Is It A Diet or An Eating Disorder?

Is It A Diet or An Eating Disorder?

I had been in outpatient therapy for six months. I was seeing a dietitian. I was made to attend an eating disorder support group. Even given all those interventions, if you asked me, I didn’t have an eating disorder. I was a healthy eater who maybe had a few “funny” things around food. It’s hard to tell the difference between a diet and an eating disorder for some.

I was reminded of this recently when a colleague posted an article to her Facebook page discussing “orthorexia nervosa,” a term that is gaining traction with regards to the growing obsession with healthy or “clean” eating. This particular article centered its thesis on the idea that isn’t really an eating disorder, but, rather, a way to pathologize people and prescribe them medications. I wanted to track down the author and have a strongly worded chat with him.

But it’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and it brings up the question: when does an eating disorder become an eating disorder and not just a diet or something else?

Eating Disorders Disrupt Your Life, Diets Probably Don’t

In my class about diagnosis and assessment in counseling, we had a saying: “It’s not a problem unless it’s a problem.” There are plenty of people in the world who can eat vegan or vegetarian or raw diets and have that enhance their life and health. Or people who can run or train for triathlons and enjoy the endorphins without overdoing it. Or people who can overeat occasionally and then just get back to their normal eating the next meal or next day.

When you have an eating disorder, you can’t do that. When you have an eating disorder, your ability to function in day-to-day life is compromised. Your job, your family life, your friendships, your studies – all of these are affected.

I frequently stayed out past midnight in my eating disorder because I refused to miss a workout, even though it meant I was constantly sleep deprived and felt ill. I avoided meals with family or friends because I couldn’t be seen eating or couldn’t eat things that I hadn’t prepared. Restaurants? Out of the question. My meager breakfast took almost 45 minutes to eat because everything had to be measured, mixed, assembled and eaten in a very specific order. Meals were the same every single day because I knew the exact nutrition information for those two or three things. Substitutions were not allowed. If I binged, there were very specific consequences that often meant I had to cancel my entire day.

Maybe your eating disorder has 20 rules. Maybe it has two. Regardless, if you find yourself rearranging your life, avoiding things, or having difficulty getting things done because of food and/or exercise, you may have a problem.

Is It An Eating Disorder or a Diet?

If you are concerned about your eating habits or those of a loved one, please take the time to be screened. The National Eating Disorder Association has a quick online screening toolthat can assess your risk and connect you to resources immediately (such as their hotline and chatline).

It may not be a “textbook” case of anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. Your eating disorder may fall into the category of other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED), which was previously called eating disorder not otherwise specified(EDNOS).That doesn’t make it any less serious or you any less worthy of recovery.

Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, means not being able to get or keep an erection that is sufficient for sexual intercourse. Many men have erectile dysfunction at some time in their lives. It can come and go.

It is estimated erectile dysfunction affects about 1 million men in Australia. It is more common in older men.

Erectile dysfunction can have a range of causes, both physical and psychological.

Physical factors that can cause erectile dysfunction include:

• general ageing
• health problems that affect your nerves, like spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis(MS), diabetes, surgery that affects the pelvic area or spinal cord (prostate or bowel surgery), Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
• reduced blood flow to the penis, caused by atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries)
• conditions like prostate disease, high blood pressure, underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), cardiovascular disease, obesity or sleep disorders
• alcohol, some medicines, smoking or substance abuse
• Peyronie’s disease (scar tissue inside the penis)
• treatments for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate

Psychological factors that can cause erectile dysfunction include:

• unresolved problems, conflicts or issues within a sexual and emotional relationship
• anxiety about sexual performance (this is most common at the start of a new relationship, especially if a man has had previous problems with sexual performance)
• stress
• problems with mental health such as depression

It is common for a man who is impotent to be affect by a combination of physical and psychological causes.

Erectile dysfunction treatments

Your doctor will first treat any health conditions that may be causing your erectile dysfunction.

You may need treatment for both physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. Although it usually can’t be completely cured, there are treatments that will allow you to get an erection so you can have sex.

For physical causes, your doctor will usually suggest medicine. Other treatment options include a penis pump, implants, injections or surgery.

