An infrequent impediment for young children and often a sign of an underlying illness, it might not be pleasant to watch but every parent must expect it to occur. But what is a fever? Continue reading →
Young person’s mental health
Children and young people are just as likely to suffer from mental health problems as adults. Although psychotic conditions are rarer among young people, some diseases, such as schizophrenia, first show themselves in the late teens or early twenties. Children and teenagers are more likely to be diagnosed with conditions such as depression or anxiety, as exam pressures or social factors, influence their self esteem.
Eating disorders
Although eating disorders can affect people of any age, they are very prevalent among teens and young adults. Although they used to mainly be seen in girls, boys are now succumbing to media pressures to look good and are increasingly struggling with anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia is not just an eating disorder, but is also a major mental health problem. It is not just about starving yourself to lose weight, but a significant problem with body image. Anorexics believe they are fat, no matter what they see in the mirror or what friends and family tell them. This can develop into a phobia of putting on weight or eating which means that the sufferer slowly starves to death. Treatment for anorexia is both psychological and physical, the mental health problems need to be dealt with before the patient can start to put on weight safely. Bulimia is another eating disorder, which is also considered to be a mental health problem. Young people with bulimia try to control their weight by binge eating before making themselves sick or using laxatives. Symptoms not only include weight loss, but also depression while the forced vomiting can cause damage to your teeth. Treatment, again, needs to be both psychological as well as physical, with therapists attempting to rebuild the patient’s damaged relationship with food.
Self-harm
Self-harm is most common amongst teenagers and young people, and is more common in girls than boys. It is a way of coping with emotional problems and stress, rather than a serious attempt at suicide. Types of self harm can include cutting or burning the skin, while alcohol or substance abuse can, in some cases, be described as self harm. Recent statistics show that 6% of 15 -year-olds have self harmed at least once in their lives. While the most common age to start self harming is between 15 and 19, some children as young as 11 have been diagnosed as suffering from this mental health problem. While the actual wounds or damage can be treated quite simply, it is important that the reasons why the teenager or young person has felt the need to self harm are examined by a mental health professional. Counselling or therapy can help teach them technique to better deal with their emotional problems, rather than resorting to self harm.
Dental insurance
Many people in the UK do not have dental insurance because they rely on NHS dental care. However, figures show that dental insurance is becoming more popular.
Why is it beneficial to have dental insurance?
It is not essential to have dental insurance in the UK but it can be beneficial, especially if you need to have complex treatment which can be very expensive. There are many different dental insurance policies available and they offer different levels of cover. You can take out policies that cover both NHS and private dental care or choose specific policies that cover one or the other. If you choose to have private dental care the fees may be very expensive, so it is well worth getting a dental policy that covers the cost. Dental policies are available from a few pounds each month and many people get insurance as part of their employee benefits package.
Private dentists often offer a larger range of treatments, including cosmetic dental treatments. The practices are often more modern and cosmopolitan and there is rarely a waiting list. Many treatments are not available on the NHS, as the NHS only covers treatments that are essential for good oral health. Dental insurance policies can also cover NHS treatment, which can be very beneficial if you struggle financially, as complex treatments can cost up to £200 and you may need treatment out of the blue. An insurance policy will cover the cost of the treatment and this will enable you to attend regular check-ups, which will help to improve your oral health and prevent more serious problems.
Which policy should I choose?
There are so many different policies and providers and this can make it very difficult to choose the right policy. You may get confused about which policy to go for and it can be difficult to compare policies and what they offer for your money. In order to find the best policy, it is important to shop around. You can do this by reading dental and medical blogs, using comparison websites, talking to a financial adviser and calling the providers directly. Choose the cover which best suits your individual needs. You can pay as much or as little as you want depending on the level of cover you want but make sure any treatment you want to have is covered by the policy before you go ahead and have it. If your treatment is not covered by the policy then you will be liable for the costs.
Cancer research
Cancer is a very common condition. Almost 300,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the UK every year and 1 in 3 people will be affected by cancer. Cancer is a serious disease, which kills thousands of people every year. However, thanks to research and advances in technology and science, more and more people are surviving cancer.
Why is research so important?
Research is vital. It literally makes the difference between life and death. The aims of cancer research projects are varied but all programmes and projects work towards the same goal: to find a cure for cancer. There is currently no cure for cancer and thousands of people die from the disease every year. As a result of this, research is extremely important. Research is used to determine causes and risk factors, trial new treatments and find treatments that are safe and more effective than those currently used to treat cancer patients and identify ways of preventing cancer. Research is also important for introducing screening programmes and allowing doctors to test for cancer.
What kinds of cancer research projects are carried out?
There are hundreds of different cancer research projects being carried out across the world at the moment. Projects may focus on many different aspects of cancer, including causes and risk factors, symptoms, treatments, side-effects of different treatments, complications, screening and prevention. There are different types of research study. Some are focused on theoretical research, while others focus on practice. Clinical trials are perhaps the most commonly known form of research project.
