Depression – Types, Symptoms, and More

Depression – Types, Symptoms, and More

Despite the increased incidence of depression among children, young adults, and adults, many still fail to recognize its early warning signs and symptoms. Depression can occur spontaneously or appear as a reaction to stress and anxiety brought on by unfortunate life events. The symptoms can happen once, be repetitive, or worsen into severe depression. After evaluation, a primary physician will spot the symptoms of depression and refer one to a certified mental health professional.

Types of depression and their symptoms
Naturally, unfortunate incidents like the unexpected or sudden loss of a loved one, financial loss, or poor performance at school, college, or the workplace can make a person feel sad, anxious, and demotivated. These feelings typically last for a few days, and a person returns to normalcy and participates in regular life activities. However, if a person feels sad with or without an apparent cause, so much that they stop enjoying things around them, or if their mood interferes with daily life chores, it could be a depressive disorder. There are various types of depressive disorders; knowing each can help you detect them in yourself or a loved one. Depressive disorders, also recognized as mood disorders, are of three primary types: major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. These disorders can impact individuals of any age, including children, young teenagers, adults, and more senior adults.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and its symptoms
Major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression is the severest form of depression. MDD severely impairs a person’s ability to eat, work, study, sleep, or perform regular activities. MDD may happen once or twice in a person’s lifetime, or they may have frequent episodes. For example, a doctor diagnoses a person with MDD if a patient has at least five of the following symptoms: Feeling sad nearly every day; losing interest in their favorite foods, activities, or hobbies; feeling guilty, unworthy, or helpless; experiencing fatigue, concentration issues, indecisiveness, unable to sleep in the night or excessive sleep, lack of appetite or overeating, restlessness, and irritability.

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
A person is said to have a persistent depressive disorder (PDD) when the depression is chronic and lasts for more than two years. The symptoms of PDD are mild and less severe than that of MDD. PDD can affect anyone, irrespective of age and gender. Typical symptoms of PDD are feeling exhausted without an apparent cause, worthlessness and guilt, wanting to isolate from everyone, lack of energy, low-self esteem, dip in performance at school, college, or workplace, sleeping trouble, and oversleeping. Moreover, people with PDD can also go through one or two episodes of MDD.

Bipolar disorder and its symptoms
Mood swings between severe or mild episodes of depression to extreme highs characterize bipolar disorder or manic depression. An individual’s behavior changes dramatically according to their mood and can last for days or weeks. The episodes can happen distinctly, or the symptoms of mania and depression can occur simultaneously. Also, the change from one mood to another can happen over days or abruptly. Between these mood swings, they may sometimes be normal too. Common symptoms of bipolar disorder are agitation, disturbed sleep patterns, overeating or not eating, and psychosis – where patients begin to see or hear things or people who don’t exist. Furthermore, disturbed individuals also stop taking care of themselves.

Symptoms of the manic phase in bipolar disorder are:
In a manic phase, a patient may experience elevated moods, irritability, and more primary symptoms that occur daily for more than a week. Doctors will look for four additional signs and irritable moods to diagnose someone experiencing a manic phase. The symptoms include increased energy and activity, restlessness, extreme irritability, fast speech, racing thoughts, moving from one idea to another, believing they have extraordinary abilities and powers, spending impulsively, and increased sexual desire. In addition, some may exhibit aggressive and intrusive behavior.

A manic phase can be followed by an episode of depression, where they may exhibit five or more primary signs of depression every day for two weeks. Symptoms of a depressive episode are persistent sadness, pessimism, constant crying, feeling guilty and worthless, losing interest in doing their favorite things and activities, loss of libido and a reduced sexual desire, inability to concentrate or make decisions, fatigue, restlessness, extreme irritability, change in appetite, and a sudden increase or decrease in BMI.

Depression in children, adolescents, and teens
Young children, teenagers, and young adults are at risk of depression due to stress arising from academic expectations or if they have been exposed to familial discord, divorce, physical or verbal harassment, bullying, relocation, and sudden social changes. Some of the common symptoms of depression in children are persistent sadness for more than two weeks, inability to feel pleasure, lack of interest in games or hobbies that they usually enjoy, dip in academic performance and grades, picking up fights in school, lack of interest in going to school, sleep troubles – either they sleep too little or too much, feeling angry and irritable, unpredictable mood swings, frequent crying, feeling guilty and worthless, low self-esteem, frequent complaints of pains and aches, lack of appetite or overeating, and frequent digestive problems.