Treating erectile dysfunction that is caused by psychological factors could involve counselling, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, or sex therapy undertaken with your partner.

Buying medicines for erectile dysfunction

Medicines for erection problems should be obtained only from an authorised Australian prescriber, such as your doctor, specialist nurse or erectile specialist.

Medicines bought on the internet may be of poor quality and may contain ingredients that are not safe when taken in combination with other medicines you are on. They may also be unsafe due to other health problems you have.

If you are worried that you might have been sold counterfeit (fake) medicines, then report it to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Tips to Maintain Both Physical and Mental Health

Tips to Maintain Both Physical and Mental Health

Mental health or physical health? Let’s look at what each means first. The mental/emotional health of a person is how well he can manage himself psychologically. That includes how well you manage your relationships, how you feel about yourself and how you manage difficult situations.

Physical health, on the other hand, is the state in which a person is physically fit. That is determined by actively you participate in activities and how much work/exercise is part of your daily routine.

Importance of mental health

Better physical health

The connection between the mind and the body is very strong. When you are experiencing physical pain, your work life, and your family life, both will be effected negatively. This can lead to anxiety and depression. When a person who is experiencing mental and physical problems, goes to see a doctor, the doctor will mostly focus on the physical complaint of the patient. However, if the mental health problem is resolved, patients experience an improvement in their physical health as well.

Less stress on the family

If a person in a family has any mental illness, the other individuals of that family will be affected by it too. For example, the children of a person with an unstable mental health condition are more likely to be abused and neglected than others. As they can’t approach their parents for help, they seek it elsewhere and eventually isolate themselves.

A longer life

Mental health issues can result in a decrease in your life span.  Since mental health issues result in depression and anxiety, they often lead to fatal heart diseases. So, take good care of your body as well as your mind, not just to live a longer but, also a better life.

Types of mental health problems

Stress and anxiety

This can affect you mentally and physically as well. It gets harder to concentrate and make decisions; you lose your tendency to control your temper and keep your sense of humor.

Depression

This is a lot more common than you think. You know you are depressed when you feel hopeless and worthless. Losing your appetite and avoiding your friends is also a sign that you are depressed.

Self-harm

This is the kind of mental health issue in which people injure themselves and see it as a way to deal with their problems. People with this mental health issue cut and burn themselves.

Psychosis

Psychosis is the kind of mental health issue that affects how a person thinks. Sometimes you may just have one episode and never experience it again, but sometimes it may continue over a long time. It is advised to see a psychologist if you are facing this kind of mental health issue. Symptoms include very high or low mood swings and feelings of agitation.

Eating disorder

You probably did not know that an eating disorder is also considered a mental health issue. You would have heard of the word ‘Anorexia’, which is associated with being too underweight. In this disorder, food is the way that people see to cope with problems. You will have difficulty-sleeping, feel cold more often than usual, feel more tired than normal, and have mood swings.

Link between mental health and physical health

According to research, there is a 67% increase in deaths due to heart diseases, which are linked to depression. This is due to people with mental health issues not getting proper physical health care attention. Good physical health helps and maintains good mental health.

Good physical health is proved to reduce anxiety. We all know the old saying “When you look good, you feel good.” Exercising is a mood enhancer so if you are a person who has a regular exercise you would have encountered a stability in your mood. A 10-minutes yoga practice every morning is a very good to boost up your body in a lighter way. 

A person with mental health who is also facing physical health issues is very likely to avoid social interaction. It has been proven that physical health issues often interfere with the treatment of depression.

How to improve your mental and physical health

· Maintain a good eating habit; balanced diet

· You should exercise at least 3 to 4 times a week for 45 minutes

· Spend time with those people who care about you

· Try to do things that are achievable

· Get proper 6-7 hours of sleep so that when you wake up, you feel fresh

· Make time for activities that you enjoy

The truth that can’t be neglected is that physical health can’t be separated from mental health. A person’s daily life is interrupted when a person is not mentally stable. So, pay attention to your mental health and do your best to maintain it. This will not only benefit the people around you and help you have good relationships but also support good physical health.

