgery, and experimental treatments including inflammation controls or ongoing clinical trials to stop cell death or nerve regeneration. Spinal Cord injury can be divided into two categories including complete and incomplete.  

Medications

Medicine such as Methylprednisolone or commonly known as Medrol is usually used for medication for acute spinal cord injury and may help in some cases in improving spinal injury conditions by reducing nerve cell damages and decreasing inflammation.

Immobilization

In treating spinal cord injury, you may need traction to stabilize your spine, to bring the spine into proper alignment or both. Sometimes, traction is accomplished by securing metal braces, attached to weights or a body harness, to your skull to keep your head from moving. In some cases, a rigid neck collar also may work. A special bed also may help immobilize your body.

Eating Disorder Treatment

0

Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating Disorder Treatments

Eating disorder treatments deal exclusively with mental conditions where problems are caused by abnormal eating habits focusing on weight or food intake such as anorexia or bulimia that can cause medical and health problems. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Some causes of eating disorders are attributed to biological factors, psychological or emotional factors, or pressure from society and media. Those prone to having eating disorders are usually female teens to adolescents usually either during a transitional period in life or under family influences. The cases of eating disorders can range from being mild to severe. In some cases, the decline of health could be so severe that it could lead to death.  

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person feels that they are too fat or is obsessed with being thin and tries to starve themselves. Symptoms of anorexia includes a fear of gaining weight, over-exercising, dizziness, menstrual irregularities, dry skin, low blood pressure, dehydration, or fainting, having skin and bone appearance, and refusing to eat or refusing to admit to hunger.  

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is a condition where a person binge eats and then regurgitates or other methods of trying to purge it all out. It involves eating a huge portion of food in a very short time and then trying to get rid of it by vomiting. Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa includes laxative use, over-exercising, damaged teeth or gums, self-caused vomiting, swollen salivary glands of the cheeks, sores in the throat and mouth, menstrual irregularities, dehydration, or abnormal bowel functioning.  

Binge-Eating

Binge-eating is when a person eats an excessive amount of food and continues to do so even after they are full. Symptoms of binge-eating includes eating to the point of being bloated uncomfortably, eating out of control, feeling depressed or disgusted with self after the episode of eating over the amount of food eaten, and eating very fast.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Some causes of eating disorders are attributed to biological factors, psychological or emotional factors, or pressure from society and media.  

Biological Factors

Some biological factors that could contribute to eating disorders may be due to biological factors. Sometimes this could be genetics or sometimes the brain could have a disorder or conditions where there is an imbalance in the brain chemical such as an imbalance in the amount of serotonin level a person produces.  

Psychological and Emotional Factors

Psychological and emotional factors such as being stressed out or using food as a solution to compensate for other problems could be factors that cause eating disorders. Low self-esteem, impulsive behaviors, family issues, or anger management difficulties could all contribute to eating disorders.

Society/External Factors

Social pressure emphasizing on the value of a certain physical ideal can also mentally cause a person to be pressured into engaging in eating disorders. In the medias of some culture, being thin is valued and sometimes the ideals portrayed in the media create an unrealistic image in the minds of the viewers of what their body should be like and cause pressure on them to be the same way to be accepted.

Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

  • Female gender
  • Teens to adolescents
  • Family history
  • Family influence
  • Emotional disorders
  • Dieting
  • Transitional period in life
  • Engaging in sports or artistic activities
 

Risks and Complications of Eating Disorders

The cases of eating disorders can range from being mild to severe. A person engaging in such behavior can be prone to depression, suicidal thoughts, bone loss, stunted growth, seizures, heart diseases, digestive problems, bowel irregularities, kidney damage, tooth or gum decay, Type 2 Diabetes, abnormal blood pressure, or gallbladder diseases. In some cases, the decline of health could be so severe that it could lead to death.

Eating Disorder Treatment

Psychotherapy

In psychotherapy, the focus of treatment, whether short termed or long termed, is based on monitoring the eating habits of a patient, helping them to eat well, and accept themselves to improve their mental image of self and improve as well as to resolve relationship issues with others. Some sub-treatments under psychotherapy include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, psychodynamic treatments, family therapy, and group therapy.

Nutrition Education and Weight Restoration Programs

Nutrition education ad weight restoration programs focus on educating a patient about what to eat in order to stay healthy and have a good eating healthy habit. The focus is also on helping the patients that are underweight to gain back a healthy amount of weight. The programs usually involves meal planning, education on nutritional value of food and how the body is affected by what you eat, steps to maintain a healthy self without dieting, and establishing an eating pattern for the patients. This could be conducted alongside psychotherapy.

Medication

Medication is usually not a sole cure for eating disorder but it is usually used alongside with other treatments to help in managing eating disorders. Some medication can help with mentally uplifting the mood of a patient or cure other symptoms associated with eating disorders such as anxiety or depression. Medication can also help control the urge to binge or deal with a patient who is obsessively concerned about food and diet. Some of the medications used to deal with eating disorders include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotic medications.

What is Compulsive Sexual Behaviour?

0

Compulsive Sexual Behaviour

Symptoms of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

The symptoms of compulsive sexual behavior are when a person may feel sexual desire that may interfere with their life. Sometimes sexual urges feel intensified beyond the control of a person and even if they do find the activity a pleasure or not, they feel compelled to engage in such. Signs of compulsive sexual behavior can also be when a person uses sexual behavior to substitute for relief from other problems such as stress, anxiety, loneliness, or depression. Some activities that can be classified as signs of compulsive sexual behaviors are when you have multiple sexual partners, having sex with anonymous partners or prostitutes, seeking only physical pleasure and choosing to avoid emotional commitment, excessive masturbation, frequent use of pornography, engaging in masochistic or sadistic sexual experiences, being fixated on an unattainable sex partner, or engaging in exhibitionism.  