Postpartum Depression
Depression after childbirth is called postpartum depression, symptoms of which may last for a year or more. While most women may have mild symptoms, a few may progress to exhibit signs of MDD. Symptoms are likely to begin within a month of childbirth. Common symptoms of postpartum depression include persistent sadness, loss of interest and pleasure in things and activities they enjoy, fatigue, lack of appetite, a sudden increase in appetite, too less or too much sleep, restlessness, feeling guilty and unworthy, anxiety, and an inability to concentrate or make simple decisions.

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Known Signs of Hemophilia and Anemia

Bleeding disorders refer to a group of conditions like hemophilia or anemia that interfere with normal blood functions in the body. Hemophilia affects the ability of the blood cells to clot naturally, while anemia lowers hemoglobin count in the red blood cells. These conditions exhibit a unique set of symptoms that can be identified. Early diagnosis helps doctors form a viable healthcare plan. So, it pays to know and identify the following symptoms. Hemophilia and Anemia: Understanding the difference Both conditions are common bleeding disorders. However, anemia & hemophilia signs are distinctly different from each other when it comes to the disease progression. The latter is a genetic disorder that affects the red blood cell’s ability to clot and close wounds. Certain clotting factors in the blood bind with the red blood cells to prevent uncontrolled bleeding. Anemia is a condition where the body lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells in the first place. Also, a low hemoglobin count affects the red blood cell’s ability to carry oxygen to vital organs and extremities via the circulatory system. Genetic mutation triggers most known types of hemophilia, while certain nutritional deficiencies in the body trigger common forms of anemia. Symptoms of hemophilia The absence of essential clotting factors in the blood can trigger a variety of noticeable and unusual symptoms. Uncontrolled bleeding Bleeding is one of the primary symptoms of hemophilia. It can happen under the skin or in the joints. As the red blood cells are unable to bind and clot, this pool of blood can trigger swelling, pain, and tightness in the joints. This symptom is most commonly noticeable in the knees, elbows, and ankles. Blood collecting under the skin can lead to buildups under the muscle and soft tissue to cause more painful bruising. This symptom is called hematoma in medical terminology. Frequent nosebleeds When the bleeding is triggered externally, it can result in frequent nosebleeds that can be difficult to stop. Note that external environmental factors and physical injuries generally cause nosebleeds. So, any unexplained bleeding could indicate a developing condition. Bleeding caused due to cuts, bruises, and vaccinations Lack of essential clotting factor VIII can trigger bleeding from the lightest of impacts, cuts, bruises, or even after losing a tooth. Some people experience sudden bleeding after taking a vaccination. This could be the body’s reaction to producing antibodies, but the strain could be too much to bear, resulting in bleeding from the extremities. Blood in urine or stool Excess blood in the urine or stool is a clear sign of disease progression. The urine and stools appear dark red or even blackish due to the presence of red blood cells mixed with the excreta. Immediate medical assistance is advisable for visual symptoms. Bleeding in infants Complicated pregnancies can be physically taxing for both the mother and the child leading to possible symptoms of hemophilia at birth. But in some rare cases, infants may experience internal bleeding in the head. Symptoms of anemia The most common types of anemia, including iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemia, develop due to the lack of nutrients in the body. Therefore, anemia exhibits more physically taxing symptoms as the condition worsens. Tiredness Increased fatigue and weakness for no apparent reason is one of the main indicators of nutritional deficiencies. An unexplained decrease in overall stamina with no physical exertion or any activity during the day could mean low iron in the blood. Without iron, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells. And low hemoglobin means not enough oxygen is being circulated around vital organs in the body, thus resulting in fatigue induced by low energy levels. Respiratory symptoms Experiencing shortness of breath, chest pains, and even noticing an irregular heartbeat could indicate a possible anemic condition. An iron deficiency lowers hemoglobin count, and this means not enough oxygen is being circulated by the blood. Low hemoglobin affects the breathing rate as the body struggles to extract more oxygen resulting in shortness of breath. The heart must also put in extra efforts to pump the low hemoglobin blood forcefully, thus resulting in irregular heartbeats. Doctors refer to this condition as heart palpitations. These symptoms can also induce chest pains due to the sheer stress being put on the organ. Pale skin and damaged hair Skin and hair symptoms are visible indicators of a developing anemia condition. An iron deficiency results in low red blood cell production and indirectly affects the shade of the skin. Pale skin is noticeably visible around the face, gums, lower lips, lower eyelids, and even on the nails. This symptom is more visually obvious among people who flaunt a lighter skin tone. Also, hair thinning, hair fall, and a damaged scalp is a clear sign of iron deficiency. Treatment options Note that anemia & hemophilia signs never overlap. Once the primary indicators are confirmed, doctors quickly suggest blood tests to identify the leading causes or triggers. Knowing the differences can help with prompt diagnosis even though both the conditions are bleeding disorders. It is even possible to recover from common forms of anemia within 2 to 3 months. Hemophilia is a more serious bleeding disorder that is treated by introducing the missing clotting factors. Doctors also suggest prescriptions that help stimulate the body to release more clotting factors. However, a transfusion offers more promising results for moderate to severe progression. Effective preventive measures and home remedies can help lower the risk of bleeding. These conditions cannot be completely cured. But it is possible to improve the quality of life by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits. Prescriptions and treatments only help slow down the disease progression.