Psychological and physical measures can be taken to enhance your mental health. Obviously, you can always consult a psychologist in times of need but when you can be your helper then why consult others? Keep your life right by making the right decisions.

How To Quit Smoking And Drinking Habits just In 30 Days?

How To Quit Smoking And Drinking Habits just In 30 Days?

Every year we see about thousands of death due to alcohol and smoking and drugs, we see even the youngsters and other people falling into this trap where it is hard to turn back. Alcohol is a dangerous substance that affects our body and it is a drug that is served everywhere with a prescription if you are above 25,alcohol affects one not only physically but mentally also, it can harm one so much that can take ones life. Every year there are more and more people becoming addicted to alcohol even though knowing its harmful effects and written on each and every bottle of its that it is injurious to health people easily ignore it and take it. Alcohol if consumed in a large quantity more than one’s capacity can be fatal as mentioned above also as alcohol through blood moves to many parts of the body including brain, kidney, lungs and heart and causing related diseases. Also while drinking alcohol food plays a major role as in alcohol gets mixed with the blood and if you have a lot if food in your stomach than it gets absorbed by that food in your stomach otherwise it will be mixed with the blood and will make your body toxicities fast. same is with the weight a person who is larger in size or weight more will have much capacity and water where as a person in smaller size has less water for the alcohol to dilute .Alcohol has taken many lives and is still taking, when a person gets addicted to alcohol drinking than he is said an alcoholic.

1. One can see a person is changed to an alcoholic if you see signs like these-

2. when you cannot start your day without alcohol

3. drinking round the clock, morning, evening or during the work

4. wanting to go where it is present and avoiding the places where it is not

5. choosing a friend circle where there are people who always drink

6. need alcohol to work in everyday life

7. increased depression, and other emotional issues

A person drinking alcohol can put them in risk and can also put others in risk as well, individuals when drink also lose control over their mind and because of this can even risks their lives also and make others go face problems as well

Spotting all these risks and problems associated with drinking addiction it becomes important to treat alcohol addiction. There are various different capsules and powder to stop drinking alcohol is available in market.

Smoking- Now if we talk about smoking it is another harmful drug, as shown in mass media that it is a normal thing has promoted the tobacco use among the youth, the habit if smoking comes from parents also as the child learns from their parents and also sometimes can be genetic. It is a drug that toxicates our body and again if consumed more can cause death. Intake of tobacco, alcohol and all other varieties of drugs has severely affected the life of individuals giving various kinds of diseases, taking their lives and in fact making them handicapped, we see people having mouth cancer, lung cancer, causing bronchitis and also suffering from leprosy. There are again many natural called anti smoking drugs in ayurvedaprovided in market to get rid of this habit.

As we see smoking and drinking and other drugs have ruined many lives, and can be treated by using ayurvedic powdertostop drinking alcohol and ayurvedic anti smoking drugs in ayurvedaand both can be claimed in one product called the addiction killer ayurvedic medicines for anti smoking and drinking. The addiction killer is totally harmless and has no side effects, its highlighted feature is that it makes you quit your addiction of bad drugs in just 30 days; it’s a 30 day challenge to take you out from the world of bad practices.

Addiction killer is an odorless and tasteless ayurvedic medicine that works by changing the taste buds of the addict and then next time when the addict tries to smoke or takes a sip of alcohol he starts disliking its taste and smell and that leads the addict to antismoking drugs ayurveda way and quit drinking alcohol. Instead of taking powder to stop drinking alcohol.One can go for these tablets and see change in a month.

Anti-worm drug inhibits tumor growth and spread in mice

Anti-worm drug inhibits tumor growth and spread in mice

Researchers at UNSW Sydney have discovered that a drug used for almost 40 years to treat worm infections in humans and animals can be used to inhibit melanoma growth and spread in mice. Credit: University of New South Wales

Researchers at UNSW Sydney have discovered that a drug used for almost 40 years to treat worm infections in humans and animals can be used to inhibit melanoma growth and spread in mice.

The drug, which is available over-the-counter in Europe, is a so-called anthelmintic used to control parasitic infections.

The researchers found that the drug, flubendazole, inhibits growth and metastasis of human tumors grown in mice. The finding is the result of a 3-year collaboration between researchers at UNSW and in the United States.