Causes of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

There are many causes that are said to be contributing factors to compulsive sexual behavior ranging from the imbalance of the brain’s chemical, high sex hormone levels, brain disorder, or even changes in the brain’s pathways, caused by a change in the way the brain’s neutral circuits may be rewired in communicating with each other.

Brain Chemical Imbalance

Excessive amounts or an irregularly high level of some chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, serotonin, or norepinephrine in the neurotransmitters can be a cause of compulsive sexual behavior as they are supposed to regulate the mood of a person.

Sex Hormone Levels

Sex hormones are naturally present in the body of both male and females and androgen are particular sex hormones that plays a role in affecting the sexual desires in humans. It is suspected that although not quite explained as to how, they may play a role in affecting compulsive sexual behaviors.

Brain Conditions or Disorders

Damages to brain from disorders or disease such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington disease, or dementia is said to be in connection with compulsive sexual behavior.

Risk and Complications of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

A person suffering from compulsive sexual behavior can have confliction of the mind and actions that can lead to severe consequences. Having to deal with their urges and what they want to do can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and a low self-esteem. It can also cause stress and other mental conditions such as depression, extreme stress, or anxiety. Other than mental effects, there could also be physical concerns such as the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or syphilis. Unwanted pregnancy could also result as a consequence or a person could be arrested for unlawful conducts or sexual offenses.

Risk Factors of Compulsive Sexual Behaviors

Conditions that may contribute to the increase of uncontrollable compulsive sexual behavior regardless of what sex they are or what their sexual preferences includes factors such as alcohol or drug abuse, abnormal psychological conditions such as mental illness or mood disorder, or history of physical or sexual abuse on an individual.

Treatments of Compulsive Sexual Behaviors

In the treatment of compulsive sexual behaviors, usually medication, psychotherapy, and self-help groups are the prevalent methods. Because compulsive sexual behavior usually results from the conditions of the mind, the aim is to help a patient readjust their mentality for a sound judgment of actions so that they can control their urges.

Psychotherapy

Some types of psychotherapy for treating compulsive sexual behaviors include psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, or family therapy or marriage counseling.

What is a Manicure?

0

Manicure

What is a Manicure?

A manicure is a cosmetic beauty treatment that focuses on the care of fingernails and the hands and although is mostly thought of as nail painting, includes but is not limited to it. It can include the massaging of hands, cuticle treatments, filing and shaping of the edges of the nails and even some other specialty services. The word Manicure comes for the latin roots of manus meaning “hands” and cura meaning “care”. The care of feet, usually also found alongside manicure is called pedicure.  

History of Manicure

The manicure treatment was founded as far back as 5000 years ago in context of henna being used in India and nail care for the Empress in China. The French manicure that is so widely known, designed to imitate the natural nails is said to be found immensely in Paris in the 1920s.

Benefits of a Manicure

Other than aesthetic benefits, manicures in today’s world also have health benefits. The trimming of cuticles and dead skin near the nail areas can help to decrease the chance of dirty buildup of particles and cut down on the chances of getting diseases. It can help prevent hang-nail formation, which can cause pain in many cases and can strengthen the hands and nails preventing damage. Lotion and massages in the category of manicure can also help to improve the skin health and help slow down or decrease wrinkling of the hands.  

Types of Manicures

French Manicure

The French manicure is probably the most famous and well known type of manicure. With a pink nail-colored or clear base applied to the nails and white rounded or slightly squared polish at the end, it imitates the ideal healthy natural nails.

Paraffin Manicure

The Paraffin manicure involves the use of wax that may be warm which the hands and nails are dipped into. The purpose of the paraffin manicure is to smoothen and give the hands a soft texture.  

Hot Stone Manicure

The hot stone manicure involves hot stones that are used to massage the hands. It is similar to the Hot Stone Massage found in spas but mainly applied to the hands.  

Luxury Manicure

The luxury manicure helps with the softening and soothing as well as hydrating of the hands. With the use of paraffin wax and heated mitten, this treatment truly focuses on rejuvenating the hands.

Spa Manicure

The spa manicure works the same way a normal manicure works but with additional benefits such as the use of aromatic salt to scrub the skin or the use of a hydrating mask to rejuvenate the hands.

The procedure of a Manicure

Although the procedures of a manicure may vary, the basic procedure of a manicure goes as follows.
  • Previous old nail polish may be removed with alcohol remover and cotton swabs or pads
  • Nails are trimmed and filed to desired shapes.
  • Hands are soaked in warm water mixed with soapy sud to soften the cuticles.
  • The cuticles are removed and trimmed.
  • Hands are massaged with lotion.
  • Base coat nail polish is applied and left to dry.
  • The first coat of nail polish is then applied and left to dry.
  • A second coat of nail polish is then applied and left to dry.
  • Stray nail polish on the sides of the nails is cleaned up with cotton swabs.
  • The top coat of nail polish is then applied and left to dry.
Other than the basic manicure and nail care, another category under manicure comes acrylic nail painting or the application of artificial nail tips or jewelry designs and other small decals.