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11 Practical Tips for Managing Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling that something will go wrong when preparing for an activity or event. Feeling anxious is normal and can sometimes help as it can help you work towards perfection. However, for some people, anxiety can last long, and they may experience intense symptoms for many hours or days. They often sense danger where there is none or face difficulty sleeping. When these symptoms last a long time, it leads to anxiety disorder. Impact of anxiety The perception of impending danger, even though there is none, directly affects one's bodily functions. If the symptoms are short-lived, there is no danger at all. However, if the symptoms last more than a few weeks, they can affect our thoughts, behavior, and emotions. The impact on these functions depends on the intensity of the symptoms a person feels. Cognitive Anxiety impacts how we think. Your mind could immediately worry about the threat, and you could be upset or feel threatened with anxiety. Physical Some physical reactions you may feel when you are anxious includes increased heart rate, nervous tics like shaking legs or picking nails, muscle tension, increased tension, tremors, breathlessness, nausea, freezing, and blanking out. Behavior When you are anxious, your behavior can change by either doing something new or avoiding things you have been doing so far. For example, a few common behavioral changes you may notice when you are anxious are avoidance, moping, isolation or staying inside the house, tensing, avoiding eye contact, sleep disturbance, compulsive behavior, feeling guilty, and negative self-talk. Tips for managing anxiety When people become anxious, they think less clearly, and the vicious circle continues until every safe situation seems dangerous. Knowing that it triggers cognitive, behavioral, and physical changes, you worry about that too, which doubles anxiety. Psychiatrists have worked out some tips to help people with anxiety disorders so that they can recognize what is making them anxious, detect the symptoms and slowly work on reducing the anxiousness. Follow these eleven tips and get over anxiety step by step. Learning more about anxiety Talk to your therapist or read more about anxiety. Anxiety is normal for everyone, and our body warns us about imminent danger. The problem arises when you perceive a threat when there is none. Understand the crucial facts about anxiety disorders. Once you know it is a curable condition with much scope for self-help, it can give you the confidence to overcome your anxiety. Learning more about anxiety can be the first step towards tackling it head-on. Recognizing and challenging unhelpful thoughts Some classic examples of unhelpful thoughts are, 'I may fail,' 'Everyone will ignore me,' 'They think I am crazy,' or 'Something terrible is going to happen now.' People with anxiety tend to focus on these negative thoughts and start worrying, and it keeps growing. Identify such thoughts and assumptions and jot them down in a journal. Challenge these negative thoughts, ask yourself multiple questions, answer them honestly and change your behavior. When you do this repeatedly every time you feel anxious, you can identify such negative thoughts right at the root and discard them. Sharpening problem-solving skills Too much anxiety impairs your problem-solving ability. To avoid such situations, identify the problem immediately and list possible solutions. However, you can execute such solutions with conviction since you develop them independently. Being prepared with a solution is a definite way to reduce worry. Worrying is worthless Keep convincing yourself that worrying has no practical benefits. You tend to worry because you believe that it is good to worry. Once you determine nervousness is worthless, your attachment to it reduces, and you can focus more on what you need to do. Recognizing your worry Maintain a journal where you can note the things you worry about most. Identifying the triggers of anxiety is an essential step toward fighting it. Categorizing your worries Go through your journal and classify the worries into real and hypothetical problems. Identify the concerns that you can control and the ones you cannot. For example, while you can manage your project outcome, you cannot control when your flight lands. Classifying the worries you face helps you to teach what problems are worth worrying about and what are not. Learn to stop worrying Set 10-15 minutes of your time to think about your worries and make a commitment you will not worry about anything that happens outside of this time. Note down the concerns that you have during that time and list out possible solutions. Once you learn to control the things you need to worry about, you will eventually stop worrying. Learn to breathe and relax People experiencing anxiety may notice that their heartbeat quickens when they get anxious, which is the body's natural response to stress. Try breathing in counts of four or five for five minutes. It will help you cool down and calm your heart. You can also practice tensing and relaxing your muscles a few times; it helps reduce overall tension and help you relax. Getting comfortable with uncertainty Uncertainty of outcomes is one of the biggest anxiety triggers and makes you worry. Get comfortable with uncertainty so that the pressure of a favorable outcome reduces. Change your behavior by stopping to check things often, asking for others' help and opinions, and trying to delegate simple tasks to others. As you slowly stop focusing on outcomes, it automatically makes you worry less and, in turn, reduces anxiety. Facing your fears Self-help, along with the guidance of counselors, is the best way to beat anxiety. Watch closely, observe the improvements in your breathing, and record your progress in a journal or diary. Note down every activity you did to overcome anxiety and how it affected your anxiety. Tracking your progress can help you become braver one step at a time and get out of the vicious cycle of anxiety. Practicing It takes time, commitment, and a lot of effort to stop worrying. Once you have understood the different tips, keep practicing. You may not be successful in the first few attempts. Do not give up, and keep practicing these tips whenever you feel anxious. Regular practice can help create new habits that help you manage your anxiety.