Lead author of the study Professor Levon Khachigian said, “We were surprised to discover that flubendazole’s anti-tumor effects involve its inhibition of a cell surface protein called programmed cell death protein-1 or PD-1.”

“When PD-1 is bound to another protein called PD-L1, it helps stop the immune system from killing cancer cells.

“PD-1 suppression releases the brakes on the immune systemand allows immune cells to find and destroy tumors.”

“These studies associate flubendazole with PD-1 in an experimental system.”

Treatment for melanoma has changed dramatically in recent years, with improvements in immunotherapy and the introduction of PD-1 inhibitors.

However, currently all clinically available PD-1 inhibitors are antibodies, requiring patients to undergo intravenous infusion, typically once every 3 weeks. Unfortunately, significant challenges remain: many patients do not respond to existing PD-1 inhibitors or the response is not sustained.

No small molecule alternatives to antibody-based checkpoint inhibitors are clinically available, although a number are under development and one is currently being assessed in clinical trials.

The research has found that in mice, flubendazole is a novel small molecule inhibitor of PD-1.

Professor Khachigian said, “Patients on small molecule PD-1 inhibitors could potentially be dosed as outpatients. This would mean greater convenience, avoidance of intravenous administration and cost savings for chemotherapy units.”

Professor Khachigian adds caution. “Whilst flubendazole is an old drug, its use as a treatment for melanoma has not yet been tested in human trials. There is no regulatory approval for use of flubendazole for cancer patients, and thus it is not available for this indication. Patients should continue seeking the advice of their health professional.”

What are anticoagulants?

What are anticoagulants?

Anticoagulants are substances that work against (anti-) the process of blood clotting (coagulation).

How blood clotting occurs

Coagulation or blood clotting is the body’s protective mechanism against bleeding. When damage occurs to a blood vessel, a series of reactions take place involving substances known as clotting factors. They are called this because they contribute to the formation of a blood clot.

Clottingfactors are normally found circulating in the blood. Most clotting factors are proteins produced by the liver that circulate in the blood in an inactive form. When one factor is activated, for example by damage to a blood vessel wall, it functions as an enzyme, activating the next clotting factor in the pathway. The final step in clotting results in the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin is a protein that adheres to blood vessel walls. When activated, fibrin sticks to the blood vessel wall and traps blood cells (including platelets) as they pass, forming a mass that seals the damage in the blood vessel.

When are anticoagulants used?

Normally, clotting only occurs when there is blood loss from a damaged blood vessel. However, there are several conditions that can cause blood clots to form in the absence of active bleeding. When this occurs, a person may be at an increased risk of thromboembolic disease. In thromboembolicdisease, fragments of blood clots dislodge and circulate in the blood, potentially obstructing blood vessels in the lungs and causing pulmonary embolism, or vessels in the heart and causing heart attack, or in the brain and causing stroke. The outcomes of these conditions may be very poor. Therefore, where this risk is high, anticoagulants are used to minimise the risk.

Anticoagulants can be used in the treatment of several conditions, including:

• Atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias (abnormally fast or irregular heartbeats);
• Venous thromboembolism (when a blood clot has formed in the veins);
• Prosthetic heart valves (used to replace damaged heart valves);
• After surgery (in the days/weeks following surgery, there is an increased risk of blood clots forming);
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (an autoimmune condition which predisposes individuals to form blood clots);
• Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed, leading to anaemia and, in some cases, red urine upon waking); and
• Solid cancers (cancer is a risk factor for the formation of blood clots).

Symptoms of Cataracts

Symptoms of Cataracts

Could you have cataracts?

You use the lens of your eye every day, for everything from reading to driving to bird watching. With age, the proteins inside your lens can clump together turning the lens from clear to cloudy. Certain behaviors can put you at a higher risk for getting a cataract. These include:

• too much time in the sun without eye protection
• smoking
• high blood sugar
• using steroid medications
• exposure to radiation

But you aren’t alone. Over 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataractsTrusted Source in one or both eyes, and 6 million have had corrective surgery. If you have any of the following symptoms, talk to your eye doctor soon.