How is research funded?
Research projects are funded by a variety of different means. Projects may be funded by academic institutions, organisations, charities and benefactors. You can donate to charities to help fund research projects in a variety of different ways, to making a one-off donation and setting up a direct debit to doing a sponsored run, cycle or climb, for example.
How can I find out about cancer research?
The easiest way to find out about cancer research is to search online. Charities offer a wealth of information about cancer research and cancer in general, and there are also medical blogs, which provide information about funding, research projects and medical issues related to cancer.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a long-term psychotic mental health problem, that is characterised by a number of alarming symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. In fact, doctors define patients with psychotic mental illnesses as those who are unable to distinguish between their own thoughts and the real world. It is one of the more common serious mental health problems, suffered by around one in 100 people in the UK, with both sexes affected equally, though the symptoms start at different ages between men and women. In men, the first signs of schizophrenia usually start between the ages of 15 and 30, with the problems in women emerging later, in their twenties and thirties.
Causes and symptoms
There are several factors that researchers believe are responsible for people developing schizophrenia. These include genetics, as people with a history of schizophrenia in their families are more likely to suffer from the disease, and changes in the levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brains. Birth complications, infections and brain injury are also thought to be contributory factors. Even if someone if genetically disposed to developing schizophrenia, sufferers will not necessarily become schizophrenic, without a trigger event, such as stress or even drug abuse. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be described as positive or negative, the positive ones are hallucinations and delusions, while the negative ones are changes in behaviour which cause the sufferer to withdraw emotionally from friends and family.
Diagnosis and treatment
If you are worried that you might have schizophrenia, then it is important that you are diagnosed as soon as possible. The treatment for schizophrenia is more effective if it is started early in the condition’s development. Your GP will refer you to a mental health specialist who will try and diagnose your symptoms using a check-list, there is no medical test for schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions. Because of the nature of the symptoms, a schizophrenic many not realise or accept that they need help, so friends or family may have to intervene on their behalf. Treatment for schizophrenia will involve a combination of anti-psychotic medicines, that the patient may have to take for the rest of their lives, and talking therapies with their counsellor. The patient will often have to build up a close relationship with their counsellor as trust is very important in dealing with someone who can be delusional.
Misconceptions
There are plenty of misconceptions and misunderstandings about schizophrenia, which can often make people who are suffering from psychotic symptoms unwilling to seek help or reluctant to tell people that they have been diagnosed as suffering from this condition. Sometimes, schizophrenia is referred to as split personality disorder suggesting that sufferers are normal one minute and out of control the next. This is not the case and a more accurate description of the disease would be to say that patients experience episodes of disorder. Another misconception is that people with schizophrenia are more likely to be violent or commit violent crimes. Although there have been some high-profile cases when schizophrenics have been linked to episodes of violent crime, more crimes are committed by people under the influence of alcohol or in relation to substance abuse than by people suffering from schizophrenia.
Solutions to dry skin for diabetics
Why does diabetes cause dry skin?
People who suffer from diabetes are prone to skin conditions. Often, diabetes can cause dry skin because the body loses fluid as a result of high blood glucose. The skin becomes hydrated because the body uses most of its water supplies to make urine to remove excess glucose from the body. Skin on the legs, feet and elbows is commonly affected by dryness and dehydration. When the skin is very dry, it can start to crack and this can increase the risk of an infection, as bacteria can enter through the cracks. Infections can become worse if blood glucose levels are elevated.
What are the best solutions for dry skin?
The most effective way of preventing dry skin is to keep on top of your blood glucose levels. Follow the advice of your doctor and keep an eye on your diet. If you are advised to measure your blood glucose levels on a regular basis, make sure you do this. There are various tips for preventing dry skin available on medical blogs but the most effective solutions are outlined below.
Other solutions for dry skin include:
- Avoid touching or itching patches of cracked or dry skin; this will make the skin more irritated and can also increase the risk of an infection, as bacteria can enter the body through cracks in the skin.
- Use a good moisturiser: even healthy skin requires regular moisturising, so moisturisation is particularly important for dry skin. Try to avoid using creams that are heavily scented and perfumed, as these can irritate the skin. Ask your GP for advice about moisturising creams; you may be advised to use a special type of lotion.
- Keep clean: wash your body on a regular basis.
- Use foot lotion: diabetics are prone to suffering from dry feet and other foot problems, which can potentially be very serious. Make sure you take care of your feet; use foot scrubs and lotions to soothe and moisturise your feet; you can also buy special socks to protect your feet and boost circulation.
- Use talcum powder to prevent chafing and soreness; this is particularly beneficial for the armpits and groin area.
- Wear gloves if you are doing activities that may wear the skin on your hands, such as gardening.
- Keep an eye on your skin and see your doctor if you notice changes or the development of anything abnormal or painful.