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Invisible Braces – Benefits, Costs, and Top Brands

Invisible Braces – Benefits, Costs, and Top Brands

Braces are the go-to option most people choose for straightening teeth and jaws. This treatment provides aesthetic benefits, helps improve oral health, and relieves pressure from the joints. Traditionally, the base material used to be metal, but the latest developments in dental technology have given us a new option. This article gives you in-depth details about what makes invisible braces so popular, how much these products cost, and the best brands. What are invisible braces? Invisible braces, commonly known as clear aligners, are transparent dental trays that are used to correct your bite. These trays are usually worn for 20 to 22 hours a day. As the teeth shift, you have to make a new invisible tray every one or two weeks. Invisible braces are quite similar to retainers, but the former is used the slowly align your teeth while the latter keeps your teeth in place. Benefits The biggest benefit of invisible braces that’s quite evident at first sight is the fact that they are transparent. Factors like the lack of wires, bands, and brackets make these braces suitable for people of all ages, especially adults. Unlike the metal and ceramic counterparts, these braces can be removed at any time, which makes them easy to clean as well.
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Overactive Bladder – Common Causes and Management Techniques

Overactive Bladder – Common Causes and Management Techniques

Those suffering from an overactive bladder experience an increased urge to urinate. Such an uncontrollable need significantly compromises one’s quality of life. Issues that arise from this condition may lead the patient to compromise or rearrange their daily routine around their diagnosis. One may even suffer from bladder-related symptoms due to complications from other diseases like diabetes. This article highlights the significant causes as well as management techniques of an overactive bladder in patients: Causes Overactive bladder can result from various reasons such as unhealthy lifestyle choices, age, and underlying health conditions. Here are some of the common causes that lead to the development of this urological condition:  Poor pelvic muscle strength Pelvic muscles provide the lower abdomen with the necessary support. As a person ages, their muscles tend to lose strength. Weak muscles are, thus, a common causative factor that leads to the development of an overactive bladder. Factors like pregnancy and childbirth are also known to weaken the pelvic floor muscles.    Nerve damage This cause of an overactive bladder is quite common as the nerves can sustain damage from conditions like multiple sclerosis and herniated discs. This damage affects the signal transfer among the brain and other body parts, including the bladder.
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Top 9 Life Alert System Providers for Seniors