No more wild nights

As cataracts become more advanced, they begin to darken with a yellow or brown tinge.

This begins to affect night vision and makes certain nighttime activities, such as driving, more difficult. In fact, a study from Curtin University in Australia found that treating cataracts reduced the risk of car accidents by 13 percent.

If you suspect you have cataracts, be very careful at night and don’t drive when your vision is compromised.

The glare of bright lights

Light sensitivity is a common symptom of cataracts. The glare of bright lights can be painful, especially to those with posterior subcapsular cataracts, according to the Mayo Clinic. These types of cataracts start at the back of the lens, blocking the path of light and often interfere with your reading vision.

Halos everywhere?

The clouding of the lens can result in diffraction of light entering your eye. This can cause a halo to appear around light sources. Rings around every light, sometimes in a variety of colors, can make driving very difficult. This is another reason why driving at night, especially when there are streetlights and headlights, can be dangerous if you have a cataract.

New glasses again

If you find yourself frequently needing stronger glasses or contacts, you may have cataracts. Simply buying a strong pair of reading glasses from the drugstore isn’t going to fix the problem. See an eye doctor if your eyesight is changing rapidly. You may have cataracts or another eye condition that will benefit with prompt treatment.

Living in a yellow submarine

As cataracts progress, the clumps of protein clouding your lens may turn yellow or brownish. This results in all the light coming into your eye having a yellow tint. It’s almost as though you are wearing “blue-blocker” sunglasses, as advertised on TV, which block blue and violet light. This changes how you see color and reduces your ability to tell the difference between colors.

After corrective surgery for cataracts, you may be surprised to see the world with all of its colors again!

Double trouble

Diffraction from the lens clouding in a cataract can actually lead you to see two or more images of a single object. Many things can cause double vision, also called diplopia, including:

• brain tumor
• corneal swelling
• multiple sclerosis
• stroke
• cataracts

Binocular double vision, which causes two images to be visible only if both eyes are open, can be a sign of serious health concerns, including:

• brain injury
• uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension
• Graves’ disease
• myasthenia gravis

 Monocular double vision, which causes multiple images to appear in one eye but not the other, is more likely to be an issue with your eye’s cornea or lens. Cataracts is a common cause of diplopia. As the cataract grows larger, this effect may go away.

ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

Alcoholic liver disease is a condition in which liver is damaged secondary to alcohol intake. The severity of the disease varies and ranges from hepatitis to progressive and end stage liver disease and cirrhosis.

Alcohol is the leading cause of fatty liver disease in young and is associated with unhealthy food habits & lifestyle.  Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver becomes scarred and the damage is irreversible and the symptoms include:

• Jaundice
• Hepatitis
• Swelling over abdomen & feet
• Bleeding, unconsciousness & altered behavior
• Generalised weakness and
• Easy fatigability resulting in significant loss of physical health, professional competence and psychological disturbances

Alcohol is the most common cause of liver disease in India accounting to 40% of all causes. Usually the habit starts in young population (in 20s and 30s) who become alcohol-dependent at a very early age. The psychological effects are evident, very early, with behavioural changes like agitation, temper tantrums etc. Prolonged alcohol intake leads to advanced liver damage and usually these patients present in their fourth and fifth decade of life. Many of these patients require repeated hospitalizations with significant loss of productivity. Even liver transplantation is needed in many patients.

The liver damage caused by alcohol is related to the amount and duration of alcohol intake. Alcohol not only affects the individual but the whole family both psychologically and financially. These patients are also prone to develop other diseases like heart disease, vitamin deficiencies, kidney disease, weakness, infertility etc.

Alcohol is more damaging to women who are affected early and by lesser amounts of alcohol as compared to men. There are many common myths about safe alcohol drinking but none of them is true, there is no safe limit, fasting or full stomach drinking doesn’t matter.

Alcohol is the most socially acceptable liver poison. Alcoholic liver disease is a very common medical and social issue in India. It equally affects rich and poor; females are more prone to adverse effects of alcohol. It causes significant loss of physical, mental and social health and affects the whole family. Avoiding alcohol and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and food habits will help in preventing fatty liver and advanced liver disease.