Top 9 Life Alert System Providers for Seniors

A medical alert system consists of life-saving devices that instantly connect the user with emergency help with the push of a button. Such equipment helps seniors live independently and offers peace of mind to their loved ones and caregivers. A good-quality life alert system for seniors has several useful medical features like fall detection, GPS tracking, and professional monitoring. In this article, we’ve listed the best medical alert systems for seniors out there today. Medical Guardian Founded in 2005, Medical Guardian is known for designing best-in-class life alert devices and systems. Depending on the lifestyle of a senior individual, they can choose between different types of On-The-Go and In-House systems. Almost every Medical Guardian life alert system for seniors features its state-of-the-art fall detection technology, along with other essential features like GPS location tracking, extra neck/wrist buttons, and water resistance. This company’s medical alert products have the longest battery life (up to 168 hours) and furthest signal range (up to 1300 feet) compared to any other product on the market. Medical Guardian also has a highly reliable monitoring center that operates 24/7. Bay Alarm Medical With over 70 years of experience in life alert devices, Bay Alarm Medical is one of the most trusted providers in the country.
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Dental Implants – Its Types and Associated Costs

Dental Implants – Its Types and Associated Costs

The ability of dentures or implants to mimic natural teeth is so impressive that it has changed millions of lives worldwide. These prosthetics are used when natural teeth have significant issues. With a little maintenance, they can be an efficient and long-lasting solution. So, if you are planning to get them yourself, the following article can help you know the factors to consider and the prices of dental implants and dentures. How do dental implants work? Before discussing dental implant prices, it is essential to understand how they work. Dental implants consist of three different pieces that serve distinct functions, as given below: Implant post Also known as the fixture, this small, cylindrical screw acts as an artificial root for the tooth. Abutment This piece connects the implant post and the crown. There are various types of abutments depending on the prosthetic type requiring support. Crown The final piece of the entire prosthetic, the crown rests on the top of the abutment. It can be made from porcelain, metal, resin, or ceramics. Porcelain or ceramic crowns look the most natural. Costs of dental implants Depending on one’s needs, there are four types of dental implants. Given below are average costs for the same:
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Dental Procedures That Don’t Need Braces for Teeth Alignment

Dental Procedures That Don’t Need Braces for Teeth Alignment

If your teeth alignment has always made you conscious of your smile, you need to address the issue. Crowded or crooked teeth and crossbites can majorly affect your facial profile and the way you chew your food. The insecurity and complications of a crossbite only grow with age. If you’re contemplating ways to align your teeth, and you want to achieve that without braces, you’ve come to the right place.  This article discusses teeth alignment options that are possible without prominent braces. Invisalign It is one of the most popular ways of teeth alignment without braces. The treatment involves using a set of clear retainer trays made to fit the moving teeth. You will be given a set of new retainer trays every two weeks to make the desired changes. They can be removed when eating, but one needs to ensure they have them on for at least 22 hours in a day. The treatment tenure depends on the severity of the case and takes approximately around 12 to 24 months to align teeth. Advantages They are invisible, so you won’t have to avoid social gatherings or feel awkward They are removable, which makes cleaning the trays and teeth easy  These can be removed when having a meal, which means fewer restrictions when eating Disadvantages Invisalign is a more expensive option  The flexibility of removing trays can elongate the treatment if not worn for prescribed hours  Some may develop a lisp or speak awkwardly with trays Inman Aligner This is another efficient way of teeth alignment without braces.
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Signs and Remedies of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Signs and Remedies of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe lung disease that occurs when the lung tissue is damaged and scarred. The scarring leads to thickened, stiff tissues and makes it difficult for the lungs to work efficiently. Several factors may cause pulmonary fibrosis. However, doctors cannot assess what triggers the condition. While the damage to the lungs is irreversible, there are several remedies that can help. So here are the signs of pulmonary fibrosis and some remedies. The signs of pulmonary fibrosis Before getting into the remedies of the condition, let’s learn about the signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Doing so can ensure proper diagnoses and care at the earliest. The first sign of pulmonary fibrosis is getting out of breath. The symptom occurs when the person exerts themselves through physical exercise. When the condition progresses, the affected individual may find it hard to breathe even with little to no physical activity. Older people who experience shortness of breath often confuse the condition as a sign of aging, failing to diagnose the disease early. Other signs of pulmonary fibrosis include: A dry cough. The sudden loss of weight. Fatigue. Pain in the muscles and joints. Clubbing, a condition that results in the widening and rounding at the tips of the fingers or toes.
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